Grateful for 1000 days!!

For me, it used to be that Mother's Day was all about celebrating my mom for the great woman she is and how she's been a wonderful example to all of us kids. Then, as I became a mom myself, things shifted a bit, we still celebrated my mom, of course, but now I have the chance to reflect on how grateful and blessed I am to be given the opportunity to be a mom myself. Soooo, in light of Mother's Day, I am launching my brand new HUGE challenge to myself and everyone else!!!

 

You've probably seen the #100dayshappy posts, and I think they're such a great idea! What an awesome way to spread your daily happiness with others and inspire them to find happiness in their day as well!! I want to go one step further though. What does it take to be grateful for 1000 days straight? I think it's going to take a LOT! 1000 days is a long time!!! To be grateful each and every day takes a lot!! It will very likely be life changing for me and hopefully others as well!

So, what do you say? Are you with me?? Can you be #1000daysgrateful?? All you have to do is post a photo daily of what you're grateful for and use the hashtag #1000daysgrateful on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. I'll be sharing my posts on Instagram @1000daysgrateful as well as on my Facebook page www.facebook.com/challengeyourselfhealth so leave a message here or send me one on Facebook to let me know you're in!!!

 

Some Favourite Clean Eating Recipes

Here are some of my favourite clean eating recipes that I've tried and love! Most of these I make on a regular basis :) 

These pancakes are AWESOME!! You can make extra and freeze them :)http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229066012995/

Delicious brownies (I found with the salted top they were a tad too salty:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229065828055/

I love THIS cake recipe, it's a little more of a fall recipe, but I'll be making it all year long :) And I find that there's no need for the almond drizzle either if you don't want. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229065837867/

My go-to bread recipe. It's easy and delicious!! 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229065828056/

You can't go wrong with a warm quinoa salad!!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229066012996/

I love this jambalaya recipe, it's a little spicy though, so you may want to adjust accordingly. Oh, and you can just cook it on the stove in a pot as well :)

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229066122139/

Another brownie recipe...who would have thought that black beans would make good brownies? I love them!! 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229066032334/

There are so many healthy soup recipes out there, but this one is hearty and can be used as a full meal (at least we do, with some warm bread on the side...yum!)

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229065817643/

These cookies are sooo easy and good!! You can add whatever mix ins you want too!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229064294311/

Love this banana bread recipe, I usually had some pecans or walnuts for a little extra flavour :)

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229064211259/

Super easy and delicious side, cucumbers are always good! 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229064350684/

Another yummy soup!! It's creamy without the cream :)

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229063918693/

This ice cream is so easy and so good!! You can use any fruit. I like to mix in a bit of cocoa powder and peanut butter...you will need to add some milk to help blend it though. 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229063864285/

This salsa is super easy and sooo good!! 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229064626288/

This overnight oatmeal is awesome!! When hubby works day shift he's out the door by 6, so I usually have a few of these jars ready for him to grab and go. It's like a dessert :) The banana & pb is our fave!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229064931382/

I've made these stuffed peppers and they're sooo good!!!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229065184212/

It's strawberry season...make this jam! Seriously!!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229065278986/

One of my favourite sweet snacks...omit the choc chips. I love pb & honey & a tad vanilla!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/252694229065685526/

For more healthy recipes, check out my clean eating board on Pinterest. I haven't tried a lot of these recipes, but there are a lot of great ideas!!

http://www.pinterest.com/1kat/clean-eating/ 

What I love about being at home...

What do I like best about being a stay at home mom who also works from home?
Well, there really isn't one thing I like the best, it's a LOT of things!!

*I love that I was the first one to see Zander's gums break so his first tooth could come out.

*I love that Brielle repeats things that we say instead of (maybe inappropriate) things from others like "You found this for me mommy, you're such a big helper to me!" or "How's your dinner mommy?" or "I love your shirt daddy" or "thank you for saying hi to my dolly".

*I love that I have the opportunity to have a hot meal on the table for Arnold when he comes home after work (it doesn't always happen, mind you).

*I love that on days where I've slept only a few hours (many days since Zander was born), I don't have to be out the door, showered, dressed and looking presentable at an early hour while packing the kids up and dropping them off somewhere.

*I love that Brielle has to kiss and hug Zander EVERY time he goes for a nap.

*I love going to his room after every nap and seeing that big smile on his face.

*I love that I have the chance to participate in a weekly woman's Bible Study in the mornings.

*I love that I can arrange for playdates whenever I want.

*I love that I can make my own hours.

*I love that I've been able to see the relationship build every day between my kids, it's really heartwarming.

*I love hearing Brielle make up songs on her guitar "No you don't, yes you do".

*I love that I have time to serve others with hot meals or babysitting, etc on occasion.

*I love that Arnold and I don't work opposite schedules, so I get to see him whenever he's off.

*I love that I can take time off for special occasions like mini trips, vacations or even just a rest day without anyone telling me that I can't.

*I love to see her and Arnold twirling around the living room dancing together (shhh, don't tell him I told you that he does this).

*I love that my job at home includes building relationships with women who are sometimes hurting, struggling, and in need of a helping hand.

*I love that I can see real transformations in weight loss, increase in health and help other women to work from home and earn an income as well.

*I love that I've found my passion, even though I had no idea it would be my passion until I started this journey exactly a year ago.

*I love that I'm able to help pay off debt and start saving for a downpayment.