Italian Cream Muffin in a Mug

I made a yummy breakfast on the cold Saturday morning. I made the basic Muffin in a Mug recipe from the Trim Healthy Mama Book, I added 1 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut & 1 Tbsp. pecans. I topped it with some kefir cheese sweetened with stevia and sprinkled with toasted coconut and a few more pecans. 

Creamy Berry Bonanza Smoothie (THM-S)

I am seriously addicted to milk kefir. To the point that I have limit myself to once a day. It's tart, creamy & best of all it's good for you. It has so much healthy bacteria that we need in our gut, it's even better than yogurt. If your not already hooked, you have to try it. 

I have tweaked a version of a kefir smoothie from the Trim Healthy Mama book. I made it thick & creamier.  In an effort to be healthier, I am going to, at a minimum, have 1/2 of milk kefir a day, I don't think that will be a problem due to my addition. 

Creamy Berry Bonanza Smoothie (THM-S)

1/2 cup Milk kefir

1/2 cup Kefir cheese, could use cottage cheese

1/2 cup frozen berries, I used strawberries and blackberries

1 Tbsp. Coconut oil

1 tsp. gr. flax

Stevia

1 scoop whey protein powder, I use Swansons vanilla(which is sweetened with stevia)

Blend and enjoy!

To make kefir cheese is easy. Strain the milk kefir using a strainer lined with a coffee filter and pour in milk kefir, let it strain for 24 hours in the fridge. What you have left is milk kefir cheese and whey. This whey is not the same as the powdered whey used in the smoothe recipe above, that is whey isolate protien powder. This whey is liquid gold, in my opinion. I will post more on how I'm using whey soon. 

Our Christmas card 2013

I thought I'd post our Christmas card from this past Holiday season. I still can't believe I have a senior! Ahh..... 

What will next year's card be like having a college student? 

Things are a changin'!

Good Girl Moonshine

I have been making GGMS in big batches and keeping it in the fridge. That way it's ready to drink. I like to have simple things already done & ready to go. I do have to say I've built up my tolerance  for ACV! It can be addicting. 

I learned about this awesome drink from Trim Healthy Mama. 

P.S. My favorite benifit is that it can help weight loss. Also, I've read that it helps with inflammation among other things.  And, It is detoxifying, who doesn't love that!

Good Girl Moonshine

Makes: 1/2 gallon jar

1/2 cup Bragg's ACV (apple cider vinegar) 

2 tsp. gr. ginger

Stevia, to taste 

Add all ingredients to 1/2 gallon jar and enough water to fill the rest of the jar, stir. That's it! Give it a good shake, stir or twirl with a straw before you drink as the ginger tends to settle. 

Enjoy!

6 months old cuties

This is such an adorable picture of Jasmine (upper left), my niece Scarlett (lower left), and my two nephews JJ (top right) and Carter (lower right). I believe Jasmine is 5 months in this pic! It's one of my favorites of her! My sister Elizabeth found these pictures and compiled all these cuties! Thanks, Liz!

Christmas 2013

We celebrated Christmas with my family recently. My sister made us awesome Colorado (state flag) hats. Thanks Elizabeth! I love mine! We also happen to get together on the same day as a Broncos playoff game and (yea!) they won!
What a nice day with the family!

Boat Building

The boat was built in 2011 and here are some of the progress

Lake Pueblo

Keith & I had nice weekend camping in July. 

I did it!

I finished my half marathon! And got to run through the zoo while doing it! 

On race day I just had a positive attitude. I really wasn't completely feeling it but, of course, I wanted to finish what I started. I'M GLAD I DID! 

I quit training in March, I was so burnt out.  Then a week before the race I had gotten sick. Two days prior I went to the doctor and got some good stuff just to help me through.  At the starting line I was saying to myself to just do what I can and I was thinking I'll never do this again but, just be glad to check it off my bucket list.  By the finish line, I was crying because I felt I had accomplished something so big (for me). Near the end I was thinking I could do one of these again! Too funny! 

Now that a little time has passed, I'm not sure I'll do another yet but, so happy at my achievement. 

I am now focusing on other fitness activities like yoga & a powerflex class at my gym. I'm loving classes they keep me motivated. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom was in the newspaper on her first (leap) birthday. She would have turned 15 1/4 today. I love you mom!

8 mile day

Cuddling in the recliner on a cold night

More owl hats

This is Mia! So cute wearing the pink owl hat I made her. 

This is Bristol! She was just a week old in this pic. 

Happy Birthday to my sweet Jasmine

Jasmine turned 17 this week! I can't believe it, I can't believe how fast time has flown. My baby girl is getting older right before my eyes. She celebrated with our annual tradition of dinner at Red Robin. 

6 miles today

 

My fitbit is saying I took over 16,000 steps. I really am surprising myself with this goal of mine. Less than a moth ago I was excited about a 12,000 step day. Today was a 6-mile run. I walked most of it. Because it snowed, I went to the gym & used the treadmill which is like torture. You'd think I would've ran to get it over with but no. I read my book to pass the time.

This is Lincoln and his new hat

 I made this cute blue owl hat for my Cousin's new son Lincoln. I just have to say the newborn size is so small! 

I asked Andy and Erin to send me pictures with the hat on. I love these!

65 years is a long time!

 We just took a quick trip to Kansas City to surprise my Mother-in-law and Father-in-law for their 65th wedding anniversary.  

Happy Anniversary to Ken and Ora Mae!

We had to leave early for the flight and Jasmine fell asleep in the truck on the way to the airport.

They were surprised for sure. There was about 40 people at the party and they had no idea what they were walking into. They thought they were just going to dinner with my sister and brother-in-laws.

Our trip to Albuquerque

We had a very nice trip to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. We packed for two nights and ended up only spending one night. It was chalk full of sight-seeing and finding yummy food and most importantly spending time with my family. 

 We went to Pecos National Historical Park north of Santa Fe

Going down into the kiva

We found Route 66! Jasmine really wanted to see it. Of course, it's just a road but we drove down to see all of the old buildings that are still there. 

This is an old bridge that is no longer in use but, it used to be part of Route 66.

We found good food. This was Harry's Road House.

I had a panini and Jasmine ordered a Caesar salad.

Then we went to the Fiesta Balloon Museum. 

 

There was a wedding that was about to begin while we were at the museum.

I got my workout in while at the hotel. I have to say, I think this is the first time I have ever gotten a workout in on vacation. 

We went to Old Town Albuquerque.

We went to a greasy spoon diner on Route 66. 

And, on our way out of the state we had to stop by and stock up on some "two-buck-chuck"