Living In Luon

"Since when did it become the norm for moms to wear their workout clothes all day long?" asks my husband. Well honey they're not just workout clothes nowadays, they're everything clothes. My husband works in a popular retail store that sells double B.O.B. strollers, so needless to say he encounters lots of moms. I work in a gym with both the best childcare and the best exercise classes around, so I also encounter lots of moms. And whether in the gym or out and about running errands these moms are wearing their workout clothes. But it's not just moms who've caught on to the comfort and versatility that a life in luon has to offer. Be it traveling, grocery shopping, jogging, or driving the kids to-and-fro, workout attire is a popular choice among women these days.

Here are just a few of my personal reasons to 'wear my workout' all day long
1) It's usually black, and isn't black flattering?
2) When it's not black it's bright (I'm talking florescent), and can't we all use a little more brightness in our days?
3) I love quick-dry material, especially now that baby drool is my main accessory.
4) I'm always ready to work whether it's helping at the local community garden or doing a surprise set of triceps dips from the kitchen counter while cooking. I'm never caught off guard if I'm in workout clothes.
5) The versatility is unreal. In the right pair of shorts I can literally workout, run around town all day doing what I do, and throw on a cute top and wedges and somehow the 'outfit' looks good! Now I wouldn't do all of this in the same pair of shorts in the same day unless, of course, I washed 'em in between events and let 'em quick-dry in three minutes.
6) Convenience is key and the secret compartments and zip-pockets in my gear are far superior than what jeans have to offer.
7) Kids! Whether it's toting around my baby or wrestling with my more mature 3, 5, and 6 year old nephews, luon, spandex, nor hemp have ever let us down.
8) I work in a gym and dress accordingly.
9) I'm not afraid to drop a pretty penny on a good pair of workout pants. Therefore, I intend to get a lot of wear out of them! The quality of some of this stuff is superior to some of my 'regular' clothes and they never seem to fade or come apart at the seems
10) They grew with me through 60 pounds of pregnancy, got me through the postpartum phase when neither maternity jeans nor pre-pregnancy jeans were cutting it, and those same workout clothes still haven't lost their pizzaz.
11) Comfort. 'Nough said

Sometimes my workout attire is accompanied by a messy bun of hair piled high on my head, but sometimes it comes with sleek straightened hair and the gold necklace bearing my son's initial. Sometimes it carries me miles along the beach at sunrise and sometimes it's slept in, danced in, and yes, even worshiped in at church from time to time! Is this bad? Should I and all the other comfort-crazed women out there leave our luon behind for khakis or slacks? And men, I'd like to hear from you! What do you really think of a sporty looking lady vs. a more prim and proper gal?

My challenge to you ladies out there is to try something new. If you've not experienced the joy that is wearing black stretchy pants to the market- get out there and give it a shot! If this post describes you to a 't' try sprucing it up with a headband, funky top, or cute stud earings.

Well, I happen to be in running shorts and am now motivated to vacume the house. See ya later!

Phone Call With A 5 Year Old

My silly nephew Hank turned a whopping FIVE years old today! Five years ago we weren't sure he'd even 'make it' as he was born two months early while his parents were on vacation in Arizona. He was in hospital there a long time before being flown to Las Vegas to continue living in a hospital in his hometown while he gained weight and got stronger. But Hank's a fighter and has grown to be a healthy happy kid. I wouldn't say 'normal' kid 'cause my Dad always says there's no fun in being normal, but Hank sure is as bright and skilled as a little guy of his age should be.

I kept trying to call and wish him a happy birthday but first he was at McDonalds for hours playing with Nani, then he was napping, then I tried to call my brother but he was at work. So when I finally reached Hank on Nani's cell he had a heck of a lot to tell me about his birthday!

He had chicken mcnuggets for lunch and an ice cream. He got a bloody nose playing at McDonalds but Nani took good care of him. He asked what I had for breakfast and I told him 'yogurt and fruit' and he excitedly proclaimed 'I had yogurt today too! And I love fruit!' I told him we're coming to his birthday party tomorrow and we have a present for him and he asked if Ari was coming too? And he told me he likes his new house but there's no grass in the backyard, just rocks and stuff.

I don't remember much about being five, but I'm sure Hank will 'cause the kid literally remembers everything. He has one of those super recall memories like his mom. I bet he'll remember that Nani was there, his dog Dracula and his Mommy and Daddy, his Uncle Ryan & Auntie Amanda and Cousin Ari, and Aunt Aspen and all his little friends.

Five years ago my world changed when my brother became a dad (a darn good dad!) and little Hank entered our lives. He brightens my life with his huge grin, infectious laughter, and sweet demeanor. We can't wait to visit him this weekend and laugh and play with him.

Happy Birthday Hank!

Sweet Potato Goodness

Tonight we had the most satisfying dinner- Sweet Potato Hash! I wanted to use up the organic sweet potatoes that were about to go to waste since I haven't wanted to run the oven in the summer heat. Sweet potatoes are all the rage these days so I decided to jump on the trend and get creative with the spuds. Just a few simple ingredients led to one amazing meal that we're excited to keep modifying and enjoying here at Nassau Town. Although there could be so many delicious ways to prepare a sweet potato hash I wanted to keep it quick and simple tonight, so here you have it.

Ingredients
Grated sweet potato with skin
Green onion
Sea salt
Pepper
Eggs
Ghee
Use however much of each you prefer- I don't measure!

Mix the sweet potato, green onion & spices together and add to the pan full of hot ghee.
Cover and cook until soft, stirring a few times (this took about 5min. on medium heat in saute pan).
Cook eggs- you can scramble them into your potato hash but I cooked them in a separate pan sunny side up to get more of the nutrients from the yolk.
I put the hash into bowls, added the eggs on top, and doused my husband's in hot sauce of course.

We were both completely satiated and amazed at the rich flavors of the sweet potato, yolk, and ghee all coming together in perfect harmony. If you don't have ghee at home go out and buy some immediately, or make your own! And please don't be scared of the fat content of egg yolk and ghee- fat doesn't make you fat, I promise (just look at my husband). Let me know what tasty variations you create!

Easy Way To Save Money

Why didn't we do this sooner? Truth is we kind of enjoyed blowing our hard earned money on coffee shops, lunches near our workplaces, and dinners out. And all the while we had a fridge full of fresh, healthy foods that we'd spent a small fortune on at the grocery store and Farmers Market. It's about time we stop being so frivolous and start planning- meal planning!

This morning I got out a pencil and paper and made a calendar for the month. For now I'll plan meals about one week in advance to leave us a little flexibility. Next, the three of us headed to the market for the week's items and, what'ya know, we spent significantly less than usual!

The purpose of meal planning for our family is to
1) Save money by not buying more than we'll have a chance to consume. I have a tendancy to buy lots and lots of fruits and veg because it all looks so good. But one can only eat so many lychees!
2) Save money by not going out on a whim. This is often the case when I'm just not wanting to prepare a meal or when it seems like there's no food in the house. We'll now be more inclined to eat at home when I've taken the time to plan a great meal and have all the ingredients waiting for me in the kitchen.
3) Save money by not going out to eat much at all. I'd like to start meeting up with friends in between meals or having them over to enjoy our food with us as opposed to overspending at restaurants as often as we do.

We'll also be eating healthier and spending more time at home as a family- added bonuses!

Try it with me! I challenge you to find a system that works for you and let me know what you discover after a few weeks of meal planning. Below are some tips.

-Consider breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
-Make enough for leftovers
-Get the family/roommates invloved in the planning and sharing the meal preparation
-Use a phone app or the like if it helps you be more organized.
-Stick to the plan!

Back In The Saddle

Today was day two back in the saddle. Teaching Spinning the last two days was a blast with the fit students, the thumping music, and loads of hills & sprints. I was a little nervous to get back in the saddle. But, surprise! True to the popular saying, it turns out riding a bike really is as easy as, well, just getting back on the bike. It felt great to hop back on the (spinning)bike and lead 28 people in a stellar workout after nearly a year off from teaching.

A year ago today I finished my first full distance triathlon- VINEMAN! (More on that later). I swam in a river for 2.4 miles, rode my bike 112 miles through rolling hills and vineyards, then topped it off with a 26.2 mile run through the California countryside. That was truly one of the most fun and memorable days of my entire life. Fast forward exactly one year, twenty pounds, and one baby later (well, baby was in utero at the time) and here I am starting from scratch in terms of fitness. It's humbling and it's exciting all at the same time! It's exciting to think I can now work toward a new goal, improve on a race record, or pick up an old hobby like cycling.

If you've been 'out of the saddle' in your own life, I dare you to hop back on! It's easy to let your favorite hobby become a distant memory as life gets more complicated. Maybe an injury, a major life change, or even complacency brought your passions to an abrupt halt. Whatever the case, find something you miss or something that you love and get back in the saddle!

You Had Me At 'Salad'

Mom and I discovered something new at the Huntington Beach Farmers Market. The sample was oh so tasty, but I've already got buffalo jerky at home and a plethora of quick snacks now that I'm back to work full time, so why ever would I need to add jerky chips to the mix? As I prepared to walk away (feeling guilty for sampling without buying) the vendor got serious and said 'You know, they make the perfect salad topping.' Well why didn't you spare me the hesitation and guilt and just tell me that right from the get-go, Mister Jerky Man?

Since two is cheaper than one and I'm now a money savvy mama, I walked away with my two bags of jerky chips. The chips only made it onto two salads before my husband discovered them and snacked away. The first salad I premade to take to a summer concert. Two hours later the crispy chips had become soft but they were still tasty. The second salad I made fresh and the chips provided exactly what I wanted out of them- crunch!

I was so excited to have something new to spruce my salads up with until I checked the label of this oven baked jerky goodness...

2.1oz bag = 220 cal
8g protein
4g fat
38g carb
26g sugar
860mg sodium (yikes!)

So my new Farmers Market find makes for a sugary sodium filled snack without much protein at all.And how I didn't realize this upon purchase is beyond me, but these jerky chips are pork, something I rarely care to eat (due more to the remembrance of my childhood pigs Hammer & Abby than anything else).

If you're looking for a yummy treat to your salad give these a try, just don't make a habit of it.

Nothing Is Worth More

Goethe once said "Nothing is worth more than this day." In fact, I wore a special bracelet with this quote today (today being day one back to work after twelve weeks with my newborn). To me, This Day is about making the most of opportunities. This Day is about giving my full attention to the task at hand- be it at work, at home, or anywhere in between. This Day is especially about appreciating all I have right now as opposed to what I could have in the future or should have had in the past.

This Day, so far, brings me the blessings of
A warm bed to wake up in
A baby to nurse
A husband to kiss
A closet of clothes
A warm shower
A car to drive
A career to enjoy
A mom that babysat
A bunch of family & friends who care
A dinner to make
A body that moves
And (2nd mention) a baby to love, kiss, adore, change diapers for, see smile & laugh, protect, and play with.

'What does all this mushy stuff have to do with fitness,' you ask? Well, if nothing is worth more than this day, I challenge you to take Goethe for his word (his very wise word!) and truly seize the day. Rather than put off working out until tomorrow, go do something today. Goethe did not say that life changes, such as working out and eating better, should only happen on Mondays! So buy that gym membership, download an exercise video, explore your neighborhood via foot, or drop and give me 30! You're alive and well on This Day- nothing is worth more.