Yesterday we spent the day with three wonderful moms- my mom, my grandma and my Aunt Carol. We had an early lunch of (veggie) chili, salad and rolls and then just sat and chatted for a few hours before making our way back home.
My Mom & I (Spring 1986)
Mom & I (around 1988)
Dad, Mom, Me & Hubz (2009)
Once we arrived home we spent the afternoon relaxing and re-cooping from our allergen overload. For dinner the Hubz was feeling something with an Asian flare so I made stir fried veggies and seeds with brown rice and Asian greens. It was so delicious. For dessert we had dates and mango, yum yum yum.
This past week the Hubz and I have been limiting our gluten, wheat, soy, alcohol, processed foods and caffeine intake. We had a little bit on our Wednesday date night and a little on Friday night in the form of beer and soy sauce. Then came yesterday and today where we ended up having too much gluten, wheat, soy, alcohol, and processed foods. Lets re-cap the past 24 hours:
Pizza +
Lunch- veggie burger, pop chips and beer
Oh and more beer
Then today I have had bread both for breakfast and dinner and I had a caffeinated coffee. Now my body hates me and I am having majorly awful digestive problems. The Hubz and I have learned our lesson and we are gong to get back on track because I love feeling great and not like this.
This morning the Hubz and I downed two dates with almond butter and then headed to an early morning swim at the Y. The hubz and I both swam tough 500 yards in the lap pool. It has been forever since I swam laps and I forgot about how much of a work out it is! After the Y we headed to Starbuck$ for a decaf iced coffee (to share) and we both picked up an oatmeal before heading to the first summers farmers market of the year.
After coffee and oatmeal we headed to the market where we picked up beautiful greens, purple carrots, rutabaga and some organic plants for our balcony garden.
After the market we had our community work day at our garden where we spent two hours raking and rolling out things. Crazy workout.
After our community work day we headed home for a late lunch before we headed back to our own garden plot to get to work on our plot.
Lunch- veggie burger, pop chips and beer
After lunch we headed back to the garden to get down to work and we even had a wonderful guest; my good friend Allie came for a visit with her furry friends. We did more gardening and snacked on a Bora Bora bar.
After swimming, walking and gardening it was time for a bike shopping and date night out with the Hubz. First we went to look for new bikes for the Hubz and then to American Flatbread for beers and flatbread. Now it’s time to sit and relax and finish our movie.
Good Morning!! The Hubz and I had a busy night and I didn’t get to blog after we finished our shopping trip. So lets rewind to yesterdays lunch which was leftover spicy swiss chard & lentils over quinoa which I ate about half of and an apple which I forgot to take a picture of however I’m sure you all know what an apple looks like and if you don’t google “gala apple”.
After work I headed out to pick up a mothers day gift which I am not going to reveal here because my mom reads the blog- Hey Mom! I also picked up a few plants for our balcony garden and an Honest Tea.
After shopping I picked up the Hubz from work and we headed home for the early bird special (dinner at 4:30pm) before we spent the night running around doing errands and shopping. For dinner I whipped up soba noodles with sundried tomatoes, fennel, mushrooms & garlic with a tahini sauce.
Once we fueled up we did a marathon shopping trip; first stop Fleet Feet to shop for new running shoes for the Hubz.
It was pretty interesting to watch how the guy measured your foot to figure out the right pair of shoes. He brought our two pairs of shoes for the Hubz to try and then he watched him run in them to evaluate how they worked for him. It just happened that the first pair he recommended where the ones that worked the best too; pretty talented shoe fitter. It made me realize that I should probably get fitted for my own pair of shoes since mine just feel a little off and the fact that I have had them for over a year.
We went from shoe shopping to bathing suit and goggle shopping. Since the Hubz and I are going to get a membership at the YMCA we decided that we needed goggles for the pool and were in need of swimming suits rather than sitting by the pool, I may go in to get wet bathing suits. We had a great time trying on all of the different goggles at Dick’s and both found a pair that we liked. However we did not find new swim suits, they were all awful. I did end up finding one at Kohl’s and on sale- WIN!
After goggles came …compost? Yes we headed to pick up compost and potting soil for our garden plot and balcony gardens. After that we ran a few more errands and then came home for a late second dinner of sushi and beer (yes we let ourselves have the night off from the cleanse- more on this in up coming posts).
and we watched a movie (the Hubz picked).
It was really good however we still need to finish the movie because the old man the Hubz was falling asleep.
Now we are heading out to the Y and then the market and then breakfast and then our community garden work day. AHHH! Busy day!
What’s the most recent movie you have seen? How was it?
Over the past few months I have had a number of requests for me to post more of my daily eats and life. I have been really hesitant because honestly I am not sure that I can commit 100% to doing it due to how busy I am, however I’m going to give it a shot. For one week I am going to post daily eats and happenings. After the week I’ll see how I am feeling about it and whether it is something that really interest you and go from there. Now I won’t be doing three posts a day (unless I’m bored or suddenly my life gets really exciting.) Most of the time you can expect at least one daily wrap up and if I have time I will post late morning and then evening. Of course all of this posting will be in addition to Weekly Recipes, Healthy Living and Fitness Friday Posts. Okay so lets get started!
Last night the Hubz and I decided to take a tour of our local YMCA and got ourselves a 3 day pass to try it out. We have really been debating joining a gym for years but when we were living in Montpelier I had a mini gym at work and the Hubz work (still) has a really nice gym at his work as well as workout classes and a tennis court (lucky, I know), so we never really needed to. Before we moved last year we purchased an elliptical and it is great but honestly I want to run, swim and have access to group classes. Finally we looked into the Y and the prices for a couple are good especially with yoga, BodyPump, zumba and other classes and a really nice lap pool. The gym overall is pretty basic with cardio equipment squeezed in next to each other; it also has free weights and weight machines but it fits both of our needs. This morning we used our trial pass and the Hubz swam and I did C25k on the treadmill. Overall I loved it. It felt great to be working out at a gym and not at home, alone. I think that for me a gym is a place you go to workout and there is a certain energy about it that motivates me, along with being able to workout with the Hubz.
Burlington Vermont Community YMCA, circa 1940. Postcard.
After our workout we both really wanted Friday Bagels but since we are on a soy/gluten/wheat/alcohol/caffeine free cleanse it was a no go. Instead we decided to go to Magnolia Bistro where they have tons of options that are still inline with our cleanse. I was really feeling something hearty and starchy so I went with three sides: steamed kale, chipotle black beans and homefries, the Hubz was also feeling the starch so he went with kale, polenta and homefries. We also got a cup of decaf fair trade organic coffee and big glasses of water.
Now I’m off to work and then heading out to find a Mother’s Day Gift and then it’s shoe shopping with the Hubz. What are you doing for Mother’s Day?
It’s Fitness Friday! What have you been doing this week to stay fit? This week the Hubz and I started a mind body and soul cleanse to help get our bodies ready for a busy summer. Part of the cleanse is to stay active, here is what I did this week:
Friday: 20 cardio workout
Saturday: nothing- I spent Saturday cooking, cleaning, demoing chocolate, preparing for a birthday party and hosting a birthday party with only about 30 minutes to sit down and relax. This resulted in my fail of not completing this months challenge.
Sunday: 2.5 mile 60 minute walk
Monday: off
Tuesday: 30 minute yoga burn
Wednesday: 30 minute abs & legs Skinny Bitch
Thursday: off…..b/c girl reasons had me curled in a ball. TMI.
Days: 4/25 Days 2/15.5 Hours
What’s Your Favorite Yoga….
Mat:
I am honestly a yoga mat hoarder. My friend came over the other day and walked into our workout room and saw the basket full of yoga mats and stared in shock – asking why do we need so many mats? Well honestly a few are samples that I have received, a few are the Hubz and a few are mine.
I have my super old Winsor Pilates Mat which is a thicker spongy mat that I don’t really use for yoga but more for mat workouts.
Then I have a Jade Yoga mat that is my favorite however it slips a lot so using it at home is not ideal because we have carpet and when I do use it I always end up at least a foot back from where I started.
The next mat I have which I like for power yoga and on carpets is my pRana Mat; it is super heavy, long and is good for more vigorous yoga sessions. The downfall with this mat is that it weighs a ton and there is no way I could (or would) lug it to and from yoga classes.
I also have an Aurorae yoga mat which I don’t really like that much, although many people love it and honestly the Hubz is the one who uses it consistently. I do however love my Aurorae yoga sport sweat towel and sleep free rosin bag.
My favorite mat because it is thin, naturally sticky, light weight and it doesn’t slip is my Gaiam Wisdom Yoga Mat; created from all-natural rubber that’s non-toxic, eco-friendly and biodegradable. My husband also has a Gaiam Mat, I’m not sure which one but it is a thicker one and he has a super cheap one he got at Target which is really pretty awful and slippery.
So as you can see I am a yoga mat hoarder; I like each mat for different reasons and use them all for different types of yoga, different floors and depending on my mood. What type of yoga mat do you have?
Type of Yoga:
I have tried Power Yoga, Anusara, Ashtanga, Groove Yoga, Restorative Yoga and community classes which are usually a Vinyasa class. My favorite yoga class to take is Anusara which is a system based on Hatha Yoga founded by John Friend. I recently just took a Groove Yoga class and it was really an amazing experience. It incorporates dance and yoga into one class and it gives you a great cardio workout and just lifts your spirit. Ashtanga is more regimented than I like and after my six week workshop I have never returned to another class. Restorative Yoga is all about being slow, relaxing, concentrating on the breath and you stay in poses for several minutes. For me Restorative yoga is my favorite way to unwind, relax and it leaves me feeling like I just had an hour massage. At home I usually do Rodney Yee Power Yoga, A.M. Yoga, Yoga for Abs and Yoga Burn at home along with some podcasts from yogadownload.com. What is your favorite type of yoga?
Last night I took the night off from cooking, from my cleanse and from all other household duties to take advantage of Vermont Restaurant Week. A month ago before I decided to work on a new cleanse I had made reservations for the Hubz and I at The Bearded Frog for restaurant week and since proceeds go to a good cause and the restaurant isn’t in our normal price range we decided to take advantage of their three course tasting menu. Here are the details on Vermont Restaurant Week from their site:
Q. What is Vermont Restaurant Week?
A. From April 29-May 5, participating restaurants will offer special, prix-fixe menus showcasing their chefs’ greatest dishes. Those menus will feature discounted, three-course “tasting-style” dinners (e.g. appetizer, entreé and dessert) priced at $15, $25 or $35 per person. The week also includes a special calendar of special, food-themed events.
Q. How does Vermont Foodbank benefit?
A. 10% of the proceeds from event admissions, sponsorships and restaurant participation fees will be donated to Vermont Foodbank. Restaurant-goers can donate $10 via text messageor make a web donation in our Virtual Food Drive will be launched on this website to allow diners to donate to the Foodbank.
Originally we were going to try a few different restaurants but then decided due to the cleanse and the fact that the other restaurants that interested us are ones we visit often that it would be best to choose just one. After perusing the veggie friendly menus on the Vermont Restaurant Week site we settled on The Bearded Frog, the only menu that actually said they had a vegan option. We had heard great things about the restaurant but had never visited it due to the fact that it isn’t close to our home and that there is one vegan option that goes for $19 a plate.
We arrived at the restaurant and were promptly seated out our reserved table in the corner, which I really loved because it up’d the romance factor along with the dim lighting and warm colors. We placed a drink order, prosecco for me and beer for him, and then we got down to business and ordered from the tasting menu (the only vegan options in each category).
Appetizer Course: The salad was very simple yet fresh and the lemon-herb vinaigrette was truly delicious. We paired it with some fresh bread with oil and vinegar instead of the butter and the blue cheese crostini that was to go with the salad.
Appetizer: Baby Mixed Greens With lemon-herb vinaigrette
Bread with olive oil and balsamic
Entree Course: For our entree we enjoyed the vegan version of Spicy Corn and Black Bean Pudding With blue-corn tortilla, dirty rice, avocado compound butter, tofu tomato purée. Instead of the avocado compound butter we received a guacamole. The dish was really delicious however if that is what you get for $19 on the regular menu I’d rather stay home and re-create it for $5.
Entree: Spicy Corn and Black Bean Pudding With blue-corn tortilla, dirty rice, guacamole, tofu tomato purée.
Dessert Course: I would have to say the dessert was probably my favorite thing on the menu and something that I would definitely spend the money to come back and have again. The vegan dessert option was a trio of sorbets which included avocado lime, strawberry & 30 year old aged balsamic and mango violet. All three were really amazing but the show stopper was the avocado lime. It was super creamy and tasted just like ice cream, the Hubz and I both just couldn’t stop raving about it all night….honestly I still can’t stop raving about it.
Dessert Course: trio of sorbets which included avocado lime, strawberry & 30 year old aged balsamic and mango violet
Overall: We had a really wonderful time at The Bearded Frog and the food was really delicious. I am not sure that I would go back for dinner due to the high price of the vegan option but I would go back every day just for the sorbet. On another note I saw a number of really beautiful plates of food coming out of the kitchen and if you are vegetarian try the (unfortunately note vegan) crispy tofu cakes because they probably taste as good as they looked.
