5 ideas to tackle while social distancing with your dogs.
Vision Boarding 101
I’m back after a very long hiatus. When you write and create content for a living, it’s hard to then come home and write more content for you. In reflecting on my blog thus far, I realized that this blog is more of a day in the life of yours truly. It was such a nice way to remember things that I’ve done in the last couple of years. Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m not accomplishing as much as I would like, personally or professionally. Maybe that’s a side affect of not being in school, or learning anything new in a structured way. But I’m craving something new. But, with that crave, comes waves of insecurity and fear that I won’t succeed. This has been a challenge my entire life. Before I jump, I want to make sure I can jump well, high, and with a successful landing. But life doesn’t actually work that way. Sometimes you have to jump – even when you aren’t ready.
This is what has inspired me to write my first blog post in almost a year. When I’m craving change, my first instinct is to sit down, evaluate and make some goals. I’m more of a visual person, so vision boards work well for me! I only put mine together a week ago, and things are already starting to happen. Call me crazy, but I truly believe that what’s meant to be will be and that everything happens for a reason. However, without a vision and a plan – dreams are just dreams. You still have to take steps (even baby ones) to make your dreams come to life. Here are my 6 best tips for creating your vision board and start making your dreams a reality!
1. Don’t think – just cut
Pull out all of your old magazines that you were planning on recycling anyway and dive straight in. Don’t think too much about this process, just start cutting out pictures, words, phrases, etc that speak to you. You know, kind of like the KonMari method – if that picture sparks joy, cut it out and put it in a pile. You don’t have to use all of the images you select, but it allows your mind to just focus on what truly matters to you.
If you’re doing this online (Pinterest is a great platform for this), then just save as many photos to your board as you can. You’ll reassess afterwards.
2. Tidy your space
Clear space = clear mind. Your working area may have become a bit messy with all the magazine pages. Take 5 mins to clear up your space and get ready for the next part of the process. Gather your board, markers, glue stick, stickers, quotes, inspirational scrap-booking papers, etc that you’ll need to start putting your masterpiece together.
3. Talk is out
I did my most recent vision board with a few family members and friends, and loved having people there talk out why I found my images inspiring. I realized once I went through my photos and starting talking about why I selected it, it made more sense and my goals were becoming clear. If there were photos that I wasn’t as excited about, I ditched them before they made it onto the board.
I realized I had cut out a lot of outdoor photographs and found some really great quotes to conveyed the feeling of being more connected with nature. I always feel so much more energized and clear headed after a walk with my two dogs, and usually end up going out for much longer than intended.
Again, if you’re doing this online, talk through the photos that you’ve saved. You can even make a note on each photo about why it speaks to you as a reminder for later. Delete the photos that don’t bring you excitement or inspiration.
4. Put it together!
Assemble your masterpiece. Now that you’ve edited, and talked through your images, it’s time to start securing the pictures onto your board. I like to layout my images before gluing them permanently down. Play around with it – there is not right way to do this step! Everyone’s board will look different. I like to make it more of a collage, but I’ve also seen some people segment the board into different themes like fitness, health, career, personal, etc. Whatever makes the most sense to you, do it.
5. Add dates, numbers, actionable words.
This is a step I used to skip. I didn’t want to put actionable numbers or goals because then I would have to strive to reach them. (Yes, I know how counter-productive that is to make a vision board and just hope it happens). So this time around I put my money where my month was. When you have a date, you have to make steps towards that goal. It gives you something to envision and also gives you a time frame.
For example, I have a picture of a Before and After shot of a house. I know that whenever Adam and I buy a place, that it will likely be a fixer-upper (because Toronto is not affordable and we’re not interested in moving that far away from the city). So this photo represents our journey to home ownership. I put the year 2022 right beside a quote that says “focus”. I know that if we really crack down on our spending and paying off debt, that we will reach this goal – or at least get pretty close to it. Another number I included was ‘300’ – which is the deadlift goal I’ve set for myself to hit by the summertime. I’ve also included the word “Summer” with a picture of a mic and stage, as that’s the time when I want to go solo and really get my singing going again.
6. Put it somewhere you’ll see it often
My final tip is to put your vision board somewhere where you will see it everyday. Don’t hide it away in your closet or let it get lost in a room you never go in. If it’s online, take a screenshot and save it to your desktop background or phone background. Look at it with intention, smile, close your eyes and give yourself some grace knowing that you’re working towards this. It’s not meant to be a board of what you’re lacking – but of where you’re going.
With that, happy vision boarding! It’s never too late to create one and whatever season of life you’re in, I can guarantee you’ll benefit from having it.
Have you ever created a vision board? Did it work for you? Let me know in the comments below.
Our Wedding Day
The long awaited photos are finally here! Our wedding day was a beautiful warm sunny day on October 21st, 2017. We decided to host our wedding at Serenity Cottage with a waterfront view of Georgian Bay and a gorgeous 2 acre lot. It was really important to us to have our wedding be casual, relaxed and most of all a nice mini getaway for our guests. I think it perfectly sums up our style and our dreams for the future. The first thing Adam and I dreamed of together was having a cottage someday where we could overlook the water with our dogs and relax with friends and family – so being able to get married in this type of setting was truly special.
Special thank you to @MagicinColoursPhotography and Kevin Davis Photography for their amazing shots! I am so happy that my Dad and sister were able to capture our special moments! Also included are some great moments from our #DavisOBrienWedding hashtag on Instagram!
Love,
Stephanie
#2018 Goals & Resolutions
Even though we’re already 8 days into 2018, I wanted to put my goals for 2018 into the universe. This is the first year that I’ve had the time to sit down and really think about what I want and what my goals for the year ahead will be. I have been loving having a routine and knowing my schedule every single day. I needed a full week over the holidays to just be by myself, reflect, plan, organize and sleep (so much sleep). My body had just been on the go and stressing out for so long that I forgot what it felt like to just sit, and do literally nothing.
To help visualize my goals for #2018, I got my inspiration from one of my fav. Toronto bloggers, Stephanie Sterjovski, and created a Pinterest board that highlights some images that inspire me and some quotes that I want to live by.
My Goals:
- Step up my online presence + social media game (Instagram, YouTube + Blog)
- Consistency in everything I do! Set my schedule and stick to it (CrossFit + Blogging + Healthy Eating, etc).
- Say “Yes” to things that scare me. But be okay (and not guilty) with saying “No” when I need ‘me’ time.
- Have fun and don’t take life so seriously. Learn to let go of the little things and be okay with letting people or things from the past go.
- Meal Prep + try new recipes and get my adventurous/comfortable cooking + fueling my body properly with nutritious whole foods.
- BUDGETING (see my No Spend January Post here). Every single month, Adam and I, are committing to budgeting our month based on what’s upcoming and what we want to save.
- Listen to more podcasts. I am LOVING podcasts since I have to take good ol’ public transportation to work everyday now.
- Make singing a priority again, figure out my direction and share music with others.
- Take time in the evening for quality time + puppy snuggles.
- Stop “snoozing” my alarm clock. Get enough Zzz’s so I don’t have to struggle out of bed in the mornings!
I know, 10 goals may seem like a lot, but there are some smaller goals and then some bigger goals, and many of them include a partner to keep me accountable. Now that they’re in the universe, I’m going to do my best everyday to work towards them, even if it’s small steps in the right direction! The most important part of moving forward with goals/resolutions is be nice to yourself and don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss a few days (or weeks). I’m so guilty of being my own worst critic and can get really down when I know I’ve had a set back with something. Referring back to Goal #4, I’m going to do my best to let things go and know that tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities. Sometimes you need to give yourself a break, and then get back on the horse the next day.
What are some of your resolutions for 2018 and your pro tips on achieving them? Let me know in the comments below!
Love,
lxiv
New Year’s Resolution: How to Budget and Actually Stick to it
It’s that time of the year again – time to make some goals and (hopefully) stick to them. I realized I have quite a few goals in mind for this year. 2017 was a huge year for me: got married, got a second puppy, left retail, started CrossFit, lost 20 pounds, posted non-singing related videos to YouTube…just to name a few highlights! I’ve felt more like “me” this year than I have in a very, very long time and it feels great. Now that I’ve had some down-time and an actual “Christmas Break”, I’ve been able to sit down and really think about what I want to accomplish this year. It is crazy how much your body needs decompression time. Time to just figure -ish out, without distractions.
While I have some lofty goals this year, one that I really want to tackle is more of a challenge. I’m going to challenge myself to have a No-Spend January and see how I do! Don’t worry – I’m not going to leave our household to go starving or without the necessities. But that’s just it – we’re only spending on things we absolutely need. Crazy, I know. Here’s some tips and strategies on how to knock this challenge out of the park!
1. Set a Budget
The most important part to this challenge is setting a budget and sticking to it. Make some ground rules for what you are willing to be flexible on and ensure (if there’s more than one of you doing this) that you both have set limits to what you can spend and on what category.
I made a list of negotiables and non-negotiables. This helped me prioritize what was actually a necessity and what was more of a luxury.
Then, I took the income that both my husband and I will be making for the month of January. We both get paid bi-weekly, so I made the budget based on what bills were due and how much money we needed to set aside for that.
Next came the groceries. Since we are both heading into the New Year with nutrition being our resolution, groceries are going to be a much easier budget to manage. I just purchased The Everything Guide to Macronutrients by Matt Dustin, that has so many great recipes. So the goal is to pick out recipes each week and only purchase the ingredients required. This is not only going to cut down on our food waste, but it’s going to keep us on track (both nutritionally and financially). This is what we are spending our money on this month:
-
Bills
-
Groceries
-
Pets (Yearly shots + food)
-
Transportation
Those are the only categories that we will be spending on this month! Scary. I know. But since we wrote down our list of priorities and we know within each other those categories how much we will be spending, we will be able to manage. Keeping the categories broad also helps to keep spending more flexible, which will be easier to stick to.
2. Eliminate Temptation
I’m the type of person that goes into the store for one thing and comes out with ten other things and forgets to get what I came into the store for in the first place. Sound familiar? I am soooo tempted by the shiny packaging or the feeling of a new piece of clothing. I will 100% convince myself that I need something – when I actually don’t. So to fight this, I’m going to be completely avoiding stores/malls all month long. Now that I’m out of retail, this is going to be easier for me than in the past.
I’m also going to go through and organize what I already own so that I have plenty of options. However, I’ve recently been ordering more and more from online and it’s so dangerous. To tackle this, I’m unsubscribing from email lists from stores that I love to shop at so that I won’t be tempted by a deal. Out of sight, out of mind kind of deal.
3. Make your own coffee
This has to be one of my worst habits. I really love lattes and fancy coffee drinks that are $$$$$$ expensive. That daily coffee adds up. Even if I switch to just regular coffee, the cost that I spend on coffee per month is embarrassing. I’m lucky enough to work in an office that has a pretty great kitchen and coffee is made every morning. If you don’t have that luxury, then grab some re-usable mugs (I purchased the Starbucks reusable cups and LOVE them – they are lightweight, and super inexpensive), brew some coffee in the morning and take it to go! Trust me, if you track how much you spend in one month on coffee, I know you’ll be shocked!
4. Bring your lunch!
There are so many amazing recipes and meal prep ideas for lunch now-a-days that there really isn’t any excuse not to bring your lunch. I realized that I was spending all of this money on groceries and then turning around and spending more money on more food. Not only were we being wasteful in spending extra money, we were being wasteful with our food, since what we didn’t eat in the fridge went straight to the garbage. Sometimes it feels weird being the only person at your work or school to bring food, but ultimately it is so much better for your wallet and for your body!
5. Cash, only.
Once you’ve set your budget, take out the cash you’ll be spending. This way you literally only have the cash that you have on you and will need to stick to your budget. For some reason, I am so much more conscious about how I am spending my money when it’s cash. The bigger the bill – the better! Anytime I would get money as gifts, it was always so much harder for me to spend larger bills, so I would ultimately just put them into a savings jar (a good habit, that I want to continue doing!).
It can seem really daunting not spending any money or sticking to a budget. I’m doing this because when I dug into the last 3 months of my spending – it was shocking. I was spending way too much money on things I did not need. This challenge is to really see what I can do with less and be happy with what I have right now.
What are some of your resolutions for the new year?
Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
I had never really been a fan of Gingerbread anything (sorry!)…I always found the spice was a little too nice and it never really tasted that good. I’m realizing as I’m getting older (sigh) that my taste-buds are changing and things I never used to like, or be drawn to, I’m giving another try – and liking them! To my surprise this Christmas season, Gingerbread Cookies happened to be one of those things.
Follow along to see some snaps on making and decorating the Gingerbread Cookies! The recipe below was adapted from Gimme Some Oven. I didn’t include the icing sugar recipe, since I prefer to use the already pre-made and pre-coloured icing from the grocery store or bulk barn!
A very special thank you to @MagicInColours Photography for the great shots! You can follow her on Facebook to see more of her work or if you’re in the GTA and want some shots taken – get in touch with her there!
Ingredients:
Gingerbread Cookies Recipe:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- Icing + Sprinkles/Decorations
Directions:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, cloves, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together for 2 minutes on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add in eggs and molasses, and beat on medium speed until combined. Reduce mixer speed to low, and gradually add the flour mixture until just combined.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions, and form them each into a ball. Then flatten each ball into a 1-inch thick disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Heat the oven to 350°F. Unwrap the dough and place it on a large, lightly-floured hard surface. Use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough evenly until it is approximately 1/4-inch thick. Then use your favorite cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes, re-rolling the dough as needed to cut out more. Transfer to parchment-covered baking sheets.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
- Once the cookies are room temperature, DECORATE!
Don’t have the time to whip up this recipe? Check out my fast (and easy) holiday baking favourites here!
Merry Christmas!
lxiv
Best Holiday Baking Recipes
I don’t know about you, but my sweet tooth comes out in full force during the holidays. There’s something about making homemade sweet amazingness baked goods that just puts you right in the Christmas spirit. Here in Toronto we have about a foot of snow on the ground and we’re expecting more this week, so it just feels so right when you have a cup of hot chocolate and a couple (4+) sugar cookies to snuggle up on the couch with.
This holiday I actually have the time to bake since I am no longer in the retail industry. To be honest, Christmas is WAY less stressful and I am actually able to spend quality time with the people I love and do fun and festive activities! Christmas is also way less stressful this year because both Adam and my family decided to do “secret” Santa for all of our gifts. You can probably guess why secret is in quotations…it’s never really a secret by the end of it – especially when you want to get gifts that people will actually use/like. Not only are we doing this as a money saving option, but we’re making it more about what Christmas is truly all about; spending time with people you love versus spending a ton of money on gifts!
With that being said, don’t show up to your holiday outings or quality time with friends and family empty handed! Below is a round up of my top 5 favourite (and easy) holiday recipes that you can make for your holiday gatherings. Some have a few more steps to them, and others you can whip up last minute and it will still be amazing!
1. Gingerbread Cookies.
Stay tuned for a blog post on this one soon! This recipe is SO simple and the cookies turned out amazing! 
2. No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
I’ve made these without the graham crackers that this recipe calls for and it still tastes amazing, so if you don’t have that ingredient handy in your cupboard, I wouldn’t sweat it!
3. Three Ingredient Cookies and Cream Fudge
I posted this recipe last year on my blog for the #12DaysOfChristmas series. This is my ultimate favourite recipe. It takes no time at all to make. Just be sure to factor in the time it takes to place harden in the freezer!
4. Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
The mix of shortbread cookie and chocolate is the best combo ever. Here are two different versions because I love the idea of using Hershey kisses that are pictured below, but I don’t love the recipe that was used… cornstarch is 100% not the right ingredient for this (in my opinion). I use Martha Stewart’s version and it turns out amazing! Be sure not to over cook this recipe, I put them in the oven for the shortest time and trust me – they are done even if they don’t quite look it! PS. I’m loving the interactive elements on Martha Stewart, where you can actually check off each ingredient and steps as you go through the recipe.
5. Sugar Cookies!
Of course, this classic make the list! Sugar cookies aren’t as difficult as you think! This recipe even shows you how to decorate your cookie like a pro! No royal icing required.
Quick tip: I use the already made icing, I found them in huge tubes at Bulk Barn and Walmart this year and they are so easy to work with. If you want to do details though, I would probably stick to the real deal, but this was easy for flooding the cookies!
What’s your favourite holiday baking recipe? Have any that you must make every holiday season? Let me know in the comments below!
Stay connected with me on social media to get even more inspiration! Instagram: @stephhdavis Twitter: @stephhdavis
Merry Christmas!
lxiv
Winter Outfit Idea
This outfit is the perfect shine meets casual look for the winter season. I love pairing blouses with denim – it’s my go-to outfit no matter the occasion! Take a look at the outfit below with our pups, Ace & Koda. You can follow their adventures on Instagram here.
Here we took the pups for a nice little stroll before it got too dark outside. This was a little time ago at the beginning of November when Koda was so much smaller! She is almost 4 months now and a lot more light in the face! She’s growing into her paws and we are so curious if those ears of hers are actually going to stand up! And not pictured here – it was 3 degrees and cold! That scarf kept me nice and toasty, but my nose was chilly by the end of it!
Special thanks to Christina Davis of Magic in Colours Photography for the mini-shoot! Check out her social pages here: Instagram and Facebook link above!
The Outfit:
- Coat is from Forever21 last season, find a similar one here from the Gap
- Blouse from Anthropologie
- Denim from the Gap, similar pair here
- Chunky Infinity Knit Scarf from the Gap a few seasons ago, similar one here (right now under $12!!)
- Necklace from Anthropologie, similar one here
- Shoes from Call it Spring, similar ones here
What are some of your go-to winter outfits? Let me know in the comments below!
Love,
lxiv
Top 10 Cozy Picks for Winter
I’ve had to update my “cozy” wardrobe recently as I just did not have the selection of warm and fuzzy pieces for winter. I thought I would share my favourite picks for this season as well as some non-apparel pieces that put me in the cozy spirit! There’s nothing better than a cozy sweater, a cup of hot chocolate and a nice warm blanket during those cold winter nights. All of the picks would also make great gifts for the holidays! Take a look at my top 10 picks, I have linked each of them below.
1. Plunging Chenille Sweater – This sweater is SO soft. I love the fact that this sweater isn’t a crew neck and the shape of the sweater is nice because it’s not boxy!
2. Cable-Knit Pom Pom Beanie – Okay, who doesn’t love a cute Pom Pom Beanie for winter? I am so drawn to red this season and love adding that pop of colour since my winter coat is black. Winter can be colourful too!
3. Lace Up Textured Sweater – My go-to sweater at the moment! The lace-up detailing adds a simple and classic touch to an otherwise plain cream sweater. Perfect with denim and cute booties!
4. Torridon Sweater – This sweater from Anthropologie is amazing because there is 0 wool in it! Don’t get me wrong, I love wool. But my skin hates it. This red sweater (yes, red again) is so thick and warm, you’d never know there wasn’t wool in it. Other than, you know, the fact that you don’t want to scratch your arms off. *insert upside smile face emoticon here*
5. TOPSHOP Dolly Faux Flip Slippers – I do not own these, yet. But c’mon – FUZZY FLIP SLIPPERS! These look amazing and I love that they are open toe.
6. Desert Gold & Pink Mug – I love that this mug has a unique quality to it. The shape and the colouring on the inside make it special. Perfect gift for someone on your list!
7. Open Front Boucle Sweater – A cute and affordable layer that goes with literally anything. Yep, perfect piece to have in your winter wardrobe!
8. Plus Size Loved Graphic Sweater – Eyelash sweaters are so on trend this season and coupled with a graphic makes this sweater so unique! I love how soft this feels. I love that this sweater is so flattering on! I sized up because I wanted a more relaxed look.
9. Josie Maran Pure Argan Milk Intensive Hydrating Treatment – I have yet to try this product out. So if anyone has – let me know in the comments below! I love Argan Oil and know that it would be very nourishing for the winter months! Plus, it’s so multi-purpose! You can use it on your face, hair, hands and body!
10. Faux Fur Throw – Black Bear – Last but not least, this amazing faux fur throw! I love this brown colouring. It instantly warms up any space and would look beautiful thrown over a couch for decorative purposes. Again, another great gift idea and very on trend this season!
Hope you found some inspiration with my cozy picks for the winter season! Make sure you snag these before they are gone over Black Friday – they may not last!
What’s on your wish list this year? Are there pieces that you need to add to your wardrobe for a little refresh? Let me know in the comments below.
Love,
lxiv
Budget Friendly Christmas Decor
It’s cold and rainy on this Saturday morning here in Toronto. All I want to do is snuggle in bed and watch YouTube videos all day; but I’m supposed to be putting up all of our Christmas decorations. I specifically book this weekend off work every year to do it, but I’m not quite in the mood. So to try to put me in the holiday spirit, I figured I would post my newest pieces that I added to our Christmas decorations this year. And the best part? All budget friendly and inexpensive!! I purchased everything below from the Dollarstore and Canadian Tire. I am really, really loving the Canvas collection from Canadian Tire. Year after year they come out with some classic pieces that are decent quality and for a great price.
Follow along below to see my favourite new pieces this year. I’ll be posting a full house tour in the coming weeks to show you how I decorate our apartment for the Holidays! So, stay tuned for that!
This year we’re going for a farmhouse/rustic vibe with very little pops of red. I want the space to feel cozy with a ton of lights and more neutral metallic accents. Check out my Pinterest Board “Christmas 2017 Decor” for my inspiration.
The total for all of these decorations came under $40! You don’t have to spend a whole lot of money to achieve a festive atmosphere! Some Christmas music and good cheer go a long way!
Now that I’m feeling a little more inspired, I’m going to get started with my decor!
Merry Christmas and Happy Decorating!
lxiv
Easy Meal Prep Ideas for Lunch or Dinner!
Yesterday I participated in my first ever CrossFit Competition for our box, CrossFit Canuck, who turned 5 years old today! The gym hosted a in-house competition, “The Canuck Games”, in true CrossFit fashion to celebrate this milestone!
The Canuck Games was an all day event with 5 partner WODs total and let me tell you – it was HARD. I would consider myself fairly athletic, but I was never part of any sports teams during High School or University (even though I was asked to join a few). Instead, I focused on Student Council, my singing and my studies. I never thought I had time to work out or join a sports team. But since I’ve been doing CrossFit, I can’t tell you how happy I am! Sure, there are bad days and good days like anything else, but I can’t explain how wonderful it feels when you lift something above your head that you never thought you could. The strength portion surprises me every time I step up to the bar.
I’ve been a little more aware of how I’m fueling my body since joining CF. I knew before joining CrossFit that I didn’t feel like I was getting the proper amount of nutrients (honestly, I still don’t feel like that 60% of the time) and I’ve been putting in a lot of time into researching this and ensuring that I’m nourishing my body properly! Meal prep has been a savior for me since I’m a very busy person and want to do a million things all at once. If I don’t meal prep, I am so so guilty of picking up fast food because with a billion excuses like “time is of the essence” and/or “I’m too tired (or lazy) to whip some actual food together”. This is a continual challenge for me and something I will keep working on!
Since I’ve been doing so much research myself, I figured I would share with you my meal prep for this week. Mind you, it isn’t everything that I will eat all week and I did make some Healthy Oatmeal Cinnamon Cookies to go with this that I will post in a later blog post, but it does give you an idea of some of my go-to favourites for meal prep.
The amount of food I made today will last my hubby (I can finally say that now!!) and I about 2-3 days of lunches or dinners. I usually will pre-pack the food and then leave some extras in separate containers to mix in with different meat or different sides for variation because I can get really bored, really fast and I am definitely the type of person who will leave food in the fridge for months because I didn’t feel like eating it….
On the menu this week was Italian seasoned Chicken Breast with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Carrots with Green Beans. For snacks this week I packed Veggies with Roasted Red Pepper Hummas, some Dark Chocolate and Cherry Kashi Granola Bars, Vanilla Greek Yogurt and Fruit!
I used the Club House Italiano seasoning blend as a dry rub on the chicken breasts and cooked them in the oven first. Then for the sweet potatoes and carrots, I peeled them and diced them, used about a tablespoon of olive oil and seasoned with garlic powder, salt and pepper. My favourite way to prepare the sweet potatoes is by Grocery Girl. I season the potatoes differently and add other vegetables, but the cook time is how I prepare them! Finally, nothing fancy for the green beans – they are boiled and seasoned with salt and pepper. You could easily add some Parmesan and Garlic for some extra taste.
I usually roast beets with the sweet potatoes and carrots, but opted to boil them this time and then peel the skin off. I seasoned them with garlic, salt and pepper, diced them and put them in a separate container in the fridge to grab as a side for any other meal.
Below is the recipe breakdown for how I made our meals this week.
Italiano Chicken Breast
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- Club House italiano seasoning
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Place chicken breasts on sheet and season both sides of the breast evenly.
- Cook in the oven for 15 minutes, then flip the chicken and place back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes. The time may vary depending on your oven!
- Allow to cool, and cut into desired sizes for meal prep!
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Carrots
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 large carrot
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- Peel and dice the potatoes and carrot.
- In a bowl, mix the potatoes, carrot, olive oil and seasoning until well combined and all of the vegetables are coated.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Ensure all of the vegetables are flat on the baking sheet and ensure you don’t overcrowd the veggies!
- Cook in the oven for 15 minutes, then give them a little mix with a spoon for even baking and bake for another 10 minutes. I usually test the vegetables with a fork to see if they are the right tenderness for me, so adjust your cook time for your preference!
What are you go-to meal prep foods? Share them with me below!
lxiv
