Almond Jay

I am the luckiest girl in the world

Jordan — Sun, 12 May 2013 12:29:10 +0000

because I get to call this woman my mom
I love you mom!

Happy Mother’s Day and Happy Birthday!

WIAW – Recipes

Jordan — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:51:14 +0000

Time for some fun food!

Healthy guacamole, woman peas! Yup, I made it with peas!I used 3 very ripe avocados and half a bag of frozen peas (that I defrosted first). I hand blended the avocados and peas together, but I like my guac chunky so I didn’t blend it until it was smooth. Then I added in chopped red pepper, onion and cilantro. I mixed in some garlic powder and lime and then it was munchin’ time.

Waking up with the spring sun has inspired many a morning full of smoothies including, a refreshing strawberry banana smoothie.One banana blended with a handful of frozen strawberries, plus some almond milk and chia seeds. That simple. Blend together and finish with a straw – the only way to drink a smoothie in the morning

Chicken dinner – easy but delicious and satisfying after a long day at work followed by a workout. I tossed some chicken breasts in the oven with Trader Joe’s Soyaki sauce and sautéed some broccoli and brussel sprouts with garlic and oregano. I added all of those components to a large bowl with rice and topped it all off with some dipping ketchup. Quite a filling meal. And that’s it for what I ate Wednesday!

What have you been eating lately?

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

Jordan — Tue, 07 May 2013 12:42:32 +0000

Well, these words have certainly been this past year’s anthem. During the early days of recovery this line was chanted day after day by my boyfriend as he smiled with every step I would take on my crutches. And I would sing these words to sleep as I dreamt of the sun rising, one morning closer to a full recovery.

Well almost one year later and I am walking, spinning and now running. And even though the rest of this post will show you just how strong I am, there is still that little voice of the past that chimes in and makes me sad.

I wont harp on it too long, but with the clearance to run also comes the disappointment that I am not returning to the runner I was up to the moment the accident happened. Running was taken away from me and now I have to start over. It is amazing that I can run again, and I appreciate that ability every moment, but it comes with the pain that I have to work to find my freedom and comfort again.

I know that this this feeling of mourning the past will slowly slip away as I build a new relationship with running, starting with reconnecting from the beginning. This weekend I took a Chi Running workshop to learn how to use my body as efficiently as possible to sustain the least amount of impact. If you are in the Bay Area and want a great teacher take a class from Sally!

Look at me go!

I even took everything I learned and put it to use Monday night:

I was able to use posture and foot placement to run myself down to my good old friend the running path and capture that beautiful neighbor of mine, the Golden Gate Bridge, in the setting sun.

This is where my strength has gotten me and I know I can only continue to rebuild and grow from this point. I just have to make sure that my strength drowns out that mournful voice of the past as I continue to place my feet on the ground faster and faster.

Taking it Back

Jordan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:59:09 +0000

On June 30, 2012 my life changed forever. In a freak, let’s prove the existence of physics running accident, I broke my left hip. After major surgery and months of recovery I am back in tip top shape. Other than a higher risk of arthritis and some weaker leg muscles that will slowly even out, I feel great.

Recently, I was given the ok from my doctors to return to impact sports, including running! I’ve known for over a week that it’s perfectly fine to move my body in that way, but after such a traumatic experience with my favorite activity I had to mull over my newly found freedom. Since the accident I haven’t even hopped on my left leg and now I am fully functioning and able to feel the pavement fly by under my feet.

But it’s not that simple. I had a major trauma to my left hip and increased impact means higher chances of arthritis, and no one wants that. So, I will have to strike a fine balance between my love of running and my desire to continue living pain free. This is the challenge that lies before me, but yesterday was simply the day I got to take back running!

In addition to my run, I did something else that I haven’t done in a while: Kayaking!

Just over the bridge in Marin I took advantage of the Cali sun and paddeled out on the water, enjoying the view and a few sea lion friends.

And after all of this activity I was ready for an easy dinner -

I lightly microwaved a sweet potato, then cut medallions to line the bottom of a glass dish. I also sauteed some brussel sprouts and broccoli and mixed it together with two eggs and some egg whites and of course spices: garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, oregano. I poured this mixture into the dish and topped it with sesame seeds. I baked it at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

I served this dish with arrugala and avocado and KETCHUP! Yum!

Little Obsessions

Jordan — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:51:11 +0000

Most of my days are fairly routine in the sense that I go to work all day (normally with some sort of break in the middle, if I’m lucky), then I take myself over to the gym and either spin or do a body weight workout, and then come home and make dinner, followed by relaxing on the couch, before I wake up and do it all over again.

So it’s those little finds, a new workout obsession, an innovative recipe or a pair of new shoes that I can’t wait to wear, that pulls me through the week.

Lately I have been focusing on my new little obsessions and they have helped me get through some of those rougher stretches of days:

1. Banana ice cream:

It’s so easy to make (literally just freeze a banana and blend it up!) but it’s so creamy and refreshing AND guilt free!

2. Pampering myself on Sunday evenings

Last Sunday I got a haircut around 4pm and it was the best thing ever! After a day of errands and cleaning the apartment for the week, sitting in a chair while someone else massaged my head and played with my hair felt heavenly.

And only because my hair did not need another trim after 7 days, did I decide to get my nails done this past Sunday. Indulging in the slightly less expensive mani pedi was another simple treat to myself and probably one of the best ways to end a weekend.

3. New (cheap) workout clothes

Of course I have the staple expensive workout spandex and a handful of pricey tops, but this past weekend I found athletic apparel with a price tag I can smile about.

C9 by Champion for Target makes wonderfully soft and comfortable workout gear, but it won’t leave you feeling guilty at the checkout line. I went a little crazy this weekend and bought a bunch of tops, but at $12 a pop it was hard to hold back.

For all of you fiscally conscious gym rats enjoy shopping…

What are some of your little obsessions lately?

WIAW – Smoothies on the brain

Jordan — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:52:10 +0000

Between smoothies in the morning and banana ice cream at night I can’t keep bananas on my kitchen counter long enough!

I’ve been making a smoothie every day for breakfast recently because they are refreshing, easy to transport to work and filling!

Here are some variations of what I have been making recently:

I always start with a banana and almond milk and add a combination of the following:

Frozen mango

Frozen blueberries

Kale

Spinach

Ginger

Nut butter

Chia seeds

Protein powder

What do you love to put in your smoothies?

Out for a Walk

Jordan — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:46:02 +0000

I took the long way home this weekend and walked all throughout this beautiful city…

Then I took a walk to my gym…

Then a walk around my neighborhood…

and I ended my weekend with a walk to my kitchen…

Banana Ice Cream!!!

Blend one frozen banana, with a tablespoon of your favorite nut butter and a splash of almond milk.

WIAW – with a sprinkle of stress on top

Jordan — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:26:49 +0000

As I said earlier this week, change is stirring in the air, and along with the aroma of excitement, the taste of stress has creeped in.

Taking a leap and leaving the safety of the usual day-to-day is a great way to truly find yourself. To grow you need to rise up to challenges that push you to stretch your comfort zone and break posts in what you thought were the fences of your world.

There are plenty of hours where I playfully daydream about the wonderful adventures that are to come, but yesterday was filled with stressful logistical planning and and emotional strain. And while the actual changes in my life will certainly shape me, the journey planning these shifts is almost education enough.

I’m sorry to be so vague about everything and there will come a time to reveal all, but for now I am sure you can all relate to simply growing up and all that comes with it. Of course as a growing girl I need to be properly nourished and after a hard day I decided to make a homey meal of turkey sauce and brown rice pasta:

Nice and simple: sauté some broccoli, mix in some ground turkey, add some spices of your choice (oregano and garlic) and tomato sauce. I served mine with some brown rice pasta and spinach

Food to warm the soul and soothe growing pains.

What are some of your latest challenges?

Time to break out the summer food

Jordan — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:20:49 +0000

Well it’s not exactly time for barbecues, but it’s never too early to break out the breakfast smoothie. As the smell in the air grows crisper and the ground thaws with the touch of the sun, I think it’s appropriate to make a fruity and refreshing morning meal.

Yesterday I broke out the frozen fruit and even went out on a limb and added my first chia seeds to my smoothie.

Blend: almond milk, frozen mangos, frozen blueberries, one banana, spinach and Chia seeds.

The end result is sadly a dingy hue of bleh, but it’s mighty tasty and quite filling!

What do you like to put in your smoothies?

Long time no blog

Jordan — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:06:49 +0000

I am SO sorry for not being here.

I am gearing up for some big changes in my life and have neglected one of my favorite friends, my blog. I have been selfish, busy and lazy and have failed to share my ideas and adventures, which has left me feeling a bit empty. I love curling up on the couch, wrapping up in a blanket and spilling my day over the keyboard, so I promise this is my return.

Some of these big changes I cannot share at this time, but I promise if you continue reading over the next few weeks (and yes, I will be writing more) you will find out all about the new paths in my life.

I last posted right before I headed off for a lovely week-long spring break with my family and my boyfriend Dave!

Our time was filled with lots of family

food

and friendsand I can’t believe that time has come and gone already!

Leading up to this spring break I was praying for each hour to move faster so that I could finally be on vacation, but once that time was upon me I was grasping at every minute to try and slow time down.

Unfortunately, no matter how many times I attempt to manipulate time, that clock still ticks by at the same rate every minute. I am trying to appreciate every moment that I have, whether it is where I want to be or not, but of course that is easier said than done.

Because big changes are hovering in the not so distant future I have decided to practice patience and revel in the time I have now. And of course, what better way to appreciate the now than by posting on this very blog. So there you have it. I will be back soon with reflections on the present – happy Monday!