Walking the River and failed cornbread. Sigh.

Yesterday was just your average Hump Day. (I already recapped for you my workout in the last post)

Breakfast was another smoothie bowl (cranberries, bananas, chocolate protein powder and almond milk)

I went back to the library to return my last read, and ended up browsing for a few minutes. I left with three more books. I’m starting with this one:

I am already about 1/3 through and it’s pretty good. The story is about a girl traveling to Burma to find her father that disappeared 4 years earlier.

I ran a few errands in the morning…some of them are top secret, but ONE I will share with you. I brought a bunch of bottles to the bottle return center and I made a whopping $3.30. That can get me about a quart of gas here. Moving on…..

Lunch was another pile of veggies

Layla and I went down to the river and walked around for about an hour or so. The rain has been on and off for the last week, but I really wanted to get her some fresh air. Girlfran got her groove on in that icy water.

We had gone to Bowmont Park where there are some really great trails, off leash areas, and water access. Layla and I even came across some spots that had grassy areas and picnic benches. Noted for better-weather walks!

I have to keep the dang dog on her leash because she would run into the water and never come out. Or she’d run into the woods. Or somewhere -anywhere- that I couldn’t her back. All the other dogs on just about every walk we take are off leash. You’d think she’d get the hint that maybe she should be a little bit more obedient (Insert giant HA! from me)

While we walked, I Skyped with both my parents to just chit chat and show them some of the area we were walking through. Then, this happened:

Yeah, yeah, sure the picture makes that appear much more peaceful than it really was. All of a sudden that thing came out of nowhere. And it was LOUD. So, I started running with Layla away from the train (Still Skyping, mind you). The camera was shaky and I was screaming and the dog was pulling on the leash and darting around every tree. Then the train was gone. Silent. Like it was never there. You’re welcome Mom and Dad for the 2 minute short-action film.

On the way home, I stopped at the store to pick up some dins and I walked out with these puppies:

Dinner turned out pretty OK as well.

Pork tenderloin, applesauce, roasted beets and cornbread.

Unfortunately, the cornbread turned out to be too salty (I think I may have accidently put 1 tbsp of baking soda instead of 1 tsp. whoops) So that was completely inedible. Bummer) Otherwise, it was a pretty satisfying meal. I had rubbed the tenderloin in basil, s&p, cooked on a skillet for about 1 min each side, then roasted at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Perfection, if I do say so myself.

Quick notes: Survivor was good. I hate Kim with a firey passion, and Revenge was PVR’d (that’s what Canadians call DVR. pff).

This morning’s workout was 45 minutes of at-home kickboxing, followed by 15 minutes of upper body strength (as if kickboxing isn’t an upper body workout. HA!)

I am off to a medical exam (for immigration. EW I want to barf. I hate doctors) then a blood test (again for immigration. Again EW and AGAIN I want to barf.) I know for a fact that I will pass out when they try to stick me with a needle. I am getting nervous just typing this. Insert Heebie Jeebies NOW. ahglishdslkajsflkhdgs WISH ME LUCK!

This post was not done on my computer. Poo

So I just checked my stats and someone from Australia read my blog today. Pretty awesome.

Let’s recap today, shall we?

I was up and at ’em at 7am and headed to the gym. Look how ecstatic I am:

Since I did a lot of strength yesterday, I decided to keep today’s workout simple. I did 61 minutes of intervals on the elliptical. No typo there- 61 minutes…why? Because the dang machine reset (or so I thought) and I had to add the time I thought was left to complete a full hour. I was off by a minute, and the machine didn’t reset, so it showed I did one minute extra than intended. Go me.

They open the cafe at my gym just as I am getting there in the morning and they are brewing coffee and engaging in other shenanigans, and more often than not, sugary yum yum treats with scents so delicious waft up to the workout floor (it’s right above the cafe with an open-air entrance) and I have one of two reactions:

1) Barf

2) Want a sugary yum yum treat.

Seriously, bad layout plan.

Once I got home, I made a breakfast similar to yesterday.. Except this time I used frozen bananas, chocolate protein powder and almond milk. Honey Nut Cheerios made another appearance.

Ahh, it was so good, and so filling. Only downfall is that it makes me cold all over. In addition to a rainy day and my sweat starting to cool down- I was in a bad place. So, the only cure was to take a hot bath. A REALLY hot bath.

60 minutes later, I was pruney and had completed my library book. (#forthewin)

(Here is where I tried tirelessly for 20 minutes to insert a picture of the cover and source the site from which I obtained said picture, but the stupid internets is not behaving and I did not want to omit the link. blahhhh)

Anyhoo, it was a good book. Super easy read…perfect for a rainy day/tub time.

Lunch was another batch of vegetable stir fry. Love me some veggies. Definitely got my daily requirement in this meal!

Why that picture is small, I don’t know. But I am using Tyler’s laptop, so that might be the reason. Sad to say, but I have almost completely forgotten how to use anything but Macs. I was only using one on a daily basis at work no more than two months ago! Oh well, I guess the memory chooses what it wishes to remember…

I am now about to show you a picture of my nail color. Ugh, I am so frustrated because my nails are so short. I got fidgety the other day doing paperwork and I cut them all off. Le sigh. But this color is cool, so it should distract you from the scary boyish nail length.

Again, small picture. Back to the Mac tomorrow!!!!!

The afternoon was spent at the mall for some top secret stuff. But, I did my awesome Jen thing and chatted up the sales associate at one store and scored some free samples! I can’t tell you what they are samples of, because it will ruin the surprise of what I was purchasing. I will let you use your imagination for what the heck I could have possibly gotten. Any guesses would be appreciated in the comments, thanks.

Oh, and I also got probably the most awesome message from one of my besties today.

This is what I’m known for, folks. Ridiculous consumption of all nut butters. I am sad to say it has been near a week since I have had any. It’s too expensive here. Would anyone like to send me some…perhaps from Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s? I promise that if you do, I will send you some homemade cookies!! 😉

Dinner was homemade sauce and turkey meatballs with whole wheat pasta.

Since I can’t link from this computer (insert mad face here) I will share with you the recipe tomorrow. Here’s a teaser: there are shredded carrots in the balls! So delicious and nutritious. (#forthewin….. AGAIN)

We watched a movie after dinner, and a tummyache kicked in. Nothing to do with dinner, folks. That’s all I’m saying. It’s not cold in here, but I watched the movie like this

There are a few other things I’d like to discuss, but this tummyache is taking precedent. Below are the topics (these are for my notes because I don’t have a pen and paper nearby, and I am too lazy to jot them down in my phone.)

  • Lululemon swimsuits
  • Calgary Beerfest
  • Copycat blogging (Ugh, I know I am totally going to poorly express my thoughts on this one, but it has been bothering me lately, so I would like to write about it nonetheless)
  • At home workouts
  • How much I hate washing dishes
  • Positives and negatives of being a lefty
  • Sleeping positions
  • Favorite chapsticks/lip glosses/what-have-yous

Ta ta for now!

Busy bee.. And a great workout!

Unlike Garfield, I am loving this Monday

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source

I made a To Do list for myself (and one for Tyler, haha) and the first thing on my list was a workout. Here’s what it looked like:

10 minute HIIT elliptical warm up

10 left leg front lunges
10 right leg front lunges
10 squats
10 plié squats
(these ate all done holding 10 pound weights. Do this 4x through)

2 minute jump rope

10 bicep curls
10 tricep extensions
10 hammer curls
10 tricep extensions
(again, 10 pound weights and done 4x through)

2 minute jump rope

Donkey kick series left leg
(10 kickbacks, 10 top taps, 10 crossover kickbacks, 10 wide toe taps)
10 froggers
Donkey kick series right leg
10 froggers

2 minute jumping jacks

10 leg lifts
10 crunches
(4x through)

10 skiers
10 mountain climbers
(4x through)

Plank series
(30 seconds each side and 60 in the middle)

20 minute cycle HIIT

Done!

Breakfast was a chocolate strawberry protein bowl. I mixed chocolate protein powder, fresh strawberries, almond milk and ice in the blender and topped with a cup of Honey Nut Cheerios

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Now onto that pot of coffee….

Lots more to do today! I was going to cross ‘walk with Layla’ off my list next, but she seems to be oh-so-comfortably sleeping. And by comfortable I mean holy crap that looks painful.

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Me and Keira Knightly

So far, today has been pretty excellent. The nice FedEx man came and delivered wine.

(I’m pretty sure I creeped him out- I answered the door in my flannel pj’s with a muffin in my mouth)

Tyler and I had gone to Sonoma last October and visited Foppoli Wines. We signed up for their mailing list and this is our second shipment so far. It is so delicious!

Before I began my Wednesday sweat session, I decided to do my best Keira Knightly shoulder pose. Don’t we look identical?

Source

Then, I got my workout on.

In-10-se workout

(get it? Intense, but with a 10 in it? Haha, I crack myself up)

6 minute warmup:

  • 1 min jumping jacks
  • 1 min jog in place
  • 1 min jump rope

2 times through.

The following can be done 3 times through  with 30 seconds of cardio in between each for an intense 30 minute workout:

  • 10 squats with lateral leg raise (each leg)
  • 10 lunged with front kick (each leg)

30 sec cardio

  • 10 pushups
  • 10 back extensions

30 sec cardio

  • 10 single leg squat (each leg)
  • curtsy lunges (each leg)

30 sec cardio

  • 10 tricep dips
  • 10 incline pushups

1 min cardio

Let me tell you, I was SWEATY. Bad idea that I took Layla for a walk after that. My sweat cooled down and I was fa-REE-zing.

Lots more to do today…and I am already wiped!

That just happened

I fully intended on taking Layla for a walk before Tyler got home. But SOMEHOW that didn’t happen. I cranked FIT Radio on my speakers while I was changing into my lulus

….then…..

my butt started to wiggle…..

my arms joined in…….

and before you know it, I was dancing.

The dancing turned into kickboxing

Then the kickboxing turned into pyramids.

Pyramids that looked like this:

(each move is done once all the way through, then 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. for moves like the side lunge or front kick, you do one for each side and so on. get it? this is for all except the 3rd and 5th pyramid.)

Pyramid 1

Jumping jack

alternating front kick

squat

side lunge

Pyramid 2

Crunch

Leg lift

russian twist

Pyramid 3

10 jacks

10 double hops

10 high knees

(then 20 of each. repeat through 3x)

Pyramid 4

wall pushup

jump squat (reach to touch as high up on the wall as you can)

wall sit for 10 seconds (10 seconds here for each set)

Pyramid 5

5 side leg lifts

5 side leg push

10 side leg lift

10 side leg push

(do this 2x though on one side then complete a 30 second plank. do the same on the other side)

I am still pretty pumped up, so I think I might head over to the gym after I have a little din din.