Despite MS, swimming teacher inspires her kids

Such a sweet amazing women and inspiring story!!

"Pat Knisley is a swimming teacher from New Bern, N.C., whose enthusiasm and love have inspired thousands of young students. Despite a 20-year battle with multiple sclerosis and the recent loss of her husband, Knisley continues to get kids in the swim. NBC’s Bob Dotson reports." -Today Show 8/21/13

Look at Pats full story here.

Have a Healthy Happy Day!

Fruit Leathers

Yep from scratch and super easy!!!

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/3- 3 Cups slightly ripened Fruit (I used Strawberries)  
2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
Honey, Sugar, or Agave to taste (I used about 2 Tablespoons Honey)

DIRECTIONS:
Heat Oven to lowest temperature 140-160 F. Line a baking sheet with microwave safe plastic wrap or silicone baking mat (look at pic below). Set aside. 

In food processor or high processing blender poor in fruit and lemon Juice and pure. Add in sweetener of choice to taste. Pour evenly over baking sheet. Place in oven for 6-8 hours. Until center is not tacky anymore. Let sit till room temp then peel off and place onto wax paper. Cut into long strips and roll up. Store in air tight container.

VARIATIONS:
You can add in spices like cinnamon or nutmeg to make fun twist also feel free to try with different kinds of fruit! If you do not want to roll them up cut into pieces just as fun and tasty! I live in the South in the humidity so for me it was easier to roll up after it had sit out over night and gotten softer, I also do not keep the lid on my container always to keep it softer as well.

These were the ones that I made for my husband for our 3rd year anniversary. Three years the gift is to be Leather so I made Fruit Leathers!

 In food processor 

On baking sheet before placed in Oven

 

My Finished Fruit Leathers!

Weight Gain

First I would really like to say that I'm not at all trying to offend anyone.

With pregnancy I have so far gained 30 pounds. I gained 10 right before I got pregnant, 10 in the first trimester, and 10 in the second. This weight gain has taken such a tole on my body! I can not believe that only five years ago I was 60 pounds heavier than my regulated healthy weight. I cannot believe that I was working out, walking around campus, and being active with friends. Now yes I did have more muscle so that tributes to the weight but still. I am now so achy it is so hard for me to do yoga, clean house, walk, stand up, sit down, and to sleep. I cannot imagine having this weight all the time! So painful and so hard on my body! I am so grateful to now have the knowledge of my own bio individuality. That I can take care of myself and keep my weight at a constant healthy level. I do worry, I worry allot. I think everyone who has been over weight worries about the weight coming back. It is going to take time after this pregnancy to get back down. I am so excited to do so cause I will feel so much better!! I will be able to be more active with my baby, take care of us, giving him the tools and example to take care of yourself in a healthy manner!

Weight loss, especially in a healthy consistent manner, is a gift and a blessing!!! Everyone is capable of being healthy and feeling well and everyone deserves it!!!

Have a Healthy Happy Day

Mexican Casserole

Freezes well and taste better ever time re-heated!

INGREDIENTS:
1 Can (10 3/4oz) Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Can (4.5oz) Chopped Green Chiles
1 Container (8 oz) Sour Cream (I use Plain Greek Yogurt but up to you!)
1/2 Cup Milk (your choice)
2 1/2 Cups Cooked Chicken Breast then Shreded
8 Yellow Corn Tortillas Torn into Pieces
1 Medium Green Bell Pepper Chopped (if you want it spicier use a Poblano Pepper)
1 Large Tomato Chopped
1 1/2 Cups Mexican Cheese Blend

DIRECTIONS:
Heat Oven to 350 F and spray 13X9 inch pan with cooking spray of choice. 
In Large bowl mix soup, chiles, sour cream and milk till well combined. Add in chicken, tortillas, and pepper stir till combined. Add in Tomatoes and 1 Cup of cheese. Spread into pan and cover with foil.

Bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle remaining cheese on top then bake uncovered for another 5 to 10 minutes. Till nice and gooey!

OTHER VARIATIONS:
Instead of adding in the corn tortillas leave them whole and use the casserole as filling and into a Taco. You can also opt for flour tortillas and use the casserole as filling for burritos. All of these are super yummy!


Bowl Mixture

 Finished Casserole!

ENJOY!

"If You Like Piña Coldadas"

I wrote this post awhile ago and it just feels like time to put it out there.

So I think most of us know the song "If you like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain..."  this is one of my favorite songs! I find it to be so funny! It is about a man who replies to an add in the paper that a women wrote in wanting to escape the everyday. He goes to meet this girl and finds out that it is his own wife. It cracks me up! They laugh and re kindle there love finding out that they were longing for the same things and did not even know it and in fact were looking for it with someone else yet it sent them to each other.

Hopefully this does not come across too confusing... This is something that has been on my mind a lot and it was kind of difficult to put onto paper..

 Everyone looking for the "perfect" life somewhere else when most often it is right in front of us! Now with that said I know it is not easy and that there is no real perfect life but man you can work on your perfect life! Life is what you make of it and I believe you can make your own perfect life. The perfect life meaning what you want out of it and achieving your own goals.

When I was growing up I dreamed of many things singer, actress, dancer, fitness instructor, song writer, personal chef, even at one point I wanted to be a professional softball player or go to the Olympics in Soccer or Swimming. Now the older I got things definitely changed.

Now if you read this blog you know that I did become a fitness instructor, personal trainer, and health coach. One thing I did not plan that much on was marriage. I figured that would happen in my late 20's early 30's. I met my husband at 20... Married him a year later and now making my new Perfect Life. I had no idea how fulfilling being a wife and mother would be! To me that is a huge part of my perfect life! I love cleaning the house and making dinners for when my hard working husband comes home! I can not wait for the crazy kid life that will be in store for us in just a few months. Now I know this sounds very old fashion but to me this is the perfect life! Writing up my grocery lists, vacumming the floors, meal planning, and more! The reason that it is the perfect life is because this makes me happy! I love the relationship that I have with my husband and the life we are building together. Sure it gets tough some times and it can be a little scary, but that is life! I enjoy the dance parties we have pretty much every day, working out together, keeping score at his baseball games, playing bored games at night, and more than anything being silly and loving each other!

I have had many people explain to me that I am the ecseption that what I have with my husband is one in a million... Now I do realize that I really lucked out. I found someone who has the same goals, dreams, humor, interests, and passions that I do. That does not mean that we do not have to work on it! Here are a few rules that my husband and I tend to live by.

Say I love you all the time! Every chance you get!
Always say please and thank you!
Never go to bed angry!
Always say how much you appreciate them!
Remind them why and what you love about them!
Always share what is on your mind!
NEVER keep secrets!
Always Apalogise!
Forgive quickly!
Realize when you are in the wrong!
Remember neither one of you can read minds!
Never hold things against each other!
Pray together!
Set goals together!
Never forget the power of touch! 

Perfections takes work. Everyone has room to grow and improve. So make a list of what you want and reward yourself for every goal made and let go of the ones that do not work out. It happens, no point in beating yourself up over them! The point is to build your happy life your "perfect" life.

So get out there. Make your Perfect life but do not forget to look at what is right in front of you. Often that is your answer, that is what you need!

Have a Healthy Happy Day!