Booch Beer + Sledgehammer

Hi there, friends! Sorry to leave you high and dry last week. Seems like my crazy schedule from the past 2 weeks finally caught up to me and my brain just said “no more!” Luckily, I had a nice, relaxing weekend to recoop [before another crazy week.. such is life!] First things first, congrats to Brittney for winning my She’s Losing It! giveaway!

Our weekend mostly began on Friday; Nathan took the day off and I only had a 7 a.m. client. It was amazing to be done by 8 a.m., be able to hit the gym, run a few errands, and then just kick back. We had to make a Costco run and thought it would be a much better idea to do that on a Friday afternoon than Saturday. When we first moved out here, someone said to me “people in San Francisco have jobs, but no one ever works.” Man, did that ring true. Costco was still crazy! Luckily, we had gone out to lunch before and had a little liquid stress-relief.

Mine came in the form of 50/50 citrus ginger kombucha & Sierra Nevada Kellerweis. I’m not sure why I’ve never thought of mixing my own kombucha with beer at home but it’s definitely going to happen now! Easiest way to make beer healthy, right?

We had a few quiet nights including a little wine + movie night action.

I’ve been singing Sledgehammer since I got the bottle..

We watched Nightcrawler on Friday and Birdman on Saturday. I’d definitely recommend both.

Sunday was for work and meal prep. I’ve been having a hell of a time trying to figure out how to create a meal plan that can work for both of us. This vegan thing is totally throwing me through a loop, but I’m hoping this week goes a little smoother. That said, Nathan took some of it into his own hands and made a beautiful porchetta.

I’m making him save me some 😉 In the meantime, I have a few vegan options planned out for myself this week.

Weekly Meal Plan

Sunday – Roasted potato and asparagus lentil salad with tangy mustard-lemon dressing

Monday – Mushroom, lemon, & lentil salad
Tuesday – Plantain bean salad
Wednesday – Sweet potato & lentil salad
Thursday – Vegan cuban bowl
Friday – Lentils + roasted acorn squash & mushrooms
Saturday – Valentine’s Day!

Food for Thought

Did you do anything exciting over the weekend?

Snapshots

This week is officially known in my house as the “detox before retox” week. Just as when my parents were visiting, we didn’t mess around when Nathan’s mom was here either. Especially since we were celebrating Nathan’s birthday! We ran all over town and had a lot of fun trying new restaurants and visiting new areas of the city. Next weekend, we’re taking another long weekend to celebrate our first anniversary with a wine country getaway. So as I said, detox to retox 😉

I took a ton of pictures over the past few days so I wanted to share some of my favorites. Obviously, lots of food and drink made the cut!

Birthday fried chicken and beer. He was in heaven.

Lombard-ing

BIRTHDAY LUNCH! Just a boy with his pizza and beer.

Now excuse me while I eat my boiled chicken and steamed kale all week 😉 But really..

Weekly Meal Plan

Sunday – Nathan’s famous beer can chicken, roasted potatoes, & roasted brussels sprouts
Monday – Baked turkey meatballs with zucchini noodles
Tuesday – Leftovers [we have SO much food from all of our meals out!]
Wednesday – Roasted maple smokehouse chicken with roasted potato and asparagus lentil salad
Thursday – Leftovers
Friday – Rock Wall Wine Company Food Truck Frenzy [gotta kick off the anniversary weekend right!]
Saturday – Leftovers

Food for Thought

Do you ever feel like you need a good detox?
What’s on your menu for the week?

Foodie Friday: Banana Bread Granola & a Giveaway!

Best part of being home during the day?

Skyping with Jilly bean when Bubby is babysitting 🙂 Love her little giggles!

Anywho, the other day catastrophe struck and I found myself without granola [it’s a good thing I’m not dramatic or anything]. Having recently received a package from Bob’s Red Mill, I knew I could remedy the situation.

I also happened to have a couple bananas that were pretty much banana bread-perfect. I reached for the oats and pecans and went to work.

Banana Bread Granola

Makes 5 cups
Recipe adapted from Minimalist Baker

Ingredients
– 3 cups rolled oats
– 1 1/4 cups raw pecans; chopped
– 1 tbsp ground flax seed
– 1 tsp sea salt
– 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
– 1/4 cup coconut oil; melted
– 1/4 cup honey [Substitute agave or maple syrup if vegan]
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 1 1/2 medium bananas; mashed

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, mix the oats, pecans, flax seed, sea salt, and cinnamon. Set aside. In a medium bowl, mix melted coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, and mashed bananas. When the wet ingredients have come together, mix them into the dry ingredients until everything is evenly coated.

Spread the mixture onto two parchment- or silpat-lined baking sheets. Bake for 25-35 minutes, until golden brown. I didn’t toss my granola until the very end and was able to get nice big clusters. If you’d like smaller pieces, feel free to toss throughout the baking process.

Nutritional Information
Per 1/3 cup serving

212 Calories  /  14g Fat  /  20g Carbs  /  3g Fiber  /  6g Sugar  /  4g Protein

Giveaway Time!

Bob’s Red Mill has graciously offered one reader a package of the same 4 ingredients I received above. Click here to enter!

Looking for other recipes to make using these ingredients?
Here are a few I have on my list:

• Blissful Blueberry Banana Spelt Muffins – Oh She Glows
• Cinnamon & Pumpkin Spice Almond Bread – Cotter Crunch
• Paleo Sandwich Bread – Peachy Palate
• Citrus-Pumpkin Seed Crusty Spelt Brown Bread – Healthy Happy Life

Food for Thought

What would you make with these ingredients?
What is your favorite kind of granola?

Link Love #26

Another Tuesday already? The days seem to be flying by lately! There were so many good posts from this past week that I had a hard time choosing my tops, but as usual, these are not to be missed. I also realized that a lot of my favorite recipes were snacky kinds of foods.. seems to be where my mind is recently. I’m headed to the store to pick up some popcorn and Puffins. One of my favorite snacks this week has been broken up rice cakes with a little coconut oil, cinnamon, and salt. I figure I’ll do the same with some popcorn.. or a lot of popcorn 😉

Health

Life Lessons: Counting Ingredients Not Calories – The Hummusapien

Life Lessons: On Counting Ingredients, Not Calories – The Hummusapien
How You Can Have The Confidence To Increase Your Strength – Lifting Revolution
5 Untraditional Ways to Expedite Fat Loss – Trainer Paige
Demystifying Health Food Labels: What do they all mean? – The Picky Eater
Evening workouts don’t disturb sleep – Yahoo! News

Fitness

TRX Circuit Workout – Peanut Butter Fingers

TRX Circuit Workout – Peanut Butter Fingers
High Rep Workouts – Are they Beneficial? – Cotter Crunch
Knock ‘Em Down, Build ‘Em Up Workout – Carrots ‘N’ Cake
10 Ways to Pushup – Fitnessista
5 by 50 bodyweight purely training workout – Purely Twins

Food

Spicy Thai Carrot & Kale Salad – Running to the Kitchen

Spicy Thai Carrot & Kale Salad – Running to the Kitchen
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts – Jessie Loves 2 Run
Whole30 Day 27: Paleo Chips (Including a New Recipe for Crispy Mushroom Chips!) – Nom Nom Paleo
One Bowl Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies – Oh She Glows
Honey and Mustard Roasted Cashews – Joy the Baker

Food for Thought

What was one of your favorite posts from the past week?

Link Love #20

You’ll never guess what happened yesterday. The last box was unpacked! Given, we still need to figure out where to put things, but damn, it feels good to get rid of boxes! That said, still accepting any creative storage tips 😉 But now for a little weekly love..

Health

Is Intuitive Eating Always a Good Thing? – the Real Life RD

Is Intuitive Eating Always a Good Thing? – the Real Life RD
Skinny: The Ultimate Compliment? – Snack Therapy
9 Self-Destructive Habits to Ditch in 2014 – Babble
Fit Myths That Need to Go: Fat Makes You Fat – Thrive Personal Fitness
If you could have good health from a pill, would you still exercise? – Fit and Femenist

Fitness

Burn It to Earn It Circuit Workout – Fitnessista

Chefs in the kitchen + a new circuit – Fitnessista
Wednesday Warm-Up: 4 New Running Drills – Cotter Crunch
Box Exercises Beyond Step Ups and Box Jumps – Lifting Revolution
Love Your Total Body – Tone It Up
New Workout Video! Ropes, Push Press, & TRX Plank Power Circuit. – Powercakes

Food

Thai Peanut Beef – Damn Delicious

Thai Peanut Beef – Damn Delicious
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Mousse – Minimalist Baker
Bulgogi: Korean Beef BBQ – A Spicy Perspective
The Big Vegan Bowl – Oh She Glows
The Winter Abundance Bowl – My New Roots

Food for Thought

What was your favorite post from the past week?

Link Love #16

It’s official. We have a place to live!! Yesterday I found an apartment in Emeryville and we move in just a couple weeks. Hooray to finally settling in! I’m so excited to have a real kitchen that I can stock up and get cooking again 🙂 I’m also excited to have a new area to explore and learn. It’s such a nice little area and I know we’re really going to enjoy living there. It’s about time I get back to some normal blogging though, huh? 😉

Health

Your Foodemy: How To Accept Your Petunia (AKA Inner Fat Girl) – Lifting Revolution

Your Foodemy: How To Accept Your Petunia (AKA Inner Fat Girl) – Lifting Revolution
Fighting Holiday Frazzle with E.A.T.S. – MizFit
TOTW Tuesday: It’s Not the Fat – The Gypsy Dietitian
Health Benefits of Holiday Spices PLUS a Naughty & Nice #GF Cookie Recipe to Gift! – Cotter Crunch

Probiotic Foods vs. Prebiotic Foods – Sarah Kay Hoffman

Fitness

Collection of Boot Camp Workouts – Peanut Butter Fingers

Collection of Boot Camp Workouts – Peanut Butter Fingers
My Favorite Cardio Exercise: Plate Pushes – Trainer Paige
5-3-2 Full Body Workout – 9-to-Fit
Back Attack – Slim Sanity
50 Circuit Workouts – The Lean Green Bean

Food

Sesame Crusted Tuna & Avocado with Spicy Sesame Zucchini Noodles – Inspiralized

Sesame Crusted Tuna & Avocado with Spicy Sesame Zucchini Noodles – Inspiralized
Loaded Peanut Butter Chocolate Covered Potato Chip Fudge – Half Baked Harvest
Pumpkin Gingerbread Snack Bars – Oh She Glows
Brussels Sprouts with Quinoa and Dried Cranberries – With Style & Grace
6-ingredient Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies – Ambitious Kitchen

Food for Thought

Send some links my way! What have I missed over the past couple of weeks that I’ve been MIA?

Link Love #6

It’s been another week of some really great posts and I’m excited to share some of my favorites with you!

Health

What Makes Superfood Super? – Svelte

What Makes Superfood Super? – Svelte
This is your body on sugar | the science behind food cravings – fitknitchick
Counting Calories Is Flawed. But Here’s Why I Still Do It. – Greatist
Let’s Be Real: Before & After Photos Are B.S. – MindBodyGreen
Not Happy is Okay, Too – Speak Happiness

Fitness

Burpees Everywhere – Life to the Full
10 simple tips for running your first half marathon – Run Wiki
The Best Exercises for Your Weightlifting Routine – Workout Nirvana
Motivation Monday: 5 Ways to Get Better Results from Strength Training – Cotter Crunch
5 to 50 Ab Workout – Pumps & Iron

Food

Loaded Greek Goddess Chickpea and Quinoa Pita Chip Nachos – Half Baked Harvest

Loaded Greek Goddess Chickpea and Quinoa Pita Chip Nachos – Half Baked Harvest
No Bake Elvis Bars – Oh She Glows
Healthy “Fried” Brussels Sprouts – Carrots ‘N’ Cake
Vegetarian Coconut Rice Bowls – Bev Cooks
Paleo Spaghetti Squash Casserole – SlimSanity

Food for Thought

What is your favorite post from the past week?

Quick Love

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done a link love post but I’ve seen so many awesome posts recently that I had to get one up this week!

Health

Is a Calorie Just a Calorie? – Strong Inside Out via The Lean Green Bean
6 Ways to Beat the “Comparison Trap” and Own Your Unique Awesomeness – Live Well 360
Fat, Sick & Miserable. No more “junk” ’round here – Sarah Kay Hoffman
How I Lost 70 Pounds in 30 Days! – Roni’s Weigh
If they ate it, why can’t I? – My Healthy Happy Home

Fitness

20 Minute Pyramid HIIT – Tina Reale

Move It Monday: 20 Minute Pyramid HIIT – Tina Reale
Breaking News: Every Little Bit Helps – Mom’s Little Running Buddies
Leg Workout and S’mores Coffee – Peanut Butter Fingers
Muscle Ropes and a New Workout – Blonde Ponytail
Can CrossFit Improve Running? – Huffington Post

Food

No Bake Oatmeal Breakfast Bars – Pineapple & Coconut

No Bake Oatmeal Breakfast Bars – Two ways – Pineapple & Coconut
Easy Healthier Crockpot Butter Chicken – Half Baked Harvest
Healthy No-Grain Seedy STUFT Bread – STUFT Mama
Sugar-Free Apple Pie Chia Seed Jam + Breakfast Parfait – Oh She Glows
5-Minute Desserts for One – Carrots ‘N’ Cake

Food for Thought

Which posts from the last week or so have caught your eye?

A Little Tuesday Lovin’

Just wanted to pop in quickly and share a bunch of links that have caught my eye over the past week. I’m really enjoying putting these lists together; it’s made me realize how many awesome things come out each day on the internet! Hope you enjoy!

Health

Capital Kombucha from Relay Foods

What is Kombucha, anyway? – Relay Foods [Get $30 off your first order of $50 or more!]
Renderings: San Francisco Giants to plant the first-ever edible garden in a major American sports facility – Inside Scoop SF
Which Nut Milk is Right for You? – Integrative Nutrition
Lab-grown meat is here – but will vegetarians eat it? – NBC News
Work It Out: Is Fruit Bad? – Sprint 2 the Table
My take on: Flax, chia, juice cleanses, green smoothies & juicing – Balanced Bites

Food

Greek Farro and Chickpea Salad with Herbed Yogurt – Cookie + Kate

Greek Farro and Chickpea Salad with Herbed Yogurt – Cookie + Kate
Savory Miso Broccoli + Spiced Lentil Power Plate – Lunch Box Bunch
Brussels Sprout Salad with Walnuts, Cherries & Bacon – So… Let’s Hangout
Raw Almond Butter Cups – Oh She Glows

Fitness

Jess @ Blonde Ponytail

Move It Monday: Getting PHAT – Tina Reale
Post Pregnancy Fitness & a Workout – Blonde Ponytail
The Secret to Running Faster – Run Lady Like via Olive to Run

Food for Thought

What posts have been on your radar in the past week?