Hi there!

I hope you’re having a great Thursday

I missed blogging yesterday but it was a busy one.  In fact, I was gone from 8:30 am until 9:30 pm.  Sheesh!

First, the picture I promised:

Jami and Kathy…you know me so well!

***

Yesterday morning I taught Pump on a sore knee.  Usually I do about 20-30 minutes of cardio to warm-up, but I skipped it yesterday.  I was having a hard enough time walking!  It seemed to go okay, and I went down a bit in weight just to be sure I wouldn’t make things worse.

Pre-workout:

I didn’t pack much food yesterday (we need a real grocery trip!), so I picked up a smoothie from the health food store post-workout.  I also packed carrots + hummus, an apple, cottage cheese, and a bar.  It ended up being a perfect amount of food!

I worked the day away, then trained some clients and taught a boxing class.  By the time I left, I was wiped…but not too wiped to pass up meeting my in-laws for dinner.  We had a light bite (salmon salad for me) and sat outside.  It was a gorgeous evening.

***

This morning I trained my early morning group, did some admin work, taught boxing class, then hopped on the elliptical for a 30-minute sweat with the May issue of Runner’s World.  I finished with some stretching before heading home to knock out my to-do list.

Breakfast #2:

Tropical Smoothie

•1/2 cup plain kefir
•1/2 cup fresh OJ
•1/2 banana
•1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
•5 frozen strawberries
•1/4 cup frozen raspberries
•1/4 cup frozen blueberries
•1/4 cup frozen mango
•1/4 cup frozen pineapple

Blend all and enjoy!

This was tangy and delicious!  It also made a jumbo smoothie that kept me full for multiple hours.

***

I got some things done then picked up Amber to go visit our friend Julie who had a baby girl 2-weeks ago.  The two of us chatted and snuggled the bundle of joy for over an hour and it was such a fun time!  Newborn babies are just so gosh darn adorable

I had to run a few errands before heading home to hang with Colin.  We were both craving something easy for dinner and decided on a meal from the depths of our freezer.

I tossed some frozen chicken strips (we like these) and baked french fries (we like these) and threw together a salad.  In about 25-minutes dinner was served!  This tasted better than fast-food and really hit the spot.

***

Okay, I’m off!

I have a busy weekend…going away party, baby shower, and plans with friends.

See ya soon

*TIP TIME*
Eat homemade “fast-food” and treats.  By making them at home you can portion out a single serving to eat a moderate amount and control what ingredients you use!

Question:  Do you have a favorite “fast-food” you make at home?

Hi friends

I hope you’re week is off to a great start.

Bright and early this morning I met my running partner for our Tuesday morning loop.  It was a gorgeous morning and we covered the usual 6-ish miles.  Nothing like starting your day with a sweat and a chat!

I didn’t mention this the other day but ever since my fall, my knee has been bugging me.  Not the one that got skinned, but the other knee!  Last Tuesday after our run it began to hurt, but felt better after taking the weekend off.  Well ever since this morning’s run it has been bad.  I’ve never had this type of pain…it’s in the back of the knee where my hamstring connects to my knee cap and slightly to the interior.  I’m planning on icing it tonight, but it’s pretty hard to take rest days when your job requires you to be active.

Anyways…breakfast was a cold cereal/yogurt mess.  I was branching out a bit

In the mix:  1 serving cereal, 2/3 banana, 5 big strawberries, 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

***

I ventured to the gym to train a group and another client before heading out to a lunch with my friend/fellow trainer, Amber.  We went to the same place that Colin and I did for my birthday and I got the same thing!  It looked like this…

Veggie Hash (+) 2 poached eggs (-) feta (-) toast (+) extra veggies (+) extra salsa.  Yep.

***

I ran home to get a few things done (i.e. pay my massive bill for my last semester of grad school!) before heading back to the gym.  I told Elisa that she would have to twist my arm, but I guess I would hold four week-old baby Matthias while she got in a workout   It was even better than it sounds (if that’s possible).  For one full hour I got to snuggle the little guy while he slept peacefully and his mama got a good sweat.  It was a win-win situation for all!

Eventually I gave the baby back and it was time to train a few more clients.  Both sessions flew by.

***

This evening I headed over to a friend’s for a belated birthday celebration.  We ate family style and had an amazing spread of food:  veggies and pretzel chips with hummus, watermelon, strawberries, veggie burgers and beef burgers, grilled asparagus, couscous salad, mini pumpkin loaves.

I shoulda taken a picture, but I was too busy gabbing away.  I also received a few more gifts, a Trader Joe’s giftcard and reusable loofa/soap-on-a-rope (picture tomorrow), and an adorable owl mirror.  My friends know me so well

Okay, off to bed.  I have a little bit of choreography to learn before teaching BodyPump tomorrow…Yikes!

*TIP TIME*
Use the acronym RICE if you find yourself with a non life-threatening injury.  Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.  If, after a day or two it is still causing pain, seek medical attention (unless it’s super serious, then seek medical attention right away!).

Question:  What’s your favorite thing to bring to a potluck?

Hey!!

How’s it going?

It’s been a busy last week in our household but a GREAT one at that.  My husband officially has his Juris Doctor and is done with law school.  Say what?!?  These past three years have been some of the toughest of my life, which made the celebration even a little more special.  The tears may have started Friday evening and haven’t yet stopped.  I’m not sure I’d be more proud if I completed law school myself

***

On the exercise front, I taught kickboxing on Friday then took the rest of the weekend off.  It was an active few days, but I didn’t get any other “structured” exercise in.  I think it was good for my body to have a rest!

I did eat quite a few delicious foods, some pictured and some not.  To be honest, I didn’t really think about documenting for the blog (and totally should have…I would love to have some pictures for memories later!) and will post some as soon as friends/family send them my way.  For now, I’ll leave you with some pictures of foods I’ve been enjoying:

[Cereal with Blackberries]

[Quinoa Stir-Fry with Black Beans]

[Toast with Hummus, Tomato, Balsamic and Salt]

I’ve also been enjoying my birthday presents!

***

This morning I headed to the gym to lift!!  I’ve asked to be taken off of BodyPump twice a week because I want to be able to do my own thing at least once a week.  I feel that to be a good trainer you have to lift weights.  That’s the only way to really know how it feels to do the move, appropriate weight for the person, and ways to cue form.  Some people may argue with me, but that’s my opinion.

That said, I knocked out this fantastic workout this morning and I’ll hopefully be sore tomorrow!

Weight Circuit #12
repeat each circuit two times

1a.  15 Decline Pushups w/ body weight
1b.  15 Flat Chest Flyes w/ 15# dumbbells
1c.  12 Box Jumps-3′ box
1d. 15 Squats w/ 15# dumbbells

2a.  10 Pull-ups
2b.  15 Bent Flyes w/ 12.5# dumbbells
2c.  12 Lunges w/ Back Leg Elevated and 15# dumbbells
2d.  25 High Box Toe Taps-3′ box

3a.  15 Bicep Curls on BOSU (blue side down) w/ 12.5# dumbbells
3b.  15 EZ Bar Tricep Pressdowns w/ 50#
3c.  20 Lateral Band Walks w/ Black Band
3d.  12 Side Step Ups-3′ box

4a.  12 Front Raises w/ 10# dumbbells
4b.  12 Lateral Raises w/ 10# dumbbells
4c.  15 BOSU Crossovers (blue side down)
4d.  12 1-legged Hip Bridges on BOSU (black side down)
4e.  1-min Plank w/ toes on BOSU (black side down)

This took me about 1-hour total, including a 10-minute elliptical warm up, and by the end I was tired and sweaty.  Score!

Post-workout I cleaned up, had a few meetings, and knocked out a bunch of work.  My to-do list feels SO long at both work and home, but I’m slowly tackling it!

***

I trained a few clients this evening and then headed home to my hubby and dog.  We didn’t do a real grocery shopping trip this week, nor did I do any meal planning, so the next few days should be interesting!  With my family here through yesterday and all the graduation hoopla, food prep was the last thing on my mind.

We’ve got smoothie stuff and salad stuff…that’s all ya need, right

For dinner, I whipped up some grilled cheese sandwiches…no utensils required (Colin and I both eat asparagus with our fingers).  Mozzarella for me, jack for him.  They were so good!

Okay, I’m off for the night.  I’m meeting Lauren for a morning run and have a full day of work and training tomorrow PLUS a fun birthday celebration with friends.  It’s going to be a fabulous Tuesday

See ya tomorrow…

*TIP TIME*
When veggies are just about to turn bad, chop them all up, saute in a little olive oil, and keep in the fridge for up to 1-week.  They are easy to throw in a wrap, over eggs, or on rice or quinoa!

Question:  Did you celebrate any graduations last weekend?

Hey, hey!

Things are crazy around here as we get ready for company, but I wanted to say “hello” and leave you with a fun, healthy recipe.

Early this morning I met my running partner for a nice 6-miler in the cool weather.  Both of us had heavy legs, but we knocked out some killer hills.  Somehow we decided a few weeks ago to try a different route and although it starts out flatter, it has four HUGE hills…maybe the biggest ones in town!  I know a few cyclists who avoid part of our new route at all costs because of the steepness of the hills.  Lauren, apparently we’re hardcore

Anyway, it was a great way to start out the day.

I spent the rest of morning working on my final presentation for Thursday’s class and am about to do clean the house with mad fury before heading to the gym to work + train.  Already the day is flying by, so I’d better get these buns in gear!

***

While working on my presentation, I threw a batch of  “cookies” into the oven.  I use quotes because I don’t want anyone to confuse them with a real cookie   However, they taste good, are super healthy, filling, and easy.  I’ve been whipping up quite a few batches of these throughout the last few months because Colin takes them to school as afternoon snacks.

They are also chock full of omega-3s, fiber, and protein…with no refined sugar. HOLLA!

Smart Cookies
makes 24 small cookies
·1 cup almond butter or natural peanut butter
·1/2 cup raw honey
·1 cup quick cooking or GF oats
·1/3 cup chia seeds
·1/3 cup ground flaxseeds
·1/3 cup almond meal

Combine nut butter and honey in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 45-seconds or until runny.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well to combine.  Drop by heaping tablespoon onto parchment paper lined baking sheet, press gently into small circles and bake for 12-minutes or until lightly brown.  Remove from oven, let cool 2-minutes, then transfer to a wire rack until cooled completely.

This recipe is super versatile!  I used raw almond butter today, but I’ve used peanut butter and it works great too.  I also just throw in whatever mix-ins I have on hand to equal 2-cups.  In addition to the oats, chia seeds, flax, and almond meal, I’ve used:  unsweetened coconut, sesame seeds, walnuts, sliced almonds, and sunflower seeds.

These would also be great to bring a new, nursing mama as the B-vitamins and healthy fats help keep up milk production!  Clearly lots of my friends are nursing new babies at the moment

On a side note:  Colin tried his first kombucha yesterday and loved it…his words, not mine.  He said he was going to go get a diet coke for a caffeine pick-up but because it was my birthday drank a kombucha instead (apparently I annoyingly emphatically tout its benefits for energy rather regularly).  He even left the empty bottle with my other birthday gifts!

That guy.  If you would’ve told me five years ago that Colin would be eating chia seed filled cookies or drinking kombucha, I would never have believed you.  I guess our healthy habits really do rub off on our significant others.

***

With that, I’m off!

I hope you have a fabulous day.

*TIP TIME*
You don’t need to completely overhaul your diet with healthful foods.  Simply adding in a few here and there will provide a boost in nutrition and lead to sustained behavior change.  Studies show that gradually making changes seem to last longer!

Question:  How do you balance healthy nutrition with “everyday” eating?

Hi friends!

I hope you’re having a wonderful day.

Today, I enter a new decade.  That’s right…bye, bye 20′s!  I have to admit, if everyday is like today, I think I’ll love my 30′s

As if on cue, this morning when I was getting ready I found my first gray hair.

Awesome.

***

Backing up a bit…

Saturday night was the big bachelorette party!  We started out at one of the bridesmaid’s houses in Kansas City for a Cinco de Mayo themed lingerie shower before heading out for a night on the town.  It was an absolute blast!

We didn’t make the bride wear anything inappropriate, just a hot pink veil and a light up sash that said “Miss Bride to Be”.  Keepin’ it classy!

[Side note, I had a heck of a time with the veil and called my mother-in-law in desperation about how to get the tulle fastened to the plastic comb.  She seriously saved my life!]

***

Yesterday, the bachelorette was moving a little slowly, so we took our time in Kansas City before venturing back.  It was my rest day, so I didn’t workout (unless you count running errands like a crazy person!).  I think I set a PR for the shortest amount of time grocery shopping ever.

I got a bunch of stuff done for the week, then worked on my final presentation for class.  Not quite as exciting as the previous night…

Dinner was quick and easy!

[salmon patty, applesauce, green beans]

***

This morning I woke up to human hugs and doggie kisses wishing me a happy birthday before heading the gym to teach BodyPump!  I had a full class and upped my weights on a few tracks, which made it challenging.  Afterwards, I hopped on the treadmill and ran for 20-minutes.  I ended up going 2.5 miles and felt great!  It was a fabulous way to start off my 30th year

When I got done, I found my desk covered in streamers, confetti, and happy birthday napkins.  It was truly a work of art.

I got a few other surprises:  a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from my 5:30 AM small group, a lovely bottle of wine, some lotion, a cool glass water bottle, and a basket full of goodies to channel my inner child (a Nerf football, badminton equipment, flip flops).

After cleaning up, Colin picked me up to take me to lunch at one of my favorite local restaurants.  We sat outside in gorgeous weather (70° and sunny!) and I enjoyed a veggie scramble.  I get this every time I go and it’s SO delicious!

[Sauteed spinach, peppers, and onions over potatoes, topped with two poached eggs and lots of salsa]

***

Colin dropped me back off at work and where Elisa was waiting with flowers!  It was such a wonderful birthday surprise.  We got to catch up briefly before we both left…her to go home to her 2-week old and me to my last Monday night class.

Class actually went pretty quickly and before I knew it I was homeward bound for a quiet celebration with Colin (and Zoey).  It’s Colin’s LAST FINAL EVER of Law School tomorrow, so he had a bunch of studying to do.  Regardless, he took the time to cook dinner and give me a few presents

Dinner was a bit on the lighter side because I knew there was a heftier dessert coming my way   Colin made grilled chicken and veggies and they both came out so well!  I marinated two organic chicken breasts in tamari, olive oil, water, garlic, and pepper overnight.  The veggies were tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper.

And dessert…

Flourless peanut butter, chocolate chip cookie.

Um, no words.

***

Okay, I’m off to bed!  I have an early morning running date followed by a day of cleaning, work, and training.

See ya soon!

*TIP TIME*
Unsweetened applesauce is a great condiment/side for savory dishes.  It provides a little fiber and a dose of vitamin C too!

Question:  What’s the biggest birthday surprise someone has given you?

Hey!

I meant to write yesterday but the day sure got away from me.  Here I am today, though!

I started my Friday by teaching an awesome kickboxing class.  The week prior we had 32 people (gasp!) but yesterday’s class was a little smaller.  It was still outta control energy wise!

I’ve been trying schedule my combos like this.  One week we’ll work on an old 16-count combo and add a new 16-count combo.  The next week the previous new combo becomes the old combo and I teach a new one.  If that makes any sense!

This week’s combos were:

Jab/Jab-Hook
Jab-Hook
Jab-Hook
Slide/Slide
Upper/Squat Jump

Forward Jab-Forward Jab
Low/High Jabs (w/ Squat)
Boxer’s Hop Back
Low Punch

Pre-workout breakfast…nope, no change here:

Plain greek yogurt, uncooked oats, flax, frozen blueberries, and a drizzle of honey.

***

After class I trained a client, knocked out a few hours of work, then headed home to shower.  Our locker room at the gym is being re-done and I completely forgot!  I had my bag packed and everything.

When I got home, I noticed that I had a little red rash on my left eyelid and my chest, stomach, and back.  Weird!  I applied some benadryl to my body and left my eye alone, and it seemed to help.  I was able to get a little more work done from home, but decided not to go back into the gym in case it was catchy!

Last night while Colin was busy studying for finals, I got a bunch done for the bachelorette festivities tonight.  Only one minor superglue crisis, so I’d call that a success (I’m NOT crafty).

I’ll make sure to take lots of pictures of my creations in action

***

This morning I headed bright and early to meet my running partner for a 5K that one of my training clients was putting on for a local domestic violence shelter, called Real Men Wear Heels.  We knew we wanted to get about 6-miles in today, so we ran the race for part 1 of our run, then did another 25-minutes to finish it up.

I thought my rash was completely gone (except for a bit on my eye) but when I got home it was back…albeit less red and severe.  After talking to one of my co-workers, who told me that hand and mouth disease (whatever the heck that is!) was going around the daycare, I called prompt care.

Don’t worry…I’m fine!

Nothing more than a little heat rash.  Yep, no biggie.  I picked up a cream and should be good to go.  Thank goodness!  I didn’t want anything to affect my cinco de mayo bachelorette party dancing abilities

***

Since that was a long and wordy bit, I’ll leave you with a pic of one of my favorite snacks lately.

***

Okay, I’m off to get ready!

Hope you have a fabulous Saturday

*TIP TIME*
To soothe skin irritations like sunburn, insect bites, or heat rash, try an oatmeal bath.  Simply sprinkle 1 cup of oat flour (oatmeal ground into a fine powder) into warm bathwater and hop in.

[Disclaimer:  check with your doctor, always, if you think your irritation is more serious or needs medical attention]

Question:  Do you ever do two part runs?

Hey there!

I hope you’re having a lovely week.  Tomorrow’s F*R*I*D*A*Y

Yesterday was a busy one!

I woke up bright and early to meet my running partner for a fabulous 6am run.  The weather was perfect (capri running tights + short sleeves) and the sun was just rising when we started.  We covered between 6-7 miles and finished right at an hour.

The only downfall was literally that.  I took a big fall in the middle of an intersection!  I have no idea how, or why, but one minute I was up and the next I was down.  I even ripped a big hole in my tights   It happened within the first mile, and after I realized I was okay, we continued on our merry way.  What a way to start out the day!

I have a scraped and bruised knee, but besides that I’m fine.

I came home to refuel before heading to the gym to teach BodyPump class.

Smoothie:  almond milk, 1/3 banana, frozen strawberries, plain greek yogurt, 1 tbsp. flax, 1 tsp. honey

+

Toast w/ almond butter

It was a good combo of protein, fats, and carbs to replenish from my run and fuel me through pump.  Plus, it tasted great

After teaching, I got a TON of work done before training some clients and coaching boxing.  When I came home, I was pooped, and crashed out on the couch around 8:45pm.  I kid you not.

***

This morning I awoke super early to train my group.  Today marked our 1 year training anniversary!  This group of ladies is incredibly dedicated, strong, and fun to work with.  Diane, Lorelei, Leslie, and Karen…there is NOBODY else I would get up at 4:45am every Thursday morning for a year for.  And that’s the truth.

After training I ate an oat mess (to-go style), taught another boxing class, then got in my workout.  I was debating between running and step class, but with my skinned/sore knee, I vetoed running.

Step was a great workout and just what I needed to leave me sweaty and tired.

***

Post-workout I raced home to work on my paper before class.  It ended up taking me forever to finish, but I did in perfect timing and had a “warm-from-the-printer” copy to turn into my prof.  I hate to proclaim that I’m done forever…because we all know what happened the last time I said that, but finger’s crossed this is it!

Class flew by (we’re doing presentations on our other big paper) and when I got home Colin had dinner waiting yet again.  I’m definitely getting spoiled.

He whipped up some chicken and black bean tacos in blue corn shells.  They were AMAZING.  He sauteed onion and ground chicken breast until cooked then added a bunch of spices (cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, cayenne) and some water until it cooked down, then added a can of black beans.  We plopped them into corn shells (heated in the oven at 350° for 10-min) and topped with lettuce, salsa, and shredded jack cheese.

***

Okay, I’m off to get ready for bed.  I teach kickboxing in the morning then have a full day of work and clients.  I also have some fun prep to do for the bachelorette party festivities on Saturday night!

See ya tomorrow…

*TIP TIME*
Balance your veggie intake.  If you know your dinner will be short on the greens, pack or buy a big salad for lunch.  If your first few meals are low on the produce, pile on the veggies at dinner.

Question:  Any big weekend plans?

Hey, hey!

How’s the day going?

Mine has been productive…so that’s good, I guess!

I originally set my alarm for 6am with the good intention of running.  Lauren couldn’t meet this morning and I thought I’d buck up and go anyway.  Well, I took one peek outside and it was threatening storms, so I went back to bed.  Yep, sure did!

I got up an hour later and had just enough time to whip out this cardio circuit before starting my day.  It was quick and intense.

25-minute cardio blast
repeat circuit two times
100 Jump Ropes
15 Burpees (no pushup)
100 Jumping Jacks
15 Burpees (no pushup)
25 Jumping Lunges (each leg)
1-minute Jog in Place
1-minute Mountain Climbers
15 Burpees
30-seconds High Knees
30-seconds Lateral Hops
30-seconds Quick Feet
30-seconds Wide High Knees (like doing tires)
10 Tuck Jumps

I planned on going on a quick jog around the neighborhood sometime during the afternoon, but that never happened.  Silly school got in the way.  Oh well, I think a run is in my future tomorrow morning AND I got a big chunk of my paper done.

After a repeat breakfast of yesterday, I went to my last women’s health class (where we had a very interesting discussion on the human genome project and epigenetics) and actually felt bummed it was over!  I have to say, my Tuesday morning class was one of my favorite grad classes over all.

***

I ran home for a lunch break and threw together quite a memorable one

This was organic deli turkey on millet chia, but I smeared one side of the bread with a little bit of cream cheese and it tasted SO good!  On the side I enjoyed carrots and hummus.

[Side note:  In high school I used to take a whole-wheat bagel with deli chicken and cream cheese for lunch. Every.  Single.  Day.  Seriously, all three years.  Plus a baggie of carrots.  Hmmm...apparently taste buds don't change all that much.]

***

This afternoon I trained for a few hours before heading back home to another husband cooked meal.

I tell ya, I could get used to this!  Ya know how I said I’d be a professional baby holder if work doesn’t fly…well, Colin can definitely be my stay-at-home-chef if this whole lawyer thing doesn’t work out.

Clearly I have high ambitions for the two of us

Dinner:

Grilled Salmon Burger + Grilled Green Beans

While both were pretty darn good, the green beans were the best.  They were cooked perfectly and had great flavor.  Colin drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with Nature’s Seasoning (a mix of salt, garlic powder, pepper, and other spices), then cooked in our grill basket for about 10-minutes.  He turned off the heat under them but left ‘em cooking until the burgers were done.   I’ll take a picture of the grill basket next time… my in-laws gave it to us and we use it all the time!

***

It’s paper time and then to bed.  I have a LONG day ahead of me complete with:  a run, teaching BodyPump, gym work, training clients/groups, and coaching boxing class. Phew!

I likely won’t blog tomorrow, but I’ll catch up with you on Thursday…

*TIP TIME*
Replace the mayo with reduced-fat cream cheese.  It will add unique flavor and texture, plus a small dose of protein.  Plus, a little bit goes a long way!

Question:  Do you cook veggies on the grill?  How do you fix yours?

Hey, hey!

I hope your week is off to a lovely start

Mine began with a delicious oat mess:

In the mix:
~1/3 cup oats
~2/3 cup plain greek yogurt
~1 tbsp. ground flax
~2/3 cup frozen blackberries
~drizzle of honey

It was the perfect combo of protein, carbs, and healthy fat to sustain my 90-minute workout!  I taught BodyPump then hopped on the elliptical to get in some cardio.  In truth, I have a stack of magazines that I need to work my and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to multi-task

I quickly birdbathed then got to work!  It’s been busy for us around the gym, lots of programs and projects, so the time flies by.  Before I knew it, I had to run.  Love those Mondays.

***

I went to my second-to-last Monday night class (EVER!) and my prof told me I have to re-write a paper in order to submit it to a journal for publication.  I knew I spoke too soon with yesterday’s post!  Hopefully I can whip it out tomorrow and turn it in by Thursday, but still…

I vented to Colin for a bit on the drive home, but couldn’t be too frustrated because he had dinner waiting when I walked in the door.  Instantly it became a no complaint zone and I gladly obliged (partially because my mouth was full of deliciousness)!

On the menu:  grilled veggies from the farmer’s market (carrots, leeks, turnips), baked sweet potatoes (topped with a little coconut oil, cayenne, and salt), and a veggie burger for me (steak for him).

I’m so happy it’s Spring…grilled dinners are so easy.

***

Okay, I’m off to get started on this darn paper.

See ya tomorrow!

*TIP TIME*
Par-boil root veggies or potatoes before throwing them on the grill.  Cook them in a pot of boiling water until slightly tender, drain, and pat dry.  Season as you would fresh, raw veggies and cook on the grill as usual.  This will cut down on cooking time and ensure all your veggies are evenly cooked.

Question:  What’s your favorite grilled meal?

HI!!!!!!

How are ya?

I’m excited to say that I’m done with everything for my classes and am ready to be a blogger again.  Thank goodness…I’ve really missed it!  I still have two weeks left of school, but I completed all my major (and minor!) assignments, so I’m feeling quite relieved.  I also enrolled in my last semester of school…EVER.  I can’t believe it’s already here!  Hip, hip, hooray

I found Zoey in this position the other day.  I couldn’t have said it better.

***

Since I think it’s nearly impossible to catch you up on everything that has happened over the last few weeks, I’ll just give you some highlights.  And a workout, of course!

My lifting partner had her baby boy!  Little Matthias was born about 10-days ago and is absolutely adorable.   If this whole work thing doesn’t fly, I definitely have a future in professional baby snuggling

Lately I’ve been teaching BodyPump twice per week and kickboxing once per week, and getting in about 2-3 runs.  I have caught Spring racing fever and although I’m not in as good of running shape as I was last year, I’m building up my mileage and speed.  Last weekend I ran 10-miles, averaged about 9:15 pace, and felt great after!

I’ve been itching to lift weights on my own (not BodyPump) and finally I got to!  I think BodyPump can be a great addition to a workout routine since it focuses primarily on muscle endurance, but for overall strength, injury prevention, and muscle balance, I would say once per week tops.

(That is, if you will lift weights on your own.  Some people would just do cardio and never lift weights if it wasn’t for BodyPump.  In that case, 2-3 days per week is a-okay.)

On Friday, my friend/co-worker Lisa and I had about 30-minutes to whip out a workout.  It ended up being one of the hardest workouts I’ve done in a long time and my lats and triceps have been sore all weekend.  I taught kickboxing in the morning, so I’m not sure exactly what I was sore from…all I know is it hurt SO good!

30-Minute Power Circuit
complete 7 rounds of 10 reps of each of the following

Assisted (or regular!) Pull-ups
Deadlifts

We used 95# for our deadlift weight and the assisted pull-up machine.  The goal was 10 rounds, but after 7 my forearms were completely fatigued.  I couldn’t even hold the bar any longer!

***

So, the month of May is going to be ridiculously fun and I can’t wait!

Some highlights:

·My best high-school friend’s bachelorette party on Cinco de Mayo
·My parents and sister coming in for…
·Colin’s graduation from Law School!
·My maid-of-honor duties and a Colorado wedding
*Two fun running races

AND…

My 30th birthday!  Gulp.

Still undecided on how I feel about this one.

[That is a real picture of my friend Kristen's dog, Tanner, while celebrating our friend Jami's birthday.]

***

Our meals have been a bit on the lazy side around here, especially as the weather gets warmer (and me not blogging!), and Colin and I going 100 mph.  Lots of oat messes, salads, veggies and hummus, grilled veggies, etc.  Beets are in season and my mother-in-law has supplied us with some fresh from the farmer’s market!  Last weekend Colin tossed the beets  in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper and put them on the grill until soft.  They were amazing.

Then I did the dishes and found a soapy love note!

I’ll get back in to practice of creative meals now that I’m back to bloggin’.  It’ll be good for my soul to experiment in the kitchen again.  Ahhhh…

With that, friends, I’m off…I’m not sure what my blogging schedule will be like for the next few weeks, so bear with me while I try to figure it out!

I hope you have a great night.

*TIP TIME*
Sign up for a spring 5K.  Even if you can’t run the whole thing, grab a buddy and walk it!  You will be supporting a charity while getting some physical activity.

Question:  What are you looking forward to most in May?