Gone Girl

Not only is this title in reference to the fact that I have been MIA for awhile....it is also the book I just finished reading for my book club and couldn't put down. The past couple of months have been so busy with holidays and work that I had to prioritize my life just to keep my sanity.  For those of you who are still checking in and reading, thank you!  Now that life is back to normal I should be able to dedicate more time to sharing with you all the things I love.

Now onto the book "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn, I am not kidding when I say you will not figure it out! The ending of this story is impossible to predict....there are so many twists and turns along the way.  Just when you think you have figured it out, another bombshell is dropped! The book is about a husband who is caught up in the middle of his wife's disappearance on their five year anniversary.  During the investigation police find  a journal that Amy has been keeping outlining their marriage.  It isn't soon after that police start looking at Nick as the main suspect in Amy's disappearance. The book alternates between Nick and Amy and Amy's journal, and paints such a clear picture of how two people in the same marriage can have such different points of view about the same situation. The book takes you on a dark journey through their marriage and the search to find out just what happened to Amy.

I am not going to give away any spoilers but encourage you to start reading "Gone Girl" if you aren't already. This book was so good that my husband read it and kept telling me " I think one of two things happened." Only to tell me a couple of days later...."I didn't see that coming."  Gillian Flynn was brilliant at keeping you guessing until the very end.  Her writing was brilliant and such a joy to find a book that keeps you on the edge all the way through.

So, what have you been reading? Have you read "Gone Girl"?  I would love to hear your thoughts or your suggestions on what to read next. Share below and don't forget to become a follower.

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Welcome Christmas

Pinterest love.....I could spend hours on there and come up with so many ideas for the holidays.  The issue is finding the time to actually implement all of them.  I did come across one this year that I knew I just had to put my spin on.  We have a space on our porch that just calls for something festive and I always struggle with just the perfect thing.  So, I spent a few minutes hours on Pinterest and found a super cute welcome sign that was made using chalkboard paint.  I love the look of writing on chalkboard, but I do not really have the most consistent handwriting.

I got to thinking about it and decided to download some free chalkboard fonts and decided to just make mine on the computer first.  Then I simply just printed my creation off on a transparency....this way I could just "copy" the letters and didn't have to depend on my own penmanship. =)

Such a fun addition to our front porch.  Can't wait to tackle the next project on the list, even if two more things get added each time I check one off.

What do you think?  Are you a Pinterest junkie? I would love to see your favorite Pinterest inspired crafts.

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Breakfast on the Run

In the mornings I sometimes feel like I am lucky if I can get out of the house with matching shoes on, let alone to eat breakfast.  In order to get my protein as well as have something that is easily portable I usually end up making a shake.  Some days I like a fruity shake other days something with a little chocolate.

My go to shake is a sweet combination of peanut butter, bananas, and chocolate.  I have recently found the PB2 at our local grocers and it comes regular and in chocolate.  This is a major score because I can get two tablespoons of this for only 45 calories! I know that is crazy when it comes to peanut butter, even the natural ones.  So, run out today grab some PB2 and make this crazy good shake and not feel bad about it at all.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Shake

 Makes 2 servings

Ingredients

1 cup ice
1 frozen banana
8 oz almond milk
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional)
½ cup rolled oats
2 Tablespoons PB2 Chocolate

Directions

Mix all ingredients in blender (you can add more or less milk depending on your preference). Enjoy!

I personally like using the blender bottles when I take my shake on the road...the special mixing ball keeps things combined and tasty without any extra mess.

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Homemade Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Oh how we love hummus!  It is great by itself, in a wrap, as a dip, the possibilities are endless. Not to mention the so many ways you can personalize it and make it just the way you like it.  There are times that I like to buy the store bought stuff, but honestly it takes absolutely no time at all to make it at home.  The plus side of making it at home is that you can make it so many ways and know exactly what is in there. 

Our favorite standby is the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus; I have included the recipe below.  Feel free to try it out and experiment to make your own specialty.  Add some chipotle powder, maybe some sun dried tomatoes, or even some spinach and artichokes.  Let me know what your favorite is!

Homemade Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

 Makes approx 12 servings

  

Ingredients

1 jar roasted red peppers (adjust to taste)
1 14-ounce can garbanzo beans or chickpeas (I like simple truth organic)
2 Tbsp. tahini
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 a lemon juiced
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions

Drain the canned beans, reserving the liquid. In a blender or food processor combine beans, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, salt and roasted red pepper. Blend until you reach your desired consistency (you can add a bit of the reserved liquid if you need it).

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Turkey Meatloaf Muffins....YUM!

On this 30 Day Challenge there have definitely been some hard days.  The thought of another chicken meal can be a little daunting sometimes.  But, getting back on track is easier when you can look forward to a great meal.  I have found a ton of resources online and I love Jamie Eason's recipes on bodybuilding.com.  She has some really easy recipes made with ingredients that you have at home and best of all.....they are clean!

We love things a little spicy around our house so naturally these meatloaf muffins are a huge hit.  You can change the level of heat by adjusting the chipotle pepper, making this a family friendly meal.  When we make these muffins there are always leftovers and I think that they taste even better the next day.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

 Makes approx 12 large muffins

Ingredients

·        2 lbs ground turkey (or chicken)
3 egg whites
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 tsp dry yellow mustard
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp chipotle pepper spice
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp garlic powder (2 cloves minced)
1 small onion (finely chopped)
2 celery stalks (finely chopped) 

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.     Spray muffin pan with canola or olive oil.

3.     Mix all your ingredients together in one large bowl.

4.     Roll the mixture into balls and place in muffin pan. Muffins should be about the size of a racquetball.

5.     Bake for 40 minutes. 

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The Rules

Eating clean is all about portion sizes, eating 5 small meals, and choosing a lean protein with a complex carbohydrate at each meal.  At first that seems fairly easy.....and then you start thinking about it and trying to figure out what exactly falls into what category, things can get confusing.  Luckily for us the Eat Clean Diet has come up with this handy printable to help keep us on track.  So go print it off and put it on the fridge and  keep eating clean.

How is your 30 Day Challenge going?  I have successfully been to the gym 4-5 days a week for the past two weeks.  Now it is time to buckle down and really get clean.  It is so hard to say no to an afternoon piece of chocolate or that one glass of wine.......but it is now or never.

What are your goals the next 30 Days?

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30 Day Challenge

So I know it isn't the first of the year and it is definitely past worrying about swimsuit season.....but I am starting a 30 Day Challenge. It isn't a challenge to lose X pounds in Y amount of time, it is truly a challenge to focus on my goals and become fully educated on eating clean. 

Over the next 30 days I am going to be better equipped to start this journey and really focus on what I want to achieve.  I have also started to really kick it up a notch in the gym.  (This may or may not have anything to do with a certain San Francisco trip coming up.)  I really want to push myself to accomplish my goals of getting fit and healthy.  Here is my inspiration board to help keep me motivated and focused. 

So, who is with me? What do you want to accomplish in the next 30 days?

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