Pinterest knows best

I don’t know what got into me, but I am rocking my goals for the month! It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you plan ahead! And thankfully this week was pretty successful in the recipe department.

(Side note: last weekend I tried a chicken and bow ties recipe with the gentleman that turned out to be better than I expected. I didn’t take a photo so I didn’t want to devote too much of the post to it, but I will say that while it’s initially a little soupy, once it thickens it’s a good consistency. It even makes for decent leftovers, and coming from me, you know that’s saying something.)

It seemed a little unconventional, but Sunday night I made buffalo chicken quinoa salad. I loved that it was a really straight-forward recipe, though I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about broccoli and carrots mixed in with buffalo chicken. I nixed the cabbage (primarily because I forgot about it at the store) and in the end the broccoli didn’t bother me at all. The carrots would have been better if I’d cooked them a bit longer and that’s a simple enough alteration.

I didn’t use green onions but I did throw on blue cheese. I was rather impressed with the “salad.” Normally I don’t mind quinoa so I wasn’t worried about that. It’s just that buffalo chicken usually stands on it’s own really well so I thought having it paired with something with such a different texture might throw me off. It was almost like a stir fry using hot sauce instead of teriyaki sauce. Lo and behold, I’ve found something a little healthier to make when I’m craving buffalo chicken (although most of the time I’m just craving the sauce).

Speaking of healthier options, I’m not sure if the other recipe I tried is all that healthy, but I’m already hooked at this point so I could really care less. I actually wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being a staple in my refrigerator. Always.

The other day I came across a recipe for no bake energy bites on pinterest (where else?). Lindsay’s got me on a sweet kick lately and I’ve been a sucker for ice cream (thankfully frozen yogurt suffices just fine for me). I figured these would be a good substitution for when I’m craving something sweet but don’t want to overindulge or spend money.

All I can say is oh baby! I figured I would like them, though, given all the oats and grainy texture, not to mention peanut butter and a bit of chocolate. I’m not sure whether it actually increases my energy or not, but that was about the last thing on my mind.

How in the world did we function before pinterest? (Feel free to insert an eye-roll here. Maybe I’m getting hyped up on those no bake bites after all!)

Dinner stuff(ing)

I have to admit I’m pretty impressed with myself. Last week at this time I hadn’t even thought about which new recipe I should try and this week I’ve already made two. Although leave it to me to get into baking as the temperatures are starting to spike.

For dinner on Sunday I decided to try a sweet potato with greens and beans (it’s so cute that it rhymes!). Although I absolutely love roasted sweet potatoes, fries and chips, I’ve never had a baked sweet potato. I had kale leftover from my kale pesto last week so it seemed like a worthy and relatively healthy endeavor.

Then came the moment of truth: would I like a baked sweet potato? (I was primarily worried since I don’t like yams and I thought a baked sweet potato would be comparable).

The answer was yes and no. The first few bites were great and then I lost some of my excitement for it. I liked it, but I think I just prefer roasted sweet potatoes. I also discovered that sweet potatoes pack enough flavor in itself that the beans and kale didn’t seem to add much to it, except for perhaps some nutritional value. It did make me want to try the sweet potato black bean soup Lindsay posted about back in March. The combination definitely has potential, I’ll give it that.

Thankfully I had a little more success with my dinner last night: muffin shaped calzones with a homemade dough. Impressive, right? What was helpful was that I was able to make the dough on Sunday night while my potato was baking. Since I love a lot of flavor, I ended up adding a lot of spices (primarily oregano and crush red pepper flakes) to the dough and it paid off in the end.

(Side note about the dough: I cut the recipe in half thinking there was no way I would need four pounds of it. I figured I would use one pound of it for the calzones and then the other for the flatbread mentioned in the link for the homemade dough to pair with a salad. It all ended up doing toward the calzones, though, so next time I’ll have to plan accordingly.)

During my first few “muffins” I had a moment (or two or three…) of frustration where I thought it would be easier to just make a full pizza. But I prevailed (though questioned that decision when I tried to close the muffins). Naturally I took my own approach to the toppings (or I suppose stuffing in the case). Instead of spinach and sausage I did my standard Canadian bacon and pineapple. A little bit of pasta sauce and cheese and I was set.

Although it wouldn’t win too many points on presentation, I loved it! They were a little too crusty but that’s something I can try to fix when I use this recipe again. What I think I really like about it is the portion size. I made a ham and cheese calzone way back in the day and it’s hard to plan leftovers for it. The muffins make it much easier and may even make cute snacks at a dinner party or something.

New recipes for week two are in the bag! And the fact that I found a winner makes it even more rewarding.

Focusing on the why

Despite feeling like I’ve barely made a dent in any of my to-do lists (yes, there are multiple lists…), I’ve been feeling relatively energized and inspired, in part by goal setting, but just knowing that my calendar is a bit more open so I can focus on the things I want to do.

That focus shifted a bit as I’ve been thinking back to an article I saw on posted on Facebook. Mostly I thought that what I was trying to accomplish in life and my purpose was pretty much one in the same — like becoming a life coach, writing and volunteering. But I completely buy into the notion that if your purpose is external (much like happiness), it likely won’t be found. It’s something deeper than being able to cross something off your bucket list or 30 Before 30 List.

It also parallels what Lindsay’s been learning through her leadership class (with none other than Eric Greitens! So naturally I’m living vicariously through her and I’ve been half tempted to do some of the assignments… But that’s neither here nor there).

One of the things she mentioned from her previous class session is that you have to get to the why of what you want to do. That’s what will springboard you into not only discovering your purpose but also provides the intrinsic motivation to do something with that passion.

Lately it seems I’ve been focusing on the how of my goals. How do I get a certification in life coaching? When do I want to go vegetarian for 30 days? How am I going to find and afford a non-work related conference? In the past few weeks I’ve been going overboard trying to figure out the who-what-where-when part of my goals that I forgot why I wanted to do them in the first place.

In fact, I got so wrapped up in the how of life coaching certification that all the sudden I was disheartened by the whole process. Did I really want to do it? But when I ask why it’s important to me, how could I not pursue it? And I have no doubt it will work out. I really wanted to be certified as a CDSMP course instructor so I was able to work with my supervisor to fit the training into my schedule and – viola! – starting Tuesday evening I’m co-teaching my first course.

When you focus on the why, you’re motivated by something entirely different. And it goes back to the notion that if there’s a will, there’s a way inspiration I got from You are a Badass. It’s a little bit harder to put into practice, but I think it was the change in perspective that I needed. I’ll figure how the when-where-how in due time. I just need to focus on why I set the 30 goals I did and what purpose I hope to gain from it and learn about myself.

Goal achieved

It got to be Wednesday and I hadn’t attempted a new recipe (and to be honest, I’d barely thought about it). And I wasn’t about to “fail” at my goal of making one new recipe each week this month (although I’m rockin’ the socializing during the work week part so far…hence the lack of cooking on my part, probably). Naturally I went overboard trying to remedy my situation, but I think it backfired on me.

Thursday for lunch I tried a kale pesto egg salad sandwich. Although eggs can be pretty hit or miss for me, I do love a good egg salad sandwich. My attempt at making the kale pesto was a little interesting (given I don’t have a food processor and resort to using my crappy blender…). It had much more flavor (and hopefully nutritional value with the kale and little mayo) than traditional egg salad, which I liked.

I’d also paired it with a cottage cheese salad that technically didn’t have a recipe, but it was straight forward enough. I’ll admit I was slightly hesitant to try it. Only once in a while do I crave cottage cheese and this is the first time I’d mixed it with anything, though I’ve heard it goes great with tomatoes. While I was eating it I kept going back and forth about whether I liked it, so we’ll see if I make it in the future.

Then last night my weekend kicked off with an outdoor theater production of Hello Dolly. What makes it even more fun is that people can bring food and drinks, so naturally I couldn’t show up empty-handed. Much like my cake batter dip this recipe was pure indulgence on my part. During my quest to find a recipe to whip up for the week, I found a key lime pie dip.

I should have thought to take a photo of it last night with the graham crackers and strawberries. The dip tasted better with the strawberries than the graham crackers, and I was surprised by how closely it resembled key lime pie. Although I’m not sure I’d make it again, Lindsay did suggest using it as a frosting on a fruit pizza, which is something I may need to try sometime this summer.

Next week I’ll need to put more effort into selecting my new recipe. The three I made last week weren’t bad, per say, but they weren’t anything to write home about (although I can apparently blog about it…).

Embracing the work week

My summer certainly started off with a bang in May. My theme of appreciation was very fitting and I made the most of my traveling opportunities with the family and the gentleman. Between that and dogsitting, though, I only spent about half of the nights last month sleeping in my own bed and was only in the office for about half of the work days.

My normal schedule and routine seem pretty non-existent, but it was well worth it (and I’m only feeling slightly guilty for not meeting my mileage goal for the month).This month I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things but in a slightly different manner. Given all the excitement and renewed energy from last month, I was a little nervous looking at my planner for June. This weekend I get to visit the middle, but outside of that I’m not traveling at all (incredibly rare for me). I also have very little (non-work wise, anyway) on my calendar. What’s a girl to do?

I think it’s easy to fall into a rut where people mostly look forward to weekends and vacations. I’m probably guilty of it as well, primarily because that’s when I have more time to dive into projects and spend quality time with those I love. But why wait until weekends and vacations?

My hope for this month is that I can restructure my weeks and/or change my mindset slightly. On Mondays I wake up, go to work, make dinner, workout, read and go to bed, then repeat for four more days. It’s not bad, mind you, but then I’m more apt to get stuck in a rut where I’m counting down until Friday. What about taking advantage of my Monday through Friday at 5 p.m.?

That’s why in June my goals are all about embracing the work week.

Try new fitness classes: There’s a new zumba/dance studio in town and you can bet I’m thrilled about it! My goal for the month is to try the hip-hop dance class (and although the instructor’s taught a few songs in my regular zumba class, I’m pretty sure I’m still going to look utterly ridiculous) and two new zumba instructors. I’m generally a creature of habit but it wouldn’t hurt to expand my horizons a bit (particularly since I was short on my mileage for May. Like I said, I’m only feeling slightly guilty about that…). I’m also planning to give hot yoga another run and hopefully try a new class entirely at the gym.

Start 4 items from my 30 Before 30 list: Since I have a lot of ongoing projects to accomplish in the next couple of years, my goal is to start tackling one each week this month. Primarily I want to focus on creating my travel boxes and the recipe book, but I think June will also be an opportune time to start watching movies from my IMDB list. It’s time to put my Netflix account to good use given the same DVD has been sitting on my coffee table for a couple of weeks now…

Try one new recipe each week: It’s been so long since I last attempted a new recipe that I’m a little ashamed. Summer’s the perfect opportunity to try fresh new dishes and incorporate new fruits and vegetables, so this weekend and early next week I’m going to look through my stockpile of dishes to make and see if I can make a dent in that. And of course I’ll have to post the noteworthy recipes and whether I was successful or not.

Socialize on a week night at least three times: I’m not sure how the month will unfold so I didn’t want to to be too ambitious. Mostly I want to find ways to get excited about a Tuesday evening instead of retreating to my normal dinner-workout-read-bed routine. The weather is nice, the sun no longer sets by 7 p.m., why not go to the winery or out for a hike? Even going out for ice cream and walk around downtown Columbia would be a relaxing way to mix up my routine and get more enjoyment out of my week nights.

Develop a work-site wellness program: A few weeks ago I got the go-ahead from my supervisor to develop a work-site wellness program. I’m (naturally) really excited to dive into research and planning  a program, and by making it a goal for the month I’m more likely to make good headway on it. My hope is I can come up with something that not only gets me in gear, but also helps inspire others as well. Since I get to co-teach my first CDSMP class starting June 11 (!!!), most of the material should be fresh in my mind to develop some fun activities and ideas.

While it won’t have quite the same excitement and activity level as May, I’m really looking forward to a month of regrouping and enjoying my day-to-day life this month. And if nothing else, it doesn’t hurt that I have a trip home for the 4th of July to look forward to….

Sharing inspiration

This post is a bit disjointed (I attempted to combine four drafts I was half-heartedly working on this week) but hopefully it has a point, so bear with me.

I have my off days like everyone, but for the last few weeks it seems like I’ve had my fair share of them. And it’s annoying. What makes it worse is that I can’t really explain why that is or put my finger on it. In some ways it’s because I’ve had this running theme of one-step-forward, two-steps-back in my life. (Post 1) When one aspect of my life is going well, another part of it starts to tank. There’s no consistency, and for someone who likes to see progress, it’s infuriating.

Anyway, the funk hits for whatever and it’s pretty noticeable. And believe you me, I’m not fun to be around when these moods strike (unless you’re Lindsay and find my “rage” humorous since it seems so out of character for me, but she’s out of the country right now). I don’t even like being around myself, so I get it. So what makes me feel better (aside from a Diet Coke that is)? Goals and planning.

I decided it was time to be proactive about my 30 Before 30 goals. I started looking into the items that would require a bit more planning on my part, like becoming a life coach and  attending a non-work conference. Both are things I really want to do…and then I saw the price tag. (Post 2) Cue panic and a pity party. Becoming certified as a life coach (and technically you don’t need to be certified, but I’d feel weird doing it otherwise) can cost upwards of $2,000-8,000. I knew it was an expense, but not one that steep. Ayi carumba!

Thankfully around the same time I was reading You Are a Badass. Sounds odd and looks a little too self-helpy, I know, but it’s actually a really great, straight-forward read. (Post 3) Plus she’s a life coach, so it helped keep things in perspective for me.

One of the chapters focuses on the financial barriers of achieving your dreams, for lack of a better phrase. And it honestly did help me change my perspective a bit. As an example, if my car were to break down tomorrow (knock on wood that it doesn’t…) I would find a way to get another vehicle. If I really wanted to travel somewhere (like to London with the sisters), I can save and budget to make the trip happen. It’s similar to the “if there’s a will, there’s a way” adage. If it’s something I really want to do (and life coaching is) then I’ll find a way to become certified. Scary and overwhelming as it may be, it stays on the list.

And through all this, I keep thinking back to this video that was all over Facebook and pinterest a few weeks ago. (Post 4) Parts of it had me saying, “Right on!” but there were also parts that really frustrated me and actually made me wonder why everyone seemed to be so in love with the video. One statement in particular bothered me: “There are those who are amazed and those who are amazing. There are those who are inspired and those who are inspiring.”

I’ll admit that part of the reason it probably bothered me is that I’ve felt less than amazing and inspiring lately. But even if I did, I’d still take issue with the notion that there are only two types of people in the world. I actually think it’s better to be both. I’m easily inspired, and I think because of that I can go on to inspire others as well. The same goes for amazing. I’d think you’re crazy if you weren’t amazed when you visit beautiful places or meet interesting people.

So long story short (in my grand attempt to tie this all together…), I’ve realized that despite my valiant efforts, I’m not always going to feel amazing or like I’m on my A-game. But I’ve found that those off days or “eh” moods provide a perfect opportunity to redefine what it is I want from my life right now and figure out how to achieve it. It’s also a great opportunity to have life chats, to find inspiration and learn how others have accomplished the amazing things I strive to do. Now if I could just go out and make it happen…

Fresh start

I unveil my 30 Before 30 list…and then go MIA. I wish I could say my absence is just my flare for dramatics or that I’m busy getting a jump start on those goals. Sadly, neither are the case.

This past week or so I feel like I’ve been guilty of the ”do as I say, not as I do” trap. I was geared up to focus on appreciation this month and somewhere along the way I lost it. I got back from a fabulous family vacation (and although I appreciated it, I think it was a whirlwind for us all given all the activity) and seemed to put myself into over-drive. I wanted to do X, Y and Z on top of A, B and C. Heck, just yesterday morning I had a great hour-long walk on the trail with Miley (I’m dogsitting between my two trips) and immediately went into a coffee-fueled uber planning mode to figure out I needed to get done for the upcoming week. So much for appreciating a beautiful, relaxing Sunday morning.

It seemed only fitting that I would be reminded that I need to take a chill pill. After work I wanted to get Miley (and let’s be honest, myself….) on a long walk. I’d gone back and forth about it all day since we’re in a tornado watch and according to the weather app on my phone had a 40% chance of rain all evening. Instead of lollygagging about whether to risk it, I had a “take control!” moment and got my shoes on and Miley on a leash within seconds of walking through the door.

The first half of the walk was great. Then just as I’d jokingly predicted, within a minute or two of turning around to go back to my car, it started to downpour. Instead of panicking or getting in a tizzy, I took it for what it was. Pouting was not going to stop the rain or get me back to the car any faster. So Miley and I had fun with it. We raced. We spotted a turtle. She sniffed puddles while I avoided stepping in them. We got back to the car soaked but in good spirits.

And had it looked like this pre-walk, I probably wouldn’t have taken her in the first place. Probably.

Strangely enough, it’s what I needed. Instead of running around like a crazy person tonight, I’m writing a blog entry with great music and rain in the background, a mug of hot tea and a gorgeous (albeit wet) dog chewing a bone at my feet. How can you not appreciate that on a Monday evening? My adopted grandmother always likes to remind me that it’s great to have goals and feel accomplished/productive, but that’s not all there is to life. Duly noted.