all-new arm burner (video)

Hi friends! How was your weekend? Hope you had an amazing one <3 The next two weeks are going to be so strange, with major holidays smack in the middle of each week. Vacation all around!!! I (jokingly) told the Pilot he should just skip the whole work thingโ€ฆ how can you be productive like that? He just raised an eyebrow at me.

Last night we had our annual cookie-decorating party at the house:

Decorating  1 of 1 2

  

Decorating  1 of 1 4

Decorating  1 of 1 3

 

Cookies  1 of 1 4

(Bikini gingerbread man. Necessary)

I made some soup,

Soup  1 of 1 13

hot cocoa in the slow cooker,

and madre brought over a ton of amazing cookies, and a pot of homemade meat sauce and noodles. 

Pasta  1 of 1 3

(the pot was full, but I snapped the pic after everyone had feasted)

We had a blast here at the house, decorating, drinking egg nog and hanging out.

Today, Livi and I are off for last-minuteto-dos, and a little adventure for our furry friends. There are Humane Societies located in a couple of malls here in Tucson, and Livi and I will usually stop by to say “hi” to them. Last time we were there, I noticed a dog’s sign said, “Sponsored” underneath it. I asked one of the volunteers what that meant, and she explained to me that someone had paid a portion or the full price of adoption for the dog. This way, it’s less of a hit on a caring family or individual’s investment to adopt an animal. Livi and I are going to go sponsor some animals today, hoping that it may encourage someone to adopt a new family member. I wish we could have a house full of dogs, but cannot (womp.womp), so this is a fun way to share some love with animals hoping for a new home. Just thought I’d share the idea in case anyone else was looking for something similar to do. 

Hope that your week is off to a great start!

Enjoy your day and I’ll see you soon <3

xoxo

Gina

Something to do: An all-new arm burner! All you need for this one is a set of dumbbells and some determination ๐Ÿ˜‰ Sasha leads this video, and I provide some modifications along the way. As always, check with a doc before making any fitness changes. Feel free to add this in to today’s strength workout, or after some cardio! Enjoy the burn. xo

 

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51 Comments

  1. Becky@TheSavedRunner on December 23, 2013 at 10:39 am

    I love decorating cookies this time of year! Enjoy your family time and have a very merry Christmas!

    • Fitnessista on December 23, 2013 at 11:51 am

      thank you! you too ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Debbie on December 23, 2013 at 11:25 am

    I love the idea of sponsoring an animal for adoption, I had no idea you could do that. The cookie party looks like fun.

    • Fitnessista on December 23, 2013 at 11:51 am

      i didn’t know about it, either!

      • Tina on December 23, 2013 at 3:06 pm

        The shelter where I lived in TN did that. Usually people who had fostered those animals at some point (like bottle-fed babies) put up the fee, because if they were sponsored it saved them from being euthanized over someone who wasn’t.

        • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:07 pm

          i think that’s exactly it.. and quite a few of the dogs have been there for over 3 months, so those are the ones i wanted to take care of first

  3. Suzi @ Confessions of a Fitness Instructor on December 23, 2013 at 11:43 am

    SPonsoring animals for adoption is such a sweet, sweet idea!

    • Fitnessista on December 23, 2013 at 11:50 am

      i had no idea you could do that, so i was really excited ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Kaila @healthyhelperblog! on December 23, 2013 at 11:57 am

    LOOOOOVE the idea of sponsoring a pet! Such a great way to give back and help another family experience the joy of having an animal running around! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:09 pm

      amen to that ๐Ÿ™‚
      happy holidays, friend!

  5. Kristen on December 23, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    I love the idea of sponsoring a dog for adoption! We just lost our 8 yr old fur baby in a very unexpected tragic way. ๐Ÿ™‚ So this would be a perfect way to honor his memory!

    • Kristen on December 23, 2013 at 1:23 pm

      Definitely did NOT mean to put a smiley face after that sentence!

      • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:09 pm

        that breaks my heart for you <3 sending love to you and your family. bella is 8, too, so i can't imagine how much that would hurt. xoxo

  6. Lucie@FitSwissChick on December 23, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    I rocked this

  7. Lucie@FitSwissChick on December 23, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    Sorry ๐Ÿ™‚ I meant to say, I rocked the arm burner this morning and LOVED it!!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:08 pm

      wahoo! great job, friend ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Christie @ http://Kissesandkale.blogspot.com on December 23, 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Those cookie pictures with your daughter are so cute!! I love decorating Christmas cookies. Can’t wait to try your arm workout!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:08 pm

      hope you like it! ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. jodie on December 23, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    I love you top Gina, where did you get it?

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:08 pm

      thank you! stitch fix, but the brand is “under skies”

  10. Kaelene on December 23, 2013 at 2:24 pm

    What a great idea sponsoring a pet, I think that is wonderful! I just made my first traditional Icelandic cookies Laufabrauรฐ yesterday as well. Decorating was a bit more difficult than the sugar cookies I am use to. Have a wonderful Christmas with your family!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:08 pm

      whoooaaaa, thats amazing!
      thank you- hope you do, too!

  11. Ashley @ Power, Love, and Self-Discipline on December 23, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    So sweet that you’re going to sponsor some animals! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:07 pm

      thank you, you too!!

  12. Kelsey on December 23, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    Where did you get that Ariel Placemat? I’ve been looking for one for my daughter !!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:06 pm

      from the disney store! they have so many adorable placemats

  13. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on December 23, 2013 at 3:31 pm

    I love the idea of sponsoring an animal! How sweet!

  14. Julie on December 23, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Tried the arm burner yesterday – loved it!

    I made a gingerbread man with a diaper and of course, one with a bikini!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:06 pm

      yay, so happy you liked it!

  15. Debbi on December 23, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    Sponsoring is a great thing to do. My daughter does the same in San Diego, check out Baja Dog Rescue when you get there. The last dog she sponsored was found in a box in the snow, she was so weak she couldn’t even hold her head up and so dehydrated they couldn’t even tell if she was a male or female. Long story short, she fell in love with HER and ended up adopting her and named her YOLO .

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:05 pm

      i totally will! and LOVE the name YOLO haha

  16. Erin on December 23, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    Hi Gina! I just wanted to offer some insight into the donation of the pet adoption fee. I considered doing it at one point at our local animal shelter, but the workers there actually suggested that we didn’t because those individuals who can’t afford to pay the fee also can’t typically pay to take good care of the animals. Obviously this may not always be true, but just a thought. Instead, she suggested we give items for the dogs currently there or pay help defray vet costs. Just wanted to share the information since I had never thought about it like that either. Either way, you’re doing a great thing by raising Livy in such a loving and giving household! Blessings to you and your family this season!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:05 pm

      i thought of this, too, and totally get where you’re coming from. i think it’s a nice way to offset some of the other costs associated with pet care, and would just give an extra nudge to a family or individual who already wants to, and can afford to take care of a pet.

  17. Carrie on December 23, 2013 at 10:57 pm

    Love the idea of sponsoring a pet for the holidays! What an awesome tradition to start ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:02 pm

      i think so, too! i’m trying to think of little giving activities liv will understand, and she was really excited for this one ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. Laura B @ Fit Mama Love on December 24, 2013 at 2:00 am

    Ooh, I’ll have to throw in that arm burner this week. Maybe even tomorrow a all by itself. This is definitely a get it in however I can kind of week. After two days of not exercising, I was able to do 5-10 min of burpees rotated I with some strength exercises. It wasn’t much, but it felt good to do something. Hopefully I’ll get back at it the second half of the week, but until them, I won’t worry too much about it and just enjoy!

    We had a cookie and gingerbread house decorating party tonight with our 3-year-olds friends and were decorating our own tomorrow. So fun!

    Merry Christmas!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:01 pm

      that sounds like a blast!
      hope you enjoy the arm burner. this weird is definitely a strange one for getting in workouts- you just squeeze it in where you can
      hope you have a merry christmas, too!

  19. Kelli on December 24, 2013 at 4:55 am

    What a great idea I’m def going to sponsor a dog!! Thanks for this

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      excited that you’ll be doing it too!

  20. Livi on December 24, 2013 at 6:12 am

    perfect workout to do in my room Christmas morning!!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      hope you enjoy! xo

  21. Runner Girl Eats on December 24, 2013 at 6:33 am

    Thanks for the workout! Perfect for burnign off a few cookies ๐Ÿ˜‰ Merry Christmas!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      :)! thank you, you too!

  22. Amy on December 24, 2013 at 7:06 am

    Thanks so much for the arm burner! I love your strength videos ๐Ÿ™‚

    I love the sponsoring a dog idea…didn’t know you could do this. I’d love to just adopt them all, but this is a great idea, too ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 12:00 pm

      thank you! happy you enjoy them ๐Ÿ™‚
      i wish we could adopt more, too. figured it was a nice option instead, and something i’d never heard of

  23. Morgan M. on December 24, 2013 at 10:08 am

    Um…you both are very inspirationally (word? no, ok) fit and toned! That video is up on my to-do list for sure!!

    I love the cookie decorating pictures! You can sense the love of your family!!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 11:59 am

      thank you, hope you love it!!
      and yes, the fam is amazing <3
      happy holidays to you! xo

  24. Jen@PregnantDiabetic on December 24, 2013 at 11:20 am

    Cookie decorating is the best! We are going to be doing that this afternoon at my mom’s house ๐Ÿ™‚ I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

    • Fitnessista on December 24, 2013 at 11:59 am

      thank you, you too!

  25. Becca on January 4, 2014 at 11:15 am

    I enjoyed the arm burner! It did burn!

    • Fitnessista on January 4, 2014 at 6:01 pm

      :)!

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