Movin' it with Michelle

Sunday Supper recipe

January 10, 2016 Movin' it with Michelle

It’s gotten too cold outside for me to run the last couple days, so I decided to warm up with some cooking! Especially after having to shovel snow when it’s a real feel of 5 degrees outside. Yup. FIVE. I will say, though, that I am in awe of my 16 year old who offered out of the blue to help me shovel? WHAT? I am still picking my jaw up off the groud. LOL!!

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First, we’ll start with meatballs and spinach fettuccini (you can use whatever noodle you prefer). While I don’t make the pasta myself, I do buy fresh made from my local grocery store. I also take a little help with the marinara sauce by letting it simmer and adding some fresh herbs, crushed red pepper flakes, and garlic to give it a little more depth.

Meatballs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 lb. of ground pork and 1 lb. of lean ground beef

1 cup of Italian bread crumbs

1 cup of grated parmesan cheese (use fresh if possible)

1/4 cup of fresh chopped Italian parsley

pinch of salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and Italian herb mix (Approximately 1 tablespoon each, to taste)

3 eggs

1/8 cup of extra virgin olive oil

Combine all ingredients and roll in to small golf ball size balls and place on a sheet tray that has been lined with parchment paper.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Take a jar of GOOD marinara sauce (you know, the good stuff small markets make that don’t have all the added preservatives to it) and put into a wide, deep sauté pan. Turn on LOW, and let simmer. Add in fresh herbs, garlic, and red pepper flakes and cook on low for 20 minutes. Once the meatballs are done, add them to the sauce and let simmer for an additional 20 minutes. Cook your pasta according to package directions, and toss in your marinara sauce before serving!

Enjoy!!!!

What’s your favorite pasta dish? Today I am linking up with Holly and Tricia for the weekly wrap up!!!

weekly-Wrapup

I hope everyone has a great week! Things are getting REAL around here, with my hubby’s deployment training starting full speed tomorrow lasting the next 21 days. Our Nanny starts tomorrow, and I pray it will be a smooth transition for us all!

❤ Michelle

Deployment thoughts, moving forward, running

The rescued Introvert

January 7, 2016 Movin' it with Michelle

I have battled with depression for more than half my life. Those of you that have been following along for a while, know that for most of my adult life I had taken depression medication. In fact, my distance running career started partly because I had hit rock bottom, and I HAD to pull myself back up for me AND my family. So in 2007 I decided in late September that I was going to run my first half marathon just 7 weeks later. I trained for this race while working full time, going to school for my Bachelors degree AND studying for promotion. Did I mention I had an 8 year old and a 1 year old daughter to care for too? LOL. Most said I was nuts, but deep down I knew I’d go completely nuts if I didn’t escape to the roads to train. I finished said half marathon in 2:19, and I had never been more proud of myself other than the day I graduated basic training. I DID it. I didn’t quit. I didn’t give up. And my husband was there, cheering me on the entire time.

Several years later, in 2012, I would finally complete my goal of finishing my first full marathon, and I did so with my sister by my side. Another very proud and amazing moment that I will never forget. I also haven’t taken any depression medicine since 2012, and I keep movin’ forward and feel better for it.

What does all this mean? Well, running has truly saved me more times than I can count. Why? How?

Well, I saw myself pulling back from my friends and family again here recently. I just wanted to go to work, come home, and curl up on the couch and forget that with each passing day, it meant a day closer to when my husband leaves. But a few weeks ago I decided I was going to accept an invitation from my friends and start running with them on Tuesday evenings. I was going to GET OUT OF THE DARN HOUSE and do something just for me. This last Tuesday as I was running and chatting with one of my very dear friends, we spoke of depression and different times in our lives that we battled this yucky disease. She spoke of a time where she stopped doing all the things she loved, and she became introverted and just wanted to be alone.

And a light bulb went instantly ON. I was doing this. I was declining invitations, not doing the things I enjoyed, and I was avoiding my friends.

So last night after work, I took my youngest shopping (I normally HATE stopping anywhere after work) at Target, threw in a couple CPK frozen pizzas in the oven, and treated myself to a MUCH needed massage. I hadn’t had one since June, and it was long over due. The point, is that I did something for me FINALLY. I’m not one of those women who gets her hair done at a nice place, or manicures/pedicures unless it’s a special occasion. I honestly don’t do hardly anything for ME, and it’s gotta stop. Because here soon, it’s going to be ALL me, and I better MAKE time to recharge.

I feel better today, better than I have in quite some time. I know some pretty amazing people have my back, and that helps lighten the load tremendously. And I’ve got hope…barrels and barrels of hope and faith, that my husband will return home safely, and that our family will be even stronger through all of this.

Questions: What’s your go-to stress reliever? Have you or any of your family members dealt with depression?

Cheers to you all for you amazing support!

❤ Michelle

Deployment thoughts

It’s a New Year…

January 5, 2016 Movin' it with Michelle

As I talked about in my last post, I have always been a fan of New Years. This New Year’s started out with a killer migraine on NYE and as the day progressed, so did my headache. Thankfully I was able to cut out of work an hour early, and take a much needed nap with a Motrin cocktail in tow. We spent the evening with our dear friends who are also neighbors, and I am proud to say I stayed awake until after 1 a.m., LOL!

I woke up rather late on New Year’s day, and immediately felt a sinking sadness looming in my chest. I cried, most of the morning, and then decided I needed a nap because I was over tired and over emotional, and I cried myself to sleep. I am going to miss my husband, more than I can even say in words. (Sorry, broken record, I know…)

Thankfully, I woke up feeling much better. We spent the rest of the weekend cleaning, putting Christmas away, and cleaning some more. My house was immaculate, and I was at peace. We had an interview with a nanny on Sunday, and it went GREAT. She starts next Monday, and this is a HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders. I still don’t know how I am going to #doallthethingsallbymyself but at least now one of those things is taken care of for me.

So now, as the days fly by and the countdown to my husband’s departure ticks by I am thoughtful in my goals for this next year. My goal to PR the marathon distance will be sidelined, and my cookbook put off for probably another year (although I will still catalog my recipes on the blog) and I will be focusing on staying positive for my kids, smiling/laughing every day, and doing things I love with the people I love.

What are you plans for the New Year? Do you make resolutions/goals? Have you ever had to deal with a long term separation from your spouse?

Here’s to a great 2016!

Cheers!

❤ Michelle

Deployment thoughts

My New Year’s Eve thoughts

December 31, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

I have always loved New Years. I love the thought of having a clean slate, a new start, an open book to start the year off. In the last several years we’ve celebrated the New Year with our dear friends that live next door to us, and we will be doing the same, this year.

I don’t do resolutions, but more so set mini-goals for myself. Last year I wanted to de-clutter my life, both in material items as well as spiritually. I was tired of being weighed down, and I can honestly say in this last year while I haven’t purged as many material items as I’d like , I have definitely let go of some internal and external demons I’d hung on to for far too long. My second goal of running a sub-2 half marathon was ALMOST achieved, but I was 11 seconds too slow. LOL, I can only laugh at it now. I’ll get it, eventually.

This New Year’s is a little different, however. I finally admitted to myself, and my Mom last night via text, that I am dreading the New Year. I suppose because it’s a reminder that my husband leaves in just a couple months, and that next New Years he won’t be here with us physically. And I’ve never NOT celebrated the New year without him since we’ve been married. And that breaks my heart, just a little more.

I do have an interview for a Nanny on Sunday, and the bonus is that she does light housekeeping. I pray we like her, and that she likes us, because this would be a huge weight lifted off my shoulders despite the dent it’ll cause to my pocket book.

With that, I wish you all a very Happy New Year!!!! Do you have goals or resolutions? How do you celebrate?

Cheers! And remember, #keepmovinforward

Michelle

Uncategorized

Word Press 2015 annual report and 2 year anniversary!

December 30, 2015December 30, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

It’s been fun growing my blog this year. Here’s my stats!

And, it’s my 2 year anniversary on Word Press!! Even better!! It’s my 4th year blogging, and I am so happy I moved over to Word Press 2 years ago. A huge thanks to you all for sticking with me, and a big welcome to all the new faces! ❤

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com! You registered on WordPress.com 2 years ago! Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging! — Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!
You registered on WordPress.com 2 years ago! Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 19,000 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 7 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Deployment thoughts

My 2015 review

December 28, 2015December 30, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

I’ve thought a lot about this last year. I’ve truly changed, and for the better (in my opinion, and that is what counts, right?) if I may say so myself. I went through and purged my blog of negative posts in the beginning of the year, realizing what a drag I was for SUCH a long time.

So I thought what fun would it be to highlight my POSITIVE posts for my year in review?

This post is where I beam with pride for my husband taking his first command position in the Army. Now, as he prepares to deploy for a year I NEED to focus on this pride and not sadness.

And then there is this post, where I talk about my once hated birthday, and how I finally started to celebrate life and all the wonderful blessings I’ve been given.

As we hit the second month of the year, I found myself feeling sorry for myself as I caught my aging reflection in the mirror, and I spoke about the truth. And how important it is to BE TRUE to yourself and others always.

My world was barreled over and changed in the blink of an eye when on St. Patrick’s Day, my oldest daughter was in a life threatening car accident. This post was (and still is) my most viewed post since the beginning of my blog. (Thank goodness, she’s is A-OK and you’d never know the accident happened minus a couple scars).

What would a runner be, without thoughts about running the Boston Marathon? I share my thoughts, here.

Here, on the eve of my Grandma’s Marathon 20 mile (SOLO) training run, I found myself on the crazy train, and I tell you what, it nearly derailed, ROFL!!! note: I not only survived, but I ROCKED my last training run!

My current half marathon PR race can be found here, all full of tears and fun balled up in to a great big sweaty mess ROFL!!!! Throw in a recipe for short ribs, and you’ve got a winning post, right?! LOL

This pic, truly says it all. Thanks to Dave Sheble from the Fox Valley Marathon for capturing it!

My year in review wouldn’t be complete with out the recap of the race I trained nearly half the year for: The Grandma’s Marathon, in Duluth Minnesota. I ran/walked this race with my sister, and I can honestly say it was one of the toughest races I’ve ever ran. Guess what? It was also a life changing, relationship building and character testing event that I’ll never, ever, forget.

We headed to the beach in July, and I finally found where I believe home will be once the kids get a bit older. We started out in Marco Island, but got rained out! So my hubby saved the day, and the last 2 days we road tripped to Miami and I was instantly in love. You can see our adventures in my picture post recap, HERE.

One of my favorite Friday Five posts can be found here. I love it when you have an “Ah HA!” moment.

I ran my last official race in October, the Prairie State half marathon. Check it out here! It was all about fun, friends, and food that day and I had such a blast!

And then, the news came that my husband was deploying. Overseas. To an icky place. For a year. And some days, even now that I’ve had a couple months to digest the news, I find it very hard to even breathe. #sigh

So we made the most of our anniversary, knowing we’d be apart for our next. And just writing that sentence brings more tears to my eyes.

Lastly, one of my favorite weekends of the year, every year, is our annual Christmas Staycation in Chicago. This year we went all out, and it was AH. MA. ZING.

Us just before going in to the Lion King

As I said, I learned so very much about myself this last year. I hope and pray I have the continued strength to get through this next year on my own without my husband. My girls need me. My husband needs me to be strong for them. I need to be strong for ME.

How was your year? Did you meet all the goals you set for yourself?

Cheers to a great 2016!! Thanks to you all for following along and supporting my journey!

❤ Michelle

weekend wrap up

Long weekend wrap up/Sunday Supper

December 27, 2015December 27, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

This past weekend was a whirlwind of food, and family, plain and simple. We holed up in our little family nest and made memories to hang on to over this next year of separation. I’ll write this wrap up, mostly in photos, because I really want to go snuggle on the couch with my tribe. I also have a recipe to share, but we will get to that a bit later. ❤

First day of Winter run with my friends!

These ladies continue to love me, even when it’s not easy to do

Running friends can always make me smile

My girls baked Christmas cookies since I had to work Christmas Eve

First course of Christmas Eve dinner was a baby arugula salad with shrimp dressed with a blood orange vinaigrette

Pan seared scallops with tri-colored potatoes

Priceless smile from my mini while opening gifts

Hubby got her a necklace to wear while he’s away…#allthetears

Check out my pup, praying Daddy drops that bone on the floor!! LOL

Someone takes her bowling very seriously, LOL

Smoothies to start my week out right tomorrow!

Homemade beef stock with the bones from our prime rib. It is currently simmering on my stove, and it smells AMAZING in here.

I used my new mortar and pestle to add ginger, garlic and pink peppercorns to my dipping sauce. YUM!!

I lined my steamer with bok choy leaves vs. using oil

I adapted my recipe from HERE, omitting the jicama, and using 1/2 lb. of ground pork and 1/2 lb. of beef along with 1 cup of finely chopped cooked shrimp. I served with my yummy Asian dipping sauce but you can serve with the suggested plain soy sauce or chili paste. Serve with your favorite rice/rice noodle and veggie for a complete meal! Enjoy!!

This weekend I am linking up with Holly and Tricia again for the Weekly wrap up!

How was your week? Get anything exciting for Christmas?

weekly-Wrapup

❤ Michelle

Deployment thoughts, weekend wrap up

4th Annual Chicago Christmas Staycation/Weekend wrap up!

December 21, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

This year marks the 4th year we went to the city to celebrate early Christmas. In years past we’ve stayed at The Palmer House, Knickerbocker, and The Drake and enjoyed each hotel immensely. This has become a family tradition that is cherished by our family. The Drake holds a special place in our hearts so this year we decided to go all out for the holidays, knowing next year we wouldn’t be together.

2 years ago-we stayed across the street at the Knickerbocker this year.

This year, right before we went to The Lion King

I am normally a very frugal person and cringe at the thought of credit card debt. If I can’t pay cash for it, I don’t buy it. But this year I decided to let lose a little, and we spoiled the kids rotten with food, seeing The Lion King, and shopping till we dropped on the Mag mile. I even got a new bag. #winning I know my husband is trying to make up for next Christmas, and all the time he will be gone. But I gently reminded him that I’d trade every handbag and present for his safe return. #allthetears

So there it is….we ate at Season’s 52, The fig and the olive, Quartino’s, mk, and The Purple Pig. The Chicago food scene is truly amazing. We even got to tour the kitchen and meet Erick Williams, the Executive Chef of mk. I can’t say enough about the amazing service, AND food. We will definitely be back, maybe for my birthday!!!!

mkmenu — mk tasting menu w/wine pairings-YUM

Desert and mk! Who's droolin'?! — Desert at mk! Who’s droolin’?!

The weekend flew by, but we made memories that will last a lifetime. I can honestly say that despite this being one of the toughest things we’ve been through, it has made us all that much stronger of a family unit. He leaves in just 2 months, and the time is flying by far too quickly. I pray his time away goes by just as fast.

I may have secretly snapped this shot. HEHE!

The reason I smile... — The reason I smile…

Our car was stuffed to the ceiling with bags, but the memories are what I will hold dear to my heart.

Do you have any family traditions at Christmas time? When you travel do you enjoy trying out new restaurants?

This week I am linking up with Holly and Tricia for the weekly wrap up!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!!

❤ Michelle

Deployment thoughts

Tuesday Truths.

December 15, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

Not a lot makes sense lately. So while grasping for straws trying to hold on to some semblance of normalcy I give you the last two days of truth in pics.

My baby girl isn’t a baby anymore. We’ve been practicing her driving in hopes she’ll get her license before my hubby leaves.

My amazing friend Jitka who invited me out for a run tonight.

Because running at night is fun with friends.

Seven minute plank-whaaaaaa? Yeah. My goal for 2016 is to keep. Getting. Stronger.

And that my friends. Is a wrap. With my husband’s deployment getting moved up constantly, hanging on to little truths is all I can do!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

❤ Michelle

Deployment thoughts

My Christmas wish list

December 13, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

I’ve read several posts about Christmas wish lists, and it got me thinking…

What do I want for Christmas? I really couldn’t come up with anything. If I want or need something, I stop at the store and buy said item. Like last week while I was out Christmas shopping, for example. I needed new mittens so I can actually run outside this during the winter months. So I picked up these bad boys which I am told by my runner friends are AH. MA. ZINGGGG for keeping your hands warm.

photo from Amazon, but I got mine at my local running store

So what could I possibly ask for, for Christmas?

And then it hit me like a ton of bricks as I was watching T.V. A commercial came on, and it showed a Dad taking his son to see Santa, and then unwrapping presents on Christmas morning. A toy truck zoomed across the floor and to the front door, where his Mom, a service member, stood in the doorway. She was returning home from her deployment and wrapped her arms around her family. I can’t even type it, without getting choked up.

I’ve been part of a homecoming like that, once. And soon, I’ll have to say “Farewell” to my husband for a very long time. Next Christmas, he won’t be with us. And just typing those words makes my heart ache even more.

My hubby and J, the night before he left for Afghanistan in 2003.

So for Christmas, my wish is for his safety and for the safety of his troops. Please, God. Bring them home safely. Please.

The second happiest day of my life. <3 — The second happiest day of my life. ❤

Times like these, really puts my life in to perspective. There isn’t anything I could truly ask for this year, other than his safe return home.

What is on your wish list this year? Are you able to spend the holidays with your loved ones?

Wish you all, a very Happy Holiday season.

❤ Michelle

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