Back to the (Healthy) Grind

Clearly my bachelorette party weekend was full of fun… but it was also full of cocktails, deep dish pizza, ice cream, chips and dip, peanut butter bars and more.

I had one of the most amazing weekends of my life (thank you so much to my wonderful friends!), but it definitely does feel good to be back in Orlando, submersed in my normal healthy habits and surrounded by lots of love from Ryan and Sadie. I missed my little family! 🙂

Workout

I flew out of bed this morning excited to head to the gym and do a workout of my choice! For the first time in almost two months, my Tuesday morning did not have to start off with a 5-mile run. I loved feeling the freedom from following my half marathon training planning plan. I completed a sweaty cardio workout by spending 20 minutes on the arc trainer, followed by 30 minutes on the elliptical.

Breakfast

Breakfast was also a healthy meal, comprised of chocolate yogurt mousse and fresh summer berries.

Greek Yogurt + Chocolate Pudding Mix

Summer Berries

I made the chocolate yogurt mousse by combining Greek yogurt with chocolate pudding mix, which made the yogurt take on a sweet flavor and a thick and indulgent texture.

Spoonful of Healthy Tastiness

Thick + Chocolatey

Great Start to the Day!

This breakfast was delicious and I think it would also make a fantastic healthy dessert (possibly served with a slice of angel food cake? 😉 ).

It feels good to start the day on a healthy note after such an indulgent (and wonderful) weekend!

Also, I missed you guys!!! I’m happy to be back and back to a normal bloggin’ schedule. 🙂

Question of the Morning

Do you maintain a healthy lifestyle on vacation, or do you take the time away from daily life to indulge?

Summer Berries

Hooray for the sweetness of summer berries!

Blubes

Double hooray for them being on sale at the grocery store for the past month!

I’m a serious fruit fanatic and love almost every kind of fruit, but to me, berries are the best kinda fruit for mixin’.

This morning I used about 1/2 a pint of $2.50 blueberries in a yogurt bowl and topped the mixture with old fashioned oats.

Chobani Greek Yogurt + Blueberries + Oats

Come See How Good I Look!

On the side I sipped on Barnie’s French vanilla coffee, which I snagged from my gym’s free stash. Gotta make the most of that membership. 😉

Workout

I slept like a rock last night. Aside from a random dream about Hulk Hogan (what???), I slept soundly.

When my alarm went off I was dead asleep. Thank goodness Ryan goes to the gym at the same time as me in the morning, because when he gets out of bed, it motivates me to get out of bed too.

As we were walking to the gym, I knew today would be a BodyPump-kinda day. I didn’t feel like putting myself through a quality workout so I figured I’d let the instructor do it for me. 🙂 Fifty minutes later, I was happy and sweaty.

Post ‘Pump, I did 25 minutes of light cardio o n the elliptical with Oxygen magazine. (To all of you Oxygen readers out there – don’t you think the cover model looks just like Kristin Davis??)

Question of the Day

• What is your favorite kind of berry?

In my opinion, if a strawberry is perfectly ripe and super-sweet, there’s no better berry. 😀

The Best Part of Waking Up…

Is Folgers in your cup!

Is a finger full of peanut butter!

Peanut Butter Fingers Progression

Okay, I guess that little jingle doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as the Folgers jingle, but I’d take a peanut butter finger over a cup of instant coffee any day! 😀

This morning I kicked off my breakfast with a peanut butter finger (obviously) before digging into a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with fresh raspberries, blueberries and apple pieces.

Berries, Apple, Greek Yog

Doesn’t this breakfast just scream summer?

Fourth of July in a Bowl

The Whole Shebang

Yuuuum.

Workout

I was in the mood for a good workout this morning! I guess that’s what a quality day off will do to ya!

I got all nice ‘n’ sweaty during BodyPump and followed up the strength training class with easy cardio on the elliptical.

While ellipticizing, I read Southern Living, which I plucked off the magazine rack.  The latest issue of that magazine has approximately eight recipes I wanted to make, but I will refrain because the key ingredient in all of them appears to be shortening. I can handle butter in a recipe, but for some reason shortening grosses me out. Bleh.

What ingredient in a recipe grosses you out?

Slimer

Though delicious, green monster smoothies do not look appetizing. Not even a little bit.

To be honest, they remind me a bit of Slimer from Ghost Busters…

Slimer

Or Gak (remember that goopy stuff used to slime people on Nickelodeon?)…

Slimed!

As ugly as they are, green monsters sure do taste G-O-O-D.

I had one of these heinously delicious smoothies for breakfast and now feel awake and aliiiive.

I'm Ugly, But Tasty!

I swear there’s something about a green monster that makes me feel rejuvenated.

Triple G: Goopy Green Goodness

Sluuuurp

Stealing Ryan's Cup for My Smoothie

My green monster contained:

• 1 frozen banana
• Two large handfuls fresh spinach
• 1 scoop All the Whey chocolate peanut butter cup protein powder
• 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. Bob’s Red Mill xanthan gum
• 4 ice cubes
• Ice cold water

Workout

I downed this smoothie following a 5 mile run with Sadie this morning. I think our run made me extra hungry because after a quick shower, I enjoyed a small second *much prettier* breakfast.

Second Breakfast

For breakfast number two, I topped a cup of Dannon Greek yogurt with fresh raspberries and blueberries.

Pretty Berries

Fresh Berries + Greek Yogurt

I think berries are the most beautiful food on the planet. Their vibrant colors, interesting shapes and juicy appearance make them oh-so-attractive. (I’m alsoloving that berries are on sale right now!)

Sometimes one breakfast just ain’t enough! 😉

Question of the Day

What food do you love that’s completely unattractive?

I think my plate on Thanksgiving is perhaps the ugliest sight in the world. I love to stir everything together – the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas and stuffing – until my plate basically looks like vomit. It’s so good, but looks so gross.

Hot Berries and Baby Names

Breakfast for lunch!

As I packed up my lunch this morning, I wasn’t feeling savory foods. I wanted something sweet!

Butter pecan Flax-Z-Snax hot cereal with warm berries sounded perfect.

Flax Hot Cereal with Berries

I enjoyed a bowl of hot cereal topped with frozen cherries, blueberries and raspberries that I warmed up in the microwave. Sweet and filling.

All Topped Off

I also enjoyed two Christmas cookies a coworker brought in to work today.

Christmas Cookies

The cookie on the right was unbelievably delicious! It was one of those fantastic no-bake chocolate peanut butter cookies. I know what goes into those cookies and it’s absolutely terrible wonderful!

I also snapped a picture of my mid-morning snack today.

The Elusive Snack Photo

Fage Greek yogurt topped with peanut butter. Creamy!

Top Baby Names of 2009

I know what you’re thinking… aren’t you engaged? Shouldn’t you be thinking about getting married before you begin thinking about baby names? Yes, yes of course I’m in full-on wedding mode, but I still cannot help but dream about my perfect baby name!

Itty Bitty Baby

I think most girls have their favorite baby names in the back of their mind. Mine have changed dramatically through the years. For girls I’ve loved Amy, Rachel, Jessica, Roxanne, Kailey, Bridget, Emma and more… For boys I’ve liked Bradley, Tyler, Connor, Caleb and Colby.

What’s your favorite baby name? Boy name? Girl name?

Throughout college (and even still) I’ve loved the name Reagan for a baby girl. I think it’s so beautiful. Unfortunately it rhymes with Ryan’s last name, so that’s out of the running now. 😦 Ryan suggested we name a a baby girl Reagan Megan to really torment her. Nice, huh?

According to an article published on MSN.com today, here are the top baby names for 2009:

Girl names:

Isabella
Sophia
Emma
Olivia
Ava
Madison
Madelyn
Chloe
Lily
Addison

Boy names:

Aiden
Ethan
Jackson
Jayden
Jacob
Noah
Caden
Logan
Lucas
Jack