Week in Review: Cravings, Workouts and Adventures

  Happy Friday! 

Guys, I can't remember how we used to eat normally because all I want for dinner lately are baked potatoes + protein, rice bowls + protein, and smash tacos.  It's like pregnancy cravings but I'm too old for that.  Perimenopause cravings?  Is that a thing?

Beef Broth Bowl - slightly adapted

Baked Potato with Cottage Cheese and Pickle Seasoning (I had a few chicken tenders too)

Big Mac Smash Taco - ground beef on a low-carb wrap with lettuce, onions, pickles and thousand island dressing

Don't fret though, I am still exercising every day to try and combat these cravings!  This week was an especially fun week of workouts: Friday - Ran 4 miles on treadmill on my lunch break + 15 minutes of free weights Saturday - Walked 2.5 miles with Phil and Lucy in the morning and then met a friend (hi!) for a lovely 4.25 mile walk and talk Sunday - Bodypump class at 8am at the gym (here's an at-home class you can try for free on YouTube) + walked 30 minutes uphill on treadmill + walked 1 mile with Phil and Lucy Monday - 4 mile run on treadmill on lunch break + 2 mile walk with Declan and Lucy after school He practiced his new skill: Tuesday - Spin Class at gym at 6am + 3 mile walk on lunch break + 1.75 mile walk with Phil and Lucy Wednesday - 3 mile walk outside on lunch break + Bodypump class at 6pm at gym. The instructor talked about how she had recently seen a study where working out your quads led to a decrease in anxiety. I believe it! I think that's why running is so helpful for anxious people like myself. Saw this Mermaid Skeleton on my walk.  Coastal ghostal. Thursday - Spin Class at gym at 6am with Phil + 3 mile walk on lunch break + 2 mile walk with Phil and Lucy and littles Riding home after riding our bikes to nowhere for 50 minutes Last Friday night was the Halloween dance at the elementary school, and Phil took one for the team and brought the littles.  I hate this school event.  It's loud and chaotic and people are in costume and there's a scary stage to walk through and it just overwhelms my Halloween-hating-heart.  But the kids love it, and that's what matters!  Brendan was Harry Potter and Declan ran the basketball game, as the 7th graders do. Meanwhile, I put on pajamas and watched the Norm MacDonald documentary, extra cozy with my Comfrt blanket: At the same time in Steubenville, Eamon was at a football game: JP was climbing with friends in Pittsburgh: And Maggie was in the sauna on campus: On Saturday, Phil took Brendan to his swim meet and Declan went to our Diocesan Youth Day with friends, so Xander and I made time for a seafood lunch date.  We had been planning on splitting the Fisherman's Platter but it included clams which neither of us wanted (I like clam strips though) so we got the lunch special instead.  I'm just happy I have a kid who is willing to eat seafood with me! Fish and Chips for him and Fish and Rings for me

Serving Adoration with our pastor Brendan PR'd in every race Maggie went white water rafting with a big group from Franciscan last weekend.  I am all for my kids being adventurous and having fun - I just don't want to know about certain things until they are over.  White water rafting and skydiving (Eamon) make that list so far. Let's see, what else is going on?? Oh! My favorite coffee mug got a hydration partner - meet my new water bottle: Much like my eyebrows - they are sisters, not twins I went way out of my comfort zone and went line dancing with a friend (hi!) last week.  It was very fun even though I hate feeling stupid.  Does anyone like feeling stupid?  I just need to practice.  These women are so amazing...a song comes on and they just know the steps...color me impressed. Andrew had to present his Biology Senior Seminar last week and he worked really hard on it (here he is practicing for his girlfriend the night before).  Thanks be to God that he got an A! That's a wrap - and now I want a tuna wrap with lettuce, onions and pickles - haha, cravings! Have a wonderful weekend everyone, only one more left in October.