Valentines Day Gifts for the Yogi You Love

by Jenni in

Did you know that Valentines Day is only 10 days away?!? There are plenty of us out there still scrambling for that perfect last minute gift. If that is you and you also have a fitness loving significant other, your are in luck. We will be going through a giant list of all the things your fitness loving friend will go crazy for come Valentines day. Everything is also linked and able to be to you in time for the 14th. I know, so great!

But, where do we start? Why, with the yogi, of course! Oh the peaceful, calm, and kind yogi; one of the newer fitness loving groups. These fitness lovers tend to be oh-so chiseled, especially since they do the equivalent of rolling around on a mat 3+ times per week. Yogis can be some of the easiest people to buy gifts for, and some of the most difficult. Thankfully, your yogi is guaranteed to like one, or all, of the things on this list!

Valentines Day Gifts for the Yogi
  1. Men's Yoga Bracelet. These are great for guys and gals and come in way more colors than you will ever need. It is also a cheap, cute gift for only $12.
  2. Have you seen anything cute than this Onzie yoga outfit?! I think not. I also think your yogi will be feeling the same when they open this next Saturday! At $56 for the top and $65 for the bottom, it is also something they may not just buy themselves any old day of the week.
  3. Manduka yoga mats are pretty well known for being the best thing to touch the feet of yogis ever. If your yogi does not have one, they will love it and their yogi respect for you will go up by mounds too! I should probably also mention the price- $118!
  4. I Bend so I Don't Break is just a pretty, inexpensive top that any yogi would love to wear for their morning Vinyasa. It is simple and only costs $26. Fantastic!
  5. Gold and Red Lotus Bracelet. One time the hubs got me a lotus bracelet out of the blue and it was the best day ever. He got it because he knew I loved yoga and because I like pretty things. It was a win-win and possibly the best gift ever. And did I mention is it only $20? Buy it.
  6. Yoga Toes. Do your toes slip and slide one the mat? Mine do! These yoga toes will make down dog slippage a thing of the past. You can also where them to Pure Barr if you are in to that sort of thing! Oh, and they are Calvin Klein and less than the ones Pure Barr sells. Just sayin'.
  7. Skidless Mat. The best thing ever. Your yogi's mat will not slip and neither will their toes! It is huge, machine washable, and only $68.
  8. Hair Ties that will make your hair look trendy when up and kink free when put back down. It is all in the little things and this little thing says "Your hair is so pretty, only the prettiest of hair bands is worthy to be stretched around it." Yes, that is actually what these say.
  9. Quartz Calmness Bracelet. Because it is Valentines day and we do like shiny things. Oh, and because it is less that $50.
  10. Goddess Ribbed Yoga Pants are so pretty, I just want to wear them right now. They also come in plenty of different colors, all of which keep the two-tone effect. My favorites are these crazy bright yellow ones for $92!

Great Christmas Recipes

by Jenni in

Every year for Christmas evening we go to my cousin's house. My cousin inherited Christmas from my Grandma a few years ago and it has been going great! Instead of everyone getting a gift for everyone else (which gets rather pricey with 20 people and handfuls of children) we do a round robin gift exchange. Everyone also brings a side or two to help with the cooking.

This year I will be making three dishes that range in appeal from the adults to the tiniest ones we will have there. I am super excited to make a new dish and really excited to be making a few staples in the hubs and my diet for everyone this year! Oh, and by the way, the Thanksgiving Brussels sprouts were a major hit! They were also so easy to prep the day before Thanksgiving and pop in the oven 15-minutes before we ate.

Grilled Shrimp Caesar Salad

This is probably the easiest thing to make out of the lot. Add salad to bowl, add shaved Parmesan cheese, grill or pan cook shrimp, mix together with dressing before eating. Really, I think this side salad is up there with eggs on the list of easy things to cook. And no, it is not the healthiest option for a salad, but you can do a few things to keep it light.

My first recommendation would be to skip croutons- they are unneeded fat and calories and most people just push them to the side anyway. Second, go for a light Caesar vinaigrette instead of the usual, heavier option. This will make the salad a little less filling and also keep the flavors a bit less overpowering. Of course, you can always skip all those preservatives and make your own dressing instead!

Truffle Oil Mac n' Cheese

This idea came to me when I was super craving lobster mac n' cheese but no restaurant I wanted to go to had it on the menu. Seriously, I could live on lobster mac n' cheese, unfortunately, that would lead to massive joint pain from my new-found 400-pound frame, a massive reduction in friends because who wants to smell mac n' cheese all day, and constant pawing from cats for my lobster. It is my lobster cats, get use to it.

I digress. Lobster mac n' cheese is good, but pricey. Truffle oil mac n' cheese is slightly less pricey and oh-so good!!

Garlic Roasted Kale

This is my favorite way to make kale ever. It is so easy and so yummy, you just might want it every night as well! My best recommendation for this is to add the kale in intervals so you have different textures of leafy green. I also like to continue adding small amounts of seasoning, olive oil, and vinegar each time I add more kale. The fish also helps add some fats and flavor, but if you would prefer, chicken or nothing at all works just as well!

If you really want to mix it up (which I always like doing) add some spinach in as well! Just be sure to add the spinach towards the end since it cooks much faster than kale.

Christmas Brunch Pastry Ideas

by Jenni in

Do you make food for brunch on Christmas? It has become a bit of a tradition for me to make a Christmas brunch. Nothing fancy or big, just mimosas (maybe) and a yummy dish for the hubs and I. A sit-down-together breakfast never happens in our house, so why not have Christmas be the time when we are able to enjoy each others company and relax before family and friends start coming around!

This year's Christmas brunch is going to have similar themes to last year's, but add some sweets in as well. The hubs loves salmon and capers for breakfast, so I am thinking I will do some type of smoked salmon dish and something more sweet for me as well. Here are a few ideas I have found for great Christmas breakfast pastries!

Lemon Raspberry Tart

This is just too pretty to not be in the running for a Christmas brunch. Although, someone will need to help me figure out what crystallized ginger is.

Stuffed Caprese Bites

Ok, so these guys may not exactly be a pastry, but there is no reason all bready ooey gooey things need to be sweet. Some people even like salt over sugar. Besides, they just look so yummy!

Pumpkin Sweet Rolls

I bet that go your attention, right?! These look incredible and are, most likely, what sweet treat we will be eating come Christmas morning. The recipe is from Elle Penner, so a bit healthier than the usual.

Homemade Raspberry Danish

We may just be making this one this year because. Every year for Thanksgiving my Grandma gets a raspberry danish. I have not continued that tradition on Thanksgiving morning, but I am the only one who eats it! Eating this entire danish is surely much healthier than the grocery equivalent.