Welcome to the weekend, my friends! Our visit with family this week was wonderful and my brother and I made it out to walk as often as we were able. The fall colors are at their best these days and I can’t get enough of them.

Has the weather finally cooled off where you are? Ohio has been fabulously chilly all week, however, I’m headed back to Phoenix tonight. I’m really not looking forward to 100 degrees again! (Although it is supposed to cool off beautifully there later in the week. My fingers are crossed that the promised rain will actually arrive while I’m in the valley.)

ON THE BLOGS this week: Flavorful and tender marinated boneless skinless chicken thighs can be cooked on the grill or baked in the oven. We eat a great deal of chicken in this house and this is one of my favorite ways to cook boneless skinless thighs in the oven.

In this hummus-inspired dip, roasted cauliflower takes the place of chickpeas making it a low-carb, full-flavored spread. A whole head of garlic roasts with the cauliflower, adding an irresistible caramelized sweetness to this cauliflower hummus.

It takes just 15 minutes and a few simple seasonings to air fry frozen broccoli and cauliflower into irresistibly crispy and delicious bites! I’ve been making this and snacking on it in the afternoon for weeks.

Zucchini Cobbler. Zucchini??? Cobbler? YES. You read that right and you should definitely keep reading. It turns out that zucchini cobbler tastes a whole lot like apple cobbler, my friends. I didn’t believe it either – until I tasted it.

Creamy peanut butter is blended with ripe bananas to make these peanut butter banana pancakes, resulting in a rich, nutty sweetness with a hint of banana throughout each fluffy, golden pancake.

These coconut chocolate chip cookies are loaded with both white and dark chocolate, in addition to a good amount of coconut. They are delicious warm from the oven and every bit as fantastic two days later.

Oatmeal cream pie ice cream starts as a creamy vanilla ice cream with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon, and then it is generously filled with pieces of oatmeal cream pie cookies.

This one-bowl praline cake is almost ridiculously simple, yet it delivers the perfect balance of moist, tender buttermilk cake and the irresistible chewy crunch of caramelized pralines. You just might find y

Hi friends! Happy Friday! How was the week? I hope you had a great one. What’s going on this weekend? We have an event for the girls’ school, Trunk or Treat, and we’re celebrating the Pilot’s bday a little early (and yes, his favorite cake is on the menu). I’d love to hear what you have going on!

Workwise, I’ve been doing a ton of functional testing for clients lately. As much as I love workout programming, this is close competition for being my favorite work-related task. I LOVE going through all of the data and creating custom action plans. I put on some binaural beats, sprawl out on the PEMF Go Mat (my code is FITNESSISTA15), and go through EVERYTHING. If you’ve been curious about functional testing as a 1:1 client, please let me know; I have three spots left as we wrap up 2023.

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!

(pics to an art show we attended by the Boys and Girls Club. I got the sweetest greeting cards and a javelina painting for P’s room! Dress is here and P is still loving her Vivobarefoots.)

Friday Faves 10.20

Read, watch, listen:

Five pick-me-ups.

Why building muscle is more important than losing fat.

What little things in your home are just for you?

Fashion + beauty:

Shopbop sale is here! It’s a tiered sale, so the more you spend, the more you save. You can get up to 25% off.

Here are some of my favorite picks:

This floral dress would be gorgeous with heels or booties

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This creamy vanilla ice cream with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon is generously filled with pieces of oatmeal cream pie cookies.

When I first spied Little Debbie’s line of ice creams in the grocery store, I did a double take. And then I immediately put them all on my must-try-soon list. You know how much I love trying new flavors of ice cream and then recreating them at home. Check out Nutty Bars Ice Cream for the first Little Debbie ice cream we made!

Oatmeal Creme Pies

My grandmother introduced me to Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Creme Pies when I was so young they were basically a magic treat in a plastic sleeve. And there’s still something special about that first moment when I open one. It makes me feel a bit like a kid again.

What I like best about this particular Little Debbie treat is that you can really taste the oats in the cookies, along with a noticeable brown sugar and cinnamon flavor.

They’re chewy, satisfying cookies that I have no shame in eating when I’m craving a treat like my grandma used to make. (Unlike my other grandmother, my grandma on my mom’s side wasn’t known for her baking skills.)

Little Debbie Ice Cream

Both Little Debbie and Blue Bell make an oatmeal cream pie ice cream. Blue Bell’s version is made with an oatmeal-flavored ice cream base with a vanilla icing swirl throughout. (I was not a fan of that idea, as that icing swirl is just too sweet for me.)

Little Debbie’s version is made with a vanilla ice cream base that has just a hint of molasses. Both ice creams contain pieces of chopped-up oatmeal cream pie cookies.

However, much like homemade cookies and cream ice cream, more cookie pieces are always better, and this recipe for oatmeal cream pie ice cream trumped both store-bought versions.

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Sharing tips and strategies on how to overcome challenges that get in the way of maintaining a regular fitness routine.

Hi friends! I hope you’re having a great morning so far. I have an in-person meeting and a podcast interview. Counting down to the weekend and the Pilot’s bday celebration!

For today’s post, I wanted to talk about some common fitness hurdles and share some strategies for overcoming them. 

We’ve all been there—the excitement of setting fitness goals, the burst of energy during the first few weeks, and then life happens. Suddenly, those well-intentioned plans are upended, and the road to consistent fitness feels like an uphill climb.

Overcoming challenges to consistent fitness routines

Here are some of the things that can get in the way of the best fitness plans and squash that initial excitement. The good news is that you can shift your mindset, show yourself grace, and make fitness a consistent part of your routine, even with obstacles along the way.

1. Life’s Unexpected Twists:

Life is beautifully unpredictable, and that unpredictability can throw a wrench into our workout routines. Whether it’s unexpected work demands, family emergencies, or just the general chaos of daily life, it’s crucial to acknowledge that flexibility is a cornerstone of consistency. Embrace the ebb and flow, and remember that a missed workout doesn’t define your fitness journey. Go for a “grand scheme of things” approach. What are you doing MOST of the time? Look at the forest, not the tree, when you’re confronted with an extraordinary situation.

2. The All-or-Nothing Mentality:

Hands in the air if you’ve ever thought, “Well, I missed one workout, might as well start fresh next week.” The all-or-nothing mentality can be a major stumbling block. Fitness is not an all-or-nothing game; it’s a journey of small, sustainable steps. If you miss a workout or indulge in a treat, it’s not a reason to give up. Every positive choice counts. Also, sometimes you need to miss a workout, and sometimes your soul needs the treat. Live in the happy grey area; it’s much more sustainable than black and white thinking.

3. Mental and Emotional Hurdles:

Sometimes, the biggest challenges are the ones we can’t see. Stress, anxiety, and low motivation can be formidable opponents. Acknowledging and addressing these mental and emotional hurdles is an essential part of consistent fitness. Consider incorporating mindfulness practices, seeking support from friends or a therapist, and reminding yourself that taking care of your mental health is just as important as physical health. Do things that bring you joy, and make sure your fitness routine gives you space for a hobby you love, time to connect with loved ones, and rest/recovery time.

4. Monotony and Boredom:

Doing the same workout day in and day out can quickly become monotonous. If your fitness routine feels like a chore, it’s time for a change. Mix things up

Weekly Menu Plan – Oct. 23 to 29

Here is your weekly menu plan for next week!

Monday: Enchilada Style Ground Beef Burrito

Tuesday: Slow Cooker Kalua Pork (save leftovers for Thursday night)

Wednesday: Italian Wedding Soup

Thursday: Hawaiian Pork Nachos (use leftover kalua pork from Tuesday!)

Friday: Greek Tostadas

Saturday: Protein Baked Oatmeal

Sunday: Instant Pot Beef Stew

READ: Weekly Menu Plan – Oct. 23 to 29