Blow out Another Birthday Candle

Now I know some people run for the hills every time a birthday comes around, but I personally LOVE them!  I think it is the only day each person gets that is 100% theirs, and should be special, and why not be a little selfish 1 day a year? If you ask my kids, "what is Mom's favorite holiday?" they'll tell you : her birthday! 

I turned 34 on Wednesday the 12th, my day sandwiched between my dad turning 60 on the 11th and my aunt turning 50 on the 13th!  We are a family of fountains of youth and each one of us is totally embracing it!  I have no shame in sharing my age and actually my 30's have been fabulous.  I am not one to dwell on age or the number, but look forward to what the next 5, 10, 15 years have in store for me.  Are there parts of my body that will never look 20 again? SURE! But I can honestly say other parts of me are in the best shape they have ever been in.  I eat healthier than I ever have, maintain a consistent workout routine, and share what I love to do with others.  Who can complain about that??? 

So, yeah I turned another year old. I am looking forward to 35 already. I don't see it as a countdown to the end but a start to the new beginning.  In the next 10 years, my kids will be off to college, my hubby and I will have time to ourselves again, life will be different. New ventures ahead, travel, and life changes.  I hope to have checked some items off my bucket list by then and look forward to doing so.  Here's to another year of good fortune until my next holiday - and I can't wait. 

xo,

Rachel 

Fall for Fall

I am falling in love with fall all over again, as I do every September, and as I sit here and write this blog.  Windows open,  listening to the leaves whoosh through, a little chill in the air = heaven!!  It's also a great time of renewal - summer drawing to a close, fresh starts in school and maybe work, vacations ended and purposeful days begin again. I like to use fall as a chance to change up or kickstart my workout routine, and challenge myself to new things.  It is truly my favorite season of the year!  Here are some reasons why I LOVE it! 

I love fall because I love:
having my windows open, needing a sweatshirt at night, RAVENS football, little league and soccer games, the changing colors all around me, my birthday!!, warm tea on a chilly morning, fall harvest festivals, apple picking, crock pot meals (yummy), putting away the pool towels and swim suits, new bootcamp and barre sessions, early morning dewy runs, and colorful mums.  Yeah, there are some things I don't love as much like our days ending sooner, back to school nights, and Thanksgiving turkey but regardless this is my favorite time of year. 

So take a second to enjoy this pre-fall day, a little gift to us before the true season begins and make note of why you love fall too! 

xo,
Rachel 

Day of the Week: Mun-dane

Anyone ever feel like they can't wait for a week to end?  That's how I feel this week! I have been blah, the weather has been blah, and my workouts have been double BLAH!! I am not a fan of resting and healing and I swear if I listen hard enough, I hear my running shoes whispering from the closet, "Rachel, where are you?"......

So many people this week have said "oh, enjoy the break" or "rest, it's good for you" or "it's ok to relax from time to time - I say NO WAY! I am a mover, a shaker, type A personality coming through like a freight train.  If you know me or have ever driven or even grocery shopped with me, look out!  I do not know how to rest.  I am even sleeping 8 hours a night, what is up with that? So,  I am keeping busy while I follow my doc's orders of limited movement (maybe 75% following, I gotta do something) and have cooked up a storm prepping for the upcoming weeks, planned 4 weeks worth of classes, and read a book.  I guess that counts for something?!

All I have to say is, I cannot wait for next week to begin!! My kids sports start up, all my Barre classes and bootcamps kick off on Monday, and it's birthday week - celebrating mine, my dad's, and an aunt and uncles 3 days in a row! And hallelujah, my stitches come out and I will be burning up some pavement next week for sure.  If you are like me, never feel bad about loving to be busy, or maybe even a little frantic from day to day.  It's how we operate.  I am a sad, ball of misery sitting around all day cooped up indoors (just ask my hubby). Plus,  it's almost fall and a great reason for all of us to get outdoors and enjoy this beautiful time of year.  If you have rested too much, partied too hard over the holiday weekend, then take advantage of the coming weeks and change it up, get outside, and get moving.  I'll come join you!

Weekend Cooking

After having some skin surgery this past week, I am unable to do most of my usual stuff - exercise!!, laundry, dishes, groceries, etc. So of course I am going insane from inactivity and resorted to cooking and prepping meals for the busy upcoming weeks that lie ahead.  I can move around upright in the kitchen pretty well, leaving my hubby and kids to have to reach and bend to load the dishes, get the flour down from the top shelf, etc - not a bad deal, huh?

Back to the cooking - I researched and tapped into some friends pages and Pinterest pins to get some great freezer ready meal ideas.  I stocked up at the farmers market on Saturday, sent my hubby to Wegman's, and started prepping Sunday morning.  Here's the "before" pic:

 I made breakfast yummies, some grab and go stuff for the kids, and freezer meals that I can defrost in the am, toss in the crock pot, and have ready to go when I get home and the evening work/sports shuffle begins!   All of the recipes can be found on my Pinterest page, Rachel Gribbin, under the "Food for the Foodies" section! 

Here's the menu for the next 2 weeks in our house:

1)  Honey Bourbon Chicken (there is a gluten free variation to this as well)
     www.onceamonthmom.com
     I use brown rice in place of white but quinoa would work too!

2) Korean Shredded Beef Tacos (also a gluten free variation as well)
     www.onceamonthmom.com, I stored the tortilla shells and cheese in the freezer bag as well to have it all ready to go.

 3) Crockpot Mongolian Beef 
      www.onceamonthmom.com

Serve this over some quinoa and red rice - yummy!!

4) Thai Curry Beef Brisket 
     www.onceamonthmom.com

Can't wait to have this!!  I added carrots, yellow squash, onions, and sweet potatoes to mine!

5) Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos
    www.joelens.blogspot.com

Serve with fresh avocado - I froze the cheese and shells to have it all ready to go!!

6) Roasted Veggie & Black Bean Burritos
     www.aggieskitchen.com
** This is by far my favorite and after sampling the veggie mixture, it is delish!! **

7) Gingery Chicken with Peaches 
     www.iowagirleats.com

     

8) Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
     www.shrinkingkitchen.com

9) Toddler Pizza Croissants (even though my kids aren't toddlers these are a healthy alternative to Hot Pockets!)
 www.onceamonthmom.com

 

10) Breakfast Yummies - Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes

      joelens.blogspot.com 

I made 3 variations of these - blueberry, chocolate chip, and mini for my son - I flashed froze them in freezer and then individually wrapped them in mini Ziploc baggies, separated by parchment paper, then stored in a large freezer bag together. 

AND HERE'S THE FINISHED PRODUCTS: 

Happy Cooking!! 

xo,

Rachel