Archive for January 2016

Saturday, January 9, 2016

January Meal Planning

I got my 2016 planner a few days into the new year so my meal planning took place about a week later than normal but I got it done and I'm excited to start the first month of 2016 on the right foot being organized. I got another Plum Paper planner this year. I just love the price and the functionality of their planners.

Although it's been a few months since I posted on my meal planning I haven't stopped planning. Not only do I plan my monthly suppers but I plan out our weekly lunches and snack options just to keep them on my mind so I make healthy choices.

See past monthly meal plans HERE!

For this month I really just skimmed through my entire year of meals plans in my 2015 planner and compiled a list that way. Next month I want to get busy on Pinterest and find some new recipes and ideas.

Lunch Meal Prep that happens on Sunday:

Chicken burrito bowl
Beef patty with quinoa and cauliflower
Salmon, brown rice, and broccoli
Grilled chicken breast with sweet potato

Dinner Menu:

Cajun dirty rice
Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and corn
Date night
Hamburger and sweet potato fries
Dutch tomato soup with fancy grilled cheeses
Fish, rice, veggie
Chicken strips, potatoes, baked beans
Homemade pizza
Chili
Cajun chicken pasta
Steak, baked potato, and salad
Chicken and dumplings
Dutch stompot and meatballs
Beans and cornbread
Stuffed bell peppers
Lentils, sausage, and cornbread
Hamburgers and sweet potato fries
Roast, carrots, and potatoes
Leftover roast bbq sandwiches
Tacos
Beef stir fry
Pantry dump
Honey Sriracha chicken over rice
Steak, baked potato, salad

I have a few leftover days and date nights the I know we will end up taking so here's to another full month of healthy eating and planning that not only keeps us from making bad choices but also helps us stay on budget and save money!

Insta Dump #21

December was a good Instagram month with lots of posts...see below and follow me!

Max and I catching up on cleaning and DVR// feeling green// welcome baby Max// when I don't try I end up looking my best// triceps coming in// new laptop for my birthday// booty pump// Merry Christmas ya filthy animal// killed upper body with Hendrik// bought AC/DC tickets// gangster at Walmart and the gym// cozy Sunday// Christmas party ready// keeping things tight for the holidays// target Christmas shopping// new customer necklace from fit style brand

Monday, January 4, 2016

Facelift

I hope you noticed the oh blog bliggity got a new look for the new year.

I've had the same blog design for a couple if not few years now and have been wanting a nice clean look that is minimal and really allows my posts to speak.

I stumbled across Adoration Studios on Etsy and fell in love with their pre-made blogger templates that you are able to install yourself. They give you links that allows you to preview the blog and the best part....the templates are inexpensive.

In the past I've spent a couple hundred dollars and work with a designer to get a custom blog design made and installed and I was really over that method.

I love the design I chose and once I purchased it I accessed the download that had EASY, I repeat EASY install instructions and all the things you need to get your blog rocking for the new year.

I also updated the About section as it was a bit outdated and sort of dorky sounding. LOL

I hope you love my new design as much as I do and if you can't find something its more than likely at the very bottom.....let me know what you think!

Sunday, January 3, 2016

2016...Ready or not

2016, boy I have no idea what to make of this. Currently I feel overwhelmed and anxious for the next month or so as I have some major work events that need my attention and are time sensitive, upcoming school events have me seriously stressed out...I mean am I ever going to finish?!!! Yes I am, but it seems like I keep getting curve balls in this area. Besides the current life happenings I am feeling hopeful and excited for 2016 as I do have some major plans in all areas of my life. Lets get to my goals shall we......

Prepare and compete in my first fitness competition
Continue growing in my fitness journey and in gainzzzzville!! LOL I hope to grow my quads and back to epic proportions!
Start my own business
Take Caleb on a brother sister cultural graduation trip
Take a girls trip to NOLA
Vacation to somewhere extraordinary like Bali, Thailand, or somewhere equally amazing with Hendrik
Finish the massive home to do list and declutter/ clean up old furniture, garage, and home in general. I don't have clutter but there are always build up in drawers and useless items that can go
Finish my chicken coop and get chickens
Plan for a great garden
Finish my MSA with a bang and start CPA exam preparations
Work on my 30 before 30 bucket list
Work on myself- cussing, procrastination, focusing on the positive and cutting out negative (people, thinking, situations), not worry so much

2015 Wrapped Up

2015 was crazy, exciting, adventurous, full of learning experiences, travels, new workouts, new friends, new family members, memories with old friends, and an ever growing love.

Hendrik and I had 3 awesome vacations, visited Holland, Belgium, France, Florida, and Mexico.
Case was born
I worked on school which seems to be an eternal venture
I also started working for Hendrik and the year was full of that!

See my year broke down by pictures and little descriptions below and stay tuned for my 2016 goals!

January

January 1st- started new job with Hendrik and his family

Found out I had the shingles and battled them on and off through out the summer

I worked extra hard on my physique through out the entire year and made some awesome changes.

February

Hendrik and I had dates night each month...mainly all involved sushi and we tried several different sushi restaurants in Rockwall. This sashimi was awesome!

My garden started out awesome but as the rain continued and then the summer heat started this was the best my garden looked all year.

Meal planning and prep became a huge Sunday venture each week and has really helped Hendrik and I maintain our healthy lifestyle.

Shoulder gains are always a good thing.

My planner was really utilized as always and hot tea became a way of life for us

We got a nice snow in February.

My mom turned 50 and we planned her a fabulous and 50 surprise birthday party that turned out amazing.

March

During spring break week and forward Hendrik took a European vacation. Amsterdam was our first stop.

After visiting family in North Holland we headed out on the road and our next stop was Brussels, Belgium. Those waffles though!

After Belgium we continued our trip to Paris, France and explored 4 days on bikes there.

workouts didn't slack neither did the gains....abs finally started showing up and staying after our meal prep and clean eating really took effect.

Date night fortune which I loved and believe.

April

how my monthly meal planning goes down each month

Hoss had a random seizure and we rushed him to the vet to get checked out. All was fine and he has yet to have another one of those horrible episodes.

I tried my hand at making my own homemade wheat bread.

On nice days I saved my gas and rode my bike to work.

After returning from our Euro trip I tried my hand and a traditional Dutch dinner and since has become a monthly meal.

Work on my (still unfinished) chicken coop started

Once the rain slacked up farming was in full swing and we chopped a ton of silage.

May

Finally started something I'd been wanting to get into....MMA/Boxing.

early Summer drives through a newly purchased property had some pretty wild flowers.

One Saturday night mom and I had a girls night out at the gym

Tried out new and different supplements from Prime Nutrition. I still use a couple of these but ended up returning to my favorite branch...Optimum Nutrition

Jett turned 1 and all the gang was there to celebrate.

June

We took a big family vacation in Destin, Florida

Colby pulled off an epic beach proposal for Lara and she was super surprised.

Jake got married so we all got dressed up for the occasion.

July

tried out another type of tea other than regular and mint.

Poppy Larue made a sweet and calm entrance into the world and she's been growing ever since.

Got in my first pair of Celestial Bodiez booty scrunch leggings and fell in love

Super gains and shoulder/bicep pump

August

Got a new cape thing from the Copper Leaf and wore it to a date night with Paul and Lauren as we tried out an awesome restaurant that was new to us in Rockwall called Bin 303.

The best gift ever came in August.....Charles Case Deal was born and is the cutest nephew ever.

was rushing in the gym on day and smashed the crap out of my finger. 5 months later and it is finally getting back to normal.

Got a Vitamix and we brought smoothies into our life

September

MMA training amped up to 2 nights a week

Case growing like crazy and showing all his personality through his many funny faces

Took Hendrik on a surprise birthday get-a-way to Cabo and it was the best time ever. Just what we needed at the perfect time.

Our resort was amazing and we were essentially the only guests.

On Hendrik's actual birthday we went deep sea fishing and later ate his catch fresh 5 different ways and we are still dreaming of the tuna that melted in our mouths!

September 29th I showed all my hard work for a photoshoot I set up with an awesome photographer.

October

October 16th I dressed up and we head to my 10 year high school class reunion. Not many showed up but those who did loved catching up and seeing each other.