Come join me, wont you?!

Hey all! I am now blogging at http://cleaneatingmama.com – come join me!

 

See you there!

:)

HOT HOT HOT

Seattle has been HOT!

We tied with Arizona today! Crazy for this time of year!

Today was spent inside, cleaning the ENTIRE house from top to bottom! Every nook and corner was swept, vacuumed and mopped. What was once a dusty, dog hair zone is now a sparkling home once again! I have been walking around barefoot all night and it feels sooooo good! I love clean hard wood floors!

I did have some lunch at about 11:30 – I skipped breakfast. Ooops!

Have you guys heard of Better Bean? They are a Portland based company that specializes in BEANS! I first came in contact with them a year ago and then I met Meagan, one of the owners, at the Seattle Veg Fest this year. Such a sweetheart! I gave her a big hug and congratulated her on this amazing journey she is on!

Their products are fantastic! I love me some beans and no matter what you are craving, they have you covered!

I bought the Cuban Black Beans and ate them straight from the container today. I didn’t even heat them up!

And just look at the ingredient list – super simple, very clean and packed full of goood stuff!

I finally showered at 2:45! I was a hot mess after scrubbing the floors, 3 loads of laundry, vacuuming and organizing.

I also made myself a refreshing iced coffee – first iced coffee of the year!

I used my Keurig and brewed a K-Cup over ice. Then I added a splash of unsweetened almond milk and a few drops of stevia. So refreshing and good!

Jordan LOVED his first day at his new school! He was naming his new friends, sharing his play time adventures and letting me know how much he enjoyed it! I made him a simple snack of Chobani yogurt and apple slices.

I too had some apple slices and CB’s Nuts Peanut Butter.

The rest of the afternoon was spent outside, riding bikes and enjoying the sunshine!

Dinner was light and so good! We grilled up a piece of salmon seasoned with a little garlic power and pepper and I made a fresh spinach salad to go with it.

I sprinkled some dried basil, oregano, more black pepper and spritzed some fresh lemon juice on top of my piece. 

My salad contained spinach leaves, red onion, kalamata olives, goat cheese, a splash of olive oil and some pepper.

It was exactly what I was craving!

Before it got too dark we all took a nice walk around the block. It was such a beautiful night out! The lights were reflecting off of the lake and there was a nice, cool breeze. Perfect!

Monday Motivation

 Happy Monday!

You might not know this but I am starting to LOVE Monday again!

Monday’s bring opportunity. Opportunity to start things you have been putting off or opportunity to look at something that didn’t work and try it again. Monday’s are the new Friday, in my opinion!

This weekend I mentioned some changes were happening and I will slowly tell you about them. The fist major change is that I am now staying home, blogging, developing recipes, working with companies and being a brand ambassador, and of course being more available for my family. I am planning on creating some brand new content, eating programs and implementing some fresh, positive ideas! I am also working on my health and wellness coaching and starting to build my client base. Positive changes! I am very happy and optimistic about the future and what is waiting for me! I will share more as it starts to unfold!

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Today was the start of Jordan’s new Pre-K, too! He was in a pre-school setting for the past 6 months and now I started him in a part time Pre-K environment to help him get ready for Kindergarten! And he is now only going part time, 3 days a week, instead of all 5. This way he still gets ample time with Mommy and Daddy and wont feel so overwhelmed.

He was really excited! He is such a big boy!

After we dropped him off at his school, it was time for some coffee and breakfast.

Oats with local, raw honey for him.

A smoothie and coffee for me.

It’s going to be another BEAUTIFUL day in Seattle, today! But my plans include cleaning the house from top to bottom! Including getting rid of any unnecessary pantry and fridge items. I am starting my detox today – no gluten, no sugar, no soy, no dairy – heavy raw fruits and vegetables, beans, grains, nuts, organic eggs and fish/protein as needed. I am developing the program today/tonight and will be posting it soon!

A little fact about me: Tulips are my favorite flower! I bought these in Seattle this weekend.

And look what we ran into! Another little fact is that we love watching Deadliest Catch. The boats in parked in Seattle right now and we happened to notice this bad boy, The Wizard! Keith and his crew are our favorite! I even tweeted Captain Keith this picture and he loved it! :)

     I hope everyone had a safe and beautiful weekend!

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Embrace life!

Hey all! Happy weekend!

With the recent tragedies this week, both in Boston and Texas, I wanted to take a minute and bring a positive spin and perspective to the table. It’s obvious to see that the world is a cruel place. There is no reason for death and sadness and it creates fear and unanswered questions in the victims and those closest to them. With no real reason and answer, the innocent are effected, scarring them for eternity. This is why it is crucial to be living your life the best you can!

Embrace life! Enjoy the small things and take care of your own. Do what makes YOU happy! If you have options or choices, make wise ones that make your heart and soul sing! Because there is no guarantee that you will be around to see tomorrow.

When I talk to my coaching patients, we touch on the past but we GROW the future! I help people bring positive awareness to each and every day! To help them look beyond the limits! This is what life is about – to channel your inner happiness and use it every single day!

We also need to be aware of the foods we are consuming and listen to our cravings and the reaction we get from the foods we eat. I have been loving and craving my green smoothies! I just cannot get enough of them!

Frozen bananas, strawberries, mango, chia seeds, kale, spinach dates, oranges, cherries… anything and everything goes into my blender to create a nutrient dense smoothie that feeds my soul and body.

Breakfast this morning was a delicious bowl of cut melon with Greek yogurt and a few almonds. I also toasted up a piece of Maninins gluten free bread and spread some fresh avocado with fresh cracked pepper on top. Beautiful!

I am getting ready to go to Portland this afternoon so I have been cleaning and packing – I am gone through Monday.

I also snacked on some roasted almonds throughout the morning and then made myself a smoothie for lunch.

 

This bad boy had orange juice, strawberries, frozen banana, frozen mango, water, spinach and 3 dates. So good!

Off and running! Stay healthy my friends!

Chicken Noodle Soup with Gluten Free Noodles

You all know I love making soup. We have all been feeling under the weather the past week and I thought a big batch of healing chicken noodle soup was in order!

I used boneless chicken thighs, fresh thyme and gluten free noodles. And of course I used Maninis Gluten Free Noodles because Maninis is the only certified gluten free company that uses ancient grains instead of corn and soy and produces FRESH pasta instead of dried pasta. For the chicken noodle soup I used their lasagna strips and cut them into smaller strips. I did this because I wanted my noodles wider and shorter than fettuccini noodles. They came out perfectly!

  You can now find Maninis Gluten Free products on Amazon!

SOUP TIPS:

• You can use fresh thyme sprigs or poultry seasoning, I like the different herbs in poultry seasoning but I really enjoy using fresh herbs. 
• Always salt and pepper each layer – the base, the stock and finished product. But go light on salt since you can’t take it away.
• Add as many veggies as you like. If you like a lot of carrots then add more – it will only help the flavor!
• Short on time? Buy a rotisserie chicken and shred it up.
• Remember to season your raw chicken breast while you cook. I chopped the breast up into small cubes prior to cooking, adding salt, pepper, dried parsley, onion powder and garlic powder. You want the chicken to have it’s own similar flavor to the stock.

Ingredients

• 2 quarts chicken broth, vegetable broth or water
• 4 boneless chicken thighs, cubed
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 4 large carrots, chopped
• 4 celery stalks, chopped
• 3 cups fresh gluten free pasta
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• salt and pepper
• poultry seasoning, about 3 tablespoons OR a mixture of fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, basil, parleys)
• extra virgin olive oil, about 3 tablespoons

Pre-cook your chicken in the same pot you are going to cook your soup in. Add a few teaspoons of olive oil to the bottom of the pan and add your chicken pieces. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and let it cook through entirely.

Once the chicken is cooked, add the celery, onion, carrots and garlic. Stir until softened but not brown (about 10 minutes). Add a pinch more salt and pepper to taste and your poultry seasoning, if you are using, or your fresh herbs. You can always add more as the soup cooks so go easy at first.

Add the chicken broth or liquid – I used organic, free range chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and let cook until the vegetables are slightly cooked through.

Add the fresh noodles and let simmer for 5-10 minutes. The noodles will continue to cook even once you take the soup off of the heat. They cook fast so continue to watch them.

You can garnish with fresh parsley leaves if desired.

Enjoy!

 

Over Hauling Trader Joes!

Hey hey! Happy Saturday!

I like to start my posts with a Happy note because I hope your day is bright, positive and HAPPY! =) And if it’s not then I hope I can help your day start to feel better!

This morning started off on the right foot, for sure! Coffee and a request for chocolate chip pancakes from my little Bubbah!

I always add cinnamon and flax to the pancake mix for added nutrients and flavor. And of course some chocolate chips. This doesn't happen very often but once in a while I like to make my son’s breakfast special!

He also requested a side of frozen fruit. Jordan LOVES to eat his fruit frozen, especially grapes!

After breakfast I took some time to myself and headed to Trader Joes. Apparently we were out of groceries because I bought the entire store!

I really like showing you all my grocery hauls! When I first started eating clean I depended on reading other blogs and getting some great food ideas. And I still continue to find inspiration from reading other health and fitness blogs!

So I hope these posts help you see what I buy and what a clean kitchen should look like!

Basil, bell peppers, asparagus, sugar snap peas, lemon, bananas, cucumber, brussel sprouts, strawberries, heirloom tomatoes.

Romaine hearts, yellow and red onion, apples, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, avocados, spinach and kale

Melons!

Laughing Cow swiss, hummus, chicken lime burgers (for when I need a quick meal!) string cheese, frozen fruit for smoothies, waffles, yogurt and ground turkey.

Dried cranberries, taco shells, goat cheese, baked tofu, rice tortillas, almonds, potatoes, black beans, maple sryup, red pepper soup, 12 grain crackers and strawberry apple sauce.

Herbs, Yerbba Mate tea, Lara Bars, chia seeds, taco seasoning, beans, coconut milk, pasta sauce, almond milk, kalamata olives, cereal and baking soda/powder.

So I wanted to add a few notes about my grocery shopping: I am buying for 3 – Marc, Jordan and myself. I have meat eaters and veggie eaters to please. I have food for prepping meals and for the times when I am rushing to put something on the table. I buy special snack type food for Jordan because I think it’s important for him to have his own special snacks. However, these snacks are wholesome foods with no added sugars or unnecessary ingredients.

I always make sure to have a lot of fresh produce on hand for smoothies, salads and meals. Tomorrow I will probably cook and prep a lot of my food for the week so it’s ready and prepared to grab and eat!

Please let me know if you have any questions about my shopping or meal planning! I don’t do the whole weekly meal planning but I make sure I have cut up veggies to grab and proteins already prepared.

After I got done organizing and putting my groceries away I sat down with a lovely bowl of fruit, yogurt and tea. I added a spoonful of peanut butter and some pieces of a Larabar. I love these messy bowls of goodness!

 

Seattle has had some crazy weather today! Rain, then sun, then rain and then sun again. Crazy!

Friday love!

I had one of the best Friday’s in a long time! Checked off most of my to-do list but it was just a really relaxing day overall!

I started off by taking Jordan to his new pre-school. I am going to be staying home and working from home in the next few weeks and I needed to find a school that was closer to my home. This one is only about a mile away and is a lot more structured than his previous one. He is in the pre-kindergarten class which is teaching him skills he needs before the big day when he starts Kindergarten! He still has a bit more time, though. He is an October baby (like me!) and he has to be 5 in order to start Kindergarten. He will have to wait until he is almost 6 before he starts Kindergarten.

We dropped him off today as a trial day just to see how well he adjusts and to see if he enjoys his teacher, his new friends and the new school. I cannot believe how big my baby boy is getting! I am so proud of him and the big boy he is becoming. He amazes me every single day!

After spending some time at his school, I came back home, grabbed Lilly and went for a relaxing morning jog.

I really enjoy having a running partner as a pooch! It gets her out for some much needed exercise and it makes me feel a bit safer, too! My running trail has some pretty dense wooded areas and sometimes I feel a bit uneasy if I am running all by myself. Nothing has ever happened on this trail but you just cannot be too careful these days.

After our run, I had to get a few items at the store… just some random things. I have been looking for a new purse for a few months now and just was not finding what I really wanted. Until today.

 

As soon as I saw those spring colored stripes I was in love! As you can see, my purse was pretty much overloaded and overflowing. When I arrived back home I started emptying out my purse. Man, there was A LOT of stuff in it!

Gum, lotion and body spray, spirillina tablets, tea bags, random paperwork, toothbrush + toothpaste + mouthwash, lip glosses, two pairs of glasses, teeth bleaching kit, pens, a ton of hair ties, Jordan’s hat, an oyster shell… Ok, so the oyster shell I kept because it was in the shape of a heart and it was from a date night that Marc and I went on a few years ago. I love keeping mementos like these!

Much better!

I quickly made myself some lunch. I wasn’t really in the mood to cook anything and so I found a package of Asian noodles that I received as a sample from VegFest. Really great ingredients, vegan, and simple! AND it tasted great! Not something I would pick as an everyday food but it definitely hit the spot! I also added a spoonful of peanut butter for some protein and flavor.

Then it was house cleaning time! It’s not completely done but who am I kidding… is house work really ever done?!

In the mix of vacuuming and dusting there was a snack involved… coffee and a bit size Lara Bar.

After I picked Jordan up from school we were off to a doctor appointment to have his ears looked at. He is a very loud talker so we wanted to make sure he was not having any issues with his hearing. Unfortunately he does have a small ear infection but nothing a little antibiotic cant help! He was such a good boy at the doctor that he got his special treat dinner at Red Robin. A corn dog, of course.

He loves Red Robin so I only take him once a month at the most. Usually on these kinds of nights I let him splurge a little.

I had their bruschetta burger with a garden burger instead of chicken and some sweet potatoe fries. I, however, always find Red Robin to be a disappointment. Flavor and freshness is severely lacking.

Then after we got home and settled, Jordan and I played an intense game of Go Fish.

 

A very nice day, I must say! Not too much going on this weekend either. I am still creating my Get Sexy for Summer Detox Plan… so stay tuned for that!

And with that I am out of here! Goodnight! 

 

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