my less serious life

what do you want to do?

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:33:00 +0000

My favorite (although there were many favorites) thought from yesterday's comments: "I can still save this day." No matter what happens - you can always save your day.

Day 7 began with a pleasant morning of blogging, a run and walk with my pup around the neighborhood. I had positive energy flowing through me, my boyfriend was still at the house and he gives me nothing but support and love. I am lucky.

Every week on Wednesday morning I see my therapist. Why do people fear going to therapy? Why are people ashamed? I am the opposite - I brag about my therapist because he rocks my socks. My therapist has helped me more than I ever thought he would. We talked about my dark day yesterday. He knew why I got stuck and spun out of control. It was because I was standing in my kitchen thinking of all the things I SHOULD do (he is totally right, go back and read yesterday's post). And, I get stuck in decisions like these - especially when none of my options are things that I actually want to do. He kept asking me over and over and over - Sara, what do you WANT to do? Holy shit. I never ask myself this. I spent the rest of the day asking myself moment to moment - What do I want to do?

Therapists. They are fucking brilliant.

What did I want to do? I wanted to get my nails done. I wanted to get them painted an obnoxiously happy color. Yellow for the win. I wanted to sport these cheesy nail salon flip flops the entire day long.

I wanted to paint one nail turquoise. I didn't want to clean my car.

I wanted to take my boyfriend out to a nice lunch. I wanted to order a glass of wine.

At about 3:00 (my witching hour) I found myself wandering around the house at the very beginning of a 'what should i do i don't know what to do with myself spin'. But, before I could spiral out of control my boyfriend put his hands on my shoulders and we talked it through. I decided I WANTED to be out in the world. So, I rode my (new) bike to Earth Fare, sipped a Kombucha, and watched the world spin around me. I relaxed.

I rode to the gym and met my friend to ride on the elliptical (picture is close-up on the elliptical monitor) and walk the track before Body Pump. I haven't had a solid workout in weeks. The idea of it was intoxicating.

Body Pump reminded me of how strong I really am. With every rep I remembered how much I have inside me. I am stronger than I think. I shouldn't ever forget. I left this class feeling reinvigorated, feeling alive.

The nighted ended calmly. I treated myself to a bowl (and a half) of frozen yogurt. This was more than I 'wanted' to eat. But, certainly not a binge. The score for today: Sara = 1; Depression = 0.

Day 8. This is Day 8 and this is what I know. I awoke in a startle at 5 AM, with bad energy, a racing mind, and was terrified of getting out of bed. I panicked, texted my therapist and we worked through it.

By 9:00 AM I managed a calming walk, I took myself out to breakfast, and I now sit at a local coffee shop writing these words. I changed my energy. Ifuckingchangedmyenergy! I CHANGED MY ENERGY! The day is just beginning and I feel okay....wait maybe better than okay...

This is me, readjusting.

i'm still alive

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:04:00 +0000

Your comments, guuuuuuys, you are awesome. I know I said this before, but it deserves saying again. I have received countless blog comments, facebook messages, and phone messages from friends who aren't just expressing their concern - they are expressing HOW THEY RELATE and how these little scrawny posts I write have given them some sort of relief or power or at least a tiny bit of solace in knowing they are not alone. I, myself, find a TREMENDOUS amount of comfort in your words and knowing I am not alone. I thought I was alone for so long. Post anonymous, send me an e-mail, something, anything - it is helping me more than you could ever know. And never feel ashamed. You didn't ask for this - it is bigger than us. Please please please keep your words coming. Please.

Yesterday, I started strong and in control. Wait, am I supposed to be in control? Who fucking knows anymore...

I took my pup on a long morning walk on a path we don't normally venture down. It is time, my friends, to change paths.

I used to take long runs because they took me away from my mind and were peaceful and relaxing. I can't run that far anymore, but long walks provide me with these moments. I need these moments.

We walked by this stream and it made all those streamy sounds. You know? Babbling brook type shit. I used to run by this same stream probably 4 days a week. This is the first time I actually HEARD it. What the fuck have I been doing? I used to be so caught up in my runs, my times, my pace, that I wouldn't even ever dare considering pausing for a moment to listen. Pausing and feeling peace is so much more important than a perfectly paced run.

I sat on my porch, ate a healthy lunch, and read. It was normal and healthy and relaxing.

I went out to run some errands and I came back to my house, alone. I stood in the kitchen not knowing what to do with myself. With all of my energy and I should do this and I should do that, but not knowing what to do with it. All the positive pieces of my morning crumbled. A binge ensued, pills were taken, and I crashed into bed.

I haven't told you guys this yet, but I am a week into the process of tapering off Pristiq an SNRI (anti-depressant, anti-anxiety medication - that just isn't doing shit for me). I really hope what happened next was the result of a messed up brain circuit because of this tapering, but whatever it was it was real. Real real.

I called my boyfriend with tears and exhaustion and told him that I was giving up. Too tired of the loneliness and the binges and the depression and my body and not being able to get on top of it. Suicidal thoughts, people. (Yikes, if anything is scary to type this is it). But when all I want to do is escape and escape my brain what other option is there?

He left his job in that moment and drove two hours to me. I was so exhausted and so medicated that I passed out. I woke up when he arrived and he got into bed with me and held my hand. I knew that I was going to be okay.

Day 7. This is Day 7 and this is what I know. I am feeling a bit annoyed at these stupid chirping birds and I am feeling a bit tired of trying again and again and again and constantly feeling like I am failing. But, what else can I do? Oh yeah, get a mani/pedi - I'm going to do that today for sure.

This is me, readjusting.

ice cream in the morning

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:53:00 +0000

I put too much hope in my shrively corn. Did you think that I found it and my journey towards happiness had ended? For a moment I thought (hoped) this was true. Wouldn't that be the shit? It is far from true. It is only just the beginning.

I didn't post yesterday. That is because yesterday was a dark, dark day.

I should tell you first that Sunday was a happy, normal day - I read, I went shopping, rode my bike, had happy hour beers without guilt, made a healthy dinner, and relaxed on the couch with my boyfriend. Happy, fucking, normal. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ME.

And then there was Monday. Monday I woke in a startle because I didn't set the alarm and my boyfriend was going to be late for work (he lives in another city during the week for his job). My energy was off from that very moment. I fucking knew it. I knew what was happening to me and I didn't know how to stop it. My heart was pacing and all I could focus on was my boyfriend clanging around in a rush and my head spun around and around - which workout classes I should attend - what time are they? what is best for my body? should I do one or two? what should I eat for breakfast? I have OCD - these thoughts spin and spin and spin for fucking hours upon hours and IT IS EXHAUSTING. There is never a resolution. Only a build up of negative energy.

I tried to stop it, I really did. But, by 8:00 yesterday morning an ugly binge started. I hate writing about it because I feel ashamed. But, there shouldn't be any shame. My binges are just another way to mask my negative emotions - which are so fucking strong they entirely take over my body. By 10 in the morning I was on my couch eating a tub of Ben and Jerry's. It was coffee-flavored, though, so appropriate for the morning?!?! The only way I know to stop it is to try and restart my day. Pop 2 pills and fall asleep. Wake up and try again.

I woke up, forced my fat ass bloated self outside for a 2-mile run and long walk with my dog. I began to feel alive. Guilty and like a fucking fat ass - but alive.

I forced myself to go to my first movement and mindful meditation class. I was nervous. My stomach was bloated. Even though I entered conspicuously broken, they welcomed me. The class was beautiful. I felt peaceful. I felt alive.

At the end of the class we sat and meditated and focused on our breath. I, however, was battling my brain thoughts the entire time. Fucking brain thoughts. I think I will get better. At the end, my instructor hit a gong and I felt it resonate through my tired body. She smiled and told me I did great. She told me it isn't about being perfect, but about doing what feels right. My entire fucking life is about being perfect. Her words washed over me in relief and I smiled.

Day 6. This is Day 6 and this is what I know. My body is tired, really tired, from the abuse I put it through yesterday. All I can do is pick myself up and try again. Here I go....

This is me, readjusting.

shrively corn

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:25:00 +0000

Yesterday was a good day.

It is Sunday so you have time on your hands. And if you don't you should make time (whether it be for this or for something else, YOU deserve time). So if you choose to spend some time with me, read this. Like seriously.

(image)

My dear, dear friend that I met through blog world shared this with me after my first 'Shit Just Got Real' post. Long story short - this girl is depressed and hasn't laughed or felt happiness in a long time. Then, one day she is lying on the kitchen floor (been there, done that) and spots an old piece of shrively corn underneath the fridge. It strikes her, she laughs, she laughs uncontrollably, and all of a sudden she feels the thing she has been searching for - happiness. It came about with something so simple as a piece of fucking corn.

(before)

So, on Friday I was in my dark emotional spot and called a local salon on a depression-induced whim to see if they had any openings for hair color. They had one, I took it. Yesterday afternoon I went. I went in without a clue what I wanted, but knowing I need a change and I needed it bad.

(during)

My stylist was amazing when I told her the reason behind my hair color change was more a conceptual thing than an actual hair thing. We spent three hours together and it was a beautiful and releasing therapy (insurance should totally cover this shit). I told her my story, she listened. I remember lying in the shampoo chair staring up at the chandelier above me and thinking how free I felt, how inspired.

(after)

As she was blowing my hair dry I began to feel this weird sensation. My entire body was reacting. I am so used to the horriblefuckingbrainspinintodepression body reaction, but this feeling was completely different. My heart felt warm (I am not fucking kidding) and my mouth formed this weird unknown shape - a smile. You know what it was? It was excitement, anticipation - it was happiness.

I got home and told my boyfriend about the experience. He looked at me and said simply, "you found your shrively corn". I started to refute him, but then paused and realized he may be right. I cried and laughed and smiled all at the same time and agreed with him, "I did. I found my fucking shrively corn".

Day 4. This is Day 4 and this is what I know. I was excited to get out of bed this morning. There are no birds chirping because the rain is falling. And it is beautiful. I am hopeful.

This is me, readjusting.

sugar sugar

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:42:00 +0000

Family, friends, blog readers - I cried this morning reading some of your comments and realizing that a lot of you are dealing with depression, anxiety, and OCD and just not talking about it. It is time to TALK ABOUT IT. It is nothing to be ashamed of - it is what it is. Keep the comments coming because it means the world to me and I bet there are more people reading those comment that appreciate this small community of crazies (I say that with complete love) finally coming out of the cracks....

Yesterday was a shit show.

God, where do I even start. I had the best intentions - a positive attitude. I had to go into work for a student meeting. That little fucker was 25-minutes late. If your boss has OCD trust me, you should always be 5 minutes early. I let the emotions of anger and frustration caused by this meeting take over. I need to learn to control these in a healthier way. Instead they boiled over and caused a chain reaction of cortisol-induced stress responses that lasted the entire day.

After my meeting I sped to the local bakery with full intentions to stuff a glorious double chocolate chip muffin in my face. They didn't have any so I got this yogurt parfait instead. But, I didn't want a fucking yogurt parfait. I ate this knowing full well that I would spend the rest of the day trying to get my sugar fix. Damn you, cortisol.

I drove to a local yoga studio and signed up for a mindful meditation course, which was recommended by my therapist. It starts Monday and I can't wait for it to solve all of my problems. Oh wait, that is too optimistic....

I also spent half an hour talking to an herbalist (one of those hippie-dippie types that doesn't shave her armpits and I secretly want to be her) about my issues. I told her I'm on one too many pharmaceuticals and she recommended miriad of alternative options. Now, I'm a scientist and I realize these aren't FDA approved or whateverthefuck. But, the FDA approved meds aren't doing shit so what the hell. I purchased probiotics (serotonin is produced IN THE GUT people), milky oat extract (for stress relief), and holy basil (which aids in balancing cortisol levels).

I left there feeling optimistic, but sugar still ruling my brain. The rest of the afternoon turned into a shit show of massive bowls of frozen yogurt, granola, chocolate covered pretzels. I ate them so fast and with such denial (I do this disassociation thing) that I didn't bother snapping pictures. Just imagine a big pile of sugar and that is what I ate. I went home, collapsed in my bed and declared my fucked up brain the winner.

I made this realization about running while chatting with a friend about my crazies in bed. I also realized that I need to talk more to my friends. I tend to isolate and friends (given they are good ones) make me happy.

I didn't cook my boyfriend dinner, I didn't work out, I ate more shit, I drank more shit, and I went to bed early. Try again tomorrow.

Day 3. This is Day 3 and this is what I know. Those same fucking birds are chirping. I took all of my pills - pharmaceuticals, hippie-dippie herbs, and green food included. My body feels tired from yesterday. But, today is a new day to learn so I am picking myself up and trying again.

This is me, readjusting.

walk, don't drive

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:25:00 +0000

First off, thank you all for the comments and support. I find a huge amount of comfort in knowing that some of you understand where I am coming from and are behind me. I almost didn't hit publish yesterday, and now I am glad I did.

Day 1 started off pleasantly enough. I felt like a European traveler when I donned my backpack and took the 35 minute walk from my house to Earth Fare.

Something about this was so releasing though. I mean, I live in a city where we drive. We driving fucking everywhere. We drive to the corner store where it takes longer to get in your car, start it, drive, find a fucking parking spot, and walk to the store than it would have to just get off your lazy ass and walk there. Plus, driving makes me automatically feel rushed (hello, cortisol). Yesterday, I walked and I felt calm and reflective.

I had these thoughts though - I should do this more often even when I am not crazy. You know? Take a moment and walk somewhere and just look around and let my mind marinade on life for a moment.

After my journey I went and sat with my juice, watched all the normal people on their lunch break. Me? Me, I'm not working today (or tomorrow or tomorrow or tomorrow or tomorrow), but I am here to THINK and to WRITE. That sounds luxurious - but I wish I was them. I bet they wish they were me. If they only knew....

I did a whole bunch of other positive and normal shit. I had lunch with a friend, I found this bad ass free library thing that I took a book from to read - I think today I'll walk and take one back.

I went and visited a friend and held her fresh baby. I look HAPPY, no? I think I definitely was in that moment. Babies are the shit, btw.

And then I got home, and I was alone and my brain did its lovely thing where it makes me feel super out of control (I call them 'spins'). This particular spin ended with my hands deep in a Costco-sized tub of mixed nuts, a skipped weight-lifting session, and drinking two beers. Pop a pill and call it a night. Try again tomorrow.

Day 2. This is Day 2 and this is what I know. It is a beautiful day and the birds are still chirping. I am getting my nails done later and I anticipate a solid cardio workout. Why? Well - I ate a pound of cashews yesterday and I feel like shit. Let's be real.

This is me, readjusting.

shit just got real

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:14:00 +0000

You have full permission to stop reading my blog. Like right now, I don't give a shit. Because things are about to change because I have some serious changing to do and I need to write about it because that is what I do. I don't really know who follows this blog. I mean, I love all of you, but sometimes life hits you like a fucking train and you have to readjust.

This is me, readjusting.

I had a hard semester. And by hard I mean reallyfuckinghard. I lost sight of who I was, what made me happy, what made my life sing. I lost it and I need to get it back. Hell, I even lost my camera so you don't get any pictures today. Today, I begin that journey. Like for real, I asked for a leave of absence from work and this is what I am doing.

This is me, readjusting.

Here are some truths. I have acronyms and I have them bad: IBS, GAD, OCD. Look it up. My biggest issues surround the two things this blog originated around - food and fitness. This blog became a shrine to them. Iamobsessedwiththesethingsandthisisnotokay. My Pinterest board and my Twitter account and most all of the blogs I follow revolve around food and fitness. And, I'm sorry I love all of you and the past two years of following this world has taught me a remarkable amount about myself. But, I can't do it anymore. I am deleting my blog list. I fear reading and writing and documenting all my food has only exacerbated my obsession. I'm starting fresh. A clean slate, if you will. DELETE.

This is me, readjusting.

Day 1. This is Day 1 and this is what I know. It is a beautiful day and the air is cool and the fucking birds are chirping. I am going to take an exorbitantly long walk and maybe get some green juice not because it is trendy, but because it makes me FEEL ALIVE. One day at a time I will remember what it is that makes me happy. One day at a time I will find my way.

This is me, readjusting.

i need a moment

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:44:00 +0000

Can you please bear with me for a moment, dear blog readers? Because I need to do some life experimenting. I need to do some personal exploration. I need to not follow my pattern of posting on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I need to not cook every weekend and maybe not share what or what I am not eating on Wednesday's. I need to not feel bound to this.

(image)

I hope you understand if there are days in a row when you don't see an updated post. Or when the posts take a different shape than you may be used to. Maybe my posts will become more serious, maybe less so. No offense, but sometimes I post only for you - when I created this blog for me.

That's the thing about life. It changes, you change, and for those of us with blogs - those will probably change too. Not better, not worse, just different.

confessions of an imperfect perfectionist

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:24:00 +0000

Confession 1.

I bought these obnoxiously expensive pillows online and, after unpacking them, left them in the middle of my living room on the floor for three entire weeks before moving them to my bed where they belong.

Confession 2.

During the work week, my sink often looks like this (sorry, dad).

what i ate wednesday: cupcake edition

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:22:00 +0000

Oh, so you want to know what I ate because it is Wednesday? A bunch of food I didn't take a picture of and this...

...chocolate-dream cupcake, which was so amazing it deserves not only this picture, but its own photo shoot.

weekend review: skinny bang bang shrimp

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:14:00 +0000

My Mom and Dad are obsessed with Bang Bang Shrimp from Bonefish Grill. I agree, they are delicious. But, I have two problems with this delicious dinner: they aren't the healthiest dinner you've ever had and, my biggest issue, I don't have a Bonefish where I live! So, this dinner creation - a healthy version of bang bang shrimp made in my own kitchen is just for you, Mom and Dad.

Figure 1. In the pan: bangin' good shrimp by Skinnytaste.

Figure 2. In the mixing bowl: Asian cabbage mango slaw (I used broccoli slaw) by Skinny taste.

Figure 3. Sunday night's dinner: skinny bang bang shrimp (I used Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for the sauce and they were great!), Asian cabbage mango slaw, and brown basmati rice. Of course, this isn't a perfect replacement for the real thing - but a pretty fantastic and healthy substitute that I will be making again.

It's my birthday.

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:39:00 +0000

It's my birthday. Let's eat cereal...er...cake.

what i ate wednesday: the binge

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:41:00 +0000

I wasn't going to post today. I'm embarrassed, people.

But, the more I thought about it the more I realized that I needed to give my experience from yesterday a voice. A voice because I know that this happens to many of you and we don't talk about it. We feel ashamed, embarrassed, and out of control. I feel these things too, but balls to the wall here is 'What I ate Wednesday: the binge day'.

The day started normally enough, with a typical breakfast of cereal and fruit and a lunch of leftover healthy broccoli salad made with Greek yogurt.

I even managed to have a healthy and filling snack of Greek yogurt and a carefully measured tablespoon of peanut butter.

My day was stressful. Like tear your hair out stressful. In fact, right now my life is more stressful than it has ever been and I can't workout because I have a stress fracture in my heel from over-running and I am struggling with how to deal with it every.single.day. I am in panic mode. Some days, I am ok. But, yesterday I came home at five in the afternoon with an overwhelmed feeling of not knowing what to do with myself and my severely anxious energy. So, I thought a glass of wine and a bowl of cereal would comfort me.

It didn't. It didn't because my emotions are so much deeper and so much stronger than a bowl of f*cking cereal.

But, at the moment I didn't know that and I thought a second bowl would do the trick. Well, my friends - it turned into a massive sh*t show of granola + cereal + yogurt + peanut butter + cool whip and I can't even talk about the details. Like eating directly out of the container-style. Easter candy may have been involved. I'm not even kidding. You know, right? You've been there, right?

In the end, I felt nothing but gross and exhausted and passed out at 8 PM feeling not better, but worse. Much worse. Ashamed, guilty, worse.

Today, I have choices. But, I have decided to move on. I (god knows why) will publish this awkward and way-too-truthful post for the world to know my weakness (ok I know why because someone has to talk about it and it might as well be me). I could eat 0 calories and work out like a beast to compensate for my binge. But, no. I won't.

I just ate my normal breakfast and will focus on hydration, fresh food, and treating my body with respect. Yesterday, I abused my body. Today, I need to be nice. Super duper nice. Nice in the form of water, and vegetables, fruit, and lean protein. Moderate exercise and sunshine. Finally, I need to spend time reflecting on the emotions behind the binge. It isn't food that is the problem (or solution) at all. It is something deeper, something larger. I need to explore this and more than anything I owe it to myself to move on. I am okay. If this speaks to you and you find yourself in this situation today or in the future - you are okay, too.

And this, my friends, is what I ate Tuesday, April 16.

for boston

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Runners unite.

(image)

weekend review: breaking out the grill

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:07:00 +0000

Figure 1. Out of the oven: cottage cheese, bacon, sharp cheddar, green onion, and egg casserole.This is a great quick and easy weekday dinner with ~320 calories and ~30 grams of protein per serving.

Figure 2. Thursday night's dinner: cottage cheese, bacon, sharp cheddar, green onion, and egg casserole and asparagus sauteed with smoked paprika.

Figure 3. Saturday morning baking: Amanda's blueberry banana breakfast muffins. I made mine with Truvia baking blend and frozen blueberries. Delicious!

Figure 4. Saturday night's dinner: maple-mustard chicken thighs, broccoli salad, and corn on the cob. This was our first grill meal of the season and these chicken thighs, more specifically this maple-mustard sauce, is one of our favorites. You really must...

Figure 5. Crispy salmon and spinach salad with carrot-ginger vinaigrette with toast and Earth Balance. This was my favorite meal of the weekend - I am pretty sure you could pour this sauce on anything and it would be delicious. You will see this meal again (and soon).

confessions of an imperfect perfectionist

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:21:00 +0000

Confession 1.

It is really (really) hard to make a stress fracture walking boot look fashionable.

Confession 2.

I haven't run in three solid weeks (see Confession 1) and this makes me very (very) crazy. Some days, I make productive and healthy choices. Some days, I do this instead...

what i ate wednesday: issue 76

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:16:00 +0000

Figure 1. Breakfast: puffed wheat + All Bran + cocoa powder + banana + milk and coffee.

Figure 2. Morning treat: a coconut Kevita. Have you guys discovered this yet? It is 100% delicious and makes my tummy happy! Comment if you have tried other flavors, this is one of the few my local store offers (I don't have a Whole Foods in my area)...

Figure 3. Lunch: a green smoothie bowl (frozen banana, almond milk, spinach, cocoa powder, vanilla protein powder, xanthan gum) topped with Fiber One chocolate cereal and slivered almonds.

Figure 4. Dinner: two slices of Ezekiel sprouted grains toast topped with smashed avocado and kosher salt alongside roasted broccoli and ketchup.

Figure 5. Dessert: Stuft Fro-Yo (make this now if you want your life to be complete). Mine was 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt mixed with 8 grams of sugar free white chocolate pudding mix, 4 drops of liquid Stevia, and 1 tsp of vanilla combined with chocolate PB2 (2 T mixed with 2 T water) and 1/4 cup cool whip free. Mixed it all together and threw it in the freezer for an hour and topped with Fiber One chocolate cereal. Delicious, high in protein, and filling. Do it....

And that concludes another What I Ate Wednesday (featuring what I ate Tuesday, April 9).

weekend review: curry love

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:02:00 +0000

Figure 1. Friday night's dinner: 30-minute squash coconut curry and roasted broccoli. This curry is absolutely delicious and only 300 calories per serving. I may be in love...

Figure 2. Sunday afternoon baking and quite possibly the worst picture ever (although my nail color is rockin', isn't it?): baked oatmeal snack bars wrapped up for the week.

Figure 3. Sunday night's dinner: crispy pork medallions and broccoli and orzo on top of raw spinach. This pork is worth making!

my less serious momma: fiery chicken thighs with persian rice

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:48:00 +0000

Thighs are always a problem.

But not these Fiery Chicken Thighs with Persian Rice.

Perhaps my less serious momma’s most creative cooking venture lately. Nothing like cooking your rice with a tea towel! Here’s some enticing photos. You can find the recipes courtesy of Cooking Light here.

So some night when you’re feeling adventurous, try this rice. Fabulouso!

Chicken thighs in marinade. Tricky part here is that you have to buy Sambal Oelek for the marinade. Thighs marinade for 20 minutes.

Chicken thighs get broiled 8 minutes skin side up and 4 minutes flipped. Gorgeous!

But the rice is the exciting part! Be sure to check out the detailed instructions. After you cook it for 10 minutes, drain and put in heavy skillet. Add oil and onion, cook 5 minutes then add spices and yogurt (1/2 c), mixing well. Then magic, tie a dry tea towel around the lid and cook for 30 minutes without peeking! Then remove with a rubber spatula. Voila!

Rice mixture in skillet, pre cooking.

Rice with tea towel! Do it, do it, even if it feels strange!

Rice out of plan with beautiful brown crust!

So a slice of rice, a muffin, and a beautiful thigh! What more could one ask for!

Looks delicious, mom!

Previous my less serious momma posts:

what i ate wednesday: issue 75

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:58:00 +0000

Figure 1. Breakfast: my usual (un-pictured) cereal mix of puffed wheat + All Bran + cocoa powder + banana + milk, coffee, and this sparkling coconut water.

Figure 2. Morning snack: plain Greek yogurt, slivered almonds, and cinnamon.

Figure 3. Lunch: this frozen shepherd's pie on top of raw spinach. This is a new brand for me and it was really delicious and filing.

Figure 4. Dinner: steamed broccoli tossed in olive oil and coconut aminos, an Amy's Sonoma burger, a mix of leftover rice and couscous topped with peanuts, and a glass of wine.

Figure 5. Dessert: a bowl of Fiber One chocolate cereal and peanuts. Can you find my sweet little pup's nose in the background? :)

And that concludes another What I Ate Wednesday (featuring what I ate Tuesday, April 2).

weekend review: a non-traditional easter

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:10:00 +0000

Since I just spent a long week with my family, this year Easter was low-key and didn't involve a traditional large Easter dinner. Instead, I stayed home and made my boyfriend and I three of my all-time favorite meals. Hands down, if you haven't tried these yet, you must. No really, you must.

Figure 1. Thursday night's dinner: butternut squash mac and cheese with caramelized onions, bacon, and apple on top of steamed spinach.

Figure 2. On the stove: P.F. Chang's lettuce wrap filling.

Figure 3. Friday night's dinner: P.F. Chang's lettuce wraps. And yes, because we are fancy - my boyfriend and I usually sit down in front of the TV with the wrap filling, a head of romaine lettuce, and a ramekin of coconut aminos for dipping (he adds extra Sriracha and rice, too).

Figure 4. Sunday night's dinner: skinny tuna noodle casserole alongside 'on-the-fly' sauteed asparagus with smoked paprika and lemon.

Oh, and by the way. You will see these again because they are so delicious I just can't (and won't) stop.

weight lifting tips for beginners

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:21:00 +0000

Today, a little something different - a guest article with weight lifting tips by Bridget. As you all know, I am a HUGE proponent of weight lifting for building a healthy and strong body so I love these tips. Bridget is a real life freelance writer for culinaryschools.org. Thanks Bridget!

How to Get Started with Weight Lifting

Weight lifting is one of the best ways to get in shape and to really change the look and health of your body. Many women are afraid of weight lifting because they think it will cause them to bulk up, but weight lifting is actually one of the best ways to slim down because it radically alters your metabolism and helps to burn fat faster.Many newbies are intimidated by weight lifting and are unsure of where to start. Here are a few tips for how to get started with weight lifting so you can start reaping the benefits of this exceptional exercise:

1. Learn How to Do the Exercises. The most important first step is to learn how to do the exercises. You can easily injure yourself if you have bad form when performing the exercises, so it is important to learn how to do them right. You can do this by signing up for a tour of your gym or by meeting with a personal trainer for one or two sessions. You can get a run through of each of the machines and information about how to do some basic exercises with the free weights. It is much easier to learn how to do the exercises when seeing them done in person, as opposed to watching a video or reading an article.

2. Always Warm Up. When you are ready to get started working out, remember to warm up. You may not think you need to warm up since you aren't doing cardio exercise, but it is just as important to warm up your muscles even when you are doing static exercises. You must warm up your muscles and get them feeling limber in order to avoid injury. If you don't warm up, you could pull a muscle or overwork a muscle that isn't ready for it, leading to serious and long-lasting injury.

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3. Start Light. There's no need to try to show off how much you can lift when you first get started. In fact, it is best to start out lifting less than you can when you first start. This will allow your muscles the time to get adjusted to your new exercise. You can then slowly add weight as your muscles become used to being trained and start to grow. Just don't add too much too soon, or else you risk injury.

4. Rotate Workouts. Every day, you should focus on a different muscle group or combination of muscle groups. Many people prefer to focus on back and shoulders on the same day, while devoting individual days to arms and legs. You can decide what works best for you. However, it is key to rotate your workouts so that you get the best workout per muscle group and so you end up working all your muscle groups.

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5. Keep a Log. A workout log can help you keep track of your progress. Not only will it help you to make sure you are rotating through all your muscle groups, but it can also help you to monitor your growth. You can see how much you are lifting in each workout and how many reps and sets you do so you can carefully add to the weight and the frequency as you grow stronger. This can help you to push your fitness goals without risking injury.

Weight lifting is a great way to burn fat and to get in shape quickly. Though weight lifting may seem intimidating at first, these tips can help you to get started and be well on your way to becoming a weight-lifting pro.

Do you lift weights? Share your tips for success for getting started in the comments!

About the Author:

Bridget Sandorford is a freelance writer and researcher for CulinarySchools.org, where recently she’s been researching health and nutrition for kids. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her first cookbook.

what i ate wednesday: issue 74

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:20:00 +0000

Figure 1. Breakfast AKA my bowl of slop: puffed wheat + All Bran + cocoa powder + banana + milk.

Figure 2. Morning snack: cottage cheese, applesauce, slivered almonds, and cinnamon.

Figure 3. Lunch: Amy's frozen vegetable korma on top of raw spinach.

Figure 4. Lunch dessert: a slim-fast snack bar, double-dutch chocolate. Judge away, if you want, but these are 100 calories of candy bar goodness that satisfy my ever-present and raging sweet tooth without too much caloric damage.

Figure 5. Dinner: baked chicken topped with leftover red pepper pesto, roasted eggplant, and leftover polenta.

Figure 6. Dessert: 130 calorie chocolate peanut butter mug cake topped with whipped cream. Delicious!

And that concludes another What I Ate Wednesday (featuring what I ate Monday, March 26).

weekend review: polenta fail & spinach pie win

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:08:00 +0000

Figure 1. Friday night's dinner: sausage, tomato, and arugula fettuccine alongside roasted Brussels sprouts. I roasted these sprouts (1 lb tossed in 1 T of coconut oil, salt, and pepper) at 400 degrees for 25 minutes tossing halfway through.

Figure 2. Saturday night's dinner: salmon with red pepper pesto, pepper-spiked polenta, and an arugula and mushroom salad. This salmon is one of my favorites and I love the idea of making my own pesto. This polenta, however, was a fail - the recipe instructed me to make it in the microwave - and it was so runny I had to serve it in a bowl.

Figure 3. Sunday night's dinner: roasted Sriracha butternut squash (inspired by this recipe), easy crust-less spinach and feta pie from Skinnytaste, and a fried egg. I may be obsessed with this spinach pie - you can eat 1/4 of it for ~180 calories and it is fantastic. I recommend splurging on the fresh dill.

weekend review: better late than never

noreply@blogger.com (Sara) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 10:37:00 +0000

I usually post my 'weekend reviews', which document my weekend culinary creations, on Monday. Looks like this week I forgot. Here they are, better late than never...

Figure 1. Spring Break baking: banana nutella bread. Holy freakin' crap. I ate this for breakfast, lunch dessert, and real dessert over ice cream and then left the remainder at my parents house before I decided I wanted to live my life eating this bread and this bread alone.

Figure 2. Friday night's dinner: Dijon almond crusted tilapia, roasted asparagus with Dijon-lemon sauce, and rice pilaf (Near East). This tilapia is a must make.

Figure 3. Saturday night's dinner: sesame soba noodles with slivered Brussels sprouts and shrimp. Amazing.

Figure 4. Egg casserole with cottage cheese, bacon, feta, and green onions, toast and Earth balance, and an arugula and mushroom salad.