21 Day Fix - Day 1

So I've kinda been slacking lately...oopsie :-/ After 2 weeks at the beach and a week in Seattle, I really needed a jump start to get back in the swing of things and put some good habits back in place before school starts (on Aug 31 ohmygoooooooooooosh make it stop).

One of my BFFs did the 21 day fix and got awesome results. I did some research on it and as I was about to make the purchase - their infomercial came on tv and I was HOOKED! My dad always said I was a marketer's dream...

So when the package came in the mail I was like ummmm those containers are really small. My mom saw them and sent me a text that said "oh my those 21 day containers are so wee small." Yup. This is going to be a fun 21 days! Real talk, they may be small but you get enough of them so its good - I had unused containers today (which may be the result of me snoozing my alarm for 3.5 hours...yes...really. It's a real issue I have - any suggestions?).

Last night I decided it would be a good idea to watch the first workout...just to make sure there were no surprises (and to see how annoying her voice was - surprisingly, its not bad. I like to think of it as a soothing Miley Cyrus voice). She tells you that if you want to modify the moves, look at Kat because she does them. Um, no thanks Autumn  - these don't look that bad, I'll be just fine! 

Haaaaaaaaa...

Fast forward to this morning when I actually start the workout. I'm like, this isn't bad at all, I'm doing just fine, and then she says "okay, we're almost done with the warm up." I'm sure my jaw dropped. I do okay for a few minutes  because Autumn keeps saying I can do anything for 60 seconds and then I'm like "NO AUTUMN I CAN'T DO THAT! Let me see what my girl Kat has going on...she can show me the way." So, obviously I survive. I wasn't sure how I was going to make it up the stairs to shower, but that was a problem that could wait a few minutes (yes, I did end up showering).

And as if that wasn't bad enough, I went momentarily crazy and asked my friend if she wanted to elliptical today. So, I did that today, too! Yikesssss! But I guess that's why it's good to tell people - they hold you accountable and encourage you! So thanks to my fitness friends :)

Tomorrow's workout is upper body fix, so I better quit typing and save my strength :-/

Summer Goals

So, I just came back from 2 blissful weeks at the beach :) It was 2 weeks of sitting on the beach with books and sunscreen! Took a few walks on the beach, but for the most part not very active. Oopsie! Buzzfeed gave me some great ideas in this article though, so I thought I'd pass them along. I usually do veggies and dip in cups at parties, but never thought to do it in mason jars for the week - I'm definitely adding those to my berry parfaits in the fridge!

I'm also setting a few other goals for the summer:
1. Set and stick to a sleep schedule. I'm thinking 11-7 for July, 10-6 for beginning of August, and 10-5 for end of August so I can get into a morning workout routine (real talk I accidentally just typed mourning...HA!) and be used to it for work
2. Sweat every day. Simple! 

I think that's it. It's doable, right? :) 

Happy summer!!!

Summer Fruit Salad

Oh my word where have I been? Whatever, this salad is so delish you'll forgive and forget my absence!!

I'm forgiven already, aren't I??

Okay so I was wandering around Wegmans, which is oh so dangerous...I usually make my list in the app and it tells me exactly where to go and I (usually) don't allow myself to get anything that's not on the list. And I usually go on Sunday. But I skipped yesterday and was just going to wing it this week, but I decided I really wanted a salad with fruit in it. So here we are! I found this gem of a dressing: 

Then I picked up my favorite berry trio - straw, blue, and rasp. They went on the bottom of the pile, atop of the dressing of course. Next I packed in the spring mix, then some goat cheese and topped it all off with some candied pecans! Simple right?

I candied the pecans myself, but you can buy them already done if ya like. I just liked controlling what went in them. Mmmmmmmm :)

Enjoyyyy!

Asian Salmon Salad

I cheated...this is probably the easiest salad in a jar ever! It was so easy that I made tomorrow's dinner because I felt like I was slacking :-/

Alright so I started with this amazing dressing (well it smells amazing, so I hope it tastes amazing):

Then here comes the part where I cheated...I used chopped salad mix! I didn't use the dressing that came with it because it had literally 15 ingredients, so that went in the trash. But I just put about half a bag of salad in each jar, topped it with super yummy salmon I made (that I swore I've posted before, but apparently not, so that will come later), and then topped with the wonton noodles and almonds that came in the kit! So yummy!

Cleaned up Comfort Food

So here is the recipe I use for meatloaf. And I say the recipe I use instead of my recipe because it is in no way, shape, or form my recipe. My now sister-in-law brought over a meatloaf last year (possibly the year before) and we were pretty darn impressed! We asked her what her recipe was and she let us in on her secret - it was the first recipe that popped up when she Googled easy meatloaf recipe. So, I cleaned it up as best as I could and made it tonight. Mmmmmm

Meatloaf:
1.5 pounds organic ground beef (or turkey if you like)
1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1 cup organic milk
1 organic egg
1 chopped onion

Glaze:
2 T organic brown sugar
2 T organic mustard
1/3 c. organic ketchup

Mix together all the meatloaf ingredients - I use my hands. You can be a baby if you want and use a spoon or something silly. Then put it in a greased meatloaf pan. Mix together the ingredients for the glaze (I do use a fork for this part) and then spread evenly on top of meatloaf. Bake at 350 for an hour. Sooooooo good! 

When I have my act together I usually serve it with mashed cauliflower, but today I was feeling super lazy and bought microwave mashed potatoes - I like Simply Potatoes, I find they are the cleanest of the microwave variety. And my veggie of choice is green beans. Those I just spray with a little oil, minced garlic, and pepper and throw in the oven about 25ish minutes before the meatloaf is done.

Literally...

I cleaned up today...literally! For a few reasons: 

1. My room was pretty atrocious. Not, like dirty, but super messy. I have a really nice pottery barn dresser and for the past few weeks (okay 2 months...3 tops), I've been storing my clean clothes on the floor in front of it...

2. I still had my flannel duvet cover and sheets on my bed. With a high of 80 tomorrow...I definitely do not need to be sleeping in flannel. 

3. I read this Buzzfeed article and thought, man I want to accomplish all the things so I need to make my bed, too. But, due to the aforementioned piles of clean clothes on my floor, there was only a path to get in my bed...not get all the way around it to make it. 

4. When I have clutter around, I'm not as likely to workout. But fear not, I cleaned up and laid out work clothes AND workout clothes for the week! Yayyyy! 

The only problem is that took all day and no lunches were packed for the week...looks like it will be sandwiches for the win!

I also really like nail polish...have I mentioned this?

Pasta Salad with Tuna!

Oh my gosh where have I been?? 

Ireland...that's where! I went to Ireland over spring break with my mom and sister and it was so much fun! I obviously had to kiss the Blarney stone so I could continue the gift of gab to keep up with you good people! You're welcome! I also got to see Michael Flatley in his new show Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games. It was amazing. It made my life! (Just in case you're judging, please know that I was a competitive Irish dancer growing up. If you still feel the need to judge, go ahead. Juuuuuuust as long as you have your all your facts). 

And then after I got back, I was busy planning a surprise 60th birthday party for my cute mom! 

Cake is clean...right?

So, now to this week's recipe! It was inspired by the food I made for my mom's party. I was actually planning to use the leftovers from the party but as it turns out, there weren't any and I had to make more. But that's okay! Here we go:

I used my favorite Weggies organic pasta. Call my crazy, but I think the shapes make it taste better! So I cooked the pasta and then rinsed it with cold water. Then I added tuna, 2 chopped bell peppers, olives, feta cheese, and a few squirts of Caesar dressing (I would say 2-3 TBSP if you made me give a measurement). Just mix it all up and you're ready to go!

I've been eating it at lunch this week at school (obviously...duh Kathryn) and my kiddos keep saying how good it looks!