Monthly Archives: March 2012

I have a shirt that reads: ‘Yay Clea”v”age!’

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Let’s play catch up.

Last night, I had the urge to do my hair and put on makeup. Here’s what happened;

I was wearing my ‘Yay Cleavage!’ shirt (there is no ‘V’, but the V-cut of the shirt substitutes for the missing letter.)

Once Tyler got home, we went go get pizza and wine for a nice night in.

We got Pizza from Panago

I didn’t realize it until just now, that I might have had that little reverse camera function on my iPhone, because I also had this picture:

Classy.

I got the Panago classic. It had pepperoni, Canadian ham, black olives, red onions and mushrooms

And Tyler got the Genoa Classic with Salami, Green and black olives and goat cheese

We paired out eats with two bottles of red wine from Australia. Both were really good. First, we had Firestick

It was really light on the palate and tasted great with the pizza.
Second was Deakin Estate.

It was also a great wine, but a little too sweet to enjoy with our meal (that’s why I save it until after I finished my pizza! Yum yum) I never really buy Australian wines, but these have made the list, and I recommend them.

This morning’s first task was Costco! It was all too easy to drop $200 there. (Especially when a package of chicken breasts was like $40 million. I should have won that lottery back in the states, then I could have bought two packs of chicken today. I would have felt like the luckiest girl in the world)

I hadn’t eaten anything before, so by the time we got home, I had the jitters and needed food. Pronto. Good thing I bought TWO big jars of almond butter! Yum yum in my tum tum. And medjool dates. And veggies. Lots and lots of veggies.

So, bfast started off looking like this:

A whole grain bagel with almond butter and fruit salad (strawbs, naners and oranges)

But then I sat down, and this is what happened:

Somehow the bagel was consumed and there was a bowl of melted chocolate sitting next to the fruit. I only assumed it was meant for me to dip the fruit in. So dip the fruit I did. And it was good. (Ok, it didn’t just appear. I melted the chocolate. Perhaps it was because we bought a 78 lb. bag of chocolate chips at Costco. This girl likes her chocolate.)

After bfast was consumed (at lunch time) and emails/texts were exchanged with some of my best gals, Tyler and I joined Joe and Twyla to take our gaggle of dogs our for a walk. We went to a park near the Bow River. All the dogs were off leash, except mine because she’s an idiot and looks for an escape, and I was not about to chase her dodging moving vehicles. Nope.

Layla really loves rolling around in the river. She even puts her whole head under the water.

It was a really nice walk. Once we left the little park area, we headed around some pathways that followed the river.

Hopefully it tuckered out this little model of a pup. Apparently, she thought she was too good for the camera.

I finally got her to look at me, though

Now, I just gotta squeeze in a little workout before getting myself presentable for dinner and a lacrosse game at the Saddledome

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See ya later!

Pyramid Workout

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Today’s workout was inspired by this video (if you need an explanation for any of the moves, check out the video). Each move (obviously not the cardio) will be done once each, then 2x each, 3x, 4…all the way to 10.

5 min cardio warm up (I used the spin bike. moderate intensity for 45 sec, work for 15, repeat)

chest press, sit up w/bicep curl (1 chest press, sit up w/1 bicep curl; 2 chest press, sit up w/2 bicep curl..)

chest fly, sit up w/hammer curl

7.5 min cardio (45 seconds of moderate intensity, work for 15)

wide row to tricep kickback

close grip row to headbanger

10 min cardio (1 min moderate intensity, work for 30 sec)

squat w/shoulder front raise

deadlift w/lateral raise

The UFC (squat to knee drop) for 10

Plank up downs for 10

-repeat the UFC for abother 10 and planks for another 10

Cool down cardio (moderate to low intensity for 10 min)

This workout should take under 90 minutes.

******

I was an awesome girlfriend this am (pre-workout) and decided to slap on the final coat of paint on one of the walls by myself. Since it was so labor-intensive, I worked up an appetite and munched on a chia brownie with natural pb

I took a pic of only part of my hair this am to show you the natural curl I rock when I wake up with bed head.

If you saw the whole head, you’d think I had a lion’s mane. This picture actually makes it look quite pretty though. Anyone have tips on how to hold natural curl? I hate putting too much product in because it either weighs it down too much, it’s sticky, or it gets crunchy. And those are about the last two things I want my hair to feel like.

******

I thought this was a funny little comic. Reminds me that I really need to talk in kilometers now, because people are really looking at me funny when I say ‘Oh, you know, it’s about 20 miles.”


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BIG NEWS: I’m thinking. I might. Put on. MAKEUP tonighttttt!

Peace, I’m out 😉

Fine Friday

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While it feels like every other darn day for me, but for most of you…it’s FRIIIIIIDAY! End of the week. Go out tonight. Have fun. I’m staying in with the man to paint and watch TV. In a word: romantic.

I did manage to finally snap a few pics yesterday. Let’s start with the best one..me!

Do I look fierce or what? Fast forward 20 minutes and I’m out for a walk with the pup- the pup who happens to have diarrhea- the dog who happens to have diarrhea while it’s windy- the dog owner having to carry said diarrhea in a poop bag in the wind- and it’s not so fierce.

We took a different route today and managed to hit some of the streets that are actually just around the corner. I am flabbergasted that EVERY HOUSE is different. When I grew up in CA, you could tell the different neighborhoods because the developer only had about 4 different models of houses. So each street looked identical; maybe some of the designs were flipped or something. But here, every single house is different. I have secretly been on a mission to find our house’s twin.

I made some fabbbb apps when I got back. I found the idea at Healthy Tipping Point.

Mushrooms stuffed with hummus and topped with cheddar cheese. Bake in the oven at 350 for 15 minutes. Yum!

Next, came dinner. Spinach salad with steak, strawberries, pineapples and poppyseed dressing.

Jen was happy.

I finally decided to walk to the Y last night for my workout. (My walk to this Y is shorter than my walk to the Oak Square Y in Boston! I didn’t think that was possible. But, oh, it is. This will help extend that tank of gas even longer!) Like I mentioned before,  I did an entire tabata workout. I found that this type of workout is not only quick; it helps keep me focused and motivated; and it helps me get in a good workout when the gym is absolutely PACKED. My workout looked like this:

2 cardio tabatas (heel taps for the first, alternating plank jacks and high knees for the second)

bicep tabata (one leg stand bicep curls- one foot on stability ball)

tricep tabata (tricep extensions and kickbacks)

8 minute tabata on the row machine (holy YES this was my favorite part)

lunge tabata (elevated; holding weights)

squat tabata (alternating between regular body weight squats and elevated squats)

2 cardio tabatas (jumping jacks for the first, alternating between up-downs and front kicks)

ab tabata (mix of crunches, russian twists, leg lifts and pilates pulses)

Done in just under an hour. Boom.

******

Breakfast this AM was a delicious and nutritious yogurt bowl. Haven’t had one of these in for-ev-er. I used my new-to-me Oikos

A sample box of Great Grains blueberry pomegranate cereal we got in the mail yesterday

and fresh strawberries to create this yummy delicious bowl:

So that’s what I’ve got for you on this fine Friday morning: food and workouts. Story of my life.

Anyone have any awesome Friday plans?

Most random post. Ever.

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Who would have thought an unemployed lady like myself would be too busy to blog? Crazy, I know. But when you spend your morning on the phone with insurance companies and your afternoon having coffee and window shopping, the day tends to get away from you.

Last night’s dinner was a find-what-you-can-in-the-fridge-and-make-a-meal-out-of-it kinda dinner.

Quinoa, broccoli, pepperoni and marinara sauce.

I also made these brownies that I found on Hungry Hungry Hippie. I tweaked them a bit, and they came out ok, but I’ll take the super unhealthy homemade brownies I normally make over these. Doesn’t hurt to try though! And now I have chocolate almond milk in my fridge, so I’m not complaining!

If you notice, my picture is not nearly as nice. Ah well, it cured the chocolate fix I was craving.

After watching Survivor (haha, Tarzan had poop stains on his underwear) we watched the first two episodes of American Horror Story. Yup, bad idea. I woke up screaming in the middle of the night. I couldn’t fall asleep afterwards. I’m such a sissy. I need to man up. I’m getting heart palpatations just thinking about it. I’m determined to watch the whole season. I will just have to give up sleeping in the dark for a bit. Hey, I’ve got free daytime hours anyways.

No pictures from today yet, but I can paint you a picture:

Wearing sweats (daily uniform. God, I’m starting to get really disappointed with my shoddy appearance), got my hair re-done (thank you LOTS Sadie!) and went to coffee in Cochrane with Sadie and Kate. What did I order, you ask? The answer: Irish Cream coffee and a fruit scone. On the way home, I picked up some groceries. (Decided to give Oikos a try. Holy crap couscous is over $4?! You want HOW MUCH per pound of zucchini?!!)

Let me just slide in a little fun fact. It’s about one of the only things I am currently giddy about. I have had the same tank of gas for 35 days. You’d think I was under house arrest or something. I just drive to the Y and the grocery store and they are both about 1/4 mile away. I need to get out more often. My stomach just turned thinking of how lame I must sound.

Tonight’s workout is going to be tabata style. Both cardio and strength. I tend to do these workouts (not only because they are effective) but when I am not super gung-ho on going to the gym. That way, I can get in my workout and not get bored because it changes every 4 minutes. I’m pretty sure that’s brilliant.

I am a few pages shy of finishing the third book of The Hunger Games series and I am getting disappointed. Weird stuff is happening. It doesn’t help that the first movie was not a great reflection of the book, either.

Does anyone else still wear their Orthodontist issued retainers? Athena and I have talked about this- we both still do. I have a red glittery one for my top teeth and a clear plastic for the bottom that broke into two pieces. I just cannot fathom the thought of not wearing them and having my teeth get crooked after having about SEVEN years of orthodontic work done. I mean, I was a metal mouth for FOREVER. I had each tooth in my head spaced apart, the front ones then pushed back, and then they were all pushed back together. I had wires. I had a retainer cemented to the roof of my mouth with a key that I had to use to turn the retainer and expand it (apparently they gave me the wrong instructions and I ended up turning it 3x faster than I should have. I didnt eat solids for 2 months I was in so much pain) I even had those stupid rubberbands. In fact, I had to rubberband my whole mouth shut, except for the front four teeth. What’s even more awesome is that that was the same time I performed in Carnegie Hall. I KID YOU NOT when we sang, I opened my mouth too wide that the rubberband broke and smacked the girl standing next to me. It was during rehearsals, but she got her revenge by standing in FRONT of me during the actual performance. Not my fault!

Sometimes I hate the whole process of showering because it entails to many duties. Shampoo hair, rinse hair, condition hair, rinse hair, wash body, shave (on occassion). Dry off, lotion, put product in my hair, brush hair…I’m tired just thinking about it.

Has anyone ever taken the raspberry ketone supplement? I saw it on Dr. Oz yesterday (only because I was home, I swear!) and I had never heard of it. If anyone has, let me know..I might be interested in trying it myself!

I kind of miss home. In the sense that I won’t get a government charge every time I used my debit card; that it’s called a bathroom and not a wash room; that people are in the same boat as far as health insurance, so they don’t ask me about it; Dunkin Donuts; mph not kph. Ok, I’m starting to put myself in depression mode. Must stop.

The good news is I passed my background check, so the YMCA is allowing me to take the certification courses in April so that I can be one step closer to volunteering/working there.

I can’t stop thinking about my nightmare last night. If I type it out, it sounds incredibly silly, but I swear to you it was the scariest thing ever. I was with Betty White and Tyler and there was a demon in the house and we were hiding from it and finally I screamed at the top of my lungs “GET IT OUUUUUUUUUT” and then Tyler laid on the couch and Betty and I laid on an air mattress until the devil came up the stairs. And that is when I sat up awake and started screaming. See? It sounds super silly.

I just realized I have been sitting here typing this whole thing and I haven’t taken off my coat.

This is the most random post ever. I guarantee you it won’t be the last.

Happy Thursday!

Banana Applesauce Bready Goodness

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Hi Friends. Having a low day because I am dealing with more trials and tribulations of the move to Canada. Lots of legal things and what not. I’m taking deep breaths to hopefully relax. And not too many deep breaths to get light-headed.

Thank goodness I had a loaf in the oven (WAYYYY better than a bun, eh??! bad joke) and was able to enjoy some warm bready goodness at the end of my most recent bad phone call.

I threw this recipe together, and IT ACTUALLY WORKED. Like, it turned out pretty darn good. I have no fancy name for it, so I give you:

Banana Applesauce Bready Goodness

  • 1/4 c brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 large ripe banana, mashed
  • 3/4 c all purpose flour
  • 1/2 c whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/4 c raisins
  • 1/4 c walnuts
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350

In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar. Beat with mixer for 2-3 minutes. Add the egg and applesauce and beat for another 2 minutes. Fold in the banana, chia seeds and cinnamon.

In another bowl, combine the flours and baking soda.

Slowly add the flour mixture into the banana mixture. Fold in raisins and walnuts if desired.

*Optional: top poured batter with oats for a crunchy top

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for about 40 minutes.

I had a couple slices with natural pb (Note: Natural peanut butter is the same price as a gallon of cashew butter in the states. i.e.: EXPENSIVE. argh) and some OJ for breakkie.

Parden the appearance of the pb, it was the kind you have to stir. And I didn’t do a good job of stirring. Therefore, it looked like a puddle ‘o poo.

I’m off to tape and paint the window wall in the living room! (Excited, but not too much. Upside is I can watch some HD movies while I work. Way better than whistling while I work. What were those dwarves thinking? Silly men.)