Disclaimer: The following post is sponsored by adidas. As always, all opinions expressed are genuinely my own. Happy December! This month means lots of holiday fun, but between holiday parties, travel, and shopping for gifts, it tends to also equate to our schedules getting a bit more hectic. With all of the holiday excitement taking over, it's easy to get thrown out of whack with your healthy living routine. But there's no need to panic! Eating some extra treats and having less time to exercise can be challenging for your waistline, but I truly believe it's all about balance and moderation. One of the 10 ways I avoid weight gain during the holiday season is to treat my workouts like a meeting I can’t miss. I typically look ahead to see when I'm able to fit in workouts ... [Read More]
holidays
Blueberry Granola, Berry & Coconut Yogurt Parfaits {vegan + gf}
Happy Friday! What do all of my fellow American readers have planned for the 4th of July weekend? It kind of feels strange for it to fall on a Tuesday this year, and I don't have anything too exciting planned. Besides working on some freelance recipe development & blog stuff, I'm hoping to spend some time outdoors to enjoy the weather - I'm thinking perhaps some time at the beach, a bike ride with the hubby, and soaking up the sun in my backyard poolside. Oh, and my hubby will undoubtedly force me to watch episodes of the HBO John Adams series. It happens every year & he's been putting it on TV late-night all week (much to my dismay!). Naturally, I'm sure that my holiday weekend will include some good eats. Today's recipe is an ode to America: red, white & blue yogurt parfait ... [Read More]
2016 East Coast Holiday Vacation Recap: Cookie Baking, Christmastime in Philly & More
Hi friends! How did your first week of 2017 go? I was fighting an annoying cold all week (not my favorite way to start off a new year!) and feeling pretty worn out, and I'm happy that I'm starting to feel more like my energetic self again in week 2 of the year. Today I'm looking back at my 2016 Christmas to share what I've been up to lately. My holiday trip to the east coast included lots of family time and good food, with some workouts sprinkled in, and a day in Philly! My hubby and I kicked off our Christmas celebrations with our annual early gift exchanging prior to our holiday travel. I made us a picnic in the living room and we enjoyed some food and wine while opening presents and watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas. He gave me a new camera for Christmas, which I'm ... [Read More]
Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies {vegan}
Have you gotten bit by the holiday baking bug? I definitely have! Last weekend I baked up a storm making treats to give to my San Diego friends and neighbors this week to spread some holiday cheer. It was quite a festive weekend for me, because I also watched Elf and visited a neighborhood in a town called Poway nicknamed Candy Cane Lane. My friend Tiffany had told me about it, and while she probably knows about it because she's a mom, I'm a little kid myself when it comes to the holidays...so I was thoroughly intrigued! Naturally, my hubby and I headed to Candy Cane Lane on Saturday night to check it out. You guys, it was amazing - so many gorgeous houses decorated so beautifully for the holidays! Some houses even were showing movies on projector screens and giving out ... [Read More]
Home for the Holidays {Christmas Week Recap}
Happy weekend! I hope that all of those that celebrate it had a wonderful Christmas. I arrived back in SoCal late last night. I had a fabulous time in Jersey, but as always, it’s nice to get back home too. My week at home sped by, and while it was a pretty quick trip compared to how long I typically go home for, I had a ton of fun. Here are some snapshot highlights of what my days in Jersey looked like: Lots of family time: My entire immediate family was together a few times: once for a party for my sister’s birthday, and once for Christmas Day. {The best family shot that we could muster on Christmas Day} {With my parents and sister} {Christmas with my hubby} ... [Read More]
Hug Your Pooch, it’s National Dog Day!
Hey friends! So, I wasn't planning on blogging today, but here I am chatting with you because I found out.... It's National Dog Day! I know that there are lots of random, silly holidays on every day of the year, but truth be told, I think some of them are fun because 1.) I love any excuse to celebrate, and 2.) I enjoy acknowledging days designated to something near and dear to my heart. And pretty much everyone that knows me knows that I'm obsessed with dogs, especially my own pooch! ... [Read More]