The Best of the Bars

Over the past few years I think that I have tried close to every bar out there. During sports season or before a workout class they are so easy to just toss in your bag and eat on the go and they fill you up just enough, but don't give you cramps. All of these bars are super high in protein and don't have a crazy amount of sugar, making them a decent choice if you are in a rush. Over the weekend I was at Shaws in Vermont and stumbled upon the Gluten Free Bar. I tried both the cranberry toasted almond and the chocolate peanut butter and have to say they are a clear cut new favorite! They don't have that icky aftertaste taste that a lot protein bars have, they're gluten free, dairy free, soy free, vegan, non-GMO, and have 12g of protein in every bar. What are your favorite bars, I'd love to try some new ones? 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Friday Favorites

Happy first week of 2017! Coming back to reality after a long and relaxing vacation is always a little bit of a shock, but thankfully the four day week helped me ease into it. We have two weeks until mid year exams at my school, so I have a feeling my life is going to get crazy busy soon. This year is honestly flying by, I can't believe I am almost a second semester senior.  

One: Vermont

I had such a great time in Vermont over New Years Weekend. We had a couple of snowstorms so the skiing was great and the temperatures were bearable, something that doesn't happen all the time in Vermont. My NYE was super casual (hence no outfit post), we went to the mountain to watch the fireworks and then spent the rest of the night with friends to ring in the new year! 

Two: Working Out 

After a long month of eating christmas cookies, and a week off from any real workout (besides skiing) I am happy to be back at the gym and spinning classes. 2016 was a pretty good year workout wise for me and I want to keep it up in 2017, especially once I get to college. 

Three: Cleansing

My friends and I are all doing a 2 week cleanse to kick off the new year. I'm pretty much paleo with a few exceptions (milk in my coffee, rice cakes, and steel cut oatmeal). So far it has been going pretty well, the first day was not great but I'm hoping it's all uphill from here. I was convinced that I would miss dessert/sweets the most but bread is definitely my number one craving. Have you done anything like this? 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea 

Plaid Blouse

top (sold out online check local zara store) | jeans | boots (on sale) 

I love a good flannel shirt in the winter, they're cozy and get the job done on a lazy monday morning. My go to L.L. Bean flannels are definitely closer to pajama tops than actual blouses, so when I saw this top in Zara in New York City I knew it would be a fun addition to my wardrobe. The loose fit and bell sleeves make it the perfect trendy top for the fall and winter. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it online, but I would guess that it is still available in stores. Happy Thursday, just one more day till the weekend!

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

4 Recipes I Want to Try While Cleansing

Today marks the beginning of my two (maybe three if it goes well) week cleanse. I did something similar to this last year and decided to give it another go to start the new year as I have spent the past few weeks eating way too many cookies and baked goods during the holidays. This year my plans are a bit more intense, but still allow me to eat things I enjoy. I am cutting out all processed food and sugar, dairy, pasta, bread, snack food, and soda/juice and will focus on eating fruits and vegetables, lean meat, and protein. Additionally, I pan to workout at least five days a week. The first few days of this will definitely be challenging but I am excited to start the new year off with lots of exercise and healthy food. Below are a few recipes I have rounded up from Pinterest that I want to try out over the next few weeks! 

One: Asparagus Sweet Potato Chicken Skillet

Gluten Free & Paleo 

Two: Cilantro Lime Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles

Gluten Free, Paleo 

Three: Lemon Quinoa Brussels Sprouts Salad

Gluten Free, Paleo, Vegan 

Four: Mexican Cauliflower Rice 

Paleo, Gluten Free, Vegan 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea

2017 Goals

Happy New Year! I am so excited for 2017 as I know it will be a big one. In the next year I will graduate high school, move out of my childhood home, and start a new chapter of my life at college in North Carolina. Before I get into my goals for 2017, I want to reflect on my 2016 goals. 

Spend more time outside // I definitely made a big effort to spend a lot of time outside this past year.  I enjoyed many days on the beach, braved the cold and skied in Vermont and Colorado, and went hiking with my friends this fall in New Hampshire.  

Get out of my comfort zone // Over the past year my friends and I went on so many little adventures that I had never done before. However, I am keeping this on my list for 2017 as I want to continue to try new things and expand my horizons. 

Have a summer job // This past summer I worked at a restaurant on the Cape as a bus person and hostess. It was a great first job and way to have pretty flexible hours. 

Save at least 50% of my money // This one kind of relates to getting a job and I really followed through with this goal. I probably saved around 85% of the money I made over the summer. 

Try new recipes // I did a lot more cooking in 2016 and tried to share some of the recipes on the blog. See Valentine's Day Cookies, Healthy Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies, Fourth of July Recipes, Lemon Raspberry Muffins, Dinner: Lemon Edition, Also obsessed with these chicken parmesan meatballs

My 2017 Goals

Make New Friends // I start college in August and will need to make all new friends. This is one aspect of college that is a little bit nerve wracking, however everyone is in the same situation. The last time that I was in a new place with no one I knew was when I was 11 years old and starting sleep away camp for the first time. Hopefully if I could figure it out after fifth grade I can do it at 18 years old :) 

Get out of My Comfort Zone // I am leaving my home state and going to college 750 miles away, so that in itself if a big change. I am excited to try new classes and join new clubs that will push me out of my comfort zone once I get to school. 

Avoid the Freshman 15 // This is kind of an obvious one, but I think it will push me to eat healthy and workout while at college. 

Enjoy Time at Home // My senior year is halfway over and I really want to enjoy my hometown and city before I leave. Although I am excited for change, I want to enjoy time with friends and family at home. 

Make the Most out of My Summer // This one kind of goes with the last one, but I want to spend as much time as possible with all my friends and family this summer. I also want to try and make a lot of money at my summer job before going to college. 

Spend Less Time on my Phone // This year I have spent too much time on my phone and I want to cut that habit back a little bit in 2017. One of the things on my 101 in 1001 list is to go a weekend without checking social media and I really want to check that off this year! 

xoxo,

Catherine

Preppy by the Sea