Delicious and nutritious...

After my vacation, where I enjoyed lots of "kid snacks" like kettle corn, snocones, chex mix, burgers and cookies (nbd) - I was anxious to get back in the kitchen and prepare some tasty, good-for-me meals.

My parents used to try to FORCE me to learn to cook... I totally rebelled.

Now, I love it!

And boy did I! This week I've been cooking up some yum-gasmic eats that are packed with the stuff my body needs to stay energized and strong, while being magically delicious. I get lots of ideas and recipes from my old standbys Self and SHAPE magazine, but I recently started reading a really great blog Fitnessista that has lots of new meals (and vegan/gluten-free options if that's your deal. It's not mine. I love MEAT and GRAINS).

One night, after getting from the gym a little later than usual and hungry for a quick meal, I made a little pico/guac/pineapple/shrimp cocktail that was fan-freakin-tastic. I just got a deli-fresh package of pico de gallo (medium spicy for me), an avocado, some fresh pineapple chucks and a bag of frozen shrimp. Defrost and boil the little shrimpies (takes, 4 or 5 minutes) and mix it all up! I ate mine with some tortilla chips with flax seeds = devine. Light, satisfying and oh-so-summery.

Sorry for my crappy photos. I'm just not a photographer. Period.

Last night, I made the massaged kale salad via Fitnessista. I adjusted her recipe just a little since I'm out of soy sauce (I used hoisin sauce) and I don't know what "agave" is. I also left it in the fridge for a couple hours while I went to happy hour with some friends, but it was perfection when I got home. So good I wasn't even jealous of Tiffany's Crunchwrap Supreme, haha!

This morning, I enjoyed another Fitnessista favorite, the breakfast cookie. I made it last night before heading to bed, so it was ready to go when I got back from my morning run. I can't believe this thing is good for you, it's so indulgent and sweet. It really tastes like a cookie! I had some eggs and salsa with it as well.

Source: Fitnessista

Needless to say, I've been eating good in the neighborhood and feeling awesome. It really is true that your body feels better when you treat it well and fuel it right.

Any other great recipes that are quick, easy -- and good for a few days of leftovers? I live by myself... mama's gotta keep the leftovers ;)

XOXO

jam

New look.

It seems I'm redecorating alot of things these days: my house, my hair, now my blog.

It just felt like a good time to simplify, brighten, and change.

Me likes.

XOXO
jam

Recap: 4th of July Weekend

I love 4th of July! It's the epitome of summer: sun, fun, friends, grills... basically all my favorite things.

Oh yeah, and the celebration of America's independence. Which I also love.

(However, I wish more of those Brits had settled here or would come over... who doesn't love a British accent?!)

This year I had an especially fantastic Fourth, because I spent it with my family in Florida. (Wow, there is some serious alliteration happening in that sentence). My brothers Chad and Conor make everything more exciting, and this weekend was no exception.

Tiff and I spent 5 days in Panama City Beach, but our July 4th was spent canoeing the Econfina Creek - which is home to like a bajillion natural springs. Which makes it a very COLD creek. And very clear. And very beautiful.

Launching our canoes

I have beast arms now from rowing all 3 or 4 miles of it. I like to call them "souvenirs".

Parentals

 

The canoe of "kids"

Loading up onto the scariest bus ever after the canoe trip

Zonked out. Completely.

Sadly, Conor couldn't come with us, because we were afraid of how natural springs + cold, cold water + canoes + shenanigans would end for the little guy. After our adventures, though, we rushed home to him - and not MORE importantly, but also importantly, to fire up the grill.

After some delish burgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans and WATERMELON (I love watermelon), we headed to the beach to watch the fireworks. There are lots of places that had "official" fireworks, but we went the "unofficial, more variety/danger/fun/ease, less crowded" route and watched all the people who spent their kids' college savings on fireworks light up the sky. They were right above our heads! Which was truly patriotic when they exploded too close to the ground. Really conjured up the experience of being a revolutionary. I've never felt more American.

One of my favorite American girls.

Celebrating the 4th on the beach.

Started building sand castles. Then switched to building bomb shelters.

The whole crew. 

P.S. - my dad is an active duty service member. USAF. I'm so proud of him and so thankful for his commitment to our country. Love you, SMSgt McCann!

Anyway, more to come on the full weekend spent in paradise with my lovely family. For my USA friends, I hope you had a great, safe, holiday and took a moment to remember the historical significance and very current responsibilities of FREEDOM!

God bless the USA.

XOXO,
jam

More loot in my loft…

This weekend I went home to my mom and stepdad’s house, and while I was there, I wanted to find a box in the storage shed of books Tiffany and I had. My brother Chad is about the age to enjoy them, so I wanted to bring them to him when we visit in July.

Sadly, I couldn’t find that box ANYWHERE. Boohoo.

But I found lots of other cool junk.

Among my haul, I brought home:

• The cutest little round suitcase. Bittersweet fact: it still had its last checked bag tag on it, from Frankfurt, Germany to Chicago, Illinois. It helped us move when my parent divorced. I think I should take it with me on a FUN trip to boost its karma.

• These two bear piggy banks. One was mine, one was Tiffany’s. They are SO DORKY, but I love them. Mine had a parrot on its shoulder, Tiffany’s has an owl.

• I also found my porcelain dolls from my great-grandma McCann. I brought them inside and repacked them safely and spent some time thinking about what a special lady she was. I can’t wait to pass those dolls on to my own little girl someday.

• But… the MOST entertaining thing I found was some old books from the 1960s. 

I bought one at a library sale, but most were my stepdad’s. My book is called Here’s to you, Miss Teen and is chock-full of etiquette and “finishing” advice for young women. It’s hilarious. My favorite is the section on selecting undergarments, especially “For those with ample bosoms” – HAHA.

And the winner is: a how-to book on parenting from 1967. This book would be OUTLAWED today by how politically incorrect it is.

I seriously cracked up, out loud, by myself when I saw this little pic:

The caption? “Silliness is usually just a phase.”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

And whatever. Silliness is a way of life.

Memory lane was fun! And I urge you to salvage things and keep them safe for years to come. What seems like junk now, you might one day treasure. And your kids will definitely treasure those little tokens of your past.

(I need more shelf space).

XOXO

jam

Happy Monday... I mean Tuesday!

I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend! I sure did. Minus the air conditioner on the fritz. I felt like I was melting, m-e-l-t-i-n-g.....

But Tiffany was a gem and let me and Bandit stay over. It was fun; like visiting/living together/old times.

Speaking of Bandit, I miss the guy. After almost 4 days of hanging out, I'm going through withdrawals today at work.

Edited via Instagram

Gah, I just love his little dog face. 

Have a great (short) week!

XOXO

jam

Cook once, eat for days...

Last week, I made the BEST quinoa I've ever had. And I've had alot of quinoa... but this was really good. And I made enough on Sunday night that I had quinoa with my tilapia, with my turkey salad, and my fajitas (from Tiffany) all week!

Source: With Style and Grace

Here is the recipe: Mushroom and Walnut Quinoa. And as a side note, I used almonds - because that's what I had. And yes, I tried it with the fried egg and THAT was delicious too. Basically, I think you could eat this mushroom quinoa with anything, every day, always. It's love.

Source

Oh - and if you've never had quinoa (pronounced "keen-wah"), try it for heck's sake! Quinoa is kind of like a grain; technically it's a psuedocereal. My favorite part of quinoa is that when you cook it, the germ separates from the seed and it looks like a little curly-que on the seed! Dorky, I know. You can treat quinoa like rice... it's prepared much the same way, and pairs with lots of things well just like rice is. I've never tried to sweeten quinoa like a cereal, but it might be worth a shot too. 

Happy eating, friends.

XOXO

jam

Daily Photo: Working Girl

Before starting this post, I thought for a long time about what I wanted to write about how I feel right now. And the truth is, I don't know what to say. I feel... jumbled. The last week has been an emotional rollercoaster in so many ways - and I plan on talking more about what's been going on when I figure out how to. But for right now, the only thing that really helps is focusing on work. I've got some important meetings lined up and some goals to reach before the end of June, so that's where I'm spending my energy right now.

Taken with Instagram

For those who have been around and offered condolences and/or a sympathetic ear - thank you. Your love and support has really made a difference.

XOXO

jam