Something Old (pancakes) & Something New (a review)!!!!!

Guess what I had for lunch yesterday???.......SALAD!! You can never go wrong with salad. My mix included

• broccoli slaw
• romaine
• mixed organic greens
• tomato
• cucumber
• chickpeas (that I made at home for the first time ever)
• mixed steamed veggies for last nights dinner
• chicken
• BBQ sauce for dressing

So full after this! Later for my snack I made some more of my yummy Peanutty Hummus.
1 oven toasted Spinach Flat Out Wrap seasoned with garlic powder and sea salt for dipping. Perfectly crunchy!After my snack the little one, the man and I all headed out for the little ones first trial karate class. They were so cute!! I laughed the whole time.
When I arrived home I was SUPER excited to see that I had received a package for Bell Plantation!!! I know the man was jealous. Here's the goods...
Because we were busy with karate and going to watch my 3 nieces play their HS softball game I just threw together some leftovers together for dinner. My Plate....
Turkey Tenderloin Nuggets, Sauteed Kale with Greek dressing and almonds. After dinner I was anxious to try my PB2 samples (THANK YOU BELL PLANTATION)! but I was also craving chocolate. Is that a dilemma? I think not. I put on some Dark Chocolate Agar Puddin and put it away to set while I caught up on some my fav trashy reality shows (thank you VH1). When the puddin was through setting I threw it the blender with some PB2 and some chocolate rice protien. Really I should have put it back in the fridge to set more but I was to excited to try so I went ahead and threw down.

The results?? Well I think I should have used the whole packet of PB2. I only used about 2 tbsp. Also, I am sad to say that I think the chocolate rice protein totally canceled out the peanut flavor :(. No need to fret though because tomorrow was another day and I still had 3 1/2 packets of PB2.

Today is usually my day off from the gym but I really wanted to try a new a class at the YMCA. After brekkie I dropped the little one off at my parents and headed to the Y. The class was called Ultimate Circuit. I am not really big on group classes but I wanted to branch out. It was a hour long and I didn't even break a sweat! My legs are wobbly but all in all I don't know if I will make it a regular part of my routine. The class involved a lot of machine work which I am not really keen on and low weights with high reps. I think I will try Cycle next time on my day off. When I got home I was anxious to have another go at the PB2. This time I made my trusty pancakes (1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/2 oatmeal, 3 egg whites, cinnamon and stevia blended) and used the PB2 mixed with water and maple syrup for a topper.
YUMMY!!! I am not sure if the PB2 is comparable to peanut butter itself but for something that only has 53 cals and 1.8 grams of fat for 2 tbsp its fun to play with. I don't think I would eat it by itself like on a sandwich or something but its great for a topper. I still have 3 packs left so we will see what I can come up with. :) Any suggestions with the PB2 are welcome!!!!

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I have been an athlete all my life and I was pitcher for my college softball team! I miss those days. So much fun! :)

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2 Monkeys & 3 Recipes All In One

So I am going to do a quick Saturday and Sunday food and fun recap. This was my Saturday lunch. 2 whole wheat pitas filled with extra lean ground beef, mixed greens, mixed peppers and my fav BBQ sauce. The bowl contained some cottage, Trader Joes pumpkin butter and peanut butter.
After lunch we headed out for a fun filled day at Monkey Joes.
Can you tell shes a little timid? We went home and relaxed and I made me some "ice cream".
I think it was mostly frozen strawberries almond milk and cottage cheese. For dinner I made a scrumptious salad. There are so many possibilities with salad I don't think I could ever get tired of it!!
After dinner we decided to take a family trip to Maggie Moos for ice cream. I was so full and told myself I wasn't going to have any because I have cut out dairy but when we got there I saw a huge sign that read "New Lactose Free, Low Fat Ice Cream, ". I couldn't resist :).
I ordered a kids cup and chose cookie dough for the mix in. I couldn't eat the whole cup but I ate about a 3/4. Here's all of them.
My man always gets the cookies and cream shake no matter where we go. The little one got cotton candy with gummy bears and marshmallows. I looked up the nutrition for mine and it contained about 90 cals and 15 carbs for 1/2 cup serving, not including the cookie dough. Not to shabby.

Sunday was a lazy day. At some point I got the baking bug and decided to make these banana doughnuts I have seen floating around the blogsphere. I altered it a little by using 3 bananas, coconut oil, and only 2/3 cup sugar. I also squirted in a little honey and some powdered stevia.
The little one added sprinkles to hers.

They turned out pretty good. My parents arrived just as I was pulling them out of the oven so they were able to each have one and they loved them. Mom asked for the recipe.

Shortly after baking it was time to make dinner. I was sad that it was so cold here because I was really cravin something off the grill. Instead I decided to make some Turkey Tenderloin Nuggets.
The pic doesn't do them justice but I promise they will not disappoint. Here's the recipe:

Turkey Tenderloin Nuggets

• 2 whole wheat pita breads
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage
• 1 clove garlic, split
• 2 tsp. olive oil (i use Pam spray)

First, toast pita in oven or toaster until dry and crispy. Process pitas into coarse crumbs in food processor. Stir in salt and fresh sage. Place crumbs on a plate.

Next, dry tenderloin with a paper towel and rub all over with split garlic. Cut the meat into 1 1/2
chunks and add oil. Toss to coat.

Last, roll each piece of turkey in pita crumbs and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 min.

So easy!!! I usually make a Cranberry Yogurt Dipping Sauce but since I am avoiding dairy I didn't. Its really simple to make though. Just process 1 cup fat free Greek yogurt with 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries. The whole meal is kinda reminiscent of thanksgiving with the turkey and sage combo and the cranberry sauce. I love it!!

This morning I hit the gym early with a good full body work out. Breakfast was my usual but I had a fantabulous snack.

Monkey Shake

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• 1 tbsp peanut butter
  
• 1 1/2 tbsp choc. rice protein powder (and protein powder will do)
• 3 ice cubes
• 5 drops dark chocolate stevia
  

All this yumminess for 315 cals and 26 grams of protein. :) :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Thanks for all the comments on the last post!

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: If I have caffeine, i.e. coffee or caffeinated tea, it makes me have an anxiety attack. I know it sounds weird but I completely quit caffeine when I found out I was pregnant in 04'. When the little one was around 1 I began having anxiety attacks and I had never had them before. I eventually found a link between my attacks and caffeine. Ever since I cut it back out I have been anxiety free!!!! :)

*Bittersweet* Dark Chocloate Puddin Shake

Yesterday, was a long day of shopping! After I made a healthier, modified version of my Moms Lasagna for dinner, upon request of the man, my mother and I decided to hit a few stores. My goal was to find a plate that was not only pleasing to the eye but also big enough to hold the humongo salads that I eat. I have to say Mission accomplished!! :)
Thank you World Market! Well, you know I had to test it out so when I arrived back home I made a humongo salad in a toasted la tortilla factory shell ( I know I am getting a little link crazy aren't I)?
On the side I toasted up a Spinach flatout wrap for dipping. *Little tip here* when you toast a flatout wrap they turn out exactly like crunchy tortilla chips. I recommend everyone trying it!

My mom fell asleep with the little who passed out watching cartoons in her tutu and bikini...

(excuse the mess)

This morning was my first day at the YMCA but it was a little bittersweet for 2 reasons. One, I will miss all the sweet old people at my other gym and two, I only paid $25 a year at the old gym. Ya, that's right I gave up $25 a YEAR to pay double that a month at the Y. TVs on the cardio equipment definitely make up for it though. hehe!! My workout was fab and I was excited to get some time in on a little thing I like to call the gauntlet.
When I got home I was excited for my Dark Chocolate Puddin Shake. Before I left I made some dark chocolate agar pudding except this time I used chocolate almond milk and put in the fridge to set while I was gone. When I got home I threw it in the blender with some honey, cottage cheese and a frozen nana. I also threw in some ice cubes.
I topped it with some crushed up Cinnamon Life Cereal. The result was super yummy!!! Dark Chocolate Puddin shakes are here to stay!!

CONFESSION ON THE DAY: I have a sex tape out....



....




....



....JUST KIDDING!!!!! haha
really though, I think Kim Kardashian is hot!! Angelina is still my fav though!!! Any girl crushes out there???

Watch Out Grocers Here I Come!!!!

This morning at the gym an older man came up to me and asked how many days a week I workout. I told him 4 and what he said really made my day (besides winning Gina's macaroons) he said "wow! you really give it your all, you work hard when your in here. Everyone should work as hard as you". What a great compliment :). Brekkie was a little different than normal because we literally had no food. I really enjoyed it though. The blended grains were extra special today because I added almond extract to mix. What a great idea me! I also had the last of my lactose free cottage cheese with salt, pepper and tomato and the last 3 egg whites.
After scraping together what was left in the house for breakfast I decided to do some major damage at the grocery stores (yes, plural) because today was PAYDAY (thanks babe)! My list was longer than....(insert me trying to think of a cool analogy like Sarah). Ok just imagine something funny. Anyway, I started off at Kroger then came home for a snack. I made a shake but it looked like poo so no pics, it also tasted like poo. Then it was off to Publix and then Wal Mart. Why cant one place carry everything I need? I did some serious damage shopping. Lets see how long it takes me to go back. When we got home it was past time for lunch. I was starving and threw together a quick salad. I went to shake the dressing and the lid wasnt on. NOT GOOD! Then when I poured the dressing and it came out in a flood. NOT GOOD!
Can you see all the leftover? Ugh!

Now that I have stock piled on the groceries I have lots of yummy recipes in the making. Including a tropical sorbet, healthy cheddar muffins and a spinach fritatta. Yum, Yum.

Have an awesome weekend!

CONFESSION OF THE DAY:I feel so lazy sitting while on the computer so I wrote this whole post standing just so I could burn more calories :). You burn 50% more standing than sitting you know? :)

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Oh Beer Deer!!!! & Yummy Kale!!!

Yesterday, is sort of a blur. It was really rainy and crappy as was my mood. I did manage to get to the gym in the morning for my beloved full body workout but the rest of the day pretty much sucked! After logging back on to Fitday I have come to the conclusion that I am not getting enough calories between breakfast and lunch. Even though I am eating 3 meals in that time I should still be getting half my cals for the day and I was only hitting about 700 cals. because of this I was having small binges after lunch. Here's my lunch form yesterday. Kale chips, small half of a sweet potato with pumpkin butter, and 4 ounces turkey tenderloin. Not nearly enough...
As a result I then ate this...
....along with several other things not pictured, i.e. more peanut butter, cinnamon puffins, and dark chocolate smeared with more pb. I was so full from all this sweet stuff I didn't eat the rest of the night. NOT GOOD.

The highlight of the day was seeing this lovely deer in my back yard...
Oh and taking this video..

The funny part is is that neither of us really drink. Him more so than me but its like only a weekend thing. I am thinking she picked it up from Grandpa haha! She did stay the night there the night before.

Today, I wasn't at home most the day because I was cleaning my moms house. I did make a fab. bowl of snack oats before I left though.
1/3 cup oatmeal, 1/3 cup oat bran, dark chocolate cocoa powder and stevia and of course peanut butter. My afternoon snack was pretty good to. It was a first for me. I usually like my cottage cheese sweet.
I threw together some Lactose free cottage cheese, grape tomatoes, salt and pepper and a spinach flat out wrap. SOOOOOOOO GOOD!!! As mentioned in a previous post we are running low on food so dinner tonight was sloppily thrown together for me (they ate pancakes). I really think I found a gem though.
I know it doesn't look like anything special but the kale was outta this world!! I sauteed it with Pam on the stove, and then towards the end I added a large chopped up clove of garlic and a tbsp. of the dressing I mentioned in the post before this. It was sooooo good. I think kale chips are going to have to take a back seat for a while. Well now I am just catching up on some shows. I am sorta mad I missed the permier episode of In The Motherhood :(.

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I once had my tongue and nose pierced. I also pierced my own belly button and second holes in my ears in high school. (dont judge me) LOL!!! :)

Theme Of The Day: Mediterranean

I woke up early yesterday morning because I was excited about Heather and I's lunch date (I know I am such a little kid). This time I skipped my morning snack to have more room for lunch and I was absolutely starving when I arrived. I had been stalking the menu online so I pretty much knew what I wanted when I got there. We started of with the hummus bar. Our two toppings were roasted garlic and pine nuts. Thank goodness I ordered the oil and tahini on the side cause there was tons of it!
We also asked for ww pita bread instead of white.
I ordered the Mediterranean chicken sandwich and didn't realize she would bring it in white pita instead of ww but it was ok because I just took out the sandwich filling and put it in our extra ww pitas. It was very yummy!!
Here's sweetie pie Heather...Here's white pita that I left..
I am not even gonna lie (ask Heather), I really pigged out. I probably ate 5 or 6 whole pitas and over half the hummus. Its ok though because it was a treat. I rarely eat out! I love this restaurant and its definitely the best around this area! If you ever around Nashville I recommend checking it out. I had such a good time with Heather but I always forget things that I really want to ask her because we get so caught up in talking about our eating habits!! Hahaha.

Here we are at the health food/office supply store...(don't ask)
Heather, I am already excited about our dinner date!!!

I really wasn't that hungry the rest of the night but I did manage to throw together a random salad..
Going with the theme of the day I used this dressing that I recently found at Publix. Im hooked...Good stats and no fake junk...I also had a handful of pb puffins and some peanut butter.

This morning I hit up the gym with a pretty good full body workout. I am now officially addicted to full body workouts! No big plans for this rainy, dreary Wednesday.

Check out this email I received about making protein shakes:
Turn Your Protein Shake Into A Super Shake

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: I think I have a bladder the size of a dime. I probably go pee about 15 times a day and I also get up twice just about every night. Whats the deal???????

Keep Your Mind Outta The Gutter....

...but if you have been reading Sarah's blog then its probably already there.

Yesterday for lunch I knew I wanted sweet potato fries but was in a hurry to get out of the house and enjoy the weather so I tried a new method of cooking the fries. First, I cut the fry strips a little thinner than usual and then I salted and nuked for about 2 min. until just slightly soft. Then I heated a large skillet and sprayed with Pam and fried them up.
I will call them Pan Fried Sweet Potato Fries.I served them up with lots of natural ketchup and a BBQ chicken salad with leftover chicken from my mother in laws house.
I loved how they turned out! The texture was much better this way than in the oven. They stayed a lot more dense and crispy as opposed to the airy, mushy feel they get when cooked in the oven (if that makes sense). After lunch the little one and I headed out to the park. We had a blast and she forced me to play with her and another little girl in their "girls only" club house. We played on the play ground for about 45 min. and then hit one of the trails for a walk. About half way her little legs were failing so I had to carry her on my shoulders back to that car. It was snack time when we got home and I was still sweating from the park and the fact that my car has no AC at the moment, so I decided to make a smoothie and the smoothie decided to jump on my face ( I am pretty sure that shouldn't be all one sentence but I have no writing skills). I know I am taking a risk putting this pic up so get your mind out of the gutter!!!
The mix was mixed frozen fruit, almond milk, and cottage cheese for protein.
I also cut up some fruit

Can you tell I was bored? or maybe just avoiding house cleaning
After the man got home we finally finished up the garden and I got a few things planted in there. I wanted something simple for dinner so I threw these babies in oven...
I have had these before but not these new flavors. They were really good but you have to watch it because they are high in sodium. I tasted the teriyaki but ate the savory roast.

CONFESSION OF THE DAY: The man doesn't get paid till this Fri. so we are hanging by a shoestring with moo la and groceries. This week my goal is to try and create meals from what we have in the fridge and pantry without going to the store. GOOD LUCK ME!!