Five on Friday

Happy Friday! I'm joining up with April at A. Liz adventures for Five on Friday for the first time today! Head on over to her blog to join!

1. First things first- this link. http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g2365/pasta-salad-recipes/?slide=26 

50 different pasta salad recipes! Yes, you read that right I said 50. And they all look delicious! Some of them would definitely be more indulging but most look actually pretty healthy especially if you use whole wheat pasta or even subbed in quinoa and I can't wait to test out a few. Just to give you a little sneak peek.... in order from left to right- avocado pasta salad, southwestern black bean pasta salad and a tzatziki pasta salad. How delicious do those look?!

2. One of my friends shared this with me and it has been a game changer on busy days! It's a 15 minute workout! 15 minutes-that's it. I calculated it and it is only 1% of my day. I squeeze it in while dinner is cooking or before a shower in my bathroom. It's my go to on a day where a longer workout just isn't happening.

Burpees- 30 sec

Plank- 60 sec

High Knees- 30 sec

Lunges- 60 sec

Mountain Climbers- 30 sec

Leg Lifts- 60 sec

Squat Jumps- 30 sec

Wall Sits- 60 sec

Speed Skaters- 30 sec

Calf Raises- 60 sec

Complete and Repeat

(Let me know and I'm happy to clarify any of the exercises)

3. Speaking of getting a workout in...my new favorite exercise trick is my energize drink. I drink it 30 minutes before my workout and it gives me so much more energy! I've also been known to drink some before needing to clean my house or at 3pm on a Wednesday afternoon when I have things to do but all I really want to do is nap- is that just me?

About to get my workout on after my energize!

4. Did you know Walmart has super cute workout clothes? I found the cutest workout tanks and tees there! I find it hard to spend a lot of money of something that's going to get all sweaty anyway so I love that they're inexpensive and the fact that they're super cute is a bonus! 

I may have now worn this shirt more times than most of my much fancier shirts combined! Love it!! 

5. I'm getting started with the facebook health and fitness accountability group I run and I shared my goals with them tonight. In my mind the more accountability I have the better when it comes to meeting these goals so I'd like to share them with you here as well and I'll keep you posted on my progress over the next 21 days!

What I'll be working on:

- working out at least 5 days a week so 15 of the 21  days (hoping to kick this goal's booty and do even more!)

-limit myself to 1 soda/week --> Diet coke is still a weakness of mine even thought I know it's bad for me (it's just so delicious) so this goal is going to be a challenge but I'm committed!

- drink more water!! They say you should determine how much water to drink by cutting your weight in half so that will be my goal each day.

Hope you enjoyed my "fit friday" for this five on friday! 

PS. If you want to set your own goals and join me and my group you can find me on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/maggie.daley.3 I'd love to include you! 

Linking up with the Hodgepodge

I'm linking up with my mom's blog today to participate in the weekly hodgepodge questions! Head on over to her blog to join in the fun!

1. How did you welcome the month of July, and tell us one fun thing you did to celebrate the 4th. (or the weekend for any non-USA residents playing along today)

The weekend of the 4th G and I hung out on the lake with some of our sweet friends and their family. We went for a boat ride, floated in the water and her dad put on a killer fireworks display! It was so relaxing and just what I feel like a holiday weekend should be. 

On the actual 4th we headed back to my apartment and spent the afternoon and evening resting and recovering and me feeling very sunburned! 

2. Right now..what's your favorite red thing? white thing? blue thing? 

Red- Cherries- I love eating as much fruit as possible in the summer and the delicious sweet red cherries I bought at the store the other day are absolute delicious and to me taste like summer. 

White- This is a tricky one- the pages of all of the books I've been reading? I've been using my summer time off well and making my way through lots of good reads! 

Blue- Bluberries!! I'm sensing a fruit theme...I love blueberries and eat them by the pint and I just can't get enough! 

3. Wave the white flag, raise a red flag, fly your freak flag...which 'flag' have you flown most recently? Explain. 

4. According to Cond Nast Traveler these are the seven best places to visit in July-

a boat safari in Botswanna's Okavango Delta, Riviera Maya Mexico (it's whale shark season and apparently you can swim with them), Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, Pamploma Spain, St. Petersburg Russia, the Fuji Rock Festival at Mount Naeba Japan, the Salzburg Festival in Salzburg Austria

If time and money weren't factors would you want to see any/all of these? Which would you most like to see and why? 

There are several I would want to see! I have a hard time picking which I want to see most. Anyone who knows me knows I love sharks so I'd have a hard time passing up an opportunity to swim with whale sharks. However, a safari is on the top of my bucket list in terms of travel so I would love to do the boat safari too! So if time and money isn't a factor then both it is :) 

5. Grilled cheese, pimento cheese, or mac and cheese...your favorite from the cheesy treats listed? 

Oh gosh, one hard question after the other. Cheese is my love language. If something has cheese in it, I will eat it. If there is no cheese involved in a meal, I feel like the meal was incomplete. I think I would have to say pimento cheese...I love a good southern pimento cheese. However I prefer mine thicker more like a dip rather than super combined like a spread. But I can't ever turn it down! 

6. What makes you sweat? 

Running late....I hate being late and if ever I'm running late- which is very rare- it stresses me into a sweat! Oh and exercise :) 

7. Your favorite movie with a 'patriotic' theme of some sort?

I love The Guardian- which is about the U.S. Coastguard. I also love Saving Private Ryan. Oh and National Treasure- which may not initially seem super patriotic but I think it's got that feeling. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I determined today I have 35 more days until I report back to work...

On one hand I am very excited for my new kindergarten adventure and then on the other I'm wishing summer could just last forever and ever. 

So I'll be soaking up all that summertime while it lasts!