Friday, April 29, 2016

Swimming

Rather late getting this posted but just realized these photos were still sitting on my phone. Isaac took swimming lessons back in March. Kyle took him on Monday evenings, but his last lesson Kyle was out of town so me and the girls got to attend. He has improved since last winter lessons. We did them at a different place this year to try out something new. These were at our city's community center.


Floating on his back




Girls being a good audience and watching big brother



Jumping in

Lunch Ideas for 21 Day Fix

Lunch seems to be a challenge when you're just starting off on the 21 day fix. My favorite 'fast food' are jar salads, because I can make them ahead of time and grab them when I don't have anything else prepared, heading to the park for a picnic, or if the kids are eating another peanut butter and honey sandwich!

Jar Salad Post 1 & Jar Salad Post 2
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Flatout Pizza's can be super quick, easy, and fun!!
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Left overs are another great thing for lunches!!!  A lot of fix meals we've made have a lot left overs which makes for quick grabs the following days.

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Turkey Meatballs
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Dinner Ideas for 21 day fix

I wanted to share a weeks worth of my favorite 21 day fix recipes. Or clean recipes I've converted for you with container counts!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Turkey Meatballs


Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats 


Fiesta Shrimp - This is one of our all time favorite 21 day fix recipes. We eat it over spaghetti squash or veggetti zucchini/squash noodles. You can not leave out the feta cheese and cilantro garnish; it's what makes the meal phenomenal! by: Fit Mom Angela D

Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Rustic Turkey & Veggie Soup by: Fit Mom Angela D

Jambalaya by: Adventures of a Shrinking Princess

Loaded Paleo Nachos - based off linked recipe by Lexis Clean Kitchen
Fix count: 1 yellow, 1 red, 1 blue, 1/4-1/2 purple (salsa)

Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Turkey Stuffed Zucchini Boats - I LOVE zucchini!




4 medium-large zucchini's cut in half and inside scooped out
1-1.5 lbs ground turkey
8oz mushrooms, chopped
1 onion, diced
1 can diced tomatoes, drained

1 tsp each of the following: chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350.
Place halved zucchini in shallow baking dish.



In skillet, brown turkey; add in seasoning and onion, saute for a few minutes. 


Then add in mushrooms and chopped zucchini insides. 


Once veggies are soft add tomatoes and simmer until warmed through. Then scoop filling out evenly into 8 zucchini boat halves. Sprinkle each boat with 1 1/2 Tbsp of mozzarella cheese each. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20-30 minutes. Optional to remove foil and place under broiler to brown cheese.

Fix count: 2 boats = 1 red, 2 green, 1 blue

Monday, April 18, 2016

Springtime park visit

Even though the kids are fighting off some terrible flu germs, we've managed to still get out for some fresh air. They are all actually feeling their best today so hopefully the worst is behind us. 



Wanted to share some photos from our park visit today. 



Both girls climbed up the rock wall and the other step ladder to the left in these photos. They are growing up!! And brave, strong little girls. So proud. They had the proudest faces when they got to the top! 

Saturday, April 16, 2016

All ends lead to another beginning

I got a knot in my stomach when I stood up with one of the girls in my arms to lay down for nap and glanced out the window to see the sign had gone up. Not a big sign but I guess it can be called official now. We are in the process of listing our home for sale. 

We have put a lot of blood and sweat into this home and boy has it come a long way. The whole reason for me to start this blog was to document all the improvements we made. Go ahead take a look back all the way to 2008, you wouldn't even think it was the same house inside! New windows, new doors (inside & out), new backyard with a garden! Finished basement, improved kitchen, updated bathroom, added a half bathroom, every room of the house has been painted, tore down a deck, torn down some God awful wallpaper, torn down part of a wall. The list could probably keep going. But before we leave I must charge a few more house improvement posts ;-) 

We added a kick plate to cover a bad spot in the siding (we'll leave the residing of the whole house for the next owners, but it could use it) 


We also knew we needed to change out the flexible dryer vent to something more ridged. It looks so good now and safer. That was on the to do list prior to city sale permit inspection this week. 

We will also be getting the garage roof replaced but that will be in another post. Oh lil house we have loved you so. :-) 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Turf tot time

Last week we met a friend and enjoyed some indoor gross motor play!!! We haven't been to Hopkins turf tots time this year, it was fun! Isaac and I were very familiar with this place when the babies were cooking in my belly. 

It's a closed off ice rink covered in turf. It's nice because the children can roam and explore and I can monitor all three at once. I had lost sight of Mary then found her little head peeking up over the bouncy house slide. It was pretty cute. 




They were big fans of the roller coaster car. 

Mary getting a ride with our friends while I ran Isaac to the restroom. :) 

Insanity Asylum Review

If you've been following me on social media, which I hope you are (Instagram or Facebook) then you know I recently finished doing a fitness program called Insanity Asylum with Shaun T. I first discovered this program though Beachbody On Demand's (BOD) challenge de jour. BOD is an online streaming site that allows you access to hundreds of workout videos. I pay only $12 month for the membership and I can do the workouts anywhere anytime; from our smart TV, a computer, my phone or tablet. Makes working out super convenient. A lot of beachbody's popular programs are available complimentary with the membership, like Insanity, P90X, and TurboFire. As well as exclusive workouts from popular trainers. The premium programs are added to your BOD once you've purchased them. So it really makes taking workout on the go easy; I have access to 21 Day Fix Extreme, PiYo, and next up will be Hammer & Chisel.

When I realized Insanity Asylum Volumes 1 and 2 were available on demand it made that program even more intriguing. What I initially liked about it was that it was different. It's sports focused so I was getting a workout in by doing moves I am familiar with from earlier life days of being involved in sports. And I was excited to take part in a Shaun T program because I had heard great things about how motivating he is. And he was! The workouts were a little longer, but I didn't let that hold me back. I had been used to the 30 minute fix workouts and while that fits in my better with my busy life, I was willing to take a step up and attempt 45-60 minute workouts, and I'm glad I did.

Since there were two volumes I really wanted to try them both out and I wanted to do it in 30 days. There was a provided hybrid schedule in the Volume two packet but it was a 60 day program. So after inspecting each workout I created my own hybrid of one and two packed into 30 days.

Volume two was definitely more advance and pushed myself harder than volume one. But I really enjoyed volume one so I'm not sure I could point out a favorite. From all the workouts I think my favorites in volume one were back to core, strength, and relief . In volume two I really liked upper elite, power legs, and back & six pack. Each volume offered a rest day stretching workout. I preferred relief over volume two's off day stretch. My hubby even enjoyed doing them and they are great for improving flexibility. So even if you're not doing the program check them out someday on an off day or after a workout.

I ordered an agility ladder ahead of time. They also use a jump rope and then strength bands in volume two. I didn't use the jump rope because I was doing it indoors, but I did pull it out for some stretching moves in volume two. I also didn't have the strength bands, but wish I did so highly recommend those.


The ladder was fun to use and mixed it up a bit. As with many of Shaun T's workouts there was a lot of jumping. Here I am after Vertical Plyo and remembering how much of a relief it was to do pushups because my calves were working it hard. But hey, I came out smiling.


I could tell my strength was increasing just after the first week and I really enjoyed the agility assessment test. I stuck with the fit test from volume one because I felt like it provided a consistent measurement throughout by doing it three times: day one, day 15 and day 30. Volume two's fit test is thrown in at the end of the Championship workout and in my opinion didn't measure improvement as well. You can totally see my scores improve in my photo below.

Going into it my goal was not to lose weight but instead to lose body fat percentage. My overall goal is to get to 22% body fat and I hoped this program would get me closer while also building muscle.

So as far as my results. In addition to this program I drank Shakeology everyday and followed the fix container nutrition clean eating plan. I did not eat at a deficient, actually I tried to eat above my calorie category, which is difficult to do when you're eating clean. Take me to Olive Garden and I could eat a couple days worth in one sitting... not so much when you're eating clean fuel to build a healthy body.

The end results were:
lost 3 pounds
lost an inch on my waist
lost an inch on each thigh
dropped 3% body fat bringing me only 1% away from goal.

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I would love to hear other's feedback; if you have completed this program or any questions you have! Let's connect!

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Clean Cookie Bites

We made some amazing protein packed cookie bites today! They were phenomenal, so much so that they didn't even last a full day in our household!!!! Oops :-)


Ingredients: 
1 cup old fashion oats
1/2 cup all natural almond butter
1/4 cup raw honey
1 scoop vanilla Shakeology
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir. I found it best to mix with my hands. Then I used my 2 tsp cookie scoop to portion them out and roll into balls. Makes about 25 bite size balls. 

Fix count: Since they are a treat I'd count them as a yellow container for 2 bites.


Fun video of Miss Emma, she LOOOOOVES cookies! I missed capturing her first reaction on video, it was adorable. 


Here's the kids finishing them off while I was at work.

Flatout Wrap Homemade Pizza



These are super quick and easy! A great way to make a healthy pizza fast! I have since learned that the crust would be even better if you pre-cook the wrap by itself (for 1-2 minutes) before loading it up with toppings.

I like to make mine with shaved brussels sprouts but since I didn't have any I made due with a cut up squash.

First I saute my veggies in a warm pan sprayed with some coconut oil: squash, some red onion, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning. Once warm and soft I transfer to flatout wrap laying on a sprayed cookie sheet.

Then I sprinkle the warm veggies with a blue container filled with crumbled goat cheese and part-skim mozzarella.

Then I pop in an oven pre-heated to 350 and bake for 8-10 minutes! Ta-Da! Super simple!

We made the kids a pizza, I would normally add some meat to theirs but I didn't have any on hand. So they got a flatout spread with some spoonfuls of tomato sauce (no salt added) and a nice big handful of mozzarella and goat cheese. The goat cheese makes these pizzas!

Ingredients:
Flatout wraps (personal size pizzas so however many you need 1 per person)
Choice of toppings (I used one squash, 1/2 a red onion, italian seasoning for two servings)
Goat cheese
Part-skim mozzarella cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350. Spray cookie sheet with oil, place wrap on sheet and pre-bake for 1-2 minutes. Remove from oven, place toppings on wrap and return to oven for 8-10 minutes. 

Fix count: depending on your toppings - my veggie pizza was 1 yellow, 1 blue, 1 green

Another variation: 
Instead of tomato sauce, just use sliced tomatoes, top with cheese of your choice, protein of your choice and a handful of greens. The greens toast up nicely and become crispy! Yummy!!
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Saturday, April 9, 2016

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce & Turkey Meatballs


This makes a large batch! We usually jar up the extra for lunches and freeze any extra sauce.



Prep: 15 minutes 
Cook time: 60 minutes

Sauce:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
4 carrots, diced
1 cup water
1 can (28oz) crushed tomatoes
1 can (6oz) tomato paste 
1 can (14.5oz) diced tomatoes
2 Tbsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf (optional)

Meatballs:
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 c rolled oats (I like to place in blender/food processor first but not required)
1 egg
1.25 lb ground turkey

Warm oil in large pot and add onions, garlic, and carrots. Saute to soften veggies. 

Then combine remaining sauce ingredients, except the can of diced tomatoes, in large pot on stove top. Cover and cook for about 30 minutes to soften carrots even more. That gives you enough time to make the meatballs. 

While sauce is cooking place all meatball ingredients in bowl and combine with hands. Roll into 1-2 inch balls (about 22 balls). Turkey meatballs are a little harder to get uniform than beef. Do your best ;-) 

After carrots are soft use an immersion blender (aka stick blender) to smooth out sauce, then add can of diced tomatoes. Be prepare things can get a little messy. 

Slowly add meatballs to sauce, gently stiring to make room for them all. Make sure sauce covers meatballs, cook for an additional 30 minutes stiring a couple times after meatballs have set, about 15 minutes. (If you stir too early the meatballs will separate.)


Meanwhile bring large pot of water to boil and cook whole wheat pasta of choice according to package directions.

Serve sauce and meatballs over spagehtti with a side salad or veggie of choice (gotta get your greens in!)

Fix count:
2 meatballs = 1 red
1/2 cup pasta = 1 yellow
1/2 cup sauce = 1 green
Optional: top with 1/2 blue of cheese of choice
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