Sunday is Maskday!!

One of my favorite days of the week is Sunday. First off, because PostSecret is published on Sundays- WOOHOO!! Second, because I always take Sundays to relax, rejuvenate, and prepare for the week ahead! One way I accomplish this is by applying a deep-clean mask to my face every Sunday. I love to keep my skin looking fresh and clean, and it just feels amazing! As much as I would love the $17 alba face mask, I currently have been busy a cheap $3 mask from CVS. It lasts a couple months, and works very well. I always set Sundays aside as my mask day so that I do not apply my masks too often or too seldom. Applying a mask too often will just dry out your skin, and no offense, but that just looks nasty. Once a week leaves you with the perfect deep-clean your pores need! I encourage you to make it a weakly routine in order to benefit both your skin and yourself! If you are super busy, you can just apply the mask while getting your studying done or while eating a meal. If you have an easy day ahead, then just relax, apply your mask, paint your nails, and watch a good movie :)

Are We in Third Grade Again??

One of my all-time favorite workouts is jump roping. When I was training for swimming, jump roping was always incorporated into our weights and plyos circuit. I used to think it was sooo third grade- isn't that just what all the kids do on the playground?? It is actually a great workout though! It really gets your heart rate up, and trust me- it is HARD. All of your leg muscles will get the workout they need, and even your arms (particularly your traps) will feel it. You may be surprised how hard it is when you first get started, but if you slowly work your way up, I promise you won't regret it. It is a quick, fun way to get in a nice workout without having to leave the comfort of your home. I usually grab my jump rope and do a few sets on my back patio and boy can I feel it.

For my birthday this year, my mom gave me a new jump rope with weighted handles (when I first opened it, I ACTUALLY thought I was eight). However, it is one of the best presents I have ever gotten! All throughout high school though I used a jump rope I had ordered online off of lifelineusa.com. It lasted many years, and I still use it every once in a while. The one downfall is that when you wear it out, the beads start flying off in all directions! For a cheap, quality jump rope though, I would definitely recommend it.

Coconut! Who had coconut?!

First of all, I really hope that everyone got that Rat Race reference! If not, then you must take a couple hours of your day and watch that movie- I promise you won't regret it :)

Anyways, I did not get on here to talk about Rat Race. If you have read my previous posts, you heard me talk about coconut water, or "Nature's Sports Drink". It naturally has electrolytes and a TON of potassium, so it is great for a post-workout drink! (or during-workout?). Well, seeing as I am a picky eater, I was not exactly a fan. However, I found fun ways to mix it up by pouring some in my tea or in a smoothie so that I can get all the nutrients without the horrid taste. This morning I decided to try a different flavor and see if it was any better- it's always worth a try!! I grabbed the passion fruit zico from plum market, popped in a straw and sipped it after my workout this morning... WINNER!!! It definitely has won my vote! So I encourage you- if there is a healthy treat that you are not a fan of, keep on trying different flavors or brands, or get creative and mask it into another treat!

Go Greek

Last summer my mother introduced me to greek yogurt. At first I thought it was sort of gross, but I soon learned to love it and am now OBSESSED with it! Greek yogurt has a ton of protein, unlike regular yogurt, and is naturally low fat. It is a lot thicker than regular yogurt, but tastes amazing when mixed with fruit. My mom generally eats the plain, but personally I prefer the pomegranate or vanilla. They make for a great breakfast, snack, or smoothie throw-in. Greek yogurt is generally more expensive, but if you find coupons and stock up when it is on sale, it is well worth it!

Veggie Sushi :)

I have never been a fan of sushi. Mainly because tuna fish is the only kind of fish I have ever eaten, so why would I go and eat some raw nasty stuff?? Well just this year, my friend David made me go to one of his favorite sushi restaurants. I was a little hesitant, but I figured I would give it a shot! I ended up ordering cucumber and avocado sushi, and I loved it!

I still do not eat sushi very often, but every once in a while I will grab it from the grocery store for a quick, healthy meal. I recently discovered this vegetable sushi from Plum Market, and it is absolutely heavenly! The sushi is made with brown rice, so it is very healthy and has all natural ingredients! Personally, I eat it plain, but it also comes with a packet of low sodium soy sauce which is great to spice it up. This particular one has cucumber, avocado, asparagus, and red pepper. At first I thought it sounded like a weird combination, but it was the only veggie one I could find, so I bought it.

Glorious.

It is literally one of the best things I have ever tasted. For 12 rolls it is originally $8, which is kind of a lot. However, if you go in the evening, the "after hours special pricing" is only $5.50. Also, they generally have 10-15% off coupons in the mail if you hold on to them! I ended up paying about $5 for the most delicious veggie sushi I have ever had. Quite a steal if you ask me!!

Peanut Butter, Banana, and Honey

When I got back from my workout the other day, I was not super hungry, but definitely needed a sandwich to hold me over for a few hours. Lately, I have been eating MorningStar chic'n nuggets a lot, but I wanted to avoid too much soy, so I figured a peanut butter sandwich would do! Since I do not like jelly, one of my favorite sandwiches to make it a peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich.

Ever since my sophomore year in high school, I have always eaten natural peanut butter. At first, just looking at it kind of creeped me out, but I figured it doesn't hurt to try! Natural peanut butter is a lot healthier for you since it does not have all the added chemicals and preservatives, and it tastes so much better! Since I switched to natural, I can not even look at "regular" peanut butter anymore. Personally, I have always gotten the Organic All Natural peanut butter from Trader Joe's. Even when I am at school (which does not have a Trader Joe's for a 60 mile radius), I make my mom mail me my Trader Joe's peanut butter. It is the best I have ever had, and I refuse to switch brands!

Another trick I have learned over the years is that even though a loaf of bread may say "wheat", it does not mean that it is whole wheat. Often times producers will try to trick you, because white flour is still "wheat". I now only buy 100% whole wheat bread, in order to ensure I am truly getting the necessary ingredients! Personally, I love the sandwich thins because they are nutritious and only 100 calories each! They make for great sandwiches, toast, and hamburger buns.

Hold the Mayo!

My mom introduced me to this new way of making tuna fish this summer, and it is absolutely AMAZING! I had been looking for something to replace the mayonnaise in my tuna to make it healthier, but I was plumb out of ideas until my mom gave me this crazy idea: hummus. Now at first I looked at her like she had gone insane- that just sounded nasty! Little did I know, the tuna she had put in the fridge that I had previously been munching on was made with hummus!

I made this variant of tuna today for lunch and threw it on top of my salad, and it was both healthy and delicious, so I figured I would share!!

Generally, people add a few vegetables to their tuna to add a little flavor and some crunch. With this recipe, however, I cut up a ton of vegetables and then add some tuna on top. Therefore, rather than having a gooey mess like they serve in restaurants, you get several servings of vegetables while still getting the protein and without too much mercury! I add a dash of pepper on top to spice it up a bit, and viola!

This tuna is very good eaten straight out the bowl, on top of a salad, with pasta, or even on a sandwich. Since it makes a lot more than the standard tuna with mayo, I put the leftovers in a tupperware in the fridge so I can enjoy it again tomorrow :)