Happy New Year!!

January 1, 2016January 1, 2016 / ktbuchs87

Most of you are probably still sleeping and with good reason. You stayed up late celebrating the New Year in fun ways I’m sure.

Our New Year’s Eve was a little different this year, both of us were in bed by 10 pm. Yup, we kind of missed ringing in 2016. But with good reason, Adam has a nasty virus and I’m doing my best to ward it off. We still celebrated a little. I made a ton of dip (see Wednesday’s post) and we watched Netflix until Adam decided it was time to pass out.

I hope that you had a little bit more lively celebration, but whatever you did I hope that 2016 is a great year!

I’ll be back on Monday and I’ll share my word for the year as well as get back to my regular posts full of delicious food and simple ways to be healthy. For now, I’m going to watch the parade and maybe a few bowl games and just relax!

Happy New Year!! | Life Healthfully Lived

Happy New Year friends!

Dip Into The New Year

December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 / ktbuchs87 / 1 Comment

It’s New Year’s Eve Eve and you’re probably planning a party or planning to go to a party. Whether it’s a small family affair or a big bash, there are bound to be some tasty eats wherever you go. Dip Into the New Year | Life Healthfully Lived

I don’t know why, but New Year’s Eve party food means finger food. It’s like a law or something and a law that I’m not going to protest. Who doesn’t love finger food? I mean other than people who don’t have fingers and even they probably like the more manageable bites. Food instantly becomes better when it is a smaller version of its regular size self.

Whole chicken? Eh. Chicken wings? Amazing. Hunk of meatloaf? Take it or leave it. Meatballs? Shovel them in as fast as possible. And food on a stick? Forget about it.

While I love the tiny finger food of New Year’s Eve, there is something I love even more.

Dip.

Get that into my belly, STAT! Dip is amazing and there so many different kinds. Warm dip, cold dip, chip dip, bean dip, pate, guacamole, hummus, baba ganoush…. The list goes on and on and I want to eat them all. Parties are the perfect place to serve dip because you can make a whole bunch and put out different things for people to dip into the dip. I’m saying dip a lot. I don’t care.

I thought I would do a quick round-up of some of my favorite dips here on my blog, plus a few out there in the food blogging world that need to be on your party table come Thursday night. And while chips/veggies are merely a vehicle to get more dip into my face, I’ll post a few dipping options as well.

The Dips

Hummus. You really can’t go wrong with hummus and this is my favorite homemade version. It takes a little bit of time, but it’s so worth it.

My Favorite Hummus

Want something quick, easy, and delicious? Done. This salsa is sure to please your guests.

Simple Salsa Dip Into the New Year | Life Healthfully Lived

I know I know, pumpkin season is pretty much over but hear me out on this one. It’s 3 ingredients and is great for a last-minute dish to bring. See? You’re welcome.

3 Ingredient Pumpkin Dip

This one is more of a spread, but you can be crazy and dip stuff into it too. You little rebel.

Herbed Macadamia Butter Dip Into the New Year | Life Healthfully Lived

I love a good guacamole, but sometimes changing it up is nice. This super smooth avocado cream is just as delicious as it’s chunkier brother.

Avocado Cream

This just might be my new favorite holiday dip. Cranberries, mozzarella cheese (that isn’t really cheese), all melted together. You can’t go wrong!

Creamy Cranberry Dip

I made this one for Girlish and I was both surprised and proud of how much it tasted like the store bought version. Plus there are chips with this one!

French Onion Dip Dip Into the New Year | Life Healthfully Lived

The Dippers

Like I said, I’m not as thrilled about the dippers as I am about the dip, but they do have the important job of transporting the dip to my mouth. So they deserve a little love too.

The good old standby: tortilla chips. But you don’t have to buy a bag when you can make your own!

Tortilla Chips

Another one you can make instead of buy, and they taste amazing!

Plantain Chips

If you can do butter and eggs, then you should try these everything crackers from Zenbelly. Gluten-free and homemade make them taste delicious.

Grain-Free Everything Crackers Dip Into the New Year | Life Healthfully Lived

I love how crunchy these crackers from Vegan Richa turn out and they’re perfect if you need a gluten-free and vegan dipping option.

Savory Potato Rice Crackers

Pita is a perfect dipping utensil for hummus or any other dip you want to shove in your face. Predominantly Paleo has a really good AIP version that is also vegan!

Paleo Pita Bread Dip Into the New Year | Life Healthfully Lived

Of course, you should also set out a tray of vegetables for dipping. I mean I am a healthy food blogger after all. Plus cucumbers and celery are really sturdy dip bearing vehicles! 🙂

The Last 12 Months

December 28, 2015December 28, 2015 / ktbuchs87

It’s typical this time of year to look back and reflect on everything that happened over the last 12 months. Often when you start to do this, it doesn’t feel like much has happened. But once you get going you realize that you accomplished quite a few things. And even if you didn’t have a crazy productive year, I doubt any of you just sat in a room for 12 months staring at a wall.

The Last 12 Months | Life Healthfully Lived

Lot’s of sweaty runs down the Lake Shore Trail

You woke up every morning for 365 days. That’s something. You put on clothes (hopefully) and went about your routine for 365 days. That’s something. You fed yourself (mostly), moved around, were HUMAN for 365 days. That is definitely something.

Lot’s of sweaty runs down the Lake Shore Trail

I am a person who constantly downplays everything I do. If it isn’t huge or momentous, then it doesn’t really matter. I walk around telling myself that I am just an average person, nothing special, nothing horrible, just me.

I bet I made him run.

I don’t know if it’s my deep need to please other people or my aversion to bragging, but I have a hard time seeing all the great things I have done over a period of a year.

I kind of love this city

But not this year.

Remember way back at the beginning of the year when I chose a word to define 2015? I chose passion. While every single day of 2015 might not have been lived with passion, I did attack my goals with a new passion. It was tough at first to put myself out there and try new things. What if I failed? I hate failing and often have the mindset of if I can’t do it perfectly, I’m not going to do it at all. It took some work to get over that frame of mind, but towards the end of the year I started taking risks and doing new things because, why not?

Look at me being a mermaid!

What’s the worst that could happen?

People could say no or not like it but it wasn’t going to kill me. Clearly, I’m still here and I’m glad that I made the leaps of faith that I did because I have had some awesome opportunities this past year. I have really expanded my writing, tried new things with my fitness, and worked even more on choosing to accept my body as it is in this moment.

All fancy at Jodie’s wedding

And I did it all with a passion that I don’t think I’ve used before. Nothing is going to be handed to me and instead of sitting around and whining or saying that I’m nothing special, I chose to get up and make new paths for myself.

I make a good bed

I hope that as you look back on your 2015 you are able to see all of the amazing things that you accomplished. Even if you didn’t scale a mountain, solve world hunger, or star in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, you still did things that changed your life and brought you to this moment.

Apple Picking in October in like 60 degree weather.

I haven’t chosen a word for 2016 yet, but I will soon and I hope you’ll join me. Enjoy the last few days of 2015 and get ready for another awesome 12 months!

Happy New Year from us weirdos!

Merry Christmas!!

December 25, 2015December 24, 2015 / ktbuchs87

I’m going to keep it short and sweet today because you should be spending time with the ones you love and celebrating this wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas to you and your family from me and my family. I hope you have an amazing day and that you may find peace in your life for this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas | Life Healthfully Lived

Last Minute Christmas

December 23, 2015December 22, 2015 / ktbuchs87 / 1 Comment

Two more sleeps! Two more sleeps! We are almost to the big day and I hope you are as excited as I am!

I do have to admit, though, I was a little grinchy earlier. I know, I know but I was getting bogged down under my Christmas to-do list on top of my regular to-do list and it felt like they were both growing no matter how hard I was working. Everything was starting to make me grouchy and less than Christmas-y. Last Minute Christmas | Life Healthfully Lived

Then I took these pictures for last minute Christmas recipes, and I started to feel that Christmas spirit again. I may have also been watching Elf and other Christmas movies to help put me in the mood. Either way, I’m glad I snapped myself out of it. I know this time of year can be stressful, especially if you’re the one planning everything. You want everyone else to feel the cheer of the season while you’re slowly going crazy with baking cookies, planning feasts, wrapping presents, and making hot chocolate.

While I can’t do everything on your list, I can help out with a few last minute recipes. Both these recipes take minimal effort and can be made beforehand and then brought out when your guests arrive. One is sweet and one is savory and both are delicious. So if you need a quick dessert or appetizer, try one of these out.

And remember, Christmas comes without ribbons, it comes without tags. It comes without packages, boxes or bags. Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Christmas means just a little bit more….

Creamy Cranberry Dip

1 batch of my spicy cranberry sauce
1 batch of my no mozzarella, mozzarella
crackers, chips, bread chunks, or vegetables for dipping

Make both the cranberry sauce and no mozzarella, mozzarella. You can do this a few days before you plan on serving the dip. Just store them in the fridge.
Preheat the oven to 375. Oil a small glass casserole dish or another oven safe dish with a little olive oil. Pour in the mozzarella and bake for 10 minutes.
Pull out the mozzarella and pour the cranberry sauce on top. Place the dish back in the oven and bake for another 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and serve warm with whatever dipping device you have.

Christmas Blondies

1 can chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and skins removed (don’t skip this last step!)
1/4 cup oat bran
2/3 cup date sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup tahini
1/2 cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 and oil a brownie pan with a little coconut oil.
Place all of the ingredients into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Pour the batter into the dish, scooping out the last bits with a spatula. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Pull out the pan and check the middle. If it is still gooey, bake for another 10 minutes.
Let the blondies cool on a rack completely before cutting and serving. You can also sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top. It is Christmas after all!

Last Minute Christmas | Life Healthfully Lived