2014 Goals That Have Nothing to Do with Running

I made some non-goal goals for 2014, but since this is a mostly fitness blog, I wanted to talk a little bit more about some fitness goals I do have. My only running goal as of now is to have fun.

Since 2013 was The Year I Discovered Lifting Things Up and Putting Them Down Wasn’t Too Bad and Yoga is Cheap Therapy, I have my mind on some goals of that nature for this year.

1. Pull-Up

Last year in St. Croix, we were walking around a playground of sorts near the beach, and we found a pull-up bar. Ashley sidled right up to that baby, and busted out a few. I walked up, and…LOL. Did not bust out a few, for sure.

Do you see that? My coworker Miriam’s strength is so admirable. We have a pull-up bar in the corner at work (obviously), and she just walks over and busts a few out, the same way I fill up my water bottle. Like it ain’t no thing. 

By the end of the year, I would like to be able to do a pull-up or two. 

2. Headstand.


Tara Stiles Yoga Headstand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At a yoga event with Tara Stiles last spring, she helped me into an assisted headstand…and it was awesome. I’ve also done a few against the wall at Prana, but I’d love to be able to do one without an assist by the end of the year. I plan on giving my best try at this in yoga classes, and asking instructors for an assist if they are offering one.

[Shape has a great guide to get you there, step-by-step.]

3. Handstand

How the eff did I do this when I did gymnastics all those years ago? Like…how? 

My buddy Anne busts out handstands all over the place…and they look cool. I’d like to be able to do a handstand, too.

[Whole Living has an awesome guide to get you there.]

That’s all. Let’s meet back here Dec. 31 and discuss this, okay?

Do you have any strength-related goals for this year?

Blue Apron Taught Me a Little Bit About Cooking

My cooking skills are pretty limited. I’m sure I could be a decent cook if I tried, but by the time I get home from work, cooking for one person, cooking some elaborate meal is not a priority. Eating immediately is.

Most of my meals are so, so simple: some sort of protein, some sort of healthy-ish starch and some sort of veggie. Whatever. It works.

I’d heard of Blue Apron, and it sounded super-fancy, expensive and way beyond my basic cooking skills. It’s a delivery service where all the ingredients are delivered straight to you for three meals that serve two people for $60. One of my coworkers is friends with one of the Blue Apron people, and she had some free meals to give out, so I thought it was totally worth a try.

I got a box before the holidays, and made the Mexican meal because it was the easiest, and my favorite, and froze the rest.

Another box came the other day, and once again, I went for the Mexican. If you are what you eat, I am a taco. This dish was a Mexican tortilla soup. I was sick; it was Mexican. Perfect.

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Each meal comes with these handy-dandy recipe cards. (I threw out the recipe cards with my first box, and if you do that, you can still access the recipes on their website.)

 

Also, their social media person is ON POINT.

It’s really hard to not just eat the cheese, you know?

 

Blue Apron Recipe Card

They give you really easy-to-follow directions, illustrated at each major step.

I like that the service teaches you new techniques and ideas, as well as gives you plating and styling ideas. 99% of the time I’m cooking for myself, but these are still good things to know.

Blue Apron Tortilla Soup

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m happy with how the finished product turned out. I’ll never be a food blogger, but I made something tasty, and it really wasn’t that hard. Also, there is avocado in it. It is hard to go wrong with avocado. They said it was two portions, but I’ve already had two servings, and there is plenty left for a third…even after snacking on some of it on tortilla chips. And I don’t have a dainty appetite, so it’s impressive how filling it is.

I actually won’t be continuing with the service just because it’s pretty rare for me to have time in a week to make three pretty involved meals like this, but it’s a really cool idea. What I’m not crazy about is that you sign up and are automatically renewed every week, rather than opting into it when you want it. I get it from a business perspective, but I’m not ready to commit to it yet. #commitmentissues

They ship to all of the East and West Coasts, and some of the states in the middle, but not all of them. (Sorry, guys.)

Would you try a service like this? How comfortable are you in the kitchen? (How did you learn to cook?)