Gourmet all the way

Workout
I went to the gym yet again today. The cold rainy weather has kinda made my workouts this week a little boring. Today I focused on my abs and legs and finished with 30 min. of cardio on the stairs.
Dinner

Nothing like a toasty gourmet open faced sandwich. This sandwich started with a base of whole wheat naan bread. Topped with some basil and white bean hummus, roasted red pepper and artichoke tapanade, and smoked turkey.

Toasted under the broiler for just a few minutes.

Finished with a bed of mixed greens, fresh shaved Parmesano reggiano, sea salt, and pepper.

Along with a little bowl of red pepper chickpea minestrone soup.

Baked toppings

Workout
I hit up the gym today for an upper body workout and 30 min. on the stairs. It was a quick and sweaty workout.
Dinner

Nothing like a nice salad with roasted sweet potatoes for dinner.

The main ingredients for this salad were mixed greens topped with roasted and seasoned sweet potatoes. Along with wedges of a Tj's chili lime chicken burger. Also in the mix a little reduced fat cheddar cheese, basil white bean dip, and lots of salsa.

Paired with some crispy and crunchy baked blue corn chips.

Lots of veggies

Workout
After work today I came home for one of my bootcamp workouts. I did it in three rounds starting with 15 min. on the spinning bike. Followed by chest, back, abs, and legs. Another 10 min. back on the bike and then more abs, legs, shoulders, biceps, and triceps. I finished up with 15 min. back on the bike.

It's a good workout to keep your body guessing and a great way to keep some variety in your workouts.
Dinner

For dinner I was craving a BIG AMAZING salad, and that's what I got. This salad was better then any restaurant salad that I've had lately. It included romaine lettuce, mixed greens, mushrooms, carrots, cucumber, dried cranberries, feta, and two different types of hummus.

Delicious!!!!

I baked in the oven a lasagna from Trader Joe's. This one was their multi grain veggie lasagna.


Put together to make a yummy and easy dinner chocked full of veggies.

And then there's this guy, he's such a bum. He is not allowed on the furniture and for whatever reason I found him in this chair tonight getting cozy with a blanket and pillow. And he looks so comfortable.

Amazing leftovers

Workout
I had decided last night that I would sleep a little bit later this morning and go to the gym after work. Of course after work I was not motivated to work out. After lots of mental debate I put the peddle to the metal and drove towards the gym. I did a full body super intense muscle burning workout, which took an hour and then I called it a day. I knew the battle was just getting myself to the gym. Once I was started working out I felt great.
Dinner

I've been thinking about these leftovers all day. Seriously, I had such a craving for these leftover shredded chicken enchiladas that I made last night for Valentine's dinner.

Enchiladas are a good way to impress a man, aren't they?

I made a filling of shredded chicken breast mixed with some enchilada sauce, sauteed green chile's, onions, and red bell pepper. Rolled up in some Tj's flour and corn tortillas. With a layer of enchilada sauce in the bottom of the pan and then finished off with a generous amount on top. Topped off with some reduced fat cheddar cheese and baked at 350 degrees for 35 min.

To complete the meal I had a little side taco salad with refried black beans, reduced fat cheddar cheese, and salsa. Along with some baked blue corn chips.

Yum, it was all so good.

Crisp day

When the sun shows it's face you know what that means, a change of plans. Instead of heading to the gym on such a beautiful day I came home and went for a run.


I'm still exploring my new neighborhood. Since moving I haven't been able to find enjoyment in my workouts. I think a lot of it has to do with conflicting priorities going on and all the things happening around the new house. I have still kept up with my workout's, but I just haven't had that feeling inside. As I get more settled and things become more routine I'm sure that I will find that enjoyment once again.

Today I had such a great run and really enjoyed my time in the neighborhood. I was like Forest Gump, I ran and ran and ran, I just couldn't stop, and the feeling was right.

I'm not sure how many miles I traveled but I know it was a lot. At the end I ran back home, got my reusable Tj's bag along with some money and ran to the store for some dinner items. On the return trip home I did walk, I had fragile eggs on board.

For dinner I had to break out the big plates. I needed lots of room for a big heaping pile of organic green leaf lettuce.

I topped the lettuce with some warmed up refried beans, reduced fat cheddar cheese, salsa, and jalapeno Food for life chips.

Along with some roasted VERY thinly sliced sweet potatoes that I baked for 30 min. at 400 degrees. I seasoned the sweet potatoes with sea salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder, and taco seasoning. Topped with some cilantro and jalapeno hummus.

The chips were spicy and delicious, especially with a smear of hummus.

Pizza makes it better

Workout
Today was a rest day from working out. I knew I was going to have a very busy and long day, so I planned ahead and went to the gym yesterday.

Dinner
Dinner tonight was mini pizza's, the dinner originally intended for last nights super bowl.

I roasted up some sliced red bell pepper, zucchini, shallot, and some unseen Tj's basil chicken sausage. I seasoned everything with sea salt, pepper, garlic, and basil. Everything was roasted at 300 degrees for 30 min.

On another tray I toasted in the oven for about 10 min some whole wheat naan bread and topped it with Tj's garlic marinara sauce. The marinara sauce was perfect for the pizza's. It was garlicky and chunky, delicious. I then topped the pizza's with all the roasted veggies and sausage. Finished off with feta and crushed pineapple.

Roasted again in the oven for another 10 min. and then it was ready to serve.

Maybe Monday's are made for pizza night instead of Friday's and Saturday's? It sure made my Monday better.

Super bowl time

Workout
After a lazy morning I headed to the gym to workout. I wasn't very motivated and I wouldn't call it my favorite workout, but I got it done.
Afternoon

In the afternoon I did a little baking, recipe to come soon.

I walked to the store today and picked up some pre game snacks along with a few things for dinner. I love being able to walk to so many things in my neighborhood. It was an hour before the game started so it was super busy at the store. Pre game snacks were some Food should taste good jalapeno chips and some tequila lime salsa. Both were tasty and I ate way too much salsa. My salsa to chip ratio was definitely very heavy on the salsa.

As you can see this little guy wanted some too.
Dinner

I had planned on making mini pizza's for dinner in celebration of the super bowl. But when the time came I was feeling lazy and I had eaten too much chips and salsa. I kept it simple with an egg white, reduced fat cheddar cheese, and spinach omelet. Topped with some more of that yummy salsa. Paired with some Tj's grapes, which are awesome, nice and crisp. Along with a little bowl of Quaker squares. But I was too full to eat the cereal.

Love the super bowl half time, the best one I've seen in years and with two of my favorite performers.

Dinner date for three

Workout
The sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. But there was a very brisk breeze and it was pretty cold out. But I seized the opportunity and went for a run in my new neighborhood. I ran about 5 miles cruising through the the prestigious Reed college, which is an arts liberal school and past the golf course and swanky older homes. It was a good run overall, but I was freezing when I got home and since I haven't ran in a few months due to the weather I could really feel it in my legs afterwords. After taking a hot shower and enjoying a mug of herbal tea I was much better.
Dinner

I had a dinner date with a very special guy.
(I'm also really in need of a haircut and some highlighting)

I joined these two for dinner at a restaurant in my new neighborhood. My best friend Michelle and her son Henry are down from Seattle Washington visiting for the week and helping me celebrate my birthday week. Unfortunately the restaurant was very dark so no pictures were taken. But we had a great Mexican meal at Cha cha cha, a restaurant that has come highly recommended by locals. The food was cheap, tasty, and fresh.

We had originally planned on walking to the restaurant but it was just too cold out and it was getting dark. I can't wait until summer to walk to all the neighborhood restaurants, pubs, frozen yogurt, and gelato places, yum. I was telling Michelle tonight with all the places I want to go to and try, I'm going to have to moderate myself and walk to the places to balance out all the good eats.

Layers

Workout
Oh my gosh was I sore all day today. It was like being sore but on a whole new level. Every part of my body is screaming from yesterday's bodypump class. I decided that today's workout was going to be strictly cardio. With hopes that the movement would help loosen up my muscles. It actually did help. I feel looser and more limber then I did earlier today. I did 15 min. on the spinning bike followed by 45 min. on the stairs and finished with a bunch of stretching.
Dinner

I busted out one of my new favorite go to meals. I love Trader Joe's veggie multi grain lasagna.

Warmed in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 min.

I enjoyed a small bowl of lasagna and packed up some for lunch tomorrow.

Change of plans

Workout
There was a change of plans this morning, the usual instructor for dancers workout and kickboxing had to take an early maternity leave per doctors orders. So today there was a schedule change at the gym. When I arrived for 30 min. of dancers workout (a mix of pilates and ballet) I found out it was changed to bodypump for 1 hour and then kickboxing for an hour. I buckled down followed instruction and took the class. I had never taken bodypump before and man it was hard, seriously hard. I lift weights all the time and I'm constantly changing my routines and trying new things. Bodypump was simple in the exercise's but the sets and reps were so long that it makes your muscles burn and quiver. After two hours of very intense classes my muscles were noodles and I've been hurting ever since. But I'll be back, it's the new schedule until May when the regular instructor returns.

This afternoon I got my baking on. I made healthy peanut butter balls, and did a little too much snacking while baking.

So dinner was light and simple. I had a blurry salad of leftovers.

And a cup of peach herbal tea to end the night.

Another variation

Workout

After several days of super hard workouts at the gym my body was feeling really fatigued today. I decided to do a lighter workout at home while enjoying a little light reading. I did 45 min. on the spinning bike and finished with some abs.
Dinner

I made a delicious Mexican casserole for dinner tonight. This would be variation 153,239 or something like that. I never really make the same recipe twice when it comes to Mexican dishes. I usually just use what's in the cupboard and come up with a creation.

Tonight's creation included a base of refried beans, baked blue corn chips, leftover chicken skewers de skewered and diced up, tj's spicy black bean dip, salsa, and cheese. I baked it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 min.

Paired with a side of romaine lettuce and crushed baked blue corn chips.

A little help

What it's night time already. Where did the day go already? Must be all the running around and the jam packed afternoon I had. After work I headed to the gym for a full body workout followed by 40 min. on the stairs. After that I ran some errands including a trip to Trader Joes.

I took a little help with dinner from Tj's. I picked up a box of pre skewered chicken kabobs and baked them in the oven for about 20 min. They are perfect to add to a meal. I turned one skewer into a salad for dinner and used another skewer for a chicken wrap for lunch tomorrow.

In the salad was a base of romaine lettuce, topped with jalapeno and cilantro hummus, brushetta mix, and feta. Accompanied by some multi grain chips.

Great flavor combo and highly satisfying.

The best salad

Workout
I went to the gym and kicked some butt in an upper body workout. I really worked my muscles to there max and got a good fatigue. I finished with 40 min. on the stairs and an episode of Days of our lives.
Dinner

This is how leftovers should be. I used last nights vegetarian black bean Mexican casserole as tonight's centerpiece.

On top of a huge pile of romaine lettuce I topped it with the Mexican casserole and some baked tortilla chips. The chips were simple to make. I baked in the oven some wedges of whole wheat flat bread for 10 min. on each side at 350 degrees.

It's the tastiest salad that I've had in a while.

Shades of orange

Workout
I went to the gym today and did a pretty intense upper body workout followed but 30 min. on the stairs. I was all business, I was in, worked hard, and was out.
Dinner

This blood orange was the centerpiece for tonight's dinner.

First I very thinly sliced a sweet potato to make some potato chips. I baked them in the oven at 350 degrees for 40 min. Seasoned with some sea salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian seasonings.

I picked up a chicken breast from Whole Foods today. To start I pounded it a little to tenderize it before coating it in a mix of Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and the zest of one blood orange. The chicken roasted in the oven at 350 degrees for 35 min.

It was a big piece of chicken, so once it was done I cut it in half and saved the rest for another meal.

The chicken was perfectly cooked and had such good flavor from the orange zest. I sliced up half of the orange to go along with dinner. I also made a little tomato relish for the chicken. I ended up not eating it because it was taking away from the delicious orange flavor.

Tonight's tea of choice is wild berry zinger.

What to eat

Workout
I had planned on going to the gym after work. Then mid morning the sun came out and there was unexpected blue sky. I thought I should do something outside like go for a run or bike ride. Then as time went on and it got closer to the time I was heading to the gym the sky got dark. It started to look like it could rain at any minute. I was already in the mind set of heading home so I decided to do a bootcamp workout at home. I think I would have rather gone to the gym. Working out at home just ended up not being my choice workout. Good thing there's always tomorrow.
Dinner

I wasn't in the mood for anything in particular for dinner. After scouring the pantry, fridge, and freezer I came up with mini pizza's. I toasted one whole wheat English muffin and crumbled up some tj's sun dried tomato chicken sausage, diced tomatoes, spices, and reduced fat mozzarella cheese.
Toasted in the oven for 10 min. at 350 degrees.

Topped with some arugula. I think I need the arugula to wilt slightly or maybe I should have tore it into smaller pieces. Anyway I've seen arugula put on big pizza's after they cook. I'm not sure what the secret is. This arugula was a little wild and over taking my pizza.

Herbal tea has become my winter evening ritual. I guess if I start my day with tea the best thing to do is also end it with some. Tonight's choice is Celestial seasonings peach herbal tea.

Workout
Not today, this lady needed a new hair do, and I sure got one. I went a little cute, spunky, with a little spicy in there. I'll give you a little preview once it's all styled and pretty.
Dinner

Ever since I was introduced to Tj's vegetarian multi grain lasagna it has become one of my quick pull it out of the freezer go to meals. It's just so soft and cheesy I can't get enough.

The only problem with this lasagna is it get's a little soupy watery. I guess for a cheap quick meal you can't expect perfection. Paired with a simple yet equally delicious salad.

Simple sauce

Workout
This morning was all about a bootcamp workout. It was very early, but my body was feeling great this morning and I totally kicked butt.
Dinner

A winter meal to be enjoyed by a nice fire with a cup of herbal tea.

I was originally going to make tonight's dinner with lentils. That is until I googled the cooking instructions and realized it would take far too long to cook and I would have needed to start dinner earlier.

I substituted some quinoa instead and it only takes about 10 min. to cook.

I made a delicious dinner to top the quinoa once it was cooked. I sliced up some Tj's turkey polish sausage and sauteed it along with a diced red bell pepper. Once everything was slightly charred I added a few tablespoons of barbecue sauce and let it reduce down into a sauce. I then added some fire roasted salsa, garlic, and chili flakes. This was sooo good, especially when topped with a little spicy hummus. On the side was half a sliced pear, the most perfectly ripe pear that is.

It may be a very simple dinner, but it was a winner for sure.