RDtipoftheday September Goals

As promised, I am sharing updates on my goals and 2016 resolutions each month. You can take a look at my 2016 goals and my thoughts on goals and resolutions. Sharing these goals is a way to keep me accountable and help me to improve, grow, and learn. People who share their goals tend to be more successful. So, I'm sharing the goals here to encourage you and to keep me accountable. You're welcome to comment with your goals and share your progress as well. Feel free to tag your goals with #RDTODgoals or #healthyRD on social media.

2016 Goals

Try 30 new recipes. 

In September, I tried a few new recipes including:

• Peanut butter banana muffins

• Ravioli Lasagna

• Jalapeño Sliders

• Chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream and chocolate hazelnut buttercream

For those keeping track, this makes my new recipe count 29 out of 30.

Build endurance and strength.
I'm still loving my strength class. I've added another day of cardio, and I'm glad to say I've been able to be consistent with physical activity. There are times where I get sick and can't go, but I know the benefits of physical activity. What keeps you motivated? Comment below.

Travel.
We made a quick trip through Arkansas to visit some friends.  We lived in AR for a few years, so it's was great visiting familiar places, relive memories, and see friends! It was a quick trip, so we couldn't see everyone. We also explored some new places and restaurants, which I loved! Stay tuned for some of my AR favorites. 

Can you see the quote in the picture above? It says "Pumpkin spice tacos are here! Just kidding." You know it's Fall when pumpkin spice appears, but I can not fathom a pumpkin spice taco. What do you think? Are you pro pumpkin spice everything or is a pumpkin spice taco too far?

Read more.

This month, I read Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist. I enjoy this author very much. One of my friends is hosting a Brunch and Books discussion, which I'm greatly looking forward to! And, a couple of my friends and I are attending the Belong Conference, where she will be speaking.

For those keeping track, my book count is 7 in 2016.


These are my broad goals for 2016. What goals are you working on in 2016? Comment below.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy:

My First Cooking Class

Summer Pasta Class

August Goals

RDTOD September Favorites

Welcome to RDtipoftheday's favorites September edition. This is my blog series that highlights some of the best things I've been watching, reading, listening to, cooking, and eating. These are a few of my favorite things this month.

Eating & Cooking

I found an herby pesto-like sauce that I'm loving. It's a combination of herbs, garlic, and olive oil. I plan to post a recipe soon. I love this green, delicious sauce so much that I bought the herbs to grow into my own little planter garden. I don't have a green thumb or a large garden, so this planter box is perfect. It's a great starter garden on garden for the city. Do you have a garden? Any tips for growing herbs?

I like taking cooking classes. Recently, I've completed a cake decorating class and practiced decorating cookies and cakes at home. When you decorate cakes, you usually use buttercream or fondant. When you decorate cookies, it is common to use royal icing. So, I researched what is the difference between buttercream and royal icing?

The picture above is of some moist chocolate cupcakes I made. You need to bake cupcakes to be able to practice frosting. P.s. Don't worry I shared the cupcakes with friends and family.

I have not experimented with coloring or decorating with fondant myself. So, here's a video about fondant basics.

image from grayduckbakeshop

I love pineapples and watermelon. I just started learning about cake decorating. So, this cake is my inspiration to keep practicing. #CakeGoals

Watching

How are you enjoying your Fall semester? I always loved back to school. New clothes/uniforms, school supplies, and making new friends. If back to school has you down, this video should cheer you up; it's lunchtime. 

Reading
I'm enjoying Shauna Neiquist's new book Present Over Perfect. It's a super challenging and encouraging at the same time. This is one of my favorite quotes: it reads: "And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good." by John Steinbeck. 

One of my friends is hosting a brunch and books get together. A group of us are reading Present Over Perfect. I'm excited! I love eating especially brunch, talking, and reading. So, I'm super excited to hang out with the girls and do some of my most favorite things!

Encouraging
Working in nutrition, I hear a lot of people wanting to be perfect - perfect diet, perfect look, perfect this, and perfect that. I don't think perfection is achievable. My goal for myself and my clients is to live a healthy, balanced life and do your best - not a life seeking an illusion of perfection. I think there is a balance of making healthy choices and living a balanced, healthy life. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you live a healthy, balanced life. Feel free to comment below.

I hope you enjoyed these tips, recipes, and all of my favorites from this month. Let me know if this is a feature that you would like me to continue by commenting below. And, let me know if you have something you want to be featured. Thanks! Have a great weekend!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy:

RD's Top 5 Tips for Healthy Eating

RDtipoftheday Favorites August

Reader Favorites August

State of My Goals Address: August

As promised, I am sharing updates on my goals and 2016 resolutions in the state of my goals address. You can take a look at my 2016 goals and my thoughts on goals and resolutions. Sharing these goals is a way to keep me accountable and help me to improve, grow, and learn. People who share their goals tend to be more successful. So, I'm sharing the goals here to encourage you and to keep me accountable. You're welcome to comment with your goals and share your progress as well. Feel free to tag your goals with #RDTODgoals or #healthyRD on social media.

2016 Goals

Try 30 new recipes. 

In August, I tried a few new recipes including:

• Lobster Rolls

• Crab cake

• Strawberry shortcake

For those keeping track, this makes my new recipe count 24 out of 30.

Build endurance and strength.
I'm still loving my strength class. I've added another day of cardio, and I'm glad to say I've been able to be consistent with physical activity. There are times where I get sick and can't go, but I know physical activity is beneficial. What keeps you motivated? Comment below.


Travel.
There was no big travel this month. But, we have some travel plans later this year. So, stay tuned!

image from amazon.com

Read more.

This month I read Brene Brown's Rising Strong. I enjoyed this book. I became familiar with the author from her Ted Talk on the Power of Vulnerability. If you enjoy the Ted Talk, you will enjoy her book because her writing voice is the same as her speaking voice. I was gifted this book by a sweet friend. Thank you friend! I would summarize this book as learning to accept your story, even if it is one you wouldn't have chosen or written for yourself. I think everyone has experience some kind of disappointment and can relate to this. One of my favorite things are the quote pages dispersed throughout the book (pictured at the beginning of this post.) This is a challenging and encouraging book.

For those keeping track, my book count is 6 in 2016.



Learn something new.

I took another cooking class this month. It was cooking seafood, so stay tuned for that. If you want to know what I thought of my previous cooking classes, here are my thoughts and experiences.


These are my broad goals for 2016. What goals are you working on in 2016?

Comment below.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

If you enjoyed this post, you might enjoy:

Cooking Class Part 1

My First Cooking Class

My First Cake Decorating Class

Summer Pasta Class