friends

A Favorite Gift + Upper Body Functional Work

December 30, 2009 · 19 comments

 

The minute I told my friend Cindy about my blog, she decided she wanted this cake.

cake

 

She was only the 2nd or 3rd person I ever shared the blog with, and she was so supportive. I was more than happy to make her anything.

First she wanted the cake around Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then a week between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then finally decided she wanted it for Christmas. :)

 

On Christmas Eve, Cindy and her hubby, Nick, came to pick up the cake and brought me presents!

I have been whoring them out showing them to everyone who steps foot into my house and going on and on and on about how much I love them.

 

This gorgeous mortar and pestel, which matches my kitchen perfectly!

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And this rolling pin that can go in the fridge to get cold before rolling out some dough.

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Look at how intricate and beautiful it is.

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I just love these gifts. I love Cindy and Nick too, although I think they bought me these with an ulterior motive – so I can make them more goodies. :)

 

Thanks, guys!!

 

 

25 Days of Workouts

WORKOUT #23 – UPPER BODY & some FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

I love a great strength training workout that keeps my heart rate elevated. Enjoy!

 

20 overhead dumbbell presses

10 burpees

45 seconds russian twists w/ medicine ball

20 dumbbell chest presses on stability ball

10 pushups

30 seconds mountain climbers

20 lat pulldowns

20 Rear Delt Flys

12 plyo pushups

75 second plank hold

15 triceps dips with legs elevated

REPEAT 3 more times

 

While the repetitions of 20 are a bit on the high side, make sure to use a weight that is challenging by the 17th-20th rep.

 

Check back today for a full page on the No More Resolutions Workouts! :)

{ 19 comments }

Friends + 5 Minute Lower Body Workout

December 12, 2009 · 11 comments

 

For those of you that know me, you know I am a complete shoe fanatic. I have this wonderful hubby who also loves to buy me shoes. He bought me shoes for one of our first holidays together – I believe it was Christmas? – and I knew he was a keeper.

 

So imagine how excited I was when I won a giveaway on Miss Vinyl Ahoy’s blog.

Check out my prize.

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Shoes + hot pink. My life is complete.

Check out her Etsy shop and get one for yourself! Or your shoe-loving companion.

 

Yes. My husband buys me shoes.

He also surprises me with chocolate. (As if I need any more.)

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Did you know that Godiva has a rewards card? You get a free truffle each month.

 

He brought me home a peppermint truffle and some chocolate covered strawberries because we adore them. Godiva also threw in a dark chocolate truffle, probably because we are such great customers. :)

 

Last night my friends Kelly and Dan came over for dinner. Dan was shocked by the blog a few weeks ago and really wanted me to make dinner for him. Luckily, he brought me wine.

Kelly was the first person that I ever told about my blog. She is a wonderful friend. And they have the most adorable baby ever.

I do not have much patience for children, but they are changing my mind.

 

Morgan is hilarious. She has an incredible personality.

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This was a laugh. Don’t you just love her?

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She also had fun checking out the tree.

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We started with some crabmeat bites at Kelly’s request.

crab

 

 

We had a salad with homemade whole grain croutons.

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Since I don’t really like veggies, I like to eat these croutons plain. But I can also eat them with lettuce covered in parmesan ceasar dressing. Don’t hate.

 

 

I also made some chicken romano with lemon butter sauce.

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And some cookies for Dan and my hubby. And me.

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Isn’t it amazing how the simplest things amuse us?

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If you set any goals for December, how are you doing??

Are you making any resolutions for the New Year? I rarely do. The more I make, the more I don’t stick to them.

I’d rather make a resolution now, and change things for the better. Why wait for 2 more weeks?

 

25 days of Workouts

Workout #11 – 5 minute LOWER BODY

 

30 seconds alternating lunges

30 seconds squats

30 second plank hold

60 second wall sit

60 seconds reverse lunges

30 second plank hold

30 seconds plie’ squats

15 squat jumps

 

No weight’s are needed here, but feel free to add them on the lunges and squats, etc.

While this ‘workout’ may not yield fast results, getting in some form of exercise is better than nothin’! It can also make you feel stronger and more confident.

I will be baking all day, and may take some 5 minute workout breaks for sanity. :)

{ 11 comments }

Kema.

September 28, 2009 · 27 comments

 

 

This is my good friend Kema.

 

 

 Everyone say ‘Hi Kema!!!’

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kemawedding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, yes I know that second picture is not the best quality and kind of blurry. But I have good reason as I had to lie, cheat and steal to get this picture.

 

 

 

 

Not really. But it took a long time of badgering Kema for her to finally give me this photo.

 

 

 

 

 

Isn’t she gorgeous? This picture was taken on her wedding day (duh. unless she dresses up in gowns to get her picture taken) in the Bahamas 3 years ago. She really is a beautiful person inside and out. Her personality is contagious.

 

 

 

I heart her.

 

 

 

 

I began training Kema in early 2008.

 

  

I beat the crap out of her. In a nice, safe way. She can attest.

 

 

 

 

 

We spent many evenings together and soon became great friends. This girl is awesome. She is a labor & delivery nurse, bringing beautiful, teeny-weeny babies into the world everyday.

 

 

 

 

She once told me that when I come to give birth, she will refuse to give me any pain medication as payback for all of the workouts I’ve put her through.

 

 

 

 

Now that’s not very nice.

 

 

  

  

Kema and her hubby went back to the Bahamas this June for some R & R.

 

 

 

 

 

She totally deserved it.

kemapose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Don’t ya think?

 

 

 

 

This girl has worked harder than MANY people I know. She is my motivation now. 

 

Surgery-free. Made with blood, sweat and tears. She took off over 120 lbs.

 

 

 

I just wanted to share a bit of her story with you.

 

 

 

 

Check out that rockin’ new bod she now owns.

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And I’m sure she will still be rockin’ that bod someday as I scream with labor pains while she denies me an epidural.

{ 27 comments }