Rules to Live By

These are some tidbits/snippets/tips/do's and don'ts on eating clean

Dinner tonight

So one thing I'll say is I like to eat clean but I also think a home-cooked meal is great! Our grandparents didn't go wrong when they ate on the farm with just meat and potatoes.

Here's whats on the menu for dinner tonight:

Oven baked spare ribs
Brown rice
baked beans (I use a can of Pork and Beans**)

This recipe is adapted from PackMomma.com

• 2 lb spareribs
• 1/8 cup Creole seasoning
• 3/4 cup tomato puree
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium)
• 1 tbl brown sugar
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp of cayenne pepper (optional for heat)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. 
2. Generously sprinkle both sides of your ribs with Creole seasoning 
3. Lay your ribs on a cooking pan and cover the pan well with foil so that no steam will escape. Slide pan into your oven and cook for 30 minutes.
4. In a saucepan, add tomato puree, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, and spices. 
5. Bring to a low boil, stirring constantly. 
6. Once boiling, lower the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. 
7. Remove from the heat and let cool to slightly thicken up the sauce.
8. After your ribs have cooked for 30 minutes, carefully remove the foil (watch the steam!) and using a basting brush, cover both sides of your ribs with the BBQ sauce. 
9. Recover pan and return the oven for another 20 minutes. 
10. When the 20 minutes have passed, remove the pan again, take off the foil and carefully drain out the excess liquid from the bottom of the pan. 
11. Coat all sides of your ribs heavily in sauce and cook uncovered for another 20 minutes, turning on the broiler for the last 10.

FYI this recipe is kid tested! Connor ate this up and juuuust enough left overs for lunch tomorrow.

**Pork and beans is about as healthy as you can get for canned beans. Compare the nutritional labels for each:      You're Welcome!

Van Kamp's Pork and Beans

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1/2 cup (130g)
Servings Per Container about 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 110 Calories from Fat 10
	% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g		2%
	Saturated Fat 0g	0%
	Trans Fat 0g
	Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
	Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg		0%
Sodium 390mg		16%
Total Carbohydrate 23g		8%
	Dietary Fiber 6g	24%
	Sugars 7g
Protein 6g

  

Vitamin A 0%	Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 4%	Iron 8%

Bush's Baked Beans

Serving Size: 1/2 cup (130g)
Amount per size:
Calories 140Calories from fat 10		%DV*
Fat	1g	2%
Saturated Fat	0g	-%
Trans Fat	0g	-%
Cholesterol	0mg	-%
Sodium	550mg	23%
Potassium	-	-%
Carbohydrates	29g	10%
Dietary Fiber	5g	20%
Sugar	12g	-%
Protein	6g	-%
Vitamin A	-	-%
Vitamin C	-	-%
Calcium	-	4%
Iron	-	10%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Reading recommendation for beginners

I've used a few sources to help with my workouts and clean eating. Here are my top 3 choices that are definite musts to check out!

First is to learn how to properly workout

Bodybuilding.com

This website is not just for the "meat-head" types and as a woman,

you aren't going to get all bulky and manly unless you're an actual 

fitness model and your life revolves around workouts.

Build your workout plan, print out sets and even watch videos on

proper form for working out.

The Abs Diet for Women

Abs Diet for Women was like a Bible that I carried around with me for weeks. The workouts are ok but the meal planning and what you can learn from it will teach you everything you wanted to know (and some you didn't want to know) about the nutrition facts label and what all those big words mean. 

Even has a whole list of items of what you should always have in your pantry and fridge.

Link to Amazon for purchase

Personal Blogs

Alexa Jean Fitness

Now of course I would promote a personal blog

any chance I can since I have one. I really like

Alexa Jean because she is a mom like me and

her exercise plans and eating is realistic. (Hey I'm

not trying to be GI Jane here!)

Check all these out! What do you have to lose ;-)

Sunday evening ...back to reality

The weekend in Fort Worth was so much fun. Andrew and I survived our first trip together! lol I've never been to Fort Worth so it was nice to experience something different. It reminds me a little of Austin and midtown Houston too. The evening was spent Saturday night with Andrew's college buddy whom was having a 30th birthday party at a local watering hole. Here's some pics to showcase our weekend fun..

Here's a pic of the cool hallway in the hotel. The Shining anyone?!

 Me and my honey, Andrew, at the Fort Worth Water Gardens. Suuuuper hot outside but definitely a good choice for tourists.












Soooo, I'm a little (ok a lot) scared of heights. All those people walking down the steps into the waterfall looked to be having a lot of fun. Good for them!












My dream man taking me out to lunch.

At the late night bar...this St Bernard was huuuuge! Thats me holding her head. That smile is hilarious. Hahaha









All in all it was a great time and I can't wait for our next trip somewhere. We're trying to take one trip a month. Somewhere driving distance anyway for the weekend. So more adventures to come!!

The Beginning of a Beautiful Weekend...continued

My fun filled weekend has commenced! Honey and I drove to Forth Worth last night to go to a dear friend of his' birthday party. We came in a night early to see the sites. I have never been to Fort Worth and since he's a TCU alum, this is basically his home town.

First impression, very pretty area. Reminds me a little of West U around the University. He took me to Buffalo Bros on campus. His favorite dive bar and grill. The food critic in me will give it a 9 in ambiance and a 6 in food. (They had Shiner Bock...that's a plus!)

Here's the link if you're interested... Buffalo Bros Texas

So just to give a short rundown...Andrew and I have been dating for 5 months. It's perfect bliss too. He's like another half of me and the nicest person, not just man, I've ever met. And he loves Connor too! 

Anywho, I'm up this morning about to hit the gym for a run in our hotel then out on the town for the day!

Happy Saturday all!!

Beginning of a beautiful weekend

Connor is off with his dad for his usual every other weekend of playing video and other boy-related activities that I would probably disapprove of. (Like staying up late and eating pizza for 3 meals a day)
So I try and busy myself with activities where I don't have to think about it.

Tonight: Sip and Skimm

If you haven't heard of The Skimm yet, go ahead and check it out and you too will love it!
Anyway today is The Skimm's third birthday so the Houston "Skim People" are getting together for a fun little mixer. This is apparently what people do in the city. Mingle.

Litte did I know that this event that was supposed to have over 100 people there only had a small table of 10 when I arrived. Correction... Andrew and I arrived. I brought my boyfriend to an event that turned out to be a bunch of girls having happy hour. Yikes! We went in, saw the table and turned right around and back out! lol

I would NEVER subject a man to have to sit with a bunch of women at a table.

Anyway, we ended up having a great night and went to RA Sushi for drinks then stopped and got pizza on the way home.

Oh! By the way, I love love LOVE pizza. Could literally eat it every day. So imagine my surprise when I start dating a guy and find out he has the same love love LOVE for pizza as me. It's a match made in heaven! Next post I'll fill you in on how we met. It's a real doozy!

Here I Am

What brought me here...

Well this is a question I haven't figured out the answer to. As you may have read in my bio, I've had an interesting couple of years. Before that I was pretty much boring I think. I'm not any much more special now, I've just finally grown up and decided to get a life. 

A little about me....I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. And I love it here. I always thought I would go to a big university and become a doctor or a lawyer and be the success story of my family. While I didn't go that route, I am pretty darn happy with what I've turned out to be. 

Just last month I took a big leap and moved from the suburbs to downtown Houston. West University to be exact. I work around the Houston area and it became increasingly difficult to drive the hour and a half home to pick Connor (thats my son) up from daycare. I chose West U because its the only area that was reasonably priced that had the best elementary school inside the loop. Connor starts kindergarten this fall. Yay! 

I have to say I've been having more fun than I've ever had in my life living downtown. My apartment is quiet and comfortable and Connor is discovering what 'brunch' means. haha

Its pretty much just us two. I am dating the most amazing man I've ever met (more about that later) and have a career that I absolutely love. 

I also enjoy cooking and making cakes. Like the Cake Boss kind of cakes. Its more of a Love/Hate relationship but it bides my time when Connor is with his dad.

So I think I'll just go through my life and anything that seems interesting to me might be interesting to you! 

Please feel free to comment, ask questions or just read..

The Little Person That Calls Me Mom

My baby boy, Connor

This kid....he is my absolute world. I know all moms are supposed to say that but he really is. He's slowly but surely turning into exactly the kid I was at his age (which is 5).
Here's the facts:
Born February 22, 2010-----a week after my birthday
8lbs 10oz
22 inches long
C-section (thank God) after 19 hours of hard labor since my epidural didn't work and he never decended.

Hello There!

I would say, like some parents that are divorced and raising a kid, that its hard but it really hasn't been. Connor is really easy and understanding with the whole thing. I'm lucky to be one of those moms who ex-husband is still involved in his son's life. And he loves his Daddy.

I'll use this page to talk about all things kids. I'll share my experiences with my little man and any tips and tidbits I can share. Being a single mom means you have to improvise a little...be the mom and dad.

He loves Karate and baseball and has

Cake Gallery

Cake Gallery

So here is pics of the cakes I've made. These are in order of when I made them So hopefully they've gotten progressively better!

2012- This is the first cake I did for Connor's 3rd birthday
It was an absolute nightmare to make with my laptop in front of me watching YouTube videos. Yikes

 2012-Next a friend had a 30th birthday a few months later. Had to try out the Tiffany Box. This one was really fun

This smash cake and the cake pops above were for a 4 year old outdoor party. Note to self: cold cake pops don't last too long in Texas heat!

Awww. My nephew Travis turned 5 and was soooo excited to have a Monsters Inc Cake

2013-My favorite cake of all time! I started experimenting with flavors. This one was amaretto almond cake with buttercream filling

Another work cake. Strawberry shortcake

Anyone for a bowl of Pho?? All edible chocolate on top. Peanut butter cream filling in a french vanilla cake

Think I'm getting the hang of the kid's birthday parties ;-)

2014---2nd favorite cake for an anniversary party

Connor's 4th birthday. Whoo this was a heavy one!

Graduation time! Fresh strawberry filling. chocolate on chocolate. All edible 

Connor's 5th birthday. Gosh time does fly

Baby shower cake. Strawberry cream cheese filling with french vanilla.

So this was me...

So this was me back in 2013....I worked my little arse off to get to a post-baby weight I was happy with. Not even a weight for me. But I got to a fit level that made me want to put a bikini on.


Wellllll! It's time to get back on the wagon..After the divorce and working hard to get my career where I'm happy, I went from going to the gym 4-5 days a week to mayyyybe 2-3.




Here's me back in May 2015

Lets just say I'm not looking like that right now either. So much for getting bikini ready in the summer! Anyway, I'll share my tips, thoughts and complete meltdowns with you....