New Year, New You...

As 2012 comes to an end, we look back at all our accomplishments, failures, good memories and not so good memories.  We reminisce and analyze them in order to create goals for the new year, our plan is to use our past experiences as tools to improve ourselves in the areas we are lacking. I hope everyone had an excellent year overall, despite all the tragedy and despair our world has faced. We can look at the movie theater shooting in Colorado and the school shooting in Connecticut as the unpredictability of life and the short length of it. We must live in each day, in the present and love one another without judgment, jealousy, and resentment. We also must trust that our re-elected president will do as he promised to his best ability. It is out of our control, the way we perceive things and love one another makes all the difference. I summoned up a list of my goals for the new year last night as I enjoyed a nice glass of red wine and Portuguese cheese and crackers, my favorite snack after I get home from work. I broke them into categories. They are as follow:

2013 Goals

Positive Energy- Get rid of all the negativity and stay away from negative people.
Career- Learn and obtain the experience. Look into prenatal fitness instruction and get more involved in education.
Fitness- Get as fit and strong as possible. Run a half marathon.
Diet- Eat a little healthier and incorporate more veggies and vegan/organic products.
Bake- Baking makes me happy so keep on doing it.
Religion- Be more compassionate and influential, listen to the ways of God and practice them.
Family- Start one.
Friends- Make time and plan frequent get-togethers. Make sure those friends are the positive ones.

My favorite red wine: Apothic Red: California Red Wine

Some inspirational New Year's quotes:

I started reading Gabrielle Bernstein's book Spirit Junkie last night. I have to say I'm in love with it already. This book is very inspiring and motivational. My biggest barrier in my life is ridding myself of fear. Fear overcomes me in large waves and is very difficult to control. This book teaches you how to shift your perception and replace fear with love and happiness. Gabrielle really breaks it down to language easily understood and her teachings come from A Course In Miracles. "A Course in Miracles is a complete self-study spiritual thought system. As a three-volume curriculum consisting of a Text, Workbook for Students, and Manual for Teachers, it teaches that the way to universal love and peace—or remembering God—is by undoing guilt through forgiving others." (http://acim.org/AboutACIM/index.html) This course is next on my list for the new year.

 



I have already started my process of incorporating healthy foods into my diet. Today I made spinach and kale ravioli (the actual ravioli is made from spinach) filled with goat cheese. It was surprisingly good. I added some olive oil and veggie chunky tomato sauce. I also started to routinely take my vitamins on a daily basis which consist of a women's multivitamin, vitamin D3 2000 IU, a probiotic, and fish oil supplement.

Here's a photo of me in my new Lululemon gear my husband bought for me for Christmas. I have no excuse but to work out harder with this expensive workout outfit.

I am so grateful and blessed to have gone through another year with success and fulfillment. I reached my goal to become a maternity nurse, I was extremely motivated to do the nursing I have always wanted to do. I had persistence to push for the job I wanted by hassling Human Resources and the unit manager and by joining AWHONN. 

I also pushed myself to run long distances and participate in several races. My longest race is 5 miles and my longest run is 8 miles. I plan to push myself further to do a half marathon in 2013. I notice great changes in my body since I have been dedicated to working out and I plan to continue. 

I would also love to start a family in 2013 or be preparing for one. This will be a huge step and change in my marriage, it won't be only about me, my husband, and my dog! I look forward to welcoming a precious miracle in our lives.

Right now, Ginger will do even with her alcoholic habits. She is such a lush!

Our first big snowfall of the Winter. You can't deny that cute face, I don't know what I would do without her.

That's my little story about 2012 and my goals for the new year. I hope everyone is safe tonight, please NO drinking and driving whatever you do. Have fun and start off the new year on the right foot. I had planned to do the Hangover Classic 5k Road Race followed by the Polar Bear Plunge but it's suppose to be only 35 degrees and there's still lots of snow on the ground! Right now its 34 degrees and i'm freezing inside my house with my heat set at 67. My feet and legs are ice cold even with my furry boots and knee high socks on! So, no I will not be participating in that event tomorrow but I plan to have a nice indoor lunch/dinner with the family instead. Til the New Year, enjoy and God Bless. XOXO

Motivation Friday

Don't be lazy! Just because it's the end of the week doesn't mean you wind down and do nothing! Get your butt up and workout ;) Here's a couple quotes to get you through the weekend.

Blessings

This is what I I try to do everyday to the best of my ability. It is extremely tough to let go of the things that are out of our hands. Each day is a working progress but it helps to remind myself daily that I am so blessed to have a beautiful family, house, and good job. Life is tough and stressful but there's always worse in the world, and I have to pray to God for inspiration and motivation because I know He stands by my side no matter what. Hope this to-do list is helpful, try to use it as a daily mantra. xo

Post Christmas Blues

I hope everyone had a beautiful and blessed Christmas. The celebrations for us started Saturday at my husband's aunt's house. His whole family will get together and visit each house on a different day.

                               (The Peppermint Brownie Trifle I made from Dashing Dish, came out sooo good)

Sunday my cousin had her own Portuguese "visita." It was great being with my cousins and passing down the tradition from our families into our own homes. My cousin made us a wonderful dinner and then I showed off a few P57 moves as shown below. Thigh dancing always gets everyone in a jolly mood!



Christmas Eve, I started off with a double workout and then got ready to visit my husband's grandmother and then to open presents at his parent's house. I am so thankful for all the great and thoughtful presents I received this year. Afterwards, we opened up presents at my parent's house and started the annual tradition of going house to house with the entire extended family. In between all the rush we spent time at my in-laws house again with all of Johnny's extended family. All this craziness lasted until 4 in the morning!

           (the elephant Alex and Ani bracelet Johnny gave to me resembling Inspiration, Luck, and Loyalty)

Christmas Day I had to work but was able to enjoy a nice family lunch at my husband's other aunt's house. Work was good but I missed my family tremendously. I had tears in my eyes leaving in my car. I had such a great weekend and didn't want to leave anyone on Christmas. Work was good, no Christmas babies were born on my time but it was a nice peaceful evening. Today I work again and I'm feeling the post Christmas blues really badly. My husband is off today and I would have really loved to spend this day with him to wind down after the holiday. I had no desire to workout today, I'm up to 3 skipped workout days. I plan to get back into it tomorrow with full force. It's alright to enjoy the great Christmas food and desserts and to take a mental break once in awhile as long as you get your motivation back and push yourself harder than ever before.

So I hope everyone was able to have a great holiday weekend just as I did. I'm trying to get out of my funk and get back to my routine. Enjoy the rest of the week and God bless!

Be Committed

I love these inspirational quotes. They really keep me motivated and make me want to work out harder. Check out Muffin Top-Less for more quotes like these. I really enjoy reading her blog and hearing the stories about how people have made drastic changes to their bodies and feel so much better about themselves holistically.

Get Up and Work Out

Before the holiday weekend, push yourself to do more. Feel the burn a little stronger. No need to leave the house on this rainy morning, do it at home with your own body weight or equipment if u have it. Think about all the delicious holiday food that's hard to avoid, make your workout today count!

Post-run Pumpkin Spice Protein Smoothie

I found this on a post in Lululemon's blog ( I liked everything in it except the raisins so I left that out, can't wait to try it)

1 cup almond milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 banana
1 scoop vanilla Protein
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
sprinkle nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger
Blend it all together and top with flax seed for an extra health kick

http://www.lululemon.com/community/blog/post-run-pumpkin-spice-protein-smoothie/

Peace & Serenity

After my workout at MBB and PF this morning, I took a trip to two cemeteries where special people in my life lie. I visited my great grandmother who was so dear to my heart and always wanted the best for me. I always go near every Christmas to decorate her grave with a little something. I hope she is looking down and smiling down on her family and I hope I am making her proud.
Next I visited my godfather, whom I haven't visited since he passed exactly two years from today. I knew he passed near Christmas but wasn't sure of the date; it was very coincidental when I found out today was the anniversary. His grave looked beautiful from the lovely decorations his daughter set up for him this morning.


                                                           (my great grandmother's burial site)
                         
                               
                                                          (my godfather's burial site)

The cemeteries I visited were so peaceful and serene. I love driving and walking in them around the holidays and seeing the beautiful wreaths, plants and trees near all our loved one's grave sites.



After my visits I came to my mother's house to make Portuguese biscuits, a holiday tradition my mom keeps every Christmas. Listening to Xmas music and rolling out dough always puts me in a good mood.
Here's some more photos of my day, hope everyone had a good one! God Bless Xo

                                             (My lovely mother showing off our beautiful "biscoitos")
                                         

                                                            (Ready for the oven... these truly are delicious)

                                (My parents' Nativity Scene, which I'm glad they resumed their tradition of creating one)

  

(I have to include my wild animal Ginger because while we are baking, she does what she does best... Cause lots of trouble)

Inspirational Guru: Gabrielle Bernstein

“A decade ago, young women like Ms. Bernstein might have been expected to chase the lifestyle of high heels and pink drinks…But now there is a new role model for New York’s former Carrie Bradshaws…well versed in self-help and New Age spirituality…Ms. Bernstein is one of a circle of such figures, influenced less by the oeuvre of Candace Bushnell than that of Marianne Williamson.”
—The New York Times

Learn all about this motivational speaker at http://gabbyb.tv/about

Books to Read:

Gratitude

Start your day with gratitude and of course a cup of jo...

Starting mines with DD Peppermint Mocha, delicious.... Thank you God for this day off... Now on my way to MBB to feel even better :)

Gingerbread Cupcakes

Here's the recipe for my Gingerbread Cupcakes. Enjoy :)

Makes 2 dozen

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (or cake flour, just follow the adjustments on the back of the box)
3 tbs ground ginger
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup molasses
1 cup hot water

Directions:

Line a standard cupcake pan with 12 paper baking cups and preheat oven to 350 F.

Sift together dry ingredients in large bowl.

Cream together butter and brown sugar on high speed, about 3-5 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating slowly after each addition. Add the molasses, mixing until well incorporated.

Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients, followed by 1/3 of the water, and mix thoroughly. Repeat with an additional 1/3 of the dry ingredients and 1/3 of the water, and then with the final third of each.

Scoop batter into cupcake pan using a standard size ice cream scoop.

Bake at 350 F for 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.


Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe:

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
8 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
4 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions:

Place all ingredients in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until well combined.
Frost cupcakes and decorate as desired.

Never Giving Up

So, I haven't posted much this past week. I've been kind of in a slump, work drained me and it felt like I had a dark cloud hanging over my head and then after Friday's Sandy Hook tragedy, I didn't feel like doing much of anything. I find the last couple of weeks before Christmas, everyone is just stressed and overwhelmed. It's hard to find the peace and comfort we should retain within our souls. Everyone is too consumed with finishing their shopping and getting the house ready and spotless. Then by the time the holidays are here, we are fatigued and can't wait until its all over.
Today's rain is not helping my mentality either. I read a post from my MBB instructor this afternoon on how we should look at this rain as the washing away of our worries and whatever that is holding us back from enjoying the present. I think that's an excellent way of working your mind and accepting the weather along with everything else in your life. The panic of last minute shopping, the cleaning, the worries about what we cannot control, etc...
I pray for the children and parents of Sandy Hook Elementary School. I pray for the teachers, the counselors, the aides, nurses, and first responders to the scene. I pray that they have good coping support and that they will find comfort and peace in their life soon.
Prayer is powerful, and it's so important not to give up. As much as it seems like tragedy surrounds us more than ever, God has a master plan and we must trust and believe in Him to get us through life.

Anxiety took over me last week at work, it was one thing after another and I felt scared going back to work on the weekend. It's hard to let go of our worries, but I remind myself that I love what I do, I'm not alone, and I can only do my best. It's a daily struggle learning to let go but I'm determined. Stress only makes one feel ill and fatigued, it's not worth it.
I skipped my weekend workouts which only added fuel to the fire. After exercise I feel empowered and relaxed. Once I get going, I feel amazing. I'm glad to say i'm back at it this week even through the rain and my sluggish mentality. Feeling the burn helps tremendously, the pain with lifting and release with stretching is like building up all that hurts inside you and then giving it up and letting it leave the body.

 

progress on my arms :)

I'm thankful to have today and tomorrow off to get myself back together and focus on the excitement of the holidays again. I plan to finish my wrapping, listen to xmas music, light some delicious smelling candles, drink some hot cocoa tonight, and curl up with my husband and Ginger for a fun holiday movie.

I hope everyone has a great week. Remember to take some time for yourself to soak in the Christmas spirit, breathe in the fresh air and exhale the negative energy that may be weighing you down.

xoxo...

My Workouts

Along with running and some extra weightlifting at the gym, I swear by P57 and MBB. It's amazing what you can do with some light weights, a ballet barre and a blue ball. I try to attend 3 classes a week at the MBB studio and I do the DVD P57 videos 3 times per week as well. I've noticed awesome results. If you're looking for an intense and fun workout along with an amazing body, check out these websites and get started!

Physique57.com & Mindbodybarre.com

Why Worry?

On the list of books to read

Why Worry?: Stop Coping and Start Living
by Kathryn Tristan

Run like you mean it

This Nike ad makes me smile, running really does shape up the booty :)