Tulip Time Weekend

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First things first. The beauty of snapchat is that I can do things like this and not be completely hated by everyone I know:

I made my way to the deck on Thursday and spent some time working out there with the dog. It has turned into a habit. Basically, any time it looks reasonable out there, I drag my computer out and throw on my visor (lame looking but saves my eyes from wrinkles when I work in the sun). And it. Is. Glorious.

This past week has been Tulip Time in my husband's hometown of Holland, Michigan. It's a week long celebration of all things Dutch, and the schedule is packed full with dancing, crafts, and history.

Oh, and lots of parades, rides, and carnival food.

On Saturday, I begged my husband to take me to the parade. I guess the regulars around here are over it, but I was not going to miss going to Tulip Time the one year I am actually living here. So, sir.

The parade was awesome, and we decided to walk against the grain so we could see it all in less time (typical). There were tons of marching bands, which my husband is fascinated by and even knows a lot of the music to. There were also a lot of people in Dutch costumes (see the people in the parade above).

After about an hour of parade watching, we were ready for a cocktail (this parade is in the afternoon, not morning). We went into a restaurant off of the main strip that has delicious cocktails. Like, they have a whole menu just for martinis. I had this peach drink which consisted of peach vodka, whipped cream vodka, and mango puree. It was naturally sweet and delicious!

After cocktail time, we stopped in a nearby store because my husband suddenly wanted to buy a skateboard. We spent almost an hour in that shop, and then headed outside to the carnival food. My husband and his brother both bought "Elephant Ears," which are apparently kind of like a huge, fried pastry the size of a personal pizza. It was covered in sugar and cinnamon.

My thoughts? It was tasty enough for one bite, but I wasn't in love with it. There must be a major nostalgia component to everyone who loves them. 

That night, after walking around all afternoon, we hung out back at the house... and we were even more active. Remember how I mentioned my husband wanted a skateboard? Yeah, well I tried it, and let's just say I'm not gonna quit my day job.

On Sunday, we started the day with church. Afterward, it was still beautiful outside, so my husband and I sat out on the deck for a bit with the dog. 

Once we'd had enough sun and heat, we went on a walk in the nearby forest preserve and got some steps in. 

While we were on our walk, we came up with a plan for the night. We drove up Lake Shore Drive to Grand Haven and went to a seafood restaurant called Grand. It is built inside of an old theater, and they did a great job renovating it so that it still has the same old school charm.

I had a delicious martini that was extremely strong (whoops) and my husband drank beer. He got fish and chips, while I got a huge chopped salad.

Once we got home, I was ready to hit the hay. A combination of an active weekend, in the sun, and a boozy cocktail or two was enough to put me into sleep mode.

Next weekend, we will be packing to get ready to move into a new house. So, cheers to a fun weekend in the sun with a dark weekend in boxes on the horizon!

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• Are you taking advantage of the nice spring weather?
• What's your favorite go-to cocktail?

Chicken Avocado Sriracha Sandwich on Toasted Rye

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A month or so ago, my fiance and I grabbed a loaf of Rye bread at the grocer. It made for a few delicious meals, but I'm finally burnt out on it (plus I'm kicking fancy bread to the curb... oh, who am I kidding?).

Really, though, all bread issues aside, this makes for a delicious meal. You've got your lean protein (chicken), your healthy fats (avocado), and your cheese (which is its own food group, right?). Oh, right. And SRIRACHA. Say it like that. Sri-raaaah-chuhhh. It's so fun.

And, while Rye bread may have lost its allure, it's only because I ate it every day for a month. And because, when it comes to food, I tend to get a bit obsessive and use an ingredient in as many ways as I possibly can before I retire it. So, let's just say I used up my Rye bread taste buds. For now.

But these pictures are pretty seductive, aren't they? Bow chicka wow. Or... whatever.

To be honest with you, this recipe evolved out of a lack of time. Which is code for "laziness." You see, sometimes I want a delicious meal, but I just don't have the energy to spend the time to make something complicated. The days when there are leftovers in the fridge but you just don't feel like eating the exact same thing over again. 

Especially if you're following my advice to pre-bake chicken for your lunches/dinners, this should be quite an easy meal to put together.

Chicken Avocado Sriracha Sandwich on Toasted Rye

Ingredients:

• Rye Bread
• 1/3 cooked Chicken Breast, Sliced
• Shredded Cheese
• Italian Seasoning
• 1/4 Avocado, sliced into thin pieces
• Sriracha

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Lay both pieces of Rye bread on a baking pan (I used an older pan I have that is pretty damaged -- if you're using a newer pan, lay a piece of foil or parchment paper underneath to avoid burning cheese onto your pan).
3. Spread a thin layer of cheese on one side (YUM!), then add chicken pieces.
4. Leaving the sandwich in two pieces, put it in the oven for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Then, add slices of avocado and drizzle Sriracha. 
5. Serve!

Pick Your Workouts Based on How Much Time You Have

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Let me guess: You're busy. We're busy with commuting, office chairs, and meetings... or we're busy with tiny little feet, not-so-tiny diapers, and spilled milk all over the rug...  too many loads of laundry, too many rides to practice, too many needs, too many wants...

So where does your workout fit in?
From now on, when you're looking for an easy way to get a quick workout in, here's your resource. If you have thirty, fifteen, or even just FIVE minutes, you can do a workout! These workouts are designed to speed up your metabolism for over 24 hours after exercising, allowing you to work out for as little as 4 minutes and still see results!

How Much Time Do You Have?

Five Minutes or Less:

• 4 Min Tabata Heartrate Amp Up (First Set Only)
• 4 Min Tabata Butt & Thighs (Lunges) (Second Set Only)
• 4 Min Tabata Butt & Thighs (Squats) (Fourth Set Only)
• 4 Min Tabata Arms w Light Weights (Third Set Only)
• 4 Min Tabata Abs (Planks) (Fifth Set Only)
• 4 Min Tabata Abs (Crunches) (Sixth Set Only)

Fifteen Minutes or Less:

• 8 Min Tabata Butt & Thighs (Perform Sets 2 & 4 Of Linked Workout Only)
• 8 Min Tabata Abs (Perform Sets 5 & 6 Of Linked Workout Only)
• 8 Min Tabata Lower Body (Perform Sets 4 & 6 of Linked Workout Only)
• 10 Min Tabata Full Body Cardio Workout 
• 12 Minute Tabata Full Body Workout (Perform Sets 3, 4, and 6 of Linked Workout Only)
• 15 Minute Boxing Intervals

Thirty Minutes or Less:

• 25 Minute Whole Body Workout 

More than Thirty Minutes:

• TV Show Workout - Workout Circuits for Half-Hour or Hour-Long Shows
• 40 Minute Megan Fox's Butt Workout - Bike
• 40 Minute Megan Fox's Butt Workout - Treadmill/Running
• 40 Minute Megan Fox's Butt Workout - Elliptical

About These Workouts:

These workouts are based on Tabatas, a type of workout that is based on creating an "Oxygen Debt." To put it simply, the scientifically timed intervals in Tabatas cause you to burn off all of the fuel in your muscles... meaning that your body is forced to find a way to replace all of that energy.  How, might you ask?  By burning fat.  In fact, Tabatas are so effective that just one Tabata workout increases endurance as much as 45 minutes of your regular cardio training would.

Timing:
All you need is a way to time your workouts in intervals of 20 seconds to 10 seconds. You can download an Interval Timer app on your smart phone OR download FREE workout music that is perfectly timed out to tell you when to start and stop!


More Information:
Looking for more information about fitness and getting in shape? Check out these fitness resources, this list of healthy recipes, and this diet and nutritional philosophy!