booty blast circuit workout & weekly meals

{via}

If you're anything like me, you took the weekend off from working out. Oops. And now it is Monday and you need a good workout that will get you back on track. I have been searching for a really great butt workout, and I think I have found a winner. I did this twice last week and my booty was SORE. Beware of the "fire hydrants" - they hurt!

Here it is:

• 20 squats
• 20 plie squats
• 20 donkey kicks per side
• 20 fire hydrants per side
• 20 circling donkey kids per side
• 20 frog jumps
• 20 side lunges per side
• 30 alternating split jumps
• 30 skaters
• 30 hip lifts
• 20 lunge kicks per side

Do this circuit 3 times and your booty will be burning!

My husband and I are doing a "drop 5" [pounds] challenge this week. OK, 5 pounds might be a bit much but we lovingly name it drop 5 in order to keep healthy eating and exercise top of mind. In addition to our daily circuit workouts, we have to eat well as part of the challenge. Only trace amounts of dairy and refined sugar will make their way into my shopping cart this week.

Here's what I have in mind. I usually have leftovers for lunch, so that category is not included.

Breakfast:

• Coffee or chai tea with almond milk and a dash of cinnamon
• Green smoothie with spinach, banana, orange and protein powder
• Scrambled eggs with diced veggies
• Husband - cottage cheese with mandarin oranges (cottage cheese is not my thing)

Snacks:

• Trail mix with almonds, dried cranberries and pretzels
• Apple and pretzels
• Protein shake
• Guacamole
• Grapes

Dinner:

• Spinach salad with baked chicken, avocado, slivered almonds and dried cranberries
• Chicken stir-fry with bell peppers, onion, and broccoli
• Parmesan crusted chicken with sweet potato and broccoli (using this Weight Watchers chicken recipe)
• Salmon with avocado-mango salsa

the start of a new month

I hope you had a nice and relaxing Easter weekend. Ours was low-key since we are still puppy sitting Buster, the Boston Terrier. When you have your own dog, I suspect that you get used to leaving it at home  - but we felt guilty! I was also worried that he would have an "accident" or destroy something if he was alone. Cleaning up after a puppy is not fun, I tell ya.

Don't forget that today is April Fool's Day. Even if you are not a prankster, someone may be planning a prank on you so it's good to be aware. Ha! Here is a prank I've always wanted to try...

{rubber band on spray nozzle - via}

But this year, I just feel like this...

(Someecards - their cards are the best}

It is also the start of another month and a perfect time to turn over a new leaf. Here are a few ways I plan to make it an Amazing April:

• Schedule a weekend trip away before we move
• Workout 4-5 times per week to relieve stress
• Try a few new recipes
• Buy a new laptop
• Invest in new stocks and/or mutual fund
• Buy a coffee press
• Finally rollover my 401k into my IRA
• Visit AAA and get my international driver's license

In other news, my March Madness bracket has proven very disappointing - BUT Louisville is holding strong! Did you see Kevin Ware's horrifying leg injury in the Louisville vs. Duke game? It made me nauseous. They say he'll be out for at least a year.

Did you hear about the Exxon oil spill in Arkansas?

Can you believe a photo taken by an iPhone and edited with Instagram is on the cover of NY Times? Here's the article.

Have a great Monday!

trying to be healthy monday

This weekend was a blur of big decisions, errands, movies, and unhealthy food. My husband and I are preparing for a big move and we have been very stressed trying to make arrangements. Everyone handles stress differently, but I tend to bee-line for the fridge. Most of the time I choose healthy snacks (trail mix, smoothie, pretzels, etc.) but I allowed myself one "really bad" weekend of being totally unhealthy.

No workouts + pizza + tacos & nachos + cupcakes + chocolate chip waffles = time to get back on the healthy wagon.

I sat down this morning to make a grocery list and my weekly meal plan. I usually cook 3 or 4 nights a week and rely on leftovers for the remaining days. This week I decided on...

• Salmon with sriracha sauce using this Gwyneth Paltrow recipe
• Spinach salad with turkey, apple, avocado, almonds, and dried cranberry with this amazing salad dressing
• Tortilla soup with avocado using this recipe
• Ground turkey taco salad with avocado and tomato. No recipe, I just throw this together

By the way, I love my inov-8 shoes. If you are looking for a new athletic shoe, consider giving them a try.

Here are a few recent photos of my life lately:

{new Kate Spade watch}

{french toast breakfast at Casa Laguna in Laguna Beach}

{cool shot of giant wave crashing over a rock}

{Potter, the cutest golden retriever puppy in the world}

{whale fluke seen in Dana Point, CA}