She Says: Peach, Pumpkin, Pumping Iron
So, what is new ladies and gents? I really enjoyed reading all of your different perspectives on being a positive person. I know there are things about myself I want to improve and my worrier/pessimistic attitude is one these things. I know some say people can’t change, but I think in this case it’s possible (see that was sooooo positive of me). But seriously, I think it’s about mindset. I bet it does come more naturally to some people, but I don’t think it’s impossible for a dark one like me to be cheerier.
Well, I went to Target today and let me tell you, Christmas is here. What? I know. I am no grinch, and believe me, when the time comes I will be the happiest ‘lil Christmas Elf you’ve ever seen, but what about Thanksgiving? I like to have Thanksgiving first, Christmas second, but that place skips Christmas. Thanksgiving is nice. There is good food, family and no gift related stress. In the spirit of appreciating the moment, let’s show it show respect before rushing to Christmas.
Moving on. I had my Peach Chobani. I really enjoyed it, but I left all the peach related business on the bottom. Nothing against peaches, I just do not like that stuff in my yogurt. I provide a blurry picture because it really isn’t pretty anyway.
Leftover Peaches
For dinner, I made a variation on Megan’s wonderful Black Beans and Rice with Pumpkin Vinaigrette
I didn’t make changes to be difficult, but this is what I did…
- Kidney beans instead of black beans (out of black)
- Honey instead of sugar because I am obsessed with honey
- Added Spinach for extra veggies
- Approximately 3 extra Ts of pumpkin because apparently, I am a pumpkin freak.
If you are weary about cooking with pumpkin, I suggest trying this recipe. It was so easy, yet so flavorful! I loved the how the pumpkin vinaigrette made the rice almost creamy. Yum yum. Good thing there are leftovers!
So about a week ago, I mentioned this arm workout from Self. You only have to lift three pounds, but by the end, I feel like my arms are going to fall off. I’m mentioning it again because I’ve been enjoying it and because its 3 pounds! The odd thing is that even though it makes me so tried and I can realllllly feel it, I haven’t been sore the day after. Has anyone experienced this (you think you should be sore, but you’re not) with any kind of workout? I wonder if I think I’m working harder than I am.
That recipe looks delish, I am adding it to my “recipes to make when i get home” folder on Word. Thanks! And about the workout…..our bodies are wondrous and immaculate objects.. I want to know the answer to this too!
I’ve had that happen too, and I don’t understand why!
Do you think using 5 lbs would be too much? I don’t have 3s at home.
I really like the steam in that picture!
I miss Thanksgiving too =P
I seriously miss Thanksgiving too! I mean Santa is already at the mall! Grrr… I just want eat turkey and stuffing and have my birthday before I need to worry about Santa! Oh well, I guess you can’t win them all.
Your rice dish looks really good, I haven’t really used pumpkin in savory dishes, but this look pretty easy and good.
That recipe looks great, I definitely have to try it.
My arms get easily tired, and I think that’s why you are supposed to do the arm workout every other day as opposed to every day. Plus, I am sure once you get the hang of it, it will stop hurting
Okay, I completely read that last part wrong, so ignore the second part of my comment! lol
delish with megan’s recipe!
and I didn’t get a chance to respond to your positive person post but i’m def the seriously hardcore pessimist…have been for as long as I can remember. but thanks to joining the blogging world it’s getting better…
Working out and eating healthy, I am on that same path! I run every morning, 3 miles and sometimes I wish that I could have someone to run with me so that we could end up running further! The black bean dish looks hearty and flavorful. This is the type of food that I like!
I know I love Thanksgiving and it’s so over taken by Christmas!!!! That dish looks wonderful. As for the soreness I experience that whenever I do a tough ab workout and I am not sore I am like what the heck!!!! I like my ABS TO BE SORE…lol
i love beans and rice!! i feel like i’m an expert at mexican cuisine when i make them because they taste so damn good.
i’ve had that non-sore experience before, but it usually comes when i’m doing the same workouts too much. maybe you should bump up the weight a few pounds to make it more challenging.
I leave the fruit in my yogurt too
Looks like a great pumpkin recipe! I have 2 big ones that I need to use at some point.
I bet you’re stronger than you think because of yoga. 3 lbs isn’t tough because in yoga you’re always lifting and holding your whole body weight without even thinking about it. Namaste
That salad sounds great and totally falls within my budget (i.e. what is already in the house). How did you make your pumpkin vinaigrette?
yes i’ve had that happen and get very disappointed when it does! i love that sore feeling =P
and yes, christmas is eeeverywhere! pumpkin too!!
My Target location has had the Christmas decorations up since BEFORE HALLOWEEN!!! No joke whatsoever. Insanity.
LOVE YOUR DINNER!!!!!! Holy yum.
Great workout!! I love the soreness, haha
Ooh I was just thinking this morning that I need a savory pumpkin recipe!
I’m usually not sore the day after a workout even though I think my arms will fall off during a workout. Maybe my (and your) muscles just recover faster? I dunno…
I have that workout torn out too. I’m always hesitant to do only arm workouts or only leg workouts. I feel like I’m being neglectful to the rest of my body. Maybe I’ll give this one a go.
i went to the swarovski store on NOVEMBER 1ST in the mall and what do you know? christmas music.
i think the magic is ruined if they play it too early….. i wish they would wait until the day after thanksgiving like it used to be when we were kiddies.
have a fab day!
totally with you on that – i cant think about christmas until after thanksgiving is over!
I bet that pumpkin beans and rice plate is yummy~~~ I made something similar the other day…adding pumpkin spice and sugar made it more like dessert!!! love it!!!
I think you don’t get sore the day after the workout is because your muscle already “learned” about the workout. I only get sore if it’s a new workout, by second or third time I just don’t feel anything the day after.
I am not ready for Christmas, not yet! Give us some time to enjoy Thanksgiving!!
So true about the holiday thing- I’ve even seen people around here hanging Christmas lights already. Crazy! Although I DO love the seasonal food (hello, peppermint marshmallows!).
That pumpkin dish looks sooooo good.
that dish sounds great – but i’m afraid it would be too sweet for my liking – i like it salty and hot
looks great though – i love your version of it!
I love pumpkin and can’t get enough of it either. And that dish looks amazing! I may have to try it soon.
i love ALL things pumpkin and that meal looks soooo good!
mmm chobani…
hope you have a great day!
Well Czechs don’t have Thanksgiving so Christmas spirit is REALLY dominant here already!
I did ask my ma for some yams on the last weekend of November though!
Yumm pumpkin is sooo festive
I’m hoping Probar has a pumpkin sample when they come! I’ll cross my fingers!
Another great pumpkin idea!! Thank you
I definitely agree that Christmas is near by, at least according to Target. I stopped to get a prescription today and noticed all the Halloween seasonal stuff had been replaced by Christmas. It was fantastic for me because I was able to pick up some cute Christmas muffin tin liners to use for my xmas gifts.
As far as being sore the next day goes, I find it happens most often when I switch up a routine. I’d love to know more about what that means because like you I often find my workout challenging, but am not always feeling it the next day.
I’m with you, those peachlets (thats not a word HAH!!) don’t really make me a happy girl. it’s like they’re fake gummy things or something….
the picture of the pumpkin rice thing is sooo great!!!
Know what’s funny? As I was reading “Sugar instead of honey because I’m obessed with honey” I was eating honey off a spoon thinking, “I’m about to be obsessed with honey.” LOL
Does that dish have a strong pumpkin flavor? It looks so good both here and on Megan’s blog, but I’m not a huge pumpkin fan so I’m scared to attempt it…
Christmas before Thanksgiving makes me angry! Your dinner looks delicious though.
I’d suggest increasing the weights by a couple pounds- you might be a lot stronger than you think! Pushing yourself past the limits can be good stuff (as long as you’re safe about it, of course:)).
Now that I have so much excess pumpkin from roasting one I think I might have to try that recipe… except I don’t like black beans or kidney beans. I like chickpeas though! Do you think that chickpeas could be subbed in?
They’re already playing Christmas music on the radio here in the Texas heat!
Dinner looks yummy! I <3 cooking with pumpkin! I used your positive mantra today (“today will be a good day”) and I seriously think I had a better day because of it (thank you
Poor Thanksgiving! It always get the shaft!
I felt the same way about the Chobani Peach. And I feel the same way about Target and Christmas. That said, I think deep down I still secretly get joy out of seeing those displays. I don’t know what they could do for Thanksgiving – they need to work on that!
Great dinner!
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