Firm Bootcamp: Maximum Calorie Burn (Review)

I'm not a huge fan of The Firm workouts, as I've said before.  The choreography is often poorly explained and, in general, none of the workouts are very advanced.  When I read good things about The Firm Bootcamp: Maximum Calorie Burn (2007), though, I was tempted.  I bought a copy.

Allison Davis, the instructor, is not unknown to me; I've seen her in other Firm videos.  Her Southern accent is always quite distinctive.  

Allison guides you through an overly thorough warm-up that includes light cardio and push-ups.  Ugh.  I hate it when instructors put push-ups in warm-ups.  The workout begins with a short toning section with weights followed by a plyometric move to get your heart rate up.  You do this about three times, weights and cardio, before you get to the first of three cardio interval sections.  

The plyometric moves interspersed with weights are good and challenging - lunges to jumping lunges, burpees, etc.  The cardio in the three cardio sections (each about 5 minutes) is more dance like but still high impact.  Your heart rate gets up there and barely has time to recover with the weights before you're on to your next plyometric move.   For the less advanced, there is a girl in the back who always does the beginner/low-impact modification.

There's a nice cool down - again, overly long - followed by some stretching. 

Weights are a sure fire way to get my blood pumping and it definitely pumps here.  I liked that some of the moves were different than the ones on other videos - variety is good!  The cardio was less innovative but still effective.  Allison falls into the same Firm trap - assuming you know what a star step is before explaining it.  There are better instructors - and better series than the Firm. 

But I will continue to keep this video in my rotation since it is different than the others. 

Bottom Line: This is a good introduction to HIT - high intensity intervals.  You'll need weights and a towel to dry off with.  Ha!

Yoga Booty Ballet Live: Cardio Cabaret (Review)

A few years ago, my mom found and bought a Yoga Booty Ballet video in the store.  I liked it enough to buy some of the series myself.  One video set includes Cardio Cabaret and Hip Hop Abs.  Today, I'll review the Cardio Cabaret workout.

Yoga Booty Ballet is taught by two fabulous ladies, Teigh and Gillian.  Gillian generally teaches more of the yoga and ballet moves while Teigh does more of the strength training portions. 

Cardio Cabaret starts slowly with some yoga and meditation and then quickly transitions to some fun dance moves.  This is pure dance but it's also pure fun!  This is not a high intensity workout; it's much lighter and less stressful!  Your will shake those hips and butt!

The Cabaret section ends with some ballet to work on your balance followed by a good stretching segment.  

Cons: I'm not into meditation so I always fast forward through that bit at the beginning.

Bottom Line: For a beginner, this is a great way to get some light, fun cardio into your day, without taking up too much time (especially if you skip the meditating!).

The Dark Monk

This week I finished the second book in The Hangman's Daughter series by Oliver Potzsch, The Dark Monk.  I was pleasantly surprised by it!

Here my Goodreads review:

Despite not being swept away by the first book in this series, The Hangman's Daughter, I picked up the second book, mainly because I liked the characters so much.

The Dark Monk was a great surprise: it was better than The Hangman's Daughter! The story had a tightness that the first novel lacked and I personally liked the subject: Templars and the Crusades.

This book has convinced me to keep reading the series.         

Roasted Brussels Sprouts (2014:10)

At Thanksgiving with my cousins this past year, there was a dish of Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes.  I passed on it but tried a bit from my mother's plate.  It made me want to try making fresh Brussels sprouts.

As a kid, my mom always bought the Green Giant microwave in butter sauce Brussels spouts.  They were alright.  As an adult, I thought that surely there was a better way to make these ugly green vegetables edible.  

And so I ran across this recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts.  Having no interest in walnuts and not wanting the calories of cranberries, I roasted only the sprouts.  It was interesting how they cooked - and how brown the outer layers got.  I peeled back the layers and the sprouts were green and tender underneath.

I thought this was a good recipe, though it needed more salt (I barely dashed a bit on them).  Mr. Higgins, never a fan of Brussels sprouts, ate them without complaining but asked to never have them again.  Ha!  I'll stick to other veggies but it's good to know how to make this side dish...if one ever needs variety. 

Heaven

I recently finished the last selection made by my book group: Heaven: Our Enduring Fascination with the Afterlife, by Lisa Miller.

This is my review:

Despite having heard of this book and it's author, it took the push of my book club to make me read Miller's Heaven.  Once I picked it up, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

I'm perpetually wary of journalists who pursue topics generally reserved for academics and that's what initially kept me from reading this. Miller has no religion degree or history degree...  She's a journalist with years of experience writing about religion.
 
But Miller proves to be a competent researcher.  She is looking for her own answers with this book and in many ways, this is a personal pilgrimage for her.  She visits academics, ministers, ascetics, and people of every religion.  Along the way, Miller traces a lot of history of the major religions and I particularly enjoyed the parts on Judaism.  It's an enjoyable and enlightening read.

I can't believe I've already read two nonfiction books this year!  Dang! 

Nevis

I'm back from the Caribbean where we had a lovely cruise!  

As I mentioned before, our new island for this trip was Nevis, which is a 45-minute ferry ride from St. Kitts.  The ferry was fun; the water was a beautiful Caribbean blue.  The times for the ferry, however, were not great.  We had only about two hours to spend on the island before turning around and sailing back to Kitts.  

We decided to go to a beach and visit the local famous hangout, Sunshine's Beach Bar.  The beaches on Kitts and Nevis aren't great but we sat on some loungers and got a few Killer Bees, the signature drink of Sunshine's.  Wow.  They are definitely killer; two of them almost killed me!  

All in all, I'm so glad to have visited Nevis.  The mountain is always shrouded by clouds and it was neat looking up at it, instead of across an ocean at it.  

Oatmeal Chocolate Muffins (2014:9)

I've been on a search to find a healthy muffin recipe.  This is a lot harder than I ever would have imagined! 

SKP recommended this recipe for Oatmeal Chocolate Muffins.  The main appeal of this recipe, for me, was the flax.  I bought a bag of this 6 months ago and still hadn't used it. 
To decrease the calories, I used only a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips, which is plenty!  These muffins taste healthy but good.  Even Mr. Higgins approved these as a "keeper."  SKP suggested adding a banana which I'll try next time since the muffins are a bit on the dry side. 

Using egg substitute (I had no eggs), these muffins are 139 calories each.  Not bad!

Cruise Questions

It seems fitting that while on a cruise, I should do a post about the questions people constantly ask me when I tell them how much we love cruising.  Here are the most common questions.....

1.  Do you feel the ship move?

Yes.  You will feel the ship move.  But unless there are high seas, you won't feel any significant rocking, rolling, or pitching.  Even if it gets up to 10 foot seas, it'll feel like you've had a few drinks.  The steps meet you sooner than expected and you may walk in a not-quite straight line.  It's actually fun - if you pretend like you're drunk!

2.  Do you get sick?

No.  I don't know if I'd get sick without medication.  I've always taken Bonine - one every night or two if the captain says we're in for some high seas.  I know the ship is moving but my brain never decides that I should feel sick.  But don't think about it.  Have fun!

3.  Do you worry about getting norovirus?

A tiny bit but the fact is that you don't have to be on a cruise ship to get norovirus.  You've probably had it, without ever setting foot on a ship.  All you have to do is be smart, just like when at  home - wash your hands frequently and if a food looks or tastes funny, avoid it.  Frankly, I'm always more worried about catching someone's cold on the plane ride to the ship.  Ugh.

4.  Is cruising only for older people?

No.  Cruises are what you make them.  You can stay on the ship in every port.  You can get off and go on a zipline tour.  On the ship, you can do every activity from sing-alongs to scrapbooking to basketball tournaments.  Or you can do none of them.  You can work out every day, on machines or with classes, or you can lay by the pool 8 hours a day.  You can dress up and go to the fancy dining room every night or you can stay in shorts and go to the buffet.  You can do whatever you want; it's all up to you!

5.  Why do you do so many cruises?

My husband loves cruises.  He loves the ships - Royal Caribbean's ships are beautiful - and he loves the sense of freedom he associates with ships.  I like to travel and, when I travel, I like to forget about everything else in the world.  There's no better way to do this than on a cruise ship, out at sea, where you have no cell service and have to pay for internet.  It's a break from normalcy. 

6.  Aren't the rooms tiny?  Too tiny?!

No.  All you do in your room is sleep.  You don't eat there, you don't relax there - hello, pool deck!  There's so much to see and do - but all of it is outside of your room.  I never notice how small the rooms are.  I do, however, notice how small the showers are, especially when shaving my legs.  Ha!

7.  Do you work out on cruises?

No, I don't.  But plenty of people use all the fancy machines and take the free classes.  I use the weeks we cruise to let my body rest.  We typically spend a few days hiking on the islands and we walk a lot on the ships themselves (which are HUGE - you're constantly going from one end to the other).  I try to swim a bit....but no formal working out.  Your body needs these periods of rest. 

8.  Is the food good?

Heck, yeah!  And as you become regular cruisers with a specific line, you begin to remember what is going to be served certain days.  With Royal Caribbean, honey stung chicken is served the first day at lunch and it is one of my favorite things ever.  The first formal night brings strawberry cheesecake.  The last night, key lime pie.  So, so good.  Even the drinking water, which is recycled, is deliciously cold and refreshing.  And don't even get me started on the tropical alcoholic drinks!

9.  Aren't the ships confining?  Don't you get claustrophobic on sea days?

No.  But then, I usually spend sea days watching the sea pass by.  It's so beautiful!  The wide open spaces stretch in every direction so how can you be claustrophobic.  At night, you can walk the promenade deck and pool deck to get fresh air....  There's nothing confining about a cruise ship!  The only time I feel uneasy is when I'm surrounded by people at an event...but because this bothers me, I try to avoid feeling closed in by people.  It's easy to do!

In the end, cruising is so much fun.  You go, you unpack once, and the ship takes you to amazing places.  I highly recommend it!

Cruise Time Again!

Today we board a ship for my 10th cruise.  And no, that's not many cruises at all!  It will be Mr. Higgins' 19th cruise!  

This cruise was spur of the moment, for us, at least.  We booked it only a month out when it became apparent that we needed 8 more nights on a ship to get to the next level of Royal Caribbean's award program.  We're very strategic in our thinking and cruise planning!

But we are so genuinely excited about this cruise even though it's not a new ship for Mr. Higgins (though it is for me) and no new ports.  It's a big ship - and we've been on only small ships for the last two years - so that's exciting.  And we get to go to some of our favorite places ever.  As much as I like new places, I love the familiarity of finding great places and knowing everything about them.  It means I can look forward to them instead of stressing about details and uncertainties.  LOL!

And we are getting to a new place, after all!  While docked at St. Kitts, we're going to take the ferry over to Nevis (pronounced Nee-vis) to see a new island. 

Roast Chicken in a Crock-Pot (2014:8)

After hearing two people talk about roasting a chicken in the crock-pot (one being SKP), I decided I needed to try this.  It's so very outside of my normal cooking realm, I thought it would be a fun adventure. 

I looked at a lot of recipes and was going to do a lemon garlic chicken....but I forgot the lemon when I went to the grocery store!  Ack!  So, I improvised with garlic, onion, and carrots.  My first inspiration for this recipe came from here, and I may have to try this one for my next chicken!

The chicken was fantastic, despite my on-the-fly seasoning.  I'd made roast chicken before, with my mom, in the oven....  But this was so much more most!  After using some of it for dinner with Mr. Higgins (who approved!), I bagged the rest up to freeze for quick dinners.  

Never again will I roast a chicken in the oven!  
 

Cleopatra: A Life

Recently, I finished a superb book: Cleopatra: A Life, by Stacy Schiff.  The New York Times Book Review named it the Best Book of the Year - and I can see why. 

Here's my Goodreads review:

If I didn't know better, I would say that Stacy Schiff is a historian!  This book is an amazing read.  Schiff mainly draws upon ancient historians Plutarch and Dio to form this captivating portrait of the last pharaoh of Egypt.

As a trained historian, I'm vastly impressed by Schiff's ability to draw upon so many sources, all the while remaining critical.  After all, there are so many questions regarding Cleopatra!  Schiff's writing is superb - fluid yet matter-of-fact.  The portraits of ancient Rome and Alexandria that she paints are wonderful! 

This is a great read for anyone interested in ancient history!

Michelle Dozois: Peak 10 Cardio Strength Remix (Review)

I'm loving the new Peak 10 workouts that Michelle Dozois put out in 2013.  Despite the title, these are brand workouts and this Cardio Strength Remix is possibly my most favorite Cardio Strength video by Michelle yet.

You will need a pair of light and heavy dumbbells for this workout.  I've been using lights until I get more familiar with this video.  It's a doozy! 

Michelle begins with weights - there is no warm-up, per se, but the first peak is lighter than the rest.  You will see what the rest of the workout will bring, without the crazy intensity.  Like other Peak 10 videos, you begin with a basecamp, then on to the ascent, climb and, finally, the peak.  

This cardio strength video is possibly my favorite so far.  Michelle has put together some complex moves, but she provides you with a "Movement Review" on the disc - watch it before you do the workout the first time.  There are more lunges in this strength video and that addition alone is enough to make me like it.  The sequences also seem to flow just a little better.  Granted, it may take you a few times to get comfortable with, since Michelle makes some quick transitions, but it flows nicely.   

After each strength section, you do a short cardio series that leads to your "peak" move.  In this video, Michelle has put together some innovative moves that are so refreshing after doing jacks, mountain climbers, and high knees over and over with over videos.  This is why Michelle is so great - she makes cardio fun!  There is no "rip it until you die" or "I'm going to make you hurt today" being said over and over.  She just leads you through a great workout! 

For a clip of the video, go here.  After a refreshing cool-down, you really feel like you've accomplished something.  I like that.  I also like how my triceps ache the next day - ha!

Bottom Line: This is definitely an advanced workout but you can't go wrong with Michelle.  Done.  Period.  

Vegetarian Chili

I love chili.  Love it!  I used to get so mad at my dad who would only let us make chili during the winter.  I would go chili-deprived for 8 months out of the year!  It was a relief to finally have my own kitchen and able to make chili whenever I wanted!

Since I've started eating less meat, I developed this vegetarian chili recipe to satisfy my chili cravings.  It has plenty of beans, spiciness, and tomato-y goodness to satisfy my tastebuds.  Feel free to play around with the ingredients, depending on your favorite beans and desired amount of spiciness. 

Doniamarie's Vegetarian Chili

1/3 onion, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp olive oil
3 15-ounce cans petite diced tomatoes, low-sodium
8 ounces tomato paste
2 15-ounce cans Ranch Style Beans
1 15-ounce can, black beans
1 15-ounce can, garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
3-4 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp pepper
salt, to taste
water, to preference

Combine chopped onion, pepper, and olive oil in a large pot and heat on medium to high until onions are starting to become transparent.

Add diced tomatoes and tomatoe paste, stir well to combine.  Bring to a boil.  Add all the beans (with liquid, except for the garbanzo beans), bring to a boil.  Add spices and simmer on medium for 15 minutes.  Depending on how thick or soupy you prefer your chili, you may want to add some water.  I've been known to add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes...but I'm from Texas!

I usually get 8 servings from this, making each serving 242 calories.  Mr. Higgins prefers a side of cornbread with his chili - so yummy! 

This recipe freezes very well!  I freeze individual servings for lunches and quick dinners.

Jillian Michaels: 6 Week Six-Pack (Review)

As I've said before, I'm not a fan of Jillian Michaels - for many reasons.  Her attitude during her workouts really annoys me - that bad ass, rip it until you die philosophy.  I will never turn to her for cardio because her workouts are too stilted and slow-moving, in my opinion.  But when I needed a new ab workout and her 6 Week Six-Pack (2010) was on sale, I snatched it up.

This video consists of two workouts - an intermediate and an advanced.  In both workouts, you're given a beginner modification and an extreme (kill yourself) modification. 

Jillian gives you a quick warm-up to get your blood pumping, which is much appreciated.  She then moves into both standing and floor ab work.  Interspersed with the ab excercises are short high interval bursts to keep your heartrate up.  I like this, though I loathe burpees and mountain-climbers (actually, who likes these torturous excercises!).  Once you go through all the exercises, you repeat them, this time at a faster pace.  At the end, you have a quick cool down.

You will need a weight for this video, though the beginner modification in the first workout can be done without one.  Jillian uses this to really make you ache. 

This video will get you results, I have no doubt.  I like the variety within it - the standing work is innovative and the floor work is a killer. 

I have a few gripes, though.  When the pace quickens, it's sometimes hard to keep your balance and do everything at once.  I'm pretty advanced and I can't do quick static lunges while twisting vigorously with a weight in hand.  Also, the thing that always bothers me about Jillian is that she doesn't seem to count out the repeats and her girls are never together or on the same beat.  So.....how many repeats should I do?  How do I know I'll do the same on the opposite side?  This is just a little too disorganized for my OCD self.  For a clip, go here.

But when you're in the right mind-set, Jillian is a nice change.  Let's face it - there are a lot of bad workout videos and bad instructors.  Jillian isn't bad, she just doesn't have a style that works for me.....all the time.

Bottom Line: For some seriously challenging core work, Jillian's ab video is definitely a good option.

Toasted Coconut Chocolate Cookies (2014:7)

I'm always on the look out for low calorie desserts.  Annoyingly, this usually means cookies.  The good news is that I've found some awesome low-fat cookies!  The bad news is that cookies no longer excite me. 

Long ago, I'd pinned this recipe for Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chunk Cookies, from Cooking Light, and this past weekend, I decided to give it a try.  I got to try something new - toasting sweetened coconut.  This was a painless process and made the house smell wonderful!

The cookies are good but not nearly coconut-y enough for me.  I don't think they turned out quite right, possibly because I used some brown sugar that was a bit past it's prime.  So, this is one I'll have to try again because it's so close to being a keeper!!

The Hangman's Daughter

I recently finished an interesting read by German author Oliver Potzsch: The Hangman's Daughter.  Here's the review i posted on Goodreads:

As a lover of historical fiction, this book greatly appealed to me as it takes place in seventeenth-century Bavaria. Rural Germany is not a common setting of historical fiction these days (the genre is saturated with mind-numbing Tudor England novels) nor is the local hangman a character frequently focused upon. Thus, I was intrigued.

I loved the characters in this novel; the Kuisls are a real family of Bavarian hangmen and Jakob came to life as the outcast, as the town hangman who learned the craft from his father. Simon, the local physician, and Magdelena, the hangman's daughter, have great personalities and provide the love story of the novel. In the end, this book was just a bit too much like a mystery for me. Also, the title of the book makes no sense - Magdelena was only a supporting character.

That being said, I'm interested enough in the life of the hangman to read more.

I found the next two books in the series on clearance, so I can keep reading!

Thai Peanut Slaw (2014:6)

I've been craving something Asian.  And so when I went to pick a new recipe to test this past weekend, I was searching for Asian dishes.  I didn't like how many calories the noodle dishes had so I settled on this Thai Peanut Slaw.

This recipe allowed me four firsts in the grocery store: buying cole slaw mix, sesame seed oil, rice vinegar, and peas!  Ha!  (I've never liked cole slaw.)  I loved the idea of a peanut-ty slaw and so I made this with great anticipation, happily whipping out my food processor.

The slaw turned out really good!  I was a bit worried when I was making the dressing - all the ingredients seem like a very odd combination.  But when I mixed it all together and took a bite - it was very tasty!!  And Mr. Higgins approves!

I left out the mint because I couldn't quite justify buying $4 of mint to use in one dish.   But I'll be keeping this recipe, especially to use in the summer when we need salad-like dishes!

Cathe Friedrich: Cardio Core Circuit (Review)

If you know me, you will say that I can be a little OCD.  Nowhere have I realized just how OCD I can be as with my workouts.  I'm always worried I'll get stuck in a rut - and I'll see no more results.  So, I'm constantly trying to do things differently.  I love my Michelle Dozois and Jari Love videos but recently I bought several videos out of my comfort zone to change it up.  One of them was Cathe Friedrich's Cardio Core Circuit (2009).

Because I'm very OCD, I read a lot of video reviews and fitness articles online.  I'd heard a lot about Cathe but had never tried her videos, mainly because none of them are available through Netflix.  And so I did something I rarely do - I bought a copy (albeit gently used) of Cardio Core Circuit, without having tried it first.  I chose this video because it requires no equipment, which is rare for Cathe, from what I see.  Her videos often require a lot of very uncommon equipment, which really frustrates me. 

This workout is broken down into five circuits.  In each one you'll do three high impact moves and then repeat them.  You have a short recovery after each, marching in place.  Then on to a crazy ab exercise.  Repeat this five times.  At the beginning of the video is an effective warm-up and there's a good stretch at the end.  

To be clear - this video is filled with high impact moves with no nice dance moves in between.  You just go through these, one after another.  These moves are very similar to the moves Michelle Dozois "peaks" with in her Peak 10 workouts.  In hers, you do them for 30-60 seconds after having done high impact cardio (dance-like but high impact) for five minutes prior.  Cathe just goes through these crazy "peak" moves one after another.  

This video almost killed me.  In a way I like just how no-nonsense it is - and with no crazy complicated choreography that gripes me with other instructors.  But these moves are intense and often involve jumping very high for prolonged periods.  

The core work is also intense.  I was only able to do the regular moves on two out of five.  For the other three, I had to do the "modified" (i.e. beginner) version.  It's been a long time since I had to "modify" any workout to be easier.  

At the end of this workout I was drenched with sweat and barely able to breathe.  Wow!  That being said, I'm not really looking forward to doing this video again.  I can see how Cathe gets results and you pay for those results.  I'll do this video again and I'll keep doing it....but ouch!  One thing is for certain - when you get through something like this, your confidence really spikes; it's a great feeling......  The feeling in my calves, which ached with pain for a week afterward, was not so great.  Must stretch a bit more before jumping around so much!

Bottom Line: This is a super-advanced workout.  Try it only after Michelle Dozois' Peak 10 videos.

Pet Peeves in the Office

I'm really enjoying my new job and my awesome new co-workers.  The only thing I can complain about are my hours - 8 to 5, which means really bad traffic and, therefore, longer commutes. 

In my previous job, surrounded by mostly absent professors, I was spoiled.  Now, I have a better office but the walls surrounding it are paper thin.  Because of this, the new bane of my office existence is the lady across the hall (who is, thankfully, in a different department than me....and not a direct co-worker).  

She's enlightened me on what NOT to do in the workplace....

1.  Do not arrive 1.5-2 hours after everyone else and yawn at the top of your lungs for the next hour.  Really, yawns have nothing at all to do with your vocal chords.  Lean to differentiate the two and yawn silently.  Many, many people around you will be thankful.

2.  Likewise, sneezes have nothing to do with your vocal chords.  Your sneezes should not make people across the hall physically jump.  Be courteous and sneeze with your nose/mouth, not your vocal chords.

3.  Do not yell at the person in the next office.  Get some exercise, because you most likely need it, get up, and speak to them while in the same room.

4.  Show a little common sense and close your door when you call the doctor to speak to them about your yeast infection and/or bladder infection.  The entire office does not need to hear those details.

5.  Turn the volume off on your computer.  Everyone does not need to hear when you accidentally click on something that makes a hideous sound blare from your speakers.  


For most people, these things are common sense - but not for everyone, as evidenced by my office neighbor.  Read these, ponder them, and respect your co-workers.

Thank you and good day!  Ha!

Cheddar Muffins (2014:5)

I'm really enjoying making some new and different recipes due to my New Year's resolution.  One thing I've been wanting to make that was completely new to me....a savory bread.  A recipe just happened to find its way onto one of my Pinterest boards and I was dying to try it: Cheddar Muffins.

The main reason this recipe appealed to me was because Mr. Higgins loves, loves cornbread.  But I wanted to find a different bread to pair with soups and such.  I loved many ingredients in this recipe: oil, which I don't get enough of; cheese, because it's awesome; and the ability to customize the recipe in tons of ways! 

Because of what I had on hand, I made the muffins withe Mexican cheese blend.  They were pretty darn good but now I want to make them again, using only cheddar.  I bet they'll be a bit better. This recipe will definitely go into my collection and will be made quite frequently!

Michelle Dozois: Peak 10 Cardio Interval Burn Remix (Review)

For my birthday in October, my super-fit sister gave me the two newest Michelle Dozois Peak 10 videos.  I was ecstatic - you well know of my love for Michelle's workouts.  I held off on trying the new videos until January, when I knew I'd need motivation to get back into shape.  Michelle's Peak 10 Interval Burn Remix (2013) does not disappoint - and it's not a remix.  It's a brand new Peak 10 workout!

The workout begins with a warm-up that quickly warms you up.  There is no marching in place - this is an express way to get your heart rate up and up!  

The next five 10-minute intervals are a lot of work - and super fun.  As with the other Peak 10 workouts, you do a five-minute interval twice - once on the right foot lead, once on the left.  Each interval begins with an extremely short basecamp to catch your breath followed by an ascent.  The ascent will keep you moving while allowing you to recover.  The climb is tough - you frequently go to the floor for burpees and/or moutain-climbers.  The peak is a very painful 30-second interlude where you do crazy jumps of some kind - this will test you.  But, don't worry, you get done quickly and start over with a basecamp to recover.

Michelle is very inventive in her workouts.  None of the moves are crazy complicated but she likes to keep things fresh and different.  In this video she provides you with a "Movement Review" on the Main Menu to run you through some of the more tricky sequences.  I liked watching this so I knew what was ahead for me. This "Remix" definitely has the trickiest sequences of all the Peak 10 workouts - but it's still easily accessible.

The music that Michelle chooses is fun.  There is no equipment necessary.  You will spend 65 minutes being workout out....and out.  At the end of it, you will be sweating profusely (I usually lose 1lb of water weight during a 50-minute session with Michelle) and you will feel great. 

The cool down and stretch is always one of my favorite parts.  I love it when my muscles are warm and I can get a great stretch.  For a clip of this video, go here.  This is a great addition to the Peak 10 series.  My only hope is that Michelle keeps the videos coming!

Bottom Line: This is an advanced cardio workout.  Once you are comfortable going to the floor during cardio workouts, you're ready for the Peak 10 series.  

Sarah's Key

My new boss graciously extended me an offer to join her book club.  I was atually quite excited!  I'd really like to meet some of my new co-workers and several are part of the group!  When I learned that the book for this month was Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, I immediately checked it out of the library and started reading.

Here's my review:

This book was chosen by a book club I've decided to join. And, truth be told, this book was the deciding factor in me joining the club. I had no idea the events that took place in this book really happened. French Jews rounded up and carted off to Auschwitz? I know I'm not a World War II expert but I had no idea.

The story of Sarah and her brother is horrific - something that you would think could not possibly happen in the modern era. But it did. And this story will forever haunt me, just as it did the characters in this book.  The story is told parallel to that of a present-day journalist who is given the Vel' d'Hiv' topic to investigate.  My only gripe with this book was the persistent talk of the journalist's love life. 

I really enjoyed this book - and it was a quick read.  If you want to learn more about France during World War II, this is a good start.

Skinny Snickerdoodles (2014:4)

With my cooking challenge this year - 40 new recipes - I'm really trying to find different things to make.  I want to challenge myself and try some new techniques.  But, I failed at this recipe.  I needed some cookies to freeze in anticipation of company next weekend and these Skinny Snickerdoodles fit the bill: easy and low-calorie.

One thing I'm learning with low-fat cookies is that the recipes merely have you make a smaller cookie than one would normally make.  This seems to be the case with these skinny cookies.  They were small - but very good! 

I had to make a few substitutions.  When I went to get my whole-wheat flour, I saw that it was expired - by over a year.  So I used regular flour, which only increased the calories by 1.1  per cookie.  Not a dealbreaker.  I also lacked agave.  So as the dough was mixing - and was nothing like the consistency of normal dough, I added a few tablespoons of skim milk.  Once the dough looked normal, I scooped it out and it was perfectly good! 

When I took these out of the oven, they were almost too gooey.  But once they cooled and had set for a bit, they were good and soft.  Mr. Higgins approved of these bite-sized cookies and I like that they're portion controlled.  So, success!

Self: Sculpt Sexy Legs Fast (Review)

Despite the sexy part of this title, I found this DVD because I really enjoy the workouts of Violet Zaki, who I was first introduced to in the Star Trainers series.  She's a martial artist so her moves are always more kickboxing than dance (like Michelle Dozois).  But Violet is great for toning and this DVD - Sculpt Sexy Legs Fast (2007) - proves it. 

Violet begins with a warm-up that will get you nice and stretched out.  I love her accent, by the way!  Her cueing is great - not overdone and never annoying!

Next comes a toning section without weights.  Here you will do a ton of squats - literally.  The first move is a squat with leg raise....over and over again.  Then single leg squats, kicks, and lunges into a kick.  She intersperses the heavy toning moves with some jumps and jacks, just to keep your legs from burning.

After this long section, you'll do about five minutes of cardio.  Again, this is more martial arts inspired, instead of dance-y.  The end portion is especially difficult - squat jumps to heel clicks.  Ouch!

Violet then leads you through a section with weights.  Especially hard for me is a side lunge with bicep curl.  Violet's legs are so far apart and I try to do the same - and it burns!  

Next up is floorwork.  You'll do bridges, leg presses, etc.  These always make my bum burn but it's a great burn! 

After this you get a nice cool-down and stretch. 

Violet is great but she's tough.  Since most of this workout is toning, don't expect your heart-rate to go into overdrive, except in the cardio section.  But I like doing sections of this DVD after some cardio.  It really is a great workout and I highly recommend it.

Bottom Line:  Violet will definitely make your bum burn and your legs will get thoroughly worked out.  I wouldn't try this until you've done a lot of cardio and can get through tough reps of squats.  Therefore, this qualifies as an intermediate workout.

Jalapeno Lime Chicken Soup (2014:3)

When I met my husband, he was surviving winters by eating canned soup five nights a week.  I was aghast.  Sure, the sodium is bad but there are even worse things in canned soup than sodium - hello, BPA!

And so I started making homemade soup on the weekends and freezing individual portions for week nights - and for some of my lunches.  It works great!  I don't cook during the week!  Alas, I'm always on the lookout for more freezable soup recipes.

When I happened upon this Jalapeno Lime Chicken Soup recipe, I was immediately tempted.  Usually, it takes me years to try new recipes once I bookmark them; this one took a week!

This recipe had two new ingredients for me: real jalepenos and white beans.  I was new to both.  I made a few changes to the recipe... I only used one 16 ounce jar of salsa - and I really can't imagine it with TWO jars.  Yikes!  For beans, I used two cans of Great Northern and two cans of navy beans.  I also skipped all the toppings, going for healthy instead of convoluted.  

This soup was very, very tasty!  And it has the added benefit of opening up one's sinuses - ha!  This will go into the regular soup rotation, at the request of Mr. Higgins.  A few suggestions, though....  Use a HUGE pot when making this; it makes a ton, which is great for freezing!  And use gloves when slicing up jalapenos!!  I'd never done it before so I didn't know that my hands would be burning for 24 hours afterward and that I would barely be able to get my contacts in and out.  Sigh.

Oh, I love finding new, good recipes!

The Secret History: Theodora

On our December cruise, I got through a great novel, The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora by Stephanie Thornton.  The subject matter was right up my alley - the late Roman Empire.  In fact, in graduate school, I quickly learned that the later Roman Empire, and early Christianity, was my favorite part of history.  So many peoples and churches vying for power! 

Here's my review of Thornton's novel:

This book kept my attention very well - I could hardly stop thinking about it when not reading it! Theodora's story in history is fascinating, for sure, but Thornton brings her to life in a very realistic, passionate way. You can only sympathize with young Theodora, who is faced with a horrific "childhood", and marvel at her true rags-to-riches story.

The setting of Byzantium has always fascinating me...Justinian's reign was a bright spot amidst years of war and turbulence. Thornton's descriptions and writing are mediocre but her storytelling is very nice!

If you're wanting to read some historical fiction, I highly recommend this book!

Michelle Dozois: Rockin Body Cardio (Review)

You well know of my love for Michelle Dozois' exercise videos.  She is the best, I think, at cardio.  Late last year, I needed a lighter cardio workout to do on days between Jari Love's rigorous workouts and Michelle's Peak 10 videos.  I turned to an oldie, but goodie: Michelle's Rockin Body Cardio (2007). 

This video is made up of a warm-up, 6 cardio intervals, a cool-down, and stretch.  It runs for 51 minutes, which is just perfect for my early morning workouts.  There's also an express workout included in the video; it's 30 minutes long.

The warm-up is great: very light cardio followed by just a few stretches for your calves and hamstrings.  This is an especially good warm-up to do at 5:30 AM - ha!

The six intervals are not physically challenging but I always sweat a lot.  Michelle gets your heart-rate up and keeps it up.  This is basic cardio with some easy dance moves.  You jog a lot, kick, jab, and squat with some lunges.  The most challenging section has you doing squats with knee raises followed by lunges.  This is not hard but good, pure cardio fun.  

Unlike Michelle's Peak 10 videos there is no jumping or going to the floor.  I love it because I can do it in the midst of harder videos to let my body take a deep breath before another crazy weight workout.

Bottom Line: This is a good intermediate cardio workout.  Once you've gotten past the beginner stage and enhanced your stamina, you're ready for this 50 minute workout!

Chicken Enchilada Casserole (2014:2)

My dad hates casseroles.  Since my mom's main objective in her cooking was always to please my dad, she never, ever made casseroles.  Indeed, the very thought of the dish was foreign to me until I was grown-up.  

Now, my main problem with casseroles is that they are rarely low in fat.  Since I usually try to eat healthy, casseroles are not something I turn to when I choose to spend time in the kitchen. 

However, I recently saw a pinned recipe that, for whatever reason, I was very tempted to try.  It was a casserole - a Chicken Enchilada Casserole, to be exact. In an attempt to save some calories, I used whole-wheat tortillas and 2% cheese.  It was yummy!  Mr. Higgins - who grew up on casseroles - really liked it, too!  

And so, this recipe is being added to my recipe book.  It's a keeper!

The Summer Garden

I've fallen behind in telling you about my reading of late!  On the December cruise, I finished a book and got through another.  

While away, I finally finished The Summer Garden, the end of Simons' trilogy about Russian lovers Tatiana and Alexander.  Here's the review I posted:

Amazingly, the conclusion of Tatiana and Alexander's story took me a long time to read. I could never quite reconcile the characters in this final book with those of the first two novels. I really did not like Alexander for most of this book...and, really, the entire thing did not sit well with me. The feminist in me hated how Tatiana always acquiesced to Alexander...and how Alexander always expected to be forgiven, no matter his manner of sins against her.

The end was fitting - but the first book is, by far, the best in this trilogy. 

Simons is, by her own account, a lengthy writer.  So much of this story, especially the marital relations bits, could have been condensed.  Really, after reading so much of these two characters over the course of three books, do we need to continually read about their day-to-day sex lives?  I just started skipping it.  

But I'm glad to have finished the trilogy!

Broccoli Salad Slaw (2014:1)

So far this year, 13 days into it (!), I'm really enjoying my time in the kitchen.  As long as I'm prepared to spend time cooking and baking, I really enjoy it!  And I've already tried a new recipe this year!  

My mother-in-law came across this recipe and decided to make it, with a few variations, for Christmas.  Once home, I decided to make it, with a few adjustments to her adaptation.  First off, I wanted to make more salad, so that we could eat on it for a good five days or so.  This was accomplished with the following recipe, which turned out great!  I'll be making it again and again!

Broccoli Salad Slaw

For the salad:

1.5-2 heads of broccoli, rinsed and chopped
1/4 of a white onion, chopped
1/2 c carrots, chopped
2 bags of broccoli slaw

For the dressing:

3/4 c water
3/4 white vinegar
.7-.9 ounce packet of dry Italian dressing mix
3/4 c sugar (I used 1/2 c Splenda, 1/2 c sugar)

Combine all the veggies in a bowl/container with a cover.  Combine ingredients for dressing, stirring until the sugar mostly dissolves.  Pour over salad mixture and stir well to coat.  Let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving.  Will last in the fridge for a week. 

Goals for 2014

One thing I love about blogging is that it forces me to look back in time and see what's happened in my life.  Another tool for that is the wonderful Project Life.  With all this documentation of last year, it's easy to see what I read, what I cooked, and what I crafted.  It's great!  

And by doing all this reviewing of the last year, it's easy to set new goals for this year.  I already outlined a few in my fist post of the year. Now that I'm settling into 2014, I find that I want some additional goals.  

1.  Work on my genealogy stuff (as mentioned before).  Specifically, I want and need to get through the stack of papers my in-laws brought in October - which I haven't touched.  

2.  Lose my cruise/holiday weight (as mentioned before)....and get stronger while improving my flexibility.  Michelle Dozois, here I come!

3.  Read 20 books this year.  Last year I read 16 so surely this is doable.

4.  Try 20 new recipes (20 seems to be my magic number).  I really want to do more in the kitchen, especially more new stuff!  I love the foods I make....so I want to keep making them!  But I'm going to try new things!!  This is partly inspired by my friend, SK, who set a great kitchen goal last year and met it! 

5.  Knit 3 projects this year.  I don't care what they are, even if they're dishcloths....I just want to do more knitting.

6.  The biggie: finish my novel.  I'm so close....

And so there are my goals for 2014.  Wish me luck and I'll keep you posted!

December Daily Progress (2013)

The holidays are such a busy time!  Last year, I was on top of my December Daily album, having gotten the pages ready a month or so in advance - the pages only needed pictures.  This year, I was not so organized.  Also, October Afternoon made thier December kits available much later than last year, so it arrived later. 

And so I'm still putting the small album together.  I am disappointed in OA's kit this year.  There are not enough embellishments and I'm not thrilled with their Eggnog line of papers, which is the only paper that came with the kit.  But I'm plugging along and it'll be a cute album. 
 

 

 

The cover turned out well, I think, though I had to turn to embellishments that were not part of the kit to complete it.  Hopefully I finish this soon!  I'm running out of creativity!

The Archies: 2013

It's that wonderful time of year again...for reflection and thought upon last year.   It's time for the Archies - my annual review of the past year and all the great things it offered.  This idea came from Donna and it's something I've really enjoyed doing.  It's basically a list of my 50 favorite things from the year.  Every year you compile a list, you add an additional item, so I'm now up to 54!  See also 2012 and 2011.  Okay, here we go....

1.  a new job.  finally.  deo gratias.

2.  new co-workers.  i like them.

3.  saying good-bye to my old boss.  awesome.

4.  Valley Church Beach, Antigua.

5.  “Battlestar Gallactica.”

6.  a new car.

7.  Rainbow Beach, St. Croix.

8.  Misty Fjords plane ride.

9.  Alaska – so beautiful.

10.  The Bronze Horseman, Paullina Simons.

11.  a new pope.

12.  “Downton Abbey."

13.  happy hour on St. John, USVI in Cruz Bay.

14.  BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

15.  Exit Glacier, Seward, AK

16.  Carmina Burana, performed by the FWSO at Bass Hall.

17.  Auburn football.  the national championship game is Monday.

18.  LONE RANGER soundtrack.

19.  a letter from Gooseberry Patch.

20.  hiking on Antigua.

21.  Jules Watson’s Dalriada Trilogy.

22.  Clark Gardens.

23.  Pigeon Island, St. Lucia.

24.  Nothing Bundt Cake’s Pumpkin Spice Cake.  yum.

25.  my new study wall of framed art/maps.

26.  first (completed) baby sweater.

27.  Pitons of St. Lucia.

28.  Skinny Chocolate-Caramel Banana Bread.

29.  Joe’s Rum Hut, Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI.

30.  potatoes – in the skillet or oven-roasted.

31.  family portraits.

32.  Chandor Gardens.

33.  “Battlestar Gallactica” soundtrack – the best music ever made for TV.

34.  Tom Hiddleston. 

35.  STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS.

36.  Chicken Bacon Wraps.

37.  new Project Life products.  tons!!

38.  knitting baby socks!

39.  Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, AK.

40.  TheWinter Palace, Eva Stachniak.

41.  genealogy software.

42.  my low-fat broccoli salad.

43.  crazy-early morning workouts (because of new work hours).

44.  broccoli slaw.

45.  Instagram. 

46.  IKEA cart.  for crafty supplies.

47.  Richard Armitage.  Thorin.

48.  a new writing buddy.

49.  scrapbook page frame.

50.  Crock-Pot Cornbread.

51.  Scrapbook Celebration, Aledo, TX.

52.  Royal Caribbean’s Radiance-class ships – all our recent cruises have been on these smaller, tasteful ships.

53.  work clothes shopping spree – since I’m now working with adults.

54.  The Civil Wars.  i especially like their rendition of an Advent classic, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

That's it!  Whew!  

2014!

Happy New Year!!!  I hope 2014 is a year of happiness for all!

2013 was an interesting year.  We started it off having a bit of a bad feeling....but by the end of it, I had a fantastic new job!!  It turns out that God has a plan for us all and his plan for me meant waiting just a few more years for a great career opportunity!

I'm still working on my Archies for 2013 (see 2012 and 2011)...  The holiday was great but a bit more stressful than usual due to our December cruise.  We're back from a week with the in-laws in Nashville and I'm happy to be home.  It's great being away and spending time with family but I miss my home and my kittehs. 

I don't usually do New Years resolutions but I have two this year...

1.  Work on my genealogy stuff!  This has fallen to the sidelines, despite finally getting some awesome software last Christmas!  Eek!

2.  Lose my cruise and Christmas weight!  I'm not too worried but I always gain a few pounds at the holidays.  Thankfully, I have two brand new Michelle Dozois Peak 10 videos to try out this week! 

Look for the Archies list soon and, in the meantime, enjoy the beginning of the New Year!