Pineapple Siracha Baked Chicken Thighs

This past week I had to travel every day except for Friday! I had no time for cooking or hitting the gym so today I have been prepping some foods for the coming week and mentally preparing myself for 5 days of CrossFit this week.

On Tuesday last week I traveled up north to Fort Wayne for the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale. Each year several family members go to the sale and this year I was lucky enough to get tickets. I loaded up the car with Oden's things (the little girl I watch) and we were off! We met my aunt for lunch and then headed to the sale with the rest of the family later that afternoon. At the sale my aunt and uncle took Oden off in one direction to shop and when we met back up she had the cutest little Vera Bradley bear that she picked out! I also walked away with several awesome deals!

I didn't do my usual big shopping trip this week because I didn't have any time to sit down and plan so after a little Pinteresting and thinking about what I already had on hand, I came up with this recipe for Pineapple Siracha Baked Chicken Thighs.

This was so delicious! The chicken was juicy, sweet, and spicy. I love spicy things and this recipe can easily be tailored to be more or less spicy. The amount of siracha I added was perfect for me but may be a bit too much for you, so just play around with it a bit! You can always add a little more at the very end once it comes out of the oven.

Pineapple Siracha Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe

Ingredients

1.5-2 lbs. bone-in chicken thighs

Dry Rub
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. chili powder

Glaze
olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, diced
1 20oz can diced pineapple, separate the juice from the chunks
1.5-2 tbsp. siracha hot sauce
2 tsp. cornstarch

Directions

1. Mix together all of the dry rub ingredients in a small bowl
2. Rub the dry rub generously over the chicken thighs
3. Place in a 9x9 baking dish
4. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, sauté the onion and garlic with a little olive oil until the onions are translucent
5. Add the pineapple juice, siracha, and cornstarch to the pan, stir and let simmer for 5 minutes
6. Add the pineapple chunks to the glaze and let it simmer 2-3 more minutes
7. Pour the glaze over the chicken thighs
8. Bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes

Easter Candy Eraser Workout

With every holiday comes temptation to break our healthy habits and to eat things we normally wouldn't such as one several pieces of Easter candy. 

If the Easter candy got the best of you this holiday season, don't worry - I have a workout to get you movin' and groovin'. While this isn't guaranteed to shed all of those extra calories, it is guaranteed to get you extra sweaty! 

I suggest to complete it 3 times through but if you're up for a challenge try to complete it 4 or even 5 times!

Blog News

Hey guys! Did you notice anything different here on the blog? 

No?

Look on the right hand side of the blog, scroll down just a tad...

Now do you see it?

I'm a FitFluential Ambassador! 

I applied to the FitFluential Ambassador program a few weeks ago and heard back today that I was accepted! This is such exciting news as a healthy living and fitness blogger and I can't get over how exciting it is. Some of my favorite bloggers (who are pretty much famous in the healthy-living-blogging-world) are FitFluential Ambassadors and I would have never dreamed that I would be one too someday. 

If you haven't heard of FitFluential before, it's a network of influential fitness enthusiasts who focus on food, fitness, health, and wellness. FitFluential Ambassadors work with brands, host Twitter chats, review products, create custom workouts and recipes, influence the community in a positive way, and more! As an ambassador I am going to have more opportunities than ever before and I can't wait to see how my blog will grow and develop from it! 

Be ready for the hashtag #fitfluential to be used on all of my social media channels! By the way, are you following me on all of them? If not and you want to stay connected just click on the links to follow! Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest

If you are interested in becoming an ambassador click here to find out how to apply and to read all of the requirements! 

Coconut Oil Uses: Health & Beauty

One thing that I am obsessed with is coconut oil. While it is great for cooking and adding to smoothies, it has a ton of amazing beauty benefits as well.

I use it daily as a night cream, body moisturizer, shave cream, and lip balm. I also use it for oil pulling a few times a week! Since I began using coconut oil as a part of my normal routine I have noticed a tremendous improvement in the way my skin looks and feels.

Below I have listed 20 different ways to use it as a part of your beauty routine. Soon I will also share some of the other ways coconut oil can be used for cooking, around the house, and with your pets! And incase you were wondering, this brand of coconut oil is my favorite!

Facial Moisturizer/Night Cream: Apply coconut oil after washing your face in place of lotion. If you have acne prone skin you may only be able to do this once a day or every few days.

Hair Conditioner: Rub a small amount of coconut oil into the hair and comb it through. Let is sit for several hours (best if left overnight, just wear a shower cap) and then shampoo as normal.

Fly Away Tamer: Rub a small amount of coconut oil between the palms of your hands and then run your hands through your hair to tame fly aways and frizz.

Body Moisturizer: Rub coconut oil directly onto skin after showering

Stretch Mark Prevention: Apply several times a day to stretching skin.

Shaving Cream: Rub coconut oil on the area to be shaved to replace shaving cream

Foot Treatment: Combine coconut oil with sea salt and scrub your feet to remove dead skin and moisturize.

Body Scrub: Combine coconut oil with sugar and use in the shower.

Make Up Remover: Rub a small amount of coconut oil on the eye lids to remove stubborn eye makeup. Use a washcloth to wipe off the excess and then wash your face as normal.

Make Up Brush Cleanser: Melt a small amount of coconut oil in the microwave. Dip your brush into the oil and then swirl the brush around on a paper towel until the excess is gone. Rinse with warm water and lay to dry.

Lip Balm: Use on the lips for a natural lip balm

Cheekbone Highlighter: Rub a small amount on your cheekbones over makeup

Deodorant: You can make a natural deodorant using coconut oil and a few other ingredients. Check out this recipe.

Sunburn Remedy: Rub coconut oil on burnt skin to soothe and repair sunburnt skin.

Insect Repellent: Mix coconut oil with a few essential oils and you have an all natural insect repellent. Check out this recipe.

Diaper Rash Cream: Apply regularly to a baby's bottom to improve skin and help heal diaper rash

Age Spot Lightener: Rub directly onto age spots

Nail Cuticle Oil: Rub coconut oil over dry cuticles to moisturize and repair.

Lice Treatment: Combine coconut oil with apple cider vinegar for a lice treatment.

Oil Pulling: Swish a tablespoon of coconut oil around in your mouth for 5-10 minutes before brushing your teeth. This helps to remove bacteria, prevent cavities and whiten teeth.