All Work, No Play

Hey gang,

My morning zoomed by, which is weird because I've been working on the most boring paper. It's on the ethical responsibilities of editors. It's pretty close to painful.

I took a break for lunch.

I made myself some tofu, organic sweet potato fries and a simple salad.

With about a tablespoon each of ketchup and BBQ sauce.

Tasty stuff. I still don't feel completely full, so I might go find a snack.

Have a great afternoon!

A Brand New Look

Good Morning!!

Happy SATURDAY! To all you running your half-marathons today, GOOD LUCK! I wish you all the best. :)

I have a long run to do today, myself. Not nearly as long as a half, but a 6 miler. That's the longest run I've done since my hips were injured. Wish me luck!

Sorry there weren't very many posts yesterday. I had a crazy busy day. It started off with my breaky post, then I headed over to my friend's salon to get my hair cut and colored (I LOVE being a blonde again).

After that it was straight home to change for my first Bikram class. It was amazing!! I felt great during the class, but after the class, I got a chill from going outside in my sweaty, yucking clothes - not smart. I'm not sure what I was thinking with that one. Bikram is wonderful, the poses are challenging, but can all be simplified. I loved it. The teacher asked if any one was a new when we got in, I raised my hand, and she helped my through the entire class. It was awesome. My friend and I bought a unlimited weekly pass, so I'm gonna make sure I get there a few more times this week! Can't say enough good things about it.

When I came home from class, I had to immediately shower and change because D and I were going out for dinner with his Nana and cousin. We went out to a restaurant in Edmonton, called Moxies. It is a chain restaurant. They are located all over Canada (not sure if they're in the States). I had the salmon sandwich with nan bread, no sauce and a side salad with no feta and dressing on the side. I was happy to see that D's family is as high maintenance as I am, while ordering their meals! They all made similar changes to their meals.

Here are some of the eats I pictured for you yesterday.

This was a mixed green salad with half a cucumber. The white stuff on top is a mix of one egg white and one whole egg. I cooked this mixture in the microwave and chopped it up. The dressing was Frank's hot sauce and balsamic vinaigrette. YUMO (if I can borrow Rachael Ray's saying ;))!

I knew I would be needed some carbs to hold me over through yoga and unto dinner, so I had a small bowl of Kashi cereal and vector with almond milk. So tasty.

I had one of these bars, while I was at the hair dressers. The peanut butter flavor, which happens to be the best flavor.

This morning I knew I needed a slurp and gulp! So yummy. I love the chocolate flavored breakfast cookies.

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 scoop vanilla whey powder
• 1/2 banana
• 1 tbsp natural peanut butter
• 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
• unsweetened chocolate almond milk

It really hit the spot this morning!

Can you tell that my hair is lighter? I love it!! Almost as much as I love my slurp and gulp ;)

I'll see you all in a little while! 

It's the Weekend!

Good morning friends,

How was your week? Today is FRIDAY! YAY!

This morning started off with a creamy bowl of oat bran.

• 1/3 cup oat bran
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 banana
• 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese
• 1 tbsp granola 
• sprinkling of coconut
• 1 tbsp almond butter

A super filling, tasty breakfast. 

I needed coffee this morning, so I made some! I only put a little almond milk in, and since the almond milk is sweet there is no need for more sweetener. 

For having the day off from school, I have tons to do! In a few hours I'm going to get my hair dyed back to blonde, or at least get some highlights throughout it (I can't stand the roots!). 

Then a friend and I are going to try out Bikram yoga. I've never tried hot yoga before. What I've hear is to drink tons of water throughout the day (something I already do), and not to eat two hours before you take the class. Something I'm so glad people told me! I usually eat an hour before I work out. Not today!

Right after that, D's grandma and cousin are coming to stay with us for the weekend. We're going out for dinner with them tonight. Should be a fun day! 

Hope you all have an excellent start to your weekends :)

Dinner Party Fun

Hey gang,

Soooooo I have no photos from lunch. It was too depressing to record. I packed up a baggy of goldfish, a pear, and a chopped up tomato. Pathetic, no?

I did make a batch of pumpkin cookies when I got home. I used a recipe from Carrots and Cake. Now Tina knows cookies.

After class I ran to the grocery store and picked up a few things we needed for dinner tonight. We had my parents over for tilapia, couscous salad, and mixed green salad. I LOVED the tilapia. I used this recipe.

This was my plate of food. Soooo good.

My mom brought over this cheese plate.

This is from a goat farm in Canada. The owners were featured on Food Network not long ago. My favorite was the one in the middle at the back. My mom gave it to us :)

She also brought us these beautiful flowers! So pretty. She made the arrangement herself (she used to be a florist).

Well, we're watching a show on super cars. I can't miss ANY more! Night friends.

Overnight Goodness

Morning folks,

I've been BLOWN away with how great my sleeps have been lately - multiple days in a row too. I usually wake up 1-4 times per night, not lately!

Last night I had an evening class from 6:00-9:00 p.m. I could really go without the classes that run during meal times. I eat so much better if I'm at home and can cook something. I brought a pear, 1/2 cup granola, and a chopped up carrot for dinner. Not exactly my idea of a great dinner, but it worked.

I came downstairs to this.

Well actually, this is it after I mixed it all up.

In the mix for my overnight oats:

Last night:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 6 grams raisins
• cinnamon 

This morning I added:

• 1/2 banana 
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• more cinnamon

It was pretty tasty! 

Time to hit the gym. I'm going to do legs and the elliptical (I think. It could be a different cardio machine. Just not running, since it's my cross training day).  

Veggies Every Where!

Afternoon!

Today has been great so far. I'm so proud of myself for finishing 4 miles on the treadmill! It took me 40 minutes (including my 5 minute walking warm-up). It was awesome. I was soaking by the time I was done, and it felt great!

After my run, I whipped this up.

• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/2 frozen blueberries
• 1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 4 ice cubes

So yummy! 

Then I left the house to go to class (unfortunately ;))

After class I met a friend for lunch. We hit up Mucho Burrito. I had the vegetarian quesadilla. If I'm being honest it wasn't nearly as good as the vegetarian burrito I usually get from there. 

 

Now I know for next time! 

I have an evening class tonight, so I won't be home till after 9:00 p.m. So if I don't blog again, I'll see you all in the a.m! 

Oat-Branerrrrrific

Good morning everyone!

I slept so well last night; I wasn't even up before my alarm, which is huge for me!

Last night's dinner didn't hold me over as I hoped. I was still starving about a half hour after I ate it.

• 4 cups mixed salad greens
• 1/3 cup black beans
• 1/3 cup corn
• 1/2 cup salsa
• 1 serving firm tofu 
• 1 grated carrot 
• 1/5 avocado 

It tasted great - another great mexican feast. It was just too small, or I was just TOO hungry. 

So I made D and I these babies. 

These are the fitnessista's recipe. I did have to change the recipe quite a bit because I didn't have all the ingredients. 

Here are the switches. 

• Instead of two cups of spelt flour, I used 1.5 cups of whole wheat.
• Instead of vegan chocolate chips, I used 80% dark chocolate. 
• Instead of molasses, I used honey.
• Instead of almond butter (too precious to use for cookies), I used natural peanut butter.. 

And they turned out great! D was swooning over them, while he was eating his ice cream (frozen yogurt) sandwich. 

This was my dessert. 

One cookie with one scoop of Champan's Chocolate Frozen Yogurt. It was ahhhhhhh-mazing :)

Now, let's fast forward to this morning. 

• 1/3 cup oat bran
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/4 sliced banana
• 4 grams goji berries 
• 1 tbsp almond butter 
• cinnamon 

It was pretty darn tasty! After I'm finished writing this post, D and I are heading to the gym. I'm running 4 miles, and I'm not sure what he's planning. 

Have a fantastic morning everyone!