Question: Have any of you Blogspot users converted to Wordpress? What do you think?
My blog is getting ready to undergo a major overhaul. I will soon be found under domain name preventionrd.com and will be a Wordpress blogger (I'll miss the good'ol Blogspot days, I'm sure!). Thomas is the mastermind behind what will ensue, and I am VERY excited about it! I will keep you posted as to what this transition will mean for my posting, but please bare with me!
The sweet Ashley of Kiwis and Cocktails passed the Happy 101 Award on to me (THANK YOU! Two in a week...this is exciting for an award virgin!)
The rules are:
1. List 10 things that make you Happy
2. Tag 10 Bloggers that Brighten your day
10 things that make me happy (there's a lot!)...
1. Scoring a goal in a hockey game!
2. Seeing my puppy shake like a jitter bug because she’s so excited to see me!
3. A good glass of red wine, Chianti preferred.
4. Going on a long, effortless run.
5. Waking up with not a THING to do
6. Finding new, fun finds at the grocery store
7. Husband playing with my hair
8. Long dinners with my family filled with inappropriateness and laughter
9. Helping others reach their health and nutrition goals
10. Looking at my wedding pictures. I truly had the wedding of my dreams.
I love to read ALL of the blogs I follow, it was hard to narrow it down! Keep the happiness going by sharing 10 things that make YOU happy and 10 blogs that brighten your day!
On a completely unrelated and shameful note...Jersey Shores is quite possibly as addictive as crack cocaine. Puppy whined at 5:20 this morning (alarm wasn't set to go off til 6:20), and instead of rolling over to go back to bed (what I usually do, especially by Friday!), I got up......AND WATCH JERSEY SHORES BEFORE WORK. I have reached a new level of overly inappropriate TV viewing.
Run #3 on the new treadmill was a nice recovery run of 3.1 miles with a leisurely warm-up and cool-down. LOVE having a treadmill at home. Though, I must admit, the morning workouts have not ensued as I had originally planned. HOWEVER, the important thing is getting in the workouts whether it be morning, noon, or night...and I'm doing that!
What are you up to this weekend? Shopping, shopping, and baking?
Tonight is husband's Christmas party and we're driving around in stretch Expedition limos to see beautiful Christmas lights, and then out for a wonderful Italian dinner (Chianti, woot!). I'm really excited! Have a WONDERFUL weekend...TGIF!!!!!!
That is what my husband said to me over the dinner table last night.
At my job (wish I gushingly adore, yes!), dietitians can change insulin dosing. This our policy and a great one, if I do say so myself! As most of you know, I work with diabetics the vast majority of my days and I am working towards obtaining my Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) credential (as of yesterday I have 25% of the hours I need!).
Over dinner last night, husband was asking me about my job and my span of care -- i.e. can I change insulin regimens. When I explained our policy he said, "You know you could kill someone, right?". Awesome, husband...thanks for your vote of confidence! (Side note: this is a very, very, very slim possibility at the rate at which insulin dosing is increased).
My co-worker, very much so unlike myself, would rather leave all dosing changes to the provider. Whaaaa? Aren't dietitians working towards autonomy in the medical world? We are important! We are well-educated! We are RESOURCES that ought not to be underutilized!
Disclaimer: The above in red sounds narcissistic, but for those out there who are RD's or know the history of the battle for Medical Nutrition Therapy reimbursement, it hits very close to home.
Don't get me wrong, I very much so know my place on the totem pole and would never abuse or over-use the "power" I have in my role. However, I think that our policy is a huge pat on the back and vote of confidence in the corner of RD's!
For those of you who are familiar with prescriptions and span of practice policies -- how do you feel about this? You can be honest, it won't hurt my feelings : )
Have you ever been driving and thinking, "I'm going to go for a run after xyz task", or "I am going to hit the gym after dinner tonight."? I have. All the time.
Have you ever had these positive intentions but failed to actually DO them? Welcome to life. Ends up, we all have only so much willpower. Once we've completed a day of errands, work tasks, and the hustle of daily life, we're often left running on depleted willpower stores [1]. Do we succumb to this fact, or do something about it? The latter, of course!
No excuse to pass on the workouts! Ways to keep moving when willpower has its limits [1]:
Schedule exercise.
It's a plan, make it happen. Bring your workout clothes to work so there's no stop over at home between work and your workout.
Get a trainer or exercise buddy.
Accountability is a great motivator!
Get it over with.
If you're pooped after the day is done, plan workouts for the morning hours so that you get it over with early in the day.
Get in a good mood.
Studies show that people can show more self-control when they are in a good mood.
This article was brought to my attention by our podiatrist at work as she was returning from her lunch hour in a sweaty rush. When I gave her mad props for her lunch hour workout, she explained to me this research and has chosen to out-smart her limited willpower by bumping her workout up to her lunch hour.
Likewise, I giving a go at switching my workout time to the mornings once our new treadmill is up and running (fingers crossed for later this week). While I've never thought of myself as a "morning person", I am finding more and more so that by the end of the day a workout is right up there with doing the dishes, folding laundry, and making lunches. You know, just another dreaded to-do. We'll see how the mornings go but I have a feeling that once I get the timing worked out just right, the mornings and I could make for a serious butt-kicking combo.
I also received a HUGE pat on the back in an email from my boot camp instructor to our group of participants. The email included a line which read, "Congrats to Nicole who lost themostnumber of inches last month!" Woooot!
Question: Can you remember the last time you PLANNED to workout...but it never happened before the day was done?
Me: Just this past Friday, oops!
[1]. Boyles, Salynn. Limited Willpower Can Affect Your Workout. WebMD Health News. September 25, 2009.
...and it isn't pine or mistletoe! But rather.......COOKIES!!!
Today I made SEVEN varieties of sweets -- some healthy, some not so healthy, but all are delicious! 214 cookies + 16 brownies later I am pooped and my house smells like the December issue of Taste of Homes looks.
Ingredients:
1 bag Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie Mix
3/4 C Andes Creme de Menthe chips
Directions:
1)Preheat oven to 375 F
2)Mix together cookie mix and ingredients listed on package. Once well mixed, add in the 3/4 cup of creme de menthe.
3)Drop cookie dough by rounded Tbsp onto a ungreased cookie sheet or a cookie sheet covered in tinfoil/parchment paper.
4)Bake each batch for 9 to 11 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
Ingredients:
1 bag Betty Crocker oatmeal cookie mix+ingredients listed on mix
3/4 cup Andes Peppermint Crunch chips
Directions: 1)Preheat oven to 375 F 2)Mix together cookie mix and ingredients listed on package. Once well mixed, add in the 3/4 cup of peppermint chips. 3)Drop cookie dough by rounded Tbsp onto a ungreased cookie sheet or a cookie sheet covered in tinfoil/parchment paper. 4)Bake each batch for 9 to 11 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.
Note: I could NOT (for the life of me) find Holiday Kissables, so I settled for Holiday M&M's. Also, I used Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix instead of the chocolate mix the recipe called for*.
Ingredients: 1 bag Betty Crocker Peanut Butter cookie mix* 1/3 c. (canola) oil 2 eggs 1 tub of chocolate frosting 1 bag of Hershey's Christmas Kissables
Directions: 1)Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, combine cake mix, oil and eggs; stir with spoon until thoroughly moistened. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. 2) Bake at 375°F. for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute, then press your thumb into the center of each cookie. After that remove from cookie sheets. 3)Spoon some frosting into a pastry bag or a zip loc and snip the end. Pipe frosting into the indent of the cookie and top with 3 Kissables!!
A trick with the Christmas Chocolate Cheers is to use a Ziplock as a frosting gun...
Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, and Pecan Cookies
Yield: 3 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)
Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (about 5 1/2 ounces)
1 cup regular oats
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate minichips
Preheat oven to 350°.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (through salt), stirring with a whisk; set aside.
Place sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add vanilla and egg; beat until blended. Gradually add flour mixture, beating at low speed just until combined. Stir in pecans and minichips. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until edges of cookies are lightly browned. Cool on pans 2 minutes. Remove cookies from pans; cool on wire racks.
Source: Julianna Grimes and Ann Taylor Pittman, Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2007
Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies
I colored the cheesecake batter with red food coloring -- about 3 drops for a festive flare!
Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 bar)
Cheesecake batter: 1 (8-ounce) block 1/3-less-fat cream cheese 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract 1 large egg 1 large egg white 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Brownie batter: 4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup) 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar 1/4 cup canola oil 1/4 cup buttermilk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 large egg whites 1 large egg Cooking spray
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare cheesecake batter, place cheese in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add granulated sugar and peppermint extract; beat well. Add 1 egg and 1 egg white; beat well. Add 1 tablespoon flour; beat mixture just until blended.
3. To prepare brownie batter, weigh or lightly spoon 4.5 ounces (about 1 cup) flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 4.5 ounces flour, cocoa, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine brown sugar, oil, buttermilk, vanilla, 2 egg whites, and 1 egg in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium-high speed until well blended. Add flour mixture to brown sugar mixture; beat at low speed just until blended.
4. Reserve 1/2 cup of brownie batter. Pour remaining batter into a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Carefully pour cheesecake batter over top; spread evenly to edges. Dot cheesecake batter with reserved brownie batter. Swirl top two layers of batters together using the tip of a knife. Bake at 350° for 26 minutes or until top is set. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Source: Kathy Farrell-Kingsley, Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2008
Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
2/3 c butter, softened 2/3 c firmly packed brown sugar 2 large eggs 1 ½ c old fashioned oats 1 ½ c all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt 1 (6 oz) package dried cranberries 2/3 c white chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate mixing bowl.
Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack. Makes about 2 ½ dozen cookies.
Source: Weight Watchers (online forum)
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Yield: 3 dozen (serving size: 1 cookie)
1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup canola oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 large egg whites 1 large egg 12 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 2/3 cups) 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate minichips
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine first 8 ingredients in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth.
3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Add flour mixture to peanut butter mixture, stirring just until combined. Stir in minichips. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart on 2 baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack.
Source: Kathy Farrell-Kingsley, Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2008
And only 3 hours later...my friends are the lucky recipients of THESE:
Tins filled with...
cookies! Obvi..
I taste tested all of the cookies (and brownies) and they are ALL really good!
If I had to choose a favorite it would have to be the Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies.
I must fess up -- my morning started off on a bad note...forgetting to eat breakfast before I set out for a day of power shopping. Around 10 I gave in to a bad, bad guilty pleasure: McDonald's Sausage Egg McMuffin. 450 calories and 85% of my daily value of saturated fat later...I completed my shopping spree successfully. In my defense, I get fast food a handful of time in a calendar year, and typically it is because of instances like this morning.
Question: How often do you eat fast food? What is your "favorite" fast food restaurant (if you had to choose one)?
Husby and I are off to my work Christmas party! Hope everyone's having a wonderful weekend!
Tomorrow...the LD on this KOMBACHA everyone in blogland is yappin' about!!
Last night was the last night of my 4-week Boot Camp class. My measurements were taken on 11/16 and last night, 12/3. In that time I have lost:
0.5 inches on my thighs and hips
2.75 inches on my shoulders/bust
1.5 inches on my waist
arms stayed the same
I am pumped! While I wish more came off my hips (this is where I carry my weight), I'm really happy with the results. Three days a week for a few weeks has really made a difference.
And more good news...our new treadmill is being delivered next TUESDAY!!!!!!
I made a popular bloggie dinner last night: spaghetti squash!
I halved the squash length-wise and baked it upside down in a pan with 1/4" water in the bottom at 375 F for 35 minutes. I then flipped the squash right side up and baked an additional 30 minutes at 375 F. After cooking, the squash easily pulls out in strands (like spaghetti!).
Easy breezy!
To my spaghetti squash I added Classico Tomato Basil Marinara, nutritional yeast, Parmesan, red pepper flakes, and pine nuts. Deeeelicious!!!!
Failure. Failures, really.
In the December issue of Cooking Light, I found a recipe for cranberries I really wanted to make for the RD Christmas Party THIS afternoon -- candied cranberries, more like.
Directions: simmer cranberries in simple syrup until tender. Roll in sugar. Serve. Anyone can handle that, right? Wrong.
Lesson learned: can't be watching Bride Wars AND cranberries simoltaneously.
Of this many cranberries...
I salvaged THIS many...sad.
So, I moved on to an easy recipe my friend Katie sent me just this morning (after a speed session of grocery shopping...
Chocolate Bombs
Ingredients: 1 box chocolate cake, prepared 1 can chocolate frosting 1 bag chocolate chips 2 packages chocolate almond bark
Make cake mix as directed and let cool. Crumble cake into a large bowl and mix in frosting and chips. Roll into balls and place on a lined cookie sheet.
Melt almond bark and drizzle over balls. Cool and serve.
Disaster...
My balls didn't form, so mine are blobs. More like AFTER a bomb has exploded. Here's the final product:
I don't bake or do sweets of any kind very well...can you tell? Taste? Thumbs up! Mmm! Chocolate lovers, come in!!
I need to doll up for the party, but have a WONDERFUL Friday and start to your weekend! And seriously, the above 2 recipes are easy as pie for the average Joe...and super delicious if you're looking for something easy!!
Don't you love when money is THROWN at you? I sure do!
My bi-weekly taste-test email went out to my co-workers yesterday.
Next week: Healthier Christmas Cookies
(I do 2 healthy taste testings a month at my clinic -- every other Wednesday -- providing a sample and a copy of the recipe to try at home)
I was interrupted not once...not twice...but THREE times during an appointment this morning to be handed $1 (the cost to participate in the taste test). Guess they're looking forward to the cookies!
...for which no one provided me with their favorite, healthy cookie recipe!
coughcoughnudgenudge
And after my homemade Green Monster disaster, I've been on the prowl for liquid greens that I enjoy. Naked gets my vote -- this Green Machine Naked juice was gooood! Still getting used to the green, but super delicious!
I got an email yesterday from a reader asking where I keep my wine. Husband and I have a LOT of wonderful wine brought over from Italy (as well as local US wineries!). I took a picture of the Whirlpool wine fridge we recently purchased (and love). While it doesn't hold all of our wine, we can house the really good stuff.
Wine should be stored at 55 F with no more than 1 degree Fahrenheit fluctuation.
And after snapping that picture, I decided it could be a wine night. Chianti = <3
This morning I got a little (more) creative with breakfast and made some delicious granola sprinkled with low-fat coconut flakes, Golden Flax Seen Flax Sprinkles from Stober Farms (yum!) and topped with skim milk.
Nom nom nom
The wonderful people of FlaxUSA sent me these Flax Sprinkles which contain 2,800 milligrams of Omega-3 per serving!! Along with 3 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. Holla! Flax = thumbs WAY up!
And for fun, you foodies...
This -or- That
Copy and Paste into a comment and reveal your selections!
chocolate ice cream or vanilla ice cream
iced coffee or hot coffee
mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
sweet or salty
fruit or veggies
organic or save the money
honey or agave
granola or oats
cow’s milk or soy milk
tacos or pizza
green monster or spinach salad
Splenda or Stevia
hummus or guacamole
chicken or tofu
eat-in or dine-out
Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods
old-fashioned or steel-cut
Zevia or Kombucha
And if you're a Southaven Farms fan...
10% off Southaven Farms – coupon code TENPERCENT129
Kidding. But I have to fess-up to eating a meatball at 7am this morning!!! Actually 6:56am...
Ew, right? Nooo! I swear, meatballs are typically THE easiest thing for me to zoom by at a cocktail party or array of hors d'oeuvres (I am 99% sure that's the first time I spelled that French word correctly on my first try...even after 9 years of French classes!). These meatballs, however, are phenom! And...healthy! Spicy, too! Mmmm!
Juuuuicay!!
Sweet 'n Sassy Meatballs
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp + 1 cup chipotle sauce, divided
1 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
2 Tbsp dried, minced onion
1 tsp dried oregano
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 lb lean ground turkey breast
1 lb Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
1/2 cup reduced-sugar, all-natural apricot preserves
Directions
In a large bowl, combine eggs, Worcestershire sauce, and 2 tablespoons chili sauce. Stir in bread crumbs, onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Crumble turkey sausage and ground turkey breast over mixture and mix well (hands may be required!). Shape into 1-inch balls.
Place on a rack coated with cooking spray in a shallow baking pan. Bake at 375 F for 15-20 minutes or until meat is no longer pink.
In a large bowl, combine apricot preserves and remaining chili sauce. Add meatballs and toss gently to coat. Place in a 15-inch x 10-inch x 1 inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until glazed, stirring every 3 minutes*.
*I omitted this last step as I transferred my meatballs to a crock pot for buffet serving.
Yield: 4 dozen
Serving size: 1 meatball
Nutrition Information (per serving): 42 calories, 2 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 20 mg cholesterol, 179 mg sodium, 3 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 3 grams protein
Had to whip out the big bertha of crock pots from the attic to fit all the balls...
I even had to cut my crock pot liner (upper left) to make it fit!
And another great appetizer recipe which is also very colorful and fun...
Cold Chicken-Cheese Kabobs
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/8 tsp pepper
1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tsp olive oil
5 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, cubed
16 cherry tomatoes
Combine salt, pepper, and chili powder; rub into chicken cubes. Transfer to a large bowl and add vinegar. Cover and refridgerate 3-4 hours or overnight.
In a large skillet, cook chicken in oil until no longer pink. Cool slightly. Alternately tread chicken, cheese, and tomatoes onto wooden toothpicks. Serve cold.
Yield: 16 servings
Serving size: 1 skewer
Nutrition information (per serving): 48 calories, 2 grams of fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 13 mg cholesterol, 132 mg sodium, 2 grams carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 6 grams protein
With the holidays coming up, these are 2 hors d'oeuvres worth some serious consideration in adding to or changing in your line-up!
Well, I've played hookie all morning from work cooking away for this afternoon's holiday party for our patients. Considering the circumstances, I am opting out of wearing scrubs to work for the second time this week...gasp!I know, right. So, off I go to put effort into myself. Have a wonderful weekend...
...anyone have any exciting weekend plans? Do tell! I've got nuttin'!
And if you had to choose TWO favorite TV shows currently in-season, what would they be? (I can't choose just one, so that's why I'm asking for 2!)
Modern Family (highly rec!) and 90210 for me!
Yes, I realize this makes me completely lame!
And for all you Biggest Loser fans...this is a must-see!
It's confusing trying to be healthy! Let me be your guide to a practical, straight-forward, and maintainable approach to a healthy lifestyle. I promise, you may even come to like it!
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