Pulled Pork & Coleslaw

Pulled Pork
Pork Tenderloin Roast
BBQ Sauce (We love Sweet Baby Rays)

Directions

Put Roast in crock-pot with a little bit of chicken broth or water. Cook on any setting. I prefer the high setting because now that I am home I only need 4 hours but if you go to work you might need to do the low 8-10 hour setting. Drain liquid and fat off and add barbecue sauce. Let cook an additional 30-60 minutes. Shred. You can eat this plain or you can put it on yummy rolls for a pulled pork sandwich. I am trying to avoid the rolls right now but Travis's looked delicious!

Coleslaw
1 small head Cabbage
1-2 grated Carrots
1/2 finely chopped Red Bell Pepper
1/2 C Mayonaise (I used light)
3 TBSP Sugar (I used Splenda)
3 TBSP White Vinegar (I used rice vinegar)
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Dry mustard
1/2 tsp Celery Seed

Directions

Mix all the ingredients together and refrigerate at least one hour. You might play around with the mayo, sugar, vinegar mixture depending on if you like it more sweet or more tart. I had a recipe that was much larger and just reduced it down. Didn't take exact measurements but that should be close.

Overwhelmed

I have kind of been cheating the last few days. I have been very overwhelmed. The entire month of March has went by way to fast. Several things have made March a busy month. I have had several CPR classes which I am thrilled about but I have been busy. It was Reese's first birthday and of course we had a party, friends from out of town, a close friend's housewarming party, 2 other kid birthday parties. Then, I thru a Wii dance party, then there was my trip to Chicago, and there is still lots going on. I got home from Chicago on Thursday night and taught a CPR class Friday morning, went to Weekend Warrior on Saturday morning. Sunday I just tried to recover and do more laundry and chores. This week I had my BodPod appt Monday, CPR last night, I've scheduled a play date and my house tomorrow with the Maryville Moms group and I have a baby shower here on Saturday morning. Now....if you are involved in these upcoming activities, I don't want you to think that I don't want to do these things. Anyone that knows me knows I love a good party but sometimes it is just hard to get it all done. I don't know how I ever worked.

So this month has been nuts!! Those of you with more than 2 kids....I applaud you! I don't know how you do it. It is really hard to try and clean house, do laundry, plan parties, pack for trips, etc when I'm at home with the kids. I love them so much but I feel like you have to choose "clean or play"? I usually try to play! I like a clean home but my kids and the time I spend with them is more important. However, when I am throwing parties at the house I like to make sure the house is tidy..anyway, I am ranting. You get the point?

I think I will try to schedule less in April but it is already starting to look like a busy month as well. On a good note, it is a beautiful spring in East TN. The weather is warming up and it sure is beautiful outside. All of the dogwoods have just started to bloom and it truly is gorgeous. I bought a jogging stroller from a friend (getting it tomorrow). I am excited to start taking the kids on the greenbelt.

I need to get my butt in gear. Summer is right around the corner. I pretty much have 60 days. I am not where I want to be. My BodPod results were not where I wanted them. I really want to be 20 pounds thinner. I know I can do it but it is so hard sometimes. I talked to my trainer about doing a food log and having her check it but I haven't started. I need to go workout! I need to get on my treadmill (wish my darn foot didn't hurt still). She is really encouraging me to do the 20-25 min of cardio interval drills at least 2-3 times per week and the strength training 2-3 times per week.

Working Out

So I have promised a few pictures of my workouts. It is really hard to get good pictures though. I mean, we are all supposed to be working out and there aren't a lot of breaks. I tried to get Tammye to take a few though. This might just give you a few ideas of the things I am doing though.

Speed Skaters

Traveling Burpees

Weighted Rope Pull

One Armed Dumbell Press on Stability Ball with Pelvic Tilt

So for those of you that were wondering. This is what the torture looks like. However, I love it and I keep coming back from more. I'll try to take more pictures this week. I probably need to see if I can bring a friend with me just to take pictures.

I know that I still have a layer of fat that needs to go away but I also know that once it does there is strong, toned, in shape physique underneath. Someday....hopefully someday soon!

Salmon & Glazed Carrots

I love salmon & glazed carrots. My friend told me about this very simple way to make salmon and I used a recipe I had for glazed carrots and modified it to be lower in sugar. You could also use splenda or stevia in your carrots if you are eliminating table sugar. I wish I hadn't served in on a paper plate, kind of makes my picture look ghetto.

Salmon
4-6 oz salmon filet (1 for each person)
butter
lemon
worshetire sauce
salt & pepper

Directions:
Melt a little butter and brush over salmon
sprinkle lemon juice and worcshetire sauce on top
add salt and pepper, I also added a little lemon zest
Bake at 350 till salmon is flaky and then broil for 2 minutes until brown

Glazed Carrots
9 carrots (1 1/2 pounds)
1/2 TBSP sugar (recipe called for whole TBSP)
1 TBSP butter (recipe called for 2)
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pepper

Directions:
Quarter and cut carrots into 2-inch lengths or cut into thin circles.
In a skillet, bring carrots, sugar, 1/2 cup water, butter, and salt to boil. Reduce heat; simmer, partly covered, 6 minutes.
Cook uncovered, over high, tossing often until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with pepper.

Home Sweet Home

To sum up my trip to Chicago

1) Saw great friends

2) Learned a lot at my classes

3) Ate excellent food

4) Ate too much food

5) Worked out a few times at the hotel

6) Walked and danced till my feet fell off

7) Shopped at Macy's for the first time in years

8) Missed my family bunches

9) Rocked my size 12 dress!

10) Met the Rev. Jesse Jackson

11) Froze my a$$ off...I know why it's called the windy city

12) Gained 2 Lbs (ouch)

13) Got a new face

14) Had lots more slack in the airplane seat belt

15) Had an awesome time!

If you want to read about the boring details...keep reading but that pretty much sums it up.

Had a great time. It all started with my plane trip there. The last time I was on a plane I could barely buckle the seat belt and thought how embarrassing it would be to have to ask for in extender. Not this time. Look at all that slack!

The weather was terrible and so so windy but it didnt stop me from having a good time. My hotel was amazing! It was one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in and the hotel gym was as nice as the gym I go to on a regular basis. It was equipped with cardio equip, weights, machines, bosu ball, kettle bells, free earbuds for accessing music on the equipment, fresh lemon water, towels, and more. The location was incredible. I was in the heart of Chicago, right on Michigan Ave and within walking distance to the magnificent mile (shopping), bicentennial park, the lake, art institute, and more.

The eating was my major down fall. We ate at 5 star restaurants including: The Girl & Goat (Top Chef winner Stephanie Izzard) which was the most obscure food I have ever ate but delicious. It was Tapas style so we all ordered two things and shared. There were several receptions with unlimited hors devours and drinks. We also went to an amazing Italian restaurant which is were we met Jesse Jackson. I am not his biggest fan but it was still cool to see someone famous. I had incredible sushi, cuban sandwich and deep dish chicago style pizza for lunches. See why I gained the two pounds?

Now I did walk a lot. I actually walked so much that I think I have a mild case of plantar fasciitis. My left foot is killin me. I also danced a lot. Every night we went out and danced. One night we went to the funnest dueling piano bar. Those guys are so talented...they seriously could play any song by ear; any genre, any generation, anything.

Shopping was a wonderful experience. I only bought two shirts and a little sweater but I tried on lots of stuff. The greatest part about it was that I had to get a smaller size then I had started with in the dressing room. The lady helping me told me that I should get XL because the brand I was looking at, INC, runs small. After trying it on, I had to get larges in everything I bought. Here is a picture of me with this new outfit. Sadly though, I didn't really get a picture of me in my size 12 dress and I totally ROCKED it! I did get this one group photo but you can't even see it.

Those are my two buddies; Calvin and Jason. They are good guys and were great surrogate husbands for the trip. They made sure I always got back to my hotel safely and even poor Calvin carried my coat and purse while I tried on clothes. Haha. Did I mention that I felt so good in that dress! I had already asked one of my friends to take my picture the day before in the Macy's outfit though and I felt silly asking him to take it again. I promise to wear it to church next Sunday and post a picture though. Also while shopping at Macy's I visited the Clinique counter and the MAC counter. My skin has been really dry and flaky and causing me problems. All solved! I feel like I have a new face. The Clinique 3-step worked for me. I also got a mini makeover at MAC with some fun new eye shadow.

All in all I had an awesome time but missed my family and my little kiddos so much. Travis did such a good job taking care of the kids. He had to be out the door every morning by 6:55 with their breakfast and lunches packed, extra changes of clothes, diapers, bottles, etc. He had to remember to brush their teeth, give them baths, their medicine (they both had an ear infection), story time, and put them to bed. He is a wonderful dad. I think he missed me more than the kids did. He definitely hasn't taken me for granted this week. Lol. Wish he could of been with me; I'm glad to be home. Home Sweet Home.