White Bean Cookies

My delicious white bean cookies!! A definite must try!!!!

These cookies are AMAZING! The only thing I switched in the recipe was that I added a scoop of Vitol Protein powder. Vitol is an egg white based protein powder that ONLY HAS egg whites, stevia and Bee pollen! AH-MAZING! Go to Amazon and order yours today!!





 I also used Cannellini Beans instead You can use any beans you like, the cookies taste like BUTTER cookies no matter what beans you use. If you like crunchy cookies, leave in  the oven for 17 minutes, if you like them gooey, leave in for 13 minutes...of butter beans.

What a great weekend!!!!!

A weekend full of so many unexpected surprises.... All made me happy!!!! My house looks so beautiful filled with bouquets of flowers! My God daughter sent me flowers, my little nieces sent me flowers and my father in Law's little lady gave me flowers!!!

My clients spoil me every year and every year I am humbled, thankful and full of gratitude..... I truly am surrounded with some of the most amazing people in the world, and they make me a better person each day!

On my birthday night, we did what we normally do.... Eat dinner together, then clean up, Mario showers and then we watch Shark's Tank, which is the best show on tv!!! We went to bed rather early, both deservingly, since we both run around all week like two chickens!!!







A few weeks ago, Mario had -made reservations to this restaurant in New Canaan called Elm.  I had to wear something in honor of our birthdays to "WOW" my husband and to feel elegant, girly and well, NOT 41.  SO I went to WEEZY D'S In Rye. They have such a unique selection of dresses, tops and bottoms that you wouldn't normally find.....  I tried on about 7 dresses before the poor girl pulled one last dress, the dress I would end up falling in LOVE with! It's feminine, girly, elegant and so Victoria Beckham. I tried it on, and fit me perfectly!  My waist is so tiny and then I have these enormous boobies! SO finding a dress to fit the two is quite the CHALLENGE! I was THRILLED! I have my dress, I have gorgeous earrings, I have a coat and sexy suede platform pumps, and I have the HOTTEST man around! I was ALL SET for my birthday dinner!~

Dinner turned out to be simply perfect.  If you live in the area, or right outside of Connecticut, this is a MUST GO- place! Read my review on Yelp.com . Spending time with Mario talking about the baby we will have, the town in CT in which we want to live, the food we are eating and how we are celebrating our 41st birthday. It's also the first year we didn't do something OVER THE TOP, like usual- We have BETTER and BIGGER things we wish to think about, like buying our very first home and getting pregnant BEFORE this year ends!  When Mario went to pay the bill, a waiter came over and told us the bill had been taken care of... and we both looked at each other with confusion. He read a note that basically said Happy Birthday and that they hope we enjoy our dinner, LOOVE, RAHA ODELFELT! Seriously!?!??!! I know she is one of my closest friends, but between our schedules and lives, we haven't really seen or talked in a while, and I KNOW I didn't even mention where we were going for my birthday, so this was a HUGE pleasant surprise!!! I LOVE my friends! Seriously! I am still without words, because I don't know how she found the time with her hectic life! She means the world to me! Talk about surprises! Mario & I were both so taken back but filled with gratitude and appreciation.

This morning I woke up with NO intentions on going to the gym, or leaving the house. Funny how when you have NO plans, all you have is a BUSY day. I haven't really been in a social kind of mood and lately been keeping to myself- I guess because I have so much on my plate right now with getting pregnant and being a nervous wreck that I happens SUPER SOON. SO being alone has been great for me. 

For breakfast on this GORGEOUS Sunday, I made BIG GIRL Hot Chocolate! TO DIE FOR!!!! A MEAL in a drink that reminds me of being a little girl ALL over again! You MUST try this!

 

1 mug full of Almond Milk (365 brand is the ONLY one with NO carrageenan)

1 tsp. carob powder

1 truvia packet

1 Starbuck's Via Instant coffee packet

**Stir well and nuke for one minute... Take out and then add

1/2 scoop Protein powder (I use Vitol)

**Nuke for 1 more minute. Take out and stir well. ENJOY!

All of the sudden, I got this URGE to be outside. I know it was because Mario texted me surprised I WASN'T going to run. He thought I would after last nights incredible dinner. SO in my mind I felt as though he was indirectly motivating me to go.  I threw on my
Underarmour long running pants,

My Underarmour ski hat, I have this in black. 











my Michael Kor's Aviators,

and my NEW Athleta Long Sleeve. I was READY to go!




I used my IPHONE since I have the MAP MY RUN App which has GPS.  This GPS also has voice activation. SO if you are going too slow or too fast she talks to you! First, I must tell you that I had NO goal in mind. All I wanted to do was take in the sun and the fresh air. It felt incredible to be outside. It was about 40 degrees around 9:00, this morning. The PERFECT Weather! All I could think about were all of the long runs Raha and I did last year! I MISS those runs!

Check out today's run:

 

 

I don't know where this speed came from, or the wind or the strength... but I will tell you that I ROCKED this run, felt as if I could keep going and the whole time, it was me & The BIG MAN upstairs! I thanked him when I passed a church along my run. A few times I would just inhale through my nose, filling my belly with air, and then blow it out and each time I did, I felt my body running like the wind, with ease, and grace.  I am so proud of myself!

 

I knocked out the laundry, Whole Foods and D'Cicco's all in one day! Oh I didn't stop there! I made homemade meatballs and pasta with sauce, a Fit Green Goddess Salad, and wrote in my blog for you. Now I am off to make an incredible Recipe from a Cook Book my beautiful Sister-in-law got me! I'll share the recipe when I take some pics (of course).

 

I am grateful for YOU, grateful for the Good Lord being with me, Grateful to my clients, family and friends.

I LOVE Myself and I LOVE my life.

 

 

Why I get it done EARLY!

Purchased a new journal a few weeks back for my training and running, and couldn't wait to start using it! For some reason, I am obsessed with journals and keeping them. I have hundreds, and recently finally threw away 100 hundreds from back in 2006! MAN! It's amazing to look back and see what I was doing. If it weren't for these journals, I would NEVER remember where I was physically, what I was doing or how I got to where I am.

Friday was my birthday, so starting a new journal on this day seemed perfect. Back on Wednesday night, I started to log all my upcoming workouts and runs. On the very first page this is what I wrote:

"Starting on Friday- 11/16/2012, the next four weeks I will be running and focusing on high reps, lighter weights. My current weight is 114, and I am most happy at 110."

Week of 11/16:

• Friday- Run & Abs
• Saturday- Total Body
• Sunday- OFF
• Monday- Run & Abs
• Tuesday- Total Body
• Wednesday- Run & Abs
• Thursday- THANKSGIVING- TOTAL body
• Friday- Run & Abs

So Friday finally comes, my birthday. I had such a wonderful day filled with so much love, and attention from everyone who loves me. The day couldn't have been more beautiful!

I woke up weighing in at 113.4- which always makes me feel better! I'm that much further from 115. I feel like that number (115) is my danger zone, so anything far from 115 is SAFE! The one thing with me is that on my running days, I am USELESS for running after 11:00am. I need to get started by 10:00 in order to be successful with my goals. I don't know why, that's just how my body is. SO I wasn't able to run until almost 1:00. My broken toe started to bother me again, my legs felt so tired, and I felt like I weighed 200 lbs as I was running. I hadn't eaten enough all morning to fuel a six mile run. I was so annoyed! I ran about 1 mile, and then hopped on the rower and did 1000 meters in 5 minutes. Then I went over to the Arc trainer, but that sucked as well! That lasted about 5 minutes. Finally, I gave up- My mojo has disintegrated. I finished with my ab routine:

• Hanging abs- toes touch knuckles
• cable standing torso twist
• lying toe touch with a 10 lb ball

I did three sets of abs, and off I went! I was done, called it a day. Lesson to self: Either get to the gym by 5:00am or by 10:00.... Otherwise don't go!

What time of day do you get your BEST workout in? What time of day are you MOST likely to CRUSH IT!?

41 years YOUNG!

It didn't dawn on me that my birthday is tomorrow until today! I mean, usually I count ALL of November as my BIRTHDAY MONTH! Since I turned 40 last year, I kind of put my birthday in the back of my mind. It's not that I FEEL 41 one, although what does 41 years old even FEEL like? I guess it's all mental, ya know? My mindset.

I will say this, since I was approaching 40 last year, my ULTIMATE goal was to look INCREDIBLE. From the age of 36-39, I was ALL ABOUT RIPPED abs, RUNNING like a MACHINE, Looking SEXY, having the blondest hair and the tiniest little waist with big fake boobies. I wanted to look like a Barbie doll! There was NO WAY, I would LOOK 40 on my 40th birthday! MY THOUGHTS, MY WORDS, MY GOALS took me to my goal- and I ACHIEVED everything I set out to! In my mind, envisioning myself to LOOK a certain way would make me FEEL a certain way inside. I KNEW if I had a super ripped stomach, I would NEVER feel self conscious about it, and that would be a GREAT THING for me. I KNEW if I worked my ass off in the gym to build my legs for running, I would be able to run my half marathons- I did just that. I KNEW if I ate a Vegan lifestyle, I would FEEL great about it. I KNEW that when keeping my hair blond it would mentally make me more vibrant, bubbly and dynamic- -whereas every time I go back to dark brown hair, I end up sad, depressed and in a dark place.
What am I getting at? I am trying to tell you that YOUR THOUGHTS decide YOUR FATE- whether physical, emotional, spiritual and or financial. For me to become the ULTIMATE BEST ME EVER, I had to FIRST envision in my mind a picture of what the BEST me would look like, feel like, act like and live like. Once I acknowledged what I wanted to change, I had to set forth in motion my plan of action. EVERY negative thought I had about myself had to be erased from my mind, and taken over with a POSITIVE thought of myself. My positive thinking and having my goals set with an action plan helped me begin to step forward and NEVER look back.

If you think by taking pictures of myself it's narcissistic, think again. It couldn't be furthest from the truth. Fact is, that when I look back and reflect on where I was when a certain pictures was taken, I'm not only looking at the shell of my existence, but what I was going through mentally at that time in my life. I become more aware of ME when I look back at old pictures, and connect emotionally the time with the picture. I take full responsibility for NOT loving myself ENOUGH at the time to allow any unhappy feelings or emotions to occur and to let them show on my shell (my body). I also take blame and acknowledge the fact that I didn't KNOW then what I know NOW about my body, my soul, my mind and my emotions. I forgive myself, now, and still would NEVER want to return to that person again.

Knowledge is POWER and I accept responsibility for the life I have created over the past 41 years. I have the power to get up each day and MAKE IT BETTER THAN THE DAY BEFORE and NO ONE can take that away. So turning 41 for me is better than it was turning 31! 10 years ago I wasn't HALF the woman I am now in ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM.

Reaching other women my age trying to transform them from the inside out is the MOST challenging and rewarding job all in one! If more women would OPEN their minds and allow for new positive changes to push through and suck out the negative thoughts of self loathing, self doubt and fear, MORE woman my age would be walking around with so much EMPOWERMENT!

I won't deny I am aware that I look WAY younger than I am. I won't deny that most 25 year old young woman don't care for themselves like I do, but NEVER do I compare myself with ANYONE, because 31 or 41 years old, we are ALL on our OWN journeys in life. My just happens to be pretty damn INCREDIBLE, thanks to the Good LORD for ALWAYS being with me, and thanks to the people I have surrounded myself with and yes even to the people I have decided are toxic in my life and are no longer there. At one time those toxic people served their purpose, and Im learning that every person comes into you life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. It's your choice to keep them there or let them go.

At 41 years old, I am all about building NEW relationships with people who make me feel good, make me smile, happy and bring out the BEST in me.

Cheers!

Pumpkin Protein Pancakes

 

Awaiting Hurrican Sandy, I decided I would make a whole bunch of my pumpkin pancakes, just incase the electricity goes out, I have a little snack to munch on.

 

Ingredients:
1 can Organic Pumpkin
4 egg whites
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
cinnamon
1 cup old fashioned GF oatmeal
pumpkin pie spice
pepitas
coconut oil
Sun butter
blackberries

Directions:

1. Open can of pumpkin and add to your vitamix or blender

2. Crack open your eggs and add them next.

3. Add your Vanilla and oats next.

4. add the cinnamon, pumpkin spice and pepitas.

5. On your frying pan, add the coconut oil, but make sure it's VERY HOT. Once hot, turn flame to medium. At the same time you are bleding your ingredients in your blender or vitamix.

6. Spoon out a heaping tablespoon for each pancake. My recipe made about 13 pancakes.

7. Once your pancakes are done,  top each one with some sun butter or almond butter and serve with 5 or six blackberries.

 

My little MOJITO!

ahhhhh..... Such a refreshing looking drink, right? So refreshing, so cold, so minty- NOT! Let me just tell you, that THIS GIRL can NOT drink! We went out Friday night for a friend's birthday celebration. We went to Don CoQui in New Rochelle. The place was packed, the music was blasting, and the energy in there was AWESOME! Mario and I NEVER drink anything other than a Prosecco and Mario will indulge in a glass of wine- MAYBE 2-3 times a YEAR. My friend who is pregnant was drinking a VIRGIN mojito- It was sooooo delicious! Oh my! SO I asked the bartender if they had Prosecco, and and she told me no, I was bummed. SO then I firgured, what harm would a little Mojito with NO SUGAR do? HA! We were all so caught up in the moment, with great conversations, laughter and just an amazing night, that I didn't even realize the waiter would come around and fill my glass everytime it was half way done- I don't know how many I had, all I know is that by 11:00, I was sluring my words, and I don't have any ideas about some of the conversations that went on. I was FLAT OUT DRUNK! AT one point I looked over at Mario and he was CHUGGING a shot! WHAT THE HECK!?!?! MY husband doing a shot! Yea, we had THAT great of a time. My stomach hurt so bad from laughing so hard all night.



When we got home, I washed my face, brushed my teeth and hopped in bed- only to find the room spinning- and spinning- and spinning! I HATE that feelinig. So I figured I would just try and stick my fingers down my throat to yack it all up- NOTHING! Now I'm getting fussy because all I want to do is sleep. I paced my livingroom floor until a bright light went off in my head! AH HA! I ran into the fridge and grabbed a slice of Ezekiel bread, and starting muching away- thinking it would absorb all the polution in my liver- and I would fall asleep! It worked! I layed in bed, and while the room was still spinning it wasn't spinning AS FAST- I feel asleep finally!

The next morning, Mario came over to wake me up.... calling me his little "MOJITO". I was whinning about having a headache as I blamed my friend Kim for my drinking those YUMMY mojitos. I totally forgot what a hangover felt like because I haven't been DRUNK in 9 years! I felt like the bottom of a muddy old boot! NASTY! Such a bad headache! SO I scurried into my kitchen, and decided to start with some warm water with a WHOLE lemon squeezed inside, to DETOXIFY my gut! Then I rumaged through my supplements trying to remember what would be best to take. I started with Glutamine.  I should have taken it BEFORE I went out, but I forgot! When you drink alcohol, it inhibits glutamine which is one of the bodies natural stimulants. Once you stop drinking your body hurries to produce more glutamine than it needs. Ya know those nights when you drink and your sleep SUCKS? It's because the increase in glutamine stimulates your brain while all you are trying to do is sleep. This productions keeps you from reaching your deep sleep. This is part of the SHITTY feeling you feel the next morning. SO because I was still naucaous, I figured the Glutamine would help. I took my Multi V, my Vitamin D and my Omega 3's. Sipped my warm water, and within an hour I felt LESS queezy, but still had a massive BITCH of a headache, so I swallowed two advil.  I was ready to eat a little oatmeal with berries- keeping it kind of bland. I took off for Whole Foods, and along the way just kept laughing to myslef about the GREAT night we had.

I was in such a FOG in the food Store, I bought EVERYTHING in site- no seriously. When I got to the register and she showed me my total, I blurted out, WHAT THE FUCK did I just buy?! The girl laughed. UGH! I grabbed one of the Water lemon AGave & Cayenne Blue Print drinks along with a Bar like a Lara bar, and scoffed it down on my way home. All I kept thinking was that I wanted to sweat out this GROSS alcohol in my body. I actually felt dirty.

Mario and I went to the gym, and I beat the crap out of myself, and blasted through a great workout. We came home, I showered and plopped my ass on the couch and fell asleep for an hour.

I think I would have been more prepared had I known I would steer off my NORMAL path when we go out, but this was unexpected and NOW I know, to prepare in the future regardless of whether or not it's a MOJITO or 5 (GAG!) or a glass of Prosecco (I can handle 2). Here is a Great list for you to follow as well!

You must remember that alcohol is really poison- and although you want a nice little buzz and enjoy the night out, you need to learn how to metabolize that poison. You feel like CRAP after drinking because you are dehydrated, hormonal changes are occuring, and yes, inlfammation. When you drink, your body converts alcohol into toxic by-products and produces more free radicals. If you drink way too much, the free radicals are produced in EXCESS (HOLY SHIT!) which can harm your liver cells. This my Goddesses is the reason for your hangover!

TIPS:
1. That day make sure you get in all of your meals including protein, complex carbs and veggies at each meal. With each meal take your fatty acids.

2. you need to pop about 1,000 mg of Vitamin C. I love the chewables! Vitamin C will help fight off free radicals.

3. Take your Multi V & Vitamin D

4. Continue drinking TONS of water so you are DEHYDRATED!

5. Stay away from the sugary drinks like cosmos, margaritas. Those drinks are LOADED with sugar and SUGAR is the root of ALL EVIL in the body! I remember when I would go out with my sister (about 12 years ago), we would order Apple Martini's! You DO know how sweet and yummy they are right? Well, they also got me so hammered that my sister one time threw me on her back because I couldn't walk!

6. I tell my clients that instead of drinking wine, have Vodka on the rocks and sip it all night. No sugar in there, you won't drink as many and you will save so many calories!

7. When you get home from your shin dig, guzzle about 2 glasses of water. Gatorade in the fridge? Sip on  that as well!

8. The WORST thing you can do- and I am GLAD I didn't- DO NOT drink coffee when you get up the next day thinking it will cure your hangover! Um sorry sweet pea, Caffeine is also a diretic! You will be even WORSE!

9. DON"T give your hangover another thought. How gross is it to lay in bed all day? HORRIBLE! Get up, take a shower, MOVE, sweat it out and move on!

Feeling incredible!

Know how you can tell if WHAT YOU ARE DOING is working?? There are a FEW GREAT ways of monitoring your success in the gym and in the kitchen. One is to keep a journal, as you all know I am FAMOUS for! In my journal, I put my weight that day when I woke up, the day and month, the workout I am GOING to do (PLAN AHEAD) as well as the weights, reps and how I felt. Another great way to achieve success is to take pics of yourself. I take them on the days I feel like crap as well as on the days I feel MOST lean, because sometimes you may feel like total crapola, but look at your pics and see a firm tush, ripped up arms and abs, and lean legs- see what I am saying here?? Here are some of my latest pics... Check 'em out !!

I am definitely LEANER, because I feel TIGHT, nothing on me jiggles and well, you can see for yourself, I have lots of definition going on everywhere! I haven't done anything different except for increase my intensity in the gym, since I feel more energized lately. It really feels good to be back to my old self. I know as soon as I am super content with my physique, BAM! I will get the news I am pregnant! Isn't that always how it goes?

SO, of course, I am obsessed with making sure my body is as pure as I can get before getting pregnant, I am reading every single web site there is with info regarding supplements, nutrition, workouts, toxins, soaps, household cleaners... YOU NAME IT, I have read it- Only to find that this Goddess is 90% there and so is My GUY! Mario and I are in super great health and when it comes to food and supplements, we take all of them!

Spoke with Mario's Dr, the other night and my Dr. today, and all together we have agreed to a plan that will have us prego in NO TIME! I won't spill the details yet, as I am VERY superstitious. I promise to keep you all in the loop, but not just yet. My fertility Dr by the way is Dr. Nora Miller from Stamford CT. She came highly recommended from my sister who blessed us with Baby Caitlyn!  My sister had an incredible experience with her, and so I figured why not!?!? I love Dr. Miller. SO far she she has steared us in the RIGHT direction.While I am able to get pregnant naturally, we don't want to keep trying month after month, so we will try and speed up the process. We are thrilled beyond thrilled to add an addition to our family! THRILLED!

If you are a part of my FGG Community,. you need to check out the new workouts I added! Talk about shredding and leaning out! MY OH MY! These are GREAT workouts to do all winter! My thought is this: Bust your ass from September through March. In March, scale back the intense workouts, but continue running 4-5 times a week. When I say scale back the training, I DO NOT MEAN drop the weights- I mean either lighten up the weights if you have been going heavy OR, go heavy and drop the reps of you have been going high reps light weights. I also believe that if you are in the gym working hard Monday- Wednesday, Take Thursday off and go back Friday and Saturday and take Suday off- you will give your body enough time to rest recover and do it's thing! Just saying, that's what I do. Witer for me is when I think about Sumer! It drives me nuts when clients lose steam in the winter and blame it on the holidays. HELLO GODDESSES! Have some will power! A moment on the LIPS.... MONTHS on the HIPS! Shesh! NOO thank you! I could care less what everyone else around me is doing. It's MY mouth, MY body- don't like it? Do't look! I LOVE being able to wear what I want Winter through Summer. I do NOT live for food, I use food as my fuel and my medicine to LIVE- A GREAT healthy life!

My top picks for Ultimate Skin Care.

I am not going to sugar coat anything in this post regarding what it takes to look like I am in my 20's while in reality, I am almost 41 years old. I get compliments ALL the time about what I use to have glowing skin on my face and body. In my case, I am not going to say it's genetics.

FIRST! TO all my 20 something readers, NOW is the time to start taking care of that little face of yours. I would start by keeping those cheeks out of the SUN. It doesn't take much to apply a sunscreen to your face in the morning before you leave the house. Yes, even in the winter. I apply a 35 SPF to my freshly washed morning skin. The next thing I do is apply a tinted moisturizer that also includes an SPF of 35. My lip balm always has an SPF as well. Nothing scares me more than getting wrinkly lips or wrinkly cheeks! I stopped going in the sun when I reached 34 years old- My face that is. I tan my body, as I'm not as disciplined about the SPF- YET.

When I turned 35, I noticed I had the "11" between my eyebrows. I also noticed that when I looked surprised, I had a few fine lines. Also glancing at myself I would see Crows feet when I smiled- It was time to take charge! HELL NO! I met Terry Conrad who became my skin Doctor. My go to for EVERYTHING regarding my face. Within the first 5 minutes of looking at me, Terry noticed all the same lines I did without me even saying a word. This was the end of my 35 year old face! She injected me with BOTOX for the very first time. She did my forehead, my smile lines and my "11". She also did a peel that would take off all the dead skin on my face. I was so excited to see the results! When I left her the first time, I immediately promised myself that I would NO LONGER put my face in the sun, that I will NOW think of Terry's work and this VERY EXPENSIVE treatment an investment in my health and self. 

My experience with Botox has been pretty amazing. Going to someone who is conservative is always a plus, because you NEVER want to look like you are FROZEN! If you look at some women who get Botox, you can't tell if they are happy, sad, or angry, because their expressions never change- YIKES! I try to make my injections last long, as this is very expensive. Now that I have been doing these injections for 5 years, I'm able to make the Botox last MORE than 5 months. Usually, women get injections, but they only last for about 3- 4 months depending on a few things: are they smokers? Drinkers? Bad eaters? Sun worshipers? All of these things in my opinion deplete your Botox sooner, and not to mention, those bad habits will ALWAYS leave you with wrinkles and lines. I get my injections 2 times a year and sometimes 3. 

 It's what you do in between those sessions that I feel is even more important to looking great. I eat a SUPER clean diet. I DO NOT drink alcohol. I am not a party girl, I am a home body. I workout like it's my job (Oh, yea, it is!). I also use products that leave my skin glowing, my pores to be shrunken, and my skin to be overall even and bright. 

Here are some tips for you to get FABULOUS SKIN:

1. Clean: Finding the RIGHT cleanser for YOU is super important. You should always wash your face before bed, and SKIP the morning face wash- Your face isn't dirty in the morning. Just splash it with cool water. Over washing can dry out your skin.

2. Moisturize: A really good moisturizer is NECESSARY! I actually use an under eye cream, as well as an almond oil. It leaves my skin dewey looking. For me, Moisturizers don't work. In the winter, I need an oil that has NOTHING in it. SO I past on my under eye cream, and then while my skin is still damp, I rub in the almond oil. Right away, I have an instant glow. I would NOT recommend an oil for your skin if you have oily skin- Find an oil free moisturizer. Drinking lots of water is another way to keep your skin moisturized. Never wash with HOT water, only cool.

3. Preventive Action: I started with INTENSE treatments like Botox and Micro-derm at the age of 35, so that going forward, I wouldn't allow my lines to get so deep that the Botox wouldn't work. Although you may have teeny lines, now is the time to take care of them, so they don't get deeper. Take the time to really get some knowledge about what products will work for YOUR skin. Once you understand your skin better you can get some products to try out. Like brushing your teeth, you need to apply these products like clockwork, or they don't work. They also don't need to be expensive. CVS has GREAT products! Make sure that you fill your diet with Vitamin C rich foods. 


Some of the products I use and the way I use them:


1. Night time:Wash with Burt's Bees ALL NATURAL cleanser.
2. Then twice a week, I use Weekly Hydroxyacid Exfoliating Solution- This needs to come from your Dr.
3. I then apply C-mollient on the opposite nights.
4. MORNING: I splash cool water on my skin for about 30 seconds.
5. On Monday, Wednesday & Friday: I use Retinol  Emolu Gel. This is my under eye treatment. Once I rub that in
6. I rub in some of my Aura Cacia Sweet Almond oil.
7. I then apply my sunscreen
8. Next goes my Josie Moran Tinted moisturizer

I am OUT the door! SO there you have my tips and secrets for glowing skin!  In these pics, I have NOTHING on my skin except for a tinted moisturizer and MAYBE a little bronzer 

This pic, I have eye shadow on with mascara

OH! Hello Tina.

Oh yes, This Goddess has been out of action lately and in such a slump the past few weeks, I was starting to get a little worried. Was is depression? Was it Pregnancy (I wish). Was it PMS? To be honest, I don't really care what it WAS, all I know is that I am feeling great again.

Does that ever happen to you? DO you start to feel like you are going to LOSE it? My workouts weren't as INCREDIBLE as usual, and I really wasn't amped up to go the gym, write my blogs, cook dinner, NOTHING!

I think when I go into these funks, the easiest way for me to deal is to change something. While I can't change my mental state, which pretty much controls everything else in my life, I can change my hair color! HA! I have ALWAYS been obsessed with being a blonde. It suits my personality, and I feel pretty, elegant and younger. When I am in a funk, I go to my colorist and tell her I want DARK hair. While she probably wants to choke me, because we finally got it the color blonde I love the most, she always gives me what I want.... She is a SAINT- That Jacki from Salon O!



SO I now have this great shade of reddish brown. If I saw it on anyone else, I would want it, but now that I have it, I want my blonde back! It's all because I am feeling better, full of energy and my workouts and runs are insane! My weight is matching how I feel... overall, I feel like I am back to the girl I have always been... POSITIVE, HAPPY, UPBEAT, BUBBLY and FULL OF LIFE.

What do you do when you aren't feeling like.... YOURSELF?

I'm going to be posting some new FABULOUS workouts! You ready to kick some ass in November!?!?!? I will be 41, so you better believe this goddess isn't going down without a fight! I WILL keep my abs, until I am blessed with a peanut! YUP!

It's a NEW DAY!

What a day, huh? Woke up to a dark morning, since I had to be at work by 6:30, and as it got later in trhe morning, my spirit and mood just lifted! It's true what they say.... The weather effects me in EVERYWAY! I can't believe how GREAT today was, and I am very grateful!So grateful that I took FULL advantage of the Sun and the crisp fall air by going for a run. Looking out the window all morning as the sun was beaming on the yello and orange leaves on the trees, I couldn't help but to hurry home and set my self up for what would be an INCREDIBLE run, workout and another run!

I love Alicia Keys, Don't you? I first heard this song about 4 months ago on XM radio, before they played it on the radio, and everytime I would hear it, I was suddenly in a fantastic mood.




To Equinox from home

Running was NOT even on my agenda for today. All I was going to do was work out and do some cardio on the UBE. Instead,  I ended up running from my house to Equinox- 2.84 miles. Took me 24:21 minutes at a pace of 8:35 minutes a mile! DAMN!~ If that's not the sun beaming down and dosing me up with some vitamin D for energy, I don't know what is! I felt strong, fast and in GREAT condition!




When I got to the gym for my workout, I had an allergy attack. My nose started burning, I started whezing and sneezing! GRR.... I felt fine on the run, but once inside, I lost it! Luckily Mario was coming to the gym to workout, so I texted him to bring my allergy nose spray- instant relief!

From Equinox to home

I ended up doing back, shoulders and abs, and on my pull ups, I did 3 sets of 5! Holy CRAP! I mean seriously, my strength came back out of NO WHERE! I told Mario, I was beginning to think I was losing my strength and my "MOJO". HECK NO! I proved myself wrong! I had a great workout, and it was time to bust outta the gym, get back in the sun and run home. I'm not going to lie, it was harder to run home for the first few minutes, I never thought I'd be able to run all the way, but I did!

One Happy girl!

I like these numbers, I can't deny it! When I got to my block, I just smiled, looked up at the Big Man upstairs, and said "THANK YOU".









Are you DIGGIN' the fall veggies? Squash? Yams? My oh my! I am obsessed! green Beans? Broccoli? My wellness clients are getting some pretty delicious recipes from me each week, and they are LOVING THEM! Here are just some of the recipes I have been making in my house:

spaghetti squash

stuffed acorn squash

Paleo cereal

Leaning tower of Protein pumpkin spice pancakes

If you would like any of these recipes, just shoot me an email, and I will be happy to share. I LOVE making these recipes.... Next up tonight, I am making apple pie without the crust and the calories! Ya like apples? How about THEM apples!?!? 

In my Kitchen

My Paleo Cereal                       

So here it is! This was before I cooked it last night. But this was my breakfast this morning along with my coconut milk. Oh my!
It was so amazing! I am sharing with you some really great recipes today! I will also share some changes I will make NEXT time I make this.... VERY soon! PS. This recipe is enough to eat for 3 days, or 1 breakfast and two snacks, or 2 breakfasts and 1 snack, whatever you choose.... REMEMBER, although it's healthy, there are lots of fats from nuts, so DO NOT have more than 1 cup in a serving! :O)

Paleo Cereal

•                  1 cup sunflower seeds
•                  1 cup coconut flakes
•                  1 cup walnut pieces
•                  ¼  cup dried unsweetened cherries, chopped
•                  2 Tbsp. raw almond butter
•                  ¼  cup raw honey
•                  ¼  cup coconut flour
•                  coconut oil, enough to grease the pan

a.     Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a pan with coconut oil.

b.    Place ingredients in a bowl and mix until blended well.  Press mixture evenly into pan.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until browned.  Let cool for 30 minutes.  Crumble into an airtight container until ready to serve. 

Directions: pour 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk over the cereal. 

So I think I am going to make some changes to this recipe: Here is what I am going to do next time:

•        3 egg whites- beaten
•        1 cup pumpkin seeds
•                  1 cup coconut flakes
•                  1 cup almond pieces
•                 1/2   cup dried unsweetened cranberries, chopped
•         2 Tbsp. raw almond butter
•                  ¼  cup raw honey
•                  ¼  cup coconut flour
•                  coconut oil, enough to grease the pan

     I will follow the same directions above and see how it turns out. When I ate it  this morning, I was happy I was at work, because I would have eaten the whole recipe. I found this on one of the thousands of Paleo websites I have been on.

fit Green Goddess Salad

        

 Kale & Buffalo Meatballs

 

                                   

Kale Meatballs

   

•            1 bunch kale, tough stems removed and chopped    
•                ½  red onion, finely diced
•                fresh parsley
•               garlic
•                Sea salt &black pepper to taste
• 
  

Preheat oven to 400 degrees,.

 mix all ingredients together by hand and form into

meatballs. Place on a baking sheet in a nice couple of rows. Cook for 10 minutes. Turn the  balls over and cook for 5 more minutes. Scoop them off the baking sheet and add to your sauce. Simmer on super low heat because buffalo hardly has any fat. It cooks faster! SUPER LOW HEAT!

Here is the NEW cut! Oh and yes, The Goddess is now a RED HEAD!