Dare You To...

This past winter was rough, and my nails were certainly feeling it by the time spring rolled around.  Throughout March, they felt thinner and broke often.  By May, I was also suffering from dry, itchy skin, and was desperate for change!


The timing was perfect to team up with Eu Natural, who kindly offered me the opportunity to try their Biotin supplement for hair, skin, and nails--learn more from their website here or check out their supplements on Amazon.

Biotin (a.k.a. Vitamin H, Vitamin B7, and Coenzyme R) is a part of the "B complex" vitamins.  As such, it is water-soluble vitamin that helps with the metabolization of amino acids and fats and with the production of new cells and fatty acids. 

Signs of biotin deficiency may include brittle nails; hair loss; eyebrow or eyelash loss; red scaly rash around eyes, nose, and mouth; conjunctivitis; dermatitis; and lethargy.
"Since biotin is a building block for cell production, if it is deficient in your body, you are goin…

Just checking in, on this Monday morning!

If you've been keeping up with me on Instagram, then you know I just took part in the "Spring to Health" 14-day challenge, hosted by Amber, Jill, and Mari.  It was fun having a different task to complete or document each day!  Check out my Instagram feed to see the lot.

Lately, I've been slacking on the Sunday food prep that I'd started doing in the fall, and as a result, I've been running out of food or having to buy things last minute.  Time to get back in the habit, to make sure I've got healthy, tasty meals ready for the week!  Last night, I did just that.  I prepared a few different food items and made sure I had on stock everything I'd need to pull together meals.

Last night's prep yielded...


Zucchini Carrot Egg Bake


Those, combined with some greens, sweet potato, banana, baked salmon, and Greek yogurt... yep! I'm well on my way.  No roadblocks, this week!

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One of my 2013 goals was to continue increasing my protein consumption to >90 grams per day.  Last year, I found that focusing on protein intake made my meals infinitely more satisfying, so I vowed to keep it up and take it to the next level.  Plus, there's the added benefits of consuming protein post-workout to help repair and build your muscles.  Because I've also been focusing on strength training and conditioning, protein has become that much more important.  I've been amping up my protein in the form of nutritious, real foods: wild fish, high-quality meat, and nature's perfect gift--eggs.

Many people use protein powders to bulk up meals or shakes after exercise. I have never been one of them. First, there was the period of time I wasn't really eating meat, so integrating whey or casein just didn't appeal.  This year, whey wasn't so scary anymore, but I simply wasn't in the habit and didn't really know why or where to start.

When Designer Whe…