Being healthy, fit and SAFE

Wow, this summer has flown by. Forget summer, this WEEK has flown by. I've been a little MIA. Oh, I've been around and reading everyone else's amazing blogs. I just needed a rest from my own.

You know, summers aren't the same as when you're a kid. Everyone has to work and even though I'm not working, I'm still doing lots of work around the house. Sigh. I have this expectation that summer is supposed to be filled with so much fun that every day I'm "missing out". Then I get out in the heat and decide to retreat back in to the cool, air conditioned house. And I know I won't get any sympathy, because it's not even humid here.

I'm trying to more actively count my blessings and be happy where I'm at. For example, I was reading Elle the other day and saw a swimsuit for $500 and thought "Holy cow! People actually spend that much on a swim suit?!?" Often in our society, we are encouraged to keep up with the Joneses. It can be so easy to think, I wish that I could justify spending money on those designer shoes or that bigger house or nicer car. Then I think how I'm already in the small percentage of the world to live in a 1st world country. Then I think about being a homeowner, having a husband who works really, really, REALLY hard so I can go back to school and so we can be financially set have kids. At the end of the day, stuff is just stuff. It's the people you surround yourself that make you happy.

Yikes. Ok, this was a little random, but it cracked me up! :D

So I have to say that not working is enough to say summer's been good thus far. After all, I took a trip to Oregon, this week I helped a friend paint a house, went to Roaring Springs with a friend, and Jeremy and I are taking a trip to Moab, UT in August.

I'm still trying to pull out of my lack of motivation funk, but I'll get there. Jeremy and I made an agreement: no TV until I've worked out. Sure, I find other things to do such as reading, napping, cooking and cleaning (I completely cleaned our bedroom, bath room and closet one day) to procrastinate. After a while though, I've been thinking about everything I can do to NOT workout that I just do it so I don't have to think about putting it off any longer. Make sense?

Today, I did a circuit training DVD with Jackie Warner. I can feel the soreness already.

Jackie does not mess around. Jackie. kicks. my. butt every. single. time. This is one of the best strength training/work up a sweat that soaks the carpet beneath you home DVD's out there. So on days when driving to the gym isn't going to happen, this is a perfect solution.

For the first time in my life, I've been on a strength training kick more than cardio. I think I just haven't had the attention span for it. And it's hot outside. Hot driving to the gym. Hot in the gym. Running when you're already hot is not fun. I could get up early before it got hot. Yeah, but don't hold your breath.

My eating habits have been in a great place. That's half the battle, right? I think summer brings out those cravings for fresh, whole food. I've become serious best friends with Green Monsters.

I've gotten a little more adventurous and added watermelon to one and blueberry (pictured) to another. In fact, I even convinced Jeremy (who does NOT do vegetables, much less any green ones) to try them for a week. And you won't miss out, I will be documenting it! ;)

Another common breakfast has been Fiber One.

With a banana sliced up into it. I just can't get into hot breakfasts in the summer.

One thing I always eat if presented to me but don't seek it out is sprouts. I weirdly had a craving for them the other day. So I bought some for the first time in my life.

Mmm... I've been in a sandwich mania. Sprouts went perfectly with my egg salad and avocado sandwich.

Apparently, there are different types of sprouts. There were three kinds when I was choosing mine at the store. I picked the one labeled "deli". Some health benefits of sprouts are:

1. Rich in antioxidants.

2. Rich in vitamins A, C and selenium.

3. Contain calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, zinc, folate and vitamin B.

4. Low in sodium but high in potassium.

Sometimes I actually feel like cooking. Like a healthier Cheeseburger Pasta. You never let me down, Can You Stay For Dinner?

It wouldn't be summer without a little ice cream, right? I decided to give Haagen Dazs Five a try. Surely, by now you've seen this sweet little treat with only 5 ingredients.

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I chose the lemon flavor. In one word this tastes very pure. You can literally taste each ingredient (well, maybe not the eggs). The serving size is 1/2 cup and since it is so satisfying it's easy to only eat that much!

Especially when paired with a ripe nectarine. SO good. The tart of the nectarine and the lemon ice cream compliment each other very well.

One last thing for today. The other night I was driving home after dark and I saw a girl running in the dark. Please, please, PLEASE no matter how safe you think your neighborhood is, don't do this. Just. don't. do it.

Here's a couple of other safety tips I think every woman should read again and again.

1. Don't sit in your car in a parking lot. Get in your car and drive away. You are a sitting duck to predators because generally, you are not paying attention to your surroundings.

2. When driving, especially at night, lock your car doors. It's very easy for a stranger to approach you at a red light, get into your car and put a gun to your head.

3. Make eye contact. Generally, predators look for easy, passive targets. When you make eye contact, it says "I see you, I've seen your face, and I can identify you". Attackers will likely avoid anyone who might be able to identify them.

4. Look around you. Pay attention to your surroundings. When you are aware of who is around you, you can also notice anything or anyone suspicious.

5. Be mean. By all means, be a bitch. I don't use that word often but I mean it. Predators will play on the sympathies of women, asking for the time, directions, help with their car, lost puppy whatever. This also goes for if a stranger is approaching you or you've been attacked.

6. Be aggressive. You can shout "stay away!" if you feel they are advancing toward you. If you're attacked, go for soft spots, such as groin, stomach, throat, and eyes. Be as forceful as you possibly can.

7. Run. Even if he has a gun. Chances are, a predator will only hit a moving target 4 out of 100 shots.

8. Trust your gut. If you feel uncomfortable, or get a bad feeling about a stranger, you have a reason for feeling so. Move quickly and confidently.

And last but not least, to quote my dad: "You're not paranoid if they're really out to get you. Better paranoid than dead."

Be a tough girl, like Michelle Rodriguez.

Kind of a serious note but things can happen anywhere, anytime. Don't think that it won't happen to you. Turn on the news. Things happen to people everyday that they thought would never happen to them. We women needs to stick together!!

Not sure what the plans are for the weekend. Probably planting some flowers and perhaps a trip to the farmer's market. Happy weekend everyone! :)

Do you like sprouts?

What's your favorite ice cream?

What's your best safety tip?

July 4th & Call For Motivation!

Well, hello! Hope everyone's weekend was awesome! Some of you even had today off! First, you know I'm giving a shout out to my hubby and everyone else in the armed forces:

Thanks for fighting for our freedom. :)

Yesterday was a beautiful day.

I was STARVING and was pretty sure I wasn't going to make it 3 hours until dinner. So I made myself a big ol' sandwich:

Turkey, pastrami (I've been on a weird pastrami kick lately), avocado, spinach and tomato on a sandwich thin.

Another reason to love fruit: it's so pretty and colorful on the counter!

I picked banana, with a few spoonfuls of Activia yogurt. It works, kids.

For dinner, I went to my friend Amy's house for a BBQ and fireworks.

I made Loaded Baked Potato Salad. Recipe courtesy of Katie at Dashing Dish.

Everyone LOVED it! I was glad I wouldn't be eating leftovers for a week.

Here's some other yumminess:

Hunter got a new toy for the occasion:

A late night snack

On a different note, I've been feeling a little lack of motivation.

(THE LIFE. I haz it.)

I haven't felt the ambition to hit the gym. I've been walking Hunter so at least that's something. I know that I'll feel more energized and accomplished, I just need to get back into the habit!

So help me out here: how do you get motivated when in a rut?

p.s. I didn't forget my friends up north, Canada Day was July 1st!

Busy Weekend and Lazy Monday

Now that I'm not working, my body seems to have found a comfortable schedule of falling asleep at 2am and waking up at 11am. This really has to stop. I sure am enjoying it while it lasts though. I'm sure a Body Pump class at 6 am would cure me. :)

Saturday afternoon (when I'd been up for exactly 2 hours) I met up with Sara at the farmer's market downtown. I hadn't been in YEARS and didn't quite know where to begin. There were so many stands of fresh produce, jewelry, even one stand that had these pretty serving spoons. I might have to go back and get one for my mom. I only brought a small amount of cash so that I wouldn't overspend.

First I bought some kale:

I love greens!

Collard greens are my favorite (thanks to my family in Alabama and yes I also like black eyed peas). I knew that dark leafy greens were a good source of iron so I wondered what the other health benefits were. According to Wikipedia, it is also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and Caroteniods (which provide Vitamin A). Usually, I steam them and add a little red wine vinegar but I'm going to try a new recipe so stay tuned.

Next up:

Blue cheese dressing to DIE for!

It's made by a company called Boise Bleu and there is nothing like it. I could probably drink the whole jar. Instead I politely gobbled up a handful of carrots dipped in it.

Lastly, some locally made granola bars. I just love local businesses.

Scott's Loaded Granola Bars

Triple Berry, Pistachio Cherry, Blackberry Lime

Then we went to the Co-op and had a lovely lunch outside.

I got the chicken salad sandwich with lettuce, red onion, sprouts and tomato. They make the best sandwiches.

I did some shopping at the Co-op and headed home.

PB Puffins, coconut flour, spelt bread, white chocolate syrup, Amy's stuffed pasta shells and agave. I'm a sugar fiend, I know.

At home, I immediately tested out the white chocolate syrup with strawberries.

Num. Num. The syrup is not thick and heavy so it wasn't overpowering at all. Just the perfect touch of sweetness.

I also bought some flowers to spruce up our house.

These go inside:

Aren't orchids gorgeous?

These go in the front yard:

Still have to plant these babies!

These were already in the front yard but I thought they were pretty:

Does anyone know what they are? I'd like to go get some more for the back yard.

These did go in the back yard:

I skipped pilates today (gasp!) but I did mow the lawn which is just as good. It's nice to be outside. I need a hammock so I can take an afternoon nap out there. :) Horray for summer days!

How did you spend your weekend?

What are some of your favorite local products?