bagel bites...........

Growing up I have to admit that bagel bites were for sure one of my top 5 favorite foods, along with Taquitos and Spaghettio's I have actually been conflicted about buying these and feeding them to Owen because they are SO fake. So, I was thrilled when Wesley sent me this recipe for 

FLAX CRUST "BAGEL BITES"

There are so many great things about this flax crust. It’s totally flourless. It has four ingredients. It’s gluten-free. Thanks to the fiber level, it’s got almost no net carbs. Oh, and it has a crapton of Omega-3s and protein.  I plan on cooking these for dinner tonight, but the girl that first blogged about them said "Flavor and texture-wise, it doesn’t have that doughy, crunchy texture of normal pizza crust, but it does have an amazing, nutty, fluffy texture that makes one heck of a good pizza. "

Ingredients

• 1 cup finely-ground flaxseed
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup pizza sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• Your favorite pizza toppings ( this is where i always sneak in good veggies, so I would grill up any you have in your fridge and throw them under the cheese!)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine flax, eggs, Parmesan and oregano. Mixture will be sticky. Let rest for 5-10 minutes or until the crust is easy-to-handle.
3. To make pizza bites, take a small amount of the dough and form into a ball roughly 1-1/2″-2″ in diameter. Press into a flat, thin disc (about 1/4″ thick) and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough. You should have enough dough to make about a dozen mini crusts.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the dough is golden brown. Remove from oven, top with pizza sauce, toppings and cheese. Return to oven for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is browned and bubbly.

I hope you will try them too!!!!!!

summer sippers......

SUMMERTIME SLUSH

Owen and I made this today because it was another HOT day in Lubbock.. It was so good and refreshing and as soon as I'm not prego, I will be adding a little vodka to make it the perfect low calorie, low sugar frozen cocktail!

Ingredients:

1 cup of seedless watermelon

1 cup of frozen strawberries (I used fresh)

1 kiwi peeled 

3/4 cup of cold green tea 

1 cup of ice if you use fresh strawberries, or 1/2 cup if you use frozen

couple drops of stevia

throw it all in the blender and serve!!!

YUMMMMM

happy-hemp.....

The first time I tried hemp seeds I was in the hospital after I had given birth. The doctors kept saying how important it was to make sure that with-in 3 days I had used the bathroom... So Clayton went to our natural food store and discovered hemp seeds. THEY WORKED!!! They are a crazy source of fiber and are actually pretty good. Until I found happy hemp, I just added them to my oatmeal in the morning. Happy Hemp actually makes a toasted hemp seed, that is so good. Its crunchy and salty. Now even Owen munches on it as an afternoon snack. I recommend going to their site and checking it out. You can do a one time purchase or you can do a monthly plan. I PROMISE you will not be disappointed.

Hemp-ology- hemp seeds are one of the most nutritious and delicious foods on earth. Adding hemp to any food gives it a healthy dose of protein, fiber and essential amino an heart healthy fatty acids. Hemp seeds are great for digestion, weight management, hair, skin, nails, immune boost, increased energy and lowering cholesterol. Happy Hemp packs enough protein and fiber in each spoonful t ensure that your body and ind are fueled for the marathon of modern life!

Happy-hemp.com

just do it......

This was today's well daily and I could not agree more!!!!  I feel like I have had this conversation with so many friends struggling to get in to a routine......

We all love the feeling of being fit and that post-workout glow that comes with it; but the combination of big goals and chaotic schedules can often get in the way of our routine. So how do you make fitness a non-negotiable in your daily routine?

Here are a few of our favorite methods to make it stick:

1. Stick with it! Do what you love, but be open to shaking things up. Love Ashtanga yoga? Try Hatha or add a little heat to your next class.

2. Try before you buy! Give the schedule and the location a trial week or two before you commit to a package or membership.

3. Pencil it in! Write out your weekly workouts on your calendar at the start of each week. Know your days, times and set reminders in your calendar.

4. Tune up as needed! Life and schedules change. Go to that dinner date, but  remember to reschedule your next workout. 

5. Eat for energy! Choose minimally or non-processed foods. Vibrant, healthy foods support your body and mind as you commit to being fit.

6. Pack a bag! You won't have time to convince yourself to skip out on that workout with a bag that's already packed with all the things you

Commit to trying this because it does help. Each week I look at my yoga, pilates and studio57 schedule to determine which exercise I should do on what day and then I just commit to showing up! Good luck and CHEERS TO HEALTHY LIVING!

vintage clothes......

If you get some time over the weekend, check out my new ETSY page. It has been a work in progress but I am super excited about finally being able to share my love for vintage with everyone out there!!

These are a few of my favorite things........

Please pass on this link!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ModVC?ref=search_shop_redirect

turkey meatballs.......

These healthy turkey meatballs are delicious. I put them in Paul Newman Marinara sauce, on top of my spaghetti squash and it is so yummy!!! Also if you have extra keep them in your fridge and have two meatballs for your 3 O'clock pick me up!

• 12oz extra lean ground turkey
• 1 egg
• ½ cup quick oats
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dehydrated onion
• 1 tsp dried basil leaves
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp dried parsley
• 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese
• Salt and Pepper

Preheat your broiler.

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix with your hands until well blended.

Spray a boiler pan non-stick cooking spray.

Weigh out 1.5oz and form into 10 meatballs.

Place the meat balls on the broiler pan and cook for about 8-10 minutes turning once.
Note: This may not cook them through; I normally continue to cook in the sauce.

I’m counting 2 meatballs as a serving to make 5 servings.

Approx Nutritional Information Per Serving

Servings	Amount per Serving	Calories	Fat	Fiber	WWPs
5	2 meatballs	125	2.5g	1g	2.5

boost your metabolism........

The metabolism can be a tricky thing—some of us were blessed with speedy metabolic rates, while others didn’t get so lucky. But it’s not all doom and gloom for the slow pokes, there are some tried and true natural ways to revv up the metabolism and make it work in your favor.

• Drink Up: It’s true what they say, try to drink at least 6-8 glasses a day. Water acts as a catalyst in the metabolic process by facilitating liver function and moving fuel fluidly through the body and eliminating waste.
• Sip Green Tea: The natural antioxidants coupled with low levels of caffeine present in green tea are the reasons why studies show that regular consumption can boost metabolism and oxidize fat.
• Add a Little Zing: Some spices contain thermogenic properties that heat the body during mealtime, which can increase metabolism by as much as 50 percent. Replace salt with spices like ginger, chili pepper and turmeric to kick up the flavor and your rev your metabolism.
• Eat More Regularly: Starving the body of quality nutrients or going on low-calorie diets causes muscle loss and results in a slower metabolism and long-term weight gain. 
• Build Muscle: Yet another reason to pump iron and sculpt those long, lean muscles. Muscle burns three times more calories than fat, even when the body is at rest.

Eat these foods for a faster metabolism:

• Grapefruit: Studies show that grapefruit can reduce insulin levels and lower insulin levels help the body process food more efficiently.
• Broccoli: These tasty green spears contain calcium and vitamin C; which work as a team to help burn calories faster and effectively.
• Rolled Oats: Oatmeal is another tasty treat for lowering insulin levels and speeding up the metabolism.
• Salmon: Salmon burns fat and the omega-3s it contains make your metabolism work faster and more efficiently. (Actually, anything high in Omega-3’s works wonders for the metabolism.)