Asparagus and Lemon Refreshing Gluten Free Pasta Salad

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Barilla®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #GlutenFreeBarilla http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV 

I am so excited to be teaming up with Gluten Free Barilla Pasta today to bring you a healthy and refreshing pasta salad that is perfect for lunch or dinner. As you all know I am the queen of pasta salads, and this recipe is a little different, but still delicious! If you haven't checked out my other recipes with Barilla, you can see my strawberry basil pasta salad here, and my meditteranean pasta salad, here. This recipe is a little different for a few reasons. The main reason is because I am using Barilla's new Gluten Free pasta for this recipe. It's also a dish that you want to serve warm due to the ingredients, and olive oil drizzle. 

I really love preparing different dishes around the holidays. My family always chooses me to make any of the pasta dishes, and I try to focus on staying healthy, and preparing a delicious meal that everyone will love. Gluten free pasta is great because it has non GMO ingredients, it's healthier and tastes just like regular pasta!

For my Gluten Free pasta I shopped at BJ's wholesale club and got a 4 pack of pasta for a very reasonable price. Since I come from a big family, this is perfect for the parties to come in the next few weeks. You can also visit BJ’s Wholesale Clubs on December 22nd and 23rd to see an in-store Barilla Gluten Free pasta demo at select clubs. You can also visit Pinterest to see other delicious Barilla  Gluten Free pasta recipes!

Making this pasta is very easy! Here is how to make your own at home.

First, start by bringing a pot of water to a boil.  

Once the water is boiling , salt the water and add your Gluten Free pasta. 

While your pasta is cooking, you'll want to sautee your asparagus and brussels sprouts. 

Add a few tablespoons of olive oil to a pan, cut up your asparagus, and sprouts and then squeeze a full lemon on top, and season with salt and pepper.

You'll want to cook your asparagus for about 10 minutes on the skillet. When that's finished, add the cooked asparagus and sprouts, and squeeze half a lemon into the pasta. You'll also want to drizze olive oil on top to avoid a dry pasta.

Enjoy!

What's In My Gym Bag ?

I won't lie ladies- my gym bag is jam packed. I usually need to make sure that it's full of everything I need to get me from point A to point B. Although showering at the gym isn't my favorite thing to do, I sometimes have to do what's best for the time constraints I am given. I try to ask myself a few things when packing my bag in advance- so that way I have everything I need. Here are the thoughts that go through my head...


A. What could go wrong?
B. What do you use to feel fresh and new?
C. How can I make this the best workout ever?

PIC OF ME IN GYM PANTS & SHOES

The truth is, sometimes we need to be extra prepared. I can't tell you how many times I've been at the gym and my headphones have broken, or my hair tie has ripped, or even worse (Aunt Flo paid a visit) I try to be as prepared as possible for these instances that could occur at any time. Tampax pocket pearl makes it easy to hide my lady goods discreetly. It's so tiny and colorful, you can throw it right in your bag, and fit it comfortably without worrying about it being seen.

Most of my gym bag necessities, come from the mecca of all stores- TARGET. I pretty much do most of my shopping there because I can pick anything up- all under one roof. Here's what is in MY gym bag.

Aveeno Face Wash (to clean off impurities after a sweaty workout)
Tampax Pocket Pearl (it's so teeeny and cute, perfect for any on the go lady)
Cosmetic Bag with the essentials! (hair ties, chapstick, makeup)
Heart Rate Monitor Watch 
Comfortable Sneakers (I usually wear sandals to the gym, and switch in the locker room)
Water Jug (perfect size)
Coffee (my pre-workout)
Headphones *don't ever leave the house without them!*

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Work It Out

If any of you follow me on instagram, you know that I am taking part in a workout challenge for the next two months. I worked really hard on building a healthy lifestyle, and at this point, I don't think it would ever change. This challenge is a two month workout routine that changes weekly and utilizes different exercises daily. 

So far I have seen a significant difference in my waistline, as well as my energy levels and overall mood. I have been waking up with a different attitude, and my healthy eating has been on point. What motivates me daily is the changes I am seeing, as well as the strength I am gaining. 

Nothing is better than feeling good in your own skin, and every person (male or female) deserves to feel good about themselves. The first few weeks were tough, and now as I near week 3 it's becoming more of a daily routine. I feel healthier than I have in over a year, and I am starting to see changes in my body.

I love to spice up my workout outfits, and again if you follow me on instagram, you'll see a glimpse of that here and there. My pants are usually all kinds of crazy patterns, paired with my Nike Air Max 90's (working on getting my third pair!). I have built my collection of workout clothes because I spend almost every day at the gym, so my attire is important. I want to feel motivated & confident in what I wear, and gym wear is no different.

People usually ask me where I get most of my gym clothes from, so I decided to pick some of my favorite items at the moment. My go-to brands are Lululemon & Nike, but sometimes I will find a random shirt that is low cut on the sides to fit comfortably with a sports bra. This shirt is from Buy Me Brunch, and it is one of my favorites. I love the material, and it's perfect for leg day! :)

Here are some of my favorite picks from Nike & Lululemon below!

What are your favorite brands?

Update To My Workout Story & My Fitness Fanatic Gift Guide

This post is part gift guide part update on my workout story. I started fully working out 4-5 days a week approximately a year and a half ago. In my progress I lost 13 pounds, as well as gained a great deal of muscle in various parts of my body. Besides the obvious body changes, I feel so different. Mentally I am more at ease when I know I can make it to the gym. Physically I feel stronger and more motivated. As a whole I have found myself being extremely motivated to become stronger and work harder towards my goals.

Although I have had great progress so far, I have had my highs and lows. Some weeks I have no energy, and on the busier weeks sometimes I don't get into the gym as often as I would like. Throw in the holidays and I find myself smuggling cookies and sweets here and there. I am not sharing these stories for pity, but more to show that sometimes life happens. Sometimes you eat cheat meals more than twice a week, sometimes you want to eat a french fry, or a whole plate of them. And sometimes, your body needs a break. I gave myself a week break because I could tell my body needed it. I was feeling weak, and tired, and close to exhaustion. I was forcing myself to go, and then I realized maybe my body was trying to tell me something. The break I took, was exactly what I needed. I came back stronger and more motivated than before, and I am so happy I did. We all fall off kilter sometimes, but the important thing is to motivate yourself even when things seem hard or you're having a hard day.

Shop the perfect workout outfit!

Since this post is focusing on working out , I also wanted to incorporate a little gift guide for those who are looking for new workout clothes/accessories. Here are my PERSONAL choices. I have a full workout wardrobe since I spend a lot of time in the gym, and I picked my favorite pieces to share with you guys. I really love all of these brands & clothing options, and they make my gym experience a better one. Plus, the new year is on the way and we all need a pick me up, so what's better than working out with some new gear? The confidence and comfort will go hand in hand.

Some favorites!

Healthy Living Recipes: Pumpkin Deviled Eggs

Hey guys! So excited to share this cute recipe with you today. I wrote this originally for The Tend Family app, but it was too good not to share with you guys! Also, you can download that app for free by just clicking the link. They have awesome recipes and fun family crafts that you can all do together with your little ones.The crafts & recipes are endless! 

First, place your eggs in a pan and cover with cold water. Bring eggs to a boil for one minute, and then cover and set aside for an additional ten minutes. 

Pour out the hot water, and replace with cold water. Set aside for another five minutes. After five minutes you can peel the eggs and cut in half lengthwise. Do this very slowly as to not destroy the eggs and so that the egg remains even.

Carefully scoop out the yolks and place them into a bowl. Take all of your egg whites and place them in the refrigerator. Now mix your yolks, spicy mustard, light mayo and ketchup together in a bowl until the consistency is smooth.

You can either scoop the yolk back into the whites or you can use a ziplock bag to pipe it out. (To do that you'll need to pour contents into the bag and cut off the tip of one corner; this helps the mixture come out evenly and easily).

 Use a fork of toothpick to make indentations on the yolk mixture. (resembling pumpkin lines)

Cut up a small cucumber (with skin) and use those pieces for your stem.

Sprinkle paprika as desired, and enjoy!

Healthy Living Recipes : Kale Chips

Let's be real and honest here, shall we? Who loves eating their vegetables? Okay, okay, some of us do enjoy veggies, but for a starch lover like myself, I tend to like carbs more. These chips are so easy to make, you still get the crunch you get in a regular potato chip, and the best part is? THEY'RE GOOD FOR YOU!!! Kale is really high in Beta-Carotene, Vitamins K & C and it's also rich in Calcium. It also contains Sulforophane which is very high in cancer fighting properties.

Interesting right? Well I tried including Kale into my diet, I also tried boiling it, melting it down and even sauteing it. It has an awfully bitter taste that I could not get used to, so I decided to make chips out of it!

The steps are extremely simple. You just need to cut up your kale, wash it, and then try it out with a paper towel. Lay it all out (as seen below) on a non-stick pan, salt and pepper to taste, and stick it in the oven at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes (or until crunchy).

Serve it at your next dinner party, or munch on it while watching a movie. It's so good for you, and tastes amazing, plus it's so easy to make, you really have no excuses!

5 Tips To Start A New Workout!

 

Jumping right back into fitness or any kind of workout can be intimidating. I remember starting a workout after not working out for almost two years and feeling unsure of what I should be doing or how to start. I think it's important to set up a good mind frame when starting a workout, and that makes a huge difference in the long run. Here are some of my tips on starting and maintaining a new workout!

1. Make a schedule: Okay, so this is usually the hardest for most people. Where can I fit in time to workout? That's a common thing that most people struggle with and individually it needs to work for you. I suggest writing in a calendar and starting off small. Work from 3 days a week up. You need to give your body time to adjust so time off is imperative. You're going to have to adjust your schedule in order to fit in some workout time, but in the long run, you'll feel better.

2. DUMP THE JUNK!: No one can really fight the urges to snack, especially when you're surrounded by it. For me personally, I can't have junk/snack foods in my house because they will get eaten when I am h-a-n-g-r-y. Best thing to do? Go food shopping and leave yourself healthy options. If you look in the cabinet and everything is healthier, guaranteed you make a better choice for yourself on that day, and in future choices! If you find yourself running around most of the day I suggest packing lunch/dinner in advance and a healthy bunch of snacks to choose from. Fail to plan, plan to fail! That's how the cookie crumbles...literally. As I have mentioned before there are healthy options that actually taste good too, do some research, or try some protein bars, they're delicious and some even taste like your favorite snack! (Ie. Cookies & Cream Quest Bars)

3. Make a good playlist: Imagine working out in silence, or even worse...imagine working out to someone's awful music playlist. Sometimes at the gym, this happens. If you load some music that pumps you up onto your phone or i-pod, you will be motivated to keep going, and it will distract you from staring at the clock. Get some decent headphones, and keep your phone charged, guarantee you stay in the gym longer if your music is on point, and so is your attitude!

4. Inspiration: Instagram has become a place where you can get a view into other people's lives. It's a way to connect with others who share the same passions, but also can inspire you to be better. Instagram has become huge for the fitness community because there is so much information at your finger tips. By this I mean fitness advice, HIIT workouts (high intensity interval training), recipes, inspiration for workout clothes, different exercises and more. I follow a lot of different people on instagram who provide me a lot of inspiration. I love getting inspired to try new things and push myself in the gym, so what better way to do so than by connecting with others. 

Some of my favorites : Katy Hearn // Tanaashleee // FitHealthyRecipes // FitMenCook

5. Gym Buddy: Finding someone you can work out with is HUGE. When you're feeling super lazy you need someone who is going to help you get back on track. Sometimes just having someone there who is just as motivated as you are is enough to get you going. Make plans with people or family members who go to your gym, and see if you guys can work out together. My sister and I just started going together and I love having someone to talk to in between sets. Time flies by, and it's a great way to keep myself going when I am tempted to stop.

All in all just remind yourself that you're doing awesome. Don't compare your journey with anyone else and make sure you always stay focused. If you take a few days off, just jump right back into it when you're ready! It's like riding a bike, you can always get back on!

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