Fun Products & Grilling Filed under ( Beef, product review, Vegetables )

Today was my Friday, as we will be starting the wedding festivities tomorrow! This particular wedding is for someone in Josh’s extended family, so I am very excited to see his parents, brothers & sister tomorrow. After the usual work, I came home for some snacking and then headed out to do errands, which included WFs! The wonderful people at Newman’s Own Organics sent me some coupons and I could not wait to use them. Here are the Newman’s products I picked up:

I also picked up a fun box of 365 cereal that was free via coupon I got in the mail:

I also taught 45 minute Body Step. When I got home, I got showered up and prepared for some grilling with Josh. On the menu was burgers for Josh, grilled corn on the cob, peaches, and eggplant (for me!). Josh’s plate of goodness:

And mine ( I served my eggplant with some more un-pictured marinutta - I can’t get enough of this stuff):

Now its time to watch the AWESOME Thursday TV line up. Do you have weekend plans??

Flat Out Fold Its & Goals Filed under ( goals, product review )

Today was a nice/easy day. The combination of a later work meeting, dinner plans with friends, and some extreme weekend workouts, helped me to decide that today was going to be a day off from working out (did everyone read/watch MizFit’s post about her day off?). Sooo after work, I got a two pump pumpkin spice misto and ran a few errands.

Now, I’m doing a few things around the house and getting ready for our dinner out.

I make sandwiches for Josh for lunch almost every day (when there aren’t leftovers to be eaten). Josh loves more meat/cheese and less bread so when I saw these new Flat Out Fold Its, I knew he’d love them. Here are a few pictures prior to sammie making:

Josh thought the flat out fold its were pretty tasty! He likes how thin they are and noted that it was nice and doughy! I will defintely be rotating these in with his usual Arnold's Thins.


I wanted to use this post to focus back in on my goals. I was pretty successful in terms of my goals from last week (one night I missed my 6.5 hour sleep goal, but I hit all the rest!). In terms of goals for this week, I am branching out a bit. I know these aren’t as measurable as some of my past goals, but they’re areas I’d really like to work on:

• Happy driving. Do you all get angry at slow drivers? I am use to a more…I guess northern mentality when it comes to driving (i.e. I gotta there 10 minutes ago so get out of my way…which is probably why I got a ticket haha) and get a little frustrated with the “Sunday driver” mentality. This week I’d like to take more deep breaths while driving and enjoy the ride (rather than stress)
• Core focus. As much as I encourage my students to make sure they suck in their belly buttons and focus on core strength during my classes….I often forget to do so. This week I will try to keep my core in mind during all my workouts

The longer term goals I had set are as follows (with updates in the parenthesis):

• RUN: Complete at least 1 race (2 would be ideal) before December (signed up for IOP Connector 10k run on October 3rd)
• RUN: Run 12 straight miles by the New Year (I’ve gotten to 9!)
• GROUP FITNESS: Train to teach a new group fitness program (signed up for Body Pump training first weekend in November- yikes!)
• EAT: Try at least 1 new restaurant a month (I tried a Greek restaurant in Columbia this past weekend, but would still like to try a new Charleston area restaurant before the end of the month!)
• FRIENDS: Have coffee with two new people/friends by the New Year (no progress…)
• JOSH: Take 1 walk a week with Josh (I have done this each week so far!)

Have you made progress on any of your goals?

Off to dinner (GO PATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

(Almost) Wordless Weekend Filed under ( Healthy, product review )

It has been a very relaxing and wonderful weekend :)

Pool time:

Frank time:

 

Mellow Mushroom for the Penn State vs. Alabama game (Penn State did NOT do well but we still had fun):

Piece of a soft pretzel with marinara:

 

Massive Greek salad:

 

Julie’s peanut butter pancakes using Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Flour:

I saw Janetha eating this hummus and knew I must have it. Deliciousness (thanks Janetha!):

And now its Patriots time ;)

 

Are you having/did you have a nice weekend?

Oatmeal Peanut Butter (Flour!) Chocolate Chip Bars Filed under ( Breakfast, Dessert, group fitness, peanut butter, product review )

Hi guys! How are you doing? After all the traveling I did last week, it has felt SO good to get back in the kitchen to bake & cook!  I got my bake on last night for sure. I made vegan pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for wonderful friends of mine:

I also finally experimented with my Trader Joe’s Peanut flour that my MIL sent me:

 

Since I always love mixing up my bar recipes, I decided to test this flour out first in an Oatmeal Peanut Butter (flour) Chocolate Chip Bar:

 

Ingredients:

• 2  1/4 cups old fashion rolled oats
• 1/4 cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1/2 cup Peanut Flour
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds (raw)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (or applesauce- unsweetened)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 eggs or egg substitute

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together dry ingredients (first six). Add in wet ingredients and stir until combined. Spray pan (I used a Pyrex dish), press mixture into bottom of pan. Bake for 28-30 minutes. Let the bars cool completely, cut & serve.

These taste like those no bake peanut butter/chocolate cookies! So yum.

Also of note, we had our first spaghetti squash of the “fall” last night! Josh had his topped with homemade turkey meatballs, cheese and marinara. I had mine topped with cheese, marinara and black beans. YUM!

And for your workout Wednesday (Thursday), here is my plan for the week:

• Monday: Ran 6 miles outside
• Tuesday:  Taught Body Attack
• Wednesday:  Ran 6 miles outside
• Thursday: Teach 45 minute Body Step & 45 minute Body Pump
• Friday:  Off
• Saturday:  Teach Body Step
• Sunday:  Off

How are your workouts coming?? And what is your favorite kind of squash? I love them all…but I think Acorn is my favorite.

Goals and Products Filed under ( product review )

Happy Long Weekend!!!! Sorry for being MIA yesterday. After work I taught Body Attack and then helped (sort of) Josh put our new Weber grill together:


Can't wait to use it! We had to make a quick run to Lowe's and then finished watching 7 pounds (which was definitely an interesting movie...). We passed out around 11. So far today I taught Body Step, went food shopping, went to the pool for about an hour and a half (its SO beautiful out), and now I'm watching the Penn State game.

Couple quick notes- the mug Josh got me for my birthday is AMAZING and totally keeps your coffee warm for four hours (for those of you who asked)!! I highly recommend it:


I got an awesome package today filled with my No Meat Athlete T!! I am super excited to wear this (and thanks for the extra surprise Matt!!!):


I’ve been thinking a lot about goals lately and have decided that I really want to write mine down (I don’t know why I’ve never really done this before!) and hold myself accountable. I love that Tina does mini weekly goals and I would like to do the same, as well as set longer term goals.

For the weekend:
Spend at least 8 hours outside (1.5 hours down already!!)
Smile more
Complete a test run for an upcoming race I am hoping to complete
Eat Fresh Berry
Spend lots of time with Josh and Frank

Longer Term:
Complete at least 1 race (2 would be ideal) before December
Run 12 straight miles by the New Year
Train to teach a new group fitness program (hopefully Body Pump)
Try at least 1 new restaurant a month
Have coffee with two new people (friends)
Take 1 walk a week with Josh

Care to share some of your own? Either longer or shorter term?

Busy Weekend, Bad Blogger ;) Filed under ( fruit, product review, Vegetables )

Hi guys! Hope you had a nice weekend. Ours was great but very busy and filled with too much travel! I didn't do a very good job of taking pictures this weekend (sorry). Here is a quick/ general recap. Note: I am not in any way discussing all of my meals...just the ones I happened to take pictures of.



Friday:

After pump, I showered up and then we headed to the airport. I enjoyed a luna and Health magazine while we waited for our flight. I'm not a HUGE Luna fan, but this one was yummy! It actually tastes a lot like those reduced fat lemon girl scout cookies they had a few years back.



The wedding we were attending was at the Jersey shore. We flew into Philly and drove to the rehearsal. Here is a picture of Josh and I looking super tired at the rehearsal dinner:

Saturday:

The next morning, I woke up extra early. The bed at the hotel was pretty uncomfortable and the hotel was in a noisy local....so sleep wasn't really happening. I laced up my shoes and went for a 4.6 mile run. Afterwards, I enjoyed a lara and some WaWa coffee (I miss Wawa!!). I rarely eat bars at home, but they are PERFECT when you're traveling:

It was super rainy the majority of the weekend, but cleared up right after the wedding (great for the wedding pics!). Here is a cute picture of the couple right after the ceremony:

And a picture of me and Josh (Josh was in the wedding):

The reception was held at a country club and was absolutely beautiful! The veggie meal was HUGE and was the traditional pasta. I ate about 1/8 of this and Josh managed to eat almost the whole rest of the plate along with his crab cake dinner :

A few more random pics- Josh and his friend R:

Me and some of the girls. It was SO cold in the banquet hall, I wore Josh's jacket the majority of the night....it may have been a little large on me ;)

Overall, the night was a blast! After the reception, we hung out at the hotel bar for a while. I'm not a drinker, so I stuck to water, but it was a blast :). After lots more travel, we arrived home around 5 pm tonight. I threw some clothes in the wash and headed to the food store. Since then, I have been non stop! I did lots of laundry, gave Frank a bath, helped Josh cut his hair, and made din din. Josh got whole wheat tortellini with turkey sauce:

I was pasta-ed out and made myself a giant salad with a bowl of cantaloupe and some nut butter (how I missed you cantaloupe!!):

Josh and I are about to watch Entourage and then pass out! I am hoping I get to work from home tomorrow (fingers crossed) because my tummy is sort of up in arms :(.

What are you looking forward to this week? My birthday is Wednesday...so I'm looking forward to that! I will be 27 (when did that happen????).

Chobani: New Flavors Review Filed under ( product review )

Thank you all for your kind comments about my 9 miler yesterday! You really know how to make a gal smile ;)

As I mentioned previously, the wonderful folks at Chobani sent me some samples of their two new flavors, Pineapple and Pomegranate. Below is a review of the two new flavors:

2% Pineapple:


The new pineapple chobani rocks! It is officially Josh's favorite chobani flavor. I asked him for his review and he says that all you need to know is...its awesome! I enjoy that it has all the great flavor of pineapple without being over the top sweet! Loveeeee it!


0% Pomegranate:

Again, yummmmmy flavor. Gentle but not over the top. I am not a HUGE fan of the pom seeds in the yogurt but Josh enjoyed them. Nice creamy texture.

My Chobani flavor preferences are now as follows:

1) Pineapple

2) Plain (with a little bit of added honey....I have never actually been able to locate the honey flavor)

3) Blueberry

4) Vanilla

5) Peach

6) Pomegranate

7) Strawberry

Josh's are:

1) Pineapple (obviously)

2) Pomegranate

3) Tie between Strawberry, Peach, Vanilla

4) Tie between plain and blueberry (Josh doesn't like blueberries and he just can't do the plain ;))

Run out and get the new flavors! They are fab.

On this Friday, I started my day with Body Pump. The rest of our day today and tomorrow will be dedicated to Josh's friend Jon's wedding (Josh is in the wedding). I may be MIA until Sunday night. Enjoy your weekend!!!

Galaxy Granola Giveaway Filed under ( giveaway, product review )

Hello All! Thank goodness for Friday! Since I am supposed to headed to the Les Mills quarterly today (not feeling too hot right now…), I figured it would be the perfect time for a giveaway! I’ve talked about Galaxy Granola before and how I love their fruit not fat message.

  I’ve used the granola to make bars and beautiful at home parfaits (Maple Pecan Quinoa granola, vanilla yogurt and a pluot):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now you too can try Galaxy Granola:

To enter, leave me a comment telling me your favorite parfait combination. For additional entries, join the Fruit Not Fat blog on Facebook and Twitter and leave me a SEPARATE comment letting me know you did so.  You DO NOT need to have a blog to enter. This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada only. The winner will be selected randomly and entries must be received by Monday, August 30 at noon. Good luck!

Italian Chicken & Bird’s Eye Vegetable Risotto Filed under ( product review )

Happy Friday! I can’t believe how quickly this month is flying by! I also cannot believe my birthday is in a week!

I was excited when my package of Bird’s Eye Chef Favorites (disclaimer: I received these products for free as part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program)! I knew I could use these to make some quick and easy dinners. On Wednesday night, I decided to try out the Primavera Vegetable Risotto:

To make it a meal, I cooked up some “Italian” chicken breasts. I simply ground garlic & herb seasoning on top of chicken breasts and then topped them with a little cheese.

I baked the chicken up in the oven at 375 degrees F until cooked through. I cooked the risotto according to the package directions and then added the chicken. The result:

Josh and I both loved the creaminess of the risotto, we only wished there was more of it!. Thanks FoodBuzz & Bird’s Eye!

What are you up to this weekend? We have dinner plans tonight & have a wine and appetizer party on Saturday night. I’m hoping to get a run in today and maybe a class tomorrow??