Honey Garlic Chicken

Another week, and another easy recipe to get me through it.

Honey Garlic Chicken is a 5 ingredient, 15 minute recipe that is to die for.

It's perfect alone, or even over some pasta, rice, or veggies for low carb. The extra sauce makes it even more desirable to drizzle over these ingredients.

With sweet, sticky honey and salty soy sauce with a hint of garlic and red pepper flakes- SO GOOD.

Yes, it's that easy.

As Spring Break comes to an end, and graduation is quickly approaching; the semester has been getting to look a lot like Princess Mia driving the stang (see below).

With that being said, staying on track with a healthy lifestyle can be a little challenging.  My energy has been consumed with school, work, sleep, repeat. So trying to keep my exercises in the routine and eating healthy is seeming to be more and more difficult. 

I found an easy dinner recipe that I could make on the nights that I feel like my energy is so low. Believe it or not- this recipe takes 15 minutes tops!

Lemon Butter Garlic Shrimp and Asparagus

Ingredients: 

• Medium Shrimp
• Asparagus
  
• Garlic Clove
• Parsley
• Paprika
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt & Pepper
• Lemon Juice
• Olive Oil
• Butter
• Rice and Pasta (if preferred)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Line up your asparagus on pan and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add 1 minced garlic clove, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 pepper, Toss until evenly coated then line asparagus back in a single layer. Roast for 6-8 minutes depending on thickness.

3. Meanwhile, remove tails from shrimp.

4. Remove pan from oven, and push asparagus to the side (keeping them in single layer). Add shrimp and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, 1/8-1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes and fresh parsley. Toss until evenly coated then line shrimp in single layer.

5. Top asparagus with 1 tablespoon of butter, and top shrimp with 2 tablespoons butter. Roast for 6 minutes until shrimp is cooked.

6. Remove pan from oven and drizzle with lemon juice. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pasta, rice, etc. (I use $1 Alfredo pasta from Wal-Mart pre-packaged. Takes 7 minutes to cook).

That's What Dory Said

Writing a blog can sometimes be a little challenging and isn't always the easiest thing to do. You have to write original ideas that stick out and are different from the rest. Keeping the audience attention is the most important factor into writing a blog. All in all, you just have to keep writing until you feel like you've got it all right. It's like a journal or diary, but a little better because you make it your own.

Switch It Up

Change is a constant thing with everything we do, and just in these last two in a half months my blog has changed. It has inspired me to try new things which then led me to write about them in different forms. My blog has changed as well as changes within myself. It has helped keep me motivated in doing what I love and wanting to inspire others through my blog- it has turned into a positive outlet. Whether it be new exercises or fun ways to keep my interests in them- same thing with recipes, and even lifestyle changes. 

Looking Forward

At this point, who the heck knows what I'm going to be doing with my career. My major is Strategic Communications so I'm wanting to go in the direction of working at an ad agency and possibly run social media accounts for a business, or two. Blogging is important (to whatever I'll be doing) by showing my originality and creativity through writing. If I decide to run social media accounts, then I have to be creative and come up with new and quirky ideas to stand out from the rest. 

The After Math

I never could picture myself having a blog. I always thought about writing one, but could never figure out what exactly my interests were, nonetheless how to keep myself interested. Along with that I've never even really been a writer because I feel like I just ramble on (kind of like now). Blogging in this class has affected me in ways I didn't really think could. It has helped me put my thoughts together on a screen in an organized way. It has also helped keep me interested and motivated in something that has helped shape me into a better and healthier version of myself. Lastly, it has expanded my mind to try new things and not just with fitness- but with everything. 

The Takeaway

A few lessons I've learned from this class is that you have to be creative in your writing and again, stand out from the rest of the million other bloggers out there. Another important lesson from this class is that there are no bad ideas/thoughts. Just keep writing until you get it right. If you don't think you've got it right- then keep going until you think you do. Knowing what to blog and put out there, and what not to put out there are also very important in the blogging world. Perfection isn't key in blogging- speaking your mind and getting your thoughts out there is the important lesson.

How to Stay Motivated

Remember those New Years Resolutions you made about 2 months ago? 

Are you still doing them, or have you lost motivation? Around this time most people lose motivation and quit doing their resolutions and sometimes even forget what they were. And of course, working out and eating healthy is one of the main resolutions people make every year.

I found a few tips to help keep you motivated and staying on track to your weight loss goals- or goals in general.

1. Take it one day at a time.

2. Surround yourself with positivity.

3. Create a vision board/weight loss chart 

(Which is what I do).

4. Make S.M.A.R.T Goals.

5. Reward yourself. 

(Buy a new shirt, get a tattoo, whatever).

6. Believe in yourself.

7. Acknowledge your positive attributes. 

(Don't be so hard on yourself).

8. Recognize your progress. 

(Take progress pictures to see how far you've come).

9. Visualize accomplishing your goals.

10. Be kind to yourself. 

(Say one thing you like about yourself in the morning).

11. Don't compare yourself to others. 

(Everyone is on a different path to success- don't worry you will get there).

These are just a few, and I'm sure there are plenty more. 

If you keep believing in yourself, and if you really want it you'll work hard for it. 

Blog Essay Pt. 2

Blogging has changed the fitness world in many different ways, especially in building friendships and connections. Kayla is from Australia, and look at how many people she has inspired just through social media and blogging in general from all over the world! Fitness blogs are also very educational and can give different ideas on recipes and workouts- to help switch up normal routines. Lastly, fitness blogs are very inspiring to the world-wide web. Seeing people change their lives is motivational and helps encourage others to do the same. I’ve seen many people post their before and after pictures, and the comments on them are nothing but encouraging words and saying how inspiring they are.

Fitness in the blogging world is constantly changing, along with the people that follow them. There are blogs mainly focused on recipes, workouts, basic lifestyle changes, whatever they may be- they are all changing the blogging world in one way or another. They continue to inspire, encourage and motivate people from all over the world.

Blog Essay Pt. 1

Fitness has become a very popular and common trend in today’s world. People are starting to work out and eat healthier more than ever. There are many reasons to this, such as wanting to become healthier so they can live longer, feel good about themselves physically and mentally, build muscles to become stronger, etc. Fitness can mean a lot of different things to different types of people, and it continues to shine especially through social media and blogs. All while encouraging others to hop on the train.

Breakfast for Dinner?

Besides Mexican food and sushi- the one thing I can eat every single day is breakfast food.

It can either be healthy for you, or really bad depending on what you choose to eat.
But I found a recipe that all breakfast lovers will find satisfying.