Focused Fall

Happy September!
Does it feel like Fall where you live?  Here in Delaware, there have been a few days where it actually felt like Fall, and then it jumps right back to Summer.
Usually with a change in season, a lot of us go through changes in our life.  For me, 3 of the girls are back in school, there are different lessons and practices to get everyone to, as well as my own work schedule. 

Here are a few of my tips to help keep you focused and on track this fall!

Focused Fall Tips:
1. Calendars and Planners are your Friend!  Whether it's a paper or an electronic calendar, pick one up and start using it.  Use different color pens if you manage other people's (kids) schedules. Don't forget to add tentative plans in pencil... sometimes a tentative get together or date night can get forgotten, by another (less fun) event because you forgot about the tentative one.

2. Schedule your Days.  I personally schedule out everyday... what I mean, besides calendar appointments-meetings-practices, I write out each day, either the night before or sometimes at the start of the week. it's crazy, but for sure nothing falls through the cracks! For example:

• 5am wakeup & get dressed
• 5:30 eat breakfast
• 5:45 leave for fitness class
• 6am Teach Fitness class
• 6:40 head home
• 6:50 arrive & finish helping girls get ready for school
• 7am drink shake
• 7:30 leave for school
• 7:50 return home
• 8am shower
• 8:30 Work: type up meal plans
• 9am Mommy & Zoey playtime
• 10:30 leave to Pick up Veronica from PreK
• 11am arrive back home & make lunch
• 11:45 MVZ craft time
• 12:30 naptime & work-prep for upcoming show & follow up with clients
• 1:30 put a load in or fold laundry... boo
• 2:15 start wake V&Z
• 2:30 leave for carpool
• 3:15 arrive back home & homework help
• 4pm start dinner
• 5pm Family dinner
• 5:50 leave for cross country practice
• 6pm XC practice
• 6:15 Pick up prescription @ Walgreens
• 7:30 pick up from cross country
• 7:50 arrive home & shower
• 8pm Pjs & storytime
• 8:30 girls lights out
• 9pm good night Mommy!

3. Make your health a priority! Eat nutritious meals and move your body for at least 30 minutes each day!  And if you manage to miss your workouts, schedule them on your calendar like an appointment. Try adding fall fruits and veggies to your diet.

4. Sleep. get 7-8 hours of sleep each night... even if that means you miss the latest episode of your favorite show, DVR it and go to bed!  Your brain and your body need time off too, so make sleep a priority.

5. Do a Fall clean-out.  Try de-cluttering your home or office, donate old clothes and shoes to local shelter or charity, deep clean your house, deep clean your body with a cleanse, or re-arrange furniture. Fall is a great time to refresh your environment or your body in preparation for the upcoming holidays (yes, I said it).

Try these tips to help keep your Fall more Focused!

               

Healthy Travel Tips

Summer has begun! And with Summer, we find ourselves on more trips, vacations, and getaways. The beauty is you can stay on track with your healthy habits, even while you travel, but more importantly still enjoy your time away. 😉

Here are some healthy travel tips:

1. Decide if you want this to be a healthy and positive trip!
2. Stick to a consistent breakfast every day while away.
3. Drink tons of water, travel with a refillable water bottle.
4. Sleep, try to stay close to your normal schedule at home.
5. Focus on the activities more than the food, don't forget about your physical activities too.
6. When it comes time to eat, make veggies a priority.

7. Log your happenings, activities and food, help you remember your trip.
8. Don't over pack, no one likes to lug heavy suitcases around.

9. Have fun!

Do you have travel plans this summer?

Tropical Dream Smoothie

Since starting my 80 day total body transformation 71 days ago, my smoothies have taken on a whole new life. A lot of them contain Shakeology, a Beachbody superfood shake (for more info see below).  Here is my favorite was to combine greens, fruits, and protein with a hint of the summer tropics.

Tropical Dream Smoothie

Ingredients
1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology (I prefer vegan vanilla)
8-10 oz Coconut water
Spinach
Banana
frozen Pineapple
ice

Directions 
Blend all ingredients and enjoy... pop a straw and an umbrella in, and whisk yourself away to Tropical paradise.


*Interested in more information in on Shakeology?
click here: https://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/us/b?referringRepId=1550004

Healthy Tuna Salad

It's Lent time, and on Fridays, I have been eating either fish or meatless dishes.  But ultimately it has worked out for me because I have found a new way to make tuna salad, and it's healthier.  Here is my Healthy Tuna Salad recipe!

Healthy Tuna Salad

serves 1
Ingredients
1 Pack of Tuna in water (5oz)
1/2 pepper (green or red) finely chopped
1 tbsp of Dijon or spicy brown mustard
1/2 tsp Olive Oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp sliced green onions
kosher salt & ground pepper

Directions
Mix together all ingredients, and serve over a bed of spinach, or in a halved pepper.  You can also serve it as the dip for a veggie tray!

Pumpkin Banana Bread

It's Fall... which means all things pumpkin!  And that's no different here in the Thayer household.  Here is my recipe for Pumpkin Banana Bread!

Pumpkin Banana Bread
yields 2 loaves

Ingredients
3 medium ripe bananas
3 eggs
2 c pumpkin puree, unsweetened
2/3 c canola oil
1 c cane sugar
3 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp kosher salt
3 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease 2 loaf pans.
In a mixing bowl, mash bananas; then add eggs, pumpkin puree, oil, sugar, and mix well.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing as you go along.
Once well combined, divide batter between 2 loaf pans.
Bake 45 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clear.
Cool and Enjoy!

Try warmed slices stopped with a little butter, or peanut butter... or simply with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee!