Roasted Broccoli Parmesan Recipe Share

ROASTED BROCCOLI PARMESAN

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 medium bunch (about 20 oz) broccoli with stems
• 6 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup homemade or jarred marinara sauce  
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. 
• Trim about 1 inch off broccoli stems and discard. Slice the broccoli stalks in half lengthwise to have 4 pieces total. 
• Place the broccoli and the garlic cloves on a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and drizzle both sides of the broccoli florets and stems with olive oil. Season both sides with salt and roast cut side up about 10 minutes, until the broccoli is browned on the bottom. Turn the broccoli and garlic and roast an additional 10 minutes until tender and browned and crisp.
• Top with marinara sauce and mozzarella. Return to the oven and bake until hot and the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.

Source: SkinnyTaste

Love Your WHOLE Self, Cellulite & All

Yeah, it's a whole lotta not fun exposing parts of yourself that you battle insecurity with.

But it's not fair to just post certain shots or my "after photos" leading you to believe that my body, self esteem & journey is all rainbows + butterflies.

The truth is, social media makes it easy to share the highlights. That doesn't mean I don't want to keep it real, but also want to be sure that I'm keeping my ‪#‎GracefullyBalanced‬ presence inspiring and uplifting, focused on positivity and solution.

 

However, it's probably good every now and again to humble myself a bit and remind y'all that I'm not a picture of fitness perfection.. I'm just a girl, dedicated to wellness, in the pursuit of being graceFULLy balanced. Learning to love myself.. ALL of me.

So.. This picture of my tushie.. {And you better be grateful I didn't go with a full rear shot} is real. This is STILL what healthy looks like! I could be forever dedicated to working out + healthy eating and STILL have cellulite. ‪#‎sorryitstrue‬ ..

But that doesn't mean I'm not working hard. It doesn't mean I'm not making progress. It's just part of who I am!

 

So YOU.. You over there doing a billion squats, counting calories religiously & stressing over imperfections.

 

LOVE YOURSELF.. Flaws and all. Because they don't define you. They're just a tiny piece of the puzzle that makes you who you are.

 

So whether it's cellulite, a pear shape bod, etc.. Love it all.

 

Simply so your BEST every day to seek balance + care for your mind, body & spirit.

 

Share the LOVE!

Stronger For Summer {FREE} Group

Y'all. Time is flying & believe it or not, SUMMER is approaching 

Don't panic though, gals.. Sunshine, pool days, shorts & bathing suits SHOULDN'T make you anxious. What if this year, you got EXCITED & healthier?! ‪#‎WhyTheHeckNOT‬

To help all you BEAUTIES get STRONGER & healthier for summer, I decided to host a {FREE} 7 day group to offer inspiration, resources, motivation & community 

During this week long group, I'll be offering::

- a meal plan

- corresponding grocery list

- log in to access HUNDREDS of workouts

- community support

Yep, it's going to be fabulous. 

ALL you need to do to join is fill out THIS questionnaire, then wait for my email or text back with your next steps.

Join solo OR better yet.. invite your girlfriends, family & co-workers for some extra support!

SHARE this blog post, y'all. Let's EMPOWER women this year to be our healthiest & strongest SHE 

RSVP by 4/15/16 to join STRONGER for SUMMER!!

‪#‎SummerStrong‬ ‪#‎GracefullyBalanced‬ ‪#‎HealthyIsBeautiful‬

Mindset Shift: Healthy Eating

I did it once too.. I had the common mentality and misperception that it was just "super expensive to eat healthy.."


But have you ever stopped to wonder why that processed stuff you're buying is SO cheap? What's actually IN that food and what it does for & TO your body?


Y'all, healthy food is way cheaper in the long run than health problems. YOU do the math.


And if you ask me, it's worth the "sacrifice" of the fancy coffee, getting my nails done or the extra target trip to fuel my body properly so that I live a longer, healthier life with the ones I love.


That's why I choose eating healthy & why both Nate and I drink shakeology every.single.day. And we do so without breaking the bank, in fact we're on the Dave Ramsey plan.


Change your mindset, change your life. Educate yourself and care for your temple ✌🍴


‪#‎healthyliving‬ ‪#‎MINDSETshift‬ ‪#‎gracefullybalanced‬

Best Kept Protein Secret: Cottage Cheese

Okay peeps... I tried cottage cheese for the first time today & I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised!

I knew the health benefits were spot on, but was curious what the taste/texture would be & if it would be something I'd want to eat regularly.

Let me break it down for ya, friends.

Nutritionally:

It's rich in protein!

It's recommended for expectant mommies and athletes because of the essential nutrients it contains.

 It's an excellent source of B12 vitamins that aid in various metabolic activities within our bodies.

It also contains lots of other vitamins and minerals that:

 help with digestion

aid and improve various biological functions

decreases stress and even cramps (thanks potassium)

maintains blood sugar (magnesium)

&

strengthens bones (calcium)

Taste/Texture:

 It's thicker, like Greek yogurt.. With some chunks like feta cheese. It's a mild taste that can be used for sweet or savory combos.

Serving suggestion (for newbies especially):

Go sweet. Pair with granola for crunch and fruit for a natural sugar.

For my folks with no heart.. I mean SWEET TOOTH 😂 go savory: serve with tomatoes, cucumber and avocado- season with pepper!

Cost:

Cottage cheese is CHEAPER than Greek yogurt. So add another protein option to your fridge and you wallet with thank you ✌️

Try new foods that FUEL your body.. You might even realize that you like them. ..

The year I QUIT leggings

Okay, opinions aside with all this ‪#‎leggingsarenotpants‬ talk... let me take you back a to a few years of my life when I LIVED in them all winter long.
.
After Nate and I got married, I started a slow & steady weight gain.. we'll call it the "newly-wed 15," but honestly it was more like 20 pounds- and on a 5'3" frame that was pretty significant. But this post-white dress, newly wed bliss weight gain is something I think a lot of women can relate to.
.
I became so ashamed at how I neglected myself that I began to use my clothing to HIDE... the weight... the expanding curves.. and ultimately, my insecurity.
.
I had tons of pants sitting in my closet that I didn't wear because either they wouldn't fit over my butt/hips (hello, hour glass frame) OR because I was so self conscious about my muffin top. -----> In came the "leggings phase" of my life.... I wore them initially because they were trendy and comfy, but eventually they became my method of concealing & all I wore...
.
Last fall, I took charge of my health, fitness & over-all wellness.. I made the DECISION to try something different. I was NERVOUS that it would be too hard. I was nervous I would quit. I was nervous I'd waste money. BUT, I needed SO desperately to find my confidence again. I NEEDED to get rid of the sick-to-my-stomach feeling I had on occasion when I was intimate with my husband (keeping it real, girls). I wanted to go in my closet and throw on my PANTS for goodness sake!
.
So, I got T25 and shakeology, I synced up with a coach and joined an online accountability group. I checked in with my coach every Sunday & STUCK WITH IT for 8 weeks ----> through early morning work outs.. through traveling ... CHOOSING to saying NO to dinner party food and wedding reception snacks and weekend drinks.. I ENVISIONED what sticking with it would look and even FEEL like & that's what fueled me!
.
Nearly 60 days later, I finished T25/shakeology/healthy eating... and I lost 3.PANT.SIZES. I cried when I tried on pants that STILL didn't fit.. because they were too big. I felt SO healthy, STRONG and confident.. I felt proud of myself ---> and that meant so much to me.
.
So yes, leggings are great & I wear them [[the right way wink emoticon kidding.. ]].. but I'm not TRAPPED in them.. I'm not HIDING anything..
.
This may not speak to the masses, but that's okay. My hope is to be a LIGHT of hope and promise to a FEW. You CAN change your circumstances.. and I'd like to help you. Be free, be proud ladies. Love yourself

Click here to learn more about my health & wellness accountability groups!