A GOOD Reason to Wake Up in New York

So my latest "celebrity interest" you wonder? It all started from waking up many mornings to work out at 445 am this past year. I do my Kym Gym workout while Good Day New York is on in the background. I consider it multi tasking. Workout while catching up on the latest news stories of the day. 

That's when I started noticing a new hip young anchor each morning in some of the most fashionable outfits I've ever seen. Meet Jenn Lahmers.

After following her each morning on the news and on Instagram, I once again realized that we have many things in common and could have the potential to be great friends if she sees this blog. 🙂 

First off she is a news anchor. I always found journalism to be interesting. However, I would have wanted to step straight into the anchor chair and read stories to the camera under the lights. 💁🏻📽 Teaching is sort of similar. I mean, 5 performances a day of teaching the quadratic formula to my 8th graders is kind of like explaining what's going on in the world to millions of viewers. We both need to report the facts and be up to date on the latest information. 

We both come from great families. It seems she is very close to her mom, aka "mamalahmas52" on Instagram.

I am also very close to my mom, aka "arubamam" on Instagram, aka "FTG" in person. 😉 

Jenn seems to spend a lot of time with her parents. 

(@papalahmas52 on the right) My dad not on Instagram (yet). 

I too spend a lot of time with my parents. I am often known to "third wheel" with them when Anthony is working. And prior to dating Anthony, they were my main social circle. 

I also would like to mention that I have a great brother as well. 😄 

Jenn and I also have a great looking man on our sides. 😉

Double date soon? 

We are also into fitness and working out. 💪🏻🏃🏻‍♀️

We like to hang out at "The Kimberly" in NYC. Here is Jenn with her GDNY posse.

And me with mine last summer. 

We love a good beach vacay. 

I enjoy to frequent Aruba. Aruba, Anguilla, close enough. 🙂

LAST but not least, our friends and family like to take pictures of us on the TV. 

Good morning beautiful Elf! 

So as you can see, tons of stuff in common. 

If you haven't found a reason to wake up early yet, now you have one. Tune into GDNY Early Show Mon-Fri 4:30-7am. 

I'll be waiting to set up a get together, Jenn. 💁🏻😄

Bringing Blogging Back...Again

Well I am back again. Back again sitting wondering why Katie Lee has not seen my blog yet 🤔 wondering why I do not have my own show where I sample the finest (gluten free) bites Long Island has to offer. Maybe she hasn't caught up on all of her Instagram DM's yet? 

Anyway.... 

If you've been "keeping up" with me over the past year, you know a lot has changed! 

New job! 

New house 😅🏡

And completed a new running distance. 🏃🏻‍♀️

My first half marathon! (More on this in a separate post) 

It's been quite the year! 😬

Still loving to get a good sweat on 💪🏻

 While also loving all sorts of great food. 👍🏻😅🍽

And excited for Aruba of course! 🇦🇼

So I thought I would bring it back on the blog for a bit while I have some summer down time 😎

Stay tuned for my latest "celebrity" interest. 💁🏻

Happy Sunday

Sunday meaning the "Sunday" for us teachers. 😱

I can't believe July has come and gone. Don't get me wrong, I like August because it's almost Aruba time, but reality sets in pretty quick after that. 

Here are a few snapshots of what I've been up the remainder of the "Saturday" of summer. 

Anthony and I drove out to Montauk for the day. On the way I was getting a little hangry, so we stopped at The Golden Pear for some breakfast. I knew the moment I walked in and saw "gluten free" I was in the right spot. 

Here I am with my gluten free egg sandwich. 🍳🍞

They even had some pretty good iced coffee. 

Our trip to Montauk was all about the food. For dinner we checked out The Clam Bar which was a recommendation from, can you guess? Katie Lee

A++!! On another trip I would definitely try some of the sweet potato fries I saw pass by. 

It was time for Anthony and I's 8th wedding in the past 10 months. This time it was a cruise around NYC. 

We had a day in between to rest before heading back into the city for a belated birthday celebration. Tickets to see On Your Feet and a stay at The Kimberly Hotel. 

Having the name Kimberly had its perks as we were upgraded to a nice 1 bedroom suite and I went home with my very own Kimberly slippers and robe. 

T1D side note- I was able to do all of the city walking without any blood sugar issues. 💃🏻🤗 

All of this fun while still getting the workouts in. 

ANDDDD cooking. Check out my homemade bacon wrapped dates. 

I mean COME ON... Katie Lee... Kimberly Lauren... KL... 

Still haven't heard from her. I guess she still hasn't read my blog 😌😌😌

Hopefully August slows down a bit... 🙂

Fitness Friday - Kym Gym

Anyone try those yasso bars yet? Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about the food and when it's time to eat, but I'm also all about that fitness. 💪🏻

 So I figured it's time to share my favorite at home HIIT workout for when I'm crunched on time but still want to sweat. Plus with Aruba in less than a month, I'm really trying to step up my game. 

This has been my go to especially on the days I workout before work. 35 minutes may not sound like a lot, but any bit of sweat is worthy!

Coined "Kym Gym" by Anthony - I am able to do this in the comfort of my den with Anthony's help sliding the coffee table to the side of the room. 

Equipment needed:

Jump Rope

3lb dumbells 

Yourself

The workout: 

Warmup: 1 minute of the following exercises 

- running in place

- cross jacks (jumping jacks with crossing the arms in front instead of above the head) 

- butt kicks 

- karaoke across the room 

- standing oblique crunches with knee raise (YouTube it 😬) 

Jump rope 20 seconds

Rest 30-60 seconds 

Complete each of the following exercises for 45 seconds each. 

- burpees 😄💃🏻 

- squats with over head arm press (holding dumbells)

- jack presses (jumping jacks with dumbells in hands pressing up) 

- push-ups on knees 

- lunge jumps (20 seconds right leg lead - 20 seconds left leg lead) holding dumbells

- air punches with dumbells 

- squat jumps with dumbells

Jump rope for 20 seconds. 

Rest 1 minute 

Repeat circuit for however many rounds you have time for. I usually do 2 rounds and then abs and stretch for cool down. Of course everything can be modified - no weights, shorter blocks, etc. 

Now, I really don't like working out at home. It's a lot harder to get going and even worse thinking of the alarm going off at 4:45am to do this. 😳  I just think of how good I feel after. It actually goes pretty quickly. Plus the smell of coffee brewing from the kitchen helps. ☕️ 

Put on a good playlist and I am enjoying breakfast before I know it. 

You can really make this workout as short or long as you want based on the number of rounds and how long you make the blocks. So there are no excuses😄. Cutting out the travel time to the gym can still get you a great workout. 💪🏻

Happy National Ice Cream Day!

In case you didn't know, today is National Ice Cream Day. I don't know about you, but on this 80 something degree summer day I definitely plan on celebrating!

💞🍦😍👍🏻💃🏻 (thanks to Anthony for this candid shot from our trip to Newport, RI this past spring) 

Unfortunately I won't be celebrating with my favorite ice cream from Kilwins (pictured above). However, the best part is, my celebration will be at most 120 calories and that will bring a smile to my face just as big as the one above (okay maybe not quite as big 😬). 

120 calories of ice cream? What am I having, 2 spoonfuls?    

🤔 Haha no way! 

Meet my new favorite summer treat that's almost like having ice cream, my Yasso Frozen Yogurt Pops! 

Okay, so maybe I'm not technically having ice cream, but it tastes just as great and a lot nicer on the nutrition label. Sea salt caramel is just one of the many flavors, but so far it has been my favorite. Other flavors include vanilla, strawberry, peanut butter cup and more that I am forgetting. 

I also like them a lot because it is a pretty substantial serving and easy on the blood sugar. 😉 

What could be better? 

Actual ice cream 🍦! 

If your not a fro-yo fan and want the real deal, then I suggest checking out what skinny cow has to offer. 

Tasting just like ice cream minus the calories, these have also become a new summer favorite of mine. Skinny cow even makes a fro-yo pop and flying saucers. 

I'm waiting for the flying saucers to be made gluten free, so until then I'll stick to my new finds. 😎 

In other food news, my best friend and twin Tanya was in town with her husband JT! We had a nice "cookout" (the southern BBQ) and did a lot of catching up. 

And in other cooking news, I've really been adventurous these past few days! Check out my bacon wrapped dates I recreated...

More on those another day. It's time for some ☀️☀️☀️☀️😎😎😎 

Future Friends?

In my last blog I hinted as to what would be the topic of my next post. Since there has been a number of posts related to fitness and I am trying to come back to the blogging world fresh and exciting, I thought I would share my celebrity doppelgänger (so I'm told). It may even be a little bit of a girl crush, but we all have them, right? 

Katie Lee - best known for her role on "The Kitchen" or host of her show "Beach Bites" on The Cooking Channel. 

Or you may even know her from her exciting posts on Instagram and Insta Story. If not, definitely go give her a follow to see what I mean (and me too while you're at it 😉). Over the past couple of months I've been entertained by her updates, adventures, food and travel posts. In fact, I've been told by quite a few people that we look alike - I'll take it! 

After some stalking investigating of her Instagram account, I have come to find that we actually are basically the same person and have the potential to be very good friends sharing all of our common interests. Take a look at my findings to see for yourself. 

For starters - we both LOVE food. 

We are also both all about a big salad. 😉 

And don't forget a good helping of ice cream. 

Although we love food, we both enjoy working out to keep up with all of that goodness! 

 

We both enjoy traveling. Here is Katie in Newport, RI 

And pictured below is Anthony and I not far from that same spot. You see those chairs behind us? 😉

We also both find "nothing more enticing than the beach." 😎 (Tune into Beach Bites Thursday's at 10pm to see what I mean). 

Katie loves her cute pup, Gus. 

I love my friends Chris and Jennie's pup, Gatsby. 

 

Just call me the dog whisperer. 

We enjoy snorkeling... 

And Christmas... 🎄

Speaking of Christmas, we both know Santa Claus 🎅🏼

And this guy...

Ok... maybe not so much. 🙃

Katie also understands the scary nature of gluten for a gluten free gal like myself. 

I'm sure she can share with me some gluten free versions of her favorite recipes. 🙂

Katie writes books...

And I write this blog. 😄

So, as you can see, we have many common interests. I can very easily see us spending our free time galavanting The Hamptons taking part in all of the above. 💃🏻

So Katie Lee, if you happen to see this maybe think about me joining your team for the gluten free version of "Beach Bites?" ☺️🤔 I'll be open to discussion. 😊