WIAW #17

Good evening! Its another WIAW post and I'm going to continue posting like I have the last few weeks. Instead of posting everything I had in one day, I'm posting all the things I ate this week that caught my eye! This girl likes variety! 

----What WIAW isn't about----

Comparison - Judgement - Restriction - Guilt

----What WIAW is about----

Celebrating one of the glorious things we all have in common: We all eat!

WIAW is about food and fun! It's about making new friends, breaking out of a food rut, noting changes in your diet/lifestyle, inspiring yourself & others, embracing fruit & vegetables, nourishing your body with the foods that work for you, finding new ways to eat your favorite foods, and so much more <3

-peas & crayons

BBQ chicken (finger licking goodness) with roasted garden veggies, green beans and broccoli and cauliflower! 

Friday went to the store for the hubby and I to grill outside!

And this was the awesome outcome! Steak pinwheels stuffed with parmesan and spinach, roasted cauliflower and grilled mushrooms! Initiate face plant.

Sunday we grilled flank steak (can you tell I love steak?) and asparagus and roasted and mashed cauliflower!

For lunches this week I whipped up a batch of Skinny Taste's Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup for the hubby and I!

Monday nights I have Tax Accounting night class so salads are usually on the menu! Roasted shrimp, avocado, broccoli, feta.... Happiness!

PIZZZZZZA! My kryptonite! I did an extra workout so I could exhale this! (and two more pieces heehee) 

My sister made these bad boys.... And I was the official taste tester and photographer (which is just as important - right?). Skinny Taste Flourless Brownies! DE-FREAKING-LICIOUS!

On a side note a suggestion I'd make - double the almond milk and instead of half a teaspoon of oil use a full tablespoon!

And now I'm hungry... 

Again.

As usual.

Question: What neat new recipe did you try? Or did you make? Link up if you want!

Eat clean, train mean, && inspire others!

-Jaren 

Crossfit Open 2014

So ladies and gents, lets be real...

We have roughly 3 days until the Crossfit Games Open begins and the first workout is posted. I know a lot of people are still debating if they should put themselves out there and register or not. Last year I didn't register because I was new and super intimidated. I was thinking - "No way I can do this", "People are going to think I'm weak", and lastly "I don't want to kill myself."

A lot has changed since then... I'm stronger, more confident, and this year I'm looking forward to getting my ass kicked in the Open. I still can barely do a pull up, my double unders aren't consistent, and burpees still make me want to puke sometimes... But that doesn't matter. 

The Open isn't just for those hardcore Crossfitters hoping for a spot at Regionals, or those headed straight for the Games. The Open is for EVERYONE.

You heard me, EVERYONE.

It doesn't matter if you just started Crossfit or if you've been at it for years. It doesn't matter if you can't lift as much as you want, or you don't finish wods as fast as others.

What matters is you. This is your time to see what you are really made of! 

The Open is a way to push yourself and test your limits. To see what you can and can't do. Its a way to benchmark yourself - you can compare your performance against other years that you have registered. 

If you do one more rep than you anticipated - you come out a winner. If you happen to PR a lift in the middle of the Open - you come out a winner. If you finally get that pull up or double under - you come out a winner. If you have a blast and become closer with your box buds - you come out a winner.

You aren't competing against everyone.... As always, you are competing against you. Don't worry about who is watching you, what others are doing, or what others may think. They don't matter. This is your journey... Focus on you. Focus on doing your best. 

If you do good and get into Regionals, SWEET. But that isn't what really matters... Just go out there, have fun, push yourself, do your best and you will come out on top!

You still have time to sign up. Just do it.

Question:
What is your favorite protein bar?
Are you registered for the Open?

Eat clean, train mean, && inspire others!
-Jaren

New Gear and Goals!

Hello my lovelies! Oh how I have missed you.

All is swell here: lots of work, school, and crossfit. It’s a never ending cycle. (PS. Managerial economics BLOWS)

Anyways onto the fun stuff.

Spent my weekend in Oklahoma visiting my sister and her family! It was such a great weekend, the weather was awesome, and it was nice to just hang out and relax!

My little sister Logann and I drove up Thursday and didn’t get there till after midnight, it was a long drive in the Camaro but we passed it by listening to lots of Muse, Glee, and Mumford & Sons. We had to stop in Denton at Chipotle on the way up, duh!

Friday we went to the outlet mall, had lunch at Smashburger, picked my nephew up from school, and bought a fire pit for Candace’s back porch. Then I managed to get a wod in there home garage! Candace’s hubby made a sled with a tire and that thing is no joke.

Then I ran around the yard and chased the kids for hours which is tons of fun and a great way to stay in shape fo sho. 

After that I worked on my handstand while Candace made Chicken and dumplings aka Awesomesauce. The rest of the night was filled with time around the fire making s'mores. No better way to spend the evening for sure.

Saturday, the Hubby (who arrived at 2am Saturday morning) and I went to Dick’s in search of Reebok gear. Our Academy’s back home don’t carry Reebok. This girl loaded up.

I also got a pair of red shorts, not pictured. Those shorts are probably the best pair of shorts I've ever bought. They are a smidge short but if you are used to Lululemon's run speedy's then they won't bother you. I also think they are more comfortable then my Lulu's, the waist band is think and soft so no uncomfortable muffin top. The sports top is super comfy, maybe not good for running or box jumps, but great for everything else.

After fajitas at their local Mexican restaurant we spent the rest of the evening with my niece and nephew making more s'mores and carving pumpkins. Texans represent!

I was super bummed with the weekend ended.

I’ve been thinking a lot about my short term and long term fitness goals so I thought I would share them here.

Short term:
Back squat 200lbs (I’m at 185 right now)
Do an unassisted pull up
Be able to clean my body weight
Eat less starchy carbs
Run more
Continue to work on my 100 burpees for time (epic suckage)
Drink more water

Long term: (1-5yrs)
Get the nerve to compete in my first crossfit competition
Get my NASM
Get my Crossfit Level 1

Tonight the hubby cooked Skinny Taste's Shrimp Cobb Salad and Creamy Cilantro Dressing while I worked on my quiz. Now just relaxing with a Purple Haze (first beer I've had in AGES), carving MORE pumpkins and watching the Conjuring. SCARIEST MOVIE EVER.

Can you believe that tomorrow is Halloween already? We don’t get many trick or treaters out here in the woods but we did buy one bag of candy. And so I wouldn’t touch that candy I bought myself a Justin’s dark chocolate peanut butter cup! NOM.

Questions:

Do you have any long term or short term goals?
What do you plan to be for Halloween?

WIAW #16

Good evening! Its another WIAW post and I'm going to continue posting like I have the last few weeks. Instead of posting everything I had in one day, I'm posting all the things I ate this week that caught my eye! This girl likes variety! 

----What WIAW isn't about----

Comparison - Judgement - Restriction - Guilt

----What WIAW is about----

Celebrating one of the glorious things we all have in common: We all eat!

WIAW is about food and fun! It's about making new friends, breaking out of a food rut, noting changes in your diet/lifestyle, inspiring yourself & others, embracing fruit & vegetables, nourishing your body with the foods that work for you, finding new ways to eat your favorite foods, and so much more <3

-peas & crayons

Steak, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and salad greens!

Paleo sloppy joes over a sweet potato and kale!

Fajita salad - chicken, avocado, greens, corn, black beans... Put salsa and sriracha as the dressing, someone neglected to tell me that it was ghost pepper salsa, and I couldn't feel my face for two hours after finishing my bowl.

Skinny Taste Turkey taco chili soup!

Thursday went by Starbucks for a treat, passion tea unsweet!

Friday we had a cold front come through and the rain was INSANE! But the hubby and I still braved it for some Zoe's Kitchen - steak rollups, hummus, and a greek salad.

And since we were already out braving the weather, we sprang for some Chiller Bee Froyo!

Egg whites, ham, and mushrooms with a sliced green apple!

Panko crusted salmon, honey carrots and garlic spinach.

Spent yesterday afternoon prepping lunches! Chipotle chicken breasts!

Chipotle chicken, sweet potato fries, and a side salad with avocado. Someone is always near by waiting to get some scraps!

My go to breakfast at work: ezekiel bread with 1/2 an avocado with sriracha, boiled egg, sliced ham, and grapes!

Workouts for the week!

Sprints and jogging while watching the North and South marathon on Encore Western! Was one happy lady!

My favorite yoga DVD!

2.8 miles of springs, jogging and hills! Been battling compartment syndrome so my time on the treadmill is limited before my legs cramp up but with lots of stretching and foam rolling I am determined to stick with it!

Question: What PR did you reach this week?
What new recipe did you try?

Eat clean, train mean, && inspire others!
-Jaren

MIMM #10

Happy Monday Friends! As much as I dislike Mondays, I’m glad to be back to routine after several days of holiday festivities.

So let’s talk all about my marvelous long weekend!

Thursday I got up early and ran sprints in the home gym. I had to share the TV with my niece who basically went crazy when she saw Lightning McQueen flash across the screen… I’m a sucker for Cars!

Afterwards involved lots of cleaning, cooking, and partying! We had all our immediate family and friends over for ribs, Mom’s homemade cole slaw, and grilled veggies! My friend Sarah brought Skinny Taste’s Red White and Blue Fruit Skewers with Cheesecake Yogurt Dip – which was amazing! Mom made this beauty.

Friday involved this deliciousness for lunch!!

And an evening of fun with friends and my niece and nephew.

Saturday I got up early and ran to town to make goodies for a friends party.

Nothing like a summertime cruise in the Camaro.

Then the hubby and I made the long trek down south, it was a blasty blast! Even though we didn’t get home till after two am. YIKES.

Sunday, we saw Candace and her family off back to Oklahoma… Sad business.

Then the hubby and I went to see the Heat!

It was pretty funny, I could just do without the F-word every other minute.

We did a little shopping as well at Target and Academy, my two favorite stores!

Picked up a new lunch kit so people would stop asking me if I was bringing a 12pack to work everyday. Plus it is pretty and stylish. Grabbed some more coaches tape for Crossfit wounds and new ice packs for my lunch kit since they get yucky after a while.

Can never have enough Yoga DVDs and I LOVE Jillian Michaels.

At Target I grabbed some Yes To shampoo and face wash. My little sister swears by it and introduced me to it, plus I’m always looking for ways to cut chemicals out my life. Also needed some more Stash’s green tea, and a new scrubby for my Crossfit induced callouses…

As for today, I managed to yank myself out of bed at 4am to get my butt kicked.

It has been a rainy day here in South Texas which is rare for the summer so this girl is going home and taking a rain and tin roof nap. Win.

Question:
What neat things did you pick up this weekend?
How did you spend your fourth of July?

Eat clean, train mean, and inspire others!
-Jaren