Peanut Butter Puppy Treats
Not only is my health important but so is the health of my family. My pups are included in that. I actually had to put my girls on doggie diet food because they were putting on too much weight. (Yes, I know we need to …
Recent Posts
Why did I decide to go Vegan, again?
There are 3 core reasons for what made me change my mind about eating animal products. If you’ve known me for a long time, you have seen me go from vegetarian as a teenager, back to meat eater, then to vegetarian/vegan in my mid 20s, …
DIY Pumpkin Puree
Yes, I still am missing the pumpkin spice latte that I enjoyed at least once a week last year. So on a mission to add more pumpkin to my life I decided to quit the carving and paint our pumpkins this year. It may have helped that I had my favorite little nieces over for a visit and figured washable paint would be easier than gutting 2 extra pumpkins. That was a good decision by the way, even though they had paint all over the place! (Please note how adorable my nieces and sons are below!) It’s the second week of November and all of our pumpkins held strong long enough to be washed off and hacked up into puree. The more I dive into making things home made the more I realize how simple it is. I used to think homemade cooking meant a lot of work and I always told myself I didn’t like it. Turns out I do. Turns out there is a sort of joy that comes from throwing that baked pumpkin into the processor and seeing it come out prettier than the canned stuff!
Preheat the oven to 355° if you have time to let them bake for about an hour. If not you can set the temp at 400° and cook them till they are easy to poke with a fork, approximately 30 minutes.
I am all about simple, the less ingredients the better. Thankfully all you need for this pumpkin puree is pumpkin. Did you know that a lot of store bought pumpkin puree is actually squash? What a rip off right?!? Any who, the best pumpkin for this puree is a sugar pumpkin. The bigger pumpkin I used was from my garden and honestly, I couldn’t tell you whether it was the jack-o-lantern or different pumpkin because I didn’t mark which plant was which. Because I wanted to see the difference in pumpkins I pureed my store bought pie pumpkins and my homegrown one separately then put them together. The homegrown pumpkin was likely the jack-o-lantern due to the fact that it had more of a watery consistency. If I was to make this out of pumpkins other than the sugar pumpkins I would probably put them into a cheese cloth and let them drain some of the water off. Just a thought.
I’m hoping to find a good recipe for some pumpkin seeds because I tend to burn them. Or they just taste terrible… It’s a learning process and thankfully the seeds came with the pumpkins so I didn’t have to go out of my way to find them. Oh and don’t worry, James’ chickens are enjoying the rest of the guts that I’m not using for the puree.
I placed mine on a foil lined sheet because I loathe cleaning my cookie sheets. You could use parchment paper if that’s what you prefer too.
As you can see by the picture, it was a learning process. The first batch cooked for 55 minutes and probably could have came out earlier. The second batch cooked for an hour and 15 minutes. The size of the pumpkin is going to determine how long you cook them.
As you can see the smaller pumpkins got a little on the dark side BUT no worries, I scraped of the dark (cough, burnt, cough) spots and it worked out just fine. I’ve never claimed to be Betty Crocker, but I’m learning and next time I make these bad boys, I’ll do better! You’re welcome for testing this out so that I can be the guinea pig and you can have these tips ahead of time! 😉
Some people leave the pumpkin on the pan and peel the skin off, I used a spoon and scooped it out and put it in the processor. I crushed it till it was baby food consistency.
I’m sure there are recipes out there that allow you to can your pumpkin puree but for time sake, I chose to freeze mine. Because it has no sugar or other ingredients in it, that’s the safe route anyway. I put mine into ice trays and froze it so I could easily pop some out of the bag and add it to my oatmeal, my smoothies or even my No Latte Pumpkin Hotte! In the past I’ve wanted to make a single serving of some sort of tasty pumpkin treat and have had to figure out what to do with the rest of the can. It’s easy to get burnt out on pumpkin that way. Next time I might freeze it in pumpkin pie specific measurements in Ziploc freezer bags too.
I of course had to try the puree out right away and I hate to toot my own horn but YUM!
Vancouver Area Skate Parks
Growing up I remember Hood River doing lots of fund raising to have a skate park. I remember all the wooden ramps and boxes and everything being made as cheap as they could but I always thought it was an awesome place to be during …
Pumpkin Spice without the Latte
No Latte??? I’ve recently decided to cut coffee out of my life, again… I can honestly say I hadn’t missed it until all of the pumpkin spice latte talk recently! Why have I decided to quit coffee again? There are a couple reasons, the biggest …
Mission: De-clutter & De-stress
I LOVE STUFF!
I LOVE BARGAINS!
I HATE PASSING UP A GOOD DEAL!
I HATE A MESSY HOUSE!
I’ve learned that all of those things don’t coexist well together. My youngest son is 10 years old and he’s the ultimate example of clutter and disorganized chaos. Sad part is I’ve taught him that. I’ve taught him that we need all these clothes and all of these toys and all of this junk that he’s probably played with once since he’s owned it. After going through their room and purging toys and clothing I’ve decided to take a better look at our whole house. The clutter is everywhere. Look at our game closet for crying out loud!
I purged a bunch of games a few months ago. I figured since playing Dora the Explorer Candyland wasn’t cool anymore, we could probably eliminate that one. Yesterday I decided to purge again. There are games that I love that no one else wants to play (Pictionary, I have 3 versions of the game in hopes of getting someone to play with me but no,) and games that others love that I don’t want to play (Monopoly, was fun on Sega, not so much in real life.) So I pulled out even more games. The above picture is the start of reorganizing that closet.
My garage has become the catch all. Everything that I’m going to put in a yard sale, everything that is going to be used later, everything that I really don’t need goes there. I don’t even want to share a picture of that but yikes here goes! How embarrassing! Just in case you’re wondering the table full of things is actually yard sale prep, I’m working on it I promise.
I have multiple totes full of Christmas decoration, Halloween decorations and every other possible holiday that I don’t decorate for anymore because life is too busy to worry about those things. I have boxes of books that I plan to read some day. James has 3 bicycles, why because I haven’t gotten rid of the old ones.Two saddles and no horse, in my defense saddles are expensive and when you find one you like you should hang onto it, but two? I have hundreds of CDs and DVDs and craft supplies and old t-shirts that are supposed to be a project someday. Why do I keep holding onto these THINGS? Why do I keep filling empty closets and shelves with STUFF that I haven’t used in over a year?
It’s TIME for a CHANGE!
One day at a time, one room at a time, one closet at a time I plan to eliminate the stuff in my life that makes my house feel messy and makes me feel stressed out because I need to clean all of that up.
The Rules
- If you haven’t used it in OVER 6 months, get rid of it! Of course winter clothes and things of that sort are a give in, who wants to buy new winter gear every year (expensive!)
- If you have more than one, get rid of it!
- If it’s broken, get rid of it!
- If it’s not yours, return it!
- If you have saved it just in case you might, chances are if you haven’t used it, you can get rid of it!
- Do you LOVE it or NEED it to make life easier? If not, get rid of it!
Lets get started!
Get 4 boxes ready to throw stuff in as you go through things, or if you’re like me 2 piles and 2 bags. A spot for the things to be put away, a box/bag to be given away or donated, a spot for the things to store and a bag for the stuff that is just garbage.
This round of purging everything that I decide I don’t need is going to be a yard sale item, then donated if it didn’t sell because it’s got to go!
Day 1: Storage Closets- Hallway Closets, the coat closet, the game closet and the towel and linen closets. Why do I need multiple sets of sheets for my bed? I have a washing machine, time to get rid of them. Do I need 15 hand towels? No. How about 5 spare pillows? We rarely have people sleep over, I think I can narrow that down to 2. How many jackets do I really need? Yes the pacific northwest has crazy weather but I think I can narrow it down to a rain coat and a light weight jacket, snow coat doesn’t count (thank you winter clothes.)
Day 2: Kitchen- Get rid of all the appliances you don’t use like the citrus juicer, the funny shaped waffle iron that is difficult to clean and has only been used once. I have 4 glass Pyrex dishes that are exactly the same, I’m getting rid of 2 of those. I have pans that are scratched up that I don’t use. I need to get rid of them so I can make room for new ones. Get rid of the canned for that is probably expired, while you’re at it look at the condiments in your fridge too!
Day 3: Bathrooms- I’ve decided to go minimal with my makeup these days, that’s my personal preference. Do I still need 6 shades of brown eye shadow, six shades of purple, etc? No. Get rid of the perfume your aunt gave you that you don’t use but feel guilty getting rid of it because it was a gift. I tend to collect lotions and then decide I don’t like them but they’re still there. Do you REALLY need it?
Day 4: Bedroom Closets/dressers- I love shoes and dresses. Why do I have so many that I haven’t worn since 2 years ago? I’m a pack rat, guilty as charged. I tell myself I’ll sell it and then it sits there, don’t be a me, get rid of it. Clean out the little knickknacks that you’re storing under your bed because they were your Grandma’s. What good are they if you aren’t using them? They are only things and your kids won’t appreciate them like you do anyway.
Day 5: Living Room- I loved movies, so much so that I bought and bought and bought and only watched one time, maybe two. If you can rent it or watch it on Netflix, it’s time to let it go. Do you have books on the shelf that you’ve read and are hanging on to them? Libraries were invented so you don’t have to buy and store books. Unless you’re using them for reference regularly let them go. Magazines? Let them go.
Day 6: Take a Break and forget about it for today! Everyone needs a break, I get it. I’ll be enjoying my family today because the goal of this challenge is to be able to spend more time with them and less time with my stuff.
Day 7: Outside stuff/garage- Get rid of broken tools, quit using the garage for storage when you could be using it for your car or home gym or workshop to build a fort with your kids. Remember the rules and stick to them here too.
Ready to start your own de-cluttering challenge?
Click the image below to join us August 29th-September 4th.
Be on the look out for an UPDATE!
I’ll be sharing my house and garage transformation September 5th! 🙂
Get skinny quick? There’s no such thing.
I apologize in advance, I get a little heated and emotional in this posting. I’m not meaning to call anyone out and say anything bad about anyone, just being frank. I truly want to help everyone and I sort of have a thing for tough …
How to Make Oatmeal Healthy and Fun!
We all know added sugar isn’t our friend. Ditch the instant packets of oatmeal and make your own oats loaded with good stuff, the kind that’s actually good for you!
Clean Eating
Lets Talk Clean Eats!
When I first started Coaching, I had no idea what “clean eating” was. I thought I ate pretty healthy, not counting my treats. Then I heard about a clean eating group my Coach was hosting. So of course wanting to know everything Coaching, I jumped right in. Boy, was I shocked. The food I was eating was no where near approved for the meal plan. I take that back, I have always liked oatmeal for breakfast and that was allowed 🙂 I didn’t realized how much sugar is in our day to day foods. I don’t mean fruits, I mean things like ketchup, yogurt and low fat foods. Then I got Insanity Max:30 as my second workout program to complete, the meal plan was amazing! It came with a legit guide on what to eat to fuel my body and help me on my mission to drop fat. Food is the most important factor in weight loss, in fitness and every day life. If you’re eating bad, chances are you are feeling bad. Have you ever heard the saying,
Abs are made in the kitchen.
Well, true story bro! Every time I’m doing a new workout program and I’m not seeing the results I want, I know it’s because my nutrition is off.
So, what is clean eating?
Glad you asked 😉
Clean eating is super simple, and when I mean simple, I mean limited ingredients or limited processing. Think fresh salads, fruits and veggies, whole grain breads, organic meats… I’ve got a few tips to help you succeed below, there’s even a clean eating grocery list to get you started on the right foot.
1. Read the label
I try to follow the rule of not more than 5 ingredients.
Eating clean is about getting good whole nutrition. So knowing how much sugar or salt is a big deal. Did you know that 4 grams of sugar is equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar? I try to visualize putting the sugar serving listed in a product in a cup of tea(I drink mine unsweetened) and if I feel like it’s too much I definitely don’t get it. If I don’t know what an ingredient is I put it back on the shelf, chances are if it’s a weird word it’s something crazy processed or chemical. I try like crazy to avoid high fructose corn syrup because the process of how they make that is just yucky!
Low-fat? Don’t do it. Next time you’re in the grocery store compare the low fat version with the regular and tell me which has the most sugar. Not all fats are bad for you, for instance avocado is really good for you. Chances are, if the food is trying to convince you it’s healthy, it’s probably not….
Always compare labels of canned foods and check the sugar and sodium content of the nutrition labels. Eating clean doesn’t require perfection but making a conscious decision of what you put into your body is key. Food is fuel, why choose the lower quality ingredient when you could have something that is really going to benefit you?
2. Prepare to succeed
Meal planning is the best way to start your new health habits. Going out to eat makes it hard to tell what it is you’re eating. For all you know your favorite lasagna is actually a frozen dish they are warming up for you, just saying(I’ve worked at a few restaurants in my day.)
Don’t stress yourself out with the unknown. I like to prepare my snacks and things I use as staples in my meals or snacks during the week. For instance, I buy my broccoli and chop it up so all I have to grab it and go. Don’t be afraid to try new veggies and fruits. It took me a while to adapt but I eat more veggies than just broccoli now. I never really appreciated making dinners until I started trying new recipes, now it’s fun to see what mixing and matching foods can do.
3. Don’t be afraid of carbs
Carbs really aren’t the enemy. Our body needs carbs for quick energy. I mean think about it, does that steak digest fast and make you feel like you could bust out 30 burpees? Best pre-workout food is a little bit of carb. Try a banana or a slice of whole grain bread with your favorite natural nut butter.
If carbs are good does that mean to load up on burger buns and white bread? No. They shouldn’t be the largest portion on your plate but they shouldn’t be missed. Try getting a seeded bread or whole wheat buns for those patties. If you love rice like I do, skip the white stuff and try a little bit of wild rice instead or a brown rice. My current carb obsession is lentils, may have something to do with my new found love of Indian cuisine and the fact that they are loaded with protein.
4. Stick to the outer isles of the grocery store
In the outer isles you tend to find all the fresh produce, meats, eggs and even the bulk section(I love bulk because it’s cheaper.) I try to avoid the cereal isles, the baking isles and the frozen food section because I know I will find sugar or salt loaded temptations there. If you can, I recommend buying your produce organic and make sure you are washing off those fruits and veggies before you eat them(you never know where peoples hands have been.)
5. Water, water and more water, maybe with a bit of tea!
We tend to take in way more calories than we realize with our beverage habits. Did you know a 20 oz bottle of soda has approximately 16 grams of sugar? “On average, a can of non-diet cola contains about 135 calories. If you drink three cans a day, you’re getting roughly 405 daily calories from soft drinks. A pound of fat equals 3,500 calories, so if all other things in your diet are equal, cutting out soda spares you more than a pound of fat every 10 days.” Cutting that alone is a huge deal for your waistline.
What about Juice? If you want to drink juices, try making your own juice. Homemade is always best. But don’t drink a whole lot of fruit juice because juicing takes out the natural fiber that helps your body digest that sugar to prevent big peaks of sugar in your blood stream.
Coffee or tea? If you can drink those unsweetened and with out milk, more power to ya! But I recommend keeping both of those to a minimum just because caffeine is a natural diuretic.
So what am I getting at? Water is really the best option. If you can drink filtered water, even better. Some bottled waters have a pH that is hard on your system. Avoid the additives of when getting your hydration on!
Well???
I guess what I’m getting at here is food from a box is not the way to go. Fresh or an even better clean eating option, home grown food! If you have space for a garden, grow it up. No space for a garden, grow veggies in a big pot on your patio! If there’s a will there’s a way. I have no doubt you will find a way to make better choices in your diet. Happy eating!
Which one is better for you?
If you’re still wanting some support on getting started with clean eating, please fill out the form and I will be in touch with you shortly. I host clean eating support groups once a month, they include a 7 day clean eating meal plan and the shopping list to make it a no brainer.
Egg Muffin Cups
{Update: I decided to go vegan in December of 2016 but I understand not everyone is ready to commit to a fully plant based lifestyle. Hope you enjoy the recipe!} Breakfast Made Ahead! Breakfast is so important for helping with weight loss and over all …