A cake pop a day....makes the Work Week Blues go away?
Happy Short Week everyone! After 3-4 days of fun in the sun, I’m sure not one of us was extremely excited to get back to the grind.
Luckily, the picture to the right is how I started out my day.
Cake pops! Do these babies ever get old? I’m convinced that, like cupcakes, they’ll never go out of style 🙂 One of the ladies in our office is an incredible baker, and she seems to specialize in cake pops. Today, the flavors included Carrot Cake, Strawberry Cake, Key Lime, Piña Colada and Chocolate Cake.
If every work week starts out like this, I might just be sprinting to the office every Monday morning to ensure I have the best flavor pick. The only thing that could make this display more exciting would be if it was propped up by a can of Reddi Whip…
Hey, a girl can dream.
4th of July Weekend Round-Up
If you’re just catching up from the weekend, here’s what I did all weekend.
Yep, I spent all weekend in the kitchen creating patriotic wacky food combos. I’m so devoted to my wacky creations that I slaved away day and night this holiday weekend. I even missed the fireworks!
These Strawberry Choco-Cheescake Egg Rolls took HOURS to prepare
The Red, White and Blue Cherries Swirlie took ALL DAY!
Just kidding. As you know, my recipes are simple and relatively quick to allow minimal time for me to make a mistake. But, Patriotic Wacky Food Combos were my only post this past weekend. Please read and enjoy – these unique combos are fun even after the holidays!
Time to Chill-ax
Why the lack of posting? Because, this long weekend was my pre-planned “Chill-axin” weekend. With a crazy outlook for work in July, my goals for the weekend were as follows:
- Sleep 8 Hours Per Night – We can’t all be like Heidi Klum and sleep 10 hours on average (apparently), so I settled for the socially acceptable standard 8 hours.
- Lay out 2 Hours Per Day — Don’t be jealous of my ambition, please. I have a beautiful rooftop (best part of my apt), and I’m determined to take advantage of it (with sunscreen of course).
- Read No Less than 3 Trashy Magazines and One Chick-Lit Book – Again, it was a tough goal. How many stories about Jennifer Anniston’s new man could I actually consume?
- Diversify my Workout – Post on this one to come. As I nurse my little foot back to health, switching up the workout has become increasingly important. And, no, I do not consider pressing the nozzle on a can of Reddi Whip to be considered a workout.
- Socialize with no Less Than 3 People – When I’m determined to chill out, I sometimes forget the importance of being social. Thus, I needed to remind myself to be the little social Sometimes Healthy Butterfly that everyone knows and loves.
- Chill the Ef Out — Excuse the strong language but as you all know, I have a tendency to stress just a bit, every now and then. So with a crazy month ahead of me, I thought it was important to get my mind all Zen in advance. I don’t Zen out through yoga, though – usually through a couple of episodes of The World According to Paris or Basketball Wives (new obsession – it’s a keeper).
So, here in pictures, is how I achieved my holiday weekend goals:
1. Sleep 8 Hours a Day
We both look adorable when we sleep and we both drool every now and then...you get the idea.
Done and done! I couldn’t take a picture of myself sleeping, so I included a picture of an adorable sleeping puppy instead. Probably more exciting than me. You’re welcome.
2. Lay Out 2 Hours Per Day
I could stare at this allll day
Easily accomplished this far-reaching goal. Might have even exceeded it. I’ve always been an overachiever. Check out that view. Can you blame me for soaking it up?
3. Read no Less than 3 Trashy Magazines and one Chick-Lit Book
Sun + View + Chick-Lit = Bliss
Thankfully, I am finally all caught up on the world of celebrity gossip with the help of my friends, In Touch, People and Us Weekly. Let see if I can sum it up for all of you who are a little behind:
Emily Maynard (from the Bachelorette) and Lauren Conrad (from the Hills) are broken-hearted, Selena Gomez and Justin Beiber are still going strong, Jennifer Anniston is “in love” (again) and Kim Kardashian’s wedding registry is still obscenely expensive. There is also an on-going feud among many of the Real Housewives in multiple cities.
Hope I didn’t leave anything out 😉 The book above in the picture is one of my fave books of all time. I’m re-reading it so I can convince all of you to read it, too. Stay tuned!
4. Diversify my Workout
Row, row, row your boat....check out those socks. Stylish Sometimes Healthy Girl
Check check! I eased up the pressure on my foot from running and mixed up my routine with some spinning, kickboxing and Cardio Sculpt this weekend. I also threw in some rowing action for a little change of pace. I think it’s the most under-utilized machine in the gym (but more on that later).
Cardio Sculpt was…awkward, especially when the 80-year-old women behind me had to remind me repeatedly to adjust my steps and move my weights out-of-the-way to avoid tripping. One woman stated, “I feel like your mother in here!” Luckily, I rebounded later in the weekend with kickboxing and spinning, which are a bit more in my “wheelhouse.” More on diversifying the workout in another post.
5. Socialize with No Less than 3 People
Technically, if you count all of the people gathered in Hoboken, NJ to view the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, I wayyyy exceeded this goal. Â WINNER! If you’re going to be all “technical”, I still achieved it, because I travelled to Hoboken with a group of friends.
Walking with my friends to the train to Jerz
Hoboken is just a short train ride outside of NYC, as it’s right across the Hudson River. Since the fireworks were over the Hudson River, it was the perfect fireworks-viewing spot.
I had never been to Hoboken before last night, and I was pleasantly surprised! Of course, I had to take a picture in front of Cake Boss’s shop, even though it was closed :-(.
From there, we staked out our spot to watch the fireworks.
Words just don't do it justice. We were in the middle of a postcard.
Can’t say enough about the view – it was absolutely breath-taking.
Waiting for the show to start
Watching fireworks over the NYC skyline is a picture that I’ll keep in my mind forever. Again, it reminded me of just how lucky I am to live in this crazy city. Even being just a few miles away in New Jersey, I couldn’t believe that I actually LIVE in the giant skyline I was admiring.
Stunning
I snapped lots of pics, but I won’t bore you. Suffice it to say that it was the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen in my life!
Lighting up the skies over the Empire State
We were standing behind this adorable father/daughter combo, and I couldn’t help but be moved by the adorable nature of their interaction. Notably, while this 8-year-old child was so enthralled by the fireworks that she stopped talking, my motor mouth kept going the whole way through.
For some reason, this picture captures what 4th of July is all about, in my esteemed opinion
The trip to Jersey was definitely worth it. What a show! Of course, I’ll have go back to Hoboken so that I can actually BUY something from Cake Boss.
6. Chill the Ef Out
This was by far the toughest goal, plus the measurement piece is a bit difficult: How can I measure whether or not I achieved “Zen” this weekend. I can confirm that I watched multiple episodes of the above-mentioned shows, in addition to portions of the One Tree Hill 4th of July marathon (thank you SoapNet for bringing the “cool” factor back to has-beens like One Tree Hill, 90210 and the OC – you’re probably responsible for introducing a new generation to quality television).
I consumed the All-American breakfast on July 4th. The donut brought me a strange sense of sugar calm.
The Captain America Donut from Dunkin....they told me it was the "best seller." I couldn't resist.
I also made a couple of stops at old faithful aka 16 Handles, which never fails to soothe my stressed-out soul.
Yogurt Zen
There, I discovered that Graham Cracker flavored frozen yogurt is the best idea for a yogurt flavor since Cake Batter. AND, combining that flavor with Fruity Pebbles will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
And the “Marathon” Begins…
I’d say that I can check the “chill the Ef out” box from my weekend goals list. BUT, that being said, Zen-ing out didn’t save me from being hit was a major case of the Tumultuous Tuesdays today! The next few weeks are going to be very demanding for this Sometimes Healthy Girl, and I almost feel like I did before the National Marathon (not melodramatic here, per usual): There’s just a small bit of self-doubt in my mind over whether I’ll have enough gas to finish the race. Can I do it all?: work crazy hours, blog consistently, maintain my fitness/weight and somehow integrate a social life.
I’m sure I’ll resort to my typical stress-coping mechanisms during the next few weeks, including inhaling cans of Reddi Whip, g-chatting my dear older brother to detail all of my stress, calling my mother to explain just how “overwhelming” my NYC existence is, and of course, dipping lots of pretzels into cream cheese.
But, 10 Reddi Whip cans, 12 1 lb bag of pretzels, 3 tubs of cream cheese, 50 gchats with my brother and countless convos with my poor mother (and father) later, something tells me it will all get done! It always does 🙂
I apologize in advance if my posts become irregular, but I’ll do my very best to keep it up!
And with that, I’ll leave you with this motivating song. I’ll admit – I’ve played it on my iPod a few times today. Yes, I’m comparing the beginning of my stressful month at work to the beginning of an epic boxing match. Like I said, I’m not melodramatic.
Being off work today, I’m having a case of the Wearisome Wednesdays — and your post was just the cure 🙂 See you tomorrow chickadee….
Love this entire post! The fireworks look like they were incredible. 🙂
Yum! I wish my coworkers would bring in cake pops!
Started reading your blog a couple of months ago…. (through Ali on the Run) and I adore it!! Hoping to get mine up and running this weekend. You seriousy crack me up!! We just had a frozen yogurt place open up here in the wilderness of North Conway, NH and it is AMAZING……however they only have 4 flavors to choose from per day (they alternate)…..and I am anxiously awaiting the flavor of cake better to appear in my life 🙂 Hope you have a great week!
GOOD LUCK ON THE BLOG! Please send me the link when it’s up! I read blog for a while before I put mine up as well. I’m sure your blog will be amazing and can’t wait to read it. Thanks so much for the sweet comment. It literally made my day! Hope cake batter appears in your life sometime soon. No one should have to go without it 😉
You are awesome, and so is this post :). I love it. Sounds like you had an awesome holiday weekend!
Awww thank you! And thank you so much for reading my blog 🙂 Your comments always make me smile!
yum, cake pops!
“There is also an on-going feud among many of the Real Housewives in multiple cities.” Laughed so hard at that one 🙂
I had the BEST weekend, I just laid by my pool the entire time and it was so relaxing and fabulous. I also got in on the One Tree Hill action.. I love that show 🙂
hahaha I know but it’s so true. Right now, it seems to be the Housewives of New Jersey but I feel like the New York Housewives generally have some turmoil as well. Maybe it’s an east coast thing? As for One Tree Hill – I may or may not have lots of the DVD’s….yet I still stop to watch it on SoapNet all the time. It makes no sense. Glad you got in some relaxin as well!
I tried the graham cracker flavor last night and was unimpressed! Peanut butter FTW! Super jealous of your roof deck and massive consumption of trashy celeb magazines. Thanks for catching me up (esp on the Lauren Conrad gossip! I didn’t know!). hehe. sigh.
I know – poor LC. She just can’t catch a break in the love department. Maybe she should work with Patty from Millionaire Matchmaker….It would be like Millionaire Matchmaker, the reality tv edition….Sad that you didn’t like the graham cracker flavor but I like PB too. If you try the graham cracker with blueberries and graham cracker crumbs, it kinds tastes like cobbler. its GOOD! PROMISE!
Mmmm cake pops are great! I wish my coworkers brought them in for me 🙂
I have yet to try cake pops. I’m sure I could make them if I tried (or had the time). But it would be so much better if someone would make them and bring them into work for me!
Oh my! I cannot believe you haven’t “had the pleasure.” If there is a Starbucks nearby, I suggest trying their cake pops – birthday cake is the best flavor 🙂 I’ll try to include cake pops in my first giveaway. stay tuned! 🙂
Sounds like an amazing time! Graham cracker fro yo also sounds incredible.
I’ve never tried cake pops, though they look delicious! Mmm! Sounds like you had a great weekend–I can’t even describe how jealous I am that you live in NYC. After watching the [relatively] lame fireworks in Maryland, I saw New York City’s fireworks on television and was amazed!
Yes, I must say – I’ve never been that in to fireworks. Probably because most of the time I used to watch them over a tiny lake in Omaha. But, here in NY, they felt so “special.” Last year, I went to DC for the 4th and still, having seen those, I feel like New York has the best 🙂
You must try a cake pop – you’ll love it. Go to Starbucks ASAP and order a cake pop with your morning coffee. Birthday cake flavor is the best!
Absolutely love your blog! Plus your view is kickass. Jealous!!
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