Magic Tricks

Sorry to play the disappearing act for anybody who has been stopping by. I've actually been doing really good, but just haven't been feeling like blogging. I still love my blog, and I still love my journey to getting fit. I had just been feeling like I was being pulled in too many directions to keep up as much as I would have liked to.

I've been eating great, working out more and just feeling good! The scale is budging slowly but surely. I had a complete physical and I'm awaiting my blood test results!

More to come...

Siggi's Yogurt Review

Mmmm! Orange Ginger Icelandic style skyr from Siggi's! Ok, I'll admit, it wasn't love at first bite when I peeled open my first Siggi's in the Orange Ginger flavor. With the first bite I thought it to be too tart and not sweet enough. Then I pressed on... it began to grow on me. By the end of my first container I was wishing there was more! Not because I didn't feel satisfied, but because it got better and better with each bite as I acquired a taste for this "new to me" style yogurt.

Ok, I was a bit shocked by the price tag as well, but after reading the label and seeing that it was fairly local, plus the cow's milk is from a fairly local farmer (which do not use growth hormones), it has no fat, no sugar and packed with 16 grams of protein. PLUS the package is very green with a cardboard recyclable sleeve that comes off.

I'm hoping the price will come down and that coupons will be available. $2.29/6 oz container is too rich for my blood!

That's all I got for now.... I'm a shady blogger just rolling with the punches and blogging when it feels good. Until I get my blogger groove back.... Keep Smiling!

Feelin Awesome!!

Happy Sunday y'all! I just got back from taking the kids sledding on the HUGE hill we have in our nearby park. What a great workout and I loved getting all that fresh air! Plus it was fun with just me and my kids. Before heading out I fueled up on a Black Bean Burger Wrap (wrap with fat free refried beans, laughing cow light swiss wedge, salsa and a black bean burger).


Yesterday morning was a fake bacon egg beater sandwich with laughing cow light and Organicville ketchup.

And in randomness of a lazy Sunday, here is Friday night snackage: Sweet Potato bakes with coconut butter, hot sauce and ketchup. Mmmm!

This morning was my first attempt at Vegan Pancakes and I am hooked!

Here is the recipe I used:

1 cup flour (whichever kind you prefer)

1 tablespoon sugar (I used organic cane sugar)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup almond milk (or soy milk)

1 tsp vanilla extract (I used almond extract)

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 mashed banana

Combine the 4 dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt) in a bowl. Add the almond milk , extract and vegetable oil to your mixture. Add mashed banana. Mix until smooth. Cook on medium high hot griddle.

The kids are slurping down hot chocolate and (microwave) S'mores! I'm hoping they will settle down and watch a movie while I find a recipe of Cauliflower soup.

Later bay-bee's!

Great Weekend!

Happy Monday blogland! I only captured a couple of pictures this weekend of my eats, but more importantly I succeeded in what I didn't eat/drink! This weekend was free of chocolate, sour cream, cheese and all booze! I was even tempted/tested a few times this weekend, but my saving grace was because I was doing this to renew my relationship with God and my church.

Friday was a nice peaceful night at home snuggling with my little girl. The boy had a sleepover birthday party, so it was nice to just spend time with the girl. We watched Snow Buddies and then cuddled in bed while she watched Nick Jr. I almost dozed off with her watching TV, but managed to get her to bed and then I watched my DVR'd Young and the Restless. It's getting pretty good!!

Saturday was busy busy! I picked up my son from the birthday party and we headed to our sledding hill. It's a huge hill and really steep! I got a good workout going up and down that hill. Then after a Farmer's Market visit and Target run we had a quick dinner and then off to a friends house for "Game Night". We did a little Sing Star and some darts. Everyone was drinking and I admit, it was a little tempting, but I kept reminding myself why I gave up alcohol and how much better I will feel in the morning for sticking to my Lent absolution's.

Sunday was a quick pancake breakfast made with these two stars:

I mix the multi-grain and the pumpkin together so it's not overly "pumpkiny".

(My husband doesn't support my blogging and since he rolled out of bed to join us, I didn't snap any "after" photos.)

My son was pretty beat and wanted to veg out at home, so the girl and I went to church. The message today was exactly what I needed to hear and I felt great upon leaving church. The afternoon was a birthday party for the BFF's son, so I hung out and helped. It was a really nice time. Even better being alcohol and hangover free!

In the evening I got to feeling pretty snacky, so a roasted up an acorn squash for some acorn "fries". Mmmm! I ate the whole dang acorn sqaush!

This morning was a Green Smoothie Monster made with chocolate protein powder, spinach, frozen banana and almond milk. Sweet, delish and hit the spot!

I just noshed on a salad with spring mix, cukes, tomatoes, mushrooms and balsamic vinegar. No photo. I'm lame! Before lunch I had a nice relaxing and refreshing yoga session, so I was still in relaxation mode apparently!

I'm so proud of myself :o) Now if I can just conquer the other "obstacles" in my life and move even closer to happiness!!

Renewed

Hey all... I'm feeling a sense of newness... Let's see if I can keep that rolling thru the weekend! One day at a time.

As I stated in my last post, I gave up cheese, sour cream, chocolate and alcohol for lent! I'm pleased to report I've been doing good. I know...only 2 days does not a reformed cheeseaholic make! Speaking of cheeseaholic, I googled "cheese addiction" and found some very interesting information! I'm thinking there may be truth to this type of addiction. Hmmm... I'll have to do more research!


Wednesday night I created a cheese free quesodilla (well, it had one Laughing Cow Light Cheese, but this is the one type of cheese I am allowing and only one wedge per day. I am pretty sure God understands!)


Sauteed Spinach and Mushrooms





Sandwiched between two small flour tortillas. One tortilla has fat free refried beans on one side and a laughing cow light swiss on the other. Add salsa and toast in a skillet until nicely toasted.

Top with nature's buttah (aka avocado!!) and consume. Watch for scalding hot mushrooms to come oozing out and scald your finger!

I missed Thursday's eats on the camera, so on to today's beauts...

Eggbeaters scrambled with mushrooms and wrapped up with one laughing cow light swiss and hot sauce. Wrapped in foil and consumed while at work. Mmmm!

Lunch was a toasted sandwich thin (love these things!) slathered with Dill Hummus and cukes n spinach. Tasty! I polished off the rest of the hummus container with extra cuke slices. I've got a Chobani strawberry yogurt and an apple for afternoon snackage.

I'm looking forward to my cheese-sour cream-chocolate-booze free weekend! My focus instead of being on those foods and beverages will be on treating my body like a temple, reading some devotions, attending church and enjoying my kids!

Have a nice weekend!

Ash Wednesday

Hey all.... here I am emerging little by little from my funk! And holy cow... only 30 days till FitBloggin!!! I better get on the ball if I want to play the part of Food/Fitness Blogger!

I've been dwelling on what is not right in my life for a very long time. This really has gotten me nowhere! Now, I'm not an overly religious person (I didn't grow up belonging to a church... I attended a couple different churches as an adult...I was baptized in a Pentecostal church as an adult...I try to attend most Sunday's now at my mother in laws church which is Anglican.) and I constantly find my self struggling with just how God is supposed to fit into my life. With that said, I've decided to practice Lent in honor of renewing my relationship with God and also by giving up certain foods/beverages that I am particularly gluttonous with.


Lent is a time of soul-searching and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection on Good Friday and Easter.


I pledge to give up the following for lent:

• alcohol


• sour cream


• cream cheese


• full fat cheese


• chocolate
  

There it is in black and white! When I find myself wanting to indulge in those items, I will pick up my bible, devotional book, etc. If I'm truly hungry, I will find a healthy alternative (examples: a mocktail in a fancy glass, fat free greek yogurt, light laughing cow cheese wedge, etc)

More importantly, I'm hoping that by removing the alcohol from my diet that I will begin to have more clarity in my life. I only indulge in alcohol on weekends for the most part, but it's more than the "healthy" amount and usually leaves me feeling pretty blah all weekend long.

So wish me luck! And pray for me if you are the praying type!!

Here is a peak at a few Blizzard photos and and Egg Sandwich shoot!

Just Throwing Some Content Up Here...

Because You Are Supposed to When You Have a Blog!!!

No, seriously, I just have been in a RUT emotionally, physically.... you get the picture!

Sunday night ended with our CO2 detector going off and we had to evacuate. If you don't have one, stop reading and go directly to your hardware store and buy one! These things save your life!!

Whew....

Friday looked like this for Miss T:

(Miss T thoroughly enjoying herself at a Celebrating Home party at my friends house)

Sunday looked like this for the crew:

Miss T looking a bit more lively (lower left corner dressed as Cotton Candy) and my BFF and her not-so-happy about sledding son.

My kid's BFF pouting a bit about the whole ordeal:

My kid whizzing down the hill:

and today's snack has fresh ground cinnamon on it!

Meanwhile, the kids are home doing this with daddy:

Hoping to get out of work a wee bit early since NJ is supposed to be getting the brunt of this blizzard this afternoon into this evening!!

Ta-ta for now!