How can that this entire beautiful, bountiful plate of food only have 300 calories? I wasn’t even able to eat the whole thing. That’s weird, because I have no problem putting away a half pint of Ben & Jerry’s if left to my own devices. Fiber, people! Fiber, and lean, low fat protein. Healthy carbs. No refined sugar. This dish has it all. Plus, I can’t even tell you how delicious it is. I modified it slightly from sexy ass Bob’s original version, but be sure not to skimp out on the red wine vinegar. it makes ALL the difference in the flavor.

Bob Harper’s Low Calorie Chicken Salad

4 oz chicken breast (I have used both organic canned chicken and regular grilled chicken. Both work)
2 tablespoons plain fat free greek yogurt
1 1/2 Tablespoons raw walnuts, chopped
1/2 apple, chopped
1/2 celery stalk, chopped finely
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon of red wine vinegar
Pinch of salt
pinch of black pepper

Mix all ingredients together, and serve in leaves of butter lettuce.

Calories: 250, Protein 30g, Carbs 14g, Fat, 8g
(Carrots, blueberries and apricot make up the remaining 50 calories in the photo)

Plants want to grow; it’s how they’re engineered. I don’t have a degree in Biology, but I did take a Horticulture class that year I was on scholastic probation. So, I feel credible in giving that first statement.

We’ve been consistent gardeners for several years now, from small containers to raised beds. Typically I plant what I can turn into pasta sauce, salsa or mojitos.

We’ve been working with a professional landscaper on our backyard. We decided to splurge and take this route, so we can have guidance in building our perfect space. It’s going to be awesome.

Next year, we’ll put in a larger garden, until then it’s back to small container gardening.

I did come across a site this week that totally caught my eye, SproutRobot. It’s a site that tells you when to plant seeds based on your zip code.  I spent $5 a few weekends ago on a Cilantro plant, and I read this week that now is the time to plant Cilantro from seeds for my Austin, TX area. A whole packet of seeds is like $1.

So, really?

I really do like it! I immediately feel more confident in choosing what to plant when, rather than wondering through Lowe’s trying to figure out which plant wants to live the most.

We love gadgets and social technology. This is a regular feature of the newest things that are getting our attention.

Waze

Waze is an application that was developed to help you outsmart traffic. Waze socially sources information about traffic and reports it back to you. So, if you’re curious about traffic on a new route, Waze might have information that’s been submitted about traffic, speed traps and accidents. Their Navigate (directions to) feature gives great directions, features a nice map and even audio directions. This application is available for iPhone and Android.

So, really?

So, really, Waze has become my default navigation tool. I love the maps, the voice guided directions and the extra stuff is fun, although I don’t use it that much as a driver, I do use it when I’m a passenger.

I have been buying tracks on iTunes for many, many years now. I noticed that not all of my music had followed me between new computers, new iPods, new iPhones, etc. Here’s how to get all your old tracks back that you’ve purchased from the iTunes store. Note: This is being done on an iPhone 4s, but was tested on a 4 as well. I have not tested it on a 3 or 3s, but I assume it’s more relevant to have the iOS5 update.

Open the itunes store and click the “Purchased” icon

Select “Music”

Press the button for “Not On This iPhone” and select an artist

Once you have selected an artist, it will display all the albums by that artist that you have previously purchased from. You can opt to download all songs on a particular album by pressing the cloud icon, or choose “All Songs”

Here, you can either download the entire album or choose individual songs. Press the cloud icon and it will place that item in your download queue. Presto! You now have access to ALL your previous iTunes purchases!

We love gadgets and social technology. This is a regular feature of the newest things that are getting our attention.

Taskrabbit

Taskrabbit connects you with friendly, reliable people right in your neighborhood to help you get items on your to-do list done. You can post for tasks like: shopping, furniture assembly and online research. What this service does is eliminate the creepy CraigsList guy and gives you access to a network of prescreened, background checked people to complete your task. Taskrabbit. Luckily they have already launched in Austin for live and virtual tasks and you can see their full directory here. Not in your city? You can still use the virtual service. Use this referral link if you’re interested in signing up as a “task rabbit” or a “client” This application is available for iPhone only.

So, really?

So, really, I LOVE this service. I use it about 2-3 times per month for things that will save me big in time. I’ve used it for: errand to IKEA, digging up a garden and fixing Outlook on my Mac.

Living in a three iPhone household there is no shortage of arguments as to which cords and chargers belong to whom. While it’s easy to just always assume they’re mine, this strategy wasn’t going over well with everyone else.

Simple solution- painting mine with nail polish! Plus, they’re much cuter this way. Isn’t everything better with glitter? I painted one side at a time so it could dry without smudging when I set it down. You could opt to also use a clear coat for more shine, but I didn’t feel like it was necessary. Allow to dry completely between coats, and do as many as needed to get your desired level of coverage or opacity. Since I used a sheer glitter, I was happy with two coats.

We love gadgets and social technology. This is a regular feature of the newest things that are getting our attention.

Pair

Pair is a private social networking application for, a pair of people. The application allows you to pair up with one other person (think significant other, bestie, whatever) and you have your own private social network that you can use to share photos, videos, draw and share task lists. You can even “thumb kiss” which is the cheesiest of interactions, but one that makes you feel loved none the less. Pair is available for both iPhone and Android.

So, really?

So, really, this application was fun for the first 48 hours and once a week or so, I’ll send a little, “Thinking about you” buzz. We both have easy access to chat, text and call whenever we need something, so we haven’t really replaced any of our standard communication tools for this one.

Summer 2012 is upon us! I found myself looking for some key pieces to update my wardrobe to stay cute and ahead of the fashion curve (or at least not behind it!) Overall, the feel for 2012 is romantic, feminine, flouncy, airy and full of movement. Think uber girly, pastel, floral and lace. Also keep in mind that brights and color blocking are all the rage right now- so any of these pieces in vivid colors are a win win.

Here are a few things that will keep you looking fresh this season! Bonus? None of these will break the bank!

The modern sundress- look for tighter tops and flirty, girly skirts and 90′s inspired silhouettes.

Bright, bold colored jeans- all bright colors, crops and shorts all look great in technicolor hues.

Peplums- tops, jackets, dresses with the frilly waistline accents. Peplums are hot, not to mention FLATTERING! Yeah!

Maxi Dress- the ultimate in fun, breezy comfort and style. This particular Maxi is also colorblocked for added style points!

Floral Skirt- look for all lengths from micro short to ankle length boho chic.

Super sheer tee- layer these with a bralette or cami.

Flowy top- pair with micro denim shorts, colored crops or white capris.

Flatforms / low wedges- heel haters rejoice! These are sassy step ups over standard flip flop summer fare. You can wear them all day, without the aches and pains of heels and higher pitched wedges.

Well, we know how my last pinterest attempt went (read: Pinterest Fail)

This one went a lot better! It was a Sunday, and I wanted a little indulgent yet easy brunch. I popped some canned cinnamon rolls on the waffle press and voila! It was fantastic. I had some leftover glaze from some Pizza Hut cinnamon sticks (don’t judge me) and I preferred that over what came with the rolls. If I ever do this again, I’ll likely whip up a batch of glaze from scratch. I served them up with a fresh cup of coffee and it was to die for. Minus the diabetic coma, of course.

I heated the plates up to high, cooked for about 3 1/2 minutes. Be aware that you’ll need to clean off your waffle iron well if you do a second batch- the sugary cinnamon filling burns easily and sticks to the plates.

The verdict? Pass with flying colors!

Please note: This post was not sponsored. Just sharing a great experience!

I am very simply a coffee addict. This in itself isn’t that big of a problem, but the fact that my coffee is more cream and sugar than anything else is causing my waistline to pay the price. Any time I need to cut calories, I start with switching my morning caffeinated beverage to tea. I have found that since it lacks the sharp bitterness that most coffees have, I can drink it straight with no sweetener at all. Weekly calorie savings? Almost 2000. Not too shabby. My midday crash is also non existent when I’m sipping green tea throughout the day.

Loose leaf teas are teas in their most unprocessed states- retaining as much of the antioxidant benefits as possible. Bad news to those of you sipping bottled, mass produced tea- according to a USDA study in 2006, they contain a measly 5% of the antioxidants that a serving of loose leaf tea! There are thousands of types, varieties, flavors… really something for everyone. Plus, I’d argue that the relaxing, ceremonious act of preparing loose leaf teas only adds to the overall benefits.

Last year, Moolala.com ran a daily deal for a company out of Colorado called The Tea Spot. I was excited to try them out, and am happy to report that after several re-orders, I’m still a huge fan. Their teas come packaged in a really convenient and attractive tin that not only keeps your tea fresh, but it also helps conserve cabinet space. I’ve even kept my empties and reused them with some of my other loose teas. The tins run about $10, and you can get 48 8oz servings. The price varies for some of the different varieties, of course.

The quality of the tea itself has yet to disappoint me. Here are my top favorites-

1. Bolder Breakfast- this is the one that helped me break my coffee habit. It’s a chocolate infused puerh tea that seriously tastes like coffee without the bitterness. It’s what I wish black coffee tasted like.

2. Creme Caramel- tiny nibs of caramel give this black tea a mild sweetness that is so satisfying.

3. Meditative Mind- this tea isn’t only delicious, it’s beautiful. Pretty rosebuds and white tea make this blend a sensory joy. The look, smell and taste is amazing. White tea is very mild, extremely high in antioxidants and low in caffeine.

Their customer service has been fantastic and they are fun to engage with on Twitter and Facebook. Lastly, I love that they donate 10% of each sale to cancer wellness programs. As someone who’s had a number of friends and family battle cancer, I appreciate their dedication to this cause.

Are you a tea lover? We’d love to hear your favorite type!