Just a Monday

I think the Pilot loves being in Tucson as much as I do. After he got off work, he stopped by my mom’s house to say hi, and she was cooking a feast.

gnocchi

Baked gnocchi with vodka sauce and cheese

homemade meatballs

cheesy bread

bread

and a Bundt cake.

cake

You know, Monday night fare 😉

He came home and said “Did you make dinner yet? Your mom is making a feast… want to go over there?”

Of course I did.

So we got dressed, grabbed Bell and headed over to the madre’s.

us 

[I enjoyed a goat cheese salad and veggie sandwich. Madre always makes enough food for an army, but I’ll usually bring a veggie or gluten-free option over. Pretty much everyone in the family has a key to her house, so you never know who will be there. I love it]

The fun part of the night was when she busted out a bunch of stockings and puffy paint for us to each decorate:stockings

The Pilot made a stocking for the two of us:

stocking

He has mad skillz, and was covered in glitter a la Edward Cullen. I like that.

I decorated a stocking for the baby- here’s the top part of it:

stocking (2)

The arts and crafts project gave me flashbacks of high school student council. I’ve used a lot of puffy paint in my day 😉

Holiday music, the boys being goofballs, belly rubs from the madre.. it was a very good night.

We actually have to cover our pipes and leave a little bit of water running tonight because there’s a freeze warning!

Brrrr.

See ya in the morning with 10 Ways to Make December Divine <3

xoxo

Gina

Workout quickie: Too cold to venture outdoors for a workout? Try this short at-home cardio routine, which I made exactly this time last year. Short and sweaty!

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67 Comments

  1. Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] on December 5, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    Look at that beautiful belly!!

  2. Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn on December 5, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    Ah! Not a fan of the freeze warnings. Tom is a talented stocking decorator!

    • Fitnessista on December 5, 2011 at 11:44 pm

      isn’t he? i was impressed! he’s artistic like that, though 🙂

  3. Sara on December 5, 2011 at 11:44 pm

    Did you say… VODKA sauce? You did, right?

    I can’t even imagine….

    • Krystina on December 6, 2011 at 12:02 am

      You can’t taste the vodka in any capacity. It’s a tomato cream sauce with vodka. The vodka is used to bring out the flavor of the tomatoes, it doesn’t really give any alcoholic taste.

  4. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on December 5, 2011 at 11:44 pm

    I love those stockings! You look gorgeous, and the food looks delicious! Glad you had such a fun night!

  5. Joanna on December 5, 2011 at 11:53 pm

    Wowee! That feast looks amazing! I’ve never had gnocchi. Is it like a thick potato pasta or something like that? It looks delicious, whatever it is! And you and Pilot are so cute! Your stocking came out great!

    • Fitnessista on December 5, 2011 at 11:55 pm

      it’s like a little pasta dumpling made out of potato, flour and egg 🙂

  6. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga on December 6, 2011 at 12:31 am

    Aww that’s so sweet that you just hopped on over to your mama’s house…now THAT’S the ticket if you can score that kinda deal: mom cooks and you don’t have to but still get to see everyone. Sounds like a plan to me!

    And I’ve used a lot of puffy paint in my day, too. Oh, the memories!

  7. Elyse on December 6, 2011 at 1:10 am

    Your family seems very similar to mine. We all have a key to my grandma’s house and go over there often. My favorite is Thursdays because I know she is making homemade tacos! I love that feeling of being surrounded by family and being able to hangout with the ones you love at the drop of a hat!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:09 am

      there’s nothing like it 🙂

  8. Ali on December 6, 2011 at 1:35 am

    I love the stockings! That’s awesome! I cannot even believe the amount of food you Mom made. That is just way over the top.

  9. Nada (One Arab Vegan) on December 6, 2011 at 4:20 am

    Such cute stockings! I’d say both you and top are talented decorators – to think you did that all without a stencil, I’m impressed.

  10. Leslie Wingate on December 6, 2011 at 7:24 am

    Your momma, food, holiday cheer, and a round belly with a darling girl counting down her days. I’d say your cup runneth over, my friend!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:06 am

      amen to that. i’m very thankful <3

  11. Jamie @ Don't Forget the Cinnamon on December 6, 2011 at 7:41 am

    “There’s a hole in this cake…”

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:05 am

      what is it?
      a bundt.
      a bonk?
      bundt. bundT.
      it’s a cake….
      oh, it’s a CAKE!
      🙂

      • allison @ thesundayflog on December 6, 2011 at 3:34 pm

        YESSSSSSSSS. “thas ok, i make lamb”

        • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 4:10 pm

          hahah!
          and inside the lump they found teeth and a spinal cord. yes, inside the lump, was my twin.

          • allison @ thesundayflog on December 6, 2011 at 4:16 pm

            bahahaha i am dying. i never used to think i liked that movie, but it is seriously one of the FUNNIEST ive ever seen.



          • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 5:16 pm

            me too- i watch it every time it’s on tv!



          • Amanda on December 6, 2011 at 4:25 pm

            “Oh, Toula… EAT something.”



          • Amanda on December 6, 2011 at 5:38 pm

            We told her the war was over but Grandma still slept with a knife under her pillow.



          • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 5:56 pm

            hahaha omg just thinking about the grandma makes me laugh. she was hilarious



          • Brittany on December 7, 2011 at 6:33 pm

            “Give me a word, any word, and I will tell you that the root of that word is Greek”



  12. char @ char on a mission on December 6, 2011 at 8:12 am

    Your shopping rut is definitely not showing in that pic – I think you look fab!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:02 am

      thanks girl- that’s sweet to hear when you feel kinda blah, ya know?
      xoxox

  13. Steffany on December 6, 2011 at 8:19 am

    LOVE the pic of you two !! You really are a gorgeous pregnant gal ! (:

  14. Brittany on December 6, 2011 at 8:46 am

    I love that your mom had stockings for everyone to decorate with puffy paint. We used to have a huge beach bag full of puffy paint for crafts growing up. I have tons of crazy t-shirts I decorated with it. 🙂

    Definitely going to try your at-home cardio routine this evening. Thanks lady.

  15. Jaime on December 6, 2011 at 8:46 am

    Can you share your mom’s recipe? It looks fabulous!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:02 am

      i’ll ask her 🙂

  16. Emily on December 6, 2011 at 8:48 am

    You are looking so beautiful, just wanted to let you know!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:02 am

      thank you, friend <3

  17. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on December 6, 2011 at 8:52 am

    Oh my gosh, I can’t believe your mom just cooks up a feast like that on just an average Monday night! It looks amazing!

  18. Allison on December 6, 2011 at 8:58 am

    How fun! That’s so cute that you live close to your momma and can drop by at any time… Any type of arts and crafts, I’m sold!

    P.S. Will your momma share her gnocchi recipe?! Looks delic 😀

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:01 am

      i’ll definitely ask her!

  19. Sarah S. on December 6, 2011 at 9:16 am

    Your belly is so cute! And that food looks amazing.

  20. Nicole on December 6, 2011 at 9:43 am

    That sounds like an amazing Monday night! I love that workout quickie, by the way. I found it on Youtube a while ago and use it often when I don’t have the time (or the resolve) for a longer workout!

  21. Amanda on December 6, 2011 at 9:44 am

    What a nice Monday. I also live really close to my family, and love being able to stop by my parents’ place for dinners. 🙂

    Your mom seriously outdid herself. Dinner was quite the feast!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:10 am

      she is a cooking ninja 🙂

  22. Emily on December 6, 2011 at 9:45 am

    Geesh girl, indulge a little! That meal looks delicious!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:00 am

      it looked GLORIOUS! gluten and dairy upset my stomach, so i stay away from it for the most part, and it wasn’t worth it to me to be sick all night last night. if it were a special occasion, i would have had some cake, but really needed to get a full night’s sleep instead of tossing and turning from stomach ache.
      madre is a sweetheart and will make gluten-free treats for me to have, too 🙂 last week she made… gluten-free peppermint espresso brownies. i love her 🙂

  23. Felicia on December 6, 2011 at 10:01 am

    that really sounds like the most perfect evening ever. i love family get togethers, even when its random. your mom sounds a lot like my mom and grandmother- always cooking, baking, and feeding others ! i already do it too.. considering i made 13 things for thanksgiving and it wasn’t even at my house hahaha!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 10:10 am

      haha i think it’s a genetic trait that’s passed down

  24. Anna @ On Anna's Plate on December 6, 2011 at 10:03 am

    Nights like that make me wish that we lived closer to my family. We’re only eight hours away…but can’t do pop-ins!!

  25. Lena @Fit on the Rocks on December 6, 2011 at 10:07 am

    That’s probably the nicest stocking I’ve seen a man make lol. I wish I lived closer to my mom so that I could get in on a feast whenever I wanted.

  26. Courtney @ Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life on December 6, 2011 at 10:46 am

    I love how close your family is – reminds me a lot of mine!
    You look absolutely GLOWING, Gina! Love the baby bump! 🙂

  27. Beth on December 6, 2011 at 10:50 am

    How cute is it that the pilot just stops by your mom’s to say hi?!?! Adorable. it sounds like he fits in perfectly with your fam!!

  28. Sarah on December 6, 2011 at 10:54 am

    Cute stockings!! Love that you guys are so close to your fam…and thus always have 2 choices for dinner 🙂

    The low last night here was around -7 before windchill…and it’s just the very beginning of winter, ugh!!

  29. Alyssa @ Don't Look Down on December 6, 2011 at 11:06 am

    I think it’s crazy that you have a freeze warning and need to cover your pipes. I grew up in Iowa and we never really even worried about that till it was January and we hadn’t been above 0 in a few days. Maybe better insulation in houses there?

  30. Laurie on December 6, 2011 at 11:06 am

    That is so great that the Pilot stops by your Mom’s house like that! Isn’t it wonderful that he is so close to your family? You look great! She will be here before you know it!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 11:43 am

      it’s awesome- the pilot has seriously been adopted into the family 🙂
      thank you <3 yes, so soon!!

  31. Julie (A Case of the Runs) on December 6, 2011 at 11:22 am

    Wow, that stuff looks SO delicious (I love gnocchi)…. I’d be a little sad not to indulge in, or at least sample, my parents’ food. But then again, my parents are much older, and I don’t know how many more opportunities I will have.

  32. Liz @ Southern Charm on December 6, 2011 at 11:27 am

    Love the stockings! You have some great decorating skills! haha. Mine need a bit … I lied, a lot of help!

  33. Jessy (squeezetheday) on December 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    My mother always cooks too much as well, haha. But if she made a feast, I certainly wouldn’t choose a veggie sandwich and a salad over her meal!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 12:06 pm

      i love how mom’s do that- mine cooks a feast for at least 12 people every night 🙂
      it’s not like i didn’t want to eat it, i didn’t want to be sick from all the gluten and cheese. she knows how those foods make me feel, but didn’t know we were coming over until the last minute. instead of showing up hungry with no veggies or gf options for dinner, i just brought a little something along. nbd

      • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 12:08 pm

        if she would have made chicken meatballs instead of beef (which she does often) i would have been all over those 🙂

        • Jay on December 6, 2011 at 3:11 pm

          Excuse my ignorance, but what do chicken/beef have to do with gluten/dairy?

          • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 4:28 pm

            it would have been an option that i would have eaten, that’s all. they’re not related



  34. Emily @ Glitz Glam Granola on December 6, 2011 at 1:06 pm

    Omigosh I can see why the pilot loves being close to your mom (for many reasons I’m sure) but that is quite the feast!!! I can’t believe that’s just an average night! And how fun that she gave you all stockings to decorate! I’m impressed with your puffy paint abilities though– I was always horrible with the stuff!

  35. Bree on December 6, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    You have such a cute belly 🙂

    Can you tell me where that tank you’re wearing is from? I am still in my regular tanks (thank goodness because I wear them under everything!), but I know I will need some that will fit over my belly as it keeps growing.

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 4:29 pm

      thank you!
      it’s from target maternity. i wear it all the time because it’s nice and long 🙂

  36. alicia on December 6, 2011 at 5:22 pm

    So lucky!! My parents live in town and my hubs would never just swing by my parents house. You’re moms’ is exactly how I want my home to be when my babies are older!!! Happy Holidays!!

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 5:55 pm

      we call it “the hub.” everyone knows just to go over there- i really love it, and like you, hope that our house is like that one day

  37. Lindsay on December 6, 2011 at 5:52 pm

    Please please post the recipes for this feast!! I’ve been wanting to make baked gnocchi. And the cake recipe wouldn’t hurt either 🙂

    • Fitnessista on December 6, 2011 at 5:57 pm

      i’ll definitely ask her, but no one in my family uses recipes. they just make things, so unless you watch, you never know how they did it

  38. Laura@mypurposefullife on December 6, 2011 at 10:56 pm

    Best Monday ever! That dinner looks so good, and just being with family, doing Christmasy arts and crafts makes me very happy for you. I am 2,000 miles from my family, but hope one day I will be near enough for spontaneous Monday night dinners. I am so glad that you are finally near your family! 🙂

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