Seattle is my home and I’m proud to call it home for so many reasons. The lush greenery in the Summer, the active city at night, the beautiful Puget Sound, lakes everywhere, and the incredible hikes are all reasons why I have fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest. This engagement shoot by Barnwood & Brick is a trip around Seattle that shares subtle backdrops of different spots in the area that many locals and visitors have come to love.

One of the most intriguing things about Brittany and Josh is that they have been together since high school! How adorable is that! Even during the shoot when asked if they have ever broken up within the 8 years they have been together, Josh quickly responded with a “Nope, we were lucky enough to experience growing up together without ever growing apart!” Love is definitely in the air with these two and I’m thinking it’s contagious living in Seattle but I’m also being bias. I just adore these two love birds.

Photos: Alyssa Ennis with Barnwood & Brick

So often we want to give up when times get hard but how many times have we stopped to enjoy the moments around us and focus on what still makes us happy. It’s hard to take the focus off of a hard situation but time heals all things and many situations are out of our control, so rather than allowing yourself to be broken down by a storm, learn to get up and be joyful regardless of the clouds that loom. Anyways, dancing in the rain is so much fun!!!

Photo: Carla Ten Eyck Photography

You may be thinking that since I was shown on television hanging out in my bikini and wearing fitted dresses that I was always cautious of what I ate and drank. To be honest, that is the complete opposite of how I view my diet, nutrition, and staying fit regardless. I’m happy when my body is happy so I make sure to keep it from going hungry. It isn’t about depriving my body of what it wants but rather regulating what is healthy, not healthy, and still treating myself every once and awhile.

Chris and I take turns cooking dinner throughout the week but both of us stick to the good ole’ pattern of protein, veggies, and a carb selection of rice or couscous. This keeps each meal balanced and effortlessly healthy. Experience a day in my life, with a complete look at my daily diet and meals.

Breakfast:

*Oatmeal with blueberries, chia tea or coffee

Afternoon snack:

* Apples with almond butter

Lunch: 

* Salad with almonds, dried cherries, albacore or chicken breast, and a whole avocado ( I love avocados!)

* Some dark chocolate I always have around and can never resist (this small amount keeps me from indulging later in the evening on dessert)

Evening snack:

*Salmon with crackers

Dinner: 

*Chicken or fish with asparagus or bok choy and side of brown rice or couscous.

Dessert: {When we have a sweet tooth}

* Apple crisp pie from PCC natural market (*See recipe from PCC below)

And that’s my day! Of course an hour of activity during the day will help you get lean and fit while eating a healthy diet.

APPLE CRISP PIE

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds tart organic apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons honey

Toppings

• 6 tablespoons butter cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preparation

To find out more about what I eat daily, check out my interview with Shape.com.

Food Photos: Blue Ribbon 

Apple Crisp photo via AllRecipes.com

Recipe: PCC Natural Market