Author: keepingupwithkate91

Happy New Year – Welcome 2012

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

I don’t normally have a New Year’s Resolution…this year I decided that I wanted to have a top 10 list – Goals vs. Resolutions.  So here is the list (in no particular order)…

  1. Write more personal notes and thank you notes – not email.  My goal is to write one per month in 2012.  I just finished writing Thank You notes to some employees at work for some outstanding work…it was very rewarding and I got some nice emails / comments back.  I didn’t include my return address as I wanted it to be a surprise (sent to the home not work address to btw)…one employee thought it was an invite to a ‘shower’…she was plesantly surprised!
  2. Get back to Mass.  I was pretty lax in 2011.
  3. Make Yoga part of my fitness program.  I have 5 free sessions via LivingSocial at One Yoga and have a free session (via a silent auction).
  4. Buy Made in America – buy local (note to self:  check the fine print).  I bought some Candy Canes for my Christmas Tree – the company is in Ohio; however, the Candy Canes were made in Mexico.
  5. Donate, Donate, Donate – I’ve got a lot of stuff…especially clothes, shoes and handbags…need to find some good homes locally.  And it will help me de-clutter – a bonus!
  6. Pay it Forward
  7. Play More Angry Birds Rio 🙂
  8. Schedule a massage at least once every 3 mths
  9. Re-connect with friends and stay connected with my family
  10. And last but not least…continue my journey of self-discovery and transformation

What goals do you have for 2012?

Christmas Tree – Finally

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

I finally got my Christmas tree up on Friday and decorated on Saturday – with a few touch-ups Sunday morning.  There is a color theme – each ornament has either green, red, gold or silver on it.  There are a few exceptions – my nephew’s photo frame ornament has blue on it and there is a PSU squirrel cheerleader (mini ornament) near the top of the tree…there is also a Nittany Lion minature too (there is green on it so it isn’t an exception).

This is a picture of the tree with gifts around it…and this didn’t include the gifts my parents brought and the ones my brother and sister-in-law brought on Christmas Day.  And a picture of the full tree (minus the top…I’m not tall enough even with a step ladder to get the angel on top anyway).

Here are some photos of some of my favorite ornaments:

Homemade Ornaments – my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop made these ornaments in the 1970s – 1980s.  They are in great shape and really make the tree for me.  Remember these are just the ornaments with red, green, gold and silver in them…I have another box with lots of other colors.

Dough Art – I have a handful of ornaments that I made when I was in Texas (and my Aunt sent me my first Christmas down there 1996) – I’ve highlighted the TX one…there will always be a part of TX in me.

Swarovski Annual Ornament – This is a replica of the star on top of the NYC Tree at Rockefeller Center.  I have years 2002, 2004 – 2011…I’ve been back east since 2001…I’d like to get the first 10 year set from when I moved back.  This year’s ornament reminds me of a poinsettia.

Polish Glass Ornaments – I have two from the Outerbanks from 2002 or 2003.  I just love the Snowman.  I also have a beautiful Santa in green and gold.  They are both very sparkly.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my ornaments.

Classic Movie FAVs

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

I’m on vacation this week getting ready for the Christmas (I go back to work on the 27th).  I’m hosting at my house for the third time.  I really enjoy it.  I’m a huge procrastinator…right now I should be organizing and cleaning my house (my tree isn’t even up yet) (and I work better under pressure) instead I’m writing this update.  I thought of this blog as I was eating my lunch and put the tv on and up popped TCM.

When I’m organizing / cleaning, I sometimes put music on but most times select a classic movie from my DVR or DVD collection.  I thought I’d share some of my favs.  Check them out when you get a chance:

Charade (1963):  Watching it as I type this.  It stars Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn (there was a remake with Mark Wahlberg – that didn’t do very well).  The premise of this movie is Audrey Hepburn is an American in Paris and he husband is killed (in his PJs off a train).  Her husband is not who she thinks he is.  He and some Army buddies in WWII stole gold from the German.  Cary Grant is her knight in shining armor – but he isn’t everything he seems to be.  Great music from Henry Mancini.  I first Tivo’ed this from PBS (the quality wasn’t that great).  I re-Tivo’ed it on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) – quality is much better.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961):  Starring Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard.  I own this DVD.  Haven’t watched in quite some time.  Need to pull it out soon and watch Holly Golightly.

The Philadelphia Story (1940):  Stars Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.  Hepburn is a Main Line socialite (and a spitfire, Grant calls Red) and Grant plays her first husband.  He shows up 2 years after their divorce right before her wedding.  He brings with him a reporter (played by Jimmy Stewart) and a photographer from a tabloid.  I just saw it for the first time over the weekend.  I really enjoyed it.  Although didn’t like the first scene when Grant’s character shoved Hepburn’s character down…totally not acceptable now and shouldn’t have been then.  Mark your calendar, it is on TCM on 2/1/12 at 10:15 pm ET.

That Touch of Mink (1962):  Stars Cary Grant and Doris Day.  A rich businessman and a young woman are attracted to each other, but he only wants an affair while she wants to save her virginity for marriage.  It is cute.  I haven’t watched in awhile…just re-Tivo’ed it.

The Thin Man (1934):  I remember watching with my parents…probably on PBS.  I own the entire Thin Man set (there are 6 movies).  The first is of course the best.  Stars William Powell (Nick) and Myrna Loy (Nora).  He is a retired detective and she is a rich socialite.  He tells people all the time he married her for her money.  They are such a believeable couple.  Everywhere they go someone ends up dead.  And Nick to the rescue to solve it.  If you want to catch the series or DVR them, they are on 12/22 on TCM starting at 8:00 pm ET.

I Love You Again (1940):  Stars William Powell and Myrna Loy (not as Nick and Nora).  He ends up getting bonked on the head and comes out of amnesia.  He is a con man.  This is one that never gets old.  It is on TCM at 12/29 at 1:00 am ET.

Libeled Lady (1936):  This one has 4 great stars:  William Powell, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow  and Spencer Tracy.  Powell and Harlow were an item until she passed away of cancer.  Harlow and Tracy are engaged.  He is a newspaper man.  Powell is an old acquaintance of his.  Loy plays a socialite who is suing Tracy’s paper for Libel.  Watch as he pulls Powell in to help get him out of the jam.  It is on TCM on 12/29 at 4:30 am ET.

The Bishop’s Wife (1947):  I mentioned this in my Christmas FAVS post. This stars Cary Grant, Lorretta Young and David Niven.  Niven plays the Biship and Young is his wife.  Grant plays the angel.  It is a wonderful story around the holidays.  It is on TCM on 12/24 at 2:30 am ET.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946):  Stars Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed (both are in a THIN Man movie – different sequels).  I remember watching this as a kid before it became popular.  Could be one of my all time favs.  Remember – “Everytime a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.”  Congrats Clarence.  It is on NBC on 12/24 at 8:00 pm ET.

Miracle of 34th Street (1947):  Stars Maureen O’Hara and little Natalie Wood.  A great movie about Believing!  It is on TCM on 12/24 at 8:00 pm ET.

I have on my list to watch North by Northwest.  It stars Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint.  I’ve seen parts of the movie but never in one sitting.  I just recently Tivo’ed it.  It is on 2/13/12 on TCM at 5:30 pm.

I hope you get an opportunity to watch some of the movies.  Do you have any suggestions of ones I should watch that aren’t on the list?

Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes – Last Installment

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As promised, here is the last installment of my Christmas Cookie recipes.  These last three recipes have been added in the last 10 years.  Of course, there is a little story behind each recipe.

Buttery Shortbread:  This is the easy recipe of all the cookies I make – and the richest.  If I don’t have time to make cookies – I still find time to make these cookies.  I even have a 12 days of Christmas pan I use for them.  If you don’t have a speacial shortbread pan, I’ve used glass  pan pans.  This recipe is from some dear friends who I met during my time in Dallas.  It actually comes from England.  2 Cups of Flour, 1/2 Cup Cornstartch, 1/2 Cup Sugar, 2 sticks (1/2 lb) butter – unsalted (melted).  Preheat the over to 300 degrees.  Sift the flour, cornstarch and sugar into a medium bolw.  Stir in the melted butter (I microwave the butter).  Knead lightly; press into 8 inch round cake or pie pans.  Prick the dough all over with a fork (if using a pie pan I prick the dough so it looks like slices of pie).  Back for 35 minutes, until set but not browned.  Remove from the oven and cut.  Let cool on a wire rack.

Great Big Oatmeal Cookies:  These cookies are courtesy of The Great American Home Cooking Recipe cards.  Yes, those requests to join a recipe club.  I never joined, but I kept the recipe because the cookies had coconut in them.  One year instead of making the Oatmeal Crispies (see my first Christmas cookie recipe post) I decided to make these cookies to see how everyone liked them.  They were a hit; although my Dad still prefers the Oatmeal Crispies.  1 1/2 cup flaked coconut, 3 cups rolled oats, 1 1/4 Cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup unsalted butter (softened), 1 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar, 2 large eggs (room temp), 1 tsp vanilla & 1/4 cup milk.  Spread the coconut and oats over a large baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until toasted, stirring often.  Cool.  Mix the flour, baking soda and salt.  Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl at medium speed for 1 minute.  Add the eggs and vanilla to the butter mixture.  Beat int he milk.  Stir in the flour, then the coconut and the oats.  Drop dough in 1/4 cup amounts, 3 inches aprt onto baking sheets.  Bake for 12 minutes at 350.  Let cool 1 minute; transfer to a rack.

Laurie Womer’s Coffee Bean Cookies:  My Mom found this recipe in The Patriot Newspaper – Harrisburg, PA.  This came from a reader in Lower Paxton Twp.  My Mom knows I enjoy my coffee and thought these would be a hit.  She made these cookies for me one Christmas and gave me the recipe.  The are obviously great with a nice cup of coffee.  1/2 cup butter (unsalted) (softened), 1/2 cup solid shortening (Crisco), 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 2 large eggs (room temp), 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 1/4 cup flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 cup chopped almonds, 1 cup chocolate covered coffee beans, 1 cup Heath Toffee bits.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees  Beat the butter and shortening on medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy.  Gradually add sugars and beat well.  Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.  Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; add to butter mixture, beating well.  Stir in almonds, coffe beens and Heath bits.  Cover and chill dough for several hours or overnight.  Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets.  Bake 10 – 11 minutes or until golden.  Cook on cookie sheets for 1 minute; remove to wire racks and cool completely.  Makes 4 dozen.  Note:  Find chocolate covered coffee beans at local coffee houses or coffee kiosks at some grocery stores.

Happy Baking!  Enjoy!!  Let me know if you try any of the recipes and if they were a hit or not.

Favortie Cookie Recipes – Nostalgic

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Throughout the years, I’ve added recipes to the base cookies.  I started adding to the baseline when I lived in Virginnia and I made cookies for some of my co-workers.  I really got into it when I lived in Dallas.  One year, two of my friends and I made cookies for everyone on each of our team.  It even included decorated, sugar cookies (that was a lucky year for my team – I didn’t make them again).  The following Christmas I was on my own and back to my Black & Decker hand mixer – the following January I purchased my Kitchen Aid…what a difference that made.

I’ve decided to break-up my additional cookie recipes into 2 blogs:  One Nostalgic (this one) and One New Age (more like recent in the last 10 years – and it will give me another blog).

The 3 recipes I’m sharing with you today are Peanut Blossoms, No Bake Cookies, Sugar (not the ones from my Dallas story) and Christmas Crunchies.  Each one has a memory.

Peanut Blossoms:  This is my Mom-Mom’s recipe.  I remember making them as a kid with her (I’m assuming around Christmas time).  At some point, I got the recipe (either from my Mom or my Mom-Mom’s recipe box).  Here it is (this is my  Sister-in-Law’s favorite cookie).  1/2 Cup Butter, 1/2 Cup Peanut Butter, 1/2 Cup Sugar, 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, 1 egg (room temp), 1 tsp vanilla, 1 3/4 Cup Flour, 1 tsp baking soad, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 bag of Hershey Kisses.  Cream butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar.  Add egg; beat and add vanilla.  Add flour, baking soda and salt.  Roll rounded teaspons of dough into balls; then roll in sugar.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven, top each with a solid Hershey Kiss (I’ve even tried other Hershey Kisses) press down firmly so cookie bracks around edge.  Return to oven and bake 2-5 minutes longer.

No Bake Cookies (also called stove top):  I remember making these cookies at a friend’s house as a little girl (Becky Legg’s house – wow her last name just came to me…she only lived near me for about a year of so).  I also think we made these cookies in Home Ec in middle school.  These are my brother’s favorite.  1 1/2 cup sugar, 2 TBSP Cocoa Powder, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup butter, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 3 cups quick cooking oats.  In a large, heavy saucepan mix and bring to boil sugar, cocoa, milk and butter – stirring occassionally.  Boil 1 1/2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter and oats; mix well.  Drop by rounded tsps on wax paper or spread in a greased 9x9x1 inch pan.  Cool a few hours or until firm (I sometimes put outside or in freezer to speed up the process).

Sugar Cookies:  My roommate from college used to make these.  The recipe came from her boyfriend (at the time) grandmother.  If you read my previous post, I had the Tollhouse cookie recipe memorized – she had this one memorized.  She would make these quite a bit…good thing we walked everywhere and had fast metobolisms.  These are not your typical sugar cookies – you don’t roll them out – they have a sort of cake consisentency. The original recipe calls for nutmeg – I made them one time not knowing you don’t add the nutmeg…they so didn’t taste the same. 2 Cups Sugar, 1 Cup Butter, 1 Cup Milk, 3 Eggs (room temp), 3 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp vanilla, 4 Cups Sugar.  Cream sugar, butter and eggs.  Sift dry ingredients.  Add dry ingredients alternating with milk to the creamed mixture.  Baked on ungreased cookie sheet at 375.  You’ll have to check on these cookies as the recipe doesn’t have the time.  🙂  These are great cookies to add sugar sprinkles or other decoration.

Christmas Crunchies:    I’m not sure when I started making these cookies.  I don’t think I’ve made them very oftern either.  However, they have a special place in my heart as I received this recipe as a child in a Christmas card from my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop (price on card was $0.35!).  1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup white (this is what is actually in the card) sugar, 1 egg (well beaten), 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp soda (baking), 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking powder, 1 cup oatmeal, 1 cup corn flakes, 1/2 cup coconut, 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans).  Cream butter, add sugars then egg and vanilla.  Sift dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture.  Last, add corn flakes, oatmeal, coconuts and nuts.  Roll into small balls and place about 2 inches apart on cookied sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 – 15 minutes.

Do you have any favorite cookie recipes?  What are they?  Let me know if you try any of the recipes and what you think of them.  ENJOY!!

Have a wonderful Saturday!!

 

Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipes – The Early Years

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

Since I shared some of my FAVs at Christmas, I thought I would share some a little more about each one, this is the Christmas Cookie Edition.

I’ve been making Christmas cookies ever since I was a kid. I remember making cookies with my Mom every year. We kept it simple – 3 types of cookies: Nestle Toll House Choc Chips, Snowflakes and Oatmeal Crispies.

At some point my Mom went to work part-time (I believe I was in high school), so to help her out, my Dad decided to help me make the cookies. My Mom and I used margarine for all of our cookies. All of the recipes called for butter (all were handwritten recipes we used). My Dad insisted we use the butter (even though I insisted we always used margarine) (which makes me believe maybe I was in middle school when my Dad took over)…none of the cookies tasted right that year. So if you go into my parent’s recipe box you will see butter margarine.  **I switched all cookies back to butter about 10 years ago.**

Here are the recipes of the staples (I’ll add another post with ones I’ve added over the years that have turned into favorites as well):

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip:  2 1/4 cup flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup butter (I use unsalted – softened), 3/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 large eggs (room temp), 2 cups choc chips, 1 cup chopped nuts (optional – i prefer pecans – walnuts will work too).  Preheat oven at 375 degrees.  Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl.  Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy.  Add eggs one at a time.  Gradually add flour mixture.  Bake 9 to 11 minutes.  *I usually pull out of the oven at the lower time as they still bake on the pan when you take them out of the oven*

Snowflakes:  These are also known as cream cheese spritz cookies.  1 cup butter (unsalted – softened), 1-3 oz cream cheese (I always use Philadelphia brand), 1 cup sugar, 1 egg yolk (room temp), 1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp finely grated orange rind, 2 1/2 cup sifted flour. 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp vanilla, green & red food coloring.  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Sift flour with salt and cinnamon.  Cream butter and cream cheese well.  Add sugar gradually and continue creaming.  Beat in egg yolk, vanilla and orange rind.  Add to flour mix to creamed mixture.  You can either split the dough in half to add the food coloring to have red and green cookies.  Add food coloring and mix in.  Don’t over mix.  If you are going to using a cookie press- I suggest putting the dough in the refrigerator to assist with it going through the press.  We used to make green trees and red bells (usually 2 batches).  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 – 15 minutes (watch initially if small they could burn on the edges).  You can add additional  decoration to the cookies once they come out of the oven – colored sugar, cinnamon or chopped almonds (or before you bake).  Yields 6 – 7 dozen.

Oatmeal Crispies:  1 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp soda, 3 cups oats (quick cooking), 1/2 cup chopped nuts (almonds work well – optional), 1 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 2 eggs (room temp) and 1 tsp vanilla (or mix it up and use 1 tsp almond extract instead of vanilla).  Sift and measure flour, re-sift with salt and baking soda.  Stir in oats and nuts.  Cream butter with sugar and eggs until very light and fluffy.  Add creamed mixture to dry ingredients.  Blend thoroughly & form into 2 logs (you can put in your cookie press and push through to create a log).  Wrap log in either wax paper or plastic wrap.  Place dough in refrigerator either overnight or a few hours.  Cut in thin slices with sharp knife.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Yields 6 dozen.  **I love this dough raw vs. baked – note there are raw eggs and it is recommended not to eat raw eggs** (that is my disclaimer).  The cooked ones are very tasty with a big glass of milk.

Enjoy.  What are your favorite recipes?

PS:  I have some pictures over the years I’ll post, just have to find them.

 

Some of my FAVS – Christmas Edition

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As the song goes…’the most wonderful time of the year’.  Thought I’d jot down some many of my favorite things / traditions.

  • Christmas Lights – we didn’t have outdoor lights at our house growing up.  I picked it up when I move to Dallas.  I guess because it is so warm down there everyone puts lights up and there are some amazing decorations.  Each year in NJ I see more and more lights…I just love driving around and seeing what everyone has done.
  • Christmas Movies / Shows):  A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street (the original), Bishop’s Wife, Christmas Vacation, Thin Man (starts off during Christmas), All Creature’s Great and Small (Chrismas Show), The Year withouth a Santa Claus, Rudolph and of course the Grinch.  I’m sure there are many more…I watch a lot of them in December.
  • Toys for Tots:  I love going shopping and buying gifts for kids in need.  A great way to give back.  Click on this link for more details:  http://www.toysfortots.org/
  • Baking Christmas Cookies:  I love doing this but haven’t done it the last couple of years as I like to make a lot to give to friends and family.  Here are the list of family favorites:  Choc Chip, Snowflakes (cream cheese press cookies), Oatmeal (the dough is better than the cookie), English Shortbread, No Bake Cookies, Hershey Kiss, Coffee Bean.
  • A blazing fire and my Christmas Tree
  • Midnight Mass – I haven’t been to a midnight mass in quite a few years as I’ve been going Christmas morning.  I may get to go to Midnight this year…I just always enjoyed it at home.  Maybe I’ll even make myself a grasshopper after mass (a tradition from my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop).
  • Decorating the Tree.  I love looking at the ornaments and remembering where I got them or who gave them to me…each one has a memory.  Many of the ornaments on my tree were hand made by my Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop (I split their ornaments between my brother and I with my Mom-Mom supervising making sure it was a fair split 🙂 ).
  • Christmas Dinner at my house.  This will be the third year at my house.  It is very low key – just the 7 of us.
  • Hanging out with my niece and nephew while their parents go out shopping.
  • Christmas Candles – just love lots of the wonderful scents.
  • Finding that perfect gift (I dislike wrapping)
  • Buying my brother and I the Swarvoski Annual Christmas Ornament – it has become a tradition (I try to find a fun way to wrap it each year).  Check out this year’s ornament: http://tiny.cc/mi6ql (I purchased mine from Amazon and in the past e-Bay).
  • NYC at Christmas time…just love seeing all the sights and people watching
  • Christmas Carols – and yes as a kid I went caroling – even as an adult when I lived in Texas.

What are your favorite Christmas / Holiday traditions?

December 2011 Accountability Log

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Time sure flies nowadays.  I can’t believe it is December 6th already.  I don’t know about you but I have lots to do this month and just don’t seem to know when the heck I’m going to get it all done.  The good news is I do take off the week before Christmas off so that is my saving grace.  This will be the 3rd year I’m hosting Christmas at my house.  I love having my family here but I’m a procratinator so it should be an interesting month (the first year I hosted, I was still putting the finishing touches on my tree Christmas morning).

So in the end I know I will get everything done, but the one thing that seems to suffer is the making time for myself to ensure I exercise and make good food choices.  This year is going to be different.  I’ve established 3 goals for myself (December 5th – January 13th):  Keep a food journal, drink 105 ozs of water a day and complete my Daily10 Challenge (click here for more details:  http://bodyprojectfitness.com/daily10-challenge/ ).  What are you doing this year to keep your focus during this busy time of the year?

Accountability Log:

12/7:  Food Journal – check, 105 ozs water – check, Daily 10 Challenge (modified for my knee) – check

12/6:  Food Journal – check, 105 ozs water – check, Daily 10 Challenge – check

12/5:  Food Journal – check, 105 ozs water – check, Daily 10 Challenge – check (it included a total of 80 push-ups)

 

Toys for Tots & Silent Auction

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

Looking for something fun to do this Thursday, December 1st and an opportunity to give back to the community and get a little shopping in while you are at it?  Join the Central NJ Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association for our 4th Annual Toys for Tots Event and Silent Auction at PURE Princeton (formerly BT Bistro) (Route 1 South, Princeton, NJ) from 6:30 – 9:00 pm.

Bring an unwrapped toy or two to make the holiday a little brighter for a child in our area.  If you don’t have a chance to pick-up a gift, drop by the event and we will have a donation can (the chapter will purchase additional gifts).

As an added bonus this year, we are holding a silent auction to benefit our Central NJ Chapter Scholarship fund.  All procceeds of the Silent Auction stay locally and assist an incoming freshman during the fall semester.  Last year we provided a $1,500 scholarship to help defer costs.  Pictures are posted with the Silent Auction items.  We have a week’s vacation in Williamsburg, VA, Golf Foursome at NJ National in 2012, Body Project Fitness Bootcamp, 2 Private Sessions of Yoga, Manicure / Pedicure, Gift Baskets, PSU and PSU Alumni Association items.  Check the following album on Facebook for more details:  http://tiny.cc/kb6cf

Hope to see you on Thursday!

 

 

Tears of Joy…

Posted on by keepingupwithkate91

As you know from reading my blog that I started a 6 week Fall Transformation…my true transformation has been evolving long before this Fall program (I promise to explain the tears).

To give you a little background…I’ve been making changes in my life over the past few years.  It all started when I was looking through one of the local CNJ weekly newspapers…I spied an advertisement for Body Project Fitness.  I’m not sure what exactly it was that triggered me to try it…maybe the free week or maybe it was just different from a gym.  I know I was back and forth with BodyProject a couple times before it really stuck for me.  I tried the holiday program and they did a special for kettlebell training (if you’ve never tried it…AWESOME…great cardio/strength workout)!  I have probably been a HardBody (what we call ourselves who go to bootcamp every month – not the special programs).

What is Body Project Fitness and how did it change my life?  It isn’t just a work-out, it is a fitness program.  Yes, I work-out 3 days a week at 6 am (and yes there are days when I pop right out of bed at 5:10 am, times when it is really tough to get up and others when I let negative self-talk get the better of me and go back to sleep (doesn’t happen as often as it used to) for 45 minutes with a mixture of cardio and strength training – lots of times circuits.  A different workout every day.  It sounds like many other programs right?  No, it isn’t because the FitPros at Body Project are there for you for the full body workout – including the mind (food journals-including reviewing, our own FB for BodyProject, available for 1:1 consultations – including goal setting, etc)

How have things changes (credit to BodyProject and helping re-think a few things)?

  1. Check out my freezer…not one WW or Lean Cuisine meal.  here are frozen veggies, fruit, chicken, filets and salmon.  Ok..there is some ice cream – but it isn’t light…full blown…I know what is in it – cream, sugar, pecans.  3 years ago my freezer was filled with whatever was on sale for WW or Lean Cuisine (and prior to that JC meals)
  2. Sweetner:  I used to use 2 (yes 2) Sweet n Low packets in my coffee, then I moved to 1 packet and now I’m using 1/2 of SweetLeaf (stevia).  And if I forget my Stevia and I’m out I use sugar…would rather put the real mccoy in vs. a chemical.
  3. Reading Food Labels:  I’ve been on 2 Grocery Store Tours as part of the Body Project program.  I’ve been a label reader for a long time..this has made me look at the labels differently.  I look at the sugars, fiber and actual contents…I still look at the calorie and fat content but I weigh them differently than before.
  4. I eat more whole foods and try to stay away from things with a long shelf life (ie. bread)…oh I still eat bread – either Eizekel Sprout bread (from the freezer) or fresh made delivered from the bakery rye bread.
  5. I have ‘new’ go to items:  hummus, avocados, guacomole, cannellini beans, black beans, ricotta cheese, nuts (almonds and pecans), honey (for the ricotta cheese), greek yogurt, homemade granola, string cheese, apples, dark chocolate.
  6. I’m taking a yogalates class on Thursday nights through December in addition to Bootcamp
  7. I really try not to ignore the scale in my bathroom
  8. And I’m not on a DIET – and I correct anyone around me who asks how my diet is going! 🙂
  9. And I’m sure there are more I just can’t remember

So back to the Tears of Joy…as part of our program our measurements and body fat are measured.  When I first stared we held a machine in our hands.  Now we use BodyMetrix.  What is BodyMetrix?  They still take our measurements, but the add in is an ultrasound of the back of our triceps, waist and hips to measure the layer of body fat / muscle.  Since April 2010, my bodyfat has DROPPED 7% and I’ve moved into an ACCEPTABLE range for BodyFat!!!  I knew my numbers a week ago, but I didn’t get my report (to show the ranges) until the other night…I cried TEARS of JOY!  It clearly shows the progress I’ve made and what I can do when I put my mind to it.  I’m very pleased!  And I’m ready for the next 6 weeks!

PS:  A special SHOUT OUT to Lindsay Vastola and the BodyProject FitPros…THANK YOU!!