Cherish your relationships...FOOD...going lean this week..watch out..might hurt a little

Putting this out there first. For me, I am speaking only for myself. Any time anyone in my family circle passes I suddenly start panicking wondering what I would do if my Mother or Father passed. I just want to say my thoughts and prayers go out to my Aunt Mary and the Arnold family. I love you guys. I hope that you are all able to find sense and peace at this time of your husband/Father/Grandfather/Great grandfather etc passing. Love you all. 
Cherish every moment you can with your loved ones because as we all know- tomorrow is never promised.

Probably not the greatest way to kick of my blog for this week but It had to be said. Somehow it makes me feel better. 

Something with my eating is off. I have to figure it out sooner rather than later. 

Added on juicing pack

Fats are a crazy thing- you go too much and all of the sudden you find yourself wondering what you did wrong THIS IS WHERE I AM AT!!! 

So as boring as it may seem...my food this week will be a reflection of that. 
Bountiful Baskets was great this week-I added a juicing pack- not sure it was worth the 8.50 - but I did split it with the kiddos and they juice so of course it will be put to good use. 

Bountiful Baskets rarely disappoints!

There was alot of good stuff in the basket. Fruit side was cantaloupe, mangoes, bananas, grapefruit, and tomatoes. Veggie side was corn, purple potatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, romaine lettuce, broccoli and some seriously FAT asparagus. 
The purple potatoes and corn I gave to my neighbors, gave me a chance to introduce myself and doing something nice in the process.

So that along with my Costco shopping- going to switch things up a bit- because we all know what the definition if INSANITY IS!

 So- this was meat week- always a pricey one! Added chicken breast tenderloins, salmon-avocados, celery, cauliflower, eggs, blueberries and of course a rotisserie chicken. Chicken on chicken. Yup! Ended up not even cooking the salmon.

So I am testing out a made up recipe. I used 2 of the chicken tender packages- 1 whole lemon- a little oregano- parsley - greek seasoning- a little sea salt and ground black pepper and some smoked paprika! I thought the lemon and the smokey yummy paprika would be a good combo (sorry-no exact measurements-just go light on the salt) Turned out AMAZING!!! I know this looks like alot of chicken but I have 5 lunches and 5 dinners to cover!

The flavor is just right. So now I kind of wish I had measured the paprika. Trial and error. 

2 shares I have for this week. Because on Saturday and Sunday my days are kind of weird I am always looking for the quick go to thing that I can hurry and grab to hold me over until meal time. This week- get ready for it- 2 boiled eggs- a squirt of Dijon mustard - a scoop of dill pickle relish and top with a little cayenne pepper...don't judge me...it works...for me :)







Share #2- umm GET ON THIS!!! 6.99 AT COSTCO!! 4# BAG OF COCONUT FLOUR!! I did get the pass from Maria on this so we are good to go- somehow she must be behind this!!




Of course...as always...have to share Scarlet. LOVE LOVE this pic of her....watch out people...she is going to be on the move soon. The look on her face is worth a thousand words...or more! I love how feisty this little on is...currently she is obsessed with my ear...she has to grab in and look in it every time she sees me now. HA I LOVE IT...future Ear, Nose and throat specialist perhaps.Also sharing her little gift someone brought her back from Michigan.....Go Wings?( a little too late)

Well that's it. Its all I have. I always like to close with something lighter hearted than just food stuff. But today I purposely want to express how much I love my Pops. He truly is an amazing man and I know that at times I take his support and just his overall existence for granted. So Dad, Kenny- I love ya. Thanks for being EXACTLY who you are...and this one is for you- because this will be you I am sure!!!

Have a great week everyone! Eat Clean and for the sake of everything HOLY train smart!!!!

CRONI OUT!

Even the best fall down sometimes....

I love that song. And it's so TRUE...you aren't going to be all on all of the time. I have such a struggle with this! My eating seems like it's off..then on...the off...then on..it's so frustrating! 
So this week...new week..same focus...just trying to get back on my clean eating grind. I am not sure what is going on with me..but one thing I am sure of is that if I just stay consistent some how it all works out!


Believe it or not I do not really have alot to say. The week was pretty uneventful even with Easter- I don't have too much to share.

My food this week- Greek Burgers, bacon wrapped chicken thighs and hot links. I have a ton of salad left over from our family party so I am going to be eating that most of the week. Organic mixed greens with leafy romaine-orange pepper, green pepper, cucumber and radish. With my staple red wine vinegar, olive oil and lemon dressing - my greek dressing! It's delicious. I can portion this into small containers and they are super easy to pack. 

For my chicken thighs-I seasoned them with sea salt-pepper-cayenne pepper-a little shake of onion powder and garlic powder, I then added a little Franks Red Hot (yes it's true...I put that shit on everything) and I let that sit in the fridge for a few hours before slapping it on the grill AFTER  I have wrapped them in bacon of course!!
These hot links...they are insane. They do NOT have the cleanest ingredients I am sure.....I don't know I didn't really look. I didn't see high fructose corn syrup so I figured hey...it is better than most things that most people are eating! I usually do not have the hot link AND chicken Greek burgers are always easy-since I bought kalamata olives and feta for the salad-a great place to put them is in Turkey burgers. I used sea salt, pepper, oregano, basil, onion powder, garlic powder ( I am using all of these substitutes because I allowed myself to run out of greek seasoning!).
Breakfast will be my normal staple-I have a container of spinach and plenty of eggs. I baked the left over bacon that I had and I will bag my breakfast up like so! 

 I call it breakfast in a bag. A handful of spinach-I use two whole eggs 1 egg white and 1 1/2 piece of bacon. 

Easter at the folks was a good time but with so many things going on with so many families this time of year its hard to get everyone in the same place at the same time so I was SO happy that my kiddos were able to share lots of pics of my sweet granddaughter...and yes...this Granny bought her first set of golf clubs. Gramps Crad was so excited!

I cant believe this little beauty is 6 months already!! a HALF OF A YEAR HAS FLOWN BY!!! She is such a joy!

Well...that's it. I know...crazy that's all I have. Have a great week everyone...eat clean and train hard and smart- saw this week and LOVED IT!! Mind over matter...CRONI OUT!

Go to HELL sprints..and Food does not have to be complicated folks.....

The evil track..takes away but never gives back!!!

Why does sprinting have to hurt SO BAD??? I am not going to lie....I wanted to quit on the 400's today. I can't quit....I kept running but I didn't like it...no I didn't. Starting back sprinting has been a necessary evil. I think in a few weeks I will feel so much better about this. My Sundays right now are full. Yoga and sprinting...the best of both worlds!

Food..keeping on that not complicated grind! Food doesn't have to be complicated folks! Trying something new this week. I found this new little treasure at Costco! So excited to give it a go. I threw the sauce out- it was full of crap! Kale and Red Chard- snow peas-and sliced carrots! AMAZING and so excited to try this. Review will come next week.



SOOOOO decided to give my own recipe a shot. Have you ever taken pics with your camera WITHOUT THE CARD IN???? Yes...I did it. I wanted to take pics of my basket-which I have to admit is AMAZING this week. If you haven't tried co-op produce..consider it.. It makes meal planning kind of easy. I hate to be wasteful so I am going to use all of the basket. In my basket this week- artichokes, Anaheim peppers, butternut squash, onions, pears, small watermelon, bananas..I am sure I am forgetting something- then at Costco I picked up chicken, guacamole, strawberries, eggs, spinach, salsa, cucumbers (this was an impulse purchase) etc. Loving that I that I can just add to the already amazing things I was able to get in my basket!

So I decided to try a little Verde with chicken instead of Pork. I used the Anaheim chilies that I got in my basket as well as the onion. I used chicken thighs instead of pork. I seasoned with sea salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and cumin. I then chopped the green onion and seeded the Anaheim's and sliced and covered the chicken thighs. I then smothered it with the amazing salsa....after about 4 hours I cut up the chile's...I should have probably done this prior but since I was winging it I wasn't 100% certain of how this would turn out- Anyway I let it cook about 4 hours then cut up the chile's and shredded the chicken with a fork. The smell is to DIE FOR!! 
For additional food prep I also baked some Italian sausage and boiled my artichokes with a little garlic and sea salt! 

I love LOVE being able to snack on these. So simple. Had no idea they were so easy to prep.


I did cave and make a little Paleo dessert this week. Didn't quite know how it would go but this shiz is AMAZING!!!!
Paleo Coffee Cake! I have been trying to stay away from Paleo sweets but I am feeling kind of focused this week so I am hoping I don't go nutso and eat the entire thing in one setting!! Its of cours a PaleOMG recipe http://paleomg.com/coffee-cake-banana-bread/

 The smell in my house while this was baking was almost painful! I am always comforted by the fact it's "Paleo"

A post would not be complete without pics of my amazing Granddaughter. I have to say. She is a trooper. This was my sons bday week and she hung in there with every celebration just wanting to be part of the festivities. She is growing up so fast!!! Fed her a french fry this week- she has a tooth and she is working it fo sho!!! She is so much fun!! we are enjoying her so much!!!

Well...another new week is upon us. I personally am striving to have a better week than I had last week. As always I turn to my one source I love to read. CrossFit Lisbeth....my fave line from this one. "Be weak when you have to be. But be strong, if and when you can be."

Notes to Myself: 1

You only have so many days. So many hours, so many minutes, so many moments. All of us, even those who are in fabulous shape and will live to be 100 or more, have a finite number of breaths on this earth.
So, why do you squander your time? Why do you waste time on things and emotions and miscreants who will bring no good to this world?
Is it easier to do so? Is it less painful to waste time than to spend it wisely?
Yes. But it is not braver. 
Be weak when you have to be. But be strong, if and when you can be.
Do not mistake these words for advice on filling your life with busyness. That is not what I wish for you. Busy is not inherently better than rest. I wish for you to do the right things at the right moments, and hopefully for the right reasons.
Hear me clearly now: You have only so many breaths in this life. Fill your lungs. Use your talents wisely, and do things that matter.

Have a GREAT week everyone- eat clean and WOD hard.. Croni...out!

When you fall short...shift and refocus....keeping food too simple!

The Open is over....Whew..what a wild ride. Finished 15th in the Southwest but felt short of my goal of trying to finish in the top 200 world wide. I am not going to lie. I was sad. Very sad. I was in Vegas and when I left to go see a show at about 5:50 pm I was sitting in the 150's...by 10....202. TWO HUNDRED TWO!!!! 

Photo courtesy of Matt Jensen Photography

It's hard not to look back at the ONE wod I should have redone and not question what if...but honestly all in all I am happy with many things about this Open. My life has changed a bit since last year. My job has tripled or quadrupled in demand so I have to take the good with bad on this one. I do want to give huge KUDOS to CrossFit 22...SO many amazing people did so many AMAZING things this year. Week after week I saw people do things that before the Open they did not believe that were capable of doing! For so many people its really not about where they place but about just simply putting themselves out there, and quite honestly being around those people pushes me to want to work even harder. 
So excited for my bro in law Andy Gunther- I was living for the day that he would be in the masters. I predicted he would absolutely KILL it...and he did!! So excited for to watch the next part of his journey. 


Just a little collage of my fav pics of my grandbaby- no more needs to be said. She is amazing!

Lets talk Vegas. BRRRRR!!!! A little cold and windy. But that didn't stop us. We still sat at the pool..in our hoodies and such and enjoyed what we could. 
Saw Blue Man Group...a little weird for me. Not sure I got certain aspects of it...like this...this big eye..WHAT IS IT? 

Not sure I really got what was going on. Some parts were completely entertaining...other parts...I don't really get what was going on.

Yes I wore my MJ shirt to the MJ show!

BUT!!! SHOW 2 Oh be still my heart. Cirque De Soleil Michael Jackson! Goodness. I wish I could could talk about how great it was. All I can say if you are in Vegas wanting to see any kind of entertaining show- this will completely blow you away. It was so amazing!

I was completely awestruck by the amount of talent in this show. Yes kids..this was my fancy "hey I am going to a show in Vegas" outfit. Dont judge me..had to walk a bit.

FOOD!!!!

I came back from Vegas late Tuesday evening so clearly I didn't get a chance to food prep. Wednesday after wodding- yes it was painful didn't WOD the entire time I was gone-I took myself straight to Costco so I could get right back on track. I am not going to lie...the Open was over..didn't make the top 200..I indulged just a little and it was worth it!
I grabbed chicken-thighs and rotisserie - beets- spinach-salad-turkey sausage-avocados-cauliflower-eggs and strawberries. I have bee loving the strawberries lately. Just a few seem to really curb any sweet tooth. So Wednesday it was whats in your fridge stir fry- I actually ended up doing ok on this- I had a red pepper, mushrooms and bok choy- I added the Italian sausage-a little coconut amino's and fish sauce and it was great!!! kind of weird with the Italian sausage but good just the same. 

So for this week. Keeping on the simple grind. Buffalo Chicken Thighs and Easy Peezy Meatballs (my recipe)
For the Buffalo Chicken Thighs-4 ingredients-you can't beat that!
I season the chicken with Greek Seasoning-sea salt and cracked black pepper then just cover it all with Franks Red Hot- I cook this about 6 hours in the crock pot then finish it in the oven- I broil it for about 10 minutes- I pop it into a cake back and pour the sauce over it! Awesome with veggies!

Also prepped some Easy Peezy Meatballs

1 lb ground turkey
1 package hot italian sausage links(not precooked pushed out of the casing)
1 1/2 diced small red pepper
1 large jalapeno (seeded if you don't want spice) 
scoop of garlic
cumin- to task
cayenne pepper-to taste 
sea salt and ground black pepper
1 egg
1/2 c almond flour to bind
Just mix together and roll or ice cream scoop onto pan. I cooked these today on 350 for about 30 minutes. THIS MAKES ALOT THAT IS THE GOAL!






I also baked my bacon. My intent is to use this with my breakfast but it's also nice just to have. In case you have tried this-layer it on a large cookie sheet and bake on 350 for about 20 minutes ish. I watch mine close because different brands cook differently.

In closing...I wanted to post something funny..this is a long one...and not funny at all. I always to turn this source when looking for something to slap me out of some stupid funk I might have been in. For me...I can totally relate to this. When I look back at my life- even back 5 years...I can relate. LOVE IT. 
Oh wait...ONE funny thing first...might have happened in our box this week he he he he

Defining Yourself

I left the girl I was supposed to be. The polite person who said all the right words and didn’t offend. The one who carried on for the children’s sake. The one with the perfect job and the perfect family in the perfect house.
It took me a long time to leave her. Years. And years. And years. It took a while to define myself.
And it’s an ongoing process. I leave the other girl daily, every single time I pick up the barbell or swing a kettlebell. That girl— the polite one, the one society told to be a “good girl” and “play nice”—she runs away every time I run, or lift, or even start to breathe heavy during the warm-up.
She’s not who I want to be. She’s not who I ever wanted to be. She’s the girl I thought I had to be, for everyone else. But they didn’t know me. And that was my fault, because I was too scared to let anyone see who I really was. But I’m not scared anymore.
When I’m in the gym, you might find a lot of things there with me: chalk, tape, blood, heart, sweat. Foot stomping. Grunting. Sometimes, the F bomb — to celebrate, or motivate.
But you will rarely find perfect. In my form. In my words. In me. I try, but I don’t always get there. I am a work in progress.
And I will be a work in progress until the moment I cease breathing. It took me a long time to realize that’s okay, and that the perfect girl is gone. But the one who stayed is pretty kickass. I actually like her a whole lot better.
Gone is that girl who doesn’t believe in herself. You won’t find her here. You also won’t ever find a girl who thinks that if you lift big, you get “too big.” What is “too big” anyhow? Who the heck decided that? What a bunch of bullshit. What a passel of small-mindedness passed around by people who never realized how wonderful life could be. Ignore it all, my friends.
One of the best lessons I’ve learned in life is this: Never let anyone else define how you should be. It’s your life. Push past the small minds and press on towards your big, bad, beautiful self. Define yourself.
Now, get in the gym or out on the trail or into your notebook or wherever you feel huge and alive, and go hard. Be the person you always wanted to be. It’s not too late.

Love Love the end of this- never let anyone else define how you should be...it's your life

Have a good week everyon- clean eating and training is hard is back on the menu for me. Its what makes me HAPPY!!!

Croni...out!