The Holidays are so overwhelming, stressful but so fun! Personally, I had a pretty balanced weekend! I’m a mom, I’m a wife, my demands never stop, but I did get in two uninterrupted workouts this weekend, and two showers that lasted longer than 5 minutes. Life is good!
I’m feeling so blessed. We spent most of Sunday, decorating, which is funny, because we have already “decorated” so much but we keep adding more and more, and it’s fun. I told Travis tonight, “it’s so fun because we have accumulated so much in our 10 years together and our house looks more beautiful every year” I also get emotional, I get teary eyed because I’m just so happy. Life is good!! I’m a broken record.
SO MUCH going these past two days!! Yesterday, I cleaned the house, that is week two getting the cleaning done. I started at about 9 and finished right around 12:30. The girls aren’t too needy right away in the morning so it’s been working out, I’ll let you know if it gets done next week!! 😉
Seriously, this time of year is the most hectic but also my favorite. So I started decorating last Tuesday and we add stuff all through the season, which is fun! Mallorie is a bit addicted to Christmas and she just loves helping me, it’s been a blast, each year gets more fun with her! Makenzie is toddling around seeing what she can get into. About decorating before Thanksgiving, I do it because I’m home and I don’t do well keeping the pumpkins up for Thanksgiving. We do not get our main Christmas tree or decorate any windows or outside until after Thanksgiving though.
Do you go out for Black Friday shopping? I don’t! I’d rather stay home and drink coffee and shop online. Of course, head out on Saturday in your town though for Small Business Saturday and support small businesses! I will be posting the Black Friday Target deals on the blog Friday.
I also have a love for Reebok clothes and shoes, for 30% off click here and use code 30YR to get 30% off all orders.
Tis’ the Season for baking! Mallorie loves to bake with me and it is so much fun to do with her, and she is such a great helper. I bought Hershey kisses to make the Peanut Butter Blossoms so that’s what we did tonight. The recipe came from the Hershey’s site.
INGREDIENTS:
24 HERSHEY’S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates
1 cup Jif Natural Peanut Butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 Tbsp additional granulated sugar for rolling
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.
2. Beat peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, baking soda and salt in large mixing bowl. Add egg; beat well.
3. Shape dough into 24 equal balls (about 1 inch). Roll in granulated sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes 24 cookies.
NOTE: Always read labels of each ingredient to ensure that they are gluten free prior to use
Per Cookie
110 Calories, 11 Carbohydrates, 7 Fat, 3 Protein
Today went by so fast. My workout was completed BEFORE the girls woke up, Mom win on a Monday! Today I rode my bike with the Peleton biking app followed by a little core work from the app as well. Meals today have been a shake, eggs and cheese, leftover burger with a salad, a glass of rosé and 2 Peanut Butter Blossoms. Staying on track at 1100 calories…hey, we have to enjoy ourselves right? 🙂
As I sit here writing this, Mallorie is sitting at the table using her scissors she earned from filling up her chore chart last week. She has been intrigued by scissors for a while so I decided it was time for her to start learning and she is doing great. She made snowflakes with her “Gam” (Travis’ mom) this weekend that she keeps trying to recreate, so cute!
Also, burning after Makenzie’s stinky diaper. Pillar Candle – Cedar Magnolia – Hearth & Hand™ with Magnolia from Target. If you want to shop through me from Target.com, click on any of the Target links on my page. Thanks!
So, the Holidays are coming up and we all know what that means. Good food, great beverages and even better holiday baking. I’m going to let you in on a couple of my Holiday tips and tricks to not over do it this season.
So my thing is, you either have a couple drinks or you have a couple treats, don’t do both. Take control of yourself this holiday season and make better choices for a better you!
We are all guilty of grabbing too many extra snacks or baked goods. This year make a promise to yourself, don’t over do it, you will be so much happier when you wake up the next day. I’m not saying don’t have anything at all but make smarter choices and only have small portions of things, your body and mind will thank you in the long run.
If you have any questions, please send me an email melodiemariealexander@gmail.com
Today only @ Target and Target.com, 25% off all toys plus free shipping!! Order from this link below and help me out! 🙂 Mallorie is mommy’s helper today! 🙂
Oh my!! Yesterday, was A DAY! We were all up by 7, decorating the house by 8 and the rest of the day is honestly history, I also had to make a trip to Target when Travis got home because our food supply was a bit low. The chicken ended up being “rubbery” in the words of Travis the day after I cooked it, so that was just great, haha! It’s ok though, all is good now!! So by the time I got home, it was after 8 and I was sleeping a little after 9, but it felt oh so good!
And speaking of Target. Target is offering BLACK FRIDAY deals on November 22(I will post on the 22 as well) exclusively to Red Card members, if you aren’t familiar with Target, they have a debit or credit option, so if you don’t do credit cards, the money can come right out of your checking account, if you don’t have or want a Red Card but still want to shop that works too! Click the Target link below to start shopping through me!
Also, this Saturday ONLY 25% off toys and Sunday 15% off TV’s. Order by clicking on any of the Target links on my blog or the one above. 🙂
I tried to have my post up a little earlier, but we were busy today and when mama duty calls, we’re on it, right?! Little Miss Makenzie was all mama cuddly today which I didn’t mind. And then once Travis came home we had dinner and then decorated our small Christmas tree. Mallorie LOVES looking at each ornament and was so adorable with her sister, I can already tell this season is going to be so much fun!
Below I have attached my core workout, post my bike ride today!! Do 2-3 times, enjoy!! 🙂
Coming soon on the blog…..my workout clothes and shoes that I absolutely love! Thanks for reading, now onto some me time. 🙂
Today, we’ve been to Target, we’ve been cooking, we’ve been cleaning, it’s been a busy and productive day with my ladies.
The chicken in the fridge that needed to be cooked inspired my lunch. Recipe is below.
Today was one of those days where I feel like I’m a ROCKSTAR Mom. Things went well, Makenzie took two great naps, I was able to get stuff done, and I feel so accomplished. I’m also looking forward to making a cup of tea after both girls are in bed and watching Hulu. I recently finished the Nashville series and just started watching Mistresses and so far so good. I like to stay up and have me time once all my kids(including Travis, are asleep, haha ;)) Any other moms enjoy staying up and having time to yourself once the kiddos are asleep?
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe Preheat oven to 350 32oz Chicken Breast 4 tbsp Parmesan Cheese 4 Tbsp Organic Butter 1 Tbsp Minced Garlic Parsley Salt and Pepper Melt Butter in a bowl Put Parmesan, Minced Garlic & Parsley on a large plate Dip Chicken in Butter and then in Parmesan Mixture Add salt and pepper
Bake for 40 mins on baking sheet
4 oz Serving 195 Calories 8 Fat .5 Carbs 26 Protein
Paired my chicken with 1 C Lettuce White Onion Old Chicago Cinnamon Pear Balsamic Vinegar 1/8 C Colby and Monterey Jack Shredded cheese
We all know weekends go by way too fast. We had such a fun weekend together, hanging out and then BAM Monday comes way too fast. My trick for taking control of that Monday feeling today, I woke up BEFORE the girls, did my workout, today I did a combination of weights and cardio bursts and of course a booty burst then I unloaded dishwasher, and tidied up. I felt so accomplished by 7:30, it was amazing! That turned my day into what feels like complete success, I’ve been on track with my food, I’ve cleaned, dusted, vacuumed. It’s only three o’clock and I feel like all of my week is complete before Monday is even over. But really, who am I kidding? How many moms feel like you clean and then within a couple hours, it looks like you haven’t even cleaned? Mom life is real. 😉 Fast forward to 5:30 and I’m ready to crawl in bed so I took a shower and put my pajamas on, I looked at the clock and it was 5:58, oops, not even six, oh well. We made dinner, left over chicken and salad, nothing fancy. Mallorie helped me get Travis’ meals ready for tomorrow and now we are watching Frozen cuddled up together while Makenzie dances, life is good. Thank you to everyone for following along and for all the feedback on my blog so far, I’m having a blast. And please keep the emails and messages coming for tips on nutrition and fitness goals.
I thought it would be fun to share a fun fact about me, I prefer room temperature water, and so I fill up my water bottle every night so it’s the perfect temperature in the morning, any other room temperature water lovers? Another fun fact, many times Travis will take that water off the counter and give it to the dogs…Men! 😉
Here is my little extra booty burst I did today! Repeat 2-3 times.
This morning I did Cardio Fix Extreme followed by a little extra ab work. See video below. Do it 2-3 times post workout for a little extra burn on that mid section.
Friday’s five years ago to now have changed so much and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This evening we had green olive cheese burgers and salads for dinner, prepped and made together, which isn’t something we get to do too often! Travis braved the cold to cook them on the grill! 😉 Recipe below. Post dinner, we are watching Trolls, eating popcorn and mommy is having a little wine. Life is so amazing amazing through my little ones eyes. So precious.
16 oz 85/15 Ground Beef made into 4oz Patties
1 oz Colby Cheese
5 Olives (cut up)
Seasoned with Salt and Pepper, garlic powder and onion Powder
When burgers are close to being done add olives and cheese
Salad:
1 C Romaine Lettuce
5 Green Olives (cut up)
Handful of onions
1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
melodiealexander 