Rep Your Accent

Hi Friendsssss!!!

How was everyone’s weekend? I hope lovely.  The warm weather finally took a little dip here, and it got a little chilly and rainy on Sunday.  But it’s all good.  I mean, it is still January right?!

Today, I wanted to express my love for a new find (to me).  Oat bran!  I know many of you have been eating oat bran since the Land Before Time…

Pause here for remembrance of such a great movie

Source

…and I’ve been wanting to get some (oat bran that is) for a while.  LOVE IT!  Oats are “so last year” kind of old for me since I’ve been eating them day in-day out for like 7 years now.  Oat bran is creamy and just…..delicious!

It’s taking me a while to get the oats:water ratio down (different than oatmeal?  Help a sista out!).  So today I added too much water, then had to add more oat bran to even it out.  So now I have leftovers!  (although who knows if I’ll put leftover oat bran to good use).

It should be noted it was delicious in my almond butter jar

Today’s mix (made 2 servings):

• 1/2 cup oat bran
• 1/2 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup egg whites
• Cinnamon, cocoa powder, instant coffee powder
• Cinnabon candied nuts(!!)

I also had oat bran on Saturday (thank you sleep-in days!).

Pumpkin oat bran!  Topped off with 1 Tbsp pumpkin butter and 1 Tbsp pumpkin cream cheese.

I want it to be known, I’m trying really hard to cut back on my oat toppings.  I’ve always been an extravagant/extra special toppings gal, so that’s one thing I’m trying to change.  But the calories can really add up, while not adding much staying power (think granola, chocolate/cinnamon chips, too much jam, cream cheese & nut butters).  Of course, some toppings are delicious and needed (oats are too boring without them!). 

Today’s lunch (after the mocha oat bran) was a ginormo salad:

• Bed of lettuce
• Rotisserie chicken
• Onions & tomatoes
• Sprinkling of feta
• Champagne dressing

+ an apple on the side

And just because I’m in weight-loss mode right now, it definitely doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy my treats

All you have to do is work it into your daily “allowance.”  Or just enjoy a treat, and not let it get you down!  Once and a while won’t do any damage

Apple pie at lunch on Sunday – I hate half a slice.  Along with a colorful salad:

When I get salads at work, I like to load them up with:

• Beets
• A little bit of cheese (parmesan, feta or blue cheese)
• Whatever veggies are out (bell peppers, onions)
• Kidney beans (if they’re on the salad bar)
• Fat free raspberry dressing
• Drizzle of Caesar or 1000 Island

The heavier stuff makes the salad too expensive!!  So it all depends on what else I’m getting.

In other news, has anyone seen this at Trader Joe’s?!?!?!?!

That would be Peanut Butter Cream Cheese.  AKA the evil of all evils.  Take it awaaaayyyyy!!!

 

And now for the accent Vlog that is making it’s away around blogworld.  I did this video on Saturday, and since then have seen multiple other bloggers do one as well.  A few things:

1. I’m so sorry for the awful awful quality.  I think my webcam just sucks.  I swear it wasn’t that dark and I swear I wasn’t actually a dark-eyed zombie while filming it.  Proof!

2. I don’t know if the video is super skippy and slow for you.  Or if it’s just  my internet/computer.  My computer has been sh*tty slow lately.  And so has my internet.  So muchos apologies if it’s skipping.

3. I was put on the spot for some of the questions.  Such as how I address a group of people.  In all reality I probably just say “Hey guys.” Yeah, I’m that creative.

4. At the end I said: “I hope you guys are all having a better night than I am.”  But it sounds like I said “Mumble mumble…djkgsdgh grrrrrhgoihdsgdsjgdsk…”

5. Born and raised near San Francisco CA.  I’ve traveled to Arkansas for 10 days one time.  And London/Paris for 2 weeks.  And that pretty much sums up my childhood travels.

 

I also don’t know why I felt like swaying back and forth so much.  I swear I didn’t have to pee.  I don’t think.  I actually don’t remember.

Okay, enough of the excuses.

Peace out(?).

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Fact or Fiction?

Fact: My breakfast this morning reminded me of the American flag. 

Fiction: That these pomegranate seeds would be good until January 31st like the label said.  Last I checked today is the 28th and they were already tasting slightly tangy/gone bad. 

Fact: I still ate them though.  And plan to finish off the container today to prevent them from going…more bad.

Fiction: I ate only fruit and yogurt this morning. 

Obviously I added some cereal.  Quaker corn bran crunch to be more precise.

Fact: My boss was making sunflower seed butter cookies at 8:30 this morning.

Fiction: I completely stayed away from all said cookies and didn’t enjoy one crumb.

Fact: I ate one two.

Fact: I went for a walk with the babes today downtown to Starbucks and back (2.5 miles roundtrip).

Fiction: I took a picture of my Grande iced SF hazelnut coffee light ice.  With a splash of half & half. 

Fact: I love how I not only get a free dinner when I work, but I also sometimes get leftovers if I have enough food.

(Vegetable quinoa with grilled chicken.  Added some tomato-basil feta).

Fact: I’ve been pretty good about taking my calcium vitamin with lunch lately.

Fiction: Yummy orange carbonated drinks tend to help in absorption of calcium pills.  Especially when out of a stolen borrowed pint glass from the local pizza joint.

Fact: My old roommate snuck so many of these pint glasses in her purse that she had enough to give me my own set of 8 glasses.  Cool.

Fact: I went on a 1 hr 45 minute hike today.  Which probably wasn’t the smartest idea for my calf/ankle.

Fiction: I remembered to take a picture of my post-hike snack while chatting with the roommate.  Let’s say it was a small portion of plain yogurt with the rest of the pomegranate seeds.  (That part would in fact be a fact).

Fact: I froze in my tracks when I saw peanut butter cream cheese at Trader Joe’s today.  Yes.  Peanut. Butter. Cream Cheese. 

Fiction: Obviously I could resist.  And didn’t have any taster once I got home.

Deadly deadly stuff.

Fact: I waited to eat at babysitting tonight because I figured they’d have delicious yummy food, since they have in the past.

Fiction: I never use mixing bowls for salads.  Ever.

(Salad with tomatoes, goat cheese, and a sprinkling of walnuts.  With pear vinaigrette.  And a few veggie chips on the side.  Which ended up in my salad).

Fact: This dinner was enough to hold me over for oh…2 hours.  And then I had froyo.  Yummmm.

 

Tell me one fact and one fiction from your day!  Kind of like 2 truth and a lie, right??

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Taster Thursday

Seriously, I love you guys!  I can’t say it enough how lucky I am to have such supportive readers  

All thank you’s and good feelings aside, as I told you yesterday, Thursday = weigh in day for me.

Last week was 161.  This week was 162. 

Meh.  I know it happens and I’m not upset about it.  It gives me a chance to look back on the week and realize things:

1. I baked everyday this weekend.  Friday was cookies and brownies.  Saturday was cake.  And more cake (at babysitting and at home).  Sunday was decorating the cake.  So there was batter.  There was also the finished baked goods.  And frosting.  And then more finished baked goods.

2. Not only did I bake, but I also over-indulged on Friday night.  Besides the cookie dough & cookies, I had 4 (yes – 4) pieces of pizza at our friend’s house.  Plus brownies and ice cream. 

I knew I overdid it this week, so I’m just thankful it was only up 1 pound! 

So that’s that and moving on….

 

Eats

Breakfast was a bit of a splurge this morning.  But worth it Having to do with this little guy:

Oaaaaaaats!!!!..in a jar (I just felt like singing that)

Mixture:

• 1/4 cup multigrain oats + 1/4 cup wheat bran
• 1/2 cup almond milk + 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• Cinnamon
• 1 scoop cocoa powder + 1 tsp instant coffee
• 1 tbsp pumpkin cream cheese (mmm frosting on the cake)

Yes.  Mocha oats in a jar today.  Yes.  Please and thank you.

This kept me nice and full for a good 4 hours.  Until I got hungry at work and snacked on a handful of grapes:

And came home at about 1:30 to some lunchie.  Leftover chicken gumbo soup from work last night:

Along with leftover seasoned ground turkey topped with ketchup.  Tasted like meatloaf!

I then made a quick decision to hit up the heaven of all heavenly places for a quick return and a stroll around the heavens. 

Source

My family has a completely pathetic and rather large small obsession with Costco.  Signs your family loves Costco too much just enough:

• You shop there at least twice per week. 
• Go there specifically to eat dinner (or lunch) at the food court. 
• If they sold breakfast, you’d probably be there for breakfast too
• Your dad takes lunch breaks to head to Costco. 
• Your hometown Costco knows your family by name. 
• They also make comments if they haven’t seen you in more than a week.  (They obviously miss our happy faces)
• While on vacation your family seeks out the local Costco to stock up on goods.  And eat there for meals.
• You know the price for most Costco products off the top of your head
• You also know that most their prices end in .99 cents.  Mark-down prices end in .97 cents.  And an * sign in the upper right hand corner means the items is discontinued and not being restocked.
• Your little sister was featured in the December issue of the Costco Connection (that should link directly to the page.  Or use the drop down link to IBC page 87 if anyone’s interested).

Wow.  Did I just embarrass my family a little bit?

Anyways, as I was saying.  I love Costco.  And go there when I’m bored.  Or want samples.  Today was definitely a good sample day.  Too bad my hands were full (with workout pants, broccoli, and a soda.  I didn’t grab a cart) so I couldn’t snag pictures but I had:

• 2 small slivers of some pita bread pizza thing (a road show item)
• Bite of canneloni
• Sliver of veggie burger marinated in teriyaki sauce
• 2 bites of a waffle drizzled in agave
• Madras lentil meal (love this stuff)
• 1 black bean chip
• Sliver of cheese

I think that was it.  But anyways – a lot. 

Work dinner was delicious.  I think they’re on a new menu rotation in the cafeteria (which I’m excited about).  And Thursdays = my favorite soup day. 

Chicken tortilla soup!

And sauteed cabbage & apples dish.  I had 2 bowls worth.  It was SO GOOD.

And once at home, I had another huge bowl of frozen fruit with about 1 Tbsp worth of almond butter.

Same picture as last night.  But same lookin’ bowl.

 

Workout?

Meh.  Nothing.  Except for a 25 minute walk downtown and back at babysitting.  But I really can’t count that.  My knees were giving me trouble today.  And I went to Costco instead of doing weights/abs.  So there’s my excuse of the day.

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My first weight loss post

The title pretty much says it all.  I really just received complete support from all of you, and that means so much!  Of course, I’ll still be blogging just like normal (although lately, it’s been more sporadic than not), but there will be occasional talk/updates about weigh-ins, my workouts, progress updates, etc.  You’ll probably also be seeing less desserts/sweets and more portioned out meals. 

First things first:

1. Of course, I still 100% absolutely believe in loving yourself for who you are.  That’s extremely important.  No matter what size, you are beautiful and wonderful.  But as I explained here, this is why I’m doing this.

2. If any of this is trigger stuff for you – please don’t read it.  Also, if it’s getting to be "too much” or typical stereotypical blog/weight-related talk – please let me know!  It can be easy to get caught up and make it sound like a weight journal.

 

I don’t usually like to talk numbers, but for this purpose, I will.  Two weeks ago, I stepped on the scale (eek) to get my starting weight.

Start (Jan. 13): 163

(The only full body shot I have of myself recently.  One of my many running skirt photo ops).

2nd WI on Jan. 20: 161

Tomorrow marks my third weigh-in, so we shall see!

 

Eats

I won’t be posting my daily eats everyday, as I just don’t have time for that!  But will for today :

 

Breakfast – yogurt + pumpkin.  Blueberries, pom seeds, Quaker corn bran cereal, scoop of pumpkin butter:

Big ol’ bowl thanks to the volumizing pumpkin!

+ 3 cups coffee with stevia & almond milk

Snack – fruit at work (there were apple slices too ).  + a small scoop of peanut butter!

Lunch @ 1:30 – extra lean ground turkey (BOGO this week!) with sauteed veggies seasoned in soy sauce & garlic salt.  Topped with tomato basil feta cheese, fat free sour cream, & mango cranberry salsa.

This was deeeeeeelicious.

Dessert – sugar free jello (artificial and crap-filled?  Yes.  But it satisfied my sweet tooth).

Dinner @ 6:30 (at work) – a plate of brown mush Creole seasoned pea dish (peas, mushrooms, green beans, hardboiled egg, seasoning).  Potatoes Anna (not sure exactly – but it was sliced up delicious tasting potatoes).  And succotash (corn, lima beans, and lots of oil).  This was actually a very delicious dinner!  Dinner at work is hard because sometimes there’s too many options, sometimes it’s all red meat/fish.  They also post the calories information, but I’m not sure how accurate it all is.  Or if the portion sizes are correct.

+ half of a corn bread muffin (spontaneous grab! Whoops).

& a few bites of a peach crisp.

Snackage at home tonight included frozen fruit with almond butter:

And hot cocoa (my one hot chocolate for the week!) made with 1 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 packet of splenda, water, and a splash of almond milk:

 

So there you go with today’s eats.  I’m trying to focus on a few changes:

• Smaller/extravagant breakfasts.  My breakfasts easily add up to too many calories with all the nut butters, cream cheeses, cereals, etc.  Delicious, but a little too much.
• Less random spoonfuls of nut butter.  Difficult.  But a work in progress.
• Less desserts/sweets.  Of course I’m still going to enjoy them!  Heck, you didn’t see the cream-cheese nutella brownies last night.  But you did see the cookies, brownies and ice cream enjoyed this weekend I’m just tying to make it more of a few times per week thing.  Rather than a multiple times per day thing.

 

Workout

I’ve been trying to take the baby on walks whenever I’m at work.  It adds a little something to the day!  And honestly?  I’ve been counting it as my workout.  With my injury, I’m trying to take it easy.  And I don’t have much other time in the day to exercise.  It’s better than nothing!

• 5 minutes of ab plank work
• Push-ups 3 x15
• 3 mile walk in 51 minutes (avg. pace: 17 minutes)

Adios!!  And thank goodness tomorrow is Thursday!

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Weight of Baking

Sounds like many of you don’t think you can rock the running skirt I honestly think they’re kind of….strange too.  I just found one on sale and thought I would try it out.  I think we’ve all come to the consensus that Miss Skinny Runner is the queen of rocking a skirt and we should let her continue to hold that crown.

This weekend was full of baking, eating, and good times For Friday night’s potluck, I tried my luck (ha – no pun intended) at dough balls once again.  Instead of Mama Pea’s version, I made these  Cookie Dough Balls this time around (since I had real butter on hand and I also wanted to make chocolate chip ones).  Here’s the story in a nutshell.

The dough tasted rather….just…doughy.  Not sweet at all – that’s where I knew something went wrong. 

That’s when I realized I forgot to double the sugar.  Double the recipe, but only half the sugar?  And the comment section already seemed to say these cookies were under-sweet to begin with.

So I took to rolling my dough in sugar.

Meh.

Sure they turned out doughy on the inside.  But tasted bland and rubbery.  I know it’s my fault, and I’m sure the original recipe is delicious!  I just need to make it right.

Cookie dough ball fail #3.

Fail #1?  Doubled the oil.

Fail #2?  They turned out delicious, but very crunchy.

Maybe I should just leave ball-making to the pros.

At least we had delicious brownies and ice cream to bring to the get-together!

And I whipped together a batch of boxed sugar cookies I had stored away in the cabinet.  Boxed or not, they were still a hit

And we bowled!!  (excuse the dark, flashless photos)

Saturday was spent – get this – sleeping in!!!!  Have I mentioned yet how I now get Saturday’s off work??  Rather than working Saturday-Wednesday, I now work Sunday-Thursday (at the hospital.  I still nanny other days as well).  I lose 3 hours a week, but honestly this will do SO MUCH for my sanity, well-being, and social life.  I’m excited. 

I hit up my friend’s birthday BBQ for a bit and delivered her some cake

And baby cupcakes!

My mom is super into birthday cakes, and she passed down the tradition when she gave us our own bear cake pans this Christmas!  I was excited to try it out myself for my first time.

The frosting was definitely hard to do – I’m awful at the star tip thing, and it wasn’t sticking to the bears!  But it all tastes the same in the end, right?

Baby cupcakes are dangerous!!  I popped 3 in my mouth just while frosting. 

 

I also used my new yoga mat (review and giveaway coming soon!!) to complete Jillian Michael’s six-pack abs DVD.  This DVD is hard!  I honestly barely feel it working my abs (my abs weren’t exhausted afterwards or sore the next day), but it was tired from the squats and lunges she has you do!  Sad that I found this DVD more of a lower body workout than abdominal workout? 

I also competed some upper-body weights.  It feels really good to get back into weights/dumbbells.

Speaking of weights, remember this post?  Yeah, it might’ve been in July.  But I’ve been hitting obstacles for months – injuries, moving, a new job/routine to get used to, too insanely busy to exercise, more injuries, drinking, holidays….the excuses could go on.  But according to my resolution goal I made a couple weeks ago, I’m really buckling down on the weight-loss/toning up plan.

I want to include you guys and update you on my progress.  This is a life-blog about myself, anyways.  But I don’t want to overwhelm you all with weight-loss talk.  I know some blog readers out there can be sensitive towards that type of thing, and I don’t want to lose dear readers because they’re tired of typical weight-related issues! 

So I’m asking you guys – do you want me to post about my weight-loss journey?  Do you want me to post my weekly weigh-ins, progress, some daily food/meals (obviously I still won’t post everything), workout talk, etc?  Or is that too much?  Please, let me know your opinions!

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Some stuff

I got my ear pierced the other night.  By myself.  I held my own hand purse handles and squeezed hard.

Because c’mon.  Who doesn’t want an awkwardly close up picture of my ear?

I got the cartilage and the triple done on my right ear.  I wanted the third hole a littler higher up (like Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s piercing.  Am I the only one who likes it??), but the piercer convinced me otherwise.

Too bad it was no Claire’s and I didn’t get a sparkly diamond Just ugly metal studs.

 

An egg shaped like a donut in no way tastes like a donut.

Now it looks like a face saying “OOOHHHHHH!!!”

Completely by accident did this microwaved egg puff end up in a ring.  But I was pleased.

And 2 old whole wheat pumpkin pancakes from the freezer.  Doughy.  But slightly stale frostbitten taste.

 

It really is possible for me to have a breakfast without carbs!

Egg scramble with ground turkey, feta, sour cream, and cranberry-mango salsa.  Filling.

 

I really wish I had bought this heart plate at Target a few weeks ago.  My boss has it, and it makes me jealous.

It’s sparkly.  And pink (obviously).

 

Pumpkin smoothie – where have you been, dude?!? 

Note the ice cream maker which I still need to use.  And freeze for days first.  It takes a lot of planning.

Swirls make everything better.

 

I’m really not sure if I’m a fan of the running skirt.

1. I felt like a tennis player on a jog.

2. My thighs rubbed together – hence why I like the capris.

3. I felt like every passing driver was thinking my booty/hoo-ha was going to fly out any minute.  How did they know it has built in shorts?

 

omgzzzzzzz how have I not told you yet???  See the camera I’m holding in the above picture?!  YES.  I got a new camera!  I lost my old 5 month new camera last June and have been using my Iphone ever since.  I’m stoked.

 

Anyways, that was just to catch you up a bit on the life of Tay since I have been so awful with regular posting insanely busy and have too many other important things to do

 

Have you tried out running skirts?  And yes, I’m talking to the men(??) out there too

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Resolution check-up

I’ve been doing pretty good with those New Year’s resolutions goals – how about you?

Listen to my body? Check.  Seeing as how I’ve ran probably twice in 2 weeks.  That might be because I’ve had no time, or it might be because I’ve been listening to my ankle/inner shin pain.

 

Intuitive eating? How about delicious intuitive eating at work?

Such as homemade Black Bean & Turkey chili one day:

And an amazing salad the next?

Mixed greens, mustard apricot dressing, feta, grilled chicken, and a bit of Mediterranean pasta.

Froyo while shopping:

And yogurt messes for breakfast:

I’m not a big chips and salsa person, but lately I’ve been loving it.  I wouldn’t recommend these chips, however.  I love Food Should Taste Good chips, but they have much better flavors out there (such as multigrain, olive & sweet potato!)

Strength training? I started to strength train a couple weeks ago, hurt my writs, and had to take a break.  Seriously.  Injuries never cease to surround me.  It’s feeling better now though, so I should be able to start up again!

 

Happy-Weight plan?  Yes, I’ve started it.  But good times with friends (which may or may not involve drinking) have gotten slightly in the way this past week.  So this one kind of conflicts with…

Do something social once per week?  Yes, yes!  I went to Chipotle last week with some friends (yes, that counted as my something social).  Then went out on Thursday with some friends.

Which was tons of fun.  But left me feeling like this the next day at work:

Feelin’ swell as you can tell.

And then mimosas, breakfast, and spending time downtown on Sunday:

Sourdough french toast.  I got fresh fruit on the side instead of bacon or sausage.  Which was just a cut up green apple.  Disappointing since I dislike green apples!

It was BEAUTIFUL weather. 

 

Hot chocolate once per week? You betcha!!  Okay, I might have had it twice the first week.  But it’s a huge step from every single night like usual.

 

Organization? Ummmm working on it.  I cleaned a little today!!

 

How are your resolutions (or goals) coming along as we enter the third week of January 2011?

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Golden Trip

What’s up my dear readers?

Today I sent off my Florida State dietetic internship application.  One thing I can check off my list!

1. Complete and send off Florida State application.

2. Complete and send off my other 9 applications.

Yes, 9.  I realized that is beyond excessive and I should really really narrow it down.  But I’m having a hard time doing so.  Oy!

Last week might have been stressful and difficult, but Saturday afternoon I hit the road home!  My sister and brother were still home from school this weekend, and my family had plans to go to the Walt Disney museum in San Francisco.  While it wasn’t a huge deal to drive 3 1/2 hours for, I want to cherish all the family time I can get

The museum was interesting, but my family of course loved the Disneyland portion best.  We’re a huge Disneyland family.  The vacations are such a special memory.

From 2005

to 2008

to my first trip with friends only in 2009:

I love Disneyland!!!

Anyways, afterwards we drove a mile or so closer to the water and froze to death admired the view. 

Grant – don’t throw her in!!

 

 

 

Sure, my sister (who lives in Washington) and brother (who lives in Pennsylvania) gave me crap when I complained how cold it was.  But I was in a tank and hoodie – so used to 60/70 degree weather!!

We then went to pizza, and came home for cookies and pumpkin pie.  Please tell me why being at home seems to give me the excuse to eat everything in sight?  Because I’m not sure why.

This morning I had an orthotics appointment (praying this alteration will fix the problem and help my pain!), hit up the mall for returns, Target for necessities, and Panera for some caffeine and lunch.

I guess saying “To-Go” means “don’t cream cheese my bagel and let me do it myself.”  Disappointment.  I love bagels from bagel shops just because I love when they cream cheese it for you.  I swear it tastes different.

This happened.  But when I ran out of cream cheese, I didn’t finish the bagel.  It’s just not as good as pre-cream cheesed in the paper wrapping.  You know?

I also tried this bar on the drive up and thought I’d quickly tell you guys I liked it:

I’m not a big fan of cherry flavored things.  Okay that’s a lie – I love cherry candy and cherry sodas.  But cherry desserts/chocolates?  No thanks.  But this just tasted like a sweeter protein bar.  So good in my book.

Cookies & Cream is still my favorite.  And I don’t remember if I liked the Peanut Butter because I scarfed it down after my half-marathon.  But they are all tasty, and one of my favorite “protein bars” out there.

 

Sooooooo who’s watching the Bachelor this season? 

I’ve started to, but not sure if I’m super into it this year.  Especially because the past seasons I’d watch with my roommates and gossip/laugh about it.  Now I’m by myself…and it’s not as fun to make fun of it all alone. Hmmm.

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Not my week

Is it only Wednesday? Man, I wish this week was over.

Let’s just say it started out on Saturday when I woke up in a panic at 6:10.  And I’m supposed to be at work at 6:00.  Thank you Iphone bug for making me 30 minutes later to work on New Year’s Day – I swear I was responsible the night before and got to bed!

Then Sunday night I braved the pouring rain to pick up stuff for my internship at Staples.  It was closed.  So I head to Office Max: Closed.  My gas light is on so I stop at Costco gas and get out all ready to fill ‘er up.  The worker comes up to me: Closed.  Finally, I stop at the grocery store to pick up 2 things.  The fire alarm goes off, and we’re all stuck outside for 15-20 minutes.  Once I get home, my phone falls out of my hand and rolls under my roommates car.  Luckily, I could lie flat on the ground and reach it. 

What a night.  Seriously I couldn’t help but laugh!

Last night at work was insanely busy.  I’m pretty sure I had a patient in every.  Single. Bed.

Then this morning I wake up at 8:05.  Supposed to be at nannying at 8:00.  Set my alarm last night, but forgot to turn it on.  Driving down the street I realize I forgot to take out the trashcans last night.  And realized I left my yogurt on the counter.

 

Long story short – not my week here.

 

At least the food’s been good!  I ate breakfast at work this morning, since I didn’t have time to eat/left my yogurt at home.

Yum-may.  With a couple more spoons of PB on the side.

I was definitely hungry 2 hours later, and gave in to eating lunch at 11:30. 

(Canned) turkey chili mixed with pepperjack cheese.  And more melty cheesy goodness on top.

It was spicy-hot so I added a scoop of Fage on top.

I also had a bit of Costco chicken salad (actually pretty good, and not too mayonnaisey! 

Yay for free coupons!!  I definitely needed one of these this afternoon

+ the blueberry yogurt I left out on the counter (thank you roommate for putting it back in the fridge) & a scoop of peanut butter.  Because I can’t go more than 2 hours with PB in my life.

And then dinner at work.  Which I rarely take pictures of.  Because I don’t carry my camera around with my in my pocket, and the lighting isn’t the greatest with my Iphone.  But sometimes.

 

Can it be Saturday already?

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Un-resolutions

I don’t even have enough ice packs for my injured legs:

This knee/ankle/inner shin/oblique/foot pain has gotten quite annoying.

I haven’t really blogged about it, but I’ve started running in the past few weeks, and my oblique pain feels okay.  I just have to be careful with it I guess.

But lately, my knees have flared up.  My left inner ankle has stared to kill me.  And the pain is radiating up my inner shin.  I’ve had shin splits in the past, and this doesn’t necessarily feel like that, but who knows.

I really think it all stems from wearing my new orthotics.  They fit me weird, and I just think they don’t work with my feet/body.  I really think they sparked up these lower leg injuries.

Needless to say, I’ll be resting from running for a bit, and also getting my orthotics refit again (for the second time!).

Now I’m obviously not going to make exercise resolutions such as “workout 3 times per week” or “Run 1000 miles this year,” etc.  That would either:

a) cause injuries as my body can’t be pushed too hard

b) cause disappointment when I “break” those resolutions if I have to back off of exercise or get injured

Rather, I’m making goals that I’d like to accomplish this year.

1. Listen to my body.  Rest, rest, rest.  Stretch.  Ice.  This is the most important thing that I’ve learned in the past couple years.

2. Run my second marathon. Of course, this is a goal that I would love to accomplish, but it might not happen depending on how my body handles things.  Which marathon do I have dreams of running?  Well you’ll have to wait to find out! Hint hint

3. Work on Intuitive Eating.  I really got more serious about this last year, but haven’t worked on it in a while.  It’s difficult with my work schedule and that I know I should eat at certain hours even if I’m not hungry (break times, before work, etc).  But I’ll try my best.

4. Start strength training again.  Since my oblique injury in August, I haven’t done any strength training.  None.  This is not okay with me.  Not only do I like the perks of strength training (hello toned arms, abs, and thighs), but I also know it’s important for bone health.  I also like knowing that I’m “stronger” than most girls, and being able to whip out 20-30 pushups

5. Get serious about my “Get back to my happy weight” plan.  I’ve been trying to amp up my “happy weight” plan for a while, but things keep getting in the way (injuries, work, too busy, etc).  Sure I have a number in my head I’d love to achieve, but I won’t hold myself to it.  Instead, I hope to fit back into my favorite jeans by the end of the year.  Comfortably, I might add.  I have a plan of how I’m going to achieve this, but won’t go into such details on the blog.  Think intuitive eating, workout schedule (weights and gym time), cutting back on mindless snacking at babysitting, etc.  I’ve come to terms with my weight gain, and I know it’s not the end of the world.  However, I’d still like to fit into my favorite jeans!!  

6. Get into a good internship and be excited about where I’m going.  This is a goal, but obviously not one I have control over (once I apply!).  If I don’t get into an internship, life will go on.  If I don’t get into one I want, life will go on.  No matter what, things will work out!

7. Do something social once per week.  Obviously, if I have application stuff to work on, I have an excuse.  But if I’m invited to dinner, movies, hang out, etc. – don’t let feeling lazy or tired hold me back.  It’s important to keep up a social life to maintain a good quality of life.  Lately I’ve felt like my life is work work work.  With a bit of loneliness on the side.  It’s time to work on that!

8. Try a new fitness class at the gym once per month.  Once per month?  That sounds like nothing.  But my schedule doesn’t really work with the gym’s exercise schedule.  And I joined the gym for a reason – I need to get my money’s worth!

9. Keep my room, wallet, car and life organized.  I’ve been so busy, these things just get soooooo messy and it adds so much more stress to my life.  Which I don’t need.

 

And now the biggie hard resolution I’m determined to keep:

10. Hot chocolate only once per week.  I’m a huge hot chocolate drinker.  Pretty much every single night.  I’ve noticed it gives me stomach aches when I wake up in the morning.  And also, I want to give myself a challenge!  And now’s the time  

 

Obviously these are all goals.  And most of them are normal goals that I have on an everyday basis.  There’s just something about the start of a new year though that gives you a thrill of starting something new.  Maybe it’s because everyone is as fresh and excited as you are?

 

Anyways, last night and today for lunch I cooked!!  Okay, it was still half-cooking, but still. 

Last night I threw together some butternut squash ravioli (which were delicious, but overcooked and soggy.  I’ll have to be better about that next time).

And today for lunch, I threw a Quorn chicken patty on the George Foreman, topped it off with some magno-cranberry salsa, threw some beans on the side, and called myself a chef.

So maybe I should’ve had the beans in a separate bowl….

I have to say – massively unimpressed with the Quorn chicken that I got 50% off the other day.  Maybe it’s because I’ve seen it on numerous blogs, I expected something more?  Rubbery, bland, and kind of disgusted me. 

And then I made some iced coffee.  On the floor.  In our dining room (which is really just a location next to the kitchen where the table “should” go.  If we had a table.  Which we don’t.  And dining room makes our house sounds fancy).

Maybe it’s because the outlets in our kitchen weren’t working.  Or maybe it’s because I wanted to sneakily show a picture of one of my new Christmas presents that I’ll be using shortly. 

You’ll never know.

Maybe I should make one of my resolutions to use every kitchen gadget (3) that I got for Christmas at least once this year.  Seeing as how I still have a mini-BBQ that I bought in August sitting unopened in the garage.  Whoops.

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