alwaysmysunshine

Keep Switching It Up!

Happy Monday! Today is especially happy because it is only a four day work week, and who doesn’t love that?! I hope you all had a fantastic weekend- I know that I did.

On Saturday I spent the day at the beach with friends for the first time this year. It really was perfect beach weather, though the water was freezing! Around 4pm we got cleaned up and headed into Providence, RI for Waterfire. This was an amazing experience! There are large bonfires floating all over the river, romantic music playing, and even gondolas floating along with the fire. If you have never been I would highly recommend it – especially if you are looking to have a special evening with your significant other. 🙂

On Sunday morning I woke up ready to get back on track with my workout routine. I dragged myself out of bed, changed into my workout gear, and tried to get myself going. For some reason, I was completely unmotivated. I only was able to complete 1 round of a HIIT circuit that I can usually do 3x! Feeling discouraged, I hopped in the shower and figured I could always try again later in the day.

That evening my aunts called and asked if Conor and I wanted to go for a bike ride with them. They have been biking like crazy and swear by it! After a little convincing, we decided to go with them and… We LOVED it! We rode 13.8 miles in total and it took us about an hour. My legs were killing me, my butt hurt, and I was sweating buckets – but I enjoyed myself. I no longer felt discouraged or upset over my morning setback.

The lesson in all of this is that you cannot let yourself get bored with your workouts! It is so important to switch it up. I had been doing similar circuits 6 days a week for awhile now and the last 3 or 4 had been almost unbearable. I was barely getting through them and working all of the same muscles. After changing it up with just one bike ride- I feel like I am back at the beginning of my journey and 100% motivated!

Don’t let yourself get stuck in the same rut that I did!

xo,

Jaclyn

Southwest Chicken Wraps

A few nights ago Conor and I decided to whip up a healthy and delicious meal of southwest chicken wraps that I found on Pinterest via Mel’s Kitchen Cafe . We had no food in the house, so I made him a list and sent him off to the grocery store while I fit in a quick 25 minute workout with my mom. By the time he came back with all of the ingredients, we had worked up a good sweat and were ready to eat. This recipe was super simple, and truly delicious. Even my brother said that he felt like he was at Mexicali Grill after trying one! The best part is that with just a few simple swaps, we were able to make this a healthy dish. We also whipped up a copycat recipe of the Outback Steakhouse buttermilk ranch dressing to serve with the wraps. Outback has always been one of my favorites.

We prepared the ranch dressing first, as it had to chill for 30 minutes before being served.

Ingredients for Copycat Outback Ranch

– 1/2 cup Buttermilk

– 1 Cup Mayonaise

– 1 Teaspoon Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix

– 1/8 teaspoon paprika

– 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

– 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Directions

1. Thoroughly mix together all ingredients in a medium bowl.

2. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.

Ingredients for Southwest Chicken Wraps (Makes 7 Wraps)

– 2 cups of cooked brown rice

-1/2 red or orange pepper (Chopped)

-1/2 large onion (Chopped)

-1 package of wheat wraps

– Rotisserie Chicken (Shredded)

– 1 Bag of Skim Mexican Blend Cheese

– 1/4 Cup of Fresh Cilantro (Chopped)

-1/2 Tablespoon Chili Powder

– 1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin

– 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Salt

– 1 Can refried Beans

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients in with the rice besides the cheese and refried beans. I eyeballed the amount of ground cumin, chili powder, and garlic salt that I used and it came out just fine.

2. On a tortilla, spread a scoop of refried beans and sprinkle as much cheese as you would like in the middle ensuring that you leave a 1/2 inch border from the edge.

3. Dab a spoonful of the buttermilk ranch dressing on to give it a rich and creamy taste when finished.

4. Place a large scoop of the rice mixture down the center of the wrap and fold over the edges of the tortilla so it is completely wrapped up.

5. Spray the top side of the tortilla (with edges visible) with canola oil cooking spray and place face down in a non-stick skillet on medium heat.

6. Before flipping over, spray the other side lightly with canola oil.

7. Wait until the wraps are a golden brown color before removing from the skillet and enjoying with a side of ranch.

I hope you love these wraps as much as we did!

xo,

Jaclyn

Tropical Vacation

About one month ago I returned home from a wonderful Caribbean cruise with my best friend and her family. We had a blast! Swimming, laying in the sun, sipping on tropical drinks, and eating way too much! The food was to die for and I for one was certainly not going to miss out on that!

I already booked a cruise for next May with Victoria and her family – but next time I am bringing Conor along! He has never been on a cruise and I am so excited for him already. 🙂

Jaclyn