More Indian Please

WORKOUT:

5 mile run

40 mins of spin class                                                                                                                                  

50 min of pilates class

Woke up to snow this morning and 30 degree weather. Are you SURE May is tomorrow? 

I HATE being cold. So I grabbed everything that looked warm and put it ALL on.

Annnnndddddd... I look like a man. I hope you enjoyed that photo. 

My gym junkie days are coming back. I can FEEL it. :) I have no shame in going to class after class. I could spend my entire Saturday morning/afternoon going from class to class and be completely happy. I should just pack a lunch. It would be perfect.

In spin today I had to grab a bike from the cardio cinema room and wheel it into spin cause there weren't any bikes left. Janae said I could! Ha, I hate making a scene, but I was totally looking forward to going to her class today and didn't want to miss it! Luckily a SUPER nice girl hopped off her bike and held the door for me while I muscled it into the dark room. Have you ever tried to move one of those bikes? In the dark!?! That could have ended very ugly.

I love leg work in pilates. It ALWAYS burns, no matter how many times you do it. There was a girl behind me in class who was keeping me pretty entertained. She had been making comments throughout class and she was being pretty vocal about her suffering buns. During the leg section the teacher asked "Is anyone feeling this!?!" And the girl behind me said, "ME! ..... Arrrrgghhh...." it was like a plea for help and then it sounded like she melted into the floor. Really I wish you could have heard her voice, it was hilarious.

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Last night we celebrated with Indian food, Mmm! It's been too long.

I loved the mint and plum sauce that went along with the appetizers. Really refreshing and flavorful.

Ben and I shared Lamb Curry and Vindaloo. They were delightfully spicy.

I usually call ahead and check menus online before I go out to eat so I have a game plan and can plan accordingly for my dietary restrictions. I didn't this time since I knew that there would be several things on the menu I could have and that I just needed to ask the waiter which ones they were. I didn't bank on not being able to UNDERSTAND what our server was saying through his thick accent. Apparently he thought I was asking for butter to be added INTO my dish and assured me that would be no problem. Ha. After I sufficiently made a scene asking a million questions, we got that all cleared up. Phew! 

I am a nightmare, I know. But it was totally worth it. So good!

 They we played some games and had Chocolate Cake with Raspberry filling.

It was super MOIST and delicious.

I used a family recipe for the chocolate cake and tweaked it to make it healthier. I subbed 1/2 the oil for applesauce and cut down the sugar. I couldn't even notice the difference, JUST as good! I am going to experiment with it a little more and see if I can cut out all the oil completely. Then we would have a real WINNER on our hands.

 I need to get that cake OUT of my fridge before I eat even more.

Danger.

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Do you like to play games?

Maybe Ben and I are TOTALLY nerdy but we love playing games! I feel a little geeky admitting this but I am hoping I am not the only one out there.

Should Ben and I just eat the rest of the cake and gain 5 pounds each? 

Or should I give it away quick while I am still strong enough to do it!?!

I can hear it calling my name from the fridge.

Flowers & Freedom!

WORKOUT:
4.4 mile run
30 min weights - biceps/triceps
15 min abs

My quads feel like they may be back in action. That is good news after all the beatings they have taken from  The Stick this week. So I am starting to ease back into my running routine. Yay!

With all the weight training I have been doing my hands have built up some serious callouses.

I even wear lifting gloves, so I guess I would TOTALLY have man hands if was wasn't wearing these.

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Breakfast this morning was a protein shake and oatmeal.
In my oatmeal I tossed  in some agave, toasted almonds, cinnamon and vanilla.

I was too lazy to get off the couch last night and yelled to Ben in the other room, asking him if he would make me dinner.

Bada-BING bada-BOOM, dinner was served!
He was fast too! 

We had spicy chicken and shrimp tacos. They hit the spot and I could TASTE the love.

Things always taste better when you didn't have to make it. Don't you agree?
I guess that is why we all love eating out so much. No dishes!

After dinner we grabbed a Red Box flick and curled up on the couch.

Ben had a monstrous bowl of strawberry ice cream with chocolate sauce, and I chomped on these. 

We watch Country Strong. My expectations were weak having saved it for the Red Box. I really just wanted to see if Gwyneth could sing. But really... it didn't even live up to my LOW expectations. I tried to distract myself by staring at Gwyneth's legs or Leighton Meester's overly bouncy hair... but it was rough. Did you see it? Did you like it?

That Boo dude... why did they have to wait till the END of the movie to clean up that nasty facial hair? He just looked so greasy the whole time. He wasn't cute enough for either of those girls!
Of course, I noticed everyone's hair... I know.
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Please listen to to this song while you continue reading. It will make it even better. :)

I just got off work... for the LAST TIME!

It was a fabulous day of only working 3.5 hours, getting flowers and leaving all my cares behind!

 Really it doesn't feel real. AT ALL. I think it will really hit me when I wake up Monday morning and realize I could stay in my pajamas ALL day.

I am off to spend time with the fam and bake up a cake for Ben! We are doing a little celebrating for me and for his Navy job. We never sufficiently celebrated for him. His hire was a LONG process so there wasn't like an exact date where we threw confetti around or anything.
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What is something great that happened to YOU today?!
I promise after this weekend I will not talk about the job thing anymore. Thank you for not being TOTALLY annoyed with my countdown. I guess you can see how big of a deal it is ... and how long the last 3 1/2 years have been.
Have you done a race recently or have one this weekend???
Send me a pic of YOU at YOUR race, I would love to share it!

Pick Me!

WORKOUT:
45 Spin class
55 min weights - back/chest/shoulders
20 rolling

I'm crossing my fingers, legs, arms and holding my breath!

Por que? I entered the St. George Marathon lottery! I know it seems silly to have to enter a lottery for someone to LET you run 26.2 miles, but just go with me on this. St. George promises to be one of the prettiest and fastest marathons in the area. I wasn't totally convinced about the whole thing, thinking it was probably hyped up more than it was worth. So I checked out the website and watched their little video. It does look SUPER pretty! I kinda fell in love with the scenery, so I signed up.

Now I just wait to see if I get in! Sweet Julia entered as well, so hopefully we will both get in!

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On another note...

Skinny Runner, Skinny Runner... why do you taunt me with your BEACH RUNS?!?
Because she does. And they look heavenly. Check her out the other morning. Maybe if I ran in the beautiful sunshine everyday by the beach I would be as beautifully bronze as her.
Maybe... but I would probably just burn up.

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Here is the "fancy meal" Ben whipped up after watching Chopped with me yesterday.

My plate...

His plate.

I think he definitely got the fancier plate.

We're calling it, egg souffle with black bean and tomato relish.

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Yesterday's lunch salad was spinach, water chestnuts, carrots, olives, eggs, sun dried tomatoes and lots of chicken hiding beneath it all.

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My brother is a pretty amazing trombonist. He is performing in the play Sunset Boulevard right now. He invited us to come see their last dress rehearsal before they open this weekend.

We love going to shows and neither of us had seen this one before, double score!

This is a sneaky audience pic.

Thanks bro!

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Oh, and I made a couple purchases too. How could I forget? ;)

You can never have enough comfy t-shirts for summer, and I am in desperate need of some good summer shirts.

Back view of this skirt.

I am totally picturing myself wearing this while we walk all over D.C. Perfect breezy vacation skirt right? It is a super light gray, though it looks khaki in this photo. I am not a super cutesy person, so still need to try this on with some of my stuff to make sure that bow isn't too much for me. It hasn't passed the final test yet. Still deciding...

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Did you enter the St. George lottery? 

Have you ever entered a race lottery before? Did you get in?!?

This is my first time, but I am hoping for beginners luck. :)

Have you participated in a race that was over hyped?

Sneaky Pool Time

WORKOUT:

30 min elliptical

15 min bike

30 min weights - biceps/triceps

15 min abs

40 min rolling with The Stick

Last night I got a sudden urge to go swimming! I threw on my suit and headed to the pool.

 

Yes I am still taking it easy, but they always talk about how swimming is good physical therapy work so I gave it a shot. Plus, I just really wanted to get out of the house and be ACTIVE. I swam for 45 min and it felt great. Swimming makes me feel long and lean. Maybe it is all that stretching and reaching, or just my imagination. Either way, felt GOOD.

Post swimming I snagged a snack.

Banana, PB, agave sandwich.

I made a 1/2 sandwich, isn't that cute? It was pointless though because after I finished I went right back in the kitchen and made myself the OTHER half of the sandwich and ate that too.

Good intentions.

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Yesterday I decided to GO BIG or GO HOME by sporting a HUGE party bun on top of my head. 
 Why not right?

PARTY! 2 more days after today!

 I am growing my hair out. I finally feel like I am getting some length. A little more time (aka- more hair) and this "do" will get even better.

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I listen to audio books at work when I can. I have been listening to "The Help" recently. I am almost done and have really liked it. I started reading the actual BOOK a while ago but ended up putting it down when it didn't grab me right away. Really glad I gave it another try. Plus I like the different readers on the audio version that helps me keep the characters straight. I can be a bit of a mindless reader. :)

A little work time snack of apple and pb.

Worky time lunch of salad.

Romaine, chicken, black beans, mandarin oranges, pineapple, water chestnuts, carrots and a few craisins. 

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After my morning gym time I have been coming home and watching "Chopped" while rolling my legs. It helps me stop looking at the clock and thinking, "How much longer do I have to do this!" How is it that I have PLENTY of motivation to spend hours at the gym or head out the door on a 20 mile run. Easy peasy! But ask me to get off my behind and ice my legs a couple times a day or to remember to roll my legs for more than 5 mins and I am a LAZY slug! 
Go figure.

So I started watching Chopped while I roll my legs. Now I just look at all the yummy food that they are making and wish I could taste all the interesting flavors. Ben was a little inspired after watching with me today. He headed straight into the kitchen to whip up something fancy. I will share his creation with you tomorrow.
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I saw 2 cute girls at the gym this morning! Janae and Julia! So fun!

Stop by and say hey to them!

Sometimes in my mind I call Janae "Nae-Nae." She doesn't know that, sh!

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What shows make you hungry?

Chopped is totally doing it to me. I don't know if this is a good thing. Means I will probably cook fancier food, but I might only be allowed to watch it AFTER I eat lunch.

Do you swim to mix up your workout?

I took a swimming class 2 summers ago so I could complete my first triathlon. I wasn't what you would call a "strong swimmer" prior to that. Not because I was weak but because I had no idea what I was doing. Love being able to go to the pool for an actual "workout" and not just to float around.

Asian Shrimp Soup

WORKOUT:
50 min weights - back/chest/shoulders
15 min rolling quads

I am CRAVING cardio! Running, elliptical, spinning, kick-boxing, step, swimming... anything! I am so ready to get back to that. I will take whatever form I can get! 

I was day dreaming of all the fun cardio classes I am going to mix it up with when I get better. I have been totally in the mood to do leg work too. Squats, lunges... all that good stuff. But of course, that is off limits as of right now.

I would be nice to actually sweat a little. I will just have to look on the BRIGHT side, that since I didn't get sweaty, I don't need to wash my hair today.

I know I probably COULD manage with some light elliptical or swimming, but I don't trust myself. I know once I got going I would probably do way MORE and at a stronger intensity than I should for my quads to finish healing.

I just have to stay away, reminding myself that it is only another couple days in the long run. Better to be fully healed up and ready to go than to start back in too soon.

Blah... hurry on up legs!!!

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I tried a new recipe last night for din din. I snagged the recipe from here and make a couple changes.

ASIAN SHRIMP SOUP

1 Cup Cooked Spaghetti, cut into 1 inch sections

3 Cups Water

3 tsp Beef Boullion

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 Cup Corn

1 tsp Cornstarch

1-1/2 tsp Teriyaki Sauce *

*(I made my own so it wouldn't have soy, with some mirin, rice vinegar, molasses and salt.)

1 Cup Romaine, sliced thin

6 oz Precooked Shrimp

2 TB Green Onions

-Boil water, boullin, salt, shrimp and corn.

-Once boiling, combine cornstarch with teriyaki sauce and a little water and stir into soup. Cook until slightly thickened.

-Add pasta, lettuce, green onion and let everything get heated.

-Eat!

This makes 4 servings and check out these stats.

1 Cup has about 110 calories, 1 gram of fat and 12 grams of protein!

I broiled some garlic bread to go along with it for some crunch.

I didn't want the extra calories of the olive oil last night, so I just put on lots of garlic and italian seasoning and toasted it like that. Turned out great! Not a bad idea to cut down on the calories.

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I am feeling a little scatter brained and a smidge of stress. This being my last week of work combined with a large "to-do" list, makes work pretty busy. This weekend flew by and I didn't feel like I had everything ready to go before Monday was here already. With Ben's family in town and visiting mine for Easter I felt like I let a few things slide. Which is good, cause time with family is more important. I just need to do some catching up.

Since when does my Mom give me bunny ears?

Despite all the things I SHOULD be doing, I really just want to catch up on all of your blogs! I think that is where the smidge of stress comes in. From what I NEED to do and what I WANT to do. ;)

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If you are anything like me and need a little catch up from the weekend, here are some posts to fill you in!

 Pickles & Pilates 

 Graduation Station 

 Happy Easter! 

 Do an Easter Dance! 

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As I am writing this... it totally just started snowing. Little bit crazy sauce? Yes. But I am enjoying it in a totally weird way. Probably because I am in my cozy house wrapped up in a blanket watching it. When I have to leave the house, THAT will be another story.

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Check out the cute twins over at Pure2Raw for their cute giveaway!
They make the healthiest treats!
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What do you do to get ready for a new week?

I usually prep food for the upcoming week, catch up on my blogging, get lots of sleep and clean my house.

Yes or No to bunny ears in photos?

My Mom is such a stinker.

Do an Easter Dance!

WORKOUT:

35 min weights - biceps/triceps

30 min abs

40 min rolling with The Stick

I have only run one time since the marathon. I HAD to test out my Garmin at least once... you can't blame me for that. But my quads have a slight pinching feeling in them. They took a bit of a beating during the race and they just haven't felt back to their old selves yet. I am struggling to remind myself EVERY DAY that I need to wait until they are fully healed before I start training for the Utah Valley Marathon.

There has been lots of icing the past week and now I am really going to focus on rolling my quads a lot with The Stick. Hopefully that works out any last kinks. I am crossing my fingers!

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It's Easter, wear pink!

After church we came home and I whipped up a GIANT salad to take over to my parents house.

Butter leaf lettuce, apple, garbanzo beans, strawberries, celery, shredded carrots, toasted almonds, green onions and parsley. 

My mama always makes TONS of food. She always cooked for such a big family, I think she is just on autopilot now. The table settings were fancy and fun... and there was MORE food not pictured that wouldn't fit on the table. 

I piled my plate high with salad and veggies.

 Bunny cake didn't happen this year because my baby bro was the dessert man and whipped up a mean German Chocolate Cake. When I was little I would sneak extra frosting off other pieces, all that cake just got in the way. This was one of the times I am not sad to be dairy free, it keeps me far away from things like this. Though... I did do my part consuming jelly beans.

Ben said it was good with a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top!

Did the Easter Bunny come to YOUR house this year?

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Okay guys, I need your help being strong and not running until these leggies are back in full swing. It is so hard when the early morning beautifulness is calling out my name! I love running in the WEE hours of the morning.

Give me some good reasons to remind myself I shouldn't run so that I can repeat them to myself 20 times a day until I am better. Yeah? Okay!

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Would you rather eat a baked good, like one of those big slices of chocolate cake? 

Or would you rather go for the candy dish?

I am a baked good girl, ALL the way. Though when in a pinch, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

Do you know something magical I should be doing to help my quads get back in gear faster? Please tell me!

Besides giving them a break, icing and rolling them out... fill me in if I am missing anything!

Happy Easter!

Yesterday there was MUCH more FABULOUS family time. 

The girls headed off to play while the boys had a work party in the garage. 

We didn't want to be in their way, you know... distract them.

Heather, me, Christine and Maren.

We got some lunch and talked and talked... which was the best part. 

 I am LOVING the springtime blooms that are out. It is about time right?!?

 After shopping, running errands and chatting it up even more... I met my twin.

Logan & Maren got an Ipad for graduation. I usually am not that nuts about techy stuff, but I NEED one.

Ben is not convinced yet. This is going to take a LOT of creativity.

Dinner happened at Mimi's Cafe.

I had a side salad with raspberry vinaigrette and Mahi Mahi.

 After the fish was "de-buttered" so I could eat it, they also left out the taste. I know it can be tricky when you have dietary restrictions... but really... I cook more flavorful fish in 5 mins.

 And can we talk about the presentation? So sad right?

Oh well... I just ended up drenching it with the rest of my raspberry vinaigrette. It worked out okay.

Do you have special requests when you go to restaurants for dietary restrictions???
I really try to be SUPER polite when ordering cause I know it kinda stresses the server out. It is pretty frustrating though when they totally screw up your order anyway. The first time they brought my meal out the fish was slathered in buttery sauce and so were the potatoes. Um... hello? I mean they fixed it, but when you are already starving... it's not super fun to wait another 10 mins for your food to be remade. 

Not to complain, but this JUST happened at Red Robin last weekend too.

Maybe they were trying to stick it to me when they brought out my uber bland fish later.

Have you ever been a waiter? 

Are people like me TOTALLY annoying?

Probably... I am sorry!

Graduation Station

WORKOUT:

50 min weights - chest/back/shoulders

10 min abs

You KNOW you got a good workout when you realize you are grunting and exhaling loud enough that maybe a couple people around you can hear you. Sweet, I am turning into a dude.

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 I talked Ben into wandering around the mall today and scored a new workout top at Gap.

$4.99 are you out of your mind?

The straps criss cross in the back which is my favorite part.

Ben was sweet and brought me some take-out for lunch. 

It was some DELICIOUS curry from Spicy Thai.

Which reminds me I need to make more room in my life for Thai food. So good.

In case you thought baby carrots just grew in the ground, all tiny and cute...

 Think again. THAT was a little frightening when I was reaching in for some carrots. 

Like a giant creepy finger in the bag. I didn't eat it, don't know if I will be able to later. 

It's totally weirding me out.

Quick salad for dinner.

(Romain, tomato, parsley, chicken, celery, sweet potato and craisins.)

 Then it was time for Graduation with the family!

Logan and Maren both graduated from BYU and it was fun to celebrate with them!

We had a fun night with Sweet Tooth Fairy cupcakes, (sorry no pic-I was a little sad I couldn't eat one cause they looked SOOO good), games and lots of laughs.

When Ben's parents come to visit, it is always a fun time and gets everyone together. 

I am SPOILED to have such sweet and wonderful in-laws. 

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Did you attend a graduation this weekend? 

Tis the season!

Our's was 2 1/2 hours long! Holy cow! I don't remember either of Ben's being that long. Is that normal?

That sneaky little girl in the photo behind me just might have been kicking my seat throughout the program. Little stinker.

What is your favorite Easter candy?

I admit, I bought some treats for Ben and I might have cracked some open early to snack on. The Easter edition of Lifesavers Gummies are really good!