Crappy Blogger [& A Giveaway!!]

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Well aren’t I the shittiest blogger ever. I just can’t seem to find the time to sit down and throw together a decent post. Feel free to throw rotten tomatoes in my direction. Although, instead of rotten tomatoes- how about a gift card or chocolates or something like that. Get in the holiday spirit, people. Jeesh.
 
Some stuff from the last few days:
 
1.) I made these cookies and these cookies. They’re both super delicious and super easy to make. If you have a cookie swap coming up or heading to a holiday party- these would be a great fit. Or, if you want to eat cookies yourself- also a great fit.
 
2.) I took a half day on Friday. I thought I would fill the afternoon with some holiday shopping/decorating/baking but it ended up consisting of a nap. I redeemed myself by making a late-afternoon hot yoga class that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to make because of my commute. I thought I was hydrated enough for this particular class, but the instructor had us flowing FAST and it was so dang HOT that I ended up having to opt out of a couple moves because I could feel my heartbeat in my lips.
 
3.) Tyler made butter chicken for dinner on Friday. I’ve never had it and recently bought a spice package for the meal on a friend’s recommendation. Turns out, I forgot to have Tyler get yogurt/cream and the dish basically turned out like chicken marinara on rice. I guess it was pretty good, but I have nothing to compare it to. We also watched Christmas Vacation which made me a happy lady. Even happier that both pups slept on my lap throughout the movie.
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4.) We went to Cora’s for breakfast lunch brunch on Saturday. Such a great place if you want good breakfast food that’s accompanied by a butt-ton of fresh fruit.
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5.) Brunch was followed up with trips to Future Shop, Winners, Canadian Tire, Costco, Home Sense, Home Depot and Michael’s. It was more browsing than anything but Tyler got a game for his new Xbox? PS4? I don’t know, but he has both. Should keep him amused during his week off this week. #lucky
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5.) We picked up a couple bottles of new-to-us beers that all turned out to be pretty delish. The front runner of the bunch, however, was the Whistler Chai Maple Ale. I loved it so much, I a:) wish I didn’t have to share it with Tyler, and b:) began to crave pancakes. We also watched Home Alone and SNL. Love me some drunk uncle. Feliz Navi-DON’T. Oh, and ate delicious pizza from The Rock.
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6.) Sunday, typical Sunday. Laundry, general pick-up around the house, football is on, I roll my eyes, groceries, gym,…..you know. One small difference that really dropped me off my wallet was my ‘quick trip’ to finish up my Xmas shopping for Tyler. At least it’s all done now! Only 9 days of hoping I don’t spill the beans (I am horrible like that).
 
7.) I did a great little tabata workout yesterday afternoon that I thought I’d share. It got my heart rate up and made my muscles shake— all in just 24 minutes. Cannot beat that.
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Tabatas were the following:
  • Barbell Bosu Squats
  • Single Arm Kettlebell Clean & Press (alternating arms)
  • Bosu mountain climbers & box jump burpees (alternating)
  • Single leg step ups (alternating)
  • Overhand grip cable row
  • Spin Sprints
8.) OMG I have a giveaway!
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(This is a play on words…you’ll soon see why). A while ago (when I used to participate in foodie pen pals) I was gifted a bag of OMGs. You guys, these things are YUMM-O. Not long after I received the package, I also saw the snack line on an episode of Dragon’s Den (The Canadian version of Shark Tank). So what are OMGs? They’re graham clusters with diced almonds and toffee bits covered in chocolate. A to-die-for combo. I wrote an email to the company telling them how I really loved their product and they offered to provide a case (4 bags of each flavor- milk, dark, and peanut) to one lucky reader!
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To enter this giveaway:
-Comment below and tell me you’re favorite chocolate treat (if you don’t like chocolate, we’re not friends!) Feel free to post links to some of your favorite recipes!!!
 
Extra entries include liking me on facebook, following me on Instagram (@nutcaseinpoint),  and tweeting about this giveaway (include link to this post and my twitter handle @nutcaseinpoint). For each of the extra entries, leave a separate comment in the comments section.
 
Oh right, this is the part where I get to break a lot of hearts: the giveaway is to Canadian residents only. That’s right US folk, just like how you guys have the monopoly on Chobani giveaways. (Don’t worry, I have another giveaway coming up soon that you’re eligible to enter!!!!!!) Giveaway closes Friday, December 20th at noon Mountain Time.
 
Good luck! 🙂

Sharing {is caring} Workouts

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Thought I’d share some workout stuff today.

I already posted the workouts I did while in Vegas last week, but I just wanted to elaborate a bit. I know there are billions of posts out there sharing information on how to squeeze in some fitness when you’re on vacation and I’m not about to get all lecture-y on the basics you probably already know. But I DO want to share on how I actually squeezed in a few sweat sessions without my family feeling like I was choosing fitness over family time.

1.I did a deck of cards workout. Each suit was for PUSHUPS, SITUPS, JUMP SQUATS, & 180 SQUAT JUMPS. Best part: My mom was the designated card flipper and announcer. Ok, maybe not the best part, since she was a bit more invested in her glass of wine, but at least she tried. Tyler and my Dad were also in attendance as we were all in the backyard by the pool and soaking up some sun!
*note: I was very close to the edge of the pool when I was doing my situps and almost backed right over the edge. Probably would have been the funniest thing ever.

2.My aunt & uncle live on a golf course, and the community has a great walking path that allows you to walk a 2.3 mile circle around a portion of the course/houses. My dad and I left the house together, me going left and him going right. As soon as I met up with him (me running, him walking) he turned around to follow me back. Once I circled around and got back to the house, I turned around again to run back to where my dad was. Confusing to explain; fun to not be alone during a workout.

3.Hiked Red Rock Canyon. Obviously I wasn’t alone. We climbed a significant amount, but my lungs are now so used to Calgary’s altitude, the this particular hike didn’t feel super challenging. In order to take it up a notch, I opted to take the more difficult or rocky paths so I could get a little more glute action.

Sunday: Ok, this workout was done solo, so nevermind.

Since getting back from vacay last Tuesday morning, I have managed some pretty great workouts as well!

Supersets! 3 rounds of each pair w/heavier weights/higher resistance each round: Lat pulldown, bench press; lower than parallel barbell squat, Barbell deadlift, reverse cable crunch, weighted oblique dips. 20 minutes of spin.
THIS AWESOMENESS:

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BV Flow Hot Yoga she TOTALLY changed up the sequence and just when I thought it was going to be one of those slow and steady classes, it was a total burn and I was [happily] dead by the end.

THIS OTHER AWESOMENESS

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Ok, I’m done sharing now. Have any awesome workouts to share? I’m always looking for new stuff!!!

Ps: sorry this post is whack, I’m posting from my phone. Womp womp.

Latests 12/5

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I have so many things to share with you guys, it’s almost kind of overwhelming. But I’ll do my best.
Going on any type of trip almost always warrants an extra purchase or two. And seeing family over the holidays is usually accompanied by a few gifts. Needless to say, we spent hours strategizing how to most efficiently pack our bags for the return trip home.
But guys, it’s all GOOD stuff. Well worth the extra time it took to cram socks in boots, roll leggings in the tightest balls ever, and hope to god that those suckers still weighed less than 50 pounds.
Some of the amazingly awesome things we received as gifts:
My grandma (ok, she’s not really my grandma but she’s my godmother’s mother) gave us a beautiful silver platter FROM ITALY. I immediately displayed it on our dining room table when we got home, along with all the winter napkins she sewed for our wedding gift.
She also gave us 2 candle holders that are currently accompanying the platter on the dining room table. I love them.
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(not everything is posted in the photos…that would be too much work and I’m just too dang tired! But you can pick most of the stuff out. Whoops, crooked candle.)
My parents gave me 2 scarves and leather gloves. They gave Tyler gloves and an accesorry organizer. Jointly, they gifted us a few ornaments, a cheese board, coasters and my mom made us yet another wonderful quilt.
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 Onto stuff *I* bought.
See’s Candies. My favorite stuff ever that I even recently mentioned in my 2013 Christmas Wish List. I was too spoiled living near See’s locations growing up, so whenever I travel to a spot where there’s actually a See’s store, I make it a point to go and put together my own 1 lb box of favorites. This box included: Milk Bordeaux, Scotch Kiss, Scotch Mallow, Caramel, Milk Butterchew, Milk Pattie, Dark Butterchew, and Peanut Butter Pattie. Oh my yum, I can’t repeat enough how much I adore these chocolates.
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Benefit‘s Advent Calendar. TALK ABOUT A WINNING PURCHASE! I mentioned in a previous post about how I stalled too long to buy this before it completely sold out, so Tyler allowed me to buy the 12 days of Essie instead. WELL. Looks like I now have the best of BOTH worlds! I stopped in an Ulta on Dec 1st and saw the advent calendar itself sitting at the end of the Benefit Display. I totally thought it was a fake display, but when I asked an associate, she said it was the last one left and they were going to send it back at the end of the day since it was Dec 1. She mentioned that because this particular box was on display, people had punched many of the days but hadn’t actually taken any of the product and she would offer me a 10% discount because of that. I looked at the price, and it was $68! (In Canada, the EXACT same thing retails for $79) Of course, I snatched it up and only paid $61.50 for it. Bah-BAM.
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Essie Nail Polish. Because, ummmm, DUH
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I stocked up on warm stuff at Ann Taylor Loft on Black Friday. (See above pic) They were having a 50% off sale, so I snagged 3 sweaters and a wool dress. Then mom bought me a hat. I love slouchy knit hats because a.) they’re cute, b.) they don’t make my head look too ridiculously big, and c.) I can pull them down over my eyes when I catch a few zzz’s on the train.
Can we all just take a second to picture that? Down parka, HUGE cable knit infinity scarf and knitted slouchy hat pulled down over my eyes. Not creepy/awkward at all.
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BURGR in Planet Hollywood. After miles of walking up and down the strip- this please is a ground meat mecca. Tyler and I both ordered the Hells Kitchen burger which included a whole roasted jalepeno and it was HOTTTTTT. Like triple XXX hot. Like, my throat is on fire and I’ll murder you if it means the pain will go away type of hot. Thankfully, we both love heat. And we had some insanely good onion rings and a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat to wash it all down.
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But seriously, go there if you get the chance.
That’s all I have to share for this week..more to come next week! And check out tomorrow’s post and my latest AWESOME workout!

Winesday Wednesday 12/4

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Oh hey. I’m back.
 
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For the last week Tyler and I have been in Las Vegas, hanging out with fam celebrating Thanksgiving sprinkled with early Xmas gifts, drinking, and relaxing. (The last two go hand in hand, no?)
 
It was glorious. Especially the whole being removed from the real world bit. I was hardly on my phone (gasp) minus instagram, because that’s just fun.
 
Quick recap of some highlights:
 
Tuesday night: arrive. Do NOT even get me started on the Calgary airport. I was HANGRY to the max and they closed all the vendors in our terminal. I can’t even talk it about it because it makes me mad.
 
Wednesday: Saw Ka at MGM. WHY do they sell 32 oz drinks and NOT have an intermission?!!! I am writing them a letter.
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Thursday: Wear stretchy pants and drink beer. And eat stupid amounts of food.
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Friday: Breakfast at a yummy local diner, shopping, Bellagio-ing, hike at Red Rock Canyon, hot tub
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Saturday: Buy candy, eat steak, hot tub
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Sunday: Shop, mani/pedi, hot tub fo life
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Monday: Brunch at the M casino, more hot tub
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And I actually worked out!
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Wednesday: Deck of Cards workout
Thursday: Ran 2 1/2 miles
Friday: hike
Sunday: 1/2 mile running intervals with tabatas of legs, arms and abs.
 
I had two days ‘off’ which mentally I wasn’t too pleased about, but I kept my food portions in check and was always WALKING–> a super huge component of aggressive shopping.
 
HOLD THE PHONE—> I forgot to announce the winner of the Elevate Me bars giveaway! Congratulations to Melissa….
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email me your mailing address and flavor of choice and I’ll pass your info along!
 
On to Winesday Wednesday shenanigans (slap me on the wrist for failing to post one last week).
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On one of my shopping excursions in vegas (not including the several trips to Sam’s club for margarita mix and coronas, and the other trips to Vons for Pyramid Apricots and Shock Tops….I stopped in World Market (one of my faveys) and picked up 3 fall-ish beers for Tyler and I to try:
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Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale (different from the Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale) and Samuel Smith Organic Apricot Ale. Yes, I said THREE but I only remembered to photo two of them. The other was Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale. All were pretty good. 
 
PS: Shock Top makes resealable aluminum cans?! What the what! So useful to have around the hot tub!
PPS: We also had mimosas
PPPS: Mom’s mimosas didn’t have any orange juice
 
I have your submissions from the past two weeks and I PROMISE to include them in next week’s post…I’m off to bed!

Where the Tweens Go {& a Giveaway!!!}

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I can’t believe I’m actually telling you this. I went somewhere this weekend and it was completely embarrassing. Here, let me give you a hint: said location is plastered with pink and purple and glittery things, smells like a combination of plastic and cherry chapstick, and is running rampant with tweens.

Did you guess Claire’s?

You’d be correct. I need a drink, I feel so ashamed.

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(If I stayed in there any longer than I actually did, I might have just come out looking like this cheapy Cinderella.)

Let me rewind to tell you exactly why I had to step foot into my former store of bejewelled choice. Sometime during the week, the screw ball of my belly button ring came out. Since I’m no where NEAR mature enough to actually take it out and leave it out, I freaked that I needed a replacement ASAP. You’d think I’d be able to find a replacement in one of the bajillions of kiosks in the malls, but NOPE there were none. So I was fated to be a Claire’s customer yet again.

I had to elbow quite a few little 4-footers (girls ranging from 8-12 years old) to find the spinny display of ‘alternative’ jewelry. (Which is odd because no girls in that age range should be checking out jewelry for belly buttons or eyebrows or tongues or anything of that sort). Anyhoo, I ended up having to call one of the associates over to actually unlock the case so I could buy a glorious 6-pack of belly button rings. First gripe with that situation is the fact that they actually lock up really cheap jewelry. Second gripe is that my lovely assorted package even came with a zebra/glittery ring. Not sure when that would ever get use.

I guess I can be optimistic about the whole situation and not feel as embarrassed as Tyler must have been since he was with me.

MOVING ON.

Can I get a slow clap for my first ever real giveaway?!!

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A while back, I posted about a new-to-me energy bar: Elevate Me bars. Tyler had bought a few on a whim, and when I saw them in our pantry- and eventually tried them, I was intrigued and decided to check out their website. Not only do they have amazing flavor combinations, but they really are aiming at keeping their products as natural as possible <—something I love. I NEED to be able to pronounce every ingredient! The below info is taken directly from their website:

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Key facts on these bars—>

  1. Gluten free, wheat free
  2. 24% protein (whey isolate)
  3. 3 pieces per ‘bar’
  4. cold formed, not baked
  5. low fat, high fiber
  6. no added sweeteners, preservatives or flavors

What I think is the coolest part of these bars is that they’re portioned into 3 sections, so you can save a square or two for later (more often than not, I could eat the entire thing all at once!) And their flavors are just so unique! They include:

  • Cranberry Blueberry Goji Berry
  • All-fruit Original
  • Banana Almond
  • Cocoa Acai Berry
  • Coconut Cocoa
  • Cocoa Espresso
  • Cranberry Matcha Green Tea
  • Apple Strawberry

The kind people over at PROsnack Natural Foods have offered to send ONE lucky winner a 12-pack box of their choice! There are 209527039 ways to enter (I lied. There are only 3 ways to enter.)

Leave a separate comment for each of the following you complete:

1. Check out additional info on all the flavors of bars here, then leave a comment on which flavor you’d choose.

2. Follow @nutcaseinpoint on twitter and tweet: “I entered to win a box of @ElevateMeFoods energy bars from @nutcaseinpoint and you can too! http://wp.me/p2fSnj-3sX” <—Copy and paste the link to you tweet in your comment!*

3. Like Nutcaseinpoint’s Facebook page. If you want to be EXTRA nice, you can leave a comment on the link to this post! 🙂

 

*how to get the link to your tweet from your computer: once you send the tweet, scroll over the time in the upper right hand corner and click. Then copy and paste the URL.

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you’re welcome for the awesome example.

Giveaway is open until Friday, November 29th at noon (PST) and open to US and CANADIAN residents! Good luck!!!

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