WHAT’S FOR BREAKFAST?

October 5, 2013UncategorizedAlmond Butter, Amy's, breakfast, Gluten-free diet, Perfect Fit, Protein, recipe, Smoothie, vegan, YogurtTheLifestyleRose

Is usually the first question on my mind when I get up. If you’re anything like me, weekday mornings are hectic. After hitting snooze for about 30 mins, managing to get my act together and get ready for work, preparing breakfast is usually the last thing on my mind. I have some quick, easy, vegan and gluten-free breakfast options that you can grab and go with minimal preparation. Even better they are easy to transport and eat at the office. Enjoy!

Almond Butter and Banana – one of my favorite quick meals for breakfast or an afternoon snack. I love the individual Justin’s almond butter packets, they have different flavors and are great for throwing in your purse and eating on the go. The banana is an excellent source of potassium and the almond butter is a great source of protein to keep you full and satisfied.

Amy’s Tofu Breakfast Wrap Scramble – I’m a HUGE fan of all of Amy’s food products. She has tons of dairy free, gluten-free options that are quick, easy, and delicious. Even better her items are found at most large grocery store chains, no need to make the additional stop at Whole Foods. If you’re a bit more hungry this Tofu Breakfast Wrap Scramble is delicious and very filling. It’s made of all organic ingredients (tofu, hashbrowns, and vegetables), no trans fats/MSG/preservatives, it’s vegan, soy, corn and gluten-free. I love to add some avocado and salsa, so delicious!

Perfect Fit Protein Bar – I’m a big fan of Tone It Up’s Perfect Fit Protein Powder (it’s organic, vegan, and raw). They recently developed a Perfect Fit Protein Bar that’s chocolate flavor and absolutely delicious! It’s organic, gluten-free, dairy free, and contains 7 grams of protein. This is a great way to start your day.

Yogurt – My absolute favorite dairy free yogurt is So Delicious Coconut Yogurt. It’s heavenly! I try to avoid dairy as much as I can and finding a delicious yogurt (one of my favorite breakfast meals) is not easy. The So Delicious Coconut Yogurt comes in a variety of flavors (blueberry, strawberry, chocolate), my favorite is plain. I love mixing in nuts and seeds (almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, etc.,) – adding protein to yogurt helps to balance your blood sugar levels and keep you nice and full. I also like to top it off with a dash of cinnamon which has numerous health benefits, such as regulating blood sugar level and reducing cholesterol levels. You can find this yogurt at your local Whole Foods or Sprouts.

Power Smoothie – I have tons of different types of smoothies I like to make for breakfast, one of my current favorites is my blueberry power smoothie (such an original name, I know). This smoothie has tons of protein, fiber, antioxidants (found in the hemp and chia seeds), and potassium. This is one of my favorite ways to start my day.

Ingredients: Rice Milk Kale Protein Powder Almond Butter Banana Frozen Blueberries Hemp Seeds Chia Seeds Ice

I’m not one to follow exact measurements when cooking, so just add enough of each ingredient to your liking (keep in mind it’s easier to add more than take out excess). To cut the prep time in the morning add most of the ingredients into your blender the night before (all but the ice and frozen blueberries) and in the morning just add the frozen items.

Blend for less than a minute

…and voila! You have your delicious breakfast power smoothie. I love to carry mine in my Blender Bottle SportMixer

Let me know how you like these healthy breakfast meals!

DIY with Dani: Body and Face Scrub

September 27, 2013Uncategorizedbody scrub, coconut oil, DIY, essential oil, face scrub, homemade, organic, sugar, the lifestyle roseTheLifestyleRose

This week’s DIY is SUPER easy and quick! I really like this homemade body and face scrub because you can make it organic and you know exactly what you are putting on your body. I used organic coconut sugar and organic coconut oil. White and brown sugar work well too as long as it’s coarse. There are no measurements for the ingredients- it is based on the size of the jar and how scrubby (more sugar) or how lubricating (more coconut oil) you want it to be. A reminder with essential oils- make sure you know how your skin reacts to it first- e.g. i cannot put lavender or tea tree because my skin is too sensitive. You can use this all over your body including your face and lips but be gentle when scrubbing sensitive areas.

Supplies:

Coarse sugar

Unrefined Coconut Oil

Essential oil (optional)

Jar (purchase at a craft store)

Directions:

1. Pour coconut oil into the jar.

2. Add essential oil (optional)

3. Pour in coarse sugar

4. Stir

5. Enjoy 🙂

Pictures after the jump

Continue reading DIY with Dani: Body and Face Scrub →

Morning Pick Me Up

September 26, 2013UncategorizedAlmond Milk, Beverages, Cocoa bean, Cooking, espresso, nutribullet, protein powder, recipe, SmoothieTheLifestyleRose

Typically my morning smoothies are green in color and made up of veggies, fruit, chia/hemp/flax seeds, almond milk, and protein powder. But this morning I needed a little caffeine jolt to get me going. So I built my smoothie around my new favorite drink, Califa Espresso Iced Coffee with Almond Milk and added some perfect fir protein powder, chia seeds, cacao beans, and ice and created what I like to call an iced mocha protein shake (SO original, I know!). It was so delicious and now has become my favorite go to breakfast when I need that morning pick me up!

Ingredients: 1. Cacao Beans – source of magnesium, calcium, iron, copper, zinc and potassium 2. Califa Espresso Iced Coffee with Almond Milk – dairy free iced coffee.. need I say more? 3. Chia Seeds – source of omega-3 and fiber 4. Perfect Fit Protein Powder – developed by Karena and Katrina from Tone It Up this is organic, vegan, gluten free, soy free, corn free, and GMO free

I’m not big on measurements when cooking, in fact I have never been able to follow a recipe exactly. So put in as much of the ingredient as you think you need. My rule of thumb is to put less initially because you can always add more.

I’m obsessed with my Nutribullet and it’s the perfect blender to make one serving smoothies. It’s quick and even better it’s easy to clean!

Blend all ingredients to your desired consistency and then voila iced mocha protein shake! Perfect for breakfast or after workout snack. Enjoy!

If you try this recipe let me know how you like it in the comments below!

WORK IT OUT – BARRY’S BOOTCAMP

September 23, 2013Uncategorizedbarrysbootcamp, Fitness, health, Strength training, TreadmillTheLifestyleRose

“The best workout in the world” as they say!

I wanted share one of my favorite workouts! My boyfriend loves it too. Whenever I need to get some intense cardio in I head over to bootcamp and get my ass kicked. It never fails. Even when I’m dreadddinnnggg working out I always feel amazing afterwards. It’s the best cardio and aerobics class.

The format of the class is high intensity intervals for an hour. You switch between the treadmill and the floor where you do weights, squats, abs, etc., Some classes are 10 min treadmill and 10 min floor and you alternate for an hour OR you could do 30 min treadmill and 30 min floor. Sometimes they get crazy and alternate between 5 min treadmill and 5 min floor for an hour! The intervals ensure that your heart rate is up the entire time so you burn the most calories possible! I’ve heard them say you can burn up to 1,000 calories in the class.. some days I believe. I TRY to go at least once a week. On a good week I make it two or three times. Since I’m not a member of a gym it’s the best way to get my cardio and strength training for the week! Everyday you focus on a different body parts. This is how the week is broken down:

Monday – Arms & Abs Tuesday – Butt & Legs Wednesday – Chest & Back Thursday – HARD Core Weekends – Full Body

Now I know it’s a bootcamp class so you’re probably thinking…do they yell at you and make you push yourself past your limit? the answer is… yes and no. It really depends on the instructor. Yes they will motivate you and push you, but they won’t force you! So don’t be intimidated or scared to check it out.

Thinking of heading to a class? They have locations all across the country. In LA they have two studios one in Sherman Oaks and one in West Hollywood. Be sure to bring a bottle of water and a towel when you go.. you’ll need both!

Check out their website

DIY with Dani- Homemade Natural Deodorant

September 20, 2013Uncategorizeddeodorant, DIY, healthy, homemade, natural, thelifestyleroseTheLifestyleRose

Hello All, This week’s DIY with Dani is about making natural deodorant at home. The recipe I use is very simple and easy to make. I am a major sweater and I have tried every kind of deodorant on the market from super chemical to all natural crystals but this is the only one that I do not sweat off. I still sweat but it keeps me smelling fresh even when I am stress sweating. I also have super sensitive underarms and I haven’t had a problem- rash, burning, pain- with this deodorant.

What you need:

1/4 cup of baking soda

1/4 cup of arrowroot or cornstarch

6 tablespoons of coconut oil

essential oil

Directions:

1. Mix together baking soda and arrowroot/cornstarch

2. Stir in coconut oil (a fork helps to mash it together if the coconut oil isn’t liquid enough)

3. Add in a few drops of the essential oil/s of your choice

4. Put it in a clean glass jar 🙂

Apply the deodorant using your fingers. You only need about a pea size amount for each armpit and the jar does not need to be refrigerated.

Pictures after the jump

Continue reading DIY with Dani- Homemade Natural Deodorant →

September Challenge

September 17, 2013UncategorizedTheLifestyleRose

30 Day Squat Challenge:

I started a 30 Day Squat Challenge on September 1st. We’re on day 17, halfway there! I like doing the squats while watching TV. What could be better than catching up on Suits and burning some calories?

Now stop what you’re doing and crush through 150 squats….who’s still with me?

Sunday Funday

September 15, 2013Uncategorizedhealth, healthy-living, nutrition, omega 3 fish oilTheLifestyleRose

After a fun filled weekend of working out, going out, hanging out with friends, family, and my boyfriend, I like to spend my Sunday evening getting ready for the work week ahead. This usually consists of doing laundry, cleaning my room, prepping my lunch, workout bag, and vitamins for the week. While I’m not the biggest fan of vitamins, I try my best to get all my vitamins in the foods I eat (think tons of vegetables, greens, grains, nuts, yogurt, almond milk, beans, fish etc.,), I do take daily supplements. Since my last trip to the doctor I found out that I was deficient in both Vitamin D and Iron so I have incorporated those into my daily routine….not sure if this deficiency was due to my recent diet change (I’ve been meat-free for almost a year, I still eat fish occasionally). In addition to my daily Iron and Vitamin D I also take Omega 3 fish oil (healthy heart and brain) and Viviscal (for hair growth).

So while I’m doing my laundry….

….I’m making my lunch and prepping my vitmains for the week in a pill organizer

I’ve found this is the best way to keep me organized as well as remember to take my vitamins everyday! I keep this at work during the week and in my purse on the weekends.

So what’s your Sunday night routine? What daily supplements do you take? I’d love to know!