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Thursday, December 13, 2012

Family photos!

I really wanted some family photos y'all so I asked Juliana to take a session for us!
and I can't believe I havent showed you guys yet!!! it's already been a month I think?

Anyways...I love them!!!













Happy Thursday Ladies!!
xoxo
manda


Wednesday, December 12, 2012

For Lauren and Lauren...

I am so excited that one of my favorite ladies is taking over the blog today!! you are sure to love her as much as I do!!

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Hi For Love of Cupcake readers!  I'm really excited to be on Amanda's blog, as she was one of the first blogging friends I've made.

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My name is Katie and I started my blog as a way to share my outfits with my sister Lauren and sister in law Lauren (hence the name for Lauren and Lauren). Which is kind of ironic because in high school I wore soccer shorts or sweatpants daily.  Fortunately for you I didn't document my fashion back in the day.

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To be honest I thought that my sisters, along with my mom, would be the only ones who would read my blog.  I had no idea the kind of friends I would make, the blessings that would come from blogging, or the way too many hours I would spend on my computer.

But I love it.

I love sharing my ability to find cheap clothes and kind of wish it was my job.  That and I've always wished I was a backup dancer for a rapper or one of those Fanta girls.
But instead I am a third grade teacher.  Which I do like. Most of the time.

I love sharing the different projects I've made, like these infinity scarves or heart sweater.

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I also occasionally make fun of my husband with either his constant annoying noises, or his lack of knowledge about anything fashion related.


And then of course sharing my love for sweets, clearance racks, and my complete obsession with Target.  (But is there any woman who is not addicted to Target?)

Plus I also have gotten pretty personal on my blog as I started sharing about my husband and I's journey through infertility.  It was scary at first but the support and blessings that have come from it have been far worth it.

And as cheesy as it sounds my favorite thing about blogging has been meeting people and making friends.  Something that I had no idea existed in the blogging world.

Thanks for having me Amanda!  I'm always excited to meet new bloggers so come visit me!

And as a little extra incentive to come and stop by my blog, I'm giving away one of my bird nest necklaces (your choice blue or silver "eggs") from my etsy shop.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Now go visit this pretty lady...she is such an inspiration!
 y'all have a great day ladies!
xoxo
manda

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Oh Christmas Tree

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree..

Ladies...it's been in the 80s lately and we even had to chop down our tree a week ago in 80 degree weather. It just hasn't felt like Christmas or even December.

When we chopped down our tree we brought it home and put it up in the stand.

It was sitting like this for a whole week!!!!



Finally this weekend, we decorated the tree and put up our Christmas decor. I just haven't felt in the mood I guess because it just doesn't feel like Christmas...I will say tho I am finally in the Christmas spirit now that we have everything decorated!

I thought it was funny Tank was in the photo again so I didnt crop him out haha.

And then it threw up snowmen! haha...this isn't even all of them!! 

Did you know that Eric is in love with Snowmen and every year we MUST watch Frosty the Snowman when it airs on tv??!!



Welp...that's all for today ladies!!!
xoxo
manda


Monday, December 10, 2012

Motivate Me Monday

Welcome back to Motivate Me Monday ladies!!




Last week I dared you to eat clean for the week...how did you do?!

I did great!

and made clean french toast a couple times too!

via instagram: CLEAN CHOCOLATE FRENCH TOAST for #breakfast y'all! I was just a little tired of eating eggs and toast every morn. I made this with egg whites, almond milk and cinnamon as your egg mixture. 2 slices of Ezekiel bread. 1/2 banana. PB2 peanut butter. And I didn't have any agave syrup :-( so I made a chocolate sauce with unsweetened cocoa powder, water and stevia sweetener. So good!!!!



via instagramMore clean French toast on this Saturday morn :-) made with egg whites almond milk and cinnamon for the egg mixture. Topped with unsweetened cocoa powdered mixed with water and stevia. #pb2 peanut butter. Raspberries and agave nector as my syrup! I devoured this I think in less than a minute lol!



plus we had a Mexicano night!

via instagramWhat's for dinner...mexicano. A stir fry of chicken, bell peppers, Jalopenos, and mushrooms. Topped with organic guacamole wrapped in an organic corn tortilla.

See...eating clean doesn't have to be completely boring!

A lot of you ladies have been asking for a meal plan. I really don't have one and I have no clue how to make one but below is what I could be eating daily. Just make sure you're eating every three hours. I love my overnight oats. I don't even know if this is a balanced meal plan...so don't go quoting me on this!!!

I am not a nutritionist...this is just what I eat personally.



Have fun with it tho. I made one night into mexicano night. change out your eggs one morning for the clean french toast. Change out your chicken for some shrimp over a salad. Follow me on instagram and I'm sure you will find more recipes of what I'm eating. Also, follow other Instagramers that tag #cleaneating . That's what I did.
And if you are looking for a workout routine...I posted this one last year and it's still a great workout.

If you ladies have any questions let me know!




now get your butt to the gym ladies!! AND eat clean again this week!!!
after linking up with Ashley and I today of course!!

xoxo
manda





Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Reasons why...




shirt: F21, Skirt: Modern Vintage Boutique (seriously in love with this skirt! it was a Black Friday buy!)
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5 reasons why it doesn't feel like Christmas.


It's 80 degrees every day here in Texas.

Chopping down our Christmas tree in 80 degree weather.

Wearing short sleeves in 80 degree weather in December.

It's 80 degrees...everyone is wearing shorts... while I'm pretending it's cool by wearin scarves.

It's 80 degrees out and I have my car blowing the a/c.


Oh did you know it's been in the 80s here in Houston?




Reasons why I shouldn't be singing and grooving in the car?

Just happening to look over at the car next to me and realize that they are probably laughing at me.

I def do not sing in tune...I pity anyone that hears me.

I'm sure the car shakes while I'm stopped at the stop light...no, people, no hanky panky going on in here...just rockin out!


Can you tell his southern girl is ready for some cool weather?!?!

y'all have a great day ladies!!!
xoxo
manda




Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Instagram

a date night...via instagram










Eric and instagram. 

He always knew I took photos and posted them on Instagram but that was the extent of it. Finally on our date night...I showed him the app and how it works.

So while we are sitting outside at the wine bar drinking our wine and Eric smoking his cigar...
Eric starts to really get into instagram. "oh here...let me pose my cigar. Take a photo and post it on instagram." 

hehehehe...

have a great day ladies!
xoxo
manda

Monday, December 3, 2012

Motivate Me Monday...




Welcome back to Motivate Me Monday ladies!!

I have to say that I ate clean all week long last week and it felt great! I feel so much lighter.
However I ate pizza today and feel like blah right now...but back to eating clean again this week.

Did you know that I pretty much only cook twice a week?!?!

Prepare your meals!

That will keep you eating better for sure.

I prepare two days worth of meals every day. I cook a ton of chicken and what I don't use for the two days worth of meals...I freeze and use later in the week.

Meal planning and prepping helps keep me eating clean during the week...I don't run out of meals and head to the vending machine for a snack.

Eat 5 to 6 small meals a day...every three hours.

Here are a few of my meals from last week...if you follow me on Instagram...you've already seen these!



1/4 cup egg whites with sauteed veggies and Ezekial bread topped with hot sauce!

overnight oats with blueberries and strawberries

lots of butternut squash in my sauteed veggies!

lean ground turkey meat with sauteed veggies

so what does my grocery list look like?

egg whites
ezekial bread
organic corn tortillas for clean taco days!
tons of chicken, shrimp and ground turkey
almond butter or peanut butter
hot sauce
steel cut oats
almond milk
cottage cheese
vanilla greek yogurt
blueberries
raspberries
strawberries
bananas
avocados and organic guacamole
TONS of jalopenos
precut veggies for stir fry including:
kale
cabbage
squash
zucchini
red potatoes
bell peppers (green and colored)
mushrooms
onions
butternut squash


I dare you to eat clean this week and link up and tell us about it on Monday!
I dare you!!!!

You'll feel great and I swear I had more energy than I have had in a while!

now get your butt to the gym ladies!!
after linking up with Ashley and I today!!

xoxo
manda