PHOTO TIME!

It's been a BUSY home vacation.  This has to be the best ecard I have seen in regards to parenting.

So TRUE!  Both Shawn and I are off this week with the girls.  I have worked more this week than I normally do.

So, I thought I would have a photo shoot post to show all the events from this week. 

A friend of mine and I decided to do our town's river walk.  It's a total of 6 miles round trip through downtown and in some park areas.  It's really a nice ordeal that our town built with $4.5 million.

This tree was seriously nuts!  I had to take a photo considering I have never seen three trees in one.

Ok, so I know I said I wouldn't drink, but I couldn't resist going out to $2 pint night on my vacation.  I never get to go anymore, because I became a parent, and well, I can no longer party like I used to and function at work the next day. 

Right on Mommy!  My little Boo Bear playing in the laundry basket.  It's the simple things that kids love, why buy a shit load of toys when all they want is a house hold item to play in??

So true!

A picture of Shawn in his new glasses.  Yummy!  Even though they are a -9.5 prescription and have about a half inch thick HIGH POWERED lens on them, he looks awesome with them.  That poor old blind bat. 

A picture of some beautiful ladies!

A decent self portrait before heading out for a night on the town.

And lastly a baby attack moment.  Gotta love that little ball of cuteness! 

Skinny Gal.....  Somewhere.

No Bake Shakeology Cookies

No Bake Shakeology Cookies

For those of you that do not know much about Shakeology, it's the healthiest meal of the day, you can read more about it on this post of mine- SHAKEOLOGY BY BEACHBODY POST.  The great thing about shakeology, is that it comes with many wonderful sweet recipes, so it's not just a shake!!



Ingredients

1 cup of splenda

1 tbls of honey

1/2 cup of natural peanut butter

3 cups of oats

1 cup of fat free evaporated milk

1/2 cup of light butter

1 tbsl of vanilla

1/2 tsp of salt

1 scoop of Shakeology

Directions: Boil splenda, honey, evaporated milk, butter, and salt.  Once it starts to boil, let it boil for one minute.  After a minute, pull off the burner and add in peanut butter, vanilla, and oats.  Lastly, add in the scoop of Shakeology.  Throw gobs onto wax paper.  These take about 2 hours to set up and dry due to the honey, but once they do, they are terrific! 

I LOVE no bake cookies and I LOVE them even more seeing that these are super low fat and calorie!!  If you are interested in knowing more about shakeology, you can visit my sponsored site-here.

Are they still healthy for you when you eat an entire batch???

Enjoy Shakeology lovers!

Skinny Gal.......  Somewhere.

Crock Pot Fajitas

Crock Pot Fajitas

These were something I found on pinterest from this site-FAJITAS!  This recipe is extremely low fat and healthy.  Really the only fat content is the chicken.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs of chicken breast

4-bell peppers in various colors (green, red, yellow, orange)-sliced

1 yellow onion sliced

1 1/2 tbls of chili powder

2 tbls cumin

1/2 tsp salt

1 lime squeeze

1/2 cup of fat free chicken broth

Directions:

1. Slice your vegetables thick and trim skin and fat off of chicken
2. Pour 1/2 cup of broth in the slow cooker
3. Toss your veggies into the chicken broth
4. Place chicken on top of that and pour all your seasonings onto of the chicken
5. Cook on low for 8 hours
6. Shred the chicken with two forks and mix in the veggies like so and serve!!!

I served the fajitas with whole grain/wheat tortillas, salsa, lettuce and tomatoes.  I think the only thing I am going to change up next time will be to add a can of chilies to the slow cooker.  Momma likes spice and there wasn't quite enough for me in these.

Enjoy!

Skinny Gal..... Somewhere.

At This Moment-Shawn Arendt

"At This Moment" by Shawn Arendt

I had to show off my sexy hubby singing one of my favorite songs.  This was recorded on my phone, so the sound quality isn't perfectly clear and you can't really see much detail in the video, but you can at least get the point of how awesome he is!!  I am definitely a lucky gal!  I think we should try The Voice or X-Factor.

I love my hubs!  Enjoy!!!

Skinny Zucchini Parmesan

Skinny Zucchini Parmesan

This was delightful.  Actually the best part was the spaghetti sauce I created.  I can finally make my own sauce without taking in all the extra sodium.  If anything, definitely try the sauce!!!  The sauce is for this 9X9 dish, so if you plan on making spaghetti with it or a bigger dish then double the recipe.

Ingredients

For Roasted Bell Pepper Marinara Sauce:

1- 8oz. can of tomato sauce (roasted garlic)

1/2 can of petite diced tomatoes

1 tbls. of freeze-dried Italian Seasoning

1/2 tbls of freeze-dried Basil

1/2 tbls of minced onion OR 1/4 a yellow onion chopped

1/2 tbls of minced garlic

1/4 tsp of crushed red pepper

1/4 tsp of pepper

1/4 tsp of salt

Simmer for 30 mins

For Bake:

2 lbs of Zucchini slices about a 1/4 inch thick

3 tbls of grated Parmesan

1 cup of Fat Free Mozzarella cheese

3 cups of TOTAL fiber bran cereal-crushed to the point of dust/tiny crumbs

1 egg and 2 egg whites-(scramble together)

THE FIXED MARINARA SAUCE ABOVE

Parsley to garnish top

Directions:

1. For Marinara sauce, combine all ingredients and simmer for 30 mins.
2. Slice your zucchini to a 1/4 inch thickness after washing.
3. Pam spray your 9X9 casserole dish
4. Put a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of casserole dish
5. Dip your zucchini slices in the egg and then into the crunched cereal crumbs, then line the dish with zucchini slices
6. Once you have a full layer, pour spoonfuls of marinara sauce on eat zucchini slice and sprinkle 1 tbl of Parmesan and 1/4 cup of mozzarella over top of the layer.
7. Repeat 1-6 steps for 2 more layers so that you have 3 layers
8. On the final layer, you will have 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese to top and sprinkle parsley extra appeal.
9. Bake with aluminum foil or a glass casserole top for 45 mins on 375 degree.  Then pull the top/foil off and bake another 15 mins to slightly brown the top.

I officially hate my body! End of Story.

As a life long dieter, I have came across many frustrating times where I want to just scream at my scale and/or maybe possibly throw it against the wall.  Really though, the scale isn't the issue, it's this freaking fat suit that I have been blessed with.  Even though I absolutely love all kinds of food, I slightly blame genetics for not giving me that body type that doesn't have to worry about their weight. 

You know those girls, who-for whatever reason are just naturally thin??? 

Yeah, I hate you..... 

I have struggled my entire life with my weight.  I can eat healthy and do all the right things and STILL, I struggle with the bulge.  IT. IS. EXHAUSTING!

It's gotten even more exhausting since I have had my thyroid removed AND had my first child.  I use to drop weight so quickly and now, it's at a pace of a snail.  Even more frustrating!

So Thursday I weigh in at 200.2 lbs.  This IS the thinnest I have been in 6 years.  I thought, FRIDAY will be the day I finally kick 200 lbs, and NEVER look back.  I wake up this morning after staying within the limits of my weight watchers points and working out for 45 mins to TF 45 FIRE class, and I weigh in at 201 lbs.  WTF?

Are you freaking kidding me?  How?  Just how?

I divorced my body this morning.  We are no longer friends!  Stupid piece.....  I know I am being silly, but, seriously??

We all hit that wall where we are completely disappointed on the weight loss front.  Today is that day for me.  I work hard, I mean the Turbo Fire workouts are NOT easy.  So then, I have expectations.  High expectations.

It absolutely better happen by Monday,,,,,  OR ELSE!! 

ON A POSITIVE NOTE:

• My father and mother said that I looked thinner last night even though I can't seem to beat 200 lbs.
• A coworker told me that I ABSOLUTELY don't look like I weigh 200 lbs. or anywhere near it.  It made my day! 

Obsess much?  Yes!  I have goals to beat damn it!  It will happen soon, I can feel it. 

Here is some additional motivation for myself and others for the weekend:

I am at a loss for words with this gals rear.  Wow.  Maybe after Brazilian Butt Lift I will have that!!

I am thinking about adding this to my routine next week: 

XOXO

It's all about COMMITMENT! -Progression photos

My mind is completely blown from my newest progression photos.  I have had some loss, but not as much as the first 30 days. 

I have had a great week on the weight loss front-THIS WEEK!  I have finally made my mind up that either I am going to do this or I just need to quit.  Well, I decided I needed to do it and refocus on what is important!  I am here to tell you, you can be a work out fool all week, burn calories like crazy, and just one "cheat" day can destroy your entire week.

It's all about what you put in your mouth! 

CALORIES EATEN VS. CALORIES BURNT.

I saw this DOVE wrapper and LOVED IT.  How true is that?  When we're on a diet, it's all we talk/hear about, but when we're not, IT IS ON!  It's such an intangible little shit that we're only aware of when we start looking at our love handles.

Actually, starting last week I decided to quit drinking and I have had such a better progress since doing so. 

Is it a BIG commitment?  Absolutely!

Does everyone think I am a big ol' lame bird?  Pretty much!

Do I sit at home and dream about the fun I could be having while being out with friends on a Saturday night?  Yep.

But, that's what REALLY makes the difference. 

COMMITMENT!

I was in this 3-4 week spiral to where I would lose 2-4lbs Monday-Friday and then Saturday night drinking would take me right back where I started.

So, to say the least, I am surprise that I had any progress to show.  I have now went 60 days on Turbo Fire.  Here are the best photos (Before: this is the start of TF, Middle: 30 days, and End: 60 days):



Now that I have quit drinking, you are going to be so AMAZED with the progress next month.  I can't wait!!!