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SO many recipes to catch up on, plus, a sweet, FREE deal...

Hello all of you beautiful people! I had a wonderful, week long vacation with my family and now I'm trying, (I wouldn't say successfully yet,) to get back into the swing of things. I KNOW I have neglected all of my little unfrumpiettes but I will try to make up for it this week. My first attempt: a sweet deal I just came across.


These guys make super cute covers for breast feeding, and other handy accessories to make the task a little bit easier. Well, if you enter the promo code "onefree," you can get a cover for FREE (you will still pay shipping.) Or, when you enter the code, you can get a complete gift set for only $5 (plus shipping.) Shipping is $9.95, a little high, but if you don't have the time to shop around or to make your own, these are great. I'm probably ordering a gift set tonight (usually a $37 value,) to give as a baby gift. $14.95 for a really excellent baby shower gift isn't too shabby. And, they are completely un-frumpy ladies. They're gorgeous. Check it out. You can thank me later ;)

Also, a little note on positive self talk:

It's powerful people.

While on vacation, I didn't eat so well. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and, yes, over indulged. However, instead of coming home and beating myself up, telling myself what a giant turd I am, which would usually be my go to course of action, I said, out loud even: I had so much fun. Now, it's time for business. I love my life. I love my body. I only get one body, and one life, and it's time to take care of it. I can eat healthy. I can exercise. And I will. I am worth it. I am special. I am a princess, the daughter of a Heavenly King. I am the wife of a good man and the mother of two beautiful daughters who need me. I am loved. I will love myself. I will be un-frumpy.

So, you may be smirking to yourself, thinking about how incredible cheesy I am, and that's okay. I'm sure that little tid bit made you feel at least a little good. I want ALL OF YOU (imaginary or real) to try positive self talk. Right now. And perhaps, even type out some encouraging words to yourself and print them off. Tape them to your bathroom mirror. Read them to yourself every time you brush your teeth or wash your hands. It may not be magic, but I guarantee it's better than looking at yourself and thinking, "what a turd I am." Think of any negative thought that plagues you, and contradict it with positivity. I have been known to struggle with pessimism, among MANY things, but I have been telling myself, "you are optimistic," instead. If I tell myself I'm pessimistic all the time, how can I be anything else?

The same goes for frumpy. If I constantly tell myself, "I am so frumpy," or "I am so fat," or "I am so lazy," whatever else, how can I ever be anything else? I AM UN-FRUMPY! And if I am not there yet, I WILL BE! We CAN do this. We CAN do hard things. And, most importantly, we ARE worth it.

Sending you all loves in blog land.

I swear I haven't forgotten you...

It's been a while, I know. It's been a rough week or so. The kids and husband are sick as dogs and I'm way behind in EVERYTHING! Does anyone else know that feeling ;) ?

I decided with all this CHAOS to postpone my starting the C25K challenge until after I get back from a much needed vacation. Which means, for the next little while, I will still try to exercise everyday but I will alternate between Zumba, Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred, Wii Fit, and Just Dance 2


So, tomorrow I will attend my husband's graduation. I think I'm happier for him to be done with college than I was a couple of years ago! I will try HARD to catch up on tons of photo editing for clients, I will, and I mean WILL, conquer the mountain of clean clothes occupying my couch, AND, I will get back on the ball updating you (possible imaginary) readers on my journey.

Oh, and I finally talked to my counselor. I'm not automatically better, but that's okay. It's all about the baby steps.

Sorry I've neglected you! The good news, I haven't neglected the challenge!

So, I may have been sparse on the blog lately, but I haven't abandoned the commitment I made to all of you! (However many that may be.) I have worked out EVERY day, and tomorrow is my LAST DAY of the Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred (See all Weight Training DVDs) challenge!!! WOOO HOOOO! I'm so pumped that I persevered, and even more pumped that I proved to myself that I can do it. I'm also excited to move onto other things, like the C25K program. And, oh, Zumba, how I've missed you! Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred (See all Weight Training DVDs) is an awesome workout, but it is not fun by any means. Zumba is also a great workout, but I have a lot more fun doing it. I'll still revisit shred though, especially on those days when I just don't have very much time to workout and I want to burn some serious calories in twenty minutes. I always feel good and empowered afterward.

Since this is my second to last day, I must remind you: Your own FREE copy of Jillian's 30 Day Shred is still up for grabs. I want to see comments. I want to see new followers referred by you. Plus, I now have a group on Facebook, so if you decide to follow that, you get a point, and if you add as many people as you want, you can tell me the number of people you added with a comment on the page and I will give you points for them as well. Of course, if you tell me you added 100 people and there are still only 14 in the group, I might be a little be skeptical. I really want to send this brand new, unopened, ready to be used copy of 30 Day Shred out to one of you, so get cracking! I will only take points earned before midnight tomorrow.

Last but not least, I will post some recipes soon, I've been behind, and some other fun things as well. So be watching.

I hope all of your journeys to un-frumpiness are still rolling. And that you're happy in the journey, and proud of yourselves.

Coconut Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Ok. The last recipe was not my favorite. This is a winner though. My husband, daughter, and I fell in love with this tasty version of oven "fried" chicken. We've tried many variations, and this is our favorite. Plus, it's pretty darn healthy. And, did I mention, delicious? Skinny taste got this one right. Mmm hmm. This is my new go to version of chicken. Try it. DO it.

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, 18 oz, or 3
Shredded Coconut, 6 TBSP
Panko Bread Crumbs, 1/4 cup
Corn Flakes, smashed, 2 TBSP
Eggs, whites only, 1/3 cup, or two
Salt, 1/4 tsp
Salad, Spring/baby mix, 6-9 cups
Carrots, 2-3 medium, sliced
Tomato, 1 medium, sliced
Cucumber, Peeled, 1 medium, sliced
Olive Oil Cooking Spray, 2 sprays

Preheat oven to 375. Combine coconut, bread crumbs, and crushed corn flakes in a shallow baking dish. Separate eggs and put whites into a large bowl. Tenderize/pulverize/flatten chicken breasts. Lightly salt. Slice into strips. Dip in egg whites, letting excess drip off, then into breading mixture. Place on Silpat lined (or lightly sprayed) baking sheet. Spray lightly with olive oil spray. Bake for 15 minutes. While it's baking, prepare salad (and dressing.) Turn chicken to other side, spray, and cook another 15 minutes. Serve with salad and dressing of choice (it's delicious with the honey mustard vinaigrette listed below. Thanks again skinny taste.)

MFP nutritional info, 4 servings, each has: 240 calories 5 grams of fat 33 grams of protein 582 milligrams of sodium


Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Honey, 1 tbsp
Basalmic Vinegar, 1 tbsp
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 tbsp
Beaver - Sweet Hot Mustard, 3 tsp

Just mix them well and serve as a dipping sauce or lightly pour over the top of the chicken or salad. YUM!

MFP info, 4 servings, each has: 55 calories 4 grams of fat 0 grams of protein 34 milligrams of sodium

Cream of Zucchini Soup

I'll be fair. This soup is so cheap, easy, low fat, and low calorie. Now for complete honesty, of everything I've made off of skinny taste, this was the most disappointing. The sodium levels are SO much higher than the flavor. But, if you're looking for something low cal, cheap, and easy, this is all of those things. I served it with Pillsbury Crescent Rounds. They are also cheap and quick. I prepared this according to the skinny taste directions. You can find them on the link above. However, I really prefer pressure cooker to regular stove top. It's less worry and faster. I will probably return to my old pressure cooker ways with the next soup I make.

Zucchini, includes skin, raw, 3 medium
Garlic, 3 cloves, minced
Yellow Onion, 1/2 large
Chicken Broth, 4 cups
Low Fat Sour Cream, 2 TBSP
Pepper, 1 tsp

MFP nutritional info, 4 servings, each has: 56 calories 1 gram of fat 4 grams of protein 591 milligrams of sodium