I've been following @MarieForleo on facebook for a while now and really enjoy her content. I was watching one of her videos last week and she said something that really resonated with me. Here is what she said (in my own words.)
We all make plans for ourselves that sound so great when we make them, like waking up at 5 a.m. to workout, but when the time actually comes we hit the snooze button and skip it. When we have a flight that leaves at 7 a.m. and we have to be at the airport at 5:30 a.m. we never miss that because the flight time is non-negotiable. We need to change our mindset so that the things we need/want to do in order to achieve our goals are also non-negotiable. If we truly want to reach our goals we will make the things required to meet those goals non-negotiable.
This is sooo true! It is easy to talk about what I will do but the only thing that counts is what action I take. If something is truly a top priority you will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I challenge you this week to think about what your priorities are and then make sure that everything you do aligns back to those things. If you think about everything you do in relation to those priorities it will make it easier for you to know when to say yes to something and when to say no.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Hearty BBQ Chicken Salad
I haven't always been a huge salad fan but have found recently that if done well they can be absolutely delicious! The difficult thing about salads is there are so many hidden calories. You think oh a salad is obviously the healthy choice and then don't realize you have 1000+ calories hidden within the cheese, dressing, nuts, etc. I am always trying to find salads that my husband likes as well because he doesn't count salad as a "real" meal. He ate this with me for lunch this week and absolutely loved it! Here is how it's done:
1. Cook two pieces of boneless skinless chicken in a non stick pan with a couple teaspoons of olive oil plus salt and pepper.
2. Once you flip the chicken put a small amount of bbq sauce (organic if possible to avoid high fructose corn syrup.) Flip one more time and add bbq sauce to the other side as well.
3.Wash, dry and then cut up one head of romaine lettuce.
4. Open one can of black beans, drain and rinse them in a strainer.
5. Chop up grape tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and shred some cheddar cheese (or use feta.) Also slice the chicken breast into bite sized pieces. *you can cut out the cheese all together if you want..it will still taste amazing!*
6. Place all ingredients (except chicken) on top of the romaine lettuce. Yes it does look delicious..I know. I didn't put the chicken right on top because I was planning to keep leftovers in the fridge and didn't want the warm chicken to melt the cheese or wilt the lettuce. If your chicken is cooled by all means throw it on top!
7. Place the grilled chicken on top of your portion and enjoy!! I added a tiny amount of ranch (I know it's fatty but it's my one downfall.) Honestly it would be good without dressing (or with salsa) because the avocados are so creamy on their own!
Enjoy this amazing salad...I have had it three times already this week!
1. Cook two pieces of boneless skinless chicken in a non stick pan with a couple teaspoons of olive oil plus salt and pepper.
2. Once you flip the chicken put a small amount of bbq sauce (organic if possible to avoid high fructose corn syrup.) Flip one more time and add bbq sauce to the other side as well.
3.Wash, dry and then cut up one head of romaine lettuce.
4. Open one can of black beans, drain and rinse them in a strainer.
5. Chop up grape tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and shred some cheddar cheese (or use feta.) Also slice the chicken breast into bite sized pieces. *you can cut out the cheese all together if you want..it will still taste amazing!*
6. Place all ingredients (except chicken) on top of the romaine lettuce. Yes it does look delicious..I know. I didn't put the chicken right on top because I was planning to keep leftovers in the fridge and didn't want the warm chicken to melt the cheese or wilt the lettuce. If your chicken is cooled by all means throw it on top!
7. Place the grilled chicken on top of your portion and enjoy!! I added a tiny amount of ranch (I know it's fatty but it's my one downfall.) Honestly it would be good without dressing (or with salsa) because the avocados are so creamy on their own!
Enjoy this amazing salad...I have had it three times already this week!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Crock Pot Oatmeal
My mornings are usually pretty hectic between working out, showering, getting ready, getting my dogs fed, getting my son dressed and fed, packing his daycare bag and getting us both out the door so I can be to work on time! I needed to find something quick, easy and healthy for breakfast and this crock pot oatmeal is just the thing. The nice part is my son loves it as well so that makes breakfast much simpler...and all moms can use simpler! Here is how it's done:
1. Get your crock pot, steel cut oats, apple of choice, cinnamon and almond milk ready.
2. Cut up your apple (I used granny smith) and place it in the bottom of the crock pot.
3. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples.
4. Pour 1 cup of steel cut oats over the apples
5. Pour 2 cups of almond milk (unsweetened vanilla) and 2 cups of water over the oats and apples.
It will appear that there is way too much liquid but don't be alarmed it will get absorbed!!
6. Turn the crock pot on high and place the lid on top.
8. Cook the oats for another hour until they are tender and look like this. You still want to leave them a little bit on the runny side because as they sit in the fridge they expand.
9. Allow them to cool for just a bit and then pour them in a storage container and keep in the fridge to eat all week! I can get 5-6 servings out of this pot. That is a low calorie delicious breakfast for you that is easy!
10. When I am ready to eat them I put some in a bowl and heat up for about one minutes, stirring halfway through. If they get a little thick in the fridge you can add a bit of almond milk before heating the up. I top them with some honey and walnuts and enjoy!!
You could do so many variations of this recipe. I have added raisins, almonds, different types of apples, cocoa powder, etc. The possibilities are endless. I hope you enjoy and that you get some time back in your morning to enjoy with your family...or heck to get 10 more minutes of sleep!!
1. Get your crock pot, steel cut oats, apple of choice, cinnamon and almond milk ready.
2. Cut up your apple (I used granny smith) and place it in the bottom of the crock pot.
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3. Sprinkle cinnamon over the apples.
4. Pour 1 cup of steel cut oats over the apples
5. Pour 2 cups of almond milk (unsweetened vanilla) and 2 cups of water over the oats and apples.
6. Turn the crock pot on high and place the lid on top.
7. About one hour into cooking give the crock pot a stir and the oats will looks something like this. They will still appear very soupy because they don't get to that perfect point until 10-15 minutes before they are done.
8. Cook the oats for another hour until they are tender and look like this. You still want to leave them a little bit on the runny side because as they sit in the fridge they expand.
9. Allow them to cool for just a bit and then pour them in a storage container and keep in the fridge to eat all week! I can get 5-6 servings out of this pot. That is a low calorie delicious breakfast for you that is easy!
10. When I am ready to eat them I put some in a bowl and heat up for about one minutes, stirring halfway through. If they get a little thick in the fridge you can add a bit of almond milk before heating the up. I top them with some honey and walnuts and enjoy!!
You could do so many variations of this recipe. I have added raisins, almonds, different types of apples, cocoa powder, etc. The possibilities are endless. I hope you enjoy and that you get some time back in your morning to enjoy with your family...or heck to get 10 more minutes of sleep!!
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
TV/Cartoon Workout
If you are like any other mom you probably find it extremely difficult to fit your workout in. It is important for us to be able to be healthy and workout while also spending time with our family. I have come up with a great workout that you can do while your kids watch cartoons! This allows you to get a total body workout in while being with your kids. You will even make a great impression on your family that being healthy and taking care of yourself is extremely important and they may even jump in on your workout!
This workout is in two sections. The first is called "Showtime Strength" which is done while the show is on. This section is strength/weight training. You will do each exercise 10 times and keep repeating them until the commercial starts. The second section is called "Commercial Cardio" which is high intensity cardio bursts. You will do each exercise for 30 seconds (length of most commercials) and keep repeating them until the show is back on. Here is a video to walk you through the entire workout.
Showtime Strength: 10 seconds per exercise as many times as you can during the show
Commercial Cardio: 30 seconds per exercise until the commercial break is over
Showtime Strength 1
Lunges with bicep curls
Squats with shoulder press
Lunges with shoulder raises
Commercial Cardio 1
Half burpees
High knees
Mountain climbers
Showtime Strength 2
Lunge with tricep curls
Sumo squat with center shoulder raise
Deadlift with row
Commercial Cardio 2
Speed skaters
Plyometric squats
Over and back jumps
Showtime Strength 3
Plank (elbows and toes)
Commercial Cardio 3
Jumping Jacks
This workout is in two sections. The first is called "Showtime Strength" which is done while the show is on. This section is strength/weight training. You will do each exercise 10 times and keep repeating them until the commercial starts. The second section is called "Commercial Cardio" which is high intensity cardio bursts. You will do each exercise for 30 seconds (length of most commercials) and keep repeating them until the show is back on. Here is a video to walk you through the entire workout.
Showtime Strength: 10 seconds per exercise as many times as you can during the show
Commercial Cardio: 30 seconds per exercise until the commercial break is over
Showtime Strength 1
Lunges with bicep curls
Squats with shoulder press
Lunges with shoulder raises
Commercial Cardio 1
Half burpees
High knees
Mountain climbers
Showtime Strength 2
Lunge with tricep curls
Sumo squat with center shoulder raise
Deadlift with row
Commercial Cardio 2
Speed skaters
Plyometric squats
Over and back jumps
Showtime Strength 3
Plank (elbows and toes)
Commercial Cardio 3
Jumping Jacks
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Kale Chips
I got kale in my weekly local farm delivery this week and was immediately at a loss of what to do with it. I'm challenging myself to try all of the fruit/veggies that come so I get a larger variety of vitamins and so I don't waste any food. My husband and son are both obsessed with chips (and salsa) so I decided to make kale chips. I had a friend make these before and I'll admit I didn't even try one because it seemed gross. I was pleasantly surprised with them and my husband liked them to! My son tried one and didn't spit it out but for full disclosure he didn't go past one. I am not giving up and will continue making them for him but so far he's not a huge fan. I on the other hand really enjoyed them and will eat them when I need something crunchy or salty. My only negative so far is that they smell a little funky. I have them in a ziploc in my pantry and when I open the door I smell them. Luckily they taste way better than the smell. Here are the step by step instructions that I followed:
1. Wash and dry one bunch of kale.
2. Cut out the large vein in the middle of each large leaf.
3. Chop up the leafs into small chip size pieces and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Drizzle 1 Tbls of olive oil over the kale.
5. Use your hands and toss the olive oil throughout all of the pieces (they will look shiny) and sprinkle on some sea salt.
6. Bake the kale at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and then toss them around
7. Bake for another 5-10 minutes and keep an eye on them so they get crispy but don't get overly brown
8. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy! They shrink up a lot while they cook so don't be alarmed that it looks like half of what you started with.
I stored them in a ziploc bag with a paper towel inside. So far they have stayed really crispy and I plan to eat some with my lunch today. Let me know what you think!
1. Wash and dry one bunch of kale.
2. Cut out the large vein in the middle of each large leaf.
3. Chop up the leafs into small chip size pieces and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Drizzle 1 Tbls of olive oil over the kale.
5. Use your hands and toss the olive oil throughout all of the pieces (they will look shiny) and sprinkle on some sea salt.
6. Bake the kale at 350 degrees for 10 minutes and then toss them around
7. Bake for another 5-10 minutes and keep an eye on them so they get crispy but don't get overly brown
8. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with sea salt and enjoy! They shrink up a lot while they cook so don't be alarmed that it looks like half of what you started with.
I stored them in a ziploc bag with a paper towel inside. So far they have stayed really crispy and I plan to eat some with my lunch today. Let me know what you think!
Monday, May 19, 2014
Produce Delivery
A couple of weeks ago I came across a company called Simply Fresh NC. I actually found them through a groupon email and decided to try it out for a week...but now I'm hooked. I think all of us struggle with eating enough fruits and vegetables and I thought this would be great way to make it easy for me. Every Friday a basket of organic fruits and veggies is delivered to my door. I plan my weekly meals around the items that are delivered. I also order a kids basket that is all fruit because my son is absolutely obsessed with fruit. All of the food is from local organic farms and so far it has all been amazing. I shared a golden delicious apple with my son today and I'm making homemade salsa tomorrow with the tomatoes and onion. I'm also planning to use the kale to make kale chips and I'll post that if they turn out OK! I know there are lots of these types of places that either allow you to pick up your food or deliver it right to your door. I added up the fruit costs that I would pay at my local grocery store and the savings on this basket is amazing. I don't always buy organic either and this allows me to get all organic at a great price. The fruit basket shown below cost me just over $20 including delivery. The strawberries and seedless grapes alone would cost me well over $10 if buying organic at the grocery store. I encourage you to check out your local farm options not only to get a better variety of fruits and veggies but to support your local farmers!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Fortune Cookie
First of all, yes my family eats take out Chinese food sometimes. I'm not saying it's a great habit but like one of my previous posts said, everything in moderation. As a mom you know that some nights you are exhausted and tired and the thought of cooking one more thing makes you want to scream...insert your favorite takeout restaurant here! After enjoying a small portion of my chicken, veggies, rice and hot and sour soup (yes I still keep my portions in check when eating bad food) I opened my fortune cookie. Now I'm not one to believe these fortunes are signs for my life or anything but I will say that I truly get excited to see what it will say. I never eat the fortune cookie and not for reasons you may think...I just think they taste like cardboard! I was so thrilled to see this so true fortune and it reminded me what is really truly important. I'm sure all of you moms can relate. As moms we are constantly battling in regards to doing what is best for our family. If you are a stay at home mom you miss the adult interaction and if you are a working mom you feel guilty for not being home, etc. etc. Something is built in us to love, protect and help manage our family. I mean it was God's plan for us! Enjoy this fortune and remember when everything else in life is crazy, it is family that is most important. I have also posted a "selfie" of me and my son. He truly is one of my highest priorities (and of course my amazing husband too...just not pictured here!)
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