The Secret to Having it All......: January 2016

Sunday, January 31, 2016

January Smoothie Challenge + Fitbit Review

{January Smoothie Challenge}

Today wrapped up my smoothie-a-day challenge. We have really enjoyed the Nutribullet so far and I have really loved looking for and trying new smoothie recipes. I was never a huge smoothie fan, but I think that's because I never branched out and never made anything but a basic strawberry-banana smoothie. I ended up making 18 different smoothies and only one of them was a dud (recipe below). I posted them all on Instagram (#smoothieadaychallenge) with recipe links to my Pinterest board.

Here are the last four smoothies I made, including a favorite from today....

Cake Batter Smoothie

1 cup almond milk

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

3 T. yellow cake mix (dry)

1 frozen banana

sprinkles (garnish)

This one was delish!! I plan to do a Red Velvet version on Valentine's Day! <3

Sunny Tropical Smoothie

1 orange

1 banana

1 cup fruit juice ( I used V8 Splash - peach mango)

1 cup frozen mango

1 cup frozen pineapple

1 tsp. chia seeds

very refreshing!

Grape & Apple Smoothie

1 apple

1 cup frozen grapes

1 T. honey

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 tsp. flax seeds

1/2 cup almond milk

This one was yucky! :O(

If the brown color doesn't throw you off, the (applesauce-like) texture will. :O(

Simple Strawberry Smoothie

2/3 cups frozen stawberries

1/2 banana

1/2 cup strawberry yogurt

1/2 cup almond milk

1/2 tsp. chia seeds

4-5 ice cubes

Yummy!! :O)

{I LOVE my Fitbit!!!}

It keeps me moving and makes me aware of how little exercise I am getting when not keeping track. The goal for the day is 10,000 steps - which I have met twice since starting 10 days ago. I average about 7,000 steps a day, which I think is good for a beginner and for someone who is home all day. I started walking with Wanda last week, and this has helped boost my step number per day. I am sure 10,000 steps will be easy to get when I start back to work, but for now, I am very satisfied with how much more mobile I am. I really love the sleep tracker too. It's amazing how that little band can track how well (or not) I sleep. I am anxious to see how many steps I take in Disney (LOTS of walking!!!). I may even challenge Wanda that week! ;O)

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Saturday 9: Don't You Care?

Saturday 9: Don't You Care? (1967)

(1) What's something that seems to fascinate everyone else, but you just don't care about?

I really don't like talking about politics (especially anything Trump).

2) The lyrics refer to "the times we cried and laughed." Which did you do more recently, cry or laugh?

Laugh :0)

3) In the song, our hero seems surprised that his girlfriend doesn't believe him. Are you more believing and trusting, or suspicious and skeptical?

I think, overall, I'm believing and trusting.

4) This song is just over two minutes long, which seems short for a song but awful long when Sam is waiting for her chicken soup to heat in the microwave. What's the last thing you heated in a microwave?

A baked potato.

5) This week's band, The Buckinghams, was one of the first acts to perform at Chicago's premiere summer festival, The Taste of Chicago.* Let's think ahead: Have you made any plans for Summer 2016?

I'm sure most of our summer plans will revolve around the new addition to our family....due to arrive July 5th!!!! :0)

6) In 1967, when this song was popular, Rolling Stone magazine published its first issue. What magazines do you subscribe to? Do they arrive in the mail, or do you read them online?

My Southern Living subscription just ran out, but I ordered BH&G and Family Circle, which should start soon.

7) Country star/American Idol judge Keith Urban was born in 1967. Are you watching the final season of American Idol?

Yes.

8) In 1967, the average cost of a movie ticket was $1.25. By 2015, it had risen $8.60. What's the last movie you saw in a theater?

The Hateful Eight (worst.movie.ever.)

9) Random question: Sam's taking everyone out to dinner and she's buying. Would you prefer the steak or the lobster?

I prefer lobster, but order steak more often.

Friday, January 29, 2016

disney abc challenge - complete!

Wrapping up this ABC challenge with the letter W.

{W}

Wishes!!!

A different view...we watched Wishes from the deck of Narcoossee's

(The Grand Floridan Resort).

Thursday, January 28, 2016

throw back thursday: dreaming of disney

#tbt #dreamingofdisney #35daystogo #wdw

#disneyphotoop #mickeybar #popcorn

#epcot #florida #sunnydays #thispicmakesmesmile

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

smoothie recipes #3

Here are a few more yummy recipes!

Banana Bread Smoothie

1 banana (frozen)
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup vanilla yogurt
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup oats (uncooked)
dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, & salt
splash of maple syrap

(garnish w/nutmeg)

- tasted just like banana bread...YUM!

{healthy} Tropical Smoothie

1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1/cup frozen mango
1/2 frozen banana
1/3 cup almond milk
1 T. orange juice
1 tsp. flax seeds
1 T. almonds

- delish!!

Raspberry-Almond-Chia Smoothie

2/3 cups frozen raspberries
2/3 cup almond milk
1 T. honey
1/4 cup almonds
2 tsp. chia seeds
2/3 cup vanilla yogurt

- very tasty!!

Lemon Meringue Smoothie

1/2 cup vanilla (or lemon) yogurt
2 T. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup milk (any) - I used almond milk
1/4 tsp. lemon extract
1 packet stevia
1 cup ice

- very refreshing! :O)

Monday, January 25, 2016

Disney Planning: Day 7

Day 7 - Wednesday, March 9

Today is completely unplanned!

Park choice will depend on which one we want to repeat or didn't get enough time in.(except Epcot since we have 2 days scheduled there)

Park Hours

Magic Kingdom 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Hollywood Studios - 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Animal Kingdom 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Dinner ADR

I haven't made a dinner ADR for today. If we stick to our dining reservations, we will have no TS credits left, but enough CS credits for 2 more meals. There are some really good counter service options: Be Our Guest or Columbia Harbour House in MK, Flame Tree BBQ or Yak & Yeti in AK, Wolfgang Puck Express (Disney Springs), or Boardwalk Bakery (Boardwalk Resort). Our other option is to pay OOP at a table service restaurant (House of Blues, Kona, or anywhere good that we can get in). We will probably do sit-down since it's our last meal! We could then use our last CS credits for breakfast at the resort the next day before we go to the airport.

Fast Passes+

I'll try to grab some last minute FPs once we know where we'll be the last day. If I get to use all the FPs I have already selected for the previous days, I won't be disappointed if we can't get any today.:O)

TOP 5

(1) snack - Chocolate-dipped Mickey Rice Krispy Treats to bring home!! :O) :O)

(2) lunch - depends on where we end up today. I wouldn't mind lunch at Capt. Cooks @ The Poly if we are close by....lunch there last year was sooo good! The best bbq sandwich I ever ate!!

(3) to-do (repeat)- wouldn't mind sitting by the pool. Hopefully, we'll get time to do this again this year during our mid-day resort breaks!

(4) to do (new)- rent a boat!!! There are several locations in WDW to rent a Sea Raycer or other boat. I know Peter would love this!! I think I even saw a coupon in my packet from WDW last year. :O)

or go bowling??? We haven't been bowling in a few years, and never in WDW. I think it would be fun!

(5) photo-op - If I haven't already by now, I want to get a really GOOD picture of US!! Last trip, we stopped for several PP photographers, and even if we don't buy any of their pics, they will (patiently) take pictures with my camera too!!! I never like pics of me, but it's us, and I really love having pictures from our vacations! What awesome memories!!!!!

[20/52] photo challenge: winter

[20/52] photo challenge: winter

#winter #doyouwanttobuildasnowman

#ice #frozen #52weekphotochallenge

52 Week Photo Challenge

Sunday, January 24, 2016

snowy weekend catch-up

Fitbit & Smoothies - I bought a Fitbit......and even though this yucky weather has kept me from truly testing it out, I love it!!! It is hard though, to take 10,000 steps a day when you aren't leaving the house!! The first day, I was so determined...

LOL....I literally walked in place the last hour, just to get to 5,000 steps! :O)

And I really love the cool sleep tracker!! I can see how a Fitbit keeps you aware of your mobility (or lack of) and motivates you to get moving! :O) I'm a fan!

Then there's my smoothie obsession....I can hardly wait to get out of bed in the morning. I love finding different recipes to try. Most that I have posted have been yummy (they actually taste too good to be good for you!). I thought I might not keep up with them with Peter gone, but I picked them right back up after getting home.

Visit - we spent the night with Lindsey on Tuesday night, since Peter had an early crew change on Wednesday morning. We really don't need an excuse to visit though, we love spending time with them when we can. We picked up subs at Carry Out for dinner and talked non-stop about the baby and started planning a little gender reveal get together.....they are doing the anatomy sonogram on February 1st!!!! :O) So excited to find out!! :O)

Allie wasn't sure who she wanted to sleep with...Lindsey or us! (If anyone had told me I would let a 70 lb. dog sleep in my bed, I would have called them crazy!!) But she is sooooo cute!!

I was supposed to go home on the mailboat, but after I found out Logan would be home early...I stayed until the late boat! It was so good to spend some time with him too! :O)

Snow - the snow started around 1:00 on Friday afternoon, and covered pretty good. I missed my chance to make snow cream (or a snow cream frappe'), because the snow turned to rain around 11:00 p.m.

Peter was tied up safe and sound in Salisbury, but Nathan had a VERY rough night on the barge in Philly. I asked later if he had taken any pics and this was what I got....

a long weekend.....

LOTS of internet time and LOTS of tv watching.....

(finished) Season 7 of Doc Martin

my Netflix movie........love!!

Season 1 - The Crimson Field

The Proposal

Fixer Upper marathon

and Football !! :O)

Oh no! I've become a tv person!!! :O(

Speaking of TV....Season 28 of Amazing Race begins on Feb. 12th!! :O)

trip planning - the trip is pretty much planned. I still haven't booked our flights yet, but I am keeping a close watch on the price. I was able to book some really good dining choices (including a few favorites and a few new places). Only 38 days and we'll be in (hopefully) sunny / warm Florida!!! I am very ready! "O)

14 Week Organization Challenge: The Pantry

2016 Home Organization 101:
Week 2 - The Pantry

I am following along with A Bowl Full of Lemons for week two of the organizing challenge. Last week, we started in the kitchen and I did most of the to-do list. I finished the cabinets and countertop, and cleaned out and organized the fridge/freezer. I didn't clean the stove, as I just ran the self-clean in the oven right after the holidays. I still need to clean the dishwasher. I don't have a pantry, only a pantry cabinet and a cabinet that holds all canned/packaged foods. As part of the kitchen challenge, I did the pantry cabinet, so I only had this cabinet to organize. I also cleaned out and organized the cabinet that holds spices/baking products/etc. Bins, baskets, and jars were recommended for keeping the pantry neat and organized, so I added some labeled bins here.

before