Day 50 ~ Flank Steak Roll with Spinach and Garlic

Today I made a new recipe, Flank Steak Roll with Spinach and Garlic. It was easy and VERY good. Believe it or not, but this is one of the Clean Eating recipes. I have to admit, after I had cooked it and put it on the table, I felt kinda fancy. Oh la la.

I asked my husband what he thought about the clean eating and he told me as long as I cook meals like tonight there is no way he will say no. I have to admit though, I am fiending for some treats and chocolate right now. It is Friday night movie night and everyone is having something sweet but me. I think there are some healthy treats in the magazine, I think I need to check them out.

My new thing for today felt like a gourmet meal, with little or no work.

Day 49 ~ Clean Eating

I started something new today, a diet. Well, they say it is not a diet but a lifestyle change. Whatever you call it, it wasn't too bad.

Today I also gave up Soda pop. It didn't even bother me until I got in the car to go somewhere and normally I pick up a pop for the drive. I swear I was twitching. Today it was water. I had water, water, water and some more water. I enjoy my soda pop, but lets be honest, there is nothing but crap in it. After a day of no pop I figured I would have a horrible headache but I actually feel pretty good tonight. I ate clean foods all day, no perservatives, all natural, and maybe it is just me, but I feel a little different. We'll see how this goes. Wish me luck, I got some pounds to lose!

Day 48 ~ Home Sweet Home

We made it, barely. I am so tired I feel like I could sleep standing up. We drove 14 hours today with the kids, and although we will miss the family, it is so good to be home. Today didn't leave me with a lot of time to try something new, but one thing I did do was spend a lot of the drive reading through a magazine called Clean Eating. The idea of it is consuming food in its most natural state. This includes colorful fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean protein and lots of water. I couldn't believe how great the recipes looked and they were recipes I could easily make. I like to cook but I don't like spending all day doing it. I have decided to try Clean Eating for two weeks straight and see if I noticed a difference in how I feel, and my energy level. I am definitely not as healthy as I would like to be and to be completely honest, Cheez-its and Pop will be so very hard to give up. If you are interested in checking it out, here is the website: http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/minisite/ce_index.html

For now I am off to bed, if I can make it up the stairs! I was able to down load all my pictures tonight and hope to update my blogs photos tomorrow.

Day 47 ~ Carmel

I think Carmel has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I was unable to upload my pictures today but will tomorrow, because it is truly a majestic place.



I figure with this being our last day, my husband would not be up for going anywhere, but he surprised us by taking the kids and me to Carmel. It had to be 70 degrees and the sky was blue. We walked around the shops and stopped for coffee and treats, and I swear the smile on my face was so big people probably thought I was up to no good. Everyone around on the streets would smile and say hi and comment, "Isn't it a beautiful day?" We would agree because honestly it was the thing that you were saying over and over again in your head, "This is such a beautiful day!" So many were out walking their pets and we happened to run into a horse dog. I call it that because it had to be the biggest dog I have ever seen in my life. White and fluffy and sweet as could be. The girls happily petted the dog and it would just turn and nuzzle them and lick their hands.



After a walk around the town we headed down to the beach and parked and we all played in the sand and chased waves. The waves were so powerful and the crash of them on the beach sand seemed to shake the earth. It was nothing less than beautiful. It had been 7 years since I set foot on that beach and as we drove away I promised myself I would never wait 7 years to return.

Day 46 ~ Santa Cruz

Today my husband and I spent some time looking through the local shops in Santa Cruz. This was my first time and all I can say is I can not wait for summer!!! The weather was outstanding and I was able to wear a T-shirt and shorts. Back home I would be in pants and a sweatshirt. Although I do love Oregon, you can't deny the Cali love. My husband and I both grew up close to the beach, and although he is from NorCal, and I am from SoCal, the beach just brings a smile out in both of us. It is hard to believe tomorrow is our last day.

We also watched a new movie tonight and laughed our butts off. Couples Retreat was hilarious and with my in-laws 60 inch TV, it was just as good as a movie theater. We made popcorn, and had candy, and enjoyed one of our last nights here. I have to say I am pretty lucky to have the in-laws I do. I hear so many horror stories of peoples in-laws being a little on the crazy side, but mine are pretty fabulous.

New shops with a new movie was a pretty great way to spend the day. Tomorrow is our last day and I plan on enjoying it and the sun as much as possible.

Day 45 ~ Lover's Point

Today the family headed out to Lover's Point in Pacific Grove. It was a beautiful, perfect day.

I haven't been to Monterey in 7 years. It is a beautiful place. The sun was shining, the waves were crashing, and we all just looked around taking in the beauty of the scenery. People from all around the world come to this place for its beauty, and when you get here and just look around, you see why.



After we sucked in as much ocean air as we could, we went and had lunch with the whole crew. Can you come to this place and not have seafood, I think not. I ordered fried calamari with cocktail sauce and it was so good. I wish it was labeled a vegetable so I could have it every day. It was that good. We have been enjoying ourselves so much on this trip, but we only have a few more days and it will come to an end. I am going to make sure theses last few really count!!!

Day 44 ~ A Day of Family

Today was an awesome day. It was not about just me doing something new, it was about all of us doing something new.

My husband got to go mountain biking, something he enjoys more than anything else. He hasn't been able to do this for over a year and a half and not only that, but got to go with his brother and one of his best friends. The girls spent the day with their cousins riding scooters and playing hide and seek on 3 acres of what I like to call Narnia, aka Grandpa's gardens. They were always too little for these things before, but now were able to join in the big kid activities and loved it. I got to spend the day visiting with my sister in law, one of the best sister in laws in the world. She is so inspiring and a go getter, and being around her makes me feel like I can do anything.

Last but not least we got to sit and have dinner with my husbands entire family and eat skirt steak and delicious food, my amazing mother in law cooked.

At the end of the day, I look around and think, how lucky I am. In one day we all did something new, and I wish today was an every day thing.