Castleberry Hill Art Stroll

8.31.2009

I always love doing new things in Atlanta (TWSS) and last Friday night I did just that! A friend and I strolled to Castleberry Hill for their monthly art stroll. We walked around and went in and out of the galleries that had some pretty amazing artwork. Below were my two favorite. I wish I could afford their work for my future new house!

Image from www.jacquelyngleisner.com



Image from http://mmars.myweb.uga.edu/

Sipping and Stroking

8.28.2009



For Jessica's birthday, Maggie and I took her on a new art adventure...Sips N Strokes! Sips N Strokes is a place where you can bring your own alcohol and food while you paint...definitely my kind of place. I probably did more sipping than stroking, but the sipping never hurts the stroking! Look at our wonderful masterpieces.

bootcamp.

8.20.2009

I'm not sure what day it is of bootcamp.
today was probably the worst day out of all the other hellish days of bootcamp. it could also be from the veggie chili and french fries (did I mention a pitcher of high life) and not drinking enough water the day before. umm..yea, these items will not be gracing my food log's presence. i could say that the pitcher of high life was in celebration of knocking 2 minutes off my mile run time, no?

anyways, i thought i was about to throw up, slip on my throw up and die this morning. race tracks and squat thrusts are to die for. that's all i have to say.

August 16, 1982...

8.18.2009

i was born. so i camp to celebrate....can anyone even tell that I lost 7 pounds?


marker at the top of blood mountain

sorority pose


group shot at the edge of a cliff...i'm hanging on for dear life. i don't think it was that sturdy of a tree. oh well. i'm still alive.


best friends a girl could have!


the love of my life...Bentley Tran

bootcamp.

Homework – Week 2, #1
PURPOSE: Sculpt firm glutes. Everybody wants a nice firm tush! Do these exercises to the best of your ability and be on your way!

  • Warm up: Jog in place for 1 minutes, jumping jacks for 1 minute, jump rope for 1 minute, squats for 1 minute, jog in place for 1 minute (5 minutes total)
  • Stretch hamstrings, glutes, quads and calves (2-5 minutes)
  • Begin a series of the following intervals: right leg step back lunges 30 seconds, left leg step back lunges 30 seconds, fire hydrants to the side right leg 30 seconds, fire hydrants to the side left leg 30 seconds, fire hydrant kick backs right leg 30 seconds, fire hydrant kick backs left leg 30 seconds (3 minutes total). In between each 3 minute interval jog for 1 minute and complete 30 bicycle crunches with opposite elbow to opposite knee and a crunch in between. Repeat 4 times.
  • Stretch for 5 minutes. Make sure to get a good glute stretch


Homework Assignment – Week 2, #2
Purpose: To increase cardio and burn calories. Also it is a change of pace from the jumping of our indoor workouts.

Complete the following:

  • Dynamic warm up of 30 sec each of jumping jacks, high knees, jogging in place, alternating lunges, pushups and squats.
  • Follow this with 5 minutes of stretching.
  • 10 minute fast walk or slow jog on an incline. If you are outside, find a hill and start your workout at the bottom.
  • 15 minute jog at an increased speed from the first 10 minutes.
  • 5 minute slow jog or fast walk.
  • 10 minutes of stretching.

Homework Assignment– Week 2, #3
Purpose: Try something new! Exercise is meant to be fun! Take a fast walk or job with your dog, go swimming, ride your bike. Take advantage of nice weather and be outside, or grab your friends and go rollerblading

Complete the following:

  • Tire run for 1 minute, high knees for one minute and jog in place for 1 minute to warm up your muscles.
  • 25 jumping jacks.
  • Stretch for 5 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of the cardiovascular activity of your choice! Have fun with it!
  • 10 minutes of stretching.


bootcamp.

i have been slacking on my bootcamp entries, but i have to say that i'm liking what i'm seeing. bootcamp has been excellent and i'm building up my stamina (ahem).

2 weeks of bootcamp + no rice=7 pounds lost + 2 minutes of my mile run

bootcamp.

8.11.2009

eighth day of bootcamp.
umm, I totally overslept. i knew it was bound to happen. BUT i did end up going to the gym...twice! I just did some homework.

Couscous



Picture from foodnetwork

I didn't follow the recipe from food network, but it's pretty easy to put together. All I did was saute whatever I wanted or better yet whatever was in the fridge: zucchini, cherry tomatoes, parsley, onions, and red bell peppers. I topped the cooked couscous with this mixture and then added garbanzo beans and crumbled feta.

It was pretty delicious, especially the pieces of feta! Nice surprise in my mouth....TWSS

bootcamp.

Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays are our days off from bootcamp, but we're still supposed to work out. Here are the workouts from last week. They're pretty fantastic.

Homework – Week 1, #1
PURPOSE: To burn calories and begin to tone the body. Also to help build your cardiovascular endurance.

  • Warm Up: 25 jumping jacks, 20 squats, 20 lunges on each leg and then 5 minutes of stretching.
  • Perform at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular exercise means any type of aerobic activity, usually performed at moderate intensity level, which maintains an increased heart rate. Examples of these activities are running, swimming, elliptical machine or group fitness classes. Sorry folks, but golf is not an aerobic activity. Make sure whatever you do gets you out of breath. So if you want to head out to the park to enjoy the warmer temperatures with your dog or a friend, head for the hills and keep the pace up.
  • Additional exercises: 10 sit ups, 10 regular push ups (do regular push ups to the point of muscle failure and then do facilitated push ups), 1 minute of Ab Bridge for 5 repetitions. Do this after your cardio workout.
  • 10 minutes of cool down stretching. Make sure to stretch your calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, abs and arm muscles.

Suggested Ab stretches:

Sunrise salute: lying on your stomach, extend your arms straight lifting you upper body off the floor. Extend you head toward the ceiling or sky stretching the neck, chest and abdominal area.

Extension stretch: lying on your back, extend the arms over your head and stretch your arms and legs in opposing directions. Feel the stretch in your shoulders, chest, abdominal area and hips.

Homework – Week 1, #2
PURPOSE: To help resculpt your abdominal area. Intervals will help burn fat and rebuild lean muscle.

Complete the following exercises:

Jog in place for 2 minutes to warm up, then do 25 squats. Stretch for 5 minutes once your muscles are warm.

WORKOUT

This is an interval workout. The great thing about is that you can do it anywhere – home, outside, a hotel or gym. You will alternate between cardio and strength intervals of 1 minute, 30 seconds each. Complete this after the warm up above.

Cardio

90 Sec

Jump Rope (you don’t have to use a rope)

Strength

45 Sec

Push ups

45 Sec

Tricep Dips (use a bench or a chair and your arms bend to 90 degrees behind you)

Cardio

90 Sec

Jumping Jacks

Strength

45 Sec

Sit ups

45 Sec

Crunches

Cardio

90 Sec

Tire Run – alternate between narrow legs and wide legs

Strength

45 Sec

Single Leg Lunge – lift up your right foot, straight out in front and lower down on your left leg.

45 Sec

Repeat Single Leg Lunge – lift your left leg out straight and lower down on your right leg.

Cardio

90 Sec

Jog in place – make sure to pump your arms.

Strength

45 Sec

Oblique ab bridge (superstar) on right side

45 Sec

Oblique ab bridge (superstar) on left side

Cardio

90 Sec

Jump back and forth over imaginary line.

Strength

45 Sec

Flutter kicks

45 Sec

Regular ab bridge

Cardio

90 Sec

Shuffle low from side to side. You don’t need much space, just shuffle from wall to wall.

Strength

45 Sec

Bicycles (crunch opposite elbow to opposite knee)

45 Sec

Crunch up and hold for 5 seconds to burn out the ab muscles, lower back down and repeat.

Cool Down

  • Jog in place for 1 minute, then do 10 squats.
  • Stretch all of your muscles, especially your calves, glutes, abs, hamstrings and quads. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds.

Homework – Week 1, #3
PURPOSE: Again to build up your cardiovascular endurance. This is going to help you start to feel better about yourself as you can move faster and breathe easier when you workout. Also, regular exercise helps keep stress levels down and helps you sleep better.
Warm up: 25 jumping jacks and then 2 minutes of jump rope. You don’t need an actual jump rope, just use your imagination! Jump rope for 30 seconds, then switch it up to jump side to side and front to back.

  • Once your muscles are warm, stretch some before you run.
  • 20 minutes of running (if you are able to do so) or a 20 minute run/walk workout. This is a BRISK walk, not a leisurely stroll. Try to run for several minutes, then walk for 30 seconds to catch your breath. Remember to concentrate on your breathing while you run.
  • 30 sit ups – cross your arms on your chest and sit all the way up and lower yourself back down to the ground.
  • Flutter kicks – 1 minute. Put your hands underneath your lower back, tuck your chin into your chest, pull your belly button into the ground and flutter!
  • Bicycles – 1 minute. Twist your abs from elbow to opposite knee and repeat on the other side. Do this for one minute.
  • Ab bridge – 1 minute. Hold a plank position on your elbows for one minute.
  • 10 minutes of stretching.

Supper Club: ATL Restaurant Week: Thrive

8.08.2009



This month's Supper Club was at Thrive and it just so happens it was Restaurant Week in Atlanta, which means certain restaurants have a prix fixe three-course meal for $25. You got to pick an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert.

Thinking about my bootcamp, I chose the baby arugula salad with carmelized pecans and goat cheese, Cold Water Salmon over risotto, and for dessert, bread pudding. If I wasn't on my diet I would have totally gotten the calamari or pot stickers for appetizers and the crab cakes for an entree...I'm just sayin!

Can't wait until next Supper Club, which will during another Restaurant Week.

bootcamp.

fifth day of bootcamp.
don't know if it's getting easier or if I'm just a good kickboxer! :)
the weekend is here and i don't know if my healthy meals will last, but i will try. lots of festivities this weekend for some drinking, which is a big no-no for bootcamp. don't think i'll be logging that in the books!

Homemade Pizza Pie!


Picture taken from foodtv

Quick and Easy!

Pizza dough from Publix
any toppings you want!

I used mozzarella and goat cheese, garden marinara sauce, tomatoes, basil, leftover bbq pork, mushrooms, red onions...Cook in the oven for about 20-30 at 425º

bootcamp.

8.07.2009

fourth day of bootcamp.
strugglin, but got through the hour of football drills and a little bit of hell.
last day of bootcamp tomorrow...for the week. boo.

Fish Tacos

8.05.2009

Fish:
* 1 tablespoon chili powder
* lime juice
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 (1-pound) tilapia
* Cooking spray

Salsa:
* 1 cup diced peeled avocado
* 3/4 cup finely chopped tomato
* 1/3 cup finely chopped Vidalia or other sweet onion
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* half a jalapeno finely chopped

Remaining ingredients:
* 8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

1. To prepare fish, combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Rub chili powder mixture evenly over fish. Cover and chill 1 hour.

2. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.

3. Place fish on a grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 5 minutes on each side. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Use a fork to flake the fish.

4. To prepare salsa, combine avocado and next 7 ingredients in a medium bowl.

5. Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon fish mixture evenly over each of 8 tortillas. Top each taco with salsa.

Calories: 353
Fat: 16g (sat 4.3g,mono 7.6g,poly 1.7g)
Protein: 27.9g
Carbohydrate: 27.7g
Fiber: 6.8g
Cholesterol: 40mg
Iron: 2.5mg
Sodium: 593mg
Calcium: 78mg

bootcamp.

third day of bootcamp.
my day off. well from waking up at 4:45 am. still have to work out.
i think to myself as I was laying in bed. what the hell was i thinking?
tomorrow is another 4:45 am day. hooray.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Green Mango

8.04.2009


Picture taken from Cooking Light

bootcamp=no more eating white rice
solution: grilled pork tenderloin with green mango

it's the asian in me.

this was my dinner last night with some couscous.

Green mangoes are not fully ripe, and they lend sour flavor to Southeast Asian dishes. Their tartness contrasts with sweet carrot, refreshing mint and basil, and fiery peppers. Use an equal amount of unpeeled green apples if you can't find green mangoes.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 filled lettuce leaves)

Ingredients

Pork:
  • 1/4 cup pineapple juice
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sake (rice wine) or dry sherry
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Cooking spray

Salad:
  • 1/2 cup shredded carrot
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 large green (unripe) mango, peeled and shredded
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
Remaining ingredients:
  • 8 Boston lettuce leaves
  • 1 cup mung bean sprouts

Preparation

1. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.

2. To prepare pork, combine first 6 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 1 hour, turning occasionally. Remove pork from bag; discard marinade. Sprinkle pork evenly with salt and black pepper.

3. Place pork on grill rack coated with cooking spray. Grill 22 minutes or until a thermometer registers 155°, turning occasionally. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices; cut each slice into thin strips, and keep warm.

4. To prepare salad, combine carrot and next 7 ingredients (through jalapeño) in a medium bowl; toss well.

5. Place about 1 1/2 ounces pork on each of 8 lettuce leaves; top each serving evenly with 1/4 cup mango mixture and 2 tablespoon bean sprouts.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 219
Fat: 5.5g (sat 1.8g,mono 2g,poly 0.6g)
Protein: 24.6g
Carbohydrate: 16.8g
Fiber: 2.2g
Cholesterol: 65mg
Iron: 2.1mg
Sodium: 545mg
Calcium: 39mg

bootcamp.

second day of bootcamp.
sprints, jumping squats, steps, running, and ab work.
all before 7am.
i think to myself as i was driving home. what the hell was i thinking?
at least i have a day off from waking up at 4:45 am tomorrow!!

One, Two, Brie!

8.03.2009



Picture taken from Cooking Light


bootcamp=healthy food
Solution: Cooking Light recipes

i had this for lunch today, but i used basil instead of arugula. it was pretty fantastic and super easy since i used my nifty panini grill.

i think my bootcamp instructors will be seeing this a lot in my nutrition log!

bootcamp.

first day of bootcamp.
push-ups, sit-ups, mile run, ab workout, lunges, and 5 different kinds of squats.
all before 7am.
i think to myself as i was driving home. what the hell was i thinking?
i'm dreading doing it all over again tomorrow morning.

Mission Control: The Whigs

8.02.2009

Representin' Athens, GA! I had such a great time in Augusta listening to their new songs and drinking my Sparks and taking swigs of Evan Williams...yikes!!


Smile! You have Sparks Mouth




The next best thing after Chambulls! Gives you Sparks Mouth (aka orange mouth and teeth).






20 Things...

So I have to give props to Aisha for posting this on her blog...

20 Things Every Woman Should Do Before Marriage

Live by herself for at least a year.

Live with someone else for at least a year. (check!)

Recover from a broken heart. (check!)

Have a vacation fling. (check!)

Take a road-trip with a group of girlfriends.
(check!)
Relish sleeping in a queen-sized bed by herself. (check!)

Get her finances in order.

Learn to love her body.

Have sex with at least one person she’d never want to marry (or introduce to mom). (check!)

Find reliable birth control.
(check!)
Pay off as much credit card debt and student loans as possible.

Spend way too much on a something frivolous.

Exorcise all past relationship demons.

Travel somewhere exotic. (check!)

Establish a strong circle of friends.
(check!)
Forgive her parents for not being perfect.
(check!)
Have at least one night she can’t quite remember.
(check!)
Experience some really bad first dates.

Find hobbies that fulfill her. (check!)

Celebrate her 25th birthday. (check!)


I think I've accomplished some of these, but I feel like I have a long ways to go!