When the kids are away the parents will play

Friday, my boys left for 7 weeks. This is their 3^rd year and while I wasn’t especially emotional, my babysitter was a mess. So as soon as the bus pulled away, I had to make sure she was OK. There we were on the steps of the Museum of Natural History, I told her we’d have fun cooking and organizing, I told her she’d have more time for herself but 10 and a half years with these boys, she really loves them.

I love them too, of course, but I’d be lying if there weren’t some things I want to complete in the next 7 weeks. While I look forward to the little things reading the paper, reading more in general and walking home from work unrushed, I also have a “Summer List”, would you expect anything less of me?

Some of it is indulgent, I want to get back to acupuncture, run more and try a few new workouts (Jumplife anyone?). I also use the time with boys away to stay on top of doctors/dental visits. Then there’s the fun, some travel, some recipe testing and plans with friends (many who are child free as well).  We’ll send out our Foodtrainers Fourth of July Party Monthly Morsels Newsletter tomorrow but here’s a sneak peak. Chef Jenna Helwig of Rosaberry (@JennaRosaberry on Twitter) developed this beet dip recipe for us. It will vary in color depending on the number of beets added. You can serve it with crudité (snap peas, blanched asparagus and cucumbers work nicely) or Mary’s Gone crackers would work well too.

Beet Yogurt Dip

This dip keeps well in the fridge overnight, although the garlic flavor does get more pronounced, a treat for those of us that love garlic.

½ cup walnuts

1 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt

2-3 small to medium-sized cooked beets, roughly chopped (you can use love beets or any pre-cooked beets in the produce aisle, I used 1 pack original Love Beets)

½ teaspoon salt

1/2 to 1 small clove garlic, roughly chopped (optional)

2 teaspoons dill

freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Place the walnuts in a food processor (or coffee grinder) and pulse to chop finely.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to food processor (or add all ingredients to vitamix with stick attachment)  and blend until smooth. Taste for seasoning adding more salt and/or pepper if necessary.

What are your summer plans, any books you plan on reading, trips you'll be going on? Or maybe there are recipes or workouts you want to try? 

Pizza to the People, mobile pizza unit: hemp seeds?

A few weekend photos, Saturday we checked out the Wanderlust Festival in VT:

I didn't do the yoga but clearly lots of other people did. 

Top of Stratton Mt, we didn't hike up but rode up to enjoy the view. 

Sat night one of our favorite VT restaurants

with skip at the guitar

Stopped at Swoon in Hudson NY oysters and kale salad,  great find and a really pretty town.

Positive Peer Pressure

I woke up sore and tired and tweeted about it yesterday.  “Too much July 4^th celebrating?” someone replied. Nope, this fatigue didn’t have to do with imbibing or late nights though there were controlled cocktails (delicious white sangria and lime/thyme vodka concoctions). 

We spent the weekend staying with friends at the beach. There were six adults in total, all of us fairly active. Carolyn had recently mentioned the importance of having active friends and I think my friends qualify. Over the course of the 3-day weekend, at various times we:

• Participated in As 1’s inaugural workout classes at the beach (push ups in the sand anyone?)
• Rode 60+ miles to Montauk
• Spun at Soul Cycle’s Springsteen Class
• Kayaked
• Tubed
• Played basketball
• Swam laps
• Ran Firecracker 8K race
• Played Tennis

Granted, we didn’t each do all of these things. However, everyone was doing something daily, if not more.  To some people this may sound exhausting but it was really one of the best weekends. We joked that while all of us had children away at camp (yep, mentioned it again), we were enjoying our own version of camp for grown-ups. So often I hear from clients “I was away and didn’t workout” so I was trying to sort out the keys to being active when staying with friends or when you have houseguests.

Plan in Advance- my friend S., who has a great new blog called My Judy the Foodie (where she’s learning to cook from her mother’s old recipes), sent an email out before we arrived. She gave us the links to sign up for the race or the spin class. She also made it clear none of this was mandatory.

Bring your Equipment- if you’re going to play tennis or ride you need a racket and a bike. We had these things with us. You also need extra changes of clothes if you’re going to be active.  And, if you’re like me. a blow dryer and a flat iron. I cannot tell you how many women do not swim or workout because they didn’t want to mess up their hair.

It Only Takes One Adult to Watch Kids- while I can't say I was the one,  the other adults took turns watching the kids so that everyone could work out. This watching wasn’t exactly sedentary. Kids can play basketball, ride bikes and swim too.

Utilize All Hours in the Day- my husband and our friend E were up at 5am to get a ride in before “the wives” left for our beach workout beating. As we were getting ready for dinner someone would be in the pool doing laps and another person spinning. Just because a workout doesn’t happen first thing doesn’t mean it cannot happen.

It doesn’t have to be a gym workout but investigate what active options there are where you’ll be away. If you’re traveling with others, chances are someone will join you whether it's out of genuine enthusiasm or guilt it doesn't matter. They'll be happy later for the peer pressure.

Did you workout over the July 4th weekend? What are your secrets of staying active while away? Does adult camp sound fun or horrific to you?