You think you're tough??

Give the modified Kellan Lutz workout a try! Do one set of each exercise and repeat for a total of 3 sets.  Modify the weights according to your body type and strength needs. 

Weighted Crunches	V-Ups
15 lb dumbbell	2 lb exercise ball
20 reps	20 reps
3 sets	3 sets

(Left) Weighted Crunches   (Right) V-Ups

Burpees	Pushups
13 reps	Set 1: 12 reps
3 sets	Set 2: 13 reps
	Set 3: 14 reps

(Left) Burpees   (Right) Classic pushups

Dumbbell Bench Press	Bodyweight Iron Chair
15 lb dumbbells	Set 1: 20 secs
Set 1: 13 reps	Set 2: 25 secs
Set 2: 14 reps	Set 3: 30 secs
Set 3: 15 reps

(Left) Dumbbell Bench Press  (Right) Bodyweight Iron Chair

Plyometric Pushups	Dumbbell Lunges
Set 1: 10 reps	15 lb dumbbells
Set 2: 11 reps	Set 1: 15 reps
Set 3: 12 reps	Set 2: 16 reps
	Set 3: 16 reps

(Left) Plyometric pushup    (Right)   Dumbbell Lunges

Dumbbell Iron Cross	Kneeling Kickbacks
10 lb dumbbells	Set 1: 15 reps
Set 1: 7 reps	Set 2: 16 reps
Set 2: 8 reps	Set 3: 17 reps
Set 3: 9 reps

(Left) Dumbbell Iron Cross    (Right) Kneeling Kickbacks

Side Planks

20 secs

3 sets

Now do it again two more times for a total of 3 sets!! Yeah, don't worry - I felt like my arms were going to give out when I was doing the plyometric pushups and the dumbbell iron cross.

"You think you're tough!!!"

Jimmy Choo: You make me feel like dancing...

This fringed sandal makes me want to break out into song and start dancing whenever I see it.  The Jimmy Choo Fedora Mixed-Media Sandal looks like it is meant to be worn dancing - or to any place where that cute little fringe can be shaken up a bit.  Paired with a similarly fringed black dress, silver short shorts or even a modest burgundy bridesmaid dress, the Fedora sandal gives an air of playfulness (and sexiness!) to any outfit.

1.  Jimmy Choo Fedora Fringe Mixed-Media Sandal, Claret, $1050
2.  Roberto Cavalli Sequinned Cocktail Dress, $3761.51
3.  ML Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids, Ruched Strapless Cationic Chiffon Dress, $188.00
4.  Stella McCartney Compact Jersey Sleeveless Top, $460
5.  All Saints Restrain Hot Pants, $181.00

To quote Leo Sayer:

"You make me feel like dancing 

I'm gonna dance the night lcuway 

You make feel like dancing 

I feel like dancing, dancing, dance the night away"  

It's six foot, seven foot, eight foot BUNCH!

"Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana!" If the tally man counted how many bananas I had in my apartment and paid me for them, I'd be rich. Well, not really. But I sure had a lot of bananas sitting on the counter and in the freezer and I was getting a bit sick of basic banana bread and muffins. And I'm sure this is shocking, but the banana bread and muffins I had been baking were not exactly monuments to healthy eating.

Determined to find a healthier way to use up the bananas (besides just eating them), I searched on my favorite healthy recipe website (www.eatingwell.com) and discovered an intriguing recipe for Banana-Blueberry Buttermilk Bread. Hmm, easy to make, 278 calories per serving and uses bananas? Ok, I'll give it a try. I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out AMAZING - with a perfectly browned crust, slightly moist inside and a nice light nutmeg aftertaste. Check out the picture of my banana blueberry bread below - I've never had a loaf of banana bread turn out so perfectly on the first attempt.  Want to give it a try? Here's the recipe on the Eating Well website.

Banana-Blueberry Buttermilk Bread

Alas, I still had more bananas left.  And now I had blueberries as well.  And then I started thinking - I like oatmeal, I like bananas on oatmeal, I like blueberries on oatmeal - what if I made a kind of oatmeal-banana-blueberry snack bar? Yum.

Blue Banana Bars

Dry ingredients:
2 c. oats (not the quick cook kind)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. wheat flour

Wet ingredients:
1/2 c. mashed ripe bananas (~ 1-1 1/2 bananas)
6 tbs. milk
1/4 c. coconut oil
1 tsp. vanilla
3 tbs. creamy peanut butter

Extras:
1/4 c. walnuts
1/4 - 1/2 c. blueberries
1/2 c. coconut

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease an 8x8 or 9x9 glass pan. Combine the wet ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. Combine the dry ingredients in a smaller bowl and add to the wet ingredients. Gently fold in the coconut, walnuts and blueberries. Pour into the pan and spread evenly.  Cook for 25 minutes until the top is relatively firm, golden brown and the blueberries are bubbling (the first time you make these, you should keep an eye on them starting around 20 minutes - I burnt mine the first time because I cooked them at a higher oven temperature!). Let cool for about an hour on a wire rack and then cut into bars.  Enjoy as a mid-day snack!

Blue Banana Bars

"A beautiful bunch a' ripe banana

Daylight come and me wan' go home

Hide the deadly black tarantula

Daylight come and me wan' go home"

Are you Spartacus?

Given the intense looks of fury and bulging muscles on all the faces in the above image, my answer should obviously be a resounding "No!"  That, however, did not stop me from attempting the Men's/Women's Health Spartacus Workout several weeks ago.  I stumbled across the Spartacus Workout on a fitness app when I was searching for a way to spice up my stale strength training routines and decided that (a) I was already in decent shape so this workout couldn't possibly be too challenging and (b) Eh, what's in a name? Spartacus shmartacus - I mean, he died, right?

Right. That should have been a hint. At the end of my first set (a circuit of 10 exercises), I was pouring down sweat and wondering how on earth I was going to get through two more sets. The Spartacus Workout is an intense strength/cardio circuit that works a variety of different muscle groups, while continuously working your core. I was painfully sore for 3 days. Bring on the humility!! I am NOT Spartacus - not yet...

The Spartacus Workout inspired me to shake up my workouts. I incorporated it into my training regime with several other strength routines that mimic the Spartacus Workout (but target different muscle groups) as well as boxing, kickboxing and running.

Think you're tough? I challenge you to give it a try (view the workout)! As Batiatus (Spartacus, 1960) said "Good luck, and may fortune smile upon…most of you."

Falling for Dillard's designs: Gianni Bini

In a couple of days, I am flying off to Little Rock to visit my mom and to (hopefully) go shopping with her. In preparation for this, I decided to google department stores in the Little Rock area to determine the best spots to hit up for dresses. As a Chicagoan, I am massively spoiled when it comes to the number of department stores in a 5 mile radius of my apartment (Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, etc). Umm, no Macy's in Little Rock? No Nordstrom? Where do people shop?? Dillard's. With a bit of disdain, I perused the Dillard's website...and fell in love with Gianni Bini designs.

In August 2001, Vince Camuto (co-founder of Nine West) launched several footwear brands for Dillard's, including Gianni Bini.  Gianni Bini has now expanded to include a clothing line and handbags. Overall, Gianni Bini dresses have received high points for style and versatility and the shoes are considered to be edgy, yet remarkably comfortable. Not to mention the fun colors in the new Spring and Summer collections! 

I almost couldn't stop myself from purchasing the following dresses and shoes online, but managed a little bit of self-restraint with the thought that I could try them on in just a couple of days. And yes, in case you're wondering, the shoes are placed strategically below the dresses to match!

(From left to right) Gianni Bini Bogan Dress - $119, Gianni Bini Della Strapless Dress - $139, Gianni Bini Cabrina Sheer-Overlay Maxi Dress - $109, Gianni Bini Greta Dress - $77.40

(From left to right) Gianni Bini Torrie Patent Flats - $59.99, Gianni Bini Twinkle Jeweled T-Strap Pumps - $89.99, Gianni Bini Traci T-Strap Sandals - $79.99, Gianni Bini Lizzie Wedges - $59.99

"Wokking" it out

Oh dearest wok, how I love thee!! You make everything so tasty! I am constantly astonished by how easy it is to cook with a wok and how delicious wok recipes turn out. 

Upon opening my co-op box this week, I saw almost the same vegetables as last week.  You know - the ones that typically go in a salad (lettuce, tomatoes, a little bit of broccoli, etc)...and I mutinied. No more salads! I have been eating salad for multiple weeks and it's highly possible that I am slowly transforming into a rabbit.  This is going to call for creativity with regards to using the lettuce, but more on that in another post. 

However, unlike previous weeks, I did get a boat-load of gorgeous spinach. I decided that a stir-fry with spinach and tomatoes sounded yummy, so I searched around online for recipes that used both of the ingredients. While I didn't find a recipe that appealed to me, I did find a blog posting on stir-fried eggs and tomato and garlic spinach that inspired me to attempt a fried rice recipe using my (marvelous) wok.

Beef fried rice with eggs, spinach, tomatoes, and broccoli

1 lb flank steak, sliced into strips for stir-frying
3 c. cooked jasmine rice
4-5 eggs, whisked
2 tomatoes, diced
1 head of broccoli
3-4 large bunches of spinach (you can use a lot - it really cooks down)
1 small onion, chopped
2 tsp minced garlic
3 green onions
~1/4 c. soy sauce
2 tbsp Thai garlic-chili sauce
2 tbsp sesame seed oil

I prefer to chop all the vegetables (and slice the beef) prior to cooking anything in the wok since the wok cooks everything so quickly.

Left to right: Whisked eggs, diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, cooked rice, spinach, chopped broccoli

In a small skillet, scramble the eggs and set to the side.  Heat 1 tbsp sesame seed oil in the wok and add the garlic and onion. Cook for 30-60 seconds, then add the beef. Cook until all sides of the beef are browned and then transfer to a plate. Wipe the wok clean.

Heat the remaining tablespoon of sesame seed oil in the wok and add the broccoli and spinach. Saute until the spinach starts to wilt and add the tomatoes. Cook until the spinach has completely wilted and add the scrambled eggs. Saute for 30 seconds. Add in the cooked jasmine rice and stir to combine. Add in the soy sauce and the Thai garlic-chili sauce and stir, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the rice is completely heated through. Finally, add the beef back in, mixing thoroughly. Cook for 2-3 minutes and serve. 

Voila! Easy, tasty and served with a side of fruit salad. What a wonderful, wonderful wok.