Celebrate The 4th With Amazing Kabobs!

Happy 4th of July Eve! We leave for Seattle tonight and I couldn't be more excited! the weather in Sac has been pretty hot. Plus, I am in need of a vacation ASAP! 

So obviously you have picked up that I'm obsessed with grilling. It's easy, doesn't heat up the house, and it's perfect for summertime! In need of something to make for the July 4th festivities? I've got the perfect thing! Kabobs!

Kabobs are versatile, easy, and always delicious. Also, a great thing with a kabobs are they can be easily vegetarian or vegan if the menu needs to be. 

The other night I had some girls over for a gathering and we grilled some chicken and veggie kabobs and vegetarian kabobs as well. Everyone loved them, and there was something for everyone to enjoy. 

Other things that make kabobs wonderful, generally speaking, they are lean, clean, and green. The prep time and cleanup time is next to nothing as well. So, common... Who isn't craving kabobs?!

Some variations I like are: {chicken and veggies} {salmon with cherry tomatoes, lemon wedges, and zucchini} {BBQ or terriyaki chicken/tofu with red onions, red bell pepper, and pineapple} All are delicious! 

For my dinner party, as I mentioned, I made chicken and veggie kabobs. Below are pictures and the how to!

What You'll Need:

(Makes 10 chicken & 2 veggie skewers)

1.25 pounds of chicken breast

1 zucchini

1 summer squash

1 red bell pepper

1 red onion 

1 package crimini mushrooms

Lemon pepper

Garlic salt

Sea salt

Pepper

12 skewers

1. If you are using wood skewers you will have to soak the skewers before you put the food on them so they don't burn. Get out a container, (I used a baking sheet) put some water in it and put the skewers in it to soak. 

2. Season the chicken, on half I seasoned the chicken with lemon pepper and sea salt, on the other half I put garlic salt and black pepper.

3. While that's sitting for a few minutes, cut your veggies. You want to make sure that they are as evenly cut as possible so they grill at the same rate.

4. Wash the mushrooms by dampening a paper towel and wiping the mushroom tops off. Trim the steam of the mushroom a little as well.

5. Cut the chicken into cube like pieces that are about the same size as the veggies.

6. Preheat the grill to a low-medium heat while you assemble the kabobs to your liking. 

7. Grill the kabobs on the grill turn every 4 - 5 minutes depending on the heat of your grill.

8. Take off the grill and enjoy with side of rice, potato salad, pasta salad, or a great leafy greens salad! 

**Notes: Depending on what grill you are using, you might have to check on it earlier than later. Make sure to feel out your grill so you don't burn your skewers.

Also, if the middle skewers are cooking faster than the outside skewers, rotate the position of the skewers when you turn them. 

The Fault In My Stars

I just finished reading The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. It took me a little longer to read than most people because when I really love a book, I don't want it to end, so I spread it out over a few weeks to make it last longer. Even though it is a fictional novel, it still makes me ponder death, as all books or movies do when there is death in them.

As time has gone on, as I have gotten older, I have begun to have more questions about death. I guess I have started to fear it. When my mom died 10 years ago, I never really thought about what death really was, I just accepted that I would never see her again unless it was in my dreams. I was the person who was affected by her death, along with others, but I never thought of what it would be like to affect others by dying.

Although I am still young, our time here is so uncertain. I guess that is what I fear the most, and I guess that is what has helped me guide my life lately. I want to feel that if I die tomorrow that I would be content on how I lived my life. My actions lately have all be strategic moves towards achieving happiness and the feeling of being content in this chess game of life.

I used to fear having children, for the fear that I would leave this earth and therefore them before I was ready, or I thought they would be ready. I didn't want to get married because that would mean I would have no real attachments. It wasn't until I realized why I didn't want these things that I realized that I feared dying and the unknown.

In the last six months, I was able to realize that I was unable to achieve happiness because I was living in fear and therefore I was not living. I've made a vow to live my life selfishly for things that I want, and in turn I would take care of myself as best as I can so I can live this life as long as I can. I believe in spirits and afterlife but I only get this life on earth once. Living for today so I can live for tomorrow has been part of my quest to choose happy and choose healthy. I don't see how I could ever regret either of those things.

There's people that won't ever get to live another day, or live another day the way they would want to. How could I be so selfish as to not live my life for fear of not being able to live anymore or live the way I want to.

"You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world, but you do have some say in who hurts you."

You can't help being hurt by having those you love die, but I'd rather hurt than never know them at all.

In loving memory of My Mother, Cindy Fichera, My Grandfather, Pat Cambria, My Grandmother, Alice Fichera, My Aunt, Wendy Cambria, My Uncle, Jeff Cambria, and My Friend, Johnny.

Green Smoothie & Light But Filling Summer Salad

My whole life I haven't been a coffee fan. Most people think I'm crazy when I say that, but the smell, taste, look, everything is unappealing to me. A few years ago in 2011, I did the raw food diet for about 30 days. It was one of the most excruciating things I've ever done. At times it would be really easy, and at other times it wasn't. One of the things I did really enjoy from the raw food diet was green smoothies. Now, green smoothies are like my coffee. I drink them pretty much everyday. I have a variety that I have come up with throughout the years, but today I am going to share with you my tropical green smoothie.

Green smoothies are super easy to make, a great way to get essential vitamins and minerals in a raw form, and when you make them well, you can't even taste the greens you put in. 

What You'll Need:

2 cups organic power green mix 

1 cup organic tropical fruit mix

16oz coconut water

1 frozen banana

1 scoop brown rice protein powder (or any other protein powder your prefer)

How To Prepare:

1. Pour coconut water and power green mix in blend, and blend until all the leaves are completely blended.

2. Add a frozen banana and blend until it has been completely blended as well.

3. Add one scoop protein powder and 1 cup tropical fruit. 

4. Drink & Enjoy! (Serves 2)

For my protein powder, I use Sunwarrior brown rice protein powder. Sometimes I use Perfect Fit Protein but it is a little stevia heavy for me. 

I can get all this stuff at Trader Joes, but you can find it at the supermarket as well. 

**TIP: Don't ever get rid of bananas because you don't think you can eat them all. Always put them Ina freezer bag and freeze them. 

Looking for something that is filling but also light? Look no more! This grain salad is amazing and perfect for summer! Can be eaten as a main meal or a side dish. This recipe is also really simple which always helps! 

What You'll Need:

1 cup brown rice 

2 cups water

1 can black beans

Trader Joes (or any store's) tropical mango, pineapple salsa

1 avocado (or 2 if you LOVE avocado like I do!)

How To Prepare:

1. Cook your rice as instructed on the bag or box. All rice varies so it is better to go based off the instructions own bag or box.

2. When the rice has about 7-8 minutes left to cook, put the can of beans in a small sauce pan and cook until the juice of the beans starts to simmer. 

3. Once the beans and rice are both done, add the rice to a big bowl. Drain the beans and rinse them and then add them to the bowl of rice. Give them a good mix.

4. Add 3/4 cup of the salsa to the bowl and mix until fully incorporated.

5. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and let it cool in the fridge for at least an hour and a half. 

6. Once it is cooled, serve chilled with avocado on top. Sprinkle the avocado with just a touch of sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

7. Eat & Enjoy!!! (Serves 4)

**Notes: If you or your family aren't a big fan of beans, you can add cubes of chicken, or cubes of tofu to replace the beans. 

Also, other types of rice, jasmine, white, etc. would work in this dish, brown rice just had the best overall nutrition value.

PS - Did you know beans and rice are a complete protein when consumed together or consumed within a short period of time from each other??? It's true!

Taking Risks To Make Dreams Come True

If you asked me three years ago what my goal in life would be, it would be to become a Direct of Human Resources. Sure, there is nothing wrong with that goal, it was very corporate of me. (To say the least...) As time went on, my goals and dreams changed. I am still the same person as I was then, I just see self worth and happiness in a different way.

When I set out to lose weight a little over two years ago, I would have never guessed it would have the impact on my life that it has. Not only have I become happier, healthier, and more self confident, I have also become aware. Through research and trial and error, I have gained awareness of a healthy lifestyle and balance. 

My goal now is to spread this awareness to families, to give women confidence again, to help eliminate childhood obesity, to help those who suffer with eating disorders, and most of all to create a balanced lifestyle for all. 

There's a saying, "you can't have your cake and eat it too." But I am standing here saying why not? You only get one life to live, so have your cake and eat it too. Learn what it is like to experience balance, and achieve overall happiness, while looking and feeling your best!

For a long time I lived for everyone else. I let everything and everyone affect me. I was miserable in so many ways. I could never see the silver lining, the cloud was always entirely black and pouring down on me. I had a lot of self pity, and I wasted a lot of my life in that mindset. 

I decided to start living my life for me, and only worrying about what I thought about myself. I felt that if I was pleased with myself, than I would be happy. I've realized I'm never going to be perfect, but if I was perfect my life would be boring because I would have nothing to improve on. I am my own DIY project that never ends, and I am PROUD of that! 

As I was sitting at my desk at work about to cry, I decided it was time to make a bold move. I took a risk and resigned from my job a few weeks ago. July 11 will be my last day. I've never taken a risk like this, I've always lived by the book, but I can tell you that since I made the decision to leave and chase my dreams, I've never been happier. I am ready to spread awareness and happiness to all, and not through rainbows and butterflies, but through hard life changing work. It's up to you to choose happy. It's up to you to choose healthy. I am hoping you choose both for yourself and let me help you get there. Live for today, for tomorrow, and for many more days to come. 

I've already begun having my cake and eating it too. It's your turn to join me.

~ without risk, there is no reward ~