HIIT It HARD!!!

So just in case you are unaware by now, I am originally from Pittsburgh PA. Why am I telling you this? Well being that I am a teacher I officially only have 3 days (including today) with my munchkins left. Thursday is the last day of school!!! I can't lie, I am super stoked!

On Thursday after the bell rings I am turning in my keys, getting in my car and DRIVING to PITTSBURGH! Some of you may think I am crazy but I am super stoked right now... will I be supper stoked Friday at 1am...hmmm ask me then :o)

Bri and I :o)

Missing my oldest sister and Brother :o(

These pictures are from the last time almost all the siblings were back in Pittsburgh at the same time. I can not wait to see them all on Friday and go PARTY haha. we are headed home for a surprise 80th birthday party for my grandma... I am ready to be back in PA and to see all my cousins and their babies... I love my family and Pittsburgh lol :o)

This is one of the reasons I decided to have this challenge... all the exercises I have posted do not require any equipment and can be done in a hotel that lacks an acceptable gym :o)

Today is day 25! Only 5 more days left! So put in some work and push yourself a little more than you are used to. I promise you will love me eventually haha.

If you missed any of the challenges check them out here. Day 1  Day 2  Day 3  Day 4  Day 5  Day 6  Day 7   Day 8  Day 9  Day 10  Day 11   Day 12  Day 13  Day 14  Day 15  Day 16  Day 17  Day 18  Day 19  Day 20  Day 21  Day 22  Day 23  Day 24

Now that you have caught yourself up :o) Here is today's HIIT workout for you...
 

 

 Your challenge: get through both sets. Only take 10-20 sec break in between set one and set two.

Ciao and road trip countdown

Alexis 













Plank Jack

Navy base + tabata + beach= Happy Alexis

 I have arrived... Time to check in... A lot harder than it sounds :o)

As you know Brian has been away on Navy Business for a few weeks. Last week he was off and I was beyond happy to go visit him. We agreed that as soon as I arrived we would get in a good workout and then relax.... Fitness doesn't take a back seat in this relationship haha

I drove in to see  rows upon rows of destroyers, frigates and submarines

After I took in the breath taking view it was time to hit the sand.

   

 Just as promised I got on base and the workout began. Brian was stationed on Mayport which is where all the ships come into port so we were right on the beach. Made for a great run and workout plan in my head. We set off for a jog on the beach with random stops to do some "Tabata" exercises.

Insert Fitness explanation here: Tabata is a circuit workout that lasts for 4min intervals with 20sec on and 10sec rest. You can use this fitness idea for any exercise you want. I like to use it on days I need to get in quick workouts but still feel like I did something. Plus it makes more accountable and more aware of my rest times.

We ran all the way down the beach twds. the watchman tower to some stairs and hit up another tabata exercise

Workout done! Now off to enjoy the sites.

We drove around for a while before we settled on sushi... we are so fickle when it comes to eating out, neither of us can decide EVER! It wasn't until we sat down that we realized last dinner out had also been sushi... Oh well couldn't get up and walk out.

We headed back to base with a "fancy" bottle of wine  :o) I poured it into our amazingly expensive plastic cups and enjoyed listening to Brian play the guitar and relax the rest of our ONE evening together.

Ciao and Navy Love

Alexis

Date Night!!!

We finally had a chance for a date night this week! YAY!!! I have been working a lot... I put in about 60 hours this week and that doesn't include anything I did at home. Brian has also been working a lot, he owns his own carpentry business and this weekend was his Navy Reserves Duty weekend. So both of us were a bit tired.

Well Saturday when he got home from the base we decdied to head down to DownTown Winter Garden (an amazing, quaint little town which takes you back a few decades and automatically brings a smile to your face) to check out a new restaurant we have heard about.

*I didn't bring my good camera so please excuse the lack of great photos*

The streets are brick and the buildings were built between 1915 and 1940. They have added on a nice little community area where they hold weekly farmers markets but everything else is pretty true to history.

   I bit easier to see during the day...

So armed with my newly painted toes and my new Charles Davids I was ready to get going. Just because I left weights doesn't mean I am not a girly girl.

So we were off to check out the Chef's Table. I super small seating that is hosted in the kitchen of the restaurant and a separate area called the tasting room. We were just winging it and didn't have reservations so we opted for the tasting room. It was an awesomely decorated area which was a cross between antiquated and industrial that worked very well. We got a high top next to a window which looked out onto the main street of Down Town... a great spot for people watching tehe

The tasting room is set up like a tapas room. Brian and I decided on 3 different plates and they were DELISH.... 

 First up was my pick: Fish dip. Local whitefish was used with a variety of spices.  It was super simple and so good. There was no cream or anything just a nice light fish spread that was not overpoweringly fishy.

 Second Brian's pick: Wild mushroom arancini. These were crispy mushroom risotto balls coated in herbed panko and served with a goat chesse creme. This was probably my favorite dish of the evening. Brian got points for this pick

Last we both decided on the Dip Duet: This came with a roasted red pepper hummus, baba ganoush and marinated olives served with naan bread. The baba ganoush was super creamy and smokey... so good. The hummus was a little disappointing... not bad just kinda bland. 




All and all we were very impressed with the Chef's table tasting room and with only spending $21 on food that was worth more than that we will definitely be making our way back. Maybe next time we will make reservations and get the full experience in the kitchen.


Since it was date night after all we walked the streets looking at all he pretty lights and architecture. We came across a new yogurt shop they just put in and decided we ate healthy enough to splurge on some fro yo.

I decided upon Almond yogurt and Lychee yogurt topped with yogurt chips a few pieces of cookie dough and come PB chips. Hey a girl has to have fun every now and again. 

We ended our evening out being silly in the streets and taking pictures at the history museum on the old trians and fire engines from when the city was first started. 

If you live near Orlando then Down Town Winter Garden is a must... we love it hear and don't like to share our secret place with many people but hey, you guys are worth it. :o)


Ciao and date night joy


Alexis

Remembering my dad!

December 5th 1949 the most amazing man to ever grace our world was born. My father was a great man. I don't even know how to explain it without it sounding cheesy.

He was the strictest (Italian), funniest, most caring, genuine person I have ever known.

He was the type of man that would give you the shirt off his back if it meant you would have a smile on your face. Growing up he treated our friends like his own kids (which also meant they got yelled at like we did lol). There was no question that his heart was made of gold platinum.

I was a total daddy's girl... to an extent. My dad and I were really close. I grew up in the garage working on cars with my dad (just like my sister Heather). We also talked every single day while I was in college. He would call me at the same time everyday (between classes) and we would talk while he traveled where ever he was going for that day. I came home some weekends just to hang out (and eat his amazing cooking) with my dad.

Although my dad "disowned" and and my siblings for getting my first tattoo I decided to get on in remembrance of him.  So after drawing it out I finally decided to go get it and where to put it. He hated tattoos but maybe this is one he will think is ok...

It has been almost 5 years since he passed away and I can honestly say it has gotten a little easier but I never stop thinking about him. There are certain things I hear, say, or see that remind me of him and I get teary eyed, but always smile.


I blogged recently about a dance party  which was an amazing night! My dad used to always blast Earth Wind and Fire in our living room and all of us would dance around, laughing and singing along. Those nights we had no worries, no fears... just fun, laughter and family.


I think about him all the time, wish I had more time but I am grateful for the time I had with my dad, I am however sad he is not here to see everything else in our lives.

Him and Brian would have loved each other, and probably would have spent all night in the garage building random crap together LOL.

He touched many peoples hearts and will never be forgotten by those that matter.

Just a couple pictures of good times: 

Xmas 2005

xmas 2007

Brothers graduation in NY 2004

Ciao mia padre

Alexis

Tater Tuesday v.2 Anniversary Dinner

If you are new to Tater Tuesday check out Tater Tuesday v1 to read up on how this came about. This week Tater Tuesday landed on Mine and Brian's Anniversary.

Brian had to work but he wanted to help cook dinner. So I waited and I waited until FINALLY around 8pm Brian let me know he was on his way home. So I got the potatoes in the oven so by the time he got home I would be ready with my end of the dinner.

I was not sure what he had planned for his part of the dinner, all I knew was he wanted some kind of fish. So I had to make a "tater" that would go with just about anything in case he changed his mind when he got to the store.

Once he got home and we put everything together and finished cooking it was DELISH!!!

Here is what we had....

Bruschetta  stuffed potatoes

 Here is what you need

Toss 1 cup diced tomato,
1/2 cup diced mozzarella,
1Tbsp olive oil,
1/2 Tbsp Red vinigar
1/2 Tbsp Apple Cider vinigar
1Tbsp Chopped Basil
Salt to taste

 As simple as this sounds it was Super Delicious!

I was happy when I could only eat half. It meant I had leftovers (unfortunately we went out of town for a few days and I did not get to enjoy my left overs)




Brian's part of the dish was amazing! He picked up some swordfish and a seafood medley. He baked the fish and pan fried the seafood medley in a lemon sauce. 

 I had a glass of my wine that Brian got me (and snuck into our room)

It was a great dinner, with great company, to celebrate a great thing!!!!!

I have to let you know that I am enjoying this Tater Tuesday Venture even though I am only 2 weeks in... It is fun. I am really excited about the next Tater Tuesday... So stay tuned for V3.

Ciao and Taters and Love

Alexis

3 years and counting... Goes by quickly

Circa 2009

This is my relationship in a nutshell :o)

So today marks 3 years of jokes, fun, laughing, crying, sharing, caring, worrying... so on and so forth. It's been stressful and fun, crazy and calm... Its been my relationship and I wouldn't change a thing about it. Three years have come and gone and there is no end in sight. 

I can honestly say that Brian is my best friend and the love of my life. He knows how to make me laugh when I am down or stressed... he also knows how to piss me off better than anyone else LOL. 

We have had some amazing times together... 

My birthday/new years trip to New York 2009

 



           Partaken in Holiday antics

  

We have celebrated birthdays, holidays, baptisms, weddings, football wins and just random good times....

 

 We have gone on road trips, hiking, through corn mazes

We have been separated and reunited....

 But best of all we have been together....

Brian is an amazing man (my dad would have loved him) and he makes me smile every day no matter what is going on... We have had an amazing time together...

Every relationship is different and the past 3 years have taught me about the person I am, the person I am becoming, and ultimately the person I want to be... and I could not see myself doing any of it without Brian in my life.

Ok now that I have overloaded you with my pictures I must continue to work on Brian's anniversary surprise... I will definetly be telling you about that later.

Ciao with 3 years of happiness

Alexis