Good Morning!
Can you believe Christmas was over two weeks ago? It’s going to be spring before we know it (thank goodness.) This week was miserably cold. I’m so used to being outside walking the dogs, walking the trails, or just going out and about. All I wanted to do this week was stay inside, drink tea, blog, watch movies, and read books. Maybe the cold was a blessing in disguise. I suppose drinking tea and reading all weekend wasn’t that bad. This week coming up, you won’t hear me complaining about the weather (other than the rain) because it’s going to be in the high fifties 🙂
My recap today is going to be much shorter than most. I’ll be sharing some of my eats from the week, and a couple of random photos here and there. 
On Wednesday morning, I woke up super early to walk the dogs, have some toast, and drink a ton of water before going back to the doctor to do bloodwork. Luckily this time was more successful. I have another doctors appointment tomorrow, so hopefully, I won’t have to do more bloodwork. I have nightmares about this stuff. I should be getting my test results back any day now.
For a late lunch/brunch on Wednesday, I made a delicious meal with leftover spaghetti squash and roasted vegetables. I topped the roasted spaghetti squash and vegetables with two eggs over medium. I found pre-cut butternut squash crinkle fries at Whole Foods, too! Cutting butternut squash is a pain in the butt, so these were super convenient. To cook them, I tossed them in a little avocado oil and baked them on a sheet pan for ten minutes at 425 degrees. They were super crispy. I didn’t use much seasoning with my meal other than chili flakes and black pepper. When you have a runny yolk, you don’t need seasoning 🙂 
My dinner was so good.
I had so much spaghetti squash leftover that I planned on eating it all week long. I also had another squash sitting on the counter to cook up after this batch was finished. I refrained from buying another at the store yesterday. Not sure I can eat anymore! I love to use large containers for salads because it’s better for mixing. Have you ever tried to combine salad ingredients in a small bowl? It’s nearly impossible. Lettuce overboard!
My salad consisted of baby arugula salad, guacamole, Whole Food’s chicken salad, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, roasted vegetables, and spaghetti squash. I didn’t use dressing because the guacamole and chicken salad made up for it. I had a La Croix with my salad, a little Sun Cup for dessert, and lemon ginger tea before bed. Now that I’m on one cup of coffee a day, I’ve been drinking a lot of decaf lemon ginger tea. I’m thinking about writing a separate post with how I feel after cutting my coffee intake and replacing it with lemon tea. My moods and complexion have changed drastically. Let me know if that’s a post you’d be interested in. I never believed in the power of a lemon until now. 
Thursday was brutally cold. I had to sit in front of the fireplace for twenty minutes after walking the dogs to warm up. When you’re cold, oatmeal and coffee are perfect cures. I brewed a cup of coffee, warmed up some oats, and topped them with sauteed blueberries. Some people hate warm blueberries, but I love when they are squishy and pop in your mouth. They’re delicious! That is why blueberry muffins are one of my favorite foods.
Later in the afternoon, I headed to a power hour yoga class at the gym. Luckily, it was a hot yoga hour, and the heat felt so good. 
For lunch, I had roasted butternut squash crinkle fries and scrambled eggs mixed with spaghetti squash and roasted vegetables. Luckily, it was the last of the leftovers. I could eat something different for dinner. 
Nothing better than sleeping puppies. Leo fell asleep on my shoulder while I was working, and he stayed like that for about an hour. The rule is that you can’t move if your dog is asleep on you. My cup was filled with Stash mango passion tea and the juice of one lemon. I bought a Stash tea fruity herbal flavor assortment, and I’ve loved every flavor so far. It was inexpensive, too. I don’t know what has gotten into me, but I’ve never enjoyed tea this much. 
What is better (or easier) than a three ingredient dinner? I cooked up ground turkey, broccoli, and teriyaki sauce for dinner on Thursday night. I ended the night with So Delicious no sugar added coconut milk vanilla ice cream with a scoop of honey roasted peanut butter on top. 
I was up at 5:30 on Friday morning and ready to start my day. It was 7 degrees when I walked the dogs outside. It took me a while to get the feeling back in my legs. I do not do well with cold temperatures. My body is so sensitive to it. I’m currently in a house with my heat cranked to 70, and my hands are still cold.
On Friday morning, I chopped up some fresh fruit for the fridge. Eating fresh fruit throughout the day always prevents my crazy sweet tooth at night. 
I wanted to come up with some fun recipes to share this week, so I made matcha maqui pancakes and chocolate matcha muffins. I’m excited to share those recipes with you this week! They turned out delicious. I like to make stacks of pancakes and keep them in containers in the fridge. Whenever I want one, I just throw it into the toaster to heat it up. Adding the matcha and maqui to the pancakes turned them green and blue! This could be a fun way to get kids to eat their pancakes, or a festive Earth Day breakfast. 
Leo always sits by the table when I take recipe photos. He’s a character! 
After taking recipe pictures, I made myself a little cozy nook at the kitchen table and got some work done. 
I didn’t feel like heading to the gym, so I wrote up a workout to do in the living room. I had a lot of messages about my workouts, and I was surprised at how many of you guys loved them! I will start sharing more on my Insta stories. This was a great workout to do in the living room! 
I had so much fun doing a mini little workout challenge on my Instagram story. I had so many of you participate! I’m still getting the emojis sent in. It’s a lot of fun 🙂 If you missed it, head over to my profile and click the “fitness” category. I’ll be saving them all there! I’ve also had a lot of request for a new fitness challenge. I think a three-week challenge could be fun! I’d like to keep it simple with workouts that you can do in your home. 
For my post-workout/lunch, I had one of my favorite combos. I’ve been mixing my So Delicious unsweetened plain coconut milk yogurt with Orgain protein powder. It tastes like vanilla pudding/cake batter. It’s dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and vegan. I top it with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, and banana slices. It’s like a creamy dessert for lunch. When I shared this recipe on Instagram, I had a lot of questions about the protein powder. This is the protein powder I have been using for about a year. It’s the best organic plant-based protein powder ever! It’s not chalky, and very affordable compared to its competitors. 
I shared a little fun recipe tutorial on Friday night. I was feeling the cabin fever and started having way too much fun. When it comes to videos, I’ll admit it. I’m extremely awkward. Some people do Insta stories, and it’s so natural, and I’m like a deer in headlights. Hello, trainwreck! I’m trying to get better. Luckily, I had some great feedback, and you guys requested more, so I’m going to try!
I needed to use up the ground turkey and ground chicken in the refrigerator, so I decided to make meatballs to go with the spaghetti squash.
My turkey meatballs had: 1 pound of ground chicken, 1 pound of ground turkey (93% fat-free), 1 large egg, 1/2 tablespoon ground mustard, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tablespoon onion powder, 1/2 tablespoon oregano, 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon minced onion, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 tablespoon gluten free low sodium soy sauce.
Add all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and combine. 
Before adding the meatballs to the oven, I browned the outer layer in a pan with olive oil on medium-high. I transferred the meatball to a baking sheet and baked them for 15 minutes in the oven at 400 degrees. I took them out when the temperature was at 168. I sliced the meatballs in half once they cooled down. 
I normally make my own sauce, but this meal was a last-minute decision. I used organic garlic lover’s tomato sauce as back up. I added the sauce to a saute pan on low heat along with the sliced meatballs. I let them cook in the sauce for about twenty minutes, stirring occasionally. 
I still get asked how to roast spaghetti squash. I think a lot of people are intimidated by it, but it’s so easy. Just slice your squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and cut it up into large chunks. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray (I always use my older one when roasting at high temperatures), place the squash with the insides down on the baking sheet, and roast it for about 35 minutes at 400 degrees. The time depends on the size of your squash. I can always tell when it’s done when the outer layer is soft.
I let the squash cool completely before scooping it out. I use a giant spoon and scrape it into a large bowl, and then fluff it up with a fork. There’s really no wrong way of doing it. 
The reason I love making meals like this is because I’m usually set for the next couple of days. Leftovers are my jam, and this was delicious. On Friday night, Kyle and I watched Ben’s Status, and it was a pretty good movie. It gave you a really good perspective on life. 
Breakfast on Saturday morning! Told you I’m all for that leftovers life. I made an omelet stuffed with spaghetti squash and a side of meatballs. 
Power hour and smoothies <3
I shared the recipe for this matcha smoothie on My Instagram!
Later in the afternoon, I started writing a post about my goals and plans with running. I didn’t plan on writing it, but sometimes those are the best types of blog posts. I have all of your comments in moderation, but I’ll get to those today! I promise. I don’t like to post the comments until I have a chance to reply back to all of you. I’ll be heading to the gym today to start my journey all over again. 
Grumples and Leo were overdue for a bath and trim. I usually try to trim the hair around their eyes, cut out their mats, and give them a complete blow out until we get them groomed. It’s been so cold here, that I’ve been holding off until next month.
We really like the Burt’s Bees shampoo and conditioner. We find that it’s the best for dogs with itchy coats because of its relieving ingredients. I also love that it’s 98.2% natural.
Relieving Shampoo & Conditioner Link! 
Here are three other tools to make at-home grooming so much easier.
We use a handheld showerhead to wash the dogs. It attaches to any showerhead, and it makes it so much more comfortable in the tub. The dogs can just stand there, and we can use the shower head all around them. It’s the best $25 purchase we’ve ever made for the dogs. We also use a bathing mat in the tub, so they do not slide, and it makes them more comfortable standing in the tub. We also use de-matting combs to help break up the mats before cutting them out. You can find these at Petco or online. The showerhead was $10 cheaper online than at the Home Depot.
I was so tired on Saturday night. I turned on a movie and was out by nine.
I was really excited for Sunday morning. We had had some fun afternoon plans with the dogs! I was up at the crack of dawn to get them fed and walked. I had my tea and decided to try out the Apple Cinnamon RX Bars. Have you ever had a brown sugar cinnamon pop tart? They taste just like it! I was shocked. I’m about to order another box right now!
Later in the morning, I made a maqui protein shake! It had two tablespoons of maqui powder, 1 frozen banana, 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1 scoop vanilla Orgain protein powder, and a couple of ice cubes. 
Kyle and I have been talking about finding a trainer for our dogs for a while now. Our dogs are great, but we want them to be better. They had a good streak last fall, but now it feels as if they are back to their old ways. We made the commitment and signed the dogs up with Holland K9 Services for a lifetime of training. We made a list of all of the struggles we face with our dogs and then found the perfect trainer, who is confident he can fix the issues. The best part is that he’s not going to fix them, he’s going to train US how to fix them. We didn’t want to drop our dogs off at month camp for training, we wanted to be trained with the dogs, so I’m excited to share this journey with you all. I will make sure to fill you guys in on the training each week in my recap posts. I know a lot of you have dogs and have shared your experiences, so hopefully, this will be able to help you or inspire you to sign your dogs up as well. We want to be confident in our dogs, and it seems as if their unpredictable behavior has become a huge stress. Your dogs should never dictate your lives, but it seems as though our dogs have kind of taken over. We have to do things around them, and it’s not fun anymore. This is now one of our biggest priorities, and it’s extremely important to do this. Not only will this benefit our lives, but it’ll make our dogs much happier, less anxious, and more confident. My ultimate goal is to turn Leo into a therapy dog in a couple of years so he can visit hospitals, and bring joy to the life of others. I have this dream of reading children’s books to little kids with Leo. 
When training a dog, it’s about going back to the basics.
This week, we are working on teaching them to heel and making them stay on command. We are also trying to get Leo and Grumples to stop giving us their paw. They tend to do it a lot, and it’s a big distraction and a form of begging. We are using more verbal commands rather than our hand signals. Check out their Instagram page to see Leo & Grumples staying in place! They learn quickly 🙂 You can follow along with our progress on their page too. I’ll be documenting this whole process. I love my dogs so much, but I can’t wait for them to behave better, so I can take them places with the confidence.
We learned so much with John (the trainer.) We discussed some of the things we do and learned a lot about things we shouldn’t be doing. It all started to make sense! 
“Pet dog obedience is the foundation for solving all behavior problems.”
If you’re interested in learning more about what we’ll be doing in training, or getting your dog trained, check out John’s website! Or, you can email him Info@hollandk9services.com
I am really excited about this.
Our pups were exhausted when we got back from their two-hour training session. We did a lot of exercises, and I’m sure they were a bit stressed in a new environment. They passed out on the couch, so Kyle and I decided to have lunch, and then hit the gym.
I had a bowl of coconut milk yogurt mixed with my Orgain protein powder! 
I topped my yogurt bowl with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and grapes! I also had a slice of peanut butter toast on the side.
I was super tired when I got to the gym. I planned on doing a workout with Kyle, but I just felt like doing the bike instead. I grabbed my book from the car and did an easy ride while reading for an hour. I have been reading “A Man Called Ove” for the January recipe & book review. I’m a big psychological thriller genre type of person, but I want to switch it up because I know not everyone likes those types of books, and I’ve heard amazing reviews on this book so far. I’m excited to finish it! If you want to join the discussion, order a copy and start reading! I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the review post! 
After the gym, Kyle and I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some ingredients for dinner. We decided on salmon, salad, and roasted potatoes! I’m so glad we agreed on this because it was amazing…
If you’re ever trying to figure out what to eat for a healthy meal, just always go with the 3-method. 1. choose your protein. 2. choose your healthy carb. 3. choose your vegetable(s). 
I never liked salmon until my mom cooked it for me. I still stick to her salmon recipe!
I massage the salmon with the juice from 1/2 of a lime and 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce. After massaging the salmon, I pat the salmon with garlic powder, black pepper, minced onions, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, and onion powder. I let the salmon marinate in the fridge for two-three hours.
I couldn’t wait to bake this salmon! It smelled so good. Sometimes, I’ll use an orange instead of lime. It’s fun to switch things up. 
I boiled about two cups of red potatoes until fork tender. I diced them up and added them to a baking dish. I drizzled a tablespoon of olive oil on top and tossed them in black pepper, minced onion, sea salt, and garlic powder. I cooked the potatoes in the oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. I flipped them halfway through. 
While the potatoes were cooking, I prepared the salad.
I’ve been using the Tessemae’s honey balsamic dressing lately, and it’s so tasty! This dressing also works as a marinade for chicken and shrimp.
I massed the baby arugula in the honey balsamic and then topped the salad with avocados and strawberries. 
When the potatoes were done, I turned the oven temperature down to 375 and cooked the salmon for 15 minutes. The cooking time depends on the size of your salmon.
The salmon was perfectly glazed, and we were ready to dive in! 
There is no better feeling than cooking a perfect salmon. It just fell apart in your mouth, and the flavors were spot on. I love my mom’s recipe, and I’ll be making this for the rest of my life! It was the first recipe that made me truly enjoy salmon. 
Cooking salmon at home way more budget-friendly than salmon at a restaurant! This is why I love cooking at home! I like to eat at restaurants in the summer, but I’d rather watch movies, have dinner around the coffee table, and get my own ketchup instead of asking for it. Remember when I used to eat out at restaurants practically every meal? I’m so happy that I’ve cut that out. 
Questions for you!
- Would you like me to start posting more recipe/workout videos on my Instagram story?
- Which recipe would you like to see first? The Matcha & Maqui Pancakes or Chocolate Matcha Muffins?
- I made a list of thirty blog posts to create this year. What do YOU want to see?
Your food always looks so colourful and healthy, Taralynn! ❤️
🍃 Eat the rainbow! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Thanks, Charmaine!
I’m following your lead by swapping out coffee for tea! I’m a huge snacker and a while ago I swapped out all-day snacking for drinking hot beverages. Now if you put a hot drink in front of me it’s gone in the next fifteen minutes. Drinking an entire pot of coffee (or more than one) per day wasn’t doing me any favors.
I just found a tea you might really like since you’ve blogged about how much you like ginger – Pukka Revitalize tea. It has cinnamon, ginger, and cloves and I found it at Publix.
I’m also looking forward to your updates on Grumples and Leo! My fiancee and I took our dog through two training courses (beginner and advanced) with the humane society and they really helped us understand our dog. She’s small, pretty mellow, and friendly with people and other dogs so we didn’t really need a major behavior crackdown. Still, I love animals and I’m excited to see what this training program does to help Grumples and Leo. 🙂
Hi, Angelina!
I still drink coffee! Just one cup a day now and it’s been amazing. I NEVER thought I’d get here lol I’ve replaced a lot of my snacking with hot lemon decaf tea and it does certainly help!
That sounds like an incredible tea blend! I’ll look into it 😀
I am looking forward to sharing their updates! Especially since they are a huge part of my life and blog! 😀
I am so interested in following your dog training journey! We recently went through training both of our golden retrievers and it has made a world of difference. We now are looking to train them with a type of shock collar and looking into sniff training. There is just something about breaking through to your pets to get them to understand what you want from them that is so so rewarding. Wishing you both the best of luck with training them!
Yes! I’m excited to see how this changes our dogs, and stress levels for sure! Keep me posted on your dogs training too!
WOW! It has been so long since I read your blog.. I took a little hiatus from blogging and reading blogs to really focus on what I want to do and how i want to grow myself.
All of your pictures are as colorful as ever! I am surprised to see no salads! LOL
All the food looks great – I hope your New Year and the holidays were good to you!
Welcome back, Jordan!!
Lol I still love my salads! 😀
Happy New year! xo
I would love to see more recipes/workouts in your insta story! The mini workout you did this week was so fun and I love the idea of a three week challenge. I always love when you share recipes because they’re so straightforward and pretty simple to make.
Pancake recipe next! Pancakes are amazing and it would be nice to see how I can make them a little healthier.
A blog post I would like to see is a “kitchen walk through”. I’m always amazed at how well stocked your fridge/kitchen is and would like to see how you organize everything. But I’m already a huge fan of your blog so just keep doing you girl. I’m excited to see your upcoming posts! (Especially the book review & recipe).
Stay warm xoxo
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed my workouts/recipes! 😀
Pancakes are my fave!
Can I clean my kitchen first?!?! hahaha! I feel like everything is disorganized in the cabinets after the holidays. MAYBE that’ll be the new post! 😀
The workout challenge was awesome! I actually did the squats and leg lifts during a break in my classroom and it was the perfect thing to add some movement into my day! Also, Orgain is my favorite powder by far, the only place I can get it is as Homegoods, go figure. The PB flavor is amazing and I have pumpkin spice waiting for me. So smooth even with just water! And last thing, A Man Called One is excellent! I listened to it on tape during our last road trip (so.many.hours) and loved it. It’s a great balance for all the murder mysteries I’ve been reading. Hope you have an awesome week and can finally enjoy some warm weather!
Thanks, Juliette!
I love that you did the workouts in your classroom! 😀
They sell Orgain at Homegoods?!?! WHAT! That’s amazing.
Lol I only read murder mysteries, so this was a great change up! Excited to finish it. I’ve only heard amazing things.
I’m loving all of your healthy food photos.
Thanks, Dezzie!
Wow, what a great goal to make Leo a therapy dog! When my niece was in the hospital after major surgery, a therapy dog came to visit her and it really brightened her day. Bless you for being such a good person.
I would love more recipe/exercise videos on IG. I’m so not a snapchat person, but I love IG.
Chocolate matcha muffins please!
I’d love to see your newbie yoga routine and your makeup routine. Also, would you ever consider a clean-with-me type of post and/or organization that are so popular on YouTube? I find those videos so motivating. Have a great week!
Leo loves people and loves to cuddle and rest his head on shoulders. It literally gives you the best feeling. I think he has so much potential! D
I’ll definitely do more insta!
Those sound like fun posts! Thanks for the ideas!
Oh, and I would love to hear about how you feel lately due to all the tea/lemon.
Also, I’m starting A Man Called Ove today!! 🙂
Enjoy!!!
1. Yes!
2. Muffins
3. I’d love to see more of your home decor and diy projects. All the furniture that you and your dad made is beautiful! Also updates how training is going with Grumples and Leo. My boyfriend and I have a seven month old Dalmatian puppy that we’ve been attempting to train lol thankfully my parents paid for several one on one sessions with a trainer as a Christmas gift.
Do you have any recommendations for tea newbies? I’m trying to cut back on coffee but every tea I’ve tried tastes like dirty water to me. I’m trying to find a flavor that i don’t have to add a bunch of creamer or sugar to.
That is a great gift, Krista! Definitely important. They start changing in behavior around one-year-old.
I really like the stash brand, and maybe try adding a tsp of honey and squeeze lemon into it 🙂 That’s the way I like it!
I feel the same way about lemon! I recently started drinking lemon water and a lot more tea and have noticed significant changes in my energy levels – it could be placebo effect but it is working! I always love reading your posts so I can find new things to try so I am excited to try the Tessemae Honey Balsamic dressing 🙂 Thanks for always motivating me!
Thanks, Mira! I’ve also noticed extremely clear skin from drinking lemon! What about you?
I hope you enjoy that dressing!! 😀
I love that I always find a new healthy recipe and/or product I want to try on your blog – thanks for always sharing your eats! That salmon recipe looks SO good, and I haven’t seen the honey balsamic dressing yet but now I can’t wait to try it! 1. I am off Instagram currently, but when I was on it recipe stories were always my favorite!
2.I would love to see the Matcha Muffins recipe first (but they both look awesome!)
3. For content this year, one thing I’m curious about is if you have a specific grocery budget that you try to stick to, or if you just prioritize buying healthy foods and spend whatever you spend based on that. I feel like I waver so much between those two things – wanting to budget and spend a reasonable amount, but also wanting to only get the best quality/healthy food – I would love to hear your take on it!
Thanks for reading, Traci!
I was surprised with how good the honey balsamic dressing was 😀 I’ve loved all of the Tessemae dressings so far 😀
I think muffins will be up first for the win!
I don’t necessarily have a grocery budget because it’s just me. I eat a lot of the same foods throughout the week and it stays pretty low! But that’s a good idea for a post for sure.
I love love love that your dogs are in training, I think its great for all dogs. JUST please do your research about Force Free Training! The last thing you want is for your dog to respect you because it’s scared of you. It takes a bit more work but it is scientifically proven that rewarding good behavior instead of punishing (usually physically) negative behavior works better! I hate seeing dogs do what their owners want because they are terrified. You could even be doing things you may not realize are detrimental! Either way, they are your dogs but they are adorable and the animal lover in me couldn’t help but say something!
Thanks for the tips!
Winter is passing way too quickly! I’m still playing Christmas carols in my room. CHRISTMAS IS NEVER OVAAA!!!! I do miss spring running weather, you know? NO snow or slush, but I still want Winter to stay. Also, are you able to concentrate nicely while going on the bike and reading the book? Wouldn’t one have to give–either getting in a legit workout or tuning exclusively into the book? Look forward to hearing an extensive review!
Hi, Linda!
Hahaha nothing wrong with that. And I’m glad we don’t have to deal with the slush. That was the worst!
I always listen to classical music radio while I’m on the bike so I kind of zone out with anything around me. I wasn’t too focussed on getting a good workout in that day, which is why I grabbed my book 🙂
You said you once lived in Valdosta GA, right? I just moved here with my fiance for airforce.
I did! 😀 How cool! I loved it 🙂 If you haven’t already, check out Fitnessista blog! She lives in Valdosta. I believe she’s stationed there as well.
Thanks for the tips on dog grooming! I never thought about getting a nozzle like that. We typically use bowls and cups so thank you.
You’re welcome!!
How old is Grumples now?
He’s 6 1/2
I look forward to hearing all about your training. I may look into it! We live in Charlotte as well.
I’ll keep you posted!
Lemons are essential for health! Glad you’re on the lemon train.
Yes the are 😀
Hey Taralynn! Happy Monday to you 🙂 I would definitely love for you to post more recipes and workout videos on Instagram. When I’m aimlessly clicking through stories and come across yours, it gives me an instant motivational boost! I would love to see the Chocolate Matcha Muffins first because, well, chocolate! haha 🙂 as far as posts I would like to see.. I thoroughly enjoy your weekly recaps and I hope you don’t do away with those! I know you mentioned talking about some more personal subjects such as anxiety and since I suffer greatly from that (on and off throughout the year), it would be great to read and share some ways to cope and relieve it! I’m also really excited you’re doing the book review & recipe posts each month! I read Behind Closed Doors last month and I’m working on A Man Called Ove now 🙂
I hope you have a great week and I’m glad it’s warming up here on the east coast haha!
xoxo Kelsey
Hi, Kelsey!
Thank you for that! 🙂 That just made me smile! It motivates me to post more.
Thank you for all of the feedback!
I can’t wait to discuss the book with you!!!
xo xo xo
Have you been fitted for running shoes yet?
Not yet!
Is your salmon organic?
Yes. It is.
Haha I have the same rule about when my cat falls asleep on me. You just can’t wake them! And mixing Orgain with nondairy yogurt is SUCH a good idea! Sometimes I struggle with the idea of eating just the yogurt for breakfast since nondairy versions tend to have less protein. This is a perfect fix!
I read Behind Closed Doors in a day, it was SO GOOD! I usually gravitate towards those books or historical fiction, but I’ve read A Man Called Ove too and absolutely loved it. Such a sweet story!
I want to see the pancakes first! Mostly because I’m obsessed with all breakfast foods :).
Hi, Susie!
Yes, that is why I started mixing the protein powder with it! I love yogurt, but the non-dairy had little to no protein.
I look forward to finishing it! 😀
The pancakes were so good!
1. Yes!!
2. Chocolate matcha muffins, for sure 🙂
3. I want to hear more about what the lemon tea has done for you!
I’m drinking it right now! 😀
I’d LOVE to see you posting cooking and work out videos! And you know what-even if it feels to you that you’re awkward, you’re not, just…real and super awesome because of that! 🙂 Nothing feels more boring than those polished videos made by some bloggers that might seem all natural and great at it,but lacking that human factor, that bit of shyness and just being themselves that makes us all more appealing. Oh,and choosing between the two recipes was soooo hard,but I’d like to see Chocolate Matcha Muffins recipe first I think. And when it comes to upcoming blogposts it would be really amazing to see you sharing your opinions on different topics as well as various struggles,health issues, your own experiences, and so on.
P.S. Any tips on choosing a good salad dressing? 🙂
Hi, Natalija!
Thanks so much for the encouragement! I’ll remember that next time 🙂
Lately (if I don’t make my own) I stick to a lower sugar/organic/lower salt dressing! I love the Tessemae’s and Marie’s dressings!
I’m loving all of the colorful food in this post. Keep up the inspiration!
Thanks, Dani!
Taralynn,
Thanks so much for the weekly recaps- I love those and look forward to them every week. I am going to try the salmon recipe very soon- my kids love salmon, so I’m sure this recipe will not disappoint. One question I have for you is do you take any additional dietary supplements? I was recently diagnosed with “Dry Eye” and my opthamologist recommended a fish oil specifically crafted for those with DE. I have noticed quite a difference since adding that as well as an occasional OTC natural tear product. Over the last few years, the work I do causes me to be on the computer more than ever, and then there’s my normally steady use of my phone and tablet for browsing awesome sites like yours! The increased screen time encourages DE, so I wanted to see if this was something on your radar. Getting the omegas in foods like salmon is ideal, but I found adding the supplement has helped. Just wanted to know if you’ve heard of this too?
Hi, Veronica!
Thanks so much 😀
It’s so awesome that your kids love salmon. Most don’t and I definitely did not eat anything other than pizza as a child! I hope they enjoy 🙂
I do not take any dietary supplements, but I do make sure to get a lot of food with the vitamins and minerals that I’m lacking. I eat a lot of kale/spinach/citrus instead of taking the supplement 😀 I have heard great things about fish oil though. I give it to my dogs for their coats. I’ve never heard of getting dry eye because of the computer, but that is certainly interesting! Thank you for bringing that to my attention!
Taralynn
I’ve gotten those butternut squash crinkles from Trader Joe’s and I love them! I haven’t had them as a stand alone side but yours look really good! This week I have added them into a stir fry (from your blog) and a chicken chili. I liked them in both. They remind me of sweet potato fries, which I love!
That’s a great idea! I never thought about adding the crinkle fries to the stir fry!:D
I love mixing protein powder with my yogurt too. Something about it makes it feel like a treat! And I’m all about that chocolate, so you can post those chocolate matcha muffins first! Lol 🙂
That’s the plan! 😀
So much yummy food!! 🙂 I’d love to see more blog related posts. Tips for bloggers who are looking to work with brands, tips for working toward making blogging full time job rather than a hobby, and any other tips you have in your years of experience. I’ve been blogging for 2 years now and havent been able to make it my full time gig and thats really what I want to do. It’s been frustrating to say the least. Would love any tips from you!
Thanks, Heather!!
Those are great ideas! 😀 I’d love to help!
xo
What is your favorite workout song?
Hahaha! Um….thats so hard! I really like anything with Selena Gomez and Blink 182!
Hi! Love your blog! I love reading it while I’m at work taking a break. You have such a great/positive energy. I have a four-year old chocolate lab who likes to pull when walking. I want to work on this so I can walk him and my daughter (in a stroller) at the same time. I’ve tried before and it wasn’t successful because he’s hyper and pulls when he sees people or other dogs. I’m going to order the harness you recommended previously, but was wondering what leash you recommend?
Thanks!
Thanks so much, Kelly!!
We are going to be getting new leashes soon, so I’ll have to let you know. Have you taught your dog heeling with positive reinforcement yet? That’s what we are working on now! 😀
Thanks for the reply! I have. It worked great with other commands, but the walking part has been the struggle lol
You have such a pretty smile!
Thanks!
It would be fun to see an in depth travel post about some of the other places in the South like Tennessee or Georgia! I’m really curious as to how you’ll like them versus the Carolinas 🙂
Probably would love them 😀
Hi Taralynn – Those fries look delicious! Have you looked into using an air fryer? I got one for Christmas and am using it for the first time tonight – we are making sweet potato fries!! I am also obsessed with tea, so I am so happy to see that you are drinking more of it. Coffee makes my heart race (per my last comment) so tea has been my go to. I would love to hear about how this lemon ginger tea has affected your moods. Do you put anything in your tea when you drink it? I usually put truvia or honey but I am going to start trying to drink is plain. It’s so cold in PA where I live right now and walking my dog is impossible. I was wondering if you had any suggestions on how to keep them active without walks? My husband and I work 8 hours every day and our poor pup sits there alone (we do leave the TV on for her lol) but she is tired and bored. My husband isnt into the idea of taking her to a doggy day care because a lot of them get bit or sick so I am looking for suggestions. We are also looking into a trainer that trains with us so i’m excited to see how yours do! I also love RX bars and Blueberry has been my favorite. I am going to order those Apple Cinnamon ones right now!
Hi, Taylor!
I have used an air fryer! I love them 😀
I sometimes put honey in my tea, but normally the lemon is enough for me! I am LOVING it lately and it has been my favorite part of the mornings. I also take tea whenever I’m out and about. I think the best option for you is to use Rover or a dog walking service. Leaving your dog alone for that long isn’t healthy for their mental health or physical health. You could pay someone to come walk your dog during the day. It’s so worth it.
Blueberry is really good, but just wait until you try the apple cinnamon!
I’m looking for a new trainer for my dog too. He’s gotten pretty good with basic commands and loose leash walking, but he has really bad separation anxiety and I totally agree with you–it runs my life, and that’s not how it should be! Good luck!! I hope your training goes well.
Thank you, Rachel!
I’m looking forward to the matcha muffins recipe! I have a bag of matcha powder but so far I’ve only made lattes (so good!). I would also love for you to post about your results with drinking lemon tea vs. coffee. Oh- do you remember where you got the “I feel good today” mug? I’m a cyclist so I love it!
The recipe is now up!
I actually got that mug at Home Goods! 😀
More workouts!
Long time reader and first time commenter- I’m a little shy. One of my resolutions for this year is to come out of my shell a little so that’s what I’m doing! I also started a blog called Millennial Mama Bird and it would mean the world if you checked it out. You’re my absolute favorite blogger and you’ve inspired my fitness journey to get back in shape now that I’ve healed from giving birth. Thanks so much for the inspiration and great recipes! I love them and it’s so helpful to see what you eat. I’d love to see that muffin recipe! Thanks so much and keep inspiring people! 🙂
My blog: millennialmamabird.com
Hi, Ellen!!
Don’t be shy! 🙂 I love meeting my readers and chatting with them! Thank you for taking the time to comment.
I will definitely check out your blog 🙂 & welcome to the blogging world!
P.s. the recipe for the muffins is live!
XO
All of your photos are so bright! Any tips for mine?
I have four rules for my photos: NATURAL LIGHT/SATURATION/SHARPNESS/BRIGHTNESS!
I love your chia pudding recipe. I had it last night!
Yum!
I’ve been printing your workouts and bringing them to my gym. Thank you for the constant inspiration.
You go girl! xo
Those oats with blueberries look like dessert. Try adding vanilla next time!
Great idea!!
I like that you’re putting your dogs in training and I look forward to seeing the progress! My dogs are well behaved but sometimes show aggressive behavior towards other dogs.
Same here, Quin! I’ll keep you posted how training goes!
Your dogs are so cute! Are they goldendoodles?
Yes! & thank you!!
I would love to see more photos and videos on your Instagram story. You are so motivational.
That is so sweet! Thank you 😀
Where did you get your green coat again?
Old navy!
Post the muffins!!
They’re up! 😀
I love your recap posts 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week Taralynn!
Thanks, Lauren!
LOVE your blog! So inspiring to see healthy recipes and workouts that aren’t boring!
Thank you, Jen!!!
Hi Taralynn, I also have a golden doodle that I’ve been considering taking to classes. She is almost three and she’s finally started to calm down in most ways. But there are some things that absolutely drive my husband and I NUTS! For example, we live in an apartment complex that is VERY dog friendly. Which means every time we walk them or take them out we run into other dogs. Well, when we take Nora (my golden doodle) out around others, she goes absolutely crazy. She pulls, and screams and yelps and does everything she can to get to that dog until she can finally meet him and play.. We have tried everything (on our own of course) to calm her down but she just can’t contain her excitement. When the weather gets warmer, we are seriously going to look into a training session just like the one you are talking about. Do your doodles throw fits like that too? I actually broke my wrist one day because she pulled me down while I was taking her out wearing heals before church.
That is EXACTLY what we are dealing with. They are so good, but they act nuts sometimes when they want to play with other dogs. We are going back to the basics for training! I would definitely look into training.
Your posts make me SO hungry! I love reading/looking at them. I started reading your blog back in 2011/2012 and I’m so impressed with how far you’ve come. Thanks for continuing to share so much of your life. It’s incredibly motivational and helpful! 🙂
Thank you, Amanda!!
I appreciate your kind words!
oh my goodness. TOTALLY went on a whim to make this salmon. I wanted to love salmon – I know all the healthy benefits of it and I’ve had it a few times in the past and it was delicious. Then… I had it LOTS of times (typically when I make it LOL) that it just was NOT.
This salmon is amazing…. no fishy taste and such a good flavor. It’s better than any salmon I’ve ever had ever so thank you thank you for sharing this recipe!
OH YAY!!!!