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!!!!!

21 Days to a More Disciplined Life: Day 5,6,7,8 and 9

Hello!  Thankfully I am just now feeling better and getting to all the things that haven't been done in the last couple days!  The stomach flu is not fun and takes everything out of you I swear.  Good thing I have 5 days off to play catch up. 

I did Days 5, 6,7,8 and 9 today to try and catch up.

Day 5: 5 Steps to Developing discipline-  I will admit that I have discipline in certain areas of my life but only if they involve fun haha!  Since my big goal is to run a mile in 21 days I have to make sure I stick with it. 

My reasons why I want to stick with it:

*To show myself that I don't hate running!
*So my body will feel better
*To show myself that I CAN!
*To feel strong
*To have more energy

Likely Obstacles:
*Cold Weather
*Pain
*Busy life

How to develop new behaviors so that these obstacles won't get in my way:

*Run 3-4 times a week, even if it half a mile and inside
*If I am in pain I will stretch and do some jumping jacks and walking
*I can get very busy but I always have time for TV (one of my bad habits), take 15 minutes from something I am watching and run up and down the stairs or run in place in front of the TV.

Day 6: Be Realistic- I have been being realistic from the start, running a mile in 21 days is pretty realistic for me.  If I had said 2 that would be a far reach for me!

Day 7: Resist Negative Thought Patterns-Instead of saying I can't I will just get up and Do It!

Day 8: Put Your Goals on Paper- I admit it, I am a post it freak!  I like everything written down so this is perfect!

Day 9: Break Your Goals Into Bite Sized Pieces-I am going to write down on the calendar the days I will work out and where I want to be.  That doesn't mean I will meet those exactly but I am ok with that and know that it will at least be a step in the right direction!

I plan on running this afternoon when it is a little warmer!  I am also trying to get back on a flylady schedule to get my house clean and ready to put on the market in a couple months.  Does anyone have any advice??

Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter, Homemade Vanilla, and a No Sew Tutu

This weekend was pretty busy but somehow I managed to get some apple butter made, started some homemade vanilla which I plan to give out for Christmas, and made a tutu for my niece's birthday!




Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter
12 apples (I used gala)
1/2 cup water
 1/2 cup brown sugar
 2 tsp cinnamon
 1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp allspice

 Start by peeling and chopping the apples. Put them in the crockpot toss them with the remaining ingredients and cook on low for 12 hours. I let mine cook overnight, and the house smells like apple heaven! When they are cooked down, turn the crockpot to high and leave the lid halfway off. This lets the apple butter thicken up. Let it cook like that for 3 hours.

 Some people like to put theirs in a blender and make it smooth, I took my potato masher and mashed it up. I like some chunks in there. I then canned it, it made 2 1/2, 1/2 pints. This is a great Christmas present!

Homemade Vanilla

 I am not sure I have ever had homemade vanilla, it has always been imitation so I can't wait to give some of this out and bake with it!

 1 750 ml bottle of vodka
 12 vanilla beans

 I put my vodka in an empty tea jar. Then I sliced 12 vanilla beans down the middle and added them to the vodka. I won't know the results for another week but the longer it sits, the better. It should be perfect by Christmas!

No sew Tutu

 I came across this picture

My sister has a thing for anything watermelon, even her baby shower was watermelon themed. So when I saw this picture I knew my niece needed this outfit for her 1st birthday party! A friend of mine is making the onesie, and I bought the headband and decided to learn how to make the tutu. It wasn't hard and thankfully this blog post helped a lot. It isn't perfect by any means but I like it and I proved to myself I can do anything if I have a tutorial haha

I used a book because I don't have any cool sewing dummies, the book was the perfect measurement all around. I tied on the tulle all the way around.

I added on some cloth strips to give it some more color.

I then tied some ribbon on, and hot glued some onto the waist.

I can't wait to see it on her!!!

My experiments for the last week!

I'm not sure what came over me, boredom maybe and the need for peanut butter and yogurt. I made homemade yogurt, Coconut Butter, Peanut butter and made three different kinds of jelly. I have decided to start my own business making jelly/jam/preserves/apple butter and applesauce. I made up 3 different kinds of jelly and have been having it tested by many people. They are a hit! Mango Chipotle, Peach, Raspberry Rum and Strawberry Limeade! They are no sugar or made with Stevia. I don't know about you but jelly can be a little too sweet for me so no sugar has a big appeal to me and the use of fresh ingredients makes it even better!
I am also going to start blogging once or twice a week about a different one skillet meal and hopefully eventually make an e-book! I've always been very inventive with one skillet meals and making them out of leftovers!
Wooohooo for new adventures!!