Recent Gets

Posted on November 20, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Lots to show you guys today.

Today started bright and early at the gym with a nice and sweaty spin session.

Towards the end of my workout, the alarms went off and it turns out someone got hurt near the treadmills. Kind of scary, but there were tons of people rushing to their side. Hope he’s ok!

Fast forward a bit, and I got myself ready for the day.

I first had to drop of some stuff at the Y downtown, then I figured I’d get my ring cleaned while I was in the area.

Nice and sparkly!

Next up, the mall. I party fouled and walked into Lululemon first to try on my coveted jacket. Tyler, if you’re reading this, size 8. Thanks

Le sigh. It was so comfy and wonderful and delicious.

My only purchases from a 2 hour stint was a thermal shirt and hat. Both on SUPER discount sale.

Since I’m sharing some material good with you all, I might as well tell ya what came in the mail. First, my Sephora order:

How to Look the Best at Everything by my favorite makeup brand ever, Benefit

Because I ordered this online, I got a sweet freebie bag along with it:

6 perfume samples, some eye shadows, mascara, toner, and some oils. Not too shabby!

And….my Glymm box! Before moving to Calgary, I was OBSESSED with getting my Birchbox every month (they only deliver to the US). After being here for nearly 9 months, I finally came across a similar monthly subscription service for Canadians!!! Woo hoo!! This was what I got in my November box:

Fancy Schmancy shampoo and conditioner (good timing with my ‘new’ hair!), deep blue polish (appropriately named The New Black), body scrub, and perfume.

Now on to some of my crafting accomplishments:

I actually saved a couple of the boxes from my Birchbox subscription and repurposed them into gift boxes! How smart am I? A coat of paint, glue, and glitter. The end.

A yarn wreath:

And some Christmassy pots that have been sealed with a pottery spray that has a been of sheen.

(Source)

No, not that kinda sheen. The shine:

Now it’s time for me to get started on dinner. Bacon is involved.

(Source) <—almost wrote bacon right there.

Fast 500 Workout

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Happy Friday (and Memorial Day weekend to my American friends!)

This morning was a rush rush rush in getting stuff done. Tyler is bumping out of work early so we can head to Montana for the night and officially export/import my car tomorrow. Isn’t that exciting?! Not entirely.

After a bowl of Cheerios, I took Layla for an hour walk on one of usual paths near the house.

Then I went to the mall. Because that’s important. And I bought stuff.

Store 1: Lululemon

I got scoop neck tank and wunder unders..in PINK. I am all too excited to wear these.

I am still an R&D member, so I was able to get a discount. Can’t really hate that. Helps feed the addiction.

Store 2: Gap

Some jean shorts and tanks and tops for the warmer weather. Obviously when I moved here in February, I was thinking I only needed to pack the essentials for winter weather. Now, I’m screwed because I didn’t bring all my summer clothes up. Insert: shopping!

Store 3: Sephora

Some summer essentials for summer from my favey cosmetic line, Benefit. You Rebel is a tinted moisturizer and Hoola is a powder bronzer. I think I have consistently used the bronzer since I was 15. Never will I ever stray from you, Benefit! I always feel so glammy when I wear their stuff, but it doesn’t feel like a high maintenance line which I love.

Ok, ok. On to the workout. Since the walk with Layla and shopping consumed too much of my morning, I only had 20 minutes to sweat before I needed to get ready to hit the road. So here’s what I banged out.

10 jacks
10 double hops
10 plank jacks
10 up/down planks
10 situps
10 stability ball leg lifts
10 stability ball wall sits
10 plie squats with raised heels
10 tricep kickbacks
10 lower back extensions on the stability ball

Repeat as many times as you can until you hit 20 minutes. (I did it 5 times in about 18 minutes, which is 500 reps, hence the workout name!) If you’re not pressed for time, do as many sets as you can before you pass out.

Now, I gotta really hustle my bustle to get ready..have a great weekend!

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!

Things I’m loving

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Today has been B to the USY! I spent a ton of time trying to complete an application for the immigration office, then when it came time to pay, their server was down so I had to go to the bank, have them issue me a receipt of payment, scan it to my computer and upload that in addition to the application. They are just trying to make this as difficult as possible for me!!

I got my credit card today! Ok, it’s really Tyler’s, but I got a copy with my name on it. HOLLA!

I bought more dog food, and a special pack of treats for Layla…they’re locally made!

I also finally stopped in Cobs Bread and got a loaf of Chia Whole Wheat Bread.

Grocery store for the essentials.

And I still have to finish the laundry, clean the kitchen, cook dinner and get to the gym.
Text conversation with mom this morning sums it up:

Let’s move on to things I’m loving this week:
1)Instagram

Follow me @nutcaseinpoint !!!

2) Walks with Layla all around Calgary

3) My left ring finger.

4) Weighted Split Squats.

Source

5) Benefit ultra shine lip gloss in nookie-nookie (thanks, Kysh!)

6) This commercial
Haha, honestly I can’t stop laughing at it. Please clink on the link to watch it. Maybe I’m on a guac n sals high, but it’s funny.

7) Saying “Boom Shakalaka” for no apparent reason.

What are you guys loving this week?

More recent purchases

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Yeah, I know I am not making any money. So of course, I shouldn’t be spending what little I have left. buticanthelpmyself. We are going up to Banff tomorrow and I want to buy stuff for it! (Plus, I had to return something, so I practically MADE money today.)

First up, Nails Inc. nail polish in Sloane Square.

When I did a test coat in the store, it went on really easily and dried in a flash. I can’t wait to have glittery nails tomorrow!

Next, a Benefit brow pencil.

I am OBSESSED with Benefit cosmetics. I even told the girl at Sephora today that I was a Benefit Whore. She laughed, but I don’t think she got that I was kidding.