Catch up!

I'm back!  We left Saturday morning for a family road trip, and I played catch up on chores all day yesterday in between work, and dropping off and picking up kids.  Hopefully today will be back to business as usual around here, I hate when my routine is disrupted for too long!

So Saturday morning I got up early and went and got my run in. I made sure to bring my little 4 legged companion, I wanted her tired since she would be home alone for the night.

 I was going to go to class as well, but Ari wanted to get on the road early, and if I went to class it would have been close to 11:00 before we could leave.  So I decided to skip that and save some time.  

When I got home from my run I took advantage of the early morning hours of peace and quiet while everyone else slept, and got some trip prep done!  

I decided we would stop at one of the state parks and have a picnic lunch on Saturday.  The kids have ham and turkey roll ups, snap peas and cherry tomatoes, triscuts, and two snackwell cookies.  The huisband got a bagel sandwich, broccoli, cookies, and sunchips (not pictured), I had caprese salad, peanuts and broccoli.   

We ended up having lunch at the state park that has the Chandelier Drive thru Tree.  

After a few other tourist attractions we hit Patrick Point, to see the ocean.  I particularly liked this stop, because it snuck in some good ole family fitness!  There was not getting to the beach, or the look out point, without a good hike.  So we hiked down to the beack, then back up.

 Then up to the point, and back down.  

I wish I could say the rest of the trip was as friendly to my diet and exercise regimen.... but it was not.   I had pie Saturday night *gah*, and ate nothing but crap in the car on the way home Sunday.... Chips, pretzels, a cookie.... what is it about sitting in a car, being bored, that makes you want to eat?!  Oh well, stuff happens.  I guess what matters is getting back on the wagon, and I have.

Yesterday morning was a new day, I got up and went to the HS and did stadiums/ ran, I went to Intervals class, and I led an AB class last night.  Not a bad start!

I completely forgot to take a picture of today's lunch, oops!  But here is yesterdays:

Light Salami, laughing cow cheese, Newman's organic whole wheat pretzel rods, snap peas and cherry tomatoes, organic whole wheat graham crackers, and healthy harvest blueberry applesauce.

I planned to make Egg Frittatas for dinner last night, but because I subbed for the AB class, and Ari worked late, things got messed up.  I made quick healthy choice meals for the kids instead, and ended up making the Frittatas around 8:30, so they are ready for tonight's dinner.  Here is the recipe:

Personal Egg Frittata

12 eggs

1/4 cup coconut milk

Salt (to taste)

Pepper (to taste)

Mix ins- 

Bell pepper

Jalapeno

Broccoli

Ham

Cheese

(however anything would work)

Pre heat oven to 375

Spray 12 cup muffins tin, liberally

In a large bowl combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper.  Whisk thoroughly.

Pour evenly among the muffin cups

Top with mix ins of your choice, then stir each cup gently.

Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until egg is set. 

Please excuse the messy pan, I know, presentation is everything... but I got a little careless sprinkling the toppings.  Oops!

I hope everyone has an awesome, positive, and productive week!  Keep your goals in mind, and make sure your actions are working towards them!

Someone take the clock off fast forward!

Whew!  What a day!  I am exhausted, but if I don't power through this, all of it will stay jumbled in my head, bouncing around and driving me crazy while I try to sleep.  Yes, I am neurotic enough for that to happen.

I started the day nicely with my run, came home and made breakfast and school lunches.  Helped Kate get ready for picture day, then off to school we went, and I went to intervals class. After that I came home and got my work out written up for the senior class, and was off the the Y. On my way home from there I called the college and confirmed that my English text books were finally in.  Mind you they were supposed to be here Monday, and the instructor has given me til today to get the 3 weeks worth of work in that I haven't been able to do without my book. (back story :  I was added to the class at the beginning of week 2 off the waitlist, and the books were solo out on both campuses.  It's a special edition for this instructor, so unable to purchase it online, had to order copies, and wait).  After picking up the books, and the kids I came home to face a grueling 4 hours of English class catch up.  I still have one assignment to go, but it's due Sunday, I got everything else done, barely.  My brain is fried.  But, too bad!  More classes to write.  I am covering Senior Strength training, and Low impact aerobics tomorrow at the Y.  Strength training, no problem, banged that class out in 5 minutes.  Aerobics? Huh?  I have no rhythm... I sure as hell can't choreograph and aerobics routine overnight! At this point I am beginning to wonder what I got myself into!  A few deep breaths later I decided I will just modify the class to Low impact Cardio, sans dance moves.  So I finally got the routine all written up about 5 minutes ago, and that brings us to here.

Todays lunch:

Leftover chicken and pasta from dinner last night, cottage cheese, pinapple, and veggie chips.  And because I was feeling silly....

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This is what Andrew saw when he opened his lunch bag this afternoon :)

For dinner I sauteed a bunch of fresh veggies, added some sausage, and served it over brown rice. I was flying by the seat of my pants on this one, but I think it came out ok!  Let's call it Sausage Stir Fry:

3 large sausage links

2 broccoli heads

2 cups chopped carrots

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1/4 cup diced green onion

2 tablespoons garlic

2 tablespoons minced onion

Soy sauce to taste

Saute all veggies in large pan, add sausage

Serve over Brown Rice. 

Viola!

Ok, that's all I got.  This exhausted mom is going to bed!  Wish me luck tomorrow!

School Lunches and Breakfast...for Dinner!

My school year resolution is healthier lunches for the kids. So I have googled, and pinterested, and brainstormed, and I think I have come up with a good variety of healthier options, that the kids will enjoy.  (here are a few places I got some ideas http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/The-Best-Lunchbox-System/Yummy-Lunch-Ideas/10136835_YSuyb#!i=696914291&k=YxmUd, http://www.flickr.com/photos/mslil65/1637854803/in/set-72157601755804789/ - on this one scroll through the album, hover of the picture for names of food items) Now, keep in mind, I am new at this.  I do have some not so healthy stuff still in the cupboards, and I plan to use it up and phase it out.  So for the first few weeks there might be a questionable treat lurking among the otherwise healthy lunch (who am I kidding, even after the first few weeks I fully intend to give them the occasional treat).  The picture above was today's lunch.  Ham slices rolled with cream cheese in the middle, baby dill pickles, all natural veggie chips, mandarin oranges in juice, and 2 Snackwell's cookies. The kids love the new system, and both enjoyed their lunch.  My goal is to train them on how to assemble a healthy balanced lunch at some point so that I can relinquish my lunch making duties!

While we are on the topic of the lunches, I did a store run today to finish my shopping list for them.  Some of the things I have gathered as options are: 100 % whole wheat tortillas (for wraps, quesadillas, etc), ham, turkey, laughing cow cheeses, cottage cheese, berries, veggie chips (all natural organic from trader joes), oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (all natural organic from trader joes), triscuts, baby carrots, apples, pinapple chunks in juice no added sugar, mandarin oranges in juice no added sugar, pickles, Whole wheat organic pretzel rods, boiled eggs, bananas, and some other things that I am sure I am forgetting, but will show up in pictures later!

I tried a new addition to my yogurt this morning.  I took 4 strawberries and pureed them, added 1 tablespoon of spelnda, and mixed it with 1/3 cup of yogurt.  I think I might be able to actually enjoy it this way.  I'm sure it's easier to just cut them up and throw them in, but I have never liked chunky fruit yogurt...!  I think I might try mixing some up and letting it sit in the freezer for a bit to make some sort of a sorbet. That'll have to be another post.

Tonight for dinner we made Baked Egg Baskets, Whole Wheat toast (100% Whole wheat double fiber bread from Oroweat), and cottage cheese with frozen berries (organic, no sugar added).

Egg Baskets!

12 Eggs (or however many you wish to make!)

12 thin slices of ham (round) 

1/2 Cup of  cheese (I used shredded cheddar)

1/2 Cup diced scallions

Fresh cracked Sea Salt and Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400.  Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.  Lay a piece of ham in each hole creating a little ham cup.  Crack one egg into each hole and sprinkle with salt and pepper. (I found it easiest to lay the ham flat across the hole, and while cracking the egg kind of pushing the ham down, hard to explain...)

Bake the egg for about 12 minutes, until the whites are firm.

Carefully remove each egg from the tray and top with cheese and scallions

I have already been brainstorming ways to tweak and evolve this recipe. I was thinking little personal sized quiche would be fun.  Instead of just cracking the egg into the cup, you could whisk the eggs, add some veggies and pour them in.  I might do some experimenting next week with that, so stay tuned!

Oh!  And since I am here typing, I guess you know I survived teaching my class last night!  Unfortunately only 2 people showed up to take it... I am hoping it has a lot to do with the fact that it was the night before the first day back to school... Hopefully I will get a better turn out tomorrow.  After that I ran over to Oasis and took Muscle Conditioning.  I added up all my time and came up with just shy of 4 hours of exercise yesterday, phew!  This morning I did stadiums and went to Intervals class, it was a combination of weights and cardio.  I am sore, and tired, and think I am done for the day!  We'll see though, I say that, and then feel lazy and end up doing something, so you never know!