I am taking a page out of Half Baked Harvest’s book and taking a moment to reflect on all the great and wonderful things this week. Some of it is food related, some of it is not. It’s just a little slice of my life!
#5: Heather Robertson Strength Workouts
For the last seven weeks now, I have changed up my workout routine to include a combination of strength and cardio. All last summer, I was a non-stop runner. I went from barely breathing through a half mile to breezing through six miles every other day. As wedding planning approached and intensified, six miles dwindled to four, down to three, two, and wondrously disappeared. After the wedding, I started a new routine that was 100% HIIT cardio workouts. I even put one on YouTube myself!
But after my 30th birthday, I needed something different. Apparently women begin losing muscle mass after 30! I did a bit of research and found that muscle burns fat. You build muscle by tearing and rebuilding muscle fibers. And you tear the muscle fibers by lifting heavy weights. So now I am one of those people with a rotation of upper body and lower body days, cardio days, and ab and back circuits to top them all off.
I follow a few fitness gurus on Youtube, namely Heather Robertson, Lindsey Bomgren, and the Tone It Up girls. They all have great strength training and cardio workouts FOR FREE online.
I have also been completely guilty of spending way too much money on cute workout clothes. Remember in the ’90s when people exercised in their dumpiest t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants? I truly cannot explain why I need six pairs of color-ranging leggings and matching tops, but I know for certain they make me happy. I’m clearly not buying them to flaunt at any gym because I need to sweat and workout in the peace and privacy of my own home. I think I just like to look fabulous for myself during my workout! These Align pants by Lululemon are my absolute favorite leggings and I have an embarrassing number of them in varying lengths.
#4: Stovetop Espresso Makers
Our coffeemaker is on its last legs now and it’s definitely time to replace it. I drag these sorts of things out, though, because it’s not totally broken yet. Plus, I need to research coffeemakers. (Okay, I don’t. I know exactly which one I am going to get and it’s going to be the exact same one I am replacing.) Researching coffeemakers, I noticed the trendy thing now are Nespresso machines. You know, those hundred to thousand dollar contraptions George Clooney makes. For a hot second, I was sucked in by the elegant, sophistication of the matte finish and the rainbow selection of espresso pods to pop into the machine.
But honestly? I don’t get the craze. I mean, what did Italian people do to make espresso before shiny, gadget technology?
I don’t actually know. I didn’t make it very far in my coffee research (that is actually upcoming research project like chocolate!). But I would guess it was some feat of Italian engineering that looks like this:
(Scusi the hard water stains. We’re going to get a water softener soon, I hope.)
This stovetop espresso maker cost $25 at Target and makes 3 shots of espresso. They also have a 6-cupper for $35, but I’m the only drinker of coffee in the house and 3 shots is more than enough to keep me awake. I like to make vanilla and coconut milk lattes with the espresso. SO YUMMY.
#3: Little Bee by Chris Cleave
I try to read at least one book every month. Jim and I love going to the library on Saturday mornings together and we n-e-v-e-r pass up a chance to visit Barnes & Noble! There are so many good things out there to read!
January was heavy on the non-fiction side since I was simultaneously researching chocolate and self-motivating: Chocolate: Sweet Science & Dark Secrets of the World’s Favorite Treat by Kay Frydenborg and You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. Highly recommend both!
February was a return to fiction! Little Bee by Chris Cleave was a recommendation from my dad. He seriously reads the best books. Can you finish a book if it’s boring? I definitely can’t. I will start twenty books before I find one I like and finish. Little Bee was never a boring moment! Next, I will read The Things We Cannot Say, a recommendation from Jane! She also reads the best books.
Little Bee is about a young Nigerian refugee fleeing her home after it’s raided by mercenaries hired by oil companies. She flees to the United Kingdom where her story is knotted up with an English family. It’s tragic and beautiful and so well written. I could not put it down all weekend!
#2: Lent
This last week was the start of Lent! Lent is a time of fasting and going with less to remind us of Jesus’ forty days in the dessert and to prepare for Easter. I am actually very fond of Lent because I have reason to make more vegetarian and seafood dishes!
Last Sunday Jane made roasted cauliflower as part of her usual Sunday meal feast, and I was feeling very inspired by it. I didn’t even know I liked cauliflower until I had it roasted! It’s so crisp and virtuous. So I made some on Ash Wednesday with roasted Brussels sprouts and quinoa.
I didn’t write down a recipe, but you just coat chopped cauliflower in olive oil and some salt and roast for 20 minutes.
On Fridays, we also go without meat, and I have a newfound love of seafood! So I made garlic butter shrimp and Parmesan polenta!
#1: Anniversaries with Jim
Back in February 2019, Jim and I had our first date! We went to a cute little Italian restaurant and then went back to my house and watched a movie. We like to recreate these anniversaries (like the first time we played music together) because Jim has an exceptionally good memory and can remember things like eating cheeseburgers and watching Gone in 60 Seconds on March 12, 2013. (He’ll probably correct me on that.)
So this weekend we commemorated our first date by going back to our little spaghetti spot, and then we came home to watch Pitched Perfect, complete with chocolate cake for dessert and our pajamas. It was SO SNUGGLY.
We have also decided we are going to have at least one date night every month! It’s appropriate that spending time with this guy is my #1 favorite thing because he is my #1 favorite person.
Hope you all have a great week!