Do As I Say Not As I Do

 

Last week, I did a post about moderation during the holidays. I shared wonderful tips including keeping up with your regular workouts, drinking lots of water, and shared tips from other readers and Twitter friends.

Then, I enjoyed an amazing weekend and forgot about that whole moderation thing. In fact, by the end of our 2nd Annual Diamond Holiday Party everything  looked kind of hazy and blurry.

049 I had a wonderful time with our amazing friends on Saturday night and even acted as bartender for the first time! I have now learned that a bartender is supposed to serve, not serve themselves! As I look back on the evening I remember toasting one too many times during the night. You know what, it’s okay, I had a great time!

Our food spread, ranging from spicy crab dip to stuffed peppadew peppers, was also easy to enjoy too much!

034 035 These meatballs, a recipe found in the new Meatball Shop cookbook, was the clear winner! Much to our delight however, there was no one dish that wasn’t enjoyed. Last year we had a few dishes that were only a quarter to half eaten. This year, the only thing left was some ham, rolls, and a few cupcakes!

The pictures from the night truly highlight our friends’ amazing taste in tacky holiday attire and the festive mood! Here’s a glimpse into the evening:

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045 047 048 051043 057 It was such a fun evening but I definitely did not move off the couch yesterday. I slept until 1pm when I finally crawled out of bed for a glass of water and the couch. Bo and I spent the rest of the afternoon napping, reading, watching TV, and cleaning the apartment. I fell asleep on the couch around 8:30, finally moving into the bedroom at 10pm. This morning I quickly turned off my alarm at 5:30, knowing that my body needed more sleep.

This isn’t exactly the best way to stick with my moderation plan or keep off the holiday weight. Hopefully, you all have done as I said and not as I did this weekend. But, if you enjoyed one too many holiday drinks this weekend, I can now provide a few tips for getting back on track after one day, which is far easier than after a week of treats and imbibing.

  1. Start your day with warm lemon water, a delicious and warm beverage that will help flush unwanted toxins and aid digestion.
  2. Eat a healthy breakfast rich in fiber and nutrients but calorie rich enough to not leave you starving.
  3. Pack plenty of healthy snacks to enjoy throughout the day in case you get hungry or have a craving. This will keep you from giving into the cookie jar or the holiday dessert plate.
  4. Take your vitamins!
  5. Try writing down your food for a few days. During the craziest time of the year, this can help you stay on track by helping you realize what you’re eating.

004 002 003Also, if you’re going to host your second party in 48 hours, make sure that you provide at least a few healthy options for your guests to enjoy to balance out the baked goods and wine.

006 007 I hope you all are having a wonderful week, filled with holiday cheer and moderation!

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Another Year Sexier

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Last night I spent hours smiling, laughing, sipping, and eating with some amazing friends! I initially thought that hosting a holiday party next weekend and the Miami work travel would make things too hectic for a birthday party but I’m thankful that Bo convinced me otherwise!

We me the group at the Hurricane Club at 9pm for a dinner of tropical shared plates and fun rum punch drinks!

008The first to arrive, we had just enough time to grab a fun drink at the bar. Bo started with a Manhattan and I went with my standby, vodka soda with a splash of cranberry. The fun and slightly kitschy decor immediately put us in a party mood!

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010  012For anyone who has yet to enjoy drinks or a meal at the Hurricane Club, the atmosphere is not the only amazing part. The owners really have mastered all three aspects of a restaurant experience: atmosphere, food, and drinks.

These pictures, while devoid of people, give you an idea of the decor and interior. The restaurant was packed last night, but at 5:30 this evening when I showed up to pick up my camera which had been left behind, it was completely empty.

022 023 Upon being seated, our party was ready to dive into the food and drinks!

We started with two Brazilian punch bowls and the Pupu appetizer platter.

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014 The highlights of the platter were the tuna tartare cones, coconut shrimp, and the PB& Guava Jwith prosciutto and Thai basil.

After enjoying some sweet drinks and appetizers, we ordered a number of main dishes to share:

  • Honey-glazed baby back ribs
  • Bangkok chicken stir-fry
  • Filet mignon w/shiitake mushrooms
  • spice-crusted shrimp with coconut cream
  • scallops a la planch
  • Shanghai lobster noodles
  • steamed baby bok choy

020 017 021 The food was even more amazing than I remembered, especially the lobster noodles and the scallops!

No birthday celebration is complete without dessert, so our table shared two different desserts, the chocolate kill devil’s food cake and a peanut butter sandwich. The devil’s food cake was like an uptown, grown up version of a Little Debbie Swiss Roll.

022 After dinner the majority of the group ended up at Cibar where we enjoyed our version of bottle service, compliments of our fine gentleman escorts!

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019002Needless to say, after a fun evening with lots of bubbly, I’ve spent the day in bed, on the couch, and in the kitchen baking. I didn’t shower until 5pm and have only left the apartment once all day. The lazy recovery day felt wonderful, complete with homemade pancakes, miniature red velvet cupcakes, and healthy Chinese dinner to complete the day!

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Have a wonderful Sunday evening and here’s to hoping the painters will be finished tomorrow and that our life can return to normal.

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Odd Fears

This morning I woke up excited for a run outside. During marathon training this year I started to embrace outdoor running due to the many benefits I found versus running on the treadmill. I find that running outside pushes my muscles more and helps me properly prepare for a race which will always be outside. It’s more like a scrimmage and less like a drill!

However, I also have a few odd fears that limit me every now and then. One of those fears is slipping on wet leaves. A few years ago, my first Fall in Philadelphia, I slipped on wet leaves while crossing my parking lot. Since then I have developed a bit of wet leaf phobia, similar to the feeling most people have when the sidewalks and streets are icy.

002Due to the leaves cluttering the NYC streets and sidewalks this morning after last night’s rain, I headed to Equinox this morning for an easy treadmill session. I’m still not 100% ready to jump back into speed sessions and training. My muscles are still a bit tight and sore in random areas and Tuesday’s personal training session left my entire body screaming, even 24 hours later.

001 I spent 20 minutes stretching and foam rolling after doing 3.5 miles on the treadmill. Overall, I was pleased with my pace.

Mile 1: 6.0 mph

Mile 2: 6.3 mph

Mile 3 6.4 mph

Mile 3-3.5 6.5 mph

The rest of the day was pretty status quo: meetings and more meetings. I enjoyed a few snacks between meetings including my new favorite oatmeal combination, a huge salad, and yogurt!

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IMG_0001 IMG_1395I was hoping to try out Equinox’s new class, 3Sum, with one of my friends tonight but by the time I left the office it was too late and I didn’t feel like joining the class late. My body, muscles, and mine were screaming for some relaxation time on the couch with Bo and a nice glass of wine. What can I say? Sometimes you just have to give in and enjoy!

Never fear spin shoes, you’ll find a place in my life sooner than later.

IMG_1368 Until then, enjoy laughing at tonight’s dinner. This huge spread was titled the kebab mixed platter! Who knew?! Needless to say I think we’ll have some leftovers for the rest of the week!

001 Question: What random fear do you have?

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