Hi friends! Happy Friday! I hope you’ve had a lovely week. Thank you so much to those of you who have already signed up for Fit Team. The price will jump next week so you can lock in the $19/month and receive everything on Black Friday. Think of it like a pre-order and I’ll be designing all of your monthly strength workouts for ya! (Along with meal ideas, cardio, recipes + whatever fun bonus stuff I add in each month). So excited for this! Sign up here. So yesterday was my birthday. I really wanted a low-key birthday this year – honestly, haven’t really super celebratory lately – and when the Pilot asked what I wanted to do, I told him that I just wanted to be out in nature with him and the girls, drinking wine and eating a s’more around a campfire. That’s exactly what we did! We rented the cutest camper at Catalina State Park, which is only about 30 minutes away from our house. The camper was from Outdoorsy and the owner met us at our campsite with everything set up and ready to go! It was AMAZING and the girls are obsessed with the idea of owning one now. There were bunkbeds, a dining room table, bathroom, shower, sink, stove, microwave, fridge, coffee maker, satellite TV, awesome heating and AC system, and super comfy beds. I couldn’t believe how much room we had and how easy everything was. We’ll definitely do this again sometime soon. Also, it turns out Caro really likes camping. We got settled in the camper and headed out for a family hike at Romero trail. It was gorgeous and we did about 2 miles before turning back to the campsite for dinner. The girls danced around to country music while the Pilot and I got everything ready. Before leaving home, I had cooked a bunch of sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot and prepared veggie foil packs with bell pepper, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, onion and garlic. We tossed those onto the grill and made BBQ salmon to go with it. + the necessary s’more We couldn’t have a campfire because of current regulations, but got a couple of logs to put on the grill and that did the trick. It was so relaxing and fun to hang out on the “patio” of the camper in our lounge chairs, snuggled up in fleece blankets and chatting. We headed inside for a few rousing rounds of Zingo (the girls LOVE this game) and called it a night while watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. In the morning, we made eggs and pancakes on the grill and took one more hike before heading out. After we got back home and Liv caught up on Thursday school stuff, we headed to my mom’s house for dinner and cake! My friend Ashley makes the BEST gluten-free and vegan cakes, so we order one every year for my bday (Tucson friends, you can order her cakes through Lovin’ Spoonfuls.) Our camping trip and cake at night was the perfect low-key celebration with some of my favorite people. We’re back in the swing of things today (on Friday the 13th…in 2020…) and I’m having cake with my decaf coffee and happy to chat with ya’ll. Here are some faves from the week and around the web! I’d love to hear about your faves, too, if you’d shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below. Fashion + beauty:A new Trunk Club shipment! I’ll share the goods next week but they included some cute tops and jeans for fall/winter. They also included a TUBE TOP AND SANDALS which gave me a good chuckle. Like what? Why? I know I live in Tucson, but it gets chilly here in the winter. Even when it’s not super chilly, we still try to dress seasonally appropriate and pretend it’s cold. Loving this Express blazer (on sale right now!) with a black silk tank, jeans and mules. This week’s Beautycounter fave is this Ultimate Renewal bath set. This is prob my fave set from holiday! It includes a branded dry brush, body scrub and luxurious body oil. It feels like a bit of a spa treatment at home and the scrub and awesome is an awesome combo for dry winter skin. Speaking of Beautycounter, if you’re curious about consulting, I’ll be co-hosting an opportunity call with Ashley and Heather this Tuesday at 5pm PST/8pm EST. We’d love if if you could join us! We’ll chat about our experience with Beautycounter and answer questions (plus offer a little giveaway for attending). If you’re interested in joining the fun, please email me [email protected] and I’ll send you the details!! Read, watch, listen:Emily in Paris was renewed for a second season! I’m so pumped about this. Fitness + good eats:The perfect Thanksgiving turkey Can’t wait to try this sweet potato pie
What’s something you’re loving this week? Favorite birthday cake?? Happy Friday, friends. xo Gina The post Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/friday-faves-282/
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Sharing some of my favorite baby meals! These are my favorite meals to take a family with a new baby and something I always look forward to doing for friends and family. I’d love to hear your faves, too, if you’d shout them out in the comments below. Hi friends! How’s the week treating you? I hope it’s off to a great start and hope you’re having a wonderful week. P had her first soccer game – the cutest ever! – the girls had horse lessons, and I made a meal for a family who just had a baby. I looooove making baby meals because I remember how much they saved the day when Liv was born. (In our military squadrons, we always have a Meal Train going for families who have a new baby at home!) When P was born, we didn’t have a real squadron in San Diego – the Pilot was doing more liaison type work – and I definitely missed them haha. Thankfully Postmates was a thing, but there’s something really nurturing about enjoying meals that were lovingly made for you. For today’s post, I thought I’d share some off my go-to baby meals to make for others! I’ll usually just double the recipe and that serves for our dinner, too. Spoiler: many of them are Ina Garten recipes. <— the queen It’s easy to get into ruts, so I’d love to hear about your faves in the comments section. Meals to take a family with a new babyMy favorite baby meals:Cheesy enchiladas with rice and beans, chips, salsa and guacamole Ina Garten’s chicken parmesan with arugula salad and mashed potatoes Lemon-roasted skillet chicken with mashed sweet potatoes (I just use salt, pepper, almond milk, and butter and whip them with the stand mixer) and a chopped salad (dressing in a mason jar) Coconut shrimp curry with basmati rice (or cauliflower rice for Paleo friends) *recipe coming in Friday Faves! This autumn soup with fresh sourdough and a salad (romaine, roasted red pepper, kalamata olives, feta, cucumber, red onion) Lasagna or eggplant parm with roasted veggies Takeout! Even if you’re not a cook, you can absolutely surprise a family with a takeout meal. Tips for making meals for new moms:– Use foil containers either sealed with aluminum foil (for hot food) or press and seal (disposable). This way you don’t have to stock up on expensive plastic containers and they can dispose of them when they’re finish. In the garage, I have a stash of round, square, and rectangular foil pans just for baby meal purposes. – Choose meals that can be easily reheated later. Casseroles are an obvious choice, but I also like to do soups, chicken dishes, and curries. This is why I tend to stay away from fish unless I know they’re going to eat the meal that night. – Always include alcohol (unless they don’t partake, of course). I always include margarita mix and tequila, beers, or a bottle of wine. – Include things that are pre-chopped that they can snack on later. Some ideas: fresh green salads with lots of veggies or chopped fruit (this is AMAZING when you’re starving and don’t have time to prep anything). – If you can, include some snacks! Bars, protein balls, almond butter packs, trail mix, homemade lactation cookies, dried fruit, Mother’s Milk tea, jerky, anything they can nosh on in between constant feedings and diapers changes – Dessert! I always like to include a sweet treat with a baby meal. My current go-to are these cookie brownie Oreo situations (I use the boxed blondie mix and brownie mix from Trader Joe’s). I also like to make brownies with peanut butter frosting, or chocolate chip cookies. Another idea: grab ice cream on the way. One of our friends brought prickly pear sorbet along with a meal when Liv was born and it.was.magical. How to support new moms who don’t live near you:– Postmates a meal to them! I’ll often Postmates a sushi dinner to new parents who don’t live closeby. – Surprise them with a gift card for a pedicure or cleaning service – Put together a little care package with their favorite snacks or some loungewear – Grocery delivery! DUDE, I wish this was a thing when our babies were born. Offer to order some of their staples and have them delivered to their doorstep. What are some of your favorite meals to take to others? Anything you received or noticed when you were postpartum that made a huge difference? xo Gina The post Meals to take a family with a new baby appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/meals-to-take-a-family-with-a-new-baby/ Hi friends! I’m writing with exciting news today: Fitnessista Team and Online Personal Training are here!! Since the early days of the blog, I’ve been flooded with requests for online personal training. I just didn’t know how to scale this – I’ve always wanted to help as many people as possible and I felt like it would be more beneficial to post everything on the blog and focus on group plans. Challenges, Fit Guides, and workout packs have been amazing, but with everything going on in the world and so many of us working out at home, I really wanted to be able to provide some new options for you all and also offer a personalized element. Maybe you love cardio and need more strength in your life. Maybe you’re a beginner. Maybe you’re recovering from a previous injury. Maybe you’re postpartum. By offering an online training option, I’m excited to be able to offer a more personalized touch to your workouts and help you come up with a solid plan that suits your needs. Online personal training is a bit more of a premium offering since it involves one-on-one time and personalization, so I wanted to create an additional option for those who are looking for a motivation boost and solid, new workouts each month. The Fitnessista Fit Team was born. [Heads up that none of these will replace the free resources on the blog, newsletter offerings or my YouTube channel. I also have some more follow-along workout videos on the way if that’s what you’re looking for!] Here’s what a Fit Team membership looks like:– Every month, you’ll get 3 new workouts (an upper body, a lower body, and a total body) along with video tutorials for the moves. Strength is important, and this way, you’ll have a balanced strength plan that you can use with your favorite cardio workouts. All strength workouts will be 30-45 minutes max and can easily be completed at home. I’ll also provide postpartum and low impact modifications. – In this PDF document, you’ll also get your sample workout calendar, meal prep tips, bonus recipes, and meal ideas – You’ll also receive access to an exclusive Facebook group, where I share motivation, tips, and answer any questions you have – A 45-minute Zoom workout each month just for Team and Training members. I’ll record the workout in case you need to tune in later Who this program is for: Those who need a little extra motivation and structure in their weekly fitness plans. You’ll get new ideas each month and know that each workout was planned with maximum effectiveness and safety in mind. Those who don’t know how to get in the balanced strength workouts they need each week Those who are self-motivated at the gym and enjoy following a plan, but don’t know how to create their own Those who are looking for consistency and results from the time they put into their workouts Who this program is NOT for: Those who don’t like following written plans and would rather take group classes Those who are happy just winging it in their weekly routines – I wanted this to be extremely reasonable, so it’s only $19 per month to sign up now. Consider this like a pre-order — if you sign up now, you’ll get December’s plan in your inbox on Black Friday, November 27th, and we’ll be ready to rock and roll for December. You’ll get each monthly plan on the 27th of each month. Some testimonials from friends who have tried my Fit Guide workouts: Check out more about Team memberships here. I would love to have you join us! The price will jump next week, so lock in the $19/month deal by signing up now. Online Personal TrainingNow, let’s chat about personal training:– This is a completely different offering than the Team membership and is designed for friends who truly want personalized workouts created just for them. If you sign up for personal training, we’ll have an intro call before I create your plan so I can do an virtual movement assessment and talk about any injuries or contraindications, your fitness background, and goals. Link to sign up is here. – I’ll create your monthly workouts (3-4 strength workouts that you’ll do each week) based on the the info I obtain during our call, along with stretches and specific strengthening exercises for your particular imbalances. Your weekly plan will be based on 3-4 strength sessions to complement any cardio workouts you’d like to do. You’ll receive the plan in your inbox, along with video tutorials for each of the exercises – A 45-minute Zoom personal training session with me each month. I can give you some new ideas and make sure you’re executing proper form for the movements – Voxer access to me for any questions or advice you need – You’ll also receive access to our Team Facebook group, where I’ll share motivation, tips, and answer any questions from the community Who this is for: Those who have hit a plateau in their training and don’t know how to step it up to increase results Those who really want a personalized aspect in their plan and have specific fitness goals Those who need some extra accountability and motivation – you know I’ll be looking out for you! (I love seeing pics with Bella Boo in there) Who this is NOT for: Friends who are happy winging it in their routine and don’t feel like they need a personalized plan right now – Total cost: $149/month. Link to sign up is here! * In order to provide the care and attention you need, I’m only accepting 10 personal training clients at this time. If you want to get on the waiting list for future openings, please enter your info here. Creating fitness plans and workouts is one of my very favorite things about what I do and I’m proud of my skills in this arena. I’m super excited to be able to offer these for ya’ll and work with more of you on a one-on-one basis. If you’d like to join us for Team training, click here or for personal training, click here. Leave a comment below if you’re joining in the fun! xo Gina The post Exciting news: Fitnessista Fit Team and Online Personal Training are HERE! appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/exciting-news-fitnessista-fit-team-and-online-personal-training-are-here/ Hi friends. Happy Friday! I know it’s been a bit of a crazy week, so I hope you’re all hanging in there and taking care of yourself. The Pilot was gone for a few days, so the girls and I have been doing the usual things around here: soccer practice (P has her first game this weekend!) and their other activities, the distance learning fun, and getting everything ready to launch online personal training and team training next week. If you’re interested in joining in the fun, make sure you’re signed up for my newsletter! Newsletter subscribers will get all the details in their inbox Sunday night and I’ll post the details here Monday am. So excited to do this with you all! Some highlights from the week:P did most of the meal planning for our dinners, so we got to try out new recipes. It was so cute to see her take ownership and also prepare most of the dinners with me while Liv did homework.The Beast Quiche from this cookbook was a huge hit! (We used the vegan Violife cheddar and while it took a bit longer to cook, it was delicious.) Halloween decorations were packed up, and it felt good to unearth our few Thanksgiving decorations. I got this little flameless candle from Pottery Barn a couple of weeks ago and LOVE it. It looks so real!! The girls are officially obsessed with horses and look forward to their lessons every week. <3 Just some laughs:Read, watch, listen:I started reading American Dirt last night and can’t decide if I like it. It’s very well-written but pretty intense. Have you read it? 10 things to chill you out today. Check out this fascinating podcast episode by one of my very favorites. Listen to this week’s episode of Healthy in Real Life with my friend Kath. I’m feeling inspired to organize some closets around here… Fashion + beauty:Got these sparkly Converse for the kiddos and they’re so dang cute. Madewell 30% off boots and sweaters! This embroidered flower one is my fave. This week’s Beautycounter pick is the new deodorant trio! If you’ve been wanting to try a nontoxic deodorant, now is the perfect time. They’ve been working on the formulation for years and it’s finally here! The deodorants are cornstarch and baking soda based for dryness, while coconut oil, shea butter, candelilla and beeswax hydrate and condition skin. I’ve tested various versions of the deos and packaging for the past 6 months or so and am so thrilled with how they turned out. Check it out here. Fitness + good eats:We had this chicken recipe this week and it was AWESOME. Tempted to make this now and celebrate Thanksgiving food early. How exercise can stall cancer growth. Sending you all a big hug and bigger glass of wine as we head into the weekend. Happy Friday, friends. xo Gina The post Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/friday-faves-281/ Hi friends! Got a new podcast episode up this morning with my friend Kath from Kath Eats Real Food. We’re chatting all about: – How she started her blog – Tips for home organization – Budgeting and finances – Managing digital clutter (<- this is such a tricky one for me!) and so.much.more. This was such a fun episode to record – I’ve known Kath for my entire blogging life!- and gave me some inspiration to tackle our closets and start organizing my digital photos and videos. Here’s a bit about Kath if you haven’t met her yet:Kath Younger, RD writes a healthy food and lifestyle blog focusing on real meals and real food. Kath Eats Real Food, which you’ll find at www.KathEats.com, is a celebration of life through the lens of food. Kath was one of the original “healthy living bloggers” and has been online since 2007. Kath writes about everything relating to healthy living, includinag recipes, real meals, nutrition, workouts, home organization, motherhood, beauty, balance, budgeting, and more. Kath is a Registered Dietitian, a mom of two boys, Mazen (8) and Birch (2) and lives in Charlottesville, VA. Follow @Katheats on Instagram and Twitter. Resources from this episode:Home Neat Home and NERD Kerf posts Don’t forget to sign up for your free 21 days of Les Mills On Demand! This is one of my all-time favorite workout platforms. The instructors are knowledgeable and motivating, plus the music is incredible. There are so many different formats, you’ll definitely find something you love. Get your free workouts here. Perfect opportunity to switch up your routine now that so many of us are at home. I’m a huge fan of Daily Harvest for quick and healthy meals. Their smoothies are an almost-daily staple (such an easy way to get in a ton of nutrients) and I also love their overnight oats, soups, and bowls. Get $25 off your first order using the code FITNESSISTA. Check it out here. Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. You can listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. The post 063: Organization hacks, budgeting, and meal planning with Kath Younger, RD appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/063-organization-hacks-budgeting-and-meal-planning-with-kath-younger-rd/ A delicious and healthy high protein breakfast option that tastes like pumpkin pie! It’s gluten-free, vegan, and an awesome breakfast for busy mornings. Hi friends! How are you? I hope you’re having a lovely morning. I’m really looking forward to shaking my legs out with a hike this afternoon and enjoying Taco Tuesday with the fam. For today’s post, I wanted to re-share this tasty and healthy fall treat. It’s like pumpkin pie in a bowl and one of my favorite fall breakfast options. Please let me know if you give it a try! Pumpkin Pie Smoothie BowlI also had an awesome pumpkin protein bowl, and thought I’d share the recipe with ya, since it’s perfect for the fall season. (Or any season when you’re someone like me and stock up on canned pumpkin before it’s gone. Pumpkin bread in July? YAS.) This little protein bowl is not only packed with protein, it tastes like pumpkin pie in a bowl. The granola on top gives it an awesome crunch, and it’s even better with a spoonful of coconut whip. This smoothie also has not one, but TWO vegetables in it: pumpkin (obvs), and frozen cauliflower. Smoothie with Frozen CauliflowerIf you’ve been scared to try cauliflower in your smoothie, I totally get it. I was, too. Finally I gave it a whirl a couple of months ago, and now almost all of my smoothies have frozen cauliflower or peeled zucchini inside. It’s such an easy way to add in bonus nutrients, plus it gives it a creamy texture without dramatically affecting the sweetness or flavor. I used 1/3 cup frozen cauliflower in this recipe, but feel free to use less if it’s your first time! I don’t think you’ll even notice it’s there. Here’s the recipe if you’d like to give it a try! Pumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie Bowl RecipePrintPumpkin Pie Protein Smoothie BowlIngredients
Optional Toppings
Instructions
I used the cranberry Purely Elizabeth granola, and it was the perfect complement to the pumpkin pie flavor of the smoothie. This is the protein powder I used. Enjoy!! xoxo Gina What’s the most random thing you’ve ever put in your smoothie? More of my favorite pumpkin recipes: These flourless pumpkin chocolate chip bars (one of my favorite blog recipes ever) Pumpkin oatmeal bake (making this one this week!) Pumpkin chocolate chip baked breakfast cookies Paleo pumpkin pie brownies (brownie on the bottom; pumpkin pie on the top!) The post Pumpkin Pie Protein Bowl (gluten-free, vegan) appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/pumpkin-pie-protein-bowl-gluten-free-vegan/ Hi friends! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and that my friends who turned back the clock enjoyed the extra hour. (In AZ we don’t change the time and I’ve always loved that! When we lived in Georgia, North Carolina, and San Diego I was always confused about Daylight Savings.) Halloween was different than previous years, but Liv said it was her favorite Halloween yet. We still got dressed up, participated in a Trunk or Treat at the girls’ dance studio, and met up with friends for an outdoor get-together. They played Coco on a projector while the kids ran around and we ate pizza and hung out. It was perfect. Some Halloween pics: (Liv was Sia and P was a crocodile. P’s best friend was Terri from Crocodile Hunter and it was amazing.) My original plan was to wear a pumpkin tank and leggings, but the girls were NOT into that idea. Liv said, “Mom, that’s so lame.” haha. So the Pilot and I ended up being Maleficent and the king. The girls ended up wearing the Maleficent headpiece and the king costume the rest of the weekend. For today’s post, I wanted to share this week’s meal and fitness plan in case you’re planning for the upcoming week or looking for some new ideas. (As always, talk with a doctor before making any fitness change and honor your body!) If you’re looking for more ideas, be sure that you’re signed up for my newsletter here. You’ll get a free 30-day meal and fitness plan when you sign up, and I always send out weekly fitness plans and ideas. Online personal training will be live in the next couple of weeks – I’m going to try and have everything ready by my bday on the 12th- so I’ll send out a newsletter when it’s live! I always map out my workouts each week. Even though I almost always need to shuffle things around, it’s nice to have a general idea of what I want to do. I usually do one total body workout, one upper, one lower (or barre) and a yoga each week. Strength is the emphasis and cardio fills in the gaps, depending on what’s going on that day. For meals, we usually wing it during the day based on our staples and I’ll plan out dinner each night. My goal this week is to make extra dinner so I can have the leftovers for lunch the following day. P helped me go through some cookbooks and pick the dinner recipes this week. The girls are huge fans of this Disney Princess Cookbook (and they can make many of the recipes themselves with supervision and a little help) so a couple of recipes are from there. Here’s what the plan looks like! Meals and fitness for the week:Monday:Workout: Total Body BODYPUMP workout (<— my link gets you 30 days free). Another option: this total body strength and HIIT Dinner plan: Honey garlic chicken with roasted sweet potatoes and salad Tuesday:Workout: 45-minute low-impact hike Dinner plan: Taco Tuesday! We love these burrito bowls with fajita veggies and chicken, black beans, rice cooked in the Instant Pot, guacamole, salsa, and cilantro. Wednesday:Workout: Upper body Dinner plan: Sloppy Joe stuffed pitas from Food Babe Kitchen (similar recipe here!) with roasted broccoli Thursday:Workout: Hot Yoga (if you’re at home, try this power yoga workout) Dinner plan: OUT Friday:Workout: 30-minute Peloton ride (if you’re at home, try a BODYATTACK or BODYCOMBAT workout!) Dinner plan: Beast Quiche from Disney Princess Cookbook (similar recipe here) with a Caesar salad Saturday:Workout: Lower body Dinner plan: Chicken tenders from Disney Princess Cookbook (paleo chicken tenders for me + leftovers for salad the next day), sweet potato fries and lemon garlic green beans Do you map out your workouts and meals each week or do you wing it? What’s on the menu this week? Hope you have a happy Monday and I’ll see ya soon! Gina PS congrats to the winner of the Beautycounter giveaway: Charlotte Stay tuned for more regular and sneaky giveaways this holiday season. The post 11/2: Meals and fitness for the week appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/11-2-meals-and-fitness-for-the-week/ Hi friends! Happy Friday and Happy Halloweekend! What do you have going on this weekend? I’m looking forward to catching an Amanda Kloots workout, filming another video for you guys, and seeing the crew all dressed up in their costumes. I’d love to hear what you have going on. Dia de los Muertos is also just around the corner, and to honor the holiday, Kyle did a special virtual cooking show with my mom and nana through Flying Aprons. The girls and I were so excited to tune in and make some recipes that have been in my family for multiple generations: bizcochuelos (a circular anise shortbread-esque cookie), champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate) and my nana’s Arroz con Pasas (like a sweet rice pudding. I used to eat giant cold spoonfuls of it out of her fridge.). With my family, I feel like so many recipes are accidental secrets because the chefs make them without saying a word to anyone about what they’re doing. I watched my nana Flores (my nana’s mom) make hundreds of tortillas and she always had a pot of the BEST beans on the stove, but I had no clue how she did it. When I asked her how to make tortillas, it was hilarious. “Well you use the masa and the water.” “ Ok nana, do you add any salt or anything like that?” “Well salt, YES.” (Like “Obviously.”) “What about lime juice?” “Oh yes, lime juice.” “How much do I add?” “You know, until it’s right.” These are how we get all of our recipes on my mom’s side of the family haha. The fact that my mom and Kyle were about to track these down and get details was a miracle, let me tell ya. Of course, everything was amazing. Kyle has such a great energy on camera – get this guy a cooking show already!- and my madre was his sous chef, while nana watched and chimed in with her tips. It was absolutely perfect. (Pic from their Facebook page) Besides the virtual cookie lesson, it was a pretty *normal* week around here. Liv crushed her distance learning this week – no homework left this weekend! – I caught a hot yoga class, and the Pilot was gone on a trip. He’s back today and I’m so excited that he’ll be here for Halloween! He’s missed the past few Halloweens so this is a huge deal. It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! These are some of my fave finds from the week and around the web. As always, I love to hear about the things you’re lovin,’ so please shout out any faves in the comments section below. Read, watch, listen:New Food Babe Kitchen! Vani was one of the first people who inspired me to dig more into ingredients and sources of the foods we were eating. I’ve been following her forever and have learned so much from her. (Her protein powder, Truvani, is my very favorite right now!) She sent me a copy of her new book and it’s packed with beautiful whole foods recipes. I’m so excited to use this for meal planning next week. Do you like scary movies?? Pre-kids, I didn’t love them but was ok watching them. Now, especially with the Pilot’s travel schedule, I can’t do it. Give me all of the happy, lighthearted fluff I can take. Fashion + beauty:Tarte create your own kit through tonight! This is one of the few makeup brands I love besides Beautycounter. I especially love their eyeshadow primer, their mascara (the bast), highlighter and eyeliner. You can build a full 7-piece kit for only $63 here! I always order backups of my fave products when they have this promo. Current uniform: a Madewell tee with a long cardigan, jeans, and my low-top sneakers. Fitness + good eats:A pumpkin workout for Halloween weekend! This Nightmare Before Christmas pumpkin pie is so cute!! Dynamic stretches to do before every run. Try this barre and dumbbell combo if you haven’t already. It’s a burner, for sure. Just for fun, a Halloween pic of Bella in her skeleton dress. I still reach down on the bed every morning to pet her, hoping she’d still be there. This delicious on-the-fly lasagna soup. I sautéed onion, garlic, and turkey sausage in the instant pot, and then added chopped carrots, a container of chicken bone broth, 1/2 a jar of Rao’s marinara sauce, a can of drained and rinsed chickpeas, lots of oregano, basil, salt, and pepper, and some smashed up Banza lasagna noodles. I served it with a caesar salad and the girls loved it! It was awesome for lunch leftovers the next day, too. Happy Friday! xo Gina PS I’m extending the sneaky giveaway until Monday if you want to enter here! The post Friday Faves appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/friday-faves-280/ Hi friends! I’ve got a new short episode up on the podcast this morning. I rarely do solo episodes, so please let me know if you enjoyed this one! If you like them, I can post a bit more frequently since it’s just me. Resources from the episode: Click here to get 30 days FREE of Les Mills On Demand. I love this platform for at-home workouts and they have such a great variety of different formats. I highly recommend BODYPUMP, BODYCOMBAT, BODYATTACK, and CXWORX. Click here to get your trial! Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. You can listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play. I didn’t download a full transcript for this episode, but jotted down some notes after recording. 5 simple ways to cultivate joy and care for yourself during this time1. Stay in your own lane. I’m a true believer that comparison is the thief of joy and it’s so easy to feel frustrated right now by what others are doing, and comparing yourself. For example, I see people who are still rocking their online businesses and I feel like I’m dangling by a thread – so much of my day is dedicated to navigating Liv’s distance learning schedule and assignments. I literally watch my inbox build and explode each day and right now, there’s not a lot I can do about it. Instead of panicking, I’ve tried to be really strategic with the small time pockets I do have and just try to show myself grace. Things are challenging, and if you’re having a hard time right now, I see you and I’m right there with you. At the end of the day, all we can really focus on is ourselves and our own families. Try to avoid comparison right now, especially with careers or goals that you’ve set. Everything has shifted and we’re all forced to just adapt and do the best we can. 2. Eat the cupcake, drink the wine. Under normal circumstances, I think it’s important to pay attention to hunger levels and how you’re feeling, but right now, I’m all about taking any step that will bring me a small amount of joy. I’ve had way more sugar in the past 6 months than I have in a long time, and I’ve had a bit more wine. Just do the things that make you happy! 3. Take breaks. I try to remind myself that it’s not the end of the world when Liv misses a class, or we end up skipping an assignment to make up later. Sometimes she’s so fried from the screen time that we both need a break, and I give her time to run around outside and we go for a walk. Don’t be afraid to take breaks for yourself, even if they’re small. I also wanted to tell you guys about basking, which is a technique I learned from my therapist (<— I should ask her to be on the show!) Basking is paying attention to tiny details to become present and enjoy the current moments. 4. Pay attention to sleep and hydration. These are two things that make a significant impact on how I feel, so I’ve been focused on cultivating a true sleep routine and drinking enough water each day. Aim to drink at least half your body weight in ounce each day, and for sleep, find your magic number. For me, it’s a solid 8 hours and I feel rested and energized. So many restorative processes occur when we have quality sleep, so it’s a nourishing step we can take for ourselves during such a crazy time. Sleep can also affect our immune system; poor sleep can cause us to be more likely to become sick if exposed, and can also affect our recovery rate. As far as hydration goes. it can impact our huger levels, joint and eye lubrication, digestion, our skin, circulation, transporting nutrients, and maintaining body temperature. 5. Take time every day for something you enjoy, even if it’s just 5 minutes. This can be a book, a show, a short walk, meditation, a stretch or foam roll, a dance party, a call or porch visit with someone you love, doodling, journaling, hand knitting, anything that you enjoy that can serve as a reset and a happy distraction. I’d love to hear about how you’re navigating this time and anything you’re doing to spark a tiny bit of joy right now. To bring an extra little joy to this post, how about a Beautycounter giveaway? Leave a comment below and I’ll pick a lucky winner to receive a Vitamin C serum, charcoal mask, and some of my favorite healthy treats. I’ll announce this winner in this week’s Friday Faves post. xo Gina The post 062: 5 simple ways to cultivate joy and care for yourself during this time appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/062-5-simple-ways-to-cultivate-joy-and-care-for-yourself-during-this-time/ Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! I hope you’re enjoying the week so far. I feel like I’m finally coming out of a post-celebration and birthday blur. The Pilot turned the big 4-0 on Saturday and P turned 5 on Monday. Since the Pilot was hitting such a milestone birthday, I really tried to brainstorm ways to make it special considering the circumstances. Originally I had wanted to plan a destination party and have our friends from all over meet up with us to celebrate for a weekend. Obviously that wouldn’t be the best idea right now, but figured that the two of us could have a short getaway. The best part is that it was 100% a surprise for the Pilot! I very rarely get to surprise him – I feel like he knows everryyyytthing lol – and he didn’t know where we were going until we were almost to the airport. (Let me just throw it out here that it took a ton of planning but was so worth it!!) We spent 24 hours in Vegas and it was the perfect low-key celebration before family dinner on Saturday night. A few people asked me about Vegas during COVID and I did a ton of research before our short trip. Here are some of the things I noticed/learned: – We stayed at the Bellagio which is one of our faves and I read in a few forums that they really went above and beyond during this time. The Pilot and I joked that this is probably the cleanest Vegas will ever be. They had hand sanitizer and hand washing stations in the casinos, plastic partitions, masks required inside, the whole deal. When we got up from a small table after enjoying breakfast and coffee, a lady instantly appeared and was sanitizing it. (A welcome bag in our room with masks, hand sanitizer, cleaning wipes, and a door opener) – We flew Southwest, which is what we used to fly to Colorado. They’re still keeping middle seats open and it was totally fine – We got car service so we wouldn’t have to ride the shuttle (<— our usual Vegas pick because it’s inexpensive and fun) or an Uber/Lyft. – We did the things we usually do here in Tucson: wore masks when indoors or around groups of people, washed our hands, and favored outdoor activities when possible When we got into town, we checked into the room and then went downstairs for caviar. It’s one of our Vegas traditions to get caviar from the piano bar downstairs and it didn’t disappoint. We had amazing shrimp cocktail, drinks, and people-watched. After caviar, we walked around on the Strip for a while and did some damage at the Forum Shoppes in Caesar’s Palace. After shopping and walking around, we hung out at the hotel for a bit and then got ready for dinner at Eiffel Tower. (Pro tip: call instead of making reservations online! I wasn’t charged and we had an incredible window table.) You guys. I didn’t know if the food at Eiffel Tower would be overhyped but it was AMAZING. It might have been the best restaurant salmon I’ve had. It was in a savory pinot noir buerre blanc with leaks and a crispy panko topping. The only thing that was a little meh was the chocolate soufflé dessert. (I mean this one will always be #1 in my heart.) The next morning, we slept in, grabbed coffee and breakfast at the hotel, and headed to the airport! It was the perfect short and sweet trip, and also really special because we haven’t had a night away in years. With our move to Tucson, the deployment, straight into airline interviews, training, and the Rona, we haven’t been able to take a couple’s trip. When we got back to Tucson, we picked up the girls, the Pilot opened his gifts from us, I frosted his bday cupcakes, and we headed to dinner at Tanque Verde Ranch. We wanted to pick an outdoor spot for his birthday dinner and it was perfect. They had live music and the food was wonderful as usual. We were even greeted by an entire family of javelina who like to hang out for scraps!!! The birthday guy: I wanted to thank the lovely person who recommended making a video montage for the Pilot for his birthday. It was a HUGE hit. This is the site I used and he really loved being able to see birthday wishes and videos from friends and family members all over the world. Sunday morning was P’s birthday party! I wanted to throw a small outdoor get-together for her and her friends from preschool. We had it at the same spot where the girls take horse lessons, and they had farm animals for the kiddos to pet and hold (bunnies, chickens, goats) and they each got to ride a horse during the party.
Since it was in the morning, we had the most amazing breakfast spread from Prep & Pastry: mini pastries, egg sandwiches, bacon, and sausage. I just grabbed cupcakes for dessert from Whole Foods. It was the perfect low-key celebration and the kiddos had a blast. I also ordered little horse bracelets, horse stickers, and then added some treats like Annie’s gummies, lollipops, and mini stampers. Last week was pretty insane getting everything ready for Vegas and P’s party but I’m happy to say we’ve made it to the other side. Now we just have Halloween this weekend…. What are you guys doing for Halloween this year? I’d love to hear your plans and anything creative you’re doing to celebrate. What are your kids going to be? xo Gina The post weekend bday festivities appeared first on The Fitnessista. from https://fitnessista.com/weekend-bday-festivities/ |
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