Eating Clean

Good Morning Everyone,
  It has been quite a while since I last wrote and to be honest, I just haven't been motivated to write anything. I was working on writing a post about Costa Rica, which was incredible its just taking time to get through all the details.  I might just do a post of pictures to capture everything we did there.  Anwyho life has been busy as always football season has officially started and my weekends are booked through November.  I bought season tickets again, no matter how bad we are I still love Aggieland on Football weekends.  There is a saying we have at A&M regarding our traditions and there is no better way to put it.  "From the outside looking in your cant understand it, from the inside looking out you cant explain it."  Ahh I just love fall, the cool weather, football season, school is back in session.  I miss those good ol college days.  Ok enough reminiscing, I have some exciting stuff to talk about...well maybe.

Recently the crossfit girls and I decided to do a Paleo challenge. Paleo is essentially the caveman diet, now before anyone gets crazy, this challenge is not for weight loss, but to insure that we are eating as healthy as possible.  The Paloe diet is all fresh foods, veggies, and fruits no processed foods, no sugars, and no Alcohol (what!!).  There are a few things I don't agree with in the Paleo diet such as cooking in coconut oil and meat fats, no eating legumes or peanuts, ect.

We started the challenge last Friday and it has been and exciting road.  Now as most of you all know I eat fairly healthy, but I do enjoy and adult beverage, sugar and processed food every now and again.  Saturday being the the real first day I stuck with salads and seafood and by 7 pm I was starving, cranky and irritated.  I had a date that evening and we went to a bar to watch the UT game, I had no idea how hard it would be to go out and have a normal evening.  Every one was boozing and eating all kinds of nachos, pizza, wings and junk food!! There were two items on the menu that were Paleo friendly a chicken salad and lamb chops.  I had the salad and after an hour or so I was starving again. I was about to order the Lamb chops, but how awkward would that be on a date...oh dont mind me I am going two order to main courses!! After my brush with starvation I was over this challenge and ready to eat whatever I could get my hands on, but being the competitive person I am there is no losing.  So after church on Sunday I embraced good ol HEB and bought them out of fruits, veggies, fish, chicken, and meat. I cooked up a storm on Sunday and there has been no starvation since.

My biggest down fall is veggies, I will force myself to eat salads and veggies, but I am not a fan.  Its not something I am like "oh I cant wait to eat some kale"!! Therefore the girls and I decided to meet once a week and each make different dishes so everyone can try new recipes.  Sunday I had the girls over and I made a pork roast dry rubbed in salt, cracked pepper and garlic with balsamic glazed peaches and a  cauliflower-carrot herb mash. The girls brought over a kale salad and beet hummus.  Now just so you know I cant stand kale, beets, or cauliflower, I think they are pretty much awful.  After this meal I am a believer that with a few herbs, olive oil, and lemon juice anything can taste amazing.

Tuesday we met again at another friends house, I made hatch green chile meatballs, and the girls brought a red cabbage salad, kale salad, fruit salad, sweet potato fries and roast chicken.  Everything was so good, fresh and healthy.  The meatballs were out of this world.  I am attaching all the recipes so you all can give them a try.  Last night I invited some friends over for Moroccan Spiced Salmon served on a bed of garlic sauteed spinach and mushrooms, with a side of cauliflower carrot herb mash and sweet potato fries as an appetizer.  It was delicious.  You all make think its crazy, but you should give clean eating a try.  Cut out all those processed, fried, and sugary foods,  it will be difficult at first but the advantages are huge. Below is the menu I made last week

Enjoy!

Until next time...
Tory

Pulled Pork withBalsamic Glazed Peaches

Moroccan SpicedRubbed Salmon

Spiced ChickenThighs (you can sub for breast meat) 

Portabella Mushroom burgers you can either wrap in lettuce or get more ports grill them and use as a bun - 

Green Hatch Chile Meatballs

 

Sides

Grilled veggies - use a little olive oil and grill

Cucumber salad  (I would reduce the salt alot and not use the sugar)

Cauliflower carrot herb mash

Sweet potatoes -baked or grilled

Lemon cucumber noodles /

I've been everywhere man...

Its seems like I have been everywhere, but home lately.  I was counting all the flights/trips I have made in the last few months, and I am beat. I have been in Wyoming, Colorado, Louisiana, Washington D.C., Virginia, and California in the last month.  Heading to Costa Rica in a week, then back to Louisiana, Midland, and Louisiana!!  Toss in a few weekend trips to College Station and San Antonio and I have only been home for a total of one week in the last two months!! Please note this is not me complaining, just explaining my absence in writing.

I am not sure where I left off so I will start with my D.C. adventure.  A good college friend of mine moved to D.C. last November and I have been promising to visit for months.  I finally had the time and flight miles to make it happen.  Friday Aug 3rd, I hoped on a plane and headed up north, the flights were uneventful and I arrived just in time for dinner and HH.  After I got checked into my hotel I met up with Jonathon and some of his friends for dinner and a night on the town.  We were all pretty beat from the long week so we called it an early night.  The next morning Jonathon and I headed out to do all the touristy stuff we could do.  We walked around for miles checking out the Washington Monument, the capital, the old post office (best view of the city), Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Einstein, Georgetown and a few other sites along the way.

Rooftop bar at the W

After hours of walking, sweating, and sunburning we met up with some of his friends at the park for a picnic dinner/wine club meeting.  That evening we went out and did a little salsa dancing which was quite a blast.  Sunday we were up early to drive to Virginia to float the river.  Now floating the river is a big deal in Texas and my favorite thing to do in the summer, but I wasn't sure how these Northerner's did it.  Turns out its pretty much the same concept just on a bigger river!  After the float we all got cleaned up and met at Jonathon's house for dinner and game night.  We played Cards against humanity which was quite a hit!

Monday I didn't fly out until 5 so I decided to hit all the museums in the mall.  I went to the Smithsonian Castle, the Air and Space Museum, History and Science Museum, the American History Museum, and I trekked down to the White house.  It was a whorl-wind tour, but I got to see everything and quite enjoyed myself.

Air and Space Museum

Museum of History and Science

Hope Diamond

Tuesday it was back to the grindstone with lots of work to catch up on, thankfully the week flew by and it was "hello weekend time"  The crossfit girls and I spent the weekend using our groupons that we had purchased a while back.  Friday night I met up with some college friends for dinner and a night on the town.  It was a fun night and I scored a date for this Friday...so we shall see how that goes.  Saturday morning it was up early for crossfit, then brunch at Mia Bella's with the girls.  Saturday afternoon/evening was spent catching up on rest, studying for the GMAT, and watching some movies with friends.  Sunday after church I met the crossfit girls for an afternoon of rock climbing.  Now I have to admit, I am not very good at rock climbing, but since I have been doing crossfit I can see a marked difference in my strength and ability to climb.  I had much more fun this time than I have in the past.  After rock climbing we were starving so we continued the party at Blue Fish for sushi 

After dinner I ran home and packed for my trip to California for our annual products meeting.  Bright and early Monday morning I was off again.  The meeting went extremely well and overall the trip was very productive.  I hit the ground running Thursday, once I landed I picked up the girls, went and played sand volleyball and then hit book club/wine night.  Friday after work I ran home did laundry packed and headed to CS to pick op Christy for our weekend river float to celebrate Tommy's birthday.  More on that in the next post

Until next time...
Tory
    

Hello August where did you come from

Apperently its already the middle of August, I am not sure how that happened or where it came from.  The last few weeks have been crazy as always, tons of traveling for work and pleasure.  This is the first weekend I have been home in over a month! 



   Several weeks ago I went to Ft. Laramie, WY for work.  We were implementing a new program at that terminal so I went along to facilitate the training and learn how to use the program.  It just so happened that weekend was Frontier Days in Cheyenne and  every hotel had been booked a year in advance.  Let me tell you folks this is quite a big deal up there, apparently its the largest outdoor rodeo in the US.  The only hotel available was the local Bates motel we are talking rent by the hour, trucker/meth addict heaven.  Now normally we do not stay in places like these, but my coworker booked it and didn't realize how bad it was.  It was bad, beyond bad for starters you couldn't run the air and the blow dryer at the same time because you would short the circuit.  I am sure the place had never been cleaned, the TV didn't work, I had an adjoining room with no lock or door handle on my side.  Close your ears Mom and Dad....lets just say I drank a lot to aid in sleeping, slept with my clothes on on top of the "sheet/comforter" and left the lights on just in case oh and I didnt show the two nights we were there!!  GROSS We were supposed to be there three nights, but we check out early to go to Denver and stay in a nice hotel!  Since we were there during Cheyenne days we had to check it out.  I really like the outdoor aspect to the rodeo because that how it should be, but it didn't hold a candle to the ridiculousness that is the Houston Rodeo.  It was very entertaining to watch the people that attended the event.  Friday morning we headed back to Houston and I have never been so happy to be home in my life. 

Downtown Denver

   That weekend a group of my friends and I headed down to San Antonio to enjoy a little river floating.  Floating the river is one of my favorite things to do in the summer, there is nothing more relaxing that sitting in a tube floating down a lazy river, enjoying and adult beverage.  Friday night we met up with some friends to have a BBQ and then go two stepping.  We called it an early night because we to float the river early.  The next morning we packed up a couple of coolers with jello shots, beer, and vodka lemonades and headed to the river.  It was a wonderful relaxing float, we floated for about four hours and then got out to eat some lunch.  That evening I met up with the crossfit girls for one of the girls bridal shower (in San Antonio) after the bridal show we went and explored downtown.  The next morning we had brunch at a great little spot and hit the road back to Houston.

Jello Shots

Sunday afternoon it was unpack and repack for my trip to St. James, LA.  My intern joined me on this trip so he could see the facility. I was there to get more footage for the E&I tech video.  It was a quick two day trip, but I will still very tired from traveling. I had Wednesday and Thursday at home and then it was time to pack for my trip to DC, this trip was for pleasure! 

   A good friend of mine moved up there last year and I had promised to visit him, but never found the time.  It just so happened all the pieces came together and I was able to take a long weekend and go up to DC.  He had  the whole weekend booked up so we were able to do tons of stuff.  I will tell you all about it my next post.  As of now I need to get off and start packing for my trip tomorrow. 

Here and back again

Hello middle of July, where did you come from?  Feels like I was just sitting down goal planning for the work year and now its half way over.  I know I have been missing for a while and I keep promising to write, but it never happens.  Below are a few terrible excuses.

My last update was before I got shipped of to Canada for work.  Canada eh? Yes, Friday June 15, 2012 I was strolling out of work getting ready for an awesome weekend, when my head boss called me.  The needed my boss and myself in Canada by Sunday.  Ugh well there went my weekend.  I went back to work to book flights, hotels, car and get caught up to speed on what was going on.  I was there until about three sorting through the details.  We had a release on water and they need some Ops/Comm people to come up and relieve those that had been working for several weeks straight.  That afternoon my friend Liz came into town and we hung out.  Saturday we went shopping, to a pool party, and a friends birthday party.  All while packing and getting ready to leave with a one-way ticket to Canada!  Sunday morning I was up bright and early to get to the airport, thankfully it was a direct flight so we were in Canada by one.  After getting checked in we headed to the office to get to work.  Our trip ended up being 12 days and lets just say I was beyond exhausted by the time we got home.  We took one day to run up to Banff National Park and see Lake Louise and Lake Moraine.  It was worth the drive the area was incredible and the lakes were breathtaking.

Since getting back I have been swamped with work and spending every other waking minute studying for the GMAT.  I am really hoping to start Grad school in the spring, but I have to do well on the GMAT first.  The weekend after I got back I headed to CS to help Christy move.  Boy am I glad mom, dad, and Tommy were there.  It was a huge chore I had no idea how much work was involved!  We spent two days, packing, cleaning, fixing, painting and working, working, working. Its terrible, but I was glad to get home on Sunday to rest.  The rest of the crew was stuck in CS to finish moving.

The fourth of July came and went very uneventfully since I had to work Thursday, I hung out with the crossfit girls for BBQ and pool party.  That weekend some college friends came in for a few nights out on the town!  We had a great weekend.  This last weekend Christy came into town!  I love being able to see my sister.  Friday night we got all dressed up and headed to Blackfinn for dinner, after dinner we met up with some friends for drinks at Taps.  Saturday we relaxed and cooked some healthy and not so healthy food.  That afternoon my friend Ben came in and we headed over to another friends house for a bbq.  After stuffing our faces for several hours we decided to go country dancing at a local bar.  Needless to say Christy and I were exhausted on Sunday.  Around 11 we meet up with the girls that are going to Costa Rica with me for brunch.  After brunch we walked back to my house to plan our trip.  After all the planing it was time for relaxation...then back to the grindstone on Monday.           

First weekend of June, bring on summertime!

The first weekend of June turned out quite successful.  The work week weak was short with Memorial day on Monday and half day on Friday.  Even with a short week I was still looking forward to an incredible weekend. 

Friday night I met up with a few of the girls from crossfit to watch the Metropolitan dance company perform at Miller Outdoor Theater. I love summer time and I love weekends at Miller.  Its a free event for the public and you are welcome to bring food and drinks.  The girls and I took full advantage of this.  I brought a veggie wrap, cheese, crackers, popcorn, a bottle of wine, and cookies.  It was wonderful, we enjoyed an awesome picnic and some modern dance.  Sadly I missed the last two weekends (with the symphony) due to being in Canada for work...more on that in another post.  The show ended about 11:30 and we all went our separate ways.

The next morning we meet up at Ash condo for some pool time.  I spent a better part of the day soaking up the sun and relaxing.  By the time I got home I was exhausted so the dogs and I just hung out and watched movies.  Sunday was a very uneventful day after church, I cooked some lunch and spent the rest of the day reading and studying for the GMAT.  Then it was back to the grindstone Monday morning.  Tuesday after work some coworkers and I headed to the Astros to watch some baseball.  The best part about it was we had suite passes.  The suites were located next to the bullpen so we were able to talk to some of the players and get a few baseballs.  We were also privy to free food and drinks!  Let me tell you its a tough job, but someone has to go to these events.  The rest of the week was pretty tame nothing too exciting to note. 

Until next time..

Tory

Shooting, CS, and summer nights

Its the second weekend in June and boy does time sure fly...where did the first half of the year go?? As always the weekends are more eventful than the work week so lets just focus on the fun stuff!  Friday I got invited by a coworker to go shoot some sporting clays at the American Shooting Center in Katy.  It has been quite some time since I have been and was really looking forward to going.  Even thought I am ridiculous rusty, I had a complete blast (no pun intended)!  I will have to try and get out there more often.  After shooting I ran home, packed up myself and the dogs and headed to College Station to see Christy.  That evening we went to Cheddars and had to much food and some delicious margaritas! We were both exhausted from the last week so we went home and passed out. 

The next morning I was up bright and early, since Christy was still asleep I head to the grocery store to get the fixings for Whole wheat brown sugar banana pancakes with a vanilla maple glaze.  Yes, its ok to be jealous and yes, they were incredibly delicious!  They were just about finished when Christy crawled out of bed (convenient).  They actually did turn out really really good they tasted like banana bread with doughnut glaze yummmy (not healthy)!  After breakfast we went to the gun store to get Christy's birthday present.  After gun shopping we headed to grab some lunch before checking out some houses for Christy to live in.  We were completely unsuccessful in the hunt, thankfully one came on the market recently and she now has a place to stay. 

Since Christy had to work that evening, I washed up the dishes, packed up the girls and headed back to Houston.  That evening I met the crossfit girls for dinner and drinks.  We started the evening off at 13 Celsius a little wine bar in midtown, we each enjoyed a glass of wine and a cheese plate.  For dinner we headed over to Lucios.  Lucios is one of my favorite restaurants, the food is incredible and the service is good.  I had the herb roasted chicken with yam puree, crispy prosciutto, and a natural reduction for desert we shard a chocolate brownie cake and creme brulee.  The creme brulee was probably the best thing I have had in a long time.  After dinner we did some bar hoping and then I headed home.

Sunday was a day for rest and relaxation the little girls and I read, studied, napped and cleaned all day long. 

Until Next time...

Tory

Memorial Weekend

Hello to everyone!  I hope everyone had a wonderful and fun filled Memorial Weekend....cause I sure did.  Granted I truly missed spending time with the family at one the awesome pool parties, but visiting Chris is SC was pretty exciting.  Since it was a long weekend Chris flew me up to Greenville so we could explore his new little town.  Lets just put it this way it was quite a bummer land back in hot ol Houston.

I took Friday off to make it nice long weekend and head up to SC Thursday night.  Since Chris had to work a half day Friday, I took advantage of my day off.  After sleeping in, I got up and headed for a run to explore the neighborhood.  Chris lives about two blocks from a neat downtown so I headed that direction.  The main drag has tons of little shops, restaurants. parks, theaters, and lots of things to do.  A nice little river runs through downtown, I ran to the river, around the park and back to his apartment.  It was a good morning work out with  great scenery.  After Chris got home we walked back to downtown to eat at a little southern fare restaurant.  After lunch he showed me around downtown and then went back to the casa to relax.  That evening we met up with one of his coworkers and his wife for dinner at "famed" BBQ joint.  Now Carolinian's rave about their BBQ and to be honesty I don't know what about, Texas BBQ is the best.  After dinner we drove to Clemson and checked out the campus and the college town.  It reminded me a lot of A&M and the scenery was beautiful.

Saturday we got up early and headed to the farmers market in downtown, we did a little shopping and ate some Shrimp and Grits for breakfast. Since Chris is very close to mountains we decided to spend the day hiking and exploring the different trials.  It happened to be perfect weather for hiking we did two different trails and got to see a couple of waterfalls along the way.  By the time we got home I was beat, even though I am in fairly good shape hiking took it all out of me (it might also have been that Chris hikes at a strenuousness pace, if its a 3 hour hike he completes it in 1.5).  That evening we went to a nice little Italian place for dinner and I enjoyed several pounds of delicious pasta and a glass of wine. After dinner we went to a little wine bar to explore the Greenville nightlife, the people watching was great.

Sunday it was up bright and early again to go hike some trials in North Carolina.  For lunch we drove into a little town and had a delicious lunch at a farm to table restaurant.  The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing and watching movies.  Monday we decided to rent a jet ski and play on the lake for a while before I headed back to Houston. I have never ridden a jet ski and boy was I missing out.  I am not going to lie I was terrified, I thought I was going to die when Chris was driving.  (Please not this does not reflect on his driving skills, its just a whole ton rougher for the person on the back)  Let me tell you the minute I got behind the wheel it was pure FUN!!  I was chasing speedboats and hoping their wakes, I am pretty sure we got up to 60 something speed wise.  The lake was gorgeous, the weather was perfect, and the water was warm... couldn't have asked for a better way to end the weekend.  Then it was back to reality sitting in the Greenville Airport.