Archives for January 2015

Healthy breakfast just got easy with these peanut butter cocoa energy bites!

January 31, 2015 2 Comments

These energy bites are so delicious and full of protein and nutrition. My favorite thing about them is how simple it is to just grab them and go. Whenever your hair is soaking wet and you’re throwing things into your purse, it’s easy to lunge for these while racing out the door. If you didn’t catch it, I’m not the best at getting ready. I guess you could say I’m not completely out of my college living habits. Hey, old habits die hard! It’s difficult not to miss the choice of being able to stay in yoga pants all day!

Regardless of if you are pristine and graceful in heels strutting out your front door, or a complete mess racing out, you will appreciate having an easy breakfast or snack.

Your excuse of running to grab fast food is invalid with these little bites!

When your tummy starts rumbling, these bites are a filling fast cure. These energy bites are easy to make and great for when a sweet tooth hits midday. I don’t know what I would do without nut butters! I never feel deprived after having a yummy peanut butter snack.Sometimes the best way to manage from overeating is to never get starving! Throw some of these in your purse, car, workout bag, etc to have throughout the week. I love how easy these are to take with you anywhere, the worse that could happen is them getting a little smushed!!

PB Cocoa Oatmeal Energy Bites Ingredients::

1/2 C PB – I like this peanut butter best.
1 C Oats – Currently using this gluten free oatmeal.
1/2 C Flax Seed
1/3 C Raw Honey
1/4 C Unsweetened Coconut
1/4 C Cocoa Powder
Sprinkle of Sea Salt

Now mix! To be honest, I actually just mix the ingredients together using my hands. It seems to work best. Also as a plus, after it’s well mixed you have the opportunity to lick your fingers! It’s a must!

What is your grab and go breakfast?

Ready to Rumble NFL Style

January 29, 2015 2 Comments

1. NFL Jersey-Fanatics
2. Stella Dot Earrings
3&4. J Crew Rings
5. Old Boyfriend Jeans, similar here.
6. Steve Madden Bag
7. Steve Madden Shoes

If you know me at all, you know that I’m not the biggest football fan, or sports fan out there in general. However, I do love to create cute game day outfits! Fanatics asked for me to make an outfit with one of their awesome NFL Jerseys, an excuse to wear a big comfy jersey and style it in my own way? As Barney would say, Challenge Accepted.

Thought I would show some support to the team that woulda coulda shoulda been and give some love to Romo, while additionally gaining some points with the boyfriend.

I spiced up the average jersey look and made it a little more edgy with fun accessories and a killer bag. I am loving these hybrid Steve Madden shoes mixed between a cute boot and clog. The black and brown incorporated in the shoe makes it easy to style with anything! Of course I will add a dark lip, and the outfit will be complete.

What are your plans for the Super Bowl? I hope you will get to enjoy some beverages and yummy snacks. Might have to make some Skinny Margaritas and Spicy Black Bean Dip.

Who is ready for the Super Bowl? Will you be decked out in your favorite jersey?

*All opinions are my own.

Let’s Talk Strength Training.

January 27, 2015 3 Comments

Never underestimate the power of lifting weights. I would go so far to say that weight lifting is more important and critical than cardio if you want quick healthy results. Women get sucked into a trap of wanting to just do cardio to lose weight, however, lifting weights is so important!! It not only makes you stronger and toned, it also revs up your metabolism for hours, and protects your body from injury in normal day to day activity.

Form is everything in strength training!

To keep your entire shoulder balanced, equally do sets of push ups and rows. If not, the front of shoulder will be stronger while the back of your shoulder is weaker, which can cause postural problems. And we all know that posture is important! Having good posture exudes confidence and power.
Always watch your toes in squats! Your knees should be pointed in the same direction as your toes and your weight should be in your heels.
When doing chest presses on the bench, keep your feet on the ground. It takes tension off your chest when your feet are on a bench or in the air.
Put your elbows below your nose, instead of below your shoulders when doing a plank exercise. It forces your core muscles to work 2x as hard.

The results can be quicker if you change up your techniques:

Change your pace. Bust out some reps as fast as you can, then slow it downnnn.
Drop it low. To begin, choose the heaviest weight you can manage and do 10 reps. Then, decrease your weight by around 15% and do it again. Decrease each following set weight until completely fatigued.
Slow your pace down. The slower you go, the less momentum you can use.
Mix heavy and light dumbbells. Light dumbbells allows you to incorporate explosive movements.

Which strength training exercises do you like best? Have any tips to add?

Delicious Eats, Bowling and Sunshine Filled Weekend

January 26, 2015 Leave a Comment

What a lovely and beautiful weekend we were blessed with in OKC. The sunshine was a much welcomed friend after the past weeks of drab weather! I’m either all about warm sunshine or frigid cold with snow on the ground, none of this in between weather.

Colton and I went to Guernsey Park finally after hearing great things about it. Loved reading their menu of deliciousness, each dish equally sounded full of enticing flavors.

Kept it simple with the shrimp roll. Can’t go wrong there. Next time we go I promise I’ll be more adventurous! I always struggle between choosing something that I know will be amazing and I’ll love or really changing it up and finding new tastes.

Carrot. Cake. This was so amazing, moist, sweet and perfect. I’m such a crazy chocaholic but had to try this carrot cake and am so glad that we did. Shaved fried carrots were sprinkled over the cake along with delicious creamy ice cream melting on top. Honey drizzled. Basically, pure perfection.

Then we were off to work on our bowling skills at Red Pin. It’s been a good 7 years or so since I have gone bowling! Unfortunately, it showed! The kind waitress came over and quietly suggested putting up gutters considering I had not managed to knock down one measley pin half way through the first game. Embarrassing. I was quite impressed with Colton’s skills, we had never gone bowling together! It’s always fun to change up date nights!

In my mind, no weekend is complete without brunching! We enjoyed a delicious brunch at West. There breakfast tacos are simply to die for. I would even go so far to say their mimosas are the best I have had in a long time!…And that’s saying a lot!

How was your weekend? Did you enjoy any delicious food or partake in any new date activities?

Ward Off Dryness This Winter With These Products

January 25, 2015 1 Comment

Winter is a beautiful time of the year! I love the chill in the air and the comfy-ness that it brings. However, winter is a challenging time to keep your body properly moisturized and your hair shiny. It is important to use the right products to hydrate but it’s also very important to hydrate from the inside out. Drink tons and tons of water during winter to properly hydrate your body. What doesn’t water improve?!

Use a humidifier! Humidifers are very useful to put in your bedroom to relieve dry skin, cracked lips and ward off cold/flu symptoms. Plus, I love the calming constant sound of a humidifier in my room it gently puts me to sleep.

A few select products have most definitely saved my skin and hair this winter. Without them, my face would be dry, my lips would be cracked and my hair would be a dry disgrace.

Burts Bees Eye Cream

The skin around my eyes get very dry and sensitive during the winter. This eye cream is great to moisturize and use before bed and when you wake up. Leave enough time for it to soak into your skin before applying makeup in the morning.

Cetaphil

This gentle face cleanser is simply amazing. So many skin care doctors recommend this product. This product is so gentle but still intensely cleans your face and is great for oily skin.

Burts Bees Garden Tomato Toner

This toner is perfect for the winter! Some toners can be really harsh on your skin if alcohol based, but this product tones and doesn’t leave skin with that tight yucky feeling. It also exfoliates dry skin cells, which is important in winter.

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer

I typically cannot use any face powders during the winter because my skin looks too dry. Therefore, I really adore tinted moisturizers this time of year. It works to cover imperfections but also hydrates.

Vaseline

Vaseline is great for lips during the winter. Without it my lips would be a cracked disgrace. When they are particularly dry I leave them on my lips for 5 minutes then gently scrub a wet toothbrush across my lips. It immediately gets off the the dry skin. Put another layer on after your scrub.

Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream

This hair cream greatly moisturizes your thirsty hair strands. Not only does it moisturize, it calms frizz, elevates shine, and restores softness. During winter, be sure to forego the peppermint hair products. Although the smell is simply spectacular it dries out your hair significantly.

Ponds Cold Cream

I adore this stuff and have been using it for years. My grandmother always used it and it brings back sweet memories of taking off our makeup at her house when I would sleepover. It comes in a cucumber too that I love. It is super gentle on your skin and moisturizing.