Fajita Night

 Nobody said, it'd be easy they just promised it'd be Worth It.

It's over half way through the week! Woohoo! (Channeling Vicki from RHOC). I have been swamped at work and exhausted from the gym this week. I haven't even turned on the tv to watch BRAVO which is very rare for this time of night if you know me. How is everyone coming along with their March goals? I think I may have found the perfect sushi making class for us to take! It is combined with a pottery painting class so you learn how to roll and paint your own sushi dish afterward.

 I decided to start this morning with a positive affirmation. I wrote my post mega late last night, feeling stressed and that is NOT the energy I want to be passing out.

I can reach my goals and succeed.

I am strong and healthy.

I am intelligent and driven.

Feeling stressed? Here was my dad's advice to me last night: set goals for yourself but don't give them a certain date to be accomplished. Measure your goals by your level of achievements. If you set time limits on the things you want to accomplish in life you will end up stressing yourself out even more.

I used to always set deadlines for my goals. I wanted to get married by 25 (which I no longer hold my relationship to), have a kid by 30, buy a house sometime later this year (more of Chris' goal), make more money... the list goes on and on. But, he is right. Maybe the more you think about the end date, the more you will miss out on life and the experiences it has to offer. You can't always speed to the finish line. I mean, the tortoise did win the race.

Now onto food and fitness. It's Wednesday so that can only mean one thing... Cardio Kickboxing! Maybe my teacher will let me film turbo-time for you guys, or maybe one night I will be super bored and will make a vlog showing you exactly what we do in that one minute!  I think I am the only one in class who gets excited for the finale with screamers, lounges, squats and abs. Dinner was a big ball of fab-u-losity.

Cara's Fajitas:

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
roughly 1/4 cup olive/veg oil (i just drizzled the bottom of my dish)
1/2 jalapeno diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
flank steak (our choice), chicken or shrimp
cilantro chopped

Directions:

Combine all ingredients (sans protein) into plastic bag or baking dish. Add protein. Marinate up to 8 hours, I only marinated for 30 minutes. Cook at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Meat will be cooked medium and nice and tender!

marinating

perfection!

This was the perfect meal... Yes, I am tooting my own horn. {toot toot} Chris and I RARELY eat red meat, but he came home from the grocery store with flank steak the other night. The first two days I just stared at it like it was an alien invading my refrigerator. But then it came to me! FAJITAS! I had all the ingredients in my kitchen and it is ready in a snap!

Toppings Included:

Black Beans

Corn

Red Peppers

Cilantro

Onions

Tomatoes

Chobani 0% Plain Greek Yogurt for dipping (Sour Cream taste-a-like)

Cilantro Rice

I cooked the peppers and onions in olive oil, a tablespoon of fajita seasoning (i keep it in stock) and a dash of cumin - which I am running out of since it has been my go-to spice!

I love wedding receptions if you couldn't tell by now.

Source, Source, Source

Holy Old Bay Batman! You probably would only see that at a Maryland wedding... you all know my obsession with OB. Don't have it in your area? I'll ship some to you!

If you, your dog, your boyfriend, your friends have Facebook please take 2 minutes out to vote for me and Chris to win a free photography session. We are so neck and neck with another couple and it makes me nervous! Here's what to do:

Step One: Like Misa Me Photography on Facebook

Step Two: Click on the 2011 Lovebirds Giveaway photo album

Step Three: Like Chris and Cara (photo one) to help us win!

So easy and so simple. If you vote for me, I'll vote for you in the Woman's Health Mag's Blogger Contest!

xoxo,

Cara