Why I'm Obsessed with Revive Superfood Smoothies

If you watch my Instagram stories, you've seen that this week I have been starting most mornings with a Revive Superfoods smoothie. In full transparency, Revive sent me a box of their products to try, but writing a blog post wasn't part of the deal. However, I'm here anyway because I am *obsessed* and I really think you all need to at least allow me a minute to explain to you why I think this is an amazing concept that can benefit your life, too. 

My Clean, Green, Light Pesto Recipe

About a month ago I made homemade pesto for the first time and really haven't stopped thinking about it since. The other day my boyfriend and I made homemade pizza and used storebought pesto, and I immediately regretted not having remade my homemade pesto. I mean, there's just nothing better. This recipe is simple, a little lighter than "regular" pesto, and made with purely clean ingredients! It is loosely based off of Kenzie Burke's pesto recipe.

My Go-To Green Smoothie

I've been making the same green smoothie every morning for the past week for breakfast, and I thought I'd share it today! Living alone, I love that I can make a smoothie every morning without worrying about bothering anyone when I turn on the blender at 8 AM. In the summer I love making smoothies because they are so cold and refreshing, and just a delicious way to get in some extra nutrients.

Updated College Grocery List + What I Eat

I love sharing my meals, snacks, and other healthy ideas on my Instagram Stories, and I love that you, too, enjoy reading about my running updates and what I eat. I think it's so helpful as a college student to find inspiration from what others are doing so we can all stay healthy together and find creative meals that are simple and affordable for a college grocery budget. Both this year and last year I've lived in an apartment, which means I go to the grocery store 1-2 times a week and have to fend for myself when it comes to making meals and picking out my food. I've pretty much nailed it down to what I like to eat and what I can cook, so read on for a rundown of what my meals look like and how I plan for them!

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Recipe for Fall

Hellloooo babes! So, after I complained about the heat in Madison in my Fall Wishlist post on Tuesday, my prayers were answered and yesterday was the perfect 60 degree fall day. In fact, it felt so much like fall that my inner basic white girl was craving all of the pumpkin spice ;) and I needed to act on it. I made a delicious pumpkin pie smoothie for dinner last night and it couldn't have hit the spot more! So easy, healthy, creamy, and full of fall flavors-- I was so excited when I did a little Instagram Story poll and you wanted me to share the recipe!

Fitness Update + What I Eat

I have gotten a handful of requests lately to share an updated fitness/health routine, and I felt like now is the perfect time as most of us are trying to be a little healthier during the summer. While my fitness routine isn't really the best at the moment, I've been trying to eat healthier and do my best, so here's an update on what I've been doing...

20 Easy Ways to Practice Self-Care

It's no secret that the practice of self-care is trending right now, and it's something that I am genuinely trying to get behind. While I'd love to be that girl who does face masks consistently, meditates religiously, and soaks in a bubble bath every other night, let's face it, I'm not quite on that level! That said, there are so many ways we can show ourselves love, and what that looks like is different for everyone. Taking care of ourselves and treating our bodies (and minds! and souls!) with love and respect doesn't have to require anything more than a few minutes of our time. This is a concept I support and really have been trying to work on lately for general well-being. Lucky for us, there are a million-and-one ways to practice it!

Running Update & Playlist

Since the New Year I have been trying to share more running updates on my Instagram stories. I set a goal to work out at least three days every week, and so far so good! I find that mixing up my workouts is the best way to keep myself from getting burnt out and losing motivation. Usually my workouts consist of a run and then 10-20 minutes of strength exercises like planks, squats, ab exercises, etc. I should probably start bumping up the time (and effort...) I spend on that aspect of my workouts, but for now I'm enjoying playing around with running when it comes to pace, duration, and type of run that I do. 

Healthy + Easy Sweet Potato Pancakes

This weekend for game day my roommate and a few friends of ours decided we wanted to go all out for our morning tailgate. The last morning game we woke up only an hour before, without a plan of what to do at all, and completely failed to make it a fun event. This time? Oh, we were so prepared! We woke up early, had our outfits already planned out (the hardest part!) and had pre-cooked a sweet potato for our breakfast plans to make these easy, delicious, and healthy pancakes that use basically only 5 ingredients. Game day fuel, ya know. Priorities, right?! ;)

What I Eat at College + My Grocery List

Last week I shared four go-top recipe ideas in this blog post and a couple of food Insta stories, and I got a lot of questions about what I actually eat in a day. While I don't have a quick answer to that question (it changes everyday!), I will say I eat the same types of things daily because my grocery list is small and simple, and our apartment doesn't have the best storage to keep an overwhelming amount of food around. Plus, being just one person (and occasionally sharing groceries with my roomie) I don't want to buy too much food and risk it going bad. Below I'm sharing a few of my favorite things that I eat at school, along with a mini grocery list of foods I couldn't go without in my apartment!

Cool Yoga Clothes + My Yoga Experience

Having a yoga membership has done wonders for my quality of life already, and it has only been two weeks of nonstop practicing that has gotten me to this realization. I used to do yoga sporadically with my mom in middle school and early in high school, but I had turned to running and playing sports in the last few years. Purchasing a 30-day unlimited yoga pass was a spontaneous decision, but as soon as I took my first class I knew I would get my money's worth from the studio. Not only are the classes challenging and a great workout, but the people who surround me during class are my motivation to keep going, keep working hard, and keep showing up.

Your Avocado Toast Guide to NYC

While I was consuming guac the other day (who's surprised?), I realized it's pretty obvious how much  I love avocado toast, given that I talk about it on the blog at least once a week. I've been in New York a lot this year, and I always make avocado toast a brunch priority during my time in the city. What's better than an avocado toast guide in one of the best cities in the world?!

Of course, I haven't tried all of the toasts out there, so if you have a favorite avo toast in New York, you must share it with me! As for now, here are the places I'd recommend:

Felice Wine Bar -- Upper East Side // 1st and 83rd

My Health + Fitness Goals for the Semester

Lehigh students have it pretty lucky when it comes to the freshman 15; the food here isn't great, and you can't get anywhere without a staircase or a giant hill in between you and your destination. That said, health and fitness still aren't a free-for-all, and there is always room for improvement! 

Here are a few goals I have in mind that I want to stick to this semester:

1. Work out 4-5 times per week // My schedule this semester is so, so nice in the sense that all of my classes for the first six weeks are in the morning (done by noon) and on Tuesdays and Thursday's especially, I only have one class from 10:45-12. So, I have a few extra blocks of time perfect for sneaking in a workout, and I am going to aim to go to the gym each day of the week, unless I just have a ton of work. Last semester I went sporadically, but I would love to get into more of a routine with working out. I was so much better about this in high school, and I definitely noticed a difference.

2. Only have dessert once a day // I think I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world. Like, I could eat an entire cake or batch of cookies if you just put it in front of me. I would even be lying if I said I've never eaten a whole thing of Oreo's in one sitting, or an entire pint of ice cream by myself. It happens ;) . I have noticed though, the less I eat sugar, the less I crave it, and although I could probably curb my habit the quickest by cutting it out cold-turkey, I don't think that's realistic for me. That said, I think it's fair to reward myself with a scoop of ice cream or a cookie after dinner if I want it. There's no sense in cutting it out completely, in my mind. Everything in moderation!

3. Cut out coffee // I haven't had coffee since before winter break, probably not since exam week, and I honestly haven't been missing it. I noticed a major change in my teeth when I got home for winter break because I wasn't a huge coffee person before college, and my 2-3 cups-a-day habit first semester was really starting to make my teeth look yellow. Plus, I'm not really affected by caffeine, like at all, so I don't have a major need to drink the stuff. Instead, I've been super into tea lately, and I have so, so much tea in my dorm room. Now that I have moved into my new dorm, too, I don't have a Keurig anymore, but I do have a microwave. Heating up some water in a mug is so easy and quick, and tea is amazing for health.

Hopefully I can stick to some of these goals this semester! Let me know if you have set any for yourself; I would love some extra inspiration and motivation!

xoxo

New Avocado Toast Recipe: Parsley + Feta

In honor of the avocado emoji coming into existence a few days ago (finally!!!) and the fact that I nee a little study break right now, what better time to share a new avocado toast recipe?! I made this version when I was in Dallas for Thanksgiving on my last morning for my dad and I to split after we went on a run. I used a few random ingredients that we had in the fridge from our Thanksgiving dinner, including pumpkin seeds, parsley, and feta. 

I had avocado toast a couple of times while I was in New York, and I loved my version almost just as much as one of them! However, for lunch the other day, my friends and I ventured to this really cool spot about 20 minutes away from school for smoothie bowls and avo toast, and that version definitely blew me away. But, without further adieu, here is my recipe:

Smashed avocado

Parsley

Feta cheese crumbles

Salt + Pepper

Pumpkin seeds on top

Red pepper flake

Ugh, so good. I'm sitting here studying for my finals (tomorrow and Saturday and then I'm home!) eating an apple cider donut, so I really don't have much to complain about, but I definitely can't wait to cook again when I'm home, as usual, as well as make some healthier choices. #finalsproblems

What's your favorite kind of avo toast?! Good luck on finals for anyone still going strong! I feel ya!!

xoxo

FabFitFun + 2 Healthy Drinks to Try

Despite all of the gift guides out there, sometimes it can still be hard to find the perfect thing for someone who seems to have it all, or someone who is just super picky! So, when FabFitFun reached out about sending me a box of goodies, I was so excited to test it out! The service is pretty much a box that comes in the mail, which you can subscribe to and receive a few boxes per year, with full-size beauty, fitness, tech and lifestyle goodies. The boxes are seasonal and feature really cool brands. All of the products are full-sized too, which is so nice because no one wants to wind up with a bunch of mini things like usual! With the code "PREP", you can get $10 off a box.

My Thanksgiving Salad Recipe

You guys... How is it December first?! This year has flown by like crazy. I'm excited that in just about two and a half weeks I'll be all done with exams and en route home for a month of winter break, my annual cookie exchange with friends, and lots of relaxation. For now, it's another weekend away from school for me! I'm leaving this evening for Long Island where I'll be staying at my aunt's house tonight before we make our way to Rhode Island for the weekend to celebrate my Gramma's birthday. I'm so excited to see my aunts, my grandma, and a few of my cousins on my dad's side of the family this weekend because we missed them at our Thanksgiving and I'm spending Christmas with my mom.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, I made a delicious salad for our dinner that I really couldn't have enjoyed more! I am not always the biggest salad person, but this baby could've been a meal on it's own because I couldn't stop eating it! I shared the recipe on Snapchat (@ franacciardo) last Thursday as I was making it and it turned out so, so delicious. Like, I seriously want to make it all the time once I get home and I can cook again! I originally planned to follow a recipe, but when you get to Whole Foods the day before the holiday and they're all out of Brussels sprouts, ya just gotta improvise, ya know? 

Anyways, this salad is incredible easy, healthy, and delicious. Triple threat; win, win, win! I loved tossing together a bunch of random autumn ingredients and witnessing the magic happen. 

What you'll need...

1 large bunch of lacinato kale, chopped into bites

Butternut squash, cubed and cooked

Pumpkin seeds

Pomegranate seeds

Feta cheese crumbles

Dried cranberries

Dressing of choice! I used Cindy's Kitchen Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Vinaigrette

What to do...

I hoped up my kale into bite sized pieces and did the same with our squash. I only used about half the squash and that worked out to be enough, but I do love squash and wouldn't have minded using more!

Tip on cooking the squash: Once you've cut the squash into bites, toss in a pot with water and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce to a simmer and remove the squash once you feel that the bites are soft/tender/basically: cooked.

Toss all ingredients in a large bowl, using as much or as little of each as you'd like. Finally, drizzle on a little dressing and toss again. I really didn't use a ton of dressing because the cheese, pomegranate seeds, and squash all already have some moisture and I didn't want the garlic in the dressing to overpower any of the natural flavors.

Let me know if you try this salad or something similar, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

xoxo

Thanksgiving Outfit + Recipe Ideas

How is Thanksgiving just one week away?!

I'm heading to Dallas on Wednesday, which means we are celebrating the holiday at my Dad's new house for the first time! It's going to be a small one, just my brother and I are flying in. I've actually never been to Texas before, so this whole trip will emulate a lot of "firsts" for me.

Thanksgiving specifically will also be the first time that my dad has hosted for just us, so my aunts and my grandma won't be there to take charge of all of the cooking. Don't be fooled, yours truly is probably going to wind up doing most of the work, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't super excited about that. I've missed cooking a lot, and having a chance to cook whatever I want now that I'll be away from school for a few days is really giving me something to look forward to! I've already started looking up recipes and getting excited to be back in a real kitchen with real ingredients all at my fingertips... 

This is just a taste of what I'm thinking of doing for our Thanksgiving:

Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots and Almonds

Honey Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Feta

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

Shredded Kale, Brussel Sprout, Cranberry and Almond Salad

How yummy do all of these recipes look?! I'm so excited just to eat healthy foods with clean and real ingredients again... ugh, my mouth is watering!

Another fun part of the holiday is having the whole family look festive and cute at the table in fall outfits. I pulled a little Thanksgiving outfit inspiration today as well:

plaid wrap // velvet watch

mock neck sweater (also love this funnel neck style) // v-neck sweater // bell sleeve sweater

ripped black jeans // black corduroys on sale! (also love this corduroy skirt)

heeled booties // over-the-knee boots // velvet flats

Omg, I want. it. all. The velvet trend is killing it right now, and imagining those pretty lace-up velvet flats with corduroys and a gorgeous bell sleeve sweater sounds like the most chic outfit ensemble you could do! That outfit is also a dressier way to wear pants if your Thanksgiving is nice but still on the casual side of things. 

Of course, with all of the eating to be done, oversized sweaters are the way to go. I love both the funnel neck / mock neck style, and a good, classic slouchy v-neck .. I definitely have overdone it in my wardrobe when it comes to cream colored sweaters, but I just need to conclude that the limit does not exist for those babes. Pair with casual ripped denim and booties or over-the-knee boots  and you've got an easy combo. Everything also would be so, so cute cozied up with a plaid wrap and that sleek velvet watch... I need!!

What are you planning to wear on Thanksgiving?

xoxo

What Food I Keep in My Dorm

Heading into college, one of my biggest fears was gaining the Freshman 15. However, as soon as I arrived on campus, I realized that it's actually pretty avoidable, especially in my circumstances given that Lehigh is so hilly and I really can't go anywhere without walking up or down a few flights of stairs. That said, college still isn't a free-for-all, and overdoing it on sugary drinks at parties, 2 AM post-drinking feasts, and making unhealthy choices in the dining hall all can contribute to poor health..

Since my schedule is so busy, I don't go to the dining hall for breakfast, and I usually get hungry between lunch and dinner. I stocked my dorm with healthy snacks and breakfast foods so that I can always eat breakfast and make sure there are always a few options for a snack when classes end and I'm back in my dorm for a few hours before dinner.

I love that my room is full of healthy options so I can eat something whenever I get hungry and not have to feel guilty about it! Lime La Croix is seriously my favorite thing to drink so I almost have a can open on my desk. Before bed I usually want something sweet and I'll opt for a cup of my favorite tea and some dark chocolate almonds. For breakfast I usually have greek yogurt and granola, or a banana with peanut butter. After classes I'll go for an apple and peanut butter, or carrots and pita chips and hummus. Our fridge is stocked with a ton of random fruit too to mix and match as well! 

Above are a few of my favorite combos and they're all full of protein and fiber! Check out this post for more healthy snack ideas.

What do you keep in your dorm?

xoxo

3 Ingredient Chipotle Roasted Cauliflower

Ever since spring break in New Orleans, if something has chipotle on the menu, I want it. If it's spicy, I want it. And if it's spicy and doubles as healthy, it's like crack to me. I whipped up this random and extremely easy roasted chipotle cauliflower recipe, and I've been hooked ever since.

All you need is...

A head of cauliflower cut into bite sized pieces

Chipotle hot sauce

Garlic olive oil (or olive oil and some garlic salt)

A dash of Cajun seasoning (optional)

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Preheat your oven to 400

2. Cut up your cauliflower and toss with chipotle hot sauce

3. Drizzle on garlic olive oil and toss until the cauliflower is completely coated in oil/sauce. I added a dash of cajun seasoning for a little extra kick!

4. Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until cauliflower is crispy on the edges, but soft and a little brown.

5. Salt and pepper to taste

The cauliflower is so easy, and works for dinner or a side! Just a note: I added almost a 1/3 of the bottle of Chipotle sauce, and used a head of a whole head of cauliflower. The cauliflower had a lot of spice and flavor, so in this case, less is more! It won't look too chipotle-ish, but I promise you'll still taste it!!

Let me know if you try this recipe and what you think!

xoxo

Green Mango Smoothie Bowl

I've been super into smoothie bowls lately, especially after I tried this concoction and discovered how easy it is to create dessert for breakfast. I recently have had a ton of spinach in my fridge, so I thought for my second time around I would try a green smoothie bowl... To my surprise, it was so delicious! Unlike kale or arugula, spinach really has no taste when blended in a smoothie, so it's the perfect little trick to add for extra nutrients.

I stuck to my tried-and-true smoothie elements, like Almond Milk, plain greek yogurt, and a small frozen banana, and then added the fruit of a whole mango and an extra big handful of spinach. The bright colored mango combined with the super green spinach made my smoothie almost neon, and then the combo of fresh mango, yogurt, milk, and a frozen banana made this smoothie incredibly creamy.

What you'll need:

2 tbsp greek yogurt 

1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk 

1 small frozen banana

1 mango

1 giant handful of spinach

Optional:

blueberries

slivered almonds

chia seed/hemp seed

Blend everything together, adding more yogurt or less milk depending on thickness. Frozen bananas work better to add creaminess to the smoothie, and make it colder which is always a bonus! Add toppings of your choosing (other great options would be other berries, coconut shavings, granola, honey or agave, etc.)

I topped my smoothie bowl with blueberries and slivered almonds, which were a really great combo that added a delicious crunch to my bowl. Something about crunching or actually chewing makes a smoothie bowl a lot more satisfying and makes me feel fuller for some reason. I usually added chia or hemp seeds to my smoothie too for extra fiber or protein.

What's your favorite simple green smoothie bowl recipe? Please share below- I'm on a kick and I want new ideas to try!!

xoxo