Today we're ditching beauty and fashion trends and heading to the kitchen to talk about the one thing that's always on muh mind... FOOD! It's one of my favorite things to think about but my least favorite things to prepare, lol. I hope I'm not alone in saying this, but man it's a struggle for me to manage eating gluten free/healthy/regularly along with working out, working full time, blogging, and somehow managing a social life. #adulting Can I get an amen?! The other day I found myself completely overwhelmed with trying to manage ALLLLL the things, but had to remind myself to take a step back and just focus on one thing at a time. So here we are! Baby steps! So my first effort is to pack SOMETHING for lunch everyday! Something that is gluten free and healthier than a burger and fries (shouldn't be too hard lol). Now let me warn you... if you're looking for gourmet meal prep ideas, you might want to exit this blog post now! I'm not much of a cook, and I hate most leftovers so what I'm sharing with y'all today are easy snacks for lunch that you can make in minutes, enjoy through the week, and are super budget friendly! I like to make them sound fancy by calling them "bento box" lunches! If you're a snacker like me, I think you'll really enjoy these! BREAKFAST SMOOTHIEThis is probably the easiest part of my prepping! I love a morning smoothie and it's a great way to get your fruits in for the day! I recently purchased a little single serve blender and it really does the job. Makes the cleanup super easy because you can literally use the blender as your cup to drink out of (you're welcome). I don't really measure anything out, just kind of eyeball it, and you can always add to it if needed. I just use ziplock baggies and include: blueberries, strawberries, and 1 full banana (remove the peel and I like to cut into about 5 pieces so it's easier to blend). Pop these in the freezer and whenever you're ready to make your smoothie just pour this entire bag of frozen fruit into the blender and then I add about 2 Tablespoons of honey greek yogurt, 1/4 cup of whatever liquid you prefer (I usually use almond milk but you can use water, juice, anything!), and then sometimes a handful of fresh spinach. Blend until it's smooth and DONE!!!! If you want to get real fancy with it you can make a smoothie bowl. Once you make your smoothie, pour it into a bowl and top it with your favorite chopped fruit, granola, and honey. SO DANG GOOD! I like to keep fruit already chopped up in baggies to make for an easy snack so you can just use that to top your smoothie bowl! BENTO BOX LUNCHThese little lunches are easy to get creative with! I basically just think about my favorite things to snack on and put them all in one box 😆 Like I said before- I hate most leftovers, so the whole chicken breast, sweet potato, green beans meal is NOT for me, lol. For my main snack here are a few ideas I like: Wraps (See my faves listed below) Sandwiches (on GF bread always) GF Pasta Salad (you can get so creative with this) Chicken Salad (Use plain greek yogurt in sub of mayo) Quinoa Medley (quinoa, arugula, katamala olives, feta, chicken) My fave is usually a wrap of some sort. Here are a few ideas: 1. Chicken salad wrap: chicken salad and a little lettuce wrapped up in a GF tortilla 2. Turkey wrap: turkey, provolone cheese, dijon mustard and spinach in a GF tortilla 3. Mediterranean wrap: hummus, cucumber, chicken, feta in a GF tortilla Here are some snacks I like to pair with my wrap: Cashews Blueberries Apples with peanut butter Cherry tomatoes Grapes Cheese/Crackers Sweet Potato chips & guac Avocado, crackers, everything but the bagel seasoning (from Trader Joe's) Sugar snap peas w/ light ranch These are so quick and easy to make that it makes "meal prep" a little less daunting of a task! I usually don't prep for the week- sometimes I prep it the night before, or every other night. Easy, quick, budget friendly, and pretty darn tasty- that's a win in my book! :)
I hope you guys enjoyed this post! Until next time!
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Happy Cinco de Drinko! I mean, Mayo ;)
I feel like most years I haven't paid too much attention to Cinco de Mayo, but for some reason I've been really excited about it this year, lol. Maybe because I really need an excuse to sip margaritas, and eat chips and guac? Perhaps! ;) I decided to do a little research because to be 100% honest, I really had no idea what Cinco de Mayo was even celebrating. Apparently, Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) began as a celebration of the Mexican army's victory over France in the 1862 Battle of Puebla. To my surprise, I found that it's actually a very minor holiday in Mexico, however us Americans commemorate the Mexican culture and heritage (leave it up to the Americans to find an extra day to drink tequila and eat tacos, haha)! I know holidays like these are so much fun to celebrate (especially when they fall on a Friday), but then you have that daunting questions... "What are we going to do?" Good thing you're reading this post because I've linked everything from "what to do," to "what to wear!" ;) So sit back, relax, and grab yourself a much needed margarita! WHAT TO DO
So maybe you've celebrated Cinco de Mayo before, and you have the perfect weekend planned with your friends to celebrate. OR, maybe you're like the rest of us and are scrambling to make fun plans with your squad at the last minute, lol. I've linked some fun activities happening this weekend, in honor of Cinco de Mayo (in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin)! I've even linked a fab way to throw your OWN Cinco de Mayo party ;)
Host your own Cinco de Drinko Party Dallas Restaurants/Bars to Visit Cinco de Mayo parade Pool Party Houston Restaurants/Bars to Visit Cinco de Mayo Party Jazz on Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo Parade Austin Restaurants/Bars to Visit Garden Bash Cinco de Mayo Festival San Antonio Restaurants/Bars to Visit Cinco de Mayo Festival Trader's Village WHAT TO WEAR
Now that we know what we are celebrating, and what we are doing, let's talk about what to wear for the occasion! My outfit of choice is the one linked above - a breezy tasseled dress! Y,all this dress is under $20... JUST SAYIN! Now I know you can't get it in time for the weekend, but it's the perfect summer dress for parties and vacations!
I am SO into the tassel, embroidered trends right now! It just so happens that these little trends are so perfect for Cinco de Mayo! It really wasn't hard for me to pick out several pieces in my closet that are perfect for the occasion (because of my obsession with these trends), but if you are looking at your closet now, and not having the same luck as myself (lol) don't you worry! I've got you covered! Below I've linked some super cute pieces just for you! FOOD & DRINK
Okay, so we now know what we are celebrating, what we are doing, AND what we are wearing...
Let's talk about what we are eating/drinking ;) (I know y'all have been waiting for this part of the post) I feel like margaritas are just a Cinco de Mayo MUST, so I've linked three different ways to "margarita" :) I've also linked a few yummy snacks that would be perfect for those of you hosting or attending a party! ENJOY!
Raspberry Lime Margaritas
Margarita Slushy Shots Margarita Pops Guacamole Chicken Empanadas Mexican Street Corn Dip 7 Layer Taco Salad
xoxo,
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Spring is here, and summer will be here before we know it! I started feeling a little overwhelmed the other day because it seems like there are SO many things to get done before summer hits... get a good body, have money for vacations, buy an entire new wardrobe lol, and a whole lot of activities to attend (graduations, weddings, parties, vacations, etc.)! So yeah, most of these aren't REAL priorities haha, but a concern none the less ;)
I'm totally the type that has to "prepare" for everything, so you bet your bottom dollar I am already gearing up for summer time! :) Here are a few things that I am doing to prepare for the upcoming season! 1. Making myself feel pretty - Lash extensions, spray tans, nail experiments Summer is a season that most of us spend in shorts, tanks, and our itty bitty bikinis. This can be a daunting thought, and truly intimidating. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, and totally flaunt what yo mama gave ya (too much? lol) But in all seriousness, I know that during the summer I am going to be invited to pool parties, take trips to the lake, and be forced by the summer heat to be in shorts and tanks. Even though I am comfortable in my own skin, and think we as women should love ourselves as we are, there are a few certain regimens that just give me that extra boost of confidence for the summer. For the record, I am in no way suggesting that you NEED any of these procedures to feel beautiful! YOU ARE GORGEOUS AS YOU ARE! I just personally like to have these things done for the summer time. A Good Tan Am I the only one that feels like a million bucks when ya have a good bronze tan? I find myself getting nit picky with the way I look occasionally, but then I get a nice dark tan and all of my problems melt away, haha! When I was in high school and some of college I tanned in the tanning beds, but now that I realize how unhealthy that is, I either use a good rub on tan (St. Moriz, found at Ulta), or I get a spray tan. All of the sudden, my skin looks clearer, I feel thinner, my teeth look whiter, and I suddenly have defined muscles, HAHA. Some people may totally disagree with me, but a tan is just something that I always love during the summer. Nail Art Summer is the perfect time to play around with fun nail colors and designs. I love to be adventurous with my decisions before vacations because you can totally get away with it! I once tried some crazy blue color on my nails before a trip to Mexico, and it ended up looking so pretty in all of my pics! So be adventurous and try out that cool design that you have been eyeing since December :) Lash Extensions I think all of us girls are aware of the summer makeup dilemma... To wear or NOT to wear makeup to an event that involves water! And if you decide to WEAR, then should you wear waterproof, or not? Call me vain, but I am the type of gal that wears makeup to the gym, to the pool, AND when I'm at home. When it comes to a pool party, or something of the sort, I want to wear makeup, but also don't want to come up from under water looking like a raccoon, haha. I got lash extensions for the first time on my honeymoon last August and I must say they were a game changer! I didn't feel like I needed any other makeup, still felt pretty, and def didn't have to worry about looking like a coon! I know some people get really annoyed with false lashes, but I really enjoyed them, and actually just got a fresh set last week! 2. Getting Organized I am the world's WORST at hanging onto clothes forever! Like I probably have clothes in my closet right now that I got back in the 8th grade, haha! Recently, I realized how much I needed to get rid of, and made a pact with myself that things MUST GO! Although it was tough to say goodbye to what is nearly vintage now (haha), I felt SO much better getting rid of it all. THEN I had room to go shop for new goodies :) I also tried a new tactic that I've never tried before - I moved all of my winter clothes and shoes to a separate closet that isn't ever used, and then I was able to see what I really had for summer! I even bought a few new garment racks to display my go-to dresses, and tops for the season. Gosh, it feels good to get organized! 3. Sticking money back for spontaneous trips and adventures I'm very big on money management, and believe you should always have a little money tucked back for a rainy day. Funny story- my grandad used to tell me that when he was growing up he would stick his extra money in an old pair of shoes, and that was his little savings account. It later got named "shoe money," and it's been something everyone in my family does, lol. So needless to say, make sure you have a little shoe money tucked away for the summer time. You never know what trips you may be invited on, or what summer adventures await you. 4. Daily gym time - switching up my routines, doing more cardio As I mentioned above, summer means a lot of time in our most revealing clothing! I hate to feel self conscious, or uncomfortable with my body! It hinders my fun, and totally steals my joy! I know that I am the only person in charge of what my body looks and feels like, so I am upping my gym game! I've been trying to hit the gym five times a week. I go in the mornings to get it over with, and it makes me feel motivated for the rest of my day. To get my summer bod ready, I have been changing up my workouts when I can, and doing more cardio than usual. This will help you get that little bit of definition you may be wanting! Find a routine that works for you, but don't get stagnant in it. Change it up and challenge yourself! Only you can decide what you look like in that bikini ;) 5. Healthy Now, Cheat Later For me, I think I eat the most unhealthy during the summer! All I want is ice cream, hamburgers, and cocktails, lol. I've been trying to be healthy and stay on a pretty clean eating plan because I KNOW that once I start taking vacations I will want to splurge. I think everything is good in moderation. Yes, I eat healthy for the most part, but I always give myself a little treat when I feel like I really want it. It's a total balancing act. Here is a glimpse at some of my favorite healthy snacks/meals: Fruit protein smoothies Oatmeal with fruit and peanut butter Hummus and veggies Salad w/ grilled chicken Baked Salmon and veggies Greek yogurt w/ berries and granola Zucchini noodles and shrimp Chicken salad w/ light mayo Rice cake w/ honey and bananas If you're looking to prepare for summer time, I hope these little tips of mine help YOU! I'd love to hear some tips from you guys! Feel free to leave a comment below!
xoxo,
Hey ya pretty! I hope you are having an amazing week so far! I gave y'all a little sneak peek last week on this workout post, and now it's finally time for me to share! Bikini season will be here before we know it, especially for those of you that get a Spring Break, lol. I have to admit that I haven't been sticking to my New Year's Resolutions quit as strictly as I should be, BUT I'm attempting to get myself back on track. This workout is focused on your legs, but will DEFINITELY get your heart rate up. You don't need to do cardio on the day that you do this workout because it IS a HIIT series (high intensity interval training). Be sure to have a water and a towel handy ;) but no weights are necessary so you can totally do this in the comfort of your own home (like I did)! If you don't want to follow along with the video workout above, here is the breakdown of the series: Curtsy Lunges Reach one leg in a diagonal direction behind you and squat. Alternate this motion between legs. (24 total - 12 on each leg) Toe Taps So when I'm at the gym I use a Bosu Balance Ball, but if you're doing this at home, you can totally use anything you'd like. I chose something simple...a stool! When you do this, you're going to alternate directions around the ball, until you get to 100 toe taps. (100 total) Mountain Climbers Try to keep that booty down, and bring those knees in as much as you can. If it helps you at all, use the Bosu Ball, (or stool, if your at home) when doing these. This would be a modified version. (40 total) Squat Jacks Jump into a sumo squat and then jump your feet back into center. This is a similar motion to a jumping jack. (15 total) Alternating Lunges Jump into a lunge, with right foot forward, and left knee nearly touching the floor behind you, then jump and switch to now have your left leg forward and right behind you. (16 total) X-Jumps Squat with your feet out (sumo squat), jump up in an "x" position and when you land reach one arm to opposite foot. Alternate your reach. (16 total) You will do this ENTIRE series 3 TIMES! Take this on at your own pace, and don't give up! I know you can do it :) Let me know if you try! I'd love to hear your feedback! xoxo,
Hat: Urban Outfitters (similar) Bomber Jacket: ASOS Tee: Francesca's Hey, Pretty! Let's talk about Mondays. Yes, I know... the thought of a Monday probably makes you cringe and sends a shiver down your spine. I think I've spent most Sunday nights in my life suffering from severe anxiety and chronic crying (I may be just a little dramatic, lol). So all because of Monday, my Sundays are ruined... and sometimes even my Saturdays. Ugh. We've GOT to put a stop to this, y'all. We can't give Mondays so much control! How are we going to do this, you ask? By thinking pretty! Our mind has so much control over us as humans. It controls our moods, our relationships, our health, and our fortune. I am a strong believer in the law of attraction (a philosophy of thinking which claims that you attract what you ponder on). The more we fill our heads with positive thoughts, the more positive encounters we will have in life. Just speaking from experience, this totally works! When I was still in college, I discovered this thinking method. I figured there was no harm in trying it, since exams were a few weeks out, my bank account was leaking (lol), and I had boy drama galore! I began to envision myself acing my exams. I imagined at least one comma in my bank account. I watched myself with the perfect guy in my head. (Y'all, I know this sounds insane, but bear with me). No joke, things began to manifest right in front of me. I ended up with a 4.0, landed a job, and and before long, I met Nathan (my now husband). Now that we know how to think positive, let's chat about "thinking pretty." Let's take Mondays DOWNNNN. Let's NOT spend Sundays crying. Let's make our favorite days Mondays. (Too far? lol) How to Think Pretty List the good I basically live by my planner. I write notes, dates, lists, bills, etc in it, on a daily basis. On Sunday nights I've started making lists in my planner of what I have to look forward to this week. This can be anything from payday to happy hour with your gals. List whatever it is that may excite you. Cleanse Your Thoughts Just like our bodies (and our closets), our minds need an occasional cleanse. My personal way of cleansing my thoughts is by doing yoga. I love to do yoga before bed on Sunday nights to rid myself of the Monday blues, and prepare my body for sleep. I know yoga isn't for everyone, but find some sort of meditation or calming ritual to give your mind a good cleanse and a period of rest. (Bubble baths and a glass of wine are also a good solution, hehe). Monday Best I'm not sure about you, but nothing skyrockets my mood like rocking a new outfit. Buy yourself a few new looks and wear them on upcoming Mondays. If you're like me, you will literally be beating down Sunday's door so that you can sport your Monday ootd.! Haha! If ya look good, ya feel good. Am I right?! R.A.K. I freaking LOVE to give gifts, and do little RAK (Random Acts of Kindness). I want to set the goal for myself to do one RAK for someone every Monday. This truly gets me excited, and gives me a definite task to look forward to. It also is sure to make someone else's Monday a little bit better :) Monday Night Outing My husband and I love going on dates. We try to go on one at least one night out of the week. Why not make it Monday night?!?! Maybe plan your happy hour with friends on Monday nights! This will give you something to look forward to throughout your Monday. Give Yourself A Break Your boss may night like this, but give yourself a few breaks during the day. Don't let Mondays overwhelm you-take a moment to breath or clear your thoughts, and then come back to your tasks fresh minded. You'll actually be more productive and get more accomplished. No harm in that ;) Take Note Some days are definitely better than others, but take note of at least one positive thing that happened to you, daily. Pondering on the positive is bound to give you a better outlook on life in general. Before you know it, Fridays will be old news, and you'll be counting down the days until Monday :) Practice these tips, and see what works for you! Go get'em girl! Oh, and HAPPY MONDAY :) xoxo,
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