Day 24! Merry Christmas Eve!

Here are some fun Krafts I've been doing and a little inspiration! :)

Cut out Ballerina Snow Flakes:

Template for ballerina body: http://krokotak.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/12.pdf

Tutu is just a regular square sheet of paper (about 3x3) folded to corners 3x and cut in various styles (great part for kids to do!) then cut a slit on the folded line in the center to feed ballerina body through, voila! Super cute to hang on the tree, on door knobs in the kitchen, gifts to friends, or in a line on tinsel :)

This are my Idaho Stampede Gingerbread Girls!!! :) 

Actually these are molasses cookies (great alternative to the rich sometimes not so pleasing to the family gingerbread and super soft!mmm) cut out with Gingerbread men cut outs and the frosting is just what is on the back of a box of regular powdered sugar put into a Wilton froster with the smallest tip:) 

I picked up some rolls this morning for tomorrow's dinner and took a quick pic of this sign! Just had to share! So funny and true this time of year! haha

Also wanted to share this little quote from my flip book by Ann Voskamp: 

Moments come as wrapped gifts and we simply have to trust the Giver.

Peace and love xoxox 

Day 23:)

Here is the craft! Sock snowmen! So easy cut up an old tube sock and colorful sock of your choice on the ankle part that goes up to your calf. the hat is the toe part:) Just turn tube sock inside out, tie a rubber band on one end and turn right side out, fill with rice and pack down to make nice and plump, and tie at the top. Put on colorful sock and tie off sections of the snowman with twine. Then add buttons, eyes and a now! Voila! I hot glued buttons and used orange puffy paint for the nose:) Easy, fun for kids, cheap Christmas gifts! 

Don't laugh, but this morning I wanted to get stuff done and bake and workout....so I put on my workout gear, made peanut butter blossoms (peanut butter cookie with candy kiss in the middle), put the first batch in the oven, ran on the treadmill for 8 min while they baked, took that batch out, put the next in, ran on the treadmill and repeated one more time for a total of about 30 min on the treadmill and then the cookies were all done too! All before noon! wooohoo!

TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS EVE SO EXCITED! PEACE AND LOVE xoxoxoxoxo 

Day 22!

Got a workout in today! It was a quick one but it still counts! 

Workout: 

15 min on treadmill on "Aerobic/performance" level (Parents' treadmill haha)

Exercise ball sit-ups (40)

20 oblique sit-ups (10 each side)*

10 tricep push ups, center, right, left (go down by 2 each time)**

Repeat 3x no breaks in between!

5 min on treadmill to cool down at a decent speed

* these are awesome found em on Pinterest: just get to a regular push up position (not "girl" push up) then curl one knee to stomach and twist to the opposite side...gets the obliques good while working your arms!

** This is a Pilates things: lay on stomach, place hands right under shoulders and make sure elbows are as close to body as possible! Then slowly use arms to push all the way up keeping legs and hips on the floor squeezing together. Right and left just twist hips so one leg in off the floor and lower back is twisted so focus is on one tricep. A set of 10 going down by 2s will get em good!

Pre-workout breakfast yummy only 3g protein but 4g fiber:)

I looked up halfway through running on treadmill and Mr. Nutcracker was staring right at me haha it was definitely facing the other way when I started! Creepy!

Scotcharoos for the BSU v. UW football game today!

Recipe:

Measure our 6c Rice Crispies in a large bowl

Butter a 9x13 pan

In a pot on stove boil 1c Karo syrup and 1c sugar

add 1c peanut butter (I used Adam's Natural Creamy) and take off stove

Mix well with Rice Crispies

Poor and pack into pan

In a microwave safe bowl add almost the entire package of Nestles butterscotch and also a package of semisweet chocolate chips, melt in microwave for 30 second increments  stirring well in between  DO NOT OVER HEAT! Barely melted in perfect just stir well so there is little to no chips seen. Poor and spread on top of Crispies evenly! Heavenly! 

Presents are wrapped, baking has begun (more to come tomorrow), and a Kraft is done! Will upload tomorrow:) Peace and love everyone! Remember what the season is all about as it starts to get CrAzY in the home prepping! oxoxox

Day 20 and 21

Well the 25 days of fitness and healthy eating are dwindling down! haha My workout yesterday, well I didn't have one because I was riding in a car and today it was running around town shopping haha. BUT! I had some yummy, healthy meals today and I have to say I am enjoying being home:) Are ya'll done shopping yet?! I am hopefully getting to Kraft tomorrow so I will upload that in a day or two!

Here is the prayer for children I was talking about the other day, I hope you can read it, it's really wonderful:

Today's breakfast smoothie! Almond milk, Achieve Protein, strawberries from the garden at home and spinach.

Gluten free cornbread! (The best cornbread)

And turkey chili with very few ingredients, canned tomatoes, ground turkey, onions, kidney beans, and tomato paste...it was a little too tomatoey said the family maybe some water needed?? I liked it nice and think though:) 

Peace and love everyone!xoxox

Dayyy 19, getting closer!

One more final tomorrow morning and I am D-O-N-E, DONE! So excited to listen to Christmas music all the way home and finally relax for a while. I can not believe the semester is over, it FLEW by. I have to say, I think it has been my favorite semester ever! Here is some insight we all can use this time of year, from my flip calendar by Anne Voscamp:

God can enter into me, even me, and use these hands, these feet, to be His love, a love that goes on and on and on forever, endless cycle of grace. 

Breakfast: Ezekiel sesame toast, avocado spread, 2 eggs scrambled, feta, and salsa!

Espresso Mocha: Ghirardelli hot cocoa, hot water, 2 shots of espresso and a tad bit of whipped topping I couldn't help it! But I think it helped me get a 100% on my final yesterday:)

Postworkout Smoothie: frozen banana, chia seeds, pumpkin puree, flax seed oil, almond milk, Achieve vanilla protein powder, a little nonfat greek yogurt, and nutmeg and whipped topping to top it off! 

Okay dinner I had nothing in my fridge and branched out for a date to try Mazzah, a Greek eatery in Boise, uhmmm SO good! This is a chicken schwarma (unsure of spelling haha) with a Greek salad and in the background is the best Baklava ever!! Did you know a Greek diet is the healthiest in the WORLD? And it's so delicious...hmm expect more posts about Greek food!

25 days of fitness has been fun and has kept me on track for the last couple weeks but today was my last opportunity to go to the rec for a while! Oh dear...at home workouts anyone??? Stay tuned for a prayer of inspiration tomorrow:) Peace and love xoxoxo

Day 18!

Here is my yummy healthy dinner for two from last night! 

Yummy Brussels Sprout Recipe!:

Saute chopped onions and minced garlic (as much as you like) in a good amount of EVOO

 10-15 (or 1 bag) brussel sprouts finely chopped

Slivered almonds (I have also used walnuts roasted in the oven for a few minutes)

Craisins

Tablespoon brown sugar (or a little more;))

A little pepper

On medium heat until dark green, serve warm!

With... sweet potatoes in EVOO roasted on 450 for about 22 minutes (put these in the oven before you start chopping Brussels)

Nonfat plain Greek yogurt mixed with a little garlic salt and balsamic for dipping!

MMM filling, gluten free, meat free, and clean:) 

Time to go workout at the gym before studying and final #2! Peace and love xoxox

Day 15,16 and 17! One down 3 to go!

Well this weekend was another busy one filled with games, fun, church, studying, and a wonderful Christmas date with my love:) And today marks not only one final down and 3 to go, but one day  down complete with a workout!!!:) and 3 to go until we go home for Christmas break! Woohoo!!! 

This weekend blueberry FAGE was my dinner before games! Super filling! 

After on Saturday I definitely had a beef skewer and sweet potato fries at Bardenay's however, hey it could have been worse!

My mornings started with a smoothie, well Saturday it was lunch/breakfast because I woke up so late! Recipe: frozen banana, cocoa powder, vanilla protein, almond milk, spoonful of organic 365 peanut butter, flaxseed oil, chia seeds:) (Monkey Meal version for Jake) 

Sunday morning I had eggs with cheese and a smoothie for lunch and Sunday night....

We went to Barbacoa! This is half a chicken on my plate of BBQ pasta and Jake is eating his fried banana in his coconut rice with swordfish haha. A well earned Christmas dinner, our gift to each other:)

Then we went to the famous Cadger Family Christmas light show in Meridian! (Yes the one on the news and facebook haha) so worth waiting in line and the drive!!!

This morning I had Sesame Ezekiel toast with almond butter and a 2 egg scramble with salsa and feta cheese with a homemade espresso for brain food prior to my final! (It worked well!) 

After my final and after my wonderful workout which I have missed the last 3 days I had a delicious pumpkin smoothie! Recipe: Vanilla protein, flaxseed oil, almond milk and water, chia seeds, ice cubes, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, agave nectar, and whipped topping!

Peace and love everyone:) please don't forget to pray for those affected by the school shooting tragedy and our society as a whole at some point in the day, I know it's a busy time but it helps to refocus a little and doesn't take long! xoxox

Day 14...A different kind of day

Today I think we all agree our lives and worries and busyness of the season came to a screaming halt around lunch time with the news of yet another school shooting; it is amazing how your perspective can be changed, for the better, so quickly. And how words of the season, like Peace on Earth, can take on different meaning. I think this presents an opportunity to reflect on what is truly important inside our country and the serious issues within our society. And this is why I am going into the education field. There are too many mental illnesses, the well-being of so many is just not good, and we are not handling the issues at hand in the correct manner, obviously. This goes so much deeper than the actions of one young man today, it's so much bigger. We need to prevent this. Unfortunately today we feel a little helpless, it already happened, that's when we simply have to, are forced to, turn to prayer. So many need our prayers today and through this season. My hope is that this will turn into something positive, a little more love and appreciation for those around you this holiday season, and hopefully more care and concern for the well-being of people. How do we get so far away from the truth? It is events such as this that pull on your inner heart strings, forcing you to look back to the truth. Here are a few scriptures I turned to today as I was so upset, take from them what you may:

All of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ~1 Peter 3:8-9

Blessed are those who mourn. For they shall be comforted. ~ Matthew 5:4

For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things not seen are eternal. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18

I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. ~ Psalm 34:4

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ~James 5:16

If we ask anything according to His will He hears us. ~ 1 John 5:14 

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2

Let no one seek his own, but each other's well-being. ~1 Corinthians 10:24

For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ~John 3:16

Sometimes we are simply speechless, as I have heard so many people on the news today, and words, overcome by emotion, do not come; this is when God is calling us to turn to the only true words that can ever comfort us. 

Peace and love xoxoxo

Day 12/12/12 and 13:)

Well it has been a fun week hasn't it?!?!? So glad tomorrow is Friday! I was lovin the avocado scramble with salsa this week, had it yesterday with the last whole wheat blueberry muffin:( 

For lunch yesterday and breakfast this morning I had an almond milk (40 calories!) flax seed oil, chia seed, blueberry, Achieve powder smoothie...they are so delicious but to be honest I am not sure anything can curb my cravings for sweet around the holidays...especially when you have a dance Christmas party two nights in a row with really awesome moms that bring lots of treats. Bless them:)

Yesterday I had this half of chicken breast with corn, feta, avocado, sauteed onion meal for dinner and....

I finished my Solar System Unit!!! Pretty proud of it...if only I could actually DO IT in a classroom now!

Then I spilled Scentsy hot wax all over the carpet and on the carpet in this picture there was a massive BRIGHT RED stain. So naturally I got on Pinterest and I just have to share! Do you see anything in that picture?! It worked! And with all items I had in the kitchen.

Wonder Stain Remover Concoction: 

Sprinkle tons of baking soda and let sit over night 

Vacuum

Mix in a bowl 2 cups warm/hot water with 1 T liquid dish soap, 1T White distilled vinegar

Grab a white rag and dab dab dab until it's GONE!

I dabbed for about 7 minutes using a good amount of the solution.

Today for dinner I had the other half of the chicken breast (just cooked in EVOO with a little garlic salt and pepper) with another spinach, feta, avocado, corn and onion dressing salad-mmm and so filling! 

Lunch today at school was interesting-pressed for time i grabbed a FAGE greek blueberry yogurt my tub of hummus and carrots and an apple I ate later. It actually kept me satisfied til dinner after dance practice which is impressive! I had a few almonds and cashews too. FAGE yogurt is int he Eat This Not That book as the best overall yogurt, so the most protein, less sugar, carbs, and fake stuff:) It's like a dessert!

Peace and love everyone! Anyone else seeing the light at the end of the tunnel of finals and projects??? We can do it! Keep up that spirit!!! It helps us all:) xoxox

Day 11:)

Okay I really need some motivation to get out of bed this lovely dead week! Good thing I had my yummy Achieve protein powder waiting for me:) I had a shake with almond butter, flaxseed oil, frozen banana, chia seeds, and peanut butter along with my psyllium husk cran water and espresso/water/creamer this morning.

I only drank one Nalgene full of it today plus some regular water tonight.

For lunch I had a home made whole wheat blueberry muffin and Amy's soup! yummy!

For a snack as I wrote a paper at school I had probably a little too much trail mix haha.

For dinner I made a quick scrambled egg with salsa before practice! When you are busy having healthy, quick food on hand is key! Good thing I had dance tonight to get my workout in and motivate me to finish my studying! I WILL workout tomorrow!

Froggy Gets Dressed is a fabulous children's book my very sweet literacy professor bought for all of us today! So excited to add this to my library collection! I have heard classrooms (usually for preschool/kindergarten) will have students bring in clothes and act out the book while the class does a reader's theater with it, (kids read the book as a play and act it out while one students puts on and takes off everyone's clothes!) sounds super fun and engaging! 

Peace and love everyone xoxoxoxox

Days 8,9,and 10!

Wow what a weekend! Full of basketball, dancing, nutcrackers, botanical garden a-glow, church, and good eats! Unfortunately I haven't worked out since Thursday morning but I am getting back at it tomorrow I needed rest today! Friday was a crazy day but I enjoyed my new protein powder with a little cinnamon and later when we went out to dinner had a delicious Alaskan Salmon filet with a 95 calorie mango lime vodka drink!

Saturday I took a break from the psyllium cran/water and enjoyed some delicious BROWN RICE SUSHI! Sushi lovers, this is a great invention, thank you Whole Foods! 

Picture from behind the scenes of the show on Saturday! Choreographed a ballet piece to "Christmas Lights" by Coldplay:) 

Boise is beautiful this time of year! We had some light snow fall on us as we enjoyed the lights this weekend;) 

The botanical gardens are definitely my FAVORITE part of Boise during the Christmas season, it's so magical! So happy we could enjoy it with mom and dad :)

Whole Foods lunch on Sunday (we're kind of obsessed haha) actually only about $5.50! This is a mix of yummies from their buffets: smoked mozzarella noodles, BBQ chicken, butternut squash, quinoa salad, garbanzo bean salad and balsamic beets! Mmm! 

For the Christmas party Saturday we wanted to make an easy, light dessert-Rice Crispies! Of course! But here's the spin...Hot Tamales to add a holiday cinnamon flavor:) 

This morning's eggs with some pico de gallo! 

And this mornings message (sent to my email everyday for free) I just had to share and challenge you to try and live by in the season of cheer and joy!

Today's lunch: spinach, grilled chicken, 1/2 avacado, craisins, corn, feta, and Walla Walla Sweet Onion dressing:) Yum!

And tonight's dinner: Old fashioned oats, slivered almonds, cooked apples in a little butter and cinnamon, more cinnamon, 1T peanut butter (organic), and a little brown sugar on the top. 

I am just so thankful for the amazing weekend I had with my parents, boyfriend, and friends enjoying the season and literally everything I love!!! Words cannot express! God is good! It will make the next 9 days of projects, papers, and finals be okay:) Peace and love! xoxox

Day 5,6,and 7:)

Wow! This week has been a whirlwind and the weekend is about to get even crazier!! Here are a few of my favorite things from days 5,6,and 7 in my 25 days of fitness:) (I actually feel like I am behind a day? I don't know but at any rate, there's a surprise at the end for today! I continued psyllium husk and cran/water juice combo all week:) I feel so much better when I do this!

Favorite frozen food brand when I just have to haha.

Salsa mmmm

I love these turkey salads sorry to see the turkey go:(

special free blueberry jam from whole foods! Lucky me!

yummy new hummus on sale at whole food and tuna! I also needed my EmergenC packet to defend against all the flu goin around!

Ok like I said I was busy so on the way to work last night I got an egg white flat bread sandwich from Subway. Actually really good. 

This is the surprise! NEW vanilla protein powder I ordered finally came! And it is sooooo delicious, just almond milk, ice cubes, chia seeds and the powder with lots of yummy nutrients and vitamins and 18g of protein. Will upload nutrition facts tomorrow! Perfect for my pregame meals:) 

Unfortunately workout only happened Monday, Tuesday and Thursday but healthy eating and lots of water made me feel almost just as good all week and energized! Probably the #1 I have noticed is that I feel stronger and like I get through long days much more easily, and endurance during long dances:), with a healthier diet is intact. We are all gonna feel like a 100 bucks by Christmas!!!!! (P.S. let yourself cheat in moderation, I am going out to eat this weekend but I know healthier options ahead of time at the restaurants and allow myself a bite of chocolate here and there-but apparently this protein powder is supposed to suppress your appetite for sweets?!?! We will see if it works! I'll let you know the verdict in a week!)

Peace and love! xoxoxo share some Christmas spirit this weekend..Nutcrackers, lights, and Christmas movies are out, go find some!