Delicious Recipes

Taco Salad Casserole Recipe

I LOVE tacos!  They are one of my absolute favorite meals.  This casserole tastes like a taco and is so easy to make! I love how the crushed tortilla chips on the bottom make a nice crust. The refried beans and meat mix together with the cheese to make each bite taste like heaven.

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 25 min.
Bake: 15 min.
YIELD:4 servings
Taco Salad Casserole Recipe | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef (use ground turkey for a healthier option.)
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped green pepper (personally I hate peppers, but if you like them, go ahead and add them!)
  • 1 envelope taco seasoning (I prefer the lower sodium one)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup crushed tortilla chips
  • 1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
  • Toppings: chopped lettuce and tomatoes, sliced ripe olives, sour cream and picante sauce

Directions:

  • 1. In a large skillet, cook beef, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Cook and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes; set aside.
  • 2. Place chips in a greased 8-in. square baking dish.
  • 3.In a small bowl, stir refried beans; spread over chips.
  • 4.Top with beef mixture and cheese.
  • 5. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
  • 6.Top with lettuce, tomatoes and olives. Serve with sour cream and picante sauce. Yield: 4 servings.
  • Enjoy!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Lookin Joli Good

 

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #5

Here is another workout you can do whenever and where ever you want! This one is an abdominal specific workout.  You can get this one done in less than 15 minutes! All you need is a small amount of space and a stability ball if you already have one!  Do 5-10 reps of each and repeat 2-3 times depending on how much time you have.  No excuses, just do it!

No Gym? No Problem! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

  1. Warm-up: Cat-Camel

    Start on all fours with hands directly beneath shoulders and knees below hips. Exhale and contract your abdominal muscles, rounding your spine up to the ceiling (bottom illustration). Tuck in your chin slightly and hold for 10 to 15 seconds. Next, exhale and arch your lower back and draw your chest and head upward; hold for 10 to 15 seconds. Return to the starting position and repeat the full move.

  2. Bird-Dog

    Remain on all fours and tighten your abdominal muscles, keeping your spine and neck in a neutral position; you should be looking at the floor. Slowly extend your left leg behind you while reaching your right arm forward. Keep your hips and shoulders square and make sure your lower back doesn’t arch. Hold for five seconds. Slowly return to the starting position and do the move on the opposite side. Complete 5 to 10 repetitions on each side.

  3. Stability-Ball Crunch

    Strengthen your abs and obliques by sitting on a large ball with your feet flat on the floor. Walk your feet forward, letting your entire back rest on the ball and keeping your thighs parallel to the floor. Cross your arms over your chest and slightly tuck in your chin. Contract your abs and exhale as you raise your torso about 45 degrees. Pause, then lower, inhaling as you go. If you feel unstable, move your feet farther apart. Repeat 5-10 times.  If you don’t have a stability ball, just do this move on the floor as a regular crunch/sit up.

  4. Front Plank

    Lie on your stomach with arms bent, palms and forearms on the ground, fingers pointed forward, legs extended, and toes tucked under. Work your back and abs by contracting your core muscles and slowly lifting your entire torso off the floor, keeping palms, forearms, and toes on the ground. Avoid arching your lower back, hiking your hips upward, or shrugging your shoulders. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds, gradually building up to one minute.

  5. Bicycle

    Lie on your back with fingertips behind ears, legs in the air, and knees pulled toward chest. Target your sides and entire ab area by contracting as you lift your shoulder blades off the ground. Straighten your right leg at a 45-degree angle and rotate your upper body to the left, bringing the right elbow toward the left knee. Switch sides by straightening your left leg, bending your right leg, and bringing the left elbow to the right knee. Alternate sides in a pedaling motion. Complete 5-10 full reps.

  6. Side Plank

    Turn onto your right side with your legs extended and your feet and hips resting on the ground and stacked on top of each other (top illustration). Place your right elbow directly under your shoulder to prop up your torso, and align your head with your spine. Gently contract your core and lift your hips and knees off the floor; this strengthens your sides and deep ab muscles (bottom illustration). Hold for 10 to 30 seconds, gradually working up to a minute, and return to the starting position. Roll onto the other side and repeat.

  7. Reverse Crunch

    To strengthen the entire ab area, lie on your back and extend your arms out to the side, or keep your hands behind your head if that’s more comfortable (top illustration). Raise your knees and feet so they create a 90-degree angle. Contract your abdominals and exhale as you lift your hips off the floor with control; your knees will move toward your head (bottom illustration). Try to keep your knees at a right angle. Inhale and slowly lower. Repeat 5-10 times.

  8. Cooldown: Cobra

    Lie on your stomach with your hands underneath your shoulders and your fingers pointing forward (top illustration). Keep your neck long. Gently exhale and lift your chest and torso upward to stretch your abdominals (bottom illustration). Press your hips into the ground. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds, breathing evenly, then slowly lower back to the floor.

Don’t forget to keep good form and warm up before and stretch out after you exercise!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Lookin Joli Good

Quote

ANYWAY…

The Paradoxical Commandments were written by Kent M. Keith when he was a 19 year old sophomore at Harvard College.  Mother Teresa had this enlarged, framed, and hung in the front lobby of her children’s home in Calcutta.

ANYWAY | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,

LOVE THEM ANYWAY

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives,

DO GOOD ANYWAY

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies,

SUCCEED ANYWAY

The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,

DO GOOD ANYWAY

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,

BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY

People love underdogs but follow only top dogs

FOLLOW SOME UNDERDOGS ANYWAY

What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight,

BUILD ANYWAY

People really need help but may attack you if you help them,

HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY

Give the world the best you have

And you’ll get kicked in the teeth,

GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU’VE GOT

ANYWAY.

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Lookin Joli Good

Health/ Fitness

Streeeeeeeetch

My muscles have been so tight and sore lately that I actually thought that I had injured myself! Sometimes you just need a good stretch!  This Short and Sweet Stretch from Jessica Smith only takes 15 minutes and it is perfect for stretching out those tired tight muscles!

 

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Lookin Joli Good

 lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
Flab to FAB · Health/ Fitness · Jillian Michaels Body Revolution · Lifestyle

Jillian Michaels Body Revolution Workout 4 Review

**Please see update below. Did you think that I totally forgot about these?  Nope, I didn’t!  My sore muscles haven’t forgotten either! Like workout 2, workout 4 is focused on the back of the body but has more compound movements than the earlier 2 workouts.

Phase 1 Workout 4 for Weeks 3 and 4

jillian-michaels-body-revolution | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com What will you need?  exercise mat and free weights (3, 5 or 8 lbs depending on your strength level) While this phase is still meant to be low impact you will still be sore when you first start out. Where can you expect to be sore the next day?  
  • Back
  • Biceps
  • Glutes
  • Hamstrings
  • Abs
The workout is broken down into 4 circuits; each of which are repeated once with  one minute of cardio  in between the circuit repetition. comfortable with being uncomfortable | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Here is a breakdown of phase one workout four:

Warm-up
  • Butt Kicks
  • Single Leg Hip/Glute Stretch
  • Backwards Arm Circles
  • Repeat

Circuit 1:

  •  Alternating forward Lunges
  • Static Squat with a Medium Row
  • Single Leg Deadlift with Upright Row
  • Opposite Leg Deadlift
Cardio -1 minute Plyo Skaters -repeat circuit 1

Circuit 2:

  • Side Lunge Bicep Curl
  •  Bent Over Wide Row High and Wide
  • With arms holding weights strait up, step back with front knee down onto the ground into kneeling position back up to standing with weights lifted over the head the entire time (does that even make any sense?  Trust me, it is super hard and not fun at all!)
Cardio -1 minute-Alternate step up/hops with weights-repeat circuit 2

Circuit 3:

  • Side laying single leg lift with heavy weight
  • Plank with alternating leg raise
  • Side laying single leg lift with heavy weight opposite side
  • Hollowman
Cardio -1 minute- Fast Feet-repeat circuit 3

Circuit 4:

  • Terry Pulls right side (looks easy, but if done correctly it is a lot harder that it seems)
  • Good Mornings with 2 heavy weights
  • Terry Pulls left side (not an ab move, think about the terry muscles that you are using.)
  • Swarms (crunch up and rotate touching your ankles.)
Cardio -1 minute-Jab Cross Hook Upper Cut Combo- repeat circuit 4 Cool Down/Stretches Since I haven’t written about Body revolution in a while, I finished phase one and now moved on to the second half of phase 1-workouts 3 and 4.   I was super sore from the workouts the first two days, but after that not much at all. I will write a detailed review of Workout 2 and Cardio 1 soon. Follow along with me as I journey from Flab to FAB! I hope this was helpful if you are trying to decide if Jillian Michaels Body Revolution is right for you! Here is one of my very favorite Jillian Micheals quotes:

This is where it matters the most. This is where lives are made, in these moments when you can choose whether or not to say ‘I cant’ or ‘I can.’ It is a choice that will either make or break you for life.

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Lookin Joli Good

Update:

Initially, I found Jillian Michaels’ approach to exercise and dieting highly motivational. Her intense workouts and strict dietary guidelines pushed me to achieve remarkable physical results, which fueled my motivation and determination. I embraced her no-nonsense attitude and believed that pushing my body to its limits was the only way to achieve success. However, as time went on, I began to realize that this approach was taking a toll on my mental health. The relentless pursuit of physical perfection and the constant pressure I placed on myself led to feelings of anxiety, guilt, and a distorted body image. It was then that I decided to change my perspective and adopt a more balanced and loving approach to my body. By prioritizing self-compassion, listening to my body’s needs, and embracing acceptance, I discovered a newfound sense of mental well-being. This shift in thinking allowed me to find joy in movement, cultivate a positive relationship with my body, and ultimately, achieve a healthier and more sustainable approach to overall well-being.
Tips and Tricks

Things I Have Learned

I recently celebrated my birthday!

I had a wonderful day filled with indulgence in lots of delicious foods that I haven’t allowed myself to eat in a while. Look at that Stuffed French Toast!!!

Happy birthday to me! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

When I was younger I used to think that being “old” must be terrible.  I was totally wrong!

So far I have appreciated life during my 30s so much more than I did in my 20s.

A lot of that appreciation has come with natural maturity as well as lessons that can only be learned through living life.

Beautiful flowers I got for my birthday from my husband and kids. lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
Beautiful flowers I got for my birthday from my husband and kids.

Here is a simple list of a few of the things I have learned during the first half of my thirties…

  1. Always wear sunscreen!
    That beautiful smooth skin will not stay smooth and beautiful for long.  If you keep getting “just a little burn” everytime you’re out in the sun, it will turn into something less than beautiful as time goes on!
  2. Exercise is so fun!
    I hate to admit is, but before I was in my 30s, I didn’t see the necessity of daily activity/exercise.  I’m glad that this is a lesson I learned at the beginning of my 30s, and I plan to continue with this healthy lifestyle.
  3. I cannot eat whatever you want and stay thin/healthy!
    I really wisht that this wasn’t true.  Unlike the exercise lesson, this one I just recently really learned and I am glad that I have finally learned how to eat healthy.
  4. The book is always waaaaaaay better than the movie!
    I didn’t start reading for pleasure until I was 31.  It took me 31 years to realize that one of the most enjoyable things in my life could be found at the library!
  5. Don’t say I don’t like a food until I have tried it.
    I have always been a very picky eater!  On my 30th birthday, we went out to a very fancy restaraunt for dinner.  Instead of ordering the food “without this” or “with this instead of that”, I decided right then to for once just order it the way it was found on the menu. That meal was one of the best I have ever had, and itchanged my eating/ordering habits.
  6. People are NOT against me, they are FOR themselves.
    Stop and think about this one, this was an epic lesson!!! No one is actually working against me, they are working for what is best for themselves.  It is not about you, it is always about them.
  7. Stop doing things that make me unhappy.
    I’m not talking about necessary responcibilities, I’m talking about the added stresses we put onto ourselves.  If you don’t want to do it, just say no.  Once you say “no” a few times it gets a lot easier to say.
  8. Happiness is not determined by what is happening around you but instead by what is happening inside of you!
  9. It is ok to distance myself from relationships that are not healthy.
    We all have them, those people who we feel obligated to hang out with even though we don’t enjoy being around them.  I refer to these people as fattning food/nap people.  Because after spending time with them I feel like I need to eat something fattening and take a nap.  Just because you have known someone for several years doesn’t mean that you have to stay “close” friends.  If you feel depressed and tired after spending time with someone, it is time to let that relationship go! I always tell my children, you can still be kind to someone without having to be best friends.
  10. It is ok to be afraid, just don’t let fear be the thing that controls me.
    Be motivated by your fear to to things that make you uncomfortable.  Some things are not as scary as you may think they are.  You’ll be amazed at how strong you really are when your fear is faced and overcome. II Timothy 1:7 says “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

These are some of the lessons that stick out in my mind.  I am sure that there are lots and lots more, but I will save those for another post.  I’m so glad that every day is an opportunity to start over and learn new lessons!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I would love for you to follow me on Instagram and Facebook!

Delicious Recipes

Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup

Way back when Pinterest was brand new and there weren’t too many people that used it yet, I pinned this easy crockpot potato soup from Pearls Handcuffs and Happy Hour.  As we all know, Pinterest has really taken off and it has been a huge blessing to bloggers of all kinds.

I have made this soup so many times, and ever time I make it I love it just as much!  Very simple, very delicious.  Perfect for dinner on cold winter days!

 

Easy Crock Pot Potato Soup | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com
Photo credit goes to Pearls Handcuffs and Happy Hour

Ingredients:

1 30oz. bag of frozen, shredded hash browns

3 14oz. cans of chicken broth

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1 pkg. cream cheese (Fat free cream cheese won’t melt)

Directions:

In a crockpot, combine everything EXCEPT for the cream cheese.
Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat.
About 1 hour before serving, add cream cheese and keep heated until thoroughly melted.
Serve with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, green onions (Sometimes if I have leftover ham I will cut it up and add it into the soup, ham is my favorite!)

If you would like to read the original posted recipe on Pearls-Handcuffs-Happyhour click HERE

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Lookin Joli Good

Make up

Make Up Dupes…?!

Have you ever been using a drugstore product and thought to yourself, “Hmmm this reminds me of…(insert high end product name)” or vice versa with a high end product?

Did you know that many of the high end companies we love are actually owned by one of the well known drugstore cosmetic companies?

YSL, Lancome, Georgio Armani, and Urdan Decay all have the same parent company L’Oreal.

Even Essie and EM by Michelle Phan and many more are owned by L’Oreal.  I love L’Oreal, it is one of my favorite drugstore make up brands.  You may remember that I also love Maybelline, it is also owned by L’Oreal.

 

 

Loreal-cosmetics lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Here is a list of the companies that are owned by L’Oreal:

  • L’Oréal Technique
  • L’Oréal Professionnel, (including ARTec and Innate)
  • Kérastase (created by L’Oreal in 1964)
  • Kéraskin Esthetics, (created by L’Oreal in 2007 and specializing in skin care professionals.)
  • Matrix Essentials, (founded by Arnie Miller in 1980 and acquired by L’Oreal in 2000.)
  • Mizani, (founded in 1991 and bought by L’Oreal in 2001.)
  • PureOlogy Research, (founded in 2001 and acquired by L’Oreal in 2007.)
  • Redken 5th Avenue NYC, (founded by Paula Kent and Jheri Redding in 1960 and acquired by L’Oreal in 1993.)
  • Shu Uemura Art of Hair
  • Carol’s Daughter
  • Carita
  • Decléor

L'Oreal Dupes? | lookingjoligood.wordpress.comL’Oreal Luxe

  • Lancôme
  • YSL
  • Giorgio Armani
  • Biotherm
  • Cacharel
  • Diesel
  • Viktor & Rolf
  • Ralph Lauren
  • Kiehl’s
  • The Body Shop
  • Shu Uemura
  • Stella McCartney
  • Clarisonic
  • Guy Laroche
  • Paloma Picasso
  • Urban Decay
  • Maison Martin Margiela
  • Yue Sai
  • Helena Rubinstein

Consumer products

  • L’Oréal Paris
  • Ombrelle
  • Garnier
  • Maybelline
  • Nyx Cosmetics
  • SoftSheen-Carson
  • Carol’s Daughter
  • Créateurs de Beauté
  • Essie
  • Magic
  • EM Michelle Phan
  • Niely Cosméticos
  • Colorama

Active cosmetics

  • Vichy
  • La Roche Posay
  • Inneov
  • Skinceuticals
  • Roger&Gallet
  • Sanoflore
  • Dermablend

One good thing about L’Oreal is its standards on animal testing:

“L’Oréal no longer tests on animals any of its products or any of its ingredients, anywhere in the world. Nor does L’Oréal delegate this task to others. The rare exception allowed is if regulatory authorities demand it for safety or regulatory purposes.”

Did you know that L’Oreal owned all of these other companies?  Are any of your favorite brands owned by L’Oreal?

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Lookin Joli Good

 

No Gym No Problem

No Gym? No Problem! #4

Here is another workout you can do whenever and where ever you want! All you need is a sturdy chair and a small amount of space!  Do 10 reps of each and repeat 2-3 times depending on how much time you have.  No excuses, just do it!No Gym No Problem! | lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

Remember to keep good proper form and warm up before and stretch after you exercise!

lookingjoligood.wordpress.com

I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram Lookingjoligood and on Facebook Lookin Joli Good