Private lessons. LESSONS.

Tonight I had my private yoga lesson, which was a Christmas present from my brother-in-law Matt for Christmas.(Thanks, Matt!)

Um… I’m on a TOTAL yoga high right now.

First off,  I decided to preface my private with an hour and a half blend class. I sweated my butt off and loved it.

Then it was time for some fun.

I swear, I was upside down for MOST of this class.

Heaven. Pure heaven.

According to my yoga teacher, Shay, being upside down has these benefits: aids digestion, helps circulation, relieves stress, and helps promote better brain function, among a whole bunch of other stuff.

I learned this:

And this:

This may have been my favorite:

And a bunch of other things. My muscles are SO tired right now. I love it.

Granted, most of these I did with the help of a wall or Shay offering to balance me out.  And I’m pretty sure at least 80 percent of the time I looked like this:

Either way, I’m STOKED and I have SO much to work on. If you’re in to yoga and want to advance your practice, I highly recommend taking a private to have someone actually walk you through all the moves you want to master.

Namaste!

I would rather have an OK piece of chocolate than an amazing piece of a fruity dessert. It’s just how I roll.

My husband, however, is the complete opposite.

I like Kit Kats, he like Sour Patch Kids

I like chocolate ice cream, he prefers orange sherbet

I like chocolate cake, he prefers lemon.

I don’t understand it. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Who in their right mind would choose licorice over a piece of milk chocolate?  Crazy people, that’s who.  Crazy people and my husband. Crazy people, my husband and his brothers. It must be a Blashaw thing.

So it being his birthday I decided to forgo making what might be considered one of my most favorite desserts, chocolate cake with butter cream frosting, to make him something lemon.

And it doesn’t get more lemony than lemon bars.

I like lemon bars but I am VERY picky about them. I don’t like when they taste too jello-y and they’re slopping all over the place. Gross.

I also don’t like when the lemon layer is so large and in charge it totally wipes out the taste of the shortbread cake underneath.

Apparently a blogger over at Smitten Kitchen (cute name) feels the same way so I used her recipe. If you do like a thicker lemon layer, follow the first recipe.

If you’re like me, use the second one.

These turned out great! Not to goopy and not too sweet  but  juuuust right. These are the Goldilocks version of lemon bars.

Legit.

They really must be good because as a chocolate lover I did not expect to pound eight of these things in three days. But I did. (They’re small!!)

Here it is:

Lemon Bars
Adapted from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.

For the crust:
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

For the full-size lemon layer:
6 extra-large eggs at room temperature
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (4 to 6 lemons)
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup flour

Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

[Or] for a thinner lemon layer:

4 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest (3 to 4 lemons)
2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2/3 cup flour

Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking sheet.

For the crust, cream the butter and sugar until light in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt and, with the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Dump the dough onto a well-floured board and gather into a ball. Flatten the dough with floured hands and press it into the greased baking sheet, building up a 1/2-inch edge on all sides. Chill.

Bake the crust for 15 to 20 minutes, until very lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.

For the lemon layer, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30 to 35 minutes (less if you are using the thinner topping), or about five minutes beyond the point where the filling is set. Let cool to room temperature.

Cut into rectangles and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Happy baking!

Happy birthday to my husband!!

He is 33 today – woop woop!

In honor of his birthday I have made a list of10 things that make him so freaking awesome! Happy birthday honey!! (And let me be clear this list could be much, much longer)

1. He buys me flowers just because

2. He cooks

3. He can sing AND play guitar

4. He can create lyrics to any tune that are extremely hilarious

5. He takes care of his family and is a great friend

6. He can dance

7. He is so smart it’s actually intimidating

8. Funny, funny, funny

9. He’s athletic (yum!)

10. He is just the greatest man in the WHOLE world!

Here are some pictures to prove it! <33

After 12 weeks of preparation,  Raven and I finished our half-marathon in Huntington Beach today and it was awesome. I can’t walk now, but it’s awesome.

The final days before the race were all kinds of fun. We screamed in the car on the way to the Expo, got free snacks, bought runner paraphernalia, and ate carbohydrates until we couldn’t move.

The night before was less fun. I didn’t really want to eat so I woke up starving the day of the race. I couldn’t really sleep so I decided to shampoo my car mats at 10 p.m. – that was super smart and completely normal.

I don’t think I have ever been more nervous in my life for ANYTHING. Not even jumping out of  a plane.

The race went like this:

Start: Feeling good, moving slow, getting passed by walkers twice my age and twice my size. Raven left me in the dust – she’s fast and amazing!

Mile 3: For some reason a woman who is apparently on her first half can’t read. She keeps announcing rather loudly the miles we are at. That’s all well and good … unless you’re wrong. She yelled, “Wow, those first three miles were really easy.” Um… we’re at mile 1.5. Followed by “Those first five weren’t bad.”  OH MY GOD lady stop getting my hopes up! We’re at mile THREE! Anyway, I ended up running faster just to get away from her madness.

Mile 5: Working it out – I hit a good pace here and started to crank it up a bit.

Mile 8:  Holy hell what did I get myself into? That nice little overuse injury I had several weeks ago started screaming at me to get me to stop.  Pain, pain, and more pain. That’s all I remember from miles 8-10. Then some random dude running yelled, “Pain is temporary!” Sounds cheesy, but that totally helped.

Mile 11: Two more to go and I pick up the pace. I think to myself, “this is insane, I’m going to finish” and all of a sudden I get extremely happy.

Mile 13: The crowd is screaming, my legs are shaking. I look to my right and see my husband and two good friends cheering me on.

Annnnnd…. DONE!

I wrapped myself with one of those foil-looking thingies just because I could. I’ve seen it done on TV but still have no idea what they’re really meant for but I do know it made me feel like a legit runner, so that was good.

What an amazing experience. I barely have any sarcasm to enter into this post because I am just soooooo happy!See picture to illustrate said happiness. ———->

Our times:

Raven: 2:21

Me: 2:35

Cheers!

Today it hurts to sit, stand, sleep, eat and think.  I love it!

I went for a run just to make it hurt less (which sounds counter-intuitive but I had been sidelined from running for more than a week by the doctor so I HAD to run today)

I have to say I was a little misled  by the class description. It said it was a take on dance classes so here I am thinking this is like ballet class minus the across the floor work.  I was expecting  lot of isolations, plies, balancing and butt work.

Well this was like no dance class I had ever been to.

It actually had ZERO to do with dance.  The leg positions were all wrong, the form was all wrong and most of the time our feet were flexed, which is so NOT like a ballerina.

I actually started to feel really confused on why they even called it BarWorks. Of all my years of dance experience, I don’t think I have ever done even one of the moves in this class.

There were a lot of  “never dones” in this class.

I have never held a push up position without a break for so long in my life. I have also never done so many yoga push ups (elbows in and tight at your sides)  without a break in my life.

I have also never had to squeeze a ball in between my thighs for so long. Everything we did we had this small plastic ball between our legs. It was awkward but it definitely engaged the core and leg muscles.

Once I got over the fact that this wasn’t going to be like a dance class, I started to enjoy it.

This class was NUT-SO!

My muscles were literally giving up halfway through the class, which is a good thing I guess.

At one point I just sat on my mat and started laughing out of pure exhaustion because I physically could not complete one of the sequences.  I actually yelled out loud:  “I thought this was a level one class! Level one!”.  I realize this is embarrassing.

I highly recommend it and am guessing this is what the cardio barre craze is all about.  Although, from what I’ve heard about those classes they actually do sound dance-inspired.

This is a nice mix-in for my days at the studio and I’m glad they offer it. And even though it wasn’t what I thought it would be, who the heck cares I got a GREAT workout!

1. Oxymoron.

2. Tastes like Cardboard.

I would be wrong on both accounts with this recipe I found  called “Bev’s Chocolate Chip Cookies”.  I want to be best friends with Bev after tasting this recipe because I wonder what other kinds of food magic she is capable of.

Bev's cookies make the dessert a little more healthful

I was coming down off such a sugar coma after all that baking I did for Christmas. My husband and I were left with so many treats and somebody had to eat them and I gladly took on the task.

At one point, I thought I physically could not stuff any more chocolate down my throat which for me, is a HUGE deal.

I swore I wouldn’t bake anything sweet for the next six months but then I found this recipe and it piqued my interest.

It adds a little dose of healthy into your indulgence.  That’s not to say you can sit back and eat 27 cookies and think you’re being healthy. You would be wrong. There is still sugar and fat but there’s just considerably less.  Instead of using white flour, you use whole wheat flour and ground rolled oats. Next time, I’m going to add ground flaxseed for added nutritional value.

These cookies were pretty good for being healthier versions of their decadent counterparts. They’re only 99 calories a piece! (A standard-sized chocolate chip cookies can pack 250 cals!)

Give them a try!

Bev’s cookies from Eating Well

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips

I think it’s fantastic that when the new year starts people all over the county/state/nation/world commit themselves to living a healthier lifestyle. I honestly believe it makes the world a better place. It’s a fact that people who exercise are just happier. It’s science.

And I am not so cocky to be judgmental about newbies in classes. At one time or another, all of us have been new at SOMETHING. We didn’t come out of the womb running or in an up dog. I get it. It’s always a little apprehensive when you are new to a class or a sport. It can be awkward and you can feel out of place. That is completely normal. Remember, nobody is a master at anything. There is always room to learn and grow even if you are really great at what you do.

I welcome trying new things myself and I welcome new people to the classes that I love.

Unless … you’re that new person who is just an ass. 

My yoga classes for the last two weeks have been utterly packed, which is great.  It was to the point where literally during my Warrior 3 I had my face in another dude’s armpit. No joke. I could smell his cologne and I kept praying he didn’t fall out of his pose because that would most definitely mean an elbow right into my nose. But, honestly, I was fine with it.

I am fine with it until people do stupid things.

If you’re going to start something new this year, like yoga, here are some tips so you don’t piss off all the people who’ve been regularly taking the class for months or years. (These apply specifically to yoga just because of my recent experience but can actually apply to any class).

Even as I write this I know that this isn’t very yoga-like of me but… well… I just can’t help it. I’m working on my “inner peace” thing and though I’ve made progress, I’ve got a long way to go.

1. Shut up. Don’t talk during class, just don’t. It is the time for meditation not chatting about your day.

2. Turn off your cell phone. Better yet, leave it in the car. There is NO excuse for your phone going off during Shavasana. It’s just rude and disruptive. People go to yoga to escape from the world for a couple of hours not to be reminded of it in the middle of meditation. And while you’re at it, apply this rule to when you’re at the movies, in church, or at a play, thanks.

3. Be punctual. Being late is disruptive and disrespectful. Learn to not be late.

4. Don’t smell.  It’s sweaty and smelly enough without BO added to the mix.  And let me be clear that smelling does not just apply to BO, which is gross but let’s be real, it happens. It also applies to perfume and cologne. Don’t wear it to go work out, just don’t. When you sweat, that mixes with your Cool Water cologne and creates a gag-worthy stench. And while I’m on this tangent… who still wears Cool Water and why can I identify that scent? I’m embarrassed.

5. Know your limits. Don’t attempt a pose you’ve never done if you are inexperienced and unsure of the correct way to do it. Not only will you hurt yourself but in tight quarters, you will likely crash into the person next to you. I am not saying don’t try new things just know what your body can do and go from there.

I’m sure all types of activities have their own “rules” or code of ethics. Before starting something new it might be a good idea to simply find out what they are. And it may even make you feel more confident in your first class!

Happy sweating!

I over did it, as usual. I push too hard and then hurt myself and derail everything I’ve been working for.

A 9-mile run on Saturday has left me on my butt for the last two days.

Suckfest.

And instead of going to the doctor, I decide I’m fine and should wait.

Then, I like to plug my symptoms into WebMD and self-diagnose.

That website is the worst idea ever. It has completely turned me into a hypochondriac.

All of a sudden a migraine becomes a possible aneurism.

A pain in my side becomes a potential tumor.

And this pain in my foot that kept me from walking was most certainly a fracture.

Good news: my foot isn’t broken.

(Full disclaimer: I’m not entirely sure since I haven’t been to the doctor. If it is broken, my body has magical healing powers apparently, because I can walk now.)

Anyway this made me think about injury prevention.

I’ve done everything they said I was supposed to do: increase my mileage slowly and steadily, wear good shoes, warm up properly, stretch afterward, hydrate blah blah blah.

And let’s be honest here… I don’t run with the grace and speed of a cheetah. I’m slooooooow and clumsy,  but the miles get done.

Here are some tips from Livestrong.com on how you can prevent injury if you’re taking up a new physical activity for the New Year.

1. Warm-up. Give yourself 5-10 minutes to get your muscles warm. Make sure if you do stretches you do dynamic stretching and not static stretching. Static stretching is best for after a workout.

2. Lift weights: Building muscle mass will help protect your bones. Period.

3. Stretch more:  Being more flexible is good for your joints and can protect you from injury. Toss in some yoga a few times a week, if you can.

4. Learn the right way. According to Livestrong, even running sometimes needs a little guidance to ensure you aren’t hurting yourself when you pound the pavement.

And here’s a final tip added by yours truly:

5. Sometimes, you just need to sit one out.  Now that I look back, I think my injury was simply overuse. I was doing things right but pushed it too hard.  In my opinion, It’s OK to take a break once in a while and can actually be beneficial for your training.

My head failed to stop pounding as I worked today.   All  day I wished I could wear my sunglasses inside without looking like a creep.

It could be worse. I could have a job I vehemently hate. Thank God I don’t.

I got to visit babies today and for that two hours my headache was quieted by my much louder, and more annoying, biological clock.

That clock likes to scream at me when I am in the presence of babies, especially newborns. I like to tell it to shut the hell up.

Anyway, that’s an entirely different topic. Back to ringing in the New Year.

My New Year’s Eve went something like this:

A huge albino fro accompanied me to a NYE party thrown by friends of mine.

Please note my creepy fro ——>

Hot. Mama.

I didn’t have a  ride to this event because I lag and missed my carpool so I asked mom and dad to please pick me up and drop me off at my party. You heard me. I said mom and dad.

I was immediately transported to my teenage years as I stepped out of the Jeep and both parents were waving goodbye and telling me to have fun at my party. The best part was my mom asking me if they should wait until I “made it inside OK”.  Always looking out.

I’m not going to lie, a bit of nostalgia washed over me in that moment.

I almost wished I had a sluttier, more inappropriate outfit stuffed in my purse that I would change into after they drove away. Now, that would have really been accurate. A true tribute to the days of dancing at Kokomos in any type of shirt that showed my stomach. Don’t judge me.

Now on to the party.

Dancing, dancing, dancing.

Tiny wieners wrapped in pastry, pizza bites, fried Mac n’ Cheese.

Jello shots, champagne, jello shots.

Dancing, dancing, dancing.

Whining about my feet.

Piggy back ride from my husband home.

Zero recollection of how I got into bed.

Wake up multiple times throughout the night with night sweats and feeling like there is a cup of sand in my mouth.

Alarm goes off.

Mother F-er.

I can’t wait to get home and be lazy so that it truly feels like New Year’s Day.

Note to self: Maybe next year don’t sign up for the New Year’s Day shift.

It’s probably because I always break them.

I always break them because they’re always unrealistic.  I’m going to stop cursing, I’m going to stop eating sugar, or I’m going to lose X amount of pounds. It NEVER happens.

These types of resolutions just set you up for failure, in my opinion.

So this year I propose something new for you to try.

A New Year’s goal list.

They can be simple. Specific or general. Fun or serious.

Maybe some of you already do this.  I have never tried it. I’ve just skipped resolutions in recent years.

Set goals, not a rule that you are inevitably going to break. Rules that limit happiness in life are just negative energy. Who wants to live to never have another cookie again? Um, not me.

If some weight or health related goal is on your list, that’s great but set time-specific goals that are easier to stick to.  To start, maybe you’ll work out two days a week and then every three weeks, add a day. Slow and steady wins the race to a hot bod.

Your goals also don’t have to be self-help related. They could be things you want to do this year. Maybe you want to go to a local museum because you’ve never been, maybe you want to learn a new sport, maybe you want to rescue a dog.

Write it down then do it. This will be FUN.

I thought of this earlier this week when several people asked me what my New Year’s resolution was going to be and I didn’t feel excited. I felt grossed out by this question.

Then this morning I saw on this on  news: a goal tree. I LOVE it and it completely coincides with my New Year’s plan!

I don’t want to keep it in my apartment but I love it. It’s more of a party idea. You may recognize these because a lot of people use these as a “Wedding Wish” tree on the guest book table or at a shower. BUT if you are hosting a NYE party tomorrow, this could be fun for your guests. They look something like this:

Off the top of my head I can think of a few things that will be on my list but I feel like I need to really sit down and think, think, think. Here are some of my New Year’s goals.

1.  Master a semi-complicated Yoga inversion  (or at least make significant progress toward one).

2.  Finish that half-marathon (I know this was already sort of on my list)

3.  Have a picnic, with a basket and all

4.  Run on a trail, not the road

5.  Go to the San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park (I haven’t been since I was a kid)

6.  Take a surfing lesson

7.  Find a one piece that doesn’t look hideous on me (this is SO hard with my short little legs)

8.  See more movies in the theater.

9. Write more.

10. Golf on an 18-hole course (I’ve only done a 9-hole)