Let me see ya casserole

[Donโ€™t be afraid to sing]

Iโ€™m so glad to hear I wasnโ€™t the only cranky pants today. Working out was exactly what the doctor ordered- I felt a thousand times better after some schweaty cardio and the holiday issue of Real Simple.

Speaking of doctors, hereโ€™s my post-midwife appointment treat:

tgiving

Thanksgiving came early!

I was just going to grab a couple of things since I was in the neighborhood, but then I saw our new hot bar glimmering with happiness, promise, and mashed potatoes. Lunch was a hodge podge of Thanksgiving glory: mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, turkey with cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potato pancake (made with almond flour!) and a kale salad with fig dressing. Everything was incredible, minus the turkey, which I ended up not eating. I havenโ€™t had Thanksgiving turkey in 3 years, and I remember why I didnโ€™t miss it. It was chewy and meh.

Since my major protein source didnโ€™t come through, I made an egg scramble with my leftover mushroom from last night + 2 eggs for a late afternoon snack:

egg

I had some work stuff to do, cleaned up from our little Cali vacay (laundry mountain!) and to get out of the house, I ventured out to do some research for the master bedroom and nursery that weโ€™re trying to get finished by next week.

Whenever I want to decorate or get a new piece for the house, I always shop around and take photos first to get an idea of what I like, get the Pilotโ€™s opinion, and compare prices. Today I hit up World Market (my fave store ever), Home Goods and Target.

Here are some of the goodies I found:

sconce bench

lamp mirror2

bedding

[Thinking of going grey and cream for the bedding. I love grey, and we hardly have any in our house]

Weโ€™ll see what the Pilot thinks and go from there. Iโ€™m excited to get our room finished! Itโ€™s been a process, but it will be worth it ๐Ÿ™‚

For dinner, I made something that rarely makes an appearance over here:casserole

casserole!

Iโ€™m not sure why, because itโ€™s such an easy way to get protein, veg and starch in one fell swoop, but for whatever reason I never think about making them. Then today, I saw Maraโ€™s recipe and thought it looked comforting and fantastic. I Gina-fied it by using goat gouda, brown rice pasta, goat cream cheese, organic turkey bacon and lots of garlic.. just pulled it out of the oven and am about to cozy up with a bowl.

See ya in the morning <3

xoxo

Gina

This isnโ€™t related to anything food or fitness, but whoโ€™s seen the new Twilight?! Iโ€™m a little stoked to see it tomorrowโ€ฆ

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51 Comments

  1. Barb on November 18, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    I went to WF today and was thrilled to see the feast! I got just about everything you did!! I found a cozy spot next to the fire and read on my Kindle! Great minds think alike!

  2. Elizabeth @ reads recipes runs on November 18, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    I was looking at the grey bedding and pillows at target the other day! I want to redo our bedroom in grey, yellow and cream. I saw some adorable fabric that I’m using for inspiration ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn on November 18, 2011 at 10:23 pm

    Okay, literally… I’m going to come home shopping with you. Hi, hello your decor stores are way better than Rahhchester. I feel you on thanksgiving turkey — never been a fan, even since I was a kid. As for the sweet potato pancake — yesss puhhlease

  4. Laury on November 18, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    I am SO excited for Breaking Dawn!!!! Seeing it Tuesday!
    Also I love the grey and that lamp. Goodnight!

  5. Mara @ What's for Dinner? on November 18, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!! That recipe disappeared here in like, 2.2 seconds! Gouda would be amazing! <3 you friend!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:41 am

      it was sooooo good ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. Lindsay on November 18, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    I was definitely cranky pants today too, especially when I tried to go to the grocery in the afternoon and literally the entire parking lot was full. I just got back from seeing Breaking Dawn!!! I liked it a lot but not as much as the other ones. There is a really weird scene where the werewolves talk to each other and it was so bad it was almost laughable….. but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to buy it the second it comes out on DVD ๐Ÿ™‚

  7. Lindsay @ Lindsay's List on November 18, 2011 at 10:36 pm

    I saw Breaking Dawn…it was ok. Books are WAY better..in most every case of book vs. movie. Def. not a movie I would ever buy to own.

  8. Ashley on November 18, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    I work at a natural foods store and our buffet is serving Thanksgiving stuff too! The best is the raw cranberry relish and mashed cardamon sweet potatoes! The ingredients are simple, sweet potato, earth balance, cardamon, and sea salt. I’m thinking of making my own for Thanksgiving and baking some vegan marshmallows on top.

  9. Sana on November 18, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    I don’t like Turkey, like it takes hours to make. Chicken is fast and easy ๐Ÿ˜‰

  10. sally on November 18, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    we have that bedding! it is very soft and comfortable! nice light weight. i did it with a few wine colored accents (sheets and a pillow or two and then a black and white canvas family photo) it turned out nicely!

    i love the rest of your finds too! especially the leather bench…looks like a functional for storage etc!

    have a wonderful weekend Gina and family!

  11. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga on November 18, 2011 at 11:07 pm

    I know you love World Market and you have such good luck there. I re-did my master about 18 mos ago in all gray and white accents and dark wood, mostly all from West Elm, and I love it.

    Sounds crazy but the icy, cool tones of the gray makes the room feel really peaceful and I swear helps me sleep better. So I’m a big fan of gray even though I was worried I wouldnt like it…I love it.

  12. mi-an d. on November 18, 2011 at 11:16 pm

    hola mamacita!! thought i’d drop by and say hi! ๐Ÿ™‚ i love grey as well! is that from world market? anthro also has some nice linens…however super pricey!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:41 am

      ohh i have to check them out! nope, target ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on November 18, 2011 at 11:45 pm

    I saw Twilight at midnight last night!! It was so incredible. I am such a sucker for the romance and the great soundtrack!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:41 am

      the twilight soundtracks are always good ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Sara on November 19, 2011 at 12:19 am

    We don’t do Thanksgiving (obviously, being a non-American country) or Turkey. I have been deeply fascinated by the idea of a ‘deep fried Turkey’, although an American friend of mine tells me that this is a favourite way for people to also burn their house down…. ;-/ So.. be careful about that, ok?

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:40 am

      no fried turkey over here! the first year i knew the pilot, a bunch of pilots fried a turkey at one of the guy’s houses. it was a disaster, but thank goodness they didn’t burn anything down

  15. Jessica on November 19, 2011 at 12:40 am

    I may just be really weird and overly sensitive, but maybe hold off on seeing Breaking Dawn until you’ve had your baby… The birthing scene was so intense that I thought I was going to pass out and had to leave the theater! The cracking bones, blood, screams, etc were just too horrifying! I know that isn’t how normal births are, but still… It was freaky! However, I am the only one in the packed theater who had to leave, so might just be kinda nuts! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:39 am

      ack!!! so glad you told me! i’ll still still it, though. we’ll see how it affects me…

  16. Ali on November 19, 2011 at 1:59 am

    I can’t WAIT for the new Twilight! But don’t tell My Love. I am excited for your thoughts on it!!

  17. Juliane @ C'est moi ร  Paris on November 19, 2011 at 5:23 am

    I love it that you always just change the ingredients for your needs instead of saying “I can’t eat that”. Since I am vegan I have to do this a lot and I think it helps me being creative in the kitchen. Others might have the same old meals day in day out but I always have to mix things up.

  18. Melissa on November 19, 2011 at 7:47 am

    No! Don’t get the grey bedding! If that’s from Target, don’t get it! I bought it two weeks ago and it started fraying after a few days so I exchanged it and now the new one is fraying. I’m going to return it today and just get my money back. Save your money!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:38 am

      i’m so glad you told me!

  19. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on November 19, 2011 at 8:00 am

    If you think you don’t like turkey, you should try my dad’s! He brines it for the entire day before Thanksgiving, and it’s the most tender and juicy turkey ever! It’s all about the brining baby. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:38 am

      apparently whole foods does not brine, haha

  20. Kaila @healthyhelperblog! on November 19, 2011 at 8:30 am

    I am going to see it tonight with my momma! LOL! Should be a fun girls night!!

  21. Amanda on November 19, 2011 at 8:36 am

    I love gray too! That gray bedding looks so nice and serene.

    And that casserole looks nummy. When I was little I used to insist that I didn’t like any casserole. At all. I was a little punk, lol. But I’ve recently started making more casseroles because they’re so easy and they make great leftovers during the week.

  22. Laura @ LauraLikesDesign on November 19, 2011 at 8:54 am

    That gray quilt is such a great color! We’re thinking of doing a grey theme in our master too.

  23. Danielle on November 19, 2011 at 9:44 am

    Okay well I see that you have deleted my comment, or prevented me from commenting.

    I actually really enjoy your blog, but I can’t continue to give you clicks and page views when you don’t appreciate your readers, who take the time to visit your blog and write comments.

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:45 am

      i didn’t delete your comment- they’re still showing up over here!
      i just wrote back to you a second ago.. i just woke up ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:47 am

      you left the last comment on my previous post “bo is back” – that’s why it isn’t showing up here

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 9:49 am

      and writing back to readers is one of my favorite parts of morning, which is why i wake up a little earlier before teaching, so i can see what everyone has to say and answer questions <3 i appreciate everyone who reads this blog very much, and am thankful everyday

      • Danielle on November 19, 2011 at 10:45 am

        Oops – sorry for jumping to conclusions!!

        • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 2:44 pm

          np- it happens ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. LJB on November 19, 2011 at 10:48 am

    VERY off topic—do you know anything about intermittent fasting? I’ve heard good things about it, tried to research it on my own, and I can’t come up with any hardcore information on how to start, what it does,etc. Thought you may have heard of it through your fitness/health travels?
    Your baby girls room is beautiful, love the color scheme…you have such great taste!!!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 7:07 pm

      thank you, friend!
      no i haven’t heard of it, but fasting (to me) is never a good idea. it’s tricking your body into thinking it’s starving, which can actually cause it to hold onto fat. i think the best way to do something similar would be to detox for a couple of weeks by eating clean foods with lots of organic produce

      • LJB on November 20, 2011 at 12:32 am

        thanks ๐Ÿ™‚

  25. LJB on November 19, 2011 at 10:54 am

    And…I think I was confusing this post with your family post (where you posted the nursery pic). Ha. I do love the grey tho, a favorite of mine…once again great taste :))))

  26. Fancy on November 19, 2011 at 11:35 am

    Oooh which store its the leather bench from? Love it!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 7:05 pm

      home goods

  27. Janine @ ThePurpleGiraffe on November 19, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Is that the Pampered Chef Deep Dish Covered Baker I spy in your photo?! I looooove mine! Did you know they’re microwave safe?!

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 7:04 pm

      YES! and i had no idea they were microwave safe

  28. Heather on November 19, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Breaking Dawn was very different than the others- much more dark and somber, but I liked it. I thought there would be more romance, and it’s pretty gory and intense. Still love my Edward and Jacob though. Team Switzerland! Lol

    • Fitnessista on November 19, 2011 at 7:04 pm

      interesting! i’m excited to see it
      team edward over here ๐Ÿ˜‰

  29. Allison on November 19, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    don’t be afraid to sing, i like that! haha because i always sing to my one cat. I can put any song on, been listening to Adele – someone like you, lately , and i sing along to it and she goes NUTS! she starts purring, and rubbing against me, its the cutest thing ever!
    as for twilight…ya i’ve never seen a single film and dont really plan to

  30. Karlee on November 19, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    love the title of this post : )

  31. Allison on November 20, 2011 at 11:10 am

    Your casserole looks delicious! I love Target and Home Goods, they’re my recent go-to stores since I’ve been trying to furnish our apartment… Unfortunately, the World Market near us closed a couple of years ago :/

  32. Jenny@HealthyMOChick on November 21, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    ooooh that looks all kinds of yummy!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  33. Brittany on November 21, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    I just wanted to drop in and say I love your blog! Your recipe ideas are great and I love to hear your stories of you and the pilot. My fiance and I are both in the Air Force so I can definitely relate! My best friend/aunt/sister and I recently started a blog and you were part of the inspiration!

    • Fitnessista on November 21, 2011 at 5:41 pm

      thank you so much brittany!
      can’t wait to check out your blog ๐Ÿ™‚

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