bottoms up!

Today is the last day of super strict detoxing. Three-ish weeks is over and done with!

We decided to stop at lunchtime today so that we could celebrate over the weekend. Duh - you can't achieve something and not properly celebrate with a glass of bubbly and delicious treats!

So, tonight is the night!

Bottoms up {or perhaps, plates up is more appropriate}

The plan is to start with a dinner out {and a drink or two or three}

followed by a movie {which inevitably includes the most obscene size of popcorn available}

and end with the biggest, chocolate-e-ess dessert we can find.

{bring on the toxins, grease and sugar!}

YUM!

that's the plan. i've been warned we may wind up overdosed and passed out after the first course.

Oh, and don't forget we've got the entire weekend to celebrate.

Saturday calls for bringing out the big-daddy coffee press and crepes filled with all treats imaginable. I haven't thought past that course.. I'm sure at that point, I'll be craving a big heap of veggies.

...

here's to starting the night with

one of my fav cocktails: the fargarita

combine in shaker:

one shot of  1800 tequila 100% agave

juice of one lime

Diet Sierra Mist (or you can do soda water)

ice

.shake what yo momma gave ya.

.pour over ice.

.drink with style.

 {I should prob come up with a better name for a fake margarita, huh? suggestions?}

...

Despite my excitement to break all the rules from the past three weeks,

we do plan on sticking with what we've learned and eating 'clean' the majority of the time

{i.e., healthier portions; better snacks; less added sugar, dairy, gluten, caffeine; and more variety}.  

I think we will do just fine {as long as we can control that sweet tooth}.

p.s. i swear our life does not completely revolve around food. we do have other hobbies aside from eating.

clean eats

Week two is over. {Whew! YAY! Hallelujah!}

Last week was bleeeech! Most of the recipes were straight up BORE-ING! The soups were bland {or maybe I'm a bad cook}. And, I had to choke down sardines {in a salad with clementines, might I add} for lunch one day. I'm sure my coworkers looooved me for that one.

Week two was interesting. Breakfast consisted of sweet potatoes, miso soup and tofu with collard greens. I discovered I really like tofu {on the to-do list, find a good cookbook for cooking with tofu.. suggestions??}. I've developed a love for cooking with recipes {although I still skim the directions and often miss something important like adding the beans to black bean salad... oops}. I also discovered I have NO willpower when I don't want to do something. Week two was really challenging for me. The food wasn't nearly as tasty as I expected so my first reaction was to cheat.. Give me a delicious, fatty smothered-and-covered burger; a huge mound of greasy, salty fries; and ten pounds of chocolate, please. By midweek I was determined to end the whole detox right then and there. My sweet, sweet husband kept me on track though {and let me cheat gracefully}. Now, onto week three renewed and ready. {I think..}

There were some tasty tidbits during week two, though {few and far between}. These are recipes we will def have again (click the name of it to find the recipe):

 grilled salmon and bok choy with orange-avocado salad

this was awesome - the citrus flavors with the fish and avocado were perfect. And, if you haven't had bok choy... try it. It's delish! We bought ours at the local asian market so they were super cheap.

black bean salad

I'm obsessed with Mike's salsa {I'll have to share his secrets later} which is similar to this recipe

Needless to say... one bite and I was hooked. All it needed was some tortilla chips to go with it.

oh, wait.. is that coffee I smell? Crap..  

lovely day for a picnic

We are almost to the end of the first week of detoxing. Besides craving everything under the sun

 {hamburgers, ice cream, hot dogs, pizza, steak, and the list goes on} 

we've been feeling really good and super energized.

We've made it through all of week one's recipes,  {and I am biting at the bit to move on to the recipes of week two} so I'm sharing one of our favorites that we made today to take on a picnic.  

avocado with bell peppers & tomatoes

 Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• Pinch cayenne
• Coarse salt
• 1 ripe avocado, halved and seeded
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, diced
• 6 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 scallion, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped cilantro, plus leaves for garnish

 you can cut up the avocado while still in its shell and then scoop it out - easy peasy

 In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lime juice, garlic, and cayenne. Season with salt.

Mix up the avocado, bell pepper, tomatoes, scallion, and cilantro in a bowl.

Drizzle with dressing and season with salt. 

Gently stir to combine. 

Spoon the yummy-goodness into avocado shells. 

 Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!

 Our picnic spot. I tossed all the extra goodness in the middle for us to eat. 

Drop some frozen blueberries in a glass of water for a hint a flavor. 

 Mike

all gone :)

bon appetit.