Till Then Smile Often

May 24, 2013

My Dad is the Man!

Today is the beginning of my four day weekend! I am heading up to New Hampshire for our girls weekend and our 5k Color Run! I dropped my pup Seamus off at my Dad’s yesterday!

Since I don’t have kids my Dad gets to babysit my pup. When I first got my puppy he stayed with my Dad and I shuffled back and forth to his house three times a day to walk him, play with him and love on him so he is used to my Dad.

My Dad also has his dog who is my puppies sister. They get to love each other and annoy each just like I do with my own brother! 🙂

I love that he stays with my Dad rather than a border because that ish can get expensive but also because he isn’t confined to a crate which is what would happen at a border since my dog is a little psycho! He has fear issues with strangers. Who wouldn’t when you are less than knee high and someone could crush you by stepping on you! So I am rambling but just wanted to let you know I am on vacation so I may be a little MIA until Monday or Tuesday. I will try and update with some photos on Instagram so feel free to follow me there.

To kick off this weekend I bring you #backthatazzupfriday with TLC’s What About Your Friends! Enjoy!

May 21, 2013

Taco Salad and Protein

For some reason this weekend being more of a rest and relaxation kind of week I didn’t really eat much. I really need to get a handle on my nutrition though as I just confirmed my sign up for my first ever half marathon. Yes I have completed 7 triathlons but it is not the same! It has also been a few years since I have done a triathlon due to an injury that I rushed back into too soon causing me to stop racing for a bit. Needless to say I really need to modify my diet a bit, not much just tweek it a bit. No worries though I will still be bringing some tasty treats, my co-workers will just be eating them for me! 🙂

On to the food!!!

Breakfast – I didn’t have any of my overnight porridge ready so I went with a classic of mine, the protein shake.

I add 12-18 oz of water ~ 6 oz of Almond Milk ~ 1 TBSP of Natural Peanut Butter ~ 1/2 cup of frozen strawberries ~ Protein Powder (Cytosport – Muscle Milk – Graham Cracker) * The protein shake package says one scoop per 8 oz but I like mine to be a little less rich so I add more water.

Snack – I had some watermelon chunks and another protein shake. I was running around a lot on different projects so I was less than creative on my snacks.

Lunch – Thanks to our wonderful host Jenn for convincing me to get the taco salad shell maker from this post from the infomercials. Best money I spent recently. I will get a lot of use out of it! I was so hungry after my workout trying to shove this in my face I forgot the tomatoes. Otherwise it was yummy! I used Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.

Snack 2 – Thanks to Jessica for suggesting this awesome snack! The sweetness of the grapefruit and the smoky richness of the Gouda was a really good combination. It totally hit the spot.

Dinner – I love stuffed chicken since it is a great way to sneak in some veggies while packing in a lot of flavor. Since I eat a lot of chicken (like 3-4 pounds a week) it is a great way to “spice” up your meals. I went with a Smoked Gouda and Spinach Stuffed Chicken. I posted the recipe here.

May 21, 2013

SPD – Metallic Mason Jar

Can I just say how excited I am that it is Thursday!! Tomorrow is my girls weekend with my BFF’s. We take a weekend trip together every year in place of birthday and XMAS gifts as a way to just spend time alone with just us girls. We get to shop, hangout, catch up, and just be plain old silly and make memories. We are also doing a 5K Color Run! Woohoo!! Be sure to check back on Tuesday for the weekend rundown!

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For this week I wanted to do a quick and easy centerpiece for my dining room table. I like to switch things up for the seasons and I think this is really simple and classic. The original pin can be found here.

PIN THIS

Supplies: Mason Jar ~ Metallic Silver Spray Paint ~ Flowers (real or fake will do) ~ Round mirror

OPTIONAL: Candles and table runner

Directions:

1. Spray the Mason Jar with the Metallic Spray paint (2 coats)

2. Once dry place on the mirror and insert flowers

3. Done (I felt it had to be at least 3 steps to seem legit, otherwise it was too easy) 😉

If you haven’t already, follow me on Pinterest here.

Now head on over to our two co-hosts Steph and Katie. Be sure to check out all the other pin inspired projects completed, because let’s be honest that is the best part!

May 20, 2013

Smoked Gouda and Spinach Stuffed Chicken

I love trying new recipes, finding new combinations of flavors. What tastes great on its own, can taste even better in combination with another flavor. When looking through my copy of the Betty Crocker Cookbook I had multiple recipes tagged to try one being the Smoked Gouda and Spinach Stuffed Chicken. I love smoked Gouda on its own but the addition of the spinach and the chicken made it a DISH and not just dinner!

Ingredients:

~ 4 chicken breasts (2-1/2 to 3 pounds) *the original recipe called for bone-in chicken but I don’t eat meat on the bone so I used boneless skinless.

~ 2 TSP butter or margarine, melted

~ 1/2 tsp salt

~ 1/4 tsp pepper

Optional: Garlic Salt , Chili powder, Bacon Bits

Stuffing:

~ 5 oz frozen chopped spinach thawed

~ 3 oz cream cheese, softened

~ 1/2 cup shredded smoked Gouda (2 oz)

~ 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease square pan.

2. Squeeze spinach to drain; spread on paper towel and pat dry. Mix the cream cheese, gouda and nutmeg; then stir in spinach.

3. Place chicken breasts in a ziploc bag or between Saran Wrap and pound chicken breasts with a mallet until flat. (If you don’t have a mallet use a rolling pin or a soup can)

4. Spread the Smoked Gouda and Spinach stuffing onto the chicken breast, roll and pin in place with toothpicks

Stuffed Chicken

5. Place chicken in pan. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with Salt and Pepper (I added garlic salt and chili powder for added flavor)

6. Bake in oven for 45-55 minutes or until juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers are cut.

SIDE NOTE: I will absolutely make this again, I may add a little bit of chicken gravy on top or maybe a chipotle dressing to add a chicken to the chicken and rice. Who knows what else I may add! Served with Brown Rice with Garlic Salt and Chives

What do you think, will you make this for dinner?

Adapted by Betty Crocker’s Cookbook

Linking up with Jessica and Ashley.

May 19, 2013

Rest and Relaxation

This was the first weekend in six weeks that I haven’t had plans on at least one of the days. As much as I wanted to just curl up on the couch and sleep ALL weekend I had a huge list of things to get done!

Saturday was all about yard work! My yard seriously needed to be mowed before I got a ticket from the city for the lawn height ordinance. Not sure if that is even a thing but if it was it would have been a close call. I had to power wash the outside of my house, the winter took it’s toll, and getting some weeding done too.

Proof I actually mowed! 🙂

A little taco salad for lunch after my workout. I was so tired I forgot the tomatoes. I used greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream. After such a long day of yard work and house cleaning I lounged and watched a movie with Seamus. He provide a lot of entertainment.

I have been seeing these all over social media so figured I would cave to peer pressure and try them out. Let me tell you these are GOOD!! They do not taste like beer but they are STRONG!! I had two but really after the first one I had a little buzz, they are double the alcohol content as a regular beer. So beware or party hard, whatever your preference.

Sunday was a little more house cleaning. Grocery shopping. Meal prep. Relaxing, and planning.

Post workout snack. Protein shake and watermelon chunks. The smile board for the week.

I finally chose a race and the countdown begins to start really training!! Oh boy what have I gotten my self into, a half marathon that’s what!

What craziness did you get up to this weekend?

Linking up with Sami at Sami’s Shenanigans and Leann at Join the Gossip .

Also linking up with Postcards from Rachel and Northern Belle Diaries.

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