Hello and welcome to Day 1 of our Yoga 30 Day challenge. I got this lovely video from Pop Sugar Fitness. I would highly recommend this YouTube channel, if you are looking for some great workouts.
This one is about 30 minutes in length and it is an all-over body workout. So, it’s a nice Vinyassa flow – but simple enough for beginners. Hope you enjoy this video. Let me know how you’d like it with a comment below.
Will be doing this yoga sequence tonight after work. Namaste! Stick to it, ladies.
Holidays mean – cookies, cakes and candy (even if they are gluten free) they can make you sluggish and help those pounds pack on. I am a little late to the New Year’s resolution making; but, here is my challenge to myself: 30 days of yoga!
For those of you that work long hours like me, this is really going to be difficult; but, we can do it. Aim for about a 20-25 minute video a day. I will post my videos daily, on this blog (so you can do those!)
Let’s pump ourselves back into shape. Yoga is the perfect exercise for stress, flexibility and weight loss. You can do this from your apartment or house. All you need is a yoga mat. Super easy. Wake up 30 minutes early every morning – and get to work.
Start today with this awesome video: (and, we will officially start the challenge tomorrow!)
All I can say is – you’re welcome for this recipe. It is super fantastic and delicious. For those trying the paleo diet, this little snack fits the bill.
You can serve these little pieces of goodness at a small party or bring them as your contribution to a gathering. Your taste buds will jump for joy with this little taste of savory goodness.
For this recipe I used mini scallops; but, you can use the full sized ones if you wish!
You will need: mini scallops, 1 tbsp. ghee, 1 tbsp. old bay seasoning, 1 package of bacon (real bacon) and some gluten free spaghetti noodles (or toothpicks).
First of all, dump your scallops into a mixing bowl and coat them with that tablespoon of ghee and old bay seasoning. After they are coated set aside.
Pull out your bacon and slice each piece into 4 sections (for full sized scallops, just slice the bacon in halves).
Simply take the mini bacon slice and roll it around your circle scallop and hold the two meats in place with a gluten free spaghetti noodle or toothpick.
They should look like this:
Continue to do this until all the scallops are rolled with a bacon slice.
Pop in the oven for 20 minutes at 375. This will give the bacon more of a chance to cook and brown. Place your scallops pieces on a pretty plate and your are ready to serve.
Welp, it’s a new year y’all. 2015 is here, can you believe it? I can’t. Seems like this year has flown by like the speed of light. Wasn’t I just making my last year’s resolutions?
At any rate, lots of people throw parties on NYE. However, with the holidays, it kind of sneaks up on you! Here are some cute, simple ideas to bring a little sparkle and shine to your party this year with minimal effort. These easy ideas take no time at all and look oh-so-stylish.
NYE Party Hats
Who does not like to dress up on NYE? Well, with these cute little party hats, everyone can look festive as they watch the ball drop in Times Square. Click here for instructions on how to make these party hats.
Fortune Cookie Champagne Glasses
Need a little garnish on the tops of those pretty champagne glasses? Look no further than a simple fortune cookie. Not only does it look chic, your guests can read their fortunes for the new year at the stroke of midnight.
Glitter Champagne Bottles
All you need is spray glue and glitter for this sparkly idea. Spray your bottles a day before the party and then set them out for everyone to enjoy the pretty exterior and bubbly interior. Click here for sparkle instructions.
Glitter Photo Booth
Everyone loves to take pictures. After all, this is the selfie generation. Well, how fun to have a cute, glitter backdrop to a DIY photo booth! Take pictures with your NYE date or best friends. This is so simple to put together. Just follow these instructions.
Let’s face it, when you wake up you sometimes need a kick in the pants. I do. I need a cup of coffee or something to get me going in the morning and out the door to work. Well, I have discovered the best thing ever: bulletproof coffee.
This is not just any coffee, it’s special. So special that I have replaced my normal 2 cups of coffee in the morning for just one. Miracle!
Hang tight when I tell you the ingredients – coffee, butter (ghee) and coconut oil. Don’t stop reading now and knock on this concoction until you try it. Seriously.
You need: a blender, 1 cup of hot coffee (dark roast is best), ½ tbsp. of ghee and 1 tbsp. coconut oil.
Simply pour your cup of coffee in the blender, add ghee and coconut oil and pulse. I put mine on the milkshake setting.
Dave Asprey, author of the new book The Bulletproof Diet recently did an interview with PEOPLE. He tells them:
“You will have no interest in food for four to six hours,” Asprey tells PEOPLE of drinking only this cup of Joe to start the day. “It makes your brain work better because you are not distracted every time you see a cookie lying around. You don’t even think about food.”
It’s worth a try. Let me tell you. My energy level is through the roof in the morning! Celebrities such as Shailene Woodley and Chris Pratt have this yummy coffee for breakfast.
Want a great, fast savory dinner that is paleo and gluten free? And – I might add gives you Omega 3 vitamins as well! Well, make some time for salmon cakes tonight!
You’ll love this little ball of goodness. And, since we are going to use a gluten free flour – these are 100% gluten free. Yay! Little carbs – and so tasty.
You will need: 1 can of wild salmon, 2 cage free eggs, 4 green onions, ¼ chopped yellow onion, 2 tbsp. gluten free mustard, 2 tbsp. coconut flour, salt and pepper to taste and coconut oil for the cooking pan!
Simply open your can of salmon. If you have never used canned salmon before – there are bones and skin inside. Do not be alarmed. I use my fingers to pick out the little bones (however, if you want to keep them in there – they are edible.) I just choose to pick them out.
Dump your salmon in a bowl and crack in your eggs. Chop your onions – both kinds – and add to your patty mixture. Add in the coconut flour and mustard.
Sprinkle some salt and pepper into your mixture. Add garlic powder or onion powder, if you think you need that in there as well. May taste good.
Form your meat mixture into little cakes (like below).
And warm up your skillet – make sure you plop a dab of coconut oil in the pan. Place patties in the pan, once you see the coconut oil bubbling.
Let your salmon cakes cook on each side for about 3 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side.
These cakes are going to be a little bit messier than ones that have plain flower (because we are using gluten free ingredients). But, they will look and taste fantastic. Eat plain or on top of a mixed green salad!
Forgot to take a photo of my cakes. But, the finished product will look something like this. Yum!
To those in the paleo circle, this soup is referred to as garbage soup. It’s called that because you can literally clean out your whole fridge and empty this into this little soup. Carrots, celery – getting less than fresh, pour it into this yummy pot of brew.
I call it cabbage soup. My mom has made this for years and it is so good. I usually made a big batch and eat off of it all week. Not only is satisfying it is low calorie and detoxifying. Ever heard of the cabbage soup diet? Well, here is the recipe.
{However, do not recommend going on the cabbage soup diet.} It is very low calorie and not that great for your body. But, hey – replace one of your meals with this soup and your waistline will benefit in a healthy way.
You will need: ½ head of cabbage, 1 can diced tomatoes, 2 quarts gluten free chicken broth, 1 head celery chopped, 20 baby carrots chopped, ½ onion sautéed, 2 cloves garlic, 4 tbsp. tomato paste, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. chili powder, couple dashes cumin, 4 bay leaves, salt and pepper to taste.
Most of you know how to make a soup – pour your quarts of chicken broth into a big pot. And start the boiling process. Sauté your onions in a separate pan with 2 cloves of garlic. When nice and brown, dump these into the broth.
Chop your cabbage, celery and carrots and dump in soup. Stir well. The cabbage will be pretty think, so you will want to wait for it to get softer and sink down in the soup.
Dump in your diced canned tomatoes and tomato paste. Stir in completely and add your spices: onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Oh – and add 4 bay leaves for good measure – because what is a soup without bay leaves!
Keep the soup on the stove for about 30 minutes; just decrease the heat to about medium. This will allow all the flavors to gel together. Enjoy.
Earlier this week, I shared with y’all that Luna Bars are now Gluten Free.
Well GOOD NEWS – this is an awesome week for the gluten free community. Schlotzsky’s announced that it will be serving their delicious sandwiches with the option of Udi’s gluten free bread. Do your happy dance now!
Don’t believe me read the tweet:
For far too long, I have had to shun this yummy fast food sandwich shop – but not anymore. Love this announcement. Thanks for the change Schlotzsky’s.
Go out and enjoy a gluten free sandwich today – or for the holidays. Treat your gluren free coworkers to an office lunch with this great option– a scrumptious allergy free meal (without making them feel left out).
Everyone has heard of SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder. Well, it is that time of year when the days are darker earlier and you feel like all you do is sleep in your office. Driving home is a drain because you feel like it’s midnight.
Getting the blues is easy this time of year. However, these teas are proven to boost your mood alleviate those seasonal boo hoo’s! Give them a try.
Ginger Tea
Ginger root is sometimes called the “universal medicine.” This pungent herb improves alertness and mood. Its calming properties help lower your stress and tension. This is thought to be due to a combination of the strong aroma and healing properties.
Chamomile Tea
Traditional healers have long recommended chamomile tea as a simple, healthy (and delicious!) way to relieve anxiety, and current scientific studies support this tea’s long-time reputation as a stress reliever and nerve relaxant, showing it to be an effective way to reduce anxiety and depression.
Lavender Tea
Inducing relaxation is a traditional use of lavender tea, primarily because of the soothing aroma. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that scientific studies suggest that inhaling the scent of lavender may slow nervous system activity, promoting relaxation. This can help with anxiety, insomnia, stress and depression
Lemon Balm Tea
Drinking lemon balm tea can have a calming effect and help to induce sleep. Many studies have investigated lemon balm’s use in treating insomnia and anxiety, but most of the clinical trials used a combination of lemon balm and other herbs like valerian, hops and chamomile, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Rooibos Tea
This reddish, earth tea is quite calming. Due to its high mineral content and lack of caffeine, it’s known to help people to feel calm and relaxed.
Just in time for the holidays!
I absolutely love Luna Bars. In college, used to buy boxes of these little delicious protein bars. The chocolate peppermint flavor was my favorite by far. But, really – all the flavors are fantastic.
Then after college, found out that I needed to eat gluten free. And, my favorite little snack (that I kept in my purse were now off limits). Hallelujah – I can restock my desk drawer and pantry.
Luna Bars make the best breakfast for women and men on the-go. Half the time, I eat an apple or granola bar for breakfast in my car (in traffic) or as I walk out the door for work. Score – can add Luna Bars again to my collections.
May I suggest getting some of these as a holiday treat (for gluten free guests) or just as a stocking stuffer for someone who eats gluten free in your life. They will love you.
According to a Luna Bar’s tweet to me earlier, ‘Just be sure to look for the pink gluten free burst on package!’
The long list of flavors include: Blueberry Bliss, Caramel Nut Brownie, Chocolate Dipped Coconut, Chocolate Peppermint Stick, Honey Salted Peanut, Iced Oatmeal Raisin, Lemon Zest and Nutz Over Chocolate.
Trading Paper Crowns 