My Go To Healthy (and Easy) Snacks

February 24, 2014 By 2 Comments

I love food.  When I was younger, I would go to bed thinking about what I was going to have for breakfast the next morning, and then when I woke up, I would bug Patty about what we were going to have for dinner that night.  I also love to cook!  There is a home video of me (when I was 5) making an english muffin pizza and talking to the camera like I was filming a cooking show. Obsessed much? I think so.

As I have gotten older, and especially with the career path I have chosen (acting), I have had to learn how to make easy and healthy meals and snacks for myself.  I can’t make Macaroni and Cheese and English Muffin Pizzas every night.

What I have learned is that you have to really be prepared and have these easy snacks in your fridge, so that it’s easier for you to make good choices! (Yeah, Yeah, easier said than done.  I know.  It just has to become a habit.)

Inspired by Emily’s Easy Tips to Stay Healthy… Here are my 5 favorite “go to” snacks that I make sure to keep on hand!

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First, this is going to sound crazy and not a “snack”, but it is a can of flavored sparkling water. What I’ve realized is that most of the times when I start to feel peckish, I really am just thirsty!  So before I grab food, I grab one of these and drink it straight from the can! There is something about popping open that can and throwing back that sparkling water that really hits the spot. I have tried all the flavors, but Lime is my favorite.  I sometimes have 2-3 a day!

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Simple.  Don’t have to explain.  When they are really good, it’s like eating candy.

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Easy.  120 calories.  0% fat.  Tastes like dessert.  I love the Cherry Pomegranate and Raspberry flavors.

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First, I don’t know what is going on with my thumb in this picture.  Does this thin apple make my thumb look fat?

Moving on.  I only kinda like apples.  They aren’t my fave.  BUT when I slice them up thinly, I love them!  I don’t know why but it really makes a difference.  And if I am really hungry, I have this with a little scoop of peanut butter (duh, who doesn’t love apples and PB)!

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Finally, this Sweet and Salty treat!  It’s Gluten Free!  110 calories per bag!  AND Guilt Free!  I love that it is already portioned out for you.  If they sold this in a big bag, I would eat the whole bag in one sitting.  These are good if you need a little bit more than healthy fruit or want to be a little more naughty ;)

And that’s it for now…  I will probably come up with some more ideas when I get bored with these!

  Until then, Happy Snacking!

Filed Under: Allison, Food, health 2 Comments

Red Carpet Worthy Arms

February 22, 2014 By Leave a Comment

When the stars at the gym start amping up their arm work outs… I know there is a red carpet event around the corner.  That’s right!  The Oscars are a week and a day away!!  In honor of the them, I bring you my favorite arm work out.  Tracy Anderson Standing Arms!

In this first video, Tracy really explains each move and goes through them slowly.  This is rare for her!  The last video in this post is more her style… but try this one out first!

This is my favorite!  This video is from her original Mat DVD that I used to do in my dorm room! It is killer. I dare you all to try it. Even the men!

“And you’re done with those!” The Ott girls (including Patty) know this one by heart… including what she says.

And this final video is more like what we do in class!  No explanations. Just going for it!  Try it for fun!

I hope you like them just as much as I do!  And Summer is just around the corner too…  You can use these videos to get ready for all those cute sleeveless dresses and tops that Milly & Grace will have this summer!  You can set a goal and say…I am going to do one of these videos (especially the middle one) every night before I go to bed.  I know you will start seeing results right away!

Filed Under: Allison, Fitness, health, Red Carpet Tagged With: , , Leave a Comment

Gallery Wall In The Works – Franz Kline

February 15, 2014 By 1 Comment

I love gallery walls.  I have been wanting one for a while now, so I have been slowly trying to put one together in my apartment!  Here is my work in progress…

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I was looking at it the other day and was thinking… it needs an abstract piece.  I immediately thought of Franz Kline.  Seeing as I probably can’t get my hands on a real one right now, I thought I could take inspiration from him and create one of my own!

I decided to “Get my Franz on!”

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I also paid a little homage to one of the other greats with a little splatter… Franz with a dash of Pollock.

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Now, let’s see it on the gallery wall!  (I don’t know what I would do without 3M Command Strips.  It took me two seconds to put on the wall!)

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Not too shabby… if I do say so myself.  Now, I think I might need a Black & White print on the left side to balance it out.  I also might change that orange frame.

Here’s the Before & After…

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Supplies You Need if you want to get your Franz on…

Blank Canvas (11 x 14), Black paint, White paint, Paint Brushes

Additional supplies: Choose one of his pieces as inspiration and some music that inspires your creativity!  I threw on some Cat Stevens.

Try it!  It was fun!

Filed Under: Allison, DIY Tagged With: , , 1 Comment