Lifestyle

What I Ate: Terra’s Kitchen (+Reader Discount)

July 14, 2016 by Nicole 3 Comments

Before we get to today’s mouth-watering post, just a heads up that I’ve updated yesterday’s workout to include a follow-along video. Check it out on YouTube–and subscribe to my channel while you’re there! 😉

Ok, food.

I really enjoy using healthy food delivery services from time to time for several reasons:

Convenience. You can’t beat having ingredients delivered to your door in the exact portion size needed to create a meal. Especially during my recent move, this was so clutch because I couldn’t have excess food hanging around the kitchen.
Variety. If you’re like me, most dinners end up being a rotation of a handful of go-to dishes. Nothing wrong with that, but delivery services are a fun way to shake up your meals for a week and eat something you normally wouldn’t.
Education. Weird word choice, but just go with it. I love learning new cooking techniques and flavor combinations and have found myself incorporating aspects of delivery service dishes into my own culinary creations at home.

A couple weeks ago, I got to try a service that was new to me, Terra’s Kitchen. I L-O-V-E-D it. 100% will be ordering from them again on my own dime. You can choose your delivery size (three meals for two people, four meals for two people or two meals for four people) and then select the dishes you want from a fairly extensive menu. You can specify if you only want vegetarian-friendly meals, but what I really like about TK is that even the meat dishes are packed with plant foods. Everything on the menu looked seriously delicious and I actually had a difficult time only selecting four! Here’s what I went with in the end:

Roasted Brown Sugar Salmon with Orange Jicama Salad

This was delicious, but what impressed me the most was how quickly it took to prepare. In under 20 minutes I had the finished meal–that is so awesome and practical for busy week days. YASSS!

Sweet Potato Tacos

Sweet potatoes, avocado and pico de gallo … be still my heart.

Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Mango Blueberry Salsa

Because one taco recipe just wasn’t enough. These were awesome but I barely got to eat any because Joe INHALED them haha.

Terra Buddha Bowl

I adore roasted chickpeas so I knew this one would be a winner before the first bite. I seriously could have eaten the entire pan of chickpeas and onions right out of the oven without even assembling the bowl.

What I Loved

The food. Everything was so good. Real food, simple ingredients, tons of plants packing a nutritional punch. Their menu is seasonal and I will absolutely be ordering from them again.
The (lack of) time it took to prepare. Usually when a recipe gives a prep/cook time estimate, I add on a solid 15 minutes to it in my head. Terra’s Kitchen meals actually took me 30 minutes or less to prepare. So practical for busy days!
The vessel. The package Terra’s Kitchen meal delivery comes in is eco-friendly and climate controlled–and so unique. It’s like a mini refrigerator with sliding tray shelves. The best part about it is that after you unload your food from it, you just leave it on your doorstep to be picked up the next day. You don’t have to worry about disposing of it or finding a return center; it couldn’t be easier.

Terra’s Kitchen Discount for Readers

If you’re interested in trying out Terra’s Kitchen, you can take $30 off your first order with the code IRON30. Schedule your (discounted!) healthy food delivery here. 🙂

Ok, one last picture since the first 300 just weren’t quite enough …

Have you tried Terra’s Kitchen before?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Terra’s Kitchen. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Lifestyle

My Favorite Things: June

July 6, 2016 by Nicole 16 Comments

It’s a weird pet peeve of mine when people complain-brag about being busy butttt the past week has been pretty hectic (in a good way). So thanks for baring with me and the light blogging schedule! Let’s get to a belated roundup of June favorites.

Favorite Products & Services

Activewear Scores from ThredUp

I mentioned that I love ThredUp for consigning clothes I no longer want, but this month I fell in love with it from the shopper’s side. I got the above Lululemon tank, J. Crew sweatpants, Beyond Yoga leggings and Maaji bra top (which I’ve been wearing as a bikini top) for over 50% off!

I actually went to consign another bag with ThredUp recently and noticed that there’s now a waiting list (up to 16 weeks!!) so kinda stinks if you’re a seller–awesome time to buy from them though!

Yukon Sleeveless Dress from Fabletics

Fabletics sent me their Yukon Sleeveless Dress and I’ve been wearing it nonstop. Around the apartment (if you think I’m wearing pants in the privacy of my own home you’re sorely mistaken); as a cover-up to the beach or pool; walking around Boston when I’m too lazy to coordinate an outfit–I love this thing.

Sheet Masks

LOL to that picture of me but it’s impossible to smile in these things!

I am totally late to the game with this sheet mask thing but now I’m obsessed. I got one as a gift from my friend and then Leader’s Cosmetics sent me a whole bundle. I haven’t tried them all yet, but so far the Coconut Gel Mask with Blueberry is my favorite. I used it before bed and the next morning I was honestly blown away at how hydrated my skin looked. I wouldn’t say I have wrinkles just yet, but I definitely have fine lines forming above my eyebrows and around my mouth and they weren’t visible at all the morning after using this sheet mask. Say what??! I’ll keep you guys posted as I try out the others–and definitely let me know if you have any other sheet mask suggestions.

Rent the Runway

Why has it taken me this long to use Rent the Runway?? I finally used the service for the dress I wore to my friend’s wedding and had the best experience. I love that they send you a second size for free in case you’re unsure of fit. I went with this yellow Jay Godfrey number and it was perfect.

If you haven’t tried it yet, you can get $30 off your first rental using my referral link. Rent the Runway also gives everyone 20% off their first purchase (you can’t combine the offers) so just a heads up to do the math before you check out to see which offer gives you the bigger discount.

Dooney & Bourke Backpack

Dooney & Bourke graciously let me pick out a bag of theirs and this backpack was a no-brainer! I use backpacks all the time and this one is the perfect size to fit my lap top. Also pictured are the Trina City Sandals by Sam Edelman.

High-Neck Bikini Top Trend

I am in love with the high-neck bikini top trend. Not just because I like the way they look, but because my chest is the one area of my body that seems to burn at the start of every summer, no matter how much precautionary SPF I apply. This on-trend cut keeps my poor, sun-damaged chest covered so in my opinion, it’s worth the odd tan line. (Funny how priorities shift as you get older, right??)

I’ve been wearing this Ryan Bikini Top from Tavik Swimwear nonstop thanks to my friends at Shopbop.

Some others I love:

Favorite Workouts

Xtend Suspend Class at Xtend Barre

I finally checked out Xtend Barre on Newbury Street and had a really fun Suspend class. Think barre meets TRX and all the moves are done to the beat of the music. The class flies by and I loved that the instructor ended the class with a few (optional) funky advanced moves we could try on the straps (pictured above).

Arm Balance Work

I get so frustrated with arm balances and inversions (because I, ya know, suck at them) but all it takes is the tiniest little glimpse of progress to renew my excitement and commitment to practicing. In a yoga class this month, we did an arm balance against the outside of one thigh (no clue what the name of the pose is) and–OMGOMGOMG–it just worked. Usually when crow is part of a class flow, I attempt for a couple seconds, get frustrated and then just hang out in downward dog until it’s time to move on. But using the thigh instead of the knees as a point of contact with my arms makes for a much easier balance–I was so excited to find that I can hold this pose!

Since then I’ve been setting aside a few minutes almost every day to practice arm balances. I’ll get crow … eventually. 😉

Hiking in Colorado

The morning of my friend’s wedding, we went for an awesome hike around Winter Park–so gorgeous!

Bodyweight Tabata Series

I loved doing (and posting) the tabata series I shared here a couple weeks ago! If you missed any of the workouts, here you go:

: Full Body Tabata Superset Workout

: Full-Body & Cardio Tabata Workout

: 12-Minute Bodyweight Core Tabata Workout

: 12-Minute Bodyweight Tabata Workout: Lower Body (Butt & Legs)

: 12-Minute Bodyweight Tabata Workout: Upper Body (Arms, Chest, Core)

Favorite Reads

Dreamland

This is an eye-opening and heartbreaking look at America’s opiate epidemic. It explores the crisis from just about every angle, painting a thorough picture of how the country has come to this point. The book covers the cultural shift in how pain is viewed, the evolution of the heroin dealer network, the pharmaceutical marketing business, the morphine molecule itself, pill mills, and the stories of those who battle the addiction. This is a page-turner but definitely not in the light, entertaining way–it’ll leave you with a heavy heart.

Orphan Train

I read this historical fiction novel for a book club I’m in and while I wouldn’t say I loved it, it was a sweet story. It’s about a friendship that forms between a teenage girl and an elderly woman, both of whom are orphans. I really enjoyed the elderly woman’s story as it was based on actual historical events, but thought the rest of the story was a little blah.

Favorite Moments

Colorado Wedding Weekend

My friend whose bachelorette we celebrated in Palm Springs got married earlier this month in Fraser, Colorado and it was an absolute blast. My girlfriends and I flew into Denver and enjoyed a couple drinks and lunch at ViewHouse (<–such a fun spot, highly recommend if you’re looking for outdoor seating!) before driving out to the mountains. The welcome party and then wedding the following evening were at a beautiful home with 360 views of the mountains, and the only thing more stunning than the scenery was the bride. Like an etherial mountain version of Queen Elsa (my four-year-old niece would be so proud of that Frozen reference).

Red Sox Game

Joe’s friend had two tickets to the Sox game one gorgeous Saturday that he passed on to us and the seats were awesome–right behind third base. I’m not going to pretend I’m some diehard baseball fan (or even a diesoft fan if that’s a thing), but I always enjoy going to Fenway for a game!

Chestnut Hill Square Blogger Event

Top picture with Rachel & Kerrie

Chestnut Hill Square hosted a bunch of local bloggers one evening. We started the night with a Soul Cycle class followed by shopping at Athleta and a delicious dinner at Seasons 52. So fun!

Trip to MegaFood

I’ll do a post with more details on this trip, but last week I spent two days in New Hampshire with MegaFood and got to tour the facility and learn more about how their whole food supplements are made. It was eye-opening!

Moving Out of Our Studio Apartment

Joe took that mannequin out of a dumpster behind Forever21 and thinks it’s chic decor … welcome to my life haha.

I’ve been really lucky the past two years. Joe and I have shared a large studio in an unbeatable location with access to a pool for a ridiculously affordable monthly rent. But we’ve needed to move on for a while now. We have no closets, the apartment is really dark (I work from home so this is tough), the kitchen hasn’t been updated since WWII and we want to adopt a dog, which isn’t allowed in our building. Most Boston rentals are on a Sept 1st cycle, so we’re waiting until then to move into a more permanent place, but for now we have an awesome temporary arrangement for the summer and I couldn’t be more excited. On to the next chapter! 🙂

Disclosure: My monthly favorites posts are never sponsored, however they typically contain a few affiliate links. I get sent a lot of free products, and the first section of this post might highlight a couple of my favorites. I’m never required to or being paid to feature these freebies and only share the ones I truly love and think my readers will enjoy as well. 🙂

Filed Under: Lifestyle, My Favorite Things

What Was Inside My Summer BabbleBoxx

June 23, 2016 by Nicole 1 Comment

Aside from a brief obsession with Bath & Body Works that was pretty much a rite of passage for 90’s kids (I can still identify the scent of Juniper Breeze and Cucumber Melon a mile away), I was never really interested in beauty and skincare products until I hit my late 20’s. I guess noticing your forehead start to crease every time you lift your eyebrows to apply mascara will cause your interests to shift. 😉

When I got this fun opportunity to receive a wellness and beauty BabbleBoxx, I was excited because all the brands involved where new to me and I always love discovering new products. I got to try everything from body scrubs to leggings, so let’s look inside my delivery! Some brands are offering reader discounts so be sure to keep an eye out below.

Tree Hut Shave Prep Body Scrub

This Shave Prep Body Scrub from Tree Hut exfoliates, removing dead skin and lifting hair. As the name suggests, it’s great as a pre- hair removal scrub, but I also think it’d be perfect to prep your skin for a spray tan. It’s thick and gritty enough to efficiently exfoliate, but I didn’t find it to be too rough. There are oils in it (oat kernel oil and avocado oil among others) that help soothe the skin. Added brownie points for being paraben-free and made in the USA!

2(X)ist Tank Top & Leggings

The Square-Cut Tank from 2(X)ist is slim fitting and made from cotton. It’s a good everyday tank and I know I’ll get a lot of use from it when the weather gets cold again and I’m constantly laying with sweaters. It’s $26.

2(X)ist has leggings in prints, ombres and solids. The style I went with has a mesh panel in the back of the calves which is a fun touch and there’s a hidden zipper pocket in back for storing keys or a card. The fabric is super comfortable. If you think of workout legging fabric on a spectrum of straight up spandex to soft everyday-wear cotton, these are towards the cotton side. Solids are $48 and prints are $52.

Vichy LiftActiv Serum 10 Supreme

LiftActiv Serum 10 Supreme is a lightweight anti-wrinkle and hydrating face serum containing Rhamnose (a sugar) and Fragmented Hyaluronic Acid. According to Vichy, this serum improves the signs of aging by reducing wrinkles and fine lines, evening out complexion, hydrating skin and giving it a plumped, lifted appearance. I’ve been using it regularly for only a bit more than a week so I can’t say the fine lines above my eyebrows have miraculously disappeared, but I have noticed a major difference in the hydration department! Air conditioning typically dries out my skin, but I’ve been feeling moisturized all day and night since using this serum (I put it on before bed and then in the morning after teaching). The serum is lightweight and absorbs quickly. It’s paraben-free.

READER DISCOUNT: You can get 20% off and free shipping on all LiftActiv products with the code BABBLEBOX (enter at checkout). The code is valid through 11:59pm PST, 06/30/2016. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts or gift sets.

Village Naturals Aches + Pains Muscle Relief Products

These Village Naturals products would be the BOMB.COM if you had a cold. Not to say the products aren’t good for other times, but the eucalyptus-spearmint-menthol ingredient combo just screams “cold remedy” to me with its natural ability to clear the sinuses and soothe achey muscles.

Village Naturals Aches + Pains Muscle Relief Foaming Bath Soak with Epsom Salt

Epsom salt baths help ease stressed muscles. This one also contains oils and extracts to make a softly foaming bath that’s so relaxing!

Aches + Pains Muscle Relief Concentrated Mineral Bath Soak

This is similar to the above bath soak. The combination of sea salt and epsom salt help to draw out impurities and ease tired muscles, and the concentrated formula means you get relief by using less than you’d need in a traditional epsom salt bath.

Aches + Pains Muscle Relief Foaming Bath Oil & Body Wash

As far as scent goes, this one is a little less intense with the whole menthol-spearmint-yup-I’m-awake-now smell. You can use it as a bath oil or can put it on a loofa as a body wash (that’s how I’ve been using it).

READER DISCOUNT: $1 off any one Village Naturals Therapy product with this link.

IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara

I rarely wear a full face of make up because my job involves either sweating or working alone in my apartment, mostly likely sans pants. That being said, I love mascara. It’s crazy the difference just that little oomf to my lashes makes (to me, anyway!). IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara combines strengthening biotin and collagen in its formula to create a thicker, longer lash appearance. I’ll let the before and after pictures speak for themselves!

In the picture below, the left side of my face has no mascara on it and the right lashes have a coat of the Superhero Mascara. And yes, I totally took these using the “pretty filter” in SnapChat so that my skin would look like that of a newborn. 🙂

The brush makes for an even application of the mascara and I love that it’s easy to remove (with just my regular face wash it all came off).

Have you tried any of the products/brands in this post? Thoughts?

Have you discovered any new skincare/beauty products lately that you’re absolutely loving?

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media. All opinions–as always!–are my own. I appreciate your support of the brands that make this blog possible! 🙂

Filed Under: Beauty, Lifestyle