Lame-O!

Lame-o! That’s meee!

This year Ryan and I are taking a break from the typical New Year’s  party scene to enjoy a laid back night at the movies, followed by dinner. Is that what happens when you get engaged???

Neither of us are too intrigued by the plans that have surfaced or the madness of downtown and have opted to bring in 2010 with each other (and Sadie, of course).

Which movie should we see? Sherlock Holmes, The Blind Side or The Princess and the Frog? We can’t decide!

I’m actually really excited for our little date because I always feel like New Year’s Eve is built up so much… but is never really all that amazing. Debbie Downer, I know!  Eek.

As long as I have a good guy to kiss at midnight tonight, I’ll be a happy gal! 😀

What are your New Year’s Eve plans?

C’mon tell me. Make me feel like a huge loser. I can take it!

Lunch

What wasn’t lame-o was my lunch today.

Veggie Pasta Bowl

Today I enjoyed roasted garlic Carba Nada pasta with lots of toppings:

• Yellow squash
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Portobello mushrooms
• Parmesan cheese
• Marinara sauce

Delish

I think I could eat pasta every single day and not get sick of it. Nom, nom, nom.

Out of Commission iPod

iPod complaints in a minute…First, breakfast!

Onion Bagel Breakfast Sandwich

2009 is going out with a bang! My last breakfast of the year was a yummy onion bagel sandwich (bagelwich?) with Laughing Cow light Swiss cheese, Canadian bacon and an egg white.

Open-Faced Bagelwich

Achin' for Some (Canadian) Bacon

Yummy!

Before breakfast I went on a nice lil’ walk with Ryan and Sadie. It’s not nearly as cold in Orlando today as it has been, so our walk was quite enjoyable.

The nice weather made Sadie extra chipper this morning. She was a sweetie pie and even gave me a hug before I left for my last day of work in ’09!

"Awww, Mom..."

Me & My Sadie Girl

An iPod Bites the Dust

I don’t know about you, but music is imperative for me to have a good cardio workout.

Since my iPod bit the dust on Tuesday, I’ve been struggling to get through my Tuesday/Thursday cardio days at the gym.

Today I heard one of the trainers say something as I was about 20 minutes into my workout:

“Enjoy your last workout of 2009!”

For some reason this simple statement really resonated with me and motivated me to log 50 quality minutes of cardio. My last workout of 2009. I started to think about just how many workouts I’ve completed throughout the year.

I felt proud that this year I’ve exercised with a new mindset: health. Before I, like so many women, was motivated to workout simply to keep my weight in check. While that is still important, I now workout for my overall health (gotta keep the heart happy!).

I love the way a good sweat session makes me feel all day long. It’s refreshing to workout for myself and not for how my body appears to others. This new mindset is probably my greatest personal accomplishment of 2009 (well, that and landing a pretty amazing fiance!).

I know it probably sounds trivial to many of you out there, but for others still running or lifting weights  only to look good, making a goal to adapt a mindset to exercise and eat well for you and your health might remove some of the pressure you feel to look perfect and change your thinking to a desire to look and be healthy.

Do you work out for your health, your appearance or both?

Another question for you iPod lovers out there… when I turn on my iPod all the music is blank. It’s as though there are no songs on it at all. Anyone know what’s up???

I hope all of you enjoy the last day of the year!

Beans, Beans, They’re Good for Your Heart

Tonight’s dinner was bean-tastic!

Since my fabulous fiance has the week off work, he helped prep the beans for tonight’s dinner: Tuscan bean soup.

Harry & David Soup Mix

We made the soup using a gourmet mix from Harry & David that Ryan gave me (and my mom and his mom) for Christmas. Apparently all the women in his life love a good meal!

This soup was chock-full of many different kinds of beans. We added our own chicken to beef it up a big.

Chicken

Maybe we’re pansies, but this cold weather is getting to me! Hot soup made the apartment smell divine, warmed my tummy and my heart.

Tuscan Bean Soup

My Bowl

Tonight we’re enjoying our Christmas tree in all its glory since it will be put away this weekend. Is there anything more depressing than taking down holiday decorations???

Thank You Notes

In other news, today I finished sending out my holiday thank you cards! Woohoo!

Thank You Note

I attribute this to the gorgeous stationary my sister gave me for Christmas. It was fun to use such pretty thank you cards. Thanks, Les!

I also want to say a big thank you to all of you wonderful readers. I smile whenever I read your comments. Thanks for brightening my days! 😀

Flaxy Lunch

I didn’t want any of the traditional lunch fare when lunchtime rolled around today. Instead I wanted breakfast… again!

I enjoyed a big ol’ bowl of vanilla almond Flax-z-Snax hot cereal with a scoop of peanut butter and sliced strawberries.

Vanilla Almond Flax Hot Cereal with Peanut Butter

With Added Strawberries

I also enjoyed a chocolate chip and pecan cookie for dessert.

Cookie Monster

It was a goooood lunch! I loved the sliced strawberries.

Apparently I’m in a fruity mood because my mid-morning snack featured fruit as well. Last night I made cranberry sauce (using my microwave method) and stirred some into some Greek yogurt for a tasty snack around 11 a.m.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Pretty 'n' Pink

Gosh, this kind of looks like soft-serve strawberry ice cream, huh? If only… 😉

I feel like I frequently want my meals out of order. I love spaghetti for breakfast, pancakes and eggs for dinner and oatmeal for lunch.

Do you eat the typical foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

Rethinking Resolutions

I don’t have any New Year’s Resolutions this year… at least I don’t have any yet.

🙂

Ryan and I were talking about resolutions this morning and we’re both drawing a bit of a blank.

Of course there’s the fall back “I’ll live a healthier life” blah, blah, blah, but I like to make my resolutions tangible and exciting. I’ll put some thought into my goals for the upcoming year and get back to ya. Right now I’m thinking my main goal is to plan a beautiful wedding without getting stressed out and caught up in the little things. (All you former brides are probably thinking “easier said than done…”)

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

My latest Examiner article addresses weight loss resolutions and a new way to approach them, so those hoping to lose weight might actually succeed. By rethinking weight loss resolutions and putting a healthy spin on vows to lose weight, long-term results are much more likely to occur. Click here to check it out!

Today

It’s another cold day in Florida! Brrr.

After getting to the gym in time for my typical Wednesday 5:45 a.m. BodyPump class, I noticed the teacher’s weights and bench were not set up and she was nowhere to be seen. Not good! Unfortunately we learned her car broke down so no BodyPump for me this morning.

Instead I decided to jump around the gym, hopping from weights to cardio machines and back:

• 10 min. stair master
• Leg press
• Leg extensions
• 10 min. stair master
• Bicep curls
• Shoulder presses
• Tricep dips
• Deadlifts
• 5 min. elliptical
• Bridges (aka the most awkward exercise to do in the gym ever)
• Ab work

After that I was hungry!

Canadian Bacon and Colby Jack Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

Breakfast was a hot Canadian bacon and Colby jack cheese sandwich on an Arnold whole wheat sandwich thin.

Wednesday's Breakfast

Warm and tasty!

Interview

If you have a minute today, head on over to Ali’s awesome blog. She posted an interview with me  on Monday (amid her yummy-lookin’ holiday pictures). 🙂

Cheap Magazine Subscriptions

Didn’t get the subscription to that magazine you wanted over the holidays? Click here and use the code afterxmas09 to receive an additional $5 discount off already discounted magazine subscriptions.

Women's Health Magazine

You can get Women’s Health for only $5.95! Sweet deal, huh?