Green Smoothie Friday...

Good morning and happy Friday!!  Who's looking forward to the weekend??  I know I am...it's been a looonnnngggg week. 

As I've mentioned in the past, I LOVE green smoothies!  Love, love, love them, and I'm always trying something a little different.  I decided I would start a series called "Green Smoothie Friday" and share some of my favorite recipes...I hope you'll share your recipes too!

Blend all ingredients in a blender (we use a Ninja...it's great and makes a very smooth, smoothie!), pour into a glass and ENJOY!

Losin it...Debt!

Weight, wheat, debt, our minds?  How about all of the above! 

So there are always things to improve upon, but sometimes you have to break them down and just get started. 

Back in August/September, 2013, we (me and the hubs) started back the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover.  It has taken some time, and we're still not 100% where we need to be with our budget, etc, but let me tell you we are so far in the right direction from where we were!  It's actually become fun...yes, budgets can be fun!!  I'm slightly addicted to looking at our budget, bank account, debts every.single.day...I honestly can't help myself! 

We are currently on baby step (bs) 2...the debt snowball.  Baby step 1 was to build an emergency fund.  It always seems to happen that when things are going right, it's going to storm...and these storms can eat into your budget and in the worst way, the part of your budget that should be going towards paying off a debt!  So we have $1,000 in our EF and, knock on wood, we have NOT had to use it!  Josh needed new tires, but we said a lot of prayers and saved, saved, saved in our "transportation" budget and just a couple of weeks ago, we were able to pay just over $600 in CASH!  It was such a great feeling to know that we weren't taking this money from anywhere else, we didn't borrow it and we didn't get a loan...truly an amazing feeling. 

So in order to hold ourselves accountable, and hopefully to help some of you out, we will be sharing our journey to financial freedom...I'm not making any promises about how often I'll update this subject, but I will try my best to keep it fresh and not let it get stale.  In the meantime, if you have tips or some motivational comments, please feel free to share...until next time! 

Coconut Oil Chicken - Healthy Dog Snack...

So I'm always on the search for something that's healthy for our dogs to snack on...a treat!  I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I will do a post on it one day...our dogs are on a grain free diet.  Because of this, I have to be careful about store bought treats...you really have to look at the package, just as you would for yourself in the grocery store, when your pet is on a special diet. 

A few years ago, I did lots of research regarding Coconut Oil.  It's great, I know I've talked about it here before, and there are so many wonderful benefits for you!  But did you know those same benefits can help our 4-legged friends?  If your pet is scratching, itchy, you can put it on them topically (beware, it is an oil, therefore greasy!) or add it to their food.  I have heated it on the stove just to melting point and poured it over their food (don't give it to them until it's cooled) and I've also added it to their water.  They will even just lick it off of my finger...it's great!

When I cook with chicken, I always butcher the meat even more than the grocery store does!  I'm very picky about it and cut off all the stuff I don't want to eat.  Instead of throwing it away, I boil it, add coconut oil to the water and once it's done and cooled, I give it to my dogs as "treats".  And boy do they LOVE it!  Below are the ingredients as well as a couple of pictures...I apologize for the blurriness but there was NO getting them to calm down when this stuff is around!!  I have no doubt that your fur-baby will enjoy it!!

Keeping our goals...Simple Changes

Happy New Year!  Well, Happy January 2nd!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a happy and safe New Year's Eve! 

Our NYE consisted of a Happy Endings marathon (LOVE that show!  We're really hoping another network picks it up for new episodes!!), games/cards and protecting our fur-babies from the "booms" of fireworks outside.  It was a great night, just the two of us, and we actually stayed up past midnight...yea us!! 

So as I mentioned a few weeks ago, I'm setting goals for myself and trying to make one positive change at a time.  So far I have NOT stuck to the lemon detox tea...I did drink it for a few days then got the flu...FYI, a terrible cough and cayenne pepper do NOT mix well.  So I am starting back with that.  The cough is still with me, but not nearly as bad as it was.  The other thing that I started yesterday and have continued today is drinking 100 oz. of water each day.  Yes, I realize we're only on day 2 of the New Year, but as I said before, Simple Changes, one day at a time. 

I'll keep you updated on my progress, but in the meantime, what were some of the goals you set for yourself?

 

(PS - I'm re-using this bottle today with filtered water from our fridge...I usually use my Tupperware shaker that includes measurements :o)

Simple Changes - Lemon Detox "Tea"

 

While I sit here, throat slightly burning and feeling warm on the inside, I'll tell you about my first "simple change".  As discussed earlier in the week, it's time for resolutions and goal setting for the new year.  Well, I'm absolutely the worst about making resolutions and not sticking to, or even starting them!  So I've decided that since one of my goals is to get healthy, I would go ahead and start making a small, simple start, hence simple changes.

Today I'm starting with a detoxing drink or "tea" if you want to call it that.  I've heard about and read about lemon water (which I love cold with ice!) and how beneficial it is when slightly heated for your body, skin, digestion, etc.  So this morning, I went into the kitchen, heated some water, squeezed a whole lemon into it (plus some darn seeds), I added a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon or cayenne pepper, and guess what?  It's not too bad!  It really isn't...the only thing I'll probably change is I will add a little more cinnamon.  Their is a bite to the pepper, but the cinnamon after taste seems to ease that.

My goal is to drink this every morning for a week and I'll report back with how I feel and if I've noticed any changes.  Hopefully I'll keep it up, but a small goal of just a week should be attainable...even for me!

Have you tried this before?  Any suggestions on ingredients, etc?

PopSugar Must Have Box - Dec 2013

So yesterday I got my December PopSugar Must Have Box!!  SPOILER...Content information listed below...if you're like me and want to be surprised, do not go any further :)

Ok, on to it! 

This month's box did not disappoint...as you can see I received a Lulu Frost for PopSugar bracelet; Mixt Studio Holiday Gift Wrapping set; Modelco Fibre Lashxtend Black Mascara (cannot wait to try!); Govino Go Anywhere Flutes; CC Made Caramel Corn; NCLA Peppermint Lane Nail Wraps (trying these over the weekend); and last but NOT least...Ghiradelli Squares, yum!!

If you would like more information about PopSugar's monthly subscription box, follow the link below!

Click HERE

Fall and Spring Outfit Board...Oh Pinterest

So I created the following board and I absolutely think this could be a great fall or spring outfit!  What do you think??

**links included in descriptions below

1.  Love this top from Modcloth! 
2.  Chandelier earrings...can't get enough!  The first are Stella & Dot...second pair were on RueLaLa...no longer there :(
3.  Essie nail polish...in love with this color!  Demure Vixen
4. Thinking this beautiful scarf just might be in my stocking this year :)  Modcloth
5.  I've been looking for an initial necklace...and "A" and a "J".  Etsy Love!
6.  Just a pair of skinny jeans for boots.
7.  An everyday top that you can wear with just about anything!  Modcloth (can you see a trend here??)
8.  And last but certainly not least...BOOTS!  These beauties are from Kohl's!

So there's my perfect fall/spring outfit...what does your perfect outfit look like?