Ms. Crabby Pants

Good evening! I hope you had a great weekend! My weekend was filled with both fun and relaxation. We went to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and we finally got to see what most refer to the Spoon and Cherry, but it's actually the Spoonbridge and Cherry. Huh. Who knew? Anyways, we had a lot of fun looking at all of the sculptures and exhibits, however while we enjoy art, we just don't get some of it. Please tell me I am not alone on this. Saturday night we had an amazing dinner at Meritage and then went to the Minnesota Wild game. I like sports, but hockey is by far my favorite to watch. Who doesn't like a good fight? Just as long as nobody gets severely injured. Then Sunday we slept in and then enjoyed pumpkin beers and lunch while watching the Vikings hold on to the very end. It was an amazing weekend spent with my favorite guy. Weekends like this make me smile. While my weekend was nothing short of amazing, let's rewind to last Thursday when nothing was going right. I didn't sleep well and it went downhill from there. It was one of those days that gets the best of you every now and then. After I had a pity party for myself, I decided to try and turn my from upside down. Here is what I do when I am having a bad day:

-Go to the gym. A hard workout always puts me in a good mood. Always.
-Look at some of my favorite pictures on my phone. They are guaranteed to put me in a good mood.
-Take a couple of deep breaths. Deep breathing helps me to calm down and refocus.
-Call my mom. She always finds a way to turn my mood around.
-Call my boyfriend. He always puts things in perspective.
-Take a hot shower. Everyone feels better after a long hot shower.
-Take a walk outside. I don't know what it is, but the fresh air and sunshine always brighten my mood.
-Go shopping. Even if it's a new lip gloss or a magazine, shopping always brightens my mood.
-Enjoy a glass of wine and a favorite TV show. My favorite pairing is a glass of Pinot Noir and The Office.
-Count your blessings. I stop and think about how blessed I am to have an amazing family, awesome friends and an incredible boyfriend.
-Say to myself "This too shall pass." While it is a simple saying it really does help me realize that tomorrow is a new day.
-When all else fails, I go to bed early. A good night's sleep cures all.

What do you do when you're having a bad day?

Have a great night and Go Wild!

Nicole

Pizza-The Ultimate Comfort Food

Hi friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! I bought my boyfriend Pearl Jam tickets and we joined 18,000 of our closest friends for a great high energy show. Before Saturday I knew very little about their music since I switch between exactly two genres of music; country and pop. While it may not have been my cup of tea, I still had a great time and nothing made me happier than seeing my boyfriend excited to see one of his favorite bands. The weather was also absolutely gorgeous this weekend, but you can definitely tell cooler temps are right around the corner. I don't know about you, but once the cooler weather settles in, my palate changes from craving salads and lighter foods to craving warm comfort foods like pizza and pasta. One of our favorite things to do on a Saturday night is to make homemade pizza, open a bottle of wine and watch a movie. To save time, we buy a pre-made crust and we also use a pizza stone, which I think is key to a perfectly cooked crust. We don't really follow an exact recipe; we usually just pick out ingredients we have a craving for, but the two ingredients, besides cheese and sauce, our pizza always contain are blue cheese and Big John's Ol' West BBQ and Dippin' Sauce. Here  is a recipe for one of our favorite pizzas.

BBQ Chorizo Pizza

1 12'' Original Boboli pizza crust
1 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 C pizza sauce- Use more or less depending on your preference 

1/2 Red onion-sliced

1/2lb cooked Chorizo

8oz. shredded mozzarella- Use more or less depending on your preference

Sliced fresh mushrooms

Blue cheese crumbles

Big John's Ol'West BBQ and Dippin' Sauce

Directions: 

1. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees

2. Brush crust with olive oil

3. Spread pizza sauce on crust

4. Add Chorizo

5. Add onions

6. Add mushrooms

7. Add blue cheese

8. Top with mozzarella

9. Drizzle BBQ sauce over the top of the pizza

10. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until crust is golden brown and the cheese is melted

I hope you enjoy this pizza as much as we do! What are your favorite pizza combinations? 

Have a great night! 

Nicole

What Motivates You?

Good evening! I hope you all had a fantastic day! The weather here today was 70 degrees and sunny, which for Minnesota in October is rare, so it was easy for me to get motivated to head outside for a run. Now, when it's -30 degrees outside that is a different story. I would much rather curl up on the couch with a warm blanket than go to the gym. The same holds true to after a long day at work. I would much rather unwind with a glass of wine than go for a run on the treadmill. When I am feeling tired or unmotivated to go to the gym, here are some things I use to motivate me:

1. I listen to upbeat music on my way to the gym. It can be anything from pop, country or rock just as long as it's upbeat and energizes me.

2. I think about how amazing I feel after a workout. It is a proven scientific fact that exercising makes you happier.

3. I compromise with myself. I have to do at least 30 minutes of cardio, but anything over that is just an added bonus.

4. I buy colorful workout clothes that make me feel happy when I put them on.

5. Two words; swimsuit season.

6. I make sure to take rest days so I don't overwork my body and after taking a day off I almost always look forward to hitting the gym again.

7. I think about this quote:

What motivates you to workout when you are tired or after a long day at work?

Have a great night!

Nicole

Cheers

Hi all! How was your day? I had a pretty quiet day, which I am definitely not complaining about! Today I found myself daydreaming a lot and one of the thoughts that crossed my mind was to do a virtual wine date. It also got me thinking that I need more wine dates in the future with my girlfriends. Alright, pour yourself a glass of wine and let's chat. If you're curious, my wine of choice was Apothic Red. It's heaven in a glass. 

-If we were enjoying a glass of wine together I would tell you that I am hooked on The Office. I know I am late to the party on this one, but I've loved all 80 episodes so far. I may have laughed out loud today when a guy named Dwight called my office selling furnace filters.

-If we were enjoying a glass of wine together I would tell you how excited I am to get my hair done on Saturday. I want to chop it all off, but I know I would regret that decision the moment I did it.

-If we were enjoying a glass of wine together I would tell you that I bought the boyfriend Pearl Jam tickets for his birthday and the concert is on Sunday. I am very excited to experience a new to me band.

-If we were enjoying a glass of wine together I would tell you that I am going to plan a winter vacation this year. I can handle winter, but if it's anything like the last winter I will go stir crazy and will probably turn into an Eskimo.

-If we were enjoying a glass of wine together I would tell you that I want to go to the apple orchard and pick apples. An apple cider donut is calling my name.

-If we were enjoying a glass of wine together I would tell you one of the funniest quotes I've ever heard from a resident, "I am losing my rump." Keep in mind this came from an 80 year old lady.

-If we were enjoying a glass of wine together I would tell you that I want to carve pumpkins, but after the Great Pumpkin Disaster of 2013, I might trade in my knife for a paint brush.

-If we were enjoying a glass of wine together I would tell you that life is good. Cheers to that.

Have a great night!

Nicole

Jonesing for Juice

Good Evening! Boy, I've had an eventful couple of days. Sunday evening I saw a mouse in my garage and in typical girl fashion, screamed and ran inside the house. I can handle spiders and other critters, but when it comes to little critters I turn into a big scaredy cat. Knowing that I was freaked out and thought one was in my house, my sweet boyfriend went over and laid a bunch of traps for me while I was at work. I slept a little bit better last night thanks to him. Then this evening I got locked out of my house and had to call my dad to come and rescue me. I think I've had enough excitement for the week, don't you?

Rewind to Sunday afternoon when everything was peaceful and I was out and about running errands and getting groceries for the week. I stopped at Trader Joe's to pick-up a few of my favorite items and also to see what new products they had in stock. I was browsing the refrigerator section when their line of freshly made juices caught my eye. Up until now I haven't jumped on the juice craze bandwagon, because let's be real, I would rather eat my food than drink it. Plus, the couple brands of juice I have tried smelled and tasted horrible. However, after a weekend of indulging in all of my favorite things I thought my body could use a healthy dose of something green. I bought a bottle of Trader Joe's Green Cold Pressed Juice. This one specifically caught my eye, because it's not loaded with sugar like other brands. 

Serving Size- 1 bottle

Total Fat- 0g

Sodium- 320mg

Total Carbohydrate- 20g

Dietary Fiber- 0g

Sugars- 11g

Protein- 6

Vitamin A- 300%

Vitamin C- O%

Calcium- 40%

Iron- 15%

Ingredients: Kale Juice, Spinach Juice, Apple Juice, Cucumber Juice, Celery Juice, Lemon Juice, Ginger Juice. 

While I liked this juice better than the other brands I've tried, I am still not sold on this whole juice craze. Plus the color makes me nauseous. For now, I will continue to take my vitamins and eat my veggies in between eating my beloved Tater Tots and Gelato. 

Have you tried the juice craze? If so, is there a specific brand and flavor you recommend? 

Talk to you tomorrow!

Nicole 

Staying Fit When Old Man Winter Strikes

Hi Friends! Happy Monday! I hope you had a fun and relaxing weekend. Mine was just that and it was perfect. We went to the Saint Paul Art Crawl, went out to dinner, listened to some live music, tried a new pumpkin beer, made a killer homemade pizza (recipe coming!) and watched the Wild win with another shutout. Sunday my handsome man made me breakfast and then I met my mom for a quick shopping trip. Macy's had a sale going on and I got a killer pair of flat black boots that can take me from day to night. I also picked-up another pair of my absolute favorite sweatpants; the boyfriend fit from Victoria's Secret. It was the perfect weekend and I woke up this morning feel rested and rejuvenated.

While we were out and about enjoying the absolutely glorious weather, I couldn't help but think that this weather is few and far between, because Old Man Winter is right around the corner. I overheard someone in the elevator say that this winter is supposed to be just like last year. If that's the case, I am going to book a winter vacation stat. I like winter for the holiday season, but after that I grow tired of it and wonder why I choose to live in this state. If you get the winter blues like me, one thing that boosts my mood instantly is exercising. I joined Anytime Fitness last year and it's perfect for my needs; it's five minutes from my house and there is never a wait for equipment. I can get in and out and it doesn't fill-up my entire evening. If you don't have a gym membership, here are a few alternatives for staying fit during winter. 

- Try a workout DVD. According to Fitness Magazine, Piloxing System was the top workout DVD of 2014. Piloxing is a mix of boxing, dancing and Pilates. $16.95-$79.95 www.piloxing.com

- Take cue from your grandma and become a mall walker. The minimum recommended daily steps is 10,000 steps or about 5 miles. This is completely doable, especially if you walk a mall like Mall of America. One suggestion is to get a pedometer or download a pedometer app on your phone. I have a pedometer on my phone and I try and walk at least 5,000 steps (2.5 miles) a day on top of going to the gym 4-5 days a week. http://www.mallofamerica.com/events/feature/moa-mall-stars

- Try cross country skiing. If you're feeling adventurous, strap on a pair of skis and try your hand at cross country skiing. According to about.com/sports the average person burns 400-500 calories while skiing at a slow pace. With over 20 miles of cross-country skiing trails there are options for everyone. http://dnr.state.mn.us/skiing/index.html

- Purchase a set of 8lb-10lb hand weights and try this heart pumping workout in your living room:

-30 jumping jacks

-15 bicep curls on each side

-30 high knees

-15 tricep extensions on each side

-30 burpees

-15 pullovers

-2 minute plank

-50 ball crunches

Repeat this circuit three times at your own pace.

What is your favorite way to stay fit during the winter?

Enjoy your evening!

Nicole 

Current Loves

Pumpkin Beer

                                                                                                                                                                    

Nothing screams fall more than pumpkin. My boyfriend opened a bottle of Imperial Pumpkin and offered me a sip and to my surprise, I loved it! I am a light beer drinker and this is dark and a little thick, but the pumpkin flavor is spot on. This will definitely be my go-to beer for fall just like the Lemon Berry Shandy is my go-to beer for summer. 

Gel Nails

I have turned into the girl who has to have her nails done at all times, which isn't such a bad thing...right? To get the most bang for my buck I get gel nails. I know that there are mixed opinions about whether the gel is healthy for your nails or not, but I love it, because it lasts for weeks and is virtually indestructible. I have been rocking the hot pink nails all summer long and since summer is sadly gone, I decided to go with a nude base color with a layer of champagne colored sparkles on top. So pretty! Will definitely be getting this combination again!

Chunky Sweaters 

 

I love everything about fall fashion, especially soft chunky sweaters. My office is freezing so they are the perfect thing to wear with skinny dress pants or leggings, a t-shirt or tank, and boots. The sweater pictured was $19.99 at Marshalls and it feels like a soft blanket. If they came in other colors I would have bought one of each. I am totally obsessed with it! 

Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild played their home opener tonight and I am excited for another season! Let's go Wild! 

A Sweet Treat!

Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! If you woke up thinking today was Thursday like I did, I have a sweet treat to take your mid week blues away. I love cookies and I just happen to be dating a guy who likes them just as much as I do, so last week I whipped up a batch of oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies. I followed the Betty Crocker recipe and they received the boyfriend stamp of approval. He brought back the empty containers so I think that is a sign that I need to refill them...

Betty Crocker Oatmeal-Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

2 cups quick-cooking oats

1 1/2 cups Gold Medal all-purpose unbleached flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips ( 6 oz)

-Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until blended. Stir in vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in oats, flour, baking soda and salt; stir in chocolate chips. 

-Onto ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded tablespoons about 2 inches apart. 

-Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we did! What is your favorite cookie recipe? I have some empty containers to fill...

Have a great night!

Nicole 

I Have a Confession to Make

I have a confession to make; I buy tennis shoes based on how cute they are and not so much on comfort. I know it should be the other way around, but cute tennis shoes motivate me to get my booty to the gym. My feet are flat as a pancake, so when I am shopping for tennis shoes the one thing I look for besides the cuteness factor is if they have adequate arch support. I have worn Asics for years, because they have not only the arch support I need, but they also come in a rainbow of colors. So when my other Asics bit the dust last weekend, I set out to buy another pair of Asics. I stopped into our local Sports Authority and these babies immediately caught my eye; Nike Dual Fusion Run 3 in Green Glow/White/Volt/Bright Mango. I tried them on and they felt like heaven on my feet. Not only are they extremely cushiony, especially around the heel, they also support my arches perfectly. I quickly browsed over the selection of Asics and nothing caught my eye. The seal of the deal was that they were on sale for $59.99 Original retail price is $79.99 I took them for a test drive at the gym earlier this week and my feet felt great! Nike for the win! I am already eyeing the hot pink version...

Until next time,

Nicole