I’m sipping my coffee right now hoping for a jolt of energy to come quickly. Man alive I feel drained for some reason. It’s not even like I had a late night last night or anything. We don’t really do Valentine’s Day here. I put some strawberries cut up to look like hearts in the kids’ oatmeal. Peter gave me this gem of a Sweetheart candy he found when raiding Makenzie’s treats from preschool as his romantic gesture of the day.
Haha! What a guy, I tell you. He pulls out all the romantic stops. It gave me a good chuckle…and then we realized later it is meant to say “Jump 4 Me”. Not quite as fun, but good to know “Jump Me” isn’t floating around in candy young kids pass out. That would be slightly questionable. 
I did get one special treatment for Valentine’s Day, though. I treated myself to a massage because I needed one badly. My lower back, psoas, and hips have felt extremely tight and I needed to remedy that.
Such a lovely picture, no? But it certainly captures that post-massage high!
I have no problem being my own Valentine. Besides, I would rather enjoy sweet moments than overpriced chocolate candy. Like the moments I know I will remember for a lifetime when Peter & I get to make use of these soon…
Wooo!! Cruise time is coming up. We’re now just ten days out. Sweet! I just may have a countdown going on my calendar. Sun shining skies and adventure? I’m ready! My hair is ready too. I made sure to make the time to finally get a much overdue hair cut.
I ended up going back to a bit shorter of a cut. I did more of a bob with it stacked up in the back. A very friendly style for my super-fine, super-thin hair. Feels so much better.
Another thing feeling so much better? RUNNING!
I’ve done a few two mile runs the past couple of weeks and it has felt nothing short of amazing. Even if 3/4 of them have had to be in windy, chilly, drizzly weather. Yet another reason I’m ready for some sunshine. Ohhhh it better not rain on our trip! Back to the point. Running? Feels so good again! Ready to keep building things back up s-l-o-w-l-y. It’s hard to stop at just a couple miles, but I know very worth it. I’ll be bumping up a mile per week max for awhile here. Thanks for those of you who gave me some virtual high-fives on Instagram.
Oh, that reminds me! I posted a couple food pictures that I got some questions about what exactly I included. Since I’m in a rambly mood today, I’ll go ahead and share those.
I have been having a lot of protein smoothies lately. Even with the chill, I seem to crave them. I have been blending up the same thing and it never fails. Super simple, but the thick almost soft serve like texture makes it so satisfying. My protein smoothies as of late have been this blend:
- 1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Silk PureAlmond
- 4 frozen cubes of Unsweetened Vanilla Silk PureAlmond (these make such a BIG difference in the texture! make it milk-shake like)
- 1/2 to 1 whole frozen banana in chunks
- 1 scoop Vega Almond Vanilla or Chocolate Energizing Smoothie Blend
Yum! I love it and think you will too.
Then, there was this quick and easy dinner I posted.
Greek Chicken Salad Pitas (served with roasted potatoes and green beans)
I got some requests for the recipe…but I don’t really have a recipe. I always say I don’t cook. I toss things together. Stir-fries. Quinoa bowls. Sandwiches/wraps/pitas. Salads. So this is just some things I tossed together and then served up in a pita. Either way, it took about 10 minutes to put together the pitas for dinner and they tasted fabulous. Here’s what I used for the Greek Chicken Salad:
- leftover chicken breast, cubed
- Kalamata olives, halved
- artichoke hearts, chopped
- red onion, chopped
- Roma tomatoes, chopped
- Trader Joe’s Tzatziki dip
No measurements. Like I said, I don’t cook or do full blown recipes really. Just mix up amounts that look good to you if you so choose to put together this little concoction. 
Okay, I gotta get going. Have a workout to get done and then some of this to do…
Deifnitely planning to hit up Aldi again where I can get a cart full of groceries for $65. Now that is a good deal. They even have local produce for some things at ours! Score!
Happy Friday!
Do anything for Valentine’s Day? Are you a recipe/cook person or a toss it all together person like me? Any good combos or recipes (easy ones!) to share?
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{ 40 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the idea of freezing almond milk cubes. I will definitely be trying that.
I’ve become more of a throw-it-together kind of cook. Especially for salads and stir-frys. Although, I have to admit, I think it’s mostly out of laziness that I don’t want to follow a recipe
We didn’t do much for valentines – we don’t really exchange cards or anything either. However, I did tell John the only thing I wanted was for him to bring home dinner because I didn’t want to cook. Success!!
Oh, I missed hearing about the cruise! Good news on the running. Ramping up slowly is hard but definitely will pay off. I usually ad-lib my recipes, but most start with a can of diced tomatoes!
I’m def a combo person but mostly I throw stuff together. When I feel super motivated, then maybe I’ll follow a recipe. I’ve totally been into protein smoothies lately too!!
At first I cracked up at that candy heart, then got weirded out that it was in a kid’s candy pile! I’m glad you clarified that a child didn’t give M sexual candy- haha.
Your cut looks great on you! Totally vacation ready. Are the kiddos going with you guys?
Nope. Just the 2 of us. My parents will be staying with the kiddos.
I am a big protein smoothie fan but I have yet to freeze bananas or make ice cubes like that–I need to try it.
Glad the running feels good. Keep rolling with it!
Very envious of your warm trip coming up. I am DONE with winter!
I love your smoothie! I’ve been making a very similar one for breakfast lately, but I like to stick in a couple handfuls of spinach. It starts me out with some veggies and it doesn’t really affect the taste!
I love adding spinach to smoothies and normally do. Come to think of it, I must have been out when I had this particular combo because I always have it. It really is a great way to get in some extra veggies.
I have an Aldi five minutes from my house so handy!
Great news about the running! Slow and steady!
A conversation heart that says “Jump Me” is kind of awesome!
Haircut, upcoming cruise, and naughty conversation hearts – sounds like things are going really well on your end!
Happy Friday!
I love your haircut Tina! Sounds like a perfect Valentina’s day to me, a massage and excitement over your upcoming cruise! I really want to make that Greek pita. I love chicken, artichokes, kalamata olives, etc so I know I would love that quick dish!
I may have to throw in some feta too!
I love your hair that length. And that salad sounds great – in a sandwich or as a salad. I could so easily do that with tofu, chickpeas or tempeh. I’m a sucker for kalamata olives. Happy Friday!
I love the hair cut! I’m so glad running feels good as you ease back in. You were so smart about it, it will pay off. And how exciting about the cruise!!
Sometimes I like to follow or create recipes but otherwise I’m all about just throwing together foods for a quick and delicious meal. There’s a time and place for both.
And when i first saw that “jump me” candy my reaction was “we let our kids eat those?!” I thought it seemed potentially racy…haha
The boyfriend and I had a pretty laid back date last night. I stopped by the grocery store to get dinner, then we cooked up dinner at his place and watched a movie. We figured it would be too busy to go out anywhere last night.
Sounds great!
Cute hair, Tina!
LOL – Shane cooked me dinner last night, which consisted of setting off the smoke alarm and sitting down to still kinda raw chicken. Eventually, though, the meal was delicious. Just funny
A cruise!! So exciting
I sooo miss pita pockets – used to eat them ALL the time before GF
Glad you are slowly able to run!! Yay!
I am SO excited for you for the cruise. You are going to have a BLAST girl! So glad I could help!
That Greek chicken salad pita sounds aaaaaaamazing! I actually made a crock pot mediterranean chicken dish a couple weeks ago and have a bunch of leftover Kalamata olives, so I can DEFINITELY see this happening in my kitchen soon.
Glad to hear you’ve been able to get back into running, even if it’s just a little bit. Keep up the good work!
Glad you treated yourself to something nice for V-Day! And it sounds like everything else is going well! Yay that running is making a come back for you.
Have a lovely weekend hun!
Are you nervous about the cruise after this Carnival thing?? Talk about a freak occurance!
Recipes.. I do try to follow them but my strange but good inclinations get in the way.
I was a wee bit nervous but glad we’re going Norwegian so it makes me feel better that its a different cruise line. Haha!
I went Nowegian in 2009 – it was a great experience!
I’m a total throw it together person, I never follow recipes!
LOVE the new cut my friend, looks great on you! Happy weekend!!
Ah! That massage looks amazing!!
Brian and I really just enjoyed each other’s company last night and went on a walk for fro-yo and tonight we are cooking together. Those are the best dates in my book 
Oh my goodness-I cook like you do!!! People are like “what’s the recipe?!” HAH. none. I never measure stuff either–and I’ve never had more than 2 major failures, so it works for me.
YAY cruises!
HaHA! I totally thought that said jump me too!! I was thinking, wow, that’s inappropriate for kids hehe
LOVE that you got a massage, I need one! I just got my haircut too, isn’t it the best feeling? yours looks fab!!
we both had a great Valentines day!
we are a mix of a recipe follower and just throwing things together – that makes it fun
Oh I know what you mean about those first runs back. It IS so hard to stop after a few miles and I have to remind myself to build up slowly. So glad that you treated yourself to a massage. I saw your picture and was very jealous.
Ha that heart! I’m excited for you and your cruise!
I am addicted to grocery shopping at Aldi! I save so much money! I’m not a huge fan of the Greek yogurt there, though
We have aldi here also! Not sure I’d get a whole cart for 65 though. I love their different brands and products though
I love your new hair cut!!
And, how exciting to be fixing to go on a cruise!!! Where are you cruising out of and to?
I love to cook (hate baking because it is so much more precise)!!
Aldi is seriously the best! You can get some really great stuff for ridiculous prices! Especially produce! That is usually our first stop every week.
What delicious looking eats and a fabulous week! Massages are heavenly as are facials! Excited for you and your hubby’s getaway!
Always important to plan couple time like that!
It would seriously be funny if the candy heart said “jump me,” but you’re right, so not appropriate for the little kiddies who eat them. But still, funny.
haha