Back to Basics

Working out can be a love/hate relationship. It is easy to start out with the best intentions and enthusiasm only to find that fall to the way side thanks to boredom or lack of results.

Despite my love for being healthy and active – I realized that I had fallen into this category. I was becoming less and less motivated to workout, putting in less effort when going and seeing my visits dwindle trying to hold at 4x a week.

When I stepped back and thought about what was happening, I realized my lack of a plan. A lot of times we set a goal and then break it down by steps we need to take to accomplish said goal. And there in lies my problem, I have no goal. I have some races slated for the summer and fall months, but no training plan to follow. I was running a few miles here, a few there, it was all hit or miss.

While I love running, I find it much easier to stay motivated when I can work towards a race, setting a PDR or PR.

But to be honest, I really love other forms of working out just as much. I love Round Robin (20min x 3 cardio machines), spinning, yoga, Pilates and my weights dvds. My schedule used to incorporate all of these forms of workouts over 5-6 days and I NEVER got bored because I had such variety and challenge myself every week to hit another goal.

So, while I’m in my limbo stage I have decided to go back to my WO roots. I still run about twice a week, but no long runs. There will be plenty of strict training just around the corner and I will be dying to be a rebel and skip a run for a bout on the ol’ elliptical. And you know what? I’ve felt really good this week. Every single day I got up at 5:30 to get in my workout.

It just goes to show that when you enjoy what you do, you are more prone to stick with it.

What are your motivation tips? How do you stay in the game?

XO-

BB

Tags: #fitblog #fitfluential

A Nutty Good Time

We constantly hear about eating for our health, that certain foods contain some awesome goodies (nutrients) that will help imporove our skin, hair, heart, the list goes on and on. One of my favorite healthy foods is the almond. With all of it’s healthy fats and cameleon-like ways, it goes from breakfast to snacks to milk to faux coating for chicken. The almond is a wonderful thing, and thanks to it being national almond day last week, I thought I would share some of my favorite nutty goodies.

Blue Diamond Natural Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze
This beverage is not only derived from almonds, but it’s also the best milk swap EVER. It’s our go-to choice for guilt-free lattes and oversized oatmeal bowls. An entire cup has just 40 calories and 3.5g fat (PointsPlus® value 1*). Find it with the shelf-stable milk products and (sometimes) in the refrigerated section.

100-Calorie Packs of Almonds
Totally essential for emergency snacking. Companies like Blue Diamondand Emerald make these nut packs in fun flavors and  basic varieties too. My absolute favorite are the Cocoa coated nuts…come to momma!!
All Natural Almond Accents
This line of delicately sliced almonds is the best and easiest way to add nutty goodness to anything, from coatings to salad toppers. There’s a ton of varieties, from Butter Toffee Glazed to Tomato Basil to basic Oven Roasted No Salt.
Justin’s Almond Butter Packets
There are many almond butters out there. However, since it’s SO easy to overdo it with nut butters, Justin’s single-serving packagesare pretty much a dream come true. How could it get better? The almond butter comes in FOUR flavors — Classic, Chocolate, Honey, and Maple. The standard 2-tbsp. packets have 180 – 200 calories and 14 – 18g fat, and the Maple version also comes in smaller packets with 90 calories and 7g fat each. Mmmmm…Lisanatti Foods The Original Almond Cheese Alternative
Cheese made from almonds? Yup, it’s a thing. And an ounce has just 50 – 63 calories and 1 – 3g fat… plus a gram of fiber. If you’re searching for flavorful cheese that brings less fat to your foods, try this!

KIND Bars
Many of these delicious nut-packed bars contain almonds. There’s Cranberry Almond + Antioxidants, Almond & Coconut, Almond & Apricot, and more. Each of those three flavors has 190 – 210 calories and 11 – 13g fat  per bar. KIND also has mini bars with almonds — 107 – 115 calories and 6 – 8g fat each (PointsPlus® value 3*). Are we blowing your mind? Maybe you should have a snack…

Source

What are some of your favorite nutty goodies? Not a nut fan? Whats the most diverse food you eat?

XO-

BB

Tags: #fitblog #fitfluential

Party Rockers

Hello and happy Friday!

I don’t know about you peeps, but I was not sure if this day would EVER arrive. What a week! Work officially kicked my booty again (hello 10-12 hr days) along with my workouts (got in all 5, whoop!) and V-day celebrations, I’m spent.

The good news? I have a great weekend ahead of me. Once I bust a move out of work, I get to jet home, pack (no, I haven’t started), toss the boys in the car and we are headed to my home town. You see, it is a VERY special weekend. A certain someone is turning the big 6-0 and we have been planning a weekend full of festivities for a while now. (My Mom just sent this picture from work, the festivities have begun!)

Also on the docket? This little nugget is being baptised. Phil and I are the godparents and I’m over the moon excited.

So, now it’s just me and the clock, counting down the hours minutes until this fun-filled weekend begins!!

What are you up to this weekend? Any big plans or a few days of R&R?

XO-

BB

Where’s My Mind?

Dreaming of drifting away in a cloud of cocktails on the beach with my favorite.

We are planning a vacation and I am not sure if I can wait, this girl needs a break!

Do you have any vacations planned?

If you could go anywhere, where would it be?

Xo-

BB

Valentine Date

Well, I had a lovely little post all ready to rock and roll and now it’s lost. Don’t ask me what happened because I simply have no clue.

So, lets do a picture post of Valentine’s Day.

We had a wonderful day. Hope yours was filled with lots of love and sweetness.

What did you do to celebrate Valentines Day? Or do you skip the ‘holiday’ all together?

XO-

BB

Love is all you need

Good morning and happy valentines day!! I know that this ‘holiday’ has some people drinking the hater-ade, but I’m a big fan. Sweets, sparkles and pink all on one day? Yes please!!

I know, poor Phil

I am a total sucker and even rocked the cutest dress in celebration.

In more exciting news, a special package arrived last night with goodies from my mom and dad. (you’re never too old for care packages.) we all enjoyed a treat on V-day Eve.

Today I showed my body some love with a good run to start the day. And on my way into work I found a special gift tucked in my visor!

A sweet card and GC for sweet treats!I love me some Valentine’s day…because five years ago I met the man of my dreams and we shared our first V-day together in a Mexican restaurant in the middle of no where. The ‘holiday’ always reminds me of meeting Phil and falling in love, it was the start of the best part of my life and I cherish the memories.

So now for a fun game rolling around the blog world (well, a shortened version since you don’t need all the deets):

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?      5 years

2. How did you meet? {What’s your “love” story?}      We met in the middle of no where working for GM. It was love at first sight. I was a gonner.

3. If married, how long have you been married?     2.5 years

4. Where did you get married? Big or small wedding?     We got married outside near my home town. It was the perfect size, beautiful and simply the best day.

5. Tell us one thing you’d like to do with your significant other one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?      Travel the world and start a family.

6. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine’s Day. Going out to dinner. Just enjoying each other.

7. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.      Remember why you fell in love, every day and show that person what they mean to you. Talking helps too!

8. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

Happy Valentines Day!

XO,

BB

An Unconventianal Morning

Howdy, ho and happy Friday. T.G.I.F.

I have fallen off the grid a bit this week thanks to some long, exhausting hours at work. Some how I have managed to stay on point with my workouts in the am, which has been difficult but kept some sanity amongst the other chaos. After five straight days, my body was set to my early rise time, but I knew I wanted to take a rest day.

Getting up a few hours early with a blank agenda ended up working out quite well; I was able to actually see my hubs, vacuumed the kitchen, folded a load of laundry, ordered pictures from Europe (finally!) and caught up on the last two episodes of Gossip Girl. Ahh, that felt oh, so good. I have been neglecting the to-dos outside of my work, it felt so good to knock a few items off the list.

And, I was dying to catch up on the GG wedding. Is it just me or is this story line fairly ridiculous?

I pulled one more project together – a Valentine’s gift for my blogger. Christina over at Hungry Meets Healthy put out a call to bloggers to participate in a secret Valentine Blogger program. We sent in our deets along with some of our favorite items and Christina matched us and sent out blogger’s info along. I have been gathering goodies through the week and put my package together this morning. Just a few more goodies to stuff in and then a special package is on its way to a lovely blogger!

In other news from the week, I am proud to announce that I am married to the newest board member of Whisper Woods. Phil has been attending the community meetings that our neighborhoods hold and at the last one was voted on. Yes, I am beaming with pride. No, all jokes aside, Phil is very excited and I know he’ll do a great job.

After a long week of work and workouts, I have planned a very special day for myself tomorrow. Now, to just survive one last day and then it’s the weekend!! Who’s getting ready for V-day?!?!And just in case you need to get a little pep in your step, this should do the trick…

Hope you all have a great day.

XO-

BB

Are Food Shows the New Soap Operas?

With reality shows popping up on every major station, it is hard to not get sucked into yet another ridiculously wonderful waste of time. But, aren’t reality shows just real-life versions of the soaps our moms watched while we were little? (I can still turn on Days of Our Lives and know exactly what is happening.)

ABC recently canceled midday staple All My Children, along with One Life to Live, yet new cooking realities are flooding the waves. From The Chew to Rachel vs. Guy, Cupcake Wars and Top Chef there is a show from competitions to chatting about food trends with celebs that whip up their ‘own’ dishes.

Are you into the new foodie reality shows?

I’m a big fan of the Food Network and Real Housewives, but somehow I have not jumped onto the cooking reality bandwagon.

It’s Here!!

It’s here! The Superbowl? Nope.

MSU vs. U of M rematch? No.

Our new chair? YEEEESSS! After 10 weeks of impatiently waiting, our chair finally arrived. Hoooray!

I unwrapped the chair like a kid on Christmas morning, let me at that thing. And then I realized I had to help carry this beast into the house. (Arm workout for the day, done.) The first door we tried didn’t quite work out, so we carried it to door number two and had a winner. Thank god. Can you imagine if after all of this time it didn’t go through the door?! Lordy.

Henry decided to help, too.

This looks like a good spot.

For now it has taken the place of our Christmas tree, but I am not feelin’ the feng shui of the room. But, that will have to wait for another day because we are b-u-s-y today. We started with the standard Sunday breakfast and then hung up a few pictures. Just as we were about to start busting out some paint, I asked to go on a walk; the sun is shinning and I need some relaxation at some point in my life.

So, with some coffee in hand, we headed out to a local trail with the pup.

We headed home to get ready; with MSU basketball at one and a Superbowl party at our friend’s house this afternon, we are on the move again.

Ok, lets get real for a minute. I am not a big football fan and am frankly not that interested, but I’m game for a party.

Not to mention I can spend a few hours watching these two run around. (I’m a Brady girl, hands down.)

Who are you rooting for? If you don’t have a team playing today, how do you pick? Colors, cuties?

Hope you have a great Superbowl Sunday.

XO-

BB

Packing it All In

Last night Phil and I had plans to actually see each other. Thanks to my long work days and his early mornings, I have not seen this man all week. We felt like a little QT together might be good for our relationship and all.

We decided to try out a new-to-us local restaurant, Rocky’s. The restaurant is beautiful with modern decor, a large fireplace and raw bar.

They also have a seasonal menu with fresh specialty items. Phil and I were sold on our dinners within seconds of reading menu. We started with the house salad that was much like a TC salad, but the dressing was noteworthy; strawberry maple vinagerette. Yum!

Phil ordered the Chicken Oscar. The shrimp & crab cake was outstanding (it is buried under the chicken)!

I ordered the swordfish with avocado creme. This was so, so good. The steak was grilled, so the creamy sauce was a perfect compliment.

Being the dessert nuts that we are, Phil couldn’t turn down the puff pastry with Saunder’s hot fudge. Believe it or not, I didn’t touch one drop of this plate. Not quite as surprising, Phil ate the ENTIRE sweet treat.

————————————————————————————————Today has been all about tackling the neglected house, laundry and errands. While I worked inside, Phil went to work outside cleaning the three cars. The wacky weather has brought us low 40s today in the Mitten.

Around noon I saddled up for my five miler, I got it done, but I would say that this was my first ‘bad’ run. Despite rounding a year at it, I’ve never really had a bad go, until today. Ah well.

I cleaned up, made some lunch for the hubs and myself and popped some of these in the oven (I know, I’m so domestic).

And now I’m off- there are lots of errands to tackle including goodies for upcoming birthdays, baptisms and valentines day!

Catch ya later!
Xo,
BB