Oh hey there! Remember me? Like I’ve said before, sometimes when life happens, blogging doesn’t and that has been the case for the past few days. But what better way to break back into it than with The Weekender and an easy + nutrition-packed recipe? Let’s go!
The Weekender
- I need a donut pan. When Rob questions my definition of “need,” I’m giving him Mama Pea’s phone number.
- What are your thoughts on “Purist Chefs”? I can definitely see their side of it, but that trend certainly would make life hard for those with dietary restrictions.
- I’m pretty sure my brother Roger lives off Hot Pockets. Wonder if I could get him to try this delicious-sounding, healthy looking versiona la Janetha. [Speaking of Hot Pockets, whenever someone talks about them, I instantly reply this Jim Gaffigann skit in my head. “Hawwwttt Paahhhcket!”]
- Let’s all wish the beautiful Elsa a happy 1st birthday! And then we can all commiserate about how our ovaries are achin’ for a baby after looking at how cute she is.
- I loved Abby’s Confessions of a Runner. I have two confessions to share: I’m an Expert Spitter–on-the-Run and have perfected farmer’s blows. Are you still my friend?
- Let’s all raise a collective cheer that TYLER IS BACK TO BLOGGING!!! And let’s go eat his crockpot nachos too. Technically, I think they’re Emily’s crockpot nachos.
- When I grow up, can I please look like Julianne Moore?
- Coconut oil wasn’t always so trendy.
The Week in Fitness
M – Bikram Yoga
T – practice RPM
W – 30 minutes treadmill speedwork + 30 minutes core work
Th – 2 mile fast & furious run
F – teach cycle
S – 9.25 miles in about 1 hour, 15 minutes (I forgot to restart my Garmin for part of it), average 8:15 pace
Su – Body Pump + practice RPM
I’m currently struggling with balancing all that I want/need to fit into my workouts during the week. I’m training for a TBD half marathon where I’d really like to break my PR (1:57) so I need time for speed work plus other quality workouts. I’m also smack-dab in the middle of RPM certification. And I like to weight train 2x a week. And yoga is nice when I can get it in. So…I’m still working to find a happy balance without living in my workout clothes.
Because if I lived in my workout clothes, I couldn’t wear gray tights. And I love gray tights.
Shoes: Rocket Dog ballet flats
Tights: Hue from Nordstrom
Watch: Michael Kors from Bevello
Skirt: Love & Photographs
blue Cardigan: JCrew
Blue ruffle shirt that you can’t see: Banana Republic
multi-tone gray/black Scarf: Bevello
Black patent leather belt: Banana Republic Outlet
Gray button earrings that you can’t see: My Fair Ladee
iHerb.com recently offered me a $50 shopping spree on their website and obviously I accepted. They carry WAY more stuff than I would have ever imagined, but I stocked up on things I’ve always wanted to try but am too cheap to pay for with real money, including:
- Goji berries
- Hemp seeds
- Organic Extra Thick Rolled Oats
- Stevia powder (I’ve never ever used a sugar substitute so we’ll see how that goes)
So what does one do with all that stuff? Make muesli of course!
Power-packed Muesli
- 1/3 c extra thick rolled oats (regular oats would work too)
- 1 t sunflower seeds
- 1 t pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
- 1 t hemp seeds
- 1 T cacao nibs
- 1 T goji berries
- 1 T chopped raw walnuts
Combine all ingredients and top with milk of choice. For me, it was unsweetened vanilla almond milk. And it was deeelicious.
I loved the crunch of all the seeds and the slight sweetness of the goji berries. My new favorite on-the-go snack is a handful of goji berries mixed with a handful of cacao nibs. Goji berries and cacao nibs are packed with all sorts of antioxidants.. I’ll reverse my aging the natural way, thanks. And hemp seed has both Omega-3 and Omega-6 – and in the right balance too.
What do you do with your tax refund? Save it? Go shopping? Take a vacation?
Do you ever feel crunched for time with all you want to accomplish with your fitness goals? Any tips for me?
56 Comments
Lee
atWe’re buying new windows with our refund (and first time homebuyer credit). How’s that for boring?!
Teri
atPretttty boring Lee! 😉 But it’s not boring that you have a house! I’m sure when we buy a house, we’ll use our refund for similar things!
Michelle
atLOVE your skirt… so cute!!
I’m planning to pay off my credit cards with my refund, and then save whatever’s left. I haven’t been very financially responsible lately, so that’s my attempt at fixing it 🙂
Teri
atThanks!
That is smart to pay off your credit cards. Good for you!
Tyler
atTax Refund = Lady Gaga FLOOR tickets, and hotel room booked! (don’t worry, I will be blogging all about it!)
Looking SHARP in that outfit sister.
Teri
atAhhhhmazing. That concert will be crazy!
And thank you! 🙂
Lauren
atAs always, LOVE your weekender. Interesting article on coconut oil. I always thought coconut oil was bad because I heard that is what they used on Movie Theater popcorn.
Ashley
atCurious to see what you think of stevia. I can’t stand the taste, but I know a lot of people that say they can’t taste it! I’m glad to see a post from you…I was starting to get worried. And don’t think I forgot about the guest post!! I have the recipes picked out and the post is started. This week, promise! 🙂 Your skirt is sooooooooooooo freaking cute!!!!
Teri
atI don’t even know what to use Stevia for! I rarely add sugar to stuff unless I’m baking. Does it work in baking??
Can’t WAIT for your guest post!! Thanks love!
Lisa
atLOL I love the Jim Gaffigan skit too. I cannot hear the words “Hot Pocket” without doing it in his voice.
I used my tax return this year to pay off my credit card and buy a plane ticket to Arizona. Escaping the rain and gloom of Oregon for sunshine and 80 degrees! Yippee!
Teri
atme too!!! I crack up whenever someone says Hot Pocket and they look at me like I’m crazy.
Ooh, a trip to AZ will be nice!
Lauren
atI always trying to find a balance in working out. I wanna do it all, but there’s just not enough time. Lately, I’ve been focusing on running, and then I chose 3-4 classes (spin, yoga, weights) a week that I go to.
Cara
atLOVE the outfit! The skirt is so adorable!
The muesli looks wonderful as well! I will have to try it
I always feel crunched for time on my workouts…. I try to mix it up each day. Run long every other day and then do weight training or another workout on the days in between. It seems to work well. If I know I’m going to be busy one day I’ll double up the day before and take a rest day. It is tough to figure out the balance, but eventually you’ll find what works for you.
Teri
atThat sounds like a good schedule…and doubling up before a busy day and then resting is a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
abby
atThanks for the shout out 🙂 I’m pretty good at spitting, but I could use some work on the snot rockets!
Sarah R
atThis year, our tax refund went into new carpet for our house. Last year it was a new air conditioner. So necessities, but totally not fun. One of these days maybe we’ll get to do something fun with it.
BIOCHEMISTA
atHey lady! I too struggle with the same issues when training for a half/full marathon. Here is what a typical week looks like for me:
M BodyPump, run (or treadmill sprints)
T OFF
W Training run, abs
Th BodyPump, 15-30 min yoga
F Training run, abs
Sat Long run, stretch
When I’m not training I usually have 2 rest days, incorporate spinning into the mix and one more day of bodypump.
Sun Yoga
I think the biggest piece of advice I can give you is *some* yoga/stretching is better than no yoga. 🙂
Teri
atThat is such a great idea to tack on short abs or yoga sessions after your longer workout. It’s only 15-20 minutes but I know it would make a big difference.
And THANK YOU for the yoga reminder. I’m so injury prone that I really need to fit that in somehow.
Megan (Running Foodie)
atWe are going to HAWAII in December with our tax refund (we got WAY more than we expected)! We are going to stay in a B&B on the Big Island and hunt for whales and watch lava flow into the ocean. 🙂
Teri
atYAY!!!!!!!!! That sounds amazing!!!!
giordin
atI love your outfits…thanks for posting so I can get ideas!!
I always feel like I’m trying to crunch too many workout goals in at one time, and sometimes they don’t work together at all…like training for a marathon, and trying to get really flexible in yoga…doesn’t really happen.
I sometimes have to take a step back and try and phase things out so I work on one or two goals per month that are complimentary, and then switch it up the next month. For example, right now I’m focusing on building up mileage for a marathon, and I’m doing some strength work to keep my muscles strong, and making sure to stretch after workouts. Next month, I start to hit my peak mileage for training, so I’m going to switch to doing more yoga and less strength to get more stretching action. The month after the race, I’m planning to recover with more yoga and swimming. And maybe the next month I’ll start thinking about getting a spin instructor certification.
(Sorry if that was TMI. It’s actually the first time I’ve actually written out my goals!)
Teri
atNot TMI at all! I love that you shared what you’re doing! and it’s always nice to put something in writing! Good luck with your training!
Chris Haynes
atI am heading off to London and then coming back for a few weeks then of to San Fran a week… wooooooohoooooo
Teri
atwe’re talking about going to London with our tax refund too!
sassy molassy
atI SO want one of those donut pans, but it would be dangerous too. 🙂 With my tax refund I’m paying half toward the manfriend’s bed (he has a line of credit for it – ugh!!!) and half toward my student loans and savings. Not necessarily fun, but I’ve spent several years’ refunds on “fun” things. I guess that’s what growing up is all about.
[email protected] Lindselicious
atI love my donut pan! Definately get the large one- the mini one is cute, but its a lot harder to fill if you you are working with batter that is thick (for a dense cake donut). Or maybe I have yet to figure it out myself…
Love your grey tights, you have inspired me to dig mine out as well this week!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife
atI always make sure to have a rest day, I always devote 2-3 sessions/week of BodyPUMP (I teach it 3x/week so this is kinda easy), and I always do at least 1 speed session work. The rest of the week I do core, some yoga, and a bit of steady-state cardio. It is so hard to find a balance, I agree, but just decide your priorities and go with it! I love muesli with a passion…my mom is Swiss and that is what she (and thus) I grew up on 🙂 yours looks fab!
Teri
atI love what you said “Decide your priorities and go with it!” That really helps in figuring out what I’m going to focus on. Thanks!
Mmm…do you have a recipe for muesli the true Swiss way??
Becky
ati’m with you on julianne. she is always a knockout. i have to ask, what the heck is a farmer’s blow???? i love muesli. yours looks delish. i like to eat it with plain organic yogurt and a drizzle of honey or agave nectar. i also like to put fruit in it too. it is probably my favorite breakfast. 🙂
Teri
atum…a farmer’s blow is where you hold one side of your nose closed and use air to push snot out of the other side. Basically blowing your nose without a tissue. How’s that for a nasty description early in the morning? ha!
Mama Pea
atTell Rob to give me a call. I got high paper in Negotiation in law school.
Teri
atperfect. I don’t think he took a Negotiation course during his 3 years.
Sarah-Mae @ Eat, Run, Knit
atI couldn’t agree more. I NEED a donut pan. Too many bloggers baking doughnuts these days!!!
Lauren
atI totally understand the “Puritan Chef” thing. If it’s their restaurant, they want to serve a dish a certain way. It can be frustrating trying to accommodate everyone’s strange little requests. As far as tax refunds go, my brain is telling me to save, save, save! But my heart is whispering for me to take it to the beach. Who knows what I’ll do? 😉
Teri
attake a short, cheap trip to the beach and save some of it! best of both!
Sarah @ The Rounded Teaspoon
atCute outfit!
I find that if I schedule my week in for fitness, that I’m better able to accomplish what I want. However, that means a give and take. I would LOVE to practice yoga 5 times/week and run 5 times/week, but I know I have to make choices. Yoga DVDs are great, because I can do them anytime. A bikram class, on the other hand, is a 90 minute commitment (but really more like 2.5 hours after I’ve driven).
I love your blog. Thank you!
Teri
atThanks! I hearing if people like my outfits or not.
GREAT idea on the yoga DVDs! I totally forget about that option! I love bikram, but you’re right – it’s almost a 3 hour ordeal for me.
Kacy
atI’ve never gotten a refund on my taxes. It makes me feel so sad and left out. I have to pay $500 actually. Blah. But if I got one I’d definitely take it shopping! Or be responsible and use it to save toward my move…
Love that outfit, it makes me want to shopppp! Love the gray tights!!
You’re doing a great job fitting everything in. I feel the same way. Training for a race and having other fitness goals can make it tought to fit everything in while still having a life.
[email protected]
atthat museli looks awesome!!
Shannon
atare farmer’s blows snot rockets? i’ve definitely started practicing for the bike 🙂 loving that muesli!
Teri
atyep, snot rockets! ha!
Elizabeth @ RunWithSneakers
atOh Teri! The Farmer Blow? Really? My hubby calls them “wind hankies” and I am not so pleased when he decides to blow while we are cycling and I am BEHIND him. Gross. Good thing I love him. I always offer him a tissue but… whatever.
Teri
athahahaha! I don’t run with tissues! Trust me, I’d prefer that but sometimes i get in a pinch! can we still be friends? 🙂 “wind hankies” is hilarious! I can’t believe he’d dare try that while moving on the bike with someone behind him! eeeewwww!!
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather
atI love all the super ingredients in your bowl! Hemp seeds are always fully stocked at my place.
Teri
ati have no idea what to do with the hemp seeds besides throwing them in oatmeal-type dishes – any other suggestions?
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun
atI’m scurred. Whats a farmers blow? LOL
Teri
athahahah! um…a farmer’s blow is where you hold one side of your nose closed and use air to push snot out of the other side. Basically blowing your nose without a tissue. Hi, my name is Teri and I’m disgusting.
Brittney
atI LOVE that Jim Gaffigan joke about the hot pockets. So funny 🙂 I don’t know what farmer’s blow is either, but I think I can guess…
Teri
atbasically blowing your nose without a tissue 🙂
Caree @ Fit-Mama
atI wish we did something more fun with our tax refunds…we just tend to get caught up on some bills and then try to save the rest….maybe one day we will get to play around with it! But then, we won’t have kiddos in daycare and won’t get much of a tax refund then!
And what is a farmers blow?? lol
Teri
atfarmers blow: you hold one side of your nose closed and use air to push snot out of the other side. classy, eh?
Sarah
atAlright so I completely love your blog.
The muesli looks amazing! The “weekender” is such an awesome idea, great links by the way!
Teri
atmy goodness, thank you! I’m so glad you completely love my blog! 🙂
glad you enjoy the weekender too!
BroccoliHut
atI had a very similar conversation regarding the donut pan. “Do you really need yet another piece of kitchen equipment?”
YES.
Teri
atheheheeh. Did you win that conversation?
Katey @ Bonne Santé
atI always really enjoy your weekend recaps – Julianne Moore is painfully beautiful and timelessly elegant! Total NQOTHF (not-quite-over-the-hill-fox!).
That muesli looks similar to one I make occasionally – so delicious! I say ‘occasionally’ because whenever I have oats in the house, there’s no chance they’ll last more than a day. Cacao nibs are amazing in this!