{Cooking, Crafting and Getting Fit}

Cooking Crafts Food and Drink Health & Fitness Me

Hmmmmm…..Cooking, Crafting and Getting Fit.  During my 5 month blog hiatus, did I do any of those things?

Well, let's see.  I posted about my Valentine's Day Cooking Exchange HERE, and that definitely involved some cooking and a little bit of crafting!  In, January I crafted some centerpieces for a church luncheon we had and made some chocolate covered fortune cookies (crafting or cooking?):

I also decorated my small white Christmas Tree for Valentine's Day:

I even decorated it for Easter, but didn't take any photos!

As far as Cooking goes, let's see?  I've made some of my favorite meals:

Which include clockwise from top left:  The Best Pizza Evah! , Grilled Salmon, (YUM!), Lemon Vodka Pasta (I add Shrimp) from the I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook, and the always delicious Funeral/Mormon/Company/Utah Potatoes (made for Easter).

I've got an injury that I am dealing with (more on that below), so I have also been trying to be much healthier in my cooking by eating more of a clean diet.  We've also been trying to drink Green Smoothies every morning.  So delicious and good for you.  I've found most of my recipes HERE

Other clean eating recipes and cooking:

Clockwise from top left:  Citrus Grilled Chicken (you must try this!), Clean Rice Saute (veggies and TJ's Organic Brown Rice), Salad with Salsa Chicken, and more Salsa Chicken with a salad made with chick peas, avocado, tomatoes, kidney beans and cilantro and lime.  So good!

Now on to the Getting Fit: Well, about 2 years ago I set out to get fit and healthy.  You can read about it HERE or  HERE.  I was doing my favorite Zumba and GPP classes faithfully.  I was happy and healthy.  I've always had some random back problems which were manageable, but a bit frustrating nontheless.  Well back track to last November and I woke up one morning with my left hand numb.  It was the weirdest thing.  It progressivly got worse, and moved up my arm.  I had no idea what was wrong.  Then the upper back/neck pain started.  I went to my Chiropractor for treatment and ended up seeing him 3-4 times a week for a few months.  Finally, when I really wasn't improving, he ordered an MRI.  After getting the results, he suggested I see a neurosurgeon.  I had to wait two months for my appointment with the neurosurgeon (what?, I know crazy).  Anyway, the neurosurgeon confirmed what everyone thought, and what my MRI results suggested:  4 bulging discs in my neck (two moderate, two severe), with one pinching a nerve (the cause of the numbness and pain in my arm/hand), bone spurs, and degenerative disc disease. 

Jealous?  🙂

So…..next week, May 22nd to be exact, I am going in for surgery.  I believe the surgery is called: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.  More informtion found HERE. 

So, the Getting Fit part of my life has been seriously lacking the last 5-6 months. Cue sad music!

I'm not really a quitter….but I sure feel like it in the getting fit department!  I should be back to regular activity soon, right? 

I do get to have one last Getting Fit adventure before surgery next week!  I'm heading to the BLEND Retreat this weekend and I couldn't be more excited!  Who knows how much I will get to participate, but just being there will be awesome! 

I can't wait!

Okay, well this post has been long enough.  Just wanted to update on the Cooking, Crafting and Getting Fit party of my life!  Happy Thursday y'all!

Ali