Saw this over on Whine Less, Breathe More and thought it'd be fun to do on this cold (but sunny!) Friday. 1. What weather do you refuse to run in? Definitely not a big fan of lightning or sleet to be honest. Oh, and when it's raining/snowing so hard you can't see a foot in front of you - yeah I'm not down with that. 2. What distance is your “short” run? 3 miles 3. How do you stay hydrated while running? Water fountain, carry your own etc. If I'm running outside I don't. I know, I know - terrible! But if I'm crankin' out my miles on the treadmill I always have my water bottle close at hand. 4. Music or no music? Definitely music. Lately though at the gym I've been watching Glee on my iPad which is WAY better than music <3 5. Do you ever run nekkid? {Without GPS, not literally silly} ha-ha glad this was clarified...I was scared there for a minute...I've heard of naked Yoga (OH MY!!) but naked running?!?!...OH MY x 2! Anywho, most of the time I run 'nekkid'. I have a Garmin watch, but I forget it most of the time and lately it hasn't been working properly when I do remember it (which reminds me I have to look into that...it's not even a year old!!) 6. What is the first thing you do after a run? Definitely drink water. If it was a long run, I try to remember to stretch and foam roll at least a little bit....but I'm not very good at it. My husband is always reminding me to stretch but I'm just not that patient. 7. What’s your favorite running shoe ever? I'm a Saucony girl through and through. Right now I'm wearing the Guide 6s. But I've had these for almost a year now and am in need of a new pair. 8. Do you make deals with yourself to finish a tough run? What are they?
I wouldn't say deals. On tough runs or when I'm just not feelin' it I constantly remind myself to just keep going...doesn't matter how fast (or slow in my case) but just keep going and push through. 9. Two things you can not run without besides kicks? my iPod - that's really it. I don't need much to enjoy a great run. 10. Running has helped me ___________. discover so many things about myself that I didn't know I had in me. 11. Are you following a training plan? If so, what does your weekly routine look like? No training plan at the moment. The only time I followed a training plan was when I was training for my first half marathon and of course the marathon. At this point, my weekly routine keeps me in shape enough to where I always feel ready to go do a half whenever I wanted to. It may not be the fastest race ever but I know I could finish it without worrying about anything. 12. Be honest, do you regularly stretch + foam roll post run? See # 6 - so that's a big fat negative. But I'm workin' on it and trying to listen to my body more.
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Don't mind me...ya know - just workin' my ass off over here (speaking of which...wouldn't it be fantastic if you really COULD work your ass off while working long hours?! I mean dang how sweet would that be?!) and not gettin' to this til late at night. So sue me...... Anywho, well this it...we're in our final days of the cleaning eating/Paleo challenge. The challenge ends Saturday so you best believe I will be eating some of my favorite junk foods between Sunday and Tuesday (and yes I'll probably gain 5 lbs and feel sooo sick...and no, I don't care!) I'm actually glad Lent starts on Wednesday (I'm giving up sweets again!) since that'll help me stay on track as far as the sweets go. So here is a list of my favorite junk foods I can't wait to inhale, er I mean eat, this weekend. Do not even try to stand between this girl and these foods this weekend - I'm not even going to attempt self control. It's just going to be all about me and just enjoying all this yummy food <3 My Junk Food Faves Donut - Not just any kind of donut....Oh no, no, no - I'm talkin' about one of those melt in your mouth, fresh, light, and airy Wegmans ones that are topped with chocolate frosting and STUFFED with chocolate frosting. Go big or GO HOME I say!!! Oreos - My weakness through and through. The only question will be how many packages will I buy while grocery shopping?!?! Fresh loaf of Italian bread - Yup. I will be getting a loaf of fresh bread from good ol' Wegmans and eating the entire thing by myself. Heaven on earth. Flavored coffee creamer - Oh welcome back my dear creamer. Oh how I've missed thee. Even though we are going to continue eating clean/Paleo (just not as restrictive) this will be back in our lives permanently (or at least mine ha-ha) Marshmallows - Probably one of my favorite foods ever. Give me a jar of Fluff and a spoon and I'm a happy camper. I just have to decide if I'll be buying a bag of marshmallows (the mini colored ones are da best!) or a jar of Fluff...oh, decisions, decisions...whatever shall I do?!?! Potato Chips - This is a trigger food for me. I can't eat just a handful. I can eat, and eat, and eat, and eat potato chips...until I realize I've eaten an entire bag...by myself :/ So I think a snack size bag will be perfect for this weekend - otherwise it'll be 10lbs I'll be gaining instead of just 5 LOL And there ya have it. So if you need me at all Sunday through Tuesday...you know where to find me...I'll be that girl on the couch, with crumbs all around her, and chocolate smeared all over her face.
Quick. Easy. Tasty. Comforting. Healthy. Clean. That's how I like my dinners to be. While we've meandered through this clean eating/Paleo challenge for the past 12 weeks (I think that's how long it's been!) we've made quite a few new recipes. These 2 take the cake - definitely my favorite dinners!! I love 'em so much they will definitely be staying in our dinner rotation long after the challenge is finished. Yes, they're THAT good. First up - Crockpot Turkey & Pumpkin Chili (say what?! pumpkin in chili...yeah that's right - don't knock it til you try it!) The original recipe can be found here Ingredients: · 1 lb. ground turkey, beef, or chicken · 1 cup pumpkin puree · ½ small red onion, chopped · ½ cup green onion, chopped · 1 15oz can diced tomatoes (do not drain) · 2 garlic cloves, minced · 1 ½ tablespoons chili powder · ¾ tablespoons pumpkin pie spice (I use cinnamon and nutmeg instead) · ¾ tablespoons cumin · 1 teaspoons sea salt · ½ tablespoon pure maple syrup · ½ cup water · Avocado, diced (as a topping) Brown your meat in a saucepan. Drain. Throw all the ingredients in the crock pot. Turn on low. And in 6-8 hours you have a delicious, healthy, clean, dinner. Dish up and top with diced avocado if you're so inclined (I HIGHLY recommend!) You're welcome. I don't know about ya'll but cornbread is my FAVORITE side dish for chili. They just go together...ya know like peanut butter and jelly (or for me peanut butter and honey!) However, cornbread is a big no-no on this challenge. And I knew not having bread in general would be the hardest part of this challenge for me. Give me a loaf of fresh, crusty bread and I'm a happy gal. So when this recipe popped up I knew they'd be perfect!! They're dense and oh so filling and totally satisfy my craving for bread. They are the perfect side dish for the chili. We're having this tonight for dinner and I can't freakin' wait - Yum! Yum! Paleo Biscuits Yield: 8-10 biscuits Ingredients: 3 cups almond flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 2 eggs 2 tablespoons honey 1 tablespoon lemon juice Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 2. Mix dry ingredients in large bowl. Make a well in center and add wet ingredients. Stir wet ingredients in center, then incorporate dry ingredients slowly until dough is formed. 3. Drop by large scoops onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Flatten to 1-1/2 inches. 4. Bake until lightly browned and cooked through, about 20 minutes There ya have it...I hope ya'll try these recipes and enjoy them as much as we do!! Happy Eating <3
A quick weekend recap of course...why? What were you thinking?! After a quick dinner on Friday night we headed out and made a quick pit stop at Ann Taylor Loft so I could use up a store credit I had before we headed to the movies. We saw That Awkward Moment - pretty damn funny. It's a good date night movie - so long as you're OK with the F bomb (which with my potty mouth we all know I am!) Saturday we slept in - and yes, not getting out of bed until 7:45 is sleeping in for us!! I got a 9 mile run in - and it was A-MA-ZING!!!!!!!! The sun was shining, the sidewalks were fairly clear, and I was feelin' good. It had been waaaaaaaaaaay too long since I'd been able to get more than a 7 mile run in so it felt damn good!! I can't wait for spring to get my mileage back up and get back to running outside more than just once a week. I've got a 1/2 marathon in April that I've got plans to run and I can't freakin' wait <3 We spent the rest of the day with my parents. They are re-doing their living room so I helped mom pick out some fun decorations. It's way more fun spending other people's money I gotta say :) While we were out and about the hubs found me this: What's so exciting about a hamper, you might ask?! Well let me tell you....I have been searching hiiiiiigh and looooooooow for a while for a basket to hide our foam roller and stretchy band (I'm pretty sure that's the official word for it too ha-ha) I had given up on finding anything that the foam roller would actually fit in. But the hubs came to the rescue when he spotted this. I took out the lining and BOOM - no more random foam roller and stretchy band just laying on our living room floor. Not to mention so many other things could fit in this - it's such a fantastic storage piece!! I've got a small house - things need to be organized, clean/picked up, and everything needs to have its own place. And this fits the bill - thanks lovebug! <3 Sunday was just a typical day for us - same ol' same ol' (we're pretty boring peeps I gotta say...ie Saturday night we were in bed by 10:15...) I hit up Pilates class bright 'n' early then got in an awesome weight session - I could barely walk afterwards...and it felt good!! The rest of the day was spent running errands, doing laundry, prepping some food for the week, working on taxes, cleaning, and working on getting my sister's baby shower invites stuffed (thanks babe!), stamped, and sealed!! That about sums it up for me. I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend - Happy Monday ya'll <3
When I saw Sarah's post from Life As Always I figured...why the hell not?! The hubs is downstairs swearing to himself because he spilled melted coconut oil and honey allll over the counter and floor (I'm definitely better off up here)...and I'm avoiding working on our taxes. So here we go...my first Social Sunday - can I get a hells yeah?!?! 1. Favorite breakfast food I'm a breakfast girl through and through...love me some breakfast!! Soooo with that being said my all time favorite breakfast food is LA Cinnamon Bread...from this small diner in my hometown. Think thick, thick slices of homemade bread...toasted in a pan with butter until golden brown and topped with a cinnamon and sugar glaze....O.M.G. But since I only get it maybe 2 times a year my second choice would be pumpkin chocolate chips pancakes. Great...now I'm hungry (and I just ate dinner a few hours ago...) 2. Best way to spend a free day Free day...what's a free day? I mean seriously...I haven't had one of those in...I don't even know. But IF I did actually have one here's what it'd look like Sleep in...which means 7am (because why waste a free day by sleeping all morning?!?!) Make myself some chocolate chip pancakes (clearly that's all on my mind right now) Go for a loooooong, looooong run Head home to take the most amazing, long, hot shower EVER Go get a manicure (tough decision...classic French manicure or do I go for a funky, fun, color?!....decisions, decisions...) Aaaaand while I'm out & about I stop at Starbuck's for a fancy, overpriced drink Once home I spend a few hours outside...reading, napping, drinking wine, sun tanning (because of course I assume it's summer)...maybe even eating ice cream for lunch After that I'd probably be sick of being at home so I head out again to go shopping to splurge on myself for once, stopping at all my favorite stores like Target, Marshalls, Trader Joes, & Michael's. After spending a few hours shopping, I head back home with a car full of fun stuff Once home, I cook a yummy dinner with the hubs, then we walk to the bar just down the street from our house for some yummy fruity cocktails (beer for the hubs of course) on their outdoor patio. 3. Airline ticket to anywhere in the world….where would you go and why? Australia, because it's been on my bucket list for FOREVER...I mean who wouldn't want to be surrounded by hot men with those sexy accents, and incredible beaches, and hold a koala?!?! AND since it's one of the most expensive places to fly to from the U.S. it'd be the best way to utilize a free ticket....dontcha think?!? 4. You can only leave the house with one thing…what is it?
My purse...it has EVERYTHING I could possibly need/want (ie - cell, iPad, credit cards, tissues, food, etc, etc, etc) 5. How do you take your coffee? SWEET....2 packets of Truvia, and a crap load of creamer (my favorite is probably Vanilla Caramel Crème by International Delight but any flavored creamer will do) Happy Sunday my friends <3 I've got me another link up today (yeah so sorry - no Friday Letters today...I know, I know you're probably heart broken) This time it's with Amanda - and it's about running...now THIS is my kinda post <3 250 words or less....here's why I started running (and continue to today) My husband is the reason why I started running - plain and simple. Here's my story... There was a breakup. Thus resulting in running...call it free therapy if you so wish. This bout with running didn't last long - a few months maybe and my longest run was 2 miles (if I'm lucky!) Fast forward a year and a half (or so...) The future hubs comes into my life. I join a gym soon after and start working out regularly (but not running.) 2 years later he suggests a 5k. I think he's crazy...but because I'm a little crazy too I agree to it. I ran 3 miles once while I 'trained' for this race. Thanks to a knee issue I wasn't even sure I was going to do it until 10 the night before the race. BUT we did it.... And I fell in love...the rest is history. So thank you lovebug <3 And that my friends basically sums up why/how I started running. To read more about my love of running, check out the post I did here.
I hope I never have to stop running. And I hope the passion I have for running never leaves me. And I hope everyone gives running a chance....because once you do - you'll never go back! It's empowering. It's addicting. And it's FUN! So what are you waiting for? Go...Go NOW...run...run...run...run your little heart out and enjoy EVERY.SINGLE.MILE. No Hump Day Faves day...instead I'm jumpin' on the bandwagon and linking up today with Holly... I'm the kinda girl who...
...eats peanut butter straight out of the jar ...over-analyzes every little thing ...can handle the big things in life (but struggles with dealing with the 'small things') ...is an 'all or nothing' type of person ...would prefer to run in 30 degrees than 70 degrees ...hates surprises ...needs to have things planned out ...would wear jeans, a tank top, and wedges every day if I could ...will always have a crush on my husband ...loves to eat and isn't afraid to admit it ...hates talking on the phone ...can't make a decision...like EVER! ...swears like a sailor ...can't leave a hangnail alone ...would want to know when/how I die if that were an option ...is an adrenaline addict (but not to the extreme!) ...loves tattoos ...loves being in the kitchen - cookin' and bakin' up a storm ...is super nosey ...follows all the rules ...has no issues belching in front of you (compliments to the chef in my eyes!) ...can't figure out how to make this link up buttom smaller so ya'll will have to deal... ...could spend days thinking of random stuff to list here (but I'll spare you ha-ha) Happy Hump Day everyone <3 It's cold. It's snowy. I've been working 11 hour days and then hittin' up the gym and gettin' stuff done around the house. The hubs and I are currently in week 6 of a clean eating challenge. So what do I need in my life right now more than anything? Quick, easy, clean, healthy meals. And this soup takes the cake (Mmmm speaking of cake...what I wouldn't do for a slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting right now...or Oreos...or pizza...or.....) Ok focus Renée... Back to the soup...first let me get this out of the way - there really isn't a formal recipe. It's one of those soups that you can do whatever you like. In fact, I don't even have measurements or anything for you - just ingredients (I promise - you can't mess this up!) Trust me on this one... Put a splash of extra virgin olive oil in a big soup pot - let that heat up - once hot put in a diced onion and let that cook for 5 minutes or so. Next add in some butternut squash (I buy the big pre-cut family pack at Wegmans for $5.50) and add enough water to just cover the squash (you could use chicken or vegetable stock instead if you'd like.) Add in some spices (I like to add salt, pepper, paprika, rosemary, and parsley. But salt, pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg would also be good! Red pepper flakes too if you want a little heat!) Bring to a boil and then simmer until the squash is fully cooked. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes I'd say. While this is simmering I usually go do something else - fold a load of laundry, cook up somethin' else, etc. Once the squash is fully cooked use your fancy immersion blender and puree until it's as smooth as a baby's butt!! Return to the stove for a hot minute and add in some unsweetened coconut milk (this is optional but I like the subtle sweetness and it thickens the soup a bit.) Do a lil taste test and adjust seasonings to your liking. And there ya have it - the perfect soup for dinner (just add a side salad or a sandwich and you're good to go!) We've been taking it for lunch every day - this big pot lasts us alllll week (and that's with both of us taking it for lunch daily!) So I hope ya'll enjoy this as much as we do.
It can't be. Tell me it's not true. There's just no way it's Monday already! I mean seriously, where do weekends go?!?! First things first - Valentine's Day of course <3 We had a wonderful, low-key night in and it was perfect. We made an incredible dinner together (the salmon recipe we made was the recipe Matt made me the night we got engaged!), we danced in the kitchen, watched our wedding video, then hunkered down to watch a movie, and a rule of no Ipads for the whole night...it was perfect!! Saturday we were up bright 'n' early to get a workout in before we headed to visit some family. We made a quick pit stop at my parents' house before heading to Matt's sister's to hang out with her family. We had such a great time playing in the snow, reading, and just hangin' out with these peeps. In fact, I was having so much fun I totally forgot to take pics! Oops! Sunday was just a typical Sunday for us - worked out, cleaned house, ran errands, and spent the evening doing laundry, cooking, lookin' at money, taxes, etc - ya know - really fun adult things :) What did ya'll do this weekend?! I hope everyone had a fantastic Valentine's Day (check out Erin's blog over at Love, Fun, & Football - she had an INCREDIBLE Valentine's Day and I think her husband wins Husband of the Year hands down!!)
Dear husband, Here's a lil' note Just for you It's gonna be short, but sweet Just like me Nope this isn't gonna rhyme So I hope you don't mind This is straight from the heart Because you're my one and only Happy Valentine's Day We work because… ...You and I work at making this marriage the best it can possibly be!! Some days are easier than others but we never stop loving each other and we never forget how important this marriage is to us. ...I’m the crazy, never stops, mind always going kinda girl and you’re the cool, calm, collected one. You keep me in line and I keep you entertained. Works out just swell, don't ya think?! ...We have the same goals in life and strive every day to achieve those goals. We are always talking about goals and how we want to live and how we want our future to be. There's always a list in the house of things we need to do/want to do in order to accomplish these goals - individually and as a couple. And I like it! ...All I gotta do is make you a list and things get done without me having to be a nagging wife. It only took me a year to figure this out - which ain't too shabby if ya ask me haha - but I still wish you could just read my mind :) ...You always save the last bit of food for me to have, especially when it’s one of my favorite things! This melts my heart....every....single....time. True love right there. ...You’ll have dance parties with me in the kitchen. And with sweet ass dance moves like ours it's the best damn entertainment you've ever seen!! ...You cook AND clean!! That right there is all I need. Be jealous, girls, be jealous :) ...We both understand the importance of alone time/doing our own things. We give each other that space and time to be our own person. To do our own thang. And that makes us better people all around which of course makes this whole marriage thing that much sweeter!! ...You let me pop your zits. Yes, I love to pop zits. Yes, I admit this. Yes, I know it's weird. And no, I don't care. And you're A-Ok with all of this. ...We love each other’s friends and families. Though we don't spend as much time with our families and friends as we'd like, when we do, we both thoroughly enjoy it and love creating those memories. ...We’re each other’s number 1 fans and put each other first. Simple as that. ....You know 5 minutes into a movie I'm gonna be fast asleep (yes, I may even be sitting up still) and you'll gently wake me up enough so I lay down and let me sleep as you enjoy the movie. ...You remind me what’s really important in life when I start going down the ‘pity us’ path. I tend to get a bit crazy and overwhelmed and can focus on materialistic things. And I go down that ugly path of 'they make more money' and 'they have this, why don't we?!' But you are always there to straighten me out - bring me down to reality - and make me realize that we've got a lot of good going on. And I need that positivity in my life. ...You indulge in all the crafty projects I come up with. And trust me - since becoming a homeowner these projects are never ending. And yet you never complain. I love that you'll spend time working on projects with me (and that you actually like it!!) ...You don’t mind nor judge me when I have a meltdown. You just listen and let me vent, allow me to go a lil psycho (hello hormones!), you comfort, and then when it's all said and done we just move on with our day. ...You understand my love of food (and that come 10pm we NEED to head to kitchen to stuff our faces...I mean it's just what we do!) :) ...You do crazy things with me, even if you don’t really wanna (like train for a marathon!) These are just a few reasons why we work. Overall, things are just natural for us. It's just who we are - just meant to be together - just meant to do the best we can with what we have - TOGETHER.
Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! I seriously can't believe it's Wednesday already!! Not that I'm complaining at all - the quicker these next few weeks go the happier I'll be :) In any case, we all know Friday is Valentine's Day (and if you didn't - get your head out from under the rock you're living under and get back to the real world!) I'm not one for Valentine's Day - not gonna lie. Don't get me wrong - I'm all about love and being romantic and all that cutesy stuff but I've never been into Valentine's Day itself. But even though that may be the case, I still love LOVE and being in love and surrounding myself with people that I love - my husband, family, and friends, and so forth. With all that being said, today's Hump Day Faves is dedicated to my most favorite person ever - my husband. I have a Pinterest board dedicated specifically to him *insert shocked face here* (go here to check it out if you so desire...) So today I've picked a few of my favorite quotes that I've pinned. These pretty much sum things up perfectly for us - in one way or another - and thought it'd be the perfect Valentine tribute to him <3 (I know, I know gag me, right?! But hey this is my blog...if I wanna get all sappy so be it ha-ha!) And to round out this little love fest...what's better than wearing your husband's clothes?! Anyone else out there that thinks there's nothing more comfy and snuggly and comforting than wearing a shirt/hoodie of your husband/boyfriend/significant other's?!?!? I just looooove it <3 Happy Wednesday ya'll <3
So, yeah - it's after 10:30pm on Monday and I'm just sittin' down to write my weekend recap. Yeah, I'm a little late...but ya know, that's just sorta how things are this time of year for me so bear with me (us Accountants dread this time of year!) But enough of that crap-la. Weekends are where it's at and we had another good one!!! So let's get at it.... Friday night I ventured to Trader Joe's after work. I was able to stock up on some stuff at really great prices - like almond butter, quinoa, almond flour, etc. Good, healthy, clean food at great prices - that makes me a happy camper!!! And of course, I can't be in that neighborhood and not stop at Marshall's - I mean it's RIGHT across the street (and one of my most favorite stores....like E-VER!) I could wander for hours in that store...loooove it! Saturday we got up early - the hubs headed to CrossFit while I got a 7.4 mile run in! Damn it felt good to run outside - it was a tough run thanks to the snow covered sidewalks but I still enjoyed every second and felt rejuvenated afterwards! After that we got ready and headed out to meet up with some friends for lunch and bowling. We ate at Chipotle so the hubs and I were able to eat clean and not have to take a cheat day!! After bowling, the hubs and I headed down to watch my father-in-law's basketball game (he's the assistant coach for the Men's basketball team @ SUNY Geneseo!) After the game, we enjoyed a nice dinner with Matt's mom and dad (another 'clean' meal!!) It was a great day!! Sundays are always so busy for us. I got up early to hit the gym and when I got home the hubs helped me clean the house. It really needed it since we didn't have the chance to do it last weekend since we were out of town . As much as I HATE cleaning, there's just somethin' about a nice, clean house. Nothin' beats it!! After that we headed out for a few hours to run errands and grocery shop. Once home - the real fun begins...every Sunday night we spend a couple hours in the kitchen prepping food for the week. This has been key during this whole clean eating/Paleo challenge. Yesterday we made quinoa salad, hard boiled eggs, cooked a bunch of carrots, butternut squash soup, and Matt whipped up some ground hamburger/beans/spices for himself to take as part of his lunch. This is actually one of my favorite parts of our weekends - I love cooking and being in the kitchen but doing it along side the hubs makes it even better <3
After a couple loads of laundry we were ready to hit the sack. And that my friends was our weekend in a nutshell. What did ya'll do?! Who has big plans for this coming weekend? (and yes I know it's only Monday...and yes I'm ALREADY thinkin' about the weekend!) :) Dear Friday ~ I am soooo incredibly thankful you are here today. It's been a crazy week and even crazier day (which is why I'm just gettin' around to posting this now even though the day is pretty much over...ugh!) Dear Free Printables ~ You are just the cutest things EVER!! I am slightly obsessed with you. I mean - you're adorable, you're free, you're simple, and you're the perfect way to decorate for each holiday/season...I think I'm in love! Dear Lovebug ~ Thanks for all the extra stuff you've done this week....ya know, like squeezing that cute lil bum of yours into the lazy susan (such a funny word...) to get something that fell in the waaaay back corner so I didn't have to (go, go, Gadget arms!!) What would I do without you?! :)
Dear Overtime Money ~ I really, really wish I had grander, more exciting plans for you than going towards paying down a student loan. Mama could really use a fun shopping spree right 'bout meow...just sayin'... Dear Kinda/Sorta/Maybe Cold ~ I ain't got no time for this stuffy nose/sore throat stuff. You have gots to go away - Poof...Be gone!!!!!! That is all. <3 Happy Weekend!! Working out. You either love it or hate it. I personally am one of those people who love to work out (though I wasn't always like that) - it's definitely one of my favorite parts of my day. I love being at the gym. I love that me time. And I love pushing myself (though I wish a personal trainer fund was in the budget because I'd love to have one that would REALLY push me! I want just one gym session with Jillian Michaels - how freakin' awesome would that be?!) But in any case, I've come a long way since I joined the gym back in 2008. I didn't start out using the gym to it's full potential - in fact I still don't. But I have certainly come a long way and have learned a lot. I'm always looking for new work outs and moves (gotta love Pinterest!), watching other members, and most importantly watching the trainers when they are working with someone. I learn A TON just by doing that. So for today's edition of hump day faves, I thought I'd bring ya'll into the gym with me and I'd show you just a few of my favorite pieces of equipment. Bosu ball ~ Ahh - by far my favorite piece of equipment. I'm a wee bit obsessed with this and NEED one in our home gym (got that, Matt?! ha-ha) I do mostly ab/core work with it but also do quite a bit of arms and legs as well. It's great for stability too - basically it's an all around multi-functional piece of gym equipment that I highly recommend. Stability ball ~ another piece that you can do so many things with - abs, legs, glutes, core, etc. I used to use the stability ball A LOT more but once I found the bosu ball I find myself using that for more things. But the ball is definitely a must have and I use every single time I'm at the gym (it's also perfect for a home gym - you can get one relatively cheap at around $20-$40 versus about$100 for the bosu ball.) Weights ~ Game changer right here!! Ladies particularly - do NOT be afraid of these!! You will not bulk up like some crazy weight lifter (unless you want to of course which is a whole different subject...) We all want to be lean and toned, right?! Well these right here are where its at for that. You need to build muscle to achieve that lean, toned body we all crave(not to mention the more muscle you have the more calories your body burns naturally every day!) I was sooo intimidated by these when I first joined the gym...not gonna lie...and it's only been about 2 years or so that I have really embraced them. But once you start you'll never look back - I promise :)Right now I usually do 2 days of strength training though I'd like to increase that to 3 times a week. Start small and work your way up one day at a time...let's all get strong together!! I say...BRING.IT.ON. Weighted Medicine Ball & Body Bars ~ I don't use these as often as I'd like but I do love 'em. I'll switch between free weights and using the body bar - same concept just using a different piece of equipment thus working your body a bit differently. A body bar is another great thing to have in a home gym. Free weights can be pricey but body bars are cheaper and take up way less room - perfect if you don't have a ton of space(like me!!) I'd also like one of these for our home gym. I use the medicine ball for twists, planks, and squats. I'd love to learn some new moves that utilize the medicine ball - I certainly don't use as much as I'd like (but still do love using it for the exercises I do know!) So there ya have it - my fitness edition for hump day faves. Any questions please leave a comment or send me an email :) Happy Hump Day ya'll!
It's no secret I love food. I mean I legit looooove it. I love cooking. I love eating. I love everything about it...healthy food, junk food, EVERYTHING - you name it, I'll probably eat it. I'm a total foodie and I'm not ashamed. However, I've never been into spicy foods. But as we go through this clean eating challenge and as I age I've realized my tastes in food have changed a lot. Such as back in the day you couldn't pay me to eat an onion or pepper. Now we regularly use onions and peppers and I actually like 'em!! So with all that being said today I'd like to share a new recipe. The hubs made this last night for dinner. I walked in the door at about 8:20 and it smelled delish - but he immediately warned me it was SPICY!! I tried it...and sure enough...as soon as you swallow it that heat starts to creep up in the back of your throat. But I actually didn't mind it!! I did end up adding a bit more salt and extra coconut milk to try to cut some of the spiciness. We also served this over mashed cauliflower, which I also felt helped cut some of the spice. All in all, I actually thoroughly enjoyed this dish and will totally make again. If you want the original recipe go here. Definitely try this out if you're lookin' for something quick, easy, healthy, AND has a little bit of a kick :) Creamy Shrimp Fra Diavolo
Ingredients large uncooked shrimp (we probably used about 14-16 shrimp - we had about 7 or 8 each), peeled and deveined 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (original recipe calls for 2 teaspoons - next time I think I'll only do 1/2 teaspoon) pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced 5 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 cup (or more to your liking) unsweetened coconut milk 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil Directions:
*and yes I forgot to take a picture last night...yes, I suck...and yes, hopefully one day this whole blogging thing will be easy for me and it'll just be second nature...I'll get there, I'll get there :) Oh how I love weekends <3 Now if only I could figure out how to make them longer...
Matt and I spent the weekend visiting my friend Christina and her family. She recently had major surgery so it was great to be able to go visit her and help out with a few things - as well as spend some quality time with their family. It was a great weekend away and we're so glad we were able to make it out there. I'm going to keep this post short and sweet - it is Monday afterall and I'm sure we're all wishing we were still in bed...Enjoy and Happy Monday!!! |
AuthorHey ~ I'm Renée...just your ordinary, 30-something Accountant, new mommy, wife, runner, foodie, & Pinterest addict! Welcome to my newest adventure...stay awhile...look around...and keep comin' back! Archives
January 2018
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