vegetables.

okay people- let's talk vegetables.

I have been trying to brainstorm some creative ways to incorporate more veggies into dinner.  we do eat a fair amount but I need more variety.  I do pretty well with cramming in veggies at lunch because I usually eat a salad or a large side of veggies.

my go-to veggie sides with dinner are corn, sweet potatoes(homemade fries normally), roasted asparagus and mixed green salads. but I really need to switch it up- I am looking for suggestions!

this week I bought a rutabaga that I am to make into rutabaga fries, which I have seen on multiple blogs.  hope it will turn into another one of our frequent sides! also, kale chips are on my list to try.

any veggie that can be made into "fries" is a good veggie in my books! 

rutabaga and sweet potato for fries!

lunches this week have included:

*green salad including lettuce, radishes, celery, cucumber, fresh dill and cheese with a side of strawberries and grapes.

*veggie burger on lettuce with a side of cucumbers and celery.

so any creative veggie side dishes or veggie lunch ideas are more than welcome!!

on a side note.. here is an article of possible interest- aka. the "ocean-lover" in me would really appreciate it if you read this :)   ten things you can do to help heal our oceans

be blue people! the oceans are so valuable.

--m

firsts.

a first- a new skill that you mastered for the first time.  derek would always come back from downhill mountain biking and say, "I had two firsts!" aka. he did two new jumps or landed two tricks that were new to him.  I quickly latched onto this concept and would come back from yoga and tell him about my "firsts" that class.  this started a long while back when I was just beginning to really get into yoga.  at that point, I was achieving a first at almost every class.. 

my first headstand..

my first handstand..

my first side crow.. mine wasn't quite as pretty as this. but I'm getting there!

but as time went on and I practiced on a regular basis, I wasn't mastering many firsts because the majority of the poses I had usually tried at one time or another.  now, I have developed a new concept for firsts and I don't classify them as a completely new skill but taking a pose to a new level.   that could include something as simple as a longer hold or even a smile!

for example, some recent firsts include..

*binding my side angle pose

*achieving balance for the complete hold of eagle pose on both sides

*taking my 100th chaturanga of the class with a smile! (maybe not quite 100, but sometimes it really feels like it!)

these simple goals and achievements make my practice that much more rewarding.  I just can't get enough yoga. class today was phenomenal- although it felt kinda like a yoga bootcamp? steph incorporated lots of lovely yogi push ups and core exercises to get us sweatin'.

happy yoga-ing!

--m

*all photos from yoga journal

oh monday.

monday comes too fast. always. sometimes certain weekends are especially busy and I don't feel I have time to complete everything on my to do list while finding time to relax.

regardless of this past weekend being extremely busy, it was still lovely :) for fathers day we went golfing in the morning and then had a nice dinner at moms in the evening.  I think dad was really excited about his gifts!

after my normal workday, I headed to yoga which was just fabulous as always. filled with lots of planks, chaturangas and spinal twists.  my favourite pose of todays class: dancers pose.

on another note, I stumbled across another great blog- eat save travel. check it out! and one of the bloggers also writes pause the moment which is a travel blog. SO awesome.  eek I have a serious travel bug right now.  really itching to go somewhere- I love reading about travel adventures and they have some great tips.

finally, just wanted to do a quick review on the book I'm reading.

left neglected- so far, so good! I'm loving it.  the author also wrote still alice, which was one of my favourites.  the story follows a successful business woman with a husband and 3 kids that gets in an accident and is left with a condition called left neglect.  I love the way this author writes- I am hooked on her books!

happy monday.
--m

my dad.

happy fathers day dad- you are the best ever! and a really good golfer too :) I will work on my game for a round 2 next year! 

me as a wee one.

highschool graduation

easter 2011

fathers day outing last year

the new grandpa!

all the kids!(and grandkid)

new york 2008

gabriola island adventures 2010

love you.

--m

baking up a storm.

by 1.30 today I had done dishes 3 times- 3!! thats gotta be some sorta record. I think I deserve a prize. thankfully I have prizes in the form of blueberry muffins and peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. my taste buds are satisfied :)

I started with the blueberry muffins which I made with a recipe from brown eyed baker.. they turned out just perfect!  I owe tye some muffins so he will be receiving half the batch of these bad boys. hope he enjoys them!

*I apologize for the not so nice quality of the photos- my camera battery had died and I have yet to replace it! these ones were taken with my phone.

since I was in the baking mood, I also quickly whipped up some cookies.  using this recipe.  anything with peanut butter is a winner in my books.  I think D will love them too.  And I can sort of pretend they are healthy since they have some oats in them :) score! I meant to make these much earlier in the week but never got around to it.  so now we will have some sweet treats for the weekend!

my baking soundtrack for the day was homes by jon and roy- I am seriously addicted to these guys.  love love love them. thanks to tye for introducing me to them!

happy saturday!! hope everyone has a great fathers day tomorrow- I can't wait! 

--m

canuck fever.

the boys cheering on our canucks.. there is always next season! still very proud of the team for making it to game 7 of the finals.  

apparently, abby didn't get the memo.. she continues to cheer for the bruins even after she received lots of canuck loot for her birthday!! 

enough of hockey! lets enjoy this 3 month period until it starts again.. oh yah, football just started. oh well, such is life! (go riders)
yay for friday!
--m

thursday thought.

source

*don't compromise yourself. you're all you've got.  --janis joplin

--m