thankful week 30

This week was my one and only little brother's birthday!!  Happy birthday, Georgio.  Love you and hope you had a great day.  I'm thankful you're my brother :)

I'm also thankful for...

...a phone date with this lovely lady.  Check out her blog for some amazing photos and art.  Can't wait to see you soon, Sallie!

...time after work with another great girlfriend.  It's always a joy to catch up on life with people you care about but don't see often.  Thanks for making the time to see me, Erin! 

...my husband and his patience.  I get a little frustrated sometimes with this new golf hobby, and he is the best teacher.  Have you ever tried to learn something from a spouse?  It seems to make my inner brat rear his ugly head at times continually. 

...energy for a cleaning spree!  Sometimes I just get that cleaning itch.  Shower curtains are washed, base boards are scrubbed, random things are spray painted, new candles are set out...I love the fresh feeling of a thoroughly cleaned house!

...a nice walk on the treadmill instead of a morning run.  When sore muscles are present, I like to indulge in taking a day off from the pounding of running or intensity of spinning.  A little incline means the heart still gets pumping, but having the discipline to say "slow down" and "take it easy" is a great thing.

...all of you amazing blog friends for showing me so much love and support on the new twitter and facebook.  Love y'all!  Here's to more ways to get connected!

...an incredibly meaningful Sunday at church.  Our church is such an interesting place with amazing music, inspiring art, and honest speakers.  The super talented guy who normally paints during the service each week was preaching on Sunday, and his words definitely spoke to me.  His reminder that the Gospel can be boiled down to Jesus' words "Come to me" has been ringing in my head all week.  Thanks, Scott, for bringing it!

Weekly workouts:

• Friday 7/22 - REST
• Saturday 7/23 - taught 60 minute cycle class + golf
• Sunday 7/24 - 1 hour body pump + taught 55 minute cycle class
• Monday 7/25 - 6 mile run (easy)
• Tuesday 7/26 - taught 75 minute cycle class + 45 minute body pump
• Wednesday 7/27 - 50 minute walk at 8.0 incline + 50 push ups and planks + golf
• Thursday 7/28 - taught 75 minute cycle class + 45 minute body pump

Want more Sam before the weekend?!  Check out my guest post over on Corey's blog today.  My favorite no-equipment-needed workout to do at home!

health and fitness link love part 2



via

 Guess what?! My little blog decided to finally join the twitter and facebook parties. 

And now, a few links for your reading pleasure:

6 reasons exercise benefits you

Repetitive foods may lead to weight loss

Have you tried Pure Barre yet?

Tips for exercising in the heat

300lb student exercised in secret

Scientific method to weight loss using a metabolic chamber to test weight loss theories

A few exercises to do while sitting at a desk

ATTENTION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BLOGGERS: please check out this event to help the Berry Family.  Attend if you can, get the word out and pray for the family.

"Over the July 4th weekend, the Berry Family of Houston, TX was driving back from a family vacation in Colorado when their car was struck in a head-on collision.  Parents Joshua and Robin were tragically killed, leaving behind their children Peter age 9, Aaron age 8, and Willa age 6.  The two boys are now paralyzed from the waist down and all three children will need financial support for current rehabilitation and future growth."
More info here.

ice cream crepe

Bennett is the genius behind this glorious summer treat.  Using leftover crepes from our vegetable lunch crepes, he stuffed them with ice cream, drizzled on some magic shell, froze them for a couple of minutes, and gobbled them up!  Easy as pie (only, A LOT easier than actually making pie)...

Ice Cream Crepe

2 scoops of your favorite ice cream (B went with mint chocolate chip)

Chocolate magic shell

Crepe (recipe here)

Stick your plate in the freezer for a few minutes before starting. Scoop ice cream into the crepe, wrap up and place seam side down on the plate.  Drizzle with magic shell and return to the freezer for a few more minutes.  Enjoy!!

blogger confessions part 4



a sassy picture is only appropriate for a confessions post

 I can fall asleep anywhere at any time.  The number of times my poor husband has had to re-watch movies with me because I fell asleep just as they were getting started is absolutely shameful.

As a kid, I would try to fail the eyesight test every year.  I wanted glasses SO much.  I finally bought some fake ones as a 16 year old.  Now, just as I realize my face is actually much more attractive without glasses, I'm realizing I can't really see when driving at night...

After discovering what a Magic Eraser could do to our previously stained bathtub, I just sat and stared at the sparkling tub for much longer than I'd like to admit.  I have no idea what those things are made of, but I'm starting to think they named it very appropriately.

Bennett and I have been on a kick of watching seasons of TV shows at a time.  After 12 episodes in a row, we start to feel like we're actually friends with the characters.  It only becomes weird when we start wondering what Marshall and Lily might be up to or mention that Liz Lemon would really love whatever it is that we're eating...

I have major radio channel ADD and flip and flip until I find either a Katy Perry or Kei$ha song.  I would be ashamed, except I catch my very musical husband doing the same thing.  The songs are just way too catchy to not love!!

part 1
part 2
part 3

thai steak salad

I almost didn't post this recipe because the dressing that went with it was such a fail, but Bennett did such a great job cooking the steak to go on top, that I couldn't leave it out!  We ended up using a ginger dressing I had in the fridge instead of the fish sauce and lime dressing I had planned to make.  Can someone tell me if fish sauce is supposed to smell that repulsive?!

Thai Steak Salad

12oz beef sirloin, 1" thick, trimmed

salt and pepper

1 medium melon or 1 large mango, chopped

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 small red bell pepper, chopped

6 cups lettuce, torn

1/2 cup slivered red onion

1/2 cup thin cucumber slices, halved

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, torn

Preheat pan (or grill) to medium.  Sprinkle both sides of steak with salt and pepper.  Cook steak about 6-7 minutes per side for medium.  Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing crosswise.  Combine remaining ingredients, toss with dressing, and top with steak.

thankful week 29

my favorite pin of the week via

Yay for Friday!!  I feel like this week has flown by.  Today I'm thankful for...

...Pad Thai date nights with my husband.  We're loving getting it to-go from Pei Wei combined with a cozy night on the couch. And by cozy I mean fan on full blast and not touching so as to keep our body heat to ourselves.

...my very own set of golf clubs!!  We found some used ladies ones for cheap, so now I am all set for our trips to the driving range.  Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to test them out and report back to you all.  Surely cute clubs with little butterflies on them will make me a pro, right?!

...a house warming party for some fun friends.  They completely redid an old house and it looks unbelievable.  I wanted to take pictures of every room to add to my Pinterest decorating boards.  Oh, and they had summer beer - have you tried this?  Lemonade, beer and vodka.  Who knew that was such a tasty combination?  Something else to do with my vodka, perhaps! 

...a chance to help with the toddlers at church.  I love to play with all those precious babies.  Somehow I managed to leave without one or two stashed away in my purse.

...my sweet blog friend, Sarah.  She's one of my favorites (if that's allowed), and she so kindly gave me a blog award this week.  Thank you, friend!

...high school friend, college roomie, and bridesmaid Courtney.  Her birthday was this week and it just made me think about how thankful I am for good girlfriends.  I feel so blessed to have true "heart" friends - the kind you can call after any number of months and get great life advice or just a listening ear.  Happy (late) birthday, Court!

...some extra cycle classes to teach.  I've subbed a few extra classes this week and love it so much.  Something about looking out into a crowd of grimacing and sweaty faces just does it for me - I must be nuts!

As a new little Friday thing, I thought I would keep track of my weekly workouts at the bottom of my thankful posts:

• Friday 7/15 - REST
• Saturday 7/16 - 7 mile run
• Sunday 7/17 - 1 hour body pump + taught 45 minute cycle class
• Monday 7/18 - 6 mile run
• Tuesday 7/19 - taught 75 minute cycle class + 45 minute body pump
• Wednesday 7/20 - 6 mile run
• Thursday 7/21 - taught 75 minute cycle class + 45 minute body pump

Have a lovely weekend!!

health and fitness link love part 1

via

Here are some health and fitness (and one fashion) links from around the web I've been loving this week:

75 year old woman runs 10 miles daily and competes in bodybuilder competitions!

A few ways to fit exercise requirements in easily every day.

Exercise tips and guidelines for moms-to-be.

A 15 year old girl drops 100lbs!

New voluntary nutrition criteria for products advertised to children.

What is Kim Kardashian doing to get in shape for her wedding?

My new favorite fashion website: affordable looks I love with pieces I seem to already have!

Happy browsing :)