Three more days until Christmas and only two more days until Christmas Eve!!!

Thought I’d do the math for you, you’re welcome. Stats didn’t help with that at all, by the way.

This past weekend has been all about seeing high school friends and spending time with family. I really only have these next few days to see New York friends before my family heads to Florida for 2.5 weeks! I guess that’s why I feel like I have to squeeze in all my friend time ASAP. Luckily, I think I accomplished that this weekend!

Friday

I met up with some dance friends for dinner at Bareburger on Friday night. It made me smile so hard to catch up with these wonderful ladies!

That meal also made me smile real big. I had a black bean burger with spinach, tomato, goat cheese (yaaassss), and stone ground honey mustard on a multigrain bun. The panko-crusted fried zucchini sticks and sweet potato fries were also perfection.

And guess what! Before Bareburger, I ran for the first time since November 22! It was dark and cold outside, but I had just gone on a walk and started running home on my last lap around the neighborhood. I actually came inside to do a strength workout, but I was sore, so I went back outside and ran. It just felt right. I currently only run if I’m feeling in the groove, and on Friday evening I was feelin’ it!

According to the RunKeeper app my pace was 9:08 for the 3.6 miles I ran, but I felt like I was flying, so I don’t give a darn about what it says. I think I actually loved that run.

[source]

My reaction to myself.

Saturday

Moving back to food…

Saturday morning’s breakfast was brought to you me by my food idol, Kylie @ Yeah…Imma Eat That. I prepared this “banana pudding for breakfast” on Friday night and dug in on Saturday morning. The only thing I did differently was rather than using vanilla Greek yogurt, I used plain Greek yogurt mixed with apple sauce, honey, and cinnamon.

Holy smokes, life will never be the same.

I’m on a mission to make as many unique breakfasts as possible during this winter break. #winterbreakbreakfastmission <— can we trend this? yes? yes?

My moves on Saturday: This “triple 8” workout from Purely Twins. All the incline exercises really worked the upper back! It was a fun one, and I finished in about 27 minutes.

After my workout, I visited my dance school’s holiday party where I reunited with old and new dance company members and instructors. Oh how I miss dancing! (Groovin’ has fallen on the wayside in college.)

I also went on a freezing-cold walk with my good friend Samantha in the afternoon. She understands my love for walking, especially now that we don’t have a big wide campus for roaming.

Nighttime came, we went to Mass, and then this family dinner happened:

Mom’s homemade shrimp pad thai

Arman’s balsamic roasted brussels sprouts (I also added some honey  for some sweetness!)

A pumpkin gingerbread bar with vanilla ice cream

Everything about this meal was comforting and satisfying. It was so nice to sit down with the whole family at the dinner table, holding hands, saying grace, singing kumbaya…

Sunday

The Greek yogurt bowl is BACK.

plain Greek yogurt mixed with maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and chia seeds + half a sliced banana + pumpkin gingerbread + almond butter

Tip: Under-bake muffins ever so slightly. It results in a soft, doughy, delicious muffin that is perfect for things like the above yogurt bowl.

I had lunch only two hours after breakfast because I woke up at 10, ate breakfast, and then went to my church for a religious education staff/faculty luncheon at noon. I taught third grade Sunday school for two years in high school, and the principal was kind enough to invite me back!

My dad took me to his gym in the evening, where my moves included 5 min. on the arc trainer + 12 minute tabata + kettlebell burpee pyramid workout. I loved this workout!

I also appreciated the fact that the CrossFit Invitational was on TV at the gym. How could you not be inspired to work out when you’re watching the fittest people on earth?

{10pm snack as I type this post}:

green smoothie made with ½ c. almond milk, a huge handful of spinach, half a frozen banana, and half a scoop of vanilla protein powder

Brother: “Why spinach and banana?”

Me: “You can’t taste the spinach.”

Brother: “But there’s spinach in it.”

Me: “Taste it!”

Brother: *tastes it* “Oh, you really can’t taste the spinach.”

Me: “You’re welcome.”

I hope you all have a fabulous day! Eat (or drink) your spinach!

So tell me:

What did you eat this weekend?

Do you ever feel like you’re flying during a run, even though you’re not going THAT fast?

Where will you be spending Christmas?