Happy Independence Day!

Thank you to all the brave men and women who ensure our safety on a daily basis and to our founding fathers who built this country on values we treasure. 

This year, we are staying home for the 4th of July. Our newest blessing is only 5 days old so we are still in recovery mode. We will be grilling in the backyard and having a campfire to roast S'mores. Later tonight, we will head to our town beach around the corner to watch all the firework displays. Because of where we are located, we are able to see all the cities and towns fireworks from our beach. The kids are pretty excited about that!

Overall, it will be a relaxing day with our family and a fun night watching fireworks, cuddled in blankets on the sand. 

I pray you all have wonderful and safe Independence Day celebrations!

New Year, New You!

My New Year, New You Challenge is here! I am forming the group now, and it starts January 5th, 2015. Are you stuck in a rut? Do you need more energy? Do you have weight to lose? Do you want to tone up for good? Then join me and a group of people just like you committed to crushing their goals in 2015! I will coach you through your program every day. I will provide recipes, support, encouragement, and accountability to help you reach your health and fitness goals. Contact me today to secure your spot in the group!

What does each challenge pack include?
*workout program of your choice
*30 days of Shakeology
*personalized meal plan
*free coach

Tips for Staying on Track this Holiday Season

Who does the cooking for Christmas? If you do, it is easier for you to control what you are eating. But, if it's someone else, you probably have a harder job ahead of you. Try these tips to get you through to the New Year. 

1. Start every day with a healthy breakfast- Don't skip this meal! So many people skip breakfast, thinking that by eating one less meal, it will help them save on calories. In fact, the opposite is true. You have heard it before- breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Try 2 eggs cooked with veggies in coconut oil, or a bowl of oatmeal topped with honey, a couple nuts and fresh fruit. 

2. Plan Ahead- stock your fridge and cabinets with healthy snacks. Try to do some meal planning, even if it is only for dinner. If you plan on visiting friends or family for Christmas, call them ahead of time to ask what will be served. Offer to bring a healthy dish that you know you can eat. If I know I will be at a party and I'm not sure what will be served, I eat before I go- either a healthy meal or my Shakeology. That way, I won't be tempted to overindulge and I can focus on socializing when I get there!

3. Eat Smaller, Frequent Meals- Aim for 5-6 small meals every day. You should be eating about every 3 hours. This helps keep your metabolism functioning at it's peak, and keeps you from overeating when you go out. 

4. Do Not Miss a Workout- I know, I know...but you are so busy! This is exactly the reason you should be getting in your workout. You may have to change the time you workout to accommodate for your schedule. But trust me, it will be worth it! Exercise helps your mind, body and soul! You will feel better, be less tired, your mood will be lighter, and people will notice!

5. Give yourself Grace- We are human, we all fail on occasion. Give yourself permission to indulge, but only a little! Practice moderation. Do not beat yourself up for having one of Great Aunt Mary's pecan squares. Every moment is a new moment. Take some time each day to focus on yourself and enjoy this season!

Healthy Holiday Treat- Mint Chocolate Truffles!

It's that time of year again! Is anyone else struggling with temptation? I'm surrounded by goodies everywhere I go, and chocolate is my weakness. I'm trying really hard to stay on track this year. I'm being realistic- I'm not trying to lose weight, but I am being mindful of what I put in my body. I don't want to go through the holidays feeling cranky and sluggish. What would that do for my 5 children?!

I'm so thankful for recipes like this. Team Beachbody gives up so many great recipes, tips for staying on track, and motivation. I found this recipe and knew I had to share! Hope you enjoy!

These minty truffles have so much chocolate flavor, one is all you need!

Ingredients:
5 oz. dark chocolate, 70% cocoa or higher, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
½ cup lite coconut milk
½ tsp. pure mint extract (or pure vanilla extract)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

Preparation:
1. Place chocolate, coconut oil, and mint extract in a small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
2. Bring coconut milk to a gentle boil in small saucepan over medium heat.
3. Add coconut milk to chocolate mixture; Whisk gently until combined.
4. Place chocolate mixture, covered, in refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
5. Using a melon baller or spoon, scoop out 1 Tbsp. of chocolate mixture. Roll into a ball. Roll in cocoa powder until evenly coated. Repeat steps five and six until there are twelve truffles.
6. Store in refrigerator for up to one week or in freezer for three months.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 98

Fat: 7 g

Saturated Fat: 4 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 4 mg

Carbohydrate: 7 g

Fiber: 2 g

Sugar: 3 g

Protein: 1 g

Welcome to my blog!

Welcome to my blog! Thanks for stopping by! I have thought about blogging for quite a while now, but I always find a reason to put it off. Well, I finally decided that 2015 is going to be the year. So, join me in the New Year as I blog about getting healthy, exercising, raising my growing family, and having a home business. I will share family friendly recipes, healthy tips, my journey as a homeschooling mom of 5 (soon to be 6), and anything else that inspires me. I am also a Beachbody health and fitness coach, so I would love to help you along your own journey of getting fit!