Well, hello again, my friends! 
I have an incredibly delicious and simple recipe to share with you guys, but first, let’s talk about shopping. Specifically, let’s talk about shopping for a swimsuit.
On Saturday, Brandon and I went to the mall to find some new summer clothes. Not only is it already feeling summer-like here in Atlanta, but we also have a cruise to plan for! Therefore, new clothes were essential.
I decided that I needed a new swimsuit, and I found one at Von Maur that I really liked. However, when I tried it on, I wasn’t sure if it complimented me. So, I asked Brandon to come back into the fitting room area to take a peek, so that I could get his opinion.
But before he could even glance in my direction, he was getting shooed out by the sales women! Evidently a man being anywhere near the women’s fitting rooms was a major no-no! Instead, if I wanted Brandon to see what I was wearing, I had to walk out of the fitting rooms and onto the store floor! 
Seriously? As if trying on a bathing suit while sporting pasty-white winter skin wasn’t traumatizing enough? Now they wanted me to allow the rest of the Von Maur shoppers to get a look, as well??
Long story short, I ended up finding the exact same suit at Macy’s, plus it was 25% off, plus Brandon wasn’t treated like a dirty old man. Win-win.
And I must say, Jessica Simpson, I may not be a fan of your music, but I do quite enjoy your fashion line. Kudos to you. 
(Just to clarify, I get the purpose of the store’s policy. It’s to keep the other lady shoppers protected. Makes sense. And I’m mostly trying to be funny when I tell this story. But I just think bathing suit shopping is challenging enough, without having to worry about 50 strangers seeing you in something you aren’t even sold on yet. Anyone else with me??)
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OK, let’s move on to a happier topic … food.
I made a chicken dish this weekend that was so easy, and so flavorful. But here’s the key … use chicken thighs. Don’t try to substitute chicken breasts. Just don’t. It won’t have the same flavor. Plus, the thighs really get a bad rap. Sure, they have more fat than the breast. But they also have lots of nutrients. Read more about the nutritional information on chicken thighs in this article.
Slow Cooker Garlic Lime Chicken
(slight modified from this recipe)
Ingredients:
- 5 bone-in chicken thighs (I used free-range, hormone free chicken)
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- Juice of two limes
- 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp. dry mustard powder
- 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
- 1 tbsp. Kraft Minute tapioca (I found this in the baking section of the store)
- Brown rice (for serving)
- Sautéed spinach (for serving, sautéed in a pan with a little olive oil)
Note: As this recipe stands, I think it only serves 2-3 because the thighs are pretty small. Next time I make this recipe, I plan to double it so I can have leftovers!
Directions:
- In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, mustard powder, pepper, and tapioca.
- Place chicken in the slow cooker, then top with the liquid mixture. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Serve with sautéed spinach and brown rice. Top the chicken with a little of the cooking liquid before serving.
I was very surprised at how delicious the chicken was.
It may not look very pretty, but I promise the flavor more than makes up for the appearance!
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And finally, for a Monday morning laugh …
… pictures from my half-marathon in Nashville.
I don’t typically buy race pictures because they’re so expensive, but I just love the look of sheer determination pain on my face in these.
And I love that in the picture at the finish line, you can see the medic who 30 seconds later was checking to make sure that Ali and I were still breathing. Good stuff.
Question for ya …
What did you do this weekend?
Any funny or traumatizing swimsuit-shopping experiences that you’d like to share?
Do you ever cook with chicken thighs, or do you typically stick to breast meat?
Any funny race pics to share? If they’re on your blog, link up!!
ewww not looking forward to bathing suit shopping! but that one is cute!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted..Berry Breakfast Quinoa
Wow, that cruise is sure sneaking up on you! You must be so excited
And I’m with you on the bathing suit– I see their point in not letting him in, but I can’t imagine having to walk out into a store in a bathing suit!
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..Johnnie’s Hideaway
Try bathing suit shopping when your body says “old and over weight” and your mind still thinks of you in your 20 year old body. What a shock when you look in the mirror! Who is that person and when did my mother get here? Enjoy every minute of your youth! Love, Mom
your new suit looks SO cute!! i love that hat too.
score!
and yet another great looking slow cooker recipe from you! yum! i rarely ever cook with chicken thighs… i don’t know why, i guess it’s just habit for me to buy chicken breasts. i need to try it!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..Those Tricksters
I’m with you on bathing suits! That’s why I order online then take them back if I have to so no stranger will ever see me until I’m ready
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie recently posted..Post Half: All I Did Was Eat
Good call, Laurie!!
hahaha awww i feel ya on the bathing suit shopping…its never a good time for me as well.
i had a really great weekend…spent a lot of time with my parents, so couldnt ask for more.
i typically cook with breasts but I think i like thighs better if im gonna throw them on the grill. this recipe looks good!!
Theresa recently posted..Happy Mother’s Day and a Superb weekend of eating
i hear ya on the swimsuit shopping – i’ve had the exact same experience with my husband. so i usually just suck it up + waltz out there to get his opinion. painful, but necessary. the new swimsuit is cute, by the way!
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..fresh strawberry whole grain donuts
You are a braver woman than I!
I’m totally with you! That does not sound like a pleasant experience. But I’m glad you found a suit you like! I need to go do that soon. Ugh.
Yellow Haired Girl recently posted..Whisper It
I HATE bathing suit shopping. it is almost impossible for me to find cute tops because they are always too small and most of the bigger ones are underwire which i dont like for a swimsuit. I finally found a solution though for teh tops at least which is Venus.com they have cute “D” tops!
Oh gosh, that stinks! The lady doesn’t even seem like she was too nice about it. I like the suit though, so summery!
Alex @ therunwithin recently posted..Check it Out!
Thanks, Alex!!
just last week my sister and i went shopping for triathlon swimsuits…i haven’t tried on a one-piece suit in sooo long and when we both picked out the same suit to try on, it ended with us laughing so hard we were crying. we looked awful!
I’m supposed to be buying a 1-piece for work … but trying to find one that looks decent is impossible! I even took a pic of myself at Target in a 1-piece, just so that my husband could get a good laugh!
Ugh! They’re just so terrible! Your cruise sounds like so much fun…Eric and I are going to Europe NEXT summer, so I’ll look forward to hearing about your trip as I plan ours:)
I love Jessica Simson’s clothing and shoes! Very cute swimsuit – I bet it looks great on you! I loathe shopping for bathing suits…the words frustration, embarrassment, negative self-talk, and complete agony come to mind haha.
Your cruise is SO soon!!!! I’m excited for y’all!
natalie @ southern fit foodie recently posted..Where did the weekend go?!
Swim suit shopping is always a scary experience! Ha ha! Usually I buy 4-5 styles and try them on the privacy (and lighting lol) of my own home! I then pick the one or two I like best and return the rest.
That slow cooker recipe looks great!
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life recently posted..The Best Things in Life.. Part One
Good idea, Jana!
I am not a big fan of shopping in general. I always end up leaving defeated and frustrated. Although, your new bathing suit is super cute.
I never buy race pictures either… it’s a crime, they totally rip you off. Although, if they have a good one, you gotta bite the bullet and purchase! Yours are great!
Mattie @ Comfy and Confident recently posted..Insanity
You’re right … it’s a total rip-off. But I don’t know when I’ll be running another half again, so I bit the bullet!
omgosh lots of thoughts. I would NEVER go outside the dressing room in a bathing suit. I don’t even like to be in a bathing suit at the pool! HA! Event though it is pretty much a necessity.
I’m SO glad you posted this recipe b/c I just bought a grip of chicken thighs and honestly had no idea what to do with them. So this is happening tomorrow for dinner. Thank you dear, you are my dinner guru.
Those pics are EPIC! I hope I get one from The Color Run, that should be interesting….
Cinnamon @ eatpraytri recently posted..Mothers Day Monday (1/2 mom’s day recap)
Yay I hope you like the chicken recipe! Let me know!!
I love that bathing suit — very cute! And no, I don’t not like bathing suit shopping. I’d like a new one for our honeymoon, but trying them on is such a pain. I kind of want to buy one online, but then I never know how it’ll fit either!
Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy recently posted..In a Good Place
I know what you mean … I don’t like shopping online because you just never know how the clothes will fit!
I do not like*
The only time I enjoy bathing suit shopping is when I know there are mirrors in the dressing room that will make me look good; let’s face it, Target’s mirrors are about as flattering as looking at your own reflection in a window display. I’m all about optical illusions and if a store’s mirrors can make me look good in a bikini then they have me sold!
Michelle @ Nice Lil Saturday recently posted..Weekend Warrior
Haha so true, Michelle!
Ugh! Bathing suit shopping is the WORST. Especially with the bright lights of a department store. Love the suit, though!
And I LOVE your race pics, you look so cute!
Alyssa @ fit and fun in third recently posted..Mother’s Day at the Shore
I love your bathing suit
I totally agree – Jessica’s line is great 
I love simple chicken dishes! Bathing suit shopping though? Not so much. My husband refuses to go with me because I get so frustrated!
Baking Serendipity recently posted..Leftover Frosting and Funfetti Sugar Cookies
Our poor husbands … putting up with all of our insecurities haha!
Oh dang you should have rocked that pasty skin, see through is the new fake and bake. I would have put on a floor show. That’ll turn some heads!
Amber recently posted..My First Brussel Sprouts
Haha love the confidence, Amber! You rock!
Yayy for the delicious looking chicken dish and nayy to bathing suit shopping. Just no. I think little kids enjoy it though, theres one haha
Tessa @ Amazing Asset recently posted..Reflections & Coping With What I Know
I love chicken thighs! I ALWAYS choose them over chicken breasts. They are the best part of chicken if ya ask me!
Amber with Slim Pickin’s Kitchen recently posted..Banana Biscoff Breakfast Blast
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