The Master's Hammer and Chisel Launch Group

Ahhhh! I am just so excited for the launch of Beachbody's new program, The Master's Hammer and Chisel. I really love my 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme, so I am super pumped to see what the creator Autumn Calabrese has in store for us! She will be joined by Body Beast's Sagi Kalev to bring us a great program for toning and building muscle. I love using Autumn's portion control containers, they keep me in check to make sure I am eating the right stuff to keep my body fueled, healthy and not overeating! They will be part of the program :) :)

Bryan (the hubs) and I will be doing this program together and we Can't wait to get our hands on it!! We will be sitting at our computers with white knuckles on launch day (Dec. 1st)! Here is a result from the test group and OMG how amazing does she look?!?!?!

I have tried two of the workouts and I am seriously stocked!!! They will not disappoint..trust me!! Here is a little sneak peak:

So What's it all About?

The Master's Hammer and Chisel is the expert workout system that delivers breathtaking, body-changing results in as little as 60 days. Trainers Sagi Kalev and Autumn Calabrese are sought-after experts at sculpting spectacular physiques, and they have shelves full of competition prizes to prove it! In The Master's Hammer and Chisel, they share their winning strategies in this breakthrough system of resistance training to shape powerful muscle, shed body fat, and build a ripped, statue-perfect physique. The workouts are 30-40 minutes, so as a busy mom and student that is the perfect about of time!!! 

Equipment

For this program you will need some equipment! You will need a variety of weights, I recommend a few sizes between 5-20 for women and 10-30 for men. Here is a list of what equipment you will need:

• Pull-up bar or Resistance bands with door attachment
• Weight bench or stability ball
• Workout sheets and pen

Optional Equipment

• Beachbody on-demand 
• Water bottle
• Towel 
• Performance Recovery 
• Performance Recharge
• Performance Line Pre Workout Energize  
• Performance Post Workout Recovery Drink
• Performance Line Hydrate
• Performance Line Recharge 

So What are Your Next Steps?

1. I have to be your coach! Click HERE to get all signed up (Free)!
2. Complete the application below so I can learn a little more about you :)
3. To be in this group you must sign up with the Hammer and Chisel challenge pack. This include the 60 day program, nutrition guide, portion control containers, program manual, schedule of workouts,  and Shakeology (more info here). *Price varies and can be discussed* 

So Are YOU READY to jump on this awesome train? Let’s get Hammered and Chiseled together…It’s going to be EPIC! 

Denna :)

Pomegranate Spritzer

Now I may not drink anymore (Read more here if interested) but I still want to help ya all out! Those alcoholic drinks are jam packed with sugar and empty calories! Causing you to eat more food because you feel hungry and those calories add up fast!! Try halving the alcohol and adding some sparking water/soda! Here is one my friends recommend:

Pomegranate Vodka 

Ingredients:

2 cups pomegranate juice, low to no added sugar
1 1/2 cups lemon-flavored sparkling water
1/2 cup berry-flavored vodka or plain vodka
Lemon rind strips (optional)

Preparation:

Combine first 3 ingredients in a pitcher. Pour 1/2 cup into each of 8 ice-filled glasses. Garnish with lemon rind strips, if desired.

Enjoy Responsibly,

Deanna

Healthier Pumpkin Pie

With cinnamon, nutmeg, and pure pumpkin puree, this pumpkin pie is sure to become a Thanksgiving favorite, we made our last night! The boys had sooooo much fun helping in the kitchen :)

PUMPKIN Pie with Whole Wheat Crust

Total Time: 1 hr. 25 min.Prep Time: 15 min.Cooking Time: 1 hr. 10 min.Yield: 9 servings

Ingredients for Pie Crust:

1 cup quick-cooking old-fashioned oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
¼ cup ground raw almonds
1 Tbsp. maple syrup (or raw honey)
¼ tsp. sea salt3 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 Tbsp. water

Ingredients for Pumpkin Pie:

1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
¼ cup maple syrup (or raw honey)
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ tsp. sea salt
⅔ cup evaporated nonfat milk

For Pie Crust:

1. Preheat oven to 425° F.
2. Combine oats, flour, almonds, maple syrup, and salt in a medium mixing bowl; mix well.
3. Add oil to oat mixture; mix well. If needed, add water to hold mixture together.
4. Press into a 9-inch pie pan. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until light brown.

For Pie:

1. Reduce oven temperature to 350° F.
2. Combine pumpkin, eggs, vanilla, and maple syrup in a medium bowl; mix well.
3. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and milk; mix until just blended.
4. Pour pumpkin mixture into prepared pie crust. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Enjoy,

Deanna

Holiday Survival 101

It's the holiday season (Yah)!!! That means treats, parties, drinks, and an insane amount of self control not to gain that average 7-10 pounds!!! Here are some tips to help you stay on track a little during the Holiday season! Even if you choose just one...it will help!! Which are you going to try and follow? 

1. 

Go for the light, skinless turkey meat as opposed to the dark meat! The dark meat is tempting but has way more fat and calories. We are talking a difference of 10g of fat per serving difference (wholly molley)!

2. 

Avoided the canned cranberry sauce and GO for cranberry relish :) The canned stuff has a TON of added sugar and preservatives. When you make your own relish you can sweeten it naturally with non-concentrate pineapple or orange juices (or fresh squeezed)! 

3. 

Instead of that bag-o-potaote chips, go for some colorful veggies and hummus! So tasty, will keep you full, and will be half the calories! Those scoops of dip and easily add up to about the same amount of calories you should consume in one meal (Say what?)! 

4. 

Desserts are a MUST! But opt for healthier options like chocolate covered fruit or make your own healthier version of that pumpkin pie :) Those sugar pack cookies can cause your blood sugar to spike and they have a ton of calories! A little dark chocolate is good for ya...and fruit, can't go wring there! Pumpkin pie recipe HERE!

5.

Most alcoholic drinks are packed full of sugar and empty calories. They also make us more hungry so  you consume more food along with all that sugar (eeek)! So maybe try watering down that drink with some sparkling water or soda! Fun recipe HERE!

Enjoy your holiday, just remember it's all about moderation and feeling good :) 

Happy Holidays,

Deanna

Sunday Farmers Market

Okay I know this sounds totally dorky but I think farmers markets are kind of magical! I absolutely love going!! People are always so nice, the food is divine, and you get to talk to so many different kinds of people. 

It was a chilly rainy day today and we had a blast! It was so much fun watching the boys run around and explore all the fruits and veggies. Listening to them ask question and taste different things was so much fun! Logan was asking all about how things were made. He wanted to know all the different kids of sprouts and then he picked out which he wanted!

As you can see from the pictures...their were little hands all over ;) Another thing I love is all the colors. I mean really, all the deep Fall and Winter colors are amazing. 

We ended up getting kale, sprouts, carrots, soup, and a couple bottles of spearmint  and peppermint oil. With all of that I think our total for the day was 36$ (19$ of that being the oil).

Overall, I love going as a family outing! I love that the boys get to be a little closer to where their food comes from. They are also surrounded by (mostly) delicious healthy foods and people that also enjoy all the clean foods! Also anything that is outdoors, is a plus fro this too little monkeys!  

Have you ever visited a farmers market? What did you think?

Remember to show up in all you do today,

Deanna 

Early Morning Rising

I have not always been an advocate of waking up early. To be honest I was always the sleep till noon girl all through college (except for the mornings I had class :)). Even after having both my boys I would sleep until I absolutely had to get up. Now with a new baby in the house you should sleep every second you get. However, as I started school and my boys are a little older, I was just always feeling rushed, which in turn made the boys feel rushed. You know what happens when you try and rush a 2 and 4 year old...like poking the bear (on crack)!

About a year ago I kept seeing all these posts about getting up early and this idea of "Me time"! Now at first I remember thinking, "who in their right mind would ever do that?" Then after knowing I needed to make more time for my school work, I decided to give this early morning (crazy person) idea a try. Now for me this was a slow process. I started by pushing my alarm back 15 minutes and I increased that every few days until I was getting up between 5-5:30. Am I perfect every day? Nope. Is it still a struggle to open my eyes? Yes! But I place my phone on the other side of my nightstand, I set two alarms, and as I reach for my phone and my feet hit the floor, I say out loud, "I am up, I am up, I am up"! 

Here are the 5 benefits I have noticed to getting up early:

1. I am more likely to get my workout in if I get up earlier, which in turns gives me more energy and confidence for my day!

2. "Me time"! There really is something to be said about the stillness and quiet that comes from being present in the early mornings. Before the scamper of little feet or the loudness that is my husband making coffee in the morning (incomplete sentence)! It's focused time for me to think, work, read, paint, or whatever it is that sets your heart on fire and gets you a little closer to your goals. 

3. The most successful people in the world get up early! They say it increases their productivity. So far I would have to say I have noticed the same thing.

4. You're more likely to eat breakfast! So many people skip breakfast because they, "run out of time". Getting up early allows you time to make a healthy breakfast and get your body ready for a productive and happy day. By eating breakfast you will also increase your energy level. 

5. Excited to greet my boys. I have noticed on the mornings that I am up before them, things just go more smoothly. I am excited to see them and we snuggle. I feel like when they wake me up, I am more irritable and not as present. I feel like when I am up early and start my day off right it is contagious and they follow suit on that happy morning train! 

Have courage and be kind today and don't forget to show up in all that you do,

Deanna

Kale, Smoked Salmon, and Egg Salad

We went to Trader Jo's today and that always spells a cart full of delish goodies for the week. One of my top picks definitely being smoked salmon! Have you had it before? 

I decided to invent a fun salad with all of our left over veggies for the week and it did NOT disappoint! Hope you enjoy :)

Kale, Smoked Salmon, and Egg Salad

Ingredients

- Smoked Salmon ( 6 oz )

- Kale ( 2 cups)

- Tomatoes  ( I used 2)

- Avocado (I used 1)

- Hard boiled eggs (I used 2)

- Coconut oil (for sautéing the Kale)

Directions

1.  Tear up smoked salmon and place in salad bowl.

2.  Saute Kale with coconut oil and 2 Tbs. of water. Sauté for about 3-5 minutes (you don't want it too   limp).

3.  Cut up tomatoes and avocados into chunks and add to a salad bowl.

4.  Crack, peel, and cut up hard boiled eggs

5.  Add all remaining ingredients to the salad bowl and mix together. 

* I did not add dressing but you could add a vinaigrette or another dressing of your choosing!

* For anyone doing the 21 Day Fix this would be (Green, Red, teaspoon, and orange if you added dressing)!

Enjoy,

Deanna :)

Homemade Granola

I love granola!!! I like to add it to my yogurt or simply by itself with some skim milk!!! One thing I noticed on my journey to eat clean was that a lot of the granola you buy from the store is packed full of sugar!!!! I was actually pretty surprised. So I try and make my own most weeks, or I like to pick some up from the bulk section of Sprouts. 

Here is a nummy one to try out!! You can add in whatever delicious things you would like (dark chocolate chips, cranberries, bananas, any kind of nut or seed)!!

Ingredients:

- 4 cups rolled oats (I love Trader Jo's Brand, comes in a big blue bag)

- 1/3 cup honey

- 1 Tbsp melted coconut oil

- pinch of salt

- tsp vanilla 

- 1 egg white, beaten until frothy

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F

2. Grease or line 2 cookie sheets

3. Mix honey, oil, salt, and vanilla in a medium pot until combined.

4. Stir in oats and mix until the oats are all coated.

5. Spread out on baking sheets

6. Bake for 20-30 minutes watching for granola is golden, crunchy, and not to sticky when you touch it. 

7. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container. Store at room temperature!! 

Enjoy,

Deanna

Healthier Mac & Cheese with Kale

 The little dudes in my house are obsessed with Mac & Cheese (mac-a-noonies as they like to say it)! For real though these two will ask for Mac & Cheese for breakfast/lunch/dinner! I was excited to find a healthier option and the boys really liked it! They couldn't believe I added yogurt! I originally got this recipe from http://cookingalamel.com/ and I tweaked it some to fit what I had! 

Ingredients:

- 8 oz. whole wheat elbow macaroni 

- 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

- 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt (I used Fage from Costco) 

- 1.5 cup Kale 

- 1/4 tsp. onion powder

- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

- salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook macaroni according to box description. 

2. Place Kale in the bottom of a strainer. Pour pasta over the kale to drain the water and blanch the kale. Save 1/2 cup of pasta water. 

3. Return pasta and kale to the pot.

4. Add 1/4 cup pasta water. Stir in remaining ingredients and add remaining pasta water as needed for creaminess.  

5. Serve right away  (it will get clumpy if it sits out)!!!

 Enjoy

Deanna

FIXATE Chocolate Chip Cookies

So we woke up this morning with the baking itch! The boys choose cookies, so we went to our favorite 21 Day Approved Fixate cookbook. So we had some friends over and made some chocolate chip cookies and it was a blast :)

Serving size: 1 cookie; 1.5 yellow containers; makes 26 cookies

Ingredients:

-  3 cups almond flour

- 1 tsp. baking soda

- 1/4 tsp. sea salt

- 1/4 cup extra-virgin organic coconut oil, melted

- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup

- 1 large egg

- 2 egg whites

- 1 tsp. vanilla extract

- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees

2. Spray pan or line the sheets with parchment paper (I use a baking stone, so I don't need to spray it)

3. Combine almond flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; mix well. Set aside.

4. Beat oil and maple syrup in a large mixing bowl until creamy (approximatly 4-5 minutes).

5. Add egg, egg whites, and extract: beat for an additional 2 minutes.

6. Add almond flour mixture to egg mixture; mix until blended.

7. Add chocolate chips; mix until just blended.

8. Drop rounded Tbsp. on prepared baking sheet. Flatten cookies with a spatula. 

9. Bake 14-16 minutes, or until golden brown. 

10. Store in airtight container!

I hope you have as much fun as we did ;)

Deanna

Vegetarian Chili

Made some delicious Chili today! It recipe is not spicy, this girl does not do spicy! You can also easily substitute out the vegetarian hamburger for hamburger. I have definitely been enjoying the scrumptious smell today! I hope you enjoy as much as we do....

 Serves 6

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb. vegetarian hamburger  
• 1 cup diced onion
• 2 chopped green pepper 
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• Pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, undrained
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• ½ cup vegetable broth
• 1.5 cup uncooked whole wheat short pasta such as rotini or macaroni 

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the crockpot. Stir to mix it together. 
2. Cover with lid, and cook on low heat setting for 4 hours. After 4 hours, add pasta to slow cooker and stir until all pasta is submerged in liquid; turn heat to high and cook for 15 – 20 minutes or until pasta is al dente. 

All three dudes in this house went back for seconds (me included)!

* If you are using meat Brow before mixing in the crockpot.

* 21 Day Fixers: 1 Purple, 1 green, teaspoon, 1 red per serving. 

Enjoy,

Deanna

Thankful Fun for the Whole Family

Bryan and I were trying to come up with some fun family gratitude ideas to do with the boys! I wanted to share them incase you wanted to implement in your home :)

So all year I am all about thankfulls (love my made up word)! We talk about your highs and lows at dinner and I have this, "tell me somthin good" song that I sing to the boys and then they tell me something! I have always loved it! 

Here are the two holiday ideas that we are doing in the O'Halloran house! Comment below if you are going to be trying one out and I would love to hear how it goes ;)

1. I bought this Postal Wrapping Paper off of Amazon and we are going to use it as our tablecloth for Thanksgiving (and probably a couple days after)! I am going to lay out markers and write the everyones names above their plates! The boys can doodle all day (especially while mommy is glued to the Thanksgiving day parade...My favorite;)) and then that night before we eat we will write down and share our three thankfulls! Just thinking about it, I get the warm and fuzzes. 

2. A grateful jar! This girl LOVES mason jars, so I am always looking for fun ideas, so that I get to use them. Super simple too...just print off a cute tag from Pinterest, add some pretty ribbon, tie, and done!!! I just cut up some computer paper and set it on the table. I told the boys to tell us when they think of something they are thankful for. So far I have gotten: mommy (heart melts), daddy (melt again), cars, Paw Patrol, riding bikes outside, cookies, mac & cheese, dinner, hummus, yogurt, school... It's so fun to hear what they say and they like hearing ours as well.

Enjoy your family,

Deanna

Why Should I Read Personal Development?

A lot of people are curious as to where I come up with my motivation, why I am so positive, how I can remain so consistent, how I got my business started, how I manage my time, and many of the other positive attributes people see in me…..and I give ALL of that credit to personal development and self help books.

Personal development has been a game changer for me. Not only in my business but also as a wife, mom, friend, and individual. I seriously look at the world in a whole new way and there is no way I am going back!!! I used to read all kids of books, mostly romance novels (don't judge), but now I really don't have time! Between being a PhD student, a wife, mom, and business owner, I have to make choices on what to cut. When you say yes to something, you have to say no to something else. I chose to say yes to professional development and no to romance novels.

If you are someone going through a transition, someone stuck in a rut, someone having relationship trouble, wanting to parent better, or someone who thinks they are happy, sad, mad, or unhappy...personal development is for you! There is always room to improve and why not focus on being the best version of yourself?

Do yourself a MAJOR service and get your nose into personal development books. They have changed my life and are continuing to help me become even MORE of a super-achiever. When do I have time? I read before bed and I keep and pen or highlighter near by so I can write down ideas that come to me or things I found extra inspiring. Some people on my team read in the morning because it sets their positive intention for the day and motivates them! Doesn't matter when you do, just carve out the time and make it happen. 

So think of something you want to work on, go read the backs of some books and chose one, or choose one from my list. BUT whatever you do get your nose into some personal development books!!!!

Feel free to reach out to me if you need help finding a book! I may not know but I would love the chance to help.

5 Reasons to Workout With Your Partner

So Bryan and I both started our transformations at the same time! It was about two years ago and I was really down and uncomfortable in my own skin after having our two beautiful boys. Bryan says (he is here too!!) he wanted to feel more comfortable, look better in his clothes, and wanted typical life tasks to be easier. 

So we made a commitment to each other that we would reach for our goals together and we never looked back. Do we workout together everyday? Nope. Sometimes our schedules don't allow for that. However, we really try and make it a priority to workout together a few times a week. 

Here are our 5 reasons to get sweaty together:

1. Accountability - Not going to lie some nights all I want to do is sit my bootay on the couch and eat Oreos. However, living with your workout partner holds you accountable! He is there to say, "Let's do this" or "na let's not go binge eat Oreos tonight"! 

2. Spend time together - we are busy and working out is non-negotiable so why not do it together and get just a little more time to hang out, work toward a common goal, and have some laughs. 

3. Endorphins - Exercise induces the symptoms of physiological arousal—sweaty hands, a racing pulse, shortness of breath. The results? A boost of attractiveness to your partner.

4. Helps you feel more connected to your partner - Sometimes it can feel awkward or embarrassing to workout with your partner. Let's face it, that is a vulnerable time, especially if you are just starting. By working out with your partner, you start to feel more confident in yourself and you begin to eliminate that vulnerability between the two of you. Plus you start to feel more comfortable in that sports bra and short shorts and confidence is sexy ;)

5. Sense of accomplishment - My husband is my biggest cheerleader and I like to think I am his. We push each other to do that last 10 seconds in a plank position or just one more push up! We like to spike the encouragement with some butt slapping, song singing, or loud clapping when the going gets tough! I feel like I can accomplish a lot more with this guy by my side. Tackling our workouts together helps boost our confidence to handle whatever life throws at us!!!

I hope this motivated you to get sweaty with your partner! If you did I would love to know!! Comment below that you tried a workout with your partner and what you thought!!

Thanks for stoping by,

Deanna