Vacation... all I ever wanted

My vacation started Friday.

Since then I've...

• Cleaned the whole house
• Shampooed the carpets
• Painted my bedroom (I am in love with the colors!)
• Ruined the carpets (too wet)
• Ripped up the carpets
• Bought very large room throws
• Put the living room and bedroom back together
• Decided with my husband that we're putting in new hardwood
• Watched "Sherlock Holms" at the local theater and pub
• Ran
• Walked
• Went grocery shopping
• Packed for my trip
• Drove to Ashland, OR (4 hours from Salem)
• Arrived at The Pelton House B&B
• Ate a fabulous dinner at Greensleaf
• Took a hot bath (as it's raining, otherwise I would have sat in the hot tub)
• Ate a homemade cookie as I took a bath (chocolate and a bath is there anything better?

And now I am lying on the most comfortable king size bed in my complimentary robe, getting ready to fall asleep. I am also thinking about eating another cookie. I love this B&B. I told my husband, "It's like a pimped up version of Grandma's house."

On the agenda tomorrow: Morning soak in the hot tub. Gourmet Breakfast (cooked by our wonderful host). A possible drive to Yreka, CA to eat at the Black Bear Diner (a tradition of ours). Finally, we'll end the night with a trip to the theater to watch, "Pride and Prejudice!" I love the book and the movie, the play should be fab!

Hope you're all having a Happy Hump Day!

--Shawnee

Is Jamie Oliver nuts?

Did you watch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution last night? What did you think? Were you appalled? Upset? Disgusted? Or just irritated that an Englishman would try to change America and how we eat?

I say, hat's off to you Mr. Oliver for attempting to do what many of us are too lazy or too self absorbed to do.

Can I tell you a secret? I actually have a pack of processed chicken patties in the freezer. The same kind he used as an experiment to show the kids how processed foods are made -- how they're yucky.

Even though the chicken patties are my husbands, I am ashamed to admit, I ate one of those processed patties like two days ago! This is what happens when I refuse to go grocery shopping. Anyway, after watching him show the kids the good cuts of chicken and how the processed foods are made from the rest...I felt so, so dirty.

My husband watched this scene too. The look on his face after seeing the ground-up fat and bones was priceless. He said, "Well I haven't eaten the chicken patties for a while, but I did have two corn dogs for lunch." Hmmm, I guess corn dogs are better...NOT!

What I couldn't believe is that even after Oliver showed the kids the nasty chicken patties and how they were made, they still wanted to eat them. The kids weren't stupid, they knew the processed patties were bad for them.

But like Oliver said, "We've brainwashed our kids so brilliantly...unless something genius happens, it's hopeless."

Even before this show aired, I've been focusing my efforts on nutrition. Not dieting, but food pyramid-like nutrition. My desire is to eat the foods my body needs to not only shed weight, but also to live a long and healthy life. I appreciated this show. It helped make me aware. It helped make my husband aware.

With all this talk of nutrition, I want to leave you with one healthy meal idea. This meal includes all the food groups, except sweets.

Meal includes:

• Pacific Foods' Red Roasted Pepper and Tomato Soup (fruit and veggie)
• 1 slice of whole wheat bread (whole grain)
• 1/4 Haas avocado (good fat, protein)
• less than an ounce of prosciutto (protein)
• 3 slices of tomatoes (fruit)
• 1 cup kale (veggie)

A healthy meal can be made in minutes, just like a processed chicken patty. I am not sure how to do it, but I want to get on board with Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.

Wishing you all a nutritious weekend,

--Shawnee

E-E-E-EGGS? *shreaks*

Eggs.

What does that word bring to your mind?

Is it fear, anxiety, compulsive calorie counting?

Or do you feel a strong fondness for this incredible edible?

I happen to like the egg. No I love the egg! In my mind the health benefits far out weigh the health consequences. Please note: I did not say I only like the egg whites. I said I love the whole egg, the yellow part and all.

Why I'm so fond of the egg: The egg is cheap. And, they're rich in protein, monounsaturated fat (the good kind), and this little guy packs nutrients that promote eye health! Yeah, they do all of that.

The recipe possibilities for eggs are endless. Here is a heart-healthy spin on an old classic.

Juevos Rancheros con...Oatmeal ??


That's right. I made this after a run. The original recipe called for corn tortillas, which I used. However, for me, corn tortillas do not pack a satiating punch. So I though, "Hmmm egg, usually a breakfast food...I know oatmeal!"

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs (140 calories)
• 2 corn tortillas (100 cal.)
• 1/2 cup oats (140 cal)
• 1/4 cup salsa (25 cal)
• Kale for Kale Chips

Directions (requires basic cooking skills). Preheat oven to 400. Place the corn tortillas on and rinsed and dried kale on a cooking sheet. Keep an eye on the kale, as it should cook quicker than the tortillas. You'll have to pull the kale out before the tortillas finish. I did not keep track of the time, but the tortillas will be nice and crispy when they are finished.

While the kale and tortillas are baking. Fry the eggs over easy and put 1/2 a cup (or less) in a bowl with water. Microwave oats for 3.5 minutes (or follow package directions). When oats are finished add a pinch of chili powder, and a little garlic powder and salt.

When the tortillas are nice and crispy, layer on the tortillas, oats, salsa and eggs. Top the kale and juevos with a little hot sauce for an added zing.

I enjoyed this meal. It was filling, low in calories and rich in nutrients!

CHANGES: Next time, I will go with less oat meal. Maybe like 1/4 cup. Also, when I make this again, I am going to try to not break one of the yokes. The runnier the yoke on this one, the better!

Check this out:

I want to point you all in the direction of a really great article on thatsfit.com. Check out, "The Poor Misunderstood Egg." I couldn't help but nod my head in agreement and think AMEN to myself every now and then. :)

Until next time my peeps.

--Shawnee

Seeds of Change

The last time I fell off the face of the earth it was because I was hiding – ashamed of my non-exercise and terrible eating habits. But this time, this time my excuse is actually a healthy one. I think anyway.
I’ve become, in the past month or so, a healthy-eating, exercise- lovin’ fool! My hiatus from the blog-o-sphere has not changed that. I’ve had this massive revelation injected into my brain and now it’s trickling down to my stomach and my legs. It’s like I can’t get enough of exercising and healthy foods.

The time change is probably the biggest factor for my not blogging. I had been running in the morning, but due to the sun not getting out of bed until about 7 a.m., I am stuck running in the evening. Also, my yoga instructor was in a car accident, so there haven’t been any good classes in the morning. But on the plus side, my hubby is running with me more and I finally got to try Zumba. I heart Zumba!
I am just trying to figure out how to juggle this new schedule, which has included eating dinner as late as 8 p.m. on some nights. And somehow, I’m ok with a late dinner. My life used to be based on my food schedule. Now, if I’m hungry, I just wait to eat.

What has changed?

I am trying to figure out this new enthusiasm. I feel like if I don’t figure it out it’s going to slip away from my grasp.

Anyway, despite my lack of presence, I do intend to continue my blog. I have a couple ideas for blog updates that may make my life easier. We shall see.

What have you all been up to lately?

So far. So good!

A quick post to say that so far I have kept up with my training, and I even talked my mom into running the 5k with me!

Training started out on Saturday with about 6 minutes of running and 14 minutes of walking. Sunday I did 12 minutes running and 28 minutes walking. Both of those days I just went out and ran to see what I could do. Monday I lifted weights for 40 minutes. Tuesday I ran for 10 and walked for 30. And finally today I lifted weights for 20 minutes and then rode the stationary bike for about 22 minutes.

My plan was to do yoga on my off days, but my yoga instructor got into a car accident so class has been canceled. :( I am really missing yoga.

I have been pretty tired this week and haven't felt much like getting on the computer to blog. I did a trial and error of a new recipe and I hope to share that in the next couple of days.

Question: Have you ever ran a 5k?

Blessings,

Shawnee

When all else fails, sign up for a 5k

So after my last pathetic pity-party of a post, things are looking up in the health and wellness department. The change of heart went something like this:

My alarm went off at 5:30 a.m. on Friday morning. I didn't get out of bed and rush to yoga like in weeks past. Instead I lay there, and like a 7 year old who had been scolded for her wrong doing, I thought about what I had done.

I thought about my poor eating habits for the past week and my failure to comply to the exercise gods. I came up with two solutions...

1.) A mini-morning fast

2.) Sign up for a 5k

As I sipped on my detoxifying lemon juice that morning, I browsed the web for upcoming 5ks. I didn't want one too soon, or too far out. I discovered the Earth Day run on April 24th. After thinking about it for an hour or two, I pulled out the credit card, paid, and officially registered.

That's right, I'm running a 5k.

Either the 5 hour fast provided me with mental clarity or it completely clouded my brain with a nasty crust of craziness.

I have seven weeks to train. Today is day one. I am going to take up the Lord on his beautiful sunny day and punish myself and push myself and see how far I can run without stopping.

I'll be starting with week 3 of the Couch to 5k running plan, as I can already run for about 5 minutes at a time. My exercise schedule will look like this: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 hour of yoga and strength training; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, run!

I'll keep you updated with times, distances, triumphs and failures. Wish me luck.

Have an awesome rest of the weekend!

Shawnee

P.S. The picture is from Courier-journal.com.

Talk about Irregularity

This week. Oh this week has been irregular (no I haven’t been irregular, the week has). I had most the day off Monday for some flex time and then took the day off on Thursday to tend to family. I honestly felt like I had three Mondays.

I am tempted to blame the irregularity for my lack of exercise. I only went to the gym one day. That same old sorry-for-myself feeling is creeping back in. On top of that, my eating has been pretty poor. The perfectionist voice is back and my instinct is to pull the plug on the blog, exercise and my attempt at healthy living.

Sleep comes more abundantly when I feel like this. I don’t want to wake up and face my failures. Or get up and face myself.

I said two posts ago that I would write about portion sizes.

See, last week I bought a weeks worth of healthy pre-packaged meals, so I could condition my body to eat normal portion sizes. I don’t think it worked. I don’t know that I am ready to give up my poor eating habits. I’ve had a lot of stress this past week and food and salt and carbs and sugar are so stinking comforting.

I don’t know what this post is about, but I thought I should post. I thought I should get this all out and that maybe by acknowledging it magical fairies would make it all better.

Maybe.

I am going to scrub my face with sugar now and go to bed.

Good Night All

Shawnee

Paper Plate Omelets!

No, not an omelet made out of a paper plate, an omelet made entirely on a paper plate! My coworkers looked at me like I was crazy when I told them this, but I am not.

Now I've never seen this before, so I am claiming it as my own. I hope this idea becomes just as big in the blogosphere as the peanut butter jar oatmeal. (Just a note, blogger is being weird, so I am just going to list all my pics at the bottom, sorry.)

First the paper plate: it should be one of those slick, dixi type plates with a good lip. Next, spray the plate really well with non stick spray. I like crisco.

Crack two eggs (I used Eggland's Best) right on to the plate. Lightly and carefully whisk eggs until blended. Microwave the egg mixture for about one minute, it probably won't be cooked all the way through. Add filling of choice. I did spinach and tomatoes. Cook the egg mixture for another 30 seconds to one minute. Using a spatula, fold over. Eat and enjoy.

I had mine this morning with some homemade Apple Pecan Bread, which is not perfected, so maybe I will share that later. See pictures below.

Blessings,

Shawnee