CHOCOLATE BANANA PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN SHAKE & LET'S TALK

Happy Monday, Friends! How was your weekend? Did you catch the Oscars last night? I was swooning over all of the beautiful gowns, so drool worthy. Some however were way out there! Speaking of drool worthy though, I am linking up with two of my favorite bloggers to talk all about guys #ohhlala and on top of that I whipped up one of my favorite breakfast smoothies of all times this weekend and I wanted to share it with you for Motivational Monday. What better motivation when pushing through a workout than to know you get to enjoy this tasty delight when you're finished?

There is nothing like a healthy breakfast, packed with protein, that literally makes your mouth water. Not only is this smoothie well worth racing to the finish line for, it is also the definition of heavenly with a side of heathy. It's literally the perfect combination that your taste buds are craving. 

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup almond milk

1 frozen banana

1 tbsp. peanut butter 

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 scoop chocolate whey protein 

5 ice cubes 

DIRECTIONS

Add almond milk into blender

Next, add in the rest of the ingredients

Blend, blend, blend until smooth

Hint, Hint: Add some more almond milk if the smoothie is a little too thick, or if you want to thicken it up, throw in some additional ice cubes. You will be good to go! 

This Chocolate Banana Peanut Butter Protein Shake will be on repeat at our house all spring long. 

If you are craving something lighter and fruiter, check out my recipe for this Berry Delight Smoothie. 

And if smoothies aren't your thing, get your protein packed breakfast with these homemade mini quiches. They are absolutely perfect to make and freeze for those hectic mornings when you are craving a delicious, healthy breakfast, but don't have time to whip one up from scratch. 

To catch up on my recent Motivational Monday Posts see below: 

5 Ways to Wake Up With Pep In Your Step

Top 5 Running Necessities 

and now, for Let's Talk with Andrea and Erika! Lets talk about... GUYS! 

DAVE

I was the very independent college girl who ignored all things men, had plans of being engulfed in a future career and had no desire of saying "I do" at the alter. That was until I met Dave. Dave changed everything. 

His proposal was the sweetest. I am a huge puzzle freak and he had me put together a new puzzle that was a picture of us, and when I was finished a few of the pieces were missing. He handed them to me and when they fit together he got on one knee and asked me to marry him. And right after that, he prayed for us. I was a mess. He has a heart of gold. 

A few things about Dave: 

1. He has the funniest sense of humor. Like roll on the ground, cross your legs, pee your pants, hilariousness that comes out of his mouth on the regular. The guy can make the worst situation a little brighter with his jokes. 

2. He will graduate in May with a pharmacy degree and I couldn't be more proud of him. He has worked so hard the last 6 years and we both are so ready for him to say farewell to school. 

3. He is a neat freak. I thought I was crazy before I met him, but the dude even cleans the remote controllers on a regular basis. Like what?? I am super thankful for this quality though. He is so helpful when it comes to chores around the house. 

 MY DAD

1. He has seriously read every single sports and history biography and autobiography ever written. He  knows lots of random facts to say the least! 

2. He is so funny too. Everyone wants to be around him. He is the life of the party. At my wedding we surprised everyone with a fun choreographed dance.. ending with the Whip and Nae Nae and my Dad killed it. He is seriously just so spontaneous and full of life. 

3. He has always been my go to guy. I call him almost every morning on my way to work. He has instilled in me the value and importance of pursuing a relationship with the Lord, spending time with family, and enjoying the blessing of friendships. 

Sending well wishes your way for a wonderful Monday! Happy Leap Day, Everyone! 

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Hello Friday!!! I am certainly glad you are here. After a week filled with lots to do and too many hours spent at work, I am extra excited for a few days off!  As always, I am linking up with Andrea, Erika, & Narci today to talk about my Friday Favorites! 

// one //

Bentley pup graduated from Puppy Training Classes this week and we are so excited that we now have a puppy who high fives and waves, although Bentley doesn't seem as excited about it.  Love my two boys so much. 

// two //

Last Sunday was gorgeous here in Indiana, so we spent the day outside on the balcony enjoying snacks, pink lemonade, and some cards. To see what else we have been up to check out this post here. 

// three //

Fuller House comes out today! Who else is watching? David's Grandma is 85 an every time we watch Full House together she always says, "That John Stamos is quite the hunk." Can't wait to binge watch this with her this weekend. 

// four //

For Motivational Monday, I blogged all about my Top 5 Running Necessities. You know, the 5 things I really love having when I actually decide to run. One being fun workout clothes like this yellow ruffled top. 

// five //

My favorite finds of February are wrapped up here, including #1-the famous pizza maker that I am dying to have. Pizza is my jam. Oh and anything Nate Burkas (3&4) is welcome into my home anytime. 

What're your weekend plans? I hope they are filled with lots of fun and blessings! 

WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY

Hello, Friends! How is in the world is it almost March? My mind is blown by how quickly time truly goes. It's such a reality that time does fly and we should embrace each second of the day with lots of  positivity, love, and for me, lots of patience. ;)

What I'm Eating This Week...

Coffee cake and green tea are my go to breakfast of choice these days. Comfort food for days. Oh and adult coloring books have to be one of the greatest inventions of all time. Are you hooked, too? 

What I am not eating this week are these sweet potato fries. It started off with great intentions, I promise, but the broil setting got the best of our dinner Friday night. Buffalo Wild Wings take out for the win. 

What I'm Reminiscing About

Being in Bay View, Michigan with this man. His family has a lake cottage and have been going there on vacations for as long as anyone can remember. We even got engaged there. Such a special place for us. 

I have been pondering going back to school lately so I have been doing a lot of reminiscing about my time spent at Purdue and graduation. 

What I'm Loving

1//2//3//4//5

1+ If I had that pizza maker I would be eating pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

2+ Homemade lattes are such a fun touch to my morning routine.

3+ Anything Nate Berkus is welcome in my home, especially this rug I am swooning over.

4+ Including this side table. It's like Nate just knows exactly what my home needs. Can't wait to get this baby in the mail later this week and make my living room it's new home! 

5+ The PERFECT spring jacket. I am obsessed with Army green and I can't wait to pair this with a light pink pursue and scarf for chilly spring days. 

What We've Been Up To

We are keeping our weekly Taco Johns lunch dates as classy as ever with way too much Mountain Dew, tons of uncontrollable flyways (my poor neglected hair!), and an average of 5 tacos each. These are some of my favorite days in this season of our life and I want to remember them forever. 

Our sweet Bentley graduated from his Puppy Training Class on Sunday. Poor thing looks terrified. I think he is still having nightmares about this graduation cap I forced him to wear. I sure do love these two boys an awful lot, though. 

What I'm Dreading

Going to the dentist. I don't know why it intimidates me, but it certainly does. 

What I'm working on

Decorating for Easter and using these three pictures as my inspiration. There is just something about pastels and fresh flowers that make my heart pitter patter a bit faster. Hopefully pulling out the spring decor will bring the warm weather here to stay.

What I'm Excited About

WARM WEATHER!!!! This weekend we were able to sit on the balcony and play a little Boggle, Rummy, and Scrabble and it was glorious. Summer days are in the future friends and I could not be more ecstatic. I am definitely a warm weather gal, so days like these makes my heart happy.

What I'm Watching/Reading

Shark Tank! Am I the only one obsessed with this show? Once I hear the first sales pitch I am instantly sucked in. 

Why I am addicted to this show, I don't know? It isn't my normal TV show type,  but I can't deny the fact that I binged watched the entire first 2 seasons on Netflix when I was home sick with a sinus and double ear infection a few weeks ago. Something about it is so catchy. 

What I'm Listening To...

Holy Spirit by Francesca Battistelli is on repeat over here. This song continues to energize and encourage me. 

What I'm Wearing..

Fighting off the cold temperatures with my favorite puffer vest from Old Navy. The weather has been so inconsistent here lately, so adding layers has been a huge necessity. 

Cardigans and leopard flats are one of my favorite winter combinations. Love adding a pop of color to my outfit using fun accessories. It adds more visual interest to such simple pieces. 

I could stay in this oversized sweatshirt all day long, well as long as I had a Starbucks latte in hand ;)

Check out this outfit here. It is perfect for Saturday morning walks with my sweet B-Man. Aside from pajamas, workout attire is the only thing I sport on the weekends. Love how the ruffles add a little feminine touch to a sporty outfit. 

Love this little pup so much!! 

What I'm Doing This Weekend

RELAXING!! And enjoying some much needed time with my hubby and pup. We have been on the go a lot lately and David has been traveling for work a ton, so this weekend we are going to embrace our time together. 

What I'm Looking Forward to Next Month 

I am so excited to see my sister and the rest of my family the first weekend in March. I haven't seen them since Christmas so we have lots of catching up to do. There are already a lot of fun things on the agenda! Just can't wait to see some of my favorite humans. 

Excited to read about what you've been up to! Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Wednesday! 

Happy Wednesday, friends! What are you up to?

TOP 5 RUNNING NECESSITIES

Monday's are more fun when you start them with a little motivation, so today, we are doing just that! My dear friend Tori over at A Sweet Life Diary of a Health Nut and I are kicking off our second week of our Motivational Monday Link-Up. Feel free to grab the graphic below and join us! 

Last week I blogged about 5 Ways to Wake Up With Pep in Your Step, and today I am sharing my top 5 running workout necessities:

#1. Cute workout clothes & the best shoe soles for your feet. 

You know the saying, you feel good when you look good? Well, adding a little flair of fun to your workout fashion can give you just the boost of confidence you need to keep pushing through your workout. I am pink obsessed these days and I am swooning over these workout outfits...

1//2//3

1//2//3

However, when it comes to picking out the perfect running shoes, looks can't be the determining factor. It is so important to have shoe soles that compliment your foot type. 

Runner's World gives a step by step tutorial of how to complete the Wet Test to find out what type of shoe soles are best for you. 

Huffington Post reveals 7 questions you should ask yourself when purchasing new running shoes:

+ What is your current fitness level and what are your future aspirations. Are you training for an event? What is the distance? 

+ What injuries have you had and how do they affect your exercise ability?

+ What does your gait look like when you run? 

+ 90% of people that come in to get their shoes fitted are wearing a size to small, so it is important to know how much space you truly need. 

+ Create an adjustment game plan, so your feet can adapt and adjust to the new support system.

+ The midsole is the most important aspect of the shoe. Try to overlook the design and color and find the best fit for you. 

+ Evaluate how your new shoes feel and be willing to make small adjustments next time around. 

#2. A running watch. 

I love to track my progress and work to improving my time and speed. Having a running watch allows me to set goals and have an accurate way of tracking them. This Garmin has been one of my biggest motivators. 

#3. A fun exercise combo. 

As many people know, cardio is great for the heart and coming from a family history of heart disease, so I truly value and understand the importance of including cardio in my weekly workouts. Sometimes though, I just need to mix things up to keep it interesting. I stumbled upon Popsicle Stick Workout Ideas and fell in love. It is the perfect way to add a little spontaneity to my exercise routine and target other areas of the body.

#4. Hydration

Staying hydrated is extremely important, so why not add a fun flair to your H20. Drinking water serves so many purposes in our bodies and making fruit infused water can play important roles, too. For instance, drinking water helps to control our heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, it allows us to remove unwanted waste, and helps us maintain a healthy metabolism. Making infused water can also help with immune defense, heartburn, and fat-burning. Score, score! So drink water, girlfriend!!! It's so important. 

#5. Something to look forward to after workout. 

For me it's a delicious smoothie. Check out my recipe for this Mixed Berry Smoothie here. Thinking about this always helps me sprint a little faster to the finish line.


Happy Monday, friends!!! Thanks for stopping by! XOXO

An InLinkz Link-up

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Another work week has come and gone and I am super excited for the weekend. We have lots going on over here. I am having an event at work tonight that the hubs is joining me for, Bentley Pup is off to the groomers on Saturday before he graduates from Doggy Training School on Sunday, our Nephew's birthday party, and a date night on Sunday to top it all off. What're your weekend plans?

As always, I am linking up with Andrea, Erika, & Narci today to talk about my Friday Favorites! 

First on the list is all things heart shaped. To check out my Valentine's Day Recap Post click here. Homemade pizza is my absolute favorite and it turns out that heart shaped pizza is pretty good, too! ;)

My friend Tori and I are hosting a new link up on Mondays, sharing healthy recipes, exercise ideas, and motivational tips. This Monday I shared 5 Ways I Wake Up With Pep In My Step. My morning routine is one of my favorite parts of my day. Nothing like starting your day off on a positive note. Are you an early riser? 

Purdue has a huge game against IU this weekend and I cannot wait to watch! David's going to the game and I am so jealous. My time at Purdue really is one of my very favorite things. And these friends, they are just the absolute best. Couldn't be more thankful that Purdue led me to each of them. 

These people are my favorite, too. Even from 5 hours away they always make me smile and laugh. Both my brother and sister play basketball in college and this weekend both have their last regular season games. Thanks to technology I plan to watch them take the court via live stream from my couch at home. So proud of these two! 

It's supposed to be in the 60's here this weekend and my heart could not be happier. I see lots of walks outside with the pup in our future, but I'm dreaming of laying outside at one of these pools. 

 Hope you have a wonderful weekend, everyone!