Early Bird Workout Secrets

Having trouble getting up for a EARLY BIRD work out?

I did too, until I discovered a couple tricks, after many years of (repeated) failed attempts.
Here are some things that helped me, hope they help you too!

1. Plan your early bird work out WITH A FRIEND.
By making a commitment to someone other than yourself, you feel more invested. When you fail to get up for a work out you have planned with some one, you have now let down TWO people, not just yourself. Besides lets face it, if it's just you the snooze button will get more of a work out than you will.

2. MAKE A SCHEDULE. It's easier to make something a habit if you do it the same day AND time every week. It is hard to do, but TRUST me- totally worth it.

3. TAKE A CLASS. Again it all goes back to commitment. By taking a class you feel a greater investment (literally $) in your sun rise work out. A class is a way to ensure that you get the work out you want and deserve for getting up early. It's easy to have a easy workout without someone there to push you.

4. Ensure your work out is ATTAINABLE. It is unreasonable to think that after a night out, or late evening that an early morning work out is ACTUALLY going to happen.

5. Have REALISTIC Goals. You are probably not going to work out EVERY morning before work, but TWO to THREE times a week.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Goodbye Green Monster

I sold my college car yesterday, and am a bit nostalgic.

That car was:

Summer Weekends in Tahoe
Weekend trips to Target
Three Parking Tickets
Taxi rides to the airport during Thanksgiving and Christmas break
A extension of my wardrobe
Powder ski days with friends and family
A temporary shoe closet during moves
Country concert carpools
Two speeding tickets :(
Day trips to San Francisco
A UC Davis Mascot (please see back sticker)
and many more

Goodbye Green Monster. You did me well!!!

Think of how many memories you've had in your car...
Name a favorite.

Salad with a Side of Leaves

Give this a try:

Minimal Leaves
Blueberries
Strawberries
(Oranges-not my favorite, but worth trying)
Apples
Carrots
Broccoli
Walnuts
Sunflower Seeds
Blue Cheese Crumbles

All tossed with your favorite salad dressing.

I describe it as a fruit lettuce salad. Simply delicious, filling, colorful, and easy to make.

Any suggestions of what else might be good in it?

*Fair warning- the cheese is what pulls this salad together. I would NOT recommend leaving it out. Totally worth the extra calories :)

Shoe Saturdays: Volume 1 - Crosstrainers

I am what I would like to call a recreational runner. I find it's a great way to let out some stress and sweat, although I totally understand people who find running pointless, and boring. I GET IT, running IS NOT for everyone.

That being said, I too have been trying to branch out and broaden my work out horizons through Cross training. Engaging the good old tactic of 'Body Confusion' to maintain my fitness.

I have been looking for a good Cross training shoe, and have read many reviews on different brands, etc.

These Nikes (available here with free shipping for $5 bucks less than Zappos) have received great reviews online and in this month's Shape magazine.



I haven't rocked Nikes in years, but figure I might give them a go.

Added bonus: They come in great COLOR combinations

Read Up Folks

I have always been a avid reader, and spent all lunch periods in fourth grade at the library. College ruined that. Post college reading, however, became so much more enjoyable. No more 200+ pages per night on Communication Theory or Political Science, more late nights getting to know characters, authors, and stories that I actually enjoy.

I am, admittedly, a Serious Nicholas Sparks fan, and may or may not have spent many nights falling asleep to The Notebook, but between my cliche romance reads I do try to squeeze in some more serious reads.

Beautiful Boy is one Amazon recommend for me, and if you have talked to me even for a second about reading, I have probably recommended it to you. It is by far my favorite in a long while. AND even better news, it is a quasi trilogy. His son has now written two books that are equally as good.



The son's newest "They All Fall Down" is not out in stores until April 10th, but is available for all us Kindle users :)

Check 'em ALL out.

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but...

I learned a new trick (or two) this morning


Needed some creativity this morning when putting myself (aka my outfit) together.
This is what I found.

It sure helped me.

Check it OUT!!!

Red (I hope they are) Hot

Today I was brave, I wore red jeggings, I was nervous.
Here are the reasons why:
1. Jeggings are NOT forgiving in any sense of the word
2. Red a bold color in general
3. March, is on the cusp of Spring, so some spring outfits (cough girls in sundresses in early March) can be inappropriate

But since they are 'all the go' now, I figured I too would give them a try.
To make it my own, I wore them with a sassy belt (thanks again Target). Always fun to sneak some leopard into the outfit!



Bold bottom called for a quiet top- so plain was the name of the game here.

I feel like for the red pants revealing, I did a decent job.

How and with what do you wear your colored jeggings?

Healthy Apple Pie Snack

Want a Apple Pie snack??? And not the Youplait empty promise of tasting like the actual flavor, but not delivering. "Cherry Cheesecake", please that yogurt tastes nothing like it.

Here is a quick snack you will love.

1. Thinly slice an apple
2. Lay out on a plate
3. Sprinkle with cinnamon
4. Microwave for a minute and a half

And There you have it.

Thank me later...

Just kidding, but when you fall in love. Don't blame me, I now carry cinnamon in my purse.

A Snowy Weekend

This winter has been unusually dry, and thus not good for my love for skiing.
Our snow levels are far below normal, which has impacted the number of days I have had on the slopes.

I'm a short two hour drive from Tahoe, and find it easy to slip away from my busy weeks into a heaven of snow, skiing, hot chocolate (you all know I how much I love my hot chocolate), mountain brews, games, and cozy fires with friends and family.

This weekend was our first (and hopefully not our last) big storm for the winter, and despite the fact that two weekends ago our weather in the Valley teased with 70+ degree weather, this week our weather turned to winter wonderland.

We drove up in the storm on Friday and arrived to four feet of snow in the drive way and large flakes dusting the snow banks with more depth. We woke up to snow covered branches, sunshine, and a blue sky.

So I dawned my trusty thermals to hit the slopes. I used my new goggles (Thanks Mom and Dad for a great birthday present), my trusty yellow Rossi's, and green jacket for an awesome St. Patrick's day.

Shin deep powder and I am one happy girl. I had the perfect day.

I am convinced that the best therapy is exercise, plus when you enjoy the exercise, it doesn't even feel like a chore.

My advice to you- find a physical activity you love, so you can double dip and have fun while you work out!

Rainy Crockpot Days

I bought this crockpot this weekend at Target in preparation for some rainy weather and delicious 'walk away' dinners.

I was hesitant to get this one, because my old and trusty slow cooker had a the turn dial for Low and High which seemed to work fine. This new one has a timer and a Keep Warm setting which seemed a bit to high tech and fancy for some one like myself, but I decided that as an avid iPhone user, and gen Y baby, I could handle it.

I had these great plans of picking a recipe before I went to bed, getting up early on Monday, going to the store, etc. I had dreams of starting my day early in the kitchen slicing and dicing, which is a form of female therapy.

All hopes and dreams went awry when I woke up at my normal time (Thank you 'Day Light Savings') and DID NOT make it to the store.

That being said I did what my patient, loving, and creative mother did many-a-time...The good 'ole look in your fridge, and deep freeze and work some magic.

Here is a Sleep-In-Too-Late-To-Go-To-The-Store Morning special recipe
Step One
1 red bell pepper sliced
1 red onion cut into large squares
5 large carrots cut into 1/2" slices
1 can canned artichoke hearts

Place on bottom crock pot

Step Two
Place 1 small frozen chicken on the vegetables
Rub with
paprika
cayenne
garlic salt
cumin

Step Three
Cover with 1 can of cream of mushroom
1/2 cup water
2 bullion cubes

Cook for 6-8 hours

It basically makes a Chicken Vegetable soup, a flavorful one at that.

In summary my crock pot made my day, and for that matter my week. If Mondays are great days, then the week has to be great too. Isn't that how it works....

If only.

A Warm Welcome

I am giving you all a warm welcome to my blog with a cup of hot cocoa. This cup is from a coffee shop in Portland, and although it was no better than the your average hot chocolate, the presentation made me feel extraly special.

It's easy for any day to be a great day when it starts with a cup of hot chocolate.
A couple of months ago (around the time I joined Weight Watchers) I gave up my bi or tri weekly Starbucks habit (that I was in denial of), and started drinking Kuerig hot cocoa as my morning indulgence. I sit on the floor indian style, do my make up, and sip my heated 'cup of joe'. And smile.

I'm saving mone$ by not going to Starbucks, and I actually feel more energized and awake without the coffee. Since I have been caffeine free, I have been able to get up and run before work regularly with out snoozing my alarm and putting it off 'til after work, I go to bed at a more reasonable hour (and sleep soundly), and I have $15 extra bucks in my pocket each week.

Try cutting caffeine out of your week (or try to cut back),and let me know how you feel. You might find it hard in the beginning, as I did, but in just 30 days you too could make it a habit.