Healthy Snacks!

Lately I have been struggling to come up with heathy snack ideas for Ella and myself.  I needed to find some ideas that were easy for me to take to work and also some ideas to Ella would enjoy.  I love read Real Simple Magazine because it's packed with great ideas! Here are some of my favorite snack ideas from: realsimple.com/healthysnacks.  I am really excited to see ideas including hummus, peanut butter, and salmon! Yummmm! Today is my second cleanse day so I can't have a snack today but I will be making one or two of these to take to work with me tomorrow!

Pool TIme!

This summer has been sooo stinkin hot that I have not spent much time at a pool.  This summer one of the best pool days we had is when Daniel and I took Ella to this ahhhhmazing pool! Daniel's best friend was house sitting and she was able to bring us to their pool! Wouldn't you love to have a backyard like this one?!?!?!?  I hope to take Ella to the pool a couple more times this year.  She loves the water just like her mama! 

I use to look like what?

Tonight My bother found a picture that is over three years old and it hurts me to look at it! When the picture was taken I was engaged and I guess I just really let myself go! This picture is now on my fridge as a reminder to always make healthy choices and also as I reminder of how much better my over all life is now than it was back then.

*Feb 2008 VS Jan 2009*

And here is one from this past year:

* Last Day Prego June 2010 and then Post Baby June 2011*

May these Photo's remind me that a healthy life style sure bets the temptations of Junk food and being lazy when you look in the mirror! Also the added bonus by how great I feel every day I make good choices!

Ladies Night Out/Paseo Grill

*Our August Girls Night*

Last Night my wonderful sister babysat Ella for me so I could go out with some girl friends! I was pretty excited! I went to dinner with my friend Ashley who is the most talented photographer I know (and I'm NOT just saying that because she is one of my best friends-check out her work: TheRedCouchStudio.com) and Kelsey who is a wonderful wife and sonographer. That being said it is really hard for the three of us to find a free night to go out.  

We went to dinner at Paseo Grill.  I had never been before and was really happy to try the place out.  We sat outside on the Patio and had some cocktails and got caught up on life.  I ordered the Tuna Tartar, I want another one right now! Sooooo Good! After dinner Kelsey needed to get home and Ashley and I were game for staying out! We went and saw our friend Dustin who was Bar Tending at VDZ's and then a couple bars afterwards.  We ran into a lot of good friends and had a much needed fun night out.

Chicken Kebabs and Nectarine Salsa

Tonight I decided to make a new meal.  I also decided I would be using chicken.  For those people who know me very well I know this might come to you as a shock!  I was a vegetarian for years before I was pregnant with my daughter and since then I'll eat chicken every once in awhile as long as I feel good about the quality of the chicken.  With that being said I haven't cooked with chicken in years! Everything I make at home is 90% vegetarian or I use Fish.  Tonight I bought some organic chicken ( but who really knows where that even comes from - honestly..) and I brought chicken home to my kitchen to cook with for the very first time! Sam, Daniel, and Ella all enjoyed it with me! I am adding this to "must make again" list for dinners!
  

Broiled Salmon with Marmalade-Dijon Glaze

*My Yummy Lunch Under 600 Calories*

Giving it up!

It's never too late to become what you might have been.

 -George Elliot

This week I have started a cleanse and diet plan.  I have given up all alcohol, sweets, and any junk food! Today I had my first cleanse day and it didn't go as well as it could have.  I had a couple of "health snacks" almonds and energy "snacks" that go with the system I am currently on.  It's so hard to cleanse while Ella is teething and crying.  I felt so sorry for her and hated that there was so little I could do to help! So  I found myself a little bit on the stressed out side today and drinking my cleanse drink and liters of water just wasn't cutting it.  I'll write up a better review on the system after my first week. Plus I am still researching deeper into the products.  So far though I really like it and from what I have read it is a really great aid in a healthy life style!
I never wanted something so simple as a grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly until I know now I can't have it.  Today on my cleanse I came so close to caving in to some hummus! I sure do love my hummus! Thank goodness it's one thing I don't have to give up!
My Goal the next two months is to lose the last 15-20lbs that are hanging on for dear life, gain more energy, tone up muscle, and get my stomach out of this odd "I just had a baby a year ago" stage it's in!
I am so determined to reach my goals and look forward to sharing my results with you!

Last Nights Wedding

Last night my family went to my Aunts wedding.  It was a small family wedding and I was so proud of Ella for sitting through the ceremony so politely!  I was excited to get the opportunity to dress up! Before I got pregnant with Ella I use to wear heels all the time, these days that doesn't happen much!  Wedding went really well ! Only challenge for Ella and I came at the reception when a "blow out" happen and Ella went from her pretty white dress down to her diaper. 

*Romano Ladies*

* Wedding Date *

*Ceremonies must be tough for a one year old! * 

*Love Chances to Dress up! *

Warrior Dash : 53 day Count Down!

JUST SIGNED UP FOR THE 10:30 WAVE ON SEPTEMBER 24th!

 IM READY TO BRING OUT THE WARRIOR!!

Got Dirty....Really Dirty for a great Cause!

WHAT IS THE DIRTY 30 YOU ASK?

"It’s more than just a mud run; it’s an event you will never forget. The Dirty 30 may not change your life, but it will at least change it for one day. Who doesn’t want to run a 5k in the mud complete with 15 obstacles along the way? Obstacles will include mud pits, fire jumps, walls and more.

We would love to tell you that it is going to be easy, but we wouldn’t want to lie. Challenges like this show us just how much we can accomplish."

-thedirty30race.com

Oklahoma's First Dirty 30 Race was this Saturday and I am STILL sore from the race! 

The money raised went to two different charities WATERisLIFE and The Spero Project. You could also donate your shoes at the end of the race which I did because I hate cleaning Mud of shoes, oh and for people who needed them I was more than happy to do so!
Honestly I was so scared about this race.  I had been running but I was falling behind on workouts and I was prepared to look like a fool and just do my best because I couldn't not try!  Plus Christina was going to be there and I had to compete to win against her! We all decided to dress up in tutu's and fool people into thinking we were just some sassy girls then get out there and rock it in the mud! And I think we all did better than had hope!  I was so proud of myself and our group!
The only part that was awful was the heat and the the lack of shower space! They had the ONE HOUR long line of people waiting to shower off! By the time I got there I was trying my best to get the dried mud off!  Christina and Jess rode with me so I still have some dirt in my car to prove how dirty we got! It defiantly open up a desire in me to enter more races like this one.
The Next Race to sign up for: THE WARRIOR DASH IN TULSA ! SO EXCITED!!!

           

                                      Before                           and                      After   

Had a Great Time with such wonderful friends!

**Group Pictures Before the Race **

*Below My Friend Cassie Who I Was So Impressed With! SHE KICKed BUTT OUT THERE!**

{ I look funny because Christina told me to look serious,something I can't do well-hints the cracked smile} 

                       

 

*Can you see the Neon Colors Running to he last Obstacle?*Then Mud Wrestling Broke out*

 Once Christina and I go to the very last Obstacle she decided to wrestle me in the mud so she could pull ahead.  I did not see it coming! As you can see from the picture see was at one point sitting on top of me as I was buried in the thick mud! Once I got a hold of her we had a pretty good mud wrestling match going on and all the sudden we hear voices from the crowd; "Get her ... tackle her back down..... " along with clapping and yelling.  I don't know if Christina realized what a positive reaction we would get!  I had never been so dirty in my life and I'd do it all again next weekend!

Then we cheered Jessica On as she finished the Race! 

"Go Blondie!"

My Best Friends and I after the Race! 

We did it! 

Left : Christina and I 

Right : Jessica and I 

WHAT A GREAT RACE! We will be at it again on Sept. 24th for the Warrior DASH!  We are Training up for this next event and our costumes are gonna be great!