Swimming...Such a Passion

I have always been an exercise enthusiast! I enjoy pretty much everything, however I have always leaned toward running. Recently after running the Boulder Bolder I ended up with a stress fracture, which put me out for almost the whole summer. During this time I joined the Masters Lite Swim class at my local gym to keep myself in shape and soon it would be the beginning of a new relationship. I literally LOVE my Masters swim class. I look forward to it every Tuesday and Thursday.

What is Masters Swim class you are wondering? It is structured workouts utilizing techniques of interval training in an atmosphere of fun, fitness, friendship and participation. Swimming you can increase your endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness.  I am a fan of the Livestrong website and it is always a good source of information. Here is a link to why swimming is such a good benefit to your daily health and fitness.


http://www.livestrong.com/article/100383-benefits-swimming-exercise/

I have always been a swimmer. My favorite is swimming first thing in the morning, the glass of the water is so beautiful and peaceful (if you are alone). I enjoy that my gym has a heated outdoor pool and the chillness of the morning weather with steam coming off the water is priceless. Every time I start my laps I love how it feels when you first push off...the glide of that first stroke...how the water feels as it begins to caress you as you enter your mile long routine. It is amazing in such a controlled environment how you entire body works together. You can feel all of your muscles coming together to increase your speed. 

I want to suggest Nike's new line of Cut out swimming suits for lap swimming! They are great!


I hope you spice up your workout routine and try swimming next time you want to shake your routine up.

Stoplight Pasta

Sometimes only you can really love your own food. I am not sure you will find this pasta with the enthusiasm Jeremy and I found it the other night, but we we're really excited and loved every bite!

STOPLIGHT PASTA

• 1/2 a bag of whole wheat spaghetti - cooked aldente
• 3 spoon fulls of your favorite pesto (I used my mother-in-laws yummy recipe)
• Chopped roasted beets (as many as your heart desires) + read below for roasting beets information
• Few pinches of salt
• Pinch of roasted red peppers (or as much as you desire)
• Roasted Beets: Wrap beets in aluminum foil. I do one big beet per wrap and will combine a few smaller beets. Roast at 450 degrees for at least an hour or more! When the are done peel the skin off and chop up. Don't be afraid to snack on a few.

Mix all together! Now here is the topper...FRY AN EGG over easy and place on top (Jeremy needs two eggs). I am telling you it is seriously delicious!  However, you must like all ingredients to enjoy the wonderfulness. I really wish I could have posted a picture but there is something to be said for having a good camera or hiring a professional to take pictures of food. If you don't, sometimes the lightening doesn't make it look super appetizing.

I hope you all try this and enjoy!!!

Happy Chuseok!

HAPPY CHUSEOK!

In light of our recent Harvest Moon (September 12, 2011) I wanted to share with you a Holiday in Korea my fellow adoptee Andrea posted on my Yahoo Group.  According to Wikipedia, " is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Like many other harvest festivals, it is held around the Autumn Equinox. As a celebration of the good harvest, Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast of Korean traditional food such as songpeyon and rice wines such as sindoju and dongdongju. I just love this because it is all the more reason for me to feel the natural connection with adopting from Korea. I am such a believer in signs!!

I love the Harvest Moon and it is such a passionate time of year when it happens. In the days before electricity, farmers counted on the lamp of the Harvest Moon to gather their crops. Making up for the autumn season’s waning daylight, the Harvest Moon faithfully provides several nights of dusk-till-dawn moonl  The Harvest Moon is always such a spiritual time! 

Peace and Love,
Sarah

I am back!

Sorry it has been awhile I was absent for the past week and a half. I was on vacation in beautiful Southern Minnesota. I seriously LOVE southern Minnesota. Picture it...rolling green hills, country side seasoned with red barns, silos and beautiful old farm houses, cows roaming freely around the pasture fading into the skyline,... I could go on and on... I love everything about it! I apologize I have no pictures to show you but I just couldn't take my eyes off the scenery...it is literally my peace and it only took me 35 years to find it!

Especially my in-laws farm, Timber Creek farm. Being out there on the farm made me feel so relaxed and at peace. I battle inside with what I would want to do...live in a small city or live in the country. All I could do was dream!!!!  Continuing to raise llamas like my in-laws, raising sheep to make cheese, pigs, chickens and a HUGE garden!!!!  Loving every bit of it.  Here is a glimpse of the beauty I got to see every morning waking up at the farm.  Marg and Jim...I love your place!!!  Here are a few pictures of heaven.

Now for the scary part....mice, bugs, spiders, mosquito's, etc...  Being a country girl with all the things that scare me, however my mother-in-law tells me you get use to it.  Such big dreams and big eyes I can only dream at this time. As for now I am continuing to live the dream in Fort Collins.  Jeremy and I will push away at our house and become an urban farm and someday who knows what might happen.

Travel Tip: If you are interested in going to Minnesota I highly recommend Southern Minnesota. 

Until next time!

Healthy Road Trip Snacks - Homeward Bound!

Jeremy and I are off on our yearly family visit.  What works out pretty nice is that my family is in Omaha, NE and his in Chatfield, MN we are able to kill two birds with one stone because they are pretty much on the same path. When I was younger I would BEG my parents to stop at a McDonald's or Burger King.  In fact, I clearly remember as we would drive by saying their names as we passed by each one with hopes my eight year old brainwashing would have worked.  Sometimes it did and sometimes it didn't.  If you don't believe me ask my sister Jill. We laugh about it now!

These days I do everything in my power to NOT stop at those places. First, it is completely unhealthy and second completely processed.  Today for our road trip here are the healthy snacks I have packed.

1. Fried egg sandwich (good cold too plus the eggs are from our chickens)
2. Tomatoes with olive oil and salt and pepper
3. Steamed fresh green beans, they are also pretty good raw
4. Sweet cantaloupe for dessert!

Now you might ask, Sarah don't these get messy! I thought the same thing until someone told me to BRING TOOTHPICKS! Bloody brilliant I tell you! No messy hands! Just make sure you cut them enough to hold the toothpick utensil.

These will hopefully get us through our eight hour drive across Nebraska.  Along with some heated political discussion, trivial pursuit cards (such a fun way to pass time) and good old fashioned music.  I think more then anything I am excited for Jeremy and I to spend some quality time together.