When Things Don’t Go As Planned

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A month ago I wrote a post debating the topic of daily blogging and eventually I decided that although time consuming that I would see how it went for awhile.

Moving ahead to today….

I haven’t blogged daily.

What have I been doing?

Playing nurse to my husband (okay guys lets keep this G rated).

Trying to find time to sleep; this has gotten better now the Hubz is starting to get back to his normal routine.

Working (day job). Working (coaching). Both of which have been keeping me super busy and is great because I have a few new projects in the works. I also have a number of workshops over the next month as well as a 5 Week Teleclass Series that I have partner up with fellow health coach Nicole Culver to do.

In addition to all that I am trying to keep our house in order, training for my first half  round 2 (more about this tomorrow-second times a charm right?) and I am getting back in the kitchen with a notebook full of recipe ideas.

Needless to say but I’ve been busy.  Which is really good but it means that daily blogging probably isn’t going to happen.  I really want to go for quality over quantity.  I am still planning to fill the blog with lots of recipes, Fitness Friday and personal life posts but maybe just not everyday.  I also want to guide you over to my health coaching blog where I am featuring new recipes and healthy living posts that WILL NOT be featured in full on this blog- I will let you know when they go up over there though.

P.S. CVL is getting a face lift in the next month or so- any features you’d like to see? Tell me here Click here to take survey

Quick, Cheap and Easy Meal

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Today I am doing a Living Healthy on A Budget workshop and in preparation for the workshop I decided to make a quick, cheap and easy meal of chickpea-quinoa salad, tofu and squash with tahini sauce. What I loved about this meal was how easy it came together and how little work it was for me. It is also packed with nutrition and uber tasty.

Chickpea Quinoa Salad 

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
  • Servings: 4 (as en entree); 6-8 (as a side)
  • Cost per serving:~ $1.75 (Entree); ~$0.85-1.16 (side)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup  organic quinoa, rinsed +2 cups water
  • 1/4 cup organic scallions, sliced
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1/2 bunch organic fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 cups cooked or canned organic chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. Add quinoa and water to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.  Let stand 5 minutes.
  2. While the quinoa cools combine remaining ingredients in a bowl.  Add quinoa and stir to combine.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Roasted Delicata Squash

  • Prep Time: 5 minutes plus oven heating
  • Cook Time: 20-30 minutes
  • Servings: 4 (as a side)
  • Cost per serving: $0.63
Ingredients:
  • 1 medium delicata squash; washed, halved, seeds removed and sliced into half moons
  • salt and pepper, taste

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat an oven to 350F.  Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper
  2. Place the delicata squash slices on the baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20-30 minutes until fork tender.

Baked Tofu

  • Prep Time: 2 minutes plus oven heating
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Servings: 4 (as a side)
  • Cost per serving: $0.55
Ingredients:
  • 1 block extra firm organic tofu, drained and cut into 4 large triangles
  • 2 tablespoons organic shoyu

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat an oven to 350F.
  2. Place the tofu in an 8×8 baking dish, prick with a fork and evenly our over the shoyu.
  3. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping after 15 minutes.

Tahini Sauce

  • Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
  • Servings: 4 (as a side)
  • Cost per serving: ~$0.60
Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup organic chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 3 tablespoons water, add more water if you would like a thiner consistency
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Place in a blender or food processer and process until smooth.

Total Cost Per Serving: $2.63

(4 complete meals plus 2 extra sides of chickpea-quinoa salad)

Weekend Wrap Up: Farmers Market, Ferry Rides & Eating In

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Saturday morning Neil and I headed out early on a mission for Fall veggies from the Farmers Market and new jeans. First stop the Burlington Farmers Market where I picked up two types of kale and two types of squash.

  

  

YUM Kale! And Neil loves his delicata squash!

  

We did a little jean shopping around Burlington and well it was pretty unsuccessful so we decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and rode the ferry to New York and took a scenic drive to the outlets in Lake George.  It was a relatively fruitless trip for me but Neil came home with a new pair of jeans.

It was a wonderful day with my main squeeze, my hunky hubz.

After our long day away I came home and made dinner of quinoa, kale and tempeh, ordered jeans from JCrew.com (on sale-win!) and spent some cuddle time with my furry little man.

  
Today we’ve spent most of the day relaxing on the couch watching movie trailers, a movie (Morning Glory- really cute) and drinking chai lattes. The benefit of staying home to watch a movie is enjoying a giant bowl of popcorn with nutritional yeast and homemade chai lattes. After relaxing on the couch all day the Hubz and I went on a three mile walk and watched the sunset before dinner.

What did you do this weekend?

Progress: October Eat-In Challenge

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  • Things are going fairly well but it is challenging.  I have wanted to go out for a coffee and yesterday was a struggle because we enjoy breakfast out on Saturday mornings but I resisted. As for my budget I am right on track at $150 and almost all the groceries are purchased for the week- we just need some fruit. 
  • This week I made a lot of beans greens and grains, homemade gluten free pizza with caramelized onions and tempeh, oatmeal, and a bunch of veggies.  Today I am roasting up some squash because I have so many of them from our CSA.  
  • I love my coffees out once in awhile. As much as I love making coffee at home and meals at home I also love getting out and enjoying a really great coffee at Mags. 

Fitness Friday: Improvement, Races & Sports Bras

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Improvement

I have made huge improvements in my workouts over the the past 10 days, i.e. I went from zero to 6.6 miles of run/walk and 35 minute workout last week to this week where I have already put in 11 miles of running and walking and I still have three more days! It feels great to be back.  It is crazy how Neil’s accident directly affected my workouts.  The first week after his accident was as stressful time that resulted in little sleep and little time to do much of anything besides try to keep the house in a manageable state, check in on Neil frequently  and stay up on any commitments that I had.  Now things are better and Neil is back to work and slowly getting back to his normal routine.  He sees the neurologist in 11 days and we are hoping for good news and that he will be able to get back to running (and driving- I’m over being a taxi driver).

The next step is for me to get back to the gym.  It’s been a challenge because I’ve been back to running and it has been beautiful out so no desire to run inside and because Neil is only allowed to go for walks and I’m his driver I haven’t been going right after work.  This weekend and until he gets the okay Neil and I are going to go to the gym together after work so I can do some alternative cardio and weights and he can walk on the dreadmill or hangout and read magazines and watch TV. 

Races

Okay so we are almost fully back. Neil has 11 more days before he sees the neurologist and (hopefully) gets the okay to go back to running. Since we can no longer do the Disney Half Marathon we have been on the lookout for a new half to run.  Today I came across the perfect one; there’s beer, running and the beach….in New Hampshire…in February.

I know it’ll be a little cold for sun bathing but that’s okay we’re there to run and have an amazing time! Is anyone else running this or have you or do you want to?

Training for this half is going to start for me next week! I am sticking with the Galloway plan because I have been using it thus far and am loving it!

On another note I have a 10k on Saturday which I am debating about.  It was supposed to be in line with my original half marathon training but since Neil went and got himself injured (silly man) I got thrown off my training plan and I’m not sure if I am physically up to doing it.  I had a great 4 mile run this week and a quick and easy 2 mile run yesterday but I am not sure if I am ready to do 6.2 miles on Saturday.  I guess I’ll decide between now and 7am tomorrow.

Sports Bras

Now on to the good stuff sports bras! I have been working on finding various sports bras for giving me the right support for various activities.  When it comes to being active I lucked out that I’m not in need of something that is super supportive since ahem…there isn’t a ton to support.  I have tried a number of bras and I have a few favorites but my new addition is easily becoming a favorite of mine for a number of reasons.

For the past few weeks I have been trying out the Moving Comfort Rebound Racer Sports Bra and I am loving it and no you don’t get a photo of me in it so this one from their site will have to do.  My thoughts:

PROS

  • Excellent support
  • True to size
  • Well Made
  • Adjustable Straps (love this and you can use strap as a key holder if you’re like me)

CONS

  • Could use more colors- not that I’m flashing it around to other people but I’d like to see more variety than black, white and blue

BEST USES (based on my experience)

  • Running
  • Training
  • High Impact
Overall huge fan of this bra and would definitely recommend it!
What is your favorite sports bra?