WHEW it is hard to believe that 2016 is almost over. This has been a rough year for me so I am looking forward to 2017 and experiencing all the comes with a brand new year.

I wanted to take the time to highlight some of my favorite things from 2016. When we were on our New Year's cruise last year I opened my notes app and started a list of all the fun things we did so that I could look back and remember. I am so glad I did this. I can truly look back and remember the good and the not soooo good.

January

On New Year's Day we were in Puerto Valleta and we zip lined. This was truly a different experience and I wish I had pictures to show but they wouldn't allow cameras on the trip. Let's just say that we took a boat, a SUV type vehicle and rode a donkey all before we ever zip lined. We not only zip lined but we repelled down a water fall and rode water slides on this adventure.

January 2nd we were in Cabo San Lucas and went whale watching with my inlaws and brother in law.





January 24th I ran a half marathon in the Dallas area with my friend Deidre. My plan was 2016 was 2016 miles sadly I fell off the bandwagon and didn't get many miles.



February

February 5-9 we spend in Vail, CO hitting the slopes. I am happy to say that after many hours of PT and 2 ACL surgeries I am back skiing the black slopes. While in Vail we watched the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl. It was so fun to be in Colorado and see the Broncos win!!!



At the end of February I left my job teaching for some personal reasons. (the beginning of a rough year)

March

March 20th I ran the Rock and Roll half marathon in Dallas, TX



March 25- April 2nd I went on a Celebrity Cruise with my parents. This is the first time I have cruised with my parents and the first time my husband, parents and I went on a trip together since my 21st birthday.

We visited a fort in San Juan and St. Kitts and enjoyed Dominica, St. Marten and St. Thomas also.

April

April 15 we went to Cotillion which is a big social event here.



April 22nd we saw Carrie Underwood in concert




May

May was a slow month, but my mom was re-elected to our local school board for another 3 years.

June

June 10-17 we spend on an Alaskan cruise with my inlaws and brother in law
We started our journey in Seattle and visited the Space Needle.





We hiked a glacier in Juneau (lost a camera), went dog sledding in Sagway and also visited Victoria in Canada.

July
??? Happy 4th of July

August

I turned 30!!!



September

I got POUND certified in Austin, TX and started teaching a local gym.




October

8 year anniversary and cruise from New York to San Juan



November

Happy Thanksgiving



December

Merry Christmas!!!

Today, I am linking up with Erika and Andrea for the last Let's Talk of 2016. The theme this week is Home Tips and Tricks.

Today I am linking up with Mel, Sheaffer and Shay for What's Up Wednesday!!

Each month on a Wednesday I link up and answer these questions....so here it goes. :-)

What We're Eating This Week....

I have been enjoying some chili that my trainer suggested. It has lots of yummy ingredients and I am loving it especially since the weather has been cooler.

Here is the recipe...

3-BEAN TURKEY CHILI RECIPE

• 2 lbs. extra-lean ground turkey
• ½ cup chopped onions
• 1 tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 - 4 oz. cans of diced green chilies
• 1 - 15 oz. can organic tri-bean blend (drained)
• 1 - 15 oz. can organic black beans (drained)
• 2 - 14.5 oz. cans organic diced tomatoes (do not drain)
• 1 tbsp. Xylitol brown sugar blend (Ideal)
• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 2 tbsp. white vinegar
• 3 tbsp. regular yellow mustard
• 2 tsp. cumin
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. dried or fresh cilantro
• 2 tsp. adobo sauce (optional)

1. In a large pot add onions and meat, sprinkled with garlic powder and cook until no longer pink (drain using a plate, if desired).
2. Next add the green chilies, beans, tomatoes, xylitol and spices (except cilantro) and stir until combined.
3. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer for about 10 minutes.
4. Finally, add cilantro. Serve hot.
5. You may sprinkle veggie shreds or a light cheese on top.

There have been lots of exciting and fun things happen in 2016...I wanted to just share a few of my favorites.

It was a busy weekend of Christmas parties and baking....

Friday afternoon I spent most of the day in the kitchen making reindeer food, Christmas crack, and my grandmother's chocolate chip cookies.

Saturday we had a Christmas cookie party exchange, a Christmas party with my Sleek Physique crew, and a Team LibFit Shakeology group Christmas party!

For the cookie exchange I made my grandmother's chocolate chip cookies. We follow the recipe on the back of the Nestle Tollhouse bag of chocolate chips but exchange butter for something else (family secret). I personally enjoy my cookies to be put in the freezer and freeze for a bit before enjoying them. I much prefer cookie dough or a frozen cookie to a freshly baked one. Everyone brought 3 dozen cookies and we enjoyed sampling them and just enjoying a low key afternoon.

I also made Christmas crack and reindeer food for my co-workers and neighbors.

Christmas Crack Candy recipe 

TOTAL TIME: 0:20

LEVEL: EASY

SERVES: 10 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

• 35 saltine crackers
• 2 sticks unsalted butter
• 1 c. packed brown sugar
• 1 3/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/3 c. mini marshmallows
• 1 bag red and green holiday M&Ms
• 1 jar holiday sprinkles, your choice

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet or jelly-roll pan with tin foil and coat with cooking spray. Line the baking sheet with Saltine crackers. Set aside.
2. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring continuously, for about 2 minutes. Pour mixture over crackers in an even layer and bake 5-6 minutes. Top with chocolate chips, baking for 3 minutes, or until melted. Top with mini marshmallows, red and green M&Ms and holiday sprinkles. Cut into squares, then cool until the chocolate has hardened.

Reindeer Food...I used Mix and Match Mama (Shay Shull's) recipe for this one. :-) 

Shopping List

1 bag of popped popcorn (about 4 cups total)

4 cups Rice Chex cereal

8 oz white candy coating or almond bark

1 (9 oz) bag Peppermint M&Ms

1 (9 oz) bag milk chocolate red and green M&Ms

2 cups Peppermint Crunch

Red sprinkles

Lay wax paper down over your kitchen counters to pour your Reindeer Food on.

In a large mixing bowl, combine your popcorn and Chex mix together.

In a microwavable bowl, melt your candy coating, stirring every 45 seconds.  Once it’s melted, quickly pour it over your popcorn mixture and toss.  Working quickly, add in your M&Ms, Peppermint Crunch and sprinkles and then pour the mixture down over the wax paper to dry (about 10 minutes).  Once it’s dried, store in an airtight container.

I personally suggest using more than 8 oz white candy coating..but that was just me.

What is your favorite holiday recipe?!

 

Today I am linking up with Mix and Match Mama (Shay) and A Little Bit of Everything (Erika) for STRANDED. Today's edition is which 3 Christmas movies would you take if you were stranded on a desert island. I love Christmas movies and pretty much have the Hallmark channel on if I am home. They play sweet little Christmas movies pretty much non-stop during the holidays. It is crazy to BELIEVE it is only 11 days until CHRISTMAS. This year truly has just gone by sooo quickly.


So if I had to pick 3 Christmas movies to take with me and watch on repeat they would be....

1) A Christmas Story...this play 24 hours on TBS Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and I always look forward to watching it. I typically don't watch it before then because I know it will be on repeat. I love the leg lap, the tongue getting stuck to the hole, the BB gun, the bunny costume...just everything about it is great and I ALWAYS end up laughing.

WHEW and WOW what a weekend it was. We've all gone mad...was the theme of an event my husband and I attended this past weekend. Christmas in the Sky benefits our local Arts council here in Shreveport. Every 2 years they host a big event and it truly is the party of the year.

This year's theme was Alice in Wonderland so as you can guess Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat were all in attendance. The event is set up at Harrah's Louisiana Downs were they typically race horses and it is also a casino. The downs is 3 floors of decorations, food and beverages.

Today, I am sharing some of my favorite gifts to give the men in your life. I find my father in law, brother in law, dad and husband can we hard to shop for!!! Why you ask? Because, if they want something they go buy it themselves.

My husband recently bought some Bose Headphones for travel. The particular pair he bought for he and I are noise cancelling and quite pricey but great for a traveler or techy man in your life! They come in both black and silver. We recently used them on our trip to New York and they were amazing. My husband uses them when I practice my POUND workout at home and they block out all noise!!! We bought our pairs on Amazon but you can find them at Best Buy also.

Have a fitness guru in your life or someone who wants to see how active a lifestyle they lead?! I suggest a FITBIT. I particularly love the one that shows you time, steps and heart rate. My mom started the FITBIT craze in our family and since then my husband, I and my mother in law have bought them. I love wearing mine daily and that I can track my workouts and sleep also.  Bonus you can buy different color bands so you can fit them to your personality.

YETI CUPS!!! Need I say more?! These make great gifts for the men in your life. My dad and husband both have one that they drink out of daily. Yes you have to hand wash them but it truly isn't that bad and I guarantee that if you need to drink more water then you need a YETI cup. It will keep your ice for about a day and a half. I personally love really cold water.

Northface Jackets...My husband has about 10 jackets I kid you not! However, he really loves the NorthFace brand. In 8 years of marriage I have had 4 Northface jackets. I have a rain coat, a light weight jacket and a fluffy jacket currently.

These are great for when the weather gets cold and you need a light layer on or for when a restaurant is cool. They hold up and wash well also. Yes you can wash them in your washer!!