Tis the season for germs and illness and even though winter may end in another few weeks (hopefully!) that just means you're out and about even more exposing yourself to germs.  Now I don't mean to brag but I haven't been sick for years.   I take advice given to me by medical professionals very seriously when it comes to staying healthy and although my allergies flare up from time to time I haven't had an actual knock-me-down illness for I don't know how many years!

So today I wanted to give you some hacks that I use and that I've collected over the years for avoiding coming down with the nasty flu or cold viruses out there.  Of course some things you just can't avoid but you can at least try your best to safeguard yourself and your home.  I don't want to make you afraid because we actually need germs so our body can become stronger against them.  So I would not classify myself as a germaphobe but rather a smart person.  When I'm at work I take a ton of precautions because I know other people aren't so mindful and I know that it's like a giant petri dish in my building.

1 || Wash Your Hands

Seriously, it sounds so lame because everyone always says that and there's signed everywhere reminding you to do so but trust me there's a reason for that.  Wash them and if you can't wash them in a sink then get out that hand sanitizer.  I wash my hands before I eat every meal and before I put my contacts in.  Your eyes are a gateway to your immune system and germs just love to slide in there.  On that same note, make sure to keep your home clean and sanitized.  Wash the counters regularly especially the kitchen and bathroom and make sure to spray down doorknobs every week.

2 || Don't Touch

On that same note, don't put your fingers in your mouth or your eyes or at least not without washing your hands first.  This is especially important if you work in an office or your out in a public place for the day.  And if you have children, uhhhhh this is vital. Also, don't touch door handles or other public surfaces.  I seriously use my pinky to open door handles because I never put my pinky in my eyes or mouth. 

3 || Get Adequate Sleep

While you sleep your body does amazing things like fight off germs and heal injuries and recharge your "batteries" so you need to make sure you are getting a decent amount of sleep so that you wake up feeling well rested and you can get through the day with the right amount of energy.  If you have no energy then your body doesn't have energy to fight off germs you come in contact with on a daily basis.  I make sleep a priority.  I have a DVR so that I don't have an excuse to stay up late to watch something on TV.  I also make sure my entire night is planned out so that I have time before bed to wind down.  When I was in my early 20's I totally neglected my sleep and I was always getting sick.

4 || Stop Being Always On The Go

There are some people that just CAN'T say no to plans.  They end up being on the go so much that they're worn down on a weekly basis and when you get worn down, that's when you're susceptible to germs and illness.  I make sure to always have down time no matter what.  It's a priority because it's for my health.  Also, when you're constantly going places and doing things you're being exposed to more germs.  And when you're already feeling run down and like you may be coming down with something, that's your cue to say no and just take a day or two to rest.  Another thing I always do is prioritizing down time even after a vacation.  Some people go right back to work after they arrive back into town.  I always take an extra day to do my household duties and re-group before jumping back into my normal routine.  That's also how I stay so stress-free and remember that being stressed is hard on your body and can weaken your body's ability to fight off illness. 


Being in a constant state of stress is very hard on your body and your immune system so trust me when I say that taking even just an hour or two of your time to relax and calm down will be beneficial in the long run.

5 || Probiotics

If I could offer you one basic piece of life advice it would be to take daily probiotics.  I know you can eat certain foods that have them in it but the sure fire way to get a nice dose of the bacteria your body needs is to take a simple little pill every day.  I've been taking probiotics for years and I can't tell you how much of a difference it's made.  Obviously as I said earlier, I haven't been sick but also my body seems more regular with things.  Probiotics give your gut the good bacteria it needs to keep you going strong.  And your gut health impacts the rest of your health even how your brain works.  I think more clearly, I can be more active, and I feel overall much stronger and I really do think it's mainly from taking probiotics. 
 


Hopefully these hacks help you like they have helped me.  Do you have any other tips for staying healthy during cold and flu season?

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Healthier Snacking in the New Year

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It's a new year and it's time for new, better habits.  One of the major things I struggle with is snacking and making smart food choices.  I can literally go all day eating perfectly and watching my portions but then after dinner I have a few hours before bed and that's when I mindlessly eat.  Sometimes I have the urge to just straight up gorge on food.  People say you shouldn't eat a few hours before bed but it's just impossible for me.  So rather than deprive myself I decided I would just make healthier choices. 

I figured I'm not alone in my struggles so I hope that this little selection of healthier snacking choices helps whoever else out there is struggling.  

PBfit

I'm obsessed with PBfit peanut butter powder! I already love peanut butter but this takes it to a whole new level.  You just mix some with water (follow the ratio and guidelines of course) and you can use it as a dip, a spread, or bake it into your version of protein cookies! It has 90% less fat and only 1/3 of the calories of regular peanut butter.  And it's still made from real peanuts! It tastes even better than regular peanut butter and it's super easy to mix and prepare.  I use it in smoothies to add some chocolatey peanut butter flavor and I'm loving the simple ingredients.

I even take these little packets to work and I can make the dip right at my desk and eat it with my celery at lunch!   On weekends I mix it in with pancakes and James can enjoy it since it's gluten free!  I really really love how easy it is to add the powder form to existing recipes and it's not a sticky peanut butter at all so it doesn't make for a messy clean up.  I am so shocked I hadn't heard of this product before!

Chocolate

Right now, I'm enjoy Blissfully Better Chocolate. This chocolate is certified organic and sweetened ONLY with low glycemic coconut nectar. This means it gets introduced nice and slow into your bloodstream.  And it has more vitamins and minerals than most other sweeteners.  Another ingredient Blissfully Better has is organic cocoa mass which is the purest form of the dried and roasted cocoa bean.  The reason I stick with chocolate as a healthier snack choice is because chocolate offers benefits associated with healthy stress level maintenance, and helps support normal brain function and enhanced mood thanks to theobromine and phenethylamine.  There is also organic salted butter which is much better for your body than regular butter and organic heavy cream which contain vitamins and minerals.

This is one of my favorite chocolate brands because they have so many choices of chocolate goodies from coconut thins to caramel and toffee thins!

Popcorn

So popcorn is a great snack for me because it fills me up even though it's light and airy. Of course it would be healthier if I just had plain popcorn but I need some flavor! I usually end up getting cheese coated pop corn.  Even though that doesn't make it the best of choices I am still happy because I know it's better than dousing it with butter or eating cheese puffs and potato chips.  

Veggies

Yea I know, veggies sound boring but that's why I don't really eat them on their own when I snack on them.  Dipping them in a marinade or soaking them in a marinade before eating really gives them flavor and it's what keeps me drawn towards snacking on veggies.  

I have also been having "vegan buffalo wings" and I use marinade to coat the cauliflower.  It's actually delicious and even James loves it! I'm telling you guys if you want to eat more veggies, marinades are the key!

I personally LOVE Moore's Marinade Sauces. They are gluten-free and have awesome flavors to choose from!

And if you want to make vegan buffalo wings just follow this easy recipe below!

Ingredients
1 Head Cauliflower
1 Cup Moore's Buffalo Wing Sauce
1 Cup Gluten Free Flour
1 Cup Water
2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Cut Cauliflower into bite-size floret "wings".
Combine the water, flour, and garlic powder in a bowl and stir.
Coat the cauliflower florets with the flour mixture and place in baking dish.
Bake for 18 minutes.
Combine Moore's sauce and Olive Oil in a small bowl. 
Pour the mixture over the baked cauliflower then bake for 5-8 minutes.


As I said last month, one of my goals this year was to eat healthier and I'm really trying to focus on that goal right now!  What are your favorite healthy snacks?





 

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Random Acts of Kindness + FREE Printables

I figured this would be a Friday feel-good post for you guys since there's an awesome holiday coming up next week.  February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day so I wanted to make a special point of giving you inspiration on how you can commit random acts of kindness in your area.    You can think big or think small.  Maybe you can do something at your workplace, in your neighborhood, at your local store, or even while on the road traveling. 

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How To Keep Your Pantry Organized

Alright I'm like, the queen of organizing and if you've ever seen my organizing posts you'll notice that even though the cupboards in our kitchen are older (which means they are tinier) I still make do.  There are just a few key tips to keep in mind when trying to keep your pantry and food supply organized and they'll work no matter how big or how small your space is!

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5 Fun + Unique Valentine's Day Ideas

Ah, Valentine's Day aka February 14th aka the holiday that comes in the middle of weird Winter season where everyone's cooped up and bored.  There's less to do in most parts of the country and everyone's already going a little stir crazy.  So I wanted to put together a few ideas that are very fun and also very unique that you can do for Valentine's Day.  The best part is - if you are single - you can still do these, just bring a friend or family member with you!

Idea || Old School Dinner + A Movie
Estimated Cost || $100 or less [$75 for dinner | $25 for movie tickets]
Remember in high school when dinner and a movie was literally THE ideal date?  Why not bring that back and have a little fun.  Pick a movie and then pick a relatively close restaurant for dinner.  The best part is you can just go to a small café or pizza shop for dinner OR you can go to a fancy place.  Whatever suits YOU best is what should be done.  And don't feel limited to doing them in that order.  Some people like to go see a movie first (save money with the early bird ticket times) and then have dinner afterwards.  Also, I totally won't judge you if you smuggle your own snacks in!


Idea || Dive Bar + A Diner
Estimated Cost || $50 or less [$25 for cheap drinks | $25 for diner food ]
For some reason dive bars take you to a totally different world.  It's almost like they have their own little atmosphere and there are usually the "regulars" at the bar every night.   Dive bars are fun because the music's never too loud and the crowd is usually more laid back so it's a perfect place to go and find a quiet spot for you and your date and enjoy some cheap drinks and good conversation.  Then after you've worked up an appetite (from drinking of course) head to a local diner to enjoy some cheap but filling eats. 

Idea || Game Night + Pizza
Estimated Cost || $50 or less depending on where you go
So the best part about this idea is it can be done in several ways depending on your budget and your preference.  There are trivia nights at lots of bars and restaurants so search around to see what places near you provide it.  Then stop by (before or after) a local pizza joint.   You can also do this idea on a larger scale by going to one of those escape room places (if you have one in your area) and then grab a pizza to go on your way home.  You'll surely work up an appetite in the escape room or so I've heard.  And finally if you and your Valentine like being cheap and chill, you can have a game night at home (video games, cards, board games, etc.) and either make your own pizza, make a frozen pizza, or have pizza delivered so you don't even have to leave the house!

Idea || Spa Day
Estimated Cost || $200 [Could be less if you check for specials and coupons!]
So I know this may be a "splurge" but sometimes this is exactly what you need.   Look around for your local spa or massage facilities and book a couple's massage and spa day.  There will surely be coupons on specials so check your local flyers, ads, and Facebook.   Most packages include snacks and drinks too! Sometimes the best excuse for a spa day is when you enjoy it with someone else!


Idea || Practical Dinner + Gift Exchange at Home
Estimated Cost || $100 or less
If you're one of those people that just likes to keep it simple than go right ahead but make sure you have some fun.  Get a simple gift (spend no more than $50) and wrap with Valentine's Day paper or tissue.  Gift exchanges are always fun right?  Then, decide on a meal that you both love and purchase the ingredients so you can get cooking!  It's best if both of you help out so it's easier on the both of you.  And if you really despise cooking you can get take out from your favorite restaurant.  Set the mood with beautiful plates, silverware, a tablecloth, and candles and enjoy the night. 




Whatever you decide to do and whomever you decide to do it with, just make sure you enjoy yourself. 


What was your favorite unique Valentine's Day date?  

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Master the Art of Meal Planning ||Free Printables||

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If you do the cooking and grocery shopping in your household, you already know how stressful it can be.  The whole idea of dinner isn't just coming home from work to say "What should I make tonight?" and if it is, then no wonder you're so stressed!  Dinner (and any meal) should be well thought out and planned so that it doesn't disrupt your day or add extra stress to your already hectic life.  Besides, if you're trying to eat better then you HAVE TO plan your meals otherwise you end up feeling tired, overwhelmed, and hungry for a frozen dinner.  Hello salt intake!! 

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