Weekend Recap

September 7, 2014 by Christine Skari

I feel like a slug. This past weekend was one spent mostly lounging around in the hot hot hot weather and I feel like I’ve been living in a sleepy haze. The last few days have escaped me! Anyways, here’s what I’ve been up to.

Saturday was spent waking up slowly with a homemade latte and continuing my weird obsession with the show Once Upon a Time. You guys. I don’t even like it that much anymore (I’m on the 3rd season), but I feel like I can’t escape its clutches until I finish the entire series. I just need to watch the last season and then I can continue on with my life 😯 . On that note, does anyone have any other good series to watch? I’ve already seen all of Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, The Office, Scandal, and Lost and need some more inspiration.

After a while, Kyle and I worked on a new recipe that’s coming to you guys tomorrow! Any guesses? Here’s a hint: It involves lots of vibrant colors from fresh veggies and has a great crunch to it!

Sunday started similarly with my daily double shot latte before taking a quick shower and getting ready to go to church with Kyle.

After church, we headed over to Starbucks and OH MY GOSH. I’m totally going to sound like your typical Fall-loving white girl, but pumpkin spice lattes have returned and I’m preeetttyyyy darn excited. I like to pretend that I know what seasons are, but I’m going to be honest and admit that I enjoyed my PSL latte in 90 degree weather.

Two of my favorite things: Kyle and Starbucks!

After grabbing our coffee, we headed over to Chipotle to grab some lunch before making a quick trip to Home Depot to get some supplies for a couple projects Kyle wants to do. The man-crafting bug has totally bit him and he is itching to build new things. His latest project? Electrochemical etching and building his own metal phone case from scratch. He is a mechanical engineer through-and-through.

We were also on the hunt for some rustic looking boards for a new back drop for my photography. Unfortunately, the ones we found were little too clean-cut for my liking, since I’m searching for more of a barn-table look. I just did quick search on eBay, though, and found a few gems that I think will work perfectly!

Now I just need to pick which set I like the most and set Kyle to work with putting it together and painting/staining it. I’m lucky to have a handyman who is happiest when he’s busy making things with his hands .

So there you have it! My weekend in a nutshell.

Question of the Day: What is the most eventful thing to happen to you this weekend?

Cute and Affordable Workout Gear

September 5, 2014 by Christine Skari

Wanna guess what my weakness is? Cute workout clothes. They’re totally my kryptonite. Buuuuuuut I’m also a college student and have to be smart about how I spend my money. That’s why I decided to put together a quick post on cute and affordable workout gear that will help you feel on fire at the gym without breaking the bank! Here are a few of my latest finds:

1. Medium Support Sports Bra in Purple Melange– $19.95

I love this color combo and the cute straps!

2. Striped Yoga Top– $24.95

Super flattering and made of fast-drying material. I don’t do too much yoga, but can definitely see myself wearing this when Kyle and I go on active dates like walking on the beach or hiking when it gets a little chillier!

3. Heathered Studio Leggings– $12.80

I love the subtle design on this and the price can’t be beat! The reviews are good for it as well and describe them as thick (no underwear flashing here!), comfy, and non-slip when you workout.

4. Double Strap Tank– $19.99

Fun and flirty! These type of tops are my favorite to wear when I go to the gym since their flattering, yet still comfy and breathable!

5. Fleece Jacket in Coral– $29.95

I like to pretend that it gets cold enough in Southern California for me to wear this more than a couple times a year, but this coral color is my jam and anything made of fleece —> comfort at its max.

6. Black Bandeau Bra Top– $18.99

Because wearing tight black workout clothes always makes me feel like a certified badass at the gym.

7. Hooded Workout Coverup– $14.99

Currently on clearance and I want it RIGHTNOW . Perfect for when you’ve finished your workout and are about to head back home or run some errands!

8. Open-Back Workout Tank– $8.80

Gotta love the price tag on this one! Breezy and fun!

9. Contrast Panel Performance Leggings– $21.80

10. Knotted Workout Tank– $8.80

Very breathable and cute with a fun-colored sports bra underneath!

So there you have it! A quick and dirty roundup of some inexpensive workout gear that I now want to go and spend ALL my money on 😯 .

Question of the Day: What stores do you shop at to find cheap athletic-wear?

Healthy Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins

September 3, 2014 by Christine Skari

These past few weeks I’ve been on a big pancake kick.

I tend to cycle through my breakfasts and lately it’s been oatmeal—>eggs—>PANCAKES. There’s just something about a fluffy stack with golden maple syrup dripping down. I mean, just look at that picture above. Isn’t maple syrup a thing of beauty? So shiny 😯 .

The one drawback of pancakes is that they usually require a sit-down meal at a table and 15-20 minutes to make in the morning. While I love a lazy Sunday morning brunch, on the weekdays I’m usually in a rush and don’t have much time to spend hovering over a frying pan. And then it hit me… the answer to all of my (pancake) problems: pancake muffins! I loved the idea of putting pancakes in an easy-to-grab form so I could eat them on the run. While I’ve been enjoying these with maple syrup, they would be awesome with a smidge of peanut butter!

To ensure that I could eat pancakes on a daily basis without feeling weighed-down from all the sugar and hungry 30 minutes later, I pimped these bad boys out with whole wheat flour and only one tablespoon of butter in the entire batch. Hooray! Each pancake muffin comes out to only 70 calories and a bit of fiber and protein to help fuel you through your day. It’s a great alternative to sugar-filled cereal and will make even the most fussy eaters happy!

FlipBelt Review and 33% Off Discount Code!

September 2, 2014 by Christine Skari

Disclosure: While I was provided a FlipBelt review, all opinions are completely my own.

Hi, friends!

I just wanted to pop in to share an awesome, new-to-me product that I absolutely LOVE- The FlipBelt!

When I workout, I don’t like to have much hanging off of me. Unfortunately, I’m one of those people who honestly can’t do cardio for an extended period of time (unless it’s a sport, of course) without having some music to pump me up and help keep me going. That’s where the FlipBelt comes in! The FlipBelt is a workout/life waistband that brings the fanny pack to a whole new level of cool. It’s made of moisture-wicking material that fits on your hips like a second skin and does not bounce or ride up on you when you’re working out- a godsend for me!

After a few minutes of excited squealing after tearing open my package, I took my neon pink Flipbelt out for a run and instantly fell in love. I was able to tuck in my keys, Visa card, and phone into it and, once I got started jogging, didn’t even notice I had it on me. While armbands that hold your phone are an okay substitute, I would HIGHLY reccomend the Flipbelt instead since it doesnt constrict your arms and makes it a million times easier to access your phone if you want to change your song or adjust the volume. A few days later, I wore my Flipbelt to the gym and was ecstatic that it allowed me to lift weights without having to deal with tucking my iPhone into my pants (yes, I did that) so I could listen to my music. It even stayed put through jump lunges and box jumps. If that’s not a success, I don’t know what is!

Currently, the kind people over at Flipbelt are offering 10% off your total purchase there when you use the code sweat33 !

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Hope you guys love FlipBelts as much as I do!

Cinnamon Swirl Bread with Vanilla Glaze

September 1, 2014 by Christine Skari

I think the world would be a better place if we just sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on everything. I swear, that stuff is what dreams are made of. I want to roll in it. Bathe in it. I want my first child to be a sugar cube. That, my friends, is commitment.

Also, what did I just say?

I know I’m not making much sense right now. I blame it on the food coma I’m in from the long Labor Day weekend. One thing you should know about my family is that we looooveeeee to eat. Love love love to eat. We’re the kinda people who will be sitting at an all-you-can-eat buffet, stuffing our mouths with crab legs and pasta salad, and be talking about what our next meal will be. Some call us glutinous. We prefer insatiable flavor and texture investigators.

So anyways, this last long weekend was full of food. We had some German friends stay over for the week, and to celebrate before they left, we decided to hold an early party on Sunday and invited all of our extended family. We deemed it our “Axis Powers Party” since we had apple streusel and three types of German sausage, Japanese sashimi and octopus salad, and Italian appetizers. Pretty original party theme, huh?

Annnnnd today, I went over to Kyle’s family’s house and feasted on enormous tacos, apple pie, and chocolate cake.

I am so full I could pass out. I am never eating again… until tomorrow.

But back to this bread. Let me tell ya a bit about THIS bread.

First off, the amount of deliciousness in this bread is out of control. Perfectly moist, a thick double layer of swirled cinnamon and sugar, and drippy vanilla glaze. This is BY FAR the best cinnamon swirl bread I’ve ever had in my life.

Second off, I can’t even remember what else I was going to say. I keep looking at my screen at these photos and wanting to stuff 7 pieces in my mouth pronto.

TELL ME YOU’RE AS EXCITED AS I AM.

This is the kind of bread that makes you excited to get up in the morning. I’m typing this up at 10 o’clock at night and honestly can’t wait for it to be morning so I can dive into a slice with a cup of coffee in hand. *Swoon*. That’s a perfect morning, if you ask me!

Recipe adapted from Taste of Home