grat-IT-ude

The month of November is the month of gratitude.  What are you grateful for?  Are you grateful for your health, your strength, your ability to love.  What are you grateful for?  the struggles, the triumphs, the doubt, the success.  the health and the strength to be your best self.

I am grateful for so much.

My family 

that i helped create, isn't it amazing that i found someone to love, and to love me too.  and now we have three little girls all because of that love.  being a mom is amazing.  and i'm so grateful that i get to experience all the highs and lows of motherhood.

my body,

 i love it, i  mostly hate it, but i am still grateful for it.  it helps me do all kinds of things.  run, jump, and last month i did a cart wheel and quincy and tenley screamed with pure excitement that their old mama could do a cartwheel.

i get to carry my baby with my two hands, i get to cook and clean.  i get to love and wrap my arms around my family as much as i want!

this body of mine, most days i'd like to turn it in for a new better upgraded model, but i am still grateful its mine, and works pretty well for the most part.

my mind.

  the mind is a powerful thing.  it can either help us achieve great things, or it can set us back and keep us in the dark dis pare of defeat.

my God.  my religion. 

i am proud to say i am a daughter of God.

that i belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

that i know my savior, that He loves me, that He cares for me and 

above all, that He hears and answers my prayers.

take some time today to remember what you are grateful for, it can be all the little things like my kitchen aid or mini van.  or the big things like your best friend, you kids, your heartache and you joys.  take a time for gratitude because you never know when you might not have what you really love.

Green Smoothie Challenge!

Drink just one green smoothie a day for the month of December and you could win!  Its that just that easy

Go HERE to register!

Quick Butt and Thigh workout.

10-Minute Workout

For this circuit, do four solid minutes of ab exercises, rest for 90 seconds, and then do four MORE solid minutes. Make sure to transition quickly into each exercise and give it your best! Most of these exercises can be done either on a yoga mat, or if you don’t have one at the office, on carpet.

One minute each:

• Bicycle crunch
• Back extension (a.k.a. Supermans)
• Heels to heaven
• Plank
• 90-second break
• Leg raises
• Side plank hip drops
• Pick pockets
• Plank-to-pushup

If you’re using your time wisely and cranking out these exercises at your best effort, you can rest easy knowing that you did all you could on a busy day.

Raw Coconut Protein Balls

Raw Coconut Protein Balls 

The twins and I made these treats the other day, and it was so easy and so fun.  My husband came home and said, "why did you put coconut on the meat balls!"  I laughed and said they do look like meatballs, but instead of all the oil and fat, they are healthy, all natural plant based protein balls!  I love them, the kids think they are good.  Tenley said, " they are good, but kinda thick."  and that is exactly right. So one night when you are craving something sweet grab the recipe and have the kids help you make this exciting new treats!  I'm ecstatic because of all the hidden nutrients in each bit!  7000mg Omega 3's, 15grams of protein, healthy fat, and chocolate all rolled into a sweet ball covered with coconut.  You know you want one!!!  We doubled the recipe so we could enjoy them for longer.

Raw Coconut Protein Balls

These wonderful gems are packed with protein and Omega’s.

They are raw, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and sugar-free.

And are also extremely yummy!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 scoop GSGlife vanilla protein powder

1 tablespoon sunflower seed butter

2 tablespoons coconut milk

2 tablespoons raw, organic, sprouted, ground GSGLife flaxseed

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

Instructions: combine all ingredients in a bowl–EXCLUDING  the unsweetened shredded coconut. Line a tray with wax paper. Form the ingredients into little balls. Roll each ball in the unsweetened shredded coconut. Add the balls to the tray, then put into the freezer for 30 minutes to form. Makes 4  balls.

Some of you asked how many calories or weight watchers points.  this is my best estimate each ball: cal:112 fat:7 fiber:3 protein:8 carb:7 points plus: 3

Order GSGLife products at www.mygsglife.com/sisters/   or www.gsglife.com (use id #1039)

*NOTE: GSGLife products are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, raw and, USDA certified organic.

*The GSGLife flax is also Sprouted, which increases the nutritional content of the flax.

Recipe courtesy of Kristie Rosser.

Healthy and Delicious Mexican Sweet Potato Burritos

If you know my family, you know we all LOVE mexican food!  When ever i go home to visit we always stop by Los Hermanos or Joe Banditios!  I want my mexican food, but i don't want all the fat and yuck that goes with it!  Sunday we had the missionaries over from our Church and they loved it! my husband who always wants to know what he is eating before he will give it a try, told me to add it to the weekly menu!  the kids didn't like the kidney beans and picked those out, but really liked as well.  I loved it, and can't wait for some more!!

it was my first time trying this recipe, but i was able to make it all from start to finish in 20min and then it baked in 10min which gave me time to clean up.  the best part of this recipe is that most of the ingredients were in my pantry!

Ingredients

Sweet Potato Bean Burritos

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 onion chopped

2 tsp chopped garlic

6 Cups kidney beans or your favorite beans. (rinse thoroughly if canned)  I used 1 can kidney, 1 can black, 1 can pinto just because that is what I had in the cupboard.

2 Cups water

3 Tbsp chili powder

2 tsp ground gumin

4 tsp prepared mustard (i questioned adding this, but did it, and everything turned out great)

pinch of cayenne pepper, or to taste

3 Tbsp bragg liquid aminos

4 C cooked sweet potatoes

12 (10") whole wheat flax tortillas (or your favorite tortillas)

Directions

Preheat oven 350 degrees.  Heat oil in medium skillet and saute chopped onion and garlic until soft.  Rinse beans if needed place in mixing bowl and mix. (I used my kitchenaid and just blended)  add in cooked sweet potatoes.  I cook my potatoes in the microwave to save time and to not have the oven on all day in the heat of Texas.  To cook in the microwave wash potatoes well cut in half and place on microwave safe plate.  put 1/4 c water on the plate and cover the potatoes with a microwave save bowl.  this will make it so it steams the potatoes.  Cook until tender with a fork.  I cook for 4 min and then rotate ***warning the plate and bowl will be VERY HOT*** so when you take it out of the microwave use an oven mitt.  While mixing the beans and sweet potatoes together gradually add in water.

Turn of stove and add onions and garlic to the bean/potato mixture.  Add in all remaining ingredients: chili powder, cumin, mustard, cayenne pepper, and Bragg Liquid Aminos.

Divide bean mixture and mashed sweet potatoes evenly among the warm tortillas.  Top with chees, fold up burrito style, and pace on a baking sheet.  Bake for 12min. and then serve.  Makes 12 burritos.

**Can be frozen for later use. 

 bean and sweet potato mixture

 final product

we had 4 adults and 2 toddlers but only had 3 left they were that good!

**recipe courtesy www.mygsglife.com/sisters Greensmoothiegirl Reader's Favorite recipes Vol 2. pg 26.

I'm a GREEN SMOOTHIE GIRL instructor!!!!

GREEN SMOOTHIE GIRL!!

I am so excited to announce that I have become a green smoothie girl instructor!!  And so have all of my sisters!  We are on a cursade to teach the world about how to eat whole foods in a quick and easy way!  So we are renaming the blog Green Smoothie Sisters as you can tell!

Have you ever heard of the green smoothie girl??  Check her website out and read her full story, she is amazing, and is changing the world by teaching how to eat a more plant based diet.  I love that when Robyn "the green smoothie girl" a busy mom of 4 faced auto-immune disease, and 1yr old was diagnosed with failure to thrive she took action and changed her life dramatically just by changing her eating habits!  She simply started to drink green smoothies, then she blogged about it, lost 70lbs, then she quickly got 150,000 hits a day on her blog, and the story continues, with over 14 books, 2.5 million views ...now she has created her own plant based nutrition products!  GSGLife was created!  A great tasting protein powder (and believe me its DE-LISH-OUS!)  Flax seed with over 700 times the amount of Omega 3's because its sprouted.  Drink add in's that have 9-12 servings of fruits and veggies, and so much more!  As a fitness instructor, busy mom, foodie, vegetarian, suffer from auto-immune disease, thyroid problems, love of teaching....and much more, I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to start teaching "how to make a green smoothie!"  And neither could my sisters!  It's that simple, and to some of us who have been doing green smoothies for years, say, "you actually teach that?"  YES! YES! We do! and we love it.  People need the information and tools to start changing their lives!  Follow me along as we Host classes on green smoothies and teach, heal, and have fun!  If you would like any information about this opportunity leave me a comment and we will get in touch with you!  Also follow our upcoming events on the side bar to know where we will be next!

My Favorite Fall Green Smoothie

1 cup water

1/2 cup pineapple juice

*you don’t have to use pineapple juice, but the smell and flavor remind me of summer and warmer days, plus I saved the juice from the pineapple that I had drained for my quinoa and pineapple salad.

2 handfuls spinach

1/2 cup strawberries, washed, with green top intact

1/2 banana

1 scoop GSGLife vanilla protein

1 tablespoon GSGLife sprouted flax

Add ice if you desire.

Add all ingredients to blender and liquefy until smooth. Add more water if needed for desired consistency.

Like my facebook page for more wellness tips and goodies: https://www.facebook.com/carlymortensen.1

Order GSGLife and click SHOP.

*NOTE: GSGLife products are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, raw and,USDA certified organic.

*The GSGLife flax is also Sprouted, which increases the nutritional content of the flax by up to 700%!

**Recipe courtesy Kristie Rosser