Blogging for Fishes.... A Sneak Peak

I have been BUSY BUSY working on this recipe book for the 
"Fish" family....

And I am really excited! 

  This is a combined GRASS ROOTS effort by more than 40 bloggers to help raise money, share recipes and spread the word! 

We will release this book on February 25th at a big fundraising event called "Share the Love" fundraiser

at Lone Peak High School

More details here 

(This recipe book will be available to buy online starting March 1st)

You can follow the Fish family over here www.fishesformarrowwishes.blogspot.com

Here is a little sneak peak of the recipes in this book..... 
The recipes are AMAZING!!! 

PLUS LOTS MORE......


This recipe book will be FULL COLOR! 
And will sell for $15.00 (with 50% of the proceeds going directly to the Fish family!)

Coming Soon......

I added a few more FAVORITE chocolate recipes, plus re-designed the recipe cards.  More details and more cuteness coming your way! You are going to WANT this book (plus one for your sister, mom and girlfriends for Valentines day).  6 bucks is as cheap as it gets around here!!! So you better stock up! Stay tuned...this offer is only good February 1st- February 14th. 

P.S. If you already own "When Life Gives you a Chocolate Craving" consider yourself lucky because you now have the original collector's edition!  

(but you are going to want this one too)...

Just sayin.

Roasted Beet Salad

Day 21: Why you need a DAY OF REST! (and me too....)

I love Sunday. Everything goes out the window on Sunday.


I chill out a little, do some cooking, go to church, relax, read good books and try not to think about anything work related!


Because lets be honest.  Everyone needs a day off.  You.....me.....everyone.


We all know that the BIG Guy Upstairs recommended taking a day off in the Bible...... and I was just reading about the Buddha and the Buddhist culture and how they observe a "Sabbath" day or something similar where they CHILL OUT, focus on spiritual matters, their higher self, reconnect etc.


Hmmmmmm there must be some wisdom in the Sabbath Day!!!
 I certainly think so. After a long week, late nights, busy days, hustle and bustle everywhere  WE ALL NEED A DAY TO RECHARGE OUR BATTERIES!  So find a little time today to re-group, look at your goals and for goodness sakes TAKE A LITTLE NAP!   Because finding JOY in health means finding BALANCE.  I hope you have a wonderful Sunday!  Cheers.


P.S.  Lemon Poppy Updates: My intention this month was to create lots of healthy recipes, and share pictures, recipes and "how-to's".....Well that changed a little after I dove head first into the "Fish Family Cookbook" (WHICH I AM REALLY EXCITED ABOUT).  So I have been cooking and taking pictures every day working on this project (and still trying to eat healthy along the way....I actually did not eat any of that chocolate cake below, believe it or not).  Here are few recipes we tried out this weekend..... Also a big thanks to Andrea (my awesome BYU intern) for helping me do the cooking! This book should be available in mid-February...I will keep you posted!

30 Days of Joy: What's for Dinner (DAY 15-19)

YES...I am slacking in the blog department. But I have NOT slacked in the healthy eating AND I FEEL GREAT!  I hope that you are finding JOY in healthy eating too.  Here is what I am learning.


1-Sugar is a drug....but when I am not eating a lot of sugar the craving literally disappears.  I know it's crazy!


2-Food is just AMAZING, and the variety seems endless. If you are bored with cooking, try a new recipe, or take a stroll through Whole Foods.


3- Exercise is fun....and doesn't have to be complicated.


4- Dark chocolate is still my go-to treat.  If it's really dark (85%) than it doesn't take much to satisfy a little craving.  But I don't have to have it.


5- You should enjoy a good cookie, or cupcake once in awhile....I like the 80/20 principle.  Check out this girls blog..... www.eat8020.com 


6- I don't have to be perfect.  Phewwwwww! 




Also I wish I could offer some dinner ideas, but like I have admitted in the past. I rarely use a recipe when it comes to dinner...I know...I know....  But it doesn't have to be complicated.  I usually think Protein plus veggies.  For instance (above picture), marinate and grill a chicken breast.  Make a fresh salad or salsa....a little brown rice, sautee some zucchini and top with parmesan cheese and you are in business.  




And if you don't have time for that...There's always Little Ceasars 5 buck pizza. Josh and I are going to dinner tonight for his birthday (Possibly CHEESECAKE FACTORY) and........... I am pretty sure my kids will be eating Little Ceasars.  So don't stress!  I am over the "Perfection" thing.  If you haven't read this article by Dan Pearce check it out HERE...


Good luck with all your goals and dreams and happy Friday!


Ali

DAY 14: Heart to Heart about 30 Days of Joy

It's Sunday night. Kids are in bed. I am sitting in bed with my laptop. Josh is chillin' here next to me reading a book.  Life is good.

I have been thinking about the last couple of weeks, and my heart is certainly full.  FULL OF JOY! Seriously.

Something magical happens when I organize my life and my health. Everything else falls into place. It is kind of a miracle but I actually get things done (well my husband might disagree....but I think so).  My mind is much less obsessed with "what am I going to eat", and more concerned about personal goals, my kids, my family. And THIS MONTH I really need to be at the top of my game because I have A LOT going on!

In fact I have been working behind the scenes on an even bigger project called "Blogging for Fish's". Even though I have been trying to be diligent with this 30 DAYS my heart is over here thinking and praying for the "Fish" Family, working on this project, designing recipe cards, rallying support from other bloggers so we can raise some SERIOUS CASH for this family in need!

You can check out their family blog over here www.fishesformarrowwishes.blogspot.com 

 I will let you in on more details later.... but in a nutshell I am creating a recipe book of BLOGGER'S Favorite Recipes! It will be a BIG FAT book with lots of amazing recipes and the best part is that the proceeds will benefit the Fish Family!

I feel blessed to be able to help with this project, and I feel even more blessed that God has given me the strength the stick with my goals, stay up til all hours of the nights, find time to get my workouts in and manage to TRULY FIND JOY IN HEALTHY LIVING! When these two projects collided (time-wise) I was a little worried that I could pull it off.  Now I see the BENEFITS of putting my health FIRST and how everything else is falling into place.

So the moral of the story is to START FINDING JOY in whole, delicious, nutritious food and make time for exercise (even just 20 minutes) you will find a renewed HOPE and PASSION to set goals, manage your stress, and follow your bliss!

Good Luck!

DAY 13: Game Day!

If you love the BRONCOS (like we do at our house) than you will need a good recipe for the game tonight.  We are cookin' up some soup, chili and some fresh salsa (recipe below)! 
I know Saturdays are busy but try and get in a 20 minute workout
Pick one of Sara's AMAZING circuits here 
www.workoutwithsara.blogspot.com

Have FUN!!!

Chopped Garden Salsa/Salad

with toasted whole wheat pita chips

SALSA:

1 cup grape tomatoes, chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 yellow pepper, choppe

1 orange pepper, chopped

1 zucchini, chopped

1 jalapeno, chopped

1 bunch of cilantro

1 avocado, chopped

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

Combine ingredients in a large bowl.

(Feel free to use any veggies you have, I also like jicama, yellow squash, cucumbers and anaheim peppers)

DRESSING:

1 clove fresh garlic, minced

1/3 cup olive oil

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 t. dry mustard

3 T. honey

juice of lime

pinch of salt, to taste

Whisk ingredients together and pour over veggies.

Whole Wheat Pita Chips:

10-12 whole wheat pitas or tortillas

3 T. Olive oil

sea salt

Cut pitas/tortillas with a pizza cutter into triangles and arrange on a large baking sheet. Brush pitas with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 350 degrees 20 minutes, stir chips and broil for about three minutes, or until lightly crisped.

DAY 12: More Healthy Treats (Haha....)

Last week my husband Josh said,  "could you add a barcode to the Chocolate Book...we need to re-order it"...So I designed the back cover and then continued to re-design the WHOLE DANG BOOK! I am crazy! Probably spent 30 hours the last 3 days working it!  But I am finally DONE!

Anyways I have been feeling GREAT and having FUN finding JOY in HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD! Thanks to Sara for the great workouts too.  

Here is a nice alternative to the traditional chocolate chip cookie (This recipe is supposed to be similar to Great Harvest's Oatmeal cookie).  Enjoy!

P.S. If you want to read your kids an AWESOME book (one of my favorites) check out this guest post I did over at WannabeBalanced.com

I'll be back tomorrow with some healthy recipe ideas for the BIG football games this weekend! Cheers!

30 Days of Joy-Day 10: Sweet workout with your FRIEND and CHOCOLATE DREAMS!

Tres Hatch the author of Miracle Pill lost 110 lbs (seriously)! 

One of the 10 truths she learned through her
experience
was to have a TREAT EVERY DAY!
YES you heard me right!  

She says... in order to stick to a LONG TERM healthy eating plan
you should allow yourself a treat
every day....
As long as you are eating healthy meals and snacks, and an abundance
 of fruits and vegetables it is OK to spoil yourself once in awhile
and find JOY in CHOCOLATE!

HALLELUJAH! 

Now here's the workout for today...It looks really FUN..

 PLUS you can enjoy this workout with a friend, your spouse or kids.
Keep it up! You rock!

P.S. The picture above is for Molten Chocolate Cake and this recipe will be in the second edition of my "Chocolate" book coming in 2 weeks!  This recipe simply has dark chocolate (antioxidants right?), eggs (high protein) and a little sugar.... served with fresh fruit....A perfect little treat.