a new type of workout

Hello again!! I am so happy I am able to have a new post for the blog this week.  If you missed Wednesday's post click here to read up on my favorite smoothie bowl toppings.  I have really taken a liking, no loving, to smoothie bowls (a.k.a. a smoothie in a bowl with yummy toppings) They are so delicious and good for you, how could you say no?!  Keep following the blog for more healthy recipes. Want to shop this look? Keep reading to find out how.

Back to the topic of today's post, I really like to get in at least one good workout a day I mean, that's the goal, not saying it always happens. ;)   I get tired of always doing the same workout or running the same trail, whatever it is, so I get creative.  I don't do this all the time because to get results you have to continuously work on the same area of your body, but for a little fun you can do this.

Get ready... use the curb!

Curbs are all around and totally useful to get maybe a little quicker footwork for your dance moves at the next wedding, but the biggest ways curbs can be used is to get some fun cardio in.  I like to put on a playlist of a few songs that I'm loving and do different motions using the curbs.  Really there isn't a right or wrong way to use the curb, but here are my favorite routines I'll do.  

left foot up, right foot up - left foot down, right foot down

to: Surfin' U.S.A. (I do this one quickly with a few ten second breaks)

small box jump (just jumping onto the curb with both feet)

to: War by Edwin Starr

left foot up while right foot is down (going sideways)

then switch sides

to: Shout by the Isley Brothers

I just try to have fun with it and make up moves, but it is tiring!!

As far as these leggings and shoes, the leggings are from Old Navy.  They no longer carry this print but here are the same style leggings in solid colors .  They have so many more options too on their site.  Click here for all their legging options.  I got these Nike shoes at Dick's and could not be more pleased.  They are super comfy and go with everything.

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smoothie bowl toppings

So many times I put different toppings on my smoothie bowls and share them, along with the recipe with you.  I was thinking it would be fun to share some of my favorite toppings with you, while picking up some of my favorites at Target yesterday.  I always go for healthy or something a little sweet and a few things not included in the photo. Again, these are available at TArget.

+ Simply Balanced Vanilla Bean Granola

I love adding granola to my smoothie bowls because I think it makes it more like a parfait than anything else, especially with some fresh fruit mixed in.  I'm a really picky eater so I was happy that I found a granola I really like.  This one is sweet (and probably not the healthiest one you could get), but I like it.  They have an entire section at Target so you can get some granola that you love.

+ Chia Seeds

This was only the second time that I had gotten this "super food" (a.k.a. something popular and overpriced), but I have liked it.  I don't taste the seeds, although they do get stuck in my teeth a lot!  There are a lot of benefits including giving you a boost of energy, reducing heart diseases, and containing a lot of protein.

+ Sweet and Salty Topping

This was a trial, i got these for the first time and I don't think that I would get them again. I got these to add just a little bit of a salty mix to my smoothies, but I don't think it taste good, but you may like it if you like peanuts.  They aren't auctually healthy, but to be fair they were right next to all the ice cream toppings!!

+ Almonds

Almonds are sooo healthy for you and I like to snack on them, but they also add a nice crinch to your smoothie.  Numerous benefits, and if you don't like the crunch, just add them to your blender or do what I do and cover them in dark chocolate (good for the heart)! ;)

+ Honey

Not only is honey (especially local) good for you, but it adds a little sweetness to your smoothie.

+ Fruit

I love having little bits of unblended, fresh fruit in my smoothie bowl.  I normally like to keep the fruit frozen  because then the fruit doesn't get soggy (ugh).  It just gives the smoothie a nice little boost.

Hope you enjoy these tips.  If you follow @lemondesigned on instagram, I'm sure you saw the Talenti gelato that snuck into the picture!  I will have a review on that later this week.

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apple and berry smoothie

Hello hello hello!  I have been so excited to share some new posts, starting with this fresh, new smoothie bowl recipe.  I have been super busy lately so it's so nice to get back to the thing I love sharing.  Something I think is so special is that I get to share me passion: sharing my writing about lifestyle, health, and style.  of course, with that I get to tell you guys my fav recipes I've made.  

With sharing my own recipes, you know that they were all made through trial and error.  (You should see my kitchen, after cooking!)  I really was going for a thicker consistency with this bowl, so I made it up previously in my blender and froze it overnight.  In the morning I pulled it out of the freezer and as you can imagine it was frozen solid, but I was in a hurry, so I didn't have time to thaw it. I tried all different things, and I eventually started cutting the frozen smoothie out and placing it in the blender.  I accidentally cut through my tupperware container, so I would recommend letting it thaw, just for a minute or two first.

Anyways, after I just all the frozen pieces back into the blender, I added a little bit of water and blender it up.  Perfection!!  Although I lost a nice container to it the smoothie was the perfect, cold, thick, but not too thick texture and it was delish!  Of course, even in a rush, I didn't go through all that work, just to not have or take a picture!  I snapped this beaut below and ate it up!

Apple and Berry Smoothie

By: Lemon Designed

one green apple

six to eight strawberries

cup of greek yogurt

half cup of blackberries

half cup of raspberries

half cup of water

If you don't freeze your fruit, I recommend adding ice.

Blend it up and enjoy, or freeze over night, blend in the morning and enjoy a frozen treat!

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athletic wear i want

Woohoo we have all made it to the second week of February!  I don't know if it's just me, I just feel like that there is just this time where all I'm thinking of is what I'm going to wear when I'm working out-you know fulfilling my new year goal (wink, wink).  I love athletic wear that I can be comfy in and still could totally rock in the gym or while I'm running.  I can't wait to try out the dark grey pullover sometime soon-it looks so cozy.

The prices range differently all in an ok range (not too pricy, but not cheap).  They are all either Old Navy or Athleta and I love the quality of all their products.  

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p.s. i love this color scheme!!

shop the looks

grey leggings / black leggings / dark grey jacket / dark grey pullover /

 dark grey tank / striped tank / white shirt / grey shirt 

I can speak for the black leggings and the tennis shoes because I already have them, but I love them!  The shoes (I wrote an earlier post about this here) fit very nicely and did I mention that they go with any and every workout outfit. The leggings are really nicely fitting too.

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my mixed berry smoothie

For Christmas my family got me a Nutribullet blender and I love it!  I am planning on writing a review on it soon.  With it, I have really been pushing having a smoothie as a staple everyday, I usually have it as a breakfast treat, yes, I said treat.  The smoothies are perfect, all the nutrients, but I barely taste a thing.  

Anyways, with the blender I had just been throwing fruit into it each morning and after a while I got tired of the same stuff so I made it a goal to make a healthy smoothie that tasted just as sweet.  With how the Nutribullet is set up there is a specific level you can't pass so when I put my ingredients into it I don't measure anything so here is as close as I got to perfectly measuring.

my mixed berry smoothie

(makes a little more than one glass)

cup of greek yogurt

handful of kale

7-10 strawberries

1/4 cup blueberries 

1/2 cup raspberries

1/2 cup blackberries

1/2 cup of water

some ice cubes

for a little bit of a change throw in some pineapple!

A trick I learned was that if you wet the fruit and freeze it it's just like added ice.  The colder the smoothie the better, it's refreshing and delicious.

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recipies to try (vol.1)

Coming back from numerous home cooked meals, all the holiday treats, and the new years food has been on my mind a lot.  I have to say, having food prepared that is just the slightest bit healthy is a really good feeling to have.  With everyone making their New Year's resolutions I just wanted to have a goal of cooking and preparing more food on my own.  It beats out eating unhealthy snacks and/or dining out.  With that, I spent a lot of time searching through Pinterest (because where else?!) I found a few that I would really like to try within the next two months. 

I attached the links right below the photos.

link: try the recipe 

link: try the recipe

I have yet to try this, but lately I have been just loving kale so I am excited to get my hands on this one.  Julia, of Lemon Stripes (a blog I follow)  had been talking about this the past few days so I can't wait to test it out!

link: the recipe

I love broccoli salad, but of course most of the ingredients I put in my recipe are not the greatest for you, so I am excited to try on with a healthy twist!

Most of these are definitely on the healthier side or are a salad.  I try to fix something that I can pack the next day for lunch so salads are key, but I also add a little something like trail mix with it. 

xo

2017.

2017 is here at last!  Finally!  

I don't know about you, but it's been a so-so year for me personally.  I would have liked to accomplish so many things, yet I never did or I just didn't really want to do them.  Sounding like every other person in the whole world, it's a new year, a fresh start, nothing has happened yet.  Every year I have made countless resolutions, only to feel depressed later when I fail to meet one of those goals.  I think it's time we put those to a rest, and only have one goal or word we base everything else around.  

My word is happy.

Everything I do I want to make sure that I am happy doing it. No longer will I wait to start a new year or week off, but I will start on a clean slate whenever I want. I have goals that are centered around my being happy and feel that way.  Staying fit would be a resolution, but I would always feel a bit of a drag while actually working out, now I think why I am doing it-in the long run I'll be happy with the outcome.  Why do I keep blogging?  Because in the long run I will even happier than I am now writing.

I mentioned this a little bit, but I want to add a few words of advice to those who feel down after not meeting your personal goal.  A new year is just something that people get hyped about annually (duh!), but feeling good about yourself starts when you want it.  Start today and don't make another excuse.  I am writing this on January 1st.  Today I was going to wake up early and do some yoga, but slept through nearly 25 different alarms. Hey, I was regrouping from NYE, but the point is I started off on the wrong foot, but still made time to do yoga.  Your happiness starts when you want it to.

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