new & improved

It’s finally here!

(Note: Before I get too far, I want to warn you/ask for your patience up front… While the blog is up and going, I’m still tweaking some of the categories and playing ‘catch-up’ with all the blogs I’ve been meaning to write for like, a year. Right now, some of the categories are still empty… If you’re an email subscriber and you happen to get a bunch of new posts in one afternoon, don’t panic! I promise not to blow up your inbox every day—my plan is to blog a few times a week, max. Also, I’m still ‘improving’ my iPhone photography skills, so bear with me as I try out some editing apps and such. Recommendations welcome!)

Now, back to the NEW BLOG!

I’ve been mentally planning/designing/dreaming of re-vamping the blog for more than a year now. Once graduation (almost a year ago!) was getting closer, I realized I wanted to take the blog in a more nutrition-related direction.

And then school was over. And we went to France. And I took on three year’s worth of landscaping in like three months.

So, the blog’s been on the back burner for about a year. I recently gave myself a deadline to finish (April), and I put the pedal to the medal. (And got a lot of help from my neighbor—thanks Beth!)

First of all, the blog has a new name. My first domain, thefrozenpineapple, will always hold a special place in my heart. It’s where I started, and it was very personal. You can find highlights in the ‘frozenpineapple favorites’ category, under the ‘More’ category.

Second, the blog looks a lot different. It was time for a new look, and I’m so grateful my friend—who is a web designer—was willing to help a girl out. I love it.

Perhaps the biggest change is the navigation…in that the blog actually HAS SOME. The blog re-vamp was especially complicated because I hadn’t properly categorized any of my past posts! Thankfully, reorganizing them was a pleasant trip down memory lane and a chance to do some purging. Here’s a bit about the new categories:

Recipes: I love trying new recipes! Find them categorized by meal (Breakfast & Breads, Mains, Sides and Sweets), and other blog-worthy eats are under #fabfood.

Nutrition: This includes past school-related posts (read the final ‘how to become an RD’ post here), random nutrition-related posts, my take on the latest trends (Book Reviews) and Meal-Planning, which is a simple way to remove the stress from healthy eating.

Fitness: I love to work out! Don’t get me wrong—I didn’t always love exercise; in fact, I was a couch-potato kid who liked to read more than anything else. However, I’ve learned to love exercise and hope you do, too. I teach body conditioning and cycle on Wednesdays at our local YMCA (#workoutwednesdays), and I’ll share some of the workouts I try—both in and out of the gym—with you here (@thegym), as well as some of my runs and races (I ❤ running).

More: There is so much more to my life than just food and exercise that it’s hard not to include it on the blog. My husband and I love to travel, whether it’s across the pond or just a weekend with friends in Ohio (Travel); we’re EPIC house project-ers (Home & Garden); and I love sharing (Things I LOVE) with others.

In Print: My first passion is writing, and I’m working on breaking into the (terrifying/impossible/scary/crazy hard work) world of freelance. <Gasp.> One day. Check out this category for things I’ve written, including my Buffalo News Refresh blog posts.

Lastly, I’m truly glad you’re here–thanks for stopping by!

loved

I got out of the shower and heard Hadrian barking his head off and a strange thumping sound. Trapped in the bathroom, I peered out the window and saw a familiar GMC Terrain parked in the driveway with its lights on, and an older gentleman, shoveling my back porch.

I did the only thing I could do. I called Mrs. Nye.

“Is your husband shoveling my steps?” I asked, knowing the answer.

She said something about fearing for their lives on the icy steps and had taken matters into their own hands. Apparently, they came over to bring me flowers since I was sick. (I’ve had a nasty cold since Friday night. Classic end-of-a-rotation/semester consequence.)

The Nyes are too sweet! They left me flowers, some awesome kettle corn (that I’ve already inhaled), AND they did a number on the icy porch steps.

I’m a lucky girl.

how we spent Valentine’s Day

Growing up, my mom always made Valentine’s Day special. My favorite memory is the year we (Allison and I) came down to find Barbies and balloons at our chairs at the table. How fun.

Ever since Andrew and I started dating THIRTEEN YEARS ago on February 17, we’ve generally chosen to celebrate that milestone and keep V-day pretty low-key. I do, however, enjoy making a fuss about it anyway.

This year, I made strawberry smoothies and cinnamon rolls, served on the special Valentine plates and cups I’m sure I purchased at Target many years ago.

I gave Andrew a bag full of candy and goodies, and he gave me the stuffed purple hippo I liked in the window of our local toy store on Main Street. (I still intend to go back and get hippo’s friend, the flying pig. Perhaps it will be on sale…)

Afterward, we headed to the gym where I was able to do two of my favorite classes. I still can’t believe Andrew made it two hours at the gym…I thought he’d surely revolt before the end.

Despite the cold, we took Hadrian to the dog park and weren’t the only ones there…but almost. No matter; all he really wants to do is play fetch with his toy. I got to sport my new snow pants that Andrew got me for our ‘anniversary.’

We had a mini-date to Firefly, our local cupcake place, where I enjoyed half a chocolate-covered strawberry and half of a ‘white trash’ cupcake. Plain-Jane Andrew got his usual: vanilla cake with vanilla frosting. Leftovers were promptly taken to the Nyes’ house.

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For dinner, I whipped up some Ruebens (well, Andrew leaves off the kraut, swiss and thousand island, so his isn’t much of a Rueben), salad and soup the Nyes sent us home with. More V-day tableware: heart-shaped bowls!

We spent the rest of the evening on the couch, watching the newest show we’re into, The Americans. So good.

It was a good day 🙂 AND, I still have the 17th to look forward to!