How's your water?

I am looking back over the last couple of days, and trying to do some positive self talk. Trying not to fall victim to more of what has been going on yesterday & the day before. I see too that I haven't been drinking nearly enough water. Nowhere even close to 8, 8oz glasses of water. More like 1 or 2, for the whole day. So dehydration may be exaggerating the mood swings.

So needless to say, lots of augwa for yours truly today.

I woke up and wanted to get something in me that was going to keep me full for a long time. I had a big morning a head of myself. This called for a protein green monster. This one was so good, it might even be worth submitting to The Green Monster Movement site. Note the spill, not because it's over-flowing, rather I got distracted while pouring and made a mess lol.

Peanut Butter Vanilla Green Monster

• 1 scoop of vanilla Whey protein powder
• 1 whole banana
• 3 cups of spinach
• 1 tbsp Kraft smooth PB - running low on the cashew butter otherwise that would have been used.
• 1 cup of UVAB
• Blend & Serve

After breakfast was over, it was off to get a quick run in before hitting the gym. Cardio Bosu class today. Honestly this class keeps me going all week long. I luuurve it! Here are a few sample pics I found online of what Cardio Bosu is like. We run circuits in the class, it's great!

[source]

[source][source]

I even managed to fit in an hour spin class with my fav instructor Sheena this morning. Ok, ok it's a lot yes, but I was excited and had banked on doing all of this before work this morning.

After class, I went and had a swim in the pool. However not the best of swim, I ended up getting chatty with 2 other swimmers, who also run. So there was much to talk about. I did however manage to get 5 laps, maaaaybe 6 before I had to take off and start working.

Needless to say burning all those calories I needed to refuel before I would have time to get a typical morning snack in. I planned for this and had half my lara-apple-bar.

Once I got back to the office (as I had some out of office work to complete) I was ravenously hungry. I ate my apple so fast, I'm not even sure I saw it. Tupperware lid open, mouth open, apple gonzo! Two of my coworkers have recently asked me what I do to my apples to keep them from getting all brown (as I cut and pack my apple the night before). I haven't been doing anything special, and I've been more aware of this trying to figure out what my secret is. When I cut my apples, it's packing varies from Tupperware to glassware, and it's storage varies from refrigerated to left out on the counter top. Then coworker Kelly and I figured out it might be the type of apples I eat. I eat Royal Gala Apples, which I love because they are almost always firm and crunchy, unlike a soft McIntosh. Could this be the secret to not having uber brown apples?

Remember when I talked about my love for breakfast foods here? Well being in a mopey mood last night I had no grand inspiration for today's lunch. So I went with something comforting and oh-so loveable! Oatmeal! That's right, breakfast for lunch (I swear dinner isn't going to be breakfast food).

I packed my dry ingredients, and tossed some fresh fruit in another Tupperware.
Lunch Time Oats

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup of quick oats
• 2/3 cup of water
• 1tbsp chia seeds
• 1tbsp dried goji berries
• 1/2tbsp cinnamon
• 1/4tbsp nutmeg
• 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup blackberries
• 1 banana
• 3 walnut halves

Directions

• See here for standard banana mash
• Add water
• Add all dry ingredients to your banana mash mix (oats, dried fruit, seeds & spices)
• Mix well with a fork to get that banana mash goodness all over
• Cook in the nuker for 2 mins
• Top with fresh fruit and nuts
• Using your fork, mash that fresh fruit to release it's juices into your oatmeal

Manga manga!Just for an update, I have already had 6, 8oz glasses of water today (by 1:00), and I am feeling much better today. Fingers crossed that it stays this way for the rest of the day.

Question: Do you ever do uber long workout sessions? Do you feel like you need to make up for missing one?

Answer: Me? Why did I workout so much today? Because I felt like I had to? No! Did I feel like I had to make up for missing yesterday? In a way, kind of. However I didn't do all that I did this morning because I felt like I had to. I did it because this was something I was looking forwards to. I had fun doing it and seeing if I could push myself and make it through it all. I never feel like I must workout. I do get the feeling of having to, but let me explain that more. Being that I work so much and have such a busy schedule because of work, the times that I am not working, I feel like I have to workout, because I know that I won't get the chance to later, so it's a now or not today. So I have to grab the opportunities that I have otherwise it would be way too easy for me to say, I work 2 regular jobs and 1 casual, I don't have time to workout. So If I want to,I have to!

What I love about food

I love to cook. When I was finishing high school and had already been accepted into the collage course I took, I panicked. I thought I was doing the wrong thing. That I should have gone to school to become a chef. My boyfriend, now husband, reassured me that I was going to school for something else I loved.

I love to cook, to learn new techniques, and to create new dishes.

It's been 6 years since I finished school, and I started working in the field of social work 7 years ago. I still have the same part time casual job that was my first 7 years ago, and I really like working there.

But do I love my other jobs? No. I have never had a full time job that I loved and could see myself staying at for many years and make it a career.

I still think that cooking could have been lots of fun, but the hours are just not for me. I have a friend who is a chef, and he tells me, that it's great that I am passionate about cooking, but keep it a hobby not a job. I've stuck to that advice.

Last night for dinner I introduced Kevin to spaghetti squash.

He was hesitant. I reassured him telling him that if he didn't like it I would boil up some regular pasta noodles for him. This made him feel safe enough to try it.
Spaghetti Squash (serves 2)

• 1 spaghetti squash
• 1 cup broccoli
• 1 cup cauliflower
• 14 baby carrots
• 1/2 zucchini
• 8 mushrooms (1/4ed)
• red onion
• 1-2 celery stalks
• 1/2 red pepper
• 1/2 tomato
• 1/2 cup pasta sauce.

Directions

1. Cook your spaghetti squash according to the directions on the sticker on the squash.
2. In a sauce pan, saute your onion and celery.
3. After the onions start to soften add carrots, red pepper and cauliflower. Saute several minutes until they start to soften.
4. Add broccoli and zucchini. Saute 2 minutes.
5. Add mushrooms and tomato last.
6. Pour the pasta sauce over the veggies. The extra moisture from the veggies will thin the sauce and make it cover everything.
7. Scraped out the spaghetti squash with a fork and plate like pasta noodles.
8. Top veggies and sauce over the squash.
9. ENJOY!

At 9pm I realized that I did not have any produce, veggies or fruit. This makes it very difficult to make my meals for work for Tuesday. So I went out to the grocery store. 124$ later, produce and other odds and ends replenished.

Question: What new and exciting foods have you tried? Where did you discover the recipes?
I discovered spaghetti squash thanks to Longmom on MFP less than 60 days ago. I have since had it 3 times.

p.s. I got a call back from the director of HR yesterday at 4pm. When I asked her if I didn't have a meeting today but would have one another day, she said no I was safe and wouldn't be called in for another meeting at a later date. That means I don't get laid off, I don't get bumped from my shifts, everything stays the same for me. Sadly I can't say the same for my co-worker The Fitness Ninja. So I then clarified with the director of HR, that they then just made a mistake and should have never called me in the first place. She said yes, this was the case. She then apologized saying she hope she didn't ruin my day causing me stress.

For me on the journey of layoffs and bumping, this chapter seems to be closed *sigh*.

B - A - N - A - N - A - S

This Sh*t is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

I posted earlier today that I had a case of the Mundays, and that I would fill you in when I knew more.

Here is the scoop. I got a call from my part time job, where all the layoffs are happening. This call told me that I had a meeting with our Union President, Director of HR and Executive Director. This is the you got bumped meeting.

Ok, I've accepted that this might happen, I have other plans in the works, and I know that I have people below me that I can bump. So I stopped stressing, and just started to accept the process with irritation.

My meeting was to be at 3:15pm this afternoon. At 2:15pm I got a call back from the same lady who called me this morning, telling me that I do not have a meeting, and that if I have any questions I can call and speak with the Director of HR (yeah well she's in a meeting right now with a coworker of mine who got bumped). I left her a vm to call me back.

It's almost like they accidentally called me, when they really didn't need to. Ugh, this whole process is just b-a-n-a-n-a-s! So much so that the union has written a letter of complaint. :-o

While working at the temp full time job today (Big Brothers & Big Sisters), I snacked on some yogurt and granola.
--> 175g Vanilla Greek Yogurt
--> 1.5 tbsp raisins
--> 30g chunky supreme granola

I kept plugging away working diligently, in between txt msging and bbming my girlfriends from work (current and previous coworkers), as well as my husband keeping them up to date on myself and 2 other coworkers who were getting bumped.

Lunch time came around so quickly!

Sadly, like many of my packed the night before wraps, this one was soggy. If they weren't so darn easy to make I would never make them for lunches in advance like I do.

• 1 small tortilla wrap
• .12 red pepper
• 1tbsp garlic hummus
• 3 slices of turkey deli meat
• 2 crimini mushrooms

I also had some veggies to help fill me up. Some carrots and more red pepper. I really love red pepper, roasted and raw. I also had packed some celery that I originally packed for a snack on Saturday. Obviously I didn't eat them Saturday or Sunday. and check them out. I was in such a rush I didn't wash them very well, and they are all dried out now. I opted to meander down to the grocery store and find an alternative.
I thought it was only fitting to grab a banana. 1 because they are fresh and easy to grab 2 I love them, 3 they fit into my daily caloric intake for lunch and 4 this whole day has been, say it with me. . . . . B-A-N-A-N-A-S!I have since left a voice message for the director of HR and (patiently) anxiously awaiting her return phone call.

No doubt there could be more silliness with this whole process, so I will keep you all posted.

Work marathon

As I have mentioned before, Saturday was a marathon work day. I worked at my first part time job from 9-3pm and then hauled a$s to my second job to work 3-11pm. Luckily *big shout out* the girls I work with were free and were able to let me leave at 2:15pm so that I could get to my second job on time. Thanks girls!

Knowing what kind of day Saturday was going to be I made 2 snacks, a lunch and dinner Friday night after getting home from date night with the girls.

For breakfast I wanted to start out strong and healthy. Enter Green Monster! ! ! !
2 cups of baby spinach, 1/2 banana, 5 large strawberries, 1 tsp cocoa powder, and 2 tsp ground flax.

Luckily my day was flying by, soon it was 11am, and I hadn't eaten a snack yet. I ate my orange and didn't even think twice about stopping to take a picture, that was only until I finished it. No matter we all know what an orange looks like, right?!

Lunch quickly followed the orange.
2 cups romaine lettuce, some thinly sliced red onion, 2 dried figs, 6 large strawberries, 1 tbsp unsweetened coconut, 1 tbsp cashew, sesame seeds, sesame seeds, topped with my homemade raspberry vinaigrette dressing.
My afternoon snack was something I have never had before. Well no that isn't true. I've had this yogurt before, this is just a new flavour
It was good yogurt. Personally I wasn't a fan of the chocolate granola. The yogurt, vanilla, however is divine. I wouldn't buy this flavour again. I do however have one more of these yogurts (cranberry) left in the fridge.

At work, at the co-ed teenage group home, there were no kids at the house all night. They were all out in the community with friends or family and not due back until 11pm (the end of my shift). As nice and quiet as this is, I was disappointed. I had brought chick flicks to watch with the one girl who is usually home. Also she is a vegetarian, so I brought all kinds of veggie goodies to make wraps together.

So I made dinner for just myself (my co-worker, he opted for the white bread homemade subs).
Parsnips baked with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Wraps(per each wrap)
1 tbsp garlic hummus
2 slices tomato
1/2 cup alfalfa sprouts
2 slices of zucchini
some orange pepper,
3 slices of beets
1 Florette cauliflower rice

The key here is to not use the little wraps like I did and fill them up this much, unless you are going to eat it like a soft shell taco. Go for the big wraps.

As the night went on I got chilly so I made a mug of chamomile tea.
Home by 11:40, to cuddle with Kevin before we decided to go to bed for the night.

Keep checking in

Hi everyone!

I have some bad news.

I am working all day today. 9-3pm and 3-11pm (yup 14 hours today). And sad to say is that I forgot my usb connecting cord to connect my camera to the computer. Unless at my second job from 3-11 has a desk top that will take my memory card, there won't be any post today.

So everyone get out and enjoy the weather wherever you are whatever the weather is like. It's the weekend. Go and enjoy it for me.

Post tomorrow!

Feeling Great

Well there is so much to write about this morning! Layoffs, workout videos, a fabulous morning workout with the husband and some pretty amazing food! p.s. sorry in advance for the long post today.

Let's start with the layoffs. Remember when I was all uber stressed out that I might lose my job? Well, the drama continues. It has not gone away by a long shot. If anything, it has gotten worse at work. Bumping is still happening all throughout the agency. Rumours as to people being bumped are being spread a week before those people have been given their notice. And these rumours people have all turned out to be true so far. Monday 2 of our 3 full time workers were given their notice and their options (accept layoff and take Employment Insurance or bump someone with less seniority). They opted to bump. Well the union president told them both, individually of course, that they might not even be able to bump down from their full time position into a part time one (our part time list is 16 people with 5 casuals). They were told that there is 16-20 people bumping all throughout the agency and ultimately our department is the bottom of the barrel so those other people might take the positions our full timers are looking to bump down to.

So what does this all mean for me? Well if this is all true and this is how it plays out. I am part time, part of the 16 part time staff. That would mean if the full timers who are 1 and 3 above me in seniority can't get a part time spot, logically that would mean I'd lose my spot as a part timer.

How am I dealing? Well I am far beyond worried stressed anymore. I am annoyed stressed. This whole process has been going on already from start (where they announced they would be making cuts) to now, has been 3.5 months. And the layoff/bumping is still going on, and could be until May 18th.

Ugh whatever, I'm so over it, I wish I could just be told one way or another right here and now what my fate is going to be. I'm sick and tired of them stinging us along and it taking over my life.

Breath!

Yesterday's mid afternoon snack I shovelled into my mouth so fast I don't even remember what it tasted like. I thought I had a meeting right at 4pm, leaving me with mear minutes to eat. Turns out I didn't have a meeting until 4:30. Well at least I could relax as I digested a little. lol

1 serving of Liberte Greek plane yogurt, 1/3cup of all bran buds and 1 tbsp crasins.

I was anxious to have dinner. A repeat salad from the other day, which apparently I didn't share with you, so here it is today! This is where I used me homemade red wine raspberry vinaigrette I walked about here.

• 2-3 cups baby spinach
• 4 large (honkin') strawberries (1/8thed)
• 6-12 raspberries
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1/8 avocado
• 1 tbsp of cashews, slivered almonds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, Pumpkin & sunflower seed
• 5 halves walnuts

I truly love fruits and nuts in my salads.

I also ate a grapefruit after my salad. I sneaked out of work 10 minutes early as I wanted to check out WalMart for . . . . . Some Jillian Michaels. I've been hearing a lot about her 30 day shred, so I did some research and messaged some people who had or are doing it. I was sold based on their feedback. But after 2 WalMarts and no luck, I headed to Future Shop. There I found 1 30 day shred.

Now I was looking for two. One for me and one for my girlfriend MJ. No luck finding the second, but I did find this,

[Source]

I thought well I could 'share' and by share I don't mean take turns with the DVD ;-) the two between us. And for 9.99$ each, you can't go wrong. [Source]

So MJ is going to start her shred Saturday May 1st. I work from 9am-11pm so I haven't decided when I will start mine. Maybe May 2nd-May 31 (that's 30 days). Yup seeing it now written down, that is what I will do. :-D

I ran out of Future Shop as I had a hot date at 8:30. None other than my favourite Hot Yoga! It was an advanced class. This is my second advance class, and I'm loving it. I love trying all the balanced postures (extended side arm balance, eagle pose, peacock, crow and headstands). Luuurve it!

This morning came so early. Even earlier for Kevin (as he didn't get home and to bed until 1:45am). I was so so so happy that Kevin agreed to get up with me for a early morning workout.

For breakfast I started again with my new favourite Apple Larabar. Honestly its perfect for me first thing in the morning before a workout.

After mowing down on this, it was out to get on the bikes. Not before stopping to use some masking tape on our right pant legs (neither of us have chain guards and it was only 6 degrees Celsius out). Sadly I didn't think to take a picture of this.

Off we were for a 13k bike ride followed by a short 2k run. My energy was running low and so was time before work otherwise I would have pushed through for more K's. Back at home Kevin and I did some weights working our arms and then did some ab work.

Then as I promised Kevin, I would show him the advance postures I've been working on in Hot Yoga. He was impressed with my progress (I can't always get the poses or hold them too long but keep practising).

I grabbed a quick shower and though I was going to have a mushroom egg white scramble, I was short on time. So I made something I could take with me in the car to work for a mid morning snack.

• 2 tsp ground flax
• 2 heaping handfuls of baby spinach
• .66 of my banana from yesterday
• 1/2 pint of blueberries
• 1/4 pint raspberries
• 1 cup Almond milk
• 1 beet

It was delish and hit the spot around 10am this morning.

Question: What is your favourite Yoga pose? Have you ever tried a pose you didn't think you could do, but gave it a try anyways?

For me that was the first time 4 weeks ago when I first tried a headsatand. It felt great just getting into the pod.

Wednesday's Wishes

We all have wishes, hopes and dreams. I have a couple right now.

• I want the lay off drama to end at work - I'm over it but it's just irritating now.
• I want to go into work (both my full time and part time job) and quit on the spot.
• I want to be working for myself.
• I want to be working out more and enjoying what I love to do.

*sigh* One day. . . . One day. . . . And I am working on putting these dreams (well I can't control #1) into motion.

Yesterday the second half of my day was spend eating on the go. At 3:30 while driving to work to a convention centre two towns over, I munched on some veggies. Red and yellow pepper, baby carrots and celery.

I was a vendor at a local Chamber of Commerce Showcase event for my full time job with Big Brothers Big Sisters. I didn't know how it was going to and what the food situation would be like. Which is why I mowed down on the veggies in the car.

Sadly also I had to buy my dinner at the grocery store in a rush, because we had nothing I could throw together quick enough.

So with only having 1 glass of water and 1 salmon roll, 3 .5 hours later at 7:30, I was back in my car to munch on some dinner while driving home. Nothing very imaginative after my sushi dinner Monday night. Some Californian rolls. They were not very fresh but whatever, they were easy to eat while driving.

As tired as I was and just wanted to go home, we, I desperately needed to get some fresh produce (groceries).

An hour later, I got home and unpacked everything. I also had a bowl of grape nuts. I don't know why I ate those. I know how I feel if I eat cereal late at night. NOT GOOD is how it makes me feel.

I had also bought some new ingredients to make my own healthier less ingredients needed red wine raspberry vinaigrette. Version 1.0 No exact measurements, but 2 parts EVOO, 1 part red wine vinegar, splash of agave nectar and 1/2 pint of raspberries. Throw the raspberries in a food processor first before adding them to the dressing.

This morning I was wanting to go to muscle moves and go hit the pool again. Sadly when I woke up I was defeated. I was going to Hot Yoga tonight and hadn't packed those gym clothes. I went back to bed.

When I did get up, I made myself a green monster.

• 2 cups spinach
• 1 tbsp cashew butter
• 4 large strawberries
• 1 small yellow mango - can't remember the name right now.
• 1 tsp ground flax
• 1 cup almond milk

I was bad too and had a small bowl of sugar crisps. I needed the sugar. My body was clearly craving it (TOM), because mentally I didn't want it. I didn't want to the crash from the sugar that was going to come later. I didn't want the bloated feeling I knew was coming. I know it serves no nutritional value. WHY AM I EATING THIS? To make up for the cereal, I opted to not have a mid morning snack. Turns out I didn't need it either I didn't get hungry.

When lunch time rolled around at noon, however I clearly was hungry. I made a bee line for the fridge and dug out my lunch.

This salad I was excited to try. I had seen a picture somewhere similar and made it my own.

• 1 cup of English cucumber
• 2/3 med size tomato
• 1 yellow pepper
• several thin slices of red onion
• Light feta cheese

Topped with my own balsamic Very low calorie lunch. So delish! I can't wait to have it again and being that I have another whole cucumber at home, that time might come sooner than later.

What wishes do you have for your life? Are you taking the steps needed to realize those wishes? Have you already made your wish, and had it come true?

Coming soon!

There will be a post coming soon! I promise. I am at work (ugh last minute shift - this is going to make for a 26 work month this month for me! There are only 30 days in April in case you weren't sure. On top of that 8 of those days are doubles. *ugh*

So, as soon as I figure out what the wireless password is here at work (my pictures are on my laptop) I will post. So much to catch up on since Friday's lunch.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

~ M ~