Gluten Free Smurfs Party

We just finished our Smurfs Party! What a great time! The kids had a wonderful time coloring and watching clips on the iPad.

One of the guests did not know the Smurfs, but we quickly filled her in and had her watch some clips. She remembered them a little bit from childhood but that was it.

Another of the guests described them as little blue people that represent an extenuation of little quirks in personalities. I thought that was a great description myself.

It was only supposed to last an hour and a half, but ended up lasting 3 hours.

I had some great snack laid out (as you can see in the pictures) but the best part was the moms cracking open a bottle of wine!!!

What a wonderful night! Everyone enjoyed themselves and I think everyone is a little bit more excited about the release of the movie! Although I saw the movie in the theatre, I am excited about seeing the new Christmas Movie!!!

Amazing Environmental Giveaway

I came across this blog Environmental Booty http://shaneshirleysmith.blogspot.com/ and couldn't believe my eyes. Over $1000 in prizes! Well, so I looked through it, cause honestly people can have $1000 dollar store prizes and I don't want them in my house. But seriously, these are awesome, natural, environmentally friendly products. Everything from shoes to cleaning products and so much in between. It even includes a full home assessment if you live in a participating area. (Sadly Manitowoc is not one of them). My favorite part? The shoes are Naya shoes....how cool is that? I think I need a pair of Naya shoes eh?! lol. But really, I'm probably most excited about the little things like tea bags, home cleaning products, and a romantic bath kit.

So go check this out. One little comment will get you entered into her contest and there are so many other ways to earn entries. If nothing else, she's got some interesting things to say. Go check it out!


It's HERE! Win Over $1,000 in Green Living Treasure in The 2011 Great Green Earth Day Giveaway from.
shaneshirleysmith.blogspot.com

Join Saving Dinner's Crock Cooker Contest!

Join Saving Dinner's Crock Cooker Contest!

Saving Dinner

Leanne Ely from SavingDiner.com is very 3QD friendly. Although she doesn't do gluten free 100%, she agrees that it is the best way to go. She endorses low GI and real food. She even has a video on youtube mentioning Paleo! I love listening to her show on blog talk radio each Wednesday. If you want she even prepares weekly menus complete with shopping lists to help you put dinner on the table for your family every night. (She has gluten free versions).

http://savingdinner.com/c/dangerrory

SuperBowl 45!

I am not a football person. In fact, other than attending one football game (and having no idea what was going on) I have never watched a game start to finish. However, moving to Wisconsin and landing in the heart of Pack Nation, I felt I didn't really have a choice. You are either a Packers fan or an outcast. So...these past few months I have watched more Football on TV than ever in my life. To everyone's amazement the Packers not only had a great season, but won the Championship to make it to the Super Bowl. There were more decorations for the Super Bowl than for Christmas. No, I am not kidding. I even have a picture of someone spray painting "Go Pack Go" in the snow in front of their house. Yup...I live in Packland! After a healthy visit to Lambeau Field to commerorate the game we came home to watch the game in the comfort of our living room. So this is my creation for our little party...


So, I can not take credit for this idea. A friend posted it on facebook. I simply made a few changes. Technically this is gluten free. However, it is not low gi nor would I consider any of the "fans" real food. But, here it is in a nutshell.

Field Grass: Homemade Guacamole
Steelers Zone: Refried Black Beans
Packers Zone: Queso Dip
Lines/Writing: Sour Cream
Players: Vienna Sausages
Helmets: Cheese
Stadium Walls: Carrots
Seat Partiitions: Grapes
Steelers Fans: Blue and Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips
Packers Fans: Green and Yellow Bell Peppers
Other Fans: Cheetos and Fritos

So yeah, lots of fun. Took about an hour total. Abut 40 min of that was cutting veggies and figuring the best way to arrange the carrot walls. Once that is set it goes together pretty quick. A lot of effort for a couple of pictures, but it was good practice for future parties. Hope you enjoyed watching the Packers win the Super Bowl as much as we did!

A few Dishes

Brown Rice Pasta w/ Chicken and Spicy Tomato Sauce covered with cheese and parsley

Almond Crusted Meatballs on Garlic Butter String Beans

Almond Crusted Baked Chicken with a Citrus Sauce and Green Beans

Taco Salad

Ground Beef & Pea "Pies" (rice paper mixed with tapioca flour)

Eating Eating Eating and Weighing

Ok...it's February. We have come to the end of that first month where all those New Years Resolutions are dropping off. Are you one of them?

I don't make New Years Resolutions. Why? Cause even I admit I won't keep them! In fact, I know I can't keep anything up 100% for a year. Plus I'm one of those that if I make 1 little mistake then I just give up. Food...oh my. How many people do this with food?

3QD is a lifestyle not a resolution. My family lives this way year round. Yes, we "cheat" sometimes. One day when we move to another planet and have to plant all of our food and there is no offer of "crap" around us then we won't cheat. Until then, we will have our moments. But you know what? I can jump right back into it because it's not a "diet" its our lifestyle. It's how we live our lives. It makes us feel better, healthy, wonderful, energetic. I have friends that work at gyms and they are relieved that the New Years Resolutioners are giving up. They can get back to the norm.

Even my husband, a work out enthusiast, crossfit trainer, & developer of 3QD said that you can't just say "I'm going to work out more." Unless you grew up doing it and its a part of your life you just won't do it. Working out is an addiction for him. Not so much for me. I go to the gym for "me" time, not to work out. It is a little bit of time by myself and I happen to be moving while I'm there. So working out isn't my lifestyle. But eating healthy is. I hate the way I feel the day after I eat wheat. HATE IT! So it makes me not want to again. I wake up wanting to eat healthy so that I will feel good that day and the next. I hope you feel this way too.

Have I taught him nothing?!

My 3 year old made his first purchase today. I am so proud of him but at the same time so upset with myself!

Coming home from school yesterday he kept saying "noodles." I told him we didn't have any and continued home and offered him lunch, which he ate. Today again when I picked him up from school he said "noodles," so I asked if he wanted to go buy some. He proudly exclaimed "yes!" So we went to the Piggly Wiggly, I got him and his sister out of the car and let him walk into the store. We found the soup/pasta aisle and I asked what he wanted. He went right for the Dora the Explorer Spaghetti O's! Well, this was his trip so I wasn't going to tell him no, but I asked him if he was sure that's what he wanted. Again, "YES!" So we walked to the counter and he put the can (ahh...a can!) on the belt then gave the cashier the 3 quarters I gave him to buy it. He took the bag and we walked out of the store.

We came home and he ate those Spaghetti O's like it was something amazing. (His sister kinda liked them too!) After they finished the can they both asked for more. Thankfully they were happy with some grapes and water to go with it. Oh my, such a proud day that my little boy bought something yet I guess we need to practice grocery shopping more often so that he knows that we in fact do not walk down the aisles!

My 99 cents

So this is the ad I keep seeing. My 99 cents at Wendy's. It just drives me crazy!

I know so many people that go to pick up a "cheap" meal at drive through. "But I order from the dollar menu rather than the value meal menu so it must be better." Really? Really?!!!! Let's think about this for a minute. If I talk about two people, myself and my husband. Say we go through and get 2 things of fries, 2 sandwiches, and 2 drinks...at the very least we are spending $6. Let me tell you from experience...that will NOT fill up my husband. In fact, he could eat all 6 of those items and still want something else. Not only would he not be full but he would have taken in tons of toxic food that would drain his energy, add lbs to his body, and make his next workout that much harder.

Let me offer you an alternative. Go buy $3 worth of ground beef and $3 worth of veggies. Seriously, do you know how much food that is? Add some spices to the ground beef and brown it. Throw in the $3 worth of frozen or fresh veggies...doesn't matter what they are...just throw them in. Cook it all together, maybe add a little oil. Now split that in half between two people. Talk about a filling meal! Oh yeah, and because you need something to wash it down go grab a glass of water. Can't stand the water? Fine...buy $2 worth of veggies and $1 worth of water flavoring (i.e. crystal light or better yet green tea bags.) Either way, its a much more filling meal, no guilt, and most likely you'll have seconds for the next night.

So next time you are thinking..."I'll just go cheap tonight"...go home and open your fridge!

$10 Challenge Fail

I had a friend challenge me to clear out my cupboards and only spend $10 a week on the stuff that doesn't store well like milk, fruit, and veggies. Now, I knew from the start that this would be impossible, but I was amazed at how right I was. Just think...many families do this a couple of times a year. They stock up on all sorts of pantry items, things in boxes, pastas, frozen dinners. Then they are able to go an entire month and only go out once a week for some milk and fruit while they empty their pantries. Does that seem odd to you?

I HOPE SO!!!!

I was given this challenge and immediately made a list of what was in my pantry, fridge, and freezer. The sad part is that I made this list right after our holiday company left. So I actually had things in my pantry that I NEVER would, like pancake mix and things to make holiday cookies. But even with those few items, I could barely go one week. Why???

Because my kitchen is always filled with fresh food. I NEVER have anything other than a little cereal for the kids (rice cereal that is), beans, rice, and almond flour in my pantry. Everything else I buy has to be refrigerated or frozen. I buy meat from a local butcher that comes frozen so I throw it in the freezer. I buy frozen berries and veggies. I buy some natural peanut butter, apples, oranges, and a little bit of heavy creme that go in the fridge. Other than that, I got nothin! This is how we eat. And because we eat like this, I can't "stock pile" food. It would go bad...even in the fridge. So I buy week to week on a regular basis. And when I took pictures people were amazed that I had so little.

So how badly did I fail? Well we had a guest the first week so I spend $15 on chili ingredients, snacks, and drinks. Week two I spent $20 on fruit, eggs, and veggies. Week 3...well I'll be out of meat, veggies, and fruit so unless we're going to fill our tummies with nothing but water...which would probably be ok for a week to be honest but not very pleasant...I have to do my usual weekly run. A box of meat that will last us a couple weeks, some veggies, eggs, cheese, and fruit. That will be my regular trip. But it will cost way more than $10.

Sorry friend, I have failed the challenge...but I've never been more happy about failing a challenge!