Cleaning Up the Diet

You may remember that I did the Advocare 24 day challenge last Spring. I cleaned up my diet, lost almost 10 pounds (and several inches), gained a lot of energy, and got a jump-start on getting rid of those last pounds I gained with the twins. I gained a good bit of weight during that pregnancy and once I turned 30, it was NOT easy to get rid of!! So I decided to start the new year, another challenge was in order to get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight and to get healthier. 

After the 10 day cleanse phase, I was down 4.6 pounds. I lost a lot of bloat and felt so much better and healthier!

I've got 1.5 weeks left in the challenge and I'm still going strong. I'm down 6 pounds since starting the challenge. I started eating the "advocare way" (lean proteins, lots of fruits/veggies, small amounts of complex carbs) 5 days before starting the challenge, and since then I've lost 8.6 pounds. I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight now and once I get to my ultimate goal (which, to be honest, I don't even really know what that is) I plan on working to tone up and tighten.

I wanted to share some of my favorite Advocare-friendly recipes with you. 

Some are just links to other sites, and some are my own.

These zucchini boats are awesome! I've seen recipes for a taco version but I made mine Italian with some natural marinara sauce, and some Italian herbs and spices. 

And these could not be easier. 

- Cut the ends off your zucchini and slice them in half. Spoon out some of the core/seeds so your meat sauce has a little "ditch" to sit in. Bake for about 10 minutes at 375. You can sprinkle some herbs/spices on them as well to help add even more flavor to this dish.

- Meanwhile, brown your lean ground beef or turkey, add in any italian seasonings you like, and pour in jar of marinara sauce. I used Alessi's all natural chunky marinara, but you could make your own. 

- Let your sauce cook together for several minutes, then spoon meat sauce into "boats". 

- Throw back in oven for 10-12 minutes, or until zucchini is to your preferred tenderness.

You can definitely serve this with a small portion of whole wheat pasta, but I usually like to skip carbs at dinner. Top with a little cheese if desired. It's delicious without it, though!

I love me some ground turkey!! One of my favorite things is a good lettuce-wrapped turkey burger. Using a whole wheat bun is totally fine, but on this particular night, I did have a baked sweet potato with it, so I held the bun.

Last week, I made a tasty chicken stir-fry and it could not have been easier.

I diced up some boneless skinless chicken breasts and let them brown. 

Then I dumped in a bag of frozen Asian vegetable medley, seasoned it all up with some garlic powder, ground ginger, a little sesame oil(a little goes a long way), soy sauce, and a little bit of bottled teriyaki sauce. I added in some extra broccoli for even more veggies. 

It was so good and filling. I served it over just a little bit of brown rice and it was delicious!!!

Last night, I made "Cracker Barrel" chicken tenders. They were really good, but I'm not sure they taste too much like CB's.

There are 573(I may be exaggerating) different links with the exact same recipe. Search Pinterest and you'll find them. Basically, you marinate chicken tenders in some Italian dressing, honey, and lime juice. I let mine marinate for almost 3 hours. Cook them in a skillet, but be careful! That honey will make them burn and your skillet will be a mess. 

Some people say to pour the entire contents of the bag (chicken and marinade) into the skillet. I did not do that. Just my preference.

I served them with some cauliflower mash and sliced tomato. If you haven't discovered cauliflower mash, you MUST try it. 

I boil an entire head of cauliflower florets in water (add in one chicken bouillon cube) until fork tender.

Drain and return to pot and hot stove to let some of the water cook out. These things hold in the water like something awful! You have to let the extra liquid cook out.

After it's cooked out a good bit, I added just a splash of unsweetened almond milk, some minced garlic, seasoned salt, and I did add in a tiny bit of shredded cheese. This seems to help take out that cauliflower flavor. (I hate raw cauliflower) If you're craving some mashed potatoes but want a healthier alternative, I'm telling you...these are amazing!!! Look up recipes on Pinterest for more inspiration.

One of my absolute favorite recipes I've discovered is Asian Turkey Lettuce Wraps.

A lot of times, I'll use ground chicken. My husband prefers the chicken over the turkey. Tastes the same to me, but I pick my battles. :)

This is great served over brown rice as well.

I also made some simple taco bowls last week. Brown lean ground beef (or turkey) and add in low sodium taco seasoning packet. I added in a can of rotel, some diced green bell pepper, and black beans. You can add in some corn, and anything else you would like in a taco bowl. I added the mixture to some shredded lettuce and a little brown rice, topped with a small drizzle of salsa, and a few jalapeños. So yummy!

Once the 24 day challenge is over, I plan on sticking with this way of eating. I will certainly incorporate coffee back into my morning, 'cause I'm not depriving myself of something I love that much. I am doing without it for this challenge, though, and I must admit that I miss it. 

My fruit punch Spark drink helps keep me energized, though. 

I firmly believe you should allow yourself one cheat meal a week. If you've got that reward to look forward to, you're more likely to stick to eating healthy the rest of the week. Plus, life is too short to deprive yourself of the things you love. You love a good cheeseburger? Have it. That PSL from Starbucks float your boat? Enjoy that. Want a yummy "Hot Now" donut for a treat?(chocolate iced, with kreme filling, in case you're wondering what kind I like) Dive right in. Just eat right the rest of the week and have that little reward waiting on you one time a week. One of them...not all of them. ;)
I've already decided my first cheat meal will be some yummy, cheesy pizza!!! Mmmm.....

If you're interested in learning more about Advocare, go check it out for yourself. I'm not a distributor and I don't sell it or have any financial interest in it. I just like passing things along. :)

Hope 2015 is off to a good start for you!!!

'Tis the Season for the Sickies

Have you been hit by the crud that's going around? I hope not. A school near our town has over 150 students who are showing flu-like symptoms. 150!!! I've heard the flu vaccine hasn't shown to be very effective this year, since it's not targeting the main strain of the flu that seems to be going around.

No flu for me, thank goodness, but I have been dealing with a bad cold (thanks, Joseph!) for the last week or so. My poor mom DOES have the flu, but she's on her way to feeling better.

I'm finally losing the nagging cough I was holding onto, and the congestion and stuffiness is decreasing as well. Being sick is the worst, especially during the holidays! We haven't felt like doing any of the fun things we normally do.

Anyway, here's a little recap of the last week....

Friday before last, we went out to the mall and decided to stop and see Santa. 

It went a little like this....

I'm not sure when they'll realize the purple chair doesn't really go.

Wait for it.....

Last Tuesday, Joseph and I celebrated 8 years of marriage!

My mom offered to come up and keep the kids so we could go to dinner. A real, big people dinner. We went to The Bottle and it was delicious.

Open-faced BLT, hmmm!!

We also went to see Mockingjay with the other 3 people in the theater. It was nice going on a weeknight. A little disappointed in the movie, but whatever. Hopefully the final one will live up to the book.

The next day, I woke up feeling like death and hung onto to a fever for a little bit. I didn't even want my coffee for like 5 whole days.

The only thing that saved me was DayQuil. Of course, it masks how you really feel so when that stuff wears off, watch out!

I was determined to make it to Joseph's office Christmas party on Saturday if I could, so I made some soup and drank hot tea with honey and lemon like crazy. My fever went away and I slowly started feeling a tiny bit more human, and of course with the help of my beloved DayQuil, I made it to the party. I'm not sure I was the best date that night, but I was there. HA!

Pretty sure I coughed my lungs up all night, which was super attractive. ;-)

I can't believe Christmas is one week away. Anyone else a little relieved? HA! 

We've still got Christmas lights to go see, gingerbread houses to make, and I haven't even baked the first cherry chip loaf this year. I've gotta get busy now that I'm feeling better.

Selecting The Perfect Christmas Card from Minted

I love sending (and receiving) Christmas cards each year. It always brightens my day to open up an envelope and see a beautiful family smiling at me.

When deciding which card will make the cut each year, I look at a few different things, such as quality, price, and design options. Honestly, the most important one for me is the design options. I'll pay a little more for a design I really like, especially if they offer more personalization options as well (shape, back, paper type, colors, etc). 

After looking for the perfect card this year, I found SO many favorites. Seriously, it's going to be really hard to narrow it down to one. Minted has an extensive selection of photo Christmas cards. Whether you like something that's traditional, whimsical, classy, funny, or even a booklet (yes, they have these awesome booklets and mini books!), they are certain to have a card for you!

I wanted to share some of my favorites with you and encourage you to check them out.

I've got to find a time to tackle a few family pictures and get mine ordered ASAP!

**You can click on links to be taken to the card where you can see personalization options, pricing info, and more.

Merry & Bright Hand Lettered

I love how this one is just the perfect amount of whimsy.
It's simple and classy, yet a little fun with the cute fonts.

Merry Wish

I like how different this one is. It stood out to me because it's not one you see everywhere else. I like the creativity of using the greeting to form a Christmas tree.

Confetti Joy

Simply stated and elegant.

Festive Four

Such a cute ornament card. They have several different styles.

Love the different options for the back.

Southern Accent

A great option for something fun. Perfect for this Alabama girl.

Warm Hugs

Dying over this one!!! Frozen was so huge this year, I have a feeling this one will be popular. :)

Engraved

First of all, how precious is that picture?? Reminds me of the pictures we took last year when the twins were newborns. 

And I LOVE this new (ish) trend of the foil-pressed letters. So elegant and pretty.

Winter Brush

They also offer the foil-pressed cards in silver and rose gold colors. Loving the rose gold on this card. This is one that'll never go out of style. Very classic.

So if you're still looking for that perfect holiday card, be sure to head over to Minted and check out what they have. Their selection is one of the best I've seen out there, and they offer every kind of coordinating item you can think of.

Right now, they're offering 15% off AND free shipping with code SNOW15FS. It ends Monday, so act fast! You might even find a few other discounts they've got right now that interest you.

Now I have to go figure out which one will be the winner. It's going to be a tough decision.

Have a Happy Saturday, and ROLL TIDE!!!

I received a credit from Minted in exchange for this review/post. All opinions are my own.

Christmas Gift Ideas For The Foodie

I'm a big foodie, and I know a lot of foodies as well, so I thought I'd share a few items I think would make great Christmas gifts for the foodie in your life.

KitchenAid Immersion Hand Blender

Currently only $32 at Target, this is a great deal on a kitchen gadget I love to use. Especially during the cold months when I'm making a lot of soup, I love using it to blend up my potato soup to make it thick and creamy, while still leaving some big chunks. I love mine!

Keurig 2.0 K500 Coffee Maker with Carafe

I basically just love this because of the touchscreen! HAHA! But seriously, I l-o-v-e my Keurig and depend on it every morning. This summer when we stayed at a condo at the beach, they had a normal coffee maker. This girl doesn't remember how to use such an archaic contraption as that!! Seriously, I had to read the instructions. I also love that this one has the carafe, and can brew enough coffee for a crowd at one time if needed. It's not the cheapest piece of machinery in the world, which is why I'm still using my "old" Keurig. :)

Omaha Steaks Classic Christmas Collection

Have you ever ordered anything from Omaha Steaks?? If you said no, then leave this blog right now and get on the ball!! OK, maybe finish reading first, then get on it. Their customer service is top notch and their steaks come out so tasty and tender. They have SO many different things...every cut of steak you can imagine, roasts, burgers, franks, chicken, pork, fish, tons of sides, desserts, chocolates, wine...I mean, they have errthing. 

Dang, now I want some steak and chocolate.

NatureBox is one of those ever so popular monthly subscription services, and you get 5 full sized snacks delivered to your door every month.

I've yet to try it out, but have been very curious. They have lots of snacks to choose from....sweet, salty, savory, chewy, fruity.....and they all look tasty and healthy!

Did y'all know Target makes like 237 kinds of trail mix? OK, not quite that much, but they make a lot of different varieties.
I personally love the Tex Mex, but I've got my sights set on the Ice Cinnamon Roll. Sweet glory!!

If you know someone who likes it spicy, but not like "uuugggghhh" spicy, this is for them.
Name that commercial...

What are some of your favorite foodie gift finds?? I might need to be on the lookout for them. ;-)
Have an awesome weekend!

Gobble 'til You Wobble

It's been kind of a whirlwind since Thanksgiving last week, but I just wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from the day.

I wanted to take some pictures before we left for Gadsden in the same chair we took them in last year, for comparison's sake.

Nailed it!!

My favorite.

**You can tell I edited that one a bit. Ain't nobody got time to edit them all!

I've just come to terms that this is how every photo session will be from here on out. But I still try.

And CUT!

So, here's the comparison from last year to this year.

 My turkeys have grown so much!

 Battling this little girl over her hair bow is a regular thing, too.

Make your Raegan face!

My mom, AKA: Hostess extraordinaire, cooked a delicious spread and as usual, was a gracious host who made sure her guests had everything they needed.

The kids, of course, were like escaped prisoners in my parents' house. The twins aren't used to such freedom. :) I was also reminded of why we utilize the "baby jail".

I've spent many many Thanksgivings with this guy, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I didn't contribute much (my mom won't allow it!), but I did make my sweet potato casserole since I've appointed myself the person in charge of that dish.

I skimped on the pecans, clearly, but it was still tasty.

Don't let this smile fool you.

This is how Raegan looked 80% of the time. Talk about a bad mood!

I was making sure my camera's settings were right before we took a few family pics. Hudson was ready, huh??? HAHA, creeper alert!

I'm just gonna photoshop in a smile on Grayson's face here.  

The step!!! My parents have ONE STEP in their house, between the den and the kitchen, and it's always been just the coolest thing ever to our kids. It was to Hudson and now it is to the twins. Raegan was determined to conquer that thing.

It took a little while, but she figured out the best technique.

Army crawl.

Success!

We had a great Thanksgiving eating too much food and visiting with family. I'd love to say that the kids had a great time, but they were honestly exhausted, especially Raegan. It's hard traveling with 3 young children, even if it's just an hour and a half away. We had our families come to us last year because we had newborn twins, but it just doesn't seem fair to ask everyone to come up to us in multiple cars when it's just our family in one car. But seeing all my babies so exhausted, especially the fits Raegan was throwing, just breaks my heart. Nap time is precious in our house and they desperately need it. My boys slept the ENTIRE way home, but Raegan was only able to sleep about 30 minutes. She did lay down when we got home and we had to wake her up to eat dinner. :(
It was easy to lay Hudson down for a nap in a pack 'n play or something at someone's house. It's not so easy with 3. Nothing's easy with 3. Haha!

What does your family do when it comes to the holidays? Do you travel to your families, do they come to you, or do you alternate?

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!