Surprises and Some Fun

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I am getting super excited about some stuff happening in ​the next few weeks. The blog will be changing some things up a bit, nothing Earth shattering, but we will have some fun themes and surprises in the next few weeks. We will also be having some changes in location and scenery (yay!).

This week the hubs and I have spent some time relaxing (ish) together and getting ready for what summer and the weeks leading up to June will bring. Every June we leave for a few weeks to help out at his parent's summer camp. This is quite a change-up from the Florida routine and weather, and I have been trying to figure out what it means for the blog over the summer. Well, I have come to the conclusion that it means some exciting new articles, locations, and (possibly) a video or two! Stay tuned for some fun stuff in the following weeks and months! ​

Don't let the picture fool you, it will not be France... yet. The hubs and I have been talking a lot about places we would like to travel to and the things we would like to see. France and Japan have always been my top two. One day! What are some of the places you have always dreamed of traveling to? 

[Pescetarian] Low Country Broil

One of my absolute favorite meals to cook in the spring is a Low Country Broil. Most Low Country Broils include sausage, crab or lobster, and craw fish or shrimp with corn and potatoes. Since I know many people who either do not eat meat or do not eat pig, this Low Country Broil is without any sausage. ​

This is my go-to meal whenever we are having guests over, or when we want something simple and fun for dinner. It is so easy to make and is much less expensive than you may think. When figuring serving sizes and how much I will need, I always use the simple calculation of each person getting three red potatoes, 1 1/2- two whole ears of corn, and 3/4 to one pound of shell fish. This cheat sheet is the quickest way to figure how much of each ingredient you will need. ​

Ingredients

Serving Size: 2-3 people    Prep Time: 10 minutes    Cook Time: 30 minutes

• ​1 Quart boiling water
  
• 1/2 Cup ​Old Bay seasoning
  
• 2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 Pound de-veined, uncooked shrimp
  
• 1 Pound snow crab legs
• 6 Red potatoes cut into eighths ​
• 4 Ears of corn, shucked and cut in half

Recipe

Boil water in one quart pot and add the white wine vinegar and Old Bay seasoning. Once in a rolling boil, add in the potatoes. Let boil for ten minutes, then add in the corn. Let the corn and potatoes boil for another ten minutes, ​then add in the crab. After five minutes, add in the shrimp. Cook for three minutes, or until ready, then remove from water and serve.

The Old Bay seasoning tastes great on the corn, potatoes, and shell fish alone, but you can also melt some butter and use cocktail sauce for dipping. Old Bay does have some spice, you can add in more or use a little less depending on your spice preference. 

Internet Workout Round-Up

There have been some fantastic internet workouts posted over the past few weeks. Some of these workouts have become part of my weekly routine, while others are super new to me, and super fun. Can you guess which I have become addicted to? Hint, ​I have been ridiculously addicted to bum and abs workouts of late.

Extra TV Fitness Challenge

Cassey over at Blogilates is a genius. This easy to complete fitness challenge is super fun and gives you they chance to be a star on Extra. Blogilates and Extra have teamed up for a sit-up challenge. See if you can complete more sit-ups than Mario Lopez or Maria Menounos while being distracted. Record your distracted 30 second sit-up challenge and send it in for a chance to win a spot on Extra! 

8 Minute Abs 2.0

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Do not let the title fool you, this ab workout is short, but boy is it intense. ​Nicole, from Pumpsandiron.com is great at making yummy foods and fantastic ways for us to burn it off. This workout is not exception. The entire thing takes (you guessed it) eight minutes and works the core, oblique, and lower abs. It also gives some extra toning to the bum and thighs. Yes please!

This workout is great, but what really caught my eye were her fantastic Nike leggings. They are gorgeous! ​

Yoga for Knees

It has been a while since we talked about yoga videos available online. Honestly, my new running schedule has taken the drivers seat and reduced the amount of yoga I have been doing each week. Mistake. If you are doing the 10K training along with me, I would totally recommend doing this flow after your run. This flow totally reminded why we need yoga, especially when we are doing abnormal, rigorous activities. ​

You may have guessed it, but strong knees are a bit important for running. This flow works the knee muscles and increases flexibility, making your legs more sturdy and increasing range of motion! ​

Shape Magazine Workout Review: Alison Sweeney's Workout

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Has anyone noticed that daytime soap operas are making a comeback in a big way? This month's issue of Shape Magazine is living proof with the Days of Our Lives star, Alison Sweeney as the cover girl. ​Although I have seen Alison Sweeney's hilarious Ellen reaction, I did not know much about her before reading the article. After reading her interview, I was inspired and seriously excited to try her workout. Anyone who can be as busy as she is and manage to go from a size 12 to a 4 (and keep it off) most likely has a pretty good fitness plan.

Alison works out between three and six times a week. This workout is super quick and should only take about ten minutes, but promises to work both the upper and lower body. The only downside of the workout that I can see so far is that almost every exercise calls for weights. Weights are an important part of training and toning, and even though I know this, I still hate reviewing workouts that use them. The average person does not have weights in there home or a membership to a gym. This makes exercises with weights difficult for them to do, and therefore, difficult for me to review. But, this workout looks too fun and too easy to skip over for any reason.

If you do not have weights but want to do this workout, sub them out for some 32 ounce water bottles, a small bag of books, your cat/small dog, candles, or anything else you can find that is about five pounds and is easy to hold. ​

The Workout

Alison's trainer recommends doing this ten minute circuit three times for a total of thirty minutes. There are five sets in a circuit and each set has ten reps. One circuit burned about 70 calories and took almost exactly ten minutes. Each circuit is intense and three together would be a workout of workouts. 

Doing or not doing this workout would hinge on whether or not you have weights. If you do have them available to you, I would highly recommend this. If not, you may want to do another one of the May workout plans. I completed this workout after my 2.5 mile run and was exhausted by the end. This workout will work your legs, core, and arms like few other things, and keeps exercises switched up enough that you will not get bored! 

One of the most surprising things to me was the lack of soreness the next day. I could not walk without pain after doing the Jillian Michaels May workout ​last week and was expecting that same soreness to return. There was no soreness the next day, but I do think this would truly increase my arm strength if done for a long period of time.