Sweet Tooth Craving

Since my camping trip excursion.  We had some food left over such as marshmallows, and graham crackers.  These have been coming in handy when my sweet tooth kicks in.  I have been making  a mixture of peanut butter, chocolate, and a marshmallow.  Below is the chocolatey peanut butter concoction.

First take a marshmallow.....

 



Add a row of Hershey's chocolate.

 

 

Finally add a tbs of peanut butter to the mix.

 



Pop the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds, then when done just mix and enjoy.  Its a simple low calorie dessert.  

Breathe and Relax

This weekend was a bummer for me.  As of yesterday, I have been feeling extremely run down.  Not the best feeling in the world, you can say. I am taking the time just to relax, and maybe recharge.  I have not been on my best behavior with my eating habits.  Earlier today I hoped on over the 7-eleven.  I got a Caesar salad, Gatorade, and a magazine.  Genuinely, I was going to get coconut water, but then I saw raspberry lemonade Gatorade.  I just could not resist.

 

 

 Last night I had a dance movie marathon with my little pooch, and made my first diy necklace. 

 

 

 

 

At this point I am just trying to keep myself occupied.  It has been such a beautiful weekend, and I am stuck inside.  Oh well there is next weekend. :)

 

 

Snackaroo

I love my snacks.  I think I like them more than my meals. Literally when I am at work I look forward to them.  I am not lying. With snacks they are vital on keeping your weight down.  Eating every couple of hours helps increase your metabolism.

Below are some examples for snacks for people that are on the run, and cheap as well. :)

• A whole apple sliced with a wedge of laughing cow cheese
• Celery with peanut butter
• Carrots with hummus
• Greek yogurt with granola and fruit
• Mixed fruit (black berries, mango, and raspberries)
• Two clementines with a handful of almonds
• Corn, black beans, and quinoa
• English muffin with peanut butter and strawberries

 

 

While I am running errands I usually have a couple of cleminites stored in my purse, just in case I am gone for a little bit. All of these examples are very simple, very fast.  They all taste good, also you can try energy bars such as cliffbars. They are relatively a good price, and delicious.

April 15

I am still shaken from the Boston Marathon Bombing.  Three people have been killed, and one hundred and seventy people have been injured. I can not fathom the pain the family, and the individuals are going through as of the moment. 

The day after the event my boyfriend asked me if I wanted to still wanted to do a half marathon.  To be honest, I still do. This type of situation can happen anywhere, any time.  We as people can not let this fear take over.

Today, I listened to Incubus's "Drive".  It was the song I just needed.  My favorite line is, "And I cant help but ask myself how much I'll let the fear take the wheel and steer".  To be honest, with the bombing, and this song I did realize I have been living in fear.  Not exactly, in fear for this situation but just in life, work, etc. This attack made me open my eyes a little more, and is making me want to enjoy a life a little bit more.  Hopefully, you can turn this experience into a positive one.

One with Nature

 

 

This past weekend Jeff and I went camping with a couple of friends.  I have been wanting to go for awhile now.  Just to get away from the city, and be in nature.  Now of days people are so glued to technology, and barely spend time outside.  Now of days we communicate through technology. To be honest, my job is all through email.  Basically, we tell everyone if you want to get a hold of us, you must email us.  With that being said I feel like I am hypocrite, but I love nature.  And lately, I feel as if I have been cooped up, I just wanted to get away from all of this.  So I planned this little outing of ours.  It was so much fun, we cooked hotdogs and hamburgers, and roasted s'mores.  I left my cell phone in the car for most of the trip.  Jeff and I hopped in a boat and tried to row around the lake. The wind was a little strong. 

 

If you just sit out in nature about 5 to 10 minutes, your stress level drops down dramatically.  If you spend a day in nature, think about how much stress is relieved.  I challenge everybody to get away from their computer/iphones and spend an hour in nature next week.

3:2 Method

In last months edition of Runner's World, they talked about a form of mediation while running.  I call it the 3:2 method. What you do is you breathe in for 3 strides, and out for 2 strides.  You probably think it is easy.  It is not.  Well, I am still adapting to it.  I am use to thinking about stuff, sorting out problems, etc.  There have been times where I am so bored with my run, I start concentrating on my run.  Overall that would hurt my run.  In Runner's World it mentions this type meditation will help you ease your mind, and you are able to enjoy your run better.  This past couple of weeks, I have been trying this method, each time I do get better at it. Yesterday, I did intervals with this meditation, and I did not get tired.  I could of done a couple more rounds.  I love it, if you have not tried it, I highly advise this method.

Avocado Lime Salad

For some reason I have been dragging through out this week.  I think it was because I was super busy this weekend, and did not get any time to relax.  Even though I love coffee, I should not be drinking it all through out the day.  With that being said I need to eat something that will give me that extra energy.  I put together an Avocado Lime Salad.

 

 

Avocado Lime Salad:

• Two and half spoonfuls of black beans
• 1/4 +1/8 of an avocado
• 1 tbs of lime juice
• Diced Chicken
• Spinach.

 

This did help me a lot. For this week I need everything I can do to energize myself.  I am not sure what is wrong with me, maybe it is due to the weather change.  That usually does take a toll on my body.  Hopefully, I will feel better by this weekend.  A bunch of friends and I are going camping. I am getting excited to be with friends, and nature.  Can not wait.

 



Bobble

I am sorry I have not been on since Thursday.  It was a hectic but fun weekend, with bbqs and people's birthdays.  On Saturday I dropped off the pooch at the grooming salon.  Afterwards, I went to Target to window shop.  Then I saw the "Bobble".

For awhile I have been telling myself I need to buy a water bottle for the gym.  For the past couple of weeks I have been in a running rut.  For some reason I can not run past four miles. I think it might be that I become dehydrated while I run.  So when I saw this, I told myself that I needed to buy this.  It was only $10, and it filters the water for you.  It also has excellent reviews on Target's website.  I can not wait till I try out my new Bobble!

Happy Friday!

I wanted to mix up my breakfast routine this week, lately I have been strictly sticking to eggs with fruit or smoothies. I decided to throw in oatmeal into my breakfast mix.  Something fast and convenient.  I bought Quaker Oats "Perfect Portions", its okay...  I like Rachel Ray's instant ten times more.  Anyways, I bought the maple flavored one.  I added diced apples, dried cranberries, and stevia. You need to add stevia, it is not sweet at all.  While I was eating, I listened to Justin Bieber's new song "All Around the World", and Little Mix "Wings". Great songs to awake up, very high energy.  I really wanted to get up and dance.  The other night I did try have a little dance party with my little pooch with the Bieb's new song.  It did not go so well, she was not the best dance party.  Happy Friday!

 

 

 

 

 



Just Grill It!

 

 

 

My parents gave this to Jeff and I as a Christmas present.  Our apartment complex does not allow outside grills, to make up for it they gave us this.  It is an inside grill.  You use it over one of your  stove top grills.  To be honest the first time I used it, I did not read the directions and guessed on how to use it.  Wrong thing to do.  Jeff and I put our stove top at high, that was one of the worst things you could do.  Our smoke alert went off, multiple times.  We had all of our doors open with the fan going.  It was a nightmare. After this all was over with, I read the directions.  With the directions you were suppose to put the stove top grill at medium.  Also, you need to fill the flavor ring with a half cup of water.

 

 

 

The next time I used this properly, after reading the instructions I grilled steaks.  No smoke alarms! Which was a plus.  The steaks turned out wonderful. They were nice and juicy.  I have not used it since, but it is nice to have.  Below is the box it comes in.

 

 

 



Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

 

 

Even though it is the weekend and all, I do try to stay away from junk food.  I do not believe in cheat days.  The reason is because the way I eat is a lifestyle, and it is not a diet.  I do not believe in diets as well.  Anyways, when I do not eat healthy I simply do not feel good.  I just want to do nothing, and sit on my couch afterwards. 

With all that being said, and looking at my fridge for an inspiration.  I decided on the strawberry goat cheese salad.

• Three strawberries, cut into fourths
• spinach
• olive oil
• squirt of lemon juice
• pine nuts
• goat cheese
• chicken

There you have it!  Just mix!

With this salad, it gives me the energy to take my little pooch to the dog park.  It is such a beautiful day outside, I really do not want to miss out on it.  After we get there, I can let her run loose, and I can just sit there and relax.

Mixed Berry with Kale Smoothie

Today is the first day I infused kale into my smoothies.  I made one right before my run today.  It boosted my energy ten times more during my run.  Also, it increased my speed.
Mixed Berry with Kale

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Kale
• Half cup of Milk
• Ice cubes

Usually, during the day I need two cups of coffee.  When I wake up, and then later when I get to work.  I did not need that second cup.  Initially, I did try to get another cup.  There was none left, then I realized I was okay.  I was not going to go to sleep at my desk.  Anyways, there was a lot of excitement at my hotel.  With that being said that did keep me up.

Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes and Spinach

Yesterday was another late night at the office.  Woohoo....!   Who knows what today will bring to the table.  You never know when you work at a hotel.  Today will be complete different than yesterday, and so on.  This morning I wanted a good breakfast in me, to start me off right.  I made scrambled eggs with tomatoes and spinach.  I saw a picture of this randomly on instagram the other day. 

Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes and Spinach

• two eggs
• one tablespoon of milk
• pinch of shredded parmesan cheese
• slice of tomato, diced
• handful of spinach

I made some for Jeff, as well.  Usually when I make him breakfast he  only takes two bites then leaves for work.  For today he ate the whole thing!  I hope you guys have a good day, and a good start to your day.