Tech Nerd In Da House!!!

Okay so this is going to be short and sweet tonight because for some crazy reason the hubs thinks that I am on my "techy" stuff way too much, which I  AM NOT  by they way!!! Just because I like to browse pinterest and chat with my friends on my new iPhone (that hubs got for my birthday so he is obviously enabling my tech habit) while reality TV junky watches Jersey Shore and some other shows on MTV. I'm sorry but I feel dumber after sitting through 10 minutes and would much rather be productive pinning things to my boards, most of which I will probably never ever make :)

Okay on with the point. For some reason I agreed to go 5 weeks straight, gluten free and sugar free without cheats at all (Ragnar Las Vegas being the exception if needed)...call me crazy but I think it's going to be awesome. I'm coming to the conclusion that wheat is the devil and causes all sorts of issues with the body. I don't usually eat it anyway but this 5 weeks I'm going to be super strict. If you would like to join in on the fun let me know!!! I'm sure you're all just dying to be as awesome as I am!
 I'm 5 days into it and needed a little sweetness tonight (get your minds outta the gutter people) so I made a gluten free, sugar free apple crisp with all the apples Brooke the green thumb gave me. I tried a recipe from Caveman Strong, another great blog with really helpful recipes to get you eating paleo.
I think that next time I would rather have less almond flour and more crunch, maybe some sliced almonds, walnuts and flax seed in the crumble topping...don't get me wrong this recipe was GREAT!!!
And without further rambling here you go....

CAVEMAN STRONG APPLE CRISP

Ingredients
2 cups blanched almond flour

1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup coconut oil or butter
¼ cup honey
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5 medium apples, peeled, sliced, then chopped in half width-wise
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, cinnamon.  In a smaller bowl, combine oil, honey and vanilla.  Stir wet ingredients into dry.  Place apples in a 8×8 pyrexbaking dish. Crumble topping over the apples.  Cover and bake at 350° for 50 minutes on low rack.  When apples are soft and their juices bubble, remove cover and bake 10 more minutes to brown crispy.  Serve warm

*NOTE* I added about 1 tbsp cinnamon and 1/4 cup maple syrup to the apples and I miss read the whole recipe and added 1/2 cup instead of 1/4 of honey...whoopsy! I also think that you could go 1/4 cup coconut oil instead of the 1/2 cup.

ENJOY!!!!

Super Duper Green Power Smoothie!!

I am in major need of a new smoothie, so last night was a scowering (is that even a word) Pinterest in search of something different and awesome, well I found it! The smoothie comes out looking about as green as an avocado but I do have to say it is delightful!
I would love to tell you more funny stories I have about my kids and my crazy life in general but Presley has transformed into a monkey over the last couple days, her favorite pass time being to dance on the island counter top and then scream at me until I get her down...I get screamed at a lot, including right this very second.

Okay here is the recipe....DO IT!

1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup orange juice (may need more later on so keep it out)
1/2 banana
1-2 handfuls of spinach, I go with 2
splash of vanilla
1 handful of frozen mixed fruit (mine has peaches, strawberries, pineapple and mango)

Throw that all in a blander and blend away, push down the sides until the spinach has disappeared.
If it's too thick to blend add a little more OJ.
If you want the POWER part of the smoothie add in 1 scoop vanilla protein powder at the very end so it doesn't make your smoothie frothy

Peach BBQ Sauce (GF and Paleo)

Put this over pork chops, ribs or any chicken part and you will LOVE!!! I always have a bottle of some sort of BBQ sauce on hand in the fridge for dipping.

3 large peaches peeled and pureed

1 tbsp olive oil

1 sweet onion diced

4 cloves garlic diced

½-1 can tomato sauce (I used ½ a regular sized can, just depends on how tomatoey you want it)

¾ cup beef stock

1 tsp Dijon mustard

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp smoked paprika

1 Tbsp GF soy sauce

1 small can crushed pineapple (maybe ½ cup)

1 Tbsp chilli powder

¼-1/3 cup honey (add only ¼ at first and see how sweet it is)

salt and pepper to taste

In a sauce pan heat olive oil over med heat  add onion and garlic. Once the onions are translucent add everything else and bring just to a boil. Turn to low and let simmer for 20 minutes until it’s thick. Put it all in a blender and blend until smooth!

It Could Be Worse, Seriously Get Over Yourself!

This is what I tell myself whenever I am frustrated with the happenings in my life..."it could be worse, get over yourself" (or I call my mom and cry to her on the phone, either way I need to get over myself!)
I try to take a moment out of the drama and tell myself just be thankful that all your kids are healthy, that you have a husband who is around and has a steady job, that I am healthy and can do all this kick ass stuff I do, he have an amazing house, I have amazing friends (obviously) and for the freaking awesome family that I have!
I have a friend on facebook whose husband is gone to Iraq, I think they have like 5 or 6 kids...something like that, one is a newborn (crazy lady!). I tell her often that she is my hero and how amazing she is and you know what she says back to me? "He's the amazing one" OH MY HELL! Seriously how selfish am I? I think he has been gone the majority of this year and she is just hanging in there like a trooper. Kallie you rock!
I have another friend, a pretty close one as a matter of fact who is probably reading this right at this very moment. She lost her husband recently, they have one darling little girl and I want to cry every time I think of them. She is my age!!! I would be devastated to the point of not being able to function and she is being so strong! I can't even believe how great she is handling the whole ordeal, I'm seriously proud of her. She is dealing with it like a champ. Amazing...see how much worse it could be? Summer you are amazing and I love ya!
There is a little girl in our ward, 4 years old, she was just diagnosed with a Stage 4 Wilms Tumor the size of a softball growing around her kidney. They tried to do surgery to remove it but when they got inside the tumor was in such a bad position that they couldn't touch it and found out the cancer had spread to her lungs and lymph system. It's all happened so fast and she isn't doing very well after her first dose of chemo. They found all this out because she all the sudden was having severe stomach pains and had to be rushed to the ER. They are having a 5K to raise money and show support for McKayla, you can sign up HERE if you would like. So sad!
Seriously, I thought I was having a rough week with Jett having separation anxiety (that's what I'm calling it anyway) and having to take him out of pre-school. I just have to remind myself every once in a while that I have it pretty freakin good!
Seriously though (yes I know that I use that word quite often but seriously...) Jett wouldn't even get dressed in the morning to go to school, he would cry and shake and hide under his blankets...you would think they beat him there! I think he made it to 4 classes ($75 later) and I can't bring myself to force him to go back, he's just so scared and he just wants his mommy...how can I be mad about that?
Alright, time to wrap it up....Peace out friends :) Don't worry, be happy and all that stuff.

St. George Trip and A Kick A$$ Recipe!

I went to St. George a couple weekends ago with my twin sister for a MUCH needed girls weekend with the moms (okay that made it sound like I have lesbian moms, not the case, I just like to call my mom "moms").
Some mommies may hate to be away from their little ones and you would have to pry them away crying to get them to go away for a couple days...not me I skipped, hopped and did a happy dance all the way to St. George. I'm not too proud to admit I need a break every once in a while. Lets face it, we've all heard about Jett, if I didn't have these little get aways I would probably be locked in a white room with padded walls and a little window in the door so they could observe my behavior.
Girls weekend was a huge success, we had tons of fun hiking, shopping and golfing and absolutely no running what so ever...I was to a point in my training where I felt the need to vomit if I even though about going on a run.
My mom took us on the most amazing hike ever, I know I've been before in college but I had forgotten all about it, and lets be honest I was in college...we had a fun time, had some paleo treats and I about gave Brooke and mom a heart attack, see attached picture....

It wasn't even that far down..come on!

The Spartan WOD of the day was to stop and plank where ever you were, so plank we did :)....

and some more planking with some sort of orangutang pose, look at those buff twin sisters!

And here are the triplets all together...such a fun relaxing day! Sorry we made you sore mom (hehehe)!

What would girls weekend be without a little golf at Sand Hollow Resort and a overly priced $15 bunless burger (complete with no sides) from a little place called Baristas in Hurricane? Not complete, that's for sure! 
My twin and I got pair with Lyman and Phil (short for Phillis we assume) the ever so happy couple from here and there. They were quite the entertainment, full of dry humor and uncomfortable spats for all 18 holes, we were pretty sure they couldn't hear a word we said...We hope anyway.

Lyman took this wonderful photo of the twins..isn't it a beautiful course? Even though Brooke was having gas issues we had a lot of fun. We only wish our wonderful sister and sister-in-law could have been there with us...of course I would have put them down wind of Brooke just for fun :D
I'm not even going to tell you about our lunch, let me just say we had plenty of time to sit and chat with the moms while our lunch was being prepared....here is a link to my review on Urban Spoon...I felt the need to let everyone know how horrible this place was!  

Okay moving on....I dropped by my Aunt LaVerne's house the other night to say hi and visit and left with tons of food from their garden...LOVE IT! So as I was making dinner last night I used every little bit of what they gave me, this is what paleo cooking is all about!

Blackberry Glazed Chicken Legs: (You really gotta try this one!)

For the sauce:
2 TBSP coconut oil
1 medium size yellow onion diced
2-3 cloves garlic diced
1/2-1 TBSP red pepper flakes
2-3 cups fresh blackberries
1 can organic tomato sauce
1/4-1/2 cup raw honey (just depending on how sweet you want it, taste as you go)
2 TBSP GF soy sauce
1 TBSP Chili powder
2 TBSP apple cider vinegar

1. Heat oil in a med sauce pan and add onion, garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 5 minutes
2. Add fresh blackberries and cook down for about 8 minutes
3. Add in tomato sauce, honey, soy sauce and chili powder...bring to a boil turn heat down to low and let it cook away for about 20-30 minutes until it thickens up.
4. Once it's nice and thick add the vinegar and remove from the heat
5. Once it's cooled place in a blender and blend away until its nice and smooth

While your saucey stuff is simmering away place your chicken legs on a baking sheet and pre-heat your oven to 375.

Sprinkle over the legs:
Chili powder
garlic powder
smoked paprika
and salt
Turn the legs and sprinkle on the other side too, and then run some olive oil over the top and rub those legs up real nice.

Place them in the oven (I'm really not sure how long I cooked them) After about 15 minutes I turned the legs over and let them cook another 5-10. Then I started glazing them with the BBQ sauce. Every 5 minutes rotate and brush them with the sauce until they are cooked through....and obviously let them cool before you enjoy!

And that will be all for today folks, Jett has fallen down the stairs and I still haven't showered even though I returned for the gym about 2.5 hours ago...time for me to peace out fools!

Family Pictures Never Again....

It has been such a long time since I've blogged anything...been a busy busy summer (not really but I like to tell myself that because of the lack of things I have accomplished). I thought I would share this little gem with ya'll though and from this you will know why this will be the last family picture you will be getting from us for quite some time!

So last night we attempted family pictures (notice use of the word attempted)....I believe that trying to shovel my driveway in an effing blizzard would have been an easier task to accomplish. Seeing that it has been since I was pregnant with Presley last time we had a family photo taken it was definitely the time to get 'er done.
I was pretty sure I was well prepared for the task ahead of me....I had everyone's outfits picked out, ironed, kids were bathed and they were going to be perfect little angels (HAHAHA!)....soooooo far from the truth.....Bobby comes home from work at 5:45, we are supposed to be out to the marina at 6:30 to meet the photographer and my place is a freaking mad house because I have been left alone to get everyone ready (HOLY MOTHER).
Presley is following me around crying with snot running everywhere and I'll be darned if I'm going to put her brand new dress on her at that moment. Jett is running around in his underwear laughing at me because I can't catch him and Nico is being Nico and sitting on the couch picking his nose while simultaneously, with the same hand sucking his thumb and ruining his hair that I have managed to get some gel in to. Bobby was supposed to bring Nico the shirt I picked out from the golf shop home with him and when I put it on Nico it was DROWNING him...what the frick man!? It's a large...not the medium that I had suggested he get. By now and I am a friggin wreck and haven't found 2 seconds to get myself ready...in the mean time Presley is still bawling and snotting everywhere because I'm yelling at everyone and the chaos that follows is just mind blowing. In fact I'm getting stressed even thinking about it...moving on...
So some how we manage to tackle and wrestle some clothes on captain underpants, get bawl baby to stop screaming and cleaned up enough to do her hair (which is a whole other chore it's self...she despises having her hair did) This just leaves the issue with Nico's shirt and me...Bobby miraculously has someone deliver the shirt, amazing how that size medium fits perfectly, but has now told me he forgot to pick up the rocking chair we were supposed to bring as a prop. Great, whatever! I could care less except for I went around making sure everyone's shirts would go with the color of the rocking chair...obviously I put too much effort into that one!! We make it to the marina only 15 minutes late, it is a freaking miracle....I've threatened the children with their lives if they get dirty and what happens as soon as we step out of the truck? Nico pushes Jett and he falls face first into the asphalt parking lot...EFFING AWESOME!!! Then we head down to the beach where Nico heads straight to the mud I told him to stay away from, picks it up with both hands, squishes it and wipes it on his brand new size medium shirt....in the mean time Presley has started bawling....again....and Jett is being the best child ever (now what does that tell you?) Hopefully we were able to get in some good shots because I am NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER, you get the point, doing that EVER again. I was exhausted, not to mention there were giant spiders everywhere you looked...I mean come on! Can't I catch a freaking break? Needless to say I ate the other half of the carton of ice cream I had worked on 2 nights ago...it was that stressful!
Today is a new day and I was going to make the best of it and make everything real easy to accomplish and also take my children somewhere where they could run out all their energy, with little effort required on my part to keep an eye on them (don't judge me!).
I've got dinner all prepped, floors vacuumed, things that my kids and husband didn't pick up put away in my secret mommy stash (ala Brooke) and we've been to the park...mission accomplished. How was I able to get this all done you ask? Well Jett slept in until 10:30, Presley slept until 9, I let Nico lay around and watch Star Wars Clone Wars and I was up and at them at 8!
For dinner I am attempting a gluten free, paleo friendly teriyaki chicken marinade (in the fridge since noon) with squash and fruit...I came up with the marinade on my very own...I will share the recipe if it turns out wonderful, it has to be good though it's got soy sauce, honey, limes and pineapple juice..YUMMY!
I'm going to end this entry on a good note while my children are being nice for me and go enjoy my diet Dr. Pepper while I'm not stuck in a crazed mad house....and here they come...run for your lives!!!

Also the WOD for the day is to swim 1 mile...

200m Warm up

100m fast
200m slow (mix up the styles here)
repeat until you've reached a mile.

Holy Sweet Tooth Batman!!!

So yes, I am sitting here in my sweatshirt in the 80 degree weather...I'm cold...it looks all doom and gloomy outside and that makes me think it should be cold and raining...I'm sure the neighbors think I'm a little strange, they will get over it.
I also have a monster sweet tooth craving tonight. Banana and peanut butter was not going to hit the spot...I remembered a kick a$$ looking recipe from my favorite paleo treat gal PaleOMG for coconut pecan butter. HOLY JACKPOT!!!! It took all of 10 minutes to make (waaaay too long for my sweet tooth) and I could eat the entire jar...it is NOT healthy at all but you know what...I deserve it! Yes I do!!!!! (This is me convincing myself) I'll post the recipe down below so if my other fellow sugar junkies need a little hit.
I deserve it because I finally got up some motivation to get training again...sure sure, I have been working out all this week but today's workout just hit the spot. You know when your warming up for a workout and you know you are feeling it? That's what happened to me today. I felt so great and my legs were feeling strong again...LOVING IT!!!
Bobby got invited to go to Wendover with a friend for the friends birthday....the friend was paying for everything too..strange to be paying for everything at your own birthday? Yes,...yes it is! Anyway so he was gone all day, is still gone, and I wasn't about to pay a babysitter to come just so I could workout when I have a perfectly good treadmill in my basement. Problem is I was supposed to do bleacher stairs today....okay, problem solved I have a perfectly good set of 13 stairs leading up from the basement. BORING...but you gotta do what you gotta do right?
This is what I managed to get in while Presley was napping (bless her sweet little head for giving me a break from her screaming session):

2.5 mile warm up (I originally planned on just running 4 miles, this is why such a long warm up)
10x running up 13 stairs and down
50 body weight squats
10x stairs
50 mason twists
10x stairs
50 lunges
800m jog
repeated 4 times with a 800m cool down, so I did a total of 1560 stairs, 5 miles, 200 squats, twists and lunges. Not too shabby for a basement workout eh?
This is why I deserved to give in to my sweet tooth just a scoch (keep in mind I didn't cheat on my sugar detox because I rock)

Okay no time for copy and pasting the recipe, youre going to have to be cool with a link...BE COOL! I sure wish Presley would be cool, man is she kicking my trash today!!!
HERE is the Pecan Coconut Butter
MELT DOWN MODE.....all systems are shutting down, time for bed.