Archives for October 2011

Summit Trail

October 24, 2011 · by Ari · 1 Comment

Hi friends! This week is like the week of perfect scheduling when it comes to work outs. Kara and I have completely matching schedules conducive to stress free morning work outs! We left my house at 6:15 this morning and headed to Squaw Peak which they are I guess now calling Piestewa Peak? Weird. I dunno. Anyway, we went there for a morning hike! I haven’t done a ton of hiking, but I really enjoy it as a nice change to my normal work outs. We took the Summit Trail which is about 1.2 miles up and moderately steep. At the beginning it felt like cake, but very quickly turned into a challenge as I started huffing and puffing and felt my heart rate climbing.

Luckily, it was perfect weather and the trail was the perfect amount of challenging to push us and still be enjoyable! There were also some nice views along the way

It definitely got hardest towards the top!

It ended up taking us about 40 minutes to get up and we were glad to hang out up there for a little bit! “Yeah, I’m the badass that just conquered that mountain.”

“Hooray!! I climbed a mountain! Photos from above, please. There ain’t nothing cute about below angles.”

We made some friends at the top and asked them to take our picture together. I told them the rules, no double chins. They didn’t seem to judge me too much for my vanity.

“Whoot! Check us out. Climbing mountains.”

I wore my Garmin. I don’t know why. It still felt nice to keep track of the distance. I wish it had a hiking setting.

After our hike, I made us delicious pumpkin pie smoothies to re-fuel. Yummmm. Crumbled whole wheat graham cracker and cool whip on top!

I’m off to get ready for rehearsal. Have a good night everyone!

Date Night In

October 24, 2011 · by Ari · Leave a Comment

One of the main questions I get from people when I discuss my work schedule with them is “How does your husband feel about it?” or “How does it affect your marriage.” I usually smile and say it’s fine and he gets it and blah blah blah. The truth is, he does “get it” and honestly it is what it is, but it does affect our relationship, and lately we’ve been in a little bit of a rut because of it. I am left feeling spread pretty thin which makes me feel needy and he is left getting nothing from me because I don’t have a whole lot left to give, and it is not ideal. But the truth is, come December I will have more free time than I know what to do with and I will be back to being a much better wife and be able to refocus my energy and effort more onto the relationship. In the meantime, we just have to make this work. Luckily, I married the perfect man. Seriously, perfect, and although he may not always get things ~~in a timely manner~~ immediately, he always eventually understands what I need and then goes above and beyond to make me feel special.

Yesterday before I left for work we discussed how we were both feeling about things. Okay, that’s a lie. I talked in overly dramatic circles about how I wasn’t getting what I needed and I don’t feel important and blah blah blah. What can I say? Sometimes I’m a disaster. Anyway, it was ~~all~~ mostly legitimate feeling/concern and when I left, Steve asked if he could take me on a date. I said yes, but honestly was in no mood to get dressed out of my rehearsal clothes and be out in public. But he was trying so I went with it. While I was at rehearsal he was talking about reservation times and finding a place. I got home at about 5 and he banished me to the office while he got out my “surprise”. In case you didn’t know, surprises are the way to my heart. I don’t like to know they’re coming (my dad used to always TELL ME he had a surprise for me and it drove me crazy because I don’t like to not know things!), but when I walk in to a note or an iced coffee, I feel totally loved and special.

Finally I was allowed to leave the office and I came out to this

SURPRISE!!!!! If I would have been able to tell Steve exactly what I wanted, I would have asked to stay home and have dinner cooked for me. Good thing he is a genius. I think seeing him in my apron was maybe my favorite part. I’m sorry, but I think men are cute in aprons–does that make me a weirdo? Anyway, he had gone to my favorite store (Whole Foods) and stocked up on my favorite things!

Turns out, he had googled 2 of my very favorite foods (I don’t have an absolute favorite. I just can’t choose. It would change every day.)

Chilaen sea bass

and

Sweet potatoes

Have you ever had Chilaen sea bass?! It tastes like butter. Seriously. It’s pricey, but oh so worth it!

I got to play photographer while Steve cooked–it was a fun! But I realized that taking amazing pictures the way he does is way harder than it looks!

This amazing buttery brown sugar sauce was used to brush the sweet potatoes. I almost never use real butter so I kept sniffing all of the sauces and saying “Butter! Butter! Everything smells like butter! mmmm! Did you get this recipe from Paula Dean?!”

The good thing about staying in? Spending time with our ~~children~~ puppies! “Dad! What are you cooking? Can I have some? I want to surprise mom too with my amazing eating skills. I will share with her if you just give me a bite!”

“Look mom, I’m sitting! Now can I have some foods? Or at least have you carry me around like a prince? That would be nice too.”

“But excuse me mom and dad, when do I get my dinner? I don’t think you understand that the big bowl of dog food I just devoured was merely a snack. An amuse bouche, if you will…”

Once all the prep work was finished, it was time to take everything out to the grill! I love this part–I know nothing about grilling, so I get to stand there and watch in awe, and occasionally flip something.

I have a confession: When I watch Steve cook, I find it so hard not to give him notes/tips/direction! I HATE when people tell me how to cook, but I have such a hard time letting go of control and not being the one in charge. Guess that’s why I became a director haha. Anyway, it is much easier with the grill because I have no tips or intelligent input.

Prettttttyyy fire!

Of course the puppies were near by. “Dad dad dad dad dad!!! Did you drop anything for me? Look, I’m sitting. Would it help if I acted extra cute?”

At this point, I was practically drooling. I’m sure one classy date.

I am seriously so lucky to have the most amazing husband ever. Thank you babe for the PERFECT night and for always making me feel important and special! XOXO

What is your idea of a perfect date?

Skinnified Sunday: Pumpkin Raisin Pancakes

October 23, 2011 · by Ari · 5 Comments

Today has been an almost perfect Sunday. A perfect Sunday would of course involve a day off, which I don’t get until Thanksgiving. Tired of my whining yet? It will continue. I hate to admit it, but it’s only fair to warn you. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around it will have been over 2 months of straight work, so you’ll just have to bear with me and accept that although I love what I do, this Fall has been a challenge mentally.

Anyway, I woke up at 5:30 to run with Kara. Unfortunately, after I was already dressed, I checked my phone and noticed a text from her saying she didn’t feel so hot. What’s funny is I had hardly slept either and I laid in bed debating canceling, but I figured I was already dressed, I better get my run on. I thought about taking Winston, but I haven’t focused on speed since before the Komen, and I knew I needed to use today to work on it. Unfortunately, my ipod running playlist isn’t finished and my phone isn’t doing so well on my runs so it was just me and the silence of 5:45 am. It was super dark out and I was a little scared, but it was nice to just be by myself in the perevt 65 degree temperature.

I did jogging and speedy run intervals up to Starbucks where I stopped for some water and a chat with some of my fav baristas, then was back on my way to continue. The second half I may or may not have had to take a stop and breathe break or 4. Yes, I paused my garmin so my “speedy” time I don’t feel super impressed with, but it was nice to at least work on speed.

A little while after my run, my appetite came on full force. It always takes a good 30 minutes for me to be able to consider food after a work out. Yesterday at Chompy’s, Hermano ordered pumpkin pancakes that tasted like heaven. I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about them, so I woke Steve up to take me to Starbucks and the store. I’m an awesome wife. I got a delicious grande bold coffee with 2 pumps pumpkin spice, 2 pumps sf caramel and steamed soy with cinnamon sprinkled on top. I really miss hot coffee when it’s warm here. It’s still too hot, but if I REALLY want it, I will drink it and sweat. It’s really cute. I am the epitome of class.

Onto the most important part: The most amazing pancakes I have EVER made! Better than chocolate chip, better than any white flour crap. This is the real deal.

Pumpkin Pancakes

(theworldlink.com)

2 cups all purpose flour
3 tablespoons. packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups milk
3 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup cooking oil

My Swaps:

1/2 recipe (-temptation)
Whole wheat pastry flour for all purpose (+fiber, +protein)
Molasses and sf maple syrup for brown sugar (-sugar, -calories)
Unsweetened vanilla almond milk for reg (-fat, -calories)
Egg whites for whole eggs (-fat, -calories, -cholesterol)
More pumpkin (+yum)
~~cooking oil~~ who needs it?! Spray works just fine.
+ chia seeds (+fiber, +protein, +staying power)
+ protein powder (+protein-duh, +staying power)
+ raisins (okay, the more I add things, the less “skinnified” these sound…)
+ seasonings and extracts (+yum)

Skinnified Fluffy Pumpkin Raisin Pancakes

yielf 3-4 servings

1 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tbs molasses
1 tbs sf maple syrup
1/2 tbs baking powder
1 pinch salt
almost 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
3 egg whites, lightly beaten
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 tbs chia seeds
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
dash cloves
dash ginger
1 tsp vanilla extract
dash maple extract
1/4 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

Combine dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl, combine wet ingredients.
Gently fold wet ingredients into dry until barely combined with some small lumps–DO NOT OVER MIX!
Pour pancakes onto sprayed nonstick pan or skillet.
Top with raisins if desired.
Cook over medium low heat until bottom is set and small bubbles form on top.
Flip, and cook on remaining side for 2-3 minutes until golden.
Enjoy!

Topping ideas:

vanilla Greek yogurt
sf maple syrup
granola
fig butter
nut butter
butter butter

Whiccchhhaaaaa!!!! I am the pancake master!!! No pancake stands a chance!

Ok, ok, I admit it! I am still in my sweaty run clothes. You can judge me if you want. ~~Sometimes~~ I’m lazy. Steve just topped his with sf syrup.

I topped mine with nonfat vanilla Greek, sf syrup, extra chia seeds and granola per usual, but also added a thin layer of TJ’s fig butter which was an excellent choice!

Yummmmmmm

I’m telling you, I always love every recipe I post, and I almost always at least like every recipe I make, but these pancakes were a different kind of out of this world amazing love. I admit that sometimes whole wheat pancakes are a little ~~brick-lik~~e dense, but these are light and fluffy like clouds or pillows. They are the perfect amount of sweet and the right amount of pumpkin. I could eat them again and again and again and I plan to. Do yourself a favor, make these pancakes. You won’t regret it.

Thanksgiving Recipes

October 23, 2011 · by Ari · 5 Comments

It’s almost here, it’s almost here!!!!!! My very favorite time of year!!!!!

For me, the holiday season kicks off every year with my best friend Bethany’s birthday on October 30th. I plan for Bethy’s special day and then immediate switch gears into holiday craziness. I know most people enjoy the holidays, but I’m a little nuts about it. Shopping, cooking, spending time with family, finding the perfect gifts–it all just makes me so happy!!!!

Last year, Steve and I had just moved into our house and gotten Winston and we hosted Thanksgiving for the first time. In previous years we would do Thanksgiving lunch at his mom’s then dinner at my mom’s and we were dying to bring everyone together and take over the hosting duties. Our mom’s were both happy to let us take over. I went ALL out and did brunch and dinner and cooked everything without any healthiness in mind. I ended the day exhausted and just not feeling so great about myself. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was an AMAZING day and I loved the company, but this year I definitely plan on doing things differently.

I’ve come a long way in my eating and healthy to me no longer means strict calorie budgets and things that I pretend are good, but no one else wants to eat. I am finally in a place where I can enjoy my food and enjoy eating food that makes me feel good and fuels my body. So this Thanksgiving, I am making things I actually want to eat. Things that will taste good, that everyone will love, and that I will feel good about. I’m so excited to do a balanced Thanksgiving that is both healthy and even a little bit indulgent–you gotta have the best of both worlds!

That being said, it is time for menu planning! I would love recipe ideas and suggestions for dishes that will make this Thanksgiving extra special.

***Please share your favorite Fall/holiday/anytime recipes!!!***

Even if they aren’t necessarily healthy–I can modify 🙂 I would love to see the recipes that everyone else loves!

Here are some of the highlights from last year’s Thanksgiving Extravaganza!

Back then Clementine did not exist and Winston was so new to us that he was carried around and adored like a king. This is Steve’s sister Ashleigh with him.

“Hello and welcome to my Thanksgiving. We will be starting with chocolate chip pumpkin bread french toast!”

“And yes, I do plan on wearing my onesie pjs all day long. This is my party and I’ll look ridiculous if I want to!”

And copy cat Starbucks pumpkin scones

Winston loved all the attention he got. This is him and Hank (my step dad).

Mom, Hank, Charlie and Winnie Bear!

Everyone loves my puppy, but look I love him most!

I invited all my favorite peeps including several friends to stop by between family visits and celebrate. This is my fabulous friend John!

Me, John, Michelle and Hermano

I took care of almost all of the food that came from our house, but I left a very special and important job up to Steve

He was the master of the turkey!

“Oh yeah, master of the turkey, you’re so cool. Why isn’t it ready yet, huh?!?!?!”

I forgot how much food I made! There was a cheeseball

And fresh home baked bread!

Roasted garlic mushrooms

Finally, we all sat down to dinner

Before we were “Ziskin-Bailey” 😉

The best part! The wish bone! Make a wiiiissssshhhhh…..

Grrrrrrrr 🙁

I am competitive, and thus, a sore loser!

“It’s okay, I will drown my sorrows in the sugar coma that will be dessert.” Fresh out of the oven brownies a la mode.

And pumpkin cheesecake (this was actually a healthy recipe that I plan to recreate this and every year!)

I absolutely loved hosting my first Thanksgiving and I can’t wait to do it again, this time a little smarter and a little healthier! I am lucky to have lots of family that I love so much and I can’t wait (especially after this crazy Fall) to get to spend some quality time with the most important people in my life!

What are your Thanksgiving plans? Please don’t forget to send your fav recipes! Happy almost holiday season everyone!

Easy and Delicious

October 23, 2011 · by Ari · Leave a Comment

Last night I had big plans of all sorts of recipes I wanted to try for dinner, but by the time evening rolled around I was super exhausted. I decided to just put some things together and hope it worked out. After scanning the house, I picked a package of frozen butternut squash ravioli and a bag of kale and decided we were having ravioli and kale chips. I drizzled the kale with about 1 tbs of olive oil, sprayed some fakey no calorie cooking spray (yeah, I’m classy) added freshly ground salt and garlic pepper, and some sriracha and baked it at 350 for about 20 minutes.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about kale chips and they totally delivered! Yummmm. Salty/crunchy craving satisfied!

To dress the raviolis, after cooking and draining

I added about 1/4 cup pumpkin puree, 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 tbs goat cheese, and 1/2 tsp fig butter. I figured it could go a million different ways, but I love all of those things separately so I would probably love them together.

It was the perfect easy and delicious dinner. Oh my gosh, it was so so delicious. I would make it again and again and again! We ate our dinner on the couch watching the end of Project Runway and then starting to watch Bride’smaids. While we were watching, this happened

Winston seriously laid on top of Clementine like that for a good 10 minutes as if he had conquered her. He didn’t want to let her up, but after being content laying underneath him for a while, she got squirmy and wiggled her way out. I love these crazy puppies.

Hermano’s Piano Recital

October 22, 2011 · by Ari · 2 Comments

Today Mi Hermano performed in his ninth piano recital. Oh my gosh, he was AMAZING!! He played this ridiculously hard Beethoven piece and then two fabulous Coldplay pieces (Christmas Lights was my fav I think) and then together we performed Adele’s Turning Tables. I don’t know what my problem was, but I got so nervous! I just don’t sing that often anymore, and I hated everything about my performance, so no I will not be sharing that part. But I will share his amazingness, so you will get the good stuff 🙂

We got to his house a little early to practice and Steve got right to playing photographer. I was actually trying to give him the evil eye at this moment, but apparently my evil eye needs some work 😉

One of the very few pictures of myself that I actually really like. I’m actually looking forward to getting some free head shots out of him here soon! I also love this one.

Cindy (Hermano’s mom)

After the recital, Steve really wanted to get some good pics with my grandma. She is 88 years old which I feel like is a pretty amazing accomplishment–is it weird that I consider old age an accomplishment? Anyway, at the risk of sounding morbid, at 88 you never know what will happen tomorrow so we wanted to get some good photos in.

That’s my dad. He’s a little nutty, but I love him.

Here is the super challenging Beethoven piece he played. Steve is working on uploading the rest on his youtube channel

Opening Night: Aladdin!

October 22, 2011 · by Ari · Leave a Comment

There are few things more exciting to us theatre peeps than OPENING NIGHT! The night when all the weeks of hard work leading up to the show becomes worth it and you get to celebrate your success (or drink away your sorrows–depending on how it goes). Luckily, between the dream team of Jodie, Tasha, John Luke and I, and the cast of amazing talented kiddos we have, it was definitely a night to celebrate. An other fun thing about opening night? You get all dressed up and fancy and sometimes you get presents! I got lovely cards and gifts from Tasha and Jodie that totally made my night! Tasha even baked for the first time ever and her brownies were aaaaamazing.

When we arrived, Tasha had already reserved our usual rehearsal viewing spots in our viewing order, plus places for our guests. This is Tasha. She was my assistant choreographer and she is absolutely fantastic. I love her and I was SOOOO lucky to have her through this process!

I was lucky to have so many people in the audience for opening night! Steve, Mi Hermano, my dad, and Steve’s mom, grandma and sister. Steve got some pretty amazing photos during the show!

The band lead by the fabulous John Luke!

Arabian Nights

Jafar and Iago

Friend Like Me

Carpet Ride

Villains! You can’t tell, but Iago is pecking at Jafar’s staff. It is hilarious. One of my fav parts of the show!

A Whole New World

Awwwwwww!

All in all, the show went great. Especially the kids, they really stepped it up and rocked it out! I really love this cast!!

After the show, one of my favorite little ones gave me a sunflower out of the flower boquet her parents had given her–soooo sweet! I almost cried. After congratulating the kiddos, Steve, Jacob, Jodie and her fam, Tasha, John Luke and his partner Alex went out to a Mexi restaurant in old town Scottsdale that I still don’t know the name of haha. When we entered I literally squealed in excitement when I noticed the skinny margarita was on special! I LOVE margs, but refuse to get full sugar ones–not worth it! So the fact that they had a skinny one and it was on special?! Heck, yes!

The artistic dream team: Tasha (Assistant Choreographer), Me, John Luke (Musical Director), and Jodie (Director)

We had a super fun night. I especially enjoyed getting to meet Alex, and getting to hang out with some of my fav peeps! And lastly, of course we couldn’t leave without riding the burro…

Aladdin runs until next Sunday. Come out and see it–super funny and enjoyable 🙂

Everything Oatmeal Cookies

October 22, 2011 · by Ari · 2 Comments

Ok, here (finally) are the cookies I’ve been promising since my rest day turned into baking day!

Everything Oatmeal Cookies

yield a whole bunch, like 60+

2 large over ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup organic cane sugar
1/4 cup Splenda
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp coconut extract
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
2 cups Koala Crisp (or other puffed rice cereal)
1 cup grain sweetened chocolate chips
1/3 cup shredded coconut (I used sweetened–feel free to be healthier than me and use unsweetened)
1/2 cup unsweetened dried cherries

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 375

2) In a medium bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda.

3) In a large bowl, beat together banana, sugars, egg whites, and extracts.

4) Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and mix until combined.

5) Gently fold in cereal, chocolate chips, coconut and cherries.

6) Bake for 9-11 minutes until slightly golden and just barely set.

7) Let sit for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!!!

My 100th Post!!!

October 21, 2011 · by Ari · 1 Comment

HOORAY!!!! This is officially my 100th post since I moved on over to wordpress and my own domain. I started the Skinnified blog a long time ago, but it has only been the last 2 months or so that I began to take blogging seriously and told Steve “I want my blog to be something. I want to inspire people and I want to change people’s lives.” I have no idea if anyone other than me actually gets anything out of this thing, but I get a LOT out of it, so that’s something 🙂 Today I got up in the dark again for my long run. Kara met me at my house @ 6:15 and we set off. The first mile, I was really slow. I think I was nervous and trying to pace myself, but seriously I was like a snail, but we picked up on mile 2 and ended up finishing our 6 miles in 1:03.

When I decided to run the Susan G Komen 5K, I remember saying to Steve “By the end of the year, I want to be able to run an hour without stopping.” At this point 30 minutes still felt so hard. He said “It’s going to be hard, but I think you can do it.” Well, friends, today is October 21st and actually with my training schedule, it looks like by the new year I will be running for more like 2 hours. I didn’t just accomplish that goal, I stomped all over it and kicked it to the curb in place of a better one: 13.1. Sure the race is Jan 15, but that is basically the start of the new year and I plan to kick it off with a bang!

Our run ended at The Good Egg where I ordered whole wheat pancakes with oatmeal and blueberries cooked in and 2 scrambled egg whites. I could only finish the eggs and one of the pancakes so now I have a second pancake for later 🙂 We met Bethany and Steve for breakfast. I was feeling a little out of it at this point and desperately in need of iced coffee. After breakfast, I took Bethany to her mom’s because she leaves for her first cruise today! I’m so excited for her. She works so hard and deserves to have some FUN! Then I met Kara at Starbucks for the COFFEE. Most important part of my day, seriously. I started off with my usual sfc iced coffee, but then got a refill that was AMAZING! It’s not officially out yet, but this year sugar free peppermint has arrived!!! I made a skinnified version of a peppermint white mocha

Grande iced coffee

1 pump white mocha

1 pump sf vanilla

1 pump sf peppermint

soy milk

light ice

You’re welcome. All the rich deliciousness of my favorite seasonal treat with about 100 calories. Yes, please

I even got to write my own cup which made me feel super special. Kara and I hung out with Mona on her break and enjoyed out iced coffees, some sunshine, and the accomplishment of being finished with this week’s long run!

My joints are feeling it a little today, but we walked over to the gym for some stretching and foam rolling (I hate you foam roller) and I will spend lots of time icing this evening. I also plan on hitting up the ibuprofen bottle to hopefully knock out any pain that may be coming my way.

I feel pretty great about the way my training is going. I know there will be challenges and times I question why the f I would ever want to do this, but right now it is bringing me so much joy and every week I achieve something that once seemed impossible. Every week I affirm the fact that

I.Can.Do.Anything.

I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.

Okay, I promise the next post will include my new cookies and their recipe. But now I have to go to the tmobile store AGAIN because my stupid phone ate the new battery they gave me and now will not come back to life AGAIN. Annoyed.

In happier news, tonight is Opening Night!!!! So excited. Come see Aladdin!!!!

Rest Day

October 20, 2011 · by Ari · 1 Comment

Today I woke up and had no idea what to do with myself. I never take a rest day on a Thursday. No run. No spin. Derrrrrr….what do I doooo? I decided to try to get some use out of my free morning and started out by making some oatmeal. Steve was at work and I wanted pretty pictures, so I took out his fancy shnazzy camera to document 🙂

I always chuckle when I cook my oatmeal in the Paula Dean butter warmer. Irony. What would oatmeal be without nut butter on top?!

Are you ready for the best part? Okay, let me preface with the fact that I really do not drink a lot of soda. I used to live off of it–no water, only soda, then gave it up completely, then reintroduced it occasionally, drank too much again and now I am back to every once in a while. Well Michelle came home last night with one of my favorite things in life–diet cream soda! Yes, I drank one at breakfast, I have no shame!

Yummmm. Breakfast of champions.

Winston and Clementine also enjoyed their own breakfast of champions.

“Moooommmm, stop staring at me and let me eat my breakfast! All those clicks you’re making are really ruining my moment here”

“Also, I’m long and cute. Jealous?”

After breakfast, I decided that if my morning wasn’t going to revolve around my work out, then obviously it had to revolve around food. Confession: I LOVE grocery shopping. It can (and this morning DID) take me up to 2 hours. I’m a freak. We’ve acknowledged this. Let’s move on. I will go to multiple stores and browse and read labels and look for neat new things I’ve never seen before. I love actually having the time to not have to rush through it every once in a while. Today was TJ’s and Fry’s.

I also got a hot coffee (whaaaatttt? It’s still almost 100 degrees here, but I wanted it!) on the way home. It was almost free, but then it wasn’t. I prefer it when it is free ( 😉 )

“Look I cost money, therefore I am less cool. But I have steamed soy milk, therefore I am awesome.” Yes, my coffee speaks, doesn’t yours?

It appears I may have a ~~small~~ pumpkin and fig problem…

I spent the rest of my time before work baking some pretty amazing cookies, but you will have to wait until tomorrow for them because it is 10pm, I barely got home 30 minutes ago, I’m beat and have to be up early to run 6 miles tomorrow. Yikes. I’m scared. But excited. Stay tuned for a post tomorrow I’m super excited about! 🙂

PS: LOOOOOK!!! I can take pretty pictures too! I took all of these myself!

The Return of Fajita Wednesday!

October 19, 2011 · by Ari · Leave a Comment

It feels like forever since Steve and I had Fajita Wednesday! This afternoon when I noticed the meat thawing in the sink, I got so excited! As I was driving home from work I was so hungry I kind of wanted to start chewing on my limbs, but walked in the door to the smell of delicious fajitas!! One of the best things in life–walking into a house that smells like food. In case you didn’t know, I am the luckiest girl on Earth and my hubby is always game to make (or at least go retrieve) me dinner when I work late. I love him. Tonight’s fajitas were extra special because they included TJ’s Carne Asada! I very rarely eat red meat. For a long time I would not under any circumstances, but now I just choose lean meats as a healthier alternative unless I REALLY want that red meat and let me tell you, this carne asada is WELL WORTH those extra calories! I’ve tried the pollo asada and it’s good, don’t get me wrong, but it isn’t the same.

As Steve finished up the cooking, I added some romaine, cilantro, fat free sour cream (yes, I DO eat sour cream and not just plain yogurt AND I use the fake full of additives fat free sour cream and I like it), and salsa to my bowl, topped it with the cooked veggies and carne and then added some red fat cheddar cheese on top. So amazingly delicious.

He cooks and takes amazing photography, and sometimes does my laundry and he can fix anything and is the BEST home DIYer. He’s PERFECT! Oh and he’s BUFF! Added bonus 😉

Off to watch some Top Chef and ice my achilles!

So Much Coffee

October 19, 2011 · by Ari · 3 Comments

Every time I wake up early, Winston stays in bed and stares at me with the saddest longing eyes like he’s saying “Mom, please don’t go. Come back to bed and snuggle with me.” Yes, I legitimately cuddle with my dog in bed. You are free to judge me. It won’t stop me. I got up at 5:45 to meet Kara for an early morning run around the lake. I love this route. Each lap is almost exactly a mile, slight hills, adventurous travels through the apt complex, nice scenery and of course, the ducks!

This time we must have encountered them 3 or 4 different times and each time they angrily quacked at us like they were pissed that we were interrupting their important waddle time. Those ducks crack me up. We finished 3 miles with a 9:55 average pace. Whoot.

Mile 1: 10:45

Mile 2: 9:50

Mile 3: 9:13

Talk about negative splits! My first mile is always soooo slow. It’s like it takes my body the entire mile to get warmed up and ready to actually run. I need to work on that my next week day run. Tomorrow is a rest day because Friday we are running 6 miles!! Every long run makes me equally nervous and excited. New challenges, new accomplishments! After our run, we headed to Starbucks for water and iced coffee. I got my usual: Grande SF caramel iced coffee with soy, light ice (light ice=MORE room for coffee!) I also ordered Steve a coffee to take back to him, but then I got home and this happened

Second time in a week I’ve tried to surprise him with coffee and he had the EXACT same idea. Ironically there were no days in between where either of us got each other coffee. Steve laughed and said “We need to coordinate or something.” I don’t know, looks like we’re pretty in sync to me! Two iced coffees hanging out in my fridge, soon to become one 🙂

After our I showered and got ready, I met the other Kara (hair Kara) at Forever 21 for some shopping. The new-ish one in AZ Mills is HUGE and I’d been wanting to go. I got a pair of shorts that are about 10 years too young for me, a super cute emerald green shirt that I didn’t even try on because I loved the color so much annnnnnd, the most exciting part, an ALADDIN SWEATSHIRT!!!!! I saw it and new I had to have it since we open on Friday (get your tickets, peeps–these kiddos are amazing!) I will take pictures of the new clothes (including my super awesome pumpkin shirt I bought at Target for $10 to be festive) once I have Steve around to take actually good pictures.

After shopping I had to make a super annoying trip to the tmobile store because my battery full on died–like unable to be brought back to life died. Soon my over heating phone will kill this battery as well and then MAYBE they will give me a new phone that actually works. By the time I got home I was soooo hungry and wanting the fastest lunch possible, so I took out this frozen pizza I bought at TJs a while ago.

I jazzed it up with some crumbled red fat feta cheese and sriracha on top, but I was so hungry I didn’t want to wait for the oven to preheat. My oven seriously takes years. It’s annoying. So I set it to ~~burn~~ broil and cut the cooking time almost in half. Well the burn button did it’s thing and I ended up with a pizza that was cold in the middle and burnt on the outside. I’m an awesome cook, can’t you tell?

Well, like I said, I was ready to gnaw my left arm off hungry, so I put it in the microwave for 40 seconds and then ate it anyway. It was not great my friends, but not awful. It did the trick. I would buy it again for an easy meal, but even cooked correctly, I don’t think it would have been anything too fantastic. Alright, off to get some life errands done that I’ve been neglecting, then off to work. Have a good day everyone!

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