BIRTHDAY FREEBIES

Some people look at birthdays as a depressing event.
Another year over. Another year older.
Others (like myself) look at birthdays as a chance to get lots of free things!

I'm not talking about gifts from friends and family...although that is nice.
I'm talking about complete strangers giving you gifts just because it is your birthday!

Here is what I was given for free last month on my 31st birthday...


{the coupons began rolling in, by mail and email, leading up to my bday}

Like a nerd, I printed and cut coupons and put them in a red envelope. On the front of the envelope, I wrote the store and the expiration date, so I could see if time was running out on any deals.



{because I'm signed up to receive email updates from them, Noodles gave me dinner for free}

I got the Wisconsin Mac and Cheese (and gave it to Derek).



{because I'm signed up to receive emails updates from them, Corner Bakery gave me a free dessert}

I got the Birthday Bundt Cake (and gave it Derek).

{When you register a gift card online, Starbucks gives you a free drink on your birthday...any size!}

On a Saturday morning of running errands, I got myself a Venti, Decaf, Sugar-Free Caramel, Soy Latte. Slightly less complicated than this drink! Maybe I'll try THIS on my next birthday!



{Panera has a great rewards program. They give you free food when you eat there...and on your bday}

I got the Chocolate Chip Muffie to enjoy with my free Starbucks drink.

This time I got it for myself...and not Derek!





{If you sign up for email updates from Caribou, you get a free drink (any size) on your bday}

I left work a few hours early on my bday and enjoyed a decaf, iced, sugar-free caramel soy latte!



{If you sign up for email updates from the Container Store, you get a free gift on your bday}

You can never have enough reusable bags- right?!



No coupon needed for this one... get your eyebrows waxed for free at the Brow Bar at any Ulta Salon!!!


{If you sign up for email updates from World Market, they give you $10 to spend on your bday}

 I only had to pay $2 for this scarf with my $10 bday coupon!

There are a few coupons I didn't get around to using... $10 at Uncle Dan's, $10 off your $30 bill at Maggiano's, a coupon from Chili's, buy one-get one free at Cold Stone... (all because I'm signed up for email updates).
I'm sure there are other great birthday deals out there...don't be afraid to get excited about free things!

DATE NIGHT...GRANDPARENT STYLE

Burgers and fries at the Soda Shop followed by church in the evening. Sounds like what my grandparents did on dates.


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Spicy Chicken sandwiches and lemonade followed by Founder's Week.

Sounds like what Derek & I did on our date last night.

We went specifically to hear Francis Chan.
He is the founding pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California, the best selling author of several books, and currently starting a church planting movement in the inner city of San Francisco.

Derek heard him speak a few years ago at Challenge Youth Conference, we began listening to his podcast shortly after, read some of his books, and even went to hear him preach at Cornerstone when we were out in California a few years ago (before seeing a Bears/Chargers game, of course).

This guy is the real deal.
He truly practices what he preaches and whenever I hear him speak, I walk away challenged in my faith.

Last night he asked:
~Do you just read the Bible and not do what it says?
~Do you make excuses for why you are not following the Lord with everything you have?
~The older you get, do you find yourself more excited about living for the Lord, letting go of things in this world, and really desiring to please God...as you live adventurously for Him?

Again, I walked away encouraged, convicted, and challenged.

Follow up on past speakers & messages from this year's Founder's Week.
Watch live online, listen on 90.1FM, or catch up via Moody Bible Institute's You Tube Channel.

FRIDAY FAVES



These are a few of my favorite things...

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If you have chapped lips, want to feel feminine, enjoy glossy lips without the added color or texture of lipstick, want to feel pretty, extra lady-like and kiss your man without him worrying about getting color all over HIS lips...well, whatever the scenario, go out and buy this lip balm right now.
Minty, Rose...you can't go wrong.
Trust me!

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Are you on Spotify yet?!? I first heard of it through Facebook as people were posting what they were listening to. Derek joined first and suddenly we could listen to anything and everything as we made dinner and washed dishes.

Spotify brought so much joy to our everyday activities.

(Why the dramatic excitement?). Our ipod has been broken for a while now.

While Derek's greatest hidden talent is being an awesome singer/songwriter... it's been nice to add some variety to our evening entertainment!

My favorite part of Spotify is that you can see what others are listening to. That has come in handy when I just don't know what to listen to or want to broaden my musical tastes.

It's also amazing when I get to see that a co-worker in another department is rocking out to Hanson all afternoon or that a male acquaintance from college is really into Britney Spears!



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I first spotted the new Cappuccino flavored Larabars on a blog, but figured it would take forever for them to come to Chicago. I can't tell you how excited I was to see these last week at Whole Foods! I love Larabars!!! This could possibly be my new favorite flavor...especially since I've had to give up coffee while on the 2012 Whole Living Action Plan!



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Not only did I pick up a new flavored Larabar...but an entirely new line of bars made by Larabar! The Uber bar is...Uber awesome! FYI, I hate the word Uber...but I LOVE these granola bars! They are made with fruit, nuts and natural ingredients just like Larabars, but have a more trail mix kind of texture to them. My first bar was Bananas Foster. WOW! You NEED to try these. I've since tried Apple Turnover and Roasted Nut Roll, both of which I highly recommend!



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With all the talk about hydration yesterday, I'm surprised I forgot to mention Metro Mint! This water is AMAZING! I think I've tried every flavor but Cherry. Even the chocolate mint is delicious. I was skeptical at first, but this water really is refreshing and tasty.

If you want to make it last a little longer and get your money's worth, you can refill it with water from the drinking fountain once you've finished half of the bottle. The minty taste will still last.

Happy Friday...what are your faves from this past week?!?

HYDRATION WITHOUT THE BOREDOM

One of the tips Whole Living offers to help get you through a successful cleanse, is to
drink plenty of water.

In the past, I've found it hard (even boring), to drink the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses each day.
I've heard it is also suggested that we should drink half of our body weight in ounces each day.
(If you weight 200 pounds, you should drink 100 ounces...which comes out to 12.5 glasses/cups each day).

Here are some tips that have helped me drink close to 100 ounces of water each day.
And no, I don't weigh 200 pounds...it just happens to be 3 water bottles worth of water!



I've mentioned before that I like to add flavored ice cubes to my water bottle. This really does add a nice touch and keeps me coming back for more sips throughout the day. I fill our white ice cube trays with regular water and the colored trays with flavored water (or in the case above, some frozen canned pumpkin from the fall...to eventually be used in a pumpkin/gingerbread smoothie)! This helps keep things organized, and keeps Derek from icing his knees with fruity flavored ice cubes after a hard workout/run/football/basketball game.

I make sure to keep my water bottle (with the cap off & in reaching distance from me) on my desk when at work. This makes it extremely accessible and visibly reminds me to keep drinking throughout the day. I take it to meetings with me and aim to drink one bottle by lunch, another by the time I leave work, and finally one more by the time I go to bed. I also keep my vitamins nearby so I remember to take them with my morning snack, lunch, and dinner. I like that the water bottle I use lists the ounces right on the bottle, so I can keep track of how much I have left to drink.

(Remember, 8 liquid ounces is equal to 1 cup).

Freezing fruits and vegetables to use in place of ice cubes also adds a nice flavor to your water. Berries, cucumbers, and orange, lemon, or lime slices all freeze well. As with everything, the key is to stay organized and prepare ahead of time.

Drink up,

stay hydrated without getting bored,

and continue making small changes to better your health!

DETOX WEEK 2 RECAP

One more week down on the 2012 Whole Living Action Plan!
Another successful week of healthy eating is behind me.


I am still feeling more energized than I have been before and am sleeping better than I have in the past.


This week in particular I've noticed my nails are growing faster and stronger.
I typically cut them really short because they are so
weak, and they peel and split.
They normally take really long to grow anyways, so it's not often that I'm having to cut them.


I noticed after the first week that they had grown at a quicker rate, but I cut them anyways. This week I really took notice that as they grew, they weren't as weak!


I haven't lost any more weight and am still holding steady at a 5 pound loss from my initial weight at the beginning of my detox.

I didn't work out as much as I had planned, but I did make it to Indigo Studio for their open house. Their Yoga Booty Ballet class is a lot of fun, and a good work out! I bought a Living Social Deal for 1 month of unlimited classes. It expires next month, so now is a good time to cash that in!!!

WHAT DID I EAT?
I continued to follow the weekly meal plan, however, I didn't get around to making the Red Lentil Soup from this past week...OR the Roasted Garlic & Beet Soup from Week 1. They both look great...I just haven't taken the time to make them yet.

Like I mentioned in last week's RECAP, I continued drinking smoothies this week for breakfast. I moved the recommended breakfast items to lunchtime and mixed the lunch recipes between lunch and dinner time.

WHAT WERE MY FAVORITE RECIPES?

Vegetable-Miso Soup w/Chickpeas

This soup was by far my favorite recipe this week. It was hearty, flavorful, and had a great texture!

I couldn't find White Miso, so instead I opted for a Brown Rice Miso I found at Whole Foods. The price was really reasonable, and I plan on using it again in other recipes.

Although this was meant for breakfast, I spread this out and made it last for 5 meals, which I ate for lunch, dinner, and even an afternoon snack. I've had so many leftovers, that I am finally finishing up the soup for lunch today.



Raw Kale Salad w/Pomegranate & Toasted Walnuts

This salad was delicious! This was the first time I've ever tried Pomegranate...and loved it! It was a little messy cutting and pulling out the seeds, but it was worth it. Surprisingly, I haven't tired of eating Kale or Red Onions yet. There seems to be a lot of those ingredients in the recipes, but I've been able to stomach it.

Roasted Winter Vegetables w/Cannellini Beans

This dish forced me to eat veggies I would've never eaten otherwise. Even as I walked through Stanley's and Whole Foods, I had to google items like Leeks, Rutabagas and Parsnips. This recipe also left me with plenty of leftovers that I will be finishing up this week. I imagine sprinkling pumpkin or sunflower seeds on this would add a nice touch!



"Grilled" Salmon & Bok Choy w/Avocado Salsa

I believe you can never go wrong with Salmon! The only grill we have right now is a small George Foreman grill. I was too lazy to pull it out, so I baked the salmon in the oven instead. Grilling the Bok Choy would've been nice, but I just tore it up like a salad and served the salmon on top of it. The Avocado Salsa added a really nice taste and texture.

Derek even ate this for dinner (w/a side of white cheddar mac & cheese)! Without this recipe, I would've never tried Bok Choy! The taste was really mild and I froze some leftover leaves to use in smoothies this week...for an added health benefit, without the taste.

Scrambled Tofu w/Collards & Tumeric



This recipe was quick and easy to make. Trader Joe's sells Extra Firm Organic Tofu in 2 ("Tear & Share") single serving sizes. I used leftover Bok Choy in place of Collard Greens and baked a side dish of Alexia Oven potatoes with Rosemary & Garlic.

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For Derek, I made a cheese omelet with a side of the potatoes and leftover Trader Joe's Sweet Basil Pesto Sausage.

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As much as I tried, I could not bring myself to enjoy the sardines in the Watercress w/Sardines, Tarragon, & Clementines Salad! The Watercress I bought had gone bad, so I substituted it with Arugula. I honestly think I would've enjoyed this salad...if it weren't for the SARDINES!!!

WHAT DID I SNACK ON?
In addition to the snacks I ate last week, I also tried out two of the Balanced Snacks, Whole Living recommends.

Crispy Roasted Cauliflower

I'm normally not a big fan of Cauliflower, but this tasted amazing when roasted and spiced!
I had part of this for a snack and part for today's side dish at lunch.

Roasted Spiced Chickpeas

Maybe it's just my imagination or because it's been a while since I've eaten junk-food...these tasted like french fries to me!!! Go out right now and make these!

WHAT HAS IT DONE FOR MY DIABETES?
My #'s continue to look good! I had a doctor appointment on Monday and my doctor seemed to roll his eyes at the thought of me being on a detox diet. He said I shouldn't be eating as much fruit as I am because it will spike my blood sugar. He suggested to eat more grains. The funny thing is (which I gladly pointed out to him) that when I eat oatmeal or cereal for breakfast, my #'s spike like crazy. With the fruit, I've been fine. My doctors appointment is worth an entirely different post some other time.

DID I EXPERIENCE ANY DETOX SYMPTOMS?
Nothing has been new in this area. I continue to have hot lemon water first thing in the morning...and that has made my digestion really... consistent!
I developed a pimple on my cheek...could this be a sign of my body detoxing?!
My hands have been EXTRA dry...so I've been washing with Dr. Bronner's Lavender Soap (insted of the soap they offer at work) and using Neutrogena Hand Cream religiously. Both items are small enough to carry to the bathroom with me or to stick next to my computer desk at work. Not sure if the dry skin is a detoxing symptom.


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 IS THIS LIFESTYLE/DIET REALLY DOABLE?

We celebrated my brother's birthday on Tuesday with Giordano's Pizza and Portillo's Chocolate Cake...definitely not on my detox menu plan! I packed up a dish of Baked Sweet Potatoes w/Toasted Nuts & Oranges (w/a sprinkling of leftover Pomegranate Seeds on the side).

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Because we were short on time, I opted for frozen diced sweet potatoes instead of baking a whole sweet potato.

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While my family enjoyed their chocolate cake for dessert, I opted for a cup of unsweetened applesauce with pistachios mixed in!

Later on in the week we celebrated my father-in-law's birthday with Lou Malnatis pizza and Guinness Chocolate cake! My mother in law made a salad and offered me a Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette. For my dinner I packed a Tupperware full of Baked Trout w/ Broccoli, Apple, & Fennel Slaw.

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I substituted Tilapia for Halibut...and for dessert, I enjoyed a sweet tangerine!

Derek and I even enjoyed Chipotle on Friday for dinner. I've never tried their salad until now. It came with a really good Vinaigrette on the side. The salad consisted of lettuce, black beans, tomatoes, corn, grilled onions and peppers, and guacamole. This just might replace my normal vegetarian bowl I get from there!!!

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While I ate leftover fish and black bean salad for dinner last night, I made ground turkey tacos for Derek, and shared some of my Spicy Black Bean Salad with him!

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SO NOW WHAT FOR WEEK 3?

With a lot of leftovers still from week 2, I will finish those first and then continue on to Week 3's menu. I'm looking forward to adding in brown rice and quinoa into the mix. I'll continue to enjoy my breakfast smoothies...and hopefully really add in more cardio this week :)

The key this past week has been in planning ahead. I'll definitely continue to do that and even have a post in mind about how I've stayed organized throughout this 2012 Challenge!

DETOX WEEK 1 RECAP

With 7 days of detoxing under my belt,
I am feeling good, healthy, energized...and I'm 5 lbs. lighter!

The goal was not necessarily to lose weight, but if that happens, I'll take that as a bonus!
Wanting to start off the year right, this detox has been a great "jump start" to my health and has really cleaned up my eating (which turned ugly with all of the parties and holiday events that took place in December).

Here is my recap of the past week:




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 WHAT DID I EAT?
I started out every morning with a cup of warm water and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Not having much experience with juicing (and not being too sure of how to calculate the carbs), I stuck with the 7 detox smoothie choices for breakfast each morning.

They were super simple to make (in our Magic Bullet), healthy, tasty, and left me feeling energized and ready to start the day.

The Carrot Mango Herb (Mint) smoothie was by far my absolute favorite...and may have made an appearance into my meal plan several times last week!

I was afraid I would be hungry and feeling weak throughout the day, but instead felt satisfied, had more energy, and felt very focused.

WHAT WERE MY FAVORITE RECIPES?


{Spiced Butternut Squash & Apple Soup}

 The one thing I would've changed about this would be to use less ginger. It calls for "1 inch fresh ginger, grated (2 Tbsp.)". I used pre-minced ginger in a jar. 2 full Tbsp. was just too much for my taste. However, this soup was still REALLY good!

{Kale Slaw w/Red Cabbage & Carrots}

I was skeptical about being able to stomach all of the kale and cabbage, but was presently surprised by this salad. The dressing was amazing and was just the right combination of sweet and sour/bitter. The one change I made to this was using a veggie peeler to peel the carrots into thin strips instead of julienning them.

{Sweet Potato, Celery, & Apple Salad}

This salad was amazing and had the perfect combination or tastes and texture. The one thing I omitted was the sweet potato. From the recipe, I was assuming I needed to julienne the sweet potato raw. I tried one tiny bite and just wasn't too sure about it. Is it OK to eat a potato raw? Did I miss-read the recipe?



{Roasted Peppers, Cauliflower, & Almonds}

 This was such a great, savory dish, again, with the right combination of taste and texture. I had this for 2 meals and 1 snack during the week.

The only recipe I didn't try yet for week 1 was the Roasted Garlic & Beet Soup, which I hope to work into my meal plan this week.

WHAT DID I SNACK ON?
I have yet to try any of the 12 snack recipes that are posted online, but I have plans to try the Crispy Roasted Cauliflower, Minty Pea Dip, and Roasted Spiced Chickpeas in this coming week.




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In between meals I enjoyed lots of fruit and nuts, Lara Bars and Kind Bars (I later realized that Kind Bars have a little soy in them...which is OK for week 2, not week 1...ooops!).


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 Throughout the day, I'm also making sure to stay hydrated. I drink 3 large bottles of water, totalling 96 ounces. To keep from getting bored, I make ice cubes from Whole Foods flavored Italian sparkling mineral water that I add to each water bottle. This gives just a hint of flavor that makes me tolerate drinking close to 100 oz of water throughout the day. The water comes in several flavors, my favorite being Raspberry Lemon, and only costs around $1.50.




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WHAT HAS IT DONE FOR MY DIABETES?
WOW!!! My blood sugar has never been better. I've even had to lower my insulin dosages a bit.
I'm excited to report all of this to my endocrinologist and Diabetes Educator when I see them in a week from today.
***(Remember to check with your doctor before starting any new diet plan)***

DID I EXPERIENCE ANY DETOX SYMPTOMS?
Monday - Just a little extra gas.

Tuesday-awful headache from noon to bedtime. Finally took 2 ibuprofen around 10:00pm.

Wed - (WARNING...TMI) 5 bms throughout the morning. I read that 3 would be typical while detoxing. I'd like to think I'm just an over-achiever. I thought about going home from work, but waited it out. I was also a little more sluggish during the day.
But... I was able to walk by a kitchen full of leftover Christmas sweets for the first time in FOREVER.
I realized I wasn't even craving sweets, coffee, or CHEESE (I was really afraid I wouldn't be able to give them up).

Thursday - My nose ran for the most part of the morning, but my energy was through the roof.

Friday - I was feeling amazing and didn't experience any other detox symptoms. I spent most of the evening shopping and planning for week 2 menus.



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IS THIS LIFESTYLE/DIET REALLY DOABLE?
Saturday night we had some friends over. They brought chips and a cheese dip (which I didn't eat), and I supplemented it with a bowl of cherries. We decided to go to Gale Street Inn, known for having the best Ribs in Chicago! It smelled amazing when we walked in, but I wasn't craving meat. Was I just mentally prepared, or physically was I losing those cravings?

With an hour wait until we were seated, I did cave and took 1 bit of some sample plum chicken they brought around, along with a small bite of spinach bread.

I was excited when I saw an amazing Grilled Vegetable Salad on their menu (spring mix, asparagus, portabella, zucchini, with balsamic vinaigrette). I ordered a baked potato on the side, thinking I wouldn't be satisfied with just the salad.
(I asked, but they did not have sweet potato, only white).

I ended up only eating half of the salad and a few bites of the potato. I walked away full, with leftovers for the next day.
I also took a bite of my friends Mahi Mahi dish, which was really good...and made me excited to be able to add seafood to week two's menu!

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SO NOW WHAT FOR WEEK 2?
Because the smoothies worked so well for breakfast, were delicious, and great on my blood sugar, I will continue having those for breakfast.

I will move the breakfast menu to lunch and then work the lunch menu into the mix with dinners.

I'm excited to get more cardio and strength training in since I'll be eating more protein, but I also plan to continue doing yoga once or twice a week as well.

Overall, I'm pleased and shocked. I highly recommend this plan to anyone who wants to clean up their eating and get a jump start on living healthy! It's all online (grocery list, menus, tips, stretches, etc.) and you can start at anytime.

The key for me has been planning ahead. I sit down on Thursday night, print out recipes, review menus, see what we have in the fridge, clip coupons, etc. I make a detailed list of what I need and where I need to go.
I know it sounds crazy, but I typically shop at 6 stores over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It saves us money that way, hunting down the best deals, and the stores are all conveniently located.



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Stanley's for all of our produce. I got a car trunk full (literally) of produce for $25.
Aldi, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, for the rest.
Costco for bulk items (they have really good strawberries, and cheap carrot juice).
Target for other miscellaneous things, or what I have coupons for.
I spend Sunday afternoon cooking a few meals ahead.

Our workout schedule is planned the week in advance and every night I pack all of my snacks and lunch for the next day. I even set out anything I need to prep breakfast and dinner. This just makes things run smoother and keeps me from getting frustrated or overwhelmed.

Let me know if you have any questions. I will do another recap next week on how week 2 goes.
This week I can add seafood, beans, lentils, and organic soy.

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Thanks you Whole Living for this plan and great gift of good health, great eating, and a ton of motivation to make this part of my healthy lifestyle for 2012!!!