Yoga 4 ♥ Tonight!

I am exeptionally excited about my workout tonight, it's called Yoga 4 ♥ !  How cool is that!?  Now what exactly is Yoga 4 ♥ ?  I will copy what the host, my friend Kimberly, says about the event:

My BESTFRIEND is getting married...SO i want to get the people I LOVE all together to give back thru the POWER of YOGA.

This practice will be excepting donations to go towards the future of Mr. and Mrs.

Meet at the Riverfront by the statues. The practice will start no later then 6:15pm so we can flow with the sunset.

All levels of yoga are welcome.

I'll bring the tiki torches you bring a yoga mat, a friend, and most importantly your love ♥

Since starting the Facebook group for the event, Kimberly has posted some inspirational, beautiful, and hilarious posts!  Below are some of my favorites:

Practice this one for your BIG day

 

BIG THANKS to those who have already confirmed they have a BIG HEART ♥ Om is where the ♥ heart ♥ is....

 

We need to recreate this:

 

Couples who do yoga together...are inspired...breath easier....love stronger...share space...look/feel healthy...live longer to love eachother...

 

Yoga 4 Love is almost here ♥

 

If you are in the Evansville area, come out to Yoga 4 ♥ tonight, arrive between 5:45-6pm at this downtown riverfront location shown here:

 

Menu Monday 10.8 - 10. 12

This begins another exciting week at the Bratton household!  This will be the first week in 4 weeks that we will both be at the house for the weekend!

Sometimes, I feel like I am always traveling.  That's a strange feeling when you work from home. :)  I am sure you have felt that way before.  Every week you stay busy working, and when Friday rolls around, you need to be packed up and ready to hop in the car for a long drive.  When you work from home, 20 minutes feels like a long drive! (Natalie, I am positive you can relate to this feeling even more than I!)

I am loving that it is now fall and I can be bundled up in cozy sweaters, boots, and leggings!  As I write to you today, I am wearing a cozy & chunky cable knit sweater dress I bought on sale from Victoria's Secret last year with my favorite boots and brown leggings!

Ok, so my husband admittedly doesn't take the best pictures and didn't realize the full effect of the outfit enough to get the boots in the first one...

...so we had picture two, and Sasha wanted to join.  I am pretty sure she is 1. a diva and 2. protective of her food and thinks I am about to take the little red bowl away.

Yes, the boots are adorable so they got their picture taken twice!

 

Now, enough of my cute fall outfit...time for the meals:

Meal 1 - Broccoli and Shrimp Alfredo

1/2 T Olive Oil

2 t garlic

1.5- 2 cup broccoli

8oz of Shrimp

1.5 C Penne Pasta (uncooked)

these amounts are not always exact as I sometimes make more or less depending on if we are very hungry and if we want leftovers.



To make:  Cook your pasta according to package directions.  Thaw and cook your shrimp according to package directions, or get yummy fresh shrimp and cook.  With your skillet already at medium heat add olive oil, garlic, broccoli crowns and your shrimp.  Saute for a few minutes, or until warmed and flavors are saturated. 

Easy Alfredo Sauce

Low to Medium heated saucepan, combine the following:

1/4 cup butter

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 -1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

THAT's IT!

Meal 2 - Balsamic and honey glazed salmon with stir fry vegetables.

This one is easy-peasy.  I mix about 2 T of balsamic with 2 T honey by shaking it together in a small jar with a lid.  I spread that onto salmon, pop it in the oven at 450 degrees for 10-14 minutes, thickness pending.  Then, I take frozen stir fry veggies and cook them according to package directions. 

Like I said, easy-peasy!

Meal 3 - My award winning White Chicken Chili!

Ok, so actually this is a Bush's beans recipe, not my own.  However, in my sorority days I use this base recipe to make a massive batch of chili for a chili competition, and it won the "Most Unique Chili" award.

I use the recipe found here and add in an extra can of chopped green chilies and about 1/4 a cup of salsa.  I cool mine down with sour cream and Neal spices his up more with more salsa.

Meal 4 - Mushroom soup with caramelized onions.  I saw this delicious meal from a link in Pinterest.  We had this last week, and it was so good, we are making it again.  With it, we had goat and mozzarella grilled cheese sandwiches - TO DIE FOR!  Simply make a grilled cheese as usual, but substitute it with the goat and mozzarella instead of your normal American or Cheddar cheese. 

Grilled cheese tip:  we put 1/2 T of butter into a pan that's heated on medium, let that melt a little and then add in our un-buttered bread & cheese sandwich.  I let that cook a little until crispy, add another 1/2 T of butter, and crisp up the other side. 

I hope you enjoy every meal you cook this week!

Etsy Shop GRAND OPENING

I have opened my Etsy shop, Lively Happenings! 

(click on the shope name or or here to visit!)

At Lively Happenings shop you can find delicate & intricate jewelry designed just for you.  Choose from the designs I have, or let me know your desires and I will make something unique just for you!

I use a combination of semi precious pieces like lapis, freshwater pearls, onyx and turquoise.  Thos are combined with Swarovski crystals, glass beads, leather, copper, silver, and gold plated metals.

I have been making jewelry since a youth, making gifts for family members & friends, and now I want to share my designs with more people, including you.

Now go and enjoy!

Workout Wednesday: Booty Lifter

What girl doesn't want a nice lifted booty?  I absolutely love it when my behind looks good, and one of the ways I ensure it does is by working it out.  Some of my favorites are the Tone it Up booty workouts. 

These are the two great routines from the girls at Tone it Up (Katrina has the best butt ever...just saying)
Malibooty & Spankin Booty

I also get so entranced in those infomercials for Brazillian Butt Lift.  I have never tried the workouts, but I seriously cannot turn the channel when these advertisements come on.  Have your ever tried the workouts?

Why on earth am I obsessed with a toned backside?  I really don't know.  In general, I enjoy being toned and healthy, and a nice behind is a plus! 

Last night I did the Spaking Booty Workout from Tone it Up as well as 30 minutes of cardio.  Wanna try it too and tell me what you think?

To see last month's workouts, click HERE

Let me know if you have some workouts you love to tone that tush!

Menu Monday 10.1.12

I hope that this week brings you lots of joy, activity and yummy food!
 
On the menu for this week I have 2 typical meals we enjoy at our house, one of my favorite fall meals, and something new to try. 
 
Meal 1 - Tilapia and broccoli. 
 
Two ways to try this, simple with spices we always enjoy Penzey's Spice Northwoods when we want something easy and quick to cook, or you can try my tasty ginger and cilantro tilapia (SO GOOD!) if you have more time.

 
 

Ginger and Cilantro Tilapia

5 small tilapia fillets (we used frozen ones) - about 3/4 pound
5 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon ginger (use a pre-purred tube to cut on time)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup white wine
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Scallions, chopped for garnish
Extra cilantro, to garnish

Salt and Pepper

Heat the oven to 475ºF. Pat the fish dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Place in a glass baking dish.

Put garlic cloves, ginger, soy sauce, white wine, olive oil, and cilantro in your food processor until blended. Pour the sauce over the fish, rubbing it in a little. Bake for about 10-12 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily and is cooked through.

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.

Meal 2 - Chicken Fajitas - chicken, peppers, onions, salsa (for Neal only, still cutting out most tomatoes for me), sour cream, and avocado...maybe some black beans too!

Neal makes these by cutting up about 2 lbs of chicken (enough for leftovers) and letting them marinate in Franks Red Hot, Cumin, Creole, and Chili Powder for 30 minutes. He then adds in one sliced onion (cut by yours truly so Neal won't get teary eyed!) and 1-2 green peppers before putting them all together on a medium skillet to cook.  Served with the salsa, sour cream, avocado and black beans on a whole wheat tortilla.

Meal 3 - Pot roast, one of my fall favorites!  I plan on asking the butcher for the meat that will be the juiciest and most tender.  I will combine that will small potatoes, onion chunks, baby carrots, sliced celery, garlic cloves, spices such as thyme and sage, and a cup or so of water to keep it from drying out.  Then I will let the flavors marinate and cook all day in my crock pot (8-10 hours!)
 
Meal 4 - Mushroom soup with caramelized onions.  This is my something new!  I saw this delicious meal from a link in Pinterest.

Do you have a meal you are excited about cooking this week?