Michelle's Thought's

Soooooo, Here is How I think about things.....
I believe that if the CORE Values or Your Developed Foundation for a Positive, Healthy Life Style is Already in place and it is 90% of the Time How you Live ..... Then the remaining 10% IS and Should Be your Treat! Eat, Drink and Spoil yourself....In Moderation!
I also find that Moderation in Everything we eat or do makes each time much more of a treat to look foreword to and Enjoy as if it were the first time...Someone once told me..."It's Like Chocolate Cake, if you eat it once and a while it is an Amazing treat and you get excited to have it, If you eat it Everyday, it's not so special anymore."
Depriving yourself of any Desire is..In my Opinion Not So Healthy.
Why am I saying this...Just because, It has been on my mind and this is after all My blog...which is sometimes my own therapy.....And the thought Is there for a Reason...Maybe I'm reminding myself that it's o.k. for Me to eat something sweet and not feel so bad about it or, Maybe Someone out there who is reading this needs to hear this toady to be reminded! Have an Amazing Day! Peace.

What You THINK about IS what You Will Get! Think Healthy Thoughts! Eat Healthy Food:)

When I say "Think Healthy Thoughts" I was not really referring to healthy thoughts about food...however, it does happens to be true also. If you think Healthy, you will want to eat and be healthy and what you think about will ultimately be what you do! So theres my Positive Pepe Talk for the Day...THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS:)

The Healthy Thoughts I was actually referring to is my relationship with my 13 year old daughter, Madeline. To make this short, I will say this......When you trust that the Universe is working for you and Not against you and you let go of any Negative thoughts...then things will Positively Change. I had been thinking Negative thoughts about how my daughter does not think Im cool, and doesnt like to hang out with me anymore or talk to me....so, what do you think happened??? Right, she didn't want to hang out or talk to me! However, I recently remembered that, I'm Am the Queen of Positive Thinking and Positive Attitude;) And I Stopped thinking Negative and began to think Positive about this situation so, I began with positive affirmations..."She will talk and hang out with me soon" etc...etc... And That Is Exactly what is happening!! Believe in Yourself and Control your Thoughts! The past 2 days have been such a nice reunion w/ my Sweet, Loving Daughter:):)

I Like to Share Positive stories , that is mine for today....Tomorrow I promise I will have a couple recipes!! I know I'm so Behind...Blogging, clipping coupons, cooking and everything else in between takes a lot of time:)

Please put Positive Energy Out In the Universe for me because I applied for New job and I Need It:)!

Lisa's SUNDEVIL Chili..........Thanks Sis!!

I was chatting w/ my sis the other day and she was telling me about this Amazing Chili she made for dinner in her Crock Pot so of Course I had to cash in on that good idea for my family And my Blog! When I got home, I forgot some of what she told me AND I didn't have All the ingredients but, I worked it out and here is what I came up with and it was AWESOME!

I Also Re-Named it ....."Lisa's SUNDEVIL Chili"...because she is a Die Hard ASU Sundevil FAN! (I have not told her this Yet...I hope it goes over well)

1 lb LEAN ground Turkey
1 tblsp Olive oil
1 med onion (1 cup chopped)
1 15 oz can kidney beans
1 15 oz can black beans
1 15 oz can chili beans
2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes w/juice
1 tblsp chili powder (Now...My sis used a chili seasoning pack AND
1 tsp red pepper flakes added a Ranch dressing seasoning pack..but,
I didn't have it so I used my spices...)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin 1 pinch of black pepper
1 pinch of allspice
salt to taste

(If you want it thinner....add a can of tomato sauce!

brown the Turkey and onions in a skillet with the olive oil then transfer to the crock pot with All the other ingredients...8 hours on low or 4 hours on high!

Shopping 101

I have a friend who asked me how I plan meals, shop, etc....Well, I'm Not gonna Lie it's a pain in the A** if Time is Not on your side....However, Time, lately....Is on My side so Blogging, Cooking, Clipping Coupons, and Making detailed Grocery Lists are all Possible for me so Saving Money has sorta become part of my job....Instead of bringing money IN, I decrease what goes OUT...It's a Positive Approach Anyway...

It goes a little like this:
Research some Recipes so any special ingredients get on the Grocery List!
Always keep the staple items on hand ....onions,potatoes,celery,carrots,stock's,spices,etc....
Go online and print manufacturer coupons
Go online and print the coupons for the store you are going to shop at
Make a list online for that store(there's a section you can do that at)
Make sure you buy Their specials And look for coupons to Double the savings!

YESTERDAY I SAVED $106.00!! IT REALLY WORKS AND IT's WORTH IT! GOOD LUCK!

And Thanks to My Husband .......he reminded me that Not Only did I save 106.00 But, The 175.00(actually 281.00 worth of food) that I did spend was will stretch even farther because it was spent on quality items to make MANY meals that will feed the Big family....so basically, you spend less and get more when Your Cooking and NOT just Heating Up and Preparing...However, I have to Admit last night was a TREAT night and I bought a BIG Pizza for 5.00!!!!(Store Special of course...gotta Love the Super Bowl!)

Are You Ready for a Potato Chip Alternative??

KALE.......I know, I know, it's a Vegetable and the thought of suggesting that it replace your wonderfully, greasy, salty potato Chip is close to criminal...right? But, if you could subdue the craving for chips with something....Ummmmmm that is, In the food world considered a SUPERFOOD and is Rich in Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and potassium not to mention it's loaded with Beta-Carotene and studies suggest that the phytonutrients can help the liver neutralize some potential cancerous substances would you Maybe , possibly TRY it?? I thought so:) SO, here's the Recipe: OH..And Did I mention that 1 cup of KALE has 35 Calories and ZERO FAT?? Thought you might like that!

KALE.....Yes, I know there are so many kinds! For Chips, I choose the ones with the curlier, thicker leaves.
Sea Salt or a salt alternative
Olive oil

Break the KALE off the stem in Chip size pieces put in a bowl.
Use your hands to thoroughly cove the KALE pieces
(Use Enough KALE to cover a baking sheet)
This means you will only need approx 1/2 tsp to one table spoon of oil and cover with sea salt but, GO EASY and I mean EASY.....(Too Salty, is only good in the trash)

Pre Heat Oven to 400 and put the KALE in for Approx....15 mins. Check on it, as every oven is different....It needs to get crispy but, not burnt...I have burnt and under cooked, it is definitely an Art and might take practice...but, it's worth it!

HAIL TO THE KALE!

What Do You REALLY Love?

Someone asked me if I really do "Love" cooking. The answer...is that I Really Love Making a Positive Change, that has A Big Positive Impact in Many Ways...and the Cooking just happens to be One of the Tools that Let's Me Accomplish All of that Right Now. I am Motivated by Positive Results and Change or Ideas that are Ultimately, as a result of doing them.... A better way to Do Things for Me and my family in general! Cooking has let me save over 50% on our grocery bill and it has brought our family closer and I know they are getting Great Nutrition...less processed and preserved foods etc... I personally eat Healthy or Health Foods maybe not because it's the Very Best Flavor but, because it is doing something Healthier for my body and it makes me function at a higher lever when I eat healthy...I get up at 5AM not because I Love the getting up early part but, I LOVE the fact that I figured out that getting up that early insures I will get my run in and the result of me running is I have More Energy, A Better Mood for the day, a More Positive Outlook, Weight Loss, Physically Fit, Smaller jeans, Sexier bikini and an Unstoppable Young Attitude...So, I guess I should say I Absolutely LOVE doing the things that make Me Healthier, Happier, and Better then I was before for Me And the people around me. A Positive Attitude is Contagious! Cooking... in all honesty used to be in my mind Chore...mostly because I was afraid to try! However, my attitude has changed along with me and cooking is now viewed as a Creative Outlet and it is Exciting! Thanks for reading....you realize that writing is great therapy for me...if anyone is reading this then I hope it has been therapeutic for you or at least entertaining or maybe has given you a new idea or inspiration:) Peace!

The Challenge.....And a Little Motivation and Encouragement....

In the beginning of Running a Marathon the Motivation, Excitement, Spectator Support and Adrenalin Rush is what is Moving You Mile after Mile....Then Mile 18 comes and there's a Hill, you ran out of GU and there's No Spectator in sight to cheer you on because somehow, your now running through the middle of nowhere....and your stuck with...You. Only You can help get You to the next water station, next mile, ultimately to the Finish Line. This is when you Dream,Pray, Creatively Visualize the Finish (or curse yourself for entering the race) and hope that you will make it...Why am I writing this? Because today I waited for inspiration to come from someone else or just somewhere...anywhere...and it didn't. Like a Marathon, the first month of the blog and budget cutting and running and losing weight etc...etc...was an adrenalin rush....the spectators and excitement and thrill of what it would feel like to finish and succeed were helping me motivate but, now...I'm counting on Me to continue it all....So,after a lot of wasted time today I finally tapped into my Self Discipline and Will Power and I'm writing today to Share...... to Encourage You that Within You Is the ability to succeed and to finish everything you started. If you have been True to your Heart what it is Exactly that you Want, Need, Desire and are trying to Accomplish You Can Succeed. Believe In You and Just Be..Everything Else Will Fall into Place and Work Out. So, with that being said, I'm going to go research some more recipes, clip coupons, and clock some new running routes! Thanks for reading. Peace!