Italian Week!

I am a proud Italian girl. Was taught the marinara sauce recipe at the age of ten, and had to recite the particular steps to my mom while I chopped, stirred and watch. I don't always have time to make the coveted sauce, it's actually fast, but needs to simmer for a few hours and be stirred often=stay home for a while and try not to be too distracted...hard to do!

But thanks to this 3 day weekend, I actually had time to make the sauce, and to share the moment with my son and nephew! #passonthetradition #teachthemyoung

So you grate a carrot to cut the acidity of the tomatoes...

The biggest tip to homemade sauce, besides stirring it often, is WAIT and use it the next day. The flavors need to marinade!

Today, I did some food prep with my sauce. Gluten free penne with roasted veggies and sauce (or make it Primavera style and add extra olive oil and garlic w/ some parm)  and spaghetti squash with sauce, which I will add mozzarella cheese and bake in the oven when the time comes.YUM!!

Happy Italian Week to me!!!

Sweat is Good

It was crazy rainy and windy last night. Living in So Cal, that is unusual weather for us and I'm not ashamed being a weather whimp. So the weather was my reason to not go to the gym, but it was not my reason for NOT working out!

All you need is some good music and maybe something to look at. I love our Chromecast slideshow of family pictures on our T.V and Pandora's Pop & Hip-Hop station. Good old Pitbull really brings some upbeat jams that keeps me going with the workout...

So here it is

3 Sets of Each:
20 burpees
20 push-ups
25 regular squats 
25 wide leg squats(like your in ballet's 2nd position)
                     THEN...
Repeat this rotation for 2 sets each:
25 mountain climbers
Hold plank for 30 sec.
Side plank each side,15 sec.
25 mountain climbers
Forearm plank for 30 sec.
Forearm side plank each side, 15 sec.

                   THEN...
ABS. Since I love pilates, so I did a little pilates series. All you need is 5 minutes of abs. Hope you sweat as much as I did!

Did I Mention that I haven't had ANY Seafood This WEEK?

As a self-proclaimed Pescatarian, I decided to challenge myself and see if I would feel fine (and full) without seafood. So I made a batch of Trio Colored Quinoa sautéed with onions, & mushrooms, threw in some black beans, and used that as my base for my meals this week.

 I try to use little seasoning when I cook my base foods during my meal-prep day (including seafood) so that I can alternate the flavor palate throughout the week which keeps me from ultimate boredom!

So, with that quinoa base, I included fire-roasted tomatoes and made stuffed bell peppers. 

Then I also used that mixture for enchiladas.

 I still had left-over "base" so I jarred it. Tonight, I sautéed up some carrots, broccoli, more mushrooms and green beans and seasoned it with my favorite stir-fry seasoning. Then I threw in the remaining base, added some edamame, and a little teriyaki sauce, (and Siracha) done!

The result is that I honestly never felt full, but I did feel satisfied. I'm learning that the reason American's are overweight is because we confuse the idea of feeling full vs. feeling satisfied. Once we can learn and understand the difference, then we are more successful at a healthier, slimmer version of oneself! 

Homemade Love on V-Day

We're all about the homemade cards for every event. Partially because cards are so overpriced and I feel like I'm always repeating myself. The partially to bring out the crafty side in my son, and partially, for him to understand and appreciate WHY we give cards. 

This year we made cards for each other, he helped with his school Valentines, here's the great freebie printable: http://www.theidearoom.net/50-diy-kids-classroom-valentines-day-ideas

And, we made pizza for dinner. The intention was to make it heart shaped, however my husband must be a pro since he spread the dough so well it was too big for a heart...

My side of the pizza had sun-dried tomatoes and pesto ;) We used the Trader Joe's dough, the pizza came out more greasy then when I used the local Italian bakery dough...but the flavor was spot on! 

          Fun lunch, check! Valentines, check! A jar of chocolates for his teachers, check!                   Homemade cards & Pizza, check check! A fun and memorable day, DONE!

           

        Notice, my son "working" while I'm studying?!? #swoon

my good friend David...

My dear friend David, known on The Millionaire Matchmaker had a lovely wedding in Bel Air, that was very detail specific and intimate. Here's a pic of my hubby and I infant of this gorgeous backdrop that he handmade. He has a great new website dedicated to everything Gay Weddings! Launching on Valentine's Day!! here's his blog link: http://www.finding-cupid.com/single-post/2015/08/14/Bow-Ties-Wedding-Cake-Getting-Inspired

guilty pleasures

Last weekend I drank a lot of wine, ate pizza and had some dessert (insert monkey hide-face emoji here)

But....at least the pizza was homaemade right?! A group of my girlfriends, the Supper Club, host rotating dinner parties. The host makes the main, and the others bring sides, apps, wine, etc. Well, I decided to have the girls help make the main, some delicious pizza! We all workout so hard and adhere to strict diets, why not indulge and have some juicy conversations?!?

I covered my table with butcher paper, had some fun Valentine napkins and many bottles of wine, here's the before and after of our dinner...We almost forgot to take any pics at all!

it's been a while, but here's a great lunch idea...

I'm back in the swig of things at school and work is intense.  I am currently preparing for a Parent Curriculum Workshop, how we integrate curriculum tools into our creativity and innovation!!

But, I made a yummy and super low carb, low cal lunch: Romain boat fish tacos:

So, I sprinkled S & P and baked tilapia in the toaster oven. Once done, I prepared my lunches in my food prep containers. Fresh romain lettuce, sliced cherry tomatoes, some shredded cheese and some chunky salsa. DONE! Someone was kind enough to buy and share Siracha Mayo, that did take my tacos to the next level, of course some avocado would have been a delicious add...Because I loaded my tacos with fish, I was full and completely satisfied until my afternoon snack.

Remember, if you workout regularly it is important to maintain your metabolism and to fuel your body with food to either prepare you for your workout or to repair your body afterwards. 

My afternoon snack was 1/2 and apple with 2 tbsp Sunflower butter. YUM!