Thursday tip / Inspired

First of all, I have to share my morning. I usually go to a "muscle" class on Thursday mornings, but they've changed the name from muscle class to "toning" class. I believe "muscle" may have put off a scary connotation to beginners! I love this class because you literally work every muscle group and, most often, several muscles at once. The instructor is a 43 yr old tiny, but highly TONED New Yawker. In her past life I could see her being a slightly nicer than usual drill sargent.

Anyway, today we walked in and mini drill Sargent wasn't there. In her place was a 61 yr young woman. She told us it was her 35th year of teaching group fitness. She chose not to use weights with us, but that woman was so inspiring and really worked us hard in a fun way. She had the best personality and outlook on life and ageing. She was refreshing. We were all laughing. Don't tell mini drill Sargent!

So, with the kids growing up, I have fewer funny stories (but more parenting headaches with middle school upon us). I thought I would start adding more health and fitness tips on the blog.

TODAY'S TIP: I pass this along straight from mini drill sargent/certified personal trainer. We all know Greek yogurt is "it" these days. However, it is just plain boring in taste to me unless you buy the fruity ones. Well don't do it!! Too many sugar grams and we don't need that. Instead she suggests buying a tub of the plain nonfat greek yogurt (Fage is my fav) and sweeten it yourself with blueberries (or other fruit), vanilla extract or honey. I have started doing this and love adding my own honey instead of the stores' honey flavored brands. Tastes so much better. I love a little crunch, too so I add about 1/4 cup of Trader Joe's lowfat granola. It ends up being around 160 calories of a filling pre-workout breakfast. Try it!

Wordless Wednesday- Social Studies project

Great job mini#1! Wooden shield done entirely by himself. Well Mr. Pink nailed the wooden handle to the back...

I can't keep up...

With this blog or the weather! Right now, as I type, it's snowing great big flakes and has been since I left the gym this morning at 10. This is mind boggling to us here in the south. Yesterday the kids were playing outside in short sleeves in 64 degree weather. Go figure.

Speaking of the gym. I have been 18 of the last 19 days! Go me. That is rare. I usually go during the week, but if no indoor soccer game for mini#2 on Saturday a.m., I love going to the 7:45 cycle class followed by 9:00 Pilates class. And 5 people couldn't do cycle this morning because it was full! I also have to chuckle during Saturday pilates class. This is when the occassional men will attend. Two are regulars, but first timers really don't know what they are getting themselves into. They think it's an "easy" class and then they struggle. It's a serious ab workout and really stretches you out, which I love and need. Just wish my wrist would cooperate. I am officially getting old because I had to buy a wrist band for one that's giving me a nagging pain.

Ok. What else. Valentine's Day. We stayed home. I cooked steaks, twice baked potatoes, fresh green beans and made this super yummy frosted brownie recipe. I know these had to be the same brownies my sweet grandmother used to make. You frost them about 10 minutes out of the oven so the frosting settles in and sets up nicely. We ate on fine china in the dining room. I bought cherry limeade bottles from World Market for the (not-so)minis. It was fun. The day before I was running around town looking for a Valentine's Day gift for my 6th grader to give to his "girlfriend." I bought her a simple silver pendant necklace with her initial on a disc. I found the non-mushiest card I could to go with it! Ha! She liked it. He came home with multiple stuffed animals from the girlfriend and another girl. Oh my! And I cut their sandwiches into hearts for the lunchboxes. We started off with family breakfast/gifts/cards. All was good in the Pink house.

I think we're off to a 2:00 indoor soccer game. If we're snowed out, I'll watch the 2:00 NC State game.

Enjoy your weekend!

Pink