Just Do It . . .

So, the rest day is over and it was back to the business of getting in shape today. After being disappointed about the rest day on Monday, I was surprised again today to find myself dragging my feet. I found I had a little hesitation when it came time to press the play button for my workout today. The couch and my new Parents magazine was definitely calling my name. But I ignored their Siren Call and soldiered on anyway. Just Do It! was the motto of the moment. Chalean always says to give her five minutes and she will get you on your feet. She is right! Once I started working out I really got into it and turned a deaf ear on the beckonings of my laziness.

I am really learning that if I push myself hard for 40 minutes then I feel successful in my workout and I don't have the nagging feeling that I could have worked harder, that I could have done better. It is totally prefereable to really feel like I put my all into it.

The torrential downpour has continued, so I haven't ventured out to run at all this week. Yes, it is probably just another excuse (funny how I haven't learned to expand the lesson from Chalean to the rest of my life, huh?), but I am going to go with it until it quits.

Yesterday night I made Potato Bacon Chowder. It was really good and the only thing that I think I would change next time I make this soup is to cook the potatoes for a little less time. It has a milk base (I used half milk, half soy milk), and it also has red potatoes, a parsnip, an onion, bacon, and spinach. Really yummy and really easy. Definitely a keeper!

Tonight I am making BBQ Pork with sweet potatoes and pineapple. I love this recipe, but haven't made it for a while. In a 9 x 13 pan put a pork loin in the oven under the broiler. Leave it there for about 10-12 minutes, then flip and cook for another 10-12 minutes. In the meantime cut up the sweet potato into bite-size chunks then combine them with a can of pineapple chunks. Put a little olive oil on these and then add a bit of salt and pepper. When the timer goes off on the pork loin, flip it and add the potato and pineapple to the pan and broil for 7 minutes, flip one last time and stir the sweet potato and pineapple and cook for a final 7 minutes. The internal temp of the meat should be about 160 and dinner is ready. Serve with your favorite BBQ sauce.

Yesterday I received a piece of spice cake with homemade carmel frosting in the mail from my mom. I think this was one of the best birthday gifts, which is saying a lot because I ended up with a terrific haul this year! This particular cake just tastes like "Birthday" to me, you know what I mean. For me a birthday isn't a birthday without the family singing our usual medley of birthday songs and a piece of this yum-tastic cake. I even ate a little for breakfast this morning and I have to say it was a great start to the day! Thanks Mom!