Wordless Wednesday Look Up

  It's summer time here which allows things to slow down a bit or vice versa depending on the day but I still try to capture and appreciate natures beauty when it's made available to me.

  Sunrise or sunset is the highlight or the finale to my night.  I love catching sight of a good show in the sky.  I have missed a few sunrises in the summer but will make up for that soon.  However I am catching all the colors and rays in the evening.

I leave you with these images and hopefully some inspiration to get outside and look up! You never know what color it's going to be which is half the excitement!  When's the last time you looked up?

Arctic Frozen Desserts Review Part 2

  Yes, there is a part two because I didn't try all the frozen treats at one time.  I had to savor it and spread it out.  So over the weekend we cracked open the other package!

  The other package of cold healthy goodness.  Cake batter flavor dipped in red velvet.  I'm going to give you a minute to think about that!  Ok yep it's as good as it sounds!  Regardless of how many calories it's missing!  The label states the facts and I'm stating a fact. This was delicious. Speaking from a sugar lover.  I don't know what happened or how but, this was good. Lactose, GMO and gluten free! 80 calories leaves you room to sneak something else!

You know you might not even take my word for it so here's  my proof!

Convinced yet?  I didn't have to bribe them to take bites.  I just had to take quick pictures before it was devoured. It's a shame you can't taste mine.

  I was provided this product along with the tubs complimentary and for tasting and review purposes and all opinions shared here were my own.  You can pick up a variety of flavors at a grocery store near you. Catch the sale and pick up more then one flavor!  

Check out their site here for more options!

Weekly Goals

  I was going to skip goals this week but then I thought to myself what would I accomplish?

  Last week I managed to complete some or all of my goals.  I went through some of the kids clothes to get rid of but now the bag sits in the hallway.  I downloaded some pictures but not as much as I should have.  I just finished one book yesterday and I did get a few posts done for the week ahead.

  This week I would like to:

1. Tackle some more clothes AND drop off the clothes at my local thrift store!

2.  Dump 500 pictures!

3.  Finish another book.  I have one that I still need to finish for my book club next month but I'm still sitting on 2 that are approaching due dates.

4.  Keep ahead with my posts!  Mealplans the most so I know what to get when I go grocery shopping!

5.  Complete some campaigns and surveys.  The more I complete the more products or giftcard I receive.

 Oooh look I added on an extra one this week, I'm getting wild and ambitious now.  Once I get my books and pictures caught up though I'm going to have to move on to something else and quit stalling.

  I hope you have a productive week!  What's one thing you keep putting off?  How many pictures are trapped on your phone?

Meal plan 8/7-8/11

  It's that time again to organize what's for dinner!  I don't create recipes for me it's just easier to research recipes and raid the pantry.  Each week I try to make a meatless meal sometimes it turns into 2 days and that just a coincidence.  I might not even he 100% of the ingredients but I make the meal anyways.  A crockpot meal once a week is a nice break and of course so are leftovers!   Sliding in a new recipe is always fun to spice up the palette too!

8/7 Soup and leftover salad:
chicken-and-rice-soup.

8/8 Pasta:
tortellini-and-kielbasa.

8/9 Chicken:
Baked chicken with brown-sugar-barbecue-sauce.

8/10 Crockpot:
vegetarian-chili-with-sweet-potatoes.

8/11 Leftovers

There it is everyone! 2 days this week with chicken, 1 meatless and all new recipes! The slow cooker thrown in for convenience and soup also for an easy night! Happy eating! What's your dinner plans?

Chocolate Banana Smoothie with peanutbutter

  I am a breakfast person.  I wake up and I'm ready to eat.  Unlike my kids whom wake up ready to eat but sometimes it's because they skipped dinner based on personal preferences.

  I cook/prepare a variety of items for breakfast.  Sometimes the meal is cereal or oatmeal but I'm ok whipping up pancakes, waffles or muffins too.  I also like to make smoothies.

  Smoothies are hit or miss with the kids.  Sometimes I actually win getting fruits and vegetables in them this way sometimes the taste gets them straight out the gate.  I remember making a spinach one but my daughter had seen me put strawberries in prior to the spinach. She asked why is it was green?  I lied and said because strawberries turn green when blended sometimes. Hmmm. She has this hate with green things: broccoli specifically.  I will tell you what. She drank that green drink and it was good. Bye, bye spinach do your nutritional magic!

  Today was a banana smoothie with peanut butter.  This recipe was dairyfree but you could easily change milk in place of my substitute. Skipping the peanutbutter is not a big deal either.

1 frozen banana
1 cup of chocolate almond milk
1 T peanut butter

Blend it all together.   Depending on how many mouths are tempted to drink or try it, I may think it out with more milk.  I like thicker smoothies.

  I find it to be sweet enough based on the almond milk so I don't add any extra sweeter but you could add a tablespoon of syrup or honey.

 
Bottoms up! Try a glass of this to accompany your next breakfast or in place of eating if your in a rush!  Do you drink smoothies what's your favorite blend?
 

Wordless Wednesday (A day in the garden)

  We have had an annual pass to our local botanical gardens for years.  It's somewhere we all like to go as a family.  Every time we go and see something different.  There are more then just flowers, plants and trees here.  There is also a cafe, a children's play area and more.  It's a popular wedding venue so we have also caught a couple bride sightings.

Off we go with the kids leading the way why because they enjoy it just as much as me.  

It's nice to go multiple times because different flowers grow at different times of the year.

I love in the summer when they open the butterfly house.   This is a must stop on our visit to witness eggs, caterpillars and butterflies.

We spend a good couple of hours here every time we go. We ride the tram around then walk on foot through the whole thing again. 

Do you have an annual pass to somewhere?  Where do you find yourself visiting often?

Arctic Frozen Dessert Review Part 1

   I received a box of frozen goodness outside my door.  I must admit the first delivery was not successful but then I received a replacement box! This frozen dessert was a nice sight in a week of temperatures in the high 90's.

  I the packaging was very sweet to include a handwritten note! A catalog of other flavors and the bow was a nice touch over the cooler.

  In the box were 3 pints of various frozen desserts, a cute heart shaped bowl and a box of cake batter pops!

Let's talk about the flavors!

  Rocky Road Trip first off was this gorgeous chocolate flavor with chunks of almonds and marshmallows.  Sadly this one was not my favorite.  I dug into it first anticipating chocolate and didn't taste it as much as I wanted.  Aside from that it was hearty and full of chunks. There were bits in every spoonful.

  Peanut Butter swirl was a combination of peanut butter and white chips swirled in vanilla.  I enjoyed this one and although I would have liked more swirl; the flavor was there.  You could  visible see tell peanut butter and chips so again you were getting spoonfuls but this one was more appetizing to me.

  I finish with Cherry Chocolate Chunk. Another chunk dessert.  Similar to the first flavor with big pieces mixed in.  I liked this flavor the best.  The cherry flavor combined with burst of chocolate was delicious.  Even if you managed to get a scoop without the chocolate it was still good.

  What I love about Arctic Zero frozen desserts is there is a whole variety of flavors as well as the healthier choice aspect.  These desserts are not only gmo free, gluten free, lactose free and but have between 75-80 calories.  So after a hard work out or a week of eating right this makes the best treat!

Part 2 my review of the Cake Batter pops to follow shortly.  

  I received this awesome box complimentary for my tasting and review pleasure.  All opinions are my own.