Love Yourself

This is a great idea from The Clean Eating Mama.

I worked overnight at work last night and felt very discouraged when I left. It was early in the morning and I couldn't get right to sleep, so I caught up on my blog reading. This post got me in much better spirits as I thought about the things I love about myself.

I don't know if I'll have the time to journal every day, but I think it's a good idea to take some time to appreciate myself this month.

Hope you can all give yourselves the love you deserve!

Wish List Wednesday: Spring!

We are starting to get in our spring merchandise at work. I love spring, it is my favorite time of year and I looove new spring clothes!

I have been eyeing a few things at Anthropologie:








I'm a sucker for a pretty espadrille!

Stuart Weitzman:


Via Spiga:

Wish List Wednesday: Running

I started running last year and have really enjoyed racing. I decided to really challenge myself: I am going to run a half marathon in May! I started training this week (using the Runner's World Smart Coach) and I've been doing yoga on my crosstrain/rest days to stay limber.

So here are some items on my wish list for training!



I definitely need some new shoes and am looking forward to getting fitted at Run On. These are Asics.



I bought capris similar to these. I have always been self conscious about wearing really fitted pants but these were suprisingly flattering and comfortable to run in. I need some more while it's still too cool to wear shorts! These are Xersion brand from JC Penney.



Music makes running so much more enjoyable, but I really need an armband for my Zune. It is hard to find one that fits my scrawny arms, though. (I'm doing pushups!)



I might also want a pretty yoga mat! This one is by Gaiam, I have always had good luck with their products.

Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Spinach

I got this recipe from the Dallas Morning News food blog. It turned out pretty good! Next time I will slice the potatoes thinner or par-cook them. I didn't have any fresh rosemary so I used a dried Italian herb blend. I didn't have any lemon, but I will definitely use it next time. I also added a little garlic to the potato mixture.

1 ½ pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced ¼ inch thick

1 (10-ounce) bag spinach

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon salt (divided use)

½ teaspoon pepper(divided use)

4 (6-ounce) chicken breasts

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped

Lemon wedges, for serving

Preheat oven to 450 F. In a very large roasting pan, toss the potatoes, spinach and onion with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and spread in an even layer.

Wish List Wednesday!

All I want today is sleep!

I have been working overnights at work this week, so my sleep cycle is messed up. I have been getting home around 5am, going to bed about 6am and waking up earlier than I would like.

Tomorrow I am off but then Friday I go in at a normal time. I would love to sleep all day tomorrow but I think that would just throw my cycle even more out of whack.

Hope everyone is having a good Wednesday!

And the new resolutions for 2010...

1. Run the full 8 mile Turkey Trot.

2. Read 25 books.

3. Keep my bathroom cleaner.

4. Find a new strength training class.

5. Cut back on drinking.

6. Pay off my car.

7. Get gum surgery. (I have already met with a peridontist about this, yuck!)

When making New Year's resolutions, I am always reminded of a Jamie Cullum song.

Next Year,
Things are gonna change,
Gonna drink less beer
And start all over again
Gonna pull up my socks
Gonna clean my shower
Not gonna live by the clock
But get up at a decent hour
Gonna read more books
Gonna keep up with the news
Gonna learn how to cook
And spend less money on shoes
Pay my bills on time
File my mail away, everyday
Only drink the finest wine
And call my Gran every Sunday
Resolutions
Well Baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things?
The answers probably no
But if there's one thing, I must do,
Despite my greatest fears
I'm gonna say to you
How I've felt all of these years
Next Year, Next Year, Next Year
I gonna tell you, how I feel
Well, resolutions
Baby they come and go
Will I do any of these things?
The answers probably no
But if there's one thing, I must do,
Despite my greatest fears
I'm gonna say to you
How I've felt all of these years
Next Year, Next Year, Next Year

Happy 2010!

We are officially old. It's not even 10pm on New Years' Eve and Michael is sleeping on the couch, we already played Scrabble and I have a cat curled up in my lap.

Last year's resolutions:

1. Relearn French - Fail.

2. Try new recipes - I did okay this year. I found good recipes for falafel, herbed chicken parmesan tenders and butternut squash lasagna, all of which were good enough to go into our regular dinner rotation.

3. Run 12 miles a week.- I was not good about keeping track of my mileage, so I really don't know if I ever hit this milestone. I did run 4 5K races this year, so I think I did pretty well. My best time was 29:37.

4. Read 25 books - I barely did this! Here are the books I read:
1. I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence
2. The Ecco Anthology of Contemporary American Short Fiction
3. The Audacity of Hope
4. The Omnivore's Dilemma
5. The Reader
6. Musicolphilia: Tales of Music and the Brain
7. Bel Canto
8. In A Sunburned Country
9. Unaccustomed Earth
10. Julie and Julia
11. My Life In France
12. Middlesex (this was a re-read)
13. Eat This, Not That
14. The Namesake (another re-read)
15. Wicked
16. Lies My Teacher Told Me
17. Outlander
18. Born To Run
19. Naked (re-read)
20. The Diversity Culture (I didn't finish this, so I don't really know if I should count this one)
21. Made In America
22. The BestAmerican Short Stories
23. In Defense of Food
24. Holidays On Ice (re-read, a favorite for the Christmas season!)
25. Broken Music
26. And I am currently reading STP: A Journey Through America with the Rolling Stones

I hope everyone has had a safe and happy New Years Eve!