What do kettlebell certifications, microwaves, and raccoons all have in common?

They make me nervous.  Tomorrow is my second official taekwondo tournament and I’m a bit nervous.  Okay so I’m really nervous. Considering MMA Mama beat me in the last tournament giving me a nasty bruise adding injury to insult  , I think my nervousness is justified.  Wondering IF she is going be there is more worrisome than the tournament itself.  Next week I’ll do a recap…if I live.  Just kidding the sparring is totally controlled and fully padded.  It’s nothing like a “real fight”.  It’s actually really fun especially for a girl who grew up with pictures of Rocky taped in her junior high locker while all the other girls had New Kids on the Block pictures.  Weirdos.

As of late I’ve felt like I’ve come across a bit more beastly than I actually am.  Sure I may love picking up heavy stuff just for fun and sparring until I can’t breathe but I also love glitter nail polish, red lipstick, fake eyelashes, and cozy leopard print pj’s.  Not all the same time…the make up and the pj’s that is.  I’m feminine, really I am.

This picture, as ridiculous as it is, captures my two sides, the glamour girevik (Russian word for kettlebeller) even though my nails are all chewed down.

BTW Brent took that for project someone is putting together.  I just don’t put on eyelashes and grab a kettlebell for photos.

My 30 Day Primal Challenge is going well, three days into it.  I’m enjoying the “challenge” going “Grok“.  After leaning out and training the last few months for the RKC, I found myself sort of bored and not sure what to focus on next so the primal challenge is a perfect fit.  I need mini-goals to keep me focused, excited, and on track with the big picture.

Lastly, I saw this older but good post on Planet Green, 7 Foods So Unsafe That Even Farmers Won’t Eat Them.  I love it when I read an article and I can feel all self righteous.  Don’t you?   Actually, I’m really sad about the tomatoes.  I LOVE canned tomatoes for the flavor and the convenience.

Does anyone else ever feel like you have two sides equally important but totally opposite?  What about that list?  Do you follow some, none, or all of it?  I would say I follow all of it 90% of the time.  Does anyone know if Muir Glen and Trader Joe’s canned tomatoes have BCA in the lining?

Have a great weekend!

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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The post Fluffy Friday: Glamour Girevik Goes Grok appeared first on Girl Heroes.

I like versatility.  Reversible jackets.  Kettlebells as doorstops or for workouts.  Minivans for  children or 4×8 sheets of plywood.  It’s one of the reasons I love my Perfect Pesto.  I can use it to spread on bread, make the most killer egg sandwiches ever, toss with pasta, in place of pizza sauce, toss with veggies, and or by the spoonful.

The other day, I came up with another versatile spread.  We’ve been getting quite a few Japanese eggplants in our CSA as of late.  They are long and skinny so they don’t work as well for my Eggplant Mozzarella recipe.  Like the pesto, it’s so simple to make and I think I love simplicity just as much as versatility.

Roasted Eggplant Spread

4 Japense Eggplant (or about 3 cups of  regular eggplant)
2 Garlic Cloves
1 tbs Capers
1 tbs of Sun Dried Tomatoes
1/4 Cup of Olive Oil (A tad less if you are using sun dried tomatoes in oil.)
Sea Salt to Taste

Slice the eggplant in half and brush (or spray) with a bit of olive oil and sprikle with sea salt.  Bake at 350° for 20 – 3o minutes until eggplant is soft and starts to brown slighly on the edges.

Put the eggplant, garlic, capers, sun dried tomatoes, and olive oil into your food processor (or blender) and blend until smooth.  Add more oil if necessary.  I find 1/4 cup to be plenty.

This spread is good on french bread, as a veggie dip, or in a wrap.

Sprouted tortilla, roasted eggplant spread, grilled chicken, romain, tomatoes, and feta.

And since I’m decided to take Mark Sisson’s The Primal Blueprint 30 Challenge, on chicken!

Roasted Eggplant Spread on Grilled Chicken, Grilled Asparagus and Caprese Salad.

I’ve been reading Mark’s Daily Apple off and on for about two years.  Although, I’ve decided he is total GUY HERO, I don’t think I’ll ever go 100% primal (I’m keeping an open mind) for life.  I’m simply feeling like I’m up for a new challenge.  They keep things interesting. So the next 30 days I’m want to do a little experiment and pretend I’m a cavewoman with luxuries.  Mrs. Flintstone with a stove, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, and a Trader Joe’s. Regarding workouts, from what I understand his workout philosophy is similar to my own.  He recommends sprinting once a week.  I’ve let my sprinting slack the last few months so I’m looking forward to getting back to that so I’ll go to the beach for some sprint workouts.  I plan to keep up with my kettlebell training and my walking as well.  The biggest change is going to be not eating grains.  It’s going to a fun 30 days and I’m hoping this will get my creative juices flowing in the kitchen.  Last year, I attempted a grain free month and felt pretty fantastic.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn

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