One of the things I have been thinking about since watching this video from Dr Oz with Carnie Wilson is how Dr Oz gave the advice that you need to be more in touch with the food you eat –  meaning you should make most of the food you consume.  Knowing what is in the food you eat, and how it is made can help you develop a healthy relationship with it. I never really thought about it like that and it really does make sense.

I have read a ton of info about how nutritional guides provided by restaurants aren’t necessarily the most accurate and pre-made meals at grocery stores – well I find those labels hard to understand.  I know when I cook at home, I try to add more vegetables in for my family and buy better quality products and ingredients. I add baby spinach and fresh mushrooms to spaghetti sauce, fresh broccoli to pasta dishes, you name it.  My kids hardly notice – if I chop it up fine enough that is!

I am going to really make a point to cook more at home not only because eating out often is financially rough on my monthly bottom line, but also because of all the many ways it can help me live a more healthy and fit life.  So, on that note,  it was kinda funny timing that I was invited to a Pampered Chef party in January which led me to host one at my house.

Last night, I held a Pampered Chef party for a few of my friends.  They have some really good updated stuff and if you have the right consultant, they can really show you some time saving techniques in preparing meals. I asked my consultant, Stephanie, to prepare a lighter fare dinner and within 30 mins she had prepared a really delicious meal that can be adapted to be super healthy.  She made a Grilled Chicken Penne Pasta Al Fresco which had fresh basil and a Spinach Salad with Candied Pepper Bacon.  It was seriously delicious and easy to make.  Having this party also got me excited about creating meals again!  If you want to order something or look at a virtual catalog,  email me: shoaglund@gmail.com and I am happy to pass along the info.

One of my dear friends, Connie (or Miss Connie as I call her) came last night and as a present to me she made the most amazing cake. My daughter Hannah always says to me “Mommy, you are rich in purses and shoes” and I would love a Louis Vuitton purse,  but I just can not bring myself to spend that much money on one, so in keeping with that theme – Miss Connie made me my very own Louis Vuitton purse… in CHOCOLATE!! Yes folks, that purse you see is edible and the cake was ridiculously delicious. People asked if they could take home slices, that’s how good it was. How great is Miss Connie?!! It’s my own version of luxury.

Connie can do all sorts of custom cakes and she does it as a hobby. She is a corporate professional by day.  I created a flickr set to showcase a sample of the cakes she has done – Miss Connie’s Cakes.  She’s one of many amazing women I have met through my boot camp.

If you are ever in the market for a custom cake, let me know and I can send you her info.