Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce

Fall is the best season not only for the cozy weather, but for the flavours of fall as well. There is nothing I love more than dousing cinnamon and nutmeg on everything, so this applesauce was a perfect way to put those spices to good use. If you know me, you know I am not a fussy cook. It has to be easy, I have to know how to pronounce everything in it, and it has to have minimal clean up. Introducing: the easiest slow cooker applesauce recipe. I don't know if I would even call it a recipe because it is so, SO easy. It is perfect for putting on during a Sunday morning, and it fills the house with such a spicy, sweet aroma. Let's get into it!

Spices you will need: cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. I had an "apple pie spice" from Epicure (which is probably cinnamon and nutmeg, haha) that I added as well.

Step one: get a bunch of apples. I had tons of apples on hand so I can't remember exactly how many I used, but I peeled and cut enough to fill my crock pot with. The peeling and cutting is the most time consuming, but it doesn't have to be fancy. To make my life easier I cut the apples into slices rather than chunks.

2. Spice it up. I ended up having three "layers" of spices, and added some extra on top as well. For the vanilla I simply poured a touch in the middle of the crock pot.

Step three: Put this baby on high for 6 hours and let it cook away. The apples get nice and soft, it smells divine, and it is naturally sweet from the apples and cinnamon. I put my applesauce in jars and canned it, though you can enjoy this right away!

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Are you a slow cooker fan? What are some of your fave slow cooker recipes? I need to use mine more!

Healthy Morning Habits to Start Now

Does anyone else LOVE mornings? I especially love them on a Sunday or Monday when I have the whole day to myself. Easing into the morning can set the tone for a happier day. Whether you are a late riser or an early riser, I hope you can find a few takeaways from today's post to help create some more healthy habits. Of course, you don't have to do these just in the morning. They are all great no matter what time of day they occur! However, some of them are especially effective the morning to get the day started when your body is freshly awake. Let me know in the comments if there are any morning habits you like to do!

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1. Hold the phone. One thing that is important in the morning is allowing yourself to wake up on your own terms, without being inundated with social media first thing. I know how tempting it can be to check your phone right away. Trust me, been there all too often! However, I wait until I've been up for an hour (give or take) before I finally check social media. It can be so overwhelming for me in the morning to be bombarded with what everyone else is doing, so keeping my phone aside while I am going about my morning business helps me feel more engaged in what I am feeling and doing to get my day started

2. Lemon water, lemon water, lemon water. I LOVE lemon water so much. Lemon water in the morning (especially with warm water) is a gentle way to "detox" your body and flush out any toxins in your system. It kickstarts the digestive system, rehydrates the body, and can help energize you for the day ahead. BUT - that doesn't mean ditch the coffee. Drink your lemon water first, girl! Hydrate before you caffeinate is my rule of thumb.

3. Get moving - or not. Some people love to exercise in the morning. I am one of those people who enjoy working out in the morning to get my sweat-sesh out of the way, though at the same time I also enjoy working out in the evening to sweat out the day's stress. That being said, exercising in the morning can help wake you up and aid in better dietary choices throughout the day. On the other hand, some people love starting their morning on a more quiet note: meditation. Meditation doesn't have to be sitting on your yoga mat for an hour saying "Omm" one hundred times. I ain't got time (or the patience) for that. However, even meditating for five minutes can be beneficial at calming your nervous system, clearing your mind, and setting positive intentions for your day. Find what works for you and go with it!

4. Journal or read. I am a book lover at heart (maybe that's why I enjoy blogging so much!) and whether you are reading a biography, a fantasty novel (Harry Potter say heyyyy whaaat), or writing in your journal, the act of reading and writing can not only be therapeutic, but it can also help reinvigorate your mind. Waking up with an interesting article is a nice way to pass time as you're having your morning lemon water, too!

5. Eat breakfast. If you aren't a big fan of breakfast foods, eat something. If you think about it, you wouldn't drive your car without putting gas in it, right? So why would you start your day without fueling your body? My go-to breakfast is oatmeal, though I have been switching it up lately with eggs and berries a few times per week when I want some more protein in the morning. Not interested in cooking in the morning? There are tons of yummy recipes out there for healthy breakfast cookies and muffins, that way you can grab, go, and be on your way. Alternatively, a smoothie is another great way to get some nutrients into the system! Having breakfast ensures that your brain and body have the nutrients required to perform at it's best.

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Now, off to get my coffee! Have a fantastic day everyone : )

Easy Pumpkin Spice Creamer

So, does anyone else have the same pumpkin spice fever that I do? I go through waves in the fall when I want pumpkin spice everything - oatmeal, coffee, smoothies - and I am certainly in the PSL phase right now. However, I wanted to make my own version of pumpkin spice creamer since the typical Starbucks variety is loaded with sugar and ingredients I can't pronounce. You know me and needing to know what's in my food ; ) So, I conjured up this super easy pumpkin spice creamer and am currently drinking it in my coffee this morning. Tasty, tasty.

You will need:

Pumpkin spice (cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, in case you don't have a blend of spices)
Extra cinnamon, add to your liking
2 spoonfuls of pumpkin puree
Honey (or sweetener of your choice)
Cashew milk (or use actual creamer to get a thicker consistency)
Vanilla

To make:

- In a medium pot toast your pumpkin spice and cinnamon until it is nice and fragrant. Be sure to have your element on low heat to ensure nothing gets burned : ) 

- Add in your pumpkin puree and vanilla, and mix until the spices are combined. By this time it will be smelling like fall in your kitchen!
- Next, add your cashew milk or cream. I used about a cup of this, though use as much as you'd like!

- Whisk the creamer mixture and add in your honey/sweetener and vanilla

- Allow this to get warm on the stove before pouring it into a glass jar, or let it cool and put it into a container of your choice

VOILA! Super, super easy. I added a little bit more honey in the morning to make it a touch bit sweeter in my coffee.

The very last step, of course, is to make some coffee and pour yourself a big ol' mug! It makes a nice accompaniment to pumpkin spice oats, too ; ) 

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There we have it. Easy pumpkin spice creamer you can make at home. Let me know in the comments if you try it or if you are a PSL lover!

How To: Superfood Smoothie + The Health Benefits

To make this easy peasy smoothie, you will need a few ingredients. Some are pretty standard, every day items, but there are a few extras that you can find at your local health food store.

To make this smoothie, you will need:

1 small banana

1/4 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup fresh spinach
1 cup (or so) of unsweetened almond milk (I like the Silk brand)
1 tbsp almond butter

1/4 tsp spirulina/chlorella powder (you can buy a mix of the two at your health food store)

A shake of chia seeds (about 1 1/2 tsp)
A shake of hemp seeds (about 1 1/2 tsp)

Blend all ingredients in your blender until smooth. It should be relatively thick, but of course you can add almond milk (or your milk of choice) until you get the consistency you desire.

Now for the health benefits in this baby!

Banana: Contains tons of vitamins, such as vitamin B6, C, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and may help regulate digestive health and stabilize blood sugar.

Blueberries: Antioxidant power houses! These little babies pack a big punch, including vitamin C and B6. Blueberries can help support heart health and include fiber, potassium, and folate.

Spinach: High in zinc, niacin, fiber, vitamins A, E, K, B6, and also high in protein, magnesium, and iron.

Almond milk: High in calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus. Almond milk also contains folate and vitamin E, which are great for skin health.

Almond butter: High in protein (and lower in fat than peanut butter), and high in GOOD fats. These are unsaturated fatty acids that aid in brain health, as well as skin health. Your hair, skin, and nails will thank you for adding this healthy fat into your diet.

Spirulina/Chlorella: Both are types of blue/green algae that are full of chlorophyll, which is the component that gives green veggies their deep green hue. Both are high in amino acids, beta carotene (hello, eye health), biotin, magnesium, and the range of B-complex vitamins. A little goes a long way, which is why you only need 1/4 teaspoon in your smoothie to reap the benefits.

Chia seeds: High in omega-3 fatty acids (more than salmon - what, what!), good source of protein and fibre.

Hemp seeds: Another great source of healthy fats, though hemp seeds have a ratio of 3:1 when it comes to omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Both of these help promote cardiovascular health. Hemp seeds are also known to naturally balance hormones and serve as a good source of protein.

Recipe Time! Easy Homemade Almond Milk

Ahh yes, coffee. The most magical morning elixir that ever did exist.

What do you guys like to add to your coffee? Are you a cream and sugar person? Milk and sugar? Honey? Flavoured creamers?

I personally like almond milk and either raw sugar, honey, or sugar free syrup in my coffee - depending how I am feeling that day. Almond milk has been my go-to for a while now since my stomach has a hard time digesting dairy. As in, I feel bloated and get the worst stomach aches ever from it. So! I thought I would try my hand at some homemade almond milk and share the results with you guys on the bloggy. It is even creamy in coffee, which is a huge win! Plus it is simple to make and tastes yummy.

Here's a step by step guide for how to make your own homemade almond milk:

You will need 1 cup of raw almonds, soaked overnight in a few inches of water.

You will also need a milk bag or cheesecloth to strain out the almond meal (the pulp left behind). I picked mine up from the local community farm store in town, but I'm sure any grocery store or health food retailer would have this.

Once the almonds have soaked overnight (you will notice they plump up and may feel a little on the squishy side), pop them into your blender.

Then, add two cups of water to your blender and blend for about 2 minutes.

I added about 1 tsp of syrup and some vanilla to my almond milk, though you can add however much you like!

Once your almonds and water are looking a little more like milk, you will want to strain them in your milk bag. This was a little tricky since my jar was not super wide at the top, so you can do this either in a wide-mouth jar, bowl, or any other container you like. Squeeze gently until you have most of the "milk" out of the bag. You should be left with a clump of the almond meal. If you would like to use the almond meal again, I recommend refrigerating it and adding it to oatmeal or muffins, or spreading it on a baking tray and baking it just until dry. This makes freezing it even easier since all the moisture will be gone.

You should get about 2 cups of almond milk from the 1 cup of almonds. At this point you can add in more sweetener if you want, or even add some cinnamon or nutmeg to warm it up. Be sure to seal this nice and tight and use within two or three days.

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Et voila! There you have easy homemade almond milk. I am going to experiment with soaking the almonds a little bit longer in an attempt for even creamier milk. 

Weekend Recap + On My Reading List

Good afternoon!

I am checking in late on the blog this afternoon, but better late than never, right?

We have had a productive day over on this end! I hope Monday is being kind to you and you had lots of coffee to power through the day : )

This weekend we had some quality time with family, plus some relaxation and activity thrown in the mix too. Ryan's dad was over visiting for the weekend, so we went out for dinner Saturday night and then I fell asleep on the couch.

In typical Holly fashion, of course.

Sunday late-morning our house guest went home, and I spent a solid THREE HOURS - yup, you read that right, THREE HOURS - working on this blog for you guys. I have something fun coming up in October, so I needed to put the work in now in order to make it WERK. I am not giving any more hints, but look forward to a little somethin' somethin' more than three times per week. That's it. Lips are sealed.

After I was finished being a hermit on the computer (bless Ryan for keeping himself occupied), I went for my long run. Initially my thought was to do this earlier in the morning, but then life happens and suddenly it's 1:30pm and you're like. WHOA wait a minute. I wanted to go for a run! So, I put my gear on and headed down to the treadmill and got my run in. Sunday's run was 10km, followed by not enough stretching. I seriously need to stretch more. Must. Stretch. More.

Then we took the dog for a walk, made some dinner (zucchini noodles for life), and watched the season finale of Ballers. Yeah, I gotta say I was underwhelmed, but I will still watch next season because The Rock, ya feel me? ; )

And of course a cute little picture of Miss Nala who had her last set of puppy shots today! Naturally she celebrated with a nap on the floor, because why lay in your actual bed when the floor is just as good.

Before the vet I had a RMT appointment, which I will be posting about on Wednesday! I wanted to recap this separately in case anyone was interested in trying out registered massage therapy. This was much needed, especially since I had gone to the gym early this morning and ran 6km when I woke up. Yep, that massage was golden.

Anywayyyyy...

A creepy screenshot of a SnapChat I sent earlier today. I was talking to our vet about how Nala is getting more and more energy the more she grows, and she said that it was perfectly fine for Nala to be running with me for shorter runs. Nothing crazy like 10k since her body is still developing, but she gives the thumbs up for shorter runs!

At this point in the afternoon it was about 2:30pm and I was ready for something to eat. My breakfast was a piece of avocado toast with two over easy eggs and sauteed spinach, so for lunch I wanted something a bit more comforting. SO! I got a little crafty and make some pumpkin spice oats. Yes, the pumpkin spice is REAL over here and I am not ashamed!

What's next for the evening? Some dinner and Harry Potter. I am determined to read the Harry Potter series by Christmas. Yep, so I got a little bit of work to do considering I finished the last book about a month ago. Oops. Then the Harry Potter movie marathon can begin!

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Well, I think we are all caught up now. This may have been a little all over the place, but I just wanted to blurt everything out and let it flow, ya know? : ) Catch you in the next post!

Seaside Sundays + Easy Egg Avocado Toast

Good morning!

A new week has begun and we are kicking it off with a weekend recap (as usual) on this little bloggy of mine.

Sunday morning looked a little something like this:

Wake up, put on run clothes & eat half a banana and a rice cake with peanut butter pre-run. I had 18km scheduled for my long run, so it was important to get this in early before the heat rolled in. It was funny because I had a dream Saturday night that I woke up SO late and had to do my long run when it was mid-day and scorching out. When I woke up, I thought to myself. Wait a minute. Did I already do my run?

Does this happen to anyone else? Not necessarily about running, but anything? Nevertheless, I got my butt outta bed and got out there. My run was a mix of trails and road, which was a nice way to switch things up. Once I was running back down our road on the way home, I noticed that I ran 18.75km. Does anyone else prefer to see round numbers? Yeah, I definitely do. So, I ended up running 19km.

The best part? I came home to coffee and pancakes! Ryan is a machine in the kitchen. He is a much better cook than myself (I specialize in very easy dishes), and had banana pancakes, a blueberry, raspberry & mango fruit syrup ready, and of course a hot press of coffee. Doesn't get much better than that!

Once we were up and ready for the day, we made our way to Nanaimo again. We were determined to find a new spot to adventure, so Neck Point it was! Both of us had never been there before (despite going to Nanaimo a billion times), so it was great to check out the scenery and all of the trails. There is a big loop around neck point that borders the ocean and entwines into the forest, and several look out stations are along the way. 

Nothing better than getting outside on a beautiful day!

We will definitely be back for another adventure.

Once we were done exploring Neck Point, we stopped for lunch and made a Costco run to pick up groceries. I am actually amazed at how fast we were in and out. Record time, baby!

That brings us to today!

Monday is going how Mondays usually go. Well, when you have the day off. Slow and easy, no where to rush to, no need to hurry.

And guess what? I did a thing today! A thing where I switched up my breakfast.

Gasp.

I know.

When the body wants avocado toast, you give it avocado toast... With a twist.

As you already know, avocado toast is as trendy as green juices and green smoothies these days. However, give me some avocado on some sprouted grain bread and I am a happy girl.

Doesn't take much to make me happy, clearly.

I used the Silver Hills The Big 16 brand bread. It is less processed than other breads on the market, and in the odd chance that I choose to eat bread, this is my pick.

Crack two eggs in a frying pan over medium heat. Sprinkle some pink Himalayan sea salt on there and black pepper. Cook the eggs to your liking. For me, I like mine over easy.

Then grab two slices of bread. Toast it, and mash half an avocado on your toast. You can add butter if you like, too.

While the eggs are sizzling away, throw some spinach in there for some extra greens. Why not, right? Top the spinach with some powdered garlic and chili flakes (if you like a bit of spice).

Once your eggs are done, layer the spinach on top of the avocado, then place your eggs on top. I drizzled a bit of ketchup on mine.

VOILA! Easy peasy. Now post a picture on Instagram #avocadotoast

Just kidding!

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I hope you all had a beautiful weekend & I will catch up with you on Wednesday!

5 Things Friday

1. Holland Creek Trail Hike

I am back this Friday with some more weekly favourites for you! I hope you are all having a wonderful week and have some fun plans for the weekend. On the other hand, if you have no plans, I hope you enjoy that time to relax! : )

Time for the favourites!

2. Bronzer: Since it's summer time, I have been adding a little bit of bronzer into my make up routine. You will see an every day make up routine video next Wednesday that features this little palette from Tarte Cosmetics. I received this for Christmas as part of a holiday kit, so I am not sure if it is available still, but if you can purchase the bronzer alone, I highly recommend it! It is called "social butterfly."

3. Fresh blueberries: All hail the glorious blueberry bushes in our backyard! I picked this giant freezer bag full of them on Sunday after our hike. You already know I am on a huge blueberry kick, and now that I don't have to pay for blueberries for a while, that train ain't stoppin' anytime soon!

4. Foam Rolling: Ugh, hurts so good. I have not foam rolled in a hot minute, and the first time I did it this week I could totally tell that my muscles would be dying in the best way ever. After my long run last weekend my hamstrings were so sore, and then we went for our hike on Sunday and my quads were sore. This meant that foam rolling was calling my name, otherwise I would be hurting even more! Yes, I still neglect to stretch properly after my runs (five-ish minutes is good, right?), so adding foam rolling into my routine will benefit my muscles. Plus, you can watch tv and foam roll at the same time, so #winning.

5. Calling all cereal lovers! This cereal has been my jam lately. I add it on top of smoothie bowls, or put it in a little mug and top it with either almond or cashew milk for a little snack. Plus, it is not loaded with sugar like some other cereals. I mean, cereal in general obviously isn't the best, most wholesome food to eat, but it helps when you can read the ingredient list, you know?

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There we have it! Five favourites on this fine Friday. What are you loving this week? Let me know in the comments!

June Favourites

Happy Canada Day to all you fellow Canadians out there in the blogosphere.

I wanted to kick off the weekend by sharing my favourites from the month of June. At the end of May I thought to myself, "It'll be a nice break from the business of May!" However, June ended up being full of family, friends, and all kinds of events. Here is what I have loved!

Goddess Run 5km - a beautifully HOT run where I got to cross the finish line with my sister.

Sister dates to Victoria and our day trip to Vancouver where we met up with one of my best friends. As much as I love staying at home, sometimes you just need to get out of the house and GO SOMEWHERE, even if only for a little while.

Adventuring around our beautiful home. There are so many places on the island I want to explore!

Training for the Lululemon SeaWheeze Half Marathon! Yes, it has been hard to fit it in at times, but I like having a plan to follow. Having my training outlined gives me something to stick to, and by talking about this on the blog, it keeps me accountable. I will be doing a review of my training very soon!

My go-to blueberry oats - perfect any day, with any toppings, at any time! ; )

Favourite exercises have been yoga & running, but I'm sure you could guess that already if you have been reading along since I started hot yoga and since I started training for the half in August.

Favourite exercises continued: Running on the trail because gorgeous and fresh air and scenery and quietness and stillness and all that is beautiful in the world. Nature is neat.

So, getting my passport stuff ready isn't exactly a favourite of mine, but VACATION PLANNING has definitely been a favourite! Ryan and I are looking at going somewhere hot. Like, hot hot, and all inclusive, in August. It is going to be a blast!

I don't have any new beauty favourites to share with you guys since I use the same ol' stuff day in and day out. Although I don't talk about make up all that often on here, I am going to be sharing my everyday make up routine on the blog very soon, so stay tuned for that!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend & I'll catch up with you guys on Monday! Let me know what you have been loving this month in the comments below. Anything I should try?

The Best Blueberry Oatmeal

Good morning & Happy Wednesday! Gotta make it through today and tomorrow, and then Friday off for Canada Day! What does everyone have planned?

I wanted to pop in this morning and share my favourite oatmeal recipe. If you are a long time blog reader, you know oatmeal is my jam. It's the reason I wake up in the morning (aside from coffee), and it's what I look forward to after a morning run. Crazy, right? When it comes to breakfast, I am all about easy. The best thing about oatmeal is that you can put it on low, jump in the shower, and it is pretty much done when you are. Note: it can also burn easily if it's not stirred, so keep that in mind before you start a load of laundry with your oats on high heat ; )

First things first, the ingredients:

- 1/3 cup (dry) oats. Rogers is my favourite brand because it also has wheat bran and flax seed in it.

- 1-2 tbsp chia seeds (more if you like!)

- Cinnamon to taste

- A sprinkle of Craisins, raisins, or a seed of your choice. I used Craisins in my oats.

- A sprinkle of hemp seeds

- Big ol' scoop of natural peanut butter

- Blueberries (pictured below on the page)

Add all ingredients except hemp seeds, craisins, blueberries & peanut butter. Allow the oats to cook until they start to thicken up.

Add blueberries and cook until they become soft. Take off the heat and let stand for 2-3 minutes.

Place oats in a bowl and top with the rest of the goodies. You can also switch the hemp seeds out for sunflower or pumpkin seeds, or add shredded coconut for a little somethin' somethin'.

And that's it! Enjoy with a big mug of coffee and you are good to go.

Have a great day everyone!