Insanity

The insanity lies in how long it's been since I posted.

I also started Insanity today, like, Shaun T insanity.  Day 1 is just a fitness test so I wasn't expecting much but HO-LY-BUTTS I am out of shape.  I could do about...oh....1/6 of what the tiny Asian girl in the video could do.  It was sad.

So in like 62 days I'm going to be 10 pounds lighter and totally ripped.  Buckle up.

I am obsessed with this new Skrillex song

Promise me you'll listen to it, k?

Do it! You promised!!

She Sells Sea Shells

Actually, Cost Plus World Market sells sea shells, I just purchase them and make a delicious pasta.

See?  Gorgeous rainbow colored sea shell pasta!  I actually made my boyfriend take me to CPWM when I was in Milwaukee because we don't have them in Michigan anymore :(

While the noodles were boiling to al dente perfection I sauteed 2 tsp of EVOO and 2 heaping teaspoons of garlic in a pan with red pepper flakes, sea salt, and pepper.  Then I added the pasta to the pan along with the juice from one lemon and a little of the reserved pasta water (about 1/4 cup)  then I let them simmer a little bit together.

Pretty!!!

Then I scooped out a heaping 1 cup serving (it made 4 servings total) and added some roasted brussel sprouts and 2 TBSP of parmesan.

 Nom! Nom! NOM!
The recipe was inspired by Jenna, but I didnt have any sun dried tomatoes.  I'm going to eat every last crumb of the leftovers this week but I'm adding some shrimp for protein (I have a big bag of frozen in my freezer from Costco!) because I was hungry a couple hours after I ate this and I'm pretty sure lack of protein is the culprit.

My workout today was a 40 minute run/walk outside followed by a 5 minute stretch.  I have my eyes peeled on Groupon and Living Social for some cheap yoga, because hewboy do I need it.

It's May!!

I know this is a bold statement, but I have SUPER high hopes for May.  I feel like Spring is officially here, I have a vacation later this month, Its my BIRTHDAY at the end of the month, plus we get a long weekend for Memorial Day.  May rules.

I thought that rather than setting some goals for the entire month of May, I would set mini goals each week.

Mini goal May:  Week 1
1)  Wake up at 5am Monday-Thursday to work out
2)  Blog four times this week
3)  Make my bed every morning

This weekend felt so weird, because Friday started off with a 4am wake up call to watch the Royal Wedding, which was everything I could have ever hoped it would be.  I should have taken pictures of the white chocolate raspberry scones that were consumed during the celebration, but I am a bad bloggie.

I also had some incredible Thai food, a Greek omelet, and home made pizza.  OH, and Pei Wei that I shared with Midnight the cat. 

Okay I promise I'll take more pictures so this blog is less boring.

Stay tuned! Because this week I'm making CAKE BALLS to celebrate my roomies birthday.  The recipe is from howsweeteats.com because I'm obsessed with her.  I hope they all turn out just like that white one with the sprinkles. 

What chores do you HATE to do?

As I said above, I hate making my bed, washing my face (it makes such a mess!) and blow drying my hair (wait until you see a picture of this beast on my head and you will totally understand).  I realize those statements make me sound super gross.

HEWBOY

Honestly that's the only thing I can think to describe the last few weeks.  I'm not going to give a list of excuses or anything, but lets just say April did NOT turn out how I hoped it would, not in the least.

I ended up driving to Milwaukee a few times, which please trust me, is a trial.  And I also had THE WORST COLD of all time, it was the cold to end all colds, I was coughing up things that no person should be coughing up.

I ran once, with Kleenex and hand sanitizer on the treadmill with me, people at the gym gave me dirty looks, it was not fun.  I did, however, put up this decent time.

Ummmm, can we not talk about how that was a week ago.  Yep, a week ago.  I was dreading the gym today, and I skipped actually - not my proudest moment and of course I regret it, but Its just been SO LONG since I've been there. I mean, A WEEK.

I also ate this:

I KNOW.  But lets get real, I didn't eat the whole thing, I split it with my incredibly lucky boyfriend.  I also drank this:

That would be cranberry juice, orange juice, and champagne.  His drink (pictured behind mine) was Guinness, Amaretto, Orange Juice, and beer.  It was surprisingly good - mine was better (duh) - but his was still good.  OH I should mention that this brunch was eaten at Comet in Milwaukee and if you are ever in the area I can't recommend it enough, we have been there twice now and both times it was beyond fantastic.

I've also been stalking a new blogger whom I absolutely adore.  I want to be her.  Everything she makes seriously blows my mind, and I've looked at this cupcake fondue post for the majority of my day.

 I seriously need to upgrade my sprinkle collection, please contact me if you are interested in donating to my sprinkle fund.

Okay I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow and I'm trying to muster up a renewed sense of purpose in myself.  I'm going on a HUGE vacation May 19th and I have a teeny tiny weight loss goal that I'm hoping to achieve by that point, May 26th is also my birthday, and it is generally a time that I should be feeling at my best, not my why-in-the-hell-did-I-buy-that-much-Easter-candy-worst.

I'm feeling much better and glad to be back! Until tomorrow, bloggies.

Day Two

I know, I know, where is Day 1???

Day 1 flew by, and I didnt get a chance to blog, my run was AWFUL.  It took me a full 55 minutes at the gym to run three miles, because I actually got off the treadmill and paced around for a few minutes, trying to regain my composure.  Then I got back on it and did my last two miserable miles.

And also, I started this challenge on Monday because I was sick on Friday and I was wrong about the work challenge start date.  So today was Day 2, and today was MUCH better.

On Saturday I went for a three mile treadmill run, to see how long it would take, because my goal is ultimately to run three miles in 30 minutes, and then to be able to run 6 miles in 60 minutes.  So I did my first three mile trial, feeling GREAT, and I finished in 37:50.

If you are a runner looking for inspiration, please read another blog, I know its pathetic. I suggest this lovely chica.

Then yesterday, I finished the most miserable three miles of my life in somewhere around 40 minutes, I was too pissed off to keep proper track. 

But today, I finished in:

So its a bit of an improvement!  I finished up with 10 minutes on the elliptical and called it a big deal.

I'm going to credit the improvement to the Burlesque soundtrack, it's embarrassing, but I'm not going to lie to you guys here.  I've seen the movie twice and I love it, and trust me, I KNOW what you're thinking.  But c'mon, how fantastic is a dress made entirely out of pearls?

Ugh, I die.

Tomorrow I'll take pictures of my eats and share my new playlist, have a great night bloggie friends!

It's been too long

Since I've posted.  I was just cleaning my room and thinking about excuses to give you and BELIEVE ME I'm good at coming up with excuses and even better at convincing myself that they are valid.

I've been busy, sure.  I've been traveling, sure.  I've been emotional, SURE.  But I've also been lazy.  I've also been taking the easy way out.

But now it's getting warmer, and my pants are getting tighter, and its time for a change.  It just so happens that my office is putting together a little 30 Minutes for 30 Days Challenge - obviously challenging my co-workers to exercise for 30 minutes a day for 30 days - I'm taking this challenge but putting a little twist on it, I'm going to work out every MORNING for 30 days, for the entire month of April.

I know a lot of people work out in the mornings, and that really it's not that big of a deal. But I feel like this challenge holds a special place in my heart because I have always DREAMED of being that person who wakes up before everybody else and works out.  When I picture the woman that I want to be, she works out in the mornings.  Once upon a time  I used to work out with a trainer three days a week in the morning, and it was hard, but really, I loved it.  I love that feeling of solitude when you are the first person hitting the pavement.  I love the feeling for the rest of the day that you have checked the dreaded workout off the ol' to-do list.  I love the feeling that I have done something for myself that very few people have done before 7am.

But this is it, I'm going to wake up and workout everyday (yoga once a week to give myself a cardio break), and I'm going to blog everyday, and this is it.  No more excuses, no more tight pants, this is it.  Tomorrow I'm going to Nth Degree with my sister, then Thursday I'm going to rest, and Friday it all begins.

Until tomorrow, bloggies.

St. Patricks Day Eats

I do truly want to start recording what I eat on here but I ALWAYS FORGET to take a picture of my eats!  Usually I am so excited to be eating and so hungry that I don't remember to take a picture until I am throwing away the yogurt container, but today I got a few.  Tomorrow will be better, promise!

Breaky was Oikos new PowerFruits flavor, which was surprisingly tart! With 1/3 cup of raw oats mixed in and a banana.  Of course I had some coffee made by my beloved Keurig.

I did not eat the hand sanitizer.

About 2.5 hours later I got a little hungry and had cottage cheese for a snack.

These stats are sick! 90 calories and 11 grams of protein, plz.  There was a period of time when I was poor and living in Chicago that I ate cottage cheese seriously two meals a day (the third being chili) so I haven't had it in ages, Im glad I have a taste for it again.

Lunch was a mac n cheese lean cuisine with roasted veggies leftover from yesterday.  Then I busted into this baby around 2pm.

OH YES.  Its a homemade cupcake courtesy of my beautiful cousin Samantha, it was gorgeous and absolutely perfect in every way.  I will dream of that buttercream frosting tonight.  Also that is a picture of Ireland in the background because I was feeling festive, you're welcome.

For dinner I had Chinese food with my sister and my grandpa, and also 1.5 of my grandpas freshly baked pumpkin pecan rolls and a couple spoonfuls of sugar free ice cream out of the container at my parents house. 

Also, I didnt workout - combine that fact with the eats from above and please believe I feel terribly gross.

But it's a holiday, right?