Tuesday Morning

Good morning, blog readers! I hope every one's week is off to a wonderful start :) Yesterday I woke up bright and early to work out and begin the day aright in God's Word and prayer. I did squats and lunges and than stretched for a while. Than as I was tight on time, I gunned it on the treadmill for 5 min. I so wanted to quit as I was going at a pretty fast clip, but you can do anything for 5 minutes, right?   

{Notes}

Part of the reason I was so crunched for time (other than not getting up earlier) was I had a new course I'm taking starting at 8am lasting until 11. It has me completely pumped and so excited! It looks like it's going to be challenging which is partly why I'm thrilled :-) I both need and want to be stretched. I like how my brain feels after (not always during) a tough mental workout. It's important that we exercise our minds as well as our bodies :) 

For dessert Sunday night we had this heavenly strawberry pie. Not your typical, but in my opinion, it's 10x better than the traditional as it's completely raw and good for you! Can you believe it?! 

{Raw strawberry pie topped with coconut chocolate}

This morning I ran 2 miles before breakfast. Yesterday afternoon I went bike riding instead of running because it was something fun and physical I could do while giving my hip a break :P

When I got off the treadmill this morning, I had the biggest surprise... I could barely walk. Something was definitely wrong with the muscle to the outside of my left knee. My sweetie of a little brother helped me to the couch and got me an ice pack. I iced it for a the longest time to reduce swelling and that really seemed to help. It was a strange, scary experience! It didn't hurt while I was running and than once I stopped- BAM! Ouch. Phew, that didn't feel good and hopefully it won't happen again!

{Basil peppered eggs with sprouted grain bread}

This morning's breakfast was really good! Seasoned eggs with a sprouted slice of bread and hemp seed butter. I'm taking a sabbatical from green smoothies because we out of so many ingredients at the moment, but not for long :) It was nice to enjoy some diversity. The day's begun and there's lots to do! Better hop too!!!

So how about you? What have your meals look like of late? Have you been exercising both your mind and your body?


PS: For all of you North Carolinians, go and vote for the Marriage Amendment. This isn't about personal opinion, it's about right or wrong. Everyone has a standard the question is, what's your standard? I pray it's God's Word. 

Interesting Food Combinations and a Bike Ride

This morning I ran 2.5 miles in my garage. I've finally pulled out the fan! It's nearly impossible to run without it (this is North Carolina, folks), otherwise I'm dripping :P 

Afterwards, I re-hydrated and stretched. I'd skipped the last few days of stretching, always a mistake, so getting back into it was a relief. When I'm on a regular running schedule, I have to stretch, otherwise I really feel it. I now think the reason I got injured last December was from not stretching (gasp!). 

Here was my yummy lunch from the day although I admit it was a very interesting food combo! Stir fry mix with 1/2 teaspoon of Bragg's soy sauce sub, red onion, cauliflower and... dill! Top that off with a squirt of mustard a dollop of Ranch and you've got a delicious, nutritious, people-pleaser plate :P

I just got back in from a 1 hour fabulous bike ride. The weather is perfect out there! Slightly cloudy but still some sun :) This morning's run invigorated me to the point of sheer excitement and since I love being outside, I decided to hop on my bright blue bike and take it for a spin. I didn't start out intending to ride for an hour... I guess that's the definition of a good time!

So how about you? Have you challenged yourself recently? Remember, challenging yourself is not about constantly comparing yourself to others. Use it to motivate you, but you are you and you can get stronger, little by little by increasing intensity and and your distance!!! No one else can live the life you've been given, cherish it and be grateful.

Welcome Friday!

So folks, I am greatly enjoying the beautiful bounty from our produce order this past Wednesday! I've used it to make several yummy smoothies and salads! All the leaves and vegetables are so beautiful, too pretty to eat :) 

If you haven't experienced anything fresh of late, I encourage you to go down to your local farmer's market this Saturday (most towns have them) and buy yourself a few garden fresh leaves. Your body will thank you for it later :) Sometimes, just getting out there and seeing the endless opportunities is enough to motivate and inspire you. 

This was from last night's supper. The salad was topped with pecans, dried cranberries, and as I'm a cheese girl I was super excited to add some feta cheese (strong, phew!) to the mix.

My little sister is graduating high school May11th so lots of fun party planning and home spiffing is going on. Speaking of Mary, here is a picture from a recent photo shoot we did together:

This girl is so drop dead-gorgeous, it's impossible to take a bad photo of her!  Sure do love this little sweet pea :) And, just judging by the past, I'm excited to see the difference she will make in the world  with her diligent work ethic, caring personality, and wild imagination. Watch out world!

I didn't prepare very well for today's lunch, so I hurriedly grabbed this chocolate Builder's bar that had been laying around forever and this lonely little orange that was just begging to be eaten :)

I didn't get to workout before leaving the house for work today, but I'm thinking I'll go bike riding (yesterday was so much fun!) and lift a few weights when I get home. Have a fantastic, full-filled weekend, everyone!

Quick Lunch Recipe + Local Produce (my favorite!)

I love healthy lunches! To make this light little lunch, you will need: whole wheat bread (I used Great Harvest from our local bakery), homemade lunch meat (chicken), a few leaves of fresh lettuce, mayo, avocado and hot sauce. Lay out your bread, slather on your mayo and mix in a thin slice of avocado with a shake of hot sauce. Add your chicken and lettuce and serve with your favorite seasonal fruit! 

The local produce is in full swing and it only gets better as the season progresses! We pay a good friend who loves to garden $25 a week in exchange for a boatload of weekly freshness. Wednesday is delivery day so yesterday I was very happy! My 7yr brother started snacking on things before we could even get them out of the bag. You would have thought it was candy the way he wanted it! I'm so grateful he's starting out with this as his base. If good food choices are his normal than he'll be a whole lot better off. Big sisters and other role models out there-- it starts with us! 

Look at those fresh carrot tops! The tops are the most nutritious part of the vegetable because they contain most of the nutrients, whereas the roots are more sweet (which we typically prefer!) because they contain more water and sugar. If you can, try and find ways to use the whole vegetable :) 

Washing straight-out-of-the-garden produce can be a lot of work, but it's a fun, relational thing as well. Purchasing a salad spinner will greatly benefit you. The time invested is worth it!

Okay, so I ran 5 miles this morning- amazing. Learning to love those long distances (well.. at least it's long for me). I'm trying to maximize my time by listening to thought provoking lectures or listening to some uplifting music while I run. It's fun to time those fast-upbeat songs for when I know I'm going to need the extra motivation :) And now, I'm getting ready to go biking and soak up some sunshine. It's a great day to be alive!

Kickboxing

Wow. I haven't done this in forever! Phew, that stuff will wear you out! But, and it's a big one- you will have the time of your life. I've never been "taught" kickboxing, just learned things here and there from DVDs so I'm still very basic, but I love it :) And, girls, if you're looking for a "be sore the next day" workout than you'll want to check out the FIRM's Pump, Jump and Jab which includes some kickboxing. It's the bomb.

After working out this morning, I made a breakfast smoothie with some of this beautiful looking, delicious tasting kale.

And, here's the finished product! It tasted amazing. Especially after such a tough workout. Don't you just love maxing out and then replenishing your cells with pure nutrition? 

This was yesterday's lunch at the office. I made it the night before so I could grab it and go. The small container is a black bean dish that Allie made. Not quite sure what her recipe is, but it this dip was awesome and a nice addition! This girl is such and inspiration. She was up before 5 am yesterday morning and ended the day with a workout at 10pm last night. I'm so blessed to work with such a loving, dedicated person and not to mention, she's my sister!

For a treat, we had this raw chocolate pie with a nut crust for dessert. Oh my, y'all! Hold onto your socks. I think I'm going to have to do a recipe on some of our favorites soon :) In the mean time, here's a link to a sweet and savory cheesecake that, yes- is out of this world!

And for lunch, well... welcome to the sandwich station :) We whipped up these little babies with homemade lunch meat which is so much healthier for you than the pre-packaged.

So there you have it, the highlights from my eats of the last few days. What dishes have you been enjoying? 

The Week's Begun

I love Mondays, don't you? I never really thought I did until I realized how much I look forward to the start of a new week! New goals, new challenges, and new ways to grow.

I was listening to Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy over the weekend and was reminded of several good things! One of which is, successful people don't try to re-create everything themselves- they learn from the experts. Another really important point that stood out to me is what a game changer an attitude of gratitude can be!

{Click the picture to read some exercise excuse busters}

For my workout today: I ran 2 miles, than 30 min of interval training/weight lifting, ran 2 more miles, and by that time I was really ready for a deep stretching session. It felt good to get to the other side, but I enjoyed the process!

How about you, what are you learning? Do you have fitness goals for this week? If so, what are they?

Chocolate Mousse Recipe + Random Post

It's recipe time! This is one of my very favorites and I think you'll love it too :) This chocolate mousse recipe isn't your typical, but it is a great option if you're looking for a way to get some healthy fats in and enjoy a satisfying dessert. If you don't tell anyone, I bet they won't be able to guess it's made with avocados!!!

{4 organic apples for just $1.12}

And, I just have to share with you this fabulous deal my sister Kristen found on organic apples this week! 4 organic apples for just $1.12!!! The secret? Shop off the "ripe shelf". The produce it just as good, the only thing is you have to eat it quickly as it's already ripe. It's worth it for us though, as we go through this stuff fast and we get a good deal in the process! Just thought I'd throw that out there. Anything to save a few dollars :-)

My sisters and I had a vocal recording session yesterday which was tons of fun! We were able to knock out two songs that we've wanted to do for a while pretty quickly which was nice. You never know how things are going to go when you're recording. You might get it right on the first try or it could take you ten! You never know :) I'll be sure to give you a sample though once I get the finished tracks back :0)

{Kitchen tables are great for lots of things!}

{This is me, getting ready to sing}

{Delicious "set" food}

This was scrumptious morning bread, sweetened with honey, that Mary and I  yesterday afternoon as a gift for our horse farrier.

And, a shot of my delicious chocolate banana smoothie I enjoyed for breakfast. Here's a quick rundown of the recipe: 8oz water, 3/4 banana, 1 scoop chocolate protein powder, and a few leaves of kale and ice to thicken. Yummy!

I read this motivational quote this afternoon and thought it was great: "A man too busy to busy to take care of his body is like a mechanic too busy to care for his tools." Thought this was a great analogy and wanted to share it with you!

So now onto the long await chocolate mousse recipe....

{Chocolate mousse ingredients}

I went off this recipe as my base, and did a little experimenting :) Here's my recipe:

2 avacados
1/4 - 1/2 cup raw cacao
1/4 -1/2 cup blue agave (depending how sweet you want it)
1/2 cup or more dates
1/2 cup Irish moss
1-2 tablespoons Smuckers PB

That's it! Just mix it all up in your food processor and you have a quick and easy, delicious dessert. 

{Healthy fats}

Here's the finished product topped with a sprig of fresh chocolate mint. So delicious!

{Inside photo}

{Outside photo. The difference in lighting is fun :) }

After taking this picture of the mousse outside, I came back in and dipped freshly picked strawberries in it. Oh my, talk about something succulent!!! 

{Yummy!}

Thus far this week, I've run over 10 miles with today logging 3.5 miles. And just for fun, I'd thought I'd mention that today I hit the 150 mile mark since the New Year. Obviously, I'm a beginner runner but I'll take what I can get :) I'm interested to see what that total number looks like at the end of December.

Anyways, the week is going well, hope it is for you too! Please comment and share :-)

Oh and PS: I going to a play downtown tonight! So excited, I love anything artsy...