My take on Kathryn Budig's "Persephone" salad: Recipe!

I was looking through Kathryn Budig's blog at her recipes! Most of them looked super yummy, and fairly easy to make (which is a plus for me). She also caused me to get a tremendous hankering for Oatmeal Creme Pies but I didn't have all of the ingredients at all for that and improvised.

I wanted a light dinner, and I also had an avocado that was PERFECT and absolutely had to be used tonight. Because those things can go bad so freaking fast and I was not about to chance it.

So onto my Faux Persephone salad. Kathryn called it a Persephone salad because in the mythology, Hades uses a pomegranate to lure Persephone to the underworld and her recipe called for poms. I'm not a fan of them so I made some substitutions to suit both what I had, and what I liked.

Salad ingredients:

Greens! I used about 2 cups of mixed greens
Pickled red onions (recipe below)
One avocado, cubed (I put some lime juice on it to keep it from browning and because I love lime juice!)
1-2 tbsp Dried cranberries
1 tsp Sea salt
Garlic-I used some dried, spicy garlic for mine


Dressing:

1 tbsp Balsamic vinaigrette
1 tbsp Olive oil
pinch of Kosher salt
Minced green onions, about two stalks
Shake it all up, or stir, pour on last

Pickled red onions:
One red onion, diced however you prefer
Enough Apple Cider Vinegar to cover them
a teaspoon of sugar
Set into a container, shake it up, and leave in the fridge until you're ready to use it

This was seriously one of the best salads I've ever made. I'm not a huge dressing person, which is why the amounts are so small, so feel free to double or triple based on how much you like.

Since I know a lot of people like to know the caloric values, here you go.
Calories 649
Fat 59 (that avocado, makes up about half of it alone)
Protein 6
Carbohydrates 28

I would honestly eat this even without the avocado in it, especially since I don't always have them in the house. That would drop it down about 400 calories if that worries you.

Goal & life planning: Part 1

I'm one of those annoying people that thrives on organization but typically seems spacey due to my brain never shutting up. I'm starting to take more risks, and set more goals and I'm really excited to kill them! 

So I'm going to do a few posts about how I plan to accomplish some goals I have in mind, and some soul searching on what I really am passionate about and want to do with my life. I feel like I'm a little late on this, but better late than never right?

Planner
I'm one of those weirdos who still prefers a paper planner, though I do keep meetings and appointments on my phone as well (yea Outlook at work!) I use one called Passion Planner. I originally backed her on Kickstarter and absolutely love my planner. Right now she is doing a Kickstarter to fund a smaller one, and I have already backed that one as well. It's great! If you want to try it, she has free printable pages on her website as well, or you can back the new Kickstarter here. It has 14 days left.  

Each week starts on Monday (the new one starts on Sunday, but this is the original one). Has a place to put a weekly focus, write down good things that happened, a quote, and a small goal or task to do each week. Below is a section for a Personal To-Do List, a Work on, and a blank space to get creative. This is a week I haven't written on yet but I enjoy this planner. 



Goal Planning
Another thing I am going to be using to get organized and set goals is something called PowerSheets from Lara Casey Shop. Information from the site:

Picture is copyright of Lara Casey

105 PowerSheets™ last for 6 full months and include: 

• 2014 Goal Setting and Action Plan Sheets 
• Monthly/Weekly/Daily Tending Lists 
• Monthly PowerSheets Checklist
• Great Things That Happened This Month
• This is My Year Goal Sheet
• Big Dreams Page for big ideas
• What Fires Me Up
• Things I Want to Learn/Things I Learned
• My Vision
• Access to exclusive PowerSheets Facebook Group

NEW in the 2015 PowerSheets™:

• Streamlined beautiful design
• Set of 8 tabs, in tan and gold foil
• Three-Month Goal Refresh 
• Words of Inspiration
• New motivating quotes and notes from Lara

I heard about this from Val Marie Paper  when I was looking for a prayer and/or gratitude journal. I'm excited because for some reason, having it written down makes me more motivated than just jotting it down on a post it, or telling myself I'll do it.

I also keep a Moleskine or small notebook with me at almost all times. I like writing and I also use the Notes application on my iPhone to jot down things, such as grocery lists. I'm more likely to forget a paper one but having it on my phone, I have no excuse.

For budgeting, I've always use Mint, but I'm looking into others as well. I like it because it keeps everything together, and emails me updates if I want them. I can add my credit cards, loans, bank account information, and it's all there in one place instead of me logging into each site individually.

Vega Sport Protein Review

So through Fit Approach, I got to test out the Vega Sport Performance Protein powder in Vanilla. Stand alone protein powder, I am not a big fan of vanilla, but for mixing with fruits (and occasionally veggies), vanilla is my favorite.

I was actually a little hesitant to try this. I'm not a huge fan of plant based protein but I was also looking for a cleaner supplement to try and have had heard NOTHING but excellent things about Vega, and the Vega Sport Performance line sounded amazing.

Step 1: My ingredients! Strawberries, frozen mango, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, ground flax seed, and Vega Sport Vanilla protein powder

This is what the protein powder looks like out of the bag. It was a slightly brown color, but consistency was normal compared to most protein powder. 

After blending it all up!

The texture of the smoothie was a bit different from what I'm used to. It was thicker, but wasn't drastically different. The taste was different for me; it definitely wasn't as sweet as I'm used to protein powder being, but considering the usual one I've been using might as well be cake batter... It mixed well, it has a ton of protein for such a small amount of product! I also am a huge fan of no artificial sweeteners that so many others have. 

This one is definitely good for you! The nutrition facts are fantastic. The taste isn't any worse than a normal, lightly flavored protein powder. I would definitely keep using this for my fruit smoothies for added protein and I'd feel comfortable giving this supplement to my 11 year old. If you eat clean, this is definitely something to add to your supplement arsenal. 

Wednesday Wisdom and wit!

Have I ever mentioned that I minored in English? Ha! That's where I get all of the somewhat kooky sayings I write.

And while Zimbardo is a bit crazy, this series of quotes are great:

Links I've enjoyed lately

How To Choose A Gym

This lady likes internet pics as much as I do! Sports Bras and Sippy Cups

Fall off the Wagon via Fit Approach

Jamie Eason's recipes

Cardio Alternatives via Fitness Rx for Women

Recipe substitutions

Fun, random post from Olive to Run

Correcting Fitspo Images

Excuses

After being on the Google Hangout with some of the other Sweat Pink moms a couple of weeks ago, it actually gave me a lot to think about. Such as, one Mom gets up at 4:30 just to fit her run/workout in because that's the only time that works for her and her family. Interesting. My first thought was, that's insane! But after some thinking, maybe it's not so crazy. Honestly, I wake up tired no matter how much sleep I get. At night, even fitting in the hour for the Hangout was hard. I was tired, hungry, and just wanted to curl up with my Kindle to read, and go to sleep.

But when I'm working out and eating right, I have a ton more energy and I know this! I just suck at putting it into practice when I get overwhelmed. The next few weeks I'm going to meal plan, and get a new planner and write in stuff I have to do. And eating right and working out in whatever form I can will be on there!

So what are my excuses? I started a full time job (~2 months ago). I'm adjusting to living with my boyfriend (again, 2 months ago). We got a dog (1 month ago).  My wrist hurts like crazy. Gyms are expensive (my company will reimburse some of the cost). Just a lot going through my mind. So I've started looking at Groupons and into gyms and places that I pass on my way to work. Excuses excuses.

These are things that go through my head daily.

The images below I need to print out and put it around my desk/apartment and remind myself to get up! 

Fitness Survey Link-up

So something different! (I promise, my post on Friday will explain my weird absence from my blog).
A survey link up with some of my Sweat Pink sisters hosted by She Cooks Crafts Runs!

1.  What did you eat for breakfast?
    I had protein pancakes and eggs with lemon tea
2.  How much water do you drink a day?
   80 oz or more depending on what my workout is that day
3.  What is your current favorite workout?
    I like variety, but right now, I'm loving dumbbell shoulder presses
4.  How many calories do you eat a day?
     I have no idea
5.  What are your favorite healthy snacks?
     Cucumbers and fruit. Sometimes Ezekiel English muffins with Almond butter. 
6.  What do you usually eat for lunch?
     Roasted chicken with quinoa, or whole grain pasta
7.  What is your favorite body part to strength train?
     Glutes, I am enjoying my new butt!
8.  What is your least favorite body part to strength train?
     Hamstrings. Love the results, hate the pain!
9. What are your “bad” food cravings?
    Dr Pepper and French Fries
10. Do you take vitamins or supplements?
    Yes! Opti-women multi, Glucosamine with Chondroitin and MSM, Fish oil
11. How often do you eat out?
      A few times a week
12. Do you eat fast food?
      Guilty
13. Who is your biggest supporter?
     My boyfriend and my son
14. Do you have a gym membership?
     Not right now
15. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
     4-6
16. Do you have a “cheat” day?
     No, I usually do but adjusting to a new program and schedule
17. Do you drink alcohol?
     Every few months
18. Do you have a workout buddy?
   Only if my boyfriend is in town (long distance relationship)
19. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy lifestyle?
   My confidence and that my son enjoys making healthy choices and being more active
20. What was the last healthy thing you did?
   Hill sprints!

21.  What are your favorite shoes to work out in?

   Nike Flex Trainer 2

22.  Photo of your favorite workout outfit

  I wish I had one. I'm loving my Old Navy Compression capris, Juno sports bra, and Victoria's Secret Pink racerback tanks (I have 8 in different colors, it's an illness). Actually similar to what I wore to Pretty Muddy, I'm on the left. 

Zola Review

I honestly hadn't really tried any sort of coconut water, or Açaí juice prior to receiving this box from Zola to review for Fit Approach/Sweat Pink. The package contained a bottle of Açaí juice, Coconut water, and Coconut water with pulp and a cute pair of bright green sunglasses! The Açaí juice is missing because I had packed it to take with me on a road trip. 

I tried the Açaí juice with my boyfriend...probably a mistake. He lived in Brazil for a while, more than once, and had tried it for the first time there. In his mind, açaí should be made with milk, and this being mixed with water, startled him. He did however say it "wasn't bad but would be great mixed in with a smoothie." I had never tried açaí juice at all so it was new to me! It reminded me of blueberry ish juice without the tart. I really liked it and it was my favorite of the batch. I agree that it would be amazing in a smoothie and next time I find it, I will be making one.

The coconut juice was good. I don't know what I expected when I took the first sip. I think I expected it to taste more like raw coconut (because seriously, I can eat that like some people eat chocolate). It didn't have much of a flavor, just a slight that wasn't over-, or underwhelming. I ended up mixing half of it into a mixer and adding pineapple, strawberries, vanilla protein powder, flax, spirulina and spinach into an awesome smoothie! I definitely preferred the coconut water post workout versus my usual almond milk. 

I haven't tried the Coconut water with pulp yet since I am not a fan of pulp in my drinks, but I already have plans for making it into another smoothie. I'll post when I do!

Since I somehow lost most of the pictures I took with it (ugh seriously), I'm going to post links to other Sweat Pink ladies blog posts where they reviewed this as well! 

Olive to Run made a Mango Coconut Smoothie

Rise Run Mom Repeat

Yoga By Melissa

Adult Ballerina Project

Fighting for Wellness

Urban in Suburbia

App reviews

Over the next few months, I'm going to do some app reviews, specifically for iPhone but I believe most of them will also be available on the Droid platform. The apps I plan on reviewing, and utilizing, will be among my favorites (and I'll throw in some not so favorites) that I currently use or have used in the past. I like to alternate my workouts, so often, I will delete apps off of my phone until I'm ready to use them again. Here are the apps I know of so far:

• JEFIT
• My Fitness Pal
• Nike Training Club
• Gym Boss
• Map My Run
• Runtastic
• Map My Training
• Nike Fuelband
• Fitocracy
• StrongLifts 5x5
• Zombies Run
• Fooducate
• Lose it!
• C25K

A couple of these I will be using for a month, or until certain completion dates, such as C25K. I'm not a runner, and trying to get back into it and thought, so many people have had success with these apps, why not try it!