five on friday Archives - Page 2 of 2

Lean Lena March 21, 2014

Five on Friday: Home and Fitness Finds

Hey guys! Thank GOODNESS it’s Friday! What a week!

So glad it is almost over now and I can enjoy my well-deserved weekend with family that finally got all together again.

Traditionally, I am talking about my Five on Friday today – five things I’m loving, admiring, desiring, etc. etc.

So here we go! Five on Friday 🙂

{ONE} Power Up Yoga: Rodney Yee for Gaiam

As you know, I love yoga 🙂 I also have a couple rest days a week when I just do yoga at home. I needed some guidance for that, and I got it from Rodney Yee 🙂

Buy on Amazon
With hubby gone on a business trip on Tuesday, I set off in front of my TV prepared to be toned, powered up and whatnot, all the while looking beautiful and graceful.

Well that practice kicked my butt! Forget graceful! I was miserable 🙂 This guy is a BOMB! Usually I watch the DVD’s like that before I start the practice, but for some stupid reason this time a didn’t 🙂 My body still hurts, but I am very determined to master all the 3 sessions that this DVD has.

{TWO} Punch/Party Drink Dispensers

I am obsessing about them lately. They look soooo awesome! Would love to get one when we move to a bigger house where I will actually have room to store all the crap I am obsessing about 🙂 But just look at these:

Source: www.potterybarn.com

Or how about this one:

Source

Obsessed!

{THREE} Gaiam Rattan Meditation Chair

Expensive taste I have… But hey, this is just a wishful thinking post, ok? 🙂

Buy here.

{FOUR} Wine Glass Ledge

I am a sucker when it comes to these guys….That’s what I have in the house:

I know. It’s a shame with wine being such an important part of our lives 🙂 🙂 🙂

Here’s what I want it to look like:

You can buy it at a Pottery Barn if you have one nearby.

{FIVE} Oskri Bars

I’ve been eyeing those at TJ Maxx for a while before I bought a pack. LOVED them.

Here’s where to buy. They are pricey, so I will go back to TJ Maxx for more I think 🙂

Do share: what are the things you’re loving lately?

Stay fit, friends, and have a great weekend!

Filed Under: fitness, fitness review, Five on Friday, Girls Gone Sporty Tagged With: fitness, five on friday, Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador, home improvement, infused water, yoga 16 Comments

Lean Lena March 14, 2014

Five on Friday – Fitness Geek and a Little More Bling

Hey, guys! Happy Friday!

I hope you had a great week!

Traditionally, Friday post is about five things I am loving lately, want to own, already own and adore, etc. etc. – Five on Friday.

So, here we go.

{ONE} More Swatch Watches

Did I mention I am addicted to them? No? I am addicted to them.

Here is another one from my collection.

There is an interesting story behind this one – I got it in China in 2007, at the Beijing International Airport duty free. I didn’t have enough money with me to get it at that time, so I had to borrow some from my travel companion. 🙂 Ever since – where ever I go wearing this watch – I always get a compliment.

I have never seen one like that anywhere else.

In fact, I was having trouble finding a picture on the internet until I got on Swatch Official Website and used their search function.

So, for those of you who want one, the model name is Swatch Affecting SFK292G.

{TWO} This awesome T

I think I am going to buy it as a present for one of my fellow “inmates” 🙂

Buy on Etsy.

{THREE} Stability Ball – Gold’s Gym

I’ve been eyeing those for a while wanting to get one to exercise at home, and I finally did. I got mine at Walmart. If you ever go out to get one, pay attention to the sizes they come in – the ball diameter you need depends on your height, so read what’s on the box before you grab it – otherwise you will have to go back and deal with the people of Walmart trying to exchange it 🙂

Can also get it on Amazon:

What I like about this particular one is that it comes with an air pump and an exercise chart! This Wednesday I did some ball exercises every commercial break while I watched Criminal Minds on TV 🙂

{FOUR} Yoga Props – Blocks

You guys know that I have a couple of rest days a week… Well, what’s a rest day without some home yoga practice in it, right? 🙂 So. I’ve been getting some props for my yoga practice at home. It is amazing how much you need when you try to “do it at home”!

So, I recently read this article by Christine and it inspired me to order yoga blocks.

If you’re into yoga – check out Christine’s blog. She has a great series of posts titled “Ask a Yogini” where you can ask her any question about your yoga practice!

{FIVE} Homemade Granola

Been addicted to it lately. I made a whole batch last weekend, and I have to tell you – put some yogurt on top and you got a perfect filling snack that will keep you going until lunch! That’s pretty good if you’re trying to limit your snacking.

You can find a recipe for it here.

Do share: what’s your latest favorite finds/likes/addictions?

Have a great weekend, guys, and I will see you on Monday 🙂

Filed Under: Beauty, FitFluential, fitness, Five on Friday, gadget-head, Gift Ideas, Girls Gone Sporty, Sweat Pink Tagged With: bicycling, fitness, fitness review, five on friday, gadget-head, GGS, Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador, new experience, yoga 16 Comments

Lean Lena March 7, 2014

Five on Friday – Bling! (Mostly)

Hey guys! TGIF! It is almost weekend and weekends are FUN!

Here’s your pre-weekend fun post – Five on Friday – traditionally the Friday post is about five things I am loving lately, want to get, have and admire, etc.

Here we go – this week’s edition of Five on Friday!

{ONE} Mighty Leaf Tea

Check out all the goodness I got in my latest Conscious Box:

I love the non-paper tea bag and the fact that this tea does not look like dust in a paper bag. It tastes DEVINE, too.
Give it a try!

{TWO} Cycling themed jewelry

So I was browsing amazon for some jewelry, and since I am a bike-head, I thought, “Hm…I wonder what comes up if I search for cycling themed jewelry”

And here is what came up:

Sterling Silver Charm Pendant Cyclist Bicycle Rider * Tarnish Resistant Finish

Bicycle Chain Bracelet Neon Pink Bike BB29 Retro Cycling Bangle Cyclist Fashion Jewelry

Bike Charm Bracelet Stretch Bicycle Water Bottle Helmet Z2 Black Blue Sports

Love the pieces above!

{THREE} Thumb Rings

My new obsession! Example:

Antique Look Decorated Swirl Pattern Sterling Silver Stackable Band Ring, Size 8

How can you not love it, right?

{FOUR} Pinky Rings

Sterling Silver Aum or OM Yoga Symbol Toe Ring or Pinky Ring

Om in a ring? Yes, please!

{FIVE} Swatch Watch

This one below is just one of my proud Swatch possessions – bought in Miami, FL two years ago and dearly cherished ever since.

Do share: what are your Five this Friday?

Have a great weekend, my friends, and stay fit!

Filed Under: Beauty, Five on Friday Tagged With: five on friday 6 Comments

Lean Lena February 28, 2014

Five on Friday – Foodie Penpals Reveal Day – February 2014

Hey, guys! TGIF! I am tired of this week! I am ready for the weekend – bring. it. on.

Did you have a good week? Busy? Crazy? Not so bad?

Anywho. This is Five on Friday again – the day when I am sharing five things I’ve been loving lately, want to own, own and want to dis-own, etc. 🙂 Anything in the amount of 5 that excites me this Friday 🙂

This week I am sharing five wonderful things I got in my Foodie Penpal package in February. I was paired up with Lindsay from Oklahoma and she’s been a wonderful Foodie Penpal! Thanks SO much for the wonderful box of goodies, Lindsay.

Here’s what I got:

{ONE} A whole bunch of hot beverages.

Chai tea, green tea latte and savory vegetable tea. I am a big tea drinker. I think I have like 500 various tea bags at home. I am not so big on instant coffees though…Oh, but that green tea latte! Oh. My. God. I love that stuff, I am totally addicted now!

I loved it added to warm milk, but I think it would be great in smoothies, too.

Anyway, Amazon failed me on this one – the only place I could find more of this particular brand was eBay. YEY! 20 bags shipping my way 🙂

{TWO} A whole bunch of snacks

I got an orange bar, a dark chocolate bar filled with cookie spread (YUM!), roasted seaweed snacks, Justin’s peanut butter with honey, and snapea crisps. The crisps I got before – from Magdaline, and they are just great – either as a snack or in salads. I was so happy to sea a pack of those in my box 🙂

Oh and this cookie spread filled bar was heavenly good! Best 200 calories I ate in forever! 🙂

{THREE} Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar

I haven’t tried it yet, but Lindsay shared an idea of adding it to home made salad dressings. I’ll definitely have to try that!

{FOUR} Lemon-Mint Water

I didn’t particularly like this one… just because I like my water either plain or infused with fruit/veggies. But guess what – my fridge is like a Bermuda Triangle – whatever goes in there disappears at some point because somebody in my extended family drinks/eats it. So, this one is gone – that means someone liked it and drank it. Thanks, Lindsay! 🙂

{FIVE} Harvest Grain Blend

I have yet to try this one, but I am sure I’ll love it because I love all the ingredients.

All in all, check out what a great box I got from Lindsay!

Thank you again, Lindsay!

Do you want to try Foodie Penpals? Then head over here and register to do it next month!

Now, it’s your turn! What’s your Five on Friday? Link up below or just comment.

Have a great weekend, my friends, and stay fit!

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: Five on Friday, Foodie PenPals, healthy snack ideas, lunch Tagged With: five on friday, foodie penpals, good food, healthy snack ideas, new experience 4 Comments

Lean Lena February 21, 2014

Five on Friday – Shoes and More!

Hey, guys! Happy Friday to you! Finally this week is coming to an end and it is time to enjoy the weekend!

Do you have any fun plans this weekend? Do share!

Anywho, as always, I am sharing my Five on Friday with you today – five things I’m loving/enjoying/wanting lately. Ready?

{ONE} Vibram FiveFingers – TrekSport Sandals

Totally under the influence of Meg McNeely, I have ordered a pair of these in orange last week. Check them out here.

I have heard so many people raving about how wearing these shoes transformed their lives, so I have decided to give them a try! (Can you tell I am such an impulse buyer?)

I got them in the mail in just 2 days from the day I ordered!

I absolutely love these shoes! Can’t even call them shoes…they are more of a second skin, really. I haven’t tried them “in action” yet, i.e. while working out, but I walked around the house in them a lot – they are amazingly comfortable!

{TWO} Spinning Jerseys

Oh Lord! There are so many of them and I want them all! But even with a discount they are still pricey…Debating this one, but oh I want it so much!

Check ’em out here.

{THREE} Water Bottles with Infuser

You know I’ve been obsessed with fruit infused water lately… But I tell you what – it is the cold season after all, and I do get sick every year and it usually drags on and on for a few weeks with lingering cough and general weakness. Not this year. I started coming down with a cold last week, it did hold on for a couple of days and is almost completely gone now. That NEVER happened to me before – usually if I get sick, I get sick. I thank the fruit infused water for that vitamin and energy boost it gave to my body so it is able to fight the cold.

So here we go, I got a couple of these to promote my new healthy habit:

Just loved this design and color!

And then I ordered this, too because, guess what? The water level is going down as you drink it!

Here’s where to buy:

{FOUR} Officially Certified!

I have finally finished my home studies part of the Spinning® program and took my online test. Look what I got in the mail a couple days ago…

Yey! I am officially certified now!

{FIVE} Foam Roller

I have been reading a lot about the miracles a foam roller can bring into an athlete’s/fitness enthusiast’s life. I have decided I should purchase one. I am looking at the options on Amazon, as well as at Target. So far I am leaning towards this one:

What attracts me in this option is the DVD part of it. Short of googling it, I have no idea what to do with a foam roller.

I need to do more research on this…Right now I am lost in the variety available and opinions published 🙂 But I am pretty sure I am getting one of those!

What’s your latest favorites? Link up below or share in comments!

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends, and stay fit!

An InLinkz Link-up

Filed Under: fitness, fitness review, Five on Friday, spinning, Spinning Instructor Tagged With: bicycling, fitness, fitness review, five on friday, infused water, new experience, spinning 13 Comments

Lean Lena February 7, 2014

Five on Friday: MNB Challenge, Week 1 Recap – Move

Hey guys!

Happy Friday!

As you probably noticed from the social media, I am participating in the Move, Nourish, Believe Challenge hosted by Fit Approach and Lorna Jane Activewear.

In this post I am going to tell you what the 5 days of the challenge were all about this past week in the format of Five on Friday! (hey, I’ve been on fire with this lately, haven’t I?) 🙂

{MONDAY} Sweat-it-Out!

On Monday the challenge participants had to show their favorite way to sweat. Well, that was a no brainer for me – Spinning of course!

and, of course, I had to sweat in my favorite way that night:

Monday night spinning class with MJ

{TUESDAY} Change it up!

On Tuesday, we were supposed to try a new way to sweat – select a workout from the challenge website and show the post-sweat selfie. I chose two workouts from the website: the 10 minute core challenge and Work it out with this Wednesday workout – with dumbbells.

It was fun! I normally don’t workout at home (too many distractions), but the weather was crappy so it was nice for a change. I really liked it! I should do it more often, and now I have just the resource for great quick workouts at home. A lot of them don’t require any equipment at all!

And here comes the selfie 🙂

{WEDNESDAY} Let’s get planking!

The goal was to plank for at least five minutes – either in one setting or splitting up.

On Wednesday we were snowed in and I worked from home – so I had time to get into my planking! Got it done in two sets – 2.50 minutes each. Whew!

{THURSDAY} Buddy up!

Thursday was a “workout with a Friend” day! I buddied up with my husband for an awesome lifting session!

{FRIDAY} Fave Friday!

This day is about sharing our Five Fitness Favorites. So here we go!

You all know of course, that mine are – spinning, yoga, lifting, planking (Oh look at that 5 min plank! It is my Personal Record so far of continuous planking on straight arms) and Polar FT40!

This challenge has been so much fun! I am meeting a lot of new and interesting people and sharing a ton of fun with them!

Next week is the “Nourish” part of the challenge – all about good food! Stay tuned, guys 🙂

Now, your turn! What are your Five on Friday or just things you’re loving lately? Link it up below or just tell me in comments to this post.

Have a great weekend!

Filed Under: fitness, Fitness Challenges, fitness events, Five on Friday, new experiences, plankaday, spinning, Sweat Pink, Weight Lifting Tagged With: fitness, fitness motivation, fitness review, five on friday, Lorna Jane, MNB Challenge, new experience, plankaday, spinning, Sweat Pink, yoga 5 Comments

Lean Lena January 31, 2014

Five on Friday – Foodie Pen Pals Reveal Day

Hey guys! Happy Friday to you!

I hope you had a wonderful week or just happy that the work part of it is over if you didn’t.

So, traditionally on Fridays I post about five things I am loving lately. This time this post happens to fall on the same day as my Foodie Pen Pals Reveal Day, so I am going to tell you all about that in the form of Five on Friday post! 2 in 1. Behold!

This month I was paired with Andrea from TN! After a quick exchange the boxes were on the way. Before I knew it – mine has arrived:

The box was sooo big!

So, here we go – things I got in my wonderful box!

{{ONE}} PB2

If you live in the woods (like me), you’ve never heard of such a thing as powdered peanut butter 🙂 PB in my family is a sensitive subject – because everyone is addicted to it. We try not to buy it because it disappears faster than we remember that we’re trying to eat healthy. The only time I buy it is when I need it for cooking (seriously!)…But before I can even start thinking about cooking with PB – it disappears.

So – this thing here is a perfect solution to my problem! Those PB addicts will not eat powder (I know that because it has been sitting in my kitchen cabinet for 2 weeks now and nobody touched it).

{{TWO}} Bob’s Red Mill – Hot Cereal

Another first for me and look how wonderful it is to have it for breakfast!

{{THREE}} Sweet Potato Chips

I LOVE sweet potatoes! In any form and shape and size.

Omnomnom!

This is how much I got to have of them before they vanished…mysteriously

{{FOUR}} Wasabi Peas

These had to be donated to the husband – turned out to be too spicy for me. He was very happy!

{{FIVE}} Pot Holder and Bag Clips

Even though you don’t have to send anything but food, Andrea was so kind to include these wonderful presents for me!

All in all, look what a great box I got from Andrea:

Have you ever participated in Foodie Pen Pals? No??? You gotta do this! Head over here and register!

Check out the pervious boxes I got from my Foodie Pen Pals:

Stay fit and have fun, guys!

Filed Under: Five on Friday, Foodie PenPals, healthy snack ideas, new experiences Tagged With: five on friday, foodie penpals, good food, healthy snack ideas, new experience 4 Comments

Lean Lena January 24, 2014

Five on Friday

Hey guys! Happy Friday!!!

Here I am again with five things that I am loving lately.

{{ONE}} Conscious box

Oh. My. God. I saw the ads pop up a lot on the internet, and finally decided to try it. The idea behind it is – you subscribe for certain number of months (can be as little as one), and every month you get a box of goodies – all healthy and organic stuff. When I ordered mine, they had a promotion running where you had to pay shipping only and get the first box for free.

Check out some things I got in my box:

Mighty Leaf Tea

Beauty Bursts!

Wholesome sweeteners

and lots of other wonderful things that made me a one happy camper!

Would you like to get a conscious box? Then you need to head over here.

{{TWO}} Lemon Bars

So last weekend I was browsing through Facebook and stumbled upon a great recipe for Lemon Bars.

I have never made those before, I don’t think I ever had one either, but they looked so good and easy to make that I decided to go for it and make a batch.

Aren’t the gorgeous?

You can find the recipe for these wonderful things on Lauren Kelly’s blog.

{{THREE}} Oranges Infused Water

Well, you guys already know from my previous Five on Friday post that I have been addicted to oranges lately. It got worse – now I infuse water with oranges 🙂

{{FOUR}} “Women, Food and God” by Geneen Roth

What a wonderful book!

Buy Women Food and God on Amazon

Initially, I heard about this book from the list of recommended reading for the “Yoga Fit Yoga Lean” certification course with Beth Shaw.

What a wonderful reading it has been! Very refreshing and useful book to read for those who what to look deeper into their relationships with food 🙂

{{FIVE}} My New Food Scale

Long time ago I got myself a food scale. Loved it! So easy when you need to control your portion size or keep track of the recipe ingredients.

Time went by and one day my kitty dumped a pot of dirt onto the scale (didn’t you see it coming?) 🙂 Well, I was “smart” enough to wash it off with water. My scale stopped working…

So I was on the market for a new one. It amazes me how ridiculously expensive these things are! So I went searching on Amazon for two reasons – the prices for these at the store just did not seem reasonable, and reason #2 -me being a ~~lazy~~ busy person. Here’s what I found.

And that concludes my Five on Friday! Have a wonderful weekend, guys, and…

Your turn! Tell me about your Five on Friday!

Filed Under: dessert, Five on Friday, recipes Tagged With: dessert, fitness, fitness motivation, five on friday, good food, recipes, Vodka the Kitty, weight loss 4 Comments

Lean Lena January 17, 2014

Five on Friday

Hey guys! Happy Friday!

I hope you had a wonderful week and are ready for an even better weekend!

While you’re still waiting for it to come, here’s my “Five on Friday” – a weekly post about 5 things that I have been loving, liking, enjoying, etc.. lately.

{{ONE}} EOS – Lip Balm

Blueberry-Acai

Love those things! Carmen got me hooked on those – she started collecting them a while ago. I got her a set of lip balm and hand lotion by EOS for Christmas. She already had the lip balm flavor that was in the package, so I kept it for myself 😉

I am not a lip balm/chopstick kind of person at all…But I LOVE this series! It is sweet, too!

{{TWO}} Nike Air Total Core Cross-Trainers

$70 at Kohl’s.

I have shoes for running and walking, so I was looking for something light and easy to slip on for my cross training. Found it!

I love these shoes! They are extremely lightweight, comfortable and stylish!

Let’s go lift some heavy stuff!

{{THREE}} CND Creative Scentsations Hand & Body Lotion – Pear & Dandelion

It looks like this post is going to be about girly stuff 🙂 Oh well, let it be. Next on the list is this magic hand and body lotion.

What’s interesting – I don’t like any other kind from this CND series – just pear and dandelion. I absolutely cannot survive the winter without it! I use it mainly as hand lotion, but it is good as body lotion as well. I buy it in 31 OZ bottles. Seriously!

{{FOUR}} Naval Oranges

Image and Oranges Source

I made my husband go to Walmart at 9:00 PM and get me those the other day. It says it all!

I crave them, I eat at least one a day and I don’t see the end of it in the near future.

{{FIVE}} Ceramic Candle Warmers (Electric)

LOVE those things! After searching everywhere – Target, Kohl’s, Walmart, etc., I got mine from Amazon.

You put in a candle in a glass jar into this thing, plug it in, it heats up and melts the candle. I can’t even begin to describe how wonderful it makes my house smell! I got a candle with the holiday season scent and we enjoyed it so much! It also lasts a lot longer that if you would light up that candle.

Your turn! Share links to your “Five on Friday” posts with me or just comment here! I would love to hear what you’ve been loving lately.

Filed Under: Beauty, fitness, Five on Friday, Uncategorized, Weight Lifting Tagged With: beauty, fitness, five on friday, healthy snack ideas, holidays, home improvement 5 Comments

Lean Lena January 10, 2014

Five on Friday

Hey guys! Happy Friday!

As usual, here is the Five on Friday post – five things, events, adventures, foods, etc.. that I am loving/enjoying lately.

{{ONE}} Trip to get our wedding rings.

I dug this picture out from that trip and it made me feel so good!

We went to Frederick, MD to get our wedding rings and stopped at a Starbucks on the way. We were still unmarried, happy and full of goof like above 🙂 Now – the only thing that’s changed is the “unmarried” part. Yep, still full of goof 🙂

It was a great trip on a beautiful September day that I will always remember with warmth in my heart.

{{TWO}} Healthy Living Blogs Tea Swap

Yeah, I participate in a lot of swaps… But I can’t help myself – it is so much fun and I get to meet new people!

The idea behind this one is so simple and so fun – you get a name and an address of a person and you send them 2-3 teabags of your favorite tea. You then receive tea from somebody else on the swap in return. So – you get to meet 2 people.

Here’s what I got from Mindy at Just A One Girl Revolution

I sent my tea package to Jessica at Fit & Fab Yogi. I haven’t heard back from her, but I hope the tea made it to her and she enjoyed it.

If you are interested in participating, keep an eye on the Healthy Living Blogs website for the new round of the program to start

{{THREE}} Meal Prep

I love it. Simply love it.

I usually get my “cooking bug” all active on the weekends anyway so why not put it to a good use and prep some meals for the coming week? Exactly – no reason why not.

Last week’s salad prep for hubby and me

Things I usually make:

Quinoa
Hardboiled eggs
Sweet potatoes
Beet roots (boiled/steamed)
Chicken breast (baked, grilled, fried)
Wheat berries
Roasted nuts

These are the ingredients to throw together a great salad to take to work for a healthy lunch! And it saves you time on the weeknights when you are tired and oh so tempted to grab some comfort food for lunch or go out.

Seriously, who wouldn’t want this for lunch, right?

{{FOUR}} Single Serve Blender

I got this baby for Christmas from my husband and I am absolutely loving it!

Neither of my family members is a big fan of smoothies, so the single serve is just perfect! It has travel cup, too – so it is super easy to just make one serving, detach the cap and drink on the way to work.

Look what goodness I have made so far:

cherry-banana goodness

If you think that making a smoothie is a rocket science – it really is not. Check out this cheat sheet for making smoothies that I am using, curtsey of Super Skinny Me.

{{FIVE}} Polar Loop

I know I have more gadgets than I can handle already…But this is something to wish for 🙂 Love the way it looks and what it does!

Maybe…maybe if I am a good girl, Santa will bring it for me next year 😉

Check out the features and prices:

Awesome, right?

Now – your turn!

Share your Five on Friday with me.

Filed Under: family events, fitness, Five on Friday, gadget-head, lunch Tagged With: family, fitness, five on friday, gadget-head, good food, healthy lunch, lunch, smoothie Leave a Comment

Lean Lena December 27, 2013

Five on Friday or I Am Back

Hey, guys! Long time no post, huh?

I know…I know… Time to catch up and get back to my blog!

Today I am back with Five on Friday, which pretty much sums up what I have been up to while I wasn’t here with you. So, here we go!

{{ONE}} Christmas!

Where I come from, New Year is a lot bigger celebration than Christmas, and Christmas is celebrated on a different date, too (January 7). However, I came to love this wonderful holiday since I moved to the US. I love seeing smiles on people’s faces, giving and receiving presents and, of course, eating all the yummy things being cooked around this time of year!

We had a beautiful Christmas tree with a lot of presents under it!

And the kitty who thought those were all his gifts:

I got a great present (one of many)!

Braun Single Serve Blender!

Oh, now you just wait until I start blending those wonderful smoothies and sharing recipes with you 🙂

{{TWO}} Christmas Food – That’s Right, a Separate One for This!

Don’t you love Christmas for all the wonderful foods that bring back the memories of childhood, and make you feel safe and happy? I do! And since I am not American, I brought a little bit of my home to this year’s Christmas table.

Russian potato salad – “Olivye”

Crepes stuffed with cottage cheese and raisins

Oh, and of course we had to make cookies to honor the American traditions!

By the way, did you know the story of the Peanut Butter Blossoms? Check it out here!

We also had a beautiful center piece for the Christmas table that I brought back from my company’s Christmas Party:

{{THREE}} The Evil Stepmother Speaks

A little over 2 years ago I became a wife to a wonderful man, and a step-mother to 2 great kids. As great as they are, it wasn’t all cakes and flowers between us. The kids struggled with getting used to having me in their life full time, having to share their daddy with me, finding a place for me in the new family paradigm, adjusting to the changes I brought into the family….Throw in the adjustment due to being newly weds who had never lived together before and you got a pretty “explosive” mix there. I was blessed with great kids who were trying their hardest to adjust, be nice and loving. With the most wonderful husband, who has been my shoulder to cry on, my biggest supporter and The Man of the family. With an understanding and kind ex-wife who stayed out of the way when it came to our house vs. her house, our life and our decisions. Who has been my silent supporter all the way for the sake of her kids’ happiness.

Even with all that – we have had and are still having issues, difficulties, tension and disagreements, which are bound to happen in any step-family.

Having no friends around to vent to, what do you do? Right, you get online and Google the “happy step-family”. So I did.

I am very happy to have found Barb Goldberg’s blog that I read as a book – cover to cover. I am thankful for the feeling of not being alone on this anymore that reading her blog gave me. (And for oh so many “Thank God, I thought I was crazy” relief sighs that I took while reading her blog).

I don’t agree with everything she writes about. Not everything she writes about applies to me and my situation, but I can certainly relate to a lot of what she is saying. Thank you, Barb, for the hope you gave me with your blog posts! They are so inspiring and motivating!

{{FOUR}} Dr. Kevin Leman and the Birth Order Factor

To continue educating myself on the subject mentioned above, I grabbed my Nook and started looking for books to read to find answers to the questions I have about stepfamilies and step parenting.

I stumbled upon Dr. Kevin Leman’s works on birth order and how it effects the relationships in families. I downloaded his book “Living in a step family without getting stepped on”, and even though the book is mostly about blended families where both spouses have kids from previous marriages, I found it to be a great resource to understanding how the whole family dynamics works, and where the issues come from. Great read!

{{FIVE}} Back to Working Out

For the past month (oh my God…was it really THAT long?) my exercise has been very sporadic…2 weeks in Russia where all I did was walking from dinner table to dinner table, then Christmas with all the cookies and other delicious foods and practically no activity! It is time to get back on track here!

I did go to my regular Monday spin class!

Tonight – yoga, and my usual Saturday Double tomorrow with my hubby joining me for the spin class part of it. How exciting is that?

And that concludes my Five on Friday post!

Your turn!

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Lean Lena November 15, 2013

Five on Friday

It’s that time of the week again, my friends! TGIF!!!

So…here we go, Five on Friday – five things I am grateful for, things that I am liking, that entertain/amuse/puzzle me – all good stuff!

{{ONE}} Kat – My Best Friend.

Everybody should be as lucky as I have been with people in my life. I have the most wonderful friends in the whole world, and the best friend ever that I have had since the first year of college.

Somewhere on the way to a folk rock fest

Her name is Katerina and we met when we were both trying to go through the admission exams at college to be a translator.

We’ve been friends for many years, and haven’t seen each other for the last two. I am very-very-very excited about my upcoming trip to see my family and my dear friend! Lots of things to catch up on!

{{TWO}} Jim at the Gym

Told ya – I am incredibly lucky when it comes to people that come into my life.

About two years ago I took the first yoga class at the local YMCA that Jim taught and I have been addicted ever since.

In the two years I started going to his spin class every Monday, 3 of his yoga classes a week, and I now have personal training sessions with weights every Wednesday with him at the gym. Yep, my readers know that I spend a lot of time with Jim at the gym.

I am incredibly grateful to Jim for never ending inspiration, support, sharing his experience with me and letting me enjoy his company.

Seriously, the guy rode almost the entire Lewis and Clark Trail on his bike – he is DANG AMAZING.

Check out his blog – I read it as a book – cover to cover!

{{THREE}} Sugar Free Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

I am so grateful for these! They have been my go-to cheat treat for a long time now 🙂

{{FOUR}} Ice cream.

For its size, Carlisle, PA has A LOT of ice cream places. We have Bruster’s, Meadow’s, Leo’s, Rita’s, and now – Sweet Frog.

Sweet Frog

Leo’s ice cream pie

Meadow’s

I live in heaven!

{{FIVE}} My Polar FT-40 sports watch and heart rate monitor.

I am so glad I got it! It is a great tool to give you an idea of what you’re doing activity wise, keep track of your heart rate and fitness level.

Take it to your yoga class

It will connect to your spin bike monitor so you can see your heart rate during the class

Take it with you when you go for a bike ride outside!

And those are my Five on Friday!

Your turn!

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Lean Lena November 8, 2013

Five on Friday

Hey guys! I’m back with Five on Friday!

{{ONE}} I will never get tired of saying this – I am so glad I said that “Yes” to the most wonderful guy in the world! This past week has been an emotional roller coaster, and I am so lucky to have my husband who supports me, worries about me, talks to me, holds me and loves me every step of the way.

{{TWO}} Fall and Soups.

Yes, those two come together for me personally. I love the whole mind set change when it comes to fall cooking.

Crockpot Chili

Chicken Pho

{{THREE}} My new Philips Performance Earphones.

Finally got those! Can’t believe it took me so long to stop this frustration with the regular ear buds falling out of my ears while working out.

{{FOUR}} My very own Shellac manicure “factory”.

The whole set purchased a while ago on Amazon has paid for itself a long time ago. Love doing my own nails!

The Miracle Factory

Ready “product”

{{FIVE}} Everybody. Everyday. Fitness Challenge at work.

This is something my company does every year and it’s the first time I participate in it. All the participants are part of the teams and the goal is to be active every day, and log the number of minutes of activity planned vs. actual. The logs are then submitted to team captains, who log them into a neat program for the whole team. It is a 6 weeks challenge and my performance this week sucks 🙂 Mostly because I’ve been sick for the past couple weeks…

Your turn!

Filed Under: Five on Friday Tagged With: dinner, family, five on friday, good food, healthy dinner, healthy lunch 2 Comments

Lean Lena November 1, 2013

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

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

and also this stunning view after it gets dark

all that makes you just about this happy

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

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

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

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

Sir Elton John, 2011

Mick Jagger, 2013

What’s your Five this Friday?

Filed Under: breakfast, events, Five on Friday Tagged With: breakfast, five on friday, halloween, holidays, muffins, Vodka the Kitty 5 Comments

Lean Lena October 18, 2013

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!

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?

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!

See how it motivated me? 🙂

{{THREE}} My latest kitchen gadget – 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: