Shoes shoes and more shoes

Why are all the shoes so cute!!! Why do we women need so many!!! Lol

I find myself wanting to wear tennis shoes whenever possible. I mean I work in them everyday but I do not know if anyone has noticed the new trend of wearing them with dresses, cute shortstops stuff. I wanted to buy another pair but I can not make my pick. I am absolutely loving the New Balance collection. 

Here are some of my favorite bloggers pulling off these looks. 

Anna from South Molton Street Style

  
Christine from Hello Fashion Blog 

 
You get the point yet?? So cute yet comfortable!!! 

I need to win some type of new balance lottery, I can not pick!! 

   

What do you think?  

Headspace

I am so sorry I have not been posting for a week. My goal is to post at least once a week. I was involved in a car accident Monday. I caused it! Its a shame the way it happened. It happened on the way to work I was standing on a red light, staring straight into it. The car next to me pulled up to stop and I guess I saw movement and I just started to drive, slamming straight into the person coming from my left on their green light, driving minding their own business. I was devastated when I saw two kids in the car. I was shaking so bad took me three times to push 911. The kids were ok, I slammed into her passenger door and luckily did not touch the kids in the back. Bless her heart she came out yelling at me that she has two kids in the car…I was in my pediatric nursing uniform and she looked at me and just hugged me. We were both standing in the middle of the road hugging and crying her son was looking at us like we lost our minds. Of course I am not happy that it happened, I am upset with my self for not thinking, I can’t say I was not paying attention because sadly I was looking straight in the red light. My mind was somewhere else.

Like the name of my blog, we all have busy lives. Sometimes I feel like we are all robots and everything is constantly moving just in different speeds for each of us. I have so much on my mind lately its crazy. I had some health issues (all good and well now thank God) since December, death in the family, boys were sick for a couple of weeks back to back, hubby had back pain again, my dad was in the hospital. Needless to say its been CRAZY!

So I set a new daily goal for my self. It is a absolute must. When I run its my way of clearing my head, but I do not run everyday. I do weight lifting and other exercises that I count reps in and stuff and that does not clear my head like running. So instead I promised my self a daily 10 minute meditation. I sit somewhere alone, even if its on the floor of my closet :-), and meditate. I found this awesome app called Headspace. You must try it.

I have been using it for four days and I love it. 

  

Our mind needs exercise as much as our bodies do, so let’s take care of our mind.

Panera Quinoa Bowl my way

  I went to Panera last week with a friend fro lunch and saw this new Quinoa Chicken Broth Bowl. I ordered it, tried it, and absolutely fell in love with it. I immediately put it on my to do list to try and make a copy of this recipe. The nutrition is great…..well excepts the SODIUM.

410 Calories  9g Total Fat  1390mg Sodium  52g Total Carb 7g Fiber  34g Protein

Here is my recipe. I suggest doing this with your left over grilled chicken. I made mine the day after we grilled for dinner. Because I planned to make it the next day I soaked lentils over night to be ready for the next day. You can even precook all ingredients then just prepare the broth the day off arrange and serve.

WHAT YOU NEED

1 chicken breast grilled and sliced
1 cup of Fresh Spinach
1 handful chopped kale
1 cup cooked lentils (cook according to package instructions or you can buy precooked at Trader Joe’s)
1 cup of cooked Quinoa (I cook 1 cup of quinoa in 1 cup of water and 1 cup of vegetable stock for flavor but you can cook however you like or according to package instructions.)
You can add other steamed vegetables like carrots and peppers if you would like

For the Broth
1 cup of LOW SODIUM Vegetable stock (I buy mine at Kroger or Sprouts organic section)
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of light soy sauce
1/2-1 Tbsp red miso paste (to taste) OR 1 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce
1/2 lemon squeezed
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tsp Garlic Powder or 1 minced garlic glove

Prepare broth by whisking together the above ingredients and bring to temperature in sauce pan. Simmer on low while arranging your bowl.

Build a bowl
In a bowl layer lentils, spinach, kale, other optional veggies if you steamed them. Place sliced chicken on top and pour hot broth over top. You can add freshly sliced cilantro, sesame seeds or even diced avocado on top if you wish. I was out of avocado when I was making mine but will add it next time 🙂

Let me know if you add anything different or have any suggestions. I did not add any salt but you can if you wish I just prefer less sodium.

Rainy Monday!

It is such a gloomy and rainy day here today…makes Monday that much more exciting lol. Even through the day is gloomy and tiring especially first work day of the week I still plan a workout tonight. Monday’s are the most challenging to me and that’s exactly why I never skip Monday..because it’s my personal challange and because it’s a way for me to destress and burn off some steam.

The weekend was awesome!, especially Friday. Hubby and I took the day off and the kiddos were in school so we used that time to spend outside. We really needed this break and time to our selves. I know all your Moms and Dads can relate.  We went to Stone Mountain and hiked the Cherokee Trail. The view was amazing!! Must do if you are in GA.

    

I also recreated  Panera’s Quinoa bowl (if you have not tried this magic yet you should, it’s so delish) which I will post soon.

Saturday we spent with the kids doing whatever they wanted.

Sunday I ate horribly!!!! Mainly sweets 🙊🙈 still got another hike up the mountain and weight lifting but then ate more sweets ha ha!

This little fella worked out too. If he can do it you can too