I talk a lot about food and nutrition! And, subsequently, I get tons of questions like:
1. What do you all eat then?
2. What does that cost?
3. What do your kids eat?
4. What is wrong with you people??? 🙂
I made this video today after I got home from the store. I explain what a primarily Paleo family eats during the week. We already had a pretty well-stocked pantry so factor that in. Here is the link:
What We Eat
This week I was really trying follow the KISS method- keep it simple stupid- when it comes to our food. I am in the middle of a Shaklee ReSet to get over some cravings and lose some bloat. I am trying to eat as clean as possible so I’m sticking to clean, Paleo meals.
One of the things that is tricky about eating this way is the amount of prep time the meals take (not to mention the price). BUT- if you play it smart, you can get double the meals out of half the prep.
Here’s what I bought:
From these ingredients, I am going to make 1 dinner and 1 breakfast for a family of 4 (with some leftovers)
Dinner: Stuffed Peppers
-ground turkey
-onion
-cilantro
-bell peppers
-crushed tomatoes
-spinach
– seasonings from pantry
-coconut oil from pantry
Breakfast: Egg ‘muffins’
-9 eggs
-ground turkey
-onion
-cilantro
-spinach
How did I do it?
I browned the turkey with an onion, seasoned with salt, pepper, onion powder, minced garlic, cumin, paprika, and oregano (use what you have/like). After the meat was cooked through, I separated the meat 1 part for egg muffins, 3 parts for stuffed peppers.
For the PEPPERS- leave in pan, add tomatoes and simmer for a bit. Add cilantro and spinach, mix in. Put the mixture in partially cooked peppers (boil for a few minutes), and bake at 350 for 10-15 mins. Add cheese if you’re not ‘strict’ Paleo.
For the EGGS- let meat mixture cool a little. Mix the eggs with spinach, cilantro, splash of water, salt, pepper. After the meat mixture is cooled, add to egg mixture. Pour mixture into non- stick pan (like in the picture) or silicone muffin cups. [This would also work in a greased pie pan- I call it egg pie!] Bake about 20 mins at 350. Inserted knife should come out clean.
That’s it! So simple and inexpensive!
I am busy. Like most of you, my day is full of activities that start first thing in the morning and go into the early evening. I also find that I am often at a loss when asked ‘so what did you do today?’ I mean, I was busy all day and can barely remember what I did. I thought it would be fun to capture this info as a ‘snapshot’ of my current situation. I still have the traditional ‘day job’ but also have my ‘side hustle’ that I am growing. Oh, and family and stuff….
Wednesday, February 3rd, 2016
7:10am- wake up time! Good morning world. I usually lay here for a few minutes before I go wake the kids up. this is one of my ‘late days’ at work so I have the first half of my day pretty open. I usually check my FB, email, IG, etc. to see if I need to respond to anything right away. I check my FitBit to see how I slept. And I chug whatever water I have left over in my night-side cup.
7:15-8:15am- total whirlwind! Everyone needs to eat and get ready for the day. I made the kids breakfast, made my ‘bullet proof’ coffee, smoothies for me and my hubs, got my son’s lunch ready, and helped my daughter get dressed. They were both ready for school and now mom can put some pants on. (apparently it’s frowned upon to drop your kid off at preschool w/o pants..)
9am- Kids are off! Both kids are at school. Normally I would be on my way to the gym by now but I didn’t finish everything I needed to this morning so back to the house. Luckily the preschool is IN the neighborhood.
9:30am- Prep done! Tonight’s dinner is prepped and in the slow cooker. This is a must since I will not be home for dinner. This helps my husband do all of the other after hours stuff on his own- homework, pajamas, teeth brushing, packing lunches, etc. Off to the gym. Took my Shaklee version of ‘pre-work-out’. Performance (healthy Gatorade), B Complex (energy and mood), and an Energy Chew (they are seriously amazing). I’ll save most of the performance for after my workout but I drink it on the way to the gym as well. I’m off!
11:15am- Done with gym! I had a great workout, listened to some sweet jams, showered, and now I am off to my newest Business Partner’s house! I normally like to shower at home but today- this was easier. I had a limited amount of time. BUT, I brought all of my Shaklee shower stuff with me because it is all I use.
12:30pm- Lunch! Quick lunch with my husband at Portillo’s. This was random and lucky! Normally our schedules don’t cooperate. And, yes, Portillo’s is known for their beef and Chicago dogs, but today was a salad day.
2:45pm- I had to get a little work done (day job stuff), but then I sat with my book (dream job stuff) for 20 mins. because I have been going hard all day. Threw in a load of laundry because now that my husband and I have been working out more, we have twice the laundry! Prepped lunch #2 of the day to bring to work. It needs to be fast, portable, and something I can eat/drink between clients. Since my schedule is weird, I do 4 small meals during the day. I haven’t even started my work day and I’m over 8,000 steps.
3:30pm- Work! I am at work for the next 4-5 hours. I have 4 back to back massage clients. Even though this is ‘work’, I’m happy that I get to help people feel better at this job too. It’s pretty darn rewarding.
8:21pm- Done! I got home from work just in time for my good night kisses and stories. I had my teeny dinner while listening to a conference call, and finished the last of the laundry. Now, I get to SIT with my book and a glass of whisky. I will be asleep in an hour- no doubt. Tomorrow starts at 5:45am and I really like sleeping.
Thanks for joining me on my lovely day! I am blessed to be this busy but to also have this much FREEDOM in my day and life. That is what it’s all about for me. Being able to design my days, and therefore my life. Thanks for reading.
Candysbrain
My daughter came up with the name for these because she thinks they give you special super powers. But, she’s 4 and still thinks the moon follows her around, so no promises…
These are our go-to snack, breakfast on the go, and special treat for the kids. I love that they are healthy and wholesome and easy and versatile. My kids love that they are delicious! And, they are made with the World’s Best* Protein Powder!
The recipe honestly changes every single time I make them because I just use whatever I have in the house, but the image above shows the ‘base’.
I love to add quick oats, unsweetened coconut flakes, chocolate chips, dried fruit, etc. They haven’t turned out bad yet! And your kids can help because they are so easy.
You can make them nut-free by using Sun Butter (hey Basher)!
You just mix all the ingredients and roll into balls. Put them in the fridge for 30 mins to set and then enjoy. Keep them in the fridge. I’m sure they’re good for a week but ours have never lasted that long!
Why Shaklee protein powder?
Our protein is non-gmo, gluten free, lactose free, no artificial anything, low glycemic, and kosher! Not to mention- it has pre and pro-biotics in the powder. No one has what we have! And they make the most delicious smoothies/protein shakes!
*I am an independent distributor for Shaklee. I make money on sales from the links provided. I believe that Shaklee has changed my life for the better and I like to talk about it on the internet. 🙂 We do have the best, most comprehensive nutrition plan in the world. I can actually say that! We got it approved thru legal because we really do.
I love meatloaf. You love meatloaf. And, if you don’t love meatloaf, you’re doing it wrong (or you’re a vegetarian which is the only acceptable reason not to like meatloaf). Meatloaf gets a bad rap. Partly, it has the world’s worst name. The only thing that I can think of that would be worse is “Lump o’ Meat” or “Spam”. When you think of meatloaf you think of a family in the 50’s with a pile of ground beef and some ketchup. Or you hear Will Ferrell yelling “Mah! Meatloaf!” I assure you, there is a more updated and healthier way to make it. Here is what I do (for the most part, some of the time, well- at least how I made it today)
I used Grass Fed Ground Beef and Ground Turkey as the Meat. I used Ritz Crackers and left over dried croutons from Thanksgiving to make the bread crumbs. You could easily make this entire dish Paleo by using almond flour/meal instead. If I have it on hand, that is typically what I do. You could also omit the cheese if you are super strict. I snuck in tons of veggies to make this dish so that it packs a nutrient punch!
Veg list- Kale, parsley, garlic, onion, sweet potato, carrot (I’ve done it before with zucchini too but didn’t have any in the house). That’s 6 vegetables in 1 meal, suck it Martha Stewart! Not sure why I decided to pick on Martha there, she seems lovely. Anyway….
I made a video to show you how I did it! Yay for videos! Now if only I had someone to hold the damn camera for me so I don’t have to be such a spaz. Watch this.
After you put the loafs together, you can either cook right away or refrigerate for later. That’s what I did today. While my daughter was watching her cartoon, I was pretending to be a skinny, prettier version of Giada in my kitchen. When you are ready, you can glaze with a little sauce (worchestershire-no one knows how to spell that-Â and tomato sauce or something similar that you like). Bake at 350 for 35 mins, glaze again and turn up to 375 for 10 more mins. That is approximate. IÂ cook it until my meat thermometer says at least 160 (less if it’s just beef) degrees and then I let it sit for at least 10 mins. Don’t be a dick and slice it too soon, it will ruin everything and Santa won’t bring you presents.
And here are some pictures to make you wish you were coming over for dinner…
The Meat:
The Bread Crumbs
The Veg
Before Pic (least pretty picture, but it is ‘meatloaf’…what do you expect):
Money Shot:
And that is it! My kids just cleaned their plates while I am finishing this up. 🙂
***If you like to blog and make silly videos and be creative on your own terms, you should work with me! I also sell Shaklee products and am in LOVE with working from home. Comment below or email me at creimholz@gmail.com
We are SOOOOOOO excited to be offering our first ever Vitamin Starter Pack! You have spoken and we have listened. Many of you have commented that you wish there was a way you can try, or sample, some of our vitamins before you take the big leap by purchasing a whole month supply or more. Maybe you had a bad vitamin experience in the past, or maybe you are a skeptic (I used to be too- it’s okay). Either way- you are looking for a test drive. Well, we have just the thing. We are going to be selling a 1-week supply* of vitamins in a sample pack so that you can see for yourself the quality of the products that we are offering.
These packs will include:
1. A week’s supply of Vita-Lea, our Multivitamin (your base of nutrition)
2. A week’s supply of B-Complex, (hallelujah pill)
3. 3 Days worth of CorEnergy, (the don’t-need-a-nap-at-11am pill)
4. 3 Servings of Pomegranate Energizing Tea, (the yummy alternative to yucky calorie filled drinks)
5. 1 Sample pack of our Smoothie Mix, (the best tasting protein powder, with none of the junk)
So there you have it! The most comprehensive, starter kit that we could come up with. The only promise you have to make is to be consistent for the 7 days. That is the only way you will be able to feel the difference.
Cost: It is actually kind of awesome when you make sample packs because you get to try 5 different products for very little money. We will be selling these kits for $25 if you are local and can pick up from myself or Brooke, and $30 if we need to ship it to you. That is us literally selling them at a price to just cover our costs. We are so passionate about getting as many people to feel and see the Shaklee difference and that is why we created this.
BUT, but, but- We only have 8 packets. First come, first serve. If we go thru them fast, we might offer this again in the future, but not sure yet. The first 8 people to comment, message, text, call, etc. will get dibs.
****Disclaimer: I am an independent distributor for Shaklee. I make commission on what I sell thru Shaklee. I am most definitely not a doctor and I would most definitely recommend you checking with your doctor before you make changes to your routine. I trust Shaklee and believe in their products, that is why I sell them. The comments in () parenthesis after each product name is just my attempt to be clever- no promises you will actually yell ‘halleluja’.
Summer and I are lovers. There, I said it. I long for summer all year, and cherish every moment we have together. This summer is extra special because it is my first summer being part-time for the whole season. It’s really freaking exciting. Working part-time = more hours of summer-fun-having. And, since I am kind of an expert at summer (no big deal) I thought I would share with you my ‘must haves’ for a killer summer.*
1. Shaklee SPF 30: This sun screen is great and safe and gentle and it works! I use it on the kids and on my face/chest. Like all things Shaklee, a little goes a long way. Protect your skin, protect your babes.
2. A Great Maxi Dress: There is nothing better than being able to get dressed in 30 seconds and look great for almost any occassion. You don’t even need to shave your legs! I believe that the right maxi dress can be flattering on ANY body type. If you are short and/or curvy, just make sure you create a waste. Any cheap belt from Target will do.
3. Pomegranate Tea and Performance Electrolyte drink: Let’s face it, sports drinks are gross and full of junk (fake sugar, artificial flavors/colors). You and your kids should not be drinking them any more. And, most of those flavored tea drinks out there are loaded with sugar and artificial flavors. These are 2 of my favorite products and I especially like them together! This is my go-to for getting up and moving on hot summer days.
4. (speaking of drinks…) LaCroix: LaCroix has tons of different naturally flavored sparkling waters. The taste is very mild and pairs perfectly with fresh squeezed citrus and Vodka! Grab some Titos and LaCroix and then invite me to your party.
5. Antiperspirant Cream: Shaklee makes a really great antiperspirant cream and it has become my new favorite. I would always just buy whatever random deodorant off the shelf at Walgreens. Not any more. (btw, I LOVE buying things that I already have to buy anyway..but, from myself. I get paid to buy things from myself. How cool is that?)
6. All of the Flats and Wedges: Heels are nice, but sometimes in the summer you need to be careful. You never know when you will be walking thru grass or spending a day walking at a festival. Flats and wedges are a neccessity. They are so easy to find, and can be really cheap if you look in the right places.
7. Outdoor Activities: Depending on where you live, summer can be short. Where I live (north of Chicago) I’m lucky to get 4 months. Figure out how to be outside as much as possible. Run outside, do yoga outside, go to movies in the park, swim at the beach, sleep in a tent in the back yard, dine al fresco, sit around a bon fire until 2am, be in nature, lie in a hammock. I swear being outside in nature re-sets your soul and is mandatory for a healthy existence.
8. Stress Relief Complex: Yay, the kids are home all day…every day….awesome… This helps. You’ll just have to trust me on this one. Winky face.
9. A Sense of Adventure: I got this one from my sister who we call the Queen of Summer. She is a do-er and I am a relax-er (she gets mad at me a lot). But summer is for staying up late and meeting up with friends and traveling to new places and trying new foods/recipes. It is for saying ‘what the hell?’ and putting fun first.
10. Sky Guide: I just found out about this app. It is seriously so cool. It’s a map to the stars based on your exact location and where you are pointing your phone. So, if you are outside star gazing, you could point your phone in the same direction and it tells you what you are looking at. What?! I still don’t understand telephones let alone this futuristic insanity.
11. Healthy, quick meals: Summer is not a time for standing in your kitchen cooking! Summer is about smoothies, and salads, and a quick dinner on the grill. This is my absolute favorite protein for smoothies. Perfectly balanced, no artificial colors/flavors/sweeteners. AND, it is designed to help you hold on to muscle.
So that is my list of must haves for the summer. What did I miss? Cheers to the best summer yet!
*I am a Shaklee distributor. I make money on sales from these links. I DO love these products, but these are just my personal recommendations. Check with your doctor on anything that you are unsure of.
Many of you have seen my posts recently talking about working from home. I have been at this for a little under a year now and am having the best experience. I really never expected it to take off the way that it has and I am thrilled! I thought that I would create an event to discuss what this Direct Selling thing is all about and to share my experiences thus far. And, you are invited!
Here are the details:
What: a Facebook event designed to share my experience, talk about what direct selling is all about, answer any questions you might have, explain why I believe this is an amazing opportunity for almost anyone, and how you can do this too.
When: Thursday night, 7:45pm (central)
Where: From your home, on-line, whereever you have internet, Facebook
Who: It is open to the public so it is for anyone, everyone. Invite your friends, ‘attend’ with a friend, whatever works.
Why: Why not? You have nothing to lose. Take a listen and see if it is for you.
What if you are not free on Thursday at 7:45pm?: No worries, accept the invitation and go back thru the posts after the fact when you are free.
Link: Click Here
I have used direct selling to go part-time at my job, improve the health of my family, make $500-850 per month (so far), and I just qualified for a free trip for 2 to California. I have done this by working about 10 hours a week, from home, with 2 kids and a part-time job. If I can do it, seriously, anyone can.
If you didn’t get a chance to read Part 1, I recommend starting there and coming back. Don’t worry, I’ll wait…
Now that you are all caught up, let me continue on the tale of my journey.
So, I decide to become a distributor for Shaklee*. I started using and loving the products. That really helps, because I was previously skeptical of supplements and was a little nervous about them not working (not skeptical anymore by the way). But, other than using the products I had no idea what I was doing. HOW DOES THIS TURN INTO AN ACTUAL BUSINESS???? Lucky for me I had Amanda (the girl who signed me up) and the rest of Project Dream International. It is a big group of Shaklee ladies, working together, and helping each other out. There is literally always someone available to answer a question.
I found a few customers, I found a few friends to join me, I found a few people who would at least hear me out. I found a new sense of sister hood, I found a new passion for health, I found a new passion for the planet. I found some new friends, I found a new level of personal drive that I hadn’t seen for a while. I found a new threshold of happiness that pushed pass my previous upper limit. And I found some freedom.
Fast forward a few months and I am at my first regional conference. I am close to my first promotion in the company and they ask me to speak on stage. They (Bonnie) did one of those ‘want to tell your story on stage, it’s just a couple minutes, no big deal, you’re awesome!’. I did not know that what she actually meant was ‘You’re going to be on stage in front of 700 people, including the CEO of the company Roger Barnett, we’re all counting on you!’. Haha, I tease her but I appreciate the push. I have done more things that scare me and thrill me and challenge me since joining Shaklee than I have done in a long time. See, challenging myself used to be a big part of my personality. I wasn’t afraid of a challenge! I’d pick DARE over truth any day. But, working in a safe job for a decade while putting family first had changed me a bit. No permanent damage though it turns out.
Fast forward a few more months, my team is growing (and is awesome by the way) and I am actually starting to believe that confident voice in my head. In January, I began to make enough money to cover what I was making before going part-time. This is a huge victory because I no longer feel ‘guilty’ for deciding to do this. Even though my hubs was nothing but supportive, it felt really good to show him “See- I’m NOT crazy! I can do stuff!”
A few months later and presently, and I am just shy of 1 year in this business. I have a solid team, I am making some money, I am getting my products paid for, and the BIG BIG BIG news is that I just qualified for the New Directors Conference in California. It is an all expenses paid trip for me and my husband to get some super-important training and to be wined and dined. Yeah baby.
Way back in the begining, when they would talk about trips and big commissions, I would secretly roll my eyes. I knew I could do well but I never thought I would be the type of person that would win vacations and stuff. It sounded gimicky. It sounded sketchy. Too good to be true. ETC. The whole business model seemed sketchy to be perfectly honest. I’m no dummy, I’ve read stuff…
But, the problem isn’t that this business is bad or wrong, it’s that it is different. It is not like anything most of us are used to. Most of us are used to being an employee. You are paid for the work that you do and that is that. You don’t ‘buy in’ and there is very little risk involved. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this. There are great jobs working for great companies. But, for me, the idea of an annual 3% raise while working 40 hours a week until I’m 58 made me hyperventillate. I just couldn’t accept that. When I would sit in quiet and really truly ‘just be’ I felt like my soul was dying. I know that sounds super dramatic and like I am exhaggerating, but it’s true. To me not ‘going somewhere’ and not challenging myself and living in default mode was killing me.
So I needed a little risk, a little challenge, a little opportunity. And, it turns out I am good at this. I can totally do this. I can totally help other people do this too. I’m proud of myself and that is like the best drug in the world. If you could bottle this feeling up, you could make a killing on the black market.
That is part 2 to my story. Part 3 hasn’t happened yet, but I will definitely keep you posted. If you want to know more about what I do, or might be interested in challenging yourself a little too, email me. We have fun. creimholz@gmail.com
Check out this link for some more info.
*I am an indendent distributor for Shaklee. This is my personal story and in no way a guarantee of any one else’s results. I make money from selling Shaklee products, so therefor make money from sales from the links provided.
I have shared this with a few of you, but I thought it might be a good time to share my story with the world (you know, the hundred of you that might read this). I look back sometimes and I think ‘how the heck did I end up here?’ but I really like my journey and I think there are a lot of people out there like me.
I am like a lot of you, I went to college after high school because that is simply what you do. There was never any doubt in any of our minds. I was a 3 sport athlete, in student council, and had a 4.0. I wasn’t NOT going to college. But, I had no idea what I wanted to be. I liked to write and I liked health. I started off as an English major but thought ‘what am I going to do with an English degree, become a professional writer?’ I wish I could go back and slap that silly little girl for thinking like that was impossible. So, after my first year I switched to health sciences. I flew thru those classes. College (or any school for that matter) was never hard for me. I’m sure if I would have done pre-med or accounting I would have cried myself to sleep at night, but I went the safe route. Besides, did you guys know that there are boys and beer in college?
I met my husband while I was away at school, but unfortunately he lived back home. We were long distance for a while so, when I graduated, I wanted to be with him. The thought of going on for more schooling seemed crazy. But, I didn’t have a ‘job’ so I went to Massage Therapy School. At least it was local so I could be with my (at the time) boyfriend and work and go to school. Well, after about 18 more months of school, and more loans, I had a career and a job. Halleluja. Now I could work 40 hours a week and pay bills. It was very glamorous. But, I was happy. I liked my job, we had enough money to not be poor and I was helping people feel better which is what I always wanted to do. But 2 years ago I hurt my shoulder. It was scary. I don’t know if the rest of the world thinks about this type of thing but if a massage therapist cuts their finger bad enough, they miss a week of work. If you need shoulder surgery, that’s a good 6-8 months. I had my surgery, I recovered (mostly), and went back to work. I quickly realized though that I could not keep up with my previous work load. I had to go part time.
Enter Shaklee: A girlfriend of mine had reached out a year earlier to let me know about an opportunity to work from home and vitamins and green cleaners. At that point, I was too overwhelmed with my pending surgery to think about anything. I told her I wasn’t interested. So, now I’m about to go part time and I see her post on Facebook that she had just left her Athletic Training job to stay home and sell Shaklee full time. I still didn’t know much about Shaklee or direct selling but knew there were a ton of companies out there. I did some research. This is no offense to any of the other companies out there, they each have their own ‘thing’ that makes them unique. But, I simply wasn’t interested in bags, or make-up, or jewlery, or candles. I wanted something I was passionate about!
After some more soul-searching I felt like Shaklee made the most sense from a ‘passion’ stand point. I have always been green-minded, and crazy about food and health, and wanted to get the chemicals out of our house. But I needed to look into the business side a bit more. I didn’t want to invest in a company, build a business just to have them go out of business. Shaklee had been around forever, had a reputation of being safe and green and trustworthy. They were definitely the grandma on the block, but a cool Grandma that rides a skateboard and wants to teach a new young whipper-snapper how to sell some shit. I also thought about how I didn’t want to have to throw a new party every week. I wanted a product that people would continue to buy moving forward. The thought of having to replace your customers with new ones month to month sounded way too exhausting. Shaklee seemed to meet all of my criteria.
Getting over myself: Honeslty the biggest thing holding me back was what other people were going to think. Whether my husband was going to think it was a waste of money, whether my family was going to think this is another one of my crazy ideas, and whether my friends would think it was stupid. I have a college degree for crying out loud! Someone like me gets a ‘real’ job and works until they are 58 like you’re supposed to damnit! But, there was a little voice inside me that was saying ‘I can do it’. And, of course, on the outside I’m telling everyone ‘I’ll just see what happens’.
OUT OF MY MOUTH: Well, even if it just pays my gym membership…
IN MY HEAD: I’m going to crush this!
OUT OF MY MOUTH: If nothing else, I get all those amazing products for a really good price.
IN MY HEAD: I’m going to blow everyone out of the water and be one of the top sales people in 4 years. Who run the world? Girls! (I have a pretty active inner monologue)
I don’t know if you’ve gathered this about me, but I’m a little competitive. (More competitive than you are!!)
So, I took the plunge, and signed on to become an idependent distributor for Shaklee. My only regret is that it took me a year to say yes. Just think if I would have started when my friend first asked me.
Part 2 will be all about how my first year in the business has been (spoiler alert: it’s been good).
Email me for more information: creimholz@gmail.com
candysbrain 