Thursday, January 14, 2016

What I Eat | 3 Day Food Diary

I shared a food diary last January and I had a request to share one again.  

A few things to note:
This took place during the week on a Tuesday-Thursday.  Let's be real I don't always eat this healthy  but my A game is on since I gained 5+ lbs over the Holidays.  I do however still eat a lot of veggies and very little meat in my regular diet , I just usually snack more often.  During the week I really try to be mindful of what I am eating with little processed foods,  little sugar and not many snacks.   On the weekends I definitely indulge more and don't restrict myself. Also if I am eating out, I order what I want and don't restrict myself. 

I didn't include all my drinks below, so FYI I gave up caffeine after I had Frances and I only drink decaf coffee now.  The caffeine was making me anxious and I feel so much better now without it.   I don't miss it one bit.  But I do still like a cup of coffee in the morning, I usually either make a decaf black coffee with my Nespresso or pick up a decaf latte  or cappuccino at Starbucks.  Otherwise during the day I only drink water, seltzer, or unsweetened green tea (the tea is the only caffeine I have and it doesn't seem to affect me like coffee did), and of course wine a few nights a week. 

I just recently got back into juicing and I have to say my energy has been so much better.  Sometimes it is easier to just pick up a green juice but it saves so much money if you make it at home.   I have this Breville Juicer and love it. I bought it 4 years ago after Christmas and it still works like a charm.  The parts are also dishwasher safe which is always a plus.    I hand wash it for the most part but run it through the dishwasher once a week. 

Now sometimes I am lazy and don't feel like juicing, on those days I drink one of these 8 greens tablets dissolved in water.  It is a superfood supplement and contains 8 different greens pressed into one little tablet.  They are kind of like Airborne but filled with nutrients and greens instead. These green tablets are amazing.  On Sunday I felt so tired and wanted to take a nap but I drank one and then ran 2 miles and felt so good.  I had so much more energy.  Btw this is by no means an ad or sponsored post, I paid for them and truly love them.





DAY ONE
Lemon Water.  I start each day with hot lemon water and often end with it as well.
I squeeze half a lemon into a coffee mug with water and microwave 1 minute.  You can do this on the stove as well.

Next Green Juice.  My go-to Green Juice is : 2 apples, 1 lemon, 2 celery stalks, 1 baby cucumber, 1 jalapeƱo seeds removed, 1 inch piece peeled ginger, 1 bunch kale, and handful spinach.  This makes enough juice for Matt and I both to have a glass.

Breakfast
 Yogurt with Strawberries and Pistachio Crumble.  
This recipe came out of the Bon Appetit Food Lovers Cleanse cookbook and Matt and I are both loving it.  It is super simple all you do is dry roast 1/4 cup chopped pistachios, 2 teaspoons poppy seeds and 2 teaspoons sesame seeds on medium heat about 1minute.  Then add in 2 tablespoons honey and cook 1 more minute.  Remove from heat and let nuts cool and harden into chunks.  Serve over greek yogurt with fresh strawberries.

Lunch 
Greek Salad + Hummus + Naan Bread + Pepperoncini
I frequently make this chopped Greek salad.  It is just chopped cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, kalmata olives and feta cheese if you have it.  Add salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Dinner
Panko Crusted Salmon Roasted Cauliflower & Chickpeas with Mustard and Parsley (recipe below)
The cauliflower + chickpea recipe comes from Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook and we all love it.  My kids will even eat the cauliflower this way.  It is so delicious.

1 14-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and dried
1 head of cauliflower, outer leaves removed and discarded, cut into bite-sized florets
3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
Coarse sea salt
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon seeded mustard (i.e., grainy mustard)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and set the rack in the middle. Toss chickpeas and cauliflower together in a large roasting pan with 3 tablespoons olive oil and a big pinch of salt. Roast, stirring now and then, until everything is dark brown and the cauliflower is quite soft, about 45 minutes. 
2. Meanwhile, whisk together mustards, vinegar, and 1/4 cup of olive oil with a big pinch of salt and a few healthy grinds of black pepper. While the chickpeas and cauliflower are still warm, toss them with the mustard dressing and the parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I was still hungry before bed and I ate 1/2 an orange. 
Then I had hot lemon water with ginger.


DAY TWO

Hot Lemon Water.

Starbucks Decaf Latte


Breakfast
2 eggs scrambled with cheese, spinach and avocado, 2 pieces of bacon, 1/2 grapefruit

Lunch
Chopped Detox Salad + Leftover Roasted Cauliflower + Naan + Hummus

I had 1/2 a vegan cookie from Earthfare for a snack.

Dinner

DAY THREE

Hot Lemon Water
Green juice
I save my old Starbucks cup so I can use them as to-go cups and take my juice with me.


Breakfast
Starbucks Oatmeal + Decaf Latte
If I am on the go and need a quick easy breakfast I frequently get the oatmeal at Starbucks.  It is surprisingly good and filling.


Lunch
I ate lunch out at Xao Bao Biscuit and had the Cabbage pancake + fried egg
I had a few pretzels left over from the kid's snack before dinner.

Dinner
Skinny Taste's California Sushi Stacks (we used tuna and crab instead of shrimp) + Edamame.
This meal is super easy and my kids actually loved the edamame, added bonus.
Lemon Ginger water before bed.

When I eat clean like this and exercise I usually notice results quickly.   I lost about 2 lbs last week just from cutting out most of my snacks and processed foods.  I am not the type of person who can totally give up carbs, so I still enjoy them in moderation.   If you have any go-to healthy recipes I would love you to share them! 




Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Antipasto Kabobs + Minestrone Soup + Tea Collection Super Sale!

I shared both these food pictures on my instagram recently,  and had several requests for the recipes.  I figured I would go ahead and share both at once!  While I love my cookbooks I gain a lot of inspiration from pinterest.   I browse at least once a day looking for recipes and home decor ideas. Both these recipes came from there and I made a few changes.

I made these antipasto kabobs last weekend for a neighborhood oyster roast we attended and they were amazing.  I got several compliments on how good they were.  Plus they make a beautiful presentation.  They would be perfect to bring to a Super Bowl Party. After I made these I realized I forgot my artichoke hearts, so add those if you want but honestly they were fine without them.  I bought these skewers at World Market, sometimes the grocery store doesn't have the right sizes so you may have to check specialty stores.


A N T I P A S T O   K A B O B S 
Recipe adapted  via Inspired By Charm

- cherry tomatoes
- cheddar cheese cut into blocks
- salami
- green olives
- basil leaves
- cheese tortellini
- fresh mozzarella balls
- pesto

cook tortellini according to the package.  You can skewer in any order but I did cheddar cheese, salami, tortellini, green olive, basil, tomato and mozzarella.  Drizzle the kabobs with fresh pesto.  I added a little olive oil to thin about my pesto a bit.


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This soup is perfect for all the cold weather we have been having.  Best part is it is made in the crock pot, so you just toss in all your ingredients and let it do the work.  As far as veggie meals go this was actually very flavorful.  We served ours with cornbread.




M I N E S T R O N E  S O U P

INGREDIENTS

- 1 small onion diced
- 3 carrots diced
- 3 stalks of celery diced
- 1 zucchini diced
- 1 can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup green beans
 - 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup spinach chopped
- 6-8 cups vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup macaroni noodles
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 garlic cloves minced
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Place onions, carrots, celery, garlic, kidney beans, cannelloni beans, green beans, bay leaves, basil and oregano in slow cooker.  Add in diced tomatoes and 6 cups broth. Cook on low 6-8 hours.
About 45 minutes before the time is done, add in noodles, red pepper flakes, and zucchini.  Stir in parmesan cheese right before serving and sprinkle more on top of bowls.


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For all you Moms Tea Collection is having a major sale.  I am talking tee shirts are $7 and PJs are $14.  I just stocked up for both the kids. The sale only lasts 2 more days so shop early for the best size selection.  The quality of Tea clothing is amazing.  They wash and wear so well and I always love the fun patterns and prints they come out with.  Sterling loves their graphic tee shirts and I would equate their pjs to being similar to Hanna Andersson in quality!   I ordered quite a few of the items pictured below, scroll through to see them all.  You can view all the sale HERE








Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Lounging Around.

Today is a reader request I received wanting me to share some lounge wear favorites.  I don't know about y'all but after a long day I like to throw on some comfy clothes.   On the weekend during the day comfort is always key.  I frequently live in leggings and a comfy tee shirt.  I rounded up a few of my favorite lounge wear pieces.

loungewear

Rose Tee - I own this and love it.  It is super soft and a longer length which I prefer.
Make and Model Tee - This tee is a great deal under $25.  Cute for loungewear or to toss on with jeans.
Underarmour Underwear- I got 2 pairs of these for Christmas and I loved them so much I just ordered a few more pairs.  I love the stretchy material and if you buy more than 3 you get them for $10 a piece. The reviews were not great but I really love them.
Ugg Slippers- My favorite slippers. The lining is so plush and they will last you for several years.
Eberjey Nightshirt- I love this classic night shirt because it is super soft.
Spanx Leggings- I swear by these and wear mine all the time.  They suck you in and offer so much support.  They are on sale in the gray color right now.
Make and Model Ruffle Shorts- a nice alternative to pants.  I love the feminine ruffle detail. They are a great price too, under $30.
Ugg Robe- Pure bliss and a few colors are on sale right now.  My mom, sister and sister in law all own this same robe!
Josie Night Gown + Robe- I actually just ordered this set for a fun new Spring set.  I fell in love with the beautiful colors and it is a great price point.  It also comes in another cool print.
Lake PJ Set- Lake PJs are such a treat to put on and make a wonderful gift.  They are made out of a thicker pima cotton so they are not see thru and they are so incredibly soft.
Lake Night Gown- This is equally as great as the PJ set.  I like the short sleeve option for the Summer months
PJ Salvage Lounge Pants- I love the style of these with the tapered leg. They are also super comfy, I have them in a Winter Pattern and wear them almost every night.
JCrew Nightgown- I have this in 2 different colors.  It is a great light weight night gown.
Josie Lounge Shorts- Super cute for around the house lounging.
Under Armour Thong- Once again I love the material of this underwear it is super stretchy but still sucks you in.
TB Slippers- These look so soft and comfy and they are 50% off right now.  They come in 3 different colors.

I had to share a few coffee mugs I am loving too because most likely if I am in my lounge wear I am sipping some coffee or tea.

coffee


Happy Lounging Friends.





Monday, January 11, 2016

Scenes From Our Weekend

Hello second Monday of 2016!  We had a really nice low key weekend.  I have been on a mission to clean out and organize every corner of our house.  This past week and weekend I focused on our kitchen and dining room.  I filled up the entire back of my car with old pots and pans, dishes and silverware we never used and hauled it to Goodwill.  It was such a good feeling and now when I open our drawers and cabinets they are so organized and I love it! 
Next up I am going to clean out everyone's closets- I may do an instagram sale in the next week or two with clothes that I clean out.   My account there is @shopsnoopnattynat closet if you are interested in following.

I decided on some new silverware since our old silverware had been mysteriously disappearing. I am talking we were down to only 4 forks.  I have no idea what happened to it all.
I choose this gold set from Target and love it!! I honestly was surprised by the quality and it is so beautiful in person.  Such a great deal for the price.

I went for a run both days this weekend.  The cooler weather makes for such perfect running weather.
I thought this picture of the bridge covered in fog was so cool.


Snapped this picture of Sterling looking so grown up.  I love his style that is starting to emerge.

Frances Moon had her 2 year old check up this past week.  She is the size and height of a 3 year old.  Just like her Mama.  I was always big for my age:)

Speaking of Frances all she ever wants to sleep in and wear is her Paw Patrol night gown.  She is slightly obsessed.
Dreaming of warmer weather since it has been chilly here.  We are in the midst of booking our trip to the Caribbean again this Summer,  so resort wear is on my mind!

A little sneak peak at our new couch that was delivered this week.  We are starting to re-do our den and the couch was the first step.  Stay tuned for a fun make-over.  We have a new rug on the way and hoping to replace the mirror with a large abstract painting.  


Sunday we went to brunch at our favorite spot, The Variety shop.  I had the fried green tomato benedict and Matt had the shrimp hash browns.  They both were incredible.



The kids snuggled up with Daddy:)

I spent Sunday night on our new couch sipping rose watching the Golden Globes.  The tee shirt and leggings are my favorite lounge wear- Tomorrow I am planning a post featuring all my favorite loungewear! I am wearing a small in the leggings and tee shirt.
Here is another view of the tee and leggings on.

Two things I am really loving this New Year are my Bon Appetit Food Lovers Cleanse Cookbook and my Emily Ley Planner.  The cookbook is filled with so many amazing healthy recipes and I love the layout of the planner!


I always love watching the red carpet more than the actual awards.   These 4 ladies were some of the best dressed in my opinion.  I think Jennifer Lawerence's look was my favorite.





Have a great Monday!






Saturday, January 9, 2016

Weekend Style | The Swing Sweater

Happy Saturday!
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  The weather is dreary here, cold and overcast but perfect for an Oyster Roast we are attending later today!

I wanted to pop in and share a sweater that I am loving that is now on sale.  You may remember the JCrew Swing sweater from a few years back which I loved.  Well Loft has come out with a version I honestly like better.  It is a little thinner material which I really like.  It is basically the same fit and style and it is now on sale for $29, it was originally $59.

I am wearing a size XS.  It definitely runs on the large side so you could easily size down.  This would be great for any of you pregnant readers as well.  I lived in my swing sweaters while pregnant with Frances.

I am wearing the Cordovan Heather color which is like a deep maroon,  but it also comes in 5 other colors.

I also love this pink color as well.

My leopard calf hair pumps were also recently reduced.  They are a favorite of mine and go with so many different outfits.  Plus they are comfortable.


My jeans are also on sale.  I am a huge fan of the Jbrand Maria High Rise Jeans.  They suck everything in.  No flab ever hangs over the top of these jeans!  I liked the lighter color of these as well.

All 3 are great basic additions to any closet!








Friday, January 8, 2016

Cooking Made Easy | 10 Recipes Using Rotisserie Chicken

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!  Today I am answering a reader request to share some recipes that you can use a Rotisserie chicken for.  I will be honest I hate handling raw chicken so when a recipe calls for chicken 9 times out of 10 I just buy the pre-cooked one.  It is one less pan to clean and so much easier.   Below are a some recipes I have featured on my blog in the past using pre-cooked chicken. They are all pretty easy week night meals and most can be made ahead of time too!



























I always welcome reader requests so shoot me an email if you have any ideas you would like me to feature on my blog! 
Happy Friday!  
and I have to share my tee shirt, that I mentioned yesterday.  Perfect for the weekend:) I wore mine last night, so comfortable and I love the fit.  Sometimes tee shirts are too boxy or short and this one is longer and a slimmer fit. I am in a size small for those curious about sizing.