Chefin' It Up

The tables were turned last night and I actually cooked for the Captain. I have to share this recipe with you cuz it was tres delish and healthy. I made it up and the Cap was seriously impressed. I didn't really measure things, so bear with my crude recipe:

Chicken Marinade:
(I made this in the Magic Bullet)
Fresh squeezed lime juice (about 1/3 cup)
Olive Oil (about 1/4 cup)
Bunch of Cilantro
Garlic Clove
Tabasco
S&P

Cook up the chicken breasts in the marinade. I used those strips - they cook easier and were on sale :)

Then I made 1 c of Quinoa (per directions on box)
I let it cool a bit.
Toss in cut up, seeded/peeled cucumber
Toss in some fresh cilantro (cut up smaller)
Squeeze fresh lime juice.

Put Quinoa mixture in a pretty bowl.
Lay chicken strips over top.
Garnish with sliced Avocado and lime wedge.

Seriously, Rachel Ray ain't got shit on me. (And her stuff is WAY too fattening.)

RUNNING NEWS:
I am going to attempt some hills this weekend. Last time I did hills was not so good. Any hill training secrets?

Selfish Beotch

So I did it.

This morning.

I got my lazy butt up and went for a nice little run.

Only 3 miles and I struggled a little.

But I realized something...

Running is the ONLY thing I have going on right now that I do JUST FOR ME.

I feel like everything else right now is for other people - mostly WORK.

I may be selfish, but running gives me "Jessica time." It's MY thing where I focus on only ME.

So I can't give it up. And taking an extended hiatus just doesn't work for me.

No wonder I was going loco.

(Betty - go ahead and cancel my reservation. Plus, like everyone says - Promises is much better.)

And I must share this little ditty with you.

Post Running Treat: Chocolate Soy Milk

Post Running Disaster: Spilling Chocolate Soy Milk ALL over my bathroom (it looks like someone's ass exploded all over my walls!)

One Step Forward; Two Steps Back

One Step Forward:

**I actually washed my hair, put on make up and wore clothes that match!

Two Steps Back:

**Got home very late from work (too late to run, but not too late to drink a bottle of wine).

**Woke up with headache and didn't run again this morning.

The weather is perfect, but I'm stuck working like a mad woman. But I really can't complain because my next business trip makes Hawaii look like Galveston. I promise promise promise to get back out there by the weekend.

So, seriously anybody know how much the Betty costs these days?

Song of the Day: Save Me by Aimee Mann

What Happens Now?

What happens to a runner when she isn't running?

Well, I'll tell ya - it ain't pretty.

1. She uses the word "ain't."


2. She is tired and it shows in her eyes.


3. She is grumpy and snaps at everyone.


4. She shows up to work with no make up on and clothes that don't match.


5. She eats TWO huge cookies in one sitting.


6. Her stomach blows up like the biggest muffin you've ever seen.


7. Her self esteem plummets.


8. Her life falls apart.


9. She loses touch with reality.


10. She ends up at "The Betty."

Ok, I'm only at phase 6. But I'm scared people. I'm scrrrrrd. I can't get it back. I'm just out of touch with the runner inside. She's slipping away. How do I find her?

Song of the Day: Adrift by Jack Johnson (love this new cd)

Kona Recap

Thank you all so much for your warm thoughts about Grams. The Cap wants to dedicate all our dinners this week to her and her yummy recipes. Looks like I'll be skipping a weigh in next week.

Speaking of weigh ins - I bounced up to 139 from Hawaii, but considering all the booze, that isn't too bad. A quick recap for ya'll -then it's back to business (and by that, I mean working out, running, eating healthy, being psycho obsessive, etc.). And you will notice in the recap that there was no exercising at all.

We did A LOT of eating. The Captain is not one to skimp out on meals. I wanted to try to extend our budget by having small breakfasts or sharing a light lunch, but NOOOOOOOOO. Basically our main focus for each day became what we were going to eat next. (I seriously think that is an Italian trademark.) Therefore, the majority of our photos are while we are eating.

One day, we drove around the entire Big Island. Of course, I don't remember the exact mileage, because, well I don't really don't bother with those types of details while on vacation. What was cool, was not being on a schedule. We just drove and stopped when we wanted and kept driving when we wanted. I have this crazy

interest in taking pictures of cemeteries. They are just so beautiful to me.

We went to the volcano (big yawn) but I guess it's a must. So we took some pics and got back on the road.

We were on the hunt for cool beaches - that's more our style. We came across a really cool black sand beach. I thought that sand would get you really dirty - but it doesn't. There was a turtle just swimming right in the surf and a creepy goose wondering around like he owned the joint.

Other than eating, our main interest for the trip was true R&R. To me, that means SUN, WATER and COCKTAILS. Of course, the Captain is a brown bear and I'm a white rabbit, but he was the one who actually got sunburned. (He thinks he doesn't really need sunscreen and I re-apply all day long). YES, I know I am wearing the same swimsuit I had on LAST summer. I'm trying to get over it, but I'm not there yet.

It was a fantastic trip. I love traveling with The Captain. This was our first big trip together (I don't count Vegas or Palm Springs as real trips). Yeah for vacations! I really hope he comes with me more often when I travel for work.

But first. Back to the regularly scheduled exercise program. Staring Monday.

Almost Back to Reality

Hi everyone
Thanks for the comments. Sorry I have been MIA. Well, not really "sorry." It's been nice. But too quick. The Cap got here and the trip just FLEW by. I have not worked out a bit or even ran - unless you count "running to the bar." I will post some pics when I get home. We chilled like vegetables and even did some silly tourist stuff - like drive around the ENTIRE island (my idea).

He had to change his flight and go home a day early because his grams died. It's really sad because she was such a cool old Italian Grandma. The last time we saw her was Christmas and she is just so funny. She was complaining about the food even though it was soooo delish (but she didn't cook it). The sauce was too "this," the chicken was too "that," everything was taking too long. It was a good memory of her. She lived a very long happy life and she's in Heaven now with her husband that she loves so much. I feel like poo for not going home with the Cap for the funeral. I wanted to. Really wanted to. It was about $300 to change my flight and he already had to pay a bunch to change his. I would have paid, but he didn't want me to. Anyway, I'll be home later that night - but will miss the funeral.

Just thinking about being back is giving me anxiety. But I guess, that's reality - right? Well REALITY BITES.

Desk with a View

PS:

This is what I am staring at right now. Took the pic with my phone.

Sweeeeeeeeeet.

25 Hours until Happiness

The Cap gets here in 25 hours. Let the countdown begin.

Things going well. I was able to cram a 40 min workout in this morning. Trying to eat very light since bikini-bonanza starts soon. Seriously not excited about the dimpling thighs, but whatever. I also have an underground huge cyclops pimple brewing. And aunt flo decided to come to Hawaii too - that bitch.

I'm going to try to catch up on everyone's blogs right now. Been MIA from the computer for the past few days.

Peace. Out.

Product Whore...strikes again

I am a self proclaimed "PRODUCT WHORE." Basically, I love to try new products and even though I may really like them, even LOVE them, I will always be looking for the next best thing. And I will drop a product in a heart beat if something else comes along. I might go back, but I'm fickle and just cannot commit to one brand, nor do I think any woman ever should. There are just too many options out there. And if there's something that makes you excited to go home and wash your face or try a new anti-aging thing-a-ma-jigger, I say "Go for it!


Lemme tell ya: I have a new crush. I always buy "extra gifts" at Christmas just in case someone gets me something I didn't get them anything. Ya know what I mean - we all do it. I grabbed a couple extra "Travel Sets" from Philosophy. I had an extra one after the gift giving came and went. I threw it in my travel case and forgot about it until I got here in Hawaii!


I LOVE this stuff. I'll give you the run down:


Purity Face Cleanser: This stuff is light and smells so good - but it gets all your make up off including mascara.

Hope in a Jar: This is the moisturizer. It's also light, but heavy enough that my flaky skin doesn't show thru my make up.

Hope in a Tube: Eye and lip cream - very moisturizing. I just get so excited about extra stuff.


The shampoo and conditioner are "Grace." They smell amazing and my hair is silky and soft. I also have the "Grace" lotion. LOVE IT. Oh, and the lip balm is incredible. It has a very light tint and doesn't get all sticky or gooey.


Each product has a fun quote or saying on the jar/tube. For example, on the moisturizer it says:

" Where there is hope there can be faith. Where there is faith miracles can
occur."

Ahhhhhhh - now how can you not LOVE that? Even if it is short-lived...


Last... This pic is for Marcy.

#4 reason why I love hotels:

THE BATHROOM!

Don't pay any attention to the copious amounts of products on the counter or the sweaty running clothes hanging over the bath!

Waiting for Love to be in the Air

Since I'm away from my sweetheart this
Valentines Day, I thought I would do my favorite thing and WRITE A LIST to conjure up some Happy Valentine thoughts.

10 Silly Reasons I Heart the Captain:

1. He's tall
2. He cooks and cooks amazingly
3. He catches me delicious bass
4. He always gives me the last bite of something tastey.
5. He can fold sheets better than me, even though I have only seen him do it once.
6. He sends me flowers
7. He brags about my running and my blogging
8. He always pays for me to play poker when he knows that there is a slim to none chance that I will win.
9. He loves potty humor and all that entails.
10. He is the best snuggler ever!

Happy Valentine's Day - don't eat too much candy! A minute on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.