Honey Wheat Bread

Something that you may not know about me is my mild obsession with my bread maker. It’s one of my most beloved kitchen appliances next to my blender! One of my most favorite smells coming from my kitchen is fresh baked bread. Today, I thought I’d share with you a recipe for a honey wheat bread that is so easy and to die for! My family gobbled it up in no time!

Ingredients:

2 cups Wheat Flour

2 ¼ cups white bread flour

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups of lukewarm water

¼ cup honey

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 packet yeast

Directions:

Place ingredients into your bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. In my case, its wet ingredients, then dry ingredients, then the packet of yeast on top. (Everyone’s machine is different though)

Set the machine to the wheat bread setting if it has one otherwise just use the regular setting with a light crust.

When the bread is ready, I take it out and rub a little bit of butter over the top but that’s just a personal preference.

Enjoy!

~Nikki

If you enjoy baking be sure to check out my Apple Crisp recipe

For even more recipes and tips that aren’t posted on the blog please be sure to subscribe to my newsletter!

Also, I’d love it if you’d become of fan of my Facebook community! Be sure to say Hello!

 

Last but not least, have you joined our weight loss challenge?  If you need more information, check this out!  Registration starts tomorrow and ends 2/6/13!

The Weekend is Over Already?!?

Happy Monday (night!) Sorry for the delay in posting. My internet decided it didn’t want to work today.  After 4 repairmen coming to my house, it’s finally up and running again.  I really don’t know how I survived! I can’t even begin to imagine how I lived without it at one point in my life. I felt very out of place today. Sad but true!

Anyway, how was your weekend? This weekend was pretty quiet. My youngest daughter Maddy turned one on Sunday. I can’t believe it’s already been ONE year since she was born. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was being wheeled into the OR for my c-section. I’m super busy planning her rainbow themed party for this weekend.  Bright and bubbly just like her personality. Stay tuned for some pictures!



The only other thing I did this weekend was explore the fabric store for some new fabric for the spring dresses my Mom and I are making for our Etsy shop. I absolutely love the fabric store. Ever since my Mom got me my sewing machine for my birthday I can’t help but want to make something! It’s so relaxing to me! Do you have any hobbies you enjoy?



Well, that’s it from here! I hope you had a great Monday! Talk to you all soon!


~Nikki

Mommy & the Monsters Weight Loss Challenge 2013…..Join Me!

Ok my friends! I’m jumping on the weight loss band wagon for good this time. My daughter turns one on Sunday and the fat has GOT TO GO!

So imagine this….You lose your fat FOREVER!!

My weight loss accountability group will tell you exactly what to eat and show you how to exercise (in 3 minutes a day) for 90 days AND we’ll show you how to maintain it for another 90 days!

The best part, I am doing it right along with you! I need to lose about 85 pounds to be at a “healthy weight”.

You will receive your favorite flavored, yummy health smoothies and snacks. The ones that actually fill you up but don’t weigh you down! They are designed to help burn the fat while maintaining your muscle. (You need the muscle to keep your metabolism up – that’s a great thing!)

I know what you may be thinking. Will I be hungry? No! You will not go hungry! We provide a simple meal by meal program online. You will not even need to think about it. You’ll just start losing the inches.

You set the goals, we set the plan! It’s that easy. Each plan is designed for you. We have plans for you to turnaround your body and shape, stay lean and mean AND a maintenance plan so you never gain it back….EVER!!

You will also get an accountability online program to keep track of your progress. You can post updates directly onto Facebook in our private group page. This exclusive online Facebook forum is the place to join other like-minded and attentive women and men as we all embark on this journey together. You will have access to a personal trainer and an LPN so you can ask fitness questions and get the right answers! You will also receive daily motivation and support so you will stay focused and not fall off.

The best part? You will finally be able to wear your skinny jeans again! This is the only program that guarantees that you will burn ONLY FAT! You will know your efforts will not only show it on the scale but you will literally see the inches falling off. You will exercise 3 minutes a day! (No, not a typo!)

I promise you will feel strong, motivated, and

determined! You will feel the best you have in a

really long time. You will be happy!

This program works and is doctor recommended. Here’s what some other 180 users are saying…..

“I lost a total of 50 pounds, 22 pounds in my first 90 days!” – Lori

“First 90 days, I lost 38 pounds. Our new baby gained a fit new daddy!” – Zack

“I think the hardest part about this is when I look in the mirror and I don’t see me as a big person, I see me! Then the pictures roll out and I think my God how did that happen! Where did she come from! My 6yr old watched Bonnie’s “surprise video” with me she said “Mom go do your measurements you can do this!” So this is for my baby!” – Jennifer

More info coming towards the end of this week, but….

                    Mark your calendar now:

Be the first to know more, get on the list today!

JOIN HERE!

 

Top 12 posts of 2012

Good Morning! Today, I thought I’d share with you my top 12 posts of 2012 in case you’ve missed any! The attention and support my blog had over my first year of blogging was completely mind blowing, and for that I thank YOU! I have lots more in store for 2013 so stay tuned!

Without further ado, here is the TOP 12!


                                (Budget Living – Eating Organic)  
                                     
This post was by far the most popular post of 2012.  Over 500,000 of you viewed the Budget Living – Eating Organic post!  Completely mind blowing! 


Quite a few of my recipes have made it into your home over the last year and a few of them have had pretty big hits on Pinterest.  If you’ve missed them, here are the most popular!



                             (Fall Apple Crisp – Gluten Free)



                 (Crockpot Overnight Oatmeal)



                 (Black Bean and Corn Salsa with Feta)



               (Raspberry Lime Water)

My first sewing tutorial was also a big hit.  I got a bunch of emails from you saying they made perfect holiday gifts!  I was so happy to hear that!  I have a few more sewing tutorials planned for 2013.


                  (Quick and Easy Fleece Fringe Scarf Tutorial)

A lot of you also liked to hear about all the kid friendly activities I did with my “monsters”……


                         (Top 10 Educational Apps for Kids)


(Fun Green Earth Friendly Kid Activities)


       (Five Simple and Easy Ways to Spend More QT with your Kids)


          (Summertime Fun for the Kiddos)


                (Homemade Baby Food Series)

Finally, you enjoyed reading about the changes I’ve been making to my health.  This year, you’ll be hearing a lot more about the subject since I am committed to getting back to my pre-baby weight!  Ahhhh! 


(Quick and Easy Changes for Leading a Healthy Life)


So that’s it!  Thank you all for a great 2012 and I look forward to a wonderful 2013!

~Nikki

Happy Monday!

Is it just me or do weekends fly by! These past few weeks have been so busy I haven’t even been able to blog. Thankfully, things have calmed down and I’m back to my old schedule! I don’t know about you, but I’m so happy things are starting to get back to normal. Between the holidays and all the events in between, I was starting to miss the time I have at home to get things done! My poor house is a disaster and things on my to-do list aren’t being crossed off but I’m getting back at it!
This past weekend we went to see Disney on Ice. It was a Christmas present my Mom and Dad gave to Ethan for Christmas. It was such a nice time! Mark and I were finally able to spend some much needed alone time with Ethan and we all had a great time. Here are a few pictures of our night out.

We also are getting ready to celebrate a birthday in the house! Maddy is turning one! I have absolutely no clue where the last year went! Time really does fly by! We are planning a rainbow themed party for her. She is such a happy and colorful child we thought it would be very appropriate! Stay tuned over the next few weeks for how the plans roll out!

Have a great rest of the day everyone! Talk to you all tomorrow!

Nikki

Happy Belated New Year!

Hello!  Happy New Year!  I know I’m a little late but life has been extremely hectic lately.  Now that things have calmed down a bit, I’ll be back to blogging (almost daily) and introducing you to lots of very exciting things over the next few weeks!  I hope that you all had a wonderful holiday and are off to a great start for 2013! 

Stay tuned this week for a huge announcement and a challenge for all of YOU! 

Talk to you all tomorrow!

Nikki