SOUR PATCH GRAPES

So it's no surprise... i love candy!

I'm always looking for healthy alternatives to my favorite candies. Pinterest has become my very best friend when it comes to sharing recipes! 

So today, when I was at the Wilco gas station, I probably stood there for five minutes trying to rationalize buying and eating a box of sour patch kids. I tried everything way possible to talk myself into it. "You have earned it, You are 10lbs below what your goal weight was go for it, Your gonna workout when you get home anyway you'll burn it off". 

Fast forward 2hrs. later, I did get my workout in but I'm still craving those little sour beasts! The biggest thing I have learned in this weight loss journey is you CANNOT out work a bad diet. This realization was a hard pill to swallow but I know it to be true! 

THANK THE GOOD LORD ABOVE FOR PINTEREST! 

So now I'm aimlessly plugging in to Pinterest when BAM! I find the coolest recipe in the whole world! It was exactly what I needed so I definitely wanted to share it with everyone! THIS IS GENIUS! 

CANDIED GRAPES

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INGREDIENTS

• 1 box melon fusion jello
• Grapes

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Remove grapes from stem and rinse with water thoroughly.
2. Strain in a colander.
3. Spread gelatin onto a plate or shallow bowl.
4. Coat grapes in gelatin.
5. Refrigerate for 1 hour to allow gelatin to set.

21 DAY FIX EXTREME

I'm so excited about this group! The 21 Day Fix Extreme just released earlier this week and we want 10 men and women who want EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS RESULTS to join us! Let me know if you are interested and I will get you ready to start the best journey of your life!!!

Click Here for a glimpse of what the program is like and what it has to offer you!

***Clean Eating Roasted Shrimp and Green Beans***

YIELD: 4 SERVINGS PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES TOTAL TIME: 20 MINUTES

***Ingredients***

For the beans:

1 lb. green beans trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper

1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper

For the shrimp:

1 lb. medium-large raw shrimp (thawed if frozen), peeled

1 tbsp olive oil (plus a little extra to brush on roasting pan)

zest from one lemon (save the lemon and cut into fourths)

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

***Directions***

Preheat oven to 425.

Once the shrimp has been peeled and cleaned, rinse it under cold water. Be sure to pat the shrimp really dry (if the shrimp is not dry it will steam rather than roast!).

Place the trimmed and cut beans in a bowl and toss with extra virgin olive oil, ground coriander, ground cumin, salt, freshly ground black pepper, and Cayenne pepper.

Place shrimp in another bowl with the extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest, salt, and fresh ground black pepper.

Brush roasting pan with olive oil or use a non-stick spray, then arrange beans on pan in a single layer (as much as possible). Roast beans 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, toss the beans and arrange shrimp on top and roast 8-10 minutes more or until shrimp are just done.

Squeeze the four lemon quarters over the shrimp and beans and serve immediately.

Makes 2-4 servings.

PLAN AHEAD!

     EVERYONE ALWAYS ASK ME HOW I AVOID JUNK FOOD, TRUTH IS I WOULDN'T IF I DIDN'T PLAN AHEAD. I'M A STRESS EATER AND I LOVE ALL CARBS AND I ALWAYS CRAVE IT AT THE WORST TIME OF DAY! BEDTIME!
   
   
    SO HERE IS WHAT I DO...
SUNDAYS I PLAN MY MEALS FOR THE WEEK AND GO GET MY GROCERIES ACCORDINGLY. IF I GO WITHOUT MY LIST, I BLOW IT, SO I PLAN AHEAD.

     PISTACHIOS, ALMONDS, FRUIT, LEAN MEAT, GRANOLA, GREEK YOGURT, COTTAGE CHEESE, SILK ALMOND MILK, ETC. THIS IS A FEW FOR EXAMPLE.

      WHEN I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE TRAVELING THAT WEEK I MAKE SURE THAT MY SNACKS ARE PACKED WITH PROTEIN AND HEALTHY FATS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY I MAKE SURE ITS PORTABLE AND EASY TO GRAB AND GO.

    A FEW OF MY FAVORITE SNACKS ARE...

*WHOLE WHEAT BAGEL, TOASTED, WITH CREAM CHEESE TOPPED WITH TOMATOES SALT AND PEPPER! ITS SUPER EASY AND FAST TO MAKE, JUST PUT IT IN A SANDWICH BAG AND RUN!

     *1 LARGE BANANA AND BABY BELLE CHEESES! THIS USED TO BE MY FAVORITE QUICK AND EASY BUT SADLY I'M NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ALOT OF POTASSIUM BECAUSE OF A MEDICINE THAT I'M CURRENTLY TAKING SO I SWITCHED THE BANANA FOR AN APPLE OR CANTALOUPE... I'M STILL TWEAKING THIS ONE...

     *THE GRAPES AND CHEESE KABOBS! THE EASIEST OF ALL THE QUICK SNACKS AND IF YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE CAR... ITS NOT MESSY! THIS ONE IS SUPER FILLING AND WILL GIVE YOU THAT SWEET & SAVORY TASTE. I LOVE IT BECAUSE WHEN MY MID AFTERNOON CRASH HITS (USUALLY IN THE CAR LINE OR WHILE WAITING FOR ALEX TO GET OUTTA CHEER) I JUST WANT SWEETS AND SALT! THIS TAKES CARE OF THAT AND BEST OF ALL...I DON'T MIND THE KIDS SNACKING ON THIS BEFORE DINNER!

     * LAST BUT NOT LEAST,  CELERY BOATS! NOT MY FAVORITE BUT IT HELPS ME MAINTAIN AND I CAN  MAKE IT TOLERABLE. LOL. WHEN I HAVE SPLURGED AND FEEL BLOATED, CRAPPY, AND STILL HUNGRY I EAT THESE. IF I NEED ENERGY I USE ALMOND BUTTER & DRIED CRANBERRIES. IF I NEED FILLER I USE SUNFLOWER BUTTER AND GOLDEN RAISINS. HOWEVER FOR TASTE ONLY I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER,ALMONDS AND A"FEW WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS". I KNOW... WEIRD RIGHT?!

    I HATE "REGRET"! AND I REFUSE TO "REGRET" A FOOD CHOICE! ITS POINTLESS, & ITS EMPTY. I DO STILL STRUGGLE WITH THIS BUT I WILL KEEP PLANING AHEAD AND PUSHING FORWARD!

Click HERE for more information on clean eating and fitness!

THE PHILLIPS FAMILY

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I TRIED MY HAND AT BLOGGING BUT I'M BACK!

HERE'S THE UPDATED VERSION OF OUR FAMILY PICS, AMBER IS OUR BABY COUSIN WHO IS CURRENTLY WITHOUT HER PARENTS SO SHE STAYS WITH US MOST OF THE TIME AND THE BABY IS DANNY RAY (OUR MIRACLE BABY)! 

A FEW YEARS AGO WE TOOK OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS FROM MY FATHER-IN-LAW AND ARE "MOVING MOUNTAINS" WITH IT. I CANT REALLY EXPRESS HOW BLESSED WE ARE. WE HAVE NEVER "NEEDED" FOR ANYTHING BUT NOW WE HAVE MADE IT OUR GOAL TO PAY IT FORWARD ALL WE CAN. 

I RECENTLY ADDED A NEW CAREER TO MY RESUME', IN ADDITION TO WIFE, MOM, BUTLER, SECRETARY, BILL COLLECTOR, AND PERSONAL ASSISTANT! I AM NOW A PROUD HEALTH & FITNESS COACH FOR BEACHBODY!

SO THIS PAGE I'M DEDICATING TO MY LIFE AND SIMPLE LIFE HACKS THAT I FIND. ALONG WITH HEALTH TIPS, RECIPES, AND TIPS TO MAKE YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE A LITTLE EASIER!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ONLINE HEALTH AND FITNESS COACHING PLEASE CLICK HERE!

   www.beachbodycoach.com/kaylacphillips

MY OWN LITTLE WORLD

In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry or always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket shoes on my feet
In my own little world
Population me
by: Mathew West

Have you ever stopped to think that your own little world is not about you? How do you want to contribute to this world? You cant end world hunger but you can feed the hungry little girl down the street. You cant make world peace but you can end a family feud by a kind word.  God opens doors that you think your not strong enough to go through but he does this to show you what you are capable of doing for Him. When my dad died in May I just knew I was going to die of a broken heart ( I know your thinking that's extreme) but the truth of the matter is my heart still isn't healed. Truthfully I don't think it ever will be but the fact of the matter is that God used this as a way to be more sensitive to others needs. Now my heart aches for everyone no matter how big or small their hurt is. God showed me that their was a place for people like me, its to be the shoulder to lean on for people who are in need of grace.

We all arrive here in this place,
Imperfect people in need of grace.
But that's why god sent his only son to die,
So that every broken heart could have a life inside.
So, just open up your broken heart

by :Matthew West

JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT

That's me on the left... just a "typical" crazy 27yr. old... yea right!  Try Mother of 2, wife of 8yrs., and my husband is a workaholic that owns his own concrete finishing business (can anyone say "OCD"?).   Our lifestyle is not for everyone but it fits us just fine.  Anyways just as an intro I wanted to fill you in on the reason I'm starting to blog.  I have an "out of the box" view on some of life's most controversial topics because of my raising so I thought I would share it with y'all!  I'm open to any and all suggestions to making this blog better so please feel free to share any tips you may have.  Thank you all <3