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Friday, December 31, 2010

Last hours of 2010

Here we are again at New Year's Eve! I can't believe how the year has flown by...it seems just yesterday that it was New Year's Eve 2009.
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas (sorry I was MIA over the holiday...super busy!). I got one gift that stood out to me--I CAN JUMP AGAIN! I've gotten many of my jumps back faster than I had expected.
I also got the okay to run, kickbox, strength train...anything as long as it doesn't start hurting my knee or ankle! Best Christmas gift out of the bunch, by far ;)

~Eats~

Just some random eats from the past few weeks...

A quinoa scramble with an apple cooked in, carrots cooked in and topped with cinnamon and peanut butter


Organic Irish Oats, squirt of honey, 4 figs, a few almonds and raisins

Old fashioned oats cooked in 2% milk, with wheat germ cooked in, flaxseed, frozen blueberries, and 1/2 banana

Raw old fashioned oats, skim milk poured over, a few sunflower seeds, 1/2 banana, 2 chopped dried figs


Oats, a banana, raisins and almonds

2 egg omelet, topped with melted provolone cheese and grape tomatoes, with a side of salmon and green beans

Raw old fashioned oats, skim milk poured over, sunflower seeds, berries, 1/2 sliced banana a few raisins

Christmas morning oats: Old fashioned oats, 1/4 fresh pomegranate seeds, sprinkling of coconut, a few chesnuts--note: chuesnuts...eww...not very appetizing....:p

A plain sweet potato, a nature's own whole wheat sandwich thin with a morningstar spicy black bean veggie burger with swiss cheese and all natural salsa

~Fitness Is Fun!~

Since I am now back to working out, I have been enjoying TONS of skating, light runs (not 100% yet, but better than nothing!!), lots of strength training, oodles of ab work (which I did all through my injury) along with arms and back. I've also been doing power skating again--which I forgot was such an amazing workout!
Favorite move right now, though: Old-school push ups! And planks. Both of these bad boys can give you rock hard abs, a toned back, and all-over strengthening. These moves mutually tone just about every part of your body that is possible to work--which you will most definitely feel the next day ;)

Favorites of 2010: Just a quick list of some of my favorites of 2010...

Tazo "Refresh" Hot Tea Bags 




This tea is one of the best teas I've ever tasted. The flavor is so fresh and clean--such a winter-y crispness. This one will probably stay on my favs list when 2011 rolls around in a couple of hours!

Amy's Organic Teriyaki Bowls
 This frozen tofu bowl from Amy's organic foods is SO good for a quick dinner. Pop it in the microwave for 5 minutes, and voila! I like to pair mine with an extra veggie and a seasonal fruit.

Fresh pomegranates are DEFINITELY on my favorites list. They are SO insanely messy--but worth every stain ;) I love them as an oatmeal topping (of course) and as a greek yogurt topper. 

Well...I hope this leaves everyone well. Wishing everybody a very happy New Year. I promise I will try to blog more (I hope...). 
  
I heard this quote the other day and it really opened my eyes a little bit: "There's a crack in everything...that's how the sun gets through!" I love that! Try to remember this when you get a little down...the sun always comes through somehow :)

Stay healthy and happy 
:D

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Baby, it's COLD outside!

Hello, freezing foodies! I hope everyone is staying somewhat warm in this brutal weather. 23 degrees WITH WIND today--AH!!! Awful. I see no point in cold weather unless there is snow on the ground!
So...on the other hand-I forgot how close Christmas was! I have been so focused on the Christmas show at the rink that I've barely even THOUGHT about Christmas itself! But now let's get to the goods...;)


~Eats~
Oats, banana, dried mission figs, cinnamon, and all natural pbutter!


Oats, peppermint extract cooked in (this is SO amazing! Perfect for these dreaded winter months!), banana, unsweetened coconut, all natural peanut butter.

All natural, plain yogurt, organic whole wheat flax cereal flakes, sunflower seeds, frozen blueberries, banana. Such a good combo! :)


~Fitness Is Fun!~
I am loving "side steps" right now. I know. They sound so simple--haha...NOT. If you do them properly (butt all the way down in a deep squat position...but without letting your knees fall in--REALLY be mindful of this...VERY bad for your knees!!) you will DEFINITELY feel this. Once it gets too easy, add a medicine ball. Hold it in your hands at arms length (don't get a medicine ball that's too heavy...about 3-5 pounds is ideal) and go on with side steps. Oh. Yes. 
If you have a punching bag handy (because so many people keep them around...hahaha...) take it out of the closet and go ahead and punch it up....BIG TIME. You will work up a MAJOR sweat and get out your anger if you've had a less-than-amazing day ;)

The show went great. We got great reviews! We all had a blast. I was so thankful I was able to participate (even the little part I COULD be in was better than none at all!) and I put all I had in me into my 8 minutes on the ice ;) 
My knee is getting so much better. I had a GREAT practice today and looking forward to tomorrow. I'm getting so much stronger and reaping the benefits of having to improve on my basic jumps while having to hold off on my bigger jumps. Most of my spins are back to normal...I haven't been able to do some of them because they hurt too much, but the ones I have been able to practice are going great. I've been doing quite a bit of power skating and on-ice strength training--so essential in mastering those difficult elements that I will be doing again soon!
Until next time...
Stay healthy and happy...and WARM! 
:D
Another uplifting quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world". How awesome is THAT?! Basically all it means is--if you want things to change, you have to change your mind set first. SO TRUE. Often we want things to change, but while we still have a negative attitude towards it. When something bad happens in the days/weeks to come, try to think of all the things and reasons that you have to be HAPPY. I KNOW the number of good things will surprise you!
 

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Lights, camera, SHOW TIME! :)

Happy Tuesday, fellow foodies! :) Hope this is finding you well. I don't know about you, but I have been FREEZING all day long! I CANNOT seem to get warm ANYWHERE I go!! It's like the cold is following me--cold outside, in my house, in the ice rink....AHH!! Ah, well...it just gets us "in the mood" I suppose....


~Weekly Eats~
So...not that I don't usually crave it, but since this dramatic weather change I cannot seem to get enough oatmeal! I don't think ANYTHING beats a steamy bowl of oats and a mug of green tea when it's cold outside...mmmmhhhhmmmm :)

On this particular frigid morning (these are seeming to become routine---ahhh!!) I enjoyed a mouth watering bowl of heaven including old-fashioned oats, smidge of honey, blueberries, and almond butter.


Another morning last week/weekend I had another delicious bowl of goodness with old-fashioned oats, blueberries, a banana, cinnamon, ezekiel 4:9 almond cereal and almond butter :)
A salad beast for lunch: organic romaine, organic carrots, 1/2 fresh pear, sunflower seeds, with tuna and 1/2 a whole wheat sandwich thin.

Yet ANOTHER bowl of yumz--this one contained old-fashioned oats, some honey, all natural pb, cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp of pure vanilla extract--this is a definite MUST try...just this small amount adds SO much flavor! Super yummy :)
Perfection for a snowed-in morning :)


O yes--how could I forget this baby? Quinoa, super spicy all natural salsa, all natural pepperjack cheese, brocolli, corn, a morningstar organic veggie patty (Griller's Original kind) topped with a sprinkling of onion and garlic powders. YUM!! :)
Yesterday morning--old fashioned oats, cinnamon, natural pb, dried mission figs, unsweetened coconut flakes. Ooooh-lala!






~Fitness Is Fun!~ 
All I am going to say is TRY RUNNING IN THE SNOW. Yeah. Totally amazing--not to mention totally amazing workout! 



This Saturday is the Christmas Show at the rink! I'm so excited :) I will be able to do 3 out of 7 programs that I was planning on doing, so not great, but not terrible either...I've been skating every day and LOVING every second. My knee hasn't really been bothering me much...other than the fact that I fell in a ditch last Wednesday...I know, I know....but besides it SCARING THE HECK out of me, everything turned out to be pretty much alright. Sore knee and hip, but no serious damage, thank goodness. Very busy rest of the week for me--practice 2 hrs EVERY NIGHT. Phew! So worth it though :) So glad I get to do the show. It means so much to me and is the highlight of me and my sister's holiday season. We have been in every one of the shows since the VERY FIRST ONE! Do you and your family do anything special near Christmas time? Any long-time holiday/family traditions? Well...signing off until after Saturday night. Wish me luck! I will let you know how everything goes :)
Stay healthy and happy.
:D
p.s. I read a very meaningful quote the other day..."When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life a thousand reasons to smile". I though that was pretty neat and it brightened my day a little thinking of not everything that has gone wrong, but everything that has gone right and that I am STILL able to do. Hope this helps brighten your day a bit :)
What are some of your favorite/meaningful quotes? Any favorite sayings/rhymes?

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

It's beginning to look (and feel--brrrr!!) alot like CHRISTMAS! :)

Hello All. Sorry I haven't been very diligent about posting...with the holidays coming up it's been hectic...*Christmas On Ice!!!* First show practice that I will be able to participate in since I hurt myself tomorrow night...SO EXCITED!! Now....on to what I have been so awfully neglecting....:/


~Weekly Eats~
So....where to begin...I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and break...and for those of you who had to literally DRAG yourselves back to school/college--Christmas break is right around the corner ;) A couple of days ago I enjoyed a delicious yogurt mess consisting of plain fat-free yogurt, organic nature's path whole wheat cereal flakes, a banana, copious amounts of peanut butter (!!!) with cinnamon....need I say more? TOTAL heaven on earth. :) This combo makes for one happy belly and one filling breakie.
                                  0% yogurt, organic whole wheat cereal flakes, banana, peanut butter,  cinnamon


A yumm-o taco salad with a whole wheat toritilla "shell", brown rice, lettuce, corn, broccoli, pepper jack cheese, and salsa--this cured the slight hint of a sore throat I was feeling.


                                    whole wheat tortilla, brown rice, broccoli, corn, lettuce, pjack cheese, salsa

On one morning a enjoyed a delightful breakfast Old-fashioned Oats, pomegranate (oh so festive!!), mango chunks, and almond butter <3

                                     Oats, pomegranate, mango, almond butter

I made some AHHmazzzzing pumpkin pancakes this week. Totally TO DIE FOR. In the mix: 1/2 c Irish oats, pumpkin puree, cinnamon-LOADS cooked in, dash of nutmeg and cloves with 2 eggs beaten in a large bowl. Topped with almond butter. YUMMMMMM!!! :)

                                       Oatmeal Pumpkin Pancakes with cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and topped with almond butter

A yogurt mess with raspberries, sunflower seeds and whole wheat organic cereal flakes--major yum factor!

                                   Plain 0% yogurt, frozen raspberries, sunflower seeds, whole wheat organic cereal flakes


New sammie combo= YUMMZZ!! :) Ezekiel, roasted garlic hummus, lettuce, pepperjack cheese, and grape tomatoes. This tasted SO fresh!

                                    Ezekiel, hummus, lettuce, pepperjack, tomatoes

 Yet another bowl of amazingly delicious oats--Old-fashioned Oats, frozen blueberries, banana, ezekiel almond cereal, almond butter.

                             Old-fashioned oats, banana, blueberries, ezekiel almond cereal, almond butter


~Fitness Is Fun!~
Scissor abs. Never heard of them? They will be an all-time favorite after you see (and feel!!) the results after about a week ;)
Since Christmas is coming...find a big hill and grab your skis/snowboards and go to town. This is great exercise during the holiday break that you can do WHILE you fellowship with friends/family. Enjoy the snow (that is when it gets here!) :)

Back to skating!!!!!! I am SO excited--I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am. I'm not able to jump for another week yet, but that time will go quickly now that I'm back on the ice. I am so excited about being able to be in the Christmas Show. I won't be able to be in all of the 6 programs that I was originally supposed to be in....but I still get to do 2....at least I get to do that much, though. :) Well...I hope everyone is having a happy Wednesday and I will try to post more. Until then!

Stay Healthy and happy
:D

I just began reading a really great book--"The Long Run". It's the story of Matt Long-a marathon runner who was involved in a serious and life-threatening accident...potentially ending his running ability...and walking ability. However, the book explains the amazing recovery he made and how he defied doctors alike. Fitting, huh? What are some odd-books-out (not well-known) books that you have enjoyed/are enjoying? DO SHARE!! :)