Grilled Veggie Tacos

Not ground breaking, just way better than I expected and super easy!! I used: Portabella mushrooms -2 Large Red bell peppers - 1 medium sized one White onion - 1 baseball sized Zuchini - just one Trim the porabella, clean and cut the bell pepper in half, cut zuchini into thick coin shaped pieces, and skewer 1/2 onion. Drizzled with EVOO, salt and pepper to taste. Grill veggies on medium heat, placing the onions on before others. Optional - lettuce, avocado, salsa, hot sauce, raw onion (the other half), sour cream, sharp cheddar cheese, a can of pinto beans. You will also need - any type of tortilla. I would use corn tortillas, but if you want it to be like a burrito - wheat flour tortillas. If you want burritos, mash pinto beans. You'll want to: Turn on the grill to heat up If you are heating beans, place them on low heat Chop all indgredients Grill veggies, start with onions, let them cook for 10 minutes, then grill the rest of the veggies. While veggies are cooling, heat torillas on the grill or in a skillet. All together about 30 minutes to prepare.

Time to Tighten the Belt

8 weeks until Costa Rica. That's not an official count, but that's what I have been thinking in my head all week. Friday is April 1st, only leaves two months to be beach ready!! I have been eating salads everyday for lunch. That is always key for me when trying to lose weight. I have been very diligent about going to the grocery store, packing my snacks and trying making healthy choices. Thanks to the 2nd job at the Y, I haven't skipped many workouts either!! Gut check time, realistically I'm looking to lose 15lbs before Costa Rica. My sacrifice, social drinking. With the exception of finals week (oh, i just felt a stab of anxiety) NO DRINKY DRINKY!! I calculated the following to keep me motivated: 6 drinks a week - don't judge! At an average of 110 calories per glass of white wine (my dear friend) I'm saving 5280 calories over the next 8 weeks!! Go me!! I'm also committing to Monday runs - how I loathe 5:15 on a Monday morning, lifting weights no less than two times a week, AND more YOGA. I can change tomorrow, I can even reset in the middle of the day if needed. It's not about where I came from, it cannot be changed. It's all about where I'm are going, how hard I'm willing to fight. Making myself a priority is one of the biggest challenges. If I can do it, you can do it. I see it everytime I'm at the Y. Start with 30 mintues two times a week for yourself. Find the time, make the time. Ok, one recipe and off to bed!! I should be doing a playlist, Thursday spin will be upset :)

Hump Day is Oh VUR!!!

What a long week, and it's only Wednesday. Monday was a LONG day, end of the call period at work, Monday no fun day, I didn't exercise . . . boo!

In retrospect, I finished last week strong. Nina and I ran 4.5 miles at Riverside. It was amazing weather and we had a great run with my boyfriend Bentley (don't tell Karl!). Ashley and I walked Lafortune on Tuesday, and tonight we did an hour spin class with abs and push-ups afterwards.

Mid-week inventory: Need to work in more running, I want to lift tomorrow, also need to find time for yoga. Diet is going so-so, I need to cut down on my sugar intake this week. I cheated and had dessert Sunday and Monday, oh the shame!!

I feel extra spoiled that I will see Billy, Marty and LL two weeks in a row!! Thinking of some heatlhy dinner ideas that are budget concious to share. We'll see what I come up with by Friday. I promise a recipe and pictures!

In the past week, I have been thinking about friendship alot. Friendship is so important and so hard to maintain. It's true how friends come and go, old friends, close friends, co-workers, mutual acquaintances. I am happier with my life when I surround myself with people who better me, people to challenge me. Challenge me to be bold, selfless, humble, prideful, kind, sincere, heartfelt, honest, humorous, responsible, healthful, beautiful, reserved, private, family oriented, patient, trustworthy, benevolent, or to be better than yesterday. Today I am greatful for my friends, not matter how near or far.

Cody says to me "run-on sentence :)"

Good night, hello Thursday!!

Marty Walton - Human Disaster

Okay, so the title of this blog isn't really that funny given the current state of things however... for those of you who watch Parks and Rec (one of my fav shows ever) the past two weeks have been much like that of Ben Wyatt unraveling in front of all of Pawnee. 

I've been so out of whack lately with a lot of things in my life so I'm definitely in need of some recommitment and I'm super excited that my personal motivator, Jami is coming in town to kick my butt.  

I've been really sick lately with bronchial issues so my plans to start couch to 5k with my running buddy Lisa had been foiled.  However, Sunday I'll jump back on that horse and hopefully be ready for the Memorial 5K http://www.okcmarathon.com/5KMemorialWalk/tabid/56/Default.aspx 

Eating has been somewhat okay.  I've been so busy at work I've been skipping lunch which isn't great but at least it's less calories then choosing something fast and quick and bad for me.  However, I will say i do have a mild obsession with a certain girl scout cookie and Samoa is her name... yummy yummy yummy but not good for the weight loss.  Did you know 2 (2 tiny tiny) cookies have 140 calories, and 7 grams of fat! Two cookies!!! I could have 3 cups of yummy delish halved fresh strawberries for 146 calories and 1.4 grams of fat totally would have been the better choice. 

I have been watching my portions of what I eat so that is going well.  I've also been trying to drink all of my water for the day.

So, while i have fallen of the wagon it wasn't a totally bomb rolling dive off the wagon into a pile of mud. 

I'm really going to work on making choices that are better for me for the right reason. Like, yea right now I could go out to the vending machine and get myself some super yummo junior mints and it might make me feel happy in that second to make that choice but wouldn't I be happier in a couple of months when I've shed some pounds and I'm much happier with my life and the way I look?? I think so, and because of that I'm off to go get some celery to snack on.

Thank you everyone for your support and for understanding my humanity and falling off the wagon so early.... but I'm back baby dolls.

Baked Potato Frittata

Just in time for the weekend!

I saw this recipe and chose it for my special lady friend's birthday party. She is pregnant and very into breakfast foods right now. My inspiration was a recipe from the Williams Sonoma catalog, I just adapted it to accommodate on large skillet instead of a frittata pan.

Prep time - night before 45-50 minutes/day of 15 minutes

The night before :
Preheat the oven to 400

In a bowl stir 1 Tbs. of olive oil over 6-8 Yukon Gold potatoes and season with salt and cracked pepper

Transfer potatoes to a cookie sheet

Bake in the oven at 400, for 30 mins - let cool for 30 mins and refrigerate

When the potatoes come out of the oven, place one package of bacon in the over for 8-10 minutes, do not cook all the way. Drain immediately and let it cool 10 minutes.

While the potatoes are cooking, chop 1/4 a cup of chives, cover a refrigerate.
Shred 1 block of sharp cheddar cheese, cover and refrigerate.


The morning of your breakfast/brunch:
Preheat your over to 475

Reserve cheese, chives and bacon for the top of your frittata.

Mix 8-10 eggs in a bowl with remaining amounts of cheddar cheese, chives and add 2 Tbs. of sour cream, salt and pepper, to taste (your normal amount).

Slice the potatoes into thick chunks/1 inch dice
Heat them in a large skillet over medium heat with a turn of EVOO for 3-5 minutes or desired crispiness.
Add 3-4 slices of bacon, chopped, to the pan and heat an additional 2 minutes.
Add your egg mixture and lift egg away from edges for 2 minutes over medium heat
Reduce your heat slightly and cook mixture another four minutes
Place entire skillet in the oven, checking at 8 minutes
Continue to cook another 4-6 minutes - the top should barely begin to brown
Remove from oven and top with reserved cheddar, chives and bacon

I cut the frittata into wedges and served with raspberry parfait, pastries and mimosas!! YUM! Happy Brunching!!

Other ideas: frittata w/ spinach, mushroom and sausage . . . I'll report back!

Cookie is coming to town . . .

My re-commitment week is going really well! I have eaten a salad every day at lunch this week (so sick of salad), I ran 30 minutes Monday , 10 minutes after spin n(45) on Wednesday, and Lift (30) and Spin (45) today. It was really good to lift again, it's been several weeks. I missed my synchronized weight lifting partner - I am in no way kidding! Also excited because I am planning on doing Yoga at the Yoga Room in Tulsa tomorrow. That is the best place EVAH!! So relaxing and the instructors there are AMAZING! Plus a long run planning with Nina on Sunday, hope it works out!!

My nights have been tough, I had dinner with my parents Monday = cheating. Tuesday was better because Cody cooked a healthy dinner. We had grilled chicken topped with sauteed onion and orange bell pepper, pinto beans, salsa, and fresh avocado. Wednesday totally cheated at GNI (Real Housewives watch party AND pizza), but tonight was good egg whites spinach and salsa.

I have been looking forward to seeing Billy, Marty and Lorelai all week! This Saturday is my only day not to teach spin Saturday so I'm going to go stay the night. I always liked it when my family visited when I was a kid!! Reading her a bedtime story was too much fun last time!! Billy told me today we are going to watch OU gymnastics with Lorelai and see the grandparents, so excited.

Ok, I'm going to do the frittata and chicken recipes now while I'm thinking of it . . . if you try them . . . ENJOY!!

It's not too late to recommit for the weekend!! Make some good goals now!!

New Week Reset

Ok, last week was very crazy. Cody was the best man in a wedding SUNDAY night. We had the BEST time, but it really threw our week way off! I didn't get to pack my lunch AT ALL last week. That leads to a diet catastrophe. Without a packed lunch I'm left with choices, no snacks and an excuse to cheat. Tuesday was my first grad school test, ugh!! I don't have my grade, not checking, just moving on to the next project. Every night this week I had plans, which is also a diet catastrophe! Although I had a poor nutritional week, I did work in spin Monday, spin and agility Wednesday, spin Thursday, running Friday morning w/ yoga in the afternoon and spin on Saturday. I'm spinnin', I'm spinnnin'

My blog today is about re-committing. Recommitting to preparedness in my diet and recommitting to more running activities this week. I am also committed to no empty calories through drinking and at least two nights at home this week studying and eating egg whites. The word glamorous comes to mind, hmmm.

I will still have cheat night a GNO on Wednesday!

On the upside, I hosted a brunch for Ashley's birthday yesterday. I made yogurt parfaits with a baked potato frittata! Everything was wonderful! The three pitchers of mimosa's for the non-prego's helped! I'll get the recipe up this week with the pictures I took.

Plan your week today, make obtainable goals, get prepared!! RECOMMIT!!!