Well, with all that Christmas talk happening yesterday, I’d say it’s about time to get back to the grind around here! Not only is Christmas over, but I’m also back to work today after having the last four days off. Yes, starting today, I’m officially full time at the job!
But backtracking a bit to yesterday…I had a busy day yesterday with a weird appetite, so I really just ended up snacking quite a bit throughout the afternoon. At one point, I did wind up making myself a yogurt bowl as a snack/mini meal to sit down with.
Some vanilla Chobani, lotsa blueberries, toasted oats, and Love Grown Foods granola. Simple yet delicious. There were, of course, other snacks that occurred throughout the afternoon, with the highlight being some TJ’s tortilla chips & pineapple salsa. SO good.
Mid-afternoon, I (surprisingly) found myself with a tiny extra bit of energy, so I decided to use it to my advantage and headed downstairs to the treadmill. Unfortunately for me, I had totally forgotten that our treadmill was folded up and shoved in a corner from when we had our Christmas party (yes, it’s been that long).
So instead, I came back upstairs and decided to bust out some reps for the exercises that I chose to do for the Closeout Workout Challenge (which I am failing miserably at – hopefully you guys are doing better than I am!). It felt so good to move a bit, despite the fact that it was just downright sad at how quickly I felt wiped out. Oy vey…
Speaking of workouts, I’ve actually been trying to research some good prenatal DVD’s out there…if there are any? I’m hoping to establish a bit more of a routine with the workouts once my energy levels come back (fingers crossed), and although I do have a few workout DVD’s that could still be used and modified, I’m trying to find some more. I have had a couple recommendations so far which look like they could be good:
Susan Bowen’s Long & Lean Summer Sanders’ Prenatal Workout
Yoga Booty Ballet Baby On the Way by Beachbody
Has anyone tried any of these? I haven’t committed to any yet, but if anyone has any recommendations, I’d love to hear them!
*****
Last Night’s Dinner
Knowing I was going to be out and about for most of the day, I figured it would be the perfect day to make some Low-Fat Crockpot Veggie Stew. I picked up the ingredients to make it last week, and have just been waiting for an opportunity to put it together since.
Gosh, I love this veggie stew. It’s definitely one of my favorites.
For dinner last night, I made myself half of a toasted Wolferman’s and a big bowl of the stew.
I topped it off with a little bit of shredded cheddar which, I must say, was a great addition.
Lots of stringy melted good stuff.
*****
This morning, I have a bit of a challenge ahead of me, as Mother Nature decided to dump some snow on us overnight, and it’s still comin’ down.
Yuck…although I suppose it is pretty.
But seeing as we haven’t had any significant snow around here in forever, I’m sure my drive in to work this morning is going to be incredibly obnoxious. Let’s just hope I make it without any trouble!
Be on the lookout this afternoon for a little giveaway. 
Question for the Morning:
Snow: love it or hate it?
Love it until Christmas and then I want it gone! ;)
I wish we had snow here in Chicago, but we keep getting missed. I have the Long & Lean Prenatal DVD and it’s very good. I did it about 2-3 times a week while I was pregnant. Hope you had a great Christmas.
I am in the same boat with the snow this morning…luckily my fiance, Brian, is shoveling me out right now :) Have a good day!
I’m failing at the challenge too…mostly because I seemed to think I could do 2012 burpees without dying. Nope. Maybe someday but maybe more mentally than physically, but not right now. You live and learn.
Love snow initially but when it starts to get slushy, I loathe it!
Holy cow that soup looks delicious! I’m always looking for ways to amp up the veggies in my diet and now that the cold is definitely sticking around for a while, I get tired of cold salads all of the time, so this is a perfect option! Plus, anything I can make in the crock pot gets an A+ in my book!
LOVE Snow….when I don’t have to drive far in it. :smile:
That soup really looks yummy! I think I see myself making that in the near future. :)
I love snow when when I don’t have to drive in it. Otherwise, I don’t like it.
I’m in Syracuse for the holidays, and we got d-u-m-p-e-d on last night. :( There’s a solid 10 inches of snow in our driveway (and we haven’t been plowed yet), and the snow’s supposed to keep falling until late this evening. I even tried to go swimming at my local pool this morning, but it was closed due to the weather. Hope you make it to work safely, Courtney!
Love the snow … except when I have to drive in it! Safe travels!
I have the Summer Sanders prenatal video and it’s nothing special. If you’re used to great workouts (like you), it won’t be enough.
Your energy will totally come back. I always thought the end of pregnancy would be the hardest time to workout when you’re the biggest, but it was definitely the beginning because of lack of energy for me too!
Love snow when I don’t have to drive in it. We had snow here yesterday (not a lot). It started to turn to rain when we were all leaving work so it was hard to tell what the roads were like (icy or slushy). That is never fun.
I love how pretty the snow is and love to visit it. But I am happy that we don’t get any in Florida :) I like it limited to vacations!
Yum…that stew looks awesome, and especially perfect for this cold weather we’ve been having. Snow’s great for the kids, but I could honestly do without the hassle! ;)
I LOVE snow in December, January and February, lots of it, and even when I have to drive in it. If you live here, you should expect and embrace the snow. That veggie soup/stew looks really really great. I might try something like that.
The first 3 months of pregnancy are the hardest, energy-wise. Months 4, 5 and 6 are much better. Hope it all goes well for you! And be careful in the snow!
The stew look sooooo good. I have to tell that I hate snow. I live in Western Michigan so there is lots of lake effect snow. It would be great day if I never had to deal with snow again EVER!
I have the long and lean workout and love it. I used it with my first pregnancy and am currently using it twice a week in my second pregnancy (33 weeks with baby number 2) I also walk 3-4 miles 4 days a week.
I hate it because in Ireland we’re so ill equipped to handle it, the whole country goes in to shut down when we have even the smallest of snow falls!
I love to look at snow, but I hate to actually be in snow. I’m such a baby with cold weather, so I tend to just like it for the hot chocolate and cuddling in front of the fire aspect. Stay warm up there!
Love it, especially if its a snow day!
Love the snow! We got a few inches overnight, and are supposed to get up to two feet! It’s so pretty out there.
That veggie stew looks good – I may try making something like that, and I’ll probably add a can of beans to it. I always seem to make soups and chilis, but forget to make stews.
I dislike snow! Happy that it’s just a whole lot of rain down here in Boston!
We got a little bit of snow yesterday, but it mixed with rain and sleet too which was nasty! Yuck! Hopefully the drive to work isn’t too bad!
Oh, and shredded cheese on stew is the best!!!
I HATE snow with a passion! Yoga Booty Ballet…haha! A friend and I used to do those workouts when were in middle school at sleepovers on occasion. No idea why we did this…but hearing that name brought back good memories. :)
Your stew sounds great. I just got my own crockpot for Christmas and I’ve been looking for recipes. I may have to try it out.
I always find snow charming until Christmas is over, and then it’s just a big ol’ nuisance. Yesterday, I wore boots to work, it didn’t snow, so today, I wore ballet flats, and I ran into snow halfway to work (I work 30 minutes from my house). All I can say is FML.
I just don’t like winter in general…the snow is okay, but it’s the freezing cold temperatures that immediately follow it that I’m really not a fan of. It’s been about 5 degrees here (yes, 5) for about a week now….Hoping your drive to work went just fine!
I LOVE snow! It’s all rain here in Boston though :(
I love to look at snow, but I don’t like to live in it. I honestly couldn’t imagine not having a white Christmas, but I live in a place that takes the whole winter thing a little too far. Some years we have snowbanks over our heads and weeks of -25C temps… It makes you want to hole up at home and never leave; but at least it looks pretty?
I love snow when it first falls but then when it gets slushy and black on the roads, I’m over it!
Last night we got a few inches of snow here in Massachusetts, but by this morning it had turned to rain and mush. :-(
LOVE the soup bowl & matching plate. Where can I find them?
QVC! It’s called something like Temptations I think?
Thank you – I found & bought them on QVC. Even commented to QVC that I saw them on your blog. Maybe they will “gift” you for marketing!
Love snow! I am sad that it turned into rain here in NYC – I would much rather snow on the ground than puddles!!
Seems like everyone has snow right now…even here in Texas!! Yay!
More of a hate lately because I’m training for a race and snow complicates my running schedule. If I’m not running or driving, though, I try to appreciate it like I did when I was little when I was all about snow days and playing in it.
Love looking at it, hate driving and running in it
I don’t know why I never think to combine cereal and yogurt. It seems so simple, yet so delicious!
I love that Crock Pot veggie stew. I made an adapted version of your recipe a while back and it was DELICIOUS! :)
As for snow…love to look at it, but hate to drive in it and hate being cold…so I guess I am kind of up in the air on that one!
Love it when it is Christmas-time or I don’t have anywhere to go. . . otherwise no!
love snow!! probably because i never get it where i live lol but still. Mmmm that chili looks good!! love chili :)
Love, Love, love snow! Hope you made it safely to work!
I hate snow! I’m from Buffalo, and I moved to California to get away from it! But it’s so cold here, I’m surprise it’s not going to snow!! Your breakfast looks great!! Still deciding on what I should make!!
Physique 57 has a great online prenatal workout located here: http://cleeng.it/UbESV8
I’m a big fan of it! I wrote a review on my blog about a month ago at about 33 weeks? Now that I’m 37 weeks it’s getting more difficult, but it’s a really intense workout for your arms and legs, and they do some light ab toning and back work that I feel has really helped with my posture and back pain.
I’m 26 1/2 weeks pregnant right now and I had a terrible time with my energy levels up until the fifth month. I cut down my workouts substantially, just one modified class a week for the first 19 weeks, and I was having to sleep ALL the time! I’m feeling much more normal these days and have even been able to pick things up at the gym, which has been great. Just hang in there.
That stew has got my mouth watering! I’m craving a nice hearty soup with all the pretty snow outside (which I’m THRILLED we finally have). Time to get myself outside to start shoveling while the hubs is at work.
We got 16″. It’s kind of pretty this time of year but generally I hate it. I don’t have work this week so I guess that’s good- although if it came a week later I would have had a snow day! Ugh oh well
I have Lindsey Brin’s Preg workout, split into trimesters I really like it, mix of strength and cardio but not too tiring. I also just got Tracy Anderson’s Pregnancy Project which I love! A different DVD every month and workouts are about 35 mins. After the first day I was burning for two days afterwards! Again this one is not too tiring either.
I love snow on a day when I don’t need to do anything or be anywhere haha. But on an average Thursday…yea. I agree it’s a total pain to drive in, and can be pretty dangerous. Good luck out there!
I am so making that soup ASAP!
I love snow, but I just hate shoveling! It wouldn’t be so bad if I left myself enough time in the morning to shovel so that I wasn’t rushing around trying to clear the driveway like a crazy person!
I am not a fan of snow unless it’s only for a very limited period of time and it’s my choice to go to it and then leave it. Think a weekend getaway to a cozy cabin in the woods with lots of hot chocolate and a roaring fireplace. Now, that’s snow I can appreciate and enjoy. ;)
For some reason I thought you’re new job was part-time… guess I’m going a little bonkers. Lol. Good luck and safe travels out in the snow! :)
We got hit with our first snowstorm of the year last night – not a fan! The boyfriend and I are in agreement that we want to move someplace without it in the next couple of years.
I love having snow when there is school so there can be a possibility for a snow day. I hate snow when it falls on Christmas break and I have to go out and shovel in the cold. :(
I hope we have at least TWO snow days this year. Is that too much to ask for?!?
I was just given a crock pot for Christmas, I’m obsessed already! I made apple delight oatmeal last night, and tonight I plan on making something similar to that, but a curry veggie stew! Yours looks good!
We don’t really get snow in Texas… so when we do pretty much the whole city shuts down.
I hate snow. Ive lived in GA my whole life, so I dont like the cold and the rumor of snow causes EVERYTHING to shut down.
My 2nd baby was born in september, the pregnancies were so different, I worked out up until the day I delivered with the 2nd (none with the 1st) and contriubute that to a better pregnancy overall, especially in the later weeks when my food was not digesting very quickly. A good sweat session also helped not to retain water. I havent tried those DVDs, but I suspect they may leave wanting more. My suggestion is to continue your current workouts, just modify to your ability. Don’t get discouraged, just keep moving. Congrats to you!!
I love the idea of snow more than the snow itself. We don’t get any around my area anyways. I hope you get your energy back soon- make sure you’re eating enough!
Sara Haley’s pregnancy fitness DVDs are pretty fun, and I’ve really been enjoying them! I plan to review them within the next week or two in detail, but they’re a fun way to mix it up a bit. Shiva Rea’s Prental Yoga DVD is also one of my favorite prenatal yoga DVDs. ;)
I second Sara Haley’s DVD set, Expecting More, it has 6 different workouts so you get good variety. Congratulations on the pregnancy and enjoy this fun time!