Simply Pretty Eats: Skinny Pumpkin Pie Mocha

Hi!

So I confess, I am a FALL addict!! I mean, I literally count the days until fall starting in like March. Well, to my pleasant surprise, when I was heading to the gym this morning, the weather was perfect and it had that crisp smell that early fall tends to bring, and I couldn't have been happier! Apparently, I had this same feeling one year ago today because Facebook reminded me that "On this Day in 2010"  I was talking about how much I wanted a Pumpkin Pie Mocha...well, since then I have tweaked around in my cabinets to finally make a great Pumpkin Pie Mocha! I absolutely love making this, because it's easier on my wallet than daily coffeehouse visits are, I can make this all year if I wanted, AND I can make it work with my diet since it doesn't involve heavy syrups and creams. Here's the recipe:

Skinny Pumpkin Pie Mocha

2/3 cup coffee
1/4 cup skim milk (or a splash of fat-free creamer)
2 packets Splenda (or 1 tbsp sugar or granulated Splenda)
1 1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice


Stir and enjoy!!




*If anyone has a hard time finding pumpkin pie spice, let me know and I'll post the recipe for that, too!

XOXO,
Erica

Simply Pretty Eats: Butterfinger Protein Shake

I have struggled with my weight since I was in middle school so I have to be really careful about what I put into my body. I like to workout in the mornings before class and work and one thing I love to do to give my morning a boost is drink a healthy protein shake for breakfast. Now, one of my biggest challenges is that my love of cooking comes with a need to have variety in my daily eating, so the basic fruit, yogurt and protein shake just wasn't working for me on a daily basis.

So if you find protein shakes boring and want a dessert taste with few calories but a powerhouse of nutrients, try this Butterfinger protein shake recipe:

8 oz Almond Milk, or fat-free milk

2 Tbsp sugar-free butterscotch pudding mix

1 Tbsp reduced-fat peanut butter

1 serving Protein (whatever kind you prefer)

Ice cubes

Blend well in blender and enjoy!! 

XOXO, 

Erica

Homemade Beauty: Coffee Body Scrub

I first fell in love with home beauty-treatments after travelling to Costa Rica about 5 years ago. Out one night with a friend, I passed by a small spa with a sign outside advertising a coffee body scrub. Being a MAJOR coffee lover, I went in to find out more. The owner told me about the practical use of coffee grounds as a means not only to exfoliate and get the healthy glow that comes with but also to get rid of cellulite and varicose veins! (If you're interested, I explain a little further at the end of the post.) Unfortunately, this spa had no openings for the short time I was in town but the owner gave me a great at-home recipe to use.

So, I decided to make this recipe at home about a month ago (and actually use it regularly) to test out what the lady had told me. Two words: IT WORKS!! It also smells AMAZING!!!

Here it is, hope you love it as much as I do!!

Ingredients: 

2 cups ground coffee, any kind except decaf

3/4 cup sugar*

4 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Mix together. Use scrub in shower massaging it onto skin in slow-circular motions. Rinse off. Enjoy your smooth skin and pretty glow!

*(I like to use dark brown sugar but any granulated type sugar will work)

XOXO, 

Erica

--Caffeine, when massaged into skin has the benefit of tightening blood vessels (reducing the appearance of varicose veins)  and redistributing fat cells (reducing the appearance of cellulite.)

Welcome!

Hi all!
Thank you for visiting my blog. I am really looking forward to sharing my reviews, recipes, and tips with you! If there is anything anyone would like to request, don't hesitate to email me at livesimplypretty@gmail.com!

XOXO,
Erica