We’ve got some pretty tasty things coming our way this week. But until that time, here’s some dinner highlights of the past week:

Homemade Turkey Meatballs & Marinara w/Summer Squash

Served with side salad of romaine, grapes, pecans & red wine vinegar.

Shrimp Salad Lettuce Wraps

Courtesy of Gina, The Candid RD (great recipes). Served with a spelt crisp (found at Whole Foods and love) and orange.

Maple Peanut Sesame Chicken

A recipe I’ve been meaning to make for awhile now from another RD, Kate Scarlata. Served with thyme-sesame boiled carrots (my new fave!).

After looking at the forecast for the week ahead, summer time appears to be on the horizon. Temps in the upper 80s, low 90s lead me to believe that grilling will need to happen…

Happy Friday/Memorial Day Weekend!

I want to know….

What was the best thing YOU ate this week?

That’s right. 7 years ago today I started working full time in downtown Baltimore and haven’t left since.

This got me to thinking…what was I doing this time other years?

2007

The end of May my family traveled down to the Florida Keys for some diving. The weather however was less than cooperative and windy conditions prevented dive boats from going out. We therefore scrapped that part of our trip and headed north to Crystal River where we did our very first cave dive!

2008

My family headed west. Waaaaay west. To the “garden island” of Kauai, Hawaii. I fell in love with anything involving macadamia nuts and had my fair share of slushy frozen tropical beachy cocktails along the way.

2009

No grand trip this year. Instead, the patio of our Baltimore row home was the site of a Memorial Day BBQ.

2010

I was line dancing with my best friends.

Cancun Cantina is a country line dancing establishment not far from town and let me tell you it is quite an experience. This particular time Jenna was whirled and twirled around the dance floor by a man wearing a patriotic horse-clad shirt and cowboy hat.

2011

Z was just starting his deployment in Egypt. I was getting pictures like this that were taken at his base. Looks rough, doesn’t it ; ) ?

2012

Z and I just moved into our first place together. Most of the month was spent unpacking/organizing/decorating/etc.

2013

I can’t believe it’s been 7 years. Looking back at pictures while writing this post was quite entertaining. I was just a baby back then!

My how times have changed….how I’ve changed.

When I first came to Baltimore I was merely a recent college grad pursing my dream job. Now here I am, well in to my career, planning a wedding to the boy I met on my walk in to work one day.

Can’t wait to see what the next 7 years have in store…

When I was in New York recently I picked up a bottle of Lakewood 100% carrot juice to try out of curiosity.

While V8 /tomato juice in general isn’t really my cup of tea, I figured the natural sweetness of carrots would make it more palatable.

The result? Not bad! I ended up mixing in some fresh grated ginger which added a nice touch.

I figured that in the wide world of the internet there must be a smoothie recipe out there that involved the stuff. Ask and you shall receive!

In my search I came across a blog dedicated entirely to smoothies called, A Smoothie A Day, which follows a woman name Julie and her New Year’s Resolution to make a smoothie a day for an entire year.

She had a recipe for  “Carrot, Ginger, Pineapple & Kale” that sounded like just what I was looking for. I altered the proportions of the original recipe slightly to include more carrot and  more ginger.

Here’s what I threw in the blender….

Carrot Ginger Pineapple Smoothie

Recipe adapted from A Smoothie A Day

Makes two smaller servings or one very large one.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 frozen banana

1 C frozen pineapple

1’’ piece of fresh ginger, peeled (plus some extra at the end for more of a kick)

1/2 C plain Greek yogurt

2/3 C 100% organic carrot juice

2 TBSP pecans

Handful of spinach

The Verdict

I enjoyed it so much that I made them for Z and I to take to work as snacks TWO different times that week. I love the taste of ginger so any time I can find something to add it to I get excited. Combine that with the opportunity to sneak some hidden veggies into my mid-morning snack and you’ve got yourself a winner!

Sure it isn’t the most photogenic thing I’ve ever made, but the taste is light and refreshing so it completely makes up for it.

I want to know…

Have you ever made a smoothie with vegetables? Would you?

What is your favorite smoothie to make? Leave a link to any fun recipes you have in the comments below?

One thing that Z and I have started getting in to are documentaries. Yeah, I know that makes us sound nerdy/old but we’ve found some really great educational/inspirational ones involving health, wellness and nutrition.

I learned a lot from these films and found myself going over the information in my mind, further analyzing, and discussing with others long after they were over.

Here’s what we’ve watched so far. I highly recommend checking them out!

Supersize Me

“While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald’s food for one month. “

HIGHLIGHTS:

• 1 in 4 Americans eats fast food daily
• Obesity is the #2 cause of preventable death (right behind smoking).
• Fast food restaurants target kids at an early age (think Happy Meals, Play Places, clown mascots) in order to get them hooked.
• The results of Morgan Spurlock eating nothing but McDonalds for 30 days: 24.5lb gained, 2x more likely for heart failure, mood swings, depression, liver complications.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

“With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help long- term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body’s ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.”

HIGHLIGHTS:

• By harnessing the nutrient power of foods we have the potential to alleviate our dependency on medication.
• 61% of the American diet is processed foods—oils, sugar, flour. These foods do not have even one tenth of the original nutrients that were in the food in its native state.
• Many Americans live by the philosophy–“I’m here for a few good years. I’m gonna eat what I want and if I die at 55 great.” These individuals remain resistant to making healthy alterations to their diets despite the promise of significantly increasing their life.

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Hungry For Change

“Exposes shocking secrets the diet, weight loss and food industry don’t want you to know about; deceptive strategies designed to keep you coming back for more. Find out what’s keeping you from having the body and health you deserve and how to escape the diet trap forever.” (source)

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Our ancestors were hunters and gatherers. We are naturally programmed to seek out fats and sugars. Our lifestyles are now more sedentary but these tendencies still exist.
• Diets don’t work, because they are temporary. They have failure built right in to them.
• “The average American consumes more than 150 pounds of sugar and sweeteners each year.” “Sugar is the cocaine of the food industry.”
• Your body wants to work with you, not against you. Adverse reactions are your body’s way of attempting to heal itself. Help it along by giving it the proper tools (nutrient rich foods, rest, hydration, etc.)

WATCH THE TRAILER:

Food For Thought

After watching these documentaries I’ll have to admit I was fired up!

I was angry at the food industry for manipulating people in order to sell their product and make money. I was appalled by the fact that people would choose eating a cheeseburger now over living a longer life and spending more time with their families. I was amazed at the healing power of natural foods. I was inspired to grow my own garden.

Yes, that’s a lot of emotions, but I suppose that’s what any good movie should bring out.

I’ve realized that I truly have a passion for food and nutrition and I look forward to continuing to educate myself and those around me. Every little bit helps.

The big event in town this weekend was Preakness. While we did not attend that horse race, we did dabble in the equestrian world a few weeks back when Z and I were invited to attend The Maryland Hunt Cup.

Libby and Ed, parents of one of Z’s Marine buddies, were driving down from Pittsburgh for the occasion and invited us to join them. We were told it involved picnicking and horses.  Sounded good to me!

In 1894, the members of the Elkridge Fox Hunting Club challenged the members of Green Spring Valley Hounds to a timber race: the first Hunt Cup. – Maryland Steeplechasing

A mere half hour drive from Fells Point and we were in beautiful farm country.

We packed a picnic and blanket and met up with our group. They were smart enough to avoid the crowds and set up shop across the pasture by the woods.

We arrived around 2:30 however the race didn’t start until 4. We spent that time chatting, snacking and soaking up the sunshine.

Then at 4:00, the horses lined up. The race itself spans 4 miles and includes 22 fences. This sounds like a lot but in the end is only 8 or so minutes long!

The fences were quite high and were a testament to how powerful these animal are to be able to get up and over them.

Well, mostly…

In addition to this little incident at the fence we were stationed at, a number of riders ended up falling off throughout the race. In fact out of the 12 horses that started the race, only six finished.

In the end, Z and I had such a great time learning about the wide world of steeplechase. I don’t think watching horses go around a track would be nearly half as exciting.

It was a great excuse to get out of town and enjoy the beyond perfect weather. Thank you to Libby (who I know is reading this…Hi Libby!) and Ed for inviting us along. Z and I are already making plans to come again next year!

Yay for new experiences!

I want to know…

Have YOU ever been to any kind of horse race?

If you owned a race horse, what would its name be?
(The ones at The Hunt Cup included: Professor Maxwell, Sand Box Rules and Bug Eyed Willy).

SUNDAY

Morning Stretch

Workout: None.

MONDAY

Morning Stretch

Workout: Full body tabata from Tina Reale.

Tabatas are fun because they are fast paced. Each move is done for only 20 seconds, followed by a 10 second rest. You don’t have time to rest or even think…you just do it! The link above will take you to Tina’s page with descriptions of all the exercises.

TUESDAY

Morning Yoga: Morning Yoga Fix

Workout: Dive + Circuit

My work day started off with some diving. I spent most of the dive tending to hoses so they wouldn’t tangle anyone up. This involved minimal effort on my part. For the last 15 minutes or so I was hoisting 30lbs of power scrubber up 12 feet of wall. That wore me out real fast.

Later that evening, Z requested a workout. His day is spent mostly sitting so he was itching to move and be active. I suggested this “Functional Workout” that I had seen on Peanut Butter Fingers the day before.

It was great! No fancy equipment needed (we used dumbbells in place of a kettlebell).

WEDNESDAY

Morning Stretch: It happened, although I lost the exact video…

Workout: Dance!

With our recital only a few weeks away we are in crunch mode. The dance is extremely fast and hitting the moves at the right time is crucial. I still don’t have it down yet but repetition is key. We spent a good part of 40 minutes doing our 2 minute dance over and over and over… cardio? check!

Click the image below and fast forward to 5:30. THAT is how fast our dance is and THAT is how Tina has stayed in such great shape all these years!

THURSDAY

Morning Stretch: None. That’s what happens when you wake up for work at 4:15am…

Workout: Run.

Z texted me at lunchtime asking if I felt like going for a run when he got home. The weather was absolutely lovely and although my legs were still feeling the effects of diving and Tina Turner kicking, I agreed.

We ran through Canton to our good friend Natty Boh and back.

Total distance: 2.85 miles.

Evening Stretch: Since we skipped our date with Tara Stiles that morning, we did a routine while waiting for our dinner to cook in the oven. A perfect way to pass the time. It felt especially good after the run: Yoga for Flexibility.

FRIDAY

Morning Stretch: Routine for Stress Relief +  Morning Waking Up Yoga

I only have a one-day weekend and decided to take full advantage. Between meal planning, grocery shopping, blogging and an evening with friends my day was pretty much packed.

SATURDAY

Morning Stretch: Hotel Room Yoga

No Tone It Up workouts this week. It’s good to mix things up every now and again. That being said there are two new TIU routines that came out that I’m looking forward to trying, one involving resistance bands. I bought some when they were on sale at Target and have yet to try them out. Will have to add that to the schedule for this coming week!

I want to know…

What have YOU got planned for this week?

Anything fun/exciting/thrilling??

Take care of your body now. Your future self will thank you.

Have a great weekend.

T- 7 months and counting.

In my last wedding-related post I was on the search for a photographer.

I am happy to say that I can now check that off the list!

The Search

I sent out quite a few emails to photographers asking about availability and pricing.

One based in St. Lucia was pretty cheap, however the image quality wasn’t great. I felt as though I could have taken them with my little point and shoot.

It quickly became apparent that I’d need to find someone here in the US and fly them over. Obviously this is a great expense, but with amazing pictures being one of my priorities I realized I am more than willing to make sacrifices in other areas (décor? we are in paradise, how much do you really need??).

After a random Google search I came across Meg Baisden Photography on the site Travel to I Do, which specializes in destination wedding resources.

Meg runs her photography business with her husband Charles in Pensacola, Florida. They love being able to share in such a special moment in their clients’ lives. St. Lucia in particular was the location of their very first destination wedding so it holds a special place in their heart.

Right from the initial email I knew I liked her. She was informative and personable.

“…What I want to tell everyone is (super cheesy but so so true) we WANT to be your friends. We want to share in the most special day of your lives. We want to preserve your love in that perfect moment for the generations to come to look back on. We want to meet up for dinner three years from now somewhere just to catch up because we were a part of something so awesome and now we feel like family. And I know that sounds sales-pitchy, but that is just us.” -Meg

How sweet is that?!

In my usual fashion, I had to hem and haw about it, create a comparative spreadsheet, worry about cost, all until Z told me to stop being silly and book her (this is how a lot of decision making is done in our household).

We ended up having a conference call with Meg and Charles where we talked about their photography style and philosophy (hands off, capture the moments as they happen…LOVE), St. Lucia, our hobbies, etc. We hung up and knew we made the right choice.

We can’t wait to have them along with us on our crazy wedding adventure!

{Meg Baisden}

I want to know…

What is one “must-have” picture I should be sure to take at my wedding?

What did the favorite picture from YOUR wedding turn out to be?

Do you currently have wedding pictures displayed in your home? If so, how?

I then watched his TED talk about nutrition in America and specifically in our schools. If you haven’t seen it I recommend it. The talk is 21 minutes and I guarantee you will walk away with a new appreciation for this man.

I recently had a chance to browse through his Food Revolution cookbook and loved pretty much everything I came across. The recipes are easy, fresh and nutritious.

One in particular that caught my eye was for a “Rice Salad.” Comprised of rice and fresh herbs he encouraged its use as a substitute for store bought, pre-packaged potato or macaroni salad.

Seeing as how I had fresh herbs on hand at home, I was inspired.

The Recipe

As adapted from Jamie Oliver

INGREDIENTS

Quinoa

Fresh basil

Fresh cilantro

Fresh parsley

1 Roasted red pepper

1 Lemon

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cook quinoa according to package instructions.
2. Finely chop herbs and red pepper.
3. Juice lemon.
4. Combine quinoa, herbs and lemon in large bowl and mix.
5. Add lemon zest, salt and pepper to taste.
6. EAT!

THE VERDICT

LOVED. So light and fresh. The simplicity of the dish really allowed the flavor of the herbs to shine in my opinion. This would be perfect to bring to a potluck picnic in the summer.

Another bonus is that you can customize it to whatever you have at the moment. Don’t have quinoa? Use brown rice! No roasted red pepper? Use tomato!

I can easily see this becoming a summer staple in the K & Z household…

As of Saturday I can now cross it off. But did I love it? The answer is no. How can someone not love “the happiest 5K on the planet.” Let me explain…

The Morning Of

It started out promising. Z came rushing downstairs, cheek tattoos and all exclaiming, “let’s do this!” He was excited. I was too.

Shortly thereafter the day took a turn for the worst when a man peering in our THIRD STORY roof window elicited a phone call and visit from Baltimore City Police (filing a statement wasn’t planned into our morning). We then had to power walk over to the stadium to make it in time for the 9am start.

I felt shaken and rushed.

Pre-Race

We made it in time and followed the hoards of white-clad individuals to the start area. Between the 9am and 2pm races, 25,000 people were expected.

Once inside the area we waited….and waited….and waited. Packed in a parking lot doing nothing but standing, for over 50 minutes. Runners were eventually started, but in waves. Groups were sent out every 10 minutes or so which led to lots and lots of waiting.

Upon arrival vs. 50 minutes later:

I was un-amused and (since it had been awhile since breakfast) hungry…make that “hangry.”

The Race

It’s a laid back race. It’s not timed. All ages participate. I saw kids being pulled by their parents in wagons all the way up to grandmas and grandpas.

This created a bit of traffic flow problem once it came time to run. Ideally runners would stay to one side, walkers to the other. Instead Z and I bobbed and weaved for 3.1 miles through the crowds from one color station to another.

The stations themselves were cool to run through. Volunteers covered runners with colored powder from bags, garden sprayers and squeeze bottles. A girl in front of me even dove on the ground and log rolled through it. Now that’s dedication.

I was dehydrated, still hangry, and attempting not to run over small children.

Post Race

We finally made it to the finish just as a light rain started to fall. Although the weather called for thunderstorms they were nice enough to hold off.

We hung around the finish festival in order to experience the group color throw that happens every 15 minutes. The countdown happened and then……we were left like this:

I was (still) hungry. I had dust up my nose.

Final Thoughts

Throughout the rest of the day I saw posts from many of my friends and fellow bloggers who participated and they all loved it. While I wish I could say the same, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.

I think I would have enjoyed it more if:

• I was with a large group.
• I was a parent with small children.
• I was new to running.
• The starting line was more organized.
• I had a more relaxing morning.
• I had packed snacks.

If nothing else, at least now I can say I’ve done it, but I think I’ll stick to smaller 5Ks from here on out.

P.S. We were successful in removing all the color from our bodies AND clothing on the first try. Hooray!

I want to know…

Have you ever done a Color Run?

If so, what were YOUR thoughts?

If not, have you done any other type of theme race?