Basil Pesto Quesadillas

Let's face it, meals in our house the past week have had to be simple and quick as we are figuring out this whole diabetes thing. A couple nights ago I made the kids mozzarella cheese quesadillas, and I had planned on making some avocado ones for my MIL and I. However, my avocados weren't too ripe. Plan B... I pulled out the basil pesto sauce I had in the fridge, and I have to say, I am glad the avocados weren't ripe! ;) This was pure deliciousness!

BASIL PESTO QUESADILLAS

INGREDIENTS: 

• Basil pesto sauce
• 1 small roma tomato, diced
• 1 green onion, sliced
• Salsa
• Mozzarella cheese
• Whole Wheat Tortillas
• Seasonings of choice - We used:
• Cumin
• Garlic Powder
• Paprika
• Sea Salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. With the tortilla flat, spread an even layer of basil pesto sauce over the entire area. 
2. Layer with diced tomato and green onion.
3. Sprinkle on your seasonings.
4. Put mozzarella cheese on top of all of this.
5. Fold the tortilla in half to close.
6. Spray skillet with cooking spray, and place the quesadilla in the skillet.
7. Brown on both sides.
8. Top with salsa if desired.

Yum, yum, yum! Let me know if you give it a try. :-)

Pumpkin Pie Shake

First day of October; fall is in the air. This time of year I love everything apple and pumpkin, so after trying this new recipe, I just had to share.

PUMPKIN PIE SHAKE

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology (Could use Chocolate too!)
• 1 cup rice milk (This is what we use at home, so just use whatever milk you have.)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened can pumpkin
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 5 ice cubes 

DIRECTIONS: 

• Blend and enjoy!

Let me know if you try it out and what you think. :-)

Citrus Baked Chicken with Glazed Carrots

Wednesday night I cooked up a meal from my Insanity book. I wasn't sure what the family would think of it, but they tried it and gave two thumbs up as they gobbled it down. I, personally, was worried about the honey-glazed carrots, because I am not a big fan of honey {I know, I know... who doesn't like honey?!} but it's a keeper from me too! Give it a try, and let me know what you think. 

So far, so good on my Insanity journey. Today is day 5 of 60. Monday I will be posting a week one progress update here on the blog to share my thoughts with you all. Have a great Friday, friends!

{Makes 1 serving}

INGREDIENTS:
5 oz. raw boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. paprika
Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper {to taste; optional}
2 medium carrots, sliced, cooked, hot
2 tsp. raw honey

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Place chicken in small, ovenproof dish.
3. Drizzle with oil and lemon juice; sprinkle with paprika. Season with salt and pepper {if desired}. 
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until center is no longer pink and juices run clear. 
5. Drizzle carrots with honey.
6. Serve chicken with carrots on the side.

TIPS/MODIFICATIONS:

For a 400-calorie meal: Add 1/2 cup cooked brown rice on the side.

For a 500-calorie meal: Increase chicken to 6 oz. and add 3/4 cup brown rice.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION {per serving}: 

Calories: 303

Total Fat: 9 g

Saturated Fat: 1 g

Cholesterol: 91 mg

Sodium: 517 mg

Carbohydrate: 26 g

Fiber: 4 g

Sugar: 17 g

Protein: 32 g

Caramel & Sea Salt Shakeology

If you have been following me for any amount of time then you know by now that I have quite the sweet tooth. Since I started drinking Shakeology two years ago now, that has helped tremendously. When I came across this recipe about a month ago, I knew I needed to save it to have on hand for when my cravings hit a peak. I adjusted the recipe to fit my tastes, so know that you can do that too. I am guessing this would be amazing with Chocolate Shakeology, so I will be trying that soon.

This hit the spot, and I am not going to lie when I say I went and hid in my room to drink this. My kids usually take sips of my daily drink, but I wasn't allowing that this time. ;)

Caramel & Sea Salt Shakeology

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rice milk {or whatever milk you use}
• 3/4 cup water
• 5 ice cubes
• 1 tsp caramel extract
• A dash of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
• 1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology

Directions:
Blend well and enjoy!

Healthy Peanut Butter Cups

Do you need a treat for your Labor Day Weekend? You have to give these PB Cups a try! Not only are these a healthier treat option, but with Shakeology thrown in this recipe, you are getting all the benefits from that... vitamins and super foods!

Shakeology Peanut Butter Cups
(Makes 2 servings)

Total Time: 40 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None

INGREDIENTS: 

2 tsp. unrefined coconut oil, melted
2 Tbsp. powdered chocolate peanut butter (like PB2)
2 tsp. Chocolate Vegan Shakeology
2 Tbsp. water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine oil and powdered peanut butter in a small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
2. Combine Shakeology and water in a small bowl; mix until it has a pudding-like consistency. Set aside.
3. Coat two foil muffin liners evenly with half of peanut butter mixture. Top evenly with Shakeology mixture and remaining peanut butter mixture.
4. Freeze for 30 minutes, or until firm.

Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 64
Total Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 50 mg
Carbohydrate: 3 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sugar: 1 g
Protein: 3 g

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Why have I not been making my own taco seasoning all along?! It is so simple and so much healthier than some of those store-bought packs that are loaded with salt and many times MSG too.

The recipe I used has no salt and the extra I made can be stored in the spice cabinet for next time we eat tacos.

INGREDIENTS:

4 tbsp chili powder

3 tbsp, plus 1 tsp. paprika

3 tbsp ground cumin

1 tbsp, plus 2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl, mix together chili powder, paprika, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Store in an air-tight container.

I used three tablespoons of this mix with our one pound of venison.

Clean Eating Principles

Have you ever heard someone mention that they are "eating clean" and thought to yourself, what the heck is that?

Well you aren't alone, because when I started this journey two years ago I heard that phrase and had no clue what it meant.

The trick is figuring out what those healthy foods are and how much of them to eat, because if I have learned one thing over the past two years it is that I can exercise all I want, but if I am not eating right, I am not going to get very far. If I eat garbage, my body will show that. And if I eat clean, my body will show me that too, giving me a healthy glow and more energy.

Here are some basics that I have found very important:

• Eat 5-6 small meals per day.
• Eat every 2-3 hours.
• Have a lean protein and complex carb at every meal.
• Drink your body weight, divided by two, in ounces every day.
  
• Never skip a meal, especially breakfast!
  
• Have clean-eating foods with you at all times; carry a thermal tote filled with healthy snack options.
  
• Avoid over-processed, refined foods, especially white flour and sugar.
• Avoid all saturated and trans fat.
• Avoid sugar-filled pops and juices.
• Consume healthy fats each day.
• Avoid alcohol, which is another form of sugar.
• Avoid all calorie dense foods containing no nutritional value.
• Depend on fresh fruits and veggies to get you your fiber, vitamins and enzymes.
  
• Measure! Stick to appropriate portion sizes.

PiYo // Week 1 Review

PiYo arrived on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago, and I was excited to tear that box open! I started the program on Monday, July 14th, and I want to share my weekly progress with all of you.

I have to be honest when I say I was a little nervous to jump all in with this program. When I started my fitness journey out two years ago, I did TurboFire, which is a high-intensity cardio program. I had such great results from that program and then moved on to weights. I was just afraid to give that up. However, Chalene Johnson is fantastic and knows what she is doing, so I totally trust her and have decided to commit to this program from start to finish 100%!

My main goal with PiYo is not to lose weight. Instead I am looking to increase my flexibility, strength and my core. For this reason, I am going to be eating for maintenance calories. My plan is to continue using the 21 Day Fix containers for portion control and follow the PiYo eating plan.

To start, I figured out my calorie target. For me, that is about 1200-1300 calories per day. I found the food plan that matches my calorie target, which is plan A. 

For Plan A I am eating: 

4 servings of Primary Vegetables

2 servings Secondary Vegetables & Grains

2 servings Fresh Fruit

4 servings Lean Protein

3 servings Healthy Fats

With this program, it is important to follow the eating plan because you are not burning a high amount of calories with these workouts. I don't have a meal plan to share with you from week one, because we were camping over the weekend and I didn't make a PiYo plan for that. Future weeks, I will be sharing what my meals and snacks are.

Here are my week 1 workouts:

Day 1 is Align: The Fundamentals, which is 40 minutes long. This workout breaks down the most important and effective moves in the program to help you perfect your form and get your best results possible. You will not want to skip this introduction! Chalene guides you through each movement, pose and exercise that you will use the rest of the program.

Day 1 - Learning the moves

Day 2 is Define: Lower Body (25 min.), which really focuses on your lower body. This workout will helps lengthen and strengthen your entire lower body from your flutes and hamstrings to your calves.

Day 2 - After workout Shakeology

Day 3 is Define: Upper Body (35 min). This really is an upper body workout with plenty of tricep push-ups! Hello sexy shoulders!

Day 4 is Sweat (35 min.). This is a traditional PiYo workout that incorporates effective dynamic conditioning, fast-paced cardio yoga-flows, and bodyweight resistance strength training to help sculpt your entire body. And, YES, I was sweating without doing any running or jumping!

Day 5 is a rest day.

Day 6 is Define: Lower Body again.

Day 7 is Define: Upper Body

And, that is week 1! You can follow along on my PiYo journey right here on the blog, as well as on my Facebook Page, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Greek Yogurt Parfait

I love yogurt, especially a clean eating snack like Greek yogurt parfait! With the heat of the summer fully here, I enjoy having options like this to treat myself to. It's just a much better choice than that bowl of ice cream or DQ blizzard. My kids love these yogurt treats as well, which any mom knows is always a major bonus! I wanted to share this easy recipe with you all. Enjoy!

Total Time: 10 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:

• ½ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup fresh blueberries (or mixed berries)
• 1 Tbsp. unsweetened high-fiber cereal (optional)

Preparation:
1. Layer ¼ cup yogurt and ¼ cup blueberries in a tall glass; repeat layer.
2. Top with cereal if desired.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 108

Fat: 0 g

Saturated Fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 8 mg

Sodium: 53 mg

Carbohydrate: 18 g

Fiber: 3 g

Sugar: 12 g

Protein: 12 g

Post in the comments and let me know what you think if you try this!

My Costco Stop

Happy Thursday! Has this week flown by for all of you like it has for me?! I can't believe we are at the end of the week already!

Not much to post over here. Monday I mentioned how I was going out alone for the afternoon because of a doctor's appointment I had. While I didn't make it to Target, I did decide to stop at Costco because we needed a few things. Thought I would share what I picked up on this trip for those interested. :-)

I opened the bag of almonds after loading the vehicle up with all the groceries. I think I could have sat there forever eating these in complete silence, haha! Love my kids, love my life, but I am not going to lie when I say it is a treat to have a few hours alone!

This first group is some of what I picked up. You will see the granola I so often eat... daily? You should definitely try it! 

The kids like the bars as an afternoon treat, so I picked more up for them. 

I love, love, love getting fruit from Costco. Buying that in bulk is a must around here since we got through it so quickly, especially bananas with my little banana monster I have living here. ;) 

Have you ever tried the "Food Should Taste Good" multigrain chips? A great option if you like to snack on chips and salsa or throw them in your chili for that little crunch like we have been doing this week.

I am not into pickles, but the rest of the family likes them, so I make sure to keep these in stock.

Picked up some craisins this trip. I love adding these to my salads and the kids enjoy these as a treat too.

Chocolate chips are a must in our house! We add them to our Greek yogurt, which makes it like a little dessert for us. Totally satisfies my sweet tooth without me going overboard.

Love this fish. When I don't feel like cooking, it is nice to have this in the freezer. I have even baked it up to throw on my salad before, which was really yummy.

My all-time favorite veggie is green beans, so if you came over, you would definitely see these in our freezer. I either steam them up and add a little Mrs. Dash seasoning or I will put them on the stove top drizzled in some olive oil. Mmm!

And, probably no surprise here that I got a couple containers of this. ;)

There you have it. My little Costco stop. My sitter even stuck around and played with the kids while I unloaded and put away! Mini vacation day for me! Love those!

Questions for you:

• Where do you do most of your grocery shopping? 
• What are the staples at your house?

Workouts and Meals for the Week

Home from church and set the timer for 30 minutes to force myself to get this menu done. Having a time limit helps me. I really should do that more often. ;)

My meals are so repetitive and simple, but as My Hunter said, I am busy and need to keep it simple.

So here is my plan. Excited to get back on track.

{Click to Enlarge}

After yesterday's intense Insanity workout, I am excited to have a rest day today.

I am now off to meal prep... chili is going to be thrown together and in the crockpot so I can have it in the fridge all set for the week.

Tonight's supper is leftover from last night, Chicken BBQ Beer Sandwiches. You can find that recipe here.

Thanks Laura and Jill for the link-up!

Have a great Sunday, friends! :-)

Saturday Supper

Hi friends! How has your weekend been? Ours has been gorgeous and eventful with the warm temps and My Hunter getting his first black bear... one that the taxidermist said was about as big as they get here! Proud of him!

Today we are off to church and then I have a meeting with the women's ministry team after. I really need to get home after and get our meal plan done for the week. Remember I stated that I want to get back on track with that? Gotta do it!

Last night I tried out a new crockpot meal. Since I love simple crockpot meals so much, I wanted to share this one. Turns out it was super similar to the BBQ chicken recipe we already make from time to time, but this one had beer in it. We couldn't taste the beer in it at all, but maybe if we tried a different kind next time. I chose Corona because we had a bottle sitting in the fridge that was left over from when we had friends over at Easter.

Ingredients:  {Serves 8-10} 3lbs boneless skinless chicken breast 1 tbsp onion powder 1 tbsp paprika 1 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 8oz bottle of beer  1 bottle of your favorite  {16-18oz} BBQ sauce {We always use Sweet Baby Rays.} Sandwich fixings- buns, specialty cheeses, jalepenos 
Directions: 1. Place chicken breast in the bottom of the crockpot. 2. Mix in spices, beer, and BBQ sauce 3. Cook for 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low depending on your crockpot 4. Be sure to shred the meat as you go. 5. Serve warm on buns and with toppings of your choice!
Let me know if you end up trying this one out. I absolutely love recipes that are this easy and yummy and where I have all the ingredients on hand.
Happy Sunday!

Banana Split Shakeology Recipe

I have to share this Chocolate Shakeology recipe with all my Shakeology drinkers out there! Seriously, this is dessert in a cup... a super healthy dessert! If you try it out, let me know if you love it as much as I do!

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High-Protein Chocolate/Vanilla PB Bars

On Sunday, my 5-year-old daughter and I decided to try making the protein bar recipe that came in my 21 Day Fix book. We had to improvise a little, because I only had a little Chocolate Shakeology on hand and no peanuts on hand. I am known to just mix and match recipes with whatever I have in my cupboards. ;)

Super easy to make and they have been a great snack to have on hand during our week.

High-Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Bars
{Makes 24 servings, 1 bar each}

Container Equivalents {per serving}: One Yellow Container

Ingredients:
4 Scoops Chocolate Shakeology {We used 2 scoops Chocolate & 2 scoops Vanilla.}
2 cups quick-cooking old-fashioned rolled oats
1/3 cup chopped raw peanuts {We used almonds.}
1/2 cup golden raisins {We used raisins.}
1 cup unsweetened almond milk {We used vanilla flavored almond milk.}
1/2 cup all-natural creamy peanut butter

Directions:
1. Combine Shakeology, oats, peanuts and raisins in a large mixing bowl; mix well.
2. Add almond milk and peanut butter; mix well.
3. Press mixture into 8 x 8-inch baking pan; cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
4. Cut into 24 bars.

3-Day Shakeology Cleanse // Explanation & My Results

Last week I decided I was going to do the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse. You can see a bit about my day one here, day two here and I will be updating you on how my last day went in this post. :-) I know those of you that followed me on this may be wondering if I survived and stuck to the plan on that final day!

Before I give you that update though, I want to share why I chose to do this and go into more detail on how this cleanse works. I did not do this with the intention of losing weight. My main reason was because I needed to detox from the sugar I put in my body over Easter. I still can't get over how having sugar just made me go crazy wanting more and more.

What is the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse?

The main purpose of the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse is to jump-start your fitness, break a plateau, or shred pounds fast and effectively in a healthy way.

The Plan

• 3 Shakeology Shakes a day
• 2 Green Teas a day
• 1 or 2 pieces of fruit a day (optional for those needing additional calories - I chose to have one fruit each day... why not? ;) )
• 1 salad for dinner (only white grilled protein in salad)

No:

Dairy or extra sugars

Only low fat dressings 

You can put your snacks before or after any of your major meals (breakfast, lunch or supper).

This cleanse is not for pregnant or nursing women.

Example of how my days went:

Start: 

Drink one cup of green tea to start your day.

My girls joined in one of the mornings.

Breakfast: 

Make your Shakeology (140 calories) with ice and water. You can have 1/2 cup of fruit at this time too (60-90 calories). Like I said above, I chose to have my fruit all three days. I love to eat, so if it is an option, I will take it.

Snack #1: 

One piece of fruit (85 calories)

Lunch: 

Shakeology (140 calories) with ice and water and 1 cup of green tea

Snack #2: 

Shakeology (140 calories) with ice and water

Supper: 

Salad... this thing ended up monstrous every night. I was full afterwards, no issues there! You put three servings of greens in your bowl, top with 2 tablespoons (no more!) of non-dairy dressing, and then add 4 ounces of grilled white meat (fish or poultry). 

I mentioned last week that I tried to do this cleanse back in November and failed from the start. I was worried I wouldn't make it through this time, but I stopped those thoughts in their tracks after My Hunter reassured me that I *could* do this. So, day one and day two, as you read earlier, were followed to a "T" for me. I couldn't have felt more proud or better! 

Now, let me catch you up on how day three went. My Hunter got home at 5:00 pm so that I could get out the door and get to the church for setting up my conference. This was the end of my day for eating. The cleanse had been followed to a "T" again. YAY! A success!

I have to share this next part though. I thought some of you would get a good laugh. On my drive to the church, I had to stop by and pick up the rosettes and verse cards that a friend put together for me that I needed for the event gifts. I was chatting with her real quick, with my hand on the door ready to jump back in my van to keep moving when she said, "Oh! I made an awesome dessert for the conference tomorrow. You have to try it!" {This is where I should have just told her I was doing this cleanse and I really, really did not want to eat anything outside of my plan, but do you think I did that?? Nope. Silly me! Worrying about what other people will think again.} 

She pulled me into her kitchen and handed me the dessert. I just held it in my hand thinking about what I was going to do now, while she stared at me waiting for me to take a bite. And I waited for her to turn away, but she watched, smiling, waiting for me to eat it. So... I did, because what else could I do?! And it *was* good, but I hated that I had a bite! She then turned her back to close the fridge and I quickly shoved the rest in my sweatshirt pocket saying, "Mmm! That was *so* good!" And, it really was, but I wasn't going to eat the rest of it, and I was certainly not going to let her know I hid the rest in my sweatshirt. {Sorry if you read my blog, Carla. I know you will laugh and wonder why I just didn't tell you! :-)}

Here it is, the dessert with a small bite missing that caused me from saying I had a "perfect" cleanse.

The only other slip-up I made was at church. We were working until midnight, and my friend had brought me a coffee. It smelled so good, and I honestly could have gotten by just fine without having any, but throughout the night I had 5 or 6 small sips just because.

So, other than those two small bumps in the road, my cleanse was almost followed to a "T".

Now, let me share how I felt and what I noticed while doing this cleanse.

My Results:

• I felt clear-minded and focused! No foggy-brain.
• My digestion got a restart! {Oh yes it did! They don't call it a cleanse for nothing! Sorry if this is T.M.I., but I am an honest gal. ;) }
• I slept so much better!
• My metabolism got a boost because of the green tea!
• I kicked the sugar cravings!
• The plateau that I was on was kicked! 
• I was not starving at all!
• I challenged myself and proved I could do this; the biggest, and by far my favorite, result of this whole adventure!!!
  
• I lost 4.2 pounds in three days! I have never felt better... honestly! I SO, SO, SO wish I would have taken measurements beforehand, but I wasn't trying to lose weight, nor thinking I would ever possibly lose that kind of weight in three days. My legs, stomach, arms... everything felt slimmer and more toned, so I am certain I lost inches. I am planning on offering this cleanse in a challenge group setting sometime in the future, and you can bet I will be making my challengers take their measurements beforehand.

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Questions:

• Have you ever done a cleanse? 
• What do you think would be the hardest part for you with doing a 3-day cleanse like this?
• Do you think it would be fun to do something like this in a group setting with me coaching you now that I have gone through it successfully myself?

Keep That Salad Healthy

I love salads, and I love getting adventurous and creating new ones, with different toppings and flavors! You have to be careful though, because these healthy greens can quickly become unhealthy when you mix extra-large portions of too many toppings. This morning I wanted to share three tips in helping you keep that salad good for you. Grab your bowl of greens and let's toss up a balanced meal for you.

First, you want to pick your protein. Many salads are loaded down with chicken, bacon and cheese, which is just too much extra fat and calories. You just need one protein; that's it. Choose a 3-ounce serving of meat, fish, beans or cheese and place this on your greens. {3-ounces is about the size of a deck of cards.}

Second, add some crunch. Skip the croutons, tortilla strips or noodles and go with peppers, carrots or celery instead to keep it healthy. According to the American Dietetic Association, people who eat a salad-a-day are more likely to meet their important vitamin intake, including immunity-boosting C and E.

Third, add a little fat. Monounsaturated fats help you absorb carotenoids found in veggies like carrots and spinach, which are also super important for eye health. If you want to try something other than the common oils, try out one of these options instead {which are all the fat equivalent to 1-2 tsp oil}:

• 10 olives
• 12 almonds
• 7 walnut halves
• 1/4 avocado

Some other ways that I like to keep my salads fun and interesting:

• Add raspberries and almonds
• Squirt with lime juice
• Toss in some red onion
• Sprinkle on some sunflower seed
• Drizzle with blueberry {or another fruit-infused} vinegar
  

Questions:

Do you eat a lot of salads?

What is your favorite salad topping?

Day 2 of Shakeology Cleanse... DONE!

We had a green tea date yesterday morning... just us girls! :-)

I don't know if you could tell from the picture I posted yesterday of my day one completion post, but that was not a recent picture of me. That was me from back in November when I *tried* to do the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse. Go back and look here if you missed yesterday's post. You will see my hair is shorter. I was too lazy too busy to post any other picture yesterday. You see, I have this whole conference event coming up TOMORROW {Please pray for me!} that has consumed my time, so I couldn't justify making a new photo that says the same thing... that I made it through day one. 

The thing with back in November when I tried to do this cleanse was that I only made it through day one. I failed after that. On day 2 I started by slowly licking the peanut butter off the knife after making the kids' breakfast, telling myself, "No big deal. It's one little lick." That then led to a small bite of one of their sandwiches. {I am sure you can guess where this is going. :-)} Eventually by the end of the day I was eating everything that I should not have if I wanted to truly do this cleanse right. And, by day three... well, there was no day 3.

This time around, however, I made a promise to myself and My Hunter that I was going to do this 3-day cleanse! He reminded me that I am so strong when I make up my mind to do something, in fact I think his exact words were, "You are seriously the strongest woman I know... when you decide to be." That meant a lot! It got me thinking that, "Yeah... I *can* do this! It's only three days!" I believe that when you truly accept yourself and put your mind fully into your goals, you will achieve them! 

That is part of the reason I have been posting this 3-day journey on here. I know that if I share with you guys, you are all now holding me accountable too, and I love that! It keeps me going! Accountability is another huge part in moving towards your goals. I want to succeed because I gave my word that I am going to do this!

So, I am happy to report in to all of you that I completed day two yesterday perfectly! I did it! One more day to go!

Like I said yesterday, I will be sharing a full post {hopefully Monday} on how this went and what my results are, but I have to say I am feeling so amazing! I think God orchestrated this cleanse in line with this conference prep. I am feeling so clear-headed and focused, which as a result makes getting things done much easier.

Okay, now I have to go. More work to get done for the big day tomorrow! I hope you all have an amazing Friday! <3

Questions:

• What is one goal that you are putting your full mind into believing you can do and WILL prove you can do?
• Do you have an accountability partner?
• Any fun events going on in your life this weekend?

Thanks for the link-ups, Lauren and Jennie! This is by far my FAVORITE Friday highlight from my week! :-)

Day 1... DONE!

Tuesday night I decided I needed to hit the reset button! I was slipping on my eating habits and starting to gravatate to all those sugary treats after having some Easter weekend. Isn't it funny how once you get that sugar back in your system, your body craves it just like that again?!

What I am doing to get back on track is the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse. This isn't about weight loss for me, but already since completely day one yesterday, I am down a little over two pounds! Not going to complain since I had put about four pounds on recently. For me, this is more about getting back on track physically and mentally.

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I will do a complete recap post on the cleanse next week, so pop back over to check it out. But right now I can already say I feel fantastic!

For now, I off to enjoy my green tea, followed up by my Shakeology for breakfast and a lot of water so that I can stay hydrated.

My workouts for the next few days are just going to be light recovery days. Since I am cutting back the calories for this cleanse, I want to keep those lower impact because my energy will definitely not be there to get through my regularly scheduled Insanity workouts. {Sorry Shaun T! I will be back Saturday morning to work out with ya. ;) }

Hope you all have an amazing Thursday!

Questions for you:

• Have you ever done a cleanse before?
• If so, how long and what did you think?
• What was {or would be} the one food/meal you couldn't wait to have afterwards?

What's Going in Our Easter Baskets?

Hey everyone! How is your week going? I honestly can't believe Easter is in a couple days. How is it mid-April?! The good news is, spring is here! Hope you have been getting some spring-like weather in your area! The kids have been outside everyday this week, and Sunday is supposed to be sunny and almost 70, which will be perfect for getting out looking for those eggs.

This year I wanted to come up with some stuffers other than candy for the kids' Easter baskets. I'm trying to avoid all that extra sugar. They will get enough of that from the big egg hunt. ;)

We honestly don't get them a whole lot for the kids because, well, they don't need it. So, I try to be logical but still put some things in there they will be excited about.

First up, let me share what I bought for my 1 1/2 year old little guy. I know he won't fit into his swimming trunks from last summer, so I thought it would be the perfect gift for his basket, along with the shirt and hat. We will also tuck this little board book in there because he absolutely loves trucks so much!

Baby Boy's Basket

My daughters' baskets will be pretty identical. {I wonder if that will bother them someday? :-)} They both get a new swimming suit. This year we chose tankinis for them to make it easier to use the bathroom while we are living at the pool for the summer. I will also throw in some underwear. You can never have too much underwear, right?! ;) I wanted to get them Frozen bedding, but I think the price on all the Frozen attire is a little ridiculous right now! Yikes! I may pick up a book for each of them to tuck in their baskets as well.

We can't go without some sort of treat. We picked up the lemon almonds last weekend while we were at Costco, so those will go in some of their eggs {As long as I don't eat anymore!}. We also picked up some of Justin's Organic Peanut Butter Cups. {I don't feel as guilty because these are a cleaner candy option. :-)} We will also fill some of their eggs with money. They have already asked if we will be doing that again because they remember us doing it last year.

Can't leave My Hunter out. I don't know that I got him anything last year, but on Tuesday one of my friends shared with me a plant I may be able to keep alive {Thanks Mel!}... bamboo! With My Hunter's love for plants, I thought this would be a cute gift for him. The kids and I picked this up for him when we were out Wednesday and will surprise him with it on Sunday. :-) And, if I can't keep this alive, I think this relationship I am trying to create with plants is over.

Need other non-candy ideas? Here are a few:

• Coloring Books & Crayons
• Stickers
• Bubbles
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Jump Ropes
• Sandals & a Fun Nail Polish
• Sunglasses
• Lipgloss/Chapstick
• New Tableware (Cup & Plate)
• Bracelets
• Books
• Cleaner Candies:
• A Homemade Goodie
• OCHO Bars
• Yummy Earth Brand Candies
• Surf Sweets Jellybeans

Do you do Easter baskets? If so, what are you putting in them this year? 

What is one thing you would like in your Easter basket?