First Time Mom and Losing It

Weight: I lost 1 pound for a total of 56 pounds lost.

Nutrition: I was very mindful of what I ate almost the whole week and followed the Skinny Jane Diet when I was home. I had Red Lobster after we went to LEGOLAND. I had the four course special and shared my soup and dessert with my husband but I could have made a better choice with the entree.

Exercise: I went to the gym two times this week and did 3 Turbo Jam exercise DVDs. On my best day at the gym I did 44 minutes on the ellipitcal, 6 minutes on the arc trainer and a 15 minute hill on the treadmill.

I am super proud to say that I finally came out of my little cardio bubble and tried the weight machines. I was always hesitant because this section of the gym is full of buff guys that look like they know what they are doing. I was nervous that I wouldn't know how to use the machines and get in their way. Since the machines were a lot like the machines I used to use a few years ago I just jumped right in and got a full body workout.

Last Weeks Goals:

• Go to the Gym Three Times - GOAL MET
• Strength Training Three Times - GOAL MET
• Continue Skinny Jane Diet - GOAL MET
• Keep Track of Water Intake - GOAL MET

This Weeks Goals:

• Go to the gym or do an exercise DVD at least 3 times. 
• Weight Machines or Toning DVD 3 times
• Continue Plank Challenge
• Make healthy choices when eating out. 

*I was given complimentary tickets to facilitate an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own. 



Living in NYC there is a lot to do. Most of those things are just a train ride away in Manhattan. During the summer months trains get used more often and tourist attractions get super packed. I prefer to head out in the opposite direction for my shopping, dining and entertainment. I like to go to Yonkers where they have lots to do without it getting overly crowded.

My husband and I discovered the Ridge Hill Mall about a year ago and have been going ever since. The coolest place at Ridge Hill Mall is LEGOLAND Discovery Center! My daughter has been playing with their Duplo Sets since she was about 9 months old. I couldn't wait until she was old enough to enjoy LEGOLAND Discovery Center. I decided that at two my daughter was old enough to enjoy and experience LEGOLAND. I was a bit apprehensive as we drove down to LEGOLAND. This was going to be her first experience in a place like this and we all know how unpredictable toddlers are.


As soon as she saw the front of LEGOLAND and it's logo she told me "Mama, LEGOS!"


First we went through the LEGO Factory Tour. The LEGO "Scientist" explained how the LEGO bricks are made.


Then my daughter got to play with a LEGO Building app which she really enjoyed.


Next was the Kingdom Quest Ride where you get to zap trolls and skeletons that come out at you. My daughter was a bit too little for the ride so we didn't get to go on.


After that is MiniLand where scenes of areas like the Statue of Liberty and Times Square are built out of LEGO bricks.




In the middle area there is a huge indoor playground for kids to play in. Again my daughter was too little for this one. There is also a place to build cars out of LEGO bricks to race them and a place to build towers and let the earthquake simulation knock them down.



The cream of the crop from my daughter was the Duplo Village.


There was a huge pool of gigantic LEGO bricks.



There was also a pool of Duplo Bricks.



Over on the other side was a cute little house to climb in and a super safe slide to slide down in.


There is also a cute LEGO Friends area geared toward girls. A 4D Cinema where you can watch 15 minute movies starring LEGO characters and a super clean and spacious Cafe. I love that the Cafe offered lots of healthy options.

We spent most of the time in the Duplo Village. Be prepared for your toddler to never want to leave! I will definitely be going again soon so that my daughter can enjoy the gigantic LEGO bricks again and maybe catch one of the 4D movies.

If you are in the NYC area and want to do something fun and away from tourist attractions I highly recommend the LEGOLAND Discovery Center at the Ridge Hill Mall in Westchester. The Ridge Hill Mall also has lots of shops, restaurants and a theater to go to before or after LEGOLAND. To find out more about LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Westchester check out their website: http://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/westchester/

I have been seeing these super cool ice molds all over the place. One of my favorite celebrity chefs, Geoffrey Zakarian uses these huge ice cubes in his cocktail recipes. I don't drink so I decided to make myself a fun drink with the Ice Ball Molds.


I gave up soda but I still allow myself to have some seltzer water with a squeeze of lemon when I get the urge. I thought it would be fun to try it with some fruit puree ice balls.


I love how the large ice ball slowly dissolves and gives me a nice fruity taste without watering down the seltzer like an ordinary ice cube would.


The Ice Ball Molds come in packs of three with a funnel. All you have to do is put the two halves of the ice ball molds together, place the funnel in the hole on top and pour in your liquid. Place in the freezer and wait until they are frozen solid. Separate the ball halves and pop out the ice balls.


Refreshing Fruit Soda

Ingredients:
1/2 cup pitted cherries
1/4 cup blackberries
1/4 cup blueberries
1/2 cup water
3 cups plain seltzer water.

Directions:

1. Place all of the fruit and water in a blender and blend until it is completely liquefied. 
2. Run through a fine mesh strainer to get any remaining solids and seeds out. 
3. Place funnel in hole of ice ball mold and carefully pour in fruit puree to the fill line. 
   
4. Place in freezer for at least 3 hours. 
5. Pour seltzer water into glass cup. 
   
6. Pop out one of the fruit puree ice balls and place in cup with seltzer. 
7. Enjoy!