CH...CH...CHIA

Homemade Strawberry Chia Jam...

We just made this and I had to share RIGHT away!!!  It's THAT good!!  I found this recipe from @PowerCakes on twitter!  Her blog is http://powercakes.blogspot.com 

First off she is just absolutely adorable!!  Secondly, she creates YUMMY food that is healthified!!!  Who doesn't LOVE that!!  Check out her blog and say hello to her on twitter!

Let's get started!!

Ingredients:

1 cup frozen fruit of choice (we used whole unsweetened strawberries)

2 TBSP Chia seeds

2 packets of Stevia (@PowerCakes used a couple drops of liquid Stevia)
Splash of water

Directions:
Put above ingredients into a small mixing bowl
Mix together
Microwave for 2mins

Mix together some more

Put in fridge or freezer to chill

*** I had little Miss. Cutie help me out!!  She tends to be a picky eater BUT since she made this recipe with me....she was SUPER excited to eat it!!

By the looks of this picture I think they ENJOYED it!! Picky Kid Eaters APPROVED :)

THEN....the BEST part!!!  ENJOY!!!

Top on Brown ricecakes, protein pancakes, use for your kids PB&J, add on top of Greek Yogurt or oatmeal!! OR just eat by the spoonful ;)



NOW it's your turn!!  Go make it and let me know how you LOVED it!!  Don't forget to share with @PowerCakes and myself!!

Favorite Finds...

It's always exciting when you find something that's amazing and just works.  Almost like a little secret BUT you can't keep it a secret because others need in on it too!!

My 4 Current lil Treasures

1.  Yurbuds!!!

Ok I don't know if it is just me but my ears are weird AND earbuds do NOT stay in my ears!!  I've tried them all and all the different sizes and they DON'T stay!!  Nothing worse then trying to run and you have to keep messing with your earbuds and you finally think you get it in there and then suddenly...it falls OUT!!  Not cool!!



I bought mine at Target, you can also purchase online.  I wanted to get them quickly and return quickly if they fell out. 

2.  Mini Trampoline- AMAZING!!!

I had an amazing 10 minute workout the other day on a mini trampoline.  Yes as in totally sweating!!  My mom gave me this little gem that has been buried in my garage.  We cleaned out the garage, I set it up for my kids to jump on to stay occupied.  That evening my kids were watching a cartoon, I went in the garage and decided to try running on it.  This was my quick 10min 1mile run on the mini trampoline.  So you ask...How do you run on a mini trampoline?  Well in place...of course it's not as if you are out there hitting the pavement BUT it gets the job done and the heart pumping!!  BEST of all...my kids did not even notice I wasn't around!  I got in a quick mini workout at home, without leaving and the kids were not at my feet! AMAZING right!!

3.  Iced Coffee via Blender Bottle :)

Ok so this is two favorite things mixed together which just equals pure awesomeness!!  The other day in Sunny Southern California it was hot.  I needed a little pick me up and decided to make some Iced Coffee.  I usually make Iced Coffee during the summer BUT have not used the Blender Bottle in the past!  It's brilliant!!  My Iced Coffee includes coffee that was made that morning, Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk and Truvia packets.  Fill the Blender Bottle with ice.  Leave the AMAZING ball inside (this is what makes it pure awesomeness).  Add the ingredients, put lid on AND shake AWAY!!  Ahhhh just amazing AND there ya go for a Healthy, Clean Iced Coffee :) 

4.  Lastly BUT not least!!! http://fitfoodjunkie.com/

I met Sharisse on twitter, follow her here @FitFoodJunkie

She is a fellow Tone It Up member and also just became an Ambassador with FitFluential, Inc.  She is an extreme motivator and inspiration to me.  She is a mama to 2 twin boys and a baby boy!  Ummm and her baby...he's still a baby AND she's back to pre-prego body!!  You GO girl!!  Anyways she started a blog where she shares amazing Clean Eating Recipes!!!  She also JUST posted today her Secret Food Scale...you will have to check out her blog to find out just what I'm talking about :)    Her passion is eating clean and her hubby and kiddos also eat clean!  That just ROCKS!!  Visit her blog, follow her on FB and twitter AND share her awesomeness with others :)



Lil Update

I'm training for a 5K...you gotta start somewhere right :)  It's January 21st and I'm super pumped!  I hadn't ran since before Thanksgiving...WHAT!!!  So this week I'm back out there hitting the pavement...it hurts but hurts SO good :) 

Breakfast...

Quick and Easy...

So a little something about me and breakfast...I like having the same thing EVERY morning.  I go through phases.  It's weird. I don't like changing it up.  Healthy BUT just the SAME thing...like everyday!  I don't mind.  Right now I'm stuck on Egg white and Spinach omelets.

I get the Egg Whites in a carton...it's just easier for me.  If you are going to purchase this way...make sure it is 100% Liquid Egg Whites for it to be Clean.

I then spray my pan with Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray.  This one is from Trader Joes.

Next pour in the egg whites, add the spinach and pepper.

My perfect Omelet!!  It is SO yummy and easy to make! 

Another Item that I MUST have in the morning!!  Coffee! 

I add unsweetened Almond milk and Stevia.  Delish. Clean. Super LOW cal.

So if you are having a hard time deciding what to make for your breakfast in the morning...here ya go!!  Get creative with what you add to your Egg White Omelet.  Follow me on twitter and share a pic of your omelet with me. 

@mommyhoodto2

2 Little Fit Facts...

~One of the major things that helped me with my 25lb weight loss with toneitup.com was staying hydrated.  It is important to drink half your body weight in ounces daily of water :)

~Planning aids in SUCCESS!!  Around noon I asked on Twitter and Facebook what everyone was having for dinner??  Most might have been thinking, I don't even know what I'm having for lunch.  Knowing what you are going to make ahead of time and having the ingredients makes for a successful, lean, clean and green dinner :) 

Join ME...

Welcome to Inspire Beautiful Strength.  I have created this blog to inspire and motivate others to find their beauty and strength.  In July of 2011 I found toneitup.com and made one of the biggest changes of my life.  I have always wanted to be healthy and fit.  Tried many different fads all in hopes of shedding the baby weight.  As many of us it was always a struggle, always ended up in self-hating and as you can guess the weight didn't come off.  Until toneitup.com of course.  With toneitup.com I was able to learn about Clean-eating and a NEW Healthy life-style.  This was no quick fix or fad.  This was a Life-Style Change.  I began following Katrina and Karena of Toneitup.com on Face book, twitter and their website.  I soaked up all the knowledge they offered.  Began making changes.  Said good-bye to Diet Coke and Splenda (artificial sweeteners) and Hello to water.  Stopped buying the processed food and began buying whole, clean, organic and healthy foods.  Researched what Clean-Eating even meant. Toneitup.com offers SO many fun workouts, challenges and most of ALL a community of women who are all in this together.  I was having FUN working out.  I could workout as a busy mom and fit it into my schedule.  I could do these workouts in my own home.  I began to start running and ran my very first 5K.  I was making life-style changes that before I only dreamed of and my body was changing.  Not only was my body changing BUT so was my inner being.  I was gaining confidence and believing in myself.  The greatest reward was seeing that I was actually inspiring those around me.  Me...the one who hated myself before. Me...the one who has always struggled in the past and kept the weight on.  How was this happening?  When YOU believe in yourself, others will believe in YOU too and then become inspired to believe in themselves. This is where the idea of Inspire Beautiful Strength began.  I want to Inspire YOU to find your Beautiful Strength...Strength in accomplishing your fitness and health goals and dreams.  Let's do this together!!  Don't forget to stop by toneitup.com and Like them on Face book.  They are where my journey began and continues!