Reesee's Protein Shake : Post Workout

Moving to Winston-Salem has provided me with the time and energy to better myself by eating healthier, working out more, and living a happy life.

Running (almost) everyday has been great.  But, just cardio isn't always going to help you slim down and tone up, so be sure to get your weight lifting in as well.  Even if you can't leave the house because you have stuff to do, or you don't like leaving, you can use a simple toning band, and go and get yourself 5-pound dumbbells.

If you need a little help along the way, inspiration, diet plan, workout plan, y'all should go visit my girl Rachel.  She is absolutely amazing, and has transformed peoples lives.  Check her out on her website, Rachel Nicole Fitness.

On with the shake!  I normally don't always have a protein shake, but whenever I don't have time for a meal, with my job, like if I have a morning workout, I'll make my shake in my Ninja, and get going.  Ninja provides a quick and easy transport of any shake, or smoothie.

Y'all this is super delicious and I know you will love it!  Let me know what y'all think!

Lipstick and Squats,

Garden to Table :: Avocado, Tomato, Mozzarella Salad

The summer is time for fresh garden to the table recipes. 

Let's all get together and make this simply easy summertime salad.

Grab your ingredients and lets get started.  All you need is ::

Avocado, Tomato, Mozzarella Salad

- 2 avocados, pitted and cubed

- 2 tomatoes, or one little carton of grape tomatoes, cubed

- 1 small ball of mozzarella cheese, cubed

- 2 tsp fresh basil, or more if you want

- 2 Tbls olive oil

- salt and pepper

1) Put together the cubed avocados, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.

2) Drizzle with the olive oil

3) Add your fresh basil, and your salt & pepper to taste.

4) Toss lightly.

5) Eat immediately, either as a side dish or a main dish with a side of crostini.

This dish is bound to be a summertime favorite in your house.

Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies

Adam and I, like many others, are Walking Dead fans.  This past weekend was Dead, White and Blue Weekend, on AMC, and we have been watching it, in between still moving stuff, and weekend errands.

With our favorite show on, and our cupcake phase of moving into our new home, I thought it was time for my baker to come out and celebrate.  So I found this recipe for Brown Butter, Fleur de Sel Chocolate chip cookies, over at Picky Palate, and knew that we had to try it, y'all. I changed a few things to fit what I had in the cupboard.  

So, without further ado, Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Brown butter just makes your cookies heavenly, it make the outside crunchy and the inside gooey.

How to Brown Butter ::

Place your butter in a saucepan over medium heat.  Swirl around in order to help butter melt.  Watch butter closely, it will start to boil and brown, and little brown bits will be at the bottom of the pan.

When the butter has turned a golden brown, and has a nutty smell, immediately take it off the stove, and pour into a bowl, so it will stop cooking.  Let it cool for a minimum of 5 minutes.

The bottom right hand corner, of the above picture is what the golden brown, nutty smellinI would prepare this butter before you start with the other ingredients, so that you have it cooling while you get everything else ready.  MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU POUR IN THE BUTTER INTO YOUR OTHER INGREDIENTS YOU POUR IN THE BROWN BITS TOO.

Now, y'all, go and make these, you'll thank me later!

Other Recipes you might enjoy...

Skinny Bitch : Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Angry Orchard Cider Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramallows

lets make new traditions

America is 238 years young today!

Being married gives you the opportunity to create your own traditions.  Of course, with Christmas and such, you're wanting to use a lot of traditions from your childhood, but this July 4th, we decided to make our own tradition and then continue to add to it!

As Adam and I settle into our new home, in a new place, we asked ourselves, what are we going to do this Independence Day?  We both worked at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte for the past three years, so we worked, witnessed amazing fireworks, and listened to great music with friends.  This being our first July 4th in a different city we knew we wanted to try something new.

And it dawned on us, let's go hiking!

July 4th came upon us, we got out of bed, made ourselves some delicious smoothies, packed up the camelbacks, the fur-babies, snacks, dog biscuits and a map, and made our way to Pilot Mountain for a day of hiking.

Our independence day hike was absolutely sunny, exhausting, fun, tiring, beautiful and such a great bonding experience for us and our fur-babies.  

This is definitely a new Herre tradition that we will continue annually.  Being an outdoorsy family with a fit and healthy lifestyle,  a day hike fit us perfectly.  

Our exhausted babies.

Being sweaty and smelly, we came home took a shower, ate some dinner (which I will share my avocado, tomato, mozzarella salad) and headed out the door for some fireworks!  BUT FIRST, we stopped by our favorite frozen yogurt place, Sweet Frog, and picked up some desert to eat while we all (including our fur-babies) snuggled in the back of Adam's truck.

Happy Birthday, America! and Thank you for a beautiful day!

Maple Apple Chutney

Holy Moly, it is already July! AND it is going to be the 4th of July tomorrow!! Whew, come back June, I wasn't done with you yet! ha

Well today, I had a half day at work due to the holiday!  When I got home I hung out with my gorgeous puppies, fixed our dishwasher and relaxed after a very long week.  Snuggling with the dogs, I was thinking to myself - "What do my readers want from me? What should I blog about?"  A lot of bloggers go through a phase where they don't know what to write about.  We may have a list of ideas, but we don't know how to get them down. 

My inner Giada came out in the kitchen as I was cooking my 'clean eating chicken,' which is just fresh chopped basil, drizzle of olive oil, and one garlic clove, roughly chopped and placed on top of the chicken. (then garlic is taken off after the chicken is cooked) 

Anyway, as I was saying, my inner Giada came out and I was trying to think of something sweet and delicious that would contrast with the saltiness of the chicken.  And then it hit me!  I remember a couple of weeks ago when I saw Giada's show and she made an apple chutney.  I didn't remember how she made it exactly, but we as cooks rely on our noses, so I just decided to make my own.

Here ya go, y'all! Enjoy! It's great!

I didn't let it cool, I just threw it on top of our chicken.  AND IT WAS FABULOUS!  I know you will love it guys.  It can pair with any meat, I would definitely try pork.

That is it for now guys,  I will come back soon with more!  Ever since this inner Giada has been coming out of me, I have been experimenting more in the kitchen!  Be Excited!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!
HAPPY FOURTH, Y'ALL!