January 6, 2021

Welcoming the New Gym Goers

This time of year brings a flurry of activity to the gym. In the middle of that flurry are the newbies, the returning and the steadfast constants.

January brings a natural surge of motivation to feel good, look good and get back into healthy habits. Naturally, many turn to the gym. And many of those folks are either brand new to the scene, or returning after a long hiatus.

For the population of folks who fall into the “steadfast constant” category, be mindful of those around you. Be welcoming, offer assistance, acknowledge with a smile or a nod when you make that dreadful eye contact during a rep. Because, while we may find the gym to be a comfortable environment, there may be some folks who are terrified, feel out of place, but desperately want and need the endorphins and camaraderie the gym can provide.

If you belong to a group exercise class or strength and conditioning gym that provides classes in cohorts, welcome them into your circle. Offer to partner. Provide them a tip on what equipment to pick and suggested weight range.

If you see someone with a perplexed look while standing next at a piece of equipment, stop and say “That machine can be tricky… it helps me if I do (insert XYZ)”. Even though the equipment may be second nature to you, offering up your expertise by buffering it with a comment that brings all parties to equal ground could be the one comment that releases the nervous tension and keeps that new member from throwing in the towel. Getting to the gym could have been their biggest win of their day. Help make them feel comfortable enough to return.

It’s been two years since I offered a steady schedule of multiple group exercise classes. Two years and I still talk to the majority of those individuals. I miss them terribly and often miss the hustle and bustle of teaching a full load of classes, but those memories I cherish and will keep with me forever.

When thinking about your gym and the community within you will also most likely see a family. Open your arms to the new guys.

Be that person that keeps them coming.

December 18, 2020

Beer Delivery to My Door? Supporting Local This Holiday

Supporting Local Omaha was the theme I chose for department gifts this year. Omaha is home to an incredible amount of locally owned and operated businesses, so what better way to celebrate the end of an exceptionally challenging year by gifting staff with some locally made treats all the while supporting our local businesses. If there is one thing that really fills my bucket, it’s the gift of giving to others, and also giving back. I had so much fun researching shops in Omaha which actually created a challenge when narrowing down. I certainly had a lot of fun filling Holiday bags with items made with love.

The carefully created and oh so cute variety of sugar cookies by the talented Erika of Erika.Ashlee Cookies and the Hot Chocolate Bombs by Zen Coffee.

I found the cutest notepads, coined Charmpads, from female owned and operated Inclosed Letterpress Co. and the perfect sticker pairing from The Anastasia Co. reminding the gals in my office that

1. You can do hard things

2. Your kindness can change the world

3. The world needs what you got

And come on… who doesn’t like, need, want, deserve a beer at this point? Infusion Brewing Co. hooked me UP with delivery service to my front door. Come on now, that’s what we call spreading Christmas Cheer!

I told the gals delivering it that they must be having fun. I am pretty sure my exact words were “You are literally spreading effing Cheer, man!”

Ya get what ya get with me sometimes…

Might I add I am LIIIIVVVIINNNGGGG for this Gingerbread Vanilla Bean. Ohmygoshneeditall.

And let’s talk about Orsi’s Italian Pizza & Bakery. Not only are they Omaha’s oldest Italian bakery, they also serve up some of the best pizza around. I couldn’t exactly stuff a pizza in each of their giftbags but I could fit in some fresh made bread. Orsi’s also makes their bread fresh in-house and with no preservatives, milk and no added sugars which makes them basically the best.

Huskerland Popcorn hooked me up with bags of yummy cheese, butter and caramel goodness. Huskerland also hosts a local baker, Lady T., every other Thursday and she just happened to be there when I stopped in to pick up my pre-ordered bags of popcorn. On my way out the door, Lady T’s middle school aged kiddo won me over with his smooth selling skills and eagerness to help show off all his momma’s yummy creations. Kid, you just got yourself a sale. I’ll take 10 of those cupcakes, and you choose the flavors for me.

Thanks, Huskerland Popcorn and Lady T’s Gourmet Creations for making those 10 minutes in your store extra extra special. ❤

Due to our campus operating remote, I gave the team the option of a personal delivery to their front door or a timeframe to meet me in our office parking lot.

What a joy to see some of these folks today.

Jacquie, Sarah, Pat, Theresa, Taylor & Angela… so good to see you. Jermaine and Anthony – thanks for letting me experience what it’s like to be a Door Dasher today! And Chuck, Brad and Amber – I will see you Monday.

Happy Everything, Merry Always.

Merry Christmas

January 23, 2019

SWIG Sugar Cookies w/ Buttercream Frosting

Apparently there is a Utah based joint titled Swig with its entire operation based on the premise of a drive-by drink shop. I have read on numerous sights that they are known for their “dirty soda”, which can be defined as a soda mixed with coconut cream flavoring. Built in a college town, their soda’s quickly became a favorite of many, along with their sugar cookies. After seeing the copycat recipe pop up on numerous blogger sights, I decided to give them a go this weekend. As much of the Omaha metro area was closed down due to multiple ice and snow storms passing through, it was a perfect opportunity to play around in the kitchen!

I used the recipe shared by DIY blogger Mandy over at Vintage Revival. I figured if a DIY blogger shared a dessert recipe, then it HAD to be worthwhile, ya?

I used the cookie recipe as written, but was feeling a buttercream frosting. I will share the original recipe in it’s entirety below, but will also give you the buttercream frosting I used for this particular batch.

Swig Sugar Cookies

This is the original and BEST recipe for copycat Swig sugar Cookies!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 18 minutes

Ingredients

1 cup Butter room temperature
3/4 cups Vegetable Oil
1 1/4 cups Sugar
3/4 cup Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Water
2 Eggs
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Cream of Tarter
1 teaspoon Salt
5 1/2 cups Flour

Sour Cream Frosting (Original)

1/2 cup room temperature butter
3/4 cup Sour Cream
Pinch of salt
2 cup Powdered Sugar

Instructions

Cream together Butter, Vegetable Oil, Sugars, Water, and Eggs.
Combine dry ingredients and slowly add to butter mixture.
Mix until everything is combined. Your dough should be a little crumbly and not sticky.
Use a cookie scoop or roll a golf ball sized ball of dough and place it on your cookie sheet
To give the cookies the signature rough edge, press a glass bottom (dipped in sugar) into the center of the dough ball.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. They should just barely be browning on the bottom. Move cookies to a cooling rack. Once they are cool put them in the fridge.
For the ORIGINAL frosting: Cream together butter and sour cream and salt. Slowly add powdered sugar. When it gets so thick its not frosting like add a splash of milk. Alternate this process until your frosting is the desired consistency. Add 1 drop of red food coloring and whip on high for 1 minute.
Keep cookies in a sealed container until they are ready to serve. The magic of a Swig Sugar Cookie (apparently) is that the cookies are cold and the frosting is room temperature. Frost right before serving.

I can attest to the refrigeration technique of the cookie.

SO GOOD CHILLED!

I used a traditional buttercream frosting for this batch which includes 2/3 cup butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp almond extract, 2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream. Mix together until desired consistency, adding more powdered sugar and whipping cream as needed.

ENJOY!

January 15, 2019

Sugar and Sass, Champagne and Class… That’s What 40 Is Made Of

VALERIE

Age: 480 Months

Height: 61 3/4″

Weight: Fabulous

Every girl, everywhere, listen up.

Take a page from the book of Valerie and celebrate age with enthusiasm, youthfulness and excitement.

Like fine wine, we get BETTER with age.

By 40 we’ve been through a lot, learned a lot, mourned losses, and celebrated wins. We’ve redefined boundaries, established meaningful relationships, and evolved into our best selves.

And we are wise enough to know that we will continue to evolve and redefine who we are, what we stand for, and what we believe in.

We take life seriously…

But we know how to let loose, make fun of ourselves, be eccentric, and LIVE our life for us. And only us.

We get ONE life, and darling… 40 is another chapter in our book. A chapter WE get to write ourselves.

Valerie, my friend. I am not sure in what chapter we became acquainted, but I am ever so thankful we did. Your spontaneity, humor, EXTRA AF attitude is everything.

EVERYTHING