Real World Problems: Instagram Photo Dump

So as it turns out, the real world sucks the life out of you and so does being sick for 3 weeks. I definitely stole this Instagram photo dump idea from the lovely Taylor Made cause I feel like I'm lacking in creativity today. Here's my life according to Instagram over the past few weeks, pardon me for lack of blogging (again)...

My cousin's fabulous outdoor Nebraska wedding on September 8

My gorgeous sister was a homecoming candidate!

Brownie batter waffles topped with PB2

My new Sperry's I bought with my first real paycheck!

Spaghetti squash with all natural sauce, loved it!

Tyler and I tailgating for the Nebraska vs Wisconsin football game in Lincoln

Ahhhh fall is in the air!

PB&J egg white omelet

Mug muffin topped with pumpkin butter- heaven!

My nephew Brylen LOVES "nanas"!

Brylen playing in a box of packing peanuts at an auction

Unsweetened vanilla almond milk with pumpkin cream liqueur over ice topped with cinnamon, frothy!

Iced Caramel Mocha

This is similar to my iced mocha, just with a little caramel instead!

1/4 c hot water
1 1/2 T instant coffee
1 1/4 c chocolate soy milk
1 T Torani caramel syrup
1 T Walden Farms zero calorie caramel syrup
Ice and water as necessary

Pour in your favorite cup and enjoy!

It's helping me get through this Friday!!!

MEGA Chocolate Mug Muffin

I got this recipe from STUFT Mama, and she wasn't kidding, it made a huge muffin, I couldn't even finish the whole thing!

1/2 c eggwhites
Handful fresh spinach
1/2 c pumpkin
2 T coconut flour
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 baking powder
2 pkt stevia
1/2 t vanilla

Blend eggwhites and spinach then combine all ingredients. Spray a large mug with non stick spray, pour in mixture and microwave for 6 minutes.

I topped mine with Trader Joes Speculoos Cookie Butter, Peanut Butter & Cos White Chocolate Wonderful, and Walden Farms zero calorie Chocolate Syrup, amazing! You can't even taste the veggies in this muffin!

Almond Butter and Jelly Green Smoothie

Recipe from Simple Green Smoothies

2 c of fresh spinach
2 bananas
2 c of grapes (mine were frozen so I added a little water to all of it)
4 T almond butter

Blend well and enjoy!

Protein Granola Bars

2 c oats
1/2 c peanut butter (I used Peanut Butter & Co White Chocolate Wonderful)
4 scoops of protein powder (I only used 2 scoops because I'm running out!)
1/2 c water
1 t unsweetened cocoa powder
And I added raisins for extra texture and flavor!

Mix together in a bowl, press into small pan lined with parchment paper, freeze for 30 min, and enjoy!

I am an August Foodie Penpal!

Taking part in The Lean Green Bean's Foodie Penpals has by far been one of the coolest things I've done! Here's what happens in a nutshell (read her blog for more info)...I send a box of $15 worth of fun food to someone, and someone else sends me $15 worth of fun food!

This was my first time taking part in Foodie Penpals, but I am already excited for September's package! My August Foodie Penpal box came from Beth in Alaska! She sent me peppered, original, and teriyaki king salmon jerky, Alaska hunterstick (with added reindeer meat!), and some blueberry herbal tea! I told her I really like chocolate, coffee, and peanut butter, but I forgot to mention I LOVE jerky!!! She also included a beautiful Alaskan postcard with a lovely little note.

I sent my Foodie Penpal package to Adam in New York, hopefully he got it, and maybe tomorrow I'll post about what I sent him!

What I Ate Wednesday

Well friends, turns out the real world is really taking a beating on the amount of free time I have to blog, but I have been an Instagram fool lately (follow me on there!)

Anyway, here is what I ate yesterday brought to you by Peas and Crayons:

Overnight oats for breakfast with banana and PB2 mixed in, and of course my coffee (not pictured)

Morning snack- pineapple Chobani

Lunch was whole wheat bread with turkey and romain lettuce, carrots, and kiwi

I snuck in 2 Dove dark chocolates for an afternoon pick me up, they're my weakness.

For supper I had this spinach, chicken (sautéed in coconut oil and chipotle seasoning), black bean, corn off one cobb, and half an avocado salad.

I went for a 4 mile run and refueled with this protein shake: 1 scoop vanilla whey protein, 8 oz chocolate soy milk, 1/2 c plain Chobani, and 1 T PB2 iny blender bottle

 

Iced Mocha

Ok so I mixed this up last night and put it in the fridge so it was ready to go for my first day of school as a speech language pathologist : ) let's just say its amazing! My roommate even tried it and loved it and asked me to write down the recipe, so here it is!

1/4 c HOT water
1 1/2 T instant coffee
1 c chocolate soy milk (more if necessary)
1 t Hershey's unsweetened cocoa powder
1 T Walden Farms zero calorie chocolate syrup

Wish together, pour over ice and ENJOY!

Tuna Salad

I created my own clean version of tuna salad for supper tonight and paired it with spinach in a flat out wrap.

Tuna Salad
2.6 oz tuna
3/4 c nonfat plain Greek yogurt (I didn't actually measure it out, I just kept adding it until I got the consistency I was looking for, and you should do the same)
1/2 of an apple diced
1 stalk of celery diced
1 c cooked quinoa (I just used what I had left over, I didn't really measure this either)
cracked black pepper to taste

Mix together, refrigerate, and enjoy!

Frozen Treats

I've made two different types of frozen treats in the past week, both have been very refreshing during these hot Nebraska summer days!

The first was my fro-yo popsicles inspired by Get Fit Feel Sexy.

Strawberry Banana Fro-Yo Pops
1 frozen banana
1 carton of strawberries
1 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt
1/2 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Blend well together in a blender, pour into popsicle containers, freeze and enjoy!

I can't wait to try other flavors!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Fro-Yo
1 frozen banana
1 c nonfat plain greek yogurt
1 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 T PB2

Blend well together in a blender, pour back into yogurt container and freeze. Enjoy with Walden Farms zero calorie caramel or chocolate sauce, more peanut butter, or whatever toppings of your choice!

What I Ate Wednesday

To track my eating habits I have decided to do what several clean eaters do and document EVERYTHING I eat throughout the day. Now for those of you who follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you get sick of me posting pretty much everything I eat, but you can either quit following me or learn to like it ; )

SO I am taking part in What I Ate Wednesday hosted by the lovely Jenn at Peas and Crayons!

Breakfast:
Protein oats with steamed apple and cinnamon along with Love Grown Foods apple walnut delight and chia seeds on top. Coffee on the side of course!

 

Lunch:
I went shopping with my mom and sister in Omaha so we had lunch at Panera Bread. I got the chopped chicken cobb salad with avocado and the roasted turkey and avocado BLT with an apple and water!

 

Snack:
Love Grown Foods apple walnut delight (I'm addicted) I packed along for the car ride home.

Supper:
Flatout wrap with avocado, quinoa, spinach, and bacon. Paired with veggies and my homemade dill weed dip (see recipe below), and one juicy mango for dessert!

Dill Weed Dip:

1 1/2 c nonfat plain greek yogurt

1/2 c low fat mayo

1 T parsley flakes

1 T onion flakes

1 t beau monde

1 t dill weed

Mix together and refrigerate. Enjoy with veggies as a healthier alternative to ranch dressing! 

Best Pancakes EVER!

Ok if you love chocolate like I do, these will be the best pancakes ever, if you're not a chocolate lover, well then they'll still probably be the best ; )

I actually just pinned this recipe on Pinterest yesterday (follow me!) and when I saw it was from Chocolate Covered Katie I knew it had to be good AND healthy- perfect! I tweaked the recipe a tad (don't I always) and here it is:

Brownie Batter Pancakes
1/4 c whole wheat flour
1/4 t baking powder
1 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 T ground flax seeds
1 pkt stevia
dash of salt
1 T coconut oil
1/2 T unsweetened applesauce
1 t vanilla
3 T eggwhites
3 T unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Heat pan on medium/high heat and cook in coconut oil using the same method as regular pancakes. Top with Walden Farms zero calorie chocolate sauce and ENJOY!

Pumpkin Oat Pancakes

I tweaked Katie's Clean Eats recipe a bit to make the batter more of a consistency that I prefer.

Pumpkin Oat Pancakes
1/3 c oats
1/3 c eggwhites
1/3 c pumpkin
1/3 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or to your preferred consistency)
2 T whole wheat flour
2 t chia seeds
1 t vanilla
1/4 t baking powder
A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice

Mix well together and cook on medium heat like regular pancakes.

I topped mine with Land O Lakes all natural cinnamon butter and 100% all natural maple syrup! Don't forget my morning cup of joe!

Crazy Combinations

As I've mentioned, I LOVE breakfast and have no problem coming up with something to eat in the mornings. In fact, sometimes I have a hard time deciding between all of my amazing choices! However, I feel like I'm less creative when it comes to lunch and supper. So lately I've been trying some crazy new combinations for those meals.

Wraps- tuna mixed with plain Greek yogurt and spread on a flat out wrap with hummus and avocado. OR turkey, bacon, avocado, and spinach on a flat out wrap, mmmmm!

Sweet potato with plain Greek yogurt topped with cinnamon an quinoa on the side!

Romaine lettuce wraps with quinoa, drizzled in teriyaki sauce!

I can't wait to see what I come up with next! (Lately I've been getting a lot of 'your food looks so weird' comments on Instagram, but it all tastes SO good! Hehehe)

Protein Oats

Ok this is my second 'go-to' oats recipe that I just came up with...

Protein Oats
1/3 c oats
1/2 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 T ground flax seed

Microwave for 1:45

Mix in 1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder and add more unsweetened vanilla almond milk if necessary.

Add toppings of your choice. Today I put half a steamed pear with cinnamon and chia seeds on top of mine, heavenly!