Turkey Pumpkin Chili

I have been obsessed with chili the last few weeks and I can tell you right now that I'm not going to stop with my chili cooking any time soon! It's so easy, filling, satisfying, healthy and tasty!

I decided to pumpkinize (not a word, but I like to make words up for fun!) a recipe by adding a can of pumpkin puree. Added goodness, thickens it up and you really can't taste it, so the health benefits are there without comprising the taste. My son picks out the beans, but my daughter eats them mashed, so win win!

Oh, yes. It's been a long while since I've last posted. Since my last post, I've had a baby girl. No biggie. Just a baby. :P On to the recipe! 

TURKEY PUMPKIN CHILI

INGREDIENTS:

2 tsp olive oil1 yellow onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves minced1 medium red bell pepper, chopped 1 lb ground turkey2 TB chili powder2 tsp ground cumin1 tsp diced oregano1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree1/4 tsp cayenne pepper1/2 tsp salt1 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes1/2 cup of chicken broth2 15-ounce cans kidney beans, rinsed and drained

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cook ground turkey and chopped onions in a pan. Then, add to a crockpot with all the ingredients. Mix well and turn on that crocker to LOW for 3-4 hours. 

NOTES:
I was impatient and ate it after 3 hours. The longer the flavors marry, the better! ENJOY knowing it's tasty AND healthy! 

TOPPINGS: greek yogurt (great sour cream alternative!), cilantro, avocado, cheese, chopped red onion, jalapeños, kimchi. So, I tried it with kimchi recently because I was all out of other toppings. It definitely had the spice and crunch factor. Not bad, but I prefer jalapeños. Give it a try though! You only live once!

Give

ThanksGIVING.

Give thanks. Give love. Give happiness.

Holidays are great to gather, have fun and create memories, but I think they're also a great time to reflect on life. And as Socrates once said, "A unexamined life is not worth living". Learned that once in 9th grade English (Go Langley!).

Each Thanksgiving meal, my family gathers and we go around the table and say what we're thankful for. Basically, we say what have we RECEIVED in the past year that we're thankful for. It's a nice few minutes of sharing and it gets conversations flowing. This year, my mindset is a little different.

What about thinking of ways I can give? Giving to others is way more rewarding than receiving. Isn't it? At least for me it is. Whether it's to donate to a charitable organization or give your time to loved ones, I believe giving warms the heart and soul.

I went through a Chick-Fil-A phase. I loved eating there. Literally. I loved going in, ordering, sitting down and enjoying my meal there. Why? It's fast food. It's just like McDonald's, Wendy's or Burger King. WRONG! Every visit, I was continually impressed by the warm welcome, happy order-taking and homey customer service. Every visit, I sat back, ate my chicken nuggets and waffle fries with Polynesian sauce and just observed the details. Fresh carnation in a vase. Disposable table mats for babies and toddlers. Ketchup packet neatly organized. Being greeted and checked in on by at least 1 manager and 3 employees.

Needless to say, Chick-Fil-A is a well-oiled machine with a great system. I wanted to know more. I was curious. I love a good read when it comes to successful businesses or people. One fine day, I noticed books on the counter. Books that were written by the Chick-Fil-A CEO himself, Truett Cathy. In true Truett Cathy form, he charged a measly $5 for books purchased in-store. "Wealth: Is it Worth it" was the title. I read it in two hours. He attributes his entire success and wealth to...you've got it...GIVING.

My idea of wealth, attaining success and being happy changed. While I am all about becoming wealthy to buy whatever I want and go on fabulous, exotic vacations, I changed my mindset and heart to give more. Doesn't have to be money, but time, energy, thoughts, prayers...those can all be given.

So, as this year comes to an end and I start writing down my 2016 goals (something I do every year), I think I'm going to do things a little differently. I'm going to write a list of what I'd like to give and see where that takes me.

Happy Thanksgiving :)

Do what you love, love what you do

I've said it once and I'll say it again. I love what I do and don't ever drag myself out of bed in the mornings, don't dread Mondays and don't complain that I'm not where I should be in life...because I'm doing something I'm PASSIONATE about.

Since I was in high school, all I ever heard was to find something I was passionate about. What the heck does that even mean? I worked at numerous clothing stores in high school and college, like Banana Republic, Armani Exchange and Bloomingdale's. I loved clothes and accessories and I worked near them...was that being passionate? It didn't drive me. First job out of college, I worked for a civil engineering association in the international department and while I enjoyed being "international" and absolutely loved my boss (Hi Marisa!), it wasn't fulfilling. Over the next several years, I worked for different companies (executive search, retail, mortgage). I learned a TON along the way.

The biggest thing I learned...I don't like working for other people. Deep down, I knew there was an entrepreneur in me just waiting to come out. The biggest opportunity was always in front of me: Taekwondo. To run one of my dad's locations was the BEST thing that ever happened to me. I learned a lot about myself and grew as a person and businesswoman. It was at this point in my life, I learned what being passionate was all about.

Fast foward, I am DARN LUCKY to say I found another passion. Two in a lifetime?! Seriously counting my blessings here. I don't know how to put in words the daily excitement I have for being a Beachbody coach. The engaging conversations, listening to struggles, helping others live happier lives, pushing myself to be the best Julia there is...

I AM BLESSED.

DIY Hairclip and Hairband Holder

CJ and I are expecting a baby girl due in January. I am over-the-moon excited for my little girl's arrival. I can't wait to dress up in matching outfits with her. When she gets older, I can't wait to do all the girly things that moms do with their daughters.

We haven't decided on her name yet, so for now, I'll be referring to her as baby girl. Baby girl's nursery is slowly coming together. I'll be sure to post pictures of the final room. As an early gift, I received a few pieces of pink clothing, hats and hairbands. Hairbands. For years and years, I've secretly hoped I'd have a girl one day to dress her with beautiful hairbands. I haven't bought any yet, but I've no doubt baby girl will have a huge collection.

I got to thinking...what am I going to do with all the clips, bows and bands? Pinterest? Pinterest can be overwhelming with fabulous ideas, so I tried to stay away from it, but I was quickly drawn back to it. It's just the easiest place to save all my favorite ideas.

I came across pins for DIY hairclip and hairband holders and wanted to attempt making one myself. I have plenty of Pinterest fails, but I was confident this one wouldn't be so hard. It wasn't!

DIY Hairclip and Hairband Holder

Supplies:

* Frame of choice (I chose a 9x12 frame from Michaels. $9.99 with a 40% off coupon!)
* Ribbon (you can have fun with this. I kept it simple with a wide pink satin)
* Glue gun or super glue (I used super glue)
* 7/8" Cup Hooks (Bought at Michaels, but cheaper at Home Depot)
* Decorative flowers, butterflies, lettering, whatever you want!
* Measuring tape or ruler
* Pencil
* Scissors
* Powerdrill with drillbit smaller than 7/8" (CJ took care of this for me, so I don't know which size he used)

Instructions:

* Remove everything from the picture frame so you're left with only the frame.
* Decide how many strands of ribbon you want. I tried to keep in mind that hairclips have attachments and bows to them, so they'll stick out the sides a bit and space the ribbon out that way. 
* Measure the ribbon so you can glue from top to bottom. Cut.
* Measure how far apart you'd like the cup hooks and mark the spots with a pencil. I suggest keeping them at least 1.5" apart. If they're too close, the frame may crack. There's a little crack on the bottom of baby girl's frame. Not a big deal, but it'd be nicer if it wasn't there.
* Glue ribbon onto the frame. Let dry completely.
* Using the powerdrill, drill holes where marked. (CJ did this part for me, so I don't have other directions to give here).
* Hand screw in the cup hooks. (CJ did this part for me, so I don't have other directions to give here).
* Decorate the frame and you're done!

Overall, this was an easy project and something that baby girl will use for a few years. I can't wait to put it up on the wall :)

Carrot Coconut Curry Soup

A few weeks ago, my fridge was running on fumes. It was looking pretty bare. After exhausting much of food in the pantry and freezer, I wasn't left with much. 

I like to challenge myself in moments like these. Think like Rachel Ray. What can you make with what you've got?

Carrot Coconut Curry Soup!

It's got a bit of kick to it and it's so comforting. Add some bread to it and you've got yourself a meal.

Carrot Coconut Curry Soup

(Recipe from thekitchn.com)

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 onion, peeled and roughly chopped
6 cups carrots, unpeeled and roughly chopped
3 1/2 cups vegetable stock (
One 15-ounce can coconut milk
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly chopped ginger root
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Heat the coconut oil in a large soup pot and add the onions. Sweat the onions on medium heat for about 7 minutes. Add the carrots and cook for another 5 minutes. Pour in the stock and coconut milk. Add the ginger, curry powder and chili flakes. Put a lid on the pot and cook until the carrots are softened, about 10 or 15 minutes.

When carrots are soft, carefully blend the soup in batches in a blender or use an immersion hand blender and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with fresh herbs, and more chili flakes, if desired.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes

I am officially OBSESSED with all things pumpkin. I want to get my hands on everything!

I had an OB ultrasound this morning (baby girl at 24 weeks is healthy and beautiful!) and on the way home, I had a serious sudden craving for pumpkin pancakes. I don't crave anything in particular this pregnancy (neither did I the last one), but if I want something, I just HAVE TO HAVE IT!

I happened to have leftover pumpkin puree from making the Pumpkin Apple Spice Vanilla Shakeology a few days ago. I also remembered a 2-ingredient pancake recipe I haven't made in awhile. It didn't take me long to to decide I was going to add some pumpkin puree to the pancake recipe to make a healthy version of pumpkin pancakes.

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 eggs (beaten)
• 1 banana (ripe and mashed)
• dash of pumpkin pie spice (optional, but highly recommended!)

Instruction:

• In a bowl, beat 2 eggs with a fork. 
• In another bowl, mash a ripe banana with a fork. 
• Mix all ingredients until there are no banana lumps. 
• In a pan on medium high heat (not too hot, otherwise it'll burn real fast), put some coconut oil and swirl it around in the pan. 
• Pour little circles of pancake "batter" onto the pan. Keep a close eye and don't leave it on the pan too long. Once you see the edges cooked, flip over carefully. They will break if you're not careful. 
• If your banana is ripe, that'll take care of the sweetness for you. If you really want some syrup, go right ahead! 

ENJOY!

Pumpkin Apple Spice Vanilla Shakeology

FALL IS HERE!!

I'm a summer baby and love summer, but there's something about fall. I love everything about it - the fall foliage, crisp air, and pumpkin everything. I am READY to try a bunch of pumpkin recipes starting NOW!

I just tried this Shakeology recipe and it's yummo! I may have added a little too much pumpkin spice, but it's delicious and healthy nonetheless. I also needed some extra sweetness and added some extra sugar. Whatever floats your boat!

Apple slices with PB and Granola

Being pregnant is a beautiful experience. A blessing. Feeling your little bun grow inside you is truly amazing. That being said, it does come with a few not-so-fun side effects. Currently, the biggest ailment I'm experiencing is heartburn/acid reflux. The muscles in the body relax and acid isn't kept down as well as it used to be. There are a few things to help with this. Tums is GODSEND. Not laying down after you eat helps a ton. Eating clean (no greasy, spicy or processed foods) helps a lot as well.

I was craving a crunchy, healthy snack. I've seen photos of this snack before and decided to give it a try.

Apple Slices with PB and Granola

Ingredients:

Any apple

Any nut butter

Granola

Instructions:

- Slice apples and core them (I took off the rubber piece of a baster and used the round part. It worked!)

- Spread your favorite nut butter (as much or as little as you want)

- Sprinkle granola

VOILA!

So easy and so delicious. A feel-good snack :)

Life is Short

Fresh Tomato Sauce

CJ came home with a box filled with tomatoes. We gave a few away to my inlaws and I didn't know what to do with the rest. Off the top of my head, I though I could make pico de gallo and caprese salad. After posting on Facebook, I received several replies: fresh tomato sauce!

Ok, Google. Let's go! I found a lot of recipes. I particularly liked this one website that broke down the process pretty well. I have to say I was nervous to try it. I didn't need to be because it was easy to make and SO FRESH & DELICIOUS!! I can't wait to try different recipes in the future.

Fresh Tomato Sauce

Recipe from The Kitchn

Ingredients:

-tomatoes 

-minced garlic

-salt/pepper to taste

Instructions:
- Boil a pot of water
- Prepare a large bowl of ice water
- Core tomato stems and make an X slit at the round end with a knife.
- Blanche tomatoes by placing them in boiling water for about 60 seconds or until skin starts peeling and looks wrinkled
- Scoop out the tomatoes and place them in the ice water
- Peel the skin off and discard
- Heat a pan on medium heat and throw tomatoes in
- Let simmer for 30 minutes
- add garlic, salt and pepper to your liking and taste towards the last 10 minutes

Pour over pasta and enjoy!

7-Day Water Challenge

I haven't made the formal announcement on the blog yet, but I recently became a Beachbody coach!! I am IN LOVE with E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G about Beachbody. I will have to dedicate a post to it another time and I will, but today is all about WATER.

H20. Our body's made up of roughly 70% water and we NEED water to survive. I remember hearing long ago that while we can go weeks and weeks without food, we can only survive a week without water.

Luckily for me, I freaking LOVE water. I prefer it to soda and juice. It quenches my thirst. I also prefer room temperature water, which is great because it's recommended room temp water is the best for your body to absorb it properly.

On Facebook, I announced a 7-Day Water Challenge that starts today. ANYONE can do it from ANYWHERE. You take your weight, divide that by 2 and that's how many ounces of water you should be drinking each day.  It's really not as hard as it sounds if you're aware of it.

My only advice: stay near the restrooms!

I've had FANTASTIC feedback all day and it's been fun to do this challenge with people who want to lead healthier lives.

GET YOUR DRINK ON! Let's pop some bottles! Water bottles, that is.

Power of the Mind

T25

Shaun T...you are THE MAN! CJ and I think so.

Unless you've been living under a rock, I think it's safe to say that everyone knows who Shaun T is. Insanity. P90x. He's an amazing fitness professional who is NOT all talk. The man knows what he's talking about.

I'm currently on week 2 of a 10 week program. It is so easy to do. ONLY 25 minutes a day and I am drenched in sweat. I can't keep up with every count and every move and I do the modified moves when I need to. Even with modified moves, I get in an awesome workout.

It's gotten to the point where I CRAVE working out. I don't dread it. I look forward to it. I really am impressed with myself...or rather Shaun T's workouts.

Pat myself on the back. Pin a rose on my nose.  I am on fire!

Wedding Speech to Rina

One of my besties, Rina, married the love of her life, Joon, on May 1. I was honored to stand by her side as co-matron of honor. This post is dedicated to Rina and Joon.

My name is Julia and I am Rina's co-matron of honor. I have known Rina since middle school. We attended the same middle school, high school and college. We've journeyed throughout life together. I could not be happier for Rina and Joon. They are a perfect match made in heaven.

When a man looks for a woman to call his wife, he looks for several qualities. He wants a woman who is smart, beautiful, fun, loving and caring. Rina is all those qualities. I've been trying to think of a story that exemplifies all these characteristics and though there are many stories I could tell, there's one that happened rather recently that sticks out in my mind.

Awhile back, we were chatting on the phone and I mentioned to Rina how I wish I had a workout buddy because working out would be so much easier. Her reply? I've an idea. How about I come up right now, sleep over and we'll workout in the morning. For those of you who don't know, I live in a faraway land called Bel Air. It's an hour and a half away. Not a short drive.

Rina came, slept over and sure enough, we worked out in the morning and she went home. She spent a total of 12 hours with me.

I know it's not a big story, but it exudes her best qualities.

Joon, please take care of Rina. If you don't, I know where you live. Oh, and my husband and I both know Taekwondo. I wish you too all the best.

Please raise a glass with me. Cheers! I love you both!

ABC Leglifts

When I'm feeling a little pudgy in my tummy area (which is quite often, btw), I start doing a bunch of ab exercises. Watching TV and doing some crunches or leglifts are easy, as long as you're in the mood. I need constant variety with my workouts, otherwise I get bored quick. For me, being bored means I stop working out. I get workout inspiration (is it called fitspo?) from magazines, Youtube, Pinterest, and of course, CJ.

I forget where I came across this simple, creative leglift exercise, but I get through it pretty quickly.

ABC Leglifts

Lay down on your back. 

Hands under your bum. 

Write out the alphabet with your legs.

Start with upper case letters, then do the lower case letters. 

DONE!

Body Shaming

A powerful, short video on body shaming and cyber bullying.

My Open Letter to Michael Buble

Dear Michael Buble,

I don't know when, where or how I was introduced to your music, but it has affected my life in more ways than one. During times of stress, loneliness and sadness, you were there to lift me up even for just a moment.  During my happiest times, you were there to celebrate with me.

Your music is like a drug. A sense of calm and peace overcomes me. Hope is renewed. Happiness is restored. Life is great. Add a glass of red wine and I'm in utopia.

Can I share with you a little ritual I've established whenever I need Julia time? I go into my bathroom, lock the door, play your music and paint my nails. Other times, I put on a pair of headphones, drink a glass of wine and mindlessly explore the internet. I am in my own world. I come out a happier Julia. I'm sure my husband and son will thank you one day.

Keep on, Michael Buble. Keep on. And thank you.

Cheers,

Julia

Super Effective Shoulder Workout - 6 ways

At the gym, some lady and I were sitting near each other lifting weights. We got to talking and she showed me her favorite shoulder workout: 6 ways by John Meadows. You basically do it until you can't do it anymore. Definitely had me struggling lifting Christopher the next day.

Healthy Tuna Salad

Thanks to a friend who shared this recipe, I think I eat this a few times a month. It's so healthy, so guilt-free, so easy.

Healthy Tuna Salad

Ingredients:

1 can of tuna
1 avocado
1 lemon (juice squeezed)
2 Tablespoons of mustard
1/4 of a red onion diced
1 rib of celery diced
2 slices of wheat bread

Instructions: 

Mix all the ingredients (except the wheat bread) with a fork.

Spread onto the slice of wheat bread and enjoy!

For an even healthier version, eat with cucumbers.

Treadmill Workout - The Side Run

I enjoy running. It's a statement I never thought I'd say. I dreaded running the mile when I was in Elementary and Middle school. I joined the track team in High School and learned to sprint and relay. Since then, my love for running grew. I don't run with music like the rest of the world. I enjoy the fresh air, letting my thoughts run wild and hitting the pavement. Running is therapy.

While I prefer running alfresco, running on a treadmill isn't bad. The treadmill allows me to do things I can't necessarily do or wouldn't want to do outdoors. For instance, on the treadmill, I can run on a super high incline whenever I want. I can also do the side run. I don't see myself doing this outdoors in public. I'm sure there's a proper name, but I call it the side run.

I can't take credit for this. I learned this move from Shonda. I copy a lot of a exercises from her. She makes it look so easy. I haven't yet attempted to run backwards. I know myself all too well. It's public humiliation just waiting to happen.

A video posted by FITNESS-HEALTHY RECIPES❤️ (@shonda1020) on Jan 10, 2015 at 6:52am PST