Well Hello There

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Well hello there.

Thanks to those of you who submitted questions for me to answer! I will be putting together that post with answers later on in the week. Keep them coming so I can have more things to divulge!

ANYWAYS. Hi, there! Remember me?! Need a refresher?? Here’s one:
My name is Jen
I live in Antarctica
Just kidding, Canada.
My dogs shed like crazy
I seriously dislike public transit
I workout like crazy
I like wine and beer. I don’t discriminate. Unless it’s a super hoppy IPA, then I have issues.
That about sums it up.

So what the hell have I been up to these past few weeks, you ask?!! (You most likely know if you follow me on Instagram. Conversely, you most likely don’t care.) Here are some highlights:

1. I had my FIRST visitor to Canada! My high school friend, Amy, flew up from NY for a long weekend. Places of possible interest that we hit: 80th & Ivy for dinner, Canmore for shopping/snow games, Lake Louise to see…umm, Lake Louise, Banff {Wild Flour for lunch, Liquor Depot for booze, Saltlik for dinner, Sasquatch for dancing, Caribou Lodge & Spa to sleep, The Keg for brunch. We also made it a point to spend all remaining money on fudge from The Fudgery, as well as visiting The Fairmont, and the Banff Gondola– altitude of 7,667 ft!}, Brewster’s for dinner, Calgary Farmer’s Market to buy anything/everything to have an at-home charcuterie board.

2. Went to Pig & Duke for an insane pulled pork lunch/Lost Coast Tangerine Ale.

3. Started my own personal 30 day hot yoga challenge. I’m not planning on doing yoga for 30 days straight, but I bought a monthly unlimited pass and decided to go 4-5x/week. Pro: It clears my mind and stretches out my hamstrings. Con: They jacked the price to $150. I’m talking to you, Hot Yoga on Crowfoot, don’t make this girl go broke(r)!!!

4. Tyler and I have been meeting with a kitchen consultant at Home Depot to renovate our kitchen. It’s current status: closet-tiny. What we hope the results will be: open and airy and not obvious that it was originally built in 1981.

5. Since it was a long weekend and I got bored, I decided to hop on that demolition train and knocked down one of the two walls we plan on removing to accommodate our new kitchen layout. (I’ve since done way more damage than depicted)

6. I have been obsessed with the Olympics. Ever notice that every Olympic games, the media really focuses on one sport over others? This year, it’s totally Ice Dancing. Cool, but um give me the sports where the guys are wearing unitards. SPANDEX unitards. Also, I have the luxury of watching the American broadcast (Bob Costas, I love you forever) and the Canadian broadcast (where they don’t tell the hockey announcers that they’re still on air and you can hear them humming and clearing their throats. I’m waiting for a fart, though)

(yeah, that may be a dirty inference. Push it…push it real good)
7. Not to bring up any ill-feelings for Bronco fans, but I went out for Superbowl with a friend and we started the evening by wearing our orange/blue beads and had to switch to green/blue beads by half time. Mostly because Seahawk fans were buying us drinks, so we had to comply.

8. I still have a $50 gift card for Lululemon from Christmas and I think I FINALLY found what I want to buy. PS: Popped Amy’s Lululemon cherry when she was here. Methinks she might become just as addicted as I!
9. Just when football season ends and I think I get my husband back on Sundays, he goes and sells back all his old video games and pre-orders 4 new ones. To each their own, I suppose. He coincides his game-playing with bread-making. Besides, I’m gone for about 2 hours each night to attend Hot Yoga classes.

10. I worked out at home and barefoot the other day and the combination of super dry skin + an excessive amount of reverse lunges and plank jacks = tearing the skin off the bottom of my big toe. I’ll spare the picture, just know that it’s gross, it’s painful, and it’s not conducive to all my downward dogging.

11. I haven’t tried a single new recipe lately. Bad Jen. I need to hop back on the baking wagon. I DID, however, try a new sandwich concoction that proved to be WAY TOO DAMN good. It consisted of some locally baked sourdough, sheep’s cheese (vendor at farmer’s market with very heavy accent sold it to us saying this is ‘cheep’ cheese. Not cheap as in less money, but as in “baa-baaa”), Saskatoon berry jam, bacon, and baby kale. Mmm, mouth is watering.

12. I finally put blonde back into my hair. And no one has noticed. It took 3 months for someone in my office to notice that I previously chopped off 6 inches, so I’m guessing it’ll be another month or so before I get comments on the color.

13. Referring back to our adventure at Sasquatch in Banff: drinking age in Alberta: 18. Therefore, most everyone in there was about….18. I told just about everyone that approached us that I could have birthed them. It could ALMOST be true. Also, I saw Sasquatch. He scared me at the coat check.
14. I had Pho for the first time. I called my mom and told her I had Pho and she replied “Mmmm that sounds delicious” and then I asked her if she knew what I was talking about and she said ‘no.’ Sersiouly, does anyone else’s parents act like this? Take another example, holding the phone to their ear while FaceTiming. Ugh.

15. I have done 2305972309572 different workouts lately and plan on sharing some of them in a post later this week.

That’s all I have to share for now. Do you feel sufficiently updated? I do.

In the comments:

Where’s the last place you traveled?

Have any good restaurant experiences lately?

Christmas Wish List 2013

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I’m not one of those people who really WANT things.

Let me rephrase that.

I’m not one of those people who….ok, there’s really no way to rephrase that.

There are things that I want, but it’s no biggie if I don’t ever get them. This is where the Christmas list comes in. Every year, when the holidays begin to creep in, the Christmas wish list needs to be built. I gotta say, it’s usually pretty hard to get that thing started. But the flyers and email blasts and holiday cheer quickly take over and the list starts growing faster than you can imagine.

That said, I thought I’d share the wish list I’ve come up with (so far!). These are in no particular. Except for the diamond earrings…they’re first for a reason 😉

1. Diamond earrings.

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I have two piercings in each ear and Tyler got my diamond earrings on our first Christmas together. But now that I don’t really wear any dangly earrings in my first hole, I want another pair of diamonds! I mean, that’s the best reason to need them right?

2. Lululemon

(photos taken from Lululemon website)

The Fluff Off Jacket; Run: Swiftly Tech Long Sleeve; Skinny Groove Pant *full-on luon; Run: Swiftly Tank Short Sleeve.

3. Bosu Ball

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I really need to add this piece of equipment to my personal collection. It’s a great tool to use to change up other exercises because it requires more muscles to engage when balancing!

4. Purse

I need a larger purse- one that can hold all the crap I now need on a daily basis as a commuter. And something that’s somewhat fashionable. (I am currently sporting a small cross-strap purse and a large Target reusable/ghetto tote). <—emphasis on the GHETTO. I keep perusing Winners and other less expensive stores for the ideal purse, and have yet to find anything that hits the jackpot. Since it’s Christmas and since I can put WHATEVER I want on my wish list, I have opted to list this insane Michael Kors purse. I go visit it at the store downtown whenever I walk to the mall on my lunch break. PS: It’s the Large Selma Top Zip Sachel in Black. PPS: I only typed which one it exactly is in case Tyler is reading this and needs the name. PPPS: Got it?

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5. Laptop

I didn’t really think of putting this on the list until Tyler asked if I wanted a new one for Christmas. Then I remembered how crappy this computer has gotten— it’s a WHOPPING 4 1/2 year-old MacBook that gives me the rainbow pinwheel all.the.time. And it’s slow. (And this is after everything was backed up, wiped, then restored!)

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6. Pass to my favorite yoga studio (Hot Yoga on Crowfoot)

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Oh my goodness I just love going to this place. every single class is amazing. I am also loving my progress in my yoga practice, and I love doing it in a convenient, clean, and *pretty* studio. Only downside: it’s mucho expensive. But worth it if you love it so much. True Story: I was looking online for hot yoga studios in Vegas to see if I might want to take a class sometime next week and I noticed that some studios offered new-student specials of 3 months unlimited use for only $99!!!! So jealous of the cheaper price. [In case you’re wondering, a one month unlimited pass at this place runs you $140]

7. See’s Candies

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Growing up in California, there were See’s Candies shops everywhere. Sometimes when we were out shopping, we’d just drop in and buy a couple pieces to snack on throughout the day. Low and behold, when I moved to the east coast I discovered there were NO See’s! Actually, some of the larger malls would get See’s kiosks during the holiday season, but you could only buy pre-packed boxes. Woe is me. I plan on stocking up in vegas and putting them in my own damn stocking this year.

8. Black Parka

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I don’t have a particular coat in mind, all I know is that I want a black parka. Something I can wear to work in the winter so that I don’t have to wear my dumpy-dog-destroyed brown parka anymore. Woof.

So that’s what I’ve got on my wish list this year, what’s on your list?!!

Latests

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Thought I’d share some of the stuff I’ve been digging lately…

Latest Breakfast: A smoothie made with chocolate protein powder, sunflower seed butter, almond milk, and ice (BC Cherries too if we have them!)

Latest Book: There Will Be Apricots by Jessica Soffer

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Latest Workout: Hot Yoga. I mean…it’s cardio, strength conditioning and stretching all combined into one! And my fave new thing to bring to class is this snazzy yoga towel by bestie gave me in a gift basket as my ‘something blue’ the morning of the wedding!

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Latest Nail Color: I actually strayed from Essie and picked up this gem of a color (1- because it was on sale, and 2- because it’s cute) It’s Stand By Your Manny- from the Modern Family collection

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Latest Music: Aka: Songs I have on repeat RIGHT NOW.

Latest Show: Weeds (still) We’re up to Season 7, Episode 10. I’m dreading when it’s over because I am addicted to that weedy goodness.

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Latest Lulu Buy: Track Attack Shorts. Gave them the ol’ test run yesterday when I did a 6km walk through Fish Creek Provincial Park yesterday, and I gotta say I really liked them. I’m not really a short person…ESPECIALLY when I’m working out…but I found that the length was pretty good and the waistband stayed put.

Latest Beer Find: Okanagan Summer Weizen. Simply put: it’s a summer brew with a hint of apricot. Yup. SOLD. We first tried it last weekend in Edmonton when MKT had it on their menu, so we stopped by the liquor store after dinner to pick up a couple more. And of course, the liquor stores near us don’t have it in stock (and yes, we already asked when it will be available..the answer? TODAY!!!)

Latest Deal: Well, I DID get a pretty sweet J.Crew dress last weekend (originally $59 marked down to $9) but my LATEST deal was a groupon for The Clayground (pottery painting studio). A few weeks back, my friend Mackenzie and I attempted to meet up at a particular studio but found the prices to be WAY too high. I saw this groupon yesterday morning, so we both quickly bought one. Hello, cake stand, I’m coming to paint you!!!

Latest YouTube Funny: Tyler posted this on his facebook the other day and I thought it was hilarious:

Latest WANT: Ray Ban Aviators with mirrored pink lenses. Can’t find them on the Canada website (go figure) but they’re on the US website! Feel free to send me a pair.

That’s about it for now, tell me some of your latests!!

Pros and Cons

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Pro: I went downtown on Monday to try a class at Heavens Elevated Fitness. The class was called Cardio Extreme and it was true to its word. The entire hour was jumping and jacking and high-kneeing and everything imaginable to get my heart rate up. A lot of it was somewhat choreographed- and me being the most uncoordinated person ever- I ended up improvising with a ton of jumping and clapping until I fell back into the rhythm. PS: The facilities are REALLY nice.

Con: I can’t stop eating carbs this week. I guess my body needs it, but jeeze that cheese pull apart bread from Cobs Bread has been screaming at me from the kitchen to just eat.it.all.

Pro: I just changed my email address to my married name. And went to the US Consulate office yesterday morning to have my name changed on my Passport and Social Security card. Let me just say that that office was the first place I’ve felt special since moving here. They gave me preference in every line and rather than waiting for an hour PER change (1 for passport and 1 for ss card) I was in and out in 20 minutes. To be honest, I think I was the only American in there and everyone else was just applying for visas to travel to the States. America for the win! (Well, at least for yesterday!)

Con: I got turned down from another job. People keep telling me to keep my head up and that there’s something out there for me. Which I believe…..but after being unemployed for 531 days. (that’s right, I’m keeping track) it’s hard to keep EVERY negative thought out of my mind. Is there some sort of vendetta against me? There aren’t any typos on ANY of my resumes and I have so much education and experience and enthusiasm to offer at any position. Yet still….nothing. I just don’t understand. To further..it really just makes me feel that life is on hold. I know, I planned a wedding and life is all happy happy in the partner department, but I still feel that even BOTH of us are just waiting to progress in our lives together..with the first step being me getting a job. Comprende? If I don’t get a job, we don’t travel. If I don’t get a job, we don’t have kids. If I don’t get a job, we’ll never get our dream home. If I don’t get a job, I will forever have puppy syndrome when Tyler comes home and the man NEEDS. HIS. SPACE. I get it. OHHHHHHHHH And if I don’t get a job, I don’t have the opportunity to meet people.

Which brings me to my next point (Consider this a Con, extended): You know when people ask you how you are and you always respond “good?” Well, that’s the same thing when people ask me how I like Calgary. I tell them I love it (Don’t get me wrong, there are good points like ummm my husband and my dogs and the beautiful scenery) but I don’t really. At least, not yet. I am still working on making friends– I just really miss my gym friends, my home friends, and the ability for last-minute meet-ups. I just can’t quite get the hang of how people socialize here- and I don’t want to entirely submit to it! And the fact that NO ONE wants to hire me. WTF is that? Or that just because I am the minority here and spell things differently and still have trouble counting out toonies and loonies (I MISS THE DOLLAR BILL, Y’ALL) and am just not CANADIAN doesn’t mean I have to be so isolated.

[Please don’t leave negative comments here, I got some last week that really prompted this con]

Pro: I’m done with that rant. I’m not writing it to make you all feel bad for me, it just feels better to write and publish than to keep bottled inside. So if you hated the post, forget about it, because the next one will probably be funny. I guarantee that as soon as I press Publish I will feel better and immediately regret writing the whole thing. But it is what it is.

Con: If you make apple chips, you will EAT THEM ALL. They are so good. So technically, this is a pro?

Pro: I bought my first pair of Lululemon SHORTS yesterday- courtesy of a gift card from my MIL. Still not sure how I feel about them, so I’m going to keep the tags on and wear them around the house (aka: run up and down the halls and do jump squats) to see if they’ll fit the bill.

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Give me a pro and a con from you!

I’m pretty much Canadian now!

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

I really only have one thing to say……..

After a slow morning, a finished book, and a quick nap, I checked the mail only to find that I got my confirmation of permanent residency in Canada!!!!!! WHICH MEANS I have to drive to MT only to turn around and re-enter as a resident, then….I GET A JOB. As in….I CAN EARN MONEY. As in…I can buy more LULU!!!

But I jumped the gun in my excitement and ended up heading right to Lululemon anyways.

I have had my eye on this shirt ever since it was uploaded to the lulu website.

Jen is happy happy happy.

Nothing else I could type in this post would be as exciting, but I DO have a cool recipe to share with you tomorrow (I wanna eat it first to make sure it’s yumm-o enough to share).

Tyler and I have been having a good stroke of luck over the last week.

I won us 2 tickets to the Calgary Home & Garden Expo
Tyler took on some overtime work (basically just got paid to be on call)
We went to dinner on Saturday at The Rock and a stranger who sat at the opposite end of our table ended up paying our tab

Our wedding is pretty much squared away
See first picture 😉

Random Things

Yesterday, I managed to get Workout A done in Phase 4 of BBB (HOLY CANNOLI it was crazy intense!). I also did 100 burpees throughout the commercials of The Biggest Loser; however, halfway through the show, I realized the Y might close earlier due to the holiday, so I called and found they were in fact closing at 8. I had Tyler pause the episode (only did 60 burpees by that point), I buzzed over to the Y, and busted out an awesome ‘Building Sprints’ cardio session on the treadmill. Then I came back, finished the show, and finished my burpees. Boom!

Our walk on Family Day. We saw ducks

I am currently on the hunt for the best AND BRIGHTEST running shoes. I totally have to order them online though, because no store ever carries women’s shoes in size 11.5. Believe Me (and if they do, they’re usually super UGGGGGG-LAYYY)

I love these two jams as of late:

Sunflower butter is SO easy to make. Put sunflower seeds in a food processor and pulse (occassionally scraping down sides) for quite a few minutes. Once the seeds release their oils, it becomes smooth pretty quick. All natural and PERFECT for tons of recipes. Or to eat by the spoonful. I don’t judge.

Hey, remember when I was pimping Pv.Body- that monthly athletic wear subscription? Well, guess what. They have slightly changed. And I think it’s for the better. They have just come out with their own clothing line, Ellie. As a member, each month they release new items and you can choose one top and one bottom that you would like for your subscription. If you don’t like anything, you can opt to skip the month- for no fee or penalty. I’m still waiting for my first round of Ellie clothing to come in the mail so I can write up a little review for ya, and THEN I’ll provide a link where you can get a discount (20% off) on the subscription- remember, that discount will only be through my link!

What’s something you’re excited about this week?

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