Here is my Tuesday 10 for today:

10 things yoga teaches you

1. Honor your body. You are exactly where you need to be. Treat your body well. It deserves your utmost respect. 

2. Breathe: In yoga I use my Pranayama breath. Meaning your life force and vital energy drawn out through your breath. It helps me control my anxiety and center myself in the present moment. I honestly believe that this has been the most beneficial thing I have  learned in my yoga practice. I use it everyday. 

3. Be in the present moment. Only focus on what is happening hear and now. 

4. Let go of things that don't serve you. 

5. The light in me honors the light in you (namaste.) Yoga teaches us to honor one another. 

6. You are capable of much more than you think. Your body can endure more than your brain will tell you. 

7. Perpetuates inner awareness. Recognizing what is going on inside your body. 

8. Quiet the mind. Focus on silence rather than the business of your life. Dedicate time to yourself to focus on the beauty and peace found in silence. 

9. Community.

10. Compassion for all living things. 

Yoga has changed my life. I don't know where I would be without it. 

What fruits & veggies you should always buy organic

Eating clean is a big deal around our house. We eat a lot of whole fresh food each week with a large combination of fruits and vegetables. After much research, digging around on the internet, and reading many health books I have come up with a list that we like to stick to regarding what fruit and veggies to always buy organic. The amount of pesticides used on each fruit and vegetable varies depending on where it grows, the frequency it is grown in, and the shelf life of the product. If you are worried about pesticides in your food use this “what to buy” organic list as a guide for the next time you hit the grocery store isles!

Organic (according to research the following fruit/veggies have the highest pesticide content):

Apples

Strawberries

Grapes

Celery

Peaches

Spinach

Bell peppers

Cucumber potatoes

Tomato

Hot peppers

Kale

Grapes

Squash

*I always buy organic if I will be eating the skin or food exactly how it comes ie. Berries, carrots, , grapes, cherries etc. However if for some reason they do not have the fruit/veggie I want in an organic option I have found that soaking them in water with 1 cup vinegar provides them with a thorough rinse making me feel much better about eating the produce!

Sweet Summer Mango Jalapeño Salsa

I  like salsa! But I LOVEEE fresh salsa even more! 

Here my friends is a quick recipe for a Sweet Summer Mango Jalapeño Salsa. This is a perfect salsa to accompany any meal. 

1 (14.5oz) can of fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained

1 whole mango, finely diced

1.5 jalapeños, seeded, finely chopped

2 green onions chopped

3/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 teaspoon lime zest

1 teaspoon orange zest 

1 lime, juiced

1/4 teaspoon salt 

I served this over some lettuce with grilled chicken. It was AMAZING! and Husband LOVED it. 

Great for a fresh summer salsa!

Tuesday 10: Healthy Thanksgiving

So while I was at yoga today my instructor yells this during one of our hardest poses "Just so you know, your average slice of pumpkin pie with whip cream has around 700 calories!!!" WHAT?!?! I mean I knew it was bad...but 700 calories?! That is insane! Now I am all about enjoying the holidays and sulking in all the traditions and foods but I thought why not try adding a few healthy dishes to the list. 

So here are 10 healthy Thanksgiving recipes I found: 

Kale and Apple Salad with Pancetta and Candied Pecans

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Cranberry Pear Wild Rice Stuffing

Greek Yogurt Pumpkin Cheesecake

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Ginger and Honey

Lemon Garlic Roasted Turkey with White Wine Gravy

Green Bean Casserole

Pumpkin Cocoanut Tart

Golden Beet Salad with Toasted Seeds

Healthy Potato Gratin with herbs

Cheers to healthy eating! 

Tuesday Ten: How to stay motivated to exercise during the work week

I really like Lauren Conrad..and I really like the idea of doing Tuesday ten posts. 

So here goes my first one. 

Exercising can be challenging. Add in work or being a mom and mine as well just throw the idea out the window. This last year I have been trying to focus on living a healthy lifestyle incorporating exercise into my daily routine. Here are 10 things that help me stay motivated during the work week. 

1. Make a schedule at the beginning of the week. Every Sunday I sit down and write out what I am going to do each day for exercise and when. Sometimes I will run on my lunch break or head to yoga right after work. Having a schedule keeps me on track and accountable. 

2. Eat healthy! The healthier you eat the more chance you have of actually getting out and exercising. Again, on Sunday I make a meal plan for everyday of the week so that we don't eat out and we have healthy meals to fuel our bodies. 

3. Drink lots of water. My fitness guide used to tell me hydration was one of the most important parts of your daily exercise routine. Our bodies feel better when we are hydrated. If our bodies are feeling good we are more likely to exercise! 

4. Bring your workout clothes to work with you. This ALWAYS keeps me from saying NO. If I have my workout clothes with me I have no excuse to not fit in a quick workout on lunch or head to the gym or yoga studio after work. 

5. Join a fitness app with your friends/spouse/family and add each other. My friends and I all use Map My Run to help us stay motivated. When I see one of my friends working out it makes me want to work out too. 

6. Eat a snack an hour before you exercise. I always like to eat a banana 30 minutes to an hour before I exercise. This fuels the body with carbs that will keep you energized for the workout. 

7. Switch it up. If you do the same thing everyday it is bound to get boring and harder to do. I switch off between yoga and running. This keeps me from not getting sick of either one. 

8. Tell yourself in the morning "I am going to workout today." If you wakeup in the right mindset you are more likely to workout that day.

9. Partner with a friend. Having someone to go with you keeps you accountable and it is more fun. Sometimes at work one of my co-workers will come on a jog with me. I love meeting my friends at the yoga studio or for an outdoor run after work. 

10. Give yourself a reward! Self motivation is key. I think this is what pushes me throughout the week. If I workout a certain amount of times I will allow myself a Starbucks holiday drink or frozen yogurt. Small rewards keep me going. 

xoxo