The Photo Tour Down Memory Lane Continues..

So who knew that South Bend was the place to go for amazing Italian restaurants and huge farmer’s markets!

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Friday night six of us crammed into my parent’s rental car for my favorite pizza EVER! (Only my dad would rent a Crown Vic just so he could have both his ENTIRE family in the car the whole trip.) We enjoyed dinner with more than 10 of my family members. It was filled with laughter, memories, and great food. Rocco’s has been a South Bend institution since 1951. My dad and his siblings grew up eating pizza in the corner booth every weekend with their parents and friends. We kept that tradition alive Friday night. The best moment was when three of the siblings walked in together and gave Rocco’s wife and daughter huge hugs and the laughter started. Three of the children, Rusty, Will, and my dad are known for their stories, loud voices, and gift of gab. They kept the stories flowing Friday night. Blog Pictures 2010 164Blog Pictures 2010 168   Delicious gooey cheese, chewy crust along the edges, thin crust along the rest of the slice, and only fresh vegetables! Rocco’s doesn’t believe in using any canned goods so you know that their sauce and mushrooms are fresh. Blog Pictures 2010 165 Blog Pictures 2010 166 Blog Pictures 2010 167 Who do you think I favor? My mom or dad? We’ve had better pictures but hey who cares! 🙂 We can’t wait around for only the best pictures.

Saturday morning I had to forego my long run due to the weather. It was 35 degrees and raining. That was not a good combination considering that I didn’t bring a running jacket or long sleeve top! I did my reliable gym workout:

6 miles on the treadmill (not my fastest as the legs felt like LEAD..58 minutes)

25 pushups, 25 lunges, 20 pushups, 20 squats

Ab workout on the ball (obliques, weight ball, center)

In keeping with the walk down memory lane, we headed over to the South Bend Farmers Market Saturday morning. Our trip included tasting rhubarb for the first time both raw and cooked, sampling head cheese, and practicing my photography skills. Blog Pictures 2010 169The Farmers Market was incorporated in 1924 and is now one of the largest indoor farmer’s markets in the Midwest. There were 96 stalls in addition to some outdoor stalls which included an ice sculptor Blog Pictures 2010 181(HE USED A CHAINSAW!!) and camel rides. I was amazed by the quality of the South Bend Famers Market and immediately wished I could buy everything in sight.

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Swiffer Giveaway Winner

I love giveaways because they help me meet some of the lurkers who rarely comment but read daily. The winner of this giveaway is a perfect example! Before yesterday I had never heard of her blog but now I’ve spent the last 30 minutes reading past posts and am excited to discover another NYC blogger!
Congratulations to #22:
Peace Love Nutrition said…


I would do my room! It gets so dusty


May 6, 2010 10:58 AM

Please email me (healthyhappierbearatgmaildotcom) your mailing address so I can send the gift card your way!


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Three Question Favorites and Sweatin’ and Gettin Muscles

If you haven’t done so yet, don’t forget to enter my Swiffer giveaway here!

Today was an exhausting twelve hour work day. I had an 8am meeting which meant that by the time I turned the computer off this evening and left the office I’d been hard at it for over twelve hours. Today was a meeting filled day which meant I was constantly moving from room to room and changing topics. While I love being part of a dynamic team and collaborating, sometimes the meetings mean it’s 5pm by the time I’m able to start attacking my own to do list.
Therefore, tonight consists of Grey’s Anatomy, sushi, and lots of this…

Three Question Thursday!
I really enjoy learning about bloggers and readers! Therefore, i’m going to try and get better about participating in Iowa Girl’s Three Question Thursdays! Feel free to answer these in the comments section so I can get to know you  better!
Three Question Thursday timefavorite’s edition!
1. What’s your favorite tool/gadget in your kitchen?
2. What’s your favorite candy?
3. What’s your favorite color AND your favorite color to wear?
My answers!
1. My favorite kitchen gadget/tool is our Epicurean cutting board. I was introduced to this brand when I took cooking classes at the Viking Culinary School in Philadelphia.  It is reversible, dishwasher safe, has a groove that catches juices, and is highly durable!
Epicurean Cutting Board with Well
2. I love anything chewy and fruity like Twizzlers, Swedish Fish, or gummy worms. In fact, Meg and I used to use these as our “brain food” when we were studying for finals at the AOPi house in college! Luckily I substitute raw carrots, celery, and other crunchy goodness as brain candy these days.

3. My favorite color is coral or teal. Both colors look wonderful with my complexion and perk me right up! I love wearing navy and yellow this season.
Sweatin’ and Gettin Muscles
My favorite Georgia blogger, Gina, has done it again! She is a great inspiration everyday and serves as a health and fitness role model. She is not only proof that lifting weight won’t bulk you up like Hulk but she also balances the stresses of base/service wife with great workouts, recipes, and more! Earlier this week she posted her second Iron Pumping Plan to help her readers discover new muscles just in time for summer. I always do better with a plan and some discipline. Gina’s plan is perfect for that and exactly what I needed and wanted right now. I’ve completed this two days so far (Monday and Tuesday) and have loved it. It is the perfect mix and short enough that I still have time to add in bursts of cardio to keep the sweat dripping! Here is a taste of the workout that I did on Monday and Tuesday:
Monday:
Overhead press with twist
Bent-over row and kickback
Saxon Side Bend
Bench Push Up
Plie Squat with inner thigh squeeze (place a larger stability ball in between your heels; as you squat down, touch your booty to the ball before standing back up. As you stand up, using your inner thigh muscles, squeeze the stability ball)
Hanging Leg Raises
Tuesday:
Sumo Deadlift
Side squat and leg raise
Dumbbell hammer curls
Supine Tricep extension
Pilates double leg stretch
Ultimate toe touch
Seated row
Lateral to front raises (bring the weights up to your sides (lateral raise) –making your body a capital “T”- then continue to bring the weights forward from the “T” position, so that your arms are extended straight in front of you, with the weights at the same level as your chest. Bring the weights down and repeat)
Between each set I did a 2 minute sprint on the treadmill at 8.0 MPH to keep my heartbeat up. I highly suggest clicking on the links that Gina set up before you head to the gym so you can master the proper form in order to decrease injury risk. I had NO clue what the Saxon side bend was or the pilates double stretch was until I clicked these links.
If you want to learn more about her great workouts head on over to her site and give it a try. Just seeing her great attitude will be inspiration enough to get you lifting weights the next day.  

**NYC area readers and bloggers*** Leave a comment if you’re interested in a May weeknight potluck. I’m itching to host something in our new apartment.

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