Balcony Blogging
Hi friends <3 How are you? Hope you’re having a beautiful Saturday. Mine has been pretty bueno- home from work on my lunch break to chill for a little while before heading back. For you, I have a sweaty and quick treadmill workout below!
Two of the things I was most excited about having a balcony in our new place were:
1) Late night vino and gazing at the stars with the Pilot
2) Blogging al fresco
The vino thang won’t be happening for a few more months, but today the weather was nice enough to take the laptop outside- it’s always fun to have a change of scenery.
I turned the alarm off this morning instead of hitting snooze –oops… I always hit snooze at least twice- and breakfast was taken to-go.
Egg puff on brown rice bread with mustard, spinach, nutritional yeast and goat cheese
Snacks:
It was my first time trying the Vega Endurance bar –OpenSky sent it to me since they know I like Vega- and I was definitely a fan. It had the same texture as my beloved Vibracy bars, with a mellow mocha flavor (190 cals), so they will most likely be in my store soon. Vega bars are very hard to find and pricey, so we’ll be sure to offer some promos on them.
Time to make some lunch and head back for Zuuuuuumba!
See ya later with a Family post.
xoxo
Gina
Something to talk about: Do you enjoy bars, or do you prefer making your own snacks? I like to make my own snacks, but bars are amazing for something quick, purse snack stashes or traveling. My all-time fave (for right now) is the green Vega Vibracy bar –the one with spirulina- and second fave is the Blueberry Pie Larabar. I really need to try making my own bars at home again- last time, they were kind of a fail 😉
25-Minute Quick Treadmill Workout Blitz!
I teach a class that’s half cardio on the treadmill, half weights. It’s a great way to get in cardio and strength training within a 50-minute period. Here’s what we did the other day –the percentage represents the incline you should set on the treadmill. If you need to adjust, go for resistance over speed. In other words, lower your speed, but not your incline.
[As always, check with a doctor before making any fitness changes. Honor your body and injuries- if it hurts, don’t do it]
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I prefer to buy my bars, I made my own a few times though. I have yet to see the blueberry larabars. Hopefully the local health store will carry them soon. Have a great weekend.
I like individually wrapped bars. Coconut Pie Larabars are my favorite! I LOVE baking and creating my own bars, but I end up eating almost the whole pan when they are ready (;
I can not wait to try the tredmill routine!! I have been looking for a good one!! Doing it at the gym tonight!* (:
Wow– I can’t BELIEVE that those mountains are in your backyard. It looks like a freakin’ postcard!
And I definitely prefer to make my own snacks. Bars are great, but there is nothing like fresh ingredients 🙂
I would love to do that workout, but I´m without a gym atm 🙁 so sad! I bet it´s a blast, like all your other workouts! (can u tell I´m a fan? :D)
I´m planning on making my own bars. Does that count?
That view is very picturesque!
I haven’t ventured into homemade bar territory yet, but I love choc chip cookie dough Larabars. Kind bars are good too, albeit expensive. Love the lounge chair on your balcony BTW — World Market, right?
yep! it’s my store 🙂
I love making bars and wish I could get Vega bars in NZ (but can’t due to hemp content, stupid archaic laws). The only vegan bar with a decent amount of protein in them are the PureFit bars, but try to stay away from them because of the soy protein isolate in them. I make my own with a combo of rice and pea protein, along with some sort of nut butter, coconut oil, oats, raw agave nectar, vegan chocolate and apricots 🙂
Larabars are no longer available in NZ 🙁 The distributor in NZ stopped importing them and started making their own version, but not as good as Larabars. I miss my Cookies n Cream and Pecan Pie Larabars!
They used to make cookies & cream larabars?!?!
I love the damask/yellow print on that chaise. So pretty!
And also the purple leaf bowl!
I make most of my own bars. I don’t always make just date/nut type bars, i.e. homemade larabar types. I make baked bars, oatmeal bars, peanut butter bars, bars with pumpkin or chocolate in them…you name it, I make them, slice them, and wrap them in plastic, throw them in the freezer and so I have a freezer stash to throw in lunches or for purse snacks. It costs about 2 bucks to make an entire pan of homemade bars. And I could get 12 to 24 bars or squares out of that so it works for us.
That Vega bar is super good though. If you like the blueberry lara, try the blueberry Cliff if you’re not opposed. I love that one!
I rarely eat bars, since I don’t feel like they keep me satisfied for very long. They are definitely convenient, though, so if I’m in a pinch I will opt for the chocolate Jocalat Larabar. I used to love the chocolate cherry one, but I they have discontinued it.
What a beautiful view from your balcony! Bella looks so cute lounging on the chair 🙂 Hope the rest of your day rocks!
This treadmill workout looks great. Thanks for posting it. It will be a great way to take my workout inside on a rainy day!
Wow. That view is BREATHTAKING! And awwwwww at Bella!!!
Last time I tried to make a new bar it was a total fail too. On my list of things I need to master!
I don’t eat bars typically. I’ve spied recipes for Larabars but have yet to try them out.
I like making my own, but I’ve found that replicating the chewy consistency of bought bars requires more horsepower than my food processor likes to put out on a regular basis. The main ingredient in most bought bars is date paste and it will kill any non-industrial food processor. I totally ‘threaded’ the motor on mine and the company rang me to ask what I’d been doing… using it as a concrete mixer?
I pretty much have to make my own bars because of my nut allergies. It’s sooo hard to find healthy nut-free bars! 🙁
So jealous you can blog outside still! It’s freezing here!
I’ve never attempted to make bars before, but I’d definitely be up for it. I usually buy them just because, like you said, they’re easy to throw in the purse and go when you’re in a bit of a hurry. My favorite is larabar peanut butter and jelly 🙂 It tastes just like the middle of a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. YUM!
I like to make my own…but I seem to eat them way too quickly! Like as soon as they are done, I’m eating and eating….its better for my girlish figure to buy them. All time fav Luna Carmel Nut Brownie.
it’s easier to exercise portion control when you have to unwrap a wrapper, than having a whole pan staring at you, for sure 🙂
I’m glad you tried the new vega bars because I tried the recovery one and was a little concerned. It contains regular sugar and doesn’t seem to be packed with the amount of beneficial ingredients like the vibrancy bars. Maybe it is throwing me off because it tastes like a chocolate brownie bar so it doesn’t seem as nutritious as the others? What are your thoughts? Have you tried the recovery one? If so, do you think it is ebbing closer to a commercial food bar?
i have the recovery bar here, but haven’t tried it yet. i definitely like the vibracy bars best so far! when i try the recovery bar, i’ll definitely post about it
I have gotten into the habit for buying bars again, but i used to make my own all the time. Living in the dorm has taken away a lot of my kitchen fun but thankfully it’s only temporary!
I am really not a fan of bars… I went on a high protein diet years ago, and I think I bar-ed myself out. Hope you gad a sweet zumba time!
I prefer to eat other snacks, but I keep a big stash of Lara Bars for those days when I’m on the go. It saves so much time, and is delicious.
I prefer bars for snacks because they’re easy and portable. I love having Clif bars with me because they take a while to eat (since they’re so chewy) and they have enough calories, fat, and protein to keep me full.
I was so in the mood for chili. Checked out my groceries and decided to google black bean/sweet potato chili, and guess who popped up! lol I forgot you eat that. It’s in my slow cooker! 😀
I agree about portioning with bars. I have a real problem with any type of sweets and am hypoglycemic. I zone out and when I come back to reality, I’ve eaten half a pan of cake,cookies,bars, or whatever I made. Then, my body goes all freaky.
My huge problem now is that I haven’t worked out in TWO months. I have two small kiddos in elem school and work full time. I pick them up, and it’s homework, dinner, baths, bed then I finally get to sit down. We already wake at 5:45. I just don’t know what to do. I’ve lost a couple of lb but I know it’s my muscle. It’s gooooooone! 🙁
Gina,
I recently stumbled upon some chocolate that you would LOVE. It is called SWEET RIOT 65% dark chocolate and has crunchy cacao nibs throughout! SO delicious. It has pretty great nutritional stats and really good quality. They sell them online, however, I found them at a local Big Lots store! Let me know if you are interested, wouldn’t mind shipping you a few! 🙂
Here is where I found them online:
http://www.luckyvitamin.com/p-28613-sweetriot-yumbar-65-dark-chocolate-with-crunchy-cacao-nibs-134-oz-formerly-unbar?utm_source=shopzilla&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=Sweetriot-YumBar65%EF%BF%BDrkChocolatewithCrunchyCacaoNibs-1.34oz.formerlyunBAR&utm_content=78771&utm_campaign=shopzilla&site=www.shopzilla.com&mr:referralID=c0189eb1-f818-11e0-9866-001b2166becc&
–Sarah
That is the cutest balcony chair! I can’t wait to have a patio to decorate. I prefer bars at the moment, just because I currently can’t make something that tastes as good as them without a ton of sugar!
I make Jenna from eatliverun’s yogi trail mix bars every Sunday and put the mixture in a muffin tin, so I have proportioned snacks all week long. Plus they taste amazing!
i’ve been wanting to try those! so good to know you liked them
Holy MOLY! I did this treadmill workout tonight and it kicked my butt! 11.5 incline was crazy by the time I got to the top… I feel so good now, though! Thanks for the workout, I loved it and will definitely do it again!