Shred update!

Had to report in.....Shred has become a bit easier and fun!! and I'm seeing results! that's the important part!! Hope you're all enjoying a GREAT summer......We're enjoying a rainy day today, but I don't mind them once in a while! haha See post below on Shred if you don't know what I'm talking about!

SCHOOL'S OUT TODAY ....YEEHA!

Wrapping gifts!

I was thinking last night about one of my favorite things to do.....wrap gifts in creative and fun ways! I happened to have several gifts to wrap yesterday so I thought why not post it? You probably all have your favorite tasks too! ha I LOVE the stores that have $1.00 items....I love the dollar store for cute containers etc. but now my FAVORITE store Target has a dollar section! I love to use unique containers or ideas to wrap and I love "pretty" I like the person to love the gift before they even open it......this doesn't always work because I ADORE gift bags for a quick wrap too! ha I got these little tin pails at Target and filled them with a variety of miniature chocolate bars, tissue paper patterned like a bandanna and gift cards for my girl's teacher's end year gifts! We are fortunate to have Christian teachers so we got them Christian bookstore gift cards.....The other gift is my favorite roll of silver wrapping paper I got for $1.00 after Christmas (a great time to shop for wrapping supplies because you can use some colors year round...like silver!) I love the Really Wooley greeting cards to because the envelopes are so darling and make the gift so cute(if you click on the photo with the silver gift you can see the envelope's details) and I seem to have ROLLS AND ROLLS of ribbon.....anytime someone gives me a gift with ribbon I always save it! The blue gift is a Barbie Pool and I used a Barbie outfit as a bow on top....Grace has the pool herself but she was envying the outfit! ha She's going to a B Day party tomorrow!

So I hope you have fun wrapping gifts too....it adds a special touch and the person getting the gift knows you LOVE THEM! I wish I could wrap gifts for a living! haha

Summer desserts!

This was a great dessert we had a few weeks ago! I saw it on the front of a magazine and had to try it! of course I had to modify it too! haha

It was a toasted waffle (we made extra for breakfast that day but you could easily use frozen waffles and toast them, I thought Strawberry waffles would be so good!) Then cut up strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate syrup over top! yum! (For my friend Danielle I want you to know it was LIGHT Cool Whip! haha) The original recipe called for a scoop of ice cream in between TWO waffles and then the Whipped cream.....I couldn't do it! ha couldn't eat 2 waffles....but if you wanted an over the top dessert you could, but if wanted a lighter dessert this was delicious! There are many ways you could play with this, bananas, ice cream, blueberries.....you name it! but the waffle base is key here, it reminded me of a waffle cone! enjoy!

Exercise!

I just ordered this DVD, it was about $10 with shipping on EBAY, but you can get it on Amazon etc. I'm sure or in stores I imagine!

OH MY WORD! it's three 25 min. workouts.....I have NEVER, and I mean never worked out so hard! it's a constant 20 mins. of circuit training with weights for portions of it, although you could do it without weights but it might not be as effective! She kicks BUTT! she gives no breaks...you go from one thing to another...I woke up today feeling muscles that obviously have never been worked! haha I liked it and could see how it will bring results (if I can stand it) Dare I say I actually enjoyed at least half of it! haha She's the trainer on Biggest Loser so I thought it might work you in slow! NOT! there's three levels 1,2 and 3 and she suggests you move up as you feel comfortable...not sure I'll ever get passed 1! All this to say....I would HIGHLY recommend it...she has two gals behind her, one is doing a modified version of what she is doing for beginners and one is doing the full workout! I stuck with the modified! ha it's a good GOOD workout!! I made Mike try it and he said he could NOT believe how out of shape he is! hahaha My kids made it through the whole thing too.....obviously they did it at their own pace but it was fun! and a GREAT way to spend $10!!

Steak sandwich!

A great steak sandwich, easy to make and delicious!

2-3 lb. Flank Steak (this cut is around $12 for a steak this size, which might seem high in price but it serves many and compared to say, Fillet haha it's a bargain! and I snatch them up when they mark them on clearance!) This is also a GREAT marinade for Pork of any kind!

Marinade:

1/4 C. soy sauce

3 T. honey

2 ts. red wine vinegar or balsamic

1 1/2 ts. garlic powder (or one clove fresh)

1 1/2 ts. ground ginger

1-2 green onions, sliced thin

1/2 C. Veg. oil

Whisk together in 9 x 13 baking dish and place flank steak in marinade, coat one side then flip. Let sit in marinade at least 3-4 hrs. for the best flavor!

Grill 5-6 mins. each side and then lower grill temp. for an additional 4 mins. or until desired doneness. I like it fairly well done, a meat thermometer is your best friend when grilling meats! You can also broil this in the oven, just watch it and don't put it too close to the top coils but alt east 8" or closer!

Let this sit after grilling/cooking atleast 5-10 mins. this will let the meat seal in it's juices, this is KEY to melt in your mouth steak!....cut on a cutting board against the grain in thin strips!

I used Multi grain French bread as "buns", but you can use any buns you like, a hard bun made it a bit difficult to bite into but it was really good! butter them lightly and grill just until toasty. You can add some sauteed onions like I did, mushrooms or even peppers and cheese would be good. We often make sweet potato fries with this meal, just cut 4 large sweet potatoes into fries, skins on. Toss in a bowl with 2 T. Olive Oil and bake at 425 for 35-45 mins. until desired crispiness!

We love to eat this as a steak dinner as well, it's so tender and melts in your mouth! My daughter calls it "Fake Steak" ha

This is also great in Fajitas and you could add some lime juice the last 1/2 hr. of marinating to add a Fajita flavor!

Enjoy! This steak serves 6 generous sized sandwiches!