Hello friends

Every morning before the mad dash to leave the house, the kids settle in on the couch with their beloved 'pink milk' to watch 'Little Bill' on Nick Jr.  And I have to say, it's probably one of my favorite moments of the day because the show is completely adorable and very refreshing.  I thought that Little Bill's phrase 'Hello Friends' that is on the intro to every show would be appropriate for this new post.  Because it's been awhile, of that I'm very aware, and although I know I have very few readers, I do like to pretend I'm talking to a vast group of diverse and intelligent people (I know, I'm a bit ridiculous) and that my absence has been noticed.

So with this new start is a new title, a few cosmetic changes, and also a tad bit of different topics.  Because my heart and mind are often filled with jumbled up words and thoughts and it helps to get them down on paper (i.e. laptop) to get them sorted out.  Sometimes they might not be so pretty, and maybe even slightly offensive (although I certainly hope not, as my thoughts are always to discuss, not to be distasteful) so I'm hoping you all will not only enjoy the change, but bear with me as I get used to actively blogging and being very open.

I'm looking forward to this new and fresh blog start and I welcome any and all of your thoughts, concerns and ideas on how to make things more interesting!

Yes, it's Monday......

.....which, although isn't my favorite day, is a new start and a new week.  It's time to get busy on my new, healthy life and attitude and I'm pumped and ready to go!  My little bean gave her mama a Monday morning present and slept all night long, which is a first for my little eater.  So I'm feeling good and refreshed and started my morning right with a Jimmy Dean D-Lite breakfast sandwich (only 260 calories and surprisingly tasty) and my usual several cups of coffee, despite getting a full nights sleep.  Although I would have loved to get a run in this morning, that didn't work out, so the goal is to get it done tonight after the little ones are in bed.


Goals for today:


Run for 30 minutes
Stretch for 10 minutes
Stay at or below 1800 calories (still breastfeeding full time, so I still need the extra calories)
Get the laundry folded


I don't know about the rest of America, but I despise folding laundry, and end up throwing my clean clothes in piles throughout the house with the assumption that I will fold them when I get a second.  Usually that second never comes and the piles never seem to disappear......so I am making it another goal to keep up with the folding, despite my extreme hatred of the dreaded chore.


Dinner tonight:
Marinated chicken on the grill (using light Italian dressing for marinade)
Sauteed veggies (portabella mushrooms, green and red pepper, edamame) in some EVOO and fresh lemon juice
Rice pilaf


I really need to invest in a healthy living cookbook, I quickly run out of steam on the healthy eating when I make the same thing over and over again.  If anyone has any suggestions please share!

Just because it's spring....

I thought I'd add a few shots of the kids and my day at the park yesterday.  I love this time of year!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Okay, so with one healthy recipe has to come a naughty one......sorry, it has to be done.

These cookies are ah-ma-ZING!  Seriously, the best peanut butter cookies I've ever had, so rich and peanut-buttery!

2 c flour
2 c peanut butter
2 eggs


Oven:  350 degrees


Mix flour, peanut butter and eggs in a medium bowl until mixed well and moist.  Drop onto cookie sheet in small balls and use a fork to press down into the dough to flatten slightly.  Bake 8-9 minutes until dough is set and cookies are slightly golden on top.  Cool on a wire rack and enjoy!  


Makes 12 cookies
394 calories, 22.5g fat

Mediterranean Salmon Wraps

So lunches for me can get rather......bland, to say the least.  Throw in low fat and diet in there and you've got me itching for the nearest Chickfila or McDonald's, which sort of defeats the purpose of my whole healthy living journey.  And not exactly economical either.  So I've been on the lookout for good, healthy lunch ideas that keep me out of that drive-thru.  The following recipe has become one of my favorites and even my extremely picky hunny agrees, so it's really win-win in my house.

Mediterranean Salmon Wraps (courtesy of Ellie Krieger, Food Network Host for Healthy Appetite)


2 6oz packages of skinless, boneless salmon, well drained
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley
1/4 c chopped, pitted kalamata olives
1/4 c chopped red onion (I have also used shallots in place of the red onion and the result was still excellent)
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1/2 t finely shredded lemon peel
2 T fresh lemon juice
Dash of salt and ground pepper

Mix all ingredients together and serve with fresh spinach or romaine and sliced tomatoes on a whole wheat tortilla or whole wheat bread (had it both ways, prefer it on bread, but it's up to you how you like it best)

Each wrap contains:  259 cal, 13g fat, 25mg chol, 870mg sodium, 22g carbo, 11g fiber, 22g protein

Time for some changes....

So it's been awhile since I've blogged, so many changes and so little time left me few spare seconds to share my life in words and pictures. But it's time to change that and I have new motivation to not only put my days into words, but to get started becoming the new and healthier me. So I'm committing to using my blog for putting my healthiest face forward (refusing to use the phrase 'weight loss' and instead am choosing to use 'health-wise') and blogging about food diaries, exercise, and the dreaded pound. Hopefully this will keep me motivated to become the healthy, active person I've been striving to be for pretty much my entire adult life. Or at least since I've started having kids. And with that phase of my life done with (WHEW!), I have no more excuses.

My goals are to lose 30 pounds by October, 2010 and to train for a half triathlon to do in the early summer of 2011. Sounds easy, right? Heh, we'll see.....

Here are the resources that I will begin my journey with:

Beginner Triathlete

My Fitness Pal

I'm sure there will be lots more to add as the weeks go by, but for now I'm starting simple and that's all I've got. Now the hard part starts......when to actually fit in exercise between kids, chores, Mr. Roach, and school.....if anyone has any tips for figuring that part out, please let me know!!

7 years and counting......

So today we have officially been hitched for 7 crazy years! Wow, who would have thought we would have made it this long, 22 years old and as green as you can possibly be fresh out of college (almost!) and with all of the ambition we could muster. I should say something romantic like it's been the most amazing time of my life, and although it has been amazing, it certainly hasn't been a typical scene out of your favorite romantic comedy. We've had our fair share of divorce threats (although none of those have reared their ugly head in at least 5 years), tears, laughter, humility, and even death. But we have made it to the other side, 7 years and 3 kids later, and are still in love, still best friends, and yes, dear bloggers, still happily married. Thank God!

And in honor of my husband I decided to indulge in a little chocolate goodness and make homemade brownies my fellow chocoholic, Jules, posted earlier today. Oh dear God were they delicious! If you love brownies, you must try the recipe, they are divine!

I did promise yesterday that I would post the Citrus Mini-muffin recipe that I made yesterday, so here it is and I assure you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients:
1 C flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 C butter, softened
2/3 C sugar
1 egg
1/2 C sour cream
1/2 t vanilla
2 t orange, lemon, or lime peel (I used orange)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray cups of a mini muffin pan (I used Pampered Chef) with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In a medium sized bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well.
3. In a larger sized bowl whisk butter and sugar until well blended. Add egg; whisk until smooth. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and citrus peel of your choice. Add flour mixture; mix until dry ingredients are moistened (don't overmix).
4. Using a spoon, drop a rounded scoop of batter into each muffin cup. Bake 12-13 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool in pan for 3 minutes. Remove from pan and serve warm.

Yield: 2 dozen

Enjoy!