crunchy. sweet. spicy.
Hiiiii friends! How’s the day going? Hope you’re having a great afternoon! <3 Thanks for all of the awesome feedback on the homemade Bitchin’ Bowl! Let me know if any of you give it a try.
Smoothie in the sun after yesterday’s BODYPUMP, while I waited for the Pilot and Liv to meet me for her gymnastics class:
This post is going to be a little random, because nothing in the day had anything in common. So, here’s something crunchy, sweet and spicy. 🙂
Crunchy: (and no, it isn’t anything hippie-ish I’ve been doing lately, though we all know that list is loooonnnnggg)
This glorious salad. The inspiration started off with the spinach salad I had added to our meal plan, and while I started to make it, I was reminded of a salad that I love from Eclectic Cafe in Tucson with walnuts, feta, berries and chicken. I used crunchy romaine, chopped raw walnuts, blueberries, strawberries, grain-free baked chicken tenders (similar to these), and a creamy dairy-free Ranch dressing. It was GLORIOUS. I forgot how sweet and delicious fresh berries are in salads! Will definitely be making again soon.
Sweet:
These Trader Joe’s cold-pressed juices. I wish they were organic, but for the price ($4.99), they are awesome! I really liked the green one, but the yellow one wins so far. It has bell pepper, which I adore in juices but feel like I should eat bell peppers instead of juice them (organic ones are kinda pricey), and it gives it a great little kick. The pineapple in the juice is also super refreshing, and I can’t get enough pineapple lately. 🙂
Spicy:
Flamenco today! I’m so glad I decided to finally take a class last week, because it is so.much.fun. The instructor is SO good (talented, sassy, kind), and the ladies in class are super sweet. It’s definitely challenging, as flamenco is extremely technical and it’s all new to me, but it’s been such a nice way to shake up my routine. It’s funny because we started off with the footwork for the Sevillana, and I was like YEAH I GOT THIS and then she added in the arm and wrist movement and I was like oh noooo. I’m excited to keep up with class, keep practicing and learning.
One of my very favorites, which is actually from Riverdance:
What’s something sweet, spicy or crunchy from your day? Anything you did lately that was new or challenging, or inspired you to change up your routine?
Have a great night!
xoxo
Gina
PS I’m doing my first radio interview for “HIIT It!” tomorrow! I’ll be sure to post the link when it’s live.. if I don’t sound like a goober. 😉
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Eeeee! Good luck tomorrow. That’s so exciting! I need that chicken tender salad in my life. Looks incredible! Crunchy–I’ve lately been loving Persian mini cucumbers in salads and just straight up as snacks–they’re sweeter than normal cukes and really good with mustard–just saying!
Sweet–loving sugar cookie sleigh ride tea with lots of vanilla stevia–soo good!
Spicy–I recently made a really good marinade for chicken with sweet curry powder; smoked paprika; and lemon juice. I’m addicted to smoked paprika thanks to you. There’s nothing like it.
thank you- i’m super nervous about it.
that marinade sounds so great!! smoked paprika is one of my faves 🙂
xoxo
Wow that salad looks amazing! How do you keep coming up with these awesome combos? I’ve never tried bell pepper in my juices but after your recommendation, I might just have to try it!
restaurants usually inspire me 🙂
hope you have a great night!!
xoxo
Sweet was my husband’s love note he left me this morning next to a fresh lot if coffee. Crunchy was the tablespoon if walnuts on my morning oatmeal. And spicy is my baby’s attitude- to be fair he is teething. 🙂 making the coffee and love note that much sweeter!
i love that so much! what a great way to wake up 🙂
and yes, teething is the worst
Sweet -> I made your almond cookies from your book. OMG yum! Seriously that recipe is amazing. Spicy -> shrimp and butternut squash rice for dinner. It has a kick but oh so good. Crunch -> kale & butternut squash salad with spiced pecans. I gotta go eat now!
YESSSS. those are in my top favorite cookies for sure!!
that shrimp dinner sounds fantastic
Haven’t commented in a while, but wanted to stop in and say how much I have been enjoying your blog lately! I don’t know what the difference is really, but I am LOVING checking in during my morning “routine” and again during nap time! 🙂 Thanks for all you do! <3
thank you so much, becca, and thank you for reading! 🙂
I have gone to hot yoga classes the past two weekends and I have to say I am loving it! I just wish the studio was closer to where I am living and live would be great!
ahhh i miss hot yoga so much! i think you inspired me to take a class again 🙂
i lpve salads with a crunch! usually the “good” stuff on the salad are al the crunchy ones.
I’ve seen those TJ juices!! I was wondering how they are….glad to hear they’re pretty good! But really, TJ’s can do no wrong!
haha i love the sweet spicy and crunchy idea! the sweet thing of my day is this apple I’m eating!
A radio interview?!?! You go girl!!
Your book has inspired me to prep on the weekends for healthy meals/snacks during the week.
On a side note, what is the name of your polish? Love it!
Spicy- I just got a new chipotle white cheddar cheese I’m excited to try out in some breakfast quesadillas.
Good luck on your interview!
I went to an outdoor bootcamp class today in the park, and it was not my usual “group fitness” room session, but I loved it! Crunchy? That would be the brussels sprouts that were part of my lunch!
I haven’t tried TJ’s cold pressed juices but it’s great to read that they are worth the buy!
Whenever I see something from Trader Joe’s it makes me want to run there immediately. The juice is no exception. That is awesome about the dance classes. I am looking to shake up my routine a bit too. Good luck with the interview!
Soo jealous of all your Trader Joes finds! Maybe they can make all the Target locations that are closing here (Canada) into Joes’ instead 😉
On a random note, could you do a post on good workouts to do before bed? I often find that the only time I have to do a workout is right before bed – so I want to figure out something to do that will tone me up but not keep me awake for hours! Any suggestions?
Good luck tomorrow!!
Good luck tomorrow! Crunchy – I bought teddie’s organic crunchy PB by accident but it’s been a nice change to my oatmeal! Sweet – decided to indulge a little and had a slice of homemade pumpkin cake with tea. Spicy? Dinner was Portuguese style pea stew with linguica and eggs. Yum
Orange Theory just opened up and I finally got to try it, SO MUch fun! It went by super quick and I loved the variation from my normal routine. As an Instructor, sometimes it’s nice to just take something like OT and put my head down and go to work. Loved the competitive nature, it totally brought out the college athlete in me! I’m hooked, and totally want to teach it now 🙂 Who knew doing 8lb Dumbbells in a pyramid style intermixed with rowing could thrash ones upper body so good. Crazy mad love for that class 🙂
Good luck tomorrow! You are the best 🙂
Crunchy: Yesterday I had a salad with raw fennel it in. I don’t usually buy fennel but I’m glad I did because it was really good!
Sweet: I have been eating medjool dates as a snack and they are so sweet! I’m obsessed.
Spicy: I finally had the balls to start my own healthy living bog 😉
Crunchy – I can’t get enough cashews these days! Bo and I bought a HUGE bag and divided them out using a scale to weight 1 serving and then put in individual baby Ziplock bags. It’s such a tasty afternoon snack when paired with an apple!
Haha, I just started to take HipHop Dance classes ( I did this years back) and I am the same – I think I got it and then the music starts and we move faster and there I go, #epicfail 🙂
that salad sounds amazing! here in spain we have some lovely fruits and vegetables available for pretty cheap, but berries are on the pricier side..
crunchy: golden apples- I’m obsessed. I keep them in the fridge and they are the perfect sweet ending to a meal!
sweet: purple sweet potatoes- these power me up for my workouts almost every day and are SO good with almond butter (a combo i first tried after reading it on this blog.. MAJOR thanks for that one!)
spicy: ceviche that i had yesterday for lunch with some girlfriends- spanish food isn’t very spicy generally so it was nice to switch it up with some peruvian and get a little bit of spice in my mouth.
Yum that salad looks great!
I’m headed to Trader Joe’s later today and might have to try one of those juices. I rarely buy store bought juice – is $4.99 the going rate lately?!
$4.99 for juice?! yet another reason to love TJ’s – thanks for the heads up!
Today in yoga the instructor had us practice a “twisted root” headstand (headstand with eagle legs). It was fun to try something new and I surprised myself with how easily it came to me 🙂
Love those TJ’s juices!
Today’s sweet – brekkie! 1/2 avo, 1/2 frozen banana, and 1 scoop of chocolate sunwarrior blended into a pudding!
Today’s crunchy – seaweed snacks! (I now have little seaweed crumbs sprinkled everywhere!)
Today’s spicy – lunch! big ole’ salad doused in hot sauce. always. 😉
Pineapple… can’t get enough… smiley face?! This made me think of a junior Fitnessista! I craved pineapple and summer fruits for both my pregnancies in the early stages. I’m crossing my fingers, I just loved following your pregnancy journey with Olivia. Having two is even more awesome from my experience! xx