Tuesday, February 28, 2012

my favorite time of the year

my favorite time of the year in denver is the two week period, called 5280 week, when higher end restaurants open their doors to the lowly and offer a three- or four- course meal for two for the tiny price of $52.80. ahhh, it makes me all tingly just to think about it.

http://www.edgerestaurantdenver.com/menus/denver_restaurant_week_2012/
reservation was sunday, feb 26 at 7:30
- the wait-staff was amazing. here's our food:












http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=379&LOLA&c=yes
reservation was tuesday, feb 28 at 5:30
- this is one of my very favorite restaurants in the metro area. it is my go-to place when i don't know what i want, but i know i want to eat out. here's our food:
















http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=84&9th+Door&c=yes
reservation set for thursday mar 1 at 7:30
- i have been harassing my husband to take me here for months now. i am confident that we are going to love it!


http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=694&Barolo+Grill or http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=544&Caf%E9+Brazil&c=yes
saturday mar 3
- where we go will depend on which one my in-laws prefer.


http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=526&Grappa+Bistro&c=yes
reservation set for tuesday, mar 6 at 7
- i can't wait to try the open faced lobster ravioli with sun-dried cherries, spinach and fresh mozzarella in a light curried lobster sauce. divine!


http://www.denver.org/denverrestaurant/menu?id=1190&Axios+Estiatiorio&c=yes
reservation set for thursday, mar 8 at 7
- this is the restaurant i am most excited about only because it is so close to our house and it would be nice to have a go-to fancy-shmancy place nearby. okay, okay, we already have several, but fancy-shmancy restaurants nearby are just like diamonds. you can never have too many.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

long run

last week while my husband, brother and sister-in-law where up partying with friends, i went to bed early so i could get up and complete my long run. it was supposed to be 5 miles, and i got to 4.68 before my time was up. i was pretty happy with that.

this week is 6.5 miles and i am procrastinating. why am i procrastinating when i know it will feel so good once i am done? i wish i knew the answer to that.


Lord, help me this lent as i am preparing for your death and resurrection to put the procrastination behind me. help me to rise above.

Friday, February 24, 2012

prayer

Lord, today is a struggle. i ask for your help. help me make choices that please you. amen.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

preparing for lent

yesterday was fat tuesday. we indulged all day. polish paczki for breakfast. italian for lunch. pie for dessert. sushi for supper. it was decadent. it was over-the-top. it was tradition.



today is ash wednesday, a day of fasting. preparing our hearts and minds for easter. i love this time in the church. i love the sacrifice i can do during lent to show my commitment to Christ. i love how he takes my weakness and makes me rely on him more. i wish i could be this focused all the time, but i fall short and become distracted. i am glad i have a yearly reminder of God's goodness and mercy to me.

Monday, February 20, 2012

i could choose not to move

But I refuse.
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care.
I don't want to say another empty prayer.
I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself.
I could choose
Not to move but I refuse.


i know this song by josh wilson is about so much more than health but it really speaks to me on fitness level. i used to sit around wishing for weight loss. i used to watch others around me work hard and i envied them, but did not want to put in the time myself. God calls our bodies his temple; He resides in us. i could choose to have an unhealthy body, but why? i refuse.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

all you get to see is an empty plate

...because hubby and i were in too big of a hurry to eat and i forgot to take pictures of our valentine's day supper. :) you'll forgive me i'm sure when you hear what it was. beef cheeks with spicy ragu over a quinoa cake with brussel sprouts and asparagus. you would not have been able to control yourself either.



my husband and i had agreed not to get each other anything and just stay home for valentine's. i was all set to make nachos with heart-shaped homemade chips. instead, he surprised me by taking me out for supper at one of my favorite italian restaurants. he is a stinker, but i will keep him. i can't wait to surprise him back.

supper was amazing! we split:
butternut squash soup with gorgonzola
bruschetta with goat cheese, strawberries, arugala and a balsamic vinegar reduction
the aforementioned beef cheeks



oh, and don't forget the bottle of wine from silver vines winery that was dessert.



what a lovely night out with my valentine.




how was your evening?

Thursday, February 16, 2012

another zumba update

it's been a month. i have another month to go. i still don't like it. i wish i did. i'd rather go dance at a bar and use my own 'moves' and listen to music i know the words to. still, i can see the appeal because i really don't feel like i am working out when i am there.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

things that make you go hmmm...

my boys don't like chocolate. they have each come to this conclusion on their own. they resist chocolate toppings, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate ice cream, chocolate candy bars. that is not to say they don't have a sweet tooth, because they love candy and soda. chocolate just isn't their thing.

chocolate isn't really my thing either. i appreciate a good chocolate truffle occasionally or snacking on a few triangles of a toblerone. i'll eat a few chocolate covered cherries at christmas and i like splitting a kitkat bar or a butterfinger at halloween. for the most part, i can take it or leave it.

but on valentine's day, i crave chocolate. C R A V E with a capital C. why is that? it that something i've trained myself to need on this one day? if i don't really want chocolate of any other day, why must i have it today?

this is the first year i have been able to turn the box of chocolates down. i feel proud of myself for that. i also feel slightly sick about missing out, like i will never get another sweet treat in my life. what a funny thought when chocolate is so easy to come by.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

weekend weakness...

i love the weekends. they don't love me back. during the week, i am more structured about my schedule. during the weekends, i go with the flow. going with the flow sometimes means i don't have time for a run.

take this weekend: i was at a scrapbooking retreat with some girlfriends. we had a great time, eating, drinking, laughing, hanging out and cropping. what i didn't make time for was exercising. according to my jeff galloway training i was scheduled for a 4 mile run. ha. not going to happen.

and now i am behind. sigh.

next weekend my brother and his family come into town and i have a 5 mile run scheduled. i know that making the time to get away is important, but i put it off until it is too late to do.


**do you have some tips that you can share to help me make time for exercising on the weekend?

Friday, February 10, 2012

chili cheese nachos

here's a picture for you.



sometimes words are just unnecessary. the only thing i can add about this picture is YUM!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

chili over potatoes



i like a lot of veggies in my chili. i add:
green peppers, jalapenos and onions
tomatoes (stewed and diced, from a can)
corn (fresh off the cob from the freezer or canned)
sliced carrots
mushrooms (sometimes by themselves or sometimes with meat, baby portobello works the best)
pumpkin (pureed)
and of course, eaten over regular russet potatoes

in the past i have tried adding:
green beans (the taste was okay, but we couldn't get past the visual)
spinach (works in a white chicken chili but not in regular, again the appearance)
sweet potatoes

veggies i want to try:
zucchini and summer squash (so long as they don't turn to mush)
cauliflower

ones i don't think i'd try:
broccoli
brussel sprouts
asparagus)
artichokes


**what about you? what have you tried and what wouldn't you do?

Monday, February 6, 2012

chili



the superbowl (aka the 'supper'bowl in our house) and chili go together like... well, like the superbowl and chili. :) they can't be separated.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

carrying on family traditions

for as long as i can remember, i have always skied on superbowl sunday. my dad would take us up to the slope while my mom stayed home to cook, clean and read. at 3:00, we'd pack up our stuff and head home, where we quickly changed and started greeting the guests that arrived to watch the commercial bonanza with us. after the game was over and the last guest left, we would help clean up and fall into bed exhausted. my husband and i are taking my boys up to ski this year on superbowl sunday and i hope we can make this a tradition for them too.


**what are some of your family traditions? do you do anything special for the superbowl?

Thursday, February 2, 2012

frustration

at the beginning of december, i was 10 pounds lighter than i am now. how is that possible? how could i have let myself gain 10 pounds in a little less than 2 months? i saw the scale creep up to 124 and said 'that's okay, it's christmas.' i saw the scale creep up to 127 and said 'that's okay, i am going to start eating healthier again soon.' i saw the scale creep up to 130 and said 'that's okay, it's probably water weight.'

hey self! i am here to tell you that it is NOT okay! stop making excuses!!!
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