{let's compare & contrast}

In my quest to be a little happier during the winter, I took the dogs out for a snowy walk today. While I was walking and FREEZING I couldn't help but to have Key West in my mind! We got back Christmas Eve but it is still fresh enough that I am able to still smile while it's blizzarding outside here in Indiana.
So, anyway....
Here's a tiny recap of what I wore while in Key West...
Everything I wore was simple and easy.....just the way I like it!
and of course...it consisted of A LOT of turquoise and aqua blues:)I could dress like that everyday!!
But now let's see what I wore on my walk today... A hat, a scarf and about 4 shirts just to stay warm!! But at least I am trying to make the best of the cold and snow!!

Now let's see my feet while in Key West......
Oh those are the flip-flops I had to buy while I was there after Ruby chewed up all my sandals! Thanks Ruby....at least I got a cute new pair of flip flops. And here they are all warm and cozy in the snow... What a difference:)

Now for the scenery....

I am sure many of you have been to Key West so you can appreciate just how beautiful it is there. The sunsets are just incredible~And I really loved how colorful everything was....and that most everything was TURQUOISE!! So cute.

And the water....well you already know that I am total beach girl!! I could live in a trailer on the beach and be perfectly happy!Here is the scenery here today....Somehow the snow just does not look nearly as pretty as the aqua blue water!

Now I have to say there was one SUPER COLD day {by Key West standards} in Key West...it was 58 and cloudy...

We were a little sad...

But then we thought....hey at least it's NOT snowing:)

Oh....and I can't forget the beach grass.....I LOVE beach grass.

The Key West version....and our version in December...hmmmm......at least it's pretty in the summer!!

Well....at least the girls were happy in the snow today....
Ruby thinks it's the best thing since rawhide bones were invented....or should I say sandals...

and L.C. enjoys it too...
After our walk in the snow I came in, made a cup of hot tea and got on-line to tell you all about our snowy walk:)Hope your day is going well wherever you are:) I know, I am happy that I am still off school until the New Year...woohoo:)

“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!” Amanda Bradley

{A food philosophy}

So...it's the day after Christmas and who's ready to talk about food?!?!

HA...if you're like me your still stuffed to the gills!! Throw in a vacation and I think i've gained another 5 lbs.
You know i've been vegan for awhile and that's been going pretty good.....but on vacation I broke down and had lots of this.....Mahi Mahi!! YUMMY! You Florida people are SOOO lucky! The funny thing was...I ate lots of Mahi with extra veggies and no starches and my tummy felt great and I had tons of energy!!! Hmmm.... Plus, I was so happy because we rented bikes and rode all around the island. You know I love exercise too!

My husband probably could have done without the exercise on vacation but I was in bliss!Somewhere along the way, I got involved in a few too many of these....and maybe too many of these....

{Yes, I wore black dresses more than once on vacation. I love simple black dresses!}

And you know I love my vino! Just look at how happy it looks:)
But after a few too many one evening....I ended up eating all this the next day....

I did NOT feel good after eating fries, bread and a large black bean burger! I am still learning more and more about what foods make me feel good and which ones don't!

Protein and veggies make me feel GREAT and starchy carbs...not so great! I definitely drive myself crazy with all this...vegan, not vegan, whole foods, fruits, not fruits....on and on!! Really like i've said before "keep it SIMPLE." I need to remember not to make so many rules for myself. If I want egg whites for breakfast b/c they give me energy then I should have them! If I want grilled fish for dinner then I should have it. I know I am a healthy eater and a mostly whole foods eater....but while on vacation...I realized pumping up the protein kept me full and happy for hours!!! It's good for me!

And I definitely cannot do "anything in moderation"....if I have one fry...i'll eat them ALL! If I have one piece of warm bread...i'll eat the WHOLE basket!! Geesh!
So....Now I am going to focus on eating a little more protein and a little less starchy carbs to see how I feel!! Life really is a journey and you do really have to take the time to see what works for your body! Everyone is DIFFERENT!!

Hope you had a fabulous Christmas!!

"Live in rooms full of light
Avoid heavy food
Be moderate in the drinking of wine
Take massage, baths, exercise, and gymnastics
Fight insomnia with gentle rocking or the sound of running water
Change surroundings and take long journeys
Strictly avoid frightening ideas
Indulge in cheerful conversation and amusements
Listen to music."
~A. Cornelius Celsus

{Have yourself a beachy little Christmas}

Hi everyone!!
Merry Christmas~
We just got back from KEY WEST and had a super marvelous time!!

See these smiles....
We were in pure bliss:)
Plus everything was just so Christmas=y....I really loved all the lights everywhere and have definitely decided to spend my Christmases somewhere tropical and happy:)
Even the trees were decorated so cutely:) {is that even a word?!?!}I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas morning wherever you are!! And you can bet i'll be sharing more of my happy photos of Key West in the weeks to come!! Take care and have a happy day!

"A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour." Unknown

{Fresh Friday}

Happy Friday to you:)
I am racing around getting ready to head out for KEY WEST...woo hoo~

I am a last minute packer and haven't packed a thing yet. BUT guess what.....

Last night while we were out Ruby chewed up EVERY pair of sandals I had to take:(Now, I am anxiously waiting for the shops to open so I can run out and PRAY that someone in Indiana is selling sandals in DECEMBER:)Oh...why oh why did we HAVE to get another dog!! Who knew labs could be so naughty?!?!? I guess she is clearly NOT ready to be left out while we are away!!
It is kind of humorous b/c if you knew me....you would not be shocked that this happened to me:) It's just how I roll....everything is chaos ALL THE TIME!! Haha

Even with all this....I couldn't leave you without a healthy little recipe! It is FRESH FRIDAY:)

~Spicy Thai Soup~

This soup was so ridiculously simple to make and yet oh so tasty! It was just perfect for a cold winter evening.
* 4 cups low sodium vegetable broth
* 1 tbs. miso
* siracha sauce ....to taste!! It's very spicy so be careful.
* 1 cup shitake mushrooms
* .5 cup shredded carrots
* .5 cup chopped scallions
* 1 cup chopped napa cabbage
* chopped extra firm tofu....however much you want!

Bring first 7 ingredients to a boil for about 4 minutes, then throw the tofu in for another 2 minutes.

I topped it with chopped cashews and it was DELICIOUS!I had no problem finishing off my bowl!!
It would be great with a nice Riesling wine but since it's FREEZING cold here...I enjoyed it with a lovely Cabernet.
Plus it was sooo good...I warmed it up and had it again the next day! Soup is perfect if your trying to lose a little weight. The broth really fills you up before you eat your main meal and you can make it with healthy ingredients!! This soup will definitely be on my list of healthy and quick foods to cook:) I think it's pure health in a bowl.

Well...hope you have a wonderful weekend and i'll see you when we get back!!!!!!

"Happiness lies, first of all, in health." George William Curtis

{vacation mode}

I am officially getting excited for VACATION!! We fly out Friday for KEY WEST!! Woo frickin Hoo:)

I really hope I feel better by Friday...

I am home sick with a terrible stomach ache from taking antibiotics. Who knew they could tear up your tummy so much??!??

Anywho...let's see what I am looking forward to...

Just relaxing on the beach~
Taking the time to simply watch the day go by..

Having my morning coffee while looking at the ocean...
Sleeping in a nice clean bed that's not covered in DOG HAIR!! And being able to actually sleep in without 2 dogs barking at me at 5am!!! Watching the sunset over the ocean~ Taking a ride on a party catamaran~Enjoying cocktails at the local corner bar~ I just can't wait until we get there!!! Let's see....right now it's

and in Key West it's
I know where i'd rather be:)

"Sounds of the wind or sounds of the sea, Make me happy just to be" June Polis

{party time}

Good Sunday Morning!!
Last night we had our annual Christmas party and it was SUPER fun.
Do you ever plan something that you stress about and then when it happens you are just so proud and happy that you did it!?!?!
That's how I feel about my parties....
I love to entertain and I love to have parties...but I STRESS....STRESS...STRESS about them.
Yet, when the day finally comes and the people start to arrive...I am in PURE BLISS:)
It makes me feel so happy in my heart to have such wonderful friends and family in my life!
Let's see....
I made these simple and tasty little cocktails.It's just...cheap champagne and pomegranate/cranberry juice! I pour half and half in a sugar rimmed champagne glass and add in a couple fresh raspberries. They look so festive and they don't cost a million dollars!
I think it's nice to have a signature cocktail to offer people when they arrive, even if the party is bring your own cocktail.
It makes me happy and it makes my guests happy:)

Now...I personally like to glam it up when I have a party... I think it's fun to get all glammed up.
But I always tell everyone...wear whatever makes you happy and you can come in your p.j.s....I just want you to come:)No one really does come in their pajamas. In fact, I think we all look pretty nice~ Even my husband glammed it up! Any party I have ALWAYS includes dancing! For this...we clear out the living room and use whatever we can find to sing and dance:) My friend, Michelle, chose a lamp {minus the shade} as her microphone. She cracks me up:) I just think it's so nice to have a *fun* holiday party!! At this time of the year everyone is so busy attending work parties, shopping and just plain running around like a mad person. I like to give people the opportunity to just let loose and have a good time:)
And boy do we know how to let loose! just look at my kitchen at the end of my party:) Now....of course...we had some yummy food!! I made pork tenderloin for the meat eaters:)
And I made a couple healthy options! I think it's important to have healthy options when you're at a party! Parties make it SOOOOO easy to overindulge! It helped knowing that my friend Jamie {she's a personal trainer} was coming.

She has definitely helped me a TON in getting fit and healthy!! Just look how cute she is. I still have a little more to go and will get right back on track AFTER the holidays. And I know she'll be right there to help me out:)
Anyway I made....cous cous with chopped up veggies! Simple and definitely healthy!
I also made tropical salsa! I love this salsa. Canned tropical fruit, chopped onions, fresh cilantro, lime juice, cumin and chili powder and wala...a healthy and tasty salsa!

Ok....well I better get to cleaning up the mess!! Have a Happy Sunday!!

"Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don't try to be perfect ; just be an excellent example of being human." Anthony Robbins

{Oh, the weather outside is .....}

frightful. But the fire is so delightful. So let it snow, let is snow, let it snow.

Brrrrr.....I am sure if you live anywhere within the mid-west you are feeling the effects of this HUGE winter storm!! So I decided to come home and enjoy the evening. I let the dogs play outside and then came in to enjoy some vino, sit in the hot tub and enjoy some yummy pizza!! Oh and I definately enjoyed it in my dining room with my honey and the candles lit!!! Even the little reindeer are cold and snowy~

At least my house is starting to look like christmas with the twinkle lights and snow~

I just made sure to sit extra close to the fire tonight:)

And I drank my vino sitting right next to fire...that is after I got out of the hot tub:)

I love to sit in the hot tub when it's FREEZING out!! Soooo relaxing:)

If you didn't notice...I made new pillows for my dining room!!! I LOVE them!! I think it's just the pop of color it needed!! Now I am all ready for my party this saturday:)OH and you know I love my vino!! well, here is the perfect way to use those extra reisling bottles I have! {maybe you have them too} I used them in my holiday decor. I painted branches silver and then hung simple ornaments on them!! Simple and cute~

Anywho......

I love pizza and thoughout my mission to get healthy...I have learned some tips and tricks to make naughty foods into super healthy foods!! I now make my pizzas from scratch and I roll the crust SUPER thin so that I can enjoy more of it without the extra calories:) Now.....I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I have gained a "tiny" bit of weight since winter has come on...but, guess what, it's OK!!!

Winter is super tough for me...no matter how happy I try to make it!! I live in carb city during the winter. Recently, I have started trying on my summer clothes to make sure they still fit for KEY WEST next week....I now must FACE it, that some of them are too tight:) That's winter in the mid-west for you~

After the holidays it's GAME-ON again for me!! Time for the last part of my fit and healthy mission!!

Sometimes things take a little longer than anticipated and that's just fine! I think as long as you have a goal and your moving towards that goals, even when you backslide, it's OK!!

How are you fairing with this WINTER STORM.....that is, for the not so lucky people who DON'T live in Florida:) Hope you are staying warm and cozy wherever you are:)

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." Jimmy Dean

{winter fun}

Hi there...
Just thought I would share a couple photos from this past weekend!!
Remember how I said....I am DETERMINED to get out there and enjoy winter?!!?
Well this past weekend....my huband, myself and our friends bundled up and went up to St. Joe, MI to watch a dog parade!!
Silly, huh?!?!? But it was SOOOO much fun. In fact, we might try and enter our dogs for next year:) but they would probably act up too much~

There was every kind of dog you could imagine! They were all sooo cute~
Of course, we had to watch santa come to town in the fire truck~I don't know what it is but parades just really make me feel like a kid all over again. There is just something so magical about them and well, when they include dogs it's even more fun:)

My friend and I being silly with the snowman.I tell you...if I didn't know any better i'd say we were long, lost sisters. I love her because she is always just as silly as I am!!
Notice Lake Michigan in the background....I think there is just something so wrong about looking at water when there's SNOW on the ground!!But then again....a little vino and a frosty beer and all is ok again:)

Hope you all have a super happy week!! Remember life is short...so get out there and ENJOY it:)
"Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down." unknown

{woot....woot}

Hello there....
This past weekend my camera broke....boohoo...but, today my sweet husband ran out to buy me a new camera!! Awww....thanks honey!
Anywho, it's not the DSLR I really, really wanted...but it's a SUPER upgrade from the camera that broke. So, I am HAPPY. Plus....good things come to those who wait, right?!?!?


I was tinkering around with it today and thought I would share how I christmas ified...my front porch...

I was sticking with the turquoise and silver theme I have going on inside....
Here's a little wreath I made last year or the year before {I can't remember}. I think it looks perfect on my blue front door.

I like to put cute things in my planter boxes during Christmastime...I think it looks better then plain dirt:)

Oh and here's a cute little photo I took while I was trying to learn about my new camera..

I think I am going to be super pleased with my new camera!! Can't wait to take some foodie photos!! YIPPEE!!

Hope you all had a great weekend!!

We did some fun things but I didn't have my camera, so I can't share!! Unless.....my friend sends me copies of the photos on her camera!! **hint, hint, Michelle***

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means you've decided to look through the imperfections." unknown

{rush...rush..rush}

Do you ever feel like all you do is rush...rush...rush

I especially feel this way during the holiday season and usually I end up with a real mess in my stomach. That's right were my stress goes...my stomach, oh, and my shoulders.

Anywho...this time of the year really does it for me. Why does it have to be such a short season. I mean really how MUCH can one cram into 3-4 weeks?!?!

I have really been thinking about this and have decided to be more "present" & "aware" in my life.....you know...really appreciate what each day has to offer. Even when I am CRAMMING way too much into a day.

I know, for me, I am a way over-doer kind of person. I often put way too much stress on myself...

Sometimes I just want to SLOWWWWW down and BREATHE...

Not feel bad that I didn't go to the gym and burn X amount of calories, or make those pillows I had in mind or walk the dogs or on and on....

This really is the time of the year to be gentle with yourself and allow things to just be....

I NEED to learn to be OK with this. I think we could ALL learn to be more gentle with ourselves.

So here's my PLAN to just relax and enjoy each day:)

Have dinner at least 3x a week at the dining room table listening to Pandora and enjoying some vino.I know I always feel relaxed when I enjoy a nice meal in there.....versus....watching tv while eating:)

Do MORE yoga....starting with this little 20 minute routine in the am before work:)

Be ok...that when friends come over...things MAY not be perfectly clean...they like me and not my house, right?!?!?

Allow myself to miss the gym here and there and NOT feel bad about it! I never let become a habit..so I think I am ok to miss once in awhile!

Keep a journal and write down one thing I am proud of and one thing I am thankful for, each day.

Ok...I think that's a pretty good start!! Hopefully...I can relax, breath and just enjoy the season! Life is SHORT and we only get one shot at it....so I think it's important to at least TRY and enjoy what each day has to offer!! Even during the busiest season of the year:)

How do you slow down when life starts getting crazy?!?!?

"If you don't think everyday is a great day try going without one." Jim Evans

{date day}

Hi all.....
Instead of shopping on Black Friday, my husband and I went up to Saugatuck for the day!! We had a great day! Sometimes it's nice to have a date day.
Plus, you know how I feel about winter in the Midwest, but this year I have decided to get out there and try and enjoy it.....as best I can:)
We started off at this super cute little bar..

I just love this place!! We come here a lot in the summer and usually this area is open to the outside...but you can see they put up walls!
Here's my husband....hoping I don't talk to much during our "date day!!!" I always talk a lot....mostly because I am just so happy and I want to make everyone else happy too:)I had a little glass of this....Next, we headed over to this cute little place...It was so festive in there...Then we walked around and checked out all the cute shops...Who cares if we had to dress like this for our date day~
Trust me....I would rather be walking around the beachy areas in Florida or anywhere else that warm. But this is all i've got and I am determined to take better advantage of it in the winter!

And guess what.....we had just as much fun as we do there in the summertime:)

Here's what the water looks like in the winter...yes...it does make me want to cry...but, again, I am determined to remain positive:)Even in the winter..you can still find things to be happy about..

like this bench! I don't know why but it made me happy!! I just so colorful and pretty!

Our last stop was this place...Along the way to walking here we saw a couple more happy things...

A front end loader with twinkle lights!! How cute Saw this cute little reindeer...
and I finished up with this....

you know I love my red wine:)

All in all...I am so happy we bundled up and went out and did something fun! Sometimes you just have to bloom where you're planted!! Yes, I would love to live somewhere warm and sunny...but I don't. I don't want to wish my life away and from now on am going to try my BEST to get out and enjoy what we have here:)

Have a warm and cozy Sunday~

"We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey, especially the goodness of the people we meet on the way. Appreciation is a wonderful feeling, don't overlook it." unknown

Happy Friday to everyone:)
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving....
Ours turned out really nice~
I actually got my husband to wear something a little nice~

I got to wear something nice...I was pretty proud of this outfit. I just got back into these pants after they haven't fit for a long time. BUT by the end of the evening I popped the button and had to use a safety pin:) Darn rolls!

Ruby tried to behave...

but as you can see.....she likes to jump on people and give them kisses! At least this time it was just my husband.

Our dining room table looked more like Christmas because I has already decorated for Christmas....Owell....it was still pretty~I made all the usual Thanksgiving suspects for everyone....but I made my Butternut Squash Lasagna for myself. Here's my plate.....Nevermind I went back for seconds and maybe even thirds~I also made this tasty salad.....pomegranates, figs and walnuts! At least I had some greens in my day~

ALRIGHT....enough of that....Now it's time for Fresh Friday and I am so happy because I actually took the time to measure out every little ingredient so I can give you a REAL recipe:)
see....
I made
~Spicy Black Bean Baby Cakes with Guacamole and Tropical Salsa~
First...the Guacamole
~2 large avocados
~1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
~1/4 cup chopped white onions
~1 Tablespoon diced jalapeno
~1/4 cup loose packed cilantro
~juice of 1/2 a lime
~1 teaspoon minced garlic
Throw all the ingredients in the food processor
and waa-la...
Tropical Salsa
~1 can tropical fruit salad (in it's own juice) chopped
~1 Tablespoon diced jalapeno
~1 teaspoon chili powder
~1/2 teaspoon cumin
~1 /4 cup loose packed chopped cilantro
~1/4 c. chopped onion
Throw it all in a bowl
It's just that simple and the possibilities are endless for this salsa! Sometimes I even put black beans in it and use it with tortilla chips...Or you could serve it atop fish or chicken~
Now the
Spicy Black Bean Baby Cakes
~1 can black beans
~1/4 cup corn
~1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
~1/4 cup corn
~1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
~1 teaspoon chili powder
~1 teaspoon cumin
~juice of 1/2 a lime

mix all ingredients, except the corn, in the food processor
take out and mix in the corn and form into patties
cook in a 400 degree oven about 8-10 minutes on each side
take out and let cool

These ROCKED!! I served it all atop a bed of lettuce....but you could make sandwiches out of these too!

yummy.....yummy.....yummy

That's all I can say:)Ok....well I am off to the gym to try and work off some of those rolls I ate yesterday! And then we are going to Saugatuck for a Christmas lighting Ceremony. I'll share that later!!

Have a Happy Friday~

"There comes a time in life when you have to let go of all the pointless drama & the people who create it & surround yourself with people who make you laugh so hard you forget the bad and focus soley on the good. After all, life is too short to be anything but happy." unknown

{Happy Thanksgiving}

Good Morning Everyone~

I had high hopes of going to the gym this am and doing an awesome workout....but sometimes the best laid plans just DON'T workout and that's ok!! Instead I am about to begin the days festivities of cleaning and cooking......

Sometimes I feel torn between pushing myself to get a workout in and still trying to enjoy the holiday! This year...I decided to just take a moment to BREATHE and actually try and enjoy the day. I find I secretly like to try and cram too many things into one day but then utimately end up feeling stressed and unable to be present in the moment! SOOO....here I am NOT going to the gym or running in the race I was thinking of doing and not feeling a tiny bit bad about it...ok maybe I am feeling a tiny bit bad about it!! But one or two days never set anyone totally off track!!

Anyway....today is a day of THANKS and I am going to take a little minute to relax, enjoy every minute of it and be THANKFUL:)

1. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Hash, 2. Roasted couscous salad with favas and grapes, 3. Pumpkin Spice Bread, 4. Rustic Bread and Eggplant Lasagna, 5. Liars Dice Zinfandel, 6. Pumpkin Pie, 7. Roasted Root Vegetables with Rosemary (large), 8. sauteed mushrooms, 9. Pasta with Arugala, Yellow Squash and Herbs

And I am going to enjoy LOTS of yummy food!

I like to say "I am about to get involved in a food festival" and NOT feel guilty about it~

Oh and you know i'll probably have just a little too much wine! Owell...it keeps things interesting with family:)

I am thankful for so many things in my life that I couldn't possibly list them all here! I truly feel blessed and thankful to simply be the person that I am...

We all have things that we would like to change about ourselves but overall I am happy with me:) And I am super thankful for that:)

It's a great life and remember we only get one go around so we better be thankful for every moment we get~

Hope you have a GREAT Thanksgiving and enjoy every bite you eat today! Most of all remember to be THANKFUL:)

"Life is so brief that we should not glance either too far backwards or forwards...therefore study how to fix our happiness in our glass and in our plate."Grimod de la Reynière

{Happy Monday}

Happy Monday to you all!!
Had a great run outside and then came in to do a little
p90x!! It's still 50ish degrees outside and so I try and soak up every little bit I can get! :)
Running outside beats the treadmill ANYDAY....woohoo~
This past weekend I started doing a little Christmas decorating.
Is it WRONG that I listen to the 80's hairband station while i'm doing the decorating?!?!? I am SURE most people probably listen to Christmas music....but then I have never been accused of being like MOST people~

I'll give you just a little sneak peek. Turquoise, silver and glitter is the theme this year~

Of course, you can never go wrong with twinkle lights either! I love them and they make me feel super happy~I am NOT afraid of silver paint and glitter! I just love these little reindeer....they were just the brown paper mache reindeer that I spray painted and sprinkled glitter on! Simple and cute.
Oh and I did add a little Amy Butler fabric scarf to keep them warm and toasty.
The little tree on my bar....I know you are shocked to see wine corks on it:)The dining room table so far......
I enjoyed a MOST delicious dinner there this evening. Stay tuned because i'll be sharing the recipe on this Friday's Fresh Friday post! Oh and you'll be so happy to know that I actually took the time to measure out all the ingrediants I used so that I can give you an ACTUAL recipe!
I promise you won't be dissapointed! Or at least I hope you're not:)

Hope you have a super wonderful evening:)

"Take into account that great love & great achievements involve great risk" dalai lama

{wheat grass}

NO...not this kind of wheat grass~ OR...this kind of wheat grass~
I am talking about THIS kind of wheat grass! :) Pure health in a can. It's a super easy way to get a nice dose of greens for your day~

I make a healthy shake in the morning with a little bit of this....and whatever else I feel like throwing in!

Lately my shakes have been.....wheat grass, plant fusion, blueberries, half a banana and some ground flaxseed!! What a GREAT way to start the day:) Go ahead and whip one up yourself! You WON"T be disappointed~

These shakes make me really feel like i'm doing something GOOD for my body~YUUUMMMMM~~

Have a HAPPY sunday~ :)

PS....how are your Thanksgiving Day plans going?!?!? I can't believe it's just around the corner! Geesh....where does time go?

{Fresh Friday}

Breathe....just Breathe...it's FRIDAY!! I never thought it would get here.....
Hi all...
Glad you enjoyed my yoga post and even more importantly....happy to know you think i'm flexible!! :)
As always I appreciate all the comments, they always make me smile~

flickr
Well...it's Fresh Friday and time for another installment of something super healthy to make!
This time it's .............
~Tomato Pesto Soup served in a Squash Bowl~
triple times five super yummy:)
I don't know...just a silly saying I always say! :)

Anywho...first roast a garlic clove~ I could live on roasted garlic but my husband doesn't always appreciate it.
Then chop some kale and saute it in a little vegetable broth or olive oil if you prefer~
After all that's done....throw a can of diced tomatoes, a little pesto and some soy milk in the food processor...oh and make sure to throw in the garlic and kale!Oh...I almost forgot to mention...when you put the garlic in the oven....throw in half of a cleaned acorn squash.
I'd say about 425 for about an hour...give or take...depending on your oven~ When everything is done just pour it into the squash and ENJOY! Kind of like a bread bowl but without all that bread:)Notice I also had a little pizza with mine! I just used the whole wheat crust I make from scratch and keep in the freezer. I threw on a little pesto, some tomatoes and onions! Put it all in the oven on 450 for about 12 minutes! It was fabulous~

I always roll the crust super duper thin....so that I feel like I am getting a lot of pizza, when really it's not all that much! More pieces of pizza...but less crust and thus fewer calories= I am happy:)Healthy Eating....

Just today I was at work and someone brought in some pomegrantes, so I was talking about how good they taste and how good they are for you! Well, someone said "so how many of those do you need to eat in one day to be healthy?"

Woah....hold on just a minute!

It often seems that people have the notion .... if one of something is good for you than 50 must be better!

I said "it's not about eating 50 pomegrantes in one day, it's about eating more fruits & veggies overall and really mixing it up."

So the point is....if you want to start getting a little more healthy and fit...eat more fruits and veggies and DON'T be afraid to try new things! Eating carrots everyday of your life isn't BAD but what about sweet potaotes, orange peppers or the many kinds of squashes there are!!?!?! I find that if I get bored with what I am eating...I tend to get off track...that's why I love to mix it up and try new things!! Plus every fruit or veggie has something different to offer your body! But overall I do try to eat a ton of fruits and veggies everyday!

I have found that I can incorporate them in interesting ways....like adding sauted kale to my tomato soup or serving my soup in a squash bowl.... you get the idea:)

I am not a nutrtitionist or a doctor ...... just a real girl trying to get real fit and learning along the way! Hopefully along my journey i'll inspire another~

Happy Friday and I hope you all have a super {fruits and veggies filled} weekend:)

"Whatever you want to do, do it now. For life is time and time is all there is." Unknown

{wishful Wednesday}

It's definitely one of those weeks were I keep thinking.....WHEN WILL IT BE FRIDAY?!?!?

The weather was putrid, I have an annoying sinus infection, work is beyond stressful....you get the idea!! :)

Well....I decided to take matters into my own hands and try to have a somewhat relaxing day!

First...during lunch {which, amazingly, was rather quiet....I am a teacher and lunch is usually anything but quiet} I went to flickr and started a slide show of Key West sunsets....

ahhhh....pure bliss~flickr

I got to pretend for my whole lunch that I was in Key West~

Do you ever do that with flickr?!?!

Then I came home and do what I love to do to relax~

Light a fire, candles and do

A little yoga...

I am laughing because my husband thinks I am nuts!! First, I am doing yoga and then because I am asking him to take pictures of me doing yoga:)

I think you can see that I am not really all that flexible.....but I try:)and then.....here is how I REALLY practice yoga~with Ruby constantly licking me!!

What I love about yoga...is really focusing on my breathing and getting my rate to slow WAY DOWN~

I don't know if you can really see it...but my heart rate is 57!!! Now that is a BIG difference from where I keep it when I run, which is around 160! I just do the yoga on tv with Steve Ross...but I love it. I get totally relaxed and zen like:)

After yoga I pour a nice glass of Cabernet and sit by the fire~

Now I try to keep it real here at simpledaisy...but I have to admit that the above photo is a re-take from the one below....where I saw a ginormous zit on my nose!! I ran and powdered my nose for the re-take! Seriously...I am pushing 35 and clearly should be finished with zits:)Owell...here it is in all it's RED glory:)

Lastly, by now you know I love to cook and especially love to make something yummy and comforting when I am all stressed out!

So I whipped up some vegan Cream of Mushroom soup from scratch~

I also made some pesto whole wheat "crackers" from some pizza dough I had in the freezer. Sometimes I make up pizza dough and then freeze it for times like this!

Anywho...since it's not Fresh Friday I won't bore you with the recipe with this .... but if you're interested in how I made it....give me an e-mail!! But remember....I RARELY use recipes and so...I just cooked what I thought would be yummy in mushroom soup and then threw it in the blender!!

Well happy Wednesday and remember....when you're all stressed out...try and take a minute to do something that will make you happy:)

"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states." ~ Carol Welch

{crafting: simpledaisy style}

Finally got around to putting something on the wall behind our couch & it involved a simple little craft anyone can do:)I don't have photos in all the frames yet. But you get the idea!

I think it looks great:)Yes....I do already have christmas decorations out!! I love the sprakle of christmas and am always excited to put out all my sparkly decorations!

Now for the craft......

I made a couple of these sayings on artist canvas! So simple and so cheap!

I used artist canvas, spray paint, scrapbook letters, address letters and sandpaper.

First pick out a saying you like and arrange the letters on the canvas~Next, spray paint it in any color you like!

I used black on two and aqua blue on one.Then take the letters off....
Sand and your done~OH and MAKE SURE you actually have the saying right!

Do you NOTICE the quote is WRONG....it's is supposed to be....

"Be who you are & say what you feel.....

those who mind don't matter &

those who matter don't mind" Dr. Suess

I love that quote. It's sooo very true!

BUT as always I was in such an excited rush to see the finished product that I didn't pay attention! Now I am off to the craft store to get another canvas. haha!

If you really knew me, you'd know that's how I roll.....always in a rush!!! Owell....I am who I am!!

Have a super Happy Sunday~

{Fresh Friday}

Happy Friday everyone!! :)
I have to say thanks for all your nice comments here!! I always appreciate them!!
And I am happy to see that at least of few of you are actually trying to make some of the yummy food from Fresh Friday's!!

Here's what sealaura commented...
"BTW I made the spaghetti squash yesterday and I had your blog next to me for every step. muchas gracias!!!" Hope it turned out great for you sealaura~
Thanks again for letting me know you are trying out some of the Fresh Friday recipes:)

This week I made the tastiest Butternut Squash Lasagna!! Super healthy comfort food...just perfect!

It did take a little bit to prepare but it definitely ROCKED!
FIRST....
cut a butternut squash in half and roast in the oven on 425 for about an hour (or until soft)
at the same time throw a whole garlic clove in some foil with a tiny bit of olive oil and roast it too.
While that's roasting....
follow the directions to cook some whole wheat noodles
saute some chopped up kale....shitake mushrooms (I used 2 packages)....and sliced white onions.

That's how my squash looked when it was done (or should I say...a little overdone:)
Darn wine.....makes me forget about time!
Anywho....once the squash and garlic is done....scoop out the squash and throw it in the food processor with the roasted garlic and firm tofu (I used 1 whole package)
I just used tofu to add a little protein and impart a little creaminess to the lasagna.
Remember....no cheese for me!! But this would also ROCK with some goat cheese!
Ok now once you have that all processed up......just start layering! Oh I forgot...I put a little roasted tomato sauce on the bottom and top of the lasagna. And I used kitchen scissors to snip the noodles so that they would fit perfectly in the dish!
So good so far?!?!?
Next....layer in some of the squash mixture...sauteed kale, mushrooms and onions. Keep layering until the dish is full and pop it in the oven on 425 for about 30 minutes!!
And here is what you get!

Again sorry for the not so great photos!! Since the time change I can't get things made in time to take the pictures while there's still sunlight!! Owell....you get the idea!
This was soooooo good!! I ate the whole thing in two days!! But really...it wasn't too many calories and it was totally good for me!!
That's the trick...make healthy options of things you love....so if you do happen to eat too much it's not really that bad:)

I thought I would share 2 sites that have really helped me in my quest to get fit and healthy!!
The first one is sparkpeople.
I love this site! You can get in the forums and just read all about what others are struggling with and what is working for others! Plus there are tons and tons of recipes and articles to read!

The other one is fitday.
I use this one to log my food once in while just to see where I am! Plus it shows you what vitamins and minerals you are getting and which ones you are missing out on! I am always low in selenium....so I just try to add in a few of the foods that have a lot of selenium in it!

I don't log my food all the time because it is just too time consuming and I like to focus on how I am feeling rather than relying on numbers on a computer! But once in awhile it is good to know where you stand!

OK...well hope I gave you another tasty and healthy recipe! Let me know if you give it a whirl!

PS...my gym asked me AGAIN to teach the morning spin classes....now I just need to get over my anxiety and just do it!! It's a small gym and would be a great place to start! I don't know why but whenever I really care about something ..... I just can't bring myself to do it! I am always afraid of failure! (what will the people think about me, will I suck, what if they ask me question I don't have the answer too?!?) Does that ever happen to you?!?!? Even though you know you could do something in your sleep....when it comes to someone actually asking you to do it....you freeze?!?!?

"Learn to relax. Your body is precious, as it houses your mind and spirit. Inner peace begins with a relaxed body" Norman Vincent Peale

{dreams}

If I could have any vehicle in the world it would be this..... or this...
How perfect would it be to drive around an aqua blue vintage bronco?!?!? Why does my husband have to think this is SOOO impractical?!?!?

I could take it here...

or here...or maybe even here..OK...not really but it would be soooo fun!! :)

If I can't have a vintage vehicle then here's my other choice...

So darn cute!! I used to have one and I LOVED it!! I have no doubt i'll have another one SOMEDAY!! It probably is a little more practical than a vintage bronco!! But then I have NEVER been accused of being practical:)

For now i'll stick with what i've got....

No this one is NOT actually my 4 runner! Mine is in the shop....because in my excitement from the awesome weather this weekend....I rear-ended someone...OOPS!!

Even though it's not vintage...I like to think it says....i'm active and NOT afraid to get dirty!! Oh and I should add that mine has a bike rack on top (hence the active part)!!

What does your vehicle say about you?!!? Does is say anything at all?!?!

{click on the photos for the links}

"Follow your heart
Your intuition
It will lead you in the right direction
Let go of your mind
Your Intuition
It's easy to find
Just follow your heart" Jewel