Thursday, June 30, 2011

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

I like easy Italian food, big words, and chocolate.  Pretty sunsets don't hurt, either.





Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Minted Watermelon Salad

A lot of folks have been asking for the recipe, so here it is!  Courtesy of Real Simple magazine.



 Seriously, this is the easiest thing in the world to make:





Voila!  Perfect for any barbeque or summer bash.


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

First Giveaway!!!

Hey howdy hey!


In honor of my favorite childhood holiday, from now until Independence Day, I'm running a giveaway on the blog!  The lucky (or rather, random-generator-favored) reader will win a year's subscription to their choice of either Health or Fitness magazine. 



Three ways to win:
  1. Follow me using the button on the right.
  2. Leave a comment telling me what you'd like to see more of on TheMeghaMix.
  3. Use your mad Harry Potter wizarding skills and charm the number generator into spitting out your name.  (Okay, honey, that would be cheating.)
Break a leg!  Or something like that.

Get Toned Arms Fast


Yesterday was fun: I did some impromptu personal training at the gym!  Someone wanted to learn my killer abs workout, so I got to work up a sweat while helping a random gym goer do the same. 

I love sharing anything I've learned while overhauling my health in the last 10 months...and so I thought I'd share with you the upper body workout I'm currently focused on. 

All you need is a set of 4-10 lb. dumbbells and 20 minutes to yourself.

Do this workout as a circuit (each exercise right after the other).  This saves a ton of time and keeps your heart rate up.  After going through the whole set of moves once, rest and get some water, then repeat the circuit. 
Try these circuits once a week for 4 weeks as your upper-body strength day, or twice a week for 3 weeks on non-consecutive days if you want to see results more quickly. 
Follow up every strength training/weight lifting session with a protein bar/shake/snack within 30 minutes for maximum muscle tone.
  • Push-up Position Row: A. Start in a plank holding a dumbbell in each hand.  B. Row right elbow towards the ceiling, using your core to stabilize.  Repeat on left side.  (That's one rep.)  Do 8-12 reps.  (Be sure to tighten your glutes.  This will protect your lower back and put more work on your abs...which you want, right?)



  • Shrug: A. Start standing with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing forward.  B. Carefully shrug shoulders up towards ears.  Return to start.  Do 16-20 reps.

  • Hammer Curl: From fit tip daily...my photos didn't turn out well.  Do 10-16 reps.

  • Reverse Fly: A. From a standing position, soften knees and bend forward from the hips, keeping back straight, with elbows at sides in a 90 degree angle.  B. Focus on keeping your neck relaxed while drawing your shoulder blades together and pulling the weights out to be parallel with your back.  Do 8-12 reps.

  • Tricep Kick-backs: A. Start same as reverse fly.  B. Keeping elbows "locked" to sides, bring weights directly back towards hips and hold for a count of two.  Do 10-16 reps.

  • Front Raise: A. Start standing with arms relaxed, palms facing you.  B. Keeping arms straight, raise weights to shoulder height and slowly lower back down.  Do 8-12 reps.



You can also have two different sets of weights handy depending on which exercises are easier for you.  There are two ways to gauge whether you are pushing yourself enough: first, the final rep should be very difficult to complete with good form...if it's not, you need to add reps or use a heavier weight.  The other is the sweat test.  If, after you are finished with the workout, you feel you could wear your clothes for another workout before washing, you haven't worked hard enough.  Aim for sweaty, smelly, and gross.

Let me know how it goes or if you have any questions!!!

Monday, June 27, 2011

Color blocking?


Apparently all the cool kids are doing it.  I tried with this outfit (which I really is like color-blocking for wimps), and to my chagrin, my youngest brother informed me I looked like Christmas.  Clearly this trend is not for me.

Oh well...any outfit can be redeemed by an afternoon at the Kirkland Waterfront.  Yay sun!


LARABARs are my absolute favorite.  These bars are a great on-the-go snack, and they are made with whole foods.  No weird stuff that only chem majors can pronounce.  You should try them! 

J + M = love, shoe love


 I want this bike!!!

Sunglasses: Kohls, scarf: H&M Italy,
sweater: Old Navy, bag: Old Navy,
shorts: Fred Meyer, shoes: Old Navy

Sunday, June 26, 2011

For the Love of Brie


Brie is undoubtedly the best cheese in the world.  It makes everything all better.  You can use it to save your wallet and your health by bringing your own lunch to work this week.  Here's what you need:
  • Whole wheat pita pockets
  • Turkey
  • Brie
  • Baby spinach
  • Turmeric
  • Red pepper flakes
Sprikle the turmeric and pepper flakes on a few slices of turkey.  (3 slices equals one serving.)


Stuff the turkey, 2-3 slices of brie, and a handful of baby spinach into a pita pocket.  (You can add a drizzle of olive oil if you wish.)  Throw it in a sandwich bag and make your coworkers jealous

I tend to make at least 2 days worth of lunches at once.  It saves a lot of time and hassle since you already have all the ingredients/utensils out...and really any sandwich will keep just fine for 2 days.


Saturday, June 25, 2011

African Queen

Jacket: Kohls, scarf: gifted,
bag: Old Navy

Top: Express, belt: Old Navy,
skirt: Old Navy, shoes: Kohls

Not sure why...but this outfit makes me think of the 1951 film with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn...which I have never seen.  I liked Bogey in Sabrina, and Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story (although Jimmy Stewart stole the film, in my opinion).

So maybe I should check out The African Queen?  Have you ever seen it?  Any old movies you'd recommend instead?

Friday, June 24, 2011

Art of the Sweataway - Part I

Looking for something to spice up your love life?  Well, here it is, folks...

The Quarterly Sweataway!

About once a quarter, my husband and I take a few days to focus on spending time together and reconnecting.  Since we are health and fitness freaks, we make things extra awesome by filling our time with amazing food and heart-pumping workouts.

Here's some ideas from our spring sweataway (I would post about the winter sweataway since it came first, but we took photos for that on a "real" camera and thus 5+ months later haven't gotten them developed):

1. Start off your first evening by whipping up a healthy/fun dinner together.  (Delicious food gives you energy for the weekend...but if it's too involved you may find yourselves frustrated at the mountain of dishes left after dinner.  Not romantic or relaxing.)

We got dragonfruit at the store...
it reminded us of our honeymoon in Maui!


Making shrimp fajitas

Dragon fruit tastes kind of like a pear mixed with a kiwi. 
The black seeds are totally edible, too.


Get the recipe for our amazing salsa.

2. The following morning, try a workout class together.  (This means no one will be having to make a decision about what to do first thing in the morning.  We are horrible at decision making...like the vultures in Jungle Book.)

I brought Jared along to barre3.  Check out our joint review of this pilates/ballet/yoga inspired workout.

Us, pre-class
3. Have a tasty brunch.  Start healthy and add in a big splurge.  We like spinach omlettes and turkey or chicken sausage...



...and maple cinnamon rolls.  (Please note that there are only two in the photo below because the others had already been consumed.)


Jared working out some  more while I make eggs...

See how we added in the leftover salsa?
4. Now that you've worked out and refueled, head on a mini road-trip to do some fitness-related shopping.  We like to bring great snacks from World Market, and something fun to listen to in the car.


Peanut butter pretzels!

LOVE Brian Jacques
Nike and lululemon...what more could we want?



On sale for TWELVE DOLLARS.


Happy shoppers!
5. Then you come home and go for a 7 mile run in your new gear.

Shirt: lululemon, shorts: Nike

Running top: Nike, dri-fit pants: Nike
7. Finish up your day with dinner out.  (It helps if you have a gift card to somewhere amazing, like Daniel's Broiler.



I decided not to go blogger-crazy and photograph our entire meal, but dessert was too amazing to let pass.  Fresh strawberries in chocolate and grand marnier. 





 



Wearing my new lulu jacket!
More sweataway details forthcoming...HAPPY FRIDAY!!!