Banana Oatmeal Chip Muffins (gluten free, dairy free and low sugar)
If you read through my recipes, you've probably come across me saying something like, "My kids loved this!" or "My son actually ate this without hesitation." But if any of the other recipes I've made were on the thrown before, these Banana Oatmeal Chip Muffins are the...
Lemon and Strawberry Thumbprint Cookies (grain and dairy free)
Thumbprint cookies are pretty classic this time of year, with the base of the cookie varying from shortbread to my grain-free dough and everything in between. I made this cookie with a homemade lemon curd and a store-bought strawberry jam. It's dairy free, and (can...
Grain Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
I'm fully committed to making my recipes with less sugar than the original, purely in an effort to try to recreate something that tastes really good without having as much of the sweet stuff in it. These Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are no exception. But when I did a...
4-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Mint Fudge
Growing up in the Midwest, I always used to love the little mint fudge squares from Marshall Fields. Any time of year, they were great, but especially around the holidays. Do you know the fudge I'm taking about? This Dark Chocolate Mint Fudge is like that - only...
The Best Mashed Potatoes and Cauliflower Side Dish
It's a mash up. I really mean it. I made this side dish last year for Thanksgiving and have since made it multiple times because the cauliflower part of this combo can fly pretty close to under the radar. This really is the best mashed potatoes and cauliflower side...
How this menopause coach gets women fit: let’s talk hormones
I've worked with so many different types of women from opera singers to stay-at-home moms, school teachers to physicians, and crossroad truck drivers to highly motivated entrepreneurs. But each of these women, as different as they might seem on the cover, shared a...
Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Incontinence: Managing Common Symptoms of Menopause
The more you know about your body or how your hormones move around as you transition toward the much wiser timer in your life, the healthier you'll be. At least that's true if you do something about it - especially when it comes to managing the menopause symptoms of...
What Causes Hot Flashes in Women Going Through Menopause
One of the most disruptive things about the peri-menopause/menopause part of life is the experience of having hot flashes. Understanding what causes hot flashes in women through the menopause transition can be both enlightening and incredibly helpful toward...
How Your Hormones Cause Belly Fat (and what you can do about it)
Your body has dozens of hormones doing a lot of work in your body 24 hours a day. Many of the functions of your hormones are automatic and help your body function properly. All of our hormones, however, are receptive to input we give our body. Hormones that cause...
How Can You Fix a Broken Metabolism?
“Metabolism” is a word that gets thrown around a lot in the context of weight loss. We think we have a fast metabolism if we lose weight quickly or can sit down and eat a pint of ice cream without putting a dent on the scale. We think we have a slow metabolism if we...
Belly Burning Full Body Workout Athleta-Style
A while ago I was asked to be the Lifestyle Ambassador for Athleta's Southport Store. I love Athleta and the way the company embraces a balanced health for women...so, of course, I said YES! I'm partnered with two other amazing women from Chicago who bring up the yoga...
7-Minute Full Body Workout
Sometimes finding the time to workout is tough. Getting a solid hour out of the day to do any type of exercise, from cardio to strength, can be next to impossible if you've got a tight schedule. That said, keeping your body moving is incredible important to to you...
Drop 10 Full Body Workout
This is a pretty self-explanatory workout. Work through each of the set, alternating upper body, lower body and core, dropping 10 repetitions with each set. This workout starts using the bigger muscles of the body, then works it's way down to the smaller muscles of...
Short and Sweet Full Body Workout
Want a short and sweet full body workout? It's here! This workout keeps you moving at a moderately high intensity for about eight minutes. The burpees and the high knees will bring your heart rates up very high. Do not rest until you come to the end of the workout....
Tight Butt and Thighs Full Body Workout
The biggest muscles in your body is your gluteus maximum (aka: your butt). Your quadriceps (aka: you thighs) are the longest muscle in your body. So it makes sense why you'd what to tie these two muscles into a full body workout that tightens and tones. Of course,...