Mason Jar Salads

Lunch at my workplace is somewhat convenient but not at all healthy. I have been working for almost three and a half months there and have eaten their lunch maybe 3 times at the absolute most. Salads are considered to be a concoction of iceberg lettuce, shredded cheese, croutons, and bacon bits, with a heaping side of ranch! Yes, years ago this would have sounded so "healthy" to me, and now I cringe at the thought of it! I truly feel that when it comes to nutrition, I know my stuff really, really well. I feel that my friends around me think I'm the healthiest eater and don't enjoy going out to eat with me or coming over to eat. I have been explicitly told that my food is "too healthy" to "really eat, eat!" I laugh because I know that in most of our minds, that's the way we think. We're so addicted to highly processed foods full of additives and chemicals that literally trigger satisfactory sensors in our brain that make us feel satiated. It took me a bit to change my eating habits and even now I struggle A LOT with binging. I've always have had the appetite of a grown man- and sometimes I eat (and can drink) more than a lot of men I know. Ask my husband and the 4 grown men I have lunch with every single day at work! haha! Because of my heavy appetite and rushed schedule, I eat a lot- and rather quickly. My goals are always to eat slower and pace myself. It's so hard!! Anyway, I really pride myself in all my cooking- super healthy or super indulgent- and think that it's pretty damn good, haha! If I can change my husband's mind on nutrition, I feel that I can motivate pretty much anyone as long as they are committed. He used to hate veggies and pretty much anything "healthy." If he didn't have his meat and cheese everyday, he was grumpy and unsatisfied. Now, he craves greens and orders only the cheese- true story! We still absolutely indulge and enjoy fast food, junk food, and all things meaty/cheesy; if you ask anyone who knows me well, they know to keep Spicy Doritos away from me because I can finish a family bag in one sitting. Add a Coke from a can and I melt. Even worse, nachos is probably my favorite cheat food in the world....however, we love leading healthy lifestyles that include regular exercise and nutrition.

I am currently a few days away from my first (and probably only) half marathon. I have been training with my girlfriend since the summer. We definitely have overtrained and are really over running at this point. I also need an MRI for my hip area as I have a strain or tear that has spread from my hip --> groin--> quad-->knee. Running is not enjoyable when I only have a full stride on one leg and the other kinda drags! :/ I saw a chiropractor and a Physical Therapist. The former said one leg is shorter than the other and my hip muscles can't compensate for it so they tense up too much. The PT said it was a tear/strain and I should immediately stop running. Well, that's not an option for me, so I continue through the pain and hopefully I'll reach my goal. I want to come in at 1:59 for my 13.1 mile run! The most and fastest I've ran was last weekend: 10.7 miles at 1:34. I'm almost there- just hope my leg, mind, and weather changes cooperate. I've been training in AZ's extreme heat- and my half is in SD by the beach! haha! AND it's supposed to rain- yay! Except not, because I don't like rain (see my wedding day)!

Anyway, back to food! I was on Pinterest a few weeks ago and found this link to an awesome idea: salads in a vacuum sealed jar! I thought it was amazing but don't own a vacuum sealer for food. A few days later, I ran into a pin doing the same thing with mason jars! We have a ton of jars at home that we collect and drink out of (G's mom & gma have given us a bunch over the years and we love keeping them; his gma keeps ones from food, too) but hardly any have jars. I kept some lettuce in one that had a lid, after seeing the post and the next day it seemed just as crispy. So away we went. Geoff left to the grocery store and bought a dozen 32 oz. mason jars (ours were a lot smaller), and all the fixings for salads! We're on our second week of doing them and are loving it so much. Everyone at both of our jobs is so impressed and two of the guys are talking about doing it too (I work mainly with men, lol). We made one for one of G's coworkers who also wanted to try it, too! Another girlfriend of ours started the same week we did and absolutely loved it!

Week Two's Jars

The main "trick or tip" to it is to made sure that your greens are away from your dressing. & to truly make it healthy, you have to be careful what you add to your salad, including the dressing. We have made mainly our own (balsamic + EVOO- extra virgin olive oil) or sometimes just use lemon.

I don't follow recipes at all, just go with whatever we have on hand. However, our regular salads are pretty typical for us now and we layer them the same way:

-dressing (approx. 2 tablespoons- you don't need a lot)

-corn

-beans (pinto, black, or whatever you like)

-tomatoes

-carrots

-mushrooms/olives/cauliflower/bell peppers or broccoli

-romaine lettuce

-almonds/pecans

-slice of lemon on top!

They're SO versatile!

We also love our take on Greek salads:

-balsamic dressing

-hominy/garbanzo beans

-tomatoes

-cucumbers

-carrots

-feta cheese

-spinach

-almonds

We have also done strawberry salads and pomegranate salads:

-dressing

-pomegranate seeds or strawberries

-nuts

-feta cheese

-tons of spinach

SO yum!

It's so simple and you can't go wrong. Think about what veggies you have on hand and which ones you love to typically eat. For example, this week we decided we'd love hard-boiled egg in them so we did! We also were craving some chicken so we bought a rotisserie chicken and shredded some of the breast into the salad that I first posted about! It just really depends on your tastes! You can see the layering in this picture a bit clearer!

Mason Jar Salad Detail  (from Week 1)

TIPS:

*These salads are pretty huge! The more you pack in the most you'll have- I have a huge appetite so I take these down like nothing. But you can pack less, shake it all up in the jar and have your salad like that, too!

*Also, these keep in your refrigerator about a week! We actually had one for almost a week and a half and it kept great!

*Pre-wash your produce before using it! Makes it SO much easier when you use it!

*Here is a basic list of veggies to help you get started [but remember to start with the things you already like! It's YOUR salad:

*romaine lettuce; spinach; bell peppers; tomatoes; carrots; cucumbers; feta cheese; mushrooms; eggs; [chicken, if you're inclined]; cauliflower; broccoli; strawberries/tangerines/pomegranates and canned beans- pinto/black/white/kidney/etc. [make sure you drain them...rinse for less sodium]! We find that beans make us not miss any meats in our salads!

*Be CAREFUL when shopping for pre made dressings- read your labels- check for sugar, hydrogenated oils, vegetable oil, sodium, carbs and calories. We use balsamic vinegar with extra virgin olive oil and infuse it with the juice from sweet fruit. The last thing you want is to THINK you're eating healthy, only to realize that your salad is loaded with up to/more than 1000 calories! :/

*I also saw someone using smaller mason jars to make their own yogurt parfaits. That will be my next one! Fresh chopped fruit at the bottom of a mason jar, greek yogurt in the middle, and homemade granola on top! Yum! I currently make my own oatmeal packets every Sunday night so that I have them ready to go every week! In a ziplock bag I put half a cup of oatmeal, a couple of tablespoons of flaxseed and one of cinnamon. In the mornings, I throw it all in the microwave for 2 minutes with a cup of almond milk. While it's cooking, I chop up whatever fruit we have on hand and take it with me for breakfast! It's filling, gets my metabolism going, and is so nutritious! I also pack snacks for during the day when I get hungry. I have oatmeal for breakfast, a snack, my mason jar salad, a snack, workout, eat dinner, then have another snack, if I'm tempted to do so!

*I also only drink water most of the day- a lot of it, too! There is such a thing as drinking TOO much water, but my body is used to it. When I first moved to AZ, the most I could drink is a water bottle a week- yes, A WEEK! Now I drink over a gallon a day...lol! & mainly through a straw! I carry my reusable Starbucks venti everywhere I go!

*ENJOY your cheat days! I have the type of personality that obsesses over things that I can't have! haha! So if I deny myself from what I really want, I am not happy and it becomes all I think about! Of course, I say all things in moderation, but being the binger that I am- I have had a muffin two nights in a row and a 1/4 of the cake both nights, as well. I'm going to freeze one for after this weekend though! lol!

This has been my #1 craving! My husband spoils me!

*and finally, look at the fast food you love and try to recreate it at home. It's almost a guarantee that if you really put effort into it, you can enjoy it without having to consume major fat/calories. Tonight, we made nachos. Our version that is actually pretty freakin healthy and pretty freakin delicious! :]

"Guiltless Blue Corn Chips," pinto beans, homemade green salsa, fresh tomatoes, remainder of rotisserie chicken breast, bit of avocado, and a teeny amount of cheese!

ENJOY!!!

Tick...tock...

As I sit in this dark, quiet corner of my oversized couch, I can only hear the tick tock of G's maneki neko. Every swipe of its arm reminds me of how fast life passes me by. Every now and then, the constant ticking takes a halted yet unexpected break- as if gasping for air or a second of relaxation. Yet the speed picks up as quickly as it left off and on it continues, making note of each second that passes by. I look up and see his assorted collection of these Japanese cats adorning the top of that piece of furniture. The gold one glistens in the corner, as the sliver of light from the hallway reflects on its shiny metal-flake exterior. As its squeaky arm waves back and forth, I notice it is not the one with the bigger stance making the loudest noise- it is the meek, small, white one that seems to fill the room with its loud presence. Life is happening right now.

Today is one of those days where I feel like I'm constantly [more often than not], waiting on everyone else. Whether it's at work, waiting for students to settle down so I can teach the next word or phrase; at practice, waiting for my runners to get back so we can continue forth; at home, waiting for my husband to finally come home; waiting on calls from the contractors to tell us when and/or if our house will ever get repaired; socially, to find out how I can include myself in friends' lives; or waiting on a call back from family members...just waiting.

Waiting would be great if I wasn't so impatient. However, I am one of the most impatient people I know. A virtue at times, as it has enabled me to set goals and steadily approach the marks of accomplishment. Yet, other times my impatience renders ineffective. It surfaces frustration and the inability to cohesively put my life together. In haste, I can scapegoat and exclaim that if it wasn't for somebody else, I'd have everything I need or want completed. Albeit, that being true half of the time, the other half belongs only to me. No one can claim it nor can I dispose of it on someone else's conscience.

This idea of time ticking me by, and my impatience being a constant variable in the equation of my life creates a conundrum. I am able to conquer so much in my life...notwithstanding I do not have the ability to enjoy and relax. Relaxation is limited, as there is a constant tick tocking in my mind that constantly reminds me of the unremitting list of tasks at hand.

My recently developed challenge in life is finding an equilibrium I most certainly yearn for in my life. The people-pleaser in me constantly devotes any amount of free time to visiting those I cherish that I do not get to spend time with due to everyday obligations. I am a yes person and constantly acquire new duties to add to my professional role. The times for just myself are rare...extremely rare. I have unfortunately also noticed that the times that I am sought for have steadily depleted, as well. I strive to be better, yet often fail. Despite the constant falls, I know I must keep going. I may not be the shiny, gold cat that has such a presence, however, I refuse to give up my voice for personal renewal and strength.

As life passes by, I want to soar in its greatness and relax in its existence; rather than pondering the next obstacle to conquer without ever just...breathing it all in.

Cross Country and Beyond

This weekend has wrapped up quickly. I suppose there's still one full day left of it and I am trying to make a conscious effort to stop viewing Sundays as the end of my weekend. Instead, I want to start feeling as Sunday is my day to re-energize by doing limited activities! This weekend may or may not include that! My house remains a mess...I am SO uncomfortable being home right now. I cannot stand everything being so disorganized. :/ But enough about that, as I do not want to focus on the stuff that does not need to consume the limited space in my mind for worries! :]

This weekend, we had our biggest invitational for CC- in Huntington Beach, CA. There were 85 schools competing and over 4,400 students. AMAZING! It was the longest meet yet and the one with nicest weather, as well. Talk about lucking out in SoCal weather! It was such a gorgeous day! My weekend with my kiddos started Friday at noon and lasted until late tonight. There's something so amazingly awesome about going out of town with such great teenagers- so much bonding, understanding and insights take place that leave one in awe in reflection and retrospect. I love learning new antics, experiences and personality traits that make my kiddos who they are. I love being a coach! It's such a rewarding experience! No matter how they perform, nothing beats teaching and motivating another human being to push themselves, believe in themselves, and find inner strength beyond preset expectations. It is an unworldly experience to see those who trust you, believe in themselves to push their mental and physical strength to the limits and beyond.

Cali-Caliente

I felt especially proud to be competing in Southern California, my first love. Seeing high schools that I competed against when I was in my secondary education phase was nostalgic and exciting. Even more so, was seeing parts of me there. In other words, my CC kiddos were all wearing our new team shirts. The super rad part was that not only were we easily identifiable as a team, but SO many other teams paid us compliments. I couldn't help but feel pride and a sense of accomplishment, as I designed our shirts this year, and my wonderful husband created the designs for us. Another one bites the dust! So rad. I also got tons of compliments on my new Vans- compliments to the same awesome guy- via my own Cinnamon designs. :)

My running partner & Mirror, Bre and I, really enjoyed out trip this weekend! Not only did we get to further bond with our team, but we also got to do some shopping (hello, my faved H&M & UO); rock waterfall braids; get my homecoming dress (I was going for a gold sequin dress I saw on Pinterest, but it was not to any avail- but found a cute black sequined alternative I'm hoping to be able to rock well); & still make it back home for a celebratory night of Cuba Libres and Darts! <3

waterfall braid

 

 

 



A trip to SoCal cannot be complimented better than a trip to Yogurtland- especially when Pumpkin froyo is being offered with breast cancer awareness ribbons!

A special and absolutely HUGE thank you to my Roomie, Mritz, who went above and beyond to find me among 4,400+ people to visit me for literally 10 minutes max, in between a long drive and a wedding! What an amazing, beautiful soul you are!!! <3 Thank you for making me feel so loved and special!!!!

My Is & BBB- I KNOW you were there in spirit and I am 10000000% sure of that!! <3

While I enjoyed working in SoCal, my husband took a road trip to NorCal to an awards ceremony. He was a finalist in a media award competition against major cities and states on this side of the U.S....Absolutely amazing! What a talented guy I married! He deserves all the recognition in the world for his hard work and dedication! <3 But he's not due to be home for another 24 hours and I couldn't be missing him more. Being home when it's a mess and you're lonely, makes one feel like a mess. I don't like it! Bahhumbug!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing weather & upside down home.

On Jefe's birthday [over a month ago], it rained so hard! It was the perfect birthday celebration for him; he ADORES the rain!
Playing in the September Rain
I've found a new appreciation for it because prior to moving to the desert, I used to despise it. I'm sure when we move back to California I'll despise it still but the weather in the Desert Southwest is some of the hottest temperatures I have ever experienced in my entire life. Sure, other places have horrid humidity, & that in my opinion, can be worst at times. But, in reality, when I think about my little students (not the big ones, my prior ones) and my future children, I just can't imagine them enjoying their days outdoors. My former second graders would be drenched in sweat and come to the pick-up line early and fight for the little space of shade during recess! I want my future kiddos to run around and enjoy sunshine and all things outdoors. Granted, the winters here are gooorgeous but I don't know if I can settle for half indoors, half outdoors. With the horrid Cancer now in our family, I would want somewhere with a more moderate climate to raise a family. I don't comprehend why it must feel so HOT! haha! However, I must say that one can learn to survive in it. Now that I started coaching Cross Country and actually RUNNING alongside my students, I can say that one can survive 115-120 degree weather at 4pm (the hottest part of the day). Whenever I see people running outside during the day, I no longer think they are crazy; I high-five them [silently, through my car window] and become encouraged to do the same...

However, both yesterday and today have been a drastic change when it comes to climate. Yesterday was very pleasant and I even thought to myself that a light cardigan would have been nice to wear! Today, when I introduced and taught weather to my students, they described it as "Hace frio y viento!" {translation: "it's cold and windy!"} I hadn't been outside since sunrise and luckily by the time 4pm hit and practice started, all was pleasant again. Now, if only my groin would heal so I could run properly...sigh...

Anyway, the reason I wrote about it raining on Jefe's birthday over a month ago, is because we suffered water damage in our house. Apparently, a roof leak caused damage that was evident in our kitchen and both walk-in closets (we each have our own- mine in the master bedroom, and his in the gym...& for the record, his is bigger than mine)!! Well, since certain parts of our house are insured through our HOA, it has taken thiiiiiiis long to get anything to happen. Yesterday was Day 1 of the demolition....& all that happened was that they wrapped each area. I came home to this:
Hi, formerly pretty kitchen.
Ummm...yeah...Our entire living room was also covered, as well as the doors to our closets. I had a rough day because I felt like I was getting sick. All I wanted was to come home, cook some comfort food, and RELAX! hahaha! Was I for this surprise! I had brought all the ingredients to cook our meal and after 30 minutes of trying to decide what to do, I went to work. I cooked on the floor in one of our portable grill pans. It gave us a great excuse to enjoy the nice weather with a glass of Argentinian red wine and a homecooked delicious comfort food meal:
Homemade green curry shrimp over basmati rice, greek salad, & hummus!

Today, I awoke to the workers coming in for Day 2. When I came home, I found actual demolition and a new found pipe leak! Really?! They had to stop demolishing until tomorrow at 6am- when a new inspector can come in and go into our attic to try to figure out what's going on. Meanwhile, both G & I had to pack for our weekends [both leaving for different things], and our home is upside down... All my closet things are divided into three rooms. Clothes is by my bed, jackets, belts and scarves in the gym, and 100+ pairs of shoes (I know, I know) and all my accessories in the office. Ugh. If you know me, you know how organized I like having everything. If things aren't, I feel like a mess. Well, let's just say I am a HUGE mess right now and cannot wait until everything has found it's place again. The main positive out of all of this, is that we have been trying to declutter and this is the perfect way to do it. I'm going to go through ALL my clothes and make piles for eBay/yard sales; keep; throw away; donate; recycle party. Yes, I'm going to have a recycle party and teach my friends how to make new clothes out of old ones. Back in high school I learned how to sew and became accustomed to making my own weird creations. In college, I went crazy with it and started recycling clothes for my friends, too. Once out of college, I started my own little DIY clothing company, "Cinnamon Clothing Co." I'm a huge DIYer with eeeverything I do and enjoy making things instead of buying them. But I think that'll be another post on its own. ;)

In the meantime, here's a sneak peek of what I'm dealing with:

Poopy Times

Palm Springs, Fitness, Food & Sock Buns.

I've been meaning to update my blog for quite some time now, but life has gotten the best of me. In between work, coaching, maintaining my home, relationship, training for a half marathon and limited social life, I find simple pleasures out of thinking what I should be blogging about. So far, I have blogged only about my recipes but lately I've been slacking off in that department. I still cook tons but forget to take pictures or update this. A few weeks ago my Facebook status read, "I wish I were a professional blogger!" I really do! I was up for a job in communications that would allow me to do this but opted for a different one. I figured I would still get my fix with our CaringBridge blog, FB updates, and this! But just like everything in my life, my attention span goes from one thing to another and never settles. I've done so much in my life that most people complete in their entire lives, yet I can never seem to settle. Which is definitely a good thing but can be tiring and sometimes I just wish I would just have it in me to relax and just breathe! From clothing company [currently in hiatus since Jefe got sick], to photography [also on hiatus], to careers, three degrees, cooking clean, etc., etc.....Pshhhh! Soo much, too much at times, and yet not enough! I'm simply too complicated!

Anyway, I decided that I could include all things I'm currently obsessed with in my blog! This includes my travels, style, food, and fitness! I'll try to include a bit of everything in this post!

Jefe and I have been very fortunate to travel A LOT throughout our almost nine year old relationship. From many major cities around the U.S. to different countries all over the world, we have come to appreciate any time we get to escape our busy schedules and just make time for ourselves. We always return refreshed in our relationship and reconnected, which to us, is very important to the success of our love. Back in May, I got a LivingSocial deal for a weekend getaway in Palm Springs at a condo resort for really cheap! I immediately tried to get a group of us to go together but just like us, everyone else's schedule is really hectic so I went ahead and got one for us anyway. I surprised Geoff with it for his birthday this last month and we were able to go this last weekend!

We stayed at the Oasis Resort in Palm Springs. It was really clean and the staff was really nice; the premises were a bit outdated but perfect for our little weekend. We arrived Friday night and once we checked in and unpacked, we were starving for dinner! We found a nearby Chipotle and of course, Jefe wanted a burrito from there! We contemplated going bar hopping downtown but opted for staying in and relaxing instead! Great choice! We hit up a local Ralph's (thank goodness my savings card is still activated from my UCLA days)! We shopped for breakfast and lunch for the next day! It was so fun! It almost felt like playing house, minus all the real world responsibilities of actually owning a house [ahem, rook leak, anyone?]

The next morning, we made breakfast and ate on our balcony- we're lucky enough to have one at home and get to use it when the weather gets better; but since the weather was nicer there, we were happy to use it! We made mimosas with peach champagne and ended up just drinking the champagne as is! So delish! We then went for a 5 mile bike ride- sooo fun/funny!

We went back home and relaxed then made lunch. Greek salads & grilled outdoors! We ate inside and I watched SATC2, while Geoff watched baseball in between commercials. We lounged around and relaxed then went out to the pool. We took naps and really enjoyed our time. Then we showered, hung out some more, and then decided to play tennis! We hit up the courts, I kicked Geoff's butt [4-2] and then we went out to get take-out from Native Foods! I hadn't been there since my UCLA days when I would go with my roommate, Ally all the time! I didn't even realize it was a franchise! We ordered nachos, sweet potato tacos and quinoa mac n cheese. Holy moly, everything was SO good! Better than I remembered! I was immediately inspired to make the tacos with the sweet potatoes sitting in my fridge! On our way back home, we stopped at Trader Joe's and stocked up on our faves- we found some awesome corn and flour tortillas that would be perfect for the tacos! Trying them tomorrow- stay tuned!

Cruisin' along!

Today I feel like such a fatty (not in the actual sense of the word but in the I-just-ate-junk-food-and-didn't-work-out-type-of-way! Nothing a glass or two of wine can't fix! Fitness is something that has become extremely important to me. Not necessarily because of weight or anything [I'm lucky enough to be pretty comfortable with my body], but mainly for the health benefits. I also have always been stronger than the average girl my size and I LOVE feeling strong and tough. I get so happy when my body (especially my arms and abs) look strong. It's really motivating to see that the majority of my girlfriends are into fitness as well! I love it because we always bounce ideas and workouts back and forth with each other. Back in March of 2010, [my Linda Cochina] Becca, had told me about Jillian Michael's "The Shred." At the time I had started doing some Biggest Loser workouts at school [thanks to Leah and my Salida homies], so I was already familiar with the style. The rad thing about "The Shred" was that it was ONLY 20 minutes and left you feeling like you had just spent 45 doing it! I fell in love immediately and used it along with my regular workouts. I then tried "Insanity" for three weeks then moved to P90x (Thanks, Josh)! With all of these workouts, I felt like I was in the best shape EVER! I loved it! So strong and fit! When JM came out with the "Ripped in 30" DVD, I did the full 30 days straight with my mirror, Bre! It was so awesome and in between these 30 days, we decided we needed to add cardio to our workouts. We began in June with 2 miles. Now we're up to 9! It's pretty insane and we are 5 weeks away from our first half marathon! I even started coaching cross country! For the record, I don't LIKE running. But it's the ONLY thing that pushes me, and only me, to my limits. Mind, matter, life...love it! Is it November 13th, yet?!

Which brings me to today...back in the daily grind. Work was....interesting to say the least. I didn't feel motivated to run so I opted for coming home early and hanging out since Jefe is not home until late tonight (and counting 8pm...). This morning I wore a sock bun to work and Geoff shook his head, laughed and said "seriously!?" haha! Yes, I'm weird but love being me! Some things I pull off, others I don't, but damnit, I'm going to give it my own steeze! Mind you, rocking your own personal style that tends to be slightly off can be critical in front of hundreds of high schoolers a day...but whatev, got tons of compliments and decided I should do a tutorial! Upcoming post, I think yes!

Sock bun a la Canela