Thanksgiving countdown

Great article I got from weight watchers written by: Elly Trickett McNerney


Follow this “to do” list all month long to stay on top of your holiday game plan.

Some people thrill at the thought of hosting Thanksgiving; others pall at the notion of gigantic, slippery turkeys, solid logs of canned cranberry and a house full of guests. Whichever group you fall into, we’ve taken the guesswork out of it with this checklist.


Early November
*Plan your menu – decide which items can be made ahead of time and frozen.
*Make sure you have the proper kitchen equipment, and plan out your cooking times. You won’t be able to put everything in the oven at once.
*Prepare guest list and send invitations.
*Familiarize yourself with our Best-Ever Slimmed-Down Turkey and Gravy recipe.
*Figure out what size turkey you’ll need, and order it.
*Make turkey stock and freeze it.
*Decide on your table setting/room décor/music, and pick an overall theme.
*Put together a list of kid activities to keep them busy.
*Because it’s a busy time be sure to create a workout schedule – it will keep your weight-loss on track and help with stress. *Even on the most time-crunched days, you can fit in a 20-minute walk.
*Ask for some of your guests to bring dishes so you don’t have to do it all.
*Make a double batch of low PointsPlus® values soup, and a warming casserole or lasagna, and freeze in single and double-size portions so you’ll have a few homemade meals ready for that last week. Try this Spicy Black Bean Soup, a Greek-inspired *Meat Moussaka or the delicious and easy Slow Cooker Lasagna.

Saturday November 19
*Go shopping for make-ahead or non-perishable items including drinks.
*Clean the house.

Sunday November 20
*Have a fun family day — go for a bike ride, have a chilly weather picnic (think soups in a flask and bundling up in layers), or just chill out with some board games and Mulled Apple-Cranberry Cider.
*Make pie crusts, cakes, bread — and get the family to help.

Monday November 21
*Prepare table setting — polish silver, make sure glasses sparkle, press linens, assemble serving platters.
*Start defrosting turkey.
*Make the Cranberry-Orange Relish

Tuesday November 22
*Get a start on side dishes. This frees up your counter space!
*Make the Stuffing with Sage and Chives — it keeps for three days in the fridge.
*Assemble the Pumpkin Pie with Graham Cracker Crust and Caramel-Apple Tart.
*Shop for remaining food items such as bread, salad greens
*Make ice cubes.

Wednesday November 23
*Steam the Brussels sprouts and prepare the turkey bacon for the Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts.
*Make the Dark Chocolate Cake
*Defrost turkey stock.
*Set the table.
*Chill beer, soda, white wine.
*Treat yourself to a mani/pedi or a blowout.

Thanksgiving day
*7:30am: Take the turkey out of the fridge. Double-check when you need to put your turkey in the oven, remembering to leave enough time for preheating.
*8am: Have a hearty breakfast with plenty of protein and fiber, like this Asparagus, Bacon and Cheese Strata, to keep you going while you prepare the meal, and to cut down on the likelihood of nibbling.
*10:30am: Prepare the Apple-Topped Mashed Sweet Potatoes, put in the fridge.
*12:30pm: Have a light lunch low in PointsPlus values to keep you going so you don’t overdo it at dinner. Take some time after your lunch to have a cup of tea and read a book, even if it’s just 20 minutes hiding in the bathroom. Make it known that interruptions are unwelcome — and unwise!
*2:30pm: Put the Apple-Topped Mashed Sweet Potatoes in the oven.
*3:00pm: As guests arrive welcome them with appetizers, low-fat cheeses, olives, wine, and 0 PointsPlus values dips.
*3:15pm: Put the Stuffing with Sage and Chives in the oven.
*3:30pm: Take the turkey out of the oven, make the gravy.
*3:45pm: Finish making the Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts.
*4pm: Bon appétit!
*6pm: Rouse your household for a brisk walk — minus two designated clearer-uppers. (They can earn activity PointsPlus values for cleaning if they do it with gusto!)
*7pm: Make sure leftovers are safely stored. If you’re feeling generous, prepare doggy bags for guests.

Friday
*Check out the Food and Recipes section of WeightWatchers.com for creative ways to spruce up leftovers.
*Plan your food and activity for the weekend — many people fall off the wagon, often because they feel they’ve been “good” on Thanksgiving itself.
*Get a good workout in, to motivate you to stay on track between now and the holidays.

10 Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays

When celebrating the winter festivities, don't forget to keep holiday pet dangers in mind. It may require some changes to your normal decorating or dining routine, but these tips can help you create a pet-safe holiday that is fun for the whole family.

10. Practice fire safety. Nothing looks nicer than a Thanksgiving table aglow with candles. But be sure to never leave any fire unattended particularly when you have pets in the house. Not only can curious whiskers get burned, if a candle is knocked over by a wagging tail, it can lead to a serious fire.

9. Hoard the people food. Although it’s tempting to give your pets a taste or two from your Thanksgiving plate, too much human food can be bad for your pet’s health. For more about what people food to share and not to share over the holidays, click here.

8. Hide the breakables. Holiday feasts can mean bringing out treasured items like Great Aunt Mae’s fine china or your finest stemware. Just remember that your beloved pets don’t know the value of these items, and they could get broken. So if you have favorite, breakable decorations or table settings, be sure to keep them out of reach.

7. Watch out for toxic plants. Many holiday plants, including mistletoe, holly, poinsettia, and even that beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece of lilies can be toxic to pets. If you must decorate with these holiday pet dangers, keep them well away from curious paws and mouths.

6. A toast to everyone’s health. When you raise that glass of holiday bubbly, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where Fluffy or Fido can’t sneak a taste. Alcohol and pets simply don’t mix. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill, go into a coma or worse.

5.How sweet it isn’t. Although many people like to leave out chocolates for visitors throughout the holidays, it’s important to remember that these sweets are major pet dangers. Chocolate is tasty for you, but it’s toxic for Fluffy and Fido.

4. Keep the lights high. Many people enjoy decorating with strings of lights during the holidays, but do so with caution. Twinkling lights make a shiny toy, but they’re not safe to play with or chew on. Keep your celebrations shock-free by hanging lights up high.

3. Don’t decorate with food. Strings of cranberries and popcorn can be a beautiful way to liven up your household, and a fun project to do with your kids, but they’re holiday hazards for pets. Even if the food on the string isn’t toxic for Fido or Fluffy, they may end up eating the string—and that can cause serious health problems.

2. Steer clear of tinsel town. Tinsel is more than just a glittery decoration. If your pets eat it, it can cause intestinal problems that require a trip to the veterinarian.

1. Wrap it up. If you like to display your holiday presents, watch out for ribbons, bells, and other small toys that can present a choking hazard for your pet. If there are any dangerous-looking gifts, it may be a good idea to hide them safely in a closet until it’s time to open them—or open them right away. After all, no one can accuse you of being rude if you’re doing it to have a pet-safe holiday.

M.A.C. Ice Parade

Okay, I LOVE M.A.C. Make-up and right now they have their new holiday collection for sale called Ice Parade. They come out with new collections all the time and I normally look, but don't buy. However, I have to share with you this one because they have a brush kit on sale! And when they are on sale you have to take advantage. I got my first brush kit over5 years ago and it still works great! It is worth the money you pay for good brushes. And if you were to buy them all separately you would pay a lot more. Here are some of the kits, and they come with a cute bag





Take a look at the make-up sets too. They are all a great deal, and honestly the only time I splurge on M.A.C. is when they sell these sets. Happy shopping!

Turbokick Instructor Training

Well, if you know me, you know I LOVE Turbokick. Turbokick is a class I started taking at 24 hour fitness back when I was 19. Ahem, that was 8 years ago. It is my favorite class at the gym! When I was 21 I used to take a 5:30 am class at my gym and one morning my instructor was being watched by a manager, I assume. After the class, the manager approached me and gave me her card. She told me my form and energy were great and 24 hour fitness was having a training in a couple of weeks and that I should consider it. I thanked her for the information and I though about it. I thought, well, sine I am doing the class anyway, I might as well get paid for it right? So, I thought I would do it, but when the day came, I realized I had another engagement on that day, so I missed it. I have done turbokick on and off at the gym ever since.
Then last August, I weighed myself and when I saw that I had gained 25 lbs since I got married (in less than a year), I made a serious choice to lose weight. I started going back to the gym which of course meant gong back to my turbokick class because it was a high intensity work out and so much fun!
Sometime a few months after, I was introduced to a company called Beachbody. Beachbody is the company that is responsible for making workout videos such as the popular P90X & Insanity. As I did research on Beachbody, I became a club member so I could discounts. I also found some products from Chalene Johnson. And as I did research on her I found that she was the inventor of TURBOKICK! She is also a motivational speaker, which is right up my alley. I fell in love with her, lol. Okay not literally, but I have learned SO much from her about fitness, productivity, positivity, motivation.....etc. I ordered her newest workout video Turbofire and with the help of that, the gym and weight watchers I have lost 19 lbs.
So, with all that babbling and background information, my point is, since I am in better shape now, I have decided to go for the Turbokick instructor training. I have been practicing in classes at 24 hour fitness and at home with Turbofire and I am pretty confident I can do it. The only thing that is making me nervous is that I have no idea what to expect. It is an 8 hour training so I hope I have enough stamina. Any encouraging words would be helpful from you. Here is a video of what I will be doing if I make the cut....

Mail!

Unless I am expecting something (like some lia sophia jewelry), checking the mail is a chore. I hate getting junk mail & bills. I'm not sure why I have so much mail everyday. Anyway, today was different, I got catalogs! I love getting catalogs! It's where I get all my fashion tips and make-up tips! I just look at the models and copy their looks with less expensive items. These are some of the things that came in the mail today (excuse my crappy camera pictures):



Ulta is the girly-girl's sanctuary. I could spend hours in this store. And sometimes I do. I get a bit overwhelmed at times, but it's only because I want everything and can't afford it. There are so many things I want to try out everytime I browse around.
One thing I love about this piece of mail is, right off the bat, you get a coupon. I love these! I never buy anything from Ulta unless I have a coupon, because they give you one once a month! They are dependable.
The second thing I love about this catalog is it's PINK! Yes, pink as in color, but what I mean is pink for national breast cancer awareness month. If you don't know, October is national breast cancer awareness month & tons of businesses join the cause and go pink. Ulta's whole catalog highlights their pink items and they also have a goodie bag valued at $598 they are donating to someone who enters their raffle for only $1. My favorite "pink" item is the 4 piece Ulta professional travel brush set complete with a cute pink bag for only $15! Good brush's are a must for applying make-up effectively and that's a steal!

Have I bored you yet? Good. The next thing I got was the Fall Victoria's secret catalog!

Victoria's secret! You know what that means.....COATS! Haha, you thought I was gonna say undies, huh? I LOVE Victoria's Secret coats ever since I bought my first one in 2008. To this day, it is my favorite coat and is still in tip top shape. I buy my coats online because they offer online codes for discounts and free shipping. And right now, all coats are 20% off! This one's my fav:

Oh my goodness, se what an exciting day it is, there's more! My October issue of Marie Claire! This is where I get all my fashion tips. I cut out pictures of outfits I want to replicate & look for boots! I LOVE boots & coats!

Next up! My Mary Kay catalog. I use Mary Kay's anti-aging products which is probably why people never guess that I am 27 :) I have young looking skin. And I intend to keep it that way. I love that the catalogs show you exactly where to put your make-up. It's very helpful and easy to learn that way, if you are not familiar with putting on make-up. Here is a link to the catalog


Last, but not least, KOHLS! I LOVE kohls! It's the only place that rewards me for my shopping! I only shop there when I know they are giving kohls cash. That way everytime I go, I am getting a discount! And of course, I will use this $10 off card that came in the mail. Duh!


Phew! My fingers are about to cramp up from all that writing. I'm going to bed!

Nailed it!!!

Okay, so I have more nail polish than I know what to do with! So, I am currently obsessed with having my nails look clean and polished at all times. How the heck do the Kardashians do it? I'm not sure if I am the only one, but I just can not keep my nail polish on for longer than a day without it chipping. I wash dishes almost everyday and um, yes, I take a shower everyday. All that water leads to the ends of my nails chipping. I have yet to find a top coat that keeps my polish on. So anyway, I've had a lot of suggestions to try Sally Hansen Salon Effects and I haven't tried them yet. I found a great deal online from Deal Pulp which is another "deal finder" website I am subscribed to and right now they have some patterned nail strips on sale for $5.50. You can check them out here. I am going to buy some and I'll let you know how they work. And if anyone can comment and let me know if you've used any of these and if you like them. That would be very helpful. Thanks a bunch!

Dedicated to my mom

Today is my mom's birthday and I thought I'd do a little something special and dedicate this blog to her.
She is incredible. The best mom I could have ever asked God for. My brother & I are blessed beyond belief to have such a caring and loving mother. And so are our spouses. Every year I get older I appreciate her so much more. Here are some of her great qualities:
*Caring
*loving
*compassionate
*giving
*smart
*fun
*fashionable
*dedicated
*motivated
*organized
*natural leader
and I'm sure if you knew her you could add a lot more.
I love our times together. Every other week we go grocery shopping together and she has taught me many tricks. I look forward to telling her how my week has gone and I can give her all my random thoughts and she listens. I love calling her at work in the morning when I remember something I have to tell her. She is my best friend.
And of course I LOVE our shopping dates. For as long as I can remember, we have always gone shopping together and it hasn't changed. I used to love back to school shopping the best. She is my favorite partner. Actually, she is my only shopping partner. We love to shop when there is a sale and can save money!
When she knows I'm coming over after work she always has food prepared. I love that she thinks of those little things.
She does so much more than I can explain and in my adult years I would always think to myself, "I will pay her back someday" but in all honestly, there is no way I can ever pay her back. She has done so much for me all these years and I can never come close to doing for her what she has done for me. All I can do is promise that I will do the same things for my children and let them know to thank their grandmother for giving me such a great life. And Jesus of course.
Mom, if I haven't told you lately how much I love you, here it is. I love you more than I can show or say and I hope today is filled with all the joy and happiness God can give you because you deserve every bit of it. Happy birthday!

Las Vegas to San Francisco

Wow deal! Right now you can book a flight to San Fran for $119 round trip. I so wish I had money for this right now. I absolutely LOVE SF! We had such a blast when we went last year for Labor day. We stayed in this little (and when I saw little, I mean little) hotel in Chinatown where every morning we would wake up to some sort of asian violin sounding instrument. We took the bus and cable cars every where and ate lots of delicious food. I mean, of course being the foodies we are we researched all the great food spots from the food and travel channel. Sigh. Anyway, here is the deal if you want to take a last minute trip. Ask me for recommendations.
Fly.com

Sick & blogging

Hi there! Thought I'd just update my friends & family on my oh so wonderful life :)
I am at home right now, in bed sick with a viral infection. Actually, I am feeling a lot better today that I have the past 2 days. Yesterday was the worst. I was at work, wearing two sweaters, wit my portable heater on and I was literally shivering. My whole body was aching and I was feeling nauseous. I left work early and drove to my parents house without the a/c on and it felt good. For those of you who live in Las Vegas, you know why it's a big deal that I mention that. I took a nap until my doctors appointment and when I woke up I was sweating like I just ran a marathon! I had a temperature of 101.6. The doctor could hear my stomach rumbling and gave me an anti-viral medication that I started last night. Along with doing the whole switch-a-roo with tylenol & ibuprofen for my fever & lots of gatorade, I've been feeling a lot better today.
Happy to say I've lost 2 lbs since I've been sick, lol. Juuuuuust kidding. Definitely not the way I want to lose weight. But my weight-loss has hit a plateau and this week I was supposed to be tracking and measuring everything I ate and take to my weight watchers leader so we could see where I was going wrong. However, due to my sickness that will have to wait until next week. I am still down 8 pounds and my goal is to continue to lose 3 lbs per month until March 2012 and I will be at my final goal! I am very excited about that! I love this process because I am learning so much about portion control and how important it is to watch what you're putting in your body. And I am loving working out again. When I started working out at age 20 I really enjoyed it then when I got married I dreaded it. But I am back to loving it again. I love my turbofire & I am training myself to become a turbokick instructor in November. I can't wait. A little nervous, though.
I also want to train to run a half marathon in December here in Las Vegas. I've done a 5k before and now I want to take another step. Only one thing....I have no idea how to train. I don't know much about running. WHat kind of shoes do I wear? What's the best clothing? When's the best part of the day? How do I stretch? I need help on these things. Hopefully i can find a running partner.
Anywway, that's a little update on me. I wish I had time to blog everyday. I have a lot of thoughts I could share. And if you know me, that could be good or bad :)
See ya soon!

My weight loss journey

So, I have been on my weight loss journey since last August. I have been doing different things to lose the weight (because I get bored fast) but the constant is eating well & exercising. I have not done diets. I hate diets! They all work of course....but only for a short amount of time, then most people gain the weight back, so I am totally against diets! I am all about working out wether it be at the gym, a workout video or outdoor activities. Just as long as you're doing it consistently. Last Summer I was very good at going to the gym, then I got busy. So, I have been doing my turbofire workouts at home (which I absolutely love).
My parents joined weight watchers in January and they were both doing so great. So my sister in law and I decided that we were going to join and keep each other accountable. I am now on my 8th week and I have lost 7.4 lbs. I absolutely LOVE the program because I don't have to cut anything out, I just need to make healthier choices and every once in a while I can splurge on a dinner out with my hubs if I want. It truly does teach you how to change your eating lifestyle. I will definitely stay with the program and continue to go to the meetings because they are so motivating. I hope to be a leader one day.
So the result of my journey so far is.....I have lost 15 pounds since last August. Not bad huh? I would like to lose 15 more but I will be happy with 10 :)
Here is a before & present picture:

BEFORE (last Summer)

(I'm all the way to the right)

PRESENT

Lia Sophia annual Conference- NEXT!

Hi there! It's been a few months huh? I was e-mailed today by an old friend that said she enjoyed my blog & I was reminded of how I love blogging. I love to know how my friends & family are doing so, I hope they think the same of me :)
Anyway, last month we had our annual lia sophia conference and this is the 3rd one I have attended. They seem to get better and better every year. Lia sophia makes big announcements every year and these are the biggies for this year

One thing is definitely for sure: The new season is starting off BIG. Opening Session on Sunday brought a variety of exciting announcements from Tory and Elena Kiam, and for the first time ever, was broadcast live online. Here’s a quick look at what was revealed:

A New Look For lia sophia!
Bright, modern and totally fun – we’re sporting a new look and color (purple!) that reflects our style. Beginning in July, you’ll see our updated look appearing on everything, from Fall/Winter 2011 collection jewelry boxes to the corporate Web site and more.

Re-designed Corporate Web Site
We’ve given a makeover to www.liasophia.com! Check out our clean and sophisticated look.

New Catalog and a Fabulous Jewelry Collection
The model on the cover of the Fall/Winter 2011 Catalog may look familiar: It’s supermodel Niki Taylor! Inside the Catalog, you’ll find 350 entirely new styles that are right on trend with all of the most current looks in fashion. Plus, Elena Kiam adds her own insight by highlighting select pieces and offering her styling tips.

Even More Jewelry – Introducing Special Edition Collections
In addition to the Catalog jewelry collection, we’re now offering a series of Special Edition jewelry collections throughout the year. These capsule collections will feature approximately 15 jewelry styles that capture the hottest looks of the moment.

More Selling Opportunities
From July 11 through end of fiscal July 2011, you can sell from THREE Catalogs: the Spring/Summer 2011 Catalog, the Fall/Winter 2011 Catalog and the Special Edition Catalog!

Elena Kiam Steps Into New Role
Elena Kiam is taking on greater involvement in lia sophia® in her new role as Creative Director. She will add her expertise to the fashion direction of the company, sharing her unique style and offering motivation through a regular blog on the corporate Web site, video updates and more.


On Monday, Clinton Kelly of TLC’s What Not To Wear discussed fashion and gave his distinctive take on how to look your best always. His best advice? “You be you!” Business accomplishments were celebrated on stage with the presentation of many awards, and Go for No!® hosted a great breakout session that’s sure to inspire many to overcome their fear of hearing the word “no.”

Tuesday brought an inspirational talk from Academy Award-winning actress Geena Davis, along with more award presentations, business news and breakout sessions. That night, we held our spectacular end-of-Conference party: The lia sophia Fashion Soiree at the Milwaukee Art Museum. From great food to a full night of dancing, it was the perfect way to end an amazing three days.

Want a recap video? Click here



And here are some pics so you can see what it's like:







You can view the rest of my pictures on my facebook page here

6 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Kitchen

I got this from my monthly Beachbody newsletter & thought it would be a good read for you.

By Joe Wilkes

It's almost springtime, which for a lot of us means it's time to do a deep-clean of our homes—throwing out the old, organizing the new, storing the winter clothes, and getting ready for warmer weather and a fresh start. For others, it's the beginning of another season of denial about how squalid our living conditions have become. Even more than New Year's, spring is a good time to make some new resolutions and create an environment that'll make us want to keep them. Here are some ideas for getting your kitchen into shape.


Out with the old. I like to think of my refrigerator as a cabinet of hope. Most times, it's full of fruits and vegetables, purchased in a fit of confidence that I would steam and stir-fry my way to a slimmer me. Then I end up going out to restaurants with friends, and my Sunday produce ends up looking pretty bad by week's end. Yet, unbelievably, I leave it all in my refrigerator with the hope that it'll somehow return to a state of edibility. Similarly, expired dairy products and aging condiment bottles litter my shelves, the result of my misguided optimism that they too will come back in fashion—like my '80s wardrobe will, if I just wait long enough. I'm here to tell you, however, that there's been no grocery miracle in my refrigerator these many years. And now, it's time to give the expired residents of this frosty food hinterland a proper burial.

First thing to do: Get rid of everything that even looks old. Be merciless. If it's past the expiration date, throw it out. If it doesn't have an expiration date, throw it out. Another scourge in my fridge is the many plastic containers filled with leftovers. I don't remember exactly what meal they are left over from, but I can't recall anything that included frizzy mold as an ingredient. Much of the reason the containers languish in the back of the fridge is because I'm avoiding the horror of having to wash out the science experiment they've become. This year, I'm going to throw money at the problem, and throw out the leftovers in their containers without ever lifting the lid. Then, I will treat myself to shiny, new plastic containers as a reward for my new hygienic lifestyle. Additionally, if my plastic cutting boards are beyond bleaching, it's a good annual tradition to replace them.

Out with the bad. While I'm gripped in the mania of throwing away all the food that has literally turned to garbage, I'm also going to throw away the food that's metaphorically garbage. All the unhealthy snack foods that lure me away from my healthy eating plan are going to have to go. I'm evicting the half-full bags of tortilla and potato chips from my cupboards. Ben and Jerry's® are moving from the freezer to the dumpster. Any empty-calorie snacks I can steal a spoonful or handful of and pretend they don't count have to hit the road. Once I clear the cupboards and refrigerator, I can go to the store and load up on healthy staples, whose temptations I won't have to resist.

In with the new. Now that the refrigerator's clean and the cupboards are bare, it's time to shop. Stock up the larder with delicious, healthy foods from the first two tiers of Michi's Ladder. And make sure to get lots of easy-to-prepare snacks to keep within easy reach when hunger pangs hit. Great snacks include cottage cheese, nonfat yogurt, hummus, salsa, and raisins. Instant oatmeal, whole-grain cereals, and egg whites are good to have on hand for breakfast. And foods like brown rice, dried beans, canned broths, water-packed tuna, and frozen fruits and vegetables are good staples to always keep in supply for mealtime. Of course, you should also try eating plenty of fresh produce, seafood, and lean meats. Just don't be like me and go crazy at the Sunday farmers' market only to have to throw food away at the end of the week. Buy enough perishable items to last a couple of days, then make short trips to the supermarket or farmers' market during the week. Your food will taste better and fresher, and you won't have a CSI episode in the crisper drawer at the end of the week.

When life gives you lemons . . . I know I've talked a lot about throwing all your produce away. But some of it can do a little cleaning work for you before it hits the compost bin. Lemons are very acidic, and their juice is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic. You can use lemon juice to bleach countertop stains and shine up metal. And it makes your kitchen smell lemony fresh to boot! Instead of throwing those lemons in the trash, throw one or two in the garbage disposal and grind away. It'll help get rid of food dried onto the blades while filling your kitchen with the smell of lemons. (If the lemons are really old and the rinds have turned hard and leathery, don't try this. The disposal blades might not be able to chop them, and they'll just rattle around in your disposal forever. Trust me, I know.) Another great tip a friend gave me is to cut a bunch of lemons in half and put them in a big microwave-safe bowl filled with water. Then microwave the bowl of lemons on high for a few minutes, until the water steams. Keep the microwave closed. The lemon-juice-infused steam will permeate all the stuff cooked onto the microwave walls from various exploding culinary attempts. The crud will wipe off easily and your microwave will smell great. Best of all, no toxic cleaners will accidentally find their way into your meals!

Vinegar—not just for salad. While you're cleaning and staying nontoxic, try using the Michi's Ladder top-tier favorite vinegar to spruce up your kitchen. Diluted with water, white vinegar can be used to clean windows, wash floors, and wipe countertops. It cuts grease and removes stains from cookware, and if you run a pot full of the vinegar and water solution through your coffeemaker, you'll be amazed at the kind of hard-water deposits it removes. It's also good for removing hard-water stains on your glassware. It even cuts soap scum and kills mildew, so you might give good, old-fashioned, cheap white vinegar a try before investing in expensive cleaners that can introduce toxins into your kitchen.

Baking soda—not just for baking. Here's a fun fact. Did you know that baking soda mixed with grease makes soap? It's true. It's a great, cheap, nontoxic way to wipe off your stovetop and the surrounding areas that have been spattered by a season's worth of stir-fries. An open box can absorb odors in the refrigerator, and a little sprinkled in your garbage can will do likewise. If you have a grease fire, you can put it out with baking soda. If you have pots with burned-on food, let them soak in baking soda and water overnight. Also, if you have plastic storage containers that are a bit stinky from their previous occupants, try soaking them overnight in baking soda and water. You can make a baking soda paste with water and polish your silver. It's a miracle product—nontoxic and cheap!

Weight loss challenge-Day ???

Oh geez, what day am I on? Tomorrow it will be 3 whole weeks that I've been working out and eating right. So far all I have to show is about 2 lbs lost. Well, that's not entirely true. I do feel a lot better and energized. That is until it's about my 6th day of workouts with no break. Then that one day of rest is heavenly. The only explanation I can come up with about only losing 2 lbs is that I am gaining a bit of muscle with the turbofire. I am not going to get discouraged. After week 4 I am going to redo my measurements and hopefully there I will see results. I am the type of person who wants results right away and I get frustrated when I don't see them. Any encouragement would be great. You can share your success stories on my facebook page here. I would really appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

Here's a turbofire success story....mainly to motivate me, lol

Weight Loss Challenge-Day 13

Hi there! My 3 day weekend is over but I am proud to say that I did a pretty good job of keeping up on my good eating habits. I went out to eat once with my parents at The Market Grille Cafe (if you want some good greek food, eat there) and I did okay. I probably went a little over my calorie intake but not way overboard like I usually do. I ate some and brought the rest home and ate the next day. I am REALLY being conscious of what I eat. I also kept up with my TurboFire. Does anyone know if this soreness goes away? I am seriously sore EVERYDAY. It's worth it though. My husband bought me a Wii Fit game to go with my balance board. Btw, it's only $3.99 at Game Stop right now. I messed around with it on Saturday and I love that I can keep track of my progress on it. It said that my Wii Fit age is 25 and that I've lost a little over 2 lbs. I hope it's accurate. We will see at my first weigh in on Tuesday. Eeeek! I'm nervous for it. I hope all my hard work is paying off.
Other than the weight loss aspect, my weekend was great. We celebrated my husbands 28th birthday by going bowling at the Red Rock with friends and that was fun. Plus, I got to burn some extra calories with that :) I hope your weekend was great also! If you haven't already, please connect with me on my Facebook page here. Here's a little helpful tip to get you going for the week ahead:

Weight Loss Challenge-Day 8

So I am a little over a week into my weight loss challenge at work. I haven't weighed myself yet but I would hope to have at least lost one pound. I have been eating VERY well. Eating my 3 meals a day and two snacks which consist of either veggies or fruits & protein. However, I did go out of town last weekend and ate horribly! I have small will power when it comes to eating at a restaurant. What can I say, I LOVE food. My dream job would be a food critic. Hopefully I made up for it this week with working out. I officially started turbofire and I love it! When I was going to the gym sometimes the only thing that would get me going was the turbo kick classes. It is so much fun! I am on day 3 and let me tell you...my body is SORE! But it feels good! Weird huh? As I was reading through the materials that come with turbofire I saw that it is a 20 week class!!! That seems like forever! So if I started on Monday I will be done by JULY 11! Gosh, I can't fathom working out 6 days a week until July 11. But can you imagine what I will look like if I do??? SEXY! I am really going to commit to do the 20 weeks, even if I miss a few days here or there I am going to finish! Let me know if you want to join me in my journey and I will tell you how you can purchase it & I will help you along the way.
So, any who, I have a 3 day weekend ahead of me and my second weigh in is on Tuesday so we'll see how well I have been doing then. Thanks for taking the time to read and if you haven't already, please connect with me on my facebook page. Take Care.

Day 3-Weight Loss Challenge

Well, this morning was way better than yesterday. I went to bed earlier and I had no problem waking up at my normal time. In fact my body woke up without my alarm even going off. I have another busy day today. Work for 8 hours, grocery shopping with my mom and then a friend has a shopping parting at her home on the other side of town. I am really hoping I can start my turbofire tonight. Since that's what's winning in the poll down below.


So I figured, losing weight is a lot of math. Easily said it's more calories out than are put in, right? Well, I found out an estimate of what my metabolic resting rate was and it says if I were to do nothing at all I would use 1,465 calories a day just to live. So, if I'm eating 1,200 calories a day then I should lose weight, right? Correct. But I want to lose 2 lbs per week and THAT is going to take more work. 1 lb. =3,500 calories so 2 lbs. =7,000 calories a week. WHAT? I need to burn 1,000 calories a DAY!!!??? Um yeah, pretty much. However, I already have a deficit because I'm only eating 1,200 cal./day so I only have to burn 738/day. Is all this confusing? I bet so, but bottom line, I need to eat RIGHT and get my butt in the gym EVERYDAY! The reward is going to be so worth it though.





Here is a good video to help you figure out how to lose weight:

Weight Loss Challenge-Day 2

I worked out for the first time in months yesterday. Okay, I did the elliptical for 35 minutes....I wouldn't exactly call that a work out, but my legs do feel a bit sore today. When my alarm went off this morning I could NOT open my eyes! I was exhausted! I forgot how it feels to use to work your body. It is so important to get enough sleep. I went to bed at 12am and "tried" to wake up at 6. Any other normal day that would have been fine. I am def going to need my 8 hours.

I am doing well with keeping track of my calories. That seems like the easy part for now, as long as I continue to prepare my meals the night before. I'll let you know how my workout today goes. Wednesdays are busy for me so hopefully it doesn't effect my body.

Don't forget to vote on my poll of which workout video I should do and follow my progress & my facebook page here. Thanks so much.

Weight Loss Challenge-Day 1

Well, I weighed in today. Everybody else weighs in tomorrow but I won't be there so I get a day head start. Which wasn't a head start really because I ate a breakfast sandwich this morning so I could weigh more, lol.

It's all in the strategy! I created a facebook page so you can all follow me on my journey. You can search for Elissa Villatoro and click the "Like" button at the top or click the link here. Also, it would help me if you would read my last post & vote on which workout video you think I should do. Thanks so much. Welcome aboard!

Weight Loss Challenge

Alright peeps, this is my first post of my weight loss challenge. Tomorrow at my work we are starting a weight loss challenge and I am joining about 7 others in a journey to lose weight!

Here are the guidelines:
*The challenge will last 2 months
*First we will all weigh in
*We all add $10 to "the pot"
*Every other Tuesday we will weigh in and for every pound we lost we will add that amount off money to "the pot". For example, if I lose 3 lbs., I add $3.00.
*At the end of the challenge I will...I mean the winner will get the whole pot of money :)

I am SUPER excited about this. I have been wanting to lose weight for a while now and I always say I am going to but haven't quite gotten the motivation. So here it is! If you know me, nothing motivates me more than money or winning something for FREE :)

This blog is going to be quite vulnerable for me since I will be putting out there into "internet world" my statistics. But hopefully it will help keep me accountable to reaching my goal. My goal being to lose 10 pounds the first month and 10 pounds the second month. It sure is going to take a lot of hard work but I am determined.

I am thinking of starting a work-out video, which one do you think I should do? Insanity or TurboFire? Please vote to your RIGHT. Thank you.

INSANITY!

TURBOFIRE!