Hello, hello! Happy Wednesday! Less than a week until Christmas! Do you have all of your shopping done? 😉

I can’t believe I’ve already been on break for a week now! It has unfortunately been going very fast, but I’ve done plenty of baking, reading, babysitting, and of course, playing with this pup, so I suppose it’s worth it. 🙂

WIAW hosted by Jenn at Peas and Crayons!

Breakfasts

I had my favorite Greek yogurt (with Special K and raisins) for breakfast every day this week except for one.

The one day that I didn’t, I made a protein smoothie. Unfortunately, I was sick all morning and into the afternoon. Because that wasn’t the first time that had happened after drinking a protein smoothie, I think I have become allergic to/intolerant of the protein powder that I use. Anybody have suggestions for an egg- and nut-free protein powder? The kind I use now is Pure Protein.

Lunches

On Friday I enjoyed a delicious lunch: a salmon burger, rice with cranberries, and mixed veggies. I had a ginger ale to wash it all down.

Then, yesterday, I had some leftover minestrone soup, which I made over the weekend (see below!).

Snacks

One of my favorite snacks is a rice cake with sunflower seed butter and jelly (this time blackberry) on top. I had this snack many times throughout the week.

I also ate mannnny apples. They’re so good this time of the year!

Dinners

A chicken salad. (Romaine lettuce, string cheese, chicken, cucumbers, and dried cranberries with balsamic vinegar.)

When I got home last Wednesday night, I found that I was the one chosen to make dinner. Haha. On the menu: chicken fajitas.

And that minestrone. This stuff was super good, but I didn’t season it enough – it needed much more salt! Here is the recipe I used.

I did make some changes: I didn’t use any leeks, but instead more onion, and I didn’t use any pesto, just because we didn’t have any and my mom isn’t the biggest fan of herbs anyway. 😉

Desserts

Around this time of year, I get myself into the mentality that “it’s OK if I have a bit more dessert than usual”. Well, it’s not. That’s such a bad way to think. But, I do still get the urge to bake and make fun treats. So what I do is make up a big batch of cookies, for example, and give them away!

I put together some little gifts for my neighbors: I bought stockings with the kids’ initials on them, and put things like baseball/football cards and nail polish inside.

And then in the tins were bags of Christmas Confetti cookies….

(I think this batch turned out even better than the last! Instead of shaped sprinkles, I used the little ball-shaped ones. The distributed much better, and, I think, looked cuter!)

I had just painted my nails, and realized when I looked at this picture that there was polish all over my finger, hence the touch-up. 😛

…and white chocolate-covered pretzels.

It’s so much fun giving things like this. Plus, I can make up the treats, sample a bit, and wrap the rest up! Win win.

What is your favorite treat to give away around the holidays? What’s your favorite treat to receive?

Workouts December 15-22
Sunday: off
Monday: 20 minutes jogging + 40 minutes walking on treadmill
Tuesday: Jillian Michael’s 30-Day Shred, level 3
Wednesday: 45 minutes elliptical trainer
Thursday: off
Friday: 25 minutes jogging + 35 minutes walking on treadmill
Saturday: 45 minutes elliptical trainer + circuit training

As of tomorrow night, my area is under a winter storm advisory. We’re supposed to get anywhere from 1-3 inches of snow, which I am not looking forward to at all. However, I shouldn’t complain – it’s been around 40* all December, and there’s been just a bit of snow that has melted almost immediately. Ella and I even went out for a jog the other day!

What do you prefer: a snowy winter or a rainy one?

Well, that’s all I have to talk about! Have a great day!