Roasted Broccoli Bowl

It’s that time of year again—garage sale season! Each year, my neighborhood puts on a huge community garage sale.

Tons of families partake, so it’s a blast to walk around and find some good deals. Well, sometimes at least. I definitely don’t always come home with something in hand.

This year (like last year), my best friend, sisters, and I are holding our own garage sale at my house. Originally, I thought I only had a few things to sell. Turns out, I have a room full.

I like to be organized and uncluttered—so I don’t have a hard time going through and finding things to get rid of. In fact, I really enjoy getting rid of the extra stuff that causes clutter! Plus, Adam is growing like a weed—so I pretty much have a full wardrobe for a 7-8 year old.

While my neighbors have been prepping and pricing for what seems like weeks, I just started yesterday. Procrastinate much? So most of my Wednesday was comprised of sorting, cleaning, and organizing.

That’s hours of fun right there, guys!

I was fueled by a new Dunkin Donuts treat!

I really wanted to try their new Black Cocoa Crème iced coffee, but I knew that it would be loaded with unnecessary sugar and calories if I ordered it as is.

So I simply asked for a black iced coffee with 2 pumps of the Cocoa Crème for a little sweetness. The barista told me that it tastes like cookies—so I really couldn’t pass it up!

It definitely did the trick. It still had unnecessary sugar, but not nearly as much!

Between this and their pumpkin coffees (ordered the same way)—DD just may be my favorite drive-thru coffee shop.

Getting ready for garage sales means one thing—pizza night! Only instead of ordering in, I made a quick red sauce and threw together some simple naan pizzas.

My go-to red sauce (which I could probably make in my sleep):

• 1 can organic tomato sauce
• 1 can no salt added tomato paste
• 2 garlic dorot cubes
• 2 basil dorot cube
• 1 T. Italian seasoning
• 1 t. crushed red pepper (or more for extra spiciness!)
• a few turns of freshly ground salt and pepper
• stevia (to taste) – I like my red sauce spicy and slightly sweet.

Mix it all up and warm over low heat.

Tip: double the batch for extra sauce. It’s even better the next day after the flavors have blended overnight.

While Naan pizza sounded delicious, I wanted something a bit less heavy. Remember how I said I’ve been eating at restaurants way too much lately? Well, I am cleaning up my diet this week.

Broccoli bowl to the rescue!

[roasted broccoli – layer broccoli on a baking sheet and roast for about 20 minutes at 425 degrees]

Next up? A layer of my favorite balls!

And finally, it’s time for the spicy red sauce! That’s what gives this bowl so much flavor.

I may or may not have also snuck a few bites of Adam’s naan pizza. Quite possibly the best of both worlds.

Garage sales – yay or nay?

Google Tags: broccoli bowl, roasted broccoli, naan pizza, easy red sauce, easy and healthy red sauce, meatless meatballs, broccoli and red sauce, dunkin donut iced coffee, healthier black cocoa creme dunkin donuts

DARE to be BARE {Dove}

Living a healthy lifestyle encompasses many different areas. It is not just about logging hours on the treadmill and eating loads of leafy greens. There are also internal components that involve keeping a positive, healthy mindset while minimizing stress and negative emotions.

There are also the external components that involve taking care of your physical appearance. Sure, exercise is a huge part of this. In fact, exercise is a part of both the internal and external components of health. Exercise makes us feel good (hello, endorphins) and of course, it can help us look good as well.

With summer upon us, taking care of the physical aspects of health become more important. Personally, during the months of tank tops and shorts, I want to look and feel a bit more fresh, confident, and radiant. In particular, I want to feel comfortable in my skin. Feeling comfortable in your own skin (inside and out) is certainly a component of a healthy lifestyle—wouldn’t you say?

Over the years, I have gathered quite a few tips and tricks to get my skin summer ready. Most of my beauty tips have been learned through a process of trial and error—with some serious beauty mishaps in between. Now that I am in my mid-twenties, I think I’ve finally got a good system going.

Here are my tips to help you DARE TO BE BARE during the summer months.

Let’s start in the shower.

Exfoliate.

Year-round, I exfoliate at least once per week. However, when the summer months are here I pick up the frequency and exfoliate a few times a week.

Exfoliating is beneficial because it helps speed up cell turnover. In other words, it helps to get rid of the outer layer of dead skin that can make skin look dull and dry.

All you need is an exfoliating body wash (or even a little sugar and olive oil) and you’re good to go!

The next step should take place immediately after you have stepped out of the shower and dried off.

Moisturize.

It is always important to keep your skin well-hydrated and moisturized. Moisturized skin looks bright and dewy.

Would you believe that I used to avoid moisturizing because I thought it would make me break out? In actuality, the opposite is true. If your skin is too dry, then your pores produce extra oil which can, in turn, cause more breakouts.

Moisturizing right after a shower helps to lock in moisture. Additionally, moisturizing after exfoliating makes your skin super smooth and ready to shine!

Now that you’re smooth and moisturized, you can take steps to ensure that you stay dry and fresh all day long.

Stay dry {with deodorant}.

It is nearly summer. In fact, according to the temperatures these days—summer appears to be here already. The sun is hot. The air is humid. And you want to rock tank tops and summer dresses.

Of course, pit stains or dark underarms aren’t the best accessory to cute summer clothes. So how do you keep your underarms fresh, dry, and smooth?

Dove has the answer.

A few weeks ago, DailyBuzz gave me the opportunity to try out and review two new-to-me Dove deodorants from the clear tone line.

From the Dove site: “Dove^® Clear Tone™ Skin Renew Deodorant is a unique formula, made with calendula and sunflower seed extracts that moisturizes to accelerate the natural skin renewal process. This helps to visibly reduce dark marks and even tone with regular use over time, while providing 24-hour odor and wetness protection.”

Sounds pretty fantastic to me!

I have tried (and liked) Dove deodorant in the past—but I always seem to pick up a new kind at the drugstore. Call me a deodorant whore—I won’t argue with you.

What is my first deodorant stipulation? Well, it has to smell good of course. Both of these deodorants passed the fresh and clean scent test. In fact, they smell flowery and girly. Right up my alley.

Next stipulation—the deodorant has to keep my armpits feeling dry and smooth. One of my pet peeves is deodorant that cakes up and leaves you with unsightly white chunks in your armpits and on your clothes. Also, those deodorants that never really dry but instead leave your armpits feeling wet all day? No thanks.

Again, both of these deodorants passed the test.

After going for a run in the 90 degree weather on Monday, my armpits still felt dry and (much to my surprise), the deodorant didn’t cake at all. Score!

I think my deodorant whoring ways be over—right now, this Dove Clear Tone deodorant is my new best friend.

So would I buy this deodorant on my own?

Absolutely! In fact, I will be picking up another bottle of the sheer touch once I’m running low.

Do you stick with one deodorant brand or are you constantly trying out the newest scents and lines?

As part of the DailyBuzz Healthy Living Program, I received free Clear Tone Deodorant and a stipend from Dove. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

Google Tags: dove deodorant, tips for going bare, dove dare to be bare, dare to be bare, tips to keep summer ready skin, Dove, dove clear tone deodorant, daily buzz healthy living, dove clear tone review

a lovely long weekend

Hey there! Happy shortened week (if you’re in the states)!

If you had a long weekend, did you get your fair share of sun? I certainly did. In fact, I may have soaked up a bit too much. You live, you learn.

I spent the majority of my Sunday in this lounge chair by the pool. Adam brought a few friends along, so of course he was a having a blast. I was more than happy to chill out and catch up on my 500 magazine subscriptions.

A while ago, I received a magazine subscription deal that donated a portion of the profits to breast cancer research. Well, I got a little overzealous and somehow ended up with about 10 magazine subscriptions. They all pile up each month and I rarely (if ever) get through an entire one. It’s definitely time to downsize the subscriptions and stick with a few favorites.

In addition to lounging by the pool, I also enjoyed a quite a few delicious meals over the weekend.

After Adam’s soccer game on Saturday, we were all starving and we wanted something quick and tasty. To the new sushi buffet we went!

My plate was filled with greens, seaweed salad, cucumber salad, deviled eggs, and vegetarian sushi. Times two.

This is probably the only time I have ever enjoyed a semi-healthy meal at a buffet style restaurant. Don’t get me wrong—they certainly had their fair share of unhealthy, fried foods. But I stuck to the salads and then ate an amazing coconut cookie for dessert. Balance.

We also had some extremely odd fortunes.

I’m not quite sure how to interpret the hammer one. That sounds like it could be dangerous. The other one is a nice question—but it’s not very fortune-like.

In addition to the buffet, we also ate dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant.

Jasmine tea is a must.

Pad Thai with tofu is my go-to order. It is always delicious.

On Sunday night, Sam and I had a date night. It’s been a while since we’ve actually had an official date—so it was quite nice.

[hello, grainy iPhone pic]

Thanks to my friend Lora for insisting she take Adam so we could have a night to ourselves.

After turning Sam into a frozen yogurt convert (he loved it so much that we went back last night)—we went to see the Dictator.

It was between that and Chernobyl Diaries. We felt like a lighter movie, so we went with the former.

It was one of those so-ridiculous-that-it-becomes funny movies. Sacha Baron Cohen really has no boundaries, but that’s where the ridiculous part comes in.

Last but not least, Sam and I hosted a Memorial Day cook out for the family! Since I was busy being the hostess, I didn’t take any pictures. Luckily, my brother also enjoys taking food pics—so this is stolen from him.

We grilled veggie burgers, veggie dogs, and corn on the cob. Then we had a ton of sides—deviled eggs, pasta salad, Sun Chips, cottage cheese, and fruit salad.

All-in-all, it was a fantastic weekend.

However, after this recap, I realized something. I really need to scale it back on restaurant meals! Over the course of the weekend, I ate at restaurants a whopping 5 times (Subway, Chili’s, Thai, Sushi Buffet, froyo times two)! In my opinion, that is simply too much.

Not only is it expensive, but it’s also unhealthy. Yes, I chose healthier options—but I still don’t know everything that goes into my meals. I always feel better (lighter and more energetic) when I prepare my meals at home.

From now on, my goal is to have only 1 restaurant meal per week. We’ll see how that goes.

How was your weekend? Fabulous, I hope.

Google Tags: long weekend, cooking out, restaurant meals, too many restaurant meals, thai food, pad thai, pool time, lovely long weekend, sushi buffet

Sweat it Out Saturday – just walks

It’s a holiday weekend! You know what that means—more time to sweat it out! Or more time to relax and chill with your family and friends. Whatever floats your boat.

Do you have any sweat sessions planned for your 3-day weekend? I don’t. We’re talking about possibly going for a hike and a long bike ride—but other than that, it’s a blank slate for the weekend. Love it.

Actually, I rarely plan out my workouts. I’m more of a do what you want day-by-day type girl. In the past, I have found that when I plan workouts—they’re less likely to happen. That’s just me though. I know a lot of people thrive on a pre-set schedule. With all other areas of life (school, work, family)—bring on the agenda! But with workouts? I’ll fly by the seat of my pants.

That’s my philosophy. What’s yours?

And with that—let’s talk about SWEAT.

For any newcomers, here’s a little breakdown of what sweat it out Saturday is all about.

I show you my dedication by posting my weekly workouts.

I spread motivation by sharing motivational quotes, upbeat songs, fun new work out gear, and much much more.

Finally, I invite YOU to participate by linking to a post you've written about anything sweat-related during the week. Through your post, YOU can show us all your dedication and also help spread the motivation!

There is only one rule:

Everything has to make you sweat, motivate you to sweat, or accompany you in your sweatiness.

---------------------------------------

Weekly Workouts

There wasn’t much sweat going on in New Healthy land this past week. I wasn’t feeling any intense workouts—so I just went on several walks instead. I probably went on 3 (2 to 3 mile) walks over the week.

It was just one of those weeks, I suppose. You know, one of those weeks where you’re just lacking energy and you’d rather hang out with a good book then get your sweat on? Rather than force myself to workout (hello, burn out), I fully embraced a week of {somewhat active} rest and I know I’ll be full of energy next week!

Rest days (err, weeks) are just as important as workouts. They’re necessary for repair and rejuvenation. Exercise is amazing but it’s also a physical stressor. Our bodies deserve a nice break every now and then.

Do you ever take rest weeks?

Sometimes I’m afraid that if I take too many rest days, then I’ll have a hard time getting back into my routine. While this seems plausible, it’s usually the opposite.

After a good period of rest, I crave an amazing sweat. It may take a little extra boost to get out there and do it—but after a few minutes, I probably have a cheesy smile on my face. Consequently, some of my best workouts come after a little R&R.

#TRUTH (via Jillian Michaels)

Tune of the Week – Shadow Days by John Mayer

Get your sweat on with these past workouts!

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Want to participate? Grab the button and link up your own post!

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Have an AMAZING weekend guys!

<3 Stefanie

Google Tags: sweat it out saturday link up, rest days are important, week of rest, jillian micheals quote, get your rest, workout ideas and motivation

Thursday Thoughts

Hold on to your hats because it is about to get random up in here. Here are my thoughts on this beautiful Thursday.

If you are ever in Chicago, then you absolutely positively must eat at the Bongo Room. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Just go and thank me later. 

The first time I dined there, I had the sweet potato black bean burrito.

It was one of the best things I have ever eaten.

So of course, my friend Angela and I had to go back. They no longer had the burrito of my dreams (it was a special), but they did have the artichoke pesto omelet.

The picture doesn’t do it justice. It is the fillings that make the difference. It was filled with roasted yellow peppers, diced avocado, feta, and of course artichokes and pesto. There are no words.

And those house potatoes? Equally delicious.

My friend ordered a piece of the white chocolate brioche French toast. Luckily for me, she was more than willing to share.

Heaven in my mouth.

So while we are on the topic of food, let’s also talk about Pot Bellies. I recently had their Chickpea Veggie Salad and it was fresh and delicious.

I added cranberries for a little sweetness and asked for a side of hummus rather than dressing. This is my new go-to Pot Bellies meal. Speaking of which, do you have go-to meals at most restaurants or do you tend to change it up?

I generally find something I love and stick with it. If it isn’t broke, why fix it?

On Saturday morning, I ran a 5k. It was a last minute decision and my time was a minute slower than usual.

Time to get back into running! And also, I need a new favorite work out shirt. I feel like I wear that shirt to every single event.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was reading Fifty Shades of Grey. Who isn’t reading the Fifty Shades trilogy? Well, it sucked me in and I’m through the first book.

I am now well into Fifty Shades Darker (the second book in the trilogy) which is my first ever e-book.

To be honest, I didn’t think I would enjoying reading books on my iPad. But I actually don’t mind it at all.

Shades of Grey Babies? There may be some truth to this! And no, that's not my way of announcing that I’m pregnant. But that would be clever, right?

Speaking of babies, when did my little boy grow into a young man? Overnight it seems.

Yesterday, he happily told me that there are 10 days until summer break. Not that he’s counting or anything.

And finally, I will leave you with this Thursday thought.

Why waste time and energy on regret? In my opinion, both regret and worry are wasted emotions.

Rather than wasting time regretting or worrying, simply channel that energy to something more positive—learning. This is definitely easier said than done, but it is worth a try.

Any Thursday thoughts you care to share?

<3 Stefanie

Google Tags: Thursday thoughts, random thoughts, random post, shades of grey, bongo room, delicious breakfast, pot bellies, chickpea veggie salad at pot bellies

Blue Diamond Almonds (More Than Great Taste)

Healthy snacks are an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. I am constantly raving about my favorite healthy snacks and today I want to focus on one in particular—almonds!

Almonds are delicious and easy to grab on-the-go. They are also the perfect protein-packed snack for vegetarians like myself and my son. Even more importantly, they are great for our health. Specifically, they are beneficial to one of the most vital organs—the heart!

Blue Diamond (one of my favorite almond distributors) recently had a variety of their almonds certified by the American Heart Association (AHA), which means that they are now labeled as heart-healthy foods. Since I am already a huge fan and frequent purchaser of Blue Diamond Almonds, this is just the icing on the proverbial cake.

So, which flavors have been branded as heart-healthy snacks?

• Whole Natural <—my personal favorite
• Roasted Salted
• Low Sodium
• Sea Salt
• No Salt
• Honey Dijon

I have tried most of these flavors with great results, but you will always find a bag of the Blue Diamond Whole Natural Almonds in my pantry.

I also recently bought a box of the single serving size bags of Low Sodium Almonds for my son. He already requested that they become a grocery list staple!

 

See the AHA certified label? Pretty awesome if you ask me.

Heart healthy snacks are extremely important considering the fact that Heart Disease is America's number ONE killer.

Scary? Yes. But it is also preventable by following a number of heart healthy measures. One of those measures is following a healthy diet!

Since Blue Diamond Almonds measure up to the strict guidelines for a heart-healthy food, you can stock up with piece of mind! Rest assured that you will be getting More Than Great Taste—you’ll be doing something great for your health as well!

Luckily for us, Blue Diamond isn’t going anywhere. They have been around for over 100 years and they have over 3,000 California growers delivering their almonds all over the world.

Head on over to Facebook to show Blue Diamond some love!

Want more information? Get involved by participating in a #BlueDiamond Twitter Chat TONIGHT (5/21/12) at 8PM CST. I’ll be there tweeting away (@TheNewHealthy). Don’t forget to use the hashtag – #BlueDiamond.

FitFluential LLC compensated me for the post. All opinions are my own.

Google Tags: blue diamond almonds, blue diamond and aha, blue diamond heart healthy, heart healthy snacks, blue diamond healthy snacks, almonds are heart healthy, more than great taste, blue diamond twitter chat, blue diamond certified by AHA

Sweat it Out Saturday – CORE madness

It appears that I have now gone TWO weeks without sweating it out on Saturday. Well, that is not entirely true. Last Saturday, I was busy getting DIRTY (and getting my sweat on) to actually post about my workouts.

So what do you say? Ready to get back to it? I sure am.

For any newcomers, here’s a little breakdown of what sweat it out Saturday is all about.

I show you my dedication by posting my weekly workouts.

I spread motivation by sharing motivational quotes, upbeat songs, fun new work out gear, and much much more.

Finally, I invite YOU to participate by linking to a post you've written about anything sweat-related during the week. Through your post, YOU can show us all your dedication and also help spread the motivation!

There is only one rule:

Everything has to make you sweat, motivate you to sweat, or accompany you in your sweatiness.

---------------------------------------

Weekly Workouts

Sunday – REST

Monday – 3 mile run + 1 mile walk

Tuesday – REST

Wednesday – 1 mile run + 1 mile walk

Thursday – 3 mile walk/run + 2 mile bike ride

Friday – 5 mile hike

Today – Today I’m running a last minute 5k. I haven’t been running as much the past few months so I am not really in “running” shape. No worries—it will just be a fun 5k.

Exercise Truths

Tune of the Week – Work it Out by Jurassic 5 ft. Dave Matthews Band 

Get your sweat on with the CORE MADNESS workout!

This was our boot camp workout a few weeks and while it is only 20 minutes, it’s a killer! It also flies by extremely quickly since you are constantly moving from exercise to exercise.

[Perform each move for 1 minute with NO rest in between. Just move from one move to the next after the minute is up. Take a 1 minute rest after all 10 exercises are completed and then repeat.]

Descriptions

Triangle—lie down on the ground (on your back) with your arms flat at your sides (palms down). Slowly lift your legs toward the ceiling while simultaneously moving them out to your sides so that they form a V or a triangle. Circle them around to the center (over your torso), cross your ankles, and slowly lower down. Repeat.

Reverse crunch—lie down on the ground (on your back) with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Lift your feet off the ground so that your legs form a 90 degree angle. Pull your knees toward your chest and then slowly lower back down without touching the ground. Repeat.

Armbar rotation—lie on your back with your legs straight in the air (keep knees as straight as possible). Lift your butt off the ground and then rotate to the right using your core. Move back to the center and then rotate to the left. Make certain to rotate while you are lifting your butt off the ground.

Plank jacks—get into a plank position. Keep your back straight and butt down. Do the jumping jack motion with your legs while keeping your hands stationary.

Flutter kicks—lie on your back with your palms facing upward. Lift your legs about 8 inches off the ground. With your toes straight, “flutter” your feet up and down quickly but steadily. Your feet shouldn’t move very far, but you should feel this in your core!

Plank rolls—get into a side plank position with your supporting arm straight (not bent at the elbow) and feet stacked. Using your upper arm (the one not on the ground), turn forward slightly and reach underneath your body. Slowly raise back up and repeat. This is a balance core move!

Your core should be on fire by the time this is over!

Want to participate? Grab the button and link up your own post!

Have a fabulous Saturday!

<3 Stefanie

Google Tags: core workout, core madness workout, work your core, exercise core moves, 20 minute core workout, motivation, sweat it out saturday link up, weekly workouts, sweat it out, ab moves, ab workout

tapas and relaxation

It seems to have been a while since I’ve done a day in the life type post. Not a full blown blog-my-every-move post, but just a post that talks about life in general.

Why? Well for one, I have been working a lot. One of my co-workers was out for the month of April and some of May, so I took over most of her hours while continuing to work as a research assistant as well.

So my day in the life posts during April would have went a little something like this – breakfast, sit in a computer chair, lunch, sit in a computer chair, snack, sit…you get the idea. Total snooze fest. Wouldn’t you say?

Yesterday, however, was a bit more interesting. Finally. I am taking the majority of the summer off to rest up and prepare for my PhD program in the fall and yesterday was my first full day of freedom.

I am using the word “freedom” very loosely because I still have a lot of responsibilities other than work (taking care of a home, a son, a family, kitties, and all that jazz) – I’m simply talking freedom from a 9-5.

It was, in a word, wonderful. After taking my son to school, I brewed a pot of coffee and ate breakfast at home. Not from a lunchbox. Woohoo!

I spent the rest of the morning doing some random, but very necessary household chores and then I went out to lunch with my sister and Dad. We met at a new-to-me Mediterranean tapas restaurant that I’ve been wanting to try.

Saying that the food was delicious would be an understatement. Everything was freshly prepared and made from scratch.

We started with a variety of appetizers.

[roasted beets with garlic mashed potatoes]

[eggplant crostini with feta, navy beans, and lentils]

[amazing hummus with thin whole wheat flatbread]

Then we shared the Mediterranean flatbread as our main entrée.

[feta cheese, red onions, Greek olives, tomatoes, and spinach]

Everything was finger-licking good. I can’t wait to take Sam and Adam back.

After lunch, my sister and I took our pup for a leisurely walk in the beautiful sunny weather. Then I followed that up with a 2 mile run—again leisurely. It was extremely nice not to feel rushed.

The rest of the night involved bike rides, smoothies, spending time with the family, and reading. There were also several hilarious family group MMS messages. We bought my Mom an iPhone for Mother’s Day which means that 7 of us now have iPhones. Hello, crazy iMessage chats.

It was just a wonderfully chill Thursday—exactly what I’ve been wanting (and needing).

What would your perfect day entail? Just for fun—let’s forget about jobs and other responsibilities. The day is a blank slate.

Google Tags: chill thursday, day in the life, mediterranean tapas, eggplant crostini, a perfect day

Product Love (2)

There is a strong possibility that I have already written a post with this exact title – hence, the 2. What can I say? I am a product junkie.

I am also a caffeine junkie. So, I’m always on the look out for new k-cups or coffee grounds to add to my caffeine cabinet.

Yes, I have a caffeine cabinet – it is filled to the brim with coffee and tea. Hey, I have to be prepared for impromptu coffee dates. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

The newest additions to the cabinet o’ caffeine?

Coconut mocha k-cups by Donut Shop. This is great warm, but it’s also delicious iced.

Add some espresso cubes, a little so delicious coconut creamer and you’ve got a nice tasty treat.

Speaking of espresso, I recently picked up this new (to me) coffee at Trader Joe’s. They had samples of it for their coffee of the day and it was rich and smooth. Just how I like it.

As much as I would love to dedicate this entire post to coffee, I have a few other new products to discuss.

Like the new line from LÄRABAR – über bars.

As they put it – über is synonymous with super duper, wicked awesome, and seriously epic. Yep, all of the above.

I cannot decide which to dig into first – it’s a tie between bananas foster and cherry cobbler. Hello, afternoon snack.

Another new foodie love? This JUMBO sized container of nutritional yeast.

I ran out of my teeny tiny bottle a few months ago and when I finally went to restock, I saw this. Love.

Now the thought of this next product totally freaked me out at first.

Anyone else a little freaked out by the combination of coconut water with chocolate? After seeing so many people rave about it, I finally picked up a bottle to try for myself.

Low and behold—they were right. It IS delicious.

It reminds me of chocolate milk – but it’s dairy free and super hydrating. I will definitely be buying more of this in the near future!

And now for something totally unrelated to these foodie products—hand soap!

Was anyone else totally excited to see the new summer scents in Bath & Body Works?

There’s just one problem—I want to eat these. Strawberry basil and cilantro peach? Amazing flavor combinations right there.

Would it be weird to eat a meal inspired by your hand soaps? I hope not because I did.

Cilantro peach rice. It happened. It was amazing. Want the recipe? I didn’t write anything down but I would be happy to make it again. Actually, I’d be more than happy.

Any new products that I must try?

P.S. There WILL be a Sweat it Out Saturday link up this week – so if you have any workouts or fitness-related posts to share, I’d love for you to add your link to the mix.

P.P.S. I’m still waiting to hear from one of the Beanitos Giveaway winners! Amanda, are you out there? If so, email me your mailing address (the new healthy at gmail dot com). If not, then I’ll announce a new winner in a few days.

Hang in there – it’s almost Friday!

<3 Stefanie

Google Tags: product love, larabar love, new larabars, uber bars, coconut water, zico chocolate coconut water, k cup love, coffee lover, espresso ice cubes, cilantro peach rice, bath and body works soaps, nutritional yeast, donut shop k cups, coconut mocha k cups