Marvelous in My Monday {Chilly Weather Ahead!}

It's starting to feel like the holidays! 

I'm a huge of this time of year. The cold weather is just starting to hit Florida and boy, are we happy! 

I hope you all have an exciting next couple weeks since Thanksgiving is around the corner. 

I've been saving many different holiday recipes to make for my family and friends. Sweet potato casserole, I will master you this year! 

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Time to get to the good stuff! 

Holla at my girl Katie for hosting these fabulous posts!
Let's start at my favorite meal of the day. Guess what it is.

Wasn't so hard, was it? :)

During the winter months, I gear toward foods that are comforting and warm for my tummy. Both of these breakfasts really pack on the protein too! WINNING. 

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How are my workouts going? Freaking amazing guys. 

Check out this gem I tried out today! 

Filthy Fifty? Yeah, I was pretty filthy after this WOD. 

Definitely seeing changes in my body since I've been upping protein intake. Muscles have been showing slowly but surely! Grow baby grow<3

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And now, I saved the best for last. 

I got a car. 

AHHHHhhjsilgshfuseknsj. 

Oops, just fell off my chair. Sorry about that guys. 

I cannot thank my parents enough for giving me this car as my 17th birthday present. They work so hard for the well being of our family and I am still in shock that this car is actually mine to keep! 

To Momma and Daddy Smile, you both are a blessing.

Soon, I'll be on the streets on my own! 

Watch out world ;) 

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Your turn! What was Marvelous for you today? 

Marvelous in My Monday {Giveaway Winner!}

Hello my loves! 

We are starting another beautiful week and you know I always look forward to...

Honestly, everyday should be Marvelous don't ya think?  Thank you to THE diva Katie for hosting<3 
Marvelous New Recipe!

I posted my first recipe on Keep Smiling and it is a delicious one at that. Once taste of this and you'll actually want to add that bit of green in your breakfasts! 
Marvelous Food Experiments! 

What is that you ask? I was tinkering with my recent purchase of peanut flour from iHerb(!), trying to make nut butter. It was yummy but I definitely need to modify the ingredients. At first when you don't succeed, try, try again :)

Marvelous Weather! 

Finally, the hot, sticky sun has been replaced with chilly mornings that just makes me want to curl up next to a fire and have a cup of tea. 

My mom told me its during this time of year that she often thinks about her life and all her blessings.

 I couldn't agree more. 

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And finally, the moment you've all been waiting for...

The winner of my first giveaway! Boy, there's been a lot of "firsts" on this blog ;) 

*DRUMROLL* 

Katherine! 

Thank you to all that entered! I promise this won't be the only treat so be on the look out :)  I will be emailing Katherine very soon for information! 
Remember, there's always something Marvelous in everyday!  Have an amazing week<3

I {Heart} Burpees

Happy Saturday! What better way to kick off a three day weekend with some sweat? I'll get to that later! 

I don't know about you guys, but the weather has been amazing! I can definitely feel the cold weather slowly drifting to Florida. About time too :)

The wind loves me! 

But even though the weather has been changing, my cravings for salad beasts has been going strong. Got to love the greens<3

I have free cookie coupons for Jason's Deli so I decided to get one for dessert. 

Little fact about me! My favorite cookie are oatmeal raisin walnut. This was spot on in flavor, texture and sweetness! YUMMMM~

In Biology class yesterday, I was busy working on a experiment and ended up being the last one finished. Figures since I tend to take light years when it come to ANY project! 

Luckily, my friends kept me company and even brought over some furry cutie pies. 

My teacher keeps her hamsters in the classroom for us to play with. 

We IB kids tend to get bored pretty quickly so these little guys help the time go by :) 

When I got home, it was time to slap on my running shorts and go for a run! 

I ended up running over 2 miles and coming back to my house for M100s. I then rounded off my workout with ZWOWs and Blogilates!

• Flatter My Abs
• Fab Abs
• Bikini Contest Kickoff workout

Last but not least...ZWOW #23. 

It's called burpee torture for a reason! This workout incorporate 100 competition burpees. 

Cray. Zee. 

After doing the first 25, I was going pretty fast. But when I reached 50, my heart rate was soaring! 

When I learned what burpees were a year ago, I could only do 10 at a time. I absolutely dreaded it when HIIT workouts had them. But now, I can do 40 without stopping and I love it. It makes you use your whole body and the cardio is insane! 

Learn to love them guys!

After getting my sweat on, dinner was no brainer because Mama Smile had it already cookin'. As I walked in my house, I could tell from the delicious smell what was up! 

California rolls! 

Nutritious spread of veggies to wrap the nori with! Carrots, cucumber, crab meat, avocado, and fish eggs<3

Fish eggs won the show :)

We needed something warm so Mama Smile made miso soup to go on the side. 

Man oh man, I couldn't stop myself from saying "mmMMMMmm" every 10 seconds! 

After dinner, I looked in my fridge and saw pumpkin I had to use up because I was sure it was on its last legs. Enter Pumpkin Banana Bread! 

I adapted this recipe from Courtney's Pumpkin Banana Bread and switched out a few ingredients.

I couldn't help but listen to Christmas music! 

What? Don't act like you don't do this too ;)

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This morning was a "sweet breakfast" kind of day! 

I had a egg white omelete stuffed with Barney Butter and bananas, topped with whipped cream my beloved Fage. Honeydew on the side for a punch of vitamin C! 

I have to hurry and get ready for the hospital! 

Have an amazing day everyone<3 

Food Favorites and Fall Fitness!

And it feels soooooo good :) 

I'm sorry for the lack of posts this week everyone. I've been moving from school work to working out to volunteering, back to back! 

I'm excited to share some of my favorite things and how I've been moving this past week. 

Since Fall is in full swing now, I am eating pumpkin everything. 

Get in my tummy<3

One of my favorite ways of enjoying this Fall gem in is my beloved yogurt messes!

 Naughtiest way of eating pumpkin? 

Can I get a loud YUUUUUUUM?

I'm telling you, it's ridic. 

Weirdest thing I've been craving lately? 

Salads, salads, salads!

For some peculiar reason, I've been loving my salads and veggies so much. I actually look forward to them and let the hummus do the talking ;) 

I'm super proud of myself for eating only home cooked meals this week! Sometimes it's difficult to prepare food at home, but honestly, it's much healthier and its nice on your wallet. 

I used some of my foodie skills and whipped up this delicious and nutritious dinner! My parents raved about it. 

I took a Cooking Light recipe (my favorite website for healthy eats!) and swapped out some things to make it my own. I used shrimp instead of sausage and used a crap load ton of different veggies to bulk it up! I sprinkled some feta cheese to finish and it went from amazing to hello Chef Alina :) 

I did I tell you? I'm digging my greens! 

On the exercise front, I've been trying to up my running a bit since I haven't been able to concentrate on my speed for a while. You would think that the weather would be getting nicer but it seems like every time I step outside, this happens...

Grrrr. 

Thankfully, my girl Zuzana got me covered! 

I had an awesome rest day yesterday and busted out a sweaty workout today. 

• 30 minute abs 
• ZWOW #37 (Side hops kill me) 
• ZWOW #31 (Basic moves but definitely efficient!) 

I enjoy her workouts so much because it's fast, intense and I don't have to think about the time. Since the moves change constantly, my body is being challenged everyday. 

Usually, at the end of my workouts, I top it off with the #plankchallenge! 

I went from this.

 To this.

To finally this!

Seriously, I can't believe I got this far! It isn't hard anymore to hold myself up for this long and I owe it to my core exercises. 

Whew, that was a mouthful of a post. 

I hope you stayed awake through it ;) 

I just want to say that always remember that we all have struggles and hardships. Everyday!

Not everything in the Smile house is picture perfect but I strive to become a better daughter, sister and friend through these experiences. Live to love and love to live, my friends<3

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;" 2 Corinthians 4:8-9