Happy Halloween!

Halloween is finally upon us! I spent all day in a giant Care Bears ensemble. For real. Eat some candy, some not a lot, and rock a costume regardless or your plans or profession. Have fun!

Working Out. Without the Gym.

Not a gym person? Me either. Don't get me wrong, I've been surrounded by fitness my entire life. My mom was a part time workout instructor when I was younger. My brother and I spent a serious five minutes each class curling two pounders. Exercise is in my blood. 

Purchasing what you need to work out at home could be pricey. But think about it, all you need in this day and age is a yoga mat and some free weights (I have 5 and 10 pound weights). The wonderful world of YouTube provides all the workouts you could ever think of, and more. Personally, I own a dozen or so workout DVDs. Growing up, we did the old school workouts by The Firm, now I like their newer program. I also enjoy yoga, circuit training, and dance DVDs. Check out the ratings online before you order, they can be helpful. Also, put your health and fitness magazine routines to work. There is always something new for you to do, if you're willing to try.

It's not always easy, my apartment is long and narrow so doing a proper burpee can be more like an obstacle course some days. However, I am personally way more likely to get my workout in if I can do it on my time and focus on the workout. Especially when it means I don't have to leave my house in this cold weather! 

I always have a few dvd's sitting on my desk and my yoga mat on hand. The calendar above is from blogilates.com. I have been incorporating a lot of her workouts this month to switch up my daily sessions. I like to keep a running total of how often I workout each week, as well as the "type". Above I have: running, yoga, pilates, weights/circuit training, and dance. Variety keeps me going.

Books: Good for the Soul

There's nothing quite as frustrating as not feeling well on a Sunday evening. My mom was in town this weekend which meant staying up late talking, manicures, and some classic Chi town treats like deep dish pizza and Lucky's. Lucky's is where they shove cole slaw and french fries into your already huge sandwich. Amazing, just never eat more than half the sandwich! However, so much fun and fine dining has done a number on my immune system. So, what's a girl to do?

--Drink lots of fluids. I've had my water on hand all day.
--Tea. I love tea. Green tea is the best for colds, currently I'm sipping on herbal tea as I am out of decaf green tea and I have to be up early tomorrow!
--Eat Healthy. It will make you feel better. Broth based soups, a light salad, some veggies and hummus as long as your stomach can handle it. Good food with give your body a boost.
--Humidifier. Depending on your ailment a humidifier could be a lifesaver. My congestion has been eased as I've had mine going all day.
--Move! But just a little... As long as you don't have the flu or a super severe cold, get the blood pumping a bit. I did some light pilates this afternoon.
--Relax. I'm catching up on my beloved Snapped at the moment, then I will take on my ever increasing pile of books for an hour or so before bed. 

My new cooking books from half.com arrived this weekend! I also went on a Kindle book ordering spree: The English Girl, Quiet: The Power of Introverts, and Add More -Ing to your Life. Cannot wait to get through them!!!

But Why?

Why? Why give up a night of going out to take time for you, get in a work out, or cook a healthy meal? Why spend the time to prepare your food instead of picking up a drive through option on your way to and from work? Why wake up early to exercise? Why choose a sensible salad over a hamburger? Talk to anyone who has lost weight and kept it off and they will tell you their secret it making it a life style. Remembering what you ultimately want to achieve and choosing it over a cupcake. Or two cupcakes. Last week I challenged myself to make some changes for the better and to eat clean, perfectly clean, for seven days. I accomplished my goal, toned up a little, and was finding myself looking forward to preparing meals that were better for me but just as tasty. My fiance was supportive, but he was the only one. 

I turned down a cupcake on Thursday. Then was promptly made fun of, asked why, and told one wouldn't hurt me. Yup. All over a cupcake. I attended a family party Saturday and a slice of delicious, triple layer chocolate cake was placed directly in front of me. Oh. My. God. That was a tough one to turn down, but I brought a bottle of Kombucha tea to sip on and hold me over until we got home. Success. For me, it felt good knowing I was doing my body a favor, letting it readjust after a period overindulgence.


Obviously, life is not about restricting yourself. Eating super clean all the time is not only unrealistic, I think it's quite unhealthy. I need my treats or I know I will overeat. Take the time, create a moment, and enjoy. I had today off work and yesterday was exhausting. So I came home last night, opened a good bottle of wine, and spent a couple of hours relaxing and baking. I concocted a healthier recipe for my famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, ate two with a glass of pinot noir, and caught up on The Blacklist before going to bed. 

I choose to make my health a priority. Why? Honestly, I enjoy healthy foods. A huge, homemade salad makes my mouth water. As a child, I would sneak large amounts of baby carrots from the fridge. I also have a sweet tooth that I am still working to control. That's why it was so important to me to go an entire week without chocolate. I never once felt deprived and it helped me reach for an apple, not a bowl of ice cream or handful of chocolates. I also like the way I look when I take great care of myself. My skin is more clear, my clothes look better, and I feel confident in myself. I don't care what anyone says, that cupcake may be good for your soul, but three of them will never lead you to self confidence. Choose you.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I consider myself to be a good cook. I can make a meal out of most anything given the right spices and resources. While I didn't always know how to cook (hey, I'm still learning) or enjoy cooking, I've always made amazing oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. They're delicious, they're healthy, and they're guy approved. 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. softened butter
1/4 c. nonfat plain greek yogurt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon (extra for sprinkling on top!)
1 egg

2 c. quick cook oats
1 1/2 c. unbleached flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 c. chocolate chips

Mix brown sugar, butter, and yogurt. Add vanilla, cinnamon, and egg. Beat together. Last stir in oats, flour, baking soda, and chocolate chips. Scoop onto greased cookie sheet with a spoon. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon if you desire! Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes.

Makes 30 cookies.

Calories per cookie: 115

Weekday Snacking

Sunday evening is upon us. Boo. I am very big on healthy snacking, especially during the week. I eat breakfast super early and have lunch at one or two depending on the day. A simple piece of fruit at 10 am? Nope. That won't cut it for me. I need to keep my energy up and my stomach satisfied. These treats are some of my go to's.

1. Yogurt. These flavors are my recent favorites. I don't like eating a whole lot of dairy so coconut milk yogurt is a satisfying alternative. I will typically eat an apple with my yogurt.

2. Hummus and Vegetables. Or hummus and anything. Trader Joe's Chipotle Pepper Hummus is amazing. A little spicy and full of flavor, perfect for veggies or pretzel thins.

3. Dates and Almonds. I picked up this combination when we went to France in August, so technically this snack is a foreign delicacy. Just stuff the almond inside the date, or eat as a trail mix. Lightly salted almonds work best and create that salty/sweet combination. Five or six is a good amount and will keep you full. Mariano's and Whole Foods sell good quality dates.

4. Juices/Smoothies: I finally found the juice I went in search of last week. I am bringing this one as my snack tomorrow. Hopefully it's good! Another great one to take with you is the metabolic supercharge smoothie from blogilates.com, or if you have a sweet tooth make my chocolate pb2 smoothie.

5. Popcorn. I like Angie's Artisan Treats Boom Chicka Pop with Sea Salt. You can pick it up in the chips or health food section of most supermarkets. One cup is 35 calories, a serving (4 cups, which is a lot of popcorn) is 140 calories. Trader Joe's sells a delicious Herbs and Spices popcorn as well. I like to have half the serving size of popcorn and eat some fruit or veggies for a well rounded treat.

Four Days In..

Tuesday, I set some realistic yet challenging goals for myself. Over half way into my week of 100% clean eating, I am feeling great and have been sticking to it completely. While I agree life is made better by indulgences, my body needed a break and I needed to end my ritual of having some chocolate every single night! I've been spending some extra time grocery shopping to find some new options to try. I'll buy a product once, and if I don't like it, fine. Chalk it up to an experiment.

I went to Whole Foods last night. I had a coupon for their Suja Elements. Well, those were no where to be found so I grabbed a couple of the Suja juices from their cleanse program. I've done a juice cleanse once and wasn't a fan. I knew I would like their Vanilla Cloud, it is similar to a juice I have tried before and tastes, well, heavenly. I took Purify as my morning snack today and was pleasantly surprised by the taste. I also felt more energetic afterwards, sans caffeine. The only downside is each juice is $8.99 a pop. A bit steep for me but I plan on picking up a bottle of their juices on occasion. They also sell the cleanse in a package, you save a few dollars than buying them all individually.

Organic yogurts, herbal teas, and new flavors of veggie burgers were also on my list. All of which helped me to stay on track so far. Tomorrow, we are heading to the suburbs and possibly stopping by a book store after dinner. If so, I look forward to purchasing a new health and nutrition book. Any great recommendations? Now, I am going back to my favorite late night past time; watching health documentaries on Hulu. 

Halloween is Approaching!

I've always dressed up for Halloween. As a child, in college, after college, always. Periodically, I find myself scrambling for last minute ideas. Here are some fun suggestions to prevent you from doing the same:

Brangelina: My fiance and I did this two years ago. Wear aviators, tie the cheapest baby dolls possible to yourself, and dress accordingly aka red lipstick. A friend also legit wrote Angelina's latitude/longitude tattoo on my arm, but that is just for super bonus points.

Ninja: Dress in black, wear a scarf as a headband, color toilet paper rolls black and tie them together with a string. Also, be stealthy all night.

Football player: I was the great Walter Payton. Wear a jersey, shorts or pants, and add some awesome football streaks. I used liquid eyeliner. Any football hat adds flair.

HOLY SHEET!: I got this idea from a coworker. People will either get it and love it; or hate it. It's easy to make into a group project with bull sheet, pile of sheet, I don't give a sheet (refuse to give anyone your sheet. Loudly.) The possibilities are endless. Buy a cheap sheet and decorate. I wore angel wings and a halo in addition to my classy cross. My fiance, bull sheet, wore horns and a tail.

Easy, homemade, and they should get you some laughs. I was also Richard Simmons one year (striped shorts, high socks, bedazzeled tank) but people thought I was a Harlem Globetrotter (umm...) because my wig was black, not brown. Happy DIY-ing!

Getting Back on Track, by Switching Things Up

I mentioned earlier how I have been longing for a change in my routine. My workouts have become methodical and difficult to get through because they don't hold my interest. My daily routine needs some excitement and variety in order for me to keep up my healthy lifestyle. 

(Source: http://thinkingmomsrevolution.com/where-the-magic-happens/) 

I believe by now we've all seen this little gem made popular on pinterest and many other sites. No? Well according to online articles, health magazines, and personal experience; this picture may capture the essence of success. I have a secret for you, I am scared of running. Not just scared, thinking about running gives me anxiety. Why? No clue. However, I am determined to improve myself, my fitness, and the way I have been going about my day to day life. Because that's where the magic happens. I've picked some key points I want to improve upon inspired by this logic. Won't you join me?

1. Run 20 minutes, twice a week. Why? It is a form of exercise I am uncomfortable performing, and without a good reason. I went for a 20+ minute run/walk yesterday so I'm off to a good start.
2. Decrease my caffeine intake. One cup of coffee in the morning, a cup of caffeinated tea or coffee at lunch. Maximum. My dependence on caffeine is embarrassing.
3. Eat clean for the next week. No cheating. This long holiday weekend was kind of a set back for me health wise. This means no chocolate, added sugars, or artificial beverages (I'm looking at you Coke Zero) for seven days. Today was day one.
4. Exercise first thing in the morning at least twice a week. I have to get to work relatively early so this is sometimes tricky, but it sure beats having to work out as soon as I get home each night. I've already had some success with this but look forward to improving on it.

5. Drink more water. I have a serious need for an insane amount of water. As in liters and liters of water each day, a very unfortunate problem when you have limited bathroom breaks at work! Lately, I have been struggling to drink water because it's been so boring. I picked up some lemon and mint at the store this week to add in and keep me guzzling more.

6. Stick to my meal planning. I was thrown off by this today as I dropped my homemade salad all over the floor, but I hurried over to Mariano's to get another salad from their salad bar to compensate.

7. Do many types of exercise each week to prevent boredom. I tried to follow fitness plans online, or even my own. However, I've realized some days you come home and want to swap yoga or weights for that 45 minutes of cardio you have planned. And that's okay.

What would your goals be? I will be updating you on my progress, and would love to hear suggestions for more ways to keep it interesting.

Meatless Monday!

Lately, I have been embracing all of the seasonal goodies this time of year brings around. I will add spoonfuls of pumpkin to nearly any dish, and most things are topped with cinnamon to enhance their flavor. One fall staple I have always enjoyed is acorn squash. Trader Joe's sells them for a good price, $1.49 each I believe, but you can purchase them everywhere. They're chock full of good for you nutrition, too. Half an acorn squash is less than 120 calories (about 116) and they add potassium, fiber, magnesium, iron, and other vitamins (A, C, B6) to your meal. The labels on the squash suggest using brown sugar after baking, but I have a better way. 

Vegetarian Acorn Squash:
- 1/2 acorn squash, cleaned
- 1 meatless sausage patty (I like Trader Joe's Meatless Breakfast Patties)
- 2 tablespoons prepared quinoa
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- Cinnamon

Bake acorn squash face down on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Let cool. While your squash is cooling, either microwave or pan fry sausage patty. Mix sausage patty, quinoa, and pumpkin in a bowl. Spoon inside of the squash and sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Calories: 290

This will really fill you up and it is delicious, add a side salad or sauteed veggies for a well rounded plate. Whether you are vegetarian or not, it doesn't hurt to go meat free every once in a while to give your body, and wallet, a break. Honestly, this dish does not taste meatless. Enjoy!

Fall Weather and A Change of Pace

This week has had its moments where I have realized I need to slow down for a bit and enjoy the moment. I always arrive at work early to avoid rush hour traffic and today I decided to enjoy a walk around the park. Chicago is such a gorgeous city, and the early morning tends to capture it best.

Everything is quiet and still, the sun rising over the lake captures the changing leaves, and the crisp fall air is ideal for being able to have a moment to yourself to think and breathe. I've long believed you shouldn't do something if you don't want to, this is both a good and bad thing. It can be good because if there is something I must do, I am going to make sure it as enjoyable as possible. The down side is, if I don't have a desire to do something, it makes it much harder to accomplish. Lately, I have been hitting a brick wall with my routines and need something new. This is something very shocking to me because I am very routine oriented. I love my lists and when a task needs completed it should be done now. Then it should be written on said list and crossed off, with color coordinated pens and markers. You get the point, I don't like people to mess with my process. Well tomorrow is Friday. We all know how I feel about Friday. This weekend my fiance and I will be traveling home until Sunday morning to visit my family in Indiana, however I am fortunate to have Columbus Day off work. This means a long weekend for me to relax, refocus, and restrategize. I look forward to enjoying a long walk or run, cleaning and restocking our place with fresh groceries, and spending some time in the kitchen! Check back Monday, I will have a great Meatless Monday recipe to check out, until then have a safe holiday weekend and enjoy a gorgeous wall in this fall weather!

Oh, and enjoy this perfect afternoon picture of the city, breath taking, isn't it?

A Healthy Chocolate, Banana, and Peanut Butter Treat!

This week has been a crazy one, and when life gets crazy I need something sweet to get me through. While I love a good smoothie, they don't always hit the spot. I'm a die hard chocolate fan when it comes to my desserts. Tonight when I got home from work, I opened up my cupboards to see what I had on hand and came up with a delicious treat.

Ingredients:
-1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
-1 frozen banana
-2 tablespoons PB2

-1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder

-1 teaspoon truvia

Calories: 185

Mix all ingredients in a blender until smooth, a couple of minutes should do it.  I blend the milk and banana first to make sure it gets blended well, then add the rest of the items.

I always keep a frozen chopped banana or two in the freezer for nights when I am craving something blended. If you don't have a frozen banana, use a fresh one and add a handful of ice. This will literally knock any sugar craving out of the park. Plus, you will get some good protein from the almond milk and PB2. The banana offers vitamins, fiber, and potassium to keep you going.  

I purchased PB2 on a whim a few months back, as an avid nut butter lover I needed a lighter option to satisfy me. Initially, I made it as instructed, blending with water and using as regular peanut butter. Terrible. Just a complete insult to peanut butter and all other nuts. Then, I started adding it to random concoctions. I'll mix a spoonful in with oatmeal, or sprinkle it on top of coconut milk chocolate ice cream and it's perfect every time. I ordered the chocolate PB2 and it should come in this weekend, hopefully it ends up being just as tasty!

Simple Pumpkin Tomato Soup

The temperatures in the city have taken a major nose dive on this glorious Monday. All I could think of was having delicious, warm soup for dinner when I got home. There is a cafe back in Indiana that offers a delicious pumpkin tomato soup. It is so good and served as my inspiration for this dish. Let's be honest, I don't have time, especially during the week, to make soup from scratch. I had purchased pumpkin soup from Trader Joe's this weekend and used that as my base for my recipe. It is good on it's own. Pumpkin puree and carrots are included in the ingredients, which are great and healthy fall foods. However, it is sweet and I was craving something a bit more savory and creamy.
 Here are the details (makes one serving):
-1 cup Trader Joe's pumpkin soup
-2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
-Handful (about 5) cherry tomatoes
-Cinnamon to taste

Calories: 130

First, blend the tomatoes and milk in a blender. I left mine chunky to add texture to the soup. 

Combine the tomatoes and milk with 1 cup pumpkin soup in a small pot. I added a few dashes of cinnamon and left it on medium heat for five minutes and this is what I got:

The whole process took less than ten minutes, perfect for a weeknight meal. This soup is filling and very satisfying, you could even top it with plain greek yogurt and some pumpkin pie spice for a special treat! I had a side of quinoa and a cup tea with mine, the perfect fall meal.

Weekend Finds and a New Pumpkin Drink Idea

This morning began like so many other weekend mornings. I am a creature of habit and often find early morning grocery shopping relaxing. I planned to go to Target and Trader Joe's to get items for the week before heading home to make brunch and watch the Bears game. Today, I headed out to Target, got a coffee from the in store Starbucks, and went about getting the items on my shopping list. Here are a couple of items I came across on my adventure.

I have had a pair of pajama pants since high school, possibly even late middle school. They finally met their demise earlier this week and I was looking to replace them. I believe you should sleep in what makes you comfortable, but I also enjoy cute pajamas for a decent price! Their pajamas, they don't need to cost an insane amount. Around Christmas time, I discovered a great brand sold at Target. They had pj sets on sale for the holiday season so I purchased a couple and liked them.  I bought this pair of Gilligan & O'Malley pants today, they feel very soft without being too heavy. They will be perfect for the cooler temperatures of fall and winter.

Pajama Pants: Gilligan & O'Malley $12

I have been on the lookout for cute Halloween/fall decor in the past few weeks and discovered this adorable candy bowl in the dollar bin section. It was three dollars, in great condition (no chips or damage), and I love to have candy bowls throughout our home. It's always a huge hit with our friends! This was a great purchase and has the perfect home on top of a bookshelf we bought with some engagement gift cards about a month ago.

Growing up, I was always crazy about the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. It captured fall in a cup. This past year however, I've found their drink to be too sweet for my taste, plus 300 calories for a tall is very bad for the waistline! Luckily, I came across Tazo's pumpkins spice chai latte a few weeks ago. The concentrate costs $4.04 at Target, less than a single latte at a coffee shop and half a cup is 80 calories. The first time I made this I followed their directions of half milk, half concentrate. I found it drab and lacking something. I like a good deal of spice and flavor in my drinks, so I modified it next time by adding a little more concentrate as well as seasoning and was thrilled with the results.

I have never been a huge fan of milk, so for months I've been substituting unsweetened vanilla almond milk in all recipes. It has only 30 calories a cup, and especially in recipes like this it makes a difference. A little bit of that vanilla taste gets added, but it is still creamy like milk.

Recipe (makes one serving):

-3/4 cup Tazo pumpkin spice chai latte concentrate

-1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
-1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Heat milk and concentrate on the stove top for about five minutes, stir in pumpkin pie spice and serve.

Calories: 135

I will be working on some new delicious and healthy recipes for you guys this week! Have a great rest of your Sunday and don't forget to make a healthy lunch to take to work or school tomorrow!

Fun Friday!

Friday. Is there any better day of the week?? Sure, Saturday is great and Sunday brings about nonstop football, but growing up I always remember being the most excited for Friday. In fourth grade we would get to purchase a soda and read newspapers. I felt like such a cool adult in those moments. I grew up in small town Indiana and Friday nights were the social event of the week with their high school football and basketball games! Even nowadays, Friday means payday. It provides you with an extra boost of energy to survive your day. 

Today, for example, was a bit crazy at work. On top of that, I did not sleep well last night and was a bit too ambitious with my morning workout routine causing me to have to rush around to get out the door on time. However, today is Friday. Magically, the normal traffic back up was nonexistent. I found parking relatively easy. Delicious, chocolate cupcakes were brought into work. Plus, I splurged and bought a lunch of sushi and tea instead of eating my leftovers I brought from home. Doesn't Friday possess just a little something special? 

Fridays also bring about my awareness of the age dilemma I am experiencing. At 25, Friday means the end of a long week. I want to relax, rejuvenate, and get some sleep! As I type this, I am burning a scrumptious smelling candle, drinking a cup of tea, and listening to Investigation Discovery in the background. This, to me, is perfection. When did this happen? It's not as though I have kids of my own keeping me home, I live in a prime location for going out all night, but some peace and quiet is what I really need in the past year. Also, last time I tried to go out too late and too long, I started to fall asleep at the bar. Talk about embarrassing and making yourself feel old! My goal is to enjoy one great Friday night out in this beautiful fall weather, before a Windy City winter hits and I confine myself to my apartment for the season! What ever your Friday plans may be, enjoy them, enjoy yourself, and stay safe. Now, I'm off to finish my tea.