Toys toys galore

Toy overload. I walked to a pet store w. Noma earlier this morning but much to my surprise, it wasn't open. After waiting around for 10 mins, I realized the 9:45 a.m. open sign should have read "to the owner's discretion." Thankfully, I found a cute pet boutique near my gym called "Love your Pets" so I didn't have to go far.

She sure loves her toys!

The owner of the boutique asked me "how many dogs do you own?" :P Sonoma might as well count for two dogs seeing as she rips apart her toys within days!

Stopped by the store today to pick up some pie crusts for Turkey Day. T will be making pumpkin pie!

Also picked up some dates and prunes for healthy snacking.

To make my lunches more filling, I sometimes like to add in some healthy whole wheat carbs.

And some protein since I want to rebuild my muscles. I had a very productive leg workout today. Lots of squats, lunges, raises, and deadlifts.

Salad mix:

• romaine lettuce
• spinach
• asparagus
• avocado
• red onions
• dates
• chicken
• ranch dressing 
• siracha
• whole wheat pasta

Yum! I'm on a salad kick lately.

Dessert was a smoothie topped w. cranberry maple muesli and green tea.
Smoothie mix:

• handful of spinach
• 1/2 of a frozen banana
• frozen berries (raspberries, peaches, blackberries)
• milk
• vanilla yogurt
• agave nectar
• 1/4 cup of water to thin out the smoothie

Still trying to kick this cold. I feel like I'm eating and sleeping properly. I feel like I'm being punished for not being sick in a long time!! Sad face Hanna :(

Interesting side note: I stepped on the scale today and realized I have gained some weight. I shouldn't really be too surprised since I haven't been eating the greatest lately but interestingly enough, I wasn't the least bit upset or sad. In fact, I felt nothing upon the realization that I'm a lot heavier than I initially thought. I point this out because I believe this is due to my recent change in mindset. I no longer feel driven to the gym by a need to lose weight. My fitness goals are to become stronger, live longer, and maintain an overall healthier lifestyle. I respond more to how my body looks and how I feel than to a number on a scale. I guess you could also say I've grown up and become more comfortable in my body. I no longer value being too thin and appreciate my curves for what they are; extra padding for the winter :)

Squeak w. your beak

So much for our recent resolution of "no more fried chicken, no more pizza, no more kabobs." On second thought... were kabobs ever on the list?

Kabob or not, I know greasy fries were not included.

But it is o' so tasty! I made sure to get my fill of the purple vegetable stuff (smothered in some delicious and calorific sauce)

At least breakfast this morning was somewhat healthier.

Oats:

• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup water
• raisins
• goji berries
• squeeze of honey
• green monster muffin crumble

 w. blueberries and grapes on the side.

Afternoon agenda: more studying and a trip to the pet store. My dog hasn't had any toys to play with in over a week. Poor girl has resorted to chewing on useless plastic.

I better run out and get her something before I get reported to the pet abuse hotline.

Cute story of the morning: Baby's got a brand new beak!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/22/baby-penguin-new-beak-video_n_787102.html

Virgin Wines

When I was younger, I always wanted to belong to one of those wine clubs where you get wine delivered to you every so often. Enter into the picture: Virgin Wines.

We're sure getting a lot of deliveries these days...

Have I died and gone to Wine Heaven? Someone pinch me.....but NOT too hard! ;)

Wine-O's beware.. it's all MINE!!! Oh and T's.. I guess. :o)

They even include a binder in the shipment along with a card for each wine and a space to write one's own notes re: taste, smell, etc.

After my workout today, I stopped by Chapel Market to pick up some fruits. So much cheaper than buying it in the grocery stores.

I bought all that for £3.20! See! I knew I could bargain shop.

Lunch:

 Having a cold makes me crave warm soups.

with lots of additional spices. What is wrong w. me?! I swear I was born w. a chili pepper in my mouth.

Salad ingredients:

• romaine lettuce
• spinach
• avocados
• red onions (pre sliced for the lazy cook)
• chicken breast (oven roasted w. evoo, salt, and peppa)
• siracha 
• ranch

Soup w. lots of winter veggies which I guess are corn, carrots, peas, and potatos.

Snack: green tea w. green monster muffin from this morning

Where has the afternoon flown by? I haven't done any studying and it's already 5 p.m. Job or not, time really does whizz by!

Get yo greens on.

I saw this recipe for green monster muffins and knew I had to try em out asap. The thing that drew me to them was the color. I love eating green!
http://thechiclife.com/2010/07/green-monster-muffins-recipe.html

 Dry Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup regular flour
• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking soda

Love the smell of cinnamon!!

Wet ingredients:

•  1 egg
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• zest of one lemon 

Didn't have any applesauce so I substituted whatever vanilla yogurt I had left in these two containers.

 

Swirling of the vanilla extract

Substituted sunflower instead of canola oil

I prepared the wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately. I then waited patiently for the grocery man so I could add in my spinach.

I tried processing the tightly packed spinach in my Vitamix. It sort of worked. The vitamix isn't really a processor though so I had to roughly chop some of the spinach by hand.

Gradually mixed in the wet into the dry

Went a little loco with the lemon zest.

Decided to make 9 gigantor muffins.

Still getting used to the oven. I could have waited to dig into one. I know you're supposed to wait til they cool. But waiting isn't really my thing..

I forwent the rules schmules! The top provided a slight crunch and the taste was pleasantly sweet. The lemon zest really flavored the muffins nicely. What a great way to incorporate some of your greens into your diet. SUCCESS!! And a side bonus, the house smells heavenly :)

The rest of my breakfast:

More cereal w. black coffee on the side

Our fridge is stocked once again. Thankfully, we were able to order canned pumpkin this time. I just realized I should probably stock up for the year while I have the chance.

Agenda for the day: zumba, arms, study, walk the furry, get rid of this cold once and for all.

Throwback song of the day: The Verve Pipe "The Freshman"

Is it Christmas!?

We were in desperate need of some additional pots and pans. There's no greater frustration while cooking than having to wait for certain pots to be clean in order to start on another dish.

T included a WOK in the delivery. YAY! I had mentioned wanting one several times. Not that I make many dishes that require using a wok but it would be fun to try :-D. Who else gets this excited about new household products?!

We are finally getting SKY internet tomorrow **fingers crossed**. It's been a long uphill battle for T in trying to get us internet. He's had to fight w. SKY for the past three.. yes you heard me right. THREE MONTHS!! They are the slowest company known to man. I thought Comcast was bad. Yeesh.

While waiting for SKY, we've been paying to use BTOpenzone. We've spent lotso'money while waiting for SKY to get their act together. Blergh. Enough ranting for now.

Dinner: Minestrone soup w. veggie burger. Our fridge is EMPTY! Thankfully, I have a grocery delivery scheduled for tomorrow morning.

The soup needed some additional salt, pepper, and chili flakes cuz I like it hawt!

Veggie burger w. mayo, siracha, dijon mustard, and a bit of ketchup.

Making sure not to splatter all over my books..

I appreciate soups with lots of texture. Pasta, beans, carrots, tomatoes, onions. It was definitely a hearty soup.

Dipping of the crust action. Yumm-O.

Snack:

Can't get enough of these Cadbery Crunchies. At only 80kcal a pop, I had two!

Back to sleeping urhm.. studying.

Internet update: SKY INTERNET IS UP AND RUNNING! YAYYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!

Almost there

I had my first weight lifting workout in about 4 days and it feels so good to be back!!! :-D My nose is still runny and I sound a bit hoarse (if only I didn't have this cold and I could have a sexy raspy voice, he he he) but I definitely feel ten times better than the last few days. Must be the workout endorphins talkin.

Breakfast this morning:

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup oats
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup milk
• dash of salt
• dash of cinnamon
• tablespoon flaxseeds
• goji berries and raisins
• almonds
• tablespoon almond butter

Looks messy but it's very warm and satisfying

Lunch: Sainsbury salad bar

There were a ton of options to choose from. You could choose between the S, M, or L tin. Obviously I chose the LARGE.

 

Don't exactly remember all that I crammed into the container but I know there are some spicy chickpeas (my favorite), moroccan cous cous, pasta salad, beets, olives, cucumbers, onions, bean salad.

I left behind the potatoes because they didn't have much flavor and I was fuull! It was a very satisfying vegetarian meal.

Afternoon agenda: Take Noma to the park and study some more. I'll be learning about muscles, bones, and joints today. Fun stuff.