AND SO GOES THE YOLATES....

For those of you who didn't catch up with me earlier today, I was super motivated to workout after the downward spiral last week. So, at 5:30pm I leave the office, head to the gym, change clothes, use the restroom, attempt to wash my hands and....

BAM! 

Smash my finger into the soap dispenser. 

HARD!

Yes, with enough force to break my nail in half, cause an immediate blood blister to form and blood oozing beneath the nail (graphic sorry). 

No, I was not angry and trying to smash innocent soap dispensers.

Really I'm just a klutz. This is something you will learn about me. 

I shrieked a little, the woman next to me looked over, saw the blood and didn't even ask if I was okay!! That is NOT the Southern charm I've been talking about lady.

 But then she definitely gave me strange looks when instead of washing it off I took about 5 pictures. 

"Oh don't worry lady, I am a blogger! Yea, a blogger! Its all for the sake of the blog! 

Oh wait, you weren't worried anyway, were you!"

I didn't actually say that. I just gave her a creepy look and told her I'm a vampire.

A vampire who puts Snoopy bandaids on her cuts. 

It was still throbbing, despite Lucy's smiling face on my thumb. 

But, I was determined for the Yolates class!

(yoga + pilates = yolates, for my slow learners...I still love you)

I'm slow too, in different ways.

This was my second time doing the class, which is actually called Centergy at my gym, but Yolates sounds so much cooler, doesn't it?

The first time, I looked much like a dying seagull, not a graceful swan; because not only am I klutzy, I am also very NON-flexible. However, this is something I'm trying to fix, especially because one day I think it would be cool to own a Yolates studio. Maybe I should learn how to do it first though, just a thought. 

Honestly, I'm just really drawn to the culture of it, which maybe explains why I wore this Eco Yoga shirt...

If I'm going to look like a dying seagull instead of a blooming lotus flower scorpion firefly downward dog, I should at least attempt to dress the part. 

I've honestly had this shirt forever, I got it at Whole Foods a couple years ago. 

Yes, guilty - I bought a shirt at Whole Foods while I supposed to be "grocery shopping." 

Doesn't everyone spend WAYYY too much money every time they step foot in Whole Foods or is that just me?? Between the salad bar, organic ice-cream, craft beer selection and natural beauty products, I'm done for. (Pssstt...Karen, hook me up with the employee discounts ;)

One day, don't you worry though, I will not only be dressed like a Yogi guru, but I'll be doing this!

Whose the dying seagull now?!

And Country Man will be doing this!

But, he won't grow his hair like that....

and maybe just maybe one day I won't be such a klutz. 

XOXO Love, your dying seagull yolates vampire

FITNESS + WINE

Have you ever had one of those days where you are SO motivated to workout (you even pack gym clothes in your car in the morning!) but then it seems like the world is against your good and healthy motives? That happened to me last week when my "workout routine" went something like this.

4:00pm - check the gym class schedule and vow to go to the 5:30pm Spin Class
5:35pm - reading emails, "Crap! What time is it??"
5:36pm - check the gym class schedule AGAIN and vow to go to the 6:30 Pilates class
5:50pm - "Hello Boss....why are you back in the office, I thought you left for the day?"
6:45pm - "Goodbye Boss" Grrrrrr!!!!
6:50pm - Driving home I decide that I still have time for a run around the lake.
7:00pm - Change into workout clothes, SO MOTIVATED!
7:05pm - "Hello Mother, is that wine you are drinking? May I taste it?
7:10pm - "So, this is cheap wine from Walmart? Pretty good. You drank this whole bottle already?" Oh, you used it in your cooking, SUUURRRE!

7:15pm - "Mom, should I go for a run?" Secretly hoping she says, "No honey, lets drink wine and watch bad reality TV."
7:16pm - Mom says, "Sure honey, if you want to. Dinner won't be ready until after 8 anyway."
7:17pm - Take a swig of wine, "Do you want to run with me?"
Mom: "Umm, no, do you ever see me run?"
Me: "Fine, do you want to walk with me?"
7:25 - Headed to the lake with my mom for a nice evening stroll!

Go Momma Go!

So, my workout plan backpedaled from:
Spin Class --> Pilates --> Running --> Wine drinking --> Walking --> Dinner

Has this ever happened to you??

Well, you know what, I was glad that it did because I got to enjoy some quality time with the Madre and this beautiful sunset!

Me and the Madre
baaahhhh yikes! good thing I gots my hairs did!

See...when you are strolling slowly you can take better pictures. 

But, today I really am going to the gym! I have my workout clothes in the car! Yolates here I come!

yoga + pilates = yolates (just FYI, i'm not crazy)

And I won't become a chunky monkey like my sister's pretty kitty. 

Meet Puka.

He is pretty

and very fat

and cross-eyed.

I'll let you know how the yolates goes!

SPINACH, GOATS, THE GYM AND HOUSEWIVES

I'M TURNING HEALTHY! I've always been a pretty healthy person, but since moving here I'm not gonna lie, I've put on a pound or three or five. The buttery goodness, biscuits, grits, fried everything, dining out while traveling for work.... and drinking beer at the lake, in the yard, on the couch, on the lawnmower, in a canoe, in the woods, in a tree, in the bathtub will do that to a girl. So, remember when I said I was paying an average of $22 per elliptical session. Not anymore! I'm down to $21 per session. Take that Golds Gym! 

But, especially since Country Man moved and I'm missing him like crazy, it helps to keep my mind and body occupied so I've been going more often...and trying to meet gym friends, who aren't 40 and up, real housewives of Atlanta gym friends, who like to do pilates and then go drink wine, shop and eat lunch by the pool. 

Okay, who am I kidding, I like to do all that stuff to! But, I'm certainly not a housewife. And if I ever am one, I won't be on that show...and I'll still shop at Target and I'll have goats in my backyard and make fresh goat cheese. Or, I'll hire someone to milk the goats. Sorry, sidetracked. I'll save the goat obsession for later. I just realized I really sounded kind of hickish there...oh goodness, it is innate now. Oops!
Okay, but real quick!! LOOK. GOATS!

You know you love them!!
And want to make cheese from them!
Okay, I'll stop now. I promise

Moving on!

Food tip of the day: spinach spinach spinach spinach SPINACH

When eating enchiladas do you usually eat 2? I do...mainly because that is what a restaurant will give you. Well, yesterday, I had leftover enchiladas, so I grabbed ONE up for lunch. But, I threw a big handful of spinach on top before heating it up. The spinach cooked down and warmed up with the enchilada, giving me half the fat and twice the greens, and feeling just as satisfied. Spinach can do that for you with a lot of different things. If you don't like it, teach yourself to! It is one of the Earth's greatest, natural, heart-healthy, nutrient-dense gifts to us: filled with iron, flavonoids (antioxidants), fiber and omega 3. I try to throw organic spinach into as many meals as I can - it is extremely versatile. 

I've learned to like it plain, but its also good drizzled with a little olive oil and garlic, crushed red pepper or whatever other spices compliment what you are adding it to. I throw it in pasta, on top of pizza, on burgers, in burritos and sandwiches, in omelets, in my cereal. 

Just kidding! I was making sure you were still reading and not bored by the anatomy of spinach. 
Does spinach have anatomy? I guess all living things do... 

Wow...here I go again. Always getting sidetracked. 

Now my mind is thinking of spinach with body parts. I am so weird and sick and twisted. I know.

Here is an anatomical spinach/ pasta creation. I didn't take a picture of my enchilada yesterday, and this picture was in my phone archives from about a week ago. But, my enchilada looked a little strange with spinach on top of it anyway... and I don't want to scare you. Plus I'd already eaten half before I thought to take a photo. 

Trader Joes lemon pepper pappardelle pasta cooked according to instructions, I always add extra lemon juice and fresh ground pepper after its cooked. Sauteé a couple pieces of cooked shrimp and sausage in olive oil and spices. Drizzle spinach with a little vinaigrette ( I used wishbone raspberry hazelnut to add sweetness with the spice) and throw in the pan with shrimp & sausage to warm for the last minute. Combine it with the cooked pasta and top with goat cheese. Of course it had goat cheese!

Again, the beauty part of the spinach is that it is a space-filler, stomach-satisfier and nutrient-provider. You'll end up eating half the amount of carbs but since it is all mixed together you don't lose on flavor. 

Here are some other spinach photos I had in my phone from all the times I pretend I am a foodie, pioneer, chef, food network star, foodographer and creative genius.

I don't feel guilty about all the meat & cheese because it is on a flaxseed sandwich thin and loaded with spinach.
haha,  I am telling you - this justification thing works.

spinach for breakfast?? You know it!
I already took a bite before I took the photo....very un-foodnetwork-star of me

 I tricked you! This one is kale. But we can save that for another day. Aren't you soooo excited?!? I sense that sarcasm! Well, you should be....because if you think spinach is good for you, KALE, my friends, is pretty much the healthiest thing that humans are capable of eating. You just have to know how to prepare it, otherwise it can be "not so gentle" on the stomach.

And if that didn't entice you, I don't know what will...

stay tuned

xoxo my turning country, turning healthy lovers