Markets, Festivals and Nicholas, Oh My!!

It was a busy long weekend in the Groff house!  We hosted Thanksgiving dinner Thursday and basically laid around until late afternoon on Friday…then it was off to the Trier Christmas Market, followed by our own village’s festival Saturday night to see Nicholas!

The Trier Market was gorgeous!  We were there at  night, so we got to see all of the pretty lights and displays.  We also got to warm our freezing hands with mugs of Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Bailey’ Coffee!  The market looked like a display you see on someone’s mantle at Christmas!  It was so amazing to see these things in larger than life size!

As soon as we got there, James spotted the Carousel.  He was  non-relenting in his begging to go on it!  After we warmed up with drinks he had a turn and smiled from ear to ear the entire time.  I am not sure if the smile was from the ride or from the girl he decided to sit with in the little carriage seat!  He loves the ladies, whether they speak English or not!

The boys enjoyed their treats…James was overwhelmed with excitement and Gavin was just wonderstruck with all of the lights and toys!  He just starred at them and you could see his little mind just reeling with the wonderment of it all.  Then he was all about the Sus Popcorn…it was mighty tasty!

We got some nice photos together and then decided it was time to get back to the warmth of our Jeep for the 90 minute drive home.  Two hours at a market flies by when you are busy looking at all of the ornaments and wooden crafts!  The next day was spent tidying up, relaxing some more and then visiting our own village’s festival!  We had a visit from Nicholas who gave out goodie bags to the children while the parents enjoyed some Gluwein…I am not a fan, so I left that part up to Eric!  Meanwhile, we played, tried to stay warm, and practiced running up hills with Gavin!

It is so amazing to have markets and festivals every weekend all over Germany to enjoy with our friends!  Now we get two special friends coming this week from Japan, and we cannot wait to share the in the Gluwein, wursts, waffles and celebrations with them!  Up next…the Landstuhl Christmas Market Race…

What did you do this weekend?

A day of success while eating out!!

I have been gone for 2 days since we got packed up and had NOTHING in our house, so we went elsewhere.  Tuesday night, we stayed on base and then Wednesday we went to a beach cottage for two nights…relaxation in a stressful time like this is a MUST!

The view from the beach cottage!!

I started my Wednesday with a lovely coffee date with two lovely ladies!!  I got to see my running pal, Tricia and her daughter, Ruby for some yummy eats and sunshine at a nice little coffee house!

LOVE going to this place on a sunny day!

My goal was to eat as clean as possible….this proved to be challenging!  My willpower was in full force because what I wanted was the loaded french toast with banana, blueberries and whipped cream, a grande Almond Mocha, and maybe some of their yummy looking banana bread on the side.  What I got was a Tall NF Soy Mocha (I only drank about 1/3), 3 egg whites scrambled, and plain yogurt with 1/4 banana.  I came prepared with a tiny container with: 2tsp chia seeds, 2 tsp cocoa, 2 tsp flax, and some stevia.  I sprinkled these goodies on top of the yogurt!

My yummy breakfast!

C'mon, that is just as good as loaded french toast...right?

Tricia decided to get some french toast, but not loaded.  She opted for the yummy banana and NO whipped topping, some eggs and it also came with sausage (which I don’t think she ate). 

Look good or what???? How cute is that tiny little single serving jug 'o syrup?

She also got a super yummy looking t blended drink, I should have gotten my blended too since that is my favorite 🙂

Look at those two pretty ladies....so delicious!

It was so nice to sit in the sunshine, relax, chat and enjoy her gorgeous little daughter!  She had me cracking up with her ‘way too cute’ jeggings…she is a stylin’ l’il lady!  We took time for a group picture or four, before heading out to enjoy the rest of the day!  Here I am with my super amazing breakkie companions!

Anyone else wanna just squeeze those gorgeous cheeks? Two gorgeous ladies I am lucky to have met!!

The rest of the day I kept my clean eating and willpower!  I had my prior Nanny come to take me to lunch, but when she walked through the door with pizza I thought I was in trouble.  The pizza was for the boys, so her and I still went to lunch (whew!)  I got a large salad with chicken, 1 egg hard boiled egg white and some japanese dressing on the side.  I like to dip my fork and then get a fork full of salad 🙂  She was pressuring me to get the Orea Cookie Cheese Cake, and although it was super tempting, I declined and popped a piece of juicy fruit!

If you know me and my love of cheesecake, you know this was a very proud moment!

Then it was time for us to pack up and head out to the cottages…not the greatest idea when you are hungry!  I packed an apple to eat in the car and sadly, it just was not enough.  My Hub was kind enough to get a FAT apple danish for our son…..which I ended up holding on my lap the entire 60 minute drive!  I did not touch it…may have inhaled deeply while holding it, but did not eat it!  When we finally got to the cottage I whipped out the chicken and peppers I brought and sent the Hub to the grill!  I ate a piece of 7 grain flax bread with 2 tsp natural pb, and one date ball while I waited.  I am really getting way to addicted to this Natural Peaunut Butter I got (the only one available here).  I am used to the taste and am slowly not craving the other ‘natural’ peanut butter made  by skippy!

I love you!

I turned down any after dinner snack and just enjoyed a good book in bed (borrowed from Tricia 🙂 ).  I have to say, it was nice to go to bed and know that I ate out for 2 of my meals, plus a snack and DID NOT compromise my transition to clean eating!  Yay, me!!!!

What temptations have you passed up lately?  Did you feel deprived or were you able to enjoy something else just as much?

Clean Eating, Happy Belly and the dreaded St.Patty’s Fare!!

So we have a party at our home for St.Patty’s day each year!  My Hub is Irish/German…so he loves beer.  A LOT.  I don’t drink, so I just cook all of his Irish Food requests for said party!  My stomach cannot really handle that heavy food, so I usually have a l’il something else instead!  Want to enjoy St.Patty’s while eating clean?  Here are some ways!!!

But first, a look at how the Okinawa gang usually celebrate at our home 😉

My Chug-a Hub!!

My husband insists on making weird faces (or lack there of) in photos...I have no idea why!

My husband showing how to 'fake kiss'....this was too weird for me!

These boys are known for their partying ways!  Between the green beer,  scotch eggs (not really scotch), Irish Stew (made with beer), Corned Beef and Cabbage, Soda Bread, Blarney Brownies, and key lime pie they are usually rowdy and FULL by the end of the night!  I can never handle the food OR the beer, so I just sit back and watch them make fools of themselves while I get proof on camera 😉 

Again with the fake kiss and again with my husband's random 'stare' out into nowhere!

So now onto some eats that this belly can be happy about!!!  If you have not tried a ‘Green Monster’ than I demand suggest you give it a try….like, NOW!!!  A good way to start your St.Patty’s Day would be this…no?

Courtesy of, the very amazing, Angela over at 'Oh She Glows'!

A very tasty and healthy Peppermint Patty Green Monster!  It looks way too good to be healthy and full of antioxidants, but let me tell you: delicious cannot get much healthier than this!!  As you move onto your lunch/dinner why not whip up a side of Gluten Free- Vegan Soda Bread ?  This is an Irish staple, and so very tasty…

Recipe by One Sweet Vegan!!!

Or, how about some Cilantro Lime Rice to add a nice light ‘fresh’ taste to your table!!!  This looks so yummy, I am a sucker for cilantro…so, I will take a second (and third and fourth serving if you please!!)

Fresh and tasty courtesy of 'The Bakery Box!!!

I know you need some stew added to the mix!  This can get weighed down, but there is no reason to sacrifice taste in order to ‘clean it up’ a bit!  This “Hearty Winter Bison Stew” is an amazing recipe that will be a hit whether the eaters are ‘clean’ or not!!!

Serve this with some Soda Bread and you are SET! Courtesy of Clean Eating Magazine!

Now we also need to pay homage to the beloved (not by me) Corned Beef and Cabbage!  There is still a way to eat clean and enjoy this traditional favorite!!!  Check out this yummy version that was made up over at ‘Fat Free Vegan Kitchen!

Even I could enjoy this one!!!

Another recipe that NEEDS to be served at any well respecting Irish Gig would have to be Shepherd’s Pie.  I go weak in the knees over this stuff.  I could lap it up by the pound!  I was very excited to see this recipe through Clean Eating because I knew it would become a staple in my home!  So here is the recipe for Shepherd’s Pie with Buttermilk-Chive Mashed Potato Crust *quite a mouthful, huh?  Yes, pun is intended!)

This would have to be PRIED from my fingers!

Okay, now that I have drooled over these yummy main meal ideas, it is time to move onto the sweet stuff.  So glad I can indulge in these healthy treats 🙂  One of my most favorite treats is cheesecake.  I make a very (unhealthy) amazing Brownie Caramel Cheesecake, but for this occasion I will stay on target with an equally delicious Mint Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake…there is NO WAY you can resist this!!

This New Yorker knows what she is going! I am a huge fan!!

Do you love the Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies?  I eat them by the box, not really, but kinda!  I found this recipe and although it is healthy, I could still eat the whole batch!!!  Sink your teeth into these lovely little babies!

Tessa is gorgeous and talented in the kitchen..what more could you ask for?

Okay, last one!  This is an amazing recipe for to-die-for fudge!  Plus, there is a bonus ~ two versions are available: orange and mint!  If there is two versions of anything chocolate, I am on board!!  Go check out these little friends, I don’t have a picture so you need to REALLY go check it out in order to see this amazingness that is this fudge!!!!

Okay, people!  So there you have it…my hopes for a clean eating, happy belly St.Patty’s Day with all of my crazy friends and non-clean-eaters!  I will be taste testing a few items here and there but I am truly aiming at just that….taste testing, not indulging!  I have a party planned with my students with a huge potluck; however, I still packed my clean/healthy bento!  My husband is going to be cooking all day tomorrow for the annual party, but I will be doing my own thing meal wise!  Plus, I have my first day of EI10K interval training at 4:30am so I will want to keep a good thing going for the day!

How will you be spending your St.Patty’s???  Do you indulge or try to keep in a healthy routine??  Which recipe do you think you are most likely to try?

Coconut, knit socks, and Buddha ;)

What a great day I had!!  That is not sarcasm, though I am known to be over-the-top slighty sarcastic at times!

I started off with my beloved egg beater omelet…I cannot get enough of these.  I had an omelet once when I worked at a gym (yonder ago) and had to be at work for 5:30am.  I made a veggie and ham omelet and near puked….the texture was NOT okay to me!  When I started this blog I vowed to try new things and be more adventurous…yes, I know an omelet is not adventurous, but to me it really is!  SOOO, I had that egg beater omelet and felt like I had really been missing out…hence my constant eating of them to make up for it!

Bad angle, but you can literally SEE the steam coming off of it!!!

I have been noticing that I am getting hungrier in the afternoons so I thought I better bring some more protein or pack snacks with a bit more ‘punch’.  I added a lovely low-carb whole wheat tortilla with natural PB and a banana to the mix for the day….I could eat these every meal of the day(these and Fiber One Frosted Shredded Wheat…more on that later)!

I want to take it right off the screen and eat it!!

Then I bundled up my beautiful little overnight oats with banana so I could enjoy them at work!  I think I have a love affair with overnight oats….

Add a little 'Fantasy Fudge' and I am in heaven!

The rest of the day went well, it was sunny and the students we keeping me laughing throughout the day!  They love for me to tell them embarrassing stories from when I was little.  This week I tell them 3 stories a day (I am a klutz and have many stories) it is so funny to watch them roar with laughter at my expense 😉  The funniest part is that I have the habit of laughing when I am telling the stories, so I end up taking forever to get the story told in between snorts and chokes of laughter….ah, these are the times I love!!!  The great mood continued when I got an email telling me that I received my Coconut order from Coconut Oil Online and a package from my Nanny in Canada (she is probably one of my most favorite people EVER!!)  I was so excited to get home and then see this!!

Here comes homemade coconut butter and tasty treats!!

Cozy knit socks for the whole family!! I will be cuddling up with these babies no matter what the weather!

I was so happy to see my goodies, but I was in a rush to get to a meeting (everything Buddha) so I had to figure out a way to eat quickly while holding the cranky and sleepy Youngin’……what is a girl to do????  Well, cue the Fiber One Shredded Wheat and grapes…it is all about finger food when you are holding a fussy baby 😉

I could seriously eat a whole box in one sitting!

A nice bite of freshness!

So I have ended my night with some lovely chants, awesome people, making up tomorrow’s bento and now off to read before sleepy time!!  Tomorrow I am going to make coconut butter and get some yummy recipes for my new items from Katie!!

What are your simple pleasures?  What gets you excited when it comes to food and new items? 

Ordering a more natural lifestyle…rush delivery, please!

So as we know, I am in Okinawa

… 

I'm somewhere right in the middle...

That means that I use a military shipping address (still an US address) and have a limited variety of healthy foods and baking items to buy.  I have been trying to make do, and I have been doing really well.  I am slowly trying to cut out a lot of the unneccessary processed items that would normally bog down my daily diet.  I have moved onto using oats, dates, nuts, beans, etc to make flavors and snacks more interesting and healthy for me.  I already received my Hodgson Mills order, and made the Buckwheat pancakes for ‘Pancakes and UFC’.  The hub didn’t care for them, but I thought they were awesome! 

Yay to the Buckwheat Pancakes

The thing is this: I do Weight Watchers, a lot of the things I am making keep adding up to a lot of points even though they are chalk full of healthy-good-for-you ingredients!  I keep trying to make them with lower points but then I am sacrificing taste and healthy items!  For example: Aunt Jemima Pancake mix will give me 3 pancakes for 3 points.  The Buckwheat Mix will give me 2 pancakes for 4 points.  This is why I am starting to really look into the ‘Intuitive Eating’ idea.  Should I be sitting here chosing something more processed because it is fewer points rather than eating what is so much better for me so I can save those points?  I am tired of being caught up on these numbers!  I don’t want to be worrying about whipping out the points calculator every time I want to try a new, more natural, recipe!  I don’t want to sacrifice healthy oils, nuts and grains.  I am a little bit stuck and would LOVE some input and advice!!!!  Please comment and let me know if I am being obsessive or really doing the right thing by possibly letting go of the numbers.

Should I have to give these up????

Or can I go both ways: wheat, nuts, oils AND Weight Watchers?

Anywhoo…since it was a busy night of football and errands, we went to grab dinner.  I got a 6 inch oven roasted chicken breast sub on wheat.  I had it loaded with veggies, (no cheese, please), and some sweet onion LF sauce (just s drizzle, not sure if I would like it).  It was really good!!!  I sat looking at the baked lays, but went with the apple instead and then just ate two of the hub’s.  Glad I got the apple because those were really oily to me!!  When I got home I was really in a chocolate mood.  Not in a ‘punish myself for wanting chocolate and then depriving myself’ mood…a full on REAL chocolate mood!  So I had a mini Toblerone bar that my dad sent out from Canada..it was delicious, I enjoyed it, and I felt great after eating it!  No stressing or guilt…one small step….

Ohhh sweet almond nougat!!!!

I am super tired so I made sure to get everything ready for the morning…items set out for the egg beater omelet

1/2 cup ready for egg beaters, and the fillings are already cut up in the fridge!

Had to make my addictive overnight oats for the morning to go with the egg beater omelet!  I was adding some cocoa mixture tonight to give it a nice rich flavor!!!

Wanting to eat them NOW!

Then I packed up my Bento for the lunch.  I have some tofu/chicken mixed with veggies that will be stuffed into a 1/2 a wheat pita, some tofu pudding with crushed flax cereal on top that will be spread on a banana, some yogurt with frozen berries and blueberries, and some grapes and tangerine!  I also packed 3 Fudgie Friends and an apple for a morning snack! 

Delicious, healthy and all good for me!!

I have a run tomorrow, so I hope I get a better sleep tonight!!  Last night was really rough and made the day a little bit long!  So, off to bed because right now the black circles under my eyes are a bit toooooo excessive!!!

Over-tired and showing it 😉

So here it goes:  Any suggestions for enjoying all of the amazing recipes, foods, grains, nuts and natural butter without obsessing over points??  Should I go with what feels and tastes good and just leave the numbers behind me???

The Trail Run that wasn’t…the 3.2K that was!!

 

…So I mentioned in my last post that the trail run didn’t happen (BIG groans and BOOs all around!) due to the weather….here is the thing, the second it was supposed to start is when the weather completely cleared.  Since this was my first time out, I didn’t go at the last-minute because I had no idea where the actual trail was.  So I  excitedly dissapontedly went to the gym to hit the treadmill.  I don’t have great gear yet, so I didn’t want to run when it was sleek and wet outside because I would be the one person who would wipe out!

 

I would fall on the banana peel 😉

I was determined to do as best as I could…the C25K for the day was a straight 20 min of running….had not done that before and knew pacing would determine if I did it or not.  I blasted the Linkin’ Park and went to town.  I kept a steady (probably slow) pace and then cranked it up to 5.6 for the last 2 minutes.  Then I saw that if I were to go a little bit longer I would hit 2 miles….NEW GOAL!!!  I wanted to EARN that pedicure that was coming up, so I just tapped into the idea that I could say I ran 2 miles and gave ‘er!!!  A little slow: 2 miles in 24 min, but I will take it!!!  I was so excited that I did it, and felt really great about myself!  Reaching goals is seriously something I am starting to LOVE and something that makes these changes so EASY!!!

image from source

Full of elation from my run, it was time to go see my boy play football (he is not really into it, but has a lot of fun!) and then off to my reward for running 2 miles (3.2K) after only 3 weeks of running!  Oh, sweet, relaxing. amazing Cocoks!!!

It is always such a treat to go here!  Ocean view, relaxing aroma, yummy tea, and huge cozy recliners!!!  They have such amazing nail art, that it is always hard to choose what to get done!!  I got the hot pink with flowers (Valentine’s Day is coming, after all!).  It was so nice to get the leg massage and smell the sweet rose oil they use!  Oh, heavenly!!!!!

The lovely nail art

Next it was off to Nago to go see the cherry blossoms!!  I am a sucker for cherry blossoms and am always taken in my their beauty and simplicity.  It is almost automatic calm and relaxation as soon as I have these pretty little things in front of me….does anyone ever feel like this over something in nature???  Either way, I love ’em!!

Not quite fully bloomed, but still gorgeous!!

At the beginning of the road which leads to the Cherry Blossom Climb, there is a Banyan Tree…it is the oldest banyan tree in Okinawa!  They say that children who would play at the banyan trees would always get burn marks and nightmares if they were naughty.  The beautiful part of history is that ONLY children can see the tree spirits-‘kijimuna’ because of their innocence!  Either way this one is over 300 years old!!

A beautiful piece of Okinawan history!

A wider view...

We followed the steep path (a stroller will not go up the crazy amount of stairs) to get to the top of the mountain.  What a beautiful view the while way up!

See why I love these so much??!!

The lighting was so gorgeous...everything had a beautiful soft glow!

James was so excited at each and every tree…I guess my enthusiasm rubs off on him.  He just kept repeating how beautiful they were!

Making the journey uphill!

You can see the enthusiasm oozing out of him 😉

We wanted to get a ‘mommy and me’ photo, so we stopped for a quick second…unfortunately, I could not seem to get one with the blossoms in the background!

I have no idea what is going on with his hair, ha ha!!

So here is where I start to get a little bit bummed…we really did not even make it all the way to the top before the camera battery died….I am so serious!  I cursed (it is a bad habit) and I scowled!  My Hub just looked at me as if to say ‘seriously…suck it up and enjoy the sights without the camera.” So that is what I did.  I kept trying to turn on the camera and take a quick picture, which worked a few times, so here they are 🙂

Here is that gorgeous light again! James lagging a bit behind 😉

Me and the Hub!

Overall it was a gorgeous day!!   It was so rewarding to have a great run after being disappointed about missing the trail run!  It was awesome to see my l’il guy goofing around and having fun on the football field!  It was rejuvenating to have a lovely pedicure with friends, and it was simply breathtaking to have such a gorgeous afternoon with all 3 of my amazing boys 🙂

How do you celebrate a goal victory?  What rejuvenates you?  Where do you find simple pleasure and solace?