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Posts Tagged ‘nuts’

Fitness & Foodie Friday: Health or Treat? Nooky Quickie

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Fitness Friday, Foodie Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Relationships, Sports, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 10/30/2015 at 09:00

While trick-or-treaters may be house-hopping and candy-popping this weekend, I’ll continue consuming my healthy supplements on the ☼daily!

Ginkgo Biloba: to promote mental focus

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Centrum VitaMints®: to aquire essential nutrients in a tasty way

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  • I’ve come a long way since my childhood Flinstones chewables ~ which I doubt are the best bet for my teeth with the acidity
  • I’m still not a fan of swallowing tablets without having water and food in handy
  • Therefore, I’m all about double-duty of fulfilling my ☼daily☼ needs while freshening my breath!

Of course, I don’t skimp on the actual food that I need to fuel my brain and body ~ which I’m actually including in an analogy between my marathon and my main statistical method (multiple regression) for my doc research!

Pumpkin Trail Mix

Study Mode Trail Mix: Since almonds helped my bod during my 26.2-mi. course and my mind through my dissertation process, they were the main feature of this snack combo for the crunch + the Pumpkin Spice flavor along with the pumpkin cookies & candy, as well as more chocolate to cover these Brookside blueberries that also benefit the memory!

Study Mode Trail Mix: Since almonds helped my bod during my 26.2-mi. course and my mind through my dissertation process, they were the main feature of this snack combo for the crunch + the Pumpkin Spice flavor along with the pumpkin cookies & candy, as well as more chocolate to cover these Brookside blueberries that also benefit the memory!

Speaking of my race, although I haven’t run as many long distances in awhile, I’ve fit in mini drills to keep my energy levels high while I’ve been drained from my dissertation, a.k.a., my doc docs …

During my dedicated eating time (yes, I must make a meal break away from my computer, according to my Bestie Evie‘s birthday advice), I actually HIIT before I sit!

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Olive Garden Leftovers from Ladies’ Night with the Holy Spiri† (counter-clockwise from bottom right): Chicken Cacciatorie & Cheese Manicotti (2 of my fave entrées rolled into 1) • Pasta e Fagioli w/ breadstick • MinestroneBestie Evie‘s Better-Than-Sex BrowniePumpkin Cheesecake (which took me 4 days to finish!) • Andes Mints ~ gotta ♥love♥ these after-dinner chocolate mints to cap off a classic OG meal!

While I wait for my chow to cook ~ simmering in the crock pot, boiling on the stove, or nooking in the oven/microwave/toaster ~ I do the following quick set(s), to induce more calorie-burning even after I’m done exercising:

Standing ♥Cardio♥

Floor/Mat/Carpet Core

More ♥Cardio♥

  • Dance ’til your ♥heart’s ♪content♫ ~ or your grub is ready

Stretch

Relieve those muscles after sitting at the computer desk and before sitting down to eat

Happy Early Halloween, All †Saints’ Day y el Día de los Muertos! ✌

Foodie Friday: Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice!

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Yours Truly on 10/23/2015 at 11:00

What’s better than carving and painting jack-o-lanterns?

Eating pumpkin … At least for yours truly!

I’ve already gone PSL-out and then some:

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Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Cheesecake dessert cookies & Pumpkin Spice Milano + Blue Diamond Pumpkin Spice Almonds from CVS | Quest Bar Pumpkin Pie energy bar (which we used to give away from Pretty Fit) from Market Street

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  • I’m nuts for pumpkins!
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Dynamic Dessert Duo: Olive Garden‘s Pumpkin Cheesecake

In fact, I used to buy a full pie for the fam to celebrate Halloween/Thanksgiving/my sis‘ birthday since college

(the Fazoli’s Ghirardelli tops a close 2nd)

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  • Even Yogurt!

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I’m flipping over this YOLOyo!

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TGIF *Friday Night* Addendum

Now I’m somewhat relieved that this weekend’s Halloween party has been canceled/postponed due to t-storms (Hurricane Patricia’s just further down south) ~ so in addition to preparing for my next round, I also can have some down time …

Bring on the cozy comforts of hot cocoa & mac ‘n’ cheese, please!

Beauty Tuesday: Post-Summer Post ~ S is for …

In ♥ & Soul, Beauty Tuesday, Community, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Travel, Weekly Wonders, Yours Truly on 09/01/2015 at 10:00

Welcome, September! With school in full swing, I still have summer☼ season on the brain!

Sunkissed Summer

1. What is your go-to product for a sunkissed summer glow?

natural sunshine: *FREE* Vitamin D!

2. What book would you recommend for a summer read?

Dulce Candy Ruiz‘s The Sweet Life to inspire anyone & Dr. Karen Kelsky‘s The Professor Is In for fellow grad students

BBB

Backyard Post-Bday Brunch to bask in ☼sunshine☼ + organize my HK planner & pleasure-read (intended ~ I ended up just working)

 both of which hit bookshelves exactly 4 weeks ago!

3. What’s your signature summer scent this year?

Victoria’s Secret Bombshell Summer Edition (since 2012) ~ I also store Sephora samples in my handbags

4. The sun is shining and it’s time to get outside! What’s your favorite thing to do?

simply bask in the ☼sunshine☼ through ALL of my senses ~ including the smell of fresh air

5. You’re on the boardwalk and starving! What’s your go-to summer beach food?

banana ice cream, paletas (popcycles) or raspas (snow cones) ~ anything frozen treat to beat the heat!

6. What’s your dream summery date?

watch a blockbuster & ☼sun☼ fun run or walk on the beach + chow down

7. After a day in the summer heat, what do you do to cool off?

chillax with my shows + consume cucumber ~ on my eyes & in H2O #DISPObustAFlow

8. How do you wear your hair in the summer?

braids for days

9. What’s your must-have nail polish for summer 2015?

this Tiffany Blue hue

Tiffany Blue hue

Fitting name for this shade

as Audrey Hepburn tribute

10. What shows do you recommend for summer?

my share of sizzling series: network nighttime dramas + home/real estate reality TV

11. Do you wear liquid foundation, BB cream, or tinted moisturizer in the summer?

occasional base but more powder to offset sweat

12. Sunglasses or Hats?

Exhibit shown below

TAMUK sunproof hat

I tip off this hat & show school team spirit!

I always must sport ~O-O~specs~O-O~ anyway ~ I usually rock my Coach transitional lenses nowadays + still have my Fendi & Gucci frames*

13. What is your summer jam this year?

  • Locked Away♪ (not that I’m doing anything to get locked up ~ I really dig the ♫beat♪ & ♫Adam Levine‘s ♪singing)

  • Bad Blood♫ (so cliche, but I ♥heart♥ the graceful ♫Taylor Swift♪ ~ not to mention that you can’t take the ♪hip hop♫ out of this chick)

14. Do you have a summer bucket list?

mainly to finish my doc docs (paper & PowerPoint to prep to present for dissertation defense) ~ since I’m not completely caught up, my Plan B is to have them done by Labor Day now that Fall is upon us and the BiG Day draws near + added bonus: relatives reunion, check √

15. Bikini, tankini, or one piece? Show us your fave bathing suit this year!

I’ve already built up quite a two-piece collection through the years but wouldn’t mind adding a monokini to the mix ~ my fave of the moment: my VS chevron top & ombré bottom (see No. 5 “paleta” link for sippie selfie in said swimsuit)

16. What’s your favorite sweat proof product?

Banana Boat Baby Faces ☼sunblock

17. If you could create your own ice cream flavor, what would it be?

Champ Hoop Scoop ~ to score an ice cream dreamy combo of my faves:

S also is for …

Daily Grind

Filled up in August & as we approach September

Cross Pencil Sharpener & Eraser + Cat Notes

Champ Catechesis student’s First Communion reception gift goodies

$ Therefore, S also is forSavings $

NO

Foodie Friday: Banana Ice Cream

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Health, Home Sweet Home, Public Interest, Relationships, Weekly Wonders, Yours Truly on 07/03/2015 at 12:00

♪This sh** is bananas ~ B-A-N-A-N-A-S!♫

Gwen Stefani‘s ♫Hollaback♪ (2005)

Throwback from my first Myspace song …

… Which is the inspiration behind my most frequent ☼summer☼ dessert lately:

🍌Banana Ice Cream!!!

Here are a few different from-fresh-to-frozen banana batches from this past week:

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Banana Honey Walnut

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Chunky Monkey: Banana + Jif Mocha Cappuccino Hazelnut Spread & Chocolate Cookies

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Butter Pecan: Banana + Cocoa Cookie Butter & Butterscotch Morsels & Pecan Chips

More music inspiration from Jack Johnson

Happy *4th of July* mañana!!!

Foodie Friday: S is for …

In ♥ & Soul, Community, Foodie Friday, Health, Higher Ed, Home Sweet Home, Pro-DiSPO, Public Interest, Weekly Wonders, What's Hot, Workin' Woman, Yours Truly on 06/26/2015 at 20:35

Summer = Salad Season!

Salad

F is for … Fresh & flavorful: Romaine lettuce topped with crumbled feta cheese {Trader Joe’s} & drizzled with Italian dressing {Olive Garden}

I may indulge in comfort foods during colder weather when I prefer to stay cozy and warm, but now that the ☼heat☼ is on ~ not to mention, the pressure, since I’ve stepped up my A-game on my dissertation ~ I’m saving time and energy from cooking much to go raw!

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A is for … Apple! Added crunch from fruit & nuts (in this case, walnut ½s & pieces) suppresses appetite & burns calories!

Gotta ♥love♥ my greens!

Piña

P is for … Pineapple & pecan chips for sweet flavor & savory crunch!

Speaking of freshness, I had a little more time this morning to whip this up for breakfast!

Banana Nut Chocolate Crepe

Banana Nut Chocolate {Jif Mocha Cappuccino Hazelnut Spread} Crepe created with a smile 🙂

#TGIF

Banana Nut Chocolate Crepe

Melt in your mouth … Let my tongue & palate ♪sing♫!