Kold Outside...

It is almost February (the month of love) which means I have some yummy dishes you can make for you love and might warm you both up a bit as it nonstop snows outside;) After February means it's March and that means it's almost spring break so we better get crackin on healthy eating and workouts right?!?!? Well even if you're not going to be sporting a swim suit over spring break working out makes you feel better on gray days and keeps you energized for days to come and summer isn't too far right? Okay so anyways, here's the workout I did today, it's my classic I think maybe I need to switch it up a bit....10 min elliptical while I waited for a treadmill, 5 minute jog (speed 6.1 incline .5), 10 30 sec interval sprints (speed 10 incline .5,1,1.5,2,2.5,2,1.5,1,.5,0) then I walked for a little and jogged a little more til I was done watching KLG and Hoda haha. Then I did a core crunch 15 min ab workout with the Nike Training Club App, then came home and stretched and had a smoothie! I am back to 2 Nalgenes of cran water per day this week! (But I am back to a cup of coffee in the morning haha..trying to ween away from creamer but I did find an organic hazelnut creamer from Whole Foods:)). For breakfast this morning I prepared some overnight oats last night so I could sleep in more, such a great idea! Same recipe as before with oats, a mashed .5 ripe banana, cooked quinoa, peanut butter, almond milk and chia seeds but this time I used less milk and added water, added 5 almonds and a few sunflower seeds, cinnamon and no protein powder. It still got me through class and a workout!

Tonight I cooked frozen tilapia filets from Whole Foods!:
#1 Thaw filets, set on a cookie sheet with foil.
Mix 1T melted butter, some lemon juice, dill weed, and chopped fresh cilantro in a bowl and pour over filets, salt a little, flip, and repeat.
Cook on 500 degree broil for about 7 minutes or until lightly browned on top (can take out and baste in between). I set my filet on some quinoa I had made from the overnight oats and Newman's Own pineapple mild salsa! Yummy! (Saved the other filet for lunch tomorrow!)

#2 Warm Apple Pie (sorta):
Peeled and chopped apple in a bowl for 3 minutes in the microwave to soften. Add a few oats, cinnamon, and agave and voila! Warm apple pie:) I bet some almond milk would've been good too...

#3 Not pictured rushed random dinner:
After setting up for a baby shower and not eating before on friday night (bad idea haha) I came home, resisted the urge to pick up fast food, and made dinner in a fluster! Here's what it was and what I had:
Rotisserie chicken
Cabbage
onions
mushrooms
shredded potato
a little shredded cheese
thrown into a pan with a little EVOO, then I mixed some nonfat sour cream with balsamic and mixed that in as well. SO GOOD! And I was ravenous haha.

Have a fabulous Tuesday everyone! Challenge yourself! (It's my new motto...why not?) xoxo

Kookin and Kids' books!

Today I have some delicious recipes to share with you that have given me some wonderful leftovers for lunches and dinners during this back to school week! And in the theme of back to school I have some Kids' books to share with you...so much more exciting than textbooks! And cheaper! I have a feeling I may be uploading a lot of books from now on...I would also love to get some recommendations of your favorite children's books to add to my collection! (comment at the bottom of the post, message me, or text me!)

#1 Chicken Stir Fry!
I simply cut off a little more of that rotisserie chicken I used for the enchiladas (that was only $4 and has lasted me all week!). I cleaned and cut up a few of my favorite veggies (that I had around the house): water chestnuts, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, and sweet onion. I put the veggies in the pan first with a little water to steam covered and then added some low sodium soy sauce and the chicken. #2 I bought this little $1 pack of rice noodles in ginger thai flavor and cooked using the instructions on the package in the microwave while the stir fry was frying. When everything was done I mixed it all together, added a little chalula spicy sauce and ate 1/3 of it and saved the rest for left overs! mmmm

#3These are some morning oats I had to warm me up using the cinnamon apply spice tea instead of water to cook the oats and mixing it all with ground flaxseed, cinnamon, microwaved apples, agave, and peanut butter for some protein.

#4 Sour Kraut and Family Sausage!
Okay this is a favorite I have actually never made before but it turned out tasty! You need:
Kison family sausage (or your choice of link sausage:) )
Can of sour kraut (wish I had homemade)
1/2 medium sized sweet onion
1 russet potato (from Idaho!!)
Cook the sausage in a evoo greased pan, covered, for about 15 min flipping. Shred the potato on a grater while sausage is cooking and chop onions, and open sour kraut jar (this make actually take a while!). Then cut the sausage in half and push to sides add potatoes to the middle...I added the potatoes before the sausage was done and kept folding the potatoes to make sure all got done...then add onions and as much sour kraut as you want and let cook for about 10 min. Cut the sausage up squeeze a little ketchup on your plate and enjoy a German delight! :) WARNING people may give you funny looks for the smell when you warm up at school the next day...

#5 Sam's Three What Ifs- Such an adorable children's book that I downloaded electronically onto my ipad for $.99 and I LOVE it! Such cute questions by a little boy wondering what to be when he grows up when his parents give him a different kind of answer;) It's more important what you're personality is like...

#6 Amazing Grace- A story my lit professor shared with us today that I just love! A story of a little girl from a nontraditional family who has an interest in ballet and touches on some issues of race and stereotypes. And it's a series so there's more good ones out there!

#7 Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire-A fabulous book about a very inspiring and creative teacher (who's also the author) and a great way to get some ideas/resources! Go rent it!

That's all she wrote tonight, time to start reading some more books! Stay safe out there:)

Enchiladas and Organization!

I am so so so sad to see this wonderful winter break end, it pretty much marks the end of my "full college breaks" all other break will now be shortened and filled with working, studying, taking classes, taking tests, and applying for grad schools. Although I am sad to grow up it is kind of exciting!! And I am so thankful for all of the opportunities I am blessed to be a part of and experience and can not wait to see what path The Lord has for me in the next few years and what they will hold and how they will shape my life and me as a person.:) That was deep for a monday night but here's to another semester! May it be the best one yet!

What better to start off the semester than a healthy meal plan (literally planning out the week of meals to make and what left overs can be used.). I have decided being prepared is the only way to really stick to eating healthy and getting a balanced diet. So tonight I made Cabbage Chicken Enchiladas with rotisserie chicken from Fred Myers I will have left over for stir fry later in the week;) Not to mention this meal fed my hungry boyfriend and I and will be my lunch tomorrow at school!

#1 Cabbage Enchiladas:
1 rotisserie chicken (only used about 1/3 of it maybe half)
3/4c Nonfat sour cream
1 can diced mild green chilies
3/4c chicken broth or stock
1 head of organic cabbage
Fresh cilantro
Cheese for the top!

Boil the chicken broth in one pot and fill and boil a second pot with water. Once broth boils add the sour cream and chilies and a little pepper, turn on low and leave stirring occasionally. Once the water boils turn down a bit and add cabbage leaves (it is tricky to peel them off the head in one full leaf but you can definitely work with broken ones) to soften and make pliable to stuff and roll! I let them set in a strainer for about 30 seconds to cool and drip. Put a little of the sauce in a 9x9 pan, preheat oven to 350. Peel off some rotisserie chicken and cilantro leaves to stuff a cabbage leaf, roll, and set in pan and repeat (I made about 7 enchiladas). Add the rest f the sauce to the pan, sprinkle with cheese and pop in oven for about 20 minutes! So yummy! And better with some avocado or salsa:)

#2 and 3 What better way to start a new semester than an organized and functional house?! Here is a cheap way to organize hats in little space for $1.49 from Shopko...
#4 Scarves on an over the door towel rack (the towels I roll up and have in a cubby and the one I use is on a cute owl hook!)...
#5 and hair accessories, all with stuff I had around the house! And who knew the built in towel wall hanger would work so well to see all my headbands?!

Maybe this will spark some ideas/inspiration:) Good luck to everyone starting school, may The Lord watch over you and guide us all along our paths yet to be discovered xoxo.

Love 3 day weekends

This 3 day weekend to end winter break has been so wonderful and given me the opportunity to workout, relax, have fun with friends and best of all try out new concoctions of food!

#1 So much left over cilantro: This is a mexican breakfast! A little Ole' in the mornin:) An egg and egg white scrambled and cooked with canned fire roasted tomatoes, toasted Ezekiel bread with a little yogurt butter, sprinkle with a little cheese and fresh cilantro! I may have added some Chalula sauce too...and a grapefruit! mmmm Perfect way to wake up...

#2 Second perfect way to wake up before snow tubing, PANCAKES!: These are cranberry almond pancakes (mixed in some slivered almonds and craisins...could also use real cranberries but would have to boil first to soften.

Mix Wet: 1 large egg, 1 cup almond milk, 2 T of water, 2 t vanilla, 1/2 cup nonfat chobani greek yogurt.

Mix Dry: 1/2 cup oats maybe a little more I didn't measure, 1 c whole wheat flour, shakes of salt, 2 1/4 t baking powder, lots of cinnamon, about 1/4 c ground flaxseeds :) and craisins and almonds.

Mix all and cook on the pan in butter, add some organic peanut butter and agave nectar and enjoy! Yummy and hearty.

#3 Dr. Oz Peanut Butter "cookies" (maybe a little too healthy to call a cookie but good as a snack none the less): 2 mashed ripe bananas, 1/3 cup organic peanut butter, 2 T agave nectar, 1 large egg, 1 t vanilla, 2 1/2c oats, 1/4 c whole wheat flour, cinnamon! Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.
*I think some chocolate chips added to this would make it more of a "dessert cookie" than a "healthy cookie" haha without adding too much sugar or calories.

Stay tuned for some stir fry, organization tips, and more yumminess this week! xoxo

Krazy good food today!

This morning I woke up with some WARM spiced apple cinnamon protein oats, and my Yogi Slim Life tea instead of a freezing cold smoothie because I was freezing haha. Anyways here is the recipe (I have posted a similar one before):

Steep spiced apple cinnamon tea in a little more that 1 cup boiling water (a large mug), add to pot on stove and boil , then add in 1/2 cup of oats to cook.
While cooking, cut and dice an apple to be microwaved for approximately 3 minutes to soften:)
Mix the rest of tea, 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and almost 1/8c of ground flaxseed in a bowl.
Add oats, softened apples, more cinnamon, and a little agave on top and enjoy!

This lasted me a long time, all through my workout which consisted of 40 minutes random walk, run, jog, walk business til I was sweaty and tired. Then, a Nike Training Club app "core crunch" workout and stretching. And all through running errands until when I finally got home I felt like a smoothing and not your average smoothie!:

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (1 serving for mine is 2 scoops so one in my oats and one in this smoothie gave me a full serving:))
almond milk
About 1/8c of Hershey's unsweetened cocoa :)
Spoonful of organic peanut butter
1/2 banana
ice cubes
spinach
spoonful of chia seeds and flaxseed oil
yum yum yum

Next up, that homemade thing that goes well with movies...POPCORN! My lovely mother recently bought me a popcorn maker for Christmas and I finally had the chance to break it in last night! Large bags of kernels are so cheap it's unreal haha. My boyfriend. roommate and I decided to each make our own bowl and have a little flavoring contest (okay it was totally my idea but they got into it!). Here are the three we came up with, all had yogurt butter melted on them (better for you butter), in order from the last three pictures.

1. Lemon pepper seasoning and garlic salt
2. Garlic salt, onion powder and lots of dill!
3. cinnamon and sugar:)

Guess which one was whose....the lemon pepper was surprisingly very lemony and a favorite! But they were all yummy:) Try it! If you come up with a good idea let me know...I'll be making a lot of popcorn in the near future;) Great thing about popcorn is that its high in fiber and low in calories, great for a snack, and when it's homemade it is so much better for you! Those bags are yuckkkky.

On my Yogi teabag today: Goodness should become human nature, because it is real in nature.

Still Kookin and...

I realize that I have not been sticking to my "k's of life" theme lately...yesterday was all about Kale however...but today I did some Kookin and drank a new tea that will kickstart any weight loss program or is just Kind to your body as you Kozy up at home:)

1st on the docket: Cilantro Quinoa Warm Salad!
(super easy and great for the left over ingredients from my cilantro shrimp dish a few days ago!)
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa in 1 cup of water, bring to a boil and cover, turn on low for 15-20 min
In a pan, sauté 1T EVOO with 1/8 cup (or more) finely chopped onion and 1 glove minced garlic
After soft, add in 1 can of black beans (organic, drained) and a few shakes of chili powder
Then add about a table spoon of chopped cilantro, a little salt, juice from half a lime, and 1/4 cup of water, bring to a boil and then cook on med/low until water is about gone.
When quinoa is done add a T of chopped cilantro (fresh always!!!) and juice from the other half of lime, and fluff with a fork.

Place quinoa and been mix in a bowl (1/2 this makes 2 servings). Add add toppings! I added some baby spinach pieces, chopped Roma tomato, Chalula sauce for more spice, nonfat greek yogurt (for sour cream), and 1/2 avocado. Yumo!

2nd is the tea mmmm: Yogi Blueberry Slim Life Green Tea
Okay well with a name like "slim life" it definitely caught my eye on my adventure to Whole Foods the other day! It says it is supposed to energize and support a dieting program so why not try it?! I have had it two days in a row, midday with lunch and sipped on all afternoon and have not had any coffee! I love the taste and the energy it gives me without making my blood sugar plummet or getting the jitters.

3rd is the Nike workout that made me really sore today: Core Crunch 15 min
1 min V ups
1 min full extensions with medicine ball
1 min suitcases
1 min side plank crunches (rotate half way)
1 min frogger with swivel (plank, jump so legs come to either side of arms at the same time, jumo back to plank and twist right knee then left knee
repeat once then
1 min plank hold
1 min alternating swimming (on stomach)
1 min kick downs
And you're dead haha yay! Try it! I know it works from what my body is telling me...

All she wrote for tonight, stay warm and stay tuned for tomorrow....home made something that goes well with movies....:)

Finally Wifi!!!!

So now that I finally have wifi I will be back to regular posting..or at least more than once a week! So this post is a few random interesting things from this week including a relaxing exploration of whole foods for something to do, back to working out, and fun food!

#1: I LOVE my protein powder! This Achieve protein powder in creamy vanilla is seriously so good, when I found it on my step when I came home after break it was like Christmas all over! I have one smoothie everyday (usually take a break on sunday). There is yummy good for you vitamins in here like turmeric. Studies have shown it fights against cancer, is good for your liver, brain, cardiovascular health and more! Look it up!

#2 A smoothie recipe: T flaxseed oil (good for whole body -omega 3s-plus keeps you filling full!)
Tropical frozen fruit (pineapple, mango, banana, strawberries), creamy vanilla protein powder, lots of spinach!, cinnamon (so good for you! throw it in everything!), Chia seeds (after blended they do not need to be ground up), and my faaaaaav almond milk! (vanilla) I feel so good after I have one of these and full!

#3 Upon my adventure to wander Whole Foods (so nice not to be in a rush!) I found Garlic Kale chips on sale! Perfect reason to try them! Such a delish and healthy snack, they look gross I wont lie but this week was all about the GREEN, anything green is SO good for your body! Spinach and Kale pack lots of vitamins, especially when we might be feeling a down due to weather! There are healthy enzymes in them to aid digestion, vit K, A, C, iron, calcium (not just from milk!) and is a natural detoxifier. yay!

#4 Also on my adventure I decided to treat myself to a drink as I shopped, and it was actually a treat for my body! I was feeling really tired on saturday and a little lackluster so I tried the "apple zinger" from the juice bar (freshly juiced from their big juicer!): apples, KALE (sticking with the theme), ginger root, and lemon. SO TASTY! I want a juicer now...it was all frothy and seriously made me feel better and gave me energy, call me crazy but it's like I could feel the "zing" haha.

#5 Last thing from tonight: Girls bachelor night healthy treat (that took 15 minutes haha) These are cookies that you bake but then can be frozen and I bet you have all the stuff in your home already: 1.5 mashed bananas, then add 1/8 c. creamy organic peanut butter, t vanilla, dash of cinnamon, 1/6 c unsweetened organic with cinnamon applesauce, and 1/8 c unsweetened cocoa powder. This made about 16 cookies so you could definitely make a larger batch and freeze some for when you're craving an after dinner desert. I feel like you could add more chocolate or dark chocolate drizzle on top of the cookies and more protein by using yummy creamy vanilla powder;)

That is all for today! Interesting tea to come tomorrow.....

Snow Day

Snow day today and I got so much accomplished! I started it off with a little oats, quinoa, cinnamon, splash of almond milk, spoonful of peanut butter, 1/2 mashed banana, ground flax, and agave to warm me up! I also have gotten back into the multivitamin taking everyday and started to take 2 capsules of fish oil today. (Helps hair, bones, body and mind! So good for you!).

It literally snowed all last night and all day today so I didn't want to drive anywhere/didn't need to! whoo! Those little things around the house you never get around to doing? Oh I did them all today...organizing, throwing stuff out, cleaning, redecorating, packing up all Christmas stuff, cooking, working out, watching my favorite shows, and reading.

Workout with Almond Milk! (Literally did my Nike Training Club workout using the milk as my weight haha)

This was workout #1 and then after I also completed the "Leaner Legs" workout, 15 minutes annnnd my legs are sore tonight:) 

Post workout smoothie:

1 cup of spinach

Nicely shaken almond milk:)

Flax seed oil

Chia seeds

Frozen blueberries

And tonight I had the privilege of feeding to of my favorite snowboarders dinner so I decided to try this recipe I pinned on Pinterest a long time ago:

Cilantro Lime Shrimp!

Below are all of the ingredients, melt butter and oil first, then add in onions and garlic to get soft, then the oregano and red pepper flakes, then the tomatoes to become softened, and then the rest with the shrimp! The cilantro mixes in after you take the dish off the stove:)

*Here's a tip, I didn't had red pepper flakes or jalapenos so I went to the Mexican aisle at the store and bought a 50 cent packet of "hot taco seasoning" which was red pepper flakes:) So much cheaper! I left out the jalapenos but this spice was spicy enough! 

I also made some boxed Mexican rice to go along with..it warmed us and filled us all up!

I love cilantro so much it deserved it's own fresh picture!

We mixed the shrimp and together and added some avocado:)mmm

This is a must try!

Winter Storm=More at home experimenting!

Well since the odds were not in our favor to travel today another day at home means more bloggin! Ever wonder what to do with over ripe bananas? Here are a few options I made last night and tonight:)

Banana S'mores

One ripe banana cut length ways filled with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips.
Wrap in foil And place in oven at 400 degrees for 5-7 min (or a grill for 15 or over a campfire!).
Take out and sprinkle on crunched graham crackers or whatever else you like and share with a friend! Yummy warm dessert that's not so bad for you:) Before and after picture for you below!

Banana Nut Oatmeal

Cook regular oats on the stove, when done mix in about a tablespoon and a half or 2 of ground flaxseed, a tablespoon of almond butter, cinnamon, agave nectar, and half of a RIPE BANANA! Another warm and healthy meal for any time of day!

Completed another Nike Training Club App workout today: Cardio Blaster! Despite lack of motivation...grey and raining days...must be time to start taking vitamin D again! Went for a beautiful walk around the neighborhood with my dog and sister:) (last picture) God's beautiful world, great postworkout walk, just have to appreciate it!

New app!

Does anyone have the Nike Training Club app?! It's so wonderful! I just started using it today and I am so excited to be inspired by fun new work outs, keep track of how much I am working out, and get fit! I did one of the many from the Focused category and chose to focus on cardio and the Ab burner! (Below) each only took 15 minutes, synced with my music, and a trainer even spoke to me with tips! I had never heard of some of the moves but by simply clicking on the picture I could either watch a short tutorial or look at step by step pictures. I love learning new moves! Especially for abs...the old crunch gets a little monotonous! So to say the least I'm excited about this app! And it was free!

Before this workout I had a little Natures Path Organic flax plus pumpkin granola
..so yummy mmm pumpkin seeds...with blueberries:) and water! Post workout I had this left over sandwich from yesterday's lunch date with mom and Jake at Graze in Walla Walla! This is probably the best sandwich I've ever had and could totally be made at home...I plan to try it!

Butternut Squash Panini:
Sourdough bread
Cooked butternut squash
Provolone cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Sage leaves
Roasted garlic
Grilled on both sides with olive oil and sprinkled with some sea salt! Mmm so good on a cold day!

Off to watch some basketball! Go big blue! :) How's everyone doin on those resolutions? Not so good? It's okay! Start each day anew and let yesterday (or today) die as you go to sleep! Look ahead not back:)

Happy 2013!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you al have had a wonderful break like i have, I gave myself some time off from blogging for my break as you may have noticed but I am back at it to start 2013 off right! Anyone make a resolution to eat healthier? or to cook more interesting foods? Work out more often? What about all three?! If your answer is all three this is the blog for you! I started out my day with a delicious and hearty breakfast for myself, my mom and sister:

Apple Chai Oatmeal:
Steep a cup of Apple Chai Tea shown here and use this to make your quick oats with instead of regular water! You might want to use 2 bags for extra flavor:)

Microwave chopped apple until desired softness.

Mix together about a tablespoon of ground flax seeds, a little extra tea, and a scoop of vanilla protein powder in your bowl. Add your cooked oatmeal, apples and lots of healthy cinnamon, mix and add some agave nectar on top if you'd like it to be a little sweeter:)


Workout:
4 minute walk on treadmill
10 minute run
50 Exercise ball sit ups alternating with 1 min plank hold 3x
10, 8, 6, 4 tricep (laying on stomach elbows in push up slowly front , right, and left)

Then my sister asked if I wanted to do her workout, sure why not?!:
15 squat jumps alternating with 10 progression planks 3x (if you do not know what progression planks are look them up it's complicated! haha and do not do it on carpet like we did...rug burns on the elbows!)

DInner tonight was creative and healthy, thank you Pinterest

Quinoa Pizza Bites:
1c uncooked quinoa (cook with 2 cups water using directions on package)
Pizza sauce (for dipping!)
To mix with quinoa after cooked:
2 eggs
1c mozzarella cheese
1c chopped onion
2t minced garlic
2t dried basil
1\2c cherry tomatoes diced
shakes of salt
1t paprika
1t dried oregano
Bake in greased mini muffin pan at 350 for 15-20 minutes let cool a little and enjoy!

New Year Salad:
Dressing:
1\3c sugar
1T poppy seeds
1T sesame seeds
1/2t paprika
2T dried mustard
1T minced sweet onion
1\2t sea salt
1\4t freshly ground pepper
1\2c balsamic vinegar
1\3c vegetable oil
1\3c evoo
Mix well (a magic bullet would work well) and pour over a green salad with craisins, candied nuts (I used walnuts), avocado, and lots of cilantro! mmm

P.S. This is the first post from my iPad using the blogger app so forgive me if it looks different or the pictures are in the wrong place! Stay tuned tomorrow for more healthy and creative recipes and a new workout!