Story of a Family Sweet Tooth?!?

I remember back when my sisters and I were young girls.  We would drive a short distance to go and visit my Dad's parents.  And every so often we would be angling for a trip to Dairy Queen!  This was in the little town of St. Marys, PA where DQ is still only open certain months of the year.  Back in those days my parents were not in a position to spring for DQ every time one of us girls (or our Dad!) wanted a treat.  And that was probably for the best!  But we knew that if we asked our Grandpa Neizmik (our dad's dad), the answer was pretty much always YES to DQ.  We had it all figured out that the key was to send our youngest sister Rachel (she is 6+ years younger than me!) over to where Grandpa was sitting on the couch.  She would sidle up in between his wheelchair and the coach (he had been paralyzed in a construction accident while in his 40's) and would ask him THE question... "Grandpa, is your sweet tooth bothering you?"  And then he would reply that it was indeed and why not send our Dad out to DQ for ice cream?  He would ask Grandma to go and get some cash from his wallet which was kept in a kitchen drawer.  And off to DQ we would go!  Cherished family memories and a frozen treat!  Everyone had their favorites and ordering was quite simple!  

Fast forward through the years and ice cream has ALWAYS been a part of our family gatherings and celebrations!  When our family (sparked by my sister Rachel and extending out through my other sister Bethany plus myself and our parents!) began eating clean, the ice cream had to go!  Not that we couldn't still enjoy a bit once in awhile, but the frequency needed to be significantly reduced.  But how would we replace it?  And with a young nephew of mine who experienced migraines whenever consuming dairy, "Yonanas" entered the family picture somewhere in there!  Now less than a year later and the five of us adults are somewhere around 170 pounds less in total weight and we are just not really missing the ice cream very often these days!  We just feel better while staying on track with our healthy new lifestyle!  And this is where something like Yonanas is just the thing! 

Within my own household, we had borrowed my parents' Yonanas machine after a family get-together.  The kids were hooked!  But it was eventually time to return their machine and around that time my 8 year old (very basic!) blender broke.  Correction, it had been "breaking" for a couple of years and was now completely DONE.  I had never had a food processor and was very interested in adding one to my kitchen.  So when I came across a great deal on a Ninja system similar to this one, it was a simple enough decision.  But what about the Yonanas??  A friend had told me that she made something similar in her food processor and so we decided to give it a try here at our place.  Success!    

To make the simple Cocoa Bananas pictured in this entry, here is what you would do:

1) Slice five (peeled) ripe bananas into quarters and freeze them.  They do not need to be overly-ripe but the peel should be spotted in appearance.  They should be in the freezer for at least 3-4 hours but could also be kept in there for a month or more!

2) Place these bananas in the bowl of your food processor.  Sprinkle with 3-4 tablespoons of baking cocoa and allow to sit for 12 minutes.  This will allow the bananas to thaw to a consistency that will be perfect for blending/whipping.

3) Pulse and then whip the banana/cocoa combination. At first you are just going to see what appears to be finely chopped bits of banana flying about the bowl.  Turn off your machine and scrape down the sides and blend again.  Before long you will see a creamy swirl begin to circle around the bowl of your processor.  You may need to stop and scrape down the sides again.  The entire process takes only a minute or two from start to finish!

4) Scoop this treat into serving dishes and enjoy with whatever topping you like!  My own favorites are chopped walnuts and unsweetened flaked coconut. 

 

 

My Mom is...

Happy Mother's Day!  I am a mom of two kids who are now ages 5 and 7.  So Mother's Day of course has meaning for me as a mom.  But this day brings about much reflection and gratitude for me as a daughter.  Tonight I have been thinking of my Mom and how she is the person who has held the most influence in my own life.  You would just have to know her and spend the day with her to really picture who she is.  And you would be aware of her true self right away.  My mom is real.  With everyone.  And I am thankful for that!

Mom, thank you.  I love you!  Here are some of the things that cross my mind as I think about how "My Mom is..."

The one who has always encouraged me to try anything that I am interested in exploring!  It may not go quite as planned but you never will know unless you try and you'll learn lots along the way! 

A HARD worker!  She has always demonstrated to me that if you want to make something happen, get started!  Especially with taking on home/property projects, there was never any sentiment that my Dad wasn't getting it done.  Rather that he was at work and we might as well go ahead and see what we could handle in the mean time.  He could always bail us out later, if need be.  Lucky guy, right??  Thankfully my mom is very skilled!

Creative. And energetic. And has reserves that I can only begin to imagine!  We especially see this now that she is a grandmother of six who are currently ages 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8!  My mom is like the Pied Piper and each one of the kids is crazy about her!

Deeply faithful.  She is loyal in all that she does and is unquestionably a woman of her word!  My mom is a top-notch teacher.  When I was younger she taught my Missionette group and set many Bible verses to music.  I memorized so many that way and they are still with me today.  What a blessing!  Today when I call her for perspective and advice, she always goes back to, "What does Scripture say about this?"

Not much older than me!  I arrived when Mom was just 16 years old.  I am incredibly grateful that she and my Dad are very much in love and still going strong after 36 years of marriage!  By God's grace, they have beat the odds and are a great encouragement to all who know them.

A horse girl at heart!  Mom sold her pony when I came along.  By the time I was 8 years old she had talked Dad into riding lessons for us girls.  The next year we bought a horse and boarded him nearby.  The year after that we bought a farm and this is the place that my parents still call home today!  

Courageous and not at all bitter.  When I was a senior in college we almost lost my Mom due to a drunk-driver who crashed into her and my Dad.  She spent a long time in the ICU down in Pittsburgh and for awhile it was unknown whether she would walk again?  She has made an amazing recovery through lots of hard work and God's healing hand.  Back when all of this happened, her response was never "Why me?" but rather "Why not me?"  That was quite a winter!  Two months after the car accident, Dad slipped on the ice and broke bones for the first time in his life.  My parents were a sight during that season.  And they were only ages 39 and 40!  I don't know what we would have done without some faithful friends who helped us all through that time in our lives!  

Home.  The place where my Mom is will always be "home" for me.  There is nothing like taking my kids there with me.  They will  probably definitely wind up pretty messy!  And when it is time to go they will be far off on an adventure with Grandma.  But she will have already packed a snack for them to enjoy on the road back home.  There will be hugs and chaos as we get into the car.  And as I pull down the hill of their driveway and out onto the highway, there are oftentimes a few tears.  Mom, I love you!  Thank you for everything.  I can't imagine my life without you.

Berry Trifle Make-Over!!

This morning I put together a trifle to share with my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group.  First, I just have to say that I LOVE my Trifle Bowl!  This one in particular is a Pampered Chef product.  The base is separate from the bowl and nests inside the bowl for easy storage.  The set also includes a nice lid that seals well.  For the saran-wrap challenged like myself, this is a bonus!

But back to the Berry Trifle itself.  I have been assembling this sort of simple trifle for years.  But since we switched over to Clean Eating in September of 2013, a few of our staples had to go!  For example, our Natural Granola and Low-Fat Lemon Yogurt did not make the cut.  But more on all of that below.  I have been utilizing the 21 Day Fix program since March of 2014.  Upon beginning with this program I realized that I was not eating nearly enough protein each day!  I was actually close to half of the amount that my body really needs to work at top potential.  Not being a huge lover of chicken and other lean proteins, HOW was I going to eat four servings of protein each day?!?  I have my Shakeology for breakfast each morning and that counts as one.  Our family eats dinner together and the main entree there is typically going to be chicken or salmon or occasionally beef.  But what about those other two suggested servings of protein?  I oftentimes have two hard-boiled (baked, actually!) egg whites with one of my snacks or lunch.  But NOW WHAT??  Another serving of protein?!?  This is where Greek Yogurt comes in to save the day!  I add a serving of fresh or thawed frozen berries and I am genuinely enjoying a tasty treat!  My favorite berry blend is the Blackberry/Raspberry/Blueberry blend.  Sam's Club carries a frozen variety for a decent price.  I also LOVE fresh berries and we are just coming into my favorite time of the year where local berries will soon be available! 

When deciding to have some yogurt, we find an incredible range available!  It did take me a little while to adjust to the taste and texture of Greek Yogurt.  I do enjoy having it with berries and/or granola.  Completely on its own would still be a stretch for me.  But check out the contrast below and then try to go on eating the "other stuff" once you know that you could be fueling your body much more efficiently.   Not to mention you are consuming 1/4 the sugar and THREE times the protein plus half the calories when going with the Greek Yogurt rather than the regular Blended Low-fat Lemon Yogurt.  

And now on to my FAVORITE granola!  When making the switch to clean eating, I was so surprised to find sugar as a second ingredient in something like 8 out of 10 granola varieties offered in the Bulk Section at Wegmans.  I found two that are made with honey rather than sugar.  My favorite is called "Save the Forest" and is only available at Wegmans Peach if you are shopping the Erie stores.  Wegmans West does carry the other "honey" variety in their regular bulk section.  It is made with dried raspberries and is a fine option.  But the nutty-cinnamon goodness of Save the Forest makes it such a treat!

So, back to the Trifle!  This is literally the most simple combination! 

Berry Trifle as Pictured Below:

1.5 containers (32 Ounce size) of the Greek Yogurt

6-7 Cups Thawed Frozen Berries 

4-5 cups of Save the Forest Granola  

Begin by spooning some yogurt into the bottom of the Trifle Bowl.  Gently top with some of your berries and then granola.  Repeat the layers until you have incorporated all of your ingredients.  Keep chilled until serving.  Enjoy!

 

In the Middle?

On Sunday I was on a little road trip with my daughter.  We were headed out to Cleveland to hear a friend play her violin in a chamber orchestra.  The location is about 85 miles from our home in Erie.  On the way my daughter was watching Mary Poppins and I actually had some quiet time to just think.  How often does that happen during the day when you have two young children with you the majority of the time?  Anyways, I was reflecting on the past few years of my life and this next chapter that has just begun.  I knew that later in the evening I would be meeting with a team of women who have led the Women's Ministry at our church these past few years.  As of ten days ago, I am the new leader of this team.  

As the miles passed I thought back to my junior year internship in NYC.  My college class was involved with all sorts of experiences around the city.  This was during the autumn of 1999.  We were also taking a couple of classes during our two months spent at NYSUM.

One of our instructors challenged us to ask three questions of ourselves as we entered a new situation...  Who am I?  What am I doing here? What do I have to impart?  Big questions!  Especially now as I am walking into an area where I will be surrounded by many who are older and wiser than me!  :)  Lesson #1 was learned Sunday night, actually!  More on that in a minute.

While driving across I-90 on Sunday, I was thinking of a song that came out just after I graduated from high school.  I'll never forget the first time that I heard it!  I was living down in MD and was working at my first "real job" that was 4+ hours from home.  "One Headlight" by the Wallflowers was released to radio and I was hooked!  I was intrigued so much by the melody and lyrics the first time I heard it that I completely missed my exit on a route that I had been traveling for months!  This "classic" crossed my mind while driving on Sunday and I had to look it up (using talk to text!) on YouTube.  The same part jumped out at me all over again.  "There's got to be something better than in the middle..."  Yes!  THIS is part of what is in my heart as I take on my new leadership role.   

While gathered around a table with five other women Sunday night, I began to talk about an "old song" that I had not heard in years and how it is a classic but they may not have heard it in awhile.  I went on to share how this song came out back when I graduated from high school.  OH BOY!  Oops!  I did get one high-five from a fellow class of 96'er.  The other ladies had a few groans mixed with laughter and mention of "Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog" as more of a "classic old song".  :)  Lesson learned!  No more "classic old song" references when talking about less than 20 years ago!   Especially when I am one of the younger individuals present.  Life is funny with how things cycle.  I will "graduate" out of my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group this month as my youngest child is nearly school-age.  My friends and I who began MOPS together awhile ago are now finding ourselves as the "older" moms in that group! 

But seriously, I have been thinking often of the direction to take in the days ahead.  There's got to be "something better than in the middle", right?  So many days we can get bogged down with the ordinary and forget to lift our eyes to the things of significance which are unfolding all around us if only we can see them.  

Hebrews 10:23-24 says, ^"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,"  These objectives are close to my heart as I picture the months ahead.  I can't wait to dig in and really connect while building a community of women who are ready to move beyond the everyday and take on a deeper life together.  It is going to be good!  Stay tuned for more details.  We'll get started this summer with monthly get-togethers and other connections in between those larger gatherings.  This community of women will not be made up specifically of those who attend First Alliance Church.  We will not be age-specific or limited to any particular demographic.  Being a woman is the only requirement to participate. :)  I am looking forward to getting together with LOTS of my Erie friends.  Old and new.  Of course my own house is not big enough to host everyone so we will use a space at church instead! 

A really good song came on during our brief drive to preschool yesterday.  I LOVED hearing the kids sing it along with me!  Great one to really turn up the music and move beyond the middle ground that tends to bog us down way too easily... "All I Can Do" 

I hope that your day if off to a great start.  It is a sunny morning in Erie and that is always a bonus!  We'll talk soon! 

5 Hours of Abs!?!

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by my blog.  I had a moment to reflect the other day and was doing some math.  I do enjoy math.  What can I say?  Anyways, I was thinking about how I had made it through the entire month of April and stuck with my plan to incorporate the "10 Minute Ab Fix" into my workout routine each day.  Mentally I went through the good old, "30 days hath September, April, June and November..."  So, 30 days for April.  Times 10 minutes each day.  300 Minutes.  WAIT!  That adds up to 5 hours!?!  Craziness.  All at once I realized how this entire thing reminded me of a book that I had read a couple of months ago.  The Compound Effect is all about making small choices and taking action each day and how over time this will affect the course your life will take.  So true when it comes to fitness and nutrition!  For most of us we are not experiencing the drum-roll, unveiling, beyond belief sort of fanfare on a daily basis.  Rather it is when we walk away from munching on that cookie and grab a cup of tea instead that we will find that over time we DO change.  Each day as we get up and put on our sneakers after a less-then-perfect night's sleep we are making a choice to move one step closer to our goals.  One of my challenge groups recently marked their own 21st Day and I was so happy to hear these words from these dedicated individuals:

Today was a day for my husband to help me out by taking my measurements and new photos as I continue to chart my progress.  Below are my results for the month of April.  Here is the crazy part... I did Abs EVERY day this month and did not lose any inches from my waist during the month of April.  Our bodies sometimes just do not react in the ways that we expect!  But all other areas saw a decent decrease and for that I am thankful!  Plus my core is becoming much stronger and I just love feeling more flexible and balanced throughout my everyday life.  Progress continues!  My plan is to continue on with the 21 Day Fix until later in June when Chalene Johnson's newest workout PiYo is released (Check out this PiYo Preview).  When it comes time for me to conclude this phase with the Fix, I will begin PiYo and that will be the next time that I chart my progress with photos and measurements. 

If you are curious about the 21 Day Fix program, here is a Description and Review that I wrote after spending my own first three weeks with the 21 Day Fix.  Obviously this program has value beyond those first 21 Days!  When all is said and done, I will complete FOUR rounds (84 days!) of the Fix before moving onto Beachbody's newest release towards the end of June.  My next challenge group will begin on May 19th.  You are invited to join us!  If what you are doing right now is not bringing the results that you would like, why not make a change?  I'm here for you!   

Which Came First?

While doing some work at the computer this evening, I am thinking about recent conversations that I have had with others who are making changes in their own nutrition.  There has been a common theme of how we really, really no longer care to eat much (if any!) of our junky old favorites.  And this is not just some "self-guilt" thing where we reflect back on a decision and experience emotional/psychological remorse and wish we had done things differently.  It is more than that!  So how did this happen for us?   I think about where I was last summer and what was "normal" for me at that time.  We were honestly not terrible with our eating but there were enough less-than-great things that added up and made for a detrimental effect.  I remember craving certain foods and thinking of how it would be so nice to have a brownie sundae or whatever!  

  
I began with clean eating, Shakeology (dense super-food nutrition) and daily workouts on September 16, 2013.  Believe me, I was NERVOUS about making this change.  What if it didn't pan out for me?  What if it was just too difficult to let go of my old favorites?  I really did enjoy ice cream back then... But eventually the fear of NOT changing overcame my reservations about beginning the process and so I began.  Looking back on that time, this is by far my overwhelming sentiment: It was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be!  The workouts were a challenge, no question about that.  But it was like something within me transformed!  

Not long after I began with the daily Shakeology and clean eating regime, my body no longer craved those old sweet treats!  And this was not just some successful exertion of will-power.  I had tried that road in the past and it never lasted long-term for me.  This was me changing from the inside out!  The things that used to appeal to me were no longer so shiny.  In fact, eating even a serving of certain "non-clean" foods while out socially or on a road trip would leave me feeling pretty icky.  And like I shared about my challengers above, it was not just some head trip where I was scolding myself for a bad choice.  My body system was asking me to please re-fuel with better quality.  

So, which came first?  The change to clean eating while incorporating Shakeology OR the end of my old cravings?  I would say that I made a decision to supply my body with better nutrition.  Then the paradigm shift was suddenly backed-up with an undeniable physical change.  All in all, this key factor is what makes the entire transformation process so very doable for me.  It could be what you are looking for as well?    

It is not that I am now so perfect with my nutrition choices!  I still have my weak spots.  And nuts are one of them!  For example, I was at Wegmans this morning and kept thinking of Macadamia nuts.  So I purchased a small handful of them from the bulk section.  And seriously savored that treat!  They were not a part of my calorie target for the day.  But oh well!  Last year I would have picked up a couple of cookies or perhaps a muffin during my grocery outing.  Some days a treat would be a more complex coffee drink.  Starbucks Cafe Mocha!?!  I still LOVE my coffee, b have come to enjoy it black as of two months ago.  Now that part is a surprise to me!  Now more than ever, it does have to be GOOD coffee!  I have always been a bit of a coffee-snob and these days I can really taste the flavor of my coffee and do look forward to it each day.  Even better is coffee with a friend!  My life is full of so many good things and looking forward to certain not-so-beneficial foods is just no longer part of the equation. 

All of this reflection on transforming our health through better nutrition brings something else to mind!  A favorite Scripture passage that has been a mainstay in my own life says,  "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." ~ Romans 12:2.  A frequent prayer of mine is found in Psalm 119:37 where I read, "Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word."  There are so many things that we turn to in order to try and fill the empty spots in our lives.  It is really only through placing my HOPE in God that I find the anchor for my days.  Here is a song that I have had on repeat these past few weeks!  Take a listen to this Song that Shapes My Day!

My Coaching Videos and Application!

If you have ever thought about becoming a Beachbody coach OR if the idea is brand-new to you, this is a great place to begin.  I became a coach with Team Beachbody in February of 2014.  I had spent three years as a Pampered Chef consultant back when my children (now ages 5 and 7) were babies. I enjoy this type of business and had experienced success in this area in the past. My sister Rachel Fledderman has become very successful as a Team Beachbody Coach since she began last August and I have been picking her brain ever since with lots of questions. She wondered when I would make the leap to get on board? Even with my former experiences and thorough approach to getting started, I am still surprised these days! I am LOVING my role as a Coach!!! Being in a position where I regularly acquire tools in order to help others makes for a unique opportunity. And here is the part that makes me teary... knowing where I began last September and now hearing so often these days that my room for progress/current growth is giving others the boost needed to begin on their own journey. (Check out My 1st Six Months of Progress)  And then to see these people get themselves headed successfully in a new direction makes me go to bed at night with a smile as I remind myself to just chill out and get to sleep! I can hardly wait for the next morning with my own workout plus checking in with my challenge groups, my sponsored coaches and the coach training program where I am a participant. It all makes for a great adventure! 

We have several options when it comes to categories within the Team Beachbody Coaching experience.  Many coaches begin as a "Discount Coach", which is how I found my fit during October '13 - February '14.  I became an "Apprentice Coach" in February and have found it to be a very easy transition and am really enjoying this time in life!  I quickly developed into a "Business Building Coach" and am loving this new adventure!  Within my larger Beachbody team, we also have some of the top coaches who are positioned within the top 20 of the entire company!  Our team is currently #1 in all of Beachbody and that makes for an incredible learning environment.  I just put together a video to talk a bit more about my personal experiences as a discount coach and then how I became an apprentice coach and am now enjoying my experience as a business building coach.  Check out Three Options of Coaching within Team Beachbody for some detailed information about each type of coaching role!     

I began this business with a goal of eventually making $600 per month in order to fill a gap in the household budget. My expectations have already been exceeded and I am just at the beginning. I thank the Lord daily for this! Through getting to know others on my larger team I can see how this business building opportunity has incredible potential and it truly is a "real job" that you can make into whatever you want it to be. Whether your goal is to do this as a hobby while receiving a discount and covering the cost of your own products or you want to make x amount per month to create margin in your budget, it is not going to take long to build your business to that level. And with a bit more time and finding your fit within the team.... well, stay tuned as the next few months unfold!! 


Rather than writing at great length here, I decided to make a video on some of the highlights that I am enjoying as a Team Beachbody Coach!  Here is my Curious about Coaching? video where I talk about things like "How will I know what to do?" and "Will I really earn an income with this?" and "Do people really need a coach?"
 
If you would like to know more, just let me know! If you are interested in joining my upcoming coach apprenticeship program, complete the application below. This is a great team!

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