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!