I’m beyond ecstatic the the snow and ice has finally melted enough to get outside and run!!!!  Saturday I met up with my running bud Steph. Steph and I trained for the full marathon we ran together. It was awesome to chat and catch up. We did 3 miles, Mission Park to the carousel and back.And thank God we met at 8am, because shortly after we finished, it was pooouuuuriinngg!

It felt so good to get back out there! Treadmill running pretty much = torture for me haha

OK, so maybe not the fastest, but who cares!!

Has anyone seen/used one of these?

Well, it’s called a Veggetti, pronounced like spaghetti (not like something that you use on your lady parts haha).  Anyway, it’s my latest obsession! You twist a zucchini in it, and bam, zoodles!!

They are great mixed with veggies, chicken and some balsamic vinaigrette, or used instead of noodles with spaghetti sauce. I personally don’t like them cooked, they get too soggy.

Last week’s workouts:

Monday: rest
Tuesday: 3m am treadmill, 4:05 spin class at the Y
Wednesday : PM yoga at the Y
Thursday: 1m TM, bicep curls, overhead press, teacups
Friday: rest
Saturday: 3m outdoor run

Makenna insisted we watch Martha Stewart hahah
GTL:

I’ve given up coffee, but I just can’t seem to give up my green tea latte, with soy! They are so good!

Have a great week everyone ❤

Have you guys ever used the stair master at the gym, the one that looks like actual stairs??? Holy hell it’s no joke! I’m up to 20 minutes at level 8, and even that is a struggle!

I’m working my way up to 30 minutes, wish me luck!

I experimented a little Saturday morning with some breakfast “hashbrowns.” I used half of a cooked and forked spaghetti squash, mixed with 2 eggs, oregano, salt and pepper. Next, I cooked it just like hashbrowns (I like mine a little crispy) then topped with a little shredded sharp cheddar. OMG so good and very low carb! Win/win right there 🙂

Lookie what we found at the store ♡

This past weekend was definitely one for the books! Friday started off with dinner at Sante, a local restaurant with quite a few organic options, but to be honest, the menu was a tad intimidating, a lot of it is french. So I decided to “when in Rome” it and ordered the escargot.

I was pleasantly surprised, it was delish 🙂 Next we went to the Knitting Factory to see The Devil Makes Three. If you’ve never heard of them, they are pretty much bluegrass, there is even a chic that plays cello!

The night was full of fun! Thanks Jim!!
Saturday, I headed to grandma and grandpa’s house for her 74th birthday party. I brought my chicken cauliflower chowder, I’ll share the recipe later 😉

How could you not love these faces?! Saturday night, my girlfriend Shivaughn and I were invited to the 10th annual Pinball Bash, as the “Ms. Pinball’s.” We had such a blast! I can’t believe we actually got paid to hang out, drink good beer, and play pinball!!

Such a fun group of guys!! Sunday, was a gym day followed by a dinner with my girls! 

First things first, I got all signed up for Partners in Pain! This is a 5K that is happening here in Spokane on February 13th, chances are there will still be snow on the ground, hence the name. It starts at the East Central Community Center and is an out and back run. I have done this with my sister in law for two years, this will be the third.

So, I’m proud to say that I have been on track this week! If I’m being honest, the #1 thing that motivates me to workout/run is being registered for a race! There is something about having a goal and being afraid to fail that really pushes me mentally and physically. What motivates you???

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly.
We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.     –  Aristotle

Here I am at 6AM getting it in! There is something so classy (aka convenient) about having a treadmill in your kitchen! Here is what the week looked like:

Monday: 2 treadmill miles and light weights

Tuesday: Spin class at the Y followed by the core express class

Wednesday: Yoga at the Y, 20 minutes cycling

Thursday: Rest day

Friday: 2 miles walking/running intervals on the treadmill

I have some fun plans for the weekend that I will share later 🙂

But, on a serious note, have you tried this Okami Chinese Chicken Salad from Costco? If not you are seriously missing out! I’m pretty sure I could eat this everyday! Its so delicious and easy to whip together. And, I haven’t done this yet because I’m constantly trying to watch my carb intake, but I think this would be to die for in a wrap.

So, I officially gave up coffee. It was messing with my anxiety/nervousness levels and doing exactly the opposite of what I want in life right now, to become rich! HAHA kidding, to be more calm and at peace, DUH!! So I have been increasing my water and tea intake. And the tea part helps with my disease called ALWAYS BEING COLD ughhh

Getting my drank on…

So, long story short…Drink More Water!!! 

**Have a fabulous weekend everyone ❤ **

 

 

 

My top priorities for weekends are to stay active and to have fun! And this last weekend was no exception! Friday started out amazing, not only because I had the day off of work, but because I got to spend it with my sister in law on her birthday, as well as both my brothers and a few other close friends for a fun filled/bruise inducing day on the slopes! Followed by a day of R&R, and a night of bartending.

Saturday, some of the fam came over for some food and football. I’m not much on football, but I do love me some food! I want to share a recipe I used for my shrimp ceviche, especially for my friend Sarah who wanted a good appetizer!

I used:

• 1lb cooked shrimp
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• Juice of 3 limes
• 1 cup pico de gallo
• 1 large avacado
• salt and pepper to taste
• 3 tbsp ketchup, as I like mine with a hint of cocktail

Mix everything together, being careful not to mash the avacado, chill for an hour, and enjoy with tortilla chips!

If I were to make this again, I would chop the shrimp into smaller pieces making it easier to scoop up on a chip 🙂 I have made this using white fish before. In this case, you squeeze the lime over the fish and let it sit overnight, this cooks the fish. Then add everything else the next day! So good, and good for you!

Sunday was a much needed day of Faith. The Sis in Law and I checked out a new church, Real Life Ministries (the old Gold’s gym on the North side). I don’t want to critique it just yet, as the head pastor was out of the country for other ministry related duties. But it is a beautiful church and I like the way the day care is run, they actually teach there rather than just color and play 🙂

Next up was the Roller Rink with these cuties…

My arms are still sore from pulling them around! Then, somebody got a bright idea to buy some temporary tattoos out of the quarter machines (It may have been me… maybe 😉

I’m still laughing, and saying my prayers that they are temporary… Since I’m currently at session 3 of having my “tramp stamp” removed… UGHHH

All in all, fabulous weekend. I love my family and friends way more than I actually tell them, something I may need to work on ❤

 

I have been easing back in to fitness, the past few months life got the best of me and my running endurance is the price I have paid. But that’s the beauty of running… and life. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t, but you can always start over, ALWAYS!

This week I am happy to say that I have been on the treadmill every morning!  When I start over, I usually tend to do the run/walk/run thing until I can get back up to where I can run a few miles without stopping, and without wanting to punch everyone in the face ha!

I made one of my all time favorite salads for lunch yesterday! Bacon, blueberries, avacado, and bleu cheese. Kind of an odd mix, but it works!

Maks has been with her Dad since yesterday, and I’m really looking forward to seeing her! She is the light of my life ❤ And I am absolutely loving this 6 year mark! So much fun! She has so much character, makes me die laughing daily, and inspires me to be the best Mommy that I can be! I want to give her the world…

 

Now, off to Silver Mountain for some boarding and $12 lift tickets!!!

As I reflect on 2015, I find myself a little disappointed. I had many goals set for myself, many of which were accomplished, yet many left untouched. As I regroup and think about what happened, I remind myself that this is a new year, as well as a new beginning so I’m not going to dwell, I’m going to move forward and start fresh in 2016!

A few goals for the new year:

• Make more time for my Grandparents. They are the best, I want my daughter to know and remember them, and I want to know everything about them that I possibly can, after all, they have been here longer and are much wiser than I. And lets face it, they are not going to be here forever, so I need to be with them, and be in the moment. Ask them about everything!
• Get my health back in check ( obvious and cliche, I know). Of course I ran and worked out in 2015, but I could definitely step up my game. I plan on signing up for a few races of which includes a half marathon as well as a sprint tri-athalon. Mixed with a variety of fun runs my daughter can do with me!
• Meditate. I get anxious, stressed, upset etc just like any other person, but I think taking time to calm your mind and body is so important. I plan on getting back to my Yogi roots and attending yoga at least 2 times per week.
• Spending more time on learning. Whether this be working on my Spanish, guitar, research, or reading, I plan on enriching my life as well as my daughter’s life as much as possible.
• Travel. Someplace new. There is so much to do, so much to see, and so much culture to absorb it seems silly that this is not on everyone’s list of things to do!
• Replace coffee with Matcha! There are so many health benefits to matcha, and it tastes AMAZE!

 

Some health benefits to Matcha include:

• High in antioxidants (60 x  more than spinach!)
• Increases energy without the nervousness that coffeeprovides
• Boosts concentration and memory
• Helps with weight loss
• Detoxification

Not to mention, if you like green tea, you will LOVE Matcha! I love to add it to my protein shakes.

I know some people are anti new years resolutions and I can see their point, I mean shouldn’t we be living like this daily? But the reality for me is that life happens, and the new year is a great time to appreciate the past, realize who you want to be, and make it a reality ❤