Pickley Pear

Cajun Caesar Salad

2010-07-31T19:51:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! I hope you are having a great Saturday evening! I’ve been out of commission, computer-speaking, for a few days. I must admit, it felt nice.

My mom and I played in a golf tournament in Northern Michigan.

It was a 2-day team tournament. We placed 2nd in our ‘flight’! My mom played GREAT and I helped a little along the way

I was a bad blogger and did not shoot ANY pictures of food, sights, people, anything! One of the afternoon’s I went over to a local farm, Pond Hill.

(source)

The lady owner cans A TON of different food items; from jam to pickled asparagus to salsa, marinara sauce and syrup, among MANY other things. I purchased Purple Heirloom Tomato Salsa and Caper & Mushroom Pizza Sauce.

Pond Hill Farm also sells hormone & antibiotic free, grass fed organically raised meats. I purchased two small skillet steaks. With the 4.5 hour drive home today, the beef defrosted so I decided to cook it up tonight.

I found a recipe for Cajun Caesar Dressing so I made a Steak Caesar Salad.

Cajun Caesar Dressing

Into a medium bowl stir…

1 egg
1 TBS chopped garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black better
1/2 tsp dry mustard
3 dashes Tabasco
3 dashes Worcestershire
2 TBS red wine vinegar
2 TBS lemon juice
3 TBS olive oil
1/2 Cup shredded Parmesan Cheese

Beat together thoroughly and chill until ready to serve.

Toss salad and dressing.

Serves 4

The salad was perfect! Not too spicy, but a bit tangy. I added tomatoes for some color!

I need to detox over the next few days. I have done way too much eating and drinking and not exercising over the past week. I’m hoping my body liked the rest, cause it’s over now!!

Have a fabulous Sunday!

The Grill Master

2010-07-27T14:01:00.001-04:00

This is my dad. The Grill Master.

This post comes to you a few days late. But who’s counting? I enjoy relaxing Sunday night dinners with my parents. They have a really nice backyard and deck area. Sunday’s weather was PERFECTO for dining outside.

Vino, of course…

Chicken Kabobs with zucchini, onion, mushrooms, and red bell pepper

After dinner, my mom and I took a walk…to the local ice cream parlor – Dairy King! The Downtown Plymouth area is about a 1.5 mile walk from my parents house. Perfect for after dinner ice cream! Guaranteed, I did not burn off the Health Bar Flurry, but gave it a good try

INCEPTION

So…I finally saw Inception last night. It was quite the mind-bender. The special effects were amazing. It was a long movie for my antsy pants. Leo is hot! I’m still not totally sold on the story. It was a bit hard to follow at times. Maybe it’s just me.

After the movie, we ventured over to Rojo Mexican Bistro.

Another gorgeous evening for dining outside. The temps have cooled to a comfortable 80* and less humidity. It feels like a cold front! I even turned my air conditioning off for the first time in two months. Last month’s $170 electric bill may have played a part in that decision as well

Mushroom Quesadilla – whole wheat tortilla – 3-cheese blend and 3 types of mushrooms

Refried BLACK beans with grill veggies (instead of rice)

As always, a fabulous meal at Rojo. The menu is not your traditional Mexican fare – it’s a bit more upscale. Is there such a thing as “Gourmet Mexican”? Sure, why not?

What’s your favorite Mexican food?

I’m going to be out of blog-land for a few days. I am heading up to Northern Michigan to play in a 2-day golf tournament! Wish me luck! Have a great week everyone!

Indian Food-Baby

2010-07-24T16:01:00.000-04:00

You may remember a few months back I had my first Indian food experience! Well, I decided it was time for more Indian food in my life.

Yesterday, I met my dad for lunch at the Bombay Grille.

Images are copied from the website.

The Bombay Grille offers a lunch buffet, everyday. I’m not a big fan of buffets, usually because I overstuff my tummy. This lunch buffet was definitely the way to go.

I cannot tell you the exact names of everything on my plate. Obviously the bread is Naan, to the left (clockwise) of the Naan is some spicy peppers, then Butter Chicken, vegetables in a cream sauce, Chicken Tikka, lentils, cabbage with a yogurt sauce, deep fried vegetables.

I think Bombay Grille is a winner! I walked out comfortably full, but not overstuffed. Because I took two pieces of Naan, I skipped the rice.

After the fabulous Indian-inspired lunch, I made quick Whole Paycheck stop, enjoying this tea when I arrived home. It was refreshing and satisfied the inevitable post-lunch sweet tooth You know what I mean!

Also, upon arriving home, there was a box on my porch. What could it be?

Two boxes of cereal – score! Thanks, FoodBuzz! I haven’t tried them yet, but can only imagine great things from Kellogg’s.

Bikram called my name this morning, bright and early. Post-Bikram fruit smoothie protein drink…

Strawberry-Banana with Vanilla Sun Warrior and Skim Milk. Very refreshing and healthy.

I know most of you are familiar with Nicole of Prevention RD! I’m very excited to write a guest post for her coming up this week! So…be on the lookout for that

Have a great Saturday!

Half-Plate-Full

2010-07-21T16:14:00.001-04:00

Why does the summer fly by?! It’s going by way too fast for me right now.

So…what have I been up to the last few days?

More filming of Scream 4.

This week, the film crew was in my hometown of Plymouth, Michigan for two days.

Hello, Courteney Cox…

Sea Scallop Scaloppini

(say that 10 times fast)

SUMMER YOGA CHALLENGE UPDATE

Continuing with the Summer Yoga Challenge, I have now completed 21 out of 50 days of yoga (within the 94 days of summer). I am on track thus far! I am enjoying yoga more and more each practice. I notice that I have more energy and of course more strength and flexibility.

Duplicated from the Summer Yoga Challenge Page…

50 Days of Yoga

(Pilates counts in my book too.)

June 21 - September 22

Day 1: (6/23) Fitness Pilates (with Anna)
Day 2: (6/24) Less Is More Yoga (Exercise TV)
Day 3: (6/25) Pilates Abs
Day 4: (6/26) Vinyasa Yoga (with Trish)
Day 5: (6/27) Vinyasa Yoga (with Lauri)
Day 6: (6/28) Ashtanga Yoga (with Lauri)
Day 7: (6/30) Bikram
Day 8: (7/2) Bikram
Day 9: (7/4) Vinyasa (Freedom) Yoga (with Kim)
Day 10: (7/5) Bikram
Day 11: (7/6) Bikram
Day 12: (7/8) Bikram
Day 13: (7/11) Vinyasa Yoga (with Marc)
Day 14: (7/12) Less is More Pilates (Exercise TV)
Day 15: (7/13) Bikram
Day 16: (7/14) Vinyasa Yoga (with Tammy) + Yoga Fitness Plus
Day 17: (7/16) Pilates Core Fusion (with Monique)
Day 18: (7/17) Bikram
Day 19: (7/19) Bikram
Day 20: (7/20) Hatha Yoga 2 (with Sinah)
Day 21: (7/21) Bikram

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Today’s lunch was nothing short of amazing. I had beef on the brain. I cooked up an Applegate Farms Organic Frozen Beef Burger.

Added some mashed avocado, provolone and tomato. Then I sautéed some leftover yellow squash, orange pepper, onion, and mushrooms. I think I overestimated my hunger – what else is new?

“They” say half your plate should be veggies, right? The burger (on a Sandwich Thin) looks so tiny – it was not small.

Blurry Burger

Dessert. I’m on a Chobani w/ Dark Chocolate Chips kick. I added a few Sunflower Seeds for good measure, as well.

What’s your favorite ‘mix-in’ in yogurt?

By the way, THANK YOU all for your nice words and advice on moving Pickley Pear over to WordPress. It’s taking a bit more time than I imagined. So…I’m going to hold off for the time being, and continue blogging as normal.

A Working Document…

2010-07-19T12:05:00.001-04:00

Pardon my dust. I am still in the process of moving to WordPress, but am having trouble transferring the domain. WP gave me a new domain, but I want to keep PickleyPear.com, and am having trouble. I am in the process of getting help with this (probably very simple) task, so for now, I am going to continue to post here

So, I hope you all had an exciting weekend! From glancing at my out-of-control Google Reader, I see lots of Shrimp, Feta and Orzo concoctions have been invented!

Shrimp is so versatile, easy and quick to cook. I whipped up some Shrimp Stir-Fry the other night.

Onion & Garlic

Orange Bell Pepper, Yellow and Green Zucchini

Broccoli

All together now. Add Soy Sauce and Mixed Nuts, Black Pepper and Garlic Powder

What’s your favorite way to eat Shrimp?

Attempting to Move from Blogger to WordPress

2010-07-17T15:48:00.001-04:00

Pickley Pear is currently in the process of moving from Blogger to WordPress. This is all trial and error, as I have never used WordPress before. I hope I don’t completely screw it up! Please bare with me during this process.

Thanks!

Julie

The Simple Life

2010-07-17T12:57:00.001-04:00

Happy Saturday! The day is flying by already…it’s 12:30 and all I’ve done is workout!

This may be the best EVER Green Monster. I added Skim Milk, Chocolate Egg White Protein, Chocolate Amazing Grass, a ton of spinach and 1 frozen banana. If I wasn’t staring at the green color, it tastes like a chocolate milkshake.

So…before enjoying this GM, I hit up Bikram early this morning. I’ve learned that if I don’t go first thing, I probably won’t. Just like the rest of the my workout routines. Bikram is time consuming – both the practice and coordinating my eating schedule. First thing in the AM on an empty stomach is typically best, for me.

Today’s Bikram class was a rough one. I’m not going to kid myself (or you guys!), I had some trouble holding the poses today without feeling a bit dizzy and nauseous. I drank plenty of water, so I thought. The room seemed hotter than normal. Believe me, you can tell the difference between 105* and 110*. Luckily, it' wasn’t just me. Many of the students in class today (whom I see on a regular basis) were sitting out poses, lying down, and even walking out of the room occasionally. But…I made it through. After downing a Gatorade, I felt instantly revived.

After Bikram, I arrived home, drank more water, and hit the road for a leisurely walk. It’s not quite as hot and humid today (let’s say 85* vs. 92*) and there is a nice breeze. I ended up trotting 5.3 miles! That wasn’t my original intent, but I felt good, so I kept trekking along.

Change of subject…

Have you tried Starbucks VIA Iced yet?

I love Iced Coffee in the summer. BUT…major disappointment that they pre-add SUGAR to the instant coffee granules! WHY? If I want sugar, I’ll add it myself. Rant over. I will finish the 6 packets and then go back to brewing my own Iced Coffee.

Yesterday for lunch, I met my mom at a new cafe in Plymouth.

The menu was on the wall.

We ended up splitting The Good Hart sandwich (havarti, cucumbers, lettuce, tomato, avocado, honey mustard on whole wheat) and the Orzo Salad.

A complete Vegetarian lunch Truthfully, I was still hungry after, but the sandwich and salad were both very flavorful and healthy!

I must have been on some sort of Orzo binge yesterday! The other day I printed out Nicole’s recipe for Lemony Orzo-Veggie Salad with Chicken and have been meaning to try it. I finally did!

I added a few more veggies than the recipe called for: artichokes, tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, yellow summer squash. I also used Whole Grain Orzo. Definitely a keeper! It’s light, lemony taste is perfect for a summer meal or side dish and would be great with or without chicken. Highly recommended!

Do you like Orzo? I don’t cook with it very often, but realize I should!!

This has turned into a LONG post! Enjoy your Saturday – stay cool!

Time for a Massage

2010-07-15T12:33:00.001-04:00

Hi friends! Thanks for all your nice comments about getting my CPR Certification. Such a simple thing to do that could make a huge impact down the road.

I apologize for being MIA yesterday. My camera sat by it’s lonesome on my counter ALL day. I will say, I had a fabulously busy day:

Early morning Spin class followed by Yoga
Meeting at Starbucks (more to come on that…)
Tar-Jay and Hiller’s Market run
Pool for 2 hours
Ate too much food
Which led to more Yoga
Wine bar and appetizers with a friend

This morning I actually slept in, for once. Is 7:30 sleeping in? YES! And I enjoyed every minute of it.

Cinnamon Raisin Ezekiel w/ AB & Crofter’s

New find at the local market. Tomato Berries. Same level as a cherry tomato. Scrumptious.

Lunch was cheating…again. I really do enjoy the microwave meals though. And they keep my portion controlled. I always make sure to drink extra water because of the high sodium content.

Amy’s Kitchen never ceases to satisfy.

I’m off to pamper myself for the afternoon with a much-needed massage! I deserve it. Between running, Bikram, extra Yoga for the Challenge, my muscles are tight and screaming for a good rub!

Enjoy this Thursday!

Officially Certified

2010-07-13T07:17:00.001-04:00

In CPR that is!

Earlier this summer one of my friends nearly died in a kayaking accident. He was saved by CPR. This is something I’ve wanted to do for some time now.

I took the “Blended” learning class through the Red Cross. The majority of the training is Online and then I went to the in-class portion for only 3 hours (which was actually only 1.5 hours).

REWIND TO YESTERDAY MORNING

I woke up early to run 4 miles. It was not so hot, but VERY HUMID! I took my handheld water bottle and more of it ended up down my shirt and on my neck as opposed to in my mouth. I needed to cool down and never saw one sprinkler!

The air was stagnant – I felt like I was working hard to push forward, but went nowhere.

Stat’s weren’t too bad, considering:

Total Time: 36:52

Distance: 4.02 miles

Mile 1: 8:53

Mile 2: 9:10

Mile 3: 9:10

Mile 4: 9:21

Do you use Garmin Connect? I’ve just started using it – very cool tool to track runs and training. Unfortunately, I cannot copy the charts over to this post. Basically, it shows Timing and Elevation charts and maps of the run. There is a section for notes and such as well. Obviously, it is only compatible with Garmin GPS Heart Rate Monitors.

Heart Rate Monitor’s FOR SALE!

Speaking of Garmin GPS Heart Rate Monitors – I am selling two of my used HRM’s – one is Polar brand and the other is Garmin GPS. Check them out!

Post run breakfast…

TJ’s High Fiber Cereal with POM seeds and raspberries. Kept me full for hours.

Most of the morning was spent finishing the online portion of the CPR/First Aid class. I needed a healthful lunch.

Pineapple Chobani w/ Dark Chocolate Chips & Granola mixed in

I didn’t even eat dinner because of a late lunch and then class, I wasn’t hungry when I got home at 8pm and had more important things to do…like watch The Bachelorette! My favorite is still Chris – I’ve liked him from the beginning! Do you watch? Who is Ali going to choose?

I haven’t been to Bikram since last Thursday! Eeek… Must get my sweat on this morning. Bikram recommends eating only fruit (and water) prior to class. Actually – the recommendation is no food for 3 hours prior, but if you must eat, fruit and juice is acceptable up to 1 hour before. I have a few hours to spare so I’m eating kiwi and mango to hold me over.

Have a fabulous Tuesday!

Heart Rate Monitor’s FOR SALE

2010-07-12T10:51:00.001-04:00

I am selling two Heart Rate Monitors. Both are gently used.

Polar RS200 (Black)

Purchased in November 2008, brand new.

Product Description

In order to reach your fitness goals, you need to exercise at the right intensity. Designed for goal-oriented runners, the Polar RS200 wrist heart rate monitor helps you to easily and accurately measure your heart rate to help you get to just the right intensity or your exertion level. It's great for both beginning runners or more experienced runners preparing for competitions. Use the Polar Sports Zones and the Event Countdown Timer to manage your training for that key running event. You can even upload your settings to your running computer and then download your workout files to the Polar Running Coach Web Service for analysis. The RS200 offers up to 16 exercise files with summaries, date and time, and total calorie expenditure.

RS200 Features:

Automatic/Manual target zone
Backlight
Display zoom
Easy start
Event Countdown Timer
Graphical target zone indicator
Heart rate (displayed as % of maximum heart rate)
Heart rate (displayed as bpm)
HeartTouch, button-free operation of wrist unit
KeyLock
Oversized display
User configurable displays
Visual and audible alarm in target zones
Water resistant to 50 meters

Does not include foot pod.

Heart rate monitoring includes maximum heart rate (fitness test-based and age-based), maximum/average of total exercise and of each lap (up to 99 laps), three target zones, and audible alarms. It also offers such timing features as time of day (12/24-hour display), dual time zone, day and date display, stopwatch, and alarm with snooze. It features an oversized display, easy to manipulate buttons while on the run, and a comfortable WearLink fabric transmitter.

It's a great choice for using in large groups, where other exercisers might be using wireless training gear that could interfere with your own signal. The RS100's coded transmission prevents crosstalk with other monitors so you'll get a personalized workout--even in a class environment. It also includes the following exclusive Polar features:

Polar Sport Zones: Polar sport zones provides an easy way to select and monitor the intensity of your training and to follow PolarÕs sport zones based training programs. The training is divided into five zones based on percentages of your maximum heart rate: very light (50-60%HRmax), light (60-70% HRmax), moderate (70-80%HRmax), hard (80-90% HRmax) and maximum (90-100% HRmax).
Polar OwnCal: This feature shows your energy expenditure during one exercise session as well as your accumulated kilocalories during several exercise sessions. You can set daily and weekly exercise goals in terms of calorie expenditure with the OwnCal feature. Because the OwnCal tracks both the energy expenditure during one exercise session and the accumulated kilocalories during a longer time e.g. one week, it helps in achieving both short term and long term goals.
Polar OwnZone: This feature guides you through an appropriate warm-up routine and automatically determines a safe and effective exercise heart rate zone--your OwnZone--while taking into account your current physical condition.

Note: The battery is running low and may need to be replaced soon.

Price: $50

Garmin Forerunner 301 – GPS-enabled HRM

Purchased in July 2009, brand new.

For sale on Ebay: Click HERE to view the ad.

Adapted from Garmin.com

Get results in a heartbeat with the Forerunner 301. This versatile personal trainer adds a digital, coded heart rate monitor to the list of Forerunner features and supports multiple sport profiles for running, biking and other sports — perfect for any athlete who wants to see tangible results.

Get in Your Zone

The Forerunner 301's heart rate monitor continuously tracks and records your heart rate so you can see whether you're training too hard or not hard enough. What's more, Forerunner 301 also displays your current heart rate zone, a range of heart beats per minute that helps you gauge the intensity of your workout and train more effectively. After a few intense runs, Forerunner's AutoLearn™ feature calculates your heart rate zones and automatically adjusts them as your fitness level improves.

Cross-Train with Ease

Forerunner 301 has three separate sport modes for running, biking and another activity. Just press and hold the mode button to switch between sports and record your run, ride, hike or other workout. You can also use Forerunner 301 to train for your next duathlon or triathlon with the multi-sport setting. This feature lets you seamlessly transition between sports without resetting the unit, so you can include running, biking and another sport, all in the same workout.

Track Your Progress

As an added benefit, you can plan, analyze and store data from your workouts through our online community, Garmin Connect™, or our free Garmin Training Center® software. Conveniently upload your data to Garmin Connect for an in-depth analysis of your workouts, online mapping and route sharing that will take your training to the next level. With Garmin Training Center® software, you can analyze data with interactive graphs that chart your pace, time, distance and heart rate. Overlay your run on a map so you can pinpoint specific areas and see how elevation and other factors affect your performance. Endurance athletes can also use Forerunner with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web-based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.

In the Box:

Forerunner 301 watch
Heart rate monitor
Garmin Training Center® software
Expander strap
AC charger
USB cable
Owner's manual
Quick start guide

Note: I purchased this Heart Rate Monitor device in July 2009, brand new. It has been used. It is in great condition, full battery power. It will be sent in the original box with all accessories listed above. Great training tool!

Price: $100 (or bid on Ebay listing)

Please email me at PickleyPear28@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing either of these items or if you have additional questions!!

Art in the Park

2010-07-11T09:57:00.001-04:00

Happy Sunday! I love waking up early on a Sunday – I feel accomplished.

Green Monster’s: I missed you.

In the mix:

1/2 C Skim Milk
1/2 large banana
1T Vanilla SunWarrior (thanks Gina!)
handful spinach
ice

MORNING RUN!

But…before enjoying this fabulous GM, I went out for an early morning run to avoid the HOTNESS. It was still hot, don’t get me wrong. But 72 feels a lot better than 90! The humidity is high today though, which made breathing tough.

Stats…

Time: 44:15

Distance: 4.85 miles

Mile 1: 8:37
Mile 2: 8:50
Mile 3: 9:33
Mile 4: 9:32
Mile 4-4.85: 7:41 (9:03 pace)

I did have to walk a bit, I could not breathe!

Yesterday, my mom and I walked around Art In The Park, located in Downtown Plymouth (my hometown).

I completely forgot to take pics of my lunch, which was a Shrimp & Avocado Spinach Salad from Ironwood Grill. It was served with Ginger Dressing.

http://www.ironwoodgrillplymouth.com/Ironwood_Menu.pdf

This is the photo from the menu…

The salad included tomatoes, green onion and cucumber as well.

After being outside in the sun for nearly 4 hours, I once again lost my appetite and took a nap.

Dinner was light and chock full of veggies!

Homemade Gazpacho (mom made this batch – I use her recipe!

On the agenda for today…

--My favorite Yoga class

--Pool at the gym

Question: What are you up to on this beautiful Sunday (beautiful in Detroit at least…)?

Lite Bites

2010-07-10T09:09:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone – Happy Not-So-Hot Saturday! Does your appetite subside when it’s hot out? Mine does. That can be good or bad. Once I get back in the AC, I get super hungry.

Anyway, I had a surprise birthday party to attend last night, so my friend Krista and I headed Downtown Plymouth (my hometown – about 20 minutes south of where I currently live) a little early to chat over dinner.

We chose a local wine bar, Grape Expectations. The sun was just setting so we chose to sit outside – it’s too nice out (even though it’s hot) to sit in the AC all the time.

I started with a Flight – 3 wine tastes. It was a French combination of two reds and one white. I cannot drink too much red wine otherwise my teeth turn purple.

We ordered a Baked Brie appetizer.

Brown Sugar and Walnuts on top of the Brie

And also shared a pizza. Covered with artichokes, olives, tomatoes and goat cheese. It was fabulous – we didn’t finish it though.

We ate and chatted for about 2 hours, until we realized we had probably missed the surprise for the birthday boy! Oops!! That’s ok, we showed up about 5 minutes after. I may have had one too many beers at the party, and am feeling a little fuzzy this morning Remember I’m a lightweight drinker in my old-age.

Not to worry, a few yoga stretches, water and breakfast cured me in no time.

Waffles topped with a cottage cheese/applesauce/cinnamon combo. Try it. I swear it’s very tasty. Banana on the side.

I’m headed out now to meet my mom back in Plymouth to walk around the annual Art in the Park Art Fair before it gets too hot! Art in the Park is a great big art fair. It’s one of the many events that make Plymouth so great Is your town widely known for annual special events?!

Bikram & Bowling

2010-07-08T18:33:00.001-04:00

And…it’s Thursday!! Did this week FLY by or what? I bowl in a league with my girlfriends on Thursday evenings, which is always a blast and time to get caught up with each other’s crazy busy lives.

My morning started bright and early with a 6am run. It was only 76 degrees, so I wore as little as possible (without scaring anyone), grabbed my running water bottle, GPS watch, and headed out. It’s been about a week since my last outdoor run, so I had no idea what to expect. I had no distance plan, just started running like Forrest.

I managed a GREAT 3.5 miles. I thought that was sufficient since I was planning to go to Bikram, as well, this morning.

Garmin told me…

Total Time: 31:49

Total Distance: 3.55 miles

Mile 1: 8:54

Mile 2: 8:59

Mile 3: 9:01

Mile 3-3.55: 4:53 (8:56 pace)

I’ll take it!

I munched on a mango after the run, and a ton of H2O of course. Bikram suggests no eating 3 hours prior to class, except fruit or juice is acceptable up to 1 hour before.

Bikram was amazingly sweaty . Today was my 5th Bikram class and I am definitely noticing a change in my strength and ability to execute some of the moves. By no means are the moves perfect. Below is a chart of all 26 poses.

Today, I learned that I was twisting my arms and hands incorrectly in posture #4. The instructor adjusted me.
Pose #10 and #24, I can touch my forehead to my knee with a straight front leg (could not do that the first day!)
A short-term goal is in Pose #4 to be able to wrap my foot around the opposite leg. I have ~~fat~~ big muscular thighs that make this move very difficult for me. I will get it eventually!

(source)

My mom visited me for lunch! She also brought lunch…thanks mom!

Tuna Salad

Homemade Gazpacho

Then we chatted at the pool for a bit…until a DARK sky rolled in. I never thought I’d say this, but we needed rain and we got it! And the rain cooled the air slightly, and the poor grass and plants got some hydration. Dropped down to 75*! It’s a COLD FRONT!

I snacked on an apple with PB…oh wait, this is no ordinary PB. I finally broke open the White Chocolate Cherry PB from Cherry Republic in Glen Arbor, MI.

It’s the perfect consistency, with subtle hints of chocolate and cherry. I can already tell, this PB is not going to last long!!

Gotta go get some strikes!

Question: Have you ever bowled on a league?

My girlfriends and I have been on this same 15-week summer bowling league since we turned 21 (that makes this the ninth year!). We used to drink A LOT of draft beer and get a little bit crazy, in our younger days. These days, we’re more into chatting and drinking water, so we feel halfway decent at work on Friday mornings! Lame, I know.

Movies in MI & White Chocolate Cherry PB

2010-07-07T18:31:00.001-04:00

Another hot day was upon us here in Detroit! I believe the high was 95*. I decided it would be a good idea to play golf in the hot, stagnant, humid air I’ll take the heat any day over cold and snow. Nothing like dripping sweat for 4 hours! That was my workout for the day.

Pre-golf breakfast.

Not the most appetizing picture.

2 Waffles, a peach w/ cottage cheese and 1 chicken sausage link.

My Mom brought me a present from their weekend in Northern Michigan. I opened it when I got home because it was wrapped.

White Chocolate Cherry Peanut Butter

Totally made my day! Thanks, Mom & Dad, you are the best! I haven’t broken it open yet, but will be sure to do a full review when I do.

On a completely separate topic, Scream 4 is being filmed in Northville, MI. It’s about 8 miles from my house! My friend took some great action shots on her lunch hour today.

Hello, David Arquette (Sheriff Dewey)

Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott (in the purple)

Notice Wes Craven’s chair?! So cool!

There are also a few rumors going around about Gerard Butler filming Machine Gun Preacher in the Detroit area this month, as well as Hugh Jackman filming Real Steel northwest of Detroit during the summer.

Michigan is offering tax breaks to production companies to film movies in the State, bringing in some much-needed revenue during this down state of economy.

Next on the agenda…meeting these big actors!! Question: Have you ever watched a movie shoot? Or met anyone famous?!

Mediterranean Inspired

2010-07-06T19:49:00.001-04:00

Hey all! I hope you had a great ~~Monday~~ Tuesday!

My day was not all that exciting:

Had a mole removed
Caught up on some bill paying and paperwork
Took a nap (I think the numbing stuff made me tired! Or maybe the handfuls of dried fruit consumed mid-morning, not sure…)
Went to Yoga
Took a much-needed shower
Ate dinner

This is going to be a quick post, then I have to pack for tomorrow, and chillax’ for the night!

Lunch was leftovers from the weekend…

Chicken, Ramen Slaw, Tomato

Oh, I almost forgot…breakfast was a special Panera Bread stop after I had ~~surgery~~ the mole removed. I ordered the…

Breakfast Power Sandwich

All-natural eggs - freshly cracked every morning - a thick slice of Vermont white cheddar and smoked, lean ham all grilled between two slices of freshly baked Whole Grain bread

It was absolutely worth all 360 calories in about 6 bites! Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me this morning

Dinner was made FAST after Bikram.

Cottage Cheese on the side

Sometimes I don’t care for Healthy Choice meals, but this Steamer meal was very tasty, a large portion with lots of shrimp, chicken and veggies. What can I say? Sometimes it’s just easier to microwave dinner!

Dessert – c’mon, it’s 95* outside!

I also made a small purchase today. BIG PINK water bottles are needed when it’s this out out. I think it’s a 50oz. bottle. And includes a straw and ice pack. It made my day in Yoga.

Enjoy your evening! Stay cool if you live anywhere between Maine and Texas

#@#$!! It's HOT outside!!

2010-07-05T18:49:00.001-04:00

I am by no means complaining. That is, as long as I am ~~near~~ in a body of water. I believe the high temp was 93 degrees today. We’re not used to that here in Michigan. Personally, I love it! All week is going to be HOT!

For the 4th, I spent another day at the lake with my bestest friends! (I know that is not a word…)

Maddie even needed to cool off.

Kenna too!

Drinks…

Baby drinking beer?!

Food!

Naptime

And then the handstands began…

Don’t ask!

I was down for the count early last night – the sun sucks energy right out of me!

This morning I woke up and decided I needed more Bikram in my life. It was already 91* by 9:00am. Even though Bikram Yoga includes a 105* room, it felt MUCH HOTTER. Many, many people had a tough time in class today – either leaving early, sitting down to rest, or refilling their water bottles numerous times. The sweat was pouring off me before the class even began. Bikram fans – you know what I’m talking about!

I made it and felt amazing after class was over. I stopped counting when I hit 320 oz of water today!

Tonight is going to be relaxing and early to sleep, again. I can’t wait to read everyone’s 4th of July weekend posts! See ya tomorrow!

A Day at the Lake

2010-07-04T08:46:00.001-04:00

I just love long holiday weekends! Friends, relaxing, eating, drinking, boating, etc. I knew there would be a lot of food and drinks consumed so I made sure to get a good workout in before indulging.

Pre-workout fuel (1/2 sandwich thin w/ AB + banana)

Then I hit up the gym for a 90-minute “Tour de France” Spin class. They set up a large screen at the front of the room and projected DVD’s from different cities on the screen, looking as if we were actually riding through the city/countryside.

I think we rode through 4 states in 90 minutes

Post-workout breakfast

And the rest of the day was spent taking in this view…

Playing Bags…

(I’m in the pink)

Then some boating

Of course, food!

Getting ready for the fireworks!

Bug spray is a must!

The pictures of the fireworks didn’t show up so well, so I’ll leave you with this…you get the idea!

I’m now off to a quick yoga class, and then prepare to have a lake day all over again!! I hope everyone is having a great weekend with FUN, SUN, and FRIENDS/FAMILY!!

Purely Bone Suckin’

2010-07-03T07:12:00.001-04:00

Hi there! I apologize for my lack of writing over the past few days. I am around though, alive and kickin’!

Since my first Bikram experience on Wednesday, I have gone back for a 2nd time. The 2nd class was SO much easier. I even felt an improvement in some of the poses…I could balance, hold them long and my muscles felt a bit looser. Plus I didn’t feel like I was going to pass out and die! I am now committed to Bikram for the next 30 days (not consecutive, I have an unlimited pass until July 28th).

If you do Bikram regularly, how many days a week do you go? Do you go more than 2 days in a row?

Also, the last few days have consisted of golfing, bowling, running and prepping food for this weekend!! There’s going to be a lot of this…

(source)

Plus…my best friends!

What is better than a weekend of hot sun, great friends, food and a boat?! Not much tops that, in my book!

For the BBQ this afternoon and possibly tomorrow as well, I made Fruit Salsa.

Of course I had to taste test!

Fruit Salsa

(Adapted from AllRecipes.com)

Ingredients:

2 kiwis, peeled and diced

2 1 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored

and diced

8 ounces raspberries, mashed

1 1/2 pound strawberries

1 Sweet Georgia peach, diced

2 1 tablespoons white sugar

1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar

3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor (low sugar) I used Crofter’s Fruit Spread

1 tablespoon lime juice

Mashed raspberries – YUM!

Then I marinated the chicken breasts in some pure seriousness….

There was also an undocumented Ramen Noodle Salad assembled.

Last night as I was started to make dinner, a nice surprise walked in the door.

Garden fresh ZUCCHINI

Freshly washed and cut ROMAINE

I had already defrosted a few Sea Scallops, and what better side dishes than a salad and sautéed zucchini?! My night was complete. The meal took literally 10 minutes to prepare and cook.

Did you know, 8 large scallops contain only 104 calories, practically 0 fat, and 20 grams of protein?

I cooked the scallops in a tiny amount of coconut oil to give them a Caribbean flavor!

And a side salad with FRESH ROMAINE and Ginger dressing

I was going to do Bikram again this morning, but have decided it’s been far too long since I rode a bike. There is a ‘special’ 90 minute Spin class at the gym this morning, so I am going to try that instead!

Have a great weekend, catch ya in a few days!!

Bikram Advice

2010-06-30T10:53:00.001-04:00

Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a lot of talk about Bikram Yoga. Also known as HOT yoga, I had to give it a try. A few friends even mentioned it to me on Facebook and Twitter.

A special ‘thank you’ to my friends Carrie and Dorry for the advanced advice…

Each class is 90 minutes in a 105* heated room
Structured practice – 26 postures in the same order each class.
The first class will be really hard. Don’t give up, go back the next day. After the first time it will get easier.
Less is more. Clothing wise. (SO TRUE!)
There will be men in Speedos (Yes! I’m glad I was prepared.)
You will sweat more than you ever have before (more than running 10 miles in 90 degree heat and humidity, more than a spinning class)
Your skin will start to look clearer and refreshed after two classes.
Take a yoga mat and a large beach towel to lay over the mat so you don’t slip and a small hand towel to wipe the sweat out of your eyes – otherwise refrain from wiping since the sweat is there to cool off the body
Bring a HUGE bottle of water (32oz. was NOT enough!)
Stay in the room, even if you think you are going to die. Just lay on your back or child’s pose if the move is too intense.
Keep your eyes open
Do not eat for 3 hours prior to class.
Re-fuel with electrolytes.

Great advice! Thank you so much!!

Verdict…

I LOVED IT. I pretty much knew I would, but even the first class confirmed it. The studio near my house is offering new clients a discount:

Unlimited Yoga - 30 days for $29 (30 consecutive days)

It costs $15 to drop in for one class, so $29 for 30 days is a great introductory deal. This will give me sufficient time to really reap the benefits, possibly notice results and decide if it’s worth buying a package in the future.

After class, I downed another 32oz. bottle of water and a bottle of Coconut Water to refuel.

I like Zico, and it has less sugar than some other brands of Coconut Water. It is not cheap.

After a good 2 hours post-class I finally had a bit of an appetite. Un-pictured Banana Oatmeal with Chia, Granola and AB added.

Before I forget, head over to Change of Pace and check out Kristen’s Beanitos Giveaway!

Have you tried Bikram Yoga? What are your thoughts about it?!

Protein Pancakes: Attempt #2

2010-06-29T11:12:00.001-04:00

It all started with a 5.5 mile run, followed by 25 push ups (split into 3 sets) and a quick Straight to the Core Exercise TV workout.

A brisk 55* and super sunny, the run started out strong! A truly gorgeous Pure Michigan morning. I made it just over 3 miles before having to walk. I still made decent time with a few short walking intervals.

Splits:

1 Mile: 8:32

2 Mile: 8:47

3 Mile: 8:48

4 Mile: 9:20

5 Mile: 10:11

5.55 Mile: 5:20 (9:40 pace)

Total Time: 51:00 minutes, 5.55 miles

Obviously, you can see where some walking came into play. Overall, a good run, and even better breakfast…sort of!

Iced Coffee!

I made my first attempt at Protein Pancakes this morning. Fail. Not good. Completely burned on the outside, mushy in the middle. No picture necessary. Into the garbage.

Attempt #2 was slightly successful, except for the taste. I ate them regardless.

One BIG pancake!

Decent flip.

Final product.

With a side of fruit

Adapted from HEAB – guaranteed Heather’s pancakes are WAY better. I definitely need to tweak this recipe for some flavor, but it’s a do-able base recipe.

PROTEIN PANCAKES

(Makes 1 large pancake or 2 small)

Ingredients:

3 egg whites
1.5 TBS protein powder (soy – unflavored)
1/8 tsp baking powder
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp stevia
1 TBS rolled oats
1 TBS wheat germ

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Upon reaching batter consistency (with a few lumps) pour into a greased skillet over medium heat. Watch carefully as they do not take very long to cook, only 1 to 2 minutes on each side.

Top with Nut Butter, Greek Yogurt and Agave! I think the toppings disguised the ~~lack of~~ flavor of the pancake. Like I said, I still ate it!

I am determined to perfect this recipe!

On that note, have a great Tuesday! I’m going to run some errands and then play golf later this afternoon!

I have been playing golf since I was 6. When I was little, my grandpa was determined I would be a Lady Golf Professional and he was going to be my caddy. I may not be the best golfer, but I’m still out there trying! Do you play golf? What is your favorite summer sport?

A Timeline Of…

2010-06-28T19:54:00.001-04:00

Randomness. That about sums up my day! I had a 3 hour meeting in the middle of the day so before I knew it, 6:00pm had arrived!

6:00AM: Yoga – Lauri added another class at the gym, I just love her classes. Today she led an Ashtanga practice, as opposed to the ‘normal’ Vinyasa. It was not as intense as Vinyasa, but I still had a good sweat going. Check out my Yoga Challenge progress!

8:00AM: Yogurt, Oat, Nut Mess.

Strawberry Banana Chobani, Raw Oats, Mixed Nuts. Sweet & Salty.

11:30AM-2:30PM: Meeting

3:30PM: Chicken Bean Wrap (I guess that’s what I’ll call it!)

Refried Beans, 1/2 Chicken Breast, bell pepper, tomato (plus lettuce added later)

4:00PM: Skinny Cow Cone

7:10PM: Dinner

Morningstar Farms California Turk’y Burger (WW = 1 Point!!), raw veggies + Laughing Cow Wedge, cottage cheese

LOVE the new California Turk’y Burger – lots of flavor, protein and only 90 calories. Just what I needed after a large and late lunch.

7:50PM: I’m settling in for the night – watching The Bachelorette and catching up on gossip mags! I hope you had a fabulous Monday!

It’s finally going to cool off a bit tonight and over the next two days. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the heat, the hotter the better, but my AC bill was out of control last month! It will feel great to open the windows and breath some refreshing 72* air. What’s your favorite temp?

Sockeye Salmon Sunday

2010-06-27T19:42:00.001-04:00

Don’t you just love Sunday’s? Sleep in, drink coffee, no agenda!

I awoke craving iced coffee. Luckily I made a batch a few days ago.

It must have been very caffeinated because I almost went out running. Instead, I told myself I needed a day off after two days in a row of running, including the 10K race yesterday. So…I ate a healthy breakfast, instead, before YOGA.

Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Cottage Cheese + cinnamonTwo egg whites

I headed out to the gym for my favorite yoga class with Lauri! Before class, I ellipticaled for 25 minutes, stair-milled for 5 minutes, strength trained on two machines (back and shoulders) and then went into the studio. EVERYONE loves Lauri’s class, especially on a cloudy Sunday. I had to secure a spot!

Yoga was everything I hoped it would be…lots of shoulder and hip openers.

I was starving after class, so I went to Costco! Nothing beats samples at Costco at Noon on a Sunday!

Wild Sockeye Salmon – product of USA

Snack: Cuc, Broc, Snap Peas + Laughing Cow wedge

Half the filet of salmon – topped with Garlic Powder and Black Pepper

I found a recipe from Spark People for Baked Dijon Salmon.

Dijon Baked Salmon

Ingredients

-1 cup fat free ~~sour cream~~ plain Greek Yogurt
-3 tablespoons diced ~~scallions~~ onion
-2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (any mustard will do)
-2 teaspoons lemon juice
-1 teaspoon garlic powder
-1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-1 1/2 lbs salmon fillets

Directions

1) Mix ~~sour cream, scallion~~, Greek Yogurt, onion, mustard and lemon juice in mixing bowl
2) Preheat oven to 400 degrees
3) Lightly coat baking dish with cooking spray
4) Place salmon skin side down in prepared baking dish and sprinkle liberally or to taste with pepper and garlic powder
5) Coat fish with ~~sour cream~~ yogurt sauce
6) Bake salmon at 400 degrees until just done- about 20 minutes

Number of Servings: 4

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user BARBLAM1.

I typically don’t drink on Sunday’s…let alone by myself! A summery beer sounded good!

And…a Skinny Cow Fudge Cone. Just like a Drumstick with the chunk of fudge in the bottom of the cone!

Early to bed tonight, I have a busy day tomorrow starting with Yoga at 6:00am! What’s your favorite summer-time beer?!

The Hills Are Alive

2010-06-26T16:47:00.003-04:00

This morning, I ran the Solstice Run, located in beautiful Northville, Michigan.

Ready to go!

This is the shirt that we got for signing up. I like it. I don’t normally wear tech shirts, but probably will actually use this one because it’s more fitted than most…and it’s blue and yellow – GO MICHIGAN! Sorry State fans!

My parents are SO supportive of my new athletic passion. (I was a competitive figure skater from age 9-19!)

I love you guys, thanks for always coming out to cheer me on!

The race started on a horse race track. One lap around the track is 1/2 mile.

The race distances offered were 1 mile, 5K, 10K, 10 Mile. I ran the 10K (6.2 miles). The town of Northville has a few hills. That might be an understatement. Basically the first two miles were uphill. And then there were short hills about every 1 mile along the entire course. I don’t think I started too fast, I had a good pace, until mile 2.5. Then I felt like I hit a brick wall. A water station would have been great at this point. Maybe it’s just me, but I think races should have water stations every 1.5 miles…especially when there is 100% humidity (it was drizzling when we started…which felt great!).

I had some trouble breathing through about mile 4.5, then I got a second wind! My pace picked back up and I found a steady rhythm. And before I knew it, I was approaching the Finish Line.

DONE!

Nice face …although great mid-stride shot!

Stats:

Chip time: 55:52 (average pace per mile 9:01 min)
Place: 216 out of 479
11th female age 25-29 (out of 33)

I am happy with my performance today. The hills were tough, as was the humidity. My training is not where it needs to be at this point in the summer, especially if I’m contemplating running a Half Marathon in the fall

I seriously considered dropping last week’s race and/or today’s to a 5K. I’m glad I didn’t. I definitely know I CAN run 6 miles, it’s all mind over matter because, physically, it should be no problem.

Once I finally stopped DRIPPING with sweat, my parents and I walked to a little Coney Island for a quick breakfast. I was too busy thinking about food to take pictures. I had 2 eggs sunny-side up with 4 sausage links and 2 slices of whole wheat toast. You can imagine what that looked that…HEAVEN after a run!

Close enough (source)

I didn’t stretch properly after the run, and was actually re-energized after breakfast and a COLD shower, so I hit up the gym for a quick, hot yoga class. It was more of a Vinyasa Flow Yoga rather than lengthening, stretching and hip-opening, which I was really hoping for. But, it got the job done. I will definitely be attending my favorite yoga class tomorrow with Lauri – I can always count on some good hip and shoulder openers with her!

And finally, a much-needed pedicure…

Don’t mind my bunions. I love this purple, so fun and summery!!

I think I’m headed for a nap on the couch, it’s about that time! What are your weekend plans?

Pre-10K Grub

2010-06-26T06:51:00.001-04:00

Cottage Cheese + Applesauce + cinnamon (I swear it’s good!!)

1/2 Sandwich Thin + AB + Fruit Spread

Add in Iced Coffee – just a little

I don’t completely mind running in the rain, which is a good thing because the forecast isn’t looking too great. Wish me luck in the Solstice Run 10K…be back later!!!

Little Did I Know…

2010-06-24T13:40:00.001-04:00

…that yesterday’s Fitness Pilates class would leave me barely able to sit, or sneeze, today! WOW! You sure realize how much you use core muscles when sneezing, when your core muscles are screaming at you!!

I had all intentions of going out for a run this morning, but that did not happen. I managed to do a 20-minute Less Is More Yoga. It was a big decision which yoga workout to do. Look how many choices there on Exercise TV from On Demand.

I really enjoy the Exercise TV workouts, plus they continuously change and update the workouts weekly. And…they are FREE!

Even though it was only 20 minutes, it felt good to stretch my sore muscles. Better than nothing, right? Saturday’s 10K is going to be interesting. I haven’t run outside since the Father’s Day race on Sunday.

I have been thinking about refried beans lately. Why, you ask? No idea! I baked some chicken breasts this morning, so I cut up half of one, threw it in a bowl with bell pepper, tomato, onion, romaine, and pepper jack cheese.

Then I added Salsa, Greek yogurt and Vegetarian Refried Black Beans on top. Lovely lunch Taco Salad. Minus the tortilla chips.

Question: How do you care for sore muscles? Specifically, sore from strength training, lots of ab work and lunges!!