WIAW: Lotsa Greens and Bargain Book Shopping.

*Note: I love how many people have weird pinkie toes. I don’t feel so alone in my freak toe-ness! :-p 

Happy first day of Spring!

Yea, I’m calling bullshit on that. Where are you warm weather?!

But I digress…

Happy WIAW! Many thanks to Jenn for her hosting duties, as per usual.

So, for once I feel like I actually followed the WIAW theme of the month. These are my eats from yesterday, and there is a surprisingly large amount of green things. At least, by my standards.

So, on with it!

Breakfast

A usual around here, my old-lady Fibre 1 with a sprinkle of coconut chia granola and unsweetened vanilla almond milk. 2 eggs + 1/4 cup egg whites on the side.

I’m pretty much the most uninventive person when it comes to breakfast. I love getting creative with dinners and the occasional lunch, but at 8:00 am apparently I’m incapable of putting together something fancy for breakfast. I’m ok with that though!

Pre\Post Workout

A scoop of Watermelon-y BCAAs pre and post workout. Yesterday was leg day, AKA: I-am-really-going-to-hate-stairs-for-the-next-two-days day. Buuut it’s still my favourite

I swung by the bookstore at my school on the way home because they were having a bargain book sale – each book was $2.50.

Woot cheap books! I picked up:

• Entertaining with Sopranos (I have no intention of hosting an Italian wedding or Christening anytime soon, but the recipes looked good)
• The Great Christmas Cookie Swap Cookbook (It is never to early to start thinking about Christmas cookies. Never)
• Suck it, wonder woman! – Olivia Munn (she’s hilarious, so I’m intrigued to read this)
• a Laura Lippman book of short stories. As much I love my epically long novels (I’m looking at you, Game of Thrones) I seriously adore a ten-page story now and then. 

Although, before I left I noticed that they had a ‘Goosebumps’ book – Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes. I kind of really wished I had picked that up. I was obsessed with those books when I was a kid. I’m pretty sure I had the first 50 or so in the series?

 

Lunch

Post gym = lunchtime.

A massaged kale salad (olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and honey, then topped with salt and pepper) with chopped carrots, buffalo-marinated tofu, and a piece of Irish soda bread with a bit of butter. I’m not going to lie, I kind of feel healthier just looking at that picture (kale and tofu have that effect, apparently).

And side note – I’m not a huge bread person (I like it, but I don’t generally go out of my way for it; I prefer potatoes, pasta, oats and rice for my carbs) but I’m obsessed with that stuff. I give it a month, maybe two max before I make it again. There was definitely a small hunk of two in the afternoon that escaped pictures

Then an afternoon of school-related reading (what else is new?) and marking before class. First, a snack:

Cottage cheese, strawberry jam, peanut butter and a crumbled graham cracker. Simple and delicious.

Dinner

Second side salad of the day – I’m impressed with myself.

I had a chicken in the slow cooker all day, which I shredded when I got home from class. I cooked up half an onion, and tossed everything in buffalo sauce before shoving it into wraps.

That means I had buffalo-flavoured proteins for lunch and dinner yesterday. And I’m giving you a buffalo recipe tomorrow. Is it fair to say that I really, really like that stuff right now? (yes).

Dessert

That would be a graham cracker topped with cookie butter and chocolate chips. It was one of the smartest things I’ve done lately.

Nighttime Snack

I wasn’t too hungry last night, but just to keep me going until morning:

A few spoonfuls from my giant container of coconut Oikos. Ending the day on a good note.

Hope your Wednesday is fabulous!

<— Would you rather read a book of short stories or a long novel?

<— What book collections did you have when you were a kid? I also had pretty sizable Nancy Drew, the Baby-Sitters Club, and Sweet Valley High collections!

<— Favourite carb? It’s a tough question, I know.

Fitness Plans + Old Stomping Grounds.

And just like that, Thanksgiving is over. It was a busy weekend! I never understood why people said the holidays were stressful, but now I think I do – it definitely applies when the holiday involves travel! We were only in London for two days, so we had to cram a lot in in a short amount of time. But we did get to spend time with family, so we’re happy.

I woke up yesterday feeling excited – because I was heading back to my old gym! (yes, I get excited about gyms). I used to go to Goodlife Masonville 5-6 days a week, but unfortunately I had to put my membership on hold when I moved – Brantford doesn’t have a Goodlife. I had to go in today to sign the papers on the termination of my contract, but since Monday is a workout day, I went to get a workout in as well.

(not my picture, but it is my oh-so-pretty gym)

I miss this place so much! There’s so much equipment and it’s all new – they definitely spoiled me here. So being able to do a workout in here again was wonderful. I felt like I was back in my old stomping grounds.

 

Breakfast

Thanksgiving leftovers already being utilized.

2 eggs overeasy (runny yolk goodness, of course), a banana, and some leftover ham. There was definitely more ham being picked at while I was waiting for the eggs to cook.  

 

Lunch

One more Thanksgiving event before going home – lunch with my parents and my aunt and uncle. We met at a Kelsey’s – it’s a chain, but the food’s decent!

My uncle just returned from a month long yoga retreat in India – how awesome would it be to do one of those? It’s very Eat Pray Love, except minus Julia Roberts

I ordered the Greek chicken on a pita.

Cucumber, tomato, feta, red pepper hummus, chicken and lettuce on a grilled pita with tzatziki and a Greek salad on the side. Every bite gone.

 

My aunt knows me too well.

She went to a library book sale recently and picked up too new cookbooks for me. I love how my family just associates me with cookbooks and recipes – their always sending or telling me about new ones! I’m definitely the foodie in the family.

After a quick stop to see Laura (and drop off some maple bacon cupcakes – she needed to try them!) we were on our way back to Brantford. All the leaves on the trees along the 403 (a major highway in Ontario) are changing colour, and made for a beautiful drive back!

 

Dinner

With all the massive, fancy meals lately Eric and I were feeling a simple dinner tonight.

I had two rice cakes with herb and garlic cream cheese and smoked salmon. Unpictured baby carrots and hummus on the side.

I love how smoked salmon seems to go on sale this time of year – I love the stuff sooo much, but I rarely buy it because of the price. Once again, Nadine gifted us with some – two huge packages! They will not be going to waste, I promise.

 

Fitness Recaps

I totally meant to do this yesterday, but, oops. Holiday brain.

This last week was week 2 on my Slim and Sculpt program with Carrie of This Fit Chick. The program is set up as 3 phases of 4 weeks each, so this week was a repeat of last week. I was able to bring up my weight on my deadlifts, squats, and shoulder presses – I love getting stronger!

Workouts skipped: none

Workouts changed: I moved Sunday’s interval run to Saturday, and changed it to the elliptical. I went right after baking cupcakes – and icing and bacon do not make for the greatest running fuel. I got it done though!

Workouts added: 2 yoga workouts.

 

Speaking of yoga…

This was my first week with Courtney’s October yoga challenge! I made it my goal to complete 2 sessions a week, and I got it done.

Both times, I chose to do 20 minute yoga sessions from YogaDownload.com. I love yoga, but I can only get myself to focus for short sessions at home – a 60 minute class at the gym or in a studio is fine, but at home I need 25 minutes or less.

(my Hot Yoga experience – I do not sweat that much at home)

 

I did one session on Tuesday and one on Sunday – done and done!

Yoga’s one of those things I always need to talk myself into doing. I start out not feeling really enthusiastic, but when it’s over I feel fantastic and I’m reminded why I like to do it in the first place. Makes me nice and stretchy!

I hope your Tuesday is fabulous!

 

<— Are you “known” for anything in your family? I’m known as a foodie and known for making awesome desserts.  My love of sushi is pretty legendary as well.

<— Are there are exercises you have to push yourself to do but you feel awesome afterwards? I feel that way with running sometimes too…I have to force myself up and out the door, but I never regret it afterwards, even if it wasn’t a great run.