WORKOUT WEDNESDAY

How many of you have used the line "I would love to workout, IF I only had the time?"

I am raising my hand with you, so don't be embarassed!!

I LOVE to workout, but lately I have fallen into a slump and have been using the time excuse excessively.

Using the words of Charles Buxton:

"You will never "find" time for anything.  If you want time, you must make it."

So, now lets look at your time management in a different view shall we?

How many of you:

Brush your teeth daily?

Walk from your living room to the back room?

Use the bathroom?

Shop?

Blog?

Ok, everyone should have their hands raised by now.

Here are some exercises I do, while going about my regular day and in reference to the above list.

I do side leg raises while I brush my teeth.

I will do lunges down my hallway. 

Before exiting the bathroom, I will do 10 pushups off the side of the tub.

We will drive by that first parking spot available and opt for the last one when shopping.

While blogging, be sure to sit tall and pull in your ab muscles (regardless of what you may be thinking here, yes, we ALL have ab muscles!)  Just keeping proper posture is great exercise.  For a more advanced option, I will do leg lifts. Keep your abs tight here too.  Think of it as pulling your belly button to your spine.

There are many more ways to "work" some exercise into your normal day.  Tomorrow, from the moment you get out of bed to the moment you crawl back in keep track of all the small, spare moments you have in your day.  Sneak in a walk around the block on your work break.  Go get your own knitting needles instead of asking your husband to do it the next time he is up.  (Who does that?!!!)

Think outside of the box!

Working out DOES NOT have to take place in a gym or weight room and it DOES NOT have to be a burden on your already overscheduled day.  Start small and work towards a goal.

In the words of my husband, baby steps!!

Off for a quick walk around the block.

TJO

TASTEFULly Simple TUESDAY

What better way to kick off my first TASTEFUL TUESDAY than with some TASTEFULLY SIMPLE?!

I just closed out a catalog party with Rolla's newest consultant, Jacie Belgarde.  Great big shout out and thank you to her, also wishing her lots of luck in her new business.

I was a consultant in the past and I was, by far, my own best customer!! 

Who doesn't want one of everything??

This recipe is my favorite so far and it is definitely restaurant quality.

Pork Medallions with Merlot Sauce

Submitted by Rosemary (MN) HQ Resident Chef

Ingredients
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 lb. each), trimmed 

(I use pork chops or whatever kind is in my freezer)Salt & pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. Onion Onion™
1 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup Merlot Sauce
Directions
Cut pork into 1/2-inch-thick medallions; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat butter and oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Dip both sides of medallions in flour (I don't believe I do this step); sauté in batches, about 2 minutes per side. Keep pork warm in 250°. oven (I just put in oven . Add Onion Onion™, broth and Merlot Sauce to drippings in skillet. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes; return pork to pan. Cook 2-3 minutes or until pork is cooked through. Serve with mashed potatoes. Makes 6 servings.

For more ideas and recipes:
Tastefully Simple Blog for customer submitted recipes.

Tastefully Simple website and click on "TRY OUR RECIPES." 

You can sort by product, by category or using a keyword.  Its just that simple!

Not up for hosting and its just too cold outside to leave the house for a party? That's OK! You can contact Jacie at jmb_xray@yahoo.com and she can get your order, whether big or small.  She's awesome!  BUT....don't take it from me! See for yourself, she's ready to help you.

Hungry Yet?! 

What is your favorite recipe?

TJO

Thanks for stopping in.

Tune in tomorrow for some workout tips after you ate too much! :)

NEW IDEAS ARE OVERFLOWING....

I have been inspired, fired up, excited, influenced, encouraged, stimulated, infused, sparked....insert many more synonyms for inspired.

I had the privilege of meeting some very inspiring women this weekend at the Dakota Grown Foods Conference in Fargo, ND.  I learned many things for both work and personal uses. I am going to try some new things to weigh out the results and learn from each thing tried.  First attempt is to theme my blog posts by the weekday in attempt to keep myself inspired for new posts more frequently than in the past.  My mom is my biggest fan and majority of my posts have been for her to stay in touch with what I am doing (or not doing.)  After this weekend, I have a belief (though it is slight) that maybe some others are interested too.  Please don't be shy in weighing in and commenting on my posts in both positive and not so  positive directions.  Each comment is a learning experience.

I want to keep this short, so stay tuned and please be sure to go check out these sites from some amazing ladies!!!

Dakotapam

Rhubarb and Venison

Pinke Post

Also, check out sites from amazing ladies that have inspired me for many, many years:

Knit and Pearl

Sall's Country Life

Overwhelmed yet???? Me neither!  :)

Enjoy and Thank you for visiting!!!

TJO

BATHROOM REMODEL PROGRESS

We have slowly, but surely been remodeling our bathroom.  I posted pictures of the tile work above the shower previously.  We removed the old sink and vanity to replace it with a  pedestal sink and new flooring over the old.  The sink change made a huge difference in opening up the space. 

While doing the floor, CEO apparently needed a little more supervision, so I called in my backup. :)

I cant wait to share completion pictures. Stay tuned.....

TJO

GOING GREEN



After all of the great holiday feasts and winter snow on the ground to prevent running, I have been looking for an affordable option to get back on track to healthy.  I found a ton of good nutrient options, but all with a big price tag on them.  I have prided myself in staying pretty fit, but have that annoying 5-8 extra lbs hanging on since I was put out of running commission for surgeries.  Well, with all excuses aside, I have started doing Green Smoothies.  Yes the top picture is green tinted, but this one is not.

Add some spinach, kale, banana, pear, protein powder, flax seed and some oj for a great lunch in a blender.  So far, I have really enjoyed them.  The first day I put in some regular green lettuce that needed to be used and boy was that not a good idea.  I did get it all down but it tasted just as it was, blended lettuce.  Using the proper ingredients there on out, I have really enjoyed them and they are doing their "cleansing" duties.

Oatmeal for breakfast.

Green Smoothie for lunch.

Fiber bar for afternoon snack.

Healthy, sensible supper.

Now to kick this cold and get back to Zumba! If you haven't tried this latest exercise trend and have the option to, I highly recommend it.  So much fun!

What is your secret to staying healthy?

TJO

BROWN SUGAR BUNDT CAKE WITH SAUCE

I took the time this weekend to play with one of my new toys I received for Christmas.  Isnt it funny to think back and see just how much our Christmas lists change throughout the years. 

We go from wanting Barbie Dolls to wanting a Bundt pan!

My Hubby loved this recipe.  I added a chopped apple to the cake.

Enjoy!

Cake:

2 1/4

cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1/2

teaspoon baking powder

1/2

teaspoon salt

1 1/2

cups packed light brown sugar

3/4

cup granulated sugar

1

cup butter, softened

4

eggs

2

teaspoons vanilla

3/4

cup milk

Sauce:

1

cup butter

1/2

cup packed light brown sugar

2

tablespoons milk

1

tablespoon light corn syrup

1

teaspoon vanilla

Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom and side of 12-cup fluted tube cake pan or 10-inch angel food (tube cake) pan with shortening; lightly flour. In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

1. In large bowl, beat 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, the granulated sugar and softened butter with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed about 5 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally, until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla. Beat in flour mixture alternately with 3/4 cup milk on low speed until smooth. Pour into pan.
2. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours.
3. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat sauce ingredients except vanilla to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly; boil and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Serve warm sauce with cake.

CATCH UP

I am behind in my blogs.  I have been too busy fighting off a cold and reading everyone else's blogs. :)  I saw one bloggers resolution to read less blogs?!?!  Anyone else see the irony in that resolution??

I was mauled with kisses from my cat, Maggie, over lunch and was reminded of how funny she was over New Year's weekend at Grandma and Grandpas house.  First she had to check out the fish tank.  Then she found the goldmine of toys inside the crock next to the fish tank.  Must have been some good ones because she was quite entertaining while trying to attain a few of them.  One in particular had her interest for the rest of the weekend.  I had to take it away a couple of times because there is a limit to her madness and crazy eyes.  It was an old sock stuffed with catnip.  :)  Grandma was getting her grandkitty high! LOL!!

We had a great holiday and will keep playing catch up in between blogging others and completing some PIPs (Projects In Progress).  Better add a catnip sock to my projects list, huh?!

TJO