Winter – Movin' it with Michelle

My co-workers and I love, LOVE, love to talk about food. Today was no different, so when one of my coworkers started talking soup-my ears perked up quick! I LOVE soup in a probably not so healthy way, especially in the winter time. She mentioned making a carrot soup with curry….”HMMMM,” I thought…that sounds AMAZING.

I will admit the underlying effort to lose the belly fat that this winter has given me as a ~~not so sweet~~ gift fueled my motivation to head to the grocery store after a very busy day at work. I picked up a bag of “horse carrots” as my youngest calls them, shallots, and some fresh herbs so I could make my OH so yummy soup for dinner.

This was such a hit, and you can omit the crème fraiche if you desire!

Here’s the recipe and what you will need:

6-8 large “horse” carrots, pealed and chopped

2 shallots, roughly chopped

2 cloves of garlic, smashed

6 cups of organic vegetable stock-low sodium if possible

2 sprigs of fresh thyme

2 pats of unsalted butter

1-2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil

Seasoning: Tumeric, Curry, Cayenne pepper, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Garnish-Crème Fraiche and chives

Get a large sauce pot and heat to medium high heat. Add in your butter and olive oil. Add all the veggies, and sauté until soft. Add your seasonings, but just a pinch at a time to ensure your get the right flavor. Next, add your stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce down to a simmer and let cook for about 25 minutes.

Remove the soup from the heat, and puree with a blender or immersion blender until smooth. Return the soup to the heat, and let simmer for a few additional minutes while you ensure the seasoning is just right. Garnish with crème fraiche and chives, and serve! I accompanied the soup with a yummy shrimp salad (dressing free-just marinated the shrimp in lime juice, salt, pepper, and evoo!) that was the perfect pairing for this spicy soup!

Question-are you a soup eater? What is your favorite kind? Do you enjoy making your own soups?

Thanks all, I hope you have a wonderful week!

❤ Michelle

moving forward

Movin’ forward, Two things this Tuesday

January 28, 2015January 28, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

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 — 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

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.

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?

❤ Michelle

food, Tuesday Truth

Tuesday Truths!

January 14, 2015January 14, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

First off, I am so very pleased to have been asked by Christina @crazymamarunner to tell my story about why I chose to run a marathon. I was highlighted on her blog this week, and you can read the story HERE . I found my eyes welling with tears as I read what she wrote, and re-read what I submitted to her. Please take a moment to check it out!!

Secondly, as most of you know I have struggled with my running this ~~and last~~ winter. Initially due to the artic blast we received far too early this winter, and ultimately ending with a nasty cut on my thumb Christmas day…in case you missed it, the story is HERE . For the first couple weeks my thumb throbbed so terribly I could barely sleep, and hardly fathom running. Along with this lack of motivation came laziness and poor eating. Woops. I fell in to that trap. Darn it all to H E double hockey sticks. Yeah…I went there. LOL

But this weekend despite crazy work hours and schedule I decided since my hubby was leaving at O dark 30 to travel this morning, I would run on the dreadmill tonight after work. I told my family, and posted on my FB fan page to hold myself accountable. I NEEDED to run at least 2 miles.

In stepped my friend Maria from @Runningflaps FB fan page. We made a virtual date, and I was so giddy to have ‘someone’ to run with even if it was virtually. I picked up my youngest from after school care and headed home. And as I pulled on my shorts and tank that was just a bit too tight for my comfort I found myself cringing. I shook it off, and headed down stairs to the mill. I decided to take some of my followers advice and turned on Netflix, season one of Grey’s Anatomy. I started slow, and found myself wanting to give up. And this I received THIS text:

I made it two miles, and although they weren’t pretty miles, I didn’t give up. I feel like I am starting from square one, but I am at least starting. It’s truly amazing what a month+ can do for your endurance…or should I say how it KILLS your endurance.

Pretty much how I feel...LOL — Pretty much how I feel…LOL

So I ran 2 miles, and although it was tough I finished.

Day 13 of the AB challenge is done, and I am realizing quick I need to get myself in to gear for next month when my “real” training starts. Darn my passion and love for food at times like these. Give me ALL. The. Veggies and someone take away my quinoa chips…PLZ. #alwayshungry

So tonight’s Truth is this:

Don’t give up, no matter the obstacles, what the scale says, or how your clothes fit. Keep movin’ forward, and the pieces will fall in to place!

❤ Michelle

dedication

Fate with a little bit of Fitness added in…

January 6, 2015 Movin' it with Michelle

I knocked out my AB challenge tonight, and even made it to 24 seconds with my plank vs. the required 12 seconds. Weak…I know. But it’s progress so I’ll take it. I also walked 2.5 miles today, and my thumb is healing nicely so I hope to hit the trails next week for a couple miles! I think God was actually doing me a favor this week, as we have sub 0 temps with negative wind chills to add to the winter fun! Those of you that know me, know I struggle in the winter. This winter my goal is to keep movin’ despite the frigid temps, and laugh. and then laugh some more…:-) And for those of you bragging about your warm temps in the winter, I am not affected. Winter is SUPPOSED to be cold and snowy. It’s not always FUN…but it’s winter, and the beauty of a fresh fallen snow is still priceless. My face, does still hurt tho…just sayin’…

Today at work, I had my weekly meeting with my boss to discuss any issues, happenings, budget, etc etc. Often times we get off on a tangent, and today’s tangent coupled with a later conversation that left me smiling. This lesson didn’t hit me until later in the day when one of my peers came to my office red faced and flustered. This woman has become like a Mother to me, so I immediately asked if I could help. She had received the news that her daughter had lost her job, and her heart was heavy trying to carry her daughter’s grief. And instantly I got choked up, remembering last year at this time, when I had found out my position was being eliminated. She and I talked extensively, both being women of great faith and I shared my story again of how I was at my wits end last year, as the time ticked by where soon I’d be jobless. But then I got the call…THE call for an interview for my current job, and everything fell in to place. Nearly 10 months later and I feel like this amazing group of people have welcomed me in with open arms and have made this my current ‘work’ home. It isn’t always about a hefty pay check or lofty raises that make the job satisfying. Nope…

It’s about the people you choose to surround yourself with, each and every day. In my weekly meeting with my boss earlier today, he verified that he is working on my less than stellar pay, and reminded me that I am appreciated. And that my friends, is enough for me…

So yeah…the pay check would be nice, but at the end of the day it’s about THIS. People, moments, relationships, family, and friends.

Keep Movin’ forward!

❤ Michelle

food, goals

Fell off the wagon…

November 17, 2014 Movin' it with Michelle

Sometimes life gets in the way of our best intentions and this week that very thing happened in my household. Life stressors and crappy weather won over the goals I had set for myself.

Fitness wise, I managed several walks, and 2 strength training sessions, but a bruised toe nail kept me from running, and all I can do is chalk it up to a bad week. I’m human. As I watched everyone posting “snow runs” this week I had to slap the envy away…I hate the cold, snow and winter. I want to embrace it and the beauty of a fresh snowfall…but instead, I embraced an extra glass or two of wine, LOL.

Decluttering wise, I did manage to really clean my house well yesterday, as well as food shop for healthy eats…I cleaned out my fridge which is always a great feeling.

Tonight, I decided Sunday Supper would be a healthful, Spanish inspired meal filled with summer dishes of gazpacho and pan seared Ahi tuna. Winter denial at it’s best? You betcha…

I started the gazpacho at around noon today to allow it ample time to chill in the fridge.

And while cooking, I watched my kids enjoy the first snow fall of the year. I can’t express the happiness I get from watching them play…together.

I totally took this picture, from inside the warmth of my kitchen...does that make me a bad Mom? lol — I totally took this picture, from inside the warmth of my kitchen…does that make me a bad Mom? lol

Gazpacho:

1st part-

Place all of these ingredients in a large bowl:

6 vine ripe tomatoes, boiled for 1 minute and peeled/seeded, then chopped finely

1 large cucumber, diced

1 red pepper, diced

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 green onions, just the white parts, diced

Salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper to taste

This just screams summer, and I love it during these bitter cold days!

2nd part:

Get out your blender next:

Add in 2 cups of cherry tomatoes

Splash of Worcestershire sauce

Splash of balsamic vinegar

The juice and zest of half of a lime

Glug of extra virgin olive oil

Blend until liquefied

Strain

Add the mixture back into your blender, and add in the diced veggies, pulse a few times to your desired consistency

To make a yummy garnish, take cucumber rolls and let them sit in rice wine vinegar for about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse, and you’ve got a beautiful, elegant garnish for your gazpacho.

No, this isn't a cocktail, LOL — No, this isn’t a cocktail, LOL

Ahi tuna:

Next, while this was chilling in the fridge, I prepared the Ahi tuna. I made a simple marinade of lime juice, rice wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, saffron, salt, pepper, and cilantro. Whisk in some extra virgin olive oil, and pour over your tuna steaks. Marinate in the fridge for one hour, allowing yourself time to have the fish sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Pan sear for about 2 minutes in a screaming hot pan that has EVOO in it, and flip only once. Set aside to plate.

I made sautéed spinach and mushrooms for a side dish, along with roasted baby Yukon potatoes. It was a win all around, and healthy to boot.