No Bake Shakeology Energy Bites

These are so amazing... best recipe ever for the perfect little treat to amp of your energy for the day! My 2 year old daughter even loves them!!!! 

Recipe: 

2 cups dry oatmeal

1 scoop of Shakeology (Vanilla is what I used!)

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup ground flaxseeds

2/3 cup honey

2 tsp. pure vanilla

Mix all together and roll into balls! This recipe makes 16 medium sized bites. If you don't have Shakeology, you can replace it with 1 cup of chocolate chips. Enjoy!!! :)

Serving Size: 4 balls

21 Day Fix Containers: 

1/2 yellow

1/4 red

2 tsp

2 orange

Chicken Fajitas!

This recipe is a big time family favorite. It's SO delicious, super simple, and healthy! 

Recipe: 
6-8 cups of cooked, shredded chicken 
2 large bell peppers
1 medium onion
3-4 cloves of garlic
1 1/2 cups of salsa
1 tbsp lemon juice
-Mix it all together in a bowl and let marinate before eating. 

I freeze mine in baggies and pull out to heat up on those days when I don't feel like cooking. ;p
When you're ready to eat, place 1/2 cup of the mixture onto a wheat tortilla and add some cheese. Hope you enjoy as much as we do!!!

23 Mistakes Became 23 Life Lessons

Today is my 23rd birthday. I want to share with everyone 23 things that it took me 23 years to learn... and I hope these impact your thoughts and lives as much as they have impacted mine. I look forward to the next 23 years of my life and all of the other things I will learn!

1. Want to live the best life you possibility can? Live for Jesus. Spend every day drawing close to Him, learning about Him and from Him, and do everything you can to be a walking Bible in this world for those that don't know Him. 

2. Being consistent in your goals with your work out, nutrition, business, and whatever else... is the key to being successful. 

3. You can't just THINK your goals and dreams; you have to write them down and start taking ACTION to make those goals and dreams come true. 

4. You have to FAIL to GROW and learn.

5. Getting out of your comfort zone and facing your fears is the best way to grow. If you don't, you'll stay in the same place and never change or better your life in any way. 

6. You have to work on learning new things and bettering yourself DAILY.

7. Being a mom teaches you the true meaning of servant-hood. It's always putting someone else before yourself. 

8. If you're having a bad day, do something for someone else. 

9. Remember to always be content for the things you have. Every day, start the day off with writing down 5 new things that you're thankful for.

10. Sometimes to get a new perspective, you have to stand on your head. 

11. Being healthy means more than a consistent workout routine or nutrition. It means being able to get fast food on your period and not hate yourself. Sometimes being healthy smells like popcorn, chocolate, and a good movie. The mental health is just as important, if not more, as the physical.

12. Forgive people for the apologies you'll never get and love them anyway. They are trying just as hard as you are. Show grace.

13. Pick what's important and cut out everything else. The rest is just noise. 

14. Not everything has to turn out exactly the way you planned in order for you to call it success. It's the process that matters.

15. Don't try to go life alone. Friendship, a second opinion, constant encouragement, and just that rock-hard support is SO important.

16. It's easy to love yourself when your skin is clear, the house is clean, and you're feeling great. But when you strip away all of that and you're just left with chapped lips and your sweaty self... is there love? Love yourself when you're not very loveable.

17. "Joy comes to us in the ordinary moments. We risk missing out when we're too busy chasing down the extraordinary." -Brene Brown. Remember to keep your priorities straight. Don't miss out on the here and now because your head is always in the clouds. Your kids will only be babies for a short time, you will only be this young today, don't miss out. 

18. Is your fear external or internal? Know the difference and act accordingly. If it's from the mind, FACE IT and OVERCOME. If it's from the heart, step back.  

19. Are you making decisions based on what will make others happy? Stop. Make decisions based on your own happiness and those that are closest too you. 

20. Find what you believe in, and stand firm. 

 

21. Love changes. When you've been with someone for years, that love will change. Embrace the new and don't waste time trying to bring back the old. Change is good, and inevitable. 

22. Yoga will teach you a new way to see yourself and the world. It will teach you how to let go, and be in the present. It will teach you how to love yourself completely. 

23. Life is short. Have dance parties with your toddler, color your hair purple, forgive immediately, enjoy every moment, love people, show grace, and CHOOSE happiness.

Buffalo Chicken Bowl 
(21 Day Fix approved!!!!)  

Serves 6-8 
If using containers: 2 Yellow, 1.5 Red, 1 Blue, 1/2 Green

Ingredients:

2 (15-oz.) cans organic corn
2 (15-oz.) cans organic black beans
3 avocados
2 tomatoes
6 chicken breasts
1 cup Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 packet Hidden Valley Greek Yogurt Dressing
1-1/3 cups plain Greek yogurt
3 tablespoons milk (I used almond milk)

Directions:

1. Throw the chicken, garlic, and hot sauce into the crockpot and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. Once chicken is cooked through, shred it with 2 forks and set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the Hidden Valley Greek Yogurt Dressing, Greek yogurt, and milk then stick it in the fridge.
3. Next, drain and rinse your corn and black beans and add them to a bowl. Dice up the tomatoes and avocado and add them to the bowl as well.
4. Assemble your bowl by adding in the veggie mixture, topping with chicken, and finishing them off with some healthy Greek yogurt ranch dressing.

Lasagna 

(21 Day Fix Approved!!!) 

Serves: 6

If using containers: 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 blue

Ingredients

1 red & orange bell pepper

1 medium onion 

1 lb lean ground beef

1/4 cup Southwest seasoning 

2 cups mozzarella cheese (6 blue containers)

1 1/2 cups fat free refried beans (2 red containers) 

2 small cans diced green chiles

2 tsp. olive oil

12 corn tortillas

Southwest Seasoning 

1 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp cumin 

1 tsp coriander 

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp paprika 

1 tsp salt 

Directions

1. Dice the peppers & onions. Heat oil in large skillet and add peppers and onion and cook. Remove and set aside. 

2. Brown the ground beef in the skillet until almost done. Add chiles to meat and finish cooking. Add pep & onions to meat mixture, along with seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. Simmer for 10 minutes. 

3. Spray the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Line the bottom with 6 tortillas. Spread 1 red container of refried beans. Spread 1/2 of the meat and veggie mixture over the tortillas and beans. 

4. Layer the remaining 6 tortillas on top of the the meat mixture. Repeat spreading the beans and remaining meat and veggie mixture. 

5. Spread 6 containers of mozzarella cheese on tip. 

6. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbly. 

Hawaiian Pizza

(21 Day Fix approved) 

Serves 2

If using containers: 1 yellow, 1/2 purple, 1/2 red, 1 blue 

Ingredients: 

1 Flat whole wheat wrap

1 small can tomato sauce

1 cup deli sliced ham

1 cup chopped pineapple 

1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

Italian Seasoning 

Directions: 

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Put the wrap on a cookie sheet and pre-bake for 3 minutes.

3. Add tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, ham, pineapple, and cheese. Bake until cheese melts. 

I made 2 mini pizzas for my 2 year old on English muffins!

Such a delicious & guilt-free meal!!!!   

Apple Crisp 

(21 Day Fix approved!!!) 

Serves 4

If using containers: 1 purple, 1 yellow, 1 orange, 1/2 blue

Ingredients

4 cups apples, sliced + peeled (4 medium sized apples)

3 tbsp. maple syrup (can use half honey) 

1 tsp. cinnamon 

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup chopped walnuts 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

2. Combine apples, 2 tbsp. syrup, and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon in a medium baking dish. Mix.

3. In a separate bowl combine oats, 1 tbsp. syrup, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. 

4. Top apple mixture with oat mixture. 

Egg Muffins 
(21 Day Fix approved!!!)

Serves 6, 2 cups each
If using containers: 1 green, 1 red, 1/2 blue

Ingredients: 
12 eggs
1 (10oz) bag finely chopped spinach
1 medium bell pepper (substitute mushrooms, tomatoes) 
2 green onions
Salt & pepper
1 Tbsp Garlic powder
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese

Directions: 
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Lightly coat muffin pan with spray.
3. Place eggs in large bowl; blend. Season w/ salt & pepper. 
4. Add spinach, bell pepper, and onions. Mix well. 
5. Pour egg mixture into the muffin cups. 
6. Bake for 20 minutes. 

Serve on 1/2 an English muffin as 1 yellow container!

Macaroni & Cheese w/ Broccoli

(21 Day Fix approved!!!)

Serves 2

If using the containers: 1 yellow, 1 red, 1 blue, 1 green

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup uncooked whole wheat shells/spirals

2 cloves garlic, peeled and diced

1 cup cooked chicken, diced

2 cups cooked broccoli

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Salt & Pepper

Directions: 

1. Boil the pasta along with the garlic in salted water until tender. When draining the pasta, save 1/2 cup of the cooking water. 

2. Return the pasta and 1/3 cup water to the pot you boiled it in and reduce heat to medium. Add in the chicken and broccoli; cover and cook until warm. 

3. Stir in the yogurt until smooth. If you want the sauce to be thinner, add in the remaining cooking water. 

4. Let the sauce continue to simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently and allowing to thicken. Once the mixture is hot, turn off the heat and stir in the cheese. 

Enjoy!!!

Happiness. Until this weekend... I think I forgot the true meaning of happiness.
I went through over a year of hating my entire life. Of wanting to die and not being able to find anything in my life that was worth living for. Nothing brought me joy. I was full of anger, negativity, and I was selfish. 
Now... I look back and have no idea how I lived like that. There is SO much to be thankful for. There is SO many things in my life that bring me SO much JOY!!!! Most of the time, I just feel like dancing. It's like I was given a second chance to live my life right... and I won't take that for granted!

I want to share a few things that have happened these past few days that have just made me so happy..

First. DANCE! 
Take hands. Stand close. Look into each others eyes. Smile. Laugh. Follow the beat. 
My husband and I took a Ballroom dance class this weekend. It was SO much fun. More fun than we've had together in a long time. Sometimes, you just have to do something new. Something that forces some connection. We both laughed so much and just had fun... being goofy. Being us. <3

Second. Nature and Fitness. 
This morning my husband and I woke up super early, had our yummy Shakeology for breakfast, went on a morning hike, and then had lunch with some good friends. Played some HORSE (Basketball), sat in the sun while our daughters played a small inflatable pool, and just relaxed. It was so wonderful. After lunch, Casey and I went home and started our new workout program together while our baby girl napped. We had so much fun and kicked that programs butt!!! You know those days when you spend all day outside, get a little sun burnt, and by the end of the day you feel exhausted but SO content? Well... it was definitely one of those days.   

How can anyone be depressed in such a BEAUTIFUL world?
How can someone be negative and angry... when there is so much joy in everything? 
I will never again let the evil in the world cloud my mind and let me forget the good things. I will remember to laugh, love, and smile during those times. To look to God for my joy... to look to God for my love. To remember that even when everyone else pushes me away and won't accept me... my God will always be waiting with open arms.

Sun kissed. Sunshine. Happiness. Beauty. Love. Joy. Blessings. 
Happiness is in the small things. The warmth of the sun. A game of Horse. Showing your daughter her first froggy. Being goofy with your significant other.
Happiness is a choice. A daily choice. And I choose it. 

Cranberry Walnut Granola

This has been a family favorite since I was little. My mom always use to make it in huge batches and we'd eat it for breakfast every morning. Now that I have a family of my own, I have continued with this tradition. This is definitely a must-have at all times in my home!! This recipe does make a huge batch, so you can cut the recipe in half if you want too. Enjoy!!! 

1 cup water
1 cup oil
1 cup honey
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon

15 cups oatmeal (3 pounds)
12 ounces of ground flaxseeds or wheatgerm
12 ounces of coconut
10 ounces sunflower seeds
3 cups walnuts, chopped
8 ounces dried cranberries

Mix and divide all of the dried ingredients, except for the cranberries, into two 9 x 13 pans. Blend wet ingredients and mix into the dried using your hands or a big spoon. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook both pants of granola for 1 year, stirring every 15 minutes. Add cranberries. 

Freeze and save some for later... add some almond milk and try this delicious recipe!!!  

Garlic, zucchini, and chicken are all favorites in my home... so I decided to mix everything together into this delicious meal! My husband and my sweet 2 year old both loved it; and it helps that it's healthy!! Will definitely be making this again! 

Chicken Pasta Primavera 
(21 Day Fix approved!!)

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 45 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 zucchini, chopped 

6 mushrooms, chopped

1 small white onion, chopped

1 can organic pasta sauce

6 oz uncooked whole grain spaghetti

3 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped 

1 tbsp. Italian seasoning 

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 tbsp. olive oil

1. Cook pasta and set aside.
2. Put olive oil into a large frying pan. Add garlic and onion. Saute until onion is clear. Add zucchini and mushrooms. Cover and keep heat on med/high for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Drain. Add pasta sauce, chicken, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt. Stir everything together.
3. Portion out spaghetti onto 4 plates, and add the veggie mixture on top. Serve immediately! 

Figure out what you want, and TAKE IT.

I use to be extremely introverted, passive, and a major people-pleaser. Somewhere along that road I found out that it's impossible to make everyone happy and that setting goals for myself to make me happy and my family happy is the most important thing. Stop trying to make the rest of the world happy and focus on the people close to you who you really want to spend your time making happy! 

Whatever dreams you might have, you need to realize that you CAN do it and that you CAN make it happen. You do deserve it. Get rid of the lies and fill your mind with TRUTH. You are capable of whatever you choose to be capable of!!!  

How do I set goals? How do I plan out my daily, weekly, and yearly goals? Well... let me tell you. ;)

Daily:

First things first, you need to find yourself a cute planner. Something that you can decorate and make uniquely just for you. Next... figure out what your priorities are for each day and plan out your day according to that. My priorities for instance are... time with God, time for myself, time with my husband and baby, scheduling my job, and my business. So when I sit down to plan I put that I will wake up before my daughter and do my devotions... then I will read one of my personal development books or take a walk and just get my head on straight for the day... and then my work out of course! Then I will plan out time with my daughter and husband... usually undivided attention and playtime with Eisley in the mornings and afternoon, and walks or just sit-down and talk time with my husband in the evenings. Then I spend a full power hour on my business once a day. So that right there is a regular day for me! Another thing that I do everyday is write down my main focus for each day. So one day my focus will be "who can I help today, just because?" "Today I'm going to reach out and two 3 of my loved ones and make sure they know I love them!" "Today I'm going to spend 10 minutes writing in my journal about what I'm thankful for." "Today I'm going to do something sweet and spontaneous for my husband!" Spend this time being thankful and spreading love helps me SO much to stay happy and positive. Serving and loving is what keeps you humble!

Weekly:

My weekly goals are always to put my main focus on something specific for the whole week. Examples... this week I'm going to focus on eating extremely healthy EVERY single day. This week I'm going to focus on doing my normal workout AND throwing in an extra ab workout each day! This week I'm going to focus on personal development... and so on and so forth. Finding that constant thing to look at every week helps me SO much to stay on track.

Monthly:

My monthly goals are a little different. Monthly goals I usually give to God and finances. I spend time setting goals for my church and for what God's plan is for me for that month. I set goals for what I'm going to save, tithe, spend... all those financial goals. 

Yearly:

This is when I dream BIG. Where will I be at the end of this year, or next year, or the following year. This is where I write down the things that I want and WILL make happen. I will figure out what I want and I will TAKE IT. Right now my goals for this next year are to buy a house and get ready to have a second child! So everything I do for this next year is in preparation for those two big goals!!! 

Figure out what you want. Speak truth into your life. Set goals, and make it happen. You are capable and successful and you deserve to have everything your heart desires! Dream big!!!!

Meal prep. 

I have gotten quite a lot of requests for information on how I meal prep and what I meal prep, so I thought it was about time I share this! So here's a sneak peak. 

I normally do my meal prep at night... and I do my big meal prep on Sunday's. Sunday's are when I cook up tons of chicken for the week, and I make a bunch of boiled eggs. I will also cut up lots of veggies for a veggie tray and to put in sandwich bags to take to work. Chicken... I get boneless chicken and fry it on the stove in a little bit of butter. Boiled eggs... put water in a pot, add eggs and a little bit of salt. When it starts boiling, boil it for 10 minutes. Let cool.  

Now for every night when I meal prep for the following day...

I like to switch it up a little. It gets boring when you eat the same things over and over again. Forreal. So try to make a variety of foods. I am going to make a list of foods for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner, I normally eat 5-6 small meals/snacks a day. Meal prep usually takes me about 10 minutes. Some of my meals I make the day of, but most of them I have ready to grab and take to work with me! Everyone complains that they don't want to eat healthy because they don't have time... if it's a priority, you'll make it happen.  

Breakfast

Granola (very little sugar and lots of fiber/protein) + almond milk + half a grapefruit

Ezekiel Bread (or whole grain) + avocado spread + sliced tomato

Ezekiel Bread (or whole grain) + peanut butter + banana slices 

Oatmeal + strawberries/blueberries 

2 Fried eggs +  kiwi/mango

Smoothies (water, spinach, low-fat yogurt, frozen strawberries, banana, flaxseeds)

Flour-less pancakes (1 panana, 2 eggs... fry and eat with low-fat yogurt + fruit)

Scrambled eggs + spinach + fried plantains on the side

Lunch

Chicken Wrap (whole wheat tortilla, humus, spinach, cucumbers, chicken)

Turkey Wraps (sliced turkey, humus, spinach, cucumbers... use turkey as tortilla)

BLT (Turkey bacon, lettuce, tomato, mozzarella cheese, whole grain bread)

Turkey sandwich (whole grain bread, lettuce, tomato, mozzarella cheese, turkey)

Snacks

Raw veggies + humus

English muffin + peanut butter + banana/apple slices

Cottage cheese

Protein bar (Fit&Active protein bars are to die for)

2 Boiled eggs (or deviled eggs to mix it up a little)

Rice cakes + peanut butter 

Celery + peanut butter + raisins

Dinner

Chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans

Tilapia, sweet potatoes, broccoli

Salmon, rice, asparagus

Chicken stir-fry (saute zucchini, bell peppers, onions, garlic... add cooked chicken)

Tips 

Boiled eggs are good at room temperature for up to one week.

You should be drinking half of your weight in ounces of water daily. 

Focus on eating lots of proteins and vegetables. 

Healthy fats are great too (avocado, humus, mozzarella cheese)

My last tip, and my favorite tip, don't be to hard on yourself. Just focus on trying to get as many raw vegetables, protein, and water into your system as possible. It's okay if you mess up. It's okay to cheat every once in awhile. Eating healthy is a LIFESTYLE. If you never cheat, you're going to want to give up and go back to your old ways. Eating healthy will make you feel fantastic, make you live longer, and give you great skin!! So good luck!

Here's what a normal grocery trip looks like for me. Success. 

When I was stuck in depression... and someone told me "Happiness is a choice", I wanted to punch them in the face. That statement made me so angry. Now I know it's because I knew it was true and I was choosing to be negative, angry, sad, and lonely.
In a few short months my entire life has changed. Once you know what it's like to be in the darkness, the light is SO much brighter and warmer. I wake up every single day and choose to be positive and happy. I speak positive truths into my life; and I look at the brighter side of things. These simple changes of my words and thoughts have changed my whole world. I'm happy. I'm in love. I'm excited for the future.
So I want to challenge my readers and followers to stop for a moment and think about something in their lives that they need to be thinking differently about right now. What's something that isn't going so great or that just has you down right now? Try saying some positive things about that situation. "Things will work out. I am strong and I can get through this. God is my guide and I will trust Him completely. This will make me stronger." Try doing this with every situation that comes into your life. One situation at a time. One decision at a time. Aim for that better life. 

Flourless Pancakes 

Servings: 1 

2 Eggs

1 Banana

Blend. 

Spray your frying pan and fry it!

Cut up some fruit, and add a little bit of yogurt or applesauce. 

My husband and my 19 month old daughter both LOVE these. They get so excited when I make them. Yummy, healthy, cheap, and gluten free!!!