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! 

Throw it in the Crock Pot :: Parmesan Honey Pork Roast

Sunday's in the Herre Home is day of relaxation, for it is said that it is the day of rest.

As Adam and I came back from church, he says to me that he just wants to have a chill Sunday, and since we just bought a pork loin roast, he wanted us to just throw that in the slow cooker and snuggle today.

Relaxing and kicking back, I wanted to do something different with my pork roast.  Normally, the brown sugar, honey, and garlic recipe from my Momma is what I use, but I decide to google different recipes.  I came across Leigh Anne's recipe at Your Homebased Mom, for her Slow Cooker Parmesan Honey Roast.  As y'all know, I like to take recipes and put my own little twist on it, so that is exactly what I did!  It looked delish and I knew that we had to try, and share with you!

 

It warms the whole house.  Once you put this in the crock pot, y'all's house with start filling with wonderful smells.  After about 5 1/2 hours, Adam and I decided to pair our dinner with my Mom's Rosemary Garlic Potatoes, and a side of veggies!  With the remaining liquid, I just put it on top of the roast, and had a little extra on the side for some dipping sauce.

450 degree oven, 10-15 minutes, then flip potatoes for another 10-15 minutes.

Throw this in the crock pot, sit back, relax and watch a movie, while your yummy food is cooking away.  After y'all try it, tell me what you think?  What changes you made, what you paired it with.

Have a blessed Sunday!

Paper SkyScraper in the Queen City

Big News, y'all!  I got a "big girl" job, and Team Herre is MOVING!

There will be a post later about that, and what I will be doing.  But, because of this, of course I had to go out and do a little shopping, especially in the Queen City before we leave.

It was a long day, so as any person would want in order to balance out their week, we are in the same boat, so Be Yoga Carmel was the spot for me, with the most amazing yoga instructor, Ashley.  She has a way of strengthening who you are as a person and it feels so good when we am done. (it also helps that I have been getting some top abs!)

Afterwards, I was out with some amazing people eating at a fabulous restaurant called, Cantina 1151, it was so good - you have to go. And I was told about this little knick knack store called, Paper Skyscraper, it was the CUTEST!

Paper Skyscraper is the PERFECT gift store,no matter what the occasion is, they have whatever you want or need.  Their stationary choices are outstanding, their frames are super unique, candles/scents/lotions are great, and they have so much more!

I found a few things that I loved and HAD to get!  One was a gift for Adam and I, for us as a couple.

It is one of those envelope seals, that people used back when snail mail was popular.  This is a letter "H" seal.  All you do is melt some wax, put it over the envelope and then press the letter on it.  I'll post whenever we use it, we are going to wait for when we move! 

Knowing that ladies have a good amount of jewelry, I have never had a good place to put my rings, until I found a ring holder at Paper Skyscraper and it is the coolest thing ever.

This funny Office Notepad is the perfect assets for my new job. I work with some amazing people, who are funny, believe in a wonderful work environment, and importance of a team.

After my arms piled up I knew there was something else that I needed to start off my new job in style, a frame.  Yes, guys, a frame.  I want my desk to be black, white and gold. So, out of luck, I found the cutest gold frame, that is super unique and good quality.

And lastly, y'all know my obsession with candles and yummy smelling stuff, so I had to get a candle and by far, it is my favorite scent ever!

Paper Skyscraper is amazing, guys! Check it out, off of East Boulevard, Charlotte! (PS - it is dog friendly)