Post-cleaning and pre-party, I had a turkey sandwich and some pop chips.

Extreme Makeover Home Edition:  Our new computer corner with a desk.

And the TV area transformed to accommodate party guests!

Jared made so much chili that he ran out of room in the crock pot and had take over the stove.  He used his dad’s famous recipe and put a lot of time and effort into his creation.

Freshly baked corn bread.

Make Your Own Nachos setup!

Party guests, eating and having fun.  Mardi gras beads were optional, yet essential if you were cheering for the Saints.

Miles wore his football gear.

The half time show included burgers and sausage.

It also included watching the Puppy Bowl and eating Buffalo wings.

The Pats fan started to get tired out during the 3rd quarter.

Nicki’s dessert that contained every amazing treat imaginable:  cookies, brownies, pretzels, etc.

Miles put himself to bed during the 4th quarter.

After New Orleans won the game and the party guests went home, my little corgi passed out.

It was a successful Super Bowl Party!  Great food, great friends, and plenty of alcohol…and leftovers if anyone is interested.  I don’t know how much I’ll be able to eat before we leave for Mexico on Wednesday morning.

Wow I have a lot to recap in one post.  Lots of photos to enjoy!

I snacked on a bag of cheddar Pop Chips at the end of work on Friday.  Yum:  healthier than regular chips and MUCH tastier than anything of the “baked” variety.

Jared refused to walk further than 2 blocks for dinner.  Luckily Aquitaine is exactly 1 block away.  We shared a bowl of Onion Soup to warm up from the bitter cold outside.

I ordered Steak Frites.  Excellent dish and it reminded me of our time in France over the summer.  Steak frites was a safe order from any menu.  Yeah, I was totally a picky American eater. 

We met a few friends at Post 390 for drinks.

I had never been here so I was excited to check out the decor and the menu.  For being a high end bar, the atmosphere was really warm and cozy.  There was a fireplace on the first floor and deep reddish wood paneling and dark glossy bricks throughout the restaurant.  We sat on the 2nd floor because the downstairs bar was uncomfortably packed.  I sipped on a glass of Cava and picked out my order for the next time we’re there.

Quick bowl of cereal for breakfast on Saturday morning and then I was out the door to run errands.

I braved the Saturday crowds and headed to Ikea in search of a computer desk.  On Friday night I declared that I would NOT be purchasing any of Ikea’s snack food, but I couldn’t resist a cinnamon roll.  The entire time I was eating, I kept thinking that it really didn’t taste that good.  Ohh well, I was hungry and it gave me enough energy to finish our shopping.

Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte for a quick pick-me-up!

The apartment was a disaster!  LOTS of work before the Super Bowl Party.  10 people won’t be happy campers if they arrive and the place looks like this.

After hurricanes pass through and leave devastation in their wake, people always pitch in and help clean up.  Anyone wanna help me with the task?

Leaving the messy apartment behind, I went to Grezzo in the North End for the Blog Dinner!  After an altercation with a rude cab driver, a stiff drink was absolutely necessary.

Lemon Drop Martini – sake, fresh lemon and champagne float!

Avocado Skins (appetizer) – breaded with seasoned almond flour, macadamia sour cream, warm brocolli and crispy eggplant bacon!

It tasted just like a baked potato!  I normally don’t eat avocados, but this was delicious and had a spicy kick to it.

Gnocchi carbonara – house-made dumplings, creamy rawmesan and fresh English peas with pea shoots and crispy eggplant!

Greek Pizzeta (appetizer/entree) – garlic white sauce with baby spinach, cured olives, tomato, red onion and baby lettuce salad!

Strawberry Shortcake!

The entire meal was fantastic.  I’ve never eaten “raw” food before so I was pleasantly surprised.  The food tasted like nothing I’ve ever eaten before yet 110% delicious at the same time.  My camera was on it’s last leg so I didn’t get any photos of people at the dinner.

Thank you to all who came!  It was great to meet so many familiar blog faces:

Emily, Evan, Jen, Lauren, Stephanie, Non-blogger Lisa, and Hannah from HealthWorks (Hannah, thanks for the HW passes!)

I had a wonderful dinner at Grezzo with bloggers and friends.  Thank you to everyone who met for dinner.  It was a great time and the food was amazing.

But due to some tragic news that I received when I came home, I’m going to take the night off from blogging.  Please keep the victims this morning’s house fire in Warwick, RI in your prayers.

Check out my guest post for MelissaNibbles

I’m looking forward to having dinner with some Boston area bloggers and friends tonight at Grezzo!

Jared had to stay late at work and I knew I couldn’t wait too long for tapas.  So I made a yogurt creation out of plain Chobani, brown sugar, and Cinnamon Raisin Swirl peanut butter.  It was pretty good and helped me wait until almost 8 pm to head to Masa.

Masa was SO crowded and I forgot to take photos.  We never got a table so I didn’t really get to enjoy the tapas either.  I grabbed 1 or 2 from our plate balanced on the bar.  I also snacked on a mini cupcake in honor of a friend’s birthday and had a slice of pizza when we walked over to Picco so we could have room to sit and quiet to talk.  Oh, and 3 glasses of red wine.  Thinking of my heart health after all.

I opted to sleep late and skip my morning shower.  Thank God for Healthworks over my lunch break!  I munched on 1/2 of this apple while getting ready for work and shared the rest with Jared.

I drank some home brewed Boston Common Coffee on the drive to work.  After the DD sludge yesterday, this coffee tasted like sweet nectar of the gods.  Boston Common has such good stuff!

I was hungry within an hour of being at work so I dove into my stash and had a Special K bar.

When hunger returned a few hours later, I purchased the most delicious wrap from HealthWorks:  goat cheese, hummus, cucumbers, carrots, and there might’ve been some sprouts in there.  Love at first bite!

Woohoo, samples from Pop Chips were delivered to my office.  Can’t wait to “pop” open a bag.  Haaaaa.

I made sure to GO RED today and wore red corduroy pants.  I also wore a red t-shirt when I worked out. 

I tried on my mom’s Dansko clogs yesterday and loved them, but didn’t know if they were quite my style, or even in style.  But this bit of info from Style Bakery proved me wrong:

“Lucky for you, clogs are a big trend for Spring. Chanel featured them with virtually every look on the runways, including dresses, skirts and skinny pants”

“Of course, the clogs shown on Chanel’s runway were hardly of the comfort variety, featuring high chunky heels. However, you can get inspiration from these looks to wear your Dansko clogs with slim-cut pants, jeans, shorts and flirty dresses.”

I may walk to Copley after I drive home so I can get a pair of my own.

My right thigh/butt was sore from Body Pump.  I took it easy today and walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes and then sat in the sauna for 15 more.  I will admit that the highlight was finally taking a shower and getting myself so fresh and so clean clean.

Last of my kiwis for an afternoon snack.

Do I look like Popeye?  This kiwi was so sour!

*Did you remember to wear red today?*

I was super full last night, but felt hungry by the time I fell asleep.  I woke up with a growling stomach.  Stove top oats were needed to keep me full until after Body Pump later in the afternoon.  My oats contained:

• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 cup of frozen blackberries
• 1 tablespoon of peanut butter

This is my go-to combination.  So filling and I love the flavors!

I sipped on a small coffee and snacked on some almonds before going to the gym.

My mom rocked out at Body Pump!  It was great to share the class with her.  We had a lot of laughs over her poor posture during a lot of the moves, but she still did awesome.  I’m waiting to see if she’s sore tomorrow.  When we walked back to the locker room after class, my mom mentioned she could tell that she’d worked her legs.  The lunge track really is killer!

In grad school, I took a course about nutrition and aging.  Weight training is so important for older adults.  My mom is still very healthy and active, but working out with weights would be a great idea to prevent problems before they even start.  Weight training will help maintain bone density and strength and decrease the risk of osteoporosis.  It’s also been known to boost immunity and wellness.  I need my mom to keep taking care of me for years so come so her health is really important.   Love you, Mom!

I made mental notes of how much weight I used for each muscle group.  Now that I’m taking Body Pump classes consistently, I need to focus on getting stronger.   Right now I pick sort of light weights so each exercise starts off a little too easy and finishes feeling difficult.  Paying attention to my body, I think I could up the intensity a little bit so I’m working in the beginning and then really pushing myself at the end!

My mom and I shared a meal and some chitchat after class.  I had a vegetarian wrap with goat cheese and hummus.  Mmm, so fresh and delicious!  And I think my mom and I worked just as hard at gossiping as we did during Body Pump. 

I didn’t get hungry until pretty late in my work day.  I snacked on a Clementine.

I’m going out for tapas at Masa because they offer 50 cent specials on Thursday nights.  They also offer salsa dancing lessons starting at 10 pm, but I think that’s a little too far past my bed time!

I was excited to try Pacific Naturals’ Tuscan White Bean Soup for lunch.  Maybe I was just craving tomato soup too much.  I hated this and had to stop 2 bites in and get rid of the bowl.    I felt bad because I love 3 of their other flavors.  This one had an overpowering bean taste.  Ugh, I wasn’t feeling it.

I bought a small cup of turkey chili and ate that with some Newman’s Own Organics pretzels.

It took a while to realize the pretzels were Ns.  Aww, creative touch.

It was snowing when I left for work this morning so it was the perfect opportunity to wear a puffy vest.  Simple style.  Besides, I wanted to stay warm while I cleaned my windshield.

I kept my workout clean and simple also.  I lowered my speed to 6.3 mph and jogged for 20 minutes and walked for 5.  Then I stretched and used the foam roller.  My right glute is still really tight!  I sat in the sauna for 10 minutes before calling it a day.

I day dreamed about my leftover Pad Thai on the drive home from work.  No matter how many times I say it and you guys agree, I’ll still repeat that Asian food always tastes better as leftovers.

I watched last night’s episode of the Biggest Loser while Miles attacked a bone.  He didn’t stop gnawing until he ate the entire thing.  And I was worried that he had a tooth problem?!?!  During each commercial break, I did various weight exercises to  help that Pad Thai move through my system.  I felt like I overate (I saw it coming cuz my portion size was way beyond what I normally require), but moving around definitely helped me get over it.

HealthWorks challenges its members to bring a HW t-shirt on vacation and take a photo wearing the t-shirt.  Photos posted on their fan page will be judged and the winner gets $100.  Since I’m leaving for Cancun next Wednesday, I picked up my HW t-shirt this afternoon.  Several HW team members had helpful and creative ideas for my photo so we’ll see what inspires me when I get to Mexico!

Friday February 5th is National Wear Red Day.  It’s also a reminder that February is National Heart Month.

I wanted to share some great information that combines heart healthy tips and the Mediterranean Diet.  Thank you to Alison from Oldways for allowing me to share an article that she wrote!

Courtesy of Oldways, oldwayspt.org

Celebrate National Heart Month with Med Diet Tips & Recipes

BOSTON, Jan. 26, 2010 – February is National Heart Month, and Oldways and the Mediterranean Foods Alliance offer 10 ways to show your heart a little love by borrowing from the traditions of the Mediterranean region. Thousands of scientific studies (and the American Heart Association!) declare the Mediterranean Diet is one of the world’s healthiest ways to eat and incorporating these foods into your everyday diet will do your heart some good.

“While it’s the whole diet that makes the health difference, there are some foods, rich in healthy fats and antioxidants, that are extra beneficial for heart health,” said Sara Baer-Sinnott, Executive Vice President, Oldways. “Found in the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, these foods can decrease your chance of developing heart disease, improve your overall health and, best of all, they taste great.”

Here are 10 Healthy Med Foods plus a tip for each (well, 9 plus an important reminder to exercise!) to help your heart this month and beyond:

1. Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Rich in monounsaturated fats, olive oil lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol, reducing the risk of developing heart disease.  Tip: Use healthful olive oil instead of butter when sautéing or roasting vegetables.
2. Fish: Salmon is super-rich in omega-3 fatty acids that reduce blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Nutrition scientists, the American Heart Association and Oldways suggest eating fish twice a week to benefit from its heart-healthy fats. Tip: Grill or broil salmon and serve with a green vegetable and a squeeze of lemon juice for added flavor.
3. Nuts: Nuts and peanuts are good sources of protein and fiber and are rich in heart-healthy omega-3s and omega-6s. They also have plenty of mono-and poly-unsaturated fats, good for reducing the risk of cardiovascular heart disease.  Tip: Sprinkle peanuts and nuts on salads, pastas, and cereals or add them to muffin batters for an extra crunch.
4. More Herbs and Spices – Less Salt: Herbs and spices contain important phytonutrients that are essential to good health. They are a healthy substitute for salt, which can increase blood pressure.  Tip: Add an extra pinch of dried or fresh herbs or spices to soups, dressings and sauces to heighten flavor without adding salt.
5. Whole Grains: Oatmeal is a fiber-rich super food that may help lower cholesterol and help keep arteries clear. It is also packed with omega-3 fatty acids, folate and potassium.  Tip: Start your day with a steaming bowl of healthy oatmeal, or reach for an oatmeal raisin cookie for a heart-healthy snack.
6. Red Wine: Made from grapes containing resveratrol and other powerful, naturally-occurring plant compounds, red wine may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Moderate consumption is important- two glasses per day for men, one for women.  Tip: Enjoy a glass of red wine with your dinner tonight.
7. Vegetables: Vegetables have essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that can help protect the body from chronic diseases.  Spinach, with high levels of folate, potassium and B-complex vitamins, is a standout for heart health.  Tip: Use spinach instead of lettuce for a nutrient-packed salad or add it to sandwiches, wraps or omelets.
8. Fruit: Fruit has important antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart disease. Blueberries are also a star fruit for heart health because they lower cholesterol and are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and fiber.  Tip: Sprinkle fresh blueberries on cereal and salads or add frozen blueberries to your morning smoothie.
9. Small Amounts of Meat: Meat can be high in cholesterol and saturated fat, and if eaten frequently, can cause fatty substances to build up inside artery walls.  Tip: Arrange your dinner plate so that meat is a side feature, not the “main event.” Or better yet, eat a vegetarian meal a few nights a week.
10. Friends, Family and Exercise: For overall good health including heart health, make exercise a regular part of your day, just like brushing your teeth or checking your email.  Tip: Meet up with a friend or family member and try to walk for 30 minutes, three days a week.

Please contact Alison Clancy (aclancy@oldwayspt.org) for more Med Diet information.

About Oldways and the Mediterranean Foods Alliance

Oldways is an internationally-respected non-profit, changing the way people eat through positive and practical programs grounded in science and tradition. The Mediterranean Foods Alliance is an Oldways program created to help people eat better with the Mediterranean Diet.

I was in a BAD mood last night and didn’t feel like blogging.  I didn’t even feel like cooking dinner and told Jared he was in charge.  He took the easy way out and ran across the street to get Pad Thai.  Mine came with shrimp the first time around so Jared ran back across the street to get a new order.  What a nice guy!

While I don’t want to get into all of the reasons I was upset last night, I do need to rant for a couple of paragraphs.  I belong to a women-only gym.  I thought the entire point of the gym was to make women feel comfortable in an exercise environment.  When I got to spin class last night, I was really down and out over my afternoon.  I wanted to work out my frustrations and really sweat.  That being said, I forgot a tank top and decided I’d feel much more comfortable working out in capris and a sports bra.

I’ve exercised in a sports bra since I was a freshman in college, at every cheerleading practice.  But never in my life have I been made to feel more uncomfortable about myself and my choice of attire than in my spin class last night.  As soon as I took my shirt off, the instructor made a comment about giving someone a golf ball to throw. (At me?!?  I don’t know but that’s what it seemed like she meant) Incredibly inappropriate!

I am at the gym.  I sweat a lot.  I have fitness goals and I want to work hard.  No one, especially not the women who will most likely be strolling around the locker room butt ass naked as soon as class is over, have any right to judge me on my exercise attire.  I do not care what anyone else chooses to wear at the gym.  I’m not going to judge.  I’m there working out for me and I’m just trying to make myself comfortable.  And hey, I work HARD and I do have visible abdominal muscles so deal with it.

I am SO angry and now I’m torn between never attending her class again or attending next week and sitting front and center on my spin bike, wearing my favorite little sports bra and matching spandex shorts that were my go-to practice outfit in my cheering days.

Ok, my venting is over.  Thanks for being patient with me.

I had something to smile about when I got out of the shower and saw two lazy creatures snuggling in bed.  Haha, no this picture is not posed!  Jared and Miles were really sleeping like this.  Though if you ask Jared, he was attempting to sleep and Miles was succeeding in being a pest.

I ate some raspberry yogurt before running out the door.

Mid-morning, I snacked on some grapes.

I’m trying to decide what to eat for lunch and what to do for a workout.  Hmmm….

Don’t forget:

*Dinner on 2/6/2010*

We have reservations at Grezzo on 2/6/2010 at 7 pm.  Please e-mail me and let me know if you are definitely planning on coming because Grezzo is small and would prefer an exact count.  I based my original number off of responses from when I posted about this dinner last week.  (I had to put a credit card down for the reservation so this is kind of super important!)

I had leftover tofu mixed with red sauce so I brought it to work to make a wrap.

Yeah, I’m a wrap phenom.  The thing broke apart, but I still made it work.  I ate this with a fork instead of my fingers to cut down on the mess factor.

I realized that now I really do like tofu.  I used to think I could tolerate it mixed with pasta.  But eating forkfuls of tofu cubes made me realize that if prepared correctly, I really  love the stuff!  (I have to thank Nasoya for being my #1 tofu of choice)

At the gym, I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes at a 6% incline then stretched.  I didn’t want to do too much because I’m going back to the gym tonight for a spin class.

Baby carrots.

Monster baggie filled with kettle corn.