[Fitness, Health and Happiness]

PINspiration Wednesday || On the Menu

One of our Christmas traditions is a casual themed dinner on Christmas Eve. 2 weeks ago I had my heart set on doing something a little different, eating out on Christmas Eve. Fast forward 1 week and I've changed my mind. So, now I'm planning an Italian dinner party :)

Roasted Vegetable Strudel (via)

Pesto Chicken Sandwich (via)

Lemon-Basil Antipasto (via)

Tortellini Caprese Bites (via)

Petite Lasagnas (via)

Chicken, Broccoli, Olive and Goat Cheese Pizza (via)

And because this is my all time favorite pizza. Chicken, Goat Cheese and Roasted Pepper Pizza (via)

That's what I have so far. Still a little more planning to do. Maybe another pizza or 2? Definitely desserts!

Do you have a favorite italian recipe? An italian family favorite? 

Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge 2011 || Beginning

(Run to the Finish)

This is my first year to join HBBC. I started yesterday with strength training, stretching and fruits and veggies. Not bad for Day 1. For the challenge I will focus on running, strength training, cross training and nutrition. The ultimate goal is to stay on track thoughout the holidays and enjoy myself too!

Goals For This Week

Workouts:

• running - 4 days (this is my first week back running after surgery so this goal is if all things go well)
• strength training - 5 days
• stretch - 2 days

Nutrition:

• Shakeology smoothie - 7 days
• vitamins - 7 days
• follow 11/20 - 11/26 clean eating menu (you can see an example here Commitment to Health and Fitness)

What are your goals for the week? Is this your first year of HBBC?

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With so many blogging friends joining HBBC what better way to keep up with their efforts, progress and accomplishments than a link up.

Amanda gave me the thumbs up to post a weekly link up for HBBC participants to share their blog posts. I will post my week in review along with the link up on Sunday morning and it will remain active through Saturday of that week. 

How this works: 

1. Follow me, the host, at [Fitness, Health & Happiness] on Google Friend Connect in the sidebar. 

2. Create a HBBC blog post.  

3. Using InLinkz below link directly to your HBBC post. Post URL only please.

4. Visit and comment as many other blogs as you wish.

5. There will be a new link up every week.

If you're new to link ups here is an example to give you an idea of how it all works Fitness Friday Blog Hop. Contact me if you have any questions using the "Contact Jill" in the menu bar above (third tab from the left).

 

 

PINspiration Wednesday || Planning Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. A time for family, friends, and food. Running and shopping too!

For the first second time in the 18 years I've been married I'm not cooking Thanksgiving dinner. This year most of our Thanksgiving dinner will be catered by Whole Foods. At first I wasn't sure about having dinner catered but after Chad and I went to A Taste of Whole Foods Holidays the decision was easy. So delicious!

In addition to the Whole Foods' menu the Conyers' Thanksgiving 2011 will include:

Print this to frame

Thanksgiving Subway Art Printable (via)

Begin the day with a run.

Thanksgiving Day Race 2011 (via)

I will be doing a little bit of cooking to add to our menu...

Roasted Butternut Squash (via)

Unbelievably Healthy Pumpkin Pie (via)

Apple, Walnut Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette (via)

And a tradition that we started when my daughter was a toddler.

Black Friday Shopping [with my daughter] (via)

We start here

Starbucks (via)

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What plans do you have for Thanksgiving? Do you have Thanksgiving traditions? Do you venture out for Black Friday shopping? 

 

Tips to Beat Holiday Stress

Tis the season to be jolly...and all stressed out! I can feel it. No not stress yet but the potential for stress. Can you?

Holidays are supposed to be a time of peace, love, and fun right? What better place to find ways to beat holiday stress than one of my favorite websites [and book], The Happiness Project. 

The tips are not only for stress free minimal holidays. Try these tips for eveyday life too. 

1. Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation is a major disturber of people’s moods. Jet lag, traveling, parties, and over-excited children all make it hard to get your usual number of hours. Making an effort to get to bed early really pays off.

2. Exercise. Studies show that one of the quickest and surest ways to boost your mood is to exercise. If you’re away from home and can’t do your usual routine, even a short walk will help. Even better, exercise outside, where the sunlight will help improve your mood and focus.

3. Stay in control of your eating. It seems to me that guilt about holiday binging is a major source of the blues. 

4. Take your time; plan ahead. Hurrying to pack, rushing through stores, sprinting to make a flight, last minute picking up – these are sure to put you in a bad mood. Try to give yourself plenty of time to do what you need to do.

5. Learn from the past. What has made you unhappy in years of old? Think back. Avoid your triggers. Don’t do it! Don’t expose yourself to known happiness risks.

6. Make time for real fun. Sometimes holiday vacations, which are supposed to be “fun,” are actually a huge hassle. Figure out ways to have fun. Also, give yourself permission to include time for things YOU like to do. It's ok, even during the holidays and a house full of guests.

7. Fill your heart with love. If you’re heading into a difficult situation, take a moment to think of all the reasons that you’re grateful to your family and friends, and the happy memories you’ve shared.

Figure out what YOU need to do to keep a holiday spirit. 

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What stresses you out during the holidays? What do you do to keep yourself feeling calm and light hearted?

 

Shoot and Edit | Week 6

Part 1
Theme: Love/Romance 

 

Before

After

More playing [practicing] with textures. The process for this edit was based on Kim Klassen's Adding Texture (staycation) Elements Version tutorial. I still have a lot to learn but I'm happy with how this turned out. 

You're never too old for the magic of Christmas.

A new photography challenge beginning in January! Click here for the details ONE LITTLE WORD | Captured

Holiday Bokeh Party

Holiday Bokeh Party 
(link up and a great tutorial for capturing bokeh)

 

 

 

I'm Sure Game Stop Is On the Wish List of Someone In My House

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

Today's Mama and Game Stop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

 1. What is your holiday wish for your family? being happy, healthy and together for the holidays

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition? Chad and Alec make fresh squeezed orange juice

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be? Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP Digital SLR Camera 

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money? family traditions and time together

5. What games did you play with your family growing up? Monopoly, Connect Four, and Clue

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood? opening a gift from your stocking on Christmas eve

7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip? Hawaii

8. Check out Game Stop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year? with a little help from my son...Gran Turismo 5, NCAA Football 11, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2

 

In honor of independence...

 
 

To the veterans who have served our country as well as today's armed service members who sacrifice and risk their lives to protect us...a heartfelt thank you.

And a very special thank you to my husband and my dad.

Chad J. Conyers
 United States Marine Corps 

 

Travis P. Fickling
 United States Navy