Wanderlust: 5 Years

Good day everybody! I hope today finds you well. I've spent most of the day working and trying to clear my mind. All day I've had writers block and I just couldn't concentrate at all. Now that I have spent the day driving around, sending emails and calling people I have found myself yet again thinking about traveling...

 

 

I had breakfast this morning with my friend Whitney. It was so nice to come in late and just spend the morning catching up with her and learning about a new book she is reading. We then spoke about traveling and adventure. I should have known better - this gets my mind going a hundred miles per hour. I start thinking about all of the places I want to go and see in the next 5-10 years. So I decided I want to write a list of all the places that I want to experience in the next 5 years. This was hard but I finally made a list. I decided I will travel to at least 2 new places per year. Preferably in the Spring/Summer and then again in Fall/Winter. This will be tough since I will be making trips to Colorado and Seattle as well but I'm determined to make this happen. I want to experience the world, I want to travel and meet all kinds of wonderful people. I don't think I can actually make the list because so much will change between now and then so I'm keeping my options open.

You can't plan life so I'm not going to plan trips. I'm going to let the world show me it's self one day at a time. It might be a family trip to Martha's Vineyard or backpacking across Europe with some of my best friends. What ever the trip I'm always ready to go. I'm ready to live and take it all in! I don't include my upcoming trip on this, well okay maybe a little bit but since this will be my third trip to Seattle it's not a new place anymore. I'm starting to call it a vacation home, I'm sure my uncle would love that. I say travel as much as you can while you can. I'm sure he would agree. Well it's about time I get off of here and get back to my oh so fabulous life. Which tonight will consist of a high school volleyball game, laundry, project runway, a couple chapters from my new book and maybe an episode of Grey's before bed. It's a must!

                                                                                             - Erica

Drop 10 + 7 Day Detox | Super Foods

Good morning everyone! I hope this Wednesday finds you well! I'm halfway though my detox and I'm feeling great! I wanted to post another thing from my detox and let you know how beneficial these things can be not only or when you're detoxing but in your everyday life. Let us know if you have any questions and update us on your progress! We love to hear from you!

  

Kale

Its vitamin C has been shown to rev

fat burning; plus, kale can turn on your

natural detoxifying enzymes to help

ward off lung and stomach cancers.

Cherries

They're like natural energy bombs:

Anthocyanins help muscles use sugar for

energy, and tart cherries have melatonin,

a sleep-regulating hormone.

Yogurt

Probiotics—healthy bacteria in both regular

and Greek yogurt—aid digestion. And the hit

of calcium may fire up fat melting and

discourage fat storage.

Almond Butter

Fiber in this nutty spread lowers the number

of calories you absorb from meals, so they

pass clean through your system.

Dark Chocolate

Antioxidants in the sweet stuff appear to lower

levels of the stress hormone cortisol (linked

with belly fat) and aid circulation.

Result: glowing skin.

Blueberries

Nature's miracle pill? They're full of fiber

that helps pull fat through the digestive

tract. Plus, blueberries contain antioxidants

that speed fat burning.

Olive Oil

Trading out the saturated fat in butter for

the monounsaturated in olive oil may help

you feel more energized and switch on fat-burning genes.

 

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Make sure to check our the rest of SELF

 

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Have a great Wednesday and make sure you follow us on twitter @peachesNplanks

 

                                                                 - Erica

Drop 10 + 7 Day Detox | Fuel + Recipes

Smoothies Start your morning with a delicious, filling shake. Each has 350 calories and one or more of the superfoods proven to rev your metabolism.

Meals Other detoxes have you drinking every calorie through a straw. We like to chew. Plus, deprivation can lead to pig-outs. So you'll also get lunch and dinner (roughly 450 cals each), plus a snack (about 150) every day. They all contain those calorie-incinerating superfoods, highlighted in the recipes.
And more You have another 200 free daily calories to spend on anything you crave—dessert, booze, seconds. That's why we call them happy calories.

Your Booster

This 17-calorie shot packs a wallop of antioxidants, and research suggests its secret ingredient (vinegar!) may aid weight loss. Toss one back when you want a little pick-me-up, once or twice a day.
Detox Elixir Combine 2 tbsp fresh OJ, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1/8 tsp powdered ginger and a pinch each of turmeric and cayenne pepper. Serve cold.

• Breakfast

  Cherry-Vanilla Smoothie »
  Sweet Peach Smoothie »
  Mega Greens Smoothie »
  Cocoa-Banana Smoothie »
  Pineapple-Kale Smoothie »
  Blueberry Smoothie »
  Strawberry-Banana Smoothie »
  
  

  Dinner

  Shrimp Tacos With Blueberry-Avocado Salsa »
  Rosemary-Lemon Chicken
  With Roasted Broccoli
  and Potatoes »
  Roast Pork With Cherry
  Chutney, Asparagus
  and Barley »
  Garlic-Ginger Tofu
  Sauté With Rice »
  Citrusy Salmon With Kale
  and Barley »
  Steak in Mole With
  Corn Salad »
  Loaded Chicken Salad »

• Lunch

  Vegan Rice Bowl »
  Lemony Salmon and
  Spinach Salad »
  Veggie Lover's Wrap »
  Tuna Waldorf Salad Sandwich »
  Cherry and Toasted
  Pecan Pilaf »
  Asian Chicken Wraps »
  Bento Box »
  
  

  Snack

  Fruit and Nuts »
  Pear With Ginger-Almond Butter »
  Cucumbers, Pita and Lemon-Garlic Yogurt Dip »
  Tangy Chickpea Toss »
  Blueberry-Vanilla Cereal »
  Curried Kale Chips »
  Choco-Almond Butter Fondue With Banana »

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Check out SELF online for more tips and inspiration!

 

 

                                                                  - Erica





Drop 10 + 7 Day Detox | Shopping List

Alright ladies! Here it is, the 7 day shopping list for the amazing DROP 10 + 7 DAY DETOX from SELF magazine. Look it over, print it out and head to your local market to pick up the needed items. Check back tomorrow for the recipes that you can follow along with. The are super simple, yummy and best of all healthy!

 

 

Fresh Produce

• Apple (1/4 cup chopped)
• Asparagus (10 spears)
• Avocado (3/4 chopped)
• Baby carrots (1/2 cup)
• Baby potatoes (1 cup quartered)
• Baby spinach (2 cups)
• Bananas (2)
• Blueberries (2 cups)
• Broccoli (1 cup florets)
• Carrots (1/3 cup shredded, 1/3 cup chopped, 1 cup sticks)
• Celery (2 tbsp plus 1/4 cup chopped)
• Cherries (1 cup)
• Corn (1/3 cup cooked kernels)
• Cucumber (1 cup chopped)
• English cucumbers (2 cups spears)
• Fresh cilantro (3 tbsp chopped)
• Fresh ginger (2 1/4 tsp chopped)
• Fresh rosemary (2 tsp chopped)
• Garlic (1 clove plus 4 tsp chopped)
• Kale (7 1/2 cups)
• Lemons (for 10 tsp fresh lemon juice and 1/2 lemon zested)
• Lime (for 3 3/4 tsp juice)
• Mushrooms (1/2 cup sliced)
• Onion (1/2 cup chopped)
• Parsley (1 tbsp)
• Peaches (2 cups slices)
• Pear (1/2 medium)
• Red bell pepper (1/3 cup chopped)
• Red onion (1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp chopped)
• Romaine lettuce (4 leaves plus 1/2 cup chopped)
• Shelled edamame (1 1/2 cups)
• Spinach (1 cup)
• Swiss chard (1 cup)
• Tomatoes (3/4 cup plus 4 tsp chopped plus 3 slices)

Condiments and Spices

• Apple cider vinegar (1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp)
• Balsamic vinegar (3 tbsp)
• Black pepper
• Cayenne pepper (pinch)
• Chili powder (2 1/2 tsp)
• Cinnamon (1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp)
• Cumin (1/2 tsp)
• Curry powder (1/4 tsp)
• Dried thyme (3/4 tsp)
• Garlic powder (1 1/2 tsp plus 1/8 tsp)
• Ground turmeric (1/8 tsp plus a pinch)
• Honey (3/4 tsp)
• Low-sodium chicken broth (1/3 cup plus 2 tbsp)
• Olive oil (6 tbsp plus 1/2 tsp)
• Oregano (1/4 tsp)
• Paprika (1/4 tsp)
• Powdered ginger (1 1/8 tsp)
• Red pepper flakes (pinch)
• Red wine vinegar (1 tbsp)
• Reduced-sodium soy sauce (2 tsp)
• Rice vinegar (1 tsp)
• Salt
• Sesame oil (1 1/2 tsp)
• Vanilla extract (1/2 tsp)
• Vegetable oil cooking spray

Bakery / Carbs

• Corn tortillas (2)
• Whole-grain flatbread-style crackers (4, such as WASA Fiber Crispbread)
• Whole-grain tortilla (one 10-inch)
• Whole-wheat pita (1 1/2 6-inch pita)

Beverages

• Orange juice (1/2 cup plus 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp.)

Dairy / Refrigerated Goods

• Hummus (1/4 cup)
• Light mayonnaise (1 tbsp)
• Nonfat plain Greek yogurt (6 oz plus 2 tbsp)
• Nonfat plain yogurt (4 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp)
• Unsweetened almond milk (1/2 cup)
• Unsweetened vanilla almond milk (3 1/2 cups plus 1/3 cup)

Frozen Food

• Frozen bananas (1 small, 1/2 large)
• Frozen cherries (1 1/2 cups)
• Frozen pineapple (2 cups pieces)

Meat / Poultry / Fish / Proteins

• Chicken thigh (4 oz skinless)
• Crumbled tempeh (4 oz)
• Eggs (2 hard-boiled)
• Extra firm tofu (1/4 block)
• Pork tenderloin (5 oz)
• Roasted chicken breast (3 oz)
• Salmon (3 oz, plus 4 oz steak)
• Shrimp (5 oz)
• Silken tofu (6 oz)
• Top sirloin steak (5 oz)

Nonperishables /
Canned Goods

• Albacore white tuna in water (1/2 2 oz can)
• Almond butter (6 1/2 tbsp)
• Barley (2 1/2 cups cooked)
• Black beans (1/3 cup)
• Brown rice (1 1/4 cups cooked)
• Canned chickpeas (1/3 cup)
• Cocoa powder (1 1/2 tbsp)
• Dark chocolate (1 1/3 oz)
• Dark chocolate chips (2 tsp)
• Kind Healthy Grains Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds granola (1/3 cup)
• Marinara sauce (2 tbsp)

Nuts / Seeds / Dried Fruit

• Chopped toasted pecans (1 tbsp)
• Chopped walnuts (1 tbsp)
• Dried cherries (1 tbsp)
• Raisins (1 tbsp)
• Roasted, unsalted cashews (6)
• Sliced almonds (2 tbsp)
• Sunflower seeds (1 tbsp)

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Let us know if you have any questions or great recipes to add with these yummy ingredients!

 

 

                                                                                      - Erica

Drop 10 + 7 Day Detox | Self Magazine

I'm obsessed with SELF! They are constantly having the biggest celebs on the cover and the best tips on every area of life. It's never full of trash or gossip so you really get great articles on every page. Each month you can find healthy and yummy recipes, new fitness moves to help tone your body, metabolism boosters and loads of skin advice. It really has something for everyone and isn't ridiculously priced. Right now you can visit their site and subscribe for about $1 per issue!! 

 

 

 

I was cruising their website today and saw that they are doing a detox. I've been looking for a good one and thought why not give it a try. I joined and was immediately surprised to find out that it's FREE! Who doesn't love free?! It comes with daily workouts, a shopping list, recipes, and you can even sign up to get daily motivation emails to help you achieve your goal! I'm printing out my shopping list right now and I'm about to head to the store. There are a few things on the list that I wont be getting and I will be subbing in a meal replacement shake or just having one of the items twice. Tomorrow starts Day 1 and I'm so pumped. I know lately I've been eating some not so great things so detoxing and cleaning out my system can help me get back on the right path. Do any of you have a go to detox or regimen that helps you shed some unwanted lbs or just cleanse your system? If so let us know! Your choice might be our next go to!

 

                                                                                      - Erica

Wanderlust: Seattle & Vancouver

This time last year I was returning home from a two week long trip to the Pacific Northwest. I spent time in Seattle and Vancouver with my cousin Kelsey and my uncle Greg. It was my second time to Seattle and it was long over due. The weather in the summer is amazing! It's never too cool or too warm, everything is always just right. The city it's self is so diverse, with modern boutiques and businesses to mom and pop restaurants and of course the public market. You can spend weeks there and still not experience everything. After spending a week in Seattle we made the short drive across the boarder to Vancouver. It was my first time being out of the country so I was very excited. I was very surprised to discover how beautiful the city was. Nestled in a valley surrounded by water and mountains was so incredible. Downtown is a wonderful mix of skyscrapers and French / European architecture. I was pleased to discover how much the city relied on water transportation. The daily use of water taxi's, buses and sailboats was a great change of scenery. The city itself has so much to offer anyone at any age.

Ever since last summer I've been pining to go back. It's a city that you will want to visit over and over again for the rest of your life. This could possibly be the wanderlust kicking in but I was itching to plan another trip but summer seem'd too far away. So my cousin, Kelsey and I decided to go up for Christmas this year! I have only been in the summer so I am thrilled to see what the city will look like coated in Christmas lights. We will be there for almost 2 weeks and have already made plans to see the Nutcracker and Beethoven's 9th at the Seattle Symphony. 

                                                                             Until then I will be distracted by thumbing through my pictures from the previous trips and browsing fall / winter wardrobe must have's. Who know's when the perfect picture op might come up. I can even keep my fingers crossed for a possible Grey's sighting. I know every once in a while they fly up to film some outdoor scene's. I would FREAK if I got to watch or even meet some of them. I might go ahead and call that in so be expecting some pictures to be uploaded that day. Is there any place that you guys have been before and loved in Seattle? Let us know! You might even see it in the post when we are there. I mean who doesn't love a little shout out every now and then.

One of the guys sailing the boat was very cute, so I took a little pic.

                                                                                         - Erica

Monday Rehab

 

 

Happy Monday everyone!! I hope everyone had a good weekend! Some of my family came into town for the weekend so we made a short road trip to Stillwater, Oklahoma where you can find Oklahoma State University. My whole family has attend so we went back to eat at Eskimo Joes, known as "Stillwater's jumpin' little Juke Joint". It's always a family tradition.

 

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The rest of the weekend was filled with cheat meals, snacks and fun times with friends and family. Not trying to get down on myself I get right back at it today. Every meal and snack today was healthy and clean which helped give me much needed energy for the bootcamp session I did today. I also got to enjoy a little healthy treat after my workout. The pink Monster Rehab that is only 10 calories and it's made with mostly pink lemonade and tea, which could be called an Annette Palmer :) My main meal for lunch was a new vegan protein powder that I decided to try. It was simply mixed with 8oz-10oz of cold water. I thought it tasted really well and it filled me up until dinner. I am a big fan of the farmers market Sprouts and while I was there last week I discovered that they sell protein in sample packets. So I was able to buy about 5 different brands and flavors to try out before I make the plunge and buy the big tub. So I'm back on the healthy wagon, and looking forward to my yummy meals planned out for tomorrow!

 

 

                                                                                                              - Erica

Threads

Hi everyone! We are about to enter that lovely time of year that weather is unpredictable. The boutiques have filled their shelves with full on fall and it's still summer temps. We have all had the bad days where we don't have enough clothing or we have too much. You would think that by know we would know better but let's face it, we want to wear what we want to wear. Depending on your climate this probably changes a little bit for you but I guarantee you have experienced this issue. I decided to show you some of my favs that you can do when we have this problem.

 

 

The key is LAYERS, LAYERS, LAYERS! If you couldn't tell I love the jean short with a simple sweater or a simple tee and button up. Then adding a cute scarf, necklace or headband will add a little something extra. Another staple in my closet is a legging, spandex or leather you may choose but make sure you have a pair. You can literally wear them with anything and they look great when worn correctly. What are you favorite in between seasons? Let us know!!

 

                                                                     

                                                                                                - Erica

Exciting Updates!!

Hi everyone! I'm so excited to announce that we have been updating and are adding team members!! Take a look through the new tabs and check back for updates through out the week.

 

 

HAPPY AUGUST!

 

 

There is about 140 days until Christmas and we are already dreaming of the layers that come along with winter and fall. Don't pack away your swim suit just yet, plan a fun weekend trip before the end of summer to give your tan one last kick before Pasty Paula comes out to play. Plan a fun bonfire, BBQ, pool day & unfreeze your tanning membership. Browse Pinterest for some fun ideas :)

 

 

I realize that some of you might be moving on into full adult life but for those of you that are heading to university in the fall, I am excited to announce that I'm joining you this year! It's going to be tough to keep up with everything so that's why I've got my team to help out when things get crazy. The best part of my new team is the diversity of everyone. They are each at different stages in their life and I'm sure most of you can relate to each one of them. They will each get to post once a month about anything they want. I so excited for you all to get to know them!

 

 

Check back in a couple days for more updates and follow us on twitter @peachesNplanks

                                                                                              - Erica