Tag Archives: Grad school

Weekend Catch Up. And free lululemon!

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Ok, I think I can get back to normal now. School is over and grades are in. 2 A’s to finish grad school! My cumulative GPA is 3.751. Not. Too. Shabby. I am really glad it’s over. The other night, I dreamt that I hadn’t finished all my work. But I also dreamt bears were chasing me, so I couldn’t take it too seriously. I finally checked yesterday morning and had to refrain from hooting and hollering because Tyler was still sleeping.

Made me feel even better about getting this puppy from Tyler as a graduation gift:

12.11 mixer

I have already made a batch of chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies and biscotti. The chocolate chip recipe that was my go-to recipe has been officially taken over by a new recipe that came with my mixer. Tyler and I agreed that this batch was the best because it wasn’t as sweet. I thought they were chewier, too. Makes them last longer (or not). I am still on the hunt for a savory dish to make with this. But why rush, when the obvious thing to make during the holiday season is tons and tons of cookies?! I loaded up on sugar, flour, brown sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, BUTTER, and food coloring in preparation for the madness that will be my kitchen in the next few weeks. PS: If you have any cookies recipes you’re dying to share..PLEASE DO!

Saturday was a busy day. It was a FUN day! And, after two weeks sans makeup and normal clothes, I got myself dressed.

12.11 ootd

I rocked some red corduroys, brown leather boots, a plaid long sleeved tee, and my wool scarf from Zulily. If you haven’t heard of Zulily, I highly recommend you check out that link I provided. There are some insane deals on there! (The girls got their bridesmaids earrings from there!)

We had a Groupon for Fatburger that was due to expire this week, so we decided to make the trek to the NE for some fat-kid food.

12.11 fatburger

The voucher was for the standard burger, fries, and soft drink. A meal that is totally out of my norm. I managed to finish most of the burger which was OK, and a couple of fries. Had to force feed those, since I am NOT a fry person. The best thing I can say about that meal was that it wasn’t greasy. So I didn’t feel like a tub-o-lard that I planned on feeling like.

While eating the meal, I spotted a Bulk Barn across the way. I had never been to one yet, and I really wanted to sneak a peak on what goodies they had to offer. Yup, it was heaven. I was surprised by the variety of things they had- coffee to spices to baking ingredients to candy to nuts to….everything. 

12.11 bulkbarn

I managed to restrain myself, and we walked out with only a couple of goodies:

12.11 bulkbarn2

Irish cream coffee beans, hot tamales, corn nuts (for Tyler). and silver sugar pearls. I was entirely too excited to see the pearls because I remember my mom always having them in the cupboard, ready for baking. I guess the store we went to stopped carrying them or they were discontinued because we couldn’t find them for the longest time. Tonight, we will be definitely using them to decorate christmas cookies- made with my new mixer 😉

We also stopped by this shop that was within the same neighborhood- and we got a home brewing kit! Tyler and I LOVE drinking beer, and Tyler has been interesting in making it at home. We ended up getting the kit and a box of wort for mexican cerveza.The guy at the store said it was more like Dos Equis than Corona. As soon as we got home, we got right to it!

12.11 beer

I can’t wait to see how it turns out. We have already been looking into other ‘flavors’. I’m rooting for Apricot!

After the beer was all set (it is currently still sitting in the basement fermenting. Or doing whatever it does), we got to our gingerbread building. I opted for the traditional house, while Tyler mixed it up and got the tree. I think they turned out pretty good. Mine included red and green fondant that I had to roll out and shape myself. I now have a new respect for wedding cake bakers. But I’m still going with cupcakes.

12.11 gingerbread

We rounded out the evening with Caesars and Home Alone.

12.11 home alone

And Layla drooled all over us. Typical.

12.11 layla

Sunday was nothing unusual. Except for the fact that I wasn’t bogged down with homework! Tyler watched football while I did laundry and napped and snuggled with the pup. I was feeling pretty blah and didn’t want to go to the gym, so I did a pretty quick- but effective strength circuit:

  • 50 left reverse gliding lunges
  • 50 right reverse gliding lunges
  • 50 overhead presses
  • 50 shoulder presses
  • 100 stability ball situps
  • 50 right single leg deadlifts
  • 50 left single leg deadlifts

Yesterday’s workout was Workout A from Best Body Bootcamp– 6 rounds of tabatas, with each alternating between two moves (this is my favorite series for arms, because I have seen immediate results after both last night’s session and last Monday’s session. Score!) I also got to the gym and did a 30 minute treadmill interval workout.

Picture 9

I think that makes me sufficiently caught up. What’s going on with you?

PS: Don’t forget, if you’re looking for a fitness-related gift for you or someone you know, check out the monthly fitness apparel subscription box from pv.body. If you click here, you can get 20% of regular price! AND IF YOU SIGN UP BY 12/13 (THIS THURSDAY) YOU WILL GET A FREE $25 LULULEMON GIFT CARD!!!!!!! (You can thank me later. Or now. Or send me cookies/lululemon gift card)

Layla’s lucky day

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Well, folks. I did it. I turned in my last exam of grad school yesterday afternoon. I am officially done with school and have my Masters! Woo hoo 🙂

I started yesterday off quite sluggish- I wasn’t really looking forward to tackling some of the final calculus equations

12.7 me

 

But I persevered through it and was done around 3pm- plenty of time to get to the gym and the grocery.liquor store before Tyler got home! I picked up a bottle of bubbly that came with free chocolates (which oddly enough, have yet to be consumed)

12.7 celebrate

 

Then I whipped up some grub and we had our champy and dinner in front of…..the football game.

12.7 dinner

 

This morning, Layla was looking a little glum.

12.7 layla sad

 

I think she was bummed that I had more free time to bug her while Tyler’s at work. She was soon un-bummed when a package from my parents arrived at the door. My mom had strict instructions that Tyler and I couldn’t open our gifts, but Layla could. Rawr.

12.7 layla christmas

 

She seriously lucked out! A cute christmas toy and a fleece!

I decided to add to her day of excitement by taking her to the dog park. She doesn’t ever play with dogs. No. Even when there are about 3 dozen dogs (which there were today) mine is the one by herself rolling in the snow. Her and I both have social complexes, I guess.

12.7 layla walk

 

12.7 layla walk2

 

12.7 layla walk3

 

12.7 layla walk4

 

12.7 layla walk5

 

Alright, time for me to go and get my workout over with. If not now, I might be tempted to go grab more champagne or something. I’m going to milk the celebration for as long as I can.

Random: 

I got $20 from the bottle return today. HELLS YES.

If you haven’t already, I highly urge you to check out PV Body. It’s a monthly subscription program where they send you one athletic top and one bottom. It’s only $49, but if you click ON THIS LINK, and sign up through me, you will get 20% off! What a great Christmas present 😉

 

 

Homework

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Hi. I am super sore today. Like, holy hell DOMS.

I started yesterday’s workout with about 10 minutes of kickboxing, then I did Tina’s Burpee Blaster workout.

I finished up with a few sets of single legged hammer curl/row combos and stability ball extensions. And some abs.

For my entire sweaty session, I listened to the FitFluential Radio Station on FitRadio. If you’ve never heard of FitRadio, I really encourage you to check it out. For my entire 60 minute workout, a continuous remix played and I loved every single minute. In fact, they even have remixes to music that’s not geared towards workouts. Right now I’m listening to the Between the Sheets station (it’s great, but I can’t help but giggle. Doing ‘it’ to remixed slow jams just seems like a bad Lifetime movie to me).

Anyways.

By the end, I looked g-ross

Then, it was homework time. If you didn’t know, I am STILL in grad school. I started a year after undergrad, but I was so busy with my full-time job, teaching at the Y, studying for my ACSM certified personal trainer exam, traveling, and LIFE that I am finally on my 3rd to last class. I decided to take my last elective (or as I like to call them: fun) class during the summer, so that come fall/winter, I will be miserable indoors not only because of the weather, but because I will be finishing up with Managerial Economics and Operations Management (as if I didn’t suffer through them already in undergrad! woof). Then: Masters Degree.

Hopefully around the same time, I will get my PR card here so that I can finally WORK. And because I’ll be all educated and whatnot, people will want to pay me MORE. (lots of caps in this post. gotta emphasize stuff)

Back to the homework bit.

I am frugal in my paper consumption, so I used the back side of my workout to take notes on the Freudian Personality Theory. Because that’s normal. Whatever, I got to write about marketing sports cars and fine chocolates.

On a different note. Tyler has been selling a lot of his stuff on Kijiji lately (for you American folk, that’s Canadian for Craigslist). Let me make a correction: Tyler posts the stuff, talks with people who are interested, then has ME do the dirty work of the actual exchange of goods. This morning, I sat on the front porch for 10 minutes while some guys inspected a paintball gun. I didn’t even know how much Tyler wanted for it. Good thing I’m awesome and made the sale at the right price.

EVERYONE HOLD THE PHONE.

I just checked my mail. And I got a card. From Athena. For my birthday. And look what was inside:

Pretty much the best gift this girl could ever get. Thanks so much, Athena!!!!

Now, I’m off to meet up with some guy to sell yet ANOTHER one of Tyler’s things. Oy.

***(I got my Foodie Pen Pal package yesterday and it’s AWESOME! But, I can’t post about it until July 31st. Stay tuned!)***

Question: Anyone have requests for an upcoming post? Anything you want me to write about? Otherwise, the next post might be an entire scene from Anchorman. I’m not kidding.

 

 

 

Another busy day for the unemployed

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Hi there, ho there!

Today started bright and early. I had to first enjoy my breakfast (coconut oats- same as yesterday) the really jump the gun. I put together a lasagna, salad and bread for friends of ours that just had a baby. I wanted to help them out in the only way I know how- with food. I tried to make some no bake cookies, but they hadn’t hardened in time, so I whipped by Crave to pick up a couple of cupcakes with pink frosting 😉

My lunch was a weird combo- 3 hard boiled egg whites and leftover couscous with corn. Super random, I know.

Let’s get to the BEST part of the day: my workout.


Awww, look at that pretty stationary. I felt like a nerdo carrying that around in the gym. So here’s how it breaks down:

10 minute warmup (I did the elliptical with HIIT intervals)

10 pushups
60 second plank
10 pushups
60 second plank

10 deadman burpees (seen here)
Jump rope tabata
10 deadman burpees

20 curtsy lunge w/high knee (each side)
50 second wall sit
20 weighted wide lunges (each side)
50 second wall sit

20 mountain climbers
Jumping jack tabata
20 mountain climbers

30 leg lifts
40 second pilates pulse
30 bicycle crunches
40 weighted hip raises

30 high knees (each side)
heel jump tabata
30 high knees (each side)

one legged bicep curl (resting one leg on a stability ball (3 sets of 12)
tricep extensions (3 sets of 12) option: sitting on stability ball
chest press and fly combo while bridging on he stability ball

8 jackknives
8 pikes
8 jackknives
8 pikes

While bridging on the ball, 10 overhead shoulder extensions, 10 russian twists. repeat 2 times.

10 minute cardio (another HIIT interval on the elliptical)

There ya have it, folks. That was one hell of a workout- especially if you’re go-go-go like me and really limit your breaks or break times.

Tyler was pulling in the driving just as I was walking home from the gym so I really had to act quick to get him dinner. Two words of praise for his meal

1) Thank you to whoever invented leftovers.

2) Another thanks to whoever thought of  the defrost button on the microwave.

Since I wasn’ too hungry, I also used the defrost button for my snack:

We ate while watching the LAST Harry Potter movie. EIGHT HP movies in EIGHT days. Woof. Now we will have to find another series to work on….. (I have Mad Men, but that’s my day time TV 😉 )

Once the movie was over, Tyler pulled a good boyfriend  card and went to Subway while I showered so that I could have my ‘second’ dinner.

Turkey breast with banana peppers, peppers, tomatoes, olives, and cucumbers. I took half of it out of the to-go container, and saved the rest for tomorrow’s lunch. 10 points for Tyler, everybody. Hip hip….. (this is where you say Hooray).

Oh, and the Easter package from my parents arrived today. I finally got my Girl Scout Cookies!

Too bad I swore off sweets the other day after my dismal weigh in. Just to get myself back on track, though. Into the freezer they go!

In addition to these lovely boxes of minty goodness, came this little bobble bunny

Hmmm, what else have I done today? Oh yeah, registered for one of my Graduate classes. Boo hiss. The optimist’s argument would say it’s one step closer to completion. True, but it’s also a buttload of homework during my first summer in Calgary. Ho hum.

Another random (read: dangerous) note: So, I was putting some dishes away yesterday morning that were left out on the dry rack. You know, the ones where you stack plates and pots and pans to see how many can really balance, and there’s a small little spot in the front to hold alllll those pieces of silverware. Given the logistics of how the utensils and such were placed, and the height of the cupboard door, well, bad things can only happen. I open the door, the door hits the cookie sheet, the cookie sheet hits the utensils, the utensils fall towards me to the floor. In that group of utensils: sharp knives. Me: in pajamas. One sharp knive got me. I won’t say exactly where, but it was below my belly button and above the knee.

I. thought. I. was. going. to. die.

But I didn’t, and now have a strategically placed scar. SWEET. (not sweet).

Last random bit: I miss living close to my parents because I never wash my own bras. That’s something I always left for mom. Ugh, another thing I am going to have to learn.

TMI tonight? Nah. Bet you chuckled though. 😉