A Late 2012 Review

It’s  still January so a 2012 review is allowed (I decided):

January

I took my first trip to Europe…specifically Madrid! This was also my first trip with Pilot.

Virgin Island Vacation – St. John – our first real vacation.

Puerto Rico

February

Mardi Gras! I got to eat shrimp po’ boys and muffaletta at “Mother’s”….world famous. We also went to the Mardi Gras ball, giving me a chance to not only wear a gown but also a mask and a feather boa. 😉

March

Power Peanut Life blog created. My first post. I just reread this…good stuff. I’m really quite funny. 😉

April

Good bye MA.

Hello CT.

May

PARIS!!!

June

We got a puppy!!!!

July

1st floor is finally livable (with the exception of the kitchen).

Got a new job in CT.

Gina & Timmy get hitched in Maine while Pilot & Peanut eat lobster.

August

My birthday – always an important day. 😉 Pilot had my birthday flowers delivered to my new office.

Started my new Chemist job.

September

Kitchen renovations finally complete.

October

Impromptu Florida trip to warm the bones and finally relax after a full summer of renovations.

My new niece is born.

November

Passed my NASM exam.

December

Finally got my Vitamix!!! Greatest Christmas EVER!!!!

Started my new part time personal training job.

Wow! I can’t believe how much traveling I actually did…and here I am ITCHING for another vacation. I love to travel so much. I can’t help it. In fact, we have another Virgin Islands trip planned for the end of next month. I can hardly contain myself.

I digress. Back to my 2012 review. With the move to CT I felt like renovations consumed most of my year. It’s nice to take a step back and look at it with a clear head. Even though most of the summer was occupied with house shenanigans we still got to do a number of things, including travel, adopting a puppy, and getting my personal training certification. All in all it was a great 2012. I’m looking forward to what 2013 will bring…and everything I will ACCOMPLISH! Stay tuned. 😉

Let Me Tell You About Yesterday

I really know how to start the week off right. So I’m getting ready yesterday AM and for some reason I start thinking about my options.

What options? My stock options from my previous job. When I left I was told that I would have 60 days to decide whether or not I wanted to buy my options.

Anyways, I’m in the shower…and of course a little late because that’s just how I roll and I start thinking. “Hmm…I feel like those are due soon.” I’m compelled to check the paperwork “just in case”. HA! Guess what I find out when I do finally check? It was the last day. It’s been 60 days and they need to have check in hand if I am to exercise my options…that day!

Know what that means? I would have to leave work early to drop off a check. More specifically, after my 1 hour drive to work I have to drive another 1.5 hours to Cambridge…then 45 minutes to my mom’s house…and finally back on the road to CT (2.5hrs). Guess who’s freakin exhausted? THIS GIRL!

I know that sometimes everyone’s life seems all hunky dory…with happy facebook, twitter, instagram, and blog posts. News flash – it’s a front. It’s not ALWAYS that good. Here is your reality check, people.

Yesterday was anything but ok. By 8pm I had had it with the whole freakin day. I’m much calmer now but I still thought I’d list everything that was absolutely annoying…for therapeutic reasons….in lieu of a journal entry.

1. Traffic
2. Boston traffic – this is the worst kind of traffic. I’m so happy to be back in CT. Yes, can you believe I’m ALREADY saying that? 
3. Road work on mass pike – I’m sure everyone thought it would just be PERFECT to repave the mass pike at 8pm on a Monday thinking no one would be on the road. But I WAS ON THE ROAD! And I did not appreciate having to sit in traffic while 3 lanes turned to one. ARGH! 30 minutes of traffic. I’m hyperventilating just thinking about it. Kidding. 😉
4. Fools on the road – Stay in your lane. Enough said. 
5. Mean truck drivers – can you believe this jerk? He was riding my bum until I got out of the middle lane. I mean, inches from my bumper. So I move out of his way. Then what do I see? He does it AGAIN to another unsuspecting driver. Unbelievable. 
6. Amazon – sending my shipment to the wrong address. Listen Amazon, you made it look like I was shipping to CT when in actuality the shipping address was in MA. NOT cool.

That’s it! I feel better already. Especially when I come home to this face.

Somehow I still managed to get in 6 “meals” even with a hectic day.

• Meal 1 – ham & cheese eggs courtesy of pilot
• Meal 2 – fig overnight oats
• Meal 3 – soba noodles with grilled veggies and chicken
• Meal 4 – yogurt (while sitting outside after my drive)
• Meal 5 – tuna pouch, handful of broccoli, and a handful of peanuts (then back on the road)
• Meal 6 – casein pudding (11:30pm)

Meal 6 was a little too late and my stomach made sure to tell me so in the AM. Sooo…intermittent fasting today. I only made it 12.5 hours. I guess the key is 16 hours. You might as well tell me it’s an eternity because that’s what 16 hours sounds like. 🙂

Anyways, today was better than yesterday. I even did a Food Prep Tuesday.

Here’s a preview.

I’ll post details tomorrow. Stay tuned and good night.

Missing Paris

So I’m back in the states!

I’m slowly adjusting to the time change and continuing work on the house. We finished painting one of the guest bedrooms. I’m super excited to get the trim done so I can properly share it with you.

Since I was only able to get in a couple posts while I was away I figured I’d share some of my favorite things about Paris.

Coffee…espresso…cafe au lait…and more coffee. 😉 

Cafes

Paris made me realize that we don’t have enough cafes. I loved stopping at every cafe I could find for a little coffee break and to rest my feet. I’m not kidding when I say we walked…we really walked. We left the hotel at 10am and wouldn’t get back until 5pm. Here’s the view from one of the cafes we stopped at. Amazing, right?

Croissants

Food! Lots of food! 

The food never disappointed. Pictured above is one of my favorite meals – white fish with a butter sauce, julienne carrots and green beans, and mashed potatoes. The fish was light and flaky, the veggies done perfectly and crisp, and the mashed potatoes airy and delicious

Wine

The Architecture

Every building, every house, every church, every statue was gorgeous. I was out and about all day every day and loved everything I saw. I wish we had architecture as amazing as what I saw on my trip.

Sacre Coeur

This was one of my favorite sights. It is 300 steps to get to the top. The hike was well worth it. Even better was the view from the top of Sacre Coeur. We were even able to go up in the dome.

Shopping

I was able to get so many fun things – rings, scarves, this coat, paintings (for my new office), and of course chocolates…just to name a few.

Dressing up

Because Pilot was in Paris for business there were many nights out where it was recommended we look our best. Since I am a girly girl I had no problem with this…and I came prepared…with 6+ pairs of shoes. Yes, I may have a problem.

I can’t say enough good things about Paris. I had an amazing time walking the city all day, taking breaks at their many cafes, and enjoying the restaurants at night. I look forward to visiting again.

A special thanks to my special Pilot for taking me on such a wonderful trip! 

Now it’s back to the gym, eating my greek yogurt, and working on our house. 🙂

Workin it in Paris

Pilot and I managed to get in a workout both this AM and yesterday…in Paris. Alarm set, up at 7am, and we were off to the hotel gym. If that’s not impressive I don’t know what is.

I kept it really simple both days. I was still feeling jet lagged and a little tired. Today was easier. Shoulders yesterday and arms today. I figured with all the walking there was no reason to overdo the legs.

Yesterday’s shoulders consisted of presses, shoulder raises, bent over raises. Kept it light with high reps. 15-20 reps per exercise. I tackled core during my “rest” for a grand total of 6 exercises!

For arms we did biceps and triceps – supersetted.

• Hammer curls with overhead tricep press
• Wide grip bicep curls with the bar & Tricep cable pushdown
• Bicep cable curls & one set of tricep dips

I started feeling the tricep dips in my shoulder…so I stopped. I know it’s a novel idea for most but if it hurts don’t keep doing it. 😉

Yesterday I was off on my own to explore the neighborhood….and by neighborhood I mean the Eiffel tower. Met up with one of the other wives to see the Louvre and Notre Dame. Thought those were a safe bet for my first time out in Paris. Especially without the guidance of pilot…who is unfortunately stuck in meetings all week.

There were some cafes sprinkled in there. My fave part of the trip!

At one of the cafes it was recommended that I try the apricot tart – “very French” she tells me. Thankfully she spoke English.

So amazing! The crust was light and flaky. The filling reminded me of a flan. And if you know me you know I have a slight obsession with flan. Yes, I’ve had to seek help in order to tackle my problem. The apricots that topped the tart were light and delicious. Overall this dessert was the best I’ve had so far. Highly recommend!

On the agenda for today is the Sacre Coeur and shopping!!! I’m hoping the rain holds off….but hey…a cloudy day in Paris is better than a sunny day at work. No complaints here.

Bonjour from Paris

Hey everyone! We landed in Paris this AM. Needless to say we’re quite jet lagged. It’s been a couple days since I’ve had a chance to blog so I figured I’d get a quick one in before I pass out.

The move went very well. I’m loving all the room colors (pictures to come).

I’m definitely embracing the whole lots of eating (LOTS) thing. I mean, what else do you do in Paris? 😉

For lunch, and my first meal, I started with the omelet which was loaded with potatoes, onions, ham, cheese, and tomatoes.

Pilot had a steak and fries. Potatoes all around.

I also couldn’t resist the French coffee. Holy strong…but pretty.

We went by the Eiffel tower before we decided it was time for another snack – croissant, crepe, and coffees. Mmmm…coffee.

Dinner was extravagant.

…but dessert stole the show.

And of course…espresso.

Au Revoir for now!

House Reno Weekend

It was a busy weekend filled with house prep. Sanding, painting, spackle on the walls, and worst of all washing walls of wallpaper glue. Who still uses wallpaper? But we were ready to tackle it with Starbucks in hand and snacks in our bag. On the road Saturday AM.

Since I was still feeling under the weather I had to ensure I stayed hydrated throughout the weekend.

Luckily we had a fridge for my snacks which included buffalo jerky, yogurt, protein powder, and protein bars.

And here’s a neat find on one of our lunches out – Diet Cherry Soda. I’m not really a soda drinker but when I saw this I knew it must be loaded with cherries and I was right. It was really yummy and just what I needed. Refreshing!

Paired with a salad, a trip to Home Depot, and another coffee… and I was finally ready to get back to work.

ONE room complete…and it’s blue…I was picturing gray. Yikes! Pilot is not going to be happy with me having to repaint. Never thought I’d be THAT girl. But it’s our bedroom. It has to be perfect.

Pretty, right? Not what I wanted.

Good thing he’s a patient man.

Now what color to pick for the dining room? This was my favorite part – arbitrarily slapping paint on all the walls.

And MY office?!?!?! This is my favorite room. Which may be why I can’t seem to contain my color selections. AHHH!

After 2 days of work and one blue room we were ready for a protein filled meal – Sushi! Our favorite.

I couldn’t get over what a beautiful weekend it was and what a pretty house we have. In just 2 weeks we’ll be here. *Sigh*

Happy Marathon Monday! How was your weekend?

April 11th – 1 month Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to me!

It’s been one month since I started writing PowerPeanutLife and I just wanted to say “thanks for reading”.

What can you expect in the future? ie. Why should you KEEP reading (or start for that matter)? So many reasons!

• More recipes!
• More workouts!
• More tips
• Progress photos – watch my progress as I prep for the June 15^th Fitness Universe show in Miami. This Friday will be 9 weeks out.
• Food Prep – lots of it. As my show date approaches there will be lots more prep. You’ll see me carrying my cooler around everywhere I go. Jealous?
• My Next Show! – this show allows you to compete in both Figure and Bikini…so that’s what I’ll do. It’s also much bigger than any other show I’ve done. I’m already a little nervous.
• More Spray Tanning
• Guest Bloggers – in progress
• A NEW KITCHEN – this will help with the whole “more recipes” and “food prep” facet of my blog.
• Videos – you can expect videos as soon as we’re all settled in the new place. I mean, how could I not post videos in my NEW KITCHEN? To start, I will be posting “how to” recipe videos. It will be geared to those who are a little uneasy about all this food prep business and those who are not as kitchen savvy. Nice and easy! Nothing to be nervous about.
• Better pictures – sorry about this. It’s much easier to use my iPhone to snap pics especially during the week when I’m at work. I’ll get better about using my camera. Promise. Notice my food prep pic? THAT was taken with my cute little pink camera. Nice, right?
• More exclamations! – I love to exclaim things. 🙂 It might be a problem. I’ll try to control it.
• Travel Eats – I look forward to taking a couple more trips with Pilot during my time off. Check out what I eat on our adventures. I like to call these the adventures of Half Pint & Big Guy. Where did the names come from? Well I’m little and he’s big. Yea, we’re not as clever as you would think.
• Coffee
• Starbucks – did I mention I LOVE coffee?

• A new puppy? – I’m dying to get one but we’re waiting until we’re settled in the new house. I might explode with excitement. Can’t wait. See how much I love puppies? I almost stole this one from one of my girlfriends.
• Career change? – let’s see where life takes me, shall we? I’ve been having a difficult time finding a job in my industry (personal care).  This may just be the push I need to get into fitness. While I carry on my search for an engineering or chemistry position I will also continue to pursue a career in what I’m passionate about. Fitness!  I hope you can join me as I figure out my path in life. Too corny? Maybe…but I’m still EXCITED! 

In the meantime you can follow me for the rest of the month as Pilot and I get ready for our big move to CT. We’ll be painting, tiling, mowing, and everything else that comes along with a new house. Yes, that’s right. I’m going to do all this while prepping for a show and finding a new job. You thought you were busy.

Remember that when you’re flinging out excuses on why you can’t get in a workout or eat properly. You CAN do it so I don’t want to hear it.  

The countdowns begin:

• 13 working days left
• 17 days in MA
• 20 days until we’re in PARIS!
• 65 days until my next show

Oh, I haven’t mentioned Paris? Yup! We’re going to Paris and I couldn’t be more excited. Maybe more excited than the idea of a new puppy…maybe…well it’s pretty close. We’ll call it a tie.  

There will be many pictures along the way. Expect to see some eats, lots of coffee, and of course the sights.

Mmmm….Coffee in Madrid

I have to keep the eating under control because even though we’re on vacation I’m still prepping for a show.

How will I balance fun, travel, and eats? You’ll see!

Wine & tapas in Madrid

Did I miss anything? Is there anything specific you’d like to see more of? Let me know.

I love to hear your suggestions!

On the Road…

This AM I get a text message that tells me I will have to cover a production run…in New York…a 4 hour drive away. I immediately start thinking…

“What am I going to eat?”

“When will I workout?”

“How will I workout?”

“What do I pack?”

“I’m not ready for this!”

Alright, time to relax and make some progress on this whole “getting ready” business. Can’t change anything now.

I start with myself – showered and clothes packed. Now on to my food. Since I’m not leaving until 3pm I have my meals packed for my work day. Lunch salad w/ coconut chicken (Meal 2), yogurt & grapefruit slices (Meal 3), protein balls w/ cuke slices (Meal 4), protein bar (Meal 5) . Looks like I’m ready for the day.

Now I frantically look around for food I can pack for the road and tomorrow. Usually on a production run you’re stuck in a manufacturing plant with no food for longer than you’d like. They operate on a strict 3 meals/day policy…this obviously does not mesh with my life.

Oh, and once we’re done with the run, which will probably finish up after 5pm we’re back on the road for 4-5 hours. I’ll be back here late tomorrow night. Fun, right? I need to be prepared. When my blood sugar gets too low it’s NOT pretty.

In my bag goes:

• 3 Isagenix protein bars
• Protein balls
• Isagenix shakes – enough for 3 meals
• Asian pear

Unfortunately I had no veggies to take with me. So the strategy will be to try and keep protein & fats high and my carbs low…not an easy feat on the road. Might be able to pick up some almonds at the rest stop. I say might because I’ll be on the road with my supervisor. And that man is not a fan of stopping. Since he doesn’t drink enough water he also doesn’t technically NEED to stop. Jealous yet?

We’ll see how this goes. *fingers crossed*

I’m approaching Meal 4 now which will be the protein balls. I’ll need to have a bar on the road (Meal 5) then we’ll have dinner (Meal 6) when we get to NY.

As for my workout, I’m hoping for a little downtime when we get to the hotel. The plan for tonight WAS chest. Instead I’ll go for 10 sets of 10 pushups in the room. That should do it.

Being healthy is usually about being prepared…but sometimes you’re not…and you just have to make the best of it. 

Wish me luck!!!