I love Low-key Saturdays

I love low-key Saturdays.  Today's agenda was sleeping in, studying/getting tutored for my upcoming test, running at the gym, cooked some yummy dinner, then went to the movies (which is one of my favorite things to do ever)!  

P&T and I are besties these days.

Lookin smart!  (my binders probably being held upside down or something)

Gym duty - 3 miles at about 5.7.  Stopped to walk for .10 mile at mile 2, then the last mile was awful!  I didn't stop though...so I'd say a success.

My walk home from the gym/studying was the slowest walk of my life after that 3 miles.  My lungs were hurting.  I don't know if it was from the running or all the studying of asthma and COPD symptoms.  Maybe I was in full blown hypochondriac mode?  Who knows. 

Dinner - sweet potato crinkle french fries, green bean casserole made with 98% reduced fat cream of mushroom soup and reduced fat cheddar cheese, and a Phillip's crab cake.  Major yum.

Tonight's movie - No Strings Attached.

I liked the movie.  I thought it was super cute, but entirely predictable.  I mean there is a reason that they make the same movies over and over again, and that is because people love them!  No one wants to leave a theater with the two people who secretly love each other to go off and meet new people.  Where is the fun in that?  One thing I did notice about this movie was that there is a lot of product placement.  Iphones, google, audi, bmw, underarmour, and I'm sure others were definite advertisers in this movie.  I first noticed this kind of product placement when I saw The Social Network, but now I'm definitely on the lookout when I see new movies.  Interesting form of subliminal advertising.  

Good part about going to the movies is getting out, but the bad part is the price.  The only theater within walking distance to us is a pretty upscale-ish theater.   For 2 people to go on a Saturday night is $25, not including food!  We got a small popcorn and large diet soda to share.  There are also these new popcorn toppings you can use now which are awesome!  They have sprinkled toppings in white cheddar, caramel, buttered popcorn, ranch, apple & cinnamon, Parmesan & garlic, etc.  the use of the shakers was free so we tried white cheddar.  Delish.  It was a bit of a learning experience as to how to shake the flavor so that it coated all of the popcorn, but we figured it out after a few tries.  Seriously, what will they think of next?

Pros of the day - being relaxed yet productive

Cons of the day - getting a little blue highlighter on my favorite earmuffs

Do you guys ever notice the advertisement of new movies these days? 

The fact that they say coke and not pepsi the whole movie is never a coincidence. 

What were your pros and cons for today?

Snacks and a Movie

Well, I planned to go to a running club meeting downtown.  When I got there, I found out that it was canceled due to the holiday.  I did not know December 30th was a holiday, but I guess now I do.

Instead I ran by myself.  I was meeting Joe downtown for a movie anyways, so I ran from center city to old city.  3 miles with no headphones in about 37 minutes.  I did not stop my watch at any stop lights.  City running in traffic is always slower because of that...I swear I'm faster than that these days..haha.

I met Joe at 2nd and Market and we had a "snack" at Continental.  (Yes, I was sweaty and in my running clothes, I'm not ashamed.)  I had never been there before, but it was pretty good.  Definitely a little expensive, it is a Steven Starr restaurant after all, but it would be nice to go back and try entrees.  It's decorated like a really upscale modern diner with a bar.  Joe and I split two orders of different kinds of dumplings that were on the "snack menu".  Steamed chicken dumplings with a sweet soy dipping sauce and french onion dumplings with gruyere cheese.  Both were delish.  I had never had anything like the french onion soup dumplings, they literally tasted JUST like french onion soup!

Olives for overhead lamps!

After our snacks, we went to the movies at Ritz East to see Black Swan.  My idea...Joe doesn't really care for the thrillers.  I really like it though.  I also like most movies that I go to see; therefore, I am not the best critic.  It was definitely an interesting film.  Plus the Ritz is a really cute theater and I felt like a grown up going there.  It was crazy crowded considering that this movie has been in theaters for the last month.  We actually had to wait in a line outside the theater to get in and pay.  Pros about the Ritz - student discounts and they had calories on the concession menu.  We split a diet coke and small popcorn (150-170 calories each...not too shabby). 

After the movie, we finished up dinner with a small buffalo chicken salad back at home.  Mixed greens, grilled chicken tossed in hot sauce, a sprinkle of shredded mixed reduced fat cheeses, wasabi crispies, and ranch yogurt dressing.  Very delicious.  Then I had a few Christmas leftover chocolate covered oreos...can't let them go to waste right?  haha.  Everything in moderation!  These oreos are just too delish to pass up!

I'm loving this winter break.  So much time to do fun stuff, plus I get to sleep a ton and workout every day.  I also have some fun plans for break during January which I am really looking forward to.  Can't believe that tomorrow is New Years Eve already!!!  Where does the time go?  

What are you guys doing for New Years Eve?

More Christmas Movies

When I watch kids movies as an adult, I laugh at all the inconsistencies that I didn't pick up on as a kid.  Walking home alone and drinking swiss miss fat free hot chocolate. Yum.

Movie night in.

I had an uneventful evening in.  I watched Christmas movies and took notes for Pharmacology a little.  Can't do too much homework on a Friday night...

Love Actually and The Santa Clause were the films of choice.  

cutest scene ever...

Running in the morning with my running buddy followed by a busy day!

Best Christmas Movies of All Time

So as I sit here basking in holiday cheer while watching The Grinch (Jim Carey Version), I am going to share with everyone my first of several holiday lists:

holiday cheer = fat free hot chocolate

tastes the same!  (not a flattering angle on anyone..)

Best Christmas Movies of All Time!!!!!

(in no particular order)

A Christmas Story

"I want an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle!"

It's a Wonderful Life

I had to put in a picture from the pharmacy scene...

Jingle All the Way

Remember the scene where they all laugh at him?  That's how I felt trying to get a TV on black Friday at Target.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

The Year Without Santa Claus

The Miser Brother's Christmas

The claymation gang!

...I always did have a thing for redheads...I think this movie inspired my taste...

Charlie Brown Christmas

poor tree...

Joe and I :-)

The Grinch

little Cindy Lou Who was no more than 2...

What I am currently watching!

The Santa Claus

Miracle on 34th Street

The old one...annnd the new one!

Most of these classics are playing on ABC family for their 25 days of Christmas. I encourage you all to check your local listings!

Update!!!  Forgot the best one!

Elf!!!!

First we'll make snow angels for two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we'll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse Cookie-dough as fast as we can, and then we'll snuggle