Berry Blast Green Smoothie {secret ingredient added}

Happy Day 2!! How are you doing so far with the challenge??

It is going great here. My family is getting really into it so we have been creating new recipes together. This recipe was created by KJ and we all agree it is amazing!

Needed:
Makes 2 smoothies

1 cup mixed frozen berries
1 very full cup of spinach leafs
1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
1/4 cup vanilla soy milk

Create:
Blend! Enjoy!

It sounds a bit odd.. like REALLY odd I know but I dare you to try it! We tried it with and without the spinach and the spinach softens all the flavors and really brings them together..

I got your attention with this recipe huh? Any of you gonna dare to try it?? Please stop by tomorrow for the green smoothie link up!

Salted Skinny Brownies

So here is a tease!!!!!! I am GUEST POSTING these over at KTJ Weighing In.

I will be posting a recipe on my girl KTJ's blog EVERY month! So be there or be square :)

Go ahead, go get the recipe I dare you.

OH and you should defiantly come back tomorrow for a super embarrassing vlog :)!

Happy 1st Birthday ABpetite!

1 year ago today was my 1st Post EVER Olive Tomato Chicken.

I still remember my thoughts about starting a blog. I started writing because I found Kelly @ Eat Yourself Skinny's Blog. I was a regular to reading her blog. She just was beyond creative, fun, cute, spunky and top of all of that she was changing people's lives for the better. She was making people skinny. I thought, I want to be like her and I tried my hardest to, still do today.

I feel like I learn more and more about blogging all the time. When I think about what my blog looked like a year ago I feel like I should be embarrassed..from the web design to the recipes, to the photos. I did all the web design myself {still to this day}. However, I am not embarrassed whatsoever. It has been an amazing learning experience. When I look through my blog it has so many memories.

I have met so many of you amazing blog friends that have become real friends. Some of you blog friends I chat with even more than my real life friends. Thank you all for your love and support. This is such an amazing community and group of amazing people we have gathered.

Awhile back {a couple months ago} I was talking to one of my best bloggy friends. I was telling her that I was thinking of giving up. I was going on about the bad things about blogging.. The whole problem was I was obsessing over the numbers. I was looking at everyone elses numbers and comparing them to my own. This is the WRONG thing to blog for. What I remind myself constantly is that I blog for my dear readers, I blog to keep my creativity rolling, I blog for fun. AND that is what ABpetite is about for me.

KJ sang Happy Birthday Dear ABpetite as I took these photos. I told him that it had been a year sense I started this blog. He said, "Congratulations mom thats an accomplishment!" I thought to myself, "yeah, yeah it is!" A huge smile came over myself. I could have quit, I could have given up, I could have seen all of you amazing writers, fashionistas, cooks, bakers, inspirationers, fitnessests, web designers, Do it Yourselfers and so many other things that you ladies are and just given up. Threw in the towel and said thats enough I give up I can't compete with these fantastic women. But, you know what? Its NOT a competion. Its not, it makes me feel so special to be involved with all of you. Your creativity inspires me every day and I appreciate it more than you know!

Cheers friends. Cheers to many years of friendship to come.

Double P's - Piña Colada Salad & a Purse!

What drink do you picture in your hand while laying on the beach with your sunblock and bikini?  

Piña Colada??

Me too! This is where the first "P" shows up in this post. I don't know about you guys but, it was a long A.Star.Star winter here in Utah. I am ready for some heat to come my way. So sense I can't make the heat come to me I can make a Piña Colada.. almost as good right? Almost! So lets do this..

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Servings: 24

Serving Size: 1/2 cup

Calories: 109

Fat: 6.4 g

Carbs: 3.7 g

Fiber: .25 g

Protein: 6.4 g

Points +: 2

Old Points: 3

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Needed Salad:

1 can pineapple chunks {drain and set juice aside}

3 cups cooked, boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/4 cup coconut flakes sweetened

8 cups fresh spinach

1 cup macadamia nuts - dry, roasted

Needed Dressing:

1 cup canned coconut milk

pineapple juice

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Create:

Dice chicken breasts. Add all salad ingredients together in large bowl. To create salad dressing mix coconut milk, pineapple juice, and olive oil together. Whisk thoroughly. Refrigerate dressing for at least 2 hours before serving {this helps dressing to thicken}. Add salad dressing right before serving. Mix dressing in well.

For the second "P" look how cute this purse is??? Hello I am in LOVE. Not to mention it is the most perfect size for all of my needs. Thank you Ragazza Bazaar for the second hook up of the week! Actually I got hooked up 4 times this week from them but I am only sharing two. You must come back next week to check out the other two things I got. 

 

Want this purse?? 

Sweet! Glance up and click up on my Fashion tab or feel free to just click here fill out the form and you will be on your way to grab this lil thang. When you get to RB's website click on Boutique and then purses to find this look, it ALSO comes in black!

1st Fashion Post & a Giveaway!

You guys are in for a fun new outlook on ABpetite. 

When Ragazza Bazaar asked me to be there Cover Girl for April I thought wow that would be fun to spice up the blog with something NEW and exciting like Fashion. So here we are :).

I am wearing Ragazza Bazaar's cute Mint Tutu Skirt! Adorable right?

I LOVE it! Check it out..

If you want to buy THIS skirt or so many other great items that Ragazzar Baazar offers please fill out the form under my shop tab and get one today!

ALSO today Andrea {Glam Hungry Mom} and I are giving away a Williams Sonoma $100 Gift Card on Kelly's blog @ Eat Yourself Skinny so be there or be square.

Japanese Style Skinny Salad Dressing & {Epic Fail Being The Easter Bunny}

Oh my say hello to my new fav salad dressing. Its exceptionally easy with only 3 ingredients! You are so welcome. It kinda makes your salad taste like sushi says my hubby. Haha you will have to let me know if you agree.. or not..

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Servings: 8

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons

Calories: 24

Fat: 0 g

Carbs: 3.4 g

Fiber: 0 g

Protein: 2.5 g

Points +: 1

Old Points: 0

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Needed:
1 cup no fat plain greek yogurt
1 cup teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon Sriracha

Create:
Mix all ingredients together.
Top on your salad, chicken, rice or whatever you like!

I am gonna show you some Easter pics from last weekend. So... the Easter Bunny sucks at our house. Does he suck at yours?

When I was a child our Easter tradition was that the "Easter Bunny" would leave us clues which were little notes throughout the house that lead us from room to room in the house until we found out baskets. So me being the traditional momma that I am wanted to carry on this tradition. I wrote little notes and placed them throughout the house leading him from room to room. However, the first note that he saw he immediately said, "mom you wrote this!" I said, "Yes I did, but, that was because I didn't think you would be able to find your basket without all the clues. That Easter Bunny is one tricky man!" KJ said, "Oh okay!" So, he went along with the hunt grunting and moaning the whole time saying "mom I can't find it!" Boo what kid doesn't just love this kind of stuff?? Hello, I lived for this stuff as a kid. Any who, so when he finally found his basket he said, "Mom you gave me the basket too! What happened to the Easter Bunny this year?" I said, "What no I didn't!" He argued with me and I never talked him into it. Damn it! My 7 year old already doesn't believe in the Easter Bunny. WTF. I. Suck.

Do any of your kids not believe in the Easter Bunny cause of something you did?
BTW.. See my cute mint tutu skirt? This WILL be on the blog sooo soon {YAY for the fashion side of ABpetite}. It is totally adorable thanks to Ragazza Bazaar Boutique.

Skinny Lasagna

Hey guys!! Did any of you get pranked for April Fools Day?? I didn't, however I DID prank my little bro. Nothing too crazy but I put a condom with lotion in it and put it in his bed.. He freaked a little. Haha LOVE April Fools DAY!

This is a recipe I have been dying to share with you guys for like, ever. Some friends and our little fam are going to Florida in May so we  had a little get together last weekend to talk about the plans. I made this dish for them and I am not gonna lie they all loved it. Some of them have had the NOT so skinny version and they really liked this one better! Have you guys tried the worlds most fav super food kale? Well, kale is in THIS recipe. Check it out!

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Servings: 12

Serving Size: 1 

Calories: 218

Fat: 8.7 g

Carbs: 8.5 g

Fiber: 1.8 g

Protein: 20.75 g

Points +: 5

Old Points: 5

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Needed:
1 package bow tie noodles
1 cup raw fresh spinach
1 cup raw fresh kale
1 cup part skim mozzarella cheese
1 24 ounce can marinara sauce
1 roll turkey sausage {I used Jeanie-O Hot}
1 cup low fat cottage cheese small curd
basil flakes
garlic

Create:
Cook noodles as directed on package. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Brown sausage. Mince spinach and kale. Mix cottage cheese with kale and spinach. Layer first half of the noodles, then cottage cheese mixture, then sausage, sauce, remaining noodles, cheese, and top with basil and garlic. Place in oven for 20-30 minutes until heated thoroughly.