It’s been a long time

22 Apr

Wow time sure does fly! I always mean to get on here and update the blog, but then I get distracted by something else and months go by. Since I left off I competed in a Biggest Loser competition at work (and I won!). Managed to kick 10 pounds to the curb in the two months we did the challenge. Immediately following I started The Superhero Challenge. It was a mix of Paleo and crossfit. I loved it. Well most of the time. It took a minute to beat the sugar cravings and to stop having headaches, but once I got through the withdrawal symptoms I really enjoyed it. The challenge was 21 days. My friend/co-worker and I took it an additional week. I can definitely see myself sicking to something like Paleo. Once you start changing the way you eat you really don’t crave the things you once had to have. 20140422-102246.jpg

This is what I’ve been doing, gym, sweat and Paleo!

I also started running…..well more walk/jogging. I have a 5k coming up in May, and I need to train. I haven’t ran since I lived in Hungary. I’m pretty sure I was dying after the first 30 seconds. It was awful. I hated every minute of it…..but now I’m up to alternating 90 seconds running, 90 seconds walking, 3 minutes running, and 3 minutes running. I couldn’t imagine not going out everyday and doing it. I have recruited some of my friends and we go running after work and on the weekends. I was surprised at first at the reaction I was getting from people, maybe I thought someone would say something offensive about someone my weight running. However the opposite has happened. A lot of runners (you know the in shape hella intimidating ones) say hello and wave and are encouraging. It makes in easier to push through with encouragement! I have a goal set in mind for the 5k, I want to finish. Finishing would be amazing. I’ve always talked a big game about 5ks I will do, but I never registered and never trained. Now I’m registered and have started to train….can’t wait to see if I finish! 20140422-102301.jpg

My pre-run face

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Taste Test Tuesday

29 Oct

It’s that time of week again, another Taste Test Tuesday.

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I found the Second Nature’s Celebration Medley trail mix on sale at Kroger and had to pick it up and give it a shot. I’m a sucker for a good trail mix, especially if it does not contain M&M’s. There is plenty of chocolate in the mix, it is a good when a chocolate craving hits. A little of this mix goes a long way!  I would definitely recommend it!

From the source it contains:

A joyful blend of:

dark chocolate
Dark and White Chocolate – packed with dozens of essential nutrients, including powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids.
cranberries
Cranberries – another member of the superfruit family, containing antioxidants and other phytonutrients.
almonds
Almonds – a rich source of nutrients, including vitamin E, calcium, folic acid and protein.
cashews
Cashews – containing oleic acid, which is the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil.
brazil nuts
Brazil Nuts – These delicious nuts are not only a staple for many special occasions, but provide lots protein, healthy fats and other essential nutrients.
whole peanuts
Peanuts – protein-rich legumes that provide 10% of the US RDI (recommended daily intake) of protein per 1 ounce serving.
Here is the Nutritional Facts.

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What is your favorite trail mix? 

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Sunday Fun at Huber’s Orchard and Winery

28 Oct

I definitely know how to do a Sunday right. It was the perfect day to round up some co-workers/friends and head to Huber’s, the local Orchard and Winery for a little fall fun

20131028-081447.jpgWe started out with a wine tasting. We were each able to pick 8 different types of wine to try. I was pretty impressed, I think out of the wine I sampled there was only one I did not like. (And I got to keep the glass so now I have a pair!)20131028-081501.jpgAfter the wine tasting we bought a bottle and went out side and listened to the band. We also order the baked brie (it was amazing, and not pictured.)20131028-081655.jpgWe finally set out to go pick pumpkins! We of course brought a bottle along with us and made our own picnic in the pumpkin patch.20131028-081613.jpgWe found three small pumpkins, which I don’t even think they can be called pumpkins seeing as how they were the size of a seed.20131028-081531.jpgBut they had plenty of big pumpkins to choose from. This guy was on the small end of the pumpkins in the field. I wish they had more variety, the pumpkins were all huge and a lot of them were really damaged.20131028-081632.jpgWe finished out last bottle and could not find pumpkins that we were happy with. We ended up at the gift store and picked out some little ones. It was definitely a great day. We had perfect fall weather and good laughs. It was a great way to spend the day!

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Taste Test Tuesday- PB2

25 Sep

This week while at the grocery store I picked up some PB2 for Taste Test Tuesday. I have heard good things about the peanut butter (and I love me some peanut butter) so I figured I would give it a try.

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I was a little skeptical because it was powder.While I was a skeptic there is not doubt it is yummy. It tastes just like regular peanut butter except it is in healthier form. PB2 has 85% less fat calories than traditional peanut butter. From the source:

“PB2 is made with high quality peanuts that are slow-roasted to our specifications and pressed to remove the oil. All natural with no artificial flavors or sweeteners, and no preservatives.”

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I brought it to work with me and dipped my apples in it. At first it had a really runny consistency. I added a little more powder and stirred and like magic it turned into the normal peanut butter consistency. I think it will make a great addition to shakes! I can’t wait to try it out in one of my breakfast shakes!

Nutritional Information for 2 Tbsp:

Calories: 45
Fat: 1.5 g
Total Carbs: 5g
Protein: 5g

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Skinny Pumpkin Dip

23 Sep

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For book club I needed a quick dessert dish to bring with us to the park. I thought about just going to the store and buying cookies, but decided to actually use a pin that I’ve got pinned on Pinterest. It led me to the Skinny Pumpkin Dip.

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Ingredients:

1 tub (16 oz) Cool Whip Free, thawed
1 small box sugar free/fat free instant cheesecake pudding
1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree (not the pumpkin pie mix)
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp of cinnamon sugar

Directions:

1. Carefully mix all the the Cool Whip, pudding mix, and pumpkin puree mix together.

2. Stir in the pumpkin pie spice.

3. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

4. Enjoy.

I personally like to eat this amazingness with apples. However vanilla wafers and graham crackers work just as well.

This recipe is so simple to make and it produces a ton. I was able to enjoy this treat for awhile.

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My plate from book club. I am obsessed with Redd’s Strawberry Ale! It is amazing and perfect for fall. The food was delish of course. We read Orange is the New Black. I like the show 10x’s more than I like the book. However the book was definitely worth the read. All in all it was another great book club meeting.

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Ramsi’s

10 Sep

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Sunday I went to brunch with Tarah from What I Gather. We have been planning to go to Ramsi’s for a year now. Luckily we finally made it. Ramsi’s is located in Louisville on Bardstown Road. They have a big menu, here is a blurb from their website.

Close to half of our huge menu (100 dishes and counting) is vegetarian. 30 percent is vegan. Many dishes are available Gluten free. And now, we are bringing you certified organic and local produce, eggs and chicken from our own farm, Raising Hope Organic Farm. You have choices when you eat here!

This is a great place to go, especially when going out with people with dietary restrictions. They had a lot of options for brunch, and even an omelet bar! There was plenty of food for everyone, and not the normal buffet kind where it looks like it has been left out for days. I would definitely recommend this one. I can’t wait to go back and try their actual menu!

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Taste Test Tuesday-Talenti Gelato

10 Sep

I have decided to do Taste Test Tuesday’s. A blog post that will share new products I have found. I’ve definitely been venturing out with the products I have been using and figured why not share my opinions and give my readers some suggestions.

This week I went with Talenti Gelato.

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I’ve always believed gelato is 100% better than regular ice cream. I’m not sure if I just believe this because I am a gelato junkie or because it reminds me of Italy. Either way this brand is the way to go! Talenti is as close to the real deal I have found stateside in years.

Here is a blurb from their blog:

Our gelato is made with fresh, hormone-free milk and only pure cane sugar. Not only is it delicious, but with 30% less fat than regular ice cream, it’s also a healthier alternative.

30% less fat? Yes please. Add in the hormone-free milk and great taste. I think I may have found my new favorite. They offer some amazing flavors. I picked up Caramel Cookie Crunch and Black Raspberry Chocolate. I can say I did not make a mistake with the flavors I picked. They have a variety of different flavors in the store, and even more on their website. I was a little disappointed to see flavors I would like to try online that are not in the store.

Where can you buy it? The have a lot of different locations from Kroger to Target to Whole Foods. They also have a store locator.

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National Yoga Month

3 Sep

September is National Yoga Month!

I have been doing yoga consistently for a month now. It has probably been the first thing that I have ever stuck with and loved doing it every minute! I was lucky enough to be able to attend a free yoga session, which re-affirmed that I want to continue to do yoga. I have been doing dvd’s (and there are a lot that just don’t hold my attention), doing my reading (which is good for a visual of the pose), and going to classes. I love the classes. The classes you get feedback on what you are doing and how to improve form. Luckily yoga is something you can do everywhere! I usually end up doing yoga in my office twice a day and at home.

 

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Here are so simple yoga poses to start with. Pinterest is a good source for looking into yoga poses. The best part about yoga is you don’t have to be flexible to start it. Eventually you will become more flexible and adapt to the positions. It is important in yoga to never experience pain! If you have pain while doing a position you need to ease back. There is no pain in yoga.

 

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On a personal level this week has been difficult for me. I have been dealing with a lot of grief about missing my mom. The kind of grief where you question if you are strong enough to make it through the day. I was honest when I wrote about it and received kind words from my friends. I didn’t let my grief stop me from living. I followed my hygiene routine and then I did some yoga. The yoga helped me clear my mind and focus on my breathing and movements. It helped me work through some of my issues. Yoga is not a miracle pill that cures everything. I ended up calling my best friend a bawling, but doing the yoga distracted me and gave me purpose at that time.

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Italy Part 1- June 2013

28 Aug

I have the heart of a gypsy. No matter how hard I tray to be responsible and make a life in my own country I always go back to Europe. Maybe it is because the amazing experiences I had in my early 20’s when I was really learning who I was. Maybe it is because learning about cultures and differences in people is eye opening. I believe it is mainly because of the people.

This June I once again packed up my bags for a three week vacation. I spent one week with the Spagnolo’s. You may have noticed them before if you are a follower of my blog.

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 I ruffed it in rural Trevenzuolo. If you look in the background the yellow house is where I stay during my visits with my Italian family. The white house(the one immediately beside the yellow one) is where I lived when I first moved to Italy in 2006! (Wow so long ago.)

 Being the bad influence I am, I  brought the ingredients to make smores with me. Simonetta (a typical Italian mother) was not impressed with my sugary treat but it was a hit with Davide.

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As you can tell by Terri’s face this is definitely a American treat.

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No visit to Trevenzuolo is complete without a trip to Verona. Here we are in front of the Arena. Image

With my lovely ladies. We just happen to be standing in the middle of the shopping street in the rain, but we love a group photo op!

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Roshni and I hanging out in Piazza Erb. I love how vacant the streets were at night!

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At the old castle in Verona

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(Teresa, me, Simonetta, Giorgio–Back row. Roshni and Davide–front row.)

Just for good measure, this one was taken in 2007.

I have known the Spagnolo family for 7 years. It amazes me that we have kept in touch through distance and language barriers. They teach me so much about myself every time I visit and I truly consider them to be family. I make yearly visits back to Trevenzuolo. I have missed only one year in 7 years, which I think is pretty amazing. Out of all the places I have been this one really feels like home.

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Out of my comfort zone

27 Aug

Sunday when my friend Jessica called me up and invited me to go to the country with her I was apprehensive. I had just got done at the gym and wanted nothing more than to go home and take a nap. I am not an outdoorsy person. I would much rather spend my time shopping than swimming in creeks. But I wanted to venture out of my comfort zone so  I hurried up and packed my bag and headed over…..ok she did bribe me with wine;)

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We class it up with real wine glasses and fruit, no Solo cups for us!

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We went shooting first. I even let Jess shoot my pink one. What you probably can’t see in this picture is what she is shooting at. We have targets, and a scale. Yes a scale. The one that you weigh yourself on. Jess decided to no longer stress herself with her scale and decided to end it once and for all (which she did not do with my little 22, as it only dented it).

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And of course we had the best snack of the day.

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Next on the list was hiking and swimming. We went down to the creek and built a rope swing. It was tons of fun. Normally when I swim it is in highly chlorinated water, but I once again did something that wasn’t my usual and ended up loving it. We were in an isolated area on private land. It was nice to be able to go out in nature and just be with friends.

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By the end of the day I was dying. The hike was steep and on rough ground. I couldn’t breath, but that might have also been from the laughing. I ended up having an amazing time. Sometimes it does pay to go out of your comfort zone and experience new things!

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Looking a hot mess from sweating it up the trail. What you cannot see is that I am covered in mud!

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