Who else is a summertime baby? Today is my birthday! My 31st birthday celebrations kicked off with a Saturday night out in downtown San Diego with my cousins and husband, when we enjoyed Spanish tapas, then sang the night away at my favorite piano bar. The birthday celebrations continue today, and I plan on spending the day doing some of my favorite things: A morning beach walk with my pup, an afternoon of wine tasting with my hubby, and an appetizer style picnic lunch at a winery are all on the agenda. Speaking of favorite things, today I'm talking about one of my favorite types of easy meals to whip up: a nutritious, delicious smoothie. Smoothies have long been one of my favorite ways to pack in fruits, veggies, protein, vitamins & antioxidants in one small meal. But lately I've ... [Read More]
banana smoothies
Cinnamon Chai Banana Protein Shake {vegan, gf}
Being such an active person, one thing I'm constantly paying attention to is my nutrition. Food is the fuel that gives me energy for all of the hikes & bike rides I go on, strength training and yoga sessions I power through, daily long walks with my dog, and the list goes on & on! Plant-based diets tend to be carb-heavy, and while eating complex carbohydrates is a very necessary part of fueling my healthy lifestyle, one thing I focus on is eating enough protein. Otherwise, I could just easily eat a big bowl of fruit for breakfast, a pb & banana sandwich for lunch, an apple and granola bar for snacks, and rice & veggies for dinner. Is that a healthy day of eating? Sure, but that doesn't give me enough protein to properly refuel my muscles with all of the working out that I ... [Read More]
Banana Coconut Matcha Smoothie
When I think of the start to a new year, I think of a fresh start.... excitement at a whole new year to set goals, go on adventures and start new ventures. What I don't think of is laying on the couch because I'm too exhausted to do anything or talk to anyone with my hoarse, sore throat - a box of tissues in hand, the constant taste of herbal lozenges in my mouth, an inhaler nearby in case I go into another coughing fit, continuous cups of hot tea being sipped, ear drops handy to crackle and pop my ears, and not being able to hear anything well because my ears and head are completely clogged. Well my friends, as we all know, sometimes life throw you not so fun little curveballs, and me being the sickest I've ever been in my adult life was the way I started 2016. Typically I rarely get ... [Read More]
Banana Date Caramel Smoothie + Weekend Recap
Hi friends! Hope you all had a great weekend. I'm off from my PR job today for Columbus Day, so YAY for 3-day weekends! I'll be spending my extra day off doing blogging and health coaching work instead, running some errands, cleaning, going for a hike at our nearby favorite park, and taking my Batpuppy to the vet (just for an annual thing)... Backing it up to the beginning of the weekend, I kicked off my post-work Friday with a trip to the Del Mar dog beach on another 90 degree day: I love it at the dog beach, it's so beautiful and such a happy place! We hadn't been to the dog beach since the beginning of the summer because during peak beach months, dogs are only allowed on one section of the beach on their leashes. My dog is a maniac and doesn't like to be constrained by a leash on the ... [Read More]