by Erica Johnson

Short on time? Always running late? Or feeling like you’re pulled in about 20 directions at the same time? Think that many of us feel at least one of these attributes at one point or another…so what’s the solution? Time Management! To some those two words may sound impossible, to others it’s part of their every day life. For me, I’d like to think I fall under the uber organized “planner” with my calendars and to do lists that keep things in order and place.

Although I’m far from perfect on time management, I’d like to think some of my tid-bits may be helpful to jump starting a time management gameplan:

• Keep a calendar (or two). My calendar…it literally holds my life in it. I have two that I keep; one on my phone (that keeps all MAJOR daily time blocks which directly impact my personal availability) and a physical spiral bound calendar that keeps daily assignments, due dates, other team member’s events, etc. I can’t live without my calendars. And for anyone trying to work on time management, it’s a must.

• Invest in Post It Notes. If only I owned stock in the Post-It Note company for how many I go through…large sizes, small sizes, square sizes…Post It Notes are my second key thing to time management. I always have a “hot list” going on my desk for the week…but then use small post it notes to flag KEY things that are a must do for the day or will post a small one on the back of my phone to remember things I need to do at home that night. It keeps a key reminder in front of me and is a huge reward when you get to throw it away because the task is complete!

• Block Out Time. This is one area I need to work on more, but it completely works if you make it a priority…if you’re an on the go gal like I am, you’re constantly being asked for your opinion here or there; to approve or sign this or that; pop into a strategic meeting or follow up with a donor/patient/partner and the next thing you know the day is gone. However, when I do take the time to block out my day (close my door to focus on one project until it’s done) it’s amazing how much gets accomplished. Vs. when I’m freely available to anyone/everyone 24/7, my time gets pulled and my Post It Notes don’t get accomplished. So block out time, focus on a project, accomplish it and move on.

Time management truly is a choice. We all have friends that are in constant chaos or never seem to get tasks accomplished and yet they’ll complain that they don’t have time…however they sure are busy talking/texting on their phones or getting their nails done, etc. When handled properly, time management is something that will become easy and part of daily living allowing for free time to go get your nails done and still have checked off your to do list! It’s very possible and will make your chaos, seem much more organized and easy to manage. (Now back to my to-do list…still have some Post it Notes to complete before I can call it a day!)

My Go-to Post-Workout Snacks

by Alix Angelelli

As most of us know, exercise comes with tons of benefits, including increased metabolism. It seems about 30 minutes after a good sweat sesh the tummy rumbles begin. I literally feel like I’m starving (even though I’m definitely not). It’s one of your body’s ways of telling you “Hey we just did this awesome workout now let’s refuel!”

I have 3 go-to snacks I like to eat after working out. When you exercise you are burning calories, tearing muscle fibers, and sweating, so you want to replenish your body with protein, good fats and carbohydrates, and some water.

EAS Advant Edge Milk Chocolate Protein Powder Shake and Fruit

EAS protein is by far my favorite. This protein shakes up well in your shaker bottle and it tastes AH-MAZ-ING. You can mix it with water or milk, but the trick is to mix 1 scoop of the powder with 10 oz. of low-fat chocolate milk. This adds additional protein and healthy fats. I like to eat a piece of fruit with my shake to keep me satisfied until my next meal.

Whole Wheat Bagel Thin with Avocado and Hard boiled Eggs

Bagel Thins are a great alternative to bread in general. They have all the gorgeous chewy deliciousness in a normal bagel with literally 75% less bread. Opt for the whole wheat option to incorporate those good carbohydrates. I like to mash avocado on top of mine and pair it with a hard boiled egg for extra protein. However this bagel thin is your canvas, you could even pair it with a natural nut butter and fruit or low-fat cream cheese and lox!

Turkey Roll-Ups

Turkey roll-ups offer all the protein of a shake with a little more substance. I usually snack on 2-3 roll-ups and I’m not talking old school turkey and cheese. Get creative! My favorite is low-sodium sliced turkey, a spread of low-fat cream cheese and mustard, and a matchstick slice of cucumber.

These are MY personal go-to snacks but they can always be created to fit your unique taste buds, local in season fruits and veggies, and cravings. Be sure to always fully hydrate with about 24-32 oz of water post workout!

Happy snacking!

My fiancé dressed me for a week…here’s what happened

by Alix Angelelli

Remember when you were little and your mom would set out your clothes? The perfect little put-together outfit for the school day. I am (and always have been) a slight control freak, so my mom quit doing that around second grade. But recently I’ve given up all control when it comes to my daily outfit choice.

I have given my fiancé… a MAN… complete control over what I wear for a week. He picks my outfit including shoes and accessories. He also gets to make suggestions when it comes to my hair and make-up (if I can accomplish that look). He has a few rules, 1) it has to be work appropriate and 2) he has to consider my day (i.e. if I have lots of running around I can’t be in my most uncomfortable shoes). So here it is a complete diary with photos on his outfit choices.

Day 1: We had a photo op with our Wine, Women and Shoes 2016 Committee, so I made note to opt for a solid color choice. I loved the outfit, it was comfy and put together. I thought it may be too casual for work but it ended up being perfect! I’ll definitely wear it again.

Day 2: We are both Texas A&M grads, so I was not shocked by his maroon choice for day 2. This dress made me feel flirty and fun and like I can go straight to date night with him. He did a great job at piecing it together and making me feel cute and fun on a Wednesday.

Day 3: Again he stuck with a dress, but it was patterned and he accessorized it a little more. I was really surprised with this whole outfit. He generally sticks with solids and doesn’t step outside of the box with patterns and materials (even in his own daily wear). But he brought it all together.

Day 4: It was Friday at work, which means “casual wear.” I can say this is not my favorite of his choices. I mean it wasn’t bad, but it also was blah. He meant well…keeping it chill and loose and putting me in jeans. But I wanted something more.

Day 5: All the Monday feels were gone when I slipped this on. He made me feel like I am ready for a night out in a coastal town. I feel put together. I feel confident. I feel like summer. I also enjoyed the natural hair recommendation… keeping together the beach babe vibe.

Overall, I loved this experiment. Even on the days when I felt that he was not putting the time and effort into choosing my outfit for the day, he actually was. As a woman I often struggle seeing my own beauty and self worth. These past few days really allowed me to embrace every part of myself. Seeing what he loves and thinks is beautiful about me helped me see strengths and beauties within myself. What we should all keep in mind is that each one of us is beautiful inside and out, and this experiment opened my own eyes to that!

“When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.” -Buddha

Recently my roommate, Emilie, went out of town for the week, and while she didn’t bring me back any souvenirs from El Paso, TX, she did bring back some great ideas. One of my favorite things about Em is that she is a wealth of information and inspiration. Our talks can go from last night’s episode of The Bachelor to how grateful we are for our families and the opportunities we’ve been given. Em brought back a new daily habit that has thankfully rubbed off on me, and I wanted to share it!

Every night before I go to sleep, I reflect on my day. There’s a great app called Notes to Self that gives you a layout and checklist of what to look back on, but I’m old school and like to journal. The goal is to write 3 things you’re grateful for, one reflection of good in your day, and one act of kindness you performed.

These things don’t have to be life changing. The goal is to realize that there’s always something to be grateful for…we just often overlook it. Whether you spilled coffee all over your dress (speaking from personal experience), sat in bumper to bumper traffic, or just had a really bad day, make a point to find the good.

As an example, I’m sharing my reflection from yesterday. I hope this gives you some inspiration and a starting point! To really commit to this, pick an app or buy a new journal and dedicate a specific time every day for reflection. Spending just a few minutes focusing on the positive will remind you what makes you happy and help you develop patterns to repeat those actions every day.

My reflection: “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

My random act of kindness: Texting Sam, my (not-so-little) little brother, and wishing him a happy first day back to school

Three things I’m grateful for: 1) late night decorating with my roommate, 2) people who feel close even when they’re far away, 3) coworkers who make me laugh

by Alix Angelelli

If you have not already read, I am obsessed with food. My life revolves around eating. I’ve noticed that I am my hungriest in the evening. All the noms and the tummy gurgles show up just when I am ready to go to bed. To satisfy these hunger pains, keeping me from a restless sleep, I’ve come up with my top 3 late night snacks.

My midnight snack suggestions do not require a large spoon and pint of ice cream or salty fingers and an empty chip bag. All these snacks are healthy, delicious and full of protein to keep your tummy happy through the night.

Protein Cookie and Low-Fat Chocolate Milk:

This brings you back to being a kid, cuts your sweet tooth and is honestly my go-to late night snack. Lenny and Larry’s The Complete Cookie is the BEST! Each cookie has 16 grams of protein, which keeps you fuller longer. My favorite flavors are the lemon poppyseed and chocolate chip, and I heat them in the microwave for about 15 seconds. The chocolate milk adds more protein, good carbs, and cuts your chocolate cravings.

Low Fat Cottage Cheese and Avocado:

Cottage cheese is my favorite. It’s a chameleon… you can make it sweet, you can make it savory, and it’s always delicious. When I’m not craving sweets at night I love to add half an avocado to ½ cup of fat-free cottage cheese, with a sprinkle of black pepper. You can also add cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, or hot sauce and make it your own.

Trail Mix:

There are two amazing things about trail mix… 1) you can make it with WHATEVER you dream of and 2) you can make it in bulk and just grab a handful on the way to bed. Each week I make (or buy pre-mixed if I’m feeling a little less creative) some trail mix. This week’s is cashews, almonds, and dried cranberries. My fiancé’s favorite mix is with sweet and salty almonds, peanut butter chips, pistachios, and gold fish. Don’t knock it until you try it. Again full of protein and healthy fats, and it only takes a handful!

Late night snacking doesn’t have to be bad. It can actually be beneficial to your body, providing more nutrients to your body and boosting your metabolism. Happy snacking!

by Alix Angelelli

A few months ago my fiancé and I each bought a pair of boxing gloves and punching mitts at our local sporting goods store. I was determined to be the next Ronda Rousey within a month. Ripped and strong and superhero-like. Well… that did not happen, but I did learn how to incorporate some great moves into workouts. Boxing moves tone, tighten, and get your heart pumping.

I enjoy having the gloves and punching mitts. It allows for a bit more resistance and a LOT of stress relief (punching something really hard without physically hurting another person is quite pleasant). However, these moves and workout can be done without any equipment. You can incorporate the moves into your normal workout routine or use for a quick sweat-sesh.

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a professional, so don’t completely rely on me for form advice.
This is the 30-30-30 workout. Basically you do 30 of each boxing move then incorporate another exercise in a set of 30. Some quick tips for boxing moves: keep your middle tight, make your punches quick and strong (think striking like a snake), and keep your opposite, non-punching hand, up in front of your face.

Warm-Up
10 Jumping Jacks
10 Alternating High Kicks
10 Alternating Butt Kicks
Jog in Place 30 seconds

Round 1
30 Jabs Right – 30 Jabs Left – 30 Jumping Jacks
Jabs are short little punches that focus on hitting higher up.

Round 2
30 Upper Cuts Right – 30 Upper Cuts Left – 30 Squats
With upper cuts you are coming up from your hip and punching up.

Round 3
30 Hook Right – 30 Hook Left – 30 Push-ups
Hooks you are literally hooking your arm around to punch, focus on hooking around and hitting the midsection.

Round 4
30 Right Kicks – 30 Left Kicks -30 Duck-Unders
When doing a duck-under get low and squat down like you are going under a fence or hurdle.

There are TONS of examples of boxing workouts on Pinterest and even more fun boxing workouts are popping up everywhere, like 9Round 30 Minute Kickbox Fitness (which Tori and I will be doing for September!) Take your time, listen to your body, and be proud of your strength and accomplishments!

Chia Seed Pudding

Erica Johnson

Sweets…by far my #1 weakness. There are very few sweet treats that I say no to. However, my goal is always to find something that is not only healthy but sweet…from breakfast shakes (see my prior blog post) to after dinner desserts. I’ve been dying to try this Chia Seed Pudding recipe (don’t let the name freak you out) and I put my own twist on it the other night…and all I can say is it’s FANTASTIC!

Not only is it healthy, but packed full of protein and fruit (for this version) too. I’ve had the leftovers already for breakfast one morning and it was equally as delicious. It easily makes four solid servings and you’ll see that I packaged some in fancy glasses for dinner and then also some in small mason jars for snacks/breakfast.

Ingredients:

14 oz Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk

6 tbsp chia seeds

3 tbsp shredded coconut

Organic honey or agave nectar or stevia (adjust amt. depending on preferred sweetness)

1 tsp vanilla extract

fresh mango, diced and chilled

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the almond milk, chia seeds, shredded coconut, honey (or sweetness option) and vanilla extract. Whisk together.

Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes at room temperature.

Whisk again then cover, and refrigerate overnight.

Next morning, layer pudding/fruit in desired serving dishes, alternating levels to desire and top with some shredding coconut for an extra pop.

Serve immediately or keep refrigerated until time to serve.

This variation with mangos and coconut is one of MANY ways that this recipe can be served…you can do it with mixed berries; dark organic chocolate nibs; plain without any additions or with nuts. You will NOT be able to put this dessert down and will be anxious to make the next batch and new version of it…I sure was!!