The Stereotypes of Fast Food

The world is filled with stereotypes. I'm not saying that all are bad, but they are overrated. A stereotype I am tired of hearing is that all fast food is unhealthy. The fast food we are used to now days is 5% food and 95% grease. But it doesn't have to be this way. The purpose of fast food is just that; food that is quick and easy to get to. There are really healthy alternatives to fast food that you can make to last through the week and grab when you specifically need it.

One of the easiest things I have ever made is a roll-up or a wrap. The best thing about these is that you can put in whatever you want. Literally, the world is at your fingertips when it comes to food. One of my favourites to make is a simple turkey wrap. Since I am a vegetarian, I choose to use a meat substitute (Morningstar or Gardein products offer a great variety) in place of the turkey. I add some lettuce, mustard, shredded cheddar cheese, roll it up, and I'm set!
**Tip: Use shredded chicken instead of the turkey, and barbecue sauce in place of the mustard and you have a fajita!

Another great fast and easy recipe to try out is oatmeal bites. I've briefly mentioned these in a previous post, view post, along with the video I found it from, watch video. Pretty much all you do is mix a bowl of oats with things like chocolate chips, seeds, nuts, or anything else you want. You take a spoon of it, depending on how big you want them, and roll them up. Put them on a sheet of wax paper and set them in the fridge to ensure they hold together. These are an amazing choice because they will last throughout the whole week!


Again, I'm not saying that all fast food is unhealthy, and it is okay to eat it every once in a while. In fact, most establishments offer a healthy option. This past week I went to Burger King and found out they have a veggie burger. From what I could tell, it was made from a soy based meat substitute with shredded carrots in it, prepared like a hamburger, and it was delicious.

Like I said, I'm not trying to tell you what to eat. But I do want people to be aware of what they are putting in their bodies. It's not hard to swap out one thing a day for a healthier alternative and it will make you feel so much better in the long run!

Dress for the Weather!

New weather brings the need for new clothes. And living in Minnesota turns the whole "Winter Wonderland" idea to 4 months full of blizzards. As I've grown older, I started caring more about my appearance; trading in my snow-pants and puffy coat for a fleece jacket and leggings. Something I wish I would have learned a long time ago is that you can stay stylish but also stay warm. Below are some of my winter essentials that I hope you will adore!



Winter boots: Finding a pair of quality boots isn't as hard as it may seem. In fact, most of the boots I've looked at this season are cheap, stylish, and will most definitely keep your feet warm. If you live in a place that gets a lot of ice, take a little more time to find a pair with track resistance (you'll see the difference when you don't fall five times a day!).




Coat: This is kind of an obvious necessity for the winter. But not all coats can live up to the expectations of protecting you during the harsh weather. Something I would suggest is the Columbia coat that reflects your body heat back to warm you up. I have not tried this yet, but am hoping to have the opportunity in the near future!





Head: There are so many different styles of hats, it's a miracle to even be able to pick one! However, I'm the kind of person who hates wearing hates in fear that it will completely ruin my hair (when I spend 20+ minutes on my hair, I expect it to last a LONG time). My go to just so happens to be the next best thing: earmuffs. I love going for walks in the winter, but I've struggled with ear issues since I was little, making it hard for me to go out without damaging my hearing even more. This is why I recommend earmuffs or those thick headbands. They make my life 100% easier in the wintertime, but also look like a really cute accessory.



Hands: Last but certainly not least, I would like to talk about the different options for keeping your hands warm. During a recent freezing football game, a friend of mine brought along some hand-warmers for the cheerleaders, and they literally saved my hands (and feet) from freezing off. These are great for if you're outside for a couple hours at a time to stick in your gloves/ mittens, or even inside your socks. As much as I appreciate gloves, there has always been something I have wanted to try even more, a muffler. Hand mufflers have been out of style for far too long, and I want to bring them back. Not only do they look so cute, but they are extremely soft and will be like a pillow around your hands.

I love winter, and am always looking for ways to make it a better experience each year. If you have any suggestions for posts you would like to see, just comment them!

The Simplicity of a Healthy Breakfast

We all know how important breakfast is. In my opinion, it can make or break your entire day. But sometimes it's hard to find the time to fit in a large & healthy breakfast. I mean, let's be honest: hair & makeup are obviously more important than breakfast, at least in my life. But what I love about Quaker Oats products is that they have the perfect balance of nutrients, quality, and price. They take so little time (if any) to prepare and eat, yet somehow will fill you up and make getting through your long day that much easier. Today I'm going to tell you some of my favourite grab and go breakfast items.


My first and foremost favourite product of Quaker Oats are the oatmeal squares. These are perfect if you have only a short amount of spare time. All you do is pour some milk, and some cereal. If you're like me and don't drink milk, you can easily use a milk substitute (like almond milk or soy milk), or skip the liquid altogether. I am literally in love with these. I bring a baggie of this pretty much every few weeks to school and it lasts throughout the day (even my friends love it!).

My second suggestion is oatmeal. I've always been a bit intimidated by oatmeal, and hadn't really given it a chance until this past summer, and then I literally fell in love with it. I like the consistency to be really thick, which is perfect if you're making oatmeal bites (click for recipe). Another great way to top it off is by adding a bit of chopped fruit. Not only does it give great flavour, but you also get a variety of vitamins.


My last breakfast item is the granola bars. They come in so many different flavours, there has to be at least one that you will find you  love as much as I do. To me, these are more of a treat, but still have a basic serving of grains. I also bring these to school as a snack, and they actually fill me up enough to tide me over until lunch (which is a huge step for me considering I'm always eating). Granola is most definitely a HUGE part of my life, and I am proud to say that I support these bars.


BONUS:Not necessarily a breakfast meal, but the rice cakes are perfect. It's like a healthier alternative to popcorn. When I was really struggling with my eating disorder, I lived off of these since they only have 35 calories per piece (which is big enough to be about 2-3 cups). A great way to spice this up is by adding some peanut butter (or sunbutter), cheese, or have it with a side of veggies. And if plain isn't your style, you can choose from other flavours like caramel corn, chocolate, cheddar, or apple cinnamon.

The Quaker products range from $2.50 to $4.88 in stores; or you can even order them in bulk to stock up! Whichever item(s) you choose, remember to start off your morning on the right foot by eating a big and healthy breakfast everyday!

3 Artists Worth Listening To

If you're anything like me, you live for music and love finding new artists to obsess over. I'm the kind of person that will listen to anything, as love as it has a beat. But lately, I've been leaning more towards Indie/ Grunge, Blues/ Soul, and Alternative. Below are some of the artists I've been really into lately.



1. Andrew (Hozier)- Byrne: An Irish musician. His most popular single, Take Me To Church, was released in 2013 gaining him a lot of fame. He recently released another EP, From Eden. My two personal favourites (other than TMTC) are Arsonist's Lullaby, and Sedated. Hozier has an unknown way with music that sets him apart from other artists. His voice is full of soul and has a relaxing tone to it. Hozier will definitely go far in the music industry this upcoming year.
iTunes     Website     Facebook     Twitter   


2. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: An American- Indie folk band from Los Angeles, California. They rose to fame in 2009 when their single, Home, topped the charts. Some of their songs that do not get the credit they deserve are 40 Day Dream, Life Is Hard, and This Life. This 8-man group write songs that are soulful and empowering. If you are in that percentage that only knows Home then take the time out of your day to broaden your musical horizons. I can promise you will not regret it!
iTunes     Website     Facebook     Twitter

3. James Keogh (Vance Joy): An Australian singer-songwriter. In 2013 he signed a 5 album deal with Atlantic Records. I am ashamed to admit that the only song I have heard of his is Riptide. However, I do plan on listening to his debut album released in early September, Dream Your Life Away. Although I regrettable have not had the chance to listen to all of his music, I am already in love with his voice and his way with words shown in his music. I can guarantee I will enjoy his whole album!

                                                                          iTunes     Website     Facebook     Twitter

5 Christmas Gift Ideas

I am both ashamed and proud to say that this is my first holiday post. You see, Christmas is kind of a big deal for me. I live for the Christmas season and all of the perks it brings: hot cocoa, cuddling, presents, family time, and just that cozy feeling. Every year, my family goes all out for the holidays, starting the day after Halloween. But today's post isn't about that. Today I'm going to give you some ideas to give as gifts this year!

Although I can't convince my mother to let me take out the tree, I seem to get her to agree to take out the decorations. One of my favourite that we own is our Christmas puzzle. We got this last year at the gift shop in Kowalski's Market and I thought it was too adorable to not get. Once we got it home, my sister and I knew we were saved from the boredom that comes from being off school for 2 weeks. Not only was this the best "family present" for us, but we gave one as a gift, too, and they absolutely loved it! Puzzles are a surefire way to give a gift that will make anybody happy during the holidays.



My next gift suggestion is a blanket. I know, it sounds kind of lame and even simple. But believe me, simple is perfect. Everybody could use a soft, cozy blanket during the chilly weather that comes this time of the year. Each year, there is always someone in my family who gets a fuzzy blanket; this year I got one for my mom and I know that she will defiantly be taking advantage of the warmth it will bring. Giving someone a blanket is like giving them a hug that they can wear. Spread the love!



Another gift essential is fuzzy socks. I cannot begin to tell you the number of times I wear my fuzzy socks on a weekly basis. These are perfect for lounging around in, wearing with boots when you're playing in the snow, and even wearing to school to bring a sense of comfort with you. It might be weird, but I even wear these in the summer to keep my feet nice and soft. Not only are they the perfect gift, but they are incredibly cheap, too! If you want to save some money but still give high quality gifts, then go stock up on some of these.

My next suggestion for all you gift- givers is a gift card. Again, so simple. But this will guarantee that they are happy with what they get (who better to pick a gift than the person themself?). If you do go with this choice but don't know the person very well, stick with the basics: food, music, and clothes. Everyone needs to eat, so giving someone  gift card for a restaurant like Chipotle, Subway, or Starbucks can be beneficial to anybody. If you want to go with the music option, give an iTunes card; because everybody loves music. Now for the third option, you can either go with an actual store card, or you could go with the easiest choice yet, and give a Visa gift card. Whichever kind of card you give them, I'm sure they will highly rejoice because everyone loves free stuff.




My last gift idea for you is something homemade. I am a big advocate for DIY projects, so going on a site like Pinterest can really get you thinking about what you might want to make. Not only is the DIY option cheap and easy, but it's customizable. Meaning you can tweak it as much as you like depending on the interests of the receiver of the gift.



I hope you liked these gift ideas, and if you decide to give any of these, let me know about it either in the comments or tweet me @Maccas4Michael. I would love to see how they turn out for you. Thank you for reading this post and keep looking as I make more holiday posts in the near future!

Trader Joe's Frozen Fruit Frenzy Bars

Although it's getting colder, it's always nice to have a cold/ sweet pick-me-up every so often. And, as I've mentioned before, I'm trying to avoid unnecessary sugars in my treats. The Raspberry, Lemon, & Strawberry Fruit Frenzy bars from Trader Joe's has been a life changing experience. No, seriously, they changed my life.

 They are made with real fruit, meaning you get the same benefits as you would by eating the actual thing. These are so simple that, if you don't feel like making a trip out to the store, you could make them yourself. You blend each of the fruits whilst adding a bit of water (try coconut water if you are feeling adventurous!), depending on the consistency you are going for --these were on the thicker side, so when you bite into it, it was like chewing the real fruit-- and you just freeze them for later!

These are the perfect thing to have for a family treat, a sweet snack after working out, when you're sick, or even when you just have a bad day. Next time you go to grab some ice cream or a popsicle, look at the ingredients. I can guarantee the amount of toxins will have you rethink what you want to be putting in your body, not to mention how high in sodium they are and the number of calories they have compared to these. Next time you're wandering in Trader Joe's frantically trying to decide what to cook for dinner, and what you'll need for the week, remember these fruit bars!

New-found "Healthy Lifestyle"?

If you're anything like me, you love getting a lot for your money. And being on this new found "healthy lifestyle" challenge, it's hard to find a good drink that's low in sugar but still hydrates you. On a recent visit to the store, wandering aimlessly through the isles, I stumbled across the beverage section. I love soda, but the amount of sugar in each serving is ridiculous. Since that was out of the question I moved on to bubble water. See, I've only tried the brand H2OH! before, and it didn't quite fit well for me. However, I did spot something else, La Criox.


La Criox has been getting a lot of attention lately, and being curious as to why, I decided to get a bottle of the Cran-Raspberry flavour. And because it is calorie free, sweetener free, and sodium free, I am happy to say that I am in love with it. I have gone back to get more, and decided to try a different flavour this time. The peach-pear one has to be my favourite, although the lemon, lime, and cran-raspberry are amazing as well. And the best part is, there's no sugar in bubble water.

If there is one thing that I could suggest to you, it would be this. They taste better than soda, and they're better for you. La Croix has an incredible variety of flavours, and they're really affordable (They were selling a liter bottle for $1!). I've stocked up on a few of these, and they last quite a long time. But don't take my word for it, go out and try it yourself!