Weigh-in Wednesday: Hiking = Peace

05/25/2011

I haven’t been to the gym at all this week, but I have gone hiking four times. I realized something about myself that I have always known, but sometimes forget. I thrive in nature. My heart opens and my soul comes alive when I can see the trees, play with the animals (ok, from a distance!) and allow my senses to be taken over by the sights and smells of the environment around me. I have found myself on Pinnacle Mountain everyday since Saturday, and yes, I was quite excited when I became the Mayor on Foursquare – wondered if the little gophers would recognize the achievement – they didn’t! Yesterday when I went I was in a mood. I mean – In.A.Mood. It wasn’t pretty. Even though I really didn’t want to go to the gym, I knew I needed to do something to release this stress I was carrying around before I drowned myself in a bottle of wine.

I decided to go on a trail that just one week before I stopped halfway up because it was too hard and had to turn around. I was bound and determined, that no matter how long it took me, I was going to finish that trail. On the way up, I saw my favorite little gophers playing a game of King of the Hill while the quail were scurrying around trying to find dinner. When I arrived at the trailhead there were 14 cars in the lot and it was quite peaceful on the way up the mountain since there were so few hikers. I like the quiet, the solace.

There are some things that annoy me though while hiking – am I the only one? When I pass couples I actually get irritated because I hate hearing them talk – you can hear them for quite a distance. I don’t want to hear about their problems – I want peace and quiet. The other thing I have to try not to do is trip the people who run past me while I am trying not to die. @aclevergirl will chuckle at that as we were talking that she now does this and how she used to be irritated by it too. Wouldn’t you know, it seemed like everyone last night was running up the mountain, down the mountain, I was just happy that I finished the loop. YEP – I FINISHED! It took me 1:18” and I felt like I accomplished a marathon. When I got back to my car there was not even one parking spot available – no wonder why the trail was packed with hikers at the end! Mental note made to go earlier.

My view at the top! Wow!

I’m still battling the edema in my hands. Thanks to @terrysimpson I found out that a gallon of water weighs 8 pounds! I didn’t know that! I drink about a gallon of water daily – no wonder I can’t lose weight. I’m only being half serious. But seriously – if I retain water like a camel, how the hell am I ever going to get rid of it?1? I’m on a prescription med because of it, doctors have had me increase and then decrease my sodium levels with no luck. Am I destined to a life of pudgy hands if I want to do any outdoor activity?

2x the normal size – after a 1-hr hike

Weight Loss:

Lost 0 pounds – I don’t want to talk about it.

What I Did Right This Week:

• Ate healthy – made a whole chicken then cut it up and used it in all kinds of recipes
• Took apple cider vinegar capsules daily
• Hiked 4x
• Made green protein shake 3x
• Meditated each morning
• Am trying not to drink wine this week – now this weekend is a whole other story

What I Did Wrong This Week:

• Didn’t drink Kombucha – it is temporarily out of my budget.
• Drank Pepsi twice. Went the last 3 days without it, but the caffeine headache today was too much.
• Caved into a craving for movie popcorn – yummy.

Goals For This Week:

• Cook at home 4x and make healthy meals on Sunday
• Make my protein shake 3x
• Workout 4x, hiking 4x
• Meditate every morning

The last couple years my life has been synonymous with change. I feel another big change coming and I don’t know what it is. I’m putting out to the Universe that I sure hope it is positive! I am putting forth new goals, projects, and really working on implementing them for my Social Media and Website business – Orange Dragonfly Media. I am working on cleaning out more of my house – if I haven’t used it this last year, it needs to go. I’m cleaning out my life so I am ready for whatever this next change is. I was asked today what do I dream about doing with my life – I looked at him my friend blankly and realized I didn’t know anymore. I’ve lost my dreams along the way, but I think it is time to find new ones. That is exciting and very scary to even think about. Whatever I have dreamt I have done, and then I have had it ripped out of my hands. Dreaming to me now is encased in so much fear and turmoil, that even the word makes my stress level go up. I’m strange I know – don’t worry, you don’t have to tell me.

My intention for last week was to Stop Caring What Others Think. I can’t say that this one was accomplished over night. BUT I am listening more to my inner voice than to other people’s voices. And just for the record, just because I don’t agree with your opinion doesn’t mean I don’t like you as a person. I’m surprised that people think if you argue or disagree than you don’t like them. Strange.

My intention for this week is to Dream. Now I did do a bit of dreaming when I wrote 37 While 37. Do you ever wonder what you were meant to be doing with your life? I thought I knew what my purpose was – I thought I was on the right path. Now I need to find a new path, a new purpose, a new dream. And I have no idea on how to do that.

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Weigh-in Wednesday: Swelling

05/18/2011

Each Wednesday I have every intention of writing this blog, but sometimes life comes along and has other plans. Last week I was knee deep in organizing the Auction part of Taste of the Nation Arizona. Happy to report that the Auction raised $13k and the overall event $25k to fight childhood hunger. Our Steering Committee did a great job in organizing one of the best culinary events of the season. Each chef has one table to create a culinary delight based off of one U.S. city and is allowed full creative freedom to interpret that city as he sees fit. From the tablescape, to each of the five courses, the chefs spared no expense and the guests left extremely dazzled and very full. What a night for such a great cause that is near and dear to my heart!

At Taste of the Nation

When you put in crazy hours for a charity event, do work for your regular clients, and try to have a small amount of down time, it doesn’t lead to much time to do anything else. It seems when my business life is crazy then my workout life takes a sidestep. How can I find that balance?

I have found that I truly enjoy hitting the trails and seeing what Mother Nature has in store for me. I smile when I see the gophers scurrying around, revel in the majestic flight of a hawk, and pray the the snakes are truly more afraid of me than I am of them. Any doctors out there that are reading this blog – heads up: When I go for walks, hikes, or any physical activity outside, my hands swell up so much that I can’t make a fist nor even hold the steering wheel. I wiggle my fingers overhead, take the electrolyte supplements, drink water, and maintain salt levels – but it happens each and every time. Doesn’t happen when I work out inside though. Go figure. Went for a 2-hour hike on Sunday and I weighed myself before and after – I GAINED 4 pounds!! In 2 hours!! Anyone have ideas?

2x the normal size – after a 1-hr hike

Weight Loss:

Lost 0 pounds – After the 4 pound weight gain in 1 day, I will take ending the week at zero.

What I Did Right This Week:

• Drank Kombucha almost every day 
• Ate healthy – trying to switch all my products to organic or locally sourced
• Took apple cider vinegar capsules daily
• Worked out 3x
• Hiked 3x
• Made green protein shake 3x
• Meditated each morning

What I Did Wrong This Week:

• Drank Pepsi daily. I tend to when I am extremely stressed, and yes I was beyond stressed
• Let a whole bag of spinach go to waste
• Caved into a craving for Filiberto’s Carne Asada burrito.

Goals For This Week:

• Cook at home 3x and make healthy meals on Sunday – love doing this
• Make my protein shake 3x
• Workout 4x, hiking 3x
• Drink more water
• Meditate every morning

This past week I also hit another milestone – one year ago I became single. I won’t lie, it has been a rough year, a curvy road with detours and roadblocks, but I am still moving forward. I am still trying to find my way, nothing seems to come easy to me, but I have some great friends and family that have been there to help me on this journey of rediscovering myself. I had a huge debate this week with a close friend about monogamy and the value of marriage. I know so many people who are the products of divorce that swear that they will never get married nor have children. Do you think a monogamous marriage is antiquated? Does lifelong love truly exist? Are humans meant to have just one partner for their lifetime? I know my opinions on these topics, and have heard many others speak up as well. I definitely see a separate blog post on this topic. What are you thoughts? Don’t be shy, share in the comments section.

My intention for last week was to Stop Procrastinating! I really buckled down and have worked the past 2.5 weeks without a day off to get caught up. I am almost there! This week having evening events every night has not helped, but I am certainly trying. I still have a couple proposals to write, pitches to submit, reorganize my two websites, and organize my home and work space – I am not talented in that area.

My intention for this week is Stop Caring What Others Think. I know I am not alone in this one. We are taught at an early age to gain approval from our peers and to have a positive self-image. I have done much better in this category over the last year, but I know that I still have some issues I need to work through. I am not a person who needs public accolades all the time, but sometimes, yes I do like to feel appreciated. But I know that I am my own worst critic and can tell you a 1000 things that I did wrong – but it is hard for me to acknowledge all the good I do. On major life decisions I ask my close friends and family their opinions before I come to my own answer. I have always been self-reliant and an independent thinker, so why do I seek approval from others. This is my million dollar question.

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Weigh-in Wednesday: Training Mode

05/04/2011

Last week I talked about my beautiful niece Rhiana and the great time we had in Rocky Point. That trip was a great awakening for me. I realized how much it means to a child when you give them undivided attention and treat them with respect. I know, simple concept – but I had forgotten. Well she had my undivided attention because she was my beer pusher all weekend! Now, now not like that. I had made a deal with her that if she ran up to the house, opened the Dos XX, put a lime in it, and brought it back down to the beach then she would be rewarded at the end of that trip. *Now* I know why people have kids!! Brilliant idea. She loved it too. We shared some serious laughs, gave her sage advice on talking to her parents, and bonded with her over pure silliness. Although, she did say to me that she didn’t think she would ever drink beer because she was more refined than that – like her Aunt Kristi who only drinks wine. I laughed so hard. I told her as long as the beer wasn’t domestic, then she was still in the clear.

Now if I can just get her to embrace her inner Wildcat!

Since being back and deciding to walk in the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure I have been a woman on a mission. I have been to the gym almost daily, I went on two great hikes, and have really tried to change the types of foods that I am eating. I know that I need something I can heat up, without any prep work, for lunch. So on Sundays, I am going back to my old routine of making different things that I can throw into the microwave for any meal. I made yummy Steel Cut Oats for breakfast, grilled up chicken and Mahi Mahi, made a pot of some sensational Mexican Quinoa, and also concocted a Cabbage-Cilantro Topping. I have been eating a combo of everything over the last 3 days, and it is still so freaking good!

Do you want to walk with me in the 2011 Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure? We have a great team starting up and I am very excited to take this journey again with some amazing peeps. I had my first donation from the great guys at Wag-N-Wash (thanks Steve!). I have to raise $2300 to walk – want to donate to this great cause – Donate here. If you are in the Northwest valley and want to go on a hike, a training walk, or some other activity, hit me up – I’m in training mode!

Saving 2nd Base cuz somebody has too!

Weight Loss:

Lost 1 pound – finally!

What I Did Right This Week:

• Drank Kombucha daily! Love this stuff.
• Ate very healthy – even when out and about
• Took apple cider vinegar capsules daily
• Worked out 6x – that’s right – including two 2-hour hikes
• Made green protein shake 1x
• Meditated each morning

What I Did Wrong This Week:

• Drank Pepsi only 1x – maybe this needs to be in what I did right!
• Didn’t drink enough water
• Addicted to salt & vinegar chips for a couple days. Sigh.

Goals For This Week:

• Cook at home 4x and make healthy meals on Sunday
• Make my protein shake 3x
• Workout 5x, yoga 3x, hiking 2x
• Drink more water
• Meditate every morning

My intention for last week was Focus. I can honestly say that I really worked hard on this one. I buckled down and finished some huge projects – yes – still quite a few more to go. I organized my office, turned over my closet, planted 66 little seedlings! I have been on fire. I took some time away from the social scene for a couple weeks and let myself miss my friends. And you know what, I really did. Every so often, we each need Me time. Doing self-reflection also helped me say yes to new opportunities with old friends, new projects with clients, and what made me realize what it is I enjoy in my friendships. Focusing this week was good for my soul

My intention for this week is Stop Procrastination. I know I am not the only one who struggles with this one. I put the projects, or proposals that are the hardest on the back burner. Or if I don’t want to deal with a person or a situation I keep hitting the Snooze button on my calendar reminder. Ugh. I have about 40+ things that need to be done this week – and yes, I have prioritized them. I have been working evenings and even on the weekends (those that know me, know I don’t ever do either). But I am so far behind, I have to catch up. One thing I am behind in is in my writing and monetizing my own website – I have to put myself as a priority too – so hard though when clients are calling. So this week, help me fight procrastination. Do you have any good tips for me? Would love for you to share in the Comments section.

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Mexican Quinoa

Ingredients:

• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 3 garlic gloves, crushed
• 1 1/2 cups Quinoa
• 1/2 lemon, squeezed
• 1 Tbsp lemon pepper
• 1/2 can green chilies
• 1 can diced tomatoes

Yields: 8 Servings

This is by far my new favorite Quinoa recipe. I have to say that I surprised myself with how good this came out.

In a quart pan, Bring the vegetable broth, crushed garlic, lemon, and seasonings to a boil. Stir in the Quinoa. Reduce heat to medium simmer for 15 minutes or until all the liquid has been absorbed, stirring occassionally. The quinoa should be tender. Add in the tomatoes and green chilies and cook for another 5 minutes.

Use this as a side dish, or with diced chicken or fish, even as a wrap filler. I loved it!

If you are not using Bob’s Red Mill Quinoa, then make sure you rinse the quinoa first. This brand is already prerinsed. I found it at Costco for $10 for a huge bag.

Look at the nutrition in Quinoa! It has the most protein than any other grain.

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Steel Cut Oats with Almond Milk

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Steel Cut Oats
• 1/2 cup Vanilla Almond milk
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar

Yields: 4 Servings

Boil 2 cups water and add the Steel Cut Oats. Once the water has boiled down (10 minutes) add in all the other ingredients. Stir! The leftovers heat up easily, add a dash of almond milk if needed.

Steel Cut Oats is a great way to start the day! It is very filling and quite nutritious.

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Parc Central – My New BFF

I always love it when new restaurants come to town – makes me giddy with excitement to see if it will be a place that I can call home. I had heard about Parc Central for a few months from friends who talked about their amazing Happy Hour and the live bands that play Thursday – Sunday. Needless to say, I was super excited to go check out this place in the Scottsdale Quarter. Just like the name suggests, Parc Central’s ambiance and surroundings are inspired from Central Park – down to the swanky lounge atmosphere with unabashed New York City glamor set against Arizona’s desert landscape. I was blessed to sit on their patio and enjoy a cool spring evening. Before I sat down though, I checked out both bars (that’s right – 2 bars!), their private dining room, and of course the restrooms – I admit, I am always curious to see how they are decorated.

I saw this glorious Wine Wall and thought I died and went to Heaven. Do you think they’d let me move in?

First up was the City Garden – which was a bubbly blend of cucumber vodka, peach schnapps, champagne, and lime. Two of my favorite ingredients (champagne and lime) in one drink – sign me up! Ok, I might have had two… but shhhh, our secret.

I was happy to be there with my partner in crime, J.E. Pizarro with Foodies Like Us as we tried some of their Happy Hour menu. I have to say, that I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings, but also, about the prices. They sure know what Happy Hour means! The evening started out with a bowl of crispy beet chips. I need to state for the record that I *hate* beets. Seriously do. Well, let’s just say, I love beet chips! Wow. I almost ordered a second bowl. We then shared the Prime Beef Carpaccio that came with Kalamata olives, salty capers, fresh arugula, and a tangy dijon vinaigrette for $6. Look at all meat on this plate! The Carpaccio was full of flavor and the arugula accented the beef beautifully.

Next up was the Fromage and Charcuterie Board, complete with figs, stuffed olives, and artisan crackers. If you don’t know this about me by now – I love cheese. So anytime I can order a meat and cheese board, I’m on it. It came with three different types of meat and cheeses – I was in carnivore heaven! Hmmm prosciutto…

For dinner, J.E. chose the Grilled Lobster Lasagna and it came with a ton of lobster on top and on each layer. It was made with fresh-made lasagna noodles, fontina, baby wilted spinach, and buerre blanc. I kept asking for bites of this dish so I could taste the layers of flavors. I had never thought to put lobster into a lasagna and would definitely recommend this dinner to any seafood lover. This was paired with Sterling’s Sauvignon Blanc – the dryness of the wine brought out the rich flavors in the sauce.

I have had a lot of steak over the years… it is by far my favorite meal. This is the first time I have had one with Boursin Cheese melted on top of it. This Bousin Cheese Crusted Ribeye is my new bff. A succulent, juicy ribeye drizzled with a truffle sauce as the Boursin cheese lends this steak a remarkable flavor. It is really hard to describe. I just know I want it again! The ribeye was coupled with au gratin potatos and a wild mushroom-asparagus ragout. I paired this beautifully with Rosenblum’s Zinfandel – the richness of this wine balances well with the robustness of the ribeye. Match made in foodie heaven I tell ya.

What was cool about this night was that I had an assortment of friends join me over a few hour period. None of them had ever been to Parc Central before and I was happy to make the introduction. The servers here are so freaking nice and attentive, I was stunned – was I really in Scottsdale? One thing that Parc Central could improve upon is to have more gluten-free choices, or better yet, a whole gluten-free menu. One of my friends had a hard time with the menu because of his severe food allergies.

Call today to make reservations – you won’t regret it. They do take walk-ins, but why chance it? This is a great place to bring your client for lunch, a perfect place to celebrate your birthday, and a romantic dinner setting for your anniversary. On a first date? Pony up to the bar and relax with one of their signature Martinis.

Parc Central
15323 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480.907.5333

info@ParcBrands.com

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