Peanut Butter & Jelly Oats
I am watching the greatest chef on FitTV! “A Lyon in the Kitchen,” anyone heard or watched?
Right now he’s working on Vietnamese Pho and a tofu salad. OH MY GOSH, it looks so good. Pho is maybe one of the best soups ever. A super hearty meal, and an excellent cure for even the most nasty hangovers. :] The base comes out so hot, the thinly sliced meats generally cook right there in the broth … Makes for tender and succulent cuts and a great freshness with spices like basil and star anise!
We sadly don’t have any Pho noodle houses in my town. 
I had the opportunity to get my hair done today. Boy, did I need it. My hair is so much lighter than I remembered …. So, I had her put a lot more of my natural light brown and light blonde woven into the dark. I am so much happier with the color this time around! She did a really great job with fine highlights and a variety of tones … It is pretty!
*More photos of those later. ;]
I had a quick yet delicious breakfast after having the opportunity to sleep in AND time for a decent run!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Oats!
Adding a dash of cinnamon put a fun spin on it!
I have realized so much with all of the chaos and classes and work and yoga and lack of running going on, just what matters to me and what is important.
- Family and GOOD, real, honest friends. The people that have been there through thick and thin.
- The time to appreciate a good meal. The time to put it together, and enjoy every little step.
- Real, honest, relaxation … (Thank you, Yi Yoga!)
- The time to treat my body like the temple that it is.
Time is a slippery thing. We never have enough of it and we constantly fill up our days with more things to do! I appreciate downtime, and cannot wait until I am in a position to be able to sit on the back porch with a cup of coffee in the quiet morning with a little sunshine. It’s those little things that add up for me.
The few moments I had to sleep in, the time I had to run, the time I had to slow down and enjoy the fresh air and the brisk sun … I held these precious moments with me all day.
I have become ungrateful. I complain about yoga taking up my time to run, when yoga is a beautiful practice and I feel so, so wonderful to have the opportunity that I do. So many people would kill for the time that I have in the yoga studio. I complain about only being able to run 3 days a week … As much as I love running, I love running even more when I have the chance to do it, it is such a treat! I think I am more upset because it means I have to do a better job of watching what I eat to make sure I don’t become a tubber tubber. 
Yes, I actually have to be responsible for what I eat. Oh boo, poor me!
Speaking of eating, I tried at least to keep it healthy for the rest of the day …
I had two granola bars while sitting in the salon. I was there for 4 hours! When I got home from the salon and running errands (grocery shopping!) I had 1/2 of a HUGE Braeburn apple, with sliced turkey deli meat and a handful of cashews. Then off to Yin Yoga I went. This is such a beautiful style of yoga. It’s more joint focused than muscle focused. I just want to say, I have become much more relaxed and much more flexible thanks to my time at Yogis!
After yoga, I finished the apple, had a few more slices of deli turkey meat and another handful of nuts before diving into some cupcake batter and making a little treat. :] These are german chocolate cupcakes with egg whites and plain non-fat yogurt instead of oil.
Do you see something a little OFF here? Yes I didn’t have a muffin tin! So I just laid them out on a flat baking pan. Some of them did just fine, but they did flatten out some … especially the few that I over-filled!
I dropped some walnuts into the bottom of the cups. This was a nice little surprise. :] A cream cheese frosting to top it off. Quite delicious.
I have a kitchen full of these little things! Haha, I think I will freeze them and save them for later.
Well, I am off to clean up the kitchen. It’s another busy few days ahead of me again, sorry if I lag in posting, bloggies.
Have a great rest of your week!
4 comments November 19, 2009
My Schedule
For the next few weeks, things are going to be hectic round hurr.
It’s just 3 weeks out until the end of term and I am SO excited. It’s been hellaciously busy, like I haven’t had the energy to run, and I cry myself to sleep at night because of it. :[
My schedule resembles something like this:
Wake-up between 5 and 6 am, eat a quick breakfast and head to the Physical Therapy clinic for my internship until 10:45, rush home, change into office attire, hope I made a lunch or grab something from the freezer, drive 30 minutes to work, work for 5-6 hours to pay the bills, sit through 30-45 minutes of traffic on the way home, rush home, change for yoga, complete hour-and-a-half of yoga (various styles) and then hit the gym for the real calorie-burner and love: running. By the time I am out of the gym it’s 9:00pm.
Many nights, I am too exhausted to hit the gym for a run, so these days, I am lucky if I can get 2-3 runs in a week. Because you see, I also have other classes I have to attend do and homework to finish and papers to write. I don’t consider Yoga a workout, as only one of the classes is even somewhat vigorous. I do enjoy it with my running, but since it is taking away from my running, I have really begun to resent it. I am taking it as an elective this term, but I am going to be so happy when I don’t have to attend 5 days a week anymore.
I also have been feeling really sluggish, because I have been eating an excess of sugar. All the carbohydrates that I am used to are not being burned up by running and I’m feeling poop-y. I am concentrating on eating a lower-carb, more nutrient rich diet, even if it is just to get me through the Holidays.
I am off to run right now though, and am pretty jazzed about that!
2 comments November 18, 2009
Snap Snap
A Night in Photos, starring Matt; room matie.
These are my shoulders and my crossed feet. I love my immaturity.
Having fun with Photo Booth. Another reason I love my Mac. :]
Add comment November 18, 2009
Blueberries and Bisquick Love!
Tis the season! :] Are we getting excited or what!?
I’m contemplating throwing a little Christmas gathering. Involving the ugliest sweaters known to man kind. An occasion that would grandma PROUD.
The sweateriest bash of the season.
I’m so sorry blogging has really taken a back seat the last few months. I am excited that it should become a little bit more regular after tomorrow! I still have my dedicated readers that still check in, and I thank you! I love sharing my fitness and nutritious exploits with you.
I have managed to snap a few photos, a little half-heartedly, I admit! This is a breakfast from sometime in the last few days, consisting of Quaker instant oats, microwaved with frozen blackberries and sprinkled with a little vanilla nut granola. 
This has been a new favorite of mine over the last week or two. Granola is a naughty little treat – it is so caloric! I but it in the bulk bins and just buy small amounts at a time and very rarely.
I am trying to transition to more protein and nutrient dense breakfasts, like egg and veggie scrambles.
3 egg whites + 1 whole egg + mushrooms + bell peppers + onion + sriracha sauce = spicy delishness!
I also call it Rooster sauce. COCK A DOODLE DOOOOOOO.
A wee bit goes a long way.
So yesterday’s work out was interesting. I started out working out in my room, with a little Ab Ripper X. I haven’t done it in a while, and holy hell bells, it’s HARD.
This is my total pain face afterwards … 350 core and abdominal exercises later. (!!!)
And then I thought I would break out the hour long PLYOMETRICS DVD from P90X. I couldn’t find it. So I decided to just head outside for a run. I was totally unprepared. It was frigid outside! I ended up calling my sister and she kept me company (I run with my iPhone, use it as my iPod) … then my phone died (seems to be doing a lot of that these days) and so I had to finish the next 35 minutes of my run without music. All-in-all, it was a great, brisk, refreshing, CHILLY 5 miler.
My lips were numb by the time I ended up getting home. Talking was awkward, to say the least. Smiling hurt.
After a hot shower, a nice veggie satuee and a glass of red wine, I sat down with the boys and made us some treats!
I used the recipe on the back of the Bisquick box for strawberry shortcake.
Then, I used some frozen blueberries mixed with a little sugar, cinnamon and maple syrup – heated in the microwave to boiling and bubbly, and poured it over the flaky, crumbly biscuits, hot from the oven!
Yum. I wouldn’t mind another one of these bad boys at all!
Tonight’s workout was another interesting one!
- Ab Ripper X (at ”cardio” pace to really keep the HR up)
- First 20 min of Plyo P90x
- Another 20 min of random cardio activies on my own while watching My Best Friends Girl.
Things like jumping jacks, running in place, high-knees, jump squats, etc. Just lots of random moving. If the roomie would have walked in and seen me, he probably would have tried to rescue me, as my “exercise” resembled something more like a full body dry heave.
As soon as the HR monitor hit 400 calories burned, I cooled down and jumped in the shower.
I wasn’t much hungry for dinner, so an apple and some nuts did the trick for protein and a little yum yum.
Californication is on now! Tomorrow is a busy day of interning, working and then yoga! I’ll try to take as many photos as I can. Have a Happy Monday!
6 comments November 16, 2009
Outside the Box
Today’s Food For Thought: Much of the time, I take my life too seriously. I do not make time to watch myself going back and forth in a seemingly irrational, chaotic and meaningless journey that is not taking me anywhere. Both ends of the box are open, yet I choose to stay inside. I believe that most of us do that. We haven’t learned how to take ourselves less seriously and relax. Keeping busy, gives us less time to ponder where we are coming from and where we are going. It’s scary outside of the box.
I checked the weather for tomorrow morning and I am super excited to share that it will be rain-free! You bet your cinnamon buns I am setting my alarm for 6:45am and planning to be out that door by 7:00am for a nice, long 60 minute run. I hope to log 6 miles tomorrow.
I am getting very excited.
Has anyone thought about their New Years Resolution(s)? I keep toying with the idea of running 1,000 miles in 2010. :]
2 comments November 14, 2009
Running in the Quiet
It’s a Sleepy Hollow like morning here in Oregon. :] how are you!?
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I’m posting on my iPhone again, so I apologize for all the photos being added at the end of this post!
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I made a Facebook post about my disheartened running, because of the rain, and the new challenges that come with running on a treadmill day in and day out.
I recieved quite a few replies from friends that said running in the rain is quite liberating if its not too cold. So, I decided to put all of my electrical toys away and planned to run 6-7 miles this morning with just myself and my Polar.
I’m fueling with coffee (and a scoop of hot cocoa) and making some gluten-free hot cereal from Bob’s Red Mill. I’m cooking it stove top, adding some flax and cranberries and sweetening with a little maple syrup! I would put maple syrup on everything if I could!
I’ll be running about 3 miles to my yoga studio, then finishing up my run on the way back afterwards.
I’m excited to sport my new Nike compression shirt
Well, I’m finishing up this cereal, it’s pretty good! And I need to get change and vamos!
Have a great morning, bloggies. Oh and photo quality isn’t great, these were all taken from my phone.
3 comments November 11, 2009
My First iPhone Post?
I’m laying down, typing this on my phone! This may not sound that rad, but trust me, this makes blogging so much more accessible. [: No Spell Check, so I apologize in advance for errors.
Let's test adding photos! [:
This is my iPhone wallpaper at the moment :] No, he’s not mine… But one day!
Okay, off to play with this app a little more.
Real updates coming soon. :]
1 comment November 10, 2009
Sassy Lassie
I’m happy I made the choice I did and stayed close to home last night.
I got off work, went for a nice 5.5 mile run, burned 540 calories, and then jumped in the shower and started preparing for the festivities!
I’ve never actually dressed up for Halloween. I know, right? I’m recalling Halloween’s past, and I remember I usually just stayed at home with a few beers and a few friends and just handed out candy.
So, this being one of the first Halloween’s single and of the legal drinking age – I decided to spice it up! I’m a sassy lassie. This little bad boy getup even came with a satchel! (The Hangover, anyone?)
This is just one photo of many. I met friends at the local watering hole of the tiny town I grew up in … I mean, within city limits, there is less than a thousand people! My graduating class consisted of about 90 kids. We’re all close. Everyone has a cousin of a cousin who knew this aunt who lived there 45 years ago on the old Bernard Farm, yadda yadda. Small town love!
My best friend:
… was working the bar. One of the reasons we decided to just bring the party to her. Her uncle owns the place. So, this meant free everything.
And a lot of silly fun with good people.
I drank two long-islands. But it feels like 20000 right now … Ugh.
I also shared a helping of french fries with a slew of peeps.
I had a Lean Cuisine before bed, and a girls gotta LOVE pre-portioned meals to keep from over-indulging when one is in a state like that. MUNCHIES, anyone?
Today’s eat’s have been random, for sure. I woke up with a pounding headache, (I have been drinking loads of water all day.) munched a small bowl of Raisin Bran, which wasn’t enough, so I munched a small bowl of 1/3 c. oats, dried berries and walnuts. Went back to sleep. Woke again, around noon, to put together this lovely egg scramble.
1 whole egg + 3 egg whites + 3 slices turkey bacon + frozen fiesta beans & veggie mix = fuggin good.
With a tablespoon of Yumm Sauce. LOVE IT.
And just a few moments ago, I had soupy helping of oatmeal again.
In my oatmeal:
- .5 cups oats
- small banana
- sprinkle of walnuts
- sprinkle of dried cran/cherry mix
- cinnamon, allspice, clove and orange zest.
- Lots of water to make it nice and soupy. Makes a soul feel good.
I just made a pot of coffee. I am hoping coffee’s laxative effect will help me out – if you catch my drift …
4 comments November 2, 2009
Great Run Today
I could have been more productive today – but the fact I was so productive the last two days and also will have a busy day tomorrow and Friday – means I wanted to take today easy.
Today’s run was wonderful. I slept in a little, made various phone calls to financial aid, the school library, family and my insurance agent. Thank goodness for delish hazelnut coffee. I don’t know where I’d be without it! I even cleaned the kitchen, vacuumed and cleaned my room!
I dressed in my running clothes before even leaving my bedroom this morning. So yes, I was making phone calls and drinking coffee in my running gear – but this meant that it was the next thing on my list! It helps if you’re ever one to put off a workout.
I snacked on grapes but saved eating a real meal until after my run. I ran for 1 hour, 10 minutes, an average HR of 167! And a high of 192. I was pushing myself and pushing myself, and I felt really great! I stopped at the gym at about 25 minutes in, and had a sip of water and also did some squats with 8 lb. weights and single legged lunges. I was excited to see a 640 calorie burn when I got home.
When I got home I chugged a huge glass of water and immediatley pulled out:
- two slices whole wheat bread
- 3 slices turkey
- handful fresh spinach
and threw it all together for a bland sandwich. nom nom nom.
I love sandwiches just like this though! soft bread, good, lean turkey, crunchy spinach!
Then, I hopped in the shower, got ready to go. Hit up the library to print out my resume, filled an an application for a certain location, and dropped them off. The big man won’t be back until Tuesday, so cross your fingers for me. I’ll go back in and talk to him then.
I drove out to Yamhill (20 minutes, country roads) out to see the Auntie. Oh, love the farm! Chatted with her for a bit, then hit up old Trask Mountain Outpost for a lovely birthday dinner with the bestie’s family. It was her dad’s birthday. She showed me her costume, it’s uber cute! A sailor!
I ate a naughty, naughty sandiwch. I thought it was a whole wheat turkey and ham. It ended up coming with bacon, cheese, mayonnaise, and was like grilled with butter! My stomach feels like shit. I only ate 1/2. And a few fries. And a beer!
I am off to get ready for bed.
Tomorrow:
- 5:20 wakeup
- Gym by 5:45
- Home and showering by 7:15 (time for breakfast and coffee)
- Off to internship at 8:50
- 9-11 – internship
- Change for work, off to work by 11:20
- 12-5:30 working!
- then after work, up to portland, shopping for halloween costume!
Goodnight!
Add comment October 29, 2009
FML.
It’s been really hard to not get all caught up in life. But, finances are tight (I’m hunting for a second job, like I don’t have a busy enough schedule already?) and dealing with being single – it’s crap.
Waffles. That I made for myself. I don’t mind, but the fact there is no no one in the world that even cares I made these and that I have no one to share with – really breaks my dumb little heart.
P.S. – I hate my heart right now. It’s much too sensitive.
A bedroom, that I should try cleaning sometime.
Homework I should try working on. I have so many medical terms to learn it’s absurd.
Random fun nights that I need more of.
FML.
15 comments October 28, 2009
