Sorry SHAPE

I LOVE magazines.  Not the digital version but the printed on paper, hold it in your hand original version.

I currently subscribe to Shape, Women's Health, Glamour, and the Nutrition Action Newsletter.  In the past I've also subscribed to Fitness, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan.

You get it, I like magazines.

However all of a sudden I've become VERY opinionated about who is on my magazine covers.  Typically the cover star also has a feature article written about him/her.  For the most part I have no issue, but unfortunately SHAPE has no rubbed me the wrong way twice.

See offenders below...

Kelly Bensimon

Audrina Patridge

Do these women have nice bodies?  Yes

That's where the good ends for me.
Why are these women "famous"?  Well for Kelly it's because she married a famous photographer and is on a reality show.  For Audrina it's just the reality show thing.
Are these natural beauties?  I can't say for sure about Kelly, but Audrina is definitely enhanced in several areas.
Do either of these ladies really have something to say?  NO

Yes, they're eye candy for the magazine cover, but the articles about them are weak and not worth reading.  Although to be honest, I haven't read the Kelly piece yet since I just got the magazine this morning.

But the Audrina piece...there was zero substance.  They showed her workout moves, which were fine, but she looked as though she might have a wardrobe malfunction in her skimpy top.

See the spillage?  Come on!

The magazine industry as a whole seems to be embracing the whole healthy is beautiful movement.  And yes, they're pretty, but I think that's where the story ends.

Don't name your child Irene

...at least not today.  Nobody on the East coast likes Irene today.

Unless you've been under a rock, you should know what I'm talking about; Hurricane Irene.  She hit all along the east coast from NC to VT.  Boy did she do a number in some areas.

Thankfully, my immediate area wasn't too bad.  Yes, there are tree limbs down, and yes, I have no power, but overall things are OK.  Unfortunately I'm being told that my power will probably be out for a few days to a week.  I don't like that, but compared to others, I shouldn't complain.

I ventured in to the office today not sure what I'd find since my building is across the street from a river.  Thankfully it was fine and we have electricity, which now feels like a luxury.

Since I had to toss most of the contents of my fridge, bringing my lunch was not an option.  However I also didn't think of the fact that so many places would be closed.  Thankfully one local spot was open and I was able to grab a salad.  While not my favorite lunch spot, the salad wasn't bad.

Spinach, walnuts, sun dried tomatoes (no oil), blue cheese, mushrooms, avocado, and bacon.  Served with a spicy honey mustard.  Sounds OK, right?

Rewinding to Saturday, I taught my 10a.  I figured it would either be packed since people wanted to get their workout on, or empty as people were busy buying water.

Thankfully it was almost full and the energy was great.  I can't put my finger on it but I blame the nervous energy on giving us a great and difficult spin ride.  I joked a few times that we were running away from the storm and I honestly think it helped us work harder.

I was just in the mood to hear the Bongo Song, so even though I may have done that ride in the past month or two, I did it anyway.  I hope no one minded.

If you take spin classes, how much attention do you pay to the music week to week.  Would you notice if the instructor played the same music twice in one month?

Lovely surprise

Greetings!

Wednesday night for my birthday was pretty low key.  Grabbed drinks with a few friends and then went for dinner with Don Juan.  Dinner was bad, but that's besides the point.

He had told me that on Thursday we'd go out to this delicious restaurant called Don Coqui in New Rochelle, NY.  Then he said he had a surprise for me after dinner.  OK. :)  First we were supposed to meet two of our friends but then they cancelled so the plan was to meet his brother and his fiance.  Cool.

So I get all dolled up and we head to NY, running late of course since that's how DJ does things (although it might have been party my fault this time too).

We get there and he walks past the maitre d, which I found odd.  He's walking towards the bar but saying he has to go to the bathroom.  So I'm kind of like OK, then why should I follow you to the bathroom.  He keeps saying bathroom.  then looks at me and nods his head over to the bar and who is there but my parents, my sister, and a few friends.  Surprise!!

My parents have been on vacation for the past two weeks so I hadn't seen them in a while.  My sister also just got back from Mexico.  And then friends, well it's always good to see friends.  It was very sweet.

This place is known for awesome food and huge portions.  It's a Puerto Rican restaurant so think paella, arroz con pollo, chimichuri sauce, etc...  Plus on Thursday nights they have a salsa band and dancing.

A personalized menu!
Check out the offerings.

Here's a look at our appetizers, after we ate to our hearts content..

There were also two other smaller plates

I didn't have my camera since I didn't know I'd want it, so I snapped that pic with my phone.

Like I said, the portions are huge.  This is the paella, although I don't think the photo does the dish justice.

Yes, that's a lobster on top
This picture doesn't show the true size of this dish (huge)

Everyone took home leftovers, serious leftovers.

Once we were done eating we moved to the lounge and hung out a bit.  Then my parents and sis left as they had a bit of a drive ahead of them.  So a few of us stayed and did some salsa dancing.

When there's dancing and Jessica there's always a ton of laughter, so it was very entertaining.  I know there are pictures out there so when I find them, I'll do another post.

Overall it was a wonderful and unexpected night and I have to thank DJ for putting it all together.

Delicious dinner

This was dinner the other night...


DJ made turkey burgers.  I didn't see exactly what he put in them but I know I recall peppers, onion, and basil.  He also seasoned them up.

Sometimes the glory of a burger is not in the meat itself but in the toppings or the accessories.

Our burgers were had on Arnold Sandwich Flats.  I honestly wonder what I ate before finding these things.

So what you're looking at is this...
Sandwich flat bottom
Turkey burger
Laughing cow lite swiss
Guacamole
Mango sauce (DJ made this the other day in the vitamix using mangos, strawberries, and jalapeno (I think))
Sliced mango
Tomato
Lettuce
Sandwich flat top

YUM!!!

Of course it was incredibly messy to eat, but it tasted sooooooo good.

I'm totally obsessed with mango on sandwiches.  It has such flavor that you don't need much else.  I'm also a big fan of Laughing Cow wedges, only 35 calories and so creamy!

It was a great dinner, consumed after day 1 of Insanity.  Yup, it's back.  But more on that in another post.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Nothing wrong with a self-indulgent post on your birthday, right?

It seems like this may be a pretty low-key birthday, but in the past I've always loved to celebrate.

Here are a few photos from years past....awww, memory lane...

My 30th, in case you couldn't guess.
I LOVE black and white cookies and was thrilled when my parents busted this one out.

Another cake for my 30th
There's no such thing as too much cake

Me on my 30th!  :)

My 31st at the Yankees game with my sis

I can't wait to see what this year has in store!!

Do you whole wheat?

Good morning!

So guess what?  My birthday is tomorrow.  Crazy.  In years past I've been ALL about celebrating but this year I'm just eh on the whole thing.  Strange.

I did have some great plans to go to the High Line in NYC on Sunday with some friends but unfortunately it looks like we're supposed to get hit with a tropical storm or hurricane.  Definitely not ideal weather for outdoor activities.  So now the plan is really TBD.

Last night I made banana bread.  I had some seriously overripe bananas on the counter and it was either turn them in to bread or throw them in to the trash.  I obv chose the bread route.

Not it's true color, I used a fancy effect :)

I used this recipe.  However when it came time to add the raisins I realized they had gone missing.  On a side note, I've managed to lose raisins numerous times.  I asked DJ where he'd be if he were a raisin and he said California.  Duh.  I briefly toyed with adding chocolate chips but realized that would totally negate the healthy aspect of this bread so I just added another banana (for a total of 4).  The last one wasn't as thoroughly mashed as the others.

This recipe uses whole wheat flour.  I like whole wheat flour, but do agree that it has a very distinct taste.  In my experience, the first bite really tastes like whole wheat and then as you eat more, your taste buds adjust and you start to just enjoy the flavors, not be smacked in the face with the wheatyness (new word!).

Have you had this happen?  Do you agree or disagree?  Do you even like whole wheat?

I find this is also the case with whole wheat pizza.  First bite, just eh.  But fifth bite and on taste wonderful!

Just another...

Good morning and happy Monday!  I honestly can't believe that Monday is here already.  Can we please start pushing for a 3 day weekend?

I apologize for disappearing on Friday.  I have no good excuse other than sheer lack of motivation.  Know the feeling?

I left things off with the bee incident, which still makes me shudder.  $125 later the hive is gone.  Thank goodness!  Just another "joy" of home ownership.  Can anyone tell me if there are actual joys and if so, when might I expect to experience them???

Thursday day, still reeling from the trauma and itchy as hell I tried to track down some non-drowsy benadryl.  Well, I learned that A) both CVS and Walgreens don't sell brand name Benadryl and B) there's no such thing as non-drowsy. Well, there was no way I was taking Benadryl in the middle of the work day, so I just pushed through.

Mid day I received a call from my friend who teaches the 5:30p spin class and he desperately needed a sub, so I agreed. Believe me when I tell you that I was not excited about teaching 2 hours of spin.  But oh well.  That was also another reason why I couldn't take a chance with taking Benadryl.

Thursday night after teaching both classes, my body was exhausted and I was so excited to have dinner, pop those benadryl and then call it a night.  Let's just say that apparently Benadryl no longer makes me drowsy.  Really?

Enough rambling...

Friday night I went out with some of the girls for happy hour.  Let's just say I had a bit too much sangria and payed the price on Saturday and possibly even Sunday.  Not fun.

Some other stuff occurred but nothing too notable, and now it's Monday again.

I'm looking at a significant revamping of my work out plan, eating habits, and fitness goals.  I think I'm in a rut and need to shake things up.  Once I've got the plan down, I'll gladly share.  And then perhaps this blog will get back to Fit Talking...not just mindless rambles.