wendi welcomes you. she is a lover of ghandi, a photographer, a creative, a jewelry designer/maker. she is a wife, mama, and hostage negotiator. she used to be a vegetarian but the babies in her belly demanded meat. she’ll go veggie again someday. she loves nature, surfing, snowboarding, food. she really-super-extra loves SLEEP. she is a nightmare without it. she is a nicey nice and very creative with plenty of it. she madly loves a boy named joe. to the ends of the earth. she adores her bug + fin. way up to the sky and back. she calls them “lovies.” she calls you “friend.” “it matters little what you did if you did not enjoy the journey.” {wendi solari} http://www.wendisolariblog.com . wendi solari photography . . wendi solari designs .Tumblr (3.0; @wendisolari)http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/81cfca06f333fb3c511d9ff22411fc7d/tumblr_mn6ho8b83t1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/b28d5cbda7de59393dc628815d4efdc0/tumblr_mn6ho8b83t1qg6tfpo2_500.jpg"/><br/> <br/><p>21 May 2013</p> <p><strong>Chili Topped Sweet Potato</strong> </p> <p>1 sweet potato<br/>olive oil spray<br/>sea salt<br/>your favorite HEALTHY chili</p> <p>I made sweet potato fries for my kids while my husband and I each had half of a very large sweet potato.</p> <p><strong>Sweet Potato Fries:</strong></p> <p>I cut 1 large sweet potato into fry-sized pieces and spaced them out on a cookie sheet.  I used my olive oil spritzer to spray a light coat of olive oil on the fries and then sprinkled a bit of sea salt over them.  I baked them at 450 degrees for about 15 minutes (watching them to make sure they didn’t burn).  At that point I took them out of the oven and turned them over.  I cooked them for another 5-10 minutes (again, watching to make sure they didn’t burn).  **I used too much olive oil on my first batch and they were not as crispy as I would’ve liked.</p> <p><strong>Baked Sweet Potato:</strong></p> <p>I cut a very large sweet potato in half and put the halves on a foil-lined cookie sheet.  I baked at 400 degrees for 45-50 minutes.</p> <p><strong>Chili:</strong></p> <p>Use your favorite HEALTHY chili.  I can’t share the chili recipe I use because it is a family recipe (I am dead serious…there is also the Solari Salad Dressing that is out of this world and top secret).  This chili won the blue ribbon at the church chili cook-off!  Uh-huh!  What I can tell you is that we use extra lean ground turkey, replaced some of the kidney beans with black beans for added fiber, and the entire huge pot of chili only has 1 tsp of sugar (although when eating it with a sweet potato, you don’t need any).</p> <p>Choose your favorite style of sweet potato and pour 1 to 1 and a half cups of your chili over the top of it and <strong><em>ENJOY</em></strong>!</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/51040078718http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/51040078718Tue, 21 May 2013 19:31:20 -0700food<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e75df30be871903045f33ad4ad225a4e/tumblr_mn646sNsGu1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Oh #toms, I love you and all that you stand for. #oneforone</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/51016973359http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/51016973359Tue, 21 May 2013 14:40:04 -0700oneforonetoms<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/1819bb5b3f33da53c539da047737bd14/tumblr_mn5v4dfN7X1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>21 May 2012</p> <p>I have decided to use this as my journal for my fitness journey. I’m sure my Instagram friends are SICK of my feed turning into my fitness diary of sorts but I find it imperative to post on fitness to keep myself accountable.</p> <p><strong>A little background</strong>: I was a soccer player, cheerleader, and swimmer in high school. I was always active and could eat whatever I wanted without consequence. HA. HA. Those were the days! I did an Olympic distance triathlon (Wildflower) on my 29th birthday. I sustained an IT Band injury that sidelined me for a bit after that tri. I had every intention of doing more tris but never did.  I have been a sort-of runner since then, but never really fell in love with it. I’ve done a handful of 5Ks, a 10K, and I did a half marathon on New Year’s Day in 2012.</p> <p>With alllll that being said, I ruin any progress with my sweet tooth. Yes, I will eat super clean every day and then I blow it with a Dr. Pepper midday or a Kit Kat during my afternoon moment of weakness or bowl of ice cream after dinner. I piss myself off.</p> <p><br/> So while I live an active lifestyle and have increased that activity by adding weight lifting to my cardio, the challenge of age/slowing metabolism (I just turned 39) and poor eating (my sweet tooth) have kept me in less that ideal shape. I am not using that as an excuse though. I know I can look on the outside how I feel on the inside, and that is my plan.</p> <p><strong>My number 1 goal</strong>: <em>Do at least 1 unassisted pull up by the end of 2013.</em></p> <p>BAM! That’s it!</p> <p>Right now I use 70lbs of assisted weight while doing pull ups (I was using 90lbs in February…so there has been progress).<br/> I also think I want to do another triathlon…but I’ll get back to you on that one!</p> <p>I don’t care much about how much I weigh as long as I get super lean. Right now the scale at the doctor’s office says anywhere from 158 to 160 depending on the time of the month (I am 5 feet, 5-1/2 inches tall).</p> <p>I tweaked my ankle last week so I have been taping it and today was the first time I’ve run on it in a week and a half; it feels good. I think I’ll continue to tape it until next Monday (Memorial Day).  My weight lifting has been amazing. I started back to weights in late February and I’ve had a ton of progress. I love that progress shows up in almost every workout with weight lifting. I was working out every other day (Mon, Wed, Fri) alternating biceps/back/legs and then chest/triceps/shoulders and then throwing in some HIIT (high intensity interval training) runs at the end of my workouts. I would throw in some Ab workouts during the off days but I’ve been concentrating more on holding my abs strong ALL. THE. TIME. Try it, it’s hard work!</p> <p>But…It’s time to ramp it up. I’m going to keep working the same muscle groups together but I’ve gone back to working out everyday (Mon. through Fri.).  I try to workout on the weekends but I’m a soccer mom to 2 girls and that makes it tough sometimes. I use those as rest days usually (although I’m always on the go on the weekends and I try to keep my eating on point).</p> <p>My past 5 or 6 workouts have been some of the best of my life. I think it’s my state-of-mind more than anything, but I like it!  Before today’s workout I took one CLA tablet (a supplement I bought at Vitamin Shoppe) and had ridiculous energy (but not jittery). My muscles were super gassed after my back/bi workout but I still had tons of energy so I ran 2 miles (testing out my ankle) and spent 17 minutes cooling down on the bike at a level 4. I then drained my legs and stretched. I am sore but feel AMAZING!!!</p> <p>I guess my goal is to show myself where I’ve come from so I can see my progress and motivate anyone who thinks it is too hard to start or that fitness is only for young people (Note: I don’t think 39 is old, in fact I feel young but age does make it more challenging when trying to get in better shape…but it is NOT impossible and I’ll show you that).  I’ll post my specific workouts in another post.  If I ever get brave enough, I <em>might</em> post my before photo.  YIKES!!</p> <p>Peace.</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/51002827714http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/51002827714Tue, 21 May 2013 11:24:00 -0700fitness<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4d5e0212119aac6026a2cc4ac8c89b83/tumblr_mjdiwsK5sd1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Found out today that a friend has to go through chemo again and it’s still not a guarantee of anything. Keeping her privacy at this time but prayers would be awesome. Thanks, friends.</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/44910404394http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/44910404394Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:26:51 -0800<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/cf99aa6483e73c38b460e2c0025e6513/tumblr_miwhl3Dsad1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A beautiful mess. Printing some homemade mini Polaroids of IG photos I want to put in my + the girls’ journals. Nothing beats a printed photograph. Nothing. #diy</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/44169262292http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/44169262292Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:39:03 -0800diy<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/da7e91bf036af56a1df4d0f26c79e167/tumblr_miv4fls0YW1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A little handmade love for my guy’s birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday, Solari. I love you…</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/44121367242http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/44121367242Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:57:21 -0800<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/976e053a744a8e21b838fc54e7bbf043/tumblr_miuwguSxvD1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This is B. He has been with Piper since birth. He was an accidental victim of scissors. He’s all better now. :)</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/44107713191http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/44107713191Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:05:18 -0800<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/bcdf7d2b18df46033564b7279e2377ce/tumblr_mi43z7RpGa1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I LOVE real prints. Real beats a digital image on a computer or cd ANY day of the week.</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42925531857http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42925531857Tue, 12 Feb 2013 06:52:18 -0800<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/8befa9af9e55239ca34050c84a9484ea/tumblr_mhxhk2o74o1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42624196614http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42624196614Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:02:25 -0800<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/b431e478a70611c6f537816168643cee/tumblr_mhxg4etTVs1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This is @trin4 + me (on left) in Dec 1990 during a high school Ski/Snowboard Club trip to Utah. This day we were at @skisolitude. We were 16. Ahh, the memories. :) #flashbackfriday #fbfriday</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42621769941http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42621769941Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:31:25 -0800flashbackfridayfbfriday<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/bf856766d6f2056bacb902cb58098427/tumblr_mht2tkad8e1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>“Frosty the snowman was a very happy soul, with a coin pop pop and a button nose…”</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42432064243http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42432064243Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:53:44 -0800<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/ade36b4f12b17fcf6d456bef102e93b8/tumblr_mhppj7lpV01qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This color alone is worth all the torment and heartache up to this point. PERFECTION in my book. Exactly what we were going for. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42292683550http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42292683550Mon, 04 Feb 2013 12:13:55 -0800<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/2f5cf3d7b263a65a708f2ca9ad1b81a6/tumblr_mhmt6acIhC1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>What makes watching the NFL Honors Awards worth it when you’re more of a college football fan (besides Alec Baldwin’s awesome jokes)? Channing Tatum as a presenter. #YesPleaseAndThankYou #channingtatum #alecbaldwin #football</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42169319622http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42169319622Sat, 02 Feb 2013 22:39:46 -0800alecbaldwinchanningtatumyespleaseandthankyoufootball<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/95c17adfbf25cb948a79e21024567110/tumblr_mhkt3goEML1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>I love that they opted for journaling + poem writing over reading a book tonight. I think creative writing is just as important as reading.</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42077426673http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/42077426673Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:42:51 -0800<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/604246aaba0d8079459b23663b573ed0/tumblr_mhiorioZsn1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Film from 1996 // Alachua Music Festival, Florida. <br/> #tht #throwbackthursday #alachua #film</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41985309643http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41985309643Thu, 31 Jan 2013 17:14:06 -0800alachuathtfilmthrowbackthursday<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/e4762404bfe612a28becea43f5553e99/tumblr_mhgml3ZCdy1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Met up with friends from jr. high @starbucks. @lovetohike38 + @gwright31 Love you girls.</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41894427002http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41894427002Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:31:50 -0800<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/aa5c41cf74d9f3d5c2b8b5257eaf8658/tumblr_mhfcgrRwlk1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Handmade love letters. #handmade #wendisolaridesigns</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41849226944http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41849226944Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:55:39 -0800wendisolaridesignshandmade<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/87c4f3817e6c07c30eda9f0956e9289c/tumblr_mheg6jQDF61qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Completely and totally obsessed with this @teganandsara song. It fuels my run/workout like nothing else right now. #onrepeat</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41795853802http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41795853802Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:18:19 -0800onrepeat<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/ff890348151f79e450a0c35e3c5a44ad/tumblr_mhb17xslqn1qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Today was our priest’s last service…she’s retiring. I’m going to miss her so much. I love her like my own mother. #episcopal (at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church)</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41643439221http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41643439221Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:02:21 -0800episcopal<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/409b9a2ea5f3a09012a740e69eea336d/tumblr_mh8tlspHn31qg6tfpo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Straight up, I’ve been lazy this week. Now becoming one with the rain. :)</p>http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41531979240http://wendisolari.tumblr.com/post/41531979240Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:22:00 -0800fitness