workout wednesday

It's Workout Wednesday! But...it's not because I don't do series posts...but I wish I did! 

To coincide with my 'take care of myself + work/life balance' new take on life {see this post} Josh and I have gotten back into the swing of daily workouts. 

It's amazing what 30-60 minutes of sweating, stretching and getting stronger can do for your mind and body. 

Workout/Health/Fitness products I am into right now 

{+ some wish list items!}

Tone It Up Beach Babe DVD 2 

Why did I ever stop doing the Tone It Up workouts?! Katrina and Karena have such a great energy- I absolutely love their brand + their workouts totally deliver. Some of my favorites on their latest Beach Babe DVD are the HIIT cardio workout and the Beach Barre routine. 

Amazing Grass Amazing Meal  

My new go-to breakfast! Amazing Meal is a perfect mix of organic green superfoods {think kale, spinach, broccoli, antioxidizing berries} and 10 grams of complete plant based protein. It tastes great and is a cinch to make- just add almond milk plus one scoop to my blender bottle. It actually keeps me full  until lunch! {I use the Vanilla Chai flavor}

Amazing Grass Green SuperFood 
Amazing Meal without the protein! This is a great detox drink with an extra shot of energy. An easy way to get tons of vegetables, fruits, vitamins and minerals into your body. I am loving the 40,000 ORAC version now which is great for combating free radicals. 

C9 by Champion Women's Capri Compression Tight  

Comfortable, cute, moisture wicking, light weight. I love these workout tights! They are a great price and easy to pick up at Target. 

C9 by Champion Women's Layered Tank with Bra 
See ya pricey Lululemon tops- Target's version is practically just as good and welllll under $64

C9 by Champion Women's 3/4 Sleeve Brushed Cross Back Yoga Coverup  
I am loving this top- I throw it over my workout tanks to run errands or if I get chilly at home. Because yes, husband, it's important that workout clothes are both functional and fashionable. ;)

Wish List Items
Kettlebell  |  I love kettlebell moves because they incorporate so many small and large muscles. What is the best weight to get if I am starting off? I'm thinking 10 or 20 lb....?

Heart Rate Monitor  |   Now that most of my workouts are in  my home {no gym access} I think this would be an encouraging/motivating way to track my workouts and runs. Any advice on brands, models, retailers? 

cheers to sweat

Quick & Easy Guilt-Free Dessert: Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt

I am more of a salty snack lover than a sweet tooth but I struggle with battling the urge to down sleeves of Oreos just like the next person. {um. what?.}

Last night {p.s. after this awesomeeee workout from the Tone It Up girls!} the 'I need a cookie' urge struck me between the eyes. I didn't want to completely negate my sweat session so I slightly sweetened up my go-to Greek yogurt instead. 

New favorite sweeeeeet recipe for you to try! 

Quick & Easy Guilt-Free Dessert: 

Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt

-stir it up the following ingredients till smooth and well mixed-

Fage 0% Greek Yogurt

1 T all natural peanut butter 

1 T honey

1 capful of all natural vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

-

Top with 1/2 T of  mini chocolate chips

Enjoyyyyy!!!

pork tenderloin with blueberry sauce: the recipe

What to do when you see a recipe for pork with blueberries in your Clean Eating magazine and then you lose it forever? Pour yourself a glass of wine and make it up as you go. 

Pork Tenderloin with Blueberry Sauce 

Pork Tenderloin

1. Marinated with olive oil, thyme and apple jelly
2. Brown on all 4 sides over medium-high heat (less than 5 minutes total)
3. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes (meat thermometer should register over 160 degrees)

while we roast....

Fresh Blueberry Sauce

1. In the same pan you browned the tenderloin- saute half an onion and some garlic 
2. Once tender, deglaze the pan with a wonderful red wine {currently loving this random bottle}
3. Allow the wine to boil and then simmer while it reduces
4. Toss in 1 to 2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries
5. Add in a dash of red pepper flakes, brown sugar, ginger and dry mustard
6. As the tenderloin continues to roast you will have plenty of time to play with the flavors- for more spice increase the ginger and/or pepper; for more sweetness lay on the brown sugar or more berries; for more savory richness add in more dry mustard. 

This was a 'taste-while-you-go' kind of sauce that worked out in my favor. {#lucky} It was deliciously sweet and tangy, the texture was wonderful- the berries and onion were so tender and the sauce was thick and smooth. I loved how the blueberry sauce gave the warm and tender pork added dimension and a hint of sweetness. 

Delish! I hope you make this & enjoy! 

the summer hangover

Yeah it may still be hot and humid in Atlanta, but fall is coming and its making my heart smile.
This summer was one for the books- a large cocktail of work work work with a sidecar of more more more has caused quite the hangover. 

Nothing sounds better than a 'new season'- a change in the weather, a lovely layer for the wardrobe and a renewed spirit in my heart and soul. 

So believe me when I say I am raising a glass to a new season! 

-fall fashion musts for me-

j.crew ponte pant

dogeared gold 'luck' elephant necklace

j.crew men's striped sweatshirt

ae riding boots

j.crew quilted puffer vest in herringbone

c.wonder belt

target kinley bootie

{hey, maybe in this new season I will figure out a work/life balance and...drum roll....blog more often!!!!}

oh hello there

Happy Friday!!!

WE MADE IT THROUGH MARKET! Guys, that totally deserves an all-caps shout out. The best part...it went well! If you follow me on Instagram I am sure you saw the pictures of some of our speakers- Ted Allen, Emily Henderson, Lara Casey and so many more. {+ posted below}

As we begin planning for our upcoming September Gourmet Market, the girls and I found ourselves in gourmet dreamworld...drooling over all of the amazing Atlanta talent, their decadent dishes and fabulous restaurants. Above is our little list of must-try places.

Many of them Josh and I have fallen in love with already and many are places on our 2013 bucket list to try! 

Bon Appetit! 

+ Market Pics:

Lara Casey

Ted Allen

 The Property Brothers

Emily Henderson

 Trace Adkins

 Lindsay Roberts

Glitterville & their pet Silky Chicken! 

blogging is fun, I should do that more often... :)

national donut day! banana chocolate protein donuts

It's National Donut Day! Are you kidding me??!?! Why are the schools and businesses and postal offices not closed? This is BIG! 

If you follow me on Instagram {@AmandaMacyHall} you are well aware of my infatuation for baked donuts. To recap- Mom convinced me to buy a donut pan to make baked {read "healthy"} donuts back in March and pretty much every weekend since then I have made a new version of donuts...oreo, chocolate chip, lemon, mexican chocolate, cinnamon sugar, strussel, maple and more. 

Today I bring to you my least favorite {oh I bet you sure do want to keep reading, right!!!}

In addition to being my least favorite they are also the healthiest donut I've made! Ding, ding, ding, there had to be a reason. 

The Banana Chocolate Protein Baked Donut

It's not inedible and I would actually make these again!!! :)

Not to mention protein powder, oats, bananas and zero sugar probably looks cuter in summer shorts and bikinis than oreos, cinnamon sugar and maple syrup. 

Ingredients:

-for 6 donuts-

1 ripe banana

2 eggs {whites only}

4 T old fashioned oats

1 scoop protein powder {try this one}

1/2 t baking soda

1/2 t baking powder

1 T pure cocoa powder

Directions:

Set oven to 350 degrees and spray your donut pan {this guy}.

Grind the oats into a flour with a food processor.

Add the rest of your ingredients to the food processor and pulse until well mixed. 

Pour in and bake for 10 minutes! 

{approx!} Nutrition Info*:

9g carbs

3g fat

6g protein

These donuts were a breeze to whip up! I loved getting to use my food processor for this recipe- it made the clean up super quick. 

I made one batch of 6 donuts Sunday night and have been grabbing one each morning for a quick and easy breakfast. They don't even need to be warmed up! 

The taste is primarily the taste of your protein powder plus banana- so adding cinnamon or more cocoa to the recipe would probably help give it a boost. 

Cheers to early morning protein, no-prep breakfast, sugar free & flour free donuts! 

I promise to post a deliciously sugary sweet donut recipe next ;)

*This recipe is slightly adapted from {here}- my version does not include the frosting and adds cocoa powder. Keep in mind that the nutritional content is greatly dependant on the type of protein powder that you use. 

the green drink recipe recap

{ green drink recipes! }

Thank you for reading about my journey through new green drink recipes this week! I hope that you will try some of these or better yet make up your own and share them with me! 

what we tried this week:

{green drink recipe}

{green drink recipe}

{green drink recipe}

{green drink recipe}

--{blended drink benefits reminder}--

These 'whole food blended drinks' are full of health benefits*:

Fiber: Blending instead of juicing retains the natural fiber of the fruits and vegetables! This does wonders for your digestive system and is healthy to consume daily. 

Add-Ins: Blended drinks take well to nutritional goodies like chia seeds, ground flaxseed and protein powder- your drink will already have a bit of texture, so what is a little bit more!

Meal Replacement: Because of all the fiber, nutrients and add-ins, a full glass of a green drink can keep you completely satisfied for around 3 hours.

Quick + Easy: The fruits and veggies just need a rough chop then in they go, the blender takes care of the rest and you aren't left having to clean out a juicer or deal with pulp.

Deceptively Delicious: Add the veggies you normally wouldn't reach for and all of a sudden you are introducing new foods and nutrients to your body- without having to really taste them.

{Some points to note:}

• Pre-made drinks only last about 3-4 days
• Blend for as little time as possible {under a minute}
• If the consistency isn't as thin as you like- just add water. It's better to have more juice on hand than to 'over blend' and risk too much oxidation. 
• If you prefer cold smoothie-like drinks- freeze the fruit you are using or toss in some ice cubes

I hope you begin to add one or two of these into your diet/lifestyle each day- you'll be glad you did! 

Enjoy the weekend + Go Green! 

 check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• cherry + lemon green drink: the recipe & review
• strawberry lemonade green drink: the recipe & review
• watermelon + lime green drink: the recipe & review
• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

cherry + lemon green drink

{ cherry + lemon green drink }

THE RECIPE:

• 3 stalks of kale
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced {peel on or off}
• 1 cup cherries, pits removed
• Juice of 2 lemons {or to taste}
• 1 cup water

{makes 2 pint sized drinks}

toss all ingredients into the blender & blend until you reach your desired consistency

*put frozen ingredients in first & layer the kale between the other ingredients -- this helps the blending process

{how pretty are the colors?!}

THE REVIEW:

{from josh} First sip was a bit sour, but as I kept drinking it became a bright and fruity taste.  Delicious!

{from amanda} I have to agree with my husband on this one- sour & tart! This drink also has a more textured consistency than the others. Tasty though! 

there ya have it! 3 new green drink recipes to try- let me know how you like them! 

 check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• strawberry lemonade green drink: the recipe & review
• watermelon + lime green drink: the recipe & review
• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

strawberry lemonade green drink

{ strawberry lemonade green drink }

THE RECIPE:

• 3 stalks of kale
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced {peel on or off}
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• Juice of 2 lemons {or to taste}
• 1 cup water

{makes 2 pint sized drinks}

toss all ingredients into the blender & blend until you reach your desired consistency

*put frozen ingredients in first & layer the kale between the other ingredients -- this helps the blending process

THE REVIEW:

{from amanda} I love this one! It actually tastes like a super good-for-you strawberry lemonade. The lemon juice definitely makes it tart but the sweetness of the strawberries balance it nicely. 

{from josh} The citrus taste in this drink comes through much more today than in yesterday's.  Almost in an overpowering way. I would prefer if it were more strawberry less lemon.  

one more new recipe to come this week!

 check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• watermelon + lime green drink: the recipe & review
• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

watermelon + lime green drink

{ watermelon + lime green drink }

THE RECIPE:

• 3 stalks of kale
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced {peel on or off}
• Quarter of a medium-sized watermelon
• Juice of 3 limes {or to taste}
• 1 cup water

{makes 2 pint sized drinks}

toss all ingredients into the blender & blend until you reach your desired consistency

*put frozen ingredients in first & layer the kale between the other ingredients -- this helps the blending process

 {hello super bright blinding picture}

THE REVIEW:

{from amanda} Tasty & refreshing! The main flavor that comes out is the lime, I can taste hints of the watermelon and I know it is there because the drink is slightly sweet. I love that the lime juice brightens the drink and makes it a tad sour- in a good way. I will definately be making this juice again! 

{from josh} The juice today had a sweet taste right from the first sip.  Smooth drink and not overly veggie tasting.  Very refreshing drink.  

Are you ready for the best tip ever?!

Squeeze your lemons and limes using a pair of tongs! 

You already own this tool... you don't want citrus juice all over your hands and arms... and most importantly- the extra leverage gets so much more juice out of the fruit!

{thanks to Ina Garten- the barefoot contessa- for featuring this tip on her show}

check back later this week for another new green drink recipe! 

 check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

all about green

Green Drinks are my long time morning friend- they keep me full, are a snap to prepare and fill me with extra servings of veggies first thing in the morning. I tend to stick with this recipe each morning {the protein powder is optional}.

While my green drinks have a similar consistency to traditional juices- I make my drinks using a regular blender {but if you want to buy me a VitaMix, I will accept!} so they are a tad bit thicker and tend to require a good stir right before drinking. 

These 'whole food blended drinks' are full of health benefits*:

Fiber: Blending instead of juicing retains the natural fiber of the fruits and vegetables! This does wonders for your digestive system and is healthy to consume daily. 

Add-Ins: Blended drinks take well to nutritional goodies like chia seeds, ground flaxseed and protein powder- your drink will already have a bit of texture, so what is a little bit more!

Meal Replacement: Because of all the fiber, nutrients and add-ins, a full glass of a green drink can keep you completely satisfied for around 3 hours.

Quick + Easy: The fruits and veggies just need a rough chop then in they go, the blender takes care of the rest and you aren't left having to clean out a juicer or deal with pulp.

Deceptively Delicious: Add the veggies you normally wouldn't reach for and all of a sudden you are introducing new foods and nutrients to your body- without having to really taste them.

{Some points to note:}

Pre-made drinks only last about 3-4 days

Blend for as little time as possible {under a minute}

If the consistency isn't as thin as you like- just add water. It's better to have more juice on hand than to 'over blend' and risk too much oxidation. 

If you prefer cold smoothie-like drinks- freeze the fruit you are using or toss in some ice cubes

After drinking 'blended whole food drinks/Green Drinks' for about a year I tend to stick with the same recipe but after coming home from the lake this weekend with a sack full of fruits I don't usually have on hand, I had the chance to make some new combinations!!! Yay for change!

I pre-made the drinks last night and Josh and I will be drinking them throughout the week as afternoon snacks. I plan to post the recipes throughout the week so you can try them too! 

go green! 

check out some of my past posts on green drinks & protein shakes:

• the green 411: tips & tricks to great drinks + my everyday drink recipe
• blended & roasted: the green drink formula
• TIU update: a new protein powder
• keep your peel on: recipe for a frozen green drink treat
• the cleanse: my DIY whole food drink cleanse
• veggie juice overload: a pink drink option
• tropical transport: tropical protein shake recipe
• prepping for healthy: the bounce back smoothie recipe

*news alert: I'm not a doctor or a nutritionist, just a girl that loves to drink her veggies & blog