Clean Start

Happy 2017

Always nice starting with a clean slate.

So many ideas and thought floating around in my head.

Family.

Friends.

Be more intentional.

Prayer Journal.

Gratitude Journal.

Surround yourself with good people.

Intend to be happy everyday.

Start the day in HIS word.

Weight Watchers.

Yoga.

Meditation.

Jesus Calling.

Essential Oils.

Gather Around the Table.

Cheese Boards.

Walks.

Boat Rides.

Host.

52 New Recipes.

Give.

Volunteer.

Worship.

Coffee.

Relax.

Date. (My husband of course)

Beach.

Adventure.

Explore.

Create.

2017 - Loving you already!

xo

Wake up, be awesome, rest, repeat! 

WW Update

Pizza seems to be the most filling to me.

Ole Xtreme Wrap, Aldi Fit and Active Grilled Chicken. Lettuce, peppers and onions. 8 smart points points. 

Kodiakcakes Donuts. (found the recipe on Pinterest) 4 smart points. 

Aldi Fit and Active Frozen Waffle - chocolate peanut butter and banana. 3 Smart Points

Black Beans, Pinto Beans, Homemade Salsa, Brown Rice, Aldi Fit and Active Grilled Chicken Nuggets and 6 Aldi Corn Chips. 8 smart points

GETTING THERE

If you have not tried this you are missing out. Arctic Zone Ice Cream! They are all 1 or 3 points for 1/2 Cup! Amazing - you decide for yourself. 

Another day another pizza - Flatout Bread makes the perfect crust.  Most are 6 - 8 points. 

Down a total of 18 pounds.

Started on May 15th

14 more pounds to my goal.

Weight Watchers Ideas and Update

I joined Weight Watchers on May 15th

Today is July 1st and I'm down 17 pounds

Yay!

Here are a few ideas that are really yummy and make you feel like you are not even on a diet.  Weight Watchers is actually just a healthy way of eating, not even a diet - you just get the great benefits of losing weight - another Yay!

This is water with rosemary, lemon, grapefruit and orange.  I find it makes it so much easier to hit the dialy goal of water intake if I spruce it up a little.  Lemon water first thing in the morning is such a good natural detox. 

I had seen these Kodiak Cakes all over Instagram so I decided to try them.  They did not dissapoint.  So good.  For this meal with egg whites and apple slices and lite syrup - total smart points = 6.

This might be one of my favorites so far.  Ole Xtreme Tortilla Veggie Taco. I baked a white sweet potato.  Added black beans, goat cheese, cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper.  This was amazing.  Served with fresh strawberries - total smart points = 5. 

Making smoothies has become my latest obsession.  Steve got me a Vitamix for my birthday and I'm loving it.  This one was frozen strawberries, peaches and banana with Bai Peach - yummy and ZERO points. 

Another favorite - I think they all are - this was flatout bread with Fresh Market Marinara Sauce.  Added fresh spring greens, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper - total smart points = 

This is a good treat - graham cracker, mini marshmallows, and chocolate cacao chips - total smart points = 3

Chef Salad - Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, cilantro, feta cheese, turkey and turkey pepperoni.  Vinegar and lemon for dressing - total smart points = 4

Pineapple and ham Pizza.  English Muffin with ham, pizza sauce, low fat cheese and pineapple - total smart points = 6

Weight Watchers chicken burger.  Found these at Publix and a terrific find.  I love them!  Added some homemade salsa and Ole tortilla - total smart points = 4

Another awesome smoothie - Trader Joes frozen fruit and Bai of course - ZERO points. 

This is a tropical chicken fruit salad that I copied from Bahama Breeze.  Lettuce, strawberries, pineapple, orange, baked chicken, goat cheese - total points = 6

Another idea for drinking more water.  Voss water bottles have a wide opening so you can add fresh fruit and mint - another way to drink more water. 

This was yummy.  Ole wrap with a fat free hot dog, Weight Watchers cheese stick.  I pressed it and make the outside crispy - so good.  Total smart points = 4

Another day another smoothie!

This was interesting.  Not very filling but it's an egg cooked inside a yellow pepper.  Sriracha coleslaw - simply made coleslaw with fat free mayo and added sriracha to give it a kick - total smart points =  6 

Hope you enjoy! 

Life Lately

I love beautiful cakes!

Memorial Day - Mac and Cheese Burger on a Pretzel Bun

 More Memorial Day Fun - All American Corn Dog 

Special Theme Boxes or Baskets - Delivered in the Tampa Bay and Surrounding Areas

Just because!

Mother's Day Celebration 

Sav's 20th Birthday - Wish Away!

Currently Crushing On

Currently Crushing On

Seedtastic 21 Whole Grains and Seeds Bread from Aldi

Avocado

Poached Egg

Feta Cheese

It is fabulous.

Give it a try

Enjoy!

Overnight Oatmeal - Crock Pot Style

Simple and Easy

My favorite kind

Slice Two Apples

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Tsp. Cinnamon

2 Cups of Steel Oats

4 Cups of Water

Throw it all in.

Set the Crock Pot to Low

Cook for about 7 hours!

It is amazing.

(p.s. you can use any kind of fruit, I just happen to have apples on hand).

Enjoy!

Simple Cobbler

Simple Cobbler

Use any kind of pie filling that you like

(this one shown is apple/cranberry, purchased at my favorite store Aldi)

1 box of dry yellow cake mix

1 stick of butter

Pour the pie filling in the bottom of the pan and spread out

Sprinkle the yellow cake mix over the pie filling

Cut slices of butter and place on top (spread out)

Bake on 375 degrees for about 30 minutes

Enjoy! 

Egg White/Veggie Bake and a Cleanse

My little veggie garden is producing more peppers than I can keep up with.  Decided to put them to good use and make some egg white veggie bakes.  They are so yummy and low in calorie and carbs - win/win.

Spray your muffin tin well

Pour in the egg white about half way up

Chop up your veggies very small

onions

green and red peppers

tomatoes

jalapenos

Next sprinkle with goat or feta cheese

Bake in oven on 375 degrees for about 20 minutes or so - just monitor as all ovens cook differently.

They will last in the fridge for days so make a batch and heat up every morning for a healthy delicious breakfast. 

Hope you love them as much as I do.

p.s.  

I also did a Cleanse from Itworks today!

It's a two day cleanse.

• It Works! Proprietary Herbal Cleanse Blend™: Blue Agave Extract and Aloe Vera Leaf Gel work synergistically to help nourish microflora in your colon while promoting the cellular health of your colon’s cell walls.* Blue Agave Extract with a slow-fermenting, soluble fiber reaches deep into the colon, working as a prebiotic to feed good bacteria and rebalance microflora while slowly cleansing out toxins for a more comfortable cleanse.*

Let me know if you are interested in 

ItWorks and I can hook you up.

Make today great! 

xo  

BEST Brownies Ever!

Best Brownies Ever

Ingredients:

1 Box Brownie Mix

1 Package Oreo Double Stuff Cookies

1 Package of Pillsbury Chocolate Chip Cookies

Directions:

Prepare the brownies per the directions on the box

Set Aside

Place parchment paper in the bottom of glass baking dish

Layer the bottom with the chocolate chip cookies

(the raw dough cookies)

I put a little flour on my hands and press down on cookies to spread out. Try to cover as much of the pan as possible.

Next, layer with oreo cookies

Last, pour the brownie mix all over the oreos

Bake on 350 degrees for about 40 minutes 

(after 30 minutes I start watching closely)

After they have cooled, cut like regular brownies and serve.

Enjoy!

London Broil Roast with Veggies

London Broil Roast with Veggies

Ingredients:

1 London Broil

1 Package of Dry Onion Soup Mix

Garlic, Salt, Pepper

2 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary

Fresh Carrots

Fresh Potatoes

Put the meat in the bottom of the slow cooker

Add the veggies

I mixed the dry soup mix with 2 cups of water - shake it good so it dissolves and pour over the meat and veggies.

Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic.

Lay the fresh rosemary on top of the meat.

Cover and cook on low for about 6 to 7 hours.

I served over White Rice.

It took me all of 10 minutes to prepare this morning

Tonight I made the rice and was ready to serve.

Hope you love it as much as we did.

xo

The Best Chocolate Cake

The Best Chocolate Cake

Ingredients 
1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix 

1 Can Chocolate Frosting

8 oz. Cream Cheese

8 oz. Cool Whip

3 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 Stick Butter

2 T Milk

Directions

Make on chocolate cake mix according to directions.

(use 2 round pans)

Let Cool

Mix together 8 oz. cream cheese, 3 Cups Powdered Sugar and 1 stick of butter.  Fold in 8 oz. Cool Whip.

Spread the mixture on one layer.

Add the top layer.

Mix 1 can of chocolate frosting and 2 T of milk.

Pour/Spread on top layer and let run over sides of cake.

Refrigerate before serving.

Enjoy.

Sweet Potatoes - Crock Pot Style

Sweet Potatoes - Crock Pot Style 

These are seriously the best sweet potatoes I have ever eaten

Simple and Amazing

Ingredients:

 4-6 Medium sweet potatoes sliced (They can be sliced and cooked with the skins on to keep the nutritional content found in the skins and to help hold the potato together during cooking or you may peel them too.)

1/4 Cup sugar 

1 Teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 Teaspoon salt

1-2 Tablespoons butter

Directions:

- Spray the crock pot with Pam or whatever spray you use.  

- Add sliced sweet potatoes  (wash and scrub very well before slicing)

- Sprinkle with salt

- Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over sweet potatoes

- Dot with butter

- Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or until they are tender

Let me know how you like them.

xo

Summer Fun Freezer Pops

Summer Fun Freezer Pops 

This is super fun and easy

For this first batch of pops I used sugar free pink lemonade

Cut up some fresh strawberries and pineapple

(you can use any fresh fruits that you like)

Added the fruit to the molds

Then poured in the juice 

Freeze overnight 

and Yum!

(I used the $2.99 freezer pop molds from Target)

To add an adult twist to it

Serve in a wine glass and pour champagne over

What a great refresher to your 

summer cookouts 

Give it a try, I think you will like it

xo

Southern Living Pound Cake - The Best Ever

Southern Living Pound Cake 

My sister in law made this 

It was beautiful

And one of the BEST cakes I have ever eaten

It is a recipe from the 2006 Southern Living Magazine

It is a must try - you will definitely thank us!

Cake 

1 1/2 cup butter, softened

1 - 8 oz. package of cream cheese softened

3 cups of sugar

6 large eggs

3 cups all-purpose flour

1/8 tsp salt

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.  Gradually add sugar, beat until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Combine flour and salt gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended.  Stir in vanilla.  Spoon batter into a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan.  (bundt)

Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 45 minutes - until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pan or wire rack for 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and let cool completely.

Snowy White Glaze

Stir together - 1, 16 oz. powdered sugar, 5 tbsp milk, and 2 tsp vanilla extract until smooth - spoon evenly over top of cake.

I can't guarantee it will be as beautiful as my sis in laws - but it will be one of the yummiest cake you have ever eaten - promise!

She served it with homemade strawberry ice cream - 

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G

Pepperoni Pasta Salad

Pepperoni Pasta Salad 

Easy Week Night Dinner

2 packages of Cheese Tortellini 

(I used Trader Joe brand)

1 Red or Green Pepper cut up

1 package of Turkey Pepperoni

1/2 Cup Farmer Boy Salad Dressing

Parmesan Cheese (hand full) 

Boil the pasta/drain

allow the pasta to cool

add all the other ingredients

toss together

Serve with a smile :)

Tex Mex - Crock Pot Cooking

Tex-Mex Crock Pot Cooking 

Simple easy meal!

Perfect for week nights.

And because Mexican is the best food ever - win/win.

Put the below ingredients in your crock pot on low and let it cook for about 6 hours.  

3 chicken breast

2 cups of low sodium chicken broth 

1 can of black beans (drain)

1 can of corn (drain) 

1/2 jar of salsa

When mixture is finished cooking, shred the chicken with a fork and add one cup of low fat sour cream.  

Serve over rice!

(serves 4)

Pizza Pizza

Homemade Pizza

So, I may be just a little obsessed with the new Publix Pizza Dough

Instead of coming in the little round dough ball

It's in a pastry box and ready to unfold and lay on the pizza pan

Since Saturday, I've made 3 different ones

It started out with sampling one they were serving while grocery shopping

oh my!

Pizza #1

Lay out the pizza dough on the pan

Spread Garlic Butter

Next add Mozzarella Cheese

I baked on 400 for about 15 minutes

When you take it out add fresh basil, diced up tomatoes 

Drizzle Balsamic Glaze

Pizza #2 

Again, lay out the pizza dough on the pan

Spread Garlic Butter

I cut up 3 Buffalo Chicken Tenders and placed around

Next added mozzarella cheese and banana peppers

Again baked on 400 for about 15 minutes. 

Pizza #3

You know the drill by now - 

Lay out the pizza dough on pan

Spread the Garlic Butter

This one was all fresh veggies 

Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese 

Still baking at 400 for 15 minutes 

Added fresh basil when I took out of oven

Since it's Wednesday, I added a glass of wine 

Hope you enjoy!  

xo