Mini Vegetable Egg Cups

Can I just say that these are one of my favorite breakfast choices from the 21 Day Fix Extreme program? Being prepared is not half the battle, it IS the battle. Having to get 3 children and hubby fed, clothed, teeth brushed and out the door on time in the mornings is HARD. So, being able to prep food ahead of time and being able to grab and go makes my life & being able to stick to the Extreme meal plan so much easier.

So! What I did was, heated my oven to 375 degrees and then took 12 eggs and whisked to blend them in a bowl.  When you whisk your eggs, you’re adding air into them. Therefore, the more that you whisk your eggs, the fluffier they are.

And then I thought, “oh crap, I better put it in something that I can pour into the muffin cups!” 12 eggs is 24 oz of eggy goodness liquid by the way…

Next, I chopped up 1 red pepper, 1 green pepper and 1 red onion.

Oh by the way…Did you know that bell peppers contain almost 300% of your daily vitamin C intake, help support healthy night vision, and that you burn more calories with red bell peppers? …Yup. 

The nice part is that you can really pick any vegetables you want, but these are what I picked for mine.

Now you’re ready to fill your muffin pan, so spray with cooking oil first to make sure that each hole is coated and then evenly distribute your veggies into the cups.

  

Last step before putting in the oven is to pour the egg in of course! Don’t fill to the top because they will fluff up.  Now they’re ready to go into your oven of 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes(or until a toothpick inserted into the center of cups comes out clean). I added Paprika seasoning to a few of the cups for extra flavor.

And voila! You’re all set! 2 egg cups counts as 1 red and 1 green on the 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme meal plan. You can store the rest in your refrigerator, grab them and go and you will be all set!

Feel free to have fun with this recipe, you can try any different vegetables that you like. Mushrooms, bell peppers of all colors, different kinds of onions, spinach, turkey bacon...if you really want to get extreme then throw in a jalapeño pepper. But that’s it! Those are mini veggie egg cups, if you want to learn more about the 21 Day Fix meal plan shoot me an email at Shannon.Gotta@yahoo.com or find me on Facebook at fb.com/gottasgirl.

Enjoy St. Paddy's Day Treats Guilt Free!

Who says that you can't enjoy the holiday's when you're trying to stay healthy? I found a couple of Mommy approved yummy and healthy recipes to try out and they are SUPER GOOD! I was so surprised!

First I made a Shamrock Shake and I have never had one before so I don't know how to compare it, but it was YUH-HUM!

Ingredients:

8 oz Skim, Rice, Almond or Soy Milk

4 oz ice and water

splash of peppermint extract or some mint water

1 tsp all natural peanut butter

2 tbps vanilla sugar free instant pudding mix

1 packet of Greenberry Shakeology

Blend all ingredients and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do! If you don't have any Greenberry Shakeology or would like to try a sample 6 pack of Shakeology for $29.95, you can comment below or send me a msg and I will give you the info on how to order it! =) 

The second treat I made is healthy Rice Krispies Treats! I was really surprised how good these taste too. Way better for you than the original.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup creamy almond butter*

1/3 cup honey**

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 cups crispy rice cereal

1 cup of Lucky Charms (optional, if not adding, add 1 cup of crispy rice cereal)

few drops of green food coloring(optional)

*Any nut butter will work. Or use soy nut butter for a nut-free version.

**Sub in brown rice syrup to make these vegan. Maple syrup and agave will not work because they are not thick enough.

Instructions:

1) Line an 8x8 baking pan with a sheet of aluminum foil, leaving a few inches of overhang on the sides to allow for easy removal. Spray foil with cooking spray and set aside.

2) In a medium-sized pan over medium heat, add almond butter, honey, and vanilla, stirring until the almond butter is melted and fully combined with the honey.

3) Remove from heat and add the cereal, stirring well everything is fully combined.

4) Pour into prepared baking pan and use a spatula or your hands(lets get real- this is much easier!) to ensure that the mixture is tightly packed.

5) Place pan into fridge and allow to cool for 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

Rice Krispies Treats have never been so guilt free!

Bye Bye Credit Cards

So this happened!! After years of accumulating credit card debt spread out over not one but THREE credit cards, my family is finally credit card debt free! I don't talk much about the financial benefits of being a Coach because my central focus is on helping people, but this is too monumental not to share. As a couple, my husband and I have NEVER been debt free. I am a stay at home mom, we have 3 children and live in one of the most expensive areas of the country...odds are completely against us for having financial freedom. As a matter of fact, when I signed up as a Beachbody Coach it was only for the discount on my Shakeology that I had to put on a credit card because we didn't even have money in the bank to cover it. Now, for the first time that very same credit card that was so close to being maxed out is now paid off entirely.

Beachbody is not just a business about selling. I work for a company that is HUGE on personal development. How can you help others reach their potential if you aren't even aware of your own? Beachbody wants you to succeed and enhance your quality of life. This company and my Team is a huge contributor to the realization of my own dreams and aspirations that were completely numb before I began this journey as a Beachbody Coach. Of course, at first any type of goal with a business like this is to make money, but there is so much more meaning behind that goal than any dream board could ever convey. I am just so thankful for taking the chance to imagine what my life could be like when I bought my Challenge Pack on December 27, 2013. I had no idea that I would grow (and shrink!!) in one year as much as I did. 

Now, I am by no means a financial adviser. I just wanted to share a few things that helped my family in becoming credit card debt free from my Beachbody income in just 15 months. 

First: Excel spreadsheets galore! Focus mainly on where your money is going and cut out the things that you don't need. This means, take it back to your poor college days and make a list. And I mean, really break it down.  Have a list of your utilities, house payment, car payment, insurance, etc. and how much goes out and how much comes in every month. Are you in the red? I was too, it's okay...now think about it. Do you really need that Starbucks every morning? Let me answer this for you: NO. Do you really need HBO that you only watch when NOTHING else is on TV and you're bored? Again...: NO. See what I'm doing here? Trust me, go a month without Starbucks. You will be exponentially richer and soon realize just how disgusting their coffee really is. #teamfolgers

Spreadsheets are also good for tracking, we track everything that we buy as far as food to see which foods are most cost effective for the meals we make. We used to buy grapes every few days for the kids, then after seeing how much it cost every month as opposed to a banana or apples they could be having as a fruit choice instead- we realized grapes are just too darn expensive and should be a "once in a while" food, not twice a week at $7 a bag purchase. 

(click to enlarge)

Back to that personal development and discovering my happiness within, another way that we got out of debt was by me stopping my impulse buys to fulfill something inside of me that made me happy when I spent money. Did I need that frame from Home Goods that I had absolutely no shelf space for? Nope! Do you need that new comforter for your 4 year olds bedroom? No, because if your kid is anything like mine then the only time ANYONE goes into his room is at night when I read to him and he sleeps from 8:30pm-7:00am and that is it. He could care less if he has the throw blanket from the couch or the hand me down Mickey Mouse comforter from big brother. Dig deep and find out why you are spending hundreds of dollars at Target and TJ Maxx every week. If you are bored, take a walk, read a book...but you are not remodeling your house every Friday- quit spending so much money on materialistic things that you won't regret buying after you get home. 

And last but certainly not least in my heart is tithing. I've started tithing more at church and I truly feel that God gives it back to me in abundance when I do. God already owns everything (Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 10:26). Moreover, God gives to us in abundance! (James 1:17, 1 Timothy 6:17, 18, Ephesians 1:3-8, 20) I am a firm believer in tithing being that subtle connection between my faith and the flow of God’s blessings in my life. Amazing things can happen when people begin to tithe and I encourage you to gather your courage, plunge in and trust that God will provide. 

This image is perfect for this subject because one of my Coaches has always referred to us as "fitness farmers" and this scripture couldn't be more true for that analogy. 

Hopefully my story and tips can inspire you to achieve financial freedom, if you'd like to talk more about the Beachbody Coaching opportunity I'd love to chat! If you have any questions about anything I covered (or missed), please don't hesitate to reach out and I will help you in any way that I can!

The Not-So-Sweet Holiday Treat

Craving that Starbucks holiday special? You may want to give that a second thought.

By now you've most likely been lured into a Grande Peppermint Mocha or a Grande Gingerbread latte, but once you see how much harmful sugar is in your favorite indulgence, you may want to switch to another option next time you want to cheat. 

Click here for a cool interactive graphic. You may be surprised!

Ultimate Quick Morning Breakfast

This is my FAVORITE 21 Day Fix approved healthy breakfast for a busy morning! Overnight Oats! 

The night before, combine the following:

1 yellow container of rolled oats (old fashioned oats are the same thing)
1 purple container of fruit (Georgia girl here went with peaches for this one)
1/2 red container of Greek yogurt 
1 yellow container of almond milk

I also drizzed a little bit of honey. Seal tight in mason jar or any Tupperware container. Come morning time you will have Fix-approved delicious overnight oats! They can be heated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, however I prefer them cold. 

And there you have it, the ultimate lazy, er um, quick morning breakfast! 

Holiday Crafts for Your Household

Its holiday season! And that means it's time for Shannon to roll back prices on homemade Christmas decorations! This one was SUPER simple and took no time at all. I bought a big ‘G’ from A.C. Moore with a half-off coupon, so it ended up costing around $8. 

Then I went to Michael's the same day with a 25% off entire purchase coupon and stocked up on the paint brushes, chevron stencil, and Green Holly acrylic paint.

First, I spray painted the ‘G’ with left over spray paint from a project I did last year.

Next, I stenciled over the course of 3 days, giving it time to dry in between so that laying the stencil over wet paint didn't happen.

And voila! Screw or heavy duty staple a ribbon to the back and hang that bad boy on your door with Christmas cheer!

Bonus pic of one of last year’s projects:

The Truth Behind Shakeology - 5 Misconceptions Explained!

For those unfamiliar with Shakeology, it’s very easy to jump to conclusions when it’s brought up in conversation. Everyone has a different assumption of what Shakeology is, which often leads to inaccurate information being shared. Below are five of the most common misconceptions about Shakeology along with the truth behind each one. Hopefully this helps to answer any questions you may have about Shakeology. If you have additional questions, please contact me!

1. Misconception: Shakeology is simply a protein shake
I hear this one a lot. “I already take a protein shake. What makes Shakeology so much better than other protein shakes?” Well the biggest reason is that it isn’t just a protein shake. With the number of different protein shakes out there, it’s easy to assume that Shakeology is just another one with similar benefits. This couldn't be further from the truth. Shakeology does contain protein, but it is also dense with nutrition that is essential to your daily diet. Whereas a protein shake is often used to supplement your diet, Shakeology becomes an integral part of it, satisfying all of your nutrition needs. Shakeology can be used for any meal – breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The goal of Shakeology is to be able to decrease the number of calories you consume without decreasing your nutritional intake. It would be next to impossible to consume the amount of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis that equals the amount of nutrition in Shakeology, just from a pure volume standpoint. However at 170 calories, Shakeology makes this easy for you, which is not something a protein can offer.  

2. Misconception: Shakeology is about comparing sugar/carbs/protein/fats to other shakes
In taking a closer look, it’s easy to fall into the trap of doing a straight comparison of ingredients between Shakeology and other shakes. Sure other shakes may show up as having zero grams of sugar, but how is that attained? The same way diet soda has zero grams of sugar: by using artificial sweeteners! If something is all-natural as Shakeology is, it’s going to have some sugar in it, even if it is solely from the fruit components. Stevia is a plant-based sweetener used in Shakeology, keeping with being all-natural. Since Shakeology has no artificial sweeteners, stimulants, flavors or colors, it is completely inaccurate to compare the nutrition label against another shake that is not all-natural.

3. Misconception: Shakeology is just a bunch of extracts, with no whole-food ingredients
It’s hard to believe that a shake with so many benefits can be made with 100% whole-food ingredients and provide the amount of nutrition that it does. Which is why so many people assume it can’t possibly be all natural or that it just has to have some chemical attributes.  This couldn't be further from the truth! Shakeology is 100% plant-based with NO chemical additives. The superfoods in Shakeology are preserved in their whole-food state in order to retain the maximum amount of nutritional value possible in order to provide the maximum benefit to you! Shakeology scientists have worked diligently to produce this ultimate nutritional product and as a result, Shakeology is now clinically proven to help you lose weight, lower cholesterol and reduce blood sugar levels. Best of all, Shakeology is way less expensive than buying this amount of nutrition separately, and it saves you a ton of time!

4. Misconception: Shakeology is too expensive
Oh boy, this is the big one that everyone seems to bring up when deciding whether or not to make Shakeology a consistent part of their life. Many people love hearing about the benefits, how you can lose weight, have more energy and improve your overall health, but once pricing comes into play, all of a sudden it doesn't seem worth it any more. When I hear this I cringe because little do they know they’re already spending much more each month! These are the same people who spend $5 to $10 on breakfast and/or lunch daily and go out to dinner a couple times a week, often times not even getting healthy meals! Adding this up you’d be close to $200 each month, and that’s just for one meal each day! A 30-day supply of Shakeology is roughly $4.33 per day. You’ll be hard pressed to find a fully healthy, all-natural meal for less than $5 at any restaurant. The sticker price doesn't sound so bad when spread out over a whole month, and ends up being much less than buying 30 individual meals at the grocery store.

I've also had people tell me they don’t like having a shake for a meal, they like having “real food”. Little do they know that Shakeology will arguably be the most real thing they have all day! Not to mention when you’re trying to improve your health, your current routine obviously is not ideal and there are changes that need to be made. I guarantee you the “real food” you’re currently eating isn't a plate full of vegetables!

The key point to take away is that Shakeology is a replacement to food you’re currently buying, not an addition to your nutrition budget. Not only are you receiving the vital nutrients that your body needs, but you stay fuller longer, meaning you’re not eating as much other food, saving you even more money. When used correctly and as directed, Shakeology could actually save you money when used consistently as a meal replacement, especially since there’s no way to purchase the amount of food with the same nutritional value at the same cost.

5. Misconception: Shakeology is only for weight loss
Although Shakeology is clinically proven to help you lose weight, that is not is only benefit. You may hear people compare other shakes to Shakeology saying they are just as good for weight loss, but that’s not an accurate statement. That’s like comparing a strawberry to a fruit salad saying they offer the same thing. Shakeology is so much more than a weight loss shake or a protein shake. It is a complete health shake that provides you everything you need to feel your absolute best every day. Shakeology is not part of a fad diet or a calorie-counting program. Its goal is to give you all of the nutrients your body needs to have increased energy, less hunger cravings and develop the muscles needed to thrive during your workouts and daily routine. After taking all of these things into account, you end up losing weight anyway!

Many people cut calories hoping to lose weight and then wonder why they aren't seeing the results they hope for. The biggest reason behind this is that they are also cutting all of nutrition their body needs, which slows metabolism and stunts muscle growth. But what if you don’t want to lose weight? Does that mean you shouldn't take Shakeology? Of course not! Shakeology is not a weight loss shake, it’s a full nutrition shake that can benefit everyone!

Click here for more information on Shakeology!