Greetings and happy fall. This post has been long in coming. The last time I posted was on September 5th! There have only been a few moments of inspiration to write lately and then all I can seem to think of is lists. Don't get me wrong, I love lists as much as the next person but for a while there I felt like all my postings were just bullet points. So, to bring you up to speed I'll do a rambling of lots of little things that have been keeping me busy (and not posting).
My daily routine has changed a lot in the last two months. My husband and I began a workout program called Ultimate Body Challenge boot camp. We have been successfully waking up at 6am for the last almost 9 weeks and working out for 1 hour Monday through Friday. Three days a week have been either upper body or lower body and then Tuesdays and Thursdays have been focused on various cardio exercises including kick-boxing. I have to admit that I was hesitant about the class but it has changed my whole daily schedule as well as helping me make sure I'm getting in much needed exercise. On top of the busy fitness schedule, the "boot camp" class has an important nutritional plan that is as much about eating healthy as it is about taking care of your body (muscles & heart). The plan consists of 6 meal times per day. These should each consist of one portion of both "good" carbs and "good" protein and at least 2 servings of vegetables. The reason I explain all of this to you is because the class has changed the way we grocery shop, cook and eat.
Grocery shopping has gotten more expensive but mostly because we're being very intentional about what we eat and eating a variety of healthy things. There is virtually no sugar in the house or "unhealthy" snacks. Six days a week are supposed to be focused on the nutrition plan and then the 7th day can be a play day where you don't worry about nutrition. This is a good day to eat the things you might have been thinking about all week. For us it is usually a good day to eat out or eat something like a cream sauce or ice cream. Splurge we do. Cooking and eating has become more of a household activity for us. Both the class, better grocery shopping and our new oven have all been keeping us motivated to cook. Here is a recipe I "cooked up" myself last night. I wanted to use up some fresh rosemary I had and couldn't find a good salmon recipe. Here goes:
- 1/2 C fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 T olive oil
- 1/2 t kosher or sea salt
- 1/2 t pepper
- 1/2 t brown sugar
- 3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and brush onto salmon fillet. Wrap in greased aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the thickest part of the salmon is opaque.
We've been using a great website called epicurious to scout out new yummy recipes. So far we've tried a Roasted Lamb recipe and also a delicious sausage and potato omelet using Trader Joe's roasted red pepper and chicken sausage. Our little world of food has been delicious and healthy. This is a long term dream of mine that is finally coming true....early! I always worry what kind of a cook I'll be as a mother but now I think it might be possible. It takes a lot of planning and being strategic but now there is no turning back.
Next in the line of time occupying activities has been my dogs. If you know me at all, you know they are my little kiddos. They stare at me every morning waiting to see what the day will bring. The girls alternate Monday's at a local doggie daycare. They are always so excited when we drive up on Monday mornings and they're always "dog" tired when they come home. It is a great place and a great investment for the health and happiness of my babies. In addition, we have been taking lots of walks around our neighborhood whether sun, cold, rain or shine. The fall leaves are slowly blowing off the trees and make a beautiful carpet for early morning or late afternoon walks. The dogs are getting more used to being well behaved on leash and it makes it enjoyable for everyone when we go on walk. Here are a few pictures of the stinkers. Eleanor will be three this next Friday. It is crazy that she's been with us for 3 years already.
If all of these things haven't kept me busy enough, I've been doing loads of laundry using my new favorite laundry soap by Biokleen. Their products are concentrated so they last longer and they are environmentally friendly but still work well and smell great!
Perhaps it won't be so long for the next post. Life seems to be be jumping by leaps and bounds. Halloween is only 1 1/2 weeks away, Thanksgiving on the horizon and Christmas around the corner. To you and your loved ones, peace this fall.
"We seek peace, knowing that peace is the climate of freedom." Dwight D. Eisenhower
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