Lunchbox Love!

Hi, everyone! I have a surprise for you this week!!

Yes! A GIVE AWAY! :)

A wonderful company- Lunchbox Love- has given me some adorable lunch love notes to give away to a lucky reader! This was my first time to use these adorable little notes, and I LOVE THEM! I will definitely order some when these run out. Olivia loves reading them, too!

The cool thing is these aren't *just* for lunches. I used some of my Christmas ones to get creative with our elf, Layla. 

The winner will be announced on Sunday, January 13, by midnight. Check out the rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Its in the bag...er, box!

Who doesn't love a box of scrumptious delivered right to your door!? No one! What's not to love?

The folks at Naturebox were so kind and let my family try out their delicious delivery service. I have to say... It.was.AWESOME.!!

I might be lying if I said one of the best parts about naturebox isn't the fact that it feels like Christmas the day it arrives in the mail. Then again, I might be one of those people that treats every trip to the mailbox like it could be full of surprises (imagine my disappointment when all I get are bills or junk mail. Anyone want to send me a happy little post card!?)!

Of course the first thing I did was rip open the box and decide what could go where in a bento lunch for Olivia!

Bento in the lunchbot container. banana, pretzels, turkey "sushi," candy corn, Naturebox pistachio power clusters. Delicious!

A bento in the EasyLunchbox - chips, pb dolphin sandwich, cheese dip, yogurt with Naturebox trail mix, grapes, more trail mix.

Then (ok, maybe I did this part first!!) I pilfered through and tasted everything... and decided which little snack would be "for mommy only." (editors note: this didn't last long. My favorite was actually Sophia's favorite, too!)

oat bran and sesame stix.... these were gone way too quickly! 

Something else I loved about Naturebox: They team up with MOMables to bring you awesome recipes to make... using their ingredients! Pretty neat, eh? I thought so. 

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the awesome folks at Naturebox for letting us try their product. And my husband would like to thank them too, for offering all of this awesomeness for only $19.99 a month. Because... I plan to be a life long customer. Hooray!

Labor Day Weekend!

Hooray for 3 day weekends! I hope everyone has an awesome "last" official weekend of summer. And for everyone on the Gulf- stay safe!

It looks like we are going to get quite a bit of rain off of Tropical Storm Isaac... Which is a blessing since most of the natural state is enduring a drought.

Part of this weekend I'll be in Tennessee- and I can't wait! I get to see my BFF and eat at my favorite place AND buy new clothes at my favorite shop! *happy dance*

Olivia will be packing her own lunch on Friday... :) and here is tomorrow's lunch! I'm starting to feel bored with our lunch ingredients, but while we are staying with family, I am trying not to take over the kitchen and stuff the refrigerator and cabinets full of thousands of things.

With A Lime Twist

So, I've been playing around with my chickpea salad- although before my husband came home I was eating paleo so there weren't any chickpeas in my diet! EEEEEK I have been so bad since he's been home. And my Rachy has hooked me on ... beer. I have to take control of my life again!

This is the same chickpea salad- but with a lime twist (and I HATE LIME! but this is DELICIOUS).

You will need
1 can chickpeas drained & rinsed
1 english cucumber, peeled and diced
1 tomato, diced
cracked pepper
sea salt
6 key limes or 2 regular limes (juiced)
fresh cilantro to taste (I like a LOT)
1 tbsp olive oil

combine everything, and serve chilled or at room temp!

My PALEO version:
1 english cucumber, diced
1 tomato, diced
6 key limes, or 2 regular limes (juiced)
a lot of fresh cilantro
cracked pepper
1 tbsp olive oil

This is a new family favorite!

Tina!!

Ok.. So I meant tUna! Haha :)

Here's my recipe for the best ever tuna salad.

•single serving packet of white tuna in water
•little orange tomatoes (smaller than cherry tomatoes, I can't remember what they're called. Really, any tomato will work, but these are my fave!)
•pickles (about 5 dill chips, spicy is better!)
•raw (or roasted unsalted) sunflower seeds
•yellow mustard

Chop tomatoes & pickles. Mix everything up. Stuff into a whole wheat pita and chow down! Or, use a huge lettuce leaf (or collard leaf) instead!

Yum! Today I paired mine with my favorite- steamed French beans with garlic & cholula.

April Foodie Pen Pal!

Hiiiiiii! :)

This is my favorite kind of post! Pen  pal reveal! Love it!

My penpal this month was Gigi, so sweet! I loved  the package I received from her. Well, WE received- she checked out my blog beforehand and was so kind to include things for my kids!

Olivia LOVED these and has asked that I buy some next time we go grocery shopping!

I am a peanut butter junkie and I can't wait to try the Justin's. I am already almost half way through the green tea, I drink a mug of it every night before bed (and sometimes in the afternoon). The peach is a great flavor and requires no honey or agave for sweetening!

I haven't tried the date cookies or oats yet, but the KIND pb granola is fantastic. I'm addicted. I sprinkle it on top of the TONE IT UP banana split breakfast, or just on a sliced banana, or with an apple. SO YUM!

Thank you so much, Gigi!! We loved the package!!

Turkey Muffins!

Oh so YUM! Tonight was my first time to make them! I looked around, then decided to throw together my own quick recipe!

You will need::
1lb ground lean turkey
2 egg whites
1/3c cooked quinoa (I used multicolor)
Cumin
Balsamic vinegar (or soy sauce)
Garlic powder
Spicy mustard
Chile powder
Crushed red pepper
Fresh chives
Poppy seeds
Dash of hot sauce (I prefer cholula)

For the spices, vinegar, & mustard... I didn't measure. I just sprinkled until I thought it looked like enough. So... "to taste."

Preheat your oven to 425. Coat a muffin pan with non stick spray. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Fill the tins almost full. Then bake until they're finished! I prefer my meat to be super well done, I'd say I baked mine about 40 minutes.

day 3...

Oh, day three. You started off as *such* a great day.

And then.. it happened.

Tagalongs.
:(

I have to say, they tasted so good. And I felt soooooo guilty with every bite. But I couldn't stop! I don't know why. It was as though I was filling myself as quickly as I could with these little chocolate peanut buttery cookies.. because once they're gone, they're gone, until next year.

AND NEXT YEAR I WON'T BE BUYING ANY. So there.
I am the troop mom for my daughter. I have had 20+ cases of cookies go through my house and car in the last week. I bought one box of each when we were pre-ordering to help support O, and my plan was to mail them to my husband in Iraq. Only the regulations changed and he can't receive anything over a certain weight, ie, paper mail only.. pretty much.

I hate cookies. I love eating healthy. I LOVE putting good fuel into my body. I know (and I probably should not say this as a girl scout AND troop mom) that girl scout cookies are complete CRAP. WHY would anyone want to put what is in a girl scout cookie (or oreo, chips ahoy, any mass-produced cookie!) into their body? Three reasons: 1.) They're uninformed. I like to think the best of people and assume this is why people freak over GS cookies (or any processed junk!). 2.) They're like me and not quite able to control the bingeing that happens from time to time.. old habits die hard. 3.) They KNOW and they are just lazy and don't care. I have a hard time sympathizing with all of these reasons. Here's why.

Reason number one: being uninformed. We live in the most technologically advanced time ever! Google knows *everything* (believe me, EVERYTHING), and if you want to know about food and the benefits of fueling your body properly, the information IS out there. The sad part is that most people don't even realize that they are eating total crap. No one has ever told them about it, they might not even know there is a different way of life. I mean, lets face it, the media isn't exactly trying to push the complete facts and no matter how many big companies are "fighting obesity" or "adding a healthy twist to the kids' meal & dollar menu"... its all still garbage. Think of all the people out there thinking they're doing something awesome by ordering oatmeal instead of a breakfast burrito meal at McDonald's in the mornings. Or the people that are buying "98% fat free" everything and slowly poisoning themselves and the family they feed! Bottom line: if it has an ingredient list, don't eat it. Real food doesn't HAVE ingredients. It comes from the earth.

Reason number two: Me. Making an excuse. Lack of self control. Loathing of something in their personal life. Being educated on the matter of food, chemicals, and proper self-care... but that one little emotional trigger sets you back. I don't think I have ever fully disclosed my story on this blog, but I suffered from an eating disorder and severe self-image problems from 18 years old (I weighed in the 150s when I graduated high school in May of 2002.. closer to 160. The real problems started after I moved to Virginia that August.. and by the end of Sept/early Nov I was below 110) .. until I found out I was pregnant with my daughter O. I had her 2 weeks before I turned 20 (at 162lbs- June 12 2004) and I was right back on the wagon.. chomping phentermine and only eating once every 2-3 days (back to 110ish by mid July). Before I got pregnant with her it was the worst- eating rarely (once every 2-4 days, drinking TONS of diet coke and coffee to keep "energized"), doubling phentermine doses, being proud of all my clothes being way too big and fitting into a size 1 or 3. I didn't even know I was pregnant until I got the flu and had to go to the doctor because I hadn't had a period in so long due to not eating. Anyway. Thats super personal and not any part of my life that I'm proud of. I grew up so worried about body image- my mom had her own body image problems and I always just thought that struggle was normal. Thats why the junk food gets to me. Because in a way, bingeing is comfortable. And it also makes me feel full. And after all these years.. and those 2-3 years of being hungry and taking "prescription by mail" diet drugs... feeling full feels safe. I hate it. And that is why eating healthy has become so important to me. Because I have two amazing, brilliant daughters and I always want them to feel like know that they are wonderful.

Reason number three: People know the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, but continue to eat crap anyway because they are L A Z Y. Some have the "I'll start tomorrow" attitude and some have the "I'll be naturally skinny forever because I have a high metabolism" attitude... and some think "I'm already a whale why try to change?"

Maybe some have health issues (thyroid?) but I know they can be treated and the issues overcome with the proper medical attention (Just look at Beth! She is down 80+lbs and I am so proud of her!). I sometimes hear people conversing in public about dieting (usually fad diets!) and I want to sit down with them and explain to them how they can be healthy. How they can change AND enjoy it. And then I am sure they would look at me like I was a freak and ask me, the intruding stranger, to leave their table. :) So, I don't but-in to their convos. But I want to.

I am not in any way the perfect eater (didn't I just confess to a Girl Scout cookie binge, right here, for everyone to see?!), and I am no where near being in perfect shape. But I am working on it. Every single day, I am working. I might not always make it to the gym (Hey, what *practically* single mom of two controls her whole world? If you find her, introduce us!), and I might not always make the 100% best food choices... but I do try. And holy cow, do I try harder when I DON'T make the right choices. The guilt is overwhelming sometimes. But there is no success without failure, and I WILL BE a SUCCESS. I know you can, too.

Prep work

Tomorrow is Sunday and my first day of the 7 Day Slim Down. Did you notice the Bikini Body ticker I put on the top of this blog? My Spring Break Bikini Challenge ends on 18March but we aren't going on spring break until 7/8April. Anyway. The last time I attempted to do the 7dsd I bombed and quit on the first day. The first time I tried it, I completed it with amazing results. But I got SO SICK of the food- by day 7 I thought I would puke if I had to see another salad. So I've been prepping myself mentally for this all week. I had to, or I wouldn't be able to even try it. 

I found better running headphones today (I hope). I will try them in the gym Monday. And OH EM GEE I found an awesome running app that I can't wait to try!! Anyone out there obsessed with zombies? No? Just me? Nah... I know each and every one of you *secretly* has a zombie plan... and gas masks, flak jackets, stockpiled rounds, a few extra guns...

Check this out.

I'm more than a little excited. I can't remember which fit blog I saw this on.. it was a random pinterest click then a series of random tumblr clicking... but I am so excited that I found it! :) 

Tomorrow should be an easy day on the slim down, I have the food I need here at the house, but not enough for the week. Tomorrow is grocery shopping day and I'll have to go back several times throughout the week to ensure the freshness of my produce. I am excited. And ready to really kill it this week.

---

Goals for this week:

Stay on track with 7dsd

Finish each day strong, with a satisfied feeling about my workouts!

Remember: coconut water!

Go above and beyond with Olivia's bentos this week.*

Go through things for a yard sale I'm having next Saturday

Nail down a date to go HOME for a visit. I miss my family.

Run from the ZOMBIES!!!

What are your goals for the week? What are you doing to make sure you achieve them?

Finding my "umph"

Gahhhhh This has been the longest week ever. But not even the week- I started feeling sick LAST week. I took 2 days off. I went back to the gym, back to running. Felt worse, took a few more days off. Taking time off to be sick means... cheese. Yeah. Everyone has their own comfort food, right? Well, in my family... we put cheese on EVERYTHING growing up. So, cheese and crackers (always reminds me of my late great grandma Poole) is my number one comfort food, especially if I'm sick. So, I didn't eat my weight in cheese or anything, but, I definitely ate more than I normally would.

I got back in the gym today and it felt great. My throat is still scratchy and raw, and I'm still coughing a little... I couldn't wait any longer. You know.. in the movie Tommy Boy where Richard tells Tommy "I can hear you getting fatter!" .. That is how I have felt with every passing day that I didn't get in the gym. I ran a 2 mile HIIT (treadmill, not elliptical! Ouch to my shins, but what a feeling of accomplishment!), and did arms/shoulders/chest.

Then I came home, and conducted girl scouts. After my scouts left, I prepared Olivia's & my favorite dinner! Chicken stir-fry over quinoa. Its so easy and fast, and by far one of the heartiest dinners (to me).

Easy peasy lemon squeezy..

• sautee organic boneless skinless chicken in some pam and a dash of olive oil until they're white on each side. Remove from pan, dice (you can probably chop them up completely raw but.. I'll gag. So I have to cook them a little first!) Put back in pan.
• add a dash of low sodium soy sauce. cook until chicken is almost finished.
• add in 1/2 bag of frozen stir fry veggies (plain, no sauces/butter added! I use great value brand since its cheap, simple, and walmart is the local grocery store). 
• add another dash of low sodium soy sauce, 1/8c water, bring to boil. Cover, reduce to simmer.
• Meanwhile, you should have had your quinoa cooking. haha.
• Scoop finished quinoa onto your plate (measure your serving, of course! PORTION control!), top with stir-fry goodness, & sprinkle with sesame seeds.

enjoy! 

lovely lunching

Today was such a lovely day! It still is, actually. No seriously, the weather out is pure perfection. If Sophia wasn't napping (for the FIRST TIME all day today) we would go for a run. THAT is how gorgeous it is. Windows open in January. LOVE it. :)

My friend Whittney came over for lunch today (and some much needed adult time... I had taken up talking to the couch). I took the opportunity of having company to not only actually clean my kitchen (I have been so house-chore lazy its pitiful) but to create a delicious lunch from my Tone It Up meal plan.

The menu:

Pasta Salad

Guacamole 

Kale Chips

This was my first attempt EVER to make kale chips. I admit, I was a bit nervous. Why? We all know I'm pretty much a goddess in the kitchen. Seriously. If you know me, you love the things that come from my kitchen. I'll tell you why. The kale at walmart (I hate shopping there, but I live in a tiny town and unfortunately, they have the largest produce selection out of the other little chain stores here like piggly wiggly or kroger) was SO bright bright green. I was SURE it must be labeled wrong.. but the leaves were textured like kale... and I had read about the different places kale grows and the seasons and how it is a great cold weather plant. So I thought maybe this kale came from a different place. Don't get me wrong, the brightness of this kale was very attractive! Much better (and tastier!) than any other kale I had gotten at walmart previously.

Another reason: I hate avocado. True story. Pathetic, right? How can a once-vegan hate the motherfood? I do. But I have been treating it like I did sushi... I wanted to like it, so I begrudgingly ate it every week or two for an entire year. Then the taste became something I enjoyed, even craved (switching from Nori to soy paper helped a LOT on my sushi-tolerance, as well. Nori just... makes me gag sometimes). Right. Back to avocado. I have been chopping it up and putting it on things the last few months. Ordering food that contains it in restaurants (hello, Cali wrap at uptown... I'm looking at you, drooling!), and mixing it with a tiny bit of pesto when I make sandwiches and wraps at home. The TIU guac was AWESOME! :) The only way I could think to improve it: add peppers. But, I am a "fire mouth" and I love love love hot food. So next time I make it, I will chop fresh serranos or I will add red pepper flakes. I love both.

The pasta salad was easy to throw together, delicious, and it got Sophia to eat broccoli (the only food left that she doesn't like... luckily she has gotten over her distaste for bananas). I call that winning!

I would have to say the entire meal was a huge success. Whittney seemed to enjoy it, I loved it, and Sophia ate every bite, with the exception of a few red bell peppers... I don't think she really likes the "crunch" yet. Her little molars are in but not completely- maybe that had something to do with it.