Good morning everyone! I’m so glad it’s almost Friday…it’s kind of hard taking a break in the middle of the week and then going back to work!
Yesterday I took the day off to spend with my mom and dad the last day they were in town. We started the day off by letting the dogs walk us taking the dogs on a walk (thanks, by the way, for your great tips!) and wearing them out. We all got ready for the day, and then I had a wonderful CARROT breakfast:
I was craving veggies, but we’ll get to that in a minute. For lunch we met Nate at Rumbi’s Island Grill, where I ordered the Luau Pork sandwich (it’s pulled pork with Asian slaw, and I had mine with no mayo), which comes with a mix of regular fries and sweet potato fries:
After lunch we made some stops at Home Depot, Super Target, and Whole Foods, then came back and rested on the couch. I ended up taking a nap (oops!) before we started dinner! We had grilled chicken, grilled corn, grilled asparagus, and sweet short grain brown rice. The corn is SO EASY and completely delicious! Just rub each ear with about 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon of olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and then grill for about 20 minutes, rotating constantly:
This rice could have used a little more liquid, but I love it because it still has the little husk on it, keeping it from getting mushy and gross:
For the chicken I just used a garlic and wine marinade I bought at the store. Simple and easy.
And the asparagus (which apparently I can’t take beautiful pictures of like Angela did) just had a little olive oil and salt, grilled on the top rack of the grill while the chicken and corn were grilling below:
After dinner my dad and Nate went to the store, so I made my mom some chocolate-peanut butter banana soft serve! I definitely made more than enough, but my mom loved it! Score 🙂
We watched Ratatouille (so what if I own it and watch it obsessively to pretend I’m in Paris?) and went to sleep…we needed lots of rest since my parents are driving home and I have a big day ahead of me!
I love my parents so much, and am truly thankful to have such a wonderful relationship with them. They’re the best, hands down! I always cry whenever they leave or we have to leave, but I have so much joy in knowing that I came from two incredible people 🙂 Love you guys!
THINK HEALTHY
I mentioned earlier that I was just CRAVING veggies yesterday morning, which is why I had two carrots instead of my usual smoothie. For some reason I haven’t been eating as many in the past week, and I have really been missing it! I think that, since I’m not giving up smoothies this summer, that I need to be eating more Green Monsters in the morning and make a point to eat veggies whenever I possibly can.
That means that, going to restaurants, I need to order vegetable-rich meals rather than the items that I might initially want to order. It doesn’t mean a salad necessarily (I don’t always LOVE salads), but dishes with veggies on the side or vegetable-laden soups, hummus plates, etc. The thing is I love vegetables, but it still takes a little discipline to eat things that I love and know will make me feel good with higher and consistent energy levels.
I also want to make a point to work out more consistently. Two weeks ago I was doing something active every.single.day, but with all of our time crunches since then I’ve really let that slide. In conversations with a good friend, I’ve also decided that I need to take on a healthier and more consistent routine overall, which means a lot more time management and organization. It’s all going to take a little practice, but I think that by taking that time and working on the things I need to work on I’ll be able to eat better, move better, sleep better, write better, and be a better wife, friend, daughter, and sister.
What do you use to manage your time and your life? Are you super-organized (like Kath)? Or are you a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of person? I’ve been all over the place…I used to be extremely organized, almost to the point of obsession, and then (when I stopped trying to control everything) I went the opposite direction and didn’t organize my time well at all. Now that I have a handle on how my brain works, it’s about time to step it up in the time management department!
Your parents are so cute together!
I’d be exactly like Kath if only my life were a little more awesome, my days a little more organized and my oatmeal a little more inventive. As is, I’m more on the “organized” end of the spectrum, but it really depends on the day!
That pulled pork sandwich looks delish!! As does the banana soft serve, YUM!
I’ve been working on getting my life more organized and structured instead of winging everything. It’s a process. 🙂
Jenn
I’m very similar to you with an all or nothing attitude. I’m either super organized when I try to be or just completely throw in the towel at other times. Most of the time I tend to lean toward organized, which can drive my fiance batty since that means I like to “plan” everything.
Your parents are so cute – it’s so nice to read about someone who has an amazing relationship with their parents (I do too!). I am also super organized to the point of obsession but lately I’m learning to more lenient and go with the flow 🙂
I’m with more on needing to get more veggies! I honestly love them…but I love lots of other things, too, and lately veggies haven’t been my first choice. And yet I just feel so much better when they’re a more regular part of my diet.
Did you just add peanut butter and cocoa powder to your chocolate-pb-banana soft serve?
I’m in the middle. I’m not crazy organized, but I like things structured 🙂
You are your mom. Cute little message to them. I love how that restaurant hooked it up with both kinds of fries.
Aww, you look so much like your Mom!
I am super organized, like too much so!
I love your ideas for getting veggies in more regularly. I certainly do those things and it helps a lot. And I love how our bodies are so balanced. If it was craving veggies that shows it knows how to keep you balanced. 🙂
Your parents are adorable! I bet it was great to have them in town. I’m pretty organized for the most part…especially when it comes to workouts and meals. But once I have too many things on my plate, I get frazzled. I try to plan ahead but not TOO far ahead b/c we know life usually doesn’t unfold quite the way we think it will. 🙂
Oddly enough, when I try to think about eating healthy or exercising on a regular basis, I end up doing the exact opposite!
It’s a journey full of a thousand baby steps. For example, I’ve finally decided that fries are something I can do without, so about 90% of the time I get a side salad instead. It’s small changes that you get used to and become habitual. I can’t make big shifts in my lifestyle or they backfire.
Also, I think it’s important to celebrate each mini success and not focus on how “out of control” your life might seem. Keep your head on the positive and fake it until you make it. 🙂
I’m not organized at all! I could use a little more organization in my life, but it doesn’t come easily to me that’s for sure.
Your parents are adorable! Ratatouille is one of my favs, too. 🙂
I am the master of sticky notes at work. I also keep a digital calendar on my computer…paper ones or journals don’t work for me. I see it everyday so it reminds me of what is going on.
As far as organizing my workout time…if I don’t schedule it, I have a hard time fitting it in. My husband helps too because by the time I get home from work, he is ready to go to the gym or go play golf, so that really helps me too.
What I do is look at the workout schedule at our gym and highlight all of the classes I am interested in attending. Usually there is a yoga class everyday at either 5:30 or 6:30. I make sure I attend those on the off days I don’t play tennis. I play tennis (scheduled) two days a week. Scheduling really helps to ensure I don’t get lazy.
So schedule a hike every Monday and Wed. at 5 or every Tuesday and Thursday take the dogs to the park at 6…if it on the calendar, then you plan around it and don’t plan things in place of it.
I would say I am middle of the road for organization. When it comes down to it, though, I guess I am relatively organized and on top of things. And good for you for listening to your body and eating those carrots! Sometimes your body craves certain foods, regardless of what time it is.
You and your mom look SO much alike! Beautiful!
I go back and forth between being super organized and really not giving a hoot. During the school year, when I’m working, I tend to be more organized (good thing, too). At the start of each semester, I’m SUPER organized, and convinved that I’m going to stay that way. But by December and May, I’m always struggling 🙂
I try to stay and stick to a healthy eating and workout schedule during the week. I use lists all the time to stay organized and make sure I get everything I wanted completed for the day. That being said, if I get a bit too bored and my routine becomes mundane – I mix it up! I’ll try a new lunch or workout at a new time during the day.
I love being organized and helping create organizational systems for people. Two things that really help me stay organized is meal planning on a weekly basis and I still give myself a chore list: Mondays = laundrey, Tuesdays = vacuum, Wednesdays = dust, Thursday = errands, etc. It really helps me organize my time and life and get things down but not get stressed out! My real struggle is living with flexibility within my planning 🙁
I am a total disaster area when it comes to organization. I am type A about certain things, but definitely not about keeping my life organized. In a way, I like my spontaneous, chaos-filled existence because it is pretty free and easy breezy…but sometimes, I feel like I need more structure. I’d love to start planning my meals out for the week!
Also, you look just like your momma, and you two are both beautiful! 🙂
Craving veggies? I’ve never heard of such a thing.
I NEED to be organized or else I lose my mind. I have a planner which is basically just filled with errands, blogstuff, meal plans, workouts, etc. Not real work stuff – what is that?
I’m spontaneous, messy, and disorganized, but it really WORKS for me. The minute I try to “order” everything, I fall apart. I THRIVE on CHAOS! I’m weird though.
I’m definitely an planner. I write notes (and leave them all over the house as my husband complains hehe).. and I have my date planner and my journal thingy that I write ideas in for recipes/blog posts. All kinds of planning going on here!
I’m so a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal—Although I wish I was more structured and organized. And I can be organized—it just takes a lot of work.
I agree with about veggies–over the past year I’ve started to crave veggies,but I often don’t think to order them.
I think you can be a little bit of both honestly….I enjoy being organized, but thats so I know when I’ll be able to do my impulsive, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants things….I have a plan that if I do go out to eat I need to have veggies and protein in my meal, and its worked out great for me!
I love you and our parents and Nate so much!!!
Oh, man, I am so trying to get organized. Since I left my full time job, it has been worse, not better. I don’t think I will ever be super duper organized but I would like to get some sort of structure going for my week/day.
WOW…you looks so much like your mom!! Both very pretty ladies!