I feel pretty and witty and bright

I cannot believe how fast this year is flying by! February is National Heart month and Valentines Day so it’s only right that we brand it “Love Month”. Since we only have 1 week left in February I wanted to touch on a topic I’ve been reading a lot about, “Self-Love”.

If someone asked me “Do you love yourself?” I would immediately respond “Of course!” But if I sat down and actually thought about that question I wouldn’t be so sure… I’ve noticed that if I have that cookie I’m craving after dinner I’ll say to myself “Good job on ruining your entire workout”  but if a friend told me that she had a cookie after dinner and was upset about it I would reply “Omg, don’t be so silly it’s just one cookie! Everyone needs to indulge sometimes.” It’s so easy to give advice but following it? Wellllll, not so much. Why couldn’t I be that easy on myself? Why am I beating myself up over 1 cookie? For the most part I am extremely healthy – I eat a well-balanced diet and exercise 5-6 times a week so I should be able to have a cookie without feeling guilt if that’s what my body wants! Everyone knows that love is a good thing. We love to give it and we love to receive it. But how often do we actually take the time to give it to ourselves?

I’m sure I am not the only person who beats themselves up over silly issues like this so we should all make a pact to follow Katelyn’s mission: I feel pretty! Today, I am making a promise to myself to be a little nicer, speak a little sweeter and cut myself some slack from time to time. I deserve it, and so do you 🙂

I feel as if I’m always on the go, go go to do things for others and I want to make sure I give myself the same attention. Each day this week I am going to post something I did for myself as a token of love: To me, Love me.

Here is what I gifted myself today – Relaxation Time –I know this doesn’t sound like much but I couldn’t tell you the last time I laid down with my phone, TV and computer off. It felt so good to sleep for 3 hours and I am feeling very refreshed now!

I think that everyone should join me and do something for themselves in the last week of the month of love – Feel free to share with me your plan and remember this: You are a truly loveable person — and you deserve only kind treatment, especially from yourself. 🙂

On a lighter note! I had a great weekend filled with 3 workouts – Zumba, Bodypump & Spin Class. I took full advantage of the $60 a month I pay to my gym! Nothing better than getting a good sweat in on the weekends. After my workout on Sunday I did my weekly grocery shopping where Whole Foods then took advantage of me. Why is it that I can never leave with just what’s on my list? I also left my brand spankin new iPhone in an aisle I shouldn’t have even been in while browsing labels – Thank goodness someone with a good heart found it and returned it to the lost and found! Whew..

Saturday night I had one of my girlfriends over for some girl time. We made dinner, went out for some Tasti D-lite (i know, again?) and watched hours worth of Bachelor re-runs on my DVR til 1 am. We get crazy and wild sometimes 😉

For dinner we made quesadillas…not just a plain boring quesadilla. But an exciting chicken, peach and pepperjack quesadilla. I’ve made this before and LOVED it but I think the peaches were a little bland this time around… It was still delicious and if you have some fresh peaches I suggest you try this combo out!

Chicken, Peach & Pepperjack Quesadilla

Ingredients

• Rotisserie chicken
• Pepperjack cheese (w/ jalapenos)
• Peaches
• Greek Yogurt
• Agave
• Cilantro
• Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

Directions

• Shred chicken

• Slice peaches

• Place tortilla on plate and add the chicken, cheese and peach slices to HALF.
• Sprinkle Cilantro on top
• Fold in half and place in an olive oil misted skillet
• Place a cast iron skillet on top so it flattens out the quesadilla and everything cooks evenly.
• Cook for 4 minutes on side – Flip and repeat.
• While quesadillas are cooking Mix together your greek yogurt, agave and lime juice.

• Slice the quesadillas and serve with the dipping sauce

The sweetness of the peaches and the dipping sauce go perfectly together! Sorry the pictures are blurry – I need to stop rushing them but sometimes I’m just so excited to eat 🙂

Our dessert from Tasti D-Lite

My friend had smores with choc chips and crushed graham cracker and I enjoyed bananas foster with the same toppings. I’ve yet to try a flavor that I haven’t loved yet! We may or may not have bought some Oreo & Peanut butter to go… Whoops.

Yesterday I also got my haircut (got some side bangs, wild!), had lunch with my grandma at Nordstrom Cafe and got some goodies in the mail!

Carba nada pasta, PB2, Donut Pan, Pizza Crisper, Gluten Free Pretzels, Banana Supreme Pancake mix and Alternative Bagels! I ordered these from a lo carb site – I’ve read about some of these items on various blogs but couldn’t find them ANYWHERE in stores so I resorted to some online shopping. I’m excited to try these out and hope they live up to the hype!

Tonight I am going to test out my pizza crisper and throw myself a pizza party… I might also get a little crazy and have some more of that Oreo & Peanut butter Ice Cream. I really need to settle down.

Day 23: Favorite Movie

I believe they already asked my favorite movies so I’m going to go ahead and skip this challenge and if you are that interested you can check out Day 7’s post here

Day 24: Something you’ve learned

I think it’s only fair that I say to love myself! Starting with treating myself the same I would to others or as Katelyn would put it a 5-year-old version of myself!

Also, Kate is having another giveaway! Check it out 🙂

I hope all of you had a wonderful weekend and if you have the day off tomorrow (lucky) you enjoy it!!

QUESTIONS: What do you do to show yourself love? Have you ever tried any of the lo-carb items I purchased? What was the craziest thing you did this weekend (get bangs, stay up til 1 am watching the bachelor, eat ice cream?? 😉 )

 

back2back

Today the first thing that popped in my head was “I’m back on my grizzy!” (I swear in my previous life I was a rapper). It’s back to work, back to the traffic scene, back to stocking up at the grocery store, back to the new years resolutioners filled gym and of course finally back to HOME COOKED meals! I actually don’t mind any of it.. I like being in a routine – It helps me stay focused!!

After arriving at the airport (yesterday) and checking my 70 pound suitcase (whoops!) I was on the prowl for food… Everywhere I went only offered omnivore meals. I needed to stick to my Meatless Monday plan so I walked around for about 30 minutes until I came across an “All Natural” food cart… I bought 3 things for $17. What. a. deal.

I didn’t even know they sold to go hummus packages! With pretzel crisps – you can’t go wrong. I ate the entire thing…and 1/4 of the Naked Juice. For some reason I don’t like liquids and end up forcing myself to drink them… I need to change that. The woman next to me ate the ENTIRE way home. I was starting to feel nauseous with all of the different aromas coming from her seat. She ate about 8 different things and asked for double the snacks they were serving. I, of all people, can put away some food…so no judging on my end.

My aunt picked us up some Tuscan White Bean Minestrone soup from CPK (California Pizza Kitchen). It was SO good…The croutons they put on top really make the soup. All of their soups are vegetarian – next time you’re there order one. They have a lot of new items that are delicious and low in calories!

Back to my day of cooking… I had some Oatmeal (duh) for breakfast… topped with a couple of raisins, some strawberry, banana and peach slices, pumpkin flax granola and of course a dollop of the PB Chocolate. I missed my oatmeal while I was on vacation. But the millions of desserts made up for it! I also force-fed myself enjoyed another couple sips of the Green Monster drink i picked up at the Airport. That thing is going to last me weeks!

I keep getting a shadow on the food pictures I’m taking with this new camera. Does anyone know how to fix that? Or what setting it needs to be on?

The girls and I spent allll morning making a birthday countdown. The 4-year-old will be 5 in February and she asks everyday how many days until her birthday so I thought this would be the perfect project. Little did I know how much time it would take…but it was worth it, they wanted to have a jammies day anyway.

I want one of these for my birthday…and I also want it to say countdown until I’m five……… or fifteen…….or even 25 – im not picky ;)! Nothing like a painted pizza box, dyed Cheerios and anything else we could find around the play room to stick on the calendar. She loves it…and thats all that matters 🙂

During lunch I started making my inspiration board. I got the idea from The Fitnessista and thought it would be the perfect way to keep me on track. This year I really want to make the changes I always say I’m going to make… because, lets face it – I’m not getting any younger! I’ve clipped a bunch of things from various magazines but need to complete the actual board part. I hope to do that tomorrow 🙂 Lunch was boring…but easy. 1/2 a can of tuna mixed with a few green grapes and some old bay (i haven’t shared my obsession of old bay with you yet!) on 1/2 of a wheat wrap and a side of my favorite healthy vision veggies.

The shadow…again! UGH! I will be eating the same thing tomorrow since I had half of everything so I wont bore you with that again.

After work I headed to Whole Foods… I was the quickest I had EVER been in a grocery store in hopes of making the Boot Camp class at my gym. I also spent the most money I had ever spent there… Hmm… I’m sure hoping to win the 330 million dollar mega millions jackpot tonight so I can keep up with my expensive eating habits. If I do I will buy every single person who reads this blog whatever they want. I’m feeling generous today (and I’m not quite up to millions of readers…or thousands for that matter). It’s the thought that counts.

I got to the gym right on time! But I clearly forgot that there would be an outrageous of newbies attending so I had to forgo the class and get on the treadmill. I didn’t do as bad as I thought I would do. I’ll admit I haven’t been working out as much as I should,but, I exceeded my expectations with a 3.5 mile run. I tried an interval run for the very first time and I’m hoping I’m seriously sore tomorrow. Interval runs are a way to change-up your normal routine and it’s also a good way to increase your speed. Here is what I did.

MPH                 TIME

5.0                     5 minutes *WARM-UP*

6.4                      4 minutes

4.7                      4 minutes

6.4                      3 minutes

4.7                      3 minutes

6.4                       2 minutes

4.7                        2 minutes

6.4                        1 minute

4.7                        1 minute

7.8                        30 seconds

4.7                        1 minute

7.8                        30 seconds

4.7                        1 minute

7.8                        30 seconds

4.7                        1 minute

7.8                       30 seconds

4.7                        1 minute

3.8                       5 minutes *COOL DOWN*

Running is something I became interested in within the past year. I’ve never ran further than 5.5 miles but I am thinking I would like to run a half marathon this year. I’ll add that to my inspiration board 🙂 I also did my favorite 10 minute Pilates ab workout on demand when I got home. I didn’t have the patience to find a spot to do them at the gym.

During the winter I have trouble breathing while working out. Two years ago I was told I had exercise induced asthma. I was told you grow OUT of asthma…Not INto! Just my luck… On my way into the gym I thought to myself that I should write some tips on how to deal with this but it looks like someone was ONE step ahead of me! Courtney over at Sweet Tooth Sweet Life posted this earlier and it has just about everything I would’ve said so to save some time I thought I’d just link to her blog 🙂 Check it out if you have exercise induced asthma or know someone who could make good use of these tips.

Dinner tonight was SO SO SO good – and guess what? You just happen to be lucky enough that I am going to share this recipe with you. Told you I was in a good mood 🙂 I am a big salmon lover in the summer but was craving it tonight so decided that and green beans would be the perfect post-workout meal.

The green beans may look burnt…but they aren’t. They are roasted and delicious. As delicious as a vegetable can be 🙂 The salmon is an asian inspired recipe. I love recipes that have an asian take on them.

Sesame Miso Glazed Salmon

Ingredients:

• 1  tablespoon  white miso paste
• 2  teaspoons  mirin (sweet rice wine)
• 2  teaspoons  rice vinegar
• 2  teaspoons  low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2  teaspoon  sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  grated peeled fresh ginger
• 2  (6-ounce) skinless salmon fillets
• 1  teaspoon  toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

• Preheat broiler.
• To prepare fish, combine the first 6 ingredients in a small bowl, and brush evenly over fish (use all of the glaze)
• Arrange fish on a foil-lined baking sheet; broil for 8 minutes or until desired degree of doneness.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds. (I sprinkled mine with them but was too busy living up to my status as a member of the clean plate club to take another picture)

This was NO DOUBT the best salmon I’ve ever had. It was better than any restaurant’s by far.  Foodgasm.

Roasted Green Beans

Ingredients:

• Pound of green beans
• EVOO (for you non-rachel ray fans that is extra virgin olive oil)
• Salt
• Pepper

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place green beans in bowl and coat with a drizzle of EVOO.
• Lay on baking sheet and sprinkle salt & pepper on them.
• Roast for 25-30 minutes.

Both of these recipes could not be ANY easier. Not to mention they’re healthy… Try it this week to kick off your healthy living New Year! I also enjoyed that Blueberry Chobani I got at the airport yesterday as a snack today and a handful of Vegan Chocolate Chips for dessert!

Tomorrow I hope to post some fashion tips bc as my boyfriend pointed out to me I’ve been solely focusing on food… So i am going to do my best to write about all 3 and not just 1 (even though we all know food is the most important!)

Hope everyone has a great night! Bed time for this girl ♥