Granola Energy Balls

So many times I find that we have an activity that is happening right around dinner time...much too early to eat dinner before...or eating before may not fit well with the activity we have happening, for example,  I teach group fitness at 6:30, by the time I am done working I don't have time to cook dinner & eat...and if I did it would be much too close to the workout to eat, or my son's basketball games seem to fall in this catagory and I know he needs something to keep his energy up throughout the game...so I found these Granola Energy Balls and I LOVE THEM!  It is something to grab on the way out the door to help get through those games and workouts, until we can come together at the dinner table for our meal.  These are my favorite new grab and go!

Granola Energy Balls

Ingredients:

* 2 cups oats
* 2 cups coconut flakes
* 1 cup peanut butter
* 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
* 1 cup mini chocolate chips
* 2/3 cup honey
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Steps:

1.  MIx all ingredients throughly.
2.  Roll into bite-size balls. (The size you roll them will determine how many the recipe yields.  I rolled mine a little bigger and the recipe made about 18 balls)
3.  Store in fridge.

(and don't forget  to join me over on facebook)

This recipe was printed from the The Marathon Mom

Get through the Holidays without major weight gain....my tips

The Holidays, a time of togetherness, love, peace, family, friends, giving, sharing, happiness...oh and FOOD lots of FOOD and GOODIES everywhere you turn, oh and SHOPPING, WRAPPING, DECORATING, BAKING, KID'S PROGRAMS...when will you find the time to workout?

Let's take a DEEP breath and relax, you can do this after all, you are you and I BELIEVE in YOU, I know YOU can do it, so relax and lets see what we can do.

Now these are my thoughts so take away what you want...if you are looking for chiseled 6 pack abs and pefectly defined arms and shoulders etc., you will definately want to move on to another site, this is for those of us who just want to be healthy, feel good, not put on those extra pounds and maybe slim down, but all the while working, cleaning the house, taking care of the kids and being a fabulous friend :) Yes that everyday living life kind of person. This is how I plan to get through the holidays.

1.  DO NOT tell yourself you have to be PERFECT with your eating. 

If you have the mindset that you cannot allow yourself a treat...then you go and have one Christmas cookie...with your mindset on being perfect you tend to then beat yourself up and feel depressed, angry, upset and then the possibility of spiraling out of control is there...(well I just blew that so I may as well continue all day, well that day is shot so may as well just forget this and start again in January)  Giving up on yourself and what you want is Not acceptable.

So let's continue to plan those healthy meals throughout the week and do the very best we can, these meals will give your body that good nutrition it needs and make you feel better, less tired and stressed and you get that sense of really feeling good about yourself when you eat well (pride in your choices).  At the same time allow yourself a treat here and there it's ok, we don't want to deprive ourselves, we just want to make better choices throughout the day.  It's important that our children see this balance too.  We don't want "healthy" living & eating to look like something terrible, it is something that we do because we truly care about ourselves and living this life we have in a positive healthy way...and this does include treats with great big smiles and acceptance, that's right I AM eating that piece of fudge...take resposibility for it, enjoy and move on!

2.  Drink your WATER!! 

Go out and get yourself a cute class or bottle in your favorite color.  Fill it up and keep it with you at all times.  So many times we think we are hungry but we are dehydrated.  We think we are tired, but again we are dehydrated.  Drinking your water is a great pick me up, it helps to keep you from snacking too much and it is so good for you...your body, your skin it's just fabulous...get yourself some!

3.  Stay ACTIVE!!!

Ok, working out...love it or hate it you need to do it!  Weather you walk, run, go to the gym, do group fitness, push play on a dvd whatever your "active" is KEEP IT GOING!  Do not stop this just because you have so many other things you feel you have to get done.  This "ACTIVE" time is YOUR time, it is the time to rebuild YOU, to give YOU a lift, to help YOU feel better...(it also helps with those added calories coming from our treats).  So what are some ways around these obstacles of being "too busy" at this time of year.
     1.  Find an Accountability partner!  This needs to be someone you can really count on...not someone who makes it easy to say, oh let's just skip today because I have this and this going on...no someone who is going to say, hey we have to get it done!
     2.  Get up earlier and get it done first thing.  As I have mentioned before...in fact dedicated an entry to how much I LOVE To sleep in, HOWEVER, what is more important to you?  Sacraficing some sleep or sacraficing that "you" time workout that will get you closer to your goal?  Either way you are making a sacrafice, so you choose.  Once you start you will be so glad you did it!
    3.  Ok, so you have a day completely packed and there is NO WAY to get in that workout....I know it's cold out, but park in that last parking stall...the one furthest away from the store, or office or event you are going to, take the stairs EVERYtime.  Standing around? Then do some calf raises.  Have just a couple of minutes? Minutes here and there are perfect for some chair dips to work those triceps...where that dreaded underarm hang is, or some squats these were the largest muscles in your body...so tone those up and you are burning more calories even when you are watching t.v.!  Push ups are fabulous for everything...abs, shoulders, chest etc.,  Are you spending your day at the mall Christmas shopping? Walk around the outter ring of the mall to get to your store instead of cutting across carry those backages and maybe do some bicep curlse while standing in line...if you want it you will find a way even at the mall!
    5.  If you do group fitness at the gym and your hectic schedule now doesn't allow you to get to your regular class...check that schedule there are plenty there to choose from, try something new...this is always empowering!! Are your a spinner, maybe try a zumba class, like the dancey classes, but can't make it...give strength class a try...and of course there are a number of them that offer a bit of both.  Just do it!

4. DON'T GO TO YOUR HOLIDAY PARTIES HUNGRY!!!!
    This is a simple thing, but so many of us think, oh I just won't eat all day and then attack the calories at the party....UM NO this does not work.  Your body cannot handle receiving ALL of your calories at the same time.  Continue to get in your meals throughout the day...5-6 a day.  Eat something healthy before going to the party and you'll make it through so much better.

5.  Focus on the TRUE meaning of CHRISTMAS!

Christmas to my family is celebrating the birth of our savior Jesus Christ.  It is about family time together.  Sharing and giving.  So focus on those times.  

Focus:

When doing your Christmas baking, instead of freaking out about the "goodies and calories" themselves, focus on doing the baking together as a family and that time together, the memories, the storytelling while being together and the laughter.  

Focus:

Snuggling together on the couch to watch a Christmas show with a bowl of popcorn and maybe some hot chocolate. 

Focus:

Do random acts of Kindness this month.  Example My daughter and I were in a department store, there were people all around the counter waiting to check out, with one lady there working as quickly as she could with people not being very polite, when it was our turn I made a point to tell her what a pretty top she was wearing and how nice it looked on her.  Her posture changed, she smiled and gave a relieved and appreciative "Thank You".  Kati noticed these changes and said I think that really made her happy mom.  I took this as a teaching moment to say it wasn't hard for me to say that to her, to be nice and just offer a sincere little compliment can really change someone's day.  Needless to say we left the store feeling pretty good too! So take the FOCUS off of you and put it onto Others and these obstacles you are facing won't seem quite so large.

Focus:

Enjoy those Christmas programs your children are in, enjoy the excitement that builds in them, enjoy those parties and gatherings...don't freak out about the food, focus on the friends and acquaintances you get to be with, enjoy this time of year and it's TRUE meaning!

So I hope this helps you to enjoy this time of year.  I would love to hear any suggestions you have or things that work for you or just your thoughts on these ideas.  As always, know that I am here to help you in anyway I can!  Come hang out with me on facebook.  www.facebook.com/turbolori

They are watchin' you mama :)

Are you showing your kids how to live a happy & healthy life?  That is, of course, what I am "trying" to do.  I'm "trying" to be an example for them.  Instead of do as I say...not as I do, I am trying to live everyday in a way that is happy and healthy.  Now there are slip ups here and there, but each day we are learning and getting better.

So, my kids are NOT getting up with me each morning to go running and none of them go to the gym with me...although I think that would be fabulous one of these days, but for now, they know being active is an important part of life and they are active in their sports, gymnastics, football basketball etc.

This weekend I found out not only have they picked up that being active is important in everyday life, but they have been paying attention to information regarding the foods we eat.  This weekend we were enjoying time with my mom and dad, my mom was visiting with the kids about what to have for Thanksgiving dinner and she wanted to know what kind of potatoes she should make.  Nick and Kati loved all the choices...mashed...cheesy...you name it, Nate on the other hand....is more on the picky side when Grandma asked him if he liked any of those he said, "no" in a very quiet voice.  So Grandma then asked what kind of potatoes do you like?  Nate replied, "french fries" again in a very quiet voice.  Nick then jumps in and says "So you just like the processed, greasy, filled with chemicals kind of food."  I couldn't help but giggle and smile...they are listening and watching mama.  We have our "anytime" foods and our "sometimes" foods.  Yes I know french fries from a drive thru should probably be a "never time" food, but lets be real....sometimes it happens.  However,  I can honestly say that it does NOT happen very often for us anymore.  We are living and learning!  :)

The next morning I got up for church and decided to make these mini cinnamon rolls, using reduced fat crescent rolls, a bit of butter, and sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar, bake them and once cooled frost them.  Well if you know my daughter you know that she had a dream to own her own cupcake bakery and she bakes up different flavors as often as I let her.  When I went to get a can of frosting from her cupcake cupboard (the ingredients that she picked out) I found a can of vanilla frosting...however it was "sugar free" vanilla frosting.  Yes mama, she is watching and listening to you.  She knows she wants to make something sweet and yummy, but she is also looking for ways to make then a bit better for you.  I couldn't help but smile as I drank my coffee and looked at the can of frosting!

Times are changing

Onto the next stage...it's hard to believe that those cute costumes, jack-o-lanterns and taking the kids trick or treating has come to an end....yes, I first got a glimpse of these changing times, when we went to the pumpkin patch this year.  The area's we once spent a lot to time at, we passed right by...you know the little pedal tractors that the kids ride around the track on and we stand off to the side taking pictures...yes right on by to the big kid pedal cars where we are all in a vehicle and racing each other around the track...hard to take pictures when we are all having a blast working up a sweat together!  Then past the playground area made out of tractors and tires etc., again where many photos were taken, to using the giant slingshots to shoot apples at the targets out in the cornfield.  Yes this told me times were changing!

Then as it came closer to Halloween there were more changes.  Each year the kids pick out a cute design to put on their pumpkins, they get it started and Mom ends up finishing, because their hands are tired or this isn't working right...etc., However, this year as they were all excited to do their jack-o-laterns that they they chose at the pumpkin patch, they each had their own ideas in their head as to what they wanted to do.  No patterns this year.  So all I did was cut the top off and they began...

I am proud of then for using their imaginations and working hard to bring what they envisioned to life ALL on their own...

Finally, Halloween night arrives and my boys are off trick or treating in our neighborhood with their good friends.  Kati still gave us the opportunity to go with her around to the neighborhood, but I'm sure this will be the last year of that.  I did however, get a kick out of all the comments the little onese made about the pumpkins as they came to our door.

So yes, times have changed and are changing every day...everyone hears enjoy your time with the kids now because it will go by fast...yes it is true.  I loved those days of cute little costumes and wide eyed excitement to get dressed up and trick or treat with mom & dad  around the neighborhood...BUT I am also enjoying what the kids have grown into and this new stage we are experiencing.  I love being able to race them around the track, enjoy their creativity, laugh together and the games we play are just changing into one that...dare I say...are bit more enjoyable to us parents...They are definitely becoming little adults right before my eyes and I couldn't be more PROUD!    

GET YOURSELF OFF THAT PILLOW & ON YOUR "TO DO" LIST

Here's the deal, I love to sleep in I mean I really really do and have ever since I can remember.  HOWEVER, when I make the choice to stay on that comfy pillow my day is more like this...(let me know if you can relate...alarm goes off, hit the snooze at least twice, then get the kids up and jump in the shower to get yourself somewhat ready, help with what ever is needed to get the kids off to school, now off to work...in  my case daycare children arrive & my attention is tuned to them, after work/after school...well that is when the real work begins as we run to football practice, basketball practice, gymnastics, piano lessons...you get the picture.  So after running to our activities we finally get home & it's time to eat, clean up after that, pick up the house and wow it's time to get the kids to bed...Now tell me who wants to workout after that?  Honestly, Not me, I want to hang on the couch and wind down. Sound familiar at all?

Now yes, I can count numerous blessings in that day/life, but you know what...with that life I got tired much easier, lost my patience a bit more, spoke in a tone I wasn't so proud of...that isn't the kind of person I wanted to be and it certainly wasn't the wife or mom I wanted for my husband and kids.  Yes, they could do worse...I get that, but I want them to have better...heck, I wanted better.  We should all want better than that!  So sacrificing my sleep in the mornings to get up a bit earlier and take care of myself, caring about myself on the inside and outside creates someone with more confidence, patience, kindness, someone who is happier, healthier, enjoying things more rather than rushing through.  It is finding balance!  Balance...taking care of my family, my work and myself and by adding the "piece" of taking care of myself to the puzzle, it in turn created a balance and happiness to every other piece. We are still running all over the place after school, but we are having fun in the process...having great conversations in the car on the way to and from, laughing and making it enjoyable instead of rush, rush, rush, rush, and then rush some more.  

I can see and feel the difference in our family, as can my husband and kids as they have mentioned it a number of times.  It truly is a choice, a choice to change, and you get the chance everyday to make the choice to change!  So I wanted to share with you to PLEASE put yourself on the "To Do" list NOT on the "back burner" anymore, you deserve it and so do the people you love! Everyday is a new chance...

***Let me quickly add...if your day let's you get to the gym afterwork or during lunch great...I'm not saying everyone needs to become a morning person...heck I'm still not a "morning" person, I just make that choice each morning to go and do it.  Just get yourself on the "TO DO" list!!! *****

Live your life...Be an Example

So it has been awhile since getting on here and I am definitely not going to let that much time slip by again.  We are still plugging away at creating our healthy family and it is great.  We know about eating our fruits and veggies and though the veggies are still a work in progress for my kiddos, they get it and know it is important.  Activities are great, Nick is still busy with gymnastics and Kati has now joined him on that journey, Nate is finishing up football...we just have the championship game next weekend and is already onto basketball.  He is having fun and being active and I couldn't ask for anything more!  My husband is now home on evenings and weekends, instead of working a second job and we ALL LOVE this change!

I just turned 42 and have decided to train for a 1/2 marathon and will run it with my fellow Smokin' Hot Mama's in Texas on the weekend of February 3rd.  I also have decided that these next 365 days will be days of living life to the fullest, with passion and being the very best ME that I can be.  42 is going to be AMAZING!!!  So not only are these goals going to help me, but it is also about leading by example for my family.  It is amazing how much they pick up from us in no time at all.  They are realizing that having fun, staying in control, being honest, enjoying what we have and spending time together is what it is all about.  This fun and positive attitude showed through in the cards I received from them yesterday for my birthday.  Not only did they Curt and I crying laughing, they made me very proud to see how fun and positive they were!  VERY BLESSED!

Getting the kids' involved in fitness

Ok, so on this journey we have become more mindful of what we eat and we are trying to get more activities in our life...but with Nicholas being a gymnast, Nathan in a number of sports and Kati just deciding to give gymnastics a try we need to focus on that core strength needed to help the kids succeed in the things they have chosen.  However if I tell the kids to make sure they get in their sit ups and push ups...it never seems to happen...and well I sometimes, well ok a lot of times don't get mine in either.  So we came up with something that is really working and has been fun.  We are running core conditioning stations in our basement.  The kids take turns coming up with the stations and then we all go down and do our conditioning.  We are keeping each other accountable, because whoever's turn it is to determine the stations is excited to get to the conditioning, the rest of us may not want to do it, but we do because someone is counting on us to see what they have planned.  I have been sore so I know it is working and it is a lot of fun for the kids and a great way to spend time together.  Give it a try see what your kids can come up with.

Positive Affirmations

     Ok, so when you think of "Positive Affirmations" I'm sure some of you may immediately think of Stuart Smalley of SNL.  Maybe I'm just dating myself, but anyone around my age definitely remembers..."Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me!"  

     Positive affirmations are our brain’s way of directing our body’s energy to keep you motivated. The brain cannot see or hear, it only reacts to what you feed it. Negative affirmations, that most of us say to ourselves way too often are: “I am always tired” or “Why can’t I ever do anything right?”, "Nothing fits me!". These negative affirmations only make our negative energy stronger and stand in our way. Here are a few positive affirmations to help get you started.

For Exercise:

• I love to exercise.

• Exercise makes me feel good.

• Exercise is good for my heart, my lungs and my health.

• I feel healthier when I exercise.

• I look better when I exercise and it shows.

• I have more energy when I exercise.

• I am becoming stronger every day.

• My family and I are both happier when I exercise.

• I get more accomplished when I exercise.

• I look better in my clothes when I exercise.

• I sleep better because I exercise.

• My skin looks good when I exercise.

• I can handle life’s challenges when I exercise.

• My diet is easier to maintain because I exercise.

For Diet:

• I love to eat healthy foods.

• I will eat slowly and enjoy my food.

• My body is healthy because I am taking charge of what I eat.

• I don’t feel guilty about eating.
• I love life and want to eat healthy foods.

• The foods I eat will protect my body from disease.

• The foods I eat will give me strength.

• I no longer want to eat foods that provide empty calories.

• When I reach for a snack I will first think about what I am putting into my body.

• I will always wait 10 minutes after eating before going back for seconds.

• I am grateful for my health and want to preserve it.

• I will not be judged by the number on the scale.

• I can make a difference in my own life.


From my kids:
* I can do this.
* I am a hitter. (this is in regards to baseball)
* I never give up.
* I like to help out.
* I have a lot of energy left. (in regards to Kati's Girls On The Run 5 k coming up)
* I control my attitude and it is good.
* I am proud of how hard I try.
* I can be counted on because I'm responsible.    

Begin each day with your positive affirmations. Writing them down in a journal where you can see them is helpful. Repeat them to yourself in the morning, throughout the day, and before you go to bed at night. Give yourself permission to believe in yourself, and to be grateful for all that you have and are, a healthy, positive, wonderful you!

Share your positive affirmations with us by posting a comment below:

Whole Wheat Penne with Turkey & Asparagus

I am always searching for healthy family recipes that are fast and simple, because let's face it...we just do not have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, but processed foods like chicken nuggets & frozen pizzas are not what we want for our family. So, I am really excited about this recipe. It has a prep time of about 15 minutes tops and cook time of 15 minutes and it is a good way to get in yet another veggie for the kids~ YIPPEE! Love when we run across something like this...and even better that we have the resources to share it with everyone!

Whole-Wheat Penne with Turkey and Asparagus

Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 pounds turkey breast scaloppini cutlets

* 1/4 cup garlic-flavored olive oil, plus more as needed

* 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar, plus more as needed

* Coarse salet & freshly ground black pepper

* 12 ounces whole-wheat, whole-grain penne

* 1 pound asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces

Directions:

Put the turkey cutlets in a glass bowl and add the garlic-flavored olive oil and vinegar and season with salt & pepper, to taste. Toss to coat, and let stand for 10 minutes

Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, over medium heat, and add a generous amount of salt.

Remove the turkey from the marinade, shaking off any excess liquid and transfer to a plate. Drizzle with oil to keep it from sticking and season well with salt & pepper. Grill the cutlets, turning once, until the turkey is cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and chop into bite-sized pieces.

Boil pasta according to package instructions. Add the asparagus in the last 2 minutes of cooking time. Carefully remove about 1/2 cup of the cooking water and reserve. Drain the pasta in a colander, add some garlic oil to the bottom of the pot and return the pasta to the pot, off the heat. Add the turkey and any juices released to the cooked pasta and toss to combine.

Season the pasta with salt & pepper, to taste and drizzle with additional olive oil & vinegar, if desired. Add pasta cooking water, a tablespoon at a time & toss until the pasta is evenly moistened. Transfer to a serving platter or bowl & serve warm, room temperature, or cold right out of the refrigerator.

I topped with a bit of parmesan cheese and served with a side salad. YUMMY!!!

Choose Happy

Ok, so a good lesson was relearned this week. It was a rough time for me with it being the Anniversary of the day my first son, Tyler passed away. Things happen and it is a sad time of year, however I also had a friend make a choice that really hurt me. I'm sure the hurt was a bit amplified by it's timing, but all the same I was very upset and teary.

So of course, the first wave of: I should just give up, this path is just not working, what is wrong with me and who needs the heartache. All negative, BAD thoughts and not the type of thoughts you want in your life. So I kept telling myself to try and find the positive, (besides that is what I'm always sharing with everyone else, so do it yourself). I tried...kinda and just could not find the positive in this situation. Now this was a funk I was in and a funk is NOT some place I want to be. It frustrated me even more that I was letting someone else make me feel this lousy...what?

A couple of days later it finally hit me! I CANNOT find the positive in the choice SHE made, but I CAN find HAPPY by focusing on me and my daily actions. I love to help others and do that the best way I can, but in the end what others do is out of my hands I am the only one/thing that I can control. In fact, this morning this concept was driven a bit further as I was working out to ChaLean Extreme and in the middle of the workout she says "you need to focus on you...don't worry about what someone else has done, focus only on you" (hmmm, how does she do that?) What a great lesson to remember and to pass along to our children.

I don't run into these situations very often as an adult, but goodness, our kids have so many of these situations heading their way as they continue through these school years. So it was good to let them know that people will do and say things that hurt, and it is ok to be hurt and to feel angry, but then we need to let it go and move on with what we can control...ourselves. Even as an adult if the people around you are not helping you to be a better person, are negative or are hurtful, it is time to tighten that circle of friends. We become the average sum of the 5 people we hang around with the most. When you think back to past friendships or work relationships do you see how you may have been a bit of a different person at times then you are now? When you think of what the people were like that you had to spend the majority of your time with, can you see how you became similar to them? I good lesson to be reminded of, for sure!

A Great Snack to Fuel Your Body!

With the kids having NeSA testing this week it got me to thinking about good fuel food! We discussed the importance of a good nights sleep and a good healthy breakfast so they would be ready for testing. We all remember these tests from when we were in school. Complete silence in the room, reading the passages and answering the questions and coloring in the correct circles on your answer sheet., etc. Easily, one can become unfocused, start daydreaming, drift off, and become very sleepy. So good fuel for the mind & body is in order! You are going to LOVE IT!

This is great fuel, is so addictive & it is filling too!

You will want to keep it with you always,

in your purse,

the car,

the kid's sports bags

EVERYWHERE!

Ingredients

* 2 cups baby pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

* 1 cup slivered almonds

* 3/4 cup raw sunflower seeds

* 6 tablespoons Pure Grade B maple syrup (I used Grade A because that is what I had)

* Coarse salt

* 1 cup dried cherries or cranberries

Directions

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

In a large bowl, toss the pumpkin seeds, almonds, and sunflower seeds and the syrup until evenly coated. Spread the nuts and seeds out, in an even single layer, on the lined baking sheetsand season with salt to taste. Bake the nuts, stirring several times with spatula or wooden spoon, until just golden, about 20 minutes.

Cool the nuts completely on the pan, then add the cherries & toss to combine. Store cooled trail mix in an airtight container at room temperature.

Recipe courtesy Claire Robinson, 2009 - Pumpkin Seed Dried Cherry Trail Mix

SPRING Cleaning!

Oh the sunshine, the warmer temperatures, tulips poking up through the ground...Yes Spring is HERE! We started the first day of Spring at church...we usually go to 10:45 service, but yesterday we went to the 9:30 service so we would have more time to enjoy this day. After coming home the kids tackled their bedrooms cleaning and organizing and yes even went through their closets. I can't believe there wasn't any moaning or groaning, just music coming from their rooms as they worked away! Spring affects everyone's attitude! Yippee!

After they had worked so hard on their rooms we decided to go to Chalco Hills for a nice walk around the lake with the dog. It was beautiful! We had a great time visiting, playing, racing, just being outdoors and getting in that exercise. After our walk we came back home, the kids continued playing outside and I came in to begin supper. We got in a few games of Yahtzee then dad got home. I sat down and relaxed and it was now his turn to be active and play.

I knew once we stopped and went for our walk that the organizing would halt for the rest of they day. That was fine, the time spent together outdoors was completely worth it. However, through out this week our goal is to continue getting organized. Now have you heard that being organized can help you lose weight? Well, let me tell you after organizing for a few hours yesterday I still look pretty much the exact same as I did before, however, I can see where the idea comes from and how it could work. Let's dive into this just a bit.

When your home is cluttered you feel out of control and we all know that losing weight is about being IN CONTROL. You need to be in control of what you eat and the amount of exercise you are do. So having your home organized gives you a sense of control in you LIFE. Hmmm see a correlation here?

When we are not organized we then run into situations like: I can't find my car keys, it's time to leave for baseball practice and we are still searching for a pair of cleats, school is about to begin and now you get handed the note you need to sign along with sending money...sound familiar? Please say yes, I don't want to think it is only me running around like this! Yes, this is my family I am describing to you. I told you we are working on the healthy family recipe...we have not figured it out yet!

Ok, so situations like what was mentioned above cause STRESS! Oh yes STRESS! So when we invite stress into our lives, it causes us to eat more, it causes our bodies to hold onto weight, and it does not make for a pleasant family environment. So I am beginning to see how organization relates to weight loss/gain.

Now Nobody's perfect and who wants to be absolutely clean & organized? Where's the fun in that? There is no need to lead a sterile life as life is for LIVING, but disorganization can cross the line...that's what I'm talking about.

I know what some of you are thinking...I DON'T HAVE TIME! We work long hours, we run to the kids' activities, cooking, laundry, dishes etc., I understand that completely, but again remember this is about you being in control! So choose something, a drawer, a cupboard, a closet and give yourself the week to organize it. It doesn't have to ALL get done today or tomorrow, just get started. After cleaning that first drawer you will feel more in control, you will feel like you just gave yourself a treat (a treat with zero calories) and you will be ready to move onto the next item on the agenda!

I know you can do it! Take Charge! You are Worth It! Get the Family Involved, the kids will have a huge sense of accomplishment from this too! Good Luck with your Spring Cleaning!

(don't forget to follow this blog or leave a comment...I want to know what you think)

Getting Creative

This weekend was so enjoyable. We got a little creative as a family this weekend. (well minus one child, as he was off enjoying time with his best friend and we ALL know spending quality time with a best friend is Extremely important!) So Curt, Nick, Kati and myself went to the "It's Yours Pottery" place and had some fun. Now yes, this ended up being a bit of a splurge and I am sure many of you could come up with great family crafting ideas to do at home...we, on the other hand, needed someone who had it planned out and we could just go for it & get it done. It seems like so little time is available on the weekends, with Curt's schedule & the kids' activities, that this is what worked for us! Planning crafting time at home hasn't always been my strong suit. I have tried many times & it happened more when the kids were younger, we always had fun, but it was SO NICE to enjoy the painting and then leave all of the clean up to someone else. Smile, Wink, Grin!

Kati, Nick & myself each got a plate and got to work, each of us with something completely different in mind. We were having fun picking out our paint colors and beginning. Then we wondered where on earth Curt was? Of course, he was up visiting with one of the employee's about his design. By the time he finally began working on his coffee mug, the rest of us were more than half way done. I do have to admit, my computer geek husband came up with a wonderful coffee mug and I can't wait to post a picture when we get to pick them up next week. Yes, my computer man made an "iCup" with the Apple logo...love it.

It was so nice spending the time together and in the process were making something that we will always have to remember this day together. The kids are already asking if they can go back and make something else. (Need to put a jar on the counter to collect our change for the next trip to It's Yours Pottery)

Bullying

Question: How many of you visit with your kids about bullying? How often? Have you had to deal with any instances?

This is a topic we discuss quite often in my home. There are two things that really get under my skin and it is bullying and leaving someone out just to be mean. My kids have known this since they were very little. When I did daycare in my home and we ran into situations where some kids were leaving others or someone out they found out quite quickly that this was completely unacceptable in my home and of course still is.

This week I saw a situation happen outside as kids were walking home from school. It involved 3 kids that were hanging out together, then as another child was approaching them on his/her way home from school 1 of the 3 kids decided to scare & chase after him/her. I flew out of my house to stop it & to make sure the one child was safe. My kids were home at this time and saw what happened, listened to what I had said etc.

Now after coming back inside it is time to visit with my kids about the situation we just saw occur. There were two things to teach in regards to this situation; one, of course, being the actual bullying that occurred and how wrong it is to make someone feel afraid and how it made us feel to see that. The other teaching aspect was about the two kids that were hanging out with the bully & although they did not participate in the chasing & scaring they just watched and did & said nothing to their "friend" who was behaving this way. They even hung out and waited for him to come back.

So I am really hoping to get some feedback on this topic. I know that these issues are huge these days, especially with cyber bullying. The social network makes it SO EASY for kids who get mad at someone to then type it on a social media site for all to see. Now kids are kids and they are going to get upset with each other and they are going to say things that are not so nice. I'm sure each of us remember going through this growing up, hearing that so & so is saying this or that about us and it was devastating. I can't imagine coming home to see it typed out in black & white staring you in the face. I just hope that casually talking about it will help them to then talk about it when and if it does happen to them.

So comments, thoughts, idea's, suggestions??? Would love to hear from you. Maybe you think I'm just WAY overreacting or maybe you are have the same concerns. I am welcoming any point of view. Just be nice and No Bullying!

Girls on the Run!

Thomas Elementary is finally participating in The Girls On The Run Program. I am so excited for this. This is a program to help young girls with self-esteem, body image, self-confidence etc., and also train for a 5k run. Kati had her first day of GOTR Monday. She absolutely LOVED it, she talked about everything they did and the other girls in the program. I love seeing her passion for this, she is so excited to do the run in May. She talked me into going out and buying some fun running clothes and as you can see in the pictures she is a "tad" bit excited...ok, the excitement is oozing out of every pore in her body. What is exciting to me is seeing her journey and confidence build. She was a girl that has really been painfully shy most of her life and this year she has broke out of her shell. She has a wonderful teacher who has made her feel extremely comfortable and I will never forget the day she came home during that first month of school and said "I really feel like I can be 'myself' in Mrs. Shickert's class." WOW! That was a huge moment. Now GOTR is bringing "her" personality & confidence out even more and it makes my heart smile. When we went shopping for some shorts and running shoes she also brought her personality by picking out these long socks that she is wearing in the pictures. I love that she having fun and has the confidence to wear what she wants and feels good about it. One more thing to make this even better is we now have more wonderful mother/daughter moments as we get to run together. Bring on the nice weather I have plans with my baby girl!

Check out their website and maybe get GOTR into your school!

By the way...Kati came home today from her second day of GOTR and we talked...or I should say she talked with me for at least 20 minutes about what they did, what they learned, what she will do in certain situations etc., she was so excited and speaking so fast it was almost hard to catch it all. lol

Let's play a Drinking Game

WATER...we all know it is so good for us, the only liquid our body really, truly craves, yet so many of us have an extremely difficult time getting in our daily amount. I know not everyone struggles with this, I have a great friend who LOVES water and never has to "try" to get the correct amount throughout the day, however I have more friends that see this "water intake thing" as a huge struggle.

So let's have some fun and play a drinking game. Oh I know you remember those days...way back when or maybe just last weekend...this time however we are using water. Smile...Wink (I have friends who stay at home/work from home and friends that go to an office...I want everyone to play...my mama always told me to include all and never leave anyone out...so we need rules for both places.)

Object of the game: Drink all of your water & have fun doing it

"Drink" means a good swig or two of your water

"Kill It" means you finished what you have in your glass

AT HOME

1. You get on facebook - Drink

2. You get an email - Drink

3. You let the dog out - Drink

4. You let the dog in - Drink

5. The buzzer on the dryer goes off - Drink

6. You mean to turn off the t.v., but accidently don't & watch an hour of Golden Girls. - Kill it

7. You get a call from your kids school. - Kill it

8. You are watching the Disney channel and finally realize the kids have left the room and you are the only one watching it -Drink Twice

9. You pick up dirty socks - Drink

10. Text your friends or post "SOCIAL" - Everyone drinks

AT THE OFFICE

1. The person in the cube behind you lurks over your shoulder to see your computer - Drink

2. You lose the call you transfer or the transfer to you is lost - Drink

3. Finish a project - Drink Twice

4. The boss emails you to "come see me" - Kill it

5. Pick someone not playing from another department. Anytime he walks into your game room rest your chin on your fist (as if thinking) the last person to do this - Drinks

6. First person to "break the seal" and head to the restroom, before you go. - Kill it

7. Look at the clock...should have been out the door 5 minutes ago - Drink

8. Can't find the paper you just put on your desk - Drink

9. The copier jams, or their is a line at the copy machine - Drink

10. You get a call from your kids' school - Kill it

Have Fun!!! Share this with your friends and get started on that water!

(adapted from Does This Blog Make Us Look Fat?)

An Active Weekend

Wow what a fun and active weekend we had this weekend. My kids are involved in activities. They choose the activities they want to do...our only rule is that each child only does ONE activity at a time. This is just our rule. I know many of our children's friends are in 2, 3, 4 even 5 different activities and this does not include school and that works for them, however, for us I feel like life can get too hectic very quickly and school has plenty of things to focus on and we want to make sure we have time just to do things as a family, so this is just our guidelines. Even though the boys are twins their interests are very different. Nate loves any activity that has a ball, football, basketball, baseball etc., Nick loves gymnastics. Heenjoys a sport where he relies on himself to succeed.

This weekend began with a Gymnastics meet

in Lincoln for my son Nick. (He took 4th place All Around and we are very proud of him). Then a basketball tournament on Saturday and Sunday for Nate. (Nate's team won the Championship game and took home 1st place, again we are very proud of him and his entire team, as they grew a lot over the season). Now even though the weekend was busy, we took time for church before the games. This is a very important ingredient in our "healthy family recipe" we get refueled for the week and focus ourselves on what is important in our family.

After getting home Sunday evening I was exhausted, however Kati was still rocking and rolling and she

pulled out the Skinny Dish book and made cupcakes. The PERFECT ending to an active weekend.

Next weekend we

have another gymnastics meet, but this time in Grand Island on Friday night, this is where my mom and dad live, so we are spending the weekend relaxing and hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa! Another important ingredient in our "healthy family recipe" finding time for those special Grandparents! They have so much to teach & share. I can't wait! This is the perfect follow up to this busy weekend.

How-Is-This-So-Moist Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze

Straight from "The Skinnygirl DISH" Easy Recipes for Your Naturally Thin Life by Bethenny Frankel; here is the How-Is-This-So Moist Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Glaze recipe. It is Fabulous!!!

This recipe is wheat-free, vegan, and easy:

1 1/4 cups oat flour

1 cup raw sugar

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup warm water

1 tsp real vanilla extract

2 tbsp vegetable Oil

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Put all of the ingredients in a bowl & stir until combined.

2. Pour the batter into a loaf pan coated with cooking spray. Bake 40-50 minutes, rotating the pan about halfway through the baking time. When a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, it's done. However, I like my cake a little bit underdone and gooey If some moist crumbs cling to your toothpick, you can consider that done.

3. Let the cake cool completely, then top with Peanut Butter Glaze (recipe follows) Slice & Serve.

Peanut Butter Glaze

1/2 cup raw sugar

2 tbsp canola oil

2 tbsp soy milk

2 tbsp creamy 100% peanut butter (the natural kind, no added sugar)

2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp real vanilla extract

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix with a hand blender until the sugar crystals are dissolved. If they aren't dissolving, you can gently heat the mixture until they do (heat on low on the stove or on 50 percent power in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds). Be careful of spatter when blending this recipe. Spread the glaze on the cake

VARIATIONS...

for cake:

instead of oat flour you can try any other flour, preferably whole grain

instead of raw sugar any other granulated natural sweetener

for glaze:

instead of raw sugar, try 1/3 cup agave syrup or 1/3 cup real maple syrup ***I used the real maple syrup because that is what I had***

I must say since planning the monthly meals, it gives me more time to find some good dessert recipes to have with the family. We are loving this! Hope you enjoy the cake! Please share your thoughts if and when you try it!

Meal Planning & Calorie Counting

Meal Planning

Now I know a few years ago I would have been extremely overwhelmed trying to come up with ways to be healthy, how to cook everyday for the family without throwing Chicken nuggets in the oven. I remember those days. Something that has helped me and I hope may help you is planning out our meals for an entire month. AN ENTIRE MONTH? WHAT? Stay with me here...Theme your days...Meatless Monday, Turkey Tuesday etc., I use a wonderful "free" site: www.sparkpeople.com as my place to track calories etc., for myself, but it is a great place to find recipes. So I went to Sparkpeople recipes and typed in meatless recipes and a nice list came up. I then picked out 4 meals (as that is all I need for a month of Mondays), the recipes have nutritional content listed so you know what you are choosing and it will help you count your calories or figure your points, whatever system is working for you.

Planning a month of meals really helps you to stay on track. So far it is working for me and I am seeing a few more lbs. come off. I think it is not only because it is easy to stay within my calories but I am less likely to snack late afternoons because dinner is taken care of, and it has relieved some stress in my life...which we all know makes you hold on to weight...so there you go, it's working for me. (I do not have meals planned on Wednesday's as the kids have Midweek classes at Church and eat there. So I enjoy leftovers from the previous night) My meals for the month are listed below just for an example.

MONDAY
(meatless)
----------
Meatless Lasagna
Spinach Feta Quiche
Cheese Enchiladas
Veggie soup

TUESDAY
(slow cooker)
----------
Beef & Mushrooms
Salsa Chicken
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Tacos

Wednesday
--------
X

THURSDAY
(Chicken)
---------
Chicken Parmesan
Crispy Ranch Chicken
Spinach Fettucine Alfredo w/chicken
Chicken & vegetable casserole

FRIDAY
(Turkey)
---------
Turkey Meatloaf muffins
Turkey pot pie
Tater Tot Turkey Casserole
Turkey pasta bake w/spinach

So there you have my weeknight meals for a month. Again most of these recipes were found on www.sparkpeople.com and all the nutritional information accompanies their recipes. If you have the iphone they also have an app for that :-) I use it to track everything I eat, so when I'm out and about I can add it to my tracker and that way I won't take the chance of forgetting it by the time I get home...because I have been told my "memory is as short as I am"...for those of you who do not know me I am 5 ft even...(Thank you Mr. Trumler, my high school German teacher for giving me a complex regarding my height and memory :-) just kidding!)

I hope this helps you & your healthy family recipe!

Welcome

Welcome to A Healthy Family Recipe. I am not well written, however, I recently made a transition in my life, I found a passion for health & fitness and am now trying to make that transition for my entire family. So I want to share the things we are doing, will do and what we are learning along the way. Just like a recipe you try it & then make your changes, then try it again, make another adjustment and try it again until you get it it right. That is what this recipe is going to be all about, trying things making adjustments and trying again. What I have found so far is that including the kids in health & nutrition really gets them excited to try other things and the education about the unhealthy options has a huge impact on them too. My kids no longer ask to go to McDonald's or Burger King and are wanting to make better choices which fills my heart! We are not perfect by any way, shape or form, we still enjoy our ice cream when we can (We all LOVE ice-cream!!!!) But we are having fun coming up with healthy treats/desserts for after dinner. We enjoyed Pomegranates a month ago, So GOOD! So much FUN! And everyone can't wait for me to buy more! This is all part of the "recipe", trying new things TOGETHER as a FAMILY.