Healthy Protein Treats!!!

I get asked a lot about my smoothie bowls and energy bites, so I want to share with you here these tasty treats and how to make them - and impress a crowd in the process!!!

So why is protein important for our body?  Whenever we have protein in our morning we feel more energized by the afternoon, so this is awesome post AM workout! It's going to help your body recover which will give you lean muscle, increase your metabolism, and help you with your energy and keep that blood sugar level dipping with those hunger pains in the afternoon.😬 💪Not an early morning worker-outer or feeling that midday crash? Sometimes in the afternoon, we need that pick me up, I can't really handle caffeine in th afternoon so this is an amazing substitute for me if I didn't have it post AM workout!

Each time I serve these energy bites, they are a true crowd pleaser

Energy Bites

●1 Cup natural peanut or almond butter●3/4 cup oats●1/4 cup honey●1 scoop chocolate or cafe latte shakeology--->Simply mix and roll into balls.  Put in fridge for 30 minutes before serving
***Optional Mix in's***●Chopped nuts or shredded coconut (unsweetened)●Dark chocolate (cocao)●Dried fruit (shown in second photo is raspberry)

Another go to of mine is this recipe for an energy bar - oh my goodness it's Cake Batter <3 http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/06/26/cake-batter-energy-bars/

My MAIN go to in the afternoon is a smoothie bowl, and this one is kinda my favorite!

 ☕Coffee Smoothie Bowl  ☕

●3/4 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk●1/4 cup chilled coffee (decaf for me post noon!)●2 ice cubes of vanilla almond milk●1/2 frozen banana (for creamyness)●1 scoop cafe latte Shakeology
Toppings:●Shredded coconut ●Slivered almonds●Dark chocolate If you're following the 21 Day Fix, your Containers are: 1Y, 1P, 1R and 1O ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~ ♡ ~

So why Shakeology? It's non GMO, gluten free, and whole foods nutrition. No artificial colors or flavors.  The ingredients are sourced from remote locations more free of pollutants and harmful chemicals.  It has personally helped me with my energy (I used to drink 4 cups of coffee a day) and my sweets tooth!  It's full of dense nutrition that tells the body, I have what I need now shed the rest. Plus during pregnancy, I was approved to have it in place of my prenatal, so hello, I'll take chocolate or coffee instead of something to remember to swallow!

What's a favorite energy bite or smoothie bowl you have tried?! I'm looking for new recipes!!!

Cookies for Santa!

This holiday season is going to be especially wonderful with the addition of our little girl!  She's not quite sure who Santa is yet at this point, though she did get to meet him!

I wanted to gift her caregivers something sweet for the holidays, and remembered how much I LOVED making cookies in a jar a few years ago for some friends and family!  They are seriously THE BEST cookies I've ever had.  I REALLY love them and get compliments any time they are gifted!  I hope the daycare girls love them as much as I do!

They turned out beautiful!  I created labels for them and printed them on some of the brown cardstock I had here at home. 

You can use these and print them yourself too!  Select the link itself to get the downloadable and printable version!

• Mason Jar Lid Toppers

• Santa Faces for Back of Tags

• Instructions for Tags

For the tags, I printed one side with Santa and the other side with the recipe. I use bakers twine to attach the tags and the bags of pecans to the jar.


Here's the full recipe I used for the cookies (originally on Bakerella - Cowgirl Cookies)

These are the ingredients you need to add in this specific layer into a large mason jar (1Quart size)

• 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cooking oats
• 3/4 cup m&ms
• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans

***If the nuts don't fit, do not fret!  You can do like I did and add them on the side in a little Ziploc bag!  I sometimes don't pack it down enough, so I add a little extra sugar to fill space.

These are the ingredients you're recipient will need to add once they've gotten their gift!

• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla

I always make myself a batch while I'm putting these together!  I just mix all my dry ingredients, add my wet ingredients and roll them into little balls.  From there I freeze all but a few on a baking sheet. Once they are frozen, plop them all into a large Ziploc bag so you can enjoy just one or two at a time.  They just take a few extra minutes to bake up in the oven!

To make them for yourself while packing some up in mason jars for gifts, after you've mixed your ingredients and made your cookie balls, heat the oven to 350 and bake for 8-10 min.  Enjoy!

Now go make some delicious cookies or put some together in cute mason jars for your friends and family!

Now when Santa comes, don't forget carrots for the reindeer ;)

QUESTION FOR YOU!
What are your favorite Christmas Cookies?

Freezer Meals For New Parents

This past weekend my family and I made a TON of freezer meals in preparation for Braelyn's arrival in the next 6-ish weeks or so (eek!).

I know a lot of my fellow #TIUpregnancy girls would love to know what we've made, so I've put it together for you in two word documents!  The first is the actual list of freezer meals and the ingredients/instructions.   The second file is a one page shopping list.  My shopping list was broken down by section of the store I find these ingredients in, thus I bundled them together to make shopping easier.  I spent about $400 total on all the food and packaging needs.

Please take note, there are not all TIU approved dinners.  Rather they are husband and wife approved!  My purpose of making these meals in advance was to give us some healthy meals (rather than running to Taco Bell or Sonic nightly out of exhaustion) as well as a few comfort foods to remind us of home.  We don't live near family, nor do we have a ton of friends around us to help out once our little one is here.  (BTW we totally miss everyone that's decided to move over the last year-ish...yea, we'll make new friends, but we miss you!)

With our freezer meals, I was able to make 16 different full meals.  Each meal has at least 4 servings with some even up to 24 servings (12 meals for each Neal and myself of our favorite...chicken enchiladas!)  We did a lot of "dinner" meals that will have leftovers for the next day's lunch.

We also made a few breakfast sandwiches, quiches, and breakfast meats in advance as we a HUGE breakfast eaters.  I know some people think it's strange, but I literally cook eggs and bacon or turkey sausage nearly every week day before work. I have always been big on breakfast!  If I'm not making that, we have steel cut oats with fruit or on occasion in a pinch, cereal.

Attached you will find my list of meals:  Freezer Meals by Lively Happenings

Attached here you will find a one page summary of the grocery list:  Freezer Meals by LH Grocery List

At the bottom of your first document (yes I know it's long, but that's 16 meals + some additional info!) you will find my notes/suggestions.  I recommend reading that section, even if you aren't interested in all of the meals. (also note, I'm not all about fixing my spelling mistakes everywhere...apologize, lazy mom to be on the little details!)

In the list of freezer meals, you will find the following delicious recipes for full meals, chicken broth, and the last 3 are items I freeze to add to meals!

1. Chicken Enchiladas
2. Chicken Quesadillas
3. Stuffed Shells
4. Quiche
5. Chicken Spectacular
6. Chicken & Broccoli
7. White Lasagna Chicken/Spinach
8. Shrimp Pasta
9. Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches (pinterest) (mama and baby love)
10. 16 Bean Soup
11. Chicken Broth
12. Cranberry Russian Chicken
13. Italian Beef for Crockpot
14. Beef Stew
15. Cranberry Pork Roast
16. White Chicken Chilli
17. Healthy Mama BBQ Chicken
18. Freeze Turkey Sausage Patties
19. Strawberry Slices for Oats
20. Cook and Freeze Bacon

 As a new breastfeeding mom, you may want to take into consideration what you are eating as that relates what your baby is getting from you.  A friend sent me this image for a non-colic diet for baby.  You can sub out ingedients in my meals to make your diet fit this more.

Original Post Found Here

Also, another friend has recommended the following to help breast milk supply

• Mother's Tea, found here in bulk on Amazon
• A serving a beer - yes even my doctor said this helps increase milk production. That doesn't mean drink a six pack, it means one beer...
• Oatmeal (hello delicious steel cut oats in the morning and maybe even an oatmeal cookie at lunch!)

Look for my future post were I'll give you some of my favorite "Energy Bites" recipes along with other snacks I plan to have on hand for post delivery at the hospital as well as scattered throughout the house to keep handy when I'm feeding the little one and can't quite move around a ton or make a meal.

I hope this post is helpful to you!  If you have other suggestions of great freezer meals or prep for baby, share below!!!

Fall Is Here! Weekly Meal Time!

Happy Fall Ya'll!


Finally cool enough to wear boots, a scarf, and my fuzzy vest!

It's time I jumped back into the swing of things and really get back to meal planning on here!  I have still planned meals for Neal and myself, but I haven't been sharing them as I haven't been as active on the blog, being more active with the Etsy shop!

This week on the menu we have

• Salad topped with chicken, bacon (mmmm) goat cheese, veggies and balsalmic (quick meal!)
• Tilapia and broccoli (easy peasy meal)
• Chicken Casserole
• Steak with asparagus and sweet potato (Neal's meal!)
• Pumpkin & Carrot Soup from Tone It Up

For my chicken this week, I'm getting a natural rotisserie chicken from the grocery store to make my dinners simple and allow us to have some extra chicken leftovers for our lunches! 

The tilapia will be ones from our freezer, and same with the steak.  I buy in bulk when meats go on sale at the Fresh Market and I freeze the meat.  Typically, I buy about 10 lbs of chicken, 6lbs steak, and then my tilapia I get in the frozen section at many grocery stores where they sell the big bags already frozen. The chicken and steak will last us about 2 months, pending on what our meal plans are each week (hence sometimes buying rotisserie chicken).  Also, it's so easy to pull out the fish in the morning (tilapia or salmon that's been frozen), put it in the fridge for the day, and cook it up at night!  I really like my dinners to be as easy and as whole food containing as possible! 


Salad + Chicken

I'll be combining fresh organic mixed greens, sweet peppers, chives, dried fruit (berry mix), bacon cooked from breakfast and crushed, goat cheese, 1/2 and avocado and rotisserie chicken.  For my dressing, I'm using a raspberry balsamic drizzled over the top with some fresh ground pepper and a little salt.  That's it!  Simple and easy!  To see more easy salads & dressings, check out this post.

Tilapia & broccoli
Tilapia:  I'm not marinating my tilapia this time and will just use Penzy spices Northwoods seasonings sprinkled on top as I cook it with a little oil in a pan on medium heat.

Broccoli:  To steam the broccoli, Neal and I use a small strainer filled to the brim with broccoli that's been salted and peppered slightly, then put into a bowl that has about 1/5 cup of water in it.  Then we put that in the microwave for 3 minutes or until the broccoli is tender.

Chicken Divan Casserole
This recipe came from Neal's mom!

• 20 oz frozen broccoli
• 3-4 chicken breasts, cooked and cut
• 1/2 cup toasted bread crumbs or crackers (using leftover bread butts to make ours)
• Cooking spray or 1T butter melted for the bottom of your pan (while oven is on, put the butter in the pan for 2 min and then pull pan out and swirl to move the butter)
• Sauce, combine the following in a bowl:
• 2 Cans cream of chicken soup (I'm doing mushroom for one can)
• 1 Cup Mayo (I'll probably knock it down to 1/3 C since mayo is a little much for me)
• 1t lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp curry powder
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheese (shred your own, it's SO much better!)

It's simple to make.  Layer the Broccoli and the chicken.  Pour your sauce over the mix.  Top it with bread crumbs.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Steak with asparagus and sweet potato
Steak:  on the grill with a little steak rub
Asparagus:  oven baked with this recipe using olive oil, lemon, salt pepper and garlic at 400 degrees for 10 min.
Sweet potato:  we will split one larger one oven baked at 400 degrees for about 35 min, or until tender.

Pumpkin and Carrot Soup
I can't wait to try this recipe from Tone It Up!  I love how easy this sounds and simple the ingredients are!

Healthy Meatloaf? Weekly Meal Planning

Hello!  I made it a goal to post at Lively Happenings blog at least 3 times a week more times than I can count!  I always say I'm going to do it, but of course my IT job needs to be done and later I work on Lively Happenings jewelry!  You know people just like me...the constant 'overachievers', ehh umm maybe I just called you out :) 

It seems I will be getting even a little busier soon...I'm going to start working at one of my favorite little shops on a few Saturdays each month, Busy Beedz!  I'm so excited that Alex, the owner asked me to join her team while she and her husband begin to start a family.  I'm sure I will learn a lot about making jewelry, find a fascination for new beads, and finally be doing something were I talk to people face to face, not just on the phone (yep still working the IT job from home).

However, when I am busiest, I am most organized.  Thus, I'm back to posting my weekly dinner plans!  I try to provide links or my own recipes for most of these delicious at home meals.  Since it's just Neal and myself, nearly every time we make dinner, we both get a delicious meal for lunch the next day!  BONUS!

This week's meals:

Healthy Meatloaf - Turkey and Spinach Meat Loaf
Served with Cauliflower and potato mash as was as braised greens with onion and sun-dried tomatoes.  Well, yea I have to leave the tomatoes out...allergies.
Here's your links:
     Meat Loaf
     Braised Greens
     Cauliflower and Potato Mash

• Chunk/cube 1 potato, 2 cups of chopped cauliflower, & 4 garlic cloves into a large pot. 
• Cover mix with water and boil for 25 minutes.
• Drain.
• Add in a little milk and about 1 T butter
• Mash & Enjoy!  (add more milk if needed)
• top with fresh chives, mmmm!

Chicken Fajitas - Serves 4
Marinate your Chicken

• 1.5lbs chicken
• 1 t Cumin
• 2 t Chili Powder
• 1 t Paprika
• Dash of Salt
• Garlic, minced - to your taste (more is better in my opinion!)
• 1 T Olive Oil
• Drop of Liquid Smoke
• 2oz Lime Juice - squeeze to your taste

Cut your veggies

• 1 Green Pepper, sliced
• 1 Onion, sliced
• Optional:  Mushrooms, Tomato, any other veggies your heart desires!

To Cook

• Put a skillet on Medium heat, add in your chicken.  While your chicken cooks, add in a little Creole seasoning for even more flavor. 
• Once chicken is cooked, add in your veggies and cook for another 3-5 minutes
• Serve with your toppings of choice on a whole wheat tortilla, collard green, or brown rice tortilla!

Fresh Burgers
I have been trying to be more natural & caring about the environment with so many things, and now I am finally buying meat when I can from local farmers with grass fed cows. 

Neal makes THE BEST BURGERS EVER!  Seriously, no other burger compares.  He puts garlic spices, salt, pepper, oats, siracha sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.  He never measures the ingredients, instead just going by what he 'feels' is the right amount.  These always turn out delicious!

I like to have goat cheese and avocado on my burger.  Then I have a side of carrots and chips.  Currently, I'm obsessed with Terra veggie chips!!!

Cajun Shrimp with Veggie Medley
Sorry, can't share this recipe with you!  It's part of the Tone it Up Nutrition Plan.  I love this plan, there's lots of great nutritional information and tasty meals.  Check it out here.

That's it!  Enjoy your Monday ya'll!!!!

Vacation Preparation!

I am beyond excited and feel so blessed to be able to go to the beach with two of our very best friends, Bob & Natasha!
 

Our first Alpha Chi Omega Formal! That's from 2006 (my 'freshman 15' days!)

 

 
We leave for Cancun on Saturday and get to spend 6 days with them, lounging around the pool, drinking Mexican beer & cocktails, enjoying all you can eat buffets, and forgetting about work!
 
Well, that all sounds good, but I don't want to fall completely off my healthy habits.  Last time I went to an all-inclusive resort like this was on our honeymoon!  However, I was completely out of commission for an ENTIRE day due to heartburn from the food and drinks.  This time, I'm going to do things a little differently!

On our honeymoon at Kimono's (Sandal's St. Lucia resort)


During our honeymoon, I hadn't yet been diagnosed with Eosinphillic Esophogitis, so little did I know that the mounds of salsa, spicy foods, coconut enhanced drinks, and just general consumption of food & alcohol were making my throat break out in a similar fashion as a rash one might get on their face, arm, etc from a food allergy.

An adventure tour in St. Lucia that ended at a waterfall!

 
This time around, I am going to prepare myself by indulging with at least a bite or two of my favorites.  You better believe that I will NOT turn down a cheesecake!  I will just share it with our group, or have only what I can eat without bursting out of my cute little outfits!  I plan on maintaining clean eating by filling my plates up with fruits in the morning and veggies throughout the day.

 
Also in preparation for the trip, I am doing the Tone It Up 5 Day Slimdown!  This is a mini version of the Tone it Up 7 Day Slimdown, both are provided after purchasing the Tone it Up Nutrition plan.  Your trainers & nutritionists, Karena & Katrina, provide practical recipes, guidance, and nutritional information to keep you going through their slim down plans & healthy living through well balanced meals. 
 
I am not trying to lose weight, rather I am doing the 5DSD to get myself balanced and cleansed, ready to hit the beach running (or snorkeling!).  Here's a little snip of this morning's 5 Day Slimdown Start of Bombshell Spell, Slim Down Scramble and my dogs after our AM Workout!

 
While on vacation, I'll stay active snorkeling, swimming, hopefully doing a yoga class on the beach (still haven't found out if the resort has that), and maybe visiting the on resort gym if I'm feeling the need to pick up some weights and drop some sweat.  Mostly, I am going to relax and have fun with our wonderful friends & my amazing husband!

6 more days, and I can hardly wait! 


Pirate Party with Natasha, Neal, Myself, Laura & Bob! 
You better believe this will be a wild trip!

Question of the Day:  What's your favorite vacation you've gotten to take with friends?

Going Wheat Free

A little over 3 months ago, I visited my allergist for a follow-up from my esophagus scope.  The team reviewed my eosinphillic cell count from 2012 to this recent scope in 2013.  While they said the number of eosinphillic cells had lessened, they said that I was still showing quite a bit of eosinphillic cells. 

Thus, my current 'treatment' of keeping food allergens out of my diet, taking a protonix when I have acid reflux, and doing an inhaler treatment in the morning and evening hasn't been helping enough.  Insert super sad face!

I will be completely honest, I am not that great at remembering to take the inhaler.  I am, however, generally good about avoiding the foods I am allergic to, tomato & coconut.  It's easy for me to avoid those foods because the instant tomato is ingested I have a massive burning sensation in my throat like I just took a bite out of a jalapeno pepper after consuming a tablespoon of hot sauce.

Now, it's been suggested I take a different approach, either I try going wheat free for a month, dairy free for a month, or possibly both to see if that helps.  WHAT?! 

My amazing friend Natalie signed up for a contest at www.aimeemcnew.com for a giveaway to nominate a friend with nutritional issues to win a year of free nutritional counseling.  Umm, guess who won?  NATALIE!  Guess who she nominated for a year?  ME! 

Yes, if you follow me on the blog, Instagram, or Facebook, you would think that I eat super healthy, how could anything be wrong with me?  In fact, after submitting 5 days of a food journal to Aimee, she complimented my good eating habits as well.  (yes, I may have just patted myself on the back).  However, Aimee did describe why the doctors suggested me trying wheat and/or dairy free.  Aimee suggested wheat free for me.

Why wheat free?  Aimee has done a lot of research on this, and I don't want to misinterpret any of the information, but I will try to summarize what I retained.  Wheat is one of the many foods in the US (and around the world) that has been genetically modified to help it be bug resistant, survive in various weather conditions, grow stronger/faster/bigger etc.  It may be that when foods are genetically modified is that some people are affected adversely by the changes made.  When allergies are tested at your office, the tests may not be updated to include the additional substances that now make up the wheat we consume (this is a MAY, so do NOT by any means think that this theory is a scientific fact rather make your own educated opinion).  This is why we could be seeing an increase in certain food allergies.  Again, there are various theories, some facts, and other professional opinions.  This answer made the most sense to Aimee and it makes sense to me as well.

So what to do?  Time to find things that are wheat free.  Currently, I am looking for Gluten free options as I know they will not contain wheat. 

Just look at this delicious loaf of bread I made!  I added 2 T honey to the mix and topped it with brown rice flour and pumpkin seeds.  It turned out AMAZING!

Some things that get my blood boiling to consider about why I was told to go wheat free and it's possible relationship to GMO's:

More than 60 countries around the world outlaw and have bans on GMO Products, including countries you and I have heard about like Japan and Australia.  Yes, I completely get that the number of countries that DON'T have any bans is significantly higher than those that do.   Learn more about non GMO here http://www.nongmoproject.org/learn-more/

In almost every article I find on GMO's, the most basic concern is the affect GMO's have on people with food allergies.  In this article from Oprah (yes I know, not a scientist, but the girl does her research), it states that no one really knows at this point the total effects of GMO products, but some studies link them to kidney malfunction, inflammation, and reduced fertility.  The last one possibly is currently affecting yours truly.

I am no scientist.  I am just a normal girl with a major curiosity about healthy & clean living.  I search for the balance of living a healthy lifestyle and not overly focusing myself on food and exercise.  I watch nearly every single food, happiness, and healthy living documentary on Netflix, and I try to take it all in with a grain of salt & make my own evaluated decisions.

I encourage you to think about what you are eating.  How it affects the environment, your body, & your family.  I don't discourage or dislike anyone for eating a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, a fast food burger, or sipping on sweet tea, sodas & beer.  I simply encourage you to never over indulge and be mindful of the choices you make & how you nourish your body.

Shape Magazine Inspired Meals

This past weekend, on our drive to and from Tennessee, I was finally able to read most of the last two issues of Shape magazine.  I get them monthly, but hadn't found the time to read March or April, so I was glad for the 3 hour car rides, Neal driving both ways, and some 'me' time.
 
In the March edition, there's an article "Shop Once Eat All Week" with recipes by Melissa Lanz.  I typically will choose one or two recipes from the magazine to try, but this time I saw the menu and decided to base my entire weeks meal's off of these items!  You can find the full article here.

 

 

 
The meal plan is simple, allowing you to cook a bigger chunk of the food on Monday and then use portions of that meal to incorporate on foods you will prepare throughout the week.  I love this idea!  That means making Monday's dinner will take about 50 minutes, but Tuesday - Friday's meal will take less than 20!
 
Even better, I spent less than $70 on my groceries this week, and because these meals are for servings of 4, Neal and I will have leftovers!

 
We had to switch our days around from the article because I wanted The Fresh Market antibiotic free chicken which is on sale today (and every Tuesday this month) for $2.99/lb!  We buy in bulk and freeze.
 
Here's what's on the menu in the order we are cooking:
 
Monday:  Mediterranean Lettuce Cups with Mint Yogurt Dressing
 

 
Tuesday:  Lemon Chicken with Red Beans & Quinoa
 
Wednesday:  Tilapia with Asparagus and Mint Couscous (recipe calls for red snapper, but we have the tilapia)
 
Thursday:  Creamy Spinach Salad with Cumin Chicken and Quinoa
 
Friday:  Lemon-Asparagus Linguine with Italian Turkey Sausage

Question of the day:
What helps you to meal plan each week?  If you don't meal plan, would you give it a try? 

Weekly Dinners & Druzies

Neal & I finished putting up our kitchen back splash on Friday evening, and now we need to take time to cook some yummy meals & enjoy our beautiful 'new' kitchen!

This week we are finishing up some leftovers, making my new favorite crock pot dish, Italian beef, and going back to a tasty recipe I used to make a ton before I found out I was allergic to tomatoes!

Meal 1 - Burgers
Neal made some burgers on Saturday when we had some friends over, and we had a few extra, so we are going to be warming those back up to enjoy!  Neal seriously makes the best burgers.  He gets good ground beef, adds in spices, grills to perfections & tops with cheese.  These burgers always rock!

Meal 2 - Shrimp Pasta
Cooked shrimp, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, whole wheat pasta, & roasted red pepper Alfredo sauce here we come!

Meal 3 - Italian Beef, crock pot style
This was my favorite recipe from the Crock Pot Challenge.  I love how flavorful the beef gets & it's so simple & great for leftovers!  Here's the original recipe.

Meal 4 - Chicken Parmesan Bundles
I used to make these as a specialty before I realized I was allergic to tomatoes.  I cut them out of the meal plan since they have marinara in them, however I am going to substitute a creamy pesto sauce for the marinara.  Here's the original recipe from Kraft foods.

That's it!  We will have plenty of leftovers from these meals for dinner or some lunch mixings.

Happy start of the week!  I'm off to go get creative with these beauties.  New designs will be on the Etsy shop over the next few weeks!

 

'Thin' Mint Smoothie

Busy, busy, busy.  I have been overwhelmed this month!  Work, Etsy orders, half marathon training, tile back splash, custom orders for Etsy, more work, finding time to spend with my husband...it's all just piling in on me!

However, today I had one amazing moment of bliss in the middle of a chaotic work schedule.  I wanted a smoothie, so I whipped up what I thought would satisfy my never ending sweet tooth.  A 'Thin' Mint Smoothie!

WOW!  It's so good and so tasty, you seriously wouldn't know it was healthy if you didn't put it together yourself.  I felt like a kid at the fair getting an ice cream cone treat!

So to make this post short, simple, sweet & to the point, here's the recipe!

• 1 frozen banana
• 2 T cocoa powder
• 1/8 t mint extract (or ~ real mint leaves)
• 2 handfuls of spinach
• 1 serving Vanilla #PerfectFit Protein (or another protein)
• Enough unsweet vanilla almond milk to get things moving (1 - 1.5 cups) 

After blending that, toss in 2 T carob chips and blend slightly so they are still a little thicker (like a crumbly cookie). Serve and enjoy! 
 
Let me know if you try this!  I am off to get back to work!

Weekly Dinner Posts with Super Easy Meals!

My husband & I are in the middle of a minor kitchen 'remodel'.  Okay, really we are just putting up a new tile back splash & our project keeps taking just a little longer than planned. 

First, we thought we would be finished by Saturday evening.  We watched DIY Videos and were set!  Well today is Monday, our kitchen is still a wreck, and we said we would finish today.  Oh life, how you get in the way with work, Etsy business, working out & the numerous other excuses we can find to put off finishing the back splash until 'tomorrow'.

I am writing this as I am munching on what may be the last little bit of food that we don't have to prepare, a lovely pimento sandwich on Ezekiel bread &  a salad with homemade balsamic dressing, nuts, peppers & cheese.  I am desperate for a real home 'cooked' meal.  We ate our Friday, Saturday & Sunday! WHAT!  Normally we only eat out one day a week, and that's on Pizza Sunday where we order pizza, pick it up and really eat in while watching "Weeds", "Lost" or a movie from the library.  If you haven't checked out your library for free movies, you need to do so!

Onto the meal planning.  This week I plan on making the following:

Green Goddess Grilled Cheese with bacon.  This is one of my favorites because I am in  love with goat cheese, pesto, avocado & of course, bacon!

Shrimp Stir Fry, because we ended up not making it last week.

Ingredients

• 15-20 Medium Cooked Shrimp (or you can cook yourself)
• 3 Cups of frozen veggies. Walmart actually sells a stir fry veggie bag in their frozen section that I use
• 2 T Olive Oil
• Homemade Teriyaki sauce, the sauce that's in the Walmart bag, or a mixture of sauces from the fridge is what I do

How to cook

• Prep your shrimp by defrosting them if frozen or cooking them if they are uncooked. We put ours in a bowl of water, changing out the water with luke warm to cool water until they are no longer frozen. Pat them dry & remove the tails.
• Put your shrimp with your sauce mix in a separate bowl so it can marinate some flavor.
• Heat a pan on medium, add your olive oil & cook your vegetables how you like them. Add a little of the sauce to the pan while you are cooking.
• Toss the shrimp and rest of the sauce into the pan. Warm it all up and serve!

Fish with Julie's Ginger Curry Cauliflower.  This is super easy and delicious.  Fish is kinda my go to meal when I need something easy & quick.

• We simply thaw out frozen fish & lightly season it with pre mixed seasoning.  My favorite is Northwoods seasoning.  Then we put a pan on medium heat, melt a little butter & coo for 2-4 minutes on each side.

Lastly, another crock pot recipe, Chicken Gumbo Ya Ya.  This one is from my father & his girlfriend Kim.  We can't wait to try it!


This makes my week nice and easy when I have it all planned out for dinner.  Hopefully our kitchen will be back to normal so I can cook up the fish or shrimp stir fry tomorrow!

Question of the day:

What's your go to easy dinner meal?