Y’all. This year is flying by! I know I made a huge promise to start posting on my blog again and I SWEAR it is not because I do not love you, I just have had a teeny tiny shift in focus.
I want to start doing monthly blog recaps so you can get a download on what all happened each month. Find inspiration with new places to visit, foods to try etc. So what better way to do that then to sum up the first few months!
OK– 2024 has been so wild.
If you were around last fall I launched my fitness app! It has been going amazing and we have launched a ton of new programs on the app. If you are not sure what I am even talking about, you can get the scoop here. The exciting part is you get all my workouts, recipes and access to thousands of other creators annnnnnnd your first 7 🅳🅰🆈🆂 🅰🆁🅴 🅵🆁🅴🅴 Why wouldn’t you want to at least check it out for free for a week!?
In April we took a much needed vacation to Kanab, UT. The adventure video is up on the channel and linked above so you should definitely check it out. We had the best time with R.O.A.M Adventures, from UTV tours, hiking slot canyons to sand boarding, we tried it all. If you are heading down to Southern Utah for an adventure I highly recommend the following for your trip:
Activities: – Best Friends Sanctuary – Sand Cave and Belly of the Dragon hikes – UTV and Sand boarding with R.O.A.M Adventure – Would recommend trying for the Wave Lottery!
April was filled with lots of memories, it kicked off our hiking adventures and set the stage for what summer is going to bring! Excited to share these monthly recaps with you all! If you do not yet follow us on Instagram or Youtube, jump over to subscribe and follow along on all of our upcoming adventures in real time!
Happy New Year Fam! It has been a whirlwind these last few weeks. I think the last time you heard from me, I had all these plans for the winter break… well my body had other plans and I came down with the RONA… again… on christmas eve. Covid, the gift that keeps on giving. I was healthy by New Years though so we did not ring in 2023 isolated and alone, thank god. Annnnnd, Binks has returned home after living with his Grandma for the last 10+ years. Now that his mamma finally has a house of her own, he gets to live his life with me, the kidless millennial who is going to try to put sweaters on him. He is like 76 in human years, wild huh; he is still trying to get comfortable in his new house haha little grumpy pants.
2022 was a banger of memories though— from hiking (I was 13 miles shy of my 100 mile goal!) to exploring caves underwater, concerts and off roading in Yoshi… there were some sad moments, lots of self reflection, lots of change. Even though I am very thankful for this life, and the year I have had, I feel like this year is going to be THE year. 2020 was a shit show, 2021 was a mix of a shit show, 2022 was trying to find your footing again and now 2023 is going to be the year we thrive. At least that is what I am manifesting.
2023 Goals 💜 – Hike 100 miles (For reals this time) – Focus more on self care, my nutrition and building healthy habits – Be more social (but on my terms cause anxiety) – Organize and declutter spaces in my house. Get rid of things that I do not need, do not serve a purpose or make me feel any negative emotion – Adventure more– travel to new places, take more weekend trips – Plan more dates that are not just a night out to dinner, something deeper, I really want to do a pottery class (2023 the year of the crafty bitch) – Finish remodeling the garage and basement (stretch goal here) I am sure I will add to this list over time but these are things that are becoming really important for me in 2023. What are your 2023 goals? Drop them in the comments below!
Since kicking off the new year, I have been really dialing in on my nutrition and fitness. I have been prepping and logging my food. I actually just got done meal prepping my lunch as I type this out… and that means you get a new recipe from your girl. It has filled the house with some great aromatics and I feel like I am in Italy. Thank me later.
I am not sure what to call this but let’s just call it a Creamy Rose Turkey Bake with Rice.
Ingredients: * 1 Jar of Creamy Rose Pasta Sauce which is just Tomato and Cream so you can find something similar if you are not near a Kroger store. * 3 small zucchini sliced * 1 lb of ground Turkey 93/7 is what I use but use what you like, however it will change the macros * 1 bag of basmati microwaveable rice because I am lazy, but you can use any rice you would prefer * Seasonings (italian, garlic salt)
Directions: 1. Cook & season ground turkey until almost done 2. While turkey is browning, slice your zucchini 3. Once turkey is about 1/2 to 3/4 cooked, add zucchini, cook about 4-5 mins or until the zucchini is al dente 4. Once cooked through, add sauce, simmer about 3-4 mins 5. While the sauce is simmering, cook rice in microwave according to package 6. prepare your meal prep– mine made 4, so I split the rice, and the mixture into 4 class dishes, let cool then store in fridge.
MACROS: 317 calories 28g net carbs, 12g fat, 24g protein
Since food is my love language… and exploring new places is on my goal list this year, we ventured up to Salt Lake and tried a new hidden gem called Salt and Olive. It was by far, some of the best food I have had in Utah. The bread is to die for. The service was :: Chef’s Kiss:: What we ate: * House Bread * Caesar Salad * Truffle Pizza * Zeppole E Limone What I drank: * Blackberry Brambler AKA Lady Pleaser (and that it did) 😉
If you are local or just visiting SLC, I highly recommend checking this place out.
Well that is all she wrote for the start of 2023! Can’t wait to share all our adventures and hit goals & milestones together.
Where should we go first this year???
Until next time! You are enough, you are doing your best– stay fearless 🖤 – T
My life the last year had been filled with a lot of anxiety and no routine.
I am a creature of routine. At least I used to be.
My therapist thinks that sticking to a schedule is helpful for me to feel in control of my life. Saying “yes” to what I want to be doing and “no” to things that do not serve me at this time in my life. A continued work in progress.
So I listed out some goals for myself and one of them included:
Get out side and adventure on Saturdays so that Sunday’s can be a reset day.
We did just that.
A 3 mile out and back hike in Cottonwood Canyon Saturday morning.
Enjoying the fresh mountain air, light rain and cool winds.
It truly felt like fall.
The hike on Saturday left me to having my Sunday as a true reset day!
Sunday Routine:
Wake up with the sun, make coffee and pumpkin pancakes
30 minute Peloton Yoga sesh with my favorite instructor, Anna Greenberg. If you have not checked out the Spice Girls Peloton Yoga sesh, I highly recommend it! Plus, add me and we can workout together! #TinyTina22
Shower, skin routine, quick clean of the house and then lunch with my favorite person.
I love the Ordinary products, this is my skin care day time routine, night time is a tad different with the addition of The Ordinary Retinol and no sunscreen as shown here. The caffeine solution is great for my tired ass under eyes and I love the Aveeno Maxglow when I add 1-2 drops to my Fleur & Bee Moisturizer. At night I am using an ELF toner, The Ordinary retinol and the same face cream but without the maxglow drops. And, I always let my skin breathe on Sunday so no make up it is!
I am by no means a skin care guru, this is just what I use and I love so do your research on these products before trying them/ combining them like I do.
Lunch today was at Protein Foundry in SoJo. If you have yet to go here, add it to the list. They have the best protein shakes and gourmet toast. I had the Snickerdoodle protein shake and the Wasatch Back Toast.
Next up, grocery shopping and meal prep!
Stopped by Smiths in Daybreak to grab some stables for the week and a little more! No real pumpkin items yet but the count down is on! Should we do another post this year about all the yummy pumpkin finds?
I am still not 100% back to meal prepping my whole life, and to be honest, I doubt I will be ever doing that again but I do meal prep my lunches so that I am not eating out if I go into the office during the week. I like still meal prepping lunch but having the freedom to eat different things for breakfast and dinner makes staying on track work better for me.
This week we are having some artichoke, spinach chicken alfredo with Bonza protein pasta. I cooked it all in the crock pot and it took less than 20 mins. Talk about quick and easy.
Recipe? You got it!
Ingredients:
4 frozen chicken breast
1 box of Banza Protein Pasta
1 jar of alfredo sauce
1/2 bag of spinach
1 cup of chicken broth
1 can of artichoke hearts
Directions:
Spray Instant Pot with non stick cooking spray
Add chicken, pasta and chicken broth, make sure to stir so all pasta is covered with liquid
Place lid on Instant Pot, make sure it is sealed
Pressure cook on high for 18 mins
Quick release
Take chicken out, shred with fork, then add back to pot
Stir in artichoke hearts (make sure they are drained), spinach and alfredo sauce
Turn Instant Pot on to simmer and stir for 2-3 mins or until warm. **DO NOT OVERHEAT** you can burn the bottom of your pasta!
Split into 7 meal prep containers or less if you want bigger portions.
Let cool before storing or eat right away. Top with some grated parmesan cheese!
So the weekend seemed to fly by and we are back at Monday again but having a schedule and being able to reset my week on Sunday, makes Monday seem less daunting.
The house is cleaned, lunches prepped, self care completed and we are ready to tackle whatever the week brings.
Between the weather and darkness it was by far the scariest. They have amazing themes and props— with some twists that made my stomach drop a bit! Don’t worry, we survived though!
Since we went on a Saturday, and did not get a fast pass, the wait was about 45mins but felt fast, minus the cold! It is about a mile or more long so wear comfortable walking shoes that you don’t care about because it’s dusty and well it’s in the forest.
The fall season has quickly turned into winter though, Sunday brought snow and 16 degree days so in true fall fashion, I made my famous pumpkin 🎃 chili !
Ingredients:
15oz pumpkin
1cup low sodium chicken broth
1lb ground turkey
3 Rona tomatoes
2 medium sweet potato
1 yellow bell pepper
1 orange bell pepper
1 can low sodium pinto beans
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Smoked paprika
Salt
Pepper
Directions;
In an instant pot, spray with olive oil to avoid sticking. Set instant pot on sauté and cook turkey until almost done (don’t over cook)
While turkey is cooking, chop peppers, sweet potato and prep other ingredients
Once turkey is cooked, turn off instant pot and all the remaining ingredients, save spices for last and measure with your heart.
Give it a good stir and put the lid on.
Switch the instant pot into manual or pressure cooker mode. Set for 45 mins and forget it!
Once time is up, slow release for 7 mins
Enjoy!
I have been eating my pumpkin chili all week for prep, it also freezes well! Perfect fall meal for those 20 below days.
So excited for the Halloween activities this weekend, costume ideas and a new take on trick or treating in a pandemic! Stay tuned!
I had an Oat Milk Latte and Lo enjoyed a Sugar Free Vanilla Oat Milk Latte. They were delicious! Made so perfectly!
The vibe and atmosphere was charming and had this Portland vibe. Good music playing, lots of open space to sit and enjoy your drink or work remote!
Will definitely be coming back to try more coffee and their treats which looked AMAZING!
Next Stop: DOUGHNUTS
Doughnuts are one of my all time favorite carbs! I love me a good Doughnut and so we tried the North Carolina Famous, Duck Doughnuts.
Now this is not your average Doughnut Shop. This place has these amazing flavors to choose from such as: Maple Bacon and Blueberry Pancake (which were my favorite may I add).
Here is the kicker, they are MADE TO ORDER! So you never have to worry about them running out and they are warm and gooey when you receive them! I am making myself crave these as I write this!
They also had this amazing Winter Blend coffee which had end notes of Whiskey. It was bomb! They have locations all over, primarily the South East but if you are in Utah, we just got our very first location in South Jordan, UT! So if you are local or visiting, head over cause you do not want to miss this.
We are fueled so now it was time for the long drive over to Midway, UT.
I will start by saying it was absolutely freezing. I recommend wearing warm boots and pants that are thicker than leggings. My peacoat was fine but it was snowing so not the smartest choice. Looked cute AF though!
Once we got in, I was taken away at how intricate every detail of these sculptures were. These photos do not do it any justice.
The colors were showing through, blue mesmerizing Ice Castles. All in which you could walk through or slide down. I tried to crawl into some but it was too cold to be laying all over ice. I did have the courage to sit on this thrown… leaving my bum super icey, haha. You sit on a throne of Ice… Ice Queen? Sounds about right… haha.
If you bring your kids, they can take small plastic sleds down the slides. It was super cute to watch. There are so many photo opportunities too, and while the blue holds a pretty background, nothing compares to what this place is at night.
So if you do get tickets for this majestic venue, I highly recommend going at dark. It was so breathtaking to see, it cause none other than an Ice Cream craving! So off to Salt Lake City we went!
By way of recommendation, I finally tried this place. I introduce you to: NORMAL
Nestled in Trolly Square is an Ice Cream Truck that offers some unique flavors and toppings for you to tackle that Ice Cream crave!
They have a storefront which offers a ton of variety but we decided to take a gander at their truck this weekend.
Their truck had four flavors to choose from and a handful of toppings. I went with Matcha Ice Cream sprinkled with Fruity Pebbles. Let me tell you… I found my new favorite Ice Cream combination. Who would have thought, match ice cream (which was vegan btw) topped with an old school favorite would be sooooooo yummy, but it was.
5 stars!
All of this food talk is making me hungry so I better get to steppin’! Hope you enjoyed this weeks adventures! We will be back soon with some cool stuff but for now, go check out these awesome places and stay tuned!
Happy Monday everyone, and remember, be kind, love each other and stay fearless ❤
My hands are ripped and the only cure is to sit in my favorite coffee shop and blog.
Yes, you heard that correctly. Dave Castro, killed me and murdered my hands in the Crossfit Games Open Series this year. I RX’ed (did it as prescribed) the workouts except for 19.3 and I while I am proud AF, I am now trying to not have Rhabdo.
I did not register for the OPEN this year– I honestly didn’t even think I would participate in the workouts since I was just coming off of Injury Reserve due to a hip flexor strain and I have stopped conditioning since moving; so technique has just been shit.
What changed my mind?
The CrossFit Lehi community changed my mind– They push me, they inspire me and they have coached me like no other has before.
Accomplishments in the month I have been with CFL:
I nearly hit my muscle up– I lacked confidence which held me back more than anything. (See for yourself)
I RX every work out regardless if I can do the moments, I try.
I have finally feel strong to attack Hand Stand Push Ups and Chest to Bar Pull ups in a WOD
I walk into the gym everyday and smile at every moment because I now have confidence, which I 100% lacked before coming here.
One thing I have learned at CFL is that it starts with having a strong foundation of each movement and the rest will come. Slow down, practice, have patience. I have also learned you can’t go hard 100% of the time all the time… rest days are key. I can’t wait to see how the coaches unlock more in me. This is just the begining.
So what is next. . . Some of the Street Parking Utah fam and I have signed up for a Team Competition hosted in Park City; The Mountain Meltdown— we are competing in the Gnarly division which is doing all events with a vest and weight. I am so excited to tackle this with my SP Fam! I will be purchasing my new Hero Go Pro this weekend so we will have some Epic Videos. Stay tuned.
Until the next competition… I will be continuing to spread the UTAH FOODIE love to you all in hopes to have you visit me or to have you move here; don’t worry if you need a job we are hiring too [insert shameless work plug].
My last blog post blew in two of my favorite people; my dad and Jimbob.
*Jim is not a photo lover so unfortunately no selfies were taken– but he was here!
Dad and I did so much exploring; from food to shooting at the range to looking at houses so he and mom could finally move here already.
We spent a lot of time on the range, getting me used to shooting my new Sig365. Safety first! We spent a long day doing safety drills and lessons. Then went spent a good 2 hours in Sheels, which is the biggest sporting store ever. I mean literally they have everything you ever need for the outdoors, fitness, and so much more! Closest one to my bay area friends is Reno though. Good luck with that drive…
We were so hungry after that the only cure for a long day was food like my Noni used to make. Homemade italian food. Introducing Siragusa’s, Taste of Italy.
Every dish we ordered was so delicious and brought me back to childhood days of visiting my grandparents. My Noni and Nono would cook the best italian food, and it made me miss them so much. You ever have those moments where you smell something and it just hits you in the face with memories. Yeah, that kind of good.
We had the Cheese Garlic Bread, Dad ordered Lasagna and I had Sweet Potato Gnocchi. The alfredo sauce they make is so creamy and light, definitely try any dish with this sauce. It is killer. It was great since this was after a day of Crossfit and shooting. Talk about carb restoring haha. Is that a thing? I don’t know; it is now.
The next morning we wanted to check out this place that is new in Lehi called The Original Pancake house. It is a chain locally and from the looks of it seemed like an iHop but I thought, “whatevs I can get eggs and bacon here.”
WRONG– it is more than an “IHOP TYPE PLACE TINA” how could I make that assumption.
I definitely got my meat and eggs but the pancakes– holy moly. They have an entire page of different pancakes. I tried the Macadamia Nut Pancakes which made me feel I was back in Hawaii again where I enjoyed similar pancakes yet with a beach front view (take me back; insert crying face emoji). So if you can stop by this place when you are here, it is a hit. Best times to go are Sunday’s between 9a-10a.
So as Dad headed home, I got a little sad– then in no time, Jimbob shows up.
Let the eating commence. . .
Jim and I always do it right though, brunch- lunch- dinner. We never skip a beat. And why not, he can afford to. Me? I on the other hand, look at food and instantly gain weight haha. But it is all for the blog right?
From juices to healthy egg dishes they have you covered. Sundays between 8-11a are the best times to go!
I had the Wasatch Hash which is Hash with cheddar, onions, peppers, mushrooms and green onions. It also comes with eggs and your choice of meat or avocado but I did both, cause why not. So yummy. I am making myself hungry now. The staff is so sweet and the service was quick. Coffee here is also great!
Saturday we went to see my favorite, Matt Nathonson in concert and prior explored another brunch/lunch spot and then did dinner.
I am not sure even where to begin here. The atmospher and vibe here is amazing. Reminds me of San Francisco which I do miss so much. The food, well the food was on another level. I ate every last bite and I was racing Jim on the appetizer. It was that good.
We went for Brunch but the Dinner menu looks fantastic.
Appetizer: CITRUS & RICOTTA TOAST: pink peppercorn honey, house ricotta
Heaven is what this place should be called. It was amazing. I can’t wait to go back. It is also centered in the 9th & 9th districtwhich is home to some cute little store fronts you should definitley check out!
We spent the day sitting on our friends poarch enjoying the SLC sun, 50 degrees felt like 65 and it was amazing. 4 hours later we were hungry again. You guessed it– Jim found us another SLC spot.
There are actually two Red Iguana locations. We went to the second because the original was jam packed. Insider tip *Go to the second location*
30 mins later…
Margaritas and Tacos– hell to the yes.
I had some carne asada tacos and a spicy margarita. Honestly some of the “Cleanest” mexican food I have ever had. I did not feel heavy or in other words, never did I feel like I was in “food coma.” It was just really good! No taco was left behind.
5lbs later, millions of laughs and memories made we found four new places to call our favorite Utah Eats!
“The only thing I like better than talking about food is EATING” – John Walters
Smart man that John Waters…
Well the Crossfit games are over and that means it is back into training mode for the Summer Spartan Super Race and our Mountain Melt Down. Training mode includes eating so you will always get a new place to explore, don’t you worry. In addition, I will be back to my old ways, sharing my meal plans and some fun at home recipies, insipred by the local eats here in Utah.
Until we meet again, stay humble, be kind and always be fearless.
XOXO Coach T
“We grow fearless by walking into our fears” – Robin Sharma
It is official! I am a Utahan… sort of hard to pronounce but I dig it.
I packed all my things, put Bullet (my SUV) on a truck and moved to an entirely different state, on my own and alone… for the first time in 31 years. I can honestly say, it has been a breath of fresh air. One I needed more than breathing itself.
It is amazing how doing somethings so bold, so out of character, so life changing can truly make you feel like a weight has been lifted off of your existence.
I wake up each morning and I am finally awake AF. I am spiritually woken by what lies ahead of me. Each morning, I take a deep breath of mountain air and I am lifted into a mindset like no other. It is true, adventure awaits.
I am currently sitting writing this blog in Draper, a cute little city not too far from Salt Lake City Airport. I am waiting for my dad to fly in, so exciting! I am indulging in some amazing coffee and Almond Butter Toast. Literally feel like I have been transported to Denver or Portland. That is the vibe this cute little coffee shop gives off.
Meet La|Barba Coffee— The coffee is by far, some of the best I have had since being here. It is great for us strong coffee lovers, I had a 12oz Cap– reg milk. The Foam to Coffee ratio was spot on. You know some places can really F* that up.
I also had the Almond Butter & Blueberry Toast which was to tie for. The bread was not hard as a rock and it was topped off with some Cacao Nibs and some honey which really through a spin on the standard Almond Butter Toast. A great afternoon treat while I wrote this blog.
I think I will stay a while…
While coffee shops are definitely my jam,food in general is the way to my soul so I been saving extra macros each week to explore new places to eat. This past weekend I had a girlfriend in town, and she and I together are chaos in the food department.
We literally ate everything.
I mean everything.
But our favorite was our date night in Salt Lake City at The Copper Onion and our Brunch Date in Sugar House at Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade.
Let’s talk Dinner Date night first since that is what came first– if your a brunch lover scroll down then back up but we need to address this Cappuccino I had…
I am not drinking until right now. And before you say it, no it is not because I moved to Utah nor is it because I am preggers. For those who don’t know, in January, my liver decided to stop working and both Enzymes were highly elevated with no known causes. So my doctor has decided for me to go on a “liver detox” that means no alcohol. I am trying to be good at that… sometimes it slips. I am human. I haven’t kicked the bucket yet. Try me liver. Anyways, I digress.
Back to the cappuccino.
It was so foamy– again, coffee to foam ratio spot on. It was not as strong as La Barba but what is exciting is it is Stumptown coffee, so what is not to love.
Now onto the food:
Appetizers: Patatas Bravas: potatoes & spicy aioli. A perfect blend of spice and savory goodness. I tried to not eat the whole plate and save some for Monika.
Dinner: Steak Frites: snake river farms flank steak, bearnaise and steak fries. This picture needs to have a smell component because as soon as my plate was placed on the table, the smell of amazingness filled the air and I had less than 5 seconds to snap a picture and then I went to town. There was zero leftovers.
Dessert: House made ice cream– which you have to ask the server for the flavor options. We tried honey lavender and an earl grey rose flavor. Both were fantastic. So good we didn’t even take a picture. (Presentation wasn’t anything to brag over but the taste was FANTASTIC).
My favorite neighborhood in SLC, SugarHouse is home to this cute little place called Sweet Lake Biscuits and Limeade. Trust me when I say, you must get a limeade.
Drinks: Limeade, try the Raspberry Limeade or Honeydew Cucumber. The Raspberry Limeade has chunks of fresh Raspberries and is a beautiful balance of tart and sweet. If you do the honey due, think a twist on a non alcoholic mojito! I am sure this is a hit in the summer but it was snowing and 29 degrees outside and we were digging both!
Food: I observed a lot of food going around that morning but I can honestly say that the hit was what we ordered. Meet the Hoss:
Their famous biscuit topped with fried chicken breast, egg, bacon, cheddar, sausage gravy and green onion garnish. Monika did no egg and felt it was amazing. I did not do any modifications and also felt it was BOMB.com I think if I came back, I would modify with no cheese since I do not handle cheese that well but it was the best thing I ate that day… It also was the only thing I ate that day until dinner… which was this free Salted Chocolate Chip Cookie they sent us home with for using YELP RESERVATIONS! Shout out to Yelp!
As I continue to eat my way through Utah– This blog should help you determine if you
1. want to come visit me
2. Want to move here
3. Now are just really freaking hungry
Haha. Sorry, not sorry. I promise, I will continue to share all these amazing adventure and all Utah has to offer with you.
I can’t wait until Dad gets here. I wonder what we will get into this weekend!
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