This week I have butterflies that are flying crazy in my tummy! Have you ever been so excited to go somewhere or do something that you just get so excited! I remember getting this feeling as a little girl when we would be going on vacation and would be so excited that I couldn't sleep the night before. I got this same feeling as I had both of my boys! I got this feeling as I stood in the courtyard of an orphanage in China! Once again I find myself with this same feeling! Hopefully it will all pass after Sunday!
Why Sunday? On Sunday morning at 7:00 CST I along with my friend Angela and 1598 other people will be participating in the Bass Pro Cohick 1/2 Marathon. I have been doing 5K's for the last 5 years consistently, but totally stepping out of my comfort zone to do this 1/2 marathon. I am very excited because it is doing something totally different and pushing me to reach deep and finish!
I have done 10 mile walk recently...so we will see how this 13.1 miles will go on Sunday! I am truly looking forward to doing this with one of my friends that has traveled this journey with me!
So I will post an update once we are finished on Sunday (AFTER I recover :o)
I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and do something....even if it is walking down your drive way, your street or around your block!!! Help your body by MOVING!!!
Keep on Keeping on!!!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Sometimes You Get on a Detour!
Every so often on a journey, you come across the bright yellow sign that says Detour. What do you do in a detour? Do you panic because you are on a road that you are not familiar with or do you learn the route and learn the way to go so you know what to do the next time you come up on this detour?
This past weekend was one of those detour moments for me. It was a CRAZY Saturday and very full day on Sunday! Totally got off on a new road! On Saturday, we started the day off going to a movie premier, then had to get things ready for a homecoming football game and then off to a cookout with friends on a farm. Yes, when I went to the grocery store to get the things needed for said events. Then as we proceeded to go to all of these places...we packed a cooler to go to the cookout and took it to the football game. Once we got to the cookout, I realized that I left my turkey hot dogs in the fridge. I was very hungry at the cookout so yep...at two bratwursts! Although they were good, there were also some very yummy foods there. So it wasn't a good evening food wise...but lessons learned...don't pack so much in a day that you can't take the time to make sure you get the things that you need to be successful!
On Sunday we had friends over for a birthday celebration! Had a great menu planned...except for the appetizers! One of our friends brought those! They were great and with dinner being delayed a bit, with an unexpected "on call" moment. So we munched on appetizers until dinner time. It was a great day celebrating with friends...just not so good on this detour journey!
So on Monday....started back on the right road! Made up a little bit of the gain due to the foods that were consumed. And looking forward to keep on the right road!!!
Just remember...when a detour comes along...don't panic...remain calm and stay focused on the journey!!!
Keep on keeping on!
This past weekend was one of those detour moments for me. It was a CRAZY Saturday and very full day on Sunday! Totally got off on a new road! On Saturday, we started the day off going to a movie premier, then had to get things ready for a homecoming football game and then off to a cookout with friends on a farm. Yes, when I went to the grocery store to get the things needed for said events. Then as we proceeded to go to all of these places...we packed a cooler to go to the cookout and took it to the football game. Once we got to the cookout, I realized that I left my turkey hot dogs in the fridge. I was very hungry at the cookout so yep...at two bratwursts! Although they were good, there were also some very yummy foods there. So it wasn't a good evening food wise...but lessons learned...don't pack so much in a day that you can't take the time to make sure you get the things that you need to be successful!
On Sunday we had friends over for a birthday celebration! Had a great menu planned...except for the appetizers! One of our friends brought those! They were great and with dinner being delayed a bit, with an unexpected "on call" moment. So we munched on appetizers until dinner time. It was a great day celebrating with friends...just not so good on this detour journey!
So on Monday....started back on the right road! Made up a little bit of the gain due to the foods that were consumed. And looking forward to keep on the right road!!!
Just remember...when a detour comes along...don't panic...remain calm and stay focused on the journey!!!
Keep on keeping on!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Antlers Wild Rice Soup
I LOVE LOVE LOVE to try new recipes! Last week one of my dear friends and I went to a cooking class at Silver Dollar City's Culinary and Craft School. I have enjoyed several of these classes over the last several years. All of the things she has prepared are wonderful. Well this class was no different. I did tweak the recipe to eliminate some of the fat and calories from it. So I will put my tweaks in where I substituted so that you can either make it the way she did or you can make some changes like I did to make it a more healthy choice.
1/2 cup uncooked wild rice (I used Uncle Ben's Whole Grain and Wild rice)
3-14 oz cans of chicken broth, divided (I used reduced sodium, fat free chicken broth)
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (I diced mine up)
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt (I used Mrs. Dash Onion and herb blend)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream (I used fat free half and half)
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
In a 4-qt. pot, combine uncooked wild rice, 2 cans of the broth, carrots, celery, and onion. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered for 35-40 minutes or until rice is tender but still chewy, adding the mushrooms the last 5 minutes of cooking.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, and black pepper. Add the remaining can of chicken broth.. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute or more; stir in whipping cream. Add this mixture to the rice mixture, stirring constantly. Stir in chicken; heat through. Garnish with chives if you like. Makes 6-8 servings.
Nutrition facts WITHOUT the tweaks:
364 calories, 24 g. fat, 1016 mg. sodium, 20 g. carbs, 2 g. fiber and 20 g. protein
that would be 10 Weight Watchers points plus per serving.
With my tweaks it comes out to 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus per servings.
We really enjoyed it greatly!!!
Hope you enjoy it! It doesn't take really long to prepare!
Keep on keeping on!
1/2 cup uncooked wild rice (I used Uncle Ben's Whole Grain and Wild rice)
3-14 oz cans of chicken broth, divided (I used reduced sodium, fat free chicken broth)
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (I diced mine up)
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt (I used Mrs. Dash Onion and herb blend)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream (I used fat free half and half)
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
In a 4-qt. pot, combine uncooked wild rice, 2 cans of the broth, carrots, celery, and onion. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer, covered for 35-40 minutes or until rice is tender but still chewy, adding the mushrooms the last 5 minutes of cooking.
In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, and black pepper. Add the remaining can of chicken broth.. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute or more; stir in whipping cream. Add this mixture to the rice mixture, stirring constantly. Stir in chicken; heat through. Garnish with chives if you like. Makes 6-8 servings.
Nutrition facts WITHOUT the tweaks:
364 calories, 24 g. fat, 1016 mg. sodium, 20 g. carbs, 2 g. fiber and 20 g. protein
that would be 10 Weight Watchers points plus per serving.
With my tweaks it comes out to 4 Weight Watchers Points Plus per servings.
We really enjoyed it greatly!!!
Hope you enjoy it! It doesn't take really long to prepare!
Keep on keeping on!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Fall Time is COMING!!!!!
The temperatures are finally getting cooler after a very hot, dry summer. It is so refreshing to be able to get my walks in outside instead of on the treadmill. Don't get me wrong I like my treadmill, but I SOOOOOOO enjoy being able to take my walks outside.
With the cooler temps comes the soups and chili time of the year! Which is really my favorite!!! You can make so many healthy options for soups and chili!!! I LOVE a good vegetable soup and sometimes I will add in some ground turkey or some smoked turkey sausage for a little variety.
I all so love the fall craft shows and fun fall events! Today I went to Silver Dollar City with a dear sister friend of mine. It is their Cowboy festival. Now I have to say that the food at Silver Dollar City is out of this world!!! They have some of the best cooks around for a theme park!! But another reason that I love going to Silver Dollar City is the hills!! I used to just about curse those hills because I would be so winded coming back up them and would just wish that there would be a different way to get out of the park...but alas..NO! Silver Dollar City is set in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. So you start at the top and walk down into the valley to get to the shows and rides... Well...you really get a great workout walking around the park! I usually don't let myself eat a lot at the park. Every so often, we will eat at the park. But they will let you bring in your own coolers!! So it is very easy to pack up your favorite healthy snacks and it can make for a great day! Most amusement parks will also give you free cups of water! Take advantage of that! You don't have to drink the sodas! You will also save money!!!
Look for fun ways to get some walking in! You don't have to go to an amusement park to do it, although it really is fun! Find a nature trail close by and get a friend, your children etc to go walk those trails.
Go to the zoo if you happen to have one near by. Since the temps are cooler, the animals are more likely to be out and be playful! They enjoy the cooler temps too!
Go to the park and play ball or Frisbee with friends or family.
There are always fun things you can find to do, you just have to look for them sometimes!!!
Enjoy the beautiful weather and spending time with family and friends!!!
Keep on keeping on!
With the cooler temps comes the soups and chili time of the year! Which is really my favorite!!! You can make so many healthy options for soups and chili!!! I LOVE a good vegetable soup and sometimes I will add in some ground turkey or some smoked turkey sausage for a little variety.
I all so love the fall craft shows and fun fall events! Today I went to Silver Dollar City with a dear sister friend of mine. It is their Cowboy festival. Now I have to say that the food at Silver Dollar City is out of this world!!! They have some of the best cooks around for a theme park!! But another reason that I love going to Silver Dollar City is the hills!! I used to just about curse those hills because I would be so winded coming back up them and would just wish that there would be a different way to get out of the park...but alas..NO! Silver Dollar City is set in the beautiful Ozark Mountains. So you start at the top and walk down into the valley to get to the shows and rides... Well...you really get a great workout walking around the park! I usually don't let myself eat a lot at the park. Every so often, we will eat at the park. But they will let you bring in your own coolers!! So it is very easy to pack up your favorite healthy snacks and it can make for a great day! Most amusement parks will also give you free cups of water! Take advantage of that! You don't have to drink the sodas! You will also save money!!!
Look for fun ways to get some walking in! You don't have to go to an amusement park to do it, although it really is fun! Find a nature trail close by and get a friend, your children etc to go walk those trails.
Go to the zoo if you happen to have one near by. Since the temps are cooler, the animals are more likely to be out and be playful! They enjoy the cooler temps too!
Go to the park and play ball or Frisbee with friends or family.
There are always fun things you can find to do, you just have to look for them sometimes!!!
Enjoy the beautiful weather and spending time with family and friends!!!
Keep on keeping on!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)