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!

Five Things Friday: All Over the Map

Good morning, and happy Friday, friends! I am extra excited this morning because I don't have to work tomorrow. Oh, the joys of having a few days left of vacation time to use. I will be preparing for the Victoria Half Marathon on Sunday, so laying low and taking it easy is on the schedule.

I wanted to jump in with my usual favourites post this morning. It is a little all over the map, but that gives variety, right? Let me know in the comments what YOU are loving this week!

Fall sunsets have been amazing lately. I am usually up to watch the sun rise too, and there is something so peaceful about the rising and setting of the sun. Everything is quiet, the sky looks beautiful, and (for me anyway) it makes me feel thankful for LIFE. Life is great, hey? Is that too happy for the morning? Sorry guys, but it's true.

This last weekend was spent with the pupperoni. We have been enjoying quality couch time reading Harry Potter. Or rather, I was reading, she was sleeping. Nevertheless, I enjoy this time so much, and it is so relaxing, too.

THOSE EARS. Enough said. I die.

I came across these pea crisps at the grocery store last week, and I am obsessed with them. So much so that the next day I purchased their Caesar flavour. Ryan is a fan too, which is a huge win in my books! These little pea crisps are full of fibre and flavour, without going overboard on the sodium, which is important.

I have also loved brain storming for Blogtober! Yes, it is still Blogtober, but I have been putting a lot of work into this. There is something about sitting down with a mug of coffee, opening up my notebook and my laptop and just letting the writing flow. It has been a great way for me to get more creative in the kitchen as well, as I hope to share more recipes with you all, too!

I have been using this serum for the last couple months and have noticed a huge difference in the overall brightness of my skin. My skin is super sensitive and can easily become irritated, but this is gentle enough to use both morning and before bed. It has a light scent, and is made with natural and organic ingredients. Can't beat that!

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What have you guys been loving this week? Let me know if there's anything I MUST try!

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.

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!?

Energizing Snack, Mini Cookie Bite Recipe & Simple Dinners

After work I wanted something sweet, crunchy, filling and energizing. Apples with raisins and natural peanut butter did the trick! I spent a couple hours snuggling with Oreo and humming and hawing over the idea of going for a run. "Oh, I could just do it tomorrow," I thought, but ultimately I'd rather get it done. This way I'd be able to take two solid days off before the half marathon on Sunday. Instead of split rest days, I will have two non-running days to recover (plus Monday off from work)!

Monday was 4 miles, Wednesday was 4 miles, and guess what today was? 4 miles! My weekly total (including the half) will be 25 and some change. Not too shabby. I mean, it's not my "higher mileage" or anything, but that'll come again soon, young grasshoppers.

While I sat on the couch listening to Oreo snore and constantly refresh Facebook and Twitter (hey, you do that too), I told myself, "If you go NOW, you can spend the rest of the night laying in bed." So, that was reason enough. and I got my gear on and ran.

However, instead of jumping right into bed after stretching and a quick shower, I whipped up some easy-peasy "cookie bites" from a recipe a Facebook friend shared.

Mashed bananas (I used two ripe bananas)

1 cup oats

Natural peanut butter (I used a heaping scoop, because I'm nuts over nut butter)

Chocolate chips (or raisins. I had mint chocolate chips leftover so I chose to use 'em)

Mix all together and drop by the tablespoon onto a greased cookie sheet for 15 minutes (350 degrees in the oven). They are soft, sweet, and the perfect thing to crush a sweet craving.

On the same note of food, I also made a super simple dinner. I wanted eggs, so naturally breakfast for dinner happened.

Veggie scrambled eggs with sprouted grain toast. Ah, so delicious. I topped it with salsa too rather than a dressing or sauce. It added some nice flavour since I didn't use any seasonings while it was all cooking.

And now I am finally in bed relaxing with a cup of tea, all because I got my butt off the couch and went for that run (plus I am le tired).

Hope you are all having a wonderful week so far!

Trail Runs, Pizza & Spa Days

Monday's solo trail run. It was a slightly cloudy day, but the temps were in the low 20's and it felt surprisingly warm. It was nice seeing some sunshine come through on my way back along the trail. Bonus: only a tiny bit of pack pain, ranking maybe a 3 out of 10, and that was following a steep uphill climb. 

Here's a nice sideways view of a long hill climb.

The best thing about going up hills is that you get to fly down hills, too! 

It was a beautiful day to be out on the trail, and I must say I am addicted to this area. I have ran here twice this week, and although I have to drive (all of 10 minutes) to get there, it is well worth it. Plus my parents live by, so I can refuel there. I mean, I can visit and spend quality time with them.

On that refueling note, a couple friends and I went out for pizza last night at a farm. Or something. It's hard to describe. Basically the farm hosts events like weddings, etc, but they also have a wood fire oven (is that what it's called? Let's go with yes) that they cook the pizza in. It was a gorgeous place, that's for sure!

Very Pinterest-chic flowers on each of the tables. These were leftover from a wedding reception, I believe. Each table had their own arrangement and there was a cedar arch way further in the field where the wedding must have taken place.

I didn't snap a picture of the menu, but I opted for The Farmer's pizza. It was absolutely amazing, and I am thankful for my leftovers awaiting me in the fridge. So. TASTY!

Everything on their menu is either homemade or a local ingredient. The pizzas are made fresh to order, so there's no gross preservatives keeping them alive while they sit in a fridge all day.

The Farmer's pizza consisted of:

Mozzarella cheese, goat cheese (my favourite!), artichoke hearts (my second favourite!), sweet peppers, and cherry tomatoes.

I left with a full belly and ready for some Oreo snuggles when I got home. 

Only she was already asleep on the couch. Does anyone else's cat take up a whole couch seat when they decide to have a nap? Oreo is the queen of You-ain't-havin'-this-spot. Such a diva, I tell you.

Yesterday while I was hangin' out with my sister, I needed to do something to keep myself occupied while she straightened her hair. So, I painted my nails. We are such beauty inclined siblings. Har har (that was a joke FYI). Note: This is a picture of my left hand and not my disastrous right hand. I don't know what happened there but you ain't seein' that.

Then I had a 3:00 appointment at the spa yesterday afternoon. I purchased an "Island Daily Deal" which is similar to Groupon and ended up receiving a 90 minute hot coconut facial and massage. Incidentally this turned out to be two hours, because I actually worked with the esthetician at a previous job & I think we got carried away chit chatting near the end of the service. Usually I'm not a talker, and I made sure to keep my mouth shut during the facial at the risk of getting goop in my mouth, but when the appointment is winding down I don't mind chatting a bit.

Anyway, it was absolute bliss! My right shoulder was SO tense and could literally hear and feel it crackling as my muscles finally loosened up. Needless to say my shoulder feels one hundred times better today!

Then when I got home I had a little bowl of Kashi cereal and almond milk to tide myself over until dinner.

Quinoa veggie bowl with feta cheese! It was super tasty and super filling...
...Although I still had room to go for froyo with B after dinner. I can't say no to that!

Hope you are all having a good start to the week! Happy Wednesday!

20 Questions: A Fabulous Fitness Survey

I came across this fitness survey from Carrots n Cake & thought I would take a swing at it! I love doing these survey kinda things, so heeeeeere we go!

1. What did you eat for breakfast?

Every day oatmeal! Bananas, natural PB, hemp/chia/flax/sunflower seeds, often switched up with some blueberries or raspberries on top. This morning was raspberries.

2. How much water do you drink each day?

A lot. I'd say 3-4 litres? And that's not counting tea, either! I don't drink juice or pop, and I always keep my 1L water bottle with me at all times and refill it often! Yes, I pee a lot.

3. What is your current favourite workout?

I don't mind running ;)

4. How many calories do you eat in a day?

Ugh, who knows. I don't count calories specifically or have a set amount I eat every single day. I probably eat my weight in peanut butter, which is probably more than your average serving size.

5. What are your favourite healthy snacks?

- Ants on a log! Aka celery with natural peanut butter and raisins
- Greek yogurt with fruit (favourite fruits as of late: blueberries, raspberries, pear)

- Veggies with hummus

- Almonds/mixed nuts (unsalted)

6. What do you usually eat for lunch?

I eat a lot of salads (a good way to get in lots of vitamins, nutrients & your daily veggies!), and I have recently ventured into the veggie sandwiches on sprouted grain bread. I also enjoy anything with avocado on top, and veggie burgers!

7. What's your favourite body part to strength train?

I will go with boo-tay and legs on this one! And arms too. And back and shoulders. I am not picky!

8. What's your least favourite body part to strength train?

Abs. Unless I am laughing so hard it becomes a workout, I'd rather not have to lay there and do crunches. Planks, however, I like those!

9. What are your "bad" food cravings?

Choooooocooooooolaaaaaaaateeeeeee.

10. Do you take vitamins or supplements?

Nope, I do not.

11. How often do you eat out?

Not very often, to be honest! I have started to pinch my pennies (my mother is probably reading this and rolling her eyes since I am already "frugal"), so eating out often isn't in the budget. Plus I like to cook my own food and know what's going into it!

12. Do you eat fast food?

Not McDonalds or anything like that, but I suppose Subway is fast food!

13. Who is your biggest supporter?

My family. I want to do something, they look at me like I'm crazy and then say, "You can do it."

14. Do you have a gym membership?

Yes, at FitStop, an all women's gym. That runs out in August I think!

15. How many hours of sleep do you get each night?

Probably somewhere between 7-8. Maybe 8.5 some nights!

16. Do you have a "cheat" day?

No. I allow myself little indulgences almost daily so I don't go insane! Always important to have that balance. No food is "off limits" (unless you have allergies or sensitivities). It's all about moderation!

17. Do you drink alcohol?

Yes, but not often at all.

18. Do you have a workout buddy?

My sister! We often hit up the gym together. Keeps me from being too lazy!

19. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy lifestyle?

Um, everything? I used to be 40lbs heavier than I am now, miserable and insecure about my body, but now I am so thankful that I decided to make the change for my health. Never in my life did I think I could run for more than a single minute, let alone run seven half marathons (and counting) in the span of two years. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is so much more than your appearance. You learn to nurture yourself and take care of yourself from the inside out. Your energy changes, your body and mind changes, your everything changes for the better. I couldn't imagine what my life would be like now if I hadn't made a healthier change. It is certainly not a place I will be going back to - only up from here!

20. What was the last healthy thing you did?

Refilled my water bottle :)

After work I headed to the gym and got in a 5 mile run and some weights. I have been trying to add weights back into my life in a major way, as in at least three times a week. I focused mostly on upper body today (with the exception of 3 sets on the leg press machine), which included:
3 x 10 bicep curls standing on Bosu ball for some balance work
3 x 12 lat pull downs
3 x 12 chest presses
3 x 12 bent-over rows
25 oblique bends

Hope you are enjoying the SUNSHINY WEATHER! :) Happy weekend :)

Beauty Tuesdays + Monday Shenanigans (Team KETCHUP4LYFE)

1. NARS Blush in 'Orgasm': I know, I know. The name is a little NSFW, so I apologize if your boss gets angry with you for reading this at work if they happen to be peeping over your shoulder. In all honesty, I put off buying this blush for about a YEAR. Yes, a whole year, mainly because it is pretty pricy, but I was in Sephora on Saturday and decided why not try it. Aaand I am in love with it! It is a nice pink colour with gold shimmer in it, which leaves you with a nice glow that is perfect for summer. It is flattering on all skin tones too, so I highly recommend it!

2. They're REAL! Mascara by Benefit: The "real" part of the title has smudged off since I use this mascara on the reg, but you get the idea. It has a plastic brush with short bristles, and the bristles go around the tip of the brush so you can get the tiniest of eyelashes. If lengthening and defining your lashes is your goal, this mascara will get you there! I received this in my birthday gift from Sephora which means I got the trial size, but it has lasted me since February and is still going strong. I will most likely be purchasing the full size when this baby has had it!

3. Zoya Polish in AMY: I looove this colour! I got a pedicure recently, and this was my polish of choice. A burnt orange colour with gold shimmer and sparkles, it is eye catching and looks great with a tan (I imagine, anyway, since I am pale as a ghost). This colour would transition nicely into fall as well and pairs nicely with neutrals and bolder hues! If you are from the Chemainus/Cowichan Valley area, you can purchase this polish from The Flowering Tree Natural Spa. Bonus: it does not have any yucky bad-for-you-chemicals like most commercial polishes out there! Win!

Now for some pictures of Monday's shenanigans:

Went for a walk around Weddle's Lake with these two handsome men.

Straggled behind to take some selfies, naturally. Then I sprinted up a hill to catch up to B & Marley - smart thing to do on sore post-half marathon legs.

Trying to steal a shot of me and happy Mister Marley! It was a gorgeous day, hellooo Summer! How can you NOT get outside when the sun comes out? I just feel so wrong being cooped up inside!

...But then I was cooped up inside eating some sweet potato fries. After texting a friend about them I got a mad craving, so to the kitchen I went. I seasoned them with garlic and cinnamon - the cinnamon was a random idea, but a delicious one at that! Of course I dipped them in ketchup, because I like lots of ketchup with my fries. Nothing better than ketchup on taters! I am team KETCHUP4LYFE (just go with it).

Oh, and I made a FACEBOOK page for Healthy Living Holly! About time. I had one from my old fashion blog, but since my passions have shifted and I am focusing more energy in this little treasure here, I figured it would be best to start fresh.

You can like Healthy Living Holly on Facebook HERE PLEASE! and thank you

If you could only put one condiment on potatoes, which would it be?