tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65958234976144056282012-01-25T08:40:22.833-06:00Clean Eating, Nutrition, and FitnessMaria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.comBlogger2411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-42950120135847573792011-04-27T16:01:00.002-05:002011-04-27T16:01:56.451-05:00

Hello Wordpress! Please visit my new blog at http://www.mariamakesmuffins.com.

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-69718226312424604892011-03-20T08:00:00.003-05:002011-03-20T08:00:09.985-05:00

"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am... Follow me and I'll show you how." Luke 9:23 After copious hours of prayer and soul searching, we have decided to put our house on the market. We absolutely LOVE our home and it saddens us to offer it up to the highest bidder. However, we are very excited about our future prospects. Home Sweet Home

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-72158299011954898832011-03-19T09:30:00.002-05:002011-03-19T09:30:01.294-05:00

After trying Crêpe Suzette for the first time at Pastis I have been wanting to try Bar Suzette in the Chelsea Market... so I did. I enjoyed the Apple and Brie crêpe topped with balsamic, honey and field greens. AMAZING! I loved the perfect balance of the creamy brie and crisp apples. I also picked up a Nutella Strawberry crêpe that was out-of-this-world decadent!!! Who knew that I would

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-27623196050184320572011-03-18T11:00:00.002-05:002011-03-18T11:00:04.427-05:00

One rainy afternoon Matthew and I ventured to the Chelsea Market in search of an adventure. We found green juice (greens, ginger, lemon, pineapple). A delicious sticker. A post workout shake to-go (banana, cashew milk, carob). And Anthropologie. If I had unlimited money to spend, I would have purchased one of each apron. I just love aprons! Look at these cute notepads! Dinner

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-7332506747489133692011-03-17T08:00:00.003-05:002011-03-17T08:00:05.457-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Matthew did a little jig this morning in honor of all of the Irish ladies out there. ------------ NYC is known for its food. Naturally, we have spent a lot of our time researching restaurants and eating. Here are some noteworthy restaurants that we have visited so far. Spice MarketWe ate dinner at the Spice Market our first day in Manhattan. It was cold and rainy and

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-63988773064982214762011-03-16T10:30:00.002-05:002011-03-16T10:30:02.506-05:00

The Chelsea Market is 2 blocks from our hotel and boasts a plethora of clean and tasty dinning options. So, naturally we have spent a lot of time eating through the Market and a couple of the restaurants that I highlighted in my NYC restaurant review post call the Chelsea Market home. Matthew and I among the produce at the Manhattan Fruit Exchange Walking through the market, Eleni's Cupcakes

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-83351052475315257312011-03-15T08:00:00.003-05:002011-03-15T08:00:00.491-05:00

Almost every morning we eat breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien. The service is terrible, but the food and espresso are organic and simple - just the way we like it. Allan and I tend to fall into ruts. It's in our nature. We are creatures of habit. When something works we just go with it. Le Pain Quotidien (which I have a difficult time pronouncing, so I just call it "Le Pan") is  conveniently

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-13820016780546479312011-03-14T08:51:00.004-05:002011-03-14T15:02:40.232-05:00

... and I could (not) walk 500 more. On Saturday, we walked from our hotel (at 13th Street) straight north to the Theatre District and Times Square. Through the southern portion of Central Park, where we sat on a bench and dined on eats from Pump Energy Food. On to Park and Madison Ave's in the Upper East Side to the Guggenheim Museum (89th Street). Back through the northern

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-18037018105588038982011-03-11T08:07:00.001-06:002011-03-11T08:09:32.657-06:00

Growing up I had several Catholic friends who would give something up for lent. We were Lutheran, so my parents never asked us to go without. However, for the past few years I have considered giving something up for Lent, but never made the pledge to follow through. However, now that we have a baby, I feel like it would be a good lesson to instill in our youngling. But the real question is

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-8916934354569116602011-03-10T09:41:00.002-06:002011-03-10T09:42:21.359-06:00

Hello strangers! Matthew and I accompanied Allan on his business trip to NYC. He is here for an Über fancy Target photo shoot while Matthew and I are working from the hotel and site seeing. Before leaving Minneapolis last week, I stocked up on clean goodies at Trader Joe's for the plane and hotel room, because the closest Whole Foods is 1 mile away and I knew that I wouldn't have time to run

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-42384259812380577522011-01-03T12:21:00.001-06:002011-01-03T12:24:47.034-06:00

Lately my body has been yearning for yoga. The week of Christmas was my "rest week" between Stages 3 and 4 of New Rules of Lifting for Women. I broke out my stash of yoga DVDs, as I usually do on my week off from weightlifting and interval running, and I don't think that there was an unsore muscle in my body! Actually, I think that the DOMS on my week off was worse than it has been since giving

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-39937844083331825402010-12-14T10:32:00.000-06:002010-12-14T10:32:01.831-06:00

Allan created this wonderful video to serve as our Christmas letter this year. I am so proud of it that I wanted to share it with all of you! 2010 // Peters Christmas from Allan Peters on Vimeo. 2010 was a good year for the Peters family. We were blessed with a baby boy, Matthew. Instead of a Christmas letter, this year we decided to make this video since it's so hard to capture the true joy of

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-65141746717778900472010-11-30T12:20:00.000-06:002010-11-30T12:20:37.922-06:00

I have been completely in LOVE with pumpkin lately. The other day I made these lovely pumpkin donuts. AMAZING! We gobbled these up while they were still warm. To clean up the recipe, I subbed the brown sugar for sucanat, butter for coconut butter, nutmeg for pumpkin pie spice and white flour for white whole wheat flour. I accidentally forgot the buttermilk on the countertop, so it didn't

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-40542141017016326012010-10-26T15:43:00.000-05:002010-10-26T15:43:41.017-05:00

A perfectly crisped waffle covered in strawberries and a light drizzle of pure maple syrup For the last few days I have been craving waffles! So, last night I indulged my craving by making whole wheat & oatmeal waffles accompanied by a simple, yet delicious egg bake. Look at all of those nooks and crannies! :) This meal was so delectable that it doubled as my lunch today! Whole Grain

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-484511680587586942010-10-25T10:44:00.001-05:002010-10-25T10:48:27.130-05:00

This morning I woke up to the dreary, damp, gray weather that can be common as Fall transitions to Winter in Minnesota and I was reminded of a beautiful Saturday morning that we spent at the Mill City Farmer's Market this Summer. Unfortunately, this coming weekend marks the end to most of the regular Farmer's Markets in Minnesota. We love attending the Farmer's Market on Saturday and Sunday

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-52113675640655525042010-10-07T11:55:00.000-05:002010-10-07T11:55:16.000-05:00

This weekend Matthew is getting baptized. As you can imagine, we are super excited and cannot wait for the service. Afterwards, we are hosting a lunch/BBQ at our house for 20+ relatives. Here's what is on the clean eating menu (pictures to come early next week): Turkey Burgers Turkey Brats Steak Burgers Bakery Buns Burger toppings: pineapple, avocado, romaine, tomato, red onion, etc. Spinach

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-91895645338139452702010-10-04T14:43:00.000-05:002010-10-04T14:43:54.946-05:00

Most nights I get completely ravenous around 8:30 PM. Usually Allan grabs a bowl of Panda Puffs and organic 1% milk and sometimes I follow suit and grab a bowl of homemade granola. But some nights granola will just not do - all I want is chocolate. However, my desire to loose the rest of the baby weight (13 lbs) is usually much stronger than my desire for chocolate, so I came up with the

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-21848036369175202142010-09-30T14:33:00.000-05:002010-09-30T14:33:13.479-05:00

On Sunday after church, my parents and sister came over to watch the Vikings game, make applesauce, bake apple crisp and eat chili and cornbread.  We peeled, cored and sliced 3 pecks of local MacIntosh, Cortland and Jonathan apples to make two big batches of applesauce and 2 pans of apple crisp. One batch of applesauce was just apples for the apple of my eye to enjoy some day soon. The other

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-84566017259309242402010-09-13T11:27:00.000-05:002010-09-13T11:27:43.330-05:00

In honor of the official start to the Vikings regular season, Matt and I made the following super simple smoothie, which I quickly gobbled up. Can you gobble up a smoothie? Anyways, I sure did. :) Even if you are not a Vikings fan, you will certainly enjoy this beautifully filling smoothie. Purple Pride Smoothie 1/2 c cottage cheese1/2 c milkdash cinnamondash vanilla extract1 tsp maca powder1/

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-68938346832137015922010-09-10T11:23:00.000-05:002010-09-10T11:23:41.737-05:00

Compared to other areas of the country, Minnesota has a relatively short growing season with most crops being available between the months of July and September. During the summer months, we enjoy shopping at local farmer's markets as a family. Fortunately there is an abundance of nearby markets to visit. This past weekend we felt like visiting a small farmer's market that offers a bunch of

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-13465314133805529902010-09-08T11:09:00.000-05:002010-09-08T11:09:40.934-05:00

This past Sunday was my 27th birthday. Matthew, Allan and I spent it at the Great Minnesota Get Together. The Minnesota State Fair is all about the food, animals and people watching. Here are some pics of the food that we enjoyed, the animals that we met and the crowds of people that joined us... Lots of people Pulled Turkey Sandwich Roast Corn on the Cob Enjoying my first beer since last

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-12014058279574706912010-08-23T11:11:00.000-05:002010-08-23T11:11:05.362-05:00

Our family LOVES melon. It seems we always have diced melon in the fridge ready to devour. Usually it's a simple cantaloupe or seedless watermelon; however, recently we tried yellow watermelon - our conclusion was that it was good, but not as yummy as traditional red watermelon. A couple weeks ago I picked up this bad boy at the local Kowalski's... Piel de Sapo Melon Piel de Sapo translated

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-63179991193224316652010-08-12T14:20:00.001-05:002010-08-12T14:20:57.868-05:00

August just so happens to be Eat Local Month. So, in honor of this wonderful occasion Allan and I enjoyed the following delightful salads for supper. Not all of the ingredients were local to MN, but some of the veggies were grown by our friends and in our own backyard. A yummy summer salad This salad was a mixture of baby lettuce, japanese cucumber, orange bell pepper, red onion, baby carrots

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-87569419851984565092010-08-09T20:19:00.002-05:002010-08-10T14:49:43.080-05:00

I am often asked what I did to lose weight successfully. When I answer that the secret to my body transformation is simply clean eating and vigorous exercise I am greeted by three distinct reactions: The honest and inquisitive, What exactly is clean eating?The judgmental and know-it-all, Really? That’s it.The well-intentioned and interested, I would really like to eat clean, but don’t know how

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-16136960299061304332010-08-06T09:51:00.003-05:002010-08-06T09:52:56.910-05:00

Quality pure vanilla extract is a clean eating kitchen staple. I personally use it several times a day. Vanilla extract adds a distinct dimension of flavor to my morning oatmeal, post-workout smoothies, mid-morning greek yogurt, homemade protein bars, the list goes on and on. However, at $7.60 per 4 oz bottle, this fabulous kitchen staple can really put a dent in our clean eating grocery

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-72367210908804929322010-08-03T11:32:00.000-05:002010-08-03T11:32:58.958-05:00

Monday morning Matt woke up with his very first cold and fever. I also woke up feeling under the weather. We toughed it out at daycare and work yesterday, but are laying low at home today. For second breakfast I made the following Cold and Fat Busting smoothie... In the VitaMix went 1 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1/2 banana, a handful of strawberries, spinach, 1/2 an avocado, an orange, water

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-60482826284616674892010-07-27T15:25:00.001-05:002010-07-27T15:35:53.712-05:00

Since having Mister Matt, it feels like our free time is spent washing, drying and folding clothing, blankets and cloth diapers. :) Mister Matt at 5 weeks old In all seriousness, we are really enjoying our time as a family spent feeding, cuddling and learning. We have also found some time in between loads of laundry to attend a few family events including the family reunion of my father's side

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-26665904546446059872010-07-20T16:23:00.001-05:002010-07-20T16:23:51.156-05:00

When summer rolls around I crave giant Farmer's Market salads topped with canned tuna. Romaine and spinach topped with tuna, cucumbers, red peppers and Annie's Light Raspberry Vinaigrette Unfortunately due to the mercury content, I cannot enjoy tuna every day. So, some days I swap out the tuna for canned wild caught salmon, grilled chicken, hummus or slivered almonds. Other days I simply

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-24444278875560204292010-07-10T07:43:00.002-05:002010-07-11T10:11:30.846-05:00

The Farmer's Markets in our area are finally in full swing! Our growing season is significantly shorter than what many of you may experience where you live because I live in the Northern part of the midwest. During the spring months the farmer's markets are filled with produce from Central America (think pineapples, mango, etc.) then as the local crops mature the foreign produce is swapped out

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-32999356069474706662010-07-09T10:30:00.004-05:002010-07-09T10:50:07.986-05:00

Recipe Nut is a newly launched site for storing, organizing and sharing all of your favorite recipes into one common "Recipe Box". According to the site, Recipe Nut is Your Personal Recipe Box... It’s a one-of-kind website that allows you to personally collect and manage all of your recipes, even those you find on other websites. It’s also a community for those who are nuts about food and

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-65828268894236621342010-06-29T12:09:00.002-05:002010-06-29T12:15:43.706-05:00

A few weeks ago I was asked to become a regular contributor to the Wellness Daily blog. I happily accepted the invitation and have since written a couple blog posts that have appeared on the site. I plan to make regular posts about clean eating and am working on a piece that outlines what is clean eating. I will still keep up my blog here, but will also contribute posts to Wellness Daily. So,

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-89364186435759342002010-06-20T23:07:00.000-05:002010-06-20T23:07:15.582-05:00

Matthew Lonnie Peters was born May 29 at 11:31 AM at Woodwinds Hospital. He weighed 8lb 8oz and was 20.75 inches long. I am now three weeks post-partum and am finally starting to feel more like myself. Being a first time mom, I did not know what to expect post-partum and was surprised by the amount of recovery that your body needs to heal after giving birth. Other mothers and my midwife told

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-36180567826347864632010-04-26T11:33:00.001-05:002010-04-26T11:33:36.546-05:00

If you missed Tosca's appearance on Good Morning America this morning, be sure to check out the interview here and her super yummy recipes here. Tosca was warm, vibrant and overall fabulous, as always. She has that je ne sais quoi! Congrats, Tosca, on an amazing interview that truly represents the Eat Clean mission.

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-24646444558396094632010-04-20T14:24:00.001-05:002010-04-20T14:26:14.430-05:00

A lot of people ask me how pregnancy has impacted what I eat - Do I have crazy cravings? Is my appetite insatiable? Do I eat things that I did not pre-pregnancy?  Overall, I have not made any significant changes to my eating habits. Yes, sometimes I do tend to indulge a bit more than I did pre-pregnancy - i.e. chocolate, dessert, fancy brunches, etc. However, I think that has more to do with a

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-5656073242901568832010-04-06T11:41:00.004-05:002010-04-06T11:44:25.658-05:00

The Minnesota winters are so long (Oct-Mar) that by the time April rolls around and the weather starts to get nice (50°-60° daily highs), I long for fresh farmer's market produce, perfectly grilled meats, blooming flowers, green grass, trees with leaves, and warm, sunny summer evenings biking with Allan. It's days like today that bring me back to reality. In typical Minnesota Spring fashion, it

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-69290993218536189162010-04-05T11:43:00.005-05:002010-04-05T11:53:36.969-05:00

During my pregnancy I have been LOVING coconut water! I usually purchase it at the co-op in 34 ounce containers, but was looking for a change so I decided to pick up TWO young thai coconuts and enjoyed every last sip. Coconuts have been generating a TON of buzz lately for their multitude of health benefits, some of which include:Helps with heart disease prevention Contains anti-inflammatory and

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-79777124234296321472010-03-24T16:00:00.000-05:002010-03-24T16:00:19.482-05:00

It's been a long time since I have posted my food intake for the day and figured that today would be a fun day to give you an update on what I have been consuming as a pregnant clean eater! Today was an interesting food day because I am working from home and have choir practice tonight... Pre-breakfast: 1 scoop Amazing Grass Chocolate SuperFood + 1/2 c homemade unsweetened vanilla cashew milk +

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-31669487378859077932010-03-16T16:00:00.000-05:002010-03-16T16:00:40.492-05:00

A close friend of mine (Hi Miss Laura!) told me about the Mrs. May's Trio bars that she picked up at Cosco that tasted yummy, were relatively inexpensive and had a very simple ingredient list. Better yet, the bars are described on their website as being: Vegan, No Trans Fat, No Additives, No Preservatives, No Cholesterol, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Wheat Free, Non-GMO, KosherI was instantly

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-26044126907397129752010-03-09T12:49:00.001-06:002010-03-09T12:51:15.417-06:00

Please take a moment to read the following articles/blog posts. Unfortunately, the general public does not understand that the responsibility of Clean Eating and living in an eco-friendly way is our individual responsibility and the government is NOT looking out for our best interests. Tell me what you think! An Open Letter to Our Children: We're Sorry About School Lunch That Tap Water Is Legal

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-71410835841254354192010-03-02T11:15:00.000-06:002010-03-02T15:42:06.888-06:00

One of the things that I miss most from my pre-pregnancy days, aside from soft cheese, sushi, my lovely body, HIIT, and lifting really heavy, is enjoying a nice glass of organic red wine on Friday nights while making homemade pizza with Allan. Now I drink POM with seltzer, mint and lime while Allan has a beer. However, just because I can’t have alcohol right now doesn’t mean that you aren’t

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-56481340155058469112010-03-01T11:38:00.001-06:002010-03-01T11:41:14.577-06:00

This morning I had my 28 week midwife check-up and everything went very well. The little mister seems very happy and is in a good position for this stage of pregnancy (head down). His heart rate ranged from 138-146 bpm and he was extremely active while I waited for my appointment. I am still measuring a little ahead (29.5 wks); however, this measurement is well within the normal range. My weight

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-5531361522800922372010-02-27T12:49:00.003-06:002010-02-27T12:50:39.302-06:00

Please say a quick prayer for Allan's parents who are in Hawaii right now and facing the expectant tsunami.

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-71553193944237628932010-02-24T17:24:00.000-06:002010-02-24T17:24:40.337-06:00

I know that v-day has come and gone, but I finally downloaded pictures from our camera  and these were too good to not share with you! Also, this was one of the easiest and most enjoyable meals that we have prepared in a long time! It definitely beat going out to eat. Date nights at home are always more romantic! This is the amazing badge that Allan hand drew on the envelope to my card (have I

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-86461908835335434892010-02-22T15:49:00.000-06:002010-02-22T15:49:26.248-06:00

... this Wednesday!!! The homestretch is here. Sorry for my lack of blogging lately. As you can imagine, our lives have been a whirlwind of baby prep lately. Allan jokes that I am full into nesting mode. A month ago, we made the decision to cloth diaper, so I have been working on acquiring our stash from online retailer sales, online clearance outlets, Peapods (a local toy and baby care shop),

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-12127772044124585772010-01-26T11:39:00.000-06:002010-01-26T11:39:39.056-06:00

My friend, Laura, forwarded me the following article entitled This Common Food Ingredient Can Really Mess Up Your Metabolism written by Dr. Mercola. This article solidifies one of the main Clean Eating stances... limit your sugar intake, because it will do nothing positive for your health. Please take a look and let me know what you think. Thanks, Laura!

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-68538681797864600942010-01-20T17:19:00.000-06:002010-01-20T17:19:06.093-06:00

Wednesdays are my busiest day of the week. On a normal day, I work until 3:45 PM and then try to squeeze in a workout and dinner before choir practice at 5:30 PM. Somedays, like today, I am unable to leave work on time and end up sticking around the office until 4:15 PM (or later). On days like today, I am faced with the perplexing conundrum: drive 20 minutes home from the office to only be there

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-20856094090009686402010-01-15T08:40:00.000-06:002010-01-15T08:40:28.628-06:00

... BOY! You read that right, we are expecting a baby boy in May! We are very excited and cannot wait for his arrival. I am still feeling great and have a ton of energy. My midwife says that I am gaining an average amount of weight (14lbs at 21 weeks) and should keep up the prenatal yoga to prepare for delivery, but should also up my cardio to get my heart pumping more often. At my last

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-7976769570109166822010-01-13T11:54:00.000-06:002010-01-13T11:54:10.834-06:00

I cannot believe how long it has been since my last post. I apologize for my absence; however, one of my New Year's resolutions is to be more active on my blog on at least a weekly basis. My holiday sabbatical was extremely eventful and for the most part very enjoyable. Allan and I... Were guests at 4 Christmas celebrations and spent a lot of time with all sides of both of our families.

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-49432077700277702482009-12-18T09:26:00.001-06:002009-12-18T09:26:48.167-06:00

Christmas is upon us... are you ready? Is your tree up and decorated? Do you have your presents purchased and wrapped? Do you have a plan for eating clean yet still being satisfied over the Holidays? If you answered no to any of those questions, what are you waiting for? Christmas is only a week away! As many of you already know, I adore the Christmas season... I look forward to purchasing

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-40717443141610978842009-12-08T13:37:00.005-06:002009-12-08T13:57:13.698-06:00

It is SNOWING here in Minnesota. This is our first REAL snow of the winter and I am VERY excited! I love the SNOW!!! What is it like where you are?As the weather gets colder, I start to crave warm, wholesome foods like OATMEAL. So, when I don't have leftovers in the fridge to take for lunch I make myself a warm, yummy bowl of fluffy egg white oatmeal covered in fruit...Here are some of the

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-8687881996288761342009-12-02T14:29:00.006-06:002009-12-02T15:04:31.337-06:00

I received my copy of the Eat-Clean Diet Recharged yesterday. I cannot wait to read it cover to cover!I spent some time flipping through the pages last night before bed and look what I stumbled upon...Last summer, I was contacted by one of the editors at Robert Kennedy Publishing and was asked if they could feature my story in one of Tosca's upcoming books. I was thrilled to accept and really

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-10031524039382428792009-11-23T21:02:00.004-06:002009-11-23T21:10:44.042-06:00

I received an email today from Amazon letting me know that my pre-ordered copy of Tosca Reno's The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged has been shipped... EARLY! Originally the book was due to be released in late January; however, it is available NOW on Amazon and it's definitely a steal at $13.57, which is 32% less than the retail price.

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-72868242236399151832009-11-11T15:45:00.004-06:002009-11-12T19:46:58.753-06:00

Good Afternoon, Bloggers!I have a very important announcement to make...I am pregnant!!!Baby Peters is due May 19th and I am in my 13th week of pregnancy. I am feeling well and taking good care of myself. In my first trimester, I struggled with all day nausea and fatigue that impacted my day-to-day activities. I also suffered from intense food aversions. As you can imagine these side effects

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-83998266548728448462009-11-02T12:13:00.010-06:002009-11-02T12:47:12.061-06:00

I know that a lot of us are confused about the different versions of sugarcane-based sweeteners that are out there. And for good reason! It seems like every other day another company releases a recommendation on which sweetener is best. Also, the descriptions of each sweetener’s processing can be very cumbersome to decipher. So, the following is the result of some research that I did on the

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-55124665746746350322009-10-20T18:05:00.009-05:002009-10-20T18:58:21.556-05:00

A couple days ago Allan and I were at Kowalski's picking up a couple items that we were running low on like eggs, milk, sausages, etc. A few weeks ago I decided to cut out my beloved morning skim lattes in favor of chai tea lattes and was running low on my Chai Slightly Sweet liquid yumminess. But to my shock and horror Kowalki's was completely out of it! However, sitting right next to where my

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-17123654301747444172009-10-14T11:34:00.004-05:002009-10-14T11:46:40.752-05:00

Last night our good friend, Jamie Paul, stopped over bearing some yummy gifts! With him he had 3 Punch pizza's for supper along with some Lovely Mpls swag. Jamie and Kevin of Lovely Mpls were nice enough to share with us the "Your Hair is Lovely" poster above and the Hope print below that I have been in love with since we visited their studio last winter. Thanks!!! If you are interested in

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-69468864568148846432009-10-12T13:39:00.003-05:002009-10-12T13:50:12.565-05:00

Thank you for your support, thoughts, prayers, and encouragement in the last month and a half. It has really meant a lot to both Allan and me.Allan has been home from the hospital for about a month and is getting stronger every day. His attitude is very positive and he makes progress every day towards a full recovery. Thank the Lord!We thank God daily for saving Allan's life so that he can

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-27057793427161498722009-09-07T06:20:00.000-05:002009-09-07T06:21:05.391-05:00

You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, Say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-20240379393511524992009-09-07T05:42:00.002-05:002009-09-07T05:57:13.814-05:00

Good Morning, Bloggers.Allan's dad Mark, who stayed with him in the hospital last night, just called to give me an update on Allan's condition: he has been stable all night and is still improving. Allan's second surgery to repair the bullet's damage will be some time today based on the emergency surgery schedule. Please keep him your prayers, as he still has a long road ahead of him.If you are

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-60185074511537392932009-09-06T20:10:00.004-05:002009-09-06T20:17:30.664-05:00

Early this morning my husband, Allan, was the victim of a shooting and is in need of your prayers. Please keep him in your thoughts.Allan is currently in stable condition at the Hennepin County Medical Center. The local newstations have been covering the story and I would appreciate it if they would respect our family's privacy in this very difficult time.Thanks.Maria

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-12930605441515287312009-09-02T08:53:00.006-05:002009-09-02T09:57:38.866-05:00

Good Morning, Bloggers! I hope that you are having a wonderful week so far! I know that I have... clean, busy, and filled with activity. ;-)Around our house, we celebrate Birthday Week, not just a Birth Day. So, starting last Sunday, my Birthday Week has begun. Usually Birthday Week would start exactly a week from my Birthday (which is Saturday, the 5th), but this year I opted to have it start a

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-14344865389345403532009-08-31T12:44:00.004-05:002009-08-31T14:24:12.238-05:00

We had the most amazing Rachel Sandwiches using leftover turkey breast that I roasted over the weekend. This time, I used a store bought organic 1,000 island dressing, but the next time that I make this recipe I want to make my own clean dressing to use on the sandwiches. This recipe is definitely a keeper and will show up in my cookbook along with my recipe for 1,000 island dressing.Rachel

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-88198080076056625962009-08-27T07:30:00.001-05:002009-08-27T11:36:02.837-05:00

"God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall.But those who wait upon

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-87898207727313311162009-08-26T20:46:00.001-05:002009-08-26T20:47:35.167-05:00

"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you. I've called your name. You're mine.When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.When you're between a rock and a hard place, it wont be a dead end -Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior."

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-84778759725996036932009-08-25T12:48:00.004-05:002009-08-25T14:01:01.176-05:00

I have been meaning to post a pic of the new Rav4 since we brought it home a couple weeks ago. Here is our Black Beauty at a scenic overlook near Red Wing, MN.I would really like to get back in the habit of posting my daily eats here on my blog. I keep a food journal at home, but it's always nice to have the accountability of sharing my eats here with YOU. I am still eating strict Cooler 2

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-54334211670943566282009-08-23T20:43:00.003-05:002009-08-23T20:49:38.886-05:00

I have to say that I absolutely LOVED this article! I felt that it embodied the point of sustainable, organic, CLEAN eating. Please take a moment to read Getting Real About the High Price of Real Food by Brian Walsh and let me know your thoughts.

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-8707129142884229672009-08-18T08:35:00.003-05:002009-08-18T08:58:44.593-05:00

Our staycation was wonderful! I loved the feeling of waking up every day and knowing that Allan and I could do whatever we wanted! I wish that we could spend every day together hanging out, getting some sun, eating good food and enjoying life’s simple pleasures. It’s silly, but sometimes I look forward to the day that we can retire together. ☺While staycationing I did not do a lot of cooking or

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-44990812910592276442009-08-14T10:18:00.003-05:002009-08-14T10:34:00.533-05:00

Here are some of the yummy things that I have been whipping up in my kitchen lately. All of the following items were quick, simple and wonderfully delicious!Kristen's Holiday Chia Pudding is a yummy cold treat to enjoy as a midday snack or an end of the day dessert. I usually enjoy my Holiday Chia Pudding cold vs. lukewarm, which is how Kristen enjoys her pudding. Make it for yourself and decided

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-72696327170326984652009-08-10T07:56:00.009-05:002009-08-10T09:45:13.723-05:00

The lovely and sweet Miss Linda of Linda Gets Fit was sweet enough to present me with the Honest Scrap Blog Award!!!According to Linda's blog, this is the definition of the Honest Scrap Blog Award..."This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant. This award is about bloggers who post from their heart, who oftentimes put their

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-19385837584039909852009-08-05T12:01:00.002-05:002009-08-05T12:06:00.205-05:00

Recently I was asked the following question by a fellow forum member and thought that the question and my response may be helpful to some of you. If you ever have any questions or want something that I say clarified DO NOT hesitate to just ask! I am here to help you out in any way that I can!!!Question:Hi! I didn't know how to find your posts so I thought I would send my question here. I love

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-2165311428555645282009-07-31T10:26:00.004-05:002009-07-31T10:36:11.177-05:00

Looks like warm, cooked oatmeal, doesn't it?This has been one of my favorite meals lately...Raw oatmeal!What is Raw Oatmeal?Raw oat groats soaked in water overnight in the fridge then placed in the food processor with dates/agave and cinnamon, or applesauce, vanilla, cinnamon and raisins then topped with raw almonds and served cold. Seriously, this stuff is filling and keeps me full for HOURS!!!

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-42930833001067196832009-07-28T20:21:00.004-05:002009-07-28T20:33:26.241-05:00

Good Evening!!!I am still here and eating clean. If you follow me on Twitter, you saw that I am keeping my eats clean and getting in my workouts, but have been BUSY! It's crazy how our life gets completely out of control in the summer and to top it off, I have been working longer, more packed hours at work. So, by the time I get home, workout and get supper on the table I am down for the count!We

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-38194610702468617522009-07-21T13:24:00.003-05:002009-07-21T13:34:18.886-05:00

Last night after work we received a call from the car dealership that the Toyota Rav4 that we ordered a month ago arrived! We picked it up last night in Golden Valley and could not be happier with our decision! I will try to post a pic of the black beauty later on tonight!I'm sorry that I have not posted my eats for a few weeks. I have been staying Cooler 2 strict while integrating some raw foods

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-39768380555073554882009-07-15T12:04:00.005-05:002009-07-15T12:30:31.389-05:00

Hello bloggers!I hope that you had a nice weekend and are off to a great start on the week!!! We had a fun and event-filled weekend. It was one of our first weekends at home this summer and it was nice to be able to enjoy ourselves around Minneapolis instead of constantly being out of town! On Friday, Allan and I kept it low key and enjoyed pizza and a red box. We rented Marley and Me, because we

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-32827761236490721822009-07-10T10:48:00.005-05:002009-07-11T00:17:04.555-05:00

During the summer months, the produce section at the grocery store and the local farmers markets are brimming with interesting produce. I am completely intrigued by unique produce and the Galia melon did NOT disappoint.Out of the varying types of melons in the produce section, I choose the Galia because it was the most fragrant. The smell alone made me want to sink my teeth into it right then and

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-90725441560995442692009-07-09T14:40:00.008-05:002009-07-09T15:07:27.814-05:00

Have you tried Kabocha squash yet? If not, what are you waiting for?I have heard that Kabocha can be a little difficult to come by, but here in Minneapolis, I have seen them in all of the local grocery stores, not just specialty grocers. If you have a difficult time finding one, visit your local Asian market and they will be sure to have one.Kabocha can be enjoyed in a number of ways: baked,

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-59163114269529333962009-07-07T10:22:00.004-05:002009-07-07T10:33:04.212-05:00

This article on sodium nitrites and nitrates comes at no surprise to me. I have avoided cured meats for quite some time now, but I think that it is important to point out, because not many people realize the wide array of foods that are laced with this very toxic ingredient!Eat This...Not That...

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-7525220869623349822009-07-06T09:55:00.002-05:002009-07-06T10:09:45.739-05:00

I hope that you had an amazing long weekend filled with joy, loved ones, and yummy clean eats! Allan and I spent the long weekend at his parent's cabin near Pine River, MN, near the Brainerd Lakes area of MN. We had a great time "roughing it" - the cabin has electricity but no running water, which is always an adjustment for me, as I am quite partial to running water. :)Over the weekend we golfed

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-40643228961988682392009-07-02T14:40:00.004-05:002009-07-02T14:51:31.504-05:00

In the past I have discussed my viewpoint on the health and beauty industry and about ensuring that you are using products that are safe, nontoxic and non-carcinogenic. I found this handy pocket guide to choosing clean health and beauty items. Instead of printing out these guides and having to ensure that they are in my wallet/purse/etc., I visit the websites on my cell phone and download the

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-61980799340682815312009-07-01T08:59:00.004-05:002009-07-01T09:12:54.469-05:00

This is a really interesting article about people who loose a great deal of weight and still see themselves as their heavier self rather than their REAL thin self.Sometimes I feel this way - I am shocked when I look in the mirror and nit-pick at my problem areas. I am working on improving my self image and seeing myself in a realistic light. I am not a fitness model. I don't want to be a fitness

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-14913048264794963512009-06-30T20:55:00.002-05:002009-06-30T21:37:46.743-05:00

Thank you to everyone for the kind words on in regards to my before and after pics from the Competition. It was a little scary posting pictures of myself in a bikini for the world to see! I am really happy with the visible results that I had and the way that my clothes now fit. To celebrate my achievement, I even picked up a couple pairs of size 6 jeans and a skirt!!!On to my summer goals. Yes, I

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-77708491157714281612009-06-26T09:10:00.009-05:002009-06-26T09:53:14.013-05:00

If you have been reading my blog for the last couple months, you already know that I participated in a 12 week competition on the Tosca Reno Eat-Clean Diet forum. For more information on the competition, read this blog post.Here are the goals that I set for myself in this competition and how I did at accomplishing them:Pray for strength, courage, and determination every day - I have been praying

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-54956457982241684712009-06-23T07:11:00.004-05:002009-06-23T08:58:04.826-05:00

I don't know what the weather is like where you live, but today is going to be HOT and HUMID again! We went from rainy barely 60 degree days to a heat index of 105 in less than two weeks. The weather has been so crazy lately, that this morning that the power was out for over an hour.Now that the 12 week competition is finished, I am working on setting some new short term goals. These goals will

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-42816515209392600702009-06-18T16:25:00.003-05:002009-06-18T16:27:30.493-05:00

I just read this post about Operation Beautiful and cannot wait to try it out! Will you join me?On that same note, this post really moved me!

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-85029519612925545992009-06-18T16:08:00.003-05:002009-06-18T16:17:21.278-05:00

Today has been yet another SUPER crazy day! Work has been insane lately and keeping me more than busy.I have been refueling on this devine Quinoa Mango Salad that I made on Monday. This salad was inspired by the Quinoa Mango Vinaigrette salad that I had at the Birchwood Cafe last Saturday.Look at all of that wonderful good-for-you stuff that I crammed in this salad. It is definitely a meal in a

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-68892928169171995292009-06-17T19:36:00.004-05:002009-06-17T19:51:39.864-05:00

After a week off from NROL4W I started up where I left off on Stage 7. I remember Stage 7 being difficult, but not THIS difficult. The circuit style of the workouts is completely different from the other stages in the program and my body is taking a little time to adjust to the pace... I can definitely feel the burn in my muscles while performing the exercises! I thought that I would share with

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-7217956564664870642009-06-15T20:53:00.004-05:002009-06-15T21:11:37.504-05:00

Saturday marked the end of the 12 week competition that I participated in on the Tosca Reno forum. As of last night, all of the contestants' before and after photos are up on the site, feel free to pop over to the forum and check them out. If you are already a member, and have been since April 2009, you can vote for your top 6 contestants (3 for each category). Good luck to everyone!I plan on

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-10514596315421104982009-06-14T15:23:00.004-05:002009-06-14T15:36:48.605-05:00

Yesterday Allan and I ventured out on a 15.6 mile bike ride along the river and to the Birchwood Cafe for lunch where we enjoyed the sun and a very nicely prepared Green meal. Their tagline is "Good Real Food" and it definitely was. I enjoyed half of a turkey salad pesto sandwich, mango quinoa and hibiscus iced tea. Allan had a turkey burger, blue chips & salsa, and a Naked mighty mango smoothie.

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-98038198352169222009-06-09T08:40:00.003-05:002009-06-09T10:42:46.875-05:00

"There is only one success—to be able to spend your life in your own way." —Christopher MorleyIsn’t the gift of choice amazing? I know that, at times, the overabundance of choices can seem overwhelming, but can you imagine living without them? God is so very good!I bring this up, because this week I have chosen to make sacrifices in my diet in order to be

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-70808772319097041612009-06-08T13:23:00.005-05:002009-06-08T13:51:43.913-05:00

Today is Day 3 of Cooler 1 and I am feeling a little light headed, but not that hungry... mostly I have been really thirsty and have not had a difficult time drinking a gallon of distilled water each day. In addition, I am drinking 4 cups of dandelion tea per day. Dandelion tea is a natural detoxifier and diuretic and will help me with shedding water weight before I take my "after" pictures this

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-28015210992401459722009-06-06T16:26:00.003-05:002009-06-06T16:28:56.224-05:00

I am trying to make an effort to update my Twitter status a lot lately, especially this week as I finish up my 12 week competition on Cooler 1. Follow me here on Twitter or check out the Twitter feed in the right side bar of Simply Clean.

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-79300332777799831162009-06-06T14:34:00.003-05:002009-06-06T14:38:02.450-05:00

I found this video here on Lisa Barry's blog and I thought that it was something that I should share with all of you. Sometimes we all just need to hear this message. Have a blessed day!

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-32409272982732322502009-06-05T09:05:00.003-05:002009-06-05T09:10:32.665-05:00

I am approaching the last week of my 12 week competition and will be stocking up on Cooler 1 items today at the grocery store. On Saturday or Sunday of next week I will take after photos and will be on Cooler 1 until the photos are taken! I am also considering purchasing distilled water and Dandelion tea to aid in "muscle popping". I will keep you updated on my progress and things that I am

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-70170835097279431892009-06-05T09:00:00.004-05:002009-06-05T09:05:18.324-05:00

So, I have been doing some research on other workout programs and I think that I have found my new fitness program, drum roll please... the TRX!!!You can even use it during pregnancy.Has anyone used this program before? If so, did you use the home workout bundle or take a class at a gym?

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-8292508564396917792009-06-04T14:40:00.003-05:002009-06-04T14:44:26.654-05:00

Everyone needs to read this Enviroblog post about BPA and Coke. There is some very scary stuff going on in Washington right now. Let's hope that the chemical companies do not win. We, as a country, need to fight for tougher standards and regulations on the food and household/beauty industries to keep toxic chemicals out of our homes. Why is it that Europe is ahead of us on this trend? Why does

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-45980112923920190212009-06-03T20:27:00.001-05:002009-06-03T20:28:49.631-05:00

This is one of the funniest things that I have seen in a long time. Enjoy!

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-31109155835408814432009-06-03T07:25:00.004-05:002009-06-03T12:02:48.954-05:00

Here is a summary of my workouts and eats for the last few days.On Monday, I did another set of Polly's Yoga is Yummy videos, this time I tried yoga for runners and yoga for arms. The yoga was very yummy. I could definitely feel the workout the next day in my shoulders. Thanks, Polly! Polly’s Yoga DVD is now available for preorder – you should check it out! I mailed my pre-order check

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-5377352160031114522009-06-01T06:31:00.005-05:002009-06-01T07:01:22.874-05:00

This last weekend, we went to the Fairmont area of Southern Minnesota to celebrate my cousin’s graduation, observe Memorial Day, and reminisce of my Uncle Lonnie. Both of my parents are from the Fairmont area and we still have several relatives from both sides of the family that still make the area their home. I always love visiting with my family and look forward to every chance that we have to

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-83791187497985296072009-05-29T06:39:00.004-05:002009-05-29T06:57:08.429-05:00

I apologize for my absence the last few weeks, as you already know, I have been very busy with work, family, and the competition that I am in (only 2 weeks left!). However, in my normal "blogging" time I have been searching blogs, the internet, and books for a good resource pertaining to clean pregnancies. I am very interested in learning more about becoming pregnant, how to be clean and active

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6595823497614405628.post-62559469382902312632009-05-28T17:45:00.003-05:002009-05-28T18:11:04.044-05:00

Last Friday, before going to Sioux Falls to see Allan's sister's family, I made almond-walnut butter, as inspired by this post. I also made raw almond butter with coconut oil and cashew cream. I decided to ditch the oatmeal in the morning and this week I have been enjoying my old favorites for breakfast. Allan makes breakfast for me every morning and all I have to do is make my espresso in the

Maria Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07413876851420563010noreply@blogger.com2