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Hey everyone!  Hope you're having a good week.  These last 2 days have blended together pretty quick, so I have a double recap for your this stormy (NJ) Thursday morning.

Tuesday Recap:

6:45-7:15am:  Dance/weights/1 minute plank/'booty blast'

8:00am:  Hot Lemon Water

9:30am:  All natural cafe mocha

To this little coffee, chocolate & honey mix...I should also mention that cocoa powder & honey are known fat blasters.  Win/winJ

10:00am:  Breakfast- Banana Oatmeal with sunflower butter

12:30pm:  Lunch- Chicken burger with red onion & 1/2 avocado 

I guess the oatmeal really kept me full, because I was held over until dinner time with no snacks.  A true miracle unto itselfJ

6:00pm:  Dinner- Artichoke  Pasta with diced tomatoes

This dinner is so absurdly easy that by the time everything was simmering in the pan & the pasta boiling away, I had managed to clean up the entire kitchen and all of the dishes (besides the pots, obv!)

The sauce is an easy simmer of garlic, green onions and 1 can of diced tomatoes & artichoke hearts.  While that simmers for 8 minutes, your pasta cooks away nearby for 7 minutes...

In the last 30 seconds, you swirl in 1/4 cup of half & half (fat free, in available) and 1/4 cup chicken broth.

Meanwhile, drain your pasta and add in 1/2 cup of grated cheese before tossing in the artichoke sauce... 

And Wallah!  How easy is that?  And you'd be AMAZED how good just a few simple ingredients tossed together can make such a great meal. 

And BONUS was that even though I CLAIMED I was headed to the grocery store this week, I still have yet to set a foot in there and made all of this with pantry staples.  So raid your cupboards and make this one tonight! J

Wednesday Recap:

8:00am:  Hot Lemon Water

9:00am:  Breakfast- Flax seed & almond pancake 

So I tried to get all fancy yesterday and swap out the sugar & MOST of the egg in this pancake recipe with a mashed banana.  It was all fun & games until it STUCK to the pan again (much like my 'diva pancake'!)  I was able to glue it together a bit with some peanut butter, but not the prettiest pancake to say the leastJ

10:30-11:45am:  Power Yoga class

12:30pm:  Lunch- Pizza Kitchen
Yesterday was JUST. TOO. GORGEOUS to stay cooped up inside for lunch.  The temperature was a perfect high 70's, no humidity, light breeze and perfect blue skies...

So the afternoon just called for a pizza out on the Pizza Kitchen patio... 

Margarita pizza this time...and I'm not even going to cop to how many slices I had.  Let's just say there was NO MORE EATING for the rest of the day after this 'little' lunch! J

But it was just too perfect of a day not to get out and enjoy itJ 

6:00-7:00pm:  Body Jam Class

And like I said, no more food was had after that pizzaJ  But I do have some other 'kitchen news' to share!  I finally got a replacement blender after my beloved Cuisinart spent 2 months both smelling like fire when it was turned on for more than 30 seconds (joy) AND spitting out black soot from the bottom (double joy)  At least I can say she was WELL USED!

And thanks to a sale AND a 30% off coupon from Kohl's, I was able to get an UP-GRADE!! 

Now we're talkin some SERIOUS smoothie business.  Can't wait to start putting this to use TODAY!  Doesn't she look intimidating??

Well, alright.  I should probably get off the computer since it's thundering & lightening all around the house.  This lovely storm system is tearin through NJ today bringing wind, hail and torrential rain.  I guess that's our payback for such a gorgeous day yesterdayJ  Mother nature has to keep the balance too, I guessJ

Have a good Thursday!