I keep individual muscle milks in the house but figure that much protein drinks I needed a bulk supply.  I choose Greens & Whey in chocolate.  It tastes as bad as it sounds. 

I prefer muscle milk in chocolate. 

I also purchased more fruit.  I bought bananas, grapes, blackberries, strawberries, oranges, pears and some pineapple.   Day one of the flush I weighed in at the gym at 187 pounds.  Boo!  Day one was the hardest day of the detox.  I was starving that evening but did not let myself cheat. 

Day Two & Three I did not weigh myself.  I did eat the fruit every two hours as suggested.  Because of my hunger I started each morning with a banana.  I did cheat each day with my coffee and creamer. Saturday I weighed in at 182.8 pounds.  I am impressed and I do feel a bit lighter.  So I give this fruit flush two thumbs up!

 

I've pinned 1288 Pins.

I normally do a detox after New Years each year.  I have yet do one this year.  Tomorrow I'm going to try this fruit flush out.  My normally detox I buy in a box from the Vitamin Shoppe.  It has a fiber pills & vitamins.  I also cut out junk foods and drink water.  This one sounds interesting because instead of fiber pills I'll be ingesting fresh fiber.  The fruit flush claims 4-8 pounds so I'm logging today at 185.2 pounds.

Easy Dinner

Tonight we had a yummy dinner via Pinterest. I made some delicious and easy shrimp, Cheddar Bay Biscuits, rice and steam veggies.   The shrimp only calls for butter, lemons, shrimp and italian seasoning.  Bake or grill until done.  Since I have a couple picky eaters I did not add the italian seasoning. 

I bought a big bag of shrimp and divided it up to freeze the other half.  I think my next batch I'm going to have grits with the shrimp.

I'm at 1189 Pins!

Post Valentines Day

The girls and I had lots of fun.  We got a heart shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's, homemade sonic cherry limeades and rented Treasure Buddies.  It's one of those talking dog movies....smh.  It was low-key but just as much fun as going out.  My oldest daughters favorite candy bar is almond joy.  I made almond joy cupcakes

and heart cookies for dessert. 

The almond joy cupcakes were simple and semi-homemade.  I made chocolate cupcakes.  I took a tub of butter cream frosting added a 1/4 teaspoon coconut flavoring & half a bag of shredded coconut to it.  I piped that on the cupcakes then pressed slivered almonds on top.  I placed them in the freezer.  After an hour I took them out and coated them with chocolate magic shell.

The heart cookies were just drop sugar cookies with a candy heart pressed into them.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

I'm at 1189 Pins!  Is there a point where I max out?!

Valentines Ideas

I am not a fan of Valentine's Day.  For me the holiday is too commercialized and forced.  It has ridiculous expectations as well.  Even though I'm not a fan I do make the day special for my daughters.  We do go out to eat.  I pick fun options for that day though.  Chik-fil-a or Peter Piper's are the options this year.  A good thing about these places is they will not be packed like if I chose Samurai Steakhouse or Roadhouse.  Through Pinterest I have found some very cute decor ideas as well as Valentine ideas. 

I made this garland for $3.00 from a pinterest inspiration.  It was that cheap because the hearts were a 3 pack of Christmas decorations that I found 50% off after Christmas (50 cents each pack).  The ribbon was a dollar at Dollar Tree. 

I spent less than $1 each on these Valentine gifts for my girls.  No this is not the ones I made.

Four pack drinks are $1.  I bought a snack size bag of kisses for less than a $1.  Then leftover ribbon, baggies and paper. 

I have yet to do these projects but I have the supplies.  

 Too cute!  All the supplies I already have so it will only cost me time.  I'll post an update picture when we do it. 

I will leave you guys on this note.

I'm at 1001 Pins.

taking my finances back

Online banking and debit cards have made me lazy in the financial responsibility department.  I stopped using a ledger more than a year ago.  The only check I write is for MDO each month.  During the summer I realized I waste a lot of money  so I started keeping a written ledger of all money and expenses.  I update it each week.  Then check it against my online account.  I really like the ideas on this blog about using envelopes.  The blog also encourages you to go a week without using your debit card to raise awareness of the extras you purchase. 

My biggest dumb expense is stops to Bush's for a sweet tea or Sonic during happy hour.  To help with my unplanned spending I allot myself so much in quick stops by placing a $5 each week in my glove compartment.  When that is spent I cannot make any extra stops.  Any money left the next Monday goes into my piggy bank or is given to my daughters for theirs.  I do not add it to the next week.

 

I also save money by meal planning and shopping alone.  It seems minor but it truly saves a bundle when you know exactly what to get, have a cash budget to remain within and no kids or hubby's begging for this or that.  Our breakfast, lunch and dinners are planned for a two to three week period.  Then I normally have two extra meals that are super easy like hot dogs or spaghetti.  And of course I keep back-up breakfasts like cereal on hand.  I have started doing freezer meals. 

 These help me cut cost because some recipes are for 6-8 portions.  By making ahead and freezing I don't have the waste of leftovers that never get eaten.  I love that. 

I'm at 1015 Pins.  I wonder if you can max out on Pins?!!