Officially Back in Action!

Hello Blog Friends!

Well, I am officially back and SO excited to return to the blog world.  I have missed blogging, commenting, and the whole community! However, the past month has been non-stop! We are officially settled in Maryland and I just bid farewell to Chase on his first day of residency!

Have I ever mentioned that Chase is amazing at ironing? It is a good thing because he is going to be spending oodles of time ironing his uniform in the next 10 years.

While I promise recipes and other fun and exciting things will be in store, I thought y’all might want a peak into the events of the past month!

Chase graduated from medical school:

He was commissioned and is now officially a Lieutenant:

After graduation we packed our entire apartment and moved to Maryland ( Pictured of our new place to come…).

Days after moving we hopped on a plane and flew to Palm Springs, California for a quick last hurrah before Chase forfeits his life (and vacation time) to medicine and the Navy!

We celebrated Chase’s 28th Birthday and enjoyed lots of fun in the sun!

While on vacation, we did a TON of hiking and running.

We even drove to the Grand Canyon and ran around the rim! It was insane! This has always been on the top of my bucket list ever since I visited the Grand Canyon for the first time, 13 years ago.

Chase has been training for his fitness test, so he ran with me!

We definitely enjoyed the views–it definitely beat watching the news while running on the treadmill!

We also went to Sedona and saw the Red Rocks.  Sedona was amazing!

We enjoyed lots of window shopping and exploring the town.

I also mingled with the locals.

And visited cave castles

While in Sedona, we went on a mini-excursion to a little city that used to be a ghost-town–Jerome.  It was situated on top of a mountain and is known as the “Mile High Town.” We found the most amazing Mexican restaurant and had dinner in Jerome and explored the shops.

While on vacation, I tried to eat as Paleo as possible–there were lots of salads and grilled meats and poultry

However, there was also local experiences like:

Avocado Pie (I avoided the gluten crust and just tried the filling..it was CRAZY! It tasted like Key Lime Pie).

There was also some chip eating (while corn is not paleo–it is a grain I am able to tolerate fairly well and authentic corn chips are amazing!)

And there was far too much frozen yogurt eating (I LOVE the taste of frozen yogurt, but my stomach does not…you would think I would learn my lesson…)

Now that we have moved, vacation is over and normalcy is slowly but surely returning, I am attempting to re-group and re-focus.  My goal for June is to dive back into Paleo eating and try new recipes (with lots of amazing local produce from all of the farm markets), return to running and select a race to train for, and get acquainted with my new town!

Do you have any vacations planned?

How do you get back to “normal” when you return from vacation?

Blue Print Cleanse…FAIL

Today I am embarked on a crazy little experiment–the Blue Print Cleanse.

A lovely little box was delivered to my doorstep with this giant bundle inside:

These are the first 3:

And these are the other 3:

The cleanse that I selected was the Renovation Cleanse:

The website describes it as follows:

“Caution: The Renovation Cleanse has been referred to as “a gateway cleanse,” as it may encourage you to experiment with the next two levels of the BluePrintCleanse. This “Class-A” cleanse will leave you addicted to feeling amazing and wanting more.

This cleanse is designed for the absolute beginner—the “I’ll have my martini with a side of steak, please” type—and for that we applaud you. Typically the renovating type is one who could stand to lose a few pounds, or perhaps a few more than a few. You like to indulge, sometimes in excess—a few extra drinks here, a few extra smokes there, but hey, who’s counting? Maybe you have a family history of health issues. Point is you’re a real person, who is about to feel real results.”

Upon waking up this morning, I started with a warm cup of water with lemon.

I drank Juice #1 (Green Juice) at 8:00AM

The Green Juice is where the nutrition is at! Look at all of these benefits:

• Detoxifies the liver
• Reduces bad breath and body odor
• Low sugar content; good for Candida
• Highly alkalizing for pH balance
• Used in cancer therapy
• Helps in the growth and repair of body tissues

• Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
• Improves oxygenation of cells
• Washes kidneys and bladder of debris
• Contains phloridzin, supporting lung health
• Prevents growth of harmful bacteria
• Lowers blood pressure
• Eases symptoms of menopause

Um, I got through a total of TWO sips and thought I was going to literally DIE. This little baby tasted NASTY! It was like a giant bottle of cucumber juice (I HATE cucumbers…nothing personal…I want to like them, but my taste buds refuse to budge).

Ok, so I decided to go with Plan B.  In the lovely package that the juice came in, they included a cheat sheet.  It said that if you need to eat something try a bit of avocado or produce.  So, that is precisely what I did–

I had some strawberries

 

And about a quarter of an avocado:

 

After my “breakfast” I was feeling all kinds of high and mighty–I figured this would be no biggie.  I went on a little run and came back to enjoy Juice #2:

I drank Juice #2 (PAM =Pineapple + Apple + Mint ) around 11:00AM

This juice was actually not too terrible–the mint was a bit too overpowering, but compared to the 1st one this was a breeze.

Juice #3 was the same type as the morning juice = cucumber debacle.  In lieu of gagging down the awfulness, I had an apple:

 

After my lovely apple snack, Chase and I went out to run errands.  He, of course, got hungry and decided to stop and get a hot dog from this adorable little shop.  I hate hot dogs, but by GOLLY, that hot dog smelled sooooo good.  On our way home we started talking about our plans for the night (Our “little brother” had a music concert at school–he was SO excited about it) and we discussed our crazy schedule for tomorrow (Chase’s medical school ceremonies begin!).  It was around this time,  as my head started pounding and I felt like crap, that I had my come to Jesus moment–WHY THE HECK AM I DOING THIS?!  I thought it would be a fun adventure (I am clearly starved for entertainment…), but this was just awful! Plus, I realized that I was going to be SO stinking hungry/grumpy/awful by the time we went to the concert that I would totally miss out on an amazing memory (and one of our last times with the little bro).

I then promptly made myself two over-easy eggs and all was right with the world—Juice cleanse = OVER.

 

It is kind of ironic because all of the review and testimonials from the Blue Print Cleanse said that it was a “revolutionizing” experience and that it would alter your perspective of nourishment etc. etc.  The irony is in the fact that FAILING at this made me realize that I stinking LOVE real food and that eating nourishing healthy food is just as good, if not FAR better than drinking awful tasting juices.  I want to enjoy nourishing my body–not choke juice down with a grimace on my face.  To me, this is no way to live.  If juicing works for some people, more power to them, but it is NOT for me.  Instead, I am going to enjoy fruits, vegetables, a protein in solid form and enjoy every single BITE.  I am also going to appreciate the fact that eating nourishing food provides me with the ability to nourish and experience LIFE and JOY with people around me.

By the way, I have 4 lovely juices left that need to go to a loving home…any takers?  I will pay you to drink the cucumber one!  🙂

Have you ever had a WONDERFUL  failure? Has anyone else ever tried juicing?