isn’t it weird how some weeks take a really long time to go by and other weeks are over in the blink of an eye? yet every single week is the same exact amount of time. the phrase, “time flies when you are having fun” is so true. as is, “time stands still when you are stuck at work after hours almost every day this week.”
because i have been absent from any sort of quality blog posting this week, i am going to try to make it up to you guys! we shall see how this goes.
breakfast has been the same exact thing every day. i am in love with it. it’s high time i show you.
a protein shake with:
- 1 cup milk (i have used either almond or skim this week)
- 1 scoop vanilla pea protein powder
- a squirt of concentrated POM juice (i got this in the mail as a gift from POM and when it is out i am going to be sad because i haven’t seen it in stores! it adds a lovely, tart punch to the shake.)
- 1 – 1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries & raspberries
- 2-3 cups spinach
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum (because i spilled all my guar gum on the floor)
- 15 ice cubes
- 3/4 cup water, give or take, to get things moving
after a quick blend in the vitamix, the result looks pretty unappealing.. but trust me, the taste is amazing! don’t let looks deceive you.
i love my giant blender bottle because it holds the whole shake. top it off with a straw (a necessity for me) and i am good to go. every morning.
this is surprisingly satiating. i actually don’t start to get hungry until four hours after drinking the shake. and because my week has been crazy, this bad boy has had to curb my hunger for up to six whole hours.
lunch has been the same thing three days this week. what can i say, i am a creature of habit.
one of my standard meals: cottage cheese + ranch seasoning with crackers (in this case, akmaks).
and a childhood favorite: celery + peanut butter.
work has been crazy and this lunch is easy to eat little bits and bites of between the madness.
i had to stay late (again) today, but luckily i had my favorite protein bar to keep me company for my snack.
the lemon coconut simply bar. i could eat it every day. lemon and coconut were meant to be combined, i am sure of it.
when i finally got home from work, i still had to get my insanity workout in. i only let out a few groans and whines before tackling both the max cardio conditioning and the cardio abs workouts. yes.. a double header today. six workouts to go until i am done!
dinner was a creamy asparagus & roasted tomato pasta with chicken served in THE RADDEST BOWL EVER.
THANK YOU MISSLE! er, missy ;) she sent me two awesome owl bowls and some other fun goodies for my birthday. you know i had to use the owl bowl right away.
this pasta was amazing and super healthy. recipe tomorrow!
SO. guess what i totally forgot about? the 30 day challenge! i bet you forgot, too. i had to look and see where i left off…
somewhere you’d like to move or visit.
well which is it, mister challenge, move.. or visit? how about i answer both?
first off, the place i most want to visit at the moment is greece.
it’s beautiful and i have never been.
plus, eating the real deal greek cuisine is something i’ve always wanted to do.
however, i am certain that i can’t get enough time off any time soon to make the incredible journey.. so i will just have to look at beautiful photographs and dream of my future trip to greece.
as far as somewhere i would like to live? well.. a few cities come to mind:
- london
- san francisco
- oslo, normway
- maastricht, holland
- seattle
these are places i have been and thought, “i would love to live here.” however, i am sure there are a plethora of places i haven’t been that i would love to live. i really don’t want to live in utah for the rest of my days! neither does marshall. however, it would be so hard to move away from family. i wish i could up and move all my family and friends to a new place.
i think the best way to spend money is by traveling. seeing and experiencing new places is my #1 favorite thing to do.
Qs~
1. what is your dream vacation destination?
2. if you could move anywhere in the world, take your family (and your career if you want) with you.. where would you move?
xo. janetha g.
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Well, we moved from Georgia to Alaska last year and that was a pretty crazy move but awesome experience.
I always thought it would be fun to live outside of the US for awhile, too.
Oh Janetha, what about Los Angelessssss?! I love living here. I wouldn’t mind living in Singapore again, or San Francisco though. but right now, my heart is in L.A., where I already am. :-)
As for vacay…I’m with you: I’d love to visit Greece! but really anywhere in the Europe continent, as I have never been to that part of the world.
I am visiting LA soon! Can’t wait to see what it’s all about :)
I would vacation in Greece too! Or Brazil!
We would live in Switzerland, FOR SURE. Love that place. The beauty is exquisite!
I absolutely LOVED Switzerland! I would live there in a heartbeat.
Well, you need to come to San Diego because you would love to live here… and you have family here! ;) We haven’t talked in ages! Maybe this weekend? Love you!
Marshall wants to move there. I am not opposed. Can Eric get him a job? ;) I miss you so much! I loved Sofi’s grad photos. Love you.
i really wanna visit greece too! we lived in astoria, queens for 7 years which is a very greek neighborhood of nyc. my dream vacay now is going to france or japan with abe.
I REALLY want to move to Costa Rica for a few years. I went for Spring Break and FELL IN LOVE (which is really odd because at first, I didn’t even want to go- but I had the time of my life!).
I actually want to move there for work. I want to work in the nutrition field with underprivileged children in the outskirts of San Jose.
When I went to Costa Rica, we went and did service work at a comedor (sort of like a before- school program for children). These children have grown up or are currently living in very bad living situations (parents do drugs, children are molested, etc) and their stories broke my heart. Even though there was a language barrier between us, I fell in love with these children and it was so difficult to leave them at the end of the week.
I want to dedicate part of my future career to helping children like this. They don’t get the adequate nutrition they need and I want to work to change this. It has become a passion of mine and I know in my heart that it is what I am meant to do.
Whew, such a long comment! I apologize! ;)
That sounds like an awesome experience! I love that you strive for this sort of work.
AHHH I almost bought that bowl! They made a few different varieties with different owls and I got crazed trying to choose! haha!
I LOVE the sound of this smoothie! I haven’t tried pea protein yet but I have heard pretty good things! I’m always so slow to try powders b/c i’m a little brat about flavors — but i’m guessing it tastes amazing with these ingredients to round it out!
I am the same way–it’s iffy to invest $30 in a powder and then if you hate the flavor, you are screwed!
I live just outside of Seattle and my husband and I plan to move to London one day. And then retire in Costa Rica. :)
My dream vacation would to be able to have the freedom to wander the planet. I am happy going anywhere as long as I’m with my husband!
Dream vaca? Greek Island, Spain and Italy for sure…
If I could move anywhere it would be Arizona, being from Canada and my in-laws have a place there we have fallen in love with the warmer weather!
Ireland! But Greece is definitely another one on my list.
Pom concentrated juice?! What?! Jealous.
My dream holiday destination is America and I am all booked for September….yay!!! We are getting married in Vegas too, which will be fun! I am so excited for shopping at Forever 21 instead of waiting 4 weeks for my parcels to arrive!!!
The place I wish I could live in would be LA or San Diego. I actually got picked in the US Visa Lottery in May but then they had to withdraw all the results because they were not drawn fairly so now I must wait until July to see if I get picked again. :-(
That smoothie looks great. I haven’t had any luck finding the xantham and guar gums here so I am going to try and smuggle some back from over there in September….I bet they won’t let me bring it back in though….strict quarantine laws here!
Swing by Utah ;)
omg that is the cutest bowl ever!!
I really want to go to Greece and Italy, it looks so amazingly beautiful. if/when i get married, i want to honeymoon there!
ps: thanks for the birthday wishes! <3
I don’t mean to rub it in, but I will be in Greece in a little over a week. It will be my first time. I’m so excited!
If I could move anywhereeeee I’d probably move to London or Australia.. Or if I was staying in the US, I’d move to Austin, Nashville, Charlotte, Savannah GA, Northern Cali… etc.
UGH. JEALOUS!
Dream vacation = Ireland
You *think* you might want to live in Seattle but wait till you come visit us in Portland. It’s like 1000 times better!
I hear you on the breakfast shake. I had a variation of that shake every morning for THREE YEARS and never got tired of it.
I’d also like to visit Greece, as well as Spain and Alaska.
Great post, thanks! Since you are from Utah I have to know where you get your Guar Gum…I feel like I have looked everywhere! Oh and I made your Turkey Goulash the other night and it was great!
I get it at Cali’s Market on 1700 S and 350 W!
I have family in maastricht! I used to go with my dad every year!
We need to do a world tour together. Or just go to greece together….with our baby.
Deal. And I love all the bikes in Maastricht.
I am totally buying that pea peotein when we ryn out of our current protein! Great bfast smoothie! Dinner also looks awesome-love the bowl. After a long day, preparing a quick yet satisfying meal feels so good. I live in my ideal spot!! Vacawise we want to go to bora bora and italy
My #1 place I’d like to go is Greece, too! My best friend is there at the moment so I’m living vicariously through her :)
I’d love to live in New York for a while, not forever, but just to experience it. I think it would be amazing!!! Or maybe I’ve just been watching too much Gossip Girl lately…haha.
love the bringing back of the 30 day challenge. i started it when you did, but got about as far as you did and whoops, spaced it :)
I can see you in Seattle or Portland or San Fran.
Me? I am living in my perfect place I think. Took me 10 yrs and 10 moves to figure it out, but I am here. San Diego is home and Aruba is my 2nd home. I have no complaints!
sorry work as been so hectic – supper in that super cute bowl and finishing your insanity workout (a satisfying X on the calendar – yea!) helped make it a good eve, i hope!
i am not sure if i’ll live in waterloo the rest of my life or not…i could see moving to toronto (one hour away, brother, SIL + the nieces live there)…who knows! i’d love to live in a warm US state…and for travel, i’d love to take six months, have no plan and travel the US coast to coast.
it’s friday!!! hope your day goes fast.
My dream destination for the moment would have to be Cape Town in South Africa and if there is anyplace I could relocate to it would have to be Barcelona Spain. I love it there!
Mmm…Greece would be awesome. All that delicious, nutritious food. And those views? Spectacular.
I would love to visit Paris. It’s a dream. :D
if I had the $$ I’d move to san fran in a heart beat. But hopefully we will move back to New Zealand for a bit. wanna come?
;)
YES. Don’t have to ask me twice.
I think this week has been going exceptionally slow, but I’m not really sure why. I think its because I keep thinking I am a day or two ahead than what it actually is. :) I am drinking more and more protein shakes these days too. So perfect for on the go and especially in the summer. Have a great weekend love!
I’d love to go to greece too!
I can relate on the same meal thing – im very much a creature of habit.
i always say that Italy or France is where I’d love to go, but I’d never kick Greece out of bed either ;) I think it would be so fun to stay with a local family and cook with them and learn their language, in any of the 3 countries!
When I went to Italy, we stayed with a few families and had REAL Italian family dinners. It was so rad!
That bowl is awesome!!!
Dream vacation — somewhere in the caribbean with our own private beach. To just relax. That is all.
Where would I want to move? Honestly I like this part of the country (MN!), I just would like to move to the southwestern suburbs — there are huge beautiful houses around there and I want to live in one of them!
I love that bowl! It’s so cute! Please post that pasta recipe! It looks delicious! I know I am definitely going to have to make it. You have the best recipes. :)
I would love to travel all over Europe. I really want to see France and Italy. That is my dream! :)
If I could move anywhere, I would love to move to Florida, or California. I love the weather and there is SO much to do there!
Greece would be amazing!!
I love your owl mug! So cute!!
If i could move anywhere it might be somewhere warm in Florida or cali baby!!
xoxo <3
I have always felt like I belong in either New England or the Pacific Northwest. I don’t think either of those are really ever going to happen though, unless one of us gets an amazing job offer in either of those place. I do sometimes think of moving back to DC (where my family is) but something keeps me in Atlanta. I mean, something besides that I have a job and a house here!
There are so many places I would love to experience and visit in my life; I can’t decide! I know I want to travel a lot, but I think deciding to live somewhere is such a big decision…eek! Maybe when I’m older I’ll be able to make it. I can see myself living outside of the United States for a while, but I don’t know about forever.
Belated congrats on the Healthy Living Summit gig! So happy for youuuuu!
Thanks!
i am a daily reader (but rare commenter!) of your blog, and i’m going to greece for two weeks in july! I couldn’t be more excited. and may possibly start a blog when i return :)
thanks for all the great and simple recipes, i’ll try to start commenting more often! ;)
Lucky you! Yes, start a blog and show me all the delicious food you eat there :)
Oh I’m so glad you ate of the bowl immediately! It looks cuter when you take pictures :)
Dream vacation? I know it encompasses alot, but Europe in general. My sister lived in Germany (right now she is in the Azores but has a house in Germany) and goes to all the surrounding countries, Belgium, Holland, etc. I hope to go one day! She would totally let you come stay with her or in her house there!
Dream place to live? Hmmm, that’s hard! If I were rich, I’d love Savannah, GA or Charleston, SC (yep totally southern!) Actually, I’d love to live somewhere with a Trader Joes!!
Make that “so glad you ate OUT of the bowl”!! It’s Friday and I obviously can’t read.
Amen to the TJs bit!
I also would love to go to Greece, but right now, Italy is where I’m dying to go!
okay, so i want your lunch for my dinner tonight.
i am noshing on things like this constantly bc they’re light and fresh. crisp celery YUM.
annnd have you seen the newer fiesta ranch seasoning packets?! i thought of you immediately. i’ve been using them to season my spaghetti squash and broccoli slaw, but i bet it’d be great mixed with cottage cheese, too!
xo.
I haven’t seen them! What brand?
mmm, your protein shake looks great. :D
i have a question about protein shakes actually. i see that you’ve been having it for breakfast everyday. I usually have one for breakfast or lunch also…but i don’t have one after a workout. is that okay? as long as im replacing a meal with it, i dont have to use a protein shake as a “post workout” meal only, right?
anyway, i’d love to visit greece too! it’s so beautiful and breath taking.
if i could move anywhere, i’d choose colorado. i’ve heard from everyone that it’s amazing. (im going there in a week!)
Actually I never have them after my workout! I have been working out in the afternoons again, so when I have the shake for breakfast it is just a meal replacement.
Protein shakes are awesome and filling but I try to keep it to 1 a day so I am not getting all my protein from powder.
I have been debating making a move to seattle, portland, or denver for the last couple of years but haven’t made the jump…yet. If I lived abroad, I’d head straight to sydney, australia. I backpacked in aussie for a month and always thought it could be a potential place to live for an extended period of time…or new zealand because they have beach AND mountains for skiing.
Best of both worlds!
absolutely!!
There are so many places to see, and it is always a struggle with going back somewhere you have been before and going something new. I would love to go back to Turkey and Bali.
As for moving, I moved from a small suburban city in Ontario to my dream city, Vancouver, BC. If I could move anywhere, it would have to be Bali; so peaceful, beautiful, and lots of organic and sustainable farming.
LOVE Greece. We spent four years living in Cyprus (an Island half owned by Greece). It was AMAZING. The food is to die for. I crave my favorite places from there ALL the time!
My biggest regret… was not going to Egypt. We were RIGHT THERE and we never made that trip. I would love to visit the Pyramids and I would also love to go on an African Safari. As far as living somewhere else? I think I am tired of moving ha ha. Southern California was pretty amazing and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back!
I can’t believe you lived in Cyprus for 4 years! That’s amazing. I woudl love to go to Egypt, too.
First of all I want to thank you for suggesting the pea protein! After seeing it on Mama Pea’s protein post and reading about it here, I decided to give it a shot and I love it. The flavor actually reminds me a little bit of oat bran. I’ve been using it in place of coconut flour in Deb’s microwave protein muffins, and they turn out just great. Very moist and dense!
Secondly, I’d love to go to Greece. It’s been on my must visit list for as long as I can remember. In fact, I always thought I’d go there for my honeymoon but decided on Italy instead. Boy, what a tough life I live, huh? Haha, either way I’m thrilled to go to Europe!
And last of all, I’d love to transport my family to the city. They live all the way on the other side of the state so I only see them about twice a year. Luckily with wedding planning I’ve seen them a lot more this year but I’d love to have them right around the corner all year round :-)
Sorry about the busy week but at least it’s Friday right?! Enjoy the weekend!
Yes! Glad you are loving the pea protein. Isn’t it tasty? I will have to try it in a muffin!
i LOVE that you use exactly 15 ice cubes. love it.
I want to go to IRELAND.
After spending last weekend in Seattle, I was trying to convince the bf and my closest friends to move there. I love it there too much. And San Fran.
I am kinda OCD about counting my ice…
and I loved your Seattle Instagrams.
I plan to spend my big 3-0 in Italy this year! Cross your fingers for me but knowing how I am, it will happen!
If i could be a nomad and travel the world that would be ideal but for now, it just isn’t in the cards. My heart beats just for traveling. If you ever need a buddy to go somewhere with I am your girl. I don’t know if I could ever move my family since I wouldn’t stay grounded for too long.
You are such a traveler! I will have to recruit you for a trip :) I bet that would be a blast.
Can’t wait for that recipe!!!!
I always said if I hit the lottery I’d up and move to Italy (Tuscany) in a heartbeat. Greece is definitely next on my list, too!
Aww, that bowl is so cute :) So Janetha-ish :)
& I’m with ya about the straw thing- I MUST have a straw with anything…including water..it’s bad. I stock pile them- lol!
Adorable bowl! I love giant mug-type bowls. So cozy to eat from.
1. Greece has been on my list for a long time too. And I would love to visit my family in Italy; I’ve never been! Also, Egypt, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Azores, South Africa. Probably not all in the same trip.
2. I have this uneasy feeling that I’ll never find the place I want to “settle.” Maybe this just means I haven’t quite grown up yet? Hub and I have talked about moving back to the east coast, to some desert locale, to London, even to Paris. We are restless folk.
Happy weekend! Take some time to relax :)
YESS GREECE! You will love it. I lived there for 5 years and it is by far the most beautiful country to live in. Life is always happening, people are so friendly, the food is so delicious and healthy. THE SUNN! You can go see all the small quaint villages.. and there are plenty of mountains for hiking (and skiing!! in the winter).
And I’ve also lived in Seattle for about 12 years (on and off). It is a beautiful city as well, with so much culture. ALWAYS something to do… and everyone here is so into fitness you can always find some fun way to move yourself, despite the rain.
If you have any questions about either.. (maybe when yous tart to plan your vacation to Greece?) do ask!
YES I will ask you for sure! Thanks!
You’re right- the shake is unappealing looking but I know how yummy they can be despite their looks.
Healthy yummy eat-s love the akmaks-= they didn’t have them at my store! I’ll have to eat down my supply of stuff I brought from the UK then I’ll go backmak.
Hmm, where to live? We will proab. live in the UK at some point at least part of the year. I lvoe PS so wanna live there. I think that I’m the kind of person who could really live anywhere for a certain period: new york city, or the middle of nowhere with cows. I think I’d like it all for a spell.
MIss you! Those owl bowls from Missy are adorable- so thoughtful of her!
Celery is such a good vehicle for yummy dips…like peanut butter.
I’ve always wanted to visit sevilla, spain…never been, but I just think it sounds amazing.
I’d move somewhere warm and beachy if I could!
I had a simply bar today, too!! They are really enjoyable – it was the perfect thing to grab as I was running out the door, in need of protein! Greece would be amazing to go to. I want to go to Europe in general next spring and somehow make my way back to Australia!
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