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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Lose Weight, Win Money With Us!

(Lost 41 lbs, won $187!)

Hey beautiful gals!

We are doing a NEW DietBet game starting on May 18th

It has been a while since our last game, but since summer is right around the corner, we want to help you get into that gorgeous bikini that you have been eyeballing lately!

What's a DietBet? 

It is a fun and motivational game where you will place your bet ($35) that you can lose at least 4% of your starting weight. For example, if you weigh 120lbs, you will need to lose at least 4.8lbs to win the game.

So if you lose the recommended amount of weight, that is right-you win! ALL WINNERS SPLIT THE POT! And most end up winning their bet back, and then some!

We have three players so far and my husband and I will be joining in for the fun as well! I cannot wait to help you to reach your goals this summer!

To sign up: Click here to join the game!


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

One Month Clean Eating Challenge + Healthy Grocery List {Week 1}


Ready to jumpstart your health? We challenge YOU to eat clean for one month straight, for every meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even your snacks! We have the tools to help you!

Eating clean can sometimes be a chore as it is confusing. When you are only used to the endless, processed foods at the supermarket, sometimes you must question, so what is “clean” anyway?

First of all, clean eating is not a diet-it’s a lifestyle. You are either in it to change your ways or you shouldn’t do it at all. I believe everyone has their own personal idea of what’s considered “clean eating,” especially since there is NO clear definition of what “clean” is. However, I would have to imagine that everyone would agree to some extent that the general definition would be: the elimination of processed, extra additives, chemicals, and refined foods in one’s daily diet. Instead, you are choosing to eat foods in their simplest or “whole” state.

Some benefits to eating a clean diet are:
  • Fat loss
  • Increased energy and stamina
  • Decreased health problems
  • Better sleep
  • Improved mental well-being
  • Improved skin
  • The list goes on!
The easiest way to start eating clean is to prepare your own meals at home. Yes, this means you have to start learning how to cook! This way, you know exactly what ingredients you are eating and the amount of calories you are consuming.

Confused about what to buy or what to eat? Included is a specific meal plan with specific foods for each day & meal. However, you may use the plan as a guide to making your own dishes-since this plan is not a “one size fits all.” Not everyone likes chicken. Not everyone eats meat. Not everyone likes fish. Etc, etc, etc.
The Grocery list
Here is a huge grocery list of clean eating foods. You do not-I repeat DO NOT- have to go out and buy every single item on this list. This is solely just to give you an idea of what is considered clean and for you to use as a guide for the future when you are grocery shopping.
Veggies:
  • Cucumbers
  • Squash
  • Carrots
  • Garlic
  • Zucchini
  • Okra
  • Broccoli
  • Bell Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Radishes
  • Turnips
  • Rutabagas
  • Rhubarb
  • Onions
  • Sweet potato
  • Pumpkin
  • Avocado
  • Eggplant
  • Cauliflower
  • Artichoke
  • Kale
  • Collard Greens
  • Spinach
  • Arugula
  • Beet Greens
  • Swiss Chard
  • Turnip Greens
  • Lettuce
  • Cabbage
  • Leek
  • Brussels Sprouts
  • Asparagus
  • Celery
Fruits:
  • Apple
  • Banana
  • Orange
  • Strawberry
  • Blueberry
  • Grapefruit
  • Dates
  • Figs
  • Blackberry
  • Raspberry
  • Tangerine
  • Honeydew
  • Cantaloupe
  • Papaya
  • Pear
  • Cherry
  • Mango
  • Guava
  • Tomato
Protein:
  • Turkey or Pork tenderloin
  • Salmon
  • Cod
  • Tilapia
  • Tuna
  • Lean Steak
  • Skinless Chicken breasts
  • Turkey bacon
  • Extra Lean Ground turkey
  • Tofu
  • Hummus
  • Tempeh
  • Grouper
  • Egg whites
  • Turkey
  • Pork Chops
  • Scallops
  • Shellfish
Flours
  • Spelt flour
  • Wheat flour
  • Oat flour
  • Almond flour
  • Chickpea flour
  • Rice flour
  • Quinoa flour
Nuts/Seeds:
  • Walnuts
  • Cashews
  • Almonds
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Pumpkin Seeds
  • Peanut Butter (Natural)
  • Almond Butter (Natural)
  • Flax seed
  • Macadamian Nut
  • Hemp seeds
  • Peanuts
  • Pecans
  • Sesame Seeds
  • Pistachios
  • Pine Nuts
Grains/legumes:
  • Brown rice
  • Oats
  • Quinoa
  • Lentils
  • Whole wheat bread (love Ezekiel bread)
  • Black beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, green peas, pinto beans, mung beans
  • Whole wheat tortillas
  • Whole Wheat English muffins
Dairy:
  • Unsweetened Almond milk
  • Unsweetened Rice Milk
  • Unsweetened Coconut Milk
  • Greek yogurt
  • Cottage cheese
  • String Cheese
  • Goat Cheese
  • Lowfat cheddar cheese
Condiments/Oils/Dressings/Extras:
  • Raw maple syrup
  • Raw Honey
  • Stevia
  • Olive oil
  • Balsamic Vinaigrette (any vinaigrette really)
  • Sunflower oil
  • Coconut oil
  • avocado oil
  • olive oil
Drinks:
  • Water
  • Coffee (black)
  • Protein shake
AVOID:
  • No refined sugar
  • No white sugar
  • No white pasta
  • No soda or juice
  • No fast food
  • No alcohol
  • No cookies, donuts, or pastries
  • No chips
The Plan

Day One
Meal #1:
  • 4 Avocado Bacon Bites (see recipes)
  • 2 slices Ezekiel bread
Meal #2:
  • 1/4 cup protein powder (I use MRM's Natural Chocolate Whey. You can get 40% off your entire purchase with discount code SIA at checkout!)
  • 8 oz water (or almond milk for a creamier taste)
Meal #3:
  • 1 filet salmon, baked
  • 1/2 cup brown rice
  • 7 asparagus spears
Meal #4:
  • 1 or 2 oz. cheddar cheese
  • 10 multigrain crackers
Meal #5:
  • 5 oz. baked or grilled sirloin steak
  • 1 medium sweet potato
  • 1cup steamed broccoli
Meal #6:
  • 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp peanut butter
Day Two
Meal #1:
  • Fruit & Oat smoothie (1/2 banana, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup almond or coconut milk, Stevia or honey, ice)
Meal #2:
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 small apple
Meal #3:
  • Tuna salad sandwich on 2 slices of Ezekiel bread: (1 can tuna, 1 boiled egg chopped, 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt, 2 tbsp mustard, 2 tbsp diced pickles, 1/4 cup diced onion, salt & pepper to taste)
Meal #4:
  • 2 cups plain air popped popcorn, no butter
Meal #5:
  • 4 Sweet & Spicy Meatballs (see recipe)
  • 1 cup steamed whole green beans
  • 1 small sweet potato
Meal #6:
  • 2 tbsp cottage cheese
  • 4 strawberries
Day Three
Meal #1:
  • 3 egg whites, 1 whole egg scrambled
  • 2 slices turkey bacon
  • 1/2 cup oats
Meal #2:
  • 1/4 cup protein powder (I use MRM's Natural Chocolate Whey. You can get 40% off your entire purchase with discount code SIA at checkout!)
  • 8 oz water (or almond milk for a creamier taste)
Meal #3:
  • Strawberry & Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette (see recipe)
Meal #4:
  • 2 tbsp hummus
  • 10 carrot pieces for dipping
Meal #5:
  • 4 oz. grilled chicken breast, skinless & boneless
  • 1/2 cup quinoa
  • 1 cup steamed edemame
Meal #6:
  • 1 glass almond milk
Day Four
Meal #1:
  • Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (1/2 cup oats, 1/4 cup pumpkin puree, 1 tsp pumpkin spice, 1 tsp Stevia, 1/4 cup almond milk)
Meal #2:
  • 1 handful almonds
Meal #3:
Turkey & Hummus Wrap (1 whole wheat wrap, 3 oz deli turkey, 1 slice pepperjack cheese, 2 tbsp hummus, any veggies you want!)
Meal #4:
  • 1 protein bar
Meal #5:
  • Spicy Ground Beef Stuffed Bell Peppers (see recipe)
Meal #6:
  • 1 stick mozzarella string cheese
Day Five
Meal #1:
  • 4 Avocado Bacon Bites (see recipe)
  • 2 slices Ezekiel bread
Meal #2:
  • 1/4 cup protein powder (I use MRM's Natural Chocolate Whey. You can get 40% off your entire purchase with discount code SIA at checkout!)
  • 8 oz water (or almond milk for a creamier taste)
Meal #3:
  • 1 grilled chicken breast, skinless & boneless
  • 2 cups spinach
  • 2 tbsp of your favorite lite dressing
Meal #4:
  • Fruit & Oat smoothie (1/2 banana, 1/2 cup strawberries, 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup almond or coconut milk, Stevia or honey, ice)
Meal #5:
  • Dijon Baked Pork Chops (see recipe)
Meal #6:
  • 2 tbsp cottage cheese
  • 1 slice canteloupe
Day Six
Meal #1:
  • Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal (1/2 cup oats, 1/4 cup pumpkin puree, 1 tsp pumpkin spice, 1 tsp Stevia, 1/4 cup almond milk)
Meal #2:
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 tsp honey
Meal #3:
  • 1 salmon filet
  • 1/2 cup brown rice
  • 1 small sweet potato
Meal #4:
  • 2 tbsp hummus
  • 10 pita or multigrain crackers
Meal #5:
  • Slow Cooker Hawaiin Chicken (see recipe)
Meal #6:
  • 2 slices deli turkey
Day Seven 
Meal #1:
  • Avocado Toast (1 slice Ezekiel bread, 1/2 avocado mashed, salt & pepper)
  • 1 banana
Meal #2:
  • 1/4 cup protein powder (I use MRM's Natural Chocolate Whey. You can get 40% off your entire purchase with discount code SIA at checkout!)
  • 8 oz water (or almond milk for a creamier taste)
Meal #3:
  • 1 baked tilapia filet
  • 1 cup steamed green beans
  • 1 sweet potato, mashed
Meal #4:
  • 1 apple
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
Meal #5:
  • Spicy Fish Tacos (see recipe)
Meal #6:
  • 5 celery sticks
  • 2 tbsp lite Ranch
Recipes

Avocado Bacon Bites
Ingredients:
• 1 avocado
• 8 strips turkey bacon or lowfat pork bacon
• Lemon juice
• Salt/Pepper
Directions:
1. Take one ripe avocado and mash in a bowl with a fork until creamy consistency.
2. Add 2tbsp lemon juice, 1tbsp salt, & 1tbsp pepper. Mix well.
3. Cook bacon at 350 degrees in the oven till crispy. Cut each bacon slice into one inch strips.
4. Add a small spoonful of avocado mixture between two bacon slices. Serves roughly 15-18.

Sweet & Spicy Meatballs
Ingredients:
• 1 bag of frozen Turkey meatballs
• 1 jar of Welch's sugar free grape jelly
• 1 container Chili sauce (I personally love Sriracha, but it is too hot for some people. Heinz has a good one, too)
Directions:
1. Throw all 3 ingredients into a crockpot. If you do not have a crockpot, you may throw the ingredients into a skillet (defrost the meatballs first if you go this route).
2. If in crockpot, let cook for 2 hours or until meatball is tender. If in skillet, cook time can be 15-20 minutes if thawed first.
3. Serve on tooth picks on a platter. Serves roughly 15 people.

Strawberry & Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
For the salad:
• 1 bag of baby spinach leaves
• 1 container of strawberries, sliced
• 1 container of feta crumbles
• ½ cup of pecans, toasted
For the vinaigrette:
• ¼ Balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp light brown sugar
Directions
1. Pour bag of spinach leaves into a large salad bowl. Add chopped strawberries, feta crumbles, and toasted pecans (you can easily toast pecans in the oven at 350 degrees by laying on a cookie sheet, spraying lightly with Pam, and baking for 10 minutes).
2. Make the vinaigrette in a small bowl by beating the balsamic vinegar with the dry ingredients. Slowly add the olive oil in while mixing constantly.
3. Add 2 tbsp of dressing to your plate of salad. Then make sure to refrigerate the rest!

Spicy Ground Beef Stuffed Bell Peppers
Ingredients
• 4 green bell peppers
• 1 lb lean ground beef
• ¼ cup green onion
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 2 tbsp garlic salt
Directions
1. Heat a skillet and brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain.
2. Add in onions & spices. Set aside.
3. Cut the tops and middle flesh out of the bell peppers.
4. Stuff each pepper with equal amounts of the round beef mixture.
5. Place in a baking dish to keep upright and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Dijon Baked Pork Chops
Ingredients:
• 2 thick cut pork chops, boneless
• ¼ cup Dijion mustard
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Salt/Pepper to taste
Directions
1. Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the pork chop. I always use the term “to taste” because everyone's tastes are different. Personally, I love more pepper and less salt.
2. Whisk together Dijion mustard, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil in a small bowl.
3. Put chops into a dish and pour mixture over both pieces.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the middle is no longer pink.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken
Ingredients
• 1 whole chicken
• 1 can of pineapple
• 1 bottle of Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce
Directions
1. Place the chicken in your crockpot.
2. Turn on Hi if you are planning on eating it within 5 hours or Lo if you are cooking it overnight.
3. Pour BBQ sauce over the chicken or baste it.
4. Top with contents of the pineapple-juice and all.
5. Let cook until juices of the chicken run clear.

Spicy Fish Tacos
Ingredients
• 2 filets of Tilapia
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
• 2 whole wheat tortilas
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ¼ cup light mayo
• ¼ cup sriracha chili sauce
• Chopped lettuce, onions, and tomato (optional) for topping
Directions
1. Take each filet of tilapia and coat evenly with Italian bread crumbs on both sides.
2. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet on medium.
3. Place each filet in the skillet and brown on each side. This usually takes 5-7 minutes. (Fish cooks fast)
4. In a bowl, combine light mayo and sriracha to make a spicy mayo. Spread mixture in each tortilla.
5. Place one filet in each tortilla and top with fresh lettuce, onions, and tomato.

Here is a PRINTABLE and PINNABLE image for you to keep!
To pin, just move your mouse over the image below.


I'm Human, Too.

It's been news that Selena Gomez recently put on a little weight. I follow her on Instagram and absolutely adore her, from her posts.

She recently posted the photo below. I read through some of the comments and couldn't believe my eyes.

One person, as seen below, had commented, "One chicken drum stick.. Lose the fat girl." 

Have we forgotten that she's human, too? Have we forgotten that celebrities are HUMANS?

Last week, I talked about haters and how everyone instantly becomes a lot braver when sitting behind a keyboard. Seems to be the truth, right?

While running my business and blog, I have people who look up to me. I love it and cherish it. However, I don't want you to believe that I am some superhuman. I have flaws and I am not perfect. 

I recently posted on my Facebook page my grocery shopping cart. Amongst the positive comments saying "Thanks for being real!" etc, there were also some telling me how "disappointed" they were in me for some of my grocery selections. However, I only showed a little over half of my actual groceries. The rest was frozen or fresh veggies and fresh ingredients that I use for my homemade weekly night dinners.

Since when did I become some organic only eating machine that wasn't allowed to have a little fun? I firmly believe in the living 80% clean and 20% indulgent rule. At one point in my life, I ate ONLY organic and clean 100% of the time and guess what-I was miserable, unhappy, and deprived. I was also way too skinny.


Some of the comments about my grocery list were directed at the frozen pizza or canned pasta sauce. Guess what? I have cheat days! Why? Because it is good for you-emotionally and mentally-not to mention that it helps raise your Leptin levels to burn more fat later on (it's science people).

I even had one comment on my son's fruit juice. Yes, the 100% ORGANIC fruit juice apparently wasn't good enough. Yes, too much juice will rot your kids teeth out, but did you know that I actually cut my son's organic juice with 3/4 purified water? Did you know that I rather have my son eat real sugar than fake sugary chemicals? Pick your battles, ladies.

Lastly, when did we get so judgy? Yes, I do preach clean eating, but I also preach cheat meals every once and a while-if you have the willpower to do so. You do not know my body, my family, nor my circumstances. So, why give your "two cents?"

Haters gonna hate. That's why. 

The point of this story is-we are all going to get criticized for something. Whether it be our weight, our looks, the foods we eat, the things we do, etc. Try not to let it get to you. Remove those people from your life. 

Be gentle with yourself. You are doing the best that you can.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Master the Muscle May Workout Challenge


Friday May 1
5 Skater Lunges
5 Squat Jumps
5 Mountain Climbers

Saturday May 2
5 Lunge Kicks
5 Burpees
5 Plank Jacks

Sunday May 3
10 Skater Lunges
10 Squat Jumps
10 Mountain Climbers

Monday May 4
10 Lunge Kicks
10 Burpees
10 Plank Jacks

Tuesday May 5
15 Skater Lunges
15 Squat Jumps
15 Mountain Climbers

Wednesday May 6
15 Lunge Kicks
15 Burpees
15 Plank Jacks

Thursday May 7
20 Skater Lunges
20 Squat Jumps
20 Mountain Climbers

Friday May 8
20 Lunge Kicks
20 Burpees
20 Plank Jacks

Saturday May 9
25 Skater Lunges
25 Squat Jumps
25 Mountain Climbers

Sunday May 10
25 Lunge Kicks
25 Burpees
25 Plank Jacks

Monday May 11
30 Skater Lunges
30 Squat Jumps
30 Mountain Climbers

Tuesday May 12
30 Lunge Kicks
30 Burpees
30 Plank Jacks

Wednesday May 13
35 Skater Lunges
35 Squat Jumps
35 Mountain Climbers

Thursday May 14
35 Lunge Kicks
35 Burpees
35 Plank Jacks

Friday May 15
40 Skater Lunges
40 Squat Jumps
40 Mountain Climbers

Saturday May 16
40 Lunge Kicks
40 Burpees
40 Plank Jacks

Sunday May 17
45 Skater Lunges
45 Squat Jumps
45 Mountain Climbers

Monday May 18
45 Lunge Kicks
45 Burpees
45 Plank Jacks

Tuesday May 19
50 Skater Lunges
50 Squat Jumps
50 Mountain Climbers

Wednesday May 20
50 Lunge Kicks
50 Burpees
50 Plank Jacks

Thursday May 21
55 Skater Lunges
55 Squat Jumps
55 Mountain Climbers

Friday May 22
55 Lunge Kicks
55 Burpees
55 Plank Jacks

Saturday May 23
60 Skater Lunges
60 Squat Jumps
60 Mountain Climbers

Sunday May 24
60 Lunge Kicks
60 Burpees
60 Plank Jacks

Monday May 25
65 Skater Lunges
65 Squat Jumps
65 Mountain Climbers

Tuesday May 26
65 Lunge Kicks
65 Burpees
65 Plank Jacks

Wednesday May 27
70 Skater Lunges
70 Squat Jumps
70 Mountain Climbers

Thursday May 28
70 Lunge Kicks
70 Burpees
70 Plank Jacks

Friday May 29
75 Skater Lunges
75 Squat Jumps
75 Mountain Climbers

Saturday May 30
75 Lunge Kicks
75 Burpees
75 Plank Jacks

Sunday May 31
80 Skater Lunges
80 Squat Jumps
80 Mountain Climbers

DEMOS:
Skater Lunges
  • Perform a reverse lunge with your back leg slightly at an angle.
  • Leap to the side and bring the opposite leg behind you, only tapping your toe to the ground.
  • Immediately jump back the other direction and continue alternating until you feel the burn.
  • Form check: Keep your knees bent and stay as low as possible to really work your quads.
Squat Jumps
  • Squat down until your knees are bent about 90 degrees.
  •  Immediately swing your arms overhead and jump upward as high as you can.
  • As you land, gently bend your knees and sink back down into the squat position.
Mountain Climbers
  • Start the exercise by lying face down on the floor.
  • Straighten out your arms and then touch your knees down to the ground or floor.
  • Now you are ready to lift yourself up into position. When doing this, be sure that your hands are directly under your chest at a width that is slightly more than your shoulder length distance.
  • Once you have settled into position and checked the position of your hands you should be sure to keep your legs stretched out, ensuring that they are properly lined up with the rest of your body. Pay special attention to your knees as many people tend to create a gap here but that should be avoided. If the recommended position is uncomfortable for you, it is alright to modify it slightly as long as you maintain the correct posture.
  • Now you should stretch out your left leg for stability. Bend your right knee and bring it up in the direction of your right hand. At this point, you should be in a similar position to the one you would be in if you were climbing a mountain or tree (hence the name) except horizontal instead of vertical.
  • After bringing your right knee up, return it to the original position and do the previous step with your left leg. (Once again, bend the left knee and bring it up towards the left hand mimicking the actions of a mountain climber)
Lunge Kicks
  • Stand with feet hip-width apart, arms by sides, elbows bent.
  • Lunge forward with left leg while swinging right arm forward and left arm back.
  • This completes one rep. Alternate sides.
Burpees
  • Begin in a standing position. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart. Now, lower your body into a squatting position, placing your hands on the floor in front of you.
  • Kick your feet back so that you are in push-up position. Keep your hands firmly on the ground to support your body.
  • Lower your chest to do a push-up. Bring your chest back up.
  • Kick your feet back to their original position. Stand up, and then jump into the air while clapping your arms overhead.
  • Repeat.
Plank Jacks
  • Begin in plank position, with your shoulders over your wrists, your body in one straight line, and your feet together.
  • Like the motion of a jumping jack, jump your legs wide and then back together. Jump as quickly as you want, but keep your pelvis steady and don’t let your booty rise toward the ceiling.

The Truth About Fat Burners

A commercial pops up on your TV screen. It's a middle aged woman dressed in a bikini with a big smile. Next, a small before photo pops up in the bottom corner of the screen. She states, "I dropped 50lbs. due to *insert diet pill name here*) and have never felt better! Then, she may even show you her old blue jeans that clearly do not fit her anymore. 



You start to wonder... can this happen for me, too?

I am no stranger to diet pills. When I worked at GNC during nursing school, we sold countless brands of fat burners-any and every one that you can think of. I knew a lot about them, but it wasn't until I decided to shed my unwanted pounds that I decided to give them a try.

I settled on one brand, which has now been recalled (great!), called OxyElite Pro. It was one of the key ingredients (or so I thought) to my almost 50lb. weightloss. I was young and didn't do my research. If I would've know what I do today, I would've steered clear.

Do I think this magic fat burner pill did the work all by itself? No way.
Did it help? Maybe.
But, was it worth the potential danger? Not in the slightest.

Before we get into the dangers, let's get into how a "diet pill" works anyway.



If you look on the back of any given fat burner, you are likely to see a whole bunch of crazy herbs you've never heard of and then the main factored ingredient: CAFFEINE.

So, why caffeine? 

Simply put, it's a stimulant. It increases your body's metabolic rate and speeds things up, which burns stored fat for energy.

Did you know that fat burners are not FDA approved? So these companies can put whatever they want into this tiny magic pill and sell it to you on false hopes that this pill can and will make you skinny.

FDA has received numerous reports of harm associated with the use of weight loss products, including:

  • increased blood pressure
  • heart palpitations
  • stroke
  • seizure
  • organ failure
  • death.


But are all fat burners bad? No. Some are more on the natural side and are proven to help you in a positive way with your weightloss, when combined with a healthy diet and training well. However, safe ones are pretty rare to come by and it is always best to speak with your doctor first.

Your best bet is a clean diet and frequent exercise. There is no magic pill that is going to shed that weight for you or give you abs.

I don't think I will ever use a diet pill again. I managed to get into the best shape of my life after having my son without the use of any fat burners. But, I always joke that coffee is my "fat burner"-with a better taste!



Sunday, April 26, 2015

Homemade Nutty Paleo Protein Bars



Ingredients

  • 2 cups walnuts
  • 1 cup pecans
  • 2 cups almonds
  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup vanilla protein powder
  • 1/2 cup pitted dates
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 cup raw honey
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 220 degrees F (104 degrees C). Arrange walnuts and pecans on a baking sheet and toast them for 5 minutes.
  2. Remove nuts and increase oven temperature to 230 degrees F (110 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch pan.
  3. Crush roasted walnuts, roasted pecans, and almonds together in a food processor and place in a mixing bowl.
  4. Add all over ingredients in and mix well.
  5. Then press mixture into the prepared pan.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Track Your Baby's Milestones With This Creative Monthly Photo Idea!

Your baby's milestones are some of the most amazing moments in your lifetime that you will never forget!

However, due to the speed in which your baby grows, it tends to get confusing to remember when each milestone occurred.

Therefore, I decided to track my son's growth using a picture each month highlighting all of his biggest moments. 



To do this, I simply would simply lay my son down on a cushion in the same position and then snap a photo the same exact way, each and every month. 

Next, I would digitally add in the month and the milestones onto the wall behind him. You can also track your baby's milestones by using a chalkboard as some mothers do-if you are not computer savvy.



One of my son's biggest milestones around 6 months of age was getting his first two teeth! I made sure to put this on his 6 month milestone tracker, but I doubt I can forget this moment!

Although we were absolutely thrilled to celebrate his first teeth erupting, this also called for many sleepless nights to come, consoling our little man who was in relentless pain. 

Thankfully, I had gotten a tube of Baby Orajel™ Naturals Teething Gel for my baby shower that I had yet to use. I figured what better time to try it than now because, after all, I am a huge fan of homeopathic remedies! It is also the #1 Pharmacist recommended homeopathic brand for teething pain relief so that was great to know.


With the soothing power of Chamomilla (commonly known as Chamomile), Baby Orajel™ Naturals Teething Gel offers safe, effective teething pain relief for your baby.

Baby Orajel™ Naturals Teething Gel features:

Homeopathic formula
Benzocaine-free
Belladonna-free
Paraben-free

As a health nut, I always make sure to double check the ingredients in every product that I use on my family and myself. Baby Orajel™ Naturals Teething Gel passed the test and, best of all, it works! We used this nightly on my son as well as the Baby Orajel™ Naturals Teething Tablets during the day. These tablets dissolved completely, without any mess or fuss.

No matter what milestone your baby is going through, there are many creative ways to track the most rewarding moments. Some milestones can be tougher than others; thank goodness for homeopathic remedies available to help soothe our babies while also soothing our minds, too.

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by the makers of Baby Orajel™ through CafeMom. I received compensation, but all opinions and thoughts stated within this post are my very own. 

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