Marvelous In My Monday [MIMM] 11.12.12

The weather the past 3 days has been a real treat, much more enjoyable than the blustery and cool weather that rolled in last week…  Today was no different, sunny and spring-like, I definitely wanted to take advantage of it and be outside!  My Monday was just as marvelous as my weekend!

Marvelous…  3-day weekends [whoop, whoop].

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Marvelous…  A peppermint skim cappuccino from Starbucks.

Marvelous…  A peanut butter pancake bowl for breakfast.

Marvelous…  A long walk with a girlfriend, chatting about recent happenings and “it’s so bad, it’s so good” TV shows.

Marvelous…  A spicy salsa lentil stuffed pepper topped with melty mozzarella cheese for lunch.

Marvelous…  Chobani brownies topped with Peanut Butter Puffins.

Marvelous…  Going to the driving range and playing mini golf with Ryan.

Marvelous…  On-the-go afternoon snacks.

Marvelous…  A successful sweat session of 35 minutes spinning + 10 minutes stairs followed-up with TNT’s week 2 challenge and abs.

Week 1 Challenge

15 push-ups

20 squats

30 homework crunches

50 jumping jacks

*3 times through with no rest*

Week 2 Challenge

50 push-ups

1 mile run/ jog/ walk

Marvelous…  Watching He’s Just Not That Into You and the smell of pizza cooking in the oven for dinner.

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Marvelous…  MIMM, thanks Katie from Healthy Diva Eats!  I always enjoy reading other people’s marvelous posts, it’s a great way to start the week on a positive note 🙂

XOXO,

Allison

Question:  What’s your favorite “it’s so bad, it’s so good” TV show?

Question:  Have you ever baked with yogurt?  Do you have a favorite recipe?

WIAW 11.7.12 // Rain to Snow?!

I can’t believe that it’s already November 7th.  I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is in 15 days and Christmas is only in 48 days.

But what I reallyyy can’t believe is today’s forecast…  Rain to snow.  Really?!  Where did fall go?

I wholeheartedly am happy that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner [I’m dreaming of all the holiday eats, treats, decorations, and celebrations], buttt I don’t think I’m ready for snow quite yet.

If I was still living in Boston I wouldn’t be so surprised, but I’m in Virginia [aka “the south” as most people call it], and I’d like another week or two of fall.

I’d like to continue enjoying the beautiful fall foliage, the reasonable temperatures, and all things pumpkin…

But that’s not looking very promising so I guess this weekend it’s time to unpack my boots with the fur and my puffy parka.

Stay warm y’all!  A bowl of tomato soup sounds perfect for dinner tonight, I hope it’ll warm me up from the inside out.

One of my girlfriends just teased me saying that it’s supposed to be in the 70’s today down in Texas…  I may have to start pushing Ryan to move more south 😉

XOXO,

Allison

P.S.  I probably should have used winter weather pictures to go along with today’s rant, but it’s Wednesday so I stuck with the traditional WIAW [What I Ate Wednesday] theme and used my food pictures to comfort me through this cold transition into winter…  Just go with it, haha!

Question:  Have you seen any snow yet this season?!  It’s not raining, nor snowing so I’m doubtful we’ll actually see anything today…

Question:  What’s the tastiest thing you’ve eaten recently?

Last Chance Survey

Whattt, another surveyyy?  Yup, you betcha!  I did one last Saturday and I’m doing another one this weekend following the lead of these lovely ladies [here, here, and here]…  Come on folks, just give me one. last. chance.  Pretty please, with sugar on top?!

1. Last food you ate?

A Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna Bar.  Halloween has come and gone and I’m happily embracing all things chocolatey, minty, and merry!

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2. Last beverage you drank?

A SF peppermint skim cappuccino from Starbucks.  We ran out of Silk Light Vanilla [our milk of choice] yesterday, so I thought it was a good excuse to make a quick trip up to Starbucks this morning…  Again, ’tis the season 😉

3. Last workout?

Man oh man, winter is on it’s way!  I was hoping to run outside but I pansied out and opted for the gym.  45 minutes on the spin bike and some abs, my body was sufficiently worked out.

4. Last thing you pinned? 

I received the monthly Great Harvest Bread Company email yesterday and was impressed by their Thanksgiving week “Handy-Dandy Schedule.”  Every Thanksgiving, no matter how prepared we think we are, my momma and I are scrambling around like turkeys with our heads cut off until dinner is on the table!  This year I will be referencing this tip sheet…

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5. Last text message you sent?

“Break and bake cookies!  Should we try?”– to Ryan when I was at Whole Foods and saw that Immaculate Baking Co.‘s Chocolate Peppermint and Gingerbread Spice cookies were on sale.

6. Last blog you visited?

Jessie Loves to Run.  Be sure to check her out y’all, she’s a fitness and food loving gal living in Kuwait and has an awesome outlook on life!

7. Last tweet you sent?

8. Last place you visited?

Does meeting my BFF downtown to do some work while she slaves away on grad school applications count as a place?  If yes, then I’ll say the Georgetown Library.

Side note: I am not a fan of libraries.  I’m a rather talkative person so the super quiet, sterile, and sometimes smelly [from old books] library atmosphere doesn’t strike my fancy.  Throughout college I opted to work at Panera or Starbucks [free wifi + good food] over the library.

9. Last time you did ab work?

This afternoon I did Tina’s 6-minute plank workout.  Beware, it’ll make your abs burn!

10. Last show you watched?

Modern Family.  Ryan and I had a stay-at-home date night last night which included going for a family walk, making a roaring fire, eating tasty turkey burgers with sautéed peppers and onions for dinner, munching on some popcorn, and watching reruns of Modern Family…  It was lovely!

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11. Last thing you baked?

Pumpkin spice bran eggie cups.  These were a hit with both Ryan and I [they reminded us of pumpkin pie] so I’m planning to make another batch tomorrow!

12. What is the last thing you Instagrammed?

Breakfast this morning, cinnamon pears and whole wheat oat pancakes…

toppings: plain Cho sweetened with stevia + slivered almonds + dried pineapple + honey

13. Last item on your to-do list today?

This morning I made a list of weekend to-do’s and many of the to-do’s are now to-done’s or will get done tomorrow…  Tonight I’m planning to enjoy a repeat of last night!

XOXO,

Allison

Question:  Have you had your first red holiday Starbucks cup?  Yup, I had my first on Friday!

Question:  How do you contribute to your family’s Thanksgiving meal?