Paleo Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've a huge fan of Tate's cookies because they are THIN and CRISPY and SO AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!

I've been searching for a while to find a Paleo version of those....these are close!!!!  These Paleo thin and crispy chocolate cookies are AMAZING.  I'm a fan of a thin and crispy chocolate chip cookie.  My family tried these and they said that these might be the best cookies I've made yet....even before I made "healthy" cookies!!  I had to agree!

These are super tasty.  Here's what you'll need:  Makes 1  1/2 dozen

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup coconut sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup tapioca flour
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 Tablespoons water
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (or grain-free dairy-free chips)

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with a silicone pat or parchment paper.  This is important, I was out the first time I made these and made them without and they stuck!  Use it and they won't crumble getting them off;)
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the salt, tapioca flour, coconut flour, and baking soda.  Set aside.
3. Beat together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Continue to beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4. Turn the mixer on low and slowly add the dry ingredients, and then the water.  Beat until the mixture combines.  Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons at least 3 inches apart on the baking sheet.  Press the cookies flat with your hands or a fork.
6. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.  Cool on baking sheet before serving.

These chocolate chip cookies hit the spot when you're craving a GOOOOD classic thin and crispy cookie.  The flavor is right on.  My stepson and husband are asking when I'll be making these again because they did not last long!   These with a little almond milk...or even better, a scoop of coconut milk vanilla ice cream....YUM.

Roasted Romaine Wedge Salad

Last weekend my friend Danyel told me that she roasted romaine for a wedge salad and said it was amazing!  I remembered that I had ripped a recipe for this out of a magazine a while back because it looked amazing!  Last night I gave it a try...and it was amazing!

I cut romaine heads in half, lengthwise.  Leave the stem intact so it holds together.  Rinse and dry.  Get your salad toppings ready.  Use whatever you like!  I happen to LOVE a classic "wedge" salad, so I decided to do a variation of that.  It's usually made with a wedge of iceberg, bacon, lettuce, tomato and blue cheese dressing.

I cooked some bacon so it was fresh and chopped it up.  I got my other ingredients ready...of course I added some avocado!  Good fats!

Heat a grill pan to high.  Drizzle the center of the lettuce with a little olive oil and put in face down on the hot pan for about one minute, until lightly charred.

After a minute, it will have grill marks...take it off the heat and put it face up on a plate.

I topped my wedge salad with halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, crumbled bacon, a little salt and pepper, and dressing of your choice.  For this wedge salad I used homemade dairy free ranch dressing and added some goat cheese crumbles for texture.  Serve it whole with a knife and fork!  My husband said he could really taste the "roasted" flavor of the romaine and thought it was great!  Great for a light lunch or dinner....a very pretty presentation!  You can add any toppings you like, add diced chicken to this one if you want a little more substance.

I think the next time I make this I'm going to try this variation....Roasted Veggies:  sliced portabella mushrooms, orange bell pepper slices and red onion.   For the dressing, I'm going to use balsamic vinegar, olive oil, a little spicy brown mustard and salt and pepper to taste.  I'll top it off with goat feta and some chopped almonds!  I'll update this post with pictures when I make it if it's good!  If there are any other yummy toppings that you use, feel free to share!!

What is your Daily Routine?

What is your daily routine?  Maybe you're a stay at home mom.  Maybe you're a career woman.  Maybe you work from home.  Maybe you have kids.  Maybe not....  No matter what your life looks like, the secret of your success is found in your daily routine.

I wanted to share my experience about this with you because it took me time to realize just how important this is.  It's not what you do every once in a while, it's what you do on a regular basis that makes the difference.  This sounds so simple, but I must admit, this is not something I used to be good at.  Now that I've embraced it, it really has enhanced the quality of my life...and my family's life.

I used to eat right....every once in a while.

I used to workout...every once in a while.

I used to make my bed...every once in a while.

I used to have a perfectly clean house...not often enough!

Living this way is no way to live!  It's uncomfortable and can cause stress for the whole family.

It was actually easier for me to have a daily routine when I used to work 10 hour days outside the home, because I had to.  When I stopped working outside the home and stayed home to help raise my stepsons, it was quite a change for me.  It takes more self discipline to structure my day.  I didn't know how to be a "housewife", let alone a "mom".  It didn't feel like it came naturally to me.  At times I felt overwhelmed and wondered if I'd ever get the hang of it.  But I wanted to be good at it...so I jumped in, learned as I went, and now my stepsons are off to college!  With even more time on my hands, I'm now SO excited to have finally found my passion in life, giving back, helping others, getting really happy and healthy myself...so I can help others do the same.  Whatever your days look like, you still need to have a daily routine.

When I started to develop a daily routine, it helped me add structure to my day.  In the beginning, schedule your day like you would appointments, until you get used to it.  It will actually simplify your life.  If you work from home, schedule your day like you would if you worked outside the home.  Work for a set amount of time, with scheduled breaks and lunch.  Schedule the end of your "work day" at a set time.  Once you get used to this, you'll start to follow your routine more than you follow the clock.

Start your day off right.  Make the beds, throw a load of laundry in, unload the dishwasher...these things can help jumpstart your day if done first thing.

Keep your house clean.  Don't get lazy on this, take pride in your home.  Your family will appreciate it and it will set a good example for your kids when they leave home.  Trust me, you don't have to be Martha Stewart, just keep it clean.  It's important to take pride in your home.  No matter what kind of home you have, it will look better clean.  You shouldn't have a panic attack if someone drops by unexpectedly.  When I was working on this, it helped me to always keep my house in a condition as if I was expecting someone.  THIS works!

I schedule my daily routine to keep my household running smoothly.  I schedule my chores, my errands, and my work.  Make a list of what you need to do on a daily basis.  Make a list of what you need to do on a weekly basis.  Make a list of what you need to do on a monthly basis.  Make a list of what you need to do seasonally.  Decide what works best on which days and put them on a calendar!  Start letting your SCHEDULE dictate your day.  Trust me, this is easier than looking around your house and seeing EVERYTHING that needs to get done and not knowing how you'll ever have the time!!  It can cause panic and anxiety, right?  Make a plan and let your schedule dictate your day.  You don't have to do everything at once, as you start using a daily routine schedule, you will be able to keep up with tasks easier.

Here are The Daily 7 For a Highly Successful Household:  -by Stephanie O'Dea of totallytogetherjournal.com

1. Make Beds Right Away (simplify your bedding if you haven't, you really don't need 100 throw pillows!  Pull beds away from walls)
2. Do One Complete Load of Laundry (this means wash, dry, fold, put away)
3. Empty All Garbage Cans (especially the kitchen...great chore for kids!)
4. Keep Your Kitchen Sink Empty (once one dish gets left in the sink, other dishes are attracted to it like a magnet, you know this is true!)
5. Clean Up After Yourself and Help Children Do the Same
6. Bathroom Wipe-Down (keep cleaning wipes in each bathroom or use something from the dirty hamper to do a quick wipedown!)
7. Before Bed 10-Minute Clean Up (tidy up, put things away, straighten couch pillows, fold throw blankets...you'll be happier each morning!)

Get your kids involved in learning to develop a daily routine too.  Kids love and crave structure.  Even at a young age, they'll still learn routine by knowing what's coming next.  For example, dinner, then playtime, then bath time, then teeth brushing, then reading, then bed.  As they get old enough have them help out around the house.  This will help create healthy habits for them in the future.  Having a daily routine for kids helps them expect what's coming next so there's less stress at bedtime.  Routines help families feel more relaxed.

Get some exercise.  Even if it's walking with your kids in a stroller, an evening stroll with your spouse, a workout class, make sure you get moving and stay moving...it will keep you happier and healthier.  I encourage you to work this into your routine so it becomes a habit.

Schedule your time off.  Don't forget this one.  If you don't schedule it, it won't happen.  When you don't work outside the home or are a stay at home mom....people don't realize it's still A LOT of work!  You need to schedule some down time just for you.  Maybe it's a little time each day.  Maybe it's a whole day, or days, off if that works for you.  I like scheduling a time because it leaves you "guilt free".  I hate the image of moms dropping their kids off at school and spending their days watching soap operas on the couch eating Bon Bons!  I don't, and have never known, any moms who actually do that!  I don't think moms get enough credit.  Busy moms tend to go go go and don't take any time for themselves.  You need this for your sanity!  If you feel like you couldn't possibly find the time for you....try.  Even a little will help.

It's a mindset I had to adjust to.  I would often feel guilty for taking "me time" because I wasn't officially "working" anymore.  But running a household is a lot of work, I wasn't giving myself enough credit.  I've since gotten over that. ;)  I just make sure my husband is happy and all my other stuff is done first!

Be efficient.  Don't create a lot of busy work just to seem busy.  Now this doesn't apply to the truly busy moms out there who literally have trouble finding enough personal time to take a shower or go to the bathroom by themselves!  I'm talking about women who work from home, kids are older, or are empty nesters like me...it can leave you with free time!  Use it wisely.  Finish chores, errands, etc efficiently and guess what?  You can have more time to do something else you enjoy!!  What's next?  Take a class, learn something new, what is something that you've always wanted to do?  What's your passion?  Maybe your spouse has more time off and you can learn something together!  Start thinking about your next adventure.

End the day right.  A key to starting each day right is ending each day right.  Remember the power of ten minutes.  Find out what small routines work at what times, and adjust.  Tidy up.  Fold laundry.  Ending the day with a clean kitchen will ensure the next day starts off right.

Last but DEFINITELY not least,  if spending time with your spouse is not happening....schedule time with your spouse, when it's just the two of you.  This gets missed too often with busy lives and little kids.  Plan a date night, a date day...get creative and plan it!  I've even heard that couples with young kids who can't get a babysitter are starting to have "dates" at home!  After really young kids go to bed they are planning elaborate dinner dates at home, getting dressed up and everything!  That's the key with this, since you're still at home you have to make it really special so you don't slip and it ends up being like any other night.  Don't skimp on the details.  This is one time you don't want it to be routine;)  

Having a daily routine will help you accomplish more, more efficiently.  Daily routines establish expectations for your family.  It will make you happier because you know there's a time for everything and you'll be less likely to feel overwhelmed.  When you feel like you're accomplishing the things in your daily routine, it's a good feeling.  If you're just starting out, or feeling overwhelmed, start small an build on it.  You'll get the hang of it.  Running a household takes practice.  It took practice for me.  If I can do it, you can too;)

Coffee Smoothie - the afternoon Paleo pick-me-up!

You must try this delicious, Paleo-friendly Coffee Smoothie recipe.  My husband was wanting a "treat" yesterday afternoon and I was getting ready to whip up some N'Oatmeal Cookies when I came across this Coffee Smoothie recipe in one of my new cookbooks, The Paleo Kitchen.  I'm enjoying this cookbook...even more now that I found out they have a FRENCH BULLDOG too!!

The recipe makes 4 servings...or 2 large servings... we drank all of it!  It was THAT DELICIOUS!  It was creamy, not too sweet, the perfect milkshake consistency, and tasted absolutely sinful!  Even though there is no chocolate in it... I felt like I was drinking a chocolate milkshake!  My husband went nuts....LOVED IT.  It hit the spot.

You will need:

• 1 medium ripe banana
• 1 cup brewed coffee
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (I use grade B)
• 4 cups crushed ice
• unsweetened cocoa powder for garnish (optional)

Place all the ingredients except the ice in a blender and blend until smooth.  Add the crushed ice and blend until thick.  Serve immediately.  YUM.

The Paleo Kitchen calls this filling Coffee Smoothie the Afternoon Pick-Me-Up...I have to agree.  :)

The 5 Facets of Health

Most people have no idea how good their body is designed to feel.

Living a healthy lifestyle has always been something I have strived for.  I think we all do...we try to eat right and exercise...but do you ever feel like you can talk the talk better than you can walk the walk?  I used to.  I feel like I have finally found an all around lifestyle that works…but doesn’t feel like work. It’s actually quite simple when you just break it down into the 5 FACETS OF HEALTH. This is something I learned through my husband, he teaches an orientation class for all new patients at his practice that teaches them how important these five things are for optimum health. They are in no particular order as all are equally important.

1. Good Nutrition: This is so important. It has gotten so out of control how unhealthy food can be. It’s so easy to eat food that has absolutely NO nutritional value in it. That, along with portion sizes that are so much bigger than we used to see, it’s no wonder that our society has become sicker and sicker….not to mention with much bigger waistlines. We need to eat more whole, real food to be healthy.  Since I've embraced a Paleo Lifestyle, I feel healthier, leaner, more energetic and indulged...not deprived!  If this interests you...take a peek at my post Paleo 101, it just might be the key you're looking for.  Skip the yo-yo diets, stop the "fad diets"....just eat HEALTHY.  Make it a "lifestyle" and keep it simple.

2. Proper Sleep: Everyone is different, some need more sleep than others, but mainly we need get proper sleep to be healthy. This is our time for our bodies to rest and rebuild so that we can wake refreshed ready to tackle our busy days. There is so much stimuli in the world today with TV, smartphones, computers…many of us take part in those things right up until the minute we fall asleep and don’t take the time to wind down, relax our minds, and actually prepare for a proper night’s sleep.

3. Positive Mental Attitude: Many people don’t actually realize how this can truly improve your health! There is a lot of negativity out there, but we don’t have to be a victim to it. “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” -Epictetus, Ancient Greek Philosopher. The Law of Attraction has fascinated me since I first heard of it in my 20′s. Since then I’ve studied it quite a bit… through books, seminars, and witnessing it first hand in my own life. I can honestly say it has changed my life.

4. Proper Nerve Flow: Our Nervous System is the “control center” for our bodies; our nerves go from our spines to every single organ we have. If the nerve supply is compromised, that organ won’t be able to function at it’s full potential…it’s that simple. Many people think Chiropractic is only about back pain and neck pain. This is a common misconception that’s been around for a long time. All Chiropractors do is relieve “pinched nerves” (subluxations) so that the body can function at it’s full potential, and therefore can heal itself. Our bodies are very smart. We tend to forget that. Most of the time, these “pinched nerves” correct themselves, but with how hard we are on our bodies, sometimes they don’t. I will try to explain this in the simplest of terms… If there was a nerve from our brain to our heart and it was CUT, what would happen? Right, we’d die. If that same nerve was just “pinched off” a little…picture stepping on a garden hose and the flow isn’t as strong…would we be healthier or sicker? Right, sicker. Every time? Yes, every time. Now, if that pressure was relieved off that nerve through a specific chiropractic adjustment and that nerve flow was restored, would we be healthier or sicker? Right, healthier. Every time? Yes, every time. That’s all Chiropractic is…it’s that simple. Proper nerve flow is absolutely essential to our health.  We need to get back to a place of PREVENTION of disease!  In the "sickness society" we live in today...you have a choice.  Choose health.

5. Exercise: The health benefits of regular physical activity are hard to ignore. It controls weight gain, helps with health conditions and disease, it improves your mood by stimulating brain chemicals that leave us feeling happy and relaxed, it boosts energy and endurance, and it promotes better sleep….just to name a few. Exercise is a great was to feel happier, boost confidence, improve our health, and have more fun.  New to exercise?  That's okay!  Start small....just start.  Take a look at my Fitness Challenge, it can help make exercise a habit and get you moving!  REMEMBER....no matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch!!

Simple stuff, right? Well, not always when “life” gets in the way. We all have had excuses.  When you read this "5 Facets of Health" list...what could you change?  Push yourself, because no one else is going to do it for you!  A great way to get started is to commit to a 30 Day Discipline.

Today is a new day.  You are worth it.  It's not "normal" to feel bad.  Make a decision to make healthy lifestyle changes today.  DON'T LOOK BACK...YOU'RE NOT GOING THAT WAY!

Frenchie Friday!

Happy Frenchie Friday everyone!  "Stella" went for a longer walk than normal this morning because it was cool...about 5 or 6 miles.  She was fired up when she got home....carried her Syracuse "BoBo" around...supporting her brother who goes there!

She was tuckered out!  She fell asleep soon after, resting her heavy Frenchie head....

She didn't want to eat today...she sometimes has bad days where she doesn't want to eat.  Her belly started to grumble so my husband made her a scrambled egg this evening to mix in her food because that's her favorite.  I sat by her bowl and hand fed her until she finally took a couple of bites.  Once she did, she ate the whole bowl!  I'm so happy....I hate it when she won't eat.

She has a megaesophagus which makes eating troublesome for her anyway....but we just feed her small meals, often....hold her up after and "burp" her and she does great...knock on wood!  But every once in a while she doesn't want any part of her food.

I am SO excited because today is the FIRST day I'm NOT sore after my workout!!  I went to a FIT class last night and it was hard!!  I woke up today and I was NOT sore!!  I'm finally over it!  I'm seeing some changes already and am excited to keep it up!!

I wish you all an amazingly fantastic Frenchie Friday...have a wonderful weekend!