Sharing a quick and delicious recipe for a healthy salad dressing: honey balsamic!

Hi friends! Happy Monday! I hope you’re enjoying the day so far and that you had a great weekend! We had an amazing dinner at our friends’ house and spent the rest of the weekend doing chores and relaxing. I took a three-hour nap on Saturday which was everyyyytthing. After a couple of weeks of travel and the Pilot’s work weekend, it was our first *normal* weekend at home in a month, so it was very appreciated.

Today, I wanted to share my go-to salad dressing with ya. I can’t believe that I’ve been blogging this long and haven’t dedicated an entire post to this dressing. This is my go-to. I use it for dinner parties, make it in advance to enjoy throughout the week, and it’s always so easy and delicious. I don’t typically love the dressings that come with salad kits, so this is what I’ll often use to replace it. I like the taste and ingredients so much more!

If you don’t already make your own salad dressing, definitely give this one a try. You’ll see how simple and delightful it can be 🙂 Let me know if you decide to add it to your rotation!

Honey Balsamic Dressing Recipe

Crafting your dressing ensures transparency about the ingredients, helping you make informed choices about what you consume. The Honey Balsamic Dressing is a prime example of a flavorful yet health-conscious option. With just a handful of pantry staples, you can whip up a dressing that’s sweet, tangy, and incredibly versatile.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 minced garlic clove

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Step 1: The Foundation

Begin by combining the balsamic vinegar with extra virgin olive oil in a bowl. This dynamic duo forms the foundation of your dressing, delivering a perfect balance of acidity and richness.

Step 2: Add the sweetness

Introduce 2 tablespoons of honey into the mix, providing a natural sweetness that harmonizes with the balsamic’s acidity. Adjust the quantity based on your desired level of sweetness.

Hi friends! Happy Friday! How was the week? I hope you had a great one! We’re still going strong with 21 days of Healthy Habits, I’m finishing up the EquiLife detox, and am looking forward to starting the CBO protocol. (At least looking forward to finishing it?) What are you up to this weekend? P has a birthday party and horse lessons, Liv has dance, and we have a New Years’ dinner party with friends.

This past weekend, we met up with some friends at Great Wolf Lodge. It’s one of our favorite weekend getaways, buuuuut I think we booked it a little too close to our Disney trip. It was still a lot of fun, but I could tell the kids were tired. I tried to unplug and took zero pictures, but I did get one of the yoga studio. I try to take a class at Just Be yoga whenever I’m in Scottsdale. It’s a beautiful space and the classes are amazing – super hot with a mix of flows and stationary poses.

This is random, but I’ve been having a little bit of a struggle on Maisey’s walks lately, and maybe some of my fellow desert dwellers can help. The coyotes are OUT right now. We see at least one every day! Usually it’s at sunset, so I’ve been trying to walk her during midday, but we hear them howling every day and night, and the Pilot and the girls saw one on Wednesday. Any tips?? I definitely want to walk Maisey while the weather is nice, but I don’t want to have a run-in with a coyote….

Maybe I need to drive her to a more populated walking path instead of walking around the neighborhood. Here’s hoping for a coyote-free weekend ahead.

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.

Friday Faves 1.19

Read, watch, listen:

Listening to this on Audible and it’s breaking my heart slowly. So many of us grew up with Friends, and when Matthew Perry passed away, it hit me hard. It felt like an uncle or a close friend had died. It’s surreal to hear this in his own voice, and no spoilers, but while I knew that he struggled, I had no idea of the intensity.

 This is me.

How to slow down and take care of yourself.

Read more

Sharing my fitness and wellness predictions for the new year. 

Hi friends! I hope you’re having a wonderful day so far. I’m here cranking through work stuff and have a new podcast episode live for you! Today, I’m chatting about my fitness and wellness trends for 2024. I always love to hear about what you think will be popular in the new year, and what is “out,” so please share your thoughts below.

(More dog yoga in 2024 please)

my 2024 fitness and wellness predictions

More resources from this episode:

I love love love the meals from Sakara Life! Use this link and the code XOGINAH for 20% off their meal delivery and clean boutique items. This is something I do once a month as a lil treat to myself and the meals are always showstoppers.

If any of my fellow health professional friends are looking for another way to help their clients, I highly recommend IHP. You can also use this information to heal yourself and then go one to heal others, which I think is a beautiful mission. You can absolutely join if you don’t currently work in the health or fitness industry; many IHPs don’t begin on this path. They’re friends who are passionate to learn more about health and wellness, and want to share this information with those they love. You can do this as a passion, or start an entirely new career.

You can use my referral link here and the code FITNESSISTA for up to $250 off the Integrative Health Practitioner program. I highly recommend it! You can check out my review IHP Level 1 here and my review of Level 2 here.

I’m still obsessed with my sauna blanket. This is one of my favorite ways to relax and sweat it out. I find that it energizes me, helps with aches and pains, I sleep better on the days I use this, and it makes my skin glow. Link to check it out here. You can also use my discoun

Sharing the results of my IgG food sensitivity test, as well as pros and cons of this testing method. 

Hi friends! How’s the day going so far? I hope that you’re having a great one! Today, I’m working on podcast stuff (new episode tomorrow) and meeting up with a friend for lunch.

For today’s post, I wanted to share a bit more about my personal health journey and one of the steps in the process: food sensitivity testing. When I first enrolled in the IHP program (you can check out my review of level 1 here and level 2 here), I knew that I’d love to be able to help friends and clients in an entirely different, more personalized way. I had no idea how much this information would help me on a personal level, too.

Through my knowledge in IHP and testing abilities, I’ve been able to discover some root causes and I’m working on rebalancing my body through removing the toxicities and restoring deficiencies.

At-home IgG Food Sensitivity Test Review (and my results)

The nutshell version:

– Last spring, I had horrible pink eye which became a trigger for constant eye issues – watering, super red, itchy, mucus-y eyes. I couldn’t wear contacts for almost three months. I’ve tried pretty much the entire pharmacy eye section :/

– I saw many eye doctors who were unable to help me (they just wanted to throw the kitchen sink of eyedrops and prescriptions at me, and nothing helped) – I finally found a dry eye specialist who was able to give me an action plan and my eyes improved tremendously

– I did blood work with my PCP to check basic markers and inflammation, and two markers for Lupus came back positive, which explained the joint pain I had in my hands and the strange rashes I’ve had over the years. Whenever I’ve been under periods of extreme or prolonger stress, I’d get a rash, and my hands would often ache at night, which I had attributed to typing so much.

– I instantly went into test and learn mode, doing an HTMA test, Candida Metabolic and Vi

Sharing my tips on how to reduce screen time and make the time you do spend on a screen as efficient as possible. 

Hi friends! How’s the morning treating you? We’re at Great Wolf Lodge with some friends and I’m looking forward to a hot yoga class later today. I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Today, I wanted to talk about screen time. While it’s not something I could ever drastically reduce (my job would make that a liiiittle tricky), I tried to be mindful of the time I do spend on screens. We do the same thing with the kids. They’re only allowed a set amount of screen time, and it’s only after homework is completely finished – so some days, that means no screen time at all.

In a world where digital connectivity is ubiquitous, taking intentional breaks from screens has become crucial for our overall well-being. A digital detox offers the chance to recalibrate, reduce screen time, and minimize exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).

Here are some practical tips to become more mindful of your screen time!

Digital detox tips and how to reduce screen time

The Impact of Digital Overload

Our constant exposure to screens, Wi-Fi signals, and EMFs can take a toll on our physical and mental health. From eye strain and disrupted sleep patterns to increased stress levels, the consequences of digital overload are vast. A digital detox is a proactive choice to reclaim control over our screen time and create a healthier relationship with technology.

Step 1: Assess Your Digital Habits

Start by assessing your current digital habits. Use your smartphone’s screen time tracking feature or dedicated apps to gain insights into where your time goes. Identify specific apps or activities that consume a significant portion of your day. This self-awareness forms the foundation for a successful digital detox.

Step 2: Set Clear Boundaries

Establishing boundaries is crucial for a successful digital detox. Define specific time periods when you’ll disconnect from screens, such as during meals, before bedtime, or during designated breaks. Communicate your boundaries with friends and family to ensure understanding and support.

Step 3: Create a Screen-Free Sanctuary

Designate certain areas in your home as screen-free zones. Bedrooms, dining tables, and relaxation spaces should be free from screens to promote better sleep and more meaningful connections. Consider creating a cozy reading nook or a designated space for mindful activities.

Step 4: Schedule Tech-Free Breaks

Incorporate regular tech-free breaks into your daily routine. Whether it’s a short walk outdoors, a coffee break, or a few minutes of deep breathing, these breaks provide a mental reset and reduce the cumulative effects of prolonged screen exposure.

Step 5: Unplug Before Bed

The blue light emitted by screens can disrupt our circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep. Aim to unplug at least an hour before bedtime. Establish a relaxing pre-sleep routine, such as reading a physical book, practicing