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Yesterday!)
So, we currently have a BLIZZARD warning here in Michigan…And it’s pretty darn crazy to think that we may have 1-2 feet of snow when we wake up tomorrow!!! Luckily, us Michiganders have plenty of ice/snow removal systems in-tact, but it sure doesn’t keep people from flocking to the grocery stores and/or gas stations in fear, (like the world is going to end or something!) :)
Well, i’m not too worried myself, i’ve got all the food in the world (haha) and the one’s I love around me~ not to mention a kickboxing video (or two) if we really are stranded for a while! Although, let’s hope not I have to work Thursday!!! :)
This daily dish comes at a perfect time because it’s filled with of my favorite ‘low cal’ comfort foods (which we all need during a blizzard)…Lasagna!!! And a fun winter workout~ ice skating!
I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas… and have a Happy New Year!!! Being that it’s smack dab in the middle of the holiday season…and I am nearing the end of my orientation as a Labor and Delivery Nurse~ (which I am LOVING by the way)…I am extremly busy this week! So…I thought I’d leave you with some pictures of my Christmas festivities~ after all a picture is worth a thousand words!!! :)
My family and I spent Christmas Eve at my Aunt Lorrie’s house! This is a Christmas Eve tradition, and it’s always wonderful to spend time with the family, and Celebrate Jesus Together!!!
I spent Christmas Eve with…My hubby….
I can’t believe there are only 10 days until Christmas!!! Which means the Christmas parties, special events, and holiday gatherings are in full gear! I know personally this month has been extremely busy for me so far…I’ve stood up in my friends beautiful winter wedding, decorated for Christmas, and made Christmas cookies with my family…and that’s only the beginning of the many Christmas traditions that are to come!
No matter what holiday traditions and/or events you may be partaking in this season, i’m sure two things apply to just about everyone~ one- it’s an extremly busy time of year, and two- there’s food and treats every where you look! When you combine these two things, it’s no wonder why the holidays generally come with the wonderful gift of weight gain!
As common as this may be however, this does not have to be the case with you! I have found that I always enjoy the holiday season, without gaining weight, all by making a simple list~ and checking it twice! It really just takes a little extra ‘planning’ to keep my body fit this time of year~ all while enjoying some of my favorite holiday traditions and treats!
It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving has already came and went! I think this is the first year that I have had to work the day before Thanksgiving, which means my sister had to take over most of the food prep! I was very sad to miss the day-before cooking (haha- some would think this is crazy I know), but I made a detailed list for my sister to follow, and I was so proud to see that she pulled more than 1/2 the menu off by herself! :)
Our menu included my spinach-artichoke dip for the appetizer, which helped stave off the hungry (men) while we worked to warm up everything, along with prepping the turkey! Our main meal included sweet potato pie (recipe to come), corn casserole, apple sausage stuffing, my moms mashed potatoes, and my mashed cauliflower recipe, oh and of course- TURKEY! For dessert I made my pumpkin pie with gingersnap crust into a pumpkin-cheesecake with gingersnap crust!
One question I get asked a lot is… How do you get ‘back on track’ after you indulge’ for special occasions, holidays, parties, etc….(Or should I say over-indulge, because let’s face it…It happens to the best of us!) ;)
Well, it’s simple really…I eat the same that I normally do all day long, (I might cut out a few ‘extra’ little treats that I would typically have throughout an average day)….And I eat the same as I normally do the following day!
You see, ‘living healthy’ is truly a way of life, which means day in-day out, you balance eating healthy, exercising, and of course rest! (Which is why you want to find exercise you enjoy (read more about that here) and find ways to turn the foods you love into healthy dishes…I hope I can help with that!) :)
“Lifestyle” also means that you will have moments in life where you won’t have access to healthy options, and/or you don’t want to eat healthy…and thats OK!!! Life isn’t perfect, and a ‘healthy lifestyle’ isn’t about perfection! The most important thing is that you start fresh again the each and every day, (yes..even after over-indulging), and continue on in the journey of health for life!
This!