A little advice from the lowly:

   If you're at all familiar with the P90X workout videos then you know Tony always gives a tip of the day. My favorite is probably the recovery drink (yum!) but breathing is always a good reminder too.Today, a little tip from Gracie: hard stuff is easier with other people. Over the weekend I worked out by myself because Maria was out of town and I found that working out is soooooooo much easier when there is someone else pushing me. Ann came one time and that was helpful. She ended up running on the treadmill while I did my own thing, but just the thought of someone else being there was super helpful.
   I realize some people prefer solitude when working out but I think, for those of us who don't particularly enjoy the ordeal, it is so much better to have a workout buddy! Plus, talking while doing the workout makes the time go by faster. Let's be real, I'm pretty much lazy. I love the way I feel after I exercise but the actual getting to the point is kinda rough. There are some parts of the actual thing I enjoy, like stretching - stretching is amaaaaazinggggg. Child's stretch is legit. I'm also somewhat prideful. I love the feeling of not being able to do a certain move one day and then the satisfaction of being strong enough to do it the next time. And, if we're gonna be honest then you must know that one of the main reasons I'm even doing this whole 90 day this is because I said I would. And because I knew people wouldn't expect me to be able to do it. So of course I must prove them all wrong, obviously. It's kinda of also a me-proving-myself-wrong process too. Or I guess just showing myself that I have the ability to do things that I have been telling myself for years that I can't do. (If we wanna go all deep and everything). 
    But seriously, find a friend who encourages you and soon you'll find yourself changing, hopefully in a good way haha :) I'm sure we've all heard that quote about how we become like who we spend time with blah blah blah. TRUE. For example, tomorrow we're doing a sugar free diet for a week. What, me!? But don't worry, I stopped by my mom's house on the way home from work and ate a couple brownies to get me through the week. 
   Ok, I have a desire for this blog. I was just reflecting on what a blog can and should be and reading over this post and I would really rather my part of this thing wasn't all about me. I mean, come on, it can be so easy for a blog to slip into an online journal. Which of course contradicts itself because a journal (diary, whatever you wanna call it) is supposed to be private, an attempt to understand your own heart better by writing it out. But sometimes when I start writing I kind of forget what I'm doing and I just write, write, write. A blog should be about YOU, the readers(not me - the word vomiter, for lack of a better term). It's as much for you as it is for me. Maybe even more so because it is public and everything...
    So let's make this about you. Re-evaluate your life. How do you prioritize? Do you take the time for important stuff: prayer, family, friends, yourself? There is definitely a line between being self-centered and taking care of yourself. We can't live only thinking of our own wants and needs, but that totally does not mean that you should neglect yourself. In order to truly love others and give yourself to others you need to love yourself and know who you are, what you have to give, right? So take care of yourself!!! Spiritually and physically. And find a friend to help you along the way. Accountability is a girls best friend! (right behind diamonds, and shoes...and donuts)


LOVE LIFE, GIVE JOY
gracie 

This morning I made a really quick and delicious breakfast sandwich that I wanted to share with everyone. Sometimes when I go to bed hungry at night, the only thing that keeps me from going to the fridge at 11 p.m. is the promise of a yummy breakfast. This morning's sandwich really hit the spot! I would say my favorite part was the bread. I found a local bakery that produces bread with 5 ingredients: freshly milled whole wheat, honey, water, fresh yeast, and salt. This made me so excited because all of the preservatives in the bread you find at the supermarket aren't all that great for you. When buying food you should be conscious of what's on the label. A great rule of thumb: simple=better. So back to the sandwich... Here it is!

Two eggs (salt and pepper for seasoning)
Two slices of turkey bacon
Two slices of whole wheat bread
1/4 avocado sliced
A dab of cream cheese

Fry the eggs to your liking (or you could scramble), cook your turkey bacon while the eggs are cooking  and toast your bread as well. Smooth your cream cheese and avocado on one slice and then add the eggs and bacon. Voila! So simple, so satisfying.

Ca C'est Bon!

Maria

Day 2 of P90X!
Let's just say that it hurts to move. It's kind of interesting actually, I'm learning about different muscles. Like when it hurts somewhere new that means there must actually be a muscle there! I think that once we do it a bit more I'll like it better, haha that's the hope anyways! It's getting exciting though, today we got some super cute looking yoga mats: mine is purple lion print, Maria's is pink cheetah, and Ann's (our other roomie, she's super great you'll love her) is blue cheetah. 
Last night we made somewhat of a mistake and decided to exercise in the living room. The problem here is the fact that we aren't really on the bottom floor. Ground level, yes, but there is also someone beneath us. About half way through the work out we began to realize that it probably wasn't such a great idea to use the living room as a work out space, seeing as the walls (or floors) aren't exactly sound proof. So when someone knocked on our door right before the cool down was starting we kinda knew what was coming, but somewhat freaked out at the same time. Maria and Ann ran while I answered the door. It was super humiliating and I felt really bad, I mean we had been pretty inconsiderate. But on the plus side, the neighbors ended up being super nice about it and we all moved on. So that was good! In conclusion we decided that the living room was a no go. That, in combination with our crazy schedules,is how we ended up in the apartment gym at 7 a.m. this morning. Another adventure in it of itself. Love,love,love.

love life. give joy.

                                              gracie

And so it begins...
  Today my roommate Maria (you've already seen a few of her fabulous recipe posts) and I decided to start a blog. This. Blog. I believe that as women we have a natural tendency to share. Share love, share sorrow, share joy, share LIFE. And of course life consists of all the little nothings that happen in little moments that don't seem to matter but hey, the little things are the big things. 
  Our little big thing of the day has been the decision to start P90X and from that, health@thehills! As you will soon find out (if you care to read more) I am typically not a healthy person. I'm a moody person and a fickle person and sometimes I just don't care. I love donuts and I love chocolate milk. I love to read and I love to paint. I am addicted to BBC time period dramas. I don't like to run and I don't like to sweat. We went to an hour long zumba class yesterday and I am sore, sore, sore! So basically, this next 90 days will be a big challenge for me to say the least. 
   On the other hand, Maria is pretty much a gourmet chef and the healthiest person I know. And her motivation when it comes to exercise never ceases to amaze me. So you'll find a pretty interesting mix here at the hills - the beauty and the beast of the health world. Maybe...just maybe you'll join me on my quest to prove to my doubtful self that exercise isn't so bad. Haha, we'll see about that. Then again, I do love a good adventure. 

love life, give joy.
gracie

January really seemed to suck the life out of me and I've been craving summertime. For a little pick me up I made this delicious Strawberry Basil Limeade. I cannot go on without mentioning that I've been trying to grow basil in my apartment window sill and I was thrilled that I got to actually use it in this recipe. This drink is easy, delicious, and very refreshing. 

Strawberry Basil Limeade

3 tbsp. of simple syrup (equal parts warm water and sugar dissolved until clear) 
4 fresh basil leaves
3 fresh strawberries (washed and stem cut off)
1 lime
Purified water
Ice

In the bottom of a pint glass zest about half of the lime. Add the strawberries, basil, simple syrup, and the juice of one whole lime. Muddle all of these ingredients together at the bottom of the glass so that all of the flavors of the basil and lime can be released. Fill the glass about 3/4 full with ice and then pour in your water and stir. Garnish with a slice of lime.  
Yields one drink

*This recipe can be made alcoholic very easily, just cut back on the water and add a shot of vodka or rum! 

Ca C'est Bon
-Maria 

One of my favorite meals to make is Turkey Lettuce Wraps. Not only is this recipe very healthy and packed with lean protein, it also allows you to customize according to what vegetables and toppings you like best. If you find that the wraps are too messy, say to take to work for lunch, you can toss the leftovers together to make a beautiful salad! Feel free to let your creativity shine through this bright and colorful dish, these wraps are gorgeous.

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

1 lb. lean ground turkey
1 bunch of green onions
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 bunch of cilantro
1/2 red onion
2 limes
1 tbsp. brown sugar (you can substitute honey)
11/2 tsp. ginger
11/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. garlic powder
3 tbsp. soy sauce
2 heads of romaine lettuce (I find that organic is best for texture and freshness)

First brown the ground turkey on the stove top in a medium sized skillet. After the turkey is cooked add in half the bunch of cilantro, brown sugar, juice from one lime, ginger, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, soy sauce, and salt and pepper to taste.

To get the romaine crisp and fresh tasting cut off the bottom then drop it in an ice bath. The cold water really firms up the lettuce making it perfect for holding the filling. Dry and set aside.


*The easiest way to wash the remaining veggies is to put them in a (CLEAN) kitchen sink full of cold water with about two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to clean them naturally and thoroughly. Let your veggies soak then rinse and dry.

Now all you have to do is dice the bell peppers and red onion, chop the green onions as well as the cilantro, cut your lime into pretty slices and put all of these toppings in little bowls so everyone can choose their vegetable medley. Great sauces to put on top of these wraps are sriracha, soy sauce, and the fresh lime. A complimentary side to this recipe is jasmine rice tossed with lime juice and fresh cilantro.

Enjoy!

Ca C'est Bon
-Maria

Eat Clean