First Feat.

Happy 2011!

If you’re new to my blog this past month, you might not be aware of the change (unless you have been stalking me all this time!). For longer term readers, you’ll notice my name has totally changed. I used to be Big Girl Eats – now I’m Big Girl Feats…and I’m finally ‘splaining why!

My life changed a heck of a lot in 2010. Over a month ago, my perspective changed even more after surgery for thyroid cancer. I decided to return to blogging because I had too much that I wanted to share and get out there and write about. I realized that it wasn’t just about healthy food and fitness and a positive attitude for me. 2011 is going to be a year of many, many feats for me (and for a lot of people I feel!) and I want to grow in many directions – my blog being one of them. Big Girl Eats is still very much a part of the blog, but I want it to be a place where people can find information about several treatments that I’ll have to have, some that I’m choosing to take part in, and areas of my healing that I feel are really important to share as well. Plus a lot of other topics I’m sure I haven’t even thought about yet!

Thanks for still reading and supporting me through the “change.” If you make sure to update your feeds to http://biggirlfeats.com, you’ll be able to continue along in 2011.

My 1st feat of 2011: Returning to work after 5 weeks off for surgery! Gah!

The Dude and I returned from visiting family in the Poconos this weekend, so I didn’t have much time to prepare for work as I would have liked.  I DID make sure to prepare this delicious, nutritious Quinoa Sweet Potato Chili.

I basically threw chickpeas, black beans, sweet potato, carrots, garlic, onion, broth and a bunch of spices (my secret spices are cumin, nutmeg (really!), bay leaves, kosher salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, cajun spice and whatever else I feel like throwing in) into a pot. After the concoction simmered for a while, I poured in 1/2 cup of quinoa to soak up some of the broth. Let it sit in the pot, stirred it around, and there ya go. I like my chili chunky and without a lot of soup, so I also pump up the nutrition by throwing it on top of some salad greens. If you do not like wilted salad greens, this option is not for you, but it’s surprisingly good!

I also prepared myself by picking out my outfit for the day. Back in black has a much nicer ring to it, but I’m rocking the brown today. Gratuitous boot shot for my girl Mad!

Doesn’t it look a little like the light of the Amazing Shoe Goddesses are shining down on my boot? I’ve been searching for almost 2 years for the perfect boots – size 10 (holler if you’re a Big Girl in footwear!), classy enough to be worn with everything with a little edge to ‘em, wide enough to go over my pants and my big calves. FINALLY the Rockport Outlet answered my prayers. I’m in lurve.

Back to reality…

What’s your first feat in 2011??