Bust out the BBQ!

After a lovely 4K walk around my 'hood, exploring both the trails and sidewalks, I fired up my trusty BBQ. The sky is still blue but they keep saying it might rain tonight.

On the grill went some Oh Naturels veggie dogs. While they were cooking, I rifled through the fridge for some veggies. What I came out with wasn't entirely pretty. Let's just say I made a substantial contribution to my compost pile.

Into the steamer basket in a pot of boiling water went 1/2 of a small head of cauliflower. I steamed it till it was VERY well done & drained it. Then I added about a tablespoon of Epicure Cheese, Chives & Bacon Dip Mix and used my immersion hand blender to blend till smooth. Voila! Faux mashed potatoes.

Topped my veggie dogs with come Cattle Boyz BBQ Sauce and sat down to lunch! Sorry, I was so hungry, I forgot to snap a photo.

My legs are much happier today--nary a twinge while out for my walk. I even jogged a little!

And that's what I know today. Off to shower and get ready for yoga and maybe even a cat nap.

Weekend Photos

Let's see if Blogger is more co-operative today!

Around the Bay Recap

What an absolutely fabulous weekend!! Because I'm tired and really need a nap, it's in point form. Pictures to follow. Blogger's being a bitch right now.

1. Niagra Falls with Good Friends & a Ferris Wheel

2. Around the Bay 30K
4:27:32, upright, uninjured and smiling!! The race itself was good. Weather looked like it would hold off the rain, but at 19K, the mist started and by 23K it was full fledged rain. It's not an overly scenic first 15K, but the second half is much better and worth the wait. Hills weren't too bad. The big 'un is like Sandy Beach hill. Totally doable!

I didn't go in with any preconceived time goals, because
(a) I had never done a 30K race before
(b) my last long run (and it wasn't that long) was March 12 and
(c) my right knee was still a little tender after last week's yoga intensive.

I hoped to finish in under 4.5 though, and guess what? I DID! Besides, I also believe that the first time you run a race, you don't want to go all out. Save it for the SECOND time, so you can get a PB!

3. I got to meet MOUSE!! She was awesome and waited an extra hour after she had finished until I crossed the finish line. There was some bloggie love shared and then home to nap.

4. Any calories burned during the run were consumed (along with a few extras) with good friends at the Mandarin (big-ass buffet in Brampton). There may also have been a pina colada.

Carb Loading and Packing

Pop Chips + Philly Onion Dip = Carb loading

Making a list and checking it twice! Don't want to forget race gear or jelly beans.

Goin' to Hamilton...

Me & 6999 of my closest friends

are gonna run 30K in Hamilton this weekend! Who's ready?!

Absolutely Knackered

Since Wednesday, I've spent 40 hours in yoga teacher training. My brain is FULL. My butt is sore from sitting on a cold, hard floor. But my practice and teaching have both improved and it feels really great.

And now I'm going to try and get some sleep!

Namaste.

Oh, and I did my measurements on Saturday. Down another two inches since last month! I haven't been stepping on the scale, because quite honestly, I don't care what it says. I feel great!

H =)

MIA for awhile

It's day 2 of my 4 day yoga intensive. I probably won't be posting much. I haven't ran in awhile and I'm sort of freaking about Around the Bay. But then I think, I can always walk. It's always an option. And all I want to do is finish upright, smiling and uninjured.

And with that, I'm off to find the physio's phone number!

Namaste,
H =)

Why are weekends so short?

It just flew by!

Work on Friday sucked. My vacation was approved for December was approved but my July request was denied. So I got a week in June and the third week of September. Grrrr. All because a co-worker lied (not sure if it was intentional or not, I'm hoping not) about which days she had requested. Alas, I've since canceled September and am now going to be off from Dec. 10-31. I'm quite sure that I'll be able to switch shifts around to get time off for Folk Fest. Not the ideal situation, but whatever. C'mon, Lottery Gods!

I, of course, dealt with crushing blow of summer vacation ruined yet again, by eating. Not a wise choice, but it was a conscious decision. The digital devil was not happy on Saturday morning!

Headed to Banff where we wandered around town, had the most wonderful chocolate covered caramel square and toured the Cave & Basin. Checked in to our room and were duly impressed! Went out for dinner (El Toro's) and had the most AMAZING lamb I have ever eaten. I know that's a bold statement, but OMIGOD, was it good! Went back to our room and watched the end of Season 1 of Dexter. Very romantic, I know!

Today was gorgeous, so we took a drive out of town. Came home to a lonely Nerm and made a big vat of Thai green veg curry and coconut rice. This week is going to be insanely busy! So I guess I should go finish my homework and do a load of laundry.

Have I mentioned I hate the time change? But the longer evening was lovely!

TGIF!!

1:37:37
12.18K
955 cal
Faster than my last 12k AND a negative split! Not bad, not bad at all. Got a bit of a twinge in my left knee in the last kilometre, so I'm going to head to physio like my doc ordered. She wants us to nip this in the bud now so that I can totally rock Honolulu in December.

Off for a quick shower then to work. Tomorrow is WW meeting, quick coffee with the girls and then BANFF for the weekend! Whooo hoo!

Have a good one!

Still here!

Barely, though! Fly-by post tonight as I really need to get this tired yogi to bed. Crazy busy day on Monday:
-drive to Sylvan, go to doctor, go for x-rays of still injured thumb (remember cross country skiing?), ran into old neighbour in waiting area so had to chit chat, lunch with cousins C & C (and yes, Natalie, Clara is 92! Technically she is my second cousin (my dad's first cousin) and she is one of the most amazing women I know. She is also more like my grandma than my maternal grandmother. I love her to bits!), drove home, straight to yoga where we practiced HAND STAND.

-Tuesday was AWFUL--shitty day at work. Enough said.

-Today: much, much, much better! Yoga was intense, though. Mucho backbending = emotional H-woman. But I got great feedback on my teaching!!

Now, must sleep. Tomorrow is work, hair (cut and colour--the sparkly bits are showing), and then sushi. Thank goodness I switched Friday's day shift for an evening. I can get my long run in so that I can completely relax and enjoy my weekend in Banff with my boy.

Sunny Sunday!

I got up early this morning (OK, the sun streaming in the windows woke me up) and sat in a sunbeam while S continued to doze. I've got four rows left on the baby blankie...soon, soon, it will be done! And yes, I missed my goals, although no one prodded me for pictures, so let's blame this one on you, not me. =)

Came home and went for a speedy run before work. I did my usual loop a full two minutes faster than I ever have before! Whoo hoo! And people mock my training plan. Ha, I say!

Work was...meh. Same old, same old. Went for a walk down 17th ave on my break because it was just too nice to stay indoors.

Came home and tried my first-ever popchips. BBQ & Salt & pepper flavours. Both are keepers, although they seem to have met an untimely demise...

Off to Sylvan in the morning for a check up and lunch with my fabulous 92 year old cousin C, then home again in time for yoga. A busy day off, so I'd better hit the hay!

Night, all!

Brief Birthday Recap

Me = spoiled.
Me = eating yummy food. Lots of it.
Me + Scale = re-evaluating our relationship. I don't like him much today, but I also have been slacking on the water front.

I work today. Boo. Lunch is packed (big ass salad with grilled salmon from Sunterra). I must run after work. Dinner is planned (grilled curried turkey burgers, salad and thai cucumber salad).

And then me & S. are going to watch Dexter on his comfy couch. Working on the weekend sucks. Just saying.

February Recap

So on my trek across Canada, as of Sunday I have made it to the town of Spences Bridge, BC, at the bridge. Terry Fox really is my hero. When I see how long it's taking me to get across BC, I am in awe of how far he made it on one leg. If that's not motivation to get my ass out the door for a run, I don't know what is!

16 turtles (yoga/meditation)
5 feet (run)(that's it? EEEEK!)

I'm still faithfully tracking in my three month journal (since Jan. 5).
I haven't had pop since then, either!

March will be the month that I find my running mojo again. Around the Bay is in 25 sleeps! Good news is that I've been doing the long runs, since I've been told they're the ones that you shouldn't miss so at least I've got those under my belt. And now I really should get out there!

Happy Birthday to Me!!

It's a day (or month) all about ME!!

I tried to sleep in. I did. My nephew phoned before 8. Then the text messages started. My brother called before 9. Maybe tomorrow....

I'm currently enjoying a lovely cuppa chai in my favourite S'bux Good Morning cup trying to decide what to have for breakfast. Toast with Nutella and a nana or scrambled eggs with cheese, chives and bacon (Epicure) with shrooms and hashbrowns? Hmmmm...I think I know. Eggs it is!

The rest of the day looks like this:
-sort the laundry (Mom's coming...and she (unlike me) LOVES laundry. I don't argue.)
-renew my driver's license
-find my kitchen cupboard and island. They appear to have been hit by a cyclone.
-go for a run (high is +10C today)
-dinner with my peeps at Aida's (best Lebanese sit down restaurant in town. Falafel King makes a mean schwarma)
-finish the baby blanket. Less than 10 rows left!! It WILL be done by tomorrow night, I promise. I will even post a photo. Now, hold me to that!!

Last night before I went to bed I was listening to the radio. The Vinyl Cafe was on and Melissa McClelland and Luke Ducet were the musical guests. I seriously could not think of a better way to end the year!

S & I have been together for a whole YEAR. YIKES! It's an easy day for him to remember--the day before my birthday! I had to work evenings, so we didn't get to see each other, but we are going to Banff next weekend. AND I've got us booked into the Banff Springs in May to go to the Banff Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival. It's going to be fun since we don't even have to leave the hotel!! No coat check, no stumbling home in the cold and dark. It's perfect.

Have a fantastic day--I know I will!

Go check this out!!

Lynn is giving away some Honeybars!! OMIGOD, these are soooooo good! All natural, pronounceable ingredients and super yummy. I have to tell you about this so that I can win. Those bars are MINE!

This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds....

Om

I had a great yoga practice at teacher training tonight! Midway through, we did this flowing sequence without putting our foot down(photos from Yogajournal.com):
Vrksasana --> Virabhadrasana III --> Garudasana --> Vrksasana --> Tadasana
Find the balance and breathe!!







And now I've got oodles of homework to do! I hope that you're able to find some time to sit on your mat.

Namaste.