Tag Archives: food

Fitness Fridays – A Slightly New Direction

Fitness Fridays is BACK!!

Last week, I took a very short hiatus from Fitness Fridays. I decided to take the time to regroup and refocus on what I wanted out of these posts, because what I previously had wasn’t really working. Well, it was working, but it wasn’t what I had in mind when I decided to revive these from the dead.

I find my Fitness Friday posts to be very motivational and inspirational because I am forced to come here and report to the internet at large, what my goals are and whether I met them. There is nothing that holds me more accountable than not wanting to report a failure to my readers (or anyone, really).

I decided to keep these weekly posts light on the advice (with the occasional advice post, when I have something I really want to share) and heavy on how the week went for me, what worked, what didn’t, etc. I don’t want that to be relegated to the very bottom of the post. For me, the whole purpose of this is to be like an online journal where I share my trials and tribulations, keep myself motivated and maybe inspire someone else in the process.

So, I’m hoping you’ll join me on this new and improved expedition!! There won’t be a link-up at this time, but I’ll re-evaluate that as time marches on.

For now, I hope that you can except my brutal honesty towards myself and support me as I do so. Ready? Set… GO!

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Fitness Fridays…… Renewed! 

Week of 7/26/14 – 8/1/14

This was a hell of a week! It was my first full week back since being on vacation and I wasn’t happy about that, so I was really caught up in the emotions of work and not really paying attention to my eating or exercise. However, I did manage to keep my nutrition to at least a 7 (out of 10), for the majority of the week.

I got back into drinking my Shakeology, which keeps a lot of my cravings at bay, but I was still wanting salty / carby foods, thanks to PMS. I did manage to eat lots of veggies all week long, which helped keep me full and away from the junk. I didn’t weigh-in this week, because I just didn’t want to face the music AND I’m considering taking the scale out of my life, at least for the near future, (more to come on this in future posts).

But, while my eating was around a 7 all week, my exercise was a big FAT 0. 🙁 I felt low in energy all week, and just couldn’t find the get up and go to get a workout done. I did walk with Emmett a lot, but no intense sweat sessions. I do realize, that if I had worked out, that low energy probably would have gone away, I’d have felt amaze-balls (yes! I did just say that). 🙂

I do want to say one thing, and it is a REALLY important thing. I refuse to beat myself up any more, for anything. Whether it be a lack of motivation to workout, or the way I naturally react to a situation. I’m sick and tired of always hating the way I am, or the way I look. In order to overcome that I need to change my mindset, and realize that I am okay the way I am. I’m not saying no to self-improvement, but I am saying no to beating myself up for not being 100% amazing RIGHT NOW.

Fitness / Food Goals for the next week:

  1. Complete the 3 Day Refresh! I start on Monday! I’m kind of nervous, but I can do anything for 3 days, right!?
  2. Workout 4 times. Beachbody recommends that you do light to no exercise during the refresh, due to the lower number of calories you’re taking in, because of this, I am aiming for 4 workouts, instead of 6 or 7.
  3. I will keep my nutrition at a 7 out of 10.

Your turn!

What do you think of the new (again) format of Fitness Fridays?

Share one or all of your goals in the comments below, let’s hold each other accountable!!

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Have you heard of theSkimm? No?! You need to! It’s an online, daily email newspaper, that shares all the important stories from the previous day. It’s free to sign-up, and  you’ll start receiving the newsletters daily (Monday-Friday). You can check them out, and see what they’re all about by clicking here.

Sunday Meal Plan – Week #23

What an awesome Sunday we had!!

We’ve had an exciting several days! My sister and her family are in town visiting and since I had off at the same time we’ve spent a lot of time together, allowing our children to play and have a good time.

Friday we went to Midway Park in Beamus Point, NY. I’m really glad we did too, it’s a really small park, perfect for 2 year olds and with very few people there. The kiddos were pretty much allowed to run from ride to ride with us following behind. They had such a good time and used up a TON of energy. I’m not much of a ride person, I prefer to people watch so I wasn’t sure what to expect with Emmett. He LOVES rides! Ones that spin, especially! Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for taking Emmett on several rides that I wouldn’t do (me and spinning just do not mix).

Then on Saturday we celebrated my mom’s retirement and Emmett’s birthday. My siblings and I got together and hired a photographer to come to my mom’s house to take family photos of all of us. We hired J. Lee Photography and she was awesome to work with! She arrived promptly and never rushed us. She was open to us taking as many different poses as we wanted and was eternally patient!! If you’re looking for someone in the Dunkirk/Fredonia/Buffalo area who is affordable, I highly recommend her. As soon as we get our prints, I’ll be sharing with you.

Since the photo shoot was late, Emmett and I stayed the night in Dunkirk. Emmett was excited to wake up and know he got to see his grandma again and play with his cousin. He really had such a blast with her! Once we got back home Emmett and daddy did some cuddling, we had some lunch and then it was nap time for Emmett and I. You never sleep quite as well at someone else’s house, as you do at your own. After he woke up we grabbed some iced coffee, went to the playground, picked up pizza for dinner and then spent the evening playing together. This is what Sundays were made for!

This will be another exciting week for Emmett! It’s his birthday week! Tuesday I’ll be taking him to the Chautauqua county fair with his cousin, then Wednesday we’ll be going to the zoo and out for Linner (lunch + dinner). I am loving this time with him!!!

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So onto our Sunday meal plan for the week:

Monday: Marinated Chicken and Zucchini

Tuesday: Dinner at the fair (yum!!)

Wednesday: Linner out for Emmett’s birthday

Thursday: (back to work) Hot Dogs and Oven Fries

Friday: Teriyaki Pork Loin & Cauliflower

Saturday:  Fish Tacos & Fresh Veggies

It’ll be a pretty easy week cooking wise, but we need to get back in the habit of shopping and cooking after a week off. I love vacation, but MAN it does a number on the waistline! 🙂

I’m linking up with Laura from Mommy, Run Fast! and Jill from jillconyers.comJoin us!

Your turn!

What was the best part of your weekend?

Anything fun on your menu this week?

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Sunday Meal Plan – Week 18

It’s Sunday at 10 pm, do you know where your children are?

Hopefully soundly sleeping. 🙂 We had an awesome weekend, and once again I am sad to see it end. However, I am channeling my positivity and using my Tips for a Killer Monday to stay happy!

Saturday was Seamus’ birthday so we did whatever he wanted to do! He didn’t have any big requests, just wanted to relax and enjoy time with his family as well get a delicious steak at Outback. He was fortunate to do both. 🙂 As for birthday gifts, he’s difficult to buy for, but I know he’s been wanting to rebuild his computer that hasn’t worked in quite some time, so I just gave him cash. I did do it in a cute way, though.

If you put something in Emmett’s pocket he tries so hard to get it out, but typically will need help. I put the money in E’s pocket so that he could go ask daddy for help. He did and Seamus was really excited! I think I did well, now I just need to impress him with Father’s Day next week. Ha!

Sunday, we grocery shopped, Emmett napped, I blogged and then my sister came up for a visit. We spent the afternoon with her, but unfortunately we couldn’t go outside, the weather didn’t cooperate. We watched a movie and then went out for some frozen yogurt. Emmett was being so silly, he’d fill his spoon up and then dump it all back out and then lick the spoon. Such a goober!

I am loving our weekends this summer! We’re not even officially at summer and I’m enjoying every second.

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This is my adorable son, and my gorgeous sister (who still happens to be single), follow here on Instagram.

This Week’s Meals

Sunday: Hot Dogs & Corn on the Cobb

Monday: Steak, Chick pea & Tomato Salad

Tuesday: Marinated Chicken and Zucchini

Wednesday: Pork Chops & Cauliflower

Thursday: Hamburgers & Fries

Friday: GF Pasta & Garlic Bread

Saturday: Cheddar Garlic Oven Fried Chicken (a new recipe, that I’m really excited to try)

Sunday Meal PlanLunch: Ham & Cheedar Lettuce Wraps, baby carrots, red sweet pepper & watermelon

Workouts this Week: I’ll be doing the 21 day FIX, you can read more about it by clicking here.

Alrighty, folks – that about does it for this week!

I’m linking up with Laura from Mommy, Run Fast! and Jill from jillconyers.com.

Your turn!

Please share your meal plans / workouts in the comments below! I love reading your comments and responding back.

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If you want to start your Monday off on a generous foot and want to support cancer research, donate to my ride. I’m riding for Roswell Park Cancer Institute and their Ride for Roswell. Anything will help me reach my goal, and further advance cancer research. Just click HERE to donate.

Sunday Meal Plan – Week 17

Here’s to another lovely Sunday Meal Plan!

It has been another great Sunday in Western New York, the sun has been shining, the breeze lightly blowing and the birds tweeting. I couldn’t ask for much more in the weather department.

So what did we do this weekend?

Not all that much, but we did do some serious lazing around. 🙂 Yesterday I finally went and got a hair cut, it’s been since before Thanksgiving, and I was in desperate need. I don’t know if anyone else has as good of a relationship with their hair dresser as I do, but I really enjoy seeing her and catching up. I see Alli at Chez Ann Salon, in case anyone is in need of a stylist. 🙂

In the afternoon we ran a couple errands and then headed out to a playground for some good ole fashion fun. I got this lovely picture…

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It was just such a gorgeous evening!

And today, Sunday, started out rough. Emmett woke up around 1:30 and I wasn’t able to crawl back into my own bed until around 5:30 am. It’s been so bad lately, he’s woken up every single night since last Thursday. I know everyone says that it will all eventually pass, and that I’ll look back on this time fondly, but I have to be honest, I’m tired… How do I get him to sleep through the night again (help!)?

Once we were all up again, we went grocery shopping, got coffee, had lunch, took naps and then went out for a nice long walk. It was a beautiful night once again. I just love this weather! The time between it being cold and super hot, I just wish it lasted longer in Western NY. 🙂

And now, my Sunday meal plan.

Sunday: Pork with homemade tomatillo salsa

Monday: Grilled Chicken and Zucchini

Tuesday: Salmon with Israeli Couscous, with Peppers and Pistachios (this is a recipe I got off of one of my Paleo eMeals menu – it’s so good!)

Wednesday: Mexican Pizzas

Thursday: Hot Dogs and Fries

Friday: Meatloaf (following my recipe, find it here) and Baked Potatoes

Saturday: Seamus’ Birthday Dinner!!! I’m not sure where he wants to go yet, but I’m excited to celebrate with him.

That’s about it for food this week, once again, I’m pretty excited about our menu! I’m linking up with Laura from Mommy, Run Fast! and Jill from jillconyers.com Check them out and link-up!

If you are feeling generous and want to support cancer research, donate to my ride. I’m riding for Roswell Park Cancer Institute and their Ride for Roswell. Anything will help me reach my goal, and further advance cancer research. Just click HERE to donate.

Your turn!

Please share your tips to get your toddler to sleep through the night again?

What fun meals do you have planned for this week?

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Hearty and Delicious – Cheesy Meatloaf

Meatloaf is a comfort meal, through and through.

I know summer’s here and it’s typically the season for grilling, but on those rainy and gloomy days, where you just feel like curling on the couch, comfort food is exactly what you’re looking for. You want something warm and inviting, and this meatloaf recipe is just that.

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 The first time my husband made his meatloaf recipe, I was skeptical. I’ve never been a meatloaf person, and assumed that his would fall into the “gross” column, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was, and continues to be the best meatloaf I have ever eaten, and that’s saying a lot because my grandma made a mean one. 🙂

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The best part about this recipe is how simple it is to put together. You throw your dry ingredients in a bowl with the meat, mush it all together, lay it out, fill with the cheese and ham, roll it up and put it in the oven. Prep time is less than 20 minutes!

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Your turn!

I’m excited for you to try this recipe. I want to hear what you think?

Do you have a favorite meatloaf recipe or comfort food recipe?

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I’m linking this yummy recipe up with Peas and Crayons.

Sunday Meal Plan – Week 11

Hi everyone! I apologize for this being a few days late, things haven’t been going so well with our apartment and the noise and when one part of my life is sucking, I often let it spill into other areas. In this case, just the thought of putting any effort into blogging sounded awful. What makes this the most sad, is that I love blogging, I know I do, but when things start to overwhelm me I just lose any joy I felt in everything. 🙁

Likewise, since I was feeling so down, my Sunday meal plan was lacking. Seamus and I just barely pulled together enough ideas to fill the week, and it’s a pretty easy week. We went to my parent’s for dinner Sunday, and my birthday is Wednesday, we needed 5 meals and it took forever to create our menu. Oh well, we’re finding we don’t have a lot we can do to get them to stop the noise, which makes the whole situation even worse. However, if anyone is a lawyer or specializes in this sort of thing, and can offer some advice, please email me.

I really am sorry for being so depressing, I know most people don’t come to someone’s blog to read the negative crap, they come to be lifted up, but I’m feeling really lost and wanted to be real with my readers. I hope you can all understand.

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Now… Here’s our Sunday Meal Plan

Breakfast for the Week: GF bagel with Egg and Cheese

Lunch: Romaine lettuce leaves wrapped with Ham and Cheese, Grapes, Watermelon and Baby Carrots

Sunday: Mom and dad’s house

Monday: Leftover Chicken Fried Rice with Veggies

Tuesday: Steak with chick pea and tomato salad

Wednesday: Out to celebrate my birthday!

Thursday: Marinated Chicken and Zucchini

Friday: Hot Dogs and Fries

Saturday: Leftover Pulled Pork and Mac ‘n Cheese

Certainly not the healthiest menu we’ve ever created, but at least we made a menu, shopped and are sticking to it. You have to focus your happiness on something, I’m going to focus on the fact that we still made a menu and that we’re not just eating our emotions.

And for the fun of it, because he’s just so darn cute – here’s a little picture of my Emmett, playing at grandma’s.

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As usual, I’m linking up with Mommy Run Fast and JillConyers.com. Check them out, and link-up!

Your turn!

Do you struggle to find focus for the things you enjoy, when other parts of your life are a little bleak?

What are some of your fun eats for this week?

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What I Ate Wednesday – What Week are We On?

This past week has flown by, and now it’s time for What I Ate Wednesday again!

I’ve been joining up and linking with Jenn at Peas and Crayons for some time now, that I am not even sure how many week’s it has been. Oh well, I enjoy sharing my eats with you, so it honestly does not matter how many Wednesdays it’s been. 🙂

How has your week been?

Mine has been pretty decent, it’s flying by, but that just means the weekend is almost here. Yahoo! Though, the thought of a weekend in the new home gives me a bit of anxiety. We’ve lived here through two weekends and each one has been pretty unpleasant. I’m really hoping that they’re adjusting, we’re adjusting and we can have a nice relaxing time.

Saturday, I think we’re going to get Emmett’s haircut and then Sunday we’re headed out to visit my parents to celebrate a birthday. Whose, you might ask? MINE! 😀 I turn 33 on April 16th, and since my parents will be down visiting my sister on my actual day, we’re celebrating a few days early. I don’t mind at all!

And now….My What I Ate Wednesday!

Guess what I started my day with? Betch’cha can’t guess! (Okay maybe you can, since I start this way, everyday)

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And I had my usual breakfast, a delicious gluten-free bagel, egg and American cheese, plus a banana. Mmmm

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I forgot to snap a picture of my snack, but it was my delicious berry mixture with unsweetened coconut and GF granola, but it was so darn good.

I live close enough to work that I can go home for lunch. It’s awesome! I can come home and relax for 50 minutes or so, and I don’t have to worry about packing a lunch that day. I won’t be able to do it everyday, but any time I have the opportunity to do it, I will. Today’s lunch was my new favorite meal, Chicken Tacos to Die for (click the link and make them).

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Oh and I can’t lie, I did have a couple K-Toos – SO good!

I skipped my afternoon snack, but my wonderful co-worker stopped and picked up Starbucks. Woohoo! There’s always room for Starbucks!

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Dinner was fantastic! Seamus grilled up some delicious chicken and zucchini and I ate it so quickly that I didn’t get a picture.

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I was part of the clean-plate club tonight. Ha! I love grilling season!

Welp, that does it. Stop on over and and link-up with Jen from Peas and Crayons.

Your turn!

What were some of your yummy eats today?

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