Life Changes

Today we have the pleasure of revealing something that Bo and I have been keeping secret for the past three months.

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Today he resigned from his  current job.  While this was a bittersweet decision due to the wonderful relationships and experiences he gained over the past three years, it’s now time to move on to new experiences. While Bo will begin at a new, larger firm in three short weeks this still means that there will be some adjustments in our life.

Until he starts, you can look forward to the nightly culinary creations as he plans to cook each night. His goal is to continue balancing flavor and health in each dish.

In addition, his marathon training will return to normal as he gets to start running again and he is looking forward sharing a few thoughts with readers regarding training smarter his second time around in hopes of staying injury free.  Who knows, there may even be a triathlon thrown into the mix if he can find a redemption race.

Beyond that, there won’t be much change that will affect y’all. Our travel together may be less frequent the first few months as he is starting a new position and expected to be available. But, I on the other hand will be traveling to many new destinations with my new job during August and September!

The cooking started immediately with tonight’s dinner, Cooking Light’s Open-Faced Blackened Catfish Sandwiches.

IMG_3359 (478x640) This dish made Bo retract every negative thing he’s ever said about Cooking Light. The recipe, while simple and ready in less than 30 minutes, resulted in a meal that was bursting with flavor and left us dreaming of New Orleans.

IMG_3354 (640x478) Ingredients:

  • 1 3/4 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 (6-ounce) catfish fillets
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1/3 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 cups packaged cabbage-carrot coleslaw
  • 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 (1-ounce) slices sourdough bread, toasted

He only made two alterations to the recipe which says a lot! Our local Whole Foods didn’t have catfish, so he substituted tilapia. He also reduced the ground red pepper as 3/4 teaspoon is actually quite a bit! I can’t handle a lot of heat in my dishes, especially red pepper, so he used 3/8 teaspoon.

IMG_3352 (640x478) Preparation:

1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of fish with paprika mixture. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add fish; cook 4 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.

2. Combine yogurt, juice, and honey in a medium bowl. Add cabbage and cilantro; toss well to coat. Top each bread slice with about 1/2 cup slaw and 1 fillet. Top each fillet with remaining slaw.

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We were lucky enough to have homemade okra and tomatoes in our freezer which we defrosted for an easy side dish.

We both loved this meal and were stuffed afterwards. If you’re looking for an easy meal that will impress without leaving you stressed than this is a great option!

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A Flashback Playlist

Tonight was not your average evening.

Instead of leaving work around 7:30, I was able to walk out guilt free at 6pm, just in time for yoga.  I’ve taken this yoga class a few times before and absolutely love the instructor, Samantha Debicki. She is young, friendly, and like a ray of sunshine after a long stressful day.

Samantha Debicki

Her class is described on the Equinox site as a more athletic class and I’d agree.

A vigorous, more athletic approach to yoga techniques characterized by flowing poses and sequences that are linked to the breath. Classes are diverse and sequencing will vary with instructor philosophy.

Tonight’s class included wall stands, crow poses, and multiple boat pose sequences.

After that class, I moved studios for a second class, Stretch and Restore for Athletes.

Using a foam roller and expert guidance, stretch and move to address imbalances, remove knots, increase blood flow, and release toxins in the muscles. The sweet dose of self-massage and myofascial release will align your spine and leave you feeling connected, relaxed, lighter and a better athlete.

This quick class was amazing as it combined some traditional foam roller moves with more complicated moves that I’ve never tried and some wonderful back work. If you live in NYC and ever have the opportunity to try this class you’ll love it! Next time I’ll try to take my iPhone so I can captures some of the moves.

By 7:15 I left Equinox happy, relaxed, and energized. I forgot how much I love evening yoga sessions.

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In very unusual fashion, I came home and didn’t give into Seamless Web. Instead, I took out the cutting board, our leftover Eataly produce, and some sipped a glass of wine while cooking dinner.

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Tonight’s dinner included a mixed green salad dressed with crumbled blue cheese and a drizzle of balsamic and olive oil. The main attraction included whole wheat rotini, sautéed squash, leftover chicken, and jarred sauce. Topped with a dash of garlic gold and parmesan this was delicious and filling!

I enjoyed dinner at my new blogging work station Bo set up for me this weekend.

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I really want to decorate the walls now that this is going to me blogging location and my home office.

While enjoying dinner, I put together a new running playlist which includes some blasts from my middle school and high school days.

imageNow, I’m going to enjoy some time curled up in bed with the book that never ends, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Question: What is your favorite workout song right now?

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My Type of Sunday

Happy Sunday! I hope you were able to enjoy at least a few hours of rest and relaxation today.

Last night, Bo and I enjoyed a cooking date. We stayed in, cooked a delicious dinner together, enjoyed one of our Archery Summit bottles from our September trip to Portland, and relaxed.

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We picked up a fresh baguette and three small portions of cheese at Eataly yesterday during our shopping trip. The creamy 3 milk chev was definitely my favorite.

We knew we wanted a summer meal inspired by the fresh vegetables in Eataly’s produce department.

IMG_3169 (640x478) A cold tomato salad paired with fresh red corn kernels was the perfect side dish to accompany our rack of lamb.

Unfortunately, around 9:30 I headed to bed due to a horrible headache. I’m not sure what the cause but I know that I slept like a rock until Bo finally woke me up around 10:15!  I still didn’t feel wonderful when I woke up even though I slept 13 hours.

I decided to take it easy today and take a breather. Sometimes I plan so much that I end the weekend absolutely exhausted. I wasn’t going to let today end that way.

We started with a delicious and healthy brunch.

IMG_3171 (640x478) IMG_3173 (640x478) An open faced egg white and parmesan cheese sandwich paired with fresh berries was the perfect start to our day while watching Meet the Press. Bo and I have resolved to be more in touch with politics this year and are really enjoying this time together each week as it leads to some intense debates and conversations.

Around 1pm, we headed to the gym for our individual workouts. Bo is confined to the spin bike for the next 10 days until his follow up appointment regarding his thumb. Since it was a nerve surgery it’s a very sensitive healing process.

My training plan called for a 3 mile recovery plan. This is a new idea for me as I spent every Sunday on the couch last year after my long runs. So far I’m really enjoying it after the fact. The 3 miles have been slow each week, around a 10:10 pace, but when I leave the gym my calves and hamstrings feel much looser. I guess my coach really is the expert!

IMG_3174 (640x478) After a quick manicure and pedicure date, I came home ravenous. I’m focusing on eating healthier on the weekends and therefore turned to a measured bowl of Kashi Crunch, skim milk, and berries. This bowl included 1 cup of Kashi and 1/2 cup of raspberries.

The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the Women’s World Cup final and doing a chore that has been on my to do list for weeks.

IMG_3176 (640x478) IMG_3177 (640x478) Oh the joys of organizing my dresser drawers! Lately my race t-shirts and Lululemon gear had taken over my drawers to the point that they barely open! I spent an hour going through the drawers. In the end there were 2 pairs of compression socks and one pair of CEW tights found and 15 t-shirts donated due to lack of wear or size. I have no need for L running shirts that are huge or XS shirts that I haven’t worn in years.

Don’t worry, I fueled this intense activity and Theodora’s early evening visit with a side of summer cherries. I told Bo that I think cherries always need to be in our refrigerator. They are clean and easy to eat which makes them the perfect summer snack!

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Last but not least, we ended the weekend with a healthy homemade dinner: grilled chicken salad.

IMG_3181 (640x478) IMG_3182 (640x478) The ingredients included:

  • fresh mixed greens
  • beets
  • goat cheese
  • pistachio
  • grilled chicken
  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar

It was a delicious combination that left us full and satiated due to the flavor complexity.

I’m going to curl up with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo before an early bedtime.

It should be a fun week with some blog friends in town, a stepped up training schedule, The NYCM Long Training Run #1, a special preview screening of Captain America, and celebrating Theodora’s first triathlon!

Question: Do you enjoy relaxing Sundays or Sunday Fundays filled with brunches and fun?

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