Make A Change, Make A Difference

Low Calorie Iced "Coffee"

Ever since starting my health and wellness journey one year ago, I have cut out coffee almost completely. Not because I don't love the taste or flavor, but because it's so horrible for you. Coffee beans in their natural state are fine and healthy, it's the roasting process that produces carcinogens and toxins that I didn't like.

Now, when I want coffee, I reach for my Coffeccino, an AdvoCare product filled with vitamins and minerals, along with no toxins or carcinogens. Normally, I drink it hot, like a cup of coffee... but what about when I'm craving a cool, iced coffee in the triple-digit-Texas-heat? This is about as simple as it gets...

What You'll Need: 
-1 Packet of Coffeccino - 80 Calories
-8oz Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (gluten and dairy free) - 40 Calories, depending on the brand (use Vanilla for extra sweet iced-coffee)
-Blender
-Cup with Ice
-Fancy straw (optional)

All the ingredients you will need! So simple!

Mix the almond milk and Coffeccino in a blender, pour over ice and enjoy! It's an amazingly tasty alternative to a high calorie, expensive Starbucks drink!

Let me know how you like it! Have a happy Summer!

Sautéed Fruit Dessert

I've been searching for a healthy dessert besides just apples & a bit of peanut butter.

A few years ago I made grilled bananas foster and decided to do a healthier version, but still delicious.  It turned out amazing, and you can be creative... try different fruits!

What You'll Need: 
Fruit of your choice... but I used...
1 Banana (cut up)
1 Pear (cut up)
1/2 C. Blueberries
Honey
Cinnamon

Okay, there are only a few steps and it tastes like you're a master chef!

1. Drizzle honey in your skillet, wok, whatever you want to use
2. Turn your stove on medium-high heat
3. Add in your fruits
4. Drizzle a little more honey on top
5. Add a pinch of cinnamon on top
6. Gently stir (you don't want to mash the fruits) & cook in the honey for 5 minutes (or until the fruit is heated and softens up)

The first time I made it, I simply put it all in a bowl and enjoyed. This morning, I put it on a piece of whole wheat toast with a small amount of peanut butter. It's absolutely amazing, healthy, and sweet.

I didn't have to use my Carb-Ease, Fibo-Trim or anything :)

What fruits would you use?

DIY Collegiate Table

My husband and I are getting ready to move into a home where we're finally going to have a study.  I was looking at desks online and the only ones I liked were outrageously priced. I decided for his Christmas present, I would tackle a big DIY Project: refinishing an old table into something AWESOME. He's a Texas A&M alumni, and we're getting ready to move back to College Station, so what else could be better than a Texas A&M desk?

Final Project!

Supplies:
Inexpensive Desk (I found mine for FREE! on Craigslist)
Primer
Paint Color of your choosing
Brushes
Paint Rollers
Drop Cloth or towels (don't want to spill paint on your floors)
Tape (if you do a design like mine)

The Table Before (with a little primer on it)

This was actually pretty simple. First, I just used primer on the entire desk. I used a brush...but a paint roller would have taken a LOT less time.
*I didn't have to sand down the desk since it isn't real wood. Just a nice coat of primer did the job.*

I waited for the primer to dry and then started with my paint. I applied two coats (I'll be going back after we move and applying a 3rd coat)

After the black paint on the top of the desk was 110% dry, I started adding tape for a logo stencil. Thank goodness the A&M logo is pretty square and easy to do with tape, or else I would have probably lightly drawn it on with a pencil. Adding the tape outline took longer than priming and painting the darn thing, but it was better than me free-handing it!

The "A" ended up being a little off, but HEY, it adds character :)

I used a smaller brush and painted inside the tape outlines. I applied two coats and then carefully removed the tape from the desk. After that, I just went around the desk and touched up any areas that needed it.  Hopefully after we move we'll get a glass top for the table to make sure it stays clean and safe.

Finishing Touch: Underneath the desk I wrote a personalize, little note for my husband with the date.

I finished this DIY project in two days (probably 5-6 hours). A lot of the time was just waiting for the paint to dry! My husband LOVES his new, personalized work desk. We can't wait to move and put it in his "official" study!

What do you think? 

Before I added an extra coat in the drawers. But the maroon inside the drawers adds a nice pop of color!

DIY Halloween Wine-O-Lantern

So this is my rendition of something I saw on Pinterest! I LOVE Holiday's and love decorating for fall and winter (especially Halloween and Christmas).
I had a few wine bottles laying around (I didn't drink them all for this. No worries) and decided I wanted to make some Halloween/Autumn Pumpkins.

What I used:

• Empty Wine Bottle & Empty Wine Jug
• Acrylic Paint
• Paint Sponge/Brush
• Knife (to take off the label) 
• Black fabric paint (I didn't have any other paint :)

I ran the bottle and labels under hot water, started to scrape the labels off with a knife and then did a final rinse of soap and water. 

Dry the bottle thoroughly. 

Then I simply painted the bottle. Let the first layer dry and do enough layers until you think it's opaque enough. Let the paint dry and then design a fun face with the black paint (you could probably do a witch or a ghost too.. I'm going to try another and post later) 

You could put a glow stick inside to illuminate it as well. 

It's super easy and cute. If you have someone who isn't picky about having the label on the wine, this would be a super cute gift if you had a full bottle of wine!

What do you think?