Tuesday, November 15, 2022

My Favorite Fall Activities on the Seacoast

Until yesterday, we were having a little heatwave here in New England, but not so much now. I really love the fall and jeans, sweaters and boots. Plus there are just so many fun things to do!

As we get ready to wrap up another fall season, here are some of my favorite fall activities that we've done since moving back to the seacoast last year.

Pumpkin Fest - Applecrest Farm Orchards, Hampton Falls, NH

They have a pumpkin field with pumpkins ready to go, animals, apple cider donuts, flowers, food and a store filled with yummy homemade products. Plus, it is pet friendly!

Leaf Peeping - Kancamgus Highway, NH

We've done this two times now. I highly recommend stopping to grab a map and plotting out places to stop for pics, hikes, attractions. This year we rode the gondola at Loon Mountain -> totally worth it!

Pumpkin Scarecrows - Portsmouth, NH

About a week or two before Halloween, the scarecrows go up around downtown Portsmouth. Last year we lived on State Street and saw them all the time. This year, we went over to Portsmouth for a long walk and counted how many we saw just for fun. We found 12 that day.

Apple Picking - Applecrest Farm Orchards, Hampton Falls, NH

I was 51 years old the first time I went apple picking!!! Applecrest Farm has the oldest apple orchard in New Hampshire, so we went back to raid their trees. We picked a peck of Golden Delicious, and Jonagold. In addition to pick your own, they had other fun activities like a corn maze and corn hole games.

Halloween Parade - Portsmouth, NH

Living downtown last year made it super easy to step out and watch the Halloween fun march and dance through the streets. This is definitely an activity that you should do at least once.


York Harbor Cliff Walk - York, Maine

Any coastal trail walk in the fall is fun. You'll get sunshine, crisp air and pops of color against the beautiful ocean blue. We loved the cliff walk in York because it reminded us of Newport's Cliff Walk.


What are your favorite things to do in the fall?





Sunday, October 30, 2022

When all you want for the holidays is a pretty red lip!!

 Today I want to highlight one of my favorite new products → At the Red-y Lip Duo!  


I admit, I am not usually a red lip kind of girl…that's for bold, confident ladies, right? Well, I've always wanted to rock a pretty red lip, especially for the holidays, so after seeing my consultant friends wearing it, I had to try it myself! 
 
This color looks amazing on everyone, don't you think??!!


Here's why you should consider this for yourself or as a gift:
  • A dynamic duo that’s hard to beat - Smart hybrid formula of the Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick and the next-level shine of the Beyond Gloss!
  • Responsibly sourced vanilla from Madagascar that gives both products their sweet scents. The supplier is not only committed to high-quality ingredients but also to improving the quality of life for their community of farmers.
  • Watch this At the Red-y Lip Duo how-to video
Such a beautiful red lipstick for fall and winter, and the holiday season! Order yours today here!
 
If you're brand new to Beautycounter (or have a new email address), enjoy 20% off your first order, including the new holiday sets, AND receive our Bright Duo set, too! (*FREE* with any purchase of $150 or more!)

(Beautycounter is confident that you'll love everything you purchase. However, if you aren't satisfied with a product for any reason, you can return the unused portion within 60 days from the ship date!)

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Why Leg Day Treats?

One of the most favorite aspects of the FASTer Way program is the “Leg Day Treat.” 

In the FASTer Way, we don’t believe in deprivation. That’s why we have a food cycle designed to allow us to enjoy our favorite treats on Leg Day, totally guilt-free. We work out a large muscle group, our legs, which results in a ramped up metabolism, turning our bodies into fat-burning machines all day long.


Leg Day strength training includes some of the more challenging movements of all the strength-based workouts, and the legs and glutes are among the largest muscle groups in the body. Challenging yourself in heavy strength training with the largest muscle groups means you’re likely burning more calories on Leg Day than on other strength days.


Most people who try a diet or “fat loss lifestyle” don’t stick with it for the long-term because it’s too restrictive and doesn’t teach them HOW to incorporate occasional treats. We learn how to still eat a treat and how honesty in that freedom is important. It's not a diet of deprivation, but a lifestyle where you eat mindfully and with purpose.


It is important to note that we participate in a treat MEAL...not a cheat DAY.  Going off course for an entire day can quickly unravel some of your hard earned work; however, a treat meal is unlikely to do so. A treat meal serves a couple of purposes. It can trick your body and turn your metabolism up a notch. Plus it gives you a mental release from feeling like you have to be "perfect" all the time.


Some people find the idea of “treats” to be particularly triggering and they have a hard time stopping at one treat or an appropriately portioned treat. Please understand that building in foods made of discretionary calories is entirely voluntary and I encourage you to make the best decision for you and your wellness journey.



How do you incorporate treats or do you avoid them?








Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Dairy Free & Gluten Free Pumpkin Protein Donuts

 

So, a couple weeks ago, I shared an easy Pumpkin Protein Balls recipe and then I found this donut recipe. I've never made my own donuts, but watching the video gave me confidence that if I was ever going to try, this was the recipe to go for it. It was much easier to make these donuts than I thought it would be.

It did require buying a donut baking pan. I picked mine up at Target, but this is the same one on Amazon.


Donuts are one of my favorite treats on leg days, but it can be hard to find some that are gluten free, dairy free and good. I am lucky to live near a shop that makes really, really good GF and DF donuts, but making my own lets me know EXACTLY what is going into them and figure out the macros.


Ingredients:

2 bananas

1 egg

1/2 cup pumpkin purée 

1/2 tsp vanilla extract 

3/4 cup GF flour - I used buckwheat and held back enough for protein 

1 scoop protein - I used FASTer Way hydrobeef vanilla 

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp pumpkin spice


Steps:

Mix all wet ingredients together.

Mix all dry ingredients together.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir. 

Add batter to nonstick donut pan -> I did the batter in a baggie hack…it was messy getting in, but worked. Don’t be afraid to cut a bigger opening!


Bake at 350 for 18 minutes!


These are tasty on their own, but I liked mine dribbled with some maple syrup 🙂





Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Pumpkin Protein Balls

 


I love getting into the season...whatever season it is!

When the days get cooler and the leaves start to change, I get in the mood for all the fall things. Even though I'm not a PSL fan like a lot of people are, I do love the smell of pumpkin. Plus pumpkin is a fiber rich carb making it great for your healthy gut. It's also loaded with vitamin A -> known as the anti-infection vitamin because it helps the body fight bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections.

These protein balls are such a great fall treat and super simple to make. They are great for any occasion, but perfect for those on the go days to throw in your bag.

Try them and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

2 cups of rolled GF oats

1 scoop of protein powder - I used FASTer Way vanilla

2 tablespoons of chi seeds (optional for a boost of healthy fats)

1/2 cup pumpkin purée

1  1/2 tsp pumpkin spice seasoning

1/4 cup of nut butter - I used almond butter

1 tsp of vanilla extract

And some honey to taste

Makes 12 balls


Steps:

Mix the dry ingredients together first and then add the wet ingredients. The mixture will be sticky, but not too wet. 


If you're like me and hate messy food hands, wet your hands with water before rolling mixture into balls. This trick works like a charm!


Place in an air tight container and store in your refrigerator for about 30 minutes or until you are ready to serve. Enjoy!


Macros: 

Carbs 15g, Fat 6g, Protein 6g, Fiber 3g


Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Frosty Almond Butter PUPsicles

When it's hot, I love a good smoothie, don't you? During one of our summer heat waves, I decided to help our pretty girl cool off with some homemade pupsicles. She already loves ice cookies and she deserves a cool treat, too!


I made this recipe with and without some of the locally grown blueberries we picked ourselves at a neighbor's invitation.

Ingredients

4oz almond butter

3oz water

2oz yogurt

Blend ingredients together - I use our Ninja single serving cup.

Pour into your baking mold - be sure to make room in your freezer ahead of time and put your mold on a cookie sheet so you can move it without spilling (learn from my failure).

Leave in the freezer until frozen and then store. Beware! Every time you open the freezer, your pup is going to want a pupsicle!


Let me know if you make these for your furry friend.




Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Pineapple Green Protein Shake

It's Tasty Tuesday! 🍍🍍

This one reminds me of living in Hawaii 🤙 but it’s perfect anywhere on a hot day! Which is what we are having today in Kittery!


Grab these ingredients for a nutrient packed shake that will quench your thirst and leave you feeling good knowing it’s packed with healthy fruits, veggies and protein.


Don’t forget to save this post for later!

Pineapple Green Protein Smoothie

1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup spinach
1 serving protein powder (I used FASTer Way vanilla)
1 cup pineapple (chunks)
1/2 banana (frozen)
4 ice cubes

Add all ingredients to blender. Blend until smooth.
Enjoy!!



Serving size: 1
Macros: 38g Carbs, 23g Protein, 4g Fat, 5g Fiber

Follow me in Instagram for more healthy food ideas! 




Tuesday, August 23, 2022

The time we went looking for spinner dolphins at Electric Beach

We were pretty spoiled by getting to live in Hawaii for over two years. It was another place that we knew would be temporary, so we tried to soak up as much as we could around mrC's work schedule.

One of my favorite adventures was when we went to Electric Beach to snorkel and try to spot some of the famous spinner dolphins that like to hang out there.

Kahe Point aka “Electric Beach” is called that because it is located in front of a power plant. 


Getting there was super easy on a week day and we timed our arrival perfectly to get a parking spot. Although it is a public beach, it is small and so is the parking lot. I'd say there are maybe 25 spots available.

The first thing we did was check out the water. It looked amazing and not too deep for me - deep water really weirds me out!




We grabbed our gear and made our way over to the small beach and entrance to the water. We saw lots of scuba diver classes preparing to go in the water and spotted the showers & restrooms which was super nice.


Admittedly, I wasn't as graceful as mrC getting in the water with swim fins on, a rocky bottom and waves breaking. Not to mention that some chick thought it would be smart to just stand there, blocking the most obvious path as if she were in Waikiki. 

Anyway, once we were in, I was ready to move. It didn't take us long to swim out and start seeing fish playing in the coral. 


We made our way toward the exit pipe from the power plant. The water pushed out is very warm, which is what attracts the sea life.

As promised, we saw tons of fish and a green sea turtle up close. In case you didn't know, sea turtles are protected by law and it is illegal to touch them in Hawaii. You should always give them room to do their thing and stay at least 50 feet away.





It was such an awesome day!


Do you like to snorkel? Where is the best place you've been?







Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Long Weekend in Pensacola

We spent a long weekend in Pensacola visiting my stepson who is just starting flight school. We left Quincy with a dog sitter and flew down on Thursday morning. We met up with the girls and SIL Sean (who drove down with the dog) at Grant's house. After meeting some of his roommates, we checked into our condo on Pensacola Beach and then went out for a family dinner to one of Grant's favorite places, The Fish House. I had the grilled shrimp and it was sooo good!

The next day, mrC and I were up early thanks to the one hour time difference, so we went for a morning walk on the beach. He and I have a thing for sunrises!

Then we headed to his old training base, which is Grant's new training base for a little walk down memory lane. It's fun to see and hear about the places where his flying career started.  Two F35s were visiting and we got to see them up close. The pilots gave a walk-around presentation of the planes and answered questions. It was mrC's lucky day!!

Before meeting back up with the group, we stopped to grab something to eat. I picked up a watermelon cup from the grocery and a cup of tuna from Subway. 

We met up with the rest of the gang at the Naval Aviation Museum. Grant and one his roommates gave us an awesome guided tour. It was by far the best experience I've ever had visiting a museum!


Another group dinner, this time to The Oar House. I ordered grilled shrimp again. So good!


After dinner, the kids went to Grant's to visit the dog (he and his roommates were keeping him there because our condo didn't allow pets). mrC and I caught the sunset on the bay behind our condo. Ok, maybe we have a thing for sunsets, too.

My super smart husband planned the trip so that we would be there for Blue Angels weekend. The kids set up some canopies on the beach early Saturday morning and we walked about a mile to join them after breakfast. Since our condo had a fully stocked kitchen, we had grabbed a few staple items at the grocery the day before: eggs, strawberries and gluten-free toast.

It was perfect weather to hang out on the beach for the air show. Blue skies, sunshine and hot temps! 


We stayed in the water until they kicked us out when the Blue Angels were starting. This was my first time seeing the Blue Angels anywhere and it was incredible. I think the location was just the cherry on top.



After a day at the beach in the hot sun, we kept it simple and walked to Peg Leg Pete's for dinner. There was a bit of a wait, but they have a fun bar downstairs with license plates from all over the US lining the walls. For dinner I ordered the yummy Grilled Flounder sandwich!

After dinner, we took in another sunset...this time with the kids.



Sunday morning, we all met up for breakfast in downtown Pensacola. Our first choice was the Ruby Slipper, but there was a 90 minute wait. So we walked to The Garden to Pearl & Horn. The menu was small, but packed with a variety of yummy choices. I went for the Smash Burger and sweet potato waffle fries!


We split up so the kids could go take Ralph for a walk and we headed to Pensacola's first lighthouse. The plan was to walk up the 177 steps to the top to see the beautiful Gulf Coast from above. The spiral steps without a handrail on the inside was too much for me though! So we enjoyed the view from below and walked through the museum. 


On our way back to the condo, we stopped at Single Fin Cafe to share an acai bowl. The cafe was located inside Waterboyz, a surf and skateboard shop. It wasn't the best bowl we've ever had, but I loved the decor of the shop.



We had plans to do a sunset sail with mrC's friend, Dr. Bri. He used to take us sailing when we lived on Oahu, but like us he has also relocated back to the mainland...in Pensacola! Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate, so we stayed docked in the marina. We still had a great time hanging out down below until the storms blew over and having the Tip Top crew back together again. 


 

Our departing flight wasn't until afternoon, which gave us time to enjoy a final morning on Pensacola Beach. It was so nice to be able to walk right across the street and see the beautiful white sand and blue water. To top it off, we saw a bunch of dolphins swimming right off shore! 


Our long weekend in Pensacola visiting Grant was the best!



*