Happy Monday!

I plan, plan, plan my meals and prep, prep, prep them.  After my busy weekend, I haven't made my meal plan/done grocery shopping.  Well I was out running errands to the grocery store and Trader Joe's so I stopped at Panera Bread.  It is sooooo hard not to get bread and/or a pastry but I did pretty good.  I LOVE Panera's creamy tomato soup and yea yea yea I know it has dairy in it and it is not the best for you but it was only a cup.  I had the soup with a half of a BBQ salad, which is delish.  I asked for no sauce but as you can see they made a mistake.  Oh well...for dessert I had an apple with a little dip in TJs cookie butter (don't judge, it is LEGIT amazing).  

So I ordered this tank a while back and finally got it in the mail.  I bought it from Southern Charm Designs, it took a while because everything she makes is custom designed.  She is a police wife and has lots of apparel, decals, bags, etc for police, military, and firefighter wives.  Being a police wife myself, I understand the need for another income so I didn't think twice about buying this shirt.  Also this shirt is sooooo soft.  Go check her website and buy something.  Support local businesses especially this lovely LEO wife.   

Tonight I made a Father's Day dinner of grilled chicken, grilled corn on the cob with cayenne pepper, roasted cauliflower, and pan seared asparagus.  It was pretty amazing and tasted like a summer supper.  Tonight is Adam's last night of work (so I had to take a pic for MCM) for like 10 days because we leave for Texas in 28 hours and counting...Woohoo!!

After Adam went to work I dragged my butt to the gym to get in a good workout.  I did some arm weights and the ab machine.  Then I did 25 minutes of cardio on the treadmill doing the interval workout,  With an incline of 2.5 and running at 6mph and then walking at 4mph.  I'm getting better at running, let's hope I can keep it up on vacation.  

I will be posting pictures and blogging about our time in Austin so keep checking Garlic and Gum this week.  

Once Upon A Cline Festivities

Oh Monday...why did you have to come so soon??  The weekend was packed full.  Saturday was Josh Cline and Kendayl Waugh's wedding.  Well she is Kendayl Cline now (which sounds really weird) anyway.  It was a beautiful wedding and some strong, powerful winds.  The reception was fun and also very hot.  I post some pics of us before the wind and sweat.

Of course Adam and I had to get a pic all dressed up.  The pic on the right was taken over 2 years ago, with me in the same dress.  It was a little big when I put it on this time.  Yay!!  I definitely had the best looking and best dressed date there.  

This is my face after eating and dancing...drenched in sweat!!  Oh outdoor June weddings, how I despise you.

I didn't do too bad with eating over the weekend.  I did have a Cheerwine at the wedding and it was AMAZING and I did eat a cupcake.  You can't go to a wedding and not eat cake.  

Summer Supper

So it is no surprise, if you live in NC right now it is like a billion degrees outside with terrible humidity.  We decided to cook a somewhat healthy/clean summer dinner.   Adam grilled some corn with butter, cayenne pepper, and Trader Joe's everyday seasoning.  We also had Trader Joe's Turkey Burger along with Brussels Sprouts and bacon.

 I found these pictures on my phone today.  The top picture was taken on New Years Eve 3 years ago.  The others were taken a few weeks ago.  It is crazy what can happen in three years.  We are so much happier and healthier (and lighter).

Today I have completed my collection of Home Improvement.  This show is the BEST EVER.  They don't make tv shows like this anymore.  Besides Tim Allen being one of my favorite comedians back in the 90's, JTT was my celebrity boy crush growing up.  

Date Night

The great thing about being married to a cop, date night during the week (and a Monday at that).  Finally a day off for both of us, which means date night.  We went to an early movie and saw Jurassic World, which was pretty legit.  I didn't think it would be that great because you can't get any better than the original Jurassic Park movie.  After the movie we went for some niece lovins and played with baby Arizona.  She is growing like a weed.  We had to get a baby selfie with her.

Our next stop was Fratellis which has the BEST Italian food in Winston Salem.  Their lasagna is on point.  I definitely had to take some AdvoCare Carb-Ease before this meal.  I am proud of myself and Adam for taking home leftovers.  There was enough lasagna here to feed a family of four.  

Dang Americans and their portions.  This is why I eat at home and also why Americans are extremely obese.  If you are craving lasagna though, go get it at Fratellis because it is banging!

Since we didn't eat all of our dinner and it was our cheat meal, we had to spring for dessert.  Fratellis has the BEST Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding EVER.  I'm telling you this dessert is like crack.  It is better than a hot now Krispy Kreme doughnut.  I probably could have ate all of this by myself but I shared a little with Adam .

I LOVE this:

I may not eat healthy all the time but I try and eat as clean as possible.  Working with sick people really proves that what you eat now will effect your body in the future.  Take care of your body because you will only get one!  Have a GREAT week everybody.  

Zucchini Spaghetti, Crispy Prosciutto and Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon-Parmesan Sauce

Tonight is my last night shift at Baptist hospital in the Cancer Center.  I will miss some of my coworkers and my amazing cancer patients, but it is bittersweet because I will be full time at Davie Medical Center in the Emergency Department.  It definitely is already feeling like home.

So I dragged myself out of bed, drank my Spark, and hit the gym.  My rule at the gym is work until you are dripping wet and can't just reapply makeup and refresh the deodorant and go about your day.  Don't pretend you haven't done it.  That's another post in itself.  I pay too much money for my Lancome makeup to put it on just to sweat it all off.


After the gym, Adam and I made a new recipe.  Zucchini spaghetti, crispy prosciutto and roasted cauliflower with a lemon parmesan sauce.  It was pretty awesome and I will definitely be making it again.  If you are on the 10 day cleanse, this is a no-no because of the greek yogurt and cheese in the recipe.  I will post the recipe below. If you don't have one of these, please invest in one ASAP!!  It made making this dish so much easier:

                                           Ingredients:

2 cups cauliflower florets

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

2 cloves of garlic (or more if you love garlic like I do)

1 large shallot

cooking spray

4 pieces of prosciutto

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

red pepper flakes

2-3 medium zucchinis

Lemon Dressing:

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

1.5 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 cup of non-fat Greek yogurt

1.5 tablespoon of fresh grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.  Toss the cauliflower in a medium bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper, and any other seasoning you want to use.  Lay the cauliflower out on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.  While the cauliflower is roasting, combine all the ingredients for the lemon dressing and set aside.  Mince the garlic and shallot and set aside.  Spiralize the zucchini using your new veggitti.  

Place a large skillet over medium heat and coat with cook spray.  Lay in the prosciutto slices and cook for 3-5 minutes or until crispy.  Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.  Allow the skillet to cool down for at least 2 minutes and then place the skillet back on medium heat and add olive oil.  Once the oil heats, add in the garlic, shallots, and red pepper flakes.  Cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant and then add in the zucchini noodles.  

Cook, tossing frequently for 3-5 minutes.  Then add in the cauliflower and crumble the prosciutto over the skillet with your fingers.  Give a toss and then remove from heat and stir in the lemon dressing.  Toss to combine and serve.  

Zucchini Spaghetti, Crispy Prosciutto and Roasted Cauliflower with Lemon-Parmesan Sauce

Coconut Oil Obsessed

Most of you that know me, know that I use coconut oil like it's going out of style.  I absolutely LOVE coconut oil.  Coconut oil is the only product I use to wash my face.  I know it sounds weird but it literally is the BEST thing EVER!!  Coconut oil is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal so it fights against acne and pimples.  It keeps your face looking smooth and healthy.  I also drink more than 100 ounces of water everyday.

If you don't have any of this, stop what you are you doing and go to Trader Joe's right now and get a few jars.  Trader Joe's has the best prices on this stuff.  It is less than $6 but worth a whole lot more.  I sit the jar in warm water until it is an oily texture and use baby wipes to remove my eye makeup and then massage the oil into my skin.  It feels weird at first but later your skin will feel hydrating and refreshing.  Do yourself a favor and throw out any facial cleanser that is packed with alcohol and chemicals and start using coconut oil.  Here are some great resources about coconut oil:

Coconut Oil Facewash 

9 Reasons to keep Coconut Oil in your bathroom

Uses for Coconut Oil

Thirsty Thursday

Today was a pretty great day.  Got up and drank my kool aid aka Spark with an apple and some peanut butter.  Dragged my butt to the gym and did 40 minutes of cardio, some strength training, and abs.  Cooked one of our favorite dishes tonight Spicy Chicken Sausage with squash.  When Adam went to work Molly and I went for a little walk but it was like 90 degrees at 4pm and we were melting in the humidity.  I decided to pull out the ole Jillian Michaels 30 day shred.  This girl don't play.  It is only 27 minutes, but it is a killer workout. 

I can see why Jillian Michaels was the trainer on the Biggest Loser that everybody hated!!  She's got some abs, so maybe I should follow her direction.  After my second workout I made this amazing protein smoothie:

Peaches n Bananas

1 cup of frozen peaches

1 banana

1 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder

2 cups of spinach

1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Molly and I went to the church softball game and had lots of fun.  Molly is exhausted and will sleep good tonight.  I might have slipped up and had some fried food tonight but I took AdvoCare Carb-Ease for the first time.  Just checking to see if it works!!  Back to the gym tomorrow to makeup for that crap I ate.  

Well back to the grind working Friday, Saturday, Sunday and then Monday Adam and I can have a date night.  Everybody have a great Friday!!!

Healthy Fried Chicken

Being from the south, I love me some fried chicken.  Fried chicken is definitely not healthy or clean but this is my take on healthy fried chicken.  For dinner we had fried chicken, quinoa, and asparagus.  I coat my chicken in egg and then almond meal (mixed with coconut flour and Trader Joe's everyday seasoning).  I cook it on the stove top in a little olive oil and then BAM you have healthy fried chicken.  Asparagus is one of my favorite green veggie, even if it does make your pee stink.  Many people don't know that asparagus makes your urine stink because it is cleaning all the toxins out of your body.  I could eat it every freaking day. 

Things are going well with Adam and I.  We leave for vacation in less than 2 weeks and we can't wait.  We are headed to Austin, TX to have some fun and then head to Maypearl, TX to spend some time with the most amazing people.  I don't care if it is the middle of summer, bring on the Texas heat. 

We are finally getting into a routine of eating healthy, working out together, and having our cheat meals together.  We are on the road to being a better us!!  Remember, always have something to look forward to.  

Turkey Burger

My favorite lunch dish to make is a turkey burger (which comes frozen from Trader Joe's and it is legit delicious).  All you have to do is grab them out of the freezer, throw them on the grille or in a frying pan (with a little oil) and cook each side for 6-8 minutes.  I usually eat my turkey burger with Quinoa or roasted sweet potatoes and a veggie like squash or zucchini.  

If you haven't seen this on my Products I Swear By page then check it out.  Seriously go get you some of these from Trader Joe's (I don't work for TJ but I just love their products and their customer service is spot on).  I could eat this for breakfast with some eggs.  They really are worth trying!!  

TRUE STATEMENT: You can work out until you are blue (or red technically) in the face and your body will stay the same.  You have to clean up your diet and eat real food (not food out of a box) to see real results.  

Favorite Side Dishes

I LOVE eating veggies and cooking them lots of different ways.  We eat lots of squash, zucchini, onions, asparagus, peppers, and tomatoes.  I love combining squash, zucchini, tomatoes, and onions with pepper, garlic, and Italian seasoning in a little almond oil and bake in the oven.  

Other sides that we like to eat is roasted sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries and carrot fries,  Just cut the potatoes and/or carrots, toss in olive oil, almond oil, or coconut oil.  Then add what spices you like.  Cook on baking sheet for about 20 minutes on 425 degrees.  

Quinoa is another side dish we like to eat.  It is high in fiber and a good source of protein.  Here a site that tells you step by step on how to cook it. 

Healthy Mexican Cuisine

So we decided to try my hand at some Mexican cuisine.  Adam cooked our chicken on the grille with a little Trader Joe's salsa and Mrs. Dash taco seasoning.  We also sauteed some onions, red peppers, and green peppers in a little olive oil with Mrs. Dash taco seasoning.  We served with come Quinoa and topped with a little pepper jack cheese.  Here is the step by step instructions on how to cook Quinoa. 

We have this about once a week and it satisfies our Mexican food craving without all the chips and salsa and rice and beans.  Score :-)

Healthy Asian Cuisine Night

We don't go out to eat a lot because eating out costs too much and their portions are out of control.  So Adam and I decided to try and cook Asian cuisine.  Here is what we got:

This meal is pretty easy to make and doesn't take much time.  I don't have a step by step recipe because I like to make things up as I go along.  But here is how I made this awesome dish:

First cut a few squash and zucchini and an onion.  I place all the veggies in a frying pan with sesame oil and a little bit of low sodium soy sauce, garlic salt, ground pepper, and sesame seeds.  I cover and let it simmer on medium to low heat while I fix everything else.  

Instead of rice, I served my dish with Quinoa (which I've never had until this year and I absolutely love it!)  Here is a link to a recipe on how to cook Quinoa.  It really is easy and tastes delicious. 

While the veggies and Quinoa cooks, you can cook the chicken tenders on the stove, on the grille, or George Foreman.  Adam cooked ours on the grille and it was pretty spot on!

Try this dish tomorrow!!  It really is delicious and healthy for you!!

Sunday Night Selfie

So Adam and I went for a late night workout at Gym 365 and decided to make our favorite Strawberry Banana Protein Smoothie before going.  We put them in the freezer and by the time we got back they were almost frozen.  So it was kindof like eating ice cream!!  Can I just say how proud I am of my sweet, amazing hubby for working out with me and eating what I cook!!

TRUTH:  You can workout all you want but if your diet is crap, your workout was useless.

Spicy Chicken Sausage and Brown Rice Spaghetti Recipe

Spicy Chicken Sausage and Brown Rice Spaghetti 

This is our favorite supper recipe.  If you like spicy foods this dish is for you!!  I used all fresh ingredients, mostly which I bought at Trader Joe's.

Ingredients:

12 oz Chicken Sausage (I bought mine at TJ's)

1/3 cup of chopped onion

1 clove of chopped garlic

2 medium red peppers, chopped

1 1/2 cups of crushed tomatoes (I crush mine in the Ninja food processor) 

1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

2 tsp of olive oil (I use almond or coconut oil)

Ground Salt and Pepper to taste

Fresh Parsley

8 oz of Brown Rice spaghetti (which I found at TJ's)

Fresh Oregano (optional, but I love Italian seasoning)

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and cook the sausage until browned and cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks.  Set aside (**Tip: remove the casing surrounding the chicken sausage.  This makes the chicken sausage have a ground beef look to it)

Add the oil, onions, peppers, garlic and salt and pepper to the skillet and cook until golden, 4-5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and chicken broth and return the sausage to the skillet.  This is when I add my fresh Italian seasoning.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer on low for 15 minutes. 

In the meantime, boil water and add the brown rice spaghetti noodles.  Drain the noodles and add to the skillet with the sausage sauce.  Finish with fresh parsley and fresh grated Parmesan (not that processed container Parmesan). 

Okay I added these pictures so you know what the chicken sausage and brown rice pasta looks like:

Protein Smoothies/Shakes Recipes

After going to the gym, Adam and I love making protein smoothies.  My parents have a Ninja and it is pretty awesome.  Here are some of my favorite recipes:

This is my absolute favorite protein shake:

Chocolate Covered Cherry 

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 scoop of chocolate whey protein powder (Advocare has protein powder but we like this kind)

handful of frozen cherries (I got mine at Trader Joe's, of course)

1 1/2 cups of fresh spinach (you can't even taste it and it is sooo good for you)

1 tsp of unsweetened cocoa powder (Trader Joe's brand, surprised?)

I drink this and think, how can this really be healthy and good?  Try this like yesterday!!

Strawberry Banana Protein Shake

1 cup of frozen strawberries (fresh strawberries are in season but don't get frozen strawberries with added sugar)

1 frozen banana

1 scoop of strawberry banana whey protein powder (vanilla protein powder will be fine also)

1 1/2 cups of fresh spinach 

1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Spinach and Banana Protein Shake

2 cups of fresh spinach

1-2 frozen bananas

1 scoop of vanilla whey protein powder

1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

(Don't knock it until you try it, spinach is soooo good for you and you can even taste it in the smoothie)

Breakfast

Breakfast = my favorite type of food EVER (healthy and not so healthy).  ALWAYS eat breakfast!!  For breakfast I always stick to a protein, a complex carb, and a fruit.  My breakfast usually looks something like this:

  

If you know me, you know my day starts with a Spark usually with a side of fruit.  I like doing overnight oats which are Trader Joe's Rolled Oats with unsweetened almond milk, cinnamon, fruit, and almonds.  I put them in a cute mason jar the night before and throw my toppings on in the morning and I'm ready to start my day.  

This was one of my favorite breakfast choices while I was on the cleanse and I have it several times a week now.  Eggs scrambled with kale, turkey bacon, apple slices and coconut peanut butter.  

Sometimes if I'm in a hurry I will grab a piece of fruit and a Think Thin Bar on my way out the door.  

How I Start My Day

For those that know me, you know how I start my day.  This happens just about 6 out of 7 days.

So it goes like this.  Within 5-10 minutes of waking, I stumble to the kitchen and mix-up my Spark (after taking the furbaby to pee) and take 3 Catalyst. Within 10-15 minutes I feel like I could conquer the world.

  

You are probably thinking, what is so good about this combination?  Well it will kick start your day in a way you would not believe.  You will feel a little energy kick and a bit happy.  Spark is packed with B Vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to provide a healthy, balanced source of energy.  The best part is it is sugar free and only 45 calories.  It contains 120 mg of SLOW release caffeine so no jitters or shakes.  Also it sharpens your mental focus.  AND it tastes delish!!!!  Fruit punch, watermelon, and green apple are by far my favorite flavors.  

Cataylst is my second favorite Advocare product.  I take it before I drink a Spark  and before I workout.  This is an amino acid supplement that is designed to to help you maintain muscle mass.  It helps protect your muscles when you are in weight loss mode.  

About 30 minutes after my Spark and Catalyst, I eat a little breakfast (most of the time fruit and a spoonful of almond butter) and then hit the gym or go for a little walk.     

Garlic and Gum???

 So I decided to start a blog because so many people have asked about my recipes and what I eat.  Coming up with name was really difficult but I went with Garlic and Gum because both go hand in hand.  I am in love with cooking with garlic.  Italian food is my favorite food and garlic is a staple in my diet.  Gum.  Anyone that knows me knows that I ALWAYS have gum.  I am literally a chain gum chewer, kinda like a smoker only more intense.  Us Italians (hehe) know after a garlicy meal, you must have gum.

I will be posting recipes, workout playlists, new products that I LOVE, and my Advocare regimen.  If you don't know about Advocare, you need to know about it yesterday.  It has definitely changed my life for the better.  If want to check out their products and make a purchase here is the link for my Advocare site:

https://www.advocare.com/140913403/default.aspx

Let me know if you have any questions about the products and I can try and help lead the way.