Happy Friday everyone! I know I don’t even need to ask, but are y’all ready for the weekend?! I know I am!
Last night when I got home I did the FIRM Power Yoga DVD, which was great because it really helped stretch out my legs. It’s not the most amazing and technical video, but I like that it spends a LOT of time in each pose so that my body can stretch, relax, and really learn how to be in new poses. I felt completely invigorated afterward! I was on my own for dinner since Nate was hanging out with our friend Robbie, so I went with another Couscous Veggie Wrap, maple roasted sweet potato, and a knock off of Bethenny Frankel’s Linguine with Spinach, Chives, and Ricotta recipe:
The maple roasted sweet potato was probably the best one I’ve had, and I hardly used any oil this time around!
And the pasta was GREAT! Like I said, this is Bethenny Frankel‘s recipe, but I adapted it to what I had on hand:
- 1/2 cup whole wheat penne pasta, cooked to al dente
- 1 Tbsp dried chives, reconstituted with a little bit of pasta water
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 Tbsp grated parmesan
- 1 cup baby spinach
While the pasta was cooking I mixed all of the other ingredients together. I then added the hot pasta to the sauce mixture, which wilted the spinach and combined all of the flavors. YUM!
And the not-so-colorful but ever tasty Couscous Veggie Wrap:
This was a perfect dinner! All of the flavors were different, and they all satisfied in some way or another. I also had a chocolate Oikos later for dessert (because I apparently didn’t get enough chocolate with the brownies earlier in the day!)
Amazing. Seriously, Oikos has got it going on! The flavor was great and not too sweet. I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend getting these as a great alternative to ice cream or something. I know I will be! I know I talked about celebrating, but once I got home all I wanted to do was sit on the couch and watch TV (SHOCKER). We watched the usual Thursday night shows, and I made sure to show Nate the episodes of Modern Family I recorded. I think I thought it was a lot funnier than he did!
This morning I just slept in til 7 (I normally get up around 6) because as good as it felt to run and do yoga yesterday, I just wasn’t feeling up to it today. I kept snoozing the alarm while I laid in bed thinking about how great I would feel if I got up and did something, but I just did NOT feel like moving. I think it’s probably best to rest a little bit today, although I am still planning on walking for an hour (if it’s not snowing again). Have you ever had a time where you really listened to your body and found success with that? I made a favorite for breakfast:
Oats with peanut butter (turns out the gross oily peanut butter is MUCH better when it’s refrigerated and then melted into oats!), banana, and Dylan’s Chia Granola! This was a perfectly filling breakfast and made for a VERY happy tummy 🙂
In other news, it’s T-minus 9 days til Easter, which means that I can eat meat again! WOOHOO! Not sure what I’m going to have as my first meaty meal, but I’d love to hear any ideas you guys might have! I know I’ll probably need to ease meat back in to my life, and I still plan on going meat-free a couple times a week, but I’m just so stoked about being able to eat like a normal person again. I don’t do well with restriction… 😉
Hope y’all have an incredible Friday!
mmm…the sweet taters sound super tasty! I’m dying to try Chocolate Oikos. Can’t find ’em anywhere : (
chocolate oikos + that Chia granola + PB + Banana would be sooooooooo delish!!!
lol…as a vegetarian, I guess I don’t really get to weigh in that much on this topic…but I’d go for seafood! 🙂
Maple + sweet potato = heaven.
Have a wonderful weekend, sweetie!
Those sweet potaoes look so good. I might have to do a variation of them for my dinner tonight.
I’m so excited for the weekend! I have class tomorrow, but after that I’m on Spring Break!
You should go for steak for your first meaty meal!!
I have been waiting for someone to review the chocolate oikos! I saw it earlier this week at walmart and have been thinking about it since! ha. I must pick some up next week! Thanks dear.
Oh and for the longest time I tried to workout every day of the week at least some, and now that I started taking days off my body is loving me so much more!!
couscous wrap is a good idea! x
I recognized that granola as soon as I saw it! I love Dylans chia Cranberry Walnut. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I drive 85 miles to a Whole Foods store. Right now I’m useing a gingerbread something from Pure Bliss but I miss my Dylan’s. 🙂
I listened to my body today and took a day off from exercise. I feel totally energized already for my workout tomorrow. Sometimes, we push ourselves too hard!
It’s such a great feeling when you have success listening to your body!
Have a great weekend!
I just had one of those chocolate Oikos…so good!
And those maple roasted sweet potatoes sound AMAZING!
That is the way I felt this morning, too. My body is craving rest something fierce. I am so looking forward to waking up at my leisure tomorrow. Of course, knowing me, I will probably wake up at 5:00 bright eyed and bushy tailed.
It is totally important to listen to your body. I can pretty much tell when my body needs the rest – or if I am just being lazy ; ) When I need the rest, I am learning it is best to take it!
Filet!!! It’s the only real meat I ever crave. Yum.
I always find success listening to my body. I think it is the only way to go. Good job for doing so! 🙂
HAM! Mainly because that’s just what you eat at Easter.
First, I just now read your last post and CONGRATS on the pain free mile!!! YAY!!! I. Cant. Wait. til I can say that. You go girl!!!!
The pasta sounds great!! And so does the chocolate Oikos! Have you tried Caramel Oikos? If you mix it with a microwaved apple, it tastes like a caramel apple…YUM.
I love Bethany Frankel’s Recipes and your version looks delicious too 🙂 Are there any yoga dvds you would recommend for someone just starting? I have never tried it, but I keep hearing about how good it is for you!
I’d probably go to a fancy-schmancy steak house and get a filet 😉