Cookies, Cupcakes, and Cardio

New Years Resolutions

January 1, 2011 by Jenn

01.01.11.

Pretty cool day to have a birthday! MINE!! 1.1.11 has to count as my champagne birthday . . . I don’t think my parents let me indulge back in 1980, so I’m bringing out the champagne this year! We’re talking mimosa’s, champagne cupcakes, the works!

New Years Day is always the time when people sit around and decide to make a resolution for the upcoming year. I have never done one . . . I might have as a teenager but it was probably “This year I will get skinny.” Ya, so much for attainable resolution setting!

I hate resolutions. For the last number of years, I have stood firmly on the belief that why wait for the New Year to do something that you can today?

Well, I have fallen off my high horse and I think I finally get it. It’s the formality. Set a goal. Reach for it. Attain it. Success!

Yesterday I posted 11 Goals for 2011, but my resolutions are different than my goals.

1. Learn how to budget . . . stick to in . . . and stop spending money on unnecessary things.

2. I’m giving up magazines. I find that they used to be an enjoyable event, to what is now a stressful occurrence. When I look at the pile that just seems to grow and grow and grow, I get stressed out. I guess I’m spending my time doing different activities these days . . . like blogging!!

I think that two resolutions is enough for me to start with in 2011, especially since I haven’t set a one since the 80’s. Happy 2011 everyone 🙂 I’m off for my birthday brunch. Cheers to champagne before lunch!

Filed Under: Randomness

New Years Eve- Fortunate Friday

December 31, 2010 by Jenn

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Fortunate Friday

I am fortunate that my grandma was able to spend Christmas Day with her two sons, and four grandchildren, even at 96!
I am fortunate that I was able to give presents to those close to me, and had amazing gifts given to me. Thank you everyone, I was spoiled and am super lucky. xo
I am fortunate that I have two sweet cousins that are willing to sleep on my couches in order to spend Christmas with me.

Since tonight is New Years Eve, I thought I would take the time to brainstorm things to look forward to in 2011. I found this idea floating around on various blogs that I stalk/read and I traced it back to reverb10.com, a website that offers prompts for bloggers! So neat.

Here is the prompt from December 11, 2010: What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life? (Author: Sam Davidson)

Here is my spin on things:

11 Goals for 2011

1. I am not going to gossip.

2. I am going to read (at least) one book a month

3. I need to learn to let go of things that I have no control over. Water off a duck’s back . . .

4. I am going to train to run a distance > 10k.

5. I am going to learn to be more forgiving and patient with others. They are not me, I am not them.

6. I am going to learn how to work on Cookies, Cupcakes and Cardio while balancing my full time teaching job.

7. I am going to stick with a gym routine that works for me. M/W/F 6:00am+ spinning = gym routine!

8. I am going to learn to be less selfish. This one is going to be difficult as I’ve been working this way for 32 years!

9. I am going to learn to work my Sony Alpha 200 DSLR camera and take (amazing) food pictures.

10. I am going to learn how to decorate beautiful cakes.

11. I am going to learn to accept criticism. Without hating the other person.

Filed Under: Fortunate Fridays

What I’m Reading

December 31, 2010 by Jenn

Yes, this book counts!

And so does this one!

Thanks for the great Christmas presents K and G! I can’t wait to use them.

Filed Under: What I'm Reading

Week 2- Lower Body Reverse Drop Sets

December 30, 2010 by Jenn

Today was LEGS day. Booyah! It feels great to get up in the morning, head off to the gym and get my workout done and over with in the morning. I’m dreading the day I have to go back to work and back to the grind. But, enough about that now . . . I’ll let the depression enter later in the week . . . and then drown it with champagne and New Year’s Eve celebrating.

As I was mentioning in my Week 2 Upper Body post from yesterday, I get a little ADHD when it come to routines at the gym. The only routine at the gym that I have managed to follow consistently is the group spinning schedule . . . and that’s because they PAY me to stick to it! Money must be the answer . . . now if only I could find somebody to pay me to workout on my own time???

Lower Body Reverse Drop Sets

Quadriceps – Squats with stability ball again the wall

(Place stability ball in the small of your back, knees shoulder width apart, lower body down as if you are about to sit in a chair, push back up through heels, to starting position)

Body Weight (BW) – 12 reps

BW + 5 lbs – 10 reps

BW + 8 lbs – 8 reps

BW + 10 lbs- 6 reps

BW– 24 reps (reps 13-24, switch move to pile squat)

Hamstrings – Lunges with stability ball against the wall.

Place stability ball in the small of your back, against the wall, and assume a lunging position (right foot in front, left toe behind, drop left knee towards the ground, push back up to start to complete one rep)

5 lbs – 12 reps

8 lbs – 10 reps

10 lbs – 8 reps

12 lbs- 6 reps

5 lbs – 24 reps

(reps 13-24, switch move to hamstring curl on the ground with the stability ball. Lay on your back, place heels up on the ball, lift bum off the ground and pull heels toward you bum.)

Calves – Calf Raises on Step

8 lbs – 12 reps

10 lbs – 10 reps

12 lbs – 8 reps

12 lbs- 6 reps

10 lbs – 24 reps (reps 13-24, switch move to single leg calf raise)

Don’t forget to S.T.R.E.T.C.H. Ughhh. I sound like a nagging mother.

Filed Under: Cardio, Weights Tagged With: calf raise, calves, hamstring curl, hamstrings, lunges, quadriceps, squats, stability ball, weight training

Week 2- Upper Body Reverse Drop Sets

December 30, 2010 by Jenn

Yesterday after my 30 minutes spend huffing on the treadmill, I was on to my week 2 weight routine. I switched it up from what I did during week one for a couple of reasons. First, I am wanting to shock my body back into shape, second, I find it hard to stay with the same moves week after week. It was easy to do the same weight routine when I was first learning to workout, simply because I didn’t know more than one move per body part! I thought the bicep curl was the bees knees . . . well, I actually still do, but you get the idea. I didn’t know better, so I was happy with simplicity. Now, I’m bored with it. To stop this from discouraging me, but still maintaining some sort of focused program (so I do not lose sight of my goal), I am keeping with Reverse Drop Sets . . . at least for now . . . until my workout ADHD kicks it!

Remember, you have to do what you feel is right for you . . . these are just the ramblings of my body’s workouts :).

Week 2 – Upper Body Reverse Drop Sets

Back- Bent over row

(Last week I used a stability ball and a single dumbbell, this week I was standing with two dumbbells)

10 lbs – 12 reps

12 lbs – 10 reps

15 lbs – 8 reps

17.5lbs- 6 reps

10 lbs – 24 reps (reps 13-24, switch move to upright row)

Chest – chest flyes

(on stability ball)

8 lbs – 12 reps

10 lbs – 10 reps

12 lbs – 8 reps

15 lbs- 6 reps

8 lbs – 24 reps (reps 13-24, switch move to chest press on stability ball)

Biceps- Curls

(standing) See . . . they are the bees knees!

10 lbs – 12 reps

12 lbs – 10 reps

15 lbs – 8 reps

17.5lbs- 6 reps

10 lbs – 24 reps (reps 13-24, switch move to hammer curls)

Triceps – Kickbacks

(double arm, with dumbbells)

10 lbs – 12 reps

12 lbs – 10 reps

15 lbs – 8 reps

17.5lbs- 6 reps

10 lbs – 24 reps (reps 13-24, switch move to triceps extension)

Shoulders – Lateral Raise

3 lbs – 12 reps

5 lbs – 10 reps

8 lbs – 8 reps

10 lbs- 6 reps

3 lbs – 24 reps (reps 13-24, switch move to shoulder press)

I find that training shoulders can be quite difficult. Your deltoids are a small muscle group (in relation to your other body muscle groups) that it is hard/slow to see progress in your shoulders. Stick with it, and if you have to stay at the same weight, try to increase your reps. That is what has worked for me in the past. Have fun!

Filed Under: Cardio, Weights Tagged With: bent over row, bicep curl, biceps, chest, chest flye, chest press, hammer curl, lateral raise, shoulder press, shoulders, tricep extension, tricep kickback, triceps, upright row, weight training

Early Morning Cinnamon Buns

December 29, 2010 by Jenn

On my Holiday Baking To Do List, I had Monkey Bread to bake. I remember my mom baking, what I thought was Monkey Bread, when I was younger. I can vividly recall her putting the towel over top of the pan and turning out the lights for the night. What I didn’t know, was 1. that it wasn’t what is now called Monkey Bread, and 2. that it was so easy! She had some tricks up here sleeve.

Since I thought is was Monkey Bread she had made, I added it to my to do list. After researching a number of delicious sounding recipes, none of them being quite right, I finally decided just to ask her where her recipe was.

“Monkey bread? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You know, that dish with the dough balls, that you left over night?”

“Oh! That’s in Best of Bridge.”

So, I went back to my trusty Best of Bridge series, looked it up and it is called Land of Nod Cinnamon Buns! Success!

The best part about this recipe is that you throw everything into a pan the night before, go to bed, wake up and put it in the oven. So easy, so quick (minus the eight hour sleep time!) and so tasty. To make these a little bit healthier, I used whole wheat frozen dough balls, and a little less sugar and butter than the recipe calls for.

NOTE: do not use “those balls that have been in your freezer for the last couple of months” in order to use them up. I tried this tactic and they didn’t rise. . . they remained little freezer burned dough balls.

What was I thinking? I was tired and in a Christmas fog. At least that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it!

Goodnight doughy goodness.

Good morning! My how you’ve grown!

Pop them into the oven for about 20 minutes.

Carry them to your mom and dad’s house so you don’t eat all of them yourself!

The unveiling! Pick out all the un-risen dough balls! Rookie move, Jenn.

Land of Nod Cinnamon Buns

adapted from Best of Bridge Series

20 frozen dough rolls (I used whole wheat)
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup instant vanilla pudding
1 -2 tablespoon cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins
1/4-1/2 cup melted butter (I used 1/4 c.)

Before you turn in for the night, grease a 10″ bundt pan (I used an angle food pan) and add frozen rolls.
Sprinkle with brown sugar, pudding powder, cinnamon and raisins.
Pour melted butter over all.
Cover with a clean, damp cloth.
(Leave out at room temperature).
Off to bed you go!
In the morning, preheat oven to 350 and bake for 25 minutes.
Let sit for 5 minutes and then turn out on a serving plate

Filed Under: Other Baked Goodies

Gingerbread Eggnog Trifle

December 28, 2010 by Jenn

Santa's Underwear

Gingerbread Eggnog Trifle

This one is not on my Holiday Baking To Do List, but it should have been! I have a love for my trifle bowl . . . and it is a love that was put on hold for the last year as my trifle bowl went missing last Christmas! Thank goodness my parents found it at their house, put away with the Christmas decorations in the basement. It was just in time too . . . I was about to go in search of a replacement bowl.

I made this recipe up myself . . . I am sure there are 1000 recipes out there on the internet! I’m refusing to look as I don’t want to ruin future attempts of creativity and trying something new! If I don’t know that someone else has thought of it before, I am the genius!

For this recipe, I combined three of my favourite holiday tastes . . . gingerbread, shortbread, and eggnog! Mmmmm . . . I’m salivating at the thought . . . and I already ate (more than) my fair share!

Gingerbread Eggnog Trifle

Ingredients

1 package of Gingerbread Cookies

1 package of Shortbread Cookies

4 cups of Eggnog

2 packages of Vanilla Pudding

250 ml Whipped Cream

1. Make eggnog pudding by using eggnog instead of milk by following the vanilla pudding directions on the box.

2. Whip cream.

3. Crush shortbread cookies into crumbs.

Arrange trifle in these orders: gingerbread, pudding, shortbread, whipping cream . . . repeat until you get to the top. Decorate as you feel inspired to do so!

Gingerbread Layer

Pudding Layer

Shortbread Layer

Whipping Cream Layer

We enjoyed this trifle after Christmas dinner. It was so good, but our poor stomach’s barely had enough room to fit it in. Thank goodness for my 19 year old cousin Jeff, who came back for seconds. Boxing Day . . . we’ll be eating the leftovers!

Happy Holidays from my family to yours.

Filed Under: Holiday Baking, Other Baked Goodies Tagged With: eggnog, gingerbread, shortbread, trifle

Christmas Cardio

December 27, 2010 by Jenn

No, the words, Christmas and cardio, do NOT go together . . . but neither do Cookies, Cupcakes and Cardio!!! I’m going with it anyway . . . the point is to make them go together.

The gym is closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day! Panic! Seriously, I was worried that I would digress back into my lazy days of the not very distant past . . . ummm, 2 weeks ago.

It was my mission to get up and out for some calorie burning over these two days . . . and that I did!

My cousins were in town to celebrate the holidays with us this year, so Paul and I decided to take them out on some winter Kootenay adventures!

Christmas Day

First up . . . hike up to Big Tree in the Cranbrook Community Forest.

There’s Jeff coming out of the wilderness!

Climbing is cardio!

Ruby, Paul, Jeff and Katrina at Big Tree.

Sure is big!

Paul, Ruby and I at Big Tree.

We decided to continue about 5 minutes further along the trail to Windy Bluff.

Enjoying the view . . . and guided tour from Paul!

Katrina enjoying the snow . . .

. . . and the view.

Boxing Day

We headed out again the next day . . . to enjoy more truly redneck adventures!

“Let’s go shoot guns!”

No, not exactly cardio . . . unless you were in charge of throwing the skeets like I was!

Jeff’s first shot!

Katrina’s first shot!

A great time was had by all . . . especially Jeff who now claims that he is going to get a bunch of different licences so he can shoot things all the time. Oops. Created an obsession.

Filed Under: Cardio Tagged With: Cranbrook, cranbrook community forest

New Years Resolutions

New Years Eve- Fortunate Friday

What I’m Reading

Week 2- Lower Body Reverse Drop Sets

Week 2- Upper Body Reverse Drop Sets

Early Morning Cinnamon Buns

Gingerbread Eggnog Trifle

Christmas Cardio

Happiness is Homemade

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