Shoes Archives - Strength and Sunshine

Power Monday #57 Reebok ZQUICK + Reebok FitHub Union Square

August 11, 2014 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 17 Comments

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Reebok.

I have to say, I hate shoes. I am not one of those girls (or guys) that has a closet full of 50 pairs of perfect shoes and is always on the look out for more to add to the collection. I would much rather add spices to my ever-growing spice cabinet…but that’s besides the point. Maybe it’s just because I really don’t know what size I am, plus it seems like all shoes are so wide! I cannot buy a pair of boots because seriously, they make the calf shaft the size of a Roman column. Sorry, but my leg is human-sized. That’s why I usually stick with sneakers. Most notably Reeboks. They are the most comfortable for my foot and can take me from everyday wear to workouts without having to change shoes.

So when I was offered to try out the new Reebok ZQUICKS, I was so excited! These are Reebok’s brand new addition to their new ZSeries Running Collenction and I am totally in love with them.Read More

Carrot Cake Quinoa Flakes and Weekly Happenings

November 7, 2013 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 109 Comments

The healthiest way to eat “cake” for breakfast! Carrot cake quinoa flakes are packed with plant-based protein, gluten-free, and vegan. Best yet, this carrot cake porridge recipe can be made in less than 2 minutes!

Hey guys! How has your week been? Mine was short, I am already done! (Thank you NJ Teacher’s Convention) 4 day weekend here I come 😉 So my week was pretty easy, we didn’t do much in school and I have nothing urgent to study for this weekend. I got in some good workouts so far this week. Group Power, HIIT, yoga, and strength circuits. I also did some really awesome eating and have tons of ideas and recipe development to try out during this long weekend. Excited! Last night I had some salsa crockpot chicken I threw together Wednesday morning. When I came home from school the house smelled so lovely I could not wait to eat dinner! And now I can’t wait to share the recipe with you next week 😉 It was so delicious, moist (hate that word, but it is the only one to describe it!), and not so spicy that I killed my stomach which I was worried about. I also had a micro-baked sweet potato with cinnamon, unsweetened shredded coconut, and peanut flour! Best dinner thus far this week 🙂 But don’t fret! I do have a fun new Quinoa Flake recipe to share today! Behold, Carrot Cake Quinoa Flakes!

Carrot Cake Quinoa Flakes

Carrot Cake Quinoa Flakes

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The healthiest way to eat "cake" for breakfast! Carrot cake quinoa flakes are packed with plant-based protein, gluten-free, and vegan. Best yet, this carrot cake porridge recipe can be made in less than 2 minutes!

Author: Rebecca Pytell

Recipe type: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Serves: 1

Ingredients

⅓ Cup Quinoa Flakes
⅔ + 1 TB of Water
1 TB of Vanilla Protein Powder (optional)
¼ Cup of Finely Shredded Carrot (I used a simple grater)
2 TB Carrot Puree
1 Tsp Cinnamon
¼ Tsp Ginger
⅛ Tsp Nutmeg
½ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
1 TB Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (topping)
Additional Shredded Carrot (topping)
Additional Cinnamon (topping)

Instructions

In a microwave safe bowl add all you dry ingredients and stir, then add the shredded carrots, carrot puree, water and vanilla, stir again.
Pop the bowl on high for 1 minute and 45 seconds (or 2 minutes) in the microwave. Remove and garnish it up with coconut, some extra carrots, and cinnamon.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1

Sneaking in those veggies for breakfast is always a win 😉

I received two free weeks on MyYogaOnline.com for following them on Twitter but it is totally going to waste. I tried to find a video for my Sunday and Tuesday yoga sessions and both times were a complete fail. I look for a power vinyasa type of class and I can not find any good ones! I started a few videos and would get like 10 minutes in and then have to turn it off and switch to a Fiji video. The videos were all just to slow, not powerful, and just, well, boring. I have one week left and I feel bad wasting it, so if you have any suggestions let me know ASAP! But that is not to say I didn’t have a great yoga session on Tuesday. And by great I mean I cried. Yoga is so powerful and makes you feel so many things. I have cried during many practices, but it always leaves me feeling cleansed by the end of the practice. I am thinking about doing a more in-depth post on this, but I thought I would mention it today as well.

So later today I am meeting with the NJ admissions adviser for Wofford College! I reached out to her myself after I sent out my application last week and she said she would actually be in Jersey this week and would love to meet me so we could talk. It should be good since I have not gotten a chance to visit the actual college (its in South Carolina).

One last thing! I am extending my ENERGYbits Giveaway to Monday! I have not gotten many entries so if you enter you have a pretty high chance of winning!

So tell me:

+ What are you up to today?

+ Veggies for breakfast? Pumpkin counts right? 😉

+ Have you ever cried during yoga?

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Just Popping In

September 19, 2013 by Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine 1 Comment

Hey Happy Thursday! Almost the weekend…almost! I have still not gotten into a routine for the year yet and am still struggling with managing time and tasks that need to be done. So I am just popping in today for a quick post. I will just share some random thoughts that I have had over the last week or so. P.S. it has been in the 30s in the early morning at at night so I woke-up around 1am last night Wednesday’s night/morning and realized my mom had turned the heat on. O, I can not handle this weather this soon! Anyway…Let the rambles begin!

+ Just like #augustbreak2013, The SITS Girls are having a 1 week September photo challenge on instagram and I decided to join in. I will share the photos next week, but you can follow along now by checking out my instagram! I love these little challenges. After the August one was over my instagram usage went way down. So this is just a fun way to get back in to taking quick pics!

+ Am I the only one who loves the smell of Extra Virgin Olive Oil? Whenever I use it to lightly grease foil or a pan, I put the bottle to my nose and just breath it in for a few calming seconds. Haha, I just love the smell…very calming, try it!

+ Another weird thing I love…callouses! I used to wear weight-lifting gloves then I would lift, but now I don’t since I want to keep the callouses that are forming. They make you look tough, strong, and powerful…right? Mine are really small, just along the bottoms of my finger joints and top of my palm, but they are always more prominent right after a workout. I will just have to keep working that grip!

(Source)

+ Did you know I tie my shoes with the “bunny-ear method” still. I never learned the other more “adult” way and really don’t want to…it looks to hard. Plus I think the bunny way if so much more effective. Just criss-cross, make two loops, and fold then around, then do it again to double knot and bam! My parents never taught me how to tie my shoes anyway. It ended up my brother’s best friend’s sister who finally taught me. And she taught me the bunny-ears, so I just took what I got and rolled with it.

+ Don’t you hate when you comment on blogs and you don’t get a notification if the blogger comments back. This is one of my biggest pet peeves about blogging. Like don’t they realize I comment on tons of blog and can’t remember to check back on all the posts to see if it was responded to? At least the blogs using WordPress.com still I get a notification for as well as some others. but come on bloggers! Set up a notification system!

So those are some random thoughts…and rambles from the week. I found this cute little Android App for my phone called Inkpad. Its totally free and I have been using it to remember these random thoughts and also future blog post ideas. I never seem to have my blog planner with me when one of these thoughts occurs and my phone just seems to be a better resource.

So tell me:

Do you have any random smells you absolutely love?

Do you love callouses? I think I may be doing some counter-effectiveness on the build up since I always use this strong hand cream on my hands twice a day. I think that is hindering my build-up process…

How do you tie your shoes? Who taught you?

Does this blogger- comment-lack-of-notification-thing piss you off too?