I made balls…and other topics

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

As promised, here is the recipe from last night’s dinner (from Eights and Weights)

Healthy Turkey Meatballs

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground turkey
1/4 c breadcrumbs
1 tsp grated parmesan cheese
1 egg
2 tbsp soy milk (I used almond)
1/2 tbsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp thyme
2 gloves garlic (I used minced garlic)
Grated veggies (I used carrots)
1 pack of whole wheat spaghetti
1 28 oz can tomato sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1 onion (I used 1/2)
Cooking spray
1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degress and spray baking sheet with the cooking spray

2. In a large bowl, combine the turkey, breadcrumbs, parmesan, milk, egg, black pepper, thyme, 1/2 clove garlic, grated veggies, and half the salt

3. Once combined, form into balls (I did 12 medium sized)

4. Baked for about 15 minutes, until balls are browned.

5. For the sauce, heat the oil in a saucepan. Add in the onion and rest of the garlic. Right as it browns, add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and the rest of the salt. (I threw in a little chili powder as well)

6. Let the sauce simmer. When the meatballs are done, carefully add them to the sauce and allow at least an additional 15 minutes of simmering before serving (I had them simmer about 45 minutes. The longer, the better)

7. Cook the spaghetti per the directions on the box. Top readied spaghetti with balls and sauce and dinner is served.

******

Ok now that we’re done with that, I’d like to give a shout out to Athena for the workout she posted from her Tuesday night class (Oh how I miss Two a Day Tuesdays. Not only for the workouts, but for the peeeeeeople!)

I started with 10 minutes of HIIT on the spin bike, then got right to it.

There were 2 rounds of tabatas. Then cardio after each round. I chose to do a minute of cardio between each tabata for a little extra punch.

Round 1

On the bosu: Pushups/Burpees
With a medicine ball: Woodchops/Pulses
Bands: Bicep curls (In and out)

Round 2

On the bosu: Planks/Mountain Climbers
With a medicine ball: Front lunges w/twist
Bands: Tricep extensions

Then I did all the ab work she posted. (Seriously, just check out her post-linked above- for a more complete description).

Last, I hopped on the elliptical for another 10 minutes of HIIT.

It was a GREAT workout. I swallowed so much salty sweat. (Gross. Cringe. Barf. TMI- I know)

Only difference in my workout from Athena’s was the music selection. She chose to go with a Cinco de Mayo theme. Me: not so much. I have been hearing way too much techno-y/pop-y music lately, that I needed me some rap, hop-hop and otherwise ‘thuggy-thug’ music. (This is no offense to anyone by referring to it as ‘thuggy-thug.’ I just think it’s an amusing way to get the vibe across.) Little Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z, Kayne, Snoop and Notorious all made appearances on my playlist this am. I gotta tell ya, that music really revs my engine.

On the way to the gym I heard this song and I got really amped to work out. It really just makes me wanna dance and twist and shake and shimmy. Please tell me that you clicked on the link. And that as soon as the music played, you started bobbing your head or rocking your shoulders back and forth. Admit it. Because that’s what I’m doing. RIGHT NOW. Of course I’m playing it on repeat until I finish this post.

Then, on the way back, I heard this song. It was my very first favorite song that wasn’t and oldie or a Disney tune. Total throwback. Not gonna lie, I have used it quite a few times in playlists for classes I ran in Boston. Best part was when someone in the class would be like “Aww man, great tune” They scored 50 points in my book.

Ok, on to address the notes I left for myself in the last post.

1) Lululemon Swimsuits.

(Source)

I’m pretty sure I am going to buy all of them. I went to the mall yesterday just to “visit” them and I fell in love. Tyler, are you reading? Your lady wants a swimsuit. The gal who freaked out at the Hot Springs 2 weeks ago because of the dreaded bathing suit wearing…WANTS A NEW SUIT. I suggest you take that as a hint.

2) Calgary Beerfest

(Source)

I got tickets for Tyler and I for Friday night. Very excited. VERY. There are so many new-to-me beers that are going to be there. I know, it’s a tough job trying all of them, but I feel I am up to the challenge. A lot of these Canadian beers have rivaled my favorites from the states, and some of them have been just awful. I checked out the list of who will be there, and some of my new faves are..so I’ll at least have some backup.

3) Copycat blogging. I’m actually in a good mood today, so I don’t want to bring myself down if I really get into this topic. Next!

4) At home workouts. I used to hate doing at home workouts because I either didn’t have the space or didn’t have the equipment. But now, I totally love them. I have my own room that I can sweat to my heart’s content. I’ve got my mat, my stability ball and my new weights. So many options.

5) How much I hate washing dishes. The end. I just hate it.

6) Positives and negatives of being a lefty. Positives: I got on a lot of sports teams growing up. I got the lefty desk in school. Negatives: Coaches had a hard time teaching me the ‘opposite’ way. I smudge over pretty much everything I write.

I know there are more, but I can’t think of them right now. I think I just wrote that on my list last night because I had completely smudged up some important paperwork. #fail

7) Sleeping positions. On my belly or on my side. If I am drunk, I sleep on my back with my arms over my head. Totally weird.

8) Favorite chapsticks/lip glosses/what-have-yous. Chapstick: Carmex. But only in the classic stick and only in the original and cherry flavors. Strawberry? Blughk. Lip gloss: Benefit Ultra Shines. I have had just about every color and love every single one of them. What have yous: Exude Lipstick. I have the lip cream in Nude- I got it from my Birchbox a few months ago (which I had to cancel when I moved because they don’t deliver to Canada! Tears, people. Tears.)

This should be sufficient reading for you all for now..There’s a lot more to get done today!

Anyone want to rant/rave on anything? I’m all ears!

This post was not done on my computer. Poo

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

So I just checked my stats and someone from Australia read my blog today. Pretty awesome.

Let’s recap today, shall we?

I was up and at ’em at 7am and headed to the gym. Look how ecstatic I am:

Since I did a lot of strength yesterday, I decided to keep today’s workout simple. I did 61 minutes of intervals on the elliptical. No typo there- 61 minutes…why? Because the dang machine reset (or so I thought) and I had to add the time I thought was left to complete a full hour. I was off by a minute, and the machine didn’t reset, so it showed I did one minute extra than intended. Go me.

They open the cafe at my gym just as I am getting there in the morning and they are brewing coffee and engaging in other shenanigans, and more often than not, sugary yum yum treats with scents so delicious waft up to the workout floor (it’s right above the cafe with an open-air entrance) and I have one of two reactions:

1) Barf

2) Want a sugary yum yum treat.

Seriously, bad layout plan.

Once I got home, I made a breakfast similar to yesterday.. Except this time I used frozen bananas, chocolate protein powder and almond milk. Honey Nut Cheerios made another appearance.

Ahh, it was so good, and so filling. Only downfall is that it makes me cold all over. In addition to a rainy day and my sweat starting to cool down- I was in a bad place. So, the only cure was to take a hot bath. A REALLY hot bath.

60 minutes later, I was pruney and had completed my library book. (#forthewin)

(Here is where I tried tirelessly for 20 minutes to insert a picture of the cover and source the site from which I obtained said picture, but the stupid internets is not behaving and I did not want to omit the link. blahhhh)

Anyhoo, it was a good book. Super easy read…perfect for a rainy day/tub time.

Lunch was another batch of vegetable stir fry. Love me some veggies. Definitely got my daily requirement in this meal!

Why that picture is small, I don’t know. But I am using Tyler’s laptop, so that might be the reason. Sad to say, but I have almost completely forgotten how to use anything but Macs. I was only using one on a daily basis at work no more than two months ago! Oh well, I guess the memory chooses what it wishes to remember…

I am now about to show you a picture of my nail color. Ugh, I am so frustrated because my nails are so short. I got fidgety the other day doing paperwork and I cut them all off. Le sigh. But this color is cool, so it should distract you from the scary boyish nail length.

Again, small picture. Back to the Mac tomorrow!!!!!

The afternoon was spent at the mall for some top secret stuff. But, I did my awesome Jen thing and chatted up the sales associate at one store and scored some free samples! I can’t tell you what they are samples of, because it will ruin the surprise of what I was purchasing. I will let you use your imagination for what the heck I could have possibly gotten. Any guesses would be appreciated in the comments, thanks.

Oh, and I also got probably the most awesome message from one of my besties today.

This is what I’m known for, folks. Ridiculous consumption of all nut butters. I am sad to say it has been near a week since I have had any. It’s too expensive here. Would anyone like to send me some…perhaps from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s? I promise that if you do, I will send you some homemade cookies!! 😉

Dinner was homemade sauce and turkey meatballs with whole wheat pasta.

Since I can’t link from this computer (insert mad face here) I will share with you the recipe tomorrow. Here’s a teaser: there are shredded carrots in the balls! So delicious and nutritious. (#forthewin….. AGAIN)

We watched a movie after dinner, and a tummyache kicked in. Nothing to do with dinner, folks. That’s all I’m saying. It’s not cold in here, but I watched the movie like this

There are a few other things I’d like to discuss, but this tummyache is taking precedent. Below are the topics (these are for my notes because I don’t have a pen and paper nearby, and I am too lazy to jot them down in my phone.)

Lululemon swimsuits
Calgary Beerfest
Copycat blogging (Ugh, I know I am totally going to poorly express my thoughts on this one, but it has been bothering me lately, so I would like to write about it nonetheless)
At home workouts
How much I hate washing dishes
Positives and negatives of being a lefty
Sleeping positions
Favorite chapsticks/lip glosses/what-have-yous

Ta ta for now!

Busy bee.. And a great workout!

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Unlike Garfield, I am loving this Monday

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I made a To Do list for myself (and one for Tyler, haha) and the first thing on my list was a workout. Here’s what it looked like:

10 minute HIIT elliptical warm up

10 left leg front lunges
10 right leg front lunges
10 squats
10 plié squats
(these ate all done holding 10 pound weights. Do this 4x through)

2 minute jump rope

10 bicep curls
10 tricep extensions
10 hammer curls
10 tricep extensions
(again, 10 pound weights and done 4x through)

2 minute jump rope

Donkey kick series left leg
(10 kickbacks, 10 top taps, 10 crossover kickbacks, 10 wide toe taps)
10 froggers
Donkey kick series right leg
10 froggers

2 minute jumping jacks

10 leg lifts
10 crunches
(4x through)

10 skiers
10 mountain climbers
(4x through)

Plank series
(30 seconds each side and 60 in the middle)

20 minute cycle HIIT

Done!

Breakfast was a chocolate strawberry protein bowl. I mixed chocolate protein powder, fresh strawberries, almond milk and ice in the blender and topped with a cup of Honey Nut Cheerios

Now onto that pot of coffee….

Lots more to do today! I was going to cross ‘walk with Layla’ off my list next, but she seems to be oh-so-comfortably sleeping. And by comfortable I mean holy crap that looks painful.

Lazy Mutt

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I didn’t end up taking public transportation yesterday. Believe me, I tried, but there were no parking spots available at the station, so I ended up just driving to the city. I parked on the outskirts to both save on parking and get a nice walk in.

I represented the big booty club

I’m going to skip over the content of the meeting because I will get entirely too worked up…but I walked back towards my car to have “coffee” with Nicole. Coffee turned into beer and hummus, but that’s typical (right?)

This lovely platter (and beer) was enjoyed at Original Joe’s. I will definitely be heading there again- their menu (both drinks and food) looked delicious.

Then, because of our overly stressful meeting, I decided to treat Tyler to dinner and drinks. We met around the corner at Julio’s Barrio for a few of these:

I had never had a Bulldog before, and it didn’t disappoint. I total felt like I should have been on Jersey Shore.

Tyler opted to accompany his Bulldog with a quesadilla

And I went with the Avocado Salad

Consider the edge taken off as this meal was finished.

Since I had the ball rolling, I thought we might as well keep it going once we got home. I picked up a few beers that we had never tried before

I chose this beer for two reasons:

1) Because the 6 pack had 8 beers in it

2) Because I’m pretty sure the dog on the label is Layla.

The beer was actually pretty good. It has no distinct flavor other than beer. But, it was easy to drink and I think would pair well with almost any type of food. I will be on the lookout to see if they have any other types of beer (I am going to link to Lazy Mutt, but for some reason, my computer won’t allow me to view it)

I took a pic of the bottlecap because I thought it was cute. Maybe you will too.

Welp. this JLo booty has some errands to run and a workout to do! We are going away for the night tomorrow and I have to get ready!!

Protein muffins…and stuff

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hidy ho, Winslow! (or whatever your name is)

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Before I start, lemme just show you my bangin’ word on Words with Friends (sorry Steph! 😉 )

BOOM. 102 points.

Bfast this morning was a batch of chocolate strawberry protein muffins. I got the idea from meals & moves. I substituted vanilla protein powder for chocolate, used all plain nonfat Greek yogurt and strawberries instead of peaches. They turned out pretty good!

That’s my fancy schmancy collage of muffins. Mmm. A couple of those, a pot of coffee, and a gallon of water and I’m good to go for the day!

I’ve already used the three products that I bought from The Body Shop yesterday and I love each one of them.

First, I got coconut body butter.

I now smell like Hawaii and that makes me happy.

Second, perfume.

It’s a musk, which I never go for, but this one I loved. I now smell like a lady instead of a girl who just walked through the Pink section of Victoria’s Secret.

Last, a face wash.

I was hesitant to buy it because I have been a Neutrogena girl since age 0, but this one exfoliates and leaves my face with a nice, soft glow. I highly recommend!