Five on Friday

Hey, guys! Happy Friday!

It’s “Five on Friday” time here.

{{ONE}} Crab Crackin’ Cruise on the Pride of the Susquehanna steam boat

That's her

That’s her

You get as much crab as you can eat (tell me it's not paradise)

You get as much crab as you can eat (tell me it’s not paradise)

You get to enjoy the view while it is still light outside

You get to enjoy the view while it is still light outside

and also this stunning view after it gets dark

and also this stunning view after it gets dark

all that makes you just about this happy

all that makes you just about this happy

{{TWO}} Watching Carmen play with Vodka the Kitty

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There is a sort of a love/hate relationship between these two 🙂 Well, not like hate-hate, but she’d be chasing him, he’d be running for his kitty life, but when she catches him he gets this kind of face as in the picture above. Yes, that is his very happy face 🙂

{{THREE}} “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan

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Photo credit

I have to say, this book is changing my views on food and nutrition. I am still reading it, and I am not anywhere near done, but it is changing my eating habits already.

Highly recommended reading!

{{FOUR}} English Muffins

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I seem to be eating a lot of those lately. I must be just tired of my oatmeal for breakfast (I know it is REALLY hard to believe). 🙂

Also, I tried putting some almond butter and some chocolate coconut butter that Heather sent me on a toasted English muffin, and I must say – it is to die for!

{{FIVE}} Carmen’s choices of what to go as on Halloween – no pressure/ideas from anyone – it’s all her.

Ziggie Stardust, 2012

Ziggie Stardust, 2012

Sir Elton John, 2011

Sir Elton John, 2011

 

Mick Jagger, 2013

Mick Jagger, 2013

What’s your Five this Friday?

 

NYC Adventures – October 2013

 

Hey, guys! I hope you are having a great weekend!

I had a fun-fun weekend in NYC with my husband as part of our 2nd Wedding Anniversary celebration last week. As always – NYC was fun, bright, and full of life!Continue Reading

Five on Friday

Hello, my friends! How have you been this week?

Hope you’re doing well on this beautiful day!

Today I am sharing the things I’m loving lately/great things happening in my life/exciting news – Five on Friday.

Ready?

{{ONE}} Our 2nd Wedding Anniversary and Trip to NYC!

I will post the trip recap some time this week. This One of Five is about this awesome guy I met years ago and married 2 years ago – best “YES” I ever said!

wedding

He is my best friend, my one and only and I am SO lucky to have such a wonderful man by my side!

{{TWO}} Mantra Bands!

Aren’t they awesome?

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My Mantra Band

I found these online and I was obsessed ever since. Head over to the Mantra Band and order your own to help you stay motivated on your fitness or any other journey!

Sept 30 spinning

See how it motivated me? 🙂

{{THREE}} My latest kitchen gadget – crock pot!

My new crock pot

My new crock pot

Now this is a blessing for a family of 4 where both mom and dad work full time. I’m sure you know, but I just love saying it – throw the ingredients in, turn on, leave for work, come back to a delicious hot meal – that is what a crock pot is and I can’t believe it took me so long to get one.

Look at these wonderful things you can make in a crock pot:

Home made crock pot split pea soup

Home made crock pot split pea soup

Home made crock pot chili

Home made crock pot chili

if you add too much water to it like I did - you get soup instead of the stew, which is not too bad either

if you add too much water to it like I did – you get soup instead of the stew, which is not too bad either

{{FOUR}} My upcoming trip to Russia in November!!!

Super excited about it! I haven’t seen my family and friends for 2 long years!!!!

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Got tickets in my pocket – leaving on November 27 and coming back on December 11. 2 weeks with my dearest ones! CAN’T WAIT!

{{FIVE}} Overnight Oats

Gotta love those! Easy and quick breakfast for week days. Just combine oats, almond milk and chia/flax seeds in a jar and refrigerate!

Take out of the fridge in the morning, heat up, add fruit, nuts, etc.. and your healthy breakfast is ready!

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Your turn!

 

Junk Food: 2, Lena: 1

Hey guys!

I finally got to my blog – second time in this busy week, which sucked for the most part 🙂

Let’s see….It’s Friday (YAY!), I am back to PT for an uncertain period of time (boooo), and heading to NYC this weekend to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary!!!

The past week healthy eating was challenged by:

lunch out with my husband on Monday

lunch out with my husband on Monday

 

Birthday celebration cupcakes at work

Birthday celebration cupcakes at work

Photo source – Catherine’s Cupcakery

movie night at home with my family

movie night at home with my family

Junk/Processed/Not-so-good-for-you food – 2, Lena – 1.

There were some good/not-so-bad food choices and decisions this week, as well.

Fruit and yogurt for breakfast last Thursday

Fruit and yogurt for breakfast last Thursday

 

Home made crock pot chili

Home made crock pot chili

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Mashed potatoes and chili on top

Home made crock pot split pea soup

Home made crock pot split pea soup

Whole grain orzo salad

Whole grain orzo salad

All in all, it wasn’t the best week food-wise.

On top of that, I pulled my left calf on Wednesday night,  went to my scheduled physical therapy session on Thursday and was immediately treated for the new disaster. And that’s right when I was going to start making my way out of PT some time after next week. No such luck. The pulled calf hurt like hell last night, but seems to be a little better today.

What I am most upset about is the rest days I have to take that I was not planning on. This injury once again messes up my entire exercise routine and I can’t ignore it because it hurts to move.

Erm…remind me – isn’t exercise supposed to make you fell better? 🙂

Anywho, before my fitness life was interrupted by the pulled muscle, I managed to fit some fine exercise in last week:

12 ml ride in Monday's spin class

12 ml ride in Monday’s spin class

Weights and strength training with Jim on Wednesday

Weights and strength training with Jim on Wednesday

 

Yoga class with Jim on Wednesday

Yoga class with Jim on Wednesday

Blogging news:

Did you guys noticed the new banner? What do you think?

Also, the former “Healthy Recipe” page of the blog is now called “Recipes” (the sole reason for the name change is that what’s healthy for me can be unhealthy for somebody else, so let’s go with the neutral name) and is powered by ReciPage!

I am still in the process of transferring the recipes from one to the other, but very happy with the way the new page looks! I think it is a lot easier to brows recipes now. You can also search by key ingredients, cooking methods and alphabetically.

I hope you like it and I would appreciate any feedback!

I will see you guys next week with the NYC trip recap!

Have a great weekend and stay fit!

Attention Motor Heads – Corvettes in Town!!!

Hello, my friends!

I hope you had a wonderful relaxing (or wonderfully active) weekend! Mine was active and not so much relaxing, but still good – I had trouble waking up this morning…

I spent half of Saturday and Sunday cleaning the house while my hubs was working outside. It was so satisfying to have a beautiful and clean house when I was done! And since we didn’t have the kiddos this weekend, it actually stayed clean for a while 🙂

This Saturday was one of my most favorite evens of the year in our town. Several times a year Carlisle turns from a small quiet town into a busy, vibrant place with people coming from all over the country for a car show. Yep, we’re famous for it.Continue Reading