It’s not tomorrow

9 Mar

How many times have you said to yourself, “I’ll start eating healthy tomorrow” or “I’ll start exercising tomorrow” or “I’ll plan that get-together with friends tomorrow“. We all do it. We go through life living for tomorrow.

I thought a lot about this today. I think I’m the queen of this actually. Even on days like today where I’m dealing with a little stomach bug I’m thinking, “Why didn’t I do that yesterday? Well, there’s always tomorrow.” It’s never ending. I can’t remember where I’ve ever thought about doing something and then actually did it that day, in the present moment. Obviously spontaneity is not my forte.

So, this has me thinking. Maybe it’s time to stop planning and time to start living.

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Saturday Morning Pancakes

3 Mar

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A Friday night out with friends. A few drinks. A lot of laughs. Good times. Good sleep. A lazy Saturday morning. Pancakes. It’s a great cycle, go with it. You work hard and deserve it.

Did anyone celebrate National Pancake day this past Tuesday? I sure did. I don’t really need an excuse to eat pancakes, but it’s nice to have one sometimes. Most of the time, the fact that it is a Saturday or Sunday morning is enough of a reason to whip up a batch of fluffy, delicious pancakes. Eaten in bed is optional, but preferred.
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Fluffy Saturday Morning Pancakes
makes about 5 pancakes

Ingredients:
1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup whole wheat flour (if you don’t like the taste of baked goods with solely whole wheat flour you can sub half all-purpose)
1 Tbsp organic sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1-2 tsp cinnamon (Depending on how much cinnamon you like. I like a lot)
pinch of salt
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp vanilla
mix-ins (you can add anything you wish, such as blueberries, strawberries, apples, bananas, chocolate chips, nuts, seed, shredded cheese, etc)

Directions:
1. Spray griddle or pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
2. Combine milk and vinegar and set aside to curdle for a few minutes.
3. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt).
4. Once milk has curdles slightly, add applesauce, olive oil and vanilla and whisk.
5. Add wet ingredients to dry and combine just until all dry ingredients are moistened. Batter should still be lumpy, don’t over mix. Fold in mix-ins.
6. Pour or spoon batter onto hot griddle, wait for bubbles to begin forming on pancake, flip and cook other side. Cooks for about 2-3 minutes per side. Continue with remaining batter.
7. Top with syrup, honey, agave, nut butter, powdered sugar, or whatever you prefer on your pancakes!

Pancake stack topped with a mix of honey and PB2.
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That’s how you start a Saturday. This song doesn’t hurt either.

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1 Mar

Happy March! Spring is now only three weeks away!

There is something about the change of seasons that renews me. This past one threw me for a loop though. What was that? Winter? Fall? Spring? I guess I can’t complain because it was the mildest winter I have every experienced; however, the inconsistency sent my moods on a roller coaster ride. Spring will be welcomed. Sunshine will be welcomed. Not looking like I’m auditioning to be a member of the Cullen family in Twilight will be welcomed.

Speaking of looking out of the ordinary (who knows what ordinary actually is), get ready, Columbus. This weekend will be filled with a lot of this…

and this..

Yep, get your spandex ready and do some push ups. The Arnold Sports Festival is in town.

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Leap Day!

29 Feb

An extra day?! 68F?! I’ll take it!

Seriously, though. Take advantage of the extra day you’ve been given this year. Go to the park, take a walk, or just take a moment to breathe the fresh, spring air. Sorry if you are living somewhere the weather isn’t in your favor today. Take advantage of the day anyway.

I have been talking a lot about not taking things for granted and for being thankful for what you have. Every day, be the best you that you are capable of being. And be happy doing it.

Happiness is one of the most sought after things in life. Happiness. You look around for some sign, some person, some item to signify that you have found it. That you have finally attained happiness. What most people don’t understand, and something I often have trouble understanding, is that happiness is a choice. We all have the power to choose to be happy or not. I will never say that it is always an easy choice, but a choice nonetheless.

It’s all perception. What you perceive to be true about your life or current situation is exactly how you will see it.

Let me put it into perspective a little more, if I may. The other day on NPR they did a story on a man who has narcolepsy with cataplexy. Narcolepsy is where you suddenly fall asleep uncontrollably. It can happen at any moment. Only this man’s narcolepsy was also paired with a type of paralysis. He would pass out and not be able to move. This would happen many times throughout the day and was triggered by strong emotion – happiness being the main one. Happiness brought this man to a comatose-like state. So, naturally, his life has changed. He turns down social engagements, he can’t always enjoy time with his family, and it has taken a toll on his marriage (although his wife stands by him and seems extremely caring and supportive). Here we are, searching for happiness day in and day out, and this man has to try to avoid the emotion altogether. It just doesn’t seem right.

Perception can be a tricky thing. This is a lesson I continue to learn.

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Peanut butter and PB2

26 Feb


I have been experimenting with PB2 recently. PB2 is a powdered peanut butter that is created by roasting the peanuts then pressing them to remove the fat and oil. So, that being said, it’s a way to enjoy peanut butter while consuming much less calories and fat. Two tablespoons of PB2 contains only 45 calories and 1 gram of fat. The protein content also drops, however, to 4 grams per serving.

Here are my two cents, take them for what they are. PB2 is kind of weird. It does not taste like regular peanut butter (and if you know me, you know that I have tasted many a peanut butter). First off, it’s a powder. So you have to mix a little water with it (1 tablespoon to 2 tablespoons of PB2) in order to reconstitute it. Second, off course it doesn’t taste right! They have removed the fat! Nuts are made of fat and oils, that’s what gives them their flavor. Keep in mind though, the fat found in nuts is not bad fat. Nuts contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Eating nuts is a good way to get your Omega-3s, which can help lower cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides and inflammation of the blood vessels. In other words, Omega-3s keep your heart healthy. Not to mention, healthy fats also help provide satiation to a meal and can also aid in weight loss. So, not all fat is created equal and we are far past the days of thinking we must consume low-fat and fat free everything.

In my opinion, I think I’ll keep eating regular peanut butter. You’ll be more satisfied by eating the real stuff versus trying to fake it (however, PB2 is actually made with real peanuts, so I do like that it’s not actually “fake”). Now, that being said, I have found ways to really enjoy the powdered stuff. I should also mention that PB2 comes in a chocolate form as well. This is the one I have been enjoying most recently.
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For instance, PB2 is really good when added to smoothies or shakes. This is probably my favorite way I have found to use it. I really like adding peanut butter to my smoothies, but it definitely ups the calories in a smoothie pretty quickly. So, to get that nice peanut taste, PB2 does the trick quite nicely. We’ve been enjoying peanut butter/chocolate shakes as an evening snack quite a bit since discovering this. Recipe for shake includes vanilla protein powder (chocolate would be great, but I didn’t have any on hand), a frozen banana, unsweetened cocoa powder, chocolate PB2, almond milk, sweetener to taste, and ice. Voila! A chocolate “milkshake”!

I have also added the powdered peanut butter to oatmeal, oat bakes, and granola bars. What I have found is that I like the taste it gives when mixed into things. When it comes to eating peanut butter toast or crackers, I will always choose real peanut butter.

Have you tried PB2? What are your thoughts?

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Be thankful

23 Feb


That is my wish for you. To be thankful.

Too often we easily get caught up in the insignificant, little things. We all do it from time to time. It’s in our nature to continuously want for more in life. Our house isn’t big enough, our car isn’t nice enough, our shoes and clothing isn’t up to date with what others are wearing, etc, etc. The list goes on. Stop for a second though and think about it. Think about what you have…and be thankful.

It is not a bad thing to strive to be better if it means you are becoming a better person. However, if it is for material reasons, reasons that look good on paper, then maybe give it a second thought. What’s wrong with your house or your car? Does it not provide a home for you and your family? Does your car not get you to where you need to go?

It’s not our fault. We have grown up in a society that teaches us to want more, that bigger is better, and that money buys us nice things and makes us happy. We fantasize about the lives of the rich and famous and feel we are failing if we do not have one of these so-called “indicators” that we are doing well in life.

Money does not buy happiness. Happiness is solely found within yourself. You decide if you want to be happy. If you constantly romanticize the lives of others, you’ll always want more. You’ll never find happiness.

Take a look at what you have in your life. Consider your home, your family, your friends, your health, the clothes you are wearing, your pets, everything. Be thankful.

There are people all around the world right now who are romanticizing your life.

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The end of the dry spell

20 Feb

Friday night.

Catching up with a close friend.

A whole bottle of wine to myself.

It happened.

The dry era has ended. RIP non-drinking days 1/1/12 – 2/17/12

And..

Saturday morning I remembered why I gave up drinking for a while.

A good friend coming to town, whom you see twice per year, is a perfect excuse to get the wine back out. With so much catching up to do, there’s no better way than sharing some good wine, good food, and good company. Come the next morning, I definitely could have done without the wine. All in good fun though, right?

We woke up early and sweated out the damage from the night before in a, much needed, hot yoga session. It was nauseating and refreshing all at the same time, but felt so much better afterwards.

We’ll see if this rekindles my weekly drinking escapades or not. But, let’s be honest, sometimes you just need a night of hashing things out with a friend. These days they are sometimes hard to come by, but the beauty of a true friend is one with whom you can grow separately without growing apart. Someone you can go without seeing or talking to for months (or years) and then pick up right where your friendship left off when you reunite.

A good friend and a good bottle of wine is much cheaper than therapy.

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