Day 21

Today is Day 21 and I've pretty much fallen off the Challenge Truck! I ate Valentine's Day candy and had cinnamon rolls with coffee for breakfast Sunday morning before heading to the gym. But, I did go to the gym this weekend and that's better than I've done in the past. I usually reserve my Winter weekends for getting caught up on life, relaxing and hanging out with Presley, but this weekend was so nice that I had to get out and about!


I also made up a smoothie recipe.

1 cup of fresh Spinach
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/3 cup silken tofu
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon flax seeds
1/4 cup orange juice

Blend well and drink. It's so delish and only about 93 calories. It's my new go-to breakfast drink and the flax seeds help to keep me full.

This week I don't have any meetings after work and I'm able to cook, not reheat, all my meals...YAY! So, this week's menu includes:

Sunday - Broccoli and White Bean Soup
Monday - Salmon with honey Dijon glaze and roasted cherry tomatoes, sweet potato and a salad
Tuesday - Chicken Saltimboca with pasta
Wednesday - Tilapia Fish Tacos with Cilantro Pesto
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Leftovers

Yum-o! I can't wait for this week and I'm so happy today is Monday :)!

Valentine's Day

This weekend I found some really cute things for Valentine's Day and completed my Valentine's Day DIY wreath.


First, I found the cutest little Valentine's Day gift ideas! I found these adorable little mailboxes in the $1 Spot at Target. Aren't they cute?!


I decided to load up on Valentine's Day candy. I love how everything, except the Snickers, is in heart shapes. I especially love the York Peppermint Patties. They're in heart shapes and the insides are pink!

This year, I decided to make my own Valentine's Day wreath for my front door because (1) I haven't seen anything in the stores lately that I like and (2) I'm really inspired lately by all the crafty posts I see on a daily basis on Pinterest. However, I did not find the wreath I made on Pinterest, I found it on the Homemaking Expert blog. The directions were really easy to follow and the project was fun! As you can see, I made my heart red. I have a white door and like my wreaths to be colorful.

I love decorating for holidays and being festive! January always seems so boring after the Christmas decorations are down, so I'm more than happy to have a little pink and red splashed around to liven up Winter!

Day 16

Well Monday was a bit of a bust. I worked until about 7:30 that night at the largest event my work puts on. 650 people to be exact! I was exhausted and after the program was over, all that was left was some picked over cheese and crackers and some delish mini-cupcakes. Guess what I chose. The following morning there were more of the little devils in the office, so I helped myself to two more with my morning coffee. Yes, that's right I am back to drinking coffee every morning and damn, it feels good! It's cruel to be coffee-less in Colorado in January!

Today, I'm doing pretty well except with my photos. Oops! Here's what's left of my snacks and lunch...

I had some coffee, an apple with almond butter, some broccoli and a sweet potato for lunch. It was all pretty delish and I'm feeling full but not in a food coma sort of way.

I also have some hickory smoked almonds for my 2:30 p.m. snack.

Day 14

With running around after work on Friday and the Denver Broncos playoff game Saturday, this weekend was a bust as far as the challenge was concerned but good otherwise!

I had so many errands to do after work on Friday and by the time I was finished I was tired and hungry which in turn made me grumpy. And what's my cure for the case of the crabbies? Crazy Bread from Little Caesars. It was delish and I loved every single bread stick!

The Crazy Bread went to my head and I was scared that it was headed south (towards my bum region) so I got up early Saturday and headed to boot camp at the gym. I am still feeling the effects of the intense workout today and loving it!

Saturday was also the Broncos/Patriots playoff game and I went to a friends house to watch. I enjoyed the most tasty beer I've ever had in my life along with some delish ribs and homemade mac'n'cheese. I could have cared less about the challenge and it felt good!

Sunday, I tried to get back on track but cloudy January days call for coffee and that's exactly what I did. I woke up, brewed some diesel and turned the tube to the Food Network . It was one of the more relaxing and enjoyable Sunday mornings I've had in a long time!

You can see that today, I'm still stuck on joe. However today is finally the day for our large event and I needed the extra jump this morning - back to smoothies tomorrow!

And for lunch, I brought the leftover of last night's dinner, shrimp and whole grain rice medley with cilantro pesto and broccoli. Needless to say, I can't wait for lunch.

After much thinking and feeling guilty, I decided to stay with the challenge and make a few exceptions, like coffee and some good carbs. No more Crazy Bread for dinner nights, but a little pasta never killed anyone!

This week, I plan on making Lemony Chicken Saltimbocca (sans the Prosciutto), Creamy Broccoli - White Bean Soup, and trying to stay on track with no added sugar or processed food. Wish me luck!

14 days to go...half way through!

Day 11

I'll be the first to admit that I haven't fully committed to this year's challenge and while I wish it were different, it's not. I really liked last year's challenge and stuck to it pretty good. I'm not dumping all the blame on the layout of this year's challenge, but it's just not as "Dianna Friendly" as it was last year.


For example, last year you only had to give up coffee for two weeks, this year it's four weeks. I think that may be impossible for me and while I've given it a good go, tomorrow morning I will enjoy a nice hot cup of coffee! Last year's plan was also easier to follow in that it gave you daily activities to do. This year's plan sends emails like, drink more water. Duh, I live in Colorado and it's the middle of Winter, I could swim to Kansas City on the amount of water I drink a day.


I'm not saying that it should be tailored to me personally, but I felt like I could adapt last year's plan to fit my lifestyle, not that I had to change my lifestyle to fit the challenges guidelines.


I don't know if I'll continue, that's something I need to decide this weekend but for now, you know what I'm going to have?



That's right, a Kashi TLC Dark Mocha Almond Chewy Granola Bar. It only has 6 g of sugar 130 calories so, technically it's like a snack but with sugar.

I don't think the Kashi granola bar is going to be my gateway drug to the sugar bowl, but I miss it. Bad.

I have lost some weight in the past two weeks and feel really great! But I think that also has to do with the fact that I've made my return to the gym. Now that I'm comfortable in my new-ish position, I can begin getting into a regular routine. I'm loving by the way. I sleep better and wake up feeling so refreshed.

Have a great weekend and 17 days to go, if I decide to continue...

Dau 10

Yesterday was insane. It snowed more than four inches when it was supposed to only snow one inch, so the roads weren't plowed and people acted like they've never driven in adverse weather before. Then once I got to work, it was one thing after another and I didn't have time to breathe, let alone post!

Scarlet said it, After all tomorrow is another day, and I believe it!

Last night I made 13 bean soup. However, I got this batch from the bulk bin at my local Sunflower Market and it has rice in it. Now I remember why I only made it once last winter. It was okay, but I'm going back to the strictly bean 13 bean soup next time.

On the menu today, I brought some leftover bean soup, however it's now 2:51 p.m. and I haven't had time for lunch yet. I guess I could have skipped the post and had lunch but I'm not all that hungry and here's why. See the smoothie? I brought the peanut butter and banana smoothie today and I made enough for two servings. I'm planning on having the second half in a little bit here before I head to to the gym :). I also stuck an apple with my homemade almond butter and two cuties in my lunch sack. All that's left is the bean soup.

On another note, my homemade almond butter is better than anything I've found in a jar! And, it was super easy and when almonds go on sale, it's super affordable! The bonus is that I know all of the ingredients...almonds and that's it!

Tonight I am cheating and I don't care! I got some spinach and parm chicken sausages last time I was at the store and it's been in the back of my mind. So, tonight I'm giving in by making pasta, the chicken sausage and topping it off with vodka sauce. Yum-o, I can't wait!

Day 8

It is a little difficult to have ice cold smoothies and salads in January in Colorado. It's cold! But I'm sticking to it and I feel pretty good about myself! I am really looking forward to my 13 bean soup tomorrow, I hear the high is only going to be in the 20's...brrrr!

For today, I'm having an antioxidant smoothie, a creamy kale salad, an apple with almond butter, two cuties and a 1/4 cup of raw nuts with dried cranberries. For dinner I think I'll have a salad and a sweet potato.

20 days to go!

Day 7

Today is day 7, it's officially been a full week and I do feel pretty darn good! I didn't have any coffee this weekend, bummer, but did make such a good peanut butter and banana smoothie, I thought it was a shake. No Joke!

I accomplished a lot this weekend. I took down Christmas, boo hoo, cleaned, organized and my home now feels ready for 2012.

These are the sesame-kale crisps I made, and they were really good out of the oven however they've since gone limp and they're okay now, but I prefer the crunch.

This is the orange-sugar scrub I made and it was pretty darn easy, even for me! I used it in the shower all weekend and my skin feels amazing. I think it may be the olive oil but whatever it is, I love it!


During the weekend, I did pretty well except with the no sugar part. I had some twizzlers. Oops, but it's not like I stuck my face in the sugar bowl, so I don't even feel one bit bad about it!
For today's menu, I have a mixed fruit smoothie with flax seed, a salad, some kale crisps, two cuties and an apple with homemade almond butter. Yum-o!

This week is supposed to get bitter cold, so I think it will be a good time to make my 13 bean soup. It warms me up, just thinking about it!

21 days to go!

Day 4

TGIF! I know this has been a short week, but it's been a doozie! I'm ready to relax and have some fun this weekend!

Last night I slipped again. I met some friends for dinner and a diner, horrible decision I might add, but I think the choice I made was pretty good due to circumstances. I ended up having green chili soup and a small salad. But here's the slip up, I also had a tortilla. But, only one. Two came on the side of the soup after all!

Today I am back at it and feel pretty good. I did have to take the pic above at work because I forgot to do it at home, oh well.

I ended up making the blueberry and green tea smoothie (see yesterday's post for a link to the recipe) and it's not that bad! I think some yogurt would help it along but it's doing the job today and that's all that matters.

I also brought two Cuties, a quarter cup of the raw almond/cashew and dried cranberry mixture, the other half of my smoothie and an apple with some almond butter. For dinner, I think I'll try either the kale slaw or have a sweet potato. We'll see how it goes once I make it home!

This challenge has given me some other great ideas like

• Making my own almond butter - I looked it up online and it doesn't seem so hard. I am actually really looking forward to using the food processor my Dad got me for Christmas!



• Not being so wasteful - I've been eating A LOT of Cuties and I recently saw where orange peel has great health benefits. So, I did some searching and found this, dried orange peel and sugar scrub. I think it looks super easy to do and I'm looking forward to making it!

This weekend, I plan on making the peanut butter and banana smoothie, making some kale chips and just having a nice relaxing weekend where I can get caught up on everything since the holidays. I'm going to try and stick to the challenge, and I think I can although not having coffee on weekend mornings may end up being really difficult, but it's only one weekend, right?!

24 days to go!

Day 3

Yesterday was SO difficult! After going from eating all the yummy Christmas treats to no sugar, my body was turning on me. Or it could have been my mind but either way I caved and had a cookie. But, it was just one small cookie so I don't feel all that bad about it!

I did wake up feeling pretty great and think I'm adjusting to no morning joe. Although I do miss it more than sugar, I have been strong and not caved on the no caffeine rule. Yay me!

Last night I had a salad with half a grilled chicken breast and some steamed broccoli. I put fines herbs seasoning on the chicken before grilling, it's one of my fav ways to do chicken! I also added mushrooms to my salad. I made the dressing out of some Dijon mustard, extra virgin olive oil and the raspberry/thyme vinegar I got this year at the Denver Botanic Gardens Christmas expo. It was also delish and I'm really looking forward to lunch!

For breakfast I had the other half of my green smoothie (from yesterday's post). Tomorrow morning I'm going to make the Blueberry/Green Tea smoothie with a few tweaks. I'm going to use frozen blueberries (that I bought when they were in season and then froze, I'm so smart) and leave the green tea liquid. We'll see how it turns out but I have found out that it's pretty hard to screw up a smoothie, so it's one item that I can make!

I also brought a couple of Cuties. I have a huge bowl full of them after my shopping trip to Sams' Club. You couldn't be the price and they're a really good snack. I'm sure the people in my office will be sick of the smell of orange soon, but it could be worse!

25 days to go!!

Day 2

I already feel better, no joke! I woke up this morning with a clear head and ready to start the day.

I did go to bed with a headache and turned out the lights immediately after Parenthood last night, but hey it was all worth it because today I feel like a million bucks!

Jamba Juice was pretty amazing last night. I ended up getting the Carrot Mango Karma and it was delish. It was also really good to catch up with an old friend.

For today, I made a green smoothie and my new blender makes it taste 100% better than the last time I did this! Also on the menu is a bell pepper with avocado and cherry tomato salad, two cuties and 1/4 cup of raw cashews, almonds and dried cranberries.

For dinner tonight I think I will have half a grilled chicken breast with some salad. It's not technically on the plan but it fits in all of the guidelines.

I'm also wanting to try the kale slaw with carrots and peppers but may end up making some edits to the proposed ingredients. We shall see!

Well, 26 days to go!

Day 1

Today is day one and I'm feeling pretty good about this year's Action Plan!

I spent the holiday weekend doing home improvements with my Dad, okay, my Dad did the home improvements and I helped. But it was a really busy weekend, I ended up running out of time and not getting to some things that I wanted to. Like, grilling some chicken. So I'm sans salad today, but I think I'll survive.

On the menu for Day 1 is, the Antioxidant Smoothie which will make two meals, a green apple with almond butter, a couple of Cuties and some unsalted cashews/almonds with dried cranberries. I'll round out today with some Jamba Juice for dinner.

I'm meeting a long-time friend who recently accepted a position with Channel 7 here in Denver after work and I so smartly suggested we go to Jamba Juice. After browsing the menu, I think I'm going to either have the Berry UpBeet or the Orange Carrot Karma.

I'm feeling a little slow today without my daily coffee, but I'm hoping by week's end that the cloud will be lifted and I will wake up easier and more energized.

After today, only 27 days to go!