December 2009

The Day After + Core Workout.

When I was younger I always dreaded the day after Christmas. Even though I had many new toys to play with, the excitement was over and I had to wait an entire year before it came again. Over the years that disappointment has turned into thankfulness for having such a wonderful family and friends, and being able to participate in such wonderful times on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I hope your past few days have been just as wonderful! Remember all of those cookies I baked? On Christmas Eve, I discovered that my husband has a secret gift at putting together cookie trays. He made the ultimate trays – everyone has been loving them! The picture doesn’t do it justice, but the cookies are literally piled up almost a foot high. Each layer is a surprise with more cookies underneath. Delicious. Now, I’m about to go eat some bacon and cheddar mac and cheese for breakfast since I don’t think I sufficiently stuffed myself over the last 2 days. I have visions of workouts dancing in my head. 25 Days of Workouts WORKOUT #21 – Core Im sure most of you feel like a good ab workout is needed [...]

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Arugula and Asiago Pesto.

Please update your google readers! http://feeds.feedburner.com/howsweeteats/smSp I have always enjoyed pesto, but it wasn’t until I began making it with arugula that I absolutely loved it. While basil has a very strong flavor, the arugula is mild but spicy. It has a bite to it, and mixed with the asiago it is to die for. Asiago is one of my most favorite cheeses. I could eat it on anything. And I do. That doesn’t say much since at any given time we have enough cheese in the fridge to feed a small country. Or my husband. Into the food processor goes arugula, garlic, and asiago. Such a pretty color! You can also use your mini food processor to make a smaller serving. I used my large one, because I do everything in excess. I know no limits. After pulsing it a few times, stream in the olive oil to create more of a sauce. It’s peppery with a hint of cheese, and I love it on whole wheat pasta alone. I also think it is such a ‘pretty’ dish. Arugula and Asiago Pesto 4 cups arugula 1/2 cup asiago cheese 3 garlic cloves 1/4 cup olive oil In a food [...]

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Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you! Thank you so much for following along with me. Blogging has changed my life in so many wonderful ways, and I feel like I can’t thank you all enough for reading. Have a wonderful day with friends and family!

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Christmas Eve!

Ever since I was young, this has definitely been one of my favorite days of the year. I think I believed in Santa until I was 12 or 13 – how outrageous is that? In fact, my parents have never said that there isn’t a Santa, and my dad still insists that he is real. Last night I continued my elf duties and made more cookies with my brother. We made more peanut butter blossoms, since someone ate the entire first double batch, tons of sugar cookies, and red velvet truffles. After a massive house clean and a few errands, I still did not have one present wrapped. At 1pm, my presents still looked like this: I’ve made some headway, but have to get my bum in gear since our festivities start around 4. Oh – and I also still need to make mac and cheese and stuffed artichokes! Eek! 25 Days of Workouts WORKOUT #20 – QUICKIE Feel stuffed to the gills but have no time to get in a workout these next 2 days? Perform the following and I assure you that you’ll feel better! 20 pushups 20 lunges 20 squats 20 pushups 60 second plank hold REPEAT. [...]

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Pushups.

I can’t believe how many of you have been keeping up with your pushups! That is fabulous. I truly think doing some everyday is one of the secrets to strength and confidence. If you can’t even do one pushup, that is ok! In fact – it’s great. You have a goal to start working on today. Start practicing. Not sure how? Try this: 1. Begin in a pushup/plank position. Make sure you are holding in your abs, your back is not arching, and your bum is not up in the air. 2. Lower yourself to the ground. THAT’S IT. Practice that a few times a day, for a few days, until you feel comfortable and strong enough to push yourself up. No matter what, NEVER sacrifice your form. I’d rather you not do pushups at all, than do them improperly. So what’s next? You can do one pushup, but only one. Where do you go from there? Start now: 1. Perform that one pushup, every day, 5 times a day. You can rest in between. You can perform one pushup, and drop to your knees and perform as many as you can do, again in perfect form. As [...]

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Sweet Holiday Eats.

Update your google readers! http://feeds.feedburner.com/howsweeteats/smSp Looking for some great dishes to whip up for your holiday guests? I have yet to shop and will be braving the grocery store mob this afternoon. Eek! On the list for Christmas Eve? Stuffed artichokes. Either lobster mac and cheese or smoked cheddar bacon mac and cheese. I’m leaning towards the second option. If you are still searching for some creative dishes, here are a few that are fantabulous! Gorgonzola stuffed baby red potatoes. Gorgonzola smashed potatoes. Butternut squash gnocchi. (Don’t be intimidated! It’s super fun and easy to make. Give it a whirl!) Cheese soup with red pepper and bacon. Of course I will also be making an array of appetizers to snack on. And with all of the holiday cookies around, I suggest baking a pan of these magical brownies. (No – not magical as in ‘my mom was in music school in the 70′s’ magical). Oooey & gooey. And if you just can’t get enough treats, want your pants to fit even tighter, and would like to overdose on some sugar, try some of this creme brulee [...]

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Sexy Shoulders!

Good evening. I shopped til I dropped tonight! I am now happily watching Home Alone. I <3 Christmas movies. Don’t forget! The first week of of January will be the workout challenge! I’ll be posting a strength training plan for beginners, intermediate, and advanced for 12 whole weeks. Set some goals to get strong, look hot, and be super confident! 25 Days of Workouts WORKOUT #18 – SHOULDERS There is nothing sexier than some shapely shoulders on a woman. Did you know that developing your shoulder muscles will actually make you waist appear smaller? If that isn’t enough to get your moving, imagine how strong you will be. 25 Pushups 4 sets of 10: Staggered arm pushups (10 each side) Overhead dumbbell press Upright dumbbell row Side lateral raises Front raises 45 seconds mountain climbers 10 burpees 25 pushups Have any of your increased your pushup numbers, or began doing them each day? I promise they will make you feel fabulous! Til’ next time.

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Butterball Cookies.

Click here to update your google readers! http://feeds.feedburner.com/howsweeteats/smSp This is another cookie that I would make with Mother Lovett while she was still kickin’. If you have someone in your life that prefers treats on the milder side and does not like thing’s very sweet, this cookie is for them. However, I have zero concept of someone thinking a food is too sweet. That’s impossible. I broke out her old, handwritten recipe. There are strict instructions to not refrigerate this dough. They must be rolled into balls right away. Of course I followed these instructions. I can’t imagine being haunted by Mother Lovett from her grave. I can just see her ghost following me through the grocery store and throwing stool softener, maxi pads with wings, and chipped ham into my cart. We always stuffed the cookies with 2 things: pecans and maraschino cherries. Luckily, I had some pecans hanging around. Unfortunately, I did not have any maraschino cherries. I just can’t be trusted. I enjoy the crack cherries too much. But I highly suggest you try them! They are fabulous in these cookies. After rolling the cookie into a [...]

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Sherlock Holmes + Medicine Ball Workout.

Our weeknight date was perfect. Of course, it is now past 11pm and I’m still awake. We are big kids this week, staying up late on school work nights being so excited for Christmas. Sherlock Holmes was such a great movie! It was funny and the characters were pretty great. I am not the best judge, as I usually enjoy most movies…like, every single one I see. There was a fight scene at the end that was very high up, and you literally felt like you were right there. My belly was doing somersaults because I am super scared of heights. It was a really fun movie and I am so glad we went to see it. We decided on PF Chang’s before the movie. I had the most amazing martini – a jade martini. Gorgeous color, huh? It was Malibu + Midori with a little scoop of honeydew. It was fabulous. We had not been at PF Chang’s for a loooong time – basically because we are 85 years old, don’t like to leave the house and would rather eat my cooking. Hey – I’m just sayin’! They have a ‘meals for 2′ special that was very extensive. Soup, [...]

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Tropical Smoothie + Back Workout

I woke up to a little more snow this morning, wishing I was 10 years old and school would be cancelled. I still don’t want to be a grown up. I made an awesome tropical smoothie to go with breakfast: -ice water -orange juice -frozen banana -vanilla extract -cake batter protein powder It tasted an orange julius + gave me 2 servings of fruit. I am super excited because my hubby won 2 tickets to a sneak peek of Sherlock Holmes tonight! We are going to see the movie and go out to dinner at PF Changs or Bravo. We never have dates on weeknights with work + commuting + gym taking up most of our time. It will be really fun! What is your favorite muscle group to work? I love back and triceps. I tend to do mostly full body and upper/lower splits, but if I ever do body part splits, I live for back & triceps day! 25 Days of Workouts WORKOUT #17 – BACK & TRICEPS All exercises are 4 sets of 12 Pullups + Rear delt flyes Seated row + Overhead triceps extension Lat Pulldown + Triceps Dips Front [...]

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