Where to start......

This little project of mine is the result of having so much to say about so many things and basically not having enough people to listen.  Don't get me wrong, I have some seriously awesome friends and family but I feel like there is so much GOOD STUFF out there to share that my head just might explode if I don't get it all out. Also, even my closest friends and family get sick of hearing my voice. So if my novice attempt helps one person to find a new wine they love, or find a new recipe, or to get out and try something new in the gym or anywhere for that matter then my life is basically made.  I can die happy.  Hopefully at some point, before I drop dead, someone other than myself starts reading this thing...A girl can hope. 

Next line of business, I feel like I need to put a disclaimer in here.  I'm no lawyer but just to save face in case someone actually reads this and takes my advice to heart I'd like to let you know I am not a professional chef, I am not a sommelier (I can't even spell that shit), if you happen to stumble upon this blog and read about food or drink it will not be in fancy terms and wording.  If I like something I'll write about it.  If you hate it, you can go ahead and hate it but don't go shooting the messenger.  I'll shoot back;)  I am not a fitness professional (yet).  That's in the works but I do know a lot about strength training and fitness.  I can't wait to learn more.  I've been lucky to have some amazing coaches so if I say something that you don't like, let me know and I'll give you their names so you can go after them personally. They will love that.  I am not a professional photographer, I'm just a girl with an iphone.  My grammar can be total shit city.  But I write like I speak so if nothing else, it's totally authentic.   I think most legal disclaimers should just say "don't be stupid". Doesn't that cover everything?


Now, to the most important line of business.  

What's to drink....

La Crema Pinot Gris 2014

I will always try and give credit where credit is deserved and this credit goes to not only the fine people at La Crema in Monterey, California but to my good friend (and neighbor and fellow wine lover and all around amazing human), Kate O. of New Providence, New Jersey, for buying this bottle of wine and making me try it.  She didn't actually "make me" try it. I don't exactly need someone to twist my arm to try new food or drink but you get the idea.  Oh, and not this "actual" bottle, this is the 2nd or 3rd one I've bought.  As you can clearly see, half of the bottle is missing, as will be with most of the wine I write about. Some may be empty (full disclosure, people). If I like it, I'll drink it and here's my proof.  And when I say drink it, I mean I drink it. Not like a sissy tasting and spit it out kinda thing, what a waste.  Anyway, back to this wine. At about a $15.99 price point it's a really lovely dry white (told you no fancy wine talk).  The description on the bottle mentions citrus and white peach.  I like both of those things, so hence I like this wine.  Try it if you like those things, too. Please don't spit it out, though.  I'd like to do away with that whole thing.  What's the worst case scenario?  Everybody gets a little drunk.  That doesn't sound so bad, not so bad at all. Cheers.

Next important line of biz.

What's to eat.....

I have been crushing hard on Gina Homolka over on http://www.skinnytaste.com/ . I really like her philosophy on food, she makes food that supports a healthy lifestyle and it tastes delicious.  An added bonus is she lists all the nutritional information (hi macros) and weight watchers points for the WW warriors out there. Who is better than her?  I told you I have been crushing.  So here is one I've made a bunch of times already.  

This recipe is basically a home run for busy peeps.  You don't have to cook a thing and it tastes like it came out of a legit Mexican restaurant.  I add the corn tortillas to make it a little more filling so you have to adjust macros accordingly. If you like shrimp and avocado please do yourself a favor and make this now.  If you're allergic to shellfish (I love you, Tal) then don't make and eat this.  I am a Registered Nurse but I will not be able to help you with that.  Please refer to legal disclaimer above under the "don't be stupid" section.  But seriously, if no allergy to shellfish, get on it.  Thank me later.  

http://www.skinnytaste.com/?s=zesty+lime+&submit=%EF%80%82

Moving onto movement because life can't be all about eating and drinking (wha-wha-whaaaaaa).

Working on my fitness....

At any given time I have a few fitness related goals that drive the way I train in the gym.  I am really lucky and grateful to say I have a super solid knowledge base about strength training from my amazing coaches at Crossfit 908 (you know who you are), from my time with my online trainer, Mike Vacanti, and from spending countless hours in the gym just trying to get stronger and learn more. There is so much information out there, many times it is confusing and conflicting.  What I know is, it all works, just some of it works better than others. For me, my goals around fitness related stuff usually look like this

1.  I don't want to feel like throwing myself off my roof when I put a bathing suit on. (The fancy term for this is aesthetic goals) 

2.  I want to enjoy what I am doing.

3.  I want to see improvement in either body composition or performance (both, preferably).  

So, I want to feel good, feel confident, feel strong, and have fun doing it.  

So, my movement of the week and what I'm currently trying to master is... 

The Chin Up.....

God, what a daunting task it seems like to pull yourself over a bar but man does it feel good to finally get over it.   Honestly, this skill has taken me YEARS to accomplish and when I don't do them for a couple months I can barely squeak out 1 or 2.  So these are high on my priority list right now.  I am trying to do them 2 times per week.  I want to get to 10 of them.  It may take me to 2020 but that's ok because these suckers are a straight up bad ass movement.

What really worked for me to go from literally being stuck in a hanging position from the bar (am I moving at all, even a little, a friggin' inch???) to actually pulling myself up and over the bar was a couple different training methods. 

1.  Reverse Pyramid Training (with or without bands) - The first set is the heaviest (and hardest) set and subsequent sets are lighter with more reps.  This means the first set of chin ups with  (or without) a band will be with the LEAST amount of assistance.  So when I first started out I would use the smallest band I could use to get 5-6 chins ups.  I would rest for 2-3 minutes (cuz these are really hard, man) and then use a thicker band but go for AT LEAST one more rep than my last set.  Then go to a thicker band again and go for yet another rep than the previous set.  

2.  Negatives (with or without bands) - Starting at the top position of a chin up with your chest even with the bar slowly lower yourself to the bottom position.  I started lowering myself over 5 seconds and worked myself up to 10 seconds.  I find these to be incredibly challenging and cannot do very many of them before I start to fail BUT they work.

3.  Consistency -  You know what I mean.  I know this.  But just in case, do it then rest, then do it again, rest and repeat.  

Sometimes you gotta use the playground to get shit done.  Video cred to my friend, Sharon (AKA Yoda, because she is all knowing), who got me to run 2 miles after taking this, which is basically a fucking miracle AND a post for another day.  

I think that's enough for today.  If you've read this far, thanks so much.  I mean it. I am honored to have you here. I hope you come back but if not, here's wishing you a life FULL of ALL the GOOD STUFF.

XO

Tara 


P.S. Happy Birthday Mams.  I love you, so very much.