Hey guys! Happy Friday 🙂
It’s been a while since I just posted about 5 random Friday thoughts and things so that’s what I’m doing today – totally random post with totally random things that I like, dislike, hate, love, etc..
December 16, 2014
Baked Apple Oatmeal Protein Bombs and GNC PUREDGE Giveaway
Hey guys! It’s Tuesday again!
Which means we’re talking tasty stuff here on this blog.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been indulging in delicious cookies (both at work and at home) lately. With me teaching 2-3 cycling classes a week those are not hard to burn off, but what the what, right? 🙂
So. Since it’s holiday season and treats are mandatory, I’ve decided to make my treats healthy. HUGE thanks to GNC and their PUREDGE line of products for helping me create this recipe for Baked Apple Oatmeal Protein Bombs!Continue Reading
December 9, 2014
Mezzetta Memories: Salami Pasta Salad Recipe
Hey guys! Happy Tasty Tuesday to you 🙂
Today, I’m cooking with Mezzetta as part of the Mezzetta Memories campaign.
With another big holiday upon us, it’s time to start thinking about the holiday menu already!
Together with Mezzetta I’m sharing my family traditions when it comes to holiday cooking.Continue Reading
December 3, 2014
Teaching TRX Class – Tips to be Prepared
Hey guys! You know that I’ve recently started teaching TRX ® here at our Y, right?
No, that’s not me in the video 🙂
I’ve just started but IÂ thought I’d share some sort of recap and tips after I’ve taught a few classes.
This post has some tips that I figured out for myself to make my first few classes as easy on me as possible, as I was pretty nervous. Some of my struggles teaching TRX for the first time and how I tried to overcome them.
I hope you find it helpful for teaching TRX for the first time (or not just the first time).
As this post has been written by a true gadget-head, you’ll see a lot of gadgets in it – naturally 🙂 Here we go!
What did I do to get ready for teaching TRX Class for the first time?Continue Reading
December 2, 2014
Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe and Tasty Tuesday Linkup 43
Hey guys!
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you had a nice holiday.
We ran/walked the Turkey Trot on the Thanksgiving morning:
And then we got home, put the turkey in the oven and snuggled with the kitty for a bit:
Our turkey was 15lb, but this year it was just the two of us on Thanksgiving, so we had plenty of leftovers!
Since ’tis the season of soups, and our bodies were begging for something lighter after the Thanksgiving feast, I made soup.
But! Before I could make soup – I made turkey broth. The wise and awesome friend of mine named Jennifer had an awesome idea which I used to make my broth. Check it out here – I promise, you’ll never use store bought broth again!
See? I told you that girl was genius!
So, back to the soup recipe. This one is super easy and quick to make, as most of my recipes.
Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe
November 25, 2014
Meatballs Recipe and Tasty Tuesday Linkup Party
Hey guys! How was your weekend?
We took it easy this past weekend and didn’t really do much except for the usual work around the house and weekend errands like grocery shopping and all that jazz 🙂
So I was thinking about what recipe to share with you today for the Tasty Tuesday, and here’s what I came up with. When I moved to the US three years ago I was a little overwhelmed by how much the food was different from what I was used to growing up. So, thinking of this week’s Tasty Tuesday reminded me of one of the things that were different here in the US – meatballs.
Ok, think of how people serve meatballs in the US? Correct! Over spaghetti 🙂 And that’s about the only serving option, unless you’re at IKEA and ordering Swedish meatballs, but that’s a whole different territory 🙂
Wanna know how people eat meatballs in Russia? Read on! 🙂
In fact, there will be two variations of the meatballs recipe in this post – one is my variation on the American version (over spaghetti), and the other variation will be the Russian style meatballs.
Ready?
Russian Style Meatballs Recipe
November 21, 2014
Giveaway: 3 (THREE) Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitors
Hey guys! Happy Friday!
I have a surprise for you today.
It’s giveaway time 🙂
If you remember, I’m an Ambassador for Polar. Seriously, that is the most pleasant job I’ve ever done in my life. Promote the company and products I truly love and believe in? Yes, please! I love every minute of it.
I’ve been using Polar products for almost 2 years now. My Polar FT40 HRM was the very first Polar product I ever got and it came from my mom (like most great things in my life):
November 18, 2014
Pork Stew Recipe (Crockpot)
Hey guys! Is your week off to a good start? I hope it is 🙂
Today is Tuesday, and it means what? Yep, that’s right! It means you’re getting a new recipe for your recipe box from me, AND get to link up your food related posts on this blog post for everyone to read, like, share and comment on 🙂
So, I’m going to start with the important things this time. Guess what’s been cooking in my kitchen and what I’m sharing with you today?
Pork Stew Recipe
November 11, 2014
Italian Wedding Soup Recipe and Tasty Tuesday Linkup Party #40
Hey guys! Happy Tasty Tuesday 🙂
It’s that day of the week I look forward to the most on this blog – the day when you come here to share your recipes and link up your food related posts. Love Tuesdays!
So. Since it that time of year, I’m sharing another soup recipe with you today – Italian Wedding Soup Recipe is on the menu today 🙂
This one is one of my favorites, too – very filling and light at the same time. Doesn’t take a whole lot of time to make it, either. Here we go:Continue Reading
November 5, 2014
Crockpot Chili Recipe and Tasty Tuesday Linkup Party #39
Hey guys! Happy Tasty Tuesday 🙂 It’s Linkup Party time on Lean Lena.
I feel like it’s getting colder by the minute outside! This time of year I am craving soups. You? 🙂
Soup is just about the easiest thing you can cook, in my opinion. Anybody can make soup.
With the invention of crockpots that easy task is even easier to accomplish. What can be better than coming home to a bowl of warm soup? Almost nothing other than someone to share it with.
So, here’s what’s been cooking in my kitchen all day yesterday and made yummy Monday night dinner:Continue Reading
October 31, 2014
TRX ® Instructor Training Recap
Hey guys! Happy Halloween Friday!
We had fun handing out candy last night 🙂
Scared a lot of kids with my green face 🙂
So, you might remember me mentioning my new fitness adventure a while ago 🙂
Getting certified as a TRX ® instructor that is!
Yep, that happened last weekend 🙂Continue Reading
October 29, 2014
5 Strategies to Promote a New Cycling Class
I was recently asked for advice by one of my Twitter friends – how to get more people to come to their new Indoor Cycling/Spinning® class they just took over.
It got me thinking… What would I do to promote my new class? What HAVE I done to promote my classes?
You guys know that I’ve been a long time sub for Jim’s Monday class over the summer, and I just got my own class that I teach on Sundays at 2:30 PM.
So how did I get people to come to my new classes?
Here are some strategies to consider: things I did/wanted to do and what I think worked for me in promoting my new classes.
October 28, 2014
Pumpkin Bread Recipe and Tasty Tuesday Linkup
Hey-hey, my foodies! How is your week going?
It’s that time again on Lean Lena! Tasty Tuesday Linkup Party:)
October 24, 2014
Polar Ambassador and 4 Random Things – Five on Friday
Hey-hey, guys! It’s Friday finally!
So it’s been a while since I shared anything about the things I like, what’s going on with my life these days, and all that – you know, fun stuff 🙂
Looking at my blog’s front page lately I realized that all I’ve been posting about was Tasty Tuesdays and Cycling Class Profiles.
Time to share something else with you, like good ol’ days 🙂 What do you say?
So, here are 5 absolutely random things I’ve been loving lately (random = not related to each other at all).
{ONE} Polar
You probably noticed by now that I have a new badge in the right sidebar. I announced it on Facebook, but I didn’t share it here.
I am extremely excited, proud and honored to be selected as a brand Ambassador for Polar.
October 22, 2014
Cycling Class Profile and Nike.com Gift Card Giveaway
Hey-hey, my fitness gang! How is that week going?
Here is the weekly Indoor Cycling Class Profile and Playlist for ya! I hope you’re riding outside today and come back here later to check this post out and let me know what you think.
So I keep experimenting with the format of these posts, and today is going to be another experiment. I am open to feedback and suggestions if you have any – just let me know in comments.
I’m going to post a .pdf cue sheet of the ride from the Class Builderâ„¢ App by Cycling Fusion, post the usual iTunes Playlist for the ride so you can quickly click through to buy a song you like from the playlist (or the whole playlist), and add some notes below it all to explain the ride in a little bit more detail.
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