HealthyFudge +Massage + Mrs. Doubtfire

Phew.. we are over the mid-week hump!
    Yesterday morning I made a typical green smoothie for James and I to share for breakfast

  (Ignore the huge bowl of dog biscuits..) I think I was still asleep when I put it together.. I put way too much in the blender and ended up with far more than we normally drink- Well I must have subconsciously thought we needed some extra greens!
     We have been working on this awesome puzzle lately- when James and I have our afternoon coffee after work.. “The doors of Ireland"

  (We finished it tonight.. but it was too dark to take a picture.. so you’ll have to wait until tomorrow!)

Anyway.. after breakfast and another coffee (I’m such a procrastinator) I fit in a little workout..

   I finished in 7:35 and those Toes to the Bar were killer.. Try it out! (Tell me how long it takes you!)

    I worked at the Restaurant and had a client- We went through one of my favorite types of workouts.. the “Deck of Cards WO”… I was pumped and ready to kick some client ass! (I love my job!)

      After my PT client, I ran over to Trader Joe’s to restock coffee (you do not want to see me in the morning without it) and grab a couple of random things.. I even grabbed a bottle of wine before heading home to finally eat dinner

    James was out, so I was my own dinner date.. Unless you count the cast of “Family Ties” that kept me company thanks to Netflix.

    

   I woke up this morning SUPER excited.. It was massage day!

  Ahhhh.. So much better.. Preventative medicine people- Massage is necessary when you beat your body up almost everyday.. My massage therapist is the best.. She is rough, goes deep and gets out every knot I didn’t even know existed.. I <3 her.="her." p="p">      I made sure to eat well afterwards

 Big bowl of broccoli and a grilled cheese on the Paleo bread..

   Oh so crunchy and fantastic.. I’m so impressed with this bread.. I know your sick of hearing it- but have you made it for yourself yet???

     After lunch I made the twins healthy pumpkin fudge- I modified the recipe and used sweet potato in place of the pumpkin.. and spiced it with cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg… All together now..

   It was some sticky stuff.. (I may have stolen some bites here..) But I managed to smooth it out

 They were right.. the hardest part about this recipe was waiting for it to set in the fridge for a couple of hours. The moment finally came and it was worth the wait.

   YUM.. thank you ladies for making my week! I have a feeling this will be a regular snack over here.
 
Remember the coconut soup from the other night? Well I thought it would be a good idea to add some protein to the leftovers.. so I had grabbed some fish at TJ’s the add to it

  I have never had Mahi mahi.. or have used TJ’s frozen fish, so I was really excited to give it a try.. Unfortunately- it didn’t turn out well.. I choked a bowl down but it wasn’t good.. I don’t know if it was the kind of fish, the fact that it was frozen, or cooking it in the soup.. but it was rubbery and kind of gross. Oh well… it happens!
    Right after dinner we went on an hour long walk, through the slush leftover from today’s snowfall which was kind of like running on the beach.. My ass was burning by the time we got home! Good thing I went to teach yoga tonight- all about hip openers!
    Now it’s about that time of the night where I grab another chunk of sweet potato fudge and watch Mrs. Doubtfire for the 100 time..

Goodnight! 

Monday Yumday!

    The weekend highlights:

          The sunday morning workout- 14 minutes long- 50 seconds work/10 seconds rest

        After work we took Hydro with us for a walk around Providence. The weather was mild and perfect, nothing but smiles over here

       We walked past RISD Museum of Art- out front there was a flashing sign that read “NAKED ARTIST INSIDE"

  (I realize you can’t see the words.. but believe me I couldn’t make this shit up, lol) I tried sneaking a peak through the glass… but I couldn’t see anything.. Damn- at least we had a good laugh!

    Today started off with a leg workout. I started with a 15 minute walk on the treadmill followed by 3 mini circuits (Each circuit 12 reps- 3 times through):

Split squats- 12 each leg (15lb DB)
Deadlifts- 40lbs
Good Mornings- 40 lbs

Step up to balance- 12 each leg (15lb DB)
Goblet squats- 50lbs
Jump squats

Curtsy Lunge alternating
Jump Lunge alternating
Side Lunge alternating

          I hooked up an omelet as soon as I walked through the door 

  3 whole eggs

Onions + shrooms

Asparagus

Cheddar

         
     It was still missing something…

    Ah.. a blanket of hot sauce.. that’s much, much better :)
   I did a bunch of boring errands, visited my Aunt who is unfortunately in the hospital (don’t worry she’s going to be ok, thankfully) and ran to Paula’s house to borrow her hand mixer so I could make the Paleo bread I talked about

   Can I tell you that this loaf does not disappoint! I scoped the recipe earlier in the week over at www.againstallgrain.com Click there. Make this recipe. Don’t think twice about it..  (James loved it.. I had to remind him that the main ingredient is cashew butter therefore a little pricey- also known as.. “please don’t eat it all on me” haha)
        While the bread was in the over I got started on the soup that I brainstormed this morning

     I love when ideas come to fruition and blow your pants off.. Ok, so my pants didn’t actually blow off.. but I did eat two huge bowls, and stole more bites less than half and hour later..

   Inside: 

Onions, garlic, anchovies, carrots, celery, potato, sweet potato, red bell pepper, kale, COCOnut milk, and Thai red curry paste.. along with random shakes of spices..  

    It came out great, but not perfect- I’m going to keep working on it for ya ;) 

Happy Monday! 

Fish+ Foods+ Roons+ Buckets of yogurt

    Well Hello friends! How are you this fine Friday? I’ve been a super busy girl, but first lets catch up on the last few days! 

    As you know I’m reading The Primal Blueprint and have been sharing everything I’ve read with James.. I think he’s excited (because I’m going to incorporate some of the principles and fish more often in our diet) and a little scared that I’m going to make him eat Paleo, haha..  While I have no plans to make him eat a certain way, (or to become 100% Paleo myself) I am excited to be able to share more complete meals together- 

     That white blob on the plate would be fillet of sole.. It fell apart in the pan to plate transfer- but I assure you, it tasted a whole lot better than it looks. We sprinkled it with seasonings and pan fried it in coconut oil.. Yum and yum!
    I was super drained on Tuesday so I skipped out on the gym in the morning.. and focused on eating good food

 … Salad beast in your face! Eventually I met up for my first PT session with J.. We did weight, measurements and fit testing.. and even managed to squeeze in a little circuit at the end. I’m really looking forward to working together to meet her goals!

   Wednesday morning started with a little workout with Paula.. I focused on upper body with a little bit of ABS tossed in:

Run through each circuit 3 times- 15 reps per exercise- before moving on to the next
Circuit #1
-Skull Crushers
-Bench press
-Bench dips

Circuit#2
-DB row
-Decline Pushups
-DB fly

Circuit #3
-Lat Pull Down
-Cable Row

Circuit #4
-Cable Wood Chop
-AB Pull down

   I had planned on going for a run outside that afternoon with James since it was supposed to be nice out.. But when he got home at 3:30 it was gray, cold and drizzling outside.. Bummer! At least I got some stretching in when I taught Yoga later that night.
 
    Yesterday was a crazy busy day.. I wasn’t planning on going to the gym in the morning- because I was again super tired (didn’t sleep well a couple nights this week) But then I got a text message from my friends saying she was at the gym.. and where was I? Opps.. I kind of forgot.. Luckily the gym is 4 minutes away.. and I was able to strap on my barney colors and get my butt there.

  I really wasn’t into it- I’ll be honest.. I half-heartedly went through some of the machines with her- which was fine.. I usually don’t care for them too much to begin with, so it was really more about me chatting with her and mindlessly going through the motions. After a half hour or so we decided to take it outside and walked around the surrounding neighborhood for about 45 minutes which was much more enjoyable!
   I got right to work as soon as I got home.. I wrote a review and got a bunch of paper work and workouts planned. I met up with J for our PT session for 5:30, got home at 6:40 and inhaled a salad and some eggs before rushing out the door for 7:00 to go teach yoga. By the time I got home at 9:00 I collapsed with a cup of tea before passing out on the couch.. James had to push me up the stairs to bed..

   Today was another busy day..
Wrapped bananas for smoothies (I buy them at a little grocery store nearby that reduces the price to nearly nothing once they have brown spots.. people don’t like them like this?)


   Made cashew butter for an upcoming Paleo bread

   Made the most amazing chocolate Macaroons

   (and I ate a bunch of them too!) So I had some green beans to even it out

     And I broke into the biggest bucket of yogurt I’ve ever bought!

   I have had Nancy’s products before.. and loved them- but I haven’t had this yogurt and I was super pumped to give it a try.. and No.. I don’t know what your talking about.. I didn’t open it up in the parking lot to steal a taste..  :)

A back story + Product Review: Vega Vibrancy Bars!

   A couple of summers ago I drove across the country (in my little two door Toyota Yaris) with a fellow Yogaslacker to Wanderlust (Wanderlust is a yoga and music festival) to teach slacklining

     Minus the glass of wine of course! We didn't get paid in cash, but were able to attend the concerts and classes and have a place to stay in exchange for teaching folks how to slackline.. Not a bad deal right?  ( Yogaslackers are a crazy bunch of extreme athletes that do everything from slacklining and acroyoga, to adventure races and everything in between..  ) We also took the unsuspecting students through conditioning

  and worked on our own tricks…

     It truly was an amazing time.. but I had very little money- most of which was used for gas… and we were on the road for 21 days.. We were literally living off protein bars, (Luna, raw revolution, Bonk Bars to name a few) and random meals that friendly folks offered up. Thank you friends!
 
     What I mean to say is, I know my protein bars! I ate so many of them that summer- I couldn’t eat another one for months. But the truth is.. I really love them.. Call me weird, but I dig the texture, taste and portability. A couple of months ago I was sent a sample of Vega Vibrancy Bars to review..

      An amazing sample! Boxes of all three flavors- Wholesome Original, Chocolate Decadence, and Berry Bliss. All three flavors are gluten free and both the original and berry flavors are dairy and soy free as well!  I’ve reviewed vega products before, so I had no doubt that these bars would be amazing.. and just like the protein powders the nutrition and ingredients were impeccable:

  Ingredients: Sprouted whole grain brown rice protein, inulin (from chicory root), dates, organic agave nectar, raw almonds, organic sprouted buckwheat, almond butter, dried apples, hemp seeds, Vega SaviSeed (sacha inchi) oil, white chia seeds, brown rice crisps, natural vanilla flavor, sea salt.
     

The goods  Awesome:

- I can pronounce every single ingredient

- You can actually see WHOLE chia seeds, almonds, berries, buckwheat.. etc

- The texture is dense and diverse- with crunchy and soft blending together well. Not sticky or similar to modeling clay like some bars! 

-Vegan and gluten free

- Not too sweet or overly flavored. 

- Not too calorically dense.. The perfect pre or post workout fuel and snack size.

- They never bothered my stomach and kept me satiated for hours! 

 The not so good:

   To be honest.. the only thing I can put in this column is price. Using quality ingredients comes at a cost for sure, we all know that.  These bars are almost $3 a piece. To be fair, any quality bars out there are in the same price range so I don’t hold it against them. 

         My favorite flavor is the Chocolate Decadence, but all three flavors are awesome and worth a try.

Thank you Vega and Katie at Crier Communications!!  

     

Exciting things

     -A new client.. The first of the new year! My friend Jackie contacted me about getting in on some PTing and I’m super pumped.. We start our journey tomorrow!

    - Friday night James and I met up with our friends to see a comedy show. While we waited for them to finish dinner and meet up, we headed to the book store so I could check out The Primal Blueprint

   While I’m not paleo- not even close as a vegetarian- I really have been interested in the concepts.. Eating real foods, Eating good fats often, Getting lots of sunlight, Getting lots of playtime and pushing yourself hard (for short bouts) balanced out with low-moderate cardio. I’m excited to get deeper into the book and I will definitely share my opinion :)

- Exciting for Hydro (and Sammy when Hydro shares- since he has staked his claim) We were handed down this recliner chair- which if you can believe it is 15 years old- that James picked up while I was at work on Saturday.. Hydro is in love and has lived in it since.

-It was still sunny when I got out of work on Sunday which we took advantage of with a nice walk around the neighborhood with Hydro.. Sammy doesn’t get to go on walks because he is TERRIBLE on a leash and  really prefers to run free (which we can’t do in our area) so James gave him some extra snuggles to make up for it..

    My dogs are seriously spoiled!

- Monday morning workout- 

      3 Mile run

Superset 1 3x12: Single leg deadlift (12 reps each leg)/Squat- curl to press

     10 Burpees

Superset 2 3x12: Lunge back & Overhead Tri extension/ Jump Lunges

     10 Burpees

Leg press 3x12

____________________________________________________________

   The rest of the day was dedicated to class and client prep and household errands..  along with some snackables

    Terrible picture.. but you’ve been around long enough to know I’m not a photographer, haha..
  In there- Quinoa, toasted almonds, crasins, coconut flakes all topped with coconut butter.. Looks gross but it’s fabulous :)

   

What are your exciting things?? 

Dance in the Rain+ Hydro Update+ WO+ eats

  Hello Friends!! The weekend is here which is the end of the work week for most and the start of the work “week” for others (Me!) Since I work Saturday and Sunday, I try to make the most of Fridays. 

  I finally got this wall decal in and up on the wall and I just love it.. Have you used these wall decals? Super easy to apply and they look awesome.. I’m searching (and saving money) for a larger tree design for our dining room.
   Since last I checked in I mentioned Hydro’s Appointment at a new vet for one more opinion on his condition.. Well we made the half hour drive yesterday

  The doctor spent an hour with us.. going through his records, and his person extensively.. Well.. The final word.. Hydro has BRAIN DAMAGE from the UNNECESSARY surgery we were told he needed 7 months ago. (If your new here… we were told Hydro had a double hernia when in fact he didn’t and never recovered post op) Without further expensive testing.. (which can do nothing to reverse what is wrong) the conclusion is that he either had an adverse reaction from the drugs used to knock him out for the surgery.. or there was a lack of oxygen during the surgery.
      Either way.. Hydro is never going to recover.. The GOOD NEWS is he is in tip top physical shape.. he isn’t in any pain! Now that we are sure of his condition we can rest easy knowing that we are doing everything we can to take care of him.. and that he isn’t suffering- so we can just continue to smother him with lots of love and care.. A BIG THANK YOU to Dr. Serra!

     Before the Vet visit.. I headed over to the gym for a little run

    And a bit of AB work:
50 Roman Chair leg lifts
50 Decline Sit ups with 25lbs
20 Russian Twist with 25lbs
3x20 Side Bends with 20lb DB
 
 I also taught 1 hour of yoga later in the evening with an amazing group of woman..

   This morning I actually woke up with a bunch of energy.. James and I have coffee in bed every morning (He gets up a little earlier than I do, makes the coffee and brings it up to wake me up.. He’s the best!) Well this morning we had a little blip in the plan.. One of the coffee cups fell off of our headboard and all over us and the bed and blankets! You never seen two people jump out of bed so fast! Guess we won’t be doing that anymore, haha. Well at least it started with a laugh!
   Anyway, I made our breakfast smoothies and suited up for the gym.. I kept it super simple today:

-4x6 Clean and Press @ 60 lbs
-50 Wide Grip pull ups (25 lbs assistance)
-25 Underhand pull ups (25 lbs assistance)
-50 Dips (25 lbs assistance)
     I left the gym, went home and leashed up Hydro for a nice (and VERY cold) walk around the neighborhood. I’m going to make this a more regular thing (I was afraid to push him since we thought he was in pain..) It was REALLY COLD- check out the red ears and nose!

    I was famished so I went right to work in the kitchen..  I tried my hand at a version of Tina’s Microwave Paleo English Muffin. I don’t have almond meal in the house, so I used a blend of coconut flour and ground golden flaxseeds, which worked out well!

   I filled it with two eggs cooked over easy in coconut oil and a bit of Frank’s Wing Hot Sauce.. Yum, Yum, and Yum!

   

   I will be making this again for sure.. It was quick and easy! 

         Afterwards I met up with my friend Melinda for some coffee and catching up.. and more than three hours later I came home starved… Real food for the win!

  

What’s your favorite real foods??

1-2-13

“Only that the day dawns to which we are awake” Henry David Thoreau

BE PRESENT- one of my goals for 2013.. I tend to over think things- making up stories about how things are going to happen or should be happening instead of focusing on them actually happening.. Which means I miss out- and its time to awaken! This is partially due to having ADHD and being scared to fail or do it wrong. It makes me put things off and avoid what needs to be done… Its a goal that will be tough but worth it in the end!

The first workout of the year- 45 minutes of Ashtanga yoga.

It has been far too long since I’ve actually enjoyed the practice of yoga. Most of the time I just skip it in favor of some HIIT, lifting, or even some running.. leaving it only for when I teach Wednesday and Thursday nights. I used to love it so much, but now I find I have to drag myself to the mat and struggle even harder to stay there for more than a few Sun Salutes. Well the new year is here, its my chance to get my shit together and be consistent. I’m such a cliche’- haha.

   I finished off with a green  brown smoothie while reading some blogs and half marathon training plans (Holy shit I’m scared, what did I get myself into?)

What’s in there? Banana, mixed berry blend (black, rasp, straw) Plain greek yogurt, two HUGE handfuls of spinach, spirulina, bee pollen, flax oil, OJ and a bit of protein powder.. No wonder it was brown.. Oh well, still tasted good! :)

   In the middle of my smoothie the boys had to go outside, and these days when they need to go out you just drop everything your doing or your going to have a pile or puddle to clean up (oh the joys of having one dog pushing 12 and another one that is still F’ed up from surgery) I took advantage of their cuteness and snapped some photos

 (Hydro only has one face these days.. super serious mustache)

 (Sammy’s face had me laughing like crazy.. as to say “seriously mom.. WTF”)

Since Hydro doesn’t lick your face off every time you look at him like he did when he was feeling swell.. I always try to bribe it out of him.. “Smoochsky Poochsky?” He just stares blankly- but sometimes you can get a wet nose in the face.. which is kind of like a kiss? Whatever.. I’ll take it!
 
  Speaking of the mutt… I made an appointment with ANOTHER vet for tomorrow.. This is the “Last ditch effort” to figure out what is wrong. This vet was referred to us because he is an internal specialist and apparently is awesome at the “tough” cases.. Fingers crossed.. Hydro is getting worse in some respects, and we want to make sure we make the right/ best decision on where we go from here..