Focus on Amazing

This is just a little reminder for all of you. Sometimes we just get so swept up in life, work, and social media that we forget to stop and look around. We don't always see the beauty and awesomeness that is our lives. There will always be good things and bad things in life. What you decide to focus on is up to you. What you choose to focus on will determine your attitude. So focus on the amazing.


xoxo, Cassandra

Funky

I've been in a funk this week. Which is crazy because I start a great new nanny job on Monday, have been rocking t25, and am surrounded by some pretty great people. Operation work on my nutrition starts tomorrow but for now I will read some personal development and drink my sleepytime tea before bed. I'm getting back into the right mindset. Between personal development, more water, a good nights sleep, and my tea I should be good to go! I control my mood, so I'm going to fix it!

xoxo, Cassandra

How I Start My Weekends

I don't alway start my weekends the same, but they always seem to go SO much better when I do. I would love to be able to start every day like this in the sunshine but it is still dark when I head in to work! I have always been a list maker, and like to keep a notebook with my ever changing lists inside. To do lists, gratitude lists, shopping lists, christmas lists, dream lists, budgets- it is ALL inside! So to spend a little bit of time each morning dreaming, aligning my budget with those dreams, and plotting out a plan of action make the rest of my day feel so much more productive. I feel like I have direction and I also feel positive because I know I can achieve my goals. Now some of these goals may take a few years- but I know that I am on the right track, and that feel pretty great post workout. :)

Apple Cider Glazed Porkchops

I was perusing pinterest looking for recipes the other day for the giant package of pork chops we got at Costco and stumbled upon this one. I adapted it a bit  by reducing the brown sugar and baking it in the oven (I'm sure these would be yummy on the grill but we don't have one at this exact moment!) We tried these last night and they were SO GOOD. We served them with some brown rice and some baked apples/onions that we also brushed with the glaze. The worst thing in this recipe is the brown sugar, but the amount is not that much (it was spread between 6 pork chops and we had some left over). I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

Ingredients:

1 lb Pork chops

For the Rub:
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. olive oil

 For the Apple Cider Glaze:
1½ c. apple cider
¼ c. maple syrup
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
½ tsp. salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degees.
In a small saucepan make the glaze by combining the apple cider, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt. Bring to a simmer. 
In a small bowl combine the brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.  Add the oil to the spice mixture. It will be the consistency of a crumbly paste. 
Rinse the pork chops and pat them dry with paper towels, and then cover the chops on all sides with the spice rub.
Cover a 13X9 inch pan with tin foil and place the spiced pork chops inside.
Bake at 400 degrees for 17 minutes, then pull out of the over and flip. After flipping brush the pork chop with the glaze thoroughly. Bake for about 15 minutes or until they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Remove from the oven and flip the pork chops and  brush them with more glaze. Turn the oven to broil and place back in the oven for a minute (watch closely) to caramelize the top!

Butternut Squash

Nothing says fall like squash. It is such a cheap vegetable and is so simple to make as well. 

We make ours by slicing the squash in half, seeding it, and peeling it. 

We then slice it into 1 inch cubes and place on a baking sheet. 

Sprinkle with some pepper and Himalayan salt.

 Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. 

BOOM. done. It is seriously so delicious. I will even eat the leftovers cold!

Super Saturday Ramblings

My heart is so full right now- I just spent my weekend surrounded by the most kind hearted and genuine people I know. I am so thankful for having such a wonderful "family" in Florida just like I did back in Colorado. 

I am a huge INTROVERT. I don't like big crowds, strangers, or hanging around people that obviously know one another but not me. I can be "outgoing" but I have to seriously prepare myself for it. 

This weekend I drove four and a half hours to spend time with 500 people. I only knew 2 people prior to going to this event and one of them was speaking at it. Guess what?! I was excited about going. Nervous.... Yes. But excited just the same. 

I seriously was in the best mood driving home. This group of people pushes me and motivates me to be the best version of me that I can be. They push me to be a better, Kinder person. What other companies can seriously make you feel like that?

So thank you to my new Florida family for making me feel welcome and for giving me that dose of "beachbody" that I have been missing. 

And here is a little gem that was shared at Super Saturday by the beautiful- inside and out- Lindsay Matway. No matter your religious beliefs it's just a good message that we all need to hear some days.

Burn Bright