Heavenly & Healthy- Granola

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granola

 

 

 

I’ve always been an oatmeal lover. Packed with fiber and antioxidants, I thought I’d discovered every possible way to make use of it (from face masks to body scrubs, to cookies & breakfasts…) until I experimented and wound up with this incredible granola. Store bought granola can be sneaky, with tons of additives and sugar, not to mention its packed with calories. I’m all about keeping it clean & low cal, while still delicious at the same time. It takes half an hour of your day, and will leave you with yummy leftovers for tomorrow’s breakfast (or anytime snack!) I promise you’ll be in love too.

 

You’ll need:

2 cups rolled oats
1 tbsp raw honey
1 tbsp maple syrup (optional, but adds additional sweetener instead of using sugar)
1/4  cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup your choice of sliced nuts (almonds are my favorite)
1 tbsp flaxseed (ground)
1/4 cup organic chocolate chips (optional)
1 egg

 

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients together and spread evenly in a 9 by 13 inch baking pan. I don’t grease the pan, but if you choose to, stick with light vegetable oil. Bake for 30 minutes total, making sure to use a spatula at the 15 minute mark to break up the granola and turn it over so it bakes evenly. Remove and allow granola to cool for about 10 minutes (this is where it should turn nice and crunchy). Serve with a glass of almond milk, and enjoy!

-xo

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Yoga, etc

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I always love a good beach yoga session, and who better to do it with than my cousin Candace who is a phenomenal yoga instructor?! Absolutely loved the class, as I’m sure is obvious from the photos below. Topped off the night with a delicious bowl of GOOP(recipe coming soon) and a cup of tea. Namaste.

 

 

 

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Fabulous Finds

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It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these posts. I couldn’t keep these inexpensive and fabulous finds to myself so here are a few…you’re welcome;).

 

 

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$25.90- This dark brown leather watch with a butterfly pendant is classy and doesn’t break the bank. Get it here.

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$28.00- Summer Floral Long Sleeve Chiffon Girls Cute Mini Dress With Belt. Find it here.


$24.00- lace summer satchel. In love! You can find it here.

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$13.99- Women’s polka dot bikini.

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$30.00- Star & Stripe bikini, perfect for the 4th! Find it here.

Recently

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What have I been up to lately? Entirely too much to sum up in one paragraph, so I’ll just include a snapshot of the most delicious meal I’ve whipped up in quite some time. Couscous mixed with steamed kale, feta cheese, cucumbers, carrots, cherry tomatoes, and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. It was low calorie, vegetarian bliss! Also, I had to post my progress-shot in the yoga studio. Almost able to do a forearm stand without any assistance from the wall! Yikes!

 

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Four Favorites

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It’s been rather chilly here lately, which has me dreaming of spring/sunshine/warmth etc. Here are snapshots of my “favorites” this week. Including, my amazing veggie burger/kale chips/chardonnay, favorite cover-up (it’s been a LIFE SAVER these past few days…), a new pair of bright orange pants, and a new Essie color I’m dying to try. Enjoy!



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Latest Beauty Favorites

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With changing trends and constant new products appearing everywhere, I still find myself drawn to the same reliable group of ‘must-haves’ that you probably won’t ever find me without. I did however, add a new one to this list…Tarte red lipstick. In love.

What’s in my bag:

04_motreatment_pt_1_21. Moroccan Oil- hands down the most amazing hair treatment out there. The hydrating mask does wonders for a dry scalp, especially if you leave it in a little longer than suggested. The oil is the perfect finishing touch after a blow-dry and flat-iron, or just in general. You will not leave the house without it, promise!

813439010195_2_12. Shea Sugar face polish- obviously I don’t carry this one in my purse, but use it constantly. It pretty much speaks for itself. If you love a polished, clean, glowing face…this is the product for you.

badgal-lash-nobox_476x3573. My go-to mascara. With all the brands out there, Bad Girl Lash has never let me down.

FH018-farmhouse-fresh-agave-nectar-body-oil4. Agave Nectar Massage oil- (I’m a massage therapist) and love this product. It’s not too overpowering of a scent, and it’s really soothing on the skin. I even use it for moisturizing at times.

tarte-lip5. Tarte lipsticks- can’t decide which is my favorite just yet. But I’m loving the hot red trend! I had to include the pic below (from my Instagram…) from my makeup play time.

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What are you beauty faves? I’d love to know!

Broccoli Arugula Detox Soup

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Yes, you read that right. Those of you who  have heard of the GOOP detox probably have already tried and LOVED this delish recipe. As for those who haven’t, you’ve got to hop on board. I pretty much filed this recipe away as one of my rainy day activities, but for some reason the chilly weather today was perfect for something warm and healthy. Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP site is basically my new go-to for recipes/inspiration, and I was definitely not let down with this one.

 

 

-xoxo

Valentines Day, the Right Way

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I hope everyone had a great Valentines day, whether you celebrated with a special someone, or by yourself. Instead of scrambling for dinner reservations, dealing with cranky wait staff who aren’t thrilled to work on this specific night, and an overpriced glass of wine, I decided to snuggle up at home and enjoy the most delicious mix of shrimp and scallops (paired with my favorite Champagne) I’ve ever tasted thanks to this recipe. Mmmmmm.

  

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Fat Tuesday- The Skinny Rules

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Seeing as Mardi Gras refers to the ritual of eating as many rich, fatty foods as you can get your hands on before the traditional fasting of the Lenten season begins, I’d like to dedicate this post to my secrets on self control while in party/holiday situations such as this.

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Rule #1: Don’t drink your carbs.

Tons of nutritionists and professionals will preach this to you, and it’s so true. Just because it doesn’t have the consistency of food, it could pack way more calories & sugar than you think. To “drink smart”, consider my favorite options:

1) Flavored Vodka, water & ice. 69 calories. Just fill your glass with ice, add 1 shot of your favorite flavored vodka (grape is delish), and fill with water.

2) Light Beer- most of them run at around 100 calories.

3) Wine- Typically about 96 calories. Make it a spritzer with a *splash* of diet Sprite.

4) Rum & Diet Coke/Dr. Pepper- 90 calories. 1 shot of rum, 1 oz. of your diet soda. Voila.

 

Rule #2: Eat before the party.

I always try to eat before I go out. Social eating is one of the most enjoyable activities, and it’s definitely a hard habit to shake. If you absolutely must try the Buffalo Dip, just have a bite and be done!

Rule #3: Avoid the “White’s”

White flour, salt, sugar, white rice, and potatoes. Do not eat them. I know it’s impossible to completely avoid them, but they are nothing but awful for your body, and once you make a conscious decision to cut them from your diet, that few lbs. you wanted to lose will literally fall off! My secret: replace them with complex carbs, like beans or sweet potatoes instead of those delicious whipped mashed potatoes we all love.

Rule #4: Add some spice.

I know it sounds silly, but it’s one of my favorite tricks. Especially now that there is new research from Purdue University that supports the fact that spices added to your food will not only suppress the appetite, but also boost your metabolism. I am in love with crushed red pepper, jalapenos, and basically anything spicy.

So, with these few hints in mind…I hope everyone is able to enjoy the holiday in a guilt-free way. Let me know if any of them work for you!

 

To: My Health Nuts

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I’ve got to share this amazing and incredibly simple dinner idea I snatched from Candace’s blog, that I’ve incorporated into my weekly dinner routines. When I say I’m having Chick Pea burgers for dinner, people look at me like I’m crazy. But you’ve got to try them, seriously.

 

Veggie Burgers

Namaste!