Tamara, Author at The Workout Mama

Oatmeal Waffles

April 3, 2014 by Tamara 10 Comments

My family is a little obsessed with breakfast. We love our waffles, pancakes, and french toast! For awhile I was going to the grocery store to buy freezer waffles at least twice a week. They were quick, easy, tasted fairly decent, but overall they were’t very nutritious for me or my family. Which caused me to experiment with all different types of waffle recipes. Currently I have two favorite recipes for waffles, the recipe I am sharing with you today is one of them. I have been using it for the past 6 years.

But before I share the recipe let’s talk waffle makers. Because you can’t really make waffles at home unless you have the proper tools. When Josh and I got married we used the gift cards we received from our wedding to purchase the KitchenAid Pro Line Series Waffle Baker. This waffle maker is no joke. It does two waffles at a time which makes it very convenient when you are feeding multiple mouths. Sadly this waffle maker recently broke, but it did last us almost 6 years and that is saying something for a kitchen appliance that was used at least once if not twice a week.

We didn’t really have the luxury to buy an almost $200 waffle maker to replace our KitchenAid Pro, as much as we loved it, but I can happily report that the Waring Pro WMK600 Double Belgian-Waffle Maker works just as well. Your bank account will also be happy because it is just under $100.

Now if double waffles makers sound like too much of investment you can purchase the Waring Pro Stainless Steel single Belgian Waffle Maker for $50. Usually around Christmas time you can find these on sale at Costco as well.

So now that you have a waffle maker or are contemplating purchasing a waffle maker let’s talk about these waffles…

They are so yummy! And are super easy. Unlike Belgium Waffles that require yeast and at least an hour of sitting before you can use the batter these can be cooked up right away.

Ingredients

3 cups flour (your choice white, wheat, gluten free)
2 cups of dry oats (quick-cooking or old fashioned both work)
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 eggs
3 cups milk (we use unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
3/4 cups butter, slightly melted
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

In large bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon and salt; set aside. In small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, butter and brown sugar. Add to flour mixture; stir until blended.
Pour batter into a lightly greased waffle iron (amount will vary with size of waffle iron). Close lid quickly; do not open during baking. Use fork to remove baked waffle.

This recipe will make between 10-12 large waffles depending on the size of your waffle maker. You can freeze the leftovers if you don’t plan on eating the rest in the next day or two.

I hope you and your family enjoy these waffles! These would be perfect to make over the weekend!

PS…Don’t forget to check out my online party with Thirty-One Gifts! You can shop until April 10th! I am loving the All Pro Tote!

Filed Under: Recipes Tagged With: Breakfast, Oatmeal, Waffles

What’s Inside My Gym Bag + Thirty-One Gifts Online Party

April 2, 2014 by Tamara 7 Comments

Today I have a super fun post to share with you! All about what is inside my gym bag! Plus an opportunity to go shopping online for your own gym bag and many more ways to organize your home and life!

Before I share with you whats inside my gym bag let me talk for a little bit about my own gym bag. Being a personal trainer, yoga instructor, and mom I like to have enough room to carry all my most essential items. That can add up to carting around lots and lots of stuff. I was so happy when my friend and Thirty-One Gifts consultant Cassie introduced me to the All Pro Tote.

Ladies this bag is amazing! It can literally hold all of my stuff! Yoga mat, water bottle, gym items, you name it and it holds, and to top it off the bag is just super cute! One thing I really like about this bag is that there is a separate storage area from the main compartment that can be used for your dirty clothes or sweaty shoes once your workout is over.

This tote would also make an excellent pool bag for all your summer time fun because you can use the front storage area for a towel instead of a yoga mat if you choose. Lots of options for this bag, plus it comes in several color options!

Because I love this bag so much after I purchased it I decided to host an online Thirty-One Gifts shopping party. If you like organizing your home and life you have to check out their online catalog. This month you can get the All Pro Tote for only $25 if you spend $35. Not a bad deal at all. This tote normally runs $80 so this is a great deal because you can get the tote and another fun and useful item for only $60.

TO START SHOPPING CLICK HERE SO YOU CAN ORDER THE ALL PRO TOTE & OTHER AWESOME PRODUCTS!

I am also really loving this Pack N’ Pull Caddy to help organize my car, the City Weekender for a possible hospital bag when baby girl is born, and a fun color Dual Pro Strap for my All Pro Tote. Be sure to check out these and many other great products!

Share this great find with your family and friends! This bag would work great for many different purposes!

Ok so now that you know how to order your own amazing gym bag, it is time to share with you what is inside my own gym bag. Now just so you know I also keep extra diapers and wipes in my gym bag for Caden when we go to the gym together.

Old Navy Flip Flops: I keep a pair in my gym bag in case I decide to shower at the gym. My gym is super clean but I still would rather wear flip flops on my feet in and out of the showers.
Health Warrior Chia Bars Coconut: I love, love, love these bars! I can’t say enough good things about them. They are great for a quick after workout snack and Caden loves them too.
Alba Botanica Hawaiian Leave In Conditioning Mist & Alba Botanica Kukui Nut Organic Hawaiian Body Oil: I recently have become hooked on this brand. I love that they contain no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or artificial colors.
Gymboss Interval Timer and Stopwatch: I use this timer for my own workouts and also when I train clients. It just makes interval training so much easier because I don’t have to pay attention to the clock. This means I can work harder and keep my focus during my workouts.
No-Frizz Pocket Comb: Leaving a comb in my gym bag is a must because after a workout my hair is a mess.
CEP Women’s Progressive Compression Socks: Because of my varicose veins these are my go to socks for workouts.
Hair Ties & Headbands (Not Pictured): I always keep extra hair ties in my bag and just found my new favorite headbands from the shop JumpingJack on Etsy.
Thai Crystal Deodorant Mist: Great natural deodorant that keeps away the stink with about 5-6 sprays under each arm.
Starbucks Cold Drink Tumbler: I love these tumblers. I break them at least every few months but I can’t stop buying them. I pretty much only go into Starbucks to buy them because I am not a coffee drinker. I have used other water bottles but this by far my favorite. Plus it is really easy to clean.
Motorola MOTOACTV with Motorola Heart Rate Monitor Chest Strap: This watch tracks your steps, is an MP3 player, and a heart rate monitor all in one. It also measures your distance and route on your runs, hikes, or walks. While I love this heart rate monitor there have been several times that I have forgotten to charge it so that is always a bummer when I realize I can’t use it to track my workout.

We typically go to the gym between 3-5 days a week so I find it is helpful to keep this bag ready to go. In addition to what I mentioned above I also bring a change of clothes in my bag so I can leave the gym clean. I didn’t really understand the value of a hot shower until I became a mom. I try to take advantage of being able to shower after my workouts while Caden is being watched in the child activity center after most of my workouts.

I don’t have to bring shampoo, soap, or towels because our gym provides them for us. I love that I don’t have remember to bring those things because there is a good chance I would forget. I also bring Caden a drink and snack for afterwards.

My ideal time to workout is between 8am and 10am. If I can get to the gym anytime between those times I am feeling pretty good about myself. I try to switch up my workouts each week so I don’t get bored. This may mean I take a group fitness or yoga class, plan my own workout, or swim laps.

Don’t forget to check out my online party with Thirty-One Gifts and order your own All Pro Tote!

Filed Under: Fitness, Products, Style Tagged With: All Pro Tote, Gym Bag, Thirty-One Gifts

Whitening Your Teeth Naturally With Activated Charcoal

March 31, 2014 by Tamara 7 Comments

Your smile is a great way to brighten someone’s day and leave a lasting impression. But if your teeth are stained and have lost their luster sometimes smiling is the last thing you want to do. While there are many products available that will whiten your teeth almost all of them contain harsh chemicals. When Crest Whitestrips first came out I was so excited to try them, and while I loved the results that they gave me I wasn’t thrilled that my teeth and gums hurt for several hours after I used them.

If you are tired of putting chemicals into your mouth in order to achieve a whiter smile keep on reading. I am happy to share with you the amazing results I had by using activated charcoal to whiten my teeth. These photo’s have not been edited in anyway to make my teeth appear whiter.

After 7 days of using activated charcoal in combination with hydrogen peroxide for a mouthwash the results were amazing!

WHAT IS ACTIVATED CHARCOAL AND HOW DOES IT WHITEN YOUR TEETH?

Best known for it’s ability to keep poison from being absorb into the body if it is digested, activated charcoal is carbon that has been treated with oxygen. The treatment results in a highly porous charcoal. Activated Charcoal is made by heating coconut shells in the absence of air. The partly burned shells are then granulated to a size that provides for optimum absorption.

Activated charcoal is amazing at whitening teeth because of its adsorption qualities. Yes I did say adsorption, not to be confused with absorption. The perfect example would be drinking a glass of water = absorption vs. spilling a glass of water on your skin = adsorption. Activated charcoal is really good with it’s adsorption of tannins. Tannins are in the food and beverages we consume that stain our teeth (wine, tea,cola, sauces, sweets,etc) and activated charcoal is remarkably efficient and fast at adsorbing them.

It even has the ability to be helpful at adjusting the pH balance in the mouth. This can be helpful for preventing cavities and bad breath. Plus after you brush your teeth with activated charcoal your mouth will feel super clean and you won’t be able to stop running your tongue against your teeth.

HOW TO USE ACTIVATED CHARCOAL TO WHITEN YOUR TEETH

Activated charcoal is very messy! You have been warned. Use with caution when brushing your teeth. It will not stain your teeth or skin but it can be hard to clean up if spilled.

1) Brush and clean your teeth like you would normally.

2) If using activated charcoal from a capsule, twist it open (I like to do this over the garbage can) and place contents inside mouth. Don’t swallow. You can throw away the capsule.

3) Using your tooth brush give your teeth a good scrubbing. Your mouth will be very black. Don’t worry it will wash out. I brushed my teeth for about 1 minute with the charcoal. And because I love you all so much here is what my mouth looked liked each and every time.

4) Get ready for the really messy part now. Have a glass of water nearby that you can rinse your mouth with. This will take several attempts unit the water runs out clean in your sink. Make sure to rinse off your toothbrush as well.

5) Lastly I used hydrogen peroxide to give a final rinse to my mouth and teeth. I figured if I am ditching the typical way most people whiten their teeth I might as well switch up my mouthwash at the same time.

And that is it. Pretty simple and very cost effective. For the activated charcoal capsules and hydrogen peroxide I spent just under $10. I will be able to use both of these products for a very long time before they run out.

THE RESULTS

I think the pictures speak for themselves. I was very impressed with how easy this was and while I don’t think I will be doing this everyday I can see myself doing this at least once a week and maybe more often if I have a special event planned.I was amazed in the difference that only a few days made but I decided to continue on with my experiment for the full week. Again these pictures have not been edited to make my teeth appear whiter.

If you want to try this out for yourself here are the products I used:

Make sure and take pictures too! It is fun to see how much of a difference this made in the appearance of my teeth and how much cleaner they felt after using the activated charcoal.

Do you think you will try this?

Filed Under: Health, Personal, Products Tagged With: Activated Charcoal, Crest Whitestrips, Hydrogen Peroxide, Teeth, Teeth Whitening