There’s magic in new beginnings.

New week, new month and so much new to be grateful for. A new job that has my creative juices flowing again, a new home and a new hood to explore! They say good things comes in 3’s, but I’m not ready to stop at 3. In fact, I’m going for 10 with my monthly roundup of all my favorite things from October. Check out the list below!

October marked the start of a new season, so here’s a list of the top 10 things that had me falling for fall this past month!

1.) Favorite Fall Breakfast: Pumpkin Chia Pudding

Wasting leftover pumpkin puree is absolutely out of the question. What to do with it? Behold Pumpkin Chia Pudding layered with Greek yogurt, date syrup, bananas and grain-free granola. You’re welcome.

Here’s how to whip up this dreamy grab ‘n go breakfast:

Pumpkin Chia Pudding
– 1 C Libby’s pumpkin puree
– 1/4 C Mamma Chia chia seeds
– 1 1/2 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
– 2 T maple syrup
– 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Mix all the ingredients in a mason jar and place in the fridge overnight (or at least 4 hours). Good enough to eat on its own, but isn’t life really about the toppings?

Want that extra touch of sweetness? Here’s how to make the two-ingredient date syrup.

Date Syrup
– 1 cup of medjool dates
– 1 1/2 C water
– 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Use as a syrup for pancakes or to sweeten chia pudding, yogurt, oatmeal, ice cream, you name it. Dates. The wonder sweetener.

2.) Favorite Zen Space: Ritual Yoga

If there was a mash-up between a spa, a hip hop concert and a yoga retreat, it would manifest as Ritual Yoga. This new(ish) yoga studio in Chicago’s River North is a full-service zen experience that feels like a treat to the mind, body and soul. When you visit, you’ll be welcomed by the concierge and offered tea in the lounge area if you’d like to sip ‘n savor after or get in the mood beforehand. The studio itself is pitch black with candles lighting the way to the rows of mats that will be your playland for the next 50 minutes. Not only will you have 1 yogi to guide you through the flow, but also a second yoga instructor to check form throughout. And don’t stress about remembering a towel or water because everything’s included. Is your mind blown yet? If not, imagine flowing to “Gangsta’s Paradise” and you’ll find the high vibe I was feeling. This studio is a must visit and welcome oasis!

3.) Favorite Self Care: Boscia Luminizing Black Mask

Beyond going to Ritual, one of my other rituals for the month of October was trying a new mask every Sunday for a little self-care. I also have about a year’s worth of free samples from Sephora and Ulta and am a complete hoarder, so I refuse to let them go until they’ve all been tried. My favorite so far is the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask. The pearlescent black lacquer goes on thick and dries to form a smooth glossy finish over the entire face that is infused with detoxifying charcoal. The coolest part was slowly peeling off the mask, which comes off in a singular piece almost like a rubber mask. It extracts buildup as you peel it away, revealing luminescent skin beneath. It left me feeling shiny and new!

4.) Favorite Jams: Fall Favorites on Spotify

While I’m taking a break from teaching spin, I never take a break from collecting bomb tunes for long runs, or long commutes. My favorite amp up track right now is “Get Loud for Me” by Gizzle. Check out the rest of the list on Spotify!

5.) Favorite People: aSweatLife Fit Fam!

If you’re looking to live your best life, then the aSweatLife community is your kinda people! I was recently inaugurated as an ambassador for this group that focuses on creating connections, trying new things and setting goals…in and out of the gym. I was first introduced to the group about a year ago when a fellow instructor mentioned the upcoming Sweat Week – a week entirely devoted to sweatastic events like yoga at Willis Tower and a relay race across the city. I didn’t know a soul at that first yoga event, but doing yoga 110 stories above ground tends to bring people together. The motto of aSweatLife is #everythingisbetterwithfriends. I love that mentality and am so happy to have found a group of bad*ss people who are equally obsessed with fitness and goal-setting!

6.) Favorite Snack: Biena Chickpeas

If you find that hangry feeling creeping up mid-afternoon, slay that monster with these crunchy toasted chickpea snacks from Biena. My favorite is the sweet and salty combo of the Honey Roasted variety, which are reminiscent of the honey roasted peanuts you used to get on flights. But imagine a lighter, crispier and healthier version with only 4g of sugar, 78% less fat and 5g of protein. The sea salt variety reminds me of freshly popped popcorn and the barbecue flavor fits the bill if you’re looking for something more savory. Be forewarned, once you pop, you might not stop.

7.) Favorite New Restaurant: Tomi Sushi

A few weeks ago, I got the chance to see how new venue Tomi Sushi is changing up the sushi game in Chicago. The vivid sushi rolls highlight superfood infused rice like this spicy tuna roll (left) infused with charcoal and coconut. Unlike traditional spicy rolls, this one features a smoky heat that was oh so good. The middle roll (my fav) is pretty in pink with dragon fruit infused rice enrobing the fresh scallops. The flavor was especially bright when paired with yuzu sauce and had a hit of citrus. You also can’t go wrong with an avocado roll (right), especially when it’s wrapped in golden berry rice. Don’t worry, the rice isn’t fruity, just pretty and delicious. And if that wasn’t cool enough, the sushi is actually made by robots! Check it out at Revival Food Hall, stat.

8.) Favorite Workout: Crosstown Fitness

I’ve been visiting this cardio, strength and mobility gym on the reg for the last 6 weeks and haven’t had a repeat workout yet. The hour-long classes are station-based with either strength or cardio-oriented movements. Think kettle bell thrusts, box jumps, pull-ups and things my abs will never forget. The time flies with all the variety, which is always a good sign! Check it out in the West Loop, Roscoe Village or the Northside. Note: parking can be hard to find in the West Loops, so book extra time!

9.) Favorite Comfort Food: Savory Oats

Sleep = a time machine to breakfast, amiright? I don’t know why it took me so long to get over the fact that oats don’t have to be sweet. And after Halloween, someone needs to cut back on sugar and that someone is me.

Here’s how I created this mastery of creamy, savory oats:

Savory Oatmeal Bowl
–Quaker original organic instant oats (2 packets)
-8 oz of Pacific Foods organic vegetable broth
-Sauteed portobello mushrooms
–Wholly Guacamole
-1 Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs, the way you like ’em
-Sprinkle of pea shoots

Heat the vegetable broth in the microwave until boiling (about 4 minutes). Add the boiling broth to a bowl with the oats. Cover the bowl with a plate to keep it warm and soak up the broth while you make the eggs. Once the eggs are ready, remove the plate, stir and add the guacamole, mushrooms, egg and pea shoots. This makes for one hearty breakfast, so you may only need 1 packet of oatmeal, or, share this bowl with someone you love!

10.) Favorite Sweet Treat: Pumpkin Cannoli

This Norwegian made pumpkin cannoli that would make any Italian mother proud. And the real showstopper is the dairy-free pumpkin ricotta made from creamy cashews soaked overnight and blended with almond milk, maple syrup and a touch of vanilla and pumpkin puree. Top with some carob chips and you wouldn’t know there isn’t an ounce of Italian in me. Find the recipe here.

That’s a wrap on October! As we enter November, remember that when one door (or month) closes, there’s always a new door that awaits where the grass is greener. Don’t believe the b.s. The grass is always greener. Sometimes you just have to wait a bit longer for the seeds of your labor to sprouts. Here’s to growth in November!

The post October Favorites appeared first on The Shooks Life.

Serendipity is finding exactly what you’re looking for, without looking for it. Like this mural I happened upon while wandering Logan Square. It was serendipitous that 1.) the wall perfectly matched my fav new heels and 2.) it started pouring 2 seconds after this photo was taken. When it rains it pours and June was jam-packed with a flurry of activity. It’s those moments of joy before you even know what’s coming at you that make the journey though. Let’s flashback to a few of my June favorites over the last month below.

Every month I like to take a moment to reminisce on all the little discoveries that brought joy to my day, whether a workout that left me inspired or a meal that I’ll remember forever. Here’s the rundown on June Favorites:

1.) Favorite Fashion Finds: A New Day Michaela Pumps

Not sure whether it’s happenstance or the Target curse, but I found myself meandering through an array of cute new sandals at Target this past weekend and walked away with two pairs when all I really came for were some sandwich bags – oops. These bright red block heels can add a pump of color whether dressed up or casual. And get this, they’re less than $30! Plus, Target is running a 20% off sale now through July 4! Super comfortable, though note these run a bit narrow – so don’t feel shy to go with the wide cut.

2.) Favorite Breakfast: Purely Elizabeth Vibrant Oats

I LIVE for color and these bold, superfood-filled oats from Purely Elizabeth are EVERYTHING. I happened upon these while perusing Plum Market in Old Town after a Soul Cycle class. It was like the universe wanted me to try them with that bright “on sale” sign saying, try me! buy me! I’m a sucker for marketing (even though I work in marketing), so I bought every kind. The one above gets its vibrant blue hue from spirulina, a superfood loaded with antioxidants and known to detoxify, lower blood pressure and boost energy. They’re also relatively low in sugar (6g from coconut sugar) and come with a crunchy granola topping (the Purely Elizabeth granola is pure crack).

3.) Favorite Refreshment: Limitless Lightly Caffeinated Sparkling Water

Limitless Coffee is known for sourcing beans from farms that are wet washed so they’re free of contaminants (more on that here). I’m a big fan of their cold brew coffee and iced matcha, so I was thrilled to see a new offering when they exhibited at the asweatlife Fitness Festival a couple weeks ago. This sparkling water gets a bit of a caffeinated kick from green coffee beans. No calories, no sugar and no artificial ingredients makes this a hybrid between LaCroix and green tea, which has about the same amount of caffeine (35mg). I tried the Blood Orange and Cucumber Pear – both oh so good without being overpowering flavor-wise.

4.) Favorite Snack: Purely Pecans Sweet Potater Pecan Butter

I visited the Smart Foods Expo last week to explore the latest in the better for you and plant based food arena. There’s a lot of exciting stuff underway, but my favorite of the show was this Purely Pecan Sweet Potater Pecan Butter made with pecans, sweet potatoes and a touch of maple and cinnamon. Tastes just like pecan pie in a jar! Also, some fun facts: pecans are the most antioxidant-rich tree nut and the copper in pecans helps to reduce inflammation, like that caused by arthritis. I smothered these apples slices with pecan butter, shredded coconut and extra pecans for a healthy take on a “cookie” that was a super easy afternoon snack.

5.) Favorite Workout: 606 Workout with Shred415 and Lululemon

Every summer, Shred415 and Lululemon partner to offer free outdoor workouts across the city. The workouts are taught by Shred415 instructors and follow a similar high intensity interval training format, alternating between running exercises and body weight strength training. I went to the workout on the 606 trail in Bucktown last week and it was a scorcher – the weather and the workout! Four trainers split the group of 30-40 in half with one group focusing on running drills for the first half of the hour-long session while the other group did strengthening exercises like curtsies and split jumps for some cardio. Everyone who attended not only got the workout for free, but also got a free session at Shred415 – score! Plus, there was a burpee competition at the end and well, I’m always in it to win it, so I scored a bonus 5-pack. I’ll be going again next Thursday, July 12, if you want to join me!

6.) Favorite Recipe: Paleo Pop Tarts with Strawberry Chia Jam

This was my first foray into baking with alternative flours and it did not disappoint! Mashed banana added just the right amount of natural sweetness and stickiness to keep this dough together. The pop tarts are filled with a strawberry chia jam that takes roughly 10 minutes to make and can be added to everything from oatmeal to yogurt. The real eye pop is the Pearl Butter Smarty Pants coconut butter, which serves as the icing. This one’s a bit time consuming, but a fun morning activity and a definite show-stopper!

7.) Favorite Plant-Based Meal: Beyond Burger Lettuce Wraps

Before Beyond Meat came along, veggie burgers were mostly bean or soy-based flimsy patties that tasted nothing like the real thing. That’s fine and good for some, but if you’re craving a better version of a thick and juicy burger, Beyond Burger will straight-up fool you. The texture is on point and the beet juice gives it a tenderness and pink color before cooking that will leave you in awe. I paired mine with a butter lettuce “bun”, a juicy beef steak tomato and creamy avocado slices for a hearty plant-based meal that rivaled even the best burger joints.

8.) Favorite New Restaurant: Pacific Standard Time

I visited Pacific Standard Time in Chicago’s River North a few weeks ago for a work event and was awed by every bite, but especially the desserts from Natalie Saben, former pastry chef at Grace. Saben even earned a 30 under 30 award from Zagat at her prior gig, so it’s no surprise that she continues to bring it at Pacific Standard Time. This new American restaurant opened about 2 months ago under the helm of Erling Wu-Bower (opening chef of Nico Osteria) and Joshua Tilden (former director of strategic operations at One Off Hospitality). Favorites of the night were the bright sungold tomatoes with creamy burrata, crispy chicken with pistachio aillade and the toasted vanilla macaron with banana semifreddo and candied hazelnuts (shown above).

9.) Favorite Workout Jams: Spin Class – June 2018 on Spotify

This was my last month of teaching on the reg at Cycle X Studio before taking the summer off to do more outdoor biking. Just in time, Cardi B and Drake dropped some mega hits to add to my list of favorite songs for the month. Even though I’ll be taking the summer off from teaching, I’ll still keep my monthly playlists running. Follow me on Spotify (search for Meghan Shookman) to always have a fresh list of songs to power you through your workouts.

10.) Favorite Bar: Parson’s Chicken & Fish

There are three reasons I love Parson’s: 1.) it’s a dog-friendly patio, which means Moose gets to join in the fun 2.) it’s a block and a half from my house and 3.) they serve the best dang frozen beverages in town, including the negroni and an always-rotating specialty frozen cocktail. It’s a hipster scene for sure, but always filled with adorable puppies and their loving furparents on sunny days.

That’s a wrap on June! Can’t wait to see what July has in store!

The post June Favorites appeared first on The Shooks Life.