End it in pizookie

Any night that ends in โ€œpizookieโ€ is a good one.

pizookie

After the dance show last night, the Pilot and I each munched something random to hold us over until we determined what the rest of dinner would be. [I had a couple of sweet potatoes with goat cheese, and I have no idea what he had. He did hold up a package of bacon and a carton of eggnog and said โ€œYou may ask what bacon and eggnog have in commonโ€ฆ and the answer to that is โ€˜everything.โ€™โ€) When Kyle and Meg called to see if we wanted to meet at BJs, we headed over there for more snacksโ€ฆ and pizookies.

Thai shrimp lettuce wraps:

wraps

+ the above pizooke. (Major props to BJs for having a gluten-free version! The Pilot and I attacked ours)

We came home, crashed, and Bell and I slept in until 8, which felt like heaven.

Sheโ€™s still not ready to wake up, and usually decides to start her day around 10 or soโ€ฆ.

bella

She has a very hard life.

Iโ€™m fighting the winter sniffles, so lots of tea and Emergen-C over here. Might have to bust out the juicer, too.

There are a lot of fun things to look forward to this weekend:

-Holiday party

-Excursion with the fam

-Brunch at nanaโ€™s

-Car shopping- we didnโ€™t love the ones I test drove last week, so Iโ€™m going to look through your suggestions again

and fixing our sad light situation. I said we should just wait to join in the neighborhood holiday frenzy until next year (and buy all of our decorations after Christmas when theyโ€™re 50-75% off) but the Pilot is determined, so here we go ๐Ÿ™‚

ornaments

Have a happy Friday and Iโ€™ll be back this afternoon with a family post!

xoxo

Gina

Something to talk about: Whatโ€™s your favorite restaurant dessert? I LOVE BJs pizookies, but I have to say that Melting Pot takes the win.

dessert

How do you fight the winter sniffles?? Hereโ€™s a post that includes info on rest days and working out when youโ€™re sick.

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60 Comments

  1. Steffany on December 9, 2011 at 11:15 am

    I love local places for dessert such as Muscoreil’s (http://www.muscoreils.com/bakery/index.htm) and Sweet Sixteen Cafe (http://sweetsixteencafe.com/sweet_sixteen_cafe/Home.html) YUMYUMYUM !! I have never been to a Melting Pot though so I may be deprived, haha.

  2. Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries on December 9, 2011 at 11:16 am

    I totally have to agree that BJ’s pizookie or Oregano’s (an AZ restaurant) version of the pizookie are my favorite restaurant dessert! We have neither BJ’s or Oregano’s here in Utah which is such a bummer. Luckily I’ve mastered a homemade version. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Melting Pot’s chocolate fondue is totally up there too! We must have similar tastes! ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Fitnessista on December 9, 2011 at 11:19 am

      LOVE oregano’s ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Catherine on December 9, 2011 at 11:21 am

    You seem to be onto this already, but juicing seems to be the most powerful germ-fighter possible. I just moved to a cold place and was expecting lots of winter sniffles, and was actually kind of disappointed that all this juicing kept me from taking even one lazy day off this year!

    Not to steal any enthusiasm for your amazing Pizookie (which was totally the right choice), but I know bacteria feeds on sugar like nobody’s business. But happiness also feeds on sugar sometimes, so it can be utterly worth it. I came up with a recipe for super fluffy indulgent chocolate chip cookies that are cold-season friendly:

    http://yalechapter.blogspot.com/2011/10/whole-food-plant-based-chocolate-chip.html

    Can’t wait to see your progress on the lights!

    • Fitnessista on December 9, 2011 at 11:23 am

      i definitely thought of that last night: “if i’m getting sick, sugar is probably the worst thing to eat right now.” but it was so good, i didn’t care haha
      thank you for the recipe! ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Meg on December 9, 2011 at 11:22 am

    I don’t like taking Advil too much, but their Cold & Sinus line works like a charm ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Racheal on December 9, 2011 at 11:32 am

      But not while you are pregnant ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Nicole P on December 9, 2011 at 11:31 am

    Red Robin has an awesome gingerbread shake that I love…
    My favorite ever would have to be the chocolate creme brulee at bonefish grill- they don’t always have it though which is sad ๐Ÿ™

  6. Molly on December 9, 2011 at 11:31 am

    I recommend lots of ginger, water and rest. I’ve had to cut out my exercising the past week so I can heal my cold. It’s frustrating to be sure but health is more important and my excursion was keeping me ill. Have a great day Gina! Do you have any healthyish Christmas cookie recipes you recommend?

  7. Lisa on December 9, 2011 at 11:43 am

    Interesting you posted about this, as I have been experimenting on clients and myself (muhahaha)…with chicken stock made from chicken bones/carcass. I was reading some really interesting stuff by Sally Fallon about how bone broths (meat stocks), when made for real and not purchased in a can/box, have a significant effect on curing a cold, the flu, and other immune issues (in addition to addressing bone/joint issues and repairing the GI tract). The science behind it is really cool–regarding the hydrophilic nature of the broth (raw veg are hydrophilic, but most cooked foods are hydrophobic—so potentially, you get similar benefits from real chicken stock as you do from green juice in terms of immune boost). I’m not sure if you’d be into making the stock from a whole chicken, but maybe the madre would do it for you ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Katherine on December 9, 2011 at 11:45 am

    Hi Gina, I can’t recall exactly what you were looking for in a new car, but if you haven’t checked out volvo’s options give them a go. The new models are quite reliable and the safety can’t be beat, something to consider with finessista jr. on her way. ๐Ÿ™‚ Good luck, I hope you find something you fall in love with right from the start.
    xo
    Katherine

  9. Suzi @ Confessions of a Fitness Instructor on December 9, 2011 at 11:46 am

    Looks like I’m car shopping this weekend too – my engine blew this morning on my way to my 9am class :/ I wish places around here sold pizzokies, at least I can make my own!

  10. kaila @ healthyhelper on December 9, 2011 at 11:50 am

    I thought that pizzookie was from Oregano’s!! They are my fave! But the one above looks delicious too!

  11. Moni'sMeals on December 9, 2011 at 11:59 am

    I must try this pizookie!

    My favorite is always the lava cakes usually at one of the restaurants in LA that I go to maybe once a week. I rotate them out! Spoiled always, they never disappoint.

    Feel Better.

  12. Casey @ Pocket Full of Sunshine on December 9, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    Chili’s has this ridiculous, amazing skillet cookie ice cream pie chocolate chip thing. It is seriously one of the best things i have ever eaten!

  13. kara on December 9, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    okay seriously.. stop eating pizookies. i’m so jealous. that one in particular looks amazing!
    also, i’m even more jealous of your sleepy puppy. my cat wakes up when my first roommate wakes up (at 530am every day) and thinks it is time to PLAY!!!! it’s miserable.

  14. Sonia (the Mexigarian) on December 9, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    I woke up with the sniffles this morning too! Drinking Yogi tea Immune Support and my Emergen-C as well. Mi Mama has instilled in me the power of chicken soup. from scratch. it works wonders. ๐Ÿ˜€ as much as I hate handling the chicken, it’s well worth the effort to get the yummy soup and its healing powers.

    Question. Did the pizookie get smaller??? I remember them being as big as a serving plate but now they look tiny. . . .

  15. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on December 9, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    I want to try a pizookie so bad! They look fabulous! My favorite desserts are cannolis and brownies a la mode. So good! Have fun light decorating! I’m so excited to have a house one day to get to do that!

  16. Jess on December 9, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    When I was pregnant a whole 2 weeks ago lol, I used benedryl to fight a cold and it worked great. It dries you right up.

  17. RachelG on December 9, 2011 at 12:50 pm

    Thank you for reposting the rest days post! I had such a hard time with my rest day yesterday because all i wanted to do was go for a run and do my own little zumbathon, even though my body needed a rest. I begrudingly (though I was much happier when I did it) went to a restorative yoga class and a low key treadmill walk. Definitely had The Fitnessista in mind when I was telling myself “Chill out!”. ๐Ÿ™‚

  18. Lisa Cormier @healthyhfx on December 9, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    Just the other day I was wondering if Emergen-C was ok to take when pregnant and was planning on asking my Doc, I know it’s basically just vitamin C however I feel like this pregnancy has made me question everything that I plan on eating.

  19. Lena @Fit on the Rocks on December 9, 2011 at 1:10 pm

    There’s this restaurant in Denver called Osteria Marco that has to-die-for butterscotch bread pudding. I will go there to eat that any time.

  20. Mara @ what's for dinner? on December 9, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    Chicken soup with matzo balls, hands down, best sniffles cure. Wish I could make you some!!

  21. Katie on December 9, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    Yummy, I LOVE Melting Pot desserts. Although, I’d have to say my favorite dessert was (I say ‘was’ because they got rid of it which I do not understand) chocolate ganache cake from a local restaurant, J. Lui’s. It was seriously amazing and I would salivate just thinking of it. So sad it’s gone.

    • Katie on December 9, 2011 at 1:37 pm

      Wait! I take that back, there is a dessert that beats the chocolate ganache by a landslide (and the restaurant wasn’t stupid for taking this one off the menu ๐Ÿ˜‰ )… Cafe Istanbul (Turkish food which is amazing in and of itself) has Kunefe: Shredded phyllo dough stuffed with sweet goat cheese. OMG.

  22. Ayla on December 9, 2011 at 1:51 pm

    I love your blog in general, but Bella appearances make me want to squeal inside. And continually confirms that my poodle and Bella would make a great match. http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392339_10150416750561188_546286187_8656393_394317142_n.jpg

  23. Melissa @ Hot Chokolate Girl on December 9, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    My favorite dessert is the chocolate ganache tart from One Lucky Duck. Yes, kind of a long way to go though. I hope you feel better soon! I don’t know if you’ve already looked at them, but Kevin and I both have a Nissan Xterra. We have never had any problems, and his is over 5 years old now. Good luck ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. Meghan @ Struggle Muffins on December 9, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    I’m not a huge Uno’s fan, but they make a giant peanut butter cup dessert that’s to die. I feel as though the pizookie and I would get along famously, but sadly there are no BJ’s in my area.

  25. Jamima @ Sweat Style on December 9, 2011 at 1:58 pm

    Can’t help it because I’m Swiss but chocolate fondue is my fav!
    Hope you feel better soon. I had the most horrible cold when pregnant with my second (thanks to the germs of my first from daycare) ๐Ÿ™‚ and a humidifier believe it or not worked wonders.

  26. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat on December 9, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    Ok, I missed your car hunting post, but in case you haven’t tried a Toyota Rav 4 yet, I highly recommend it! I bought mine in June this year and absolutely love it. I had a Honda Civic before that (obviously very small in comparison) but I was amazed by how much the Rav4 drives like a car. You don’t feel like you’re trying to maneuver a boat into a parking spot! And there’s lots of room for mini pilots and mini fitnessistas in the back!

  27. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga on December 9, 2011 at 2:04 pm

    that dessert looks amazing!

    good luck car shopping…just want you want to be doing 9 mos pregnant, with the sniffles, with the holidays approaching…hang in there!

    I linked all your gift guides in my current post. Thanks for all the gifts & inspiration!

  28. Ali on December 9, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Haha, your husband is so silly, and I do not want to know what he did with egg nog and bacon. Um, eew ๐Ÿ˜‰

  29. Army Amy* on December 9, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    Girl, you and your pizookies! I’m not a big dessert person, but I can’t say no to cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory!*

  30. Alyssa on December 9, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    I JUST bought a Nissan Rogue this week and I absolutely LOVE it. Affordable, great sized, plenty of room in the back for carting things around. It had great safety standards, drives amazing, and good gas mileage. Check it out!

  31. Ruthie Hart on December 9, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    I don’t think I commented on your car post but we love our Lexus RX!!!!!!!

    • Fitnessista on December 9, 2011 at 3:47 pm

      how is the service/maintenance on them??

  32. Nicole P on December 9, 2011 at 3:41 pm

    I just saw this and thought it was epic and you guys should definitely do it- it would steal the show!! (christmas lights)
    http://ugc-01.cafemomstatic.com/gen/constrain/500/500/80/2011/12/09/15/6g/9i/ph4g98pick1kgcc.jpg

  33. Amanda Jo on December 9, 2011 at 3:43 pm

    We’re in the market for a new baby mobile as well… we test drove several SUVS/crossovers and none gave me that new car excitement… until I drove the Toyota Venza!!! I loved it – it felt very open and spacious w/ both a moon roof and a sun roof… and plenty of space. Felt to me like driving a sexy little car, yet rolled into an sub-type vehicle. The Highlander was great as well – just bigger than we need. Good luck!

  34. Laura@mypurposefullife on December 9, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    Hahahah the Pilot’s comment about the bacon and eggnog is so funny! I was LOLing at it at work and the kids I take care of were looking at me with worried glances, haha. I love pizookies (they made a few too many late night appearances in college), and the melting pot is definitely another fave (good choices!) but my favorite dessert has to be Bobby Flay’s inside out german chocolate cake at Bar Americain in NYC. I love any and all things chocolate AND you get huge slice. I hope you beat your winter sniffles asap!

  35. Hillary on December 9, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    There’s a restaurant in Baltimore that has “chipwiches” for dessert—two fresh, warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies sandwiched with vanilla ice cream, then topped with hot fudge, caramel, and whipped cream. Sometimes my boyfriend and I go for dinner, but really we’re just there for dessert ; )

  36. Brooke on December 9, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    I have a Volvo V50 wagon (the small version) and love it! Reliable and safe. On a side note, I remember being 35 weeks pregnant and catching a case of the sniffles…my dear friend with 4 children said to me “That means the baby’s coming soon.” Something about one last immune boost for baby. Sure enough, I had my baby girl the next week at 36 weeks. Not based in science, but strange that she had the sniffles before every one of her 4 kids and then it happened to me. Maybe your little one will be arriving very soon!

  37. [New Balance] Nicole on December 9, 2011 at 5:39 pm

    Yum! I love pizzokies so much ๐Ÿ™‚

  38. Ashley on December 9, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    I’ve been juicing “Citrus Zingers” with orange, grapefruit, lemon, celery, bell pepper, spinach, ginger, and spirulina. It will make your lips pucker for sure, but they’re good for you. For desserts, I usually go to this place called Rick’s Dessert Diner. It’s decked out in pink 50’s decor and they sell cakes in every flavor you can imagine by the slice. And they’re usually 5 layer cakes so you always have leftovers.

    • Fitnessista on December 9, 2011 at 10:51 pm

      that sounds fantastic, but definitely sour! wheeeew!
      and i would like to go to rick’s dessert diner… right about now ๐Ÿ™‚

  39. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on December 9, 2011 at 6:41 pm

    I’m still searching for a restaurant here that has pizookies on the menu… no luck yet! ๐Ÿ˜› My favourite restaurant dessert is the white chocolate cheesecake at Milestones (it’s a chain here in Canada… not sure if you guys have them in the US?). It’s sooo decadent! ๐Ÿ˜€

  40. Heather @ Bake, Run, Live on December 9, 2011 at 6:44 pm

    I hope you feel better soon.
    When I get sick, lots of fluids and sleep are a must. My white blood cells don’t produce like they should when I get sick, so I have to be careful and really take care of myself.

  41. jodie on December 9, 2011 at 7:25 pm

    Tiramisu is my fav dessert. Still have not tried a pizookie.

  42. mi-an d. on December 9, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    did i tell you that i finally got sunwarrior protein?? and yes i totally agree with you!!! it’s so good!! best so far that i’ve tried.

    • Fitnessista on December 9, 2011 at 10:47 pm

      yay i’m glad you like it!

  43. Eleni D on December 9, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    First of all- LOVE your dog. I have a little Yorkie named Belle.
    Second, i adore lettuce wraps. Any kind, i can eat them every day. I dont eat meat so i usually just change up the sauces to spice it up!
    Loved reading. Keep it up..
    ๐Ÿ™‚ Eleni

    • Fitnessista on December 9, 2011 at 10:46 pm

      thank you, eleni!
      love lettuce wraps too ๐Ÿ™‚
      xoxo

  44. Tina on December 9, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    That doggy is sooo cute! Thanks for the cools pictures. For some reason bloggers foods always looks so yummy. My favorite is always the desert! merry christmas!

  45. Jacqueline on December 10, 2011 at 12:00 am

    I have a great SUV suggestion for you. Got it as our second car in March and its been a dream… the RX450h. its a hybrid, so its good for the environment but its also so amazing. we also have the IS350 and it is just a sedan but also such a smooth ride and so easy to drive and just so fun. Lexus is such a great car, so I recommend you check it out and add it to your list of maybe’s!

    • Fitnessista on December 10, 2011 at 12:23 am

      i’ll definitely test drive it! how’s the maintenance and repair on it so far?

  46. Nada (One Arab Vegan) on December 10, 2011 at 10:19 am

    That pizookie looks insane! Plus that is such a fun word to say. I just did a whole post on my tips for battling the sniffles. Echinacea, garlic honey and lemon are my go-to’s!

  47. Nicole on December 10, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Hey, I’m not sure if anyone suggested a Ford Escape but I have one and absolutely love it! It feels really safe and comfortable, I’ve never had a problem with mine. They also make a hybrid.

  48. Allison on December 10, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    I MUST try a pizookie… YUM ๐Ÿ˜€ Bella, is just a sleeping beauty!

    Hmmm, I’ve only been to The Melting Pot a couple of times but wasn’t really impressed- probs cause I don’t eat that much dairy and the first course is cheese… A couple of our faves are: Seasons 52, Rio Grande [aka Unle Julio’s], and a local sushi joint ๐Ÿ™‚

  49. Laury (the fitness dish) on December 14, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    FYI…..I got soooooo sick the week before Ella was born. Like I never felt more suck but I think I over dramatized it haha. I was loading up on every natural remedy possible but later found out that your body kind of “cleanses” before you go into labor and some women get a cold or flu like symptoms. Just sayin;-) I may need to get my post over to you sooner rather than later! Don’t want to get your hopes up but it could be a sign she’s on her way veeeery soon!!!!

  50. Laury (the fitness dish) on December 14, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    Ps…I love my Saab 97x but I heard they may be phasing them out? We are looking into hybrid Tahoe’s if they’re not a fortune! So big but so safe!

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