My First Facebook LIVE Broadcast

Oh my gosh. I'm pretty sure I just mentally blacked out. 

Have you ever "rehearsed" something in your head, only to actually try and remove the words from your brain and through your mouth and wonder, "What just happened there?" Pretty sure that just happened - haha!

BUT, all that to say: I'm always asking my coaches and challengers to get of their comfort zones. Life isn't comfy. Fitness isn't comfy. It's not always convenient to eat healthy. We don't always FEEL like doing our best. But you know what? We do it.

People tell me all the time: "I'm so glad coaching is working well for you!"

NEWS FLASH. 

It's not working well for me. I'm working for IT. Because anything worth having doesn't just happen. No future security is going to fall in your lap. You're not going to magically wake up 40 pounds lighter and in great shape. It's the LITTLE things that make the big things. The little things ADD UP and make who you are. But sometimes the little things I choose and the little things other people choose are different. And that's ok!

What drives me nuts: when I ask people, "How are you?" And they reply, "I'm good!" 

Are you?

Are you REALLY good?

Because when you wake up frustrated at your kids, or your racing out the door to the job you hate, or you are tired of being overweight, over whelmed, and you're just over it? Are you good?

My life isn't anything sparkly. I am a stay at home mama. My hair stays in a pony tail just about 100% of he time. I get frustrated with health issues. But the difference between me and whoever else? I never quit. Because quitting is the enemy of success. 

And I plan on being successful. 

Not just for me - but for every woman who has felt gross, unloved, and ugly. For every mama that has dealt with anxiety and postpartum depression and doesn't feel like herself any more. For ever family that is stressed to the max with medical bills because they just can figure out what's wrong. 

Because dang it. 

I've been there. And it sucks. And I hated it. And I want to wrap my arms around every person that just needs to feel loved. 

This is the YEAR OF VICTORY, and I want to help you be victorious. 

What will YOU change? What will you do? When will you say, "I won't quit" and mean it. 

Because you'll get there. I promise. 

If you need help, reach out. Email me at fragrantrose616@gmail.com, and I would love to help you. 

Healthy {to die for} Chocolate Fudge

I like chocolate. Like...LIKE chocolate. Like, feed it to me by the spoonful. So that's what I did. 

I have about 2.4 million allergies (ok, not quite that many...) so it's VERY difficult for me to find desserts that TASTE like dessert, that I can eat. 

So, I bring you...

Healthy superfood chocolate fudge. 

Ingredients:

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp nut or seed butter of choice (separates)

1 scoop chocolate Shakeology 

2 tbsp cacao nibs (or dark chocolate chips)

1 tbsp milk of choice 

Directions: in a microwave safe bowl, warm the 1/4 nut/seed butter, so it's stirs easily. Add in the 1 scoop Shakeology. It WILL be thick, but just keep stirring! In a small dish, combine the cacao nibs and the milk. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir, until you have a chocolate sauce. Add the chocolate sauce to your nut/seed butter + Shakeology mix, and stir, stir, stir! Once well combined, lightly stir in the additional 2 tbsp nut/seed butter, until you have a swirl effect. Spread out the mixture on a silicone baking sheet or waxed paper, and freeze for about 30 minutes. Remove from the freezer, cut in to squares, and store in the freezer in an air tight container. 

Voila!

Super Easy Carnitas (21 Day Fix Approved!)

Ingredients:

• 4-5 pounds boneless pork shoulder (I get a big one from Costco) 
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 4 tsp oregano
• 2 tbsp cumin
• 3 tbsp olive oil, divided
• 1 tsp onion powder (or 1 small onion, diced)
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 jalepenos
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 lemon/lime (I actually use 2 drops each of lemon and lime essential oil)
• 
  
• whole grain/corn tortillas 
• Optional toppings: diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese salsa, low fat sour cream 

Directions: place the meat in the crockpot. In a small dish, combine 1 tbsp of the olive oil, and everything except the lemon/lime (if using lemon and lime essential oil, add it to the mix). Pour the remaining olive oil on the meat and massage it in. Spoon the spice/olive oil mixture on the meat and massage until thoroughly coated. Squeeze the lemon and lime over the top (if using) and add the bay leaves. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 8-9 hours. Remove the meat from the crockpot and pour the juice in a separate bowl. Reserve for later. Shred the meat using 2 forks, and put the meat back in the crockpot. Pour a little juice over the top, to moisten. Heat some tortillas or prepare your lettuce "shells". Fill each with meat (1/2 red container for each) and add your toppings. Enjoy!

Eat Too Much Over the Weekend? 3 Tips to Cut that Bloat.

Weekends - especially holiday weekends - make it hard to stay on track with your nutrition, sometimes! So, what do you do Monday morning when you wake up tired, bloated, and gross feeling? 

1. Drink yo water. Lots of it!

2. Get moving: aim for 45 minutes of moderately intense cardio exercise (walking, aerobics, etc).

3. Eat lots of veggies! They'll help push the gunk through. 

...and no...I didn't eat the pizza ;-)

Take Me Hoooome!

Amen! A friend shared this picture earlier, and it reminded me of "home". We've lived in south Texas for 2 years, but our dream is to get back to Washington in a few years, where family is. The Lord still has us in Texas, but this picture reminds me ✨ W H Y ✨ I do what I do: to be able to save enough money to get home, buy property, build our home, raise our family...and have ADVENTURES. #imisshiking

Acknowledge the Storm

The sky was all sorts of crazy this afternoon: sunshine to the west, a storm to the east. Sometimes life is like that, though. You stand under the varied weather of life and you could look either way: to the storm or the sunshine. Acknowledge the storm, learn from it, but keep your eyes on the sun. Good news is: God is in control of the weather, and HE KNOWS BEST. #amentothat

Oatmeal Carrot Breakfast Cake

Oh yum...

This is one of those breakfasts that feels like a cheat...but isn't ;-) I won't lie. I had this for breakfast the other day...and then another piece for snack...and one in the afternoon. Because it's that good, and hey, when you're getting whole grains, veggies, and protein all in one bite? Can't lose with that!

Okay, okay, I'll give you the recipe. Because who really reads the paragraph(s) above the recipe, anyway? I don't - oops!

OATMEAL CARROT BREAKFAST CAKE

Ingredients:

For the cake - 

2 1/2 cups oatmeal flour (oatmeal blended in a blender until fine - use gluten free oats for a gluten free cake)

1 T baking powder

Pinch of sea salt

1 dropper of liquid stevia or 1/2 cup sweetener of choice

3/4-1 cup finely grated carrots

1 cup milk of choice

2 flax eggs (or 2 regular eggs if you don't have an egg allergy/aren't vegan)

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

For the protein frosting - 

1/2 cup cottage cheese 

1/2 scoop vanilla Shakeology or protein powder

1-2 T nut/seed butter of choice

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the oatmeal flour, baking powder, and salt. In a larger bowl, make your flax egg and let sit until the mixture becomes thick. Then, combine the flax egg, milk, vanilla, stevia/sweeteneer, and applesauce. Mix well. (If using eggs, just mix all the wet ingredients together, minus the carrots). Stir in the dry ingredients, and stir until just mixed. Fold in the carrots. Spread in a greased 9X9 pan and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. Check the cake around 17 minutes as all ovens vary slightly!

For the protein frosting, combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. I personally frost individual pieces as I eat them, as it helps the cake stay fresh longer :-)

Did you like the recipe? I'd love to hear your feedback!! What types of recipes do you want to see in the future? Contact me via my home page on the right hand side :-) <3

Have a blessed day!