Coffee Talk!

Helllooo Helllooo Hellllooo!!!! Get that coffee and let's DO this!!!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Anyone who knows where Spring is, let her know I am looking for her and am pretty OVER the fact that douche bag Winter is still here!!! Just sayin! Seriously...PULEEZE bring the warmer temps to us....please!

2 - Is there such a thing as being a Renewed Soul? Um, because I for REAL feel like one!!! I feel like I am finally getting my S*%t together and the internal me is at such PEACE! So many things are being prioritized and put into the right perspective and my focus is where it needs to be. Happy, Healthy, Relaxed....a new me. I can seriously get used to this girl!!! ;) A HUGE weight was lifted when I cleared my computer of ALL of the sessions that I had left to edit for friends and family from all the way back to LAST year.....RIDIC! It's a clean slate and I'm ready for a new view of my life...the scaled down, not crammed, simpler view.....so far it's BEAUTIFUL!

3 - My next challenge group is starting up on Monday, April 11th and I am super stoked for these new peeps! I am LOVING all of the messages I am receiving about how excited they are to start a new journey! How lucky am I to have challengers from down under as well as from Canada!!??? Seriously?? I LOVE getting to help people! It's crazy to think how far I have come with this coaching gig in just ONE year!!!

4 - Well I took my first shot at meditation the past 2 nights and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised!!! Here are my takeaways:

•  I really enjoyed the peace and tranquility of it all
• One thing I was truly surprised at was how easy it really was for me to clear my mind. I had visions of thinking of all the crap I have to do running through my head I figured it would be a HUGE fail!
• 5 minutes was a PERFECT starting time. I have read a lot about not putting too much pressure on yourself with high expectations....yep 5 was the magic number...for now at least!
• I don't know if I believed that I would feel any different after BUT I did! I was really relaxed. I'm choosing to do mine at night before bed. I start my day full of energy and getting my workout in, so ending it this way just seems right. 

To sum it up, if you are thinking of trying it, I would highly suggest it. Anything that is helping center you and make you feel better on the inside and out is NOT a bad thing, no matter what the haters in your life think!

5 - Wish me luck...I have my very FIRST ever dermatologist appt this Friday! I have NEVER in my life had any of my moles checked so since this is my oober healthy 40 month I'm doing it!!! Fingers crossed!!!

Ok that's it. Love, Health and Happiness...if you don't have it....go GET it!!!! XO

Brussel Sprout & Balsamic Drizzle Pizza

OMG!!!! There are no words, absolutely NO words to truly describe how DELISH this pizza was!!!! As soon as I laid my eyes on it I knew this recipe was going to be LOVE at first BITE!!!! If you are a brussel sprout lover or if you have been wanting to try them (ya know the new way instead of the boiled mush way we all grew up on) definitely give this a taste!!! It was pretty simple to throw together and the balsamic drizzle is what ABSOLUTELY makes this divine! It is just the finishing touch it needs!!! Sooooo get ready for your taste buds to SCREAM with happiness! Kiddos agreed that it was AH-MAZING!!!  Let me know how you like it!!! XO


BALSAMIC DRIZZLE

1/2 cup of Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbsp Honey
Dash of Sea Salt

Add the ingredients to a small saucepan.

Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes or until it has reduced to about 3 tbsps and is a thick, syrupy consistency. (mine actually had to simmer more like 10 - 12, so just keep an eye on it)


PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 pizza dough (I used a thin wheat dough)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lb brussel sprouts (trim the ends, and peel the leaves off)
1/2 yellow onion (sliced thin)
2 cloves of garlic minced
Sea Salt & Ground Pepper to taste
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan (I splurged and got the Parmigiano Reggiano, but regular shredded Parm would be fine)
1/2 cup part skim Ricotta Cheese
Balsamic Drizzle

1. Preheat oven to 450

2. In large skillet on medium high, heat the tbsp of olive oil until it's hot

3. Add the thinly sliced onion into a single layer

4. Season the onion with sea salt and pepper and saute for 5 - 7 minutes or until soft and carmelized.

5. Add in the minced garlic and brussel sprout leaves and saute another 2 to 3 minutes or until the leaves have softened.

6. Remove mixture and set aside.

7. Brush the top of pizza dough with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt and pepper.

8. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of shredded parmesan on top and then spread brussel sprout mixture evenly all over the top of the pizza

9. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of shredded parmesan and then place dollops of ricotta all over. (I am a HUGE ricotta fan, so do to your personal preference)

10. Bake the pizza for 12 - 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and golden. (in the middle of cooking I did take the back of a spoon and press it into the ricotta clumps to kind of flatten them a bit)

11. Remove from oven and drizzle with the balsamic glaze! VOILA!!

Coffee Talk!!

Good Morning lovelies....another Thursday...another edition. Don't just stand there....grab your coffee and let's go!!!!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - I'm still here after last week's 3 year edition! I didn't know if you thought I would pack up my crap and get the hell outta dodge! ;) (thought about it, but can't do that....just yet) Thank you for the sweet messages they really meant a lot.

2 - Ohhhh helllloooo beautiful weather! I almost forgot what the sun looks like but Voila you are back and brightening my days, so thank you! Now keep warming them up and you will be my new BESTIE!

3 - Had one whole day dedicated to just catch up on editing of my personal photography for various family members. I literally feel like a HUGE weight has been lifted off my shoulders....FOR REALS!!! I hate having stuff lingering but I had such a crazy photog season from Summer thru the end of Fall and I just couldn't seem to get ahead so like the plumber with bad pipes, or the mechanic with broken down cars, I am the photographer who doesn't take care of her own photos. #thestruggleisreal  So now I think I am caught up and ready to go!!! Spring sessions are filling up and I am doing a LIMITED amount of sessions this year. Trying to keep my life more balanced. Soooo if you are interested in a session be sure to message me so we can get you in the books!!!

4 - I have such an AWESOME group of challengers this round (not that they aren't all great groups, but this one just really sticks out a bit)  Nothing is better than surrounding yourself with a bunch of like minded peeps on a similar journey to you. No they don't all have the same goals or whys but they are all on a new lifestyle journey and seeing all the participation, receiving the private messages of successes etc and just the uplifting spirit of the group as a WHOLE, makes me EXCITED to check in every day!!! They often write the coaches messages saying how we changed their lives, what they don't know is they are changing OURS every time they check in and comment and take one more baby step out of their comfort zone. So here is a shout out to my FABULOUS February group! You are ROCK STARS!!!!

5 - Speaking of comfort zone.....this girl is about to step WAY out of it!!! Tony Horton's newest program 22 Minute Hard Corps was just released!! 22 minutes of Military Inspired Workouts! Just the words "Military Inspired" has me running in the opposite direction, but I have seen CRAZY, AWESOME results to the tune of 8 POUNDS/20 INCHES in 8 WEEKS!!!??? Shut the FRONT door! For me I LOVE the length of the workout or lack of the length! I am definitely NOT an hour long gym girl!!! Hell to the NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I want to get it done as quickly as possible so I can start knocking out the rest of my To Do list. So for me (and literally peeps who use the NO TIME excuse) there is absolutely NO REASON you can't scrape together 22 minutes for your well being! You will be happier. You will have more energy. You will feel better. You will start getting definition/losing extra fluff. The list of changes can just keep going. The point is YOU are worth 22 minutes!!! Here is a video showing a clip of the workout....Yes, wish me luck but know that I WILL crush it because girl has goals and I REFUSE to fail!!!---> www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L8TLN3upDU  What are you waiting for....come join me my challenge group and let's totally ROCK this workout!!!! If you are interested in joining my next challenge group that starts March 14th or for more info on challenge groups in general click this link ---> https://melaniebostian.wufoo.com/forms/challenge-group-application/

Alright! That's it!!! I am off to enjoy my last work day of the week and get super pumped for an ADORBS one year session this weekend!!! Get ready for a sneak peek!!! XO

Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Ok first off let me start by saying I have been OOBER skeptical of these things since I've seen them floating around the Internet and even my challenge groups! I've wanted to try them for a seriously LONG time and I'm soooo happy I did!! They were totally DELISH! Here's my little "disclaimer" however......if you are making them thinking by some MIRACLE you are going to wake to some super fab oatmeal...FORGET it! These aren't for you! They are NOT the consistency of oatmeal and if actual oatmeal is what you are craving then problem stick to good old fashioned oatmeal. What I LOVED about these is how different they tasted and the little peanut buttery surprise you would get with each bite!!! The beautiful thing about these is you can make sooooo many different combinations! My daughter had blueberry almond and that one was fantastic too. So give these a try and see what your taste buds think. I know for me I am LOVING the quick, ready to go breakfast on the days I go into work early AND with the added BONUS that they seriously make me feel full QUICK! :)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup steel cut oats (you could also use regular old fashioned oats, I just prefer the steel cut)
2 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 tbsp sliced almonds
1 tbsp chia seeds

12 oz mason jar or even the next size down (I did NOT have smaller mason jars so I had to improvise and use my big salad ones until I go to the store this weekend! They worked fine, they just looked wimpy! LOL)

Mix all the ingredients together in a mason jar, put the lid on and pop them into the fridge! In the morning pull it out, I suggest trying it cold first and if you don't like it cold pop it into the microwave for about 40-50 seconds. I do prefer it warmed a bit when I have the peanut butter in there...the melt-iness of the peanut butter makes me HAPPY! (yep, I made that word up!)

Coffee Talk!!

Seriously...how does Thursday come sooooo quick!!!??? Here we go....get sipping!

4 Random Thoughts:

1. Is winter OVER yet? Ugh. DONE...just done. No further explanation is really needed. ;)

2. Starting to book some sessions and it feels FABULOUS! I am ready to get behind my lens and start capturing beautiful images for wonderful clients! If you are interested in a spring session go ahead and message me and we will get you on the books!!! :)

3. So extremely GRATEFUL for all the wonderful new friends that I have met thru my Beach Body team!!! Each week we do a team call and this week was especially needed to lift me up but was also a reminder of how life can bring the most unexpected people into your life. LOVE my team!!!

4. Have been struggling with a MAJOR funk! So many emotions as we head towards the end of February which will mark 3 years of us living here. I am doing ALL that I can to stay above slipping into that downward spiral but it's definitely a challenge. I think one of the MAJOR contributors to me staying afloat is I know that I have coaches and challengers who depend on me so I can't just curl up in a ball and cry. (I would LOVE to, but I can't....I have definitely cried these last 2 weeks especially but I've refrained from going into fetal position yet) So I keep trudging ahead making sure to get my workout in, eat as well as I can, keep reading my personal development and surrounding myself with those who love me. I'm definitely going to be hitting the meditation book some more. Again...this is life - the good. the bad. the ugly.

Ok loves! I'm off to work and it's my FRI-YAY plus it's national drink WINE day!!! Hellllloooo that's my FAVORITE holiday!!! XO

Coffee Talk!

Let's not beat around the bush.....It is Thursday after all!!!!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Why must white stuff fall from the sky and make me cry?  (you like that...poet and I didn't even know it!!) No seriously, yes, YES, yeeeeesssssss I totally get we didn't have that "bad" of a winter and blah blah blah! I don't care! I HATE winter's guts! Mature? No! Done with it? YES! Gripping the steering wheel while driving home and my tires spinning do NOT equal FUN....it does however equal LOTS of foul language spewing from my mouth!!!!  Rant over.

2 - I've kind of had a rough few weeks. Lots of personal crap going on but the upside to ALL of that is that if I wasn't on this journey and I wasn't coaching I would be handling ALL of this a heck of a lot differently and NOT for the better. I know everything happens for a reason and whatever is meant to be will be so I just need to keep that in mind and hold that close to my heart. For now I'm just feeling truly grateful for Beach Body and all that it has given me internally!!!

3 - So my little guy REALLY struggles with school....Math in particular!!! In his defense Common Core is just a bunch of BS!!! I can't even do the problems so how the heck is he supposed to?! Anywho, long story short we've been working with the school closely and getting him EXTRA help. He is a SENSITIVE guy to say the least and he really holds on to all of his emotions until they are eating him up so we have been focusing on lots of POSITIVE reinforcement etc. It all paid off so far! He brought his D last marking period up to a B this marking period!!!! Serious PROUD MOM over here! We took him out on Saturday to celebrate. A couple hours in Barnes & Noble, Starbucks for a double chocolate chip frap and lunch out with Mom & Dad!!! SCORE!!! BTW, does anyone else DESPISE Common Core??!!!

4 - My surprise off the wall purchase this past weekend was a book on beginning Meditation!!!! I know, CRA-ZZZZYYYY! However I have been intrigued for some time and I don't do the whole religion thing (nothing against it for those who do, no judgement here, it's just not MY thing!) but I definitely feel like my journey is of a spiritual nature. Being at peace with myself & my life in general. To be mindful and aware. So here goes nothing! I started reading and it's super interesting but I have not yet attempted to do it. I will keep you posted on this new endeavor for sure!

5 - T - Minus 1 day until the Bestie crew gets here!!!! Eeeeekkkk!!! Who better to spend Valentine's Day weekend with than that super funky bunch?! Friday night chilling with vino and laughs and Saturday reservations at the FABULOUS Honey restaurant! I don't care how cold it's going to be this weekend, we will be guaranteed fun....so BRING IT! Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

That's all for now! I have a shoot tomorrow, so stay tuned for a peek with some majorly adorable girls!!! Other than that stay warm and have a fabulous weekend!!!! XO

Chocolate AVOCADO Brownies...say WHAT?!!!

Ok so EVEN the name of these are FREAKING me out a bit I'll be completely HONEST!!! LOL! (though I am a HUGE avocado lover!!!) However, I have seen these floating around the internet and they definitely PEAKED my interest and today was THE DAY! I was out doing my meal prep shopping and was having a pretty SERIOUS yearning for CHOCOLATE but not for my lovely hard chocolate cups I make, but for something soft and CHEWY!!!! On my quest to a healthier lifestyle I am choosing to make GOOD choices rather than picking up the Reese's Peanut Butter cup and downing that baby in .3 seconds!!! So I thought what better day to try these little beauties out than TODAY! No time like the present and what's the worst that could happen....I will HATE them?!!! Big DEAL!  (this is part of my new 12 step program...LOL..ok, fine I'm exaggerating but I'm trying hard not to give a CRAP anymore about little things...me liking this chocolate brownie is a LITTLE thing!)

Anywhooooooo, they were quick, easy and completely vegan if that fits who you are right now! They definitely filled my chocolate obsession craving I was having today!!! I really LOVED them! Give them a shot and see what you think!!! They definitely satisfied my sweet tooth today!!! Happy Sunday loves!!!! XO


Excuse the phone pics and the finished pic that already had brownies MISSING!!! These peeps are QUICK!!! ;)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup mashed or pureed avocado
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup whole wheat flour or all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup cane sugar or granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups vegan dark or semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8" square pan with cooking spray.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the avocado & olive oil until smooth.  Add in the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, salt and water. Stir until smooth. Fold in 1 cup of the chocolate chips.

3. Pour into the prepared pan and spread batter evenly. Sprinkle with an additional 1/2 cup of chocolate chips on top. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes (this will vary depending on your oven so kind of watch them closely)

4. Remove and let brownies sit out for AT LEAST 20 minutes before serving. Cut, cover and store for up to 3 days.

ENJOY!!!

UPDATE: These were a MILLION times better the second day AFTER being kept in the fridge when I took one to work!!! Highly recommend storing them in the fridge!!! Ahhhh I can NOT stop eating these!!! LOL!

Coffee Talk!

Hellllooooo!!! Back to our normal GRIND!!!!

4 Random Thoughts:

1 -  Bottom line...we are ALL human. We ALL get in funks. We ALL have bad days/weeks/months. Mine was last week. I think I spent ALL day Friday crying. Like a blubbering, sobbing mess. Ya know what? I needed that. I needed that to snap my ass back into reality and make me see what I have in front of me. No, it's NOT this beautiful picture I imagine in my head but it's where I'm at RIGHT now and I have to put on my big girl panties and pour a glass of wine oops, (slip of the fingers there or rather GREAT advice from a dear friend) deal with it. Don't EVER let anyone tell you how you "should" feel. Your feelings are your feelings and until they have walked a DAY in your shoes...SHUT it!! End rant. Positive silver lining - after the mascara was done running and a few good talks with the bestie and some important peeps in my life, I'm on the upside of the down ward spiral. I can't stay down forever....my wine glass will miss being filled!

2 - The Blizzard from 2 weeks ago. No words but probably part contributor in the above melt down. That is all. (except snow if I EVER see you again it will be toooooooooooooo soon!)

3 - Then there are the moments that you receive messages from COMPLETE strangers telling you how you inspired them to do something or that you have changed their life. YES, universe I am listening and I am pushing on because I absolutely LOVE helping people. It's moments like those that I am soooo super duper grateful I took the chance on coaching and didn't let what others thought of me influence my decision. (As for coaching...I am growing my tribe Fierce Mind Brave Spirit...if you think you would like to help others on their journey, message me so we can chat....of course we will have a cup of coffee while we do it, don't be silly! )

4 - My health fitness update. Hammer & Chisel.....LOVE!!! I'm on my 4th week and am definitely seeing results which is super EXCITING to me! I am really proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and doing this program which TERRIFIED me before! Oh in other fitness news, I am doing a 5 day Shakeology challenge for anyone who has been interested but isn't quite ready to make the investment/commitment yet for fear that they may not LIKE shakeology. If you have been contemplating it at ALL, message me! I would love to let you in so you can see what all the HYPE is about and so you too could fall in LOVE with the superfood salad in a cup!!! ;)

That's it lovelies....that is ALL for today! I have a couple shoots coming up so I'm about to be a crazy lady! (how is that different you ask...you're right it's not! But that's why you LOVE me!)
Have a fabulous weekend! XO

Coffee Talk! 14 Things .....

Coffee Talk Time!!! Let's have some weirdness FUN today!! 14 things you may or MAY NOT know about me....you ready?! Let's do this!!


1. I am a TOTAL romantic! I LOVE planning date nights whether it's at home or going out somewhere.

2. I lived 11 years in Florida, 6 years in Arizona and am currently back in PA. (yes, I DESPISE the cold & snow, that is all)

3. I have had an array of jobs that I think have really helped make me a well rounded person ~

• Marketing Assistant
• Interior Design Assistant (hellllloooo, this could be why I HEART HGTV so much!)
• Preschool Classroom Aide
• A Curves Fitness Coach

   Sit down for this last one......WAIT for it:

• Lowes Home Store in the Flooring Department!!! (are you having a hard time picturing PRISSY me at Lowes in the red vest?! ;) LOL, no worries I did too!!! Actually I really enjoyed that job, met some great people and it took me back to my design roots, which I LOVED! It also was the trigger to help get me OUT of the house after moving back to PA and being completely depressed.

4. I have high blood pressure (I know, I know, I don't fit the mold for that either, but hell would you expect anything less from me at this point) High to the point that the Dr told me if I wasn't doing what I'm doing eating & fitness wise I would be a walking Stroke! What the?! (so that is one of my BIG reasons that I started this healthy lifestyle journey and am grateful every single day for it)

5. I have never EVER smoked a day in my life! I joke that I wouldn't even know what to do with one and I'm at peace with it! LOL! I don't feel like I "missed" out on trying anything and I see how hard it is for people to quit so I'm actually happy that is something I never started.

6. I adore WINE! (go ahead roll your eyes!) The HUGE misconception everyone has however is that I drink A LOT!!! Um, I'm ALL talk and no ACTION! I enjoy a nice glass of wine with a good dinner or while I am watching one of my guilty pleasure shows but it very RARELY goes past ONE single glass! I'm a light weight my loves, sorry to disappoint!

7.  I have an AH-MAZING 15 year old daughter who is seriously like my mini bestie. I couldn't imagine my life without her. (this of course doesn't mean we don't have the trials and tribulations of the teen years, but I know I got pretty lucky with her)

8. I have the sweetest, most compassionate 11 year old son. Every day I think how he is going to be an amazing husband for some lucky lady some day!

9. I DESPISE sneakers OR tennis shoes (depending on which coast you live on) I know, I get it, this is NOT normal for someone who is into fitness.

10. I workout barefoot most of the time because of the above ^ reason! (told you things would get weird)

11. I am a complete, total GIRLY GIRL!!!! Sparkle everything...YES, Please!

12. My dream is go to go to Italy with my camera and just enjoy it all while sipping on good wine.

13. I started trying to relax more and make my office space very ZEN and I am totally DIGGING it!!
     ~hello coloring books for meditation
     ~essential oils
     ~himalayan salt lamp
   

14. I definitely suffer from social anxiety disorder. If we are in a setting with a large group of people that I don't know or even just going to a busy restaurant or bar I will NOT be the first to walk in. Let that be your warning if we ever dine together....you are walking in first and if we have to find our own table FORGET it...I will break out into a FULL sweat!!! I think this is why I LOVE being a photographer because I can HIDE behind my camera!!!

Ok, those are all the secrets I could share with you today!!!! I don't want to completely BORE you to death!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sticking with me! Love you all!!! XO

Salmon with Brown Sugar & SPICE!

Soooo today was CRAP!!! (isn't that a DELIGHTFUL way to start a post with a recipe!!??) Sorry. It just was. I got home from work and needed something to throw together SUPER QUICK!!! I had been wanting to try this for some time so I figured there's NO time like the present!!! It seriously was EASY, PEASY and FAST! Total time between prep and cook....um, a mere 20 MINUTES!!! What the?! SIGN me up!!! I am all about a fast dinner on days that I work.

The other fabulous TID BIT....the family LOVED it!! That's always a concern when I decide to make something I have NEVER EVER made before.....Will the crew like it? Or will it be a BIG FLOP!!! Proud to say...this was a KEEPER!!!! If you are a salmon lover and like the whole sweet/spicy mix, give this a try!!!! Let me know how you like it! OK, now I'm off to guzzle enjoy a glass of vino to end this day! No worries, tomorrow is a NEW day and hopefully I will have a better one!!!! ;)  XO

Ingredients:

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
4 - salmon fillets

1. Preheat the oven to 400 Degrees and line a baking sheet with foil and spray with olive oil or some other non stick spray.

2. In a small bowl, mix together all of the spices and sugar.

3. Put the salmon on the baking sheet and divide the spice mix evenly between each of the fillets, coating them completely.

4. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes depending on the thickness.

ENJOY!!!

Turkey Taco Mason Jar Salads!!

Welllll heellllooo scrumptious, EASY lunches to go!!!! Why did I wait so LONG to try you?!
Ok, so these have been floating around my challenge groups for the last few months and I can't really give a good explanation of why I didn't try them I'm LAZY. LOL! So maybe I was a little LAZY on the meal prep biz but the point is in turning over my new leaf this year I am doing ALL sorts of things I NEVER did before and that there my loves is PROGRESS!! No such thing as PERFECTION! Progress is where it's AT! Anywhooooo enough let's get to the important stuff just in case you are FAMISHED!

So these are SIMPLE to make and last for about 4 days in the fridge when they are in the sealed glass mason jars. (some have lasted longer for others)  The key is to make sure you have ALL of the wet ingredients at the bottom and end with your crispy lettuce at the top.

Now basically you can make these with whatever you like. My family is not huge on tomatoes so I didn't even bother and my daughter is vegetarian so you know damn well she's not touching ground turkey!! ;)  So I modified to fit my family and feel free to do that with yours as well.

Ingredients:

- ground turkey
- ground cumin, chili powder, himalayan sea salt, garlic & pepper (these are all by PERSONAL preference of how much spice you like)
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- avocado chopped up
- black beans, drained & rinsed
- tomato

Now basically after you have cooked your ground meat with the above spices I had everything out in bowls on my counter to make it easy like an assembly line.  Start with your meat, then the beans, the quinoa, avocado, tomato and then top with lettuce packed in there and seal with your lid! Presto!!!
(for Fixers I filled per the container guidelines except for my daughter's where I doubled up on the beans and quinoa for her)

If you are someone who needs/likes dressing on your salad you can do Frank's Red Hot Sauce or I decided to try plain greek yogurt mixed with the Frank's Red Hot Sauce for a creamier taste.

***So I really wanted to be able to tell you how I liked them, but I will get on here tonight and give you my honest review! I was just tooooo EXCITED not to share with you right away! ;)

Coffee Talk!

Ohhhh so did you think I would REALLY kick my coffee habit on my journey to healthy??!!!! Um heck NO!!!! ;) Grab yours and let's get chatting!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Seriously....my new creamer is LIFE CHANGING! Ok, fine...is that a little dramatic? But seriously for this girl it is!!! I had MAJOR stomach issues from what I thought was only god knows what. I was concerned that something in the food I was eating was not agreeing with my stomach!!! That was actually making me nervous because I didn't even want to THINK about having to do an elimination diet!!! I am almost 2 weeks in on my new homemade chemical free creamer and I'm like a new lady!!!!! No stomach issues, well except for 2 days ago when I was STUPID and had a Starbucks latte. I think I need to try those with the coconut milk that they offer now because I was HURTING after that! Who knew that the love of my life, the IV to my whole being, my little cup of happiness was one of the culprits ALL. ALONG? Thankfully I don't have to get rid of coffee altogether. Phew!  If you didn't see the recipe for the creamer...here it is!

2 -  2016!? Really, already! We had such a FUN New Year's Eve! Laughed until I almost (I said ALMOST) peed my pants! (don't judge...you pop out 2 kids and let me know how your bladder is!) We played Cards Against Humanity! If you haven't played that game go ahead and dig yourself out from under that rock and PLAY! (I say that with LOVE) Ok, unless you are a SUPER, SERIOUS, CLEAN person...um, then do NOT play that game....RUN for your life!!! ;) Thrilled that we surrounded ourselves with some of the BEST to bring in the New year!

3 - Isn't life weird? That alone was a WEIRD statement! ;) No but really. Look at the people who come in and out of your life? Or the paths you cross with people you have met or that know people you know. It's makes you sit and think how REALLY REALLY SMALL this world is!!! Or you think about the decisions you made. "If I didn't do that, this wouldn't of happened" or "If I did this, I wouldn't have met so and so"...yep, it happens regularly. I'm going to soak up the happy parts of those and keep them close and example of one of mine - If we didn't move to PA, I wouldn't have met my bestie (who lives in NJ, but we lived ACROSS the street from her brother when we lived in AZ - yeah, WEIRD, but BEST thing that could have happened!) You're welcome, I just wanted to give you something to really work your brain for today!

4 - Starting to book for SPRING for photography!!!! I am thoroughly enjoying my time off but can't wait to get my camera snapping again. (I am doing newborns thru the winter though so if you or someone you know is pregnant definitely message me so I can get in on those squishy little cuddles!) Otherwise let me know if you are wanting a session once our weather turns from cold TUNDRA to beautiful flowers and sunlight!

5 - My challengers in my current groups are kicking some serious A**!!!! These peeps are ready to conquer their goals for 2016!!! So much heart and passion and I LOVE seeing the interaction between people who didn't even know each other before these groups but they are helping each other nonetheless. It gives hope that there are still good people out there who aren't constantly hoping & wishing for someone to FAIL! In other BIG Beach BODY news....my team is officially a TOP 5 TEAM in all of the network!!! What the WHAT?!!! It blows me away that I was so hesitant to start coaching, so hesitant to keep pursuing it and yet it's been a total life changer for me!! Cheers to helping others on their journey to happy & healthy!!!!

Well loves, I have talked your ears off today so I am going to wrap this up!!!! If I haven't told you lately.....I heart you ALL so much for following me and my little journey via this little space in the BIG old world of the internet!! I have the BEST clients & challengers EVER!!! If you get a moment go ahead and follow me on here and stay up to date with all my shenanigans!!! ;)  XO

Zen Changes for a New Me!

Hello loves! As you all know I've been on a journey to a new lifestyle and a new ME for about a year now and it was by far the BEST decision I have ever made. I'm happier, healthier, more positive and just generally a better person to be around. That being said there are STILL days that I feel BLAH, that I am sooooo insanely homesick for AZ that nothing can pull me out of my FUNK or that I'm just having a bad day. Guess what? I'm human. Life is NOT perfect and although you can make all of these lifestyle changes to help you, you will still have "those" days because that is LIFE!!!! Anyone who has a PERFECTLY perfect life, um, has to either be on something really good or is just flat out lying. ;)

So in my quest to help achieve a more zen environment in our home and for a more peaceful, serenity filled space I have been making some additions. For those who know me really, really well you know that my son really suffers from anxiety. And although it gives me many "cute" stories for lunch break at work, I do worry about him as he gets older because he can worry about something that happened 2+ years ago. (the boy has a really STRONG conscience, which I do love because he is truly a good person) However, no one should have so much worry in them that they make themselves sick, have stomach aches, headaches, can't sleep etc. etc.

Last year I invested in a himalayan salt lamp which you can read about here. And I LOVE that little guy and still use it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I feel it was a great addition to my office space. If you have been contemplating getting one, I highly recommend it! So recently I was invited to an essential oil party and I really couldn't WAIT to go because I have been very interested, intrigued and probably a little skeptical as well (you know I like to be honest) but wanted to see what they were ALL about. YEP completely SOLD!!!! It was so informative and anything that could help without the help of doctors and drugs I am ALL for! (not that there isn't a time and place for those things but I've just personally had my fair share of doctors this past year so in my quest for doing more natural things for my family this is one of the routes I'm choosing to try)

I am totally hooked and although the initial investment is a little pricey, I truly feel like they will be worth it. I did start off small however and am going to be building from here. I got 3 ultrasonic diffusers and chose Frankincense to diffuse since one of it's popular uses is for it's emotional benefits (from anxiety & depression to helping induce a feeling of calm, relaxation and peace). We have been using them for about a week now and everyone is really enjoying them. They do light up and change colors which I find to be very soothing as well.  The nice thing is there are soooo many other uses for Frankincense which include using it on skin burns, cuts, rashes. It can be used on your face for healthy cell regeneration so some use it for wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. Some even use it to help soothe aches and pains away. It's seriously crazy at how MANY different benefits all of these different oils have. If you are thinking about trying them out GO FOR IT!!! If you are already using them I would LOVE to hear what your favorites are and if you have concocted any fabulous blends!

That's it for today! I will say this new way of living seriously brings a sense of calm to you and I for one am ALL for that!!! I will definitely be doing a follow up post in a few months to let you know if we feel the oils have truly helped our family after having used them for awhile.  Have a fabulous day!!! XO

Here is a picture of the one I got and a sample of the color changing! :)

Bye Bye Chemical Filled Creamer!!!!

Happy New Year!!! So my FIRST big step for this new year was my decision to say good bye to my BELOVED Cinnamon Bun & Pumpkin Spice Creamers!!! I swear I still get heart palpitations even thinking about it. However, one of my goals for this year is to work on being even healthier & happier so I knew it was time to take the PLUNGE!! Those who know me REALLY well know that the love affair that I had with my creamer was not even up for discussion in my challenge groups!!! I made it CRYSTAL clear that I would NOT give them up for anything. Well then I started working more on ME and what is best to be putting into my body and if you ever sat and REALLY looked at those creamer labels and the ingredient list......um, yeah, you would be freaking SCARED!

There are soooooo many chemicals and un-natural CRAP in them. So long story short I started researching making my own and tweaked a few recipes until I found one that worked best for me. Now, I will start by saying if you are trying to replicate your current creamer down to the texture, color etc. nope this is NOT going to do that. It's now quite as "creamy" as those thick, fake creamers are, but I'm almost a week in and I haven't DIED yet from missing it and surprisingly I am still loving my cup of java! I knew a HUGE test was letting Hayley try it and see what she thought and she LOVED it immediately. Anywhoooooo, here's what I'm doing. It's a HUGE, GIANT step for me but I will say that my stomach is feeling 100% better since making the switch so that alone is worth it for me. Give it a try if you are on the fence about giving up your favorite creamer for something a little "better" for you. :)

Cinnamon Swirl Creamer

Ingredients:

1 can of coconut milk (I did try this with the carton first and did not like it as much so I switched to the can)
8 tbsp of maple syrup (you can add or subtract according to your taste)
Cinnamon (I did not measure this, just use to your taste, you can also switch this out to pumpkin pie spice if you want something different)

Add all of them to a bowl and beat with an electric mixer for a few minutes until it's well blended. Pour into a glass container and keep in the fridge. (It will last for as long as your expiration date on your coconut milk)

UPDATE: Coconut milk is VERY temp sensitive. I found in the colder temps we have been having that it was clumping up even when I mixed it. On cold days I now heat it in a small sauce pan on low for a couple minutes and then beat the ingredients together. :) 

Salmon Quinoa Burgers

Ok so who LOVES a quick and easy lunch alternative??!!! Um, THIS GIRL does for sure! A couple nights a week I work later and lunch becomes more like "linner" (you know a cross between lunch and dinner) so I try to take stuff with me that has more substance because I don't want to get home ravenous after 8pm!!!  Enter these little beauties.....Salmon Quinoa Burgers! Seriously, the aroma coming from the kitchen when I was making them may or may not have lured a certain teen out of her room because she said they smelled AMAZING!!!! SCORE! (you score big whenever a teen has something positive to say and DOUBLE  points when you get them to VACATE their room!! If you don't have a teen yet, get ready this is what you have to look forward to!)

I digress. Like I said above I HEART quick and easy and these fit the bill for both. I will probably make a few modifications to these because they did fall apart a little easy but other than that I will definitely be making these regularly. Go ahead and give them a try and let me know what you think. XO

Ingredients:

3 cans of Wild Alaskan Salmon
1 tsp olive oil
1 - 2 cloves minced garlic
1 cup spinach chopped
sea salt and ground pepper to taste
3/4 cup cooked quinoa
2 Tbsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp Old Bay
1 egg beaten
1/2 cup to 1 cup bread crumbs (adjust this accordingly to how your mixture is holding up)

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil and saute the spinach and garlic.  Season with salt and pepper and cook until spinach is wilted 4 to 5 minutes.

2. Transfer to a bowl with the quinoa, salmon, dijon,, Old Bay & egg. Mix well and form into patties. You should get about 5 or 6 depending on the size you make.

3. Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium heat sprayed with Olive Oil. Cook 4 to 5 minutes until they are a nice golden brown and crisp. Flip and do the same on the other side.

That's literally IT!!! I had mine with a side of cous cous, but you can serve this soooo many ways. (with a salad, on a crusty bun, by itself....experiment and see how you like it!)

Broiled Parmesan & Lemon Chicken!

Helllooo my loves!! Ok, if you are like me I am ALWAYS on the hunt for quick, healthy dinners for my family! When I found this little beauty my life got a whole LOT easier! I can make this in no time at ALL and it's yummy, the family LOVED it and it's good for you!!! Sign me up!!!! I served this with one of my favs which I just can't get ENOUGH of.....roasted garlic & parmesan brussel sprouts which you can get the recipe for here. Definitely give this recipe a try if you are pressed for time and let me know how you like it!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp - plain greek yogurt
2 Tbsp - fresh lemon juice (about 1 lemon)
1/4 tsp dried basil
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I always use the thin ones)

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with cooking spray.

2. In a bowl, mix together the cheese, greek yogurt, lemon juice & spices. Mix well and set aside.

3. Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on baking pan. Lightly season each side of chicken with a dash of salt and pepper. Broil a few inches from the broiler for 4 -5  minutes. Flip the chicken over and broil for about 4 minutes more (these times will vary depending on thickness of your chicken).

4. Remove baking sheet from the oven and spread the parmesan mixture evenly on each breast. Broil for another 2 - 3 minutes until the topping is bubbly and golden brown and chicken is completely cooked through.

The obligatory cell pic......;)

Pumpkin Sage Pasta with Chicken Sausage

Hellooo lovelies! I know, I know you are completely SHOCKED that I would have a PUMPKIN recipe to post!!! ;)  I have been CRAVING this dish for the last few weeks and ALL day today at work I could NOT wait to get home and make this! If you LOVE pumpkin and LOVE a touch of HEAT, this may be the recipe for you!!!

INGREDIENTS:

3 Tbsp - Olive Oil
2 Tbsp - butter
2 to 3 cloves of Garlic, diced
8 - 10 leaves of Sage, chopped
1 Cup of canned pure pumpkin (not the pumpkin pie mix)
1 Cup Reserved Pasta Water
Salt, Pepper and Red Pepper Flakes to Taste
1 pound of Penne Pasta
Shredded Italian Cheese
1 pound of Chicken Sausage chopped up


DIRECTIONS:

1. In a pan, brown up the chicken sausage, and set aside when done. I usually do this while my water is boiling for my pasta. Cook your pasta as directed.

2. In another pan saute the garlic & sage in the olive oil and butter over medium-high heat.

3. When the pasta is done, pour 1 cup of the pasta water into a measuring cup and drain the rest.

4. Add the pumpkin and pasta water to the pan with the garlic & sage. (don't add the WHOLE cup of water, do it slowly to see what thickness you like)

5. Whisk together until combined. Add more pasta water if too thick or more pumpkin if too thin.

6. Season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste. I use A LOT more red pepper flakes than salt and pepper but this will be a personal preference thing. :)

7. Add pasta & sausage to the pan and combine with the sauce.

8. Sprinkle with italian cheese and serve with a salad.

YUMMY!!!!!! Let me know what you think!!!! :)
This will definitely be a trial and error game until you figure out how much of each of the salt & peppers to use for your taste. I have mine down to a science now and it's DELISH!!!!!

Portobello & Spinach Grilled Cheese

Hi loves!! Ok, so who LOVES portobello mushrooms??!!!! AND who LOVES grilled cheese??!!!! Well, this GIRL does so this sandwich is the PERFECT combination of both and it's super quick and EASY to throw together for a lunch or snack. I literally threw this together in 10 minutes after I came home RAVENOUS after grocery shopping!!! (who else does that??? Goes shopping and wants to eat EVERY. SINGLE. THING. IN. THE. STORE.!!!!) For Real! It's terrible! Anywhoooooo I came home put all of my cold goods away and left the rest of the crap to sit while I whipped this lovely little sammy up and YUM....SUPER Delish!!!

Here's how it goes down......

INGREDIENTS:

- 2 slices of whole grain bread (I usually use some type of nutty bread but in a pinch I used rye this time)
- 1 spray olive oil
- 1 medium to large portabello sliced into strips
- 1 garlic clove minced
- handful of baby spinach (of course when I decided to make this one, I was out of spinach :(  (Go figure!)
- 1 ounce shredded italian blend (or whatever cheese you prefer)
- 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp pesto

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat large pan and then dry saute mushrooms until almost tender 3 - 5 mins

2. Spread mustard on one slice of bread and pesto and garlic on the other slice of bread

3. Push mushrooms to one side of pan and spray the pan with olive oil

4. Put each slice of bread dry side down into pan, then sprinkle both pieces with cheese, and top one of the slices with spinach

5. Cover the pan and cook on high for a few minutes or until cheese is melted, place the mushrooms on top of the spinach, transfer other slice on top

VOILA!!!! Enjoy!!!

Zoodles & Turkey Meatballs??!!!! YES, Please!!!

OK, I have wanted to try this version of spaghetti & meatballs for a LONG time and I FINALLY set out and whipped it up tonight!!! We are at my mom's so I didn't want my zucchini to go bad over the weekend, so yep, I packed all my ingredients up and brought them with. First off the meatballs....OMG!!!! They were sooooo flipping good and when you see the ingredients you MAY be skeptical, but absolutely DELISH! Zoodles with spaghetti sauce, always got a raised eyebrow from me in the past, I  just could NOT imagine what they would taste like, but they definitely did NOT disappoint! The family gave it TOP NOTCH reviews and it will definitely be staying in the rotation!!! Try it out and let me know what you think!!!!

Turkey Meatballs

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 lbs ground turkey
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp paprika
1 large egg
3/4 cup quick cooking oats (hmmmm....are you getting nervous?!)
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
parsley finely chopped (I didn't measure this out, just do as much as you like)
1 Tbsp tomato sauce, no sugar added

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Spray a sheet pan with cooking spray

3. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl

4. Roll mixture into 1 inch meatballs and place on sheet pan.

5. Bake for approximately 20 - 25 minutes (turning half way thru) or until no longer pink in the middle


ZOODLES

3 - 4 zucchinis cut into strips with either a spiralizer or mandolin
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup red onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
salt & pepper to taste

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, when hot add the oil, onions & garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 - 2 minutes)

2. Increase heat to medium high and add zucchini, season with salt & pepper to taste and cook about 1 minute. Stir to mix everything around and cook another 1 - 2 minutes or until the zoodles are cooked through yet firm.

Divide between plates, top with meatballs and your favorite spaghetti sauce.
Secret: Ok, so I had REALLY good intentions of making a homemade sauce, but in a time crunch it did NOT happen so YES I did take the easy way out and heated a jar of sauce on the stove and used that and GUESS WHAT??....It was still DELISH!!!! LOL! ;)  #lifehappens #shortcutsaresometimesnecessary

Skinny Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles!

Ok loves....well I am a HUGE Shrimp Scampi LOVER, but let's face it, it's not always the healthiest!!! Sooo I decided to give this healthier version a try and see if I would be lusting after my PASTA!!!  I also was a TAD bit nervous about the family's reaction to it! Anyway, I whipped this up after work and what I REALLY loved is how quick and simple it is to make. Totally DO-ABLE for the working Mom! I personally really liked it, but I would be lying if I said I will NEVER eat my pasta with it again! I think it was a nice light change something to eat when you would like pasta but don't want the "heaviness" of pasta.  The rest of the family liked it however I don't think hubby LOVED it as much as he did the Cilantro Lime Chicken that I made here. (he would NEVER say that, but I know him pretty darn well) All in all it was a success! It was a delicious, quick light meal that I felt no guilt about eating!!!! Give it a try and see how your family likes it! XO

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 pound jumbo shrimp shelled and deveined (I used 2 pounds because I LOVE shrimp!)
1 Tbsp minced garlic...(again, I don't like to chance vampires coming so I used more of this too!!!) ;)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes - they add just enough of a BITE
1/4 cup white wine
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 - 4 zucchini turned into noodles (mandoline or some type of spiralizer)

Directions:

Place large saute plan over medium-low heat.  Add the olive oil and heat for 1 minute. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly.

Add the shrimp to the pan and cook them until they are cooked through and pink on all sides (about 3 minutes). Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and then using a slotted spoon transfer them to a bowl, leaving the liquid in the pan.

Increase the heat to medium and add the white wine and lemon juice. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan, cooking the wine and lemon juice for 2 minutes.  Add the zucchini noodles and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Return the shrimp to the pan and toss to combine. Season with salt & pepper and parsley if desired, serve immediately.