Go Green

Smoothies with added spinach or kale. They are kinda all the rage.

I’ve always heard how great green smoothies are (taste and health benefits), so I decided to try one. I had my premade smoothie bags, so in my first concoction; I blended 3-4 cups of spinach then added my smoothie bag. The smoothie bag had a cube of yogurt, a cube of pineapple juice, frozen kiwi, a frozen banana, and a cup of water. It was delicious. Full of flavor and I couldn’t tell that I had added vegetables to my drink. The color was also a bright green, which was fun.  My only complaint was the seeds from the kiwi. They are slightly annoying.

Thanks to pinterest, I’ve got a ton of green smoothie recipes. This morning, I decided to try another flavor, this time using kale rather than spinach. First thing I noticed was the kale had a stronger smell than the spinach. Fingers crossed, I added the yogurt, banana, and ½ cup of blueberries. It didn’t have the smoothie consistency that I hoped for…so I added some ice... still not quite right. Hmm. Let me add water (I’m trying not to add a bunch of calories). Crap. I’m now looking at a blue-green soup. Into the sink it goes.  Since this is supposed to be my breakfast, and I’m starting to run out of time, I decide to go back to the spinach…its safer. In goes the spinach, banana, yogurt, and blueberries… Blend, blend, blend. Voila. A blue-green smoothie.  This smoothie didn’t have an amazing flavor like my first one. Bland is the best way to describe this one. I’m posting this combination under the fail category simply because I’ve experimented a lot with smoothies and I have tons of full flavored combinations.

So far, I’ve learned a few valuable lessons on smoothie making. 1. Prepare everything in advance. Freeze your juice and yogurt in muffin tins and then place one of each with your desired fruit into sandwich bags…it saves a lot of time and mess. 2. Buy frozen fruit. It saves money. During the summer, I’ll prob buy some fresh fruit, but right now I’m not spending my money on half rotten fruit. 3. If you don’t like it, tweak the recipe. This is how I’ve come to enjoy my shakeology packets, including the greenberry. (Sidenote: I’ve read there is a third flavor now. Tropical.) 4. Do not try to eat plain yogurt. I love yogurt. But I decided to buy the plain low fat yogurt. While putting the yogurt into the muffin tins, I got some on my hand. What do I do? Lick it off. Worst. Decision. Ever. I immediately spit it out. Just trust me and do not try this.

I don’t do a smoothie every day because I love food. I miss chewing my food if I have too many. I probably have two a week. The great thing about them, they fill me up better than any other breakfast food. Thanks to the Trumps, I have a fantastic Steelers Turvis Tumbler. It holds about 4 cups of smoothie goodness. I can make it at 7 in the morning and it takes me a few hours to drink all of it. Any other breakfast is gone by 9 o’clock and I’m ready for a snack. Since it takes longer to consume…I’m not hungry till much later. Score.

New Years Resolution

So many people make New Years resolutions, but why wait til New Years? I’m making goals now, so that by the time New Years comes around, it will no longer be something I put effort into…it could be a habit.

1. Run or walk a mile each day. Everyone who knows me, knows I am a hot weather girl. I hate running in the cold, but I’m going to try to change that. In the very least, I can walk a mile.

2. Run a 10 minute mile. I have a steady 12 minute mile. When I started running, I was only able to run ¼ of a mile (that may be exaggerating) before I had to walk. Slowly, the distance increased. I figured if I can start the same way, eventually I’ll be running an 8 minute mile. J

3. Take pictures. I hate this one. I’m my worst critic. I’ll notice any bulge or flaw, but it’s so hard to see a change in my body because it doesn’t happen drastically. Taking pictures will allow me to see the change (and the places I need to focus harder on).

4. Eat better. I saw a blog where this girl took yogurt and froze it in cupcake pans. She then took the frozen yogurt blocks and fruit and put them into sandwich bags. Every morning she grabs a bag and uses her Magic Bullet and fixes a smoothie. She did a variety of bags once a month, so she wouldn’t get tired of the same flavors. You can also add frozen juices. I also need to be consistent at bringing my own lunch. I’ve been bringing it on and off for the last month…I’ve already lost weight as a result. When I wasn’t working, I never ate fast food. When I did eat it, I thought it was greasy and gross. I need to get that state of mind back.

5. Spend less. I want a new car. My car has about 120,000 miles on it, so she’s about due for retirement. I’m holding out for as long as possible (mostly because there isn’t a car that I absolutely love and can afford). I like the 2010 Acura MDX, but not the 2012…it’s too round. OR we can maybe talk McSteeny into the 4 door jeep wrangler. Terrible on gas and no extra room. But I LOVE it. I also want to spend less on clothes…which conflicts with goal #6..

6. Be simple, but trendy. I am a huge fan of solid colored long sleeve t-shirts and dressing them up with accessories and scarves. Here are some outfits I love.

Love the color combo and the shoes.

I already have the coat...the rest should be easy to get, right?

<3

Baby I'ma be your motivation.

I'm slowly learning ways that work for me to diet/exercise. I've learned that I can't run/workout with someone who is faster/stronger/in better shape than me. I give up. I like being the leader. It might sound crazy, but I like pushing someone else. In running, I like to say, "Just make it to that sign" etc. Some people get motivated by watching Biggest Loser. Again, that doesn't do it for me. Muscles. Seeing pictures of chicks with muscles. The only sad thing is that most pictures of these chicks...they all have fake boobs. I need to get me some of them too. Muscles first. Boobs later. Here is some of my inspiration:

                                                        I wouldn't wear pants. Ever.

                                                           She's Hot.

                                                     Holy Back Muscles
                                        
Its hard to find pictures of bubble butts that are freaking awesome...this one is pretty close. I like my big butt.

                            1. I love dancing as a workout.
                            2. I love workout clothes...especially leg warmers.

                                                           I love legs.

More motivation another day. :)

Junk in the Trunk.

Dear Blog, I'm sorry that I abandoned you. Please take me back. Love, Jamie


It's been a straight up eternity since I've been up here. I seriously haven't had time to get my thoughts together, writing them is a whole additional challenge. So, here I am. Same place as before. Trying to get skinny. I mean fit. Who are we kidding. I want to be smoking hot in a size 4. I'd settle for being one of those skinny girls that can eat anything, but Jesus just won't do that. So I'm gonna have to work for that size 4. Starting tomorrow, I'll be doing Brazillian Butt Lift. Not the surgery, the DVDs. It's a BeachBody product (P90X, Insanity, etc) so I know it's going to work. In addition, I'm doing Shakeology. I bought the chocolate and the greenberry. I'll let you know how they taste. I'm a bit worried about the greenberry.

My starting measurements are:
 Chest: 34" Pray this number doesn't decrease.
Right Arm: 11"
Left Arm: 11.5"
Waist: 28.5"
Hips: 44" CLEARLY you can see that I need to be doing this exercise program!
R. Thigh: 25"
L. Thigh: 26"
Starting Weight: 140



So, there you have it. I have too much junk in the trunk.

Today's Emotional Run

So- today's run was emotional for me. I know I have this run coming up in 19 days, so I really need to run whether I feel like running or not. After eating too much this weekend, I haven't felt like running. Today was the same problem. Luckily, my IPOD was charged to help me today. I didn't have my arm band, so I had to stick the IPOD in the little pocket in my pants.

The wind was kicking today. I didn't realize it at first because it was going in the same direction that I was going...then I turned the corner and it was obvious. As I rounded the next corner, the wind was in my face. I felt like I was running so hard, but not going anywhere. Then my lips felt chapped, I had a cramp, my mouth was dry...I was feeling defeated. I kept telling myself the hardest part was going to be the first mile, the mile back, I would have the wind working with me most of the time.

Of all the Massey girls- I may be the most feminine. Tasha and Erica have always been hard core at sports. I never played football with the guys, I don't like frogs, I can't even change a tire (I could prob do it if I had to...I've never had to). One thing I can't do is spit. So, today as the wind is blowing so hard and I don't have any candy to keep my mouth from getting dry, I needed to spit. I call it thick spit. So, spitting usually goes like this...I spit and it hangs from my mouth until gravity takes over. Here's the problem: 40 mph wind + plus thick spit= Jamie getting her own spit in her face.

After a little bit of a struggle with the wind, I finally made it to my halfway point. I thought about going further, but I was ready to be on the way back to finish my run. So, I turn around and start back. With the wind pushing me forward, I get these thoughts of Kathie in my head. I didn't have a playlist to run with today...I was just using shuffle. I normally don't listen to country while I run because I need a faster beat...but SheDaisy- Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing happened to be on...here are the lyrics:

Life is funny, life's a mess
Sometimes a curse, sometimes a blessing
Don't worry 'bout a thing, don't worry 'bout it
Life gets sticky, life can bruise
Sometimes you win sometimes your losing
No matter what it brings
Don't worry 'bout a thing

Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with thoughts of Kathie. I was running like I was being chased. No jogging, flat out running. I'm sure the wind gave me a push, but my strides were wider and faster and it wasn't feeling winded like I normally would. It was a total Forest Gump moment. I ran until the wind started working against me. Then, I cried. I actually wept.

I used to loathe running. I didn't run for fun. Now I run for a reason. In the last month of Kathie's life, I begged God to take away her pain or fear and just bring her comfort. There was nothing I could do for her other than that. I offered to shave my head when she went bald, I wanted to donate bone marrow, but in all my attempts, I still felt helpless. Running is the one thing I can do even after Kathie is gone.

I don't like to use the phrase "Lost her battle with cancer"...to me Kathie won. I know that she is now eternally free from cancer.

I run because cancer sucks.

I've told my story before about why I run, but I want to remind myself about my motivation...

I was hired at Farmers Bank when Kathie had to leave because she had AML- Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Kathie became healthy enough to return to work and we became amazing friends. Kathie once said that anyone who runs for cancer, is okay in her book. After Kathie lost her battle to cancer (stupid tears are keeping me from typing), I decided I want to run for Kathie.

I started running on the treadmill, which is incredibly boring. One mile on that thing feels like an eternity. Then, I started running through Windsor. I finally ran my first 5k on Thanksgiving Day in 2009. In March of 2010, I ran my first 8k (5 miles). My finishing time was 1:01:01. 1 hour, 1 minute, 1 second...I can do better than that! My goal this year is to do it around 55 minutes...which means I have to knock a minute off each mile I run.

This years 8k will be on March 19, 2011, in Virginia Beach, at 8 AM. What do I need? I need running buddies for the next few weeks. I run better when I have someone to run with. I would also LOVE cheerleaders for race day. You don't have to run 5 miles with me. Just stand on the sideline with a poster and hoot and holler when I run by you. Then meet me at the finish line and hang out on the beach with me the rest of the day and go to lunch with me...It amazes me how much I can eat after running. So, any volunteers?

I am officially signing up with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training to raise money in memory of Kathie and to get help with training for a 1/2 marathon. I'm waiting to hear about starting up a team. If anyone else is interested in running, let me know :) The Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 marathon benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. That race is September 4, 2011...and it will be my first 1/2 marathon!

So...who wants to run tomorrow? :)

Game Day foods

I know that I am going to eat a lot during the Super Bowl. I eat when my boys are doing good and when they are not doing so good. These are some of my favorite foods. (I've listed healthier options for some of the ingridients...somethings are hopeless-fattening foods.)

Sausage Dip:
1lb bulk sausage (or turkey sausage)
1 brick cream cheese (or neufchatel)
1 can rotel tomatoes
tortilla chips (they make these in whole wheat now!!!)

Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip:
1 brick cream cheese (softened) (Or neufchatel)
3/4 cup hot sauce
1 cup ranch dressing
3 cans chunk white chicken, drained and shredded
4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

-Mix cream cheese, hot sauce, and ranch dressing. Stir in chicken. Pour in a casserole dish (spray it with Pam first...you'll thank me later.) Sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Mediterranean Dip:
7 oz. Hummus
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup cucumbers
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese
slice black olives.

-layer in a dish in the order of listed ingredients and serve with pita chips.

Meatballs:
1 bag frozen Italian style meatballs
1 can crushed pineapple
1 small jar grape jelly
3 jars chili sauce (near the ketchup or A-1 at the grocery store)

Cook in crock pot all day.

Taco dip:
Refried beans
Sour cream
1 lb. ground beef (ground turkey and ground chicken tastes just as good)
taco seasoning
salsa
cheese
lettuce
tomato

Mix beans and sour cream together (if you want to go without meat...add the taco seasoning to the beans and sour cream.) Put a layer of salsa, then cheese, and finish with lettuce and tomato. (If you have any other taco toppings that you like, feel free to add them. Serve with fritos. :)