The End?

Hello All!

Sorry I've been MIA for awhile! I've come to the realization that I need a break from blogging. I hope to pick it up again or give less frequent updates on my life, but currently my day time job along with my exercise classes and with all the organizations I'm involved in, plus trying to keep a sane social life, is really pulling me every crazy direction, and blogging is another time-eater that is really stressing me out. I think blogging should be a fun past time, but past times are few and far between at this time in my life! And when a "hobby" gets stressful, it's time to give it up!
So while I hope someday to be sharing food and fitness tips again, along with some fun pictures, right now is not the time!
I TRULY APPRECIATE everyone that ever read this blog! I really mean that and I hope one day you'll follow me again. This break might be for a month or a year, not sure yet!
Until then, keep sweating and getting creative with meals:) Have a great summer everyone!

Desserted signing out-Mandy

I'm a Runner?!?!?

Hello Everybody!

I hope you are all enjoying this holy week! B and I are hosting our first holiday meal for family this Easter! It's a big deal for us! We get to use our China tableware that we got for our wedding that we STILL haven't used! Geesh! I bought a big ham and I'm also making cheesy potatoes (mmmmmm) and the rest of the family is bringing a side-easy peasy;) So I'm taking Friday off to make food, including my grandma's cinnamon rolls for a bake sale, and get ready for Easter!

A good recent eat:

Hungry Girl's Berries and Cream Oatmeal Pudding!

Really delicious if you haven't tried it! It's like one of those instant strawberries 'n' cream oatmeal packets you had when you were a kid, but heartier and healthier!

Some big news in my world is I'm becoming a RUNNER! Ok, maybe I wouldn't go that far, but my friend Sarah, who has turned into a runner, has been bugging me to do a race with her. First off it was Warrior Dash, which is a pretty intimidating obstacle course race! It was going to be in Kansas City days after my Cozumel trip and I don't want to be training while trying to soak in some sun in Mexico! So that one was a "no!"

So next it was the KC Dirty Duo, which consists of a two-person team doing a six-mile running and biking course with fun obstacles on the way. That was early last week when she mentioned it to me. So I looked it up online and did some research-this is something I could do! It wasn't straight time running and the little obstacles along the way seemed fun! The last 40 yards you have to crawl through a mud pit with your partner! Who doesn't like mud? Oh, and did I mention there is beer, bands and food afterwards? Ya, that's my kind of race;)

So last week, I started the couch to 5K plan, but starting on week 4 since I'm not really on the "couch." So far, so good! I'm not saying I've found the runner's "high" everyone talks about, but it's "ok." My sister-in-law and Sarah asked me, "Isn't it amazing?!?!" Frankly? NO! I'm really not enjoying any of it, but it does give me satisfaction each time I finish my runs knowing that I've never been a runner, however I'm gettin' it done!

So yesterday I gave Sarah the official "yes" to joining the KC Dirty Duo! OMG! I think I'm crazy!!

Has anyone ever done a Dirty Duo or heard of them? What about a Warrior Dash?

So that's my big news, peeps! The race is the last weekend in June, which is just 3 weeks before my Mexico vacation, so it's something to aim for while getting more in shape for my bikini;) Plus, Sarah and I have so much fun together and I can't wait to sweat, get muddy and then have a congratulatory beer afterwards with her;)

What are your plans for Easter? Do you have any advice on hosting a large dinner party? What did you do for your first race? How did you train? Any advice?

Desserted Tip of the Day: Go meatless for one day a week. It saves on overall calories, money and your carbon footprint.

My Weekend Dreaming of Sun

Good Evening!

Here we are at the end of another weekend, looking "forward" to the week ahead of us, and reminiscing of the weekend behind us-or at least I am! I had a great, fun-filled weekend in Kansas and I hope you did, also!

Friday night was our April bunco night and I actually won a prize-$10! WOOP WOOP!

The winners of April Bunco: Me, Tonya, Brianne and Leanne

I look forward to bunco each month! It's a great excuse to get out with some girls, drink, eat and laugh! All of my favorite things;)

Amy, Pepper, Vanessa, Lisa, me and Leanne

After sleeping in Saturday (HEAVEN!) I got up and worked out and cleaned up around the house. B went out golfing in the morning and by the afternoon, he had golfed 18 holes and was ready for one more round! So I joined him and his friends in the last round and although I didn't do as well as last week, it was still a fun time with beautiful weather!

Our big exciting news is that we booked a vacation last night!!!!!

All-Inclusive to Cozumel, Mexico!

Yesterday in between cleaning and working out, I started to look for deals in Mexico. We ruled out Mexico right away because of the violence over there, but we couldn't get over how much cheaper it was then other destinations (there is probably a reason for that!). We know some other couples who had gone to Mexico recently or are going soon, and they had no problems, so we thought we would open up our search to Mexico. I found a GREAT deal to Cozumel and then we invited all of the couples over (4 of us) for a vacation booking party! We got it all booked and we're ready to go in July for an awesome friends vacation! We are going during B's 30th birthday weekend and also our friend's first year anniversary so it's great timing!

WE CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!

My upcoming week is kind of another killer with travelling for my job, so I'm gonna post as much as I can! Have a great week everybody!

What is the most exciting vacation you've ever been on? What is a destination you would love to visit for a vacation? What is one fun thing you did this weekend?

Desserted Tip of the Day: Go to mambosprouts.com to get discounts for healthy, natural products.

Just Belt It!

Good Evening Peeps!

I'm heading out to a banquet tonight, but I thought I would say "hi" since I haven't been posting the past couple of days. As always, I'm keeping WAY more busy than I should be-but hey, that's life!

Today I had an interesting outfit that I HOPE I pulled off! I bought a thick turquoise stretchy belt in the fall and basically bought it for one outfit that I don't wear too often, but I LOVE the belt! So I threw this together:

Orange, fitted tee with a fitted jean suit jacket over, cinched with my turquoise belt! I would have chosen different pants in a perfect world-but these had to do! So what do you think, did I pull it off? I love the idea of cinching jackets with belts, but I've never tried-just admired from afar....

I haven't posted a sweaty pic in awhile, so here you go!

After my Zumba class;)

I've also been really enjoying my juicer I bought a couple weeks ago. It's almost sooo much of a pain to clean it each time that it deters me from making some juice, but just almost;)

What's the difference between these two juices:

??????

The top one was yummy, and the bottom was DISGUSTING!!!! How can that be? They both looks the same! I did some experimenting and here are the ingredients:

GOOD VEGGIE JUICE

1 tomato

1/2 cucumber

1/2 jalapeno

BAD VEGGIE JUICE

2 stalks of celery

1/2 lemon

handful of baby carrots

BLECH!

I really had to choke down the bad one, but it's veggie nutrition didn't go to waste!!! Unfortunately, I made the bad one before I made the good one, so I was really wondering if any veggie juice would be good! Luckily, I like tomato juice, and with a little bit of cucumber for a fresh, crisp taste, and a bit of spiciness from the jalapeno is a winning combo!!

I'm out, kids! Sorry I have to make this short, but I'm posting between appointments-you know how it goes;)

Have you made a smoothie, juice, recipe that sounded great but came out awful?? Did you still eat it?

What is a fun article of clothing you own but have troubles pairing it with outfits?

Would You Like a Cookie?

Good Evening Bloggies!

Another Monday down in the books-thank goodness! I feel good about today: I've kept my eating in check, I got a decent workout in, and I helped my sister-in-law and her boyfriend move into their new house!

Today I have a couple of yummy healthy food reviews for you that you will LOOOVVEEE!

First up: Sensible Portions Veggie Chips.

Source

These are all-natural potato chips that just melt in your mouth-so good! They have tomato and spinach flavoring with a touch of sea salt and 30% less fat that regular potato chips! Plus, look at the serving size!

That's a nice helping! I really enjoyed these and plan on getting more from their extensive line! I bought these at Wal-Mart.

The next review I'm really excited about: Goji Gourmet Cookies!

I bought a sampler pack of these on a whim, hoping they were good! They was a special deal going on at Carrots N Cake and I love cookies, especially if they have health benefits! And boy do they! Goji Gourmet cookies tote the following:
-No Preservatives
-All-Natural
-High in Antioxidants
-Low Calorie (50 calories for a 2-cookie portion)
-Handmade
-Packed with "Superfoods"
-Energizing

I received four different kinds, and just for you all, I tried all four;) Almond Oat is hearty and sweet with the right amount of nuttiness. Ginger Walnut is very gingery so if you don't like that flavor I would steer away! This was probably my least favorite, but still good! Cherry Cacao was definitely my favorite! The only chocolate cookie, it has rich and plump cherries throughout-really good! And lastly is good ole' Chocolate Chip! Of course those are good-you can't go wrong there!

These cookies are really small, a tiny bit bigger than a quarter. But it's rich taste and healthy ingredients really make up for it! You can have 4 cookies for 200 calories and definitely satisfy your sweet tooth! They are chewy, soft and delicious-like your grandma made them for you!

I'm very excited to have these as a sweet, healthy treat after dinner or as a snack! I would HIGHLY recommend these! I believe I'll always have a bag in my pantry from now on-I love them that much!

Have you found any good food finds lately? What do eat to satisfy a sweet tooth and stay within healthy eating guidelines? What's your favorite snacky chip that won't unhinge your diet?



A Weekend Recap

Hola!!

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! I spent mine dining with the in-laws, working at a Farm, Home & Garden Show, golfing, going to an adult prom, and nursing a hangover;) Today has been quite the wasted day, but it just goes to show you how much fun prom was for me last night!

Saturday morning started with a delicious protein pancake for me and the hubs!

Chocolate Banana Protein Pancake
As adapted from Biochemista

1.5 scoops of chocolate protein powder
1/3 cup of egg whites
1 T. diced nuts (I used walnuts)
1 T. applesauce, unsweetened
1/2 banana, mashed
pinch of baking powder and salt

Mix all together and put in heated and sprayed pan, flip, syrup-up, and EAT!

Although we had wind warnings in Kansas (and those are no joke! We're talking over 40 mph here!) we decided to spend a warm (up to high 80's!) Spring day golfing. So we packed up our clubs for the first time and headed to the course!

Although I was a decent golfer in high school, I haven't golfed for over a year (and that was the one and only time I golfed last year), but we pay a very expensive country club membership every year so I'm determined to go out more often and get my money's worth!

I shot a 51 and B shot a 47. Pretty good for not golfing in awhile! We did fudge SOME of the shots though;) But we won't tell you about those;)

Good times! We about blew away because of the wind though;)

Then last night we geared up for adult prom! Our local bar decided to host this event and B and I were all over it! We love getting dressed up and having "themed" parties! And what better excuse to wear your prom dress again after wearing it only once back in high school!

This is my junior year prom dress! I remember having a great time in it then, and it was just as fun now-except we could dance and have a beer in our hands!! I also wore my wedding tiara, so I designated myself queen of the prom;)!!!

B actually bought a tux in college, so he already owned one! He was the only guy there with a tux and he looked super handsome!

My friend Amy and I dancing!

We went with a group of friends and we all dressed up! It was a blast! I hope they host this again next year!

So today has been spent sleeping, watching Frasier reruns, and generally laying around. It's been a pretty big waste of a Sunday, but again, I'm not very good at "relaxing" so this has forced me to take a nice, quiet day which has been appreciated!

Tomorrow my sister-in-law moves into her new house so we're hoping to help move her.

Have you had an excuse to wear an old prom dress or bridesmaid dress? Do you know where they are?
Are you a golfer? And if so, how often do you golf during the summer?

And the Winner Is....

Miss SillyHille!

SillyHille said...

April 7, 2011 9:38 PM

I'll enter- however I'm not a big believer in vitamins and supplements (sorry- does that disqualify me?!) for a lot of reasons.... I think I'd be willing to look their products over and would most likely go for a protein powder. :)
And you know I follow you ! :)

Congratulations and Swanson Health Products will be getting you your $10 e-card right away! Please let me know what you use it on!

Thank you to all who entered and to Swanson Health Products! I really appreciate it! I'll hopefully be back tomorrow with a wonderful Saturday recap;)

Good night!