Guest Post!

Hello! We have a guest post today from my friend, Katy. She has a fabulous blog (Think Pretty Thoughts) and I had to get her to post on mine. I am always looking forward to her next posts to see what she has to say – especially about working out. She knows what she is talking about! Enjoy!

Hi everybody!
 
My name’s Katy! Let me just start out by saying how much I love Sarah’s blog. She just makes me wanna be more…woman. She’s obviously really good at being one! Cooking, sewing, more cooking! I’m lucky to be her real life friend.

I have my own little blog, too! It’s called Think Pretty Thoughts. A lifestyle blog about pretty stuff! I post outfits, nasty sweaty (not pretty) workouts, and random flowers that I’m sort of obsessed with. You know..the life essentials. When Sarah asked me to guest post, I was thrilled, of course! So, let’s talk.
 
One thing I discuss quite frequently on my blog is my love affair with fitness. What I really love about working out is the results it brings when done the right way. The moment I added weight training into my workouts- oh, baby. It was good.
 
Weight training can be intimidating for us ladies. The thought of bulking up makes us want to run so far away from the gym, we’d end up in Alaska. That’s far. But, have you ever thought about when does bulking actually happen to women? More of an assumption, right? Well, it happens very rarely. Did you catch that? Very rarely! If your diet is high-fat…yep, that’ll happen! If your diet is full of lean and healthy proteins, nope! Not gonna happen! Actually the opposite. You will begin to lean out…which is just what your little heart desired! AND…the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn ALL-DAY-LONG…{we like that!} Just one more reason why you won’t get thicker, you’ll get thinner! Um, what was that noise? Angels singing?

i love you weights. i really, really do. 

So where’s a good place to start with lifting weights? Well, your diet. Yeah, I said it. Please don’t be mad. If you want to be more toned, lean, and trim…your healthy diet paired with weights are your new BFF’s. No more 100 calorie packs. No more strawberry cheesecake yogurt packs, either. Are you guys hating me yet? Good. Please eat foods that are lean, clean, and fresh. If it don’t have a momma or come from the ground, don’t eat it!
 
Lifting weights 3-5 days a week (whatever your schedule allows) is perfect. Once a week full-body is not enough! 7 days a week, too much. You can either work one body part a day, or combine a couple if you’re short on time. If you have workout questions..don’t hesistate to ask me at my blog. I’d really love it!

Chicken Quesadillas

This is an easy go-to meal for us. And, very versatile as well. You can mix up the cheese, make with no meat, add some veggies – make as you want! I know this is probably a meal you know how to make, but it’s easy and relatively healthy, so I thought I’d post it anyway. I got this recipe from a co-worker, Melissa.

Ingredients:
2-3 Chicken Breasts
1/2 onion chopped fine
Olive oil
1 tsp. Garlic chopped
Monterrey Jack cheese
7 inch tortillas

Directions:
1. Cook chicken, onion with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in oil in a skillet until cooked through.
2. Add garlic and cook, stirring, about 1 minute.
3. Put 1 tortilla on a cutting board and spread 1/2 cup chicken/onions and cheese liking over half of tortilla, then fold other half over to form a half-moon, pressing firmly on seam.
4. Assemble 7 more quesadillas in same manner.
5. Heat lightly oiled pan over high heat until it begins to smoke
6. Reduce heat to moderate and grill quesadillas, 2 at a time, turning over once, until cheese is melted about 4 minutes total per batch.
7. Transfer with a spatula to cutting board and cut in half.

Easy and yummy! But be careful – I burnt my finger once making these! You can top with sour cream or salsa, if you like. (I’m a big fan of salsa so that’s what I serve with!)

This Week’s Workout Plan

So – I haven’t been consistently going to the gym the past two weeks. I just got out of the habit. One day it was this… the next it was that… you know how it is. But, man! Once I skipped one day – you know how easy it was to skip the next? and the next? So – I’m back! I went over the weekend and it felt. so. good. Yes, it hurt some… but that kinda felt good. You know?

Anyway – I have asked Jonny to keep me accountable for going to the gym. I am a calender girl. We are both really good about using a calender. What’s on the calender is what stands in the plans. So – my workouts are on and I thought I’d put them on here, too. You know, for more accountability. :)

Monday – Body Pump class at 24hour. I love this class. Yes, I hate it 30 minutes in. But – in the end, I love it. It is basically a full body bar workout. Favorite part? I have friends at work in this class. Talk about motivation.

Tuesday – no gym workout. I have church and literally only have an hour between work and getting to Denton.

Wednesday – Turbo Kick. FAVORITE. I’ll be honest, I used to like it more with another instructor… but it’s still fun with the new one. It gets me all pumped up!

Thursday – quick workout. I will do some intervals on the treadmill (see example on Katy’s blog.) And, I will do some free weight workouts.

Friday – Cardio Dance Party! Yes, that is the best name for a class ever. It’s fun. It’s not crazy intense, but does get a good cardio in. I will also do weight machines before/after the class.

Saturday – Yoga! Relaxing and so good for the body. Love!

Sunday – No workout – it’s Easter!

I also do a quick 15 minute workout each morning that a trainer put together for me. I will post that another time for you to check out. Bonus? It wakes me up!

Okay – so here we go! This is what my weeks typically looked like before my two week hiatus. Let me know if you have any advice/do anything similar. Do you like to go to classes? They work for my schedule oriented mind. What about you?

Panko-Crusted Chicken with Mustard-Maple Pan Sauce

I think it’s funny to have two hyphens in one title. And… it’s a long name for a recipe. But, it’s the name that the original source gave it, so I’ll keep it. Kind of like how we kept our new dog Abby’s name from the pound. Wouldn’t want to confuse anyone.

Anyway – the recipe! This surprised me greatly. I thought it was just going to be another ordinary chicken recipe. You know, good – but not like an, ”Oh my gosh! This is amazing!” kind of thing. But – it turned out that’s exactly what I said after one bite. Jonny, of course, was still taking photos while I was sneaking a piece… I gave myself away with that exclamation. But hey, it made me stop taking pictures quicker and have a bit himself. He thought it was great, too!

Ingredients:
2 8-ounce skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cut crosswise in half
1 large egg
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 cup panko
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup low-salt chicken broth
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
1 tablespoon chilled unsalted butter

Directions:
1. Using meat mallet or rolling pin, pound chicken in resealable plastic bag to 1/3-to 1/2-inch thickness.
2. Whisk egg, parsley, and 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard in large bowl. Place chicken in egg mixture; turn to coat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Dip each chicken piece in panko; turn to coat.
3. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook until brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.
4. Meanwhile, whisk broth, syrup, coarse-grained mustard, and remaining 2tablespoons Dijon mustard in glass measuring cup.
5. Transfer chicken to plates.
6. Add broth mixture to skillet; boil until reduced to 3/4 cup, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add butter; whisk until melted.
7. Spoon sauce alongside chicken.

(I got this recipe from my sis-in-law, Beth. She got this recipe from Epicurious.) Served in the picture with roasted broccoli.

Oh, and since I mentioned our new dog, Abby… I thought you might want to see a picture. Here she is with our other wonderful dog, Rocket.

Adorable, right?!?!