Connect the Dots Ginger | Becky Allen

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

BEST Shakeology Recipe Calendar Collection

Are you looking to spice up your daily dose of nutrition? Check out these Shakeology recipe calendars. Giving you 30 days of amazing recipes to try out and find which one you like best! Which one are you going to try next?

You all know I love my Shakeology and I have drank it almost every single day in almost 2 years and not stopping when I found out I was pregnant this time around. Not only does it taste amazing but I know I am finally getting the things that my body needs to work right, feel good and it is guilt free! READY TO TRY SHAKEOLOGY? CLICK HERE TO ORDER! Curious about the nutritional info and what ingredients are actually in your Shakeology? CLICK HERE to view the ingredients list and nutrition info for EVERY SHAKEOLOGY FLAVOR!

Sometimes, I like to make my shake taste even better. So I add things to it to enhance it and make it even tastier. My favorite recipe? Check it out below!
Greenberry: 
 Chocolate:


Chocolate Holiday Recipes: 
 Vegan Tropical Strawberry: 

 Strawberry:
 Vanilla:
 Vegan Chocolate: 
Café Latte:
Want to pair your Shakeology with a workout to truly reach your max potential with your weight loss goal? Check out the ALL NEW BEACHBODY ON DEMAND ALL ACCESS ANNUAL PASSYou can get access to every single workout ever created by Beachbody with Shakeology as a bundle and SAVE MONEY! Plus when you order Shakeology and the All Access Pass together you get me as your FREE coach and access to my EXCLUSIVE group with daily motivation, support and accountability to help you reach and ACHIEVE your goals!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

Monday, July 18, 2016

Baby Registry Must Have's And MORE


I know a lot of first time moms wonder, what do I put on the registry that I will really need. Well, here are my must haves to include on that list. I also have what is not really necessary to have so you can decide what you really need. I want to give you the essential and save you as much money as you can, because having a baby, can get expensive really fast! If you have any questions on an item that you are thinking about comment below! This is my third go around. I would love to help you if you have any questions!

First things first, here is a little tip for all of you moms to be: sign up for an Amazon.com baby registry! It is one of the easiest experience ever as they sell (and you can find) EVERYTHING. A lot of times, the products are discounted or cheaper, which is GREAT!
Not only that, you get free shipping on everything and for all items that are left on your registry, you will get sent a 15% off coupon code to use to purchase them! Sweet, huh?
Sign up by clicking here or the banner below and start creating your dream baby list:
WHAT YOU NEED

Car seat-You have to have one to leave the hospital. Generally it will match your stroller or you can get it as a match set. Aim for something that has the higher weight and height requirement so you can use it longer. We personally have a Combi car seat. We got it because it was the only car seat that would fit in the Mini Cooper that we had when Mason was born. And we have continued to use it with Collin and will use it with Elyse too. It is and will still be under the 6 year limit and has never been in a car accident.

Stroller- Need to get a good stroller, one that could hold your car seat as well is very helpful for the first year or so. We have an older version of this Combi Stroller. We got it to fold to very small so that it could easily be carried around and fit in our very small car we had at the time.
Crib- although you probably won't use it for the baby for the first 3 months it is nice to have set up and ready to go. You don't have to go all out for the crib. I like things that grow with the child. So our is a convertible crib. It goes from a crib, to toddler bed, day bed, then to a full bed. And has lasted us through 2 kids so far for being just at $200 bucks.

Crib Sheets- You don't need to get the whole matching set. To save money just get cute sheets We got our as Little Unicorn for sweet little Elyse. 2-3 is the perfect number. One on the bed, one that needs to be washed and one ready to go clean for easy changing in the middle of the night.

Pack-n-play- We personally use a pack-n-play as the bassinet next to our bed for the first 3-6 months or until the baby is ready to move into their crib. We received one that has the newborn swaddle sleep area, the changing table and the upper setting of the bassinet.

Baby Carrier- like an Ergo baby or a Moby wrap to wear your baby around the house and out and about. Being hands free is amazing.

Breast pump- Check with your insurance to see if they cover the cost of a new breast pump. I have never gotten a pump but my friends really like the Medela Freestyle pump.  If your insurance does cover your pump you can still register for the accessories, pads, and extra parts. I have never used a breast pump. I have a manual one that I use at 6 months old to extract some milk for the baby food but I barely get any out of it.

Swaddle Blankets- We love to swaddle our babies. I love the Aden and Anais blankets because they are huge and don't un-wrap very easily. For easy, easy, easy, and my husband's personal preference, get the Summer Infant Swaddle Me adjustable infant wraps. They have velcro on them and it is just so easy to use.
Baby Tub- You could use your sink, but it is nice to have a safe place made just for your baby to clean them up! I love the sling style ones like this First Years Sure Comfort. Perfect for newborns to keep them in place!

Baby Monitor- We still have the old sound monitor but honestly if we could get a video monitor, yeah, that is on my list with this baby. It would be so nice to have and just put me at ease! Check out this Summer Infant In View Digital monitor.


Rocking chair- a good quality one. These are more expensive but ours only lasted for 1 child. Honestly, if you can get the actual couch like chair I think that would last you longer. We had one of the rockers and ottoman sets that had springs in the butt, under the cushion that broke and it creaked too much right from the get go. It literally got used to death. Which is good, but it would have been nice if it lasted for longer than 1 kid for the price that it cost (around $250) Oh and choose a darker fabric. There could be spit up or poop or other things that make it onto the chair. Get something dark so that stains or spots aren't easily seen after a quick wipe off.
Changing table- invest in a midsize dresser and a comfy changing mat and some cute new shelves. It will grow with your child. In our house, we do not have a changing table at all. We have a high set old desk table with a changing pad on it and a cute cover. We really don't use it and it becomes storage very quickly because we change all the diapers on our bed in the beginning or the floor as they get bigger. I just put a large size quilt down under baby on our bed or floor to avoid getting poop all over everything.


WHAT YOU DON'T NEED

Fancy nursing pillow- Boppy pillow will do just fine nothing that will cost you an arm and a leg. You can accessorize with a cute cover, but that will just cost more money. Keep in mind these get milk all over them. Make sure that it has or you get a washable cover on it though so that you can wash it easily.

Crib bumper and special bedding sets- Bumpers aren't recommended to be used anymore in the cribs, and we only have used it for decoration. You don't want it on there in the early days for fear of the baby getting stuck against it and heaven forbid, suffocating in it. And then as they start standing or getting curious about climbing they will use it to climb up on and climb out the crib. (Mason did that one.) We never used the bumper for Collin.

Nursing cover- These might be great as a first time mom in the beginning but really, they are/can be difficult to use. The baby gets super hot under them, it is hard to see and make sure they have and keep a good latch. And as they get older, the baby will take it off anyways. A large blanket will do trick for modesty in the beginning, but at some point, nursing will become second nature to you and covering up won't be a big deal.

Bottle Sterilizer- Nope don't need it. Get dishwasher safe bottles. It is easier to throw them in the dishwasher and let it go.

Bottle Warmer- Nope takes up space on your counters.

Designer Burp Cloths- Although they might be nice and have cute sayings on them. Invest in a single plastic style one or get 2 so you can have one that needs to be cleaned and one that is ready to go. We love the Baby Björn. Easy to clean and fits many sizes of children.

Wipe Warmer- We still have one that was for our first child, who is about to turn 5, that I registered for thinking I would use, and it has never been used. So...I am thinking it might be good to use this winter, however, the warmer will dry out the wipes. That is why we never used it. That was the number one thing I was told. Wipe warmer dries out the wipes and wastes money.

Bassinet- Don't have to have one of these specifically. The baby will grow out of it in the first 4 months. We borrowed one from a friend for Mason, and actually had it downstairs so that he could nap while I was in the kitchen cleaning or cooking. We use the pack-n-play as our bassinet. Which can be used later as a safe place to put your baby when you are doing things around the house as they get older.

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Second Pregnancy Stitch Fix Keepers

Well, time for me to send my clothing back that I am not going to be getting. I ran a couple of polls on Facebook and Instagram asking for help because I really was torn on what to get. I knew I wasn't going to get all of them, the scarf. Just can't do it! So I had to decide. And I was so surprised with how many people loved the maxi dress. Honestly, the fit wasn't the best but the color...AMAZING! Teal is my color for sure! So...what did I decide on...Here were the choices again:
So...What did I get?

The sea foam green and grey top and the black and white stripe shirt. Both by Half Moon Maternity. I knew even before I put on the grey top that I was going to get it. It is so me. Simple, soft, but has a pop of color on it that is perfect for my hair. And the fact that it doesn't have the pregnancy ruching on the side means that I can wear it post pregnancy and not feel guilty about it! The stripe shirt, as I said yesterday, I didn't think I would like it but I LOVED IT ON ME! It was so flattering and really made me fell like I wasn't all that pregnant. That I still had my normal body under. HELLO SMALL WAIST! So I went with these two items! YAY! So excited! I am sad though as these will be my last pregnancy fix. I get them every 3 months and the next one arrives in Oct. I don't think I will be back to my normal size (or smaller) by then as I will have just had the baby. I will delay my next fix until November or December probably for this reason. I am so excited though knowing that I can actually wear the clothing from Stitch Fix now. Makes all the hard work I did before getting pregnant and even while pregnant all the more worth while!

Are you ready for your first fix? CLICK HERE to get scheduled today! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

Friday, July 15, 2016

Second Pregnancy Stitch Fix Items

Guess what I got in the mail this week??? HURRAY FOR STITCH FIX! Join me in my dressing room (as it were!) Just to put this out there, I normally hate trying on clothing. I usually am disappointed, but I LOVE this service so much. It is fun to see what someone who actually knows what they are doing choose for me. So...here we go! My stylists is amazing. Not only did she listen to the feedback I provided, but she checked out my Pinterest board and even read through my blog posts to get more insight into me. So Patricia, if you are reading this...THANKS and HI!

This second fix was great!

My 5 items were:

Item A&A2: Long teal and navy print maxi dress. Partnered with a solid super soft teal pregnancy shirt which is also so super soft!
Item B: Teal and sea foam green top- so soft!
Item C: Black and White Stripe Top
Item D: Elephant print infinity scarf. So super soft and luxurious.
My thoughts on this fix. I am not a scarf person. I don't really like things up on my neck area. Even in the winter, I try to avoid them if I can. Cowell necks are really as close as I get to scarfs, and even then those still bother me a little. I don't know how people wear them just as an accessory. I love my neck. My grandmother always commented on how beautiful my neck was, (she was very sweet and loving), and I just don't like to cover it up! But I will say this about the scarf, it was so soft and delicate and beautiful pattern. It just isn't for me. I included the pictures so you can see it!

The maxi dress was great. My stylist is trying to get me to wear patterns, I just personally didn't like how it fit. When I think Maxi dresses, I think more stretchy and give. And this one did not have much room for me in the hips. Might be, because my butt and hips have expanded, but still, the dress just wasn't for me. And my stylist included a shirt for under the dress, which was AWESOME and the perfect color. I love the shirt. It is just a solid teal shirt but oh so very soft! (maybe the scarf could have gone with that too??)

Down to my last two items. One I loved before I even put on the other I thought I wouldn't like it but ended up loving it on me! hmmmmm. which one did I choose??? I knew I would love the grey and sea foam green shirt. The black and white stripes, I didn't think it would flatter me very much because they are horizontal stripes. But the pattern on it actually made me look AMAZING! And even accented my waist (yes I still have a waist at 30 weeks pregnant.) It actually made me look amazing!

So...What will it be. A, B, or C? What do you think? Which do you like best?
Are you ready for your first fix? CLICK HERE to get scheduled today! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Bump Update: 30 Weeks




It's the final countdown! (cue synthesizer!) After this week I will be in the single digits of how many weeks are left until my due date. So mentally I am celebrating the fact that I can say 10 weeks, but I am also getting nervous. Not about birth or labor but about how much our lives are going to change with #3 here in the house. (I am one of the crazy ones that actually like birthing a baby, unmedicated. I feel strong and even more empowered and it is a total Badass moment for me!) But life is going to change so much. One more mouth to feed. One more direction to be pulled. One more child to love. It is exciting, but so very surreal at this point thinking of it.

Her nursery is almost done! YAY! I know she won't be using it for awhile, but it is still nice to have it set up and ready. And honestly, I didn't plan on doing as much as I am. like new crib sheets. I wasn't planning on getting new ones, but when you find some that are the exact theme, you have to get them! I can't wait to show you how it looks! I just sit in there after I put the boys down for bed and just soak it all in. Seeing my vision of 5 years on how I would decorate my little girls room come to life is pretty amazing!  
Nesting has definitely set in. Remember when I mentioned that I just didn't care to clean or do anything? Well, I care now! My house is actually looking pretty dang good. Kitchen is being kept up with. Basement is picked up. I just can't stand messes right now. If it is cluttered it gets under my skin. We just have a couple more rooms left to organize and the house will be ready to go for Elyse to join the family, and family to visit! (10 weeks, family will be here! WOW!) 


Total Weight Gain: Gained 16.7 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 254.4 pounds. Up .4 from last week! YAY! Trying to be Junk Free in July is WORKING! (it is our theme for this month in my exclusive health and fitness support group)

Symptoms: Minor heartburn this week. Trying not to eat too close to bed time. We are eating dinner around 5:30 pm most night instead of an hour later, like we do when I am teaching. So that has helped a lot. Peeing a ton! But I am making sure I am drinking tons of water though so I don't get dehydrated. My new rule, after every time I go to the bathroom I drink more water.
Baby’s Size: Butternut Squash (~17 inches inches, 3.1 pounds)
Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts. Wearing my new Fabletics sports bra in these pictures and LOVE THEM and the fun colors! A ton more coverage and super comfy!
Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. So nothing new. I am using Honest Company belly balm right now though to help my belly stretch so I do not get any new ones.
Gender: GIRL!!! 
Sleep: Sleep is like never ending for me. I am up at 11:30pm, 1:30am, and 3:30am without fail to use the bathroom. Then I have a hard time falling asleep again, and then Matt is up for work around 5am so I get up then too. Basically I am up every 2 hours to pee! Nights just seem to drag since I can't get comfy, or back to sleep easily. Oh and she likes to move A TON around the 11:30-midnight wake up. It is crazy how active she gets! 
Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night. 
Cravings: Veggies. Are really the only thing I really have to have with my meals. I really don't have any cravings of things that "I have to have". I just really enjoy eating good foods. 
Aversions: Sweets taste too sweet for me, so I can only handle a little at a time. I guess that is my only aversion.
Excited About: This is the last week in the double digits for counting down the weeks. 10 weeks until my due date. It is getting real. I did get some of the nursery set up. Just waiting for a few more pieces and I will share with you what I did and what it looks like. Still trying to force myself from getting my go bag ready and setting up the pack-n-play. But waiting a little longer before I do that.
Workouts: Okay this week! I only got in 4 days this past week. My regular Workouts include: 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity and Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts in daily. Still trying to get in walks everyday for the kiddos at night, but it didn't happen every night with the rain and thunderstorms.
Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!
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