Kombucha DAY 6...

This is my first time delving into anything that has to do with cultured foods. 
We are anxiously awaiting the completion of our first round of Kombucha.  
This is DAY 6. 

I.Am.Afraid…to touch it, smell it, move it…ruin it. 

But that's ok. Sometimes you have to just fail forward.
Get up and try something new.

In 3 more days I will take the next step in this process.

I'm not completely clear on them. So many questions!

The directions say "pour off a couple of ounces for a taste test…when the tea is brewed to your taste, pour the tea into glass bottles and cap. Place in refrigerator."

Here is some learning I need to do: 
What do I do with the old scoby?
Can I reuse them and make two batches at once?
Is the scoby forming properly?
Can a larger scoby be cut into multiple scoby?

HELP!!!

Do You Elf?

I don't Elf. If you don't know what I'm referring to, brace yourself. It gets creepy.
Awesome, but creepy.
FUN, but creepy.
Creative, but creepy.
Creepy, but STILL kind of cool.
I'm just kidding (maybe not, I could be totally serious about it being creepy).

When I was first introduced to The Elf On TheShelf, it was a gift sent to us by my husband's family in Massachusetts. I remember his Step-Mother's voice on the phone asking me if I had heard of it, and she was so excited. I hadn't heard of it even once before then. She's too sweet and always finds awesome gifts for our kids. Anyway, back to the I don't Elf...

It came in the mail and I was like "Um, what is this creepy thing"?

But I humored her.
Took the book out and ready it and read the instructions.
Then I put it all back and packed it up. My son was only 1 year old. The box said they had to be three and my husband and I didn't see the point in doing all of those shenanigans for a baby. He would touch it when he wasn't supposed to. Possibly damage it, or put it in his mouth. He would have no idea what we were even doing. But, the big reason we didn't use it was, because the child was supposed to name it and he could barely speak. SO…The Elf, he stayed on the shelf.

By the time our son was three, we had our little baby girl. I was NOT trying to go to all of the lengths I saw everyone going to on Facebook.  I had an infant to care for, and a house to pack to move 3,000 miles away. The Elf, he stayed on the shelf.

Three years go buy. Guess where that bad boy is?

You got it! He's on the shelf. Nice and crisp and perfect in his box. With his creepy glaring eyes saying "WHY must I stay in here"?
I don't know little creepy Elf who is looking at me, I think keeping you ON the shelf is our tradition.
So, the Elf, he stayed on the shelf.

 

DIY Princess Tiara Tower Rachel Re-Does It!

A few weeks back I posted one of my Rachel Re-Does It posts of my daughters new and improved Princess Shoe Cubby (SEE IT HERE) She loves it and astonishingly enough is using it well! I'm not the most organized person, not even close. But, what I do find is that is organization is as simple as possible I am more likely to use it, just like my three year old. This led me to my next Lillian projects: Princess Tiara's. I can not tell you how many have been broken from being left on the floor and stepped on, so it was time to take control of that mess.  I looked at my previous headband holders you can see HERE. The tiaras were just too big, and took up too much room.
So what's a girl to do?
Surely having less Tiara's was not the answer.
Then I had a eureka and made the Tiara Tower.  The tower also doubles as a super large piggy bank, so as she's growing and playing princess she can be saving for a real Tiara down the road.

Lillian's Tiara Tower sits nicely on her Princess Shoe Cubby!
 Now what to do with those purses? Hmmm...

DIY Rachel Re-Does It…A Halloween Tree.

Why a Halloween Tree you ask? The answer is simple: because it's not everyday that your sister has the PERFECT sized dead tree in her yard. I couldn't just let this baby get turned to mulch.

For years I've seen the super adorable branches painted black with lights on them and wonderfully laid across fireplace, mantles, or used in pots standing as an outside decoration. I have never had to chance to make them. Then this tree came along and my Rachel Re-Does it light bulb went on into full blow creative mode. When that happens, I can't stop the locomotive, so I go with it!

That would be a holly tree, and oh boy were the leaves prickly with their horrible thorns. I learned quickly to use my husbands thick leather gloves. I ran my hand down each branch and pulled the leaves off. I ended up deciding to cut a few feet off of the bottom to make it stand nicer in the pot.

 

Next I filled the pot with rocks around the base of the tree. I did not permanently instal it in the pot for now. My plan is to hang it in the garage for next year (if I can get it in there without my husband realizing I'm storing a dead tree).  

I got a can of regular spray paint. NOT the cheapest one on the shelf at Lowes. That paint does NOT work well and you will ultimately have to go buy another can of the better paint. Save yourself the dollar upfront and get a better quality spray paint. IT DOES MATTER! 

I set the tree in the pot and in the field where I went to town spraying every part of that thing! It took about one can of paint to complete. 

Once painting was complete I used lights only up the center of the tree. I didn't have enough lights to do each brand separately, and if you've ever read one of my Rachel Re-Does It projects before, then you know I prefer to do things with as little money as possible. 

We used small plastic bats to attached as decorations as well as these ADORABLE glow in the dark hanging ghost we made last year. Yes, we made then, out of glow in the dark beads, melted in cookie cutters. I can post the How To for that another time though. Back to the tree...

My goal was to redo the pot to stay Halloween themed and use a backlight at the base to increase the branch visibility. However, today is Halloween and I forgot to finish this post until RIGHT NOW. So, we will see if I get that done today. It's not likely. ;) 

Don't mind the adorable little girl on the right side of the pictures. She thought I was taking pictures of her and went into full blown "Cat Walk" mode. I don't know where she gets it from.  We topped our tree with an old witch decoration we had from the Dollar Tree. Can't beat a dollar. My hope is to expand and grow the trees ornaments over time. So next year we should have MORE on there! 

Rewind the Future

     Did you watch the entire video? You did? Cool, now watch it again.
I had watched it multiple times to make sure the message soaked in.  I have even seen a few small behaviors that I have done in the past. Behaviors that led me to personally to be over weight at 24 years old and getting sicker by the day. So many bad choices.

     Sometimes I wish I could go back to the future, errrr, I mean time travel back ten years ago and grab myself and shake the stupid out of me. But, I can't. What I CAN do is change my future, heal from the inside out and live a healthy life from here out. Show my kids they have a choice. They can choose health, or…well you watched the video.

     Ten years ago (even 5 years ago) I didn't FEEL like changing. I didn't FEEL like learning another way. I thought the healthy eating thing was a quack and annoying. I was living my life the way I wanted to and paying the price.

     I was OK with having PCOS, IBS, anxiety, insulin resistance and acid reflux just to name a few of the diagnosis I have had, and was medicated for over the years.  If you don't think the food like products you put into your body effect your health, then you are on a road to finding out the long hard way. The way I was on.  It doesn't have to take you 10 years. It just takes one day. Just CHOOSE better one day. Then wake up and choose better for the next day. Wake up and choose again. One day at a time. Choose today, message me on FB HERE  you're interested in changing your life, your future and doing it one day at a time. I know, I've done it. You can do it too.

What This Dr. Had to Say About ME I Found Infuriating...

      I make it no secret that I very much disliked a good portion of the medical care I received while living on Travis AFB in California. That's not saying the nurses and hospital staff in general were bad, they were great. It's the Primary Care Dr's I had problems with.
     You see, when you have military insurance (Tricare) and live on a military base with a teaching hospital, you kind of have to use the hospital. To use a regular off base Dr. you end up jumping through hoops. Those hoops were my choice to jump through or not, I realize that, but at the time it didn't seem worth the trouble. I dealt with the ever changing PCM Dr.'s as they graduated the teaching hospital and moved on. I dealt with barely seeing the same Dr. more then twice. While "they" said my Dr. should have only changed twice at the most while I was there, I can count at least 4 in the 2.5 years they serviced us. This last doctor, she sure was a doozy. I am 100% throwing her under the bus, and I'm ok with that. Whether it's wrong or right, there is a reason for this post. Just let me get to it.
     Since when can a Dr. lie in their write ups, mistreat and talk down to their patients and have any left at the end of the day? Oh, I know, when they are a military doctor and their patients aren't really "customers" but at the will of the system.
     See the NORMAL PCM who either works for, or owns, their own practice has to have some version of customer service skills or their patients will go elsewhere. This doctor didn't have to worry about that. From the day I met her she was rude to me, but I tolerated her. I even went to the Dr. as minimally as possible to avoid her.
    Since having our healthcare end, (thank you for the 5 months of misinformation prior service my husband was enlisted in), I had been reviewing my medical records. Today I needed to go to an urgent care facility to get medication that is necessary for my thyroid to function. I have an under active thyroid and with that comes a slew of health "issues" and symptoms.  I was looking for my last blood work since I was being told the urgent care facility would have to run NEW blood work on me. Something I didn't look forward to paying out of pocket for, but I was going to do what I had to do.  That's when I came across this little gem of a write up and my blood started to boil:

     After reading her write up, you can clearly see I went to her for a REASON. Because I was in physical pain. My body was freaking out and I clearly was trying to get help to find out what was wrong. Here is where I get mad (I'm trying to use nice words)… 

"They are moving themselves and she has been packing. She does not exercise nor do much of anything. Her children keep her very busy and states that she has unexplained weight gain but has not changed her diet and again does not exercise." 

IS SHE KIDDING ME? I do not do much of anything? Excuse me, you horrid doctor who doesn't deserve a license, I had been working out for over a year. I had dramatically changed my diet. I had lost 50 pounds and if 10 pounds coming back over night was nothing to worry about, maybe the LIST of other symptoms should have been? All signs that my thyroid was out of balance, every last one of them!

     She looked at me. She looked at my size. She looked at the number on the scale and made the assumption that I was lazy and did nothing and didn't take my nutrition seriously. Well Dr. C, I spent 5 years learning about nutrition to help my child, what did you spend? Six weeks in med school learning? Yeah, good luck with that.

     You judge a book by it's cover and you judged wrong. Had this Dr. been a well trained Dr. in regards to my medical issues, she would have understood that my thyroid was having problems. She would have understood that loosing weight is exponentially harder for someone with either of my conditions and that stress and weight gain are signs that there is an imbalance in the every important thyroid. 

     For the record, we packed our entire house and filled two PODS with all of our house hold goods OURSELVES (accept one night my friends helped). But, the larger furniture, WE MOVED. Some of it I moved alone while my husband was at work and I minded BOTH of my small children. That was not easy and was surely a workout. 

     As for the "she doesn't want to take medication for this condition" in regards to my Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS), she again LIES. This Dr. had tried to force me on birth control from the day she met me without having ONCE ran my blood work to get the baseline for my hormone levels. Which by the way have a long history of being very, very out of control and not level at all.  THAT, Dr. C ,is irresponsible to do. So I said I would not take the pills, until she ran the blood work. She refused. Funny, it doesn't say that in my records. When I asked for the referral to the Endocrinologist, who is the specialist who would truly understand my medical conditions, she told me no. She also told me that SHE was moving in a week, so there was no reason for her to run my blood work because she wouldn't be there to read the results. Thanks, but I can read them myself.   

     What's my point here? GET COPIES OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS, annually if you can. Even better, ask for a copy of the Dr's notes after each appointment. This "entry" in my records will never change, it will never be deleted. How many other entries did this Dr. make that were blatant lies? I don't know, I had to stop reading. All I can hope is that this Dr. C ends up at a base where she treats her patients with respect and understanding, not rudeness and disregard. 

In the mean time, I will be doing what I do best: reading everything I can and learning everything and anything to find relief and help for my thyroid issue because knowledge truly is power. 

Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Corn Bread Mix Review

This is the second time I'm making the Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Corn Bread Mix.  My husband has made it about four or five times, but for some reason when he makes it, it just tastes better then when I did…that one time. Today I figured out why. 

Apparently that other time I made it, I left the oil out. WHOOPS! There are only 4 ingredients (the mix, eggs, milk (I used almond) and OIL. How in the world did I miss that? But NOT THIS TIME.

This cornbread mix came out well, not too moist and not too crumbly.   It is not overly sweet in comparison to the good old Jify Mix or some corn breads you get from the bakery department of a grocery store, which is a plus in my opinion. This one is gluten free, dairy free option, soy free and was amazing with our healthy chili! A good convenience mix to have in the pantry.

DIY Metal Swing Set Rachel Re-Does It

I recently had the urge to head out to the thrift store, though I never made it that day. On my way I ran into a metal swing set put on the front lawn of a house with a big ole "FREE" sign attached to it.

PUT ON THE BRAKES! 

Reverse. 

Walk up to the little old lady sitting out front and say "Can I have your swing set?" 

She was SOOO happy someone was taking it.  You see, it was her 85th Birthday that afternoon and her husband was coming back to pick her up to bring her to her family BBQ to celebrate.  That swing set was in their yard for countless years and used by all of h

er grandkids who were now grown and they didn't need it anymore. She (and her husband) was so pleased that two little people were going to be very happy and surprised when Mommy brought it home. I'm very grateful for the kind people who put this out, rather then tossing it in the dumpster. 

When it comes to re-doing a metal swing set, depending on it's condition, it can be much more work, take much more time and much more money then it would cost to go buy a new one for $150.00 at the local department store. This one is particular had some pretty good rust damage going, but was stable and would last for at least the next year without any issue. To me, the work I was choosing to put in was worth it. 

I did NOT sand down all of the rust. It would not be worth the effort. I chose to do a power washed, let it dry and do a fresh coat (or two) of spray paint and replace some of the rusty screws. It took quite a few hours, but overall the cost was just about $36.00 in paint and screws. That was worth the smiles from my kids! 

Do you smell that? Yeah, THAT.

     out.  You see, I don't eat dairy or gluten because it's a fad or a gimmick to loose weight. I LOVED cheese, I LOVED a warm piece of sour dough bread, or rye bread with some melt butter on it, or even better: melted CHEESE.
This post isn't going to be full of information that I've sourced from "reputable" resources. I really don't care of about that at the moment. I just had to get this
   
     I frequently mention casein addiction (it's real, look it up, I am proof) or super sensitivities to lactose or casein or any of part of the dairy that we as humans weren't even designed to consume (google it, I'm not writing about it, you'll find lots of info).  Going out almost anywhere to eat is difficult for our family, for many reason but this post is specifically about ME. About WHY I am slightly fearful to attend a leadership retreat with my friend and Coach in a few weeks. One where there are going to be some awesome, amazing, successful people who can help mold and shape me into the leader I wish to come. Below is WHY…

     I could tolerate dairy growing up. Actually, I just lied (whoopsie). As an infant I could NOT tolerate dairy and was on soy formula (ew).  At some point in my youth I was given dairy and seemed to tolerate it ok, but in realty I never did.  I won't go into the long list of side effects like eczema, diarrhea, acid reflux, stomach pains, or behavior issues (to name a few) that I suffered with growing up and into my later 20's.  I want to focus on the side effect I'm having NOW, and let me tell you it really, really, really stinks.

     I just felt the urge to put this out there: I stink and it SUCKS.  This side effect is a relatively new one for me in the 33 years I have been on this planet.  As you age, and eat your way through life, enzymes in your body are being used up. At some point I used up all the ones I needed to maintain any digestion of dairy. I'm not getting into the science of it now, but seriously, you should google that too.

     In February of 2012 I got gas.  The problem was it never went away. For months and months I had this gas. I even flew on an airplane for 6 hours with two small children and feared it. It took some time, trial and error, and lots of research, to figure out my problem was dairy (and gluten).

      I am rather diligent in my avoidance of dairy, I wish I didn't have to be so badly, but the outcome of me NOT being that way is a horrid smell that lingers like the smell of a freshly tarred road on top of seriously rotten hard boiled eggs. The hard boiled eggs thing was what my son calls it. The poor boy has come in to the room and ran out countless times screaming as his nostrils were accosted with the stench.  No, these are not the kind of farts that any human can hold in. I've tried and magically they escape, seeping into the air and reeking havoc on any nose within a mile radious. On top of smelling horrid, my stomach usually hurts with gas pains. I don't generally announce that I have horrible death like gas that will make a grown man cry and want to vomit. I would just say "Oh I can't eat dairy, I can't digest it" or something vague.

     This gas has become so much of a sign of my digestive issue that even my husband and children have started to relate it to something I've eaten. Accept, this week I had NO dairy. So what is the problem? Oh, yeah, dairy is hidden just about everywhere (which I knew) but I NEVER thought to look at my generic allergy medicine (the Costco version of Allegra), there is an inactive ingredient made from a milk sugar, and that one tiny bit of diary has caused the last 3 days of THIS torture.

     Most people just figure how they are feeling is part of their aging process. I disagree. If you mean to tell me a 21 year old on acid reflux medicine is normal, then we clearly don't live on the same planet.  That having gas that bangs on your lower abdomen like there's a 6 month old baby in there trying to escape like some kind of alien is normal, again, you live on some other planet then I do.

     You live on the planet I use to live on. The one that thought it was ok to chug Mylanta three times a day because of stomach pain. The one that thought being bloated and overweight was just a part of getting older. The one that thought…well you get my point.

      If you aren't someone who thinks NONE of your medical issues or discomforts come from food, and you have learned (one way or another) that everything you put into your mouth effects your body THROUGH your colon, this message is dedicated to you. As well as: Hi, my name is Rachel and we officially inhabit the same planet. Looks like I need to do another 3 Day Refresh to clean my body out of the undigestible dairy product, before my family leaves me on the side of the road somewhere in a field. But if not, lets hope there's a strong breeze that day because even I can't stand to be around this!

Princess Shoe Cubby DIY

My daughter is all girl. That meaning, she has just about everything princess dress up outfit there is and likely the shoes to go with it. After having no wear to store these shoes any place other then this box the original few came in (see below), I did what I usually do and brainstormed down to solve my problem while putting out the least money possible (and using other things to make something new).

This was NOT going to last us forever, or even remotely close to long enough and it was lacking enough cubbies. 

A long while back I had made a children's shoe cubby out of repurposed particle board, spindles from an old crib and mailer tubes. I think it was time for an upgrade. 

I save paints and spray paints and all kinds of things that i don't finish using on previous projects to use in the future, and I'm glad I do. That is how THIS came to be. I may need to add a few mailer tubes to increase overall shoe storage space, but until then. I'd say she LOVES it! 

Now what to do with all of those tiaras? Oh wait, you know I'm already all over that! ;) 

My Favorite Tea, It Just Speaks To Me

No long blog post right now. Though I have a lot on the brain to blurb all over this page, I don't have the time to write it out.  Oddly enough my craving for the yummy blueberry-ness that is my favorite tea called my name. Yogi Blueberry Slim Life Green Tea put it perfectly in just five little words.

I'm working on it Yogi. Thanks for the little reminder.
You can get your own Yogi Blueberry Slim Life Green Tea and this link HERE.
Right now (9/25/14) it's priced at $17.94 for a pack of 6 boxes with 16 bags in each. That's $2.94 per box, best price I've seen around!

Apple Crisp Dairy Soy Gluten Free and 21 Day Fix Approved

Apple Crisp

Super easy, few ingredients and very versatile. Can't beat that. You can slice, chop or even use an apple corer peeler to get the apples the way you want them. Leave the skins on? Sure if you want. Take them off? Ok, that will work too. The recipes calls for maple syrup, but I substituted that with raw agave syrup. I will ,90% of the time, opt for agave instead of syrup or honey (or sugar) as its effects on blood sugar are much less abrasive. If you aren't worried about blood sugar, then have at the maple syrup! This recipe is great either way. It's also 21 Day Fix Approved. You can find that breakdown HERE! Don't forget to find these recipes and follow my boards on Pinterest as well! 

Dairy Gluten and Soy Free Recipes 

21 Day Fix Recipes

Total Time:  38 min. 

Prep Time: 10 min.

Cooking Time: 28 min. (you may need less or more depending on how you like it)

Servings: 4 

Ingredients: 

4 cups apples, sliced (peeled or not, you decide)

3 Tbsp. pure maple syrup, divided use (this is where I used raw agave syrup, like the one here)

1 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided use 

1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (I use the gluten free oats from Trader Joe's)

1/4 cup finely chopped raw walnuts

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Combine apples, 2 Tbsp. maple syrup (or agave), and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon in a medium baking dish; mix well.  

3. In a seperate bowl combine oats, remaining 1 Tbsp. maple syrup, and the remaining 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.  

4. Top apple mixture with oat mixture.  Bake for 25 -30 mins or until apples are soft. 

This would be a great recipe to bring to a fall party or pot luck. Increase the amounts to double or triple. 

Enjoy. We did…we a little dab of coconut milk ice cream! 

Did you ever wonder what you should be when you grow up? Oh wait, I am grown up.

Have you ever thought good and hard about "What you WANT to be when you grow up?"  I have had a hard time recognizing what it was I was meant to do with myself. Until recently, when I chose Health and Fitness Coaching.  My job is not conventional, but then again, neither am I.  Never have been and likely, never will be.  Until having a long(isn) discussion about what I'm doing with myself with a close family member,  I felt like I knew I was doing the right thing for me, but when you have the most important people in your life questioning what you're doing, doubt it almost inevitable.  Is this "really" a career, is it the right "fit" for me? Doubt is only natural. I took this test and answered from my heart.  I can say I'm not surprised by what I have learned.   Below is a screen shot of my results.

First as an interest in work I'd like to do was being social. Big surprise. My Mom use to refer to me as a "social butterfly". Um, yup. Talking to people is fun for me. I like to meet new people and learn about them. Here is what www.mynextmove.org has to say about the social aspect: 

As you can imagine, the three major points of a social interest fit extremely well into what I "do" with myself now. I love teaching people healthier food options. I LOVE teaching people different things I have learned in the last 5 years of cleaning up my families diet and my health. I can not tell you the warmth I feel when someone messages me and tells me how my direction, my coaching, and my advice has helped them. 

My next strongest interest is Artistic. This was a given. See below picture:

 Creating "things" has been a passion of mine my entire life. It still is. I have just funneled that creative energy into creating a better, healthier lifestyle for my family. I love creating new documents to use for my coaching business. It's fun for me. It feels fulfilling. 

The third most influential interest for me would be Enterprising. I really don't think this trio could have been MORE perfect:

As a coach I "persuade" people all of the time. But not with my fabulous saleswoman skills, I lack those horribly. I fail all of the time at presenting my "product" and "closing the deal".  I'm not great at convincing someone I have a product they "need". What I AM good at is being there when someone is ready to learn, grow and make a positive change. Because, I was there once too. I "persuade" people to join me in choosing a healthier lifestyle by living it. By being proof that the products I choose to promote will change the way you feel, the way you look and the way you think about leading a healthier lifestyle.  Don't believe me? Check out my before and after pictures on my Facebook page, make sure to "Like" it to keep up with me, get healthy recipes and ideas. 

As if the three top interest in a career for me weren't perfect enough, check out the sixth line down on this list of careers that my interests match with. Funny…kind of looks like I'm moving in the right direction to me.

Want to take this test and get an idea of what YOUR career interests are? Find it here www.mynextmove.org  You may be surprised at what you learn about your career, and about yourself. 

PB Thai Chicken and Veggies (Gluten/Dairy/Soy Free) Clean Eating 21 Day Fixed Approved

PB Thai Chicken and Veggies*

What can I say about this recipe? Not much other then, it is GOOD! Light peanut butter flavor coats the broccoli slaw in a way that would make anyone want to eat the entire pan. So go ahead and do that, unless of course you're on The 21 Day Fix nutrition program, then use the guides in the picture to determine your categories.  Want to make this a double shot of greens? Double the broccoli slaw and you now have TWO greens per serving. Yup, so good.  

NOTE: This recipe originally had the option of using soy sauce, I took that out so this would be 21 Day Fix approved, however, if you are just making this because it's AWESOME, I recommend you use Bragg's Liquid Aminos, as a substitute. Bragg's Liquid Aminos is called an "All Purpose Seasoning" but it tastes just like Soy Sauce without all of the junk and actually has health benefits. But that information is for another post…onto the recipe!!! 

Serves: 4 

Ingredients: 

3 chicken breasts (or 12 oz.), cut into small chunks

2 Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1/4 cup lite coconut milk, canned
2 limes, juiced
1 12oz. package of broccoli slaw (carrots and red cabbage included), pre-shred at your grocery store
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, I recommend Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar
4 tsp. natural peanut butter
Chopped green onion and cilantro (I left the cilantro out because I didn't have any)

Instructions:
Heat a pan over medium-high heat (or a wok if you have one).
Add in oil and garlic, cooking for 1 minute.
Add chicken and cook until lightly browns, or about 2-3 minutes. Poor about half of the coconut milk over the chicken, set the rest aside.  Mix it to incorporate the milk in the juices from the chicken.
Add the lime juice and vinegar. Cover and cook until chicken is completely cooked through, stirring occassionally.
Add the entire package of broccoli slaw, and the rest of the coconut milk you set aside earlier. Cook through, stirring frequently.
Add in the peanut butter, stirring. Cook until slaw is soft but still firm.
Garnich with green onions and cilantro to taste and plate.

If you are not using this recipe in your 21 Day Fix arsenal, you have the option of using the Bragg's Liquid Aminos. If so, squeeze a small amount onto the serving on the plate! It is just TOO good.

Sausage and Kale Soup 21 Day Fix Approved


Sausage and Kale Soup**

Total Time: 48 min.


Prep Time: 10 min.


Cooking Time: 38 min.


Yield: 6 servings, about 1¾ cups each

Ingredients:


1 Tbsp. olive oil
 (this was only used to brown the sausage, we left it out of ours)

8 oz. turkey kielbasa sausage, sliced


2-4 cloves garlic, minced
 (we use 4 because we LOVE garlic)

2 to 3 medium leeks, chopped, just white and light-green parts


1 bunch kale, stems removed and discarded, torn (about 4 cups)


1 (15-oz.) can kidney beans, drained, rinsed


1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes, no added salt


6 cups low-sodium organic chicken (or vegetable) broth


Ground black pepper (to taste; optional)

Preparation:


1. Heat oil (if using it) in large saucepan over medium-high heat.


2. Add kielbasa; cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until browned.


3. Add garlic, leeks, and kale; cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until soft.


4. Add kidney beans, tomatoes, broth, and pepper (if desired). 

Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes.

Nutritional Information: (per serving)

Calories: 181

Fat: 6 g

Saturated Fat: 1 g

Cholesterol: 23 mg

Sodium: 1137 mg

Carbs: 20 g

Fiber: 5 g

Sugars: 5 g

Protein: 12 g

Find and "Like" me on Facebook, Click here!!!!  where I post tips, tricks and information on transitioning to a healthy lifestyle, clean eating, living gluten/soy/dairy free and MORE recipes to come! 

**Original Recipes from Team Beachbody - Get a Club Member account for just $2.99 a week and have access to a HUGE database of healthy eating recipes, personalized meals plans and more. Get your member account HERE .

Dark Chocolate Muffins (Soy/Dairy/Gluten/Refined Sugar FREE)

Dark Chocolate Muffins (Soy/Dairy/Gluten/Refined Sugar Free)**

Sweet and moist with super chocolate punch, no one will ever know there isn't a DROP of flour in these yummo muffins.  Super simple to make and already measured out for your 21 Day Fix. Don't miss saving this recipe to use as your secret weapon during the holiday season coming up! 

Total Time: 22 min.


Prep Time: 20 min.


Cooking Time: 12 min.


Yield:12 servings, 1 cupcake each

Ingredients:


1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed


3 large eggs


½ cup pure maple syrup
 (You can sub this out for Agave Nectar to reduce the effects on blood sugar) 

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder


1 tsp. baking soda
 (we use Bob's Red Mill Aluminum Free Baking Soda)

3 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted


1 tsp. pure vanilla extract


1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (we use Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Mini Chips to make these SF/GF/CF)

Preparation:


1. Preheat oven to 350° F.


2. Prepare 12 muffin cups by lining with muffin papers or coating with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. (You can use a dab of coconut oil in each muffin cup instead of using spray, that's what we do). 


3. Place chickpeas, eggs, maple syrup, cocoa powder, baking soda, coconut oil, and extract in blender or food processor; cover. Blend until smooth.


4. Divide batter among 12 prepared muffin cups.


5. Top each muffin with about four chocolate chips; push into batter.


6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Cool completely and enjoy!

**Original Recipes from Team Beachbody - Get a Club Member account for just $2.99 a week and have access to a HUGE database of healthy eating recipes, personalized meals plans and more. Get your member account HERE .

Find and "Like" me on Facebook, Click here!!!!  where I post tips, tricks and information on transitioning to a healthy lifestyle, clean eating, living gluten/soy/dairy free and MORE recipes to come! 

Thank YOU For Comparing My Middle To Your End...

It has recently been brought to my attention that someone had questioned "If that 'stuff' works, then why are 'they' still fat?"  This person was referring to Shakeology and BB programs in relation to myself, and a few others, but I do believe they were truly trying to avoid singling me out. So kind. Alas, I knew the day would come when someone compared my middle to someone else's end. 

So here is what I have to say about it:

1) What this person may not know is that I have multiple medical issues that compromise my ability to shed pounds and keep them off.

2) What this person may not understand is that my PCOS (hormone disorder) and my Thyroid (slowly dying) causes my body to fight me every step of the way, making it exponentially harder for me then for someone without these issues to just "lose weight" and not be "fat". Their words, not mine.

3) They may not know that at 16 years old I was told I would have to shoot myself with hormones to sustain any miracle pregnancy, if I could have one at all, and those hormones added weight on faster then anything I've ever seen, all for the life of my children. That I FOUGHT to have those babies and my body, it's "condition" and NOT getting "fat" weren't important. The life of my unborn child trumped EVERYTHING. 

4) They may not know that at 16 years old I was also diagnosed with a malformation in my hips that WOULD 100% cause me to be wheel chair bound or have replacement surgery in my later years. That hip problem causes me pain frequently. But I fight through it. 

5) They may not know that this past January I detoxed off of a very dangerous and serious postpartum medication. That I was forced to be on for 2 years b/c the Dr's didn't want me to go through such a serious withdrawal with a spouse that had the potential to leave at any time. That I laid in a bed dialing 911 because my husband was at work and I couldn't physically care for my own children. Shaking, vomiting and dizzy. Ready to call an ambulance from the severe withdrawal symptoms that I can only imagine would be much like that of a street drug user coming clean…and had two small children to take care of. That this alone set me back. Don't believe me, GOOGLE Effexir XR withdrawal. I had every symptom, and it was scary.

 

6) What they may not know is that I've laid on the floor crying, as I made my way through some workouts b/c I PROMISED my Coach, my Teammates and my Clients that I would be right there with them. I refused to let them all down. 

7) That Shakeology has made such a HUGE difference in my life and the life of my children, not just b/c of weight, but overall it was the  catalyst we needed to show us a healthier lifestyle. To transition us into eating better and learning about a better way to feed our bodies. 

8) That they should look at the picture below. The one where my own child didn't recognize me. The one where my grown friend didn't recognize me, and would have had no idea it was even me if I didn't tell him.  That one where I started... where I will NEVER EVER go back to. Whether my body fights me or not. I will fight back. I will choose better foods to feed my body. I will choose to MOVE and keep my body ever improving. 

9) But most importantly I would LOVE to tell this person THANK YOU. It was your ignorance of my life, and my triumphs, that allowed me the thought process to even realize how much MORE amazing my journey has been. How sometimes we can even impress ourselves with the dedication, commitment and drive we find deep in our souls when we truly get the leverage we need to make the change. 

10) Thank You person. Though I know you, I will NEVER EVER name you publicly…but my questions for you would be: What's your excuse? Where's your leverage? Then I'd tell you to BRING IT. 

You CAN Do Anything For 3 Days...

…Ok, I'm sure there are SOME THINGS you can't do for 3 Days, but you CAN change your body, get a good clean up, and learn new eatings habits in 3 Days and you can do it with me!

Want to know the difference between the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse AND the OFFICIAL Beachbody Approved 3-Day Refresh? HEAR it from the creator herself!

Contact me directly on Facebook by clicking HERE.  OR go right to the 3 Day Refresh on my site using this link right HERE!

3 Day Refresh

Teese Vegan Soy Gluten Free Cheese Review

Dairy free cheese. I know, it sound SOOOOO delicious doesn't it? I've had a few that I have actually enjoyed. Then came that entirely different beast, finding a dairy free, gluten free and SOY FREE cheese. No matter how many times I force myself to smell a fake cheese, that "odor" gets me right in the stomach. I've always been too turned off to even try them. Until now. 

Do I still think they smell like barf? Sure do! BUT, now it wasn't about ME getting a cheese replacement, but finding one for my child. 

Since managing the various nutritional issues of my children, mainly my son, I've had to come out of the box and try these fake cheeses. So far I've tried two. The first of which I didn't do a review on because at the time I wasn't interested in reviewing anything, just finding a vegan soy free cheese that didn't make me want to barf. No kidding. I once had the unnamed brand of fake cheese on some mexican rice. My husband walked in to the room and asked if I had farted. All I could muster up was "No, it's this. It smells horrid and tastes like yuck, but I told myself if I keep eating it I will eventually just dislike cheese all together". How could that be good? Here's how, if I associated real cheese with the nastiness in the bowl in front of me, I wouldn't crave real cheese anymore and I wouldn't need to keep searching for one that would meet that craving." 

I had stopped the search for some time, and then I came across this little tube of "Teese" on the shelf at Wegman's while visiting family in New Jersey. I read the label (as per the usual) and my child could actually eat it without incident. But would he ACTUALLY eat it without wanting to barf? Here's his (our) review of the Teese Brand Vegan Cheese that is also gluten and soy free.As a little note, it still has that terrible "smell" I can't stand, but it greatly reduces in au de barf when I cooked it! 

 I hope you enjoy the clip!