Guest Post: Pumpkins, Pilates and Peas?!
Hey everyone! I’m sitting here at the airport right now, getting ready to board for Cali, but had to post this very special guest post for ya’ll 😀
Here is a woman who really needs no introduction, but I will say that I admire her greatly and will definitely look to her for mom inspiration when I have little Fitnessistas and Pilots running around 😀
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Hi guys!
Shh…don’t say it. You know, the ovIN-Lay My ummy-Tay. Don’t even say my name. I’ll explain why in a bit, but for now, let me first thank Gina for letting me guest post for her. Her blog has always been a favorite of mine, so I was honored and flattered when she asked me. I’m like Ellen on American Idol: not quite sure that I’m qualified to be here, but jumping at the chance! Now if only I had a smoking hot wife like Portia DeRossi.
So let me tell you about the AMAZING day I had today and then at the end of this post I have a big announcement.
I got up this morning and did a quick two mile run on the treadmill. I say “quick” in the context of the duration of my run, and most certainly not the speed. While I was running 8 minute miles in my hayday (i.e. prior to my back surgery), I’m now averaging about an 11 minute mile, but considering I could barely walk six months ago, I’ll take it.
After my run and my shower, I made breakfast for the little ones and I.
I’ve been having this little concoction quite a bit:
- 1/4 c. Kashi Go Lean
- 1 Honeycrisp apple
- cinnamon
- 2 T. Pumpkin Spice Granola
While I ate, Lulu (my nickname for my littlest one) tried to hide the fact that she was having a bad hair day.
After breakfast, I made myself a cup of coffee to go. After professing my love for Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice soy lattes last week, Heather had the nerve to tell me that they aren’t vegan. How disappointing.
You might as well tell me that Matthew McConaughey is having a shirt surgically attached to his body for all of time.
So I saved myself $3 and decided to make my own pumpkin coffee drink at home. I heated about 1/2 c. of almond milk with 2 T. of pumpkin, cinnamon and stevia. I then whipped it up in my Magic Bullet until it got nice and frothy, like this:
I added the “pumpkin syrup” to my coffee, and it was delicious!
To the Pumpkin Patch! It was Gigi’s (my nickname for my oldest) first field trip with her preschool class and we were so excited! Of course, LuLu and I came along.
We first took a hay ride, which LuLu was a little nervous for.
Gigi comforted her (note the hand on the leg).
We rode out to the pumpkin patch, where we each picked out a pumpkin, a gourd and a piece of Indian corn (I’m fairly certain that is a politically incorrect term).
See that scowl? She’s pissed because I caught her picking up a piece of muddy “Native American” corn off the ground and trying to eat the dirty corn off the cob like a typewriter. I snatched it from her and then took her picture.
Once we got our goods and had the joy of taking a 4 yr. old to a wet nasty porta-potty in the middle of a field, we boarded the tractor and headed back to the barn.
There we got a lesson in juice. PUH-LEEZ…I could teach my own class on that.
I did learn a few things though, like that it takes SIXTEEN POUNDS of apples to make ONE GALLON of juice! No wonder I was spending so much money when I was juicing all day. I also learned that there are over 2,500 varieties of apples in the world. 2,500!!! I scoffed when my husband and I were discussing our bucket lists and he said, among other off the wall, completely unachievable things he wanted to ride a camel in Egypt and go to Easter Island. I’m adding “Try all 2, 500 varieties of apples in the world” to mine. Take that!
We then got to sample some fresh pressed cider and apple cider donuts. I’m pretending that the little bite I had of LuLu’s was vegan.
It was so fun to see Gigi walk around and hold hands with her new little friends.
We next visited the farm animals.
I whispered to the animals that we were vegetarian/vegan.
I was a little surprised at Gigi’s bravery as she went through a hay maze and down a gigantic slide.
I’m so glad I talked her out of the dress she wanted to wear today.
Then there were the obligatory class pictures.
SERIOUS.
YELLING “PUMPKINS!”
AND ACTING SILLY.
By the time we packed up and got home, I was famished.
I made a salad for myself.
- spinach
- carrots
- broccoli
- pickles
- Sesame Dijon Tahini Dressing from Vive Le Vegan
- 1/2 of a Morningstar Chick’n Grillers Patty (LOVE!)
After lunch the girls and I went to Target for a little more Halloween prep. Gigi finally decided what she wanted to be!
She’s a nice witch, with the emphasis on NICE. She did not want to take the costume off all night. I had to threaten her with a ride in a oversized Mylar balloon if she didn’t take the costume off and put her pajamas at bedtime.
But first we played a little “Piggyback Chase.”
I like this game because I can’t play due to my back issues. I’m not ruling out hopping on Daddy’s back and chasing the girls. I’m certainly not ruling out hopping on Daddy in general.
For dinner, we heated up some leftover vegan lasagna.
I made this based on the recipe found here. I used spelt noodles, organic sauce, spinach and mushrooms and omitted the vegan mozarella. The tofu ricotta was AMAZING.
We also had some salad with more tahini dressing.
After dinner, I did some Pilates using these MTV Pilates DVDs that I bought after Gigi was born. They have been helping me so much with my back pain, building my core strength and attempting to get the killer sixpack of Miss GC. I don’t know what association MTV has to the DVDs, though. It’s not like Sway or better yet, Heidi Montag is leading me through “the one hundreds.”
Once I’d done my thing, we got the girls in bed and are now just catching up with our DVR. I’m not done with the pumpkins for the day though. Here’s my dessert:
Pumpkin ice cream! I stuck about 2/3 c. of pumpkin in the freezer while I did my Pilates, then I added about 1/2 c. of almond milk, stevia, cinnamon and a couple ice cubes, and blended it all up. So. Good.
Now for the announcement: I’m starting a new blog. It’s really important that we don’t use names or any of the terms from the old blog, since I’m wanting to keep this one from prying eyes. So please don’t use our names or anything having to do with L-O-V-I-N or anything that would be search engine findable.
That being said, if you all would have me, I’d love to make my way back into your lives, or maybe into your life for the very first time.
And thanks again to Gina for having me!
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LOVE THIS!! Awesome guest post, favorite blog mom 😀
OMG! Is it weird that just the other day I was thinking how much I truly missed your posts and the daily adventures of you and your sweet girls? haha I do!
What a fabulous way to spend a fall day 🙂 And I’m soo excited for your new blog, of course, we WILL have you!
AHHH! You don’t know HOW EXCITED I am to see you blogging again girl! You are my favorite!
The apple thing is on my bucket list too! haha
YAY! Our lips are sealed 🙂 I am just so excited about your return and can’t wait to see lil’ Gigi and Lulu as much as possible again!!
Did I mention how much I love your hair? BRINGING BACK THE ALL CAPS! 😉
I’ve been waiting for this! AHHH! Sorry to break the news that the pumpkin spice isn’t vegan 🙁 It was a sad day for me too, but for real, saving $3+ multiple times a week means I can buy more kombuchas. Now if only there was a pumpkin flavored kombucha…
YAAAAY!!! Have I told you how excited I am about this?! Thanks Gina!
sooo pumped… and this had me laughing out loud…
“I had to threaten her with a ride in a oversized Mylar balloon if she didn’t take the costume off and put her pajamas at bedtime.”
I’m soo glad you’re starting a new blog!! I finally just got inti your blog when you stopped, do I’m super pumped;)
The pumpkin patch looks like a ball.
Oh goodness I loved this post! The girls are getting big and are just too cute for words. Loved the pumpkin patch trip!
Now for my grip, the pumpkin lattes with soy, no whip, no foam still aren’t vegan?! What the?!! I’m totally making your version today and I’m eating it with my pumpkin oats. Rock on!
Your girls are adorable!! I am excited to read your blog 🙂
this totally made my day!!!
so excited!!!
i’m thinking your pumpkin latte “syrup” would also be delicious in tea…
and that pumpkin ice cream looks to DIE for!!
I can’t wait to check out your blog! I checked out the old one, but you had already finished posting! Glad you’re back!
So thrilled you’re back — I really missed reading your daily posts!
yay!!!! So exciting 🙂 Great guest post and I can’t wait to catch up on everything!
LOVE YOU MAMA PEAAAAAAA!
glad you are back to blogging!!! love reading your blog and your girls are sooo cute 🙂
jenna
I keep trying to leave a comment on your blog, but for some reason it is not letting me?
That salad looks great. And most importantly, your girls are adorable. I used to follow your old blog so I’ll most definitely follow the new one. 🙂
So excited for the return 🙂
Well thank GOODNESS for your return!!!! I knew it would happen sooner or later 😉
Yeahhhhhhhh!!! So happy to have you back, ny friend 🙂
I can breathe again now
I can’t wait to read your new blog. I have 3 kids under the age of 4, so I can really appreciate another mom who is trying to lead a healthier life!
I think the blogworld just shook a little bit. We are all totally jazzed about this 🙂 🙂 🙂
Is this not the best news?! I was so glad to welcome Mama Pea back to my Google Reader. Signing into Facebook to read about her adventures was really too much effort. 😉
So exciting!
I’m so excited! Can’t wait to read more 🙂 🙂 🙂
YESSSSS!!!!!!
I think I just peed my pants!!!…I am BEYOND excited that you will be blogging and back in my life once again. Honestly though, I have truly missed seeing pictures of your little munchkins every day.
I’m sooooo excited for the new blog!!! I absolutely love reading your blog and can’t wait for the new one!
YAY!!!!! I’ve missed you!!!!! 🙂 Welcome back, lady!
What a pleasant surprise for a Monday morning. Fitnessista ~ Good choice for your guest blogger & I am excited to hear about Fresno. YEAH!!! I have really missed reading your blog. Bookmarked already. =)
Greatest. news. Ever!
This is the best news I’ve heard all day! So excited! And thanks for showing me a new blog!!!
I’m confused about the pig latin secret old blog/new blog, but good guest post! Have fun in CA!!
WOW-what a great post! Such cute kidies! I have to try that salad dressing as well as the pumpkin in my coffee. What a great idea. Thanks!
Can’t wait to read the new blog!
YAY!!! YAY!!! You’re baaaack!!! Joy and Jubilation!!!
Yay I am so happy! That is great news!
And thanks for taking us on the field trip!!
Oh yeah 🙂 I’m happy to see that you’re back to blogging and look forward to your new blog 🙂
Great story–happy fall!
Nice to see you blogging again! Missed your snarky wit! And love the bangs – adorable!
Have a great time in Cali – Gina!
I love you Mama Pea.
To say you made my day is an understatement 🙂 See you in your new home!
Yay! So excited! This post was so cute. I’ve missed those cute, happy faces!
yay for the happy surprise annoucement! I cracked up about your whispers to the aninmals. When I was in Costa Rica, riding a horse along a sheer cliffside, I was telling the horse that I was a vegetarian. My life in his hands, I thought it might help. Of course a horse has no hands..but you get the idea. He spared me. I think we lost Caroline for a distance, but the trail guide kept his eyes on her.
YIPEE! I am so excited about the new blog. Something’s been missing in the blog world…YOU and those sweet girls…and that hubby, too. I can’t wait!
You’re posts are always so fresh and fun. Welcome back, 🙂
You know that bad 90s song Return of the Mac? Well that’s what I’m singing right now that I know my Momma Luv is back.
I love this post!! 🙂 wonderful. And great pumpkin ice cream idea! I’m gonna try that one out
YAY! So glad you’re back! And y-u-mmm on that pumpkin ice cream… going to have to try that one out asap!
omg! so, so excited!!
Oh, I had just discovered your blog when you had to stop blogging. So glad to see you back! Those gals are adorable!