My Favorite Little Lake and On a Mexi Kick.

Last night a line of storms came through so this morning it was nice and cool for my run. 8 miles with lots of cloud cover, 73 degrees and a light breeze but intense humidity. I was drenched by the end. Sure do love this view though…keeps me distracted. My favorite little lake.

 

I took it easy at a 9:40 pace overall but my very last mile was 8:59…still slow but it was nice to be able to pick it up in the back half.

Topped it off with a few sets of planks, pushups, and did some yoga hip opening stretches. Rolled my calves with my favorite massage stick! It has little foam rollers on it so it feels like you are foam rolling and getting a massage at the same time. Amazing.

Last night I came up with a little veggie dinner for meatless Monday. I have been on a big Mexi kick lately so I decided to whip up some spinach enchiladas.

Here’s what I used-

2-3 handfuls of fresh spinach

2 wedges of light laughing cow cheese

Chopped roasted garlic

1/2 can of red enchilada sauce

Corn tortillas

Avocado

Feta cheese

Salt/pepper/hot sauce, to taste

Saute the spinach with garlic and a little bit of olive oil in a pan. Add hot sauce/salt or pepper if desired to season the spinach. Add laughing cow cheese and mix until cooked through. Dip corn tortillas in red enchilada sauce, then add spinach mixture and roll up into a nonstick pan. Make as many as desired (this recipe makes about 4 enchiladas) Top w/ feta cheese. Cook in the oven on 375 for about 15-20 minutes.

Add lots of avocado on top…and maybe a little bit more feta. Because it’s delicious.

 

What’s your favorite Mexican dish? 

Do you foam roll/use a massage stick after you run? 

Gettin’ it In and Keepin’ it Classy…Wknd Recap.

Monday workout…taught 55 minutes of cycle – gettin’ it in with my crazy dedicated morning crew.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend! Mine was mixed with some rest, lots of running, and some yummy eats! Saturday morning my training plan called for 13 miles. I was up and at it at 5:30 am. 79 degrees….crazy humidity and about 20 mph winds.

Slow as molasses but got it done.

Quick outfit change then I had to hit the streets to sub a spin class for a friend at 8:30. Wild fun joyride.

After a nap I met up with a friend for brunch, and ran some errands. Helped my mom out with my boy Brady who got his shots then a haircut. He told me to take his photo so he could show you guys his dapper new look! I love how he poses for the camera.

Sunday morning I was up for an hour long bendy session in the park! It felt more like hot yoga. Great stretch though and it was fun doing it outdoors with the music and the scenery.

(Source)

I also did a little running on Sunday too…quick 5 mile loop to shake out the legs from my long run.

Sunday for dinner I made some shrimp lettuce wraps with cilantro lime quinoa and avocado. Just something I made up. They reminded me a little bit of shrimp tacos.

All while drinking Barefoot pinot grigio wine and watching Real Housewives of New Jersey. Keepin’ it classy.

What did you do this weekend? Do you do yoga? What’s your favorite yoga pose?

TGIFriday Faves.

Hello and Happy Friday! I’m so happy the weekend is back around again. Short work weeks are my favorite!

I also have some more faves to share with you this week.

-Getting treats in the mail from Under Armor for their What’s Beautiful campaign. I actually received these last week before I went out of town but I have been enjoying them all week long. I love teaching my spin classes in a different colorful headband each time.

Plus check out those shoes! They somehow knew about my love for pink workout wear.

-I made this cauliflower mash to go with my smoked salmon for dinner the other nite…deelish. Putting potatoes to shame.

-This nude Essie nail shade Playa del Platinum. Gotta have it.

-Tube top dresses simply because they are super easy to just slip on and go.

-This Beyonce track on my spin playlist this week for some speedy intervals. It will be in the heavy rotation.

-Morning runs with the rain clouds in the sky and drizzles to cool me off on my way back home.

 

What are you doing this weekend? What’s the name of your favorite nail shade? Have you ever gone for a run in the rain? 

On Repeat and a Lazy Girl Meal.

Last night’s dinner…buffalo chicken wraps. It’s basically like the dip except wrapped up in iceberg lettuce. I will definitely be making these more often since it’s a great lazy girl meal.

I mixed up chopped cooked chicken with light cream cheese and Frank’s buffalo sauce. Bake in the oven at 400 for about 10-15 minutes and let it marinate. Sprinkle blue cheese crumbles on top. Good stuff…I think next time I will add green onions and veggies in the mix.

This morning I rolled outta bed and ran 4.5 miles at an easy 9 minute pace. Humid with temps in the 70s but the occasional breeze and cloud cover helped.

The cherry on top was seeing this beautiful hibiscus at the end. At least I can pretend I’m in Hawaii or the islands somewhere.

Going along with the tropical staycation theme I made myself a post run smoothie with roasted coconut sprinkled on top.

I’m glad I got this run in early because there’s a line of thunderstorms coming in today so I wanted to make sure I didn’t get rained out. That and the fact that I am scheduled to get a 60 minute massage tonight with my favorite therapist. Can’t wait.

Until then I will just be listening to this song on repeat…this one is staying on the playlist.

Any songs you’re listening to on repeat? What’s your favorite thing to put in a lettuce wrap? 

Breakfast Tater Skins and Tracks on Deck Thursday Spin Playlist.

So last night I decided to cook up some breakfast for dinner…also known as BRINNER (probably one of my favorite words). I’ve been craving eggs like never before so I decided to whip up some breakfast tater skins.

I added some roasted asparagus on the side. Oh and use crumbled chicken sausage and laughing cow cheese in the potato mix. Maybe a little bit of crumbled blue cheese. And preferably the jalapeno chicken sausage from Trader Joe’s.

Get creative.

This week’s spin cycle playlist-

A Little Party Never Killed Nobody- Fergie feat. Q Tip and Goon Rock: Warm up

Shut it Down- Pitbull feat. Akon: Jumps w/ 6-7 resistance

Blurred Lines (Justin Sane Bootleg Remix)- Robin Thicke feat T.I. And Pharell: 7-8 resistance, double time intervals out of the saddle

Against the Floor (Mashup)- Rihanna, Britney Spears, Pitbull: Rolling hills

Come and Get It (Fast version)- Selena Gomez: Accelerations

Love on Top (Ted Smooth Remix)- Beyonce: Active Recovery

Freeze- T. Pain feat. Chris Brown: 7-8 Jumps, Double time it at the chorus

Hard- Rihanna feat Jeezy: Back to a flat road, working all the way up to level 10 hill

Boyz- M.I.A.: Sprints 30/20/30/20

Clarity- Zedd feat Foxes: Short recovery, working back up to level 7

Crazy in the Deep (Mashup)- Adele vs. Cee-Lo: Starting at 7 working up to level 10 (11 if you have it in you!)

The Other Side- Jason Derulo: Recover on a flat road, then back to rolling hills

Hit the Lights- Jay Sean feat Lil Wayne: Team sprints

Beautiful- Mariah Carey feat. Miguel: Cool down

Oh and I’m loving this little 101 on spinning. Brush up on your cycle etiquette and get some good tips.

What’s your favorite BRINNER meal? 

Do they have a Trader Joe’s where you live?

Quick Dinner Faves.

With my crazy schedule…full time job along with teaching 4-5 spin classes a week at the gym, things can get a little hectic. I like to plan my meals in advance so I don’t run for the drive thru window…although at times that can be tempting! Here are some quick dinner faves I have as arsenal to prevent such dilemmas.

Southwest stuffed peppers- Adopted from this recipe. This was super easy and fun to make! Plus I had leftovers for DAYS. I will definitely make again. I used quinoa instead of the rice and dressed mine up with avocado and crumbled goat cheese for an extra kick. You can omit the turkey if you are a veggie and just fill it with black beans and quinoa…still fantastic!

Quinoa fried rice- From this post…super quick and filling. I had it on the side with my mama’s famous teriyaki chicken wings. Like chinese takeout made at home!

Spicy chicken and sauteed kale- This is is also one of my staples for lunch because I can make it in the morning while I’m getting ready for work or even the night before. I use frozen cooked chicken strips and season them with a little olive oil, garlic powder, and louisiana hot sauce. Bake on 400 for 25 minutes. Sauté the kale in a pan with nonstick cooking spray, add seasonings. Quick and healthy lunch and/or dinner.

Panko crusted tilapia- Again, I am a huge fan of the frozen precooked bags of fish and chicken. Makes it so easy! I season these with the same seasonings as the chicken then coat the fish with panko bread crumbs and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Serve with your favorite side dish.

Can you tell I like my blue plate?

What are some of your go to easy to whip up meals? 

Give me ideas

Girl on the Go Meals – Penne Rosa with Shrimp.

Morning workout- Taught 55 minutes of spin class, 30 minutes of yoga for athletes in my living room.

Hello there!

One of my favorite ingredients to cook with right now is greek yogurt. It’s a healthier alternative to the heavier creams, and packs quite the protein punch! I use it in my smoothies, and most recently pasta dishes. Last night I tried out this penne rosa recipe! Perfect if you don’t have time to slave away in the kitchen but still want a hearty, wholesome meal. Makes plenty of leftovers too for the next few days!

Adopted from this blog. I changed a few things for the sake of time (and laziness). You should also know that I like to eyeball ingredients so add more or less of whatever to your liking. I love to top a lot of my meals off with lots of red pepper cuz I like it hot!

Here’s what I used.

Multigrain penne pasta (you can substitute this for corn/rice pasta if you are GF)

2 cups of fresh spinach

1 cup of button mushrooms

Marinara sauce

1 cup of cooked shrimp

1/2 cup of nonfat plain greek yogurt

Garlic powder

EVOO

Salt and red pepper flakes, to taste

Fresh parmesan & romano cheese

-Boil pasta until cooked, drain and set aside. In a skillet, sautee the shrimp and mushrooms with a little bit of olive oil. Add fresh spinach and cook all the way through. Combine cooked pasta with shrimp, spinach and mushrooms in a pan. Add marinara sauce, greek yogurt and seasonings. Cook dish on medium low til sauces are cooked all the way through.

-Sprinkle cheese on top and go to town. I served it up with a lovely glass of pinot noir.

What is your workout today? Have you tried any new dishes lately? 

On the Go Meals- Breakfast Tacos.

Happy Thursday! I don’t know about you but this week is totally flying by for me. I kinda dig it! I am looking fwd to some St. Patty’s Day fun this wknd with friends.

Hopefully a little debauchery will be involved like last year…

My friends Ann & Sarah

Yeah…really it’s just another excuse to wear my pro compression shamrock socks. They are too much fun.

On another random note I thought I would share a breakfast with you that I have been loving lately. If you know anything about TX you know we love TACOS!

Basically.

…and I love me some breakfast tacos. So I decided to put matters into my own hands and create my own version. Straight from the Chelsea Café.

Here’s what you need-

-My favorite carb balance tortillas. 2 of them to be exact.

-2 eggs and 1 egg white, beaten

-2 pieces of bacon/turkey bacon (depends on what you like…I really have been loving real bacon lately, in moderation!)

-1 wedge of laughing cow light swiss cheese

-Salt/red pepper flakes, to taste.

Scramble the eggs and throw in the laughing cow cheese til fully cooked. Cook bacon. Place eggs on tortillas and crumble up bacon on top. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top for a little zest. Fold then gobble those bad boys up.

You know you want some.

What are some restaurant favorites you like to recreate at home? Are you doing anything for St. Patty’s Day this wknd? 

Anyone running a marathon to celebrate? I know this girl is…so go wish her GOOD LUCK!

Double Day and My Happy Snack.

My new happy snack- sweet peppers.

Have you guys tried these yet? They are so tasty. Last night I whipped up some lemon pepper crispy chicken tenders with some sweet peppers on the side. Delish.

All you need are boneless skinless tenders, olive oil, lemon pepper seasoning, a little salt and garlic powder. Bake in the oven on 375 til cooked thru then crank up the oven on broil for a bit til they are nice and crispy. Sautee the spinach and sweet peppers on the side and you are all set! Wham bam thank you ma’am. So good I even made extras for lunch.

Oh and don’t forget the wine. Red wine goes good with everything…forget what you heard about pairings.

This morning’s spin class –55 sweaty minutes and I added some new tracks and threw some Beyonce on there.

Not sure what my obsession is with Beyonce lately. I brought this one back.

This is my double day so I have another spin class to teach tonight after work. I love my happy hour spinners.

What is for lunch today? Any fruit or veggie you are loving lately? Are you a morning or evening workout person? 

Improvising, a Great Deal and Portobello Pizzas.

This morning’s workout – 60 minutes of spin class with this playlist, some new tracks and some old ones thrown on there.

We did some sprint work, some rolling hills, and some surging up some pretty steep inclines. I was off of the bike about half the class walking around coaching since I had no working mic. And if you are a group fitness instructor, you feel my pain and know teaching a class with 20+ people in the room without a microphone is no easy feat. A little irritating but good practice for me to project my voice and make it about my students…not my workout. Improvising…always fun.

My favorite drill of the day was doing team sprints to this song. I tell my classes to leave it all on the bike at the end and give me everything they’ve got. Even my newbies worked pretty hard on this one.

I thought I’d share my portobello mushroom pizza recipe with you today. I honestly was a little skeptical making this earlier this week but now I’m hooked. I see lots of portobellos in my future. It’s also a great dish if you are gluten free, low carb or are just tired of bread and need an alternative. It’s nice to switch things up every now and again.

This recipe makes one pizza, but feel free to double it up and make a whole bunch! They’re so yummy.

What you’ll need-

1 large portobello mushroom (or more depending on how many you’re serving)

1/4 c. goat cheese

1/2 c. sauteed spinach and/or kale

1 small can of tomato sauce (I used Hunt’s Tomato Sauce)

Spinach & feta chicken sausage

Garlic powder

Salt/red pepper flakes, to taste

Preheat the oven to 375. Cut the stem and scrape out the insides of the portobello. Bake it by itself in the oven for about 15 minutes. Take the mushroom out, drain the juices and you are ready to pile the toppings on! Add tomato sauce, then the sauteed greens. Top with goat cheese and chopped up chicken sausage. Sprinkle garlic powder, salt and a little bit of red pepper for a nice kick. Put back in the oven and let cook through for 15-20 minutes. Voila! We have easy cheesy pizza.

So good and I didn’t miss the bread at all. Feel free to play with the toppings a bit! Pair it with some orzo and a glass of white wine and you’re in business.

-Oh and before you go…make sure to catch this great deal that’s going fast for 50% off pro compression socks – in various hot colors. I just snagged the black ones. If you are a runner and don’t have these in your wardrobe you are missing out. You’re welcome.

What’s your workout today? Anything you have been loving for dinner lately? 

Group fitness instructors, what are some of your pet peeves?

No working mic…and when a student texts or talks on the phone during class…you came to workout, right? OK just making sure. Don’t let me catch you doing that. haha