Roasted Carrot Cake Pancakes + Special AZ Delivery!

got a special delivery todaaay!

i knew it was a delivery cause once again i heard an engine start up and a truck burn off before i even got to my first floor, haha.

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Arctic Zeroooooo! *backflip*

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i had been home for hours been home just a lil' while from teaching my 530am HIIT class and hadn't even showered yet but i had to capture this glorious moment with my AZ goodies!  keepin' it real!  no highlight reel over here.  perfect pictures all the time make me apprehensive.  that's just not real life.  plus those 'Perfect Picture' apps i recently found out about (i'm so outta the loop)... i mean, after using it once i'd feel like i'd have to use it every single time and that no picture would be worth posting without it. so i just won't use it at all!  that's just me though.   getting sexified from head to toe is fun too (it's part of the reason we work out, hello) don't get me wrong, but i love meeting followers out in the streets and being in my element = bun, headband, gym clothes.  i should be easily recognizable that way lol #nofilter

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personalization wins me over every time. THANK YOU, ARCTIC ZERO!  i am so appreciative of this! y'all know i've been lookin' for that darn Key Lime Pie flavor for weeks now.

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they sent this Product Request Form with my goodies and i thought that was such a genius idea.  i will be dropping this guy off at my Sprouts Farmers Market ASAP.  after i circle Key Lime Pie of course.

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shucky ducky quack quack. #whostillsaysthat

the new chunky pints all have bits and chunks of goodies in them!  75 cals per 1/2 cup serving and 300 cals total for the entire pint.  they are lactose-free, gluten-free, non GMO, fat-free, low glycemic, Kosher and a highly recommended fit frozen dessert.

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chunky pints... meet Chunky Butt.

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 what you're seeing up there is bits of graham cracker crust in the key lime pie chunky pint. YES!!!! THIS is what i have been waiting to devour and i finally have. two thumbs waaaay up from me. key lime pie is my fave (Papadeaux's specifically) but i said i was gonna make a completely RAW key lime pie for my birthday which is coming up faster that i expected, sheesh. it's all about the kids now anyway; i don't even remember mine is coming until somebody mentions it.  next on our tuesday to-do list was breakfast!

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with hidden veggies! yeah, it's fun being a professional veggie sneaker and all, but i do wish i wouldn't have to go through 'so much' just to get my 3 yr old to eat them.  nevertheless, I CAN'T EVEN with how good these cakes were.  and there's a Chocolate Covered Katie inspired greek yogurt frosting on top!

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 i roasted the carrots on 400 degrees in the oven (spread them in an even layer on a foiled pan) for about 30-40 min or until they are super soft.  i did drizzle them with about a tbsp of raw honey first.

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Roasted Carrot Cake Pancakes

the stuff:(source)

• 1 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour OR all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• dash ginger
• dash cloves
• 1/4 cup coconut sugar OR brown sugar
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cashew milk
• 1 tsp melted coconut oil
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1.5 cups roasted carrots

do this:

1. add every single ingredient to your blender or food processor
2. blend until super smooth
3. heat your griddle to 400 deg or set your cast iron skillet to med-high heat and coat with no-stick cooking spray
4. spoon batter onto griddle by the tbsp; cake size is up to you!
5. once bubbles start to form on top (3-4 min), flip the cake and continue to cook for another 2-3 min or until lightly browned.

top with raw, shredded carrots, greek yogurt icing, and pecan. keep scrollin' for that icing recipe!

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Cinnamon Vanilla Greek Yogurt Icing: (combine & mix!)

• 1/4 cup + 3 tbsp Tofutti dairy-free cream cheese (softened)
• 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp dairy-free greek yogurt
• 4 tbsp Stevia for baking or Truvia
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

make these toddler-friendly, #fitmom approved pancakes and TAG ME on IG!

Q: YouTube ideas needed....what would you like to see?! recipes? more workouts? 

have a terrific tues, y'all.

le

VLOG: produce run & banana ice cream

here's a super late VLOG! or whatever! few things to note before viewing:

• this was like my 4th attempt recording the banana ice cream process.... and i still failed #sodone
• i went from morning bootcamp straight to a Women's Health Symposium (Pink Goes Red), then came home to record immediately while i still had daylight; please excuse and forgive the rachetness that is my hair
• i really am cock and crossed eyed sometimes
• that's cool
• avocado hair mask recipe: 1 ripe avocado, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp honey. mix; slather all over hair, cover, sit under dry for 15 min. rinse.
• ordering an external microphone ASAP. i know/hear what i'm saying...but you prolly don't. lol
• this was fun
• enjoy

 [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-qIBIBac5w&w=560&h=315]

suggestions? feedback? comment BELOW!

le

sweet toof + we stay ready

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i sent Sonny off right yesterday like i try to do every morning!  his 6 Pack USA lunches were packed and ready to GO.  cause if they aren't i will find Popeye's and Timmy Chan's receipts in the car cup holders.  hey, he's only human and so am i! which is why preparation is so important and never fails us.  unless it's a major holiday, haha.  seriously though, we practice what we preach.  we stay ready.

i whipped up some spicy cashew chicken over steamed broccoli and he made it even spicier by adding Sriracha cause he's crazy!  i used Weber all natural Kick'n Chicken seasoning blend and cooked the chicken breast chunks on high heat in my wok before adding the unsalted cashews pieces.

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  these things are one of my biggest weaknesses.  the food that i must grab a handful of every time i go in the kitchen. so by the end of the day i've had like 3 cups. lol. great source of good fat, but don't over do it.  i get mine at my local Sprouts from the bulk bins.

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welp, we finally had a successful gym trip after two straight fails.  after literally 19 minutes (both times) someone from the child center had to hunt me down because Dego was just not happy.  even when i make sure he's fed and changed immediately before dropping him off, no one else can calm him like mama. when this happened the first time last week i just bit the bullet, drove home, and made that YouTube video out of frustration lol, so something good definitely came out of a 'bad' situation!  Dego likes to reach for things and jump out of my arms these days, especially food and my phone as you can see. he's still immobile, but he will be scooting around the house soon enough.

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aaaagggh, sweet success and no need for plan B.  smiling after a full workout and i even went over time and got a warning for being late to pick up the boys! i was having too much fun. i did my 6 Pack USA leg day routine, some arc trainer for my cardio, and i even did a FIT (Functionally Integrated Training) class.  whoop! then we hit up HEB real quick to get some Quest Bars for these sweet teeth of ours.

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did i mention how much my HEB rocks!? man they always have the goodies we like.  i've been hearing a ton about Quest protein powder (even though i haven't used it in years at home) and i so want to try making protein cheesecake (and everything else i see on @pbeechi's account! love her) i see all across Instagram.  anyway, they got the Quest chips, protein powder, and pretty much every bar flavor available!  wat.  awesome sauce. when i don't eat real fruit, Quest bars are the next best thing to snack on.

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and they had coupons!

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i took advantage and got our two faves:

• DCC (pictured above) (160 cals, 6g fat, 25g carbs, 16g fiber, 20g protein)

• Cookies & Cream (180 cals, 7g fat, 22g carbs, 17g fiber, 21g protein)

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speaking of all natural sweets, we made ice cream using the Ninja blender sunday night!  man. good thing cause i sure planned on buying an ice cream maker soon.  not now!  i don't have room for it anyway.

Tropical Strawberry Ice Cream (dairy-free, all natural)

the stuff:

• 1 lb tropical frozen fruit (i used a bagged strawberry, mango, pineapple combo)

• 1 can full fat coconut milk/cream

• 2-3 packets granulated Stevia or 1/4 tsp liquid Stevia or 2 tbsp light agave nectar / pure maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla

do this:

1. throw everything into the Ninja

2. blend until smooth.

3. open lid and throw in 2 or 3 fresh strawberries and PULSE them lightly if you want the real fruit chunks in there!

4. stick in freezer for at least 2 hours...for best results freeze overnight.

wait 'til you see the next flavor i'm workin' on! stick around!

Q: what is your ALL time fave ice cream flavor?

A: the sweet cream at Marble Slab.... bomb.

le

cinnamon pears + hot body or hot wings?

baby Dego wakes up so happy!  his mood is crazy contagious and always reminds me of this quote:

'Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called, 'Everything That Could Go Wrong.'

well i do and it's FULL and needs to be deleted. lol.

  he started clapping (or trying to) a few days ago and has not stopped since.

well this happens every weekend, right on schedule.

decisions, decisions! i start craving those weekend foods... pizza, french fries, subway cookies, etc.  i guess that's where my passion for making healthier versions of classic comfort foods came from though.  i want to satisfy that craving (more often) without sacrificing my health or gym progress.  fair enough!?  i'm so glad we have tons of healthier alternatives to work with and swap out these days! anyway,  i have been having some stiffness in my neck, so i hit the gym for cardio only and stretching for my saturday workout.  will be taking it easy so i can hit it hard again on tuesday for my HIIT class.

i stopped by Sprouts after the gym and picked up some protein: 99% lean ground chicken breast and Applegate organic chicken and apple sausage for breakfast next week.  i cracked open the sausage as soon as i got home though and had a filling post-workout meal of whole wheat toast, egg white/veggie/sausage scramble,  and kiwi (low sugar ketchup & cheddar almond cheese on the side). delish!!!!

oh, i got some pears too!  they were next in line to try for Dego's homemade baby food.  i just diced up 1 anjou pear, threw it in a small sauce pan with 2 tbsp water and 1/2 tsp cinnamon, covered it, and cooked it on med-low until tender.  after less than 10 min, i poured it all into my Ninja and pureed the mixture until it was super smooth.  pears = thumbs up!

then, we turned UP!!!!

 with letter puzzles on the floor,

Food Network mag, and i killed the last of that coconut Arctic Zero pint with some fat-free cool whip and sprinkles on top. party, party! hope you had a relaxing saturday yourself!! after your workout of course ;)

Q: have you tried the Applegate Turkey or Good Morning bacon yet!?

what's your fave Applegate product?

le

boy: a noise with dirt on it

a mommy-friend of mine invited the boys and i to toddler story time at a local library recently.  actually, she invited us weeks ago but i finally got it together enough on my end so that we could attend. it was a morning event so i got up super-duper early just to ensure we'd make it. a lil late, but we made it.  i feel like i have to start getting everybody ready like 3 hours before we have to be somewhere, seriously.  and when we are rarely making good time, Chiso suddenly has to go go to the restroom as i am loading up the car or Dego throws up on us.  never fails!  but hey, we made it AND we even got a nice breakfast in!

i had egg whites with black pepper, mozzarella almond cheese, a little homemade guacamole, low-fat turkey sausage, and french toast with strawberries!  big breakfast to support my activity levels these days which includes hitting the weights again, nursing around the clock, and keeping up with my 3 yr old. among other things.

Chiso has requested pancakes for like 2 weeks straight now. maybe even longer than that.  so made him some sprinkled with mini chocolate chips, sugar-free syrup, and a little fat-free Redi Whip.

our boys warmed right on up to each other and enjoyed the crafting, songs, and puppet show.

 Maranda is a mom of 3 boys herself so i know she feels my pain can relate to life with these little knuckleheads!

 our first official outing together.  we did it!! we're pros now. i actually avoided leaving the house with both boys for the longest...but the saying is true. 'ain't nothin' to it but to do it.' after that? piece of cake! for the most part. thinking, i.e. worrying, about every single thing that could go wrong is no way to live. i've learned to be prepared, prayerful, and cautious, not crazy.  Chiso's independence could not have come at a better time though. for him to be able to get in and out of the car himself, clean up his toys and messes, retrieve and/or throw away Dego's diapers, and turn on the bathroom light so i don't have to get up lol helps out big time. sigh...no more baby Chiso!

just another one of those bittersweet mommy moments.

well all that fun didn't result in a nap at our house, but Chiso enjoyed himself and has asked to go back countless times now. Maranda is a pro at finding free & fun stuff to do around our city, and i recently came across Houston on the Cheap with even more ideas galore.  check it!

i got to bed way too late so my early gym date was definitely out this morning. i hit the streets for some sprints once Sonny got home instead. i haven't run full speed in almost a year and i'm sure i'll pay for it tomorrow and the next day!  i did ladders:

i started slow and only went 'down' the ladder from 5 to 1.  that was all i had, woof.  also, here are two foodie items being adding back into my diet that i've posted about before: almond cheese (gotta cut down on the dairy cause of bloating) and calorie-free Grey Poupon mild & creamy mustard. i got great feedback via Instagram about Daiya vegan cheese so i'm gonna step out and try that brand next.

Q: what have you tripped over that wasn't even worth tripping over once you did it?

le