Avocado-- The Game Changer

Let's start off with a round-of-applause for Jessica.  Though dinner was later than I'd hoped for (which is usually 4:30pm for the old folks special), it was well worth the wait.  Plus, she fed me cherry tomatoes, walnuts, and SANGRIA in the meantime. (What's to complain about?) We both agreed that though the zucchini's were packed with protein, it was still missing a main food dish because the meal was very light.  We also agreed to some of the suggestions for improvement in the comments section: Use chickpeas instead of Cannellini Beans, Only 2 tbsp of oil needed.  We topped them with extra parm cheese instead of oil.  I think we won.  Sorry, no picture... Too much sangria.

But let's not dwell on that.  Yesterday was another fantastic dinner.  This week, I was a little over ambitious at my trip to Trader Joe's. I picked up 4 ripe avocados-- my first mistake.  I'm not really sure why I thought I'd be home to cook 5 fantastic dinners this week (all requiring avocados).  Clearly, I was delusional. (Is that an oxymoron?) But I did. I also decided this week that I needed to up my iron & protein game.  Since I'm not going to stuff my face with red meat, I chose avocados as my building block. 

Did you know that you could put avocado on everything?  I find the best way to do that is to mash it up with a little freshly squeezed lime juice (or lemon, your preference), lots of salt, and a dash (or several dashes) of cayenne pepper.  Waahlaah.  An avocado spread, if you will.

So I first spread this business on some fresh broccoli florets for breakfast one morning (I eat weird breakfasts).  I sliced some avocado to add to my Mexican fiesta salad for lunch, too. And finally, the dinner I had been waiting for: 

Grilled Portobello Onion Pepper Panini Guac Awesomeness.. unofficially named.

Here's what you see:

• White Onions
• Red Pepper
• Portobella Mushrooms
• Tomato Slices
• Udi's Gluten Free Bread
• Avocado Spread (4 avocados, 1 lime squeezed, salt & cayenne pepper)

In my lovely grilling pan (which causes an indoor forest fire every time I use it) grilled the peppers, then onions, then mushrooms.  I brushed each with a tad bit of olive oil before grilling and salted each one (of course).  Then I sprayed the pan with my olive oil cooking spray and grilled both sides of my bread.  I spread the "guac" onto one side of my bread and stacked all the ingredients up for my final masterpiece. 

(If you were wondering, my 4th avocado was Taryn's dinner Saturday night.. she prefers the lemon spread option.)

Bottom line: Avocados make the world go round.  Don't tell me you haven't looked at a restaurant menu and changed your mind to something with avocado in the ingredients list.

Keen-Wah

Have you heard of this magical nutritious food? Well, I have just recently discovered it.  Okay, so  I tried it once and hated it.  I tried this recipe from my good friend Chelsey, and tried to substitute Nutritional Yeast with Baking Soda & Vinegar.  (Gross, I know.  But Google made me do it.) So my first experience literally left a bad taste in my mouth.  I've had two boxes of Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) sitting in my cabinet collecting dust until this week when I established a new found love for this delicious food. Yesterday, my coworker (and life partner), Marianne, offered up this delicious Quinoa-balsamic salad that her sister had made, (Laura Z.-- if this is you, I'm waiting for the recipe...) and I fell in love.

Why is quinoa so amazeballs?  It's often mistaken for a grain because it's cooked like pasta, it's texture is pasta-like, but its not pasta. Quinoa is a seed (which is great because I'm not a big fan of pasta.)  It's gluten free and packed with protein and other vital nutrients like magnesium and fiber!

Tonight I will continue my Quinoa kick with this Quinoa Stuffed Zucchini that my roomate is making me.  Hopefully this recipe goes better than my attempt. Doesn't food always taste better when someone else is cooking for you AND cleaning up the dishes??  Life is good.

I'll let you know how Jessica's dinner turned out! For now, enjoy a side of sunshine with your Quinoa (or whatever's on your dinner table!)

Generational Gaps

So I'm sitting in a conference today about technology in the classroom, and the presenter says "Most of us in this room are scared of technology, but kids today start clicking and tapping away without ever reading a single direction. We (adults) read all the directions because we are scared to do something wrong and break it."  This statement was so true.  Looking at a computer game projected on the screen, the professor asked, "What do you do next?"  Everyone in the room is paralyzed or frantically reading every word on the page, but ignoring the obvious answer.  Click the "Play Game" button.  That's what kids would do.  That's what I did.  My 5th graders don't read directions, and neither do I.  They're 10, I'm 26.  Sixteen years apart and we have a comparable comfort level with technology. 

Why is that?  Probably because I grew up with a computer, like my 5th graders. Sure it was ancient, didn't have a mouse, and I only remember being able to play "Concentration" on it.  But it was a computer nonetheless.  It didn't have a word processor, so I did dabble with the Typewriter.  But a few years later, circa 1997, we upgraded to a newer, revolutionary PC.  This bad boy had loads of programs for me to play around with.. and get this.. the INTERNET!  That's right.  This was probably the biggest controversy of the household because we had to clog the land line to use our dial-up connection.  My dad only had one sister which means only two women in his house, which means only two phone users, which means he couldn't handle us all fighting over the phone and Internet.  He caved getting us a second land line.  Thanks to AOL messenger and a ghost type writing program on the Amundsen's computer, I became quite a savvy typist.  While my sister, brother and I clicked away carelessly on the computer figuring out the new technology, my dad was reading the first addition of Internet for Dummies. 

My dad still complains, as he did fifteen years ago, that us kids are breaking his computer every time we use it (though Cam probably is.)  But that's one reason kids are so fearless with technology.  They don't care if they break it because their parents will just replace it.  One of the girls I babysit is now 5. But a year ago, she would take my iTouch and turn it on, click on the game, and play, all without any instruction from me.  Even if she could do something wrong, (which she really can't) she doesn't know it because she doesn't know ownership or responsibility (fair enough she's 5.)  She learned through her own trial and errors.  But this no responsibility idea pretty much continues thru mid high school, and for otherwise thru college and beyond (#yikes #growup #thatsanotherstory) which allows for students to become even more knowledge with the available technology.     

Middle aged adults are not afraid of the cell phone, but their view and use of them are much different than younger generations.  When I'm out with friends, 5 out of 6 people have their phones on the table.  The 6th person is either older (borderline into the next generation), or on it.  We young(?) adults won't necessarily focus our attention on our phones but we like it in our line of sight just in case we need to clarify that your high school friend is pregnant, locate the closest liquor store, or find out if G&B are in Chicago this weekend.  And of course if our phones light up, we need to respond to anyone important for the night's plans.  The generation before ours.. high school to about 20 years old, have their cell phones glued to their texting hands.  They rarely to never use their phones to Google information or have a phone conversation.  Just texting.  You never have this age groups undivided attention because at least 50% of their attention is designated to their cells at all times.  Anyone around the age of 10 with a phone has 12 contacts-- their family members and a few miscellaneous friends who happen to have a cell phone too. They use their phones to get a ride, to tell their mom where they're going, or foward "chain" messages to their friends.  And from my dad, This is what I get.. "Don't text me so late because then my phone beeps all night and I don't know how to shut the dang thing off."  When his phone rings, he has to answer it right away because he doesn't want it to go to voicemail.  While this may not be true for everyone in their 40's and 50's and on, it's safe to say that it takes (most of) them 10 minutes to respond "ok" to a text message.

So what am I getting at here?  Obviously that my generation is the perfect combination of tech savvy and responsibility.  (Probably not-- but I never said I'm unbiased.) I'm also saying I have qualities about me similar to my 10-year old students. Like my kids, I know that computers, iPads, cell phones, etc. are not going to just spontaneously combust.  Ask my in about 20 years how I feel about technology.  I'll probably sound more like my dad.

ABCs

Are boys smarter than girls? Are girls smarter than boys? There's really no substantial evidence for one nor the other. Nor do I don't think that we will ever be able to confidently say that girls are smarter than boys or vice verse. As a teacher, I see lots of smart girls and lots of smart boys.. and some not so bright boys and girls. Their test scores are never gender dominated, but there is one thing that people wouldn't have a hard time arguing... girls do better in school.



This is a fact for the simple reason that girls try harder, girls care more about what other people think (teachers, parents, peers), and girls are generally neater and less lazy. This is evident by 1st grade when you're expected to write & color between the lines. The girls have neat, legible handwriting, and the boys do not. The other day, I was reading directions hand-written by a 28 year old male, and thought aloud, "Well, it's good to know that my 5th grade boys' handwriting is never going to improve." (My apologies to those of you men with really girly handwriting because I know you do exist.)


It's not just handwriting though. Its the overall quality of all their classwork. Boys finish quickly, without detail, and do the bare minimum to get the task accomplished. Girls make everything pretty. This is pretty much the basis for the blanket statement, "Boys are better at math & science. Girls are better at reading and writing." Makes sense. Math & Science have pretty clear cut formulas and answers, and the goal is to get to them as quick as possible. Reading & Writing require time, thought and details with lots of drafts, revisions, and rethinking.


I'm curious, how does this transfer to the real world down the line? Are woman more successful in the workplace because of their need for details and perfection? Or, does it hinder females performance because their employers want quick, but quality work? Efficiency. Then again, I think girls are capable of completing quick, quality work too. But are men able to recognize where & when neatness and details matter when they haven't demonstrated it their entire lives??

This got me thinking about Mad Men, naturally. Peggy is a copywriter. Probably the most up and coming and successful in the business (aside from Pete who is such a little bitch he may as well be female.) She's establishing herself in a predominately male job in a completely different era. Is she better at her advertising job because she can be creative and put in the extra details that the male copywriters are missing?

For so long, woman were kept in the kitchen probably because men knew they'd do their jobs better than them (or at least give them some competition and make them work harder.) I am by no means stating that woman should have every job and could perform better than men. I strongly disagree with that generalization because there are some jobs that women are just too emotional for and furthermore, I would love to have no job at all and be a housewife. I'm just pondering the long term effect of this lazy, bare-minimum work ethic that boys develop in elementary school.

Then again, I know many men who are successful at their jobs and can only imagine the quality (or lack there of) of work they turned into their 5th grade teacher.

Original Prankster

I have never been one for pulling off any extravagant jokes on April Fool's Day, but I happen to live with the original prankster who wanted to celebrate her favorite day of the year.  So my choices were to be with her or against her.  I opted for the obvious choice even if it did take up 2 hours of my Sunday.

Picture Story of my April 1st:

 

Head to Toe Black

Prepare the pads

 

 

Unpictured: the pile of pads outside our door step at 3pm. 

Hairapy

Who doesn't love getting there hair done?  It's pretty much the most anticipated day of my week every time it is on the calendar.  Why is this day so beloved by so many women?  I'll tell you. 

1.  Obviously-- you're hair is going to look amazeballs!  If you're hair girl is as cool as mine, she knows all the latest trends, what's hot, what's not.  She won't let you do anything too drastic (like going from red hair to bleach blonde despite your desperation which would definitely not work out the way you want it to.) 

2. New hair products-- If you haven't heard of Fudge, I'm not going to tell you about it because it's already impossible to get.  But these products do wonders to any type of hair.  Tell me you can't get your hair to do something, and I'll tell you a Fudge product that can make its happen.-- I mean its terrible. Never buy it. 

3.  The best part: You get to gossip & talk shit about anyone and everyone and your hair dresser is sworn into a secret stylist code which prevents her from spilling the beans. Don't look at me like that, you know everyone does it.  Even you people who don't have a USUAL hair girl, you probably aren't talking about the weather.  But seriously, get one.  Your hair stylist should be more consistent than your doctor.  You see them every 6-8 weeks and they are responsible for your success in life (ok maybe that's a stretch). 

Even boys need a hair guy/ girl. Some of my guy friends decided to mimic a hair girl with a hair guy.  Enter when the original Beetle Boys met Moi.  Beetle boys = 3 of my friends who were roommates & Moi = the hair dress that worked at the salon below their place.  They won't admit it, but they were very jealous that all of us girls had such fabulous hair and this allusive, yet infamous Hair Jen who was responsible for it.  That's when they found Moi.  Even three boys found the hairapy sessions with Moi to be satisfying.  They excitedly exchanged Moi stories frequently and fought over which one Moi had a bigger crush on.  (So hairapy love is not just for girls.)  I think things went a little south between the Beetle Boys and Moi because there was too much sexual tension & jealousy amongst them all.  

Anyway...

4.  An added bonus reason why hair stylists are the best: They know all the latest and greatest of things other than hair since they talk to so many people everyday.  I usually get a good new book recommendation or activity/adventure to try out.  But one of the best non-hair related "try-this" I got from Hair Jen was this recipe:

Shredded Chicken Tacos in the Crock Pot:
Difficulty: EASY
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: Whatever you set your crock pot to

Ingredients: 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
                          Taco Seasoning
                          2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles
                         Taco condiments (shells optional)

1. Spray the crock pot with Pam or Olive Oil Spray
2. Rinse the chicken breasts and put them in crock pot
3. Pour the taco seasoning over the chicken so it covers the chicken breasts
4. Add the 2 cans of tomatoes-- (I usually drain one of them so they aren't two watery)
5. Turn on for the amount of time you'd like on your crock pot.
6. Before serving, shred the chicken with a fork (it will fall apart).
7. Serve as a taco and add your condiments. 

(I prefer mine as a taco salad and eat it with lettuce, lots of white onion & extra taco seasoning.  It doesn't need all the extra calories.  )

Tell me you don't love it, I dare you.  (Sorry I'm not quite so savvy with the picture taking for the blog purpose yet.. but next time I'll make it, I'll show you this mouthwatering dish.  Or you could just make it yourself.)

Bottom line, if you don't have a hair girl (guy), get one. 

Shock the Body

Do you ever get super excited to get into a workout routine?? Or is that just me? Okay, I’m a little nuts, but I like my physical activity. It helps me sleep at night. According to my double shin splints and inflamed knee, I think I’ve definitely been working my body hard, but I’m not exactly doing the right things to get the results I want. (I think that’s mostly because of my snacking more than my workout routine, but still…) So what’s best for your body?

All trainers, weight loss programs, Biggest Loser type TV shows, and workout videos will tell you that the best way to lose weight is to shock the body. Do something your body doesn’t expect. Often when people begin a workout routine they may see an instant change in their body. After a month or so, they start to plateau because the body is not being challenged as it was in the beginning. I can vouch for this because once long, long, ago I was merely an athlete, definitely not a runner. Sprints I could handle, but I cringed when our coach made us run 1-2 miles at volleyball practice.

Well then I went off to college and had no form of ritual exercise. I ran here and there, and walked everywhere, but it wasn’t enough. When I transferred back home, I took up running in my free time. 30 minutes a day. I wasn’t running to get in shape or lose weight, nor was it this big plan of, “I’m going to start running next week.” It was just something active to do. Without expecting or really trying, I lost my college pounds and thinned out. Well now, just over 8 years later (God, I’m old) I’m still running. But running 30 minutes a day just doesn’t do it for me anymore.

Since January, I’ve been following Hal Higdon's Advanced Half Marathon Training Schedule. The cool thing about this ½ marathon training schedule is the plan mixes up my runs. One of the best things you can do for exercise is interval training. Spike your heart rate up for a few minutes and then let it rest for a quarter of that time. (ie intense exercise for 2 minutes, rest for 30 seconds.) Some of the runs include 30-45 minute tempos and fast-pace/ sprint running for ¼ or ½ miles and then a slower ¼ or ½ mile for 3-6 miles. The goal was to improve my mile time, which I am, but more importantly, I’ve actually enjoyed training with the variety of runs—and my running partner also keeps it interesting.

Since running alone isn’t beneficial and my old body is falling apart on me, I try to incorporate other activities into my workouts. My favorite add-on exercise has been yoga. I have been going to Core Power Yoga for almost two years now. I try to go 2-3 times a week, but sometimes other events get in the way. Core Power Yoga offers a variety of classes at locations all over the city and now even some suburbs. (Still hoping they get a Schaumburg studio soon!!) My favorite class being yoga sculpt which I do on my strength training days (2 times a week).

The final piece to my workout regiment, and most convenient: workout videos. These are honestly the best way to work out (especially in the winter). You don’t have to leave your house, and you are guaranteed to work muscles your body isn’t expecting you to. Personally, I am lost in the gym. I hate figuring out what machines work which muscles, and I always do less than I’m supposed to. Workout videos keep you moving, and best yet, they build strength with cardio so you’re sculpting lean, toned muscles rather than big and bulky ones. Some of my favorite workout videos are:

10 minute solution:
    -Blast Off Belly Fat (6 different ab workouts, 10 mins each)

Jillian Michaels:

    -No More Trouble Zones (Circuit training with weights 60 mins)
    -6 week 6 pack (45 mins of abs),
    -30 minute Shred-It with Weights (3 levels of difficulty, 3 circuits with 3min strength, 2  
    min cardio, 1 min abs.)(approx. 30 mins)
 Turbo Jam:
    -Cardio Party (Dance out your cardio)(approx 40mins)

    -Ab Jam (10 mins of standing abs, 10 mins of mat abs)

When I’m in the zone, I usually get in a 10 minute solution video in the morning and work in the other videos as needed. They’re a great substitute when I’m too lazy to leave the house to go for a run or a yoga class, or I put off my run til it’s too late to be running alone on the streets of Chicago.

This is a pretty typical workout week for me, but being on vacation can mess up your schedule (as it should.) So I have a week back on track before I’m back on vacation for Brett & Kari’s wedding.

Tuesday- 10 minute Abs video & 3 mile interval run—6 x 400 meters sprints

Wednesday – 4 mile run & yoga sculpt
Thursday –20 minutes of abs, 10-K (aka 6 miles)
Friday – Yoga: HotPowerFusion & 30 minute tempo run
Saturday—Sculpt
Sunday – Rest (& eat lots of salt because I gave it up for Lent)
Monday—3 mile run, 6wk6pk
Tuesday – 4mile interval run 4 x 800 meter sprints
Wednesday – 10 min abs, 4 mile run (given I’m packed)

Make a plan for the week & try it out!! Last week I hiked A LOT! It was an amazing change. Try something new. Tell me something new to add to my workout routine. I love hearing about other physical activities that people enjoy.

8 days til my next vacation =)

AZ Recap: Part II

Day 5: Grand Canyon Part 1.  Got an early start on our journey.  On the drive up I was already in awe.  The scenery was incredible and driving thru the mountains was definitely engaging.  I'm not going to lie.. I was pretending like I was playing Mario Kart, you know the mountain level.  Around every corner there was a new warning sign for falling rocks, elk, cows, or a crazy decline.  To add to it, there were splattered bugs and mud all over the windshield like the MK "ghost" came and spat on me.  We drove upward some 8,000 feet of elevation.  My ears were popping.  

When we finally found somewhere to park, I ran like a giddy school girl to the rim and gasped at its pure beauty.  It was everything you couldn't imagine it being.  Note: The pictures I post will not do it justice so you MUST see it for yourself.  



Bright Angel Trail



We hiked down 3 miles on the Bright Angel Trail.  It's a pretty populated trail with all different ages, shapes, and sizes along the trail (including Mules).  Some people had camped by the river or the Indian Gardens and were on their way back up. 

 

Around every turn you can't help but revel in what's before you.  Every turn brings a new magnificent view.  

When we finished our tiring 6 mile trek, we were ravenous.  But we couldn't miss this.



The sun setting on the canyon.



Somehow there was a 45 minute to an hour wait at all the restaurants in the village, but luckily too. As we're sitting outside on a bench looking into the dark, vast, canyon, we see a comet!  So bright and so close and burned long enough that you could have taken a picture.  Simply amazing.  

Day 6: We got up for sunrise, but didn't have much of a picture-esk view.  For future reference, if you go to the GC-- Mohave Point would have had some pretty incredible views for a sunrise/sunset.  At somewhere near 24 degrees, we packed up and got ready for our day's hike.  We went west to Hermits Rest and started are 3 mile, 1400 ft descend to the Dripping Springs.  



My front row seat to the sunrise.


The first part of the trail was cold and rocky.  After about an hour into it, the sun started to do its thing and warm us up.  After passing the campground, the road got less rocky and more like red dirt.. and whole lot scarier.  I cannot express to you how terrified I was on the second leg of this trail.  The trail was about 2 feet wide and on the edge of the canyon.  

Below is a short video of one of the scarier parts of the trail.

 

There was one moment of mental weakness when I wanted to turn back, but so thankful I didn't.  Doesn't seem like much, but it was just perfect.  

So at the bottom of our hike, 78 degrees and sunny, we had our lunch on 3 rocks.  Rice cakes and Sunflower Seed Butter (heavenly) and just some okay scenery.  


This spot was actually terrifying.



 

We went from the "YOU ARE HERE" to Dripping Springs!



A few hiking tips I picked up:  Camelbacks are a necessity-- easy, accessible, abundance of water. Eat filling meals.  People who hike in jeans are ridiculous. Bring your boyfriend so he can rub your feet when you finish!



Day 7: Back to the pool.  88 degrees in the desert.  After some serious sun time, Sara, Jake and I went to the Tempe Art Fest.  It was great walking around and of course topped of with some Sangria on a patio.  After dinner, we had every intention of going to the casino before my redeye flight, but the thought of smoke smelling hair on an airplane just didn't seem right.  So instead, we picked up a bottle of Sangria, and climbed to the top of A mountain for. 

Of course, I had to make a dramatic exit by losing my wallet from the car to right inside the airport doors.  But blonde luck prevailed and I found it in time to catch my flight with Joan Rivers.

 

Final Thoughts on the trip:  Reverse happy hour is legit. Chips n salsa are an appetizer, not a meal. Everything is out to get you in the desert. Try something new everyday, even if it scares you! Must buy Sunflower Seed Butter.  G and Sara are pretty cool too. I think I'll be back.