Favorite Products and Random Thoughts

It's a good thing I didn't blog during my pregnancy because I would have sounded like SUCH a whiner.  Truth is I didn't enjoy pregnancy. I was BEYOND grateful to be pregnant (It took Logan and I a little bit longer to get pregnant than we wanted) so that helped me deal with it and be happy through it all but boy was it tough.  The first 4 months consisted of me vomiting every. single. day. Having to run to the bathroom at work so I didn't yack all over my office multiple times a day was the worst.  Being so sick I didn't exercise at. all. during pregnancy and that made me physically miserable, but no energy = no gym time. I didn't gain a single pound my first 20 weeks (because of the yacking) and once it subsided I packed on 40 pounds in the last 20 weeks. It was a really short amount of time to gain so much weight and boy did my body feel it.  Logan and I both got some good laughs out of my cankles ... but really they were insane! 

By the end I was ready for my baby boy but also ready to get my body back.  I knew I would not be one of those girls to loose all the weight via breastfeeding...I just know my body, and sure enough I haven't.  And I knew I couldn't just make some vague goal like "I'm going to get in shape." I needed and have always needed very specific goals. So I made 2 when my boy was born. 

1. Give up soda (I've done this multiple times but I wanted it to stick) don't ge tme wrong I LOVE the stuff it's nectar from the Gods, but I know how I feel when I am properly hydrated and that's what I wanted, no 3 o clock headaches, no energy dips, soda needed to go. And I had developed quite the habit as it was the only thing that settled my stomach during pregnancy. 

2. Train for and run a half marathon (it's always been one of my goals). We are running a half on May 7th! 

I am proud to say I have not had one soda since giving birth (2.5 months!) and I have now been training for my half since I was cleared for running at 8 weeks post-partum. I am lucky that Logan is doing it too so he watches Gray while I run in the mornings, and he runs in the evenings.  

Today I want to share with you some of the products I LOVE and that have helped me get back on track after having my precious boy. I'll never be the cleanest eater ever, I love mah food ya know? But when I am eating well, staying hydrated, and exercising every day I feel SO much better, and I know I am the best wife and mom when I am taking care of myself too. 

So here they are: (p.s. I stole all of these images from the internet b/c ain't nobody got time for taking pics of products) 

1. Trader Joe's Steel Cut Oatmeal 

I am obsessed with this. I eat it 5 days a week for breakfast.  Slow burning carbs people, they are the best. You pop these pre-portioned frozen guys in the microwave for 3 minutes, and breakfast is served. These keep me full until lunch which is awesome too. 

2. Costco Kodiak Cakes

Because somedays you don't want oatmeal! Our cousins introduced us to these and we have been hooked ever since. I can have 3 pancakes for 190 calories and they are packed with protein! They are whole-grain pancakes but don't taste like whole-grain pancakes! Top with fruit and some light syrup and my splurge breakfast doesn't have to be so splurgish. 

3. The Hydro Flask 

This thing goes with me EVERYWHERE. It keeps your water cold for 24 hours people! I put ice in this thing, and there is still ice in it the next day!! It is so much easier to stay hydrated when you are drinking icey cold goodness. I tell everyone I know about my Hydro Flask because it's the bomb!

4. Properly fitted running shoes

If you are in to running, or want to get in to running GET A GATE ANALYSIS PEOPLE. It will change your life. I went in to get mine and I was really wanting some crazy colored Asics because they look so cool. But alas they were not a good fit for me. The gate analysis showed I run on the insides of my feet! Which explains why I often have ankle issues when I run. So the man  had me try on like 10 pairs of running shoes (all different brands) until we landed on a pair of New Balances that felt like running on clouds. Seriously, they aren't the cutest in the world but they make all the difference especially on the longer running days. 

So there you have it, a few of my favorite products as of late. Would love to hear any of your favorite healthy (or not so healthy, I can get down with those too) products! 

xoxo. 

Cajun Chicken Pasta With a Lemon Cream Sauce

This recipe was much requested on my Insta so here it is. The sauce tastes really light (even though it's made with cream) and Logan loved this recipe. 

Recipe serves 2 (1 small chicken breast per person, if you use those huge chicken breasts then half a breast per person will do)

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts

favorite pasta (ours is farfalle)

asparagus

1 roma tomato

1 cup heavy cream

3 cloves minced garlic

1 tsp. fresh lemon zest

Cajun seasoning (I made my own) 

1/4 cup of parmesan cheese

Olive Oil

Butter

Directions:

1. In a ziploc add 2 tbsp. of olive oil and 1 tbsp. of cajun seasoning, place chicken breasts in the ziploc and coat well. Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes. 

2. Heat your grill pan (or grill) with 1 tbsp. of olive oil to medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook approx. 5 minutes per side or until cooked through. Set aside. 

3. Cook desired amount of pasta, drain and set aside. 

4. Cut off ends of asparagus and discard. Then cut asparagus into thirds and blanch and set aside. 

4. In a separate pan (needs to be big enough to fit your pasta in later) melt 2 tbsp. of butter over medium heat. once melted add your 3 cloves of minced garlic, and cook until fragrant (be careful not to burn your garlic, yuck). Only about a minute or so

5. Whisk in your lemon zest and heavy cream until warm.

6. Add parmesan cheese, and whisk until melted and well incorporated. Season your sauce with salt and pepper to taste (always season people). 

7. Add pasta and asparagus to your sauce pan and stir until well-coated.

8. Dish up your pasta and add sliced chicken to the top.

9. Chop your tomato and add it to the top (you can also add your tomato to the sauce with everything else, but I don't like warm tomatoes)

10. Garnish with fresh parmesan and parsley if desired.

xoxo, enjoy. 

p.s. If you wanted a low-carb option to this meal substitute zucchini noodles (made with a spiralizer) for the pasta. So good. 

Citrus Mahi Tacos!

I can't even stress enough how yummy this recipe is! If you like fish tacos this is so for you.  We've now had this at our house once a week for the past 3 weeks because Log and I are both OBSESSED.  Sorry for the terrible photo but I was too busy gobbling these tacos up to take a decent one.

Recipe: Serves 2 

A great thing about this recipe is there is virtually no measuring, it's so simple.

Ingredients:

2 Mahi filets, thawed (I get the individually shrink wrapped bag of them from Costco) 

4 small tortillas (corn or flour, but I think flour pairs well with fish)

Citrus vinaigrette, I just got a bottle that looked good from the grocery store

Seafood seasoning (I have one I love that I got from HomeGoods, random, but use what you have, also Mccormicks packet of mojito lime seasoning would work well too! I've used that on shrimp before and it was great)

Cold slaw cabbage (shred some yourself or buy the bag of it in the salad section)

2 limes

pico de gallo (Logan likes the trader joe's kind, but any will do)

Directions: 

1. Place filet's on a plate and salt and pepper both sides of your filets, then squeeze half a lime over each filet, and finally coat both sides with your seafood seasoning. Place in refrigerator for 10 minutes

2. Add desired amount of cold slaw cabbage to a bowl and coat with desired amount of citrus vinaigrette. I like a lot of cabbage on my tacos :) Set bowl aside while you cook your fish. 

3. Heat up a grill pan coated with olive oil to medium-high heat and place filet's in the pan. I usually cook mine 4-5 minutes per side or until no longer pink in the middle (But don't cook them too long, you don't want them dry!)

4. While fish is cooking heat up your tortillas in a pan and then place them on your plate. Add desired amount of slaw and pico de gallo  to your tortillas (I also add a little bit of cotija cheese). 

5. When fish is cooked add it to your tacos! (1 filet will make 2 small tacos) 

6. Add a slice of lime to your plate and enjoy!

xoxo, easiest ever fish tacos.