Back On Track

We went to the cabin this weekend for the holiday and it was seriously amazing! We had so much fun and Jd's parents came too. It was their first trip to the cabin and I'm pretty sure they fell in love because Jd said he already talked to them about going back up when my parents are in Cabo in a few weeks. {boo we aren't going this year, I'm so sad} We played an insane amount of ping pong, hot tubbed like it was our job, ate WAY too much food, and yes, you can add drinks into that last category as well.

I love the way my little man lights up when he is outdoors and gets to ride on the quads but it takes a very bad tole on my diet. There is no way to be on a diet when you are up there. The cabin menu is normally made up of burgers, chips and dips, pasta, steak, ribs, garlic bread, popcorn, bacon, hash browns, desserts, and booze just to name a few. With that being said {and my booty wanting to strangle me} I am back on the diet band wagon today. It seems like an endless cycle of me dieting and then eating naughty for a weekend and messing up all my work. I'm hoping I can stay on track for awhile even though I know I wont because Chicago is a week from Saturday! Seriously counting down the days right now.

Any hoo, here is what I have planned for my meals for the week!

Tuesday: breakfast-egg whites, lunch-low fat chicken tortilla soup from Paradise Bakery, snack-turkey and cheese bagel thin I mentioned here, dinner-turkey burger with avocado {no bun!}

Wednesday: breakfast-egg whites with asparagus, lunch-white chicken chili {recipe to come soon}, snack-grapes and strawberries, dinner-grilled chicken with green bell pepper

Thursday: breakfast-egg whites, lunch-turkey and cheese bagel thin, snack-spinach and strawberry salad, dinner-grilled steak and edemame

Friday: breakfast-egg whites and asparagus, lunch-turkey and cheese bagel thin, snack-left over white chicken chili, dinner-turkey burger with avocado

Saturday: breakfast-egg whites, lunch-seared ahi tuna and miso soup {just the broth}, snack-fruit, dinner-cheat meal at Postinos {I only get one cheat meal a week not a whole day}

Sunday: breakfast-egg whites and asparagus, lunch-turkey and cheese bagel thin, snack-orange, dinner-pesto chicken for family dinner

I know my meal plan seems pretty boring.....that's because it is. I have found that if I keep it simple and eat pretty much the same things everyday then I stick to eating healthy. If I don't know what to eat that day and let my mind wonder then I start to get naughty and dream of cheese of carbs......always. I have to nip that stuff in the butt and only get egg whites, chicken, veggies, or fruit as my staples. On top of eating healthy this is my last week for the summer in my boot camp because the times will be changing during the summer and wont work with the little mans schedule. It makes me sad but I am just going to have to find the self control and discipline to make it to the gym no less then 3 days a week. I also really want to get back into yoga. It really calms me down and is less of a workout and just ME time where I can burn some calories and get centered.

On a side note, does anyone have good recipes or suggestions for a protein shake? I need to get some kind of protein powder that isn't high in calories and that tastes good {NOT CHOCOLATE, I hate chocolate} Thanks everyone!

Liebster Blog Award

I am excited to announce that my little blog was nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by a cute gem of a girl named Lindsay over at A Daily Dose of Lou! It is so flattering and I am very grateful that she thought of me when choosing the 5 blogs to give this award to.

Here's the 411. The Liebster Award is for blogs with less than 200 followers and is a fabulous way to get the word out about fun blogs that you think others will love too! Check out my top 5 pics that I am giving this award to and I know you won't be disappointed that you did :)

What to do once you receive the award:

• Thank the amaze-balls person who nominated you
• Link back to the blogger who nominated you to show them some love back
• Copy and past the blog award on to your blog
• Nominate and pass on the award on to 5 other bloggers with less then 200 followers
• Let them know how flattered you are by posting on their blog!

1. Swirls Of Happy- This momma of two loves all things fashion, home, and food inspired

2. Have You Heard?- This adorable family will make you jelly and smile all at the same time

3. Oh Wells Instead Of What Ifs- Ashley is super inspirational

4. Pieces Of Peace- Fabulous fashion ideas

5. Little B's Healthy Habits- Amazing blog on getting fit and eating healthy!

Style Icon #3

Nicole Richie was a mess when I first found out who she was. Paris Hilton's chubby little sidekick who had a drug problem. Then she became the stick figure who everyone was worried about and wondering when she was going to announce she had an eating disorder. Once she got pregnant with her daughter Harlow, she completely transformed! It was so amazing to watch her become a responsible mother and a healthy, happy fashion icon. Now, she is the host of a huge clothing TV show called Fashion Star. I love watching it {partially just to see what she is wearing} and the concept is so great I can't get enough! And I'm sure you all know what I am going to say next.....I am OBSESSED with her hair! Like I have said before, I don't think you can be a true style icon without having amazing hair as well. She pulls of bangs like a pro and looks good with blonde or dark hair. Her bohemian style has yet to be accomplished by anyone else and I doubt it ever will. Here's to you Nicole Richie, the best transformation I have ever seen!

Extremely chic yet still hippie

Cutest baby bump ever!

Love her House Of Harlow Line of jewelry, I have the black one she is wearing

Her adorbs wedding dress

Can't say it enough......I LOVE BUNS!

Love it all

Probably my favorite look of all time!

Obsessed with her hair jewelry

And this one

Braids and babies

The perfect fishtail

Prego and still fabulous

Those bangs, I'm super jelly

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It's Paying Off!

As many of you know, I have been on an intense workout and diet regimen for awhile now. I am in a boot camp with other mommas that lets me bring my nugget and have been eating really healthy! {except for the occasional slip up} At first I was really discouraged because I didn't lose one pound for about a month and a half. I weighed myself this morning and guess what? I am down 4 pounds!!! Finally I am seeing some results in the form of numbers. I knew that what I was doing was working since my clothes were getting looser and my body was looking a little more toned. Now I have proof. I have another 4-9 pounds to go and then I will be a happy camper. I am not sure what I want my end weight to be because it will just depend on getting toned and feeling comfortable in my own skin. Thanks to everyone who has been helping me along the way. My hubby started eating healthy with me so that I didn't have to be tempted by his naughty food hanging around our house and he has lost 15 pounds! {why is it always easier for men?} Miss Lisa who kicks my booty into shape 3 times a week and holds me accountable for what I eat. And lastly all my friends and family who put up with my picky eating and the fact that when we go to restaurants it takes me 20 minutes to find and order something healthy.

Here are some of my fav healthy foods I have been eating lately that you won't feel guilty about!

My #1 go to healthy meal is seared ahi tuna!

I love love love hummus and raw veggies. I eat this for a snack or sometimes as lunch

Watermelon is the perfect summer snack for this chick

I do chicken or turkey lettuce wraps a lot with yummy avocado

Grilled pineapple....need I say more?

I combine these two pizza and do homemade shaved asparagus and zucchini pizza on whole wheat dough. I use very little cheese and use pesto sauce for most of the flavor. This is an every once in awhile dinner since it does have quite a few carbs

Chicken kabobs with green bell peppers are one of my fav dinners

Any type of grilled fish with veggies is perfect {love me some mahi mahi like this pic}

Chicken tortilla soup is so delish and pretty healthy

My absolutely favorite lunch right now only needs 3 ingredients and takes about 2 minutes to make! First I only use HALF of a bagel thin which is 55 calories and toast it. Then I add a wedge of laughing cow lite swiss cheese which is only 35 calories! Finally, I top it with sliced oven roasted turkey. It is insanely delicious and has a total of about 160 calories!!! Can you believe that?

Here is another option for breakfast

I try to eat as many veggies as possible throughout the day and asparagus is one that goes great with fish or chicken for dinner

When I go out to eat anywhere that has asian food, I always order seared ahi tuna and miso soup. I order it with only the broth and no seaweed, tofu, or onions. This meal is very very healthy and it fills me right up!

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Chicago Baby!

So remember my last post where I was talking about how I had to go to Chicago twice or more before I turned 30? Well I followed through with one of my goals already, I will be in Chi Town in a few short weeks! Yay yay yay!!! I am seriously so excited I can't even describe it. I haven't been to Chicago in 3 years and it seems like a lifetime. "How can this be?" I frequently ask myself {since on my last visit I decided I was moving there and never looking back}. I fell in love with the city the second I stepped off the plan at Midway Airport. The architecture, the lights, the excitement, the almost 3 million people that live there, the shopping, the food, the EVERYTHING......this city has anything a person could dream of or ask for. People laugh when I say that I have a love affair with Chicago, but I'm not joking at all. Does this make me weird? If it does do I care? Haha NO!!! I'm in love I'm in love and I don't care who knows it {10 points for whoever knows what movie that's from}

Anyhoo, even though my relocation fell through, {I had a little nugget that's my whole world} I still dream about being there at night. I let myself believe that one day when I win the lottery, I will become a snowbird here in AZ and a fabulous loft owner in Chicago during the summers. Can you think of anything better? Everyone is welcome to come visit my place while they are dreaming too :)

Here are some of the outfit options I am contemplating, because everyone is as prepared as I am for their trips right? The weather is supposed to be perfection with an average of around 80 degrees!!! I will be there for 4 days and 4 nights so that means I have to pack at least 6-7 options for daytime and nighttime. I have a little bit of an overpacking problem but at least I can admit it. So let me know which outfits you think are perfect for the most amazing city in the world!!!

Daytime:

Military Jacket and Leopard

I have a blazer that looks just like this when I pop it!!!!

Blonde hair, Bright top, and White skinnies = Adorbs

Cute shorts and pops of color

Love it all

Seriously loving white with brights this summer!

Bright bras are so cute

This girl loves any excuse to wear leggings :)

Night:

Super sexy and chic

I have this dress already and the super low V-neck is really hot!

Reminds me of Miss Courtney Kerr!

Love love love this skirt

Love everything about this

All black and red is always a great choice

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30 before Thirty

I got the idea for this post from Ashley over at "Oh Wells Instead Of What Ifs." She realized how little time she had left till she turned 30 and decided to make some what of a New Years Resolution List except she gave herself a little over 3 years to complete it. In honor of me also turning 30 in less then 4 years, I wanted to do the same. Here is what I hope to accomplish before my life stops at 30 haha just kidding, kind of.

1-Let's start if off with a bang, I want to go shooting with the hubby!

2-Buy an new and fabulous house in the heart of Gilbert, AZ
3-Try Salsa dancing
4-Make a difference in someone's life....in a good way :)
5-Get good at bowling cause right now saying I'm terrible is a total understatement!
6-Go back to Chicago, at least twice

7-Get back into yoga because it truly does relax me
8-Take up running {even though I don't actually want to}
9-Teach Asher to say "I Love You!"
10-I'm not 100% positive of this one but it's a definite possibility......Have another little nugget to love with all my heart

11-Spread my love of fashion to as many people as I possibly can
12-Get my lips done
13-Build my clientele even more with amazing clients that I adore!
14-Pay off Jd's school loans
15-Throw a bunch more Pinterest Parties, I had so much fun at my first one!
16-Go to Napa Valley....you know I love me some wine

17-Be that crazy mom in the crowd at Asher's sports games that screams and yells and thinks her son is the best on the team.....even when he sometimes isn't. I will always be his biggest fan
18-Make more time for my hubby. When you have a baby they tend to come second
19-Take Asher to put his toes in the sand in California as much as possible

20-Go golfing with Jd
21-When it isn't a billion degrees out, go hiking at least once a week
22-Get back into photography

23-Try to let things go more and give people a second chance, I tend to hold onto things for a very long time
24-Learn another language......or at least some of another language
25-Go camping with my two boys and have lots of adventures

26-Take a cooking class with Jd, we love to cook together
27-Surprise my man with breakfast in bed
28-Learn to sew, this skill would be so handy in my closet
29-Don't become hysterical when Asher starts preschool.....I don't know if this one is realistic, he will always be my baby boy
30-Read more, at least one book a year! haha

I heard this book was hilarious!

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