The Flu Is Upon Us

My nightmare has come true. I have less than one week of vacation left and I am SICK. I theorize my body always knows when it has time to shut down. Not during the school year, not during the holidays, but now. In the lull of the season and smack in the middle of my relaxing week. Fortunately, I am holding up better than my family and fiance; and my fiance never gets sick. Literally. I have been drinking organic cold 911 tea from David's Tea in an attempt to prevent myself from getting worse. I also have been watching lots of Amazon Instant Video and am debating which book to read. Because, you know, I hear that wards off illnesses like none other. 

So on this freezing cold New Year's Eve Eve, I wish nothing but health and energy for each one of you. I shall now immerse myself in blankets and tea.

Clean It Up After The Holidays

Oh. My. Gosh. I do believe I am done travelling for the next few days. Words cannot describe how relieved I am. My schedule has been frantic for the last two and a half weeks and I feel a mess because of it. If there is anything I cannot stand, it is feeling out of control and overwhelmed. I have been doing much better at going with the flow and enjoying small moments but, honestly, all I want to do right now is clean and organize everything, get my butt back in shape, and maybe even find a minute to relax. The good news is I have accumulated a somewhat massive to do list which should embody most everything I am looking to accomplish! The bad news is, I am fighting my gnat like attention span to get it done. So how can we clean up our routine after such holiday madness???

1. Keep good food, eat good food. I always get made fun of due to my obsession with regular grocery shopping. Last night, after travelling three hours back to the city and being utterly exhausted, I headed to Trader Joe's. I grabbed some produce, salmon, and chicken to get through the next few days.

2. A cleanse will do you good. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of juice cleanses. They get pricey, I get cranky. Disaster. However, when your system is rebelling against you and you are just craving pure nutrition, do some juicing. I have a coupon for some Suja juices from Whole Foods. I will pick them up this week and spend a day relaxing (napping and watching tv...) and sipping on juices to help my system recover a bit.

3. Write it down. ALL of it. A lot of people do regular food journals. I am not one of them. If I'm out, I will check out nutritional information on MyFitnessPal app periodically. I do like to meal plan though. I think more clearly when I can see things on paper, plus this helps me not overspend and throw away groceries each week. Something I have been guilty of far too often this month. I also encourage you to do a huge "brain dump" whenever you have a moment. I am so at fault for being quite scatter brained when I really began wedding planning. Adding that to my full routine was beyond overwhelming and left me freaking out from anxiety attacks. Now, I have a note book, my calendar, and I use the notes app on my iPhone to write anything and everything down as soon as it enters my mind. Just be sure to compile the lists every day or two! This has helped me a lot.

4. Goals. Think goals are too cheesy for you? Tell yourself you are writing an ideal long term to do list. Same concept, but the rephrasing may help. I love trying to improve and better myself. Why not?

5. Plan your workouts by the week. My workout schedule did not happen at all last week. At least, not how I wanted it to. Now, I feel bloated and have some catching up to do. But that's okay. This week, I am aiming for five hour long workouts and one yoga session. I have specific workout written down for each day. I may switch the workouts around if I need to, flexibility is key.

6. Don't forget about the money! Often we go financially overboard around the holidays, with the best intentions. Luckily, I had a lot of gift cards and my spending didn't get too crazy. I do need to tone it down though, thus I am buying my juices with a coupon. Yay saving money! The days of the check book register are over, and you don't need to go all anal retentive spread sheet if that isn't your style. I've started a few and never follow up... You do need to log into your account at least a few times a week, know how much you spend on groceries and gas, and reel in your shopping habits.

7. Too much of anything is bad. This will be my final thought on the subject. Excess gives me anxiety. Think about it, it's applicable no matter what. Too much food, good or bad. Being obsessive about food, exercise, or pinching every last penny. Too much worrying or feeling your daily life should only be going a certain way. Life owes you nothing.  Buying too much, thinking Pinterest inspired outfits and knickknacks should fill every corner of your living space. There's something very beautiful about living a more simple life. Clean, delicious food. Orderly living space. Well used and maintained belongings. That, to me, sounds like perfection. 

Merry Christmas, All!

Christmas this year was a bit nontraditional for me. For the first time in eight Christmases, I finally spent this year with my fiance. My immediate family traveled up to the city for the day and we had breakfast/brunch at our place while we exchanged gifts. I served pomegranate mimosas, fruit salad, and toast with jam. Delicious, yet not too heavy of a feast. We then did a large family Christmas with some of his relatives and it was a great time. I did, however, eat too many cookies. I am drinking some herbal tea in an attempt to counteract the sugar... We have the rest of my family Christmas to attend this weekend. I am giving my cousins kids, my flower girls and ring bearers adorable ornaments to ask them to be a part of our wedding. I can't wait! Merry Christmas and enjoy spending quality time with your families!

Dairy: A [Tragic] Love Story.

My favorite meal for as long as I can remember has consisted of a delicious, healthy salad and a bowl of ice cream. Now the ice cream has turned on me. So has yogurt. Lattes. And creamy soups. I seem to be entering a stage of my life where dairy may no longer be an option in my diet. I haven't been to a doctor or allergist to get tested for an intolerance or allergy but I do know my almost daily yogurt and some what regular latte has been causing my stomach to hurt. As I sit here, I am eating Greek yogurt and peanut butter as my temporary/final goodbye to milk products. 

I am more than willing to make a dietary change if it is right for my body. A little over a year ago, I followed a vegan diet for just over a month, but that was a bit too much for me at the time. I've cut out meat entirely a few times as well. Ultimately, I settled on eating reduced amounts of meat, processed foods, and sugar and it has been working. Until now.

The next week or two I am going to cut milk products out of my diet and see how I feel. I, as always, have plenty of almond milk on hand for my oatmeal and smoothies. I also picked up some coconut milk ice cream from Trader Joe's. Yum. On the down side, substitutes such as coconut or almond based options are two to three times more expensive than their dairy counterpart. That is definitely a bummer and not so great for my grocery budget. While I don't look forward to being overly cautious about my eating this time of year, it will be far better than the alternative of horrid stomach cramps and feeling grotesque...

For any dairy/lactose allergies out there, do you have any great tips or suggestions for snacks and treats? Do you notice a difference in how you look and feel?

Gift Ideas For Your Fave Teacher

The holidays are all about spreading joy and the season of giving. As a teacher at a private preschool, I have been very fortunate with a lot of the gifts I received last year, this year the outlook isn't so good. Allow me to provide some inspiration on what to get the teacher in your life:

Starbucks/Coffee Shop Gift Card: Yes, it may seem obvious but when you teach coffee = life. If they don't drink coffee, they can grab a tea or snack instead.

Spa Gift Card: I am getting a free massage over break thanks to the extreme generosity of one of my parents. Spa finder is a safe bet, a lot of salons will accept them. Or, go to a manicure salon near you and pick one up.

LUEY Gift Card: This is my last suggestion in the gift card category, promise. This one is really great for Chicago area teachers and many people may not be aware of it. There is a whole list of really nice restaurants that are a part of this program. My fiance and I paid for a few dates this past year thanks to these gift cards.

Baked goods: If you have a signature treat, whip up a batch and bring it in. Some teachers I know will hate on homemade treats, but I am not one of them. The picture is linked to my oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe if you want to give it a try!

An ornament: I received this one my first year teaching preschool from a student who moved up briefly after I started. They wrote my name and the year on the back. It meant a lot and still makes me smile every time I see it on my tree.

The quintessential initial mugs: Anthro has cute ones, but even DIY a white one with some sharpies if you're crafty. White mug + sharpies + baked at 350 for 30 minutes = DIY mug!

Something personal: If you know them on an at least casual level, don't be afraid to get them something you think they would like. I got engaged this year, so one parent was super sweet and got me a ring holder. Something I would not have purchased for myself but I use it almost daily. Include the gift receipt just in case!

Other good go to's are obviously most gift cards (I just got a huge one to Amazon), a coffee tumbler filled with treats and classroom goods a la Pinterest, or, honestly, a holiday thank you card. This time of year is crazy for everyone and I know we teachers are overwhelmed with holiday parties, creating gifts for our students, and attempting to tackle lesson plans from now and into the new year. Many teachers will spend their holiday breaks working on things for school and now is a great time of year to show your gratitude and appreciation for all they do.

Overcoming Holiday Weight Woes

Nothing is worse than having to calorie count at a party or turn down a lot of the delectable treats that come around this time of year. I have read on average we gain one to two pounds during this time of year. I could deal with one or two pounds, but I think in reality, how much we gain is much higher. This is the first Christmas in two years where I am feeling great about myself and my body. I gained 10+ pounds when I moved to Chicago two years ago, it took me longer than I would like to admit to lose the weight and I am looking to improve my fitness this holiday, not backpedal. However, I also don't want to choose between my health and a bowl of eggnog and dark chocolate ice cream. The ice cream would win. So how do you beat the gain and impulse eating? 

--You HAVE to prioritize. For me, I get more satisfaction from a homemade, low calorie treat than something more costly financially and nutritionally. I've been swapping out my somewhat regular gingerbread latte with a  skinny spicy hot cocoa when I'm at home, or a coffee or tea if I am at work. Some people prefer the full fat, real deal latte. That's fine, just keep track of how many you're drinking in a week, or day even! They do add up. Sometimes you need those cookies or french fries or a hamburger. Go for it, just enjoy your nosh and eat more produce your next meal.

--Also, portion control. With a huge wedding just under nine months away, watching how much I eat also saves me money. I have started menu planning everything. My breakfasts, snacks, lunches, dinners, and the lunches my fiance pack three times a week. I've been throwing away a lot food recently or eating my entire allotment of hummus, lunch meat, or pretzel thins by Wednesday. This makes for a very hungry end of the week.

--Keep it moving! I am very fortunate to have a job where I can be as active as I would like. My preschoolers love nothing more than an impromptu dance party when I need some mid morning cardio. If I have to park on the third or fourth floor of the parking garage at work, I take the stairs. I also aim to workout six times a week, I average five which is pretty good!

--Remember: working out will not keep you thin! This is a HUGE issue for me. Until recently, I thought I could work off those extra cookies with two a day workouts. False. I ended up exhausted, extra hungry, and I wasn't feeding my body with the right kind of nutrients.

--Distraction! If you're at a party, grab a plate of veggies, a glass of wine, and get lost in a great conversation.

--Eating out? If you know the restaurant before hand, you can run some of the dishes you are eyeing through an app like MyFitnessPal or research the calorie content online to see what info you can find. Often, the lighter sounding options, seafood, salad, wraps, are loaded with calories. This has saved me a few times!

--When in doubt, eat clean and listen to your body. I need a lot of food to keep me full most days. This means a lot of vegetables, yogurt, water, fruit, and lean protein. The less processed the better. However, my body is also sensitive to large amounts of dairy so I use almond milk when I can and keep on eye on how many lattes, yogurts, and ice cream scoops I am consuming.

The holidays are my favorite and my focus will be on spending time with family and friends, creating new memories. It is the most wonderful time of the year!

Tis The Season For Engagements!

Fa la la la la la la la laaaaa. Christmas, Valentine's Day, and birthdays. The trifecta of popular times to propose. Me, my fiance proposed on a birthday vacation. I never saw it coming, well played sir. With engagements come presents. Some are awesome...some are platters or gift cards to stores you will never use. As your loved ones get accept proposals this holiday season, get them some congratulatory gifts that don't suck.

1. Tiffany and Co. Champagne Flutes. This is a pricier option, but very classy. One of my bridesmaids purchased them for us. As a person who has never received anything in a little, much less a big, blue box, I was thrilled. 

2. Ring holder. Think about their style. I personally am a fan of this Kate Spade ring holder, but a friend of mine who received the same gift preferred a simpler, etsy style holder. 

3. Bridal/I Do/Mrs jewelry. Kate Spade has super cute wedding jewelry, I am a big fan of their Mrs. necklace. Most stores or boutiques will carry their own take on this idea.

4. Monograms. I swear, I possess a little bit of my grandmother's southern spirit with my love of all things monogrammed. A notepad, necklace, or cozy pullover sweater would be a perfect choice.

5. Money. I don't care how tacky it sounds. Weddings are expensive. Many couples would rather have $25 cash instead of the same value on a gift card to a store they may or may not frequent.

6. Helpful tips and insight. Brides enjoy pointers from people who have been there. But, I don't need to hear gossip from your wedding or a minute by minute recap. You know a way to save on flowers, DIY something cute, or what worked and didn't work? By all means, let me in on your secrets!

Break Out Your Thanksgiving Pants!

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Happy Thanksgiving! I know I will have to spend the day helping my mom prep and cook and clean up everything. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.... But I am looking forward to the yummy food! Okay, mainly the desserts. I have no problem practicing portion control during dinner, but I cannot guarantee I won't down half a pie before the end of the day. Indulge, enjoy, but focus on spending time chatting with family instead of hovering over the leftovers. At least, that will be my distraction tactic this year! Safe travels and enjoy your holiday!

Gratefulness: The Ultimate Health Boost

This is the time of year we are supposed to be most grateful for the things we have and those around us. Ironically, this is counteracted by an influx of Black Friday sales, Cyber Mondays hub bub, and a season of overspending. I love giving and getting as much, if not more, than everyone else. However, many articles have been surfacing lately about the benefits of being grateful for what you have (here and here). As a person who is often anxious and planning the next five days in their head, I could really benefit from remembering to appreciate the day to day things. Being grateful can be linked to positive health changes, lower blood pressure, less stress, getting sick less often. More importantly, it helps us to slow done every once in a while. 

According to the December issue of Health magazine, the top five things people are thankful for are their families, the freedom of living in America, good health, close friends, and ability to practice religion. Some of those are kind of deep, but here are some small things I currently appreciate:

1. This guy. Thank you for making my day a bit more hilarious.

2. Having today off. I made delicious bacon for breakfast, which I never would have time for on a work day. Also, I had peanut butter with my apple for a snack. A leisure my nut free school does not allow.

3. This baby poop picture. The longer you look the funnier it gets.

4. Finding the most ridiculous things funny. My sense of humor can be quite juvenile, but I love it.

5. Marrying the perfect man in less than nine months. Every day I literally get so excited to finally marry him. 

6. Cute Christmas cards. I love sending holiday cards to my friends. Target has a really cute selection in stores. Throw in a gift card, too!

7. My innate ability to throw bizarre foods together and make it a meal. Something I will be doing for lunch and dinner today in order to finish up our leftovers before heading home for Thanksgiving!

8. My adorable 93 year old grandmother who I will finally get to see tomorrow. She's the best.

9. Christmas music. Yes. I have been busting out the carols already. No shame.

10. This article saying it's okay to drink full calorie wine!

Step two of being grateful? Go out and tell others you appreciate them. Say hello to a stranger. Give people more compliments. They, and you, will feel way better afterwards. Promise.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

The Magnificent Mile Lighting Festival went down last night and it was freezing. I am a huge baby when it comes to being cold. You can imagine my joy at the plummeting temperatures as we were volunteering yesterday. Never have I worn so many layers and never have I been so afraid I might lose a toe to frost bite. Thank goodness one of our friends gave me their "serious winter hat" or I may not have survived. However, being a huge Christmas devotee I was in awe of how beautiful Michigan Avenue looked once the parade got going. 

Poor Mario Lopez (wrapped in his red scarf) couldn't handle the cold. He came down twenty minutes before the parade started and was ushered right back up on a golf cart as soon as he completed the route. I don't blame him.

I felt very badly for the people trying to contain this guy! He face planted at one point...

I loved this trolley. I also loved being able to take pictures from the middle of the street. Too cool.

The ABC 7 float was my favorite. 

Sadly, I missed Santa at the very end. My feet were frozen and I tried to escape inside a store to warm up as Santa was passing behind me! Horrible timing. The experience was amazing and really puts me in the Christmas spirit. I will have my decorations up before the end of the week for sure.

Ferris Bueller's Arianna's Day Off

Oh, vacation days. I can never get enough of them. Today I took my last vacation day of the year, outside of my three day Thanksgiving break and two week Christmas break. Thank youuu, teaching! I had to be downtown early this morning for a doctor's appointment. I made the mistake of following internet directions instead of using my common sense. This means I took the long way around to access the building. Nothing like lake front air first thing in the morning! On the upside, this was my glorious view on my chilly walk:

I only ate an apple and some tea before heading out the door this morning so I made a brunch snack as soon as I got home! I love being at home. I have the freedom to cook up whatever I'm craving at the moment. 

I made a light salad for lunch after working out. It wasn't too filling so I followed up with this delicious combo of greek yogurt, raspberries, almond butter, and chocolate chips. So good. 

I did some online shopping for Christmas presents and purchased some vitamins as well. My hair has already started to become very dry due to the cold. Hopefully, some hair, skin, and nails vitamins will help! Now, I am catching up on my favorite Investigation Discovery shows and trying to muster up the focus to make it through the rest of the week! Thanksgiving break is so close!

Holiday Shopping...On A Wedding Budget

I adore the holidays. I always have, and I really adore the shopping. This year, I am trying to do things a bit differently and abide by my list. I have to stay focused! I always disliked getting or giving random gifts no one really needs. I have a nice pair of gloves, I don't need fifteen other pair with coordinating hats and scarves. Who has the space? These are some items on my list for others this Christmas:

Fiance:

Our presents to each other this year? Wedding bands. The gift that keeps on giving, right? I'm also going to make him a delicious meatloaf dinner. His favorite meal.

Mom:

My mom wanted a new perfume. This one is sultry without being overpowering.

We have this set of Christmas dishes, and last year it was not so subtly hinted we needed a serving platter to go with it.

Brother:

A true Colt's fan, I am looking into a jersey for my brother. Hopefully I can find one for less than $100! And, of course, I will get him a six pack. To him, that is always the perfect gift.

Grandmother:

My grandmother has been collecting cute perfume bottles for years. This one is from Anthro but I am going to keep an eye out for different ones as well.

Friends:

DSW gift cards for my bridesmaids, they have to have something towards their wedding shoes!

Coworkers:

Ahh yes. The dreaded work gift exchange. I will be including this delectable gift set along side a gift card to Target or Starbucks. My skin gets dried out this time of year so I love festive lotions!

Each picture is linked to where you can purchase it if you're interested! What are you getting for your family and friends this year? 

Hot Cocoa on a Dreary Day

While I had a productive morning today; meeting with the DJ, grocery shopping, cleaning, ect, my energy crashed post workout. Thanks, rainy weather. As temperatures drop I long to reach for something warm and rich. Tea doesn't always cut it! However, lattes, mochas, and flavored drinks aren't always the best for you. Even your typical coffee house hot chocolate is about 300 calories... More importantly, they add up financially! To warm you up with an extra caliente kick, or clear your sinuses, drink this instead.

Ingredients:
-1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder

- 3 packets truvia

- Cinnamon and cayenne pepper to taste (about 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp cayenne)

- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

- Reddi Whip on top!

Calories: 70

 

Before heating mine on the stove, I mixed the cocoa powder, milk, and truvia in a blender. Otherwise my cocoa gets very clumpy... Heat for a few minutes and add cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and vanilla. Taste test it as you go along, here's a picture of how much I added. It was spicy without being overpowering.

Garnish with a little whipped cream and cinnamon on top. Drink up!

A Wedding Filled Weekend

We are just over nine months from our wedding and while we are actually ahead of schedule, (thank you long engagement!) I catch myself panicking we are falling behind. For no good reason. Thankfully, this weekend eased my unnecessary planning anxiety. Most importantly, I found and ordered my wedding band! 

I tried on a few, then fell in love with one that complimented my ring perfectly, very similar to the one pictured above, minus the eternity style. Too bad I have to wait nine months to wear it! Our save the dates also came in, they look classy and elegant. I almost had invites figured out enough to order samples...then The Walking Dead came on and I lost my fiance's attention. Damn. We are meeting with a DJ next Saturday so I need to just calm down.

Wedding hysteria can so easily become just that, hysteria. I always wanted a long engagement to be able to simply enjoy the moment. My fiance and I have been together over seven years and I cannot wait to finally marry him. Spending the rest of our lives together should be the priority and focus in all this. Not stressing out over minuscule details no one but me will ever notice. This is fine and easy to say now, but in a few more months I am sure I will be over reacting and over analyzing everything regardless. It's what I do. What got you through wedding planning stress? I foresee a lot of working out and deep breathing in my future.

Mini Meatloaves from Heaven

Meatloaf gets a bad rap. It's one of those everything-but-the-kitchen-sink dumping ground meals and meatloaf is not particularly healthy nor tasty. Until now. 

You'll need:

- 3/4 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

- 1/2 cup oats

- 1 egg

- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 lb. extra lean ground beef

- 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce for topping

Makes six mini meatloaves. Calories per loaf (if made with almond milk): 168

Mix egg, oatmeal, milk, and cheese. Stir in salt.

Add in ground beef.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Divide into six mini meatloaves. Top with barbecue sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

I top ours with half a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. Place the slice on top with a couple of minutes left for a delicious, even melt. One meatloaf is enough for me. Male counterparts tend to prefer two. :) Easy sides are garlic green beans, potatoes, or a salad. All of which you can throw together while your dish is cooking. The meatloaf saves for amazing leftovers. Chop it up, reheat, and add to pasta. Or make a sandwich to eat at work. Not to brag, but you will be shocked by it's amazingness.

Five Ways to Make Your Week Better

Nothing is as gratifying a feeling as knowing you are prepared for the week ahead. I don't often have time during the week to meal prep and cook and do laundry. Putting in some extra effort over the weekend makes the rest of my week easier.

1. Make lunches for the work week. Usually, I compile a large salad for lunch with a veggie burger, lettuce, some quinoa, and whatever vegetables I have on hand. I will also use whatever leftovers I have from the previous week, like my tilapia, quinoa, vegetable combo above.

2. Make a weekly to do list. If I have extra time, a list of all I need to accomplish that week makes it easier to narrow down a task I can do quickly. Such as paying bills, reading a book or article, or sending a card. I also love my planner from Paper Source. I can view things by the week and attach my current to do list to the page. Productivity at it's finest.

3. Stock your cabinets, fridge, and fruit bowl. I love grocery shopping on weekend mornings. Outside of being able to avoid crowds, I am always prepared for the week ahead.

4. Get in a solid weekend workout. My goal is to get in six workouts a week. Lately, it's been more like five. If you come home from work exhausted, hungry, and not feeling well, you don't want to work out. Squeezing in at least one weekend work out makes it possible to take an extra day off to relax and recharge.

5. Know where you can get a {healthy} last minute meal when things get too crazy. Some days, you don't have time to pack a lunch. In the evening, you may not want to cook. No big deal. Keep a good for you place in mind (aka not fast food) for when you'd rather someone else prepare dinner.

What To Do With An Extra Hour???

Weekends fly by way too quickly, especially since I had to attend a fundraising event for work Friday evening. Good thing I have those additional sixty minutes, huh? Daylight savings time is one of the many reasons I enjoy Fall. Normally, I would be asleep by now but I decided to live a little and watch a movie (The Help) while sipping on tea in celebration of such time travel. Today, I've been in a bit of a funk, but I did get in a nap, a workout, and I made a huge batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for my fiance to munch on this week. 

They are now overflowing from a bowl on the kitchen counter. So good. I'm about 3/4 of the way through my current read The English Girl, and I am torn between finishing it or simply going to bed. I should probably opt for the beauty sleep. Damn my love for books... 

This week I am going to post one of my all time favorite recipes. Seriously, even the pickiest of eaters rave over this dish I created. Stay tuned!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is finally upon us! I spent all day in a giant Care Bears ensemble. For real. Eat some candy, some not a lot, and rock a costume regardless or your plans or profession. Have fun!

Working Out. Without the Gym.

Not a gym person? Me either. Don't get me wrong, I've been surrounded by fitness my entire life. My mom was a part time workout instructor when I was younger. My brother and I spent a serious five minutes each class curling two pounders. Exercise is in my blood. 

Purchasing what you need to work out at home could be pricey. But think about it, all you need in this day and age is a yoga mat and some free weights (I have 5 and 10 pound weights). The wonderful world of YouTube provides all the workouts you could ever think of, and more. Personally, I own a dozen or so workout DVDs. Growing up, we did the old school workouts by The Firm, now I like their newer program. I also enjoy yoga, circuit training, and dance DVDs. Check out the ratings online before you order, they can be helpful. Also, put your health and fitness magazine routines to work. There is always something new for you to do, if you're willing to try.

It's not always easy, my apartment is long and narrow so doing a proper burpee can be more like an obstacle course some days. However, I am personally way more likely to get my workout in if I can do it on my time and focus on the workout. Especially when it means I don't have to leave my house in this cold weather! 

I always have a few dvd's sitting on my desk and my yoga mat on hand. The calendar above is from blogilates.com. I have been incorporating a lot of her workouts this month to switch up my daily sessions. I like to keep a running total of how often I workout each week, as well as the "type". Above I have: running, yoga, pilates, weights/circuit training, and dance. Variety keeps me going.

Books: Good for the Soul

There's nothing quite as frustrating as not feeling well on a Sunday evening. My mom was in town this weekend which meant staying up late talking, manicures, and some classic Chi town treats like deep dish pizza and Lucky's. Lucky's is where they shove cole slaw and french fries into your already huge sandwich. Amazing, just never eat more than half the sandwich! However, so much fun and fine dining has done a number on my immune system. So, what's a girl to do?

--Drink lots of fluids. I've had my water on hand all day.
--Tea. I love tea. Green tea is the best for colds, currently I'm sipping on herbal tea as I am out of decaf green tea and I have to be up early tomorrow!
--Eat Healthy. It will make you feel better. Broth based soups, a light salad, some veggies and hummus as long as your stomach can handle it. Good food with give your body a boost.
--Humidifier. Depending on your ailment a humidifier could be a lifesaver. My congestion has been eased as I've had mine going all day.
--Move! But just a little... As long as you don't have the flu or a super severe cold, get the blood pumping a bit. I did some light pilates this afternoon.
--Relax. I'm catching up on my beloved Snapped at the moment, then I will take on my ever increasing pile of books for an hour or so before bed. 

My new cooking books from half.com arrived this weekend! I also went on a Kindle book ordering spree: The English Girl, Quiet: The Power of Introverts, and Add More -Ing to your Life. Cannot wait to get through them!!!

But Why?

Why? Why give up a night of going out to take time for you, get in a work out, or cook a healthy meal? Why spend the time to prepare your food instead of picking up a drive through option on your way to and from work? Why wake up early to exercise? Why choose a sensible salad over a hamburger? Talk to anyone who has lost weight and kept it off and they will tell you their secret it making it a life style. Remembering what you ultimately want to achieve and choosing it over a cupcake. Or two cupcakes. Last week I challenged myself to make some changes for the better and to eat clean, perfectly clean, for seven days. I accomplished my goal, toned up a little, and was finding myself looking forward to preparing meals that were better for me but just as tasty. My fiance was supportive, but he was the only one. 

I turned down a cupcake on Thursday. Then was promptly made fun of, asked why, and told one wouldn't hurt me. Yup. All over a cupcake. I attended a family party Saturday and a slice of delicious, triple layer chocolate cake was placed directly in front of me. Oh. My. God. That was a tough one to turn down, but I brought a bottle of Kombucha tea to sip on and hold me over until we got home. Success. For me, it felt good knowing I was doing my body a favor, letting it readjust after a period overindulgence.


Obviously, life is not about restricting yourself. Eating super clean all the time is not only unrealistic, I think it's quite unhealthy. I need my treats or I know I will overeat. Take the time, create a moment, and enjoy. I had today off work and yesterday was exhausting. So I came home last night, opened a good bottle of wine, and spent a couple of hours relaxing and baking. I concocted a healthier recipe for my famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, ate two with a glass of pinot noir, and caught up on The Blacklist before going to bed. 

I choose to make my health a priority. Why? Honestly, I enjoy healthy foods. A huge, homemade salad makes my mouth water. As a child, I would sneak large amounts of baby carrots from the fridge. I also have a sweet tooth that I am still working to control. That's why it was so important to me to go an entire week without chocolate. I never once felt deprived and it helped me reach for an apple, not a bowl of ice cream or handful of chocolates. I also like the way I look when I take great care of myself. My skin is more clear, my clothes look better, and I feel confident in myself. I don't care what anyone says, that cupcake may be good for your soul, but three of them will never lead you to self confidence. Choose you.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I consider myself to be a good cook. I can make a meal out of most anything given the right spices and resources. While I didn't always know how to cook (hey, I'm still learning) or enjoy cooking, I've always made amazing oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. They're delicious, they're healthy, and they're guy approved. 

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. softened butter
1/4 c. nonfat plain greek yogurt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon (extra for sprinkling on top!)
1 egg

2 c. quick cook oats
1 1/2 c. unbleached flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 c. chocolate chips

Mix brown sugar, butter, and yogurt. Add vanilla, cinnamon, and egg. Beat together. Last stir in oats, flour, baking soda, and chocolate chips. Scoop onto greased cookie sheet with a spoon. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon if you desire! Bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes.

Makes 30 cookies.

Calories per cookie: 115

Weekday Snacking

Sunday evening is upon us. Boo. I am very big on healthy snacking, especially during the week. I eat breakfast super early and have lunch at one or two depending on the day. A simple piece of fruit at 10 am? Nope. That won't cut it for me. I need to keep my energy up and my stomach satisfied. These treats are some of my go to's.

1. Yogurt. These flavors are my recent favorites. I don't like eating a whole lot of dairy so coconut milk yogurt is a satisfying alternative. I will typically eat an apple with my yogurt.

2. Hummus and Vegetables. Or hummus and anything. Trader Joe's Chipotle Pepper Hummus is amazing. A little spicy and full of flavor, perfect for veggies or pretzel thins.

3. Dates and Almonds. I picked up this combination when we went to France in August, so technically this snack is a foreign delicacy. Just stuff the almond inside the date, or eat as a trail mix. Lightly salted almonds work best and create that salty/sweet combination. Five or six is a good amount and will keep you full. Mariano's and Whole Foods sell good quality dates.

4. Juices/Smoothies: I finally found the juice I went in search of last week. I am bringing this one as my snack tomorrow. Hopefully it's good! Another great one to take with you is the metabolic supercharge smoothie from blogilates.com, or if you have a sweet tooth make my chocolate pb2 smoothie.

5. Popcorn. I like Angie's Artisan Treats Boom Chicka Pop with Sea Salt. You can pick it up in the chips or health food section of most supermarkets. One cup is 35 calories, a serving (4 cups, which is a lot of popcorn) is 140 calories. Trader Joe's sells a delicious Herbs and Spices popcorn as well. I like to have half the serving size of popcorn and eat some fruit or veggies for a well rounded treat.