Heidi Kukoly - Real Life, Real Talk

This is a tough one. Aren't we all a little guilty at one time or another of judging somebody?  Think about it- you see the mom on her phone not paying attention to her child at the playground- you think "Jeez, lady, spend time with you kid instead of playing on facebook!" Completely discrediting anything that may have happened during her day or what she may be dealing with on the back end. Maybe she had made cookies with her child earlier that day, cleaned the house while the little one napped, took the kiddo to lunch and then received a phone call that she lost her job and just needed somewhere to get a break all while allowing her child some playtime. Who really knows? Maybe her kid had been having meltdowns all day and she was about to pull her hair out- she needed a break! A break before she broke. So, there she was- at the park- searching through google to find out "how to discipline a strong willed child"! I don't know but either way she was j...

Well, as it happens to most families with young children that start school, our family got the sick bug. We've all had it but Ritter is the OG, the one who contacted the cold and shared it with the rest of us. I started feeling bad Friday and am finally feeling better, almost like my normal self, TODAY! So, I celebrate! Seriously, why not? I am a working mom! I'm running an entire household and I've been sick! That is NO FUN! Like, none. And, sidenote, I think mom's shouldn't be allowed to get sick. Just sayin'. I celebrate because I have felt terrible the last few days (and, as most moms do, felt terrible that I felt terrible- which is annoying- why do we do that?!) and NOW- FINALLY- I'm feeling better! Good enough to refocus on my schedule, goals and recognize all that I can accomplish! Yes! I celebrate.  But why do I share this with you? Well, because I feel like, as women, we mostly are getting on to ourselves, putting ourselves down, feeling guilt...

Ritter, my youngest, woke up this am and he's the kid that is ready to go the minute his little eyes open! So, I grabbed his vitamins and handed him some yogurt but before I let him go watch cartoons I asked him what his affirmations for the day were. He responded with "I am cute! I am funny! I am HAPPY!" Okay, I must admit a little that every time he gives me his affirmations it brings a tear to my eye but there is usually a little coaching involved...I give him examples of some things he could say but that was different today. He gave me his affirmations all on his own! No coaching involved! AND he said "I AM HAPPY!" Isn't that what we all want? To be happy? I know that's the case for me. I once read something that said: "I was once given an assignment to explain what I wanted to be when I grew up and I wrote down 'Happy.' The teacher replied 'You didn't understand the assignment' and I replied 'You must not understand...

Okay, seriously- school lunch packing is NO JOKE. It's definitely a challenge making sure that your kid is eating healthy foods but I stand firm on that I am the MOM and I'm not gonna let these tiny humans boss me around! Haha, I hope you took that serious...haha, I mean I was saying it with enthusiasm and confidence! No? Still not buying it? Okay...okay.... but I really do try! :) But serioulsy, I HAVE to, like seriously HAVE TO, include some healthy stuff. I feel a gut wrenching level of guilt if I don't make sure my kid is putting healthy foods into his little body. (Obviously, he gets his share of popsicles, candy, cake-pops etc. but I do what I can to make sure he also gets his share of the good stuff!) So, here it is- a few lunch box ideas I have sent my kiddo to school with. Main Dish: Tuna Salad* Tuna Sandwhich Egg Salad Sandwhich Ham & Cheese Roll-ups* Salami & Cheese* Pepperoni & Cheese* Turkey & Cheese* PBJ Grilled Cheese R...

Okay, okay- that may sound like a silly question but I'm serious. I started drinking protein/meal replacement shakes a couple of years ago. They have been a total game changer for me, to the point that I can't imagine life without them! I talk with a lot of people that just can't imagine drinking their breakfast, lunch or dinner though. Which brings me to believing that most people have to chew their calories in order to FEEL like they are getting enough food. The problem is- when it comes to food many people go to what's convenient first, which typically ends up being something unhealthy or something that they THINK is healthy but in actuality it's not. Shakes; however, are both convenient AND healthy (well, depending on what you're putting in them- don't worry, we'll get to that!). So, think about it for yourself. Can you sub out your most unhealthy meal with a shake that's full of protein, healthy fat, low calories, little to no sugar, actually ...

First I'd like to start by saying "Sorry!!"  Sorry, it's been such a long time since I've posted.  To say I've been busy is an understatement.  So, I posted at 35 weeks, which was about 11 weeks ago and I seriously can't even remember that far back.  What I can tell you is that the last few weeks of my pregnancy flew by!  It was rough as hell but it flew by.  I was hot and huge.  I can't even begin to express the extreme differences of being 9 months pregnant and due in the winter vs the summer.  There is no comparison...I repeat....THERE IS NO COMPARISON.  I thanked God that I was due when I was...I couldn't have gone through the entire summer...oh, I'd have died if I weren't due until August or, even worse, September.  Hot Hot Hot!  Whew!  All I did was complain.  Everything was a challenge...from working, to Bodyflow, to taking care of Emil and so on.  Everything was so hard to do.  All I wanted t...