The first day of the rest of your life

I am so excited to share with you and everone else, this journey I have embarked on.

Weight has been an issue for half of my life. I have very rarely felt comfortable with my body and how it looked. Or with the number looking back at me on the scale.

I've looked at the stretch marks across my body due to rapid weight gain when I was pregnant with Zach and felt nothing but disappointment, pity,  and anger for and at myself.

I have lost weight only to gain it back multiple times and I am tired of it. I am tired of feeling gross after I eat a cheeseburger and a soda from McDonalds, feeling guilty for what I just put into my body.

For that reason I share this quote:



I want to be healthy and be in my kid's lives for a very long time and I don't want to always be catching my breath but instead chasing and catching my munchkins. They are the biggest reason I am doing this, after wanting to live healthier for myself. After all, I have to take my care myself first if I want to take care of them for the years to come.

And that is why I decided to join Beachbody. I decided I wanted to give 21 Day Fix a try and see what it was all about. I borrowed the DVD's from a girlfriend and only a day later I had already ordered my own and signed up as a coach!

A coach, you say? But Kate, you still have 70 pounds to lose, how can you be a coach?

Well, to that I say I say you are right. I have a long way to go in my weight loss journey. But just because I have a lot to lose still does not mean that I can't inspire, motivate and dedicate my time to help someone besides myself. If I can help even one person then I will be happy. But what I really want to do is help many people. So often people don't get the support at home that they need during their own transformation journey and that is where I want to start. I want to show you that losing 70 pounds at home, eating right and following along with a DVD is practical. That you don't have to have a fancy gym membership to get fit and get the job done. I want to motivate people who are too scared to even exercise outside of the house because they are worried about people judging the. I want to keep you accountable for the food you are eating the and programs you are getting done each day.

And I want people to help keep me accountable for what I'm eating, and how I am doing my program. 70 pounds is a big feat, but I am welcoming it with open arms.

As you are reading this I am on Day 17 of 21 of my first round of 21 Day Fix. And this is where I started.



(Picture credit to Tyler, my 4 year old)

Ya, I stripped it down to a bikini bottom and top that no one has ever seen me in because I only wear it to tan on my back deck! But someday, I'd love to wear it in public and feel comfortable with myself, and confident. And I know that from right now I have a long way to go, so when you see me post pictures on Instagram or Facebook with a healthy lunch, or recipe, or an update, double tap that picture, or hit "like" to give me some support. Or share my page if you or someone you know could use some encouragement. Because that is a huge part of this.

And lastly, if you are interested in getting help and support while you work through your journey, please feel free to contact me at flattsaholic@gmail.com and be sure to watch Instagram as I will soon be starting an accountability group and would love to have you join! Who is ready to start the first day of the rest of your life?

Saltine Cracker Heath Toffee

I'm super excited to be posting my first official recipe for The Secret Recipe Club!

You might remember that I posted twice before, sharing Pesto Stuffed Chicken and Banana bread muffins, when they needed someone to jump in and assist. But this time is my first actual scheduled post!

I was assigned Lynsey Lou's blog and I have to admit that I was super giddy when I first peeked at her site. She shares so many amazingly delicious recipes that I didn't even know where to start. I found S'mores Cheesecake bars, Buffalo Chicken Tacos and BLT Puff Pastry Pizza.  But then I found this toffee. I've tried a saltine cracker toffee before but when I saw the Heath bites on the top, it sort of sucked me in.



It's very easy to make, only taking less than 10 minutes before you are putting it into the fridge to cool. And I have to say spraying your foil with cooking spray is a must! You don't want to forget that step!

• 40 saltine crackers - this is just over one full sleeve of crackers


• 1 c. of butter


• 1 c. brown sugar


• 1 and 3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips


• 1/3 c. heath toffee bits

1. Cover a cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.


2. Lay the saltines out over the cookie sheet


3. In a sauce pan, bring the brown sugar and butter to a boil over medium high heat. Once it is to a full boil, reduce to medium and continue to boil for 3 minutes.


4. Next, you will pour the butter mixtures over the crackers. If the crackers don't get immediately covered, quickly use  fork or spoon to push down on the cracker to let it soak up the butter/sugar. Or you could flip your crackers over like I did to get them covered completely.


5. Put the cookie sheet into a preheated oven and cook for 6 minutes at 400°.


6. Once the time is up, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the crackers and let sit for a couple of minutes to melt before spreading the chocolate over the crackers.


7. Lastly, sprinkle the Heath bits over the top of the chocolate.


8. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let firm up. Once it is completely hard you can break into pieces. I store the toffee in my refrigerator because it is so hot in my area that it would be a chocolaty mess otherwise!

But seriously, how could you resist this?

An InLinkz Link-up

Creamy Coleslaw

Hello Hello! I have a delicious Creamy Coleslaw recipe to share with you today! I never actually liked coleslaw until just a few years ago when I got it as a side dish at a restaurant and it was so good. But I had never actually made it myself.

Then a couple of weeks ago we were having family over for a BBQ and I wanted to make something new and something different and I came across this recipe from Love Grows Wild. I knew it would be a hit and decided to give it a try.



It was easy and quick to make this creamy coleslaw and it didn't disappoint! It was so delicious and everyone ate it up.



There are not many steps and I had it chilling in the refrigerator in less than 10 minutes.



Coleslaw in the bowl, then all other ingredients in a second bowl, mix well. I thought a full tablespoon of celery seed was too much. Next time I would only use about half of that amount and I think it would still be plenty.





Pour over coleslaw



And mix it up until it is all combined.

• 1 C mayonnaise


• 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard


• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar


• 2 Tbsp sugar


• 1 Tbsp celery seed (I thought this was too much and next time I'd use about half the amount!)


• 1 Tblsp grated onion


• 1/2 tsp salt


• 1- 16 oz bag shredded cabbage with carrots


• 1 carrot, peeled and grated

1. In a bowl mix the cabbage and carrots.


2. In a second bowl mix the all additional ingredients together until they are combined.


3. Pour the "dressing" over the cabbage and toss until fully coated with the dressing.


4. Refrigerate for 3 hours before serving.

The next day it was getting a little soggy so I wouldn't keep it around much longer than that!

So what do you think? Are you a fan of Creamy Coleslaw or do you take a pass when you see it at a BBQ?

Ham and Cheese Braided Bread

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media®, and  Hillshire Farm®, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #HillshireNaturals http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH

You all already know I am a fan of quick and easy. I make plenty of meals with lots of steps involved, but quick and easy are my favorite. When I have 3 kids to take care of the last thing I want to do is spend a ton of time putting together a meal when I can make something easy that they will all love just as much.

Another thing you know I am a fan of is dinner cooked inside of a loaf of braided bread. I've made Spaghetti, Pizza and Cheesy Chicken in a braided loaf of bread and all have been delicious! I've been wanting to make one with Ham and Cheese, because, who doesn't love Ham and Cheese braided bread?



So I headed to Safeway to get my ingredients- Hillshire Farm Naturals Honey Roasted Ham, Provolone Cheese and a frozen loaf of bread.



I know some people might find that frozen loaf of bread intimidating, but I promise, it is not! It actually couldn't be any easier. Put your frozen loaf on a cookie sheet and lay a piece of plastic wrap (sprayed with cooking spray) down loosely over your bread. Now you are going to just let it sit for 6 or so hours, letting it thaw and rise.



Once the bread has risen, you want to lightly flour your rolling pin and roll out the dough. Just make it about as big as your mat or cookie sheet.



Next, start laying on your goodies. I put cheese down first, then a layer of ham.



More Cheese



And more ham



Then one last layer of cheese, then do slits down the side that you will use to braid your bread.



Then braid all those slits you just made, starting with packing the thicker end piece in first and tucking in the thicker piece on the other end last (with the next to last piece over lapping it).



Next, I melt just a tiny bit of butter, one tablespoon or less.



I use a brush and wipe the butter over the loaf of bread.





Then I just sprinkled a little tiny pinch of parsley flakes across the top.



Next, bake on 350° for 30 minutes. The top will barely be brown, but will be nice and toasty!



Let it sit for just a few minutes before cutting and be careful because it is hot, hot, hot!





Ham and provolone go so good together and this was amazingly delicious. The kids especially love this and because it is so easy to make we can make it for lunch of dinner.

Another reason I love it is because I don't feel terrible about feeding it to my kids! Hillshire Farm Naturals lunch meat has no artificial ingredients, is nitrate free, and even gluten free. Being minimally processed is important as I am trying to eliminate having a lot of processed foods in our house.

Get your own and save $0.75 on any ONE (1) Hillshire Farm Naturals® Black Forest Ham or Honey Roasted Ham with the digital coupon available from Just4U. Expires 8/9/15. (While Supplies Last)



Hillshire Farm® is offering a “Love It or We’ll Eat It” Guarantee for those who try their Naturals lunch meat. They will donate a lunch to someone in need if you “Love it” or provide a rebate.

So what are you going to make with your Hillshire Farm Naturals? Maybe this delicious Ham and Cheese braided bread or a yummy Ham sandwich? Comment below and let me know!

Fritos Salad

Hello, Hello! I can't believe we have been out of school for over a month! Where is the Summer season going? Who had been to BBQ after BBQ this year already? I know we are! We are either going to one or having one at our house pretty often and this Fritos Salad is one of my favorites to share. I'm sure you've seen it on Pinterest before, right?


I had a little piece of orange and red pepper left over from another salad I was making and I tossed it in for color! But after you chop your peppers and onion then just mix in your other ingredients (minus the Fritos) and give it a stir to mix everything together.

• 2 cans whole kernel corn, drained


• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese


• 1 cup mayonnaise (I actually just used about 3/4 cup. I started with a 1/2 and added a little more to get it where I wanted)


• 1 cup green pepper, chopped


• ½ cup red onion, chopped


• 1 bag coarsely crushed Fritos corn chips

It's pretty straight forward. Mix everything together except for the corn chips. You want to mix those in right before serving so that they don't get soggy. I like to let mine refrigerate for a couple of hours to chill but then you are ready to eat!

Serve and enjoy!



I try to mix it up each BBQ we do/go to but this one is always a hit. Using Chili Cheese Fritos tastes really good too and gives it a little spice!

Happy Friday friends! Have a fun and safe weekend.

The one that got away

The one that got away, or maybe the ones that you kicked to the curb- I'm talking ex boyfriends today. We all have them, the one we cried over, fought for and thought we would never get over.

So where are yours now? Do you know? Do you care? Do you ever wonder how different your life would be had things worked out with them? Where you might live, how your family would look?

I had more crushes on boys in school than I can even remember but have only actually dated a few people. (I'm not talking about my boyfriend in 2nd grade, or the one that lasted longer than some of my adult relationships for part of 3rd-6th grade. Same boy. Now that is commitment, but, I mean, we rarely talked outside of school so....)

But then there was my very first boyfriend that I met right towards the end of 8th grade. I then dated him for half of high school too. I totally count that because I loved him with all of my little 13 year old heart. I know some people say "You don't know love" or "You're just a kid", "You're too young", well yes, we were young but I think when you are young you are learning to love and you love with all you know. While I am not "friends" with this guy, we are fb friends so I occasionally see how he and is family are doing.

My next boyfriend I met in a movie theater. My friend and I went to a movie and he was by himself sitting a few rows behind us. I don't even think the movie had started yet and I told my BFF that I wanted to go sit with him. And so we got up and moved next to him. Him and I talked the entire movie and exchanged info afterwards. The downside? We lived in different states. My friend and I just happened to be in another state with my mom visiting my dad while he worked out of town. So this guy and I started writing letters back and forth and talked on the phone once a week or so. After months of writing we decided to be "boyfriend and girlfriend" Yes, even though we were 5 states apart. I don't know exactly why I thought that would be a good idea... I was 16 after all. But after just a few short months he decided it was better that we breakup. I won't ever forget sitting on my bed having just hung up the phone, so upset. Talking to my mom about how he just broke up with me and crying in her lap thinking my heart was broken into a million pieces.



A few months later I met the guy I would marry. We only dated 10 month before he proposed and got married 7 months after that. And he unexpectedly passed away on our 1 and a 1/2 year anniversary. Most of you know that part of my story.

About a year later I reconnected with the guy who lived states away. This time he happened to be even further away as he had joined the military and was out of the country. We decided that when he got home we would do what we needed to finally meet up. But then I met someone. I guess I have a thing for unrealistic relationships because this one lived across the state from me. 4 1/2 hours away isn't terrible but not ideal, right?



I have to say that I think I learned the most from this guy. I learned what a relationship shouldn't be. And I learned what I didn't want. Though, at the time I didn't see it that way at all. The year and a half that we long distance dated, going across the state to see him every couple of weeks and him coming to see me every couple of weeks was stressful. We both worked retail jobs and our schedules were always different. We tried to make it work and the trust issues I had with him should have been a sign, right? But not for me. We finally broke up but weren't going to see other people. That typically doesn't turn out well... but I thought we'd have the break we needed and get back together and everything would be good. When actually what happen was we still saw each other and acted like we were dating until one time when I got to his city, the night before we were supposed to go spend days at the ocean, and he told me he was seeing someone else. Yes, my eyes finally flew open and I walked away from the "relationship" for good.

I took a lot of time for myself. I wanted to find out who I was without a guy in my life. What I wanted for mine and my son's life and started being happy with it being just us.

You know that saying about when you stop looking that is when the right person comes into your life?

It is so true.

It wasn't like I had given up on guys but I wasn't watching for "the one" on every street corner. I didn't find myself wondering if the cute guy at the bar was going to someday be my husband. I really just focused my myself and my child.



And that is when it happened. When I met Travis. We dated for almost 3 years when we got married. We've had our share of ups and downs, what relationship doesn't? But we are always respectful of each other .

*** I want to say that I love my husband. We are good and I have never been happier in a relationship than I am right now. This post has nothing to do with him or my feelings for him and I often think of the Rascal Flatts song, Bless the Broken Road, because I am grateful for those past relationships leading me to the right man. ***

It's funny when you look back on life, on relationships, etc. And you realize that the men, friends, jobs that you thought you'd never forget are so far in the back of your head and that is right where they need to be. I am so grateful for where life has taken me, including the ups and downs because of where I am today. With my amazing husband who loves with everything he has. Who works so hard to support our family, and appreciates the job I do at home with our three kids.

So thank you to those ex's that broke my heart. To the one that got away.