Detox Apple Cinnamon Water ... Pinned it, Tried it and LOVED it

As always Pinterest has lead me to something new and I'm loving it I'm on day 2 of it!  Ok to be honest I'm not a FAN at all of plain water, YES I know I should be but being honest here.  So I usually do crystal light.  BUT a friend of mine has told me about the artificial sugar in it leading to headaches.  So I gave a whirl the Mio Energy (liquid water enhancer).  It was great but then I saw this detox drink on Pinterest and it was SO easy to do.  And guess what I'm LOVING it.  I actually drank 3 of my 32 oz cups yesterday of it, MOST days I have a hard time getting one down!  And this morning I had a few sips of my coffee and went onto a cup of this instead!  And I must say the next day was even better I think from now on I'll make it and let it sit over night to make it more flavorful.  I think this is a great drink for all!


TIPS: I've had several comments so I thought it would be easy to put some tips we've learned along the way.
* Cinnamon - I can't find the article but I hear is good for your health.
* Some don't like Cinnamon - Suggestions Ginger, Orange, Vanilla Bean or whatever you like but you won't get the total benefit of this recipe if you switch.
* Some have tried powder cinnamon (using items like cheese cloth or coffee Filters).  I don't think EXTRACT would be good.
* Some have tried boiling water with the apples and cinnamon and have gotten more flavor, then adding in the ice water etc and putting in the fridge.  Some have put outside like ice tea to release flavors.
* I use a 1 Gallon Jug (I actually double my recipe since I like a lot of flavor)
* I drink about 1 jug a day
* I'm doing a low fat/calorie diet and lot's of exercise with this.  I have been loosing weight but it's a combo.

BOOST Your METABOLISM Naturally with this ZERO CALORIE Detox Drink: Day Spa Apple Cinnamon Water 0 Calories. Put down the diet sodas and crystal light and try this out for a week. You will drop weight and have TONS ON ENERGY! sounds yummy!


Makes one big pitcher, re-fill water 3-4 times before replacing apples and cinnamon-


1 Apple thinly slice (Whatever your favorite is)
1 Cinnamon Stick

Drop apple slices in the bottom of the pitcher (save a few to drop in your glass later) and then the cinnamon stick, cover with ice about 1/2 way through then with water. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes before serving.


(My Notes - I found that with my pitcher I add 2 apples and 2 cinnamon sticks.   I really like the cinnamon taste so I keep a stick in my large cup and just keep refilling and leave it in there.  I have had some suggestions to boil the cinnamon and/or apple to help release some of the juices.  I haven't tried this yet but I plan to and will comment here when I can.  I have tried different apples and my found that Fuji which was recommended is my favorite.  We had some Granny Smith in the house and it didn't give the same taste I like. I don't eat the apples just keep refilling 3 or 4 times to get the taste.  I drink this all day long instead of my coffee that I use to drink or flavored waters.  I'm still eating a healthy diet and exercising.  I'm just using this as a boost and to help me with my weight loss goal).

Nutritional Info:
Calories: 0
Fat: 0
Fiber: 0
Protein: 0
Carbs: 0

(for the person who left a comment about me not linking back to the original post I'm sorry I usually do.  I saw it on Pinterest THEN went back to find it couldn't and saw a FRIEND post it on her Facebook page!  Now I didn't want to put up her personal page so I just took what she posted and added my pictures and notes.  I'm sorry that I didn't have the link I have NOW found it and added it.  IF you follow this blog you would SEE that I 90% of the time will link up when I have it.  So I'm sorry to the person.  But please remember before leaving a not so nice comment you may want to send a note to the person to find out why!)

Time to Tie Your OWN Shoes!!!

Pin It Ok NO judgement or comments .. but Cole will be going into the 3rd grade and still hasn't mastered the tie of the shoe thing!  There are only so many velcro shoes you can find in size 2!  And of course the DC shoes he wants of course are tie.  NOW it's not a lack of trying to teach him, but let's just say it isn't one of my finer mom moments when I try to show him how to do it. NOTE to self you will not be the one teaching driving, Lord only knows what will happen.  I can't throw a the car like a shoe ... oh WHAT you know you had those moments!

Of course on pinterest I found a great idea to make a Shoe Tie Practice Board, I know GENIUS!!  The cute site I found it on is Salsa Pie.  It is simple to make and easy to pick everything up, heck you may have it laying around the house!

Materials Needed:
cardboard
shoelaces
box cutter (or heavy duty scissors)
screw driver
sharpie

So I hit up the man cave to see what I could find.  You know where you will find cardboard laying around for the "some day I'm going to use it" pile and you'll even find a box cutter and if your lucky a screw driver.  I use my scissors, since I have a BAD habit of forgetting to put the screw drivers back I thought I would avoid that argument and use my scissor to make the holes!  I picked up some Skull shoe laces to make it fun for Cole and I was off like a herd of turtles (anyone else think that is the craziest saying but we always say it).

Step 1

Cut out a square of cardboard and lay down your shoes. Trace the first shoe loosely (be careful not to get marker on the shoe)

Step 2

Trace the 2nd shoe

Step 3

Make a straight line for the toe design at the top of each shoe. Draw ten dots on each shoe for the lace holes

Step 4

Lay cardboard on top of thick carpeting and puncture holes with the screwdriver. Spin the screwdriver around to form the holes (or in my case the scissors). 

Step 5

Thread laces through the holes and then let your child learn to tie.

Yup she did an amazing job of laying it all out and it was so simple to follow, you most stop over to her site (click the link above) and thank her for this amazing idea!  

We all can be super mom's ... with a little super glue and maybe some duct tape but heck it can happen!

Have a FAB day!

Another Theme and it's Tron!!

Pin It One of the mom's at Cole's school asked me if I would make cupcake for her son's upcoming birthday party.  I said no problem I would love to, then came the theme.  Most theme's don't stump me but when Tron came back I did do the Scooby Doo .. Rut Ro.  I hit up Pinterest and sadly it was very limited.  Thankfully he liked a simple theme of just the circle logo.  

Sunday I made the cupcakes, I found a really yummy Yellow Cake on Can You Stay for Dinner (another amazing site for recipes).  It is a very simple recipe to follow and the cake turned out super moist and yummy!  Click the link above for her yummy recipe.

Now to the Tron Design:

Next on my list was to make the tron cupcakes.  I saw a few different versions on Pinterest but I'm not a fan of black frosting.  So I though I'll frost the cupcakes then I'll make black round disk (using my silicone cupcake pan) and then melt aqua melty to do the circle inside.

What you need:


2 Bags Black Candy Melts (Wilton)
1 Bag Blue Candy Melts (Wilton)
Cupcakes Made
Frosting (You can use can or make Buttercream)

For the Black disc I melted the melts in the microwave for 1 minute and then put a spoonful into my silicone cupcake mold. NOW when it is all set take a knife around to loosen and then carefully pop out.  Believe me my first batch broke because I didn't do that!

For the Blue I melted the melts in the microwave for 1 minute and then put into a pipping bag with a small tip to make my circles.  I put back into fridge to harden up and then I frosted my cupcakes and added the disk on top. That way people could take them off if they didn't want to eat and they didn't get a mouth of black frosting which I think taste gross.

Have a wonderful day hope you try to make these, they were fun!

Come Won Ton With me! (Ok it sounded funnier in my head)

Pin It Last week I told the PTF president that I would make something yummy for the meeting.  I found a great recipe of course on Pinterest a while back and have been dying to try.  It is I must say on the spicy side so most of the ladies only had one and I then was left with a crazy amount left over thankfully the principal loaded up and took most of them home with him.  Now these look harder then they really are, just a little time and you'll have a perfect party food!  

I made this Skinny Spanakopita from one of my favorite weight watcher sites Slender Kitchen.  I of course didn't have anything here so I had to send Rick on a run, which he did with big smiles and no groans .. hehe.

Weight Watchers Skinny Spanakopita 
Points: 2 Weight Watchers PointsPlus
Servings: 8
Serving Size: 3 Skinny Spanakopitas
Nutritional Info: 86.1 calories, 1.1 g of fat, 15.7 g of carbohydrates, 1.3 of fiber, 3.5 g of protein

Ingredients
24 wonton wrappers
10 oz of spinach (I used frozen but fresh would work)
1/2 cup reduced fat feta cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg white, for egg wash
1 tsp olive oil

Instructions
1.Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. Heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the garlic, onion, and red pepper flakes.  Once it becomes fragrant, add the spinach.   Saute until just tender.

3. Place the spinach mixture in a bowl and mix in the feta cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.

4.  Lay out the 24 wonton wrappers on two large cookie sheets sprayed with cooking spray or lined with parchment paper. Fill a small cup with warm water and place it near the cookie sheets.

5. Begin assembling the spanakopita by placing a spoonful of the spinach and feta mixture in the center of the wonton wrapper. Wet the edges of the wonton wrapper with the warm water and fold over and press down to close. Once you have stuffed and sealed all the wonton wrappers, brush lightly with the egg wash or spray with cooking spray.

6. Bake for 8-10 minutes until crispy. Serve on their own or with marinara sauce for dipping.

Since I had half a pack of wonton wrappers left over I found another great recipe for our dinner weekly guest.  I had all the fixing for this one so no sending Rick to the store.  I did learn a great lesson using an old cupcake pan vs a new non stick pan REALLY makes the difference with you're out of kitchen oil spray. 

Next on the list is one I tweaked to be kid friendly off Emily's Bites (another amazing weight watcher blog) for these Mini Taco Cupcakes. 

Ingredients:
1 ½ t chili oil (found near the Asian ingredients)
½ lb 95% lean ground beef
1 T taco seasoning
¾ c canned black beans, drained and rinsed
16 wonton wrappers (found in the produce section)
5 T + 1 t of queso dip or salsa con queso (I used Wholly Guacamole Queso Blanco)
1 c chunky salsa (I used Wholly Guacamole Medium Salsa)
1 c reduced fat shredded Mexican cheese (I used Weight Watchers brand)

*** I left out the chili oil, Black Beans and Salsa's - Due to not wanting to send Rick to the store again ... lol.  I did chop up some black olives since the boys love them ***

Directions:
1.    Pre-heat the oven to 375. Lightly mist 8 cups in a muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.
2.    Heat chili oil in a sauté pan or large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and taco seasoning and brown beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Add black beans and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes until warm.
3.    Push a wonton wrapper into the bottom of each of the eight sprayed cups in the muffin tin. Spoon a teaspoon of queso dip into each wonton wrapper and spread across the bottom. Follow by spooning some of the meat/beans mixture into each cup (using about half the total mixture) and then splitting ½ cup of the salsa evenly into each cup. Sprinkle about half the shredded Mexican cheese evenly over the top of each cup. Press another wonton wrapper on top and repeat the layering steps with the remaining ingredients.
4.    Bake for 18-20 minutes until golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from muffin tin.

And this is what happens!

Either mush cupcakes or Nice cupcakes :)

Have a great week everyone!  I just know it's going to be a busy one here again!

It's a Drive By Hi and By ....

Pin It OMGosh it is Friday, which is usually a good thing but I swear my world is going crazy.  Work has been very busy and after work I've been doing so good at going walking.  Then I come home and I'm pooped out!  So a very quick hi to all!  I am excited we found a new park / walking area yesterday.  The only bad part is the walking part is smaller so it takes almost 4 1/2 times around to make a mile instead of the 3 times around for our other place.  So there you have it a place for the kids to play and a nice trail for my friend to and I to walk along with her dog.

Hope you all have a great weekend, I hope to finally clean my house!  Also a little prayer for me on weight in day tomorrow! UGH I've worked so hard this week but I haven't been having big numbers.  Back to the water I go!

For my SANITY can I budget Summer Camp?

You know when I was young I always wanted to go to camp to have that fun summer experience but I never did get to go.  This year I found out that our church Life Center is offer a Kidworks summer camp called Lifted for Grades 3 to 6.  It would be a FULL week over night and all!  I’m so excited, I mean Cole should be so excited to have a big boy experience.  It’s not too far from the house and they have a full packet week of activities for the kids.  I think it would be such a learning and great experience to last a life time.  Now to figure out how to pay for it! I mean you think of it $250 for a whole week is really not that bad BUT with only me working a full time job can I swing it.

THEN I think of the peace and quiet I would get and that they may not have to lock me in a padded room by the end of this summer.  Payment is due here next week, I think I’ll have to work around some things maybe pay a few things in the grace period but oh I think I so have to do it.

Did any of you do summer camp?  What was your experience?