September FAVOURITES!

Good morning, friends!

I hope you are all having a great morning so far. It is officially FALL now - anyone else rejoicing? - and it is time for another favourites round up. I will be recapping some of my favourite things, moments, recipes, etc for the month of September, and I would love to hear what YOU guys are loving in the comments below!

So, without any further chatter, let's get into the favourites : )

The Kelowna Wine Country half marathon that took place September long weekend in beautiful Kelowna, BC. It was the first time in so long (I'm talking like ten years) since I had been to Kelowna, so the trip was much over due and it was great to run the race with my aunt and enjoy race weekend with Ryan and the pup.

Yup, still obsessed with this Mexican black bean salad. It is packed with veggies and the flavours are so fresh. No fancy sauces or spices needed. Plus it lasts well in the fridge (in an airtight container of course), so makes great lunches throughout the week.

The SPCA Paws for Cause walk was a great event we attended with my family and the pups. I look forward to bringing Nala again next year!

Fresh salads and veggies all day, every day. I have been experimenting with more fall-inspired recipes, and this salad with maple tahini dressing did not disappoint. Tahini is such a versatile ingredient, especially in salad dressings as it adds a bit of thickness, so I look forward to bringing more of those recipes to the blog. You can't go wrong with a big salad!

And because this is so relevant to me right now. I am the type of person who complains about how hot it is in the summer and immediately looks forward to fall. There is something about the crisp air and changing of the seasons that I just love. On that note, I am also that person who is bundled up in 101 layers come fall/winter because I am so freezing. Yep, there is no in between for me!

During the middle of this month we started a training program with Nala. It is all postive-reinforcement and clicker training based. She is super smart (proud parent over here), and it is fun to see her catch onto things so quickly and respond to the clicker. Soon enough we will be phasing out the clicker as training progresses, so fingers crossed it is an easy transition! So far, so good though.

Last but not least, this shirt. It is my go-to for strength training work outs, looks cute, but does not make you feel restricted. Lululemon, back at it again with the best workout tops!

Pumpkin spice oats topped with a swirl of unsweetened applesauce and a spoonful of almond butter. If this doesn't scream fall, I don't know what does. Maybe if I ate it out of a real pumpkin.

Yep, I bet you saw this coming considering I have been making my way through all the Harry Potter books again these last few months. I am determined to finish by Christmas!

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What are YOU loving this month!?

Five Things Friday

Hey, hey, hey!

I am back this morning with our regularly scheduled Five Things Friday, where I share five things from the last week (or so) that I have been loving.

Let's get into it!

The BC SPCA Paws for a Cause walk. Click the link to read my recap on the event. It was our first time ever going, but it was full of family and puppy love! Gotta like that : )

So technically this is from last week, but I really enjoyed this seriously easy Mexican black bean salad. I am already thinking of other one bowl salads to make and share with you guys, so stay tuned for more.

I have been LOVING this top from Lululemon. I purchased it when we were in Vancouver for the Seawheeze, and it has been a go-to for work outs from strength training to running. I wore it for the Wine Country half in Kelowna and was happy with the fit and cut while I was on the run. Sometimes shirts bunch up, or it feels as if they twist around your body. This tank skims the body without clinging, and the fabric is lightweight and breezy. Win!

Okay, so. I love me these face masks. I am wearing one as I type this, to be honest. Ryan gets a kick out of them when he comes in the room and I have this sheet of gooey tissue on my face, but it certainly works wonders for adding some extra nourishment to the skin.

I have always wanted to make my own almond milk - just to try, not to continuously do as it is expensive - and so earlier this week I bought a pack of almonds and used some to get a little crafty in the kitchen. I will have the recipe up in the next few weeks, so stay tuned for that! ; ) Sorry, no spoilers here, but it has been a favourite of mine this week! Does anyone else like doing these fun little recipes? It's a nice way to try something new and switch it up. Plus, the left over almond meal (almost like the pulp left behind) is pretty tasty in oatmeal!

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What are YOU loving this week!? 

BC SPCA Paws for a Cause Walk + The Best Sandwich

Doggies, doggies, everywhere!

Sunday morning was going to be a fun day for Nala and Marley (my parents' dog). We signed up for the BC SPCA Paws for a Cause walk earlier in the week, which didn't leave us much time to fundraise, but we all donated and participated to play our part in the event. I had never been to this event before - didn't even know it was in our area to be honest - but it is something that is fun for the family to do and gets you out there for a great cause.

There were local companies and vendors with booths set up, too. You could find everything from a pancake breakfast (all donations to the BC SPCA) and microchipping to raffle prizes and the local canine school with activities for dogs. It was nice perusing the different booths, and of course Nala and Marley loved the treats.

The walk had two distance choices to select from; a 1km and 3km distance. We chose the 3km distance as our dogs wouldn't even be tired after a single kilometre! As Nala grows we find that she has more and more energy, so it is critical for us to give her exercise so she does not develop any bad behaviours from having no outlet for her energy. She isn't quite old enough for full on running yet, though we have fun doing little bursts of running during our walks, longer walks in hilly areas, hitting up local trails, or just running around the back yard until she goes upstairs on the deck. That is her signal that she is done!

And yes, she is wearing a bandana, because it is so CUTE and I couldn't say no.

Mama and Marley after the walk.

Nala's first race bib! My mom laughed when I said this. I don't know of many actual running races that allow dogs, but maybe she'll get another in the future.

Family portrait!

Okay, Nala the dog model. The pups all got a goodie bag at the event, too. Inside there were two packages of food samples, a bag of treats, some puppy balm/moisturizer for dry paws (how bougie), and a toy. Nala's toy was a pink, purple, and orange rope toy with a rubber ball on the end. I'm pretty happy with the colour choices there, though I'm sure Nala could care less ; ) As long as she can chew it, she's a happy girl.

Now, fast forward to our Sunday lunch date!

I have to say, this was one of the best sandwiches I have had in a long time. Usually I am not a sandwich person, as too much bread and my digestive system don't tend to get along well, but once in a blue moon you just crave a sandwich, ya feel me? We went to a local spot called The Old Fork (in the Ramada hotel), my lunch was sooo good. Like SOOO GOOD. If you are ever there, I highly recommend ordering the shaved turkey sandwich (I ordered mine on whole grain bread). I swapped out the bacon for avocado for some healthy fats and extra creaminess, and it was seriously delicious. Pair that with a fresh salad and I am happy as a clam.

The rest of the day was pretty relaxed and it was the usual scene around our house for a Sunday afternoon. Laundry, some yard work, a dump run (okay we don't do this every Sunday!), plus planning a FULL MONTH of blog fun in my little section of the internet! Yep, stay tuned for a jam-packed October. I'm thinking the rest of today will be equally fun!

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Have you ever done a Paws for a Cause event, or something similar?

What's your favourite Sunday activity?

Let me know in the comments!

SERIOUSLY Easy Mexican Black Bean Salad

A picture of me grocery shopping this morning after cleaning out the fridge. Hello, produce aisle! ; )

Good morning, friends!

I am back from Kelowna, which means I am back to our regularly scheduled blog posts. I had so many blog ideas pop into my head while I was away, so stay tuned for some fresh content coming your way!

My Kelowna recap will be up on Friday (in lieu of a 5 Things Friday post), so for now I wanted to share a delicious Mexican-inspired salad I made this morning. It is super easy, doesn't require any fancy ingredients, and is packed with fresh veggies.

Easy Mexican Black Bean Salad

1 cup cooked wild rice

1 can black beans (rinsed)

1 can corn kernels (I purchased low sodium, otherwise rinse to reduce extra salt)

1/2 cup diced red onion

1 cup chopped cherry tomatoes

Buttloads of cilantro (or however much you like. I am a cilantro fiend)

Pink Himalayan sea salt & pepper (more pepper than salt, though I don't measure this)

1 tsp turmeric

A shake of garlic powder (depending how garlicky you like it!)

Juice of half a lemon

Mix it all up and VOILA! Easy peasy, lemon squeezey. 

And of course an obligatory Nala picture from our walk on the trail today. She is so stinking cute!

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See ya on Friday with my Kelowna recap!

Weekend Recap & The Biggest Mixing Bowl Salad EVER!

Good afternoon friends!

Monday's post is kicking off a bit later in the day here. It has been a busy weekend with the new arrival of our puppy girl Nala. If you weren't aware of this new addition, you can read all about it in last week's post here!

Since I work Saturdays, Ryan was on puppy duty Friday night and got to hang out with Nala all day Saturday. That being said, Sunday we all ventured out of the house and went for a road trip to... PETSMART!

Nala of course fell asleep in the cart as we puttered around the store. She got some new toys and is currently chewing on Bernie the bunny as we speak. No, not Bernie Sanders.

Other than our trip to Petsmart, Sunday was pretty low key. It's funny having a puppy, you know. As much fun as it is, a lot of time is spent waiting for them to wake up so you can take them outside to go pee. Yeah, I know. That is what life has become. In all seriousness though, it has been a fun few days and we are still cherishing the snuggly moments as Nala is getting busier and busier as the days go on!

Since Nala isn't sleeping through the night yet, we usually go out for two bathroom breaks in the night. I am on puppy duty for another night, and last night we fell asleep together on the couch. Ryan snapped this picture of us this morning before he went to work - ah, I die. So cute.

In between morning and lunch time, say 1 o'clock, Nala and I went on a few car rides. Stop #1 was the vet to book her next appointment for shots, and the second was a road trip (this was probably an eternity for Nala, but it was really only a 15 minute drive) to my grandma's house. My grandma has yet to meet Nala, so I thought it would be fun to go for a little drive and say hello! Of course, she fell in love and Nala fell asleep in the grass. Typical. We visited for over an hour before driving home for lunch.

Speaking of lunch, I wanted to share something I ate today. No, not my usual oatmeal. Not my usual chicken, rice & veggies for lunch. The last two nights we have had burgers for dinner - salmon burgers, and then last night I had a veggie burger. While this is great and all, the bread certainly didn't make me feel good! So, I am on operation hydration today to help flush some of that bread from my system. Does anyone feel like bread sits like a rock in their stomach? Yeah, not a good feeling! Today's lunch was about veggies. ALL the veggies. I zipped to the store yesterday evening and stocked up on some greens, veggies, and all around healthy goodness. Here is what I whipped up today:

Wait, is that in a mixing bowl?

You know, the size of bowl you would use to have multiple servings of salads for multiple people?

Wait, aren't you the only one eating this?

Yes, and yes. And it was delicious.

What's in it? Well, everything!

Spring mix, carrots, yellow pepper, a veggie burger patty chopped up for some protein, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, a sprinkle of Craisins, kimchi, and a homemade dressing.

The dressing is so easy, too! All you need is two cloves of garlic, a few BIG scoops of tahini, a splash of olive oil, splash of raw apple cider vinegar (I recommend the Bragg's brand), another splash of water, LOTS of cracked black pepper, a touch of pink Himalayan pink salt & a squeeze of lemon. Blend it all together in a blender and voila, you are done!

It is super creamy and tasty, but is free of dairy or any strange additives that you'd normally find in store bought salad dressings.

Well, there we have it! An update for you : ) I will catch you guys on Wednesday with a new post!

Times Colonist 10K Review + Lululemon Haul

Good afternoon, folks!

Hope you all had a great weekend. I wanted to check in and give you a run down of how the weekend went in my neck of the woods!

As you might have guessed by the title I ran the Times Colonist 10km run in Victoria this weekend. Friday night after work, Ryan and I drove to Victoria to check out the expo and pick up my bib. The race expo isn't huge, though there are lots of cool vendors there. I picked up a few free samples including the SunRype energy bar (I brought it to a work event on Saturday - can't go wrong with chocolate and coconut!) and the Honey Stinger chews. I have had these chews a few times before, and I will most likely be taking them with me to Vancouver when it's time to run the SeaWheeze Half. Once we had left the expo, it was almost passed dinner time so Ryan and I stopped to grab a bite to eat before driving back home. It was nice to get out of the house for the evening, even if I was zonked out when we got home!

After work on Saturday I took it nice and easy, making sure my running clothes for Sunday morning were clean and I had my breakfast items on hand. If you have been reading my blog since my early days where I was doing running races quite often, you'll know that my go-to breakfast on race day was toast with peanut butter and banana. I have been finding that although the combination is good, it hasn't been sitting that great in my stomach lately. There's nothing worse than running and feeling like there's a rock in your stomach! So, once I was up and getting ready on Sunday (something about waking up at 5:40AM on a Sunday is so, SO wrong!) I made myself my usual morning bowl of oats. However, one thing I did differently on this race day was not add in the usual seeds and whatnot. I had oats, cinnamon, banana and a scoop of peanut butter. That worked out way better, and I think I will continue doing that as my body is used to the ol' oatmeal routine. Why change a great thing!?

For a race of over 7,000 people, it was well organized (as usual) and I almost forgot how much I love the course route. It takes you through downtown Victoria, and on your way back to the finish line you run along Dallas Rd and overlook the water. If you are familiar with the area, you know it is a beautiful place! While this race was technically my longest run in, oh, a LONG time, I felt good. Although it was no PR for me (again, longest run in a long time and I have been out of the speedwork game!), I was proud of the fact that I didn't stop running. Not even for water! I told myself to keep going, you got this, stay focused, and soon enough I was over the finish line where Ryan was waiting for me, almond croissant in hand. Ahh, yes. It's the little things! So, now I am on the hunt for another 10km run to go after!

While we were in Victoria, I of course had to stop at Lululemon. Before we went, though, we picked up Ryan's sister and went out for brunch. It was so nice to visit, and although Victoria isn't terribly far away, we don't get up there nearly enough to visit. After brunch is when we hit up Lululemon - sorry, wallet!

I picked up three things; they had a deal where if you purchased three regular priced items you got 15% if you should them your TC10K race bib. I don't know often Lululemon does this, but I was in the mood for spending some $$$ on new work out gear!

I picked up the Align crop from the Naked line (I am wearing them right now and they are seriously amazing - so comfortable & it really does feel like you're naked)

Swiftly Tech short sleeve shirt

And the Swiftly Tech racerback tank top

Once we were done at Lululemon, Ryan & I headed off to Costco to pick up some items we were running low on and for some food items. No pictures to share, but it was the usual toilet paper, paper towel, greens, green smoothies (pack of 2 1L Happy Planet smoothies for $7! Can't go wrong there), rice, chicken, hummus, crackers... That kinda thang!

After coming home and unloading our goodies, we headed to my parents' house for dinner. It was a long day, but it was filled with things I love. Running/breaking a sweat, hanging with loved ones, Lululemon & food. Doesn't take much to make me happy!

This morning's #1 project: washing my make up brushes. I use a natural shampoo (Andalou Naturals) to wash my brushes, then lay them to dry.

Project #2: Get my hair cut! My hair care routine is pretty sporadic in that I don't often get my hair cut. I was due for one though as my ends have been quite dry since getting my hair ombre'd in the fall. I feel much better with a refreshed do!

Before that, I went out for a run and completed 7.3km. My legs were still tired from yesterday's run, but I am trying to reach 60 miles this month so a run had to happen! I am getting there :) Usually my goal would be 100 for the month, but since I have not been consistent with my running and am trying to find my groove again, it was a safer bet to scale the goal down and work my way back again. Slowly but surely!

And finally, today's lunch. I was craving some greens and had a bit of leftover wild rice from this afternoon's meal prepping to use. In the salad it goes! Topped with chickpeas, red pepper & a homemade Hollyhock dressing. Coffee on the side, because why not.

That's all I got for an update today! My sister and I are checking out a Zumba class tonight, so I will report back and let you know how it goes. Until next time!

Shake Out Run & Lululemon Lust-List

The day after a half marathon I almost always take the day off to stretch, foam roll, ice, and relax. However, after hanging out with Marley for the majority of the morning, my legs were feeling restless. I decided I'd take him out for a bit and see how I felt, and surprisingly my legs just wanted to keep going. Obviously I didn't run another half marathon, but I ran 4.1 miles (a mile more than I had semi-"planned" in my head once I realized I wasn't super sore). It was the perfect distance to shake my legs out and keep them moving. Gotta flush that lactic acid out!

After stretching and foam rolling (I showered too FYI. I'm not that gross), I whipped up a quick lunch. I always like having scrambled eggs after a run (NOT BEFORE, that is death), so I made some veggie scrambled eggs to refuel. And to curb that sweet tooth I get after a meal, I decided an apple was probably better than Halloween candy. Oh, wait. We have no Halloween candy because me and the fam at it on Saturday. Derp. Out of sight, out of mind ;) And good news! I am icing right now as I type up this post. Recovery at its finest.

I also wanted to share a little wish list of mine with you. It's not cheap, but what can you expect when everything is from Lululemon, right? Parental units, take note for Christmas.

Dog Runner Pant: I have shorts and running tights, but it would be nice to have some actual pants that can double as casual pants during the day.

Rest Less Tank: Can't go wrong with a lightweight tank top. Perfect for indoor running or for the warmer fall days outside!

Can't Stop Jacket: I love love love love love loooooove running jackets because they are so versatile! I love how this one has soft fabric cuffs that have thumb holes, and the length is perfect.

Full Tilt Long Sleeve: I love how this looks like a comfy sweater. The detailing in the back is super cute, so you could definitely wear this on a rest day just hanging out. There's some cute ruffle detailing by the shoulder seams, and it has a hidden pocket that you can put a gel or car key in.

What are you currently wanting to add to your workout wardrobe?

Feelin' Snacky + A Smoothie Recipe

Friday's lunch: a whole bunch of veggies with extra garlicy hummus (you're welcome, B), almonds and a hard boiled egg. This was super filling, and I didn't have to have a large afternoon snack to hold me over until dinner. In fact, dinner came late at 8:30pm accompanied by some coffee. This is probably why I'm still awake (it is Friday as I type this, but not Friday when you're reading it. Trickery!).

Note the measuring cups in the background. Oreo, Miss Princess Kitty, will only eat her dry food when it is crushed into little pieces. So, it gets sandwiched between these cups so she can enjoy it without it, uh, coming up later in large junks. This is also why we have her on wet food now as well. Them elderly cats need pampering!

Anyway, I did make an afternoon snack because, well, I have been craving a smoothie like crazy for the past few days and finally decided to blend one up. I have this Vanilla Almondilla protein powder from Vega that I desperately need to use up. The thing about this powder is that it is so sweet. A little goes a long way otherwise you run the risk of overpowering any other flavors in your smoothie.

Mango Vanilla Almondilla Protein Smoothie:

1/2 (ish) cup cold water

3/4 cup frozen mango

Handful of spinach

1 tbsp Vega Vanilla Almondilla protein powder

Blend water and mango until smooth. I added a tiny bit more water before blending the spinach and protein powder in. Blend on high until you have the desired consistency. I personally like my smoothies on the thicker side (hello, eating with a spoon) so I try not to add too much water or blend for too long. Plus using frozen fruit means you don't have to use ice cubes that will water it down!

This smoothie was perfectly refreshing and I could taste the mango more than the protein powder, which is what I was going for. It is nice when the supplement compliments the fruit and other flavors rather than stealing the show. And for those of you who haven't tried spinach in your smoothies, it's an awesome way to sneak in your greens since you literally cannot taste it. As long as you can get past the green hue, you're good to go!

This morning started off with my every day oats with raspberries mixed in. I was out of them for a while, but a quick trip to the grocery store fixed that little problem. Nothing I love more than a hot breakfast on a gloomy day.

Oh, wait. I would love crawling back into bed and skipping the whole work thing!

I envy those of you who have a true weekend! Happy Saturday :)

Beach Day Adventures + Return to Running

Yesterday my mom, Sarah, and I ventured off to Coombs and Parksville to check out the market, goats on the roof, and the beach!

Outfit of the day: Tank top courtesy of my lovely sister, Walmart bathing suit top underneath (and I lost my bathing suit bottoms somewhere... So, yeah, no swimming), shorts from Forever 21.

Just hangin' out with Buddha and me seesta in Coombs. It was my first time going here (that I remember, anyway), and it was really cool! Lots of cute little shops to look at, so be prepared for a ton of pictures coming up!

Sarah is obsessed with owls and also quite cute.

This store had TONS of cool home decor and garden things. If only I had a house and a yard of my own! One day, one day.

After browsing around in Coombs we went to find some lunch. PS, the goats on the roof were hiding today if you were wondering why there are no pictures of them. Because you totally were.

Anyway, back to the food. The delicious food!

Avo's is on the main drag out of downtown Parksville. It is a small restaurant with modern decor and a seriously amazing menu. They have everything from salads, sandwiches, burgers, entrees, appies, etc. Bonus: healthy food, decently priced, absolutely delicious, and they have gluten free options as well (that aren't, you-have-to-pay-an-arm-and-a-leg-for-this-gluten-free-dish).

Our server brought us over some chips and salsa to munch on while we were waiting for our lunch. The salsa was seriously the bomb diggity (yeah, bringin' that one back), and not too spicy. Very fresh tasting and most likely homemade. I am guessing here but it didn't taste like store bought salsa. Too fresh fo dat.

I opted for the Island sandwich which had a house-made salmon patty (shredded carrot, chives, wild rice), mixed greens, cucumber, and some kind of delicious beat salsa kinda stuff on it? I don't know, but it was like a party in my mouth. You had the option of soup or roasted potatoes on the side, and since I love me some carbs, I went with the roasted potatoes. Lightly seasoned, not too greasy, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Ahhhh. I wonder if they'd deliver to me? I'm only like, an hour and a half away... Heh. It was SO hard picking what to eat! They had this amazing salad with pear and salmon and ughhhhhhh. I am getting hungry again just talking about it.

After lunch, we went to le beach! Wheeee for sand and sun! :)

Check out these amazing sandcastles:

For all you Bridesmaids fans out there, this sandcastle reminds me of when Annie is at work and her boss asks to see her love is eternal face. "No... It looks like you have menstrual cramps." That's what this sandcastle woman's face reminds me of.

At the risk of being a show off, I chose not to contribute to this sandcastle contest.

Haaaaah. My artistic and creative abilities go no further than the good ol' stick man. Case in point:

Note my Louis Vuitton purse. One day, one day.

OH! And after our beach adventure I went to the gym. To my pleasant surprise, my treadmill is no longer out of order. I say "my" like the thing belongs to me, but alas, I am treadmill-less in my own home. Why did I take nearly a week hiatus from running? Who knows. I am lazy, that time of the month happens and I have been STRESSED. Ah, stress. My old friend. Go away and never come back. While running would've made me feel better, I just moped at home and... That's about it. Wallowed away in self pity. Poor me, poor me, ow my body.

ANYWAY. I ran 4.3 miles on the treadmill and followed that by some upper body work in the form of bicep curls, chest presses, rows, etc. I did a tiny bit of abs too but nothing too crazy. I haven't "trained abs" much at all in July, so I figure a plank here and there and some core work certainly won't hurt. You know, if I want to stay upright while running it could be a good idea.

Alright! Well that was an incredibly long and winded recap of yesterday! Hope you all have a happy Wednesday & I will catch ya later :)