Pizza and Pilates

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Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:41:30 -0400

The paleo diet isn't necessarily ideal, an evolutionary biologist says

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:34:25 -0400

The paleo diet isn't necessarily ideal, an evolutionary biologist says: Have you heard of the...

Guilt-Free Guacamole 1/2 cup 0% fat Fage Greek Yogurt 2 cups...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 21:54:52 -0400

Guilt-Free Guacamole

1/2 cup 0% fat Fage Greek Yogurt
2 cups steamed, chopped broccoli
1/3 avocado
1 cup chopped orange pepper
1/3 cup packed cilantro
Dash of hot sauce
Dash of salt
Juice of 2 limes and 1 lemon

Blend it all except the peppers in a blender or food processor. Makes 4 servings at only 90 cals per serving!

I was fortunate to luck into a bushel of broccoli - oh happy day! And with friends coming to visit I had an appetizer to make. It was one of the first really warm days so I wanted to make something light, fresh, and healthy so as not to blow the diet. A quick Google search showed me a few broccoli dips, but this one from KathEats looked the best: http://www.katheats.com/favorite-foods/fiesta-broccoli-dip I served it with baked tostitos and it was a huge hit! No one guessed there was broccoli in it, but they all thought it tasted delicious. We ate it all before I could take a pic of the final result, oops, but I guess that means it was a success!

@MiniUSA Love this bike rack! Who needs jewelry when your...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:12:56 -0400

@MiniUSA Love this bike rack!

Who needs jewelry when your fiance gives you this sweet bike rack for Valentine’s Day instead?

Matt and I installed it in about 30 minutes on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The instructions were easy to follow and aside from a few small misunderstandings on our part, we figured it out without a problem.

The best part is that as a short female, I was still able to easily lift my bike up on top of the car. My bike is extremly light, and I am extremly strong, but I think anyone with a dose of athleticism could do it too!

Go here to find the perfect bike rack for your Mini: Shop Mini USA

I loved my bright yellow Walkman back in the ’80s, but...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:15:46 -0400

I loved my bright yellow Walkman back in the ’80s, but haven’t really thought about them since the ipod came out. According to this stellar review, sounds like they’re a contender again!

dianneharvard:

I was recently selected by Klout (a website and mobile app that uses social media analytics to rank its users according to online social influence) to receive one of the coolest “Klout Perks” ever - a Sony Walkman W (special Meb Keflezighi edition).

I must say…It was a pretty great feeling to know I was 1 out of 5,000 people selected to receive this based on my social influence on “active lifestyles”.

I had the opportunity to go out for a run today and give the headphones a try and I absolutely LOVED them! The Walkman W is light weight, comfortable, has impressive sound quality and was super easy to set up.

A short 3 minute charge equals 1 hour of playing time, and you can get up to eight hours of uninterrupted play when fully charged. Plus, getting your music onto the Sony Walkman W is as simple as dragging and dropping the files (for both PC and MAC). Took me a total of 10 minutes to get 1.6 GB of music uploaded and out the door.

Once I hit the pavement I was super impressed by the sound quality as well as how comfortable the Sony Walkman W fit. It stayed in place the entire run with no shifting at all.

The volume controls and the shuffle on/off button are located on the left side. The play/pause button and buttons to change the tracks are on the right side. All functions are super accessible, which I LOVE.

Overall, I was super impressed with this MP3 player and can’t even believe I was lucky enough to be selected to get this for free.

If you’re a runner, biker, or someone who spends time in the gym (lifting weights, elliptical, rowing, etc) than the Sony Walkman W is totally for you. There is even a new completely waterproof version for swimmers (it works up to 6ft under water).

You can purchase the 2GB Sony Walkman W at Sony.com for $59.99 and if you purchase the Meb Keflezighi edition for $10 more you’ll enjoy pre-loaded audio tips by Meb and a Runners booklet with tips on running, nutrition, stretching, strategy and a list of Meb’s favorite motivational running songs. A portion of sales goes to the MEB FOUNDATION in support of Health, Fitness, Education — Balance.

Happy cord-less running everybody:) If you have an specific questions feel free to comment below and let me know, I’m happy to answer them.

Check out my new avatar! My amazing fiance, Matt, created this...

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:08:52 -0400

Check out my new avatar! My amazing fiance, Matt, created this of the two of us and I just love it. Pizza and Pilates is all about life balance, health, and FUN - this encapsulates all of that. Hope you like it too!

Tough Choices Yesterday was the Oriole’s opening day at...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 16:26:30 -0400

Tough Choices

Yesterday was the Oriole’s opening day at Camden Yards! I’m not a huge baseball fan, but I do love the camaraderie that comes with living in a city that rallies around its sports teams. Last year was a good year for the Orioles and the two live games I attended were a ton of fun so I was looking forward to opening day and the start of their season this year.

It was a huge event in Baltimore - more than half the city took off work and started hanging out at the bars across from the field starting as early as 10am, regardless if they had tickets for the 3pm game or not. I knew all my friends and my fiance would be doing this and that it would be sure to be fun. Especially when the weather called for 60 degrees and sunny! However, I also knew this would mean a day of drinking beers and eating bar food. I love a Bud Light and a burger, but this probably would have been 10 Bud Lights, burgers, fries, nachos, a few sugary shots, and no exercise other than standing in a crowded bar all day.

The choice was tough, I wanted to have fun, but I didn’t want to blow my health goals. In the end, I decided to go to work and the gym instead of day drink. I thought about a dress I wanted to fit in for my Wedding Shower at the end of the month, and the bike ride and hike I wanted to do over the weekend. Envisioning those goals helped make the choice easier. I was a bit jealous of my friends, sure, but I made up for it by having a drink at happy hour and then getting up early the next day to go for a hike, something I probably would not have been able to do if I’d made the choice to go. I’m either growing up, or my wedding really is motivating me to get in great shape!

So next time you’re faced with a choice, envision what you’ll get from each outcome and see which one lines up with your goals. It may help keep you on track!

Hallie, I just wanted to stop by and say that I love your blog and all the fun recipes you post. Especially one of the spinach pizzas you posted recently. How long have you been cooking? Are you a pilates trainer?

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 15:25:04 -0400

Hello! Thanks so much for your note. I’m glad you like the recipes. I’ve been cooking...

Another great, easy, tasty recipe. No joke, this is ridiculously...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:32:57 -0400

Another great, easy, tasty recipe. No joke, this is ridiculously simple!

Linguine

Shrimp

Asparagus

Olive Oil

Lemon juice

Parsley

That’s it! I cooked 1lb of linguine according to the box. Steamed the asparagus while I roasted the shrimp (lightly coated in olive oil, salt and pepper) for just 8 minutes, then mixed it all together - tails still on to retain the flavor and juice to the shrimp - with 1/2 c olive oil and the juice of two lemons. Season with fresh parsley, heat up some crusty Italian bread and crack open a white wine. It made 6 servings and could not have been quicker and easier. It’s such a great last minute dinner, hope it works out for you!

My office is running a recipe contest where the winner gets an...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:54:20 -0400

My office is running a recipe contest where the winner gets an iPad mini. Hello motivation! All you have to do is follow the guidelines of a Lean & Green. But you don’t have to be on Medifast to enjoy this quiche. It’s delicious and gives you just the right amount of protein:carbs:fat for a perfect meal.

I love this recipe because it is so versatile. You can vary the veggies and the cheese to create different flavors. I found the chipotle cheese gave it a lot of flavor so I didn’t have to use all of my condiments. Plus, even though it makes one serving, it was so big I had to split it into two!

Veggie Breakfast Quiche (adapted from Sandy’s Kitchen Vegetable Quiche)

Makes 1 serving

2 Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle Laughing Cow Wedges (1 Healthy Fat)

½ c Part-skim, low moisture, 2% shredded Mozzarella Cheese (1/2 Lean)

1 c Egg Beaters (1/2 Lean)

½ c Scallions (1 Green)

½ c Zucchini (1 Green)

½ c Tomatoes (1 Green)

½ tsp Pepper (1 condiment)

¼ tsp Salt (1 condiment)

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a square baking dish with Pam cooking spray. Chop all your veggies and combine with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Leave out just a little bit of the shredded cheese for later. Use a fork to break up the cheese wedges and blend them with the rest of the mix. Pour in your baking dish and bake for 35 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle the little bit of shredded cheese on top. Put back in the oven for an additional 5 minutes.

neekaisweird: Caprese Salad Pizza Pesto, yum! Happy Homemade...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:52:00 -0500

neekaisweird:

Caprese Salad Pizza

Pesto, yum! Happy Homemade Pizza Week!

Time to get back to my pizza roots with a healthy, homemade,...

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 18:55:00 -0500

Time to get back to my pizza roots with a healthy, homemade, veggie pizza.

Things I learned:

1. I used a lot of evoo to sautée the onions and mushrooms. I made a later pizza with steamed broccoli and baked chicken, which eliminated all of the oil!

2. My first attempt I used the whole wheat Boboli crust on a cookie sheet. It wasn’t as crispy as I like, so the second time I used the regular thin crust directly on the oven rack and it turned out perfect!

3. One Boboli pizza crust says it serves 6. That’s a lie. It makes 3 servings.

4. Finally, your options are endless so it can be a lot of fun to experiment! Plus, it’s so much cheaper and healthier than delivery pizza that we should really all be making it ourselves all the time. Enjoy!

Happy National Nutrition Month! What better time to retackle...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:01:58 -0500

Happy National Nutrition Month!

What better time to retackle your health and wellness goals than during the month dedicated to educating you on what to eat to feel and look your best?? Sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, you can find all sorts of cool nutrition info throughout the month on their website.

They had me at their vegetable themed Sodoku game.

What is love?

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:27:53 -0500

Such a question! Love means different things to different people, I suppose. This group of kids...

I’ve talked before about how I believe life is made up of...

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:25:34 -0500

I’ve talked before about how I believe life is made up of balancing parts. Family, friends, work, mental, and physical well-being, all make up a healthy life. When one part is lacking it’s demonstrated by lethargy, grumpiness, a feeling of “being off.” But wow, when all are in harmony, life is good.

This is why I’ve gotten back into books. I started reading when I was 5, when my mom would worry about me walking home from school because I wouldn’t look up from my book as I crossed streets, and haven’t stopped until about last year when I changed jobs, moved, got into a relationship, etc. And while I’ve been feeling great, my mind felt like it was missing something.

A vacation (“from my problems!”) was just what it needed. But not to the beach, at least not a physical beach. A vacation away from the real world. And noise. I find the older I get the more sensitive I am to noise. Maybe this is why older people go deaf? To defend against the aggressiveness of noise?

And so I just finished The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling. Is it my favorite book? No. But it’s a darn good one and sucked me into another the world of suburban England for a good, long while. That makes it a worthy read in my book (pun INtended). Now where to go next…

doubledaybooks:

Are you still looking for yours?

obliteratedheart:

Sandra’s Art

It’s winter. And with that comes comfort food cravings....

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:41:08 -0500

It’s winter. And with that comes comfort food cravings. One of my most favorite meals in this category is Macaroni and cheese. Baked M&C made with four types of cheeses with that golden brown crust is to die for. But even a box of Kraft hits the spot when the temperature drops and the winds start to blow (all topped with Ketchup, of course).

However, the calories and fat for such a meal are through the roof, which is why I was so psyched to find this super easy recipe on 360 Family Nutrition today! I don’t cook a lot, so the ease of preparation and small list of ingredients attracted my attention. Plus the great nutrition count at the end (10 g protein and only 4 g fat) compared to regular M&C. And the best part, no leftovers to go back to for second and third helpings!

I also like recipes that are easy to modify too, if you wanted to add some chopped tomatoes, or fresh herbs, or diced tofu dogs (done it, and it’s delicious) there’s a lot of room to make it your own.

RECIPE
Ingredients:
1/2 cup elbow pasta, uncooked
1 cup water
1-2 teaspoons light buttery spread (ie. Smart Balance light buttery spread)
1 Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss Wedge
1 tablespoon low fat milk
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Microwave pasta with water in covered ceramic or glass bowl (or cook pasta on stove); drain water if there is any excess (I did not have any excess).
2. Add remaining ingredients and microwave for one minute, stir well and continue to heat until cheese is melted.

Nutrition:

Serving size: 1 • Servings: 1 • Calories: 264.8 kcal • Protein: 10.1 g • Carbs: 45.0 g • Fat: 4.2 g • Fiber: 2.0 g • Sugar: 3.4 g • Sodium: 253.3 mg

It’s almost New Year’s Resolution time!! The key is...

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:21:00 -0500

It’s almost New Year’s Resolution time!! The key is to be specific. Don’t just say “I want to workout more.” Instead, say “I’m going to go to the gym Monday, Wednesday, Friday every week.” Here are some general jumping off points for making some healthy, thoughtful resolutions to get 2013 started off right. All you need to do is add the details and make it your own!

An Engagement Story: A run, a flash mob and a ring. | Baltimore Bride

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:15:29 -0500

An Engagement Story: A run, a flash mob and a ring. | Baltimore Bride: I’m engaged! And my...

Carbo loading for the race tomorrow! #comeback

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:55:39 -0500

Carbo loading for the race tomorrow! #comeback

goldman: A beautiful sunset for an ugly day. (at MTA Subway -...

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:24:40 -0500

goldman:

A beautiful sunset for an ugly day. (at MTA Subway - Fresh Pond Rd (M))

Pizza and Pilates

Photo

The paleo diet isn't necessarily ideal, an evolutionary biologist says

Guilt-Free Guacamole 1/2 cup 0% fat Fage Greek Yogurt 2 cups...

@MiniUSA Love this bike rack! Who needs jewelry when your...

I loved my bright yellow Walkman back in the ’80s, but...

Check out my new avatar! My amazing fiance, Matt, created this...

Tough Choices Yesterday was the Oriole’s opening day at...

Hallie, I just wanted to stop by and say that I love your blog and all the fun recipes you post. Especially one of the spinach pizzas you posted recently. How long have you been cooking? Are you a pilates trainer?

Another great, easy, tasty recipe. No joke, this is ridiculously...

My office is running a recipe contest where the winner gets an...

neekaisweird: Caprese Salad Pizza Pesto, yum! Happy Homemade...

Time to get back to my pizza roots with a healthy, homemade,...

Happy National Nutrition Month! What better time to retackle...

What is love?

I’ve talked before about how I believe life is made up of...

It’s winter. And with that comes comfort food cravings....

It’s almost New Year’s Resolution time!! The key is...

An Engagement Story: A run, a flash mob and a ring. | Baltimore Bride

Carbo loading for the race tomorrow! #comeback

goldman: A beautiful sunset for an ugly day. (at MTA Subway -...

The paleo diet isn't necessarily ideal, an evolutionary biologist says