Hey ya'll!
So this is my combined 16 & 17 week pregnancy update, seeing that I got a little busy during week 16. I had my 16 week doctor's appointment - woo hoo - and everything is looking a-okay. I'm also feeling great at this point, getting my runs in and really honing in on my diet to ensure that baby (and I) are getting a proper and nutrient-dense diet. Check out my stats for this week below:

Current disposition: feeling pretty amazing overall. My mood is definitely in good spirits, especially waiting to hear where we are going to relocate our family next - we should know soon. Whether that is in DC or elsewhere, we are getting really excited about the prospect of moving, putting down roots and really starting to immerse ourselves into a community. A few of the things I am excited about is... buying a home (bigger than our 1-bedroom condo!), decorating a nursery!, getting Lincoln his own room, Ry & I having our own room lol, having a big kitchen that hopefully opens up into a living area, getting connected with a church community, etc. Man, there are so many things that I am looking forward to; sometimes it's hard to stop thinking about the prospect of our new adventure! Needless to say, Ryan & I are excited for this next big chapter in our lives, which includes welcoming our newest little addition and starting a new life in (potentially) a new place. All is well, and all is very exciting. 

Energy level: energy level is great, and I attribute a lot of this to the second trimester, but also to my running and to my diet. This has been KEY this pregnancy - I cannot reiterate that enough. Working out not only makes me feel great, but keeps my weight in check. My diet, which I've begun to fill with even more fruits and veggies has also energized me a ton.

Diet: so as I said, I've recently been adding more and more fruits and vegetables to my diet and as a result, I've been decreasing my meat-based protein intake. My body isn't craving meat and it also makes me feel 10x better to substitute veggies & healthy fats for meat-based protein. I understand completely that protein is ESSENTIAL during pregnancy and that many physicians reiterate the importance of protein from meat. Yes, I get this, and I am in no way going to change my diet drastically, especially while pregnant. But, as I have been exploring vegan pregnancies, including that of Kimberly Snyder, a plant-based celebrity nutritionist, and Angela Liddon, infamous "Oh She Glows" vegan blogger, my curiosity has peaked and I've been realizing that a plant-based pregnancy is possible and may be, in some cases, healthier. At one point in my life, I did choose to go vegan and never felt better. Not only that, but I was incorporating loads of fruits and veggies into my diet and lastly, my weight was the best it had ever been. Never a pure vegan and after meeting my husband (a meat eater), I started re-introducing meat back into my diet. I felt fine with the re-introduction of meat, but there was something about the vegan diet that I missed. To my point, since becoming pregnant and exploring the pregnancy journeys of Kimberly and Angela, I really am fascinated by 1) how healthy their pregnancies were and 2) how healthy their babies were! Not to mention, both of them bounced back super quickly from recovery and pregnancy weight gain. As I mentioned, I am not cutting out meat-based proteins altogether based on my inspiration, I am just finding ways to incorporate more fruits and veggies into my diet through things like Glowing Green Smoothies in the morning, and maybe saving protein for dinner more often (which is generally what I did pre-pregnancy anyways). I've been feeling great doing this. I talked to my sister, an RD, who has encouraged me to try and eat meat-protein if I can and if I am going to cut back, then I need to ensure that my B12 levels are adequate, which goes hand in hand with folic acid - super important during pregnancy. But most importantly, she said, to go with what my body is telling me feels best. At this point in my pregnancy, decreasing meat intake and increasing vegetable (and fruit) intake is what feels best. P.S. a post from my sis on nutrition is coming soon!

Maternity Clothes: lately, I've been sprucing up my wardrobe at BP Nordstrom. Seriously, love BP - cheap, trendy and cute clothes! I purchased that Socialite dress for $46 that you may have seen on my birthday post - if you didn't see, you can check it out here. I also got another Lush olive green dress and a pair of trendy leggings. It's amazing how adding a few new additions to your wardrobe can make you feel like a new woman - especially during pregnancy! The pieces I tend to gravitate towards aren't maternity, but are things that I can certainly wear throughout my pregnancy and are things I can also wear post pregnancy. I also purchased another pair of TOMS - these were actually courtesy of my gracious mama. I can officially say that I am now a TOMS addict. I always felt so-so about the style and look, but now being on my second pair, these are my favorite shoes for chasing around a toddler while pregnant.

Weight Gain: so I weighed in around 137.5 lbs at my 16 week appointment, and since then, through 17 weeks, I weigh about the same. In fact, after running and going to the restroom (TMI), I sometimes weigh around 135.5 lbs in the morning. Hayley's nutritionist told her that I am on track for healthy weight gain (celebration!!), and she mentioned that women gain the most weight between 16 and 17 weeks. So, I am watching my diet but also welcoming healthy weight gain. That said, when I realized I weighed 137.5 lbs at my 16 week appointment, I started to double check foods I was consuming and cut out things that weren't pertinent to baby's nutrition. This includes things like beige food - aka unrefined carbs. So I've always been okay eating carbs and in fact sometimes I do better when I eat carbs because a piece of bread on an open-faced sandwich will fill me up longer than a salad will, thus reducing snacking throughout the day. However, being pregnant I feel my body reacts somewhat differently to carbs and really really stores carbs as sugar > turning them into unhealthy weight gain. I've happily been able to reduce my intake of carbohydrates through things like bread and pasta. Hayley's nutritionist also pointed out that it is key to watch the last meal of the day if you are concerned about weight gain, therefore, I really watch what I consume at night - especially things like sweets. But again, my sister reminded me that if you're body is seriously craving a cookie at night, it is okay and even encouraged to indulge in moderation.

Doctor's Visits: I had my 16 week doctor's appointment last Friday, meeting with the nurse practitioner. I was weighed and had my blood pressure taken, etc. Lincoln was at the appointment with me and we were both able to hear baby's heartbeat - a solid 145 bpm! There are some myths that say the baby's heart rate can dictate the gender - I'm not even going to look into that this time around lol. I also had blood drawn to check for neural tube defects - prayers to that. Other than that, we scheduled my 20-week anatomy ultrasound/scan and 20-week doctor's appointment. At this appointment, the doctor can also find out the gender of the baby, which (sorry) we aren't finding out the gender until baby is born. If you are considering finding out the gender at 20 weeks or waiting until birth - I encourage the latter :) - a post on this coming soon.

Until next week! 

xx,
​ILA

With all the rage of bone broth and its health benefits, I had a strong desire to try this particular bone broth protein from Ancient Nutrition. I've made regular bone broth before and love it, but I felt it was time to see what all the hype was about!

DID YOU KNOW...
At least 6 grams of protein is needed for the first meal in order to kickstart our blood sugar. Otherwise, it is nearly impossible to catch it the rest of the day.

AND...
1 scoop of Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein contains 28 grams of protein!!!

​Contains:
*NO CRAP
*GUT FRIENDLY
*PALEO FRIENDLY
*GLUTEN FREE
*DAIRY FREE
*SOY FREE
*GRAIN FREE

THE RECIPE: (for two people)

If I want to give a little smoothie to our 4-year-old Kai, I replace the bone broth protein with raw chia seeds for his protein. About a tablespoon or two is great to add in the protein factor for him since protein powder is not good for his little tummy at this age. I simply blend everything together, besides the protein powder, add the chia for Kai and viola! 

1. 2 cups Good Karma Flaxmilk
2. 1/2 or 1 full packet of  Amazon Planet Acai
3. 1/2 banana- frozen if possible (adds sweetness but don't over do it because of the high sugar content)
4. 1/2 avocado- for good fat and to make it creamy :)
5. Teaspoon organic extra virgin olive oil- MUST be in  a dark glass bottle to protect from sunlight and going bad)
6. Tablespoon Nutiva Organic Coconut Oil- must be virgin cold-pressed (go for cold-pressed coconut oil because it is processed at lower temperatures, thus sustaining more of its nutrient content. All this to say, coconut oil, the right kind, is one of the healthiest fats on the planet- so eat or drink up!
7. 1 1/2 cups ice
8. 2 handfuls organic greens
9. To give it a little more sweetness, add about a teaspoon-ish of raw honey : )

And blend away! 
​Blender: Vitamix

Thank you to Leah Carroll, Ila's mama, for gifting our fam this AMAZING Vitamix blender. We love you and are forever grateful!

Cheerfully,

​Cate

Comment below if you have any questions or just want to say hi! We also LOVE other smoothie ideas!!!

Yesterday was my 29th birthday!! And what a special day it was (besides the fact that it's one year away from 30!!). I knew that Ryan & I were going out to dinner at one of my favorite spots, California based True Food Kitchen that recently opened in Fairfax, Virginia. The cuisine is based on the anti-inflammatory diet and the menu pretty much only includes healthy options. The food is delicious - my favorite is the chicken curry - and you don't feel weighed down after.

For my birthday night out, I also knew that I wanted to look cute and feel special on my day (especially being pregnant). So, the day before, I took Lincoln to Nordstrom to buy some new Converse and also decided to get myself something. I wanted something that would last me through (at least the beginning) of pregnancy and something that I would feel cute, comfortable and sexy in. I also didn't want to spend a ton of money, so I looked in BP at Nordstrom. BP has super trendy clothes at a reasonable price.

I found this cute little ensemble, a Socialite dress that comes in many patterns and colors, and quickly knew that this dress would be the one that I would buy! I was in the market for something olive colored, which I think is one of this season's "in" colors. Needless to say, the dress fit and I felt 100% like myself in it. I paired the dress with some Steve Madden open-toed booties and simple jewelry, and off we went!

We had a wonderful dinner at True Food Kitchen, and I ended up having a wonderful 29th birthday! I am so excited for what this year has to bring our family and am proud of all that I have personally accomplished this past year, including graduating from Georgetown business school and becoming pregnant with our second angel. Bring it on, 30!!

Enjoy the rest of your week mamas! >> Outfit details below! >>

xx,
ILA

Dress: Socialite (Nordstrom), $44  |  Shoes: Steve Madden Booties (similar style), $119.95  |  Purse: Tory Burch (similar style), $450  |  |  Lipstick: Mac Cosmetics, Cherish, $17  |  Lip Liner: Mac Cosmetics, Spice, $17.50  |  
​Eye Shadow Palette:  Mac Cosmetics, Warm Neutral Times 15, $65

Over this past weekend, our family of four (including our little bun in the oven) went to Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC. I have been a handful of times with Lincoln, but it was the first time that Ryan has come with us! Lincoln really does enjoy the zoo now that he is around sixteen months. I'd say a little after his first birthday is when he really started understanding and enjoying the animals. That day we saw a sloth bear, a leopard, elephants, a panda, bison, five otters, two gorillas, a donkey, a zebra ... and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few more. Needless to say, we had a lot of fun and ended up getting close to 7 miles, or 17,000 steps that day - go us.

If you ever get the chance to take your littles to the zoo, I highly encourage it! I believe the Smithsonian Zoo makes efforts to save endangered or injured animals, which makes me feel better about going. I am definitely one of those people who have a very hard time seeing wild animals caged up. I watched the movie Black Fish, and really wasn't the same. But seeing my son's eyes when he saw a real live elephant (his favorite animal) for the first time (not just in board books) made my heart smile and I understood why zoos are there to educate our youth. Other than that and with that, I really have a hard time with zoos, but again enjoy experiencing the learning process with Lincoln.

In the future, we hope to take our kiddos on a trip to Africa to experience real African safari! Cate will be going on a trip next month - and I'm sure will showcase some killer photos.

#mamaskeepinitreal

xx,
​ILA

Hey ya'll! So I am officially 15 weeks pregnant and feelin' great. Once again, the second trimester rocks - good bye morning sickness and fatigue, and I am also happy to report that my weight gain is very average and on track for the recommended 25 to 35 lbs weight gain. I can't wait to see the doctor next week at my 16 week prenatal appointment. In the meantime, check out my stats below. 

Current disposition: feeling pretty great overall. I always have some concern that baby is healthily growing and safe in there, but I'm sure all is well. My mood is very positive, but I am also apprehensive about our current living situation. We are still in our very small one bedroom condo - ah. I love this condo so much because it is the home Ryan and I lived at when we got married and the home we brought Lincoln home to and raised him until this point. The memories in this place are countless, but with a baby on the way we are in dire need of a bigger place, and soon!
Energy level: energy is good. I've been a little tired in the mornings getting up with Lincoln around 6:30am, but that is standard. I generally will take a nap when Lincoln naps whether that is in the mornings or afternoons. I've been sleeping well, just waking up to go to the restroom once or twice during the night. I've also been falling back asleep very easily, which is something I had a problem with in the first trimester.
Diet: I've been trying to keep my diet healthy because I know how quickly I can gain weight during pregnancy. I really do make a conscious effort to stay away from sweets, try and eat minimal carbs, and watch my portion control. Last pregnancy, I was a lot more lax with my diet - not that I sat around eating milkshakes - but I figured that my body was growing anyways, so I might as well enjoy and allow myself to indulge a little more than usual. From that, I learned that I am not one of those body types that is able to indulge - pregnant or not. So this time, I've really tried to keep my diet as normal as it was prior to pregnancy. This means eating a lighter, nutrient dense breakfast, like a smoothie bowl. Sticking with my lightly caffeinated mid-morning snack whether that be a nespresso with creamer, chai tea latter or green tea latte, and a piece of fruit. Eating a lighter, but healthy lunch (carbs welcome), just watching portion control. Eating a mid-afternoon snack only if I'm hungry. And eating a normal sized dinner on the healthier side. If I eat healthy the entire day, I allow myself a treat before bed. If my diet was a little off that day, I avoid dessert altogether. So far, this seems to be working - phew!
My pants: don't really fit. Again, I have a select pair that I fit into but I'd rather be comfortable in oversized pants than wear unbuttoned pants throughout the day. I really need to invest in a belly band this time around since the legs of my shorts and pants still fit. I also plan to go to Nordstrom to freshen up my wardrobe. Last time, I really didn't buy much at all, and this time I really want to feel and look pretty throughout my whole pregnancy. Don't I deserve that?!
Reflections: Lately, I feel as if the baby might be a girl. We aren't finding out the gender of the baby once again, which was so much fun last time. The first pregnancy, I really wanted a boy and was defensive when people told me I was having a girl. This time I feel a little defensive when people say I am having a boy - thus, I think we may be having a girl. Either way, I honestly don't care this time around. I hope for a girl eventually, but would be open to that on baby #3 or #4 if we get there - and obviously happy and agree with whatever gender God decides to bless us with. Also, as I was stating, our family is somewhat in flux with our living situation. We are waiting to find out if we are moving out of the DC area or if we are staying. Until then, we are still in our little one bedroom condo. This isn't stressing me out as much as it normally would but I cannot wait until we are in a "home" where Lincoln has his own room and baby has his/her own nursery that I can decorate :) Really looking forward to that day and can't wait to share that journey with you all.
Weight Gain: so I weigh in around 135 to 136 pounds which is pretty much where I should be at this point. That said, ya'll know how particular I am about weight gain, so I am really trying to watch my diet while also understanding that my body needs to do what it needs to do. I am maintaining my workouts - running three to four times per week 3 miles which I think is making the biggest difference in my weight. My runs are getting harder due to round ligament pain, which seems to worsen when I run - boo! I also have a recurring injury that has worsened the last couple of weeks - a tight upper hamstring/groin pull that I believe has developed scar tissue making the strain a little bothersome. Please God don't take my runs away from me, is the prayer I pray often! 
Doctor's Visits: no doctor's visits until 16 weeks (next week!). So excited to see the little babe and hear about his/her health.

Catch ya'll lata and enjoy the weekend mamas!

xx,
ILA

Dress: Brandy Melville USA (similar style) $35  |  Shoes: Rainbow Sandals, $80  |  Sunglasses: Tom Ford, $415  |  Backpack/Purse: Elizabeth & James (similar style), $545  |  Earrings: Kate Spade, $38 |  Bracelets: Alex + Ani, $28 

My ADHD Diagnosis at AGE 20.

After literally flunking my first year of college, I got tested for ADHD because I was clearly struggling with some things that had become debilitating and challenging to live with. I needed help, and I needed answers.

I was feeling overwhelmed with my school workload, having a difficult time managing my time and completing tasks, and forgetting things more than usual. I also was unable to come to terms with some things in my life, most of which reflected poor coping skills, procrastination, and my need for high adrenaline activities and social interaction to get my mind off things. In other words, I tended to "avoid" what I was dealing with.

These issues and my impulsivity became increasingly evident. All of this led to my ADHD diagnosis, coupled with mild depression and anxiety. I had a hard time accepting this, and yet it made a whole lot of sense. “Well, that’s a big surprise!”, I laughed to myself. It sure would have been good to know this about 5 years earlier!  
Although growing up I wasn’t the rowdy or disruptive kid who couldn’t sit still or follow directions in the classroom, I could recognize I had some of the ADHD symptoms.  One symptom in my later teens was the difficulty I had getting out of bed in the morning and finding a reason to excel. This was the peak of my downward spiral. I was drowning in shame, guilt, fear, confusion, and denial and was desperate for a way out.
Ok, moving on....

​SIDE NOTE: What's redeeming about my journey is that God never left my side, and He encouraged me in my deepest despair and failure and ALWAYS opened doors for answers.

For those of you who can relate, you know what I mean when I say it felt like I was drowning. I was in a pit and felt like I was only digging a deeper one. No matter what is actually reality, the depth of those feelings overwhelm and become so real in those moments that a lot of people don't understand. Maybe they can empathize or sympathize, but the truth is when you add anxiety and depression, not to mention ADHD, the world seems quiet and like all eyes are on you, then you start to feel all alone. This is a dangerous mind path, as I like to call it. The bottom line is you're not alone! God has the answers and He had them for me. I will be talking more on this topic and about spiritual warfare in another post.​

MY JOURNEY THROUGH LEARNING ABOUT ADHD AND ACQUIRING THE RIGHT SKILLS TO MANAGE:
ADHD is a neurobiological disorder. Now, I personally don't gravitate towards the word "disorder" and actually view my ADHD as a blessing now. However, prior to my diagnosis, I had such difficulty with the before-mentioned things that it really weighed heavily on me. To help me manage life in general, I tried medication (under the supervision of a doctor of course). It was an interesting road because I experienced various side effects and ended up trying four different medications in both families- ritalin and adderall. After much trial and error, I finally found one that really helped me. Even though I didn’t like the idea of being on a stimulant- it was worth it at the time.

When I was 24 I became pregnant with my son and immediately went off all medication. Since then I have not taken any prescription meds for my ADHD and no longer deal with anxiety or depression. I attribute this to major life changes, DIET, maturity, spiritual growth, and learning the appropriate skills to manage my ADHD. Praise the Lord!

Altogether, the medication was a life-saver in the beginning, but I also know that without the proper skills, diet, etc, the medication for me only treated the symptoms and wasn’t able to get to the root of the issue. I had to make personal lifestyle changes and make healthier choices regarding the foods I needed for optimal brain function and to have energy and focus. Food is fuel. I can't begin to stress enough the importance and the correlation between food and adhd and how it can either help or diminish focus and concentration. Also, the addition of healthy and natural supplements makes a HUGE difference.​

Below you will also find a list of some healthy food options. 
Foods – Start each day with a good protein rich breakfast and high quality snacks between meals to keep blood sugar level.
Good food choices:

• Organic beef, liver, lamb, turkey and chicken (Get enough iron from red meat!)
• Salmon, wild trout, sardines, herring, halibut
• Gluten free bread, Paleo Coconut Wraps, Flax Wraps,  brown rice, millet
• Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, ground flax seeds
• Yogurt
• Green leafy vegetables, apples, berries, watermelon, cantaloupe, broccoli, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes

Good protein is important for increasing the “alertness” neurotransmitters while also having a calming effect
Poor food choices:

• Artificial colors or sweeteners such as Splenda and NutraSweet
• Preservatives (often found in processed foods)
• Sugar products – candy, sodas, cookies, cakes, store-bought fruit juices
• Too many refined flour products – many types of bread that are not soaked or sourdough and use sweeteners, muffins, cookies

(Watch for common allergens such as wheat, diary, corn, chocolate, peanuts, soy and citrus in your diet…these can have an effect on overall health and behavior)
Snack Ideas (for school lunches and at home)

• Fresh fruits and vegetables with dips (salsa, black bean, nut butters or yogurt dips)
• Plain yogurt with fresh fruit (especially blueberries) and sprouted pumpkin seeds (zinc)
• Sliced apples with almond butter
• Trail Mix (Raw nuts, seeds & dried fruit)
• Ants on a log (fill celery with nut butter, arrange raisins on top)
• Cottage cheese with berries and sprouted pumpkin seeds (zinc)
• Carrots and celery with hummus for dipping
• Smoked salmon, goat cheese and gluten free crackers

​Sources:
​1. http://www.cdc.gov/
2. Hersey, Jane. Food Additives, Attention and Behavior. Well Being Journal, Sept/Oct 2011.
3. McCann D, Barret A, Cooper A, et al. Food additives and hyperactive behavior in a 3-year-old and 8/9 year old children in the community; a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial.  Lancet. Nov 2007; 370 (9598): 1560-7.
4. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm
5. swansonhealthcenter.com/health-issues/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/


If you have read my story- thank you! If you are curious about more details of my journey, know someone with ADHD, have questions, or need references or advice, I’d love to hear from you! Please comment below. :)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ON"The Best Program for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)"

​My current go-to ADHD medication is Yerba Mate. No, this is NOT a prescription drug ; ). Mate is simply an herb from South America. My particular favorite brand is Guayaki, and it's organic! Most Mate contains about 30mg of caffeine in an 8 ounce cup. (To read more about Mate click HERE. This has truly been an answer to prayer because it helps me concentrate and get things done! I also don't experience a huge crash or get the "jitters" like I do with coffee! I most often drink it cold (see below), but sometimes switch to drinking it hot and steeping a tea bag. Either way, they are both effective! And the best part is, for those whose children have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, my amazing nutritionist Cheri Swanson has recommended trying this safe and natural alternative in the morning in place of adderall or ritalan medication. About 4-5 ounces in the morning in place of medication may help your child with their symptoms. (Again, this depends on each child and their particular needs, etc- please consult your doctor/naturopath or nutritionist). 

Happy sipping!

xx,

Cate

If you are a "Top Chef" fan and love delicious handcrafted burgers, then you'll swoon over DC restaurant, Good Stuff Eatery. YUM. The burger joint was started by former Top Chef contestant, Spike, and is based on American favorite cuisine - aka burgers - that are farm fresh and use the highest quality ingredients. Needless to say, these burgers are the bomb.  Lucky for us, we live only a brisk stroll away.

Last night, as with most nights, I didn't feel much like cooking, which is very normal this pregnancy for some reason. Despite having great energy during the day, I feel a bit lazy at night. I believe it's because I have a toddler this pregnancy verses last pregnancy in which I had myself and Ryan to care for. Adding Lincoln into the mix and being a stay-at-home mama sure is a lot of work, especially while pregnant! Thus, cooking at night is something I generally poop out on. We also didn't really have much in the fridge, so when Ry got home we decided to go out.

We went back and forth about where we should dine. Ryan felt like fast casual - Chipotle anyone? (he is seriously a Chipotle addict - and a Chipotle stock owner, go figure). I, on the other hand, felt like something a little more ritzy. Not anything super fancy, just something a step up from fast casual. After throwing a few options out and clearly noticing we were on different pages, we decided to go with Good Stuff Eatery.

As you all know, I've been trying to keep my diet in check so the thought of eating burgers for dinner honestly wasn't something I was super excited about. I mean, sure, I love me a good burger, but I really really really want to keep my weight under control this time and putting a juicy, fresh burger in front of me is a good way to blow off my healthy diet. I browsed through the menu and noticed they had salad options. While most of them had bacon in them, they looked okay. Eh, what the heck? I thought. If you're going to go to a burger joint, you might as well get the burger! However, in that moment I made the decision that I would share my burger with Lincoln and that I would eat the burger open faced (with only one half of the bun) or with no bun at all.

We headed out the door to what was a beautiful night. It took us no more than 20 minutes to get to Good Stuff and we snapped some fun shots along the way. Hope you enjoy!

xx,
​ILA

So last Thursday, I was making a simple dinner for the three of us. Being, 14 weeks pregnant I 100% have my energy back during the day, but I also tend to run low on motivation to make dinner towards the evening. Not to mention, I still have some food aversions so the last thing I want to do is make and prepare something that doesn't sound appetizing. That night, I was craving something simple and cheesy - Mexican food. I had some organic black beans, cheese, pearled couscous and guacamole - presto, Mexican Fiesta Bowl. Yum. It all started when I prepared this for Lincoln's dinner and tried it, then decided I HAD to have it for dinner. As Lincoln was eating and as I was preparing a larger portion for Ryan and I, I immediately started craving hot sauce (Texas Pete Hot Sauce, specifically) to add to our Mexican Fiesta dish. When Ry got home, I asked him if he could run the errand and grab the hot sauce. Without hesitation, he agreed to take Lincoln and head out. Seeing that it was such beautiful night, we all decided to go out together. We grabbed the camera and walked out the door. Disclaimer: the closest tiny market is just a block away - so it was a quick night stroll, but beautiful nonetheless. Disclaimer #2: Lincoln was a little crabby because we have to walk by his favorite playground in order to get to the market. We didn't have time to stop tonight (mostly because it turns into a 30 minute playground session). Thus, the tears. #mamaskeepinitreal 

DID YOU KNOW...
"Babies born to active mothers can have brain responses of a six to eight-month-old" -University Montreal
-Thanks to rockstar mama and Pilates guru Erica Ziel.
 
Let's be sure to take this into consideration!!!!

When I was pregnant with Kai, I had the pleasure of doing small private lessons with Erica on the reformer machine each week. This helped my body prep for giving birth and helped me open up my hips and relieve so much pressure! Check her out at Knockedupfitness.com!

#FITWITHCATEANDILA
Ila and I are stoked to bring you #fitwithcateandila!! We are both in different stages of life- Ila being 14 weeks pregnant and me preparing my body TO get pregnant- hurray! So the importance of keeping a steady workout lifestyle is key!

I've always loved staying active and fit- from sports growing up like competitive dance, gymnastics, cheer, club soccer, and volleyball to intermixing various workouts into my life such as personal and group boxing training, reformer pilates, barre, spin, yoga, and Crossfit...to name a few!

With preparing my body for pregnancy in mind, it almost acts as an incentive because I know the more fit I am WHEN I get knocked up ; ) the more healthy the baby will be and the easier delivery I will have. Praise God for that! Not to mention, I have WAY more energy and eat better when I stay consistent with my workouts.
 
Some days, I miss my H.I.T. (hight intensity interval training) class at Axis Crossfit, but no worries! Who needs  a gym when you can easily do these fun exercises at home!

So get your heart rate going, chicas, and have a blast with this high intensity workout!

1. SINGLE-LEG TRICEP DIP: 15 REPS
-Secure palms
-lower booty to the ground (do not shrug your shoulders because it can add too much pressure to your shoulder joints)
-inhale on the way down, exhale on the way up

2. SQUAT "BOX (BENCH) JUMP": 10 REPS
Get that booty, girl!
Targets: glutes, quads, and hamstrings (when executed correctly)
-Land softly and pup up thru the hip
-Keep chest up
Modification: step up one leg at a time

3. SINGLE-LEG RAISED PUSH UP: 10 REPS
*for a more challenging workout, instead of using the wall, a chair, or a bench, do this movement flat on the ground.
Targets: shoulder, chest, and core (when executed correctly)
- keep hands underneath your shoulders
- Engage your core (navel in)
-squeeze your glutes before lowing down (will protect your lower back)
-inhale down, exhale on the way up

4. SEATED KICKOUTS: 15 REPS
-Sit back slightly
-Secure palms
-Flat back
-Engage your core (navel in)
-Draw knees to chest and push out
*Keep legs up (otherwise your hip flexors will be doing the work)

5. SEATED V-HOLD:5 SECOND HOLD
*(increase your time each set by 5 seconds)
-Engage your core
A LITTLE TRICK***
envision a string attached to your belly button pulling back to your spine, and there you have it! (a little tip back from my ballet days!)

6. SKATER LUNGE (JUMP): 8 REPS EACH SIDE
-once again, ENGAGE YOUR CORE : )
-If you feel pain in your knees, STOP, and modify by doing a few reps of squats (my favorite our sumo squats!)

7. MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS- 30 REPS
-Squeeze glutes and core
-Bring knees to chest
-Keep arms straight

8. PUSH UP POSITION PLANK HOLD: 10 SECOND HOLD
*(increase your time each set by 5 second)
-Make this as easy or as difficult as you like by your holding in a plank position on the ground or by straightening your arms
-Add a single-leg raise
-Don't forget to BREATHE! : )

*REST FOR ONE MINUTE*
*Another option is to do jumping jacks, jump rope, high knees, more mountain climbers, to name a few.... in between your sets.

*REPEAT CIRCUIT THREE TIMES*

And if you are an over achiever or want to build that booty (like I do!) finish your circuit with some fun squats or lunges and FEEL THE BURRRRN. ; )

So there you have it! Now...go get sweaty, Babes!

x,

Cate