Why hello, farmer’s market…

It’s been awhile!

Yesterday we decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and hit up the Saturday market, which is smaller than the Sunday one, but still has quite a few vendors.

Field trip for the entire fam

We picked up some goodies for dinner, and since we were in the neighborhood, grabbed some salads from Choice for lunch.

Choice finally hopped on the goat cheese wagon… I was a little excited about that one.

A beastly salad with:

-romaine

-goat cheese

-kalamata olives

-sundried tomatoes

-avocado

-tuna

-garlic vinaigrette

+ a cup of veggie soup

We came back to take care of some things around the house, and the Pilot made dinner.

Perfect BBQ organic chicken, sweet potato with goat cheese, and asparagus and tomatoes, all from the farmer’s market

I’m glad I took a picture of the tray of veggies in between our snacking, because usually once we sit down to eat, they’re gone

Of course, we can’t have chicken without sharing our goods with the chicken fiend…

Dessert: a couple of bites of the Pilot’s baklava

(Definitely not GF, but a couple of bites on rare occasions doesn’t upset my stomach too much. Baklava is definitely my favorite non-chocolate dessert)

This morning, we’re off to brunch at my nana’s and I’ll be putting together the last week of Winter Shape Up workouts!

See ya laterrrrrr <3

xoxo

Gina

Something to think:

“There are no failures – just experiences and your reactions to them.”

Tom Krause

It’s Friday!! Thank goodness

I’m so glad you liked the February list! I’ll also be posting the Schweaty February Workout on Monday as part of the last week of Winter Shape Up workouts.

You guys inspired me with your comments, so I decided to go through the intimidating mail pile.

I got distracted midway through:

New Zumba music! Yes, please.

So remember when I cooked dinner and made oaties in the same day this week?

Well there hasn’t been much kitchen productivity since then. Meals are still all over the place, and I figured that if I can make 2 legit dinners next week and build on from there, that will be bueno.

We ordered takeout last night, and before bed I enjoyed my first egg and jelly combo:

(Thanks to Julie for planting the seed in my brain)

2 eggs atop a Van’s waffle with a small salad for some veggies

I’ve also been lacking in the veggies this week, so one of my goals will be to chop and steam some on Sunday, so they’ll be ready to grab and eat throughout next week.

Avocados,  greens and fruit and have been pretty easy, since they’re low maintenance, and this has been a frequent combo over here:

toast, greens with Goddess dressing, chicken, 2 eggs

and 1/2 an avocado

So good

Anything fun going on this weekend? We have Liv’s newborn photos tomorrow and brunch at my nana’s on Sunday. I can taste the egg casserole already…

Monday, I’ll find out if I’m cleared to resume normal physical activity. I’m hoping everything looks good to go and am excited to get back into doing the things I love so much. Of course, I’ll have to take it slowly since I’m still recovering, but a Monday night gentle yoga class sounds incredible right now.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

xoxo

Gina

Something to think:

"If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else."
Chinese Proverb

It’s been quite a weekend over here!

We took the little one to her friend’s first birthday party and had a blast.

Party favors:

(candy that the Pilot and I ended up sharing)

After the party, we came back the house for our first home-cooked meal in quite a while

(so I bought the rotisserie chicken first, but it’s a step in the right direction)

This morning was patio brunch with the fam at Eclectic Cafe:

I ordered the turkey scramble and fruit, which was good, but not my fave. Last week’s lox and eggs were much better.

And a pic of Bell, since she’s been lacking in blog face time lately

Today we’re just chilling and taking care of things around the house before the week begins. I’m going to meal plan our dinners and grocery shop for the week, and get the Winter Shape Up workout together. I have a fun challenge for you guys tomorrow, so I’ll be looking forward to see what you send in.

Hope you’re having a very happy Sunday!

xoxo

Gina

Hot cocoa words of wisdom:

I’m more of a cake girl (or pizookie girl!) than an ice cream girl, but twice this week, I’ve fully appreciated the beauty of sorbet.

The Pilot and I took the family on a walk

and then walked over to Frost for a little treat.

Mango sorbet for me:

Bella had vanilla

It definitely stayed on my mind because when my friend Lee Anne texted to ask if I wanted sorbet with the baby meal she was bringing over, I didn’t turn it down.

The dinner she brought was absolutely amazing

Vegan black bean soup with avocado, cilantro, lime and pulled pork for the Pilot

and the salad of my dreams: arugula, goat cheese, walnuts, strawberries and homemade vinaigrette

After digging into the blackberry sorbet, I had an incredible lunch:

Another recent meal from a friend:

(Salad, pork tenderloin for the Pilot, potatoes, broccoli and fruit, which I’ve been using as oatmeal and yogurt topping all week)

We’ve been so fortunate to have friends and family supporting us for the past couple of weeks and helping us out with grocery, errand runs, and food. I’ve also been very thankful for all of the kind words, love and packages from my blog friends. A recent surprise:

Twin Cakes goodies (+ a gorgeous quilt) from my very good friends Michelle and Lori <3

Our last baby meal is on Monday, and then I’ll be back in the kitchen again! Since I’m still juggling and trying to figure out time to do things, what are your favorite quick and easy meals? I think the slow cooker and I may be reunited…

Off to walk with Kelly and Meara

Have a great day!
xoxo

Gina

Something to think:

“The way you think, the way you behave, the way you eat, can influence your life by 30 to 50 years.”
Deepak Chopra

Even though it isn’t for a couple of weeks, Superbowl hubbub is already in full swing.

I’ve mentioned this before, but after all of football games I’ve been to in my life, I still don’t really understand it.

(My second date with the Pilot was an Arizona homecoming game)

I understand touchdowns and field goals, but start talking about first down, second down, blah blah, you lose me.

I just know when to rattle my keys and cheer… the important stuff, right?

As far as Superbowl goes, I don’t really care about that too much, either. I usually don’t find out who’s playing until that day, and pay attention to the commercials and gabbing with friends more than the actual game.

But snacks…

I definitely pay attention to the snacks

Here are some of my favorite Superbowl-worthy dishes if you’re planning a party or heading to watch the game with friends:

Sweet potato, goat cheese and chives rounds

(bake the sweet potato rounds with olive oil, salt and pepper 375 for 20 minutes- top with goat cheese and bake 5 more minutes, top with chives)

Mini caprese stacks

(Baby tomatoes seasoned with salt and pepper, cut in half, with 1 basil leaf and a slice of mozzarella)

Articoke dip

(recipe in the cookbook Eat, Drink and Be Vegan)

Tuscan White Bean dip

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili

Vegan Chocolate Chip cookies

And now I really want a cookie.

Do you party it up for the Superbowl? Any other football-clueless friends out there?

Hope you have a great day <3

xoxo

Gina

Something to think:

Look, I really don’t want to wax philosophical, but I will say that if you’re alive, you got to flap your arms and legs, you got to jump around a lot, you got to make a lot of noise, because life is the very opposite of death. And therefore, as I see it, if you’re quiet, you’re not living. You’ve got to be noisy, or at least your thoughts should be noisy and colorful and lively.

- Mel Brooks

For those of you who have also been missing your daily dose of Vies,

here ya go:

Ash and her hubby put that video up last night- the Pilot and I were cracking up watching it. They’ve taught Vies so many cool tricks. Over Easter, they filled Easter eggs with treats, hid them, and taught her how to pop them open with her teeth, so she had her own Easter egg hunt. Bella liked watching the video, too.. it makes her happy that her sis is so happy.

A quiet breakfast while everyone else is sleeping:

Oats with almond flour to up the nutritional stats, blueberries and tea

Some recent eats:

Salad with 1/2 avocado, turkey, tomato, greens, balsamic and goat cheese

Leftover pizza with an egg on top + more salad

My goal for the day is to get out of the house.. after almost 2 weeks, cabin fever has officially set in. My friend Emily is coming to hang out in a little while, and then we’ll see where the day takes us.

Hope you have a very happy Friday!

xoxo

Gina

Something to think:

"If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place."

Nora Roberts

Head’s up: Winter Shape Up week 2 will be up on Monday! How are those workouts going??

Per your requests….

7 inches, NBD. 

I’m actually wearing them right now! Ok, not quite, but moccasins are close

Speaking of pink and sassy,

someone got a haircut today:

So fresh and clean, and she smells like flowers.

Keeping up with the theme of the past week and a half, we laid low and chilled around the casa. The highlights were a long visit from my nana, and a package on the doorstep from my good friend Heaby:

OATIES!

I’ve had three, and they were perfect bites of chocolaty goodness. I’m going to freeze the rest for when I want a little something sweet.

Dinner tonight was courtesy of the Pilot, who made me an at-home version of my favorite Renee’s Organic Oven salad:

greens, goat cheese, avocado, cashews, sea salt, pepper and red wine vinaigrette

Sometimes when we make at-home replicas of restaurant faves, they’re good, but not quite like the original.

Some examples:

our Bobby Flay meal

and baigan bhartha.

Salads are a little different

Do you make any staple meals at home that were restaurant-inspired?

Bed time over here.

Have a great night! <3

xoxo

Gina

Amazing job on the Winter Shape Up workouts! For an easier way to get to each week’s eating and workout details, there’s a widget on the top right of the page. (Thank you again to my web wizard for putting that up there for me!)

Something to think:

“Get going. Move forward. Aim High. Plan a takeoff. Don’t just sit on the runway and hope someone will come along and push the airplane. It simply won’t happen. Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you’ll love it up here.”
- Donald J. Trump

A cloudy day:

Perfect for morning tea and chocolate

and there’s a chef in the kitchen making breakfast….

I’m a fan of that.

Kyle accidentally went in to work too early, so he came to chill over here for a while. For breakfast, he made parfaits

with gf granola, blackberries, bananas, blueberries and goat’s milk yogurt

and the Pilot is cooking up turkey sausage and eggs.

Last night was pretty chill- we went to hang out at Eric and Kelly’s house and watch the Broncos game. It was our first time taking Livi over to someone else’s house, and she was a perfect angel- she saved the screaming until after we got home

Jack!

He used to do long runs with us in Valdosta. Kelly’s other dog is a speed machine –he’s ran more than 20 miles before- and Jack likes to keep things more around my pace. He’s a good running buddy.

This morning we’re just taking it easy for now- maybe take Bell for a long walk, dinner, courtesy of the neighbors

(they are amazing)

and I’m going to get the rest of the Winter Shape Up stuff together. This week’s workout and meal ideas will be up in the morning!

Have a very happy Sunday <3

xoxo

Gina

Something to talk about: If you could have any chef cook for you, who would you choose? I think we all know that I would have to say Bobby Flay….

Something to think:

"No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change."

-Barbara DeAngelis

It’s definitely cave mode over here.

I walked outside this morning to let Bell do her thing, and the fresh air felt so nice. It kind of reminds me of when I’d be home sick from school and then on the day I went back, the sun would seem so bright. Maybe we’ll take a walk today

Even though we’ve spent lots of time in the house over the past few days, I couldn’t be happier to spend it with my two favorite people.

We’ve become nocturnal, and I’ve been posting more fitness content lately instead of the usual “here’s what we’re up to” mix since we’re still getting the hang of things. All of the pictures I’ve taken have been of this beautiful tiny thing-

her fingers and toes

and my most intense workout involves shaking a rattle and making silly faces.

She was not impressed.

Meals have been super simple- at least once during the day, one of us will say “want a sandwich?” and make a giant sandwich for each of us,

eggs and things

and meals brought over from the fam, like this salad from Zinburger

(chicken, greens,

and their truffle fries…

Someone just woke up and wants to eat/snuggle, so I’m off but I’ll be back with a Family post later tonight <3

xoxo

Gina

For fun:

Tea words of wisdom:

It’s no wonder many people fear the weight room… some of the equipment in there can look like forms of torture devices.

Source

Example A: the cable pulley.

Back in the day, I didn’t mess around with these things for a looooong time. The fact that everything was adjustable (height and handles) intimidated me, and I had no idea how to use it. If I was feeling brave, I do some tricep pressdowns or bicep curls, the most common exercises I’ll see using this machine.

Source Source

Realistically, they’re surprisingly easy to use and there are SO many exercises that can be done on the cable pulley.

One of the nice things about them is that they’re basically the intermediary between dumbbells and weight training machines- with machines, your movements are guided to a specific point and range, and with dumbbells, you can do whatever the heck you want (which can be dangerous for those who aren’t sure of proper form). Cable pulley machines fall right in the middle- they guide you along while still providing freedom as far as movement goes.

So what are they?

A machine utilizing a cable pulley system for resistance. You use your own boy to stabilize and can perform push, pull and rotational exercises. It’s a common piece of exercise equipment at gyms and a great option for a home gym, since it’s so versatile.

A similar option is the cable crossover machine, which can be used the same way.

  Source

Some of my favorite cable exercises:

Kneeling cable kickback

Cable woodchop

Cable deadlift

(feeling fancy? add an upright row at the top)

Lateral raise

The possibilities are endless….

Source

Some tips:

Before venturing into the pulley world, make sure you know what proper form should look like. If you don’t, ask a trainer- they should be happy to help

No matter what, contract your core to stabilize

Careful not to pinch your fingers switching out handles A fun and easy way to change things up is to use a different handle for your favorite exercise, or changing emphasis on the movement (down slow, up fast and vise versa)

Is there any gym equipment that you’re still apprehensive about? I used to LOATHE the assisted pull-up machine, but as soon as I saw what it did for my back, I changed my mind.

What’s your favorite cable pulley exercise?

Hope everyone is having an amazing day <3

See ya later tonight!

xoxo

Gina

More Focus On faves:

Tabata training

Step aerobics

Stability balls

Resistance bands

Something to think:

“He who gains a victory over other men is strong; but he who gains a victory over himself is all powerful.”

Lao Tzu quotes