I was born and raised in the south - Georgia to be exact. A southern accent and a love for things fried were 2 of the many gifts bestowed upon me for living there. So when I went there to visit over Memorial Day weekend I was a tad bit afraid. I was afraid that all of the hard work I had put into getting fit and losing weight was going to be undone. This wasn't because I thought I would eat at fast food restaurants or anything. It was because my mama CAN COOK! And I don't mean that she knows how to throw a meal in a crockpot or put a box in the microwave. That woman can make things taste amazing! Not only is she great at cooking Filipino Cuisine, but she is a master of Southern Cuisine as well. So in order to set myself up for success at my mama's house, I told her that I was eating healthy and needed to stay away from certain foods. I also told her not to fix anything special for me and that I could fend for myself. So what does she cook for breakfast the first morning? Sausage, biscuits, and gravy! My favorite! It was a trap,really. If I refused to eat it, I was being rude because she did prepare it especially for me. I was doomed and did what any Southern Belle would do. I ate a very conservative portion. In order to keep from consuming the whole pan of biscuits, I drank my Shakeology first. That seemed to work and that was what I did throughout my stay. It kept me from over indulging while still being able to enjoy the wonderful Southern Cuisine that my mama was so intent on feeding me. I was surrounded by grits, bacon, fried eggs, and biscuits in the mornings and steaks, salads, and grilled corn for supper. And even though I was not able to squeeze in any workout time, I managed to maintain my "pre-mama's house" weight! That was truly an accomplishment and I made sure that I shared my triumph with my husband at least 3 times on the morning of our last day there. You see, every time we've gone to visit my family we each gained 5-10 pounds. This time, thanks to my decision to take better care of myself and eat healthier (or at least in moderation) I finally broke the cycle and thwarted off those extra pounds. It was not an easy task, but I made it out without having to loosen my belt.

Another Mother's Day has come and gone. But if you're a mom, everyday is Mother's Day. It's true that somedays we cannot wait until our little ones fall asleep so that we can have that five minutes to ourselves. But secretly we would hold and cuddle our little ones every minute of the day if we could. Then how would breakfast, lunch, and dinner get done? Who would do bath time? Yes those things have to be done on a daily basis, but remember our little ones won't be so little for long and we have to cherish these moments while they are here. We may wish we could change our names from "Mama" to "Daddy", but we all know that our children's new favorite word would simply change to "Daddy". Even though we may feel like we never have a moment to ourselves, moms wouldn't want to miss a single moment that we get to spend with our children. We feel so blessed for every day that we have with our families. I know that if it weren't for my mama and all of the sacrifices she made for my brother and sister and me, we would not be the caring people that we are. So, I hope that all of you moms, mamas, mothers, and mommas out there can appreciate the love and respect that your children have for you for everything that you do for them. You are sooooo appreciated. Even if their little voices cannot express their love for you today, just look into their eyes and see how they light up when they look at you. Feel their tiny arms as they cling to you when they are sad or afraid. There is no one out there like you - you are their mama.

Quick and easy Breakfast Burrito