Days 9, 10 & 11- Stuffed

I've reached capacity today...
I'm mentally, physically and emotionally overfull...

I've spent the last two days frantically going through things, trying to get ready for a garage sale at my moms. We picked the date months ago... I should have been ready.
I swear we have every pair of soccer shoes we ever purchased, enough football cleats to fit the high school team, towels to support a carwash and quick survey of my book collection would lead you to believe I have educated myself on just about everything...
Bags and balls... shirts and coats...
Cameras- oh my goodness... cameras with film or full size VCR tapes... disposable cameras, digital cameras, broken cameras.
Coffee cups, tea pots, magnets and napkins....the list goes on and on.
Throw on top of the "stuff" the things that really matter, like pictures and videos...drawings and essays.
Where in the world did it all come from? Why do we still have it?
And, more importantly- what am I going to do with it?

The boys are gone now... Zach living a good life in Omaha with Katherine and Bear...
Sam living the hard life (at the moment), eating, sleeping and breathing football for a few more days until classes start.

My nest is empty and it's time to clean it out!
Unfortunately, almost everything within these walls means something to someone.
How in the world do I decide what to give away?

I've filled my car twice (you'd be AMAZED at what you can fit in a Prius!!) and I think I'm done...

Maybe over the winter, I'll box some things up, but for now there is comfort in the stuff that is still here. I think I might step a little closer to the line of maturity...maybe even crossing over for a moment to become more like my mom- creating a box for each of the boys- thoughtfully sorting life's treasures for them...giving them something to remember.

In the meantime, if you need any placemats or soccer balls...I've got you covered.

Day 9-8/17/16
4:00- Wake, dress and head out the door with a cup of coffee and a Siggis 0% blueberry yogurt
5:00 and 6:00- teach Kickboxing. 32 oz. water
7:30- 1 egg, 3 whites, 3 oz peaches, 1.5 oz. blueberries
9- Leave for Oskaloosa...  swear next year, I'm going to have my s*+! together before Sam's school year starts. Starbucks- Tall Americano and 12 oz. water
10:30- 1/2 Rx Bar 16 oz. water
11:30- String cheese, 1 oz pistachios
12:30- Board of Educational Examiners- guy wasn't very nice....would have liked to tell him that, but decided to keep it to myself, just in case he had a good memory and happened to process Sam's teaching license in the future!
1:00- Drive to Marshalltown to pick something up for one of the stores. STARVING. 12 oz. water and three Breath Savers (I wasn't very prepared)
1:30- grilled chicken (no bun) ad apple slices from Wendy's. 16 oz. water
5:00- 3 oz. turkey breast, 1 oz. cheddar, 16 Crunchmaster crackers 16 oz. water
6:00- school board meeting. 16oz water
9:00- 4 oz. leftover fajita chicken, onions & peppers with 2 TBS. salsa and 1 TBS. Greek yogurt
9560 steps, 3 hours 10 minutes sleep (brain would not shut off- slept well from 10:30-1...solved the worlds problems until the alarm went off at 5!!), 1016 calories, 128 oz. water, 42% protein, 22% carbs, 36% fat

Day 10- 8/17/16
Wake 6:45- 10 oz. coffee, 24 oz. water
Garage sale madness begins
11:00- Protein shake. 4 oz. frozen cherries, 1 tsp. flax oil, 8 oz. almond milk, 1 scoop Growing Naturals Rice protein powder
12- teach. 16 oz. water
1:30- DELICIOUS chicken breast from my friend. Stuffed with spinach, tomatoes and feta. 3 oz. raw carrots on the side. 16 oz. water
3:15- Kind "strong" bar
3:30- Lift in PT room...squats, presses, walking lunges
4:30 & 5:30- Teach- 32 oz. water
7:30- 4 oz. leftover fajita chicken breast and onions sprinkled on 12 corn tortilla chips with 2 TBS. salsa and 1 oz. Greek yogurt (totally balanced and naughty tasting!)16 o. water
10002 steps, 8 hours sleep,1226 calories, 104 oz. water, 40% protein, 25% carbs, 35% fat

Day 11- 8/18/16
Wake 6:42- UGH! set alarm to go to Kick Boxing and slept right through. Too much to do today to go at a later time.
7:00- 10oz. coffee...get sucked into emails until 8:50
9:00- siggis whole milk yogurt (strawberry-rhubarb), 12 oz. water
11- run to pick up G/sale stuff from studio, 16 oz. water
1:00- STARVING!! Stop at Fareway after running errands- grab a few groceries, including a rotisserie chicken
1:20- Chicken leg (my favorite!), 4 oz. green grapes, 24 oz. water
4:00- Proto whey shake made with water
4:30 & 5:45- Teach. 24 oz. water
7:00- drop final load to Mom and Dad... pickup beautiful zucchini and tomatoes... too tired to do anything with them.
7:20- 1/2 bag Dole "Chopped" Bacon and Blue salad mix (no bacon, 2 tablespoons blue cheese vinaigrette), 4 oz. rotisserie chicken breast. 12 oz. water
9:00- string cheese, 12 crunchmaster crackers, 12 oz. water
8720 steps, 7 hours 53 minutes sleep, 100 oz. water, 46% protein, 19% carbs, 35% fat

Determined to get on track 100% tomorrow!
Busy weekend/week ahead and I need to be prepared if I'm going to keep things going in the right direction!

Day 6-7-8....who do I appreciate??

What a crazy week!
After jumping head first into the week, hitting 5 workouts, eating clean and abandoning wine, I was feeling pretty good...
But then the damned demi-gods of sabotage started flitting around my head, taunting me to fall back to my old habits....
"Your back hurts... the basement is full of water...HERE! have a free super-sugar coffee drink...the freezer defrosted on it's own (all over the kitchen floor)... the internet's down... there's nothing thawed for dinner".... the list went on and on this weekend.
Some one said it takes 21 days to create a habit- but what they forgot to tell us was that the demons of temptation will inevitably show up, just when you're starting to feel a little cocky after about day 6.
Whether you make it through or slip, is up to you...either way you should own it and move on...
more health goals are lost to guilt than anything else.
How many times have you thought to yourself "SEE! I knew I couldn't do it" or "I'm just not ready"?
Working toward healthy doesn't mean perfection... it means being strong for as long as you can, choosing to comfort yourself (or simply enjoy yourself)  and jumping right back on plan the next meal!
It's been a great first week.... who do I appreciate now that it's over?
I'm terribly thankful for those who have commented or liked, sent me private messages of support, Tammy for nudging me to stick to my workout plan and the wonderful people who cook healthy(ish) food in town when my life is too busy to cook myself!
xoxo

Day 6-8/13/16
6:40- Wake, dress fast and zip out the door with a Purefit bar and a bottle of water
7:10- Late to Kickboxing, but I'm here!
8:30- 1 egg, 2 whites, 6 oz. watermelon, 10 oz. coffee
9:00- head back to the basement... enough steps and many stairs
12:00- 4 oz. minute steak, 2 oz. onions, 1 oz. Siggis plain yogurt, 3 oz. green beans, 12 Blackberries
6:30- Skinless chicken breast with mushrooms and Marsala sauce with mushroom risotto.... Take-out heaven after 2 long days in the basement
10560 steps, 7 hours-7 minutes sleep (!!), 1108 calories, 96 oz. water, 45% protein, 20% carbs, 35% fat

Day 7- 8/14/16
Wake 9:00- 1 egg, 2 whites, 6 oz. watermelon, 10 oz. coffee
1:00- 3 oz. pork shoulder roast, 1/3 cup 2% cottage cheese, 5 oz. cherry tomatoes
2:00- drive to Oskaloosa. 1/2 Rx Bar (Chocolate sea salt-mmmmm)
5:00- dinner out with Sam. "Southwest Salad" Iceberg, black beans, corn, grilled chicken and 2 pounds of cheddar cheese (I should have taken a picture! I took it off!). Southwest ranch dressing on the side
8600 steps, 8 hours-10 minutes sleep, 84 oz. water, 36% protein, 19% carbs, 45% fat (YIKES!)

Day 8- 8/15/16
Wake 7:35- Teach at 8!! Run out the door with water, leftover cold coffee and a Flyjoy bar (good but waaaay off balance). I'm going to try to make them so I can add protein.
9-10:302 PT clients
11:00- 1 egg, 3 whites, 5.5 oz. grapes, 1 tsp. grated parmesan
2:30- protowhey shake
Buying carpet/pad
Business meeting- Cabernet... I caved.
7:00- Stirfry Chicken with zucchini, onions and peppers
7500 steps, 30 minutes lift, 8 hours-19 minutes sleep, 972 calories, 35% protein, 27% carbs, 24% fat, 13% alcohol sugars
Weigh-in after 1 week- down 6.2 pounds

Day 5- Experiences

I love rain.
Thursday was a typical Iowa summer night, hot and still. Driving home I noticed heat lightning, then eventually thunder...low and rumbly in the distance. Suddenly everything got quiet and the skies opened up and poured- fresh, cold and straight down. It rained...and rained...and rained.
I had hoped to sleep in Friday morning, but that doesn't always work out. The storms made it easier to turn off my internal clock at 4am and drift back to sleep.
I woke up around 8:30 (!!), ran a couple of early morning errands and pulled up to order coffee. I got up to the window to pay for my regular Americano and the happy young woman at the window offered me an extra FREE caramel macchiato that was made by mistake. OK...so that's my favorite treat drink... but I didn't do it. Not this week.... I was 4 workouts in, perfect food and no wine. "No thank you...maybe the car behind me??"
As I drove away, I started thinking about how hard it is to BE HEALTHY. Healthy is more than food and exercise and genetics...it's also a state of mind. More and more, the expectation is that we have to "experience" things...it's not enough to just eat and exercise. Our day to day has to measure up to all of the delicious recipes magically created on Facebook in a matter of seconds... Our fitness has to create a high intensity rush.... and our bodies have to be perfect.
Meals out should be special too right?? Lattes at breakfast and wine at dinner. The "experiences" that flash across our screens, all day long, make us long for special things...
And is it just me or do you feel like you've been exposed to the "I deserve it" links too often?
I had reached a point where it didn't matter if the day was good, or bad, or frantic, or scary, or special, or lonely or busy....I deserved a treat! For me the "treat" was a caramel macchiato during the day or a glass of wine at night...there was always a reason. I earned it and yes... I deserved it.
I went downstairs to start working on Sam's room.... somehow he managed to leave more behind than he took back to school. One step in the door, to grab a load of laundry and my foot squished...another step....squish. The rain that had lulled me into a long night of sleep, had also filled the window well like a fish tank, seeped under the window and left me with a brand new to-do list for the day.
Rather than get mad, I set to work, clearing the floor, starting laundry, stopping to remember when I came across a picture or a ticket stub that had slipped under the bed. Fortunately, nothing was ruined...the room is clean and I even got in a few more steps than normal on a rest day!
What do I deserve??? A good nights sleep!

Day 5- 8/12/16
4:00- Awake. No alarm set...It's rest day. It's raining hard and I go back to sleep.
8:30- 8 oz. water. Run out the door to run a couple errands
9:00- Venti Americano, 1 egg, 2 whites, 2 TBS. salsa, 1/3 cup Siggis plain yogurt, 1 TBS, lemon Noosa, 2 oz. blueberries
12:00- 4.5 oz. grilled chicken, 5 oz. grapes
12:30- WATER!!! ugh!
7:30- 4 oz. minute steak cooked with onions and mushrooms. 3 TBS. sauce made with plain yogurt, 2% milk, basil, thyme, pepper and arrowroot powder. 4 oz. green beans, 1 baby red potato (2oz.)

6630 steps, 8.5 hours sleep,  828 calories, 46.2% protein, 28.6% carbs, 25.2% fat
EVERYTHING needed to be better today..... I'm on it though :)

Day 4- What I like about YOU

At the beginning of each Transformation Challenge, I hand out a questionnaire. It asks things like where you live, who to call, etc.
Then it moves into the really important things, like why you decided to challenge, things you'd like to change and my favorite "List 3 things you like about yourself".

Do you have any idea how many people leave that blank??

When I first started coaching, I'd let the empty lines remain, even though it made me sad. After years of working with people and realizing that my job title should be Self-esteem Specialist rather than Nutritionist or Personal Trainer, I feel a little more confident in calling them out....

How can you not like at least 3 things about yourself??? And I don't mean things like "I'm a good worker" or "I'm nice to my pet" or "the clothes in my closet are color-coordinated" (yes...I've had those responses).

I'm talking about loving yourself... strong shoulders, beautiful eyes, curvy figure, thick hair, amazing smile, cute toes, great butt..... Look past the dimples and dents...the stretch marks and the rolls.

I can see the good things when I look at you~ can you try to see them too??

Day 4- 8/11/16
3:45- Awake before alarm...It's picture day. I should have done it Monday because my belly has already deflated :) Laid there, listening to the rain until 4:15.
4:30- 8 oz. water, Detour Cranberry Flax Oatmeal Bar, 5 oz. coffee (the rest ended up on the floor when I slowed a little too quickly for the deer in my path)
5:00- Pictures & Kickboxing. 20 oz. water
6:00- Teach. Proto-whey shake made with water, 16 oz. water
8:00- 2 eggs, 1 egg white, 6 oz. watermelon, 10 oz. coffee, 12 oz. water
Realized my fitbit died!!! NO way I'm losing 8400 steps!!! Reset it long enough to sync. I think it went on strike (or into shock)- 4 days of exercise...it must be exhausted!! I grabbed my Shine, so I could keep tracking.
8:30- Writing.... will be on my backside a lot today. Trying to finish up additions to the manual to get it ready to print for the Second Chance Challenge starting later this month. 32 oz. water
12:00- Leftover Zoodles with homemade sausage/veggie sauce - 12 oz. water
3:00- 3 oz. grilled chicken breast, 4 oz. black berries, 8 oz. water
4:30- teach, 12 oz. water
7:00- Date night. Dinner out.... 4 oz. salmon on 2 cups greens, tomato, hard-boiled egg, housemade lemon-vinaigrette. 3 glasses water

15020 steps, 4.25 hours sleep,  1246 calories, 43.2% protein, 20.9% carbs, 36% fat
Calories and water better today. Need to work on more carbs! Hard when everything fresh right now has so few calories...Maybe I'll pick up some corn this weekend!!

Good night!

Day 3- Fog

At 4:40 am my world was blanketed with a low lying fog... not just the drive, but my own personal fog as well...extreme fatigue and haze in my brain.
3 days with no grains, sugar, or alcohol. 3 days of exercise after months off. I should feel great, but instead I feel hungover .
Day 3 is not my favorite. Day 3 is the day I usually cheat...the day I say screw it, I've been good for 2 days....surely I can have just 1 treat, Right??
The headache erupted around 5:30..I was recording a Resistance Class for our new online membership, sipping on coffee, wishing I'd had the forethought to take a couple of Advil before I sat down to listen to music and amplified voices.
I'm calling this week Detox, but only because I'm not putting crap in it...no crap, not even pills and potions to clean me out quicker... I'd like this to be the final time I detox- I need to suffer a little, so I don't go back to my habits. Plus how in the world do you know which pills and potions to use?? There are hundreds on the market- each promising spectacular results... I've tried a few in the past, and quite honestly gas pains, dizzy spells and lazy bowels make it NOT worth the agony or the money for me!
Advil and breakfast helped a bit and by noon, I felt like myself again. I wasn't hungry all the time like yesterday.
I actually felt good enough to work out with Brian and Jo at 5:30 and move around the house to get my final steps in!!
I know the stages.... they're like my own little seven dwarfs: Hungry, Foggy, Achy, Ouchie, Sleepy, Free & Peppy!!
I'm through number 3... Bring on the sore muscles!

Day 3- 8/10/16
4:05- Turn off alarm
4:35- Wake up....Crap!! Have to be at the studio at 5 to record class
8 oz. water. 10 oz. coffee while I record
7:00- 1 egg, 3 whites, 2 oz. zuccini, 1 oz. onion, 4 oz. watermelon 12 oz. water
8:00- 10oz. coffee, 12 oz. water
9:00- saute veggies for crock pot pasta sauce- nibble on a few carrots :)
11:00- Rx Bar
2:00- 4 oz. pork roast, 3 oz broccoli, 2 oz grapes
4:30- taught 16 oz. water
5:30- Resistance Class 16 oz. water
7:00- Zoodles (I ate a WHOLE zucchini by myself....so good!), Homemade spaghetti sauce with onions, peppers, carrots, celery, mushrooms and lean sausage 16 oz. water
10:00- 3/4 cup AE sea salt cottage cheese

10014 steps, 5 hours sleep,  1154 calories, 38.80% protein, 30.3% carbs, 30.9% fat
Need to work on more calories, but I'm happy with my ratios
Good night!

Day 2- Settings

Today is the day I decided to report my weight and body fat to my coach...from this day forward, we're all going to call them settings, if only because all settings can be changed.

It's funny how we think, isn't it?? The one thing I hear more than any other when someone first joins the gym is that their body won't go below____. Some how we've all listened to the same bunch of BS and believed it! Well, I'm here to tell ya, there's something else.... Your body will do ANYTHING you want it to, within reason of course.

Plateaus or "set points" as some of us call them are most often caused by routine...same food, same workout (or lack of), same sleep pattern, same stress. I know... you don't want to hear it any more than I do, but the simple fact is that if you're stuck, you HAVE to do something different.

I'll use myself as an example. I wake up every day at 4am, averaging 5-6 hours of sleep. I eat healthy 85% of the time- this means I focus on REAL food, mostly home-cooked and I ALWAYS eat protein, fat and carb at every meal. I have a job that I love, but it pays me more in hugs and happiness than it ever has in dollars and cents. I drink a glass (or 2) of wine every day.
Oh, and I don't workout (because I wake up at 4am, eat crappy 15% of the time, stress about money and drink a glass of wine (or 2) every day).
I know each and every one of you can see the error of my ways, and you could tell me what to do to get on track.

But, let's imagine my new coach talks me into an extra hour of sleep every night and she convinces everyone she knows to join the next challenge at My Gym! Then, suppose I put a cork in that bottle of wine 6 nights a week and I workout for an hour every day.
I'm going to feel better, right?
And I'm going to lose weight, right?
Yep!

And as sure as the sun will rise...eventually, the scale will stop moving.
Then, I'd bet she's going to tell me I need to eat more (or less) and I need to pick up heavier weights. She's going to tell me to take a day off and eat whatever I want (that's wishful thinking, huh?).  She knows me well, she won't tell me to start running, but she might tell me to pick up the pace on my walks!

I changed my habits up yesterday... today I'm sore and hungry but in a week or so I won't remember a thing....

Is it time to update your settings too?

Day 2- 8/9/16
3:50- Wake before alarm
4:10- 8 oz. water. Out of lemon :(
Added frozen peaches to work water
4:30- 10 oz. black coffee on drive in to work
5:00- Taught KB...super excited! Big group and they worked hard! Recorded class for new closed group on FB. 12 oz. water
6:00-  Siggi's 2% yogurt. 12 oz. water
6:10- 6:30- walk before PT client (crazy crossfitters were doing an insane amount of squats and runs today...I felt so bad for them, I almost invited them to come play at My Gym!!)
8:15- Tall Americano, 1 egg, 2 whites, 2.5 oz fresh pineapple, 2.5 oz. fresh raspberries
11:45- 4 oz. grilled chicken (brushed with homemade BBQ when cooked), 5 oz. baby carrots, 8 oz. water
3:30- Proto whey shake
4:30-6:30- teach 20 oz. water

6:45-Kickboxing
7:40- 4 oz. pulled pork roast on 2 cups lettuce with cherry tomatoes, 2 TBS. black beans, 2 TBS salsa and 2 TBS. fat-free Greek yogurt, 16 oz. water

17465 steps, 5.0 hours sleep,  1078 calories, 47.0% protein, 22.5% carbs, 30.5% fat
Need to work on more calories and more carbs tomorrow...lots of desk time today. Very productive, but lost track of eating.
Good night!

Day 1- Black

I can't remember when black became my favorite color...I think sometime in my late teens.

It made me feel pretty- a sharp contrast to my fair skin, bleached blond hair and pale green eyes....
Back then black said "Look at me"

As I moved in to my twenties, and continuing in to my thirties, black became a necessity...the only color I could wear to hide the spots and spills that came with motherhood. Fortunately, it covered my new bumps and bulges as well.

Just before my 39th birthday, I decided to make the time for fitness again. The boys were older and I could commit to a program. Long gone were the days of slipping on a suit and a pair of goggles- I needed a class full of people to hold me accountable to my new habit. Fifty pounds later, black and I broke up... I still remember how fun it was filling my closet with clothes of color. 

So, here I am, months from 49, and my good friend and I have been reunited. Black covers my body almost every day. I think every 10# I'll give something away- everything except the great "Little Black Dress" hanging on the back of the door for motivation. 

I can't wait to wear it!

Journal 8/8/16

Wake 4:00- 8 oz. hot water with lemon

4:30- Drive to work. 10 oz. black coffee

6:00- No-gii Protein Shake, 10 oz. water

8:00- Teach class, 16 oz. water
9:30- lots of steps with Personal Training client!

10:45- 2 eggs, 1 white, 2oz. raspberries, 2 oz. blackberries, 1 oz. blueberries, 8 oz. water

1:30- 2 cups mixed greens, 8 grape tomatoes, 2 TBS. black beans, 2 TBS. grilled corn, 1 can tuna in water, 1 TBS. Boathouse Balsamic Vinaigrette, 16 oz. water

2:00- resistance workout (30 minutes) walk (30 minutes) 16 oz. water
4:30- videotape class. 8 oz. water
6:00- 4 oz. chuck roast, 1/2 cup baked beans, 1/2 cup homemade coleslaw (kind of a treat.... :) )
8:00- watching USA kick ass.... more water

8728steps, 6.25 hours sleep,  1283 calories, 35.6% protein, 23.6% carbs, 40.8% fat

Need to work on my steps and fat ratio tomorrow
Good night!

Prisms

A few weeks ago, I jumped out on a low hanging limb and did something I had never done before.... during a one minute video, I admitted I wasn't completely in control.
I submitted the confession for an opportunity to participate in a six-week long challenge through Greatist.com called Greatist You!
If selected, I would get the chance to be coached for 6 weeks by someone who could help me reach my goals.
What exactly are my goals?
That's a good question. When I recorded, I thought my goals were to lose weight and become more active again in the gym. I thought I'd allowed myself to be so consumed by the JOB, that I forgot to find joy in the escape of the gym. What I've realized in the last two weeks is that I may be mistaken... I may have been looking at myself through the lens of doubt and disappointment instead one of accomplishment, opportunity and hope....
I spent the last several days with my youngest son Sam, as he prepared to go back to school. We hammered through loads of laundry, sorted through last years "stuff" and had some pretty awesome conversations about the coming year. His focus is not on WHAT he wants to do as much as WHO he wants to be.... successful, helpful, loving and free to be with the people he cares about. The eventual JOB will have to allow him to feel these things, or he'll find one that does. I realized during those conversations that he views me as successful. No matter which job I was doing,  I was always able to BE who I wanted to be....
I was notified on Saturday that I didn't get chosen to participate in Season 1 of Greatist You!
Initially I was disappointed, but after reviewing my video and my goals and thinking through conversations with Sam, I realized this was just an opportunity to perfect my goals...to shape them into something that would enhance not only how I looked and felt, but WHO I wanted to be at this stage in my life.
The new video would say things like, I want to be STRONG and HEALTHY. I want to feel CONFIDENT. I want to be someone who stomps out my own self-doubt and achieves something SPECTACULAR and HELPFUL.
I have enlisted a coach to help me reach my goals and I'll be sharing everyday for the next 6 weeks, here and on my Face Book page
I'll include my journals, recipes and workouts. I'll ask my coach to post my progress and once we get a week or two down the road, I'll toss in some photos too. I'll share my frustrations and accomplishments and maybe an opinion or two that you won't find anywhere else ;)
I invite you to join me... cheer if you want or call me out! I always work best in a group!

Sunshine through the shadows....

I've been blessed to live on this planet now for 17,639 days... doesn't that seem crazy? If I live to the average life expectancy for a woman in the US, I have a mere 11,946 days to make a difference-
to "make my mark" if you will....
I've known amazing people and learned a great many things. I feel like my education is complete and it's time to give back....

As I grow older, I find myself appreciating different things. I used to be drawn to beauty...it really didn't matter if it was people or houses or places- I wanted nice things and nice people for myself and my family.
Over the course of the last few years, my view has shifted....
Although I'm still drawn to beautiful, my definition has certainly changed.
I find it often in a smell or a song or a sunrise....
....by the grace of one woman or the selfless giving of another.
Some times I catch myself watching a young parent with the multi-tasking ability to grocery shop, wipe a nose AND reason with an over-inquisitive 3 year old- I find myself in heart-melting awe.... I know I did it. I'm sure I did, but I certainly can't remember how!
I often look up from my desk to appreciate new confidence in a successful challenger as she shares secrets with a newbie.
I love watching those who acknowledge the "what if" in themselves and push forward with excitement to reach a new goal.
I secretly pray for those who find themselves sandwiched between children and aging parents or those who are trying with all of their might to hold their families together in spite of illness and addiction.
....and I love LOVE....not silly-nilly hearts and flowers stuff, but real, true, hard-fought-for, well-deserved love.
So, I'm sure by now you're wondering how in the world my appreciation for beauty has ANYTHING to do with the fact that I have only 11,946 days to make a difference.....
It has everything to do with it! In this world of fear and anger and attacks and politics- I'm going to share my love for all things beautiful.
If you look freaking amazing- I'm going to tell you.
If you make me happy- I'll tell you that too....
beautiful pictures...great biceps...well-behaved kids... delicious perfume....rockin roundhouse...
I'm going to share!
And if it makes you uncomfortable- that will make me happy too
because it means you don't hear it enough and you don't look past your shadows to see it in yourself.....

be happy ~ be undeniable....
it's kind of fun <3

#garbagecook

I'm what you would call an "adventurous cook".
I'm pretty sure there are many of us in the world based on the plethora of food blogs that have become a big part of my free-reading time.
The good thing about being adventurous is that you get to experience some pretty amazing food
but I'm here to tell you it's not all fun and delicious food all the time....nooooooooo it's not.
Sometimes, we screw up.
You're surprised, aren't you? :)

Work has been super busy recently as we kicked off an 8 week transformation. Add to that the fact that we took an amazing holiday vacation and my son was home from school (imagine unpacked suitcases and laundry...lots of laundry)... I'm behind in my housework and I didn't get food prepped this weekend.
I had a BrIlLiAnT idea, Monday afternoon as I scurried around trying wash a pair of workout pants AND get ready for a night meeting.....
I'll make chicken-rice casserole! But Healthy! In the Crock Pot! It will be Great!

Well....not so much. Meeting ran over... Jeff didn't check on it because I forgot to leave a note and I came home to something that resembled a cement garden stone with hard little chicken pebbles pressed right in the top.

My afternoon visions of juicy chicken with a healthy risotto like rice was nothing more than flaky dry chicken in paste. :(
I scooped it out of the slow cooker into a casserole dish to cool and stored it away in the fridge before bed.

Fast forward a day.... I'm still busy, but had a break in the day to slip home, do some laundry and get dinner ready before I headed back to work.
Checking my depleted refrigerator (it's too darn cold to go to the store), I found wilted celery, mushrooms and a heavy casserole dish full of chicken/rice sludge. The pantry yielded wild rice and broth....
The result was delicious- even Jeff thought so!
Adventure Flop- 0 Garbage Cook- 1 :)

Chicken Soup with Wild Rice and Mushrooms

2 TBS. olive oil
2 stalks celery, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup wild rice
1 1/2 pounds portbella mushrooms, sliced
32 oz. unsalted chicken stock
Heat oil in large soup pot. Add celery, garlic and wild rice. Saute 5 minutes over medium heat. Stirring occasionally
Add mushrooms and cook until reduced by half. Add stock and bring to a boil.
Transfer mixture to a slow cooker.

Return soup pot to stove and add:

1 1/2 cups pre-cooked whole grain brown rice
4 cups water
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. ground black pepper
Mix thoroughly to break up clumps of rice and prevent sticking.
Bring to a boil, reduce temperature to medium and cook on low boil for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Turn off heat and blend with immersion blender until smooth.
You can also process in a blender- Never fill blender over half full, be careful of steam and use a towel to cover lid as you PULSE.
Add to mushroom mixture and repeat until all rice has been processed.
Cover and set slow-cooker on low setting until needed.
Just before serving:

Dice chicken and portion into bowls. I get 4 oz., Jeff gets 6.
Ladle 1 to 1 1/2 cups hot soup over chicken.
Let it sit a couple minutes while you tidy up kitchen and transfer remaining soup to a glass container to cool.
Stir soup to mix warmed chicken throughout and enjoy!

Perfect for Detox week- because ingredients are approved and portions are controlled. I had a small salad on the side.
Delicious after detox with a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan and a piece of crusty bread.



I hope you enjoy!
xoxo & be happy
Kim