New Adventure Into Eating and Life

I have moved!

2010-12-20T21:29:00.000-08:00

Good day friends and family! I wanted to announce that I have moved to a roomier space where all my thoughts and craziness can be expressed.
you can find me at: Balancing Life and Love

The First day of December, 24 days to go.

2010-12-01T22:02:00.000-08:00

I have a special Family Member who is turning another year older today and I just wanted to Say:

Yeah For another year of life and health!

So today on the First day of December some maybe beginning their Advent calender's and thoroughly enjoying their piece of Chocolate. I have decided to follow an advent calender this year and mine has a lot less chocolate and a lot more Scriptures and writing prompts.

The first prompt is what is the thing that you most love about Christmas?

In the past I have always enjoyed the family getting together eating, opening presents, sharing laughs and watching parades, movies or sports. Since we have moved away from family this time of year has been difficult for me since we don't have the ability or really desire to go home. (I have a lack of desire because Seattle area has been super cold since we left or that might be the desert rat in me who has enjoyed 70 -80 degree Christmas's for the last 4 years.) So it is time to make new traditions right? Well I love going to Christmas services when everyone is singing Christmas songs and celebrating the birth of Christ. I also enjoy being able to make plans for the actual day of Christmas. One year we spent the day at the Dog Beach in San Diego and after an hour of playing I was soaked because it started to rain and storm when we got their. That day it also took us almost 6 hours to get to the beach, because our GPS (Monica because she is bossy like Monica from friends) took us on all kinds of crazy detours. But we had fun even with our greasy Jack in the Box dinner.

One year I spent Christmas eve with my Second family making Polish holiday bread.

(mmmmm it was SO good!)

We also made Polish Cookies

They are called Polish Chrusciki (Angel Wings) I think these were being eaten as fast as we could cook them. I then spent the rest of the evening enjoying and getting to know this wonderful family who has since included me in almost every family outing and have become one of my most cherished gifts in the desert.

So with these memories I am excited to see what new memories we will make this year

So Your turn, What is your favorite thing about the Christmas Season?

Candy Canes and Sugar Plums
Penny Lane

What I have been delighting in:

Side note Hunger Games is a great read and I stayed up till past Midnight because I couldn't stop reading! If you haven't read it I would Recommend it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there, may your day be filled with family, friends, love and hilarious memories!

To my friends and family in the Pacific Northwest: I am totally Jealous of all your snow, I have always wanted a white Thanksgiving.

♥

Pre-Thanksgiving fun!

2010-11-24T22:24:00.000-08:00

I LOVE TO COOK!

Sorry I really didn't intend to yell at you, but it is true I ♥ cooking. Any type of cooking no matter if it just for me or if it is for friends and family. I would prefer to spend my day creating good eats and watching others enjoy my creations. So today that is what I did and on top of that I planned ahead by making a list,

I was proud of myself for making a list, and honestly had it not been for the list I would have walked in circles all day trying to remember what I had to cook next.

I then set up my work station, I rest my laptop on the coffeepot so I can easily see the recipes or sitcoms from Hulu.

First up was roasting the pumpkins for the cheesecake. The skin on the outside of this thing was so thick I could barely get the knife into it and once I did I didn't think I was going to be able to remove it. But somehow I managed to get the pumpkin cut and roasted with out losing any fingers or impaling myself.

Pureed that pumpkin, so much better than canned.

"Oreo" cookie crust, I actually used a gluten free alternative that tastes better.

Pre -cooking

Post -cooking, (it really doesn't look that burnt I think my camera hates me.)

And I can say I finished my list. The Harvard Beets are done, the turkey is ready to bask in the warmth of the oven. Cornbread has been made for the stuffing. I thought that I had all my dishes had been in the photo shoot, but alas the pictures don't actually exist. Oh well. I will have pics for tomorrow and show the final product.

Well this chef is of to bed so I can get up and cook more tomorrow.

P.S. Did I tell you I ♥ to cook!

Thank You!

2010-11-24T10:52:00.000-08:00

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It is almost Thanksgiving! Can you believe we are speeding to the end of November already, that means that I have just 3 more classes for my Psychology class and 1 more for Kinesiology. It seems Like we just started the new school year and now it is almost 1/3 gone. Praise Jesus for that! I guess I am gearing up for the count down time until I can apply to a Masters program to become a Registered Dietitian. Who am I kidding I have been in count down mode since this post, I was just too scared to say what my decision was going to be, for fear that someone at work would see this decision and make work hard for me. I have decided that if this happens then it happens and I can grow from it.

So not exactly what I intended to open this post with, but it is still something that I am thankful for. I am thankful that I have made a decision on what to do with my career and for once I don't have that nagging feeling that I will want to change my career a few years after I get my degree. God Bless the Teachers and Psychologists/Counselors out there, your jobs are truly difficult and take brilliant minds to continue with it each day and still love what you are doing at the end of the day.

These happy pups are actually why I am writing this post. While on YouTube the other day one of my subscriptions was discussing a Thanksgiving tradition her mother had started, it was called a thankful box and throughout the day you could drop what you were thankful for and at dinner they would say all of them. This got me thinking about what I am thankful for and helped make the decision to post about some things I am thankful for.

My first bit of thankfulness is for my happy, crazy puppies. When I first adopted Sophie I wasn't quite sure what I had gotten myself into, I was looking for a protector, walking partner, and a little joy that came in the form of a Chocolate Lab. I really ended up with much more than this though, before Sophie I had never seen myself as having the ability to take care of anyone but myself and had firmly decided there would NEVER be children in my future. Never could I imagine that a dog could change that decision and help me realize that yes even me with all my flaws have the ability to take care of another creature, especially when I possess a black thumb.

A black thumb you ask, well it is my complete inability to nurture a plant to any type of beauty or fruitfulness. I know it is hard to believe, but every plant I have ever had I have killed. You know even those ones they swear can't be killed, no really I can kill anything,

Rip Spider Plant

Rip Rubber Plant

That is just two of the 100's that I have killed, so if I went by the rehab terms of having and keeping a relationship I would never have one. (For those of you who don't know generally people who have had an addiction are recommended that you get a plant and if you can keep that alive for a period of time, then you can get a pet and if that stays alive then you can think about a relationship.) If you have ever seen 28 days with Sandra Bullock

I think of the scene at the end with Alan Tudyk's character and he is standing in the Plant Shop crying over the plant he has killed yet again and the dog that has the leash pulled taut and looks like he is miserable. But you know what I am not him, Yes I may be homicidal when it comes to plants (and kitchen appliances) but my animals love me and have taught me that I can unconditionally care and love another creature.

Ok that is just 1 thing that I am thankful for, Now I gotta get my booty moving and start the prep for tomorrows Turkey day.

What is something you are Thankful for this year?

Are you ready for turkey day?

From the blogger who is way too excited for 2 days of cooking,

I'm Slow But I Get There Eventually

2010-11-22T15:59:00.000-08:00

My Friends have never accused be of being quick on my toes and for that matter I never gloat about being prepared for a debate or people questioning my decisions at work. When I realized this it brought an end to any daydreams I may have had about becoming a lawyer. Oh well I don't think I could really handle all that emotion when a guilty man walked free. Although if you give me time to think I can develop the wittiest comeback. A lawyer I may not be, but I do think that I am pretty darn smart because I figured something else out today. I can not continue to do these workout/training programs created by others simply because they are fun for a short period of time, but then I get bored and stop which ever program I have started.

Oh Fluffy I so Agree!

So what does this mean for my health/weight loss, nothing good since stopping and starting is bad for my moral and find that I am more upset when I have to start a new workout and don't see the results that are promised. You know Beach Body is great for providing very non-Jane Fonda workouts to insomniacs, but I sometimes miss the fine print that says results not typical.

{Ok he has nothing to do with me working out, besides I might enjoy finding him at the end of my program.}

What does all this mean for me? Sometimes I just think oh it means that I will always be this size/I will never be able to run a marathon/etc, etc, etc... That darn negative voice gets in there and brings me down...normally this time I changed my pattern of behavior and came up with that witty retort that normally takes me days. "Forget you, I can do it, but I am going to do it on my terms. I can do my diet my way and that is how I am going to do my workouts!" Don't you know it my negative Nancy retreated when I had a comeback for her.

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What this means for me is that I now realized the running training plan I picked out was a bit to advanced for me at this time. It motivated me to start running, but it also overwhelmed me. I couldn't quite figure out how to include my beloved body weight routines in as well. What I have decided to do is start an easier running program which means I will be running less miles, but this also means that on non-running days I will be able to do body weight exercises.

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I am excited to get this new program started this week! I feel like scales were removed from my eyes and now I can truly see what is important for my physical health. I shake my head, laugh manically, and scold myself for taking such a longtime to realize that just like my daily diet only I can determine what is the right type of workout for me.

Your sometimes slow Blogging friend,

Creativity

2010-11-19T21:49:00.000-08:00

Yeah, another work week is done! One of my favorite days of the week is Friday, The other might be Tuesday, but that is because a new episode of Glee comes out and I have new songs to sing for another week. I was thinking about writing this week, partially brought on my other's blog posts and their writing about book proposals and also about when blogging you should write about what you want to read/talk about. I am not saying that I don't write about what I want, because that is definitely not the case. Everything on this blog has been something that interests me or is close to my heart. The one thing that I miss is writing creative anecdotes to lead up to what I want to say. I have to say this is partially to be blamed on my college career. I know that all the classes have been important in their lead up to becoming a productive, contributing member of society, but the study of Psychology has taught be to present the facts without giving my own opinion or feelings. Now I am not always successful at writing in this way, but for the most part when I prepare to write a blog I set about writing and then I write only the facts about what has taken place or what I am doing in my workout or eating life.

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So as I have toiled over my papers and searched for the perfect grade I have hidden my creativity and the desire to be creative again starts seeping out around the holidays. I can only figure that the reason for this is because all the beautiful decorations for the holidays make me want to redecorate the house, create new clothes out of my old and paint my face will all forms of makeup.

I am not sure how I am going to release this creativity, but I think that during my week off of work that I am going to search out some creative writing assignments and share them on here.

What are some things that you realize you let go when you stepped into the "real world"?

What are your plans for this weekend?

I have class tomorrow, then I will be cleaning the house in preparation for Thanksgiving and getting out and moving my booty to a nice 8 mile run. (I pray I can finish it all)

Have a great Friday Night/ Saturday Morning

Is this really going to be the return?

2010-11-13T16:49:00.000-08:00

Hello Faithful Readers (if you are still out there.)

I am back quickly to give you a little update on me.

I have been attending college classes two nights a week over an hour away from my home both ways. So those days I am exhausted and on the other days during the week I try to study and cook something more than sandwiches so I continue to have a well rounded diet. Though the well rounded diet has had a few visits from Thai food, Mimi's Cafe, Coco's and Mexican. We have family friends down for the winter so our weeks have had dinner dates which are more than a blessing, but this has also lead me to be a bit more serious about running. After just a few meals out I could feel my pants getting tighter and knew that I needed to start the "Easy Marathon" Training schedule I had found several months back. My first attempt to start it went great guns the first day then I decided sleeping in was more fun. But after the time change I resumed getting up at 5 am and preparing for my run or cross training workouts. I feel so much better starting my day with working out I am praying I continue for another week so that I can officially say it is my habit. I will be posting my training schedule on my Work It Out page. Also since I am so new to running I would love to hear advice from any runners out there. Well until next time (hopefully alot sooner)

What I am Currently Reading

Decisions!

2010-10-31T15:38:00.000-07:00

I have made a decision of my life! After months of praying, crying and asking for answers this last week has provided me with the answers that I have either been ignoring or too hard headed to actually realize. But the thing that kills me is due to my stagnation in life these past few years and especially months I will not be following through with this for up to 2 years. Boo Hoo I so do enjoy making plans and knowing that in a few months I will reap the benefits. I know in many cases it has taken me years (college education, career choice, self love, etc...) but when it comes to change of career or bettering my current life situation I want to see things change almost immediately. But alas this is more like one of my hikes than a mosey through the dog park.

These pictures are from a hike I did at the beginning of the month and have done several more times this month. It is about 2 or so miles.

This is the cross at the top of the hike.

When I turned around I looked down on a beautifully landscaped golf course.

It is my goal to be the one on the lead when we are going up and coming down, someday!

This was in one of the "canyons" that I cross.

This little hill means a lot to me, I had done this hike a few years ago and could never manage to bring myself to go up this incline, but I finally decided to just do it and I was blessed with the sights above. Now when I go up this incline I kind of laugh because it is so much easier than it looked.

Had to share the tired happy puppies.These guys have been one of the few reason's I have made it through the last few weeks, simply because they are so darn sweet. I will try and be better about posting I have just found that with school and it being hectic at work I have not had the energy to post, workout, or talk. Well I will keep you updated on my status and as I think of some new recipes I will share them.

Love You All and Miss You!

Media I am enjoying right now,

Thoughtful Thursday

2010-10-21T13:58:00.001-07:00

I love the change in weather that fall brings. What I got to witness on my run yesterday!

I Heart Burrito Bowls

2010-10-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

I ♥ Burrito Bowls

from

Now I don't think these are the most nutritious lunches I can get, though they are one of the few meals I can pick up on a whim when I am too lazy to make my lunch the day before. But every time I am standing in line I start thinking about the cost and the caloric intake that each burrito bowl will cost me. So that is why today I made myself a homemade burrito bowl. The best part is that now I can put whatever veggies I want to grace my lunch (sorry co-workers I give you the right to kick me out if needed(-;)

I started with a Pyrex glass bowl, so much nicer then the cardboard ones that Chipotle gives out. Although I run a greater risk of breaking this one.

Brown rice, a lot healthier than the white rice with cilantro.

Peppers, mushrooms and onions

This went on top of the rice

Pumpkin!?! That is so not something I get when I go to Chipotle, but tasty non the less since it is my (see the proud thumb pointing at my chest?) burrito bowl.

Hey wait that doesn't go on my burrito bowl, oh that's right that is my ADD. I saw my uncut date bars and got distracted. Oh well now I have snacks again.

Back to the burrito bowl. I will be topping it with the Papaya Mango Salsa and goat cheese.

Well I am off to work and for once looking forward to lunch and just might take the necessary time to eat my lunch.

What will you be eating for lunch?

If there was one thing you could re-create from a restaurant menu what would it be?

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Meatless Monday (Pizza)

2010-10-18T16:47:00.000-07:00

Another Meatless Monday.

I made Pizza! Some days I have a craving for pizza so strong I can hardly stand it and often contemplated calling up Domino's and getting their tasty veggie pizza. Though that thought generally is fleeting because I don't want to experience the pain of eating a gluten filled crust. Tonight was one of those nights, partially in hopes that a pizza would magically appear. This didn't happen though so I set about making a new gluten free crust. I used the directions that were on the back of my Pamela's Bread flour mix, it turned out wonderfully, imagine that.

This was a simple crust, flour, yeast, water, oil and I put in some Parmesan cheese to add something to the crust.

While the crust was rising and cooking I sauteed up some mushroom and onions. I always think I need to venture out side my comfort zone of pizza toppings, but don't because Pizza making is done on a whim and these toppings are what I have on hand.

I could have eaten this crust just as it was dipped in ranch and tomato sauce, but alas I put all the toppings on so I would have a completed pizza.

Trader Giotto's Pizza sauce.

This is my favorite cheese. I use it for everything it has so much flavor I could eat it straight out of the bag.

Mmmmm...

I found some asparagus in the freezer and threw it on top, it added a good flavor and reminded me of a risotto I made almost every week last winter.

To ensure that I got some more greens I had a salad with Galeo's crack in a bottle. This is the only dressing I want to use anymore. If I didn't love oatmeal so much I would have salad for breakfast, just so I can have this wonderful dressing.

And this was dinner last night, Chocolate Peppermint tea, salad, and pizza plus a seconds.

What was your Monday night meal?

What did you do this weekend?

Hike and Laundry:) The hiking was fun I don't know about the laundry but at least my co-workers won't complain about my stank.

Have a fabulous evening. See you Tomorrow!

Oh My Goodness Crepes are so Easy (another Pancake Saturday)

2010-10-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

Good Day! It has been too long since I last posted. Life got busy in a hurry and my body wanted rest. I had 4 meetings for work and 3 reports due for these meeting last week and after my blood pressure went down I rested and cleaned the house a bit, then started the whole cycle over. I realized though how much I enjoy writing and sharing what I am doing in my activity/eating life. So I want to start with a weekend tradition that continued even if I didn't write about it.

Last Thursday I also had class and my first Exam (that I had forgotten about, woops). So after sleeping in on Saturday then rushing to class I decided that Pancake Saturday HAD to happen. I was done with a stressful week and wanted to get a recipe off my bucket list. Yes, I do have a recipe bucket list. You know the perfect Thanksgiving turkey, Flan, Souffle, etc...

So I chose Crepes.

Every fall I think about these lovely crepes I had several years ago, that were probably not healthy at all, but was a melt in your mouth goodness that I dream about when I have a meaty craving. I began trolling the Internet and found what seemed to be an easy recipe for Gluten Free Crepes.

This is the gluten free flour with a well in the middle waiting for the wet ingredients.

In go the eggs and the coconut milk I made after reading HEAB's article on cutting down on grocery bill

This is the "batter". I was quite surprised because it was like a soup and really didn't thing that it would turn out anything like what I wanted.

But I followed through and poured it in the pan and quickly tried to ensure that I wouldn't end up with lumpy crepes. And look it turned out looking tasty!

Here's my first Crepe filling. Mushroom and onions.

I added some quattro formaggio from Trader Joe's and this deliciousness filled my belly. But this was not enough I wanted a sweet one as well.

So...

I made this. Blueberry with Homemade whip cream. Oh My Goodness this was heaven on a plate and truly satisfied my wild sweet tooth for a week.

Well I have lots more to share from my week off. Hikes, thoughts, and silly looking girls. Ok just silly looking me!

What have you been up to in my time of Internet silence?

Have a Fabulous Saturday night!

Love,

Wordless Wednesday

2010-10-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Some things I have seen this Fall in this wonderful desert.

What have you seen around your town or city this Fall?

Pumpkin Pumpkin Pumpkin!

2010-10-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Look who's back! Ok he so doesn't look like this anymore, but he is now happy as the many things that can now grace my plate. After making my Black Beans and Pumpkin I searched for a pumpkin cookie, something sweet and maybe add in some chocolate for an added bonus. I found that cooking at Spork or Foon of the most Delicious "low fat" Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies.

I first mixed the wet ingredients I began adding the Gluten Free four.

Here it is being spun into the most delish cookie batter (yes I at it raw eggs and all)

The Chocolate Chips dove in mixed easily into the thick dough.

Prepared for the oven. These cookies are so delicious. They are like mini pumpkin cakes, so light and fluffy with a nice little chocolate surprise.

So as I began my pumpkin adventure with roasting that guy up there, then a fabulous pumpkin bread from How Sweet It Is. It is delicious (I don't think I currently have any other words to describe my cooking this weekend). All this pumpkin baking/cooking got me thinking about the benefits to pumpkin and I decided to share it with you.

This orange fruit gives you a full days dose of the antioxidant carotenoids. On Carotenoids.net says that: Natural whole food carotenoids have been shown to prevent colds and flu1, keep your arteries clean2 and protect your heart3, improve your vision4, ward off diabetes5, prevent sun burns6, support successful pregnancy7, produce healthier children8, stop oxidative damage9, slow down aging10, help you live longer1-11, prevent cancer11 and much more.

If this is true am going to add pumpkin and other foods with Carotenoids, because I need all those immune boosters I can get working with kids.

Pumpkin also has Fiber, potassium, vitamin C and phosphorus.

Fiber is important to a daily diet to avoid constipation and some studies have shown that Soluble fiber can

lower cholesterol.

Potassium This mineral is essential to the function of muscles, kidney's, nerves and the digestive system. It also regulates the body fluids, acid balance, and blood pressure.

Vitamin C Many do not know all of the facts on vitamin C, which helps to repair and regenerate tissues, protect against heart disease, aid in the absorption of iron, prevent scurvy, and decrease total and LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides. Research indicates that vitamin C may help protect against a variety of cancers by combating free radicals, and helping neutralize the effects of nitrites (preservatives found in some packaged foods that may cause cancer). Supplemental vitamin C may also lessen the duration and symptoms of a common cold; help delay or prevent cataracts; and support healthy immune function. (from Dr. Weil)

Last but not Least

Phosphorus Healthy bones and soft tissues require phosphorus (along with calcium) to grow and develop throughout life. Optimum phosphate levels also promote healthy metabolism, the utilization of many B-complex vitamins, proper muscle and nerve function, and calcium balance. Phosphates are used to treat a variety of ailments, including constipation, kidney stones, and high blood calcium levels. (From Dr. Weil)

There are so many benefits to eating a serving of Pumpkin. I may being making everything with Pumpkin in it this fall (sorry Grandma hope you don't get sick of pumpkin and squash)

I guess I am glad that all these squash jumped into my shopping cart on Sunday.

Have a fabulous Tuesday and get out there and Enjoy some Pumpkin.

What is your favorite fall vegetable/fruit?

Pears, apples, and of course Pumpkin

What do you want to make out of your Jack -O- Lantern?

Maybe some more pumpkin bread or maybe pumpkin butter or maybe cookies or cake, mmmm pumpkin

Meatless Meals Monday!

2010-10-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the beginning of our week!

Are you ready to start the week with more fabulous healthy foods? I am I even prepared my meals for this week on Saturday and Sunday! Woop Woop for being prepared finally, no more skipping lunches and eating meals consisting of only hummus. Well I might eat meals consisting soley of hummus but it will be planned. To start this week off I am enjoying this fabulous meatless meal.

Remember this guy? Well I found a use for half of him.
Recipe I found in 1,000 Lowfat Recipes by Terry Blonder Golson.
Black Beans and Pumpkin

I used 1/2 of the Sugar Pumpking and cut it into approx. 1 inch cubes and sauteed it with 1/2 an onion and 1 garlic clove.

Once the pumpkin was forkable I added 2 cups black beans, and spices and cooked until warm.

This is the final result and it is quite tasty and will top my brown rice nicely.

Recipe

1 Teaspoon Vegetable Oil

1/2 Cup chopped onion

1 clove Garlic, minced

1 cup 1 inch cubes peeled sugar pumpkin or winter squash

1/4 cup sherry (I used Vermouth)

1/4 cup deffated chicken broth (I used boxed veggie broth)

2 cups cooked black beans drained and rinsed)

1/2 Teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

1 scallion (oops I missed this one)

1. Heat the oil in a nonstick pan. Saute the onions, garlic, and pumpkin in the oil until onions are golden (I did not add the garlic until onions were golden to ensure the garlic would not burn)

2. Add the sherry adn broth. Simmer until the pumpkin becomes fork -tender, about 15 minutes.

3. Add the beans, salt, cumin, thyme, and vinegar. Continue to summer for 5 more minutes, until the beans are heated through. Stir in the scallions during the last minute of cooking.

This recipe can be found in 1,000 Lowfat Recipes by Terry Blonder Golson

I think that tomorrow the leftovers will be made into easy to travel for my trip to class. Although eating black beans before being stuck in a room with other people for almost 2 hours might not be a good idea. I guess I better follow Edible Perspectives and get some Kombu to cut out some of those smelly digestion back fires (ha ha).

What foods do you recreate for a meal the following week?

What are you making with pumpkin?

Happy Monday and I will see you tomorrow

What Kind of Eater are You?

2010-10-02T21:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Saturday!

I am so excited that Saturday is here and I am one day closer to my hiking day. I enjoy the relaxation hiking through the woods brings to me and prepares me for the next week of work. This week has been crazy, with the change of my schedule and the change in the weather. First is the change in schedule, I am now attending college courses two nights a week at a campus that is 90 miles away from my home. I am excited to be on the University Campus, but having to drive for 1+ hours each way is quite tiring after a full day of work. Then we had a change of weather here in the desert, we have had monsoon type weather (or that's what I heard, I think its just minor storms). But alas I woke up early (4.45am) on Thursday due to the thunderstorms that rolled in and made a horrible ruckus right above my bedroom. Thursday was good until about 7pm when all I wanted to do was close my eyes and take a little nap, problem was I was sitting in the 3rd row right in front of the teacher. Seemed to be a bad idea to sleep when the professor could see me. This was briefly my week, highlight was payday and subsequently skinny margarita and nachos with my friend on Friday evening.
Eating out for me is always an adventure, simply because any restaurant is based around gluten filled dishes. Now that I am eating less meat, sometimes it is even harder to find dishes that I want to eat. This means I rarely eat out and when I turn people down to eat I try and figure out what to tell them, "I don't eat meat, I am allergic to bread, I think food at restaurants is repulsive and I can't believe you would ever eat out." Ok the last one is a joke and I would never say it, although after saying the first two sometimes I wish I had.
This has started me thinking about my current diet and the foods I enjoy consuming and how far I have come to eating acceptance since the beginning of the year.
This year I knew that I needed to make changes in my life since I would be entering my 29th year and from what I have heard is this is when a woman's metabolism begins to decline. I started the year trying to determine what I was going to eat and what workout regime I was going to do. This started the 1500-2000 calorie a day diet which was accompanied by 6 day a week 60 min High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) program. I saw no change in my weight or the size clothes I was wearing, I saw strength and firm muscles but for starving myself of my favorite foods I was not seeing any results. There was a period for about a month that I said forget the diet forget eating right I am going to eat what I want.
I quickly got bored of eating anything and everything at which point I began eating the healthy foods I loved and omitting so many breads, pasta, and sweets from my diet. In all the time I have been trying to lose weight I have never been as happy making meals and consuming things I like.
This is the conundrum I fall into, what do I call my eating style? I am not a vegetarian simply because I enjoy meat and though I don't eat it weekly I still enjoy eating it, am I a flexitarian? I don't even know how to classify that, I guess you could say I was because a majority of the time I do eat fruits and veggies. The major difference in this is that I don't see any foods as bad. Yes there are some foods that are unhealthy, but if I have to eat something with an ingredient I don't generally eat I am not going to beat myself up over it. So I guess I am a Pennytarian. The definition on this New Improved eating style is still coming, because I am still not sure what all it will entail.

Whats your eating style?

What are you going to do this weekend?
I will be grocery shopping, attending a 1st birthday party, and most importantly HIKING!

See you Monday my Lovelies,

Pancake Saturday!

2010-10-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Yeah we have reached my favorite breakfast day! Don't get me wrong, I do love my oatmeal mornings and the wonderful variations from sweet to savory, but it is nothing like Saturdays when I get to eat cake for breakfast. Today following with the fall theme of my pancakes we had

Gingerbread Pancakes

This is a recipe that i found in 1000 Low fat Recipes cookbook I had picked up several years ago and seem to only break it out at winter. This is such a shame since there are so many good recipes for all seasons.

This is a picture of the recipe (that 5 by the title is Weight Watchers points). I followed the recipe for the most part, but cut the recipe so it made 6, 1/4cup pancakes.

Tasty, Tasty dough!

And the final product, well done.Though they are a little black they were still good and will look forward to these gracing my plate again this month.

I found this in the cupboard and I am searching for tasty recipes that can be taken to work this week.

Well I am off to Kinesiology, hopefully I will find the classroom today, the instructor was nice enough to let me into class even though I missed last weeks class.

Have a great Saturday and I will be back tonight with something I have been pondering lately.

Thunderstorms in the Desert?

2010-09-30T07:08:00.000-07:00

I was woken at 4.45 AM this morning because of the horrible racket outside. When my brain fully became awake I realized that racket was the thundershower that was predicted. As a former Seattlite I get excited at the smallest chance of rain and this was no different. Although I think the best part of storms are the picture perfect sky (even if the camera is a point and shoot)

The sky is on Fire!

A rainbow, a rainbow. I don't get to see those often.

I have to say I love the change in weather, hot and sunny can become kind of tedious.

I will return tomorrow with a wordier post, this work and driving 90 miles to school is kicking my booty and its only week two.

How is your weather?

What is your favorite type of weather?

Sweet Treat Wednesday

2010-09-29T12:54:00.001-07:00

Just a little treat for after my lentil soup. salty then sweet perfection!

Changing Plans Mid-Stream

2010-09-27T22:23:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone!

Hope everyone had a good start to their week and is happy to be one day closer to Friday. This weekend didn't go as planned, I didn't make it to my first class, or go grocery shopping, or make it hiking. Boo for plans not being followed through with.

It has been so long since I have attended a Saturday class, I had forgotten that most of Saturday would be gone by and I should just buck it up and go out on Friday night.

Saturday was a good day and I wrote about it here. So I didn't make those lunches for my work week, I did rest though and it seems like with my stressful weeks I need quite a bit of rest these days.

Sunday is generally my day for hiking and I have found that this is a necessity in my life and because I have small fear of being in the woods without another human (too many horror movies) when a friend is unable to go then my plans get cancelled. Yesterday I knew that remaining home could not be an option, because without this day spent in the great outdoors I am not prepared to start my stressful work week. So Grandma and I made the decision to head to Fiesta Island in San Diego.

We had a great time walking around the Island and Sophie had an opportunity to swim, as soon as we got in sniffing distance of the ocean both Sophie and Poe began dancing in the back seat and whining to get out.

This is Sophie asking me nicely to open the window so she could drool down the side of my car.

While I was out walking I did alot of thinking about my need for hiking as a way to regroup after and before a long work week. I have come to the decision that I need to search out hikes that I can do alone.

And as I make this decision it makes me think about more important decision's, and all I can do is ask for your prayers and to be lead in the right direction, because I don't know what the correct answer is. I don't mean to be cryptic, but I have to careful because any decision that I make could effect more than just me.

Sometimes I wish life was just cut and dry with all the answers laid out when the decisions were considered, but I suppose then life would not be the adventure it is.

As we part ways this evening I will share with you my sweet puppy and his desire for me to get off the computer.

What decisions in the past have you made that were tremendously difficult?

What did you do this weekend?

See you tomorrow with a little less indecision!

Kinesiology and Comfort Food

2010-09-25T20:51:00.000-07:00

Kinesiology and comfort food? That is a strange pairing, but alas in my life nothing is too strange, I would say today those two things go together like peas and carrots.

Today was my first Kinesiology class and I was so excited about attending this class and learning more about how physical movements can benefit children I thought little about how I knew nothing about the Community College Campus I would be attending early Saturday morning.

I wandered around for almost an hour on campus looking for this classroom and since it was Saturday I did not find anyone to ask my questions to, say like where the heck is SOC 12 or where is the North Gym. I looked at the campus Map before I left home or maybe it was last night and found the Gym and the weight room and the trainers center. When I went their this morning I found people going to the Mechanics center, the boys baseball team (cute pants!) and a girls soccer team practicing. Other than that campus was deserted, I didn't even find security driving around. Boo Hooo I didn't make it to class :( I really am disappointed because I was so looking forward to class and studying the body in a completely different way than I have in the past, I am a Psychology Major.

So after I got frustrated then ventured into sad and wanting to cry, I called my bestie and made plans to head to REI. I packed up Grandma the dogs, 3 maple date bars and headed to Rancho Cucamongo. When we reached REI we were greeted with the greatest sight on Earth.

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The REI used equipment sale! I went for a day pack and though I was unable to get the one that have been dreaming about all summer, I picked up one that is better. I picked up a 90 dollar pack for 40 dollars. Best part is it says it was used once and returned because the previous user thought it was uncomfortable. Well their discomfort was my gain! I am so excited to try out my new pack tomorrow. I will finally be able to pack all the hiking necessities and hopefully be a safe hiker. While there I also found a dog back pack, this is something I have wanted for Sophie for awhile now. My plan is for her to carry her own poop (and Poes) as well as her leash and eventually get her to carry treats and water as well. Poor thing is going to have to work on the trail tomorrow. It won't just be fun and games. I will share later how the doggy back pack goes.

After we were done at REI, it was a very short trip because it was so hot and we were not prepared for it being hot so far away from the desert. The dogs got to spend some time at the Loma Linda dog park then headed home.

So after a long week I have been ready for some comfort food and since I was so exhausted last night, I put off cooking until today. I made this:

Just Kidding! As a kid I did love the blue box, really up until I was in my mid -20's I still went to this when searching for comfort. Really it has to be Mac and Cheese with applesauce, I love this mixture and find great comfort from the mixture of the salty cheese and the sweet applesauce. There is only one other food that I find comfort in and crave on a regular basis is Ketchup. Heinz Ketchup to be exact, but this week that changed when I finally read the ingredients and found High Fructose Corn Syrup. I will be donating the remainder in our cupboard (we buy 3 at a time because I don't like running out). I have a few recipes for ketchup as well as enjoy Annie's all natural Ketchup. My fries will never be naked, just a bit healthier.

As I have gotten older and learned more about food, I have searched out how to make the things I desire healthier while making it a whole meal. This is something that I was able to do with macaroni and cheese.

Healthier Macaroni and Cheese

1 Package Gluten Free Pasta

1cup Cheese

1/2 cup Cream Cheese

1/2 Butternut Squash

1 cup Mushrooms chopped into small pieces

1 Small Onion

Splash of Milk (I use whole grain milk)

2Tbsp Butter

1Tbsp GF Flour

1. Roast butternut squash and then puree until a smooth consistency.

2. Cook Pasta according to package,

3.meanwhile begin to saute the onions and mushrooms.

3. melt Butter mix flour into create a roux add milk. Mix the pureed butternut squash into the Flour mixture and stir until well mixed. Then add in cheese until melted to mixture.

4. When pasta is cooked to desired denseness stir into cheese mixture with sauteed onions and mushrooms.

5. When completely mixed put in backing dish and Back for approx. 20 mins.

What are the comfort foods you search for after a hard week or day?

Do you enjoy strange food mixtures?

Mine would be the Mac and Cheese with applesauce.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Rest, Take a Break, Recreation, Recess, Holiday

2010-09-24T22:10:00.000-07:00

I am THE WORST when it comes to picking out time to rest! Even when I start to rest my body, my mind starts going and I start going before my body has had adequate time to rest. Even now as I am writing this I am ready to fall asleep and my eyes are beginning to droop. I am not even three sentences in and I am considering putting this to the side and going to bed. Although my mind does not want this to happen, because I didn't prepare a Fabulous Food Friday post for today, I still want to get something out into the blogosphere.
I really don't have a reason for not having a food post this evening other than I stayed late at work to help a friend and I had no idea what I felt like eating for dinner. My dinner ended up being what I had for dinner last night, a Crunchy Burger (one that I had made on Sunday and really didn't like, but it can be doctored in a pinch), 2 eggs with cheese and Ketchup. MMMM... fast meal with Ketchup this makes life perfect. More on Ketchup in a tomorrow, first lets discuss this rest thing.

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When I was 22 I came down with Mono. I believe the reason I was susceptible to it was because I had just returned to school after being fired from a job that I worked 40+ hours at with starting times at all hours of the day. Even when my throat was so swollen I couldn't eat, drink or smoke I continued to go to school and work. In fact I never really took time off to let my body completely heal because I didn't want to lose the summer quarter, it was only 8 weeks long and I had a new job I needed so I could pay the emergency room bill. Ever since then I have not stopped to rest, rather I keep going and going until my body crashes. I am not quite sure why I do so many things and find so little time to rest. Tina from Faith, Fitness, Fun gave us a prompt today for the 30 Days of Self Love of what are we going to do to rest. The only thing that I could come up with was I don't know, simply because I have been going strong all week doing 1000 things thinking about a million things and have worn myself down to the end of the line.

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So I think this is where I will have to bid you adu. I am going to watch Supernatural with Grandma and probably fall asleep before it is half way over, but alas I want to be prepared for tomorrows first Kinesiology class and sharing this class, a little shopping and some comfort foods with everyone.

Have a Fabulous Night!

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Forgiveness

2010-09-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Hump Day!

We are half way through our week and sadly the best TV night is over. One more week before I get to see a new episode of Glee. But to fill my time I will be attending a class tomorrow, it will be a class on the main university campus for the first time ever. I am nervous and even more nervous to think that I could be as much as 11 years older than some of the students in class. Would it be wrong of me to pray for older adults who are returning to school for a new career choice. I know I have some family and friend members praying that their are men of the later 20's early 30's who are single and looking for someone just like me.

What do you think shall I make this my hat for the first day of class. My only hope is that there is someone as crazy as me that I can meet in class to make the lecture not seem like a decade. Ok it is only 2 hours but I get bored easily and I don't think professors look kindly on blog reading during class;). Tomorrow won't be the only class I also have Kinesiology course on Saturday that I didn't have to have for my degree, but it sounded like a fun class.

I wanted to share something a little more serious with you more weight loss focused, something I haven't written about for a few weeks, because I was hormonal and I try to make no decisions or definitive statements when my emotions are that heightened. Now that I am thinking with a level head I wanted to discuss weight loss and working out.

I have posted a few times about how I am no longer weighing myself because I become so obsessed with the number I see on the scale I get down on myself and sabotage any progress that I have made. I am beginning to realize that when things get difficult in my life I begin to revert to my previous behaviors, eating my emotions. The one that has really surprised me is this overwhelming desire to get on the scale everyday. It is so strange to me, almost like I want to start punishing myself for those 10 candy corns I ate today or whatever else I may have snacked on while on break.

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I have been thinking about this all week because work has been very hard and today after reading Tina's

30 DSLR on forgiving ourselves I realized what I had been doing.

There are things in my life that I am unable to control and several things on the work front that I am not able to control, no matter how hard I try. So I begin to stress out over what I am putting in my body and want to know how those things are affecting my weight. In my mind I am positive that I have gained weight so I can then begin punishing myself for indulging too much and not working out enough.

What sick behavior. I am just looking for an excuse to be angry and punish myself for something that is not out of control and completely ignore the progress that I have made over the last few months.

I have been working out regularly for the last few months and have begun to see changes in my muscular structure and strength.

My Legs have begun to show more definition and my inner thighs are stronger than they were a month ago.

They have gotten me to a point where I can do this, though not the most difficult pose I enjoy being able to quickly get into this pose with out toppling on to my puppies who enjoy laying close to me while I am working out.

I am thankful for my arms, shoulders, back muscles and pectorals that now allow me to do this

Though you can't see the definition I can feel the strength when going on throughout my day and take joy in going from mountain pose, to plank and then lowering myself into chataranga and even occasionally finding myself in side plank without needing to place my knee on the ground.

So while I can do all these things as well as successfully swing a 10 lb kettle bell without losing my grip or hitting myself why is it that I want to get back on that scale so I can beat myself up over the number I see on it.

So while I am on this journey to a healthier self I am struggling and wanted to share with everyone the difficulty that I have. Even though I eat healthily throughout the week I still crave sugar treats when stressed and then want to beat myself up for these diversions from the normal meal plan.

Good Luck to all my friends for the rest of the week! May you love yourself and forgive yourself for anything that might bring you down this week.

Maybe we can take a lesson from the puppies and do a little more of this

when life seems like it is too difficult to handle!

Love to all,

Of course I love Dates!

2010-09-21T22:03:00.000-07:00

I, like many health conscious people, have been searching for a healthy alternative to the chemical laden protein bars. One alternative that I have found that is also Gluten Free are the Lara bars. They have like 5 ingredients and each one of them is a whole food that is made into these amazing tasting date bars.

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I absolutely love them, but I am unable to afford the 1.29-1.50 price for a bar each day. So as I am trying to save money and eat well I had to find an alternative. In came the trusty Internet and all those lovely health bloggers that have come before me and created their own Date Bars.

Living in the desert I figured that since we have plethora of dates and I have wisely (ok luckily) made friends with inside connections to date farms. This means that I can get some dates for free, meaning that I pay for the add ins' not the "meat" of the recipe.

Every weekend I have been making date bars for hikes and for snacks throughout the week. I just created another one that can't be purchased in stores.

Hot Chocolate.

1 date bar recipe

2Tbsp Cocoa

handful of Homemade Marshmallows

These could also be called Smores and they are mighty tasty.

I am going to be able to share these with my friends at work tomorrow and I am so very excited. I am excited because when things can be so difficult I can share a little joy in the form of healthy food.

Fall shows have started back up this week, well I did have Gossip Girl last week, but the all important Glee started tonight.

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My attention may have been split between my lovely blog and Glee.

Unintentional and I promise in the future this won't happen. I don't want to miss the opportunity to sing;) I am excited for next weeks episode, I will get to relive my senior year of high school with some of the songs we will hear.

Is there something that you have made from a store bought product?

Lara Bars, I am sure there are other things I have created. I just can't remember all of them.

When things are difficult in life what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy cooking, even if I don't eat when I have created and I also enjoy a good weightlifting, kickboxing or aerobics session. I can't tell you how many times I have taken my frustrations out on the weights or my pretend enemies.

Happy end of Tuesday!