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Friday, January 31, 2020

Friday Faves

  January 31, 2020    

Hi friends! Happy Friday! What’s going on this weekend? We’re celebrating Kyle and Everly’s birthday with the fam, going to the opera (!), and having everyone over for Superbowl Sunday. I also have a huge book deadline Monday morning so in between the activities, I’ll have my computer out, and blue light-blocking glasses on, nerding it up. 🙂 I’d love to hear what you have going on!

Two exciting things happened this week:

– Regular fitness classes back on the schedule. I’m going to be teaching a bootcamp class and a spin class each week, and it feels so good to be back into teaching. I’ve been subbing since we moved back to Tucson, mostly because the Pilot has been gone 80-90% of the time and childcare can be tricky, but now that his schedule is more predictable, I could start teaching regularly again. I taught bootcamp this week – we did a mix of TRX, battle ropes, BOSU, and Tabata rounds- and it was so.much.fun. I felt a little piece of my soul come back to life!

– Speaking of my soul coming back to life, something else happened: I got a spot singing with a local choir. I chatted about it in this post, but the nutshell version is that I auditioned over the fall and was choir roadkill. Since then, I’ve been working with a vocal coach and practicing like crazy, and got the chance to audition again last night.

I figured I was going to celebrate either way. Even if I didn’t get a spot, I was going to celebrate the fact that I really gave it my best shot after months of lessons and consistent practice. I’d throw my aria in the trash can and have a glass of wine. BUT, I got a spot! I was really happy to be able to tell Liv and P that I didn’t quit and the hard work paid off.

I’m SO pumped and we have three big concerts each year. (I’ll share the word when get closer if any Tucson friends want to come out!) YAY.

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party. This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear about your faves, too, so please shout out something you’re loving in the comments section below.

Fashion + beauty:

– Scoping out spring and summery clothes. I’m sooooo over bundling and the revolving door of colds in our house. Bring on the sunshine! I ordered this cute leopard bikini top for our cruise and this coverup. Also loving this dress, this bodysuit, and these cute strappy sandals.

– Amazing to see that Beautycounter is diving into the mica industry – mica is in EVERYTHING. It’s what makes makeup shimmer and is very safe – to make sure it’s sourced responsibly.

Read, watch, listen:

– Watch Jerry give “mat talk” to these lucky folks arriving to work.

– Dinner etiquette.

– Why exercise is good for your brain.

– This BLEW MY MIND. People don’t have an inner monologue? Can we talk about this? My entire day is constant thoughts in my own voice in my head. I can’t imagine it being peaceful in my brain lol. If this is you, please tell me what this is like!

Good eats + misc. finds:

– Equilibria! I’ve mentioned it a few times before, but this has helped dramatically with my anxiety. Before my choir audition, I was sitting in my car, shaking from nervousness. I put 5 drops of Equilibria CBD under my tongue and within two minutes, I felt remarkably better. While I was absolutely still nervous, it took the shaking “what the heck am I doing?” feeling away. I could actually breathe and focus. It’s a game changer for me. (If you want to give it a whirl, my link gets you 15% off. They’re also going a special promo through tonight at midnight. Use the code fitnessistadaily20 to get 20% off the first three months of any new subscription.)

– The Art of Plating event. We got to watch Kyle do his thang and compete against local chefs in a plating competition. Kyle is truly an artist and always amazes me with his creations.

This is a wagyu beef sandwich with beef fat mayo.

The crazy thing is that his meals taste even better than they look. I’m totally biased, but his recipe was absolutely my favorite compared to the other dishes. There were a lot of beautiful creations and I had a great time wandering around with Meg and madre, tasting all of the different entries.

(Dress is here and shoes are here)

For now, P and I are off to the library and I’m going to catch a Peloton class this afternoon.

Have a happy Friday and I’ll see ya soon!

xo

Gina

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Thursday, January 30, 2020

049: Running Tips from Amanda at Run to the Finish

  January 30, 2020    

Hi friends! Today, I’m chatting with my friend Amanda Brooks from Run to the Finish about all things running.

Download a full transcript here. 

Here’s what we talk about:

– How to start a running program

– What makes a “real runner?”

– How to prevent knee pain and injuries

– Race day mentality and race day fueling

– Proper running form

– Her new book (you can order it here!)

– Tips for getting faster

and so.much.more.

Here’s a little bit about Amanda:

Amanda Brooks is a running author who helps others get out of their own way to achieve major goals in running, while remembering to love the journey! She’s been recognized by Greatist, Women’s Health and others as a top fitness blogger in her over 12 years of writing.

Connect with Amanda on her blog or on Instagram.

She offers online group training here.

Her new book will be out in March, but you can pre-order it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. 

Don’t forget to sign up for your free 21 days of Les Mills On Demand! This is one of my all-time favorite workout platforms. The instructors are knowledgeable and motivating, plus the music is incredible. There are so many different formats, you’ll definitely find something you love. Get your free workouts here.

I’m a huge fan of Daily Harvest for quick and healthy meals. Their smoothies are an almost-daily staple (such an easy way to get in a ton of nutrients) and I also love their overnight oats, soups, and bowls. Get $25 off your first order using the code FITNESSISTA. Check it out here. 

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. 

You can listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play.

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Chimichurri Street Tacos: The Perfect Party Food

  January 30, 2020    

Game Day food is best eaten by hand, am I right? And it doesn’t get better (or easier) than these Chimichurri Street Tacos. They’re easy to prepare and will please meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike. 

Picture this: beef strips (or tofu!) smothered in a zesty chimichurri sauce, with bright sauteed peppers and onions, all wrapped in a fresh tortilla. Pair these with our high-protein nachos, and you’ve got a big game spread that’s sure to be a touchdown (yes, pun intended). 

The best part? Just set the fillings out and let your guests build their own taco. Party planning is done. 

Chimichurri Street Tacos

The Taco Part: 

Makes 8-12 tacos

You can prepare your beef on the grill then slice it or start with slices and bake it in the oven (shown in this recipe). 

  • 1 lb top sirloin (or cut of your choice), cut into thin slices
  • 4 oz extra firm Tofu, well-drained and diced
  • 4 oz shiitake or portabella mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into slices
  • 1 medium red onion, cut into slices
  • 2 cups raw red cabbage, shredded 
  • 12 small corn or flour “street taco” shells
  • Plain non-fat Greek yogurt for topping (optional)

The Chimichurri Sauce:

Makes 2-3 cups 

Traditional chimichurri sauces use more oil, however, I scaled back on the oil and replaced it with water. This recipe uses avocado oil in place of traditional olive oil, but olive oil is a fine option. The amount of sauce you get will depend on how much water you add. 

  • 1 packed cup flat parsley
  • 1 shallot, cut into large chunks
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • 1-2 cloves garlic 
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ¼ tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ cup avocado oil
  • Water 

How To Make Chimichurri Sauce:

In a food processor or blender, combine parsley, shallot, vinegar, garlic, oregano, cumin, and salt. Pulse until the ingredients are combined. Add avocado oil and pulse until coarsely pureed. While the food processor is running, slowly add a small amount of water.

Stop the blade and check the consistency. If you want it thinner, add more water and run the food processor for another 5-10 seconds. 

Note: Don’t over processes the sauce or it will be too liquidy. Add a little water at a time and run the blade in 5-10 second increments. The texture should be slightly coarse, not silky smooth. 

How To Make The Tacos:

Place beef strips in a bowl. Top with ¼ cup of chimichurri sauce and toss to coat the beef. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

In a separate bowl, add tofu and ¼ cup of chimichurri sauce. Gently toss and coat the tofu. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. Reserve the remaining chimichurri for a topping. 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Remove the sirloin and tofu from the marinade. Discard used chimichurri. Place the tofu on one side of the baking sheet and the beef on the other side (or use two separate baking sheets). 

Bake until the beef is cooked through. Approximately 10-15 minutes. (Longer if you like your beef well done).

While the tofu and beef are baking, saute the mushrooms, bell pepper, and onion in a pan on medium heat until slightly tender. Note: To reduce calories use water instead of oil to saute your vegetables. 

Once your beef, tofu, and vegetables are cooked it is time to assemble your tacos. On a taco shell, layer up your vegetables, protein of choice, fresh red cabbage, additional chimichurri sauce, and yogurt. 

Enjoy!

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Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Dollar Shave Club Review

  January 29, 2020    

This post is sponsored by Dollar Shave Club. Click here and you’ll get their Ultimate Shave Starter set with Prep Scrub, Shave Butter, Post Shave Dew, Executive Razor Handle, and 2-pack cartridge all for just $5. 

Over time, I’ve learned a lot about my personal skincare and hygiene routine and what truly works for me. For example, I used to wash my hair every single day and couldn’t figure out why it was so dried out and dull. Now, I wash it maybe twice a week and it’s so much healthier. I finally have a skincare routine that I love and everything is pretty much on autopilot. I have it pretty much to a science and rotate appointments: I get my nails done every 2-3 weeks, make wax appointments and eyebrow threading appointments (all these things we have to think about, right?) but when it comes to my legs, I have a hard time remembering to replace my razor and often end up borrowing (aka stealing) the Pilot’s.

Thankfully, Dollar Shave Club has me covered but by providing their amazing quality shaving supplies at a great price point.

They recently sent me their Ultimate Shave Starter set, and here’s what’s included:

Prep Scrub: this helps to exfoliate and remove dead skin cells – so good during winter because my skin has been super dry

Shave Butter: transparent for a precise shave and helps to prevent razor bumps

Post-Shave Dew: for instant hydration

Executive Razor Handle: the handle is weighted and it very high quality. It feels much sturdier than other brands I’ve tried

2-pack cartridge: each cartridge has 6 blades

My very favorite part of the set is the razor and blades. I love that they send two so you have a backup on hand! It’s nice to always have an extra on hand to replace the blades or if I’m traveling. I can detach it and take the extra blades separately.

Dollar Shave Club also sent me their 3oz. Post Shave Cream to keep my skin moisturized and protected from dryness all season long. My skin has been super dry this winter so I was excited to try it out. 

I’ve been using and loving the Ultimate Shave Starter set and so has the Pilot! For his job, he has to shave regularly (no scruff allowed) so I was interested to hear his thoughts on the set. He ended up taking an extra set with him to his crash pad so he has a backup waiting for him.

If you’re like me and want to have all of the essentials on an auto rotation, check out the Ultimate Shave Starter Set. You can get the Prep Scrub, Shave Butter, Post Shave Dew, Executive Razor Handle, and 2-pack cartridge all for just $5. Check it out at DollarShaveClub.com/Fitnessista.

Thank you so much for supporting me and the brands who help to support our family.

What grooming appointments do you have to shuffle around? Any awesome tips for streamlining your routine?

I hope you have a great day and I’ll see ya soon!

xo

Gina

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Tuesday, January 28, 2020

How to combine Peloton with other workouts (+ sample workout plans!)

  January 28, 2020    

+ a sample Peloton workout class schedule

Hi friends! How’s the day going? I hope you’re having a good morning so far. I taught bootcamp last night (so fun!!) and today is parents’ day at Liv’s new school. We’ve been really happy with the switch so far (it was definitely the right choice) and all of the kids and families have been so wonderful. I also have a meeting this afternoon and catching an upper body workout before picking P up from school. 

For today’s post, I wanted to share some ideas on how to make your own workout plan from the Peloton workouts. This can work whether you have the bike or just use the app. (I used the Peloton app for a year before I got a bike and it ended up being the best purchase ever.)

Peloton does SO MANY things right.

– They provide safe, fun workouts with awesome music and instructors

– They give an extra motivation boost via the leaderboard in classes using their equipment (it’s so fun to see your PR on the leaderboard so you can try to PR or even pass people who are taking the class with you)

– The app has a ton of variety! They offer running, strength, meditation, bootcamp, cycling, and yoga classes

BUT there’s one thing I think is lacking, but would be a little tricky since they offer so many different programs:

customized training plans based on their workouts and the ones you like to do.

[They can have my idea and hopefully they’re already working on it!]

They do offer “programs” but that’s more of a build to a certain fitness level or event than weekly workout programs. 

One of the things that can be most challenging when you’re doing new workouts is determining some type of plan or structure. You want maximum results from your effort, but also want to avoid injury and overtraining, alternate cardio intensities, and allow for adequate muscle recovery time for repair and recovery. It can seem overwhelming!

Here’s what I see: someone who rides their Peloton bike every day. YES, they’re getting awesome cardio! But there’s a chance that their routine could be even stronger if they added in some strength work and changed up the types of rides they’re doing. (I’d also recommend glute and back strengthening and hip flexor stretching from the position you’re in on the bike.)

Setting up a Peloton Workout Schedule

This post is going to be a beefy one, but I wanted to share some ideas on how to create a workout plan if you have a Peloton bike or use the app! There are a few different version: bike and app, treadmill and app, app only, and a mix of everything! Keep in mind that you don’t have to own the bike or treadmill to get in the workouts. I know a few people who have purchased this spin bike and propped their iPad to do the rides. I’ve tried a couple of their treadmill workouts through the app on a hotel treadmill and loved it! You can absolutely use the app with your own equipment or equipment at the gym.

[Please keeping in mind that these are just ideas based on my certification and knowledge. If you need specialized help, please reach out to a local certified personal trainer. As always, talk with a doctor before making any fitness changes and honor your body. Modify and shuffle as needed.]

How to combine Peloton with other workouts (+ sample workout plans!)

Peloton bike and app

Click here to download a printable PDF.

Peloton Bike + App Workout Plan:

Sunday: 30-minute Sundays with Love or Groove Ride

Monday: 20-minute Arms and Shoulders + 10 minute Core Workout

Tuesday: 45-minute ride using intervals (Live DJ, Tabata, or HIIT & Hills)

Wednesday: OFF (Zen in Ten Meditation)

Thursday: 15-min HIIT ride + 10-min Full Body Strength

Friday: 20-minute Glute & Legs Strength + 10-minute Core

Saturday: OFF (10-minute Glutes & Legs Stretch)

Peloton treadmill and app

Click here to download a printable PDF.

Peloton Treadmill + App Workout Plan:

Sunday: 45-minute HIIT Run

Monday: 30-minute Full Body Strength

Tuesday: 30-minute Fun Run + 10-minute Full Body Stretch

Wednesday: OFF (10-minute Restorative Yoga) 

Thursday: 20-minute Hills Run + 10-minute Arms Toning

Friday: 45-minute Bootcamp: Full Body 

Saturday: OFF (Zen in Ten meditation)

Peloton bodyweight dumbbells

Click here to download a printable PDF.

Peloton App Workout Plan (Bodyweight and dumbbells):

Sunday: 45-minute Power Yoga

Monday: 30-minute HIIT run (Outdoor)

Tuesday: 20-minute Arms & Shoulders Strength 

Wednesday: OFF (Zen in Ten meditation)

Thursday: 30-minute Fun Run (Outdoor) 

Friday: 20-minute Glutes & Legs Strength 

Saturday: 20-minute HIIT Cardio + 10-minute Total Body Stretch

Peloton workout plan

Click here to download a printable PDF.

Peloton App Workout Plan (Treadmill, Bike, and Weights)

Sunday: 45-minute ride (Live DJ, Tabata, or HIIT & Hills)

Monday: 30-minute Bootcamp: Full Body

Tuesday: OFF (10-minute Full Body Stretch)

Wednesday: 20-minute Arms & Shoulders Strength + 10-minute Core Strength

Thursday: 30-minute Intervals Run or 30-minute HIIT Ride 

Friday: OFF (10-minute Restorative Yoga)

Saturday: 30-minute Fun Run or Groove Ride + 10-minute Glutes & Legs Strength 

 

So tell me friends, how do you structure your workouts each week? Do you go with the flow or try to plan in advance? If you need help setting up a workout plan, I have a podcast episode and PDF all about this here!

Have a great day and I’ll see ya soon!

xo

Gina

More:

My full review on the Peloton bike

Peloton App Review

How to PR on the Peloton

If you decide to treat yourself with a Peloton bike or tread purchase (you’ll loooooove it) use my referral code for $100 off accessories: XXKJQU

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Monday, January 27, 2020

Recent Trunk Club

  January 27, 2020    

and is Trunk Club better than Stitch Fix?

Hi friends! Happy Monday! How was the weekend? We went to the Zoppé circus with friends, Kyle and Meg came over for dinner, I caught a yoga class, and blasted through some book-related work stuff. I hope you had a great weekend, too!

For today’s post, I wanted to share my latest Trunk Club since I ended up loving so many new pieces. I have a new stylist named Daniel and LOVE him. I switched stylists after I was getting sent similar items and thought it would be a good chance chance to change things up. Daniel picked pieces that fit my style and paired them with a couple of newer items that I wouldn’t have tried on my own. Fun fact: if you sign up using my referral link, he’ll be your stylist, too! He sent me messages and asked questions via the app before putting my trunk together so I was very excited to see the goods in person.

Trunk club review

Here’s what I received in my last Trunk Club:

1) This long-sleeved dress and these booties

When I pulled this dress out of the box, I instantly knew that it was a keeper. I feel like I’m always struggling to look put together during the winter months – I’m either in a sweater and jeans or bundled up to the max – and love that I could wear this with tights and booties if it’s cold and with sandals or low-top sneakers in the spring. This dress is made of beautiful lightweight fabric and fits well.

I didn’t really know what to think of the booties when I first took them out of the trunk, but when I put them on, I knew I wanted to keep them. They give a little bit of height and have a little bit of huarache-style weaving on the top. The heel is thick and feels heavy when you hold the shoe, but very light and comfortable when you’re wearing them. They’ll definitely be a staple for spring!

2) This hat, this gorgeous animal jacket, and lightweight white tank

(the jeans were from a previous Trunk)

You can add in accessories and extras to the trunk, like sunglasses, underwear, pajamas, and hats. I saw this hat and thought it would be cute for the cruise!! I like the way it looked on, but didn’t know if I’d end up wearing it much, so I sent it back. (To all of my friends out there who can regularly wear hats and rock them, I clap for you. But in my heart, I’m just not a hat person unless I’m going to Telos and haven’t washed my hair.)

The animal jacket was a no-brainer (keep, keep, keep) and the tank was the perfect everyday white satin tank. It’s extremely breezy and not too see-through. 

3) This tuxedo dress

I had no clue if I could pull this one off. It gave me Samantha from Sex and the City vibes, and also flasher vibes haha. It was super cute and I was surprised how much I actually liked it, but I didn’t see myself wearing it regularly so I sent it back. (I’d probably get some raised eyebrows at preschool drop-off.)

4) This sparkly dress

 

We’re planning a Vegas trip and I thought this would be cute for a dinner out! It fit well – even though the ruching on the back is a little intense – but was shedding glitter everywhere, so I sent it back. 

5) This turtleneck sweater dress

I liked the color and fit but wasn’t crazy about it, so I sent it back. 

6) I also received some Gorjana hoops, a turtleneck sweater and a moto jacket.

I didn’t end up trying the jacket since I have a similar one and skipped on the sweater because I’m ready for winter to be OVER. Bring on all of the spring and summer clothes!!

If you’re interested in trying Trunk Club, check out my full review here! [Just a heads up that none of these Trunk Club posts are sponsored! I just use it and love it, so wanted to share the goods with ya.]

Some of my favorite things about it:

– You can see all of the pieces before they’re sent and can reject pieces to be replaced by something else. For example, if I see on the app that they’re going to send a black tank top and I already own a couple, I can decline that piece and request something else in the comments, like “please send a casual dress instead.”

– If you have a Nordstrom card, the styling service is free!! Usually it’s $25, which goes towards any product you’d like to purchase.

– You can do everything through the app. I’m not a huge app person – like there are less than 10 that I really love and use frequently – and this one makes the entire process so convenient. You can message your stylist directly through the app, schedule a pickup for your Trunk, and browse outfits that your stylist puts together for you.

Trunk club review 2

The most common question I receive on Instagram and in blog comments:

Is Trunk Club better than Stitch Fix?

For adult clothing, the answer is 100% yes. The quality of Stitch Fix’s clothing has really gone downhill. I also got to the point where I felt like my stylist didn’t read any of my comments. (Once I said, “Please no more tunics” and I think the algorithm thought I said, “Please send all the tunics!”) I feel like the quality for Trunk Club is so much better. We still use and love Stitch Fix for the kids’ clothes, but I got a Stitch Fix delivery for myself a couple of months ago and was extremely disappointed. 

Have you tried Trunk Club? Where do you buy or order most of your clothes? I order a lot from Nordstrom and have recently fallen in love with Everlane. If you want to try out Trunk Club, my referral link is here! You’ll get Daniel as your stylist and he’s awesome.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today and hope you have a happy Monday!
xoxo

Gina 

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Sunday, January 26, 2020

Friday, January 24, 2020

Friday Faves

  January 24, 2020    

Hi friends! Happy Friday! How’s the week treating ya? It’s been a great but busy one over here. This weekend, Liv is cheering at a basketball game (so fun!), we’re going to the Zoppe circus with friends, and also have a day date planned. I’d love to hear what you have going on!

The other night, the Pilot and I headed to TopGolf for the first time. If you’ve never been, TopGolf is a multi-level driving range with targets and pretty cool technology; it tracks your points, distance, and golf ball speed. There are a few different games you can play, but we stuck with the classic version. For the record, I’m a horrible golfer. I can do mini golf all day long but when it comes to hitting distance, I often miss the ball. By some bizarre stroke of luck, I hit the ball almost every time and even beat the Pilot for a couple of rounds. Pretty much Tiger Woods now.

Part0 2 IMG 4412

Compared to most entertainment/game venues, they had awesome drinks and food. I got a Moscow mule, a salad with black bean burger, and we shared some grilled wings. We’ll definitely be back and taking Kyle and Trevor next time for full golf shenanigans. 

IMG 4406 

It’s time for the weekly Friday Faves party! This is where I share some of my favorite finds from the week and around the web. I always love to hear what you’re enjoying, too. 

Read, watch, listen:

A simple, yet beautiful, parenting tip.

Three tests for Bachelor contestants before they marry Pilot Pete.

Watch my brother crush it on TV. 🙂 

These make me laugh every time.

Screen Shot 2020 01 23 at 5 52 39 PM 

Source

The full Daytona routine from Cheer will blow your mind.

Best US travel destinations.

Fashion + beauty:

I got these bootie sandal things in a recent Trunk Club and LOVE them. They’re super comfortable, give me a little bit of height, and I like that they’re different without being too much. They’ll match a lot of my spring dresses and tops, too. 

Flawless in Five promo is still going on! If you order Flawless in Five, you’ll get a free retractable brush ($35 value)! This is an excellent intro to our makeup products because you get everything you need for a five-minute morning clean beauty routine. You can pick a tinted moisturizer, concealer pen, brow gel or pencil, mascara, blush, and lip gloss. If you’re looking to upgrade your makeup products to safer options, this is such an awesome deal. Shop it up here!

Living in this Wubby sweater all winter especially since we’ve had another cold(er) spell.

ACS 0570

Fitness + good eats:

Warm grain bowl meal ideas.

Gimme these vegan sheet pan fajitas.

Interesting motivation to run a full marathon.

Kalamata olive dip is happening this weekend.

Happy Friday!

xoxo

Gina

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Thursday, January 23, 2020

048: Self love, dating, and relationships with Jonathon Aslay

  January 23, 2020    

Love is the antidote to suffering. 

Love is the antidote to emotional chaos.

The more we lean into love, the greater peace we have within ourselves.

– Jonathon Aslay

You guys. I’m so excited for today’s episode. I’m chatting with Jonathon Aslay about self love, relationships, and dating. Self love has become a blanket term that’s thrown around, but what does it mean? How does self love affect our physical and emotional wellbeing? How can we cultivate a true self love practice? (And not just frolicking around in a field of daisies)

Here’s what we talk about in today’s episode:

– What the heck is self love

– How you can make time for it in your new routine

– The dating world (and how to navigate the dating world when you’re post-divorce)

– Communication tips for dating (and for life!)

and so.much.more.

Jonathon has an awesome energy and I LOVED talking with him. I hope you enjoy this episode, too!

podcast episode with jonathon aslay

Download the full transcript for this episode here.

If you’re not familiar with Jonathon Aslay, here’s a bit of background info:

The focus of one of America’s Leading Mid-Life Dating Coach has expanded into a deeper, essential philosophy of what it truly means to LOVE. After losing his 19-year-old son Connor in 2018, Jonathon Aslay’s grief led him on a soul-searching inner journey, where he became aware of an often-overlooked dimension of the dating conversation.  He realized that the process of dating reveals the most common emotional health issue faced by many singles seeking a partner: a distressing lack of self-worth, self-regard, and self-love.   

Today, he is on a mission of encouraging both men and women to fully love themselves with a new book, “What The Heck Is Self-Love Anyway?“—packed with fun, engaging spiritual and personal growth practices—and his dynamic Mid-Life Love Mastery mentorship program, that inspires hundreds of people daily, around the world.

You can find him on his website and on Instagram.

Get Jonathon’s book here! You can read two chapters for free here.

Resources from this episode:

The Four Agreements

The Happiness Project

The Daily Stoic

Don’t forget to sign up for your free 21 days of Les Mills On Demand! This is one of my all-time favorite workout platforms. The instructors are knowledgeable and motivating, plus the music is incredible. There are so many different formats, you’ll definitely find something you love. Get your free workouts here.

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support with the podcast! Please leave a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode. If you leave a rating, head to this page and you’ll get a little “thank you” gift from me to you. 

You can listen and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play.

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Wednesday, January 22, 2020

WIAW

  January 22, 2020    

Hi friends! How’s the day treating ya? Things have been pretty crazy over here. Anyone else feel like January has lasted forever? We have a cruise booked for next month and I’m really looking forward to some vacation time together. The Pilot gets real vacation time (whaaaaat) so that’s going to be crazy and amazing. 

For today’s post, I thought I’d share a What I Ate Wednesday, since I received quite a few requests for these and more everyday eats in my annual survey. Here’s a recent full day of eats!

6:40am: I’m done making the girls’ breakfast (waffles, eggs, and fruit), so I heat up the coffeemaker and eat two Enjoy Life protein balls before heading upstairs to finish getting ready.

Collegen coffee before heading out the door! Decaf coffee with 1 scoop Vital Proteins, oat milk, and 5 drops of monk fruit

9:10: Back home from drop-off and time for real breakfast. I’ve been on a breakfast salad kick and it makes it super easy if we have a large salad with dinner. I save the leftovers, add protein, dressing, and eat. This is a leftover dinner salad with greens, cucumber, celery, and carrots, and I add a sautéed Beyond Meat sausage, Primale Kitchen dressing, and some toast on the side.

The Trader Joe’s gluten-free whole grain toast is good but the pieces are super small. I have two slices with Miyoko’s vegan cream cheese and everything but the bagel seasoning.

80 supplements with breakfast:

(DIM, adaptogen blend, B-complex, Vitamin C, Selenium, Vitamin D and MitoQ)

While the girls are at school, I hop on the Peloton bike for 45 minutes, record a podcast interview, tweak my post for the following day, answer emails, and host a Beautycounter team call.  

1:30: I have the head back out to pick up the girls soon, so I make a quick lunch with curry chickpea salad wraps and an orange. The recipe is here! I’ve been making a batch each week and it’s perfect for three lunches. 

I have the wraps on Siete tortillas with spinach and make a matcha latte to take with me for pickup.

(Half water, half almond milk, 1/2 teaspoon matcha powder, 1 scoop collagen, monk fruit) 

We have to go straight from school pickup to dance, so I grab two medjool dates to have at some point while we’re out and about, stuffed with almond butter.

6:45: Dinner! I make some shrimp curry, and rice in the Instant pot. The shrimp curry cooked on the stovetop with onion, zucchini, bell pepper, carrots, garlic, ginger and chicken broth. I stirred in some red curry paste and after it bubbled and started to simmer, I added in some defrosted shrimp. When the shrimp was cooked through, I stirred in a can of coconut milk. 

8:45: a glass of wine while watching The Bachelor. I stopped drinking alcohol for Dry January but to be honest, it didn’t last very long. I have maybe 1-2 drinks per week (usually a glass of wine at home and a margarita when we go out with the fam for Taco Tuesday) and in the end, decided I didn’t want to give it up. It makes Bachelor time even more enjoyable.

(This is so real lol)

What I liked about this day of eats:

I feel like it was a pretty solid day! Lots of fresh produce, protein, and I didn’t feel hangry throughout the day. Something I could have done better would be to drink more water. I’ve found that I’ve been slacking a bit on the water intake. 

What I didn’t like about this day of eats:

No chocolate. This is always a fail when this happens. 

Tell me, friends: what’s one of your favorite current meal staples?? What’s the best thing you ate yesterday?

xoxo

Gina

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Tuesday, January 21, 2020

5 easy meal prep salad recipes

  January 21, 2020    

Sharing 5 of my favorite salad recipes that you can easily make as meal prep to enjoy throughout the week.

When you’re eating a salad but also thinking about the tacos you’re going to eat later.

JK I love salads… almost as much as tacos. 😉 They’re one of my very favorite meals because it’s such an easy way to get in a ton of nutrients and the high fiber content keeps me full and satisfied. I try to have at least one salad per day, either for lunch, alongside dinner, or even for breakfast (don’t knock it til ya try it). When I make a chopped veggie salad for dinner, I save the leftovers to enjoy the next day. This way I just have to add some protein and dressing, and it’s ready to go. 

When I make salads, I try to amp them up with as many delicious ingredients as possible. There’s nothing more disappointing than when you order a salad at a restaurant and it’s essentially a bag of lettuce with a few sad veggies sprinkled on top. You can keep your $15 bag of lettuce, mmm k? In order to be a good salad, it needs to have an equal lettuce-to-toppings ratio.

Healthy salad ingredients

Here are some of my favorite salad components:

– A mix of greens (I try to switch it up each week between mixed greens, kale, baby spinach, arugula, chard, and romaine)

– Chopped fresh veggies (carrots, cucumber, celery, bell peppers)

– Roasted or pickled veggies (I love artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, beets, pickled green beans or okra, zucchini, squash)

– Cheese (feta, goat, and lately I’ve been enjoying crumbled vegan cheese or some nutritional yeast)

– Nuts/seeds (almonds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, candied pecans, sunflower seeds)

РProtein (leftover grilled chicken, saut̩ed shrimp, Beyond Meat sausage, chickpeas, lentils, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, or salmon)

With all of these components it helps to keep things exciting, because salads can get boring very quickly.

The best healthy salad recipes to go along with these are here.

For today’s post, I thought I’d share some of my go-to meal prep salad recipes. You can make these in advance to enjoy throughout the week and are very helpful when the day gets crazy. Lunch is already waiting for you!

5 healthy meal prep salad recipes. Quick and easy lunch options (plus some vegan ideas!) fitnessista.com

Here are 5 of my go-to meal prep salad recipes:

The best pasta salad recipe you will ever have

We enjoy this year-round and it’s the best salad for get-togethers, picnics, and easy summer lunches. The best part is that it tastes even better the next day. So many of you have made this recipe and I’m so pumped you love it as much as we do!

My favorite kale salad with a delicious avocado almond butter dressing

I got this inspiration for this recipe from my favorite vegan deli in San Diego at People’s Co-op. I’d get this salad at least once a week and loved the creamy almond butter dressing in addition to the lovely soy sauce flavor and crunchy almonds. It’s SO good. If you usually don’t love kale salads, maybe give this one a whirl!

Chickpea curry salad

This is my latest favorite and I’ve been making it at least once a week for at least a month now. P goes crazy for it, too! It tastes amazing on top of a bed of greens, in a wrap, or on a sandwich. 

Tempeh bacon BLT salad

This is another vegan recipe and the star of the show is tempeh bacon. The tempeh bacon is also incredible on a BLT-style sandwich or scrambled with some eggs. 

Spring salad with artichokes, quinoa, and asparagus

This is one of the most simple salad recipes but all of the ingredients go together so well. It’s perfect for spring 🙂 

So, tell me, friends: what’s your go-to salad recipe or combo? I’m always looking for new ideas!!

xoxo

Gina

Salad love photos by Kristi Harris

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