How will you celebrate?

I love, love, love celebrating things! I celebrate birthdays, holidays, people...I celebrate LIFE in general.

Last year (2011), my daughter Halle and I declared it the "Year of Celebration!" We declared this after a close friend's son relapsed with leukemia. Basically as I sat down my then almost 10 year old we talked about the importance of celebrating life, celebrating each day that God gives us...regardless! Easier said then done when you are faced with a crisis, right? We set out to celebrate something every month...most months come with a holiday so those were easy but then there were months that had nothing so we went searching via Google...one month we celebrated National Sweden Day (my husband's family is Swedish and after researching it we found out it was a socialist holiday, LOL).

Tomorrow I am CELEBRATING the last day of the 30 Day Burpee Challenge! Yes people we are done! And for those of you that don't know what I am talking about...the month of June, every day for 30 days, we committed to doing 100 burpees a day. We couldn't do extra to get ahead but if we fell behind we had to do what was necessary to catch up! And Saturday is the 30th day...3000 burpees under our belt. Woohoo!

So how will I celebrate? With a new challenge? With special food or maybe a special drink? Maybe celebrate by relaxing by my pool. Or will I high-five the people I work out with tomorrow and celebrate them? Honestly, I am thinking there will be a little bit of everything that I mentioned in my celebration. =) Including a happy dance so don't laugh at me when you see it, just join in the fun!

It's Friday...time for a recipe!

I  decided that after 6 months of enjoying this new lifestyle of eating paleo and in most cases Whole30 which is CLEAN eating, I would start to look at "regular" recipes that are out there and implement the changes necessary and see what I come up with! So if all goes well this will be a weekly addition to my blog =)
I have to admit...this is SUPER fun for me! I love to cook, I love to create things and I love sharing what I find and learn with people. And paleo eating is no different, so here we go! I was inspired by a recipe that was posted on the Williams-Sonoma Facebook page. It looked so fresh and yummy I made it the very next day.
Pineapple-Melon Summer Salsa

• 1/2 small cantaloupe, about 1 1/4 lb., peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice 
• 1/2 small pineapple, about 1 lb., peeled, cored and cut into 1/2-inch dice 
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped 
• 1/2 bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped 
• 1 small cucumber, about 6 oz., peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice 
• 1/2 jalapeño chili, seeded and finely chopped  
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro  
• 2 Tbs. fresh lime juice 
• 2 Tbs. olive oil 
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 

This can be served with shrimp, chicken, salmon your choice! I choose grilled shrimp seasoned w chili powder and served on a bed of fresh spinach. YUMMY!



Why I am blogging again and why the crockpot...

About a week and a half ago Andrew asked me if I could help Canyon Crossfit but submitting blogs for the actual website. Obviously they are wanting to keep new content on the home page which I understand will help with their SEO...right? So, I figured why not. I will give it a try and see how people like it (if they do at all!) All that being said, this is a new thing for me because when I started this blog it was for the Perfomance Nutrition Challenge so I was blogging about my journey. THIS TIME I need to be more diverse with the topics. So.....PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS & IDEAS! What do you like, what do you not like, what do you want to see. I am game and I will research whatever topics you mention and find the information to get it out there so we can all grow!

Now for the crockpot! LOL

We all have busy lives but there is hope when it comes to having great tasting, Paleo meals that are made with ease...USE YOUR CROCKPOT!

Honestly it is a lifesaver for me and the recipes I have found are not "Your mother's crockpot recipes!" =) I promise you will love them...some of my favorites come from http://www.paleomg.com/. Juli Bauer is CRAZY funny and her recipes have so much creativity and flavor. I have tried at least 8 of the recipes and they have all been a success. The Honey Ginger Apple Shredded Pork even impressed my mom and she went out and got the ingredients to make it that next week.

Another great resource that is Nom Nom Paleo. Her logo alone makes me want to try her recipes and for all you iPad people, she has an app now. Impressive, right?! The great thing about her is that she inspires me because she is a mom also...you know, kind of a kindred spirit. :) http://www.nomnompaleo.com/

Each week I look at what life has in store for me on the calendar and then I make the "food schedule" for the week. Ok, I admit I am WAY too organized when it comes to these sorts of things but I LOVE lists and I love to cross things off my list when it is done so my "food schedule" is just another list for me! Sorry...I am rambling. Anyway, I make my meal list and honestly usually 2 days are crockpot. The recipes always make enough for leftovers which become lunch and I walk into the house after a WOD at Canyon Crossfit and dinner is almost ready and the house smells YUMMY!

Give it a try and tell me what recipes are your favorites!

What is the definition of a challenge?

Challenges come in all shapes and sizes. Some we create for ourselves and some just happen to us. Today is Day 2 of a challenge that we are taking on by choice...the 30 Day, 3,000 Burpee Challenge! Craziness...some may say yes, but those of us that agreed to push ourselves with this Challenge are likely to say differently when it is all said and done.

Each time we face a challenge it has the potential to be life changing. This is why we surround ourselves with people that support and encourage us. We realize that it is not meant to be taken on alone...this is why we are a part of a community and for this challenge it is the community called Canyon Crossfit. Together we say, "Bring it!"