for the love of food...

I love to cook. I enjoy trying new recipes and in the last year I find it most satisfying to make good healthy meals. I enjoy tweaking recipes to make them healthy. I know I have said it before but my girl over at Iowa Girl Eats is the Queen of the kitchen and my heart... she has never failed me. And when I saw her post Thai Turkey Burgers I knew it was something I had to try. I changed a few things and at 350 calories (including the thin burger buns) and 10 grams of fat and 40 grams of protein these are AMAZING. The Peanut sauce will win you over every time!!

Lets get this party started.

2lbs fat free lean ground turkey breast

1 cup shredded carrot

3/4 cup shredded broccoli

I had some red pepper to use up so I chopped that up and threw it in the bowl

3 Tbsp Cilantro (for the haters I would recommend maybe basil)

3 green onion chopped up

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Throw that all in a bowl and use your fingers to mix well.

Then you want to make the peanut sauce sent to us strait from heaven

3 Tbsp smooth peanut butter - I used 2 Tbsp crunchy all natural and 1 Tbsp smooth

1 Tbsp white wine vinegar (her recipe calls for rice wine vinegar - I don't really like it)

1 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp water

1 clove garlic

1 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp chilli garlic sauce (like siracha)

1 tsp honey

A thumb size fresh piece of ginger

Zing that up in a food processor or I like to do mine in my magic bullet cause it's just so easy. Now that I have made these I would double the peanut sauce recipe (heck even triple it) you can use it on so many things... think broccoli slaw for a fresh salad or on chicken.. or on your fingers...

Reserve 3 Tbsp for adding to your finished burgers and add the rest to your burgers and mix.

Form patties. I got 5 patties and still had some left over. I put it in the fridge to cook up for an easy lunch tomorrow.

Heat a large skillet over med-high heat and cook for 4 minutes on each side or until they are no longer pink inside. I'd suggest using a skillet as opposed to the BBQ only cause these are quite wet and I imagine they would slip through the grates.

Place a burger patty up on toasted PC thin whole grain buns, top with a couple tsps of the reserved peanut sauce. Add spinach and serve. I served this with steamed broccoli and it was SO good.. a bit on the spicy side so keep that in mind if serving it to kids. .mine however requested sweet chili sauce on top so I think we're ok... Did I mention only 350 cal!!

5 plus stars.. these were so tasty and so easy to make! Eating healthy never tasted so good! Enjoy.

randoms.

I never take photos anymore... this needs to change. I am planning to do a day in the life series or something so I remember to take pictures of the simple things.

I am making goals.. I used to be afraid of making goals maybe cause I was afraid I would never achieve them. I have proven to myself this past year that I can do whatever I set my mind too.

I am going to be writing a bit more on food... I love to cook and in the last year I have really loved to transform recipes into healthy options for my family. I could spend hours on pinterest pinning recipes. I will be doing a weekly bit for The Tyson Method so I hope to share it here too.

Bootcamps are going awesome. I am adjusting... I teach two classes a night. Monday & Wednesday. It's been a bit of a learning curve..seeing how far my body can be pushed and by Thursday I am SO tired.. like falling asleep at the dinner table tired. BUT I love my ladies. how they constantly encourage and inspire me to push myself. They take time of their day to work hard and it shows off!! It's amazing.

My kids.. oh man my kids.. I also plan to write a blog for each of them. We are having some challenges with behaviour and attitude with the twins and are trying to figure out how to mold them.... Jett is a firecracker and at a really fun age. I am thankful I get to be their mom... of course trying to figure out how to do that best is usually the challenge.

I am surrounded by so many amazing people. Do you ever just stop and wrap your brain around all the amazing things God is doing in your life?? I have spent the last few months in a pretty confusing and hurtful place in regards to a few relationships in my life. I've come to realize that it's time to let go of the things I can't change... to see the beauty in authenticity of my real friendships and nurture them the best I can. I wear my heart on my sleeve and realize I want that in my relationships too.

I am brainstorming for a way to show that love and appreciation in the form of a party that helps us give back... stay tuned... you know how I LOVE to plan parties.

I really love the Stallion.. he nurtures me and he gets me. He also always lets me have my special place on the couch.. that means a lot!

I'm getting ready to purge.. like a big spring purge. I want to live with less.. we need to live with less. Thinking a schedule of some sort so I don't feel so overwhelmed and I can go through each room.

Saving our pennies for a trip East to see Dave's family this summer. Being on a budget with a plan is especially helpful as we plan for trips... I can't believe how much Financial Peace University has changed our lives.

So for now that's it.. that really felt good to get that out of my head.. I hope to be back this weekend with some pictures.

favorites

I have more serious things to write about but I am trying to figure out how to do them so I am sure you hear my heart .. so those things are coming BUT for now I will share some of my favourite things right now. after all that's way more fun!

Shut the front door... thanks to a lovely friend today at SS (who happens to have some pull) we were introduced to these...

Source: i638.photobucket.com via Heather on Pinterest

yep to celebrate 100 years these bad boys are hitting shelves.. YUMMY!!!

I have a small obsession with circle scarves these days. I now own two knit ones.. gold & grey and a friend made me a white one with navy polkadots. They are awesome for EVERYTHING.

Source: bowribbonsandpearls.tumblr.com via Heather on Pinterest

While in the states last weekend on a VERY fun family weekend (more about that later) I had to go out and get some dry lip relief. I found it in the form of Burts Bees Medicated lip balm with clove oil. This stuff is AMAZING.

Source: pics.drugstore.com via Heather on Pinterest

I've said it before but you must go over and get to know Iowa Girl Eats. I LOVE her blog.. LOVE all the recipes I have made from there. So many faves.. this is a new fave.

Source: iowagirleats.com via Heather on Pinterest

One of my new favourite quotes. Walking the path towards full authenticity. Especially in a world full of fakes.

Source: flickr.com via Heather on Pinterest

I am growing out my hair. This is my prize.. gotta get through this yucky "yea I kind of have a mullet" stage.

Source: hairstylesfair.com via Heather on Pinterest

This so sums up what I think friendship should be like.. not that there is anyone I want to go after a bat with .. but you know..

Source: google.com via Heather on Pinterest

I am slightly obsessed with this polish since I had it on a manicure a few months ago. I know own it and it goes so perfectly over all the dark colors. Quitting nail biting 3 years ago was one of the best things cause know I can play with pretty sparkly polish.

Source: refinery29.com via Heather on Pinterest

I am starting a new session of bootcamps this coming week. Super excited to have a big class for Winkler as well as a brand new session starting in Morden. I will be teaching Mon/Wed evenings. 2 classes a night.. eeks a bit scary cause these workouts are NO joke. I am also changing my eating habits and putting a big emphasis on living my best life.. being healthy. I have a goal.. and this is it..

Source: 27.media.tumblr.com via Heather on Pinterest

you should have seen me practice ;)

I love this and want to find one cause I think Jett needs this.

Source: paspelpoezen.wordpress.com via Heather on Pinterest

everyone carries a pee cup

I could not say this better myself.. so what's on my heart these days. On a path to be transparent and Authentic... This blogger says it all.. go on read it.

Everyone carries a pee cup.

And then when you are done that post read more. It's so good.

v day

so it's no surprise the stallion is hot. how he chose me still amazes me... i am thankful to celebrate him each and every day but today I will spend time making an extra effort. He already surprised me with beautiful flowers on Friday (after a hard work and an early valentines gift) Apparently he's made reservations AND arranged the babysitter. This pic was taken on Sunday when we went to a Valentine's banquet at the church we've been attending. see I said.. hot.

however you celebrate... happy vday.

sick

I had big plans to blog this week but have been down and out with a nasty cold/sinus thing... sorry. I'll be back after more tea and more rest.

fpu & death to self

I have never had much success with doing things that require will power. Mine is in serious short supply. Diets/Excercise/Quiet time...

For some reason it's always been difficult. Mostly I am my own worst enemy. Sabotage. Then there is the series of beating myself up, guilt... repeat. I know I have come such a long way in some areas.. I mean I'm slowly but surely getting down to my goal weight by exercising and eating healthy. I would have never said I loved exercise but I do.. I think partly cause I love the women I get to be with each week.. they motivate me and help me be a better person. My goals are loftier then they used to be cause I am not AS afraid of failing.

I think that alot of it also has to do with self worth.. believing that I am good enough to receive good things, good results...

Now to really take you deep... The Staillion and are doing a course through the church we have been attending called Financial Peace University. Dave Ramsey is AWESOME. I was so nervous going into this cause admittedly I was not good with managing money... It was a real sore spot in our marriage. Dave came from the extreme opposite of me.. super stingy with money. Where I grew up viewing money differently. He can go months without spending a dime.. it's actually seriously irritating. Anyways we were heading for trouble... this course has changed our lives. Mainly cause it's changed the way I view money and the emotional tie I had to it... saving it, spending it, hoarding it, throwing it away. The whole thing.

The first class I walked away still a bit scared as we went into planning our cash budget. Dave's program is broken into baby steps and he is so passionate about it.. makes you feel you can really do it.

Our first money meeting went so well... no fighting and it actually helped us realize that we were not in trouble. We just needed to understand where the money was going and figure out that we control our money not the other way around.

I can say that now 10 weeks in (actually a few more cause we had a Christmas break) we are better off than we have ever been.

We have payed off a huge amount of debt already and I have learned so much. The way it works is all the money that comes in is spent on paper.. you allocate it ALL where it belongs. I take out money each payday and place it into envelopes and spend according to what we need and what's in the envelope.. some weeks I go to put money in after payday and I STILL HAVE MONEY!!! Amazing... I just view what I spend it on so differently then I used to.

I am excited to see where this takes us and even more excited to see that my willpower is all in the view... I can have a rich and fulfilling life without holding back. Planning takes work but if we live like no one else now later we can LIVE like no one else. It's exciting.

I got lots of posts planned for this week. Buckle up. :)

january

I seem to have lost alot of my followers.. or at least my commenters. I did leave you guys hanging for so long. But my goal is to change that and be back more often. I have been really intentional about my time these days and just feel much more in control.

Lots of things happening around these parts already this month.

Abuelo came to visit! We enjoyed having him around and I know the boys loved having so much of his attention.

We enjoyed unusually warm weather for these parts for most of January and it was lovely. One of the exciting things was we put the boys back on skates and they love it! They have caught on really quick. We have a nice pond behind our yard in the bush and it's nice to have something so close.

Tami & Charles had all us trainers over to there new studio for a Christmas party. It was an amazing time of connecting. I know I have said over and over how blessed I am to be able to do this.. I have been changed from the inside out and am so thankful for these ladies. A bunch of warm, kind, motivating, beautiful women.

We had the chance to celebrate with the stallion as he got his papers in the mail. Officially a Journeyman. 6 years of hard work!! I am so proud of him. Oh and on a side note.. I have had quite a few people tell me that they have no clue with the Stallions real name is... so funny. Anyways it's Dave. :)

Obviously at Jett's age we are in full on fun and days of discovery. He yammers on and on. He loves to sing and clap. He LOVES to eat.. anything and EVERYTHING. He continues his trend of loving to sleep. He has a mouth full of teeth and is so busy he doesn't have time for much. He runs most days. Although he is busy he continues to be chill and relaxed. Loves to cuddle and loves the Stallion the most... There are lots of things he discovers but we recently caught him on tape... so funny and well worth watching.

belonging

Source: ordinarycourage.com via Heather on Pinterest

This has been on my mind lately. I have felt more insecure in the last few weeks than I can remember in awhile. Someone told me that part of the reason is because God's got lots of good stuff for me to do... I have been practicing "owning" my feelings but like a wise, wise friend told me I have to remember that my emotions are not the engine but should be the caboose. It's been a good reminder to me through out the day.

I guess I just want to be good at recognizing the truths and not sabotaging myself cause what someone else puts on me. My authentic self is a work in progress.

I have been loving being back at bootcamp this last week and seeing my girls make time for themselves for an hour. It's exhilarating (and hard) I am just filled with awe that I get to be a part of it. It's awesome.

We talked a bit about setting a goal for ourselves for the next 6 weeks and I have given it alot of thought.. I have some new goals for myself for this six weeks. Some are inside goals and some are physical goals.

1. Making a priority to get up before my family in the morning and spend some quality time with God. I joined a group of women who are going through Ephesians and it's an online group through a good friend of mine. I am really looking forward to this time to grow.

2. Continue with my Gratitude List. I did this last summer and into fall and then for some reason stopped. I want to write down each day 5 things I am thankful for. I think speaking truth and gratefulness can take out some of the self doubting talk I can so easily fill up on.

3. Loose my final 7 pounds. This is a big one for me... I know 7 doesn't sound like a big number but this has been the worst part... This last bit has really brought me down and made myself believe I can't do it.. and some days the sabotage is too much too bear. I need to see myself differently and I believe having number 1 and 2 on my list will help with this one.

4. Bathing Suit shopping... I just want it to be easier. I want to feel better about it. This is the year.

So heres to you and your story.. may you own it and always feel a sense of love and belonging.

foodie files

I have always been big on cooking. In fact I much prefer cooking to baking. I enjoy experimenting and "throwing" things together as the Stallion would say. (He's a big fan of my cooking which is nice). We have always ate relatively healthy.. I love cooking with fresh ingredients but since changing my lifestyle (in regards to exercise and food) I am always on the look out for healthy healthy meals... I've found some goodies lately. So here is your first foodie file.

Source: iowagirleats.com via Heather on Pinterest

Oh yummy! The lean ground chicken makes these sooo good. I omitted the water chestnuts and added mushrooms and red pepper. You could throw almost anything in these.

Source: iowagirleats.com via Katie on Pinterest

Yes thank you to Lisa for introducing me to Iowa Girl Eats. Have been using her as inspiration a ton these days. I have been drinking my lunches and this is an awesome recipe. I add protein powder to mine (love Arbonne's powder) and I usually use frozen berries instead of banana and pb.

Source: skinnytaste.com via Heather on Pinterest

truth be told I have always made a killer pad thai... we LOVE thai food. but this recipe is good. real good.

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Heather on Pinterest

ok this is sooooo not on the healthy list but I made it for a New Years Eve party with some friends. Super easy, super cheesy and olivey. A bit too buttery for my liking but it got good reviews from friends and the Stallion.

Source: motherthyme.com via Heather on Pinterest

typed in best chocolate chip cookie and this is what I found... oh boy my perfect cookie. fluffy and soft and chewy. I LOVE these especially frozen. Ok so again not super healthy BUT in my life I allow myself a treat every now and again. And I am good with that.

Any new recipes (or old standbys) that you love. I'd love to hear them.

twenty twelve

well hello there twenty twelve.

oh man I have been thinking of this blog post for days. ever since my one little word for 2012 found me a couple weeks ago. I tend to start to think about it come December and this year was hard. I told Dave that I wanted to use Shine again which was the word for 2011. I mean it was a year where my word totally took shape and defined who I was. But I knew that there was something else for me...

See the amazing thing about choosing a word is how it will intertwine with your life. It can be a thought, or a feeling, or even an emotion. It can be something tangible or intangible. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. Open yourself up to the possiblities. I find it interesting that like last year my word didn't mean as much to me at the time.. it's like it found me and my heart spoke to me and I grew into it this last year. Doing things I never thought imaginable. I really feel like I was shining. Not always brightly but it helped shape me. I will be carrying last years word with me this year. I know I will.

My word for this year is AUTHENTICITY.

I found this and it describes it all... it's the desire I feel pulsing through my veins... It's going to be printed out and found all over my house. I want to wear this on my sleeve this year.

Caretake this moment

Immerse yourself in it's particulars

Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed.

Quit evasions

Stop giving yourself needless trouble.

It is time to really live;

to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in NOW.

~epictetus

merry christmas

From our family to you. I pray you find magic in the discovery of the reason for the season.
The end of 2011 for me has been filled with reflection and discovering who I am in the midst of some pain and lots of beauty. I hope to be back in 2012 with more to say and as I reveal my one little word for 2012 I hope to be able to express myself more clearly and more deeply than ever before.

Out of clutter find Simplicity

From Discord find Harmony

In the middle of Difficulty lies Opportunity.

Thanks Albert.

i rise

You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

~Maya Angelou

delayed

I want to blog. I really do. I just don't know what to blog. Life is so busy these days and I am trying to do the important stuff. Not that blogging isn't important it just seems to fall low on the priority list.

So just to keep you in the loop. Here are some happenings as of late...

Halloween 2011 was spent with two superheros and a frog prince.

We had a special visit by Grandma D and cousin Zoe. It was a fabulous time.

Love these DiFrancesco cheeks...

They came equipped with Abuelo's train track. HUGE hit. Noah is totally into it.

My weeks are pretty full with work, bootcamp, a course the Stallion and I started at the new church we have been attending and you know being a mom and a wife and trying to be a good friend... looking forward to taking December off... well other than the mom, wife, friend thing...

Also planning for a wonderfully epic Holiday Open House. More details to come.

Happy Friday.

favourite things.

I thought about the people in my life and how they have impacted me the last year. I want to be intentional about making sure my friends know how much they mean to me. I sat down with Dave one night and said I wanted to honour those who have walked this journey with me the last few years.. I wondered how I would be able to do that. I said to him.. "Could I get them all in one room and tell them how important they are to me? I couldn't do that could I?" He shrugged at me and said "Why Not?" Yea why not?? So I concocted a plan. Thanks to Pinterest I read about a great party idea and thought it would be the perfect way to get this unique bunch of women together. I sent out a Save the date email back in September and hid all the address's so no one would know who was invited or even why... it was fun. Cause man did that drive some people CRAZY. I created an invitation and invited these precious women to my Favourite things party. They were instructed to bring three of their favourite things ($10 and under) and a favourite appetizer or dessert. The anticipation was too much.

I spent a lot of time getting things ready. I wanted it to be special. After all this was a pretty important crowd and I wanted to them to know how much they meant to me. I made gift bags so they could take the new favourite thing they would get home. When they got to my house each one wrote there own name on three slips of paper which would be used for our favourite things part of the evening.

I can't even begin to tell you how special the evening was to me. Here in one room were 13 women who have motivated me, inspired me, cried with me, laughed with me, supported and loved me. I am honoured that each of them has allowed me to call them my friends. We had a great time eating amazing food and drinking wine and other sparkly drinks. We sipped tea and coffee and it was rarely a quiet room. I got to share why each one was there and what they meant to me. We went around and shared our favourite things. Each person then picked out three names and they got to go home with their special thing. It was neat to see what each person picked and the idea went over really well. I wish I would have gotten a pic of everyone's favourite things.

Another one of my favourite projects for the night was the Thankful Tree. It turned out way better than I imagined. On each card was a special note for each girl just trying to express in words what they meant to me.

The whole night turned out better than I could have ever imagined and when everyone was gone I sat in the quiet of my dining room and wept... for all the times I complain about the circumstances of my life or I have a bad day. Each and everyone of my friends is always there for me. I am so blessed.

I encourage you to honour those in your life that have helped you through, held your hand as you felt you were drowning, made you laugh when all you wanted to do was cry and prayed for you when you couldn't see the way out.

I can't wait to have another favourite things party next year!!

Thanks to Lisa V for the amazing party pics. Other than the first 2. :)

thanksgiving.

I am trying here really trying to get motivated to give you a good post. The Stallion told me last night I was neglecting this blog and that is SO true.. I just feel so overwhelmed when I sit down to write that the words just don't come. So instead I am taking a page from my new favourite book. To write down what I am thankful for right now. Struggling to answer the question how do I find Joy in the midst of deadlines, yucky financial stuff and the daily grind... Trying to express gratitude in the midst of the shitty things because really that can only be the place I find Joy... in being thankful.

And if I allow myself to remember that perspective is everything... I have SO so so much to be thankful for. There is so much more going on in this world beyond me... hey that's one thing to be thankful for...

2 curly haired five year olds who inspire me every day and remind me that they are the best thing.

My strait haired 16 month old who is curious, fast, funny and sweet. When he wraps his chubby arms around my neck and nuzzles in I fall in love.. again.. every time.

My Stallion... oh where to start. Thankful for a man who loves me in spite of myself... and boy does he LOVE me.

Family - each one of them.

My bootcamp ladies - sheesh these women are AMAZING. it is an honour to do this with them. I couldn't be prouder to be apart of something so much bigger than the exterior.

Ruffles and Doilies

Teal & Grey (especially together)

Pinterest - a daily escape and an overflowing fountain of creativity.

David's Tea - Pumpkin Chai

My morning coffee routine... everything about it.

Women - yep I am surrounded by some pretty fabulous ones. My friends mean ALOT to me.

Strength - mine. those around me. God's. Sometimes STRONG is just what you have when you've used up all your weak.

Life is like riding a bicycle in order to keep your balance you must keep moving.

Happy Thanksgiving.