Cravings - What I've Been Eating Lately

Now more than ever, I've really been monitoring what I put into my body.  The number 1 reason being I really want to nourish my baby with real whole & nutritious foods {preferably organic whenever possible}, but in all honesty, I'm also terrified of gaining too much weight.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for gaining the healthy amount necessary for growing my baby, but the thought of just kind of accidentally letting myself go scares the bejesus outta me!  lol

I'm definitely not monitoring my calories, nor am I tracking my carb intake.  I've just been listening to my body & try to eat as clean & healthy as possible.

Here's what I've been chowing down on lately....


Snacks

Veggies w/ spicy hummus.  I eat this nearly every day!

These are so yummy and ring in at 110 calories each.

I've never been a huge cottage cheese lover until recently.  I love combining it with fresh fruit!

You guys, I am OBSESSED with this stuff!  I eat it with multi grain tortilla chips, with carrot sticks, or with my eggs in the morning - I could eat this all.day.long!

More veggies + hummus....

These bars are my favorite; they're 100 calories and contain only 1 dried apple + 10 cherries.  Nothing else.  :)

Breakfast

Pregnancy is weird - I have never been a huge fan of eggs {unless they were drowned in hot sauce} but now I LOVE egg whites!  I make these egg white scrambles probably every other day and load them up with whatever fresh veggies we have on hand.  This particular one was asparagus + zucchini with fresh herbs from my garden and a small amount of feta cheese on top.

These gluten-free frozen waffles from Whole Foods are pretty healthy and really easy.....

I like to pile on the fresh berries and finish with a small drizzle of honey.

I came up with a fool proof way to make frittata!  I'll share the recipe with you guys soon!  It's super easy {no special pan required} and the presentation is amazing.

Low-fat cottage cheese paired with sliced strawberries, nectarines, pineapple, raspberries & blueberries for the win!  I finish this with a super small drizzle of honey for a little extra sweetness!

Sorry for the terrible lighting in this shot!  This is a sprouted raisin english muffin, topped with all natural peanut butter, sliced banana, and a drizzle of agave nectar.  Also pictured: a Pink Lady apple {my faveeeee!}.

Another egg white + veggie scramble.  This one is asparagus + mushrooms paired with a slice of high fiber multi-grain bread.  I don't like butter on my toast, but instead will lightly drizzle a little bit of olive oil on top.  So yummy!

Fruit cravings daily = lots of smoothies!

What type of blogger would I be if I didn't post a picture of avocado toast?!   ;)

Lunch + Dinner

Not too many pictures, but still worth sharing...

 

Brown rice wraps are so good!  I love them with spicy hummus, and loaded up with veggies.  I always add a dollop of fresh salsa on top for extra flavor.

I made a shaved corn + quinoa salad that I paired with a homemade vinaigrette.  Super simple + delicious!

I made this whole wheat Mediterranean pasta salad last night for dinner, and it turned out SO GOOD!  I need to tweak a few things, but will definitely share this recipe later on this week.  We paired this with grilled chicken....

Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches are a HUGE craving for me right now, and I'm obsessed with this superfruit jelly spread from Crofter's.  It's made with Acai berries, Morello cherries, pomegranates & red grapes and contains no added sugars.

Indulgences

And lets get real.  I'm definitely having my fair share of sweets + indulgences.  I'm just trying to do it in moderation and not go overboard with the indulgences.

 

There is a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop a few blocks from my house and we have definitely made our way over there a few times!  Ben & Jerry's is the ONLY ice cream that I'll indulge in because all of their products are 100% non GMO {which is super important to me during my pregnancy}.  My faves are the Cherry Garcia & the Half Baked Fro Yo!!!

Nothing better than Key Lime Pie with a burnt marshmallow topping!  **drooling**

A few quick notes:

Not pictured but is a hugeeee craving for me right now is Kettle Chips Salt & Vinegar flavor - I can't get enough, but only eat a few handfuls and then throw the bag out because they are d.a.n.g.e.r.o.u.s for me! 

We do all of our grocery shopping at Whole Foods which is SO expensive.  I wish there was a Trader Joe's closer to us, but the nearest TJ's is a good 45 minute drive from our house.  We do have a small veggie + herb garden which does help cut some costs, but for the most part it's almost always Whole Foods for us.

We always eat Kosher meats in our home.  Yes, we are a Jewish household, but in all honesty, there's a reason that Kosher meat is just better.  Kosher meat is basically the equivalent of organic meat {no hormones, no antibiotics, all natural, etc} but Kosher meat takes it a step further.  The animals are inspected by a certified veterinarian prior to the animal being killed.  The animals must be disease free, and can not have any broken bones, no injuries, etc, and then they are killed in the most humane way possible by a man who must be specially trained in this method which is quick & painless for the animal....no stress hormones released in the meat.  There are tons of studies that are available online if you want to read up on this.  As a small side note, my girlfriend who lives in Russia told me that it's well known in Russia that Kosher meat is much better, and whenever she {or her friends} travel, they always request Kosher meals on the flights {even though they're not Jewish!} because they just know that the meat is so much healthier, and doesn't contain all that other crap!

Non GMO products are huge for me right now.  I've been doing quite a bit of reading about the effects of GMO's on babies in utero during pregnancy and the results are scary!  I know that buying organic products can get real expensive real fast, but there are tons of small local farms who can not afford to be organic certified, but still are committed to not using GMO seeds.  Always good to look into!

Thanks for reading!  Have a great week! xx

50 Healthy Habits Every Girl Should Have

Hi girls!  I saw this floating around on Pinterest the other day and thought that I'd share it with you.

image source

I just love this!  It serves as a great reminder that we should always be doing more.  Being proactive about your health is key, and even the smallest of changes that you make now in your earlier years will pay off enormously later on in life.  

Please share this, forward this link, pin it {whatever your preference is}, and share with the favorite chicas in your life. ♡

**Congrats to Meghan & Whitney for winning the S'well water bottle giveaway!**

September Fitness Inspo Of The Month

Today I'm so excited to introduce you to Kelli, Septembers fitness inspiration of the month!  

With her degree in nutrition plus her personal training certifications, this babe is super knowledgeable when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle.  Oh, and I should also mention that she competes in NPC fitness competitions, and I'm having major body envy when I look at her competition pictures her body is total fitspiration!

Aside from her hot bod, this girl is absolutely adorable + one of the sweetest girls that I know.  Her bubbly, upbeat personality is always so contagious and I have the feeling that I'm not alone when I say that its always such a pleasure to be around her....which isn't very often since she + her husband live in Michigan (BOOO move to FL so we can be besties!).  Read more about her and her passion for fitness below.

Give us a brief bio about yourself.

Ever since I was a young girl I was always into everything active and started growing such a passion for food and staying healthy. I “officially” got into the fitness industry when I was 16. I had injured myself in Volleyball and could no longer play sports, but knew I wanted to stay active. I was mentored by a Pilates instructor in my area and got certified! I would train all of the sports teams at my high school. I continued to teach Pilates throughout college at Michigan State as well as Spinning and a variety of other group exercise classes. I knew I wanted to stay in the health/fitness field, so I got my Bachelors Degree in Dietetics (nutrition). 

Since graduating college, I have done everything from nutritional counseling at a plastic surgeons office in Las Vegas to running a group exercise and nutrition program for a large company in New York. Since I settled back in my hometown in Michigan, I have taken a much more personal approach with my clients. Those that are in my area, have me train them in their home or at my studio. My remote clients that are out-of-state are sent weekly workouts and nutritional plans. Each of my clients has a personalized plan that is designed specifically for their body and personal goals. Both have been very successful for me and I am anxious to see what the future holds!


Your body is ahhh-mazing!  What does your weekly workout schedule look like?

You are so sweet, thank you! My workouts are definitely my stress relief! My weekly workout schedule varies from week to week but mostly I will get in 4 strength training workouts and 1-2 cardio workouts. I truly enjoy my time in the gym; everyone needs some “me” time!


How disciplined do you have to be in order to compete in figure competitions?

In order to compete in any fitness competition, you have to be EXTREMELY disciplined. Your head definitely has to be in the right place to want to put your body through such a tough regimen and make it to the stage feeling your best. If you’re not mentally prepared, it can mess with your psyche! It’s funny that I got into competing because I’m actually not competitive at all! I did it to solely challenge myself and my own body.  It is emotionally and physically the most challenging thing I have ever done.

What is your average client looking to gain through personal training sessions?

The average client I see for personal training is looking to tone/tighten up specific areas and really needs some accountability! It’s so much easier when someone is telling you what to do vs. you doing it on your own in the gym. I provide that accountability as well as support them in every way I possibly can. I haven’t lost a client yet!


What is the biggest misconception that women have about fitness?

By far the biggest misconception women have about fitness is lifting weights. A lot of women are cardio bunnies! They think weights will make them “bulk up” or “look bigger/more masculine” when actually the opposite is true! Adding resistance/strength training to your routine will not only help you lose fat MUCH faster but it can completely change the composition of your body. It helps to keep the lean muscle on and take the fat off; something cardio just cannot do.  When I train for competitions/shoots I hardly do any cardio at all!


What is an amazing "move" that you love for toning up?

I have two go-to moves! The first, is for you booty! It’s a step-back lunge with a knee-up. To kick this move up a notch, you can even add weights.

My second go-to move is a full body move that will get your heart-rate up! It’s called a mountain climber. It works all the muscles in your body and will get you sweating! Alternate knees coming in and go as fast or as slow as your body will allow.

If you had one week to get ready for a big event, how would you prep?

If I had one week to shape up for an event, I would put most of the focus on my diet. Weight loss/ weight maintenance in my mind is about 70% diet / 30% exercise. I would take any/all processed foods out and increase my protein and green vegetable intake. Also, water, water, water! 


Fave go-to healthy snack?

My favorite go-to healthy snack would be either a rice cake with a tablespoon of peanut/almond butter or if I wanted something lighter, just some veggies! My favorites are snap peas or cucumbers if I’m on the go :) Think Thin bars are also a good go-to because of the high protein, low sugar content…and gluten free! 


Any specific diets that you stick to?

I don’t really ever consider myself on a diet (unless I’m in training) only because mentally that word, to me, means “restriction”! On a normal basis though, I am a clean eater. I eat a lot of lean proteins (ground turkey, chicken, eggs) and A LOT of vegetables. I very, very rarely eat any dairy only because it just doesn’t settle well with me. I am not a huge carb eater besides my oatmeal in the morning but I rarely crave carbs. If I do, I allow myself to have them and move on! Any sort of lifestyle change, food-wise, is so personal and not every plan will work for every person. It’s all trial and error and your body will let you know if it doesn’t agree with something you have eaten! Every client I have is on a different plan according to what their body responds to. You have to make it work for YOUR life.

 
What motivational advice do you give your clients so that they don't lose momentum in the gym?

This is a big one I get from my clients as well. Where do we find the motivation?! This is a tough one to answer but the best advice I have is to keep setting short-term goals. Whether you have a vacation coming up or a dress you would love to fit into or would just like to feel better in your jeans. Keep making those goals and keep them front and center in your mind at all times. Let your friends and family know what your goals are so the accountability is there. The more people know what you are working on, the better!


Do you have any stay skinny secrets that you care to share?

The best “stay skinny” secrets I have are: protein, strength training, water and no processed foods! A good combination of those four will help keep your metabolism running at its fullest potential and overall you will feel leaner, lighter and tighter!  Now, who doesn’t want that?!

As Kelli mentioned above, she offers full fitness & nutritional coaching via email + skype sessions for all of her out of state clients.  If you're interested in a consultation with her, contact her by email: Kelli.Rapaski@gmail.com
You can also check out her blog Lean Body Coaching by clicking here.
**Photography by Laila Lindberg | © Studio 11.11 LLC

What do you girls think?  Her outlook on diet & fitness is so motivating!  I also love that she sent me pictures of her go-to booty toning moves!!  Please comment / leave feedback below, and also let me know if there is any particular comments that you'd like to ask next months fitness inspo of the month!  xx

Health Benefits of Lysine

You may have heard about Lysine or even seen it in the vitamin aisles at Whole Foods, but do you actually know what the heck it is and how it can benefit your bod?  Let me fill you in on a little story......

When I first moved to Miami, I was working at the Fontainebleau hotel doing VIP bottle service at a nightclub.  I had never worked in a club before, and I'm not sure if it was the environment or the backwards sleep schedule, but for whatever reason I was sick for the entire 8 months that I worked there.  I'm not talking about a little sniffle sniffle sickypoo.  I would have a cold that would turn into a sinus infection, that would turn into sinusitis and bronchitis, and then repeat the process all over again for 8 months straight.  I was absolutely miserable.  Adam happened to read an article on yahoo about the health benefits of L-Lysine and figuring that we had nothing to lose, we both started taking it twice per day.

I immediately saw results.  Within a few days my symptoms started to clear up, and about a week later I was feeling pretty darn good.  So what exactly is lysine?  Lysine is an essential amino acid, which means that our bodies need it.  For years lysine has been used to bolster the body’s immune function, but recent studies have shown that lysine deficiency leads to immune deficiency. So simply put, if you are not getting enough lysine, you are far more likely to get sick more often.  It also turns out that this amazing amino acid does more than just fight germies.  Here's a few more deets about the health benefits of L-Lysine:

• Promotes normal growth and development by increasing collagen formation
• Supports the production of other proteins like enzymes, antibodies and hormones
• Promotes bone health by increasing calcium absorption; prevents osteoporosis or weak bones by reducing bone loss
• Helps convert fatty acids to energy, aiding in weight reduction
• Helps lower bad cholesterol levels, thus reducing the risk for heart disease
• Promotes skin health through increased collagen formation
• May be used to treat viral infections like herpes simplex, cold sores, shingles,human papilloma virus (HPV) infection such as genital warts, and genital herpes
• Can relieve migraines and other types of pain and inflammation
• When taken with other nutrients like vitamin C, it can reduce chest pains (angina) related to heart disease
• Helps in muscle building, when taken with other amino acids like arginine

We still take lysine everyday, and in the 2 years that I've been taking it, I've only had cold/flu like symptoms twice.  If I know that I'll be traveling, I increase my dosage for an extra immune booster.  The particular brand that we take is Quantum Health Super Lysine+ Immune System, which has Vitamin C, Echinacea, Licorice, Propolis, and Odorless Garlic for added immune support.  

So next time that you're taking a stroll through the vitamin aisle at your health food store, pick up a bottle and be on the road to healthy!

**Please note that I am obviously not a doctor, and you should consult a physician before taking any supplements.**

August Fitness Inspo of the Month

The number one thing that I get emailed about is diet/fitness questions.  It seems that everyone (myself included!) is always looking to add to whatever regime they're currently on.  Since its always fun to mix things up a bit, I thought it would be fun to start a new monthly feature 'Fitness Inspiration of the Month' where you can read about gals who inspire me through their passion for fitness, healthy lifestyles, and amazing bodies. 

For Typical Domestic Babe's first fitness inspo of the month, it was a no brainer that I had to feature my friend Michelle.  I'm constantly amazed by the insane pictures of her on Instagram in yoga positions that would send me straight to my chiropractors office!  Not only is she absolutely gorgeous, she's also super sweet + one of the most down to earth girls I know.  Read more about her and her passion for yoga below.

Give us a brief bio about yourself.

I was born in the Philippines but was raised in the greater Seattle area.  I loved living in Washington and it will always hold a special spot in my heart.  

I think I took my first yoga class when I was 19.  I was never really that athletic.  At that point my exercise consisted of working out at a gym or running maybe once or twice a week.  Afterwards, I rarely stretched like I was suppose to so I naturally became very stiff.  A friend had suggested yoga so I decided to give it a go.  I found a cute little studio and started going once a week.  I can barely remember my first class but I do remember all the props I had to use to be able to get through class.  It wasn't something I kept up regularly but I did always find myself back at the studio.

Then I moved to Miami.  I didn't practice for probably my first year living here.  I had been given a free class pass for Green Monkey and decided to give it another go.  I just jumped into all level classes.  My classes were always on the smaller side so I received a lot help with proper alignment.  I bounced around from different studios but then came back to Green Monkey where I met Paula Walker.  I went to a couple of her classes a week and really started to see my practice advance.  What an amazing transformation I saw my body go through.  After a year or so practicing with Paula she suggested that I do the teacher training they offered that Paul Toliuszis lead.  I put it off the first time because I thought I wasn't ready.  Since I regularly attended Paula's classes I made a yogi friend Julie Valbuena.  Paula suggested that we both should do the teacher training.  I still felt like I wasn't quite ready but decided to do it anyways!

So in the fall of 2012 I started my 200 hour intensive teacher training.  I was blessed with an amazing group of individuals.  We had such a great time learning together.  The 10 week program flew by.  It was such an awesome experience.  I really saw my body, mind, and soul transform.  I became stronger not just physically but mentally.  I saw myself doing things I never thought I could.  I became a certified yoga instructor December 1, 2012.

You're body is unreal!  What does your weekly workout schedule look like?

Thank you for such a great compliment!  Thank goodness something I love so much does my body well.  I take class as much as I can.  Usually anywhere from 4-5 times a week with a couple of 90 minute power yoga classes.  On the days that I don't head to Green Monkey I try to do a short home practice.  I also include running 3-5 miles around the beach a couple of times a week.  Another hobby of mine is paddleboarding. Not only is it an incredible full body workout but it's so much fun and time passes by so quickly.  I recently started doing yoga on the paddleboards - amazing for your core!  I try to do that at least once a week, weather permitting of course.  I only work out in gym once a week cause I would rather be outdoors.  Living in South Beach its very easy to stay active.  If its only a few blocks away I tend to just walk or ride a bike.  

Lets chat about yoga.  Why is it so amazing?

  

There are so many reasons why yoga is so amazing that I doubt I will be to share every single one of them!  On the physical side, its a no brainer.  You get a nice, lean, toned body while becoming more and more flexible with a consistent practice.  There's so many different styles of yoga to fit your fitness needs.  Your posture slowly starts improving and you start standing and sitting up taller.  It is so necessary if you have to wear high heels regularly.  I use to have the worst back pain when I didn't keep up with my practice.  

The greatest change you will start to notice is with your self, your mind, and your soul.  I started getting this rush of joy and happiness after my classes, a high like no other.  That's what ultimately kept me coming back for more.  I started to really appreciate the smaller things in life.  Simple things like the fresh air early in the mornings, someone opening the door for me, or only hitting a couple of red lights on the way to work.  Everyday I wake up grateful for the people that continue to stay in my life, a healthy mind & body, and for the life I am so blessed to live.   You start to learn how to be mindful instead of having a mind so full that life just zooms past you.  You start to appreciate just being in the moment.  Yoga helped me get through some very hard times in my life.  I fell into a depression from partying and not living a balanced life.  It left me with myself whether I liked it or not.  I had to deal with me and all of my imperfections.  Living in Miami, where everyone seems to be so damn perfect looking, I became very hard on the way I viewed myself.  I wanted bigger boobs, a bigger butt, rock solid abs, oh and to be few inches taller.  Wishing to look like someone else is just no way to live.  With my yoga practice I learned to love my body and my soul the way it is. Of course this all did not happen over night.  You have to learn to be patient and trust the process!

Fave yoga pose and why?

 I have so many! I love to be upside down and you can definitely see that in my pictures.  I'm currently working on my handstands but I do love to pop into headstands.  Headstands can be scary.  You literally are turning your world upside down.  You dance around with fear, courage, and your inner strength.  It always leaves you with wanting more and absolutely boosts your confidence.  There are also so many health benefits of being inverted.  They don't call it the fountain of youth for nothing!  Being upside down reverses the pull of gravity and lets your skin hang in the opposite direction.  It gets fresh nutrients and oxygen to your face which leaves you with a nice glowing face. The reverse pull of gravity also greatly improves your blood circulation and is very cleansing for your insides.  Being upside down also gives your heart a break from constantly fighting gravity to get fresh blood up to your brain.  The pressure is reversed so blood flows to the brain with little work from the heart.  Time spent being upside down is really one of the best things you can do for yourself!

Ok, so I'm basically living in a headstand from now on!! :)  Whats your favorite go-to healthy snack?

KIND bars.  I have a deep love for chocolate.  My favorite bar has dark chocolate, dried cherries, and almonds.  So delicious and not a bad treat to have!   

Any specific diets that you stick to?

 I absolutely love eating.  I've been very fortunate to have a fast metabolism so I've been able to get away with a lot.  With age though, I am able to get away with less and less.  Coming from Seattle, I learned to keep it organic.  I've always shopped that way.  I try to eat as clean as possible.  I read my labels, and if I can't pronounce it I put it back.  I stay away for sodas and juices unless its freshly made.  I really don't eat a lot of meat or very much dairy.  I actually enjoy finding healthy alternatives to my favorite guilty pleasures.  Some of my favorites include zucchini crust pizza that can be made without using an animal products, as well as a vegan "cheesecake" made with just nuts and fruits.  I truly believe that once you put yourself on a "diet" and restrict yourself from certain things, you are setting yourself up for failure.  Know what makes your body feel good and eat that.  If you want to cheat more than once don't beat yourself up for it.  I believe its important to have a healthy relationship with food.  It is meant to be enjoyed!

Whats an all natural beauty product that you can't live without?

Coconut oil!  There are so many countless ways to use coconut oil.  It is an incredible moisturizer for your hair & skin and great for dry lips.  It can also be used to remove makeup and as a natural SPF 4 sunscreen - great for tanning!

Miami girls are known for their teeny bikinis and amazing bods.  Do you have any stay skinny secrets that you care to share?

It's way more simple than people make it out to be.  Know what you are eating.  Stay away from things that are sugar-free, fat free, labeled diet or heavily processed.  All that means is that it is full of chemicals.  Eat things that you can pronounce and that fuels your body. Stay active, try to sweat once a day, and do yoga of course! ;)

 

Be sure to follow Michelle along on all her yogi adventures on Instagram (@michemichee) by clicking here.  Trust me, her pics are amazing!!  :)

What do you girls think?  Isn't her inspirational story & dedication to living a healthy lifestyle so motivating?  Please comment/leave feedback, and also let me know if there's any particular questions that you'd like to ask for future "inspo of the month's".  xx

Vanilla Almond Milk Recipe + The Nasty Little Truth About the Store Bought Version

How did it take me so long to start making my own almond milk?  I'd seen recipes galore all over blogs and on Pinterest but for some reason I had it in the back of my head that making almond milk at home was too difficult to try.  Wrong!   I finally gave it a try a few weeks ago....OMG.  It is so yummy and beyond easy to master in the comfort of your kitchen. 

The nice thing about making this at home is that you're able to control exactly what you're putting into your body.  I decided to google the ingredients that are in our favorite almond milk brand that we used to purchase from Whole Foods.  I was so disappointed to learn that DL-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, which is a synthetic man made version of vitamin E is added to my delicious vanilla drink, but labeled as vitamin E so it appears "healthy" to those who don't know so.  This nasty little additive is created through a chemical process that uses petroleum as the base.  YUCK!!  It really is true - if you can't pronounce it, don't consume it.  

Lesson learned.  From now on, almond milk is created in my kitchen NOT in a lab!

Ingredients

1 cup plain organic almonds (not dry roasted or salted)
2 dates, pitted and chopped (the dates add a nice caramel flavor!)
1 whole vanilla bean, chopped
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups water
1 tsp honey
pinch cinnamon
pinch sea salt


Directions

Place almonds in a bowl and soak overnight (or at least 4 hours minimum).  After soaking, strain and give the almonds a good rinse.

Place almonds in a blender, and add water, dates, and vanilla bean.  Blend until smooth.

Pour mixture into a bowl that is lined with either a cheesecloth or a clean dishtowel and allow to drain through.  Wrap up almond mixture in the cheesecloth/dishtowel and squeeze out excess liquid.

Once all excess liquid is drained, whisk in honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon and sea salt.  

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate.



Do you make your own almond milk at home?  I would love if you shared any tips/tricks that you use!  xx

Juicing

I had been wanting a juicer for quite some time.  I did my research, read hundreds of reviews, and as of last week, we are the proud owner of a Hurom Slow Juicer!  

I purchased it from Williams & Sonoma (view it here), and it was relatively inexpensive compared to other juicers on the market.  It came at the perfect time since we also recently enrolled in Annies Organic Buying Club.  This club sells in-season produce (some is local, some is not) that is all organic and delivered every Wednesday.  You choose how much you want, half share, full share, Paleo only, etc and once a week you get fresh, organic produce that is different every week.  Its pretty cheap too!  We chose the half share for $38.  This is what we received in our first delivery:

  

Our half share contained 5 yams, 1 doz eggs, kale, 2 avocados, strawberries, 7 cara cara oranges, blueberries, romaine lettuce, broccoli, mini heirloom tomatoes, 5 apples, and 7 bananas.  Not bad for under $40!!







The juicer is the perfect addition to my kitchen since we now have such an abundance of weekly fresh produce.  I decided on the Hurom brand because I wanted a slow juicer; one that would be able to handle wheatgrass, kale, and spinach and I had read that this was the best for that.  I am so thrilled with my purchase - who knew that juicing could be so much fun!!

I've literally been juicing everything in sight for the past week.  My favorite combo so far has been kale, spinach, orange, apple, strawberry & carrot.  So delish!!  I've also experimented adding wheatgrass, celery & cucumbers to the mix and just picked up some beets today to try out.  I read online that beets are supposed to be the "fountain of youth" when it comes to juicing.  Sign me up for that! 

Looks gnarly, but tastes great!

 
Since I am a juicing amateur, and I didn't know the slightest thing about juicing, I picked up a few books from Barnes & Noble to help me get started.  I wanted to make sure that I was somewhat educated about the benefits of specific veggies, especially when presenting this greenish brown mystery liquid to Adam (who I knew would be not so into this).  The books are great for inspiration, and the combinations that they suggest are way beyond what I would have ever came up with on my own. 

 One of the books in particular, "The Juicing Book, by Stephen Blauer" was extremely helpful.  It shows you what each veggie is good for nutritionally speaking, and also lists different types of conditions that may be ailing you, and what you should be drinking to help improve that particular condition.  So for instance, if you have acne, it says that you should be consuming carrots, cucumbers, dandelion greens, endive, fenugreek sprout, kohlrabi, parsnip, purslane, turnips, and wheatgrass.  This book is amazing, and I would definitely suggest it to any of you who are into juicing.

I owned the "Beauty Detox Solution, by Kimberly Snyder" prior to buying my juicer, but pulled it out so that I could make her "Glowing Green Juice".





Another tidbit of helpful info that I read about online is to save the pulp from your fruits & vegetables and feed it to your pooches.  I've been collecting the pulp from carrots, apples, and spinach and mixing it into some white rice, which in turn gets mixed into Aces dog food.  He LOVES it!  I'm not sure if I have ever seen his dog food disappear so quickly!  I'll absolutely be doing this from now on.

This contains carrots, apples and spinach.

Mixed into rice for Ace

Something else that might be of interest to you is to freeze your juice into an ice cube tray.  I didn't read about this anywhere, but I thought that the frozen juice would be scrumptious mixed with vanilla protein powder and blended into my protein shakes.  I tried it yesterday, and it was pretty tasty!  Its such an easy way to add extra vitamins & nutrients to your shakes/smoothies.

I mixed 4 of my juice cubes with 1 packet of vanilla Isalean Shakes

My mind is literally working overtime thinking of all the things I can juice (almonds!) and of different ways to utilize the pulp (mixing it into Aces homemade dog treats!)

If you have a favorite recipe, or a creative way that you reuse the pulp please share it with me!  I would love to hear your comments & suggestions.

Happy Juicing!

Protein Shakes!

Lets talk about protein shakes.  I have mentioned before that I've been on the Isagenix system lately in preparation for my wedding.  When I first started Isagenix, I ordered the 9 day cleanse because I really wanted to kick my normal diet & workout routine into overdrive.  It was on this cleanse that I fell in love with the IsaLean Shakes.

I absolutely LOVE Isagenix products, especially their IsaLean Shakes.  IsaLean Shakes are meant to be meal replacements, and they definitely fill me up.  They are so delicious, and I actually crave them (no joke!).  I've heard that they reformulated their old formula (although I'm not sure when that happened) and that they are much better tasting now than they used to be.  I love that they are super creamy, and that they come in convenient individual packets (perfect for me since we travel alot).  I also like the fact that they have tons of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes and I feel like they are really helping cleanse my body.  I ordered both vanilla & dutch chocolate, and although both are very good, I prefer the chocolate.

I have had amazing results on Isagenix and I plan on continuing with the shakes until after my wedding!

Convenient little packets for traveling

Another brand of protein that I like is "Protein Energizer" by Rainbow Light.  It is a brown rice based vegan protein, and I buy it from Whole Foods, but have also seen it available online.  It comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors.  There are pros and cons to this particular brand of protein.  I like that it has energizing herbs that are stimulant free and I really do feel a boost of energy after I drink this, however it has a gritty consistency and it doesn't taste as good as the IsaLean shakes.  It is lower calorie, carbs, proteins, and sugars than the IsaLean.  This is not a meal replacement, more of a post workout protein.

To do a side by side comparision of the IsaLean vs. Rainbow Light Protein Energizer:

                              IsaLean                                               Rainbow Light  

Calories                   240                                                                   88.5

Fat                          6g                                                                      1g
Carbs                       24g                                                                    5g
Sugars                      11g                                                                  <1g
Protein                     24g                                                                    14g
Fiber                        8g                                                                      3g



I purchased the Magic Bullet last month, and I'm not sure how I ever managed to live without it!  Since investing in this marvelous little appliance, making my morning smoothies & shakes is so much easier! When Adam & I went to Seattle earlier this month, I brought along my little IsaLean Shake packets.  I missed my Magic Bullet so much that we walked around downtown Seattle until we found a Bed, Bath & Beyond and I purchased a second one for the rest of our trip!  Whoever created the Magic Bullet is a genius, and I would like to personally thank them for the amazing concept.  :)

My morning shake routine is usually 1 packet of IsaLean Shakes in chocolate, mixed with 5 ice cubes, 8oz filtered water, and 2-3 frozen banana slices.  I combine all that in my magic blender and drink it straight from the cup. :)



A few little extras that I like to mix into my shakes:

• 2-3 organic frozen banana slices
• tsp organic peanut butter
• small handful of organic spinach
• 1/4 cup frozen organic dark cherries
• 2-3 organic strawberries
• If using vanilla flavored protein powder, replace the water w/ orange gatorade - tastes like an orange creamcicle!

My FAVE protein shake recipe:

• 1 scoop chocolate protein powder 
• small handful of spinach
• 1/4 cup frozen organic sweet dark cherries
• 5 ice cubes
• 8 oz filtered water 
• Blend

This is sooooo delicious! It tastes like ice cream :)

As a small side note, I believe in Isagenix so much that I signed up to become a consultant.  I'm not trying to sell it or anything, you just get wholesale pricing (which saves you a lot) when you sign up.  If you are curious or have any questions about Isagenix, you can email me at andreadewey4206@gmail.com or check out my consultant page by clicking here.

I hope that you found this information useful, and I would love to hear some feedback.  Thank you for reading my blog!

xo,

Andy