Flat Belly Update

So I thought I would quickly post an update of how this diet is going and our results so far. My mom is by far "winning" this diet. She has already lost 20 pounds and gone down two sizes! I have to admit that I'm starting to get a little jealous of how fast the weight is coming off and how skinny she is getting. She is only 1 size away from catching up to me. Grr!! I was doing great until my trip to Greenville, SC in late October when I visited all my favorite restaurants and things went downhill from there. My New Year's Resolution is to start counting calories again...right after I shove this bagel with cream cheese down my throat.

My dad actually lost a lot of weight too (10-15lbs) but he has fallen off the band wagon too...of course it doesn't help that my brothers are home for a month on Christmas break. It's crazy how much those two can eat. I'm seriously starting to hope I never have any boys because I'm not sure how I could afford to feed them. My parent's grocery bill has jumped to almost $300 a week to feed them....

Well I'm headed out for a "date day" with my husband while Grandma babysits and then home to dust off my "Flat Belly" Book and find my measuring cups to start counting those calories again

The Skinny on Soup

Soup is amazing. It is filling, can easily be a low-calorie meal and is diverse enough to fit whatever you are in the mood for. I have never been a huge soup fan...because the soup I've always eaten was the nasty, canned , processed stuff. I used to think that making homemade soup was difficult and time-consuming. I could not have been more wrong. Most soups I make simmer 20-40 minutes and are ready to serve, and they taste AMAZING!

Making soup is therapeutic for me too. There is just something about dicing vegetables and turning them into a delicious soup. And seriously, is there anything better than warm soup belly on a cold winter day?

Here are a few staples that I always have on hand that make it a cinch to throw together basically any soup I'm in the mood for:
Fresh Produce (especially root vegetables)
Fresh Herbs
Spices
Frozen steam bag veggies (the ones that have veggies and rice together are awesome)
Canned beans
Dried Rice
Dried Lentils
Dried Barley
Vegetable broth
Canned diced tomatoes
Unsweetened Almond Milk
Tomato Paste


And so I will begin my week long "soup posts" with one of the simpler soup recipes, literally you are just heating this soup up, although if you let it simmer 20-30 minutes the flavor will be much better. This is the only soup I will be posting that isn't literally from scratch.

This recipe is as easy as throwing all of these ingredients into a pot and simmering over low-medium heat.  I call it simply "Mexican Soup".  

• 2 cans of Southwestern Style Corn from Green Giant (which is a mix of corn, onion, red peppers, and black beans, which you could just add separately if you don't want to buy this brand)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (do NOT drain)
• 32 ounce carton of vegetable broth
• 1 bag steamed rice, do NOT steam, throw it in frozen (this one had spinach and tomatoes in it too) If you want to skip this step you can leave it out and then just serve the soup over cooked rice
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1/2t-1t of Red Pepper Flakes if you want some spice

Since all of these items can be kept in either the freezer or pantry it's a nice "go-to" meal when you are short on time and inspiration.

I can't wait to share my "Black Bean and Tomato" soup later this week. It is my new favorite soup!

What I'm Thankful For

I'm thankful for my husband, who makes me laugh even when I'm annoyed with him
I'm thankful for my beautiful daughter who is the happiest toddler I've ever met
I'm thankful for my parents who are letting us live rent free with them for a year while our house sells
I'm thankful for my brothers who don't get too upset when I still try to treat them like they 8 and boss them around
I'm thankful for my mother-in-law and father-in-law who are always there for us
I'm thankful for my two best friends who are always only a phone call away and let me vent whenever I need to
I'm thankful for a job I love, that allows me to work from home so that I don't have to sacrifice watching my daughter grow up
I'm thankful that other than a few minor colds Isabelle has never really been sick
I'm thankful that I've only been sick like twice this year (another benefit of working from home)
I'm thankful that I never have to worry about where my next meal is coming from
I'm thankful for traditions and holidays that bring families and friends together
I'm thankful to live in America...yes it is the greatest country, if you feel otherwise go to any other county and see if a cell phone is considered a "right"
But most of all I'm thankful to God, who is the giver of all things good.

Why I Use Seventh Generation Cleaning Products

Because Isabelle somehow manages to get into every locked cabinet (Does this count as a defective product?)

Because Isabelle thinks the proper way to clean is to dump the dishsoap onto a paper towel and then procede to lick it off.

Because on the back of every bottle it says "Seventh Generation products, while not made to be consumed are not poisonous"  (Ok, so now I don't have to freak out when I find Isabelle with the bottle in her mouth, just have her drink plenty of water)

Because the products clean, just as well, if not better than the ones full of chemicals.

Because if an amazing product can be made with all-natural, plant-based ingredients than why would all those other companies throw extra chemicals in their products?

Because I don't have to take a break half-way through cleaning the bathroom so I don't pass or from the fumes or get a headache...(I just take a break now to sneak off for 15 minutes and read a magazine. Shh!! Don't tell Charles)

So moms, switch to this product and you will be able to have 15 minutes to sneak off and read a magazine, and never worry about where you frantically shoved the toilet bowl cleaner when the guests arrived 15 minutes early and you only have half of your nails painted.....