Parenthood and Some GOOD Eats

So — I know this is a bit behind the curve {a common happening in the Jara household} but ladies and gentleman we have a new obsession.

Oh yeah. . . cliche or not, we have found our newest obsession.  A little different from our previous {Breaking Bad and Dexter}, but I am finding myself unable to stop clicking “play” for the next episode.  Does Netflix embarrass anyone else when they ask you “Are you still watching …” Yeah, happens more often than I care to admit.  Moving on.

Yesterday – The last moments of vacation

After soaking up my lazy morning with coffee and mountain gazing

It was almost noon so before I knew it my stomach got me up from my reading {Cooked, Michael Pollan} and into the kitchen for a fresh and easy second breakfast.

Gluten free toast, lemon water and a ton of fruit.

x2 a few hours later because it as just that good and, well, I wanted more.

Work out

  The morning and afternoon were getting away from me and I was feeling a tad lazy, so I decided to look into youtube to find a quick and easy ab workout.  This afternoons workout?  A 30 minute quick and dirty HIIT and Ab workout 

Yup, did the trick.  Highly recommended, as it’s a great balance of ab intervals mixed with HIIT intervals.  Perfection.

Reality started to hit me at some point mid afternoon, when I started filling out the packets of HR paperwork that needed to be done before I go to training tomorrow.  Man, I really did forget how much work goes into starting NEW work.  Ironic…yes.

Dinner

Eventually we got hungry again, which was a good thing because tonight’s was a good one.

Gluten free {amazing} pasta with a side salad.  It was flipping amazing, I promise you, you will be seeing this dinner here on Chocolate Medals, gluten free or not. YUM.  I’ll be sure to get the brand for you guys, you gotta try it.

Sweet Treat

And my sweet treat for the evening?

That cupcake I mentioned from my morning bike ride.  Mexican Chocolate.  Happy Cakes, expect a regular customer.

And now, it’s time for my first day!  Send good vibes everyone 🙂

❤

My Mini Vacation

And just like that, my mini vacation is coming to an end.  I apologize that I have been a tad distant from the blogger world the past few days.

When I walked out of the office Wednesday afternoon, I knew I had a jam packed schedule ahead of me.   What I didn’t know is how exhausted I would be by the end of it because it was just Such.A.Blast.

My Mini Vacation Highlights

running with my favorite boys

Drinks and celebratory sushi

A night in the mountains

A mentally and physically challenging hike in the mountains

The most fun race I have ever participated in

And some time catching up with old friends for an old fashioned Sunday Funday.

While I don’t think I could have packed too much more into my mini vacation, I wouldn’t change a second of it.   I woke up this morning, and slowly enjoyed my coffee while I started thinking about everything that I have ahead of me.

I really don’t know what’s going to happen at this new position.  I know it’s going to be challenging, I know it’s going to be emotionally harsh at times, and I know the hours will be long.

But more importantly, I feel like I am joining what seems to be an amazing agency that really cares about their employees and the work that they do.  I have an amazingly supportive family that I know will have dinner on the table for me after long days, and fully support me when I choose to hit the gym for an hour after a 10-12 hour day, just for my own sanity.

What I want to prioritize during the next couple of weeks is staying level headed during such a huge time of transition.  I want to continue to prioritize my family, my health, and my overall balance that seems to be the first thing to drop when times get busy.

Of course, I fully intend for that to include my LOVE here at Chocolate Medals, so bear with me while I mumble and share with you all my ups and downs of this little roller coaster I’ve been on.  The support I get from you all means more than you know — so I hope you stick around 🙂

And just because. . . 

Scenes from  my morning bike ride. . .

The beautiful Sloan’s Lake, just part of my bike ride this  morning that may or may not have ended with me stopping at a cupcake shop for “final celebration treats” to wrap up my mini vaca.  Gluten free mexican chocolate for me, and I can’t wait 🙂  Life is all about balance, am I right?

Any advice for me going into all this? 

End of An Era

Today I wrapped up an era of my life here in Colorado. . .

Almost two years ago, in the middle of the night on a Wednesday morning, Zach, the furballs, and I packed up our lives in Chicago and moved here to Denver, CO.  Zach got lucky enough to get the opportunity to work from home, and the both of us had always wanted to live near the mountains.  When I got an opportunity to work at the Action Center, we took the leap and made the move.

We packed up and drove on Wednesday, and by Thursday morning I was at work.  And today, almost two years to the date, I left the Action Center for the last time!

I haven’t spoken about my work much here on the blog, because well, it hasn’t been all that fun to talk about.  For awhile, I had struggles with different elements of my work there while at the same time loved the work that I did.   Two weeks ago, I was blessed enough to get what seems like an amazing offer that has great potential for career growth.

While I will still try and keep the bulk of my work life separate from the blog, expect some fun updates on the new job and how things are changing around our lives during this busy time 🙂

Back to Business:  Food and a Run

Last night’s dinner:

A small side salad with garden greens, squash, celery, grapes, carrots and goat cheese.  YUM

Plus a tuna burger with udi’s toast and some GF crackers.

Run

I split my run today

3 miles with this speed demon

One mile with this slow poke.

Not a bad day 🙂

When was the last time you changed jobs?  Was it tough to leave?