Fitness & Foodie Friday: Health or Treat? Nooky Quickie

While trick-or-treaters may be house-hopping and candy-popping this weekend, I’ll continue consuming my healthy supplements on the ☼daily!

Ginkgo Biloba: to promote mental focus

• This initially got me through my studying for and taking my comprehensive examinations to complete my Master’s degree
• I also took them as I prepared for my final semester exams, luminary comps (1st year) and candidacy (3rd year) to test for my Ph.D. coursework
• I’m continuing them as I progress through my dissertation process

Centrum VitaMints®: to aquire essential nutrients in a tasty way

• I’ve come a long way since my childhood Flinstones chewables ~ which I doubt are the best bet for my teeth with the acidity
• I’m still not a fan of swallowing tablets without having water and food in handy
• Therefore, I’m all about double-duty of fulfilling my ☼daily☼ needs while freshening my breath!

Of course, I don’t skimp on the actual food that I need to fuel my brain and body ~ which I’m actually including in an analogy between my marathon and my main statistical method (multiple regression) for my doc research!

Study Mode Trail Mix: Since almonds helped my bod during my 26.2-mi. course and my mind through my dissertation process, they were the main feature of this snack combo for the crunch + the Pumpkin Spice flavor along with the pumpkin cookies & candy, as well as more chocolate to cover these Brookside blueberries that also benefit the memory!

Study Mode Trail Mix: Since almonds helped my bod during my 26.2-mi. course and my mind through my dissertation process, they were the main feature of this snack combo for the crunch + the Pumpkin Spice flavor along with the pumpkin cookies & candy, as well as more chocolate to cover these Brookside blueberries that also benefit the memory!

Speaking of my race, although I haven’t run as many long distances in awhile, I’ve fit in mini drills to keep my energy levels high while I’ve been drained from my dissertation, a.k.a., my doc docs …

Cheers to Pumpkin ♥Love♥: Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte VIA® PSL at home & Olive Garden Pumpkin Cheesecake to soothe my soul, body and brain as I update and practice my dissertation!

During my dedicated eating time (yes, I must make a meal break away from my computer, according to my Bestie Evie‘s birthday advice), I actually HIIT before I sit!

Olive Garden Leftovers from Ladies’ Night with the Holy Spiri† (counter-clockwise from bottom right): Chicken Cacciatorie & Cheese Manicotti (2 of my fave entrées rolled into 1) • Pasta e Fagioli w/ breadstick • Minestrone • Bestie Evie‘s Better-Than-Sex Brownie • Pumpkin Cheesecake (which took me 4 days to finish!) • Andes Mints ~ gotta ♥love♥ these after-dinner chocolate mints to cap off a classic OG meal!

While I wait for my chow to cook ~ simmering in the crock pot, boiling on the stove, or nooking in the oven/microwave/toaster ~ I do the following quick set(s), to induce more calorie-burning even after I’m done exercising:

Standing ♥Cardio♥

• Jumping Jacks ~ chant your mantra
• Run laps or lines (depending on space)

Floor/Mat/Carpet Core

• Plank or Push-Ups (or mountain climbers)
• Crunches or Sit-Ups (I prefer v-ups)
• Dips (in reverse plank) ~ if time permits

More ♥Cardio♥

• Dance ’til your ♥heart’s ♪content♫ ~ or your grub is ready

Stretch

Relieve those muscles after sitting at the computer desk and before sitting down to eat

Happy Early Halloween, All †Saints’ Day y el Día de los Muertos! ✌

Foodie Friday: Fazing over Fazoli’s

My latest dessert obsession:

*Nutella* Cheesecake from Fazoli’s

Don’t let the solid chocolate look fool ya … This bad boy’s full of flavor!

Combines 2 of my faves:

• Chocolate hazelnut
• My favorite fast food joint
  

  The darker the chocolate :: The sweeter the flavor!

There’s never been anything that I didn’t like from Fazoli’s ~ Italian, I’m in Heaven ~ including from this most recent visit.

Giving Grape Italian Lemon Ice ~ a drink with a contributory cause!

Penne Romano ~ steaming HOT!!!

Yummy Post-Church Meal complete with blessings!

I’ve lucked out with this eatery (which opened in my hometown, thanks to my h.s. buddy’s dad ~ a contractor who liked it when he visited his son in college and decided to build it by their family home) because it’s always been quick, inexpensive and most of all: delicious!

Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I’ve rung in the New Year with Fazoli’s!

My former workout partner (who now lives overseas for the military) and I used to grab Italian Lemon Ice at Fazoli’s after we’d have a fun run at the park around the corner ~ we’d burn calories then reward ourselves with something sweet, refreshing and healthy!

Classic Strawberry Italian Ice ~ nothing classic about it! #BoldAndFresh

Alfredo & Marinara + Meatballs = YOLO Italiano!

F is for … Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I’ve even feasted on Fazoli’s while watching Fast & Furious movies at the drive-in!

Plus, now that I typically fly solo, I’ve done my work or homework there after hitting the track myself and have tried almost ALL of the seasonal desserts (except for the Red Velvet Cheesecake around ♥Valentine’s♥ Day ~ because it was out when I visited)!

Watching my ☼truck☼ while sipping on this Strawberry Italian Ice Float!

My fave Fazoli’s dessert before the Nutella Cheesecake came along … This Ghirardelli Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake!

How do you eat an elephant? Savoring every single bite!

Flashback *Foodie* Friday: I took 3 hours to work on this meal while writing my dissertation concept proposal!

Foodie Friday: Small & Sweet Fortunes

Big things come in small packages.

Mini Frappuccino in the *Starbucks$ Coffee House! S’mores, please!

Life is like a box of chocolates … You never know what you’re gonna get.

~ Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks as the title character)

Celebrate everyday!

Live in the ☼moment☼

In any ♣season♣

Cherish yourself ~ YOU’re a treasure! 👑

Life’s sweeter with ♥loved ones♥ …

… ♪music♫ …

… & literature …

… + chocolate!

Keep the party going!

And most of all: spread those good vibes!

  

Sharing = Caring!

for my Bestie + yours truly & my family!

Foodie Friday: Banana Ice Cream

♪This sh** is bananas ~ B-A-N-A-N-A-S!♫

~ Gwen Stefani‘s ♫Hollaback♪ (2005)

Throwback from my first Myspace song …

… Which is the inspiration behind my most frequent ☼summer☼ dessert lately:

Banana Ice Cream!!!

Here are a few different from-fresh-to-frozen banana batches from this past week:

Banana Honey Walnut

Chunky Monkey: Banana + Jif Mocha Cappuccino Hazelnut Spread & Chocolate Cookies

Butter Pecan: Banana + Cocoa Cookie Butter & Butterscotch Morsels & Pecan Chips

More music inspiration from Jack Johnson …

• ♫Banana Pancakes♪
• ♫Better Together♪ 

Happy *4th of July* mañana!!!

Foodie Friday: C is for …

Chocolate🍫 * Cookies🍪 * Coffee☕️ * Cheesecake🍰

More specifically …

Thanks to 🌽Trader Joe’s🎯:

Cookies🍪 & Creme🍦 Cookie🍪 Butter 🍯

Happy 🍓Strawberry Month in May!
    ♪Gotta love ☕️Coffee♫ ~ especially with Cookies🍪 & Creme🍦 (112’s🎤 ♪Peaches🍑 & Cream♫ on the 💡brain)  Cookie🍪 Butter🍯 Cheesecake🍰  

🌠Starbucks💸‘ *NEW* Additions➕

🍨Frappuccino🍧 Sugar Cookie🍪  

Sippy Selfie: Frappuccino Sugar Cookie before NBA Playoffs (last *Dallas Mavericks* game)

   ⛺️S’Mores 🍩Tart🍮

Mmmm…. Melted Marshmallow ~ Melt My ♥Heart♥

More like Marshmallow Drizzle for this E-Dizzle!

Chocolate Dipped into this Graham Cracker Crust is like a slice of Heaven ^_^

   ⛺️S’Mores 🍨Frappuccino🍧 {to 👟kickoff🏈 Frap-Happy Hour (🕒3-5PM🕔 & ’til 6🕕 o’clock for us 🏆Rewards💳 members)}

Score: S’mores ‘specially for Yours Truly

Frap-Happy for this Summer Camp kinda sweet treat!

Graham Cracker topping …

… & Chocolatey Marshmallowy Goodness ’til the very last drop!!!

Foodie Friday: Classic Cold Remedies

Happy Friday the 13th!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is where it’s at!

We’re never too old to need our mothers ~ so if they’re still with us, then let’s be grateful!

Add freshly-squeezed OJ to the mix for Vitamin C to combat the cold, and I’ve got it made in the shade!

My own ♥Mommy Aya♥ came through for me during my cold that took its toil and my voice this ♣Spring Break♣.

These oranges came from my former post in the Rio Grande Valley!

As a retired Registered Nurse after over 4½ decades, my Nanay attended to me for the first time since I was a child!

Chocolate = the perfect cure to cheer me up, in the form of my mom’s Nutella brownies!

I think that my need to be put on bed rest (while my ♥A&A♥ held vigil by my bedside) was †GOD†‘s way of telling me to slow my roll …

Girl Scout Cookies also are. Always. On. Point.

Despite my week ☼off☼ from teaching and tutoring, I had still been on-the-go in the recent wintry weather with my traveling, researching, reporting and photographing!

This juicer doubles as a pitcher!

So much for tracking miles on a fun run or hitting the driving range … for now!

Floral Friday: Bouquets, Bows and Arrows

During this ♥Valentine’s♥ week

Hello Kitty ♥Valentine’s♥ bow handcrafted by mi comadre Mona

I had 2 marriage proposals this past Wednesday alone

My attempt at the hair ♥heart♥ bun {video tutorial}

and a slew of gifts from my †GOD†-sent students then and yesterday!

Happy ♥Valentine’s♥ 2015

Hence, the perks of being a single teacher

Bow & Arrow Red Velvet Gluten Free mini cupcakes + ♥Heart♥ Pupcakes

With ♥Valentine’s♥ weekend ahead

Triple-Chocolate for ♥Valentine’s♥ class: Red Velvet Gluten Free mini cupcakes * Chocolate-Covered Oreos * Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

I look forward to

These Red Velvet mini GF cupcakes have found their way to my ♥heart♥

reaping the rewards of my photography and reporting career

Our R.E. ♥VDay♥ party included these Red Velvet Gluten Free mini cupcakes!

by capturing ♥Valentine’s♥ babies on camera mañana

♪Ring around the Rosies♫

and covering Claudie Royals‘ birthday banquet this ☼Sunday☼

♫Pocket full of Posies♪

†GOD† has blessed me abundantly

Pay It Forward: My R.E. student Delightful Dani (whose mom asked me to do the readings at her Church wedding) generously gave me this beautiful bouquet ~ so I had to spread the ♥love♥ w/Sweet Annie

by always being by my side

Princess Annie ♥loves♥ them!

and bringing me ♥Valentines♥ who charm, warm, touch and move my ♥heart♥

Sniff, sniff: Annie takes a whiff! Smell the flowers!

After all …

Feng Shui Dragons surround these Philippians 4:4″ alt=”Philippians 4:4″>flowers for ♣Good Luck♣ + blue marbles represent our *Dallas Cowboys*

Take delight in the †LORD†, and he will give you the desires of your ♥heart♥.

These red ♥Valentine’s♥ carnations ☼pair well☼ w/my yellow rose of Texas

  ~ Psalm 37:4

Foodie Friday: Country Club Grub

We celebrated ♥Valentine’s♥ Day one week early at the Country Club!

Salad Spread: I’m all about the greens, & pasta is my weakness!

As always, the food was good!

Country Club caters well! A little bit of everything, from veggies to meat.

And the drinks were as well!

Stella Artois: my usual import @ the Country Club

Not to mention the dessert!

Wine & Chocolate: my kind of centerpiece!

Sweets …

Dessert Table: Cheesecake Collection

… from the Sweet …

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake: complete w/a ♥heart♥ @ the center

… by the Sweet …

Assorted Cheesecake: Chocolate * Strawberry * Original

… for the Sweet!

Double Chocolate: Chocolate Cheesecake w/Cookies & Cream ♥Heart♥

Happy Friday the 13th & ♥Valentine’s♥ Eve!

Foodie Friday: Fight Night & Game Grub ~ SBXLIX Edition

With last weekend being full of festivities, we were in great food and company! My LMT girl Lisa and her hubby hosted Fight Night (UFC main event: Anderson Silva post-2013 leg injury) on Super Bowl Sunday Eve! Then I watched the Big Game with my Papa Jun!

The commonalities between both meals were:

• pizza (Little Caesar’s & Pizza Hut)
• dip (Ranch & Nutella)
• oodles of noodles (post-fight & pre-game)
• veggies (fresh & roasted)

Fight Night Feast: {clockwise from top L} Little Caesar’s Pretzel Pizza from yours truly * fruit w/chocolate fondue made by yours truly (Nutella & Philadelphia Cream Cheese) * veggies w/Ranch dressing * slider sandwiches w/Dijon mustard, turkey & cheese (either Swiss or Munster)

Portion control: Lisa sliced the pizza into smaller pieces, so more could be up for grabs!

These slider sandwiches were a hit! Hands down: they scored a touchdown @ this table!

Fun fact: Did you know that you burn more calories than you consume when you munch on celery due to the crunch? Challenge accepted!

After the fruit was gone, a fellow cat mama & I turned to the carrots to dip into the chocolate!

To top off my plate, I had my green drink to toast!

Post-Fight: Rice Noodles w/meatballs ~ looks like this yummy bowl is Lisa‘s version of Pho!

Pre-Game: My Ramen w/Salsa + P.I. Cheese on Toast

Yes’sir, I AM the Ranch B*tch: from my salad to pizza (Supreme from the Hut)

Almond Joy Pie: filled w/Nutella but bittersweet due to the Seahawks’ SB loss

This post-game croissant-reminiscant breakfast: Cookie & Cocoa Butter Swirl goes nuts w/pecans & almonds ~ shaped like a ♥heart♥ for ♥Valentine’s♥ Day!

Coffee pairs well w/Cookie & Cookie & Cocoa Butter Swirl + croissant!

My Nanay satisfied my chili craving with this Super Bowl Southwestern-Style Chili Bowl! Maraming Salamat Po, Mommy Aya! Ma sarap!

 

Add cheese to the mix!

 

Dallop of Daisy: Add sour cream to the mix!

 

Add avocado to the mix!

 

Spoon ready to scoop ~ so ladle it on to lick!

 

Let’s double-dip those chips!

 

Chili Chip Pie, oh my!

My mom went happy on kale, both in the chili & in these chips baked in EVOO + in this green drink complete con más avocado!

 

Again, Context Media Health has been on point, as if it’s been reading my mind ~ this time, about Black Beans & Avocados!

 

Foodie Friday: Festive Flavors

What flaves do you crave when your HOLYday hunger pangs strike?

For me, it’s pumpkin during the fall and peppermint closer to CHRISTmas!

White Chocolate Peppermint M&M’s ~ *Target* Exclusive

Here is my latest minty-fresh concoction …

Another PPPP: Peppermint Patty Pie Parfait with Triple C’s: CHRISTmas Candy Cane Chocolate

Doesn’t this dessert shot M&Mmmmake your M&Mmmouth water??

These White Chocolate Peppermint M&M’s also spice up hot chocolate quite nicely!

Candy Cane Hot Cocoa

And I enjoyed them on a rare movie day with popcorn from the Paramount!

Candy & Popcorn: Perfect Combination … Complete with my fave festive flick: ELF!

Bring on the Yuletide Yummies!!!

Mmmmmm … M&M’s in Popcorn ~ Sweet & Salty at its festive finest

When I visited El Paso a couple of weeks ago, I had a variety of food, as well as drinks of holiday-inspired flavors, including

• Apple Cider
• Chestnut

Here, we’re pretty in peppermint with our Candy Cane Santa Selfie!

This Double E Team has some of the most generous students with giving ♥hearts♥

#StayMerry