Day 10 – 3 Healthier Hot Chocolate Recipes Winter time is my favorite time of year to enjoy hot drinks, especially hot chocolate! There is nothing more comforting than snuggling up with a nice hot cup of cocoa when it is chilly outside. Being from California, it doesn’t get super chilly but for those few days when it is a little cold I love to make these drinks. Today I thought I would share a regular recipe along with two other flavors that are perfect for this time of year. These recipes are a “healthier” take on hot chocolate. These recipes can definitely be altered to make them sweeter, more chocolatey, using the milk of your choice, or even using a different sweetener. For all of you coffee lovers, you can definitely add coffee to any of these recipes. So turn on your fireplace, and get your snuggly blanket ready because we are about to make some warm chocolatey goodness. 1. Original Hot Chocolate INGREDIENTS 1 cup of Non fat milk 1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 1-2 Tbsp Stevia marshmallows (optional) INSTRUCTIONS 1. Bring milk to a simmer in a small sauce pan 2. After milk starts to bubble at the edge whisk in cocoa powder and stevia until everything
Day 9 – Christmas Question and Answer I thought it would be fun to do a little holiday Q&A for you to get to know me and my love for Christmas! I will leave a blank set of questions below in the comments and I would love for you to fill it out and share your answers and don’t forget to tag me, I would love to see! 1. What is your favorite thing about Christmas? Everything! the lights, sounds, smells, shopping, wrapping, decorating, movies, music, baking…I LOVE it all! 2. Favorite Christmas song. Away In A Manger3. Favorite Christmas movie. Elf4. Favorite Christmas CD or Album. You can never go wrong with the N’Sync Holiday Album, but I also love the Panatonix Christmas albums5. Favorite Christmas Memory. Getting engaged in front of the Disneyland Castle on Christmas Eve.6. Favorite Tradition. Getting dressed up to go to church on Christmas Eve and coming home to have spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. 7. Favorite New Tradition. Baking cookies for Santa with my two little cousins.8. Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Kevin and I
Day 8 – Comfy and Classic Christmas Outfit Ideas Styling Christmas outfits is one of my favorite things to do. I love classic red, green and white Christmas colors. For me, my Christmas outfits have always been about style and comfort, because on Christmas we usually spend time with family at my parents house all day. These looks are all perfect for staying nice and cozy at home, yet they also work great for any party or gathering that you may be attending. Below I am sharing three different looks with links to where you can find outfit details. I have included plus size options as well. Many of the items aren’t the exact items in my pictures but I tried to link similar items/styles. My surgeries kind of put a hold on shopping since my body is continuing to change (and I can’t really move right now.) I hope that these ideas can be used to inspire you to create your own Christmas outfit. I am excited to see what I can come up with for me to wear this Christmas since my arms aren’t very mobile, I can’t stand up straight, I’m still pretty swollen and everything just…hurts. I can guarantee it will still
Day 7 – My Top 10 Tips for Surviving the Holidays! It is the most wonderful time of the year! The sights and sounds of Christmas are all around us. We are surrounded by so much laughter, joy and food…lots and lots of food. For me Christmas is my favorite time of year, but has also been one of the most challenging time of year to stay committed to my health and fitness goals. In the past I have completely deprived myself from enjoying anything food related around the holidays. I stuck to my food plan, and wouldn’t even allow myself one bite of a Christmas cookie. To be honest, this really made me sad to feel that way. On the other hand, I have also allowed myself to REALLY indulge and that only left me more miserable than before. Over the years, I have found a healthy balance of not completely depriving myself and at the same time not going completely overboard. With Christmas being about a week away, I thought I would share my “Top 10 Tips to Surviving the Holidays.” I am hoping that by sharing my tips, I can help you not stress