GIVEAWAY and Weekend Plans

I want to start by letting everyone know that I will be doing an awesome giveaway next week but I am gonna need to start seeing some fabulous comments. Let me know what you have done to change your lifestyle for the better or in what ways would you like to change your lifestyle. I will give all further details in a full post on Monday!! You don't want to miss out on this. Hint for all my mountain friends....the giveaway is coming from Elise The Boutique)

If you are not familar check out their website. elisetheboutique.com

Now to the weekend....

This afternoon I am heading to my hometown for the night. I am super excited because I haven't been home or seen my family since my brother's wedding in June. The main reason I am going home is because my brother and dad are in a bike race every year across the Blue Ridge Parkway and are you ready for this.....they ride 100 miles. I truly do not know how they do it. I am blessed to have such an inspiring family. Everyone in my family has always been very active and healthy and it helps keep me on track.

Here they are at the finish line last year. My mom, sister and law and I were the cheerleaders!!

 



 

So last night I was in a baking mood so I decided to bake something to take to them for tonight.

 

My brother can't eat a lot of chocolate and my dad loves brownies. So I decided I would make a cookie cake and some brownies to make them both happy.

 

 

 

Now I am definitely not the drawer in the family (my brother is) so don't laugh at my artwork. It's the thought that counts right? ha

 

Ready to cheer them on. So proud!!

 

"My family is like a sanctuary to me I turn to them for support and strength. I take comfort in knowing no matter which path I choose, my family stands beside me"

Day 184:
Breakfast: 2 eggs with hot sauce
Snack: 20 almonds and 4 tiny square of dark chocolate
Lunch: The rest of my skinny sloppy joess and asparagus
Snack: protein bar
Dinner: salad with low fat dressing and fruit

Day 185:
Breakfast: Feta and spinach omelet with 2 turkey sausage
Snack: 20 almonds
Lunch: beef jerky
Dinner: Mexican fajitas salad

Day: 186:
Breakfast 2 eggs with low calorie toast with pumpkin/pecan butter
Snack: 20 almonds
Lunch: skip
Dinner: 1/2 ribeye, corn and sweet potato fries

Days 187:
Cheat day

Day 188:
Breakfast: 2 eggs with hot sauce
Snack: 20 almonds with 4 tiny squares of dark chocolate
Lunch: Southwestern meatloaf (recipe coming soon)
Snack: green apple and protein bar
Dinner:


137 days no diet mountain dew- 96 days no soda

11 days till vaca

26 days till 1st 5k

Mashed Cauliflower and a Light Workout

 

I have had many people tell me about  mashed cauliflower and how much it resembles mashed potatoes. If you know me, as a child I was a mashed potato maniac. (this might be why I never got rid of my "baby fat" ha) Anyways. I really wanted to try these last night but wasn't really in the mood to cook myself some big dinner. So I stopped by Fresh Market and picked up a rotisserie chicken. I normally get them at Bi-Lo (cheaper) but I guess it was chicken night and they were all out. But while I was at Bi-lo I went ahead and got everything I would need for my mashed cauliflower.

 

What you will need

1 bag of frozen cauliflower (you can use fresh, this is just easier)

fat free chicken broth

minced onion

garlic salt

crushed red pepper

very small slice of 2% milk Velveeta cheese

 

 

Start by putting the cauliflower in a microwavable bowl. Fill the bottom with your chicken broth. Just enough to fill the bottom. Then add your seasonings. Let cook for about 10 mins.

 

Once the cauliflower is soft put in blender. You might have to add a little more chicken broth if it is to dry because it won't blend well.

 

Then warm up on the stove and add your small slice of cheese.

 

Once it was warm and the cheese is melted,

 

ENJOY!!

 

I can't get over how quick it took to make these and they were so good! This will definitely be my new go to, quick yet healthy dinner. ( I used 75% less sugar ketchup)

 

Week 11 Workout 3

 

My knee has been bothering me this week so I didn't want to go to crazy during my workout this morning but I also didn't want to be one of those girls that just walks around the gym acting like they are doing something. (you know the type, they ones with full makeup on at 6am) Anyways I decided that I would skip my running today because I want to do some outside training  this weekend. So my workout consisted of:

 

10 minutes fat burning level on the bike

20 minutes on the elliptical (5 mins. forward 5 min. backward and so on)

20 minutes full body weights

10 times 3 incline sit ups

10 time 3 reverse sit ups

( not my normal sweaty workout but it was still very effective)

 

 

Day 183:

Breakfast: 1 egg mixed with substitute egg

Snack: 20 almonds, 2 yogurt covered peanuts and 4 tiny pieces of dark chocolate

Lunch: Turkey, squash, quinoa casserole and skinny sloppy joes. (small serving of both)

Snack: mashed cauliflower, got hungry later in the day and had a thinkthin bar

Dinner: Thai (chicken and veggies) I made my brother and dad a cookie cake and brownies and not gonna lie I had a few bites :) I couldn't resist.

 

 

132 days no diet mountain dew- 91 days no soda

 

4 days till final goal

 

15 days till vaca

 

30 days till 1st 5k

 



Hit 10,000 Views and Skinny Sloppy Joes

I am super excited about this post can't you tell!!

 

(Ya'll know I'm cheesy ha)

 

Today I have hit over 10,000 views on my blog. (actually 10,085 to be exact) I am so happy that people have actually taken an interest into my journey to becoming a healthier version of myself. When I think about how far I have come I hope that I have inspired at least one person to change their lifestyle. When I started out I really just wanted to lose weight and get skinny. But after I lost that first 20 pounds, it really hit me that my goal shouldn't be to just get skinny (my head is wayyy to big to get too skinny ha) my goal should be to get healthy and fit. After that moment it really changed my outlook on my journey. My journey will never be fully over (who knows I might be 80 and still have this blog ha) I will continue to travel down this healthy, happy, road that I call my LittleBlueDress Lifestyle.

 

Okay enough sappiness.... Now who likes Sloppy Joe's?

 

 

Every time I think of Sloppy Joe's I think of a crazy lunch lady. But did you know that they can actually be very healthy and tasty. Well until last night I didn't know either.

 

What you will need

Lean sirloin ground beef

Low sugar ketchup (75% less sugar)

Organic tomato sauce

1/2 red pepper

1/2 green pepper

minced onion

garlic salt

 

Start by cooking your ground sirloin. While that is cooking chop up your veggies (very small)

 

 

( I forgot to show garlic salt and minced onion in my ingredients pic)

 

Once meat is fully cooked add veggies, mined onion and garlic salt. Cook on high for about 5 minutes. (You might want to add a little water)

 

Then add your sauce and ketchup.(1/4 cup of ketchup)

 

Cover and let cook on medium for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

 

While this was cooking I made my side of asparagus.

 

What you will need

Asparagus

Minced onion

Garlic salt

Extra virgin olive oil

Crushed red pepper

Italian seasoning

 

Add 1 1/12 tbsps of olive oil and all of your seasoning. (I'll let you judge how much seasoning you want)

 

Cook on 375' for about 20 minutes.

 

Once everything is ready,

 

Get ready to fill like you are back in a high school cafeteria but not eating the magic meat. So yummy and healthy!

 

Now to the workout this morning.

You would have laughed at me trying to do reverse lunges. Let's just say my nickname isn't Grace!

 





 

I love ab workouts!!

 

After 1 hour and 9 minutes I burnt 462 calories.

 

 

Day 182:

Breakfast: substitute eggs with reduced fat cheese

Snack: 20 almonds, 1 small black plum and 4 tiny squares of dark chocolate

Lunch:  Turkey, Squash, Quinoa Casserole and 2 spoonfuls of Skinny Sloppy Joes

Snack: side salad with low fat yogurt dressing

Dinner: rotisserie chicken with 1 tbsp of 75% less sugar ketchup and mashed cauliflower 

 

131 days no diet mountain dew- 90 days no soda

 

5 days ultimate goal. eekkkkk

 

16 days till vaca

 

31 days till 1st 5k

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner, August Birchbox and 519 Calorie Workout

Last night I was wanting to cook something in my crock pot. I love using it but I always forget about it. So when I got to the grocery store I went to the meat aisle to see what looked good. I normally skip over the red meat aisle and go straight to the turkey and chicken but I thought I would take a look. The sirloin tips were actually calling my name. So I gathered everything I needed and came up with a quite delicious dinner.

 

 

Sirloin tips with low fat gravy (99% fat free cream of mushroom soup and an onion soup packet)

Sweet Potato Fries with 1 tbsp of ketchup

Side salad with low fat yogurt dressing (2tbsp)

YUMMY!

 

After dinner it was present time for me!

Yeap it's Birchbox time.

 

August Birchbox

 

Dr. Jart+ : Premium BB Cream SPF 45+, multitasker evens out skin tone, has antiagin benefits, and gives you broad spectrum protection.

 

Jasmine Seven: Fresh feet and hand wipes

 

ModelCo: Party Proof Lipstick, coral (my favorite)

 

Violet Oasis: 100% Organic Argan Oil. feeds skin and hair with vitamin E and essential fatty acids

 

TanTowel: Classic Self- Tan Towelettes

 

 

Now to the workout!!

 

Week 11 Workout 1



 

Then I added 10 minutes fat burning level on the elliptical.

 

Today was the first day that I wore my Polar watch using the calorie counter and I was glad I did. It ended up pushing me harder and I set more goals during my actual workout.

 

After 1 hour and 10 minutes I burnt 519 calories!

It's a good feeling to see the actual number of calories you burn after a long sweaty workout.

 

 

 

Day 181:

Breakfast: substitute egg with reduced fat cheese

Snack: 20 almonds, small black plum, and 4 tiny pieces of dark chocolate

Lunch: Turkey, Squash, Quinoa casserole with small side of sweet potato fries

Snack: side salad with low fat yogurt dressing

Dinner: Homemade sloppy joes and asparagus (recipe tomorrow)

 

130 days no diet mountain dew- 89 days no soda 

 

6 days till ultimate goal

 

17 days till vaca

 

32 days till first 5k



Turkey, Squash, Quinoa Casserole

 

As you have probably figured out I love making casseroles for my lunches for the week. A lot of people when they think about casseroles think they are unhealthy and full of fat. But you can make healthy casseroles. I know I was just as shocked when I learned this myself. Now I am pretty obsessed. So when I was thinking what I was going to cook for this week the first thing that popped in my head was my Aunt Kay's squash casserole. I have made a healthy version in the past but I wanted to make it this time with a little twist. If it was going to be my lunch for the week I knew I would have to add a little meat to it. So this is what I came up with.

What you will need

ground turkey

3 cans of squash

veggie quinoa

1% low fat cottage cheese

reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese



 

Preheat oven 350'

 

Start by cooking your ground turkey and quinoa.

Once they are fully cooked,

 

Mix all ingredients together into large mixing bowl.

(I used 1 cup of reduced fat sharp cheese and 1 cup of low fat cottage cheese)

(I also added substitute egg)

 

Then place all ingredients in baking dish.

 

Let cook for about 25 minutes. Stick a fork in the middle of the casserole. If it doesn't stick sprinkle cheese on the top. Continue cooking until the cheese is melted on top.

 

Then enjoy your healthy, filling Turkey, Squash, Quinoa Casserole!!

 

 

Day 178:

Breakfast: skip

Lunch: chicken and veggies

Dinner: Mexican fajitas. Chicken, shrimp, beef on a salad with a few spoonfuls of beans.

 

Day 179:

Breakfast: skip

Lunch: Turkey, squash, quinoa casserole

Snack: 2 pumpkin muffins

Dinner: Salad with reduced fat cheese, low fat yogurt dressing and a small side of turkey, squash, quinoa casserole

 

Day 180:

Breakfast: 2eggs with sugar free syrup

Snack: 20 almonds with 4 tiny squares of dark chocolate

Lunch: turkey, squash, quinoa casserole

Snack: 2 pumpkin muffins

Dinner: Sirlion tips with low fat gravy, side salad with lowfat yogurt dressing, and sweet potato fries.

 

 

129 days no diet mountain dew- 83 days no soda

 

7 days till ultimate goal

 

18 days till vaca

 

33 days till 1st 5k