Tasty Tuesday: Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Thank you Michelle for sharing this recipe with us.  Michelle is “my” AMAZING leader at Weight Watchers on Thursday mornings.  She has been through the good and the bad times with me.  It is with her help and the support of my Thursday morning family, I hit goal.  

Cooking Time: 50  Prep Time: 15     Servings: 8   SmartPoints™ value: 7

Ingredients

12 oz uncooked pasta
12 oz fat free evaporated milk
2 cup(s) cheddar, shredded, low fat
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
¼ tsp table salt
¼ tsp black pepper
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tbsp dried plain breadcrumbs
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup Plain nonfat Greek yogurt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 4 quart baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in sour cream.
3. Meanwhile, heat milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear just around the edge (do not boil). Reduce heat and stir in the mustard, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
4. Mix yogurt into pasta then add the milk mixture to the macaroni mixture, stirring until blended. Transfer to the baking dish. Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan in a small bowl; sprinkle over the casserole. Bake until the casserole is bubbly and the top is golden, about 30 minutes. Serves 8 (serving=1 cup)

Yummy stuff, even hubby likes it! Make some and freeze the leftovers for lunch. What do you carry your lunch to work in? Hopefully, it a Thirty One thermal with so many options to pick from there is something for everyone. Don’t forget there is still 48 hours to shop for both the Winter and the NEW Spring catalogs. Which thermal will you pick?

Add thermal picture options…..

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Are You Taking Risks?

Risk is defined “as exposing (someone or something valued) to danger, harm, or loss.”  Honestly, how many of us actually take risks?  The truth is we take some risk every day – we drive a car with only a yellow line separating us from the other car, we fly in planes, and I am sure the list could go on.  Most of us don’t think of these things as risks, right?

Often, my fear of failing stops me from stepping out into uncharted territory. Although I believe that you learn from your mistakes, I am often hesitant to walk on a path that is less traveled. Taking a risk can sometimes mean just stepping out of your comfort zone.

I talk a lot about stepping out of your comfort zone . I believe that many of us don’t and as a result, we are kept from reaching our full potential and our goals in life and in business.  So whether you are jumping into a new job, a new relationship, a new business or anything else that takes you out of your comfort zone, here are some tips to determine if you should take a risk or not:

• Trust yourself. When you take a risk, you need to trust that you have the skills to reach your ultimate goal. If you lack self-confidence, the first step is identifying your weakness.  Then seek out others who can help you through the struggles.
• Think creatively.  Being unique is wonderful.  Standing out or above the crowd allows us to shine.  Remember that when you step outside of the box, you don’t want to loose sight of your vision/goal.  You can be creative while still  using some of the tried and true ideas that have helped others be successful.
• Know your field and product/service.  Love what you do and the rest is easy.  I have taken risks many times when it came to new jobs.  The secret to all of them was that I loved what I did.  I learned everything I could so that I could be an expert in that particular area.  If you are joining a direct sales company,  LOVE their products. Learn from those who have gone before you.  Take classes. Read books.  Network with others in your field and out of your field.

• Implement a support system and seek expert advice. When I stepped out of my comfort zone to join a direct sales company, I found an AMAZING support system in my upline and other Thirty One sisters. Find a network of professionals who you trust that can guide you in those areas where you are weak. Here are a few that have helped me:  Entrepreneurial Think Tank for Women, The Desiree Wolfe, Eryka Peskin, JulieAnn Jones, Britt Bolnick and the list goes on personally and professionally.

• Show courage. Sometimes it just comes down to – Do I have the courage to step out of my comfort zone and take a RISK. “By showing courage, you are also showing good leadership skills” – I never really thought about that.
  Never give up. Stepped out and it didn’t work out?  Maybe you didn’t get the response you were looking for?  Maybe you it didn’t turn out like you planned? Okay – build a bridge and get over it.  Learn from this and move on.
• Don’t listen to negatives.  Ignore Negative Nellie.  Stop talking to her since those negative thoughts will undermine your self-confidence. If she has taken up residence in your head – close the door on her and find some positive affirmations to keep the door locked. This is sometimes our biggest hurdle.

Risk means there is a potential for loss. It means that we are stepping out of our comfort zone and walking in FAITH. If the risk is God-centered, then he will lead us through it. Even if it is not a success or is a flat out FAIL, there is a lesson that can be learned. Step out of your comfort zone, take a risk and see where it leads.  What will you do today to step out of YOUR comfort zone?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

What Do You WANT?

It is Monday morning……

• Are you dragging yourself out of bed to start your week? OR are you looking forward to the week ahead.
• What do you WANT out of today?
• When you put your head on your pillow tonight…what would you like to have FINISHED?
• What PROGRESS could you make on your goals today?

I am blessed with no “brain fog” this morning.  I may still move a little slower getting out of but I am ready to start the week.  What about you?

I had the pleasure of meeting Traci Bild at Mom Grows a Business Conference a few years ago.   Traci was also a guest speaker at Thirty One’s National Conference that same year.  Traci’s message seemed to go in one ear and out the other.

A few days ago, her video popped up (a God wink, I am sure). Obviously, God has a message that I needed to hear which is why she keeps showing up in my life.  I am thinking that there is someone else out there that could stand to hear the message too.  Click the link and take just 45 minutes to listen to the video! I have been soaking up like a sponge her daily words of inspiration – check her out on Facebook.  The first thing that hit me with a SMACK was the importance of not just setting business goals but also setting personal goals. It makes sense, right?  We have set business goals all of our life but when was the last time you wrote down a goal for your personal life?  Think about the things that matter most to you then write a goal with 3 action steps.

I have said it a zillion times BUT it needs to be repeated…

The KEY to being happy and successful – personally and professionally – is changing your current mindset and belief system.  It is this thinking that keeps you stuck or repeating the same habits in your life and your business.

Just for today, let’s make a change.  So,

If you REACT all day long, there is no progress.
If you DREAD your day, there is no progress.
If you RESENT your bills, your schedule, your kids, your job, there is no progress.
If you SURF, read, piddle and social all day, there is no progress.
If you WAIT for a better time, there is no progress.
If you WISH for someone else to be more supportive, there is no progress.
If you WANDER through your list, your desk, your mail, your email and your tasks…there is no progress.

Today, make PROGRESS on PURPOSE.  Even if you just set a timer for an HOUR (okay, make it 15 minutes to start) so that YOU can move FORWARD.

What will you do to move forward today?  Share with us so we can CELEBRATE you.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

 

Travel Thursday – Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville is a city in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. It’s known for its vibrant arts scene and historic architecture, including the dome-topped Basilica of Saint Lawrence and the vast 19th-century Biltmore estate, displaying artwork by masters like Renoir. Its Downtown Art District is filled with galleries and museums, and in the nearby River Arts District, former factory buildings house artists’ studios.

I have been a sand in my shoes girl all of my life – never wanting to get too far away from the smell of the ocean or the chance to sit by the water and ponder the blessings in my life.  Then my daughter went to North Carolina for college.  Our first trip down was full of wonder at the beauty of the mountains and the trees.  We didn’t spend a lot of time doing much more than moving her in to her college dorm before heading home.

Over the last 8 years, we have come to love this area.  The small towns nestled in the mountains but close enough to the city to have some fun.  We have been exploring parts of Asheville each time we visit – from shopping to the farmer’s market to the quaint little restaurants.  We had an AWESOME breakfast here….

Of course no trip to Asheville is complete without stopping by the Mellow Mushroom

I love to use my Go To Tote to hold those little treasures that we find while strolling through the Farmer’s Market.  It has LOTS of pockets on the outside and room on the inside.  So when I am not keeping my treasures safe, I can use it as my purse.

Along with my Double Up Crossbody which is great for shopping hands free!

I am counting down the days till we head back to the quietness of the mountains and get to explore more of what Asheville has to offer.  If you have visited this area or better yet, if you are a local, what are some of YOUR favorite spots?  We would love to check them out on our next trip.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Source: Courtesy of Free People