Yoga

Twas’ The Weekend Before Christmas…

Happy Monday!  I have today AND tomorrow off so I am super excited.  It’s so nice having weekdays off, I feel like you get so much more done.

This weekend before Christmas was a good one.  It was relaxing, fun, and productive!  What else can you ask for?

Friday, I stayed home at my apartment and decided to take it easy.  I packed for the weekend (Andy lives about a half hour away and my family an hour), wrapped presents, and had a healthy delicious meal.

My go – to Spinach, Mushroom, and Bacon omelet with broccoli and avocado on the side.

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This was perfect because I woke up nice and refreshed on Saturday morning ready for 8:30AM yoga!  I love Saturday morning yoga.  When I got to Andy’s I decided I wasn’t done with it yet so was playing around with my headstands and handstands.

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Saturday night we had plans to go to a friend’s house for a Christmas / Birthday gathering.  I decided to bring an appetizer and settled on Deviled Eggs with Bacon.  I followed George from the Civilized Caveman’s recipe.  I added about a tablespoon of organic mayo because my filling looked a little dry.

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They were a huge hit at the party which was a relief because it was my first time making them.  Everyone was so intrigued that there was avocado and bacon….success!

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Sunday was filled with napping, seeing both of our families for a little, some late night shopping, and more present wrapping.  Last minute shopping included Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, CVS, and some restaurants for gift cards.

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Where have you spent your last-minute shopping?

 

How To Stay Fit Without a Gym Membership

Confession.  For about 2 to 3 years while living in Boston I didn’t belong to a gym.  Anyone living in a city can relate I’m sure.  Gym memberships are just too darn expensive! Especially when you have a rent to pay that claims half of your pay check.

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There is good news though.  You don’t need a gym!  I worked my way towards feeling the best I have in my life, without one.  Let me tell you how to stay fit without a gym membership…because I did it myself!

Go For A Run:  The best thing about running is all you need are your two legs!  Okay and I guess some shoes and gear.  The key to keep running fun and effective is to change it up or work your way towards a goal.  Some days do hills, other days to interval sprints.  Change up the route, or sign up for a 5k.  Running outside is one of my favorite ways to get my sweat on!

Drop-In Yoga Classes:  I was lucky to find a studio in Boston that had cheap drop in classes (only $10).  If you can’t find a studio with cheap rates like this, look for community classes which only ask for a small donation.

Work Out At Home:  For about a year I would do Jillian Michael’s 30 day shred videos (they are available on YouTube for free).  I still love them, and actually just did one tonight for the first time in a while!  They are only 30 minutes long but incorporate strength training and cardio.  Just make sure you have a set of dumbbells ( a great gift idea)!  I also just discovered Melissa Bender’s site that has short workout videos you can do at home!  Check it out!

Use The Park as Your Gym: I had a big park in my back yard when living in Boston.  It was a great place to work out in the mornings.  I usually would look up Crossfit workouts that didn’t require any weights.  Think lunges, burpees, sprints, squats, etc. I also recently found a great website called BodeeFit that sends you a daily workout that you can do at home.

Go For a Hike:  Find a trail near you.  Ask around or use Alltrails.com.  

Now that I look at this list myself, I might be re-thinking my gym membership!  The world is our play ground and there are so many ways to stay active without expensive equipment or machines.

How do you stay fit outside of the gym?

 

 

Holiday Gift Ideas

I can’t believe Christmas is two weeks away!  We just put up our tree tonight at Andy’s so I’m definitely getting in the spirit.  As much as I love Christmas I always stress myself out over holiday gift ideas.  I have a pretty big family and have to buy for about 20 people!

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Some people are much easier than others.  This year I think I’ve done a good job of starting to prepare earlier, write down lists and ideas, and have gotten a bunch done online.  Here are some holiday gift ideas that I’ve thought up this year.

For the Health Nuts:

Workout Clothes:  Everyone could always use some new workout clothes.  I love going to Marshall’s for this kind of stuff.  They have brand name gear for super cheap!

A Good Water Bottle: My favorite is from Camelbak.  This could also save a person money since they won’t have to buy bottled water anymore!

A Weighted Vest:  These are great for anyone trying to add some extra calorie burn to their cardio workouts.

Yoga Mat / Yoga Mat Bag:  Any yogi could always use a fresh new mat!  My favorites are Jade Yoga Mats.

Dumbbells:  For the person who doesn’t have a ton of time, these are great for at home workouts.

For the Foodie:

Blenders / Food Processors:  Amazon always has great deals on these.  You can do so much with either of these kitchen tools, that any person who spends time in the kitchen, would be ecstatic to get one.

Gourmet Spices:  I found a bunch of really cute spice sets on Etsy.  They have a bunch of great gift ideas.

Food Delivered:  I’ve come across a couple of great gift ideas for the grilling men in your life.  First, Omaha Steaks offers a great gift package of a few different steaks and sides.  They often will have a deal on Groupon.  I also came across this really cool company called Mantry.  They pack a wooden crate with a selection of gourmet food and deliver right to your guys door.  Check it out!

For Anyone:

Massage Gift Certificate:  Who doesn’t love a massage?  I think this is a great one for anyone who has a little extra stress in their life.

Print Your Instagram Pictures:  I recently wrote a review of a company called Prinstagram.  They take your Instagram pictures, print them, and turn them into great gifts!  I always love giving pictures, especially to parents, grandparents, or significant others.

Remote Car Starter:  If you live in a cold area, these are great.  My mom received one a few years ago and said it’s one of the best gifts she’s ever received.

Alright, I can’t reveal too many more because then I might spoil it for certain people!  What’s the best gift idea you’ve thought of this year?

 

 

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