Healthy Holiday Travel Tips!

Its that time of year when travel picks up. I have to admit I am not excited about packing (and we aren't even going that far!) but I always follow a few steps to try to stay on track (and on schedule with the twins) the best we can.

Make a list. 
I have a list for everything, but about a week before (or the night before) I start writing things down that cannot be forgotten.  That way when things get hectic I don't have to think!

Pack Snacks. Lots of snacks.
I always pack snacks. Lots of snacks. I pack everything from pre-packed bags of pistachios, to kind bars to apples and string cheese. I stash it in my purse and my suitcase. (For the girls you can never have enough cheerios and cheddar bunnies!)

Pack then unpack.
A little trick my grandma taught me (who was an expert traveler), is to pack everything you need then take half of it out. I know right? But honestly you never really use everything you bring and its ok to re-use. Its so much easier to get around with less luggage. Plus the chances of you having extra things to bring home is pretty high! (For this I always pack a collapsable bag. You can carry it on the plane and check the rest of your items if needed).

Bring caffeine.
Whenever I get tired, my willpower goes out the window. So I bring my favorite tea to distract me from cravings. Plus the holiday travel always requires a little extra energy!

Plan to go off the plan.
Yep, I know am probably going to have 1 extra glass of wine or a few pieces of chocolate so I try to cut back during the day. Eat a smaller breakfast, skip the carbs in the morning and focus on protein.

Keep moving.
All my workouts are streaming online or on my phone. Or I just go out and run. Just pack a good pair of shoes and you are ready to go! If you can pack a yoga mat. If you can't bring shoes a yoga mat makes about any surface useable. The goal is to move just a little extra. You can even call ahead to some hotels and ask them if they have workout gear to borrow or running paths close by.

Drink water!
Stay hydrated. You'll feel more rested, your skin will have a healthy holiday glow and you will feel so much better. The goal should be to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water a day.

Relax.
I'm a huge planner, I have backup plans for backup plans, but this time of the year, its OK to just go with the flow and relax :)  Everything happens for a reason right?

Safe travels and happy holidays!

XO -
Holly

Deck the Halls!

We are officially in the full swing of the holiday season. I thought it would be fun to put a collection of pictures of our adventures over the last week, including some of our holiday decorations! (I kind of LOVE decorating for the holidays!)

Adding a little sparkle inside...

And little sparkle on the outside...

And a lot of sparkle all around! Breakfast with Santa and cookie baking! :)

I hope you and your family enjoy this special time!
XO -
Holly

Holiday Gift Guide - Healthy Cooking Cookbook!

I love a good cookbook. Not only because I drool over the pictures but because it always inspires me to take on new challenges in the kitchen and try to change it up in terms of our family meal planning. I decided to combine my love of cookbooks with my love of gift guides and came up with my Healthy Cooking Cookbook Gift Guide for 2015! All family friendly and toddler approved!

Skinnytaste --> For those of you that follow me on FB or have been in my challenge groups, you know I LOVE this cookbook and website. 90% of our family meals come from this amazing site and collection of recipes. We make the butternut squash rolls for the girls all the time and freeze them for when we travel.

100 Days of Real Food --> Eating clean has been a goal of mine this year and this book was recommended by one of my clients. Its great inspiration and easy to follow.

Whole 30 --> Contining on the clean eating path, I love a good challenge and the Whole 30 eating challenge and meal plan is something I have dabbled in and out of all year. This is on my list to finish reading over the holiday break!

Fixate --> This program changed my life and the cookbook is amazing. The turkey chili and the macaroni are delicious!

Practical Paleo --> I LOVE this book. If you have ever been interested in the benefits of Paleo and are just looking for some good healthy recipes, this is the place to start. Its for informative, easy to follow and has a ton of resources.

Picky Palate --> This is one of my favorite bloggers who now has a cookbook. The recipes are amazing and super family friendly. Her desserts are to die for!

Everyday Detox --> A healthy guide to detoxing naturally, all year round -- no dieting, juice fasting or calorie counting. Sold. This is on my wish list and I can't wait to see if Santa brings it! Plus there are over 100 recipes to try!

I hope you are as excited about these as I am ! Happy Shopping!
XO -
Holly