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Vacation Mode

Summer time is right around the corner. Warm weather, sun shining, endless outdoor activities! Who doesn’t love this time of year?! (now that I live in Florida I’m not super keen on the season–think 100º days with 100% humidity)—nothing some water sports can’t cure right?!

Anyway, with summer comes vacation time for a lot of families. #vacationmode  I love exploring new cities, whether it’s nearby home or thousands of miles away. Each city offers it’s own unique spin on restaurants, arts/culture & activities they have to offer. Notice my first point—restaurants. Peeping out the food scene in any city is definitely one of my favorite things to do. Some people look for best happy hour, best live music…I personally look for best FOOD.

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Spaghetti Squash, bacon, spinach & goat cheese

Howdy friends! This recipe is SO easy & has a good amount of protein (&fats), the carbs are coming from vegetable sources making this a quick & healthier dinner option. You can even rotate or throw in some extra vegetables to boost the vitamin & mineral content.

My only advice is cooking the spaghetti squash in advance—that is the most time consuming part of the process. I cut mine in half lengthwise & lay it flat on a sprayed baking sheet at 400° for nearly an hour (depending on the size). I’ve seen people cut it the other way; into rings & scoop out the middle. Either way they are a pain in the booty to cut if you ask me–but definitely worth the effort for the added nutrition & a lower calorie meal.

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Smoked Gouda Turkey Meatloaf

MOM! Meatloaf!

Sorry, I  couldn’t resist. Hopefully that’s not aging me too much..?

Growing up I never really LOVED meatloaf, I scrapped off the ketchup topping & forced down the meaty part. As I got older, I like it, but its never something I crave or order when we’re out to eat. So the other day when John & I stopped at Mazzaros Italian Market (a MUST if you’re ever in St. Petersburg), it caught me by surprise that I opted to order the sandwich of the day—you guessed it, a meatloaf sandwich.

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TFL

No, that’s not another hip new acronym the kids are using nowadays.

Your TFL is used to describe the small muscle in your hips; Tensor Fasciae Latae. It’s located in front of your hip joint & connects to the very long tendon known as the Iliotibial band, or IT band. Your TFL aids in flexion of your hips (i.e. crunches or running); abduction of the thigh & also helps to control & keep hips level while walking/standing & may even aid in stabilization of knee.

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Healthy Brownies

How is 2017 going for you? Are you sticking with your goals? I’ve been consistent with my workouts & really focusing on tuning into my hunger cues, instead of eating because I have macros left.

With that being said, I still love my sweets & will continue to make room in my diet for a treat—I love me some rich chocolate brownies. This particular brownie recipe is loaded with fiber, the B vitamins; folate & B6 which all help against heart disease. Potassium, calcium & magnesium are the other powerhouses that make these brownies chock full of nutrients. Can you guess the secret ingredient that makes these brownies so much healthier?

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Pumpkin Cupcakes

Is it too late in the season for pumpkin recipes? Not yet, perhaps January 2.
Every year John becomes pumpkin obsessed…all things pumpkin (except lattes). So I knew that creating a healthier version of a pumpkin baked good was in order.
It has been a bit of a struggle, we have a tiny kitchen with minimal kitchen paraphernalia..we don’t even have a blender! So I’ve been getting a little inventive in the kitchen using your most basic utensils. (think bowl, spoon, fork, spatula)
Bars would have been better—but we don’t have a regular square/rectangle pan! I digress, read on for cupcake goodness.

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New Year Countdown

There are 10 days until Christmas & 16 days until 2017. This is the time of year we all look forward to–family gatherings, good food and vacations, but somehow we always manage to find something to stress about. Worry about getting the right gifts for everyone, cooking the perfect meal, making sure our home is clean enough for great Aunt Gertrude that you see once every other year.

While it’s important to give your best at everything (including cleaning the house) & to provide the most for our friends & family it’s equally important to make time to nurture yourself & think about what you want moving forward.

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