{Fresh Friday}

Well hello and happy Friday to you!!!!
My last day of spring break....boohoo:)
I have been super happy this week....the weather was absolutely fabulous {except for the past few days}!!
I've been lucky enough to enjoy some outside time! You know how happy that makes me!
Made dinner the other night and decided to enjoy it while sitting around the fire pit!
Good thing I had my handy dandy tray my grandma gave me to carry everything.

Yup....i'm in my pj's and yup they're even aqua blue!!! haha!

Here's what I made.....
A Summery Caprese Inspired Salad~


lettuce
basil
mozzarella
asiago
pine nuts
tomatoes
balsamic vinegar
yum....yum...yum:)

I also made

Blackened Mahi with Apricot Glaze
sprinkle on these seasonings....to your taste.

to me....the fennel's where it's at!! I love that stuff:)

Grill your fish and then mix up
apricot marmalade
honey
lime juice
cilantro

and put it on your fish after it's grilled!!
I am telling you.....it was fabulous:)
Sweet....salty.....hot....
just a great mix of flavors all in one bite.
Even L.C. couldn't help but to beg for a little bite:)

She didn't get any.....I anjoyed it all myself:)

Of course I enjoyed a little vino with my dinner!

Picked up this wine at the Sawyer Garden Center.....cute label....the dog looks like Ruby.....but not a great wine! I am no wine snob but I know what I like and I just didn't love this vino! Owell....you win some you lose some:)

This week was so fabulous because there was sooooo much happening in nature I could hardly stand myself:)
I love the outdoors and could live in tent if it didn't get so darn cold around here!

The dogs were very happy campers to be outside so much this week:)
Had ducks in the pond:)
How cool would that be if they had babies here!!!!!
I think they were pretty happy......maybe it's all the daffodils! Remember when I planted all of those last autumn?!?!

Then if all that weren't enough......

We were watching TV the other evening and found this little guy hopping around the living room!

It cracks me up because he is just COVERED in dog hair! I don't even know how he got inside...maybe it's because we always roll with all doors wide open!! haha! He probably thought he'd just come in and check it out!

Anywho.....I love the sound they make in the spring! I know spring is really here when I hear the toad's singing:)

Too bad he had to go back outside:(

Hope your week was swell!!!!

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood

{spring day}

Hello.
Thank you for all of your positive comments on my jewelry give-away post! They really made me really happy.
Sometimes I wonder if all the time and energy I put in to chasing my dreams is really worth it. You all make me realize that it is.
NEVER give up on your dreams, I say!!

Not only are you and your nice words making me happy....the weather has been REALLY making me chipper, too!
Here's what I saw popping up today....How can you NOT be happy looking at cute little flowers!?!?I was so happy today that I ran 3 miles...trying to get ready for that half marathon....it's not far but it's a start!! Then I came home and walked the girls 4 miles:)

Poor LC she has put on a little winter weight (like her owner) and had to really huff it to keep up!

Here's how she looks at the end of a walk in the spring:)mud....mud...and more mud! This is the time of the year that I start to give up on keeping the inside of my home clean.

And of course, here's Ruby....always her happy little self and even happier after a long walk:)At least her tongue is hanging out a little. Maybe I wore her out a little so she'll actually sleep in until 6am instead of 4:45am! Darn dog:)

As you know winter is tough on me and I have to admit that I gained 10lbs this winter. But more importantly the girls gained a little weight too.

As a dog owner I realize that they cannot make their own decisions to get fit & healthy. That's my job to keep them healthy.

Sooooo, time to cut out too many of these......Oh yeah....doggie cookies:)

They were in pure bliss with those cookies..
But as spring is nearing I know it's time to walk them a little more and switch the doggie cookies to carrots.
Yes that's right....carrots! They LOVE them just as much as the cookies:) It's so funny because L.C. gobbles her carrot up in one second and Ruby takes her's over to the floor to savor!
At least...she not savoring a pair of my shoes, like she did last night!But this time, they were just my outside shoes:)

I tell you, she is pay backs for all the times I secretly made fun of other people's dogs that tore their homes up. I swore I would never have a dog that chewed up my things.

Yeah well......you can see....I now have a dog that chews my things up and I still love her....sort of:)

But really, just like with the dogs....when spring gets here and you need to lose a few lbs. don't get crazy but just switch a few things out {carrots for cookies} and exercise just a little bit more:)Don't make it more difficult than it needs to be:)

It's the same as with your dreams....take baby steps but keep moving forward:)

See you on Friday when I announce the winner of the simpledaisy give-away!!

Thank you ..... thank you....thank you for participating in the give-away and posting about it on your blogs!! I really appreciate it:)

“Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.”
Gail Devers

{Fresh Friday}

Hello there....
Hope your week was well:)
It's Fresh Friday and time for me to share a healthy little recipe with you but first....
I think sometimes we all are just too darn hard on ourselves. I know for me I complain an awful lot about my thighs.... It's an area this is just really hard for me to trim down. I'm only 5'2" and so my legs are a challenge. I also HATE to run on the treadmill!
But recently...I have really changed the way I think about things....at least while I am working out and you should try it too!

Instead of thinking negative thoughts while running, spinning or doing whatever, I have changed my thoughts to positive "mantras" if you will.
Here are a few I have been using...
your thighs are strong and capable of riding 75 miles on a bicycle
your shoulders look great in a tank top
if this were easy everyone would be doing it
look at all you accomplish in a day
think of how you'll feel when you are done
your legs are able to allow you to run on the perfect summer day
I love the treadmill:)

And on and on....you get the point!

This has really helped me change my thinking from...darn cellulite, to looks at all my legs help me accomplish:) And from I hate the treadmill to ...it's just a tool to help me accomplish my goals.
I think sometimes it's just so easy to slip into negativity and it's important to NOT let yourself do that!!
So next time you step in front of the mirror, hop on treadmill, throw a workout dvd in or go spinning....really focus on your thoughts and change them to POSITIVE:)
Hey....at least it's one hour out of the day that you can really build yourself up!

OK....now for the food!

Yep...it really is that simple! Eat things that you know what they are and get creative with it:)
Here's something new that I found at our local health food store...The ingredients are.....Mung Beans and Water! Doesn't get more real than that!! And bonus...you are getting your beans in without having to eat so many beans!
Mung Bean noodles ROCK!

But here's how I used them in a recipe.... Cook the noodles according to the package.
While cooking saute asparagus, zucchini, portobello mushrooms.
When the noodles are finished throw some organic pesto, balsamic vinegar, crushed red pepper and fresh garlic into the pan! And your done:)
Put it on a plate and serve with organic feta and basil...
YUM...YUM and YUM:) The thing about cooking really is to mix and match things...throw in whatever you have on hand or whatever you like!

You could also use.....
fresh spring peas, mushrooms and white wine sauce
sun dried tomatoes, olives, sun dried tomato pesto and paresly
broccoli, olives and red onions
and on and on.....
Oh and I would add crushed red peppers to all of these!!! I like a little kick to my food!
But you see....just get creative!
And it's all super healthy for you!

Hope you have a super healthy, happy and positive weekend! I know for me it's back to crafting and then sharing what i've made!!

"Joyfulness keeps the heart and face young. A good laugh
makes better friends with ourselves and everybody around." Orison Marden

{Fresh Friday}

Yippee...It's FRIDAY:)
I know it's ONLY January but I have spring fever so bad. I can't tell you the last time we have had sun here in Indiana and February does not look promising!! Good thing I have lots of happy photos of Key West to look at until the weather takes turn for the better:)
This week for my Fresh Friday post I was inspired by wanting to make something that would taste really FRESH and with a hint of spring:)
So I made......
~Lemony Dill & Almond Crusted Halibut~
I know...I know the photos are not that great but I tried!! It is just so challenging to photograph things without natural lighting!
But trust me this rocked my face off!!!!!

almonds {somewhere around 1/2 cup}
fresh dill {maybe about 1 cup}
Lemon juice {oh about 1/4 cup}
Zest of Lemon
Put the almonds in a food processor and get those nice and crushed up then add the dill and continue pulsing.
Last, add lemon juice and zest!!!!
It turns into a thick and sort of dry toppin for fish or even chicken if you prefer.
It's not meant to be a marinade so it will be dry. Put the fish in foil and with a little of the topping and squeeze of lemon juice.
Bake on 425 for about 20-25 minutes.
When finished add more topping!!!!!
You could also use this topping in Tilapia and sautee it!!
It really is so good and fresh tasting.

I also made.....
~Cucumber & Fennel Salad~
I have made variations on this theme before but I love this crunchy combination so much and it's so simple to make:) Cucumbers {I use those little cucumbers or I think english cucumbers would work}
Fennel
Fresh Dill
Rice Wine Vinegar
Sugar in the Raw {not too much .... just a titch}
Just make up however much you want and enjoy!!This salad totally fulfilled my need for crunch and it made me feel like I was enjoying something that I would eat in the spring or summer!!
I am sooooo tired of soups:)

Ok...Now...some of you have asked about P90X!
Well let me just tell you that P90X rocks.
If you are new to working out, it may be really challenging, just don't feel like you have to do as many reps as they do! Work at your own pace but try to work until you are really fatigued!
I don't do the pull-ups that are part of the dvd's, I just do other back exercises that I know I can do.

Here I am before I started the legs dvd.... Yes... I totally workout with the twinkle lights on!! I like a little ambiance!

I don't always workout at home, in fact most of the time I go to the gym but I love variety. I think it's great to be able to just pop in a P90X dvd when I feel like I need to switch it up.

If you don't like to go to the gym then dvd's are the way to go!!! Then you really have no excuse for not working out:)

The warm up..Can't you just tell how excited I am for what's to come:)
Lunges...more lunges and squats of every variety!After I can no longer feel my legs the dvd ends and I am sweating, tired and burned a little over 300 calories:)I didn't get nearly as sweaty as I usually do b/c I learned to turn the heat in the house WAY down!!!

See those biceps.....all thanks to P90X!!! I am getting there and hopefully by spring i'll be nice and bikini ready:) Just a little more to go.......

Now if I can just stay away from all those pizzas!!!!!

Have you ever tried P90X?!?! If you have any questions about it just let me know!
What is your favorite way to workout?????

"If you don't do what's best for your body, you're the one who comes up on the short end."
Julius Erving

{wishful Wednesday}

It's definitely one of those weeks were I keep thinking.....WHEN WILL IT BE FRIDAY?!?!?

The weather was putrid, I have an annoying sinus infection, work is beyond stressful....you get the idea!! :)

Well....I decided to take matters into my own hands and try to have a somewhat relaxing day!

First...during lunch {which, amazingly, was rather quiet....I am a teacher and lunch is usually anything but quiet} I went to flickr and started a slide show of Key West sunsets....

ahhhh....pure bliss~flickr

I got to pretend for my whole lunch that I was in Key West~

Do you ever do that with flickr?!?!

Then I came home and do what I love to do to relax~

Light a fire, candles and do

A little yoga...

I am laughing because my husband thinks I am nuts!! First, I am doing yoga and then because I am asking him to take pictures of me doing yoga:)

I think you can see that I am not really all that flexible.....but I try:)and then.....here is how I REALLY practice yoga~with Ruby constantly licking me!!

What I love about yoga...is really focusing on my breathing and getting my rate to slow WAY DOWN~

I don't know if you can really see it...but my heart rate is 57!!! Now that is a BIG difference from where I keep it when I run, which is around 160! I just do the yoga on tv with Steve Ross...but I love it. I get totally relaxed and zen like:)

After yoga I pour a nice glass of Cabernet and sit by the fire~

Now I try to keep it real here at simpledaisy...but I have to admit that the above photo is a re-take from the one below....where I saw a ginormous zit on my nose!! I ran and powdered my nose for the re-take! Seriously...I am pushing 35 and clearly should be finished with zits:)Owell...here it is in all it's RED glory:)

Lastly, by now you know I love to cook and especially love to make something yummy and comforting when I am all stressed out!

So I whipped up some vegan Cream of Mushroom soup from scratch~

I also made some pesto whole wheat "crackers" from some pizza dough I had in the freezer. Sometimes I make up pizza dough and then freeze it for times like this!

Anywho...since it's not Fresh Friday I won't bore you with the recipe with this .... but if you're interested in how I made it....give me an e-mail!! But remember....I RARELY use recipes and so...I just cooked what I thought would be yummy in mushroom soup and then threw it in the blender!!

Well happy Wednesday and remember....when you're all stressed out...try and take a minute to do something that will make you happy:)

"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states." ~ Carol Welch