30 Day Challenge- Week 1-2 recap

I made myself a 30 day to a healthier me promise, read my promise to myself HERE. 

Sooo...

I meant to recap after week one, but obviously that did not happen. Well better late then never...right?

Week 1- I was really good about my goals this week! I only missed my daily exercise once, I mostly kept up with my GRE practice, I don't think that I missed reading the Bible once, I definitely ate more vegies and did not do well with drinking more water. I am very proud that I did not have even a tough of chocolate!!! I did decide that as my one cheat I would have frozen yogurt, not quite ice cream...which is on my no eat list, but I had to have something sweet lol. 

Week 2- (over on monday)- I have drank more water, exercised almost every day, kept up with the vegies and increased my water intake. I have still not touched chocolate (I have really wanted to) and have avoided the other items on my do not eat list. I have completely forgotten to do my GRE practice questions...something to improve upon. Yet, I have kept up with reading the Word almost every day.

Moral of the story...

I'm not perfect but I am trying to make these improvements. I feel healthier in my mind and my body. My husband has even said I look thinner, which was not really my goal but it is a nice plus!! 

I challenge everyone who reads this to commit to give up something or add something to your daily to-do list to make yourself a healthier person :)

Delicious Eats!

Delicious.

That is the only way to describe my current cooking style! 

My goal has been to limit the amount of preservatives we eat, and they are just in everything! Salad dressing, frozen food, soup, lunch meat, ugh...the list goes on and on and on. I know in this world and with our busy schedules it will be almost impossible to completely cut them from our diets. But a girl can dream...

The delicious salad above it a combo of my farmers market finds from this week (except the olives). I even made the dressing!! It is so so so so yummy and was adapted from the recipe found Here.

Cilantro-Lime-Ginger Dressing 

4 large (6 small) Cloves of Garlic

2 T. Fresh Ginger (just estimate)

2 Bunches of Cilantro (trim the stocks off)

1/3 Red Onion

 Juice from 3-4 Large Limes

1/2 cup White Wine Vinegar

2 t. Crushed Red Pepper

1 t. Salt

3 T. Honey

1/2-3/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 cup Canola Oil

1/4-1/2 cup Olive Oil

Put it all in a food processor (or a blender if you don't have a processor). You may need a bit more oil or vinegar if it seems to thick from the cilantro. 

It should keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

These delicious pretzel dogs were so fun and delicious! The recipe was from Brown Eyed Baker who is an absolute genius.

My little version of a...

 ...Monte Cristo...

...from let over french toast.

2 slices of French Toast

1 slice of Thick Ham

1 slice of Thick Turkey

1-2 t. of Apricot Jam

1 slice of Provolone Cheese

Make a sandwich out of the above ingredients minus the jam. Wrap your sandwich in paper towel and microwave for 45 seconds. After you take it out of the microwave and put on the jam. 

Eat Up! Yum!

30 Days to a Healthier Me

Ok...

...Confession time....

...I have been planning this post for a few weeks now and avoiding committing myself to actually doing it. Since Calvin and I got married a few months back and went on our roller coaster of an adventure, and as we continue that said adventure I have not been taking care of myself very well. With all the craziness and adjustment I may have turned to food more then once (or twice...) for a sense of comfort. 

Lets just say our lives have been ticking time bombs for change since the moment we said "I Do." I have never appreciated change very much, even though my life seems to always be in constant life changing change mode. 

Moral of the story...

A Touch of Spice: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Calvin just LOVES Chicken Tortilla Soup! I have never tried my hand at making it before but I am sure glad that I did tonight! It was soooooo good and actually really easy!

Continue reading for the recipe...

Farmers Market, Charlotte Style!

I just love farmers markets! The fresh vegies, happy people getting great deals, how could you not love it! The farmers market was a bit (ok, a lot) different then the farmers market that we went to in San Fran. For starters there were no nudists in sight lol. Otherwise, I just found it really interesting that this market has buildings and it open tuesday-saturday! Honestly, it was a bit smaller then I expected but the prices and produce were awesome!! The best prices I have seen at a farmers market yet!

Morning "Green Machine" Smoothie

I love my morning smoothie! It makes a wonderful breakfast and gives me the needed energy to start my day. My awesome Aunt Annette first fed me a delicious smoothie just like this one, the only difference is she uses fresh ginger (which is delicious, but unfortunately since I have an arrhythmia I cannot have ginger) and she uses 1/2 a pear instead of a kiwi. Her smoothies are sooo delicious! Wish I could pop over to Iowa right now and have her make me one :) The ginger makes it taste like dessert! YUM!!