Oh, the struggle of trying to eat right and stay healthy during the most active season of the year. By active, I don't mean jogging or sweating at Zumba class. It's that time of year where we are all tempted to enjoy cocktails and stuff our faces while enjoying the company of friends and family. It's currently football season, Halloween parties will be popping up everywhere in a matter of days, and do I even need to mention Thanksgiving and Christmas? 'Tis the season of hunger! But don't fret! I have a few healthy party food ideas that are fun, delicious and won't leave you with gut guilt.  




  Salad Sandwich wraps: This is so easy, you can even let the kids help you put these together. Just wrap lettuce, cheese and whatever you wish into a piece of healthy lunch meat. I actually had the ones pictured above for lunch yesterday, so I didn't get super fancy, but you can make many different varieties- roast beef and horseradish, turkey and goat cheese, etc. Let your imagination run wild!  





  Buffalo Ranch Veggie Dip- This is my substitution for hot wings. I LOVE hot wings! But I don't love how they make me feel after I eat them, or what they do to my waist. For the dip, I mixed a ranch dressing packet (I hate the bottled ranch) with Greek yogurt and a little skim milk, then add buffalo sauce to taste. Serve it with your favorite vegetables, and it will curb your cravings for hot wings.  



  Mini Taco Bowls- This is another gem I found on Pinterest! You can either use regular-sized corn or flour tortillas, (I used corn), and simply spray them with olive oil spray and push them into the crevices of an upside down muffin tin. Bake on 350 until the edges look crispy, then let cool. When they are ready, you can fill them with whatever you'd like! I chose seasoned turkey burger and cheese, then served lettuce and Greek yogurt on the side. They were a huge hit with my family!


 Enjoy!    

It's been a hectic couple of weeks packed with appointments, tests and so much nasty rain. Thankfully I'm in North Carolina rather than South, so there was minimal flooding in my small part of the east coast when the tropical storms and hurricane Joaquin hit. When I wasn't studying or plotting to steal my neighbor's canoe, I was filling my home with the savory smells of warm, comforting soups.




  Since I had a left over rotisserie chicken, I whipped up homemade chicken noodle soup by boiling the bones and removing the left over meat. After adding carrots, celery garlic, fresh herbs, pepper and pasta to the saved broth, I tossed in some salt and enjoyed it while watching the rain.





I also tried my hand at my very first bean soup. I can't remember how many bean types were listed on the bag, but there was quite an assortment. I froze a ham bone months ago, (sooooo not healthy), and added it while they simmered. My boyfriend was awesome enough to make some cornbread to go along with it, which made for a perfect North Carolina rainy day combination.





  Last, we made turkey chili, subbing turkey for ground beef and adding fresh spinach for extra nutrients. My Dad, who used to be a Chicago fire fighter, was a huge chili fan. He used to make it every fall when football season started so we could eat chili and watch the Chicago Bears play. It's my most favorite fall and winter meal, and I could probably live off it for the rest of my life if I had to.

 Eat well..... and stay dry!

It's apple season, and our neighbors brought us some delicious apples after taking a trip to the North Carolina mountains. Some Sundays I love making French toast, but since I'm eating healthier,  I utilized the lovely apples for a warm, comforting autumn brunch recipe. Cinnamon Apple Toast is perfect for a relaxing family Sunday brunch. It's quick to make, kids love it, and is packed with nutrients.



Place your toast on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. While the oven heats up, cut up the apple into small cubes and mix them with the butter, cinnamon and honey. Combine the mixture until it's completely blended, then spoon the mixture onto the toast. When the oven is ready, put the toast in the oven for about ten minutes, making sure to check it since all ovens are different.
And that's it! Pretty simple, huh?

Happy Sunday!

I adore Pinterest. It is so full of wonderful healthy snack ideas. And with the colder face-stuffing weather surfacing, healthy snacks are a MUST for a woman like me who craves treats every fall and winter. While browsing Pinterest a couple days ago, I came across a recipe for frozen Greek yogurt bites with banana. Not only did I try this recipe out, I dolled it up with some cinnamon and honey. The turn out? Cool, creamy, healthy and delicious!


   This is a very easy recipe! Just mix it all in a bowl until it's creamy, but the bananas shouldn't be completely smashed.Then spoon the mixture into a muffin tin lined with baking cups. Finally, cover the pan with plastic wrap and put it in the freezer for two hours. Then wala! A delicious, healthy treat! They can also be added to smoothies! Enjoy!

The older I get, the more I cringe when I see fine lines and wrinkles on my face. I'm telling you, those suckers pop up out of no where! A few years ago when I realized the big 40 was creeping closer, I decided to stop putting so many chemicals on my face and go a more natural route. What we put in and on our bodies has everything to do with how our bodies preserve themselves. Our cells aren't huge fans of chemicals, and a healthy body has to have healthy cells.



 To keep my skin healthy and glowing, I switched to mineral based and organic make ups. A few of my favorites are Juice Beauty and Bare Minerals. I also stopped using anything tested on animals. Staying hydrated was another important step in maintaining healthy skin. Our cells need water to complete their many, many tasks. It plumps up our skin and clears out any garbage we've put in our bodies. Getting my proper vitamins through nutritious foods also aids in clearing up the skin. Finally, I stopped using big brand soaps and chemical-heavy lotions on my face, and switched to oils. Here's a few key things I did to switch up to a more natural beauty routine:


 || Before bed every night I wash my face with olive oil. It clears away all of my make up and is super great for strengthening lashes. I put olive oil on my eyelashes to not only make them stronger, but to help them grow.


|| When I wake up, I only use natural soaps on my face and body. Most of these soaps have oils and special butters in them that help heal and soften the skin. I'm a huge fan of Nubian African Black Soap. It's wonderful for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It's also all natural! Nubian Lemongrass and Tea Tree Soap is another one I love.


|| And speaking of skin conditions, a mixture of tea tree oil and olive oil, (two drops of tea tree per ounce of olive oil), works wonders on psoriasis. It also brightens skin, lightens age spots, perks up tired morning eyes, aids brittle toe nails and washes away dry skin. I use it daily on my face, scars and feet when I get out of the shower. Tea tree oil can be a little pricey, so if you're on a budget like me, I suggest Trader Joe's Spa 100% Australian Tea Tree Oil. It's awesome stuff, and doesn't smell as strong as other tea tree oils. Just use it sparingly-- a drop or two!


|| And of course, there's lotion. I have to have my lotion!  My skin is sensitive, so I'm pretty picky about body lotions. I used to use Aveeno  on my face and body after applying any oils, but after trying Trader Joe's Unscented Herbal Blend Moisturizing Cream With Aloe, I'm never going back. Not only is it lighter on the wallet, it's natural, packed with several different butters and oils, extremely hydrating, and it naturally scented. It smells so wonderful!


I'm no Ponce De Leon, and I doubt the fountain of youth will ever be found in my lifetime, but by taking care of my body- inside and out, maybe my upcoming 40's will be celebrated with less wrinkles.