Favorite Friday: Brown Rice Chips and Guacamole

These are my most favorite tortilla style chips. They come in a lot of flavors, but I'm partial to the Sea Salt flavor because I can dip them in anything (anything healthy that is)!

You can probably find these chips anywhere. I get them at Walmart. Even my kids love them! Below you can see the ingredients and the nutritional information.

I always have a few avocados on hand to make guacamole, but you want to be careful with portion control. Avocados are loaded with good for you goodies, but they are also high in fat and although it is the good fat you still have to be careful with your portion sizes. If I'm in a hurry I just toss in a packet of McCormick's Guacamole seasoning. If I have time I make Guacamole with fresh ingredients.  I have also been known to just eat avocado plain...

Enjoy!!

A Museum, A Train, and a Happy, Happy Day

My friend Rachel and I were talking this morning and both admitted to feeling like we were uninvolved parents this year at our children's school.  Both Rachel and I started working this past fall and then I decided to go back to school which left very little time to devote to classroom parties, etc.  In past years we've been very involved so this took some adjusting by all of us... I'm not sure Rachel and I adjusted... We were very happy that the end of the year field trips were being held on days that didn't conflict with anything else.  Today was Jacob's second grade field trip to the Ann Arbor Natural History Museum and a train ride from Ann Arbor back to Jackson.  It was a great day.  I'm so glad I was able to go spend this time with him.  Often in the hustle and bustle of life one on one time gets put on the back shelf.  But it is so important to stay connected with our kids.  They need to know how much we love them. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day...

This is the group of kids Rachel and I were in charge of... So much for a small group!! haha...

This is looking down to the second floor from the third. The second floor was our favorite, but we had to move through it pretty quickly to make it through the whole museum. We might have to go back and take a longer gander...

This is the ceiling of the entryway. I completely missed this until we were leaving. I don't even know what made me look up, I mean really, who looks up... but I did and thought it was beautiful.

This is Jacob and a couple of classmates with his teacher, Mrs. Wilkerson.

Rachel and Gracie... I loved spending the day with them.

Me and Jacob. I think this is one of my favorite pictures of us EVER...

Waiting on the train. We got to the train station on time, but it was coming in from Dearborn and had been trapped by a freight train. We had to wait about 30 minutes before it showed up. Jacob spent the time eating all my snacks!!

Here we are on the train... facing the opposite direction than we were traveling... NOT A GOOD IDEA!!

The train station in Jackson. It has some beautiful woodwork on the inside.

Our train... not exactly Polar Express, but it was a fun ride...

For Mother's Day...

I know I am a tad late posting a picture of what Ethan made for me in his Kindergarten class for Mother's Day. But it is still May... and that counts for something, right?

I think he was most proud of the little card that went with it though.

Isn't precious?

Lunch... It's a Wrap!

Ingredients:
1 wrap (I use the FlatOut brand, whole grain light)
3 oz. grilled chicken cut up
2 Tbsp Spinach and Artichoke Hummus (Sabra brand is my fave)
4 cherry tomatoes cut in half or thirds
a handful of mixed baby greens
spoonful of beans, drained and rinsed (I used navy beans because I already had them open, but any beans would work)

Directions:
Lay the wrap of your choice on a plate. Place a handful of greens on top of the wrap. Mix hummus and chicken and place on top of greens. Top with tomatoes and beans. Wrap it up and enjoy!!!

Ethan's Been Working on Something.....

He actually can ride on his own now, he just needs a little help getting started. Two days after these pictures were taken he road 3 miles while Curt and I went for a run with some friends of ours. He did really good, except for the part where he ran over a dead rat, freaked out and almost ran over Rachel... and the part where Rachel and I stopped running and he almost ran into both of us... but other than that, he was GOLDEN!!

Ya Might As Well Do It ALL and a 5K...

I just don't even know what to say about today other than it was one of the busiest, most stressful and most fun filled days!

It all started with a Physics Final. Final review with the professor and class started at 9am. So, right after I dropped the boys off at school I very gently and slowly drove Bessy (my parents car that I was borrowing -- whole other story) to campus for the review.  Which I didn't actually participate in because I had homework to do... Yes, I procrastinated... Whatever people, IT HAPPENS!!!  Back to my little story here... geesh... So I caught up on a couple homework assignments, scribbled a few things on a note card, ate a very good egg white sandwich from Subway and was ready for my exam at 11am.

Now, the last 2 exams I had I would have told you I bombed it or something miraculous had taken place because I wasn't confident about either one of them.  This exam is a whole other story... I think I did pretty well.  Which could go either way because the other 2 exams ended up being B's.  So either I am really, really wrong or I just got myself an A- in PHYSICS.... I will let you know as soon as I know.

The other BIG thing I was waiting on today was the results of my MTTC which is the Michigan Teacher Certification Exam.  When I signed up for the exam in January I was told I had to pass all 3 parts so I could do my student teaching this coming Fall.  So, I signed up for the Basic Skills, Social Studies Major and Integrated Science Minor tests.  When my instructor found out what I did she said "NO, NO, NO... you have to pass 3 parts of the Basic Skills Test: reading, writing and math."  Well, they were going to charge me half of what I paid to take the exams to get out of them so I just went ahead with them anyway chaulking it up to experience.  Funny thing when I got the email today with my results.  I passed ALL 3.  Not just the 3 parts of the Basic Skills, but ALL 3 EXAMS!

And it was such an AWESOME day I went out and ran my first 5K.  I didn't have a great time, I finished in 34:21ish... Curt snapped a picture of me at 34:21 but I still had 3 or 4 steps to go.  But I finished and that is huge for me.  Especially considering that I have only run 5 times this Spring and 2 of them were this week (including the 5K).  And today was only the second time I've attempted 3 miles... So I think I did pretty good.  Now I'm training for a Duathlon at the end of August... Crazy I know!!

Here are pictures from the 5K...

Me and Rachel before the race

Just before I rounded the corner to finish

Just before crossing the finish line

Apparently me running doesn't just wear me out! He fell asleep in the car on the way home. So precious!

Ethan's Kindergarten Field Trip -- To the ZOO!!

This past Wednesday Ethan's Kindergarten class went on a field trip to the Binder Park Zoo. This is the 3rd time I've gone on a school field trip to this zoo. Twice with Jacob and this once with Ethan. Over the last 3 years I have found certain things to be true.

1. If at the beginning of the week the weather man calls for sunshine and warm weather. Don't believe him. It is going to be cold. It is going to act like its going to rain and you are going to wish you had packed a 3rd jacket because 2 just aren't cutting it.... but you will not need the umbrella... it was a hoax just so you'd pack it and carry it around all day in the 50 pound backpack.
2. As much as you would like to just hang out with your best friend and your 2 children, the teachers like you both and are going to put you in charge of 5 children!!
3. You will think you packed enough food to feed an army, but you will realize (for the 3rd time) that you can not pack enough food. And going more than 5 minutes without eating is a really hard thing for a kindergartener to do!!
4. Money for hot chocolate is a must since all of you are feeling the effects of hypothermia.
5. There is nothing like going on a special outing with your child. And no matter the weather, how many children you are in charge of or how hungry they seem to be, these are the BESTEST memories!!

Rachel and Me

Ethan and Hope

The 5 Hooligans (don't let those innocent faces fool you!)

Ethan and his best friend

The 5 Hooligans and an Elephant

The 5 Hooligans and Rachel (those innocent smiles are very misleading!)

The 5 Hooligans and a scale... apparently they weigh as much as a zebra!! (although I think the scale may be off a smidge because it said the same thing when I stepped on...)

The 5 Hooligans and a Cow

The 5 Hooligans and a VERY large ant

My Hooligan and his teachers Mrs. Walker (left) and Mrs. Bowden (right)

Favorite Friday: Fragrance

I have a high sensitivity to fragrance, most anything can give me a migraine instantaneously but Philosophy's fragrances are different. They are not meant to be smelled by everyone in a crowded elevator, just by those that are standing shoulder to shoulder with you. And what they smell isn't strong or offensive, it is very light and most of the time, they don't even realize its perfume... they just think you smell really good!  I like all of their fragrances, but my absolute favorite is Falling in Love...

The front of the bottle says,

"Falling in love doesn't begin with falling in love with others. It begins with falling in love with ourselves. Loving ourselves is healthy and as God intended. Learn to deeply and fully cherish your heart, your soul and your body and only then will you understand what it is to truly love another."

I am a huge fan of QVC.com because they offer most of my favorite things at really good prices!!  That is where I buy my fragrance.  Philosophy has their own website too:  www.Philosophy.com

Move Over, Sodas. Make Way for H20.

Don't forget to hydrate. Your body needs at least 64 ounces (or 8 glasses) of water every day. It helps eliminate the impurities in your body naturally, keeps you feeling full between meals, and prevents dehydration. 

If you're an average adult, every day you lose more than 10 cups (close to 2.5 liters) of water simply by sweating, breathing and eliminating waste. You also lose electrolytes — minerals such as sodium, potassium and calcium that maintain the balance of fluids in your body. Normally, you can replenish what you've lost through the foods and liquids you consume, even when you're active.

But when you eliminate more water and salts than you replace, dehydration results — your system literally dries out. Sometimes dehydration occurs for a simple reason: You don't drink enough.

Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:

• Dry, sticky mouth
• Sleepiness or tiredness
• Thirst
• Muscle weakness
• Headache
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

So, drink more water or tea (skip the sugar). Before you know it, you'll break your soda habit and feel better, too.

Information was found at http://www.mayoclinic.com

What Do Doctor's Say About Shakeology?

Just in case you weren't aware, I am a huge fan of Shakeology. It has helped me lower my cholesterol 52 points... Yes, 52 points! I have also lost 35 pounds by combining Shakeology with the Turbo Jam and ChaLean Extreme workout programs.  All are products from Beachbody, all are amazing! I am very excited to share information about all of these things because of my success with them, but I'm not a doctor, or a fitness professional. I'm just a girl who has gotten into the best shape of my life by using these tools and found that hard work and diligence can be FUN!! That's why I became a Beachbody Coach. I want to help other people reach their fitness and health goals because I know how good it feels, how much more energy I have, how chasing 2 little boys has gotten sooo much easier!! But, there's more to it that just how it feels. Shakeology has some pretty major medical benefits. Here's what the doctors are saying... Take a look.

Favorite Friday: Fruit Infusing Water Pitcher

In case you didn't catch it on the video, I purchased this from QVC.com. Here is a direct link for the pitcher. Check back soon for a list of infusion possibilities!

Also, Jacob took the video for me. I think he did a pretty good job, but next time I will probably force my husband to do it or use a tripod... Live and learn!

Shakeology -- The 3-Day Cleanse

If you don't know what Shakeology is, go here and you will find ALL the information you need! If you are interested in doing the 3-Day Cleanse, go to www.TurboKristy.com or click the Shakeology tab at the top of my blog and order your Shakeology today.    If you ONLY want 3 days supply for the Cleanse, let me know and I can help you out.  A 3-day supply including a FREE Shaker Cup is $49.50. 

Read what makes this cleanse effective and different from other cleanses on the market below. At the bottom of this page there is a link so you can read what the 3 days consist of. 

The Cleanse
I like to call the Shakeology 3-Day Cleanse a "performance cleanse." This is because it was designed to be done with a workout program. Let's take a look at how this differs from other cleanses and how to tailor it to your needs.

First of all, it's not a true cleanse. It's a calorie-restricted and nutrient-dense diet plan. Traditional cleanses contain very few calories and nutrients. Compared to the much more popular Master Cleanse, it's like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Traditional cleansing diets are done to rid your system of toxins and bring it into homeostasis. They also contain a spiritual aspect. This process can take a long time, which is why you may have seen coworkers walking around the office in a zombie-like state for weeks on end—swilling a strange concoction of lemons and maple syrup.

The Shakeology cleanse is nothing like that. Depending on how you decide to do it, you'll be eating frequently and consuming between 800 and 1,200 calories per day, and it could be even more should you feel the need. The point of this cleanse is not calorie restriction, per se—it's nutrient efficiency. The aim is to get the most nutrients possible into the fewest number of calories. The goal is to put all of these calories to use as a part of your exercise program, to rid your body of undigested foods and toxins, and to bring your hydration levels into homeostasis. The result you're after is not weight loss—though it will likely occur—but for your body to be running more efficiently. This should make you feel lighter and more energetic, even though you're doing an exercise program.

How It Works
Your eating structure doesn't change. You still eat every few hours while you're awake. Each meal should have a balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and fiber. And while you're not eating as much food as you'd normally eat, your calorie-to-nutrient ratio is extremely high. This means that you shouldn't restrict the actual nutrients you're getting by too much, so activity can continue as normal.

We recommend you try to keep your shakes to just Shakeology. Adding fruits of any kind, or seeds (for fat and fiber), or the Shakeology Fiber supplement, can and should be done as you see fit.

Ditto for your one solid meal—a salad. As we all know from any salad bar, the definition of salad can be varied. The goal of the salad in the plan is to keep your calories coming from natural sources (no artificial ingredients should be added, including artificial salad dressing). Aside from that, you can add ingredients as necessary. Keep your meat intake to four ounces or less, but add veggies, seeds, nuts, fruits, and legumes in quantities to satiate you.

The goal of the Shakeology 3-Day Cleanse is to optimize your performance. You want to eat enough to fuel your day AND your workout. The foods you're eating are so high in fiber and nutrients that it's virtually impossible to overeat. You'll be consuming so much fiber, along with enzymes and digestive aids, that your body's ability to flush excess foods quickly will be at its peak.

What to Drink
Water, of course, is recommended in quantity. This is vital to any cleanse, because one of your goals is to bring your hydration into homeostasis. When your electrolytes are out of balance—the main problem we have is salt—you often retain water outside of your cells. This situation, which we refer to as retaining water, is cured by drinking more water. As the excess salts are diffused, your body begins to hydrate your cells (using sodium as it should be used) and flush the water held outside the cells. So, oddly enough, you drink water to eliminate water retention.

Sodas, alcohols, juices, etc., should be eliminated entirely during a cleanse. Coffee and tea, which are diuretics, should be minimized at the very least and eliminated if possible. Again, performance is the key, so if you need a cup of Joe as a pick-me-up, go ahead. Just use only as needed, and don't use additives. Eliminating sugar and chemicals is vital. However, do not use energy drinks or soda for this purpose, including the ones with artificial sweeteners. Coffee drinkers may find that switching to black tea during a cleanse will give you the energy you're looking for with less upset. Coffee's acidic nature can heighten the effects in a negative way during your cleanse.

Why You Won't Lose Weight
I should say why you might not lose weight, but I wanted to get your attention. Most people will lose some weight during a cleanse, but that is not the goal. Those with a lot of undigested gunk in their systems will lose weight as it's flushed out. Those of you who are properly hydrated and already eat well are less likely to lose. For those of you who need to lose weight, take heart: you are setting up your system to use nutrients more efficiently and improving your ability to lose weight through structured diet and exercise. So while you may not lose much on the cleanse, you'll be more prepared to lose weight later.

Another reason why we don't always lose weight on cleanses is due to a stress hormone called cortisol. Restricting calories is stressful to the body, and it reacts by releasing cortisol. Cortisol is performance-enhancing in the short term, but if you somehow keep your body stressed for long periods, it creates havoc in your system and can cause you to doggedly hang onto weight in a type of survival mode. We don't want this to occur, which is one reason the Shakeology 3-Day Cleanse is short. It's important not to remain in a highly calorie-deficient state for long periods of time, especially when you are trying to exercise hard.

View the entire Shakeology 3-Day Cleanse regimen here >> 

A Snazzy New Look!!

I just wanted to make a quick little Shout-Out to my dear friend Wendi... She just started learning about blog design and I casually mentioned after seeing hers how much I would love for her to take over mine... and she emailed me and said "please"!!!  This is what happens when your friends know you well!!  If only she knew how much this little bright colored flowery blog of mine looks like the world inside my head.... PERFECT!!!

Heeelllloooo TURBOFIRE!!

Are you kidding me? I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS!!!