Donate NOW!

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hey. So it’s practically the holiday season. And what do a lot of people do during the holiday season? They give. So here’s an idea…give me some long sleeve shirts or sweaters.

Ok that sounded rude. Let me rephrase.

DONATE your new or gently used ‘warm clothes’ to me. You know, the girl who moved from California 10 years ago and still hasn’t grasped the concept of winter? The girl who moved to CANADA and forgot practically all the warm clothes she did own in the States. The girl who is shivering 24/7.

The girl who is currently walking about a mile to the gym with 3 pairs of lulu pants, 2 pairs of wool socks, a long sleeve T, New Balance windbreaker, North Face Fleece, Kenneth Cole Parka, NE Patriots head warmer, Red Sox baseball hat, and two pairs of Target gloves. (aka: ALL the warm clothes I own)

And it’s only October.

Hook a sista up.

NOT a healthy grocery list

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hi, Internets. Happy Tuesday.

This is NOT a healthy grocery list.

But it’s not for like…me. (ok, it is.) I just put together something yummy, but I can’t share it yet because I haven’t tried it yet. But, you can tell it’s gotta be good based on the list.

Last night, I got through the strength portion of Workout A from Best Body Bootcamp at home. I did some homework (also at home, hence the name), then scooted over to the Y for the cardio interval portion of my workout.

Sidenote: I got my midterm grades…..an A and a B+ (not proud of the B+, but it is what it is)!

This is the least flattering picture ever. I need to get my roots done STAT. And get rid of my sideburns. And stop doing that tween face.

OMG I HAVE TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. I was going through my phone looking for this workout picture for the post, and I had taken a bunch throughout my workout, including some at the gym, and in the one in the locker room mirror, I snapped the naked tushie of an older lady! Totally didn’t even see her when I took the pic. I immediately deleted because I’m pretty sure that’s illegal.

Hi. Target is coming to Canada. That is the ONE credit card that I owned in the states, and pretty soon I can start using it again.

I was entirely too giddy when I saw this at the mall yesterday. My giddiness turned into shopping rage, and I bought a butt-ton of candles, some jewelry, and some long sleeve sweaters and tops. And…kombucha.

God, I love that stuff.

And Essie nail polish. I never splurged on this brand before because it’s pretty expensive, but after my first experience with it yesterday, I am a total convert. Go out and buy it. Now.

HEY YOU. Yes, you. Get on Facebook and ‘Like’ my page. Right now. Please? I’m borderline begging you.

Remember last week when I told you that I went to the bottle return and got $23?! Well, I forgot about one significantly large box of bottles that were in the backseat instead of the trunk. And so, all week I have been driving around Calgary with a LARGE box of empty tequila bottles (yes, they are ALL tequila bottles). I should probably take them out of my car. Again, I’m guessing that’s illegal.

For your entertainment, this post tells you how to scare yourself thin this Halloween. I am so doing EVERY SINGLE thing on that list tomorrow.

Since I’m bored, and still have pretty much no friends in Calgary, and I want to get a lot of people to comment to keep me from eternal boredom, do me another favor and answer the following in the comments:

Are you dressing up for Halloween at work?
Watching scary movies?
What’s your favorite halloween treat?

Throwback Thursday (not that kind)

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Happy Throwback Thursday (usually people refer to throwback in the sense that they post old pictures or play old songs. But me, I ‘throw back’ a few brewskis. Umm it’s Thursday, so there’s football. And when there’s football, and a football loving dude that I just so happen to live with…..there’s beer)

Oh funny story: I have been saving all the booze bottles (and milk cartons and kombucha bottles) for the last couple of months and I returned them today for $23! Hells yeah I can buy practically nothing in Canada for that.

1. My Avon order arrived today! Woo hoo

(More than $23)

2. So did my new coat!

(Way more than $23)

(That’s my crazy i-look-like-crap-silly-face) Gimme a break, I didn’t put makeup on today because I am about to go to the gym, and I wanted ‘naked’ skin when I went to my Avon lady’s house just in case I was going to put a lot of samples on. But I didn’t) Layla doesn’t judge.

3. We also got some dimmer switches that Tyler ordered, but I didn’t open the box because those aren’t as exciting to play with…..until they’re installed.

*Have we noticed that I am useful being stuck at home? I answer the door for all the deliveries!

Yesterday’s HEAT class had a whopping ONE person in attendance. PEOPLE, DON’T SLACK OFF ON GOING TO THE GYM JUST BECAUSE THERE’S SNOW ON THE GROUND. I hate snow and I still trekked through that shi*

I did a 10 minute progression cardio set on the elliptical before heading to the studio for class, where I did:

(The first few rounds were taken directly from one of Athena’s workouts that she posted the other day. I used to hate being in her class when she did count downs only because I seemed to be the only grunter by the time we got down to 4’s. Oh wait, I think I liked it because I was the only grunter. Ahh, potayyy-toes, potahhh-toes.)

Countdowns (10 of each move, then 9, down to one…Athena explains it. Then one minute of the cardio, and about one minute of the core move)

Round 1

Bicep Curls/Overhead Presses
Jumping Jacks
Alternating crunch/toe touch

Round 2

Pushups/bent over rows
Jump rope
Side plank w/hip raise

Round 3

Tricep Kickbacks/Upright Rows
High Knees
Heel Taps

Then, I had to get a bit creative because my one participant was a little limited in her movement due to an injury.

Round 4

Donkey Kicks (each leg countdown)
Weighted left squat to left side lunge (45 seconds) to right squat and right side lunge (45 seconds)
One minute wall sit with a front raise

Round 5

Crunches/Supermans
Mountain Climbers
Leg lifts
One minute wall sit with lateral raise

Round 6

Weighted reverse lunge with 3-count pulse and 3-count hold (90 seconds each leg)
Weighted Squat to overhead press
Laying weighted hip abductions with 3-count hold

It doesn’t look like a whole ton of cardio, but since we were doing those countdowns like quickfire, we were both breathing hard and sweating lots.

Today’s workout will consist of 40 minutes steady state cardio, and a few moves that were in my workout from Best Body Bootcamp that I was supposed to do yesterday (but didn’t squeeze them in my class)

Peace out.

TRX class

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hola, people of the world.

I just thought I’d write a quickie on my TRX class last night. It’s going to be pretty basic, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

We did 5 minute warm up (well, I told them it was a warm up..we really did a lot of side lunges while holding the ropes, and some arm stretching)

We did the next 10 moves for 1 minute each with a 45-60 second recovery (3 sets of this before moving to the next exercise):

Hip press
Suspended Lunge (3x on each leg)
Chest press
Single Arm Row (3x each arm)
Atomic pushup
Back row
Ab rollout
Suspended knee tucks
Tricep Extensions
Bicep Curls

Sounds simple with only 10 moves, but you’re doing them for a significant amount of time. And yes, you’ll be shaking by the end of it.

I managed to get to the gym way early before teaching this class, so I squeezed in a 20 minutes spin session. It was a great way to break a sweat before teaching (Even though I still felt pretty crappy)

Oh, and then when my class thought they were done, I had them get down on all four on their mats and do a few sets of the Dirty Dog (I call them fire hydrants- and contrary to the video I linked, I had the class hold the move at the top of their range of motion for a niiiiiiice loooooong tiiiiiiime). Bwahaha. I saw a few waddling out of the studio after that.

Very sore. Very awesome.

I started this book today:

(Source)

Already pretty far into that sucker, it’s an easy and fun read.

A few things before I go:

1. I won a Kombucha Home Brewing Kit from Lauren over at Oatmeal after Spinning! Woooo hoooo! Check out her blog, she has lots of cool things going on over there 🙂

2. I got my Bulu Box the other day. Since I have been sick, I really haven’t gotten myself to try any of the goodies, but as soon as I do, I’ll make sure to post! (One of them is Birthday Cake Whey Protein…cannot wait to try that!)

3. Since we’re all sick in this house, I made a run to the store for chicken noodle soup and the fixing for grilled cheese. I think things will start looking up pretty soon.

Talk to ya later!

Hello! I love everybody!

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I am a bad blogger because I haven’t published anything in almost a week. That is not acceptable! But I have some excuses if you’d like to hear them.

I am sick
It’s midterm week
SNOW

I don’t know if they’re legitimate excuses, but I am using them.

Hmmm…so since I have been stuck inside blowing snot out of my face and doing homework, what do I have to talk about???

1. Best Body Bootcamp started yesterday!

If you’ve never heard of this before, I definitely think you should check it out and register for the next round! Anyways, it’s an 8 week program for only $25. Cannot beat that. Tina sends you 4 phases of workouts (each are 2 weeks) that incorporate strength and cardio.

“But Jen, you’re a fitness instructor and personal trainer, why are you TAKING a class?”

“Because, my little internet friends, it is awesome to have someone plan a fitness regime for you. And it refreshes my workouts, and gives me inspiration to incorporate the different exercises and concepts to the classes I teach. Again, cannot beat that!”

Yesterday’s workout was 20 minutes of cardio intervals that alternated between 60 second and 30 second recovery periods. I did the strength portion at home because I had all the equipment. Then when I finally decided to chip the large ice cube that had formed around my car, I got to the gym for the cardio- which I probably shouldn’t have done while sick. I was doing my 8-8.5mph sprints in such a fog, that I don’t remember thinking of anything but bed.

I’m sore today, so it was worth it.

Today’s workout will have to be modified since I am teaching TRX. I’ll probably skip the strength portion for another day but still get the cardio done (assuming I can breathe, I heard that’s important).

2. Midterms this week. This is all I have to say about that:

3. There is a lot of snow outside.

And I lost my winter coat this weekend. It is my belief that all coat-checkers be certified (you know how elevators have inspection stickers, and restaurants have certifications, and hair stylists have their permits? Yeah, coat-checkers should have the same) I handed mine to an imposter and BAM my $220 coat was gone. So sad.

Because I am super cheap, I spent most of the day yesterday online trying to find a WARM coat for a good deal. After much hoopla, the best thing was to have my parents get one for me in NY and mail it here. Therefore, I can’t go outside until the FedEx guy shows up Thursday. (Ok, I do have a wool coat and a puffy parka, but the wool coat is fancy schmancy and the parka is for poopy dog walks only)

4. My bestie, Kysha, sent me an invite to Zulily since they had some coats on sale there. (THANKS!!!) I got sidetracked and looked through Zulily (it even allowed me to ‘shop internationally’, so Canadians out there, you can shop on Zulily, too!) and there are so many awesome deals. Click here to check it out, sign up, and SHOP SHOP SHOP till ya DROP DROP DROP! (or if you lose a coat, like I did)

5. I roasted my first acorn squash last night and it came out perfectly. I suck at using sharp objects in the kitchen, so I took a butcher knife and a hammer to that sucker and got the job done. I sprinkled each half with melted butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup and baked at 400 degrees for just over an hour.

I also tried my hand at Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf. It was alright, but not good enough for me to post the recipe. We also had asparagus. Um, there is a reason I don’t buy asparagus here.

it’s THICK (twss)
You end up breaking off almost half the stalk, so it’s wasteful
it’s MUCHO DINERO

6. My latest Pinterest obsession has been wedding flowers. I need to make a decision so I can figure out what some of the other decorations I might want. This one caught my eye for color purposes only