A few tasty recipes for ya

I hate grocery shopping. Loathe it. But I LOVE opening my fridge and finding tons of fresh fruits and veggies just waiting to be gobbled up. I always get so excited and I don't know what to eat first. =)

I found this AMAZING recipe for a lentil brussel burger. We'll be making this for lunch tomorrow so I'll let you know how it turns out. It has lentils, brussel sprouts, and sweet potatoes all mashed into a patty and served with an avocado cream sauce. Some of my absolute favorite foods. My mouth is watering. I can't wait for lunch tomorrow!

I'm also working on a carrot sweet potato soup. Unfortunately, the parsnips and carrots looked less than stellar tonight at the store so I have to go looking somewhere else tomorrow. I really wish we had a decent farmer's market near me. Walmart produce just doesn't cut it.

I found a recipe for fudge last night. Oh. My. Goodness. So ridiculously easy and delicious. Which is really, really bad. Because now whenever I have a sweet tooth I'm only a few minutes away from this fudge. That's not good. I made it tonight and have already eaten 2 4 pieces. And it's everything I can do to stay in my seat and not wander through the kitchen.

Yesterday's run was brutal. Sometimes an 8 mile run just flies by and I feel energized and strong at the end. Sometimes - not so much. I went two miles and could barely make it back home. I couldn't find a rhythm. (The rhythm is gonna getcha...sorry! Now that's going to be in my head all night!) My feet were all over the place. I felt battered and bruised this morning. I took today off completely. Tomorrow morning my run is going to feel effortless and fast. Right? Right. =)

Insert witty title here :)

I realized something today. Actually, two different somethings. =) This morning on my run I kept passing the same few people over and over. The second time I passed an older couple they laughed and said, "You need to slow down. You're making us look old!"  I passed a younger guy running and he said, "Geesh girl, you're flying." On my 4th mile, a guy asked me how many I had done so far and I told him 4 today. He shook his head and said wow. I kinda got a chuckle out of that since this was my shorter run this week. As I was jogging my cool down mile I realized that when people see me running they see a runner. They no longer see a fat girl trying to run to lose weight! It really hit me because it's taken awhile for my brain to catch up and realize I'm not overweight anymore.

Then tonight while I was sitting in class I felt the old negative self-talk creeping into my head. The girl that sits next to me is a tall, thin, gorgeous girl. Each week she happily munches away at a bag of Doritos, slurps down a HUGE shake or one of those energy drinks - but she's still a size 0. If that. It's sickening. And she makes sure that her body is clearly visible even on nights like tonight - windy, raining, and 45 degrees. I hate sitting next to her because it makes me feel so fat and disgusting. I'm constantly criticizing myself. Why can't I look like that? Why can't I have her stomach? Why can't I be 5 ft.10 with mile-long legs? =)

I overheard her and a few other girls talking tonight and she was saying bragging about how she's just naturally thin and doesn't have to work out. Someone asked her how old she was and she said 19. Then all of a sudden it hit me. When I was 19 I ate like a cow and was a size 0 too. In a few years when age, time, and years of bad habits have caught up to her - I'll be the skinny one!!  And not only that, I may not be a size 0 but I am strong, healthy, and the only one in my class that doesn't ride the elevator to the 3rd floor.

And to top it all off, I took my measurements today and found out I lost 3 inches around my waist in one month!!! Whoo Hoo!!! Go me! =)

65 Pounds Down!

I've been working my way through a GINORMOUS pile of homework (algebra II - yuck) and trying to study for two exams. I feel like I don't have enough time to get it all done before Thursday. The last thing I wanted to do today was my workout. But I ate a few  (by few I mean an entire batch!) of cookies yesterday and sooo yeah.

I slowly got dressed, pushed all the furniture to the side, thought about just sitting down (with some cookies and milk) but what the heck, I was already dressed so I may as well do something! Five minutes in and I was SOOO glad I pushed through. I could feel life coming back to my body! My brain even feels refreshed and now I'm ready to tackle the rest of my homework.

And listen to this piece of wonderful news. I found out that during my clinicals at school the females are required to wear sports bras and shorts and the men wear no shirts and shorts. Great. Just. Great. Well, if I wasn't motivated to get in the best possible shape before - I definitely am now! After my workout I was scrolling through the saved entries on our scale. So far I've lost 65 pounds! Whoo hoo!! I'm down to 135 now and I can feel my goals within reach. I have til September to lose the rest and find my abs!

Oh! I made the most delicious snack today. Take an apple, skin it, slice it up and throw it in a frying pan. Sprinkle it with cinnamon and ginger and let it warm through. Once it's nice and warm pile it on top a piece of toasted whole grain bread. OH MY. It was like apple pie. So good.
Now- back to the algebra. Ugh.

Body Rock Workouts - My new obsession

So for about 4 years I've been working out with this dumb cardio and strength training dvd plus running about 4-5 times per week and haven't seen much progress AT ALL. I eat a (fairly) clean, healthy diet...and no, I do not eat too much. Ok, so I lost some weight but I had no definition in my muscles. I did not feel stronger in any significant way. With all the running I was doing I still wasn't getting faster and didn't feel like I could add any mileage without feeling like death. I was getting seriously discouraged and really didn't know how I could work out more than I already was. I was already spending about 1.5 hours a day and even longer on days I had a run scheduled.  Oh and did I mention I HATED every second of it. HATED. IT. (except for the running part)

About 4 months ago I started doing some research about working out and different techniques. I stumbled across the greatest site evah- Body Rock tv . Seriously, go look now - I'll wait. =) The brain (and body) behind this amazing site is Zuzana. You can see EVERY SINGLE muscle in this girl's body. It's just incredible. Like watching a race horse in action. lol

Zuzana 

Her workouts are challenging, fun, and addicting. And Zuzana is funny, motivational, and just as sweet as can be. I can't wait to do my workout each day. Some nights I actually fall asleep pumped up thinking about my workout in the morning. I'm getting definition in muscles!! I'm seeing my strength improve every single day.  And my runs- they're getting easier with less training!  I did a 6.5 miler the other day and shaved off 2 minutes from my normal time. But that wasn't the greatest part. I felt like I had too much gas left in the tank when I was done and felt like I could have went farther and faster. Whoo hoo!!!  It's never too late to get the body you want. Take small steps at first and gradually progress but never stop!! This is Janet, a fellow BodyRocker, she is 52 years old!!

Such an inspiration! Use it or lose it they say- and that includes your precious body!! Now drop and give me 10. =)



Black Bean Hummus Burritos

I've got a yummy (and HEALTHY) recipe for you!!  I ran across two recipes the other day that made me hungry so I kinda combined them and made one yummy dish. The first one was a turkey/bean burrito over at Home Cooks Rock. This blog belongs to Jason's mom (click here to see her burritos!). The other recipe was black bean hummus potstickers over at The Athlete's Plate. (Well, actually the blog is titled: Life Of An Aspiring Triathlete, but he does this awesome segment.) Anyway, I squished the two together. Sorry I don't have any pictures of it. I don't have a camera right now; plus I ate it too quickly to have gotten a picture anyway!

Ingredients

1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
about 3 cloves of garlic (More or less, depending on your preference. I like my garlic)
about 1/2 an onion chopped (again more or less, depending on your preference)

Throw it into a food processor and slowly add extra virgin olive oil until it is the consistency you like. I prefer mine just a little on the thick side.

Spread some salsa and spinach over a whole wheat tortilla and spoon in your hummus mixture. Eat them cold or warmed up in the oven. I ate mine warm with a side of steamed broccoli. It really hit the spot!

It's a perfectly protein-packed meal too! =)

Running Nourishes My Soul

I was born with a deformity. It is not obvious to anyone - unless they know me well or I take off my shoes. When I was born, my right foot was a mangled mess. I had 6 toes- sorta. They were all jumbled together  when I was born.  I had to have all but my two very little toes removed.  I had so many surgeries I really don't know the exact count. Every few years the doctors would go in and shave down the bones (because they were growing too fast), cut some nerves, and re-pad the bottom of my foot. The bone of the second big toe (if I had one) kinda points downward on my foot. Big problem because it hits the ground before the rest of the ball of the foot does. It's rather painful. So the doctors always took some skin and fat from the rest of the foot and tried to pad that area. Plus, I've built up calluses under there so that helps too.

But anyway, I used a walker a lot when I was little and went through a TON of physical therapy. I went to Shriner's Hospital in Chicago and had the most amazing team of doctors, nurses, therapists, cooks, janitors, you name it. My physical therapist was the best. For many of my years there I had the same girl - Jill. I will never forget the feeling - the burning, blinding, white-hot pain in my foot after I had surgery and they would come into the room and tell me to swing my legs over the side of the bed and let my foot hang. Just thinking about it I'm breaking into a sweat!! But Jill was such a cheerleader. She was funny, kind, motivational, and tough all at the same time. Whenever I said I couldn't take another step she could somehow push a button in me that made me want to prove to her and myself that I COULD take another step.

In middle school, my band director encouraged me to join the track team. (He was also the coach.) He knew about my foot and knew that it caused me pain but for whatever reason he thought I would be good. My very first meet he unexpectedly stuck me in the 2 mile race. A mile in and I felt like I was going to be sick and my foot was THROBBING. I don't think I finished the race and if I did then I walked it in. That week in practice he had me running long distances again. I told him he was nuts. He said I was a wimp. Uh, nobody calls me a wimp. So, I went and ran my two miles as fast as I could. Took me less than 12 minutes. He was laughing hysterically as I crossed the finish line throwing up and crying. But I was HOOKED. I absolutely love knowing that I can go a little further...a little harder...a little faster than I thought I could. It's become an addiction.

It hurts like heck to run but whenever I'm out on a run like I had tonight the pain is worth it. I'm thankful I have a foot at all. I'm thankful for my strong powerful legs. Thankful for my strong heart and lungs. It's my private time to connect with God, nature, and my body. During every single run I thank Him for my throbbing foot. At the end of a run I feel strong, refreshed, and reminded that I can overcome anything I set my mind to. I encourage everyone I know to run. It's going to feel like death at first but stick with it and take it sloooow. One day when you finish your first mile without walking you'll understand what the hype is all about. I promise. =)

I can NOT get this song out of my head. "I'm giving my life to the only one who makes the moon reflect the sun. Every starry night was His design." LOVE IT.

Delicious and Nutritious Recipe

Jay and I love one skillet meals. They're fast, easy, and can be incredibly healthy. This is our latest go-to meal. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 Portobello mushrooms, sliced
5 garlic cloves, cut into pieces
1 green or red bell pepper, julienne-cut
1 onion, sliced
handful of spinach
1 tomato cut into chunks
Roasted brocolli and cauliflower
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded and cut into strips
balsamic vinegar
yogurt sauce

1. Heat oil in skillet and saute mushrooms and half of the garlic with a little salt and pepper. Don't let the garlic burn.

2. Add the bell pepper and onion and saute until soft.

3. Add the chicken to the skillet and cook through until no longer pink.

4. Add the roasted broccoli and cauliflower to the skillet and heat through.

5. At the end, add the remaining garlic, chopped tomato, spinach, and 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. Sometimes I also add a little white wine.

6. On the side, mix together big spoonful of Greek Yogurt, olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, and whatever spices you want. I use everything from cilantro, to basil, to just the oil from a jar of sundried tomatoes.

7. Pile it all into a bowl, plop some yogurt sauce on top, and enjoy!

Eat More to Weigh... Less!!

Did you make your yearly Lose Weight resolution yet?  A couple of my friends have asked for advice on how to lose weight. So here it is. :) My first advice is always STOP DIETING. Seriously. Sure, you'll lose weight at first but then as soon as you start to slip back into your old ways you will put that weight on faster than you can reach for the next cookie. :)

Secondly, STOP STARVING YOURSELF. You really need to eat more. If you don't eat enough food your body's metabolism will slow down to a crawl in order to preserve and hold onto every morsel it can get. In order to rev up your metabolism and balance your blood sugar you need to eat 5-6 small meals a day. Preferably every 2.5-3 hours. This strategy also helps to conserve lean muscle and encourages your body to burn off extra fat instead! Whoo hoo!!

Portion sizes are key too! A friend of mine said she'll never lose weight eating that much in a day. I had her write down everything she was currently eating and she was quite surprised with how big her portions were and just how much snacking she did. A meal should consist of a portion of lean protein (the size of your palm) and 2 cups of veggies (or 1 cup veggies/1 cup fruit). Every time you eat, ask yourself where is my protein? Where is my veggie?

It takes a little planning and prepping but is having a body you're happy with worth it?!?! Fruit, veggies, yogurt, cottage cheese, tuna, and grilled chicken breast are all great examples of in-between meals.

I work out about 5-6 days a week and this is what works for me. Find what works for you but make sure you eat something with protein and packed with nutrients every couple of hours. =)

Charity:Water

So tonight started out like every single night in our house. Jay asking have you thought of anything you'd like for dinner? Me saying, no. Nothing sounds good. I'm out of ideas. Then we throw a simple and very nutritious dinner together while complaining that (while it's tasty) we need to find some new dinner ideas.

As we sat in front of the tv, chowing down on a very healthy version of stirfry and drinking crisp clean water we tuned into a special on 20/20. Did you catch it? It was called Be the Change: Save a Life. Well, we both cried. It's not that we're naive and don't know what is going on in the world. It's just that we get wrapped up in our own world and our own problems (that seem pretty trivial in comparison). Sometimes we just don't know where to start. There are so many people that need help. We figure what's the point? I can't afford much and where would my measely 20 bucks help make a difference?

The stories that hit me the most have to do with clean water. Seeing what other people are forced to drink is just...heartbreaking. There's no reason for it. It's bubbling up from this earth for crying out loud. Watching the show I learned there are 1500 wells across Africa that are OUT OF SERVICE because of maintenance issues. We have donated money to a charity that digs wells before but I've never once given a thought about the maintaining of those wells. They talked about a charity called Charity: Water. Basically they ask you to give up a birthday. Take that birthday (Christmas, wedding, etc) money and donate it. 20 bucks will give one person clean water for 20 years. 20 YEARS people! That's amazing. And so easy.

For more information or to donate to Charity:Water click here.  For information about the other stories from tonight's show and different causes to help support click here. 

One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.   Proverbs 11:24-25

Turquoise Makes Me Happy =)

I LOVE the color turquoise. (And robin's egg blue, Tiffany blue, watery-green) They just make me smile. Since I currently reside in a beige dungeon I have to get my fix looking at beautiful pictures. Here are a few of my favorites...



image via Country Living

If I had a closet that wasn't stuffed to the brim with totes and a million other things I would definitely try recreating this workspace. 

image via Country Living

If I were a single girl this bedroom would be mine. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. My manly man would not go for that headboard though. But when I have a little girl someday this will be her room so I can lay in there and pretend it's mine. :)

Creamy cabinets? Check. Marble counter? Check. Amazing bar stools. Check. Check. What's not to love about this kitchen?



image via Country Living

My eyes didn't know where to look first when they spotted this beauty. That fridge. Oh my. I think I would sit in the kitchen for hours just staring at it! The color on the walls and that island are amazing. I normally don't like chandeliers but this one keeps whispering, "Look at me...look at me. I'm spectacular."

image via Sarah Richardson Design

Those dining chairs will be mine someday. Mark. My. Words. I can't imagine walking past them and being in a bad mood. You just have to smile. 

Homemade Facial Mask

I thought my days of oily, acne prone skin would leave me when I reached my 20s. I was wrong. I'm in my early 30s (eeks!) and I'm STILL battling craptastic skin issues. I've tried every product out there and they only make my skin break out more. I have been doing a lot of research on what would be best for my skin and have found a combination of things that I think will work. You'll need:

1 ripe strawberry

Strawberries contain natural salicylic acid to help remove dead cells, clean pores, and calm acne. They are high in antioxidants to help repair skin damage. And packed with vitamin C which will improve texture and help fight cancer cells.



oatmeal

Oatmeal is great for cleansing and exfoliating. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.



1 teaspoon honey

Honey has natural anti-microbial and antioxidant properties to help protect from skin damage. It's a natural moisturizer which will help keep wrinkles away. Honey absorbs impurities from the skin which will help with acne.

1 teaspoon plain yogurt

Yogurt has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which will help with acne. Also contains lactic acid which helps reduce wrinkles, soften, and hydrate skin.

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Helps absorb oil and leaves skin silky and matte.

Mash the strawberry up and then mix in the honey and yogurt. Stir in the cornstarch and then use the oatmeal to thicken it up. Slather it on (don't forget the neck and décolletage!) and take a relaxing bath or cover your pillow and relax. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with warm water.



Barley Risotto with Butternut Squash

This was so delicious - and healthy! The pearl barley provides 50% more protein than standard rice. It also has 3 grams of dietary fiber per serving (long-grain brown rice only provides 1.75). The butternut squash is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, potassium, and fiber. We enjoyed this as a side dish with turkey breast the first night. The next night we added mushrooms, spinach, and shredded chicken to the leftovers for a one-dish meal.

Barley Risotto with Butternut Squash
From: Country Living Magazine

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups peeled, chopped butternut squash
2  tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
         salt and ground black pepper
5 cups low-sodium chicken or veggie broth
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
2 small garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups pearled barley
3/4 cup dry white wine (I used a Sauvignon blanc)
1  teaspoon fresh thyme, plus more for garnish
         zest of 1 lemon
3/4  cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (we didn't use cheese and it was still delish!)


1. HEAT oven to 400F. Toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on a baking pan and roast until tender, about 25 minutes, turning once halfway through. Set aside.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring broth to a gentle boil: then reduce heat to low. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add onion, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add barley and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Add wine and stir constantly until absorbed for about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup broth, 1 teaspoon thyme, and lemon zest; stir frequently until liquid is absorbed.

3. Repeat with remaining broth, adding 1/2 cup at a time, until barley is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Season with salt and pepper if needed. Gently fold in the squash and garnish with thyme.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving


(Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer)

Let us give thanks to God above,
Thanks for expressions of His love,
Seen in the book of nature, grand
Taught by His love on every hand.

Let us be thankful in our hearts,
Thankful for all the truth imparts,
For the religion of our Lord,
All that is taught us in His word.

Let us be thankful for a land,
That will for such religion stand;
One that protects it by the law,
One that before it stands in awe.

Thankful for all things let us be,
Though there be woes and misery;
Lessons they bring us for our good-
Later 'twill all be understood.

Thankful for peace o'er land and sea,
Thankful for signs of liberty,
Thankful for homes, for life and health,
Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth.

Thankful for friends and loved ones, too,
Thankful for all things, good and true,
Thankful for harvest in the fall,
Thankful to Him who gave it all.

 

Random Things I'm Lovin' This Week

It's been a week full of doctor appointments, procedures, and hospitals. Ugh. I was starting to feel a little down and overwhelmed today so I decided to indulge in some things I love!

1. Lavender. If I could be anything I'd be a farmer and grow fields of herbs and spices.

2. Wedgwood Vase in Black Basalt. LOVE.

 3. Le Creuset. Enamelled cast iron cookware in my favorite color. Someday these beauties will be mine! Someday....

4. Jason's pumpkin cheesecake. One more day and this will be melting in my mouth. Yum. Can't. Wait.



5. Peppermint Mocha Ice Cream. I'm so addicted to this flavor. I dream about Starbucks Iced Peppermint White Mocha drinks on a regular basis. I have issues.

6. Gorgeous fall/winter wreath. I need to get crafty this week and make my own.

image via Lula Boutique

7. Jadite..and milk glass. We went to the thrift stores last week and the only jadite we found was a set of canisters for...wait for it...$1000!!!



8. Mr. Bean. I dunno why but this picture just cracks me up!

Training for a 1/2! Whoot!

I'm so excited! My dear friend Heather called last week and said she was going to be running the Disney Princess 1/2 marathon in February and that I was going to be running it too! =)  I've been wanting to train for a real race for quite awhile but just haven't been healthy enough to put in the time and effort. I'm nervous and excited. I hope I can finish. I'd like to finish with a good time but I'll be pretty happy if I can just cross the finish line.


I think I'm more excited about the fact that while she's here we are going to see the new Harry Potter park at Universal!!!! Yeah....I'm a dork. I'm a Harry Potter fan. I can't hide it. You can take one look at me and know I'm a nerd. =)


I really need to figure out a training schedule that works for me. I also get an upset stomach when I run so I need to figure that out too. 

Oh! And I figured out something pretty awesome today. I've been running this same loop around our apartment complex that I thought was 1 mile. In my mid distance runs (say 4-6 miles or so) I've been REALLY discouraged with my times and pace. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why my times were just so dang slow. I went to map my run tonight and found out my 1 mile loop is actually 1.2 miles. Not a big difference at first.  BUT when you realize that a (previously thought) 5 mile run is actually 6 miles...whoo hoo!!!! My times aren't so shabby now. =)


I kept losing track of how many miles I was counting in my head today. I decided I either did a really bad 3 or a really great 4. We'll say it was a great 4 miles. Haha. I really want NEED one of these babies. Right now Walmart has them for $138. I'm trying to explain to Jay how essential it is that I have one for training. Wish me luck! =)

Yum-O...Pork Souvlaki Saute with Tzatziki

We've been trying to incorporate new -and healthy- meals into our usual lineup.  We basically eat the same meals over and over in rotation. I enjoy them but my taste buds are getting bored. So I went on the hunt for new and unusual things. I came across this recipe on the Food and Wine website. It's normally served with whole wheat pitas but we didn't have any and didn't feel like running out to the store. So we just ate the pork as is and dipped it into the yogurt dip. We haven't had pork in years and I have to say this was delicious! Definitely going to be a staple in our rotation.

Pork Souvlaki Saute with Tzatziki
From:  Food and Wine Magazine

Ingredients
2 boneless pork chops, cuts into thin strips
1 red onion, cut into 1/2 inch wedges
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, mashed to a paste
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 cup Greek or plain non-fat yogurt
1/3 cucumber, finely diced


1. In a bowl, mix together the pork, onion, olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, and 1 clove of mashed garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Let sit for 20 minutes.


2. Mix the yogurt, cucumber, and the remaining 1 clove of garlic. Season with salt and pepper.


3. Heat a saute pan, and add the pork and onion mixture. Cook until browned, stirring occasionally. I let mine get nicely browned and it took about 10 minutes.


4. Serve the pork and onions with the tzatziki. You can also serve it with the whole wheat pitas. We ate ours just dipped in the tzatziki and served it with steamed broccoli and a sweet potato.

I've lost my mojo...

I've been trying to get back into working out since I had surgery but it isn't going very well. I decided last night it's because I have no real plan in shape. I was just doing things willy nilly. So, in order to get back on track I've decided to log my workouts and make a plan. Hopefully, this will keep me focused and motivated. I'm only 15 pounds away from my high school weight!!!! Whooo hooo! Although, I've decided that losing the weight isn't my main priority anymore. I'm in the healthy weight range for my height.  Holy moly. I didn't think that would ever happen again. I had kinda resigned myself to being the fat girl for the rest of my life.  Now I just want to be in shape. Tight and toned is my new goal!

I think this new plan has rejuvenated me. I woke up this morning and got right to it. I didn't have to talk myself into it like I normally do! When I was finished I felt great and ready to start the day.  I started off today with a butt blasting workout!  I want a butt that fits into jeans. =)  Actually, mine has no problem fitting into them....it's filling them out I have a problem with! I have flat butt-itis. So, to hopefully fix this ailment I did the following routine.

1. Jump squats and backward lunge (10 reps)

2. Prone hip extensions with leg crossovers (20 reps)

3. Bulgarian squats (20 reps each leg)

4. Mountain climbers (30 reps)

Repeat 4 times

I also went on a very slow 4.4 mile run. Hopefully, my mojo is back and I'll be sporting a toned tushy soon!

My favorite time of year!

October is absolutely my favorite month of the year. The smell of the damp earth, the cool air, beautiful leaves, football games, cardigan sweaters, the food - good grief- I could go on and on.  I'll spare you the rambling though and get on to the best part. The food! It's the perfect time of year to finally turn on the oven and do some baking (actually, for Jay to do some baking). I really love a good soup/stew/chili too. Here are two new favorites to start off October with. First, the ridiculously easy (and healthy!) zucchini soup.


Ingredients:
Extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
2 lbs zucchini (about 3 or 4 zucchinis), roughly chopped
3 cups chicken stock (use vegetable stock to keep this vegetarian)
3/4  – 1 cup loose basil leaves
1 Parmesan cheese rind
Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Toasted pine nuts, for garnish


1. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Saute the onion for 3-4 minutes and then add the garlic. Cook for an additional minute. (Savor the aroma and think about how great you're going to smell when you exercise later!)

2. Add the zucchini and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

3. Add the chicken stock and cheese rind and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Remove the Parmesan rind. Puree the soup in a food processor with the basil.

5. Serve garnished with shaved Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts.

6. Slurp 'til your heart's content.

And the perfect fall treat- Pumpkin Pie Bars

Ingredients:

1-1/3 cups flour

3/4 cup  granulated sugar, divided

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup  (1-1/2 sticks) cold butter or margarine

1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked

1/2 cup  chopped walnuts (optional)

1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

3 eggs

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin

1 Tbsp.  pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. HEAT oven to 350°F. Line 13×9-inch pan with parchment, with ends extending over sides.

2. Mix flour, 1/4 granulated sugar and brown sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in oats and nuts (optional).

3. RESERVE 1 cup of the oat mixture and press remaining mix onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min.

4. Beat cream cheese, remaining sugar, eggs, vanilla, pumpkin and spice with mixer until well blended. Pour over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture

5. BAKE 25 min.; cool 10 min. Use parchment to transfer dessert from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

Hope everyone enjoys their day! I'm off to pretend I live in a state in which autumn actually exists!



My Dream House

I'm a serial stalker....of interior decorating blogs. I look at them for hours on end before I remember I have homework due before midnight. I normally have to turn the computer off while studying otherwise they suck me back in! =) Right now we live in a depressing little apartment so I find myself dreaming of houses everyday. A house with tons of windows that let in the light. I want to open a window and watch my curtains blow in the breeze. I can't wait to live in a house with no carpet! I can't wait to live in a house. Period! I've collected TONS of pictures over the years. (I never thought I'd be sharing them so I didn't keep track of where I found them. If you recognize one let me know so I can give it credit!)  Anyway...welcome to my dream house. *Sigh*

How gorgeous is this? Of course this is from the Hamptons...

A bright and airy kitchen with a big island. I want a big farm table the family can gather around to eat dinner, do homework, decorate Christmas cookes, and play games....

A comfy living room with built in bookshelves

A cozy bedroom

A tub I can spend hours in. Ahhh...

A comfy guest room

A nursery....of course =)

A pretty mudroom that leads out to this...

A girl can dream right? =)