Things in life will ebb and flow...you just have to go with it!

Its a hard thing to learn to adjust to. ESPECIALLY if you are kind of a control freak. Not everything is going to be on and consistent all of the time. I am learning to flex more...it may or may not be working :)

I am trying to embrace this. 

My goal for today is to be kind of brief..post alot of photos and maybe not so many words.

WEEK ONE of The Lurong Resolution Challenge is in the books.
It went by so fast. The WOD was pretty rough-I will be looking forward to see if I can improve at the end.  

Week 2 started during week 1. Bountiful Basket was awesome. I had to gift the corn and potatoes away- some carrots and a few tomatoes- a little too much produce for me and I hate to waste it.

Jo's clean example

My example

FOOD PREP IS SO IMPORTANT!!! I can't it stress enough. Its ALOT of work. I get it. And if you are busy-food prep can be very daunting. I get that as well - but if you can squeeze in the time to do it you will it can be as organized or as simple as you want- here is an example- my layout on the right <------ Jo's on the left   -------------------->
Here is kind of how I lay things out for the week - the menu is good and pretty simple. I changed a few things around but I am loving not having to plan my own menu- call me lazy- I call it a nice break for a super busy gal. I lay out the shopping list-the menu and I mark off things that I wont need- I had quite a few items still so I wanted to make sure not to duplicate!

Here is my Costco and store run. I had plenty of avocados from last week but I have noticed that right now its taking a week for them to ripen up.

Wasn't really sure what to think of the breakfast for this week- BLT muffins- I added a few scoops of my salsa (recipe on last weeks blog) and red pepper flakes- I have to have some kick in there. They are pretty damn good!! This also calls for fruit with coconut milk. I am going to try it. I will see if I like it! 

This is gorgeous and delicious

One for fridge one for the freezer

Thanks to my sisters Kat and Liz for sharing this recipe with me for tomato sauce. I think its from Marias blog-there is a link on the right->

I prepped just my chicken for the salad and the bacon wrapped thighs. I liked making the stir fry fresh as well as the salmon-its great left over but I love cooking it fresh! 

This is kind of the finished project- lots of containers and bagged up goodness.  





Well that's about it. I tried to keep it brief it just never really happens.


Just a little family share- our Martin Luther King day dinner celebration- I dont know why this picture just cracks me up




And in closing- I love this. 

Hope everyone has a good week- eat clean and train dirty! 

It's been a while-round 2 of Lurong-food and life!

September 28th was the last time I blogged. WOWZERS. Didn't realize it had been that long. 

I am going to try and be brief-as I always say that is hard for me I am a person of MANY words.

I made a commitment to post for the next 5 weeks. I do really love blogging I just honestly do not have the time for it anymore. My posts will be Lurong directed. 

We are starting the next Lurong Challenge-It could not have come at a better time for me. Life is so funny at times. I did SO good on the last challenge. I am hoping this one will be the same. Shopping was good today- I love when my shopping cart is so full of produce I look like the "bag" lady.

I dont love to shop at Walmart but they are stepping their game up a bit

Some great things this time around- they actually provided a 30 day eating plan. And I am following it!! HEY..don't judge me- sometimes its nice to not have to plan out your own shiz!!! There is something to be said about taking a little help now and then. There were some great ideas. I am following it for at LEAST the first 2 weeks- I think I might have issues with portion control and I think this will help. 
I always buy a rotisserie chicken- so I am loving that not only did they give us a spice recipe-
they gave instructions on how to cook this chicken-its in the crock pot now so the jury is out on how its going to be but I do know there will be no sugar in it- yes folks the Costco chicken has some sugar in the seasoning- I might have gone

a little heavy on the cayenne. of course...love my spice








So here is how I am doing my eggs- this is SO much easier than boiling them- throw a dozen eggs in a muffin tin bake at 350 for about 23 minutes. Just let them cool and DONE!
I baked my sweet potatoes. I am a little leery about the amount of sweet potato-starch is still something I have to keep in check. I will probably pull back on the amount just because I know how I am with this.
I made my own salsa-I AM A TOTAL SALSA SNOB!!! I can't help it. Since I learned how to make it anytime I buy it I just am so disappointed. And lets be real-if you read the labels of just about anything in a bottle or a can...well...there's a bunch of shiz in there you DO NOT want to put in your body- this is a HALF batch and here's the approximates for this- takes about 10 minutes. 

2 cans Rotel diced tomatoes
(I love this brand I get one can diced with lime, green chile's and cilantro and one can diced with habanero)
5-6 good size Roma tomatoes
1 jalapeno
1 Tablespoon garlic
1/2 bunch cilantro
4 green onions -with stems
juice of 1 lime 
sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste. 
Simply chop up all ingredients and mix together-it took me a few tries to get this right- under season and under spice (jalapeno) to start with - it wont take long to perfect it. 

I am also making the bacon wrapped chicken thighs-and the kitchen sink salad mix. I will bag these just like I bag my broccoli I just find this easy to grab and go. 

I guess what I am trying to get at with this post today is that food prep- as daunting and time consuming as it may seem, is really the key to success. For me- it's just me so this I find almost calming and simple at times. For a family with kids it might be a little more challenging. HERE'S THE DEAL ...we are all here for you and for each other. By doing the challenge you have already shown you can put yourself out there. Don't be afraid to reach out to others and find out what is working for them especially if this is your FIRST challenge ( i love you for that) Here's to a successful week 1 - guys I am so excited for you!!!



You know that my posts would not be complete without a little something about Miss Scarlet. The holiday season was the BEST with her. She was sooooo fun!!! Apparently she is a Green Bay fan.. and probably the cutest one I have ever seen!!! She is the best thing ever...and I will forgive her for being a GB fan for now...if the Niners ever do well...she may have a different jersey on...compliments of Granny Jo :)



I just like to always close with something a little lighthearted.....I dont really know what more needs to be said....Here's to week 1 Lurongers-and for anyone else following it- lets get crazy with it!!!

Lurong...Lulu...all things FAMILY!!!

The past 2 weeks have felt like a whirlwind of CRAZINESS!!! I love busy but WHOA things have been so nuts lately. Idle people must be so bored!

I have been doing the Lurong Paleo Challenge. This has been a serious reality check for me. I did not realize how LAZY I had become with my Paleo eating. I needed this so bad. I have struggled for a while and this came at the perfect time! 

For those of you who do not know what this is it is basically a test of how clean eating directly impacts your performance in the gym (this is my interpretation of course). So we are starting our 3rd week. We have weighed- measured ourselves and completed 3 workouts that we will repeat when this is over. And let me tell you the WODS are no joke. I didn't expect them to be easy but I have been surprised at how each one has pushed me in a different way. 

Just going to get right to food ish. 

Here are the items I am loving right now-

Power greens, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccolettes, avocado, chicken thighs, raspberries and rotisserie chicken.

Breakfast- Frittata - super easy and you can spin this anyway that you want. This week I added grated carrot because I had a bunch to get rid of kale- turkey sausage (always check for sugar and nitrates and nitrites in any meat you buy you would be surprised what they try and sneak in sausage) rotel tomatoes and onion and garlic. 

I start this on the stove top I sauteed my onion and garlic - added the kale let it wilt then added in the mixture of 6 eggs tomatoes, carrots and sausage- which I browned previously- cook on stove top for about 5 minutes then finish in oven for about 30 minutes. I use a cast iron skillet but any pan would work. I slice like a pizza and bag. TOO EASY this with 1/4 avocado is my breakfast for this week!

Lunch and dinner will be a combo of grilled chicken-rotisserie chicken salads and lots of fresh veggies. 

Really watching my starch right now. I tend to over do it sometimes. 

For my sweets fix I made tostones. 

TOSTONES'

So basically fried plantains. I fry them in coconut oil in my cast iron skillet-you fry them once- smash them then fry again- SO YUMMY! I sprinkle a little sea salt and fresh ground black pepper- savory and sweet. Love them! 

Just have to give my sisters props one more time. 

Liz's pics

Kats pics

They are ambassadors for the new LuluLemon in Farmington Station that opened last Friday- kudos to the ladies of Lulu such a fun event on Friday! So happy I was able to be there for the unveiling of their pictures that will be in the store (so go check it out!) They have worked hard to get to where they are and they absolutely deserve this. I have always looked up to them and I always will!

ICE CREAM!!!

Her amazing face!!!

Was so happy that I was able to get in so much family time this weekend. Watching Scarlet is seriously becoming the highlight of my LIFE! She is such an amazing little girl. So full of EVERYTHING! I could watch her for hours just walking around talking nonsense. I am so blessed to have her in my life. We couldn't love her more! My fav pics from this week

Scarlet and her best bud Gramps Crad

Super happy to spend time with all my kiddos this weekend. I cant get enough of them these days! Family time is the best time even if its short!! 

Oh Scarlets face is priceless!!!

Well that's it. That's all I have. A bunch of rambling it felt like. 

I try and end with something funny. But I got nothing. I did see this and I LOVED it...why would I think I am an exception?

Have a great week everyone!! Eat clean and train dirty!!

Croni Out!

Half Marathon behind me...Moving on...Lurong anyone??? I must be crazy!!!!

One of  my smaller non bloody blisters

Repping the Granny Tag

So Happy to see my sweet kiddos at the finish

Well? Its done!!! The half marathon that I allowed to be the bain of my existence for the past 2 months is behind me. Happy ..OH SO HAPPY that I PR'd but sad that I didn't get that sub 2 that I wanted so badly- (less than 2 hours) I will get it next time. I will be doing this again next year. I will just post the pics one more time. I finished 2:05 which is a 4 minute pr but not quite good enough. I will get it next time. Just want to share a small sample of one of the SMALL blister that I managed to achieve...GROSS!!!

Scarlet always has Grannys back!

I cant even began to explain how happy I was that Kolbs, Jenna and Sweet Scarlet were there to greet me at the finish!!! Best day ever!!




After my half my baby bro Matt prompted me to head over to Wasatch Chill Zone for muscle recovery. I was hurting I am not going to lie- I am still sore today but I think that I have no idea how wrecked I would have been had I not done this. Much thanks to my baby bro Matty who made sure I was well taken care of. I love this and I will be doing it more often!!!

RICE-rest ice elevation compression...and Football...

I am going right from the Half Marathon into the Lurong Challenge. I wish I could explain the details but that would be far too many words. It will be a mad combo of WODS and clean eating challenges. My goal??? is to just get back to where I was before I allowed stress to overcome my common sense!! And damnit-I kind of want to win a prize if I can. I love the cause and I love that its really just going to help me in the end. 
So I am starting off strong with good shiz. 

 Here is what I picked up at Costco-Power Greens- love these for salads and in place of boring spinach for bfast-brussel sprouts- cauliflower-broccolettes (going to bake this with avocado oil and garlic and top with a fried egg...makes me have good memories of the Farmstead) strawberries- salmon and rotisserie chicken.




For the Salmon i decided to top it with a bit of Fage greek yogurt mixed with juice of 3 limes and dill- I seasoned the salmon with greek seasoning - salt and pepper- I saved the extra greek sauce to dip- make sure to see if yogurt is legal...I failed to do that :( sure tastes amazing.







I also made sure I had bacon and eggs...this is my absolute favorite way to cook them. If I get desperate and I have bacon and eggs close at hand I always manage to get through somehow!!

In addition to having the fish and rotisserie chicken on hand I also made some meatballs- I have been blending my turkey with ground chicken- added basil- onion- kalmata olives- greek seasoning-cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes- Odd combo I know but so delicious

I have been making my meatballs a little bigger so I only have to pack 2.







I just add the Kirkland brand marinara- pretty much the best and cleanest out there that I have found. It is a little bland on seasoning so I just add a little of my own. 

My blog posts aren't complete without 2 things. My favorite pic of Scarlet for the week...

Do not let the innocence of this picture fool you..this little one is  FIESTY!!

And...something a little more lighthearted...this is very much me!!!

Here's to a GREAT week!! Good luck to all my fellow Lurong challengers...Lets do this!! we can only get better!!!

Croni....OUT

Preaching some CrossFit...Its ok not to RX...it's ok to scale...it's ok to modify....get over yourself and get to the box!

This subject has been on my mind ALOT lately...so I am just going to let it flow.

Here is the deal. I love my CrossFit. Don't really care who is annoyed by it, (haters) do not really care who has some kind of hair brained theory about how its "dangerous" or "bad for you" or "causes so many injuries" I love it. And the thing is this. I can love whatever I want. If you don't like it..no need to be on my planet.

This is me pretty much after every WOD!

Whew...wanted to get that out first. Just so much negativity in regards to CrossFit in my world right now and quite honestly its pissing me off! it has helped to mold me into a person I never really thought I could be. And I couldn't be happier right now. People do you- whatever it is...and I am going to do me.
 


Now onto one more thing and I will let the CrossFit thing go. The reason people get injured is because they are not smart enough to listen to their bodies. But this is true with ANY form of exercise. I can't tell you the times I have looked at a WOD and instantly become panicked. Thinking the night BEFORE how I am going to get through it. One thing I am learning. Its ok to scale. You have to pick your battles. Scalable- modifiable. that is the glory of CrossFit you don't ALWAYS have do every as prescribed. What does RXing a wod get you if end up injured because you weren't smart enough to know the only get you are getting at the end of a wod if you beat everyone is an air trophy...???

"CrossFit is for everyone. The CrossFit program is designed for universal scalability making it the perfect fitness program for any individual regardless of experience. The same routines have been used for elderly individuals with heart disease to professional cage fighters. We scale load and intensity, we do not change programs. The needs of Olympic athletes and our Grandparents differ by degree but not kind. (courtesy of CrossFit Inc.)"

#40 Jaxson McBride

 
Just want to give a big shout out to my nephews Braxton Gunther and Jaxson McBride- both are playing football for WX High School!! So proud of them both- Friday was the 2nd time Jaxson has dressed for a varsity game as a sophomore. For those of you that know anything about HS Football this is kind of a big deal. And Brax- man oh man- I wish I could on and on but I wont. This kid is SO much FUN to watch-I am going to leave it at that. I want to say good job to the refs on Friday that tried repeatedly to take this game away from WX. They did some stupid shiz that is for sure and Judge does have a good team. But they hung in there an pulled out the W anyway. So excited to see what the rest of the season holds for these guys! 

BIG FAT CONGRATS TO MY BABY BRO MATTY AND HIS WIFE SHAE. THE WELCOMED IN A NEW FAMILY MEMBER LAST WEEK Tenley has a sweet sister!! WELCOME TO PREELIE PEARL!! We couldn't be happier she is finally here. I was pulling for brown curly hair and brown eyes....seems that probably wont happen!

And just a warning...when I bring you dinner after you have had a baby (for any reason really)....this is what it will look like....I like to let you know what you are getting!

FOOD: Just going to share a few things I have been loving lately then I am done- I got super long winded and that is one sure way to lose an audience. 
Things I have been loving that are quick and easy to make-

SHAVED BRUSSEL SPROUTS! I know this kind of looks like a hot mess - but quick and simple and they reheat amazingly! I just heat a little avocado oil with garlic and maybe a little diced onion. I shave the brussel sprouts on my mandolin- while the garlic an onions are getting browned- then I add them to the hot pain TIP!!!! Take the pan OFF the heat when putting the brussel sprouts in. They will pop. I add sea salt, pepper, greek seasoning and red pepper flakes. I cook them with the lid on and let them get a little brown. 

Rotisserie chicken or pre-made (made them last Sunday) meatballs with sauteed mushrooms smothered in siracha. I used one big container of mushrooms from Costco. Sliced them then- in a wok i heated avocado oil with just a little sesame oil and garlic- threw in my mushrooms added a little coconut amino's and just a few dashes of fish sauce. 

Between the goods in my Bountiful Basket and my friends garden I had all the ingredients to throw together some salsa and guacamole. Last night i used the Sweet Kale Salad mix from Costco with ground chicken- smothered on the salsa and guacamole. It was delicious. I will use it in my eggs- put it on grilled chicken and before you know it....it will be gone!

Well that's it. A post wouldn't be a post without a picture of my Sweet Grand baby Scarlet. Go Utes!!! LOVE LOVE this pic!! She is growing up TOO fast and I love her so much I can hardly stand it!! 

SO SASSY!!!!

Hope everyone has a GREAT week. Eat Clean and if you fall off the wagon- with food or working out-get right back on. A few days WONT kill you!!! trust me...I know!!! 

Croni OUT!