Happy Wednesday all!  This week has been crazy busy and today I definitely conquered every single challenge thrown my way.  It is sort of funny how you can plan out your whole day and week with specifics about what you are going to accomplish and check off your list.

And then……life happens……After an incredibly long day yesterday and being up early this morning, I knew that sleep was something I needed more than working out.  I figured if I was not going to work out, then, I was going to make good choices on the go!

Breakfast involved this delicious 8 points+ multi-grain bagel from Starbuck’s that I couldn’t resist along with my Dirty Coconut Coffee (2 points+).

I had another business lunch today, but, you know what, I will never complain when you can combine work with delicious food!

I am completely IN LOVE with two things at La Bou……I picked the half & half combo.

Half a House Salad that is made with butter lettuce,avocado, tomato, cucumber, Jarlsberg swiss cheese and sprouts.  Topped with Creamy Dill Dressing ~ like ranch, but, better (4 points+)

Plus a cup of Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup ~ it’s a little spicy with a delicious lime and coconut flavor without being over creamy. (4 points+)

Their bread is 1 points+ per slice.  La Bou rocks for posting their nutrition facts online too!

Dessert ~ 1/2 a rice crispy treat with a decaf americano ~ 3 points+.

Mid afternoon I snacked on more Farmer’s Market Cherries & Blueberries!

Along with a Sargento RF Colby cheese for protein (2 points+)

The Husband was in charge of dinner tonight ~ since we both ended up pretty late, we ended up a Panera.

Did you all know they came out with NEW Soup and Salad Flavors?! I couldn’t wait to try them out.

Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup ~ sans the real lemon slices ~ 3 points+

Half a Strawberry Poppy Seed Chicken ~ it’s packed with blueberries, pineapple, strawberries, pecans and chicken in a delicious light poppy seed vinaigrette.  On and you cannot beat 4 points+ for it!

I completely did not realize that today was a Souper Salad kind of day….but, you know what?  I will take that much delicious for 30 daily points+ any day when I have to eat every meal out.

Q’s

Are you a Souper Salad type of person?  If so, what is your favorite Soup or Salad?

Off to catch some zzzzzz’s so I can get my Couch to 5K on tomorrow!

Night all!

Happy Monday all!  Thanks to all of your for your comments on yesterday’s post.  You all seriously have a way of motivating and inspiring me by sharing your struggles with me.  Oh and The Husband said thanks for the comments on his Mom’s Day Cards.  He definitely is a hoot!

This morning I was back at it with my 5 AM workout ~ I hopped on the treadmill and rocked my 30 minutes of Couch to 5K!  As crazy as it sounds, it is my 5 AM workouts that make it a million times easier to tackle any challenges that my day brings.

On my way in, I stopped for a Dirty Coconut Coffee!  I am so excited that Starbuck’s has their coconut syrup back ~ it’s the little things! I’ve been waiting for this syrup ever since they stopped making it last fall!

(iced coffee with 1 pump mocha + 1 pump coconut with a splash of 1/2 & 1/2) 2 points+

You know the totally random part about my Dirty Coconut Combo ~ I do NOT like Almond Joys or Mounds Bars, but, I totally imagine this drink is what they probably taste like

Breakfast involved a Maple Morning Star Veggie Sausage (2 points+)

Eaten with a big bowl of melon while I packed up The Husband’s Lunch.

No matter how many times I am rushing to get out the door, I always make his lunch even if it means I “have to” buy mine at the café.

I ended up with my new favorite thing ~  Mini Ham and Cheese.

On my roll, 1 slice Ham, 1 slice swiss, lettuce and baked lays (7 points+)

Plus Veggies on the go! 

Sometimes it is the simple things that are so completely delicious.

Dessert x’s~ the “secret” to portion control ~ making sure they are sitting in a bowl in front of your co-worker (2 points+)

The Husband had dinner ready as soon as I walked in the door!  I knew all I had to do was buy his FAVORITE Bill Bailey Carne Asada and he would be all about cooking for us

I made up TWO Carne Asada burritos topped with 4 oz Grilled Carne Asada and 1 oz of reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese.

Then, I topped them with a bunch of spice and crunch ~ jalapenos, romaine blend, tomatoes, green onions and 1/4 avocado.

12 points+ for both!  I added hot sauce and drizzled with 0% Greek Yogurt post picture.

STATS (12 AM – 9 PM)

• 2,565 calories burned
• 7, 198 steps taken
• 25 daily points+

Q’s

Let’s all focus on the positive.  Name one good thing about your Monday.

I have to say having dinner on the table as soon as I walked in the door made everything right in my day….then, seeing your comments on my post yesterday put everything in perspective and made my day!

Night all!

Happy Mom’s Day all!  We have had such a great time this weekend visiting both family and friends.  Fun weekend’s like this always make me wish I had just one more day off.  Since we are finally sitting down to relax, tonight’s post is going to be a few of our Weekend Highlights, an update on my weigh in and goals plus the Weekly Menu.

The one thing I think I struggle with most on my journey is consistency.  By that I mean, one week I will do great getting in my workouts and tracking my food, then, the next I get only one of them right ~ working out or being a Track Star.

Last week I was awesome at getting in my workouts ~ I checked off my 3 Couch to 5K runs and two long lunchtime walks.   My eating was just OK ~ I made healthy choices, but, I always do better when I cook at home.  I had working lunches 4 out of the 5 days I was at work and then, we had our Mother’s Day festivities on Saturday and today.  As a result, I was up .8 lbs and I think it was totally earned.

This week I am focusing on 3 things:

1) Being a TRACK STAR ~ tracking 100% of everything I eat.

2) Move More: Couch to 5K x’s 3, Strength training and Yoga ~ I am also adding over 5,000 steps a day to this list.

3) Focus on power foods and getting in my water!

Onto a new week and a new chance for success!  Here are some of my favorite highlights from this weekend including my oh so Crafty Husband!

Each day started off with a big bowl of Farmer’s Market Goodness!!!!

We tried a new breakfast place, Ashley’s Country Kitchen, with my family and I can definitely see going back.

I think their glasses are awesome.

One of the BEST veggie egg white omelets I’ve ever had….

It was totally loaded with veggie goodness and hot sauce

And, they even let you pick peaches over hash browns.

Our weekend also included Sushi at Hisui Japanese Steakhouse!  I ordered my usual sushi fair….soup, salad and one spicy roll!

Miso Soup

Crispy green side salad with that dressing that makes you want to lick the bowl.

Joe’s Roll ~ Shrimp, Spicy Tuna & Crab, AVOCADO, Seared Tuna & Albacore, Tobiko

I totally dunk each piece into a container of Srirachi, then, another container of soy sauce mixed with all the wasabi they give you.

Do you all remember when I was telling you about “Oski” The Husband’s Cal Bears stuffed animal?  Well, guess what….”Oski” got me a Mom’s day card too ~ well, with The Husband’s help and all LOL.

The Husband also decided to personalize the card he gave his mom too….

He replaced the picture with a picture of himself…..For those wondering, the inside of the card says something like “That whole potty training thing has come in really handy!”

He is a TOTAL CLOWN!!! Just another reason I LOVE him….

HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

• Carne Asada Taco Salad
• BTLA’s
• Spaghetti & Meatball Casserole, Salad
• Sweet Potato Nachos
• Grilled Thai Turkey Salad

Q’s

What is one goal you will accomplish this week?

Night all!

This creamy mushroom chicken recipe is a great spin on your typical Chicken Marsala. It is packed with rich, creamy mushroom-y flavor without all the calories and points+ that are in a traditional Marsala dish. The secret to the nutty mushroom flavor is using Cremini Mushrooms as they are richer than your average button mushrooms.  It is the perfect meal to make on a weeknight when time is limited. Serve it up with Jicama Hash browns and steam broccoli for one delicious dinner that everyone will be asking you when you will be making it again.

CREMINI MUSHROOM CHICKEN (print it!)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3 tsp olive oil, divided
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper to taste
• 8 oz cremini mushrooms, quartered
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 Laughing Cow Light Original Swiss Wedges
• 1/2 tsp Italian Seasoning

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Sprinkle chicken breasts with sea salt and black pepper.  “Fry” in the oil until lightly browned on each side, about 5 minutes each.  Remove to a plate, keep warm.

2.  Add remaining teaspoon of olive oil to the pan along with the mushrooms, green onions and garlic.  Cook until mushrooms soften, about 3-4 minutes.

4.  Add chicken broth, Laughing Cow and Italian seasoning, cooking until the cheese melts, about 1 minute.

5.  Return chicken to pan, cover and cook over medium heat until chicken is cooked through, about 8-10 minutes longer. Enjoy!

Makes 4 servings, 1 chicken breast and 1/4 of the mushroom mix, 4 points+ each

Nutritional information per serving calculated at caloriecount.com

This is one of my favorite recipes from the archives to cook up when I am not sure what to make for dinner.  It is excellent with Jicama Hash browns, on top of egg noodles or just eaten straight up.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mom’s out there ~ you all deserved to be recognized for all the things you do and more!  I will be back tomorrow with our Weekly Menu and this week’s goals.

Night all!

Thanks to all of you who participated in my Go Green with this “Giant” Giveaway.  For this giveaway, everyone is a winner!  The folks at Green Giant are offering up a coupon to all of you to have the chance to try their Weight Watchers Frozen Vegetable packs.

CLICK HERE TO PRINT YOUR COUPON!

I think it’s awesome seeing so many of you dig Green Giant Veggies as much as I do and it was really fun to hear how many of you have been able to get your kids to eat veggies with all their flavored versions.

THE WINNER OF THIS GO GREEN PRIZE PACK DRAWN USING RANDOM.ORG IS….

• (1) VIP coupon for a FREE box of Weight Watchers® endorsed Green Giant Boxed Vegetables any variety
• Green Re-Usable Water Bottle
• Green Lunch Bag to carry all your goodies in
• Mini Nutrition Tracker ~ perfect for tracking on the go!
• Lunch to Go Kit ~ that cool container with utensils!
• Solar Powered Pedometer ~ I LOVE the idea that this pedometer encourages to get charged up by getting outside!
• Mini Ice Pack to keep everything cool until you are ready to use it

#204 Gina May 9, 2012 at 10:41 pm

I like both Weight Watchers and Green Giant on Facebook

Congrats Gina!!! Please email me your full name and mailing address at danicasdaily at gmail.com so I can have your prize pack mailed out to you ASAP.

We are off to start our Mother’s Day celebrations today.  I cannot wait to see my family.  I will catch up with you all later.

Happy Saturday!

Happy Wednesday all!  I think it is really fun to see all the things you all are planting in your gardens.  I actually found myself wondering if there was any way I could “squeeze” in more things into our Herbs Gone Wild Garden when I saw Kale and Lettuce printed.  That was quickly followed up with Terri telling me their rosemary was 2 feet tall ~ gahhhh!  Maybe this is the Year of the Herbs?! Hmmmm…..the things I ponder on my commute into work LOL…….

This morning I was up at 5 am on on the treadmill for another 30 minute Couch to 5K Jog/Walk session.

On my way into work, I stopped for a Dirty Iced Coffee (2 points+).

Breakfast involved 2 Taco Egg Muffins and the last of our melon.  It’s a good thing it’s Farmer’s Market time again tomorrow! (4 points+)

Our Tea Building Lunch today at work was at my all time favorite Salad Place ~ Jack’s Urban Eats!

Here is what was in the mix for the salad I built:

• Mixed Greens
• Pepperoncini’s
• Tomatoes
• Pickled Red Onions
• Mandarin oranges
• 2 Tbsp dried cranberries (1 points+)
• 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts (3 points+)
• 2 oz grilled chicken breast (2 points+)
• 2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinaigrette (4 points+)

I couldn’t resist diving in and having a few of the Urban Fries that we shared at the table.  These are by far the BEST fries you will ever eat.

They are topped with Blue Cheese Dressing (it tastes like ranch), chili oil, red pepper flakes and parsley (8 points+ estimate)

Dessert!!! I totally picked a Double Dose of Starbuck’s for mine….I could have worse addictions than……Dirty Americanos At least I made this one decaf lol (2 points+)

Dinner tonight was a spin on this Spicy Shrimp with Cilantro and Lime that I saw in this month’s Everyday Food Magazine.

The recipe is so simple ~ You make up “Phoebe’s” Spice Mix…..

Then, toss your shrimp with the spice and saute with 1 Tbsp butter until cooked, about 5 minutes.

I squeezed lime over the top after they were done and omitted the cilantro.

While the shrimp cooked, I whipped up a batch of Quick Guacamole.

Next, I “built” my Spicy Shrimp Tacos…

I topped a Chili Lime Corn Tortilla with 2 Tbsp Guacamole.

Plus cabbage for crunch ~ I like it better on tacos then lettuce for that reason alone.

Add a few shrimp (2 oz = 1 points+!), a squeeze of lime and dig in!  Each taco is 5 points+

The curry really stands up nicely next to the creamy avocado and crunchy “slaw”.

Stats (12 am – 9 pm)

• 2,709 calories burned
• 8, 635 steps taken
• 31 daily points+

Did you GO GREEN today?  If not, head on over for your chance to win!

Night all!

Happy Tuesday all!  For this week’s giveaway I am partnering with the folks over at Green Giant and Weight Watchers to bring you all one fantastic giveaway to encourage each and everyone of you to GO GREEN!

As you all know, I am always looking for ways to be greener by adding veggies to every meal and/or snack, using a reusable water bottle and lunch pack, and by tracking all the steps I get by walking around versus driving with a solar powered pedometer!

I am a big fan of keeping Green Giant Frozen veggies on hand to use in recipes or whenever I need a quick snack or side to add to any meal.

All of the Green Giant Frozen Vegetable packs are 0-2 points+ per serving ~ Deal!

My favorite go to quick veggie for a side is the Green Beans & Almonds.  I love the nuttiness from the almonds and the fact I can eat the entire box with any meal to make it even more satisfying.

Have you all ever thought of using them for cooking as a way to add in veggies without really having a veggie side?

This spinach is fantastic in Smoothies, Spinach Dip, Soups, Frittatas, Cheesy Stuffed Chicken Shells, Low-Fat Lasagna Cups and Manicotti.

Every package adds 0 points+ to any dish and it makes each serving even bigger.

Peas are a fun addition to your soups and salads, but, I challenge you all to try making Pea Pesto ~ I am pretty sure even non-pea lovers will thank you for it.

Did I mention that the folks at Green Giant also gave me a downloadable recipe book to share with you all?? All simple recipes with the nutrition facts and points+ values!

Just click here to download your copy.

To sweeten the deal, the folks over at Green Giant and Weight Watchers are giving you all the chance to win this fun Go Green Prize Pack complete with a pretty cool lunch container for you to pack up and take all your veggies on the go with you!

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL RECEIVE A GO GREEN PRIZE PACK!

• (1) VIP coupon for a FREE box of Weight Watchers® endorsed Green Giant Boxed Vegetables any variety
• Green Re-Usable Water Bottle
• Green Lunch Bag to carry all your goodies in
• Mini Nutrition Tracker ~ perfect for tracking on the go!
• Lunch to Go Kit ~ that cool container with utensils!
• Solar Powered Pedometer ~ I LOVE the idea that this pedometer encourages to get charged up by getting outside!
• Mini Ice Pack to keep everything cool until you are ready to use it

HOW TO ENTER:

1) Simply leave your FIRST comment telling me your favorite Green Giant Frozen Vegetable.

BONUS buck’s

2)   TWEET and/or Facebook about this giveaway, “ Go Green with this “Giant” #Giveaway hosted by @danicasdaily #WeightWatchers and @GreenGiant , Enter Here http://goo.gl/v7JQb “  Be sure to leave a SECOND comment to let me know you did

3) ”Like” Weight Watchers or Green Giant on Facebook then, leave a THIRD comment letting me know you did.

4) If you have a blog, LINK back to this contest and leave a FOURTH comment letting me know you did.

If you don’t have a blog, just leave a comment below telling me someone you told about this giveaway.

The Fine Print: Thanks to the folks at Weight Watchers and Green Giant for sponsoring this giveaway for you all.  The coupons, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Green Giant® and Weight Watchers® through MyBlogSpark

The winner will be randomly drawn and announced on Friday, May 11, 2012!

Good luck everyone!

I mean….have you ever seen a Parsley Plant grow this big for no apparent reason???

Or Rosemary….I think they are competing for who can grow the tallest…..

Lemon Thyme ~ Our garden this year is totally Herbs Gone Wild ~ seriously LOL….

They are bigger than the tomato plants…..

And even HIS 4 corn stalks

The only thing not so happy about all this greenness ~ the Lemon Cucumber

The cool part is this is only after 1 month ~ you can see what our garden looked like when we planted it over on this post.

I absolutely LOVE looking out our kitchen window every morning and seeing this….I really do tell The Husband to come look every day because his “corn” looks bigger…..and, the part that is even funnier…..He always says “Hi Corn!”

Yup, that’s why I think we need to get out more!

Speaking of that ~ House of Prime Rib might just be my all time FAVORITE place in the world now.  I have never ordered Prime Rib (ever ~ it’s too “beefy” to me, but, I would go back just to eat it there).  I counted every single point of my dinner from the hot sourdough bread to the garlic mashed potatoes and wine ~ all 41 points+ worth.

Then, I made sure I was up at 5 AM on and the treadmill for another Couch to 5K 30 minute run/walk this morning.

On my way in I stopped for a Venti Iced Coffee with 1 pump Mocha, 1 Pump Vanilla and a splash of 1/2 and 1/2 for 2 points+.

I wasn’t super hungry for breakfast so I “snacked” instead.  I am so bummed this reduced fat Sargento “barely” comes in at 2 points+….I thought for sure it would be 1.  It’s worth it though.

About an hour later my hunger kicked in so I snacked on some veggie tray veggies with 2 Tbsp Light Ranch (2 points+)

I am also “that” person who fires up the grill at 6 am just so I can have Trader Joe’s Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Burgers for lunch.

Topped with 1/4 cup Cojita Cheese, 1 Tbsp roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds!)

All on top of a bed of crunchy greens and things with 2 Tbsp Newman’s Light Lime Vinaigrette.  My entire salad came in at 10 points+.

As I was pondering my afternoon snack, my co-worker stopped by and asked if I wanted to make a coffee run……um, Yes, Please!!!! As if I needed more

Small Nonfat Decaf Latte (3 points+)

We also each had a scoop of Biscoff Spread with our lattes (2 points+)

When I walked in the door The Husband had already started making dinner.  He grilled up Bonesless Pork Chops with his “secret BBQ sauce” (2 oz for 2 points+)

And grilled asparagus with Olive Oil, Sea Salt & Black Pepper (2 points+)

While I made up the fries ~ It was really hard work putting these Trader Joe’s Frozen Shoe String Fries on the tray and baking them for 14 minutes.

They turn out so crispy as if you “fried” them and you get a lot. 3 oz = 4 points+.

Simple, delicious and totally worth repeating.

I am currently trying to pretend the caramel Dove’s are not on the counter…..I need to just walk away already!

STATS (12 am – 830 pm)

• 2, 608 calories burned
• 7, 549 steps taken
• 29 daily points+

Q’s

Are you growing a garden this year?  Patio gardens and container gardening counts.  What did you plant?

Night all!

Happy Sunday all!  You know I have to admit it has been awhile since I was really excited to get on the scale.  Not because I peeked at it during the week or I suddenly knew I was going got have a loss, but, because I knew I EARNED the results.  I worked hard at working the plan this week really focusing on Power Foods and getting my bootie moving in every way I could.  As tough as it was to get up at 5 AM, I thanked myself for it every day after….It set the course for my day off on the right foot (literally!) and it made it easier to say no to the candy, the cake and the Nacho Day at work!

The results ~ I was DOWN 1.6 LBS this week ~ I am back to half way to my Memorial Day goal and so excited about that!  I am so glad the scale showed my effort and it honestly has fueled my desire to do it all over again this next week.

This week’s goals include:

• Couch to 5K ~ get in 3 workouts and check them off my calendar!
• 1 day yoga from yogadownload.com or check out the new place that just opened by us
• Attempt this 100 workout!
• Foodwise ~ stick to the menu, focusing on power foods and getting in my water!

I whipped up a batch of these delicious Taco Egg Muffins for breakfasts this week, but, I know they will not last long since I have to share with The Husband who eats like 4 at a time LOL.

You can find the printable version here.

HERE IS WHAT IS ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

• BBQ “ribs”, Sweet Potato Fries, Grilled Asparagus
• I want to make a big batch of these Spicy Shrimp with Lime and Cilantro & Salads
• BTLA’s and Grilled Lemon Artichokes
• Carne Asada Taco Salad
• Spaghetti & Meatball Casserole, Salad

Q’s

What is on your menu this week?

Off to the House of Prime Rib!!!!

Night all!

Happy Weekend all!  Today is the day I have been waiting for ALL winter long….It was the first day of the Farmer’s Market that I love visiting more than any other.  I totally scored with some delicious summer produce already.

We picked up organic strawberries, blueberries, cherries and more.  As soon as we returned home, we shared an entire basket of the most delicious strawberries we have had this year.

Rounded out with a little “protein” ~ 3 slices Trader Joe’s Peppered Turkey Bacon (3 points+)

We also ended up eating almost all the blueberries too ~ I am so glad the “fruit drought” is over LOL.

After spending the morning doing laundry, cleaning house, planning our meals and stocking up for the week, we headed out to Panera for lunch before shopping.

Pick 2 ~ I went for everything I have been craving.

Classic Salad sans the raw red onions topped with reduced fat Balsamic Vinaigrette (2 points+)

Whole Grain Baguette (5 points+)

All together with the BEST Mac & Cheese you will ever eat.  It comes in at 12 points+ but it’s so cheesy and creamy ~ it’s like every noodle is filled with a “bucket” of cheese.  I balance it out with a lighter salad by going with the 80 Calorie Classic Salad.

I have yet to find cute black and brown sandals to wear for work that are comfortable.  I feel like all the styles that are cute are wayyyy uncomfortable and all the ones that are comfortable are not cute.  Does that make sense?

After unsuccessful searching 5 stores, I gave up and we headed over to Starbuck’s for a pick me up.  I actually thought I’d get one of the half price frappucino’s, but, really all I wanted was an iced coffee with 2 pumps mocha & a splash of half & half (2 points+).

The Husband picked out dinner by asking if there was any way I could take that BBQ Buffalo Chicken Salad and put it in a wrap.  I have to say, he is pretty darn smart ~ this BBQ Buffalo Chicken Wrap is crunchy, spicy, sweet and just plain delicious.

While I cooked a few pieces of Trader Joe’s Crispy Chicken (you could totally use Morning Star Chick Patties for a vegetarian version of this)……

I drizzled a real deal flour tortilla with Bolt House Light Ranch & BBQ Sauce.

Then, I added a layer of cabbage mixed with carrots, celery and green onios.

When the chicken was cooked, I sliced it and tossed it in Frank’s Hot Sauce and layered it on top.  Feel free to add stinky cheese at this point if you like.

Wrap it up and crunch away for only 8 points+!

I have had a really good Weight Watchers week this week fitting in 4 “planned” workouts and 2 days where I was on the go the entire time.  I am also leaving WPA on the table and cannot wait to weigh in.  Fingers crossed the scale shows it tomorrow!

STATS for today (12 am – 700 pm)

• 2,544 calories burned
• 8, 940 steps taken
• 33 daily points+

I will be back tomorrow with my weigh in and weekly menu.  We are heading out to the House of Prime for the first time ever tomorrow night so I will give the details of that on Monday.

Night all!