home improvementsmake-overwood floor September 30, 2011

Wood Floors!

Okay, so you have to picture in your mind navy blue carpet on the stairs and upper level, since I was too lame to take pics of the “Before”.  Hideous actually.  After my husband knocked an entire gallon of white paint all over the carpet, followed the same week by a visit from my grandkids with one of them getting the stomach flu and throwing up EVERYwhere – we were long past due for a change.  I never did get the smell from my cute granddaughter getting sick completely out of the carpet, in spite of my best efforts to do so.  Fortunately we do not use the upstairs much (mostly for guests) – so it has not been a huge problem, BUT I was anxious to get it done anyhow.  We have been in our home 9 years now and I have wanted to do it since we moved in.  I am not much of a photographer (I really don’t need to tell YOU that!) but did the best I could to show you how much better it looks.  I LOVE it!!!!


This is my youngest son’s old bedroom.


This is our “guest room”  My other two boys were pretty much out of the house by the time we made the move to Utah.


This is the “loft” area.  It is really hard to get the coloring of this floor – the color varies from a deep red, to more of a brown, and shades of black running thru-out.


This is the “girls” (I have a grandson now, so we will have to call it something else now) room.


The new carpet on the stairs – beats the H%&& out of navy blue, don’t ya think?!

It is always surprising to me how much of a change flooring makes in the overall look and feel of a home.  LOVE the way this looks and feels now.  Still working on updates up there – I am painting the shelf in the bathroom and a dresser in the girls room an antiques turquoise blue color – can’t wait to get that finished.  Hopefully this weekend.  Thanks for stopping by….
recipesside dishes September 29, 2011

Lime Rice

4 cups calrose rice
1/2 cup sugar
lime zest from 3-4 fresh limes
lime juice from 3-4 fresh limes


Place rice in rice cooker along with water required (we usually add a bit of extra water – just go a bit above the line on the cooker), then add zest and lime juice.  Stir and cook according to rice cooker instructions.  Yummy with the barbacoa and shredded pork recipes.  

beveragebreakfasthealthy eatingpumpkinsrecipes September 28, 2011

Pumpkin Creme

1 scoop protein powder
1/4 cup plain canned pumpkin
1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup skim milk
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
Truvia


Blend all ingredients with ice and water to desired consistency.  Very good flavor!  


This is my favorite recipe from Week 4 of Phase 2 of Live the Life  http://www.kristiapproved.com/

dietexercisehealthy eating September 28, 2011

Week 4 Phase Two Update

They say better late than never right?!  I actually had a really hard week last week for the first time in the last 16 weeks.  I think it was more hormonal than anything and I didn’t stray too far, but I did feel the effects.  I gained 2 pounds last week – I did a ton of baking and lots of licking fingers, but no eating of the goodies.  Still, with my crappy thyroid and adrenals and hormones, I simply cannot afford to stray at all!  I keep thinking about the importance of little things and how each and every choice we make contributes to our success or our failure.  Feeling VERY motivated to stay the course this week and feel confident I will reap those rewards (you will have to check in next week to see how I did – obviously I am half-way thru the week already and know how I am doing thus far….).  On a positive note, feeling better overall than ever and excited about the things to come.  Hope your week last week was better than mine!  

chickenmain dishrecipessalads September 19, 2011

Grape Chicken Salad

2 oz canned or cooked chicken
2 T fat free Greek yogurt
2 T onion (I like the red onion in this one)
1/4 cup grapes
1 small low carb whole grain tortilla


In bowl mix chicken, yogurt, onions and grapes.  Add chicken mixture to tortilla.  Really nice blend of flavors and textures.

diethealthy eatingweight September 19, 2011

Week Three Phase Two Results

I FINALLY hit -20 pounds!!!!!  I am pretty excited about that!  It seems like hitting the 20 pound mark always takes forever.  I would like to lose another 15 pounds, but am fitting into my old clothes nicely now and am really happy with the way I am feeling overall.  We are in the process of having wood floors put in the 3 bedrooms upstairs and travertine tile in the bathroom (watch for a future post on this) – this has meant literally moving all furniture out of each room and then moving it back when the room is completed.  Hopefully this will be done today.  I am amazed that I have been able to help my husband move all pieces of furniture – with minimal assistance with one piece from our son.  I have never had much upper body strength and this was no small feat for me!  David is down 25 pounds and looking great!  His “skinny jeans” are getting a bit loose on him now.  LOVING this way of life!

main dishporkrecipesslow cooker September 18, 2011

Shredded Pork

3 lb boneless pork roast
2 lg onions
4 cloves garlic
16 oz can tomatoes
3 jalepenos or 1 can diced jalepenos with juice
3 bay leaves
2 T chili powder
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
salt and pepper


Place all ingredients in slow cooker on medium low for 8 hours (I do mine overnight).  Shred and serve on tortillas.  NOTE:  Since I always cook mine overnight, I shred in the morning and then cook on low all day to allow flavors to blend.  SUPER yummy!  Goes a long way.  Great for family dinners and other large groups.  I serve with lime or Spanish rice, sour cream, salsa, grated cheese, lime wedges, guacamole or fresh avocado, fresh tomatoes, cilantro, lettuce and Cafe’ Rio type dressing.  Enjoy!  See my Barbacoa recipe for a spicier beef version.  

breakfastdessertrecipes September 13, 2011

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Cake:
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp.salt
1 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted

Topping:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Mix everything together except for the butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9×13 pan. For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk1 tsp. vanilla

While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake.


I found this on http://cookinupnorth.blogspot.com/2011/07/cinnamon-roll-cake.html and made it this morning for a realtor tour for one of my own listings.  Got rave reviews all around!  

beveragebreakfasthealthy eating September 13, 2011

Egg Sandwich and Island Smoothie

Sandwich:
1/2 egg yolk
4 egg whites
1 low carb whole grain pita pocket (I like the Greek Pita Flat Bread 100% whole wheat best)


Cook egg like a pancake – flipping when bubbles are forming on the top.  Crisp pita in a frying pan sprayed with cooking spray.  Place egg on top of pita and fold in half to eat.


Smoothie:


1/2 orange
2 strawberries
2 T skim milk
1 tsp Crystal Light
Ice 
Water


Place all ingredients in blender or Bullet and blend until smooth.  Can also add vanilla, almond, or coconut extract.  Yummy!!!!

exercisehealthy eating September 13, 2011

Week Two of Phase Two Update

This week was mostly a holding steady week – no real advances in either weight loss or inches.  The thing I am finding interesting is that I am back into my size 8 pants although I am 10 pounds heavier than last year when I was wearing that size.  I feel like they fit better and look much better too.  


I am waking up before my alarm clock most mornings and have so much energy!  LOVE that!!!!  I have been getting lots of comments from people (NOT about looking thinner) about how healthy I am looking.  Since that is my ultimate goal – I am happy about that.  When I have lost weight in the past I have not always done it in the healthiest manner and you really don’t have that healthy glow about you when you lose weight the wrong way. I love the way this lifestyle has just become a way of life.  I really don’t feel deprived or cheated in any way.  It seems easy to turn down poor food choices when you are working hard, eating right and feeling so amazing!  I keep thinking back to a year ago when I could hardly make myself get out of bed and dragged myself through each day.  Thank you Live the Life (http://www.kristiapproved.com/)for giving me my active life back!  Here’s wishing you a healthy, happy week!