Bye Bye 2014, Hello 2015!

It's the end of the year, 2015 is right around the corner.  Did you accomplish your goals?  Did you get healthy, lose weight, quit smoking, make more money, be happy, go to college, graduate, learn to knit, learn to ski....?

I can tell you I did not meet all of my 2014 goals.  I was a little too ambitious, lesson learned.
Here is what I did accomplish:

1. Squat 180#.  Did it!!!

2. I didn't learn to do a traditional olympic snatch, but I did learn to do a kettle bell snatch.  So I'm calling that a success.

This is a renegade row, not a snatch

3. 30 min yoga each week...not exactly.  The studio I prefer to go to is expensive, and sometimes just not practical for me to go to.  And I really don't like doing it on my own; it's not as relaxing, and I'm not motivated to do it.  So this coming year, I'm going to try and go on Saturday mornings so I'm not driving in rush-hour, and then rushing back to shower before work.

4. Handstand pushup...nope.  But I can do a wall assisted fore-arm stand.

5. Didn't make it to 20 pull ups in a row, but I can do 10, maybe 12 on a great day. I found that too many pull ups and over-head presses during the week would pull my C2, C7, and a thoracic rib out of alignment and send me to the chiropractor for an emergency adjustment.  Nothing like shooting pain and numb fingers to make you re-evaluate your strength goals.

6. And I think I did a good job of complimenting Ryan every day.  I know he did it for me.

For next year:
1. Compete in a Tactical Strength Challenge
2. Complete a sprint Triathlon or Duathlon
4. Improve my squat depth when I lift heavier weights.  As you may have noticed in the video, I'm barely able to get to parallel and definitely not "hit'n the hole" with that heavy weight.  I can do it with 130-160# but more than that and my form goes.  

5. Speak kind and loving words to my Ryan and Samoa every day.

Samoa loves her Ryan.

What do you need to do to be successful in meeting your 2015 goals?
1. Besides setting SMART goals, I think it's important to write down what it is you want to do, similar to a check list.  Then put that list somewhere in plain sight so you see it every day.
2. Tell someone about your goals, or find people with similar goals; this way you have people to help hold you accountable.
3. Lastly, reward yourself along the way for meeting mini goals.  Celebrate a 10# weight loss by buying a new belt, or a fun kitchen gadget to make your healthy cooking easier.  Or, if your goal is to quit smoking, celebrate each week you didn't smoke by putting the money you saved in a piggy bank.  You'll be amazed at how fast it adds up.

Have a happy and healthy new year!!!

Grandma's Tiger Butter

It's almost Christmas, and in my family that means Tiger Butter.  A chocolatey, peanutbuttery melt in your mouth and in your hands goodness!  It's like a Reese's Peanut-butter cup melted and smooshed, but better because there's no hydrogenated oils in it.  My grandma Miller would make this every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas, now that I live in Minnesota, I have to make my own.

1. Melt 1# white chocolate with 1/2 cup chunky peanut butter.  Spread it onto 1-2 parchment lined cookie sheets.  It needs to be a thin layer, but not too thin.

2. Melt 1 cup chocolate chips (6oz).  Drizzle over the white chocolate and then swirl with a knife or toothpick.

3. Place in your freezer, your super cold garage, or on your deck if it's close to freezing.  After it's hardened, break into bite size pieces and store in your fridge, freezer, or counter top as long as you don't keep your house too warm.

Samoa protecting tiger butter...

But if you put it on your deck...beware, squirrels like tiger butter.

corner eaten by squirrel

Options

• If you are allergic to peanuts, substitute almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or any other nut butter.
• If you are trying to really watch your carbs, use choco perfection chocolate, or love chocolate, or use the darkest chocolate you can find.
• If you like lots of crunch go ahead and add extra chopped nuts to the white chocolate mixture.