Back to the Grind!

It's Back to School Time and Back to the Exercise Grind! 

Time to get back on a schedule since there was none this summer. No better time than the present to start working out and playing catch up since I didn't do a whole lot this summer.  I tried to have a workout schedule this summer but like any other summer we take it easy and have fun.  Now that school is back in session it's time to head to the gym again or run outside when it's cooler out.  The first half week of school it was a little cooler out in the mornings, so I took our dog out for a run/walk in the morning as soon as the kids got on the bus.  

Here's what I did:


These stats are from my runkeeper account, which is fabulous.  It keeps track of all this information along with the route you take and much more if you pay for it, which I don't.   This is plenty of information for me at this point.

Tues 8/12/14 -  Run/walk  2.58 miles, 33:13 time, 12:51 avg. pace & 217 calories burned!

Wed 8/13/14 - Run/walk 2.38 miles, 28:04 time, 11:48 avg. pace & 199 calories burned!

Thurs 8/14/14 - Run/walk 2.59 miles, 30:30 time, 11:46 avg. pace & 208 calories burned!

It's a lot hotter here in KC this week, so I started going back to the gym.  I did go a few times over the summer but nothing to important to share.  It works best for me on my days off if I drop my son off at school and head straight to the gym from there.  If he rides the bus to school I may not leave the house and make it to the gym.  It's best to put on the workout clothes first thing and go as soon as you can. 

Mon 8/18/14 - My first day back to the gym after taking most the summer off, here's what I did.  

Stationary Bike - 20:30 mins., 5 miles, level 6 random & 138 calories burned!

Elliptical - 10 mins., 1 mile, level 5 random & 129 calories burned!

Tricep Press - 3 x 15 @ 70 lbs
Squats - 3 x15 with 15, 20 & 25 lbs weight
Push-ups on knees - 3 x 15

ABS - 25 crunches, 25 bicycle, 25 Russian twist, 25 crunches again & 25 knee ups - totaling 125 crunches! 

Tues 8/19/14  Well I'm feeling sore from my workout yesterday, but like the saying goes "No pain, No gain".  When I was at the gym on Monday I saw that they were doing a power class today at 9 am.  After dropping my son off at school I drove straight to the gym.  I hopped on an elliptical first since I was 15 minutes early and did a warm up.  Although, with this class you really don't need to warm up, you get plenty from the class but I'm making up all my missed workouts now.  Not really but every little bit helps. 

Elliptical - 10 minutes, 1 mile, level 5, random hills & 129 calories burned!


Power class - It's an awesome class that they offer for FREE with the membership.  It's a 1 hour weight class that works all the muscles in your body.  I try to do this on my own but don't push myself as hard most the time.   

If you workout at a gym make sure to try out the different classes that they offer.  They can give you fresh new ideas and really work you hard.  

When I got home I decided to make a shake and get some protein back in me to help repair my muscles after this grueling class.  OK, it wasn't that bad, but it was really GOOD!

Here's what I threw together.  Sorry, no pictures of it this time I wanted to make sure it tasted good, which it does so I want to share it with you.

Healthy Smoothie of the Day ~
1 cup ice
Vanilla Soy milk
1 Tbsp peanut butter (I used Jiff or whatever kind you have, that you like.)
1 Tbsp honey
1/4 cup of oats 

Put all ingredients into my JCP Cooks blender, I love this blender because it's a single serve blender and works great for making smoothies.  Mix up and drink, YUM!!!

Now it's time to get up 

and MOVE!

Corn Dip ~ Delish!

The easiest corn dip you'll ever make.  I got this recipe from a friend about 12 years ago when we were at a picnic.  Thanks again to my friend Jodi, for the recipe. This is my go to recipe when I have to take/ make something for a party!!! Everyone loves it and it's super easy to throw together.    

Recipe:  Corn Dip served with 
                     Chili Cheese Fritos  
(Print recipe at bottom of page)

Ingredients:  Only 5 needed!
1 can whole kernel corn (any brand)
1 can white shoepeg corn (Green Giant is the only brand that has this type of corn, that I I know of.) 
1 cup mayonnaise (regular or light)
1 bag (2 cups) cheddar shredded cheese
2 bags Chili Cheese Fritos

If you don't know what shoepeg corn is,
 here's a picture of it.

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a serving dish.  No need to dirty a mixing bowl and a serving dish just make it the serving dish.  

When I first got this recipe it called for mixing the chips in with it, but after it sits for awhile or if you have leftovers it's not very good later. That's when I started placing a handful inside the serving bowl on the side, so people would know to eat it with the Chili Cheese Fritos. If you do mix it in with the dip the chips will get soggy.

Another change I would make to this, is to ask the Frito Lay Company to make these chips scoops.  That would make the chips even better with the dip.  Although, after looking at their site to send in a suggestion it looks like I need to write them a letter to share my idea.  The little chips are good but they could be great!

Ingredients

Whole kernel corn and white shoepeg corn

Add mayonnaise and shredded cheese
to corn and mix up all ingredients

Easiest corn dip ever ~ 
served with Chili Cheese Fritos!

Corn Dip served with Chili Cheese Fritos

Delicious appetizer to make on the run!

Source: jonisjoyandjunk.blogspot.com

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 Min
Total Time: 10 Min

Serves: 1

Ingredients

• 1 can whole kernel corn
• 1 can white shoepeg corn Green Giant is the only brand that I know of that has this type of corn
• 1 cup mayonnaise regular or light
• 1 bag shredded cheddar cheese 2 cups
• 2 bags Chili Cheese Fritos

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together in a serving dish. No need to dirty a mixing bowl and a serving dish just make it the serving dish.

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Frozen Cinnamon Rolls or Cinnamon Roll Cake!

GOOD MORNING ~ What's for breakfast?  Both of these options are great choices for breakfast.  Check them out below.  

On weekends we like to make cinnamon rolls.  These are the easiest cinnamon rolls you'll ever make.  I first learned about these great c.r. at a MOPS meeting that I went to about 8 years ago.  After that I was hooked because they are quick and easy to make.  Rhodes has other great products as well but this is the only one we've tried. Check out all the products here! 

Recipe:  Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls  

Directions:

Buy a bag of frozen Cinnamon Rolls in the freezer section at your nearest grocery store.  Wal-mart, HyVee and Price Chopper all have them where we live. 

Spray 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. 

Lay frozen cinnamon rolls out in pan before going to bed.  Cover with plastic wrap and let rise over night on the counter - OR - I put mine in the oven overnight and don't cover them.  Critters (I'm not saying that we have critters) or the dog can't get to them in the oven overnight.  They are safe and ready to bake in the morning.  

There are two packages of frosting in a bag.  Set out on counter to thaw. 

I used to put all 12 rolls in a 9x13 pan but then they are usually spilling out of the pan in the morning.  Now, I put 6 in two 9x13 pans overnight.  

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Do not over bake!

Cinnamon rolls after they have risen all night

Baked cinnamon rolls

Baked & frosted Cinnamon Rolls ~ Ready to eat!

Here's a Cinnamon Roll Cake recipe, that I got from Rumbly in my Tumbly off of Pinterest.  It was very tasty, but a lot more work for this baker, NOT!  I like quick and simple and my Rhodes Cinnamon Rolls above are so much easier.  Although, I would probably make the cake again, just for something different to eat for breakfast once in a while.  

Ingredients:

Cake Batter

Cake-

3 C flour

1/4 tsp salt

4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 C Milk

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 C butter, melted

Topping

Topping -

1 C butter, softened

1 C brown sugar

2 Tbsp flour

1 Tbsp cinnamon

Directions:

Mix everything together except for the butter.  Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9x13 pan.  For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined.  Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife  Bake at 350 degrees for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze

Glaze:
2 C powdered sugar
5 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake.  

  

Cake batter with topping swirled in.  It looks so pretty!

Baked Cinnamon Roll Cake

Baked & glazed!

Time to DIG IN!  

Another book to read!

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

I just finished the 3rd book in the Divergent series.  It was another wonderful book and I gave it 4 out of 5 stars as I really liked it!  This book was a little harder for me to get through as it really made me think and process what was going on.  There are two different types of people in this book genetically damaged and not genetically damaged or divergent.  Even today it's crazy how people think and judge one another before we even no anything about each other.  We are quick to judge and in this instance they want to start over.  Who decides if someone is damanged?  That's the question of the day.  None of us are the same and if we were life would be boring.  After reading this book I say, enjoy who you are and live life to the fullest.    We learn from our parents but in the end the decisions are ours to make.  Don't forget to make good choices or it could come back and bite you in the butt!

Goodreads.com Preview

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories. 

Summer Reads!

It's been a crazy busy summer so far, and I guess it shows since I haven't gotten much out here lately. Here are two books I just got done reading.  The kids were gone for a couple of days with Grandma and Grandpa and we had to go pick them up 4th of July weekend.  I had some good car reading time while the hubby drove.   The first book I'm going to talk about, I started prior to the kids being gone.  After they left I kicked it into high gear because I had another book that was due at the same time and I hadn't started it yet.  

Dead In The Family 

by Charlaine Harris~

This is the 10th book out of 13 in the series.  I've liked all of them up until this point.  In the past I've given these books 5 out of 5 stars and one of them 4 out of 5 stars.  This particular book I gave 3 out of 5 stars, which means I liked it!  I didn't really like it or think it was amazing which are the 4 and 4 star books.   This book just had too many new characters in it and I had a hard time keeping up with it, without taking notes to keep everyone straight.  I still finished and enjoyed it but not as much as the others to this point.  Probably shouldn't of taken so much time off between this book and the last one I read in the series. Although, I still plan on finishing the series sooner rather than later.  They are great summer books to read!  

Goodreads preview:

It's all about family ...

Sookie Stackhouse is dealing with a whole host of family problems, ranging from her own kin (a non-human fairy and a telepathic second cousin) demanding a place in her life, to her lover Eric's vampire sire, an ancient being who arrives with Eric's 'brother' in tow at a most inopportune moment. And Sookie's tracking down a distant relation of her ailing neighbour (and ex), Vampire Bill Compton.

Insurgent 

by Veronica Roth ~

This is the 2nd book in the Divergent series.  I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars, as I really liked it!  The author did a great job with the characters.  The choices they had to make as individuals and as groups can't be easy in the world they are living.

Goodreads preview:

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Can't wait to get my tablet on the 3rd and last book in the series.  There are also some mini books as well in this series that might be good to read eventually as well.  

PICK UP A BOOK AND READ!!!

Time to Swim!

SWEET!   

New sunglasses - FOUND!

Let's back track, to my last exercise post.  I mentioned that I had lost my new sunglasses and found my old sunglasses that had been missing for quite sometime.  Well guess what?  I found my new sunglasses.  I should learn from this and make sure I put them away where they belong.  I set them down in my closet on a shelf and forgot about them.  When I was getting ready to go out and hop in the pool I found them.  Here's what they look like.  I'm so happy, happy, happy, happy just like the song.  Check it out here:  Pharrell Williams - Happy (Despicable Me 2 - Lyric Video)

Exercise today!

I did 30 laps in our pool today.  1 lap down, 2 back, 3 down, 4 back a total of 30.  

I also, did 6 laps of bicycle kicks down and back for an AB workout.  There is great resistance when doing this in water.  You should try it if you have the chance. 

The pool felt great today, as the temperature was 92 degrees.  HOT!

Now this was probably defeating the purpose but why not.  I don't do this everyday.  My hubby came outside with an ice cold beer and  I was sitting in a tube at this point.  I asked him "Would you go get me the frozen Mango Tango Margarita out of the freezer and put it in a glass for me and bring it out?"  Then I said, "Thanks honey." after he gave it to me. 

This is my empty margarita cup
 that my yummy drink was in, delicious!

Check out all the different flavors they have.  
The one I was drinking isn't even in this
picture, so add that to the list as well.

Last of all, I did day #9 of the 30-day AB challenge.

45 sit-ups

30 crunches

30 leg raises

1 minute plank

Book # 5 - Piper Anderson Series ~

I'm proud to say, that I got my copy of Settling Scores on Friday, June 13th from Amazon.com.  The wait is over but not quite.  I held off reading it until Saturday as we were headed back to NE for a wedding that evening.  Along for a long ride in the car is great book reading opportunity for me, since I don't get carsickness.  Well guess what,  I finished the book in less than the 5 hours it took us to get to our destination.

These characters just grow and grow with each book.  You get to see Willow up close and personal as she fights her battles from her past and present.  

I rated this book with 5 Stars on Goodreads.com = It was amazing!  Another, fabulous book to read by Danielle Stewart.  

Goodreads.com preview - Settling Scores:

Willow has been saved from a painfully dark past and handed a bright future. By all accounts, she should be happy. But no one seems to understand that escaping evil hasn’t left her feeling free of it. The more people try to hold her close, the harder she fights to get away. Even the unconditional support from Edenville isn’t enough to help her keep her head above water.

On a journey to settle scores and find answers to questions that haunt her memories, Willow hopes to mend her heart.

Can't wait to read Book #6 ~ Battling Destiny coming out September 2014.

PICK UP A BOOK AND READ!