Some Inspiration for Your Saturday

We made it to the weekend... which means nothing because I am working all weekend.  I actually enjoy my job and I am good at it.  I just really hate being away from Adam when he is off.  Lately we haven't spent much time together.  I am just looking forward to Monday because it is our next day off together.  

The countdown is on...ONE month until we move into our apartment in Winston Salem and I cannot wait!  It's been a LONG eight months with my parents.  Not having our "things" and space really BLOWS!   School has started back and between working at the hospital and fitting in my workouts and meal prep, I have been going non-stop.

I am ready for a change and can't wait to see what the rest of 2015 brings and what is to come in 2016, I am hoping and praying it will be the BEST year yet.  We are in desperate need of change PERIOD!!  We want what's best for each other and our marriage.  Loving this quote by the GREAT Dr. Seuss:

This is probably one of my FAVORITE quotes/statements!!  I truly believe this and have experienced this in my own life.  People will judge you by your actions, not your intentions!  You can say all day that you love me or you care but unless your actions prove it, words mean NOTHING to me.  That's your PSA for the weekend!

Being married to a police officer has definitely made me a stronger, more independent woman.  I don't sugar coat things and I tell people my opinions and beliefs.  I know how dangerous my husband's job is and the types of people and crime he deals with.  He carries a gun and wears a bullet proof vest.  In this day and age being a police officer on the streets is one of the most dangerous jobs out there, especially with all the evil things people do.  This quote by Albert Einstein is sooooo accurate, there are lots of evil in this world but if people don't do anything to stop it things will only get worse.   

Until next time, have a blessed and wonderful weekend!  Enjoy the gorgeous weather we are having. 

What I'm Loving Wednesday (Even though it's Thursday now)

Well it's back to reality...work, school, more work, hustles, and workouts.  Is it okay my mind is still at the bed and breakfast???  Definitely looking forward to Monday which is our next day off together. 

So this is my new favorite thing COTTON CANDY grapes.  Yes you heard me right and they are AMAZEBALLS!!  I am not a grape person (unless its wine hehe) but these grapes are banging.  I froze some of these bad boys with some Green Apple Spark and they were the perfect little treat on these hot, sticky days we've had lately.  I had to throw in a picture of me drinking my kool-aid aka my SPARK!

So this is apart of my wardrobe now and is the perfect workout shirt.  Southern Charm Designs is a business run by a Police Wife and has so many cute things.  I am definitely all about supporting my fellow police wives.  This tank is super cute and super soft!!  Anyways, this girl is tired and it's bedtime so I can get to the grind in a few hours.  Keep it real, yall

Weekend Getaway

We had a great weekend at Pilot Knob Inn.  It was a much needed getaway with my love.  I haven't seen much of him lately.  The weekend wasn't long enough!!  We did a lot of resting and relaxing but we also hiked Pilot Mountain.  We really had a great time hiking.

 

 Saturday night we drove to Cody Creek and ate at the Depot.  It's been a while since we've had this much time together without interruptions.  It just makes me appreciate our time together so much more.  

No Bake Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Butter Energy Bites

Okay so I ran across this this recipe on Pinterest (are you surprised) and thought I would give it a try.  OMG you must make this like yesterday.  They are literally...AMAZEBALLS!!  Such a tasty and healthy snack.  I see myself making these again, and again, and again!  I thought I would share this amazing recipe.  Here is a pic of my ingredients and yes, if you must know most of it came from Trader Joe's!  

Ingredients:

1½ cups of old fashioned rolled oats

½ cup of ground flax seed

1 tablespoon of black chia seeds

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

⅓ cup of unsweetened coconut flakes

½ cup of raw honey

½ cup of almond butter (I may have used a little more)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

½ cup of dark chocolate chips

Instructions:

Mix all ingredient together in a large bowl.

Form energy bite mixture into 1" balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Cover and place in refrigerator for 2 hours.

Serve!

Doesn't this just look delicious!!  

Sunday Not So Funday

This was a pretty busy Sunday.  Went to church (by myself of course....#LifeOfAPoliceWife), napped with Adam (which was the best sleep/nap ever..best part of the day), made dinner for Adam and I, shopping at Trader Joe's, and meal prep for the week, then late night gym shesh.....shewwwww.  It is going to be a busy week as well.  I work Monday through Thursday and I start school this week.  But I will NOT make excuses for not working out!  I am really excited about next weekend.  My sweet, sweet, amazing husband planned a little getaway to a B&B for some R&R and quality time together.  It is the only thing getting me through this week!!

Just a few pics from what little I had with Adam this weekend:

Had a little trip to Sweet Frog...gotta
have my cake batter and cotton candy
yogurt (yea I'm a kid).

My pre-workout must...Spark and Catalyst

Adam bought me this shirt and I LOVE it
Pizza is like my soulmate 

Now I want PIZZA but here is a snap of our dinner
Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
and grilled chicken!!

Here is a little motivation for your Monday!

Finally Friday

Finally it's the freaking weekend...which means nothing to me because the hubs is working the next 4 nights so seeing him is going to be impossible.   Blah blah blah, story of a police wife!  

Anyway, I received a new Advocare product this week and I introduce Coffeccino,  Coffeccino is a chocolate/coffee drink that provides almost the same effect that the Spark does.  It's not terrible, but it's not like the creamy coffee I use to drink but it's a good substitute.  Of course I mixed mine with unsweetened almond milk and it was delish.  

Lunch yesterday was a Trader Joe's turkey burger and sweet potato fries, and grilled asparagus.  OMG this was delicious, colorful and kept us full for a while!

The past 3 nights I have had to work and prepared lunch and dinner every night but yesterday Adam didn't have to work.  The sweet man that he is made me dinner which was Fajitas and Quinoa and it was delicious.  He brought me dinner and also brought my sweet baby dog to see me!  

Friday aka Monday for Adam.  Between our work schedules the next 6 days, we won't be able to see each other much.  Yea that pretty much sucks, but I am counting down the days until next Friday.  We have a whole weekend together with no work or hustles.

So I haven't posted a before gym picture in a while.  This picture was taken back in April before I started working out everyday and eating a straight clean diet.  

This was taken today at the gym.  I am down 12 pounds and 2 dress sizes and feel the best I have ever felt.  I am able to run faster on the treadmill and I can feel myself getting stronger after lifting weights. I'm not stopping now!  OMG this song is my new favorite cardio, treadmill running, song...it is a very motivating song and if it is not on your workout playlist...it should be!!

 

Workout Wednesdays

I hope everyone is having a fabulous week.  Of course we are busy, busy, busy...like we don't ever see each other.  Yesterday we basically spent the day running errands (grocery store, getting Adam's truck inspected and oil changed...) but at least we were together.  We also had a great workout at the gym.  I am so proud of my husband!!  He has lost about 18 pounds this month and has worked so hard.  He has stuck to eating healthy and working out every week.  We were the only ones in the gym so we had to take a gym selfie!

On Monday we had our cheat meal at Bad Daddy Burger, which has like the best burger and fries in Winston Salem.  Adam has been craving a burger so I sacrificed my pizza cheat meal so we could have burgers.  It's been a while since I have had the Bacon Cheeseburger On Steroids and I didn't really miss it.  I had to work later that day and the rest of the afternoon I felt like complete crap.  I couldn't think straight and I felt exhausted and tired.  It was a wake up call that these types of foods are definitely not good for the body.  I love eating healthy and nourish my body with healthy fuel.  

I love this phrase.  I am forever thankful for Advocare for changing my life for better and assisting me in losing weight and getting healthy.  Let me know if anybody has any questions or would like to order Advocare products.  Shop Advocare

Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

So I haven't posted a recipe in a while, because Adam and I basically eat the same things every week.  I decided to change things up.  I made a Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash.  Recipe to follow:

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium spaghetti squash

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 jalapeno pepper, minced (leave seeds for more heat)

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1/2 tablespoon oregano

1.2 tablespoon chili powder

salt and pepper to taste

1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen corn, thawed (I used fresh roasted corn)

1/2 cup freshly torn cilantro, plus more for garnish

lime juice

1 cup of grated cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place whole squash on a baking sheet and roast for 50 minutes,  Let cool for another 30 minutes, then cut in half.  Spoon out the seeds and discard, then scrape up the spaghetti squash flesh with a fork, creating the "spaghetti"

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high.  Add onion, garlic, jalapeno and red bell pepper,  Saute 2 minutes,  Stir in cumin, oregano, chili powder, and a good pinch of salt and pepper.  Saute 1 more minute.  Stir in beans, corn, half of cilantro and lime juice until well combines.  Add the "spaghetti" from each squash to the vegetable mixture and stir to combine.  Taste and season to desired.  

Set oven to broil.  Stuff each squash half with the squash-vegetable mixture and top with grated cheddar.  Broil until cheese melts and gets brown and bubbly, 1-2 minutes.  Sprinkle with remaining cilantro and serve warm. 

You can add grilled chicken or ground turkey if you want to meat but it was pretty good without meat!. 

What I'm Loving About This Week

It's been a fun but busy week.  Monday we had an AMAZING dinner and drinks date with an awesome couple.  It felt so good to have a nice quiet dinner without distractions aka cell phones, with some great friends.  Can I say how thankful I am that I have this chick in my life.  Not only is she fun but she my motivating (female) partner in the journey to getting fit and healthy (Adam is my number one partner).
 

 

Tuesday morning (very early for all of us evening/night shifters) we headed up to Hanging Rock to hike.  The last time I went hiking was June of 2012, 3 months after we got married.  I definitely was not in very good shape and had a hard time hiking.  Basically I was miserable.  I was a little miserable this time because it was like 10 million degrees outside.  I still got a little winded but was able to keep up.  I give props to my girl Sarah for keeping up with me because I know it was hard to do.  I was in that same place 2 years ago but the next time we go hiking we will run up that mountain!

We made it to the top!!  I can't wait to see what other adventures we will have with this fun couple!  Police families have to stick together!!  

It is so crazy to see how much can change in 2 years.  We are happier and healthier now then in our first year of marriage.  Also we did not plan to match, we just think the same...a lot.  

So how cute are we!!  Kiss Kiss on the top of Hanging Rock

Looking forward to the fall weather and more adventures with Mitch and Sarah!!