#healthyme

"It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop" -Confucius

When I decided to start eating better this past Sunday, I knew it would have to be different then all other 85 attempts I have made before. I have been enjoying working with my inkwell press planner, and when i saw they came out with a fitness log, I knew this was perfect for me. Also, my husband has finally admitted that he wants to eat better and even join the gym. That is really what pushed me toward my goals. Nothing is worse for a new workout addiction, to be surrounded by junk food and soda. I have always loved new workout clothes too, so that helped as well ;)

Just wit eating better the past 5 days, I feel happier, lighter, more energized and a better outlook on things. I also have 3 girlfriends that are motivating me to do better. I HAVE to be a better version of myself not only for me, but for my daughter and husband. They deserve someone that can chase our 2 year old around our apartment and up the stairs, and keep a clean home for my family. I couldn't do that before because I was so sluggish, cranky and had no energy. I have to be better for them.

I also feel that if we want to expand our family again, I have to be a healthy body and mind for that to help. I in no way, shape or form, want to gain the amount I did with Brooklynn. To look back at what I ate when I was pregnant with her, I shudder and feel sick. I want to be a healthy weight when I deliver our next baby (whenever that is), so that I can keep up with the 2am feedings and all the new Costco trips for diapers and wipes. 

Have you ever felt so gross and heavy that you didn't want to do anything and just laid around a messy house, with a cranky baby and frustrated husband? Well then keep reading, because I hope to help you understand that you are NOT alone and there is a light at the end of the tunnel... You'll see :) 

Be healthy, Be happy, Be you

Chicken Pot Pie IX

Hello, hello!! As promised, here is the pot pie recipe from last night. I got it from All Recipes and it turned out amazing! Enjoy...

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into small pieces

1 cup sliced carrots

1 cup frozen green peas

1/2 cup sliced celery

1/3 chopped onion

1/3 cup butter

1/3 cup AP flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon celery seed

1 3/4 cup chicken broth

2/3 cup milk

2 unbaked pie crusts(I used Great Value brand and it was delicious)

1. Preheat oven to 425* F

2. In saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and reserve chicken broth for a little later (I put my strainer in a bowl and saved the stock in the bowl).

3. In the same saucepan, over medium high heat, cook onion in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until thick. Remove from hear and set aside.

4. Put 1 pie crust in a greased pie plate and spoon chicken mixture into it. Pour hot broth mixture over the filling. Cover with other pie crust, seal, cut away excess crust and cut slits in crust to let steam escape. 

5. Bake pie on a baking sheet for 30-35 minutes (I cooked mine for 29 mins because my oven was running a little hot) until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Let stand for 30 mins to allow filling to set. Enjoy!

I hope you make it and enjoy it!! 

Feel Good Food

Morning friends!! Today I wanted to post and share my amazing new cookbook I just got.. It's Giada de Laurentiis' and its soooo much more then recipes. She wanted to write a book that wasn't only good food for you, but also lifestyle guidelines. It talks about how this is NOT a diet book, but helping you look at yourself and think the best possible things. 

I have also discovered.... SPINACH!!! Its inexpensive, soooo good for you and can be used so many different ways. I found a GREAT smoothie recipe in her book and here it is!! Enjoy..

Strawberry and Spinach Smoothie with Yogurt

1 1/2 cups ice

1/2 cup water (adjust for consistency)

1/4 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt

1 medium apple

8 medium strawberries (I didn't have any, so I used raspberries. You can use whatever berry you want)

1/2 medium ripe banana

1 packed cup baby spinach leaves

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve!

Let me know what you think.. Enjoy!

Steak Dinner

Good morning everyone! How was your night? Anything good for dinner? I had a great dinner.. Keep reading for all the juicy details!

My honey barbecued the steaks. His had garlic powder and WAY too much pepper(but SOMEONE didn't want to listen to his wife), and he seasoned mine in a yummy Cajun seasoning. Then I made mashed potatoes from Betty Crocker:

8-10 Red potatoes

1/2 cup milk

1/4 tbs butter

Salt

Pepper

Boil potatoes for 20-30 minutes until potatoes pierce easily with fork. Mix potatoes till no lumps remain and gradually add milk. When smooth, add butter, salt and pepper. Enjoy!!

Then for the bread, I sliced up some french bread and put a little drizzle of EVOO on it and took some garlic in a jar and spread that on the bread. Then grilled on stove top until golden brown. YUMM!!

I hope you have as much fun cooking as I do, and let me know if you try out this meal.. Have a great day!

Kelsey's Apple Turnovers

Good morning!! I decided on a whim yesterday that I wanted to make apple turnovers. I pulled a recipe from All Recipes and left out an ingredient and now they are mine! Muahahahahaha!! Here is the recipe.. Enjoy!

Kelsey's Apple Turnovers

2 tablespoons lemon juice

4 cups of water

4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon water

1 (17.25 ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed

***

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons milk

1. Combine the lemon juice and 4 cups of water in a large bowl. Place the sliced apples in the water to keep them from browning.

2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain the water from apples(you might want to dry them on a paper towel or the sauce will be really soupy) and place them into the hot skillet. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Add brown sugar and cinnamon and cook, stirring for 2 more minutes. Stir together the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Pour into the skillet , and mix well. Cook for another minute, or until sauce thickens. Remove from heat to cool slightly. 

3. Preheat oven to 400*

4. Unfold puff pastry sheets, and repair any holes by pressing them back together. Trim each sheet into a square and then cut those squares into fourths. Spoon apples into the center of each smaller square, and fold over corner into a triangle shape. I pressed the sides together with a fork to make a pretty pattern. Place triangles onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, leaving an inch in between each one.

5. Bake for 23-25 minutes in the oven, until turnovers are nice and golden brown. Don't worry if the edges are black, it's probably just the filling that spilled out. Cool completely before glazing.

6. To make the glaze, mix together the powdered sugar and milk. I added a little extra milk because it was a little thick. Drizzle over cooled turnovers and enjoy!

I hope you have a great time making these and post your pictures when you are done!!! 

New Year, New Mama!

Hello Mommy Farley followers!! Its been way too long since I posted something, so I thought I would come back with a bang! I, like everyone, have made a few resolutions this year and I am going to keep them this time. Why is it different this time? Because I have a beautiful baby girl to think about. I don't want to be skinny or a model. That's just not who I am or what I'm meant to be. I just want to be a healthy mom for my baby and for my family. I want to be able to keep up with her and feel good about my self too.

My resolution is simple. "To be a healthier version of myself and to take care of my family". On January 1, I started the Special K Challenge. It said that you are guaranteed to lose 6 pounds in 2 weeks. I was not doing it to lose the weight, I was doing it to cleanse all the bad foods out of my body that I had been eating. And in 1 week, I lost those 6 pounds and felt amazing. I started drinking more water and just being aware of what is going in my body. Now, if I see a French fry and I want one, heck yes!! I will eat those fries. But I'm not going to eat it 5 times a day, everyday. Its all about balance. If you keep yourself from eating what you enjoy, then your body will react in a bad way. Another good thing is to swap. Swap out 2% milk for skim or get a salad instead of fries. I was using honey in my coffee instead of sugar. Just trying to balance my life is really putting everything in perspective.

Something else I am really focusing on, is making our house, into our 'home'. I am in love with Better Homes and Gardens and Everyday with Rachael Ray. I have recently found out that I want to go to Culinary School one day, so I'm enjoying being 'Susie Homemaker'. I am excited to show you all how I am making a better life style for me and for my family. I hope you all are going to stick around for my posts. So excited for what's to come.

1 Month!!

 

Brooklynn Christian Farley is 1 month old today!! Starting on month two, I will be posting the picture with the white board again talking all about her weight gain, length change and all those fun updates!! But for now, this is what I've got!! This time, I'm going to talk about how the first month went!

 

The past month was definitely the hardest! No sleep, crying baby and getting used to the cloth diapers(which are fantastic). Last night, she finally slept ALMOST all night. Only woke up once. We got our newborn pictures done and ordered our birth announcements. Were finally getting a routine down. During the week, I get up during the night so Christopher can sleep since he works and on the weekends, we switch off feedings. But I haven't regretted one second of it. We are finally able to bring her places and I'm really loving our stroller!! Stay tuned for next months update... Love you all!