Wild Turkey, Deep Gultch, and Moosewood!

(that title sounds like a hunting guide... or a couple brands of cheap whiskey)

Was welcomed by these guys to Saturday morning!

Get outta the road, ya turkeys!

Hiked up this:

Then realized there was still this to climb:

(OK. It doesn't look that steep, but take my word on this one.)

It was a beautiful, crisp, sunny morning and no better way to start it out than with a heart-thumping hike up the Deep Gultch Trail at Almaden Quicksilver County Park. It takes you to the top of this magnificent hill that over looks the valley, which was shrouded in clouds yesterday, and just me, my hiking partner and the hills on the other side of the valley made it up past the clouds. It was surreal.

I rewarded myself with a skinny vanilla latte before heading to the Farmer's Market and after months of a funds-induced Starbucks drought... it was heaven in my hands!

Some studying for my ACE exam next Friday (note to self: when they send you two text books... don't put one away and forget about it) and I decided I needed a break. So B and I walked to the library.

Living within walking distance of a library might just be the best thing about my life right now. 30 min of walking in the brisk, fall air past white fences covered in bougainvillea. 30 minutes of wandering through towering stacks of books, inhaling paper and untold stories. 30 minutes of holding my hubby's hand and laughing on the way home. Probably the best hour and a half I've spent all week.


(I realized after about 2 minutes of walking around, looking for my one-per-trip trashy novel, that three of the books in my hands - including the biography I had grabbed - were about food. Hmmm...)

At about 10:00 last night, I just couldn't stand it anymore and made Spiced Chocolate Chunk Cookies from Eat, Drink and Be Vegan. I made a half batch... and woke up to find that only one lonely soul had made it through the late night computings of my husband.

What's in them: Whole Wheat. 72% Dark Chocolate. Olive Oil.
What's Not: Refined sugar. Eggs. Crap.

And he says he doesn't eat Vegan...

Speaking of making it through the night: I woke up this morning, tossing and turning and all kinds of mad that I was wide awake at 2 am. "What the hell!?" thought I, blaming a spiced chocolate chunk cookie sugar high. But I got up, determined to read myself back to sleep with a trashy novel.

Then realized it was 6:45 am. And the sun wasn't up.

Damn.

Highlights! (well... I went darker, but...)

The most exciting thing to happen to me this week, you ask?

*giant inhale!*

I made four new friends, trained a great client, got a hair cut and color by a Redken stylist for $45, informed a very relieved toddler that his tummy ache was just "bubbles," and made mincemeat out of a Hugh Jass (read it again... quickly this time...) hill hike.

Also, I found acorn squashes for $0.99 and wine for $1.99 at Trader Joes. But who's counting?

Me, obviously.

Photo highlights (which do not include toot-y cutie patootie):

I did not take photos of new friends as that would be creepy, but you get the idea. You can also count the out-of-control ponytail in the above illustration as a "before shot."

"flash in the dirty mirror" effect... new to lightbox pro

$10 cut and $35 color at the Redken Academy for Salon Professionals.
Took about as long as DMV visit as I turned my life and my hair over to a student who was painfully slo... ahem... meticulous and did a great job.

Butternut Squash -because I already ate the acorn squash. Soon to be annihilated.
*editor's note. also ate a bunch of this squash. Really must post faster...

Love you all - if you'll be in Austin at the end of the month... See you soon!

hmm... fishy...

(seriously... the last serious post for a while...
then we're back to sarcasm and mishaps...)

So this vegetarian married a meat eater and moved to California. Made mushroom lasagna. Hiked and festivaled and started a business.

And still found herself using the phrase "the mean reds" more times in the last few weeks than ideal.

So she took a look at FitDay to see what was missing from her diet: vitamins

She took a look at her phone log what was missing from her life: connections

And she took a look at herself what was missing from her attitude: grace

But a wake up call during a phone call from a very dear friend, a quick trip to Trader Joe's and a few minutes of outreach...and I think we're back in business.

Just what the doctor ordered:

1. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: I'm using Flax Oil capsules instead of Fish Oil capsules because (quite frankly) I won't take fish oil. It's nasty. Juvenile? Yes. Honest? yes. In conjunction with the Vitamin D I get from this glorious California sunshine, we're feeling better already.

2. B Vitamin Complex: Since I'm not eating meat and eating less and less fish, I'm finding that I'm a little low in B-6 and B-12, both of which are important for brain function and energy levels! (and lord knows I need all the help I can get in the brain function department...)

3. MeetUp.com: If you have ever moved somewhere new, needed a new hobby or just wanted a new friend or 72... this is your spot. I have already met a couple of amazing gals and can't wait to start building new friendships.

(Also, tonight's group was a macrobiotic vegetarian dinner. Split Pea Soup... Tofu/Mushroom Stroganoff... steamed veggies... zucchini cake...1.5 hours of conversation with vegetarian cyclists?! I'm never moving. )

4. Self Examination: A few excruciating rounds of this of this and I came up with..."Yes. This is hard" so "Get your butt to the gym, you'll feel better" and "be nice." It sounds so simple, right? If only...

Sometimes, even when life is awesome, the mean reds or the blues or straight up depression (yep. I used the "D" word) can sneak up behind you and kick you in the patootie. And that doesn't mean you're failing (ahem... listening, Self?) or that you're not going to pull out of it.

If you need help - ask for it! If you just need to pull yourself up by the bootstraps - pull away! Just be more adult than me about the fish oil thing...

*I am not a medical doctor nor a registered dietitian. Any supplementation I do is purely from research and recommendations I have been given or read. Seek medical advice before starting any supplementation regimen. If you think you may be depressed, seek out a licensed psychotherapist... I know a few. I've seen a few. They're pretty awesome.

something else.

I had a post all written for today! all typed up and photo-ed and pretty.

I had plans for today.

I had all kinds of intentions, then beautiful, wonderful life happened.

Mr. Easily-Absorbed-by-a-Project didn't come to bed until 4 am... rendering me nearly sleepless from 4 am until 7 am, when my alarm told me it was time to get movin'. I had a hike to lead. A hike with a really long hill. So I led that darn hike ... then promptly returned home fell asleep in the sun beam melting through my bedroom window. I felt a lot like this gal.

I had big plans for the gym this afternoon to do some arms and shoulders, as mentioned on good ol' Facebook.


And then this happened.


And now I'm seated on my squashy couch, feeling so overwhelmingly blessed I think my heart might spring a leak.

I made pasta from a recipe taught to me by a dear friend.



I sliced mushrooms.




I drank wine from a cocktail glass that was a housewarming gift from my last lifetime.



I made an oh-so-dangerous recipe pretty darn healthful and paired it with a beautiful salad made from my half-awake forage at the Farmer's Market this morning.



Make this recipe. Love. Hike. Nap. Drink wine. And remember how incredibly blessed you are.

Better Than Ina's Mushroom Lasanga
adapted from Smitten Kitchen who adapted it from Ina Garten

Salt
3/4 pound Whole Wheat Lasagna Noodles (I made my own and used them fresh)
1 large clove garlic, minced
4 cups skim milk
1/2 cup + 2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
1/2 cup Whole Wheat Pastry flour
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 1/2 pounds cremini
1 cup freshly grated parmesan

Optional: (1 cup thinly sliced chicken breast if you are or live with a carnivore

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bring a large, wide (if you use a wide one, you can save a dish later and saute your mushrooms in the bottom of it) of water to boil with salt and a splash of oil, that will help keep your noodles from sticking together as they drain. Add the lasagna noodles and cook for 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Make béchamel: Bring the milk and garlic to simmer in a saucepan, or heat it in your microwave, and set it aside. Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the flour and cook for one minute over low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon. Pour in the hot milk, a little at a time, stirring until combined. Add sea salt, the pepper, and nutmeg. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring or whisking frequently, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until thick. Set aside.

Prepare mushrooms: Discard portobello mushroom stems and/or trim the ends of the cremini stems. Slice mushrooms 1/4-inch thick. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauté pan. Cook the mushrooms with a couple pinches of salt for about 5 minutes, or until they are tender and release some of their juices, tossing to make sure they cook evenly.

Assemble lasagna: Spread some of the sauce in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Arrange a layer of noodles on top, then more sauce (about 1/4 of what remains), 1/3 of the mushrooms and 1/4 cup grated parmesan. Repeat two more times then top with a final layer of noodles, your remaning sauce and last 1/4 cup of parmesan.

Bake for 45 minutes, or until top is browned and the sauce is bubbly. Let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.

12 servings - without chicken

Calories 195.5
Total Fat 12.0 g
Saturated Fat 2.9 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.9 g
Monounsaturated Fat 7.4 g
Cholesterol 8.2 mg
Sodium 201.0 mg
Potassium 322.4 mg
Total Carbohydrate 14.3 g
Dietary Fiber 2.0 g
Sugars 1.2 g
Protein 9.5 g

12 servings -with chicken

Calories 217.2
Total Fat 12.3 g
Saturated Fat 3.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.9 g
Monounsaturated Fat 7.5 g
Cholesterol 19.6 mg
Sodium 213.8 mg
Potassium 372.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate 14.3 g
Dietary Fiber 2.0 g
Sugars 1.2 g
Protein 14.0 g

(Nutritional Information calculated at SparkRecipes.com)

back to your regularly scheduled life... with a big change!

aaaaaand i'm back.

yesterday included 4 loads of laundry, a good kitchen overhaul, a 1.2 hour hike and some snuggle time with the boy (who i friggin' missed!)... today is the sequel.

this little beauty (courtesy of Craigslist for $25)

has created B's PB toast and sandwich fix for the week for the low-low ingredient cost of: whole wheat flour, oatmeal, yeast, butter and honey. For those of you keeping track, that's five ingredients and about $1.50. Take THAT, Nature's Pride.

In other SUPER exciting news: I am finishing up studying for my ACE certification exam this month (AFAA seriously let me down and I am SO glad to be moving to another organization), cleaning the bathroom, training a client, working out and making mushroom lasagna.

For those of you who haven't guessed "the big news" yet: I am now a small, woman-owned business! Meet ZenPulse: the Silicon Valley's newest Holistic Fitness and Wellness resource! (for those of you who didn't catch the link, it's www.myzenpulse.com)


More details to come, but much of my time has been spent researching, networking and pushing paperwork on things like insurance and accounting.

It's such a huge blessing and a really exciting thing for me and for B, who has been my encouragement, my financial adviser and my biz development consultant. We're chugging along and my goals for the end of the year include a couple more clients, a larger referral network, and a chance to start teaching classes again.

As I move into this, I'm hoping to start another (yes, you read that right) blog! A daily resource for fitness and nutrition tips, recipes and workouts. Let me know what you think and what you'd like to see - I'll keep pumping out the family news and sarcasm here - don't you worry! A certain B.O.B. has asked for YouTube videos and Podcasts for at least the last 12 months... wish granted.

Love you all and miss you tons! Send comments, emails, letters, and money! (Just kidding. but seriously...)

Home and Back Again.

God, Auntie! Take a shower before you pick me up and snuggle me post-gym!

I will say again (for probably the billionth time this weekend) how much I love living this close to the ol' home state of Arizona. My best friends are there and, despite how much I love Cali, my heart is there.

(all photos courtesy of La's Droid as I brilliantly forgot my camera...)

Saturday was Kate the Great's Wedding! Congrats, Lady!

Sisters!

We couldn't stay in the Verde Valley long and had to leave the par-tay a little earlier than planned, but made up for it by carving pumpkins later! We cooked a quick dinner, busted out the Leinikugel's Oktoberfest, watched an episode or three of Arrested Development, then created these little beauties.

(La's is the beautiful, freehand Cardinal's logo!)

(My happy dragonfly-turned-butterfly. I overestimated my knife skills...)

Sunday was Turner Football Sunday. Cardinals lost. Badly. They don't want to talk about it. But a missing Bearded Dragon Lizard by the name of Bowser was recovered that morning after a very tense night and there was much rejoicing! Had pedis and dinner with the mom, then snuggled with this li'l punkin.


Saw "You Again" with the best-ie yesterday after a really healthful lunch of a Del Taco Veggieworks Burrito sans onions and cheese... (I still don't feel good, actually...) then bummed around the house and watched Ironman and Wolverine late into the night once Justen realized that I was WAY out of touch with Marvel Movies. I think I may have found a new obsession. (geez, and I call B a geek...)

Had breakfast with the gang at the Eggery at an oh-so-perky 7 am, said a quick hello to Daddy at the airport this morning as we crossed paths going in/coming out, then boarded a plane, bus, train and cab to get home. (B is toughing it out at the DMV today. He's on hour 3 or so?)

I can't say happy it makes me to just hang out with these amazing friends-slash-family. The opportunity to workout at the gym with my sister and watch multiple based-on-the-comic-book movie with best friends was amazing. It's the kind of trip that reminds me of how loved I am, even when circumstances sometimes feel otherwise.

Excited to be home but already missing my sis and best friend. It's gonna be a busy week, though... stay tuned!

Door to Door in less than 4!

Remember my last post where I said I left my camera at home?

Yeah... you get a thousand words rather than pictures today.

Read happy.

It took me 4 hours to get from my apartment to my best friend's house yesterday!

A trip that used to encompass at least 2 hours of airport waiting, 5-7 hours of flying with an hour layover, and a 2-3 hour time difference is now: wake up, write blog post using free internet at SJC, fly, eat authentic mexican food for lunch with bestie.

I LOVE LIVING ON THE WEST COAST!!

Spent last night hanging with E & J, sis and my doggie nephew.

We ate Chana Masala (courtesy of Eat, Live, Run) and "tandoori" chicken (comment if you want the recipe), drank a couple bottles of fabulous red wine, had some great chocolate and watched The Lovely Bones. Best. Night. Ever.

Sis and I then attempted to watch a 2nd movie, but Mel Gibson was no match for too little sleep the night before and a couple glasses of red wine. Zzz...

After being thoroughly disappointed with the rest of Mel's latest cinematic achievement this morning, we went to the gym (do as I do below), chowed monster salads at Sweet Tomatoes and headed home to take a nap.

It is such a huge blessing to hang with my sis with no "oh my gosh, i'm only here for three days and I won't be back for another 6 months because i can't afford another 2 days of travel and $400" hanging over my head! It's just relaxed and sweet.

Up to Camp Verde for Kate the Great's Wedding tomorrow! Then Turner Football Sunday, dinner with the Mom and Hiking Squaw Peak to follow before I head back to Cali. Woo Hoo!

***

Workout 'o' The Day

this one doesn't even require a gym: just do without the BOSU,

run hills instead of ellipticizing and hit up the bleachers instead of the stairmill

20 min elliptical: your program of choice, resistance level 10

3 sets:

15 BOSU prisoner squats*

15 BOSU push ups (flat side)

30 BOSU oblique crunches

3 sets:

20 BOSU lunges, alternating

20 BOSU tricep dips**

30 second BOSU plank (round side)

3 sets:

15 stability ball glute bridges

25 double crunches

20 min Stairmill: level 7, alternating btwn single and double steps

*for a prisoner squat, interlace your fingers behind your head and open your chest as wide as possible while performing a squat to 90-degrees. Keep your back muscles active and your abs on.

**extend your legs for added difficulty, but make sure your butt scrapes the BOSU behind you - no floating!