Challenging Week and Hunger Games

I’ve been MIA all week. So what was I up to? Getting my eye numbed (had eye pain for about 5 days and finally got it checked out), tough talks about the future of my career, updating my resume, taking lots of walks outside, going to the dentist and working until midnight last night. It was a challenging week for other reasons too, mostly involving work, which led to a very sleepless night and tired Thursday.

I didn’t make it to the gym a lot. I did get there yesterday and had part of a Larabar before my workout. Ironically, while running on the treadmill, I watched a Joy Bauer segment on the Today Show about not needing to eat before working out. She said it was actually counterproductive, but recommends something small like a banana. Joy also recommended having caffeine about a half hour before your workout.

Lunch was a scrambled egg, asparagus and a roma tomato.

I also tried some new protein powder as a recovery drink. My sweet co-worker brought it in for me to try out since she knows I am always trying to make sure I get enough protein in my diet. It was tasty!

This morning, we went to the bank to update one of Craig’s accounts. While waiting for the banker, I got to use a Keurig for the first time! I loved it. I think one would be so nice for an office. The coffee was delicious!

After the bank, we went to Oak Creek and got a free lunch. I’ll write a review tomorrow as we felt so lucky to get a nice big meal for nothing!

And then it was Hunger Games time! I haven’t been this excited for a movie in a while.

I gave it two thumbs up! I loved the book though and think the adaptation was a good one. Craig liked it too and he had only read half of the book…mind you, the first half which is more boring than the second.

I loved the actors in the movie and the sets.

We stopped at Target after the movie and I found this finally. Hooray!

I purchased the Raspberry Fudge Chunk and tried it when we got home. It was pretty tasty.

We haven’t been home all day, so I am glad I can relax a little tonight and look into some things. Once I know more about my future, I’ll clue you in with my decision. I am excited, but a little nervous too.

Hope you had a fabulous Saturday!

Preview of Larry Crowne

Last night, I didn’t have time to blog because I literally went home from work, meditated, and then cooked up some tofu on the stove, ate dinner and ran to the mall to meet my mom to see this movie during a free preview.

source

The movie was just ok. My mom enjoyed it and I think most of the older crowd in the audience did. I thought it was predictable and the story wasn’t one that I could relate to (unemployment, foreclosure, divorce), nor do I want to face those subjects when I go to the movies. I like to escape the bad news of the state of our economy, not face it head on. Definitely a rental–I wouldn’t recommend going to it in the theater.

Yesterday’s meals and fitness:

Breakfast–cinnamon raisin bagel thins with cream cheese. I used the last of my coupons to review these courtesy of Thomas and I loved this flavor. I prefer the thins over huge bagels now. They are great for sandwiches and perfect for breakfast.

Snacks at work:

Coffee and poppy seed cake

A banana and my jeans on our “casual” day

Lunch was a Morningstar black bean burger, red pepper slices, a vanilla activia yogurt and a string cheese.

I got my workout in during my lunch break doing our 45 minute yoga session. I spoke to the teacher before class and it turns out that she teaches at my YMCA like I thought she did and then when I mentioned the yoga teachers I like there, she said that one of them is her mom! It all clicked because they look and speak alike! The thing I like best in their similarities is that they both like to put scented towels over our eyes during the rest session at the end. Our scent yesterday was lavender-which was fabulous!

I did miss doing some cardio and strength training after work though.

Dinner was tofu with Penzey’s Mural of Flavor again, a blueberry chobani and Pomegranate Green Iced Tea from Trader Joe’s.

Are you looking forward to seeing any particular movies this summer? I am most interested in seeing The Help. I guess I am behind on what else is coming out, so The Help is all I can think of. I really want to read The Hunger Games and then see that movie, but I don’t know its’ release date. The hubby is reading it now on his kindle and then I will get to it next!

Wish there was more time in the day…

I may not blog tonight because if Craig and I get lucky, we’ll get in free to the movie Source Code tonight. Our local paper offers free tickets if they draw your name, but there are always long lines and no guarantee that you’ll get into the movie. We’re going to try anyway and hope we can get in because we both want to see the movie.

So, I have to leave work a little early, meditate, hit the gym for a quick session and then shower, eat something and leave the house. I really wish I could have worked out this morning, but my body needed the sleep. I finally woke up refreshed and feeling better than I did yesterday.

Hope you’re having a great Tuesday!

Movie day

Today was movie day, in honor of the Oscars of course! We finally got to the theater to see The King’s Speech. I really enjoyed it and so did Craig. I also find Colin Firth to be extremely attractive. I explained to Craig the whole Mr. Darcy Pride and Prejudice thing, but he doesn’t get it that I would like “an old man.” There is something about Colin though–I think his eyes exude kindness and vulnerability. I hope he wins Best Actor tonight! His acting was superb in the movie and I enjoyed learning more about the Royal family.

Breakfast today was french toast! I am not sure if I have ever made it before. I used a recipe off of my half and half bottle from Target. Craig hadn’t had it with vanilla extract and cinnamon before and said it tasted different. I loved it with those ingredients because I don’t think my mom made it with those when I was growing up. It tasted like it was made in a restaurant.

I completely forgot that I wanted to add some Nutella to it until my last two bites, so I added some and it was pure bliss.

I ate a quick burrito with refried beans, cheddar cheese and Frank’s Red Hot before we went to the movie.

For some reason, the movie made Craig and I tired so we napped when we got back. I slept way too long and then got up to go to the gym.

I did 10 minutes on the rowing machine, 16 on the bike while reading about Happiness in Real Simple magazine and lifted weights on a few machines and some free weights.

Dinner was a mango pineapple smoothie with protein powder.

And two pieces of frozen pizza with some added broccoli.

Dessert was a Fit & Active mint chocolate ice cream sandwich.

Ok, time to switch the laundry, look around on the internet a bit and then it’ll be bedtime before I know it!

Hope your weekend was an excellent one.

Stress, stress go away

I can’t believe the weekend is over. Here’s what we’ve been up to.

Yesterday, I woke up in a fog of thoughts and heart palpitations. We’ll leave it at that. This cannot be a healthy living blog if I cannot get past one particular aspect of stress that keeps haunting my life. Let’s just say Friday was my lucky day until about 11:15 p.m. and then all hell broke loose.

I woke up and had this for breakfast:

Craig and I were going to see The King’s Speech yesterday, but decided to save it for today instead.

Yesterday, we went shopping for organizational items for our house!

Before our big shopping trip, we fueled up at Qdoba. I had a small chicken tortilla soup and a naked burrito.

I was like a kid in a candy store shopping for organizational items, especially since all of the things we purchased should end up being free through his work. We ended up at Target, Home Depot and Office Max. We got a few things at Home Depot and most items at Target. We came away with a nice 5 prong hook to hang in our staircase for our keys, my purse, our coats, scarves, etc.; a big plastic tote for storage; huggable hangers; a three tiered shelf for the kitchen cabinet; a three drawer cabinet for our hallway closet (we put medicine in it); four plastic containers with lids; and a shelf for the garage. It will feel good to have our small house a bit more organized with these items!

I also was like a kid in a candy store when I went to Sentry grocery store and found Chobani for $1.00 each, thanks to a tip from Karis at Karis’ Kitchen. Thanks Karis! The weird thing was that I must have looked like I found the best thing ever because the lady handing out samples next to the yogurt section said to me, “what’s with greek yogurt anyway?” She basically wanted to know if it was a “gimmick” and I explained why greek yogurt is superior to regular yogurt, in my opinion of course. I told her that for me, as someone who eats a mostly vegetarian diet, it is great to eat a yogurt that has 14-17 g of protein every day. I also explained that the ingredients were ones I was comfortable putting in my body every day. By the end, I had convinced her to buy a couple of Chobani yogurts and try them for herself. Made me wish I was a registered dietitian as I walked away because my true passion comes out when I talk about nutrition.

I lounged around at night, had a big salad for dinner.

A Fit & Active (Aldi) mint ice cream sandwich was my dessert.

I had a glass of wine later on. Because it makes me tired, I didn’t have it until close to bedtime and then I was tired when we played Wii play right before bed. Oh well!

This is the Three Wishes wine from Whole Foods. It is their “two buck chuck” and I found it to be ok, not the best flavor, so just ok. What do you expect for $2.99 though!?

Now onto blog about today while I watch the Oscars. Inception is winning a lot of awards at this moment! Are you watching the Oscars?

Movie day

I go to movies in the theater about 3 times a year. I have to really want to see a movie in order to pay about $10 to see it in the theater. Otherwise, I checkout DVDs from the library. This year, I have seen Avatar, Inception and Eat Pray Love in the the theater. I have seen some movies on the big screen for free. For some reason, all I can remember seeing for free is The Social Network.

Today is a treat because I am meeting two of my friends to see Black Swan this afternoon. I heard it was good and I expect it to be “dark” as I have read in some of the reviews.

I got to sleep in a little this morning. Surprisingly, the cats were not whining at the baby gates for us to feed them. Neither seemed to have an appetite after I removed the gates either. This worries me a little bit because I keep thinking that once Karma loses his appetite, the rest is downhill for his health. I hope this isn’t the case.

I was hungry this morning and had coffee, Kashi’s Go Lean Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble and a clementine. The cereal was just ok. I received a little sample in the mail through Vocalpoint and some nice coupons, so I bought a big box at the store yesterday before I even tried it.

One of my favorite TV shows, CBS Sunday Morning, had my favorite actor on it today: Matt Damon! I have loved Matt Damon since Good Will Hunting. He’s so down to earth (and not bad to look at either).

It’s almost noon, so time to shower and figure out what to eat for lunch.
My tummy is grumbling again.

I haven’t decided if my sore body means I should take a rest day from the gym or not. I kind of want to go swimming, but we’ll see how I feel after the movie.