2023 Holiday Gift Guide!

 I have put together a healthy lifestyle gift guide to inspire your holiday wish list! 

Whether you're cooking in the kitchen, looking to get some steps, or relaxing after a long day- there is something on here for everyone on your list and maybe for your list as well!

Watch my full YouTube video showcasing each product below by clicking HERE!

1. Caraway Pan Set

I've proclaimed these as the best pans ever! I have been using them daily for almost 3 years now and I recommend them to everyone I know! They are nonstick perfection, even after almost 3 years! Which means I use less butter and oil to cook. I did a full review video on these pans which you can watch HERE! 

My 2 favorite things about Carraway- they have tons of color and hardware options to choose from to fit any home aesthetic and each set comes with it's own storage. 

(You might even see some more Carraway on my list...!)

The once a year sale is going on right now, click my link to get up to 20% off!

2. Caraway Bakeware

I told you there would be more Carraway on this list! This bakeware is perfection! Anyone on your list would be thrilled to receive these bakeware pans. In the full set you have everything you need in kitchen whether it's cake pans, bread pans, a square brownie pan (as I like to call it) or 2 different size baking sheets- you get it ALL. Plus you get the organizers included and can choose from so many color options! I was tired of my cakes sticking to the pan. Trying to fix them with the icing. Imagine all your baked goods came sliding out of the non stick pans! Save yourself the aggravation and upgrade your bakeware today! You will love it!

Once a year sale is going on NOW! Get up to 20% off with delivery before the holidays (and before the most popular items sell out!)

Click here to shop!

3. Power XL Air fryer

Another item I have had for years and use every single day! This air fryer heats all my food evenly and is super easy to clean. Everything I make turns out delicious! Perfect for leftovers, side dishes, or the main course. I love cooking salmon in here for date night with my husband or reheating chicken fingers for the kids. Every house needs one of these! This is the perfect gift for ANYone on your list!

Shop the 4 quart size here! 

Shop the 10 quart size here!

4. Fast Boil Kettle

Anytime I need boiling water I grab my fast boil kettle. Water heats in less than 2 minutes and it's super easy to clean. Whether I'm drinking tea, LMNT chocolate or instant low carb Raman I grab this kettle so I can enjoy it faster!

Every kitchen needs one. It's one of those products you don't realize you needed so badly until you actually get it. The perfect gift!

Click here to shop!

5. Wooden Tea Organizer

Once the weather turns cold I turn into a tea girl. Once I started stacking my tea boxes I knew I needed something to organize them all. This box is gorgeous enough to leave out on your counter and practical enough to organize so many different tea varieties. Plus the clear window allows me to see all the options I have when I'm ready for that cup to warm me up! Such a unique and beautiful gift at an affordable price point! Package it up with some of your favorite tea for anyone on your list!

Click here to shop!

6. Nespresso

Best tasting coffee ever! The perfect gift for the coffee lover in your life. I've had my Nespresso machine for years and use it daily and love it! On the Nespresso app you can find loads of coffee strengths and flavors to fit everyone's taste pallet. 

If your coffee maker needs an upgrade this is what you need!

Click here to shop!

7. Silpat

The culinary stocking stuffer!

If you're not ready to upgrade your bakeware BUT you still want to make amazing food that doesn't stick to your pans- you need the Silpat! It turns any pan into a nonstick surface. Perfect for anyone on your list who likes to bake or cook. Roll it up, tie a ribbon on it and place in the stocking or under the tree!

Click here to shop!

8. 2-In-1 Walking Pad 

Not sure if you want to commit to a walking pad OR a full size treadmill? 

You don't have to! With the DeerRun 2-in-1 you can have BOTH. An easy to read screen is at your feet and a convenient stand for your phone, iPad or book is at the perfect level. No assembly required, all you need to do is plug it in. 

Also links to an app for easy tracking of your workouts and steps. 

Perfect for anyone on your list who wants the convenience of a treadmill but with the easy movability of a walking pad!

*Multiple colors to choose from!*

Click here to shop!

9. Sketchers Sneakers

My absolute favorite walking shoe. These shoes single handedly allow me to get over 10K steps per day. They are light as a feather and feel like you're walking on a cloud. Anyone on your list looking to upgrade their footwear needs these sneakers! They also come in a variety of colors to fit every personality! Anyone on your list who loves comfort and style, needs these!

Click here to shop!

10. The 100 Book 

The low carb lifestyle explained! I recommend this book to everyone because it works. If you've been serous about the low carb lifestyle OR need a meal plan to follow for fast weight loss- this book is it! Anyone wanting to get their health in order after the holidays will love this book!

Click here to shop!

Stocking Stuffers!

Lineage Lip Mask 

This time of the year has my lips DRYYYY. This lip mask hydrates them fully every night! I got this as teachers gifts this year and I cant wait to gift them each one! Apply each night and hydrate as you sleep. Many flavors to choose from, the PERFECT stocking stuffer!

Click here to shop!

Heat Holders Socks

The warmest socks on the planet! AND with so many colors and designs to choose from you'll find a pair for every single person on your list. Don't go for the knock off brands- I only trust Heat Holders! 

Click here to shop!

Salt Stone Deodorant

About 11 years ago I went through an embarrassing situation with deodorant. They ALL stopped working for me and made me smell horrible. I knew I needed to clean it the products I was using but this situation MADE me do it. I went on the search for a natural deodorant and I found it! This salt stone is ONE ingredient and all natural. I have never looked back. $6 each and lasts 4 months- YES PLEASE! The perfect stocking stuffer for anyone on your list suffering like I was or wanting to clean up the products they use. 

Click here to shop!

Creamy Cucumber Salad

 Perfect for a picnic or your weeknight table! This low carb salad combined crunchy cucumbers with a tangy sauce to become the perfect Summer side dish. Feel free to play around with the sauce ingredients until they taste good to you. I love a tangy, acidic sauce to compliment the mellow cucumbers. 

Creamy Cucumber Salad- Serves 4 (as a side dish)

3 English cucumbers, sliced thin

sea salt

1/2 small red onion, sliced thin

Sauce:

3/4 cup sour cream

4 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped

1/2 tsp garlic powder

3/4 tsp pepper

squeeze of liquid stevia (I use this one)

Slice and place your cucumber in a single layer on a paper towel.

Sprinkle with sea salt. 

Allow to sit for 20-30 minutes to draw out the moisture.

Then, pay dry to remove all the moisture and residual salt (watch video above for clarity on this process).

Slice your onion and set aside. 

Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a large bowl and mix until well combined. 

Taste for seasoning and feel free to make this sauce your own!

Add the cucumber and onion to the sauce and fold together until everything is combined. 

Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or serve immediately. 

I have found this doesn't keep well in the fridge for more
than a day or so. 

ENJOY!

Low Carb Chicken Sausage Pasta

Watch me make this dish in the video above!

When I found the low carb pasta from Kaizen I was definitely skeptical but living a low carb lifestyle always has me on the hunt for low carb products that taste like the real thing. This pasta did not disappoint. This is not a sponsored post this is just an honest review and a passing along of a great company that I love to support. Plus the pasta is only 2g net carbs per serving and it tastes just like the real thing! You can also sub in your favorite low carb pasta- zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, heart of palm, black bean spaghetti... the list goes on. Make this recipe your own by switching out the pasta or the veggies. Whatever you do- just make it! 

Low Carb Chicken Sausage Pasta- Serves 3 

4oz red bell pepper, chopped

8oz zucchini, chopped

4oz baby Bella mushroom, chopped

1/4 cup chopped onion

4 links of chicken sausage

2 Tbsp parmesan cheese

1/3 cup basil pesto

2 Tbsp of butter

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 Tbsp balsamic glaze

2 servings of Kaizen 2g net carb pasta, 112g (found at shredhappens.com)

Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Air fry the sausage links for 18 minutes at 395 degrees F.

Boil water and cook the pasta in salted water. 

While the sausage is cooking, warm up the oil and 1 tbsp of butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. 

Add in the onion, zucchini, bell pepper and mushrooms. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 

Saute until the veggies are cooked through and getting browned edges. 

Once the chicken sausage is done, slice it up and add it to the veggies. Then add in the cooked pasta. 

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and add in the pesto. Mix thoroughly. 

Add in the other tablespoon of butter, allow to melt and mix well. 

Serve with fresh chopped basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. 

ENJOY!

Nutritional Facts Per Serving*

700 Calories

16g Net Carbs

40g protein 

*Nutritional info is calculated using the exact ingredients I used. 

The macros will changed based on your ingredients. 

The BEST Chicken Marinade EVER! Great for meal prep!

 Let's make the BEST chicken ever. It's the best because it is a super quick marinade. 2 hour minimum marinate time but you can also let it sit in the marinade in the fridge for up to 2 days. It's also super juicy and flavorful. But the best part is- it's super versatile. You can add this chicken to salads, make a grilled chicken sandwich, nourish bowls, make chicken salad out of it, buffalo chicken wraps, caesar salad topper, the list goes on and on. I make this chicken every week for a reason: simple, fast, and delicious. 

The best chicken marinade ever:

1.5 lb of boneless, skinless chicken breast

2 Tbsp olive oil, divided

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dried oregano OR Italian Seasoning

1 tsp paprika

Trim your chicken and halve lengthwise any extra thick pieces to ensure even cooking. 
In a resealable plastic bag (or a large bowl) add in 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add in your chicken, turning to coat. Then add in the other 1 tbsp of olive oil and coat the chicken as evenly as you can.  In a small bowl mix together all of your dried spices and the salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly until they are well combined. Add half the spice mixture to the chicken and mix well coating the chicken. Then add in the rest of the spice mixture and mix to coat. 
Marinate in the fridge 2 hours or up to 2 days. Then, cook however you choose. Bake it, grill it, pan fry it, air fry it, grill pan it, the sky is the limit. 
Enjoy! 

Watch me make this recipe int he video below!

LOW CARB, HIGH PROTEIN Vanilla Fruit Smoothie

 This smoothie has become an obsession. By obsession I mean I'm eating it 5 out of 7 days per week to break my fast and I LOVE IT! It's super creamy like a milkshake and my recipe makes a BIG smoothie. Like 32 ounces, big! It's nutty and fruity and smooth with a touch of sweetness. Plus it packs a big protein punch at 58 grams of protein! This smoothie keeps me full for HOURS. Highly recommend if you are looking for a low carb, high protein lunch or breakfast. Try it and tell me what you think!

Exact ingredients I used

Low carb Vanilla Fruit Smoothie- Serves 1 

6-7 ice cubes

2 scoops of low carb protein powder, I use ISOPURE protein powder

1/2 cup frozen fruit blend (pictured above)

2 Tbsp hemp hearts

3 Tbsp unsweetened coconut

1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 

Add ingredients to your blender and blend for 60 seconds or until all ingredients are incorporated together. Enjoy!

Nutritional Facts for entire smoothie:

468 Calories

10g Net Carbs

58g Protein

The BEST low carb Chicken Marsala EVER!

 Chicken Marsala has always been one of my favorites. I find that a good quality marsala wine from the wine section of your store really elevates this meal and the one I buy is only $7.95 and allows me to make 4 meals! Definitely worth it. I hope you enjoy this low carb marsala as much as our family. I like to serve mine over zucchini noodles or hearts of palm noodles but you could also do cauliflower rice or cauliflower mash to keep it low carb. Or simply serve with some sautéed broccoli and a side salad. Perfect for a special occasion or a Tuesday night!

low carb Chicken Marsala- serves 4 

2 large chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp flour*

salt & pepper

garlic powder

onion powder

3 Tbsp salted butter, divided

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced- I use shiitake, white, or baby Bella (or any combo of those will do)

3/4 cup Marsala cooking wine

1/2 cup heavy cream

Prepare the chicken by slicing it lengthwise. Season with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Then take 1 tablespoon of flour (if using) and dust over the chicken. 

Heat the olive oil and one tablespoon of butter in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Cook the chicken until it is golden brown on the first side, about 5 minute. Then flip and cook an additional 5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan. It might not be done cooking yet- that's ok. It will finish cooking in the sauce. 

Then add in the 2 remaining tablespoons of butter on medium/medium high heat and brown up the mushrooms for 5-7 minutes. 

Then add in the marsala wine and allow to come up to a bubble. Scrap the bottom of the pan to loosen any bits of mushroom and chicken. Allow this to bubble for 3-4 minutes and reduce slightly. 

Next, add in the heavy cream. Stir well to incorporate. Then add the chicken and any juices from the plate back into the pan. Cook for about 5 more minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened. Taste for seasoning and add in more salt and pepper to taste. 

Enjoy!

*If you're not eating flour you can sub almond flour OR leave out the flour altogether and just use the spices as a rub. This will affect the nutritional facts and lower the carbs too :)

Nutritional Facts per serving:

529 Calories

9.4g Carbs

0.6g Fiber

8.8g NET CARBS

42g Protein

low carb Zucchini Tart

I'm obsessed with quiche and I wanted to create a low carb version with all of the flavor and none of the guilt! This zucchini tart is just SO delicious! Light and fluffy, the perfect almond flour crust and fresh zucchini. It really is perfection. Serve with a fresh green salad and you have a meatless meal that will not disappoint!!

 low carb Zucchini Tart- Serves 4 

Crust:

1 3/4 cups plus 1 Tbsp almond flour

3/4 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/4 tsp salt 

5 Tbsp butter, melted

Filling:

1 medium zucchini, sliced thin (about 5-5.5 ounces)

1 Tbsp green onion, sliced thin

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

3 large eggs

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 Tsp garlic powder

2 tsp fresh dill, chopped

Salt and pepper

Topping:

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. 

Slice the zucchini into thin rounds and add to a colander, sprinkle with salt and allow the zucchini to release its moisture. Let sit for 15-20 minutes.

In the meantime let's make the crust. 

In a large bowl combine all the ingredients except the butter. Whisk the dry ingredients to combine. Then add in the melted butter and mix together until it is well incorporated. The texture should resemble wet sand. 

Greased a 9 inch, glass pie pan and add the crust ingredients. Push down to form an even crust layer making sure to go all the way to the top of the pan around the entire circle (watch the above video for reference).

Bake the crust for 15 minutes at 325 then allow to cool for 15 minutes before adding the filling. 

For the filling combine all of the ingredients except the zucchini. 

Whisk together well so everything is well incorporated. 

Take the zucchini and pat it dry to catch all the moisture. 

Then add in 3/4 of the zucchini to the filling, mix slowly to combine. 

Once the crust has cooled, pour in the filling. Then top with the remaining zucchini slices. Then cover the top with the parmesan cheese. 

Bake for 60-65 minutes until the center is set and a toothpick comes out clean. 

Enjoy!

Nutritional Info

Per serving:

455 calories

10g net carbs

24g of protein