CLEAN Eating Con't

So since my original post, I have made a few more recipes.

Here are my favorites:

Slow Cooker CLEAN Chili (recipe in previous post)

Cilantro Lime Chicken Freezer to Crock Pot Meal (recipe in previous post)

Rosemary Balsamic Crock Pot Chicken (recipe in previous post)

That's as far as I've gotten so far. Ever since I started eating clean, I have noticed an increase in energy and my body feels better. My mind is clear and sharp and I feel like I can get through my day without extra cups of coffee. Workouts feel great and they are being supplemented with the best of foods.

I recently had lunch with a good friend and we talked about clean eating, the basics, what it means, how it works. I hope that I have inspired her to start eating clean, or at least experiment with it. :-) (Love you, Ashley!)

Keep you posted!

Til next time!

xoxo,
Amy

CLEAN Eating

Joey and I just moved from the city to the burbs. For the first few weeks we lived here, we basically ordered pizza from the amazing place down the street. Long story short, we were eating like shit. Together we decided to start eating healthier. It started with taking vitamins and supplements and when I mentioned the idea of clean eating, he was all for it, to my surprise.

So here's my next new blogfest . . . CLEAN eating. Keep checking back for links to recipes I have found amazingly delicious and clean. 

Some Ideas to Start Planning:

1. http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating-bbq-pork-stew/

2. http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/recipes/dinner-tonight/chicken-rioja-with-garlicky-spinach/

3. http://freezeyourwayfit.blogspot.com/2011/02/portobello-mushroom-ragu.html

4. http://freezeyourwayfit.blogspot.jp/2012/10/clean-eating-brown-rice-risotto-with.html

5. How to Freeze: http://freezeyourwayfit.blogspot.com/2011/02/unleashing-power-of-your-freezer.html

6. http://freezeyourwayfit.blogspot.com/2011/02/rosemary-balsamic-glazed-chicken-with.html

7. http://freezeyourwayfit.blogspot.com/2011/02/clean-eating-peach-almond-crumble.html

8. http://ashleynoelbarnes.blogspot.com/2013/05/10-freezer-to-crockpot-meals.html

So far I have made # 3, 4, 6, 8. My favorite is by far #6. The taste is great, the only thing I would do is add the zuchinni about an hour before it's done. Sitting in the crockpot for that long made them mushy. 

#3 is good, but could use more vegetables. I thinking broccoli, asparagus, carrots . . . keep you updated

#4 is also good, but I need more flavor . . . maybe add a little more cheese

#8 . . . meals are in the freezer, going to make them this week . . . keep you posted.

AND FOR MY FAVORITE CLEAN EATING RECIPE THUS FAR: Slow Cooker Chili

http://www.eatcleandiet.com/the_kitchen_table/recipe/recipe.aspx?id=768

The best flavor ever! This was my first time making chili and I nailed it thanks to this recipe. I also added a bag of dice butternut squash and I would recommend adding some potatoes or sweet potatoes too! 

#foodie #eatclean #thiswastoomuchfun

BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal!)

It's been a week since I embarked on my self-imposed Lululemon Challenge (aka Amy Saves Money). The BHAG: I will wear every piece of Lululemon I own before I purchase a new piece of Lululemon (with the exception of ONE Power Y Tank!).

Why would anyone do such a thing?! Because I single-handedly get our store to goal . . . just kidding . . . but not really! ;-) I have a huge spending problem at Lululemon. Yes, the product is great and made for quality assurance, but there's a such thing as having too much Lululemon and I've hit that point. Any of my co-workers, family members and friends can and will attest to my Lululemon addiction. My guess is that my current Lululemon wardrobe will last me at least two months. Who knows how much I will save (or put towards my debt!)!

I'm going to continue to blog about this challenge and I will say that I almost failed last week twice when the Fluffin' Awesome Vest came in, along with the Dance Studio Jacket . . . but I didn't! I was strong-willed. Almost failed today when I saw the Right As Rain Jacket, but then decided that I already have a rain jacket I barely wear. Going strong . . . sort of . . .

Here are the pieces I've worn last week:

Wunder Under Crops (SYBL)
Blissed Out Dress (GRNI/WHT)
Universal Wrap (HBLK)
Ebb and Flow Racerback (BLK)
Swiftly Headband (SYBL)
Free to Be Bra (SYBL)
Speedy Runsie (SYBL)
Swiftly Racerbacks (PKLI, VRGR, BLEC)
Groovy Run Shorts (GRNI/WHT)
Speed Shorts (SEMU/ANGW/PLUW, ZIGR, )
Boogie Shorts (color code is so old I don't even remember it)
Cool Racerback *Mod Waves (RAGL/BLK)
In the Flow Crops (VRGR)
Calm SS (blue and white stripes)
Voyage Pullover (NIMB)
Track Attack Shorts (BLK)
Cool Racerback (PKLI)
Straight to Studio Crop (DUNE)

And that's just week one. Stay tuned for more! There's sure to be some crazy outfits coming soon!

Growth. Time. Truth. Closure.

So it's been a while. I somewhat forgot I had a blog. Oopsies!!

A lot has happened. Most for the better, with some rough patches in between. But that's a different blog for a different time.

I've posted a lot about this guy named Grant. Yes, that one. The guy that broke my heart in ways I didn't even know it could be broken. The guy I never thought I'd be over.

A few months back, he still got to me. I found myself looking at his what I thought girlfriend's Facebook page and also trying to look at his. I thought he had deleted and blocked me from Facebook. Come to find out, he went AWOL and just decided to get rid of Facebook. 

It wasn't until I met the most amazing man ever that I began to heal from what Grant did to me. Joey is the man I will spend the rest of my life with, the man I will raise a family with, and the man I will grow old with. He is the man who treats me better than I deserve and shows me what true love really is. And I would not do anything to hurt him, ever.

I believe that time heals all wounds, especially those you thought would never heal.

While I was going through a personal rough patch and getting ready to head back to Ann Arbor, I received a Facebook message from non other than Grant. It simply stated that if I was ever back in Ann Arbor and wanted to stunt, to get a hold of him. At first glance, I was furious that he would have the nerve to even contact me. Joey was furious and of course, wanted to handle the situation.

I went back to Ann Arbor that weekend with no intention of contacting Grant. I felt that he was out of my life for a year and during that year, I was perfectly capable living without him, without knowing how he was doing . . . hell, I was even happy . . .and I found Joey. I had finally stopped caring and started truly healing, and he went and did it again, made all those icky feelings come up.

It wasn't until I was sitting at my parents house in silence that I decided I needed to do something for me. I text Grant and asked if he'd be interested in getting a drink. Much to the dismay of Joey and my good friends, I decided that something needed to be done face to face. Grant never did me the respectable thing when he chose not to tell me he had started dating Katie, nor did she might I add. I didn't want to do that. Not that I owed Grant a damn thing, but I wanted to rise above and just be respectful.

So I met him for a drink. Not even five minutes into the conversation, I had said to him, "So I need to ask you a favor. We've spent the last year apart from one another, not being in contact, and I think it's really unfair of you to just pop back into my life like no time has passed. I've been happy not thinking about you and not knowing what you're up to. After tonight, I need to ask you to not talk to me. No texts, no Facebook messages, no contact whatsoever. I have met the man of my dreams, and I'm going to marry him, start a family with him, and grow old with him. And I refuse to let you ruin that. So if you have ever cared about me, and out of respect for me, I need you to leave me alone after tonight."

He was silent. Then he said that it's been a year since we have talked and since we have gone that long without talking, then we could just continue not talking. 

After that was all said and done, I felt like I accomplished something. I didn't even know I had it in me to tell him all that. I kept looking at him thinking, "Why was I ever attracted to you? You were such a dick to me!" Felt like that was a good sign. 

Since I was drunk after a couple ciders, we decided to talk a walk around campus. We did a stunt in the diag for old time's sake and just wandered. It had been a while since I've been on campus and I wanted to soak it all in and sober up before driving 45 minutes back to my parents. We walked about four feet apart at all times, until Grant thought it would be a smart idea to pull me in and try to kiss me. I fought against it and ended up slapping him in the face for trying. The slap woke him up and I told him not to think about trying to do it again. And asked what the hell he was thinking. He just said he had the urge to kiss me.

I gotta say that it's so nice to be wanted after being a second choice for a year. Not that I agree with his choice to kiss me, because I don't, but it's nice to know that you're wanted, especially after you weren't for so long. Too little, too late. 

It was nice to catch up with Grant and to know that he is doing well. And to let it all out. To be honest, to have some closure on a situation that wained for way too long. Just to make sure my point was made, I sent Grant a text message that said:

       "Thanks for the closure, Grant. We were more honest with each other than we've ever been. Time to go our separate ways. I wish you the best of luck with everything you do and truly hope you fall madly in love with someone who is more madly in love with you than I was. If you see me in Ann Arbor, act as if you have no idea who I am. A part of me is always going to care about you in some weird fucked up way, but I can't let you be a part of my life that I've done so well building without you in it. I hope you can respect and honor my wishes. Goodbye."

Time heals all wounds. Time allows you to grow, to see the truth and speak your truth, to have closure, and most of all, time allows you to move onto something better.  

Open Close Open

Sometimes the very thing that opens you up completely closes you back up . . . and then starts to open you back up again.

I recently posted about how I met the most amazing man I have ever met in my life. How he restored my faith in men and opened me back up to the idea of dating after three prior horrific dating experiences. This man took my standards to an even higher level, a level that I'm not sure anyone else will ever meet or exceed.

I should probably say that this guy broke my heart as well. Not intentionally, but unintentionally, if that makes it any better. I cried, then dealt with the situation as maturely as humanly possible. We are still friends and plan to meet up next week for lunch or coffee.

So what had originally opened me totally closed me off. Shit happens, people break your heart and let you down. Is that really an excuse to close yourself off? I think not . . . but I didn't realize it until I had dinner with a good friend last night.

We were sitting there catching up and I was talking about how I doubt I'd ever get married. My good friend is one of the sweetest people in the world. He just says to me, "Amy, you're gonna find someone, trust me."

I started to tell him about Nate and how I didn't think that there was anyone in the world as good as him and that my standards were almost at an unattainable high. He continued to say that there was someone out there for me. Someone that would treat me better. That it may not seem like it now, but there will be someone, and it will happen when I least expect it.

Well, that's what happened with Nate. He came into my life at a time when I wasn't wanting to date anyone or let anyone new in. When I least expected it.

Not that I'm expecting it now. Let's be honest, I am completely happy and content being single. I'm pretty much just too selfish and career oriented to think about another human being in my life. That sounds totally terrible. What I mean is that I am too busy and don't really want to think about having all the responsibility that comes with being in a relationship. Yeah, that sounds a little less bitchy.

So, it was a bit ironic that even though Nate had opened me up to the idea that nice guys still existed, and then he closed me off to that idea, for some reason, it all just got opened back up again. He ultimately did the opposite of what he originally did. But then I realized that it was just stupid for me to close myself back off again. Even if I don't want a relationship, how many amazing people am I missing out on because I'm too closed off to give them a chance. A chance to tell me their story, a chance to create a life that is shared, even if it's a friendship.

Honestly,  I was just scared to let myself fall for someone again like I did Nate. I usually don't fall for someone very easily, but with him, I did. And I am scared that I'll never meet anyone as chivalrous as he is. But closing off doesn't help that fear, it actually makes it worse.

So why not just open up and see what flows in and out of my heart?

You Only Have ONE Life

For whatever reason, I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately. I'm not sure if it's that I just went to an amazing yoga conference or that I've had some eye opening experiences, but it's been a very reflective time. 


I had an epiphany the other day when a friend of mine said, "I wish I had your life!" My initial response was, "No, no you don't." Then I took a second to think about it. I do have a pretty awesome life. I don't have a 9-5 job, which totally doesn't suit me at all. Instead, I have a job where the things I say could make people's day, or at least make them think and I have the ability to maybe make a difference, and to hand people their own asses on a yoga mat. This job doesn't even feel like work because it's really all play. Just when I think that I don't want to go to work, I start teaching, and I'm so grateful to be there. Outside of work, I have the greatest and most amazing friends and family in the world. A person couldn't ask for anything more than I have. 


So here's to YOU! This is a BIG THANK YOU for being such an important part of my life. And here's why:


Mom - You are my inspiration! You have such a kind and compassionate heart, always thinking of others before yourself. And you are at least twice my age and in better shape than me! I hope I have that kind of energy when I get to your age. 


Blake - The love of my life. Teaching me to live in the moment, forgive quickly, love much, and be happy. 


Nina, Amber, Trina, Julia, Yuliya - For always being there and helping me get through it all. The good, bad, and in between. (Julia - also the best person to have a glade of red wine with!)


Hamid - Hehehe, thanks for showing me how to really live, I mean really live life. To it's fullest potential, each and every moment, let loose and enjoy life. There is never a boring time when you're around!


Kelli - The best yoga teacher ever, seriously! Thanks for teaching me to be fearless and to not take life so seriously.


Jonny - For teaching me that vulnerability can be a good thing, a strength, not a weakness.


Jane - Always kind words, empowering words to inspire and help me make it through the tough times. 


Mike - Hahahahaha, the best person to have any type of conversation with, whether it's sex, the downright nerdy stuff, or nutrition. :-)


Juliana - For showing me that I am too smart to fail, no matter where I am at. 


Grant - For teaching me that a broken heart can be a blessing in disguise. That sometimes, you can transform anger and bitterness into compassion. That forgiveness is the ultimate gift to let go of someone and set yourself free. 


Umpai - Best big sister ever, constantly pushing me to be a better version of who I already am. 


Leslie - Best uncle ever to Blake. Also - best person to cook with (yummy yogurt!). And the guy I always go to about the latest Apple news.


Martyn - Thank you for teaching me that the ability to forgive is essential to human existence.


Chet - For always being there and being honest, all the time. 


Nate - For showing me that being different is beautiful. For teaching me that I deserve nothing less than the best. 


And to all my wonderful and amazing students (Melissa, Gavi, Ophra, Natasha) - thank you for constantly teaching me about life and inspiring me through your practice. 


Namaste,
Amy 

An Honest Confession

I spent a year as your backup, your second choice, the girl that you settled for because you couldn't have the one you really wanted. And the entire time all I thought, "I'm not good enough." But it all reality, it was just that you were simply not good enough for me. 


I am so so sorry that she broke your heart, especially since you spend 8 months with me while really just chasing after her. I'm sure that you had 8 wonderful months with her and it was everything that you ever dreamed of, so I am truly sorry that you got your heart broken this time. 


But here's my confession: while I have an incredibly compassionate heart and feel for your heartbreak, it's really sickening to watch you continue to chase after something that clearly doesn't want you. You're chasing her like a lost little puppy dog, like I used to chase you. Is she really worth it? If you can answer that question honestly without any bias and the answer is "yes", then continue chasing. But if there's the slight chance that there's someone else out there who might love you more and appreciate you more and won't make you chase and won't get bored with you after 8 months, then it's time to let go of her and see what else is out there. I shouldn't be passing judgment, so we will call this an "observation". And as someone who is your friend, this is what I see. 


Now don't get me wrong, yes I fell in love with you (looking back now, it was really some type of fucked up kind of falling in love with you) and I'm definitely NOT saying that I'm the better version of her, because I'm not. I'm not any better or any worse than she is. Actually, if you ever did decide to come running back to me, I could never be with you. Not after her. Yeah, you might treat me well, but you would never really treat me as well as I deserve to be treated. And when I met you, I had no standards, no offense. Thanks to a very special someone, my standards are now higher than ever, and to be blunt, you just don't meet those standards. But I think that there is someone out there who will love you more, treat you better, and want to be with you more, and who will actually deserve you.