A busy April and Foodie Pen Pals

I can't believe the month of April is coming to an end. It's been a crazy, busy, fun month and I am sad to see it go.

Brian left for a little while on Navy business but I did get to visit him one weekend he was free and is was an amazing sight driving into Mayport seeing rows upon rows of battle ships and submarines.
Check out the post and workouts here: Navy Visit

 I can't even explain how breath taking this sight was. The mere size of these ships is unbelievable. I wanted to take lots of pictures of them but Brian said I was not not allowed :o( Bubble burst-er...  So I settled for pictures from the car.

Work kept me pretty busy while Brian was gone but this past weekend I headed out to Atlanta with a few others, including my good friend and fellow blogger Carissa, to run the Dirty Girl Mud Run.

I was kept pretty busy while Brian was gone so it wasn't to bad. Without fail, like always, getting my fun little package of goodies in the mail from my foodie pen pal. 

This month I received my package from Mellisa over at A Fit and Spicy Life.  Mellissa blogs about her love for fitness, food, traveling and wine. All of which I am a huge fan of... Mellissa sent me a great box filled with some tasty treats and a new fun toy for my kitchen :o)

P.S. My computer desperately wants to auto correct your name Mellissa :o). 

My box from Mellissa included organic dried fruit, almond date bars, caramel wafers, seasoning and lemon keeper.How cute is the little lemon keeper! I go through a lot of lemons when I am detoxing so this will definitely come in handy.

 I had never had these Oskri bars but I have to say they are pretty DELISH! Confession: I ate the whole box minus one before I realized I hadn't yet taken a picture for this post haha. This little guy is all that is left.
This Paprika Lemons and Like spice blend has been used quite a bite as a chicken rub these past few weeks. It has great flavor and a nice little spice too it. We eat A LOT of grilled chicken in this house so finding new flavors is uber important to us... dont want to get tired of the healthy lean protein.

 I have to say my favorite thing in the whole box was the Peeled organic fruit. I am not sure of Mellissa new it or not but I am a huge dried fruit fanatic. I love to have it on hand because for me it is a great way to extinguish a sweet tooth craving. Confession: this bag was empty in 2 days and I only saved it because I needed a picture... there was not a crumb left once it was photographed :o)

I have bot yet tried the Caramel Wafers because I am afraid I will eat the whole bag. I decided I was going to save them for my next get together so EVERYONE, not just little ol' me, by myself, in a dark room, feeling guilty :o)... Can enjoy them.

Thank you again to Mellissa for my goodies and a huge thank you to Lindsay for hosting Foodie Pen Pals.

Ciao and Dried fruit obsession

Alexis

Navy base + tabata + beach= Happy Alexis

 I have arrived... Time to check in... A lot harder than it sounds :o)

As you know Brian has been away on Navy Business for a few weeks. Last week he was off and I was beyond happy to go visit him. We agreed that as soon as I arrived we would get in a good workout and then relax.... Fitness doesn't take a back seat in this relationship haha

I drove in to see  rows upon rows of destroyers, frigates and submarines

After I took in the breath taking view it was time to hit the sand.

   

 Just as promised I got on base and the workout began. Brian was stationed on Mayport which is where all the ships come into port so we were right on the beach. Made for a great run and workout plan in my head. We set off for a jog on the beach with random stops to do some "Tabata" exercises.

Insert Fitness explanation here: Tabata is a circuit workout that lasts for 4min intervals with 20sec on and 10sec rest. You can use this fitness idea for any exercise you want. I like to use it on days I need to get in quick workouts but still feel like I did something. Plus it makes more accountable and more aware of my rest times.

We ran all the way down the beach twds. the watchman tower to some stairs and hit up another tabata exercise

Workout done! Now off to enjoy the sites.

We drove around for a while before we settled on sushi... we are so fickle when it comes to eating out, neither of us can decide EVER! It wasn't until we sat down that we realized last dinner out had also been sushi... Oh well couldn't get up and walk out.

We headed back to base with a "fancy" bottle of wine  :o) I poured it into our amazingly expensive plastic cups and enjoyed listening to Brian play the guitar and relax the rest of our ONE evening together.

Ciao and Navy Love

Alexis

Back to Clean WIAW v29

Ok Ok so I have been slacking on the blogging this week and today is no different... but I promise I have good reason.

Brian is gone for a little while on Navy business and so I drove out to spend Saturday with him... sorry no computer work done. Then my Best Friend flew in from NYC for some work conference and we went out to dinner last night then I went to go hang out with Brian's dad for a little while. So I got home and... you guessed it no computer work done.

So as I sit here at 5:45am after my morning workout I decided to make it short and to the point. So here is my WIAW back to clean version.

Breakfast: More Protein pancakes... they have become a staple in our house lately. This version was Sweet Potato, Spinach and chia seed topped with my homemade Chia Jam.

Snack: Lara Bar

 Lunch: Steamed Shrimp, Nori and spinach served with a side of carrots. (I ate half of them before I thought to take a pic LOL)


I am trying my best to fit in extra veggies like Jenn has so kindly requested for this month. I think I am doing an ok job LOL. I love veggies so they are always around so this isnt toooo toooo hard.

Snack: Apple and almonds followed by a banana because for some reason I was starving on Monday!



Dinner: Chicken, goat cheese and spinach roulade served with roasted asparagus.

This was made up when I got home after my workout. I have to say I was very happy with the results and will be posting this recipe soon... as soon as I am able to sit at a computer for more than 5 min.

I did sneak in 5 yogurt covered almonds followed by cottage cheese and strawberries. LOL I told you was hungry. 

Have you gotten in your veggies?

Ciao and back to clean,

Alexis

Steeler Saturday: Hines Ward

HAPPY Saturday to all!!! Today, on this dreary, dark day in Florida, I sit at work and pounder random things. One of those random things just happens to be football, and when I think about football I automatically think about Steelers Football!!! What can I say, I am a Pittsburgh girl!



Source



At work I began to clean out one of my E-mail accounts that has gone un noticed for about 3 months... oops. As I was cleaning out my 1000 unread e-mails (no exaggeration), I came across a bunch from Steelers Nation and it got me thinking, and my thinking got me sad :o(

I know I am a little late to the party, but until now I didn't know what to write. Then I thought to myself... Hey this is my Blog and whether you want to read it or not, I can write whatever I want... So here it goes...


***Warning this may be long***

HINES WARD RETIRES 

 

On March 20th 2012 Hines Ward announced his retirement. This was devastating to Steelers Fans every where, especially this girl. I have grown up a die hard Steelers Fan, and active participant in the amazing fan-hood that we call the Steelers Nation. There is no other group of fans quite like us. We travel hard, we cheer hard and we grieve lost games hard. No matter what the season looks like we show up every Sunday PROUD to be in black and gold. There is nothing quite like walking into a stadium that is not Hines Field and seeing almost nothing but black and gold surrounding you... those poor other fans are out numbered in their own home.

This being said, nothing could have prepared me for March 20th. As I said, I have been a die hard Steelers fan since I was born. My father worked with the Steelers and was fortunate enough to be friends with the likes of Terry Bradshaw and Tony Dungy (among others). I , however, grew up watching a whole different set of Steelers... Greg Lloyd, Yancy Thigpen, Kordell 'Slash' Stewart, Jerome 'The Bus' Bettis, Larry Foote, Casey Hampton (so on and so forth).... and of course HINES WARD.

Hines Ward started his professional career with Steelers as a rookie in 1998 wearing, get this #15, (little known fact) before switching to his more popular and well known #86. So of course being the Hines fan I am I had to have one made (still waiting for a "real" one to be made or sent to just me haha)

For the past 14 years I have spent every football season cheering for "My Team" but mostly for "My Man". I grew up, the past 14 years, loving what Hines does on and off the field. He exudes sportsman ship and generosity. He has broken numerous records and has been ranked with some of the all time greats. His smile is known around the world, it puts joy in so many people’s lives, and distain in so many opponents hearts.

Hearing Hines was released from the Steelers was the first moment of sadness. I was torn because, like I said I grew up watching him, and I didn't know if I could bare to see him in another jersey (esp. if it ended up being Baltimore or Cleveland haha).

Hines ward has not only broken records, topped score boards, and made football fun to watch, he has done a lot for the community. Hines started the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation in both the US and Korea (where he is from). He focuses on helping children who are Biracial (like himself) find acceptance not only from others but in themselves. Check out this video....

A few days later Hines announced his retirement... which to a Steelers Fan and a HUGE Hines fan, was in a way devastating. How have I gone 14 years of watching Hines, flash his pearly whites every week, to not being able to witness his unique football spirit anymore.

Then when Hines annouced his retirement it became emotional. Watching Hines get chocked up, seeing how much he loved what he did, was somewhat surreal. It made a true black and gold fan sit back, listen and replay the past 14 years in their heads.

Whether or not Hines continues his career in football, as a coach, an announcer, I will be sure to tune in.
I will leave you with a few of my favorite celebrations....

 Ciao and Steelers Love

Alexis

Fridge Sadness and WIAW v28

HELLLLLLLOW fellow WIAW food stalkers. Thank you again to Jenn for hosting!

Check out this week in a nutshell:

Desperate Brides

Slow it down to Tone it up

 

 

I had so many great things planned for Monday and Tuesday to show the theme... AN EXTRA CUP. Except life got in the way!

Monday I left work at a relatively decent hour, came home, worked out right away and then headed to the kitchen to make dinner... that was going to involve LOTS of delish, green veggies. Instead I walked into the kitchen and stepped in a HUGE puddle of water. YEP the fridge was apparently not working. So for the rest of the night I tried my best to save all my food. This was my fridge by the end of the night

 

 And again today! I am happy to say I have purchased a new fridge and all of my important frozen meats have somehow stayed frozen at the bottom of the cooler! Fingers crossed it stays that way until tomorrow afternoon. 

Anyways.. this caused the food to be limited to what i could get out of the cooler and what did not get tossed. So I have compiled a picturology of some goodies I was able to eat and still keep it clean

Protein smoothie,spinach and some added greens

Almond Date Bar

Whole wheat english muffin, Tomato, turkey bacon

Protein Chia, spinach pancakes

Not pictured: Lots of grilled chicken and spinach salads. Roasted Asparagus

It has been a crazy week and it is only Wednesday! Oh well I am hoping with the fridge going out and spending money I didn't want too, the rest of the week will be ok!

Ciao and Fridge Troubles

Alexis