Fall for these Skin Care Tips for Autumn Outdoor Lovers

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Jennifer FIsher

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.

I’ve been on a skin care and over wellness kick as I transition out of summer into fall. Especially since we just returned from a Mexico trip a couple weeks ago where I enjoy ALL the sun, and ate ALL the things! It was quite a treat to return home, to a box loaded with some of the latest, greatest products designed to help mid-life me live my best life! Read on for my fall skin care tips and how you can incorporate these products into your life.

Check out the “trailer” for all these great products that will help you optimize your health, wellness and beauty this fall!

Remember to Protect Yourself in the Sun

Despite the weather cooling off a bit, the sun can still be shining something fierce and lull you into a false sense of security. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun even gets through and damage your skin (and hair and eyes) on cloudy days. And because the weather is so mild and beautiful (isn’t it an amazing time of year?!), we are all probably spending more time outdoors. So, if you’re heading out for a run, hike or to watch your favorite sports team play outdoors, make sure you are taking proactive, preventative measures by wearing sunscreen, a brimmed hat, and long sleeves, if the weather permits.

Get Your Glow Growing from the Inside

Biosil ® Liquid Capsules. — Take two tiny Biosil liquid capsules a day (AM/PM) to help get your glow on!

In addition to preventative skin measures in the sun, you can also take care of your skin, hair and nails from the “inside out,” thanks to Biosil ® Liquid Capsules. After age 21, your body’s collagen production starts to decline – and UVR from the sun is no friend of keeping collagen, elastin and keratin fabulous over time. Ugh, that’s a real bummer for year-round sun worshipers like myself. But Biosil can help skin, hair, nails and joints that are suffering the effects of diminished collagen production.

Interestingly, Biosil isn’t actually collagen product like the powders and other supplements that are touted, but instead a clinically-proven supplement backed by my 25+ years and $20 million of research into how it can help your body generate more of its own collagen and protect what you already have.

The vegan-friendly capsules are clear, tiny and easy to swallow, and contain the liquid Biosil formula. As directed, I take two capsules a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Taking care of my joints is priority number one with me, but also, I appreciate how Biosil also helps elastin and keratin become more resilient and make wrinkles and fine lines soften and hair and nails thicker and stronger – and joints happier! You can learn more HERE.

Take Care of Previous “Sins of the Sun” at Home

Medpeel Professional Strength Dark Spot Corrector Brightening Serum Save 20% with code BABBLE20 at MedPeel.com (valid 10/1/22 to 12/31/22) — *Medpeel Cark Spot Corrector is my new best friend!*

If you’re like me, and getting a big older, you may have started noticing dark spots on your face . . . and chest and hands (for me). These dark age spots (or “liver spots” as my grandmother called them –ewww), are from cumulative UV damage from the sun, and can also be exacerbated by a genetic predisposition. Well, that’s no fun. I don’t have the time to sit around in a med spa or funds for any laser type treatments to zap them away – so I was THRILLED to find Medpeel Professional Strength Dark Spot Corrector Brightening Serum that is clinical strength, but safe enough for me to use at home. This easy to apply serum can fade dark spots with visible results and make skin tone more luminous overall in as little as 14 days.

Use up to twice daily, after cleaning, exfoliating and toning face with the products of your preference. Then rub in a few drops of the concentrated serum at problem areas (or honestly all over the tops of my hands and full face) and the finish with a sunscreen (SEE, ya need to keep up with the sunscreen). The active ingredient is Alpha Arbutin, a molecule extracted from the bearberry plant which helps prevent the formation of too much melanin which causes these dark spots. Alpha Arbutin is very gentle and kind to the skin and I am not noticing any irritation at all.

Save 20% with code BABBLE20 at MedPeel.com (valid 10/1/22 to 12/31/22)

Get Enough Sleep – 7 to 8 Hours Please

September though the end of the year is a VERY busy time of year. Back-to-school season, along with all the extra-curriculars that come along with busy family life. Work can be ramping up as the final fiscal quarters close out, and deadlines are a plenty. Plus, my running season is ramping up which means more early morning trainings and additional stress put on my body. All these factors may be wreaking havoc on your sleep hygiene – most of us need at least 7 to 8 hours to function optimally! Poor sleep can cause stress hormones to go crazy, and that’s just not good for your skin an overall well-being. So, turn off media an hour before bed, start a relaxing routine (like maybe pamper yourself with a warm bath!)

Exfoliate & Relax with a Seasonally-Inspired Home Spa Treatment

*The autumn Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub scents are ahhh-mazing and my skin is too!*

So, hey! Why not pamper yourself before bed, as mentioned with a nice calming bath, long warm shower, or some other spa-like, out-of-your-norm special treatment? I love using Tree Hut’s Shea Sugar Scrubs — they have an array of delicious scents that will evoke and seasonal mood! This autumn, I’m falling for Tree Hut’s newest Shea Sugar Scrubs — Pumpkin Spice Latte and Velvet Coffee. I can scrub away all that yucky dry skin from my summer adventures to uncover glowing, hydrated skin thanks to the good-for-me ingredients that leave my skin so happy and feeling fab. The Pumpkin Spice Latte scrub smells divine, wafting of pumpkin, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and orange zest! The nutmeg seed powder acts as an anti-inflammatory to help calm the skin. The Velvet Coffee scrub has me buzzing with excitement because the infusion of caffeine helps to firm and tighten the skin topically while the coffee arabica seed is an effective exfoliant. Plus, it smells like a mug of blissful caramel maple coffee!

In addition, an, these products are also a great way to exfoliate my hands and face before I use the Medpeel Brightening Serum mentioned earlier.

Eat Well! Treat Yourself, but Remember Balance & Moderation

Use code FALLBOX25 on corefoods.com to save 25% — *CORE Bar is an ideal snack before my workout & the limited-edition pumpkin spice is YUM!*

I’m not a denier. That surprises people, since I’ve been lean my whole life. I say eat a little bit of the treat, it will satisfy you and you’ll be less likely to eat the whole package of “whatever” later. In the fall, the choices for goodies really REALLY ramps up – I’m mean, the Halloween candy alone . . .not to mention all the pies and candies coming up over the holidays. Growing up, my mom would tell me that too much sugar was bad for my skin. Not sure if that’s true, but I do know that drinking enough water and making clean, wholesome food choices most of the time does help with clear, bright, happy skin.

As mentioned, I will have a bit of sweets, if they are around. But I also like to keep healthy bars on hand to curb any cravings in a more mindful way. A favorite is CORE’S newest Pumpkin Spice Bars featuring the taste of warm cinnamon and spices and pumpkin with every yummy bite. In addition to the great taste and texture, I appreciate the quality, plant-based, wholesome ingredients in these bars that offer 6g fiber, 6g protein and immunity support. It’s the perfect bar to fuel up before my run or workout!

Use code FALLBOX25 on corefoods.com to save 25%

Low-carb Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies (gluten-free)

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Jennifer FIsher

Who wouldn’t love a low-carb, gluten-free cookie inspired by the most coveted coffee shop drink of autumn – pumpkin spice latte!? Easy to make, using almond flour and natural sweetener alternatives to keep the carbs down, these pumpkin spice cookies turn out soft, chewy and heavenly-scented every time!

Whip up a batch of these amazing autumn-inspired pumpkin spice cookies in under 30 minutes! Lower carb, gluten-free plus, soft, chew and amazing flavorful -- especially with the coffee glaze!

Ready in under 30 minutes from mixing up to munching down! So, let’s get going!

The first step in these table sugar-free pumpkin cookies is to mix up the dough. With the butter softened, I found it easy enough to mix up by hand – but a mixer is fine too!

First the butter and sugar substitute are creamed. I used a monk fruit-erythritol granulated baking blend that has a 1:1 sugar replacement equivalency. So, for this matter, you can swap back in any type of sugar that you care for (like coconut sugar or a stevia blend), but be aware that it will change the nutritional value. Also note, the cookies are one the lighter sweet side because the glaze is very sweet – so you might consider adding an additional ¼ cup if you are planning to make the cookies WITHOUT glaze.

Next beat in egg. Then pumpkin and vanilla. Finally mix in the dry ingredients including raw almond flour and 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Three cups of total flour is used in this low carb pumpkin spice cookie recipe – 2 cups of almond flour and 1 gluten-free flour mix. The gluten-free flour mix bumps up the carb count a bit, you can also substitute back in all almond flour, but I suggest using a super fine ground almond meal for better consistency that won’t crumble apart after baking. Using all almond meal will also lower the per-cookie net carb count, making it officially a compliant with keto pumpkin cookie.

While the gluten-free pumpkin cookies are baking in the oven (on a sheet lined with parchment or silicone baking mat) for 15 minutes, whip up the easy coffee-spiked glaze. It’s a bit of heavy cream, along with espresso powder, vanilla and POWDERED confectioner’s erythritol (or similar powdered product). Achieving the perfect glaze consistency is the trickiest part of this recipe, so I always hold back just a TINY amount of my cream until I have the powdered sugar substitute, espresso powder and vanilla mixed it. If it’s too thick, I add it back in, plush a few more drops if needed. If it’s too thin, I mix in more confectioner’s sugar substitute until just right. The consistency should not be runny or stiff – somewhere in between!

Once the cookies have cooled on the pan to “almost” room temperature (about 5 or 10 minutes), I put a dollop of the glaze/frosting on top – the small amount of warmth left on the cookie will help it spread. However, if the low carb pumpkin spice cookies are too hot still, it will run right off. After glazing the pumpkin coffee cookies, let it set up fore 5 minutes before serving or storing.

Store these gluten-free pumpkin cookies layered between wax paper in an air-tight container. Should stay fresh for up to a week, or also freezes well.

5 from 3 votes

Low Carb Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies (gluten-free)

Prep Time

10 mins

Total Time

25 mins

Whip up a batch of these amazing autumn-inspired cookies in under 30 minutes! Lower carb, gluten-free and amazing flavorful — especially with the coffee glaze!

Servings: 20 cookies

Calories: 183 kcal

Ingredients

1/4 cup salted butter
1/3 cup monk fruit–erythritol granulated sweetener (or other 1:1 cup equivalency sweetener0
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups almond flour
1 cup gluten-free baking blend 1:1 cup equivalency or additional almond flour
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp baking powder

For glaze/frosting

1/4 – 1/3 cup powdered confectioner’s monk fruit- erythritol granulated sweetener
1 tablespoon espresso powder
2 tablespoons cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees. Line a large baking sheet with silicone baking sheet or parchment paper.
In large bowl, beat together the butter and sweetener, until creamy
Beat in the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla.
Beat in the almond flour, gluten-free flour blend, pumpkin pie spice, and baking powder until a uniform cookie dough forms.
Use a cookie scoop to scoop balls of dough, about 2 tablespoons per cookie. Release onto the lined baking sheet, 2 inches apart.
Use bottom of a glass to flatten cookies to about 1/4 inch thick.
Bake approximately 15, until set and turning lightly golden brown at edges.
Meanwhile, make the glaze/frosting, if using. In a small bowl, whisk together the glaze ingredients, until smooth. If too thin, add additional sweetener, if too thick, add a few drops more of cream – however, will melt some on warm cookies, so you don’t want it to be too thin at beginning.
When the cookies are done, let cook for 5 or so minutes until just slightly warm. Spread a teaspoon of glaze on top of each cookie and let set to completely cool for another 10 minutes.
Store in an air tight container.

Recipe Notes

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chia Pudding with Pecan Praline Crumble (lower carb)

Posted on September 19, 2021 by Jennifer FIsher

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chia Pudding with Praline Crumble will satisfy your fall flavor cravings and soothe a sweet tooth – in a healthier way!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chia Pudding with Pecan Praline Crumble makes a quick, easy and nutritious breakfast, snack or healthy dessert. Natural sweeteners used to keep the carbs low and cottage cheese to help boost the protein -- plus more than 1/2 daily requirement for fiber! For more clean eating recipes, visit thefitfork.com

Sweetened with zero-carb stevia (or monk fruit) to keep the carbs down, this no-cook recipe features pumpkin, cottage cheese, and chia seeds, all nutritional powerhouse in their own right.

First, just the fact that chia means “strength” in ancient Mayan culture, speaks for itself. A two-tablespoon serving of chia seeds has 11g fiber, 4g protein and 9g fats (5g of which are coveted Omega 3 fatty acids). There are so many health benefits of chia seeds! These teeny-tiny seeds absorb up to 8x their weight in liquid and take on a gelatinous texture. The gel-like texture doesn’t appeal to some folks, but you’ll never notice it once it’s mixed in with the creamy (blended!) cottage cheese and pumpkin.

Chia Seeds excellent fiber source for low carb diet with 11g fiber and 2g net cabs per 3 tablespoons

Pumpkin adds even more fiber to the recipe, bringing the fiber count in each serving size of this pumpkin chia pudding recipe up to 14g! That’s a big head start on your total daily recommended amount – 25g dietary fiber for women, or 35g for men. These are these are generalizations, but basically, you should aim to have 14g of fiber from every 1000 calories you eat, regardless of gender. Pumpkin is also packed with antioxidants, especially beta carotene which is responsible for the signature orange color. Our body’s convert beta carotene into vitamin A, which may help provide some protection against certain cancers and cardiovascular disease, among other benefits.

And blended cottage cheese, that’s my secret life hack to adding more creaminess and protein to recipes. Not a fan of the curds in cottage cheese, so that’s why I always come home from the store and blend my whole container up for use later in various dishes and recipes. There are many creative uses for cottage cheese like this pumpkin spice chia pudding, to stir into oats, smoothies, baked potatoes – and also as a ricotta cheese alternative in lasagna and other recipes of the sort.

The pecan praline topping is very simple to make, it’s just chopped pecans that have been tossed around in a skillet with butter and the sugar alternative of your choice – I used a “brown sugar” monk fruit sweetener, but coconut sugar or date sugar are also options. While the chia puddings are chilling out in the fridge to set up, I make this buttery, rich topping and then let it cool to crumble on top before serving! So delicious!

By the way, I like to meal prep chia pudding in glass jars, a 12-ounce canning jar or jelly jar is just the right size – or 16 ounce will work too! But you also have the options of just keeping batch in one big bow and taking out as much as needed, or using plastic food storage containers. If taking in your gym bag or brown bagging it a lunch, a small insulated container will keep it cold! Whatever’s your preference!

Nutrition Facts: 357 calories, 26g total carb (10g net carb, 16g fiber), 18g protein.

This post contains affiliate links. A small commission is earned through purchased made, however the price to you remains the same. Proceeds help offset operation expenses for The Fit Fork — thank you!

5 from 2 votes

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chia Pudding with Pecan Praline Crumble

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

30 mins

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chia Pudding with Pecan Praline Crumble makes a quick, easy and nutritious breakfast, snack or healthy dessert. Natural sweeteners used to keep the carbs low and cottage cheese to help boost the protein — plus more than 1/2 daily requirement for fiber! For more clean eating recipes, visit thefitfork.com

Cuisine: breakfast, dessert, snack

Keyword: chia seed, cottage cheese, high fiber, low carb, pumpkin

Calories: 357 kcal

Ingredients

3/4 cup 2% cottage cheese blended smooth
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
3/4 cup no-sugar added pumpkin puree from can
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tablespoon stevia or monk fruit “brown” sugar * divided
½ cup chia seeds
1 tablespoons butter softened
1- ounce toasted chopped pecans about ¼ cup

Instructions

Blend cottage cheese, milk, and pumpkin together in blender pitcher until smooth. **
Pulse in pumpkin pie spice, 1 tbsp. brown-sugar alternative sweetener, and chia seeds until well combined.
Pour evenly among 3 jars or small containers with lids (approx. 12-oz capacity). Place in fridge and chill for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
Meanwhile, make pecan topping by melting butter in small pan. Stir in pecans and remaining 1 tbsp. alternative brown sugar, letting bubble and caramelize for a minute or two, taking care not to burn. Cool.
To serve, crumble on chia puddings. Can add a dollop of yogurt or whipped cream, if desired.

Recipe Notes

*OR, can substitute coconut sugar or date sugar (this will increase the nutrition facts

** Sometimes, I pre-blend my entire tub of cottage cheese as soon as I get home from the store, so I can use it in recipes like this, in smoothies, in potatoes, in oatmeal, baked recipes and more. If you DO pre-blend, then you can just add all ingredients to a jar and shake, no need to blend.

Chipotle Pumpkin Cheddar Grits & Black Bean Bowl

Posted on September 18, 2020 by Jennifer FIsher

This post is sponsored by Cabot Creamery, in conjunction with Healthy Aperture, as part of a blogger cooking contest. All content, opinions and enthusiasm remain my own!

I’m starting to get those fall-time feels! Cooler weather, cozy meals, seasonal flavors, and this year more family time around the dinner table. Not only are we staying home more and eating out less, we’ve also got a couple college kids who are able to extend their visits thanks to this new online learning situation.

That being said, I’ve had to flex my creative cooking muscle to come up with budget-friendly ideas that will keep my three hungry guys filled up without breaking the bank (and interfering with my running shoe budge, lol). Cheesy, hearty meals are ALWAYS a winner with them, so I’ve relied on flavorful Cabot cheese, along with staples from my pantry) to create a Chipotle Pumpkin Cheddar Grits & Black Bean Bowl. Continue reading →

Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Quinoa Oat Bake | Gluten-free, Lower Carb

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Jennifer FIsher

‘Tis pumpkin season my friends, fal-la-la-la, it’s almost FALL! Starbucks may take credit for the insanely popular pumpkin spice craze, but I say it all happened back in Mrs. Jenkin’s 5th grade (circa early 70s) class when we made pumpkin muffins for a Thanksgiving feast. I fell instantly in love with the taste of pumpkin paired with the cinnamon, clove and nutmeg spice trifecta – and started making pumpkin spice “everything” henceforth!

Today, I have incorporated the pumpkin spice mania into another of my passions – breakfast meal prepping! Check out this amazing and nourishing recipe for Pumpkin Spice Peanut Butter Quinoa Oat Bake which makes a big batch that can be put up in the freezer in single-servings. Continue reading →