My Girls' Night Recipes

Last Tuesday I hosted a girls night at my house with my friends, Amanda and Victoria.
We are obsessed with PLL. They've been watching it way before me, but they got me interested in it.
When I decided to watch it I watched all the past episodes to catch up the started back with them when this past season started.
I have also read books 1-9. I'm currently on 10. Right now there are 11 total. The books are really good! The show is awesome too! I really like suspenseful movies, shows, and books. I like stuff that keeps me guessing and surprised!! This series is great for that. I have yet to lose my interest in it. I tend to lose interest easily in tv shows.
So the show has been on this random break. And it came back on for a Halloween episode. Then it will start back up in January.
For our girls' night I cooked Tone It up Savory Fall Stew and Karena's Kale salad. I posted the recipes below (both recipes from the tone it up website) and some random pics! I was really impressed by both of these recipes. They were awesome! I ate the soup every day for the rest of last week. And I still ended up throwing some away it was supper easy to make too.

Tone It Up Savory Fall Stew
1 Cup Dry Lentils
3/4 Cup Dry Quinoa
1 cup Water
2 Quarts Vegetable Broth
2 cups Mushrooms, sliced
1 cup Carrots, sliced
1 yellow Onion, diced
1 Tbs. Black Pepper
1 Tbs. Basil
2 cloves Garlic
2 tsp. Thyme

Mix ingredients together in crock pot and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

Karena's Kale Salad- I cut this recipe in half

• 5-6 cups kale, washed and cut with kitchen scissors into thin strips.
• 1/2 cup dried unsweetened cranberries.
• 1/2 cup pine nuts.(I use almonds)
• 1/2 cup diced red onions.
• 1/2 cup cherry red tomatoes
• 1/3 cup feta cheese.  We suggest low-fat or non-fat.
• juice of one lemon
• 2 fresh diced garlic cloves
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• I also added some hot banana pepper rings

Mix kale, cranberries, tomatoes, nuts, onions in a glass bowl.  In a separate dish, mix lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic to make a dressing.  Pour dressing over kale and toss to coat evenly.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, overnight 6 hours or more is best!   Before serving, toss in feta cheese.

Hopefully everyone had a great Monday!  Let me know if you try these recipes.  I promise you won't be disappointed!

XO-Heather

Race for the Cure recap

Guys I have been so busy at work lately. The last thing I feel like doing is getting on the computer again after work.  I've been trying to write this post since Monday, but I'm finally getting to it!!

My company sponsored the Susan Komen Race for the Cure this year. We put together a team of 48 employes, their friends, and family. And we got everyone team t-shirts.

The race was this past Saturday in City Park in New Orleans. We got there around 8:15, and the race was set to start at 9:30. I knew it would be crowded because last year there were 17,000 participants. I think I found some info online that said there were 12,000 participants this year. It was insane!!! We parked a good mile or so away. When we arrived it took 30 minutes to find other people from our team. I never actually got everyone together because it was just so crowded.

They started calling people to line up around 9:20. We got in like close to what we thought was the start line. It was really just too many people in one spot. I never even heard a gun go off. We walked very slowly for a while before we got to an open area to even start running. And at that point I started my watch. I knew I wouldn't be able to trust what the clock said at the end. The first .5+ mile was spent weaving in and out of really slow walkers and dodging people on the grass, the road, the railroad tracks... Once we finally got out of City Park and into the road it was fine. I ran with my friends most of the time. On the last 1.5 we split up. Once I looked down and realized I only had a mile left I started sprinting a little faster. According the my watch at the end I went 3.14 miles in 33:43. I was extremely happy with that time! Especially considering it was with a group of 12,000 other people, most of them walking! The clock said 45 minutes when I got to the end. I guess that means we walked like 12 minutes before even getting started.

With an event like this there are so many people who do it to support the cause, not competitively. So I knew it wouldn't be a good indication of how I'm doing. I had a goal to finish in less than 35 minutes and I did it! I hadn't done a race in a while. So this was my first official race that I ran the entire thing.

It was a great event. I loved seeing the survivors in their shirts! It was really inspiring! I did wish they had organized it a little better though. Some of our employees said they didn't even get to start until well after the first person finished! Here's a few pics from the day.

 

Afterwards a big group of us went to the Rum House on Magazine Street! It was awesome!  Then we went to the Bulldog (a beer bar) to watch the rest of the LSU game.  I found this sign, and I loved it!  

 "To Live Without Beer is to Not Live At All."  

Word.

X0-Heather

OOTD & a recipe

I haven't been feeling too good since yesterday afternoon. I had a 3 mile run scheduled with a friend. And I thought really hard about canceling. But I went anyway, and I felt better afterwards.

For my meal 5 on day 1 of the 5dsd yesterday I made a random concoction of kale and chickpeas.

1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
Minced garlic
A few handfuls of kale
2 tbsp Olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
.5c veggie stock

Heat up a pan with olive oil
Add minced garlic (however much you like)
Pour in chickpeas and heat them up for a minute
Throw in kale, balsamic vinegar, & stock
Let simmer until kale is wilted
* this would w great topped with feta too!!

This morning I did not want to wake up to work out. But I got up and did the surfer girl routine from the TIU beach babe DVD. My M1 was a typical protein pancake.

Here's an outfit for today too!

 Top: Loft

Blazer: LC for Kohls

Skinnies: Kohls

Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Headband: Goody from Target

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

XO-Heather

My first 5 mile run

Saturday morning I woke up around 7, laid on the couch, and drank a couple cups off coffee.  Around 7:30 I decided I go on a 4 mile run.  I ate a think thin protein bar.  Then laid around for a little bit to let it settle.  (I usually do not eat when I run before work b/c its so early.  I just have water).  Then changed my clothes, stretched, and set out around 8:20.  It was extremely foggy out so the sun was hidden.  It was nice and breezy.  I normally don't run with music b/c I think its extremely peaceful when I run in the dark in the mornings with no noise.  But I brought my phone and put it on the Pandora Alternative Endurance station. 

My street is exactly .5 mile to the end from my house.  So I ran there and back twice.  I felt good.  The first 1-2 miles when I run is always really hard.  Its so funny that I even say that b/c I normally only run 3!  But the beginning is tough for me.  When I got back to my house after the 2 miles I turned around and ran around the neighborhood block, 1.5 times is a mile.  I still felt pretty good.  I wasn't bored yet.  I did have some stomach cramps.  And I am blaming it on the 2 cups of coffee.  But I had tons of energy.  My legs felt great.  Eventually I passed the 3 mile mark, then the 4.  At that point I thought about a post I had read from Mama Laughlin last week.  And I asked myself, how do you feel?  How do your legs feel?  Are you hurting?  Are you tired?  Why not go 5?  I've never really thought of running that way before.  I kept telling myself... since you feel good... Just make it to the end of this song and then go back in.  But then I kept going.  I finally looked down at my watch when I was coming to the end of the block.  I had just ran 5.3 miles without stopping.  And I felt amazing!  I decided to go inside b/c my stomach was still cramping up a little, and I didn't want to overdo it.  I have the Komen 5k this Saturday, and I didn't want my knee to start bothering me.  
I ran inside and showed my husband my watch.  Panting... "Look what I just did! I just ran 5.3 freaking miles! I ran the whole thing!"  I think he was also a little stunned...

I did a few things different this time that may or may not have helped.  I drank coffee before, I ate, and I ran with music.  All of these things probably worked in my favor.  I always have to remember to stretch afterwards.  Normally I just want to lay down for a while.  But I did about 10 minutes of stretching/yoga.  I was so hot it took a while for my appetite to come back.  I shouldn't have waited so long to eat, but the thought of food made me want to throw up.  Around 11 it hit me how damn hungry I was.  I wanted carbs!  Hell, I just burned 525 calories!  So husband went to Quizno's for me to pick up a tuna on wheat.  I inhaled it! 

I took a shower and laid around for a couple of hours.  Then around 3 we left to head to the LSU game.  It was my first LSU game.  We went to a local bar/restaurant near campus, Walk-ons.  It was actually voted America's #1 sports bar!  I love this place because the atmosphere is great and the food is delicious!  The game wasn't until 7 so we had a lot of time to kill.  I didn't want to be stuck eating nachos or something random for dinner in the stadium.  So we decided to just eat there.  I honestly don't know that I've ever been so hungry.  My appetite was so spiked!  After drinking a few beers I ordered a fried shrimp po-boy with french fries.  I never order stuff like this.  But I was so hungry.  I ate every single morsel of food on my plate.  I haven't eaten fried food in several months, much less that much food.  But oh well!  It was a special occassion...

The LSU game was ok.  I'm not really a sports/football person.  I do love going to Saints games though.  I think they are way more fun! 

Yesterday I was pretty sore.  After running, walking a lot at the game, going up and down stairs, etc... My hips were hurting.  I didn't do anything yesterday.  I ended up going to the grocery store around 6 last night.  But that was the extent of my day. 

I picked up food to do the 5 day slim down again.  Not really because I want to lose more weight. I just noticed the Tone It Up Girls, Karena & Katrina, posted they were doing it on Twitter.  So several of the other girls on the TIU plan said they were too.  So I figured why not?! 

Have a great Monday everyone!

XO-Heather

  

My Running Journey & Future Plans

I feel like these days 5k's & races are so popular.  I'm not sure if its because I read a lot of healthy living and fitness blogs or because I see people document so much on facebook and instagram. But I think its great!  

I always said I wanted to be a runner.  I wanted the chiseled legs of a runner.  See, I've never once considered myself or thought of myself as big.  But my thighs... I think they're big.  I've wanted to shrink them for so long!  I wanted to feel comfortable in short shorts and bathing suits.  But I never stuck to anything long enough (fitness-wise) to see results.  I have a very close friend, Heidi, who I meet up with usually at least once a week to walk/run around the college campus we went to.  I can remember telling ourselves ok, we're going to run to that stop sign and then walk.  And it would only be a few feet but it felt like forever.  We always wanted to run, but never really pushed ourselves very far.  But then her mother, who lost her sister to breast cancer last year, decided she wanted to run the Komen Race in Lafayette, LA in honor of her sister.  So she walked out the door every day and pushed herself a little bit further and started running.  She then signed Heidi up for the race too, and they completed it together in honor of Heidi's nanny!

Heidi told me how amazing the race was and how great she felt afterwards.  So then she signed me up for a race that the company she worked for was sponsoring in March of this year.  I was so freaking scared to try to run this 3 mile race.  I didn't sleep the night before. I considered not even going.  But I did.  And I want to say I ran the first like .25 of the 5k then walked/run the rest.  Its so silly but when I got to the end it was such an awesome feeling knowing I accomplished it, even if I didn't run the whole thing.  At that moment I made myself a promise that I would run a full 5k at some point.

after my first 5k

So I told some of my other friends about how awesome it felt at the end and suggested we do one together.  So we all signed up for the Run Forest Run in NOLA in April.  I worked so hard getting up at 5 am to train for this race.  I wanted to run the whole thing so bad.  But I hurt my knee right before the race and had to stop running for a couple of weeks.  So needless to say I didn't run much of that one. 

the girls & Forest

me and my husband right behind me in the grey

So then I signed up for 1 in Baton Rouge and it was miserable and hilly and hot.  I barely ran at all. 

And after each race I remember thinking.... You could've done better.  Why did you stop to walk so soon?  So I've done 3 5k races so far, and I have yet to run one all the way. 
But it was about 3 months ago that I decided I wanted to get serious about running.  So I started setting my alarm for 5 am and running before work.  It worked out so much better for me that way because it is freaking hot in Louisiana!  So even though the heat and humidity were still really bad early in the morning it was nothing compared to the 90+degrees after work.  So every other morning I would run around my neighborhood aiming for 2-3 miles depending on how much time I had.  I remember the first time I got to 2 full miles without stopping.  I had a huge smile on my face in the dark alone at 5:30 am.  It was the best feeling EVER!  So I just kept pushing myself.  And then not that long ago- maybe a month ago- I pushed myself to run the full 3.1 miles without stopping.  Then a couple of Saturdays ago I decided to go 4 miles without stopping.  And I did it!  Once again, I had this big goofy smile on my face while I was dripping in sweat.
I figured out that I loved that feeling of accomplishing something.  I've never really pushed myself physically before.  I've always been a pretty healthy eater, but I hated exercise.  I find myself wanting to run because I want to see if I can do better.  Its like a mini-competition with myself because I can always improve.  I have been focusing on adding mileage and not getting faster.  I'm pretty slow.  I run an average of 11 minutes/mile.  But I'm ok with that.  I can remember doing the C25K and panting, barely breathing, while trying to run a minute or 2... And now I can freaking run for 45 minutes!
So on Monday I signed up for the New Orleans Rock n Roll Half Marathon.  I'm scared shitless.  I wanted to die after my 4 mile run, and I will need to be able to do that times 3 plus some... But thats ok.  I'm gonna do this shit.  And I don't care if I have to walk most of it, or if I am the last freaking person.  Dammit, I will run that half marathon!

So I have roughly  19 weeks, I think.... But I'm starting my training next week.  I have a really weak knee that gives me problems a lot.  So I want to plan in case of an injury or something.  Below is the link to the training program I am going to use.  I am just going to start from the very beginning in hopes of improving my time just a little. 
Self Magazine Race Training

Any advice anyone can recommend for a first-timer would be greatly appreciated!  Oh, and I might need some words of encouragement along the way too...  There's so much info out there about training and log-runs and gels and sports beans and sodium... I don't even know where to begin.  But I've got to start somewhere, right?!

XO-Heather


 

Yesterday's Haul

Yesterday I went to Ulta and Target on my lunch break. I wanted to look for an oxblood color nail polish and berry lipstick. I've been hearing about this oxblood trend lately. And I love dark nails!! I've also been looking for some longer shirts and tanks to wear with my beloved Lululemon Wunder Unders.  I have these in several colors!  

I completely forgot to snap my own pictures of the stuff though before putting it all up last night.

I picked up this Revlon super lustrous lipstick in #485- raspberry freeze. I wore it today and I love it! I was actually hoping it would have a little less shine and look more matte. But I'm pleased with the color. I love the formula of these lipsticks. They're really creamy and not drying at all.

I also picked up the Revlon Color Stay nail polish in Vixen.  I haven't painted my nails with it yet.  But I did find some swatches.

source

 

This color just looks gorgeous!  And I love this line of polishes.  I have a few other colors, and they last pretty long.

I also just picked up another package of the Simple make-up remover wipes.  I love that brand!  I used my $5 off $10 coupon, and I think I paid $11 OOP.  

I also found a couple of tanks at Target.  I don't think they'll be quite long enough for me to feel comfortable with tights.  But oh well.  

buy here

here

The 2nd one isn't the exact one I bought.  Mine doesn't have the glitter, and its more of a berry color rather than purple.  They're really soft and very comfy!  They were $7 each.  They have a ton of colors.  I like these to wear alone in the summer and under cardis/ jackets in the fall.

buy here

Then I picked up the mint green lacy one.  I thought it would be cute to wear around the house or casually.  It was on clearance for $3. 

So its not too exciting, but I found some good deals!  

Have you been shopping lately?

XO-Heather

Friday Favorites

   

Here are a few of my favorite things this week:

 

Favorite Nail Polish:

Orly Rage Polish

 I love this shimmery rose gold color!  

 

Favorite Purchase:

source

 

 

I bought some new running shoes!  I went to a running store where they watch you walk and match different shoes to your foot type.  So I ended up with the Mizuno Wave Inspire 8.  This is my 2nd pair of Mizunos. 

Favorite Workout:

Tone It Up Love Your Booty Shorts routine

I did this Thursday morning.  I was drenched in sweat.  At one point I thought I would fall over because my legs were so tired.  It was a great workout, and I burned 226 calories in 30 minutes.  Which is good!  High intensity interval training (HIIT)  workouts are great to do in the mornings.  They burn a lot of calories in a short amount of time and really boost your metabolism for the day. 

Favorite Food:

I have been obsessed with roasting vegetables lately.  I have made roasted vegetables almost every night as a side for 2 weeks.  Its the only way I have ever been able to get the husband the eat veggies at home. 
Heat the oven to 450
I cut up a combo of  brussel sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, and red onions.  I throw them in a very large Tupperware bowl.  Then on top I put some olive oil, a heaping spoonful of minced garlic, S&P, and rosemary.  I put the lid on the bowl and shake them up.  To me this just creates less mess than stirring them and trying to get everything to distribute evenly.  Then I spray the pan with cooking spray and pour them on.  I bake them for 12 minutes.  Sometimes the sprouts have to go a little longer.  But I love eating roasted veggies! 

What's your favorite things this week?  I hope everyone has a great weekend!

XO-Heather

What I Ate Wednesday

I'm linking up with Peas and Crayons for What I Ate Wednesday!  

For my morning Booty Call ( a TIU term referring to a morning workout) I did about 20 minutes of toning.  I did the Blogilates Total Body Toning routine.  

For my M1 I had a smoothie made in my Nutribullet.  It was a handful of spinach, 1/2 banana, handful of pear and apple, vanilla protein powder, and Zico coconut water.  I use the Sun Warrior vanilla brown rice protein powder.  I buy it on Amazon.  This protein powder is honestly disgusting mixed with just water.  Its really good mixed in stuff.  I like to use it in my protein pancakes and smoothies.   

 

 

I love making these smoothies when I'm in a hurry b/c it takes no time at all, and I can drink them on the way to work.  Or I put a top on it and drink it later in the day. 

I was on the road a little for work the first part of the morning. So for my M2 I had a blueberry muffin Larabar.  I absolutely love those things!  They have really grown on me!

My M3 was a salad that consisted of tempeh sauteed in siracha garlic sauce, organic girl super greens salad mix, banana peppers, cucumbers, egg whites, and Annie's tuscan italian dressing. 

Usually when I only have a little bit of these salad mixed left I'll just throw stuff together in that container and take it to work for lunch. 

M4 will be some Cedar's garlic hummus with cucumber and maybe some plain avocado.  I am so obsessed with this stuff. I drive 20 miles to Whole Foods just for this hummus.  It is the best hummus I've ever had! 

After work I'm meeting up with a friend to run 2 miles then grab some dinner to go and hang out at her house.  We're going to a local italian restaurant.  We've already decided that we're going to share a vegetarian pizza.  I know this definitely isn't TIU approved.  But hey- that's ok. I still want to participate in life and splurge every now and then, especially if it means I get to hang out with a friend!  I knew I had this planned so I didn't have any other really dense meals or grains today. 

I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!

How often do you have splurge meals?  Do you plan around your splurges?

XO-Heather

5DSD results are in

Guys... I am proud of myself for completing the 5DSD the right way and sticking to it the whole week.  For me, the biggest accomplishment had to be two-a-days for 5 days in a row!  That's a big deal for someone who has a really hard time with workout motivation.  Once I get going I'm good... But starting off sucks... And a lot of time I just don't do it.  I know this will be a real challenge since as of today I no longer have a gym membership.  Its going to take some real determination to work out at home. 

I have to say- it wasn't bad.  It was pretty easy for me.  I tried to 7DSD in the original Tone It Up plan.  And it was really hard for me.  I was starving every single day.  And I think I ended up cutting it to 5 days b/c I had plans that weekend.  I might have lost a pound that week. I can't remember.  I just remember I got really bored with the food and very hungry. 

Also, the two-a-days weren't bad either.  I am an early-morning person anyway. So I alternated either a run or the HIIT the beach routine every day.  And both of those were done within 30 minutes.  Then in the afternoon I would either run or do a 30 minute toning routine.  So I didn't feel like I spent tons of time working out.  I just got up about 40 minutes earlier than usual and then spent 30 minutes in the afternoons. I still had plenty of time to do what I wanted. 

Saturday morning when I woke up it was really rainy out so I didn't go for a run. I really wanted to get in a longer run.  But I also kept telling myself that I should just let my body rest for a day.  Then it felt sort of weird.  I feel like that 5 days helped to set a habit for me.  I eventually ended up just doing some yoga poses and stretching because I felt like I needed to do something.  The first thing I wanted was grains!  I had not had any grains all week.  So I opted for some oatmeal! 

So overall, I would HIGHLY recommend everyone trying this if you're a few pounds away from your goal weight, just want to jumpstart your weightloss, or want to reset your way of eating. 

I weighed and measured myself that Sunday before starting.  I hope I measured correctly.  Here's my results:

Starting Weight: 132.4
Ending Weight: 128.2
Total Loss: 4.2 lbs!

Starting Measurements:
Calf: 14"
Thigh: 20.5"
Hips: 35.5"
Waist: 25"
Arms: 10.5"

Ending Measurements:
Calf: 13.75"
Thigh: 20"
Hips: 35"
Waist: 24"
Arms: 10"

Total inches lost (counting both sides): 4"

I was in extreme shock! I feel like that's a lot!  Hopefully I measured correctly. I definitely feel like my pants are looser!  Its really weird b/c one of my thighs is like .5" bigger than the other... starting and ending. Its strange. Anyone else like that?

Since today is the start of a new month I want to set a goal for myself for the month of October.  My goal is simply to get moving for 30 minutes/day 6 days a week.  I know I can do it because of the 5DSD!  Now I just have to remind myself of that!  What are your October goals?

Is anyone else doing the 5DSD this week?

XO-Heather