For the first time ever, I am celebrating Thanksgiving far from home and loved ones... I'm halfway around the world, on the beautiful island of Koh Lanta, where I arrived a few short days ago with my beautiful friend Jen Bricker. I've dreamed of coming to this part of the world since my parents shared photos of a trip to India, Nepal and Thailand with my siblings and I when I was younger. So … [Read more...]
Fitness Friday – 8 Minute Power Workout
November 20, 2015 · by · 30 Comments
Happy Friday! The holidays are upon us and I know everyone is busy busy and time is more precious than ever. But do NOT think you don't have time for exercise. You DO!!! Today's workout is a powerful full body workout that will take 8 minutes. Add a 2 minute warm up and make sure to stretch afterward and you are looking at 15 minutes total time. Yes - You - Have -Time - for - this! And … [Read more...]
Design the Perfect Gift for the Fitness Enthusiast on Your List #YourReebok
November 19, 2015 · by · 6 Comments
This post contains affiliate link and I receive a small commission on purchases made with those links. This supports this blog and the content you love so thank you! If you are looking for a unique gift for the fitness enthusiast on your gift list, you are going to love this cool gift idea from Reebok. Did you know that Reebok lets you customize your athletic shoes? How cool is … [Read more...]
3 Moves to Rock Your Core
November 16, 2015 · by · 18 Comments
Alright let's be honest here, who does not need to give her core a little extra TLC? "I'm dying for stronger abs" is probably what I hear most from fellow moms when we talk about toning and strengthening our bodies. And with good reason! Our core goes through a lot! Yep pregnancy is amazing and the way our body stretches fascinating albeit a little weird, but the result is more or less the … [Read more...]
Spiced Pumpkin Chia Pudding
November 14, 2015 · by · 28 Comments
I love breakfast. And I know the importance of choosing the right kind of fuel to launch my day. A good balanced meal that's tempting and tasty is always savored with joy. This pumpkin chia pudding is a real power breakfast that's just as enjoyable as a scrumptious treat for dessert or any time you crave a little pick me up. I prepare this before going to bed so I have an easy, carefree breakfast … [Read more...]
How to Dress for Cold Weather Training
November 11, 2015 · by · 20 Comments
Follow my blog with Bloglovin It finally feels like fall here in LA! Though I thoroughly enjoy our warm sunny California days I was thrilled to have to put on an extra layer as I headed out for my morning hike. At six am the air was brisk and clean with temperatures in the low forties. I love this kind of weather! I find it invigorating and inspiring! As you may recall from a … [Read more...]
Will Your Healthcare Plan Be There for You When You Need It Most?
November 9, 2015 · by · 45 Comments
This post is sponsored by United Healthcare. Content and opinions are my own. When I dialed 9-1-1 on January 23, 2015, my healthcare plan was the farthest thing from my mind. I needed to get my daughter to the hospital, and I needed to get her there FAST! I did not know on that day that eight months later we'd be facing more than $100,000 in medical bills. Nor did I know that I'd be … [Read more...]
Apple Butternut Squash Soup
November 7, 2015 · by · 17 Comments
Fall is such a delightful season for shopping and cooking... All the squashes have so much to offer from a nutritious point of view, but also benefit from wonderful texture and flavor! I was inspired to combine four simple ingredients to make this exquisite soup -- butternut squash, apples, parsnips and vegetable broth. That's it! No spices or other boosters. Just simple fruits and vegetables … [Read more...]
The Simplest Way to Peel an Onion
November 4, 2015 · by · 14 Comments
I peel and chop a LOT of onions, and yes that means I cry a lot. I've tried all the tricks in the book and sadly I have not yet found the trick that works for me to not cry. I hold on to hope that some day I will... What I have figured out, however, is how to swiftly and efficiently peel an onion. This works every time and with every kind of onion -- yellow, white, sweet, red... Here's … [Read more...]
Vegan Pumpkin Chili
October 31, 2015 · by · 21 Comments
Although temperatures are back in the 80's we had a few cooler days in LA... Typical fall days where the air is crisp and fragrant, and you step out in a cozy sweater, a pair of leggings and riding boots... The kind of weather that is perfect for a nice hot bowl of chili! Ah yes!!! I love a bowl of traditional chili, with beef browned to perfection, kidney beans, a rich tomato base and lots of … [Read more...]
Fitness Friday – 20 Minute Bikini Body Boot Camp
October 30, 2015 · by · 17 Comments
Welcome to a very special Fitness Friday! If you have been looking for a super effective workout that you can squeeze in every day without stress you are going to LOVE today's special workout brought to you by my sister, Nathalie King, personal trainer extraordinaire and creator of the Bikini Body Boot Camp. This workout is based on the Tabata principles which, like BURST and HIIT alternates a … [Read more...]
Healthy DYI Peanut Butter Cups, MightyNut Review and Giveaway
October 29, 2015 · by · 31 Comments
I received (2) two bottles of Mighty Nut powdered peanut butter to facilitate this review, recipe and giveaway in partnership with SweatPink. All opinions and recipe are my own. With a vegan daughter in the house, we use a lot of nuts and seeds as a source of healthy fats and protein. And though the fat from nuts and seeds is the good kind of fat, I don't mind cutting back whenever I can do so … [Read more...]
Thermography – A Safe and Painless Alternative for Breast Cancer Detection
October 27, 2015 · by · 28 Comments
Fifteen years ago my doctor detected a small lump in my left breast that gave her reason for concern. Within a couple of days I came in for my first mammogram. 48 hours later I was called back in for a second test because the first was not clear. It turned out everything was fine and there was no reason for alarm. Now if you've ever had a mammogram you know there is nothing pleasant about … [Read more...]
Lavender Hazelnut Brownies and Fit Body Bakery Giveaway
October 26, 2015 · by · 10 Comments
There is something about a delicious freshly baked brownie, with a soft, creamy inside and a hint of crunch on the outside that is simply irresistible... And if you're like me, one bite is just never enough. That's why I was really excited to try out the Burnin Brownie mix from Fit Body Bakery... Because as much as I love indulging in a sweet treat every now and then, I am even happier when … [Read more...]
Fitness Friday – 12 Minutes Total Body Blast
October 23, 2015 · by · 12 Comments
The holiday season is right around the corner and we all know what that means -- A few months filled with all sorts of distractions to get in the way of our fitness goals: Family gathering... Parties... Scrumptious food... More scrumptious food... Decadent holiday drinks... More food... More parties... And with all these temptations lurking around at every corner, finding time … [Read more...]
Get Ready to #BakeFit with Fit Body Bakery and Spiced Pumpkin Motivator Muffins
October 21, 2015 · by · 21 Comments
I received a couple of Fit Body Bakery gluten free mixes to facilitate this review. All opinions and recipe are my own. There isn't a season that isn't right for baking but fall and baking seem practically synonymous. There's something about delicious smells that fill my home when I walk in from a crips autumn day that is nothing short of magical. It brings instant comfort and has an uncanny way … [Read more...]
How to Roast a Sugar Pumpkin and Homemade Spiced Pumpkin Butter
October 19, 2015 · by · 25 Comments
It's pumpkin season and I could not be more delighted! Pumpkin is a nutritional powerhouse that is delightful in flavor and texture and can be enjoyed in savory and sweet dishes alike. Although all pumpkins can be cooked my favorite is the smaller sugar pumpkin. As the name implies it is a little sweeter than the bigger pumpkins used most often for Jack-O-Lanterns and the flesh is a little more … [Read more...]
My First Workout at Orange Theory in Pasadena
October 13, 2015 · by · 2 Comments
I first heard of Orange Theory a couple of weeks ago when Sonia, one of my favorite GRIT® and BodyPump® instructors, shared that she was going for a three days intensive instructor training at their new facility in Pasadena. On Monday I got to experience this new fitness craze thanks to my SweatPink sister and awesome workout buddy Christiana Greene of Spilling Coffee and Dropping Thing who had … [Read more...]
My Family is a BOSUStrong FitFamily!
October 12, 2015 · by · 45 Comments
The following post is sponsored by BOSU through my affiliation with the SweatPink community. For the last four weeks, the Sweat Pink community teamed up with BOSU to show the world what it means to be #BOSUStrong. One thing that makes me BOSUStrong is my family because they inspire me to constantly strive to be my very best. And I hope to inspire them to embrace a healthy and fit lifestyle … [Read more...]
There Is Nothing I Cannot Do! A Special afternoon with Jen Bricker
September 29, 2015 · by · 32 Comments
Last Friday I had the pleasure of spending a few splendid hours with my beautiful friend Jen Bricker. We had gathered with a handful of friends for the screening of Eva Longoria's Versus: Romanian Roots. I met Jen when she first moved to Los Angeles six years ago. She and I are kindred spirits and we bonded immediately. She had moved to LA with her aerial partner to pursue new … [Read more...]
My 5 Fave Stretches and 3 Tips for Toning your Glutes!
September 28, 2015 · by · 33 Comments
I can’t believe its already week 3 of the #BosuStrong challenge, time flies when you’re having fun! Last week we focused on balance and I was proud of myself for inspiring many of you to actively create balance in your life. This week its all about stretching and toning – so make sure you join in on the fun! Since we’re talking about stretching, here are 5 of my all time favorite … [Read more...]
The Unique Beauty of a Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse
September 28, 2015 · by · 18 Comments
"Don't forget the lunar eclipse tonight, Valerie". My fellow morning prayer warrior, a retired marine and Vietnam veteran had told me about this special event that occurs once in a lifetime and I was eager to enjoy it with my family. But somehow it escaped my mind... As we were enjoying a quiet family dinner my hubby mentioned somewhat off handedly, "We should drive up to the mountains, … [Read more...]
Sweet Potato Pumpkin Potage with Roasted Red Peppers
September 26, 2015 · by · 37 Comments
It's fall and though temperatures are still in the three digits here, I could not resist buying my first pumpkin! I love pumpkin and though I will most likely get annoyed with all the pumpkin flavored products that will soon line the shelves of grocery stores everywhere, I will happily enjoy a lot of fresh pumpkin :-) Not only do I relish the taste but it is such a wonderfully rich food when it … [Read more...]
Falling Cash $300 Giveaway!
September 23, 2015 · by · Leave a Comment
Fall is here! I love the idea of having a Falling Cash Giveaway to celebrate Autumn, how about you? With Back-To-School now behind us it's time to start prepping for our Holiday shopping and I know a little extra cash would be a nice little blessing :-) Since I'd love to share wonderful opportunities with you and give back a little in any way I can, I've partnered with a group of fabulous … [Read more...]
Creating Balance for Health and Happiness
September 21, 2015 · by · 104 Comments
Balance. That elusive state of being we all crave so desperately yet find so hard to achieve. What I've come to understand is that balance is not something that can be found. It is something we must actively create. Balance is ever changing. What felt right one day may feel completely off balance the next. To enjoy a balanced life we must learn to be fluid yet purposeful. One of the keys to … [Read more...]
Pecan Pie No Bake Energy Bites
September 19, 2015 · by · 30 Comments
Pecans... The taste of my childhood. I grew up in Paris but spent summers in El Paso Texas where mom was from, with my grandparents. Those were fun and loved filled summers and they were also filled with all sorts of wonderful foods. And yes, you guessed it, pecans! My grandma made the best pecan pie in the world! When I made the crust for my Vegan Chocolate Cheese Cake it brought back childhood … [Read more...]
Never Underestimate the Power of the Mind
September 14, 2015 · by · 28 Comments
Today was one of those days. I woke up at 5:30 as I always do. No alarm clock, just the natural rhythm of my body. The quiet of the early morning is a moment I relish... But not today. Today I wanted nothing more than to curl up under the comforter, cover my head with a pillow and go back to sleep. Today I had a migraine! I knew the chance of going back to sleep and finding … [Read more...]
Vegan Chocolate Cheese Cake
September 12, 2015 · by · 23 Comments
I've always made our birthday cakes. Be it for my husband or my girls there is not a birthday that goes by without my making some sort of decadent creation. It's a family tradition passed on by my mom and one I would not give up for anything. Years ago when I finally placed a gorgeous cake with a carefully crafted sea scape in the fridge in the wee hours of the morning, my husband asked "Why … [Read more...]
How Do You Define Strong?
September 7, 2015 · by · 14 Comments
I am STRONG! Those are words I can speak with confidence. It wasn't always the case but today I can stand tall and boldly proclaim I AM STRONG! I don't speak of physical strength though I possess that as well. Oh yes, I'm reminded of this often... When I invite a new mom to try my family aerial class, for example, one of the most common responses I get is "I would love to but I'm … [Read more...]
Guava Coconut Mousse
September 5, 2015 · by · 17 Comments
The tantalizing smell of guavas filled my home as my hubby walked through the door. "Look what my friend gave me," he said beaming, holding up a bucket full of this tender fruit we love so much. Yum! As delicious as they are there was no way we could eat all of them before the spoiled so I froze a few and decided to make a mousse we could enjoy at dinner time. I chose a handful of ripe guavas and … [Read more...]
