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Making Your Resolutions Stick in 2016
It happens. We vow to make each year better than our last. We struggle through the holidays, eating one too many cookies, saying we’ll start in January. So we join a gym. We buy a Bow Flex. We throw out the leftover cookies, candy, and buy fresh foods, new cook books, download an app or two and tell ourselves, “THIS IS THE YEAR! NO MORE EXCUSES!” And what happens? Come February we’re picking up takeout on the way home from work, contemplating cancelling that gym membership, and vowing to “restart” tomorrow… or next week… or next year. Let’s face it. Life gets in the way. Sticking to a plan is…
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Parenting… Am I Doing it Right?
When you become a parent for the first time, you begin to question everything you do in relation to your child. I created this new precious life and I don’t want to screw it up. When Emma was born, she stole our hearts. She turned our world upside down and she had us all wrapped around her little finger. The questions began in my head almost immediately. Does she need to eat? What does that sound mean? Does she recognize me? Then, how long has she been in that wet diaper? Can I feed her fruits yet? How important are baby music classes? What’s her favorite song going to…
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Peppermint Mocha Martini (Without the Guilt)
Tis the season. Holiday parties. Booze. Snacks. Booze. Snacks. It’s never ending until January. We’re taking matters into our own hands this year, we hosted our own Christmas party, and the former bartender in me had been dying to stretch my legs and make some yummy drinks. I had two in mind. This one is a good one. I can’t lie. I’m a coffee creamer junkie, and my two favorites are peppermint mocha and gingerbread. I wanted to recreate a similar flavor, in a blended or shaken martini, without the guilt. I’m pretty pleased with the way these turned out. I used a little Shakeology in this peppermint mocha…
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Gingerbread Martinis (Without the Guilt)
Give me a gingerbread cookie and I’m a happy momma. Give me a gingerbread cookie I can drink, one for adults, a little something to sip at a holiday party or while wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve, and I’m happier than my kids on Christmas morning! We had our own little Christmas party this weekend and I’m happy to say I put my previous bartending experience to good use and whipped up some delicious concoctions that are easier on the waistline and cleaned up a bit too. I’m looking forward to another one of these on Christmas Eve, snuggled up in warm blankets, Christmas slippers on, and watching It’s a…
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Roasted Balsamic Veggies
Balsamic vinegar is my jam. I eat it on a lot of things. I’m weird like that. Salad. Chicken. Rice. Quinoa. Steak. Tilapia (see, weird). So I had to do it on veggies. Ok. One word. Delish. These turned out great and made a perfect side for tonight’s roasted turkey breast. Ingredients: 2 large zucchini, quartered 2 sweet potatoes, peeled & diced 2 carrots, peeled & diced 2 green peppers, chopped 1 onion, roughly chopped 1/4 c balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp EVOO 1 tbsp chopped rosemary Sea salt & black pepper Directions: Chop all veggies. Mix vinegar, oil, and spices together. Toss together in a large bowl. Bake at…
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Competition Prep: 15 Weeks Out
I might be crazy. I might be certifiably insane. I’ve decided to tackle another competition. Bikini competition #3. March 26th. St. Louis, MO. I may be in the throes of my last semester of nursing school. That day will be my daughter’s 2nd birthday. I will be prepping for finals. Why not throw a competition in the mix too. Well. Here goes! I’m putting Body Beast up on the shelf. Temporary retirement. I’ve been using the program pretty ferociously for the past year and I’ve absolutely loved what it’s done for my body. It’s been outstanding to see my muscles grow in ways I never could’ve imagined. And if you’ve…
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Hammer and Chisel Official Launch!!!
You know me. Ok, maybe not all that well. Or maybe you’re new to my blog and you don’t know me at all. Welcome! Let me share with you a little something, in case you haven’t gathered it yet. I love to workout but I didn’t always feel this way. It’s been a recent journey- less than 3 years since I really started going to the gym. I had a baby in between, too. Actually I’ve had three but one since I really started working out. I’ve always been skinny. I decided last summer after my 3rd baby that I didn’t want to be skinny anymore. I wanted to be…
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Pumpkin Spice Waffles
With three kids with different preferences, I have learned that if I give into everyone’s requests I’d be a short order cook with an even shorter temper! So when one kid asks for waffles, and one kid asks for muffins, I make one big batch and put some in muffin tins and some in the waffle maker. Then everyone’s happy! This is the same recipe for my Pumpkin Chocolate Chip mini muffins but the only exception is I left out the chocolate chips. They could go either way. Or add nuts. Or sub pumpkin for banana. Or applesauce. Whatever your little one’s hearts desire! Pumpkin Spice Waffles: Ingredients: 1…
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Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
I can’t get enough “holiday smell” in my house. It’s an addiction. I put away my pumpkin spice candle yesterday and busted out holiday spice and that cinnamon smell took over my house last night. It was heavenly. We decorated the tree. We hung our stockings. We listened to Christmas music and all was complete. Until I woke up this morning and missed that pumpkin smell. So I fixed it. Well, I fixed muffins. And waffles. With pumpkin and spices and warmth and honey and deliciousness. And they tasted amazing and are guilt free too! Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins: Ingredients: 1 1/3 c brown rice flour 1/2 cup quick cook…
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Apple Walnut Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
I love a savory and sweet salad. Especially when it’s a perfect complement to a big dinner. This is my Thanksgiving dinner salad this year. The crispness and crunch of the fresh-off-the-tree apples and the toasted walnuts make an excellent addition to this salad and it will pair nicely with roasted turkey breast, fresh bread, and white wine! For The Salad: 6 c mixed field greens 2 medium golden delicious apples, thinly sliced 1/3 cup toasted walnuts (toast in skillet for 2-3 minutes on low/medium heat) 1/2 c shredded Parmesan cheese For The Dressing: 1/2 c extra virgin olive oil 1/4 c balsamic vinegar 1/2 tsp sea salt 2 tbsp…
