Foodie in Motion

Foodie Blog has Moved!

2011-09-03T00:10:00.001-04:00

Bonjour Friends and Followers!

This blog has been up since 2004. It's time that I moved to a new fresh blog to continue posting.

My blog can now be found at FoodieInMotion.com.

Thanks for reading!

Au revoir!

Sushi Fix @ Taki Japanese Steak House

2011-08-11T21:05:00.001-04:00

It's a beautiful Thursday evening, perfect for a date night/open mic on the patio. We ordered Sweetwater 420 ($3!) and sushi...light and summery. The food was amazing. The service...not so much. (Maybe it's just like this outside? I hope.)

There's a breeze in the air and some talented singers here tonight. Can't wait to hear Marcel play!

Hello Cupcake

2011-08-11T20:50:00.001-04:00

I've had some tasty cupcakes lately. This one pictured is not edible, but it's super cute. (I found it at a boutique in St. Simons Island and just had to buy it.)

One thing that drives me bonkers is buying the most adorable cupcake and bringing it home only to discover that it fell over in the box and is no longer cute enough to photograph. So sadly I don't have many cuppycake pics to share.

To all the cupcake bakers...can you solve this terrible thing? Pretty please with sugar on top? Or I will be forced to post a messy photo next time...

xoxo

I just bought some fitness.

2011-06-30T21:07:00.005-04:00

Groupon deals get me! $37 for Five Introductory Yoga Classes at Stillwater Yoga ($75 Value) http://gr.pn/kxQiCa Yes, please. I've been wanting to take yoga classes for so long...now is the time. Working on my fitness! This one is near the office (convenient) and has a good online presence. Sounds like there are a few yoga blogs in my near future.

{ photo taken today by me }

Goodbye, June.

Milky Way Latte & Strawberry Cupcake @ West Egg Cafe

2011-06-25T10:53:00.004-04:00

There's something nostalgic about West Egg. A photo booth in need of repair. Quiet Sunday evening atmosphere. Breakfast all day. What more could you ask for? Take my advice and order the Milky Way latte. Such a treat! I think this has to be the most beautiful drink I have ever ordered. I'm a sucker for coffee art! ♥

This Strawberry Cupcake with a sweet Strawberry Cream Cheese was pretty amazing as well. The cake consistency was more like a blueberry muffin, except made with strawberries. Love that.

Kinda sad we couldn't play in the photo booth! It was in need of repairs.

Treats with friends is always a great way to end the week.

Au revoir!

Crunchy Onion Baked Chicken & Salad

2011-06-24T11:47:00.002-04:00

Yes, that's deliciousness right there! French's Crunchy Onion Chicken is baked, probably one of the easiest recipes ever and pairs well with mixed organic greens and veggies. YUM!

Make Your Own Soundtrack

2011-06-13T23:11:00.000-04:00

Here's a screen shot of my computer desktop during my workout with Tempo 2 - 8 Reps and iTunes playing in the background. The beauty of T-Tapp is that there's no cheesy music playing during your workout. You can choose to tune into your body and listen to the form ques in silence or play your own sound track. My iTunes is perpetually on shuffle...and I own songs I've never heard before. It surprises me regularly.

What are your favorite workout tunes?

I really needed that workout after taking the weekend off, except for a few sets of Hoe Downs. My back feels great! Not much time left to do a Magnesium Oil soak though. I need to get some beauty sleep.

Bonsoir mes belles!

Amazing Eats at Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

2011-06-12T22:33:00.000-04:00

Last night I had the most fabulous meal with my sista at Pappadeaux in Atlanta. She's been keeping this place a secret from me! We get there around 8pm and find out that she knows the hostess from way back. (Our buzzer literally went off after about 5 minutes when there was over a 40 minute wait for a table. VIP!)

The first thing that we ordered was the most delicious dip I have EVER put in my mouth, hands down! Lump Crab & Spinach Dip with crispy garlic cheese bread...OMG. I could eat that by itself and call it a night.

I saw a woman with this drink and had to order one for myself. It's called a Swamp Thing made from a mix of raspberry and melon liqueurs blended with frozen Hurricane & Margarita. Fantastic! Brain freeze though.

I hate to admit that even though I'm a Florida girl, I've never had oysters before. She was shocked and insisted that we order some. Her favorites were the Oysters Baton Rouge - oysters on the half shell baked with a Parmesan Romano cheese sauce. We also tried the Oysters Pappadeaux with crabmeat, spinach and hollandaise. I loved them!

Next up was the Chicken Linguine Picayune (which we split and barely ate more than a few bites of) tossed with grilled chicken breast, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. Good, but I would have been happy eating just the appetizers with a side of broccoli.

Since we worked SO hard all week AND completed a boot camp we decided to treat ourselves to their new Chocolate Ganache Cake. It was like heaven in my mouth! I don't think words can describe how fantastical this cake was.

After dinner we went to see Bridesmaids and had a few laughs. It was a fun night with my sista!

Beautiful Beet Salad

2011-06-10T12:22:00.003-04:00

Do you ever notice that some foods you couldn't stand when you were younger are now very appealing and appetizing to you? Beets are one of those foods for me. Now I love to juice them, make red vel-beet cupcakes and eat them in salads. Beets hare high in antioxidants, and have anti-inflammatory and detoxification properties. SO good for you! Here's a beautiful organic salad I made from my picks from Your Dekalb Farmers Market: mixed greens, cucumber, beets, carrots, tomatoes, red cabbage, black olives and feta cheese.

Au revoir!

Sweet S'mores...

2011-06-09T19:13:00.002-04:00

Guess what...there was also a gas-powered fire pit in the backyard! I took advantage of that as well and made gooey, melty, yummy s'mores under the stars. During the two weeks of house-sitting I think I ate more s'mores than I have in the last 10 years of my life. They were too good!

P.S. I'm now the mayor of the Fire Pit.

Chicken & Veggie Kabobs

2011-06-08T11:57:00.002-04:00

Picture me house-sitting in this gorgeous place with an awesome grill out back calling my name. I just HAD to use it!! Over Memorial Day weekend we invited the fam over for some chicken and veggie kabobs and classic American hot dogs. I marinated the chicken for half the day in some Italian dressing, chopped up the veggies, threaded the kabobs and the boys took care of the rest. They turned out amazing! Healthy, satisfying and perfect for this time of year. If I had a grill we'd be grillin' out waaaaaay more often. So good!

Au revoir!

My Picks from Dekalb Farmers Market

2011-06-07T12:02:00.003-04:00

I've been hearing about this must-see place in the Atlanta Metro Area they call Your Dekalb Farmers Market. While house-sitting we decided to check it out since it was only a few miles away. It turns out that it's an absolutely massive World Market with foods literally from all over the globe. Quite the overwhelming place for a foodie girl like me! Mostly organic produce with excellent prices, all baked goods were organic and made there, the meat and cheese selection was incredible. I mean, it's hard to find words to describe this market! I really want to go back with a serious camera and spend a good chunk of my Saturday taking photos of the vast assortment of eats. It's breathtaking.

OMG to the garlic cheese. A slice of heaven...

Bonjour, June.

2011-06-06T21:44:00.000-04:00

So I know I've been MIA for over 2 weeks...sorry! I was house- and cat-sitting for my manager while she was in Greece on her honeymoon. I really enjoyed my little staycation! Her house is gorgeous, kitties are great and my commute to work is half of what it normally is. I forgot my digital camera cord at home and wasn't been able to pull off any photos for the blog. Sad! Plan on seeing some new juicy photos here this week.

I'm getting back into healthy habits now that I'm home. Green smoothies, T-Tapp and body brushing. Tonight I did T-Tapp's Basic Workout Plus, Thread the Needle and Step-Lift Sequence with my sista. We officially started a boot camp today. Working on my fitness, but I really want my back and neck to feel better...a little more energy wouldn't hurt either.

Are you working out more now that summer is almost here?

Au revoir!

Dinner: Mediterranean Meets Latin

2011-05-19T20:35:00.002-04:00

Hello, organic black beans and brown rice...plus tabbouleh! Interesting combo. For a new twist: add olives and feta to tabbouleh. Delish.

Oh, and step off my olives!

Portabella Mushroom "Pizza"

2011-05-19T12:17:00.013-04:00

This has to be one of the easiest recipes I have ever made. I first saw portobello mushroom "pizzas" at Whole Foods in the prepared food section -- ready to take and bake at home. Genius! Then my friend Kate posted a photo of her meal and I had to try it myself. Looks mouthwatering! Behold, a new juicy take on veggie pizza:

Recipe Ingredients

2-4 large portabello mushroom caps (1-2 per person depending on how hungry you are!)
your favorite tomato sauce
veggies or toppings of choice
cheese (Cabot's sharp cheddar pictured -- they also have a 50% reduced-fat version that's great too)

Directions

Preheat over to 400-degrees
Place mushrooms bottoms up on a cookie/baking sheet
Spread around 2-3 Tbsp of tomato sauce per mushroom
Add desired veggies or other toppings, finish off with cheese
Bake mushrooms for 10-15 minutes (or until cheese is baked to your liking)

Bon appetit!

West Egg's Fried Green Tomato BLT

2011-05-18T12:36:00.000-04:00

I explored another new (to me) restaurant on Monday with the girls. We went to West Egg Cafe (1100 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta) in Midtown. They serve breakfast all day! But once I saw the FRIED GREEN TOMATO BLT on the menu I had to try it. This amazing sandwich was made with fried green tomatoes, bacon, pimiento cheese, field greens, on toasted challa... with a side of greens and unsweetened iced tea. Heaven!

Also their water bottles are super cute:

Zucca Butternut Squash Ravioli

2011-05-17T12:50:00.003-04:00

Last Friday I went out to lunch with some girls from the office...with Roxy dog in tow. We decided on Osteria del Figo (1210 Howell Mill Rd NW, Atlanta), an Italian restaurant in Midtown. It was my first time eating there - love exploring new eateries!

I ordered the Zucca ravioli - butternut squash and amaretto with a mascarpone and Italian red chicory radicchio sauce. OMG to these flavors! It was fabulous.

Workout or Blog?

2011-05-16T21:33:00.000-04:00

That is the question! I miss having time to feed my blog. Life is busy right now, my time is scarce and the internet connection is unreliable. There are workouts to be done, amongst the laundry list of to-dos. I made a promise to myself to move my body and that's what I'm going to do...in about 5 minutes.

I've been keeping up with the Fitness & Green Smoothie 6 Week Challenge hosted by T-Tapp and the Green Smoothie Queen. Fitting in a little exercise during my regular day here and there...and of course drinking my green smoothies. I even picked up some beautiful kale from the farmer's market last weekend. Living life trying to balance work and play.

Trust that I have some juicy foodie photos waiting for your eyes to feast on. Until then, keep moving...

I ate 3 desserts today...

2011-05-05T23:17:00.002-04:00

Tell me this isn't true: Aquarius May 5 2011 Did you eat too many chocolate eggs a week or so ago, Aquarius? And before that, maybe it was Valentine's chocolates. And let's not forget all of those Christmas cookies. As Memorial Day approaches, you'll need to fight the urge to attack the hot dogs and apple pie. Yes, it's true that every season has its own indulges to worry your waistline. If you have been doing a bit too much indulging in this or any area, the cosmos is offering you a bit of support right now. This is a great time to begin a fitness and general health regimen designed to stay on track and feel great about yourself once again. -- Copyright (c) DailyHoroscope.

Read: workout more, eat less, listen to the universe.

May is Good Posture Month

2011-05-01T18:31:00.003-04:00

Posture, something most of us struggle with. Admit it, slouching is easy! Just not on your back muscles. After a while things get sore and muscle imbalances are created. It takes strength to maintain good posture. Let's try to be more aware of and get good posture this May! With a little mindfulness and practice you can have better posture.

My biggest weakness for bad posture is using a computer! Many of us spend hours of our lives in front of a screen and often slip into bad posture. Here's a helpful image that teaches the proper ergonomics:

Teresa Tapp, creator of the T-Tapp Workout, teaches a basic stance designed for daily use. She shows that it doesn't take much to "bend it, tuck it, lift it, curl it"!
Visit T-Tapp.com for more info.

Need a frequent reminder to stand up straight? Check out iPosture, a smart device that detects and alerts you when your posture starts to slip. They can even be worn clipped on to your shirt or bra, as a necklace, or attached to the skin with special adhesive patches.
Visit iPosture.com to buy.

Here's to working on better posture in May!

Spot on Salmon at 5 Seasons Westside

2011-04-25T12:08:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday I headed out of the office for lunch with Jen. We decided on 5 Seasons Westside restaurant and brewery since they have a rooftop deck with skyline views. It was such a beautiful afternoon...and hot. Would have been a fantastic day for a cool brew, except we skipped the drinks in lieu of iced tea. (Warning: ice melts fast in these parts.) I ordered the Organic Salmon on a small Balsamic Slow Cooked Beet Salad. Have to say that it was spot on and a perfect way to end the week. I will be going back to this place!

Plus, I love the chef's philosophy:

"I believe fresh, natural food tastes better. I believe in supporting our local organic farmers and those practicing sustainable agriculture. I believe balance in life, nature and food is difficult and worth the effort. I like to pay homage to the great dishes and styles of cooking that have evolved since the beginning of time and put our own little spin on them. I want the 5 Seasons to be a positive force in the lives of the people who become involved with it and improve their lives as a result." - Chef Dave Larkworthy

Happy eats!

Fitness & Green Smoothie 6-Week Challenge

2011-04-25T08:45:00.000-04:00

I just heard about this exciting 6-week online challenge that starts on May 1st, 2011. T-Tapp has joined forces with the Green Smoothie Queen (The Raw Divas) in a NEW kind of challenge that will teach strategies to fit in fitness and shape up for summer!

Sign up for this! Fit In Fitness and Green Smoothie 6-Week Shape Up Challenge Membership will cost $49.95 and will give access to a NEW T-Tapp Membership area featuring 7 new muscle activation techniques from Teresa Tapp as well as 6 audio seminars from the Green Smoothie Queen. Plus, a weekly email with strategies on how to fit in fitness during the day, increase nutritional support without pills, gain more energy and sleep better - without breaking the bank or taking too much time out of a busy lifestyle.

I can't wait to participate in this!

{ weekend } T-Tapp Workout, Easter Eggs & Parks

2011-04-24T20:40:00.003-04:00

Happy Easter!

Here's my ode to the weekend:

On Saturday morning I was up bright and early for a T-Tapp workout with Renee McLaughlin here in Atlanta. She teaches weekday mornings and some Saturday classes, and it's WELL worth the trip. I always enjoy being in a live workout class. It intensifies the movements for me and challenges my body in a new way (everyone teaches differently). Renee is a fabulous trainer...and I felt amazing after her class! Today I'm feeling a LOT of muscle awareness. Thanks again, Renee!

After my great workout, I attempted to shop at the Marietta Square Farmers Market but many vendors were closing up shop or already sold most of the goods for the day. Next week I'll get there early! I walked across the street and picked up a flier for the Be Yoga studio. Looks like they have 2 free classes a month! Plus special packages, kids yoga, hot yoga, and Pilates.

Then I came home and dyed Easter eggs with Cayden. Remember doing that?

Today we had an Easter egg hunt with Cayden this morning and then went to Piedmont Park to enjoy this beautiful day. The dog park was busy and the playground was too. I love getting outside!

Off to enjoy the rest of my evening. Hope you all had a relaxing weekend!

Organic Hummus from Trader Joe's

2011-04-20T19:01:00.001-04:00

Have to say that I'm impressed with Trader Joe's Organic Hummus...but maybe I'm just starving! It makes a great snack with sliced veggies (or dinner since I'm still at the office waiting on one last project). And the best part is that this hummus is only $2.00!

Veggie Burger Delight

2011-04-19T12:19:00.002-04:00

I picked up Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burgers at Trader Joe's this weekend for some quick lunches. Turns out they're pretty tasty. I think they'd be better grilled, but sandwiched in between this organic lettuce from the farmers market with mustard it makes a great lunch.

That little pacman looking thing is a Babybel Light cheese.

Yum!

Raspberry Coconut Baby Romaine Chia Smoothie

2011-04-19T07:43:00.001-04:00

Breakfast...organic frozen raspberries, coconut water, baby romaine and Chia Bia blended together to a tart perfection. Plus a side of Ezekiel bread fresh from the farmers market with natural apple butter. Yummy!

I did Instructional #1, Hoe Downs and Awesome Legs with Veronica last night...feeling it today!

Marietta Square Farmers Market

2011-04-18T09:32:00.010-04:00

I love farmers markets! So happy they come with spring time. Last weekend I found out about the Marietta Square Farmers Market, which happens every Saturday from 9am-12pm from May through November. We arrived and got an excellent parking spot. There were lots of tents set up with locally grown and produced products. The place was packed. I was in heaven!

In my shopping bag...

* 12 farm fresh eggs
* 1 pint of strawberries
* 2 giant hydroponic bibb lettuces
* 1 bunch of living basil
* 1 loaf of homemade Ezekiel bread
* 1 spinach pie
* 1 baklava
* a bag of PB dog treats

Yum! I plan on making Saturday farmers markets a regular habit this year. Love supporting the local community and reaping the benefits of eating super fresh food.

I'm in the T-Tapp eNewsletter!

2011-04-14T21:16:00.000-04:00

To my surprise I was mentioned in the March 2011 edition of the
T-Tapp eNewsletter today. WOW, thanks Teresa! For those of you who don't already know...I left my position at T-Tapp in February to start a fresh, new chapter of my life. And yes, I do miss T-Tapp, talking to my customers and trainers, and the T-Tapp staffers. But I'm still doing the T-Tapp exercise program and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I had a really good run working at T-Tapp... 14 years straight! Most people are completely shocked when I tell them how long I worked at the same company, but honestly I loved it.

T-Tapp is a non-impact all-in-one workout (cardio, aerobic, strength training, stretching) that can be done anytime, anywhere. It works for all ages and fitness levels too; from kids to grandparents. No equipment is necessary and results come quickly -- you should see inch loss within the first week! No joke.

The biggest reason why I worked at T-Tapp so long was because I believed in the program and Teresa Tapp's mission of spreading the word of wellness and helping people achieve success. I highly recommend that you visit T-Tapp.com and check out the Try Before You Buy videos for yourself. Test it out and you'll understand how powerful this program can be!

For all my T-Tapper friends out there... I miss you! Stay in touch with me by commenting on my blog. Remember that you can always find me and reconnect through social media!

Follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/foodieinmotion
And Twitter too: http://www.twitter.com/foodieinmotion

Stay tuned because I'll be posting more about T-Tapp and fitness in the coming weeks.

Au revoir!

Dark Cherry Banana Baby Romaine Chia Smoothie

2011-04-13T08:22:00.002-04:00

The Magic Bullet is my friend! Spring is here and smoothies are one of the best ways to pack in nutrition, while helping to shed pounds (and inches) for warmer weather.

Cascadian Farms organic frozen fruits and veggies are on sale at Publix... plus a $1 off coupon. I stocked up! After watching that Extreme Couponing show I'm trying to be more conscious of sales and using coupons. Anyone else see that show?

Anyway, the frozen cherries are SO good! Today's green smoothie ingredients:

* 1 cup Original Almond Breeze (also on sale)
* 2 cups organic baby romaine
* 1/2 cup organic frozen dark cherries
* 1/2 banana
* 1.5 Tbsp Chia Bia

Blend and enjoy!

Have a beautiful day everyone.

Chocolate Cupcakes

2011-04-12T22:58:00.001-04:00

I made chocolate chocolate cupcakes for Vrok's birthday on Sunday...and I'm pretty sure I ate more than her! Happy birthday sista!!

I found this delicious recipe using the Allrecipes.com Dinner Spinner™ on my Android device. View the recipe on Allrecipes.com now:
Chocolate Cupcakes

I've been blogging from my phone. Can you tell?

It's a Kashi day!

2011-04-12T13:43:00.001-04:00

I'm all about healthier eating, but sometimes convenience rules. And in this case Kashi is a great choice. I made an organic dark cherry banana spinach chia green smoothie and a vanilla coffee for my ride to work. Grabbed a snack and lunch on my way out...

I'm totally addicted to Kashi Dark Chocolate Coconut bars! Think candy bar meets granola bar with only 120 calories and 30 grams of fat...yum! You need to try these.

Lunch was a frozen Kashi Red Curry Chicken meal. They were on sale and you can't beat a $3.00 lunch these days. I absolutely love curry dishes! This one wasn't too spicy, but had good flavor...plus 17 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber.

Overall it's still processed food, but better than other brands with additives, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or trans fats.

What's your favorite frozen meal or snack bar? Do you ready Kashi too?

Happy eating!

Take me out to the ball game...

2011-04-09T15:39:00.000-04:00

Last night we went to the Atlanta Braves opening game at Turner Field. We got some great seats, thanks to my new agency. The place was literally packed full of excited Braves fans. It was my first time at a baseball game of this magnitude...and I had a blast. It was truly an all American experience. I shared a jumbo hot dog with mustard and peanuts, drank Yuengling and cheered along with the tomahawks.

What fun!

Hello Spring! Is Your Skin Ready?

2011-04-09T14:59:00.000-04:00

Spring is finally here! Hello warmer weather, sunshine, wild flowers, dresses, tank tops, shorts and sandals. It's time to shed your winter skin and do a skin "shape up" routine to glow through this beautiful season.

Top 5 Things to Improve Your Skin Right Now

Daily Body Brushing to refresh and rejuvenate your skin while tightening it and helping to eliminate the appearance of cellulite
Take Premium Blended Alfalfa to feed your skin and recreate a collagen layer
Drink LOTS of Water to stay hydrated
Take Dead Sea Salt Soaks (or swim in the ocean!)
Exercise regularly -- I recommend T-Tapp!

And one more as a bonus... eat well! That means eating your veggies and fruit to get the most amount of FRESH nutrients you can. Check out your local farmer's market or health food store to stock up on organic produce.

I'm loving the weather this weekend and plan on going to the park to soak up some sunshine and the surrounding greenery.

Au revoir!

Schroeder's Deli: Great Eats & Art

2011-03-30T12:05:00.003-04:00

Last weekend we went to Rome...Rome, Georgia that is! A small college town about an hour from Atlanta. We took cover from the rain and had lunch at Zach's favorite place, Schroeder's Deli. A family owned restaurant with a great atmosphere and yummy eats. The owner's son's impressive artwork hung on the wall for sale.

We ordered a pitcher of Blue Moon and potato skins to share. I got the turkey pita, which was hot with sprouts and veggies. All of it was delicious!

Why I'm not hungry for lunch...

2011-03-29T13:14:00.002-04:00

This morning I was in a rush and forgot to make breakfast. I really wanted an egg and cheese sandwich, but not down for supporting fast food places anymore...so I used Foursquare's explore feature to find a breakfast place on my route. New Yorker Deli at 4691 Atlanta Rd came up with rave reviews!

I stopped and got my sammie to go. They make everything fresh and it was ready in 5 minutes. To my surprise it was 2 fried eggs with melted cheese and crispy bacon. Yummy!

Next time I'll try a bagel, which is about half the price. Great place to stop!

Spoon's Panang Chicken Rivals Ban Thai

2011-03-23T13:45:00.002-04:00

The flavors are spot on! Panang is made with a red curry coconut sauce, veggies and optional meat served with rice. Instead of zucchini Spoon uses thinly sliced eggplant, which is an interesting twist!

Compared to Ban Thai, their packaging prevents spills - a plus! But they don't serve brown rice - a minus.

The restaurant was very busy so I grabbed my food to go...and it was ready quickly.
Spoon is located in Midtown, Atlanta.

Octane Coffee Buzz

2011-03-22T08:11:00.000-04:00

Pleasantly better than Starbucks, this Atlanta coffee bar is a local favorite and now I know why. They make super fresh French press coffee for you to sit and enjoy while reading a paper or checking your email. In addition to amazing caffeinated concoctions, Octane Coffee serves beer, wine, liquor, sandwiches and more. I have to go back again soon!

The best part is this place is a hop, skip and jump away from my new office!

Cupcakes from Sugar Cakes Patisserie

2011-03-21T21:59:00.000-04:00

It was a gloomy Sunday and all I could think about was adding some sweetness to my afternoon. Marietta Square is the center of the town and there are several independently owned bakeries and homemade ice cream shops within a few blocks of each other. (I'm having a secret cupcake war between bakeries to see which one is the king of the square. This is my first taste test.) Sugar Cakes Patisserie seemed to be the only one open to the public on Sunday and I called ahead to make sure they still had some cupcakes. Once I arrived I was told that the cookies and cream and red velvet cupcakes went really fast! Apparently I wasn't the only one with cupcakes on the brain. I picked up 5 to share with my loved ones...plus a chocolate covered strawberry for myself.

When I got home and opened the box only the vanilla cupcakes had fallen over.

These cupcakes were surprisingly super light and not very sweet. The icing was like a whipped frothy pudding; vanilla hinted of cream cheese. We definitely enjoyed them!

Come back next weekend for round 2 of my secret cupcake war!

{ weekend } Loving Midtown

2011-03-15T07:28:00.003-04:00

My weekend was pretty exciting. I spent last Saturday as a Makeup Assistant in Midtown, Atlanta. Veronica (aka Vrok, my sista) is a Master Makeup Artist and was booked for a bridal fashion photo shoot. (Visit her website: http://veronicasitterding.com!) The location for the shoot was at the Redefined Home Boutique. This store is so much more than your average furniture store... it's a gorgeous display of luxury items that I'd love to collect for my home. If you're anywhere near Downtown or Midtown Atlanta you must stop at Redefined! The owner and staff were awesome and I was in heaven spending an enter afternoon in this place! The gowns went beautifully with the background -- a perfect setting for this type of photo shoot.

It's hard to say what my favorite look or gown was because they were all out of this world. Efran Lebron Arroyo's designs were stunning...and made me want to hurry up and get one! Veronica did a fantastic job changing up the model's makeup to go with the 5 gowns. And the girls doing the hair knew their stuff and were really fun to hang with too! I enjoyed the whole process and love being on set. I even got to be the "test shot" model for the photographer!

Here are some of my best photos of the day:

On Sunday I went back to Midtown with my boyfriend and puppy to spent the afternoon at Piedmont Park. What a giant park! So much to do and see. Kids and dogs everywhere! I can tell already that this place is going to be a spot I'll frequent.

Au revoir!

Tiny Bistro by Figs & Honey Catering

2011-03-14T23:57:00.002-04:00

I had a busy first day at my new job. Did some training, lots of reading and meeting new people. I can not begin to explain how excited I am to be working for this company. It's like a dream come true. My job is an amazing part of town with some of the coolest people and it feels like what I was meant to do. Finally found my place in the universe again!

For lunch my new supervisor took me out to lunch at this neat place called Tiny Bistro a few minutes from the office. The menu is written on the chalkboard wall and there are pops of bright pink everywhere. The chicken salad on greens caught my eye and I went with it. Turned out to be a really great choice too!

Here are a few photos I snagged from their site of the interior. I'm sure I'll be back there for another lunch out soon, but there are lots and lots of new restaurants to explore in Midtown!

Need to go to sleeeeeep!!! Early morning with quite a commute.

Green Smoothie: Spinach Cantaloupe Banana Chia

2011-03-14T23:53:00.000-04:00

I almost ran out of the house without breakfast this morning in a rush to get on the road for my first day of work. But I thought about what my options were and wasn't feeling it. What did I do? Made a green smoothie in less than 5 minutes and drank it on my commute! Healthy and fabulous way to start my day.

Recipe Ingredients:

1/4 fresh cantaloupe
1/2 frozen banana
1.5 Tbsp Chia Bia*
1 cup Original Almond Breeze

Blend and enjoy! The cantaloupe was SO refreshing. LOVE this recipe.

*After a little bit the chia starts to thicken the smoothie, so it's best if you drink it somewhat quickly.

Drink Your Greens!

La Parrilla Margarita Time!

2011-03-09T18:16:00.003-05:00

La Parrilla is a chain of Mexican restaurants around the Atlanta area. Someone had a craving for burritos last Saturday night... and La Parrilla came to mind. A live musician played cover songs with a flare. The restaurant was hustling and bustling with patrons... and a few of them celebrated their birthdays. We ordered a Patron margarita pitcher to share. Yes, I said pitcher! Veronica ordered a Mango Daiquiri and it was so tasty that I'm going to have to get that next time. Apparently they make really great drinks at La Parrilla! (One drink was all I needed.) We ordered a side of white cheesy queso (which I didn't snap a photo of) and snacked on fresh tortilla chips.

Check out my Super Burrito! Can you even tell there's a burrito under there? Seasoned shredded chicken topped with lettuce, cheese, sour cream and a tomato slice. Deliciouso! But after tasting how fantastic the marinated steak is... I will order than next time too.

With a side of guacamole. SO good! You can't go wrong with fresh guac... ever.

Adios Amigos!

Say NO to GM Alfalfa!!!

2011-03-09T17:04:00.000-05:00

How did I miss this last month?! The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the planting of genetically engineered alfalfa, rejecting regulations that the department proposed. NOOOOO!!! Monsanto wins again... and the American population loses a little more "real" food and faces unforeseeable side effects. Genetically Modified Organisms (and now Animals!!!) could be the biggest controversy of our century! European countries have banned GMOs and will not allow trade of products make with these ingredients into their countries. (I'm taking that as a sign that I need to move to Europe.) Do you guys realize how scary and serious this is? It's threatening my precious Organic Premium Blended Alfalfa, not to mention the food supply of our entire planet...and I won't stand for that!

My mouth dropped and eyes widened when I read this:

"This is great news for farmers who have been waiting for the green light to plant Roundup Ready alfalfa," said Steve Welker, alfalfa commercial lead at Monsanto.

What farmers?! You've got to be joking. I want to know what farmers of the world want to actually grow the genetically modified crop. To me it's like spoiled food!

Also from that same article...

Opponents say biotech alfalfa can contaminate organic crops, and that the increased use of herbicide can strengthen weeds’ resistance to such substances.

Alfalfa is the fourth-biggest U.S. crop by acreage, the WSJ said, raised as hay on about 20 million acres. About 250,000 acres of this, or one percent, is organic.

The vast majority of the country’s corn, cotton and soybeans are genetically modified, the WSJ said.

Now, that's the truth. When Monsanto's crops contaminate organic crops, Monsanto bullies those farmers to fork over their crops and the profits go too.

Still not sure what GMO or Monsanto even is? Please watch this video. It's VERY important!

Also watch (or listen) to this one to get a MUCH better understanding of the details of this alarming situation with America's Alfalfa crops.

This is our moment! Send a letter to dozens of dairies and food companies simultaneously. Let them know how strong we feel and how MILLIONS strong we are. When they get the message about the coming non-GMO tipping point, they'll realize it's time to remove all GM ingredients, not just alfalfa.

Share this "click and send revolution" with your friends, shop using the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, and tell the food companies the truth about GMOs. And for those who want to do even more, you are invited to join a local or national Non-GMO Action Group, to expand our numbers even further!

Tell Food Companies: Stop the Introduction of GE Alfalfa into your Supply Chain

It's time we let the food companies know that we have new healthier criteria if they want to keep us as customers. And front and center in those new criteria is to commit to no GM alfalfa in their supply chain (which is used as animal feed, particularly to dairy cows).

Please use the link below to send a letter to the food companies letting them know!
http://action.responsibletechnology.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5838

Thank you for your support! Remember to buy organic, do your own research, get informed and talk to others about this important issue. Most of the population is completely unaware of GMO foods and the consequences they have on our bodies, health and planet.

Safe Eating,

Blue Moon Pizza

2011-03-09T13:14:00.000-05:00

Last Friday we headed out to eat at Blue Moon Pizza. I love the name and atmosphere of this place -- they have free Wi-Fi too! Every table has these cute blue moon tiles on the corners and the restaurant was pretty busy for a Friday night. I ordered a Blue Moon beer (of course, one of my faves)! We decided to share the garlic knots, Greek Salad and white pizza. Our waitress was from Florida -- somehow I keep running into Floridians!

White Pizza: Fresh spinach, roasted garlic, red onions, artichoke hearts, creamy ricotta cheese and our house cheese.

Overall this is definitely a place you should visit if in the Atlanta area. I'd love to go there on a sunny day to enjoy a leisurely lunch with a fresh brew and my laptop. I still miss Dominic's though!

Au revoir!

W.I.S.H. for Women

2011-03-08T23:49:00.002-05:00

Happy 100th International Women's Day!

In celebration of women on March 8th.
It's time to celebrate...
Let's celebrate women!
This one is for the ladies in the house!

Hi, dear friend.

March 8th is International Women's Day.

This is not "just another day".

Oh sure, you'll have the usual to do list:

Make breakfast
Walk the dog
Fold laundry
Wash dishes
Wipe counters
Take the kids to soccer practice, etc.

But on this day, you're going to put something
very, very important on the to do list.

Yourself!

I know it's not always easy to
prioritize yourself when you have so much
to do, but I have just the thing to help you
make it happen!

http://bit.ly/100wishes

For 40 days and 40 nights, you're invited
to make a commitment to you--to your health,
well-being and to learning everything you possibly
can from some of the most successful health
and wellness leaders today.

You're invited to WISH: The Women's International
Summit for Health

http://bit.ly/100wishes

It's a f.r.e.e. online event that starts
on March 8th. Tens of thousands of women
from around the world will be coming together
to put themselves on the agenda.

Here are just some of the people who will be
speaking as part of this event:

Byron Katie
Maya Angelou
Marianne Williamson
Arielle Ford
Carol Look
Mike Adams
John Robbins
Dr. Joel Fuhrman

You can check them all out here:

http://bit.ly/100wishes

If there was ever an opportunity for you
to tap into the wisdom of women and men who are
living their best life, this event IS IT!

I guarantee you'll be thanking me for
having mentioned it to you, so sign up now!

http://bit.ly/100wishes

Love,

P.S. An event like this is the perfect way to make
your ideal life more than just wishful thinking!

Green Smoothie: Kale Chia Banana

2011-02-28T11:51:00.000-05:00

I finally found my Chia Bia again! Chia seeds are known as the Ancient Food of the Aztecs... and yes, they were part of this Chia Pets! Some of the health benefits of adding chia to your diet are: anti-inflammatory properties, reducing high blood pressure, improving heart health, help with Type 2 Diabetes, healing dry skin conditions, aiding digestive disorders, improving concentration, relief from depression, boosted energy levels, and balancing hormone levels. And weight loss since the fiber helps to fill you up. AHmazing product! Here's a link to a detailed information page about this incredible superfood: http://www.chiabia.ie/about.html

Recipe Ingredients:

2 large fresh organic kale leaves
1 fresh banana
1.5 Tbsp Chia Bia
1 cup Original Almond Breeze

Blend and enjoy! After a little bit the chia starts to thicken the smoothie, so it's best if you drink it somewhat quickly.

Have you ever tried cooking with Chia Seeds?

Drink Your Greens!

Hiking at Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield

2011-02-27T22:16:00.000-05:00

I got my outdoor fitness on today! Went with the boys and pups to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield and walked/hiked around the area (using T-Tapp techniques, of course). I'm thinking we trekked about 3-5 miles. The mountain terrain was a bit challenging and I really felt my legs working it! The monument pictured below was built in 1914 and located at the top of the battlefield mountain. I love going to places with history - and the area was truly beautiful!

Here's a little history for ya:

Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield is a 2,923 acre National Battlefield that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. The battle was fought here from June 19, 1864 until July 2, 1864. Sherman's army consisted of 100,000 men, 254 guns and 35,000 horses. Johnston's army had 63,000 men and 187 guns. Over 67,000 soldiers were killed, wounded and captured during the Campaign.

When we got home I ~~stuffed my face with~~ ate the leftovers from my Red Lobster meal, took a shower and proceeded to pass out for about 2 hours. I was beat...in a good way!

Planning on starting a mini T-Tapp Boot Camp with V tomorrow. Oh, and I measured a few areas today and discovered that my hips are 37 inches!!! Shocking and fabulous for me.

Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits = Heaven!

2011-02-27T21:26:00.000-05:00

I went out to eat at Red Lobster this weekend for Lobster Fest! Have to say that one of my favorite things there are those amazing cheese biscuits. OMG, melt in your mouth goooood! I've been working out a little more lately so why not enjoy a dinner out, right?

For my entree I ordered the Rock Island Stuffed Tilapia. Fresh tilapia roasted with crab-and-seafood stuffing and topped with langostino lobster meat in a creamy lobster butter sauce. Served with fresh broccoli and a small baked potato with butter and sour cream. YUM!

Au revoir!

Green Smoothie: Spinach Blueberry Banana Greek Yogurt

2011-02-27T09:37:00.015-05:00

Just about out of all my ingredients - spinach, bananas and blueberries - so I decided to add some FAGE 0% Greek Yogurt for extra protein. It makes the smoothie thicker and more like a delicious treat. This photo was taken (on the 22nd) a little after I drank some right after blending. Oops! And for some reason these blueberries are REALLY blue! My whole mouth turned blue. What fun.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups fresh organic spinach
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup Original Almond Breeze
4 oz FAGE 0% Greek Yogurt

Blend and enjoy!

Drink Your Greens!

Adorable Mini Wedding Cakes!

2011-02-27T00:26:00.000-05:00

I stopped by D. Geller & Son's Diamond store today with my sister to get her gorgeous rings cleaned. They just happened to be having a Tacori Trunk Show and a special bridal event. Sugarplum Visions Cake Artisans was there with these adorable mini wedding cakes! So super cute for the spring/summer season. They can make the mini cakes into larger versions and completely customize them for to match your wedding or party theme. Sugarplum's owner, Jamie, was a pleasure to talk to and I'm sure just as sweet to work with!

I did get to sample one of these cute mini red velvet cupcakes that had edible sparkles on them. SO GOOD!

Sweet dreams!

P.S. I have to say that the owner of the store and manager were both friendly and very helpful. I'd highly recommend checking out D. Gelle & Son's if you're in the Atlanta area and looking for some bling.

Boursin Cheese Filet Mignon & Broccoli

2011-02-26T23:56:00.000-05:00

This meal has got to be one of my new favorites! A excellently grilled filet mignon topped with Boursin Cheese. Make-My-Mouth-Water-Delicious! I have no words...

Drooling...

Workout Review: T-Tapp's Barefoot Basic Plus DVD

2011-02-23T15:20:00.000-05:00

Although it is highly recommended to wear shoes while learning the Total Workout or doing any standing T-Tapp exercises due to the arch support and better balance, the Barefoot Basic Plus clinic workout teaches the primary principles of how to maximize muscle activation and safely do the Basic Workout Plus without shoes. Application of these techniques can also be done while wearing shoes to increase intensity and effectiveness of ANY workout you do! You can feel it working your legs a lot more.

Barefoot Basic Plus

This DVD includes three workouts in one!

1. Barefoot Basic Plus Workout + Instruction (45 minutes)
2. Barefoot Basic Plus Workout Only (30 minutes)
3. Hoe Down Showdown 55 (45 minutes)

Last night I did the Barefoot Basic Plus Workout + Instruction with my sister. It was her first time watching a T-Tapp DVD and doing those exercises, but with her dance background she followed along pretty easily and could feel the exercises working. I was lucky enough to be in the class during the filming of this workout...and was amazed at how much more you can activate your muscles when you engage your feet. Even just lifting the big toe will make you feel your tummy! We may try the workout without instruction tonight.

Hoe Down Showdown 55 is also on this DVD. Filmed during our 2009 Retreat at the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, this record breaking, super aerobic "workout" features everyone doing 55 sets of Hoe Downs non-stop! Now YOU CAN too! During the class I only completed 10 sets, which was enough for me at the time. I taught my nephew how to do Hoe Downs the other day and he keeps asking to "do that exercise again"! Hoe Downs are great for all ages. Get this DVD to follow along to see how many sets you can do with good form. It's fun, challenging and you can get the whole family involved.

Overall this workout is well worth it! You get 3 different routines to work with and the techniques you learn can easily be applied to any other form of exercise or T-Tapp workout to increase your results.Yes You Can!

Retail: $29.95
Click here to order!

Have you tried any other barefoot workouts?

Happy Tapping!

Posture Power!

2011-02-23T08:52:00.001-05:00

One of the first things that people notice after starting the T-Tapp program is a drastic improvement in better posture. It becomes easier to naturally maintain a good straight stance once you strengthen your core muscles with T-Tapp exercises. Here's an article from a previous Woman's Day magazine that explains how to get perfect posture when sitting and standing. Yes You Can!

Click the image above to enlarge the article. And check out this video from Teresa Tapp to learn how to activate your body with better posture to burn more calories and fat throughout the day.

Happy Tapping!

West Cobb Diner

2011-02-22T14:08:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I went out to lunch with my sista and nephew to a local place called the West Cobb Diner. We were pretty hungry and ended up ordering a bit too much. I finished off my House Salad with Ranch -- it was a fantastic blend of mixed greens, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, cheddar, boiled egg and crispy bacon. The Smoked Chicken Quesadilla with Gouda Cheese & Pico de Gallo was our appetizer and big enough to be a meal on it's own. I had a 1/2 sweet 1/2 unsweet tea -- just the way I like it. And their macaroni and cheese comes in as a close second to my homemade version. Finally we shared the Pastrami Reuben on toasted rye, with swiss, thousand island & sauerkraut. It was my first pastrami sandwich and highly recommended by our 7-foot waiter. In fact, he said "You're getting it. I already wrote it down. You basically ordered my daily lunch today."

Happy eats!

Old South BBQ

2011-02-22T12:02:00.005-05:00

It was 7:00pm. We were all hungry. Seriously lacking dinner material in the house. What do to? Old South BBQ! This place is a local Georgia family owned restaurant that's been open since 1968. It still has that old-timey feel to it. I ordered the BBQ chicken sandwich on garlic toast. My sista got the ribs and they were huge! Unfortunately, the green beans were sold out and they don't do mac & cheese... sad! I have to say the food was on point though. YUM!

What's the best kind of BBQ you've ever had?

Kinda craving some more BBQ for lunch today...

Green Smoothie: Spinach Blueberry Banana

2011-02-22T11:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the Magic Bullet I'm back in the daily habit of a green smoothie. It's about time that I start to mix up my greens again though. Eating 2 cups of spinach everyday can get old. Thinking about switching to kale. Here's yesterday's breakfast of champions... Spinach Blueberry Banana smoothie and a Caramel Macchiato.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups fresh organic spinach
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup Original Almond Breeze

Blend and enjoy!

What kind of greens do you use in your green smoothies?

Au revoir!

Pssst...I have a secret weapon for weight loss!

2011-02-22T10:26:00.000-05:00

My secret is T-Tapp! What's T-Tapp? The most comprehensive total body workout on the planet which delivers fast results without impact, weights, equipment or jumping. The do anywhere/anytime, cardio, strength training, body sculpting, core building, bone density boosting, pain reducing exercise program.

Sound too good to be true? Think again! I challenge you to try it for yourself. You have nothing to lose...but inches. (Plus, T-Tapp even has unlimited customer support with trainers available to talk to or email with 7 days a week. Now, that's unheard of!) Just click the image below (or the link up there) to visit T-Tapp.com. Then go to the Try Before You Buy section of the site to test out a few of the moves. I recommend doing 2-3 movements per day for a week...try Hoe Downs! Measure your target areas before (arms, waist, abs, hips, thighs, etc) and again after 7-10 days to see the difference. I know you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Last night I played the part of a T-Tapp Trainer (technically still in-training) and taught my sista (Vrok!) a little bit of the basics. We've been talking about doing T-Tapp exercises together for years now. And it's about time we worked it out! I started our session with a talk about what her goals and expectations were. Then figured out what the best schedule would be for her to achieve them. We took "before" photos, measurements and I determined her body type -- she's a Long Torso/Short Leg like me! She's taking a trip to Miami for her birthday in April and wants to look her best. For bikini bearing vacays I highly recommend body brushing daily to get your skin in tip top shape. I gave her my backup body brush and showed her Teresa Tapp's special brushing sequence. Remember, all you need are butterfly-like light strokes to get the benefits!

Then we got to the good stuff... the movement that matters! I went over the T-Tapp stance, how to curl the core and then taught her Hoe Downs -- a simple, quick move that's fun and easy to do anywhere. Yes, I mean anywhere such as your desk or cubical, a bathroom stall, an elevator...get creative on how you fit it in!

Our Mini Workout*:

T-Tapp Stance/Curling Core (against the wall)
Hoe Downs
Butterflies
Triceps Curls
Organs in Place/Half Frogs (extended version, bridge work)
Awesome Legs
Diva Derriere (shortened version, 15-10-10-10)

*All of these (except #1) are available in the free Try Before You Buy section on T-Tapp.com!

Needless to say Vrok felt the burn and had a great time exercising...and so did I! We're planning on starting the Basic Workout Plus today. I love teaching T-Tapp! It's amazing how much I learned working at T-Tapp HQ for over a decade and training with the creator herself. This program is WELL worth a try! If you have any questions feel free to comment here or email me at casey [at] t-tapp [dot] com.

What's your favorite exercise program?

P.S. In case you missed it, Teresa Tapp was on FOX 5 Good Day Atlanta last week. Check out the video here: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/good_day_atl/Teresa-Tapp%27s-T-Tapp-Fitness-Minute-20110218-gda-sd

Green Smoothie: Spinach Strawberry Banana

2011-02-21T23:51:00.000-05:00

I am seriously loving the Magic Bullet. Less mess, easy to make one serving and breakfast is done in a jiffy! Here's a smoothie I made on February 15th... it's boyfriend approved.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups fresh organic spinach
1/2 fresh banana
1/2 cup fresh strawberries
1 cup Original Almond Breeze
1 Tbsp FAGE 0% plain yogurt
a few ice cubes

Blend and enjoy!

Au revoir!

Kilwin's Candy Dreams

2011-02-21T23:39:00.000-05:00

Oh, the dreamy Kilwin's Candy Store at Atlantic Station! This place is no less than fabulous. (I've been meaning to post this since Valentine's Day. Whoops!) We went out to Atlantic Station, had dinner at California Pizza Kitchen and then stopped by this little jem of a shop for dessert.

The place was packed! Valentine's decorations everywhere. Think chocolate -- lots and lots of chocolate. Fudge. Homemade ice cream. Candy apples. Chocolate covered pretzels. Pretty much a sweet tooth's dream.

I ♥ the lights hanging above the walkway. Beautiful.

The most amazing caramel apple EVER.

Au revoir!

Green Smoothie: Spinach Banana Avocado Coconut

2011-02-10T14:10:00.000-05:00

It's been a little while since I made a green smoothie. I missed them. This morning I discovered the Magic Bullet! Have you ever used one of these? They are AHmazing. I have to get one of my own. So easy to use and clean!

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups fresh organic spinach
1 fresh banana
1/2 avocado
1 cup coconut water

Blend and enjoy!

Au revoir!

Consciousness Blossoms in Palm Harbor

2011-02-08T21:39:00.000-05:00

Before leaving Florida my mom took me out to lunch at this little vegetarian restaurant in Palm Harbor called Consciousness Blossoms. It's a cafe-like place on Tampa Road that serves breakfast and lunch. I ordered the Hummus Wrap, which was huge! And mom ordered a tempeh dish. The place was clean, quiet and busy. I really enjoyed my food, but the service was a bit slow. Go there when you have time for a leisurely and healthful lunch.

We shared a slice of vegan carrot cake with lemon icing. Yum! (Sort of a late "birthday" cake for me.)

Happy eats!

My Tappy Birthday Dinner

2011-02-02T18:59:00.000-05:00

On Monday, January 24th I celebrated my 30th birthday with my T-Tapp co-workers at the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa restaurant. Teresa ordered the crab cakes for us to share. This time I have to say they were exceptional! The last few times we've ordered the same dish it seemed like something was missing. Well, the crab cakes are back and fantastic!

I ordered the Rum Glazed Grouper for my entree. It was also really good...especially the seared shrimp. Yum!

When I got home Marcel surprised me with some red velvet cupcakes. OMG...heaven!

This dinner out was also sort of a "goodbye" dinner. Sorry I haven't posted as much lately. You must understand that moving your entire life to a new place is mighty time consuming. More soon!

Au revoir!

T-Tapp on Good Day Atlanta!

2011-01-26T14:19:00.000-05:00

Hey T-Tappers! Did you see that T-Tapp was on Good Day Atlanta this morning? It was a great little segment where Teresa Tapp shows how you can sneak in exercise, even if you're just standing in a line! Watch the video clip below and learn how. T-Tapp Trainer Renee McLaughlin was also on the segment. For those of you in the Atlanta area, Renee is your trainer! She's a great one to have close by.

T-Tapp is also coming back to Atlanta in February for several events!

February 18: FREE Yes You Can with T-Tapp Introduction for Newbies
February 19: Are You Too Busy to Be You? -- a full day event with experts in the beauty, health and wellness industry
February 20: Master Class with Teresa Tapp

Check out the T-Tapp events page for details: https://store.t-tapp.com/pages/Upcoming-Events.html

And watch this video clip!

Effective Exercise with T-Tapp: MyFoxATLANTA.com

Au revoir!

Austin, here I come!

2011-01-26T13:42:00.000-05:00

It's just about killed me to keep this secret for this long... I'm moving to Austin, Texas on January 31st! Yes, that's right. This Florida native, born and raised in Tampa Bay, is taking a huge leap and road tripping it to Texas to start a new chapter in my life. New city, new apartment, new career, new everything. To be honest, it's bitter sweet.

I ♥ my life here at T-Tapp. This decision kinda breaks my heart. I've been working and training with Teresa Tapp since 1997! That's seriously my entire working career -- almost half of my life here on planet Earth -- and totally worth it. (I just turned 30 on Monday!) I literally grew up at T-Tapp and will always be thankful for that. Teresa Tapp is an amazing woman and mentor. She is such an inspiration to me. I have learned SO much from T-Tapp about myself, life, health, fitness and growing a business. It has been a pleasure working with Teresa and everyone else here in the T-Tapp office -- Berei, Brian, Lauren, Lisa, Jen and Jeanne, plus my long distance co-workers Kitty and Jeff. (I know we'll be working together even after I'm gone because I really want to become a Certified T-Tapp Trainer!) I've made lifelong friends with all of them and a bunch of our T-Tappers too. You guys mean the world to me!

Moving out of state is something that I've dreamed of for years and years. Texas is the last place that I thought I'd end up. But Austin is so different from the rest of Texas. Florida is a lovely place and will always be my home. It's just time for me to move on... to challenge myself and nurture my personal growth. I'm really going to miss all my friends and family here in Florida! And I'm really going to miss the salt life. At the same time I'm excited to see what opportunities come my way in Austin. I fell in love with the place when we went there over the summer... I mean who wouldn't with their amazing music and art scene, eco-friendly mindset, young and vibrant city, lots of parks with rivers and lakes, rolling hills, delicious foodie eats, farmers markets, great shopping, and the list goes on and on... I will come home to Florida every now and then, don't you worry.

I plan on keeping up with this blog with my foodie and fitness adventures in Texas. So please visit me here when you can!

Au revoir, Florida!

{ weekend } Birthday Celebrations!

2011-01-24T14:06:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Me! And to Kristy and Caroline too. We had a super fun surprise filled weekend together... from Winghouse to our VIP bottle service at Bishop's Lounge. Good times with fabulous peeps!

Pre-party with the girls!
From left to right: Me, La, Jo, Kristy, Val and Kelly.

Bottle service!!!

Me with birthday girl Kristy.

The boys with their matching outfits... did they plan this???

Me and birthday girl Caroline!

On Sunday my boyfriend took me to the Chihuly Collection in St. Pete. First, we enjoyed a Blue Moon at The Moon Under Water. Ironic maybe.

I sneaked in this photo...

And then we walked around downtown and ended up at The Garden for a late snacky lunch.

Hummus, Pesto and Pitas.

Blue Moon and a side Caesar.

Short, sweet and delicious.

Au revoir!

Tapas Lunch at Ceviche

2011-01-21T13:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had a long (and lovely) lunch meeting with Teresa Tapp at the Ceviche (at the old Tio Pepe's location in Clearwater). The restaurant has a fantastic Spanish ambiance with a friendly and attentive staff! Now I wish I took some photos of the inside of the restaurant (and our 6'8" waiter!) to share with you. Check out their website for more photos.

Here's what we shared... along with some really good wine:

ATUN ESTILO TARTARO
Sushi-grade tuna hand chopped with capers, onions, fresh parsley and sesame oil.

CEVICHE DE SALMON
Fresh salmon marinated in lemon, lime, cilantro, sweet onion and topped with caviar.

ESPARRAGOS
Fresh grilled asparagus with field greens and aioli.

The meal was fantastic! I enjoyed all of it, but especially having Teresa all to myself for a few hours. It was wonderful to catch up and be able to talk like real friends. Thanks for another great lunch, Teresa!

Hop Tip from the bartender: Wednesday night they have a free wine tasting where you can try 3 different whites and 3 reds, plus they buy your first round. The wines change weekly. (FYI - the wine list is extensive!!) And if you're a female, bring 3 girlfriends with you to Ceviche and get a free cheese plate to share. Awesome!

Au revoir!

Green Smoothie Challenge: Kale Banana Strawberry

2011-01-21T13:28:00.000-05:00

Here's yesterday's green smoothie... sweet and tasty! But now I'm fresh out of fruit.

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups frozen kale
1/4 cup fresh Florida strawberries
1/2 frozen banana
1 cup Original Almond Breeze
Florida bee pollen

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Green Smoothie Challenge: Strawberry Kale Coconut

2011-01-19T14:06:00.001-05:00

I'm still trying to fit in my green smoothies, but I totally forgot to take a photo of today's Kale Banana Strawberry smoothie before I drank it. Bummer! It was tasty. Here's January 18th's smoothie:

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups frozen kale
1 cup fresh Florida strawberries
1 cup Vita Coconut Water
Florida bee pollen

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Introducing My New Ride

2011-01-19T14:01:00.000-05:00

I'm finally done with the car shopping and got myself into a brand new 2011 Honda Civic LX in Atomic Blue! (Atomic Purple and Green Monster weren't available.) No more worrying about car repairs... a load of relief. It drives like a dream.

I do kinda miss my Mazda. Stick shift is so much more fun to drive. C'est la vie!

Au revoir!

Green Smoothie Challenge: Kale Banana Yogurt

2011-01-19T13:57:00.004-05:00

Bonjour! It's been a few days since my last update, my apologies. Life, life, life! Here's January 17th's smoothie:

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups frozen kale
1 fresh banana
1 cup Original Almond Breeze
2 Tbsp FAGE 0% Plain Yogurt
Florida bee pollen

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Green Smoothie Challenge: Berry Banana Spinach

2011-01-12T13:39:00.000-05:00

I think this is Day 9, but now that I missed a day or two even I'm confuzzled. So no more "days" in the title. Without further ado I introduce to you January 11th's Smoothie:

Recipe Ingredients:

2 cups organic spinach
1 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 frozen banana
1 cup Kangen water (it's alkaline! Read more here.)
Florida bee pollen

I was seriously c-r-a-v-i-n-g a green smoothie after work. This was the perfect snack before dinner... light, nutritious and delicious. ♥

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Fried Green Tomatoes at Safety Harbor Grill

2011-01-11T14:21:00.000-05:00

Last Friday my dad came by to take me out to lunch. I ♥ those kind of days! We like to eat local and decided to try out Safety Harbor Grill. (A few months ago I enjoyed brunch there with some friends.) We ordered their Fried Green Tomatoes to share because I've never had them... until now!

They're pretty tasty! Just wish that SHG would make their own dressing. Bottled ranch and blue cheese just don't taste good. Bleh.

I ordered the Cobb Salad (spring mix, chicken breast, avocado, eggs, tomato, crumbled blue cheese). It was OK. Not impressed and would not recommend it. The chicken was way overcooked and underlying lettuce was wilted, but the avocado was good (and that's why I really ordered it in the first place).

I will try something else on the menu next time... if there is one. My dad was pleased with his grouper sandwich though!

Au revoir!

Green Smoothie Challenge, Day 7: Kale Banana Barleans

2011-01-11T14:08:00.001-05:00

Oh, the joys of a daily challenge... I think that I skipped a smoothie on January 8th (Day 6) and apparently I've forgotten to snap a photo of my smoothie yesterday (Day 8), but it was the same as this one! Here's my smoothie January 9th:

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped kale
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup Original Almond Breeze
1/2 cup Orange/Tangerine juice
Florida bee pollen

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Green Smoothie Challenge, Day 5: Kale Banana Barleans

2011-01-11T14:01:00.002-05:00

Bonjour! Sorry about missing a few days of Green Smoothie Challenge posts. My life has been a little crazy this past week -- lots going on. Updates soon! Here's my smoothie January 7th:

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped kale
1 frozen banana
1 cup Original Almond Breeze
1 Tbsp Barlean's Omega Swirl (makes it taste like a dessert!)

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Green Smoothie Challenge, Day 4: Kale Banana Yogurt

2011-01-06T13:17:00.000-05:00

Another delicious green smoothie this morning! Have you tried them yet? SO quick and easy to make, and green smoothies are super nourishing. This morning's breakfast was especially great tasting... my body is starting to crave green smoothies again. The little bit of Greek yogurt helps to keep me satisfied until lunch. (And if it doesn't I have raw walnuts and an organic apple to tide me over.)

I'm also aiming to eat a big salad or have a bowl of soup for lunch daily. So far so good!

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped kale
1 frozen banana
1 cup Original Almond Breeze
1 Tbsp FAGE 2% Plain Yogurt

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Green Smoothie Challenge, Day 3: Kale Blueberry Banana

2011-01-05T13:39:00.001-05:00

Blueberries made my smoothie look like mud! Don't worry, it didn't taste like mud. Did you know that blueberries have the highest antioxidant capacity of all fresh fruit? They also help to neutralize free radicals and combat aging. That's a plus! Blueberries have many other health benefits, and I highly recommend adding them to your daily diet!

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped kale
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup Original Almond Breeze
1 Tbsp FAGE 2% Plain Yogurt

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Green Smoothie Challenge, Day 2: Kale Banana Cinnamon Coffee

2011-01-05T13:29:00.001-05:00

This is yesterday's post. Whoops! I made a green smoothie with coffee in it. Yes, trying to combine two things in one and it was somewhat successful. Interesting flavor combination! And had a fried egg with cheese on a croissant half.

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped kale
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup Original Almond Breeze
1/2 cup Organic Vanilla Coffee
Cinnamon to taste

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Green Smoothie Challenge, Day 1: Kale Banana Orange

2011-01-03T14:46:00.001-05:00

My goal is to drink at least one 16-32 ounce green smoothie every day this month. I got off track over vacation and really missed how great these green drinks make me feel. Yesterday I bought two big bags of kale on sale and decided to put that and my frozen bananas to work for me this morning.

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped kale
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup Original Almond Breeze
1/2 cup Tangerine-Orange Juice

YUMMY!

Au revoir!

Did you miss the first post?

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

Georgia Vacation

2011-01-03T14:39:00.001-05:00

Here are some of my photos from vacation in Georgia. It was so much fun! We did a lot of relaxing, enjoyed delicious eats and played games together. I miss Veronica, Zach, Cayden and the animals already. Marcel's father was able to join us and made Christmas extra special.

I built my first snowman!

The guys did shots of Patron at the Mexican restaurant.

Another day the whole gang went out for dinner at Wings, Pizza & Things. Marcel was able to play a set for us! Everyone had a great time.

The kids were having a blast dancing to the music!

The most AMAZING lemon pepper chicken wings EVER!

And their pizza was awesome too!

Cayden loved his new toy and took him everywhere...

Zach made his famous Boursin Cheese Filets for us... to die for!

Au revoir!

2011 World Wide Green Smoothie Challenge

2011-01-03T10:35:00.001-05:00

You may be asking, "A green smoothie?" My answer is "YES! And they are fantastical." Starting on January 3, 2011 (or sooner if you'd like) you can join people from around the globe in a life changing cleansing adventure to kick-start your New Year and your journey towards optimal health! Here are a few of my tips to help you prepare for the Challenge.

Buy a good blender. I dream of someday owning a Vitamix or Blendtec, but the reality is that you don't need a fancy $400 blender to make a green smoothie. I use a $30 Oster and blend for a bit longer on a high speed to make sure the consistency is super smooth.
Stock up on organic produce. Check out your local farmer's market or health food store to pick out a few kinds of organic greens (kale, spinach, romaine, etc) and other produce for your green smoothies. It's a good idea to switch up your greens every few days. Stay armed with produce!
Aim for one 16-ounce green smoothie daily. Green smoothies are great for breakfast or even as a snack. Enjoy them any time of day and know that you're getting a treat chocked full of chlorophyll and nutrients to feed your body's cells.
Try new recipes. Check out GreenSmoothieChallenge.com, Victoria Boutenko's book Green for Life, Angela's website GreenMonsterMovement.com and also GreenSmoothieQueen.com for ideas and recipes to keep you on track.

If you plan on joining me and countless others around the globe in this healthy challenge, please leave a comment below. We can support each other along the way. I'm looking forward to drinking a green smoothie a day for the month of January!

*cheers*

Drink Your Greens!

My First White Christmas

2010-12-29T00:29:00.001-05:00

Yes, that's right... my dream of having a white Christmas came true this year and I could not be happier! I'm a Florida native who has rarely gone north during the winter. This year my boyfriend's sister invited us up to Marietta, Georgia to celebrate the holiday together. We arrived on Christmas Eve just after midnight. It was cold, but not snowing yet.

That's a Christmas tree of lights as we passed it on the highway...

ATLANTA!!!

On Christmas Eve Day we did some last minute shopping and errand running. It was VERY busy out there! Before dinner we warmed up by the fire while enjoying a glass of sweet Riesling.

For dinner we made melt-in-your-mouth catfish nuggets with steamed veggies (a southern thing). Sooo yummy!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

On Christmas morning Veronica made the most delicious Belgian waffles and scrambled eggs with HoneyBaked Ham.

This photo does not do these eggs any justice. They rocked my tastebuds!

Once the presents were opened we noticed that it started snowing!!! I was jumping for joy. Thank you for the snow, Santa!

This is the best picture of Cayden hiding his head in a box...

Veronica and I made a gingerbread house for fun. It turned out to be a big mess, but we still had fun making it.

For dinner I made our creamy mac n' cheese. We got a HoneyBaked Ham, made broccoli casserole, stuffing and rolls. Everything was fantastic.

Oh, and I had a slice of the chocolate ganache cake.

And perfect ending to a beautiful Christmas! I am SO happy that we were able to make it up here and have such a great time in the winter wonderland.

Au revoir!

P.S. I'm still in Georgia and will have more to share soon!

T-Tapp Christmas Party

2010-12-28T23:39:00.001-05:00

You'd think that a fitness company would be a little skimpy when it comes to holiday treats and celebrations centered around food. NOT at T-Tapp! We all love food and that's part of the reason why the T-Tapp workout is so fabulous -- you don't have to diet to get results! Do consistent workouts (or even a few T-Tapp exercises regularly) and you will be able to maintain and possibly even lose inches over the holiday season while enjoying treats and great eats. YES You Can! Try it for yourself here: http://t-tapp.com/try!

This year we did our annual Cookie Exchange and Secret Santa. Unfortunately, I was really sick and took my first sick days of the year, which meant that I skipped the baking this time around. (Sorry guys!) Luckily my coworkers are awesome and sent me home with a huge plate of cookies anyway. Plus, I got to enjoy that yummy cupcake from a friend.

On the Winter Solstice (December 21st) the T-Tapp staff headed over to Cello's Charhouse restaurant in Safety Harbor -- a quaint, colorful eatery right off of Main Street. They welcomed our party with open arms. We started off sampling the various wines that Teresa brought over and crunching on char-grilled pita triangles with Parmesan cheese.

And a delicious salad with Goldfish crackers.

Beer Cheese Soup with Popcorn. Sooo good!

I ordered the bacon wrapped filet wrapped in mushroom saunce with perogies and winter squash.

Lauren and I shared a slice of Lemon Butt Cake. They called it that because apparently the cake goes right to your rear.

Thank you for the wonderful meal, Teresa! It's always a pleasure spending time away from the office with my coworkers.

The moon was ripe and ready for the eclipse. I wasn't feeling well and went straight to bed, so I missed it. *sad face* But I did snap this picture, which doesn't do the moon any justice. It truly was looking magical.

Au revoir!

T-Tapp's Live International Hoe Down Showdown

2010-12-08T14:22:00.001-05:00

I was part of T-Tapp's Live International Hoe Down Showdown this past Sunday at the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa in Florida. During this exercise session we hosted a live broadcast of the video stream so people around the world could participate. SO FUN!

From left to right: Berei, Rhonda, Gretchen, Margit, Michelle, Chloe and Teresa Tapp

I was right in the front row!! We did 10 consecutive sets of the T-Tapp exercise called Hoe Downs. Try this fat burning, sugar busting, carb controlling 3-minute exercise right now:

Chloe was adorable! She's 7 years old and can sing beautifully. We opened and ended the live broadcast with a winter song by Chloe. She gave me goosebumps!

The Spa was decorated for the season with poinsettias, garland and lights everywhere you turn.

And Santa Claus too!

After the event I sat down to brunch with Teresa Tapp and T-Tapp staffers.

And headed home for the afternoon. I took a long nap and went to bed early. What a wonderful Sunday!

Au revoir!

Since I've Been Gone

2010-12-08T14:08:00.000-05:00

Bonjour! It's been a while. Life got super busy! And there's a LOT going on in my world.

Since I last posted...

I became Mayor of Ban Thai Restaurant!

I met my new cousin, Cassie!

Enjoyed a chocolate baklava! And didn't think twice about how much butter or sugar was in it...

Celebrated Thanksgiving Day with good friends!

Cherisse and David... newlyweds!

My plate:

Apple cobbler for dessert:

And then proceeded to pass out in a food comatose on their couch. Good times!

Tended bar at the Writer's Block Party in Ozona where Non-Local Flow (my step-sister's book) was sold.

They put these two paintings together for the first time and discovered they appear to be painted together.

And a whole lot more!

I have been exercising here and there, body brushing often, going to bed by 10pm and working many overtime hours through the T-Tapp sales.

Au revoir!

Sunday's Trip to the Farmer's Market

2010-11-15T21:45:00.003-05:00

I was up before 9am on Sunday morning. Dogs are great for waking you up early, even on weekends. I made a gusto brekkie of scrambled eggs wrapped in several organic romaine leaves with 50% reduced fat sharp white cheddar cheese. We left for Tampa shortly after for a well overdue trip to the farmer's market.

Sweetwater Organic Community Farm opens to the public on Sunday's at noon. They have a pretty amazing CSA program I wish I could participate in. At the market you'll find vendors, vegan eats, fresh produce to purchase, live music and farm tours. Bring the kids and leashed dogs for an earthy afternoon on the farm.

The place was packed with people bustling around. I think it's fun to browse and talk to each of the vendors to see what they're offering. The organic produce included some veggies from the farm, but mostly the kind of produce you'd find at a local health food store. I ended up buying a bag of fresh organic basil, a few of the most beautiful zucchinis ever, an organic butternut squash and cherry tomatoes.

To be honest, I just like being on the farm. Here are a few photos for you to enjoy...

I'm looking forward to heading back to the farm this Sunday, but also want to finally check out St. Pete's Saturday Morning Market. It's supposed to be spectacular!

Au revoir!

Flirting with Tappy Holidays: Week 1

2010-11-15T14:10:00.000-05:00

Bonjour my friends! I'm participating in this year's Tappy Holidays to help me stay active and accountable through the season. This post is a review of my Week 1. Looking over my little chart and tallying up the points makes it REALLY easy to see where there's room for improvement. The biggest area for me last week was fitness... I skipped out on all my workouts except for one day (Basic Workout Plus + floor work: OIP/HF, 15 Crunches, AL, PT, DD). I did get in a few extra sets of Hoe Downs and some walking here and there, but for REAL T-Tapp workouts I took the easy road. I really have no excuses because I love this workout and how I feel when I do it. Sometimes it's lack of time or other commitments that come up and take over my scheduled workout time. This week I'm going to work on my fitness consistency.

Happy Achievements:

I got in my body brushing 6 out of 7 days.
I ate a gusto brekkie (healthy and hearty) 6 out of 7 days.
I ate 6-7 servings of veggies on 6 out of 7 days.

My score for Week 1: 300 points = Flirt

I admit that I HAVE been flirting with Tappy Holidays. Getting 3 out of 4 things down is pretty good, but once I have that fitness component I will be shaping up and feeling better even faster.

This morning I did my brushing first thing, ate a delicious kale and pumpkin smoothie, and by lunch I'm already done with 5 servings of veggies. As soon as I walk in my apartment this evening it's workout time! Here's my tentative workout schedule for this week:

Sunday: skipped
Monday: Tempo 2 - 8 Reps + floor work
Tuesday: Basic Plus Tempo + OIP/HF, AL, DD
Wednesday: Maxi Max #1 (standing + floor)
Thursday: Basic Plus Tempo + OIP/HF, AL, DD
Friday: Tempo 2 - 8 Reps + OIP/HF, AL, DD
Saturday: Primary Back Stretch + OIP/HF, Crunches, AL, PT, DD

I don't want to overdo it with 30 minutes of T-Tapp exercise EVERY day. (This workout is super powerful and 30 minutes of T-Tapp accounts for about an hour of standard exercise!) I can almost get all of my points in the fitness category this way.

Wish me luck!

Au revoir!

Kicking off Tappy Holidays 2010

2010-11-10T12:33:00.000-05:00

This holiday season I'm armed with healthy tools to keep me accountable, active and eating veggies. T'appy Holidays with T-Tapp Trainer Lani Muelrath is a T-Tapper's dream. Lani created a spreadsheet that gives a weekly outline with some healthy habits including daily exercise, body brushing, eating 7 servings of veggies and having a "gusto" breakfast. For each activity that you complete you get a certain amount of points. At the end of the week you tally up your points and see where you fall: Goddess, Diva, Muse or Flirt. We all want to be Goddesses!!!

This is a wonderful way to keep up with your healthy habits and stay on track with a fitness plan during the busiest time of year! Tappy Holidays started on Sunday, November 7th. I technically started on Monday because I was feeling under the weather this weekend and needed to get a newsletter done for work.

Monday, November 8th
So far so good! Yesterday I got in 6 servings of veggies and my body brushing. Skipped a gusto brekkie and had a cup of hot coffee (it's cold in Florida!) with cream and raw sugar, plus an organic golden delicious apple once I got to the office. I was starving by lunch and devoured 2.5 cups of raw salad (romaine, spinach, onion, carrots, cilantro) and 1 cup of homemade pumpkin soup. That's 5 servings of veggies at lunch alone! For dinner I made a fresh organic beef chili packed with veggies (zucchini, green pepper, onion, garlic, and kidney beans). Almost 7 servings, but one short due to skipping brekkie... the most important meal of the day!

No exercise though...very busy day and I didn't make the time for it. No excuses.

Tuesday, November 9th
I made sure to get in my veggies... 1.5 cups of chopped zucchini, onion and baby bellas accompanied my 2 scrambled eggs with BVI Seasoning and Garlic Pepper. That's 3 servings of veggies! For lunch I ate another bowl of my pumpkin soup, which accounted for another 2 servings. And dinner was more of my beef chili. I did sneak in a few all-natural gummy bears.

Workout: Basic Workout Plus + floor work (OIP/HF, 15 Crunches, AL, PT, DD) for a 30 minute "free choice" routine. And got my body brushing in too!

Will keep you posted on my T'appy Holidays progress each week in a wrap-up blog. For now I'm off to get in more veggies... staying stocked up on produce is KEY!

Au revoir!

Epcot's Food & Wine Festival

2010-11-08T14:01:00.000-05:00

Bonjour! I just returned from three trips around the world in one day. Amazing! Last week I was lucky enough to get a free ticket to Epcot's Food & Wine Festival from Shelly Ballestero. She was sweet to think of the T-Tapp staffers and all the hard work we put in at the last two Retreats this year, and thought we needed a day to enjoy and have fun together. Teresa gave us a 1/2 day off paid, and we took a quick trip over to Orlando for the day. Thank you Shelly and Teresa!

Forgive me for the delay in blog posts. I had about 275 photos from my day at Epcot. Lots of editing! And I've been feeling under the weather these past few days too...

I was starving by the time we arrived. First stop for me was Greece where I picked up this yummy chicken soulvaki.

Hola, Puerto Rico! My next stop...

This was the most amazing Chicken and Rice Soup! Perfect for a cool rainy day.

Then on to Mexico...

I spotted the Day of the Dead skulls pretty quickly. Would have bought one if they weren't $30.00 each!

And more Day of the Dead skeletons on the Mexico ride...

Here's Norway...

And France...

I ate this cheese ravioli in Italy.

And drank some South African wine.

Heirloom Tomatoes with Blue Cheese from America... just about the ONLY veggies in the whole place.

And a Purple Haze beer.

Epcot was celebrating 15 years of their Food & Wine Festival.

Soda from China is TOO sweet.

I had a few bites of Jen's sweet pretzel.

Epcot is beautiful at night...

I got home just before midnight with soggy feet and frizzy hair. We walked about 5+ miles and my legs were feeling it. What a great day with the T-Tapp staffers!

Au revoir!

Nature's Food Patch Makeover

2010-11-02T23:18:00.001-04:00

Since I was a little girl I've been going to Nature's Food Patch with my mom. I remember when the store was on Cleveland closer to Highland Avenue in a much smaller location. Then they moved to their current spot years ago and have recently done a total store-wide makeover! This place is truly amazing now and really competes on the same level as The Fresh Market and Whole Foods Market.

Nature's Food Patch
1225 Cleveland Street
Clearwater, FL 33755-4908
(727) 443-6703

I stopped at NFP after my morning appointment for a quick bite to eat. As soon as I walked through the door I was blown away with how different the store looked! Love the floors, colors and large variety of delicious, healthy foods.

I could literally LIVE in this store! Give me a sleeping bag, tent and lock me in... I'll stay for days, weeks even!

I'm lucky that I only stopped for lunch because I could seriously do some damage to my bank account in that store. Their hot and salad bars are amazing, and I love their deli section with freshly made personal servings -- great for lunch!

I picked out a cup of sweet potato and veggie soup, California Surprise Wrap (on whole wheat - 100% veggie), roasted sweet potatoes, tabbouleh (mine is way better), a few Emergen-C packets and a bottle of eVamor alkaline water.

So far this week...
I have not worked out this since Saturday, have lots of house work to do, blogging to catch up on and sleep that my body craves. For the past two days we ate homemade mac and cheese -- made with brown rice gluten-free macaroni, Cabot extra sharp cheddar and organic milk. I'm back drinking coffee too... homemade and Starbucks. Although I do not like the SB workers around here -- only the employees at the Clearwater Mall location are nice and happy to serve customers, so I'll be making more coffee at home instead. I plan to get back on track with my workouts and healthy habits this week. T'appy Holidays starts on November 7th!

Off to bed...

Au revoir!

{ weekend } Halloween with Friends and Fire Dancers

2010-11-02T22:43:00.000-04:00

Bonjour! What a fantastic weekend! I had so much fun with my friends and Marcel's family. Just wish Monday didn't come so fast and we had another day of weekend left. Time flies when you're having fun, right?

We started the holiday with a trip to Einstein Bagels for brekkie. I tried the pumpkin bagel with light pumpkin cream cheese and a medium vanilla coffee with cream and sugar. We didn't carve pumpkins this year.

As promised, I did Tempo 2 (lower body style) on Saturday before we left for St. Pete. (No other healthy habits completed... too much going on!) Veronica, Nikki and I went to CVS to pick up some more makeup for my costume. Then back to the house to get started on my full face makeup! Veronica is an amazing makeup artist. She had never heard of Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), but once I showed her a few pictures she quickly go the idea and totally rocked my makeup. She made it pop and even added little jewels and everything!

Crazy, huh? SO fun!!!

Marcel took me home and I left shortly after to head to Kristy's salon for to get my hair styled. She did a simple braid to keep it off my face, added a few hologram pieces and sprayed me down with glitter. A few friends met us at the salon and we carpooled to the Annual Hard Corr Halloween Party.

Here I am with the hostess... Snow White!

Party Drinks & Eats

At the party I enjoyed 2 light beers, 2 jello shots and a Jägerbomb (light on the Red Bull), a pulled pork sandwich, a Halloween cupcake, chips and candy... totally junked out, but hey it was Halloween! We split a taxi ride home. Safe and sound.

...I got home at 3am...

Sunday was Halloween this year. We drove to St. Pete again to spend the afternoon with the gang. Once I parked on the street in Old NE St. Pete, got out of the car and Marcel noticed a little black dachshund by my back tire.

I could have hit the poor little guy! He had no collar and was covered in something that smelled like crap, we caught him, gave him a quick bath and some food and water. He didn't make a peep, even being around 5 other dogs in the yard.

Anyone missing an all black wiener dog? I want to call him Ween.

They took the lost dog to the dachshund rescue in St. Pete on Monday. Marcel really wants him... and we may get the poor little guy to see how he does with Roxy in her own space. Another dog was the last thing on our minds.

So back to Old NE neighborhood... they go ALL out! Here are just a few pictures for you:

Please take a look at my Facebook page or AdoringLife.com for more photos.

We ate Tijuana Flats for dinner... chicken and black bean burrito on whole wheat power light minus black olives, chips with queso and guac. So good! The kids were in bed and we all took a walk around the neighborhood, down to the water and back before heading home for the night.

Great times with awesome peeps!

Au revoir!

Halloween Party at the T-Tapp Office

2010-10-30T00:57:00.001-04:00

Bonjour! Here I am over here to the right... all sleepy, but costumed up and channeling Cleopatra with my Pumpkin Kale green smoothie. Yum! Today was a great day... dressing up just for fun, Halloween party at the office with delicious eats, it's Friday and fun is plentiful this weekend.

The spread of food for lunch was serious... we sorta went all out for this one. But I was the only one in "costume". Cleopatra is a recycled toned down version of my costume from two years ago.

I ♥ being Cleo!

We planned to each bring a dish for the office party. They made burgers and ribs next door and brought them over.

We ate fresh and grilled veggies with ranch and hummus dip, baked beans and deviled eggs.

Here's my mac n cheese... needed to be in the oven for another 20 to get real crispy, but it tasted awesome.

And for dessert... cupcake sized cheese cakes with cherries on top, Halloween cupcakes from Publix and rice crispy treats!

My plate: turkey burger (with cheese, mustard, lettuce, tomato), one rib, roasted veggies and a little mac. I also ate a deviled egg and rice crispy treat.

And then a cherry cheesecake and La Croix Lemon for dessert...

Here's Ava dressed up as a Ghost Buster! Too freakin cute!

After work I recycled a whole car load full of paper, plastics, cardboard and aluminum. Amazing how all of that stuff really stacks up after a week or two.

We decided to go to Dominic's for Friday night pizza... it's becoming a weekly ritual. I got a tall nonfat vanilla latte, Roxy barked her face off, we got a fresh pizza made, picked up the mail and headed home to relax and drink wine. After this crazy busy week it was nice to have a chill night at home. I'm listening to Marcel jamming out on the guitar right now...love this life.

And I got into the cupcakes Lolly sent home with me... they're actually really good for store bought cuppy cakes! I dare not look at the ingredients.

I'm super excited about getting all dolled up tomorrow!!! Day of the Dead makeup + cute outfit + styled hair + party and lots of photos with my friends = FUN! Halloween rocks.

Au revoir!

P.S. I am SO doing a killer workout tomorrow!

Slammed Busy Week...

2010-10-29T14:13:00.000-04:00

Bonjour! This week has been absolutely slammed busy...at work and after work. Sorry I've been MIA, but hey life happens. On Wednesday I started my morning off right with Primary Back Stretch and Body Brushing, plus a Kale Banana Almond Smoothie. Maybe about 12 ounces...

I enjoyed another bowl of the Roasted Squash Soup for lunch.. so good leftover!

For dinner I planned on making The Chic Life's Southwest Vegan Quinoa Burgers, but my boyfriend's family is in town and we decided to head to St. Pete to enjoy a turkey pasta dinner with them.

Before leaving I made my 2nd Kale Banana Almond Smoothie of the day to get my greens in (I... and then ate a big bowl of pasta and a bread stick. We hung out until Roxy started barking at us to go home so she could sleep, seriously.

When we got home I ate one turkey taco and one lettuce turkey taco (taco ingredients wrapped in lettuce)...at like 10:30pm. I can't believe I was still hungry!

Supplements
Alfalfa: 6 caps
Immune Boost: 1 dropper
Vitamin D3: 8 sprays

Thursday

I practically forgot to eat breakfast. I did stop at Starbucks for a Grande Nonfat Vanilla Latte and Spinach Wrap. We had a morning meeting and I totally got sidetracked and my wrap was left uneaten.

For lunch I finished up the last of the Roasted Squash Soup. This recipe is staying in my rotation for a while. So yummy!

I left work early to drop Roxy off and get to my hair appointment. Just look at this adorable little puppy face!!! Roxy is such a good little traveler.

My highlights have been refreshed... purple with added blue streaks! It took us about 5 hours to finish my hair.

This girl called the salon to ask about getting an up-do and makeup done quickly. Kristy told her to come on in. She gets in the chair and says, "I'm getting married in 2 hours, but it's no big deal." Ha! Wow... she was in her early 20s maybe and with her man for only 6 months. They flew to Florida to get married because there's no waiting period and they're crazy spur of the moment kinda people apparently. Her hair looked amazing when Kristy was done with it and the girl went off to get married.

By the time we were done, I was starving and did not feel like cooking dinner. So I ordered take-out from Outback Steakhouse across from the salon.

Then I realized we were having a Halloween party at work and I was to make my Creamy Mac N Cheese by request. Uh oh... I ran to the store to pick up the ingredients: brown rice gluten-free macaroni, Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar, organic milk and cream... already had butter at home. It's a classic recipe that tastes a-m-a-z-ing! I've never had brown rice pasta before, but it was really good.

Dinner plates shared with Marcel:

After eating, I tried on my new costume!! Beautiful bones...

It fits great! I adore the leggings... and plan to paint my face Day of the Dead style.

Oh, here's my new hair... the blue is hard to see in this one, but I ♥ it!

Then I attempted to make Mac N Cheese bites in a mini muffin pan... not a good idea when you're tired. There was so much cheese that the grease got on the oven element and my apartment was full of smoke in 15 minutes. That means taking out the 1/2 baked mini macs and letting the oven cool until morning, then try again. Oh well!

Find out how my dish turned out later on Friday's post...

Au revoir!

Ezekiel Whole Grain Flourless Tortillas

2010-10-26T21:07:00.000-04:00

Have you heard of Ezekiel Whole Grain Flourless Tortillas? Now you have! These things are amazing. They may look like ordinary soft tortilla shells, but are SO much better!! The nutrition is incredible -- each shell is only 130 calories, but is a complete protein with fiber and no added fat. Plus since they're flourless AND sprouted, it's like eating a whole food... almost like a veggie! Ezekiel products can be found in the freezer section, and it's recommended to keep them frozen at home until you're ready to use them too. The wraps are especially easy and filling, great for any meal!

Inspired by the Holy Scripture verse "Take also unto thee Wheat and Barley and Beans and Lentils and Millet and Spelt and put them in one vessel and make bread of it." - EZEKIEL 4:9

INGREDIENTS: Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat, Filtered Water, Organic Unhulled Sesame Seeds, Organic Sprouted Whole Soybeans, Organic Sprouted Whole Barley, Organic Sprouted Whole Millet, Organic Sprouted Whole Lentils, Organic Sprouted Whole Spelt, Sea Salt.

= YUMMY!

Here are a few ways I like to eat Ezekiel Wraps...

Tonight's Giant Turkey Taco.

Breakfast Wrap with Eggs, Bacon, Cheese and Veggies.

Another Giant Turkey Taco.

Quick Boiled Egg, Cheese and Romaine Wrap.

Hummus and Veggie Wrap.

Another Hummus, Cheese and Veggie Wrap.

I highly recommend you try these instead of regular tortillas or wraps. They really rock!

As for my eats... a failed green apple smoothie for brekkie (way too tart!), yummy leftover roasted squash soup for lunch, snacked on some raw almonds, a few dried cherries and 3/4 brownie (from T-Tapper Carrie Ann), then made that giant taco for dinner! Plus I drank 2.5 Lifefactory bottles full of Kangen water 8.5 pH.

Today's T-Tapp exercises:

Primary Back Stretch and Body Brushing at 7am
2 sets of Hoe Downs at 11am
2 sets of Hoe Downs at 3pm
And now I'm going to do the Basic Workout Plus...

Still need to soak my feet in magnesium oil tonight too. Oh, and I'm going to make some pumpkin puree tonight for my Pumpkin Pie Kale Smoothie in the morning. And plan on trying out a new recipe for Quinoa Veggie Burgers that don't fall apart for dinner!

Au revoir!

Meatless Monday Menu: Greek Yogurt & Blueberries, Chickpea Salad and Roasted Squash Soup

2010-10-26T14:04:00.000-04:00

Bonjour! I made a conscious choice to eat vegetarian today in honor of Meatless Monday... and just might make this a regular habit since it's so easy! It's important for your health, weight and the planet to reduce the amount of meat you eat daily. If for one day we all ate vegetarian it would make a HUGE impact!

On the Menu

Breakfast: FAGE 0% Greek Yogurt with Frozen Blueberries and Barlean's Total Omega Orange Cream.

This includes about 8 ounces of yogurt with one cup blueberries and one Tbsp Barlean's Orange Cream (my new fave) on top.

Lunch: Chickpea and Brown Rice Salad.

I quickly put this lunch together in a matter of minutes this morning before work. Plenty of organic romaine (hiding under all the other stuff), shredded carrots, cucumbers, tomato, red onion, 1/3 can of organic chickpeas, shredded 50% reduced fat white cheddar, leftover brown and wild rice. I don't normally use dressing on my salad, but this one would be great with a vinaigrette.

Snack: Organic Tortilla Chips and Organic Salsa.

Simple and delish.

Dinner: Homemade Autumn Squash Soup.

This recipe is from The Fresh Market, one of my favorite places to food shop... and this recipe was no less than amazing. Sooo good! Here's a link to the recipe: Winter Squash Soup with Cilantro and Cream

Nourishment
Fruits: 1 servings
Veggies: 6 servings

Wish I posted this last night after dinner! Got in body brushing first thing in the morning, skipped out on my workout to food shop and cook instead, and ended up falling asleep before 10pm...almost fully dressed. Guess I really needed the z's!

Au revoir!

{ weekend } Wine & Pizza

2010-10-25T14:40:00.000-04:00

Pizza and Wine are made for each other!

Bonjour! A pretty uneventful weekend, but I did customize a new template for my blog, made it to the dog park, got in one Basic Workout on Saturday, enjoyed Panera for breakfast, pizza, wine and chocolate, plus lots of sleep and that's always good...

Saturday's Eats

Brekkie

Panera Bread Pumpkin Spice Skim Latte with Four Cheese Egg Croissant.

Here's what's inside...

Lunch

Rotisserie Chicken Salad.

Snack

Animal Crackers.

Dinner

Turkey Meatballs with WW pasta and Spinach.

Sunday's Eats

Brekkie

Sahale Almonds with Cranberries.

2 Scrambled Eggs with Cheddar, Organic Salsa and Salad.

Snack

Honey Almond Granola, shared with Marcel...

Lunch

Westshore Spinach Pizza... and a Mountain Dew (shocker!)

Afternoon Snacks

After the dog park and running errands we were both in the mood for some downtime and decided to watch French films, drink wine and eat chocolate to relax. Bohemian Highway Merlot is tasty!

Organic Nachos with Cheddar and Sour Cream.

Dinner & Dessert

I ate another slice and a half of the same pizza I had for lunch. And shared a slice of carrot cake with the boyfriend for dessert.

Au revoir!

Catching Up: Last Thursday and Friday

2010-10-25T14:25:00.000-04:00

Bonjour! Time passes to quickly these days and my daily eats are falling by the wayside. Think it's about time the blog transitioned away from daily eats, and onto more featured posts.

Thursday October 21st Eats

Brekkie

Green Smoothie with watermelon!

Raw Almonds and Dried Cherries.

Lunch

Leftover Shrimp Scampi with WW Pasta and Spinach.

Dinner

Turkey Parmesan Meatballs with WW Pasta and Spinach.

Dessert

Gayle's Chocolate Truffle.

Friday, October 22nd Eats

Brekkie

Blueberry Baby Romaine Greek Yogurt Smoothie.

And Grande Nonfat Vanilla Latte.

Lunch

Dominic's Mother-In-Law Pizza! I think Friday is now designated pizza day.

I ate 2 slices:

Dinner

Turkey Meatballs (kinda burnt thanks to the bf), slice of pizza, steamed broccoli.

Blue Moon beer.

And Harvest Moon pumpkin spice beer.

Dessert

100 Calorie Klondike.

And now for my weekend post...

Au revoir!

2010 T-Tapp Retreat: Day 4 & Trainer Certification Retreat

2010-10-23T21:48:00.000-04:00

Bonjour! I'm still catching up on my posts, as you can see... Above is another gorgeous sunrise over Tampa Bay I took on 10.10.10. (Just to think the next 10.10.10 will be on October 10th, 2110!)

First thing in the morning Teresa led a final Senior Fit workout and we finished measuring the event attendees shortly after. Every year I am so amazed at how many inches everyone drops in a matter of one weekend, by pushing maximum form, learning and applying new techniques and tweaks... maybe a massage, reflexology session or steam time in the sauna. Balancing relaxation and rest, plus hydration and quality eats with all the physical activity is important!

The Retreat workouts count as a Blitz type of Boot Camp; this is where you do 2-4 workouts per day (depending on the individual) for two days in a row and end with 1-2 final workouts on day three. You can choose to do as many or few workouts as you'd like. Sit in the back and take notes... T-Tapp Retreats are all about education! Knowledge is power and everyone who attends really gets better with the mind to muscle connection (neuro-kinetic flow) and maintaining form too!

Top 5 Inch Loss Winners of the 2010 T-Tapp Retreat:

Laurie Brooks - 31.25 inches
Dawne Gordon - 22.50 inches
Cryssanthe Detroyer - 19.25 inches
Claudine Henry - 19 inches
Stephanie Robinson - 18 inches

110 combined inches lost for the top 5 winners! Awesome!

In the photo, left to right: Laurie, Cryssanthe, and Claudine...

Congratulations ladies!

The other inch loss winners were not in the room for the announcement.

And I've even seen other Retreat attendees post on Facebook and the T-Tapp Forum about additional inch loss a week after they left Florida. It's like residual results!

Teresa ended the 2010 T-Tapp Retreat with a Final Straight Through Workout that was a fusion of the other previous workouts done over the weekend. We all said our goodbyes and parted ways (well, most of us), hoping to meet again soon at another fabulous T-Tapp event...

Our Annual T-Tapp Trainer Certification Retreat started at 4pm on Sunday, with the actual certification classes beginning on Monday morning and stretching through end of day on Tuesday. During this event we have our trainers and trainers-in-training (TNTs) come in to teach the T-Tapp workout (Total Workout, T-Tapp MORE, Hit the Floor, and/or Ladybug) to be certified by Teresa Tapp to teach that workout in anywhere around the world.

Sunday, October 10th Eats

Brekkie

Starbucks Grande Nonfat Vanilla Latte, Fresh Fruit Cup, KIND Fruit & Nut Bar.

Forget the fruit and get an apple instead...

Lunch

Lauren and I had a window of free time and made it to Val & Matty's Wedding Party!

Asian Pasta, Scallops and Duck Quesadilla.

Plus one Bud Light beer.

I wish we had more time to hang out with our friends at the party, but we headed back to the Spa for the start of our Trainer Certification Retreat.

It was wonderful seeing the trainers again! We're like one big happy family of sisters. It's so fun to be with everyone, catch up, workout, learn new form techniques, eat fabulous food and drink!

Dinner

For dinner we headed over to the new pizzeria in town... Dominic's. This place rocks! We got a Mother-In-Law Pizza and it was fantastic.

The Mother-In-Law pizza... no sauce, mozzerella, cheddar and feta cheeses, tomato, spinach and garlic. YUM! My new favorite pizza.

And I drank a Blue Moon when we got back to the spa.

Joan Schrader did another presentation for the trainers on magnesium oil and prill beads. And a Trainer Only Meeting with Teresa followed that session, we wrapped things up before 11pm.

Trainer workouts started at 7am the following day, Monday the 11th.

When I locate my green robot flash drive with all my backed up photos I'll be able to finish up Monday, October 11th - Thursday, October 14th.

Au revoir!