30 Day Squat Challenge

Day 1= success (exceeded the 50 to 70 squats today)

Lazy Sunday

Waking up on an overcast and rainy Sunday is probably one of my favorite feelings. I love being able to have a lazy Sunday and snuggle up and do whatever! Though, I was secretly hoping it was going to be sunny today so I could tan, I am satisfied. I love rainy days because it takes away the guilt of wanting to have a lazy day.

This only seemed appropriate:

Sunday Morning - Maroon 5

Everyone enjoy your day! 

Perfect Summer Fruit Salad

This is the perfect summer salad and it's perfect for any occasion. It's simple and also elegant. It's so easy to put together. All you need is four ingredients!

1. Watermelon
2. Mango
3. Mint
4. Lime 

Yep, that's it! 

Cut up the watermelon into cubes and then cut the mangos into small cubes, too! Then, chiffonade the mint. Then squeeze a lime over the ingredients and voila! You have just made the most delicious and refreshing summer salad! 

The Perfect Trail Mix Recipe

Trail mix is a perfect snack for an afternoon pick-me-up.  It has tremendous health benefits and does wonders for your body (if you're on the path to a healthier lifestyle). Just the other day, I put together what I'd like to call the perfect trail mix. All you need for this amazing trail mix is eight ingredients!

1. Craisins
2. Dried Blueberries
3. Salted or unsalted peanuts
4. Salted or unsalted almonds
5. White chocolate chips
6. Semi-sweet chocolate chips
7. Coconut shavings
8. Cranberry Pecan granola mix (Back to Nature brand) 

Now, when I put it all together, I eye-balled each ingredient. You can put how ever much or little you want into your trail mix.  It tastes delicious and is also good for you. Try it! 

Nutella!!

Nutella, one of the world's most trendy phenomenons. This beautiful combination of chocolate and hazelnut makes for the greatest spread ever created. There are so many things you can do with Nutella. 

• Transform your breakfast by spreading it on toast or waffles or pancakes
• Dip it with apples, bananas, strawberries, raspberries, pineapple 
• Dip it with cookies, pretzels, nuts 
• Make Nutella cookies, brownies, cakes etc.(Check out some different recipes here!)
• Nutella pizza
• Nutella hot chocolate 
• Perfect for mental breakdowns or breakups! 
• Smear it on your body...what 
• Just open up the container and eat it with a spoon

Just use your imagination. Honestly, Nutella can make everything taste better, literally everything. 

If it's not in your house, I suggest you go out and buy it because not only is it enjoyable to eat, the nutrition facts aren't too devastating. 

Mother's Day Dessert (made by mwah)

Because my mom isn't a huge dessert fan, we decided upon a "light" dessert. The outcome: strawberry and whipped cream cake roll. The recipe I used came from a Glamour magazine from 1993. It was an article on a ripped page. Nothing special until it's in your mouth (not for the weak-hearted). 

The recipe (if you look you can see the date in the lower right):

Before the cake was rolled:

After the ends were cut off:

Final:

Piece of the cake: 

Breakfast of Champions

So, this morning me and Cathy, my sis, went to Starbucks to start our day off (this is the third time I've gone this week).  I got a venti caramel iced coffee and Cathy got a white mocha. Upon our return, we made breakfast: bagel with salmon and fixings. 

Ain't it gorgeous?!

Memorial Day Must Haves

Memorial Day Weekend is a little over two weeks away, and it's coming fast. If you (like me) are headed to the beach this Memorial Day Weekend, here are a few essential things you'll want to consider bringing! 

The List:

• Sunglasses (obvious)
• Beach Coverup (I usually just throw on some shorts and a T)
• Straw hat (a must-have fashion and prep statement)
• Flip flops (so your feet don't get burned from the hot sand or ripped open by the seashells)
• Woven beach bag (to fit all your beach junk in)
• Tanning lotion and chapstick (if you're like me and have VERY Irish skin)
• Beach blanket (skip the towel this weekend and just lay on the blanket, it's much bigger!)
• Nail polish (ladies, let's face it, no one wants to see unpainted toe nails or gross feet, so pretty up your feet with some nail polish) 
• Stack of magazines (to polish off while relaxing on the beach!) 

Memorial Day Must Haves by brynne-logan featuring j crew

For My Fellow Foodies

So, for lunch today I decided to make my "signature" dish. It doesn't have a name because I have yet to give it one. Basically, it's just a homemade tomato sauce with fresh ingredients and pasta with mozzarella. It is so delicious and satisfying you'll be making it a lot more than you presumed. 

How do you make it, you ask? I'm going to break it down for you! 

First you will need:

• Tomatoes
• Garlic
• Olive Oil
• Basil
• Mozzarella
• Salt and Pepper for taste

For this particular batch, I used two tomatoes, 1 clove of garlic, about a 1/4 cup of olive oil (you can eyeball it), about 10 leaves of basil, and a half of a ball of mozzarella. Finally, salt and pepper for taste. 

On a medium heat, let the olive oil heat up while you're chopping your tomatoes and garlic. First, add the tomatoes to the olive oil. Wait a few minutes and add the garlic. Let them all simmer together and let the flavors meld. 

Next, add a few leafs of basil, chopped. 

Boil some water for the pasta. Any pasta works for this dish. As the pasta boils, bring the sauce down to a low simmer. 

Cut up the mozzarella into small cubes.

Once the pasta is done boiling and the tomato sauce has melded together, strain the pasta. Put the pasta in a bowl of your choice and add the sauce. 

Then add the mozzarella and basil! 

Mix everything up (make sure the mozzarella has melted). Enjoy! 

 

Sandal Season!

The warm weather is here which means all feet will be bare...in sandals!

My Morning Adventure (still here)

This morning, I had to wake up at 7:45. The cleaners were coming between 8-8:30 to do more than the average cleaning job (think spring cleaning to the max). This meant that I had to get out of the house because I would have no where to go, so I hopped into the CRV and ventured over to my neighborhood Starbucks! 

It's been a generally relaxing morning so far. I got an egg white spinach and feta breakfast wrap and a chai latte. I was careful not to venture too far from my diet. The breakfast wrap only has 290 cals plus 10g of protein and 3g of fiber. Also, it's low in sugar and fat.. perfect! The drink is about the same amount of cals but I'd rather not look at the sugar content... 

Not a bad setup don't you think? 

Eating Green!

So after cooling off from my run/walk with my pup, I made lunch. What was for lunch, you ask?? 

One avocado with a lemon dressing and two kiwis:

• 1 avocado
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 2 kiwis thinly sliced 

Eat green, eat clean!! 

Daytime

Daytime by brynne-logan featuring river island jeans

I've Marked My Calendar!

Sun Soaking

Since I've been back from college, I've been doing a lot of laundry. This includes washing my blankets. First, I washed my down blanket, and since it's so nice out, why not let it dry in the sun? 

Breakfast: May 5th

So, this morning, I woke up to the smell of organic, grassfed bacon. I knew that my first SUnday brunch at home would be fantastic.. and it was!

What was it?
Grilled asparagus sautéed with spinach and tomatoes and garlic with two poached eggs and a garlic vinaigrette. On the side was an English muffin and some bacon.

Yummmm

So I'm finally home, but I've been sick all day (hangover). It feels good to be home, but I miss my love. Also, because of my upset stomach and pounding headache since 9 AM, I have not eaten one thing all day, and I'm starving. 

Whats for dinner you ask? Grilled sausage and black bean salad. Needless to say, I'm  excited.

Pictures to come. 

A Journey to a Healthier Me

So it's finals here at this fine University and that means that we're all stressing and then we head home. Packing everything is going to be the biggest pain in my ass (I have to do it twice). I'm not excited to leave my boyfriend who lives 2 1/2 hours away in northern NJ. However I'm pumped about starting a new lifestyle of: EATING WELL AND EATING FRESH.

For those of you reading this from home, don't ever take for granted how lucky you are if you have fresh fruits and veggies readily available to you! I am starting a whole new lifestyle through food. Just so you know, I'm a total foodie. I love cooking, preparing, reblogging and watching food on TV (The Food Network which I'm actually watching right now). I'm so excited to get to go home and eat the healthy and wholesome food my mom buys and prepares. It really is funny how one can take something so little for granted. 

This is my journey to a healthier me. 

I will be eating things like:

• organic greek yogurt
• fresh fruits (all kinds)
• green tea
• black tea
• fresh veggies
• wholesome grains (qinoa, wheatberries, black rice)
• fresh cheeses

And much much more!! 

The healthier me starts this Saturday when I return home

(Updates to come)