AdvoCare's 24-Day Challenge... Part 1, The 10-Day Cleanse

Since this post did not work on my facebook page, I thought I'd post it here and see if it worked better.

Hello Friends and Family...

As some of you may know I started the 24-Day Challenge 7 days ago. My objective was and is, to manage my health (not that I have any pending issues that I'm aware of), gain more energy, become more mentally alert, and of course, shed some pounds. Not that I am (or was) a couch potato to begin with. I'm just the typical stay-at-home-mom whose feet hit the floor in the morning and keep going until I fall into bed, exhausted, at night. About the only time I actually sit during the day is when I'm driving my teens to and from school or a grocery run. I also felt that I ate pretty healthy, for the most part, as well, covering all the basic food groups. This cleanse has poven otherwise and has made me "re-think" my relationship with food. Now, don't get me wrong, or go into panic mode... I STILL love to cook! And, I still have a love for food. I just may do some things differently in the future, that's all. My point is, most days I felt I had "foggy head", even after two and three cups of coffee in the mornings. By mid-afternoon I sometimes needed another boost of caffeine (either a COKE or a Micky D's coffee). And overall, I just felt bloated and sluggish and mentally tired. I needed to change something, and after learning about the 24-Day Challenge, I knew that's what I needed to do.

The first 10 days is the "Cleanse Phase"... and yes, it's been trying and down right difficult at times. And, I cannot lie... Yes, I have cheated, slipped up, got off track, and blew it a few times. But it's ok. I'm not beating myself up or throwing in the towel just yet (that's one things I like about myself ;)). One of the best things about this program is, it gives you an 80/20 rule... and that is "Shoot to be 80% compliant with the eating plan so that you get the results you want". It's not super strict and that's why I've been able to "forgive" myself and keep going. However, I have had to discipline myself and have a strong will power to succeed at times. And yes, I have been hungry, even starving, at times... but I found, it was when I hadn't eaten in a while. I have actually been keeping a food log and have been amazed at how much food I have eaten... even kinda grossed out. ;)But like I updated today as my status, being on the 24-Day Challenge (and only for 7 days), I have increased energy (with out feeling jittery), I feel more mentally sound and awake, and best of all, I have lost inches. I don't have a scale in mi casa because I feel you can get too caught up on weighing a certain number. Every body is different, and for me, it's mostly about how I look and feel. I do, however, own a sewing tape measure (I think that's what it's called) and I took my measurements on the first day. Here's what they were...
~ Bust: 41 inches
~ Waist: 35.5"
~ Hips: 39"
~ Thighs: 25.5"

And here is what the tape measure says today, day 7...
~ Bust: 41" (damn!)
~ Waist: 33"
~ Hips: 38"
~ Thighs: 24.5"

And, I ain't lyin'! 'Cause if I lie I break out in hives... and I hate hives! ;)

So, for everyone that is interested, here is a link to two short videos explaining what it is and how it all works.

And here are the instruction and eating guidlines for The 10-Day Cleanse and The Max Phase, days 11-24 for the 24-Day Challenge.

If you have any questions or are interested in doing the 24-Day Challenge, just message me... It is changing my life!
I will be sharing more soon... A yummy veggie soup recipe and maybe even a few pictures.  Maybe.
Peace, Love and Good Health!
Rolo

triple layer chocolate crunch brownies...

These should really be called "To. Die. For. Brownies"... or,
"The Best Brownies I've Ever Had"... or,
"I'll pay your mom forty bucks if she makes me some of my
very own Brownies"!
Ha ha ha, on that last one...
I packed one single brownie in my baby homegirl's lunch yesterday.
She shared with many... don't ask me how. *Cringe*
Anywho, when I picked her up from school she told me that one of her friends couldn't believe how awesome it was and told her that he'd pay me forty dollars to make him his own batch.
After I stopped laughing, I stopped by the store to pick up what I needed to make more!

These are incredibly easy to make and oh so darn delicious.

~Triple Layer Chocolate Crunch Brownies~

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk chocolate chips, divided use
20 whole Oreo cookies, divided use
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
~Butter and flour an 8x8 cake pan.
~Mix together in a bowl the butter and sugar until fluffy.
~Add the eggs one at a time.
~Add in the vanilla and the cocoa powder. Mix until combined.
~Add the flour and salt, mixing until well combined and smooth.
~Fold in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.
~Spread into the 8x8 cake pan.
~Sink 9 Oreo cookies into the batter and press down slightly to partially submerge.
~Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
~While baking, crush the remaining Oreo cookies in a Ziploc bag.
~Remove from oven and sprinkle with 1/2 cup chocolate chips and the crushed Oreo cookies.
~Put back in oven for 2 to 3 minutes.
~During this time melt the remaining chocolate chips and peanut butter together in the
microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and melt again.
~Remove brownies from oven and pour melted chocolate mixture
over the top, spreading with a spatula. Be sure the chocolate gets down
into the Oreo crevices, as it is the "glue" that holds the top to the bottom.
~Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
~Let sit at room temperature about 15 minutes before cutting.
~Have a giant glass of milk ready.
~Take one humongous bite.
~*faint* Make 'em this weekend... sharing is optional.

transforming...

We're at it again. A transformation is taking place. Messes being made.

Homegirl using power tools. Homegirl is so excited...

chicken cacciatore...

Italian food lovers rejoice!
Here's one that super easy and super de duper delicious.
Be sure you have lots of fresh crusty bread for dipping...
you most definitely don't want to miss out on this sauce.


Start with about 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts... hand trimmed.



1 medium onion... chopped.


1 red bell pepper... chopped.

1 1/2 cup of white wine.

Capers... about 2 tablespoons, chicken stock... about 1 cup,
and diced tomatoes... a 28 oz can.

Start by heating up about 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 tablespoons
of butter in a skillet.

While your oil is heating up put about 1 cup of flour into a shallow dish.

Salt, pepper and flour each side of your chicken.


Place in your hot skillet and brown on each side... about 5 minutes per side.
We only need to brown them... we'll finish cooking them a little later.

*faint* Oh. My. Doesn't that make your mouth water?

After you get your chicken good and brown,
transfer to a plate and set aside.

Now, see this here? This is good stuff, man.
Here's where you need to turn your heat
down just a bit and grab your wine...

With your wine in one hand and your spoon or spatula in the other,
pour in the wine and begin scrapping all the goodness from
the bottom of the skillet... this is what you call deglazing.

After you finish deglazing your pan, add in the
chopped red bell pepper and onions.
Give it a good stir to combine.


Throw in your can of diced tomatoes.

Pour in the chicken stock.

Oh, um... yeah, here's where I had to do a
switch-a-roo to a bigger pot. Don't be like me...
YOU can start from the beginning in a pot like this.

Ahhh... that's better.

Add the capers.

Stir to combine.
Here is where you'll want to turn your heat back up a bit,
throw in a dash or two of salt, some fresh
ground pepper to taste, and 1 teaspoon of dried Oregano.

Remember your chicken you browned?
Yeah, well, here is where you'll add it back in.
I sliced mine in half pieces because I'm a freak about
chicken cooking all the way through.

Bring all the yumminess to a boil, reduce your heat to
medium-low, cover and simmer for about 25 minutes.


That gives you plenty of time to cook your pasta...
I used good ol' fashioned spaghetti.

*faint*

First bite... *faint again*

Oh. My. Word. This is delicious.

Make it for your family... they'll love you forever.
Don't forget the bread!

Enjoy!
rolo

drunken beef stew...

Cold?
Snowed in?
Expecting more snow?

We're expecting more snow here in Dallas in about 12 hours.
Right now you'd never guess it, seeing as how it's beautiful clear
blue skies, lots of sunshine and 50 degrees.

Last week we had a super snow storm to go right along
with all the Super Bowl extravaganza.
I didn't leave my house and school was closed for four days...
I'm not sure I'll ever recover.


Well, maybe if I make this.
Yes, this actually might save me.

It's a little labor intensive... just a little.
But oh so worth it.


*Drunken Beef Stew*

3 pounds beef stew meat
1 can/bottle of your favorite dark beer
Salt & Pepper
4 Tablespoons butter
2 cups water
32 oz beef stock
2 Tablespoons butter
Drizzle of olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/3 teaspoon allspice
5 whole carrots, sliced
3 stalks celery, chopped
Salt & Pepper to taste

2 Tablespoons flour
1/3 cup water

~Prep the stew meat by soaking it in beer overnight
or at least several hours.
~Drain the meat saving the liquid... set it aside.
~Pat meat dry.
~In a skillet, sear stew meat in two batches using butter,
oil, salt and pepper.
~After meat is seared, transfer to a dutch oven or big pot.
~Using the saved liquid, add 2 cups of water and pour over meat.
~Pour in the beef stock
~Turn heat on to medium-high.
~Add sugar, paprika and allspice. Stir well.
~Bring to a boil.
~Cover, lower heat to medium-low... more on the low side.
~Simmer for 2 - 3 hours. May need to add a little
more water, beef stock or broth at this point.
~Add carrots and celery, cover and simmer for about another hour.
~Make a roux with flour and water if needed to thicken.
~Salt and pepper to taste.
~Serve over your favorite mashed potatoes... mine are roasted garlic.

Comfort yourself and stay warm,
rolo

an old favorite...

My oldest homegirl is in the hood!
She brought her little family down from
my old home town of, Muncie, Indiana for
some warmth and sunshine.

Pretty much as soon as they arrived and all the family and
extended family got together, someone got the bug.
*Cuss* at the bug. The bug is from the devil.
One by one it has infected and brought them to their knees...
even my poor little baby boy. It seemed to strike at the babies first.
*Cuss* at the bug. The bug is from the devil.

In between rotating in and out of the bathroom, we have
managed to have a little fun. Here's my granddaughter, Avah
at the Fort Worth Stockyards. She's a lil' miss sassy pants.
But that's ok... just look at that face.


Here's baby Gavin. He's only 3 months old.
He's the sweetest, most laid back little man
I've ever met... except when you mess with feeding time.

I have a point here... I was going to tell you something other
than about my family. However, I could talk about them all day.
They make me happy.

Oh, I know... "an old favorite".
Although my homegirl, Megan is an old favorite, she's not
what I wanted to tell you about.
No, my second favorite thing to talk about is... FOOD!

With the bug still lingering about, and since we're full blown
into the winter season (even though it's 50 degrees and sunny
here in big D... sorry to my Hoosier friends and family), I thought
I'd make an old favorite for dinner tonight
and wanted to remind you how easy and yummy it is.


*Chicken Tortilla Soup*

1 rotisserie chicken, chicken removed
3 to 4 cans chicken broth
1 can cream of chicken
1 can of Original Rotel
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
Tortilla chips
Mexican blend shredded cheese
Sour cream... optional

~Combine the first six ingredients in a medium-large pot,
over medium-high heat. Stir to combine.
~Bring to a simmer. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes.
~Serve with the tortilla chips and cheese (and sour cream) sprinkled on top.

Enjoy friends.
Stay warm and stay away from the bug.
It's the devil.
rolo

smothered hamburger steak...

Brrr, brrr, brrr... brrr, brrr!
Baby it's cold outside.

It's cold everywhere.
Even here in the Lone Star state.
My heater has been running non-stop.

And when it's this cold, all I want to do is eat
stuff like this and bake cookies.

Speaking of... hang on a second. I've got some chocolate
chip oatmeal cookies in the oven I need to check on...

.....................................................................................

O'm bok. *chomp* *chomp*
Oh, excuse me. I'm sorry for chewing in your ear.
What can I say? They're fresh out of the oven!

Anyway, what was I talking about?

Ahhh, yes. How could I forget about this.
This hot mess of delicious comfort.

You can whip this up in no time...
then return to your warm spot under
your covers with a happy belly.

~Smothered Hamburger Steak~

Prepare your favorite mashed potatoes.
Prepare and pan fry your favorite hamburgers.
Remove from pan, leaving drippings...
unless there's a lot, then drain most.
Grab a can of cream of mushroom soup and a
package of brown gravy.
Mix together in your pan with 1/4 to 1/2 cup water, until bubbly.

Serve over your hamburger patties immediately.

*Cookie baking optional.

Stay warm friends...
and feed your belly.
xo
rolo

fat witch...

I received something fun in the mail this past Saturday.

I just love getting fun stuff in the mail, don't you?
Whether you order it for yourself or a friend sends you a card...
there is just something special, something that makes you
smile and feel warm and fuzzy inside when opening something other than bills.


Isn't this the cutest thing?!


And the bag is adorable.
I'm a full-fledged bag lady. hee hee


Lets see what's inside...




Oooooooh... I love the packaging.

How clever.


Baby brownies! Awwww...
Aren't they adorable?!

Perfect for snacking.

Look, there's more...

Mmmmmm... bigger brownies!

Big fat brownies
This one is the "Blonde Witch".
Yum!

More?

Ahhhh... this one is MINE!
I must eat it now.

But first...

Let me share with you where I found
these lil' witches.
Over the holiday's I picked the
premiere issue of Where Women Cook.

I fell instantly in love.
And no, it doesn't have anything to do with
the fact that PW is on the cover...
Well, sort of.

This magazine is beautiful.
It was created by a woman.
It showcases women.
It's lovely.

Best thing is, it's full of information, ideas and inspiration.
I know that each time I pick it up I'll find something new.

Here is the section where I discovered
the famous Fat Witch Bakery, located
in Chelsea Market in New York.

I quickly looked up the link online and placed my order.

Had to have some of this goodness. Stat!

Now, lets eat one...

Again, I love the packaging.

I think I'll try this one first... it's the original.

Ooooh, I can't wait.

Huh?

Seems my homegirl was hiding behind me and couldn't wait either...


Back for seconds and I haven't even tasted yet...

She shows no remorse.

She pretty much grabbed, chewed and bolted...
but in her wake she proclaimed, "YUM"!

Fine... I'll go ahead and have the Java Witch.
Each one has their own little saying on the back.
Adorable.

Oh. My.
Pure deliciousness.
Simple satisfaction.

Give 'em a try. Order yourself a Fat Witch...
it'll make you smile.

xo
rolo