Menu Planning...What's For Dinner?

Today I'm linking up with Jill from Fitness, Health, and Happiness and Laura from Mommy, Run Faster starting this week.  With all the craziness of life (not just the fact that we're adding another member to the family but just the working mom part) I can not get through my week smoothly if I don't plan out meals ahead of time.  It helps keep healthy meals on our table as well as keeps my grocery bill in check.  I go in with a plan and don't come out with a lot of extras...especially if I go alone!

This challenge will last from today, September 30 until October 31. Every Sunday morning Mommy Run Fast and Fitness, Health and Happiness, will share their meal plans for the week, including recipe links and/or a new recipe. This challenge comes at a great time to make sure I am doing that even with a new little one around! 

Here is what the week is looking like in Fancy Nancy Land!! (I've included recipe links where I can)

Breakfast (Monday-Saturday) 

Green Monster Protein Smoothie (quick and easy and I can drink it while I drive to work)

Lunch (Monday-Friday)  

Rachel Ray Italian Chicken Noodle Soup...I make a big pot of it on Sunday and have it for the week....so yummy!!

Dinners

Monday: Man-Pleasing Chicken with roasted asparagus
Tuesday: Taco Salads (with ground chicken and guac)
Wednesday: Chicken and broccoli in the crock pot (It's swim lesson day so I try to use the crock pot each Wednesday so dinner is done when we get home!)
Thursday: out...we go to my in laws each Thursday for dinner
Friday: Leftovers...I know very exciting!!  I always feel like I need at least one day for this to clear out the fridge!
Saturday: Make your own pizza night....the hubs is working a body building show so Em and I have a date day.  I wanted to have a special day with just her and I before the baby comes...park, manis, her favorite food, and a movie!

What's for dinner at your house this week???

Any great recipes you've tried out lately?

#Fitness Friday...Emotional Exerciser

First thank you all so much for your support from my last post!  I am always touched by the support this community gives!! 

This morning I was reading Ali Mc post on Running with Spatulas from yesterday and she mentioned that she exercises less when she is feeling down.  This got me thinking about myself and my habits with exercise.  Now we have all heard of emotional eating...

 ...but could there also be emotional exercising?

Much of what we all talk about and researchers show are the many emotional benefits of being healthy and exercising.  We all know how a good run or workout can put us into a better mood.  As a matter of fact the other day when I got home from the doctor, all I wanted to do was go for a run...to hit the pavement so hard that my stress would come out and stay there (I did head to Fancy Nancy's Gym-still looking for a good name-and hit the treadmill for a bit until I didn't want to scream).   I have always tried to be mindful of when I was eating/craving junk food and whether or not it was tied to how I was feeling.  I've worked hard to not eat just because I was sad/stressed, but I've never looked at my exercise patterns.  I would like to think that I am a "I'm stressed so I'll go for a run" type of girl.  The stressful times in my life looking back have gone hand and hand with the highest mileage months to date, but what about you? 

Do you turn to workouts when you are stressed or feeling down or do you tend to stay away from the sweat fest when you're blue?

Three Things Thursday

It certainly has been a while since I have put on my random hat on a Thursday and brought to you three randoms but here you go!!

1.  I'm sorry...WHAT?...I'm leading with this one since it is the most on my mind.  I am going to attempt to not sound like I'm whining but it is weighing heavy on my heart.  During my doctor's appointment this week (mind you I have seen my doctor only 1 time in 9 months...like I'm pretty sure he could never pick me out of a line up) I asked the nurse practitioner about writing me a letter to say I can't go back to work for a certain period of time due to my c-section (We are allowed 12 weeks as teachers but they are 12 UNPAID weeks.  The letter would allow me to get paid and thus be able to take the time).  Her response was 6 weeks....6 weeks...1 1/2 months and then I hand over my daughter to someone else for 6 hours a day and I go back to teaching.  To say the thought of this is devastating to me would be a HUGE understatement.  I am so thankful for my job and being able to help provide for my family but this news just hit me so hard....that and the lack of compassion from the nurse.  She kept saying, "But you get 12 weeks right?"  She stopped saying this after I said to her, "Yes but you give me your paycheck for 6 weeks and let me know how easy it is to pay your bills".  I still don't know what to do about this but like I said it is weighing on my heart and thought I would share. 

2.  Family 5k...This week hubs started talking about setting another goal for himself and getting back to doing more cardio....and then it happened...he suggested we run a 5k together!  It was during dinner so I tried to keep my happy dancing (like picture Gangnam style) tucked deep inside but I was psyched!!!  I'm sure I had some smart comment like, "Oh sure now you want to run with me...now that you'll probably beat me!" but really I couldn't be more excited!! 

3.  Throwing in the towel...Yesterday as I was driving Em to swimming (she has by the way turned into a fish...watch out Michael Phelps someone is gunning for your record!), I had a thought pass through my head.  What if I just threw in the towel and just ate whatever I wanted....if I craved it I would eat it and not care about how healthy it was.  Then I remembered how awful I feel when I do just that.  Pregnancy brings cravings but along with that are the ramifications for giving into those cravings...like swollen feet and hands (so sexy I promise) or heartburn that feels like you may be able to take a side job as a fire breathing dragon!  Yeah needless to say it was a fleeting thought and I won't be spending the last 1 1/2 weeks gorging on all my cravings!!

Have something random running through your life right now or something exciting coming?

  Share away!!!

"Almost" Wordless Wednesday

This is my view lately!!  

Less than 2 weeks to go!

Two Days of #ZOOMA Fun!

What's better than an a great race with tons of awesome swag?

When it turns into a two-day event!!

Day one was an appearance by none other than Sarah and Dimity from Another Mother Runner who have written the awesome "Run Like a Mother" and "Train Like a Mother".

I was beyond excited to meet Sarah and then Dimity the next day!  LOVE these ladies!!!

Following that was a great expo complete with shopping booths by Skirt Sports, Bani Bands (who will soon be available at Dicks Sporting Goods), and Sarah and Dimity.  The night finished with a "mocktail" hour sponsored by Hint water overlooking the ocean at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel.  It was a gorgeous sunset....pardon the blurry picture

and a beautiful night just relaxing with friends, fellow ambassadors, and the ZOOMA ladies Brooke, Brae, and Tricia!  I had met many of them before but it was great to meet Felice and Tricia.  I have been reading Tricia's blog for YEARS and it was awesome to talk with her in real life!!  Time sailed and we headed home to rest up for the next day's race!

I drove with my sister Amy to the race and my friend Marissa followed us there.  They were both super nervous since this was their first 10k race.  I knew they would rock it but they just needed to believe it!  Arriving at the Sea Crest, which was both the starting and finish line, was awesome!  Such a fun and exciting atmosphere and VERY well organized!  I heard from so many runners after about how well organized and fun they thought the whole race was.  New England runners tend to be a little finicky (we're actually pretty finicky about a lot of things) so the ZOOMA crew should consider this a huge compliment!  I dropped the ladies at the starting line and headed to our ZOOMA Ambassador surprise aide station!!

Since I wasn't running I thought it would be super fun to work the aide station with Ryan, Bethany a fellow ambassador's hubby and amazing distance runner.  What a great surprise to have so many Falmouth High School athletes there to help out!

The race was so fun to watch and I have to admit that I got chocked up more than I would normally admit!  I just love cheering people on!

My friend Marissa did great....

and so did my sister Amy

who ran the distance faster than she has ever run it!!!  I seriously couldn't be more proud of her!!!

After heading back and finding my sister again at the finish, we headed to the finish line expo...it was awesome!!!  Tons of vendors, a live band, great food, and massages on the beach!!  It was awesome!!  Overall I have to say I was seriously impressed with the whole ZOOMA event start to finish...not to say that I am surprised having worked with these ladies!  So much fun!!!  I can't wait to join in on the fun next year!

Weren't able to run ZOOMA Cape Cod?  Well check out their website for all their locations.  The two events coming up are Great Lakes and Florida (which could be a fabulous birthday present for me!!).  Be sure to check out the ZOOMA blog for more recaps!

Monday Motivation

I don't even know where to begin to say how inspiring it was to watch all the ladies running the ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon and 10k this Saturday!!  Just so many digging deep and rising to the challenge!  My sister rocked it and finished her first 10k 15 minutes faster than she had ever run it!  I'm so proud of her!!! 
One thing about ZOOMA races is that they have amazing signs along the routes that have inspiring quotes.  After talking with a few friends after the half marathon, one of them mentioned seeing this sign,

and how it inspired her to finish what she had started!  How many of us have reached the end of our rope?  Injury getting in your way...weight not coming off as fast as you thought...training not as easy as it should be...looking at giving up?

Well....

TIE A KNOT!  HANG ON!!  YOU'RE JOURNEY IS NOT OVER!!!

#ZOOMA Cape Cod

Today is the big day!!!!  Today is ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon and 10k!!!!  I am so excited to be a part of this event and I am beyond proud of all the ladies there today!!  Good luck to everyone and I'll be sure to have a recap this coming week!!!

Last night we were here for the mocktail hour and I can't wait to gush all the details!!!  Such a great weekend celebrating strength!!!  If you want a scoop on the action during the race and after party be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @lilfancynancy!!!