Happy beautiful Wednesday to you! 

At least I hope it was as beautiful for you as it was here. 

I'd say we earned a gorgeous day after a few days of nasty rain.  Here is a little fun fact about me: my attitude is completely different when it's raining than when it's sunny.  I honestly feel that Ben Harper wrote the song, "She's Only Happy in the Sun" with me in mind. 

Another fun fact: I eat the entire apple (core and all) and I eat the entire kiwi (skin and all) but I can only eat a banana if the tips are cut off.  

Speaking of what I eat and what I don't, I often get asked to post my exact meals or amounts.  To be honest, I never really do this on a day-to-day basis because I really don't want the focus of my blog to just be a food diary.  Yes, I post a lot of what I eat but mainly because I absolutely LOVE to cook and I love to share my meal ides and inspirations with you.  If I was just pouring a bowl of cereal and was so concerned about the exact measurements and nothing else, than that would make the feel and purpose of this blog entirely different.  No matter what, I won't win.  Meaning, I'll either be eating too much for someone or too little for another.  I live by one rule, I eat what works best for me and I always urge others to live by that same regiment.  

With that being said, I do think it's fun to post a typical day's eats (in their entirety) from time to time.  After all, this is a healthy living blog and I know many people are interested in seeing what others eat on a typical day.  It also just happens to be WIAW!

I feel like the past week, my guard has been up on this blog.  I really hate feeling like I need to defend myself or my words but with every post, I feel like I'm treading on thin ice.  

Now don't get me wrong.  I am in no way naive to the fact that having a blog entitles anyone to say what they want on what I write.  It's one of the many reasons why I love to openly write commentary.  But every so often, I get a slew of comments that sort of rub me the wrong way and that has happened this past week.  It's caused me to become defensive and in turn, read into other comments the wrong way.  

I want to apologize for my remark last night that a commentor referred to my job as "not real."  This person reached out to me to inform me that wasn't her intention and she was more just interested in what I do for a living.  So as I proceeded to take my foot out of my mouth and apologize, I realized I've been on edge lately and that is just not me.  

I write about my life, my experiences, and my passion because I love it.  Plain and simple.  I truly hope that through my experiences, I might be able to reach others who have or are going through some of the things that I have.  I honestly feel that one of my purposes on this earth is to share my voice in some way.  I've always felt that way so I will continue to speak the truth and remain true to who I am.  I realize that many others may not always agree with my ways and I would not want it any other way.  So I'll continue to take the good with the bad and just be me because if I was anyone else, you'd see right through that and probably wouldn't come back.  

So no matter if you love or hate what you get here, I can assure you it's real.  Just me, trying to live my life the best I know how, making many mistakes along the way but learning from them and aspiring to be a better person because of them.  

And now I'm choosing to let my guard down and have a much better attitude going forward this week. Thanks for listening.  

Breakfast 

Today was a treat because I had a breakfast meeting scheduled at my favorite place on earth…The Hershey Pantry.  

Since I neglected to get the baked oatmeal my last visit, I knew I would have the chance to order it today and it was all I thought about since. 

The "special" flavor was Banana Nut Bread.  Oh yes, I'm serious! 

I wish I could have taken a picture of the plated version but since it was a business meeting, it wasn't appropriate.  I did manage to get a shot of my leftovers that came home with me. 

Doesn't really do it justice but trust me, this tasted exactly like fresh homemade banana bread.  

I was out all morning and had some time to swing home for lunch before heading back into the office. 

Lunch 

I wish I could tell you I'm over my wrap phase but that would be a blatant lie.  I can not get enough of these turkey wraps. 

• organic smoked turkey breast
• spinach
• avocado
• hummus
• goat cheese
• cucumber
• whole wheat tortilla 

Lunch love! 

The weather was less than ideal most of the morning but surprisingly, the rain cleared and the sun came out this afternoon.  It actually got quite warm which changed my entire mindset for dinner.  Whenever it's sunny and warm, my internal chef voice says "MUST GRILL" and I absolutely can't ignore it. 

Dinner 

Grilled Tilapia, grilled zucchini and peppers, black beans, corn salsa, tomatoes, cabbage, homemade guac, Greek yogurt all on a bed of romaine.  

Quite possibly the best salad I could ever make. 

The accompaniments tonight were also worth sharing. 

Chips and homemade salsa that my friend made for me.  It's not often that I get fresh homemade salsa but when I do, I realize how incredible it is.  Jarred salsa doesn't stand a chance when it's up against homemade. I seriously need to learn how to make it! 

Well this week is flying by and I definitely realized how quickly my Boston trip is approaching which also means how quickly the race is approaching. And then I realized there are so many things I wanted to do before this race. 

• Get new sneakers and break them in (probably won't happen) 
• Get a few good runs in outside (probably won't happen) 
• Fix my broken Garmin (not looking promising) 
• Make a playlist (still hope for this one) 
• Buy an arm band for my iPhone so I can run with my phone (hmmm, if I knew where to buy one this might happen) 

Honestly, I just want to go to Boston and have fun.  The race is going to be a blast and I have absolutely no expectations other than to just run and enjoy doing it with some fantastic ladies.  The best races for me seem to occur when I set no plans and just do my thing. 

Hope you all enjoyed the day! 

Have you ever done a race feeling unprepared and did you do better or worse than you thought you would? 

PS- Check out my latest post on the NAG blog for your next weekend breakfast! 

Good Monday to you all!  

Unfortunately, we are going through a few day slump of heavy rain after such a beautiful weekend.  Fortunately, it will only last a few days and the end of the week and weekend look glorious again! I'll take a few rain drops if it means warm sunny skies for the weekend. 

This week and next week are pretty busy at work so I had to mentally prepare myself for the whirlwind I'm about to encounter. But once I get through the next two weeks, I have my trip to Boston to look forward to.  It always helps to have a goal in mind to press through.  

Now let's see, breakfast today was an old favorite utilizing this fantastic fruit we've been experiencing.  Is anyone else madly in love with strawberries right now?  

Breakfast

• Kashi H2H
• Natures Path Multi grain Flakes
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• 1/2 Banana
• Chia
• Sunbutter
• Almond Milk 
• Almonds

I love me a good filling bowl of cereal and this one certainly did not disappoint! 

After working in the office for the morning, I swung home for lunch before I had to be out for the rest of the afternoon in meetings. 

I want to respond to a comment that was left about my work/lunch schedule last week.  A reader commented that my job must not be real since I go home for lunch every day, make lunch, and then travel back to the office.  Let me explain….

I live 30 feet from my office.  Literally, we built our house in the backyard of my office building.  Running home for lunch for me is not more than a 30 second drive so I would be stupid not to utilize this commute.  Also, my job is not a 9-5 sit at your desk type of job.  I work early, I work late, I work weird hours, I never really turn off from it.  I travel a ton with what I do so I'm usually working out of coffee shops, my house or my car.  The time I spend in the office is about 30/70.  So yes, I have a lot of flexibility that I am truly grateful for but I put my life into my job because essentially, it's like my business.  

So it may seem odd that I am home often for lunch but now you may have a better understanding. 

Okay, now for that at-home lunch. 

Lunch 

I made a copycat version of one of my favorite Panera salads using the last leftover Apple Maple Turkey burger. 

Have you ever had the Apple Fuji Chicken Salad from Panera?  It's fantastic and what I think makes it so fantastic are the apple chips.  Dried apples are rocking my world right now and thanks to this lady, I have a year's supply from a recent giveaway I won. 

The salad: 

• Romaine/Spinach
• Purple Cabbage
• Tomatoes
• Goat Cheese
• Pecans
• Dried Apple Slices
• Apple Maple Turkey Burger
• Dijon/Balsamic 

Many of you asked about the burgers so I thought I would just go ahead and share that recipe.  It's incredible easy and they really are quite delicious! 

Ingredients:

Serves 4

• 1 pound lean ground turkey (or turkey breast)
• 1/4 C natural chunky apple sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon 
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 tsp dried parsley

Mix all ingredients together and form into 4 patties.  Grill or bake for 5 minutes each side or until done. 

*Note- This burgers are pretty moist and hard to keep together on the grill.  You might be better off baking them but they will stay incredible juicy either way. 

The salad was delicious.  It would also be delicious with chicken but the burger was a nice complement. 

I ate my salad along with a bowl of watermelon (really good watermelon) and grapes. 

It seems that the fruit obsession is in full swing again. Not that it ever really went away but when the fruit reaches its peak this time of year, I can't help myself.  I want it all and all the time. 

Case in point- it seems to find its way into every single one of my meals. 

Dinner 

Pineapple Quinoa Shrimp Stir Fry 

Ingredients: 

• 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa 
• 2 tablespoons unsalted raw cashews
• peppers
• zucchini
• snap peas
• 1/2 pound shrimp (peeled and de-vained)
• 1/2 cup fresh pineapple
• 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
• 1 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons pineapple juice

Directions: 

Cook the quinoa and set aside.  Heat cashews in a large skillet until slightly roasted. Remove and set aside.  In the same skillet, saute peppers, zucchini, and snap peas and crisp.  In a separate bowl mix teriyaki sauce, soy, and pineapple juice. Add the cooked quinoa, pineapple, shrimp. sauce to the skillet.  Mix together and heat through.  Add the chopped cashews last. 

I think I'm officially over rice.  Quinoa is definitely my favorite stir fry grain these days. 

Well that's about it for today.  I hope you all got your week started off on the right foot. 

Goodnight friends! 

Do you have a flexible work schedule or are you by the clock? 

Hello and Happy Mothers Day to all of you deserving and amazing women out there who continue to inspire me every day.  I may not be a mom quite yet but I'm truly in awe of the many women in my life who are. 

I got to spend yesterday with two of my favorite. 

My sister and I took my mom out for a special ladies day starting with brunch at The Hershey Pantry. 

I had to teach RPM that morning so I ate an English muffin with almond butter around 6am before I taught.  By the time we got to brunch and waited for a table (the place was packed) it was after 11am so I considered this more of my lunch. 

Egg white veggie omlette with whole wheat cinnamon bread.  Amazing! 

We finished brunch and swept my mom away to be pampered at the spa.  Wine and pedicures are two things every woman needs more often. 

It was such a wonderful day and my mom was so grateful to be honored.  She really deserves more than she could ever ask for (don't they all) but even just a few hours was worth it for her. 

Saturday night, Toly went out with friends so I took the opportunity to invite my friend Erin over for a girls night. 

Sammy joined us as well so I guess it wasn't officially an all "girls" night. 

We dined on sushi and drank a bottle of wine while we talked well into the night. 

By 11pm I was passed out like a baby and woke wonderfully this morning.  I really have a great hang-over effect from wine.  It literally puts me into a deep wonderful sleep and I wake up feeling like a million bucks.  I must be a pro.  

Today we had the chance to celebrate with mom #2. 

Toly's mom is very special to both of us so it was great to have her over for a late lunch. 

I prepared the meal ahead of time and Toly did his magic on the grill. 

Spinach, Strawberry, Feta, Pecan, Snap Peas

Grilled BBQ/Mango Chicken 

Fortunately, the weather was picture perfect all weekend which only gets me more anxious for summer.  I feel like I've been saying this all weekend but I'm soooooooo ready for summer! 

Now we're wrapping up this weekend with some down time.  

On a separate note- I want to thank all of you for your incredible support from my last post.  I truly felt so affirmed with every single word that you guys posted and it really does mean so much to hear.  

I hope you all had an outstanding weekend! 

Apparently, you all had quite a lot to say about shoes.  I had no idea the amount of controversy I would stir up from my last post and while most of you relate or agree, I have to relay a few final thoughts: 

• I did not intend to bash the company.  Yes, I was upset.  Yes, I was angry at the way it was handled and not happy with the person I spoke with over the phone but I fully admitted it was my fault for not reading their terms and conditions. While I still believe it misleading (and many other people feel this way too based on the review sites I came across from this particular company) I wrote the post as a way to inform people of these type of sites that might not know, like myself.  I truly had NO idea that these companies operate like that.  Live and learn. 
• This is my blog and thanks to the fifth amendment, I am entitled to post my own views and opinions. I realize the company didn't ask me to write a review; however, one of the underlying aspects of this site is honesty.  I was honest when I told you guys about the No Bull Burgers from the other night and the company in NO WAY gave them to me for free nor asked me to review them.  I bought them with my own money and told you all what I thought.  You can take it or leave it. 
• And lastly, as far as the harsh accusations about my eating/portion sizes/body…..you are all free to judge and criticize which is why I leave the comments open for anyone but just remember it's a whole lot easier to assume those things from afar.  You see a very very small glimpse of my life.  I will say this again.  I do not post everything I eat, I do not intend to change your life by adhering to mine, and if you don't agree with the way I choose to live, please don't read.  Simple as that. 

As much as the negative comments sting, they are still nothing in comparison to the incredible support and love I get almost every single day from so many of you. (THANK YOU!)  So haters gonna hate but in the end, I will always stay true to who I am and promise you that.  

Now let's move on from this all and get ready for the weekend! 

It was a beautiful Friday here! 

Breakfast 

Fruit just seemed necessary this morning. 

And necessary it was!  

I had an easy morning in the office and originally had lunch plans with a friend but she had to cancel last minute.  Luckily, my co-worker and good friend was free so I talked him into being my replacement. 

I of course enticed him with fro-yo which did the trick. 

First, we got salads. 

Lunch 

Panera Fuji Apple Chicken with a whole grain baguette (which I did not eat) and an Acia Berry Tea

Zach ordered the same as we both agreed to make room for fro-yo and salads seemed to be the most sensible choice. 

Lunch was good but let's face it, what I really came for was this….

Coconut/Original Tart with strawberries, chocolate shavings, coconut and almonds. Oh and one little brownie chunk that found its way into the cup.  The girl at the register said the rice krispy treats were a new addition and threw one in my bowl as a free sample. I actually wasn't a fan.  The texture just threw me off as it got hard and chewy in the cool ice cream. 

This was Zach's first time with fro-yo and he was hooked after one bite.  I think I've mentioned this but the whole self serve frozen yogurt concept is new to our neighborhood.  Most people have never even heard of this so it's sort of a big deal around here. 

After lunch, I had a few meetings and then called it a day with my trainer.  Totally spent after tonight's total body workout.  It went a little something like this….

• Leg Press
• Leg Extensions
• Leg Curl 
• Walking Lunches

Repeat 3 x

• Underhand barbell pull down x 3
• Assisted chin-ups x 3
• Rows (on TRX bands) x 3 
• Rows with squats
• Rows with one leg squats (each side) 
• Chest Press x 4

I've been meeting with my trainer for the past few months and some of you have asked about progress.  Well I don't really have a before picture, but here is the now. 

I'm definitely noticing a difference in my shoulders, triceps, and traps.  The abs are there but I don't think I'll ever be one of those girls with a six pack.  That would mean I would have to give up my beloved fro-yo and wine and that is just something I'm not willing to do for a washboard stomach.  

Every time I finish with a hardcore strength workout, I crave protein so meat was on the menu tonight. 

Dinner

Apple Turkey Burgers with Honey Dijon Sauce (homemade), sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts.  

This was such an incredible dinner. 

Although I think tonight was one of those rare occasions that Toly's looked better than mine. 

Well that wraps up this Friday.  I wish you all a fantastic weekend!  Tomorrow I am teaching spin in the morning and then taking my mom out for mothers day.  We're spending the day with Toly's mom on Sunday.  It going to be a weekend honoring those lovely ladies which is just how it should be. 

Enjoy! 

Weekend Playlist: 

• This Isn't Everything You Are – Snow Patrol
• It's Time- Imagine Dragons
• The A Team- Ed Sheeran
• Half Moon- Blind Pilot 

I feel completely taken advantage of by the internet today.

Let me explain…

I am was a big fan of the discount fashion websites that would send daily emails showcasing their designer inspired products at a great price.  Even though I don't buy from them often (except yesterday with my 7 jeans), I have been known to use them here and there when I find a really good deal. 

Well apparently, many of these sites are incredible deceiving.  Maybe I am just living under a rock but I literally had NO idea that you have to pay a monthly fee to receive these emails. I was the victim of one of these sites and lost quite a bit of money because of it. 

JustFab is a Women's Shoes and Handbag site that allows you to create a personalized style collection and will send you email updates with new looks and deals.  Everything is advertised as being $39.95 with free shipping.  A few months ago, I bought a pair of shoes from this site.  I paid $40, got free shipping, and thought that was it.  What a great deal right! WRONG!!!!! 

Apparently, when you make your first purchase, the terms and conditions contain a clause that you will be enrolled in their VIP membership program that will continue to send you emails with new looks AND charge you $39.95 every month.  So even if you don't buy anything, they take money from the credit card that you inputted into their system just because you are some special member.  

Last night, Toly noticed a fee on our account and asked me to look into it.  When I called the company, they explained that I was a VIP member and had to pay this monthly fee that they were automatically deducting.  So over the course of 6 months, they took $240 from me for buying one pair of shoes!  

The girl on the phone was able to get me half of my money back and when I called today to speak to a manager to try and get it all back the woman said that there was no way they could do that.  It was written in their terms and conditions and they can't force me to read it so it's basically my fault.  Shame on me!  

I was furious and then I wondered just how many of these fashion websites operate like this?!?!  Ideeli, Haute Look, Shoedazzle…all ones I receive daily emails from.  Luckily (to my knowledge) the ones that I've used are fee free, but I highly encourage you to check into all of these fashion sites before ordering from them.  It's incredibly sneaky and they do a fantastic job of covering up the fine print. 

Okay, now on to the day….

Thursday morning are always a bit of a rush.  I wake up early to be at the gym to teach my RPM class.  I absolutely LOVE teaching this class but the thought of waking up and facing the world at 4:30am is always rough.  I have no trouble at all waking up that early to workout by myself in my basement, but having to turn on my brain takes a lot more energy and effort when I have to teach. 

I usually have meetings on Thursday mornings so I don't have any time to eat breakfast after getting home from the gym.  Breakfast has to be made the night before and eaten at my desk in this situation. 

Breakfast 

This has become one of my favorite breakfasts lately. 

• 1/4 cup Trader Joe's Honey Almond Flax cereal
• Cottage Cheese + Plain Chobani + Stevia + Cinnamon
• Strawberries
• Banana
• Chia
• Sunbutter
• Almonds

I know I've said this before but I'm going to say it again.  Whipped cottage cheese + greek yougrt + cinnamon tastes like cheesecake!  It's pretty amazing, so filling, and so good that I usually eat it for dessert every night too. 

Lunch 

I also realize that I've been showing you guys the same lunch all week but clearly it's been the highlight of my week. 

I don't know how else to convince you….this combo is fantastic!  Go try it now! 

I enjoyed my wrap in the sun (finally) with half of a grapefruit and a big glass of lemon water.  

After work, I realized I had a few other internet malfunctions.  Apparently, my personal facebook account has been auto-posting to my business twitter account.  I have no idea why or how this happened.  It seemed to have started a few days ago and I don't recall changing a thing in my settings.  I also have no idea how to stop this.  Any ideas?  I am completely lost! 

I eventually gave up and made myself dinner. 

Dinner 

I had a few strawberries in the fridge that were on their last day so I figured I would incorporate them into dinner.  The best way I knew how to do this was to throw them in a summery salad. 

• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Feta
• Roasted Asparagus
• Avocado 
• Pecans
• Grilled Chicken
• Raspberry Balsamic 

So good! 

Now I'm off to fight with my computer some more.  Some days I can't imagine my life without technology and other days I want it all to just go away! (I didn't mean that.  

Have you ever been scammed by an online company? Do you always read the fine print? 

This post is going to be filled with a bunch of random information so bare with me….

Today, I had the pleasure of reuniting myself with whipped banana "cheesecake" oats. Today, I also remembered why I love breakfast so very much. 

If eating "cheesecake" for breakfast is wrong, I don't want to be right. 

I am sort of in love with my new lululemon chaturanga tank but I don't ever see myself wearing it to actually work out in.  I'd rather wear it  out on a Friday night and to prove that, it's currently hanging with the rest of my fancy tops in the "nice" section of my closet. For as much as I paid for it, it deserves a place on a hanger. 

I'm really into wraps lately.  Specially turkey, spinach and avocado wraps with hummus and mustard. 

These kale chips are ruling my life. Yes, I realize how easy it is to make my own kale chips and I often do make my own, but let's just talk about how incredible the fact is that you can now buy a bag of dehydrated kale at the regular grocery store.  I just wish they weren't so darn expensive. 

Trying to eat a grapefruit at work in a skirt is not the best idea before a presentation.  Just sayin'. 

Remember that coffee addiction I was telling you about yesterday….I think it's gotten worse overnight.  Now that the weather is nice, I'm feeling the need for a daily post lunch iced coffee.  Damn you starbucks and your delicious iced coffee. 

When did Tootsie Pops start making new flavors?  Banana?  Even though I don't eat candy too often, I was entirely intrigued to try this. 

After hearing so many wonderful things about the No Bull Burgers, I finally broke down and bought some. 

First, I have to tell you that I was completely impressed by the quality of service of this company. It's a small local business and I'm all about supporting that initiative. I placed an order as a gift and also made sure to pick up a package for myself. I placed this order and in less than 24 hours, they were on my doorstep. 

Naturally, I had planned on trying them right away. 

So here are the things I liked about the burger…..

• It tasted authentically homemade
• It was full of texture and character
• 10 grams of protein
• The ingredients were pure and simple

Now aside from all of that, the most important opinion is the taste.  Well I have to be honest because I always vow to do so on this blog….

They weren't the best veggie burger I've ever had but they definitely weren't the worst.  I honestly feel like I could make these taste better if I made them myself so I don't think I would buy them again. 

But like I said, the company is fantastic, their vision is one I support, and I don't feel badly about supporting such a good cause.  

I bought my very first pair of 7 for All Mankind Jeans today.  I've never owned a pair of designer jeans and I intentionally saved some extra blog money to purchase them so I feel like it's a justified splurge but I seriously hope they are worth it.  From the level of review, I honestly have never heard a bad thing about these jeans so my expectations are set high. 

See I told you, a whole bunch of random information. Some days I'm just filled with it! 

What was the last splurge item you bought for yourself? 

I am glad you are all impressed with the amount of things I accomplish throughout the day but truthfully, I think it just seemed like so much when you break it down hour by hour.  I'm sure your list would look comparable if you did the same.  

For being a subdued day yesterday, today made up for it.  

I had to be at an early morning work event and needed to take my breakfast to go. 

Blueberry Banana Spinach Smoothie and a waffle with almond butter. 

In the smoothie went: 

• frozen blueberries
• 1/2 frozen banana
• Spinach (lots of it) 
• 1 scoop Sun Warrior Protein Powder
• 1 tsp flax
• 1 tsp almond butter
• Almond milk 
• 2 tbl plain Greek yogurt

I've really been into this smoothie combo lately.  It's sweet enough but slightly nutty from the almond milk and it packs in so much protein and fat that it actually keeps me full for hours. 

It's hard for me to just drink a meal though which is why I needed a little extra chew with breakfast.  A lightly toasted Kashi waffle with a smear of more almond butter did the trick. 

One thing missing from this breakfast was my daily cup of coffee.  I decided not to make a cup to go and figured if I needed one, I would stop after my appointment and grab something.  I really didn't think I would need it but I was so very wrong.  5 minutes into my appointment, I suddenly felt exhausted, cranky, and totally irritable.  So I guess I'm way more dependent on caffeine in the morning than I thought.  As soon as my meeting wrapped up, I hightailed it over to the nearest Sbux and filled the void with a grande soy misto and instantly felt better within the first few sips.  Oy, it might be a problem but I'm not ready to admit it yet.  

My morning was filled with travel, meetings, more travel and more meetings.  

I had a lunch meeting around 1:00pm and by then, I was so ready to eat. 

We met at a local restaurant/bar that was your typical restaurant/bar fare.  Luckily I found a salad on the menu that I knew I would love. 

Spinach, Salmon, Mandarin Oranges, and Sliced Almonds.  It's hard to go wrong with salmon. 

After lunch, I had one more meeting and then finally was able to make the hour trip back home.  

Dinner tonight was quite delicious!  

I made a simple stir fry utilizing zucchini, peppers, broccoli and chicken sausage with a peanut sauce and served it over brown rice/quinoa blend with spinach. 

I loved the chicken sausage in this stir fry.  I wouldn't normally think to use chicken sausage in a stir fry dish but it really came together nicely. 

The rest of the week is steady with work for me.  I just keep pushing through and know that the weekend is one day closer with every accomplishment. 

Night! 

Do you drink coffee/caffeine?  Do you feel like you're dependent on it or could you easily quite cold turkey? 

Thank you all for your sweet comments from my dress this weekend.  I actually bought this little number at White House Black Market and have worn it a few times to fancy work events but I didn't realize how flattering it was until now.  You all made my day! 

I was in bed last night by 8:30pm.  After only 3 hours of sleep the night before, I was surprised I lasted that long.  Aside from being sleep deprived, I slept wonderfully last night and woke this morning feeling totally energized and not at all lethargic.  Really surprised myself here, especially after a fun-filled weekend of partying.  

Today was a rather ordinary day, meaning it all fell into what I would call a "normal" routine.  My weeks seem to be 50/50 with days that are all planned out and days that I'm all over the place.  For the most part, I do well at keeping to a schedule, fitting in everything I set out to do and making sure I'm always on top of my priorities.  

Here is an example of how a "normal" day happens in my life: 

4:11am- Alarm goes off.  I walk into my bathroom, pee, throw on my sports bar and a pair of shorts, put in my contacts, and head down to my basement to start my workout. 

4:18am- I turn on my DVD player and begin with a new season of "How I Met Your Mother" (my current morning workout entertainment). 

4:20am- Start up the treadmill and embark on my run.  A little shaky at first but after 10 minutes, my legs wake up and I'm grooving at a nice pace. 

5:30am- Finish 3 episodes of HIMYM and look down at the machine to realize I ran 8.5 miles.  I wasn't planning on running that much but I totally zoned out and felt good the entire time so I just kept going. 

5:40am- Turn on the shower and proceed to get ready for the day. 

6:20am- Walk downstairs, chug my daily ACV lemon water, take my vitamins, and turn on my Krueig.  

6:25am- Begin to put together my breakfast. 

6:40am- Eat, check email, post for Shiloh Farms, read blogs. 

7:00am- Go upstairs, brush teeth, put on jewelry, pee and head out the door for work. 

7:15am- Arrive at my office.  I don't have any appointments today so I spent the entire morning working at my desk. 

10:30am- Snack on a few almonds. 

12:30pm- Head home for lunch. 

12:40pm- Put together my latest lunch obsession- 

1:20pm- Head back to work and clock in some quality desk time for the rest of the afternoon. 

3:00pm- Snack on an apple. 

4:00pm- Pack up for the day and head home. 

4:15pm- Throw back on my dirty workout clothes (I know, gross) and head back to my basement to complete some ab work and stretching that I neglected this morning. 

5:00pm- Go through mail, check emails, talk to Toly.

5:45pm- Start making dinner. 

6:15pm- Eat dinner. 

7:00pm- Clean up from dinner, pack Toly's lunch, clean kitchen. 

7:30pm- Sit down, blog, read blogs, check email, work on post for NAG blog, etc. 

8:30pm- Snack time! Cottage cheese with strawberries and honey. 

9:15pm- Bed. 

So there you have it.  A very detailed look into a rather uneventful day.  Most of my days are not this dull, especially at work, but today just happened to be one of those days.  I'm usually traveling or running around to various appointments so it's rare that I get to spend an entire day in the office but when it happens, I embrace it.  

I  think it's safe to say my beloved Garmin has finally been put to rest. 

I've had this for two years and it's definitely been through the ringer.  The band broke several times and I've attempted to salvage it for as long as I could which included a massive surgery with some rather intense rubber cement. 

The other day, I dropped it and it broke into two pieces so I gave up.  I thought about sending it back and contacted the company.  They said I could send it back for repair for a minimum of $75 plus shipping, but I actually found a great deal on EBay for the same model for only $60.  Score! 

Just in time for my Boston race at the end of the month! 

Lastly, the WINNER of my Funky Monkey Snack Giveaway! 

Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables May 2, 2012 at 12:55 pm [edit]

Mango looks delish!

Congrats Emilie!  Please email me with your address asap!

Hope you all had a wonderful Monday! 

Are most of your weekdays pretty routine or do they fluctuate from day to day? 

Hello and happy weekend to you all! 

We are still in Cleveland visiting Toly's family and enjoying every moment. 

Toly has a lot  of family and close friends that live out here and we usually try to make it out a few times a year to visit for special occasions.  This time, it was for the momentous celebration of his twin cousin's 13th birthday!  Now if you haven't heard me mention this before, listen up……

RUSSIANS KNOW HOW TO THROW A PARTY! (you'll see what I mean in a moment) 

We arrived Friday night and immediately began the festivities with a big Russian inspired dinner at his cousin's house.  And by Russian-inspired I mean tons of food, vodka, and laughter that lasted well into the early morning hours. 

Saturday was th day of the big party and his family had a ton of things to get done in preparation so Toly and I took the opportunity to explore the city on our own. 

Exploring the city meaning, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and of course a fabulous meet up with this lovely lady. 

Liz lives only a few minutes from his family and every time I am in town, we make it a point to try and meet.  Her and I have become close friends over the years and it's always such a pleasure to see this girl once a year. 

After a nice catch up with Liz, Toly and I continued to roam around and eventually found ourselves at a very important stop doing on task we always do when we are in Cleveland. 

Our annual 2 Buck Chuck stock up!  Trader Joe's is not allowed to sell wine in Pennsylvania or Maryland so the only chance we really have is when we come here.  An entire case of wine for $30….you just can't beat it! 

We rewarded the hard work with some Menchies of course. 

The afternoon quickly turned into evening and we headed home to get ready for the festivities. 

So here are a few things to note about Russian parties….

• They are extravagant, beautiful, and completely over the top (in a good way) 
• They don't begin until 10pm at night and go until 4 or 5 in the morning 
• There is a TON and I mean a TON of food 
• There certainly is no such thing as an open bar…it's more like many open bottles at your table…all.night.long.

Just a few pictures from the night but it really doesn't do it justice.  You just need to experience it for yourself to really understand. 

(these were just appetizers)

(chocolate Cognac fountain) 

We didn't get home until 4:30am which is 30 minutes later than I usually wake up most mornings.  Naturally, I slept for a solid 3 hours so I'm guessing I'll be crashing hard on the drive home. 

What a fabulous weekend!  Hope you enjoyed yours as well. 

One more day to enter my Funky Monkey Snacks Giveaway if you haven't already!!