My metabolism... Food for thought

It's a topic that lots of us are probably thinking about since its January.... Weight, healthy eating choices, feeling better. I'm pretty sure that I make the resolution almost every year to get healthy and yet here I am again. 

I must admit. I love food... especially sweets. And I really adore chocolate. It's a pretty serious affair that's been going on for like 30+ years. I like to blame my dad because he has the same sweet tooth! 

I've tried it all. I successfully lost and maintained with Weight Watchers for close to 4 years. Then I had lil man and between working and him I wasn't making the best eating choices but it kind of still worked because we were on the go. Then I got pregnant with lil lady and bed rest really racked on the pounds. But I dropped them and more crazy fast thanks to her dairy intolerance. Because pretty much every processed food has dairy in it (especially all the sweets and chocolate!) It's amazing the dedication you have when your food choices impact your child. This was probably my thinnest and healthiest I'd been in years. But then life happened and I fell off the wagon and my body stopped bouncing back like it used to. One day of splurging (or even thinking about splurging) and I saw the scale jump. 

Enter a good friend who shared a similar experience and her success with the Fast Metabolism Diet. It's a 28 day plan that helps reset your metabolism. I did some research and it sounded doable. So here I am! My library actually had a copy do I downloaded it to my Kindle app and it's there whenever I need it.

It's a 3 phased approach. So 2 days of grains, vegetables, and fruit on Phase 1. 2 days of lean protein and veggies on Phase 2. Followed by 3 days of fats, protein, veggies, and fruit. There are lots more details and specifics so I recommend getting the book if you want to try this. I'm on day 4 which is pretty rough but I know that tomorrow is going to be lots of yummy food so I'm pushing thru! I've already starting seeing changes and that's super motivating too!

Check out this yummy stuffed pepper dinner I made last night!!! I made it the night before too - but I added in quinoa, sweet potatoes, and fire roasted tomatoes. Mmmmmm...

2 cups baby spinach diced

1/2 red onion diced

10 mushrooms cooked and diced

4 peppers cored

1/2 lb ground chicken breast cooked

Cilantro, garlic, tamari to season

1. Preheat oven to 350. Combine everything except peppers in a bowl until well mixed.

2. Stuff peppers with mixture. Place in a covered - oven safe dish. 

3. Bake on 350 for 40 minutes. 

And enjoy!!!! I made 4 so I would have 2 for dinner last night and 2 for tonight.

I had a little of the mixture left... And talk about about tasty! I added it to my egg white omelette this morning!!!

Pom pom power!!!

I'm sure most of you out there have probably already seen these brilliant and easy DIY but I'm a little late to the Pom Pom party!

We had 2 birthday parties this past weekend and as we were wrapping up gifts (yes lil Fi was a great helper!) - I spotted some yellow yarn that was the perfect color to match to the paper. I initially was planning to just tie it up and do a standard bow. When suddenly it hit me... How cute would it be to top the gift with a fuzzy, yellow Pom Pom??

Since I'm a risk taker, I just tried wrapping the yarn around a piece of cardboard, pulled the yarn off the cardboard, knotted a piece of yarn in the middle, then cut all the loops. And it worked!!! 

Here is a tutorial I just found too with more details! http://www.danamadeit.com/2010/12/pom-poms-a-very-simple-tutorial.html

I mean how cute did this turn out???

Now I'm pondering another Pom Pom DIY!!! 

Friday Fashion: Lovin the Fringe!

Happy Friday!!! This is one of my favorite quotes of all time! Fashion is so much like your passion - it is so primally personal that no one wears even the exact same pieces of clothing the same way. And that's what makes it so special!

Something that I've been adoring lately is fringe. It started with a scarf, was love at first sight with a pair of boots, and I'm 100% in with the handbags and necklaces. Not sure what I'm talking about or need a little reassurance? Check out this great article on Effortless Style all about styling with fringe.

Dying over these outfits!!!! And loving how the boots are going across seasons....

 weheartit.com

And for the last few weeks - I've been practically dreaming about these boots.... actually I'm trying to decide between the 2 layer, 3 layer, or the over the knee. And the color has me stumped too. I'm loving the dusty brown but after seeing K Kardash rocking the black ones - I'm having second thoughts! But I'm going for it! You'll just have to wait and see what I pick :)

Side note - if you've never owned a pair of Minnetonka's you are missing out. I bought a pair probably 7 years ago and they are still going strong! Granted I don't live up north but they do get ALOT of wear from December thru March {our temp is 34 right now!}

And because I'm just amazed by this amazing cause and I was already talking about shoes anyway - there is a super sweet family who is asking for shoe donations to help fund their adoption. If you have any here I'm gathering info to share!goog

And just like that I'm back! Hello 2015!

Man - it's amazing how a little break can turn into a big break. But just like rising a horse you never forget how to ride and I'm ecstatic to be back in the saddle again!

It's certainly been a busy year since I last wrote! The kids have grown, my relationships have grown, my side biz has grown, and my DIY list has grown, and I've grown! One of the things that I've learned though is I do actually miss having this blog as an outlet. I've still been active on social media and I love that but this is different. This is all me in a totally judgement free place. So you'll be seeing lots more of me right here over the next 350+ days!

Since it is a new year after all - it's time for me to start thinking about goals, what I want to accomplish this year and what I need to learn to put on the back burner (that is a hard one for me!) For some reason - twice in the last few days I have seen or heard this idea of having a core word for 2015. So I'm taking that as a sign that God and the universe is really curious what my focus will be for this year.

 the amazing Lara Casey - if you need some help with goals check her out!

Looking back on 2014 - one of the big learnings I had is that it is okay to say NO and that it is essential to my sanity to practice this principle ALOT. I have by no means perfected the art but it is a work in progress. Even harder than the actual process of saying no is the feelings that come after it for me. Guilt mainly - because I hate to think that someone was counting on me and I let them down. But there are only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week and I need to do what is right for me and my family.

So the words started coming: intentional, balance, boundary, brave, unsettle, change, happy, believe, focus, engage, content, create, inspire, joy, clarity, appreciate, patience, move, purpose, present, stretch, dream, thrive, commit, health, action, passion, trust, dedicate.

No surprise that I'm still working and thinking. My perfectionist mind knows that the perfect word is out there and I can't settle until I've found it and then the fun begins!

XO - Nikki

Special Delivery... Courtesy of my fave design duo!

Is it any surprise that I almost did cartwheels after finding the new Serena & Lily catalog in my mailbox today? I am crazy in love with EVERY thing they do.

Bedrooms? LOVE
Playrooms? LOVE
Nursery? LOVE
Outdoor Spaces? LOVE

I haven't yet had time to fully digest this issue yet and already I found something to work on for Fiona's big girl room.

Seriously how sweet and easy and inexpensive is this??? Varying sizes of embroidery hoops with mix n match fabric!

Stay tuned.... I am all over this!

Post Labor Day Blues?

I saw this amazing post on a friend and business partner's blog and just had to share.... it rings so true to me as I spent today with my littles, organizing a Mommy & Me Arts and Crafts Co-op at our church, still trying to master my Master bedroom, a quick trip to Target and the gym, and doing a little bit of 'work' in the 30 minutes that the kids actually napped today. And now as I sit here in the silence (it is 7:40 and the kids have been asleep for 30+ minutes and hubby is still at work) I realize just how lucky I am. I did not wake up today and dread another week of work - I can finally say that I am right where I need to be and loving every minute of it :)

xo - from this blog writin, craft lovin, fabric obsessin, young lookin, shopaholic, biz ownin, wifey and mommy of 2 :)

Falling for Fall - Pumpkin Spice Latte at home!!!

I must be the last person on the planet to never have tried the Starbucks Pumpkin SPice Latte that all of my friends are so very excited about this time of year.... So after much thought I decided yesterday that I was going to try one! Only problem? The close Starbucks is about 20 minutes away and I had a little one ready for a nap. What to do but DIY one! A quick google search lead me to this super easy recipe here. Don't worry though - of course I made some changes to it!

And here is my version:

1 cup Milk
1 cup Almond Milk
3 tbsp Canned Pumpkin
3 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Dash nutmeg
1 cup coffee
Whipped Cream

In a saucepan, whisk together milk, pumpkin, and sugar on medium heat. Stir until steaming. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla and spices. Whisk really well for about 1 minute. Pour into a large mug. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon.

I drank one yummy cup and popped the remaining 2 cups into the frig and warmed one up today and it was just as good!

And I used my leftover pumpkin to make these amazing pumpkin bars that are a fall staple around my house! I <3 PUMPKIN and long 3 day weekends!!!!

Third time is a charm! Parson Desk Hack!

It's been a busy summer and I am so excited to be back at it with a little bit of down time while Little Man enjoys some time at school! So I thought I would kick off the holiday weekend with a fun and easy DIY that I procrastinated on for the WHOLE summer! I am linking up at Serenity Now :)

You might remember this entertainment center from our old house. It got replaced by the coral dresser because we cut cable and had nothing to fill up all the nooks (and because it was pretty bulky!)

It lived in our new play room for a bit as an entertainment center (aka - toy storage unit) but I hated that it was open and you could see all the clutter. So I was about to put it on Craig's List when I had a better idea... why not hack it and make the Parson's desk/table that I was stalking the internet for? But time got away from me and I decided that a quick fix was a better option so I flipped it over and made it into a window seat using the top portion of an ottoman that was in storage.

Well, I finally decided to work on the hack and wouldn't you know it took me all of 5 minutes to finish it? I was so kicking myself that I waited all this time to do it! And look at how cute it is! There are no pictures because all I did was unscrew everything but the top and three sides. So let this be a lesson to you that - A. Just do it! I spent longer thinking about this than it actually took to finish it and B. Keep your eye out for pieces that you might be able to hack into something you really love!

PS - More info on some of the other changes coming next week!

Christmas in July - FREEBIES!!!!

I know it's not Skincare Saturday but wanted to pass along this amazing deal!!! It's Christmas in July FREEBIE time! Click the link below and complete the quick survey (easy questions... like your name, address, etc!) Then wait for your mini facial kit to arrive in your mailbox! It's that easy! Mini facial kits include 1-2 uses of Microdermabrasion Paste, Night Renewing Serum, and Lip Renewing Serum. I'm also going to include a special treat for anyone who chooses to order after using the mini facial kit items. You have until midnight on Wednesday, July 24th to fill out the survey and get your FREE items! Ready, set, GO! 

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X79MMJP

 

And if you are wondering if Rodan + Fields might be for you.... Here is some more info on the 4 regimens. As a Christmas in July special if you join as a Preferred Customer TODAY you will receive a week's worth of our miracle Night Renewing Serum FREE (and of course 10% off and free shipping!) It's totally risk free with our 60 day money back guarantee! 

Click here to enroll as a Preferred Customer and to get started on the best skin of your life! 

Parmesan Crusted Chicken.... My Way!

I pinned this super yummy looking parmesan crusted chicken recipe over the weekend and was so excited to try it out! But when it came time to cook dinner last night, I could not find the recipe! So I turned to my good friend google and ran across this one pictured below.

And in typical me style - I was missing half of the 4 needed ingredients... namely the parmesan and the bread crumbs! Never one to let little issues slow me down I moved forward with my own version!

Cheesy Ranch Crusted Chicken

1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Mexican Cheese
1 TBSP Ranch Seasoning
1/4 cup Ground Flax Seeds
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix together the mayo, cheese, and ranch seasoning in a bowl.
Place the chicken on a baking sheet and cover evenly with the ranch mixture.
Sprinkle the flax evenly on the top of the ranch mixture.
Bake for ~20 minutes. Finish with 2 minutes on broil.

Voila! The most tasty and juicy chicken I have had in ages!!!!

It's all about the Protection!

So last week I touched on how damaging the skin can be to our skin and how to remedy the damage you have inflicted. But I didn't get a chance to touch on the most important aspect of summer... Sun Protection! Its the best way to prevent skin cancer, wrinkles, acne, and more! Don't forget to see your dermatologist for regular skin cancer checks too!

I was shocked to read some of these skin friendly tips! Seriously a shot glass of sunscreen??? I should be going thru a bottle of sunscreen a month :)

So do your skin a favor this summer (and all year round) and wear a broad spectrum sunscreen whenever you are outside. Look for a sunscreen that exceeds the FDA's criteria and that has been awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation's Seal of Recommendation. And if you are looking for a great sunscreen for your whole family look no further than the R+F Essentials Body Sunscreen. It is non whitening, non sticky, water resistant and broad spectrum SPF 30.

Happy Birthday America!!!!

Hope that you have a wonderful day celebrating all of the amazing

 freedoms that make this country America! 

Pinspired for July - 1 Coral shirt 3 ways!

I am so excited that it's almost the 4th! And love that I get to start off this holiday week with a fun stroll thru Pinterest to gain some outfit inspiration and a link up at Pinterest Told Me To! And since I love my new Old Navy purchases so much - I decided to use my new coral tee as the base for all 3 outfits! It's kinda fun to see multiple options for one piece right? So this is my base piece... and I just might have gone to the store and gotten every single color they have... just saying - it's that good! And in stores it was marked as $10 vs $12 online. If you are curious on sizing I got a small and its still got a decent bit of room to move in without a wardrobe malfunction while chasing the kids!

Source

Coral + Turquoise

Source

 Shorts - Old Navy ($10 in store) 

Stripe + Polka Dots

Source

 Max Studio Skirt - TJ Maxx

Scarf (no tag!) - TJ Maxx 

Coral + White + Animal Print

Source

 Leopard print cardigan - Forever 21

White Crops - TJ Maxx

And although this is not Pinspired... I had to throw this in b/c my hubby is a HUGE Florida Gator fan! So anytime I see orange and blue together that's all I think of! 

Your Skin + the Sun - the good, bad, and UGLY!

It's summertime and the #1 thing that makes me think of the summer is the beach... the sun... the pool! But the last few summers something else for has been front of my mind when it comes to this season - sunscreen! I will admit I was a sun worshipper when I was younger. I frequented the tanning bed in high school and college. And I rarely wore sunscreen. I did not feel pretty (or skinny) without a tan. Its no wonder why when I just recently noticed this while reading my kids a bedtime story...

I am thankful that I have repented and that there is a way to not only protect my skin now but also reverse the years of pain I inflicted on my skin (and even look nice and golden safely!)

Did you know that the biggest culprit in aging is sun exposure???? Yikes! And is certainly doesn't help with acne, wrinkles, skin discoloration, and texture changes. And even if you can't see it yet - changes are that you have sun damage and it just hasn't reared it's ugly head yet. Look at this UV camera shot of the sun damage that is not visible. This underlying sun damage is often the cause for loss of clarity, increased dullness, and uneven skin tone even for people without the telltale age spots.

The Reverse regimen is a simple solution to remedy the damage of year's of sun damage. It exfoliates, lightens, improves skin tone, brightens, AND defends against future damage! In an 8 week clinical trial, 98% saw improved brightness, smoothness, and skin texture and 90% saw an improvement in spots and more even skin tone. This stuff is no joke!

Knocking out those sun spots...

And melasma discolorations too...

And it's working wonders for freckles... 

And it's not just for women.... 

or only for your face...

It's pretty crazy to see these incredible results across a variety of different types of sun damage (or hormonal spot damage too!) I actually JUST realized that I have quite a bit of discoloration on my skin in the last several weeks. So stay tuned for some before and afters! 

But in the meantime - enjoy the summer, keep protected, and if you need to be tan, faking it is the way to go! Love our Foaming Sunless Tanner - totally natural and no risk of skin cancer!

Next week in keeping with the summer trend - it's time to talk sunscreen!