Connect the Dots Ginger | Becky Allen

Friday, May 29, 2015

How To Save Money With Food Storage

The other day, I decided to take a look into our deep freezer. I was on the search for breakfast burritos that I made a few months ago as a easy dinner night. Just a grab and go type of meal! When I opened up the top and looked into the mass of frozen foods and meals I was shocked to see what was in there. Chicken breasts, chicken tenders, a STEAK! Chicken pieces, bread from panara that was given to us, meals that were given to us when I was in the hospital. Nuts, veggies! I was shocked. I didn't even realize what food I had under my own roof!

My normal procedure before I go to the store is to look around upstairs in my kitchen where the mostly everyday used items are and see what needs replenshment, and what foods I am going to be making for the week. I check the freezer, oops out of chicken again, add it to the list. And so forth! But I had forgotten to check what I already had. BAD ME!

Again this happened last night. I knew we had cans of veggies and stuff but WE HAVE A LOT OF CANS! And I bought some corn at the store when I already had 6 down stairs, after closer inspection! So my solution: MAKE AN INVENTORY LIST! Neat concept huh! Why didn't I think of this earlier is all I keep saying because this has happened before. I send the hubs out at 6pm, "I need some taco seasoning we don't have any." 2 days later I go down and find 2 bags of it! EEK...Sorry babe!

So I finally made an inventory list! YEA! I am going to hang this in the inside of my pantry door so I will have everything at a glance. Having a food storage is a great thing, but you can't just hold onto everything forever. You have to rotate it through. You need to use it and buy more eventually, but for the mean time I am going to be saving lots of money not having to buy chicken for the next month I think. Yeah, I have that much chicken down there! CRAZY!
Now I can just cross off what I use or add more marks when I buy!

So here are tips on how to save money on food storage.

***Coupons, coupons, coupons! How do you think we got so many tomatoes! Watch the coupon sites to see when canned foods go on sale. Try to stock up on the actual coupons so that you can use more than one coupon at the same time. Know the difference between manufacturer coupons and the store coupons. They are different! Because you can use a manufacturer coupon on top of a store coupon on top of a sale! LOTS of money to be saved. Check out Krazy Coupon Lady to get the full details on how to use coupons, what coupons are out now and all the deets you need! This is how we have 23 cans of tomatoes! Oh and double/triple coupon sales too! Those are great!

***Store sales. Combining the coupons on top of sales helps you save even more money. So if you have a sale for 2 cans of beans for $.99 and a coupon for $.50 off then you are going to get 2 cans of beans for only $.50.

***Watch for bulk sales. At Harris Teeter they have a sale of 10 for $10. Which is a really great sale because it is usually mix and match. But add a coupon on top and save more money.

***Make sure that you rotate through your supply. It doesn't last forever so you can't just hoard it. So make sure that you buy what you use so that it isn't collecting dust. You are wasting money on it to buy it if you aren't going to use it, or eventually going to use it. Make sure it is something that you will use! (Believe it or not we had a whole lot more than the 23 cans of tomatoes! We use about 1-2 cans a week!)

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Never Give Up!

Believe you can do lose weight and you will! You are worth it to be happy. And not settling for how you feel just because you have tried in the past and things didn't work out like you wanted. YOU CAN DO THIS! You just have to keep trying, keep working and NEVER give up!
Support is out there for you! You just have to be ready for it and when you are, nothing will stop you! EVER!

June 30 day Challenge Sexy Arms Dumbbell Circuit

Time for a new 30 day challenge. This is more for increasing your arms strength but also to build endurance. As you get comfortable with these exercises increase your cardio up to X20. By the end of the month aim for 20 minutes of cardio along with increasing in weight to the next higher dumbbell for you. So if you start with 5 pound weights by the end of the month your goal is to be up to 8-10 pounds. 

Good luck! And for more daily motivation be sure to follow me on FACEBOOK

Last Call...

It's the last call to be part of my 30 day challenge group for June! 

Why do I host these challenge groups? Because I know that exercise is easier with a buddy to join you! Seriously, how much faster does a workout go when you have someone doing it right along with you. Last July when I was a participant in my FIRST challenge group (not hosting actually a challenger) I was excited to do my workout and to tell everyone in the group about it. You could tell the ones who wanted it compared to the ones. We all supported each other, asked question and made it fun. I had daily motivation that made me think about how to better myself on the inside while I worked on the outside. It gave me confidence I didn't know I was lacking. I learned a ton about myself that first 60 days and I am so thankful to my friend Janet for encouraging me to join the challenge group. Take that first step and do it! 

I am offering that same opportunity to take that first step. Decide to do this for you. Commit yourself to 30 days of eating clean, working out and enhancing your life through positive thinking. Today is the last day that I will accept people (within reason of course) into the group! I want to be there for you. I want to help you. Let me walk you through this. Take that first step! 

Join me this JUNE for our challenge group to help you get started! Fill out the form below to let me know you are interested!
Being part of the challenge group you as the challenger get:

One on one support from me to help you set and reach your goals.

Daily motivation.

Work with a program that is just right for you to fit your lifestyle.

Provide you with recipes and a meal guide

Daily dose of nutrition.

Plus you will be with other people just like you in our PRIVATE accountability group where you can ask questions and get real answers.

Our Motto for June is: It's not about being skinny. It's about gaining confidence, better health, more energy and HAPPINESS!

(Please do not apply if you are currently a Beachbody Coach, are already working with a Beachbody coach (other than me) or are not willing to make a small investment in your health and wellness.)

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Hurt So Good


Why does it hurt so good??? Am I crazy or just weird. I love it now Getting that burn from exercise. (at least on my legs. Shoulders, HA that is another story. I wimp out way too quickly!) Last night Matt and I were doing our lower body workout and man I was burning. I was on fire, but I just kept going. I pushed through the pain. I DID IT! After 3 weeks of doing my lower body exercise, I feel like I finally accomplished something huge! I didn't give up. I just kept going. I told Matt how much I hated that exercise because it hurts so bad while doing it but it FEELS SO GOOD AFTER!

But why does it hurt so good? Remember in Legally Blond how Elle Woods says, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't kill their husbands." (it's true I don't get as frustrated with Matt after exercising!) But it is true. That burning sensation of the lactic acid also releases the endorphins that make you happy. And when you do enough you get that little "runners high" (even if you aren't doing running you still get that little high). Plus it is making you stronger with every single burn. Your muscles are working then recovering, then working then recovering. That is why it is so important to rest between days of working out. (don't do leg day twice in a row!)

When you don't think you can any more reps of your exercise, I dare you, no, no, double dog dare you, to do 2 more. Get that burn. Let it burn. Because it will be so good for your body and for your mind. Push past the burn. I know it sucks and that it is hard but you will love it when you get the results that you want!

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

21 Day Fix Promo Video

Check out this video about 21 Day Fix:

Here is a little snippet from the Dirty 30 Workout




Missed Opportunities


Have you ever just looked back on your life at some point wishing that you just did it differently. The other day I was talking with some other ladies. And one mentioned that they have their 20th high school reunion coming up and how they were not so excited to go to it. I asked, "if you could go back to high school, would you?" Of course this is right out of the movies, 17 Again, but why do you think movies like that are so popular? I would go back in a hot second if I had the confidence in myself that I have right now. I would be more outgoing. I wouldn't be as shy. I don't think I would be as boy crazy because it shouldn't have been my huge focus anyways. And I would have loved my body I was in. (Heaven knows I would love to be 160 again!) I would appreciate my life a little more and my parents for that matter.

But I can't regret the way I was way back when, now. I have to learn from it. Understand that that is what made me how I am today. I would give anything to be what I weight in high school again. And that is why I am working on me. But that means that I need to love my body now and be impressed that it is as strong as it is. I am working on me.

I also can't regret any missed opportunities now. People not knowing what I do. Some people might not know a whole lot about me. Or how much I gave up to start my own business and now I have 2! I decided that working for someone else wasn't for me. I have not looked back since because I have been so blessed with finding students when I needed them and growing both my businesses! So I decided that I am going to tell you what I do so that you know from now on!

 So here it is! Me in a nutshell. I am a mommy of 2 super cute boys! An almost 4 year old and a beautiful 1 year old that is so patient with me he deserves to have anything he wants. I am a stay at home mom. And I love it! I hate working for other people. I always did. I always wanted to be the boss not be bossed around. And that is what led to me opening and starting my own business in teaching private music lessons. When we moved to VA we decided that I needed to look for a job at least until we had kids. After a week or so thinking about what to do. I dreaded going to my interviews and I said a quick prayer, "Please help me to know very quickly if this is what I should do or not." Within the first 5 minutes of the interview she mentioned something about the hours and I knew that it wouldn't work out for me in general. I just couldn't do it. I finally took the dive and decided that I wanted to teach piano privately. I have been teaching privately as a business setting for, goodness, almost 8 years now! I have relocated my studio and started it up again in that time once since we moved to another city. So I have started my business twice now. Fist time people came to me and I didn't even have to work at it. It just happened. But when we moved to a larger city, it took me almost 2 years to get to my goal of how many students I wanted in my studio. It took a lot of patience, and just getting out there and telling people. Putting myself out there. Plus a lot of word of mouth. I have taught and made a positive musical impact with over 100 students. It is amazing to see them learn and I love it!

I am also a coach through Beachbody. And that only came about because of this blog. I felt inspired to start my blog to help people start a new journey for themselves. To know that it can be done. That it takes a whole lot of work and patience but it can be done. Then a year ago I felt inspired to take my coaching through the blog to a whole new level! To work one on one, since I love doing that anyhow because of teaching. I love working with other people. I truly am a people person. I love seeing how strong my challengers get. How much they learn about themselves during the whole process is AMAZING! And for me personally it is such a blessing to have 2 "jobs" (they are so fun it doesn't seem like I am working honestly) that I am in charge of and know that I am impacting lives for the future in such a positive way! I have the freedom to still be with my kids, travel when we want to (within reason) and still be able to help contribute to our family financially.

I truly encourage you that if you ever felt inspired to do another type of work and thought that it could work. IT WILL! You just have to put your whole heart into it and go. Trust in yourself and God that he will help you accomplish the things you need to do. It might be super scary to leave what you have known for so many years but when you love what you do, your days are better, you find more joy in what you are doing and you don't feel like you are working but connecting with others! It is such an amazing experience!
If you need motivation and encouragement to help you achieve your goals in fitness or help just click on the Sizzlin' Summer Banner at the top of the page or CLICK HERE to let me know you are interested! Serially all it takes is just one decision to change the rest of your life. What are you going to pick?

Monday, May 25, 2015

Memorial Day BBQ Ideas

Just a quick shout out to my hubs and all those who are currently serving and who have served. Thank you for your willingness and sacrifice to protect our great nation. May you and your family be blessed, always! We honor you this day and everyday for your amazing bravery and patriotism! Thank you!

Here is a collection of a few recipes I found that would be AWESOME for today's BBQ! Check 'em out and let me know what you think. Comment below! We are having steak because I just had an amazing burger on Friday night, and I found a nice steak in the deep freezer begging to be used! But I'm doing the zucc, and the berries. Maybe the water and the fries. It all looks yummy to me! Enjoy and Happy Memorial Day!

Start with a nice Patriotic Drink of Blueberry and Strawberry Infused water! 

Grilled Zucchini -

Classic Hamburger- Make them slider size for better portion control. Use lettuce leaves instead of buns for gluten free option. I make my own homemade buns so I know what is in them. Here is the recipe for them.


Stuffed Strawberries-

Friday, May 22, 2015

Friday's Five May Collection

I haven't done one of these in awhile! Here are my 5 things I am totally loving these days:

1. 21 Day Fix. Seriously loving this because I can modify the workout to work for me. If I need to be a wimp then I can wimp out. But if I wanna push it then I can totally push it for as long as I can, and then wimp out and go down to a lighter weight. But honestly I am getting stronger. I was convinced that Collin had lost weight because he just wasn't feeling as heavy to me. Well the little chunk is now over 20 lbs and low and behold I was just getting stronger. Go figure! Ready to get your hands on 21 Day Fix Finally? ORDER HERE for the workout combined with Shakeology! BEST DEAL THOUGH is to get the Beachbody on Demand Annual All Access Challenge Pack where you get access to every workout program ever created for 1 year, 1st month supply of Shakeology and the entire Nutrition Fix Program (those fun little containers to help you eat right!)

2. Pandora: Love turning on my pandora station and just listening to it. Sometimes during the day I will turn on the kids songs for the kids and watch Collin "dance" to it. But he loves music. Mason just tells me to turn it down. There always has to be a critic.

3. Pinterest: I am loving snooping and pinning on Pinterest lately. I have been looking for clean eating recipes, or different workouts, and lots and lots of motivational quotes to help get me through the day.


4. You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero: (sorry mom didn't mean to swear but that is the name of the book). Seriously this book has hit point on point in what I need to be hearing right now. No more wallowing in my sadness. Time to get out there and make something of myself. Help others. And just enjoy life for the roller coaster ride that it is. There are lots and lots of ups and downs and corkscrews in our life and we just need to know how to ride them. Cower in fear or with hands up! Which would you prefer?

5. Lost: I have started to re-watch Lost again. I am use this as my decompression for when I am having a bad day, because my dad is NEVER as bad as theirs gets to I have something to be thankful for.

Short and sweet. What are you loving these days? Comment below! I wanna hear from you!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Emerald Coach

So this happened today! Super excited not only because I hit my first milestone as a coach with Beachbody but because of all the amazing women that I have helped and are currently helping to set their goals and ACHIEVE THEM! I feel like I have been called to help inspire, encourage and motivate women to get out of their comfort zone, make that choice that they are worth it and to help them with the next step of their lives by taking care of them! What a wonderful blessing it is in my life! Thank you to all my friends who have helped support me and followed my journey. I so look forward to the rest of my journey that has no end at this point! Thank you everyone! 

What is a Team Beachbody Emerald Coach? An emerald coach is the first advancement as a coach in Beachbody. It means that you are building your team of awesome coaches and the beginning of becoming a leader. If you have any questions about it or about coaching please let me know! This was my first business goal when I became a BeachBody coach 10 months ago. My ultimate goal is to help women and men to set their fitness and health goals and learn to achieve them. I am doing that on a daily basis now and it is amazing! 


My coach wrote this about me and I feel so blessed. Sometimes I don't see myself in this way. What a wonderful reminder to keep on being that light and beacon! 
--- I am so excited to congratulate Becky Allen on becoming an Emerald Coach today! Becky has been inspiring and helping others through her blog Connect The Dots Ginger while being an amazing mother, spouse, teacher, and pursuing her passion to run, be healthy, and eat clean. She's been inspiring others while using PiYo, 21 Day Fix, and Shakeology to support keeping herself and her family healthy. Becky has the amazing ability to take adversity and turn it into a positive force. I know this is just the beginning for her on her journey to help others be happy and healthy! Congratulations!!!

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