Camping

This weekend we are taking my 3 year old son on his first camping trip. I feel really bad for my parents because my baby doll has been acting crazy these days and we are leaving her behind solo for the first time. She has hit the stage I can not stand. Too young to know what is wrong and doesn't quite understand any form of punishment, at least I think she doesn't. She is a smart girl and she always has this look after she hits me or demands candy in the morning, like what are you gonna do about it, lip turned up and eyes wide filled with tears. I remember my son hitting this stage and it just happened to be when I was 9 months pregnant. At least I'm not putting any other humans at risk when I receive a swift kick in the belly when she wants to run wild through the grocery store. 


Back to the camping, I really have been pulling my hair out this week, the kids have really been driving me bonkers! I'm double excited about the camping trip because I looked up campfire recipes and excited to try them out and love camping. Pizza on a taco shell, jiffy style pop corn, easy corn on the cob, and campburritos just to name a few. Ugh girls are so sweet and evil at the same time, she is cuddling me while I type and melting my heart, she just got done screaming at me for 30 minutes, for what, I'm not quite sure. Stay tuned for the post camp review!

Portabella and Kale Burger

Tonight I'm making a family favorite. I love it because it is very tasty and super easy and quick to make. This is what you need:

olive oil

large portabella mushrooms

fresh basil

kale

cheese

buns

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Remove stem from mushrooms and brush with olive oil. Cover a baking sheet in foil and bake portabella mushroom stem side down for 10 minutes. Flip mushroom, add some fresh chopped basil, and bake an additional 10 minutes. Optional, add cheese and bake for a couple minutes longer until cheese is melted.
3) Toast bun, place some sauteed Kale on top of mushroom.  Quick tip when you are sauteing the Kale add some lemon or lime juice, it makes the Kale so yummy.

My Dirty Weekend

This weekend was an unexpected, delightful, dirty, crafty, kidless weekend! So it all began Friday afternoon when I finally decided to check my beyond full voicemail and got some very upsetting news, well at least to me, my mud run for April 7th was postponed till October 6th. Who does that? That was a big bummer but I did just hear about another mud run strictly for women called Kiss Me Dirty and it just happened to be going on this weekend. My husband saw how bummed I was and agreed to let me do this one, hmmm was it me or the fact that he got to watch thousands of woman play in the mud in minimal clothing??? I had a blast even though it wasn't competitive, I am competitive at an unhealthy level, and I ran it solo with out teammates to cheer me on. It did live up to it's name, it was very dirty and I was covered in mud, so much so I had to hold up my shorts as I ran through the finish line, not to mention leaving behind my beloved running shoes that were beyond repair.


Kiss Me Dirty is a great race just for women. It is a 5K with about 10 obstacles and some of the money raised goes towards gynecological cancer research. The race takes place in several cities throughout the U.S. I suggest getting a group of ladies together young and old, dressing crazy, and having a fabulous time. Also keep in mind for the men not only do they get to see a bunch of ladies get dirty, they also have beer on site, my husband thoroughly enjoyed that plus. Like I said it's a non-competitive race so it isn't timed but they do give out awards for best costume and best cocktail dress. I did see some crazy prom dresses out there. They also have a shoe donation and I seriously suggest you take this into consideration when choosing your shoe apparel because they will be extremely muddy and could possible be sucked into one of the mud pits, just saying.


This is me pre-race:

And after, I may look dirty but this was actually after I rinsed off and as you can see shoeless, bye bye old running shoes, tear:

Next mud run, October 6th, Terrain Mud Run! Oh and since this weekend was kidless there was lots of drinking going on :)


www.kissmedirty.com

www.terrainracing.com

Poop and Tacos!

Did I say poop? Yes I did. So I told you all earlier I was having trouble keeping my 1 year old's pants and diaper on. She did the unthinkable yesterday while my husband and I were preparing tacos for my mother-in-law and father-in-law to come over, she removed her diaper, sat down in her cute little princess chair and took a dump. Of course I had no clue she did this until my 3 year old son yells to me I smell poop mama! So gross and let me tell you it is not the first time she decided to poop without a diaper on and romp around the house. It seems like all my life consists of is poop and screaming these days but hopefully one of the two will come to a stop soon, I would be too greedy if I wanted both to go away. One thing I have learned parenting is that when one problem ends another, more severe, problem begins. Yay!


Now the tacos part. This is a team dinner in my house hold. I am horrible at frying taco shells but my husband is a genius, even my dad is impressed, and we are the Mexicans around here... my husband is Italian. Anyways I used to make him my dad's special beef taco recipe but since his diet it restricted, I just put some chicken in the crock pot in the morning, cover with chicken broth and let cook on low all day. Easy! For me I just make beans and my Mexican Rice and load that up onto a tostada.

Mexican Rice

1 C Jasmine Rice (or any white rice)

2 cloves garlic finely chopped

1 medium onion (white/yellow) chopped

2 TBS olive oil

2 TBS cilantro

15 oz can diced tomatoes

4 oz tomato sauce

15 oz vegetable broth (or chicken broth)

1) Heat oil in skillet and saute onions until become a little translucent, add rice and stir until begins to brown. 

2) Add garlic, broth, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and cilantro. Bring to a boil, turn heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.

Enjoy! Sorry no pictures I actually just made white rice last night.

Pinto Beans

1 Pound pinto beans

1 large onion (white/yellow)

3 large garlic cloves

dry basil

salt/pepper

For this recipe you can make it in the crock pot and let it cook all day or you can make, I think, about an hour in advance. It has been awhile since I made it on the stove.

1) Let pinto beans soak in water over night.

2) Fill large pot 3/4ths full of water and add pinto beans.

3) Cut onion into large pieces and chop garlic. Put into pot with beans. as well as the dry basil and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Let boil for about an hour stirring every once and awhile, if water gets low just add some more. Cook until beans are soft.

Enjoy! My husband and I eat the beans with shredded white cheese as a bean soup then the next day I will make tacos. You can either eat the whole beans or mash them up and fry them up in some grease (I would use olive oil, my dad would use lard, and my husband would use bacon grease) for a refried beans. Oh and if you are a bacon lover my husband and dad add bacon to the beans.

Sorry no pictures, next time I will take some and add them! Also the beef taco recipe, I need my dad to refresh me.

Veggie Coma!

Oh geez! Oh geez! Should I say it a third time. I'm in a serious veggie coma! Today I decided to try a new recipe and it was great considering the ingredients involved. The best part is it is full of vegetables with a carb loaded full feeling. Paleo, I'm really not sure what that is exactly and it really doesn't appear to be much of a diet, many of the recipes include bacon and frying up vegetables in bacon grease. I guess that is one subject I will need to research and get back to you, all I know is that this is a diet that would totally make my husband feel like he died and went to heaven. The reason I'm bringing it up is because tonight I tried a Paleo Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice for dinner, and yes it required bacon, but not in my version :) Along with the "rice" I also made a spring roll, love, love spring rolls! Of course all this following my famous Green Smoothie. 

Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice

This recipe is so interesting because it mimics Asian Fried Rice minus the rice, yes rice! In substitution of the rice you use Cauliflower. Here is what you will need;

1 small cauliflower

2 large carrots (chopped)

5 oz mushrooms (sliced)

olive oil

2 eggs

1 inch nob of fresh ginger (finely grated)

1 TBS fresh mint

2 TBS fresh basil

2 TBS cilantro

1 tsp soy sauce 

1 tsp sesame oil (or coconut oil) optional

So my recipe is quite different from the Paleo recipe so I'm not quite sure if it is still Paleo because I have no clue what that means, lol, but mine was good and still full of good stuff so there!

1) Put cauliflower in the food processor and pulse until small and grainy and looks like the consistency of rice.

2) Scramble 2 eggs, spray a large skillet with cooking spray and cook eggs. Set them aside.

3) Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat in skillet and saute carrots until softened then add mushrooms and ginger. When mushrooms brown add cauliflower, cover and turn down heat to low for 5 minutes.

4) Remove from heat add diced mint, basil, cilantro, and eggs. Drizzle with soy sauce and oil.

Enjoy!

Spring Rolls

I just love spring rolls, they are so light and delicious! When someone posted this on pinterest I got so excited. I have a picture of them with soy sauce which was no bueno, next time I will take time to make the tasty peanut sauce that always comes with them in the restaurants. I actually don't mind them plain. Here is what you need:

Rice Paper (in Asian Aisle at store)

2 avocados

1 carrot

1 cucumber

green leaf lettuce

fresh mint

fresh basil

1) Fill a wide shallow bowl with warm water and place a paper towel on the table. Have an extra paper towel handy for drying rice paper.

2) Dip 1 piece of rice paper in water for a few seconds place on paper towel then dunk 1 more, place on top of other rice paper and pat dry with other paper towel.

3) Chop cucumbers in thin strip, pull green lettuce leaves apart, finely shred carrot, and chop avocado into 1/2 inch cubes.

4) Place lettuce leaf on rice paper, 2 mint leaves, 2 basil leaves, couple strips of cucumber, some avocado, and carrots. Fold it up like a burrito nice and tight. Place on plate seam down.

5) Repeat each step until done.

Enjoy! Get creative and create a yummy dipping sauce! Now do you all know why I was in a vegetable coma!

Great Workout and Post Workout Fuel

Lets just start with this:

Maybe I should have done the photo shoot before my run but the point I'm trying to get across is that if you are a runner these are a must have! I have had them since January and I have no clue why I have never tried them out. I'm in love. They are warm and so freakin comfortable! Yay for me considering in a couple days the weather will be in the 80s. Well now I know, right!


I just ran 5 miles and feel like I could run another 8 right now, wanna know how the heck I have all this energy?  The reason I feel like I have consumed a pot of coffee is because I had a great post workout shake. I also made one for my husband to try to keep him around for a couple more years, ha ha. Anyways since he did not work out I just made him a simple Green Shake:

1/2 C coconut milk

2 coconut ice cubes

1 banana (frozen)

1 tsp agave nectar

1 TBS flax seed

1 C spinach

All you do is through all that in a blender and you have an instant healthy energy drink. To my shake I did all the same but added a tablespoon of peanut butter for some added protein. You need to try one of these Shakes you will be impressed!

Flax Seed

Now I can't tell you how drinking this shake has improved my workout or tomorrows energy level I will have to get back to you, but what I can tell you is that for my last couple workouts I have been eating good sources of carbs and proteins (4:1 ratio) immediately after my workouts and I have been feeling amazing, lots of energy! I also just feel lighter. I really can't even feel the 8 miles I ran, those 40 burpees, 300 sit-ups and 40 push ups I did yesterday at all, no joke.

Oatmeal Bars and Crafts!

Lets start by this picture of my two little cutie pies, they were lounging in their chairs while watching Barney :) Oh and I hope nudity does not offend you because I am having such a hard time keeping both of their pants on these day.

After I had my morning "Green" Shake I noticed I was all out of my oatmeal bars, as well as most everything in the house. I did have some oats, some craisins, sunflower seeds, applesauce, a banana... hmm sounds perfect for a batch of oatmeal bars! I'm posting this recipe because although I did enjoy the last recipe, these taste way better. These are the ingredients I used:

2 C Quick Oats

1/2 C Applesauce

1 Ripe Banana

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

1/4 C unsweetened coconut flakes

1/4 C unsalted sunflower seeds

1/4 C craisins

1 tsp agave nectar

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2) Mash banana and mix in with all ingredients.

3) Place in baking pan, I used a round cake pan, bake for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

The great thing about these bars is that you can add any dry fruit, nuts, or seeds that you want. Also you can substitute in any sweetener you like: honey, stevia, maple... Today I'm going to pick up some Chai seeds and through them in the next batch.

While these babies were cooking the kids and I got creative. I saw a cute idea on pinterest with a homemade family tree. I got the paint out and the kids and I got dirty. So doing this with a 1 year old wasn't the easiest and quite messy, but after a few mess ups I really like this one:

The only thing missing is daddy's hand. I'll be sure to post a picture of the finished, framed product!

Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is an all time favorite in this house, who doesn't love it? We all love the cheesy goodness but the thought off all the grease sitting in my stomach does make me sick. After consuming a large bowl of this comfort food rolling around in sweats is a must. Although sometimes rolling around in comfortable clothing sounds appealing, I would rather do it weighing 10 pounds less, at least what feels like 10 pounds less, so I went in search of a yummy mac and cheese recipe. Who came to my rescue, non other than skinnytaste.com, thank you Gina! This is the second time I've made this recipe and we all love it.


Here are all the ingredients you will need:

Of course like always my recipe does not contain all the ingredients from the original recipe, such as pepper and onions.

12 oz whole wheat macaroni

12 oz broccoli florets

2 TBS butter

1/4 C flour

1 C vegetable broth

2 C Cheddar cheese

2 C milk

Parmesan cheese

Panko bread crumbs

1) Preheat oven to 350, spray a baking dish with cooking spray. 

2) Boil noodles and broccoli together according to package minus 2 minutes.

3) In a medium sauce pan melt butter, and cook until golden brown. Add flour and whisk until clumpy. Slowly add milk and vegetable broth whisking until mix begins to boil. Simmer for 5 minutes until sauce thickens. Remove from heat and add cheese, mix until melted.

4) Drain pasta and broccoli, pour back into pot and mix with cheese sauce.

5) Pour into baking dish, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs. Spray top with cooking spray.

6) Bake for 15-20 minutes and an broil for an additional 2 minutes.

Enjoy!

Chicken Soup and Homemade Egg Noodles

Today unfortunately my husband woke up with a sore throat and demanded Chicken Soup. Since I had pretty much all the ingredients on hand I decided to make some for him from scratch. I also wanted to add noodle but that was one item I did not have on hand so I looked it up and found the most simple recipe ever for noodles and surprise, surprise they are good. Wish I would of had this recipe sooner.

Homemade Egg Noodles

This recipe I got from another great recipe website the Pioneer Woman. The ingredients are simple just 2 eggs to every cup of flour. For a serving of two all you need is one cup of flour and two eggs! Now this recipe requires you to get physical and dirty! Don't be scared! 

1) Pour flour into bowl and make a little well in the center for your eggs.

2) Get dirty! With your hands mix the flour and eggs until all the flour is moist.

3) Take your dough and work it (knead, punch, stretch, beat it up) on a floured surface.

4) Once your dough is not tacky anymore and smooth like this, it is done:

5) Place in a bag and save for later, or let it rest on the counter until you are ready to use it.

6) When ready roll the dough as thin as possible, use a pizza cutter to cut strips.

7) Place noodles in salted boiling water and cook for 2 minutes.

Chicken Noodle Soup

When I make soup I usually began the same for all of them. The ingredients include:

1 TBS olive oil

2 large carrots, diced

4 celery stalks, diced

4 C vegetable broth

8 C water

2 TBS parsley

3 chicken breasts

1/4 C flour

1) In a large stock pot heat olive oil and saute` carrots and celery. 

2) Slowly add vegetable broth and water and bring to a boil.

3) Add chicken and parsley, cover and simmer about 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked.

4) Remove chicken and cut into pieces.

5) Add noodles and boil for 2 minutes.

6) Put chicken back into pot, turn to simmer.

7) Mix flour with water and stir until smooth, add to pot and simmer for an additional 5 minutes to let broth thicken.

Enjoy!

Corned Beef and Cabbage; St. Patrick's Day

Yes everyone tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and because on Sunday I have to wake up early for a race I am celebrating it and my mom's birthday a day in advance! I am a vegetarian so unfortunately myself and my husband, due to the corned beef seasoning, did not taste this meal, but it was father and mother approved! So... I will give the recipe to all of you in time for tomorrow. A plus is I had a whole 5 Guinness beers to drink solo because all I needed was one 12 oz. bottle for this recipe. I got this recipe from the foodnetwork.com website and is a fantastic slow cooker one, easy! These are the ingredients you will need:

1-4 pound Corned Beef

4-6 red potatoes (I used 2 large russet)

4 carrots (my kids like baby peeled so I used a hand full of those)

2 celery stalks

1 12 oz bottle dark beer

1 medium cabbage

1) Cut celery stalk in half, peel (do not peel red) and quarter potatoes.

2) Place all vegetables in crock pot.

3) Rinse corned beef and place on top of vegetables.

4) Dump in beer and add water to cover corned beef, cover with seasoning that comes with Corned Beef.

5) Cook on low in crock pot for 9 hours.

6) Remove meet and vegetables  and cover with foil.

7) Cut cabbage into quarters and cook on high in crock pot and fluid for 20-30 minutes.

Thin Mint Cupcakes

My mom's birthday just happens to be on St. Patrick's Day so tonight I am preparing her a very St. Patrick's Day meal! For dessert I am making her my version of thin mint cupcakes. I'm so excited over these because it is the first time I've attempted Ritz Cracker thin mints and a mint chocolate filling that I made all on my own. The idea for the Ritz thin mints I actually have to give credit to my grandmother-in-law, whom was an excellent cook. I used the recipe from the back of the Hershey's Cocoa powder (best chocolate cake ever) made one minor adjustment and filled it with a mint chocolate filling and put a thin mint on the bottom. I then topped it off with a recipe for Bailey's Cream Cheese Frosting I got from the website skinnytaste.com, also with one minor adjustment to cut costs.

Ritz Cracker Thin Mints

Here is what you need. A box of Ritz Crackers, a bag of chocolate chips, and peppermint flavor.

1) You melt 1 C chocolate chips according to package.

2) Mix in 1/2 tsp peppermint flavor into your melted chocolate.

3) Dip Ritz Crackers in chocolate; 1 C only made about 12 thin mints.

4) Place on baking sheet and put into freezer for about 8 minutes until hardens.

5) For cupcakes place into bottom of each baking cup and pour prepared batter over top.

Hershey's Chocolate Cupcakes

This is my mom's favorite chocolate cake recipe. It truly is perfect and so moist. The only thing I added was some coffee into the mix. The ingredients include:

2 C sugar

1 3/4 C all-purpose flour

3/4 C Hershey's Cocoa

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 C milk

1/2 C vegetable oil

2 tsp vanilla

1/4 C Coffee

3/4 C boiling water 

1) Heat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Mix all dry ingredients.

3) Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.

4) Mix boiling water with coffee and stir into batter, the batter will be thin.

5) Pour into cupcake pan.

6) Bake 22-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Mint Chocolate Filling

Today yay for me I got creative and tried to create my own filling. I would call it a success! The ingredients I used included:

1 C chocolate chips

1/2 tsp peppermint flavor

3 C powdered sugar

1 TBS Heavy Cream

2 TBS Coconut Milk (or any milk)

1) Melt chocolate according to package.

2) Stir in peppermint flavor.

4) One cup at a time beat powdered sugar into chocolate alternating with cream and milk; 1 TBS after each cup.

5) If the filling is too runny add more powdered sugar by the TBS, if the filling is too thick add more milk.

6) Cut small hole into top of cupcakes and pipe filling into center.

Bailey's Irish Cream Frosting

I got this recipe from skinnytaste.com and it was paired with a really yummy looking cupcake made with stout beer but since my children will be consuming this treat I paired it with just a chocolate cupcake. Also since my husband and I do not drink Bailey's Irish Cream I substituted the real thing for the Bailey's Coffee creamer, much cheaper and non-alcoholic. I also doubled the recipe.

1 C powdered Sugar

8 tsp Bailey's Irish Cream Creamer

11 ounces cream cheese

1) Simple: Put everything in a bowl and beat until creamy, I added just a little more powdered sugar to make mine thicker.

Quick, Cheap Snacks

Popcorn

My kids love popcorn so when I came across a easy recipe for cheap popcorn I jumped right on that. The boxes of popcorn that we buy at a grocery store are usually around 4 dollars for a box of three. I got this popcorn for 79 cents a pound! All you need is paper lunch bags and popcorn kernels.

You then measure out 1/2 Cup kernels and put into the paper bag. I doubled my paper bags because the first attempt with one bag did not go so well. The popcorn broke a hole through the bottom and burned. You then fold over the top two times. Put in the microwave standing up like so:

Pop on high for about 3 minutes. Remember to keep a close watch and listen to the popping when the popping begins to have 2 seconds between pops the popcorn is most likely done and will begin to burn.

Remove from the microwave:

And enjoy! Add any topping you like!

Momma's Day Off

Can I start with a WOOHOO! I have the day off today, the kids are with Oma, so what am I going to do today... plan my mamma's St. Patrick's Day birthday dinner, look up some healthy carbs and proteins for my after workout fuel, maybe go shopping, and take a run. Kinda sad, but maybe I will get wild and take a bath. The most exciting thing is that I am sitting and posting!


So I'm super excited to try out a new cupcake that I will own it! I have a ritz cracker mint chocolate creation that I have been wanting to try I just hope they turn out delicious. The frosting I am going to steal from skinnytaste.com which is a Bailey's Irish Cream Frosting. It sounds supper yummy and perfect for St. Patrick's Day! I will be also making Corned Beef and Cabbage, at my mom's request... I will be eating salmon and salad. Wish me luck and I am excited to share my creation with everyone else.


Now I'm off to do a little research and I hope to report back soon to let you know my findings!


I did get to take a bath, and my lil girl kept me company!

Sports Nutrition

You Are What You Eat, and Preform Like You Are

The year before I married my husband I really got into running. It became a daily routine and helped with the stress of planning my own wedding for 200 plus people and a little depression from not finishing up my degree. I felt wonderful after my workouts and was comfortable with my 10 minutes miles running about 8 miles a day... that did take up a good amount of time and at that point of my life I had all the time in the world. After I had my son I realized that a comfortable 10 minute mile was not going to be possible for this new momma trying to fit in a work out while he slept or attempting to take him along in a stroller, that chuncker ate every 2 hours, nearly not enough time to complete an 8 mile run. So as a result I sped up and because of this had the courage to enter a local race. I was terrified at first, it was very intimidating standing in a crowd of people at the beginning of the race, most of which looked like they were running pros, so the 10 minutes we were waiting for the race to began turned into what seemed like a life time and I found myself slowly creeping back, back, back behind the herd with the jogging strollers and people taking along their dogs. As the gun went off I found myself annoyingly behind the walkers and zig zagging around them, the joggers, and other runners, wow I was moving up to the front!

I ended up running hard and faster than I thought was possible for this momma. I ended up taking 8th in my age group, and let me tell you that was absolutely fabulous! Then it began, my addiction to running races, well almost. A couple weeks later my life was going to get crazy once more and I had to put my new found love on the back burner, I was pregnant. I didn't let that hold me back for long, three months after having my daughter I took on a 5 mile race, and although I was really slow I was so proud at the fact that I kept up a jog through the whole race and finished strong. Ok I felt like I was going to pass out after I crossed the finish line, I'm not gonna lie. Anyways as time went on I gained my speed and endurance up resulting in finishing my first half marathon and taking 1st place in my age group in my running clubs races overall, The Grand Prix. That leads me to today and I'm still trying to improve my time and endurance which brings me to the reason I'm telling all of you about my running so called "career." Lately I have been doing research on sports nutrition. I have been running on a regular basis but still not improving my time and crazy as it sounds gaining weight, this is what I found:

4:1 Carbohydrate to Protein Ratio

This morning I read an article on Active.com that I really took an interest to. The article was all about sports nutrition and this so called 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio. The idea is that after a work out you should be consuming 1 gram of protein for every 4 grams of carbohydrates at least 30 minutes after your workout. This will result in building adequate glycogen store in muscles and therefore result in weight lose and more importantly performance improvement. I have yet to test this and plan on letting all of you know how it works out for me and my journey to running my first marathon, second half marathon, and hopefully early next year a Tough Mudder. Juice and fruit is a good source of carbs and protein bars for the protein, but if, like me, eating right after a workout is difficult a sports drink will do the job. Another article goes into further detail that consuming too much protein or waiting longer than 30 minutes after a workout can result in less glycogen stored in muscles. Active.com actually has a calculator that tracks how much caloric intake in fats, proteins, and carbohydrates your body needs based on your age, weight, activity, and height. Keep in mind to calculate post-workout ratios you should be eating between 0.3 and 0.6 grams of carbs for each pound of body weight. Another important factor of post-exercise is drinking enough water for rehydration; a helpful tip is weigh yourself before and after each workout for every pound lost drink between 20 and 24 fluid ounces of water.

I hope this information will be useful to you and I will post my own results and good sources of carbohydrates and protein that I discover through my journey to becoming a better athlete.

Good Carbohydrates and Sources of Protein

I woke up this morning and had some time away from my little ones so decided it was the perfect time to research some "good" post-workout fuel. I came across some great sources such as The Harvard School of Public Health, CNN Health, and my go to site Active.com. On the Harvard website I came across a great visual of what our plates should be looking like throughout the whole day:

CNN Health had great ideas of quick easy foods that we should include in our daily routines and go to snacks for after exercising. Smoothies consisting of milk, yogurt, and bananas; or granola bars containing: oats, honey, orange juice, flax, nuts, and dried fruit are also a great snack. If you are sitting down for breakfast or a small meal eggs, cheese, and fruit are a good combination, or just a protein packed fish.

Now that I am informed of foods containing excellent sources of proteins and carbs I am excited to seek out recipes and try my own creations. Will keep you posted!

Welcome to Mommyhood

I really have no idea why every night I am up in the kitchen cleaning until 10 at night. I clean all day it seems and in the kitchen well over 90 % of the day... is this normal for a stay at home momma? Any ways I'm super excited because this is the night I sit with a beer, preferably wine, but all I have is a beer tonight, and watch The Bachelor way past my bed time, don't judge me. Since of course I am up doing laundry, cooking, cleaning, or just walking around in a daze because I am so exhausted I have my husband dvr it for me, plus it isn't so much fun to watch it with him criticizing ever moment of the show and hearing, "this is ridiculous," every few minutes. 


I'm a huge fan of my evenings because my baby doll is fast asleep the crying, arguing, and screaming that goes on throughout the day stops, well somewhat stops like I said my son is going through a tantrum stage (I really hope it is just a stage). The one good thing is I finally get to sit and eat dinner and I don't have kids fighting over sitting in my lap, yes that happens every time, I mean EVERY TIME I sit down, so I just don't do it. I'm literally on my feet all day long unless I am doing my crunches and push-ups. Guess that's just mommyhood when you have two children only 21 months apart.


Any ways I'm going to miss my late nights with Ben, boo! As I was eating dinner tonight I was checking out other momma blogs and decided I really need to post some of my family's recipes so I am going to try hard to cook some of them asap. I really do miss cooking them due to my husband unable to eat anything with tomatoes, chillies, peppers... yeah already explained that and unfortunately all my great recipes are Mexican dishes, I'm half Mexican and my dad was the main cook in the family using recipes passed on from his mom, my Nana. I'm also determined to get a hold of some of my husband's family's recipes they used in their bakery in Silver City New Mexico.


Look forward to the best beef tacos ever, excellent Mexican rice, maybe some chili con carne, calabacita, and great salsa! Happy Bachelor watching to all you fans tonight and I need to get off the computer before someone gives away if he chooses Lindzi or Courtney, my vote is for Lindzi! 


P.S. my dad uses lard in everything so hopefully I can create just as good of a meal with something a bit lighter and healthier!

Ewww, yes I posted a picture of me with out make-up, after a long day, and a 5 mile run,  ha ha.

More Crafts for my Baby Doll

More Bows

Today while my baby doll was sleeping I decided to get my craft box out and attempt another bow. I liked how this one came out and not as wild as the last. They are so simple to make and really take no time at all, I just wish she would wear them and show everyone how crafty her momma is. Well I guess that is one of the reasons I have a blog, proof that I am productive throughout the day. Hope you think they are as cute as I do! Also I got her to wear it for about 5 minutes :).

P.S. if anyone is interested in them I will make you one... at least someone might sport my creations!

I made this one today while my babies were at Oma's house.