Mugs

I can always count on my mom to throw a new healthy recipe at me when I'm home. This morning before I woke up she left me this recipe on the counter:

Grainless Banana Bread in a Mug

I substituted almond butter into my mug, and made peanut butter for my dad. That paired with a warm cup of black coffee started off my morning swimmingly. I believe she found the original recipe here.

I've been back in the Chi now since Thursday night. Before boarding my flight, I found myself a real treat at the BWI airport:

Who knew Jamba offers Pumpkin smoothies? I opted for a small, and got it 'light' which I believe cuts out some of the sugar, shaving it down to closer to 200 cals. Still considered a treat in my book, but a tasty way to start off my trip.

Also, a big obligatory thanks to the sis and her pal Manda who braved the Chicago rush hour traffic on Thursday and picked myself and my 80 lbs of luggage up from Midway airport so that I wouldn't have to take the L. Can we just talk about how my big suitcase weighed exactly 50 lbs? 50.0. The Southwest lady at the check-in desk literally congratulated me.

Had to blur out some of Bri's offensive language.

Last night I decided to try to create my own version of a pumpkin smoothie. I threw in:

- 1/2 ripe banana 

-1 cup canned pumpkin

-1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

-3 TB honey

-1/3 cup cottage cheese (to thicken it up)

-A few ice cubes

-1/2 - 1 cup vanilla almond milk

-1 TB almond butter

-1 TB flaxseed

As you can see,  I paired that with some leftover green bean casserole and called it a dinner. I'm weird,  I know. I enjoyed the smoothie, and may throw some vanilla extract in there next time.

The weekend, in short, was a whole lot of Christmas, a whole lot of Jane, and a whole lot of snoozin'.

Grams & Santa

I stumbled upon this on Pinterest the other day and loved it. It may very well me my 2014 mantra.

I have some last minute Christmas shopping to knock out today, along with a basement workout on our elliptical/bike. Yes, I'm one of those people who waits to buy presents. It makes it easier to buy it here versus Baltimore and then have to pack them all.

Enjoy your second to last Monday of 2014 - I hope it treats you well.

Cheers -
K

Leg 1 wrap-up

Tomorrow marks the end of the Chicago leg of my trip; I jet out to Denver late tomorrow afternoon to spend New Years in the Colorado Rockies with my handsome boyfriend and co.

Super pumped.

So far I've spared you all the glorious details of my time at home, and I'm sure you've all been dying to know what I've been up to. It's riveting really.

Through Christmas we were pretty big bums. All of us.

My sister Bri was pretty miserable from getting her compacted wisdom teeth out, and was popping Advil like they were smarties. We had to go to Costco and get the industrial size for her.

open wide Bri! oh wait you can't.

We did some pre-Christmas shopping at Express so that my mom could buy us both new work pants. Yet surprise surprise, Express didn't have any longs in the store. Life of a tall girl. So I sat and sulked in the dressing room while my mom and Bri got to have all the fun.

Being home is always awesome because my mom keeps our fridge stocked with fresh fruit. My oatmeal has had a serious face lift since being back home.

BERRRRIIIESSSSS

I've been running. A pretty fabulous amount. I continue to feel stronger, and managed my first non-stop 60 minute run since September on Christmas morning.  My sister also got me this awesome shirt that I'm obsessed with, and will find a reason to wear to work.

Jane and I have become the closest of friends.

Even as I sit here and type this, she insists on trying to sit on my lap. She even follows me into the bathroom.

I would say we have gone on several walks together, but like me, Jane doesn't comprehend the word walk. She runs. She pulls almost the whole way on walks, to the point that she may have to go to doggy school if she doesn't chill out.

Jane dragging my mom along

But I love her that way.

Yesterday my mom and cousin, Jessica, ventured into the city to meet my sister for dinner when she got off work. All of the streets were still decked with lights, and it was a beautiful evening considering the time of year.

Jess & me

How have your holidays been? What are you New Years plans?

Cheers to 2013 coming in hot!

48 Hours

Due to my lethargic-ness, and need to get out the door and get my Christmas shopping done today (I'm bad, I know), I present you all my past 48 hours in pictures. From Friday morning until now.

Went through the Starbucks drive-thru on my way to work. The woman in front of me bought mine for me.
It undoubtedly made my day. #26acts

I discovered the joys of compression shorts, and ran 7 miles in them.

7 windy, cold miles. Then I tried to make a new face for you guys. 

I started packing for my 10 day trip

It only took 2-3 hours.

I met my new sister, Jane!

My other sister got her wisdom teeth out that morning, and was zero fun. 

So I headed over to my friend Greg's 3rd Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. 

sh*t got weird.

I woke up feeling great not great but got plenty of puppy kisses. 

we hung out all morning.

then headed to our Family Christmas party.

this morning has been a lot of laying around.

But now we are off to the mall to shop 'til we drop! Did anyone else procrastinate like me and is getting some last minute shopping done today? Any other Christmas party attendees this weekend?

Cheers to the holidays!

Holiday Tunes

Freeeddommmmmmmmmm!!!

Today’s half-day marked the last day of work for me until mid-day Monday, and I couldn’t be more pumped.

Today is also an epic day because I finally caved in and started listening to Christmas music. I gave my office a lecture last week about how that WAS NOT acceptable pre-Thanksgiving time and I would off judge anyone who I caught doing it.  However, this morning I woke up and just felt the holiday cheer in my bones, and decided to give in on my drive to work.

The first jam of the season? Mistletoe by JBeibs, obviously.

However, can I just make the quick argument that the Hanson Christmas Album is the best Christmas album that there is? Followed closely by Jessica Simpson's.

not debatable.

My favorite single would definitely have to be Last Christmas by Jimmy Eat World. They definitely nailed it.

I’ve also recently been wearing my badass Columbia boots around my house in hopes that it will snow, while the temps out here have been staying pretty steady in the 50’s. They may not be put to as much use out here in Maryland compared to when I lived in Colorado, hence why I shall make an effort to wear them in inappropriate social settings that will make my boyfriend uncomfortable to be around me.

 Last night I did a short interval workout on the treadmill and felt decent. I wore my sweet shirt that I got from the Zoo Zoom which I’m obsessed with and may just wear for the entire Thanksgiving weekend. I also really need to find a new pair of shoes because my Asics Nimbuses (Nimbi?) now feel way to heavy after switching back into them from my Brookes Connects. I’ve been eyeing the Asics Blurs, has anyone out there ever ran in them?

best shirt ever.

Anyways, Andrew and I have an early 6:30 AM flight out of BWI tomorrow morning, bringing us into Chicago by 7:30 AM with the time change. I expect my sister to be waiting at our gate with a bloody mary in hand. Wait what? Seriously though, I’m super psyched for some solid family time, lots of turkey/cranberries/stuffing, and of course some outings with friends.

What are your  Thanksgiving plans? Better yet, what’s your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Cheers to the holidays!

Kait