WORK IT WEDNESDAY

I just kicked this workouts ASS!

I need these in my life....

I am preparing for my trip to Playa Del Carmen and CAN NOT wait to share all the beauty there is out in Playa! I hope to show you some workouts on the GORGEOUS beaches and hope to do my stretches out by the ocean (my fitness goals for the trip)

Before I go on any type of vacation I really kick my booty and blast out HIIT's, Tabatas and just fast paced training so I get the mix of Cardio and weight training in one workout :)

Waking up and not hungry for breakfast just yet?

Try taking a small "stroll through the park" or through your neighborhood

This act wakes up your body, gets the blood flowing and can help digest what was not digested from last nights late night snack or large dinner.

SCREW ICE CREAM:

I love scooping a papaya like I would an ice cream carton and drizzling some raw honey inside!

YUMMMMYY....

Ok back to the WORKOUT:

I ROCKED this workout on the tennis courts as I could jog around it for my pre cardio warm-up!

I ALWAYS write down my workout before I hit it because you can easily get distracted when you get to where you are about to workout!

I used some weights to AMP UP the cardio push and used a resistance tube for the sumo squats and side lunges! 

If you do not have this equipment NOT TO WORRY you can still ROCK this workout without it! 

What do you do fitness wise before a vacation or mini trip?

THIRSTY THURSDAY

Are you THIRSTY?

I sure am....

Celery, cilantro, sun dried tomatoes....

O and BOOZE...

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...

For recipe....

WORK IT WEDNESDAY

Today has been so much fun!

I have been practicing with my food meditations and have come so far and I am SO PROUD OF MYSELF!

If you are not sure what food meditations are tune in for next Tuesdays tip TUESDAY where I will go over how to do this.

I did this workout before I headed out to the famers market! Let me tell you I felt SO ENERGIZED! 

I purchased:

Papaya, Grapefruit, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Arugula, Hummus, Seeds, Sprouts, Eggplant, Sweet Potatoes (oldie but a goodie), and a dozen farm fresh eggs!

I also grabbed two cookies and a brownie for my husband but....

I ate one cookie toady :)

By the way this picture does not DO it justice!

How crazy are these tomatoes! 

Never had seen these/heard of these but I guess they make things sweet? 

Anyone know what these are?

We had a Shih Lunch Adventure as we took our smallest Shih: Gigi, to the vet to see if she is pregnant  (still unsure...)

How cute are the Shihs? I am obsessed...they are my children..LITERALLY :)

Get your workout clothes on and get working out!!

Feel free to COMMENT and let me know how Work It Wednesday's Workout went as I know you will be WORKING IT!

TIP TUESDAY

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?

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY

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?

Why?

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAY

Summer is right around the corner and its time for another update about what's in season when it comes to your produce!

No excuses to destroy that summer body with all this wonderful produce readily and organically available to you!

• Apples
• Avocado
• Basil
• Bell Pepper
• Berries
• Carrots
• Cherries
• Cilantro
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Figs
• Garlic
• Green Beans
• Mangoes
• Melons
• Nectarines
• Okra
• Peaches
• Peppers
• Summer Squash
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini

An easy way to get all these amazing goodies into your diet is to create a soup or stew!

Just coat the bottom of your pot with some oil (Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil)

Light the stove top and add some onions, carrots, celery and garlic.

Add whatever veggies you desire and wait until they soften

Add chicken broth and water (1 cup chicken broth:2 cups water) As much as needed

Let sit on low heat for 45-50 minutes adding (lentils, beans, legumes of choice)

Add herbs as you stir (basil, cilantro...etc)

Stir every so often

Soup for the whole week!

Easy side dish or meal and stays good for about 5-7 days stored in the fridge

What are some of your favorite summer recipes?

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Time to get FABULOUS!

It is June 1st, 2012 and let me say one thing .......

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY TO MY HUSBAND MR BENTLEY!!

I celebrate half birthdays what can I say... :)

Back to being fabulous...

Music is today's topic!

Music changes ALL moods! 

I get ready to music, rock out to music when I write blog posts, work out to music, and ALWAYS have a song in my head (I wish I could sing...)

As read in on WebMD:

"Not only did our sample of students report more positive emotions after listening to music, but their already positive emotions were intensified by listening to music,"

According to the New York Times:

"Studies have shown that listening to music during exercise can improve results, both in terms of being a motivator (people exercise longer and more vigorously to music) and as a distraction from negatives like fatigue."

You can make ANY mood turn around with a song so get some hot songs poppin and become that hot super star that you are meant to be!

Suggestions:

-Nicki Minaj-"Star Ships"

-Axwell ft. Errol Reid-"Nothing But Love"

-Beyonce-"Who Run the World (Girls)"

-Swedish House Mafia-"24 One (Your Name)"

-Flo Rida-"WildOnes"

-Lil Wayne-"6 Foot, 7 Foot"

-David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj-"Where Them Girls At"

-Chris Brown-"Turn Up the Music"

-Calvin Harris ft. Kelis-"Bounce"

-Snoop Doog-"Sweat"

-Ke$ha-"We R who We R"

-Flo Rida-"Good Feeling"

-Jennifer Lopez ft. PitBull-"On the Floor"

-Drake-"Headlines"

-Kelly Rowland ft. Lil Wayne-"Motivation"

-Aviccii & Sebastian Drums-"My Feelings For You"

Just some songs on my current playlist :)

What are your favorite songs to workout to? Get Ready to? Dance to?

While I have been cooking up a storm my girlfriend Ashley Armstrong had some amazing Super Foods for me :) Read more about her HERE

Delicious super food cookies, raw brownies, raw SUPER BALLS and Baja Superfoods Booster!

All homemade right in Ashley's kitchen! YUMMMYYY

Look at those scrumptious cookies yum NOM NOM!

I enjoyed one cookie, one brownie and one super ball for lunch yesterday with a glass of almond milk :)