working out – Sunny Side Up With Siri

Blogmas Day 8: A Check In On My 2025 Goals

December 8, 2025 sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hello Sunny Siders, it’s Blogmas day 8 and I want to share a recap on how my 2025 goals went this year. During last year’s Blogmas I set my goals for 2025 and now we will revisit them to see my progress.

Drink my daily recommended amount of water

Yeah… once again this one didn’t go very well. I try every year to set the goal of staying hydrated and go through ebbs and flows where I’m really great or really terrible. Definitely going to have to keep working on this one in 2026.

Start a side business

I checked this goal off very early in the year when I established Sunny Sider Crafts, LLC and created my Etsy shop to sell stickers in February. This was probably one of my biggest accomplishments of the year, which I plan to go into more detail during a later Blogmas post!

Continue my Duolingo streak

I’ve stuck to my goal of keeping my streak and am now at 1,417 days straight of practicing Japanese. I didn’t step up to the challenge of 15 minutes a day, but I definitely spent more time practicing than last year.

More time with family

I’d like to say that I made a very conscious effort to spend more time with my family in 2025. I took time off to travel and ensured anytime they were in town that I got to see them. I’d love to step it up even more in 2026 if my PTO allows.

Visit at least one new place this year

I definitely was not a world traveler in 2025, but I did visit a new city! I had never been to Salem, Massachusetts until this year when I went in October. It was such a fun experience and the perfect time of year to visit!

Opting for homemade over store bought and takeout

This is another goal that I feel went pretty well in 2025. I’ve spent a lot of the year making food at home and limiting the amount of time I eat out during the week. I can’t remember the last time I bought or ate a store bought dessert, as I’ve been making everything at home myself.

My Current Workout Regiment

May 27, 2024 sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hello Sunny Siders, I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Today, I’m going to be sharing my current workout regiment. As you know, much of this page used to be dedicated to health and fitness, and while the blog has evolved in many ways I like to do these check ins with you all from time to time.

Workouts have been pretty different for me lately. Many of you know I was a big weightlifter and used to exercise at least 6 times a week. Then, I shifted to a more relaxed schedule still focused on weight training but only 4-5 days a week. In both instances I was very regimented about which days I did and did not need to workout

Now, I am much more flexible with my workout routines. My current goal is to aim for 4 days of “intense” exercise. For me, this has looked like a lot of Chloe Ting workout videos. Being a full time employee leaves me pretty exhausted at the end of the day, but I always want to get in my exercise because it makes me feel good.

With minimal time, I’ve been prioritizing at home workouts and pre made workout plans because it takes out a lot of the decision fatigue and extra time that comes with going to the gym. Right now. I generally try to do at home workouts at least 3 times during the work week.

I’m currently attempting Chloe Tings 2024 Summer Shred Challenge through her new fitness app called Core. This has helped me to stay motivated and on track as I really like checking off boxes to complete things.

When I’m not doing at home workouts, I try to get in to the physical gym at my apartment at least once a week. I’ve been loving going there to do my own spin class. I hop on the spin bike and listen to a playlist of songs I curated that would make for good spin workouts. I’ve been having a lot of fun getting creative with this and I always feel so accomplished afterwards.

I haven’t been lifting weights for quite a few months now. I’ve been having some shoulder and joint issues lately, so I decided to cut back and focus on body weight and form while I continue to stretch and relieve my joints.

For the other three days that time not doing a dedicated workout, I try to get in some form of leisurely movement. Usually this is a walk around my apartment, yoga stretches, or a nice relaxing bike ride.

I love to prioritize rest, but always try to move my body at least once a day even if it’s just walking up the stairs at my office instead of taking the elevator.

So that’s currently what my exercise regiment has been looking like. I’m really enjoying having less pressure to lift heavier weights or having to workout on specific days. It’s fun to have flexibility in my schedule, and encouraging myself to see all movement as exercise has helped me to get out and do something every day even when I don’t feel like working out.

Since When Did We Start Using Exercise as Punishment?

July 9, 2022 sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hey Sunny Siders, I’m back with another post about a topic I’ve contemplated a lot lately. I am sure we have all heard the term “No pain no gain before,” and most often in the context of exercise. We have all tried workouts that push our bodies to the absolute limit and felt the after effects from it. I’m sure many of you, like myself, have been forced themselves to workout or do a workout they do not like because they “have to.”

I think this idea of exercise as pain is something we have all grown accustomed to. We no longer even try to change or counter this narrative because it’s been ingrained into our minds for so long. But, I actually think this “exercise as pain mindset” is not a very good one.

Over the past year or so I have worked to reframe my mindset when it comes to exercise. This all started last June when I was went out for a morning run. In 2021, I decided to make it my goal to enjoy running, a form of exercise that I despised. I made it my mission to run twice a week, every single week of the year. However, it was on this run at the beginning of June that I was thinking to myself “Man I really hate this. My lungs and knees hurt, I feel like my chest is going to burst, and I dread doing this every week.” It was in that moment, I finally realized that I do not have to do any form of exercise that does not bring me any enjoyment and only causes me pain.

So I stopped running, because it did not serve me in a positive way. It make my joints hurt and my lungs burn to the point I had trouble breathing the rest of the day. These after effects of running were not serving me in a positive way, and I no longer wanted to partake in this kind of exercise.

I bring this story up because I think a lot of us dread working out because we are doing exercises that punish us, rather than build us up and make us feel good. If you do not like running or weightlifting, there are countless more ways to move your body that might suit you better. Stop forcing yourself to exercise in a way that is not conducive to your body, and then you might start looking forward your morning workout instead of dreading it.

Legendary Leg Day

April 6, 2022 sunnysidewithsiri1 Comment

Hey Sunny Siders, it’s time for another Workout Wednesday! This week, I’m sharing my go to leg workout recently. I have problems with my knees and back, so leg day has always been a bit more challenging. These exercises are some of my favorites that don’t cause me pain or discomfort!

Leg Day Workout:

• Squat Rack Squats 3 x 10

• Leg Press 3×10

• Single Leg Leg Press 3×10 each leg

• Cable Squats 3×10

• Calf Raises 3×10

• Single Leg Dumbbell Deadlifts 3×10 each leg

• Dumbbell Squats 3×10

• Dumbbell Sumo Squats 3×10

• Dumbbell Box Squats 3×10

• Good Mornings 3×10

• Hip Thrusts 3×10

Take your time with this one and try increasing the weight after each set. It’s a great workout that will have your legs burning in the best way!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Shake

August 26, 2020 sunnysidewithsiri1 Comment

Hey Sunny Siders, and welcome to another Workout Wednesday! Today I’ve got another exceptionally delicious protein shake to start your day the right way!

Ingredients:

• 10 Frozen Strawberries

• 8 oz milk of choice (I used toasted coconut almond milk)

• 1 Scoop Vanilla Protein Powder (I used FNX Vegan Vanilla)

• 2 T Peanut Butter

• Ice

Directions:

1. Add milk, strawberries, protein powder, and ice to blender

2. Blend until desired thickness is reached

3. Drizzle 2 T of peanut butter into shake glass and swirl with spoon

4. Enjoy!

Nutritional information:

• 320 Calories

• 16 g Fat

• 17.5 g Carbohydrate

• 6.5 g Dietary Fiber

• 8 g Sugar

• 29 g Protein

I hope you enjoyed this quick, easy, and delicious protein shake recipe. Let me know in the comments below if you decide to give it a try for yourself!

Sincerely, Sunnysidewithsiri

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Carrot Cake Goatmeal Recipe

April 29, 2020May 10, 2020 sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hello friends, today I’m sharing a new goatmeal recipe with you all, and it’s absolutely delicious! I’ve recently had to give up all forms of dairy in order to test one of my worst fears: I might be lactose intolerant. Usually, I make my oats with whey protein but because I can’t have that I decided to switch it up and I am very pleased with the results!

Carrot Cake Goatmeal

Here’s the deets:

• 1/4 C steel cut oats (@quaker)

• Dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pie spice

• 1 T park street deli vegan carrot cake hummus (found at @aldiusa)

• 1 T @crazyrichardspb all natural peanut butter

• 1 whole banana

Hope you all enjoy this recipe and be on the lookout for more blog posts soon, as my second semester of college ends tomorrow!

Instagram:

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Sincerely, Sunnysidewithsiri

Schooner Or Later

January 24, 2020 sunnysidewithsiri1 Comment

Hello Foodies, and welcome to another Foodie Friday! Sorry it has been so long since my last food blog, I have been extremely busy and haven’t had much time to write. Don’t forget that if you want quality food content I have a food Instagram @sunnysidewithsiri where I post food reviews as often as I can!

This truly was the best eggs Benedict I have ever had! The eggs were poached to perfection and had that beautiful, silky yolk that a great poached egg should have. The hollandaise had a wonderful creamy texture and a hint of lemon that added a nice acidity to the dish. The crab added a wonderful savory element that paired phenomenally with the avocado. The English muffin was nice and crisp, adding a bit of crunch that tied the whole dish together. Overall, I was so pleased with this dish and I would highly recommend giving it a try for yourself!

I hope you all enjoyed this quick food review, be sure to comment below what food items or places you’d like me to try!

Sincerely, Sunnysidewithsiri

My Favorite Coffee Shop #2 Sago Coffee Jax

December 20, 2019 sunnysidewithsiri3 Comments

Hello friends, and welcome to another Foodie Friday! I’m back with another edition of my favorite coffee shops. Today, I’ll be telling you about one of my new favorites Sago Coffee Jax!

I had the pleasure to visit Sago Coffee a few months ago and it did not disappoint! I absolutely adored the atmosphere. Right down by the beach, this coffee shop has the perfect chill vibe. It’s rustic, homey, and a bit edgy all wrapped into one. There is plenty of seating and has an outdoor indoor mix that I loved! I had a latte that had the perfect amount of sweetness, as well as a KILLER avocado toast. The toast was thick and had a perfect crunch to chewy factor. The avocado was creamy and the addition of cheese added a really nice saltiness to the dish. Finally, a sprinkling of red pepper flakes added a bit of heat to tie the entire dish together. I absolutely adored Sago Coffee, and I look forward to returning again soon!

Sago Coffee Jax avocado toast and latte.

I hope you enjoyed another installment of my favorite coffee shops. I love making these posts and I can’t wait to share some more of my favorites with you too!

Sincerely, Sunnysidewithsiri

Kilwin’s Ice Cream Review

December 13, 2019 sunnysidewithsiri1 Comment

Hello friends, and welcome to another Foodie Friday! Today I’m going to be telling you about a magical ice cream shop called Kilwins.

The Atmosphere:

Let me just tell you, I absolutely LOVE Kilwin’s Ice Cream! When you walk in, the aroma of waffle batter permeates throughout the building. It is decked out like a vintage ice cream parlor you’d see in the movies, with homemade candy apples, fudge, and chocolates piled high in display cases. In the back, they have a counter with countless unique ice cream flavors to choose from like toasted coconut and kilwins tracks. My stomach was grumbling just from looking at all the delicious treats!

The Ice Cream:

I recently went to Kilwin’s for Waffle Cone Wednesday. It’s a deal they have where if you buy one cone you get one for a $1! When I went I had a half scoop of toasted coconut and turtle. At Kilwins, they will let you get a single scoop with two flavors (1/2 scoop of each)! I haven’t ever been to another ice cream parlor that does this, but I love the idea! I personally can’t eat two scoops because my stomach will despise me, but I can never decide on just one flavor. So getting to have a single and choose two flavors is one added bonus that I love about Kilwins. Both flavors I tried were absolutely PHENOMENAL! Toasted coconut is a vanilla based ice cream with flakes of real toasted coconut mixed throughout. It has such a wonderful creamy flavor and the coconut adds an amazing textural element. What’s crazy is that it tastes like there are chocolate chips, mixed in but there aren’t! Turtle is chocolate based with swirls of carmel and pecans mixed throughout. The chocolate flavor was PERFECTION, not too sweet which made it the perfect base for the chewy, sweet carmel and crunchy, salty pecans. Both of these flavors were exceptional, and I’d definitely recommend trying them if you get a chance to go to Kilwins. However, the best part to me was the waffle cone! It had a perfect subtle vanilla essence and had a wonderful airy texture. It was perfectly cooked, giving it that amazing crunch that is so fantastic about waffle cones. To me, there is no better dessert than ice cream in a waffle cone on a warm day.

I could go on FOREVER talking about Kilwins, but for now I’ll leave it for you to try yourself! Kilwin’s has multiple locations scattered throughout the United States, is highly recommend looking up the closest one to you and giving it a try. I can assure you, you WON’T be disappointed.

Sincerely, Sunnysidewithsiri

Chocolate Peanut Butter GOATMEAL Recipe!

November 29, 2019November 30, 2019 sunnysidewithsiri2 Comments

Hello foodies and welcome to another Foodie Friday! Today I’m going to be sharing my update GOATMEAL recipe. I’ve been eating this oatmeal EVERYDAY for two months and I am IN LOVE with it! Keep reading if you’d like to know how to make it yourself!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4c steel cut oats
• 1 scoop protein power
• 1 Tbsp peanut Butter
• sprinkle of cinnamon