You're Never Too Old for a Lunchbox!

About a year ago I decided to start bringing lunch to work in order to save $$ and calories. Going out for lunch can cost upwards of $10 each day, and cost you exponentially more around your waistline.

Around this time, I discovered an ingenious product through a website called Laptop Lunches. They make these adorable BPA free “bento boxes” for kids and adults alike. Take a look around their website – it will tell you where you can pick yourself up one of these cute bento boxes and even supplies you with creative lunch ideas!

Today I’m rolling with a spinach salad which includes avocado, cranberries, slivered almonds and crumbled goat cheese. Since I didn’t feel like grilling some chicken for protein, I included some 1% cottage cheese topped with even more almonds, some cut up watermelon and a Caramel S’mores Cup that I made the other day (hey, everything in moderation right?!?).

All in all, a great lunch that filled me right up after an intense lunchtime workout (I love getting out of the office for an hour in the middle of the day to hit the gym!). Squeezing in an hour long workout during the day leaves me energized and super productive for the remainder of my day.

I'm interested to hear what everyone out there thinks. Do you bring lunch to the office? If so, what is your go-to meal? What about working out at lunch? If you do get moving on your lunch hour do you think it improves your productivity??

Caramel S'mores Cups - Holy Deliciousness!!

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® chocolate chip cookie mix
1/2 cup butter, softened - I replaced with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesace plus 1/4 cup safflower oil (vegetable oil would work fine as well)
1 egg
24 rolos, unwrapped - I think it goes without saying, but you can never be too sure...
72 mini marshmallows (about 3/4 cup)
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips - I used Hershey's Syrup

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.

Make cookie dough as directed on package. Shape dough into 24 (1 1/2-inch) balls. Place 1 ball into each muffin cup.

Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven; firmly press 1 candy into center of each cookie until flush with cookie top. Top each with 3 marshmallows. Bake 2 to 4 minutes longer or until marshmallows are puffed. Cool 10 to 15 minutes. Loosen edges of cookie with small metal spatula and remove to cooling racks. Cool completely.

*If you're using the Hersey's syrup like I did, just start drizzling! If not....
Melt chocolate chips in microwave on High about 1 minute or until softened. Gently put into plastic sandwich bag and squeeze bag until chocolate is smooth; cut off tiny corner of bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over marshmallows. Let stand until hardened, about 10 minutes.

Review - these were Uh-Maz-Ing!!!! Seriously, make them. You won't regret it. I know it's not technically a s'mores because there isn't any graham cracker, but you won't care after the first bite. Make sure you serve them warm. Enjoy!!

Think Pink All Month Long

As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In memory of Bryan’s mom Elyse, we are passionate supporters of the Susan G. Komen Foundation through annual donations and volunteering. This year I created a corporate team through my office for the Komen Atlanta 5K. Nearly 50 of us showed up with friends and family to run and my company was generous enough to donate $5,000. All together we raised nearly $10,000 for Komen Atlanta.

The wonderful thing about getting involved is that anything you do has the ability to make a difference. A great number of companies are doing their part to support various breast cancer funds and some are offering some adorable products for purchase.

In the spirit of football season, I had to mention the NFL. The National Football League has recently developed a campaign, "A Crucial Catch", in partnership with the American Cancer Society, to focus on the importance of annual screenings. Throughout the month of October, NFL games feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink apparel to raise awareness for the campaign. In addition, on-field pink ribbons are displayed, as well as special balls and pink coins. All of the apparel worn at games will auctioned off at NFL Auction, and proceeds will benefit charities such as the American Cancer Society. Be sure to check out some of the super cute pink apparel on sale through NFL here.

To find out other ways to help, please visit the American Cancer Society's  in your area, please visit their site today.

We all have the ability to make a difference. Don't wait.

To view my previous post related to Susan G. Komen, click here

The Memories We Fail To Capture…

Just the other day I was organizing picture albums and an interesting thought struck me. What happens to the memories we fail to capture?

There are the obvious memories we always remember:

An engagement:

A wedding:

The start of a New Year:

The last time you saw your loved one:

But what about the great memories that we don’t take pictures of? What about the meal that brought friends & family together or a moment that made you laugh so hard it brought you to tears?

Bryan and I do a solid job of taking the obligatory pictures at the most opportune times – i.e.: vacations, weddings, holidays – but what about the other hundreds of days every year that pass us by without ever getting documented?

The thought that so many of these wonderful memories get lost over time has been enough motivation for me - a new camera is officially on my wish-list for my 27th birthday!

Are there any memories you wish you had captured? I’d love to hear them!

Oh Pumpkin, How I Love Thee!

Fall is officially here (even if it still over 90 degrees here in Atl) and I am so stoked! My love for fall is due in part to these three things:

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte’s from Starbucks – holy yumminess!!!

2. Pumpkin Overnight Oats
Ohhh yeah – my all time favorite breakfast, “fall-ified!” If you haven’t tried these yet – do it. You will not regret it.

Pumpkin Overnight Oats
Makes 1 serving1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup milk (skim, 1% or almond)
1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1/3 cup pumpkin
1/2 banana (optional)
Sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice


3. Pumpkin Bread, Muffins, Etc.
The hubby and I have been trying to lay off the sweets in anticipation of our upcoming trip to Cabo San Lucas in November so I have really been avoiding baking anything lately. UNTIL I stumbled upon a quasi-healthy recipe from Tina over at Carrot’s N Cake


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scones
Makes 8 scones


Ingredients:
1.5 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons softened butter
1/3 cup canned pumpkin
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup chocolate chips


Instructions:


Preheat oven to 425.
Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Add in pumpkin, yogurt, and butter, mixing as you go.
Form dough into a ball, place on a greased baking sheet and pat down into a circle about 1/2 to 1/4 inches thick.
Sprinkle with sugar and cut into 8 segments.
Bake at 425*F for about 20 minutes or until edges are slightly crisp and the top is lightly browned.

Boy am I glad I made these – not too sweet but super delish.


If you haven’t tried any of the above, get crackin’ – you will NOT be disappointed.

I'm in love with OO's!!

What are OO's? Only one of the best breakfast creations ever!! For those who haven't heard of Overnight Oats - let me explain.

You take 1/2 cup of rolled oats (I use Quaker) and combine in a bowl with 1/2 of the liquid of your choice - you can use almond milk, coconut milk, yogurt (any flavor), regular milk, or a combination of any of the above. (I've been a fan of 1/4 cup Stonyfield organic skim milk and 1/4 cup Stonyfield fat free vanilla yogurt)

You simply stir to combine, and cover. Put it in the fridge before bed time, and wake up to a lovely stick-to-your-ribs breakfast. The best part is all the yummy toppings you add in the AM! I've been sprinkling on a little flaxseed meal, cinnamon and topping the whole thing off with a tablespoon of almond butter and 1/2 mashed banana. YUM!!
This breakfast tastes delicious, has lots of heart healthy fiber and will keep you satisfied till lunch!
Have you ever made overnight oats? What’s your favorite combination?

So Many Parties... So Little to Wear!

For all of those ladies out there with a jam packed social calendar this summer, I ask you one serious question. What are you going to wear?!?

With weddings, cocktail parties, birthday parties and business events all looming in my near future I’ve lately been questioning how to look chic and fabulous at all of these said events without being a RFO (Repeat Fashion Offender). Given the recent economic hardships everyone has been facing, it’s hard to figure out how to attend so many events (in many cases with the same people!) without wearing the same cocktail dresses over and over again.

I had read a post from one of my favorite bloggers - Tina over at Carrots N Cake - about her experience renting a dress for a friend's wedding and I immediately traveled over to Rent the Runway's site.

This website is so intriguing because they have so many top designer cocktail dresses and gowns that they rent for a fraction of the actual cost. They try and make the ordering process fool-proof and offer stylist consults live through their website, break down the gowns by body type, price, occasion, etc.

For those of you like me who sometimes vary between sizes, this site is so accommodating because they’ll send you the same gown in two sizes for the price of one!

I am very excited to give this site a test drive and order a gown for one of my upcoming events – I promise to update you all after my first order!

What about all of you – anyone order from Rent the Runway?? I’d love to hear your experiences!