Cheesy Spaghetti Squash "Lasagna"

Do you smell what The Rock is cook...oh wait...I got a little excited. I made this bubbly, delicious lasagna goodness for Meatless Monday and I wish you could smell your screen!
(Go ahead and try to smell it...while your at it, tap the "share" button with your nose)


I was craving lasagna, but didn't want all those carbs that pasta has. So I used spaghetti squash in place of noodles. And it was delicious!!

This fits perfectly in my 8x8 baking dish. So if you're using a 9x13 or bigger, I suggest doubling the recipe.

Delicious and Healthier Salad Dressings

Make healthy salad dressings and home. Salads can be a healthy base for any diet, but it’s all too easy to add too many calories or fat by drizzling on the wrong salad dressing. Here are some of my go-to salad dressings.

Chopped Brussels Sprouts Salad

Holy crunchy deliciousness Brussels sprouts!!

Crunchy and quick!!  Took me about 10 minutes and it was ready to eat!

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: n/a
Servings: 2-4

BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowls

BBQ Chicken Burrito Bowls

Looking for a quick and easy meals for dinner or lunches? You found one!  These are so easy to make and are great as leftovers for lunches during the work week!

Homemade Clean Eating BBQ Sauce

I made this BBQ sauce last night and it's delicious!!  Plus, it's healthier and doesn't have the added sugars and preservatives the pre-bottled sauces have. I'm excited for grilling season!



Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5-7 minutes
Makes approximately 1 1/2 cups

Clean Eating DELICIOUS Grilled Chicken

The zest and juice from the limes adds a surprising and yummy flavor! You'll love it!

Clean Eating DELICIOUS Grilled Chicken




Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15-30 minutes (depends on the chicken thickness)
Servings: 8 (based on 4 oz serving size/21 Day Fix Red Container)

BBQ Pineapple and Pork Kabobs

BBQ Pineapple and Pork Kabobs

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs pork loin chops, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
2 large cans of pineapple chunks with juice (or 1 ripe, fresh pineapple)
4 large green or red bell peppers (or both), cut into large chunks
10 large mushrooms (optional), halved
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 TBSP onion powder
2 TBSP garlic powder
2 TBSP black pepper


DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat your BBQ ready and get it ready!

• In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients. Cover and place in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes. 

• Alternate pieces of pork, pineapple, peppers, and mushrooms on the kebobs. Metal skewers are the best to use. If you're using wood skewers, be sure to soak them ahead of time in water so they don't burn!

• Grill for approximately 30 minutes on low-medium heat (approximately 350 degrees F. if you have a thermometer on your BBQ). Use a meat thermometer to be sure meat is thoroughly cooked.

"Pasta" Salad With Zucchini And Squash Zoodles

"Pasta" Salad With Zucchini And Squash Zoodles Recipe


Prep time:  15 mins
Cook time:  n/a
Total time:  15 mins

Serves: 3

I'm in love with my Veggetti. I had debated ordering one of those fancy and expensive vegetable spiralizer tools. Then one day, as luck would have it, I found the Veggetti at Walgreens. I figured it was worth $14.99 to try it. Plus, if I didn't like it, I'd return it. Well, I kept it and I use it often. Here's an easy and quick recipe I use as a side dish or under a delicious piece of grilled chicken.

Perfectly Un-Perfect Turkey Meatloaf Burgers

I made these and they are SO YUMMY!  If you're wondering why I'm calling them "Perfectly Un-Perfect", it's because I didn't measure the ingredients and I don't regret a thing! I've made these many times and never measure. And EVERY time they come out perfect!!



So here's my estimates on the ingredients (use more or less at your discretion):

Think You Can't Do 100 Burpees? Think Again! It's Time for the 30 DayBurpee Challenge!

Are you thinking "100 BURPEES?!  YES!!"  or  "100 BURPEES?!  NO Freaking WAY!!?"

Guess what?! Either way, you're in the right place. You'll be doing 100 burpees at the end of 30 days.

How? (insert superhero theme song here) Because I'm here to help! 

To-Do Lists, Organizing, and Burpees Belong Together, Right?

I have a few goals this year. If you're like me, one of them is to get better organized. I'm the worst at organizing. It feels like I'm all over the place (and so are my post-its)!  So the other day I got online and searched for To-Do Lists. I needed to get myself organized!

Have you searched for one recently? There are soooo many To-Do Lists and so many variations. I couldn't find just one that I liked, so I found some ideas I liked from a few of them and combined them to make my own To-Do Lists. I'm still not sure which format I like the best, but they each have what I need...

I jumped off the Stratosphere! I did the SkyJump Las Vegas! All in the name of Scouting!

A couple weeks ago I was offered an opportunity to jump off the Stratosphere for charity - Boy Scouts of America's Scoutreach. I immediately said, "YES!" Two minutes later, I was screaming on the inside, "What did I just commit to?!"  

Fun Things To Do in Las Vegas That Don't Center Around Food, Drinks or Gambling

Did you know there's more to Las Vegas than bars, casinos, and the strip? Are you looking for things to do in Vegas?

Well, I'm always trying to think of things to do, so I started a small list. The list has slowly grown and I'm constantly adding to it. I hadn't thought about sharing it until a couple friends mentioned they were trying to think of things to do with their kids during Spring Break. So hopefully this helps!  I'd love to hear if you have any ideas I missed!  Happy Spring!!

What's SUP? Stand Up Paddle Boarding on Lake Las Vegas

Last weekend, my friend Dennis and I started the St. Patrick's Day Holiday Weekend by celebrating the holiday and amazing weather by going out to the Westin in Lake Las Vegas to paddle board with Kathy at Paddle to the Core, www.SUPLV.com. 

St. Patrick's Day Weekend - March 2015

Doing out Beachbody on Demand #BOD out on the water.

The weather is awesome! Let's Go to Las Vegas and Henderson Farmers' Markets!

The weather is so nice outside and it makes me to get outdoors more! What better than fresh local produce and the awesome outdoors?! I'm always trying to remember when the Farmers Markets are and where they're located in Las Vegas and Henderson, so I put this list together to find them all in one place.

Do you know of any that I missed?

If I Was a Spy... I'd Need This Erasable, Microwavable Notebook. The ROCKETBOOK!

Oh! I just thought of an idea - if I was a spy or wanted to write my friend a secret note, this would be perfect!  I could write my note and hand it to my friend. Once they read it, they just microwave the notebook and VOILA! The secret is gone from the pages!  That's it!  I'm ordering this!!  :D

Okay, I'm not a spy...but if i was, how great is this?!!

Seriously though - I love this idea!  How many notebooks do you use for notes, ideas, recipes, meal plans, etc., and then seem to lose track of where you kept those important notes?!  I do this often....

So when I came across this reusable notebook, I had to read more!  This is one notebook. You upload, organize, and now you're able to search for what you need without having a bunch of notebooks lying around your house.

Click here for the Rocketbook: The Paper Notebook Made for the Cloud

Overnight Chia Protein Oatmeal

Oatmeal Chia Breakfast Protein Pudding is low-fat, delicious and packed with protein.  It's a great way to save time and have healthy breakfasts. You can even make a big patch of it and store them 8 oz. jars in the fridge for up to a week for perfect grab-and-go meals! 

Here are three fantastic overnight oatmeal recipes:

30 Day Plank Challenge

30 DAY PLANK CHALLENGE

For this month's challenge group, I'm basing it on the  21 Day Fix workouts and meal plans and adding some fun to it. This 30 day plank challenge is a perfect addition to this month's challenge to tone up and boost our core muscles to the max.


The plank challenge from 30dayfitnesschallenges.com is their most popular 30 day fitness challenge. It's been taken by over 100,000 people over the past 12 months, so why not add it to our group?!

Pumpkin, Bison & Turkey Chili with Avocado Topping

Who knew pumpkin in chili would add such an awesome flavor and texture?! This chili has a delicious and unique flavor - just look at the ingredients and spices we used in the mix!  No chili seasoning packets used in this recipe! 

This recipe is extremely easy and my nephews were really excited to help me make this. Don't be scared of the cocoa powder and cinnamon. This has become my favorite chili recipe by far!

My nephews loved it and asked for seconds!  My parents thought it was a little too spicy and I thought it needed to be more spicy. The avocado adds a nice touch of flavor and contrast to the chili.

  

Prep Time: 5 minutes.
Total Time: 30 minutes

I'm a Nutritarian! Calories Are Secondary to Eating Right.

Let's call ourselves NUTRITARIANS!  Macronutrients and micronutrients are important. I'm not on a diet. This is my lifestyle. This is where the awesome containers from 21 Day Fix, along with Shakeology, make it easy to make sure I'm getting my necessary nutrients each day.

My friend posted this on her Facebook this morning and I love it!

Transformation Tuesday: Shakeology Started It All

Transformation Tuesday: Shakeology Started It All
from the Shakeology.com/blog

Effie H. // Shakeology® completely changed the way she eats

“Shakeology helped keep me full and curb my junk food cravings.”

She was the girl who cried in the dressing room when shopping for clothes. But, not anymore.

“Who Wouldn’t Be Proud Of Losing 80 Pounds?!”

Meet Kristi H. She participated in The Beachbody Challenge® and won the $500 Daily Prize for February 22nd!

Chicken and Vegetables in Peanut Sauce

Have you ever found a recipe that sounded amazing when you found it?  In retrospect, maybe I shouldn't go recipe hunting when I'm hungry.  I find a lot of recipes that sound good... 

Well, I found this recipe the other day.  It caught my attention and decided to try it.  I needed another recipe for my weekly meals. 

• Chicken = good. 
• Sweet potatoes = good.  
• Red bell peppers = good. 
• Turnips = okay.  
• Peanut butter = YUM!  
• Spicy = LOVE IT!  
• Super easy = AWESOME!

Guilt-free Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Squares

In honor of Valentine's Day, and in keeping with my goals, I'm going try something chocolaty and delicious without the guilt. Check out Beachbody's recipe for Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Squares, whip up a batch, and enjoy guilt-free!

Did you know Shakeology isn't just shakes?! Check out this delicious recipe for Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Squares!

Guilt-free Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Squares

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes.

Total Time: 2 hrs. 11 minutes
Servings: 12, 1 square each

Thai Curry Chicken Salad With a Creamy Dijon Dressing

Yesterday was food prep day.  Do you know how hard it was to not eat all of this when I was making it?  I mean, look at those bright, pretty colors!!  I can't wait for lunch today!! Spicy chicken + sweet pineapple. Perfect combination of sweet & spicy - just like me!! 

Thai Curry Chicken Salad with Pineapple, Cucumbers, Red Peppers, and Creamy Dijon Dressing

Prep Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Servings: 4-5

Overnight Quinoa. Something Different Than Oatmeal for Breakfast.

Overnight Quinoa. Something Different Than Oatmeal for Breakfast.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup cooked quinoa
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon honey

frozen fruit of choice


DIRECTIONS:

• Combine all the ingredients except the fruit. Be sure to mix well. Stir in frozen fruit. If using fresh fruit, I recommend adding the fruit the next morning, right before you eat it.

• Cover and place in the refrigerator at least 4 hours or overnight.

• The next morning, remove from the fridge and enjoy.

Streaming Beachbody On-Demand Anywhere Launching in March! Get Your Workouts Anywhere!

The next HUGE thing to rock the fitness world is launching next month. Streaming Beachbody On-Demand Anywhere Launching in March! Get Your Workouts Online!  

www.tinyurl.com/workoutanywhere

What's all the excitement about? Starting in March, you'll be able to stream a catalog of Beachbody programs with Team Beachbody® Club memberships!

Beachbody On Demand is huge news, and they're doing it right, starting with a massive investment in technology, systems and people.

Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats

Cinnamon Roll Overnight Oats are my favorite! I feel like I'm cheating on my clean eating plan! 

Prep time: 5 minutes

Servings: 2

Balsamic Asparagus & Peppers

Even though this recipe says "asparagus and peppers," this goes amazingly well with zucchini, green beans, and practically any other vegetable you love. You can roast these in the oven or on the grill.

Balsamic Asparagus & Peppers

Prep time:  10 minutes

Marinade time: 1-2 hours

Cook time: 10-15 minutes

Delicious Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

"Mashed cauliflower tastes similar to mashed potatoes, but with fewer carbs." I kept hearing this, but I was highly skeptical. So I tried them last night. They came out soooo yummy!!  Who knew?!  Delicious and Fluffy Mashed Cauliflower! Oh and I made them CHEESY!!

I was surprised at delicious these were!!  They weren't kidding!!  I actually like these better than mashed potatoes!! Do you know how difficult it was to stop myself from eating the whole pot?!  The only thing that saved me was telling myself I needed these for my lunches this week! 

Oven Roasted Asparagus with Rosemary and Garlic

Roasted Asparagus with Rosemary and Garlic

Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: 25 miuntes
Servings: 4-6

Sweet and Spicy Asparagus

photo from SCJohnon.com

Sweet and Spicy Asparagus 

A little sweet and a lot of spice. A definite must try!! 

Sweet-Potato Chicken Stir-Fry

Put down the salt and try this low-sodium recipe, flavored by heart-smart herbs and spices

photo from Prevention.com


Sweet-Potato Chicken Stir-Fry

Prep time: 25 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Healthy On-the-Go Cheesy Sausage Egg Muffins

Healthy On-the-Go Cheesy Sausage Egg Muffins

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 12 delicious egg muffins

Sometimes you want a hearty breakfast that you can eat on the go or throw in your bag to take to school or work. Usually the most portable of breakfast ideas are carb and sugar loaded. These tasty breakfast egg muffins are a great alternative and can be made in advance! You decide what meat, cheese and vegetables you want to put in it, making the combination possibilities endless. And since you make a bunch in advance you have ready to go breakfast options all week.

19 Reasons Why Working Out At Home is Better Than The Gym

19 Reasons Why Working Out At Home is Better Than The Gym

1.  I can workout anytime I want - I'm not restricted to gym hours, trainer availability, or class schedules. My trainer is ready at the push of a button. I just push "play".

2.  I don't have to leave my house and go out in the cold or heat.

3.  It doesn't matter what I look like. I can workout in my underwear and not be judged, have smeared or no makeup, clothes that don't match, no shoes, whatever I feel like wearing (or not wearing...).

4.  I don't have to worry about someone else's germs on equipment. Ewwww. Flu season…'nuff said.

5.  I don’t have to deal with traffic or trying to find a parking spot.

6.  No one tries to talk to me while I'm trying to get my sweat on.

7.  My iPhone won't be stolen. (Yes, this happened to me and it sucks)

8.  I don’t have to wait for a machine or equipment.

9.  The classes are never full.

10. I don't have to deal with a locker. Or forgetting to bring my lock, headphones, towel, water, shoes, etc.

11. I don't have any weird or old people walking around naked while I'm in the bathroom.

12.  I can be uncoordinated, make weird faces, be comfortable, laugh at myself, and I won't end up on a YouTube fail video...

13. It costs me less than a gym membership and I don't have a contract.

14. My friends can join me at anytime.

15. I'm done, from start to finish, in about 25-45 minutes compared to AT LEAST 2 hours going to the gym: driving there and parking, checking in, getting my locker, working out, realizing I left my headphones in my backpack, going back to my locker, working out, waiting for equipment, showering and getting ready (depending on the day), buying a protein smoothie, and driving home.

16. I have less laundry. (see #3)

17.  I have the best workout partner. My dog, who usually lays on my yoga mat and wants to cuddle at some point - giving me a breather.

18. I can't bring my dog to the gym.

19.  When I’m done, I can sprawl on the floor and lay there as long as I’d like. This is really frowned upon at the gym. Plus, the gym floor is gross and I don't recommend laying on their floor.

21 DAY FIX makes losing weight so simple…you never have to diet again.

I'm in the midst of the 21 DAY FIX and I've learned so much!  Before starting 21 DAY FIX, I thought I knew exactly how big a portion size was. I was close, but not close enough, which explained why I wasn't dropping any weight. I started drinking Shakeology every morning and following the 21 DAY FIX eating plan and I've lost 8 pounds in about 2 weeks (I may have slacked on a day or two, but we won't talk about that...) and an increase in energy and mood.

And now there's the highly anticipated 21 DAY FIX EXTREME!

#1 Fitness and Nutrition Program Ramped UP! 21 DAY FIX EXTREME with Autumn Calabrese

21 Day Fix makes losing weight so simple…you never have to diet again. That’s why it became America’s #1 fitness and nutrition program. Now, celebrity trainer and national bikini competitor Autumn Calabrese is going to ramp up the intensity to help you shred up and shed off those final pounds…with 21 DAY FIX EXTREME.

My blog is now linked with Blog Lovin!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Slow Cooker Sriracha-Pineapple Chicken with Guacamole

Slow Cooker Sriracha-Pineapple Chicken with Guacamole

Ingredients:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 onion, thick sliced

3/4 cup reduced sugar ketchup
2 Tablespoons Sriracha Rooster Sauce (I use about 2 1/2 to 3 Tablespoons, but you may want to taste it before using that much)
3-4 Tablespoons crushed pineapple (freeze what you don't use from the can)
1/4 cup agave nectar (or if you want a sauce with less sugar, use Truvia or Stevia)
1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Guacamole:
2 avocados
1 Tablespoon fresh-squeezed lime juice
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon Himalayan Salt
2 teaspoon finely chopped green onion
Optional:  Cilantro to taste

Instructions:  

• Spray the inside of the slow cooker with non-stick spray.

• Place onion slices on the bottom of the slow cooker.

• Place the chicken breasts on top of the onions.

• In a large bowl, whisk the Sriracha, ketchup, pineapple, agave, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic powder together.  

• Pour the sauce over the chicken and onions.

• Set the slow cooker on Low for 6-8 hours or High for 2-3 hours.

• Remove the chicken and let them cool for a few minutes so you don't burn yourself. Be careful! The chicken will be hot!!  

• Shred the chicken. I use two forks. It's super easy.

• Remove the onions, set aside if you want to mix them back in later.

• Pour the sauce into a small saucepan and simmer over low to reduce and thicken the sauce a bit. I simmer it until it's almost reduced by half.

• Mix the chicken and the sauce together until the chicken is coated. Add the onions back in if desired.

For the guacamole (doesn't get easier than this!):

• In a medium bowl, scoop the avocado into the bowl and mash. 
• Mix in the lime juice, Himalayan Salt, chili powder, and green onion. 
• Optional: add cilantro 

Serve the chicken on a whole wheat bun with guacamole. 

Variations:

Serve in a whole wheat tortilla or on organic whole wheat bread. 

Mix chicken into an egg white omelet. Add cilantro.

Ghee. Making Homemade Ghee This Weekend...Wish Me luck!

Lately, I've seen a ton of recipes using Ghee as a replacement for oils and butters, but I've yet to try it. I came across these instructions on how to make my own from Everyday Maven and I'll be making some Ghee weekend.... I'll let you know how it turns out!

How to Make Ghee
copied from Everyday Maven

Prep: 1 min
Cook: 45 mins
Total time: 46 mins

Ghee has the same fat content as Butter and equal Points Plus values.

Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon-Garlic Potatoes and Green Beans

Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon-Garlic Potatoes and Green Beans


Oven Roasted Chicken with Lemon-Garlic Potatoes and Green Beans
adapted from www.realsimple.com

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 75 minutes
Servings: 2

Baked Coconut Shrimp With a Spicy Pineapple Dipping Sauce

Baked coconut shrimp with a spicy pineapple dipping sauce. Healthy, easy, delicious.

Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 26 min
Servings: 3-4

But I don't want to be addicted...

Eat better, feel better. It seems easy, right?!

But what we don't realize is that we are addicted to bad food and it might be harder than we think to simply eat better.

Junk Food Addiction May Be Real— In a study of rats, the more fattening foods they ate, the more they wanted. (I read this in Business Week, so that's how I know it's legit.)

Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Dill

Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Dill

adapted from Cooking Light

Prep time:  10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6-8

How to Avoid Wrist Pain in Yoga

READ MORE from Yoga by Candace

Melt In Your Mouth Banana Chocolate Muffins

Melt in your mouth Banana and Chocolate Muffins that are yummy AND healthier than some other recipes I've come across. Try for yourself. You'll see...  ;-)

My 2 year old nephew stayed over last night and this morning as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, I came across a recipe for Banana Bread Brownies. I love banana bread, but didn't want all that sugar and processed ingredients. Plus, that recipe had lots of sugary frosting on top. I found by putting chocolate chips in a baking recipe, it adds enough "sweet" that frosting isn't needed.

Double Berry Shakeology

Double Berry Shakeology

from Shakeology

This delicious smoothie has the flavor of sweet raspberries and strawberries, plus 12 grams of fiber per serving!

Prep Time: 5 min
Total Time: 5 min.
Yield: 1 serving


INGREDIENTS

1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 scoop Strawberry Shakeology
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 cup ice

DIRECTIONS

In a blender, add almond milk, Shakeology, raspberries, and ice.  Cover and blend until smooth.

Weird things happened when I started drinking in the morning...

This is my morning face before Shakeology. Wait. Who am I kidding?  This is my face most mornings.  Just ask my coworkers. Or my family. I hated mornings with a passion!!  

I used to drink my Shakeology in the afternoons, which was great (when I stuck to it).  But I'd find that come the afternoon, I wasn't hungry, so I'd procrastinate drinking it and next thing I know, it's dinnertime... 

Shortly before Christmas my work schedule changed. It switched to start at 7 am now. Ugh, right?!  I already struggled with mornings and getting to work at 8 am. How was I going to do this?! I decided to change my thinking and tell myself I CAN be a morning person.

That didn't work.

I was like a zombie. I may have even growled at people until I finished drinking my coffee. Looking back, I probably still growled at them after drinking coffee and just blamed it on whatever I felt like that day.  This needed to change.

So what if I started drinking Shakeology in the morning?  (Do I dare say it...BEFORE my coffee...) *GASP*

This is when weird things started happening...

Shakeology Sunshine Bars: A sunny recipe for dreary days

Shakeology Sunshine Bars
from Shakeology Blog

Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 3 hrs. 10 min.
Servings:  12 (1 bar each)


INGREDIENTS

2 scoops Chocolate Shakeology
1 cup egg white powder
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 Tbsp wheat germ
2 Tbsp flax seed
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
¼ cup raw honey
¼ cup all-natural almond butter
ripe medium bananas, mashed
Nonstick cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

• Combine Shakeology, egg white powder, oats, wheat germ, flax seed, and cinnamon in a large bowl and mix well. 

• Mix almond milk, honey, almond butter, and bananas.

• Press into an 8 x 8-inch pan that is lightly coated with spray. Cover with plastic wrap and press down to flatten into pan. Refrigerate for 3 hours. 

• Cut into twelve bars.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 182
Total Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 3 mg
Sodium: 99 g
Carbohydrates: 25 g
Fiber: 4 g
Sugar: 10 g
Protein: 12 g

This Powerful Yet Incredibly Restorative Pose Is A Great Way To End Your Day :)

Healthy Pumpkin Cookies

How to Lose 10 pounds in a Month

...according to WikiHow

Cowboy Caviar Two Ways

Cowboy Caviar

from Becky

Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings:  8-12


INGREDIENTS:

2 (15 oz.) cans black eyed peas
1 (15 oz.) can black beans
2 cups corn, fresh or frozen
1 cup red onion, minced
1 green bell pepper, small diced
1 red bell pepper, small diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
5 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup minced cilantro
3 scallions, sliced thin
4 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
Juice of 1 lime

DIRECTIONS:

• Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to combine. 

• Cover and refrigerate at least one hour. 

• Serve with tortilla chips, pita chips, on top of burgers, sandwiches, or on the side of your favorite grilled meats and fish.

Quinoa Cowboy Caviar

from Foodnetwork.com


INGREDIENTS:
1 cup cooked quinoa
¼ cup fresh corn, cut off the cob
¼ cup cooked black beans
¼ cup red bell pepper, chopped
¼ cup chopped red onion
½ lime, juiced
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 avocado, cut into small pieces (or guacamole – whatever you prefer)


DIRECTIONS:

• Rinse and cook the quinoa according to the package instructions.

• Meanwhile combine the corn, black beans, red bell pepper and red onion in a bowl. Toss to combine. 

• Add the cooked quinoa into the mixture, and add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

• Add chopped avocado right before serving.

10 Reasons to Drink More Water

CLICK HERE to Determine if You Are Drinking Half Your Body Weight in Water

How to Determine if You Are Drinking Half Your Body Weight in Water

How to Determine if You Are Drinking Half Your Body Weight in Water
By Brian Richards from Livestrong.com

Drink half of your body weight in ounces in water every day.

Chocolate Chai Shake

I wish I could remember where I found this to give credit where credit is due.  I definitely need to try this! I'm thinking it'd be delicious with Vanilla Shakeology, too!

Sweet Potato and Chicken Sausage Hash

Sweet Potato and Chicken Sausage Skillet Hash

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings:  4

Slow Cooker Maple Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

Slow Cooker Maple Chicken and Sweet Potatoes 


Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 8 hours in slow cooker
Servings:  4

BBQ Turkey & Sweet Potato Muffins, aka "Meatloaf Cupcakes"

BBQ Turkey & Sweet Potato Muffins
aka "Meatloaf Cupcakes" according to my nephews

Author: Andrea

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings:  4-6

Slow Cooker Quinoa Tex-Mex

Slow Cooker Quinoa Tex-Mex
Author: Chelsea

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 3-4 hours
Servings:  6-8

You're only as disorganized as you say you are

10 Habits of a Highly Organized Person: 

How Pro Organizer Fay Wolf Keeps Her Life Under Control

from Apartment Therapy

I want to be organized. My goal is to be more organized. So many times I've rearranged my kitchen, my entryway, my desk, etc., and I stay organized for a short while. Then slowly I lose my drive and get lackadaisical. To change this, I'm looking to the experts.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

Smoothies Made Easy from Fresh & Easy

Mason Jar Zucchini Pasta Salad with Avocado Spinach Dressing

photo Sugar-Free Mom

Mason Jar Zucchini Pasta Salad with Avocado Spinach Dressing

Author: Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom

Prep time:  10 mins

Total time:  10 mins

Servings:  2

Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara with Basil and Zucchini Noodles

Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara with Basil and Zucchini Noodles

Adapted from: Happy Healthnut

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time:  4 hours
Total time:  4 hours 10 mins
Servings:  4

Meal Prep Mondays

Every weekend, Social Media Specialist (and fitness fanatic) Amanda Meixner preps her meals and shares her photos on her Instagram account. Her simple photos remind us meal prep doesn’t have to be hard, so we’re going to start posting hers every week to inspire you. Follow her on Instagram and check out her blog, Running Wild.

I'm in love!

I'm in love!  Have you tried the new ready-to-juice packages from Harvest Sensations? I found them in the produce section of Fresh & Easy. I throw it all in my Ninja with some water. Two servings in each bag, which means my morning juice is good to go for two days. It's perfect!

At-Home PiYo Workout to Stretch, Sculpt, and Strengthen

At-Home PiYo Workout to Stretch, Sculpt, and Strengthen
From Shape Magazine, by  Caitlin Carlson

Get the most out for your exercise bucks with a high-intensity, low-impact routine that combines Pilates, yoga, strength training, and cardio.

When you're overwhelmed, it's hard to fine time to squeeze in a workout session into your already overpacked scheduled—even though you know any amount of physical activity can help you deal with both of those things. And nothing beats yoga when it comes to squashing down anxiety or stress, and an intense cardio or strength training routines to torch fat and rev your metabolism, so how do you fit it all in? This genius PiYo routine, created by trainer Chalene Johnson combines all of those elements, and gets the job done fast. The moves are inspired by both yoga and Pilates, and you use your own body for resistance, so you’ll build lean, fat-fighting muscle while getting a deep stretch. Plus, the short rest periods and quick pace mean there’s also a cardio component—so while you lengthen and tone your entire body and calm your mind, you’ll rev your heart rate to burn fat and calories. So if you’re looking to maximize what little time you have to get sweaty, this workout is for you.

How it works: Starting with the first exercise, complete 10 reps, then immediately move on to the second move without resting in between. Continue this pattern until you've finished all 6 exercises.

Rest for one minute. Then, repeat the entire circuit two more times for a total of three rounds

You will need: Mat