Category: Beauty

National Homemade Soup Day

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Okay, I admit it. I am a foodie. One of the main highlights in my week is finding something new to eat. My palate does not require exotic foods and fanciful delicacies, but it does like high quality basics like subs, pizza, and pancakes. It’s usually a weekly treat because my digestion system is not all that swift, but I have found one thing that I can enjoy within getting puffed up.

Soup has become a staple item in my diet. I have not taken the next step to cook a soup from scratch, but I have found a few that are delicious. In lieu of National Homemade Soup Day, here is my list of top soups that have that home cooked taste from brands like Campbell’s, Progresso, and Marie Callendar.

Tomato Soup

My absolute favorite is Tomato Soup. I completely love Campbell’s Slow Kettle Tomato and Sweet Basil Bisque soup. It is a bit pricier, but I have not found many soups like it. Campbell’s canned tomato soup with basil has a similar taste. The difference is that the slow kettle soup is made with no preservatives.

My treat is to have my soup with Goldfish or Cheeze-Its. I know it probably adds a lot more calories, but the combination is delicious. I even recently found out that the Cheeze-Its are available in reduced fat, whole grain, pepper jack, extra toasty, white cheddar, and hot & spicy flavors.

Chicken Pot Pie

This soup is one of my favorites. Who doesn’t love a chicken pot pie! The soup has a very similar taste. I can enjoy the potatoes, carrots, chicken, corn, and peas without feeling hungry afterwards.

Penne Soup

I have only discovered the creamy tomato with penne soup once. I was pleasantly surprised. There were just enough noodles and the cream wasn’t too soupy.

Chicken Tortilla

Lately, I’ve gotten into Latin flavors. The chicken tortilla soup has the perfect blend of rice, beans, corn, peppers, and chicken. It makes me feel like I’m actually eating my favorite wrap.

Chicken Noodle

In spite of all of the soups in the world, there is still nothing better than good ole fashioned chicken noodle soup. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Campbell’s soup still tastes just like I remember from back in the day.

Next, I’ll try buying my own ingredients to make homemade soup. For now the canned option is super convenient, cost efficient, and easily digestible.

(Photo by Brooke Lark via @unsplash)

I’m Seriously Struggling…

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I have a confession to make. I am struggling to manage my fitness goals this year. Around November of last year was the last time that I remember maintaining my fitness regimen. I was committed to four days a week at minimum. I had much more muscle tone and motivation. I was able to ride my bike for one hour or complete a full cardio class without getting tired. Now, I’m barely able to make time to work out two days a week. My size hasn’t changed but my level of fitness is slowly dropping and I know exactly why.

I’m currently addicted to snacks. I find myself consuming extras at night, which is a rarity. I usually keep a very strict diet with a few splurges here and there, but I just can’t get out of snack mode. They’re all whole green snacks, but that really doesn’t matter when they are consumed excessively. I find myself looking to my health crazed friends for inspiration.

Luckily today is National Green Juice Day. I now have a great reason (and a holiday) to reset my habits. I’m celebrating #nationalgreenjuiceday by trying out a recipe from allrecipes.com. I’ll complete my joyous day by visiting the gym and taking my favorite Zumba class.

If you are interested in staying connected for more fitness inspiration or to read about other hip and rad topics, you can subscribe to my blog http://www.latanyaonline.com.

#gotmygreens

Photo by rawpixel via unsplash

The “Ultimate” Holiday Gift Guide

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The “Ultimate” Holiday Gift Guide – Gifts for Anyone on your List

I created this little wish list for all of my friends out there looking for gift ideas for the holiday.

Coat

As the cold season officially settles in, you’ll need the perfect coat to fit into your wardrobe. Top trends this year include cardigan coats, peplum coats, and form fitted bubble coats. One of my favorite styles is this belted wrap coat.

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Photo by Bundo Kim on Unsplash

Watch

No matter what time of the year, you can never go wrong with a nice watch. It can serve as a personal jewelry piece but can also help you to stay active and productive throughout the day. I’ve seen a lot of really cute watches out there. I personally like a high-quality two tone watch with a slim bracelet-like wrist band. I also like more of a vintage look with intricate designs on the band.

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Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Unsplash

Belt

Another gift idea is a belt. Who doesn’t need one, right? No wardrobe is complete without a brown and black belt. If you’re lucky you might just find a reversible belt with both colors. It is important to find the right color that matches precisely with your shoes and your handbag.

Towels

I’ve been on the market for some nice towels as well. I know that this is a great gift for anyone. Towels can be used to add to the bathroom as decoration or purchased for regular use. There are endless amounts of towel patterns, textures, and colors available. I’ve had my eyes on a set of blue, white, and cream towels from a major department store.  I’m interested in turning my bathroom into a beachfront getaway and I’m certain I do this with the right accessories.

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Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Chair

The last thing on my list is a sturdy but cozy chair. A living room is not a living room without a comfortable go-to chair that you can sit in comfortably and watch television. I’ve seen some great deals at Target and Ikea. My perfect chair would have arms and a stable design that helps me to sit up, but also allows me to curl into a ball at times. There are many varieties, but a traditional chair seems more appropriate for me.

These items are on the top of my wish list, but I’m certain that they are great gifts that anyone would enjoy as well.  Please, take a look at let me know what you think!

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Tanya

Top 3 Pumpkin Carving Hacks

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by LaTanya Williams

If you and your family are looking for a creative way to participate in the fall activities before getting all eerie, why not try a good ole’ fashion pumpkin carving? According to Better Homes and Garden, the great jack o’ lantern began as a part of Celtic history. It later made its way into American tradition in the 1800’s and continues to be a popular annual craft today.  Whether you are hoping to spark creativity or ward off goons and goblins, you can try out these top tips for making this spooky harvest time staple.

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Photo by Yulia Chinato on Unsplash

#1 Ready, Set, Carve

One the fastest ways to create a unique pumpkin is to use a carving tool kit. There are many different kinds of kits available at local hardware, retail, and craft stores. You might get a few weird looking slicers and splicers like a hole punch, a scooper, and a poker wheel. Other sets include sharp tools, hole cutters, electronic carvers, and pencils. Just be certain to find one that is safe and age appropriate for your family.

#2 Cutting Up for Crafts

Stencils might also come in handy while you carve out your next frightful pumpkin face. There are thousands of pumpkin patterns and stencils available online. You can easily search, click, download, and print patterns. You and your family can create silly faces, movie characters, unicorns, and animals or try carve-less pumpkin decorating options.

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Photo by Drew Hays on Unsplash

#3 Fright Free Leftovers

There are also quite a few cool things that you can do with the pumpkin after Halloween. You can make a long list of leftovers, from savory hummus and baked bread to pumpkin spiced latte. If you have furry friends in your family, you can even make pumpkin dog treats. Best of all, according to Terri Coles of  Huffington Post Canada, these leftovers are filled with lots of great vitamins.

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Photo by Cayla1 on Unsplash

Halloween can be lots of fun for families. Pumpkin carving gives everyone time to gather together and practice their artistic gifts. Whether trying out a super goop scooping stainless steel carving kit, using masterful stencil designs, or simply waiting for the post Halloween menu items, pumpkin carving is still a timeless tradition.