Keeping TRUE...

So, one area that I have been wanting to stay TRUE about is my health. I really got it together towards the end of 2009. Lost enough to start feeling like it was something that I could at least work on - that it IS possible to start losing weight and moving and feeling good again.
It's no secret that I like to eat. I am not even afraid to say it. I do love food, I love cooking, I love feeding others and sharing from my kitchen...but in being TRUE... I also know that I love looking and feeling good more than I love food.
I've been reading a lot about the Paleo or Primal way of eating. Some people think that it's the same as Atkins, but it really isn't. It's so much more, but I am not going to get into all of that right now. Think of all the "bad stuff" we aren't indulging on anymore.
For this post, I just want to share some of the low-carb dinners I've had recently. My lunches and breakfasts have been amazing as well. I KNOW that this is healthier. I am not afraid of meat. I have been eating more vegetables than I have in a long time...and a beautiful variety at that! Fruit? We love fruit! I don't eat as many grapes in one sitting, but we have them. Oh, by the way...my hubby and my two oldest girls are in it with me as well. I have totally re-vamped our pantry.
Well, let's take a look at some of the beef dishes...

Here is some roast beef that was cooked in the crock pot, with steamed cabbage and instead of mashed POTATOES...mashed CAULIFLOWER!!! Yes! Everybody (including the kids) loved it. Plenty of beef broth or "au jus" as gravy....big hit.

Instead of carne asada tacos, we had carne asada lettuce wraps. Side of avocado for those that care to have it, romaine lettuce and monterey jack cheese. Salsa verde or green salsa to top!

There was a great sale at the market on good steak (I rarely buy it 'cause it's too much for a family of 6)....anyway, I had also purchased a little bit of mussels and a bag of raw frozen shrimp as a "go to". Here we have grilled steak (seasoned perfectly), garlic butter shrimp scampi and some mussels steamed in white wine/garlic/pesto sauce. We ate those like an appetizer. Oh, and the sauteed zucchini was to die for!

The two older girls were out the night I served this. I had two of the steaks left and had Marco grill them. He opted out of the brussel sprouts and had a big salad, but after tasting one of these....yeah. He was all in my business.

Grilled steak with steamed brussel sprouts with butter and shredded cheese. LOVED this!!

Well, maybe I will post some chicken meals soon and then fish...sounds good, eh? Along with exercising, we are seeing the pounds drop...not melt away....we are working hard at this, but I am really hoping to keep it real. You know how I do, I want to be TRUE! =]

January 12 of 12...the first for 2010!

Well, I am about two weeks into the year 2010 and I have really thought about being TRUE and keeping it real!
One of my favorite memes is the 12 of 12 meme. You take pictures all day on the 12th of each month and then you choose 12 to share with us on your blog, facebook, etc. If you can do this through the year, you will have a wonderful year at a glance to look back on.
Well, here we go - not really exciting, but it was my day!

I turned the t.v. on (in my room) so that Naomi and Marco can hear the music of whatever is playing at the time. It has helped them to wake up with a better attitude. =] Here they are watching "Imagination Movers".

Oops...an hour later my alarm is still going off. It doesn't matter that I had my alarm set, I forgot to put the sound on! Duh. Thankfully, I woke up before I need to anyway.

Taryn should've ironed the night before, but she had her uniform in the dryer still... Come on Taryn! Careful with the steam though!

This is my room and I am dying to get some paint on these walls. Even if you don't have time to do your whole room, you should make your bed (at least) - that way you feel like something is in order!

This is a view of our gym wall from the upstairs windows at school. Some boys, along with coach, painted this up here. I love it!

The seniors went on a quick field trip to Starbucks. One of them brought me this very yummy, sugar-free Passion Tea. It was so good.

This is my classroom. I am forever trying to keep this window clean of all the nose smudges...haha. I will be decorating for Valentine's (February) on the 14th of January.

I actually left school before 5 p.m. today! As I drove out of the parking lot I realized that I had to come back and take a picture of the temperature on the marquis. How's that for January? =]

Here is my silly girl. She is such a great help to me...she's getting ready for volleyball tryouts. Ugh. I hate waiting and waiting to find out.

This is as close as we're getting to my self-portrait today. I dressed out and had a great time with the girls in P.E. class with the girls. My shins were burning from the run though. Ugh. Must.get.back.in.shape.

I took this picture when I pulled into my driveway. The sky really has been beautiful lately!

Here are the two "buddies" in the house. Hannah bought them these little mini Dreyers ice-creams. They were in heaven.

Well...I think I started to fade after the ice-cream was passed around. I was grading papers until I couldn't see straight.

How was your day?

My Daybook...

Meme can be found here at Peggy's site.

FOR TODAY, January 4, 2010...

Outside my window... there's a definite chill in the air - but no worries compared to some of my friends out there dealing with tons of snow!

I am thinking... that I am looking forward to getting back to a regular routine.

I am thankful for... all of the time I had off to spend with my family.

I am wearing... my black track pants, black t-shirt and cozy socks.

I am remembering... how much I love blogging on a regular basis.

I am going... to be making some new Etsy items this week. Looking forward to relaxing and making some fun projects.

I am currently reading... the most recent copy of Artful Blogging and loving every bit of it.

I am hoping... that I can really stay motivated as I hop back on the Paleo wagon...hoping to make it more of a way of life...

On my mind... is the new year and all of the possibilities it holds.

Noticing that... the more I meditate on Him, the more real He becomes to me.

Pondering these words...
"The more I seek You, The more I find You, The more I find You, the more I love You... I wanna sit at Your feet Drink from the cup in Your hand. Lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heart beat This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand. I melt in Your peace, it's overwhelming..." song by Kari Jobe

From the kitchen... grilled, thin cut, pork cutlets with a side of grape tomatoes, mozzarella and balsamic vinegar

Around the house... lots of tidying up to do from the 2 week break at home..

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One of my favorite things~ my new phone Droid Eris...even though I still haven't figured it all out. haha
From my picture journal...

Here's my new toy! I love this phone and am excited to have everything right at my fingertips!

One little word...

I got this from Ali Edward's blog last year and I wanted to do it again this year. It really helped me to have a word that I could think about all year rather than making a list of resolutions that would probably be broken before the end of January. Here is my word and post from last year.

Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2010?

It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities.

This year my word is: TRUE
I always like to look up the actual definition of words and when I looked up the word TRUE, I knew that it was the exact word I needed. Here is a link to the definition, but here's what I want to focus on.
TRUE:
1 a : steadfast, loyal b : honest, just c archaic : truthful
2 a (1) : being in accordance with the actual state of affairs (2) : conformable to an essential reality (3) : fully realized or fulfilled b : ideal, essential c : being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed d : consistent
3 a : properly so called b (1) : possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as (2) : typical
4 : legitimate, rightful
5 a : that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately b : conformable to a standard or pattern : accurate

This year, I have a desire to be TRUE. I've always believed in "keepin' it real" and if you are a regular reader, you know that this is a motto that I often state. However, I have to be honest and say that it is easier for me to say, than to always do. You see, there are some areas in my life where it's been easy, natural for me to keep it real...to be TRUE. But there are some areas that are holding me back. I can not de-clutter, simplify, improve, focus...any of those things unless I can be TRUE to myself and what I believe.
It is my goal to be TRUE in my emotional, physical, spiritual and mental state of being.
No more masks. No more trying to be "perfect". I want to see things as they are and then either accept them or improve them, but all the while embracing them - being TRUE.
I have so much to expound on this...but I just wanted to introduce you all to my word for 2010. I am looking forward to really knowing myself and what God has for me and my loved ones this year. Be TRUE.

Super-Awesome Family Day...Part 1

So, it felt like forever since Marco got to take some time off of work. My grandmother was going to be spending a week with us, so Marco decided to take some days off from his job. Since some of the time was falling on Christmas day, he didn't have to count that day and was able to get an extra day off. We had a wonderful time while grandma was here. We took her to see the lights at Mission Inn in Riverside, the movies, out to eat...we had a really great time just being together. Marco had that extra day off after she left, so we decided it would be a family day. We didn't have a lot of money to spend, but we knew that wouldn't matter. The kids would be glad to have dad to themselves for a day. So, off we went...

First stop - IHOP. Wow, it had been a while since we last went. Everything on the menu was calling our name. =]

This is the face I got when I asked her how happy she was that daddy had the day off with us.

Yours truly, enjoying a cup of joe.

What? We like taking pictures...of food...and people...and well, everything.

These two are great buddies. Makes me so happy. Breakfast is done...let's hit the freeway and head out to Santa Monica. Should take us about an hour.

Surprised the kids with some Pop Rocks on the way for diversion. Remember these? They're still just as much fun as ever.

We drove past the Santa Monica Pier toward Malibu because we saw that the beach was open and empty except for one real well-known section that was filled with surfers. We wanted to find a place to pull over and let the kids go down to explore. It was the perfect day...

Here we are...the kids would stay dry for another 24 seconds after this picture was taken. Oh, well. It was fun.

Every direction you looked had a beautiful view. Isn't God amazing? Wow. To know that the winds and waves even obey Him. I love it.

Of course, Little Marco was beside himself with excitement. His feet were soaked. He was so happy though...

Super-Awesome Family Day - Part 2

I looked up to see Hannah showing Taryn how to make a heart with her fingers and then Hannah took a picture of it and the sun was shining through the heart perfectly!! I am going to ask if I can post it here, but the reason I like this picture is because I love catching moments when my children are interacting beautifully with each other. Makes me happy.

Just liked how this muscle shell contrasts with the sand...

Hands down, the best daddy and husband in the world. Hands down. =]

Cool bamboo growing by the road. We got back in the car and headed for Santa Monica Pier.

This. This is my life. You are looking at it...right there. *sigh*

The Morales Girls all in a row.

The view from the pier. We just sat and talked and looked.

...and he screamed. hahaha

We did have an ice-cream for lunch. =] Then we headed out to the famous Pink's Hot Dogs near Hollywood for dinner... What? You've never heard of them? Oh, no. You are missing out.

Really cool facades on the buildings...Oh...I think I see it!!

Since 1939...That's a long time. Look at the line....

It wrapped around the front of Pink's, around the antique shop next door and then wrapped around the back of the buildings. It took Marco about an hour or so to get to where he is there in the line. Maybe an hour and a half or more total wait time.

They have every possible variation you can imagine, named after all different stars - even Martha Stewart, with chili, cheese, veggies, onion rings, whatever... They don't write it down and you better be ready when you get to the front. Know what you want and say it quick - oh, and it's cash only. That's good to know if you're going to wait all that time. hehehe

Oh, and here is why they are SO good. Specially made hot dogs by Hoffy. 10 inches and there's this kind of "snap" that they have when you bite into them...mmmmm...and flavored just right. Yeah. Really good.

Worth the wait. Headed to the Grove next...

Super-Awesome Family Day... Part 3

So after our bellies were full, yet again, we went to the Grove in Los Angeles. It's a great shopping center and also the location of the famous Los Angeles Farmer's Market. We just wanted to see the giant Christmas tree and musical fountains and the Farmer's Market, but we also knew that the kids would love looking at the different stores.

The dancing fountains...

This tree is over 100 feet tall. It is spectacular to see in person. Here's more fun facts about it.

This is the LARGEST Barnes & Noble I've ever been to. It's got 3 stories. I practically hyperventilate every time I enter.

This is just the entry way!!
Okay, so here is the store that the girls really like to visit. I have to admit that I really like it too. I love the historical display that they have on the second floor. It was so funny, because Little Marco did not say one word the whole time we were in there. He just sat in the stroller with this dumb founded look on his face. So adorable!

This is in front of the Felicity doll display...

They had a little Christmas money burning a hole in their pocket so...

This is at the entry of the Farmer's Market. There is so much to see (and eat) here. Of course, we were stuffed and didn't buy one thing, but next time, we'll save our appetites for this place. They have all kinds of ethnic foods that are cooked fresh, or fish/seafood that you can buy and have made, etc.

One of my favorites...the nut display.

How about all of the different flavored popcorn? mmmmm...

Some pretty good looking produce...

...and well, just look at Marco's face...Yum!

We headed home after we walked through the market and eyeballed everything. We were tired and ready for bed. It was just a perfect day - the most perfect thing being that we were together. Thank you God - we are blessed beyond measure.