Thursday's are my new favorite post because I get to try a new drink! YAY ME!!
Mr. Bacardi Oak Heart enjoying my backyard....
I picked this beauty up at Costco for about $7.50 US! You can't beat that and let me tell you the flavors are tasty for you to enjoy the rum by itself...
Living an all around healthy lifestyle may be easy for some, but for most this task is a difficult one.
Many people do not have the time to cook a meal or even go to the grocery store for that matter, so if I am talking about you here are some tips in order to live that healthy lifestyle but with simplicity!
Besides the fact frozen foods can save you tons of money, flash-frozen organic foods such as vegetable mixes and fruits are perfectly acceptable! Go out to Costco or any other fine bulk store and stock your freezer up with these delicious, easy and healthy foods. Of course if you have the time please buy everything fresh but honestly sometimes flash-frozen produce can be better in terms of organic foods and budget. STAY AWAY from those containing cheeses, or additives (salts or seasonings), you can add these yourself!
Smoothies are super easy when all you have to do is throw in your favorite protein powder (still trying to find a new fav), frozen organic fruits and some frozen organic veggies!
Dry goods such as Black Beans, Chick Peas, Lentils, Basmati Brown Rice, Quinoa, Rolled Oats, Barley, and Buckwheat are excellent to have lying around in your pantry! Not only can you buy in bulk (always cost effective) but they work wonders in a soup, salad or side dish. If you get really creative you can turn those frozen veggies and one type of grain into an entire meal.
Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth and Vegetable Broths have a very long shelf life and are the base of most soups and sauces. Having these always on hand and buying in bulk will make your pantry complete and give you a base for all those grains and frozen vegetables.
Oils such as Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Coconut Oil should in your spices drawer/pantry. Check the quality of these oils as quality matters especially when cooking. Coconut Oil is ideal for high-heat and cooking while Extra Virgin Olive Oil works great as a salad dressing.
Grab some ground pepper, sea salt, cinnamon
Stocking your pantry is one of the main KEYS towards your goal weight, ideal body or just pairing good nutrition with your workouts.
A pantry full of chips, cookies and sodas will lead you to destruction later on! I know the feeling of an empty fridge (with nothing to eat) and the next door is always the pantry which is usually a hole filled with "junk" foods.
Another useful tip is to prepare large batches of soups and stews that store nicely in the fridge and work great as meals to bring to work, school or wherever you may be going. They also work as a wonderful late night dinner after working all day and not wanting to touch a pan.
I made the one above a few days ago and have been enjoying it on top of some chicken I made earlier in the week and just alone! It feels so nice not to have to start chopping up everything and waiting!
What are some tricks you use to stay healthy when on the go or super busy?
What are some new items you will pick up on your next grocery trip to make your life easier?
If you have goals, dreams and desires and never start the actual goal or take the first steps towards obtaining your goals, dreams and desires you really do not have ANY right to complain that something has not happened.
For instance..I dream, I desire and I want abs! I work hard at the gym, eat extremely clean but lack cardio sometimes and I honestly know I can push myself harder but do I?
Well...sometimes...but right now I am on a mission to get these abs I have always dreamed for and desired!
I stopped complaining and am now on a MISSION to eat organic, healthy foods and explore my natural surroundings while pushing myself EXTRA hard at the gym and adding more cardio to my lifestyle.
I hate the treadmill, elliptical etc. so I switch it up every 10 minutes at the gym but STILL ugh!
So now I am off to a new LOVE of hiking, and exploring Cabo San Lucas by foot.
Today I went off with two of my girlfriends and hiked (scaled) LOVER'S BEACH
For those of you who have yet to experience the MAGIC of Cabo San Lucas need to come to this beach! You either have to hike (scale rocks) to it or you can take a water taxi (which I always have)
Little girl in a huge pile of rocks!
The man pictured here has so much swag it became photo worthy! Socks and snorkeling!
Ashley and Nickie about to Scale Rocks
By the way I am BAREFOOT on rocks YES!
I did it!
I felt so accomplished and just super connected to my spiritual, natural self which is always good :)
My challenge to myself is to start trying new things and explore my element and explore just ME more!
I love the fact that I spent time with my girlfriends, worked out, checked off a ( I have never....) and began a new routine for myself.
As the quote above says...Begin NOW so start today....
MAKE THAT LIST RIGHT NOW!
and start checking things off...
What is stopping YOU from starting your new beginning?
I also use Peas and Thank You but have just been introduced so have yet to try a TON of her stuff!
Averie Rocks :) I have been reading her blog since I was a full blown VEGAN in 2008 and always dreamed of having enough energy to bake or as she says UNBAKE away!
Her website has changed quite a bit and she has added all kinds of recipes so do NOT worry it has non-vegan related and easy recipes which is always a BONUS!
If I don't pull straight from her site I definitely get INSPIRED by her ideas and ingredient mixtures...
My Pumpkin Bars were pulled from Peas and Thank You but will try Averie's this week...
I tweaked the recipe with what I had because of course when I start baking..I start baking (NO STOPPPING ME)
1 c. oat flour (ground old-fashioned oats)
3/4 c. vanilla protein powder ( I used Moduvated Vanilla Protein)
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 t. pumpkin pie spice
1 t. baking powder (did not have this but used gluten free pancake mix I had in the back of the pantry)
1/4 t. salt (I used sea salt)
stevia to taste
1/2 c. silken tofu ** (I used the flax "eggs)
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 t. vanilla extract
*If omitting protein powder, substitute any other flour of your choice or just use additional oat flour
**For a soy free version, substitute 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce or 2 flax “eggs”(1 T. ground flax + 2 T. water = 1 flax egg)
My results were fantastic especially since I added some CAROB CHIPS!! (before I ate them ALL) I gave them to my client so she can see that you can make your own protein bars at home! Plus I LOVE TO COOK/BAKE/CREATE..
KeVita ROCKS! Not only do the flavors like Coconut,Mango Coconut and Strawberry Acai Coconut taste like heaven these probiotic wonders are beneficial to your health and well being.
I have been reading about probiotics for some time and never quite understood what a probiotic was and why I needed to add such thing into my diet. I have then come to find through drinking KeVita that I have more energy and I just overall feel better after a meal. Why you may ask? Is this all in my head?
What in the world am I doing with curlers in my hair?
Today's fabulous friday is a topic I have struggled with for MANY, MANY years! As you can tell from some of my pictures, my hair is short one day and then long the next (thank you clip in extensions)! This is because I have been struggling for as long as I can remember with hair growth! I not only dye my hair blonde, I love to curl it and straighten it because my hair naturally is a kinky mess.
So what is that nasty pot you were showing all over the world today? (sorry for promoting my blog)
It is Arnica and its the homeopathic remedy that has saved my skin!
Arnica belongs to the sunflower family and is used to help fight inflammation. I have been taking the pills for awhile and have noticed a HUGE difference in the way I bruise and my lovely bug bites as well.
I take the pills every few hours and the pomade (or in spanish Pomada) I rub in every morning after my shower and night before I go to bed.
Arnica is special because it also can help heal those varicose veins you have been complaining about! The best part is its all natural which is what I love about it.
According to ivillage.co.uk
Arnica works by stimulating the activity of white blood cells which process congested blood, and by dispersing trapped fluids from joints and muscles and bumped and bruised tissue. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities and it is these that help to reduce pain and swelling as well as improving wound healing.
I was stupid enough to get a black Henna tattoo around Christmas and I wish I had a before picture but considering what it looked like and what it looks like now is a huge difference (although still nasty) I will most likely get it lasered since it was such a bad case! (Thank the Universe I got a heart and not something stupid)
Not me but what it originally looked like
My dog Bugsey always likes to be a model when I am taking pictures :)
My first attempt at Chia Seed Pudding, it was so good I ate that entire bowl and the best part is its so light and fluffy I did not have that nasty full feeling!
My sprouts are going crazy, I think I might need a larger jar! The best part is they are growing leaves which means I will have an abundance of Chlorophyll at its highest efficiency.
Look at those tails! I can NOT wait to eat these little guys yumm!
QUESTION: What did you end up growing? Send me pictures I would love to see!
