inspiration

Pumpkin Pumpkin Pumpkin!

The last few days I have been craving something pumpkin.. so, I've been searching for an easy pumpkin muffin recipe to try. Here's a yummy one I found here:

Ingredients

• Cooking spray
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole-grain pastry flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsulphered molasses
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
• 1/4 cup raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose and whole-wheat flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.

In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, molasses, oil and 1 egg until combined. Add the other egg and whisk well. Whisk in the pumpkin and vanilla. Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches, alternating with the buttermilk. Whisk just until combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan and sprinkle with the pumpkin seeds. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of 1 of the muffins comes out clean.

Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Run a knife around the muffins to loosen them and unmold. Cool completely on the rack.

Yields 12 muffins

Total time: 1 hour 45 min.

ENJOY!!

oh happy day... :)

TIU's Fall Challenge

So, I've started following TIU again for their new Fall Challenge through the end of October. I did all of the bikini workouts and the 7 Day Slim Down combined with other cardio and eating right before my wedding and noticed huge changes in my body and the way I felt. They just came out with a fall update for the diet plan with awesome recipes and inspiration for healthy living! I love them and highly recommend them!

Learn more here!

Here's the workout I did today.. KILLER, but I LOVED it!

SHREDMILL WORKOUT

• 3 Minute Brisk Walk
• 3 Minutes Jog
• 60 Second 'Sprint'- as fast as you can
• 60 Second Jog
• 60 Second 'Sprint' ~ just as fast as you can run- this speed can vary

~ Chill for 20-30 seconds, breathe, take a couple sips of water

• 20 Pushups

• 3 Minute Brisk Walk
• 3 Minutes Jog
• 60 Second 'Sprint'- as fast as you can
• 60 Second Jog
• 60 Second 'Sprint' ~ just as fast as you can run- this speed can vary

~ Chill for 20-30 seconds, breathe, take a couple sips of water

• 20 Squat Jumps

• 3 Minute Brisk Walk
• 3 Minutes Jog
• 60 Second 'Sprint'- as fast as you can
• 60 Second Jog
• 60 Second 'Sprint' ~ just as fast as you can run- this speed can vary

~ Chill for 60-90 seconds, breathe, take a couple sips of water

• 20 Situps

• 3 Minute Brisk Walk
• 3 Minutes Jog
• 60 Second 'Sprint'- as fast as you can
• 60 Second Jog
• 60 Second 'Sprint' ~ just as fast as you can run- this speed can vary

~ Chill for 60-90 seconds, breathe, take a couple sips of water

• 30 second Plank

• 5 Minute Cool-down Walk :) Shredded...

PLUS...

I added these to the end:

20 lunges

20 squat jacks

20 side crunches

20 tummy tucks

ENJOY!!!

happy birthday!!!!!

You have been the best thing that could have happened to me, giving me so much laughter, so much joy and so much love. So on you birthday, I’d just like to say thanks, and remind you of how very very much I love you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN!

XOXOXOXOXO

OUR HONEYMOON

Alan and I jetted off to sunny Cabo San Lucas for our Honeymoon a couple days after our wedding.. it was AMAZING to say the least.. unlimited drinks by the beach, sun sun sun, and oodles of hanging with my best friend.. couldn't have been more perfect!

Here's some pics from the fun!