Goals for January: With Resolve

Whew.  Happy New Year, y’all.  I just sobered up.

All right, that’s not true.  I’ve been sober this whole time, actually.  I didn’t even get drunk on New Year’s Eve.  Talk about a fail.

I’ve been out of commission since the beginning of the new year, but I’m working on getting back to life, starting first and foremost with a few goals for January.

In December I made goals to get back to yoga, to write more, and to cut down on guilt.  I did make it to a yoga class in December, but only one; that being said, I went to the first Saturday yoga class of the new year and I’m planning on making it part of my regular Saturday routine again.  I felt much better after yoga this past Saturday and I’m looking forward to doing it again.  I did some personal writing in December.  I didn’t do as much as I would have liked, but I did get words on paper, so it’s a start.  That’s something I’m going to keep working on.  I definitely cut back on my workout guilt, but I find that I just feel better on days that I work out.  I got a lot of work and writing done in the evenings during bouts of insomnia I’ve been having (even with my Lunesta!) and while I have a lot of progress to make, I at least feel like I’ve been productive in my professional life lately, which is good.

So, I’ve thought a lot about New Year’s resolutions.  The last post I made in December highlighted some of my resolution suggestions for those who are looking to make realistic and very helpful changes.  Those were all changes I made in 2010 without resolving to do any of them.  Like I said in that post, I didn’t make any resolutions last year, but when I look back on everything I accomplished without making arbitrary promises about them, I’m fairly pleased with my progress.  As a result, I’m not going to make resolutions this year either.  If I could just pretend like New Year’s never happened, that would actually be ideal, so that’s what I’m going with.

I am, however, going to make goals for January, even though we’re already 11 days in.  Better late than never, y’know?

Goal #1: Find a place to volunteer for–This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time and since I do tend to have extra time on my hands due to a flexible work schedule, I really have no excuse not to do it (other than laziness.)  I have a meeting with a volunteer coordinator at a great organization that helps children who have lost a parent or sibling this afternoon and I have high hopes for it.  I’m also thinking about volunteering with animals in some capacity, but I’m kind of afraid I’ll end up with 200 cats and 75 dogs.  There’s no risk of me wanting to bring children home, ever.

Goal #2: Sign up for a 5k–I got beautiful new cross trainers for Christmas and my trick knee hasn’t been hurting nearly as much.  It’s amazing what a good pair of shoes can do for your workout.  As the case happens to be, I think it’s time that I finally find a 5k to sign up for.  The real lure for me is the pre-race carbo-load, but I’d also really like one of those pictures of myself decked out in my exercise gear with the number pinned to my chest. Also, I guess it would be some good exercise.

Goal #3: Eat fresh veggies with lunch and dinner every day–Since the holiday madness is over and I’m no longer feeling entitled to participate in “All You Can Eat Week” it’s time to seriously lighten up.  I hate it when I get to dinner and realize I’ve had many fruit servings, but no vegetables.  I definitely gravitate toward fruit, but vegetables make me feel good too, so I declare the need for fresh veggies with lunch and dinner every day. Today I paired my Amy’s Alphabet soup (it’s awesome) with slices of red pepper and cucumber along with a package of my latest awesome discovery, Wholly Guacamole 100 Calorie Snack Packs.  I’m not usually a fan of 100 calorie packs of anything because they’re usually complete bullshit, but these are great!  Guacamole isn’t known for keeping well, so I always feel compelled to eat all of it if I make it from scratch or if I buy the regular sized pack of Wholly Guacamole, which means I’m taking down 300 or 400 calories for a snack, and that’s not including the vegetables or chips.  No good.  These are 100 calorie packs that are really worth the extra money. They’re perfectly portioned and you don’t have to worry about storing leftover guac that will just turn sad and brown.

Goal #4: Amp up the cardio–Of course, I’m all about the strength training now because I realize what a huge difference it’s made in my body and my overall exercise routine, but if I’m going to do this 5k I’m going to be able to endure, you know, running a 5k.  I’ve been adding bursts of cardio after my strength workouts (usually a 30 minute jog on the treadmill) and of course I’m still going spinning 2-3 times per week.

Tune in for February’s goals, in what?  Two and a half weeks?  Jesus Christ, it’s practically 2012 already.

Slow down, everyone.

Jaclyn Can Cook: Light and Satisfying Veggie Plate

It’s fall everywhere else, but here in Florida, it’s still about 1,000 degrees out.  Actually, I just wrote an email to my father in which I said it seems to be cooling down in Orlando.  So it’s like, 999 degrees out.  My point is, while everyone else in the free world is buying gourds and cinnamon brooms, I went to the beach on Sunday and it was 93 degrees outside.  I actually went to a nude-friendly beach and saw a lot of stuff.  A lot.

Like, a lot.

Because it’s so hot outside, eating delightful, warm, hearty, fall and winter-centric meals is not yet a serious option around these parts.  I mean, I could make some veggie shepherd’s pie or some homemade soup or some apple crisp, but those things would just sit in my stomach like bricks.  Big, hot, heavy bricks.

Mmm, dinner.

Since I don’t like feeling like I ate a brick in 100 degree weather (which I did after my Cajun lunch today–fried pickles make my soul complete, but have just been sitting there all afternoon), I’ve been forgoing traditional meals in favor of my very own delightful mixed veggie plates.

Oooh

Ahh

The first photo is of the starter plate, which features carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, whole wheat pita, reduced fat feta, and a red bean dip.  The second photo is of the advanced plate, which has the base vegetables on the starter plate, but also includes organic wheat crackers, some thinly sliced Parmesan cheese, and FRESH FIGS STUFFED WITH FETA.

Seriously, fresh figs will change your life.  For the better, of course.

I had the advanced plate with some red bean dip leftover from the starter plate.  It’s not pictured because FRESH FIGS STUFFED WITH MOTHERFUCKING FETA took up all the space.

This is something of a variation of Rachel’s The Feast, but absolutely no cooking is required.  A little chop of some fruits and vegetables, a little spin of beans and garlic in the food processor, a tablespoon of cheese, and I’m done.

You can use whatever vegetables, fruit, and cheese you have on hand.  If you have some wheat crackers, whole wheat pita, or even a chunk of whole wheat baguette, throw that on there too.  I just got some grapes and a cantulope from Orlando Organics and I bought some fresh strawberries and Muenster cheese earlier today.  I see a fruit plate in my future.

You can make this meal without breaking a sweat. It’s light, it’s satisfying, and it will keep you cool and collected.

If you go outside in Florida in September, however, I can’t make any guarantees.

Orlando Organics and How To Make a Passion Sandwich

A few weeks ago I went on an unsuccessful date with a guy who asked me what my passion was.  Actually, “So, what’s your passion?” were his exact words.  I was dumbfounded, mostly because it was the lamest question I’d ever heard and because I had already talked with him about the normal stuff–what I do, what I like, what my personal tastes are–at that point, talking about “passion” seemed really contrived and stupid.

That question was only one of many reasons that the date was not a success, but we don’t need to talk about all that.

This story all leads up to this: though I struggled to answer that stupid question without rolling my eyes like a total bitch, I lit up when I saw one of the employees at the coffee shop where lame date occurred, because I had spoken with her about my beloved Orlando Organics just a few days prior and she and her husband were considering signing up.  When I saw her I asked if they had looked into it yet, and she and I launched into a quick conversation about the company.  When we were done, I explained to my date that I absolutely love this local organic produce delivery service and he replied, kind of dickishly, “that’s kind of what I was looking for when I asked what your passion is.”

Oh.  Excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me.

Though it didn’t work out with Passionman, I’m definitely In A Relationship with Orlando Organics and I think we’re in love.  I got a subscription about four months ago and I have been reaping the benefits of having fresh organic produce delivered straight to my door every other week.  There are different packages and members have the option to receive packages weekly or bi-weekly.  I’ve been getting the Harvest Blend Regular and it’s perfect for me.  I usually add a carton of organic eggs and sometimes I even add tofu!  Here’s a sampling of my recent and past deliveries:

Notice my sweet Starla peeking out from under the table.

Holy sweet potato

Hellooooooooo, Summer!

As you can clearly see, Orlando Organic is amazing.  I might even say I’m passionate about it.

The last photo in that set contains yellow squash, mushrooms, onion, and eggplant, which I used to make this vegetarian delight for my mouth:

"I'm a passion sandwich."

Wanna make it?