Be A Helper

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Itz Linz

In light of the Boston Marathon’s tragedy, I’m at a loss of words. I am flooded with feelings of sadness, anger, heartache, confusion, and grief. Questions are running through my mind. Who would do something like this? Why? What is wrong with the world today? Why? Why? Why?

While I don’t have answers, I couldn’t stop thinking Why? and I grew angrier and angrier until I was fuming. Then I saw this image that Stephanie Cotta Photography (aka: my sister) posted on Facebook yesterday:

(source)

Good ol’ Mr. Rogers to help bring peace to my unsettling emotions. Itz true though and it made me realize there are good people in this world. In the time of crisis, I know people in the area ran to help those injured regardless of if they knew them or not. In any tragic situation there are always people helping, whether itz the police department, fire department, military, or civilians. Those people are the heroes.

It got me thinking: What kind of person do I want to be? Do I want to be a person who lives in fear? Do I want to be a person who is angry at the world? No. No, I do not. So now what? What can I do about it? I decided:

I want to be a helper.

While I can’t directly help or bring solace to those affected, I can do my part in trying to make the world a better place. Maybe that’s a grand gesture, and I know it is, but the tiny actions we do to bring happiness to those around us, just may add up to that big ol’ cliché idea of making the world a better place. Itz at least worth a shot. Go ahead, give it a try. Consider it a challenge, today, in memory and in honor of those in Boston and those suffering all over the world.

What kind of person do YOU want to be? What can YOU do to make the world a better place?

What I’d really like to do…

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Itz Linz

Thursday? Itz just Thursday? Oy! Itz been an incredibly busy week which has made for a looong week. Meetings before and during school. Activities or meetings every single day after school. Plus, I don’t think I ever fully caught up from last weekend. And now I’m just complaining. Boo. I try not to do much of that. But I’ve been legit busy. Take my word. Here’s what I’d really like to do…

Sit around in my pajamas.

Take a leisurely walk outside in the sunshine.

Maybe play with toys inside.

Or taking a bath would be nice…

Just kidding. I really do make time to bathe.

I’d like to curl up in bed for a looong time…

You know what would be really fantastic? Lounging by the pool…

Is it ~~summer~~ Friday yet?

Almond Seed Cranberry Balls

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Itz Linz

Well hello and Happy Wednesday to you, friends! As you know, I’m participating in the New Year New Rules program which means my eats have been super clean (even more so than usual) as of late. Today I’ve got a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner to share, as well as a very tasty snack (no-bake & will give you energy)! All of this is courtesy of Jenn at Peas and Crayons where What I Ate Wednesday is officially hosted.

Breakfast: Despite the frigid temperatures here in St. Louis, I’ve been on a smoothie kick. Most recently: Coconut Peach Smoothie.

Mmm so good! Totally worth the after chill of it all. In the blender: ice, 1 cup frozen peaches, 1 banana, 1 cup coconut milk, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds (optional), 2 tablespoons unsweetened, shredded coconut, a few drops of honey for added sweetness. The banana is a MUST, my friends. If you’re not a banana lover, no sweat; you can barely taste it, but the creaminess that the banana adds is awesome.

Lunch: Yesterday, my co-worker (friend) kindly and unnecessarily bought my lunch. We rarely order out, so when we do itz quite a treat! She chose Dave & Tony’s, one of my favorite spots to order from since you can create your own burger, sandwich, or salad. I ordered a salad with grilled chicken, black beans, roasted peppers, cucumbers, and banana peppers.

#PROOF that eating out can be healthy and taste good! Honestly, I didn’t even use dressing because the vegetables had so much flavor on their own.

Dinner: Leftovers from the weekend. I had a ton of the turkey, bean, veggie mix, so I used that and coupled it with kale that I roasted in the oven. I washed the kale, ripped it up, sprayed it with EVOO, and sprinkled nutritional yeast on top. Popped it in the oven at 425 for about 8 minutes (careful not to burn!), and wah-lah! Dinner is served.

We love leftovers over here as we’ve eaten a similar version of this for the past couple nights in addition to the original night I made it. Batch cooking at itz finest! I do have some soup in the crockpot today, so we’re changin’ it up tonight.

Now for the recipe you’ve all been waiting for…

Some background: since I am participating in NYNR many pre-made bars are off-limits as they are loaded with preservatives, artificial flavors, and added sugar. I’ve been snacking on apples, almonds, and raisins (per usual), but I wanted something a little more. So I dug through my pantry, threw a bunch of ingredients in the food processor, and out came these wonderful balls.

Almond Seed Cranberry Balls

~makes approximately 20 balls

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups almonds
1 1/2 cups oats (divided 1/2 cup and 1 cup)
1 cup unsweetened, vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
dash of cinnamon
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 tablespoons honey

Directions:

Combine almonds, milk, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, ground flaxseed, dash of cinnamon, and 1/2 cup oats in food processor. Grind until a creamy consistency is reached, scraping the sides as necessary.
Transfer mixture to bowl and add 1 cup oats, cranberries, and honey. Stir. (Mixture should be very thick and tough to stir.)
Form into balls. Place in freezer for two hours. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

These balls are great for on-the-go snacks! They contain protein, healthy fat, and complex carbs, so they’ll give you energy and keep you full. Win-win.

Best meal or snack you’ve eaten recently?

The Average Guy Workout

Posted on January 8, 2013 by Itz Linz

Woah, yesterday felt long. Even though I worked three days last week, yesterday was a long day. I think itz because I stayed after school (as I do every Monday) to help facilitate the Go! St. Louis Read, Right, & Run Marathon program. We have a ton of kids involved, which, of course, I love. So many young bodies excited to MOVE, excited to run. Anyway, it wasn’t seven o’clock before I felt like I finally had some time for myself. So today’s post will be short and ~~sweet~~ hilarious.

I posted one video from our dinner party of Diana, Whitney, and me doing push-ups. (Four to be exact. Ha!) Well, today I have one that may leave you peeing your pants. Itz that funny. Diana’s fiance and Whitney’s husband were discussing “The Average Guy Workout.” Check it out:

Funny, right? We were seriously crying on Friday night as it was going on. Oh, and the “dump trucks” that Andy was referring to are actually this recipe.

By the way, I’ll have some new workouts coming your way. I’d been following my same workout routine for several weeks now, and I needed a change. Instead of focusing on just a couple of body parts once a week, I’m going to still lift three days a week, but will be doing total body workouts each day. I’ll post the workouts as soon as I perfect them

Do you know anyone who can relate to the “Average Guy Workout?” What does your workout routine look like?

Push-Up Challenge

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Itz Linz

There was so much marvelous in my weekend, I hardly know where to begin. Oh wait, yes I do. I’ll begin with a vlog that we filmed Friday night during our dinner party with some dear friends. After dinner (and dessert and wine), Diana told us about her “Push-Up Challenge” that she was embarking on for the New Year. The goal is to eventually work up to 100 push-ups. As each day passes, she’ll do one more push-up than the day before. (I may not be all for resolutions, but I’m all about making strides to live a healthy life!) Friday was January 4th, and Whitney and I decided to play along.

What do YOU do at your dinner parties? Push ups, handstands, itz all good. Before I served dinner, I set out Wild Harvest Sea Salt Pita Chips and guacamole for munching.

The pita chips were perfect for dipping! They were super sturdy (I need a serious chip when it comes to thick dip), and had a great flavor with a hint of sea salt. Wild Harvest also makes Parmesan Garlic & Herb and Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips which I can’t wait to try.

For dinner, I baked chicken (sprinkled some Italian bread crumbs on top), steamed broccoli, and followed this recipe for the pasta. I think it turned out well.

For dessert I made S’more Cookie Bars (again) which are always a hit. I mean who doesn’t like graham cracker crust, marshmallow, and chocolate?

It was a marvelous dinner party, indeed. The next morning I met Whitney for a workout. We went to a studio and did a bootcamp class. Full review will come later this week, but I wanted to give a shoutout: Fitness With Anika is AWESOME!

Sunday morning I headed to my parents’. They’ve got an amazing home gym in their basement, so I took full advantage of that. I walked on the treadmill for 35 minutes (speed 3.8, incline 8) to cover 2 miles, and finished with some light weights.

*I LOVE those shorts from Yogi Clothing!

Sunday was also a day of grocery shopping. First was Trader Joe’s, and then was Whole Foods. I do love both stores, but yesterday Whole Foods took the cake. The employees at Whole Foods are always super friendly and incredibly knowledgable. One of the items I had gotten was a bottle of coconut water. The cashier was asking me if I liked any of the flavors. (Not really.) She then asked another employee to go grab something.

Next, she started telling me about how bottled coconut waters (and fruit and vegetable juices) are almost always pasteurized. During the pasteurization process, fruits and vegetables lose some of their nutritional value. She wanted me to try this Harvest Harmless 100% Raw Coconut Water.

It tasted SO good! There was definitely a distinguishable taste between this raw version compared to the pasteurized kind. I think this had a stronger coconut flavor, which I like. I absolutely love learning about and trying new products.

If you’ll remember, this is the second time an employee at Whole Foods has gifted me a new-to-me item. (The first was a carton of flax milk.) Best employees and customer service ever! Thanks, Whole Foods!

Thanks also to Katie at Healthy Diva Eats for this Marvelous Monday.

Are you participating in any type of New Years challenge? Have you ever been gifted a new product at Whole Foods? Have you ever tasted raw coconut water? Happy Monday!

To Set Resolutions… Or Not

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Itz Linz

Resolutions. That’s a word you’ve heard about 50 billion times in the last week, eh? I’ve never been one to set New Years resolutions. The truth is: I do pretty well already. I eat mostly healthy (trust me, I have more than my fair share of indulgences!). I exercise on a consistent basis (and love every minute of it!). I take care of myself (I get enough sleep and keep stress to a minimum!). I’m happy.

Photo by Stephanie Cotta Photography

Now hear me out: I’m not saying I’m perfect. By no means whatsoever am I even hinting at that. I think there’s always room to improve, but in general… I’m doing great. Sometimes I think our society places so much emphasis on being superwoman (or man), and it can leave people feeling like nothing they do is ever good enough. Well, I disagree with that. I’m giving you the ok to be content in your life.

Do you want to make resolutions? Go for it! (And if you need help with any aspect, I’d love to help!) Personally, they’re just not for me. I can’t say, “I won’t eat ice cream anymore.” To me, that’s pure craziness! I do make healthy choices, and I think itz important people do, in general. However, I’m also a HUGE believer in listening to your body. If you want ice cream, eat some. This does not mean eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day of your life nor does it mean to eat an entire gallon in one sitting. Honor your body, your wants, your cravings in moderation!

I strive to be a better person each and every day. I do like to try new foods and new ideas which is why I will be trying the New Year New Rules program. Now, this may seem hypocritical to everything I just wrote. However, itz not a diet nor a resolution – just a 15 day program with real food and clean eats. We’ll see how it goes and I’ll be sure to share with you my feedback.

Making small changes to live a healthier life are the way to go in my book. For example, “I will eat breakfast everyday,” or, “I will get 8 hours of sleep each night,” or, “I will move my body 4 times a week.” THOSE are goals worth setting if you need somewhere to start.

The winner of the NatureBox giveaway is #79 Brittany! Congratulations! Please email me at itzlinz@gmail.com in the next 48 hours with your mailing address. Thank you to everyone who entered! You may order your own NatureBox by visiting their site and using the code “HEALTHY” to receive $5 off your order. Great deal!

Several Other FitFluential Ambassadors’ Take on Resolutions: (worth reading!)

Why NOT being your leanest is 100% ok! <— Great article about being confident AND happy – couldn’t agree more!
New Year, New Goals: How Do You Wanna Feel? <– Amazing! A plan and an example of how you’ll actually achieve your goals!
No resolutions, but much success! <— Resolutions are not the end all be all. Success CAN still happen without resolutions.
Cleansing: Physical, Mental & For the Home <– Ways to make a fresh start in 2013.
Setting SMART Goals <— Studies have proven the effectiveness of SMART goals which is why we use them at school all.the.time.
One Word is the New Resolution <– Amanda’s word is PURPOSE. What’s yours?

Do you set New Years resolutions? What are your thoughts on the matter?

Awesome Fitness Gear for $40

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Itz Linz

Who loves awesome fitness gear? Ok, the real question is: who doesn’t? Let’s be real here: What is more motivating than buying cute gym clothes that makes you feel good and look even better? I know for me (myself included) awesome workout attire is always on my “want” list, and a girl can never have too much! (Am I right or am I right?) However, some brands are a ~~wee bit~~ lot too expensive to splurge for, no matter how cute. Well, I’ve got the perfect solution for you, my friends. Itz pv.body!

How cute is my top in the above picture? I get loads of compliments everywhere I wear it, and yep! You guessed it – itz pv.body! (So are my pants!) So what is pv.body? pv.body is a subscription service that ships you a custom workout outfit for just $49 a month. You take a quick style quiz online and answer questions for the style experts to best meet your needs and wants. They ask you questions regarding color and style preference, workout variety, and size.

Then, they choose from name brands that retail at over $130 and they send you a top and bottom. Shipping is always free and returns are always easy. If you don’t like it (doubtful), or if it doesn’t fit (doubtful), their customer service is seriously awesome.

My first outfit they sent me were long pants and an adorable top. My pants fit me like a glove, which for this big(ger) booty and small(er) waisted girl is quite impressive! They come up high which I actually really like because I don’t have to worry about them coming down at all. Plus, with them being higher-waisted, they are flattering and hit me at the right place (no muffin top here!). The top is a longer length and has ruching up and down the sides – again, super flattering. The top doesn’t have a ton of support for the girls, but itz totally fine for low impact activities, weight training, and yoga. Or just wearing it out and about because itz so darn cute. (Or handstands in the living room…)

Now get this: They are offering every pv.body babe that signs up this month access to their 30 Day Challenge to kick start their resolutions! The pv.body 30 day challenge provides you with your own personal dietitian and trainer to help you meet your fitness and health goals. Everyday, our pv.body babes will be given a new challenge that they can share with friends! Challenges include workouts, recipes, meal plans, group activities and more!

Document your progress through Tweets, Instagrams, or Pins with the hashtag #pv30daychallenge (follow me: @ItzLinz and pv.Body: @pvbody)

Here’s what you have to do:

1. Sign up here through my link and receive 20% off: http://pvbody.com/try/itzlinz
2. Take the pv.body 30 Day Challenge here to kick start your New Year resolutions and receive tons of fun prizes: http://pvbody.com/challenge

(IMPORTANT: Please note that you will not receive the discount though the challenge link; you have to sign up through my link above to receive the 20% off.)

Did you catch that? Using MY LINK, you get 20% off which means you get a high-quality, name-brand workout top and bottom for only $40!!! AMAZING!!!

And don’t you worry your pretty, fit buns off! There is absolutely zero commitment with pv.body. Try it for one month (for $40 using my link) and enjoy your gear. Love it? (which you probably will) Then continue your subscription for $49 a month for as long as you’d like. No commitment. No shipping charges. Easy peasy.

What are you waiting for?! Goooooo!!!

{Disclaimer: I received this outfit for review purposes from pv.body. All opinions are my own. Affiliate link provided.}

Green Coconut Banana Smoothie

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Itz Linz

How’s your 2013 going so far? Great? Love to hear it! Ours is, too!

Today I’ve got a new delicious smoothie recipe to share with you, along with my New Year’s Eve dinner and New Year’s day breakfast and lunch. And itz all in celebration of the very first What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW) Party of 2013 thanks to Peas & Crayons!

On New Year’s day I woke up hungry and in the mood for blueberry pancakes. However, if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter then you know my pancakes don’t always quite turn out the way I intend. But have no fear – I still ate the mess that it became! For some reason my pancake didn’t hold together, so I scraped it into a bowl and topped it with syrup and Wild Blueberry Flax Granola from my NatureBox. (Speaking of, have you entered that giveaway yet?!)

#PROOF all my creations don’t turn out perfectly. It still tasted mighty good though! I knew I wanted to squeeze in lots of veggies for lunch, so I made turkey roll-ups for both Jonny and me. I used mini tortillas that are high-fiber and high-protein and smeared stoneground mustard in them. Then I stuffed them with green pepper slices, spinach, and turkey. More green pepper slices on the side with stoneground mustard for dipping!

Dinner comes next even though technically this dinner was from New Year’s Eve – the day before the previous two meals. My brother, sister, and our significant others went out to a hibachi-style dinner and we had so much fun! It was my brother-in-law’s first time at a hibachi restaurant (uhh what?!), and he was super impressed. I mean who doesn’t love the infamous volcano?

Since my whole family is very health-conscious, we requested that our chef use minimal oil. Luckily we took up most of the table, so he was able to abide by our request and served us first before squirting more oil for our tablemates. It never hurts to ask, and those tiny actions lead up to big results! #JustSayin’

I ordered chicken and scallops, but with hibachi you get so much more! Miso soup, salad (LOVE the ginger dressing!), vegetables, shrimp, scallops, and chicken. The scallops were definitely my favorite, but the whole meal was so good!

And incredibly filling. There were also noodles and steamed rice that went unpictured. No one left hungry, I assure you. Plus, I had some warm sake which some people find utterly disgusting, but once in awhile I like it. Are you a sake fan?

Now for the recipe. Itz a good one, guys, and just in time for the New Year. This smoothie isn’t packed with protein, but you could always add a scoop of vanilla protein powder if you’d like to bulk it up a bit. However, it does taste insanely good and is ridiculously easy to make (aren’t all smoothies??).

Green Coconut Banana Smoothie

The Ingredients:

few ice cubes
1 frozen banana, sliced
1 teaspoon maca powder (optional)
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
1/4 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
few drops NuNaturals vanilla
several handfuls fresh spinach
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 cup water

The Directions: Add all ingredients to the blender in the order they are listed. Blend until desired consistency is reached. (Makes two large glasses.) Enjoy!

I seriously loved this smoothie. There was the perfect amount of sweetness, and just a hint of banana and coconut. Don’t be fooled by the crazy green color – you absolutely 100% can NOT taste the spinach, but you get ALL the many nutrients and benefits it provides.

Are you a green smoothie fan? What’s your favorite? Link up below! Any good New Year’s Eve dinners?

Best of 2012

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Itz Linz

Itz been one year since I’ve started this blog. And I’ve loved every single minute of it. I love sharing my passion for fitness, nutrition, and healthy living. I love creating new workouts and hearing stories of how you all tried them. I love finding new blogs to read, making new “blends” (blog friends), and actually getting to meet them at various events. I love finding, trying, and creating new recipes that taste good and are good for the body. I love working with brands, learning about new products, and sharing them with you (like the giveaway I have going on now). I love being a FitFluential Ambassador and everything about our FitFluential family. I love my husband, family, and friends. I love my life.

I figured I’d do the “best of the best” (since itz all good – ha!) from the blog in itz first year in the making. All my opinions, of course; you’re more than welcome to weigh in with your own.

The beginning of Itz Linz. My very first post.

Visiting my little brother in San Diego

Visiting Jonny’s brother in Arizona

Becoming a FitFluential Ambassador

Running a 5K… Then finding out it wasn’t really a 5K. LAME!

The Benefits of Joining a Gym

Need to provide breakfast for a group? (Kids or adults) Try a Banana Bar!

Blueberry Egg Sandwich - don’t knock it til ya try it!

A long list of healthy snacks for kids and adults, alike.

Eat a Rainbow Salad (with homemade dressing!)

Testing out the Monkey Mat in Mexico

Amazing family vacation to Cancun where my family wore matching shirts and took awesome jumping pictures (yes, we were that family!).

Holding planks while watching tv

Blog Photog Basics

Attending the Healthy Living Summit in Boston

Chocolate Covered Kale Protein Smoothie

I placed 23rd in the Warrior Dash!

Going to San Francisco for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon, having dinner with other FitFluential Ambassadors, and PR-ing on the hilly course. (And then being given a Tiffany’s necklace by a SF fire fighter – hehe.)

Going to Pennsylvania for the Runner’s World Half Marathon with FitFluential. Running with Bart Yasso and Shalane Flanagan, meeting Matt Long, and running the hat trick of a 5K, 10K, and half marathon within two days. (Oh, and PR-ing again!) EPIC WEEKEND!

After 157 days of running, my Run Streak came to an end. Still sad about that one.

Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

40/20 Full Body Workout

Whew! What a year! Definitely an amazing one. Here’s to 2013…

Best part of 2012?

NatureBox Giveaway {CLOSED}

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Itz Linz

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Who likes to snack? I do! I do! Sometimes I’m a total snack monster, so when Molly from NatureBox asked me if I wanted to try their December NatureBox that was filled with their “favorite snacks,” I was more than happy to oblige. Lucky for you, she also agreed to give one lucky reader a box, too!

What is NatureBox? Each month, NatureBox chooses 5 different nutritionist-approved, healthy, all-natural snacks to include in their box for $19.95. Plus, NatureBox donates one meal for every box to help feed over 14 million children in America who go hungry. They believe in “doing good and eating well.” Now that’s marvelous!

I’ll share with you the five marvelous snacks that were in December’s NatureBox so you can get a glimpse of the goodness that each box brings. In addition to the snacks, NatureBox also provides a card that tells a bit about each of the snacks with suggestions for how to eat them or what to pair them with. Honestly, Jonny and I have been enjoying the snacks straight out of the bag!

Wild Blueberry Flax Granola: This was packed with antioxidant-rich wild blueberries and flaxseeds, and tasted just like a blueberry muffin! I could not believe how strong the blueberry flavor was in this granola, and the dried blueberries were a nice touch, too. We’ve eaten many handfuls, but I’ve also mixed it with cottage cheese for a more substantial snack. Tastes.so.good.

Lemon Pucker Pistachios: I’ve never had pistachios that are flavored, but I’m definitely a fan. There is just the most mild hint of lemon which makes for such a refreshing snack.

Masa Crisps: These mini chips satisfy a salty craving like no other! NatureBox’s suggestion was to dip them in hummus or sprinkle them over a salad or chili which would be awesome. But they didn’t last that long in our house since we liked them so much. They held their own and were tasty enough to eat plain!

Pistachio Power Clusters: I really do love pistachios and I love them even more since I don’t eat them as frequently as peanuts or almonds or other nuts. The clusters balance sweet and savory flavors that really do make it hard to resist!

Dried Pears: I love dried fruit! However, I don’t love all the additional sugar that usually goes along with it. I was most delighted to notice that the only ingredient in this snack was pears – no added sugar whatsoever! And they really didn’t need it as their soft, buttery texture made for such a yummy snack.

Now itz your turn! All you have to do is share with us one healthy step you plan on taking in 2013 and NatureBox will give one box to an Itz Linz reader to help with their healthy snacking! Leave a comment on this blog post. For additional entries, complete one or all of the following steps and leave a comment saying you did:

Follow Itz Linz and NatureBox on Twitter and tweet the following, “Healthy snacking made easy with @NatureBox! Win a box here: http://wp.me/p2WMfo-1bp via @ItzLinz”
Follow Itz Linz and NatureBox on Instagram.
Subscribe to Itz Linz by entering in your e-mail address and confirming your follow via e-mail.

This giveaway will be open until Thursday, January 3rd at 8:00 pm CST. One winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Friday, January 4th and will have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be selected. Good luck and Happy New Year!

*Note: NatureBox provided me with one box to sample and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Edit to add: The winner of the NatureBox giveaway is #79 Brittany! Congratulations! Please email me at itzlinz@gmail.com in the next 48 hours with your mailing address. Thank you to everyone who entered! You may order your own NatureBox by visiting their site and using the code “HEALTHY” to receive $5 off your order. Great deal!

Itz Linz

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