Yummy!

  This really is delicious- try it!

Green Machine Smoothie Change the title to “Green Monster” Smoothie, and it’s likely your kids will go wild for this nutritious and energizing drink! 1 cup of fresh spinach leaves ½ cup frozen pineapple 1 small banana 1 6-oz. container of yogurt (try to find Greek yogurt, which has twice the protein and fewer carbs than regular yogurt) 3-5 ice cubes Lemonade or orange juice (use sugar-free or diet lemonade if possible) Blend together and serve – and that’s it!  Perfect for before or after a workout. Recipe courtesy Chris Freytag; www.chrisfreytag.com

One of my new favorite things!

So I have come to learn that marketing and advertising works beautifully on me. I realize this. If a Braum’s commercial comes on with their sensual display of how a sundae is made with all that gooey chocolate, I MUST HAVE ONE IMMEDIATELY OR I SHALL DIE. I didn’t want an iphone til I saw what all you could do with the mini-computer and started saving for one. And don’t even get me started on what Target ads do to me around the holidays.

So when I was reading a magazine yesterday and saw an ad for a new AFFORDABLE (yes, they do exist) organic shampoo/conditioner, I found out where I could purchase said product here in OKC. I was dreading a trip to the mall but was pleased to learn that I could go right up to Target to buy it. Oh, Target. I know, I know. But I have not had shiny, pretty hair that got complimented on since I was in college, when I used Pantene. I used Pantene until my hairdresser freaked and said it was pretty much the worst thing I could do to my hair. But it made my hair so shiny, so smooth! I haven’t found something I love and stick with since then.

Until yesterday. Today I am sporting smooth, shiny, manageable hair (and its about to tornado outside so you know the humidity is up). I have fallen in love with Organix products- it smells great, its organic (better for the environment and my body) and its only about a dollar more than the evil Pantene. At $6 a bottle, I have to say thank-you, Marie Claire, for giving me my hair back.

                                                       

Its working out…

So today I realized that this whole working out thing is not as horrible as I expected it to be. By no means am I ever looking forward to going to the gym, but I finally have some elevated energy. That was my main goal, to have more energy. Lately I have just been exhausted when I get home from work, and I didn’t like that.

I thought I was busy before, but now I feel like I am never home and the state of my home is a good indication of that. This week has been a flurry of getting a trainer, having her pinch me with the fat-measurer-thingy, doing a bazillion squats (my thighs still burn), cardio, zumba, and tonight the torture of my upper arms is on the schedule. Oh and that nazi is making me write down every single thing I put into my mouth, so please do not eat chocolate in front of me or flaunt your Route 44 Dr. Pepper in front of me, oh how I miss you, Dr. Pepper. I miss the taste of real Dr. Pepper, not Diet Dr. Pepper bc who wants to drink something that tastes like candy? blech.

Needless to say, I am off my rump and hopefully it will start to shrink soon!

I HATE SWEAT! (so why did I just join a gym?)

Well after about 6 months of playing the “I just had a baby” card, I decided to put the cookies down and purchase some Slim Fast. That’s okay with me bc Slim Fast kind of tastes like cookies. But seriously, since I had Aubrey I have been thinking a lot about the future, the values I’d like to instill in her, and the example I will set for her. I started to care about things like the environment and what kind of world she is going to get handed as an adult. I started to care about eating organic food (as much as I can afford, anyway) and planting my own garden. I started recycling anything and everything that is recyclable, and I got my office to go along with it.

                                        

One thing that I completely ignored, however, was the whole exercise, get-off-your-rump thing. I’m not so great at that. I absolutely HATE to sweat. HATE IT. I will do anything to avoid it, including running the AC (not environmentally friendly, I know. I’m a woman of contradictions) while I blow dry my hair in the middle of January. I get so irritated in the summer when I shower, spend an hour doing my hair and makeup only to step outside and my scalp immediately undoes all the product and blow-drying and clean feeling that I have infused into my hair. I get so irritated when I get my makeup to cover every blemish that I inevitably get in the summer due to SWEAT and my big ugly pores and as soon as I step outside my forehead gets shiny and oh how I hate it when my upper lip sweats. GAH!

                             

Needless to say, when a local gym made a deal with my employer for a discount membership, I promptly deleted the email and told myself that Slim Fast and Special K would do the trick. Ryan, however, had a different idea. He mentioned that we should do it together (its like $30/mo for both of us) and that it went along with my whole “wellness living” kick. I agreed, almost even got excited about it, and then for a few weeks we forgot about it. Until Wednesday, when Ryan said, “Hey, let’s go up to the gym at lunch and sign up” to which I said, “Okay but I want to eat first” which, I know it was lunchtime and its appropriate to eat at lunchtime, but I felt guilty. Whatever, I ate the food and then we went.

                             

I actually like the facility, the childcare is clean and I would feel comfortable leaving Aubrey there for an hour. So I kind of started to get pumped, remember that I used to be able to look forward to bathing suit season instead of dreading it, and that before the baby I could shop for a size that didn’t make me wonder if I am technically obese.

Today I am going for the first time (Ryan has been every day, punk) when I get off work since we get off early on Fridays, and I have already conjured up a massive headache and major fatigue. I don’t wanna go! I wanna go home and take a nap! But I will go, and after a week of hating it, I know I will actually look forward to it. At least I have a workout buddy.

Plus, doesn’t this mean I get to run over to Target and get workout clothes? I think it does!