Pits and Peaks-Late to the party

 

I am almost never late to the party, especially if there is wine haha only kidding kind of

Is it Saturday already?? Where did this week go?  It flew by and all day yesterday I thought it was Saturday.  I shopped ALL day and hated it!  I was searching for wedding stuff and ended up at 7 different stores...exhausting!  I even took the time to run around a lake that I was forced to run in high school.  That's right I did it on purpose!

On to the pits and peaks...

Pits-

-The full moon.  The people at work were crazy. Broken car windshields and all!

-I only worked out twice this week. I felt like shit all week too!

Peaks-

-It is Marcus' birthday weekend, full of cupcakes and karaoke!

-I got to hang out with a friend Thursday night and go to karaoke and breakfast with her.  Friend time is awesome!

-I have gotten a lot of decorations done this week

-I didn't need a new refrigerator thank goodness!

I'd have to say it was a good week!

Hope you all have a great weekend:) 

It's Ok Thursday

 It's Ok... ...that I spend way too much looking at pinterest for party decorating ideas  ...to put a lot of e-cards in this post because they are funnier than I am  ...These people at work have gone full moon craaazzzzzyyyy!  ...That I am already wishing this weekend was over....yeah I said it.  It's going to be busy and I'm already exhausted  ...that I'm going to church tonight and not excited...does that make me a sinner?? bad girl over here ...I'm contemplating crying because my baby will be 10 on monday!   ...I have been listening to Tupac ALL day long...  Well anyway... Happy Thursday!!! 

Advocare Cleanse Recipes, Meal Plan Example and Grocery List

Yeah I know a little late but because my fridge went out I won't be meal prepping or making new recipes this week:(  So here is some of the recipes I used, they can really be used anytime though!

Advocare Cleanse Recipes

Breakfast:

Sweet Potato Scrambled Eggs

¼ cup pureed sweet potatoes

5 egg whites-egg beaters makes this easier

1 Tbsp paprika

1 Tbsp pepper

1 Tbsp Onion powder-You can use real onion if you want to

Whisk it all together and cook.

Steel Cut Oatmeal or Regular, as long as they aren’t instant

1 cup Steel Cut Oats

2 Cups of almond, coconut milk or just water

1 Cup water (if you are using regular oats leave this out)

1 Tbsp cinnamon

1 Tbsp Flax Seed (if you don’t want to buy this just eat a boiled egg along with it for the protein)

With this recipe you can add fruit to it while it is cooking or even pumpkin.  Blueberries give it a great flavor since you cannot add sugar or honey.

Put the oats, milk, flax and water in a pan.  Bring it to a boil then simmer for about 45 minutes.  Let it cool.

I just put this in the fridge and ate a cup with walnuts or almonds. 

Mini Frittatas

5 whole eggs-again egg beaters are great

1 Tbsp olive oil

1-2 Cups of Turkey Sausage, or turkey bacon-cooked, you can also put whole pieces of turkey bacon into the muffin cups and pour the egg mixture in the middle of them

1 Tbsp Pepper

1 Tbsp Basil

1 Cup Veggie of your choice-spinach (chopped), cherry tomatoes and peppers work great

Mix all ingredients together.  Put it in muffin pans (Should make 12) and bake at 350 for 10-15 min until it is no longer runny in the middle.

You can freeze these or eat a couple at a time.

I also made several meals for breakfast that could have been for any meal. 

3 egg whites

1 Cup Quinoa

1 Cup Mixed Vegetables

Dash of hot sauce

1 Tbsp Pepper

To cook Quinoa:

1 Cup Quinoa

2 Cups Water or Chicken Broth

Put ingredients into a pan, bring to a boil then simmer for 20-30 minutes.  This makes quite a bit.  Makes it easy to keep in the fridge and eat a little at a time without having to cook it every meal.

Cook the egg whites, add the rest of the ingredients until they are warm.  Feel free to add whatever spices you want. Get creative!

Make sure you boil a ton of eggs.  They are so easy to just pop in your mouth so you never go hungry.  They work for any meal or snack!

Lunch and Dinner

Black Bean Chili

1 pound dried black beans

28 oz can of diced tomatoes

2 Cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth

1-2 Cups Water-eyeball it, make sure it covers the beans

1 Garlic clove-whole or diced

¼ jalapeno-you can use the canned, just be careful because it can get hot real fast

¼ cup chopped onion-you can use onion powder

1 Tbsp Chili Powder

1 tsp Cumin

*You can add meat if you want to but it is good without it

Soak your beans the night before.  They are dirty so trust me it has to be done. 

In the morning rinse them and add them to a greased crock pot.  Add all the other ingredients.  I put the garlic and jalapeno in whole because I was lazy and then took them put before serving it but you can cut them up and leave them in it.  Mix it up and cook on low for 10 hours.  This should make 8 servings!

Slow Cooked Mexican Turkey

2 Large Turkey Filets-you can use chicken too

2 Roma Tomatoes-cut up or any tomato

1 Tbsp Lime Juice

1 Tbsp Chili Powder

1 Tbsp Garlic Powder

1 Tbsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Cumin

1 Tsp Oregano

You can also use low sodium taco seasoning in place of the spices or even fresh garlic and onion.

Put the Turkey in the crock pot whole.  Mix the rest of the ingredients and pour them over it.  Let it cook on low for four hours.  When it was about 3 ½ I took the turkey out and cut it into bite sized pieces and then let it cook for another ½ hour.  You can leave them whole if you would like.

This was great over, quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes and black beans.  You could even put it in a whole wheat tortilla.  You aren’t supposed to eat tortillas unless it is necessary and on workout days it might be.

Gluten Free Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs

½ lb ground turkey

½ cup ground almonds or oats

½ cup pureed sweet potato

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp pepper

1 Tbsp Parsley

1 Tbsp REAL Maple Syrup

Mix it all up and roll into balls, should make around 16.  Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  You can also make this as a meatloaf.

Mango Salsa

2 medium mangos-peeled and chopped

½ Red Bell pepper

½ Cucumber-diced

½ carrot-shredded

6 cherry tomatoes-cut in 3 pieces

1/8 jalapeno-diced

1 Tbsp Olive oil

1 Tbsp Rice Vinegar-optional

1 tsp Cumin

1 Tbsp Lemon Juice

Mix it all together.  This is really good over fish!

Quinoa Crusted Tilapia

2 Tilapia Filets

2/3 Cup cooked Quinoa

1/8 cup flour-use ground up almonds or oatmeal

1 egg beaten

Pepper

Cajun seasoning

Lemon juice

Olive oil

Put the Quinoa, egg and flour in 3 different bowls or plates large enough to fit the filets.

Add Cajun seasoning, and pepper to the flour.  Add about a Tbsp of lemon juice to the egg. Heat the oil in a pan, you will know it is ready if you splash water on it and it sizzles.  Dip the fish in the flour, then egg, then quinoa.  Cook about 3 minutes on each side.  It gives it a great crust!

Cilantro Lime Quinoa, or Brown Rice

1 Cup Cooked Quinoa or Brown Rice

1 Tbsp Lime Juice

1 Tbsp chopped Cilantro-fresh is best but dry works too

1/8 cup of chicken broth

Add all the ingredients to a pan and cook on low until the chicken broth and lime juice is soaked up by the quinoa or rice.  Takes about 5 minutes.

Chicken, Sweet Potato and Green Bean Bake

2 large Chicken Breasts

1 Whole Sweet potato-peeled and cubed

1-2 Cups green beans-fresh or frozen

3 Tbsp Italian Seasoning

½ Cup Chicken broth or lemon juice

Use and 9x12 pan.  Put the chicken broth or lemon juice on the bottom.  Add the chicken in the middle and veggies on the side.  Sprinkle the top with the Italian seasoning.  Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes, when chicken is done.

Avocado, Berry, Chicken Walnut Salad

1 ripe avocado

1 Cup Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Blackberries or a mix

1 cup shredded chicken

2 Cups salad mix of your choice

¼ Cup Walnuts or Almonds

Lemon Juice mixed with a small amount of olive oil for the dressing

5 Minute Guacamole

2 ripe avocados

1 Tbsp Lime Juice-you can also use lemon or a mix of both

1 Tbsp Garlic powder

2 tsps onion powder

1 Tbsp Chili Powder

1 tsp Cayenne Pepper-adjust to how much spice you like

½ tsp pepper

½ tsp cumin

Mash the avocado and add the spices.

Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Guacamole

2 Tilapia Filets

½ tsp paprika

¼ tsp pepper

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

¼ tsp onion powder

¼ tsp cumin

1 ½ tbsp olive oil

2 whole wheat tortillas

Mix the spices together. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Sprinkle the tilapia with spices on both sides and add to the skillet.  Cook for 5 minutes on each side.  Add to a tortilla with some guacamole smeared on it.

Quinoa Pizza Balls

1 Cup Cooked Quinoa

1 Cup Red Beans

5-6 fresh Basil leaves-I used 2 Tbsp dry

¼ cup Parsley

1/3 Cup tomato paste

Garlic powder

Mash all ingredients and form into balls.  Made about 12.  Bake them at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  These are great over salads or just by themselves.

Avocado Chicken Salad

2 chicken breast-cooked and shredded

1 avocado-pureed or just mashed really good

There are 2 ways to make this:

¼ cup onion-or onion powder

2 Tbsp Lime Juice

2 Tbsp Cilantro

Pepper

Or…

Grapes-chopped

Celery-chopped

Apples- chopped

Walnuts-optional

Mix it together and eat it as a lettuce wrap!

Chicken Stir Fry

2 Cups already cooked brown rice or quinoa

1-2 Cups chopped Chicken

2 Cups Veggies- Your choice

Garlic

Onion

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Low to no sugar Soy Sauce

Heat olive oil in a pan, add the chicken until cooked, then add garlic and onion for a couple minutes.  Then add Veggies and soy sauce.  Put it over the rice or quinoa.

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti

1 Whole Spaghetti Squash

1 lb Ground Turkey

Low Sugar Spaghetti Sauce-Ragu is good

Cut the spaghetti squash in half, scoop out the seeds.  Take a fork and poke holes into the two halves.  Lay them face down on a cookie sheet with foil over it.  Bake at 400 for 45 minutes.  You should be able to stick a fork into it easily.  When it cools a little, scrape the insides out.  It looks a little like spaghetti.

Add cooked turkey and spaghetti sauce.

You can also make pesto spaghetti squash:

You can buy the pesto or make it (without the cheese)

1 Cup Kale

1 Cup Spinach or Basil

½ Cup Walnuts

1 Clove Garlic

1 tsp pepper

3-5 Tbsp Olive Oil

Add everything but the olive oil to a food processor. When they are mixed start adding olive oil a tbsp at a time until it looks moist.  Add this to spaghetti squash or even whole wheat pasta.

Desserts

Banana, Blueberry Oatmeal Cookies

1 Cup Oatmeal

2 Bananas

½ Cup Blueberries

Mash the bananas and mix with the oats until thoroughly mixed then add the blueberries.  Make them into cookies and bake at 350 for 15 minutes. 

Other ideas:

Peaches with cinnamon warmed up

Bananas fried in a pan

Bananas with cinnamon

Apples warmed up

Snacks

Walnuts

Fruit-lots of fruit

Veggies-Cucumbers, Carrots, Snap Peas-Great to carry around and for a crunch

Rice Cakes

Natural Peanut Butter

Almond Butter

Almonds

Sunflower Kernels

Hummus

The snacks can get boring but you just have to mix it up a little bit.

Here is a meal plan example:

Day 1-

Breakfast

Oatmeal with almonds

Boiled Egg

Snack

½ Grapefruit

Lunch

Black Bean Chili

Snack

½ Cup Blueberries

½ Cup Walnuts-eaten together

Dinner

Avocado Chicken Salad Wrap

Veggie

Snack

Apple with Peanut Butter

Day 2-

Breakfast

2 Mini Frittatas

Fruit

Snack

Rice Cake with almond butter

Lunch

Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs Over Brown Rice

Veggies

Snack

Hummus with carrots

Dinner

Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti

Snack

2 Banana Blueberry Cookies

Day 3-

Breakfast

Sweet Potato Scrambled Eggs

Snack

Veggies

Lunch

Quinoa Pizza Balls over Salad

Snack

Orange

Boiled egg

Dinner

Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Guacamole

Snack

Fruit

Day 4-

Breakfast

Quinoa, Egg and Veggie Scramble

Snack

Rice Cake with Peanut Butter

Lunch

Chicken Stir Fry

Snack

Fruit

Sunflower kernels

Dinner

Avocado, berry, chicken, walnut salad

Snack

Warmed up peaches with cinnamon

Day 5-

Breakfast

Oatmeal

Boiled egg

Snack

Apple with Almond Butter

Lunch

Quinoa Crusted Tilapia

Snack

Hummus with Celery

Dinner

Pesto Spaghetti Squash-add chicken

Snack

Fried Bananas

Grocery List

Produce

Veggies of your choice

Cucumbers

Celery

Carrots

Tomatoes

Green beans

Sweet potatoes-2 or 3

Spaghetti squash

Asparagus

Avocado-2 or 3

Mango-2

Red bell pepper-1

Jalapeno-1

Cilantro

Basil

Bananas

Peaches

Apples

Grapefruit

Oranges

Berries

Salad

Cherry tomatoes

Kale

Spinach

Meat

Tilapia-4

Chicken-at least 8 chicken breasts

Ground turkey-at least 2 lbs

Turkey filets-2

Everything else

Lemon Juice

Lime Juice

Chicken Broth

Olive Oil

1 lb dry black beans

Kidney beans

28 oz diced tomatoes

Oatmeal-not instant

REAL maple syrup-this isn’t really allowed but 1 Tbsp isn’t going to hurt the cleanse

Almonds

Walnuts

Sunflower kernels

Natural peanut butter

Almond butter

Rice cakes

Hummus

Brown rice-not instant

Quinoa

Low sugar spaghetti sauce

Sugar free soy sauce

Low sodium taco seasoning

Whole wheat tortillas

Eggs-lots and lots of eggs

Egg beaters-whites

Almond milk or coconut milk

Cinnamon

Tomato paste

Finish the sentence, Five for 5, JMM

1. If calories didn't count, I would eat...my weight in pizza, pasta, hot cheetos and drink as much wine as I wanted! (I already do haha)
2. On my Prom night....I ummm was experimenting with drugs and had to be rescued off the stage singing "Hit me baby one more time" haha stupid
3. When I go to the store, I always buy...produce...being a good girl
4. Family functions typically...end up drunken...it all makes sense lol
5. I think my blog readers... are awesome
6. I'd much rather be...at a beach with a margarita in my hand
7. I have an obsession with....Vintage looking stuff
8. My work friends....are some of my best friends. We are all crazy!
9. When I created my Facebook account....I didn't think I would eventually get rid of it.  I don't miss it either!
10. My least favorite word is...Cardio "Yeah don't put me down for cardio"-Fat Amy
11. I really don't remember....Some of Friday night...Oops
12. Justin Bieber....is HOT HOT HOT!  I do not care how old he is!

1. Make a menu plan and do some food prep Did it and ended up throwing it all away because my fridge went out:(

2. Run 2.5 miles without stopping, thank goodness for the 90's hip hop station for getting me through lol How about 3.1 miles??? Woohoo!

3. Caulk my kitchen- yeah no

4. Groom my dogs!-Pointless with all this snow

5.Continue eating clean-I did really good until Friday night

This week:

1. Make Bridal Shower decorations

2. Continue clean eating and working out

3. Caulk my kitchen-let's try this again

4. Look for a place to live....or a storage

5. Sell some chalkboard frames


On to the weekend:

It was my friend Christy's 30th birthday and we celebrated....ALOT 

Christy and her big ass wine glass

Again with the mustache glasses

John Michael Montgomery

Christy and Jenn

John Michael Montgomery was just ok but we had a blast anyway!

Saturday it snowed so much that they closed the highway so we weren't able to get home. We stayed at my dad's and watched a lot of movies, including She's All That lol Who remembers that?? Love it!

Sunday we finally made it home and found everything in our fridge bad:( I wasn't sure whether to cry or drink all my wine before it went bad. Naturally I chose the second one! Hope everyone has a great week!!

Friday Faves/ Pits and Peaks

I always start with the Pits because you always save the best for last right?

Pits-

Ok this is more like venting but if someone asks me if I'm on a diet one more time I might junk punch them (even if they are a girl).  Can't a girl eat healthy?? geez

snow is coming tomorrow...again.  I'm over it.  Isn't it supposed to be spring??

I tried to date....it lasted 4 days until I wanted to strangle him.  This should have been my first clue....

 

I might be an old dog lady!

 

My refrigerator is going out...figures as soon as I am actually selling my house lol

 

 

Peaks-

 

My house is under contract!! Hallefreakinglujah!

 

 

We are going to go old school John Michael Montgomery tonight for my friend's 30th!!

 

10 days till Marcus is 10 and the Rockies opening day!!

 

 

 

 

 



 

Lori's Story over on Mama Laughlin's blog.  Tears and more tears.  I adore Lori, her and I have a mutual love of wine!  In this post you get to see her put it all out there.  It doesn't matter if we struggle with our weight or not, girls will always have insecurities.

 

 

Erin from She's a Big Star (which makes me think Kenny Chesney every time) did this post on when blogging feels like high school. It's true and we are all guilty of it. 

 

 

Whitney did a post Dude answers to Chick Questions.  I can't help it she always cracks me up!

 

 

Happy Friday Everyone!!!

Bittersweet Symphony

Today started out so great!  I got a call from my realtor saying I had an offer on the house.  I had to counter offer because it was a little low but they excepted the counter!!!!

I was so happy and excited all day imagining all the things that would happen when we moved back!

Fast forward to driving home.....it hit me.  I've been waiting for this house to sell for four months.  It felt like 12 because I wanted it so bad.  I started crying and am still crying all over this keyboard like a blubbering baby.

This house is my dream house.  I love everything about it.  The view is amazing, the sunset will never be the same anywhere else as it is here.  My dogs can run around and explore for hours and nobody cares.  Marcus can use his imagination and play outside with the wide open skies.

This house was meant to be for a family.  Marcus and I are a family but there is no need to have four bedrooms and three bathrooms for the two of us.  You can read about why we are moving here.  This house is now going to have a family that fills it.  A family that will hopefully enjoy it as much as we have.  Hopefully a family that won't fall apart.

I know I am getting ahead of myself because there are inspections and appraisals to wait for, but it's bittersweet for me.  I don't know whether to be happy or sad.  Happy to move on or sad to leave a house and memories behind.  Time to start new memories I guess.

I knew I would sell it soon because I have so much to do lol  I have to plan a bridal shower, bachelorette party, go to baseball, start a business, be in a wedding in June and somehow pack and move?  It seems like when I am busy I AM BUSY.  If you know what I mean!  I am already tired thinking about it.

I came home fully intending to work out and instead this is happening...

Sometimes it is just necessary, it is wine o'clock somewhere!!

Dinner Plan, Meal Prep and a Victory!

This morning I ran a 5k! I'm so excited and proud of myself!

I started out saying that I was going to run 20 minutes without stopping then when I got there I said "Oh 5 more minutes will be easy", then I got to 30 and checked my distance.  I was almost at 3.1 might as well keep going. Thank goodness for 90's Hip Hip on Pandora and Tupac.  They got me through it!  I was slow but who cares?!  I have a little over a month until I run a real one...outside.  The weather needs to quit being bi-polar so I can practice outside!

We will call this week's dinner plan the Pinterest plan.  I just made a bunch of stuff that looked good, nothing I made on my own.  I was too busy being a crafty crafter!

Sunday and Monday I only spent a couple hours making 8 things!  I even had 6 things in the oven at one time.  I do not have to cook the rest of this week and possibly some of next week!  Completely worth the time!

Here is my list of things I made:

Meatballs with a sauce of BBQ and grape Jelly. This one is for Marcus....even though they are amazing.

Black Bean, Quinoa Casserole-This was so good I couldn't wait for it to cool down before I ate some!

Quinoa Pizza Balls (I love balls haha)-And I might have a slight love for quinoa these days. I haven't tried these yet but they smelled good!

Homemade Greek Yogurt-This wasn't a lot of work but took a total of 16 hours.  I haven't tried it but hopefully it is good.  If it is, it will be worth it!

Oatmeal Cookies-So easy and healthy.  They satisfy a sweet tooth....and I may have put some chocolate chips in them:)


Skinny Potato Casserole-YUM-No need to say more

Quinoa Apple Cake-This was weird at first and I discovered coconut oil doesn't taste great in baking but it was still ok.  Kind of like a crumbly coffee cake.

Turkey bacon, egg cups-Egg beaters, Turkey bacon, Spinach, and tomatoes.

I also made quinoa, oatmeal and brown rice.  Chopped up cucumbers, lettuce, kale and spinach.

I think it took me an hour each day and of course just checking on the yogurt!

Quinoa and Oatmeal

Meatballs and Apple Quinoa Bread

Egg cups and Hash brown Casserole

One of these days I will get a fancy camera to take pretty pictures!


Happy Tuesday!!

Weekend Update, Veronica Mars and 5 for Five

Well first and foremost I learned something this weekend that made my heart happy!

They are coming out with a Veronica Mars movie.  For those that don't know, it used to be my favorite show ever and I might have seen every episode at least a hundred times.  Kristen Bell would be my girlfriend if I decided to go lesbian.  Yes I know I may be a TV addict but guess what I don't care!!

Anyway if you were a fan you have to watch this video they made for the movie.  They put it on kickstarter.com which is a website that people can put their ideas on it and people contribute money to help.  There is 3.5 million already pledged for this movie, guess I'm not the only fan;)

Friday we went shopping for wedding stuff and ended up getting stuff for my friend's 30th!

We mustache you a question!

Then we came home and finished watching this! SOOOOO good!  I can't wait for Season 2.

Saturday I woke up to these being delivered....

Aren't they pretty???!!

We signed Marcus up for baseball. I'm not sure who is more excited?? Probably me!

My mom took Marcus for the weekend so I did a whole lot of this...

I feel like I should be painting these black and purple...baseball fever much?

Made my own picture frame

Soon to be chalkboard sign!

I also made a burlap banner and two more chalkboard signs!
 Man do I know how to party St. Patrick's Day style lol  I can't wait to show everyone the end results!!

Alright 5 for Five time:

1.Baseboards...let's try this again.  I can't wait to try out my new saw!-Done! Yeah buddy!

2.Crafting!  I have jam to make too!  -Made wine jelly and did lots of crafts...pics to come

3.Order my business cards.-Not yet

4.Start eating clean again....this weekend killed me!-Did it! Thank goodness I feel much better, if only I could stop with the wine haha yeah right

5.Clean out my car.  It looks like a hobo lives in it--Done just need to vacuum it!

4 out of 5 is pretty damn good if you ask me!

This week:

1. Make a menu plan and do some food prep

2. Run 2.5 miles without stopping, thank goodness for the 90's hip hop station for getting me through lol

3. Caulk my kitchen

4. Groom my dogs!

5.Continue eating clean

Such an exciting life I live;)

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels and Tractor Wheels

What's that you say? A book review?  Holy moly!!  It doesn't happen often but when I find a book worth sharing it has to be done!

Terrible Picture I know!

A little background about my love for Ree Drummond.  When I was 6 months pregnant or so I came upon her first cook book.  I started looking through the recipes and reading some of her stories and knew I had to have it!  It was 24 dollars, if I hadn't been pregnant my cheap frugal self would have passed.  It was worth it!

I made a ton of stuff from it and started reading her blog.  She was hilarious! Then came her food network show....Kind of a bore.  I still watch it for the food, even if it would make me 300 pounds eating it all the time.  The problem is that personality and humor you get from her cook books and blog don't come across in the show.  Disappointing! 

I was cruising through Barnes and Noble the other day and came across this book.  It came out a couple years ago but I thought how the hell did I miss this??  I had read tiny bits of her love story with Marlboro Man but this is the whole thing!

I don't normally like straight romance novels but this one had me laughing, crying, mad, sad, and happy. (Man I'm great with those adjectives).  It wasn't like woman porn that we all know (rom com's, and harlequin romance novels) this was a REAL love story.

It goes from the time they met till they had their first daughter.  It is nice to know that they had their ups and downs like any other relationship.  It was honest and left me feeling like there could be some hope.

The crazy part is the beginning of their love story reminded me of my own, except the end of course.

 It gave me a new respect for the two of them and made me want to go eat some comfort food:)

Friday Faves/Pits and Peaks

First up is Holly and her house hunting stories. I am trying to sell my house right now and feel their pain. She had me crying through most of it!

 Chrissy from Let me see you Sparkle did this post a couple weeks ago and I felt like it needed to be shared. She turned some negative blog comments into random acts of kindness! There needs to be more people like her in this world!

 Elle Noel did a post called Why would anyone ever give up? She is talking about weight loss but I think it applies to life in general!

 

Pits-

Three showings on our house and nada.

Peaks-

I found out Marcus still loves me lol

  

These awesome wine glasses I got for a late Valentine's Day present

 Shots of wine anyone??

Off to workout and go shopping!!

Happy Friday!!

Why YOU should do the Advocare 10 Day Herbal Cleanse

I may have jumped on the bandwagon for this cleanse because all the cool kids were doing it but it was absolutely worth it.  As I am sitting on my couch not being able to feel my feet or my legs because of my fibromyalgia I am missing the cleanse.

Since I have been done with it I have been eating like crap.  I have no willpower!  Someone pay me to eat clean lol  The whole time I was on it there weren't any flare ups, my allergies didn't even affect me.

Anyway the reason for this post is to tell you all the great things that came from those ten days

1. SLEEP!  I slept like a baby and miss it already.  It is not bad, but not as good either now.
2.Appetite, it lowers your appetite in a good way!  You eat smaller portions and actually stay full longer!
3.Skin-Your skin will glow!
4. This is a weird one...Your mouth is cleaner. 
5.Energy-I had tons and never got that middle of the day drag.  I didn't get sleepy after lunch like I normally do and had more energy than my ten year old:)
6.Lose weight-I did not do this to lose weight but weighed myself after anyway just because I was curious. I lost 4 pounds
7.After day 3 I never craved anything bad....wish it had lasted:( bummer

I mean it is only 10 days and can change everything if you let it.  I obviously suck!

Everyone keeps complaining about the fiber drink.  To me it tasted good, it was just the texture that was weird! But seriously all the whining from everyone?? Kinda ridiculous!  You are choosing to do it, get over it!

I have a whole grocery list and some recipes for the cleanse.  Email me if you are interested analisamarie8067@aol.com

Happy Hump Day!!!!!

Catching my breath...Finding myself

While watching the Katy Perry movie Part Of Me and balling my eyes out the other day I realized something.  Everyone changes, whether they remember doing it or not.  Sometimes that person you always wanted to be is closer and closer every day.  Guess what though?? YOU HAVE TO WANT IT!

Most people don't know my story.  February of 2011 my parents got divorced after 32 years of marriage.  I don't know what it is but it is almost as if the older you get the harder divorce is on kids.  Don't get me wrong if it had happened when I was younger it would have been heart breaking but when I was 6 months pregnant and starting a family of my own it was devastating.  Everything I had ever known was gone.

It got worse and worse as my mom got a douchebag boyfriend and my Dad sunk really low into alcoholism.

And then just when I thought life wasn't going to get worse it did....

May 9, 2011 when I was 9 months pregnant, I realized I hadn't felt my son move all day.  So I went to the hospital and my worst fears were expected...no heartbeat.  My boyfriend rushed to the hospital, his mom flew home from Chicago, family came to the hospital and we waited.  It was hands down the worst day of our lives.  While going through 36 torturous hours of labor. Getting to hold him and spend even just the tiniest bit of time with him was not.  We all took turns holding this baby we would never get to know but loved with everything we had.

We came home to an empty house, full of stuff to take care of him.  We had named him McKennon (like the bull rider), painted his room and organized everything so that we could take care of him.  We went through all the different emotions, clung to each other like we should have.

While staying home for 3 weeks after I never got the chance to grieve.  My parents were constantly causing drama.  My Dad drinking too much, my mom being a drama queen.  I have always been the strong one and do you think they ever gave a thought to how I might possibly feel? No way.  I have never asked much but in a situation like that my parents should have stepped aside.

In August of that year my boyfriend became my fiance!  It was so exciting.  We had been through so much in our almost two year relationship that most people don't ever have to go through.  It should have made us stronger, it should have brought us closer but that wasn't the case.

We split up in June of 2012.  Worst year of my life.  He moved out and here I was stuck in a house we had planned to have a family in, just me and Marcus.  I will always love him and truly believe he is the love of my life but I'm starting to think that you don't always get to be with that person.  I am just glad to have known that kind of love and to have been given another child by him!

After that I fell into a great depression.

I am not writing this so anybody feels sorry for me, I am writing to let you know how such a dark, depressing time helped me find myself.  At almost 30 years old I am just now realizing who I want to be, what I want with my life and that I will no longer settle for less.

Here are some of the things:

-Working out-I didn't need to lose weight so I can't completely relate to some of the blogs I read but I wanted to have that confidence.  To know who I am, to have energy, to feel great about myself.  Who wouldn't?  I wasn't making excuses anymore. I have even signed up for 3 5k's this summer!

-Baseball-I LOVE baseball.  The last couple of years I have shied away from the things I love, guess it was the depression.  No more of that crap!  I miss baseball, the games, the players, the field, the sunflower seeds, all of it!

-Karaoke-I Love to sing!  I have gotten back into it and have truly missed it!

-Friends-I have been spending time with friends, remembering what happiness is all about!

-Business-I am working on opening my own business.  I make healthy jams, and crafts.  I really want to start selling wedding and party decor!

-Marcus-Him and I get sick of each other but we are closer than ever!  I had to realize I wasn't the only one going through a hard time.  He was too....

I am turning 30 this year.  I wasn't looking forward to it until this post by Ms. Lindsey.  Now I definitely am!

It is a chance for a new chapter!  I admit I have my sad moments, I miss McKennon every.single.day but I can't let sadness and anger take over anymore. I hope if anyone is going through some hard times that this helps you see that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.  You can't control the things that happen in your life but you can control the way you react to them!  I will leave you with the song that inspired my title and some quotes that have helped me through lately....

Catching my breath, letting it go, turning my cheek for the sake of the show
Now that you know, this is my life, I won't be told it's supposed to be right

Catch my breath, no one can hold me back, I ain't got time for that
Catch my breath, won't let them get me down, it's all so simple now

Seriously go buy Kelly Clarkson's CD!