Sunday Funday

Happy Sunday!

How has it been so long since i have last posted? I feel like there have been so many changes in my life recently that I don't even know where to begin! I suppose first things first:

Cory and I have purchased a home! The West Point park has never looked so great as it does from our big picture window.

Kinda homey, right? Well we have been enjoying it. And doing a few updates! But I will have to get into that at another time.

We've also introduced a new addition to the family coming March 2013!

25 weeks along in this pic! Can you tell? :) I would have to say the hardest part of this pregnancy right now is been the maternity clothes. Ick. I really need someone to start designing some inexpensive yet stylish maternity clothes before my next child comes along.

But, the hardest part of the pregnancy overall has been the lack of running! My poor Asics are getting so bored of walking and the elliptical... I actually feel bad for them. I found out from my Dr. that I probably would have been fine continuing to run, but since this is my first time and I didn't want to risk anything, I made a personal decision to take my workouts down a notch and stay active by walking instead. It has been a really tough decision and I am praying that I stay sane for the next three and a half months until the due date...

We also have a new addition to the kitchen:

 Isn't it beautiful? It can make anything (hello chai tea lattes) and even my doubting husband has fallen in love with it as he makes a vanilla-caramel cup of java for himself every morning. Unfortunately, it's half-calf for me right now, but I'm sure it will be worth it in a couple of months. :)

Anyway, on to my Sunday. I haven't had a Sunday this relaxing and inspirational in a long time. This morning was spent with Cory's family at church (which is always the best way to start a Sunday) and this afternoon was spent addressing Christmas cards and catching up on this season's movies (and a little bit of Sex and the City, too). I realize this probably doesn't sound too exciting to a lot of people, so here are a few pictures to give you an idea:

Well, there you have it. Another weekend ends as Monday peeks it's ugly head around the corner. Christmas is also coming on fast so I'm not sure I'll get another post before then, but I do promise that the next one will not need so many updates! :)

The Road Ahead...

Ok, so let's get it out there... it has been far too long since my last post. It's embarrassing how long it's been! So to ease myself back into the blogging world, this post is mostly for me. To get out my thoughts and get a few things off my chest.

First, I've realized that my commitment capabilities are minimal at best. (As you can see in how well I keep up this blog...) I get restless, and I need things to change, so I'm constantly switching from one item to the next. I really do want to keep up with this blog! But after a few days of writing the same thing over and over again, I just get bored and move on to something else.

Second, I've discovered that I am very passionate about several different things. For instance, I am so passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. I feel that it's important for EVERYONE to get up and get moving everyday! And an incredible amount of processed foods have been introduced over time so it's vital for people to focus on the natural foods that God made for us to eat.

I'm also in love with being crafty. :) I'm actually thinking about doing a scapbooking business on the side - I can make a few bucks while doing something I really enjoy! And, since my last post, I am pleased to announce that Cory and I have found the perfect little house to buy. We close in less than a week, so I can't wait to get in there and start decorating! DIY all the way!

Last, I am going to go all out and finally admit that I feel a calling to entrepreneurship. I would absolutely die to be my own boss; to set my own hours and make money from something I'm passionate about. I still have no idea how to go about this, but maybe someday...

And as I'm typing this, I have just had a revelation: Maybe I'm bored with my blog because it's focused on living healthy, but I have interest in all of these different areas! Perhaps the best blog for me would be something that allows me to illustrate all aspects of my life instead of just one.  Maybe a focus on living in small town Nebraska? Or is this just me wanting to change things up again? :) Oh how my restless mind works...

Love me some trail mix!

It is a gorgeous evening at home. The windows are open letting in a fresh spring breeze and my loving hubby has cleaned up the kitchen after a delicious dinner of marinated pork loin and side salads. Perfect atmosphere for blogging of course! :) I realized today that I haven't posted in a while, so now I have a ton of updates to share...

First things first - My trail mix recipe. This is really tough so look out. Throw these four ingredients into a bowl:

Almonds
Dried cranberries
Sunflower seeds
Chocolate chips

Stir and enjoy! :) I didn't really measure any of the ingredients, but I think that's the best part of a trail mix! Throw in whatever you are in the mood for in whatever increments!

I took a small sandwich bag of this to work to munch on, and Cory ate the rest in about 3 days. Guess I will have to make it again soon!










In other news, I'd like to introduce a new word into my workout vocabulary:

Zumba! I am loving it! Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, my wonderful workout buddy, Jen, teaches one of these classes at 5:15 in the morning. I'm only a week and a half in, but the more I learn the routines, the more I can feel the burn (and sweat)!

It's really helped me to mix up my workouts. I like to think that a routine fits me, but truth be told, a few weeks into a "plan" and I'm feeling anxious and restless. Then anxious that I'm feeling restless. 

Also, the half-marathon is coming up in about 5 weeks. Yikes! I'm trying to get my long runs in on the weekends, but I will have to get more into that on another post before I get in over my head. :) Anyway, hope everyone is taking advantage of this beautiful weather and getting off the couch to do something active!

Goodnight, all!
Kris

Lean Lasagna

Ooey, gooey, cheesy pasta is my favorite. Pair it with some deliciously buttery garlic bread and I am set. I can't be the only one out there that loves Italian food, right? So there's gotta be some healthy options, right? Right! I found this recipe at SELF.com, one of my favorite websites! I get this magazine every month and there are endless ideas for living a healthy lifestyle.

Anyway, this lasagna is made with layers of ground turkey meat, whole grain noodles, and lots of nutrient-rich spinach. (Plus cheese - can't skip the cheese!) You can find the complete recipe here.

First cook up 9 whole wheat lasagna noodles (Side note: turns out West Point grocery stores do not carry whole wheat noodles. I need to look into this!) and lay 3 on the bottom of a 9x13 glass baking dish.

Now add a layer of fat-free ricotta cheese mixed with chopped spinach.

Next add a layer of the turkey and tomato sauce mixture, topped with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Continue with two more layers just like this. Then pop the whole thing in the oven at 375 for 20-25 minutes until the cheese gets bubbly. 

 Let cool for 5 minutes, cut, and enjoy! 

Forgive me - These pictures really are not the best. But just to get an idea, this whole piece is only 310 calories! And much healthier than regular lasagna!

Chocolate Lovers: Unite!

Do you ever wonder what the world would be like without chocolate? I can only imagine what women would get for Valentine's Day or how many popcorn balls would be given out at Halloween in its absence.

While I'm working on revamping my diet to include fresh options in lieu of processed ones, I still have a heart for baking that just can not be crushed! So this past weekend I set out to make a decadent four layer chocolate masterpiece. :)

I got the inspiration from The Pioneer Woman - Ree Drummond. She is an amazing cook! I always record her show Saturday mornings on The Food Network, but she began with her own blog. Anyway, Sunday I decided to give her Big Chocolate Birthday Cake recipe a whirl.

First, you mix the dry ingredients together and set aside.

Next, melt the cocoa with the butter (and this recipe calls for a lot of butter) in a saucepan over medium heat. 

Now throw the cocoa mixture into the dry ingredients and give it a stir. The best thing about this recipe is that no mixer is required. However, I should have either mixed a little longer or used a whisk as I did find a few clumps of flour in the baked cake. Anyway, go ahead and grease 4 cake pans, powder with cocoa, and separate the mix into each one. 

Bake, cool, and stack one layer on top of the other with a light layer of chocolate mousse frosting. (I have this recipe with the full cake recipe, too.) 

And here is the finished product! 

I also froze a thin layer of melted semi-sweet chocolate and then broke it into pieces to put on top of the cake. 

Yummy! Looks like I'll have to work on my sharing skills if I'm going to continue to bake! 

Enjoy! :)

Grocery run Sunday

Happy Sunday! I'll make this short and sweet as I'm in a time crunch, but this next week, I've planned to start nixing some of the unhealthy things in my diet and replace them with healthy options. For instance, sometime this week I'm planning to make a lasagna recipe with ground turkey and spinach instead of loaded cheese and ground beef.

Anyway, off to the grocery store I went today. I have to say, the local stores really do have wonderful looking produce. The selection, however, is less than great. Having said that, here's some of the produce I came home with:

Spinach, romaine lettuce, asparagus, bananas, and grapefruits are just a few things from the store. Can't wait to see how great they taste this week!

I heart breakfast!

Ok, so I realize that I'm not starting my healthy eating plan until Monday, but earlier this week I tried a healthy breakfast shake. At the risk of sounding like a pre-teen, junior high schoolgirl, O.M.G. this shake was delicious! The main ingredient is strawberry and I'm definitely a strawberry girl. If they're not part of the recipe, chances are, I'm not eating it.

Anyway, the first step is to grind up the rolled oats:

And don't worry about overdoing it! I kind of wish I would have ground mine up a little more. Next, add frozen strawberries, a banana, and milk. Any milk will do. The recipe called for soy milk, but I only had skim on hand.

Now set your blender to smoothie and watch it turn into breakfast!

Enjoy! :)

You can find the whole recipe under the Recipe tab.

Anyway, it's time for bed! Oh, but one quick note: The sunrise this morning was just too gorgeous to ignore, so I took a few quick shots. The picture at the top of my blog is one of them! Here's another:

Ok all for now! here's hoping for another beautiful sunrise tomorrow! :)

Healthy eating

Hi all! Happy Wednesday! Is anyone else feeling as restless as I am? I can't tell if it's just the time of year, or if it's because everything in my life is so complacent right now, but in any case, I think it's time for a change.

For a little background, about a year ago I stepped on the scale and clocked in at the highest weight ever. I decided it was time to do something about it. So, my wonderful and faithful friend, Amanda, and I decided we would try to lose about two pounds a month. Twelve months later, I have been able to drop 12 pounds and successfully keep it off. I have now plateaued, but I loved the feeling of losing weight. I felt like I was in control and could actually DO something good for myself!

With this in mind, and with my current restless state, I have decided it's officially time to change up my diet and eat more healthfully! (About time, right?) I was able to lose the 12 pounds last year by cutting down my portions and increasing my workouts. I was never actually brave enough to change what I ate. It's time to take living a healthy lifestyle to a whole new level.

So why not start now?! I am planning to take the next few days of the week to look up some great recipes including healthy but hearty dinners (that my hubby will actually eat), and quick but nutrient packed lunches. I am open to anything!

Who knows where I will be in another twelve months?? :)

Quote of the Day

Pinterest quote of the day: "Act as if it is impossible to fail." Love it! Sometimes I get so caught up wondering if I'm doing everything right with my workouts and what I eat, that I just feel like it's impossible to stay on track. But this quote reminds me to stay positive. Everyday I just need to do my best and the rest will work out on its own.

In other news, I spent the weekend in Columbus with my cousin who is now hitched! I had so much fun on her wedding weekend. We frosted cupcakes...

Caught up with old friends...

And ate dessert at the head table!

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE weddings? I always manage to have fun. :)

In other news, I am getting super tired of running on the "dread"mill. High winds kept me inside on Sunday for what was supposed to be my long run of the week. It turned into a three mile jog. Out of pure, unadulterated boredom. Bleh. I realize the Lord will not give you more than you can bare, but I'm getting really close! Please bring on spring soon!

Well, that's all for now. Tomorrow is already Tuesday! Much love!

Kris

Blog Updates!

Attention: Work in Progress! I got to thinking today that's it's been quite a while since my last post - a month to be exact - and I've decided it's time to do some major updating. So, everything that's on here may be changed soon, but for tonight, this is what I've come up with. My new goal is to spend at least 4 hours a week on my blog. I really love to do it! But time is a major constraint. And getting this new laptop I'm on doesn't hurt anything either. :) Enjoy! 

LOVE running

This week I have fallen in love with running all over again. I cranked out 6 miles on Sunday, and felt like 4 wasn't enough today! It's really inspired me to keep pushing and see how far and fast I can go. My goal is to be able to run all 13 miles at a 9 minute/mile pace in May. This would put me under 2 hours. A goal I have always strived for, but never been able to attain!

I'm going to make this short and sweet tonight,and my next post will include the 9 week Half-Marathon plan I downloaded, but to close tonight, I found a few pictures online to keep everyone inspired.  :)

 

 

 

This last one makes me want to run outside! Hope winter ends soon... Meanwhile, back on the treadmill tomorrow morning for another run!

Kris

Resolutions

Happy New Year, everyone! The good Lord has blessed us with another year and it has urged me to set yet another New Year's resolution. To be honest, I can't say I'm all that great at reaching/keeping my goal each year. In fact, I have actually heard more people say this year that they aren't setting any sort of resolution. It makes me wonder: As a society, are we too afraid of failure, or are we just tired of trying? Something to chew on... Anyway, regardless of my past track record and the constant negativity, I'm ready to try a new resolution for 2012!

What is this grand plan you may ask? Well I've decided to become a more serious runner. This seems basic, possibly even easy. How hard can being a more "serious" runner be? The truth is, I couldn't decide if I wanted to be more dedicated, try new things, or just plain faster. So, I chose a goal that would mean all of these things.

I read an article in Self magazine today (my FAVORITE mag) called "The 5 Tricks to Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions." It listed 5 basic steps to reaching your goal.

#1: Set reasonable goals. Check.

#2: Create a schedule. This area needs some work. I am hot pursuit of a half marathon plan for my Lincoln race May 6th!

#3: Track your progress. I have to say, I don't really think I've ever done this for running. Looks like my planner will need to open up a few spots for running notes.

#4: Buddy up! I love this step! I have a wonderful morning workout buddy, Jenn. And there is a group of amazing ladies in the town where I work that band together for running. I would like to be a stronger member of their group, the Northeast Nebraska Road Runners!

#5: Don't give up! KEY step right there. Porbably the most important for any New Year's resolution.

Well, with all of that said, it's time for me to get to work on my goal! Hitting the treadmill at 5:30 AM! Small steps, everyone. Small steps... :)