Brown Rice Basil Avocado Salad

Found this recipe and absolutely had to try it. Still looking for some healthy meal ideas using locally available ingredients and this one is exactly that. (Except for the Basil, I have no idea where to get fresh basil, but I'll see how it works with dried.)

Got it from Kathrine Kunde's website here: (I LOVE this site!)

Source: mrsjkunde.blogspot.com via Joanne on Pinterest

• Brown rice, cooked
• Heirloom tomatoes
• Avocado (ripe)
• Basil (fresh)
• (Optionals: nuts, cheese, olive oil...) 
• Cook up brown rice, cut up the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Serve it mixed with the rice or separate. 

 xo
Jo

CPA Reward / Papaya – Passion Fruit Smoothie / Supermarket Black forest Cake

I passed my CPA like I think I mentioned before, and now I’m a Part 2! Planning on doing Part 3 next year and finally getting that CPA-K!

As a “Congratulations” gift as well as a thank you gift for doing some stuff around the house for my mom she made me the most delicious juice I have everrrr tasted (blended Papaya and Passion Fruit and a little honey).

I am a Dorman’s girl. (Dorman’s Coffee House) If I’m buying myself cake or buying one for someone, I’m Dorman’s all the way, a little steeply priced but soooo worth it! I have never found a Supermarket taste that I love and this from Kamindi was no exception, tasted like cardboard! (Don’t tell my mom that!), but of course I ate it and acted like it was the most delicious thing in the world, because it was given to me by the most spectacular and loving lady in the world.

Thank you and you are welcome mom!

xo

Jo

Brown Boots

I love these boots! I feel like a Southern girl wearing them. They are so comfortable!!! I don’t wear them often because they are the most important thing I own in my closet and there’s no way I’m letting ‘em get old.

My favorite clothes I wear to Church. A couple of girls stated a rumor about me in school that I dress way different at Church than at School…school I’m all T-Shirts and jeans and Church I’m all dresses and heels…well duh! Ever heard the expression “Sunday Best?” #College Drama

Anyway, I wore this with my black skinnies and polka dot dress top. Funny story, this Denim Jacket, I’ve had since I was like 14! I wore it a bunch back then, then we had this phase where denim jackets were out of fashion and it stayed in my closet, and now, they’re back! I just folded the sleeves to make it a little more updated and edgy, and also because I’ve grown a couple inches since then. The brown slim belt I got from raiding my mom’s closet.

Polka dot dress top – Donholm Market

Brown Belt – “Gifted” from mom

Denim Jacket – “Vintage”/gifted from my mom

Black Skinnies – Ngara Market

Brown Boots – Greenspan Mall

xo

Jo

How To Get Over Sore Muscles

I hate the day after a workout...its great to feel the burn right after. In my mind I tell myself, "those are muscles forming" then I wake up next day and I swear to myself I'm never putting myself through that again!

Anyway, been researching how to get over sore muscles because hey are a major dent in my motivation and found another great post from the awesome Kathrine Kunde, which you can read here!

As much as I put time into training, I also have had to put time into rest and recovery, and here is a few things that helps me deal with soreness:

1. I watch my diet! I make sure my body is getting enough food (meaning highly nutritious foods) to support the physical activity I have done or that I will do. I try to get allot of fresh fruits and vegetables, some protein, fiber and vitamins (Creatin, iron, B12 and B6, vitamin C)
2. Ice ice ice! After a run, I dig out that bag of frozen vegetables in my freezer and let my calf rest on it while I check my e-mail or tell my husband all about my very interesting run.
3. H2O! Try drinking at least equal amount ounce of water as minutes of working out. 40 minute work out equals 40 ounce etc.
4. Rest! relax, sleep, laugh, read, draw and destress...which leads us to the next one:
5. I take baths! A hot Epsom salt bath with lots of Eucalyptus oil/soap does any achy muscle good.
6. Get a massage! Having someone do the after work on your muscles is amazing. It increases the blood flow to the muscles which acts as an aid to the stiffness and swelling in your muscles.
 7. Get motivated for more! Some of us needs a reason to go back on that treadmill or whatever the work out is, I found that getting the actual proof of my work out in pictures is a good way to stay motivated. My muscles look toned, I am a happy girl and I take care of my health! That is something to celebrate!! So ask someone you know who`s in to photography to do a photo shoot with you, or pay a professional one! You wont regret =) 

source: Kathrine Kunde

xo
Jo

Mango – Orange Smoothie

This is technically a juice blend, because there was no dairy in it, but Mango – Orange Juice blend is a lot of words. Anywho, cut it up, take the seeds out of your oranges and blend till it’s done.

For a great twist, you can throw in some watermelon and a couple of fresh tomatoes for an extra vitamin c burst. I bet you’re like “Tomatoes? Like the one you cook in stew?” Yes! That one, its sounds weird, but trust me, it’s good. For a whole blender-full like this I used 2 medium sized tomatoes and next time, I’ll use 4, because it was THAT good!

xo

Jo

Fitness Motivation

By the time you read this, I will have hopefully woken up early to go on a run, or and more likely, overslept and have to go on the treadmill. Either way, I will have gotten back to working out. The "but I was sick" excuse doesn't really cut it anymore. Its been 3 weeks since my food poisoning thing and I haven't worked out once! AND I've been eating like crap. Anyway, time to get my butt back in gear.

Kathrine Kunde is a Fitness Instructor out in Redding, California and I LOVE her, her spirit, her sweetness and her healthy lifestyle. Going through her blog, I found this awesome motivational post from way back in 2010. Click here to read it all, and check her out here.

1. Dream a little...or a lot!
    It`s OK to want to be thinner, healthier, have a bouncier butt, run a marathon, or loose 10 pounds.
    Be honest with yourself and DIG UP those dreams that so easily can get lost in all the business         around us. What do you need from yourself in order to be happy? Write it down, talk to a friend about it.

 2. Throw out the trash!
    Is there a pile of trash hindering you from reaching the door? It can be a negative experience, hurting friendships, a stressful job or a messy economy that is holding you back from reaching your goals. When you are ready to be real about achieving your goals, you do whatever takes to clean out your walk path so you can get anywhere. And that takes us to our next step...

3. Be proactive!
    Don`t listen to anyone saying that "if it isn't more then 40 minutes on the treadmill a day then its not worth it. A 20 minute walk is better then nothing! 10 minutes of weightlifting in your living room is better then not doing it. Just do something. Get a new pair of running shoes, put on your favorite Natasha Bedingfield song and dance your heart out, watch The Biggest looser and get motivated. The hope here is that you start walking, moving in the direction of your dream by doing something. For the longest time I would go to Barnes and Nobles and just read trough all the fitness magazines I could find. I loved getting new work out ideas, seeing other peoples achievements etc. I longed for my own achievements one day but at least I was surrounding me with what I am passionate about.

4. Who`s your daddy!?
    Are you surrounding yourself with people you wanna become like? It is absolutely vital for your future in health and fitness that you surround yourself with people that has gone the path your on. It might just be getting around a friend who goes to the gym weekly. Or, if you dream about becoming a swim teacher for kids, go find a place in your town that offers that and get to know the people in charge. It is the only way your gonna get better, is if you are around people that are better then you. Allot of people needs to stop thinking they can rely on themselves to achieve something they time after time have proven to fail. It`s OK to seek help from other people. =)

5. Plan it!
     I know your busy and don't have time for anything else to be added to your schedule. But one way to get lots of stuff done, is to schedule your work outs, meals and maybe even laundry..
Smart successful people have an ability to look ahead and be realistic: If I go to bed at 10PM, I can wake up rested till about 6.30AM, go straight to the gym and have a great work out. Then head to the grocery store and stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. Make a nutritious smoothie that I'm drinking while I get started on laundry. Then I jump in the shower and get ready for the day and its only 9AM. Boom. Had I decided to go to bed at midnight, I would have needed to sleep till 9AM....
Just sayin =)

6. Play and have fun!
    Not only for motivational purposes, but for so many more reason should you mix up your active playtime everyday. Go running outside in the park one day, take a zumba class the next, sign up for personal training twice a week, go for a swim at the lake or bike there... There is so many options for staying active and getting fit. It`s not OK to be bored in working out!

source: Kathrine Kunde

xo

Jo

Running Plan

I'm really trying to get back in the swing of things after taking a break these past 2 weeks and recuperating, I've really messed up my fitness plans but I'm totally getting back on the wagon from this minute! Anyway, going running today following this plan here below...click on it to get the link. After that, I'm going to go on like a 2K walk, first to the gym near my place to check it out cause I really want to add weight training for my arms and hopefully the place is good and well managed. After that I'm walking all the way down the road to the mall to buy some veggies. This is a pretty ridiculous plan, but wish me luck.

Source: womensrunninguk.co.uk via Joanne on Pinterest

xo Jo