12/22: Meals and Fitness for the week
I continue to be awestruck at how things have come full circle.
Like the fact that I was walking around Winterhaven (aka riding the trolley) last year, with a giant pregnant belly:
and found myself a year later, in the same spot, with the baby we so badly wanted to meet.
I thought I’d eventually stop becoming so sentimental about places that I’ve been before and then return later with Liv, but no: I will probably be like this forever.
It was extra special to come back to Winterhaven a year after Kyle and Meg got engaged in the same spot, too. Lots of sentimental mush in my brain and tear prevention precautions throughout the night 😉
My MIL got here safe and sound:
and since the trolleys were booked, we all walked around Winterhaven, which I think I liked even better.
We had plenty of chances to stop, check out the more elaborate displays
and regroup, since there were over 20 of us.
As much as I loved the lights, walking around, eating kettle corn and chatting with everyone, I especially loved watching Liv’s face- she wanted to see everything.
She babbled and talked to the lights, said “Hi!” and waved to some of the kids walking by, and seemed to REALLY love the dogs.
Looks like we have to get Bell and Caro Christmas pajamas for next year…
<3
I plan on keeping my fitness plans about the same for this week:
Sunday: Spin + Weights -1 hr
Monday: Runday or OFF (depending on how cold it is + how tired I am)
Tuesday: OFF
Wednesday: Teach Zumba- 45 min
Thursday: Teach Buff Booty- 45 min
Friday: OFF
Saturday: Teach ? -if I don’t have any active teaching classes, I’ll do some quick HIIT and weights (40 min total)
Meal ideas:
Sunday: BBQ chicken, kale chips, dill and garlic roasted potatoes
Monday- Wednesday: Enjoy copious amounts of Christmas fare, cookies and egg nog
Wednesday- Saturday: Enjoy normal-ish eats again. I’ll probably wait until Thursday and to a grocery haul and plan meals through the weekend.
We have Christmas morning brunch at our house: Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls, 3 types of oatmeal (if you have any slow cooker oatmeal tips, please let me know! I’m going to make the oats in our 3 small slow cookers), fruit, and eggs
This morning, it’s brunch at my nana’s house…. stoked would be an understatement 😉
Hope you’re having a beautiful morning!
See ya later <3
xoxo
Gina
What are you cooking this week? Are you trying any new fitness classes or quick workout methods?
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Hi Gina! I have a question about HIIT – do you have any HIIT treadmill workouts here on the blog? I’ve looked it up a few times and couldn’t find one. I’m doing quick 20 min HIIT’s that I got from Women’s Health Mag but I’d love to see what you recommend! Have a fabulous Christmas and enjoy Liv’s first Christmas!! 🙂
Gina… I just commented on your blog and somehow it went under a name that is not me and an email that is not mine.. usually mine is already there since I’ve commented before.. but as I clicked ‘submit’ I noticed it’s a different person .. just letting you know!
that is so weird!! i’ll email my host and see what’s going on
something similar happened to me yesterday. Normally the fields are already populated with my info since I comment a lot (creeperrrrrr) but it was someone else’s info. I just changed it and it posted fine though.
Same here. It’s been like that for a few days now.
Enjoy the Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls – I wish I was going to be at your house on Xmas morning 🙂
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Gina! 🙂
Looks like the Pilot is feeling better (or at least OK to enjoy the family time). Winterhaven looks like so much fun!!!
Winterhaven looks like such a fun time! I have to tell you, your quick Tabata workouts are awesome for me on those rushed days when I can’t get a run in. I did your most recent one on Friday, and my glutes are still sore! I love them, thanks again for taking the time to make them.
The one recipe I have for overnight crockpot oats has me NOT STIR the ingredients together once in the crockpot. Not sure why, but they turn out great every time. I do a cinnamon apple variety where I put 2 sliced peeled apples in the crock, followed bu brown sugars and cinnamon. Then I pour 2 cups of oats and 4 cups of water on top. I resist the urge to give them a swirl, they cook on low for about 8-9 hours. Very yummy!!!! Have a great Christmas!
I am making Salted Whiskey Caramels today. Then tomorrow I am making Pioneer Woman’s Baked French Toast for Christmas Day breakfast! I also plan on making Christmas Sangria. I am pretty excited to do all of the above haha.
LOVE the pictures!!! I don’t know why but Winterhaven reminds me of Stars Hollow from the Gilmore girls. I would love to live in a town like that :0).
Btw what are the yummy looking cookies in the last pic?
I’m making wedding cookies as a Christmas treat and to prep for a Bridal brunch. Stinks you have to teach the day after Christmas, but I’m sure it ain’t no thang since you love it! Back to work for me on Wednesday too.
I’m cooking Christmas brunch this week, but keeping it pretty simple since I’m 38 1/2 weeks preggo 🙂 Just cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon and fruit.
Love the pics from your holiday lights adventure! You look so content and happy 🙂
My mom usually mixes the different types of grain in crockpot oatmeal (millet, oats, oat groats, buckwheat, brown rice, any combination!), it makes it much more interesting than plain oats! If you want to flavor it, popping a tea bag to infuse the water you use is really good, and it floats to the top for easy removal in the morning. I have a recipe for Lebkuchen oatmeal (german gingerbread with chocolate and citrus) that is really really good in the slow cooker!
I have to make a side dish for Christmas dinner and THAT’S IT this year. I’m doing Pioneer Woman whiskey glazed carrots to go with the ham that my MIL is making: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/10/whiskey-glazed-carrots-major-league-yum/
We rotate families each year, so this year is my in-laws turn. Their tradition is Christmas Eve dinner at this fun Scottish restaurant after Mass, and then we’ll do Christmas dinner at their house the next afternoon. We’re going to start a tradition of reserving first-thing-in-the-morning Christmas fun/presents for our little family of 3 at home, just us, and then join everyone else around noonish.
Sidenote, the Pilot looks SO much like his Mama. Merry Christmas to you & your beautiful family!!
whooooaaaa those carrots look awesome!
That cinnamon roll recipe is awesome but a heads up to others– use UNsalted butter! It never thought I’d notice a difference (and it never even occurred to me) but that recipe has a TON of butter, so you do notice if it’s salted. Though we like salty/sweet so they still got eaten.
Merry Christmas!
i think i used salted last year… this year, ALL of the butter i bought was unsalted 😉
PW’s Cinnamon Rolls — they are the BEST ever. I’m planning to make them again this year. 🙂
Weird that the comment info was pre-populated with someone else’s name (Betsy for me).
If it’s going to change my name, I’d prefer something more outrageous, like Mahogany or Fellula, I can’t go from Negar to Betsy :-/ that ain’t right.
If you are using tiny crockpots, I highly recommend using an timer (old school contraption that makes your lights turn on at a specific time so your house isn’t dark when you’re out), and turning it off after 3 hours for steel cut oats, 1 hour for rolled oats (my slow cooker is 6 cups and the smaller ones don’t have timers).
Also: breakfast risotto in the crock is awesome. And coconut milk instead of all water in oatmeal (or breakfast risotto) is amazing.
that is so bizarre! and yes, i don’t think betsy suits you 😉
thank you for the tips! i have coconut milk with a purpose now
xoxo
The pictures are so beautiful. And I love your listing of workout and mealplan. It gives me such a great idea of possibilities since I am in recovery of my ED and still overexercise a lot. Thanks for sharing Gina!!!
keep taking care of yourself- sending love to you, friend <3
I’m gonna try a trx blast class tomorrow (it’s trx combined with cardio drills) and then my *plan is to do your santabata workout on christmas 🙂 gotta get my burn on before christmas brunch!!! happy holidays, Gina!!!
I haven’t gotten a chance to do a Christmas lights walk or drive like this yet this season..looks so fun and festive! And Liv looks beyond adorable in her hat.
i love that little cupcake.. and the hat 🙂
Oats in the slow cooker?? I hope you share any recipes you find!
i definitely will!
Place the oats and fixings in a smaller bowl inside the crockpot and fill the crockpot with water. Read this tip on multiple recipes online and mine turned out great this way.
wow, good to know- thank you!