Pre-Halloween Feast

 Had a dinner party last night.  I was in charge of desserts.

 Pretzel Kisses

 Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

The soup was the appetizer.  I actually received the most compliments on the soup...I think guests were not expecting that I made it with squash, since it almost tastes like curry.  

Recipes:

Pretzel Kisses

Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Dip

Butternutsquash Soup

:)


Yes. I do love pumpkin.

Core Circuit

When using a timer, circuits really push you to keep going.  There's no time to be bored, only time to catch your breath in between exercises.

Ignore the video title...it's for EVERYONE:

I did 45 seconds working/15 seconds rest for 4 total circuits (I used a lighter weight so I added an additional circuit).  I also added a sixth exercise to the mix, and with no additional rest between circuits it took 24 minutes.

Core Row with Squat Thrust
Death Marches
T-Stab Push-ups
1-Arm Dumbbell Swings
Goblet Squats (I jumped when coming up)
Swiss Ball Jackknife (the one I added)


Phew. Love that I can easily find home workouts!


P.S. - Sore the next day. Yay!

Personal Pumpkin Cake

Today I wanted to make a healthier, smaller dessert.  We already have 4-5 different desserts in our fridge and because they don't finish fast here, I made sure to bake something that would not add to the collection.

Preheat oven @ 350 deg F. Bake ~20 min.

 1/4 cup white flour

1 pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, baking powder, baking soda, salt

1 egg

1 1/2 tbsp of light agave syrup

1/2 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 cup canned pumpkin

1 tbsp milk

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

 Topped it with shredded coconut + more cinnamon

 Really tasty, warm, and fluffy.

I made some alterations to this recipe, mine is more "cake" and the original is more "bar".

Also, this was my first time using agave syrup.

The light one tastes like honey and can be used to replace artificial sweeteners.  

I want to use spelt flour and coconut oil in future baking and see if any there's any difference in taste.  

But anyway, this cake is good!

Baked Eggs

May be my new favorite way to eat eggs.

Just threw some spinach leaves, eggs, scallions, salt, pepper, red chili peppers, and a Laughing Cow cheese wedge in an oven-safe bowl.

Preheat oven to 400° F.  And take out after 12-15 minutes. 

I like my eggs kinda runny sometimes...tastes better with bread.

I've also thrown in red, green, and yellow bell peppers, and that feta cheese mixture.

Then I mix everything up and eat it with bread!
Got the idea from here.

Wedges

In love with them.  It makes a huge difference when you can simultaneously add height AND walk comfortably. I bought some pairs from T.J. Maxx today...

Not these $295 Tory Burch ones, but a BCBGeneration look-alike.

Bought similar, taller ones from Restricted. Shearling always looks so comfy.

Similar pink&black snakeskin ones from Jessica Simpson.  Finally have something snakeskin!

I would buy so many more if I could.

Michael Kors. Oxford look.

Jeffrey Campbell. So bold.

Aldo. Love the print!

Steve Madden. Sequins.

YSL.  I'll always have a thing for ankle straps.

Butternut Squash Fries

I had leftover squash in the freezer that I had made soup with a while ago.  I'm so glad it was already cut up, so I all I had to do was defrost it.

 Mixed all these spices in a bag, then added olive oil and squash. 

Then heated in the oven for 40 min on each side.

Drizzled with more spices and honey mustard.

Okay...I'm going to be honest. These looked better than they tasted. I don't really like fries that are too chunky/squishy.  I think it's hard to get a "crisp" with squash, so I'll try another time with sweet potatoes.

Plus...40 MIN for that? I was hungry to begin with, waiting was tortuous.  I'd still eat these again though.

Running Outside

I can only remember running outside once since the beginning of the summer. Which may be a shame since weather conditions will suck in a few months.  I usually like to use the elliptical because I feel more motivated with numbers in front of me and my music playlist keeps me going.  Nature always seemed like it would distract me, but I think I'm changing my mind...

I started off doing a home circuit workout.  Then I went outside and told myself I'd just run up one hilly road.  I ran up that and kept going past my house, to my old high school bus stop.  Again, I was going to turn around after that, but I kept running after I came really close to this little guy....  

I imagined him chasing after me with his newly formed antlers, but no, that's not right, he started to run alongside of me.  I reached the top of a hill and saw this...

Which is an exaggeration...but that's what I felt like I was seeing.  I ran down the hill and passed by the most Halloween-decorated house I've seen, with a complete cemetery in the front yard.  I ran past the modest, tree-lined houses in town.  Then I had my last challenge...this dreadful hill that I would hate walking up, with my heavy backpack on, after the last bell rang in elementary school.  I made it up the hill and then complimented a lady's dog that looked like this...

What a great dog for running inspiration.  I made it to the end of my cul-de-sac and did some stretches in the backyard.  When I came back inside I thought, "I could have gone for longer than that..."

Well, next time I will.

So Clutch

Kooba Josie (via thechloeconspiracy) 

Zara (via cupcakesandcashmere)

J. Crew (via lifelovelaughter)

Brand Unknown (via 1fitchick)

Intense Home Workouts

I didn't want to waste a half hour traveling to and from the gym this morning.  Plus, I should test out some home exercises.

For this video there is a circuit of 6 exercises:
1) Diverbomber Pushups
2) Extreme Mountain Climbers
3) V-Situps
4) Atomic Pushups
5) Plank-to-Pushups w/ Cross-Body Mountain Climbers
6) Bicycle & Rotates

Do each exercise for 45 seconds and rest for 15 seconds before moving onto the next exercise.  Rest 60 seconds after completing one circuit. Repeat for 5 complete circuits.

And now my turn......
I played a heavy metal Pandora station with songs such as Crazy Train.
I also used this online timer and therefore, actually had 75 seconds of rest after each circuit.

Wow. This took me ~40 minutes.  My only regret is not bringing a towel down to the basement before doing this. Definitely intense, and that was my goal!  Note: The video says it's for Abs but it's a FULL BODY workout.
I think I'd go for a run after this, in the future, but who knows how long I'd last...

Feta Burger Wraps

I love cheese.  I have to control myself when eating cubed, shredded, or sliced cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack, muenster, and those big cheese ball things with the nuts around them.  However, feta is one of my favorites that I can eat in small quantities since its taste is so strong.  So I looked up this crazy feta recipe.

So I roasted a jalapeño pepper, cut it up, and mixed in a bowl of feta cheese, along with sliced olives, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, ginger, olive oil, and salt n' pepper.

Then I spread some of the cheesy mixture on a whole grain wrap.  I added broken up pieces of my dad's homemade burger, cucumber, and lettuce, and rolled it all up.


I had way awesome pictures but they were somehow deleted from my camera. Boo :(

Fall Trees

I was walking out of my car today and noticed the reddest leaves I have ever seen...in my backyard!

Hidden between green.

So I went closer...

Painting inspiration right here.

I think I'm more fascinated than I've ever been before because I didn't notice these things, having spent the last 4 years in a city. Helloooo refound nature.

Salads > Sandwiches

Okay maybe not all the time, but this is the easiest way to make a healthy, satisfyingly filling and crunchy, colorful, tasty meal.
The key ingredient is just last night's leftovers.  In today's case it was BBQ chicken.  Mmm.

this picture does not do justice.

Now to remember everything I put in this big bowl....romaine lettuce, spinach leaves, shredded carrots and cabbage, baby dill pickles, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, green peppers, desi chickpeas, and bbq chicken.  I think that's it.  The best thing is, one vegetable will always taste good with another, so I can go crazy with whatever I find in the fridge (you should see me at salad bars).  

And dressing? What dressing? I don't think I can top this with anything else (pun, intended).

My family has seen me eat a variety of these and have gotten way more into salads as a result.  However...I made one for my grandfather and cringed when I saw him pour salt over his (not good for high blood pressure!).  I will have to tell someone else to scold him because when it comes to grandparents, I don't have the heart to do it!

And holy crap, it'd be so easy to make vegetable spaghetti if I had one of these. 

Addictive Energy Balls

These are so delicious. I just ate that big one you see...and the two behind it.

Six simple ingredients:

1/2 cup oats

1/3 raw organic honey

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

1/2 cup coconut flakes

6 squares of 72% dark chocolate

1 tsp vanilla extract

 Everything in a bowl and mix well!

Then I brought the dark chocolate down to the basement for a beating. 

Because I HATE CLEANING GRATERS.

Just double baggie the chocolate and it's hammer time!

(Also works wonders for cookie crumbs)

 Warning: Ridiculously sticky to roll.

Licking my fingers afterwards was almost like eating half of one.

I was able to roll 18 of these goodies (~100 cal each)

First time making these, and definitely won't be my last.

(Altered the recipe from here)

Chocolate Strawberry Pancakes

Yes, more pancakes. What can I say...they're awesome, fluffy goodness.

I used the same recipe from 3 days go and replaced the vanilla protein powder and bananas with chocolate protein powder and strawberries.  Then topped the pancakes with cottage cheese and walnuts.  Delectable.

Blue and Yellow

...because I think the two look happy together.

 need this outfit.

 mmm crunchy.

 stunning.

 looks like a window coming out of the sea.

 mama cake and baby cupcakes.

 want both.

 the sun's hanging down.

crazy.

Oh. and this song brings me back to freshman year of high school.