Awesome Zucchini Pizza

I overbought little zucchini, and my family LOVES pizza, so I created these little bites of heaven and they were amazing! I made some little round ones for the kids with bits of ham and topped with sharp cheddar, they were greasy and not as yummy in flavor.

 So here's how:
1. Cut the ends off of washed zucchini, slice in 1/2 length wise
2. Bake at 350 on cookie sheet for 15 minutes, until you see sweat bubbles start to form on top
3. Top with marinara: steamed & peeled tomatoes, Italian seasoning, crushed garlic, salt and pepper 4. Add one olive to each, sliced into 3
5. Add mini sweet peppers, sliced
6. I sliced up some baby spinach and threw that on too
7. Sprinkle it all with nutritional yeast
8. Bake 5-10 minutes till veggies look happy!
Enjoy xo

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2013 New Vegan Me

I ♥ that it has been ONE YEAR since I've blogged... that pretty much summs up last year's whirl wind for me! I will bring you up to date on what I have been thinking:

DIETS DON'T WORK!

I keep trying really hard to make changes in my life for better health and looks but none of it lasts. Easy off= easy back on because the habit and mentality have not changed. I absolutely adore my sister!! Seriously I do! How great it is to have a family member who gets all of my emotional crap, our family patterns, and feels the same about wanting to "become better". This last year I am thankful for the unlimited minutes I have been using like crazy talking with her Ü This is us in November 2012:

This last year has been filled with reading, talking, and watching shows on better health, the prep work! When I was dating my hubby, my MIL asked "What kind of girl are you?" Totally loaded question, but I responded "Meat and potatoes kind of girl" which was a good answer, and a common answer for each of our families and how we were raised. After the last year I can honestly say I want more for me, my body, and my family. I want to eat good foods, exercise my body to keep strong, and do all I can to prevent illness and promote longevity!

Vegan it is! I guess I've known what I should do for a while, but didn't want to put in the time... time passes anyway! I also did not believe it, knew it, but not really believed it until now. And until you really believe something, you cannot change your life to follow it. (Just like religion and anything else.) I'm disgusted with our government, the food pyramid (hah), the animal farms, and the crap that is allowed to put $ in politicians pockets (none of them care about me, my family and our health, so I will!!) the school lunches that are "nutritious" for our kids... when was the last time you saw a school lunch? We have NOT had school lunch even once this school year, and will not ever again, it is a joke! These are a few of my fav's that have a TON of great info, watch,learn, enjoy, or be sick inside yet realize you deserve better like me!
 
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Before we left town for our winter holiday I gutted our cupboards, emptied our fridge, I was ready, and our home was ready for us! I went shopping and OLD HABITS DIE HARD, once again I totally over bought! It was all healthy, veggies, fruits, but WAY TOO MUCH. I bought cutting boards and little knives for the family to eat with. I put away the mixing bowls, the cookie sheets, and replaced them with my blenders, juicers, steamers and grill! Little buddy is already enjoying juicing his own apple juice! So get ready for a great year, I am! xo

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That's it...

Yesterday was my first day back at the gym. I dropped off big-bro at the bus stop, then little one at the "Playroom", and I walked through those intimidating doors to meet with a personal trainer! All I could think of was "If I hear even one person yell SU-WEE!" that's it, I'll be out of here!! I was surrounded by humans, some looking perfect and beautiful, some who have had WAY too much plastic surgery, and some who literally were three times my size, so I started to relax. My trainer is David, 5'5" bald as a cucumber, bulging muscles, and a thick Chicago accent! This could have gone one of two ways, and I am happy to say it was awesome! We did a 3 point routine, working on perfect form, and man, I was shaking and sweating, it felt awesome!

... and then I went home, and seriously didn't have enough energy to take off my own sports bra until 5 pm! (I wish I were kidding.) The kids wanted to have a Wii Fit Challenge before bed (ouch) then I did a little yoga to try and stretch it all out, and crashed like I were in a Turkey coma!

When I woke up this morning I could hardly move, every single inch of my body was screaming at me, and all I could think was "I have to go back, or it will hurt this bad forever!" Again dropped off at the bus, and the playroom, and decided to try a water aerobics class... how hard could it be :P If you stay by the teacher you are pushing the whole time, if you are on the outskirts you go at your own pace... and did I mention they use FOAM weights? So I got the "biggest" ones and stuck by the trainer, pushing, pulling, jumping, lifting, squeezing, kicking, and flexing everything as hard as I possibly could the entire 70 minutes and was SWEATING and so tired!

A handful of hours later I feel the intensity of the work out, and am proud that I am making the time, and look forward to having energy after working out... somewhere in my future, oh yes, it is coming! xo