Category Archives: food/drink

June 18, 2013 · 9:19 am

things to love: june 2013 edition

juneloves.cover

June is halfway over already, which means it’s the perfect time for a Things to Love post. I’m not really sure where the time is going during this year of 2013, but being as I’m 2.5 days away from summer vacation, I won’t complain right now.

Without any further delay….

juneloves.bbcream

#01) Dream Fresh BB Cream by Maybelline

I’m a little late to the BB Cream party, but after watching my friend Elle apply some in Sephora a few months ago, I definitely wanted to try some. However, being as my skin is a little sensitive, I wasn’t ready to fork up $50 at Sephora for a cream I may not really be in love with. My solution was to try a cheaper one from a drugstore. I’m not usually a fan of drugstore makeup, but I love this stuff! If you haven’t tried BB Cream yet, you must get on it immediately.

juneloves.davidsbridal

#02) Bridesmaid Planning

It’s less than six months until my brother marries Kate, and I’m getting so excited for the wedding! I went to David’s Bridal about a week ago to find a dress, and I was amazed when I got this email the other day saying that it was ready for pickup. They’d told me to expect it late August! Talk about speedy.

juneloves.masterchef

#03) Season 4 of MasterChef

While I’m slightly bitter that I didn’t make it onto this show after getting pushed to the VIP Section of the Boston auditions, I’m really enjoying watching this season. Connor and I are a little behind, so we’ve been averaging two episodes a night lately. I’ll probably change my mind about this several times, but as of right now, I’m Team Jordan all the way. Followed in close second by Team Beth.

juneloves.rainbow1

#04) Afternoon T-Storms (Followed by Rainbows)

I logged onto Facebook yesterday evening and my newsfeed was an array of rainbows and pink-purple skies. There was a really intense thunderstorm in the Boston area last night. Connor and I went out to dinner; it was sunny when we went in, but by the time we walked out of the restaurant, the sky was literally black. At 6pm. I don’t mind thunderstorms in the summer, because they are usually quick, and when they are followed by rainbows? Totally a win-win.

juneloves.teddygrahams

#05) Teddy Grahams 

Every once in a while, Teddy Grahams are necessary. Especially the chocolate kind. I think we can all agree on that.

juneloves.wolfwallst

#06) Leonardo DiCaprio Anything

I just watched the trailer for The Wolf of Wall Street, and I seriously cannot wait to see this movie. But here are some questions that I have: Why hasn’t Leonardo DiCaprio won an award already? Why is he always drinking champagne glasses and toasting? Why does he always yell in his movies? Why does Matthew McConaughey look so weird in this trailer? Such conundrums.

Reader Question(s):

  • Are you watching MasterChef? Who are you rooting for?
  • What is your favorite Leonardo DiCaprio movie?
  • Have you tried BB Cream? What is your favorite brand?

9 Comments

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June 13, 2013 · 8:23 am

ezekiel bread love

ezek.pack1

I seem to be on a roll with food product reviews, so I’m going to continue the trend with a lovefest post for Ezekiel bread. A few weeks ago, I received a few sample loaves of this amazing bread in the original flavor. I was really excited because I’ve been a fan of their products for a while, ever since I tried their English muffins as a substitute for a veggie burger bun (try that, it’s amazing.) Here’s some information that I was provided with:

Ezekiel 4:9® Sprouted Flax Bread is 100% flourless and free of conditioners, additives, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. It is also made with filtered water and no added fat and is low-glycemic, diabetic-friendly, pH-balanced and kosher-certified. Each slice of contains 90mg of Omega 3, 5g of protein, 4g of dietary fiber and 18 amino acids from vegetable sources.

Basically, it’s super healthy and why would you ever eat “normal” bread again?

ezek.closeup1

You know a slice of bread is good for you when you can literally see all of the grains and seeds in every square millimeter. (Fun fact – sometimes the little seeds make “popping” sounds in the toaster. If you hear it, don’t worry. Your toaster will not explode. Think of it as little fireworks; your bread is celebrating you for eating so healthily.)

When I woke up this morning, I realized that I’d forgotten to pack a lunch the night before, so I quickly whipped up an all-time favorite: peanut butter + jelly, using Ezekiel bread.

ezek.pbjlove

If you didn’t already know, I’m essentially a 12-yr-old at heart. This PB is an organic creamy brand by Nature’s Promise, which is good, but not as good as my personal favorite nut butter: Barney Butter. I can only find Barney Butter in certain grocery stores. However, this particular jar of PB was the result of a 7-minute quest to find the appropriate aisle in the grocery store. Do the employees of stores try to hide their peanut butter? Are they peanut butter hoarders? Is it just me, or is it always really hard to find the PB aisle? These are serious problems.

Anyway, back to the point:

ezek.pbjspread

Yum, and:

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Double yum. Look at all them seeds.

Most grocery stores carry Ezekiel bread, but it’s usually in the organic section, and always frozen. The loaves are more expensive than a generic loaf of bread, but definitely worth it.

Reader Question(s):

  • Have you ever had Ezekiel bread? What’s your favorite way to eat it?
  • What is your favorite brand of nut butter?

 

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June 12, 2013 · 8:37 am

the laughing cow summer-ready package, and a recipe!

LCpack.1

I’m really excited to post about the summer package I received from The Laughing Cow a couple of weeks ago. In addition to raving about their awesome products, I’ve also got a recipe to share. So let’s get started! (Note: The Laughing Cow® provided me with product for this review. However, thoughts and opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the brand.)

While at The Blend Retreat last month, I met a ton of cool people who represented the various food sponsors. One of the sponsors was Laughing Cow, which was super exciting because I’ve loved this brand of cheese since I was a kid. For anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of trying these cheeses (and do you live under a rock?) let me elaborate. The Laughing Cow cheese wedges come in a variety of different flavors and are individually portioned at 35 cals/wedge, but taste super indulgent. It’s a win-win for everyone.

As you can see from the above photo, my Laughing Cow package came with a lunch tote, a water bottle, some carrots, a box of Wheat Thins, and three delicious flavors of cheese.

LCflav.1

I’d never tried the Queso Fresco & Chipotle flavor before, but it’s absolutely delicious. The Garlic & Herb has always been my go-to.

In addition to all these goodies, there was this great calendar with healthy snacking and fitness tips:

LCcal.1

Even before this package and Blend, I would eat one or two Laughing Cow wedges a day. I typically pair them with crackers or fresh fruit, but I’ve also used them as a replacement for cream cheese on a bagel or English muffin. After getting this package, I decided to try cooking with it, which was the greatest decision ever.

LCwedge.1

This one little wedge transformed my dinner yesterday from delicious to super delicious. All day, I had been craving eggs, particularly with avocado and black beans. This was the result:

LCdinn.1

Black Bean & Avocado Breakfast Bowl w/ Laughing Cow Cheese

You will need…

  • olive oil
  • 1/4 onion, diced
  • 1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • salt, pepper
  • 2 tsp chili powder
  • sprinkle of red pepper flakes
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 avocado, sliced
  • 1 Laughing Cow cheese wedge, sliced

Method…

  1. Heat olive oil in a small skillet. Add diced onion and cook approx 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add black beans, and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add spices, stir to combine.
  2. Add eggs to the skillet, one at a time. Break them up with a spatula and stir frequently to scramble. When eggs are cooked through, remove from heat, and plate.
  3. Top with sliced avocado and sliced Laughing Cow wedge. Mix to combine and melt the cheese, if desired. Enjoy!

As a parting shot, and on a similar note, I finally found the cinnamon flavor in the grocery store!

LCcinn.1

I tried this flavor for the first time at Blend, and have been looking for it ever since. I stopped at a different grocery store than usual yesterday, and was so excited to see it on the shelf. The whole wheel will probably be gone within the next week or so, I’m sure.

Reader Question(s):

  • What’s your favorite flavor of Laughing Cow?
  • Do you ever cook with Laughing Cow? What are some of your ideas?

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June 11, 2013 · 8:35 am

juice cleanse update, sangria recipe, and theatre news

In case you’re wondering how my juice cleanse is going, I thought I’d post this little graphic to sum it up:

quitter

After one day, I gave up. My body just wasn’t happy. I think I’m either fighting the worst allergies or (urgh) getting sick, because I came home from work yesterday with a horrendous headache and slept for 3 hours straight. When I woke up, I was so hungry that I was contemplating eating anything in sight.

koala

All of that said, I think I am going to try again sometime during the summer, when I’m on break and not on my feet at work for 8 hours straight. I knew that I just needed to listen to my body. I wasn’t going to torture myself for three days – what’s the point?

I do want to review the Kaeng Raeng product itself, so here’s my thoughts:

The powder is an interesting concept, and works kind of like a protein powder. Although the directions tell you to mix it with water, there’s a note about blending it with ice and/or frozen fruit, which is recommended for first-time users. I would echo this recommendation. I prepared my second drink of the day with a blended banana, ice, and pineapple chunks — the texture was much better than the first. It’s cool that you can customize the drinks and add different flavors to suit your own tastes. I would definitely recommend it for first time juice cleansers, especially if you’re used to drinking protein shakes.

Let me segue into another beverage topic…wine. Or, more specifically, sangria.

wine.quote

Homemade sangria is a mark of summertime in my household. Although my version of sangria is very sweet and fruity, it is also strong and packs a big punch. I personally like white sangria better than red, because white sangria often includes my favorite fruits – peaches, pineapple, or mango. Red sangria is sometimes made with brandy, which is too heavy and syrupy in my opinion.

predc.sangriaa

Sangria is at its best when it has a chance to sit for a few hours in a prepared pitcher, so all the flavors combine and the fresh fruit can absorb the alcohol. The flipside to homemade sangria is that it doesn’t keep very well (not much longer than a few days) so it’s best to make it when you have a crowd…or if you feel like drinking several glasses by yourself. No judgment.

sangria.0

Here’s my recipe:

Berry-Peach White Sangria 

You will need…

  • 1 bottle (750 mL) dry white wine - I used chardonnay
  • 1 cup peach schnapps
  • 3/4 cup flavored rum - I used Parrot Bay mango. You can use more than 3/4 cup if you want your sangria to be super strong, but be safe! 
  • fresh or frozen fruit – I used peaches, strawberries, raspberries

Method…

  1. Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Stir well. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours.
  2. Serve over ice and enjoy!

In musical theatre-related news, I’m super excited to announce that I will be performing in a production of Footloose this summer with a theatre company a little south of Boston!

footloose

I’ve always loved the music from this show, but what I’m really excited about is all of the dancing!!!!! I’ve tried to refrain from writing about it in here for fear of jinxing, but I auditioned last weekend and then got a callback for this past Sunday. I had a good feeling about it because I made it through several rounds of the callback portion (dancing, reading scenes, and singing), and then found out the other day that I’ve been cast! More details to come…please prepare for lots of cowboy boots pictures and eighties hair.

Reader Question(s):

  • Do you ever make your own sangria? What are your favorite add-ins?
  • Have you seen the new version of the Footloose movie? Good/bad?

 

 

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June 10, 2013 · 8:47 am

back from D.C. and day 1 of my juice cleanse

DC.monument1

I think I’m still catching up on sleep from this past week’s trip to D.C. Being a chaperone on a trip that contains 250+ eighth graders is nothing short of exhausting, and contains more busride Adam Sandler movies than anyone should ever see in a  lifetime. That said, it’s also a lot of fun, and I enjoy all the sights and activities that we get to do. My two favorites are the Natural History Museum and the National Zoo.

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I saw this little guy in the Natural History Museum and had to take a picture because his ears are adorable. Adorable and slightly terrifying.

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At the zoo, this panda could not get enough of his bamboo stick. He was munchin’ away without a care in the world. I hope it was delicious.

DC.lion1

It may look like this lioness is licking her paws, but I am pretty sure that prior to this photo, she pounced on some animal parts or bones. (Meow.)

Luckily, a few days before this trip, I bought some new sneakers:

DC.sneaks1

These sneakers are by Nike, and they are super comfortable and offer a lot of support. Plus, I mean, they’re pink.

In other news, I’m starting my Kaeng Raeng juice cleanse today. I blogged about this a while ago, but hadn’t found a good time to do it. Now that I’m back from my trip and won’t be traveling for another couple of weeks, I figured it’s time to get started.

Here’s some information from the company regarding the cleanse:

Created by a vegan certified personal trainer Lindsay Reinsmith, Kaeng Raeng means “be healthy, be strong” in Thai. Each Kaeng Raeng pouch is a full meal replacement and contains more than a full serving of fruit and fiber, 15g of lean non-GMO protein, probiotics, essential amino acids and vitamins, so you can detox without depriving yourself of important nutrients —or of flavor.

Kaeng Raeng is vegan, gluten-free, caffeine-free, eco-friendly, and contains no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, laxatives or stimulants.

 You can also eat as many raw fruits and vegetables as you like while you are on the cleanse (they recommend three days for beginners).

juice.1.0

My first juice of the day was a strawberry/raspberry/pineapple flavor. I blended the powder with some ice, water, and fresh raspberries and blueberries. It tastes very sweet and fruity. I think I may use more liquid for the next one, because this one tastes a bit too thick and powdery. The one thing I really like about this particular cleanse is that it encourages its users to also consume fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s good to know that if I get really hungry, I can eat something.

juice.2.0

I’ll post reviews of each of the days as I go! Wish me luck….

Reader Question(s):

  • What’s your favorite way to prepare a smoothie?
  • What juice cleanses have you tried?
  • Have you ever been to D.C.? What’s your favorite thing to do?

10 Comments

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June 4, 2013 · 6:00 am

a very successful pizza experiment

predec.pizzapizza

Pizza nights are my favorite nights (aside from taco salad night). When it comes to pizza, I usually prefer making it from scratch to ordering takeout. Plus, making pizza with someone else is such a fun activity. I think that one of the first meals Connor and I ever cooked together was a pizza.

A few months ago, when we went to Cape Cod for a weekend, we went to a restaurant called Ember, located in Harwich Port, on a recommendation from my friend Jill. Also on her recommendation, we ordered the blueberry goat cheese pizza. We thought: This will either be amazing or disgusting.

To our luck, it was the former. A-mazing. We still talk about it, and so we decided to recreate something similar this past weekend.

piiza01

Just the act of editing these pictures is making me hungry! I ate a slice of it for lunch a couple days later and it was still just as good.

A recipe? Why sure.

Thin-Crust Pizza w/ Blueberries, Pears, Caramelized Onions, Goat Cheese & Mozzarella

You will need…

  • 1 pre-made crust
  • olive oil
  • salt, pepper
  • 3/4 cup blueberries
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water combined
  • 1/3 cup white sugar (or truvia)
  • 1 pear, sliced thinly
  • 1 onion, sliced into thin strips
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • pinch of brown sugar
  • 1/2 log goat cheese
  • 1/2 mozzarella ball
  • some turkey bacon, if you want it
  • fresh basil, chopped (just a handful)
  • 1/4 lemon

Method…

  1. Preheat oven 400 degrees F. Drizzle pre-made crust with olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper.
  2. While the oven is preheating, start your blueberries. In a small saucepan, cover blueberries with water until just touching the top and heat over med-high heat. When the water starts boiling, add water + cornstarch mixture and sugar or truvia. Stir frequently until thickened. Remove from heat & set aside.
  3. When your oven is preheated, add the crust and pre-cook approx 15 minutes.
  4. While your crust is pre-baking, heat a large skillet over med heat and add olive oil. Add onion slices and season with salt & pepper. Stir frequently, until translucent. Lower the heat slightly and cook an additional 10 – 15 minutes. Add balsamic, brown sugar, and pears. Raise the heat to cook off some of the liquid, and cook another 5 minutes.
  5. In the last 5 minutes, start a small skillet for the turkey bacon if you are using it. (Or put it on half, if you’re part of a couple that is divided on meat!) Cook the turkey bacon until crisp, and then chop into small pieces.
  6. Your crust should be removed from the oven by this point, and your blueberry mixture should be thick. Spread the blueberry mixture on the crust, then top with the onions and pears. Crumble the goat cheese and mozzarella, and top with bacon if using.
  7. Cook the pizza once again in the pre-heated oven, approx 7 minutes. Broil at the end for an additional 30 – 60 seconds (but keep your eye on it.) Remove pizza from oven, sprinkle with fresh basil and lemon juice and enjoy!!!

Reader Question: What is the best pizza you’ve ever had?

 

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June 3, 2013 · 8:20 am

sneak peek of the week

In case there was any question, it is really hot in New England. Like, really hot. It’s important to note that I’m not complaining, because fairly recently, it was cold, and I didn’t like that one bit. But it’s definitely hot. Yesterday, we turned on our A/C for the first time this year. Today, however, I’m at work, where there is no A/C, and I literally feel like I’m existing in the midst of a tropical rainforest. For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to straighten my hair this morning. Then I stepped outside, and mother nature was like, “lolz good try.” Such is life.

Tomorrow, I embark as a chaperone on an annual eighth-grade field trip to Washington D.C.

predc.capit

This is my fourth time going on this trip, so I feel like a bit of a pro at this point. Despite the fact that a 10+ hour busride with 250 eighth graders is exactly what it sounds like, I actually enjoy this trip. I am mostly looking forward to the Zoo; last year, I was lucky to see two orangutans crossing overhead on wires, which was one of the coolest sights, hands down.

While I’m gone, I’m scheduling a few fun posts, as well as a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers.

Here’s a sneak peak of what is to come:

predc.sangriaa

A recipe for this berry-peach sangria I made over the weekend.

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A review of this Ombre Hair Chalk Set that I bought on a whim from Urban Outfitters yesterday. This is seriously my new favorite thing ever.

predec.pizzapizza

Another pizza recipe! This one was inspired by a restaurant on Cape Cod, and consists of a homemade blueberry jam, pears, caramelized onions, goat cheese, and some other delicious toppings. I know, the combination of blueberries and pizza may sound a bit weird, but trust me on this one. It’s amazing.

Lastly, I’m excited to share a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers, Allison @ A Realistic Life. I’d asked her for a guest post with the intention of putting it up during my late-June trip to the Outer Banks, but she was so fast that I decided to use it this week.

Stay tuned, and stay cool!

Reader Question(s):

  • What did you do this past weekend?
  • What are some ways you cool down during a heat wave?

 

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May 31, 2013 · 8:45 am

friday 5: heat wave edition

fri.weatherapps

Summer weather has officially arrived in New England. As I type this, I’m wearing a sundress, flipflops, and have my hair in a bun (yes that’s right – the top knot is back, aka my short haircut is finally starting to grow out.) Before I launch into five random thoughts for this Friday, I’d like to point out the above photo, which is a depiction of my two new favorite weather apps. On the left, we have Swackett, which not only tells you the weather, but also gives a few picture ideas of how to dress. We all know how much the weather can create outfit drama, so isn’t this a cute idea? On the right is my personal favorite, Weather Puppy. How in the world did I not know of this app’s existence?! It is exactly what it sounds like…the weather…and puppies. What more could you ask for????!!! Seriously, answer that. I don’t think anyone can.

In other news on this glorious brink of a weekend….

fri.hairproducts

[One] - I’m usually a bit of a hair products snob, so when it comes to anti-frizz balms or curling products, I gravitate towards Sephora, or that “expensive” section of CVS. I bought this one on a whim the other day, and so far I’m loving it. My hair is what you may call “undecided”; it air-dries somewhere between straight and curly. I put some of this stuff in my hair this morning, blew-dry it until it was 80% dry, and then let it air dry from there. And it’s not frizzy at all today, despite the predicted 90+ degree weather and lack of air conditioning at work.

fri.laughingcow

[Two] - I was so excited to get a summer snack package from the lovely people at The Laughing Cow yesterday! I packed some of the crackers and one of the wedges in my lunch today, and can’t wait to eat it. I’ll be doing a review on the products and some recipes in the near future, so stay tuned.

fri.auditionfeet

[Three] - Audition season is in full swing at this point; there are so many summer theatre auditions over the next few weeks. I’m a little superstitious and don’t want to jinx myself, so I’m going to be vague, but I auditioned and was called back for one of my favorite musicals this week. Details to come…! Fingers crossed.

fri.sneakz

[Four] - I need to buy new sneakers this weekend because I ruined my old ones during the muddy hike at Blend. I’m overdue for new sneakers anyway, so it works out. I really want a pair of hot pink running shoes like these Nike ones. Neon in the summer, or any time of year really, is totally acceptable.

fri.sangria.ingreeds

[Five] - I made a list this morning of ingredients to pick up after work in order to make some white peach sangria. I cannot wait to sit out on the patio with a glass later! It will officially feel like summer, for sure.

Reader Question(s):

  • What are your go-to hair products in the summer to combat frizz?
  • What is your favorite Laughing Cow product?
  • What are you doing this weekend?

 

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May 28, 2013 · 3:57 pm

a long weekend in pictures

poconos.memorial.day

Oh hey blog world. It’s been a while! I probably should have had some guest posts over the past few days, but I’m assuming that most people were unplugged as well: eating, drinking, eating, sunbathing, eating, etc.

Unless you were hanging out in the northeast, where the sun basically didn’t come out all weekend. Then you were probably  just eating.

Sometimes it’s more fun to just look at pictures, so:

poconos.lake

Who can argue with a view like this one? I rushed to snap a good picture once the sun came out.

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I’ll never turn down a hike, even in chilly weather.

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The trails around these waterfalls had been closed for years, and finally opened back up for the public.

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Does anyone else think inchworms are adorable? I love these little guys.

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Did I mention eating? There was a lot of cheesecake consumed this past weekend.

poconos.vegchili

Connor and I cooked dinner for everyone one night and made chili. It had a vegetarian base (of course) but we cooked a separate skillet of seasoned ground beef for the meat eaters among us.

I’ve posted the recipe before, so check it out here.

Mentally, I think I’m still recovering from the long weekend. I’m so perpetually sleepy. More detailed posts to come!

Reader Question(s):

  • What did you do with your long weekend?
  • Did you cook or eat anything particularly delicious? 

 

5 Comments

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May 22, 2013 · 9:01 am

blend recap 3: saturday, burpees, and mountains

blend.saturday.hiketrail

Is everyone sick of these Blend Recap posts yet? What’s that? No? You want more? Okay!

Saturday entailed tons of activity, and by the end of the day, we were all sore and exhausted. And full of delicious food. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Saturday morning began with a Fitness Boot Camp sponsored by GPP Fitness. Despite the fact that we all enjoy working out, I think it’s safe to say that the workout kicked our butts. In the best way possible! We started with a series of short sprints, and we were told that they’d feel “easy” but we’d be sore from them the next day. Absolutely 100% true.

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Awesome photo via Lindsay!

After that, we went into the Deck of Cards workout, which I’d actually never heard of before, though some of my roomies had. Basically it was a different exercise for each suit of the card (ex: hearts = situps, diamonds = burpees, etc) and whatever number was on the card was equivalent to the  amount of reps needed to be done. And jokers = run around the hotel building (in the rain, bee tee dubs) for 2 minutes. Hello, sore muscles. It definitely felt like an accomplishment once we were all finished!

Photo via Lindsay!

Photo via Lindsay!

After the workout, we all headed to breakfast where we met representatives from The Laughing Cow and Muesli Fusion. Our breakfast consisted of both products, plus a lot of fresh fruit and coffee.

blend.saturday.bfast

I decided to try the strawberry spread and cinnamon. Absolutely delicious.

After breakfast, despite the fact that we were starting to get sore from our GPP Fit workout, we gathered our energy and enthusiasm for the ProBar sponsored hike through the mountains.

We were given some samples prior to heading out, and they came in handy later on the hike.

blend.saturday.chews

These tasted like fruit snacks!!! But…like…healthier.

It’s important to note, as a segue, that prior to embarking on the hike, we went back to our rooms to get some sweaters and longer pants…and found this:

blend.saturday.gifts

As if the swag bags we got on Friday weren’t enough!!!!! Zevia, Core Power, and Soy Joy. A lovely little trio.

As I mentioned in my first post, I think the hike was my favorite part.

blend.saturday.hikestart

It began with a seriously muddy walk (and ended with a few of us throwing our sneakers away, but hey, more room for swag in our carry-on’s, right?) We had to walk a mile to the start of the trail. As I was discussing with some of the girls, hiking might be my favorite ‘outdoor’ activity. It’s great exercise  but it’s also social and just so peaceful. There’s something about being outside and being surrounded by nature while still getting an awesome workout.

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Could you want anything more than a view like this one? I mean, really….

Once we were back at the hotel, we all desperately needed a shower. We also broke into our swag bags for some refreshing drinks:

blend.saturday.rubarb

I was skeptical when trying this soda, but I thought it was completely delicious! It tasted so fruity and light. Definitely going to be getting these again!

After re-establishing ourselves as clean and fashionable bloggers, we headed downstairs for a snack break sponsored by Onnit.

blend.saturday.onit

These hemp protein shakes were super delicious and had a great flavor. Honestly, anything with cocoa has my vote.

It was here that we met Whitney Miller, AKA Miss United States, who was such an awesome person to get to know!

blend.saturday.miss.usa

She told us all about her podcast, Women Against Mediocrity, which I encourage you all to check out. From her facebook page: “Women Against Mediocrity is a page dedicated to offering the inspiration, motivation and tools to help stoke the fire to be extraordinary in your own life. Taking a stand against mediocrity is not about where we are now, or what our accomplishments have been to date, it is about the pursuit of excellence as a strong, healthy, vibrant woman. Included will be stories, workouts, recipes, and tips to help you along the way. Lets do this!” This girl is definitely an inspiration!

At this point, it was only 3 or 4 but it really felt like dinner time (especially to us east coasters) so we headed downtown to explore Park City itself.

blend.saturday.oil

We found ourselves in Mountain Town Olive Oil, and enjoyed some samples of delicious oils and balsamic vinegars. This only made us hungrier though, so we ended up at an early dinner at Wasatch Brew Company.

blend.saturday.wasatch

blend.saturday.outside

blend.saturday.friends

Photo via Carly!

This amazing day ended with homemade Utah scones, courtesy of “Mama B”, one of the greatest ladies ever. These things were so delicious, I could have eaten a zillion of them (and probably did):

blend.saturday.utah.scones

Just looking at that picture again is making me hungry.

Ashley, Kate, and I got up so early on Sunday to get our flights so we missed out on some of the final festivities. It was sad saying goodbye to them at the airport, and the other girls the night before, but we’re talking about reunions already. I definitely think I’ve made some lifelong friends in one weekend. And I can’t wait to go back next year!

Related Posts: Blend Recap 2, Blend Recap 1.

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