Caprese Salad

A little bit about me:

I am getting married to my high school sweetheart on July 16th, 2016 and have found my wedding dress! In order for it to continue to fit properly I must find ways to enjoy my favorite foods in a healthy way and work my but off in the gym…(If I need to take in my dress, that’s a PLUS). I am also in my Senior year in college and trying to pinch every penny I can, so a lot of the groceries I buy are things that I can easily use in other recipes so that I can conserve as much money as possible. Lucky for you, you get to join me in this whole journey and gain from my experience!

So, if you love engorging yourself with Italian food and eating all the bread at the table but want to maintain your physique, keep reading!

Caprese Salad with Crunchy Sourdough

What you will need:

• mixed greens
• baby spinach
• tomato
• red onion
• mozzarella cheese stick
• fresh basil (from my roommates little garden box on our balcony)
• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• sourdough bread
• OPTIONAL: Chia Seeds (I love topping my food with these! They add a little crunch and a whole lot of health benefits)

What you will do:

1. Chop the tomato, onion and basil (As many as you want or need in your salad).
2. Chop the mozzarella stick into little medallions.
3. Place the chopped veggies and cheese in a plastic baggie or reusable container to marinate. (I marinated mine overnight.)
4. Throw the mixed greens and spinach in a bowl and place the toppings on top after marinating. Sprinkle on the chia seeds or any other crunchy salad topping you’d like as well.
5. Toast the sliced sourdough until crisp and lightly butter. The dressing doubles as a salad dressing AND a great dip for the bread.
6. Dig in. This is a low fat, satisfying salad that is great because it has plenty of vegetables and is booming with flavor!

TAKE IT OFF: The Importance of Good Skin Care

WE all want perfect skin, but each day we face harmful properties that help to cause aging. Doesn’t everyone want babu soft skin?

My 2 year old cousin Henry. He has the softest most beautiful skin. AHHH Isn’t he just so presh?

In high school, I battled my monthly set of minor pimples but never really had BAD acne…however, once I started my freshmen year of college at WWU, my sleeping, eating, and exercising habits all went to crap and I replaced them with a little too much social time. Which, in turn, WRECKED my poor skin. In my sophomore year, I broke out like a stereotypical nerdy kid with glasses. It was embarrassing and painful and I tried everything in the book to help get rid of it. What i didn’t know was that my excessive socializing and falling asleep with makeup slathered on my face was not helping my cause. This summer, I have cleansed out my system, got plenty of sleep and have been awake before the sun comes up more days than not. I drink plenty of water and am more active than I have been. I have also found a few products that have GREATLY improved the quality of my skin. Here are some tips and my skin care routine to having refreshingly bright skin everyday!

1. DRINK UP BUTTER CUP: H2O is your new BFF. By drinking enough water, you not only are helping all of your organs function properly but also helping keep your skin soft and supple.
2. SLEEPING BEAUTY: 8 hours a night will help you feel refreshed, focused and beautiful when you wake up in the morning. Add a night cream to help firm and moisturize your skin overnight.
3. I DON’T SWEAT, I SPARKLE: Exercising and sweating helps clear your pores of impurities which helps keep your skin clear and pores small.
4. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: Add some fresh fruits, veggies and whole grains to your diet. The antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables provide your skin and insides with necessary vitamins and minerals. Eating a diet heavy in protein provides you with fatty acids which are so good for your hair, skin and nails.

WASH,RINSE,REPEAT: I have very sensitive, acne prone, combination to oily skin so a good routine helps to control my acne and oily skin. When I wake up, I use Cetaphil Facial cleanser or my Boots blemish control foaming face wash for when i have breakouts (both of which are soothing on my skin) and Cetaphil facial moisturizer with SPF 50. Being fair skinned makes it even more important to protect my skin from the sun, especially my face. At night, I use Olay cleansing towelettes to remove my makeup and excess dirt from throughout the day. I then use St. Ives Even & Bright face scrub to really clean out my pores. I then use Ponds dark spot correcting face cream to help reduce the scarring from pimples. And Olay firming night cream on my eyes, nose and neck. 

The BEST facial scrub I have ever met. It reduces the size of pores and leaves your skin baby soft!

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I am still working on “perfecting” my skin but I have come along way in just three months. Keep working at it and do not give up! You are BEAUTIFUL in every way. Don’t be afraid to bare your skin and TAKE IT ALL OFF! (makeup that is, keep your clothes on please)

Oh… And, GO HAWKS!