Cranberry Almond Energy Bites

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So, 1 week from yesterday, I ran my very first 5k. It was SO much fun!!! Especially, since it was the Color Me Rad 5k. I think what made it even more fun was the fact that I did it with a big group of good friends. We all had a blast getting blasted by dyed corn starch. I was able to run the 3+ miles in about 28 minutes…pretty proud of that since I couldn’t even run a whole mile before I started training. Next goal will be to conquer a 10k ;-) Check out this quick and easy recipe for a tasty snack that will pump you with energy before a run or a work out. You can also check it out some great pictures of my first 5k :-) Continue reading →

Mason Jar Salads

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I figured I would keep the mason jar theme going. This time, though, I bring you salad in a mason jar! Now, I know this is a big fad right now but it’s a good one, I promise. Monday I prepped breakfast and lunch for 3 days and it only took me about 1 hour. Saves me money and calories since I won’t be tempted to hit some fat-food, I mean, fast-food joint because I’m lunch-less. Check out these yummy and delish salad ideas that you can easily pack and have quick, grab-and-go lunch. Continue reading →

Overnight Oatmeal in Mason Jars

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My very first 5k is in less than 2 weeks!! :-) I’m so excited, I can’t wait. In the meantime, I’ve been diligently training. The hubman and I have even gotten into biking. Hubby was able to find two REALLY nice mountain bikes for a REALLY good price on craigslist. He’s been enjoying biking for a while now, but I must admit I didn’t enjoy it as much. Not until we got these new bikes, though. We road twice last week for a total of almost 25 miles and it was so much fun on my new bike. Boy, do nice-shifting gears make a difference! This week will be crazy at work so hopefully I can squeeze in a couple of runs and bike-rides. Because of my hectic schedule I decided to make my favorite overnight oatmeal recipes to have grab-and-go breakfast. Can’t go wrong with pb and banana; strawberries and cream; or blackberry-almond oatmeal. Check them out! Continue reading →

Yellow Cake Batter Protein Shake

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When I first started running, I hated it, with a passion. But I knew it’d be an effective way to lose weight. About 1 year ago, the hubman and I joined a gym and would run on the treadmill. After a few times we both became addicted. We were good for about 4-5 months and then moved and had no affordable gym at our new town. After a few months of moving, we were able to buy a treadmill. So, 4 months ago I started running again. Now that the weather is getting warmer I’m able to run outside which I have grown to love much more than running on the treadmill.There’s something about running that I just absolutely love! I never thought in my wildest dream that I’d be a runner. The hubman has gotten more into biking, but I’m still faithful to my running shoes. I’ve been running about 3 times/week and averaging about 15 miles/week. I’m up to 5 miles/run and it feels so good. Next week the goal is to up to 6 miles/run. Check out this DELICIOUS shake I feed my worn muscles with after a run. Continue reading →

Chicken and Rice Skillet Dinner

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It’s March madness. That’s funny because March is mad in many ways, besides college basketball. Here in New Mexico we have crazy winds and one day it’s winter and the next it’s spring. It’s madness I tell you! I must say, I was pretty saddened by the fact that our Lobos didn’t make it past the first round of the NCAA tournament. I really expected them to at least make it past the first round. Madness!! You know what else is mad….mad-good, that is….this easy, skillet dinner! I just threw some ingredients in the skillet and made a simple, fast and delish dinner. It’s packed with fresh ingredients and good for you. Check it out! Continue reading →

Low-Fat Lemon Pudding Cake

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It’s windy season here in New Mexico. That means the winds howl day and night and my allergies start up….every year with a vengeance, it seems. Been taking my antihistamine and using my nasal spray religiously, though. If it weren’t for those two things I would definitely be bed-ridden and not training for my 5k. Can’t wait for these winds to die out. Anyway, I come bearing another sweet, yummy, guilt-free recipe. This one I found in an old Cooking Light magazine I have. Check it out. Continue reading →

Healthier “Poptarts”

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My typical breakfast is oatmeal or yogurt or cereal once in a while. The hubman does not like oatmeal or yogurt and never has time to eat cereal before work. So what does he eat? Poptarts. I must admit, those suckers are good, but I always feel guilty eating a somewhat healthy breakfast and handing him a little pouch of badness. So I decided to try and make poptarts at home and make them at least a tad bit healthier. I had seen many posts and thought “what the heck, I’m going to give them a try”. Oh man….these came out SO good! I had to fight myself to not eat the whole pan. Check them out. Continue reading →

No-Bake Cake-Batter Protein Bars

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Yesterday, some friends and I ran a 5k in 31 minutes. Since I started training for my 5k, I haven’t been able to run the 3.1 miles in that short of time. Needless to say, I was pretty excited….dead tired, but excited. The first 1 1/2 miles were great! I was feeling it, running at a good pace. But the 2nd 1/2….oh my…it was awful! I wanted to stop so bad but just kept on going, kept on telling myself, “you’re almost there”. Even though in the moment I feel like dying, I always feel so good after a run. I even sleep better. So, what did I have before my run to fuel me up? CAKE BATTER PROTEIN BARS, of course. Check it out. Continue reading →

Papaya and Melon Sorbet (all you need is a blender)

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So, what do you do on a rainy and cloudy day? Normally, you would probably make some hot tea or bake something warm and comforting. What did I do? I made fruit sorbet, of course! I’m a little backwards, I know. To my credit, I did make stew for lunch. But I had lots of fruit in my fridge that needed to be eaten and instead of eating fruit the traditional way, I made sorbet. :-) It was worth it, even with the gloomy weather outside. I’m telling you, spring and summer can’t get here any sooner for me. Check out this delicious and easy sorbet recipe. All you need is fruit and a blender! Continue reading →

Chocolate Stuffed Strawberries

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It’s March….woohoo! I’ve never been so excited about spring and summer as I am this year. I miss long days, warm weather, farmer’s market, hiking, biking and the list goes on and on. I’m normally a fall and winter kind of gal, but this past year something changed and now I must say I think I’m turning into a spring and summer kind of gal. This weekend we are getting hit by yucky weather so it’s cold, wet and gloomy outside. This was a bummer considering the beautiful first-week-of-March we just had. All week it was gorgeous! I was able to train for my 5k outdoors and even put away my heavy coat for a few days. But, on the bright side I can make some hot cocoa and snuggle with the hubby. ;-) Check out my taste of spring recipe!

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Blackberry Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding

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I discovered chia seeds about a year ago. Before that, I had no clue they even existed. The only thing remotely close I knew about them were chia pets! I was close, though. Chia pets were grown from chia seeds…hence the name…Chia Pets….what a discovery!! I would never have known that because I never owned a chia pet. These little seeds are packed with omega-3 fats which are good for your heart. I love adding them to my oatmeal, salads and even in my baking. What I had never tried is making pudding with them. You see, chia seeds form a gel when mixed with liquid therefore making that liquid into a pudding consistency. They don’t taste like much, just have a crunch to them, so they’re super easy to sneak in and flavor with whatever you like. Check out this delish and healthy pudding! Continue reading →

Sweet Potato Protein Muffins

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Last week we were under snow storm threats more than once. I probably sound so old saying this, but I remember having real snow storms growing up. It was nothing compared to the snow storms the east coast or the mid-west get, but we would at least get a couple of feet. Now-a-days we are lucky if we get an inch. So, our threats turned out to be a total of maybe an inch of snow in town. Our mountains got pounded on, though. Maybe we will have a decent camping season this year! Mountains getting pounded by snow equals powder on the slopes and that equals the hubman and me going skiing….oh yeah!!! We got to hit the slopes on Sunday. Had a blast. Froze my butt off, but had a blast. Since we’ve been trying to stay active I’ve been trying to sneak in more protein into our diet (besides the usual meat). Came up with these little guys because I LOVE sweet potatoes.  Check them out! Continue reading →

Light Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse

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I’m still training for my 5k. Have I mentioned that I’m doing a 5k in April?? Well, I am. I’m so excited!! I turn 30 this year…THIRTY…where did the years go??…and I’m determined to get fit before I turn 30. That’s one reason I signed up for the 5k so I had motivation to work out and train. I will be 30 next month and I’m not where I wish I could be BUT I have made progress and I’m very happy about that. Last weekend the hubman, some friends and I did a 13 mile bike ride. That’s a great feat considering I DO NOT bike ride. It was killer but in the end it felt so good to do it. I’ve lost weight and I’m feeling good. I’m also learning to cook a lot healthier and the food is SO yummy. I honestly haven’t felt deprived. Check out this decadent but healthy dessert recipe I recently found! Continue reading →

Goat Cheese and Pear Pizza

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I come today with yet another pizza recipe. ;-) A while back, a good friend invited us to dinner. She fed us homemade pizza and the dessert pizza was a goat cheese, pear and candied walnut pizza. I fell in love that night!!! With the pizza, of course. This quickly became my favorite pizza ever (and I’m not even a huge fan of goat cheese!!). My friend moved away and I was never able to get a recipe from her but last weekend I decided to give it a try. I somewhat remembered how she made it so I went off of memory (a bad memory at that) to make it. It was a hit! The couple of friends that tried this absolutely loved it. Check it out peeps. Continue reading →

Grammy Night Vegetarian Pizza

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I think this is the first year I actually sat down and watched the whole Grammy’s. It was pretty good. Must say Bruno Mars was my favorite performance, but I am a little bias being a Bruno Mars fan. We thought about ordering pizzas for Grammy night. We also thought about eating leftovers from the night before. But I had a fridge full of veggies, on the verge of being forgotten, and a couple of pre-made pizza doughs from Trader Joe’s plus a jar of pesto; so I thought, “why not make home-made pizza?”. It’s maybe a bit healthier than ordering out and we saved money….win, win, right? Check out our Grammy night dinner. Continue reading →