It all started with a bottle of lotion and a challenge.

We Wish you a Merry Christmas!

Made with love from the Ginger Lily Boss-Captain!

*** DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR DANCE MOVES BY CLICKING HERE! ***

Final Weigh-In on FRIDAY THE 13TH!

Michelle ~ A Reflection

"I will be glad when this Biggest Loser stuff is done.  I'm sick of doing stuff with you, Cory!"

E is for Elephant!

Sugar wager

No Sugar wager update: Dec 11, 2013 - Well three more days left I can taste the sugar now, Don and I both did really well with this wager so I think we are going to call it even and go out sometime soon to enjoy an nice treat! Thinking chocolate buffet :) I experimented with Paleo baking with natural sugars like honey or 100% maple syrup, I was quit pleased with the pumpkin tarts I made, I will be making them again for sure.

Recipe:

Mini Pumpkin Pie Tart Ingredients (Makes 12 mini-tarts)

Tart shells:

2 cups almond flour
2 tablespoons maple syrup*
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
dash of ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt

Filling

1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight
1/4 cup maple syrup*
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup fresh pumpkin puree (see my post on how to make your own, canned will also do)
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
a pinch of ground cloves
a dash of sea salt

I also made these Paleo Butter Tarts:

Running along the river

Carrying Movember through the holidays!

Team Ginger Lily Raised $725 (+$20 Not Shown Below) - HOORAY!

No Mo' Mo! Party @ The Red Zone

Amanda ~ Curling

Hurry HARD Amanda!!!

Garrett (Michelle) ~ Mo Update

Man of Movember and Miss Movember

Ginger Lily Octopus for the food bank

Garth ~ 23-day-old Mo Update - LOOKIN' GOOD!

45 - 23!!!! Go Riders!!!

What values, beliefs or opinions have changed as a result of this activity?

Cory ~ This challenge has served as a refreshing reminder that we all have our own abilities, goals, and motivators that others may not realize.

Budgeting - Amanda Haaland

I always tried to budget, with kids it can be a challenge with a lot of unexpected expenses, over the years with talking to friends and getting information through the Internet and reading I have slowly turned my uncontrollable budget into a organized way of spending and saving.  I have a pretty solid budget now and it helps me save for retirement and for unexpected expenses, Its easier to  stay in the black monthly now which is less stressful, Cynthia's seminar was informative, I was happy to learn that I knew and understood everything she was going over and I use a lot of the techniques in my own budget.  I know there is always room for improvement.  I have recently registered for Mint.com and I'm excited to start using it.  It's very visual and so many tools in there that make budgeting not such a chore.  Its all about educating yourself, “When you know better you do better.” Maya Angelou.

Budgeting ~ Cory

I attended Cynthia's budgeting presentation on Thursday November 14th.  It was very well-done.  I learned from Cynthia's experience that I am on the right track.  I am already doing everything she covered, which was very reassuring.  It was especially comforting to hear that she had faced the same challenges that I face e.g., reducing your monthly spending on food is not always possible.  It was wonderful to learn that I have been practicing formalized budgeting techniques.

Mo Sistas

About to participate in the Arthritis Society Jingle Bell Run-Walk for Arthritis

Garth ~ 16-day-old Mo Update

Boxing, Ginger-Lily Style

Amanda's Mo Cakes

Only $1 each - all proceeds go to the Movember cause!

Amanda ~ Supporting Movember anyway she can

We always dress like this!

The 80's ROCK!

Garth ~ 9-day-old Mo Update

Day of the Dead fun run

Michelle: "I think I like hiking better than running............."

The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertes) is a holiday that focuses on family and friends gathering to celebrate the lives of family and friends that have died. It is particularly observed in Mexico, where it has the quality of a national holiday. Similarly themed celebrations are held around the world.

Each culture and region has its own traditions; they often include special candies, pastries and drinks, shrines or offerings to the departed, and visits to their burial grounds.

Worldwide, celebrations almost always include a parade - which is where the idea for our fun run was born.

Welcome to MOVEMBER!

Avast Ye! Team Ginger Lily! Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Happy Halloween!

Ginger Lily food for the potluck

Garth, is your zipper undone?

First ever 8-km run

What is the funniest thing that has happened as a result of participating in this challenge?

Amanda ~ The funniest thing that happened while participating in the challenge that I can think of was on one of our group runs we asked a friend if she would like to join us, and we decided to meet up at her house and with getting all organized for the run we threw all our belongings in her house, and I shut the door behind me not realizing it was locked, So we were all locked out of her house with all our cell phones and keys locked inside! So we ended up running to her Mom's phoning the locksmith and then running back, which ended up to be pretty close to our 5KM we normally run. Once we got back to the house we checked the back door and it was unlocked the whole time. Made for an interesting morning run.

The photographs below are in front of her Mom's house.

Garth ~ While constructing our food bank sculpture I complained about wearing safety glasses and said what could happen doing this. I then turned around and got jabbed in the side of the face by one of the metal rods Michelle was hanging things from.