Omg- Is that Siri Cruz!?

dress your baby like a celebrity...

 

As a 'stay-at-home mom' (aside of my flower business and babysitting gigs), and a single mom at that, working off one income, I know how difficult it can be to 'keep up with the Jones' per say.

I though, never had an issue doing so.

I'd say I'm pretty good at budgeting, but that's not true.

I'll tell you what my specialty is: SHOPPING! (lol) Yup, I'm really good at it. I love spending money, and I love new things..

but what I love more is a bargain!

My daughter will be 2 in August. Since the moment I found out I was having a baby girl, naturally, I wanted to go shopping and buy her the best clothes a girl can find. At first, I did just that. Designer baby booties and baby bag were first on my list. I have my older sister who has been through this before and warned me that they only wear something once or twice before you're into the next size. But a tutu in every color was in order!

After I had Piper, I realized I wasn't into the 'Carter's' matchy-matchy baby outfits. Just as I dress myself, I love to accessorize my baby and mix and match her outfits. I found that buying a few good pieces per season or per size was benefiting me more, style wise AND budget wise, than overwhelming myself with baby clothes galore (as everyone tends to do, especially for your baby shower.)

So, from about 6-months on I have been building her wardrobe as I do my own. Every season I clean out my own clothes. If it's not something I would buy at the mall today, or havent worn it in the last whole year, it's out! Purge to make more room for GOOD stuff... timeless pieces. In another case, babies grow out of their clothes, and you move onto the next size...

Some of my favorite stores to grab good deals on name-brand pieces for Piper include: TJ Maxx, Ross, Old Navy, Baby Gap, Gymboree, and Childrens Place on occasion. My #1 place to find some 'different' bou-tiquey outfits and accessories is etsy.com.. or amazon.com

So, this is where I start:

Shoes:

• play shoes (Piper wears her 'Robeez' slip-ons for park and play)

• Sneakers: converse are inexpensive and add a little funk

• 1-2 dress shoes- get black, white or a statement color like red or leopard to match tons of dresses
• Fall/Winter: 1-2 Pair of Classic Boots (i.e. riding boots)
• Summer: 2 sandles

Clothes-

• A Skirt
• A cute Blouse/ eyelet shirt
• A dress or two for parties/occasions that season
• 2-3 Cardigans or blazers
• 3 Pairs Of Jeans/pants (black leggins are a must!)
• 4 tanks or onsies (these go with cardigans or blazers)
• 1 light jacket/rain jacket/winter coat (or in my case, a fur vest is a staple item!)
• 2 pajama sets

Accessories-

• belt
• headbands/hair clips
• scarf (Dollar Tree has thin, small scarfs for kids)
• Leggings or Tights (to layer with your summer pieces for fall- if they'll still fit)
• Summer: sunglasses and hat

I've always gotten compliments on Piper's outfits- whether I settled for deep blue jeans and converse sneakers that size or black pleather leggings with a blouse and fur vest, she's always looking hot-to-trot! Her wardrobe definetly outweighs mine these days. Here are some tips and tricks to staying in budget when doing your shopping:

 

1. Consignment and Thrift Shops aren't what they used to be. With the economy the way it is, lots of moms are working to help eachother out. I've found a Ralph Lauren bubble vest for $2.00 and brand new BabyGap zebra flats for $2.00. Worth taking a trip and seeing what's new when it's time to finish your list.
2. Buy big! When I say this I obviously don't mean go crazy. If you see something on the clearance rack (which is the only place you should be looking anyway) which is too cute, grab it for next season or next YEAR. I got Piper an adorable camel colored trench coat on 'Children's Place' clearance rack that I couldn't pass up. She'll be matching Mommy this Fall.
3. Think ahead: make a list. Like I mentioned above about picking up a party dress or two for upcoming occasions, you need to plan ahead. My next shopping trip will consist of Thanksgiving and Christmas (I already have her Halloween costume put away from a clearance rack last year)

If you're anything like me, recovering from being a shopaholic is hard. And recovering from being a shopaholic in which you spoiled yourself in the past is even harder. But remember, your children are a reflection of you!



..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!..

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers*

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

June feature: Rockin' Out DJ Service

All she wants to do is DANCE!...

 

There has been some life changes (good changes) going on in my life and it was time to step away from social media and take a little break- focus on me. But all, I'MMMM BACCCKKKKK ;)

 

If there's one thing everyone in my circle knows about me, it's that this girl loves to shake it! (I'd love to be shakin' it for Luke Bryan but we won't go there- haha)

As I stated in my last feature of the month, I am going to be dedicating them to my fellow vendors through Blondie's Bridal Salon. This month, since Stella's been gettin her groove back over here, I decided to feature my friend Rich and his DJ business. He is, not only, extremely helpful and kind but also extremely talented at what he does!

 

Hi!  My name is Rich Berkheimer and I the owner of Rockin Out DJ Service (http://www.rockinoutdjservice.com)  I am soo glad to work with Amanda Elliott and 'everyone deserves flowers.' Her flowers are amazing in concept and beautifully unique in design. Like nothing I’ve ever seen.

I’ve been the owner of my Wedding DJ biz since 2007 and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else other than working in music and for Brides & Grooms.  Although I still question my decision when someone asks me,

“Do you know that song by that one fat Country singer??”

Yes that was a question last week at an event I did, but we figured out she was speaking of Jake Owen.  Jake Owen fat??  Anyway, I love running a Wedding DJ business in York County and am proud to be a Blondie’s vendor.

I worked in DJ’ing ever since age 19.  Mostly off and on for radio stations.  My first job in wedding dj’ing, I was given nothing but old school R&B albums and sent to my first wedding armed with nothing but crates of albums and equipment I couldn’t lift. At the event, the Bride & Groom were already in the room, I didn’t know it.  I was soo embarrassed and then when the Groom confronted me about only having R&B, he told me to go home.  I was mortified and then quit.  Went to college and then after a stint as an In-Studio cameraperson at WGAL, I went back to Country Music radio. I always like to stay busy and enjoy the fun of spontaneity. One day got tired of explaining my jokes to my Music Director so I left that station. Still wanting to remain in Music I began working for who is now, my closest DJ competition. But after 7 years with him,  I had realized that I had acquired the knowledge, the hard knocks and the diverse creative music ideas that I needed to create and establish my own DJ biz.

So I did.  I am sooo happy with what I created.  It dovetails with my personality so well.  Rockin Out DJ Service has grown so much over the years. We have added uplighting, we have given the Brides more control over the music within the evening.  Now we do Instrumental songs, Karaoke songs and local band music during Ceremonies. http://www.rockinoutdjservice.com/ceremony-music-dj-york-pa/ We’ve even added a Bridesmaids Guest DJ, Garter Toss on a Football, Sole Mates (our Newlywed style shoe game) and so many other fantastic unique ideas for Wedding Receptions.  The website has grown, we now have a Pinterest board,www.pinterest.com/rockinoutdj/.  Plus there’s a blog and we have great working relationships with many other vendors. Plus we do Karaoke(http://www.rockinoutdjservice.com/karaoke/) and Pool parties at Pine Ridge Swim Club once a week. And in just 5 years we were amazed to be honored with being chosen the 2013 Wedding Wire.com’s Best DJ Award as voted by our clients/friends.

I’m so happy and ecstatic to be working with so many other great vendors at Blondie’s. There are vendors there I didn’t even know existed, Floral preservation, custom bow ties??  How awesome!! Really love this opportunity and glad to make the most of this to improve not only Rockin Out DJ Service but to work with the best vendors in the business and share my knowledge and promote them as well making the wedding industry more successful in the process. The sky is the limit.

If you’re looking for an affordable Wedding DJ in York or Lancaster PA, who is excited about your event and innovative with a diverse Music Library and great lighting, look me up sometime.www.rockinoutdjservice.com


I look foward to working alongside Rich in creating the dream weddings all my brides envision.
*Pretty it up by day, rock it out by night!*

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!..

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers*

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

May Feature: Awesome Cake Lady

we know I love cupcakes... 

It's that time of the month again! (Oh... don't be dirty!) 
It's time for me to 'feature' a local business of choice. As you know, if you've been following my blog, I work very closely with a wedding dress shop, "Blondie's Bridal Salon." There, I work amongst very talented vendors within the wedding world, including DJs, a floral preserving specialist, a jewelry maker, bakers, caterers... Anything you would need to make your special day that much more memorable. (As Blondie's says, they 'have everything except the groom.' That ones on you.)

I love having these talents at my fingertips to distribute their information to my brides at consultations, and have chosen to do just that with my "features of the month" from here on out. I am going to highlight each one, allowing my blog to be a great source for all your planning needs. Some of these vendors may come into play for other events as well, such as big birthday parties or to use their workings as gifts, so make sure you stop by and read month by month! 
This month I chose to reach out to the 'Awesome Cake Lady' and allow her to showcase some of her work and tell you a little bit about herself. Call me biased, but my love for chocolate overtakes all! Her thriving career in the baking world has been reaching an all time high, and I can't wait to see her business grow alongside mine. She is very talented in the way of, if you have seen something you want or would like to design something yourself, she can do it! I've seen her make 'Finding Nemo' cupcakes that were just adorable. I can't wait to use her for Piper's upcoming fancy Elmo party this year! (Which is coming way too soon! How is my daughter going to be 2 already!?)

Hi! I'm Courtney. I was born and raised in York County, and I love everything about being a local girl.  After graduating from Northeastern High School early, I wanted to refine my love and talent for design.  I attended Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts and enjoyed every second as I developed my own style.  After obtaining my Associates Degree in Graphic Design I decided to try my hand in cake design.  I absolutely fell in LOVE with it. When not coming up with yet another unique cake design, I can be found at home with my two beautiful daughters and my cake taste-testing husband. My favorite part about designing cakes is seeing the smiles on my clients faces when they pick up their orders!

Stop in and visit me at 'Blondies Bridal Salon' where I do my consultations and order placing, and let me amaze you with my talents!

The Tiffany blue wedding cupcakes are so cute!

Hey, while we're here, might as well showcase some of my latest bouquets that went out the door, right:

 

 

If you know me, you know my love for peonies!

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

model rockin..

first promo shoot...

 

 

This has probably been the longest lag time in-between blog posts since I started writing. I have been so busy, which is a great thing! Mother's day was more than successful with me reaching my order goal, and on top of that our local proms were this past weekend, leaving me up to my chin with things to get done.

 

I recently partnered up with my friend, who just so happens to be the best photographer around, Amanda Naylor, and we conducted a photoshoot to showcase some bouquets from 'everyone deserves flowers.' Together we create a magical thing. A duo noone can top (in my opinion) and I love working alongside her for weddings and events.

and here we are: (hehe)

**If you are not following my business page on Facebook,

please do so by clicking here.**

 

It was so much fun! We chose three beautiful young girls to play bride for the day, Blondie's Bridal Salon supplied dresses, and Jessica Lynn Salon did their hair and make-up. Here are some of the designs:

 

 

These girls totally rocked it, and Mandy went above and beyond expectations as far as photography went. To see more pictures, visit her blog and website at naylorphoto.com. As part of her blogpost for this shoot, she conducted an interview for me, which I've never had to do yet. It left me, as the owner and designer of the business, with more understanding as to why I love what I do, which I found funny. There were a few questions in which the awnsers really helped pin-point my design technique:

 



What sets you apart from others? Every floral designer has a different 'style,' and that all depends on who you learned from. Like I mentioned, I tried to learn from many, taking the best of everyone and incorporating all of it into MY style. I also pride myself on creating unique florals. No vase that goes out the door is the same as another. I worked at one shop (name disclosed) that set their business up with a flower 'menu,' so to say. It works for them, and it's great for a man to come in who is unfamiliar with flowers, point to a picture, and order something for the misses. But you know what? 5 neighbors received the same arrangement that Mother's Day. Maybe that's a great business tool, but that's not for me. Like I said, I want the 'wow' factor... every. time. Even if its a simple rose in a bud vase, you're going to have a little sparkle, a little 'jersey' bling... And no one is going to receive the same arrangement delivered to them. It was created just for YOU.

I also work out of my home, therefore having no overhead. I buy my flowers directly from the wholesaler. That ensures you are getting a quality freshness, you are getting a great price, and you know who will be handling your order, and is accessable and easy to reach. I am also a preferred vendor through Blondie's Bridal Salon and work amongst many other very talented vendors in the bridal business.

Describe your designs in 5 words. Funky. Unique. Sentimental. Pretty. Fresh.

What are your favorite supplies/flowers to work with? I like to incorporate feathers, rhinestones, gems, branches, beads, sparkles, rocks, gems... Anything that'll give it that extra touch. My all time favorite flower is very popular, a peony. White. But I also love oncidium orchids, antique hydrangea, garden roses, tuberose, dusty miller, parrot tulips, astilbe, ranunculus, anemone... I guess I simply love it all! Haha. :)

This past month has left me with the upmost belief that my dream of becoming an elite wedding designer is going to come true! Another day, another step closer.. here we go!

 

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

  



Let's summarize...

24-day recap...

I cannot express how overly joyed I am that I took on this challenge and have completed it. Me! I am impressed with myself. Willpower was never in my vocabulary. 
I am a foodie. I love to eat! I also love to cook. I like to make people happy with the food I cook. It is simply how I was raised. My mom is an amazing cook, and because of that, we were amazing eaters. (Haha) My Dad was an over-the-road truck driver who ate out all the time when he was on the road. When he was home he looked forward to nothing more then eating my mom's home cooked meals, and I joined in. It seemed so natural and normal then, but looking back, it tainted me. We would eat big dinners with pastas, breads and butter, soda, etc. followed by big desserts, like my Dad's favorite root beer floats. Calorie counting didn't exist. My Dad was tall and thin. My mom is a peanut. My sister and I, we gain weight. 
For years and years I tried fad diets and tried cutting calories where I thought they mattered. (Ex. I'd skip breakfast and lunch to eat wings and drink margaritas all night) I joined 'Weight Watchers,' did Adkins.. gained, lost... 

So that's how I lived my life. I worked out hard, I counted calories, I gained and lost, I got frustrated, I ate everything in the house, I worked it off on the stair-master the next day because I felt guilty, or fat... And went through that process for just way too long. 

I started working in a gym as front desk help. I learned how to work out, and liked it. I liked pushing myself with weights, taking cardio classes, and enjoyed the social aspect of the gym. (Still do!) I started educating myself on diet. Not fad diet. Diet... As in what your body needs to gain muscle, sustain energy, and how to tone and reach goals in a healthy manner. Guess what Weight Watchers: your endorsed frozen dinners and processed chocolate snacks aren't the way to do it. And guess what Dr. Atkins: those 12 pounds I lost piled right back on once I started factoring carbs into my meals again. The yo-yo weight gain and loss would drive anyone mad. 
I started eating 'clean.'
If you follow along, you know I prepare my meals for the week. You know I take the words 'dedication' and 'motivation' to a healthy level. And you know I have started to see results in my body tone, energy level, and weight. 
The 'Advocare Challenge' put my 'dedication' to the test. I started on this journey as someone who [thought] they had their diet in check. Someone who [thought] they ate clean. Someone who [thought] it would be a breeze. The first 10 days flew by! I would reccomend the '10-Day Advocare Cleanse' to anyone willing to try it and take it on. I ate along the diet regimen and saw fast results with the small changes I had made during that short period of time (cutting out dairy, alcohol, bread, processed snacks, etc.) I lost 2 inches in my waist alone! I was stoked! So, I took on the remaining 14 days to complete phase 2. Like I said, I thought it would be a breeze. It was not (for me.) Everyone is different. Everyone has different
 levels of willpower, different cravings, different body weight. I'm going to be honest and tell you I had quite a few cheats within these last 2 weeks. I ate Fiber-One cereal with Fat-Free milk. I had a few pieces of dark chocolate along the way. That's not so bad. But, I had a margarita at a dinner out at a restaurant, along with a piece of bread with butter. I craved things that I didn't think would bother me, nevertheless get the best of me... But they did, and I'm ashamed of that. So 'willpower' and I are head-to-head again. Story of my life! 

These are the final results of our challenge:

Me:

weight on 4-1-13: 149.6

thigh- 20 1/4

waist- 34

bust- 36 1/2

arm- 11 1/4

neck- 12 3/4

hips- 36

calf- 13 1/4

weight on 4-24-13: 145.2

thigh- 20

waist- 32 1/4

bust- 35 3/4

arm- 10 3/4

neck- 12 1/2

hips- 35

calf- 13

total inches lost: 5.75

total weight loss: 4.4

Lisa:

weight on 4-1-13: 197.4

thigh- 23

waist- 38

bust- 44

arm- 13

neck- 13 3/4

hips- 41

calf- 15

weight on 4-24-13: 188.2

thigh- 22 1/8

waist- 37 1/4

bust- 42

arm- 12 1/4

neck- 13

hips- 38

calf- 15

total inches lost: 8.75

total weight loss: 9.2

TOTAL COMBINED WEIGHT LOSS: 14 1/2

TOTAL COMBINED INCHES LOST: 13.6

That leaves HEATHER HOUCK as our SPARK GIVEAWAY winner with the 
closest guess!
I, even considering my cheats, did not lose as much as I thought I would have. But I suppose I didn't have as much to lose, and because of that I think the cheats were vital.  I lost weight, inches, and body-fat and gained a lot more knowledge about dieting down and eating even cleaner through taking on this challenge. That's a win in my book! Although it was, in fact, challenging, I plan to follow the clean-eating meal plan they have set up 85-90% of the time. (Like Jillian Michaels requests doing) and continuing to take Advocare supplements and drink the 'Spark' energy drink 1-2 times/ day. That being said, it is important to understand 'everything in moderation.' So back to calorie counting.
**During the challenge, you do not count your calories, but follow an eating plan they have set up by portioning out your meals.
 I am going to share some pictures of my weight loss. Please do not judge too harshly. I had a baby. I ate badly. I stopped going to the gym and focused a lot of my time on being a mom. I gained weight, and was unhappy. That is why I am using my knowledge to do something about it now...
*HERE ARE MY BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. BE GENTLE, I'M STILL NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE. I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHOW THE CHANGES A CLEAN-EATING DIET CAN MAKE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME:

For those of you following me on 'myfitnesspal' 
(MissPipersMommy) I will be using that app more frequently now that the challenge is over. Being I was not counting calories during this time, it began to be repetitive and unnecessary. 
These are some things, amongst many, that I can't wait to put back into my diet again:

OH... AND SUSHI!! Which I totally ate for lunch on my first FREE day!

(For more on clean eating, visit this post.)

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

Mission accomplished..

overview...
Today marked the last day of the cleanse. We made it!
The number one question everyone is wondering, 'how much weight did we drop?' Well, we lost... A good bit for just 10 days. But I'm not going to leak that information before the GIVEAWAY. (details HERE) I must say, a lot of you have high hopes for us. I have guesstimations posted as high as a 35 pound weight loss. Hey, you never know...

I'm going to take this post to go over the pits and perks of the cleanse for those of you following along or possibly looking to do it in the future. First off, Lisa (who has done the cleanse with me and will be continuing on to do the remaining 14 days to complete the challenge as well) has been commenting after my blogposts to give a little more insight as to how she was holding up. Here is how she felt, pretty much day-to-day, as someone who has just started a path to a clean-eating diet and GAVE UP SODA! Woo-hoo!

day 1: Yes, first day down....I have never drank so much water lol. My day started with the gritty sandy fiber drink another glass of water then a spark drink (which I love) I then had for breakfast a protein shake. A fruit salad for a snack then another spark in the afternoon. For my afternoon snack I had a nice bowl of veggies and a salad for dinner. I woke up late today but git everything in and feel great. I did workout and get down 11 cups of water. Thanks Amanda for doing all the prep and cooking.....can't wait till tomo to taste all ur good cooking. We got this!!

day 2: Day 2 done...bring on day 3...
day 3: Today was tough for me but I pushed through....I had lunch with my coworkers and they were eating fries, burgers and my fav.....drinking Pepsi. I'm on day 3 w/o Pepsi....for anyone who knows me that has been a big challenge. Today I had some cravings for sugar and bad carbs but didn't give in...yeah for me :) I'm very happy for tomorrow ....no fiber drink....lol. Stay tuned ......
day 4: Woohoo, day 4 done. Today was just as tempting as yesterday...my birthday is tomorrow and my other coworker's birthday is Saturday...so our friends at work asked us what kind of cake we wanted...Patrick of course wanted an ice cream cake and I explained to my coworkers I was on this challenge and did not want cake, although the thought was much appreciated....so today they made me a wonderful salad which sat right beside the ice cream cake....but I did not give in and I'm very proud of myself....it was so thoughtful and respectful of my coworkers to make me the fruit salad.....thanks!! However walking by the cake was hard....especially on my birthday. So to make myself feel better (hopefully) I came home and did something your not supposed to do....get on the scale....I was so happy, I have lost 8 lbs in 4 days....WHAAAATTTTT??!!! having this instant gratification has made me want to do this even more. Bring on day 5.
day 6: Well like you Amanda I too had a hurdle that I jumped today. I had a bridal shower and this was with my "party" friends so I knew they would have a stocked bar and lots of good eats....and I was right. I also packed my snack and had a spark on the way...and at the party drank water, had a plate full of raw veggies, grapes and some turkey wo any bread. There were cupcakes, puff pastries and chocolate covered strawberries along with chips and pretzels but I passsed....I am proud of myself but boy did I want something sweet. After the party a few of us sat around talking and the chips came around and were put on the table we were sitting at and the longer I sat there the stronger the urge to eat some chips....so I got more water :) after about an hour I had to go because I was going to give in to my temptation. Once I got home I had a yummy dinner...Brown rice with chicken, some hot salsa mixed with some corn.....now I'm full, satisfied and don't feel guilty. I have had great results thus far, don't wanna mess it up with some chips and chocolate....I've worked 
to hard (thanks Amanda).... Bring it on day 7 !!!
day 7: Uggghhh....the fiber drink. :(
day 9:  You can make me some of that deliciousness (commenting on spaghetti squash with spicy turkey meat sauce recipe HERE)...... Yummy. I guess it's getting easier, the eating thing is pretty much down now did I loose weight? Inches? Can't wait to weigh in....better yet, can't wait to see what all of you blog readers think we lost.....stay tuned!!

Haha- Some of these definitely make me laugh looking back at our past week, but you know what... it's a lot easier now! The diet starts to become part of your daily routine, just like hitting the gym. Here is an overview of the 'perks and pits' and what I would tell an average person looking to purchase the Advocare cleanse and complete it successfully.

So that's it! Mission (Phase 1) accomplished. Now, onto Phase 2.. the remaining 14-days to complete the 'Advocare Challenge.' I will not bore you with day-to-day postings for another 2 weeks, but come APRIL 24th, Lisa and I will be doing our official weigh-in and measure. Winner of the GIVEAWAY will be announced on that  day, so keep your eyes peeled!

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

One more day left...

spaghetti squash...

Tomorrow is the last day of the cleanse. So happy to not have to consume any more fiber drinks in the morning, but since we are going to be continuing on to complete the entire the 24-day challenge, eating clean, clean, clean is still our way of life. 

Tonight I cooked a fresh dinner instead of grabbing one of my prepped meals. It came out delish, so I decided to share it. Completely clean... And would also be great during the 2nd phase of the Advocare Challenge, where complex carbohydrates are optional. And to top it off, it's super simple.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH SPICY TURKEY MEAT SAUCE

• PAM spray 
• 1 spaghetti squash 

• 1 onion, chopped

• Minced garlic

• 1 pound ground turkey

• black pepper

• 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes

• 1/2-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

1. Cut your spaghetti squash in half longways and dig out the center (seeds) with a spoon. Take 1/2 cup or so of water, and fill the hole of one half with it. Top that half with the other half, and microwave for 10 minutes. To test if it's done, simply squeeze the top and make sure it's no longer tender. Let sit to cool.

2. Meanwhile, spray your pan really good with PAM spray and add diced onion and garlic. Sauté until translucent. 

3. Add ground turkey and brown, draining afterwards. 

4. Season turkey with pepper, and add 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes. Season with parsley, pepper, red pepper (I do a little less than a teaspoon) and whatever other Italian seasonings you desire. Let simmer for approximately 15 minutes.

5. Get your spaghetti squash out of the microwave. Pour out any remaining water, put it up on its side, and shrewd insides with a fork to create your 'spaghetti.'

6. Top with meat sauce and enjoy! 

**I would've loved to top with some [a lot of] Parmesan, but cheese is a no-no during the cleanse. 

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

8 is great...

come and get it...

**hey all!! Don't forget to hop on 'everyone deserves flowers.' Facebook page HERE and comment on the status to guess Lisa and my combined weight loss during the Advocare Challenge! Guess the closest number and win a FREE BOX OF SPARK! (A 26.00 value) 
Don't miss out! 

I'm not going to sit here and allow you to think this cleanse was easy-peasy all weekend. It was hard. Theres no getting Round the fact that you will have to overcome a weekend during the course of a 10-day cleanse, so it was expected. This was the first weekend Spring 'sprung,' and the temptation to relax with a cocktail was definitely there. We went out for lunch Saturday, and I had to navigate my way through a menu to ensure I was eating clean and making the right choices. Sunday was just as difficult. Maybe it's the 'weekend' mentality, the fact that Eddie is home and we do things as a family (like go out for lunch) or the fact that I always save a weekend day as a 'cheat' day, but I found the cravings [for something bad-like a Starbucks iced-coffee] were more intense. 

But I overcame the urges. New day...

Today, after the gym, I had lunch with my friend Shea and her adorable new puppy, Blue. (You can see him peeking out below the table) 

 Thank goodness my friends eat healthy, because I wasn't put in a predicament where I had to bring my own food. I just drank my 'Spark' and took my 'catalyst' in the car on the way there. We built big salads with tuna and veggies, drank water with lemon, and sat outside at the picnic table. It was a gorgeous day! 

I had 2 tablespoons peanut butter and apple as a mid-afternoon snack, and my prepared chicken and vegetable stir-fry with brown rice for dinner. 

We have two more days of the official 'cleanse' before we continue on to the remaining 14 days to complete the 'challenge.' April 24 is a day I am definitely starting to anticipate. 

Tonight, my sister and I are taking my mom out for her birthday to see an Elvis impersonator. (If you know my mom, you know she is going to love this! She is obsessed with that man... And I'd be lying if I said he wasn't my first true love. Hunka hunka...)

Details to follow (hehe)

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

Lucky number 7...

 giveaway deets...

***GIVEAWAY!***

Who wants to win a free box of mandarin orange SPARK? The question should be, 'Who doesn't?' 

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Spark is 'energy of the Gods.' A my house, it's a new staple item in the cubbert. It gives you energy without that jittery feeling. Your energy level will not crash after using it either. The mandarin orange is one of my favorite flavors, and Lisa Long (my Advocare distributor) was kind enough to donate a box (a $23.00 value) for a cleanse-related giveaway. Find out more information about the product HERE.

So, how can you win? We're going to play a fun little game. First and foremost, you must go on Facebook and 'like' my official page, 'everyone deserves flowers.' There will be a status update about the giveaway, where you will comment. ONLY THERE WILL YOUR ENTRIES COUNT. THEREFORE, DO NOT COMMENT ON THE BLOG BELOW. 

It is said that you can lose up to 12-15 lbs. on the Advocare Challenge. (the full 24 days) To win the Spark, you have to have the closest guess to the combined number of pounds Lisa and I lose. If you have been following along, you know our eating patterns, when and where were tweaking the diet, and how often we're working out. May the odds be in your favor....

Today was a laid back day. The weather was fantastic, and we took advantage of it. We went to visit Grandma and Pap around noon, and Piper played 'peek-a-boo' with Pap through the screen door, which was adorable! Pap is 94 and doesn't get joy out of much anymore these days, so it's heartwarming when my little girl makes him laugh and he's kissing on her. 

Since we were swinging through there prior to lunchtime, I took along my catalyst and 'Spark' (*preparation) and then when we got home, I ate a 'big-ass salad' with chicken and my new coconut-infused vinegar I got yesterday [from Tastealotta.] I've have been holding strong. Eddie ate the rest of that dang peanut-butter egg that has been taunting me, so that's a plus too. 

(Jump on 'myfitnesspal' to follow my daily menu: MissPipersMommy)

Tonight, Eddie and I are going to try out some other oils and vinegars we purchased and grill up some shrimp-skewers. 

Tomorrow, we are back to the Fiber drink in the morning to close out the first 10 days (which I'm not looking forward to) and then we are going to be continuing on to complete the remaining 14 days of the 24 Day Challenge. 

After this, I better have a rockin' bod!

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.