Hallows Eve!

We have some catching up to do before I share a little of this..


Yesterday, we went to a pumpkin patch! This has been on my to-do list all month and I’m so glad we were able to find the time to go as a family! This was actually my first time to a pumpkin patch EVER!! My family always just picked up our pumpkins at the local grocery store in the past.. Let me just say, the pumpkin patch is SO much better!

They even have some of my favorite squashes available!




It was fun to see the HUGE pumpkins and crazy gourds and get lost in the corn maze!
The twinners loved it to!

we ventured around and picked out our pumpkins




After the pumpkin patch we went to the UTAH football game!


We weren’t able to get any lunch before luckily I had a protein shake and apple stashed in my purse and Brent picked up a chicken sandwich.
It was the black out game! Which means everyone in the stadium wears black, including the team!

It was a perfect fall day for football and a fun date for Brent and I. AND…..WE WON!
I had a late night with little T (I think his laterals/molars are erupting) So from 1:45-3 we hung out watching cartoons and stacking blocks. I don’t know where he gets the energy that late..err.. early in the morning? but I was pretty much laying on the floor and when I would close my eyes he would get reeeeeeally close and screech in my face.
how kind.
When I finally woke up… at 10 am. I whipped up some pumpkin protein pancakes.

PUMPKIN PROTEIN PANCAKES

Ingredients

• 1.5 scoops of vanilla protein
• 2 egg whites
• 1/4 C. almond milk
• 2 TBSP of oat flour (or any kind of whole grain flour-I  make my own with gluten free oats)
• 1/2 tsp. of baking powder
• Cinnamon to taste
• 1/2 tsp. of nutmeg
• 1 tsp. of vanilla
• 1/2 cup of pumpkin
• 1 TBSP of agave nectar/stevia

Directions
Blend all ingredients together
heat up skillet to medium heat
let cook for about 2 minutes before flipping
top with your favorite toppings!


Today has been quite the lazy Sunday which in the first time in MONTHS we haven’t had any commitments or had to go anywhere! So we enjoyed it by staying in our pajamas till uh… all day. We did venture out of the house for a fun little family walk/run up city creek canyon! (A first for me to!)
We hiked up the trail 1.2 miles and ran back down with the babes!



I was loving that trail! We enjoyed the fall leaves and couldn’t help but notice most of them have fallen which means.. snow soon…
It was a good ending to a lazy Sunday! I’m so excited for Halloween tomorrow and take the babes trick or treating in their costumes!
Q. Where do you usually pick up your pumpkins?
Q. Favorite lazy day Sunday activity?
Mine is usually playing games inside but the weather was beautiful outside today and we have to take advantage of this Utah fall weather before the snow falls!

chocolate pumpkin pie shake

Hey! Sorry I have been neglecting the little blog for the past few days, I had two post prepared to post and when I went to load the pictures my computer died and I couldn’t recover either of the post! Insert major sad face here!
Last night we had a neighborhood halloween party! It was the first time getting the twinners in their costumes! Once I put them on I coundn’t stop laughing! Especially at little B’s costume.. Its so poofy on her bum and she sort of waddles when she walks. It was so cute! T didn’t love his at first but once we got to the party I think he forgot about it and was running all over the place!

B is a poodle and T is a lion.. trying to get them to both look at me and hold still is impossible. I love my little animals.

This morning at pump we had a festive little class. I dressed up in a hula skirt and we had some great halloween music! Sadly, no pictures were taken. umph. (bad blogger, bad blogger..)
Afterwards, it was TABATA time on the treadmill. I set up my gymboss interval timer and got to work.
SPEED TRAINING at its finest.
I set the incline at 2% and speed at 10
20 sec. on 10 sec. off.
For 3 miles! It took about 20 minutes then I set my speed to 7.5 and finished off another mile.

I was a sweaty mess! 

Felt Good!! Cooled down at a 4.0 mph for about 3 minutes. I LOVE tabatas on the treadmill. It keeps my attention and its hard work without a second of boredom! (I’m NOT a huge fan of running distance on treadmills… SNORE)
If you are interested in another type of Tabata try this one out!
Post-workout I came home and whipped up this delicious recovery shake!
{CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN PIE SHAKE}

mmm. drippy. Don’t worry I slurped the side of the cup before it hit the table.
INGREDIENTS

• 1 Cup Almond breeze unsweetened vanilla milk
• 1/4 C. Gluten free old fashioned oats
• 1 scoop chocolate protein
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
• 1/4 C. pumpkin puree- (I use libbys!)
• 2 tsp cinnamon—give or take. I love cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• pinch of xanthan gum/gaur gum for thickening
• 7-10 ice cubes.

Directions
Combine all ingredients and blend until well combined!
YUM!! I think the chocolate adds a little punch to the normal pumpkin smoothie. I’m in love.


SLURP!!
I think we are going to hit up a pumpkin patch today!! Can’t wait to pick out the babers pumpkins! Then we have football game planned for later! GO UTES!! Cross your fingers.. I’m hoping they can pull off a W
Have a good Halloweekend!!
Q. What are your halloweenweekend plans?
Q. What are you being for Halloween?!
So far I have been a deer, cowgirl and a hula chick.

Success

Today I will mark as successful!

Today, I feel as if I found balance. Life comes fast, it doesn’t slow down for anyone or anything. Then once you feel as if you are comfortable BAM something throws it into a spiral and you get off your groove. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a major event it could be something simple. Either way, you feel as if your spread thin and you simply just go through the movements of everyday life.

Some nights I lay in bed feeling as if I did nothing today. Although, it was a CRAZY day and I feel as if I never stopped moving. My house looks like a war zone, my babies went to bed in their onsies because I was just to tired to put pajamas on, nothing on my to-do list was checked off and I just felt overwhelmed and defeated.

source

Now I’m sure we all have days like this. We ALL do.

I woke up this morning with a new attitude. A determination. I won’t let any comment from someone eat away at me, or a negative thought of what I can’t do reflect on the rest of the day. I woke up wanting to just SUCCEED at the things that describe me. 

MY SUCCESS TODAY

Success to me is completing a 5 mile run with a under 8 minute pace (PR!!)because its been to long.

Success is choosing to have a egg scramble for breakfast instead of a giant bowl or 3 of reese’s puffs

Success is having that one member at the gym come up to me and giving me a big sweaty hug because today I made fitness “FUN” for her.

Success is setting a new PR at the gym.

Success is playing and admiring my two little babes as they laugh and learn.

Success is having such a strong and supportive spouse that I know will stand by me no matter how bad I smell.

My success is more then completing a TO-DO list. Its about finding that balance, its hard work, dedication, pushing through the suck and enjoying life as it comes.  So screw negative thoughts and feelings and things that you feel you “should” of done make a list of what you DID accomplish because even the little things are GREAT things.

Q. What did you succeed at today?

Maple-Soy Salmon

Happy Monday!! I don’t know about anyone else but the weekend went by way to fast! Tonight I decided to break out the big fish. My Brother In-law went to Alaska and caught this salmon for me. Okay, not really just for me but I did BEG him to share it with me. He knows how to earn his “favorite brother in-law” award.

{Maple-Soy Salmon}

 

Ingredients:

• 1 Salmon Filet
• 1/4 C. Pure Maple syrup
• 2 tsp. braggs liquid aminos (or low sodium soy sauce)
• 2 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
• Sesame Seeds

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350

Combine Maple Syrup, Braggs Liquid Aminos and Mustard in small sauce pan and bring to a boil, stir occasionally

 

Place Salmon on tinfoil

Pour glaze on top of salmon

 

 

spread over using brush

 

Sprinkle sesame seeds over the top

Wrap the fish up in the tinfoil. Place directly on rack in oven

 

Bake for 30 minutes until fish flakes

I served this with some Roasted asparagus atop the rest of the Mexican quinoa. It was a perfect ending to a great day!

Other Salmon Favorites:

• Grilled Lime Salmon
• Balsamic Salmon
• Peach Kiwi Salsa Salmon
• Malibu Salmon
• Sweet Salmon

Workout

I love Mondays. I take Sundays as my active rest days, so hitting the gym with fresh legs, arms, and a clear mind is always welcome!

GPP Fitness-

800m run X2 – I used one run for warm-up then timed my second 3:02

5 rounds for time:
10 deadlifts 95/135
10 inchworms
10 pull-ups Kipped most of them, I could feel the tingle in my hand so I dropped down to jumping. I hate rips!

13:05RX Way slower then my last time but the twinners were a little impatient during the workout today.. so maybe the running back and forth generates an RX+? Ha!

Then,

100 sit-ups (one round only). 3:10

I also taught BODY ATTACK 74 tonight and we had a full house! Including my sister! I love when my family/friends come to class! They make it just that more fun! I really am LOVING this release, it involves several cross training movements and really gets a good sweat on. If you have never tried this class before, track one down and give it a go! You won’t regret it!

Challenge-

This is my challenge, I made this up to save money.. If any of you are like me, you usually go to the grocery store and pick up the basics and then brainstorm meal ideas in your brain and end up picking up several other items. Then you get home put it all away and start making dinner to find that you forgot ONE ingredient. So, you hold that recipe for another day, make something else till you can get to the store again. Then later that week you go back to the store, buy that ONE item along with “the basics” + some to just create a vicious money spending cycle. It seems when I do make a list and a meal plan I’m really good about it for a month then I either just didn’t make the time to plan or depend on my trusty memory to remember such things. Lets be honest.. I have the memory of Dora at times and can’t remember the little things.

source

SO, This week I planned it out. I wrote down everything we would need for the week, I made a list and checked it twice.

Got to the store.. mmm. FORGOT my list! touché. Candice.;

So based on the memory of a fish.. I went through the store gathering ingredients and items that I could remember off the top of my head.
When I got home I checked it and didn’t do to bad. Although, I did forget a few things.. But I’m refusing to take another trip to the store again. I know I will end up buying more things that I won’t use right off and spending WAY over our monthly grocery budget.

So this is it.. I’m going to eat out the kitchen, using only what I have. MAKE do till there is no more.

Wish me LUCK! I always just think if I just had “this” then it would be perfect…but I’m going to make do with what I have on hand.

I like to use this for my meal planning/grocery shopping

Besides, Christmas is coming and we all know you never buy something for someone else without picking up a little something for yourself. No? Just me?

If you need some helpful grocery shopping tips CHECK THIS OUT.

 

Q. What’s your favorite salmon recipe? Link it up in the comments!

Q. Are you a smart grocery shopper? Plan out the week? Or go with the flow?

One-eyed Jack

When my husband was a kid his dad would make him one-eyed Jacks for breakfast. He grew up loving this simple and delicious breakfast. He was excited to share this meal with us. Although, we have had it several times in our home. I thought it was about time I share it with all of you!

It’s a fun and healthy meal for kids and filling enough for adults.
I LOVE eggs for breakfast! One of my favorites is drippy eggs- you know when the yolk is still a little runny. AKA sunny side up?
Brent has mastered the art of the dippy egg combined with the one-eyed Jack, so I just leave him in the kitchen to do his thing. I must say, I love when he makes breakfast for us.

He even threw a couple extra drippy eggs on there for me. And the center of his toast.  Now that’s love.

{One-eyed Jack}

Ingredients:

• Slice of bread per person- brown rice bread, eziekiel or whole wheat
• 1 egg per slice of bread
• butter- (I use smart balance with omega-3)
• *Extra eggs if you desire.

Directions:

1. Heat a skillet
2. Spread each slice of bread with a thin layer of butter
3. Using the top of a cup (or sugar cookie cutter) remove the center of the bread.
4. Place on a *HOT skillet and crack an egg into the center. *The skillet has to be hot or the egg with spread out through the bottom of the bread.
5. After the egg turns white flip it toast the other side!

It was such a perfect start to this sunny Sunday morning!
Thanks Jack Brent!
{WEEKEND RECAP}
Now your probably wondering where I have been all weekend. We have had a fun weekend!
Friday we had a Halloween Party with some friends


Can you spot the deer and the hunter.


My sister and brother in-law were there.. Can you take a guess what they were?

We carved pumpkins and snacked on bulging eyes, chips and salsa, candy and cookie dough dip!

Recipe later today!
Saturday, after work, I spent most of the day up around pineview resevoir

Pacing and supporting a couple of my crazy friends.

Ogden Valley 50 miler.
From the park, runners make their way up Trappers Loop to Snowbasin ski resort and down Old Snowbasin Road. Once in Ogden Valley, the course will go west towards Pineview Dam for an 18 mile loop around the reservoir.  Then they run back up Old Snowbasin Road and down Trappers Loop into Mt. Green to finish back at the park.
Yes, 50 miles!!!
You start at 5am. You have 13 hours to finish.
I had every intention of running the whole thing with them but I opted out to sport this all day.

Hot pink wigs make anyone want to keep running.
oh yes, and lingerie.


They did it!

Congrats girls! I couldn’t be more proud of them! What an amazing accomplishment! Way to inspire!
Hope your all having a relaxing Sunday so far!
Q. What was your favorite childhood breakfast?
Q. Would you ever run 50 miles?
Next year, I’m in for 50. As long as hot pink wigs and lingerie are involved.