Cinnamon and Vanilla
Hello, blog world! 
I started my Monday morning with a sweaty workout at the gym.
Strength (chest & biceps):
- Dumbbell chest press: 20 lbs, 15 reps, 3 sets
- Dumbbell chest flies: 15 lbs, 15 reps, 3 sets
- Push-ups: Body weight, 12 reps, 3 sets
- Dumbbell biceps curls: 12 lbs, 15 reps, 3 sets
- Single arm concentrated biceps curls: 15 lbs, 12 reps, 3 sets
Cardio:
- 30 minutes on elliptical
- 15 minutes on recumbent bike
Breakfast
I don’t usually add spices to my oatmeal, but the addition of cinnamon and vanilla extract made for a delicious breakfast this morning! It was quite a treat! 
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
I topped my bowl of oats with MixMyGranola trail mix, which included banana chips, pepitas, raisins, peanuts, and soy beans. I later added a scoop of peanut butter to my oats. No bowl of oats is complete without PB! 
With iced coffee…
Boston Healthy Living Examiner
New on the Examiner: Break through a fitness plateau
Question of the Day
What’s your Monday Mini Goal for the week?
Mine is to get a head start on packing for my trip this weekend, instead of leaving it until the last minute and stressing about it!
My other Monday Mini Goal is to do a better job replying to questions and comments on my blog! I’ve been such a bum!
Lindsay — November 2, 2009 @ 9:33 am
My mini goal is to figure out my blog. I am just starting it and trying to figure out how everything works on the site and such. Wish me luck!!
Kelly — November 2, 2009 @ 9:34 am
Monday Mini goal? To approach the week with the understanding that working faster does not always yield a quality product.
Lu — November 2, 2009 @ 9:36 am
Monday Mini Goal – get everything done for the Award Ceremony this Thursday. Shouldn’t be a problem at all. I love the addition of cinnamon and vanilla to your oatmeal. Sounds great!
Meghan@traveleatlove — November 2, 2009 @ 9:41 am
To get at least 4 posts scheduled before I leave for San Francisco on Friday!
Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers — November 2, 2009 @ 9:45 am
my mini goal is to eat lots of veggies this week – i totally neglected produce this weekend!
Emily G — November 2, 2009 @ 9:55 am
I always add Cinnamon to my oats! Not only is it extra tastey BUT it helps with preventing as many hunger spikes as your food is digesting. I have no idea WHY it does this but I read about it on msn.com the other day!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — November 2, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Ohmigosh – I eat my oats with cinnamon and vanilla everyday! I couldn’t bear it without them.
Katie — November 2, 2009 @ 9:57 am
Eat one dessert a day and keep my HW in check not do it at the last minute! And I LOVE cinnamon in most things.
Anne @ the doctor takes a wife — November 2, 2009 @ 9:58 am
mine is actually to start hitting the gym again. I stopped a few weeks ago when the hubby and I took a long weekend in DC. Time to get back at it
PS – you’re such a motivation, I totally love your blog!
Jenna — November 2, 2009 @ 10:02 am
Isn’t it amazing what adding just a little dash of a spice can do to a dish? Your bowl sounds excellent!
My mini goal is to figure out some sort of organization to our mail. It currently turns into a large stack on our kitchen counter.
Jenny — November 2, 2009 @ 10:02 am
My mini monday goal is to go through my closet and get rid of clothes I never wear – to make room for some new winter additions!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing — November 2, 2009 @ 10:03 am
My Monday mini-goal is to be a little less indulgent with my eats. Now that the holidays are starting up I think it’s good to keep things in check!
Mellissa — November 2, 2009 @ 10:03 am
Mine is too get packed as well
laura dishes — November 2, 2009 @ 10:05 am
My mini goal is to just relax and make time for 3 weekday workouts!
I didn’t know that pepitas are (are like?) pumpkin seeds! I had to google that one.
Erika — November 2, 2009 @ 10:16 am
Yum, oatmeal looks delicious!
My goal this week is to get a headstart on a few of my long-term papers. I’d love to have them done way before their due dates!!
Diana — November 2, 2009 @ 10:18 am
I’ve never tried PB with my oats, only almond butter and I wasn’t a fan of that. Maybe PB is better.
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans — November 2, 2009 @ 10:18 am
I love cinnamon in oatmeal! It takes like fall to me. My mini goal is to find a new event to train for!
Alicia — November 2, 2009 @ 10:27 am
My mini goal is to not let my anxiety overwhelm me while trying to get everything done before vacation starts on Saturday!
Light Delight with Tou Tou — November 2, 2009 @ 10:28 am
That is a very cute bowl – perfect for breakfast oats
btw, your oatmeal is very attractive 
.
Minigoal for this week – well, make the chiffon cake ! and of cause finish the forever data cleaning part of my project!
Have a great week!
Lizzy — November 2, 2009 @ 10:30 am
my monday mini goal is to get everything done on my to do list! its pretty long today!
Niki — November 2, 2009 @ 10:39 am
I agree, PB makes oatmeal! Yummy!! My mini goal is to catch up on my school work and house work this week! I was stuck studying for an exam all last week so this week I’m playing catch up
*Andrea* — November 2, 2009 @ 10:39 am
love your oats concoctions. they look delicious – perfect monday meal to start the week
my mon mini goal is to READ for my thesis that i totally put off all weekend from hallwoeen
Kati — November 2, 2009 @ 10:43 am
cinnamon and vanilla are always great additions! my monday mini-goal…hmmm. i guess it’s to be productive at work today so i can enjoy dinner with my bff and her new husband tonight!
Food Makes Fun Fuel — November 2, 2009 @ 10:44 am
My goal is going to be to write one of my 3 essays for History
Hallie (healthy twists) — November 2, 2009 @ 10:45 am
vanilla and cinnamon in oats are a must! I like pumpkin pie spice too…my mini-goal for this week is to SLOW MY ROLL when it comes to food…I just finished a 12-week bootcamp and diet program and well, I’m living proof of why dieting is a terrible idea…I’ve been eating like CRAP ever since, especially with lots of social events on my calendar, which is totally my downfall…so yeah, my goal this week is to learn how to put on my grown up shoes and say “no thanks” sometimes.
nic — November 2, 2009 @ 10:45 am
I would loooooove to do my workout first thing in the morning!! Too bad noone is teaching Ballet/Jazz this early!
But this way I have something to look forward all day! 
Mini goal… Just to be positive!! Need to start pushing myself with positivity again!
Jen — November 2, 2009 @ 10:47 am
Are you going to show us the after video of your apartment?
Emily Eats and Exercises — November 2, 2009 @ 10:49 am
I have gone through a ridiculous amount of cinnamon recently – it is such a good fall spice!
My monday mini goal – go to bed earlier!!! This whole late to bed early to rise thing is not going to work for much longer.
MelissaNibbles — November 2, 2009 @ 10:51 am
My goal is to get through this week with a positive attitude. I hate my job, but being grumpy and sulking all day isn’t helping me deal with it. I’m going to try to focus on the good things in my life and just deal until I can quit.
Have a great week Tina!
Tina — November 2, 2009 @ 10:53 am
@Jen (Jess): Yes, at some point.
Angie — November 2, 2009 @ 11:04 am
Great Monday morning mini-goals!!
Love your oatmeal – looks delish!
My Monday goal is to stop hitting snooze….going to be a hard one!!
Jenna — November 2, 2009 @ 11:06 am
i agree oatmeal is not complete with out some pb lovin’!
love the bowl!
jenna
Estela @ Weekly Bite — November 2, 2009 @ 11:08 am
My mini goal for the week is to be as productive today as possible…. I have a TON to do and a very busy week ahead!
Amanda@lessonsinmoderation — November 2, 2009 @ 11:10 am
Monday mini-goal: Untie my sneakers after a work out don’t just kick them off. I hate when I go to put them back on and I have to deal with double knots,which could potentially make me call off the whole workout if I’m feeling particularly unmotivated!
Niki — November 2, 2009 @ 11:12 am
MMG- Monday mini goal: call the vet to set up a check up for my new kitten and call the pharmacy to get my prescription transferred. I am oddly very excited about this day….hope it continues
Christy — November 2, 2009 @ 11:12 am
I have 2 – the first is to survive my little girl’s first day at daycare! And #2 is to make it to the gym at least 3 times this week and do a video at home the other days, no matter how hard it is to get out of bed!
diana(mymarblerye) — November 2, 2009 @ 11:13 am
I love all your breakfast, lunch, dinner posts! I’ve tried a recipe of yours already and find it pretty easy yet delish! My question is this: what are your work hours? I work from 7 to 6 and incorporating working out AND homemade breakfast,lunch, and dinners is rather difficult. What are your tips to having a 11 hour day PLUS freshly cooked meals?
Brynne — November 2, 2009 @ 11:14 am
My oats were definitely missing something this morning and now I’m thinking it was vanilla extract – great idea!
Tina — November 2, 2009 @ 11:15 am
@diana(mymarblerye): I work 10-3 now. Could you make larger dinners and pack them up as leftovers for lunch? I was the Tupperware queen when I worked full-time and went to school– long days and lots of packing!
amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) — November 2, 2009 @ 11:32 am
I am so excited for this weekendd and hopefully getting to meet you. I am so stressed about packing though. LOL! HATE PACKING!!!
Dani — November 2, 2009 @ 11:35 am
My MMG is to limit myself to one mini piece of Halloween chocolate per day.
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries — November 2, 2009 @ 11:42 am
I’m going to do my best to be superrr productive/active this week because my sister is coming in this weekend…aka veg fest haha. Good luck packing!
Marina — November 2, 2009 @ 11:56 am
my mini goal is to plan meals for the next week. I really have to start doing that regulary, I think I’ll save some money with it
Tasha — November 2, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
My mini goal is to keep my kitchen and living room nice and tidy. I did a major clean on Saturday, and I love how everything is in its place! I definitely want to keep it that way.
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) — November 2, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
Let’s see, my mini goal today is to finally get on top of my homework, geeez. And try and say no to all the leftover halloween candy!
Have a good Monday!
Julie — November 2, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
Moy goal is too eliminate unwanted and unneeded sugar from my eats this week. I went a little over board with Halloween and need candy and junk out of my system.
Roz — November 2, 2009 @ 1:51 pm
My goals for today are to get in a solid workout after work and to cook up some staples for lunches throughout the week. I hate spending money on lunches when I know I have food at home.
For the week, I’d like to workout at least 5 times, study each day for the GREs and bake some bread.
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — November 2, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
i rarely put spices in my oatmeal too but when i do, pow! i wonder why that is, that i don’t normally do that….
Cynthia (It All Changes) — November 2, 2009 @ 3:26 pm
My monday mini goal for today was to get more of my work done instead of being on blogs. I had PT this morning so I didn’t get to the office until 10. That means I’m just now getting to blog reading which I normally do at 8.30 before I open the office.
Katherine@Blissful-Body — November 2, 2009 @ 3:52 pm
my monday mini goal is to get back to my yoga practice this week. after being out with the flu – it is so challenging to get back & to really listen to my body and not get going too hard too soon.
Hannah — November 2, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
what beautiful oatmeal!
spices make all the difference! I can’t eat a bowl without cinnamon, salt and vanilla! <3
sirenjess — November 2, 2009 @ 8:00 pm
My mini monday goal is to get all my conferences done this week, workout but focus on core and strength. I also want to be more positive about work.
Sarah — November 3, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
I just recently started adding vanilla extract to my oatmeal and it is great!
Cuts and Curves — November 4, 2009 @ 12:00 am
Thats the cutest bowl! Looks perfect for oatmeal