Set Yourself Up for Success
That back to school feeling…
Never really goes away. Whether you have kids or not the fall always feels like a time to get back into the swing of things. The lazy feeling of hot summer days is quickly gone and off to the races we go. In order to get through this I think it’s all about being prepared and setting myself up for success. Below you’ll find what I’m doing, cooking, scheduling, and prepping to set myself up for a great fall.
How I’m taking care of myself this fall…
Sakara food delivery service has been life changing for me these last 2 years. It enables me to not think about my nutrition, stay energized, and have more time for all the other things I need do. This fall they are doing a 30 day reset to kick off the season with a commitment ourselves and be your best. I too am doing this to take one less thing off my plate and have food ready to go for me as I navigate the next few weeks. What I love about Sakara the most is that it’s not a diet, or a cleanse, or anything extreme and unsustainable. Rather, it is about self commitment and self care. If you’re interested in learning more click the link below and be sure to use xoAPP at checkout for 15% off your first two orders! I promise this is one investment you won’t regret making.
I found this kneeling chair by Sleekform about 6 months ago and it is amazing. After being away from it all summer I am so glad to have it back in my life. You can find all kinds of ways to sit on it, prop up a leg, etc. that are great for not tightening your hips and back. Because it rocks it makes you much more posture aware and I have felt a huge difference in how I feel after a few hours working away at my desk. There is a saying: “sitting is the new smoking” and it’s literally horrible for you. This chair helps soften the blow on hours of sitting.
Homemade Body Scrub
My husband makes a french press style coffee every morning. Personally, I am more of a triple cappuccino kind of gal but he loves the process of gridnding his own coffee, etc. It’s a morning meditation for him. What he doesn’t love is cleaning out the pot.
I love a good body scrub and indulge in them from time to time. It dawned on me the other day while doing the nice wifely thing to do and cleaning out the french press, was what about all those coffee scrubs I’ve spent money on. Why couldn’t I just use the old coffee grounds for a homemade scrub?
Well, I did just that and it turned out great! My skin felt amazing after and this will definitely be my go to moving forward.
To make:
1 cup coffee grounds (I used the grounds from an old pot of coffee but you could grind fresh!) If using old grounds I did rinse them in a mesh strainer so they wouldn’t be too messy.
1 cup sugar. I don’t cook or bake with refined sugar anymore so this is actually a great way to get rid of any lingering sugar in your cabinet and not let it go to waste!
1/2 coconut oil
5-10 drops peppermint oil - this will make it so refreshing in the morning!
Mix it all together and store in an airtight container. It should last for 2-3 weeks unless you use it all before then!
I would suggest using this and then shaving your legs - they will come out so smooth and soft. It is a bit messy in the shower so I would recommend using this the day you’re also planning to have your bathroom cleaned as well!
Literally Bend Over Backwards for your Workouts
Exercise is literally what keeps me sane. Pilates is what keeps me feeling and looking good. To make sure I am able to consistently get my workouts in I do two things: schedule them in advance by making a plan the weekend before. I also typically workout at 6am before my son wakes and the day starts. This ensures I’ve gotten some kind of movement in. Sometimes it’s only 30 minutes or so and this is ok! Some movement is better than no movement - every workout doesn’t need to be 45-60 minutes, I promise you! If you want guidance with this be sure to check out my On Demand Library where I post a 5 day suggested workout schedule each week. This will help you stay committed to yourself, feeling good, looking better and taking the most out of your membership!
How I’m preparing for my son…
My son loves applesauce. It’s very easy to make and we recently bought these great silicone pouches to serve it in to make it an easy on the go snack. The pre-made pouches are convenient but they’re horrible for the environment, are in toxic plastic, and often have excess unnecessary ingredients like excess sugar. When I make it, I do a big batch and freeze some for when Lincoln’s in the mood for it. I love using these 3oz silicone storage containers from when Lincoln was a baby. (they’re also great for freezing sauces like pesto, etc!)
Applesauce:
peel, slice and core 6-8 apples
toss in a large pan with a splash of water and cinnamon
cover with a lid and let them simmer and soften for about 10 minutes
transfer them to a blender or use a hand mixer/smasher to puree
store for up to 4 days in an airtight container or freeze for the future!
These lunch boxes are great. They have different sized compartments, little separators to keep things contained, are light, and dishwasher safe. Not to mention, not plastic! Bonus is that they’re big enough that I can use them too for lunch at work. My son and I have talked extensively about his lunch box requests for the fall. I love that he’s so excited about what’s going inside.
“Healthy” Butterfingers
I can’t take credit for this recipe but I can shepherd you to it! Jenny Mollen is not only funny but also a great inspiration for kid’s snack ideas. She has a lunch box book coming out soon called Dictator Lunches and I have pre-ordered it! She recently posted this recipe - Lincoln and I made them and can’t stop eating them! What I love about homemade treats is that they can be very good but not full of the junk you find in “healthy” kids snacks.
Butterfingers:
1 cup organic corn flakes gently ground into small bits
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 cup smooth peanut butter
mix it all together and roll into little nuggets
freeze for 10 minutes
melt 1 tsp coconut oil and 1 cup chocolate (I love Hu Kitchen)
dip the nuggets into the chocolate and freeze for about an hour
Enjoy!!!
What I’m cooking these next few weeks….
Because abs are made in the kitchen
Cooking is a form of meditation for me. I love it because I’m spending my time doing something that is good for myself and my family. It is also in my opinion one of the best ways to find food freedom. When you make your own food, even if it’s pasta, cookies, pizza, etc. it’s still 10x healthier than what you’d find in a restaurant. Cooking at our house is a family affair and a way for us to connect and spend time together. We try to sit down as a family and eat together, screen free, as many nights a week as we can. Check out the list below for some of my favorite quick and easy weeknight dinners! Many of these yield leftovers for the next day (my favorite!) but also many are from some of my favorite food bloggers.
And, in case you need some breakfast inspiration check out my blog on my favorite breakfast go to’s!
I hope you enjoy these recipes! These are all staples in our house and make them often in the dinner time rotation.
If you’re still reading, I hope you feel inspired! If you’ve put any of these items into action, be sure to tag me @ashleypattenpilates and let me know how they worked out for you!