Cruisin Eats...
Ok, so I know it's been forever but here are the only pics I took of the food on the cruise (which was fabulousness btw..more on that later). The reason I didn't take any other shots..foodie that I am was...it wasn't that special to be honest. It was decent don't get me wrong. It was miles above the McCrappleness of the double arches but "fine dining" would be a serious stretch.

These were a few dishes we had in the dining room that we actually ended up eating mostly for dinner because well..the other options were not that great. Who can honestly complain though...D had steak almost every night and I had all the yummy fruit and shrimp cocktail (no pic) I could stomach. I know you feel really bad for us. Food aside..this was an amazing vacay and I can't wait to be THAT relaxed...AGAIN!!!:)

fresh fruit..seriously ate this every night



Steak w/ creamed peas...It was a pretty good steak I must say



Tilapia w/ fresh fruit

All the seafood on the ship was pretty good. I had no complaints. Only downside...desserts were crap...except the bread pudding which I didn't order but tried one little spoonful of Wendy's and then waited every night to order only to find out THAT was the only night they offered it! Next time...seriously it was delish! We had a blasty and I got to spend a whole 5 days with my sweetie in the carribean!!! Ahhhhhhhhmmmmmmaaaaaazzzzzzzzzziiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnggggggg!!!!!

I. Heart. Mexico.

The end.

Remember these goodies?????....

Portuguese Spicy Kale Soup and yummy vegginess

Tilapia w/ pepper mania

Chobani Greek yogi w/ frozen berries and granola + agave drizzle..Insanity:)

We've had some technical difficulties....I'll be back soon!

23 Days left!!!! I can't wait!

OK, I can't find the cord to my cam so no new pics today:( I did want to post though and give you an update on what I've been up to!



Fitness:

Yay! I worked out 5 days last week and I've worked out 4x's already this week! I'm doing Biggest Loser Yoga in the am and P90x at night with the boys...I know craziness!



Last night we did Kenpo and it was awesome! I was drenched at the end! I felt so strong. I forgot how much I love kickboxing! We do the ab workout every other day also...I. am. so. sore!!!!



Food:

Ever since I started working out regularly (I know it's not even 2 weeks but still:), I've found myself so hungry all the time! I have found when I don't plan ahead...I get into the danger zone and struggle not to eat whatever I can get my hands on.

So..to combat this, I'm going to do what I did in the beginning. Eat all my meals and always keep a healthy snack on hand just in case...most likely this will be a luna or lara bar

Sleep:
I'm finding when I workout, I am so ready for my pillow at night! I sleep really well too. I wake up ready for my day and love it!

How u doin?

March Yoga Madness
OK, Yesterday was Day 1 of March Yoga Madness! I really have done yoga a couple of times this week but "officially" it started yesterday.:) How'd we do?...Well, I found out I'm not so loving downward dog! Yoga is hard! The benefits are great though and I know if I stick to it I'll just get stronger and stronger! I realized my core is really weak and I'm looking forward to becoming strong! Woot! Woot! I felt great at the end of my hour and even did an ab work out after. Today I feel fan freakin tastic!!!

Happy Sunday!

PS...Church was cancelled because of the snow! Can you believe that?..Only in Texas!

Remember these yummy pumpkin muffins that my girl M made?

Well, you're in luck because here's the recipe! I made them this morning and made some of my own modifications. This is a really good recipe that is easily adjusted. For example, I wanted to add some flax and chia goodness...no prob! I also was short on pumpkin (I was making a double batch) so I mashed 1 ripe banana and it was totally yummy! Love that!

M's Yummy Pumpkin Muffins
1 1/2 c. oats (ground in a food processor for 2-3 minutes)
1tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 T ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. plain yogurt
2tsp. vanilla
3 lg. egg whites or 2 whole eggs
1/2 c. honey
1 c. pumpkin
2T. finely chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, whatever you like)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prep muffin tin w/ cups.

Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients. Mix together. Add nuts. Stir well. Scoop into muffin tins. Bake 15 minutes. Serve w/ any nut butter and banana and honey drizzle...deliciousness.

Mama Muffin Modifications
I made a double batch and followed the recipe except I added
1/2 c. flax seeds (ground)
1/4 c. chia (ground)
1/2 c. honey +1/4 c. agave nectar
1/2 c. pumpkin +1 mashed banana

Everything else was the same and it turned out fantastic! My kids loved them! I don't know if Hot Papa will like them (They just "look" too healthy for him!)..but we'll see!

Enjoy! Thanks M!:)

March Yoga Madness!!!

My sis and I are going to do something AWESOME!!!..Wanna join us?:)...Are you ready?...We are going to do yoga 6x's a week for the next 30 days!!! I have started doing yoga again for the first time in years and I've really noticed a difference in my day. I feel so much better and happy!!!

So....who's in?

This is my brother in law. His name is Beezy (not really but today it is). He's in pain. WHy you ask?...



This is why! Me, Beez, and my brother M started doing P90x 4 days ago!
It is CAAAARRRRAAAAAAZZZYYY!!! Seriously, the best workout ever!
The ab work is insane!!

The first day was chest and back + ab ripper....serious pain



Day 2 was plyometrics...what's that you say?....It's like last chance
workout pain...you know what I'm sayin?



Day 3 was arms and shoulders (no pics) + ab ripper...did much better!

It's Day 4 and we're doin YOGA!!!! Not relaxing yoga....P90x yoga...sigh..
I just keep telling myself the dress will be worth it!!! Woot! Woot!

P.S....did you see there's only 28 days?...sooooo excited! Yes! IT will be worth it!!!

Friday's Top 10

OK, this week has some repeats but some of you have been asking what some of these products look like and where I get them....Here ya go!

Flax..Walmart, Kroger..most stores carry now. Around $2 a box

Crawfish...delicious! We went to Nate's Seafood on Monday w/ the fam.


Silken Tofu...great in smoothies! My kids don't even know it's there!


Herbal Teas: Sleepytime and Tazo: Calm..

Chia Seeds: Whole Foods, Market Street...This jar was $15ish....great in smoothies and oats!

Cinnamon...Oh how I love thee! ALWAYS in my oats and "cookie muffins"!!!!

Crunchy Almond Butter! My favorite brand is still Barney Butter but this one's good too.

Kroger, Whole Foods, Market Street...around $6

Good Old Honey Bear....Ummm..I think I'm runnin low!

Tip: If you heat it in the microwave for a few seconds, you don't use as much

because it's runny!

Tabasco...I really love any hot sauce, but this is an all time fav for sure!

This plate wins my favorite meal of the week!

On my plate: Pumpkin Oat "Cookie Muffin" w/ AB, banana and honey drizzle

and egg puff w/ tabasco + coconut water...YUM! So good, I made it again for lunch!

Almond butter packets...great for a snack on the go! One of these and a banana and you're in business!

There you have it! Hope you get to try some of these yummies soon!

Good Eats...
So I've been horrible at daily blogging lately so I'm backed up on pictures and posts. I still take a picture of 99% of everything I eat. It just helps me stay accountable of what I'm putting into my body. I find on the days that I do take pics, I am more likely to make good food choices. Anything that helps me achieve my goal and stay on this path for the long run! Here's some of what I've been eatin'!

Of course my favorite oats! This batch has blueberries and blackberries, AB, flax, chia, almond milk and honey..yum!

Roasted chicken w/ peas and carrots and steamed cauliflower and a side of kiwi.

This was delicious! I was craving M's pumpkin muffins but didn't have the recipe yet so I modified the cookie muffin recipe and voila! Pumpkin Oat Cookie Muffin! Delicious...seriously, can't wait to have this tomorrow!

Egg and sausage on a whole wheat sandwich thin w/ side of fruit and LC

I forgot this pic...I had a bite of a pb cookie at the mavs game...honestly, it was yum but I was fine w/ just a little piece because it was so sweet! Funny how your palate changes over time!


There you have it! Tomorrow we're headed to the zoo and like usual, I'm going to be packing some great snacks! I can't wait for the pumpkin cookie muffin I'm going to eat on the way!

Happy Wednesday!

Date Night!

Saturday I did some shopping w/ the girls (more on that later!) and then that night the Mr. and I got to go to a Mavs game! It was great fun (even though we got killed!:() We got to enjoy an awesome suite and it was catered! Thanks guys! It was a much needed fun night!

Of course I went prepared w/ some good snacks!

I love dates!

Pistachios...yum!

Blueberries...these were so good!

I forgot to get some good before pics before I started eating! I was so starving!

My plate mid eatin'..nachos and chicken wings...not the healthiest but so yum!


Potato chips...this was my last one and man was that a good thing!

I had a handful of these puppies and I forgot how much I loved them! The Mavs were defeated by the Knicks but that's ok we had a blast anyway! I'm glad I took my snacks w/ me, it made it easier to walk away from the food table. That's really what I did! I had 1 plate of snacks and then I sat in my seat and ate my healthy snacks if I got hungry. Success!

Like D always says..."Failing to prepare is Preparing to fail!"

Brunch w/ the Girls:)

Friday I headed over to I's house for the most delicious brunch! She had such a beautiful spread of goodies! She made chocolate and regular crepes and had all the fixings...uh..whipped cream, nutella, fresh fruit, waffles...did I mention nutella?..crazy goodness! Everyone brought something to share and of course it was all so delicious!

These little lovelies were my favorite!

M's Pumpkin Muffins...85 calories a piece! So tasty!

Look at all this food!

This was my plate...er..plates!

fresh fruit, sausage, pumpkin love, veggies and dip

I actually went back for more berries, papaya and another muffin!

We had a blast as always!

Friday Favorites!
I have had some crazy good meals and I thought it would be fun to put them into my top 10!! Soooo yum!

Oats w/ blueberries, banana, AB, and honey drizzle

Oats:
1/2 c. oats
2 T. flax
1 T chia seeds
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp turbinado
almond milk
blueberries
banana
almond butter
honey drizzle

Cheddar w/ fresh fruit!

I love cheese w/ fruit!

Green Monster! Yum!

Green Monster:
banana
3 dates chopped
greek plain yogurt
almond milk
2 huge handfulls of spinach
vanilla
Blend w/ ice! Delicious!

Coconut Chicken Curry! So good!

OK, this was not the healthiest of dinners! I only ate 1/4 c. of rice w/ it because I can't have curry w/out it but it was so delicious!

Amy's Organic Refried Black Beans



Coconut Water!!! So good!

This is awesome! Only 60 calories and 670 mg of potassium!!! This is my new gatorade! I think it's a great alternative to a sports drink when the kids have the flu. Baby B loves it!

Dates...oh how I love these jewels of love!mmmm...

Rainforest Roll at Bluefish.....So. Good.

My favorite lunch this week. Leftover couscous w/ fresh fruit

Don't you just want this everyday!

Papaya...oh how I love this fruit! I can eat this all day long!

Hope you get to try some of these lovelies soon! Have a great weekend!

Goals for this week!
I have a little over 1 month and 1 week till pinacoladaville!! Crazy how time is flyin!!! OK, I gotta kick it into high gear! I have been stuck in a rut for a few weeks but I finally broke through and lost another pound!!! Woot! Woot! I really want to pick up some momentum so I've got to change it up!!! I have noticed that when I don't write down my weekly goals and check in regularly, I don't do as well.

This week is about getting back to setting goals and going for it! Here's the plan:

Food:
1) Eat breakfast
2) No carbs after lunch
3) Cut off at 8pm
4) No sugar!!!!

Fitness:
1) 30 day shred x 4
2) yoga x 3
3) walk x 3

Other goals:
1) Sleep! Bed by 11pm!
2) Date w/ Hubbs!!

What goals are you gonna go for this week?..:)

Snack-a-lackathon
Lately I have been very snacky! I don't know what it is but I can't seem to get enough! Here are some of my latest faves:

1/4 chocolate coconutty lara bar w/ banana and PB...gives
me my chocolate fix!


fruit medley w/ cheese...melon, blueberries, grapefruit..yum!


Jazz apple w/ tillamook sharp cheddar...nough said!


Happy Snacky Monday!

Crazy Goodness:)
Here's some more of the goodness that's been on my plate lately...


Fresh fruit..the cantaloupe was sooooo sweet!


Super Oats
1/2 c. oats
1 T chia
2 T flax
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp turbinado
almond milk
blueberries
banana
almond butter...seriously..so yum.


This was so delicious!!!! Couscous w/ roasted butternut squash

Couscous Deliciousness
3 c. couscous
3 c. chicken stock
pint grape tomatoes
1 english cucumber
2 red bells
2 eggplant
garlic
2 lemons
evoo
salt n pepper

Cut bells and eggplant into chunks. Mince garlic. Mix bells, eggplant and garlic w/ evoo and salt and pepper on cookie sheet. Roast at 425 for 20 min. Bring stock to boil. Put couscous into large glass bowl then add stock. Cover and let sit. Seed cucumber and dice. Fluff couscous w/ fork. Zest lemons and add along w/ juice to couscous. Add tomatoes and cucumber. Add roasted veggies. Mix carefully. Season w/ salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe is so versatile. The next day for lunch I took the leftover couscous and squash and mixed it together...SO.GOOD!