One morning at training, my coach called me over to try something he had made for breakfast. It was a simple recipe but packed full of goodness. He's super-strict with his nutrition, so I'm happy to try anything he recommends. It was a delicious protein pudding that tasted like it shouldn't be healthy, yet it totally is. I found the recipe he had posted and it has since become a staple for me.

This couldn't be easier to put together and it's something that you can make the night before in about five minutes. Pop it into a to-go container and you can eat a filing breakfast anywhere/anytime that suits you. I've taken this with me to training then ate it afterwards, or just left it in the fridge for an afternoon snack.

It seems like a lot of ingredients, but once you buy some in bulk you do get a lot of serves out of it.

Serves 1

1 tablespoon chia seeds

2 teaspoons flaxseeds 

2 teaspoons sliced almonds

1 serve protein powder (any flavor you like)

1/2 cup coconut milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup frozen berries 

Into a container or bowl, add the chia seeds, flax seeds, almonds, and protein power. 

Pour the coconut milk and vanilla on top and mix well.

Top with frozen berries of your choice (I would recommend raspberries, so good!)

Cover and place in the fridge to set for a few hours or over-night.

And it's ready to go! 

This couldn't be easier to put together and I have felt better since starting to eat it as part of my routine. It would be the perfect way to start a good day and get you eating right!

Let me know what you think :)
Steph x.

What I Eat In A Day #2

Hello, Everyone!

I'm really sorry for disappearing lately. You how life gets, I know that's no excuse but sometimes time just slips away. But I am back and feeling motivated to more effort into blogging. Especially when it comes to sharing my health and fitness journey with you. 

In my last post, I talked about how I felt inspired to be better with my nutrition. I am pleased to say that I have been sticking to this and feel great about it. Since cutting out most of my carbs, I've felt lighter and haven't been feeling tired when I usually would. I'm more determined than ever to keep it up and stay focused. The weekends are always my biggest test, so let's see how I did on a lazy Sunday:

Breakfast 10.28am

I usually don't have breakfast so late, but I had a good friend's 25th birthday celebration last night so we got home way past my bed time (I'm as shocked as you!) I've been feeling a little under the weather, so I'm starting my day with a smoothie. All with good things to make me better! I blended up: 

1 orange

juice of 1 lemon

1/2 cup frozen raspberries

1 tsp grated fresh ginger 

5ml olive leaf oil

1/2 cup orange juice. 

Since it's a rainy day outside, I'm definitely in the mood for porridge. I decided to try something different with my toppings and I'm really happy with what I came up with! I mixed in cinnamon with my oats and added chopped banana on top. Then I spooned a dollop of chocolate peanut butter (best invention ever!) followed by a paleo topper mix and some maple syrup. Tastes as good as it looks! 

Lunch 1.30pm 

I must say, I'm pretty darn happy with what I came up with today. We had some paleo bread (made with ground almonds, psylum husks, sour cream etc.) in the freezer ready to pop in the toaster. I had the other half of an avocado and smoked salmon to pair it with. Of course I had to add some eggs too. Gotta get my protein! 

Because I can't get enough fruit today, I'm gonna chow on an apple. I've been craving these a lot lately for some reason. Not a bad habit to start!


Snack 4.25pm

That lunch must have really filed me up because I'm only just getting peckish now. Steven bought our favorite New Zealand Kettle Korn (lightly salted, slightly sweet) which is the best snack! These packets are the best portion size too. My throat is acting up, so I'm also having a good old orange. Whenever I'm sick I just go overboard on the fruit and it makes me feel a lot better.

7pm Dinner

Yes, we were naughty and got take-out. But what else do you do on a Sunday night? Neither of us felt like cooking and I was craving something spicy, so we went for Indian. Because of my cold, I went for something that was loaded with turmeric, ginger and chili to blast my system. And the night wouldn't be complete without some onion bhajis (onions dipped in chick pea batter and fried.) These are honestly the best I have had in a long time.

Hot coffee and biscuits, is there a better supper? My Mum bought tonnes of Girl Guide biscuits (the Kiwi equivalent of Girl Scout cookies) and she gave a bunch to us. I'm only having a couple and not going crazy on the packet. It's the mini chocolate dipped ones you have to watch out for. They're so addictive!


So that was my Sunday/sick day of eating. Mostly healthy with a few treats and lazy options, but I feel like it's a good way to practice balance on the weekends. I think I'm definitely going to be putting chocolate peanut butter on my porridge from now on, it's the best idea ever!


What's your go-to meal for when you're sick?
Steph x.

17 Things You May Not Know About Me

Hello you wonderful people! 

I came across this video from Ingrid Nilsen and it immediately made me think of the things that you guys probably don't know about me. I love it when bloggers do these posts, it's fun finding out little quirks and things from their past. We all have different stories, so here's a little bit more of an look into mine! 

I never listened to rap music before I started working out at a gym. Even now it's the only kind of music that gives me energy to perform well. 

I can't go a single day without coffee. Even when we travel, I drag my family to find a cafe for me to get a caffeine fix.  

I'm obsessed with mash-ups of my favorite songs on YouTube. There are some brilliant ones out there, especially with Little Mix and Fifth Harmony. 

My hair is guaranteed to always be in a pony tail. For work, training, or even just on my days off so it's easy to handle. It's just the way I like it, but I wish I had the patience to curl it every once in a while.

After watching Deep Blue Sea as a kid, I have been terrified of sharks and swimming in the ocean. I still can't go out so deep that I can't touch the bottom. Even the grates in swimming pools scare me because of an episode on Scooby Doo.


At school, my best subjects were always English and History. I usually placed in the top 3 of my class, which was great because they were my favorites to learn and I had the best English teacher that fueled my creativity.


I love eating cereal at night.


I'm really sensitive to noises when I'm at the cinema. Any rustling, chatting, or even checking of phones doesn't pass my notice and I find it hard to concentrate on the movie.


Peanut M&Ms are my favorite of the three.


When I was 10 years old, I had a trampoline accident that shattered the ball of my elbow. After a surgery to put in 6 pins, I had to go in for a second one because of a twisted nerve that left my pinky finger numb. It was right arm, so I got to be ambidextrous for a while!


I try to always carry snacks with me because I get paranoid about feeling hungry. It puts me in a bad mood, so it's safer for everyone!


Apart from being a blogger, my other dream careers are being a cookbook writer, party planner, or running my own cake business.


After reading I Am Number Four, I have always wanted to own a beagle and name him Bernie Kosner.


I will also eventually own a golden retriever and a caramel cocker spaniel.


My currently celebrity crushes are Tom Hiddleston, Harry Styles, and Chris Pratt.


The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is my favorite ride at Disneyland.


My lucky number is 4.


I made it onto my school cross country team without meaning to one year. I came 10th in my year group so I got to go to the Canterbury competitions. I didn't do terribly well, but looking back makes me realize I was always made for running.



There you go, 17 things you didn't know about me! Leave some comments with random facts about yourself for me to read. Tell me what what pets you would like, favorite movies, anything you like! :)

Steph x.

What I Eat In A Day #1

Hello, Everyone!

As a way of shaking up things a little on my blog, I've decided to switch from Daily Blogs to a What I Eat In A Day series. You all know how much I love sharing the foods I'm trying and I never eat the same thing week to week (or even day to day.) And you guys seem to really enjoy when I do share the healthy and not-so-healthy meals I come up with. If you're looking for food ideas, then hopefully you will love this series! 

This was actually a VERY healthy day of eating for me. Usually I'm not so good, but we had a great chat with our coach this morning about nutrition and it has me feeling more motivated. I've been feeling great with my training lately now that my knee is finally healing up nicely, and nutrition plays such an important in performing well each day. Obviously I'm still avoiding processed foods, but I'm still working on eating less carbs and having protein with every meal. It's all about building good habits and seeing what works best for my body.

Training:

I always start my day with a 6.30am CrossFit class. We were pre-warned about the workout today and it did not disappoint! It was a 30 min EMOM (every minute on the minute) of:

1. 16 kettle bell swings (16kg)

2. 12 burpees

3. 200m run (I rowed)

It was tough, but I got through the whole thing without scaling back any of the reps. I worked on my breathing through each round and found a way to steady it and get oxygen to my muscles. It was the type of workout that required a lot of mental strength too, so it was good to learn to push through tough reps. Feeling proud of myself today!

Meal One: Breakfast

No surprises here! I'm having my staple of oats, cinnamon, banana, blueberries, seed energy mix, and some walnuts for omega 3. Such a great combination and I know it will keep me full for a while. 

Snack: Runner's Muffin

We have a new cookbook at home that's designed with nutrition for people who run. This muffin is for an early morning go-to and I've been looking forward to trying one all week. We freeze them so they're ready whenever we need a healthy snack I heated it up slightly, spread a little coconut oil on top, and it was amazing! I will try and upload the recipe for you guys soon.

Lunch: Sweet Potato & Chickpea Salad

I went out with my Mum to one of our favorite cafes, Park Ranger. Usually I'm tempted to go for a bagel, but since I'm avoiding bad carbs during the day I was craving a nice salad instead. 

This was so much more filling than I thought. It made me feel good to get some greens on my plate and the sauces on this were so good. 

Snack: Watermelon Slices & Baked Vegetable Chips 

I was still full from lunch, so I only felt like a small snack before work. Watermelon is always great for hydration, plus it beats the sugar cravings! We found these chips at our veggie store and decided to try them. I'm a big fan of this kind of snack and these were super-good. 

Dinner: Tuna salad with boiled eggs 

I wanted something easy for dinner that was full of protein and low carb, so this was perfect. I boiled the eggs before I left for work, then added them to a plate of green salad mix and a 90 gram can of tuna. For the dressing, I just mixed lemon juice, sweet white wine vinegar, and sesame oil. I topped it with some pumpkin seeds for extra goodness. It went perfectly with the tuna and I found the whole meal filling. Great option after a busy day!


Hopefully these posts will keep me on a great meal plan and I already have recipes I'd like to share with you.
Let me know what you think of this series and anything else you would like to see!
Steph x.

Fun Variations To Your Fruit & Yogurt Snack!

I'm a big fan of having fruit and yogurt for a mid-afternoon, or evening snack. It's healthy, satisfies the sweet tooth, and has a nice hit of protein. Something filling and nourishing for a post-workout treat too! There are so many combinations to try and toppings to think of. No matter how you like to eat it, fruit and yogurt is a great option to have with a healthy lifestyle.

But we can all get bored with the same-old snack, so I'm here to show you some fun ideas that might make your break-time even better! 

Dippers 

I started doing this other day and it's such a fun snack! You can use any fruit that can be used to scoop yogurt (apples, pears, watermelon, strawberries, banana etc.) For something different, I like to use a flavored coconut yogurt which is thicker than natural ones. The mango and turmeric mix is my absolute favorite. This would be a great snack to take to work, university or even on a picnic!

Parfait 

If you're craving some texture and maybe a few added nutrients, then this is a great way to go. Making up your own granola mix is super-easy and quick. All it takes is some oats, spices, nuts of your choice, and some coconut oil for baking. If you buy some already made, make sure to check that the sugar content isn't too high, companies can be pretty sneaky that way! Layer the yogurt, granola, and your favorite fruit for a filling snack any time of day. 

Watermelon Pizza

Is this the best idea or what? I had seen these floating around Instagram and Pinterest, so one hot afternoon I decided to try one myself. Not only are they fun to decorate, but so delicious to eat! Just add yogurt on top, sprinkle some berries, a few nuts, and even a swirl of honey, and voila! A healthy snack that almost looks too good to eat. 

Frozen Bites

These couldn't be easier to make. Just find some molds (I used cake pop ones) pour in a little yogurt, add some fruit, top with a little more yogurt, and freeze! In a few hours you will have a refreshing treat you can grab whenever you need to satisfy that sweet tooth. These are especially great on hot summer days to help cool you down.

I hope you guys like these snack ideas, let me know if you decide to try any of them!
What's your favorite way to eat fruit and yogurt as a snack?
Steph x.

The Geeky Girl Tag!

Hello, Everyone!

The lovely Tania Michele and I quite often geek-out about the same things (she has very good taste) and she was kind enough to tag me in a post all about my geeky side! This is a topic I absolutely love diving into and it's a very big part of who I am. I've always been a little nerdy and my friends will tell you I can get pretty excited about this stuff. Thanks for including me Tania!

Here we go:

1. What is your must-have tech gadget?

Apart from my DSLR camera, can I say my BB-8 Bop It Toy? I'm not overly techy, but I love this thing. It's so fun and makes the cutest sounds!

                                               2. Which house do you belong to in Hogwarts?

Hufflepuff! I was placed on Pottermore and after being introduced to Newt Scamander, I am so proud to be in my house. We have good hearts, and our common room is right next to the kitchens at Hogwarts. We are good friends to have :)

3. Who is your favorite Doctor?

I think because he was my main experience with Doctor Who, I'm going to have to say Matt Smith. It was fun seeing an older character in a young man's body. I thought he played the character really well and the companions during his seasons were my favorite too. 

4. If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be?

I've always found this question tough. I think it's a tie between Rey from Star Wars, so we can ditch dinner and go on adventures across the galaxy to fight the First Order. Maybe even turn me into a Jedi. Or Newt Scamander from Fantastic Beasts. I love for him to tell me about all of his favorite creatures and take me into his magical case so I can hug them all. I might try and adopt one of Picket's friends for a companion of my own. 

5. What is your gaming system of choice?

To be honest, I haven't spent much money on games lately, but I do love having something portable like my PSP. I've also always wanted a GameBoy to have on hand when I travel or I'm just bored at home. 

6. If you had a super power, what would it be?

I have always wanted to be able to move objects with my mind. Not because I'm lazy, but just for the fun of it. I could levitate myself and fly instead of having to drive everywhere. I could totally use it to save people and become a super hero, as long as I can become an Avenger.

7. What is your favorite fantasy world?

Harry Potter of course! The dream to go to Hogwarts, own a wand, and eat chocolate frogs began when I was ten years old and it's still alive and well today. When I visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in LA, it was like getting a glimpse into what it would be like to explore Hogwarts and it's a world I wanna live in!

8. If you could be any fictional race, what would you be?

Sticking with the Harry Potter theme, I would love to be a witch. Casting spells would just be so much fun and I get to spend my teen years at Hogwarts. What could be better? 

9. Star Trek or Star Wars?

Star Wars! I definitely grew up watching the movies more than Star Trek. And I just love the universe. The heroes, the droids, and the epic theme music. It's the best. I do enjoy Star Trek as well, especially the recent reboot movies. 

10. List your top 5 geektastic movies or TV Series.

Harry Potter

Star Wars 

The Avengers

Sherlock 

The Big Bang Theory

11. List your top 5 favorite video games.

Star Wars Battlefront 

Lego Harry Potter 

Mario Kart 

I have to say a big thank you to Tania for tagging me in this awesome tag. Make sure you go and check out her answers because I absolutely loved reading them. I had a lot of fun thinking of my own and it's making me want to talk about my geeky side more often. 

Here are the questions if you would like to copy them and take part in the tag:

1. What is your must-have tech gadget?

                                             2. Which house do you belong to in Hogwarts?

3. Who is your favorite Doctor?

4. If you could have dinner with any fictional character, who would it be?

5. What is your gaming system of choice?

6. If you had a super power, what would it be?

7. What is your favorite fantasy world?

8. If you could be any fictional race, what would you be?

9. Star Trek or Star Wars?

10. List your top 5 geektastic movies or TV Series.

11. List your top 5 favorite video games.

I would love it if Over The Moony and Prompts By Dee

would take part in the tag! Both of your answers would be fun to read :)

Let me know what your favorite fandoms are in the comments!

Steph x. 

365 Days Of Happiness: February

Happy March Everyone!

I think I've needed this project more throughout this month. It's been another roller-coaster time, with really great moments and some stressful ones too. But that's life my loves, always about the balance.

My knee is slowly getting better, but I have learned that I need to do more to strengthen and take care of it. Hopefully March will see me attempting some light jogging and squats.

My new job has been going well and have been given more regular hours now. I feel so much better looking toward future plans. Obviously I won't be there forever, but it's a step in the right direction.

Despite these good things, my city was struck with yet another natural disaster this month. Some of you guys will know how I love running the hills that close to my neighborhood and have shown you the beautiful view from the top in my daily blogs. One Monday after I came home from an afternoon of training at CrossFit, my Mum and brother pointed out the smoke coming from our beloved hills. Fires aren't unheard of here, but they don't usually get very big. But it grew (over roughly 26km of land) and came a little too close to home for comfort. It has taken nearly two weeks to put them out (they're actually still working on hot spots) and I had a few rest-less nights waiting to see if we were going to be evacuated. It has only reminded me to prioritize the people I care about and not worry so much about material items. 

Getting back to more positive things, here are the happy moments from each day in February:

1. Picked up an extra shift at work. Good for my Hawaii savings!

2. Went to a surprise dinner with my CrossFit family

3. I made vanilla protein pancakes for breakfast

4. Tried a new vegan cafe with Mum and they had the most amazing Japanese pancake rolls!

5. The perfect Sunday: pizza for lunch then ice cream by the beach

6. Fun morning at CrossFit then watching the Superbowl. Best comeback by the Patriots!

7. Meal prep and shopping with Steven

8. Started my knee rehab routine

9. Lunch and shopping with Mum after a shift at work. We looked at all the cute Valentine's Day goodies

10. Delicious dinner at the night noodle market!

11. Date night with home-made pizzas and Netflix

12. Got treated to brunch and finished season 3 of Sherlock

13. Felt mentally stronger at CrossFit, which I needed for the 2km row!

14. We watched Fresh Prince of Bel Air (pure gold) and went for ice cream

15. Got a big hug from Steven after work. These fires are freaking me out

16. Family lunch at one of my favorite places. Feels very important after a scary night

17. Tiramisu Kit Kats are a thing and I'm in love

18. Belated Valentine's with presents and chocolate fondue

19. Steve surprised me with breakfast in bed. It was the best croissant I've had in a long time

20. Ended up doing a mid-day class at CrossFit and it was so fun! Also Sadie the pug was there : )

21. Mars Bar Mini-Eggs. Enough said

22. Made watermelon pizza for the first time and it was glorious

23. Bought some beautiful earings for an upcoming wedding

24. Deadlift day at CrossFit! My knee won't let me get over 85kg, but at least I'm doing some lifting

25. Caught up with my friends over frozen yogurt (I added lots of sour lollies)

26. Dumplings run made a success by my saint of a boyfriend

27. Completed my first CrossFit Open workout in 15.14min!

28. Got trusted with a more advanced job at work and it went well

I have high hopes for March now. The CrossFit Open has started and there will be a new workout each Friday for me to work hard on. I feel like I'm competing in a sport and it's really exciting!


Once again this project is reminding me to take the good days with the bad and don't forget to look back on all the happy things you've experienced lately. You may think the month wasn't very eventful, but I bet you did more than you expected.

What was the best thing that happened in February for you?
Steph x.