Apparently it’s May!
May 1 came and went and I awoke this morning only to see “May 2” in the lower right-hand corner on the television displaying the news channel at my gym. How about that!?
I have great feelings about this month! There are a lot of exciting things on the horizon, namely my trip to Europe (Wednesday!!!) and my friend Leah’s bachelorette party in Chicago at the end of the month. Should be a fun one!
Of course April was great, too…
- We visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
- Ryan received a special award at work and we got to attend a fancy schmancy black-tie ceremony
- We had a great time with friends at a party for Merri
- We celebrated Easter and my birthday with our families
- My sister graduated from college
April 2011 Recipe Round Up:
- Chocolate chia seed pudding
- Healthy BBQ chicken pizza
- Asian meatloaf
- Coconut granola
- Peanut butter pancakes
Super-Schweaty April Workouts:
Workout
Today I really concentrated on feeling the burn in BodyPump. I know strength training will not be in my life for nearly two weeks while my family and I are gallivanting around Europe, so I want to remember how good it feels to feel the burn so I am motivated to hit the gym when I return from our vacation.
I don’t have a problem getting to the gym in the mornings before work right now because it’s a habit. Take me out of the gym for two weeks and it’s much harder for me to find motivation to get my butt back in gear and return to my workouts.
When I get back from Europe, I may need you guys to give me a swift kick in the rear to get back into my typical exercise routine. Feel free to throw some of my favorite exercise mantras in my face. 
Breakfast
Today was one of those days where I didn’t know what I wanted to eat for breakfast. I tossed around a million different ideas in my head before finally settling on a bagelwich.
I topped a cinnamon raisin bagel thin with a slice of muenster cheese before toasting it in the toaster oven. While the cheese was melting and the bagel thin was crisping, I thinly sliced and apple, ate 3/4 of it and used the other 1/4 of the fruit in the bagelwich with some raspberry jelly.
I’m tellin’ ya, the whole cheese plus jelly combination is simply phenomenal.
Along with my bagelwich, I also had a peanut butter energy bite.
Recipe to come!
Off to work! Only a two day workweek for me!!! 
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Man oh man! How I envy you that you’re almost on holiday!
After stopping weight training for ages, I finally got back into it this weekend and I’m sore as anything….it feels so painful but oh so good!
You’ll still get pleeeenty of exercise in when you’re in Europe with all the walking around sightseeing you’ll be doing!
You have introduced me to the wonders of cheese and jelly and i LOVE it!!
I think you’ll be suprised by the amount of walking you’ll do in Europe – it will make the lack of gym time not so bad! Plus, you could easily do some circuits in your hotel room.
Happy May 😀
Oh gosh I wouldn’t even worry about exercising in Europe – you’;ll be on your feet SO much haha! And for good and fun reasons too 🙂 BE PUMPED!!!!
It’s official – cheese and jelly makes me drool. End of story.
Enjoy your day gorgeous lady!!
Only a 2 day work week? That should put some spring in your step! 🙂
I’m sure you’ll be itching to get back in the gym after a 2-week hiatus!! I always am dying to get back and have my best workouts after vacations 🙂
im the same! so hard to find motivation while on vacation!!! gahh! we will help ya though! and honestly sightseeing is such a calorie burner- walking around all day long!! UMM PLEASEEEE tell us that peanut butter bite recipe! that is right up my alley!
Ah you are going to have so much fun in Europe!!! 🙂
YAAAY FOR MAY-it’s gonna be an AWESOME month!! 😀
And peanut butter bites?! They sound AMAZING!! You’d better share the recipe- or else!! 😛
For sure you’ll be ready to get back to the gym after Europe! You’re one of the most motivated people I can think of, so I wouldn’t worry at all if I were you!
Have a great day!
Thanks so much for all your recipies! My husband and I live for BBQ chicken pizza, and we love your adaption of it. *thankful for healthy foodies!*
That makes me so happy! So glad you guys enjoyed it!
That bagel looks awesome. SOOO jealous of your trip! YOu’re going to have a blast!!
May is an amazing month! It’s the perfect segway to summer 🙂 The peanut butter energy bite totally caught me off guard. That looks so delicious! I can’t wait for the recipe. I need to try the cheese/jam bagelwich. I’ve just been doing the almond butter + apple butter + banana bagelwich, but I need to broaden my bagelwich options. It always looks so good when you make it!
What a great month, and I’m so excited for your holiday in May! Can’t wait to hear all about it. My April was also pretty good, but I’m looking forward to some (hopefully) nicer weather, BBQs, and patios this month!
I’m the same way about being out of the gym for a week or so. It’s so much harder to get back into the swing of things. But you’ll be doing a TON of walking in Europe, so that will totally count as getting your workouts in! You’re going to have so much fun!
Somehow I missed the fact that you leave on Wednesday! I thought your trip wasn’t for a few more weeks. How exciting!!! I love short work weeks!
Julie, I am so excited to hear all about your trip! I know you’re going to have an amazing experience!
Resistance bands are a great tool for strength training while traveling, as they take so little space in your suitcase. I have a RB workout on my site if you’re interested, although I understand if you’re looking forward to a fitness break as well! 🙂
Have a great week!
I’ve been contemplating a switch to morning workouts myself. Perhaps I can kick my butt into gear while I read about you doing the same after your 2 week vacation!
I feel you on the exercise mantras! I wasn’t feeling well this weekend and didn’t work out either day. I needed a lot of exercise mantras to get my going this AM. Love the April recap!
So exciting that you are leaving for Europe on Wed!!! That is going to be an awesome trip! I’m jealous! 🙂
That bagel sandwich looks so good!
YAY for a 2 day work week!!!!!
Also, after 2 full weeks of AM workouts, I can finally say that it’s getting easier and easier to wake up and get myself to the gym!! I’m sure after 1 or 2 mornings after your amazing trip to Europe, you will be fine too 🙂
Enjoy your holiday!
By the way – will you be posting the video on how you roast your veggies before you leave? I really wanna incorporate veggies into my meals and that seems like the coolest way to do so 🙂
i really hope to, but i’m not sure if i’ll have time! i’ll try!!
Where in Europe? I love Europe and can’t wait to read about your adventure.
Suzanne Williams
you may see where we’re going here: https://www.pbfingers.com/2011/04/04/europe-here-i-come/
Oh, and you can print out some workouts to do from Bodyrock.tv before you go – they are all about working out at home/no gym/minimal equipment
How exciting to go to Europe and Chicago! I went to Europe once and I loved it, so many new things to see 😀 Can’t wait for the energy bite recipe!!
Yum! Sounds good – can’t wait for the pb bite recipe!!
Yay!! YOu are going to have SOOO much fun in EUROPE! PB energy bite looks delish!! Don’t worry I got your back to get you back in the gym when you get home;) ha!
that bagelwich looks like a good one.
i already depleted by stash of cinn raisin bagel things. the horror.
ah! cant wait for the recipe for the PB bite, those look great.
so excited for you for your upcoming trip to Europe. sounds incredible. im jealous. LIVE IT UP! 🙂
I also LOVE bagelwiches. . but they never leave me feeling full – like a ginormous smoothie would – do you find you have to have a more substantial morning snack when you have a bagelwich?
hoenstly, it totally depends. some days my snack size is the same and other days i feel ravenous and make my snack a bit bigger… like today. 🙂
PB energy bite.. sounds yummy! I have been wanting to try one of your bagelwiches for awhile, I think that might just have to be my breakfast sometime this week!
I tried your chocolate-covered strawberry smoothie bowl today and WOW. It was amazing!! It tasted so so delicious. I’m so happy strawberries are in season so I can keep eating these!!
I’ve been rocking the cheese + jelly ever since I was tiny! My friends all used to knock it, but my mom used to make us “cheese in the oven.”
The recipe is quite simple. Set oven to broil. Put in a piece of bread for a minute or two. Flip it over. Top it with a slice of American cheese. Broil that sucker until the cheese turns brown and bubbles up. Top with jelly. ENJOY!
**it is IMPERATIVE that you use American cheese if you want the browning and bubbling. Other cheeses taste delicious, but the experience of the brown bubbles is NOT to be missed!**
I’m exactly the same when it comes to workouts… if I take more then 1 day off in a row… it becomes incredibly tough for me to get back into the swing of working out.
Tomorrow morning I start a bootcamp though…so I’m looking forward to the motivation from being in a group class 🙂
I just tried one of your cheese/jam bagelwiches today for breakfast…I’m a convert. They are so good! Thanks for the idea!
Mgm, bagelvich. I need to find a jam that goes well with cheese!
If you want to make a short visit to Croatia on your Europe trip, feel free to come, I would love to be your host 🙂
Your breakfast looks like breakfast + dessert combined! YUM! Excited for the PB energy bite recipe 🙂
I am so excited it’s may but also kind if in disbelief that the year is 1/3 of the way over already! Crazy…
The awesome thing about going to European cities is that you’ll still get an awesome workout in with all the WALKING you do!! The last time we were in Italy, my entire family ate pasta and gelato like there was no tomorrow and were still ravenous for every meal. You’re going to have an amazing time!
I need to try one of your bagelwich’s! They look so good.
Julie, I know how much you love jewelry but did anyone suggest Maurano glass to you. It is made in Venice and as you will see all the shops are full of glass objects. However the true Maurano glass will have a little seal of approval on it. That proves it was made on the little island of Maurano which is part of the islands of Venice. So many unbelievable things you will go crazy. Have a wonderful time.
I must try this bagelwich/jam/cheese combo, eh?? 🙂 SO excited for you and your trip!
Looks like APril was great month for ya-that rocks!
I really want to try a body pump class. I need to find a gym in my area with Body Pump ASAP!
Do you think I’ll fit in your suitcase? 😉 I really wanna go to Europe!
I used to be an avid morning workout-er but have definitely fallen off that wagon with traveling for work early in the morning every week. thanks for these workout links – I’m hoping they get me back in the spirit of kicking butt pre 8 am!!
OMG almost Euopre time!! You will love it here, I’m sure 🙂
It’s true what gabriela said, If you’re sightseeing you’ll probably be wazlking around 10km-15km a day, it does work up an appetite! 🙂
The countdown has begun! 😉
Walking around Europe is definitely exercise. Maybe not heart-pumping sweaty exercise, but hey you’ll be having so much fun!
Hello~ I was wondering if I could ask you a couple random questions? I get up early and go to the gym first thing in the morning around 5AM~ do you eat something before you go or do you wait til breakfast? what are your mid morning snacks if you do not mind me asking. I am lacking in the snack catagory for ideas. What protein powder do you use your smoothies look so yummie!!
THank you! Heather
I am happy its may too, b/c I go on vaation this month, fun huh?
you had a busy april!
Your trip is going to be amazing!!! 😀
I cannot believe it is May either! Where does the time go?!
Super excited for those PB energy bites recipe
I’m shocked that it’s May. Truly! LOL
I love that you rounded up your workouts – such great ones- love that circuit. I did a circuit Saturday and thought of you! 🙂 Especially because you do your burpees without paper plates. Oy.
have a great short work week!