The Guilty Pleasure Workout

Greetings! 

We know that it can be hard to fit in a workout, so this week we decided to create something that you can complete while watching one of your favorite guilty pleasure TV shows. (Real Housewives? Guilty! Bachelor in Paradise? Guilty! Big Brother? Guilty!)

If you give it a try, let us know which show you watched in the comments below!

Cheers!

Julia & Vicki

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Happy Things: Crushing on Coconuts

Hey, Happy Lady! We are excited to launch our new series, Happy Things, where we will share some of our favorite products that are bringing joy and happiness to our lives. This week, we’re Crushing on Coconuts!

Image by BionicTeaching / Text Added

It seems like everywhere you turn, coconut products are lining the shelves. Products that have nothing to do with this tropical fruit are now creating coconut-flavored editions of their products to cash in on this latest health trend. With so many options, it’s hard to know which products are worth the hype. Well, Happy Ladies, you’ll be glad to know that we’ve made it our mission to try as many coconut-inspired products as possible to help you navigate this coconut craze!      

Here are the top five coconut products that we are currently crushing on:

• Coconut Water: We love this all-natural, super hydrating, potassium-rich drink. (Did you know that one serving of coconut water has as much potassium as FOUR bananas?) Coconut water is a great way to jazz up drinks without adding a lot of refined sugar or sodium. It also contains easily digestible carbohydrates in the form of naturally occurring sugar and electrolytes, which make it a great workout recovery drink (say goodbye to that bottle of Gatorade!) Coconut water has a unique, sweet but nutty-like flavor that can be overpowering if you haven’t acquired a taste for it. We recommend mixing it with your favorite beverage instead of drinking it on its own. Here are a couple of our favorite combinations: 
  
  
  Coconut Lemon Drop 
  1 Part Coconut Water
  3 Parts Lemon Mineral Water
  Squeeze of ½ Lemon (or to taste) 
  
  
  Coco Latte 
  1 Part Coconut Water
  1 Part Unsweetened Almond Milk
  2 Parts Coffee
  Serve hot or over ice
  
  

• Coconut Oil: Where have you been all of our lives, Coconut Oil?! This product has more uses than we could possibly list. We love using it straight out of the jar as a daily moisturizer or mixing it with a scoop of sugar for an all-natural body scrub. Check out this complete guide to see how you can add this to everything from conditioning your tresses to unsticking a zipper! (Grab a jar next time you're grocery shopping. It's usually stocked next to the cooking oils.) 

• Toasted Coconut Cookie Thins: No list would be complete without an item from our favorite Hawaiian-shirt-wearing grocer, Trader Joe's. These cracker-thin cookies are bursting with sweet, coconut flavor, and make a great afternoon treat when paired with tea or coffee, or as a refreshing dessert when served with vanilla ice cream.  

• Honolulu Sun Hand Soap: If you are in need of a tropical escape, try this coconut and pacific palm-scented foaming hand soap from Bath and Body Works. One pump of this gentle, moisturizing cleanser will conjure visions of the swaying palm trees, sparkling white sand, and turquoise waters of the Hawaiian Islands.

• Silk's Unsweetened Coconut Almond Milk Blend: If you are a fan of almond milk, try this new blend! It has a slightly sweeter, tangier taste than regular almond milk and is great alone, in smoothies, or as coffee creamer (we love it in the Coco Latte recipe above). It has the same great benefits as almond milk and provides 50% more calcium than dairy milk.

Do you have any favorite coconut-inspired products? Let us know in the comments below! 

Also, if you like pina coladas (and getting caught in the rain... haha), stay tuned for Friday's post, where we will share the recipe for our favorite pool-side cocktail, the Carmicolada!

Cheers!

Vicki and Julia

The Final Full-Body CrossFit-Inspired Workout: Week 4

Greetings! 

Here is the fourth and final workout in our Full-Body CrossFit-Inspired series. We've had great results following these workouts over the past month and love that they are short (typically 30 minutes), effective, and require no equipment (which allows us to perform the workouts in the comfort of our own homes). Score!

However, we believe in changing it up to keep things interesting, so next week we will launch a brand new series. Stay tuned!

How-Tos:

Samson Stretch

Waiter's Bow
Superman
Donkey Kicks 

Notes:
High Knees: Each knee raise counts as one rep. 
Lunges: Alternate legs, totaling five on each leg. 
Bicycles: Each crunch counts as one rep. 
Donkey Kicks: Perform five on the right leg, then five on the left leg per round. 

Tips for modifying: Go at your own pace and modify as necessary.  If you can't complete the entire workout as is, you can always do less rounds (or do less per round) until you are able to work up to it. Also, take water breaks between rounds when needed to catch your breath. Wait to begin the next round until you have recovered and complete each exercise correctly.

If you have any questions about the workout or any of the moves, leave a comment below! 

Have a great week!

Vicki & Julia

Full-Body CrossFit-Inspired Workout: Week 3

Hey, Happy Ladies! 

This week we're sharing the third workout in our CrossFit-Inspired series. It's very similar to last week's workout, but we've changed the number of rounds and some of the exercises in the circuits.

How-Tos:

Samson Stretch

Waiter's Bow
Superman
Donkey Kicks 

Tips for modifying: We believe in making your workout your own. It's important to go at your own pace and modify as necessary.  If you can't complete the entire workout as is, you can always do less rounds (or do less per round) until you are able to work up to it.

Personally, burpees are a huge challenge for us. When we first started working out, we could hardly do three in a row without gasping for air. If you are a beginner, start out at five burpees per round. As you improve your endurance, you can work up to ten burpees. If you stick with it, you will be amazed at how much this exercise will improve your endurance and tone your entire body.

Also, don't forget to take breaks when needed. If you are so fatigued that you are unable to perform the exercises properly, take a water break, catch your breath, and then start again when you have recovered. 

One thing you don't need to modify... your cool down! Enjoy your glass of wine after a workout well done! 

Cheers!

- Vicki & Julia

Full-Body CrossFit-Inpired Workout: Week 2

Greetings!

We are so happy to finally share our new workout with you. We experienced a few technical difficulties, which prevented us from posting this at the beginning of the week. But don't fret, Happy Lady, we jedi mind-tricked those evil computer viruses and are back in blogging business! Besides, it all worked out in the end because we think this will be the perfect mid-week pick-me-up!

Warning: This is a challenging workout, but if you take your time and stop for water breaks when needed, we are confident that you will get through it... and when you do, you will feel energized, accomplished, and ready to take on this crazy week!

Stretch How-Tos:

Samson Stretch

Waiter's Bow

Cheers!

- Vicki & Julia

How to Host a Wine-Tasting Party

A few months ago we decided to have a party to celebrate two of our favorite things: wine and cheese! We invited a couple friends over, asked them to contribute the the spread, and set up several different pairings. Not only was it a great excuse to gather friends, it was a fun way to hone our wine-tasting skills and learn more about our preferences! (Spoiler alert: We loved everything!)

Here is our guide to host the perfect wine-tasting party (and eat your weight in delicious cheese): 

1. Invite over a group of wine-loving friends (a smaller group of four to eight people works best).

2. Ask each person/couple to bring one bottle of wine and one cheese. (We chose to sample reds and set a price limit of $10 per bottle to keep things simple.)

3. Set out a few other snacks to go with the pairings, like fruit, crackers, nuts or cured meats for guests to nibble on in between tastings. 

4. Kick off the party by serving each guest a glass of wine from a mystery bottle when they first arrive. Ask them to try to figure out the varietal while they wait for the pairings to begin. 

5.  Once everyone has arrived, pour guests a sample of each wine (we had three wine tastings each).

6.  Pass one cheese around at a time to sample with each of the wine tastings. 

7. Vote on your favorite pairing and discuss with the group. Continue until you have finished all the pairings. 

8.  Once you’ve sampled all of the wines and cheeses, pour each guest a glass of their favorite wine from the night and enjoy the food and great company.

We set the table with black paper place mats and wrote each guests name in a silver ink.

We served crackers, cured meats, fruit, baguette and fig jam with the pairings.

Here are the winners of our pairings:

Goat cheese + Barbera

Manchego + Pinot Noir

Asiago + Pinot & Barbera (tie)

Brie + Barbera (we thought all paired well)

Beer Cheese + Bordeaux

Our mystery wine, Trader Joe’s Coastal Zinfandel, was one of everyone's favorites and it turned out to be one of the least expensive bottles. Score!  We also found a new favorite, Trader Joe's Petite Reserve Barbera, which is currently in stock at most Trader Joe’s. Go grab a bottle immediately!

Let us know if you have hosted a wine tasting party or if you host one based on this post! We’d love to hear about your favorites as well! 

- Vicki & Julia 

The Happy Body Checklist: Tip #4

This week we’re sharing the fourth tip on our Happy Body Checklist. (Once a week, we’re posting one of our favorite tips to stay motivated and meet our fitness goals. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss any tips!)

Tip #3: Mix it up!

Although we appreciate having a routine, especially when it comes to Tabata Tuesdays or Friday Happy Hours, we also think it's important to mix it up! 

Here are five ways to breathe new life into your current workout routine: 

1.  Buy a Groupon – This is one of our favorite ways to try a new workout class at an affordable price. Browse the Health and Fitness section for something that strikes your fancy. We've had great experiences purchasing yoga, CrossFit and Barre classes through this website.

2. Join a team – If you played a sport growing up, think about joining an adult recreational team. Many cities have great leagues with all levels of play.  

3. Try a new route – Jogging/biking that same route every workout? Explore a different part of your neighborhood! You will be amazed at how the new scenery will keep your mind engaged through your workout.

4. Hit the web - Browse fitness websites, Pinterest or blogs (wink, wink) for inspiration. 

5.  Train for a race – Check the internet for upcoming races in your area. There are tons of options for all fitness levels, from Mud Runs to a full-blown marathon. 

2014 Pretty Muddy Race with our Fellow Happy Ladies

 How do you keep your workout interesting? Let us know in the comments below!

- Vicki & Julia

Full-Body CrossFit-Inspired Workout

Greetings! 

We are excited to share a new, CrossFit-inspired, full-body workout with you this week. 

We included a couple links below to show you how to do the less familiar moves, but leave us a comment if you have any questions.

Have a great week!

 Stretch How-Tos:

Samson Stretch

Waiter's Bow

- Vicki & Julia

Happy Eats: Raisin Rosemary Crisps Recipe

Hey, Happy Lady! 

If you recall, we recently shared a post about our undying love for crackers, particularly Trader Joe's Rosemary Raisin Crisps.

Although we are HUGE fans, the cost (around $4 a box) was starting to eat into our happy hour budget. (We're sure our fellow cracker lovers can relate to this predicament). 

Well, we have good news! After some late-night googling, we stumbled upon a wonderful recipe inspired by these crackers on the blog Dinner with Julie. 

We made a few changes, like using almond milk and lemon juice instead of buttermilk (they are now vegan-friendly!), added extra rosemary (can you ever have enough?), used pistachios instead of pecans, and included dried cranberries as well as raisins.  

We are so excited to share our version of the recipe... but first... some cracker eye candy.  

Photos by Tony Scheeler.

How cute are these mini loaf tins??

We were quite pleased with our vegan-friendly buttermilk substitute.

Chopping rosemary is serious business.

It's time to bake!

YUM.

DOUBLE YUM.

Slice 'em up!

Get your crisp on.

The finished product. TO DIE FOR.

Rosemary Raisin Crisps with Pistachios
Adapted from Dinner with Julie

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups unsweetened almond milk, plus 2 tbs lemon juice (let sit for 5 minutes before using)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup flaxseed, ground (We used Bob's Red Mill Flaxseed Meal)
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh rosemary

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the almond milk and lemon juice mixture, brown sugar and honey. Stir to combine. Add the raisins, dried cranberries, pistachios, sesame seeds, flaxseed, and rosemary. Stir to combine.

Spray six mini loaf tins with non-stick cooking spray. (We used this awesome Wilton Mini Loaf Pan that we purchased from Amazon especially for this recipe.) You may also use two 8”x4” loaf pans. Pour batter evenly into tins. Bake for about 30 minutes (35 if using 8" x 4" loaf pans), until the tops of each loaf is golden brown and springs back to the touch. Remove loaves from the pans and cool on a wire rack.

Once cooled to the touch, place loaves in the freezer for 15 minutes (the colder the loaves, the easier to slice). Preheat the oven (or reduce if still on) to 300° F. Slice the loaves about an 1/8" thick (or as thin as possible) and place the slices in a single layer on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn them over and bake for another 10 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Keep in mind that crackers will continue to crisp as they cool. 

Store in open container (do not put in plastic bag, as moisture will un-crisp the cracker). If crackers lose some of their crunch overnight, you may re-crisp them by broiling in the oven for a few minutes.

Enjoy!!

- Vicki & Julia

The Happy Body Checklist: Tip #3 (and our adventures in stand-up paddle-boarding!)

Hello, Happy Lady! 

This week we’re sharing the third tip on our Happy Body Checklist. (Once a week, we’re posting one of our favorite tips to stay motivated and meet our fitness goals. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any tips!)

Tip #3: Work it into everyday life!

The best way to stay active is to make it a lifestyle, not a task on your to-do list. Take a look at your upcoming week and think about where you can fit in extra physical activity without stepping foot in the gym.  

Recently, we decided to add a fun workout to a typically inactive brunch outing. Instead of heading straight for coffee and omelets, we decided to try stand-up paddle-boarding (SUP) at Lake Natoma with one of our favorite Happy Ladies, Anna!

Although we were initially nervous about our ability to balance on the board, we are happy to report that none of us fell in the water (a miracle, considering our clumsy tendencies). We were a little shaky when first standing on the board, but after we got our footing, it was smooth sailing! We were able to paddle alongside each other, snap pictures and chat as we took in the beautiful scenery. Not only did we have great experience, but our arms, legs and core were engaged the entire time! 

Needless to say, we are officially SUP fans! 

 

If you're located near Lake Natoma and would like to try SUP, check out the Sac State Aquatic Center web page for more information. We paddled for one hour for $13/person. No introductory class required!

Have you made simple changes to incorporate activity into your everyday life? Comment below! We would love to hear new ideas!

- Julia & Vicki

tabata tuesday: cardio + strength burst workout (version 3)

Happy Tabata Tuesday!

This week we're sharing our third and final workout in the Cardio + Strength Burst series.

(Stay tuned for next week's workout because we are launching a new format!)

Have a great week, Happy Ladies!

Also, don't forget to post a pic of yourself completing the workout and tag #youhadmeathappybody on Instagram! 

Vicki & Julia

happy eats: gazpacho!

Get out your aprons, Happy Ladies! It’s cooking time!

We recently posted a picture of our post-workout recovery meal on Instagram and received lots of requests for the Gazpacho recipe. 

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Gazpacho, it’s a cold, tomato-based soup that is made almost entirely of raw vegetables. Truth be told, we were just recently turned onto Gazpacho by one of Vicki’s friends, and this was her first time making it. Lucky for us, it turned out great!!

Gazpacho

Ingredients:

1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped

1 medium yellow onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

3 gloves of garlic, minced

46 oz of canned tomatoes (I chose cans that were half diced tomatoes and half tomato puree)

1 Jalapeño, seeds removed and chopped

Salt to taste

Fresh Parsley

Optional Toppings:

Cooked meat (shrimp, chicken, etc.)

Avocado

Cheese

Crostini

Directions:

Puree the tomatoes in a blender or food processor (or Vitamix if you are lucky enough to have one).  Then, chop the jalapeno (seeds removed) and add to the tomato base. Pulse again. You should end up with a thick soup base. Add a little water or lime juice if you want a thinner consistency.

Chop the cucumber, onion, green bell pepper, and garlic. Add to your tomato base. At this point, feel free to add any fresh herbs or seasonings. I used sea salt and parsley. Chill in the fridge for at least one hour.

Serve cold with cooked meat (chicken, shrimp, etc). Have fun experimenting with toppings, such as goat cheese or avocado.  It also pairs well with crostini or any type of toasted bread.

Wine pairing: We like to enjoy this soup with our current favorite, Trader Joe’s Coastal Zinfandel.

Image by Tony Scheeler

Let us know if you try the recipe by posting a pic with #youhadmeathappyhour on Instagram. 

Enjoy!

Vicki & Julia

the happy body checklist: tip #2

Greetings! This week we’re sharing the second tip on our Happy Body Checklist. (Once a week we’re posting one of our favorite tips to stay motivated and meet our fitness goals. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any tips!)

Tip #2: Make it social!

We both work 40+ hours a week, and don’t always have time to socialize and work out, so we decided to combine it. (Who doesn't love to kill two birds with one stone?)

Image from itunes.apple.com

In addition to partnering up for workouts, we like to make the routine as chat-friendly as possible. One of our favorite tricks is to set up an interval timer on our phone so we can catch up on each other’s lives instead of wasting breath on counting reps!

There’s an app for that! We love the “Seconds” app, a programmable timer for our favorite interval and tabata workouts.

Also, as we mentioned in our first tip, we love to workout with our friends via FaceTime! 

Here we are mid-squat with our fellow happy lady, Lindsey! (Lindsey is an original member of our neighborhood workout group and one of our best friends. She broke our hearts when she moved to the East Coast... but no distance can stop us from our social workouts! Love you, lady! Xo)

  
By making it social and enjoyable, we actually look forward to getting in a workout at the end of a busy day!

Do you incorporate exercise in your social life? Let us know in the comments below! We would love to discover new social workout ideas!

Vicki & Julia

tabata tuesday: new cardio + strength burst workout

Happy Tabata Tuesday!

Did we just invent a holiday? Possibly.

However, after you view this week's workout, you'll see that it's something to celebrate. After all... we included BURPEES!! If that doesn't make you want to pop a bottle of champagne, we don't know what will! (We kid, we kid.)

The dreaded burpee. (Murphy decided to sit this round out.)

Knee to elbow

 

We hope you all have a great week! Let us know if you try the workout... comment below or post your pic on Instagram with #youhadmeathappyhour!

 

Julia & Vicki

crackers: a love story

One of the things that we have in common is our love for crackers. Yes, crackers. The crunchy, salty vehicle that brings our favorite cheeses and charcuterie to our lips. Seriously, no box of crackers is safe with us. As we have discovered a cleaner-eating lifestyle, we have made it our mission to find healthier, high-quality versions of our favorite foods. So, we thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite cracker varieties (the foundation of any good happy hour) and recount Vicki's most recent cracker shopping spree.

Crackers: A Love Story

By Vicki

Last Thursday, I stopped by our local Raley’s during my lunch break to buy a box of crackers for the office. It's a rare purchase, because unfortunately I have a problem with portion control.  Apparently, I also have a problem with box control. When I got in my car, I looked in my bag and realized I had purchased five varieties of crackers and two packs of gum. My thought when buying them was, "I wonder how this one tastes,” and they all wound up in my basket.

I think I need a cracker support group.

However, Happy Ladies, I believe my purchases were not in vein, because I can bestow my cracker knowledge upon you. Just remember not to eat the whole box (I'm still working on that). 

Best in Class - Trader Joe's Raisin Rosemary Crisps

Best All-Around - Milton's Cornbread Crackers

 
Best Local Brand - BlueDiamond Almond Nut Thins

 
Best Newcomer - Milton’s Blueberry Multi-Grain Crackers

Best Gluten-Free Option - Corn Thins

Did your favorites make the list? Let us know in the comments below!

Also, stay tuned for a new recipe post where we recreate one of our favorite crackers from scratch.  Cheers!