Wine and Love

Posted on March 1, 2012 by She Wears a Red Sox Cap

It’s time for another week of Wine and Love, brought to you by Nora <3

Wine

1. It’s always a bit depressing coming back from vacation… or should I say going from sunny red rocks to gray snow…

2. It was time for parent/conferences this week. I do like my parents this year, and I like the second conference because I get to show off all the progress of the kiddos, but it just makes the work week soooo crazy that I have to wine about them.

3. My tutoring kiddos are making me crazy right now. Two of them in particular are just checked out and no matter how much time I spend planning a fun things for them to do they are just not having it. There is a LOT that I prefer about older kids, but it can be said about kindergartners especially in the group environment it is not hard to get them excited about something. Sometimes I wish my older tutoring kiddos were the same way…

Love

1. I told myself on Sunday that no matter HOW busy this week got, I had to make sure I still had time to work out at least a few times. I am happy to say I was successful with this plan even when it meant a bit of a rushed run outside on Tuesday afternoon.

2. On Wednesday I had my yearly dermatologist appointment and it was SO fast. It was snowing out so I think some people did not show up because the doctor took me on time to the minute, and I was in and out in 15 minutes. I got home so early I had time for an unplanned walk in the snow (see love 3).

3. Eric and I went for a lovely walk in the snow on Wednesday. Sure I’d rather it be a walk in beautiful spring weather, but I’ll take the walk.

4. The snow that began yesterday has continued today, so both Eric and I had class canceled tonight. I was originally a little bummed because it’s my photo class, but Eric and I decided to use a Groupon to get some Mexican food which ended up being a nice end to a long day. Plus, the Groupon was for $30 which we never spend at this restaurant so we got dessert too. Yum… my first time tasting churros!

I have to say, I was really dreading this week on Sunday night… a lot going on at work, coupled with a dentist and a doctor’s appointment- I was just not excited. I have to say, it was a lot better than I expected! Wahoo!

What are your wine and loves this week?

5 Steps to Red Lips

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Boston Mamas

Last year I engaged in a quest to find the perfect shade of red lipstick. After I found it (more on that in a second), I reserved the look for evenings, but recently started sporting a red lip periodically for day events. At BlissDom, I decided to rock the red lip every day since my makeup is pretty neutral and I feel more finished with a bold lip. And I was admittedly a little shocked by the result — I received countless compliments (including people I didn’t know stopping me in my tracks!), and also many comments such as “Oh, I could never do that,” or “I have no idea how to find the right color.” So today, I wanted to share my 5 steps to red lips. Really, I think anyone can pull this off and it looks spectacular!

1. Seek professional consultation. If you are, like me, paralyzed when it comes to picking shades at the drugstore, visit a professional cosmetics counter. Yes, the high end products are more expensive than the drugstore products, but I probably spent more money experimenting (and failing) with drugstore shades compared to what I paid for the right colors. And make sure the folks at the counter actually assess your skin tone and try the shade on you before you buy it. I had one unfortunate encounter at Sephora (a place I typically love) where I asked for red lipstick recommendations and the salesperson simply picked out the bestselling store color and rang me up. I tried it on at home and it looked terrible and I ended up returning it. I was smarter the second time around and ended up at the Chanel counter at Nordstrom. They not only advised that the deep red I was envisioning would look Goth and not great on me, but they selected a fantastic shade that works well both for night and day.

2. Invest in the tools. At a professional makeup counter, you may be tempted to skip the lip pencil to save money, but you will need the pencil to help set the lines and prevent color bleed (aka “feathering”) around the lips. Following my Chanel consult, I purchased the Carmin #14 lip liner and Gabrielle #19 lipstick. The lip liner is especially awesome because it comes with a lipstick brush built into the other side. (Note: I was surprised to see how pink and brown, respectively, these products look online — all the more reason why you should go for an in person consult and save online shopping for once you have established your colors.)

3. Budget in extra time. Because red is such a strong color, I find that it requires more application precision than my usual super quick lip pencil + gloss. Allocate 10 or so extra minutes in your routine to quickly exfoliate your lips (I simply run a warm washcloth gently over my lips), add a little lip balm to moisturize, then apply the pencil and lipstick (use the brush for nice clean lines). Once you’re done, make sure you bring your lipstick and lip liner with you, as you will probably need to touch up periodically.

4. Maintenance. Red lipstick is, admittedly, a little more high maintenance. It’s definitely an eat-with-a-fork instead of chow-down-a-burrito type of lip color. However, I did not find that I needed to build in extra stops — at BlissDom, I simply checked my color whenever I happened to use the bathroom. Later in the day, I did find I needed to deal with a little feathering — easily remedied by running a bit of tissue along the edges of my lips to clean up the color bleed then reapplying. Also, make sure you check your teeth after application!

5. Try it. Own it. Many women who asked me about wearing red lipstick said they loved the look but “just couldn’t do it” or that it would “look terrible on them.” Yet, when I asked if they had ever tried, they said no, it was too intimidating. I conveyed the importance of steps 1-2, and that knowing you have the right shade helps with the confidence-to-wear factor (it certainly did for me!). Then once you procure the red, OWN IT. Try it at an evening event first, just to get your legs under you, then try it during the day. This may take a while — I found my red January 2011 and it wasn’t until the last couple of months that I started wearing it for day events, and then BlissDom was the first time that I have ever Gwen Stefani’d it and worn red three days straight. As I mentioned earlier, I loved how it looked and was shocked by the positive response!

Will you try red lipstick? I’m curious! You can see my red BlissDom lips here, and if you’re feeling really inspired and want to share, post up a photo of you rocking your red lips at the Boston Mamas Facebook page. It would be so fun to see your lovely faces!

Image credit: Stuart Miles via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Piloxing: Pilates and Boxing For Exercise

Posted on March 1, 2012 by LisaJohnsonFitness

Piloxing has been making a splash lately in celebrity circles. It’s a great cardio workout that combines boxing, standing Pilates, dance moves, and weighted gloves. Viveca Jensen is the creator, a Los Angeles-based Pilates instructor and studio owner who wanted to push her clients a little bit further. Her client list includes Hilary Duff, Alexis Biedel, and Melissa McCarthy.

So Piloxing (affiliate link) is cool and it’s definitely got buzz. They’ve been featured on the TV show “The Doctors,” in Grammy grab bags, and more.

I’ve been cross-training with kick boxing for years and I’ve found that the more you know Pilates, the better you are at any style of boxing. It was rather fun to watch my instructor’s jaw drop when I told him I was a Pilates instructor. He gave me one of those “You’re a sissy girl” looks and then I promptly changed his mind by doing a controlled round-house kick over his head. Heh.

Pilates strengthens your core, teaches strength with extension (think of an arm throwing a punch), and helps with balance. All of these skills are particularly useful to boxing and the high repetition used in punching is great for toning abs, arms, and the butt. The two together really are a great combination.

Viveca’s cueing is solid, her alignment is good, and she has a steady patter of cueing to keep you motivated and to keep good form. All things that I like. Yes, it’s rare that I endorse a fitness DVD, but here I am. I like this workout. Beginners will take a few times to get used to the workout, and intermediates will be able to pick it up right away (although you’ll feel it the next day).

If you’re interested, you can check out more info at Piloxing.com.

Cheers,

Lisa

Workout Woes: 3 Feel Good Moves When You Just Aren’t Feeling It

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Healthy Chicks

We all know exercise is beneficial not only for our body (who doesn’t love a little extra glute-toning), but for our mental health as well. Many women track hours at the gym, have a strict running routine, or even take several group fitness classes (such as core fusion) in one day. But what’s a girl to do when she’s simply not feeling it? Do we really need to be so strict on ourselves?

Let’s face it, we are only human. While many of us strive to be superwoman at times, even the fitness fanatics among us have their “off” days. And guess what? That’s totally OK and get this…normal.

I know what it’s like to feel guilt for skipping a workout. Heck, I even skipped my 6:15 a.m. Core Fusion Cardio class this morning because the gloomy weather was a huge turnoff, and well, my need for a good night’s sleep was much more important to me. I had a busy week, I was tired and I needed some good old-fashioned beauty rest. Old me would have beat myself up over this for days, but new me simply let’s it go. Now I don’t skip my workouts every day, but when I’m not feeling it I don’t force myself to go.

Anyway, I’ve got some good news for all of you guilt-prone ladies out there. There are little moves you can do that’ll help you to be a little less hard on yourself, while not feeling like a bump on a log.

1. Make it a Clean Day: Just because you’re skipping the gym doesn’t make you “fat” or “unhealthy” at all. If you’re letting this guilt get to you, why not make it a clean day in the kitchen? Eat a hearty breakfast filled with whole grains and protein, like rolled oats with flax seed, almond butter and sliced banana or peaches, or maybe a cage-free egg white omelet like this Vegetarian Farmer’s Omelet filled with sauteed veggies and a slice of Ezekiel bread.

Then drink lots of water throughout the day to flush your system of toxins, and get rid of any extra belly bloat. For the rest of the day, fill yourself up with lots of green leafy vegetables (think kale, spinach, or collard greens), healthy fats like olive oil or coconut oil for cooking,fresh fruit, and lean proteins like antibiotic-free natural chicken or fish. As I always say, the more real and simple the food is, the better so try to avoid anything that comes from a package especially items that have dozens of ingredients.

2. Move It Along: Just because you’ve made the decision to take a break from that whole working out thing doesn’t mean you have to sit around and eat pizza on the couch all afternoon, although we all have those kinds of days too and that’s completely OK.

If you’re feeling up for it, why not go for a walk with a friend around town? As you chat away, you won’t even realize you’ve walked nearly 3 miles around the city! If you’ve been running like a maniac lately and have really been feeling it in your knees, a local yoga class may be a good alternative for you. Maybe it’s just the weather is what’s keeping you from going to your favorite class. Whenever this happens, I chose to do an at-home workout DVD or On Demand exercise instead so I can still start the day on the right food, and get a mini sweat session in.

3. Relax Alright, so you took a day (or even a week) off from running and you’re feeling a little blue. Did you ever think that maybe, just maybe your body needs that break? Have you been to hard on yourself lately? Did you find yourself in a workout rut where you become angry instead of excited to take a class? These are all signs that maybe your body is craving a mini vacation from strenuous exercise.

When you find yourself feeling this way, it’s best to just take some time for yourself. Cuddle up after work with some peppermint herbal tea and a good book. Close your eyes for ten, even five minutes and just breathe. Meditate. Take a long bath or shower with some aromatherapy oils. Taking care of our mental self is just as important as taking care of our physical body, so try to give yourself a little leeway.

If you’re prone to guilt when you skip a workout, find it hard to relax and be at peace with yourself, or are looking for a way to revamp your diet without going on a diet, I may be able to help you. As a health coach, I work with women who are looking to get that “zest” back into their lives & escape a lifestyle of yo-yo dieting. To learn more you can visit my website here or schedule a FREE initial health consultation with me today.

Have a wonderful day,

Through the "Eyes" of Google Street View

Posted on March 1, 2012 by La vie j'aime

Before Google Street View was released in 2007, cars drove around the world to capture each street with 9 cameras on each car. Some “accidents” happened along the way. Artist Jon Rafman selects unique images from the views–from a car on fire, man in the window, an unruly stallion, and car accident, among others–seen on the Huffington Post. These photos are strangely beautiful to me, despite a bizarre unaffected and distant quality to them. Click the link for more.

Trigger Happy!

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Run For Fun

Today is a new month, a new day, and today we are trigger happy. Yesterday I got a shot of HCG which I am pretty much sure was filled with “overwhelming emotions” and “stomachaches” because last night I passed out on the couch clutching my stomach and whining to Aaron. But that may or may not have been due to this

Ok, I may be hormonal but I am not that amazing. I cannot take any credit for making or eating this incredible concotion. Brenna’s boyfriend however ate like a champ

Not even blinking an eye, VERY impressive

Mine looked more like this and yes we went there at 7 p.m. and yes we went BEFORE dinner.

Mine is the one with all the fruit. Still large and in charge. But Aaron rocked his caramel and oreo swirl with mini- reese pieces, OMG!

I think this is the first time in a long time that I can remember eating dessert immediately before eating dinner. My stomach told me that was a big FAIL, but totally worth it.

Just a little aside, if you are from Massachusetts and you have not been here yet, you are doing yourself a disservice. Yeh is a new Frozen Yogurt Place straight from Canada! They must know I am supposed to be gaining weight because they set up shop just in time. They make all homemade fat-free frozen yogurts (except the chocolate has fat). I guess they missed that I am supposed to be adding more fats to my diet. That is a license to add all the toppings in the world, right? Or may I will have to try some of their crepes next time – apparently I can use a crepe as a waffle cone (someone up there loves me).

You swirl your own yogurt and pick your own toppings, a very dangerous activity

Yes, you are right that is ROCK CANDY! Only from Canada

So after we sampled EVERY flavor, we settled down by the fireplace. Only in Canada do they know that it is completely acceptable to have frozen treats in the winter so why not have a fireplace to eat them by. Good deal!

It is NEVER, I repeat NEVER to cold for ice-cream and frozen yogurt

I will ABSOLUTELY be going back. If you are going, let me know. I can meet you – I am always game for a fro yo trip. In the meantime, check out yeh here and they are also on Twitter (hashtag #yeh).

Ok so this shot, we went to the doctor yesterday and I was sure I had already ovulated due to the pains I was getting. Nope. Apparently, it was just my massive follicle sitting in my ovary. 27! Pretty sweet huh? You like how I just got excited about my ovaries and follicle. My uterine lining was UP, which is also great news – 6.5. So that meant trigger time. I got a shot of HCG (we decided to leave that picture out or not take it at all) because well lets just say it may be a little harder to sit down today. The shot is supposed to trigger ovulation.

So clearly, in our excitement of ovulation, we had to celebrate – cue the Frozen Yogurt!

That is all for today. Have you ever had dessert before dinner? Who is ready to come with me for round 2 at yeh?

Blueberry Almond Muffins and New Balance Gear!

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Yogurt and Berries

Happy Leap Year to me!!

The awesome crew at New Balance generously provided our Reach the Beach blogger team: “Team Off Balance” with enough gear to get us through training AND the relay itself!! Check this out…

The 870v2 Sneakers
NBx Prism Half Zip
Impact Capri
Heathered Short Sleeve
NBx Prism Capri

Icefil Short Sleeve
Get Back Racerback
Prism Running Short
Fun Run Shorts

Tonic Crop Sports Bra
Socks!
PDA Running Gloves
Tri-Viz Running Cap
NGR Bars

Um, wow!

Pictures don’t even do it justice…but that hot pink t-shirt is HOT PINK, and incredibly soft!!

The 870’s are their stability shoe, and I don’t even think these particular sneakers(870v2) are out yet! I’ll let you know how they feel next time I run. I’ve always needed some stability in my running sneakers and this will be my first time trying New Balance since I started running a few years ago.

I even tried on all the bottoms right away. All the material is so soft, and nothing feels like it’s going to fall down, and most have drawstrings! I currently own a pair of nice capris (not NB) but they are a lower rise and always need to be tugged up..annoying. I’m liking the higher rise of these (not high rise, but you know…normal!).

I’ll be sure to get photos of myself when I’m wearing the gear so you can see!

In the meantime, if you want to get some sweet New Balance gear yourself, they’ve provided me with a coupon code for my readers to get 15% off AND free shipping!! Pretty sure even Brian is going to get something after seeing my new items.

From now until March 10, 2012 you can use the code: NBRTB1279GDCT

Awesome right?! I can’t wait to try everything on!! If you have any specific questions about the products leave a comment or shoot me an email

Ok Muffin time.

This was one of those recipes that I had made before and my initial assessment was that they weren’t that great and can’t use them on the blog.

However, that was after a bite when they were still warm. My feeling with “healthier” muffins, is that they taste better once they’ve cooled and flavors come through better. See, the next morning I went to eat one (I mean they were still good to me!), and they tasted so much better!! I was actually bummed I didn’t take photos that first time.

So this weekend when I was craving muffins for the week, I went back to the recipe. Since my initial gripe with them was that I thought they weren’t sweet enough, I added a bit more honey.

Banana muffins are the best kind to make healthy versions of because bananas themselves are so sweet and flavorful, but blueberries, not so much.

These use equal parts almond meal and oat flour so they are a little denser than your standard muffin, but they stay really moist from the almond meal, blueberries, and eggs! Also higher in protein!!

If you have nice fine blanched almond flour then your muffins will be lighter in color and possibly a little less dense, but for now I just buy the cheaper Almond Meal from Trader Joes and it works perfectly fine.

The almond flavor is there, but not too over powering. You can always increase the almond extract a little (that stuff is potent!) if you wanted more almond flavor. These have more of a natural almond flavor rather than an almond extract flavor.

Almond Blueberry Muffins
(makes 12 muffins)

1 cup almond meal (almond flour)
1 cup Oat Flour
1/4 cup Flax Seed Meal
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 eggs
2 egg whites
1/4 cup almond milk (plain or vanilla, unsweetened)
1 tsp Almond Extract (add another 1/2 tsp for more almond flavor)
1/3 cup honey
2 Tbsp canola oil (or butter or oil of choice)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup slice almonds (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 350*

Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl (almond flour to salt), whisk to combine.

In a separate bowl beat eggs and egg whites, add almond milk, oil, honey, almond extract, and vinegar. Whisk to combine. Add wet to dry, mix with a spoon until just combined, fold in blue berries.

Distribute batter into a regular 12-cup muffin tin lined with paper liners.

Top with slice almonds if desired.

Bake for 16-18 min, or until toothpick inserted in the center of one of the muffins comes out clean. Let cool.

(my little “cake tester” from Crate and Barrel)

Enjoy!

I guess this if for bloggers, but have you ever made something “not for the blog” and wish you had taken photos because it came out so good!?

Do you wear New Balance Gear? Like it?? I’ve always liked the company. I used to work right near their Outlet store in Lawrence…that place is awesome!

Lets hope this is finally The Snow for the season and from here on we can move to spring??? Wishful thinking??

Super Simple 3 Ingredient Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken

Posted on February 29, 2012 by FoodFitnessFashion

Hey everyone! Happy Humpday! This week is flying by, no? It is currently snowing in Boston. We haven’t gotten much snow this year at all, so I can’t really complain. It is kind of pretty actually.

Breakfast this morning was two whole wheat waffles eaten sandwich style with Barney Butter and banana slices.

I packed my lunch for work along with some snacks this morning. I packed some leftover Chicken Soup from Monday night’s dinner. I love dinners that create leftovers. Plus things are always better a day or two later.

For snacks I packed were a green apple, a reduced fat cheddar stick and a Z Bar. I had the apple and cheese around 10am, but the Z Bar is still in my desk drawer. That chicken soup filled me up for the whole afternoon.

Since it was snowing heavily today when I left school, I decided to take today as my rest day from the gym. The tough part about living in the city is that parking is really difficult and when it snows it is so much worse. AND when the city calls a snow emergency it is a downright situation. I wasn’t sure how things would go considering the forecasts were iffy and no one seemed really sure what the accumulation would look like in Boston. I drove right home and turned on the fire place while catching up on some DVR. It was lovely have the afternoon to myself with the remote, fireplace and a pup curled up next to me. It is very rare that that happens and I enjoyed it.

Another plus, dinner was pretty much prepared for me once I walked in the door this afternoon thanks to my good friend the crockpot. Adam and I have been on a huge BBQ kick lately so I made a super simple crockpot pulled chicken. Nothing beats tasty and healthy BBQ!

Ingredients:

1 medium sized onion
4 boneless, skinless chicken breaks
1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

1. Dice medium onion and put the onion in the bottom of the crockpot.

By the way: these crockpot liners are amazing and make clean up from crockpot meals so easy. You can usually find them in the aisle in the grocery store that has the ziploc bags. If you use your crockpot at all, these will make life so much easier!

2. Put the four chicken breasts on top of the onions and over them with the cup of BBQ sauce and spread it out evenly.

3. Cook on the low for 5 hours. Once the 5 hours is up, take the chicken out and shred it with a fork. This is really simple because slow cooking the chicken makes it really tender and easy to shred. Then stir it in with the leftover liquid.

I enjoyed my pulled chicken on a whole wheat sandwich thin.

On the side I had a little bit of broccoli and cheese and a salad made up of spring mix, tomato, red bell peppers, cucumbers, celery and carrots.

I topped my salad with a homemade dressing I made with EVOO, lemon juice, reduced fat grated cheese, garlic and black pepper.

I enjoyed a little bit of dark chocolate while catching up on Teen Mom (judge if you will) and doing laundry. I am pretty stoked about clean sheets tonight! It’s the little things, people

Night, folks!

The "Non Workout" Workout + Two Recipes!

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Onefitfoodie

Sometimes life gets in the way of our ‘workout schedule’ right? I used to be so rigid when it came to my routine. I had my rest day on Sunday and ONLY on Sunday. I spoke about it here when I looked back at some things I learned from 2011.

It is SO important to be adaptable to change. Say you have a workout schedule that looks like so:

Monday: Workout A

Tuesday: Workout B

Wednesday: HIIT

Thursday: Workout C

Friday: Rest

Saturday: Workout D

Sunday: Rest

Now this above looks like a pretty darn good workout schedule to me…that is if all things fall into place. Some weeks won’t be perfect, you will end up ‘being thrown off’ and maybe feel anxious, guilty or any other emotions that come with ‘missing a day’ I am 100% in favor of following a specific workout program. I think this is the only way to see true progressions in strength as well as a great way to track your own progress. With this said, things happen and sometimes your plan can’t be followed to a “T” whether work gets in the way, travel, family, friends, LIFE…whatever it is….

What you need to do is one thing and one thing only…RELAX. Its a day. It took me years to be okay with not following an exact schedule. I get that it can be somewhat of a mental thing to skip a day of exercise or even 2 straight in a row. You need ot relax. Your body will not change at all. If I get one more email saying ‘Naomi…I haven’t worked out in 3 days is that bad?” First of all I don’t even understand what the term ‘is that bad’ means…second of all..umm NO, you’re crazy (thats really what I want to say) but of course I don’t because I do understand that it can be a mental struggle at first to understand that nothing will happen if you get thrown off of your exercise schedule. So what? Pick it up the next day or the day after.

Where am I going with this? Well I wanted to give you some workouts to do if you are traveling or don’t have access to your entire gym. Even if you do have access to your gym, these quick and efficient workouts are kick butt and will be sure to get you moving, pumping iron and breathing heavy. They may not be your ‘typical’ “Workout A” or “Workout B” but they are such a great alternative when you want something new or can’t do your specific workout routine.

As always make sure you foam roll and are properly warmed up before this or any exercise routine!

The “NON WORKOUT” Workout

Time	Speed	Incline
1-3	6.0	2.0%
3-4	9.0	2.0%
4-5	3.0	2.0%
5-6	9.0	5.0%
6-7	3.0	5.0%
7-8	7.0	10.0%
8-9	2.0	10.0%
9-10	6.8	12.0%

**Get off the treadmill and repeat this 2x through:

Exercise	Reps
Jump squats	10
Burpees	10
Push ups	10
Plank elbow reaches	10 (each side

**Grab a couple of sets of dumbbells and perform the following as one GIANT set. (Repeat exercises back to back with little to no rest and rest for 2 full minutes at the end)

Exercise	Weight	Reps
DB squat and press	10-20lb	12
DB Alternating plank back row	10-15lb	10 (each side)
DB Russian twist	5-10lb DB	15 (each side)
Alt. reverse lunge holding DB	10-20lb	12 (each side)
DB step up	10-20lb	12 (each side)

Repeat this entire sequence 3x through.

BARBELL TABATA FINISHER (20 sec work/10 sec rest)

**Depending on your fitness level, you should choose your barbell weight accordingly. For the majority of you, after the previous exercises, the olympic bar should be more than enough (it is 45lbs) but if you are advanced and want a good challenge…load up the olympic bar with a weight you feel comforatable.

Exercise

Back Row

Back squat

Standing shoulder press

Straight leg deadlift

Back Row

Back squat

Standing shoulder press

Straight leg deadlift

ENJOY THIS WORKOUT!!!

—–

This post wouldn’t be complete without sharing some of my favorite recipes lately! First up we have Coffee Marinated Steak. Yes I said it. Two of my favorite things have come together and I could not be more thrilled. I came across this recipe from here while browsing one day and I couldn’t get my mind off of it (that seems to happen to me a lot!) I Always am looking for a new steak marinade and this one seemed easy, delicious and super simple!

Mix the dry ingredients that will be the ‘rub’

Marinate the steak in the wet ingredients (I let them sit for about 2 hours)

Right before they hit the grill, you simply coat the steak in the dry rub

I ate the grilled steak along side some cooked kale (coconut oil, salt and pepper)

COFFEE MARINATED STEAK Adapted from THIS recipe

**This is the recipe for 1lb of steak

For the marinade:

1.5 cups cold brewed coffee
1 T white wine vinegar
1 T coconut aminos (I used soy sauce)
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt

For the Dry Rub

2 T ground coffee
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Combine the dry rub ingredients, mix and set aside
Place the steak in a tupperware or plastic bag and let it soak in the marinade for 1 hour-overnight
When it is ready to be cooked…place rub seasonings on a plate and coat both sides evenly.
Throw on the grill and enjoy!

Smoked Salmon and Eggs

This really isn’t so much as a recipe as it is one of the most delicious, easy and inexpensive meals I have been having at least once a day

Take 3 eggs, beat them up. Throw them on a skillet (preferably that has been covered in coconut oil) Top with spinach and smoked salmon. SO GOOD!

Fats=fuel=happy

What fuel has been making you happy?

Let’s Get Back to Basics!

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Healthy Loser Gal

I have an admission to make… I have been slacking since December. "Slacking" as in I’ve only been exercising sporadically, I’ve barely logged my food, and my walking is way way down from where it should be. What’s my excuse? Oh, ya know… I have plenty of them that I feed my own self-criticism. "I’ve been so busy with moving!", "I’ve been sick all winter and the prednisone is adding water