Vegan Week

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any instant cavities or weight gain you receive after reading this post.

HAPPY MONDAY! I’m starting my week off Vegan Style… It’s DC Vegan week and I am taking the challenge to go 7 days animal and dairy free! I’m positive I could be a Vegetarian for a week but going Vegan is really going to test me. I’ve planned out my meals and I’m hoping that will make it easier. Wish me luck 🙂 If you have any tips feel free to share them!

I am finally feeling back to normal (sickness wise, i feel gross from Super Bowl Food!). I got a couple of workouts in this weekend including spin, a 3 mile run, zumba and lifting shoulders and legs! It felt good to get back in the gym and sweat the rest of the sickness out. My legs absolutely hate me today. I cannot remember the last time they were this sore… But, I guess that’s a good thing!

Saturday I had lunch with my mom and aunt at California Pizza Kitchen. We all had a cup of their Tuscan White Bean Soup (I HIGHLY recommend this) and split a White Pizza w/ spinach and bacon on wheat thin crust.

We thought we had such great will power for sharing a pizza between 3 people. After we left lunch we walked around the mall… Then we saw a window display that looked like this:

Who can pass up godiva!? Clearly not us…

Can you guess which one is mine? The “healthy” one… Dark chocolate covered strawberry! If I would’ve known it was 7.99 before we got to the register I would’ve never ordered one! It was good…but seriously, I could make 24 of those for 7.99!

I was proud of myself for leaving the mall with only one bag.

Go me 🙂

The 5-year-old I nanny for had her birthday this weekend so I finished hanging the lanterns, making the cutest cupcakes ever, a delicious kids trail mix and wrapping the gift baskets. Kids birthdays sure have gotten extravagant! I want to share the cupcake “recipe” with you… Can you guess what kind they were?

OBVIOUSLY! I have yet to come across someone who doesn’t like funfetti cake… and if I do ever meet that person I’m positive we have nothing in common and we can’t be friends. Sorry. These weren’t just normal funfetti cupcakes… They were pink and purple rainbow princess cupcakes! Seriously, I want someone to take notes for my next birthday party because these will need to be in attendance. I have the same taste as a 5-year-old, it’s cool.

Princess Colored Cupcakes

Ingredients

• Funfetti cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• Neon food coloring
• Vanilla Frosting
• Sprinkles

Directions

• Start off by preparing the Funfetti cake mix as directed on box with eggs, oil and water.
• Divide into 2 separate bowls. Add food coloring drops til desired color is reached.

• Line muffin tin with baking cups or spray with non-stick oil. Evenly distribute the first layer (whichever color you choose; i alternated) with batter.

• Gently spread the next layer of color on top with the back of a spoon.

Pink and Purple. Pink and Purple. Pink and Purple.

• Bake the cupcakes according to your box directions.
• Remove and let cool before icing.

• Decorate with Icing
• Sprinkle

When you cut into them they should look a little like this:

You know you want to make these. Right now. Or maybe for valentine’s day… Although, I really do have the best cupcake recipe for that day that I will post later – I am such a tease.

I also made some Festive Pretzels.

 

Sweet and Salty. Sweet and Salty. Sweet and Salty. ( I need to get the black and Yellow song out of my head)

AND one of the yummiest Kids Trail Mixes…

Captain Crunch Berries cereal, Banana Chips, M&Ms, Dried Blueberries and Pretzels drizzled with White Chocolate.

My dentist is going to hate me.

For Super Bowl Sunday I made 2 things… But only concentrated on taking pictures and writing down measurements for one recipe. Recipe #1 was a Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni and Cheese and recipe #2 was Twix Blondies. I paid more attention to the dessert because I know you all secretly have a fat kid trapped in your body like I do. You’re welcome.

Twix Blondies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup melted butter
• 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 2 1/4 cups of brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 26 coarsely chopped mini twix bars + 1 king size twix
• 1 cup Vegan chocolate chips + 1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips melted

Directions

• Preheat to 350 F.
• Grease 9×13 baking pan.
• In medium-sized bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt, whisking together.

   

• In mixing bowl combine butter and brown sugar on low-speed until smooth.

   

• Add eggs one at a time continuing on low-speed.

• Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined.

• Add the coarsely chopped Twix and chocolate chips stirring with wooden spoon.

• Spread batter into prepared pan and bake approx 25-30 minutes until they are set.

• Toothpick will come out slightly gooey. Be careful not to overcook.

• When removed from oven sprinkled reserved Twix on top and drizzle with melted chocolate.

• Cool in pan for 2-3 hours or overnight.

• Don’t cut the bars until they are completely cooled or they will be messy

Twix blondies might be my new favorite dessert… Beating funfetti… Yep, I said it. Gooey, salty, and sweet. I’ve fallen in love… Sorry Adam.

Speaking of my boyfriend – He is 28 years young today! Happy Birthday babe 🙂

I’m still feeling so bad for not being able to make it to NJ to spend the weekend with him for his birthday but we will see each other this weekend so it will have to be extra special!

I’m also sorry to admit to all you Steelers fans but I’m happy that Green Bay won! The Steelers JUST won… I’m glad someone else got the chance… Did anyone else notice Christina Aguilera sing the wrong words to the national anthem? She has a phenomenal voice but girlfriend is looking rough these days! I also wasn’t thrilled with the halftime performance… I thought it was cheesy and that Fergie’s voice sounded HORRIBLE. Ok, I’m done being a hater.

One more thing I want to share with you before you stop reading this lengthy post… I got an awesome groupon deal yesterday for 1 month of unlimited yoga at Bikram Studio in Annapolis for $15! Normally its $15 a class… If you don’t receive Groupon emails daily you need to sign up! Click here to do so. Each day they send you a deal on something in your area. I am a groupon groupie. I buy alllll the time and I’ve never once regretted a purchase.

I’m off to work aka playing catch up on reading blogs 😉

QUESTIONS: Do you have any vegan tips for me? What was your favorite Super Bowl commercial?

Day 10: Something you’re afraid of

THE DARK!! AHHHHH… I am such a baby. If the lights go out I instantly turn into chicken little. I may be tough on the inside but the dark is one thing that scare the bejeebees out of me.

Day 11: Favorite tv shows

I honestly don’t watch too much tv but when I do it’s all trash… Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, Kardashians etc. Anything on the Food Network gets my attention as well… Not trash 🙂

Day 12: Something you don’t leave the house without

Currently it would be my Blackberry…But I will officially be an iphone user in 3 days! Woohooooo! My blackberry is breaking as we speak. I think it knows I’m about to trade it in 😉

GO RED!

Happy Friday! It’s National Wear Red Day! Make it your mission to wear red today. The purpose of wearing red is to fight heart disease in women.  You may or may not have heard about this before…In case you haven’t, here are some facts that you might not be aware of:

• Nearly 500,000 women each year are diagnosed with Cardiovascular disease
• Heart disease is the number one killer of women
• 1 in 3 women die from heart disease

By wearing red today you are showing that you have taken charge of your health. Help make others aware by showing them steps they can take.

• Eat Well
  • Fruits or vegetables
  • Fiber-rich, whole grains
  • Lean meat, fish or skinless chicken
  • Fat-free, 1 percent fat, and low-fat dairy products
  • Foods broiled, baked, grilled, steamed or poached
  • Foods low in saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugars.
• Stay Active
  • Find an activity you enjoy and have fun.
  • For women of any age, the AHA recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity each week
• Watch your weight
  • Keep portions smaller than your fist.
  • Start every meal with a filling food, like soup or salad, or drink a glass of water.
  • Use a food log to keep track of what you eat. You may be surprised at what you’re eating.
  • Each week, enjoy a couple of new fruits, vegetables, or fiber-rich, whole grains.
• Visit your doctor
  • You can reduce your risk of heart disease by starting your heart disease screenings now. Here are the tests you should have:
    • Weight and BMI
    • Waist Circumference
    • Blood Pressure (every office visit or at least every 2 years – if blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg – more often if you have a higher risk)
    • Cholesterol (“fasting lipoprotein profile” to measure total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides)
    • Screen every 5 years for normal risk people; more often if any of the following apply to you:
    • Total cholesterol above 200 mg/dL
    • Your HDL (good) cholesterol is less than 50 mg/dL
    • LDL (bad) cholesterol above 100 mg/dL
    • Triglycerides 150 mg/dL or higher
    • You have other risk factors for heart disease and stroke
    • Heart Exam This includes checking your heart rate, pulse, breath sounds, heart sounds skin color, and checking for swelling in arms or legs.
    • Fasting Blood Glucose (need to get a baseline by the time you’re 45, and may be required more often if you are pregnant, overweight, diabetic or at risk for becoming diabetic)

I know that most of you who read and/or write a fitness & food blog are healthy but, for those in your life who aren’t as healthy they can be sent the link to this website. On this website they have a lot of great tools and tips you can use for changing your diet, improving your cholesterol levels and how to become more physically active. Check it out 🙂

It’s also FAVORITE FRIDAY! Today I wanted to give you my favorite songs to run to… For me it’s all about the music, if I don’t have music I honestly cant work out and will immediately leave the gym. If I have music thats fast paced I run fast – its as simple as that. Below is a list of my favorite 60 minute cardio workout tunes.

Favorite Songs to Run To: 60 minutes

1. I Wanna Dance With Somebody 4:53 Whitney Houston
2. The Pretenders 4:30 Foo Fighters
3. Black & Gold [Remix] 6:44 Sam Sparro
4. Misery Business 3:23 Paramore
5. Raindrops (Encore Une Fois) 2:55 Sash Feat. Stunt Raindrops
6. Bleed It Out 2:47 Linkin Park
7. World Hold On 3:17 Bob Sinclair
8. Untouched 4:10 The Veronicas
9. Calabria 2008 3:53 Enur Feat Natasja
10. Cheerleading Mix 0:56 Britney Spears Cheerleading Mixes
11. Ecstasy 4:21 ATB
12. Lose Yourself 5:32 Eminem
13. Motown Philly 3:58 Boyz II men
14. Stronger 3:23 Britney Spears
15. Stereo Love 5:21 Edward Maya ft. Alicia

What kind of music do you listen to when you run? Or do you not listen to music at all?

I saw this article today on someone’s Facebook page… They are running in a race on Saturday morning that is sponsored by Krispy Kreme – They run 2 miles, eat 12 doughnuts and then run 2 miles back all under 1 hour!  Ok first off, I’ve never heard of running 4 miles and GAINING weight! Second of all I honestly don’t think I could eat a dozen doughnuts and then run… It’s all for a good cause so kudos to the 7,500 runners who are participating in taking down the 90,000 doughnuts this year.  Would you ever participate? You can read about the race here!

Challenges: (Sorry I keep slacking and have to do 2 in 1 day!)

Day 8: A place you’ve traveled to

North Carolina

Virginia Beach

Las Vegas

West Virginia

Orlando

Virginia

Honduras

Riviera Maya

Bahamas

Cancun

Boston

New York

Philadelphia

Washington DC

Cocoa Beach

Jersey Shore

Hoboken

Ocean City

West Palm Beach

Miami

Atlantic City

Whoopsies… I thought it said places you have been and I had uploaded my  20 photos before I realized it said a place you have been. If I had to pick one favorite it would be West Palm Beach…my hometown 🙂 Beaches, palm trees, warmth… 3 things i’m in dire need for at this moment.
Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend

My best friend Jessica and I at Sea World in 2000. We have been friends for 11 years now! In 8th grade we hated each other, in 9th grade she spit gum at me (girls are so mean! – not that i was an angel) and after cheerleading tryouts mid 9th grade we became best friends… It’s funny how things work out isn’t it? We’ve been through A LOT together and we’ve always stuck by each others side no matter what. Jessica has truly one of the biggest hearts and is always willing to take someone in, give them loving advice and do whatever it takes to make that person happy. She’s a great mother, a hard-working hair stylist and the best friend a girl could ever hope for… Even though we both have so many things going on in our lives right now and don’t talk as much as we used to, there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t text each other a picture, a song lyric or an inside joke. That’s my girl and I love  her like she’s my sister ♥

I’m still not feeling good and unfortunately have to cancel my trip to New Jersey this weekend for my boyfriends birthday 😦 I really hope to kick the infections I have going on ASAP so it doesn’t ruin my entire weekend. I haven’t worked out since Monday and I’m feeling kind of guilty…

Have a good weekend everyone!

QUESTIONS: Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl? Would you ever run a race for a good cause where you had to do something crazy like eat 12 doughnuts? Do you run with music? Weekend plans?

PS: This might be my first post without food…sorry! I’ve been one sick girl and haven’t been able to cook AT ALL!