Hi friends! How are you?
(Someone needs a bath… and a sassiness check, haha)
Bella is officially confused as to why I keep traveling. I think she’s sad I’m not bringing her furry face to Tucson with me :/
This morning, I got my DT on before work. It. was. glorious.
Since I knew I’d have to go straight from Dance Trance to work, I stopped at to pick up lunch before dance:
A Concorde Wrap (hummus, tabbouli, greens) on gluten-free brown bread.
My beloved millet and brown rice bread got kicked in the face with this one- GF brown bread may be a new fave. I have no idea what it was made of, but it was delicious 
The bean salad served with sandwiches and wraps at Infusion Tea is redonk- edamame, black beans, chickpeas, cranberries and vinaigrette. Love it.
I also enjoyed a french press coffee for a little booty-shaking and work bzzzzzzz 
Work snack:
Organic green apple with a hefty blob of almond butter. We have an enormous jar at work for all of us to share 
+ these:
(Thank you for the snack, friend!)
Work was awesome and then I came home to start dinner….
Sweet potato and black bean chili!!!
It takes 20 minutes start to finish (or you can do it slow cooker style), and I’ll have leftovers for airplane lunch tomorrow
(with Daiya)
I’m off to finish packing and call it an early night! See ya in the morning with airport adventures
xoxo
Gina
When you travel, what do you do with your pets? I’m lucky to have my auntie watching Bella and Viesa is at her favorite doggy camp
Also, what would you do to perk up a worn down Pilot? I would love fun ideas of things to send him or ways to brighten his day from over here.
Hi, I'm Gina. Welcome to The Fitnessista! I love blogging about my adventures as a new mom, military wife and fitness instructor, as well as sharing new workouts and recipes. Check out the About page for more info - thanks for stopping by!
I think we all know what a man wants to see in a care package from his wife
LOL.
*giggle*
safe travelsss
When we travel Olive typically stays with Isaac’s parents. It great because she gets to play with their toy poodle and they love having her.
Hmm.. maybe you could send the pilot a mix CD.
Safe travels tomorrow!
Thank you for the chili recipe- it looks like a delicious way to use sweet potatoes.
If you have time, you could make your pilot a movie at xtranormal.com. I once spent a whole day making goofy movies to send to friends.
that’s a great idea! thank you
Have a safe and fun trip. I am looking for a good brown rice bread, which one do you suggest?
i’m using the food for life brand and love it!
Looks like pumpernickel bread!
what about a calendar with pictures of you or you two on the months and with countdowns till you reunite
ooooh i like that idea! thanks
I typically do not travel much. I am the one who watches the doggies when other people travel. The doggies love coming to my house. They get soooooo spoiled. I love it cause I get a hiking buddy or two.
When I had my dogs, they either kenneled at GDA (good practice for them), the vet or a friend.
I have to say Gina, a good kennel is hard to find, but when you do, the dogs love it. It is like a mini vacation for them. I bet Viesa is having a blasto!
you’re right- it really is amazing! she always cries as soon as we turn onto the street and goes bounding up to the door with her tail wagging. makes me so happy that she’s having fun
When my husband deploys, I create themed boxes to send him! For example, he’s a HUGE baseball fan. So, I made a “Take me out to the ballpark” box. Inside was cracker jacks, peanuts, baseballs, baseball shaped candy, photo of me and the kids wearing team shirts, and a decorated pillow case with his favorite team. We also made holiday boxes, such as St Pat’s Day and put anything GREEN we could find! Green shower shoes, green socks, green pillow case, lucky charm cereal, gold coins, etc. I always put in things that could be shared with others. But I have to tell you about this one box and I can’t believe I’m saying this in “public”. But, he came down with a flu bug so I made a “Just what the doctor ordered” box. I put in some meds, cough drops, apple themed cookie (an apple a day), and no doctor visit is complete without an xray (well…I took a plain colored pillowcase and painted my ~omg~ boobs with glow in the dark paint and made a boob xray, LMAO)I tried to make each box fun so it would give him a good laugh
i’ve totally done the pillow case thing before! he LOVED it. and i had glow in the dark paint stuck on my boobs for about two weeks, haha
My long-distance boyfriend and I would write the sweetest love letters to each other like we were in the 1920′s or something. They were so cute and still make my heart melt.
Make him a mini scrapbook with fun things you guys have done! Plus, you could add a few pages that simply incorporate things to look forward to (for when he gets back) that leaves space for new pictures and memories!
When my husband (then-boyfriend) was in the Peace Corps, I sent him “Therese-a-day” calenders. A daily flip calender (I used spiral-bound notecards) with quotes, pictures, etc for each day he was gone.
When my boyfriend was in bootcamp for 4 months (got a medical discharge a few days before graduation and then was stuck there for another 2 months while he tried to stay in…grrrrrrrr) anyway i wrote him everyday and would mail all the letters at the end of the week with lots of current and old pictures and i would always write silly things on the back of them:)
You should make a thanksgiving box and write out all the reasons you are thankful for him on little notes cards and throw in some homemade thanksgiving treats for him and all the guys:):)
What brand of brown bread is that? I’ve been looking for a good GF bread for so long!
Thanks!
Safe travels and when we used to have 3 dogs and 1 cat and we traveled we had a cat sitter come to the house daily to check on kitty and with the dogs, they were boarded at the equivalent of the Westin or Hyatt…those dogs had better digs than I did on some trips..haha! I felt guilty about leaving them so to say they went to the kennel/boarders was an understatement. It was like the country club of doggie daycare. LOL
Brightening Pilot’s day…just some really sweet words in a card, maybe his fave snacks, maybe send him an ipod loaded with like 50 songs on it already…I’m sure just hearing from you brightens his day!
I bring my cat with me if I’m going home for a week or so..otherwise I get someone to house sit or board if I absolutely *have* to. I hate leaving her behind, there’s always a little worry in the back of my mind.
I don’t have pets so no ideas about what to do there — although we pet sit for my father in law’s dog whenever he travels. We don’t mind at all — as long as he gives us good instructions. Each day we take a cell pic of her and send it to him. I think he appreciates it!
Gifts for the Pilot — I really like to give funny cards — even if they have nothing to do with the holiday. If something makes me laugh I usually buy it and give it to Jason. Its just little things, but if they make him smile it was worth it! Oh, and any sexy pics usually go over well too
I used to have a good friend that would watch Prince, which was great, but after she moved, I started putting him in boarding. He seems to love it and I like the people and feel confident he’s getting good attention there.
My long distance boyfriend was feeling glum over having such a long commute to and from work at his new job. I made a bunch of mix cd’s and audio books for him to help the time pass by. Maybe you could send an iPod loaded with your favorite songs and books… I think you can even add pictures onto it! Or how about newspapers or magazines… whenever I travel and am away from home, reading the paper makes me feel more in touch with what’s going on rather than reading the news on the internet.
Hi Gina,
Thanksgiving morning…my boss from Sierra Fitness is teaching at zumba at Fred Astaire (on Sabino Canyon Rd). If you want to go with me…I can get you a guest pass.
Melissa
i would LOVE to go with you! just send me an email with the deets!
I’m sure the Pilot would perk up if he received a picture of his wife and maybe some food
I need to try that chili so bad!
Pilot morale boost: memory from first date and his favorite snack
I’ve never tried making chili with sweet potatoes, but that sounds amazing!! I might have to try that
I’m snacking on those roasted seaweed these days too!!! They are so good!! i can eat millions of them!
as for the pilot, send him stuff he misses the most from US (well can’t send yourself)
but like his fave chocolate, coffee, send some of your homebaked treats, and maybe a framed photo of you guys. 
How about a few Christmasy related things? a cd, a few decorations, a snowman mug? Little fun holiday things that make everyone smile?
or…. a candle that smells like you?
You can leave notes to him everyday and turn it into a scrapbook
Fact: I haven’t been to Infusion Tea. It’s high time now
When I was being tested for Celiac, all the GF breads I bought were disgusting! I’m glad you’ve found some good options though!
Hmm, what about a letter to him, but video style? I’m sure he’s dying to see your face and hear your voice.
When we leave to go out of town and Oliver can’t come with us, my fiance’s parents or grandma usually watch him for us. So we are very lucky in that way. As far as sending things to a worn out pilot…I’m not sure where he is but my fiance said that Starbucks is like gold over there! haha! So I sent him a small package of the Christmas Blend along with homemade cookies, magazines and other goodies
That is why I do not travel as much as I want to…the dogs! I am blessed to have great neighbors so my kids can stay at home. For the most part, if noone can watch them,then I can’t travel because a kennel is not an option.
BAKE the PILOT something new and exciting! You can’t go wrong with a new recipe and make lots so he can share!
I’ve never tried GF brown bread but I’m always on the lookout for some good ones. The one in your picture looks so satisfying and hearty. Thanks for the recommendation! And safe travels
This is a little cheesy, but what about a Dollar Store themed box? They have all kinds of silly pointless toys and stuff (those expanding animals, noisemakers) and it is very easy to find things with lots of “so to speak” potential.
My doggies get left with my roommate or other trusted friends!
My husband and I are Peace Corps volunteers in Honduras and we get so excited when a package arrives! Some of our favorites are dark chocolate, peanut butter, life saver gummies, laughing cow cheeses and we were most recently totally stoked to receive a pack of pepperonis…never would’ve thought to send those (we always ask for jerkey) but laughing cow cheese + pepperoni is delish
I just tried seaweed snacks for the first time a few weeks ago. At first I wasn’t a fan, but after a few bites the flavor really grew on me. Just the other day I discovered something waaaay better though- Raw “Cheesy” Nori Chips! OMG these were so good!
where did you get the cheesy nori chips?
You can make a ‘today I am happy for’ booklet. Each night, right before bed, write down one thing that made you happy, whether its something like meeting a friend for lunch, a particularly good workout, or just a great bowl of oatmeal! Then, when you send it to him, he can read about that ONE thing you chose to write about and it can make him smile to see what the little things that make you happy are in his absence.
Gina, when you make the chili on the stove top.. how long do you have to let it cook for?
Thanks!
i bring it up to a boil, then simmer on medium for about 20 minutes
You are most welcome!
I don’t know if you’d be comfortable doing this or not (I don’t think I would) but it’s still a super cute idea. I saw a make over show once where the husband was deployed so they dolled the wife up like a 50′s style pinup girl (nothing too raunchy or anything) and took black and white photos of her, just like in the old days. it was SUPER cute and her husband loved it.
i love that idea!!!