Personal day

Last night's dinner of shepherd's pie (Bigham's) and sauteed veggies:
in the mix:
Mushrooms
Garlic
Bok choy
siracha
soy sauce
seasame oil
salt and pepper

the vegetables were a super tasty side

a nice crispy mashed potato topping

 

T made us another omelette this morning. Breakfast together is becoming quite the tradition lately. I'm not complaining because I've been trying to get my husband to eat breakfast and if this is the only way he'll do it, then fine by me!

 

The omelette included shallots, mushrooms, cheese, and garlic on top of a 1/2 of a sesame bagel. Delish!

I skipped class today because I came down with a minor cold yesterday and I needed a de-stress day. I did some Zumba this morning at home and a little sweat was just what the doctor ordered. I've been so scared to do anything drastic on my foot lately that I've avoided exercise like the plague these past couple weeks. Today I decided that I was doing more harm to my body than good just sitting and sulking on my ass. Definitely the right decision to get some endorphins flowing w. a small workout. I have faith my foot will heal soon :)

Lunch:

Waitrose spinach and ricotta cannelloni with some bolognese sauce and sliced up cheese on top (I forgot which kind I sliced up)

sauteed mushrooms and spinach for some extra veggies.

A very filling and delicious lunch!

I found another fitness website I love:

http://www.bodyrock.tv/2010/10/07/new-5-week-diet-challenge-for-super-hot-body/

Protein balls

I made these protein balls after seeing the recipe on a fellow blogger's website. OMG. They are SO GOOD. They tasted exactly like cookie dough, just like Gina promised! Yum! I didn't have quite enough for a tablespoon of maple sugar so I added in a generous squeeze of agave nectar. I'm going to have to hide these away so I don't tempt myself.
http://fitnessista.com/2011/01/ballz-for-all/
Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of chocolate whey powder

2 tablespoons almond butter
2 tablespoons coconut flakes
1 tablespoon and 1/2 of maple syrup and agave nectar
sprinkle of sea salt
generous sprinkle of cinnamon
tablespoon of dark chocolate chips
Ingredients mixed in the food processor and formed into balls:

the balls *hehe* have a nice crunchy texture from the protein powder and I love the almond butter taste with the sweetness the honey/agave nectar imparts. I have a feeling I'm going to be making more of these!!

Breakfast this morning:

Another protein and complex carb filled breakfast consisting of an omelete with sauteed yellow peppers, shallots and peppered boursin cheese on whole grain toast. A proper breakfast to fuel me through a day of outdoor training/assessments. We couldn't have asked for better weather today. Regent's Park was sunny and beautiful. oh and I passed! The only downside to this day was my ankle and the mud stains on my shoes!!

Dinner tonight was a mix of Bigham's mac n' cheese and turkey escalopes and veggies from T's work cafeteria. I only had to pop the mac n cheese in the oven. Simple is exactly what I needed after today's workouts. My body is so sore!

chocolate creme filled cake. It wasn't very good but somehow it managed to disappear. Hate it when that happens!

Exciting news... Tanya Beardsley is coming to London to teach a Zumba masterclass FREE to Zin members. I signed up and am SUPER stoked. She IS the Zumba Queen. :o) :o)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F5yLMum6ro&feature=related

Business cards

I think my ankle is starting to heal! This is great news!! It still hurts in the morning per usual but it isn't AS painful to walk on it. So yes, what I thought was a foot injury, turns out its my ankle instead. Unfortunately, my outdoor assessment is today so I'm going to be a pain in someone's ass and have to have them modify their exercises for my bum ankle. I'm praying for a quick heal so I can get back to my usual spunky self :)

The hubby brought back home my favorite mexican in a takeout box! Carne asada with pinto and black beans and all the other fixins. Yum!

They were definitely not stingy with the guacamole.

My business cards have arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited that I just might start handing them out to strangers. hehehe..

Quick muffin breakfast and I'm off to study my teaching portion of today's assessment. I'm hoping someone's looking out for me today!! :)

Last week

 

Yay!! Green monster muffins are back courtesy of: http://thechiclife.com/2010/07/green-monster-muffins-recipe.html

I also had help chopping up the spinach in our new food processor. I had used our blender previously and it hadn't worked out too well. This chopped the spinach perfectly!

I subsituted vanilla extract for almond and used strawberry fat free yogurt instead of applesauce.

They turned out great. I really love the flavor almond extract gives the muffins. Yum!

The hubby was craving mexican last night so he made chicken and shrimp fajitas. They were delicious! :). We finished the third season of True Blood last night. I'm not sure if I'm digging the show anymore. It's addicting but sort of redundant at the same time. I'm so tired of everyone crying on that show!!

Time to get ready for school ma! It's my last week. Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!!!!

Things I miss

Friday's lunch of open faced tuna sandwiches with romaine lettuce on top and a side of sauteed kale and spinach. I was only able to make it through one piece of bread. Future note for next time. My eyes are definitely bigger than my stomach!!

Snack of salsa and mashed up avocados

with some tortilla chips. I missed Baked Lays.

Hmm.... what else do I miss right now..

The Chicago skyline. There's nothing like driving up Ohio street and seeing the tall lit up city lights. So fucking beautiful!

the craziness that surrounds Wrigley. A sea of blue and red

Working out to Sports Center....or just working out period. I haven't gone to the gym in weeks. I hate my foot.

the sun. lake. warmth.. mmmm...

TJ'S!!!! Gotta love it. Is there anything similar to TJ's here in London????

Portillos and Chicago style hot dogs.

I'm missing all the March Madness action!!! I just can't seem to get into football aka soccer. It's a fun game and all but I have no personal attachments to it.

I'll be back in the states in May. Can't wait!!
Dinner on Friday: Papa Johns

Thin crust chicken bbq pizza.

Garden veggie pizza. We vegged out on the TV and watched some True Blood and Top Chef. We're down to the final 5! I'm rooting for Antonia :)

T made another mmm mmm delicious omelette with a side of fried halloumi cheese.

Peppers and cheese omelette on top of half a bagel.

Another brother and sister cooking lesson. On the menu: Thai food
Wonton wrapped shrimp dumplings
Yellow chicken curry
Shrimp and Tofu pad thai

Chicken curry on the pot!

The pad thai was delicious. My only regret was the portion size was too small for the 5 of us!

One fried and one steamed with sweet chili dipping sauce. I preferred the fried one :o) YUMM!!!

The chicken curry was spot on. It was very flavorful and just the right amount of spiceyness for everyone.

Chop Chop chinese for dinner:

thai style seafood vermicelli noodle soup. We always get this dish here because it is just that good. Coconut spicy soup with prawns and fishcakes.

Veggie spring rolls

Prawn fried rice.

Time to relax. Catch up on some Real Housewives and study!!