Drop a TURKEY by Thanksgiving!

I know I know it's not even Halloween yet, and here I am talking about Thanksgiving!! BUT we aren't far from turkey day, and I want to help you LOSE A TURKEY before thanksgiving!!!!

The average american gains 8-12 lbs over the next 3 months, but NOT US, NOT YOU!! With our accountability challenge groups you could LOSE 8-12 lbs this holiday season!! What if i told you, you can still enjoy all your holiday favorites and STILL lose weight!?! It is possible and I am here to help you!!!

Imagine walking into your family thanksgiving day and your family noticing the big changes you've made and the results you've earned over the last 21 days?! You will be feeling confident, healthy and actually be HAPPY on thanksgiving day!!! And no worries, The challenge will end right before thanksgiving day so you can enjoy the day!!

Our ‪#‎dropaturkeybythanksgiving challenge group will focus on healthy tips to surviving the holidays, teaching healthy habits that you can make into a LIFESTYLE change, and get you the results you want!!!! Best part is the program we will be doing is ON SALE this month, when you purchase Shakeology, you get the ENTIRE program for only $10! What do you have to lose?!? Other than weight and inches of course! ;)

You can get signed up here ---> SIGN UP FOR THE DROP A TURKEY CHALLENGE! 
(This link will take you to purchase your 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack - I will contact YOU after your purchase to get you set up for the group!)

Kodiak Cakes OATMEAL UNLEASHED Review!

        Oatmeal Unleashed is a breakfast product you may have seen gracing the aisles of your local grocery store recently...it's a new product from Baker Mills Kodiak Cakes brand. I was browsing the breakfast aisle when I came across this oatmeal and decided to give a try. I love oatmeal, especially when the weather starts to cool off and was pleased that this oatmeal boasted clean ingredients AND 10 grams of protein!  

"Oatmeal Unleashed is an all-natural crunchy oatmeal served in a convenient, microwavable cup. In 30 seconds you can make yourself a hot, healthy breakfast that will satisfy and energize the rest of the morning. Staying true to our brand, we have made sure that this oatmeal is add-water-only, and packed full of fiber, protein and whole grains without compromising on taste." - product write up on Kodiak Cakes website (http://www.kodiakcakes.com/oatmeal)

          I decided to try the Peach Vanilla Almond flavor. I shook the container first (as directed on the back of the package), then pulled open the top - I was greeted with a lovely peach aroma even before cooking!  That was a plus! I added enough water to cover the oatmeal (again, as directed on the package) and popped it in the microwave for 30 seconds (again...as directed). It SMELLED delicious!

           I stirred the oatmeal up to combine everything well and dug in! 

           The first bite had a pleasant, nutty flavor with hints of vanilla. Nothing too overpowering, but definitely no peach either. That was disappointing. As I kept eating, I enjoyed getting the little bites of peach here and there, but it definitely did not seem like enough. I also enjoyed the crunch that the almond provided. Even though cane sugar and brown sugar are two of the first three ingredients, kodiak definitely did not load this oatmeal down with it - a GOOD THING - it only has 15 g of sugar for the size of the serving. I finished the oatmeal feeling like I had eaten plenty and was not in a sugar coma like I used to get with the Quaker Oats flavored oatmeals of days past. Overall, I enjoyed this flavor and am looking forward to trying the Green Apple Spice next.  

          Pros of this flavor:  Low sugar, added chia seeds to help keep you full, fennel seed and fenugreek seed are great for breastfeeding mothers (along with oatmeal in general) to help boost breastmilk supply, added protein to help keep you satiated and boost protein intake.

          Cons: Not enough peaches, fenugreek/fennel aftertaste - I believe that it's only noticeable to me because I have used both in tea form in the past while breastfeeding. 

         If you are interested in purchasing a 12 pack of this oatmeal, you can do so here: AMAZON.

**This is not a paid review. I have no affiliation with Kodiak Cakes or Amazon. I just like to provide info to the masses on great or not so great products that can help improve your eating habits!** 

Gluten Free Pumpkin Quinoa Muffins

These things are the BOMB.COM! No joke - and especially great since they are also gluten free! 

I don't remember where I wrote down the recipe for these from, so if you know, please let me know so I can give proper credit!  Thanks!

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa flour (you can make your own by milling quinoa in high speed blender or just buy quinoa flour)

1/2 cup coconut sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp pink himalayan salt

1 egg

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup grapeseed oil

1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, pie spice, cinnamon, and salt. Mix egg, pumpkin, oil, and vanilla. Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Pour into muffin cups (makes 6), top with pepitas (pumpkin seeds) if you like. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes. (Check for doneness all along as ovens cook differently in different areas.)

Cough and Cold Season: ALL NATURAL cough syrup!

Cough and Cold Season: ALL NATURAL, Homemade cough syrup!

As you all know...the cold and flu season has hit. And, it has hit a little earlier than normal. I know...because my oldest son brought a cold home from school two weeks ago and it has made it's rounds and finally landed on ME! Ugh...

BUT, unlike everyone else in my house, I have developed this terrible, deep, hacking cough with my cold. It has been keeping me (and my poor hubby) up at night. NOTHING has been able to work at keeping it at bay. I've tried every over the counter cough syrup that we can get our hands on, I recently had a hysterectomy and had some of my pain medication left over. Tried one of those just to see if that would help. Nope. (My husband is a pharmacist and even he has been stumped at what else we can try...)

Whoa!  I bet that WOULD get rid of a cough...by knocking you OUT!

So, what's a girl to do when she's up at 1 AM hacking and unable to sleep? ...get on the internet and search for homemade cough syrups! And, while I was hoping to find something with whiskey or the like in it (just kidding!!!) - I found several with ingredients I had readily available even at 1 AM. And, you know what?  IT WORKED!!! I slept last night, with an ever so slight tingle in my throat, but no cough!!!

The several recipes I found varied with the amounts of each ingredients, so I just went with what didn't taste absolutely appalling...so here's my recipe below!

All-Natural Cough Syrup
2 TBSP. Apple Cider Vinegar (Bragg's if you have it, if not, regular will work!)
2 TBSP. Raw honey (local if available)

1 TBSP. water

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Mix in a little jar with a lid. Keep in the refrigerator for longer storage - just be sure to shake up before use as the ginger and cayenne will settle as it sits. 

One tablespoon worked for me. Dosing will vary by person.