September 1, 2015

Monster Bars

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Recipe adapted from: Averie Cooks

Her photos and write-up is far more appealing than yours truly.  

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup melted salted butter
1 large egg
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup mini M&M’s
1 cup mini caramel bits
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
3/4 cup mini marshmallows

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DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside.
  2. Mix together melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla and whisk  smooth.  Add egg and whisk again (adding egg after other ingredients allows it to cool so you don’t end up with a scrambled egg and butter)
  3. Add the peanut butter and stir until incorporated followed by the flour.
  4. Add all remaining candies and yummyness and fold to incorporate.
  5. Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
  6. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until top is set. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean, or with a few moist crumbs. Allow bars to cool in pan for at least 30 minutes.

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I made two batches of these babies.  One went to a friends house (I used all pink M&M’s for Breast Cancer Awareness in one batch – GO, TONYA, GO!) and the other went with Clint to work.

Let’s just say the boys didn’t make it to lunch before devouring them all.

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Cheers!

August 31, 2015

High Five to Year 35!

I love Birthday’s.  And, no, I am ABSOLUTELY NOT that girl who says I am 29 and holding.  Gross.   Embrace age.   Life just gets better year after year.  I have straight up loved my life in my thirties.

Bring on 35!

The Hubs wins again with flowers delivered on Monday for my “Birthday Week”.   His mama taught him right, I’d say.  What a sweetheart.

imageOrange and Black, of course!

My Thursday AM Insanity class surprised me with balloons and a card, thanks to Alice’s sneaky ways. 🙂  And we had a packed house (24) so we had crazy energy circulating that room on Thursday.  I’ll take that as a birthday present for SURE!

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❤

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❤

Friday I took a half day off and indulged in a spa appointment with my fave girl Becky at Victor Victoria, followed by Sushi with Tyree and Tracy and then a lash appointment at Living Beautifully.

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Friday night we enjoyed dinner with Clint’s brother J and wife Shelby.  Always a treat with those two.  We only live about 15 miles apart, but yet we tend to only see each other when we all travel to Clarinda for parties and holidays.  #lifehappens

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Can’t tell they’re related at all…

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Saturday morning started with a Starbucks and a card from my witty husband before we made our way to good ol’ town of Clarinda.   We have had so much going on the month of August that I just wanted to get away.  So, we did!

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10:30 hair appointment with the amazing Kayla followed by a mini BBQ at my mom’s house with Gabe, mom, Gr’ma and Clint.  It was a perfect lunch date.

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Bottom right hand corner is Ms. Chloey, my “niece”.  😉 She tracked me down later that evening to give me the coolest gift I’ve ever received.   How CUTE is she?

Saturday afternoon we attended the funeral for the father of one of my classmates.  It was the most beautifully done ceremony out on their family farm.  Very touching.

We ended the late afternoon at my Aunt and Uncle’s house for a few beers and conversation before we ended the evening at J Bruner’s restaurant.   They opened the new location a few months ago and I am SO impressed with how beautiful it is.   Nice work Emily and Joe!

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We ended the evening with a road-trip back to Emerson to drop off Troy and Sara (entertainment from the backseat, yo) before Clint and I finally rolled into home around 2:30am.  Sunday I basically slept, watched TV and ventured out only ONCE for new shoes.   Surprisingly the only stop I made in the mall was the shoe store.   I clearly was on a mission to get in, get out and get back in my pj’s. HA

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The PERFECT ending to a weekend that was spent exactly how I had hoped to.

Cheers!

August 26, 2015

Back In The Groove

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Thanks to a busy travel schedule for work plus a week in Sturgis, SD thrown in the middle, I had no choice but to take a break.  A break from my daily gym presence.  A break from leading fitness classes.  A break from my alarm clock.

Just a break.

And, you know what?

I feel good.

I spent those weeks doing what I needed to for work.  I spent that week in Sturgis eating, drinking and living without regret.   The week after Sturgis I only taught 1/2 of my fitness classes and spent the rest of the time letting my body just relax, rejuvenate and reset.

And now…

I’m back.

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I am BACK with the latest Round of Insanity (14).  New music, new moves and NEW format that I am LOVING.  My classes are loving it too!  High-Five Beachbody Live for this welcome and needed format change.

I have jumped back into running a few miles.   Taking it slow right now.  My body was worn out in July.  I was working it hard… and playing equally as hard on top of it.

(Ok fine… I was playing 10 times as much as I was working.   Ah, I friggin’ LOVE summer)

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I’ve also  been taking time each night to perfect the new TurboKick Round.   ❤

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Did you know my FIRST CERTIFICATION as a trainer is coming up on October 3rd?

  This is it!

This is me making my dream come true.  You know, the audition I nearly skipped because of fear.

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I am focusing on smaller runs during the week and paying closer attention to kicking up my pace.

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I have mapped out every weekend long run from now until November.   I’ve got The Good Life Halfsy on the books!  13.1 is mine!   You know what else is mine?  That darn 1:59.

My finish time WILL BE UNDER 2 HOURS!

Half #1 – 2:20

Half #2 – 2:10

Half #3 – IS GOING to be 1:59 if it kills me.

🙂

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My morning YMCA classes have picked back up again after hit and misses all summer.  (Ah, summer.  Can’t say I blame them for the hits and misses.  It’s SUMMER!)

This morning we had over 19 in Insanity class.  I can’t even explain the energy in that room when we are that full.     You should join me and experience it. 😉

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The March 2015 Insanity Crew. 

I should convince my August morning crew to take a new pic. 🙂

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I’ve even signed up for the Beer and Bagel 4 mileTrail Run on November 8th.  As of today, part of the M2M Iowa team has also signed up.   Awe… reunited and it feels so good!

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#teamknickers  

Watch it – we are going to dominate!

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Well, I know Blair and I will at least dominate the beer, bagels and chili afterwards.

…Mainly beer.

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Cheers to a much needed rest and rejuvenate.

I am BACK!

August 24, 2015

Monday Dinner Idea

Monday Has Me Like…

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If you’re like me, you don’t even want to think about dinner tonight.

Let me help you out.

 

Spicy Ranch Turkey Burgers

  • 19 oz. package 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1 (1 oz.) packet ranch dressing mix
  • 1/3 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 5-6 slices turkey bacon, cooked until crispy
  • buns and desired toppings

Mix together ground turkey, chopped onion, ranch dressing mix (dry), cheese and cooked bacon.   Form into patties, place into skillet with a little coconut oil or olive oil, brown each side.

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Broccoli Side Salad

  • 1 head broccoli, chopped into bite size pieces
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 1 small box raisins
  • 4 slices turkey bacon, crisped and crumbled
  • Small container greek yogurt (5oz)
  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 2 Tbsp. vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 3/4 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • sea salt (to taste)
  • pepper (to taste)

Directions

  • Combine broccoli, onion, raisins, turkey bacon, almonds and pine nuts in bowl.
  • In a small bowl whisk together yogurt, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar and salt and pepper.
  • Pour over veggie mix and stir to coat.
  • Refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve.

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Enjoy!