Easy Black Bean Spicy Peanut Pasta, May Favourites & Workout Recap

 

 

Hey everyone! I hope the week has been treating you all well so far. Since we are now officially in June, I wanted to share some favourite things with you for the month of May.

First things first, I want to kick this post off with one of my favourite dinners we had last week. I was in the mood for pad Thai, so this was the next best option, and fortunately it was a big hit! Easy peasy, too. 

Black bean & veggie pasta with spicy peanut sauce: 

Black bean pasta (found at Costco)

Cremini mushrooms

Yellow bell pepper

Dinosaur kale

Broccoli

Red onion

For the sauce:

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

Juice of 1 lime

2 tbsp Tamari or soy sauce

Chilli flakes (to your liking)

Salt & pepper

How to:

Bring water to a boil and cook noodles for 8-10 minutes

Sauté together all vegetables with coconut or olive oil, until tender. 

Mix all sauce ingredients together, then stir sauce into veggies.

Plate noodles & add veggies on top. Sprinkle on more chilli flakes if you like things a bit spicy!

 

Today I wanted to do a recap of this last week in work outs. I have officially started training for the Lululemon Seawheeze half, so running has been in the mix!

Monday: Cathedral Grove with Ryan 

Tuesday: Hot yoga & a walk around Chemainus Lake with the Brownies

 

 

Wednesday: Track workout. 10 minute warm up, 6 X 30 second sprints with 1 minute walk in between. 10 minute cool down. I covered 3.1 miles (or 5km)

Thursday: Hot yoga

Friday: 20 minute run & stretching

Saturday: Long run, 10KM

Sunday: REST!

 

One of my May favourites has been this rose quartz bracelet I picked up at a cute little crystal shop on Monday when Ryan and I went up to Coombs. I also bought a tangerine quartz that I keep on my desk. 

 

I am slowly collecting items for my home office. Ryan so kindly hung one of my paintings, and I found an older Victorian style chair for the corner. As you can see, I don't have an ordinary desk chair. Having the exercise ball reminds me to keep my core engaged, and I have some resistance bands stashed in one of the desk drawers so I can workout, too. I want to find a small side table or something of the sort to put on the opposite wall on the right, as there is only a lonely picture hanging there. In time!

 

Speaking of pictures, I am also loving this painting that I picked up at Home Sense. Thankfully Ryan is a handy man, so I just had to show him where I wanted it and voila, it was hung! Just like magic ; )

A few desk favourites, which include the tangerine quartz I picked up in Coombs. Also pictured is citrine and amber, I believe! It is always nice to have fresh plants in the house, too : )

 

As you probably gathered by my book reviews lately, I have been into reading. I am reading consistently and am currently about half way through the first Harry Potter book. My book shelf is becoming full (this is only one stack of many), and I much prefer getting lost in a good book than watching tv. Let's face it. As soon as you put me on the couch to watch a movie, I am out like a light, but fortunately reading is a different story!

Favourite Work Outs of May: HOT YOGA and RUNNING! I am so happy to have rekindled my love of running, and the Seawheeze training plan helped move that love to "on again" status ; )

Bloggers of May: Read about 'em here, PLUS my sister's blog! Be sure to check it out & give her some love.

Favourite Day Trip: Well, pretty much the only day trip of the month, but Cathedral Grove!


That is all for my favourites - or all that I can think of, anyway! In a later post I will talk about some beauty things I have been loving, as I have purchased a few new goodies from Sephora that I am loving!

Until next time : )

What are you loving this month? Let me know!

Four Favourites: Blogger Edition

Throwback to my days of running along the seawall and wearing these oldschool Brooks runners. That reminds me - I need to buy new runners!

Hey party people! A Saturday post? Weird, I know. To be honest, I have been SO wrapped up in another book for the last three days that as soon as I got home from yoga, I was either out on the patio or in my corner of the couch reading. Last night Ryan and I went out for dinner & Caesars and right when I got home it was make up off, bra off, book in my face again. I will have a review up next week! 

I wanted to pop in and share some of the bloggers that I have been loving lately! Being in the blog world myself (not to say I am a big blog, because I am not - yet!) I of course read other bloggers out there and I find so many of them inspiring.

I am going to kick off the list with two long term favourites. I have been reading these blogs for, oh man. Probably over four years now! These are in no particular order as they are ALL fantastic!

Peanut Butter Fingers

Julie over at Peanut Butter Fingers was one of the first health and fitness blogs I ever started ringing. I can relate to her love of peanut butter, and she has some fantastic recipes that are not only delicious but easy. Sure, I am all for the fancy shmancy Pinterest recipes, but Julie's recipes are practical for everyday life and you can't go wrong there! As well, Julie and her husband Ryan just had the most adorable baby boy, Chase. She shares her journey of motherhood as well as some pretty killer work outs, too!

Hungry Runner Girl

I remember years and years ago I was gearing up to run my first 10K. I actually emailed Janae asking for some tips and tricks, and I remember being SO OVERJOYED when my inbox dinged and there was a response from her waiting for me. Janae is huge running motivation and is such a determined athlete. She has been through her fair share of injuries and troubles along the way, but she is such a positive, delightful person and makes you feel that you truly can go out and accomplish your goals no matter what happens. Additionally, her daughter Brooke is absolutely adorable, she loves all things candy (hey girl, me too), and her Friday Favourites are some of my favourite posts!

The Skinny Confidential

I discovered Lauryn's blog about a year ago and I am in love. Obsessed. I read it at work, I read it at home, I read it on my phone and now there is an app! Heavenly. Lauryn is the kind of girl you want to be best friends with. She is funny, smart, and always has great lifestyle tips and tricks. Oh, and if you like uncensored life chatter (think lady business talk), then she is the gal for you! I love bloggers that tell it like it is and aren't afraid of talking about taboo topics, and Lauryn is not the type of woman to beat around the bush. She has tons of great information about the business of blogging, which is always something I find interesting.

The Balanced Blonde

Okay, so this is another blog I have been obsessed with. Yes, I read this at work too (in my down time people!) and I love her approach to health and wellness. Jordan recently ran a marathon (I would be lying if it didn't make me want to run one too), and she is all about that yoga and balanced life - everything I am about these days! She features everything from beauty and lifestyle to delicious and healthy recipes. Additionally, I could relate to her transition from veganism (in my case being a vegetarian) back to eating meat. Her story is inspiring and I highly recommend checking out her blog!

Well, there you have it! Four of my favourite bloggers as of late. Have you read any of their blogs? Run, don't walk, and check them out right meow!