Peppery Pork Pasta, 5 Reasons I'm Happy Today!

Morning! Hope you're all having great weeks! I'm trying to stay positive by focusing on the following:

1. It's freaking Friday. Of course it is. It should have been Friday on Tuesday - it's been one of those weeks! 
2. The upcoming Time change. I'm a fan of 'falling back' - turning my clock backward on Sunday! This gives me an extra hour, right? Kind of? In theory?
3. The colder weather. It's been downright chilly here and I love it. I'm carving out a good part of the weekend to tuck away all of my sandals and sundresses and bring my boots and coats front and center. Yes, this kind of thing is exciting for me!
4. More slowcooker recipes. I'm SO pumped to get out my two slowcookers and get some new chilis, stews, soups, pastas - you name it - going. It's the perfect season to slowcook, and my other goal is to work butternut squash into everything, starting with a risotto. I'm. so. excited.
5. Upcoming holidays.  I'm taking a week off for Thanksgiving. YES. A week. Even better, I'll be spending it with my family and Austin's family together - so exciting. This means lots of time with little Dane bug, too. What was he for Halloween? I'm so glad you asked. He was a lobster... 

I mean SERIOUSLY - be cuter! Not possible!

Speaking of cooking, while this isn't a slowcooker recipe it was pretty dang good!

Peppery Pork with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Makes 4 Servings
Recipe adapted from For the Love of Cooking

Nutritional Information: 432 calories, 51 carbs, 8 fat grams and 38 protein grams.


Review: We've now made this one twice - it's just so good! I love the soft egg noodles and how well they go with the beefy/tomato/creamy sauce. The spinach and mushrooms boost up the veggie quotient (which I'm really trying to get better at!), and it came together quickly. I think it's a great, easy recipe that reheats well, and I'm happy to be finding more pork recipes that I enjoy.  I highly recommend this one. Check out the recipe on Healthified Kitchen!

What else has been up? Lots of work, lots of TV watching (favorites are officially Revenge, Hart of Dixie and Ringer), and a bit of working out: Wednesday started with strength training and abs (shoulders/triceps focus), Thursday was a rest day and today began with a 2-mile run, 1/2 mile walk and abs and legs. I've also been doing a bit of shopping - mostly at Banana. LOVE their fall stuff. And lastly, a reason i've been happy all WEEK is because  Tuesday I found out that the surgeon didn't have to cut anymore! He got the mole & all of it's "bad stuff" the first time! So they stitches came out, tape went on, and I have to wait 10 days. Great news!!

Q: What are you going to do with your extra hour on Sunday?! 


Q: What were you for Halloween? Did you dress up? I did not -yessss - I'm just not a fan of dressing up!


Q: Any fun Thanksgiving plans?

Book Review, Two-A-Days, Meal Planning

So I think I must have been the last to know about orange chicken! My first time having it was when I made it -I had to look to Austin to ensure it tasted right! haha So I don't know about you but my Wednesday was much better than Tuesday - woo! I got up early, and did 15 minutes of spinning, a 1/4 mile walk, 1 1/4 mile run, and a 1/4 mile walk. HRM said: 34 minutes, 265 calories, 4 fat-burning minutes, 30 fitness minutes, average HR 150, and max HR 180. Then I just headed to work and got tons done, before heading back to the gym during lunch for a 2 1/4 mile walk and this leg and shoulder workout:

Good stuff! Then it was just more work before heading home to do some cooking catch up! Austin got dinner going and we made the following for the remainder of the week and weekend:

4 Coconut Curry Soups

6 Brunch pizza squares

4 Sweet & Sour Chickens

4 Pepperoni Pitzas

4 Chicken Mac & Cheeses

Great teamwork - when he helps me I swear it's even easier and the kitchen is cleaned up like that! I really appreciate his help! Now I only have one more breakfast recipe to make - woo!

So before I left for Destin I finished Sophie Kinsella's Mini Shopaholic. I've read the entire series and while she drives me insane sometimes because i'm like just. tell. the truth., I do love Becky Bloomwood, the main character, and her cute relationship with her husband Luke Brandon. Now, I wasn't a fan of the movie; they made it a too silly for me and I think there's more to the book than that - it's almost endearing and quirky. When I read the book I enjoyed picturing the main characters though - I thought Isla Fisher and Hugh Dancy were awesome. Okay, anyway, back to the book. Now Becky is on a new adventure - she is the mother of a toddler, trying to raise her right, while still working and trying to get out of her parents home! (her family is living with her parents while trying to find a house). Lots of fun storylines with her job, her mother, and her baby girl. Yes, a few things were a bit too silly for me, but the main character has so much heart that even when you want to shake her and ask her to be honest, you want her to succeed! I give this one a 4/5 - it kept me interested and happy!

I'm now reading Karin Alvtegen's Missing - it's really good so far! I'll probably finish it this weekend, and then I've got to get back on our book club book - eek!

Q: Do you eat soups in the summer? It doesn't bother me at all! I do have a hard time eating like heavy/beefy chilis, but light veggie/chicken soups don't bother me!'

Q: Are you a fan of the shopaholic series?

Q: Are you yourself a shopaholic?! :) I define a shopaholic as someone who enjoys shopping, not someone who buys things they don't need and/or can't afford (both are Becky's problems - eek!). So yes, per my definition i'm definitely a shopahloic. And that reminds me that I need to take pictures of my outlet finds. Will post tomorrow!

New Indian Recipe & Leg Day

WOW - loving all of the great responses to the Cabot Cheese Giveaway! It's open until next Saturday so you still have time enter if you haven't! Mac & Cheese and grilled cheese were my favorite recent write-ins! And you guys - this month is Grilled Cheese Month - did you know? I'm working on some yummy grilled cheese sammies in celebration! I just noticed I many exclamation points were in that opening paragraph - sorry, friends. :) Also thanks for your thoughts on music - I'm with Kacy- NO techno for me - eek!

So yesterday was a pretty classic Tuesday. Just worked then worked out during lunch walking 2 miles at 4 mph and did this leg/shoulder workout.

I think I love doing upper body while doing lower - it's like it distracts me from my pain? haha After my workout I just worked more then headed straight home to my family and to my kitchen to make a yummy, new Indian dish i've been DYING to try! It met my expectations! But I apologize in advance for the not-so-fabulous pic - I left my camera at work and had to use a low-pixilated one! :(

Indian Chicken and Spinach Curry
Recipe adapted from Food and Wine Magazine/Cooking Light
Makes 4 Servings

Nutritional Information: 410 calories, 44 carbs, 12 fat grams and 31 protein grams.

We really loved it, mostly because of the fire with the jalapenos and the heavy cream which made it taste super sinful. I also loved that it had spinach and tomatoes in it - loving those veggies! Check out the recipe on Healthified Kitchen.

Q: Are you celebrating grilled cheese month? What's your favorite kind of grilled cheese? I love a plain jane cheese, bread and butter grilled cheese, but am also excited to try a more fancy one with veggies and a homemade spread. yummmm

Q: What's your favorite way to use spinch? I seem to always throw out at least 1/2 a bag and I HATE that! Any ideas are welcome!!

Paper Plate Lunges, Sweet Baby Ava, A Photo Shoot

Happy Weekend, friends! Thanks for your comments on me and my beseties' photogs! We have a great time together, and while it's a challenge to keep up when we're all 4+ hours apart, I think we do a pretty good job! (If I do say so myself :) ) So yesterday I woke up early and took in another hour long body pump class at 8:30 a.m. OMG. This one was TOTALLY different than the last. Don't get me wrong - the last was great, perhaps we could say 'intermediate.' This one? Advanced all the way- I had to stop SEVERAL times and truly almost felt like I was going to throw up twice. (hence the stopping - can you imagine the embarrassment?? LOL) So basically it was just intense. She gave us paper plates for lunges. I'd never done this. I found a video to help explain:

We did these to the back. We would do one leg a time, then alternate, then fast, then slow, you name it. Over 100 easy. Then we did them to the side. Then we would lay on our benches on our backs and slide both legs out then in while in a pulse position. Then we would get in planks, put our legs out and do X's. It was like nonstop! Every once in a while we'd get a "break" to do push ups, dead lifts and shoulder presses, but it was crazy leg-focused and I am already so very sore! Wonderful class! Afterwards I walked 2 miles, then headed home to whip up a few new recipes, pack, shower, etc. Then I was off to Alabama - a boring, 4-hour drive by myself but what are you going to do? I got in and drove straight to the golf course to meet my stepdad and his buddies. I had two beers with them, then headed home, had dinner, then met Lindz at Ruby Tuesday's, then got to Megan's to see her, Clint and the baybay! Here's some pics:

sweet little girl

happy new mommy

fun with little ava - trying to get her to eat!

She wasn't having it!

Lindz, Meags and me

loving on Ava

little monkey feet

sleepy baby

There it is - she'll eat!

Good times for sure! So happy to see them so happy - she is a living doll and I know they're so proud of her!

Q: Do you like holding babies or do you shy away? I think it totally depends on the baby and on the parents. Some i'm like yes, give me the baby now! Others it makes me nervous - like the super small babies!

Q: Ever done paper plate lunges? omg I can barely walk today!

New Recipe: BEST MEXICAN; Ormsby's, 2.5 Miles, Legs, Abs

Hola! Happy Saturday! I'm SO GLAD it's the weekend - this work week has been killah. For reals! Thanks for your comments on the incredible microwavable egg. I think I've had that every day this week even though it wasn't on my meal plan! Too easy to pass up. So I believe I left you all on Thursday -which was just work, 4 miles, more work, cooking and then about 2 more hours of work. Sigh. I'm still drowning a bit at work but know some of these projects are wrapping up soon! Light at the end of the tunnel!

So yesterday was another insane day at work. I worked HARD in the a.m., then treated myself to another Stacy & Kel Uncle Julio's lunch. Yes, we split the lunch size chicken fajitas again as per usual. Then we swung by Macy's - I had a $10 rewards card and had to spend it that day so I got a pair of Hue tights for $3.25 - golden! Then it was more work. BLAH. Then we raced to the gym after work and did this:

• 1 mile at 4.0 mph; 2 incline
• Abs (32 seconds astronaut; 20 toe touches; 20 double crunches; 20 fifer kicks; REPEAT!)
• 1 mile at 4.0 mph; 1 incline
• Legs (15 lunges alternated with 40 calf raises x3; 20 squats alternated with 12 leg raises x3; and the butt-blasting floor workout x1)
• 1/2 mile at 4.0 mph; no incline

Not bad! We got this done in a little over an hour. Then I raced home, cleaned up and headed out the door for a couple of drinks at Ormsby's with Monica, Andy, Stacy, Shane and Jason. It was fun! I just had a couple of drinks and visited, me and Austin played a game of pool - fun, chill night. I really like the atmosphere there. It's like you're chilling in someone's really sweet basement. Great night - glad we made it an early night though, today i'm off to shop with my mom & sister! They're going to be here soon so i've got to get ready! Then me and Austin are doing chill/family night - maybe a movie? I dunno - I just want a fun, restful, chill day! K - now it's time to share my new FAVORITE Mexican recipe EVER. I know... high praise.

Burrito Casserole
Makes 6 Servings
Recipe adapted from Blog Chef

Nutritional Information: 403 calories, 47 carbs, 7 fat grams and 29 protein grams.

Review: Two words: OH MY. This recipe seriously may trump my top Mexican recipe. No joke! I LOVE the layers, the use of flour tortillas, how that sauce mixture clings to the tortillas and makes it all taste just meshed together and creamy. I also love the hot sauce kick on those layers- perfect! Yes, time to update my top 10 - this one takes the cake. And the calories are great - love that it makes six too. Winner, winner. Austin loved it too! For less heat, simply leave out the hot sauce. You could even top with salsa if you want to leave the heat level up to each person!

Check out the recipe on Healtified Kitchen!

Here's a pic of the full dish - how it looks coming out of the oven!

Q: What are your plans today? I'm hoping I can get in a walk at the gym too! And I want to read some of my book - i'm almost done with Dark Places!

Q: What's your favorite mexican recipe? I'm SO glad I found this one. I love trying out new mexican dishes and have never turned away from a casserole. I still can't believe I found one that trumped my previous favorite - Beef enchilada casserole. I may have to make that one a runner up. :)

7 Miles, Legs, Book Review, Breakfast Recipe

Thanks you guys!! And wow... we have some foot pain going on. I knew I wasn't alone but was still surprised to see everyone's foot issues all in one place. We keep podiatrists in business!! The foot has been okay... I can just feel that it's not right though and every once in a while I step on it wrong (getting out of bed or going upstairs) and a pain shoots through me. eek! Ready for my appt! In the meantime, all walking and NO running for me!

Friday was pretty chill! Just work, 4 miles during lunch with Stacy, more work, and then 3 miles after work + a leg workout with Stacy. Nice! note: I subbed the lunges for step ups and omitted the calf raises due to foot!

Love having a workout partner, especially on two-a-days. After our second workout I just headed home and had dinner with Austin! So chill and relaxing. I even finished a book: Susanna Sonnenberg’s Her Last Death. This was a book my mom had loaned me and told me was a must-read. I was still working on Mocking Jay and Marked, and was starting to give up on the Lace Reader. I figured why not rejuvenate my reading by trying a new one that’s bound to be good (trusting my mom’s book suggestions has never served me wrong). So I borrowed it from my mom and picked it up a few days ago and have just poured through it.It’s a memoir which, like my mom, I don’t normally go for. But this one is different. It’s told from a woman’s perspective and highlights her relationship with her mother. Her mother who exposed her to things far beyond her years, including cocaine at 12-years-old, not to mention her own antics with drug use, sex with endless men and more. It was an interesting tale of how one can persevere and try to become their own person, all while striving to maintain a relationship despite how toxic it may be. I really flew through it, and was very sad when it ended because I wanted more stories, more of how she felt, just more. Even though I know she had already told me a lot! I give it a 4.5/5 – a great book, albeit disturbing at times for sure (and included a bit too much graphic sex than necessary). A couple of times I thought something way worse would happen. I had braced myself. But then she would make it unscathed, relatively anyway. Total trainwreck – couldn’t stop reading.
Glad I read it but it almost drained me!

Saturday I woke up feeling wonderful! I love sleeping in a bit, or not even sleeping in but just getting up when I want to and not having to be anywhere. Bliss! I headed downstairs and immediately got to cooking! First, I made a recipe I've been DYING to make ever since Biz posted it a couple of weeks ago: Breakfast Nachos. Genius.

Breakfast Nachos
Recipe from My Bizzy Kitchen
Makes 2 Servings

Nutritional Information: 337 calories, 32 carbs, 15 fat grams and 18 protein grams.

Review: YUM. Seriously - I loved the flavors of the eggs, bacon and salsa and the crunch of the nachos, which made them really fun to eat. This, to me, is definitely more for the weekends as i'm not sure how it would reheat, but it could be easily switched to during the week if you made it more like a quesadilla or even a tostado. Regardless, I want mine in nacho form. It filled me up to - while the calories aren't super high the fat helped as well as the protein. Great recipe that i'll be making again!

Here is the recipe on Healthified Kitchen!

Such a great start to the day! I'll post more about Saturday later (which involved a bit of shopping, some new shoes, pre-cooking, another new recipe and a birthday dinner - woo!). But now I need to head to Pottery Barn!! (nothing like Pottery Barn for breakfast)

Q: Memoirs: Yay or nay? This may have been my first memoir. I’ll have to think back but I think it was my first and it didn’t disappoint. It easily could have been fiction and, for the author’s sake, I wish it had been.

Q: Breakfast Nachos: Ever had them? Love them? I think it's just so smart! When she posted I just KNEW they would be a favorite for us!

Great Workout (and leg workout!), Auburn Weekend, Lucky Lady

Thanks you guys! The concert really was a great time! And i'm glad to see i'm not the only one who craves crazy carbs when i'm sleepy OR who dislikes sleeping in the house alone! hahaSo this weekend I had the BEST weekend in Auburn. Why?! Because I got to visit with some of my BEST friends forever who, lucky for me, have become best friends themselves! LOVE IT!!! Case in point: my wedding party.... 9 beautiful ladies that i'm super close with!

Yesterday: me and 5 of my bridesmaids! Monica, me, Lindsey, Teresa, Mary & Megan (expecting her first baby!)!

Who wasn't there? My sis - who thankfully I spent time with last weekend, Emily, who lives in DC, I'll be in her wedding in October - can't wait to celebrate, and my cousins (from my side and Austin's side) Laura and Robyn - who I see pretty regularly! Anywho - I felt like such a LUCKY LADY and had SUCH a good weekend - now let me back up! Friday I felt awful. Just tired and worn down and like I was getting sick – eek! I just worked, and instead of working out I took it easy at lunch and me and Stacy went to Uncle Julio’s for lunch. We even valeted – I felt that bad! We had a nice lunch, chatted a ton of course and split the chicken fajitas – yum! I headed back to work, worked and then, knowing Austin wasn’t coming down to get me until 7 p.m. (to go to Auburn for the weekend), I decided to work out. I was feeling better and was going to DO IT!

At the gym I got on the treadmill and walked ¼ mile at 4 mph, ran 1 ½ mile at 6.3 mph, then walked ¼ mile at 4 mph – 2 miles at 21.51 minutes!

Then I hopped off and did upper body ST: Sitting, back-to-back: 15 bicep curls, 15 shoulder presses, 15 overhead tricep extensions and (bent over) 15 rows. Over to bench press: 15 chess press. Repeat 3 times.

Then I hopped back on the treadmill and ran for 2 miles (ran at 6.3 mph – then ran ¼ mile at 7.5 mph) – 2 miles at 18.44 minutes!

Then I stretched a bit, before knocking out this lower body workout, I adapted it a bit from The Great Balancing Act. I changed the weights, so that I wouldn’t die, and had to alter the amount of sets because I ran out of time!

Straight Set x5:
Ball squat 10 lbs x 15
16 lbs x 10
20 lbs x 6
16 lbs x 10
10 lbs x 10

Alternating Set x3:
Dumbbell stiff-leg deadlift – 10lbs each hand x 10 reps
Step-up – bodyweight x 15 reps each leg

Alternating Set x3:

Walking lunge – bodyweight x 20 (10 each leg)
Hamstring curl on ball – 10-15 reps

Alternating Set x3:
Standing calf raise – bodyweight x 15 reps
Side lying leg raise – x 15 reps each leg

This all took me an hour and 20 minutes – GREAT workout! I left a sweaty mess after realizing that the water was out for a mainline repair. No shower for me – ugh! Afterwards, I met Austin and Reuben and we took off for Auburn only to meet Teresa, Forrest, Mary, Jimmy, Monica and Jason at Teresa’s house for a few beers. Perfect end to what turned out to be a great day! I ended up at 1,856 calories, 57 fat grams, 185 carbs and 91 protein grams. Here’s what I ate.

Q: Do you have any leg workouts to share? I haven't done legs in FOREVER - and I can tell. It's time to get serious and trim some inches off these thighs!

Q: If you're married - do you get to see your bridesmaid's a lot? I feel so lucky to see mine as much as I do - love those wonderful ladies!

I'll post more pics of Auburn tomorrow, and of the rest of our fun-filled weekend! And I STILL need to post the quiche recipe - eek! Also, Lee asked about magical margaritas - i'll post that recipe too! Hope you're all having fabulous Sundays! We're in Auburn about to pack up the car and roll back to Atlanta!

Party Down, C25K, Sweet Surprise Shot

Please note: I'm SO behind. On blog reading. On blogging. On tracking. You name it. I'll be reading tonight! Thank you for your sweet comments on the last post! I think Austin was an absolute doll! But I swear, if I have blonde babies it's going to be so surreal. LOL Sounds like a few of you have attempted the food for 40+. Wow... I did it and honestly wouldn't mind doing it again!! Here's a quick recap of the weekend - going to wait and post pics when I have Zach's professional shots - can't wait! (although I took 257... should get interesting hehe). I will share this pic of the "late night crowd" taken with an automatic timer. We ended up with 44 wonderful guests, 17 of which were late night soldiers. Sorry Zach and Jimmy - you didn't find your window and therefore I can't see your little faces!

Friday I worked, walked 3 miles during lunch + abs, worked more and then ran after work. Walked 2 minutes at 4.0 mph, ran 24 minutes at 6.3 mph then 1 minute at 7.5 mph, then walked another 3 minutes to get to 3 miles in 30 minutes. woo! Then we did legs: 100 squats, 100 calf raises and 45 leg extensions. GREAT workout! Then it was shower time and I headed home, bathed Reuben, cleaned up a bit and sat down. So nice! I had a drink/few rounds of pool with Austin and then Teresa and Forrest got into town. We tried the magical margarita, caught up, had a great time and then hit the sack! I haven't tallied stats... will do tonight!

Saturday I slept til about 9 and got to work on partay stuff. Everything was out and ready to go so I decorated a bit, went to pick up the cake (twice - they got the color wrong...), got the meat going and it was all going good - then around 6 (one hour to party time) it got stressful. Just to much to do "at the end." We had waited to put out linens because rain was iffy - but it NEVER rained. Then we waited on ice because it would melt. Waiting on guacamole because it would brown and there was just a bit too much to do at the end there. But thanks to my fabulous family and friends (special shout to Dev, Mom, Teresa, Stacy, Mon and Kelly!) it all came together was ready to go at party time. You guys, everything came out how I wanted it to. The bartender was great, Phil/Lo on acoustics were awesome, Zach was getting great shots, people were complimentary of the decorations and food - some calling it a "mini wedding." Loved it. Most importantly, Austin said he had the best birthday ever. YAY! Lots of fun was had with pool, corn hole, flip cup and late-night keg stands. No, i'm not kidding. I haven't tallied this day either, but honestly don't think I ate that much! haha To avoid this being picture-scarce, here is a picture Mon sent me from her wedding. Zach caught it and she emailed it over this week. I thought it was sweet - loved the surprise of getting this. :)

Sunday I woke up early and Forrest was outside almost done breaking down tables and chairs - he was going to surprise me with it completed. What a sweetie! We finished up and then I go to work cleaning up, taking out trash, gathering linens, moving around furniture - you name it! I got to work on laundry and breakfast for our sleepover guests (of which there were 8!). I cleaned, cleaned, cleaned, said goodbye as our besties left, and got laundry going. Austin picked up a pizza, he opened his gifts (wow - our friends are so sweet and generous), and we sat down to watch movies. Later we stripped the beds and I ended up doing 5 loads of laundry between table linens, bed linens, towels and clothes- wowza! The day pretty much went like this!!

Now I'm a zombie. Just kidding! But I do need a wee bit of recovery before I start amping up for Stacy & Shane's big wedding weekend - I can't believe the date is here!!!!

Q: Have you ever done a keg stand? I have NOT. I've never considered it and honestly, I wear dresses 24/7 - it would never work.

Q: Are you a late night soldier? Me and Austin both will stay up all night every night if you let us - we're total night hours and have the most energy/productivity in the evening. This can be a problem though as neither one of us ever wants to turn in!

Running Progress, Shower Hosting and Family Day!

Hi Friends! I hope you’re all doing well! I’m so behind on blogging and blog reading – here goes a post, then I’m off to play catch up and see how you’re all doing – yay!

Friday started out super hectic – I still felt very overwhelmed and just stressed out! :( I got in early and got to work and got TONS done, then during lunch I walked 4 miles with Stacy – felt great to get that in! I worked more, and then after work I walked 3 minutes at 4.0, ran 20 minutes at 6.3, ran 1 minute at 7.5, and then walked for a minute or two to cool down. 21 minutes straight – yay! Working my way back up! Afterwards we did legs and then I ran TONS of errands – gas, grocery store, liquor store, library and then home to 3-cheese Manicotti, a few crafts for a shower and then out with Austin, Tyson and John to Buckhead (usual loop of bars – although we did try a new cocktail bar first – Buckhead Bottle Bar. It had just opened so it was fun to try a new spot, but was still pretty dead since it was so new. Fun to enjoy a drink in a non-crowded place though!! We had fun – I ended up at 1,966 calories, 170 carbs, 46 fat grams and 112 protein grams. Here’s what I ate.

The Bottle Bar - LOVE all of those little pendants

Me and Austin on the upstairs balcony

Dinner - YUM!

Saturday I slept in and then quickly ran out of time – no time for gym as I needed to get ready and get all of my stuff together to co-host a stock the bar shower for Stacy and Shane! I finished crafts and loaded up a platter, table, my activity (memory jar of “drinking stories” with a birdcage, slips, framed picture, etc.) and then we headed out! Austin dropped me off at Jennie’s house in Mabry, then headed over with Reuben to meet Stacy & Shane. Me and Stacy’s BMs decorated (although most was done when I got there) and got ready to party. All of the guests came around the same time – love that – and we had a great night of dinner, drinks, cornhole, convos and good times!

Welcome signs that Mandy made!

The boys and their cornhole

Some of the boys!

Who doesn't love a light up hoolahoop?! haha

Stacy and her BMs

Gift and wish table - I was in charge of the 'share your story' thing

One of the stations

So fun to hang out with their friends and get to know the other BMs better. Once it got late night we headed out to the bar and then back to Stacy and Shane’s where we all stayed up way too late talking and having an iPod singalong. Oh my! Haha So much fun though. Here is my estimate: 2,118 calories, 145 carbs, 63 fat grams and 68 protein grams. Here’s what I ate and drank.

Sunday I woke up around 11 at Stacy’s, went to Jennie’s to get all of my party stuff and then had lunch with Austin, Stacy, Shane and a bunch of their friends at Five Guys. I had never eaten there before and probably won’t go back again – I just can’t eat burgers out – they don’t taste right (probably because they’re not 96/4 and upset my tummy!). After lunch we headed home, unloaded the car, cleaned the house, bathed little Reuben and took a nap! Then it was movie time, pizza time and reading time – I got about 100 pages of our book club book, Wildwood, read – pretty good so far – definitely waiting for something else to happen though! I ended up at 1,510 calories, 228 carbs, 55 fat grams and 38 protein grams. Here’s what I ate.

So not a bad weekend at all! However, I’m pumped to have a few chill days this week. Movies tomorrow with my mom (Twilight!), a drink with an old co-worker Wednesday and just chilling until this weekend when hit the lake!

Q: What was one highlight of your weekend?

Q: Seen any good movies lately??! I want to see Toy Story 3! Looking forward to Twlight 3, too!

Book Review, 6 miles, Legs, Abs

Sounds like you guys are a bunch of lucky ladies with your giveaway wins!! I can't wait for my vitatops to come in - nom nom nom. Thanks for your sweet comments - i'm very excited about the Mexican-flavored chicken concoctions! Just had the enchilada bake for dinner a minute ago - fabulous!

So Today started out kinda blah with bad traffic, bad weather and lots of work. Goo! I took lunch for 2 miles + this leg workout (burned 140).

During the walk, I finished Mary Alice Monroe’s The Book Club, just in time for Friday’s meeting! Here’s my review: The book was basically about five middle-aged women all at a crossroads in their lives: one dealing with infertility, one her husband’s death, another with adultery, one with money/job problems and the other with loneliness. It’s about how they each deal with the challenges of life as they grow older, and how they ultimately rely on each other in the end. It’s definitely a feel good book, but does make you think about how you spend your time, who you spend it with and what life’s all about. For what it was, a character study of 5 women and life’s changes, I give it a 4 out of 5. For me, I would have wanted a bit more dialogue, a few more surprises and maybe a little more excitement. You know how you keep waiting for something to happen? For me, this book did have lots of things happen, but not enough to keep me fully engaged.

After work, it was time for more cardio + abs!! I wanted to do C25K but my legs were SUPER sore.... I figured i'd see what I could do. I walked for 5 minutes, ran for 13 then kept walking to get to 2.5 miles. Then I grabbed a ball and did abs! All together it was about 40 minutes to burn 187 calories. Hopefully my legs will be ready for another 28-minute run on Thursday - hope I can do it!!

After my workout I ran home, chilled with Austin, had dinner and rested up - GREAT chill night - woo. Eats for today were brunch pizza squares for breakfast with a fat-free hot cocoa, slowcooker spaghetti for lunch with 3 hershey kisses, laughing cow wedge with car crackers and enchilada casserole for dinner with some corn chips followed by publix iced cookies for dessert - not too bad! I ended up at 1,779 calories, 210 carbs, 60 fat grams and 104 protein grams. Here's what I ate. (total burn: 327)

Not a bad day!! Tomorrow I'm going to post a playlist and, hopefully, tell you about an exciting trip i'm planning for me and Austin!!

Do you have any exciting trips planned? I'll tell ya about three fun May trips tomorrow!

What's your favorite song on your playlist right now? Mine is Lady Gaga's Telephone!!

Book Review, 5 miles, Legs!

Hola! Happy Tuesday! Today feels like a total Monday (as far as how tired I am) but that’s okay – at least it’s not Monday, right?! THANK YOU SO MUCH for your sweet comments on my longest run ever! I really am so pumped!!! I know so many of you run what to me seems like impossible distances, so thanks for supporting my venture into running and for motivating me to run even further next time (well, after three more workouts at 25 minutes per C25K - i'm such a stickler for the schedule!). So, the story of my blogging life lately, backing up again!

I left you all Sunday when I headed back to B’ham – just me and Reuben – Austin had to stay overnight for Monday meetings. We got back in at 9:30, ate and passed out. Lame, I know! I ended up at 1,771 calories, 143 carbs, 55 fat grams and 148 protein grams. Here’s what I ate. Not too bad! Especially with the 335 calorie burn!

Monday was a Monday for SURE. When Austin isn’t there I just don’t function right! I just worked, walked 4 miles during lunch with Stacy (burned 180 calories), worked, then walked 1 mile and did legs (the workout below three times!) to burn another 130 calories (total burn 310).

click to make larger!

Austin got dropped off by his co-worker at my office, then we were off to the house! Fun to catch up – I told Austin he should commute home with me every day! LOL We got home, had dinner, chatted, watched TV and called it a night. I ended up at 1,823 calories, 239 carbs, 49 fat grams and 98 protein grams. Here’s what I ate. Was a little disappointed in myself. I was done eating for the day. Done. But I was a little hungry. Could have had some turkey, or crackers or a piece of cheese, but no. I had M&Ms. Grrrr.

Book Review: So I finished the last audio book in the most recent batch of purchases from Barnes & Noble! Today I finished up Walter Mosely’s The Wave. The book was about a guy who starts getting phone calls from, what sounds like his father… who is dead. And it is his father, or a part of his father rather, in the form of a younger version brought out of a meteor that takes life in dead humans (called STs). It turns quickly to army operations to control these STs and you learn more about what happened, how the government treats these threats, how it impacts his life, etc. So the book was good, definitely held my attention and had some interesting concepts, but I think overall it just wasn’t my style. And I could have dealt without the constant sex references – geez! My chick lit is just not that graphic you know what I’m saying? Overall, I give it a 3 out of 5 for what it was, and a 2 out of 5 for my liking of it. Not BAD, just not for ME!

What are your favorite kinds of books? I strongly prefer feel good, chick lit! Anything by Jane Green, Marian Keyes, Sophie Kinsella and the list goes on!

When you do squats or leg raises do you hold weight? If so, how much? I either do no weight or 10 pounds (two five-pound dumbbells).

C25K Week 4, Leg Day, Weekend in Alabama

So Friday we got up to AWFUL weather. I headed to the gym around 7 a.m. and was so excited to get in a work out… but even though I was on vacation I had to cut my work out short (only got in 2 miles) to head home to do some more work before leaving. Grrr. Then we packed up the car and headed to Alabama. I worked the whole way down (glad Austin is so chill!) and the weather stayed bad. But, it was all worth it once I got home and got to see my parents, visit with Jason and get my haircut, and then see my aunt, uncle, cousin Robyn, her husband Jimbo and their two babies – Abbie, a two-year-old, and Charlotte-Olivia, a 4-day old! Beautiful girls.

Picture from my mom of new baby Charlotte with my mom!

My mom took this pic of baby Abbie!

We had a great dinner at my parents’ house (grilled chicken and baked potatoes – my favorite!), lots of catching up and conversation and a nice, chill night complete with a couple of glasses of wine and dessert – baby cookies! I ended up at 2,141 calories, 217 carbs, 74 fat grams and 106 protein grams. Here’s what I ate. Great night!

Saturday I got up and thanks to Reuben being SO excited to be at Mimzy’s with his uncles, he didn’t sleep at all so I didn’t sleep at all. Grrrr. I felt crappy and hungry so I had my bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich… and some leftover cookies. Dang cookie monster! Then we watched some TV, had lunch (beef enchilada casserole) and then I headed to the gym! I did C25K first (week 4 workout #3) – 30 minutes for 2.61 miles burning 161 calories. Then I went ahead and walked it out to get 3 miles in 36 minutes at 187 calories.

I stretched, then did legs:

24 lunges with back leg lifts

20 calf raises

25 squats

20 step ups

15 stability ball double leg lifts

REPEAT

This burned 79 calories in 16 minutes, and then I walked another mile burning 75 calories.


Total burn for the day in 1 hour and 8 minutes: 341 calories! Woo! Then it was chill time with my mom while Austin went to the club with my stepdad, then shower time, then me and Austin were off to Robyn and Jimbo’s to see their new house and visit with their little family! SO good to see them, I’m so happy for them and love that their so much closer to my family now! We stayed over for a couple of hours, then ran home to eat and then were off to see Megan – my bestie since kindergarten. Great to hang out with her and her husband Clint and their pupper Smokey & Bailey! We had a few drinks, lots of great conversations and before we knew it it was time to get home and get to bed. I ended up over 2,000 again, this time at 2,214 calories, 229 carbs, 39 fat grams and 91 protein grams. Here’s what I ate.

Today was pretty much just driving. We made the 4-hour trip with no music - talked the whole way! I love when that happens. I worked on the dining room project a bit, watched some lifetime, did some laundry, etc. I’m SO sore – like it hurts to go upstairs. I’m such a loser. I don’t want to go in tomorrow! Haha I have TONS to do – not looking forward to it. Grrr. I'd post my stats, but I may eat some more. :)

So, what did you do this weekend?