Pretzels

I spent the evening last night with my babies and my brother and his 2 kids, We had such a great time! My niece and my eldest daughter love to help in the kitchen even if its pouring water from one bowl to another. While on Pinterest yesterday I came across a recipe for "Hot Buttered Fluffy Pretzels"  I'm sorry, but, all of those words sounded amazing and I needed to be a part of them!

I read through the recipe and Joanne, over at Fifteen Spatulas, had this post which also included a great demo! Now, I have made pretzels in culinary school and at home a couple of times but let me tell ya...amazing!!! They had a great texture and they were beyond easy to make not to mention so delicious!!

You can find the recipe here

The girls loved to roll out the dough and shape the pretzels. This recipe is so beyond easy and there is so many different variations that you could do with it. I am dying to get back to play around and add some jalapenos and cheese to some of the next batch. I also didn't have real butter so I used margarine. Real butter would send these babies over the top!



 

Happy Sunday to you!

Mahalo!

Hawaii Marathon Recap!

Well, last week at this time I was in my hotel room in Waikiki contemplating the days events and that tomorrow I would be doing something most people will never do. I decided to share some more of my journey and let you know what goes on in my head when I'm running a race.

Ready to head out top is old navy skirt is a dress from Ross that I cut :-)

Sooooo can't believe I am here to do this!

I've learned what works for me with each race that I do and I love my Merrell's and a loose fitting shirt is best so I'm not messing with it during my race.

 

It was 4:30. I love how excited I am @4:30, can you say crazy runners?!

Amazing fireworks to start the race @5am

26,000 people ready to all accomplish the same thing has the most powerful rush. Its hard to explain unless you have done it.

Mele Kalikimaka!! Festive downtown for Christmas

Top of Diamond head. The elite runners were on the other side of the street this was about 2 hours into it and their mile 24. my 8ish,haha!

 

Gorgeous scenery was why I chose this race. I cant say I would do it again since I have done it. who knows, I have learned to never say never!

Mile 15 or so getting tired

These folks were on the other side of the street and at mile 18 when I was starting to have my whiny pity party of one, I looked over and just welled up! I cry a lot during races,ha! Not because of pain just because being such a young runner its still so overwhelming for me!

Mile 26.... .2 left....feels...like....FOOOOOOR-FREAKIN-EVER!!!

I had to walk to the finisher area to get my medal. I have never been so uncomfortable, happy, proud, humbled, grateful, etc.. I can't describe how amazing it feels to have done this.

 

 

I think back about my first 5k and really the feeling is about the same. Running is something that has changed me. I heard Oprah quote someone once and she mentioned that "Running is a great metaphor for life. You get back exactly what you put into it!" I COULD NOT agree with that statement more,at all! Was there times I wanted to say(PG VERSION) "Forget this stuff!!" haha! Of course and how many time is my life have I really wanted to just say screw it I don't want to do something or found a way to make it easier. But you know when you accomplish something in life it feels so much better when you know that you gave it everything you had! I could have easily cheated and skipped to the other side of the course and still "finished" but I would have always known I didn't really finish.

 

I am so grateful for the chance to have run this race and I'm thankful for people who inspire me daily to continue my journey. I'm a runner and no one can take that away from me!

 

Mahalo!

Saturday Night Dinner Recipes

Yesterday while I was perusing the yahoo feed I came across a link for different uses for "Creative Ways to Use Canned Pumpkin" much to my delight I saw the recipe for "Black Bean and Pumpkin Burgers." Now, this is a meatless option and a great way to use canned pumpkin. I love pumpkin and I love even more that on the Weight Watchers program its a power food and its also FREE for 1 whole cup! This site doesn't really give any exact measurements so I just sorta played around with it and it worked pretty well. I served these on sandwich thins with a variation of an  "Creamy Avocado Cole Slaw"which I found here was AMMMMAZING!!!

Black Bean and Pumpkin Burgers
Makes 8  1/2 c. portion Patties

2Points Plus Value

Prep time: 40 min

Cook time: 20 min

Serves: 8

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Ingredients 1 cup(s) canned black beans 1 large egg(s) 2 Tbsp seasoned breadcrumbs 1/2 cup(s) uncooked old fashioned oats 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp garlic salt 1/2 cup(s) uncooked onion(s), chopped 1 cup(s) canned pumpkin, mashed 1/2 cup(s) cilantro, chopped Instructions mix together ing. form 1/2 c shaped patties on foil lined baking sheet. Bake 400 deg 20 mins turning once. Avocado slaw, I added my adaptations on the side of each ing.in BOLD  if I varied from original recipe. this came out to be 3pp per 1/2c Creamy Avocado Cole Slaw Add some avocado goodness to your cole slaw for a creamier alternative. Recipe by Family Spice Ingredients: 1 avocado  (2 small creamy hass avo's) 1/2 cup cilantro, fresh, packed        (I used 1 whole cup) 2 TBS cider vinegar (I used white and a little seasoned rice wine) 2 TBS lime juice (I didn't have lime,lol) 2 TBS coarse ground mustard (I fogot this) 1 tsp honey  1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (I only used a 1/4 cup) 1/2 head of cabbage, green, shredded 1 green onion, chopped Sweet Peppers, chopped Instructions: Purée in a blender: 1 avocado 1/2 cup cilantro, fresh , packed 2 TBS cider vinegar 2 TBS lime juice 2 TBS coarse ground mustard 1 tsp honey 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground Slowly pour into the blender and blend until dressing starts to whip and emulsify: 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil In a large bowl pour dressing and combine with: 1/2 head of cabbage, green , shredded Allow salad to sit 5-10 minutes prior to serving. Garnish salad with: 1 green onion , chopped Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 0 min Difficulty: Easy Servings:             8 So pretty close with a couple of changes to this great recipe. The bottom line when cooking...Play around and Be Creative with what you have on hand!

keep on truckin!

Holy bananas! A little of a let down the weeks after my week of birthday extravaganzas! I'm so very blessed and love spending time with my family and friends. Did I workout? sorta. did I eat right? sorta. The thing is life happens non stop and you will always have things that come up and you will always have days that you miss a workout. My go to motivation phrase lately has been "if you half way do something, you will see half way results". This has been on my mind all week and thankful that it has. I have a constant battle with my love of premium jeans and my love of food! I cannot indulge beyond a couple tastes if I would like to continue to rock my amazing jeans (if you have been thin your whole life, you really have no idea what it feels like, and I love that I earned that and that I have that feeling forever that no one can ever take away!) I find this whole JEANS thing very funny because I have waited a long time to wear the clothes I wear now and to be the size I am now. I love that and I love it more because its a gauge for me to know where I am at without relying on the numbers on the scale.

I started this journey for different reasons then the number on the scale. I wanted to be fit and be able to pass the agility test for the police academy. I really didn't care what my weight was. So, now that I can wear super cute clothes I like knowing that when I put some jeans on they can show me how I am doing. I have some Arden B, skinny bootcut which still shock me that my booty fits in them and I know if I have been goofing off not working out and eating cupcakes,lol! Those babies are not going up my thighs! I also know that my Joes, Hudsons and Miss Me's will give a little bit more but if I can get those up...I'm in trouble. Hahah!

I think that when I check in to the gym or log my runs,etc.. I find I am way more accountable to myself not only to my little following of friends that are on their own journeys! Since I started going to Crossfit its been so much fun to just push myself further than cardio and I do sorta love that I run there and that I can actually run home after Andy my coach at CFW took pics today during my WOD and I love that I was pumping and not once was I thinking "omg I hope my arm fat isn't sticking out! or I hope the angle is okay!" again, if you have been thin your whole life this is something else that you probably haven't thought of or  maybe you have and in that case Im sorry that you have dealt with insecurities in different ways. We did a crazy combo WOD of pass-thrus and burpees and kettle bells and just a lot! It was fun though! I love that its like having my own personal trainer and that I have the competition of a group and also the encouragement! here are some pics from today!

Push press...followed by burpees, 7 rounds, bugggh!

rowing 250m, followed by KB rack, 3 rounds

 

 

Just a great day, great workout and super excited to keep getting stronger! Because fitness and strength are just way better in the long run! I was also greeted with a delightful little update to sort of document my progress. As I reached 29 this month my drivers license and its photo came to an end. I kinda love that I got my new DL wth my new weight that is really only 10 pounds away from the weight I am now,lol! But just the difference in that and how I feel and look better than I did being younger in the older pic. There's a Tim McGraw song called "My next thirty years" and it reminds me that I can only improve and get better and I feel pretty good right now!

MAHALO!! :-)

 



 

My "Running" thoughts

 

en·dur·ance

1. the fact or power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships, etc. 2. the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina: 3. lasting quality; duration 4. something endured, as a hardship; trial.

 

While I was I was running yesterday I experienced one of those goosebumpy sorta realizations. First off may I start with my husband has been home (yay!!!) in the mornings this last week and have been able to run alone(yay!!)without pushing the stroller. I thought "hey, maybe I will head to the gym!" sooo not fun in so many ways!! I realized even more so why I hate running on the treadmill, I HATE IT! The whole concept and the benefits of running, to me, are meant to be on pavement. The worst part of the treadmill is running and thinking the whole time  asking "am I done yet? how far have I gone now?I feel like I'm done? I need to stop?" literally the WHOLE TIME! Plus, I dropped my phone...again,lol! Back to the pavement yesterday and was so happy to return.

Me getting ready to hit the road!

I woke up around 8am to head out and actually got up and got going I knew I had to before it heated up.  My goal was 7 miles yesterday and I needed to be back in time to go weigh in at WW before lunch time. I started out slow and easy and right away I was lost. Not lost like I didn't know where I was but my mind was lost and I begin to forget I was even running. My mind went here and there and I really do think running is beyond therapeutic for me. My husband is leaving this week for Virginia for over 2 months...boo! But, I love a challenge..hooah! (#armywife) With him being gone this actually does allow for an amazing chance to run alone and really rev up my marathon training. I am looking forward to adding my mileage and getting stronger. My mind also shot back and forth to the fact that I got to weigh in later on and see exactly how I am doing. I couldn't wait I was really disciplined all week because I know I want this so bad.

 

As I ran the miles I also started thinking how much my weight loss journey is just like a long training run. I came home and wrote out qualities of each and how they really mirror each other.

looks just about the same to me!

I was at about mile 6ish when this came to me and how I have been running this journey and how much I have accomplished, why its important to me, why I am so glad I chose to start, the list seriously went on and on. I got to a home stretch right before our house and I knew I wanted to just kill it. I thought of why I started loosing weight and running other than becoming a cop I wont lie and tell you that getting to wear cut offs and short skirts with my cowboy boots was not my main motivation, haha. But, I knew that my driving force was I wanted to be healthy and strong and thats really why I started these now huge aspects of my life. Realizing this and running my heart out on that last stretch I totally broke down and lost it, there on the curb, laughing and cryin and suuuuper hot and just soaked it all in. I had finished my run and it felt awesome.

10am rolled around and it was time for my weigh in Greens and I did mama/baby girl date so as she says "I can get scaled" lol, this makes me laugh and some stuff I just don't like to correct her,haha. I had a huge loss and hit a major goal. I felt almost as good as my earlier run knowing that I was moving forward, making progress and that I was almost to the finish line.

I was playing around on etools(ww online tool) and figuring out my new goal and how much I had left to loose. I found it completely amazing what the number was.

marathon distance and final weight loss goal





 

As my marathon training goes on and my weight loss goal is almost achieved I know a couple things right away. Its going to be HARD. It is going to take time, perseverance, endurance, patience, rest, hard work, planning, optimism, adjustments, vision, support, encouragement, inspiration alllllll of these things and more. I have never gone that far of a distance but then again I have never been at that weight either. :-)

 

Mahalo!



 

Change

Last night we went to the Hollywood Bowl and saw "The Producers" which,if you like Mel Brooks, was hysterical! Husband and I went I bought new clothes, we took yummy goodies and had an awesome night! I finally broke through a huge plateau in my weight loss this week and after bouncing back and forth for 3 weeks. I have lost 86 pounds now...still trips me out. I was wearing the smallest pair of Hudson black skinny jeans that I ever thought I would ever wear. I looked and felt amazing it was one of those outfits that just made me so aware of my body and how much it has changed. I hate spending money on expensive clothes midway through my journey but I know how important it is to see and feel my success to know how great my progress has been. I plan on going down one last size at least so I try to buy limited new size clothes as I go.

So, for the Bowl if your not familiar it's a large outdoor amphitheater. The best part about seeing a show there is you can bring your own food and drink including wine. I packed cucumber slices with mango salsa,fresh guacamole and carrot sticks, almond cranberry bites and a gigantic container of fresh strawberries. We had an amazing bottle of Cabernet and I was in heaven feasting on these treats. The best part was it seemed completely unplanned it was just stuff I picked up there was no like. "ugh I HAVE to pack healthy stuff!" (here is where the change part starts) I was eating stuff that tasted good to me and I was enjoying every minute of it. I never felt deprived or that I was missing out on something. Husband turned to me at intermission and said "this is a lot
different than the last time we were here!" at first thoughts came through my head I was about 8 weeks pregnant the last time we were there and I weighed about 60lbs more than I did last night. He also mentioned the change in our menu. It was fried chicken and a white chocolate raspberry cheesecake. Haha, not that you can't have that stuff. But, I realized even more how much I have changed. The rest of my strawberries were just as sweet as the success that I felt sitting in my overpriced jeans.

Progress will not happen unless you make changes. Of course this is not easy and it will be difficult at first but before you know it things will have changed and it will be just a part of you!

Mahalo

Friday Recipe Recap

This week I made some yummy light meals and thought I would share some for inspiration. My culinary background allows me to play with food and flavors maybe more freely than I should. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't and that's fine by me! I have come up with some interesting ideas and mostly love all of them. I was on pinterest earlier in the week and got some inspiration for some meatless dishes as well as my typical "lc"(low carb,low calorie) ideas!

My first inspiration was playing with fruit in sweet and savory dishes. I made a grilled peach portabello burger. I really have been playing with flavors and really just saying would I put this on a meat burger? Sure,let's try on a meatless option! I grilled a portobello cap in george foremen grill. I then grilled sliced peaches and topped my "burger" with them. The combination of the 2 were awesome!

My next creation was a skinny eggplant Parmesan with Caprese chicken (mozzarella,tomato and basil). I made the eggplant by whisking some eggwhites and Dredging eggplant slices in egg then whole wheat flour. I pan fried in Pam and seriously I could eat this all day!! I sprinkled with parmesan and popped in toaster over while I grilled a butterflied chicken breast then topped with sliced tomato,basil and mozzarella again browning in oven to melt cheese! I served with salad and made a yummy lunch.

Yesterday I also tried some zucchini fritters! These are great snacks or side item. These consist of shredded 2 zucchini,1 egg white,3 tbsp of whole wheat flour. I pan fried with Pam and made little Fritters and I let brown on each side about 5 mins.

Hope you have a great weekend! Play with some flavors and happy cooking, and eating,haha!

Mahalo!