Perfect Day.

Well, I am officially in LOVE with this Sunday.  There was a photo shoot, a killer workout, a not-so-bum knee, and two trips to the grocery store with Emily.  All in all I think that is pretty much my idea of how to end the week.

After we did the grungy and surprisingly fun photo shoot downtown…..I headed off to meet Emily in Johnson City for a workout!  I am not taking any chances with the knee, so instead of running in the ahhhh-mazingly, and shockingly warm and gorgeous weather, I was stuck riding this beast:

Oh Elliptical…..you and I have such a love/hate relationship.  We are worse than Jon and Kate, minus the crazy psycho hair…and 4,000 children.  Lucky for me, Emily arrived quickly to relieve the boredom.

Chatting it up with a friend is way more productive and time consuming than being on these machines solo, with a 42 inch plasma screen option of Fox News and Random Sports Game….blech.  After I managed 35 minutes on the elliptical I made it to a place I do not frequent nearly enough:

I think a major problem with my knee (self diagnosed Runner’s Knee) is due to lack of stretching, so I was sure to stretch it out today!

They even had these awesome machines specifically for stretching!  It was pretty sweet.

So after some heavy duty stretching….elliptical….and some leg machines, Emily and I decided that even if we couldn’t run, we were at least going to go for a walk.  The Wellness Center is equipped with some awesome bike/jogging/walking trails, of which we took full advantage of:

We walked and talked about Florida.  Our plane leaves in *4* days!!!!!!!!!!  I am so nervous and excited at the same time.  I am hoping beyond hope that the knee won’t bug me.  I have been trying everything I can think of to “heal” it.  It’s so hard to take time off when your job is to teach Exercise Classes!  Oh well, hopefully the knee brace + no running will be enough for me to run that sucka pain free!  Did my last Half in 1:46, and I would really like to improve my time…but I’m just not sure it will happen with the whole knee thing.  Oh well.  Check out the race’s site for more info!

After the workout, we headed to our first grocery store destination, Kroger!  I love the Earth Fizz, but the produce/some other items are totally cheaper at the Krog!

Emily had to replinish her stock of oatmeal.  I am totally digging Mr. Quaker.  He keeps me company everrrrrry morning.

We then headed the literal 20 feet to the Earth Feezy to pick up the items we couldn’t get at Kroger….Eco-Friendly of course, we boxed our items out of the store!

By this point my stomach and dinner had a date that was fast approaching, and needed to happen.  Rushed home and spread out my loot:

And got to work on some veggie chili!

Made some delicious bread to go along with it using my new whole wheat pocket bread I picked up tonight, plus some natural provolone, and of course…red pepper:

Baked the bread in a 350* oven until crispy, then plated it all up.  Dollop-o-greek yogurt made for some rockin’ “sour cream”:

Which was finished off by an Attune!

Remember…you still until midnight (EST) to comment HERE for your chance to win a 14-day supply of free Attune Probiotic Chocolate bars!!!!  Include the reason why you want to win, plus a contact email!  Winner will be announced tomorrow!

Also, Rachel has posted the first pic from the photo shoot today!!!!  Check out her amazing site or Facebook Page

Did I nail the fierceness?!?!?!  Rachel, you rock…I love it!  Cannot wait to see the rest!  Have an awesome night bloggies, and don’t forget to enter to win that free chocolate!!!!!

Papa…..Papa…Razzi!

It was 60* outside….the sun was gorgeous…and it was time to take pictures!  Enter the lovely Rachel:

Rachel is my friend/ahhhh-mazing photographer that played Paparazzi with me all afternoon!  We headed downtown where the backgrounds were spectacular!

I loved the whole “grunge” setting.  She wanted me to bring a variety of outfits.  Funny thing is, I didn’t think about changing facilities.  I am man enough to strip down in the alley way.  That’s everyones typical Sunday, no?  Between her shots, I managed to snap one of my own!

It was so much fun!!!!!!  We also took some really cool running pics, I cannot wait to see how they all turn out!  Thanks Rach, you are the best!!!!

What can I say, modeling is tough work.  ;-)  hahaha, in all seriousness, I was STARVING by the time we were done.  I thought about lunch the whole way home.  Let me just pre-face this one by saying that sometimes you just need to get creative, and get in the kitchen.  This meal was quite possibly one of my favorites evah.  EVAH PEOPLE!

I was still in my pizza frame of mind, but I was also really craving some chocolate.  Why not combine them both?!?!  I slathered a whole wheat tortilla with my favorite DCD Peanut Butter:

The “toppings” included a sliced nana, some “indulgent” Trader Joe trail mix, and a heavy sprinkling of cinnamon!

Popped this baby into a 400* oven for about 10 minutes…warning.  Drool inducing imagery ahead.  Don’t say you weren’t told.

MELTY CHOCO-PIZZA GOODNESS!!!

Nice big apple created a lunch for the books.

Rachel likes to snap photos of people….I prefer to take pictures of dessert pizza.  To each their own, right?

Yeaaaaaaa.  It was pretty much as good as it looked.  Perfect Sunday lunch.

Now it is time to head to Johnson City to meet Emily at the gym for a couple of hours, then to Earth Fare.  Does this day get any better?

I hope everyone is having a FANTASTIC Sunday….I hope it is as gorgeous outside for you!  It is making me so happy!

Make sure you enter HERE for a shot at a free 14 day supply of Attune Pro-Biotic Chocolate Bars!  Ends tonight at midnight!!

Oats and Photo Shoots…

I love a good Sunday that starts out like this:

’twas the standard:

• 1/2 Cup Oats
• 1 Cup Skim Milk
• 2 TBSP Almond Butter
• 2 TBSP Flax Seed
• 1 TBSP Natural Peach Jam
• 1/4 Cup TJ’s Dried Raisin, Cranberry, and Blueberry mix

Yum.

I am trying to get all spiffy to get my pictures made!!!  My wonderful friend and professional photographer Rachel Riner contacted me recently wanting to do some pictures of me downtown, as sort of a before/after shoot.  She is trying to beef up her portfolio, so who am I to say no?!?!?!  I am a bit nervous.  The last time I had my pictures taken professionally was when my elbow was propped up against a giant “SENIOR” 3D-catastrophe whilst in High School.  Needless to say, it has been a while.

I gotta work on my FIERCENESS!

C’mon…..vogue!  Everybody go with the flow.   …..or something along those lines.  ;-)

Off to get paparazzi’d….wish me luck!