Healthy Comfort Food

woohoo! it's friday and the work day is over! fridays in advertising usually mean half days - but we haven't seen any so far (hint hint).

this weekend is supposed to have gorgeous weather too - in the low 80s! perfect running weather which is good because i need to catch up on some miles!

i brought my running shoes with me to the beach intending to wake up and run every morning... staying with 8 guys i thought one of them would definitely love to get in a morning workout. nope. i went solo. only one day... of three mornings.

i could definitely get used to running next to the bay! those rum runners held me back from waking up early!

luckily a month ago i found a park one street down from my house (yes, i know i am blind) which has now become my home away from home. i love running in the summertime on trails where you can smell the honeysuckle! i definitely am not a long distance runner, but i try to do at least 3-4 miles a session!

i woke up this morning, took a walk outside and found this lil guy hanging out on my cilantro plant!

how crazy is that? luckily my car was only a couple feet away and i always have a camera in my purse!

a lot of you asked where i got the dresses for dinner and wine in the woods... Forever 21! i hope i can shop there for another 10 years without it looking too young because they have a bajillion different dresses in the summer and they are all under 20 bucks!

it's good to stock up on a few plain summer dresses because you can always layer accessories with them. i like to add color with a fun bib necklace or chandelier earrings (my fav)!

Thanks to Cait at Beyond Bananas I was craving the ultimate comfort food for dinner.... Sloppy Joes. I can't remember the last time I ate that!

How good does that look? Run an extra 1/2 mile and pick up some potato rolls because they are only 50 more calories than your sandwich thins and we all know they taste amazing with comfort food like this!

Make the sloppy joes with turkey and add lots of fresh veggies like jalapeno, onions, grated carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes.

Healthy Turkey Sloppy Joes
from food.com

1 lb lean ground turkey (i always use ground turkey breast, it is the leanest)
2/3 cup onion
1/2 cup green pepper
2 jalapeno peppers
1 cup no-salt-added ketchup
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon mustard powder
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions
1 Remove seeds from jalapeno peppers and dice.
2 Dice onion and green pepper.
3 Sauté onion, jalapenos and green pepper in EVO then set aside.
4 Cook ground turkey crumbling into little pieces.
5 Drain and return to pan.
6 Over med-high heat add all of the ingredients into the pan.
7 Stir mixture for 3-5 minute.
8 Lower heat to low and simmer for 5-10 min to fuse flavors.
9 Serve on either crusty rolls or hamburger buns.
10 Leave out the jalapeno if you don't like it hot. If you do throw in 2 more.
11 Additions: Try adding diced tomatoes or olives and top with cheese if you so desire.

i'm off to go mow the grass... I expect a call from CL in 15 because he reminded me 5 times on the phone to be careful and not cut any of my toes off! hopefully i can squeeze in a small run afterwards!

Weekend To-Do List!

Hello Rainy Weekend! I won't let you get me down!

Actually, I am a little thankful for the rain because it has convinced the spinach seeds I planted on Tuesday to sprout out of the ground this morning! This calls for a celebration so of course I am headed to Home Depot today to see what other kinds of messes I can get myself into!

Thursday I went running with my girl Stacey at the B&A trail and she must have thought we had a 5k scheduled for next weekend {warrior dash} because she whipped my booty! The thing I love best about running with her is we both motivate one another to go the extra mile, we let each other run at their own pace {running with CL I've improved my mile time} and we have a blast getting together and talking {huffing and puffing} that I don't have to update my iPod as often.

If you want to semi-die this weekend you can copy-cat our routine below!

1 mile brisk walk to warm up {how far the trail is from the parking lot}
.5 mile run
lounges
.5 mile run
4 sets of 25 sit ups (regular, left side, right side, lower abs)
.5 mile run
3 sets of 10 push ups
Repeat steps 2-6
Brisk walk back while stretching to cool off

So all in all it is about 6 miles walk/run/toning. Not bad for a Thursday after work workout sesh.

Afterwards I had to try out the TheraPearl products Terri sent me to review on my blog! I was sore, and dirty from the sit ups and push ups {the grocery store check out lady even asked me if I fell on the way in}.

If you have never heard of TheraPearl before it is amazing and I highly suggest it to all athletes out there because it really helped my sore leg muscles after running. Don't run? Spas nationwide carry this product too! Want to hear some cool facts?

1. It's doctor-designed (she actually practices out of Columbia, MD and just designed the product for her own practice before it went to retail)
2. Their "Pearl Technology" is based on the concept of frozen peas... so they mold wayyyy better than a gel pack and aren't messy like a bag of actual ice
3. They can be microwaved or frozen {I microwaved mine}
4. Non-toxic, re-usable

See the steam inside of the bag? Felt so good!! I definitely recommend and it stayed warm for an hour after only microwaving it for 40 seconds. I hate when ice packs loose their temps quickly! I wanna relax!

Check back Monday because I may or may not be giving away some free products!! {hint, i totally am} I asked my boss to give a sports pack to her Husband to review over the weekend to get a guys perspective!

CL has been getting pretty serious about his workouts and eating habits again since it's "beach season" so last night instead of our usual burrito bowl we settled on a salad from chipotle. No carbs late at night I am told! That's okay with me as long as I can eat this every single night. ;-)

 

 

Yup, that's CLs body building mag and my weights for when I do ToneItUp or Jillian Michaels. Next weekend is going to be crazy! Wine festival, sister's graduation, CL's grandmother's 60th birthday night out, warrior dash and couples massages to end it on a high note.

So this weekend I am preparing! Today I have to...
1. Get a dress for the 60th birthday bash and wine festival, as well as a birthday present
2. Work out
3. Stop by home-depot {I'm obsessed with growing veggies I think!}
4. Grocery Shopping
5. Clean the house
6. Get ready for a night out with college friends!

What are your plans for the weekend??

WIAW and Mother's Day Ideas

Ahhhh... is there anything better than a nice lukewarm shower after a long run? CL and I met up after I got off work at the B&A trail for a nice 4 mile interval session. It started raining on and off which felt amazing. I could live in this weather forever. I don't mind evening thunderstorms... as long as they don't interfere with my television!

love my CL <3

 Mother's Day is next Sunday, so I have been brainstorming things to do for the most important person in my life! I know sometimes she stops by my blog so here are MULTIPLE things you can buy/make for your momma bear! Gotta keep her on her toes!

Sending flowers are always a great way to show someone you care. Send them to her work and surprise her a few days early ;-) Shows you were thinking ahead of time!

Go to your local Paint Your Own Pottery store. Mom's love handmade gifts and usually are coffee/tea lovers. Give her something that will remind her of your love with each sip!

Make her a basket full of things she loves! My mom loves to garden. A planter filled with gloves, seeds, snacks, chocolate, tea and suntan lotion is a great gift! Does your mom love relaxation? How about filling a shower caddy with a monogrammed towel, face mask, chai tea, and nail polish (and a spa gift card if you are feeling extra nice!)

Whatever you do, your mom with love it. You could make her a homemade card and bring tears to her eyes! I already found the best recipe for a lemonade cake with blueberries I plan on making for her! YUM!

Breakfast

2 slices bacon, coffee and a banana

Lunch

Black bean cheese burger

A spinach, pecan and strawberry salad with homemade dressing:

1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 tablespoon honey

fresh lemon zest

salt and pepper

Snack

Carrots and Guacamole

Dinner

Chicken and Steamed Brocolli

Dessert

Honey Greek Yogurt with Strawberry slices

Have a great night guys and start planning your mother's day gifts!

Easter Weekend Recap

Tuesday already? I'll take it considering me and CL are headed to the beach Friday evening for the weekend. It's the last weekend in OC before the dogs are officially no longer allowed on the beach for the summer season.

Chance loves getting his tan on. Can you tell?

 

What a cutie. I might be biased, but I love love love my lil gremlin!

Friday night my sister came over to help me dye Easter eggs and make some treats to bring to my Grandma's on Sunday. We made chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate cake pops. The best desserts are the ones with the ingredients I don't enjoy... that way I can just take pleasure in seeing other people eat them!

Whoever thought of putting brown dye in an Easter egg kit is bonkers. What happened to primary colors people? 

Chocolate Cake Balls with Toasted Coconut:

1 bag unsweetened/sweetened coconut flakes

1 box cake mix 

1 can whipped chocolate frosting

1 pound almond bark

lollipop sticks

Spread the coconut flakes on a baking sheet (ungreased) and cook at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, tossing every five until they are a golden hue. Separate your dipping choices. (i chose sprinkles and toasted coconut, nuts would be good too).

Cook your cake according to the box directions. While still warm crumble in a mixing bowl.

Add  entire can of frosting to warm cake and mix well until all is covered. At this point I suggest rolling your balls (hehe) and chilling for an hour in the freezer/fridge (this way they are easier to roll, I learned the hard way). Melt your chocolate - I suggest in a glass bowl over boiling water (again, I learned the hard way and microwaved mine and it got hard faster!). Roll balls in chocolate and dip in your toppings! Stick a lollipop stick in them while hard and cool on wax paper in the fridge. Serve cold!

What to do with the left over chocolate??? Make chocolate covered strawberries!!

It's a Polish tradition to eat White Borscht on Easter. It is a horseradish soup with homemade stuffed kielbasa (made by my mom and uncle) which is smoked (by my cousin) and/or boiled, hard boiled eggs, pumpernickel bread and ham. I think the older you get the more you appreciate the traditions your family celebrates. I hope to pass this on to my kids one day! 

I come from a family who definitely knows their way around a kitchen! My uncle brews his own beer and my cousin Ryan made his own wine last year we finally got to try! Sooo good!

There were plenty of desserts!

CL worked on Easter, which was nice in a way because I got to spend the entire day with my family instead of running back and forth between our families!

Thank god I finally got new running shoes! I got fitted and treadmill tested for a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11's! I love love love them! It really does make a difference when you have the right pair of shoes!

 

Hope everyone had a great Easter!!

Bootylicious WINNER

 Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.

Hi Guys! First and foremost thank you to everyone who participated in my first giveaway! Hopefully I can continue the trend and gather some of my favorite things to giveaway next! I'll be like the next Oprah... only younger, louder and without millions haha!

My giveaway winner is .... ALYSSA! from Fashion Fitness Foodie! I've known Alyssa for a long time now! Almost 6 years?? She definitely was a motivation and inspiration for me to start my own blog and if you haven't checked hers out, you definitely should! Congrats girl! I'll give you your granola this weekend on our running date!

Last night I participated in my first #fitblog chat on twitter! I had so much fun hearing other bloggers personal opinions about health and "diets". I definitely don't agree with the word diet. Diet to me means short lived. It takes a strong mindset and lifestyle change in order to truly make a difference in your health. It has taken me years not to be consumed with the number on my scale... and some days I still am.

I have learned that being healthy and fit is different for every individual. For me, it's how I feel in my own skin (and clothes). It's how good I feel after I work out, even if some days it takes me sitting in my workout clothes for 30 minutes before I drag myself to the gym. Get excited about healthy eating and learn what works for you. Not everyone should cut out carbs or fats (well I definitely agree with lowering your saturated and trans fats intake). Find recipes that are healthy and taste good - that way you aren't denying your mind what it really wants without denying your body of the good nutrients it needs.

There are so many resources out there. I love browsing the whole foods website for recipes. Go to your local bookstore and pick up a few cookbooks. Make Fishy Fridays or Meatless Mondays to help spice up your week! Don't be afraid to try new things. I used to hate avocados and now incorporate them into my diet at least once a week! And brussel sprouts roasted with olive oil and garlic are soooo good!

If google kept track of everything I have searched and I showed you guys you would think I am nuts! "Are lean pockets actually healthy?" "What do beets taste like?" "Is real bacon better for you than turkey bacon?" Knowledge is empowering and can help you truly make a decision to figure out what is best for you and your lifestyle.

Last night after fitblog I was starving for dinner. I only ran 2 miles since my shoes have officially given out on me. I made roasted cauliflower and a burger that sorta went like this...

Minus the bun - I used an arnolds thin and reduced fat cheese. And I may or may not have added a slice of bacon... :-) Moderation! Eating lean meat with lean bacon and toppings in my opinion doesn't hurt once a week. Plus it was the best tasting burger I have ever made!

Here are a few of my eats for the day - I finally am linking up to join WIAW for Jenn at Peas and Crayons!

Oatmeal with Berries for Breakfast

Apple Slices for a Mid-Morning Snack

One of these for lunch!

Carrot Sticks and Ranch for a Mid-Afternoon Snack

and I'm planning on re-creating this Salmon for dinner!

Hope you guys get out there and enjoy the 80 degree weather today! Hopefully cardio kickboxing with kick my butt tonight! Sophia at Raven Waves awarded me the bootylicious award! haha PERFECT!

Here are the rules:
1. Post this award with the picture and name whoever tagged you in it
2. Do the STUFF
3. Award to 7 others and tell them you did so!

THE STUFF:
1. Name 3 things that are lying right next to you –My cell phone which is prehistoric and doesn't even have a camera. No joke. Someone stole my iphone while I was boot shopping one day and I am waiting for the iphone5 to come out! Some Love Grown granola (Sweet Cranberry Pecan - yum) and two (yes 2) cups of water. Just in case I get lazy and don't feel like walking to the kitchen for a refill. I'm truly that smart ;-)

2. Name 2 foods you cannot live without -STRAWBERRIES! I am addicted to them like you guys are to chocolate. Thank god they were buy one get one free this week! Avocados - I just can't get enough guac! Does mexican food count? My fav!

3. Name 1 thing you did today – Packed my lunch, drove to work, and made some oatmeal. Yup, it's still early.

 You ladies are next! I could only think of 4 off the top of my head!

Bess

Alyssa

Cait

Jenn

What are some foods you can't live without?

Painkillers and Nachos

“Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”

I am officially almost half-way done my week. I have off the next two Fridays and I am so looking forward to a nice 3-day weekend! I can hardly wait!

Luckily CL (yup, that's the bf) had off this entire weekend so we were able to go out for a date night Friday and spend family time on Saturday with both his and my parents. I almost forgot what it was like to have the whole weekend uninterrupted to spend together!

Sunday rolled around and my friend Stacey and I met up at the Baltimore-Annapolis trail for our weekly run. Personally, I can run longer distances on a treadmill than I can outside so I am thankful to have someone to push and motivate me out on the trail. But I think it is about time I invest in new running apparel since my pants are starting to become see through (whoops!) from all the wear and my shoes are about to die out on me. Yup, I got a blister on the top of my big toe - I have never even heard of that happening from a 3 year old sneaker. Hint taken.

Most of you know that after running you become extremely hungry... almost unbearably hungry. Apparently I thought it was a good idea to wait 4.5 hours later to eat... which resulted in the most amazing plate of nachos ever. period. game over. this one is a winner.

 

Even the ducks flew out of the water onto the dock to join us...

How could you have this view at lunch and not instantly be in a great mood (not good, but great)...

And of course nobody goes to lunch on a Sunday without a drink...

It was a perfect weekend. Sun, date night, drinks, fish tacos (mmmm) and CL. That's all I need to make me happy.

On a foodie note - if you have never tried store-made organic guacamole... go buy some right now!! Seriously, I love making my own but not when avacados are 2 dollars a pop. This was cheaper and convenient and tasted soooo good on top of my Faux Chipotle Burrito Bowl that I made for dinner last night. I don't know how guac makes everything taste delicious, but it does it's job well!!

If you visit their website they have a $1 off coupon when you sign up for their updates! I have an email address just for when I sign up for promotions! Best decision ever - especially since I just printed out a free app coupon for my girls lunch on Saturday.

Have you liked Chic Meets Healthy on Facebook yet? You can by clicking here.
Also! Don't forget tonight at 10pm is when I am pulling a winner for my Love Grown Granola giveaway! Enter here!

Amazingness

What a gorgeous Monday! Seriously, a little vitamin B goes a long way! We decided to take a nice little hour break from work to catch some rays... and air!

I also came back from our walk with a handful of flowers that I may or may not have stole borrowed from the park and people's planters. Who plants flowers without expecting them to be picked?!

This past weekend was just as awesome as this weather. Watch out for lots of new breakfast recipes coming! I finally purchased one of these bad boys...

Yup, that's right. I decided to join the baked donuts group in order to save my boyfriend thousands of calories and guilty trips to the local corner store to pick up a box of donuts. I also tried out soysage. Which, if you ask me, is pretty fun to say and pretend you have a New York accent. If you are afraid of "fake" meat, try it in my frittata recipe!

Soysage and Veggie Frittata:
3 egg whites plus 2 eggs
1-2 tablespoons skim milk
1 roma tomato diced
1 large handful of cooked spinach
1 soysage (Light Life) italian sausage link (sliced)
turkey bacon (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Spray a pie pan with cooking spray. Slice and crisp up your turkey bacon and soysage in a pan. Remove and add to your pie pan. Add diced tomatoes and spinach to pan. Wisk your eggs and skim milk in a separate bowl and add to pan. Cook at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

This is the easiest way to introduce soysage virgins to a vegetarian meat. Plus, this breakfast is easy to make if you want a perfect looking omlette or if you are having guests over for breakfast. You can always sprinkle the top with some shredded cheese for extra deliciousness!

Saturday night we caught up with our friends in Bethesda. I'm really good at never being ready for a photo.

Hope you made it outside today! I took the pups for a walk/jog around the neighborhood. I'll leave you with this....