I feel like yelling a great bit “Hallelujah” because Friday is FINALLY here!!!! Seriously. Could this week have been any slower? Monday and Tuesday seemed to zoom past, but then I kept thinking it was Friday on both Wednesday and Thursday. I guess I really want the weekend to get here. I have a little something to look forward to after all…

Last night, I decided to go ahead and pick up my race stuff. I was glad to see a Thursday afternoon pick-up option because it meant avoiding Friday afternoon traffic in Atlanta. I can assure you that is never fun to get stuck with. I still had to deal with some traffic though and was happy I had an easy dinner planned for when I got home.

BBQ Tofu Wraps again! We had them just two weeks ago, but I seriously can’t get enough. I never thought the day would come that I would crave tofu. Now? Devoured!

After dinner, I went ahead and organized my playlist for the race. A bit random, but they are all songs that get me going. I picked something motivational to start me out and then things that make me push it to keep me moving at the end.

• Our God – Chris Tomlin
• I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
• Raise Your Glass – Pink
• Livin’ On A Prayer – Bon Jovi
• Firework – Katy Perry
• Survivor – Beyonce
• Fighter – Christina Aguilera
• Gives You Hell – Glee Cast version

Now, today I plan on taking it easy so my legs can feel fresh and ready tomorrow morning. WISH ME LUCK!!! And since tomorrow I plan to share my race recap, I will now bring you the FFF Features a day early. Happy Friday!

Featured Workout: Cathe CoreMax DVD

I plan on resting my legs today, but I figured it would be a good time to break out an old favorite abs workout. I rarely do abs exercises besides planks a couple times each week because abs get worked during so many other activities. It’s still fun to do a session of core work at times though, and Cathe always delivers.

Featured Meal: Yogurt Bowls

Still OB-SESSED!

Featured Cuteness: Getting So Big!

He’s growing, growing, growing! Part of me is excited that he’ll sit up on his own, crawl, and more before I know it. Then, the other half wants to put it all to a screeching halt.

Featured Quote:

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
~Author Unknown

Featured Reading: Beth @ Beth’s Journey – Breaking The Cycle

If you enjoyed my post yesterday about food balance, then you will love Beth’s very real and open sharing of her own experience. She is an inspiring lady!

Brittany @ A Healthy Slice of Life – Healthy vs Low Calorie

The debate on whether low calorie makes something healthy. Brittany lays it out so well.

• What song would you HAVE to have on your workout/race playlist?

As usual, I started my weekend with a challenging workout at the gym. I did a repeat of last week’s “doozy” cardio and weights circuit but with different weight moves. It felt just as good today as it did then. Of course, I came home and refueled right away.

A yogurt bowl with Chobani peach yogurt, blackberries, coconut, cheerios, and butter toffee almonds. With a refreshing iced coffee on the side. Food always tastes better after a good sweat session. This…well, this was downright moan inducing. It included two favorites I excitedly grabbed up when grocery shopping yesterday afternoon. Blackberries, my favorite fruit, were on sale and these almonds were also on sale.

Plus, I had a coupon. Otherwise, these two things would not have appeared in this morning’s bowl.

Allow me a bit of a tangent. Grocery prices are driving me crazy lately! It seems every week gets more and more expensive. I spent $140 (yes, $140!!!) on our grocery trip yesterday. The trip did include stocking up on some things that I had coupons for or were on sale that will last awhile, plus some toiletries, but I would still put our weekly grocery tab at $100-$115. I know I have expensive tastes on some things (my dear Chobani, organic/local chicken), but still. Grapes should not cost $7! Spinach should not cost $5! When did bread become $3/loaf? Whew. I feel better now.Although I fear the day B is a teenage boy eating us out of house and home.. 

Now that I’ve successfully brightened your mood with talks of grocery bills (sarcasm), its time for the features!

Featured Workout: Full Body Weights Circuit – I created this workout for my friend Danielle when I “played trainer” earlier this week. Remember – I am not a personal trainer, so if you choose to take the ideas from this, or any, workout I share you do so at your own risk.

• Squat into Overhead Shoulder Press
• Pushups
• Mountain Climbers
• Deadlift
• Two Arm Dumbbell Back Row
• Plie Squat
• Tricep Dips
• Reverse Lunge with Bicep Curl

I set the moves up as a circuit, so completing each move and moving immediately into the next. Complete 15 reps per exercise at a moderately challenging weight. Rest for 2 minutes and then repeat the circuit. Aim to go through the circuit 3 times total.

Featured Cuteness: M Hamming It Up

Featured Meal: BBQ Tofu Wrap

Although, don’t forget to check out the Spinach & Goat Cheese Meatballs or Mushroom & Parsnip Beef Stew if you missed those!

Featured Quote:

“Aim for achievements and forget about success. The former will lead to the latter.”

Featured Reading: Sandra @ Absolutely Narcissism – Here A Hair…

I don’t think I have read a single one of her posts that doesn’t leave me chuckling. Sandra has some serious sarcastic wit. And I love that about her and her blog!

Question of the Day – Any good funny blogs out there you want to share? Are you pissed at grocery shopping too?