Comfort food....yummy skinny alfredo chicken

It has been too long since I have blogged!!!  Life just continued to happen and now we are less than a week from Christmas!!! WOOHOO!!!

Today is the 1st major snow storm in the area and it is now official....no school tomorrow!!! Cheers and many smiles are going on in my home tonight.

I have been in major baking and cooking mode with this time of year.....and it hasn't been "healthy" foods either :)  Although I have made cupcakes, cake, bars, cookies, reindeer tracks and poop :)....I did make a delicious dish that is soooo yummy and lower calories/fat than its original version......
Alfredo chicken:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp crushed garlic
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
1 C. chicken broth
1/4 C. non fat evaporated milk
1/4 C. non fat Greek yogurt
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 C. Parmesan cheese
2 cooked and diced chicken breast
2 C favorite cooked green veggie ( I used green beans)
2 C cooked whole wheat penne pasta

Saute oil and garlic, wisk in broth, milk and yogurt.  Cook for a couple of minutes and add salt/pepper to taste.  Remove from heat and stir in cheese.  Add remaining ingredients and serve warm.

We had NO left overs and the girls were licking their plates clean....green beans and all!!
I hope you enjoy.

~Deb

Day 10....For Giving Grateful Praise

It is Thanksgiving Eve and day 10 of this challenge.  I feel turning to His word has the best meaning to my THANKFULNESS.

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations. 

We will end with jumping for joy and thanks with jumping jacks:)  1 minute on and 1 minute off for 10 minutes.

I hope you have a BLESSED Thanksgiving and enjoy every moment!
Holy Hugs,
~Deb

Thanksgiving celebration with Madonna School

Today I was honored to be invited to the Madonna School Thanksgiving celebration.  It was so wonderful to see the transition kids I work with perform for an audience of 200+, and enjoy a wonderful meal that they all helped in preparing.  They even decorated the room and helped with the clean up.  I did get questioned by one of the kids on my plate of food I took "Ms. Deb, is this what you would call eating in moderation?"  I actually thought I took a small portion.....LOVE the honesty of these children:)

One of the exercises these kids do not really like doing, however ask every week if we are going to do them is planks.....so today's challenge is PLANKS! For 10 minutes I would like you to break it up into 10, 30 second plank with 30 sec rest.

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.
~ Hebrews 12:28-29

In honor of my Grandmother

My Grandmother is slowing passing.  She is now on morphine for pain and is not eating or drinking.  I saw her today and she opened her eyes and cried.  I know she knew I was there.  I told her how much I loved her and that I know how much she loves me.  The Lord is waiting for her with open arms.....what a special day it will be when she gets to meet Jesus!!!

"O God, I thank You for this day of life
for eyes to see the sky
for ears to hear the birds
for feet to walk amidst the trees
for hands to pick the flowers from the earth
for a sense of smell to breathe in the sweet
   perfumes of nature
for a mind to think about and appreciate
   the magic of everyday miracles
for a spirit to swell in joy at Your mighty presence
   everywhere."

by Marian Wright Edelman


In honor of my Grandmother with our daily challenge, we are going to do mountain climbers.  My Grandmother is a "tough old bird", as my Grandfather would say, and she would climb any mountain with determination and strength.  Perform a mountain climber on the floor or elevated on a step/chair for 1 minute on, 1 minute off for 10 minutes total.

The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
~ Exodus 15:2

Thankful for.....

So many reasons and so many people I am THANKFUL for!  Here are some that my daughter and I listed alphabetically:
Apple
Banana
Cub
Daddy
Elephant
Friends
Grandpa/Grandma
Happy
Ice
Jesus
Kangaroo
Lambies
Mommy
Nebraska
Ox
Papa
Quilt
Rylee
Skylar
Taylor
Umbrella
Vine
Waterfall
Xray
You
Zebra

What are some of your reasons?

Today's challenge is walking pushups.  You will start in a pushup position with legs wide, preform a pushup and walk right hand/foot together, then move left hand/foot out wide and perform a pushup.  Walk left hand/foot back together and repeat to the right side.  Do this for 1 minute on, 1 minute off for 10 minutes.  You can also do this on a stair, against a counter or against the wall.

Today's verse: And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
~ Colossians 3:15

Day 6....weekend time

I am at a time of my life that weekends are so fun with all the activities.  This weekend we have 2 birthday parties, 3 basketball games, football (my 10 year old daughter LOVES to watch college and pro), church with new member lunch and prepping the house for THANKSGIVING!!!

I have to admit that I am enjoying this challenge because it is keeping me focused on having  a little time for mommy.  I am not always fired up and ready to get after it, however once I'm done a feel like a super star:) LOL

I hope your weekend is full of blessings!

Today's challenge is a CHALLENGE!!!  MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS :)
For advanced, place hands on the floor and body in a plank position.  If you need more assistance, place your hands on a chair/stairs.  Alternate bringing knees to chest in a running motion for 1 minute on and standing for 1 minute of rest for your 10 minute challenge time.  I have a feeling my ears my be burning from you not being to happy with me and this challenge.  I want you to think about this: You will not only be burning calories by elevating your heart rate, but you will be working on your core and midsection as well!

But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving.  That which I have vowed I will pay Salvation is from the LORD.
~ Jonah 2:9

Day 5.....EAT!

One thing you don't have to remind me or tell me to do twice is EAT!  I honestly admire those who say they forget to eat.  WHAT???  I am planning my next meal while I'm eating my current one:)

What I have realized is it does make a difference if you eat frequently, what you eat in combination and obviously how much.  This all goes into what changes your body composition will have either in one direction or the other. 

There was a time in my life that I thought if I would eat 2 maybe 3 meals I could maintain a comfortable weight.  The healthiest way to fire up your metabolism is to eat every 2-3 hours with having 5-7 meals a day.  I know it can sound crazy that eating that many times can make a difference, but it does.

So with planning for the Thanksgiving meal, make sure you eat a few small meals before your big meal.  Don't think you can "save up for" with skipping.  This day is a day of blessings and THANKSGIVING.....A time for enjoying family, friends and what Christ has given us!!

Today's 10 minute challenge: squat with abduct (leg out to side).  You will start with legs shoulder width apart; squat down; as you return to starting position abduct one leg; return to starting position; squat and repeat abduction on the other side.  Keep repeating for 1 minute on, 1 minute off.  WARNING....this is a BURNER!!! Have fun:)

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. ~ Psalm 100:4