Veggie scramble to die for

The key to sticking to a healthy lifestyle is variety, variety, variety. Check out this amazing scrumptious (favorite word as of late) scramble filled with veggies and love. It only takes about 15 minutes max and will leave you filling satisfied and smiling from ear to ear. 

Veggie Scramble

1/2 orange bell pepper

1/2 cup diced mushrooms

1 cup spinach

1/4 cup chopped onions

1/4 cup cilantro

2 eggs

1/2 avocado

1 tbsp Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Fresh ground pepper - lots

1/2 tsp Himalayan Pink Salt

Cut up all the veggies

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Saute the veggies in coconut oil

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Throw the two eggs in 

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Once it's done, add some avo to the top and maybe some Sriracha

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Perfect start to your morning! Protein-packed goodness with veggies. Can't beat it. 

-Kate

That's what friends are for

Everyone has days where the last thing you want to do work out. I get it. I have those days too. There are many different ways to get yourself motivated to hit the gym, make it to your yoga class or get that run in. However, what I have found works the best for me is having someone to workout with. It not only prevents you from "canceling" a class you were going to go to but it actually makes you excited to go. It's also accountability. If you tell your friend you are going to meet her at 5:15am for a run, you damn well better be there! You get off of work and are supposed to head to the yoga studio for an hour of ass kicking sweaty yoga but as you near your exit your mind starts to whisper "just get off the exit, a chilled glass of white wine, comfy clothes and a few episodes of your favorite show awaits you"… Sound familiar? I have those voices all the time and I constantly tell them to eff off. If you are meeting a friend at this dreaded yoga class, you are far less likely to bail. 

It's so important to surround yourself with like-minded people that are positive influences in your life and that share some of the same goals as you do. That way your Saturday mornings won't be repeatedly filled with pub crawls but instead long hikes, morning jogs instead of all you can eat breakfast buffets. If you are struggling with keeping yourself active and getting your weekly workouts in- phone a friend. Having the support of friends is vital and can help you change your life AND meet your goals! It's also a great excuse to have some one on one with a friend you maybe wouldn't otherwise see. We are all busy and it's hard to find free time. What a better way to get some quality time in with your friend then to combine it with a workout?! Everyone wins. 

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*My friend and I after running the half-marathon. So many times I wanted to quit, she helped me stay on track and get my best time ever!*

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*Hiking with some friends. Changing it up is KEY. Once boredom or too much consistency hits- you set yourself up to quit*

*Lucy and Ethel- fitness first*

*2014 is THE year. Make it count!*

-Kate

A few of my favorite things

I go through stages of being completely "obsessed" with certain things and I wanted to share a few of the things that are currently rocking my world. 

My Fitbit that I adore and can't live without! It tracks your steps, calories, etc. Accountability times ten. 

I am VERY picky about mascara. I found my true love. Benefit "they're Real" mascara kicks serious ass. 

Beaming juices are by far my favorite. The mint, jalapeño and cucumber juice does it for me. Google em and you'll be hooked. This is a fact. 

My Aqua Zinger. Add any fruit you want to it and infuse it into your water. I drink waaay more water this way. Everyone needs to have one.

My Macbook Air. Love. It. 

Elizabeth Grady Almond toner. I keep it in my fridge so it's cold when I put it on my face. Killer. Such a treat. 

Lavender essential oils for your bath or pretty much whateva you want. 

Lululemon yoga mat for hot yoga. No slipping n sliding for this gal. 

French tip toes. No other way to do it. 

Viva la Juicy perfume. Nothin better. 

Sweet potatoes. Not sure what it is but I love them. A lot. And they are good for you- bonus. 

If you haven't read this book you are missing out. It's so inspiring and has the most incredible recipes. Amazon for $12, worth every freaking cent. 

Deep sea Alba face mask. Perfect for an at-home spa night when you don't have the mula for a real facial. Works wonders!

My most favorite addition to my room. Adds a little somethin somethin and makes me happy. So, why not?

I got these as a gift from a good friend and they are cool as hell. Red wine drinker? Not too keen on the red stained teeth look? Not to worry. Wine wipes "wipe" away the red tint AND doesn't alter the taste of the wine in case you want to continue your wine drinking after wiping away the red. Uh. huh. 

I'm going to end with my most favorite product from Philosophy- Unconditional love. It smells amazing and I can't get enough of it. 

-Kate

Embrace Change.

Change. I used to absolutely hate it. And although when I look back at my life I had a lot of it, I still always dreaded it and actually I despised it. It made me anxious and I never knew how to handle it. Every time I would get into a routine, my world would be flipped upside down. Did I handle it well? Not at all. Trainwreck at times even. True story. Whether it was packing up my stuff and heading to Alabama for college or having to make all new friends once I moved to San Diego, there never seemed to be too much consistency in my life. However, ironically, in looking back I realize all the great things that I have in my life are results of changes that happened in the past. Who would’ve known?  

This past year has been one of the most challenging years I’ve had in my life and change was a recurring theme. I have learned a lot this year but something that really stands out to me is I learned how to not only accept change, but to embrace it. To learn from it. It’s only taken me 31 years - no biggie. Ha! I’m human and flawed, yes. But I can honestly say that I finally truly feel change is a good thing and that the growth that stems from accepting change and having a “taking the bull the by the horns” type mentality with it results in incredible growth in your character and overall view of life.

I think a huge part of all of this is not only embracing change as it comes to us, but being able to fully let go of the past and the decisions we’ve made. I think we are all guilty of not being able to fully let things go, spending too much time with the “shoulda, woulda, coulda’s” and not enough time focusing on the present. You know the saying, “I wish I knew what I know now, back then”…Dammit it’s true. I constantly wish I could go back in time and do things differently. However, there is something so powerful about the fact that you CAN’T go back in time and change anything and that you at this very moment are where you are supposed to be. 

Think of everything in your life now that you love. Whether it’s your job, your friends or a relationship. If you were able to go back and change certain things in your past, you would be in a completely different place today. It’s that very simple but prevailing truth that I try and tell myself daily.

Bottomline, change is not a negative thing. It can be if it comes with any type of pain. However, that pain can be turned into something amazing. It’s a process.  Change allows for personal growth, strength, appreciation, new opportunities and beautiful things. Is it easier said than done? Yep. But if you work on it and allow yourself to see the benefits of embracing it, you open yourself up to a whole new world.

“If you do not create change, change will create you.” ~Unknown

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-Kate

Instagram @fitnfreekate

*After a hard hot yoga class that made me want to sprint out the side door because of the ass kick-age, I needed something refreshing for breakfast. A tangerine, raspberries, blueberries and hemp seeds. Of course you can't forget the Winter Dream tea with a heaping spoonful of raw honey and cinnamon. Great start to a crazy work day!*

-Kate

Instagram @fitnfreekate

*My dinner tonight, keeping it light. Kale, cucumbers, spinach, celery, zucchini, beets, lemon, cinnamon and hemp seeds*

-Kate

Quinoa salad any day of the week

I absolutely LOVE quinoa. I'm such a carb lover that I really get my fix when I eat quinoa. I eat the red, plain and tri-colored quinoa and dig em all. I also always always cook it with chicken or vegetable broth instead of water as it gives it a lot more flavor. 

I have recently been a bit bored with the same old quinoa from the bag that I usually have with some veggies and some type of meat. So I decided to venture out and find a new recipe that was exciting, tasty and not super complicated. Well I will tell you…I found it. 

I would love to say I made this recipe up but that would be lying and I believe credit should be given to the creator of this amazing concoction. I got this recipe from one of my favorites, Kris Carr. Click here for to be inspired. I'm sure you have all heard of her and if you haven't, shame on you. Really. She's an inspiration at the very least and she has amazing recipes. This one is called the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Capers. It's like nothing I've ever tried and it's freaking amazing. 

What you will need:

3 cups quinoa, cooked

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons fresh mint or dill, shredded (I used mint)

3 tablespoons capers

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

3 tablespoons pine nuts, lightly toasted (I threw them in raw)

3 cloves garlic, minced 

2 tablespoons leek, finely minced

Salt and pepper to taste

*Hand toss all ingredients, serve warm or chilled. Serves 4 (or 1 for multiple days!)

Enjoy!

-Kate