Baked Zucchini Fries! || Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 Zucchini
• Egg (use 2 eggs if you want to substitute out milk)
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• 1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs {i used croutons}
• 1/4 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese 

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F
• Mix Bread crumbs and cheese in 1 bowl
• Milk and egg in a separate bowl
• Roll zucchini strips in the milk/egg mixture first
• then into the cheese and bread crumbs
• place on sheet (line with tin foil for easier clean up
• Bake for 20-25 minutes!

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Blessed.

Im so incredibly blessed.

blessed to be where i am at right now in life, but also blessed for my past.

 Friendships I've made (even though we aren't in the least bit close at all anymore. but thats ok cuz we always pick up where we left off! and i cherish friendships that have that ability). Friendships that didn't work out, friendships that did.

Im blessed for all my trials, my auto-immune disease thats attacking my metabolism, my bad knees, my health issues that made me gain a million pounds, all the people who have hurt me and used me. all MY mistakes.
Because of those things... i am a warrior, I'm a champion, NOTHING will hold me back. It EMPOWERS me to be better and work HARDER!
Im not bitter, I'm not hateful, i actually THANK people for treating me poorly cuz it teaches me patience, and forgiveness, and without those people, i wouldn't know those great attributes.

But most importantly... I'm so blessed and thankful for where i am at RIGHT now!

Every path in the past has led me to the people and life i have right now.
i have an amazing husband. We aren't perfect but we have a perfect ability to TRY and MEND. My amazing babies here on earth and the ones who were taken back early to watch over us until we meet again.

My amazing family. The saying "we may not have it all together, but together we have it all" should be our family slogan. We all clash at times, but no matter WHAT, we are die hard for each other.

My amazing JOB. What i do is a little bit out of the norm of a standard job. In a traditional job.. its all about putting others down to make you look better. If you want to get to the top of a company and make the real money, you have to claw your way to the top. Be better, look better, its all a competition. If someone is better then you in the company, they are a threat..

NOT IN MY JOB

In my job, the only way you can be successful is to reach down and HELP your team. There is no competition. You are your own boss, go at your own pace, make as little or as much money as you choose.
We CELEBRATE everything!
We celebrate our health. We celebrate our achievements. We congratulate and get so excited for people we don't even personally know!
My team goes OUT OF THEIR way to help me.
I couldnt feel more blessed in the path that led me here!

And lastly....
Im so incredibly BLESSED for the FRIENDSHIPS I've made. The people in my life are so in tune with true happiness. Im surrounded with such positive people who are selfless, caring, & empowering.
They lift me up when I'm down. When I'm sad, they are right by my side. But better yet.. when I'm HAPPY, they are even more RIGHT BY MY SIDE cheering me on. Ive been so used to the opposite of that for WAY too long. I feel like we are always laughing, growing, and helping others.

This is a movement!

A shift in whats "normal"

i refuse to get stuck in the ways people think are just "normal" in life.

Its not normal to wish bad on people.

Its not normal to hope to be better then others.

Its not normal to go to school our WHOLE life, PAY for lots of school, acquire debt, just to HOPEFULLY get a job, so slave away at all day, 5 days a week (if you're lucky and its not 6 or 7 days a week), to retire at 65 years old to FINALLY live your life how you truly want.
I REFUSE to be left feeling helpless if i lost my job tomorrow,
how would i pay my bills.

I REFUSE to beg for certain days off.

I REFUSE to have to acquire vacations days just to pay bills while i take time off.

I REFUSE to work opposite of my husband.

Im DONE missing out.

i live my life PASSIONATELY, fully, and INCREDIBLY!

and i get to help people feel healthy and financially safe at the same time!

I AM SO BLESSED!

A Healthy Lifestyle! {Where To Start}

I get lots of questions on HOW i lost so much weight. I think people assume a magic pill, or magic diet plan you can buy. But there is no such thing. A healthy lifestyle is the only way to go! So lets start from square one!

I think the hardest part about having the desire to change your life style and be healthier,

is not really knowing where to start and feeling overwhelmed.

Often times our new goals fall through because there is no structure. No layout. No PLAN.
So lets make a plan!

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Start with DIET!

(dun dun dun!)

Diet is probably the MOST important part of being healthy. You can work out every single day, but if you're eating like crap, you're going to feel like crap, progress will be slow or not there at all, you'll get discouraged, and you'll give up! 

SIMPLE basics.

-Start small. Its hard to give up the bad stuff. But the more good you add in, the easier it is to give up the bad. Your body will CRAVE the good food!

*Substitute every day food items with healthier choices!

-Whole wheat instead of white bread

-Sea salt instead of regular salt

-Skim milk instead of 2 % or greater

{{STEER CLEAR OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS!  They confuse your body and mess up your metabolism. Putting chemicals in your body is not a good substitute for sugar}}

*Add in LOTS of veggies and fruits to your diet!

*Drink Lots of water
-Carry water bottles around with you (or a 64oz cup!)
-Download a water reminder app! Im sure there is one :)
-Add lemon or any other natural thing that will make water taste better!

When you're ready........

*GET RID OF PROCESSED FOODS!

-anything that comes in a box and/or can!

i.e: Mac & Cheese, ramans, raviolis etc.

*DONT BUY BAD FOOD

-Cheetos, chips, cookies, soda.. JUNK JUNK JUNK!

if its in your house, you'll probably eat it.
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Lets move on to FITNESS!

For some, diet is easy (i am NOT that person). And for other people, fitness and working out comes easy (DING DING DING! Thats ME!).
But even for me... when you haven't worked out in a while, its hard to motivate yourself to get back into being active! Whether you're a good self motivator or not.. i highly suggest workout dvd's.

Go to walmart, and pick on that looks interesting!
Most of the Dvds are $10.00 each.
It will last you at LEAST a month doing the program or till you're bored.
Save up, and go buy another!

(yeeeeeah. I love to workout! Keep in mind this is my collection from sense i was 16 years old. Ive always loved fitness! This isnt even all of it! My sister has my INSANITY dvds haha).

My TOP suggestions:

Jillian Micheal's in my GO TO gal!
She is pretty intense, but most her workouts start easy and work up!

Chalene is my next favorite! She is so fun!

For low impact, I love Winsor Pilates

If you have a sexy side (or want to find it) i suggest Carmen Electra!

There are MANY MANY options! Just find what interests you!

Lastly.. going on a simple walk with the family every night is a good start as well!
-------------------------------------------------------

Once you have a game plan, a good way to stick to it is make a calendar!
Document when you workout so you can see how good (or bad) you're doing so you can either pat yourself on the back, or kick your butt in gear!

I hope this helps!
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ive been planning some giveaways for you guys!

Im going to give out a discount code for some jewelry, and a $50 gift card to a boutique! STAY TUNED GUYS!!

Dont go MIA from the Young&Restless Blog!

Google reader is donezo as of July 1st.

 Follow me on Bloglovin' so we dont get lost in the hiatus!

{Recipe} Sweet Potato Protein Bites

Ever try to start eating healthy, but find yourself wanting to snack, and when you go to do so, you realize you dont have any healthy snacks?

BIGGEST thing i run into with trying to eat clean!

So when i came across this recipe on pinterest, i HAD to try them!

I think it was the TWO INGREDIENTS thing that caught my eye!

They are also good to add to a fitness routine!

---------------------------------------------

Ingredients:

*1 cup mashed sweet potato

*8 egg whites

*1 teaspoon cinnamon (plus extra if desired)

Directions!:

• Bake sweet potatoes in oven (or microwave) until fork tender. Let cool and scrape out flesh and mash gently with fork until smooth

• Preheat oven to 375F. Combine all ingredients in a blender or large, immersion blender-friendly bowl. Blend together until very smooth - about 30 seconds (i used a beater. It just make the potato a little more chunky. I liked it that way)

• Pour into lightly greased mini muffin tins (or you can line with liners), filling each tin about 2/3 of the way full

• Bake for 20-25 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven, let cool completely, then remove from tin and store in refrigerator.

 Each small bite contains 20 calories, 4g carbs, and 2g protein. A serving of 6 bites has 130 calories, 20g carbs, and 11g protein..

It was suggested tha adding almond butter on top is AMAZING! (and still healthy). :)

They taste just like sweet potato with cinnamon and don’t really have an “eggy” sort of taste of them.

ENJOY!

((Feel free to pin to pinterest!!)

Weight Loss Vlog! {New Routine}

I dont like to double repeat in my posts..
So just watch the video to check my progress and my new routine!
Also new things coming to the blog!

AND a body check in!
Havent done that in a while haha..

SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL!!

Our Last 2 Weeks In Phone Pics!

 *Cute Valentines nails! *Doc meant serious business for Jeff and me! *Baiden at his 4 month well check where we got the news that he's a little behind developmentally and might need a helmet for a flat spot :(

 :'( Breaks my heart. The next day.. my baby came down with the flu! I hate this Utah nasty crap air!

 Us after our 3 hour doc appt....

Baby boy feeling a little better, holding his head up so good! We are definitely getting a second opinion *Beautiful baby girl! *Lost 8 pounds in the last couple weeks!

 *Keamyn's 4th bday party! *Ashley's bday bash! The ladies! *Went out for Ash's bday! Love these guys!

 My niece Kallee turned 5! *All my babies crashed out during our movie night! :) LOVE THEM! (Baiden was in the swing)

 *Flash back Friday! Missing the beach and Disneyland! *Another day in paradise Utah! Thanks for the pollution! *SO in love with that sexy man! 7 years TODAY that we've been together!!

Fight night!

Jarome WINS! TKO 2 minutes into the first round! The other guy asks "what happened" hahahaha!

In the words of the band LMFAO.. "STOP. Hatin' is bad!"
:)

Live life. Be happy!

Workout Playlist! {Motivation Mondays}

Its Tuesday MORNING, im not THAT far past Monday... haha

(Im SOO busy with editing Valentines day shoots!!)

Anyway! This week for Motivation Mondays i wanted to do something a little different. Check the video for my check in and what im doing and how much ive lost this week!

Ok!

So as mentioned in the video...

Music has a HUGE impact on your workouts! 

As with anything in life, music can enhance and alter your mood. It can make you happy, sad, mad, empower you, motivate, etc! Music makes me feel better no matter what my mood is!

So when i workout, i NEED my workout playlist!

I can NOT workout without my ipod.

So if you are ever wondering what music is good to workout to... here ya go!!

I garentee these songs will pump you up and make you get more out of your workout!!

{WARNING}

i dont bother to find edited songs..

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Vote daily if you would!

Just click this link, then the left brown bubble!

THATS IT!

Baiden's NICU Story...

So when Baiden was born, there was a respiratory team ready to check him and make sure he was breathing good. After they did all their little tests, they deemed him as good to go! Baiden was born at 11:47am, and through out the day was fine. We were enjoying our new bundle of joy and some visitors that came through out the day!

In the afternoon sometime, Baiden started making this cooing/whining sound. It was seriously the cutest thing! The nurse on shift came in and heart Baiden making this sound and wanted to take him to the nursery to check his oxygen. She did so, and brought him right back. His oxygen was fine. 

We continued through out the day loving on him and loving his cute little coo thing he was doing.

The next shift came on and the new nurse came in and heard what he was doing and said the same thing. She took him to the nursery, but this time he was gone for like an hour. The nurse kept coming back in to tell us they checked his oxygen, it was good, so now they are going to check this. About 2 hours went by, she came back in and said they were just waiting on same lab work they did on him.

An hour or so after that, at around 11:30pm ish, Jeff was asleep, and the nurse came in to inform me that Baiden was in the NICU and that his oxygen kept getting worse and worse so thats why he was in there. She then said we could go up to see him in about 15 minutes and get all the details of what was going on..

My heart fell out of my chest. I kid you not. Every scary thought went through my head. But i held it together so that i could calmly wake Jeff up and tell him what was going on. I woke him up, and as soon as i got the words "Baiden is in the NICU" out, i started balling. Jeff flew up out of his cute little air mattress so fast and was ready to head up to the NICU.

When we got there there was a whole team of people right by Baiden's side monitoring him and decided how they needed to help his breathing out.

 It was so hard to see him this way. Add in all my post pregnancy crazy emotions... it was hard for me to hold it together (and i didnt). They had to start an I.V on him.. that was super hard to watch. Especially where it took a couple tried to get it in. They kept poking and prodding and hooking things up to him and all i wanted to do was hold him and take all his pain away... Then... it got worse...

 They decided he needed a C-Pap machine to help him breathe. Its a machine that simple adds an extra puff of air into his lungs to prevent his lungs from collapsing  But it LOOKS intense and was so hard to see my tiny son that way...

I basically hadnt slept sense Thursday (this was Sunday night/Monday morning) and the nurses kept reasurring me that he was in good hands and that we were welcome to stay as long as we wanted but encouraged me to get some sleep... so i agreed to do so at about 12:30am.

Around 4:00am, a nurse came in to wake me up, and she had my sweet baby boy. He was off the machine and out of the NICU and doing awesome. All he needed was about 4 hours on the machine.

I cant even describe to you that moment and getting my baby back into my arms to hold him and love on him.

Words can not even express my appreciation to the team of people who made sure my son was well taken care of and on the road to recovery. The hospital i stayed at is truly the best!