So, January.

The first month of 2014 is almost over! With snow, sickness and going from holiday mentality to crazy busy at work mentality, I feel both like the month hasn’t started and that it should be over already!

Some highlights of the month…

-our super walker
-learning more TurboKick, Piyo Strength and Insanity rounds
-playing with Les Mills Combat (I didn’t do the full program because of the last item)
-a snow day, taken off by me too!
-our first parent-teacher conference!
-tried a few new recipes, which is good for both the food and getting over the mental block that it takes too much time to cook
-with that, my new rice cooker!  Currently only has cooked steel cut oats, but is good for that!

Some rough days…
-the working snow day…desperately wanting to play all day but having to work during and late night to finish my day
-illness!  Everyone got hit this month at least month

That’s it though.  We play a lot 🙂  I am looking forward to work slowing down a little as the January crazy subsides and to fun in February 🙂

February is also time for a new challenge!  Squats this month 🙂

Shakeology FOUND!

Last year, they changed the formula of Shakeology twice.  So there was old stuff, new stuff and the middle stuff.  The middle stuff was fine, but the newest is the best by far…once you have that it’s tough to go back!

So what do you do?  Make bunches of Shakeology balls 🙂  It has been great having these little balls of energy in the freezer!  They are so quick to make, delicious and a great snack.

A little confession…I don’t but ice cream for myself, but my husband usually has some.  I often steal some, though I try not to.  I’ve been having Shakeology balls instead and feel no need for dessert other than that.  They taste really rich, in a good way!

In other Shakeo news, Strawberry came out and mine showed this week!  I love it!  A light strawberry flavor that was so good plain, and still great with frozen strawberries.  I’ll be making this again!  We stick to chocolate for the most part (I have my shake at 5am most days…I’m still on autopilot until I drink it), but I’m adding it to my list of others to go to…with Vanilla and Greenberry!  How’s a girl to choose?

What kind of protein snacks have you made?  I would love to find a recipe that would be good with one of the other flavors!

The night before…

What are your end of the weekend routines?  Is it a mad rush to prepare for the week or are you nice and relaxed to end it out?

For me, it isn’t too different from a regular weeknight.  The big difference is that I get out of the habit of prepping over the days off.  I play until the baby goes to sleep, then get on my list.  I have food to prep, new lists to make, more food to prep :), recipes to find, internetting to do…it goes on!  I have my NEED to do list and my WANT to do list.

Most nights, I get through my need list plus a bit of my want list.  Want lists basically need to get done eventually, but can be done now.  Tonight I got one of my want list items done…making these terrific muffins!  They were delicious.  I wish I had mini muffin pans that I could make it in.  I think that would be my only improvement!

What did you get done tonight?

 

Welcome to Friday!

It has been a looong week here! Sick baby, long work days, little sleep…I’ve never been more happy for a three day weekend!

Our big plans are for naps. Crazy over here! We may make a trip to Target (I wont bore you with our shopping list) and maybe Old Navy. Old Navy was actually on last week’s list but we were out and back before they even opened. Early birds! I also want to find some new recipes or rediscover old ones.

Shopping last weekend

What’s on your list?

 

Just some adorable for a Wednesday

A few holiday pictures that I haven’t shown off yet!

Quinoa Pizza Bites

I made these hoping a certain small child might like it.  She didn’t.  But luckily I did and had no issue with finishing the rest of them!  I used a recipe and changed it up for what I had/what I’ll eat (not actual pepperoni).

Ingredients –
2 cups cooked quinoa
2 large eggs
1 cup frozen peppers and onions
1 cup fat free shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp dried basil (could use more!)
1 cup chopped turkey pepperoni slices
1 tsp dried crushed oregano
pizza sauce for dipping (not pictured)

Instructions –
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together all ingredients, except pizza sauce, in a medium mixing bowl.
Distribute mixture into a greased muffin tin, filling each cup to the top and press down gently to compact.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Made 11 muffins

 

2014!

Happy 2014!  A few days in, but still in the beginning.  I had a recipe post planned but can’t find the picture, so that will wait until tomorrow.  Glad I have leftovers 🙂

So…new year, new you?  Do you make resolutions?  I usually don’t, preferring to just make changes when I feel the need/want.  But this year, I know I have a lot to work towards.   And to get away from!  So I did make an effort to implement a few changes with the change in year.

First off, drink more water!  Since I stopped pumping in November (which made how much I drank obvious…low water, low supply), I haven’t been getting in nearly what I’d like to.  So I will work to drink more H2O.  I used to be so good with water that it was a no-brainer.  I’m not sure what happened!

Second, use my down time more wisely!  I have a bit, not a ton, of time just me and my phone.  When a baby falls asleep on me or in the car, when I’m putting the baby to bed at night, etc.  I’d been mostly playing Candy Crush and now Quiz Up (at least when out of lives) but I knew I should be reading, catching up with friends…spending that time on something useful. Games aren’t doing much for me.  So I deleted the apps.  I have played some CC on my computer, but I don’t have it constantly with me.

Last, cook more and eat out less.  Both for financial reasons and nutritional ones.  I make good choices when we go out, but it has become such the habit.  Good choices can only take you so far – there are a lot of unknowns when you go out to eat!  If you do it once in a while, the little unknowns and estimates are alright (and extra salt!) but the more you go, the more those little things add up!  It’s all about the little choices 🙂 I hope to post more recipes here too as a result.

What things are you changing up in 2014?