melodiealexander

I feel like I’ve been MIA! Just busy and good busy! Getting stuff done. Workouts have been before the girls get up, then we have been busy organizing, cleaning, Christmas projects! So fun this time of year. Jimmy has been being a goof ball. This morning he was riding my bike and had a little reindeer on the front! Mallorie’s excitement is priceless.

We’ve been getting snow and I’m excited that we’re going to have quite bit (hopefully) for Christmas! Two years ago the ground was icky looking with no snow and last year we just had a dusting.

Target has officially got me, all of my Christmas shopping is basically done thanks to them, Save $10 when you spend $50, or Save $25 when you spend $100 or more. Click on the Target links on my page to shop. Christmas is only 12 days away! What?! So crazy. Such a beautiful and fun time of year! I hope you’re all enjoying it!

Do you set small goals for yourself and do anything daily to work towards them? I recently listened to Chalene Johnson about having a push goal and then doing 3 things daily to work towards that goal. Definition of a push goal:

The goal on your list that if completed all other goals in line will be completed as well. It’s not necessarily your most important, but it is the one that makes the others possible. Seriously, do this for yourself. Grab a notebook, make a goal and work towards it!

Goals when reached are such an accomplishment! I can guide you. Email me at melodiemariealexander@gmail.com and let’s do this together! 😊

Seriously, days are flying by faster than I can even think! Does everyone have Holiday shopping done? (Not me!) It’s ok though, it seems like most places have deals ALL the time! And I always get it done! 😉

On another note, are you the person who decides they’re just going to wait until the new year to start their fitness goals? Don’t, do not say that to yourself! You can still enjoy yourself and stay on track during the holidays. Today, my workout consisted of a 20 minute interval bike ride and 10 mins upper body. Be the best version of yourself. Yes, you might indulge in your holiday favorites, but why not get in a routine BEFORE the new year? December, focus on workouts! Message me for guidance, I’d love to help!

melodiemariealexander@gmail.com

I hope everyone is having a great Monday! What a great weekend spent with family and friends to celebrate Travis’ 30 years of life.

You know that feeling when you have such a great weekend and then Monday rolls around you’re tired, unmotivated? Take CONTROL of that feeling. Last night, we were all sleeping by 9. I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day! I even organized a whole cupboard on this gloomy Monday. Mom win!

I did a killer workout with weights and cardio mixed in, what a great feeling.

As always, send any questions to melodiemariealexander@gmail.com

I love hearing from you all!

Oh my gosh! Jimmy the Elf returned. I went in the basement last night to pull him out of hidden territory and weirdly when I opened the box I said, “gosh, I hope he’s in here!” We have so much fun with Jimmy each year. The first year we had him Mallie called him “jimby!”

Real or fake tree? We’ve had a real tree every year since we moved in our house BUT this year we were offered a 10ft fake tree and it’s beautiful! I told Travis I would give it a try! And I love it, especially the clean up 😉 all I had to do is buy a Christmas tree scented candle!

Holiday baking and cooking is my favorite time to cook/bake. Favorite recipes are Travis’ mom’s mom’s homemade pizza we have on Christmas Eve. I only help put the toppings on but travis’ Mom makes the dough from scratch and it’s AMAZING.

My favorite thing to bake is the peanut butter blossom cookies, Oreo truffles and gingerbread cookies.

The holiday season is my time of year where I enjoy all yummy things!

Oh, and guess what?! Tomorrow, I’m officially married to a 30 year old! 😉 thanks for following!

So, it’s Tuesday again and guess what?! I cleaned again today, three weeks in a row, I think now I officially created a habit?! Haha.

So in preparation for Travis’ 30^TH Birthday this Saturday, I’ve been busy with a couple gifts for him! I’ll be sure to update when I can. 😉

Today, I did a weight workout with my littles. As long as I put down the little step for them to play on, they leave me alone. I’m on one side of the room and they’re on the other. Although, instead of my normal workout music on Fit Radio, Mallorie insisted we listen to Christmas music. So, I went with it, Tis’ the season!

For dinner I made pork chops and brussels sprouts, Mallorie had a pancake with an orange and Makenzie had what we had. When Mallorie was Makenzie’s age, she always ate everything, and I don’t know how that changes. She used to eat steak, salmon, everything we ate. But I can say she is good about eating veggies and fruits she likes, so I’ll take it! As long as they’re eating 😉

Recipe below:

1lb of Pork chops cooked in 1 tbsp organic  butter
With salt, pepper & minced Garlic

Brussels sprouts baked in oven at 400 degrees for 35 minutes with 1 tbsp olive oil, minced Garlic, salt and pepper

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.

Enjoy Thanksgiving tomorrow, all!! Xoxo.

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!

Enjoy the recipe if you decide to try it!

As always, questions or anything can be sent to melodiemariealexander@gmail.com or Facebook messenger!

Thanks for reading!!

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

Happy Holidays!! Xoxo.