Skinny Cold Brew Coffee Protein Shake (Sponsored)

September 21, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #BestLifeProject #CollectiveBias

For the past month or two now I've taken on the challenge of starting to exercise. Healthy eating has been a part of my life for a good long while now, but I've never really been one to actually 'exercise'. I think the last time that I actually didn't anything with fitness was well before I had my little girl. That was over 5 years ago!

I've been 'hitting the gym' 3-4 days a week, doing everything from the treadmill, to tabata, cardio, pilates, barre, yoga and back again. I thought that starting in with a fitness routine would be hard, but I guess I was just mentally ready for it since I became addicted pretty much instantly. I haven't given myself a chance to quit or find an excuse not to go.

In fact, I've found myself considering it as 'part of my job duties'. It's a must do to complete my weekly tasks sort of thing. I feel so much better. Even after the first initial week of exercise I felt lighter, healthy, and more grounded...

Skinny Hawaiian Crunch Cake

September 15, 2015 Amanda Plott

Every year at the end of summer my mom has had a Luau, a tradition that has been going on since she moved here to Austin; so let's say this was the fourth year. Each time the Luau gets bigger and better than the year before, always inviting new and old neighbors or friends. The Luau is done sort of in pot-luck style with my mom and I making a few main things that go along with the theme while guests bring their additions to the spread.

There are a few select things that I have perfected over time and made each year for this Luau. A few things have changed but for the most part it all stays the same; a pineapple salsa, Hawaiian queso, and some sort of dessert...

Chickpea, Butternut Squash & Green Pea Curry

September 11, 2015 Amanda Plott

I've had this love-hate relationship with curry lately. I made a new vegetarian version of it a few weeks ago and it turned out great. I then made it again about a week ago and it was horrible. So, I went back to the drawing board.

I wanted to keep this version of curry somewhere between summer and fall with flavors and vegetables blending over from both seasons. So, I decided to use fresh green peas and spinach as an ode to summer, while the butternut squash was my fall inspiration.

This curry is full of flavor, but not very spicy if you ask me. The sweetness of the peas and butternut squash naturally tone down the spicy kick of the curry. So, if you're not one for hot and spicy things, this curry is right up your alley!...

Vegan Spinach & Artichoke Dip

September 8, 2015 Amanda Plott

Not only can plant-based diets be good for people and better for the planet, but they taste amazing too! I've been working with my own family and our diets, eating less and less meat each week it seems. So, I'm taking the #MeatlessMondayNight challenge to spark real change.

Adopting a more plant-based diet can start with making a change just one day a week – so why not start by sidelining meat during Monday Night Football games this season?

One of my favorite dips in the world is spinach and artichoke dip. I had a great recipe for it years ago that I kept tucked away even though I haven't made it in a while. Today I decided to take that recipe out, dust it off, and give a good dairy-free once over...

Crock Pot Broccoli Cheese Soup

September 1, 2015 Amanda Plott

This post was brought to you by Collective Bias, Inc. and it's advertiser. I received compensation to write this post … but, all opinions expressed are my own. #NaturallyCheesy #CollectiveBias

Things are pretty crazy around here right now as I'm sure it is everywhere else. Somewhere between schedules, fitness, and seasonal changes, I seem to have gotten lost and have little to no spare time. With cooler weather starting to roll in, the light changing, and the days getting shorter, I'm all the more ready for fall and the peace and comfort that comes with it. Bring it on.

What puts you more in the mood for fall than a nice warm bowl of soup? Not just any soup though, but cheesy wonderful soup! This broccoli cheese soup is comfort food at it's finest. It's so easy to toss together, tastes amazing, and is full of vegetables. That's right, full of vegetables...

Eggplant 'Meatballs'

August 28, 2015 Amanda Plott

I've been eating less and less meat around here, not for any particular reason other than that's really just how it's worked out, oddly enough. I've been telling my family for years now that I could be a vegetarian at the drop of a hat and with little to no cravings creeping up.

Vegetables are my best friends, however, I have a well known love-hate relationship with one of my friends; eggplant. I happened to get an eggplant in my local produce box this last week, and I didn't want to do the same things that I've done with it before.

I find that I sort of have to disguise and hide eggplant from myself otherwise I tend to have a hard time with eating it and I'm not entirely sure why...