Chocolate Brownies

September 14, 2015





Hey Guys!

Can we just take a moment and appreciate this post title. Because you already know I healthy reconditioned these bad boys.

I have FINALLY mastered my Chocolate Brownies. I had to tweak them a couple times to bring the calorie count down and protein up without sacrificing any flavour.

I am so happy I can finally share this yummy treat with you!

As always I had my family and boyfriend be my sample bunnies. They all really enjoyed this one.



What You Need

2 Cans of Black Beans - Drained
2/3 Cup of Egg Whites
1 Cup Cocoa Powder
20 Pitted Dates
1/3 Cup No Sugar Added Maple Syrup ( Honey or Agave is fine)
3 scoops of Chocolate Flavoured Protein
1 Cup of NO Sugar added Apple Sauce









This is optional but you can add 1 cup of dark chocolate chips to add some sweetness. I suggest trying the recipe out as is, and if you feel the need to add the chocolate do so after. I feel it is sweet enough, but to each their own. :)

What You Do
Add ALL the ingredients in a blender. Blend on high for about 5 mins. You want to make sure all the beans are well blended. The mixture should look like chocolate cake batter when its ready.

Spray or grease up a Cake Pan. Set the oven to 350F and bake for 20-30 minutes. Allow to cool down and ENJOY!

The nutritional chart reflects the cake pan I used, and EXACT ingredients shown above.

Different ingredient brands might advertise a slight different calorie count, BUT its just what my measurements came out to. If you would like specific brands please let me know and I will update the post.

xo

J.R










Snack Time: Mango Protein Pudding

September 10, 2015


Hello My Loves!

I've been really watching my protein intake lately/trying to keep the sugar cravings under control. Two of my favourite new pass times. Insert sarcasm here.

I have this bad habit of snacking while I am cooking dinner. The problem is, when I start cooking dinner is when I should be having dinner.

Anyhow yesterday I decided to fix myself a nice snack prior to cooking to avoid nibbling and munching on unhealthy snacks. ( Crackers, a slice of cheese, more crackers, crackers with cheese, Two different types of cheeses layered. A cracker sandwich. WHAT WE HAVE WINE....lol snacks)

I was SO proud of myself. I wanted to have something sweet, low in fat and high in protein. And that is how my super yummy and healthy Mango Protein Pudding was born :)

What you Need.
1 Mango peeled and chopped.
2/3 cup of Greek Yogurt - look for the brand with the least amount of sugar! You're already sweet enough.
1/2 Scoop of Vanilla or Unflavoured Protein . You can omit the protein powder if your not worried about you gains.

Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend and enjoy :)

Of course you can try this recipe with different fruits and even protein flavours!

xo

J.R




I Chopped off My Hair!

July 27, 2015

Hey Loves!

I CUT MY HAIR!!!

This is me having a mini freak out session after I my hair cut. I was so delusional when I was at the salon.

Thought I'd share :)

My goodness.

" Yepp. Just chop it off. Lets do it. Lets just be adventurous, Cut it off. Lets have short hair. It will grow back"

My poor hair dresser Louis kept asking me. " Jo, are you sure. Are we doing this? Okay I'm going to cut this much"

For 10 years I have told that man I wanted long Amazon warrior princess curls. And one day I show up and ask him to chop it off.

 Never has my hair been this short. EVER

I will update you guys on how it turned out curly!

xo

J.R




Quinoa & Kale Wrap

July 15, 2015

 Hello My Loves,

The past couple weeks I have been all over the place. Work, gym, driving school, recording , writing and trying to get my Etsy shop on the map. Its not an excuse but I've been stretching myself so thin that my food prep has been suffering for it.

And lets be honest, once you start food prepping your life does change. I love not having to wonder what or where my next meal is coming from. I love the comfort of being able to know everything that is going into my body AND it makes calorie counting a cinch!



I remember as a child going out to eat was always a treat. At my age with my goals in mind its a NIGHTMARE. There's only so much Churassco (Portuguese Chicken) and steamed veggies a girl can eat.

Yesterday I popped into Metro and discovered this wonderful wrap. Quinoa , kale and hummas on a whole wheat wrap. Mmmm Mmmm Good! So naturally the frugal woman who resides in my brain wanted to recreate this delicious wrap on a budget.



Quinoa & Kale Wrap A La JoRita



Ingredients


1/4-1/2 Cup of Quinoa Cooked- If your counting calories use whatever is appropriate to stay within budget! .

2 Tbsp of Hummus - I used the roasted red pepper flavour.

2-3 Leafs of Kale

1 Large Wrap - I went with Whole Wheat.

1/4-1/2 of Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers chopped into cubes

Splash of Lemon Juice & Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to Taste



Directions:
  1. In a bowl mix together Quinoa,veggies, salt, pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. 
  2. Spread 2 Tbsp of Hummas onto wrap
  3. Lay Kale leafs down on the hummus.
  4. Spread Quinoa blend over kale
  5. Wrap it up
Enjoy..On nom nom

If you feels its a bit dry you for your liking. Use 1 Tbsp of Hummus to spread on the wrap and the other 1 can be used to mix into the Quinoa blend.

xo

J.R

Ipsy : June Glame Bag

July 13, 2015


Hey Loves!
Super excited to share my June Ipsy Goodies with you. I know we are in JULY....but better late then never right? ;)

Here are all the goodies mentioned in my video.

J. Cats Beauty - LIPTITUDE 24/7 HYDRATING LIP STAIN Click Here
Key West Aloe - Mango Moisturising Lotion CLICK HERE
Smashbox Cosmetics - Photo Finish Foundation Primer CLICK HERE
BioRepublic SkinCare - Sheet Mask Trio CLICK HERE
tre'StiQue - Mini Shadow Crayon CLICK HERE

Need more info? --->  IPSY

I had a blast sharing my goodies with you.

xo

J.R

Sephora Makeup Haul

July 09, 2015


Hey Loves,

My new video just went LIVE on YouTube!


Interested in what I got?  They are only one click away :)

Kat Von D Contour Kit - Click Here
Benefits Cosmetics Hoola - Click Here
Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless FluideClick Here
Anastasia Beverly Hills DipbrowClick Here
Sleek Blush By 3 Click Here 

Accessories By Be Dazzled Click Here


Hope you enjoyed my Makeup Haul. :)

Till next time..

xo

J.R




No Makeup Makeup Look

June 16, 2015

Hey Loves!

Super excited to share my first makeup video with you guys! Hope you enjoy it!



I believe application is all about your own personal style and comfort. Practice makes perfect! What I do find to be important is the steps you follow to apply products.

Listed below are the steps and products I used in my video! Hope this helps

1) Moisturizer - Dr. Brandt Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion
2) Primer - Dr. Brandt Skincare pores no more® pore refiner primer
3) Foundation - MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 in NC25
4) Setting Powder - MAC Mineralize Foundation/ Loose
5)Countour/Highlight - Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit
6) Blush - MAC Mineralize Skin Finish in Blonde & MAC Sheer Tone blush in Instant Chic
7) Eyeliner - Bellapierre Gel Eye Liner in Ebony
8) Eyebrows - E.L.F Eyebrow Kit in Medium
9) Mascara - Rimmel Scandal Eyes Mascara in Eye Rock Jet Black
10) Setting Spray -Urban Decay De-Slick Oil-Control Makeup Setting Spray
11) Lips -  Generic Nude Gloss by Forever 21

Out of ll of the products used to create this look I would have to say my "can't live with outs" would be Dr. Brants Pores No More Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion and pores no more® pore refiner primer. I have been so in love! I am looking forward to trying out more of Dr. Brant's skin care products. A bit on the pricey side but worth every penny. 

Another item that I will preach to the world is the De-Slick setting spray by Urban Decay. For everyone who suffers from an oily t-zone / melted makeup face syndrome THIS product will step up your makeup game!

Hope you guys enjoyed my No Makeup, Makeup Look video! If your trying this look out just remember less is more. You can always add more coverage or build up color! 

Be sure to tag me on Instagram @cdgbyjv and hashtag #cdgbyjv to show off your No Makeup, Makeup Looks.

xo

J.R



Hot Tottie - Home Remedy for the Cold

June 03, 2015












Hey Loves,

We are in the beginning of June and I have found myself nursing a cold. Which sucks, but on the upside I can share one of my home remedies for the common cold virus with you all.






Hot Tottie Recipe

1 Orange
1 Grape Fruit
1 Lemon
1 Teaspoon of Honey
1 Teaspoon Grated Fresh Ginger
1 Shot of Whiskey (or alcohol of choice)
1/4 cup of boiling water -give or take.

This combination of citrusy fruits and whiskey is just about enough to make anyone feel better.

Enjoy

xo J.R



Vanilla CAKE

June 01, 2015

Hey Loves!

I'm back again with another labour of love! For my Mister's birthday I wanted to bake him his FAVOURITE cake, Strawberry Short Cake. As a surprise I wanted to make him a healthy rendition.

I did some research online and looked at a couple of vanilla cake recipes. Once I got a feel for the ingredients I was able to make some substitutions and came up with my own healthy rendition.

On my first attempt at baking the cake base I got a thumbs up from my mother, which is rare mind you.To this day she still raves about it. I still felt the recipe needed some tweaking. I wanted it to be a bit more moist.

I was quite pleased with how it turned out after making some adjustments!

My boyfriend was AMAZED and blown away.

I will share both recipes below. Feel free to try them both out. I would love to get some feed back from you guys. I might just omit the oatmeal flour and use 2 cups of coconut flour on my next attempt. Also I would love to try and use coconut butter, just have to try and get my hands on some!




Vanilla Cake : Take 1

Prep Time :15 Min
Cook Time : 30-45mins

Here's What You Need

2Cup of Oatmeal Flour
1 Cup Vanilla Protein
1 Package of Jello Fat Free Pudding
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
0.5  Teaspoon Salt
2 Eggs
2 Egg Whites
1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Can of Coconut Milk (400 ML) * You can use Almond Milk if you prefer
0.5 Cups if Coconut Oil
0.5 Cups of Honey

Vanilla Cake : Take 2

Prep Time :15 Min
Cook Time : 30-45mins

Here's What You Need

1 Cup of Oatmeal Flour
1 Cup of Coconut Flour
1 Cup Vanilla Protein
1 Package of Jello Fat Free Pudding
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
0.5  Teaspoon Salt
4 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
400ml of Almond Milk
0.5 Cup Butter
0.5 Cups of Honey

Directions

Mix all dry ingredients together.
Mix all wet ingredients together.
Mix wet and dry ingredients together.
Grease up a backing pan of choice
Pre Heat oven to 350 degress
Pop that bad boy in the oven for about 30-45mins.



I hope you guys like this recipe. If you want to make A strawberry short cake all you've got to do is get some low fat whipped cream and strawberries for your filling. For the icing I mixed together 1 package of light cream cheese and light whipped cream. I added the whipped cream until I got the consistency I wanted for my frosting.

Now please keep in mind, the vanilla cake is a healthy rendition to your traditional vanilla cake BUT in no way shape or form is my cream cheese icing and layers of whipped cream "healthy". Lol I will work on creams and icing in the future!

Enjoy My Loves

xox





Mango Chipotle Rice & Fish Stir Fry

May 07, 2015

Hey Loves!

 I have been on a pretty repetitive food diet lately. By choice mind you! I am following a new workout + food regime. 
To be honest with you I actually prefer food prepping. I never feel like “shit, wtf am I going to eat now" LOL. It takes the guess work out of your meals and also helps you stay on track. Especially when you're on a eating schedule, meal prepping makes life a whole lot easier.
 I definitely don't cook a week’s worth of EVERYTHING. I make enough rice and turkey balls (protein jam packed snack) to last me for a week.  I also buy a week’s worth of yogurt and package little baggies of carrots for snacks.  As for my protein source, I usually make extra at dinner time to have some lunch for the next workday.  I am fortunate enough that my schedule allows for this .If I know I won’t have time to prep for the next day I plan ahead so I always have what I need. That enables me to stay on track!

I was cooking lunch one day. I was tired, hungry enough to eat a whole cow (lol) and felt lazy. That's how I came up with this beauty....

Take into consideration this recipe is for one serving and I already have the rice cooked from my weekly food prep. Obliviously you can cook fresh rice and increase the serving amount.
So excited to share this with you guys! One of my new all time favourite creations is my Mango Chipotle Rice & Fish Stir Fry. MMMM MMMMMM Goood!


Mango Chipotle Rice & Fish Stir Fry
Prep Time: 5 min
Cook Time: 5-10 Min
Serving : 1

Ingridents
3/4 Cup of Brown Rice
5-6 oz of Basa or Sol Fish
1/2 Cup of chopped Orange Bell Peppers
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Salt n Pepper to taste
Chipotle Mango seasoning to taste.
1 Glove of Garlic *optional
1/2 cup of chopped Pineapple *Optional



This is the seasoning I used.

Directions

1.     Cook fish (anyway you like, as long as it’s now RAW :) )
2.    Add Garlic, bell peppers and olive oil to frying pan. Cook down for 2 mins
3.    Add Chipotle Mango seasoning. Mix for 1 min
4.    Add Fish. Mix for about 2 mins. 
5.    Add Rice, Salt & Pepper. Mix occasionally for about 5 Mins. 
6.    Add more Chipotle Mango seasoning if need
7.    Plate meal and throw in some pineapple *optional



 I hope you guys enjoy this quick, flavourful meal! I really enjoy it as it allows for a burst of flavour while still being able to stick to my diet! 


xo
J.R


Sample Source Freebies

May 03, 2015

Hey Loves!,

New video just went live on Youtube! Woo Hoo :)

In this video I unpackage and share my sample source goodies with you all.  Also I introduce you to my new friend ;)




For more information on Sample Source click HERE

Hope everyone had a beautiful weekend!

Xo

J.R 

Egg White "Crepes"

April 16, 2015

Hey Loves!

I'm back again with something sweet. :)

 Just for the record you guys I always want chocolate. I have a little chocolate monster that lives inside of me and he NEVER shuts up.

 I feel like everyday is a new challenge. Every night when I go to bed, if its been a chocolate free day I feel like Super Mario when he rescues the princess! VICTORY IS MINE! (Cue in Stewie fist pump)

But seriously, this ins't your normal PMS chocolate cravings. This is just all day everyday get in my belly chocolate cravings. lol With that being said My egg white crepes definitely help keep my chocolate (sugar cravings lets be honest) monster satisfied.


This is a very simple and delicious recipe. You can add to it or keep it simple.

Here's what you will need

1/2 - 3/4 Cup of egg whites. (Depends on how much protein your diet requires.)
1 Tsp of Vanilla
1 Tbsp Peanut Butter
1 Tbsp of Jam

Step 1) Mix egg whites and vanilla extract together in a bowl.
Step 2) Pour egg white mixture on a well heated non stick frying pan.
Step 3) Cook both sides evenly. Remove onto a plate when done.
Step 4) Spread peanut butter and jam on your "crepe"
Step 5) Roll is up and ENJOY :)

This is a fun recipe to play around with. You can use maple extract instead of vanilla for a different flavour. You can try some nutella and strawberries as your filling. Also a crepe inspired parfait with yogurt, fresh fruit and granola. Mmmm mmmm GOOD!

xo

J.R



Ipsy: March 2015 - FLORAL FANTASY

March 28, 2015



Hey loves!


I am a HUGE fan of Ipsy! If you haven't heard already heard of them YOU ARE IN LUCK. Ipsy is a monthly sample and full sized make-up subscription. In Canada I pay roughly $18.00 a month. Upon signing up you are prompted to fill out a questionnaire. This aids the Ipsy team in sending you a more personalized monthly subscription. They narrow it down to Skin tone/type, hair type/color and your overall style preferences.

I have been a proud Ipsy subscriber for almost a year now and I have always been very happy with my goodies! I love that I get a mix of sample sizes and full sized products! 



Wearing NYX Butter Lipstick on my lips. 
Necklace by Be Dazzled

This is what I got in this months Ipsy subsciption.

  • NYX Cosmetics - Butter Lipstick  
  • PÅ«r~Lisse Beauty - PÅ«r~delicate gentle soymilk cleanser & makeup remover
  • Boo-Boo Cover-Up - Medium Shade
  • Dr. Brandt Skincare - Pores no more anti-aging mattifying lotion
  • VINTAGE by Jessica Liebeskind - Illuminating Face Highlighter

I absolutely LOVED the NYX Butter Lipstick. Great color/pigmentation. Very moisturising and a great application.  Also a fabulous brand that was recently introduced to me by Ipsy is Dr. Brandt Skincare.  WHOA you guys! I LOVE this brand! The mattifying lotion worked really well with my combination skin! I found my makeup application wore better. Stayed fresher longer and the overall appearance held up better throughout the day. 


















This lip butter is giving me life!
Such a great of color!

For more information on Ipsy check out www.ipsy.com/

XO

J.R




Healthy Rendition : Apple Spice Cake

March 26, 2015

Hey Loves,

This recipe was a labour of love, for my love. My Mister was going through something last year and was on a VERY restrictive diet.I wanted to make him some comfort food but his diet was SOO tricky. I made a list of everything he was able to eat. Did some experimenting and created this bad boy! Its amazing how something as simple as cake can lift someone's spirits. To this day it is still his favourite out of all my healthy renditions. :)

I've added a couple ingredients since he's been better. But this is pretty close to the original recipe.



Apple Spice Cake

Prep time: 15 minutes 
Total time: 45-50 minutes 

Ingredients:
  • 3.5-4 Cups Oatmeal Flour
  • 1.5 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 4 Red Delicious Apples *or apple of choice. You want something sweet with a good amount of moisture ( 2 Puréed & 2 Cubed )
  • 1/2 cup Honey
  • 1/2 cup Coconut Oil
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 egg whites
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, almonds and pecans (optional)
  • 1/4 cup of Chia Seeds (optional)
  • 1/4 cup of Flax Seeds (optional)
  • 1 cup Prunes - Chopped into smaller pieces 
  • A Sprinkle of  LOVE :)
 Cooking directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Grease and flour a cake pan of choice. Muffins Pans work as well for portion control/meal prep.
  3. In a pot you want to add coconut oil,honey and cubed apples. Bring to a boil. Allow to boil for 2-5 minutes then remove from heat.  
  4. In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients
  5. Purée 2 Apples, add in the water at to the apple purée
  6. Add all wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix together
  7. Add in Prunes and nuts.
  8. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  9. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Hope you guys enjoy this treat! I also call this cake baked cereal. Great for breakfast for those days when your running late or on the go!

XO

J.R

Eye Brow Tutorial- Video

March 23, 2015


Hey Loves,

Here's a quick video on how I fill and shape my eyebrows. This video is best seen in full screen. :)


I hope you enjoyed my quick eyebrow tutorial! Still trying to get the hang of recording and editing.

Products used:

  • Eyebrow pencil 
  • Angled Brow Brush
  • Mascara Brush
  • Sculpting Wax (You can use hair wax or moulding paste)
  • Tinted eyebrow Gel
  • Foundation 

 Quick tip.

Once your done this is a great time to tweeze! You have already created your desired shape, now just tweeze outside the lines. :)

When filling in my brows I always like to use a shade lighter then my actual brow. I don't like them too dark or harsh. Fresh and defined brows for me, please and thanks!

Have fun!

xo

J.R



5000 Calorie Challenge #fitforwardjoritaaaa

March 15, 2015

Hey Loves!

I DID IT!

:)


I hope this inspires you guys to set your own mini challenges! Its good to step outside your comfort zone and prove to yourself just how bad ass you are! If you decided to create your own personal challenge I want to hear all about it! Lets create an army of #fitforward !!!

xo

#fitforwardjoritaaaa

Fresh Calamari Salad

March 12, 2015

Hello My Loves!

Super excited for this post!

I am currently doing the " Unda da Sea" Diet. Its not a real thing, I made it up and yes I'm definitely saying it in Sebastian's voice. For everyone who gets it. I LOVE YOU.

My Unda da Sea diet is basically what it sounds like. From Tuesday- Friday every night for dinner my main source of protein comes from unda da sea ( Is anyone else singing the song too? lol). I just wanted to try something different. I wanted to see if having a leaner protein for dinner would help increase the speed of my weight loss. DUH it sounds like it will, be everybody's body is different. 


Last night, I was given LIFE. I came home from a crazy workout, tired as hell. Did not feel like cooking, yet I didn't want to just have steamed veggies and squid (Calamri) AGAIN. lol
I then decided to infuse my favourite side salad with squid and BAM my Fresh Calamari Salad was created. This salad was all sorts of awesome. Tasted AMAZING, high in protein, lots of essential fatties. And the best part was I felt satisfied and not deprived of any yummy flavour or delicious goodness.  



Fresh Calamari Salad

2 Servings

4 Cooked Squid
2 Tomatoes - Cubed
1-2 Sticks of Celery - Sliced
A hand full or Parsley - Chopped
1/2 a Lemon
1 Avocado - Cubed
1-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt n Pepper to Taste

Step 1) Cut the cooked squid into rings. Plate the squid.
Step 2) In a large bowl mix together tomatoes, celery, parsley and avocado.
Step 3) Squeeze all the juice from the Lemon into the bowl, add olive oil and salt n petter to taste.
Step 4) Mix together all ingredients. Pour over Squid and...ENJOY.

I didn't have these items handy at the time but cucumber and bell peppers would go nicely as well in this salad.

Enjoy!

xo
J.R

Squats vs Lunges

March 11, 2015

Happy Wednesday Loves!

I am now 3 days into my 30 day Squat & Lunge Challenge. I wanted to touch base with you guys and give you a little update.

I have done the squat challenge before and I don't remember ever being THIS sore. My butt cheeks are sore, the front side of my upper legs are CRAZY sore.  I definitely feel a bit of a burn while I am doing the squats but the burning sensation I feel while doing the lunges is BEYOND anything in  this world.

I am really impressed with the soreness I am getting from the lunges. I HIGHLY recommend to anyone doing the squat challenge to also incorporate lunges or just try doing the lunge challenge on its own. I feel like squats gets all the celebrity but (no pun intended..ha ha) lunges are pretty bad ass too!

Loves, let me tell you every time I get up from my desk at the office I am reminded at just how well the challenge is working. I may need a walker by day 30. lol I'm looking forward to  laying on the sunny beaches of Cuba unable to walk because of this challenge. Its like extreme leg day on roids.

 I just finished my 60 squats for today. I was feeling very ambitious and thought I would do my lunges right after. I was ready to go, in position and my legs pretty much told me to eff off. lol. Yep Wasn't happening. I'll get to them later in the day.

All in all great three days. Tomorrow is suppose to be my rest day but I'd like to have finished the  challenge by the time I go on vacation. I'll be skipping my first rest day and going strong!



Also I am so proud of my girl Elicia who decided to not only to the squat challenge but she also found a really tough ab challenge to do! You go girl!









xo

J.R



Squat For Days... Well 30 Actually

March 09, 2015

Hey Loves!


 I have a vacation coming up that I'm really looking forward to. One week all inclusive on the beautiful sunny beaches of Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba.

I decided to pop into Old Navy the other day to get some shorts and sun dresses for my trip. I was very pleased to find out I can now squeeze into a size 12! Its a Tight squeeze but I'm Still happy! WOO HOO. Non scale victory! :)

The not so exciting part was my legs. Since my weight loss journey there is definitely some extra jiggle and cellulite. I've always had BIG legs but they felt more compact. It was a bitter sweet moment for me. I'm proud at how far I've come, but it also makes me realize that a still have a LONG way to go. And that's okay with me.

I had gone to visit my sister in law that night and we got to talking about legs, squats and big butts. She had told me that she had been doing the squat challenge with her best friend via Face time. They Face Time every day and squat it out. I thought that was a such a great and fun idea.

Also, I was talking to my boyfriend about it this weekend and he agreed it's a beneficial and fun challenge try. He's really great about helping me out on my journey. Very Supportive and motivational. Any questions that I have in regards to working out or diet related he does his best to answer me. And if he doesn't know the answer he will Google his little heart out and answer to the best of his knowledge.







I have exactly 29 days until my trip. The challenge is on! BAM. I will be doing the 30 Squat and Lunge Challenge! I will be doing this challenge along with my cardio and weight training routine.


What better way is there to get some extra motivation then to look at your jiggly pale legs and realise they will be exposed for all of Cuba to see. I'm definitely being dramatic, but it works.


I hope this motivates some of you to do the challenge with me. I'm excited to see what changes can happen in in 30 days. I will be posting a before and after photo at the end of my challenge.

If you're feeling inspired check out this fun website I came across. 30 Day Fitness Challenge. I will definitely be doing some more challenges in the future.


xo

J.R

Its no "Secret" I love to save.

March 05, 2015




Hey Loves!


I wanted to share a mini coupon haul with you. Im really excited about today's post. This is just to demonstrate how easy it is to coupon/price match. Also just to show you how taking these little steps can save you a lot of money in the long run!

I was fortunate enough to receive and insane amount of P&G coupon inserts this past week. One of the coupons I have had my eye on is the " Get $1.50 off for every secret deodorant product purchased".

Yesterday on my way to the gym I used the Flipp app on my phone to search for any "Secret" products. Once the app was populated with all search results I discovered that Loblaws had Secret Deodorant on sale for $1.99. PERFECT. I made sure that the item on sale met the coupon requirements. I took a screen shot of the app image and got my coupons ready.

After the gym I made my way to my local Wal-Mart. I find that Wal-Mart has a pretty good coupon/price match policy. Please get familiar with each stores price match and coupon policies as they are not all the same and some are very specific as to what they do and do not allow.

Once I got to Wal-Mart I made my way to the deodorant section. I found the product that matched my Loblaws screen capture. When price matching you have to make sure that the EXACT size/count that is advertised is what you are getting! 
Now this is where the fun begins! The secret deodorant is regular price at Wal-Mart for $3.67. I price matched it to $1.99 and then used my $1.50 off coupon. By taking these two steps this brings the price point of the deodorant to .49 each!!  CRAY CRAY


I got 10 Secret deodorant for approx $5.00, when retail it should have cost me approx $37.00. That is a total savings of $32.00


NOW the big picture here is that I have deodorant for a year and it only cost me $5.00 to have fresh smelling pits. lol Think about all the other products that you use on a daily basis. Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothpaste, Mouth wash, so on and so forth. If you can cut costs on all daily products wouldn't you? I'm not saying to go without, but to SAVE. If you can save $32,00 on just deodorant, think what else you can save on!

Hope this post was a great incentive to get you to try out couponing and price matching in the future.

If you have any questions or blog request on couponing please leave them in the comment section below

Happy Savings!

xo

J.R







Healthy Rendition : Caribbean Coconut Sweet Bread

March 03, 2015

Hi Loves!


Okay so I know most of you are wondering why is this Portuguese chick trying to mess with Caribbean recipes. Well my boyfriend is half Trini and I love to cook for him, but lord knows I ain't got nothing on his mamas cooking. From time to time I try to make some of his favourite dishes but try to put a healthy mix on it.


Trouble is I don't really know what anything is suppose to taste like. Unfortunately I always have to wait till I'm done, pray for the best and then wait to get his feed back on. Generally my experiments taste really good. But when I cook Caribbean dishes I never know what flavours to look for or what it is suppose to taste like.


For our 2 year anniversary I decided to cook a Caribbean style home cooked meal. I made some of his favourites, jerk chicken, rices and peas and for dessert I made coconut sweet bread.



I didn't feel guilty or horrible about the main meal. The jerk chicken isn't a killer on calories and as for the rice it was a pretty clean recipes. What really hit me was when I was making the sweet bread. Boy oh boy, the amount of butter, sugar and fatty yummy goodness involved made me realize that Rick is going to love/hate me for this one.


All of a sudden it was like a light bulb had gone off. "DUH, HEALTHY RENDITION THIS BAD BOY". So I did :)


I will post the link to the original recipe below if anyone would like to try it. It's DELICIOUS. I just wanted something similar I wouldn't feel to bad about having. Because even when I am having a treat I will try and make sure its still sum what healthy, or clean.

Healthy Rendition : Caribbean Coconut Sweet Bread

Ingredients

1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
3 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Cup Coconut milk
1/2 Water/ Coconut Water
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 Egg
3 Cups Oatmeal Flour
1/3 Cup butter
1 Coconut , Grated
1 Tsp Angostura Bitters
10 Chopped Prunes
1/3 Cup Chia Seeds
1/3 Cup Cranberries
2/3 Cup Crushed Pecans
2/3 Cup Crushed Walnuts


Step 1) Mix the coconut, egg, butter, brown sugar, 1/4 of water, vanilla extract and bitters together in a bowl.

Step 2) In a separate bowl mix together all dry ingredients ( flour, chia seeds and baking powder)

Step 3) Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. Add coconut milk and remaining water.

Step 4) Mix  in dry fruits and nuts.

Make sure you don't over work the dough. You just want everything to mix in together.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45-60 minutes. I generally check it at 45 minutes and use my judgement based on how it looks. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

This goes really well with a hot cup of coffee or tea!

Below is the link to the original recipe. Its DELICIOUS!

How I Coupon & Price Match :)

March 02, 2015

Hey Loves!


I have had a couple of you ask me how I coupon and price match. I put a quick intro video together for you guys! Hope this helps clarify some things. This seems to be a hot topic. I will definitely be dedicating more posts to this topic!



Happy Savings!

xo

J.R

Kale And Spinach Salad :)

February 19, 2015


Hey Loves!

One thing for sure about trying to eat healthier is incorporating more salads into your meals. But I have to admit that all the obviously yummy salads are swimming in dressing and hidden calories. Now I did not just work up a mean sweat on the treadmill to be defeated by a high caloric salad. Aint NOOOO body got time for that.

One of my favorite salads to make is my kale and spinach salad. This salad is jam packed with so much goodness! I really enjoy the taste of kale and spinach mixed together. I get easily bored of lettuce so its fun to experiment with different kind of leafy greens. :)




Here is what you will need.

1 cup of Kale
1 cup of spinach
1/2 Avocado
1/2 Tomatoes
A hand full of dill or mint *optional
1/2-1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/2 Freshly Squeezed lemon
Salt and Pepper to Taste

 The recipe is roughly 287 calories.






 If you plan on sharing with someone you can use 1 whole avocado and 1 whole tomato.

Enjoy Loves!

xo

J.R

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Black Charcoal Mask LIVE

February 09, 2015

Hey Loves,


I have previously blogged about a black charcoal mask. I love this mask so much I wanted to make a video for it as well.

This is just the first of many video posts to come :)



I am still working out the kinks.  Playing with some editing programs. I was very excited about the font feature! lol :)

xo

J.R

Joana vs Sauna Shorts

January 30, 2015

Alright so LITERALLY  Me vs these Sauna shorts. Here's a bit of background for you guys.When I was about 17 years old every time I worked out I would wear my sauna belt. I LOVED that thing. It makes you sweat, and I mean dripping sweat. You pretty much look like you peed your pants level of sweat. It was totally embarrassing but I loved it.

Now for those of you who aren't familiar, the idea behind the sauna belt is quite simple. It's made out of rubber and you wrap it around your waist. While you engage in any type of activity or cardio it helps to lock in the heat around you midsection. This will cause you to excessively sweat around your mid section and essentially shed more fat around that area.

Some people believe it works and others believe you just shed water weight. I wore my waist belt for a good couple months straight. With a healthy diet and exercise plan  I did notice some definition around my mid section. I do believe that the waist belt helped to shed more weight around my mid section.

Alright, so 10 years later and sans waist belt I'm feel something is missing in my workout. I've got the bright gear, the heart rate monitor, the proper shoes for my over pronation and the supplements in my water bottle. I'm ready for 2015's work out regime. But something is missing.

BAM. It hits me! I need my sauna belt. Only this time I discovered they come in shorts! I cannot tell you how excited I was to try out these shorts. I placed an order with my Avon lady and ordered the Curves Trimming Shorts.

My first concern was will they fit. As a once 24 plus sized women that initial fear of "will it fit" never quite leaves you. I ordered the large which states its a 14/16. I am currently a 14 going 12.  The shorts fit. Definitely a workout just to get them on,

My first challenge was getting used to how they felt and how I was able to move in them. Because they were so tight I felt like a robot. Bending was not a task to be done in these shorts. Thankfully I was just going on the treadmill. I didn't feel as free in my movement but I felt more and more comfortable in them as my body heated up. The biggest issue I had with the shorts was that they didn't come up all the way on my thighs, so literately during my entire workout I felt my inner thighs rub, which just wasn't comfortable for me. I was worried I was going to get a rash. But there was enough sweat in all my crevasses to keep that from happening. Totally gross, but worth mentioning. Other then how I felt in the shorts they did deliver. I was DRENCHED. My waist, lower back, butt, thighs, everything. It was exactly what I expected.

I wont be using the shorts again until I drop a bit of weight. I want them to be a bit more of a looser fit so I am able to move better in them and in hope of my thighs not rubbing. I will be using a waist belt for now until I am able to fit comfortably into my Curves Trimming Shorts.

I strongly suggest them for anyone who is trying to lose weight. Incorporate these trimming shorts or a waist belt into your workout and healthy diet. Its not a miracle product, it doesn't work unless you do. But I do find I am more successful with it, then without.

xo

J.R


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