Marvelous weekend

Posted on 13 May, 2013 by Aparna B.

It’s a bit of a slow Monday for me today. So much so I had to get a coffee from my favorite coffee place in town instead of relying on the Keurig at work. I also had them put three shots of espresso in it, instead of the usual two. Yep, it’s one of those Mondays.

So to help make Monday a little brighter, I thought I would follow suit of one of my new favorite bloggers Dixya (Food Pleasure Health) and do a recap of all things Marvelous on this Monday.

Marvelous is finally seeing a movie you have been waiting to see since the winter.

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I can’t say enough good things about this movie other than I loved it and you should go see it. Laz Burhman has made a beautiful film and one I would probably go see again if given the chance. I wasn’t as big a fan of Romeo + Juliet, but I liked how he directed it. I think mostly I don’t like that play so watching an entire movie about it, wasn’t my idea of fun. But I love everything about the 1920s! I remember reading this book in the 11th grade and thinking to myself, “I want to go to Gatsby’s parties!”.

I also had one of my buddies Nick come hang out with us for a night. The three of us went to see Iron Man 3 at the theater where you can have a cocktail while watching. It wasn’t so bad! I still liked the first one the most, but the third was good too. I was also nice to catch up with a friend I hadn’t seen in months!

Marvelous is running in a 5K you’ve wanted to run in for over a year.

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Marvelous is also running this race with a good friend and having a blast! I finally did the Color Run over the weekend and Amber and I had a great time. It was her first 5K and my first Color Run and I do plan on running this again next year! Amber did great for it being her first 5K! I’m so proud of her :)

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Marvelous is also setting a new personal record from the first race you ever did and knowing it can only get better from here!

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Marvelous is spending an entire day with this gorgeous woman and making her feel like a million dollars. We went up to my parents for Mother’s Day and treated my mom to lunch and I was just happy to spend some QT with her! While at my parents, I found several old pictures from when I was born and the first few years I lived in India before moving to the States. I had fun going through them and showing REB too. Afterward, we went and visited his grandmother and she showed us some old pictures of him as as kid. All I can say is: my hubby was an adorable little dude! Still is ;)

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend despite there being so little sleep. I hope to make up for some sleep this week and also get a few more runs outdoors!

I hope you all have a wonderful week! – xo

What a weekend

Posted on 6 May, 2013 by Aparna B.

Remember when I was so ridiculously busy the month of March and had something going on every single weekend? It seems like May is about to become like that for me! However, I’m more in control of all the things happening this month, which is always better than just having things scheduled for you.

This past weekend flew by and it was so jam-packed busy, at times I felt like I couldn’t breathe! But it was also a super fun weekend!

On Friday I went over to my friend Amber’s house. Her hubby is in Oregon visiting his family, so she was on her own and wanted some company. I told her we should have a slumber party and that’s exactly what we did.

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Things I learned:

Centipedes are absolutely disgusting and can be disposed of by: screaming, using a drumstick, continued screaming, a coaster, heavy objects and wishing a man was there to kill it instead.
A spider can be scared off by screaming
Bugs are gross. Full stop.
The Arbazons are quite possibly the most badass band around.
Only Geddy Lee can sing like Geddy Lee
Only Alanis Morrisette can sing like Alanis Morrisette
Rock Band and 2 1/2 bottles of wine produce some ridiculous Vine videos
I have some of the best friends I could ever ask for

On Saturday Amber made me pancakes. No joke. And they were legit pancakes. It was so very needed after the intoxicated night before and was just the thing I needed before a morning of shopping at Nordstrom Rack.

I’m officially in love with that store. I found the cutest pair of Enzo Angiolini nude pumps to help dress up my look for REB’s grandfather’s 89th birthday shin dig on Sunday!

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I’m always iffy about pumps because I’m not a big heel person. However, these were not only comfortable but they made my usual chicken legs look kind of decent, which had me excited. The party was fun! I always love seeing REB’s family and catching up with everyone.

Other fun this weekend included photographing a high school senior! I was so glad the weather cooperated with us since we did all the photos outside in a park and then in the city. I was able to provide some accessories for the spunky 18-year-old gal, which she rocked completely. I started editing a few pictures over the weekend and seriously can’t wait to share them with all of you!!

All in all it was a super fun weekend and I’m ready for a busy week ahead! Hoping to get a lot of stuff done at work, clean the house, go on a few runs and bike rides, enjoy the sunshine, doing the Color Run this weekend, and spending Mother’s Day with mi madre!

I hope you all have a fantastic week! <3

What was the highlight of your weekend?

What Keeps Me Running

Posted on 29 April, 2013 by Aparna B.

I have become so addicted to running. I think most people know this. I love it more now since I can run outside versus inside a stuffy, poorly ventilated gym. Always outside. Always, always. I am so grateful that it’s going to be a gorgeous week of weather here in Ann Arbor. I plan to take my runs outdoors as often as possible from here on out!

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I have many a playlist I listen to when I run, too. I used to only listen to the Essential Mix from Michael Woods. Truth be told, that is still probably my favorite continuous electronic mix that I never get sick of playing. However, I made a new list and OH MY GOD, I am in love. Music is essential when I run! I am definitely one of those people who looks straight head, focuses on one point on the horizon (something I’m running toward) and I need music to help me get there.

So I thought I would share it:

Deadmau5 – Raise Your Weapon
Deadmau5 – I Remember
Mumford & Sons – Little Lion Man
Michael Woods, Duval – Last Day on Earth – Original Mix
The Prodigy – Smack My Bitch Up
Surkin – Ultra Light
Deadmau5 – A City in Florida
Electric Six – Danger! High Voltage
Underworld – Born Slippy
Deadmau5 – Bad Selection
Kaskade – Here I Am
The Whip – Secret Weapon (Alex Metric Remix)
Calvin Harris, Ne-Yo – Let’s Go
Kaskade – 4 AM (Adam K & Soha Radio Edit)

Most, if not all of these, you can find on either iTunes or Spotify! Clearly I have a thing for Deadmau5. I absolutely love him. He makes great music, both chill and upbeat, that helps keep me going. Give him and any of these others a listen!

Happy running :)

What is on your running playlist?

Twosday

Posted on 16 April, 2013 by Aparna B.

New Additions

1. Two new tats! Some people may know I already had a tattoo, but I added two more to the collection over the past weekend. Two incredible passions of mine, now forever imprinted on me!

2. More clothes from the LC collection by Lauren Conrad at Kohls. I seriously can’t get enough of her style and clothing. I love how delicate it is with touches of lace. Plus the pastel macaron colors make me feel so feminine!

Concerts

1. Last Thursday REB and I saw Ben Folds at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor. The Music Matters program was raising money for scholarships and they got him to come perform. I had been wanting to see him since college and he put on a great show!

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2. My friend Amber has tickets to see Great Big Sea with two of our other friends tonight, so I’m going to that. I don’t know much about this band, but they sound like an Irish jam band of sorts. Should be a fun show!

Photography all week

1. I’m doing a newborn session for a friend of mine who just had a baby! Although newborn photography isn’t really my focus, I had donated a 30 minute mini session to another friends charity and was thrilled when a mutual friend of ours snagged the deal!

2. The second session will be for the friend who ran the charity event, and I’ll be photographing their adorable son for their 2 year photos. Again, child photography isn’t really my focus anymore, but I always make exceptions for friends! I should mention that in addition to these, I have two more sessions this week: taking photos for a business on Thursday and another wedding on Saturday. It’s going to be a busy week for Aparna Photography, but I welcome it!

Big purchases this week

1. We bought a new couch for our den! The one in there now is REB’s from when he had his own apartment. And while it’s just a den, we wanted something a bit more comfortable. I can’t wait for it to delivered on Thursday!

2. Oldnavy.com has become our new friend. REB was in dire need of new clothes, and since I get coupons from oldnavy.com multiple times a day, we took advantage and decided to re-stock our closet with some spring-friendly clothing!

Thoughts

1. My heart is heavy today and with all those affected by the tragedy in Boston yesterday. It’s absolutely devastating that such an iconic race is now going to be changed forever because of what happened.

2. On a happier note, though, my parents finally return to the U.S.! After spending almost 5 months in India, they fly home today and I can’t wait to see them again!

Over the weekend

Posted on 8 April, 2013 by Aparna B.

What a busy weekend I had! Here I thought March would end up being a busy-weekend month for me, but April is proving to be exactly the same.

I welcome it though! A lot happened over the weekend including being able to cross yet another thing on my list.

I ran my first 5K! Finally! A year in the training (and making!) and it’s finally done. I did the Rear Saver 5K on Belle Isle in Detroit – a race to prevent colon cancer. I’m not really big on the cause and whatever, so I mostly just ran it “just because.”. It was a really flat course and on the track of the old race track on Belle Isle. So it was a good first race for me!

My friend Kat and I got there bright and early to pick up our bibs and race packets.

Then it was time to stretch, warm up and line up for the race! My friend Kat is amazing. Throughout my “training” or weekly runs up until Saturday, I had been doing a 5 minute warm up brisk walk, then running and sometimes stopping to walk, until I reached the 3 mile mark. Yeah, Kat wasn’t letting me off the hook that easily. She said we’re running the whole thing, I couldn’t look at my Garmin at all, and she kept encouraging me, telling me I was kicking ass and doing awesome which kept me going strong!

She was my rock and I couldn’t have had the confidence to run the entire thing without her! She’s training for the half marathon in Pittsburgh in May, so I think she liked having this 5K as a simple run for her to get in over the weekend before her long distance running during the week in training. Either way, Thanks KAT!!

I ended up finishing the race in 38 minutes. Not the best, but I’ll take it. I had told myself that I wanted to finish it in 45 minutes, so seeing that number as I crossed the finish line only boosted my confidence! I had been averaging 40-42 minutes during my weekly runs, and that included the 5 minute warm up walk and cool down walk.

Maybe it was adrenaline, excitement, or the fact I never gave myself credit, but I was determined to run that entire damn thing and I’m so glad I did! I can’t wait to do another race. I officially have the running bug and want to just continue to improve! I have a goal to increase my distance to 3.25 miles this week and gradually work on increasing speed as well. I’ve set a new goal for myself to try to hit the 5 mile mark by mid-summer. I hope to do this before that, but I know me. I want to give myself time!

So after the race, we made the trek back to Ann Arbor and had a much deserved brunch at Cafe Zola. The rest of the day was spent chillaxing and taking a long nap (I hate getting up early on the weekend!) which got me all revved up for the evening of fun! My brother-in-law’s (REB’s brother) birthday was March 31 and we didn’t get to see him for it then. So we had planned to do a group dinner Saturday night so we could celebrate it.

Saturday night outfit

We met up at an Indian place called Mirchi, which some of my coworkers had been to when they were under different management. It wasn’t bad food! The service is another story, but overall, the food wasn’t horrible. We all ordered Thali plates. Thali is basically a large platter that has small dishes on it with all different kinds of things: curries, yogurt, a dessert, rice, a lentil dish, a soup-ish dish, etc.. It’s really the best way to try a bunch of Indian food and curries (both south and north Indian) when there isn’t a buffet!

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I barely made a dent int it. So much so that we still have leftovers. It was seriously more food than I ever needed, plus I had eaten the righteous Turkish Brunch at Zola’s earlier in the day. But in my book, having leftover Indian food is a total pile of win.

The night ended with Scary Movie Night at my friend Amber’s house (becoming a tradition) where I got introduced to the amazing Bruce Campbell and Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2. Truly a work a masterful art, lemme tell ya. Groovy, baby.

On Sunday before Sunday Funday and Game of Thrones night, Amber stopped over with one of her dogs and she and I took a long walk through our neighborhood with her dog and Gryff. Then we let them play in our backyard for a little bit.

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I also uploaded a few sneak peek wedding photos on my photo FB page! Here are a few, but the rest you can find here!

All in all, it was a perfect weekend with beautiful sunny weather and fun! I have ended up with a cold, but it was well worth it. I already look forward to the fun this weekend will bring!

What did you do over the weekend?

My Kitchen and I

Posted on 3 April, 2013 by Aparna B.

One of my favorite bloggers, Lakshmi, tagged me in a recent post of hers where she answered several questions about being the chef in her own home kitchen! I loved these questions and love that I was tagged, so I thought I would answer them too.

Also, if you haven’t checked out her blog, The Rich Vegetarian, you need to. It’s amazing. She not only posts beautiful photos of food, she has healthy recipes, and she does reviews of places near her! Love that idea!

Here we go!

1. What are three favorite things in your fridge right now?
Does freezer count too? If so, then homemade mango pickle, an abundance of Greek yogurt and frozen veggie masala burgers a la Trader Joes!

2. What is the one thing you always have on hand?
Homemade garam masala. Doesn’t matter if I’m not cooking Indian food, I find a way to sneak it into most savory dishes I make.

3. What is one thing you never have?
That’s easy: meat.

4. If you could have an unlimited supply of anything, what would it be?
Probably Indian items: channa dal, rasam powder, garam masala, fresh ginger, curry leaves, etc.

5. What is your go-to market and what do you get there?
I have a few: Whole Foods: fresh produce, pre-made soups, herbs, breads and cheese; Trader Joes: Healthy snacking items [dried fruits, nuts, chips, etc.], frozen masala burgers, spices [saffron is so cheap there!]; Busch’s: A local store in the Michigan region, but they have flavors of Chobani other stores don’t have! I also love walking to the Farmers Market during my lunch break on Wednesdays when it’s nice out!

6. What ingredients are you currently loving?
Green chilies. I started buying a ton at the Indian grocery store since they are so much cheaper there [most produce is cheaper at an Indian store], and keeping some in the freezer so I always have them on hand! They add incredible spice without using chili powder, garam masala or cayenne pepper!

7. What is your favorite thing to whip up at home?
Honestly? Tacos or something Mexican-ish. It’s easy to make, keeps relatively warm or can be reheated easily on class nights for REB and they make for easy leftovers!

8. Any songs you like cooking to?
Not really. Sometimes I’ll leave an electronic mix on while cooking, but most of the time, the TV is on.

9. What are the best items to have on hand for a quick and easy dinner?
Tofu and quinoa. I can make an endless amount of different recipes with just those two ingredients and most are under 45 or 30 minutes!

10. What are you favorite kind of leftovers?
The kind that reheats well. While I love tofu dishes, a lot of times they don’t reheat well and the tofu becomes rubbery. So if we do make a recipe that uses tofu or tempeh, we always make just enough for 2 or 3 servings so we finish it that night. Usually my favorite leftovers are the soups I make!

11. Fill in the blank: If I’m cooking to impress I make _________:
Indian feast a la my mom’s recipes :)
Or my way righteous baked mac and cheese!

12. What’s your condiment of choice:
Sriracha and/or Franks Red Hot sauce

13. What is the strangest thing in your fridge at the moment?
Hmmm….I don’t think I have anything anyone would deem strange in there right now!

14. When a midnight snack attack strikes, what’s the plan?
White chocolate bark loaded with dried fruit and nuts. fruit (grapes, apples, etc.) OR I make nachos if I’m feeling super cray cray.

Thanks for tagging me, Lakshmi, and to keep the fun going I’m going to tag a few bloggesses I love!

Diana – Veggie Next Door
Sarah – Sararh Learns
Dixya – Food, Pleasure & Health
Becca – Amuse Your Bouche
Soni – Soni’s Food
Erica – Coffee & Quinoa

Have fun!

Shooting my first wedding

Posted on 26 March, 2013 by Aparna B.

I am extremely happy to be able to say I photographed my first wedding over the weekend!

My friend Jackie had booked this gig for us last year when she found out her sister-in-law’s mother was getting remarried. The only info I really had was that we were going to shoot this wedding together, it was a small wedding and it was the second marriage for both. So we knew it was going to be fairly low key. This turned out to be the perfect first job for us!

I have seriously never had more fun in my life. I could absolutely see myself doing this full time one day down the road. The whole mood of the day was happiness and joy and being able to capture that for this amazing, beautiful couple made me feel so happy and feel so honored! I learned a lot, and hopefully can take some of these lessons or thoughts and use them towards future weddings I may photograph.

In fact, another friend of mine has asked me to assist her in a few of her weddings for 2013 as her second photographer, so I’m really excited to get back to the wedding scene in a few weeks! I am always trying to better myself as a photographer, as this is something I take pretty seriously. I already know I will learn so much from her because she is such a talented photographer in all things.

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So like I said, I did have some takeaways*. Most of these things I already follow or try to follow with any session I do, but weddings are pretty different! I’m sure I’ll be making a mental list of things to always keep in mind when asked to photograph a wedding, but here are some things I wanted to share! :)

Have your gear prepped! I can not stress this enough. I always make sure my SD card is cleared before any session I have. I charge both my batteries, get my flash situated, have my camera bag packed with the lenses I need, props in order, tripod, etc. It’s so important to be prepared! I get everything packed, lined up and ready to go the night before.
Have a backup! Since this wedding was a two-person job, my backup was my partner in crime. On the off chance something did happen to my camera, I knew she would be able to get the shots I couldn’t! Having a second camera body ready to go, though, definitely doesn’t hurt.
BE EARLY. I’m always at least 15 minutes early for any session I have booked, but it’s essential for a wedding! This is their day, their time, their money. You definitely don’t want to be late. If they say “Meet us where we’re getting ready at 5.”, you get there at 4:45 or earlier.
Remember you’re a vendor. You aren’t there as a guest. You are a vendor providing a service. Try to wear all black or muted colors so you blend in and don’t stand out. Also make sure you eat! You may be shooting for up to 10 hours in one day and you will be on your feet for the majority of the time. Make sure you dress comfortably with comfortable shoes, and eat something. It’s usually customary that the bride and groom offer you a seat and dinner at their wedding reception.
Scope out the area beforehand. This was a bit harder for us, since it was such a low key wedding, but we did get to the city where the wedding was a few hours in advance so we scoped out the area then. If at all possible, make sure to check out the wedding venue (if it’s unfamiliar to you), reception area, possible photographing areas outside or down the road, a week or two in advance. It also helps to figure out the route and time to get to said location so you have an idea on that.
Communicate. This seems like a no brainer, but it’s so important to communicate with the bride and groom. Make sure you have discussed their wants and needs or what their expectations are beforehand, if possible. It helps keeps flow during the day and also ensures they get the photos they absolutely must have. Keep open communication with the planner or who ever is in charge of making sure the night has good flow. You’ll want to know when the reception begins, when the first dance is, when the cake cutting is, etc. so you don’t miss any moment of it!
Be in control. Yes, this is a wedding so it’s going to be somewhat chaotic at times, but you have to keep things rolling. We literally only had 40-45 minutes for photos between the time after the ceremony and the reception starting. So we had to keep things moving and ensure all the photos they wanted to have taken, were done. Family members were prepared to stand in and what not. The bride later thanked us for being in control since she found herself easily distracted by saying hi and hugging friends who would linger back after the ceremony.
Don’t forget candids. This seems like a simple enough thing, but some of the most fun pictures I snapped were the ones of people talking during the reception, the bride dancing with her grand daughter, the bride and groom sneaking a kiss here and there, or people taking photos of other people with their smart phones. It definitely helped having a zoom lens where I could stand in the back of a room to be able to capture said moments.
Have fun. Easier said than done, but if you’re at all stressed or worried, it will show in the pictures. Remain calm, have fun, keep things light!

I already know some things I want to definitely make sure of with future weddings. I also hope to have a bit more gear before the next one too. While I had rented a pretty awesome lens for the weekend, I definitely know which ones I want to add to my camera bag permanently so I’m starting to save up for those! I hope to get another camera body too.

The bottom line is I had so much fun. I can’t wait to share some of the photos. It will definitely take me a while to get through all these and then edit them, but that’s half the fun. Stay tuned!

*I’m not a professional wedding photographer (…yet ;)…), so these opinions and thoughts are my own! You will undoubtedly have your own routine, procedure or way of handling your photo sessions!

Currently loving…

Posted on 11 February, 2013 by Aparna B.

….This nail polish color by Essie called Chinchilla:

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…Tying my scarf a different way as often as possible thanks to my sister and this video!

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…Project Runway nights with Amber each Thursday!

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…Cooking! Cooking! Cooking!

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…The fact I’m going to see Garbage on March 30! I have been wanting to see them since high school, so I can’t wait! Plus I’ll be in the company of three peeps who are also huge Garbage fans. Always a good thing.

…Two of my closest friends are excited and happy to announce that they’re having another girl due June 30! I’m so honored they asked me to photograph their announcement!

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It’s going to be a ridiculously busy week for me, but check back soon for a yummy recipe! I also get a three day weekend which will be much needed after how busy this work week will be. I can’t wait to do some fun things to and around the house!

What are you currently loving?

Beast Mode Engaged

Posted on 1 February, 2013 by Aparna B.

Confession: I am officially in love with boxing.

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It has seriously become my new favorite way to work out. It’s helping build up my arms and shoulders, keeps my heart rate up by keeping me moving, the warm-up alone is its own workout, and my husband is a hardcore boxer (has been for about 7 years) and knows proper form, stance and intensity. So he’s the perfect coach.

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It is not an easy workout but that’s what I love about it! He’s created a workout that lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, and we can up the intensity whenever we feel like it. It isn’t super hardcore like what Pacquio might do, but it keeps me engaged and I love it! He also keeps it fun because if it isn’t fun, I won’t be motivated to do it.

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Now let’s talk about Shadow Boxing. Little Miss Jillian doesn’t do it properly. I had never really realized until REB and I were finishing up our warm-up and he said “You’re doing it wrong.” Ha. Shadow boxing is literally that – box your shadow. Find your shadow on the wall, and try to fight it. Duck, move around, practice crosses, uppercuts, hooks. – get ‘em in the kidneys!

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He taught me the proper way to wrap my hands (though I’m still not very good and I have smaller hands than normal people apparently), how to stand, and how to keep your hands. He eggs me on during those 5 rounds of 2 minute intervals so I hit it harder, with more intensity and work out harder. It is tiring. You wouldn’t think that, but at the end of round 3, I’m so tired that I have to remind myself “You still have 2 rounds to go!”

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I wish we could do this every day, but I know that wouldn’t be good. Like with any workout, you shouldn’t do it back-to-back. The same goes for this since you could really hurt your knuckles or wrist! That would not be good! So I’ve found a great alternative. On the other days when I just do the whatever workout I do, I have been ending it with a speed bag work out.

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It’s a good cool down, good way to bring my heart rate down at the end of my cardio work out, but keep my arms and shoulders engaged.

All in all, I’m glad I’ve taken this up. It’s an exercise both REB and I can do together and with his help, I know I’m doing it properly which makes it way more effective! It’s increasing my strength, endurance and most of all: it’s fun! I’m starting to see some definition in my arms and shoulders and REB has noticed it too.

So don’t mess with me. I’m armed with bag gloves and I know how to use them ;)

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Are there any workouts you’re currently doing and absolutely loving?

Superbowl Snacking

Posted on 31 January, 2013 by Aparna B.

The big “Harbowl” is this Sunday!

Who do you have winning? I heard the 49ers are favored by 4 1/2. Hrm. Personally I don’t like either team. But it’s football and the last game of the 2012 season and I won’t see any football until August when it starts up again. If I had to choose, I would probably choose the Ravens, but that’s only because John Harbaugh doesn’t look like he wants to punch everyone like Jim does.

I don’t know if I can root for the Ravens though. I’m mostly upset at the hoopla of Ray Lewis. I can’t stand Ray Lewis. Yes, you’re retiring. We get it. Yes, you’re sad about it. We get it. But dude, you’re almost 40, you had a hell of a career and I wish people would stop making such a big damn deal about it. Athletes retire. Shocking.

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He at least seems like a pretty genuine guy unlike some other pro athletes who say they’re retiring (ahemFAV-RAHahem) and then can’t seem to let go. But if I have to see Lewis cry one more time, or see him do that ridiculous, useless “Squirrel dance” one more time, I think my head will explode.

So instead of praying my head won’t explode, I’ll eat yummy things instead.

Whether you’re a screamer at the TV at a bad call made (that’s me and REB) or you watch simply for the halftime show, food is a must while watching any sporting event, especially one of the biggest ones of the year.

So here are 9 super simple, crowd pleasing snacks or meals you can stuff your face with without feeling guilty because they’re all relatively healthy!