Here are some things/stuffs I am loving/living this week.
1. First, and foremost. My Brooks Launch 2’s. I love them. They are like clouds on my feet and I wish I could sleep in them…ok….maybe a bit much but still.
Brooks Launch 2’s
2. I chew gum when I run. Some question folks who can talk and chew gum at the same time. I MUST run and chew gum at the same time or my cadence is completely OFF. Brand? Extra, of course. Orange or Watermelon are my go-to flavors.
3. As I near my 1 year anniversary at work, I find myself almost waiting for the other shoe to drop. I am so in love with my job (minus weekends, holidays, and the occasional snarky person) that I keep shaking my head. Every day is better. Every day I feel like I am making a difference with the best crew I’ve ever supervised. Someone. Pinch. ME. now.
4. Single parenting is tough. We’ve discussed this before. But sometimes we surprise ourselves and realize we CAN do it alone. Going on the better part of the month, alone and – WINNING.
I may have served 20 years, but I still have years to serve as a spouse.
5. Dreadmill runs are extremely difficult for me. But as I ran tonight my virtual RBFF texted me continually telling me I COULD do this. Thanks, Maria.
pretty much…
So at the end of the day, I am living, running, moving, and loving EVERY single step of my life.
Normally I love Tuesdays…it’s one day closer to hump day but this week has been an inward battle. Between the weather, and knowing another week of training will be on the ‘mill, I had to dig deep.
I’ve learned a lot this winter in regards to relationships. It’s hard to hang close to people you don’t spend time with a lot. BUT, that doesn’t mean you care about them any less. At least in my book.
In all honestly I miss my running friends. They’ve all remained tough and have ran outside ALL winter long. I, well, have not. So it’s hard to relate as we are all over the place. My sleep has been less than stellar as it is most winters (and when my husband travels) so I have taken advantage of any extra sleep I can get, even if it means missing run club. Why? Am I not hard core enough? Am I not dedicated enough?
A lot probably would say such things about me, and my running/training this go-round has been less than hard core. And I understand…while my friends are in sub-zero temps running miles outside, I am indoors with a tank top and shorts running in the comfort of my own home with indoor facilities and all the entertainment I need….right?
Oh HECK NO…I would much rather be outside, but the thought of my hands/feet going so numb it actually hurts (Reynaud’s syndrome-self diagnosed as my Mom has it) to the point I can’t take it keeps me inside in temps below about 35 degrees. So sorry, but I just can’t be sorry. I am simply exhausted and doing the best I can on my own. I know…insert the #poorme reference here. Sorry…
But here’s a good image that describes how I feel running on the treadmill…
pretty much…
I can’t find my groove, I can’t have that feeling of bliss. Ack…I am saying I can’t.
But I’m running. I am working hard. And it’s the hardest mental test I’ve given myself in quite some time.
Brooks Launch 2’s are officially MINE!5K done in my new kicks tonight!
Running a marathon was almost easier than running 6 miles on the ‘mill last weekend. If I have to do 8 miles on the mill this coming weekend, I may need to be pre-medicated. Just saying.
With that, I bid you all goodnight. Another sleepless night has left me feeling less than stellar, and I am praying for some beauty sleep. Sometimes I just can’t turn the ‘ole noggin’ off.
Pretty much! Pic from Pinterest
I ask, how do you deal with winter training? What do you do when you try to engage in conversation but things are always one-sided? Any tips on a full nights sleep?
As part of my effort to compile all of my recipes this year (I started this effort in 2014), I will be blogging more of the magic food I create in my kitchen. Please keep in mind some of these recipes may seem almost too simple…But that’s the joy of cooking-especially on week nights! Creating simple, healthy, and tasty meals without having to really think! Win WIN, right?
I think so!
Tonight I had approximately 40 minutes upon arriving home from work to create a tasty dish before piling the family in the car to attend my youngest Mover’s school production. That’s plenty of time, right? Even better, I was able to speed walk for 2 miles at an incline while this yummy goodness simmered! Triple win!
Pic credit: tobreatheistowrite via google
On the menu was:
Mexican spiced chicken stew served over gluten free rotini pasta.This is a great dish on a cold, damp, winter evening!
Top with crème fraiche, sour cream or yogurt!
Here’s what you’ll need:
One package of boneless skinless chicken thighs (feel free to use white meat if you prefer, to me the dark meat has so much more flavor)
Four cups of vegetable stock, separated into three cups/one cup mixed with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken
One russet potato, peeled and cubed (sweet potato would be great too, I just didn’t have one!)
One white onion, diced
One large carrot, halved and chopped
3-4 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
2-3 teaspoons (to taste) of taco seasoning (I buy pre-made from my local mart)
2-3 teaspoons (to taste) of chili powder
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Crème fraiche, sour cream, or yogurt and chives to garnish. (This helps cut the heat of the stew)
Here’s what to do:
Take a Dutch oven or soup pot and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and heat over medium-high heat
Add your chicken, and season with salt, pepper, thyme, bay leaves, taco seasoning and chili powder. Sauté until cooked through, and add your three cups of stock and vegetables. Mix well, and add your additional one cup of stock that has been mixed with cornstarch. Bring the stew to a boil.
As the stew cooks, you will need to continually taste and season accordingly!
Reduce the heat to a simmer, and let simmer for 20 minutes or until the vegetables are soft.
I served over gluten free rotini pasta cooked according to the package instructions, but this dish could definitely be served on it’s own.
Enjoy!
Question! What are some of your favorite weekend night meals? How do you balance work, kids, and healthy cooking?
I have had a bit of a rough week physically. I’m not sure if it is the weather, crazy storm fronts or lack of good sleep but I’ve just felt a bit off. My sinus cavities aren’t happy with all the weather changes, and my stomach has that “Are you two months pregnant?” look to it that means it MUST be that dreaded time of the month or I have been eating too much crap aka salt. Crap…it’s only Tuesday!
As I drove to work today on my 0.1 nano-seconds of sleep I decided to reflect on how my year has started. (In reference to the nano-second please, PLEASE tell me you know who Mork and Mindy are…). I use my commute to think, reflect, and devise my daily plan for forward movement. That is my mantra….right?
Firstly, I started off my year by NOT running due to my accidental idiot mistake to lop off part of my thumb. I almost let this incident get to me, but remembered last year’s winter and decided it best to keep movin’ forward. So last week I started running again and yeah…a month off can hurt a person’s mojo. I can’t get my breathing straight, I hate the dreadmill, and it truly is hard to get motivated enough to get movin’ after a long day of work. But I’ve kept at it despite not feeling 100%…and although my mileage/speed is crap, I am at least MOVIN’…right?
After work, while dinner was cooking-THIS happened…lol
Secondly, sometimes winter gets to my emotional well being. Ok…I hate winter, more eloquently said, winter hurts…ROFL. That being said, I started to let the negative forces creep back in to my life…until I promptly kicked them to the curb. Be gone! People, stuff, events, you name it…I refuse to get sucked back in to it all. So sorry if I am a bit absent from the negativity…#noroomforthatcrap #sorrynotsorry
Pic from writerscafe.com
Yet tonight I had SEVERAL text messages from friends both near and far that wanted to check in on me/say hi/chat. Score. My heart was re-filled and I knew I was on the right path yet again.
photo credit, Pinterest
And now, as my hubs heads off to his late night soccer game I bid you all good night, and sweet dreams.
Questions…how do you keep yourself movin’ forward during tough times, winter months etc?
Ok, so I started last year at a pretty dark place, but managed to finish on a pretty high note with lofty yet achievable goals. Running, writing, and researching recipes are high on my list this year mixed in with some awesome photography…Right? Um…so yeah…about that…
Then, I cut my thumb on Christmas day, and my running, motivation, and goal making days halted all too quickly. BUT…thankfully only for just about a month. Whew…bullet dodged. I caveat this with saying I DID NOT/DO NOT want a repeat of last winter. Ever. Both the weather, and my mood were beyond frigid.
So here we go…
First:
I started running again last week. My miles are minimal and my pace is slow as can be…but I’m MOVIN’…can I get a yahoo??? Today at work I had a leadership workshop of sorts to attend so my 8 hour day was squashed in to 4 hours of playing catch up. I was tired by the time the final ‘bell’ rang, so upon arriving to my daughter’s school I texted my Maria…”I’ll be on the dreadmill in 30 minutes in case you want to join me.” Of course she did, despite battling a migraine for 5 days, and her virtual hug and push helped get my on the mill. 2.6 miles, complete.
My pace may have slowed, but the passion is still very real.
Second:
I hit the restart button after the holidays to try and lose my 5-7 lbs of marathon training/winter weight/I’m lazy and just ate all the food weight…so I’m back on MyFitnessPal for anyone else who uses this app, tracking my food and fitness and REALLY trying to stop eating all. the. chips. I have to giggle when it says I should weigh a certain weight if I continue to eat the way I am because yeah-pre-menopause obviously isn’t calculated in to the equation, and well yeah…I don’t see that number on the scale. BUT…I’ve just restarted in the last week or so, so baby steps, right? With that I have been eating high protein/veggie/fruit type of diet, so here is tonight’s easy peasy dinner recipe!
Baked Pork chop with white wine, onion and caper sauce over baby spinach salad
Easy peasy pork in just over 30 minutes!
What you’ll need (pork chops):
4 thick cut boneless pork chops, seasoned with kosher salt, pepper, and a dash of lemon pepper seasoning on all sides-apply liberally and set aside for about 5 minutes while you get everything preheated.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Pre-heat a non stick pan and add extra virgin olive oil and 1 pat of unsalted butter. Heat to high heat, and pan sear chops on both sides (5-7 minutes each side-don’t over crowd your pan!) until golden brown and transfer to a baking sheet. *Tip-line your pan with aluminum foil for easy clean up! Place in your pre-heated oven and cook for about 10 minutes or until your chops have reached 155 degrees-let rest for 10 minutes minimum-chops will reach required temp of 160 degrees by this time. *Tip-cover with foil while resting your meat. It helps hold the temperature.
While your chops are baking, make your “sauce.”
Sauce
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
2 tablespoons of Kalamata olives, chopped
Zest of a lemon
1 cup of white wine
1/4 of cold water mixed with cornstarch to thicken
Kosher salt, pepper, and oregano to taste.
In the same pan you seared your chops, deglaze with the white wine (make sure it’s wine you’d drink!)
Add your onions, garlic, capers, and olives. Reduce down the liquid by half, and add your seasonings and cornstarch water to thicken. Add zest just before serving. I served the spinach and pork with the sauce, who needs dressing/gravy? Not this girl!
So in order to stay on track with food, fitness, and life in general my TRUE goal this year is to BE CONTENT. I have said it before, but I’ll say it again. I am, and I have, ENOUGH.
Who’s with me? How are your eats and exercise lately? How do you battle off season eating/motivation?
I worked both Saturday and Sunday, and despite 95% of my weekend being pretty darn good, the nurse that chewed my butt for THEIR lack of planning sorta sunk in, and hit me hard as the weekend wrapped up. Somehow, it’s my problem that they failed to finish their competency paperwork in a timely manner, therefore locking them out of the testing they needed to perform. Yet anyone who works in healthcare knows that it’s ALL about rules, regulations, and proper training to keep our patients safe.
Yet I don’t have a BSN in my signature block, so this nurse decided to let me have it. I kept my composure on the phone, apologizing profusely for a whole lot of nothing that I did wrong, and hung up the phone in tears. I chose to let this drain my joy…but only briefly. I drove home in silence, and after my 30 minute commute I was calm and welcomed by my family. Life was good again. I dropped my purse on the counter, gave hugs to my youngest who had spent the night at her friend’s house the night before and poured myself in to my welcoming bed. I slept for TWO hours, and it was glorious.
I woke up to my hubby and youngest cooking our traditional Sunday Supper. A dinner I normally always prepare. But they stepped in and saved the day.
Check it out:
Cabbage salad with cilantro dressing, paired with a yummy passion fruit cocktail!Marinated steak served over a mango sauce, along with roasted potatoes and mushrooms, YUM!
I finished the night with day 11 of my ab challenge, a hot shower, and time spent in front of the fire. Tomorrow I have at least a 16 hour work day on deck, so I will postpone my first run of 2015 until Tuesday.
Lastly I was featured on one of my favorite blogs today! You can see it here!
My goal? 2 miles on the treadmill. Who wants to join me? What’s your favorite running songs? I need to update my play list!
Movin' it with Michelle 