Happy, Healthy Freshman Year

We've all heard of the "Freshman 15". Sometimes it turns out to be the "Freshman 20". No one wants to gain extra pounds as they enter the next chapter of their life, but without knowing the causes or some tips to avoid it, it can happen.

First the Causes....
This is not an all inclusive list. Also I shouldn't have to mention it but, I am not a doctor. 

1. Over-eating- Indulging more often in high calorie foods such as pizza, fried food, and ice cream.

2. Malnutrition- Skipping meals is not a good thing!

3. Alcohol Consumption- Check the labels if you don't believe me. Alcohol has WAY more calories than I ever imagined.

4. Stress- This should be an obvious one. Starting your new life in a new place, professors, tests, finals, projects, papers, etc.

Now, the Tips!

1. Drink water- Invest in an acrylic tumbler and a reusable water bottle. The tumbler you can use when you're in your dorm room and the water bottle you can take with you to classes. If you're not a fan of water or just want to change it up try adding some Crystal Light On-The-Go Drink Mix, Mio Water Enhancer, or Vitamin Water Zero Drops. Lemons, cucumbers and other fruits can be cut up and tossed in water as well.

2. Starbucks has calories too! It's almost a staple to drink coffee in college. The groggy mornings, early morning classes, late night study sessions, and those cool Fall nights. Just remember that those calories add up. Choose low calorie versions with no whip cream. Use Starbucks as a treat after acing your Biology midterm!

3. Don't depend on the dining hall for all your meals. Plan ahead and get quick and healthy options you can prepare yourself in your dorm room. Bagels, oatmeal, and eggs for example are quick and healthy breakfast options. Don't forget you can change up your toppings too.

4. Exercise. It seems simple enough but many students complain they do not have time. Most campuses have a gym, use it. Use the gym as your study break! Other easy ways to get in some exercise are: wear running shoes and jog to your classes, invest in a yoga mat-easy toning in your dorm room, or take a physical education class.

5. De-Stress. Take mental breaks from studying cramming for that test. Visit local attractions, join a club, GO GREEK!, and attend socials. It helps meeting people that are feeling the same way you are about being away from home, struggling through a class, etc. Maybe you'll meet your new workout partner.

The Dorm Room Diet

Make your supporters proud and your haters jealous!

xoxo Gwen

The Recipe Club {Chocolate Icebox Cake}

Some of you might remember I read The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel awhile back and decided that I would attempt the recipes throughout the story and blog about them. Today is the first official post of the series.

I've never made an icebox cake before, but I will attempt the first recipe in the book (page 14), Chocolate Icebox Cake.

Chocolate Icebox Cake

Recipe

5 simple ingredients

Now I have to admit that my intention was to follow the recipes precisely and decide if they were successful or not, but here I am first recipe in the series changing it up. Instead of the log form mentioned in the book I went with the traditional cake layer method (as you will see in the following pictures).

I used my Magic Bullet to do the mixing.

Traditional cake layer method.

Cookies then cream mixture, then another layer of cookies and cream

Topped with mini chocolate chips

Mine chilled in the refrigerator for approximately 9 hours before I had the first piece.

Verdict....So Delicious!

 xoxo Gwen

Ice Cream Cones

When I happen to have spare time I search for inspiration. I often find myself clicking on image after image and pinning it to my Summertime board on Pinterest. I'm so excited summer is here and so far I am loving the warm weather and sunshine. While ice cream cones have yet to make it to my board they are all over Pinterest! Today after working for 5 hours and then heading straight to class for another 2 hours I left school and headed straight to Cold Stone Creamery. I ended up with the coffee lovers in a chocolate dipped waffle cone. Surprisingly I did not enjoy the cone as much as I thought I would, but goodness me the ice cream was divine!

I didn't get a picture of my ice cream waffle cone I was too busy shoveling it in my mouth. Instead take a look at some images I found on Pinterest.

 

 

Don't these images just scream Summer?!

Don't leave just yet, it gets better. Kathy Strahs over at Panini Happy shares a recipe on how to make ice cream cones on a panini press. Or you can head to Design Love Fest and find out how to make your own beautiful and delicate waffle cones.

Via

And if you don't have the patience to be in the kitchen just stop by your favorite shop selling this sweet treat. It's sure to brighten your whole afternoon (or morning, or evening for that matter).

xoxo Gwen

Friday Night Cocktail Hour

I recently saw an episode of Bar Rescue with Jon Taffer featuring a failing bar named Characters renamed and re-branded into MoonRunners Saloon. I don't know how well they're doing now, but I do know that one of the signature drinks The Moon Runner sounds really good!  Stir one up tonight or any night. Share your pics with me on Instagram by tagging me @lavendermud.

The Moon Runner

1 oz. Moonshine
2 oz. Root Beer
2 dashes Vanilla Extract
0.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
Garnish with Lemon Peel

Check them out:

MoonRunners Saloon

1506 US Highway 70 W

Garner NC 27529

xoxo Gwen

Asparagus Custard Tart

This Easter my fiance's mom cooked everything for Easter lunch/dinner.  All she asked was I contribute a vegetable dish.  Who better to point me in the right direction than Martha Stewart?  I decided to attempt the asparagus custard tart.  I love asparagus and I love flaky crusts so it sounded like a winning combo to me.  You can find Martha's recipe here.  I followed the recipe to a "T".  Same ingredients, same cheeses, then only difference was I added 5 minutes at the end to set the custard a bit more.  It turned out so good!  Seriously yummy!

Wonderful flaky crust

1/2 cup each Goat cheese & Gruyere cheese

Asparagus tips tossed in olive oil

Custard in first

Then cheeses and topped with the tips of asparagus

Finished Asparagus Custard Tart

It had a lovely green shade, perfect for spring. Again, it was so delicious!  I'm sure this would be a great addition to any brunch or spring holiday meal.  It might even become an Easter tradition for me.

xoxo Gwen

Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower

"It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle."

Seriously I've never been a fan of diets or the lifestyle of a diet. I have gone vegetarian a few times, I've fasted, and I have tried meat alternatives.  I always seem to fail because I usually go "all in". I don't take baby steps. I leap! Needless to say yes, I am a meat eater.  I feel like it's MEA (Meat Eaters Anonymous). I don't eat meat daily but it is in my diet.  Why? Because that's the way it's been my whole life (minus the few vegetarian stages I went through).  Needless to say I am trying to once again steer away from meat and picking up new, fresh recipes featuring fruits, vegetables, and spices in a different way.  In fact one of my sorority sisters made a veggie lasagna for initiation night and it was fabulous!  I'm so grateful she shared the recipe.  I can't wait to try making it.

I need easy and quick things too.  I am always on the go, have a very busy schedule and I have found that's been one of my greatest downfalls when trying to stick with it. Pinterest to the rescue!  Recently I found a recipe for Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower via The Snarky Chickpea Blogger.

Last night I made some and it was delicious.  All I did was cut up a head of cauliflower and tossed it with buffalo sauce.  Then I baked it in the oven for 25 mins on 425.  To check out the original recipe by The Snarky Chickpea just click on the link above.

xoxo Gwen

Julie & Julia (My Version)

If you have not seen the movie you can read about it here.  It really is a cute movie though. This movie is my inspiration to do my own version using The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel.  

The Recipe Club is a story of two friends that over the years exchange letters and emails along with a recipe.  The story is much more than the recipes themselves, but they fit in with the story and often have fitting names.  The book contains 82 recipes and I have not decided how I will tackle the dishes, but it is something I want to try.

xoxo Gwen

My Journey with Yoga

I started taking yoga classes over 2 years ago.  It really is quite amazing the journey you take with your body, mind, and soul.  At least that's what it has been for me.  No, I haven't lost a ton of weight (or any weight that I know of), but to me it wasn't completely about losing weight.
Yes, I am overweight and could stand to lose a few pounds (OK more than a few), but I feel like I finally have my mind, body, and spirit headed down the path to wellness.  This semester we started studying Ayurveda and there is a ton of information.  I am absolutely loving it!

Through a series of tests I have determined that I am a Kapha (dosha) and with that comes a certain lifestyle and diet that will help keep me in balance.  It of course is a work in progress, and honestly for the first time I am OK with that.  I have been staying inspired via Instagram and the wonderful yogi community there.

I have also collected some more quotes to add to my yoga journal and worked on my Yoga Pinterest Board.  You should definitely check it out if you're interested in yoga at all or Ayurveda.

And then of course I have been adding things to my diet and trying to new recipes catered to my dosha.

Masala Tea {homemade}

Kapha Dinner {sauteed eggplant with sunflower seeds}

Beauty Recipe to balance my kidneys {Ginger Scrub}

Take care of yourself.  Remember all good things do not happen overnight.  It's a journey and you're suppose to enjoy it.

xoxo Gwen