The Day After Christmas...

was just as event-filled, gift-filled, family-filled day as the past two!

My mom and I ran out to grab some things (which I can't exactly reveal since my siblings read - I don't want to spoil gifts). We left early in the morning- My grab and go breakfast was a slice of my pumpkin carrot bread ( sooo delicious) with natural peanut butter, half a banana, a cottage cheese single and a piece of cranberry meringue. (unpictured black coffee)

Off to shop

which was SO much fun! We got back much later than expected and were hungry for lunch as soon as we got in...


Lunch: Egg whites with leftover stuffing, green beans, and a little provolone...

After lunch, Jeff and I went to the dealerships in town to test drive a couple trucks he is considering. After test-driving, we met up with my mom at her gym. My brother got in around dinner time, then it was more present exchanging!

Body:
Circuit Training with Jeff... Strength: shoulders ( sooo tough, press and extensions combo) (with jumping jacks), chest (dumbell press) ( with roman chair lifts), biceps ( curls) ( with side to side bends), leg presses. Cardio: Treadmill and Elliptical 20 minutes.

Mind:
oh my the shopping deals, the truck test driving and number crunching, I typed up my christmas day post and I had to help bake a cake for my dad's birthday.

Soul:
I love getting to see my family, and working out with jeff is so fun when do the circuits when we lift one muscle group, the other person does a cardio type thing (i.e jumping jacks). I think we help each other stay strong and finish out.

I helped pick out part of my sister's present and both of my brother's girlfriends' presents- If you ladies read, I hope you like them as much as I did!!

Dinner:
Lasagna- mmm one of my most favorite things my mom makes
Salad ( Jeff made it out of bell peppers, tomato, and mixed greens - all organic)- IT was GREAT!

My plate:

with a glass of red wine, a piece of garlic bread and "Momma Mouse" . My mom made this from scratch, how many christmass's ago, about 15 ? Isn't she darling!?

shhh its a secret

My feet are EXHAUSTED!! I had such a great time shopping with my mom- we shopped ALL over the mall including Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Coach (!!!!!),then grabbed a snack: we split a pretzel and a lemonade. In that bag is a present for Momma Mo (Jeff's Mom) but I had a big heavy bag with a present for me in it.. NO PEEKING! You can't see it until Christmas! ...

Then it was off to Kohl's, Target, Linens n Things, Marshalls, REI, Toys R Us, and finally...to Panera Bread for dinner!

Phew..1/2 Low Fat Chicken Noodle Soup and 1/2 Fuji Chicken Salad and a baguette roll. Asbsolute favorite you pick two combo. I had such a fantastic time and can't wait to head to my parent's christmas day! I helped my mom with what to get Jeff for christmas- he reads this so i can't write it on here- but I wanted to get him it and I know he will use it and I think he will really like it! *I might use it a little too!*

Before my mom got here I ran to the grocery store and grabbed some stuff for the next few days we are in town. I made myself a quick wrap for lunch: whole wheat wrap, goat cheese, purple cabbage, organic spring mix, shredded chicken (marinated in an "eastern carolina BBQ" sauce I make from scratch.

I had cooked extra chicken but didn't use it in the chicken salad recipe a few days ago. It was perfect because it sat in the Eastern Carolina BBQ sauce for a few days and got all nice and juicy. YUM! Its a vinegar based sauce with hot sauce etc. Its my own secret recipe...



My mom is on her way home now, she got tons of shopping done and I'm so happy we got to come back and have panera for dinner with Jeff ( we brought back some for him and for my dad too!). I am ready to start my weekend with my Jeff.

Body:
lots and lots and lots and LOTS of walking, carrying packages, searching through stuff... fun... but tiring

Mind:
lots and lots and lots and LOTS of thinking and direction giving and catching up with my mom and deal finding

Soul:
lots and lots and lots and LOTS of fabulous fun times with my mom. I talked to my dad too and he is feeling better!

Weekend- Friday

Yah! I got approved for the foodie blogroll/foodbuzz.... But I deleted the emailed to quickly, so now I have to figure out how to set it up!

This weekend has been AWESOME and INCREDIBLY FUN!

Friday:

Shopping with Mom! We actually had such a fun time shopping we couldnt bare to stop and eat- we grabbed a soft pretzel and Fuze EMPOWER! I have been waiting for these to arrive and really liked them! Pomegranate Acai Berry

It was pouring down rain the whole day but that did not deter us! I bought new bedding finally! I have been searching for exactly what I found for a while and it could not have been a more perfect find, on sale! I also found guest room towels on clearance and a dust ruffle for the guest room bed. My mom bought me new placemats and some new bowls ( I have been wanting to make blog pictures more interesting!) and workout top AND I found a great shirt and dress!

We spent so much time shopping that when I got home, I wanted to wash everything and get it ready for guests!

Dinner: Leftover pizza with lots of veggies ( I actually ended up putting the veggies on the pizza then making a veggie pizza sandwich out of it! I wanted to take a picture but my hands were all dirty at that point!)

Sunday Funday Pick My Dress ?!

Andrea and Brit and I were up until 4 am talking! I was tired but wired because we just kept having things to talk about! We all slept over and watched a movie in the morning when we finally woke up! I left my car at our hangout place ( its about 1/2 mile from Andrea and Nates house)- So Andrea, Brit and I got up and walked to get the cars and then I headed out to the mall for some shopping ( I wanted to get a cute shirt for the rehearsal dinner and maybe a new dress for the wedding).

I grabbed this and a banana for Shopping Fuel!

( let me preface this with I know how silly and "Superficial" or "trivial" it seems to be concerned with what I wear. I like to look my best and I do find it fun and it will help me pack for the weekend)

Here is outfit #1 - I think I will wear this during the day fri or sat but still need something warmer for rehearsal at night and I got the whole outfit including earrings and bracelet for $9 !!

On to the dress for the event, I have one that is phenomenal but the zipper is ivory and where the dress is black, you can see the ivory zipper. I don't know if people would think its just too small and I look stuffed into it *


Then there is dress #2, the one I wore to Jeff's brothers wedding and his cousins wedding... Jack came in to say hi when I was taking pictures! See him at the bottom

Both of the dresses are from White House Black Market, both I got on sale plus coupons , and I have well gotten use out of both of them. I looked for a new one but didnt seem to like anything I loved. As much as I want to not spend money. I have seen picture and after picture of me in same dress and jeff in the same suit over and over ... maybe I should wear one of these, and could get some great shoes, and a new shirt for jeff?

I can't decide between the two dresses though.
Which one do you like best?