2009, you were good to me...

I don't think I've ever said that before (I have myself to thank for this one...I kept all my 2009 New Years Resolutions...well, the important ones aka the ones that count.)

In Houston for New Year's Eve...for the second year in a row. (How does that happen? Don't I hate Houston? Yes, yes, YES.) I was hoping to spend New Year's Eve with the boy this year (three New Years' now, and we've never had a New Years kiss...sadness).

However, celebration with my older cousin and the rest of the Meilert/Czach family will begin soon: dinner, drinks, Wii dancing...See you in a few hours 2010! I'll miss the goodness of 2009, but things went so well, I'm excited to see what 2010 has to bring. :)

Oxygen's 3-Month Best Body Plan: Month One

The January 2010 issue of "Oxygen" is now on magazine stands. And if you know "Oxygen," you know what that means: the beginning of a three-month plan to reach "Your Best Body Ever."

The current issue features the first month's work out and meal regimen. And as always, the first month workout is the easiest to get into because you can do it right at home. All you need is 5, 8, and 10 lb dumbbells, a weight bench (which I'm lacking, so my piano bench doubles as a weight bench), and a step or staircase.

Just to give you an idea of the workout, here's the month one schedule:

Weeks 1 & 2

• Monday: Upper body
• Tuesday: Cardio (20 min. for beginners, 30 min. for intermediate; add 5 min. every week after)
• Wednesday: Rest (Yes, rest days are just as important as work out days. As written by Myatt Murphy, CSC, the author of the article accompanying the workout, "Your muscles don't become leaner and stronger as you work out [...] They improve when given the right amount of rest (typically 48 to 72 hours.)" Rest days give your muscles time to "recuperate, rebuild, and recharge between each and every workout."
  
• Thursday: Lower body
• Friday: Cardio
• Saturday: Rest
• Sunday: Cardio

Weeks 3 & 4

• Monday: Upper body
• Tuesday: Cardio
• Wednesday: Lower body
• Thursday: Rest
• Friday: Upper body
• Saturday: Cardio
• Sunday: Lower body
  

Today I kicked off the first month plan, and if you're a college student like me, it's the perfect time to begin. With a month off from school, I'll be able to at least do the first month workout in full. (We'll have to see how months 2 and 3 go, once I'm back to the hectic school/work life.)

However, I've decided not to follow the meal plan that the magazine provides. As a college student who works on campus, and therefore, can't work during the winter break, I just can't afford it. But I will be trying a few of the recipes that are apart of the meal plan (such as grape and walnut chicken salad; red and gold farina; and tilapia with peppers, tomatoes, and capers.)

So if you're facing a month of free time, too, pick up the latest issue of "Oxygen" magazine and let the fitness begin. (Sorry, can't get this work out on the magazine's website.)

Recipe: Sweet Potato & Cinnamon Brownies

Now that I've got some time on my hands, here's the recipe for the Sweet Potato & Cinnamon Brownies I blogged about last month ("Clean Eating Holiday Dessert"):

Serves 16. Hands-on time: 20 minutes. Total time: 70 minutes + chill overnight.

Ingredients:
Brownies

• 1 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 cup cooked sweet potato
• 1/2 cup agave nectar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 6 egg whites
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 9 x 9 x 2-inch pan
  

Icing

• 1/2 cup low-fat plain cream cheese
• 3 tbsp agave nectar
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp water (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Prepare brownies: Combine flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. In a food processor, combine sweet potato, agave, oil, and vanilla. Puree until combined and smooth.
3. Gradually mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients, until just combined; do not over-mix.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until fluffy. Then, using a rubber spatula, gently fold egg whites into batter.
5. Lightly spray sides of baking pan (9 x 9 x 2-inch) with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan and place into oven. Bake for about 16 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove pan from oven and allow brownies to cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
6. While brownies are cooking or cooling, prepare icing: In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, agave, cocoa powder and cinnamon. Whisk until incorporated, adding 1 tbsp water if mixture is hard to whisk. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
7. Loosen brownie and turn slab out onto a cutting board or platter. Cut into 16 pieces, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
8. To serve, divide icing evenly over each brownie and serve immediately. Leftovers may be kept refrigerated in a resealable container for up to 2 days.

Nutrients per brownie: Calories: 140, Total Fat: 5 g, Sat. Fat: 1.5 g, Carbs: 21 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 12 g, Protein: 4 g, Sodium: 75 mg, Cholesterol: 5 mg

Recipe from "Clean Eating Magazine." For more clean eating recipes, pick up the latest issue of "Clean Eating" or visit cleaneating.com. Enjoy!

New Music Video from The Sounds

"Beatbox"

Sometimes vampire movies look worth seeing...

I'm not a fan of the current vampire craze (and no, I don't find the "sexy vampires" that are apart of this craze attractive like most of the vampire-obsessed girls - and unfortunately, women - out there.)

However, I am a fan of this trailer for "Daybreakers," a movie that will bring a new twist on vampires (and William Dafoe!) to theaters January 8, 2010:

Movie Review: The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

Houston somehow found its way onto the list of limited cities playing "The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day," and I just happened to be in Houston for Thanksgiving. After filling up on turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and stuffing, I ended turkey day with "All Saints Day." And I was pleased. A bit disappointed, but pleased.

"All Saints Day" is the sequel to Troy Duffy's "The Boondock Saints" (2000). In the first film, after killing two members of the Russian mob out of self-defense, Irish-American brothers Murphy and Connor MacMannus (Norman Reedus and Sean Patrick Flannery, respectively) believe they are on a mission from God to rid the city of Boston of crime. While openly gay FBI agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dagoe) investigates the brothers' continous murders amongst the ranks of the Russian mafia, Boston's citizens herald the brothers as saints.

The sequel has a similar story line...and its execution is a little too similar as well. In the continuation of "The Boondock Saints," the brothers have been in hiding in Ireland with their father, Il Duce (Billy Connolly). But after a beloved priest is killed by someone within the mob, the brothers return to Boston to do what they do best: bring justice to those responsible for the innocent's death. The brothers have a new partner in crim (Clifton Collins Jr., "Star Trek"), a sexy FBI operative (Julie Benz, TV's "Dexter") on their trail, guns in hand...and their rope, of course.

"All Saints Day" was a decent sequel. It had all the action and wit of the first film...but it also had very similar scenes, just with different people (besides the brothers). While I enjoyed the film, it was trying too hard to be like the original. I wanted to see new sly comedy and action-packed fight scenes, not everything I've already seen before. I was pleased with the humor, though a lot of it was the crude comedy of today rather than the sly, natural humor of the original.

Still, if you liked "The Boondock Saints" you don't want to miss "All Saints Day." Benz fives a smart and sexy performance as FBI agent Eunice Bloom, filling the shoes of Willem Dafoe's agent Smecker well enough (though she could never pull it off as beautifully as Dafoe). Collins, who plays Romeo (new partner in crime), serves as the comic relief and does so well, despite all of the forced humor.

Another nice touch to the film is seeing more of Connolly's Il Duce (didn't see much of him in the first.) Duffy gives an intriguing back story of the brothers' father...a story that turns out to be more than just background. And as for Flannery and Reedus? Killer performances. These two actors were made for the roles of the witty MacMannus brothers. Even when repeating similar scenes and lines of the original, they play their characters exquisitely.

Though the movie may have been too much like the original, but not as brilliant as the original (you know, since we've seen a lot of it before), it was completely made up for in the end (don't worry, I won't give it away). And if you're a "Boondock Saints" fan, you'll enjoy the whole thing (the good and the "eh...").

"All Saints Day" is now playing in Austin at Cinemark Tinseltown 17 on South I-35.

Gifts that Give Back

Christmas is the season of giving, and what better gift to give a loved one than a gift that gives back?

These types of gifts have become almost a trend in the past few years as non-profit organizations and charities started offering everyday products whose proceeds go back to their cause. Even stores and name brands have teamed up with organizations and charities, donating a percentage of their proceeds to a specific cause. (Think (PRODUCT)RED, and its partners, like Starbucks and Gap.)

In a time when money is tight, you don't have to worry about spending all your money on Christmas presents and having nothing left to give to charities. With gifts that give back, you can do both in one purchase.

And there are a lot of cute, stylish, and tasty gifts out there that give back to good causes. With the holiday of presents, presents, and more presents coming up, here's a few great gift ideas I've found, that also give back:

For the sweet tooth...
Give the chocolate lover gourmet fudge from Bella's Confections...and give back to the American Cancer Society. Through December 31, 25 percent of your purchase (Bella's Classic Collection fudge, shown on the left, is $13) will go to the American Cancer Society. bellasconfections.com.




For the fitness nut...
Your friends will be chugging water in style with the (STARBUCKS)^RED Double Walled Stainless Steel Water Bottle by Starbucks Coffee in red, of course ($20). For every (STARBUCKS)^RED product you purchase, Starbucks will give $1.00 to the Global Fund to help provide treatment for children and adults living with HIV in an effort to fights AIDS in Africa. If $1 doesn't seem like enough, check out more of these Starbucks products at (STARBUCKS)^RED and purchase coffee or gift cards for all your coffee-loving friends and family.

For the women in your life...

Ford has teamed up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to create a line of "Warrior Gear." The shirt to the left is just one of "Warrior" tops and features the symbol of the Dove on the back, which reads "Dove: Represents the wish for a quiet peace during the heat of battle." 100% of net proceeds goes to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Not only will you be giving a fashionable addition to a loved one's wardrobe, but you will be supporting breast cancer research and recruiting more "Warriors" who will spread the word just by wearing the shirt. Check out the "Warrior" scarf, shirts, and accesories fordcares.com.

For the ocean lover (and the coral bleaching-aware)...

This necklace is perfect for anyone who loves jewelry...and the beach...and cares about ocean conservation. Featuring a charm desgined in the shape of a coral, this Lilly Pulitzer necklace is not only a beautiful fashion accessory but creates awareness and funding for Sea Web, a communications-based non-profit organization that raises awareness about ocean conservation . When you purchase the $48 Coral Necklace, ten percent goes to Sea Web's coral conservation campagin, "Too Precious to Wear." Check out the Lilly Pulitzer website for more ocean inspired jewelry, bags, and accesories whose proceeds go back to ocean and coral conservation.


For the wine connoisseur...
Wine is always a safe and simple gift for anyone, connoisseur or not. But instead of picking up any random bottle of wine, choose a meaningful wine from the One Hope wine selection. One Hope is a for-profit enterprise that donates 50% of profits to partner charities through the creation of cause-specific wines. Each of One Hope's five wines has its own cause. For example, when you purchase the Zinfandel, shown on the left, the 50% donation is given to organizations who support our troops and their families. (Cabernet - Autism; Merlot - AIDS/HIV; Chardonnay - Breast Cancer; and Sauvignon Blanc - The Environment.) Each bottle is $19. For more wines and products, go to onehopewine.com.

For more "gifts that give back" ideas, check out the December issue of Glamour, now on magazine stands (or, you can probably browse through a variety of magazines on newsstands to find an article on charitable gift ideas.) And don't forget to take a look on the all-knowing Web.