Archive for March 2015

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

How many times have you seen the words "eat to fuel" hash tagged under your favorite fitness account's Instagrams or posted on fitspo twitter accounts? Probably quite a few - but have you ever thought about what the phrase means in your day-to-day life?

When you work out, you're draining your body's supply of energy - like you just drove your car a long way and now it's out of gas. You wouldn't fill up your car with a substance that wouldn't power it through another long trip, would you? No -- so why choose to fill up your body with substances that aren't providing you with the power necessary to make it through another day and another workout? Every time you decide to put something in your mouth, you're choosing what kind of fuel to put in your body.

In all of my posts that have to do with food, fitness, or health, I have to disclose that I am SO not perfect. I love pizza and ice cream and totally splurge on food that isn't the best for me, but I don't let one or two cheat meals change the way I think about food and the lifestyle that I try to live.

So I challenge you - whenever you find yourself snacking or preparing a meal for yourself, think about which ingredients are providing you with sustenance and fuel for the rest of your day.

On that note, I'll share one of my favorite post-workout snacks with you.

First of all, I highly suggest that you purchase a Magic Bullet or other small blender. Mine has been a lifesaver while I've been in college - so easy and so quick when I'm on the go!

I love to make smoothies after my workouts or for breakfast - I load them up with all kinds of nutritious ingredients and protein.

Here's one of my go-to smoothie recipes:

1/2 C Greek yogurt (get whatever has the lowest fat percentage)
Handful of frozen or fresh spinach - you won't taste it at all, and it's an easy way to get your greens in!
1/4 C frozen berries
1/2 C almond milk
1 spoonful of peanut butter or PB2 for flavor.

Optional...

1 scoop of protein powder - this is totally optional, but I wanted to give it a shot since I work out often and am not always able to get enough protein in my diet without it. I use Optimum Nutrition Whey Isolate in the vanilla flavor.
1 TBS flax or chia seeds for an added punch of fiber

Blend and enjoy - I usually sprinkle mine with Kashi or granola for a little crunch. Enjoy!

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Comfy Outfits & Style Secrets

No comments

Fashion

Happy spring break to me! I got to spend the first day of my break running errands and getting ready to fly home to Portland in a few days, and wanted to be comfy and look effortlessly put together while I did it - hence my long sleeve Piko paired with boyfriend jeans and my favorite Sam Edelman flats. My sweet boyfriend offered to take some photos of me while we were out and about today - or maybe he just wanted to play with his new iPhone 6+ - but either way, we had a fun little photoshoot in the sun.

Since my first Piko arrived on my front doorstep, I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I have been very reluctant to take it off. It is the comfiest, easiest, and most effortlessly adorable top - and I am obsessed with the taupe color that I ordered. It will definitely become part of my go-to traveling outfit, which is a topic for another post :)

Here's a secret: this Piko was only $20 from pikoshirts.com, which is way cheaper than what most sites offer them for... and dangerous for me, because I plan on ordering one in every single color.

PS: I swear by these Sam Edelman flats. You need a pair. In every color. Trust me. (thanks, Bryan, for these camo ones!)

Links updated July 2015

This post was a collaboration with pikoshirts.com, and I received a gift card to their online store in exchange for this post. All of the content, ideas, and opinions within this post are my own.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Comfort Food 101: Chocolate Chip Cookies

No comments

Lifestyle, Recipes

If my grandmother has taught me anything, it's that a lady never shows up empty-handed. Want to impress your boyfriend's family? Sending a care package? Having people over?

One simple recipe can solve all these dilemmas. Trust me, you need to be able to make chocolate chip cookies, especially these ones. I grew up having these delicious cookies for dessert, and my dad, who's a total health nut, eats them like they're potato chips. Mom and I have always made a huge batch for my dad and his friends when they go on their annual backpacking trip in the fall, and they disappear pretty quickly from my sorority house kitchen, as well :)

Ingredients

2 bags semi-sweet chocolate chips
3.5 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup regular sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/3 cup softened butter

Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Leave butter out for a few hours to soften (Don't microwave it and don't try to use it cold, trust me). Cream the butter and sugars, then crack in the eggs one at a time. Add vanilla. Add dry ingredients gradually and mix thoroughly - it gets really thick, so you may need to abandon the electric mixer and use a big spoon or spatula. Add in the chocolate chips and make sure everything is combined. Scoop the dough onto cookie sheets (I usually spray them with PAM first) and bake for about 11-13 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes and transfer to a wire cooling rack.

Now you have an easy recipe for one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

The Little Things

No comments

Lifestyle

Whether it's midterms, weekend plans, workout plans, or whatever else is going on, it's too easy to get wrapped up in life and forget the things that make every day amazing. Lately, I've felt extremely overwhelmed and exhausted (like many of you, I'm sure) and am taking a few moments to reflect and remember the little parts of the day that make life great. I found this quote on Pinterest the other day, and it inspired me to add a little love into everything that I do. My first step? Recognizing the silly little things that make me happy to be alive.

Found on Pinterest - from KatiRamer on Etsy

1. My morning cup of coffee. I am a coffee addict (averaging 3+ cups a day) and the first cup is always the best. My ideal morning is waking up kind of late, drinking coffee with my breakfast, and snuggling with my dog. When I get to move into my own place, I want to have a huge mug collection from every place I've ever been.

2. The first sunny days of spring. You know the afternoons where everyone lays out for five minutes then realizes its actually only 60 degrees? Who cares, it feels tropical compared to those long winter days only a week ago.

3. My workout time. Whether it's a spin class with my sorority sisters (we went to Boho Cycle Studio in Richmond last night, and it was SO fun - but totally kicked my ass), lifting in the gym late at night on my own, or the occasional morning spent running on the soccer field with my boyfriend, scheduling time to work out is one of the few selfish things I allow myself to do, and it's absolutely worth it.

4. Sisterhood. Sorry, sorry - I know it's cliche. If you aren't in a fraternity or sorority, you may not totally be able to relate, but there's something to be said about my relationship with the girls I live with, my sorority big sister, and the ladies in my pledge class. There are bad times and there are good, but for the most part, I couldn't imagine college without this experience.

5. Cute workout gear. I literally live in yoga pants, norts, Krass & Co shorts, and Nike running shoes... to the point where a lot of my friends say I dress like workout Barbie. Whoever woke up one day and decided that they could make workout clothes cute AND comfortable should be a national hero. Plus, cute workout clothes motivate me to stay fit (bye, baggy sweats)!

6. Sunday drives. Windows down, country music playing... The perfect way to spend those first few warm spring days. My school is out in the country, close to a lot of rural farmland and beautiful back roads that I should take advantage of more often.

7. Sunsets. Sunrises. Moments when you can actually stop and soak life in and not be in a frenzy (rare, I know). When you're up early and rewarded by a beautiful sunrise, being sleepy for a few hours is totally worth it. Sunsets are my reward for slowing down a little bit and enjoying what's right in front of me. I've found that if I look at these natural works of art as a gift or reward for my day, I appreciate them that much more.

8. The outdoors. I was raised to appreciate the natural world and to respect the rugged mountains and uninhabited land that we are blessed and lucky enough to experience. One of my favorite parts of going home to Portland is its proximity to natural areas. For tips on how to increase your conservation efforts as a college student so that we can keep enjoying the world around us, check this out.

9. Family. Extended family, immediate family, anyone else close enough to consider family. I am blessed with a loving and tightly-knit support system that I can both reach out to for help and a listening ear or have an amazing crazy time with. It goes without saying that daily (sometimes weekly, sorry mom) phone calls home are one of the things that keep me sane on the most stressful days.

Nine points, random, I know. And they might seem to be a weird mix of things, but it's my personal effort to infuse a tiny bit more love and appreciation into my everyday life - and these are just the nine that feel most important to me on this specific Tuesday.

Can you relate? What silly little things are you thankful for?

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Pinterest At Home: Military-Inspired Trends

No comments

Fashion

I used to write for a collaborative blog platform called Sorority Stylista. It was fun, and it gave me an outlet that may have gotten my writing a little more publicity and free marketing than what I get now, but I decided to strike out on my own and see what happened. Anyway, if you're at all familiar with my previous posts on Sorority Stylista or aware of my daily fashion choices, you may have noticed that I am a fan of military-inspired pieces. I am firmly convinced that camo (not the kind that you find on the backroads of Virginia) is rightfully making a trendy appearance as a fun new print to use in a similar way to our long-lived love affair with animal prints.

Military inspired trends can and will be chic if you do it right.
How?

Mix camo prints with delicate accents - think lace, sparkly jewelry, feminine flats or pointed-toe pumps.

No need to go wild if you aren't feeling it yet. Skip the camo and snag a utility vest or jacket in olive green or khaki. Throw it over a dress or leggings and get the look without the risk.

Don't forget that white low-top converse or brown riding boots will take anything down a notch.

Want to take an extra risk? Ripped boyfriend jeans. Pop of cheetah print. Neon or bright accents. Easy.

I'm not someone who takes crazy fashion risks. Most of my clothes are from J.Crew, if that tells you anything about my wild side. I just have this theory that if you think something looks cool, you should throw it on yourself and F(orget) the judgmental folks you think are giving you looks.

Believe me, they're just wondering if they could pull it off themselves.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Stay Cozy Without Binging

No comments

Health & Fitness, Lifestyle, Recipes

Alright, who else is snowed in (for the tenth time this semester)?

On our last snow day, there were six pizzas ordered to my sorority (not that I don't LOVE pizza)... So today one of my friends and I decided to whip up a quick, easy, and healthy lunch instead.

Trader Joes is the ultimate college-girl one-stop shop. Stock up on all their delicious frozen meals and veggies so that you'll have something to whip up when the weather gets bad - or when you're just feeling lazy. This meal took us 15 minutes, tops, to put together - which is probably shorter than waiting for a pizza delivery! Snag some frozen veggie burgers (Quinoa Cowboy to be exact), risotto in a box (Mushroom and Herb is what we used), and whatever veggies you can find in the fridge.

Throw the veggie burger on a medium size pan with some olive oil and assorted chopped veggies (I did mushrooms and garlic) and cook on medium heat or according to the directions on the box. We also sprinkled some feta on top of the finished product to make it pretty. Delicious, quick, and under 400 calories.

Are you inspired yet? Happy snow day!

The PDX Belle