so i'll be the first person to admit it: i fell off the working-out bandwagon.
i was doing so well on my couch-2-5k, but then thanksgiving/a trip to pennsylvania happened, then i was back for 2 weeks, then a trip to dubai happened, and in the meantime, the gym became a distant memory
but now i am getting back on track! i have NO excuses this time! AND i was given the advice of finding a race to run so I would have a deadline to accomplish my goal... well, drumroll please, i've decided to train for...
THE BEARATHON! well, maybe not the bearathon itself, but the 5k that goes along with it! for those of you who don't know, the bearathon is a race put on every year by the student foundation at baylor as a way to raise money for student scholarships. this year the race is on MARCH 19th! which gives me 56 days to prepare. and of course, the icing on the cake is an excuse to visit waco - duh.
anyway, i went to the Y this morning and was excited to pick back up on week 2 of the program instead of starting from scratch... only a few more weeks to go! and then 5k!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
brown bagging it
one of my wonderful co-workers and i have started having communal lunches - we both bring food, then we share & enjoy lunch together! much better than microwaving something and then eating alone in the corner. not that i ever did that...
this week, we invented an amazing sandwich that fits in with our new year's resolutions! i don't have a name for it yet, and i should probably patent it before sharing, but what the heck...
here's what you need:
- one sandwich thin (those buns that look like someone sat on them - i use the orowheat brand)
- one laughing cow cheese wedge (have i mentioned how obsessed i am with these?! i love them all! but for this sandwich, i would recommend a mild one like garlic & herb or french onion)
- spinach, tomato, & any other veggies desired - we tried bell pepper slices one day
- you can load this with veggies, or if you are feeling more carniverous (did i just make-up a word?), you can add some lunchmeat
i'm telling you, this sandwich is epic. laughing cow cheese only has 35 calories & is the perfect substitute for undesirable alternatives such as mayo. it also packs in veggies that you probably wouldn't eat at lunch otherwise. i'm definitely guilty for not eating side salads - so if i can pack the side salad into a sandwich, i'm much happier.
serve this baby up with pretzels and some fruit, and you're golden!
sidenote: for those couponers out there (leigh anne), HEB has laughing cow cheese for $2 dollars this week (ordinarily $3.48) - AND i had a coupon for $1 off. which made it $1. That's a savings of 71.2% -- YES. i love coupons. it's probably good i'm going into a time-consuming career or else i'd probably develop a couponing obsession.
this week, we invented an amazing sandwich that fits in with our new year's resolutions! i don't have a name for it yet, and i should probably patent it before sharing, but what the heck...
here's what you need:
- one sandwich thin (those buns that look like someone sat on them - i use the orowheat brand)
- one laughing cow cheese wedge (have i mentioned how obsessed i am with these?! i love them all! but for this sandwich, i would recommend a mild one like garlic & herb or french onion)
- spinach, tomato, & any other veggies desired - we tried bell pepper slices one day
- you can load this with veggies, or if you are feeling more carniverous (did i just make-up a word?), you can add some lunchmeat
i'm telling you, this sandwich is epic. laughing cow cheese only has 35 calories & is the perfect substitute for undesirable alternatives such as mayo. it also packs in veggies that you probably wouldn't eat at lunch otherwise. i'm definitely guilty for not eating side salads - so if i can pack the side salad into a sandwich, i'm much happier.
serve this baby up with pretzels and some fruit, and you're golden!
sidenote: for those couponers out there (leigh anne), HEB has laughing cow cheese for $2 dollars this week (ordinarily $3.48) - AND i had a coupon for $1 off. which made it $1. That's a savings of 71.2% -- YES. i love coupons. it's probably good i'm going into a time-consuming career or else i'd probably develop a couponing obsession.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
so i think
that i'm too lazy to blog... or that i'm overwhelmed by the idea of trying to write a comprehensive post detailing my 2 weeks in the middle east...
BUT i'll just say that it was an INCREDIBLE vacation. it's interesting to finally visit an arabic country after almost 23 years of existence as a half-arab. it was nice to take in the culture and lifestyle that is inherently mine... genetically speaking of course. and while it wasn't the motherland per se [iraq], it was as close as i'm going to get.
anyway, if you saw the facebook album, you probably got a much better summary of the trip than i can write out. if a picture is worth a thousand words, and i posted 96, that is 96,000 words. a far longer entry than i would ever write...
did i mention that i went for 2 weeks without being snarky? i don't know how to be sarcastic in arabic. it doesn't just happen like it does in english.
did i also mention that my cousin's in-laws told me that i speak arabic with an american accent? i grew up speaking it simultaneously with english. not in a college class. FAIL.
anyway, it's always nice getting out of your comfort zone and realizing that there is a world beyond your suburbian bubble. not that i hadn't ever traveled before, but after 2 years in the country, it was definitely time for a little foray out.
so the count stands at: 3 continents down, 3 to go (i don't count antarctica - i've seen penguins at sea world, and i'm pretty sure that's all that's down there.)
anyone up for a trip?
BUT i'll just say that it was an INCREDIBLE vacation. it's interesting to finally visit an arabic country after almost 23 years of existence as a half-arab. it was nice to take in the culture and lifestyle that is inherently mine... genetically speaking of course. and while it wasn't the motherland per se [iraq], it was as close as i'm going to get.
anyway, if you saw the facebook album, you probably got a much better summary of the trip than i can write out. if a picture is worth a thousand words, and i posted 96, that is 96,000 words. a far longer entry than i would ever write...
did i mention that i went for 2 weeks without being snarky? i don't know how to be sarcastic in arabic. it doesn't just happen like it does in english.
did i also mention that my cousin's in-laws told me that i speak arabic with an american accent? i grew up speaking it simultaneously with english. not in a college class. FAIL.
anyway, it's always nice getting out of your comfort zone and realizing that there is a world beyond your suburbian bubble. not that i hadn't ever traveled before, but after 2 years in the country, it was definitely time for a little foray out.
so the count stands at: 3 continents down, 3 to go (i don't count antarctica - i've seen penguins at sea world, and i'm pretty sure that's all that's down there.)
anyone up for a trip?
Saturday, December 18, 2010
bakezilla!
so the holidays are THE BEST time to bake for several reasons:
- an excuse to give away the baked goods
- people will eat said baked goods knowing that new years resolutions are right around the corner
- it's cold out; the warm oven is a beautiful thing -- may not seem important to some of you, but baking in houston in the summer is MISERABLE.
- lovely seasonal recipes like gingerbread men (currently fresh out of my oven)
- baking is made infintely better when christmas music is playing in the background and the tree is twinkling in the living room
if you're anything like me, you are starting up a list of the must-have holiday baked goods. christmas is only a week away, and i've got to make sure to churn out all my favs :)
so far i've tackled:
- iced sugar cookies
- peanut-butter blossoms (personal fav)
- gingerbread men
- puppy chow
- white trash
possible upcoming adventures:
- snickerdoodles
- more white trash
- chocolate chip cookies (not seasonal but always welcome!)
- peppermint bark
- ... and currently searching for more inspiration
anyway, i thought i would share one of my favorite (and easiest) recipes: WHITE TRASH!
ingredients needed:
- chex
- m&m's
- pretzels
- peanuts
- white (vanilla?) almond bark
1) melt the almond bark in the microwave
2) stir in the other ingredients until coated
3) arrange in single layer on wax paper
4) allow to dry - if you can handle waiting
5) consume!
you can vary up the recipes and use different cereals and stuff - just make sure to get the sweet + salty in there!
anyway, happy baking! it's probably a good thing i have to work Mon-Thurs this week, or else I'd probably have dozens upon dozens of cookies in my kitchen!
- an excuse to give away the baked goods
- people will eat said baked goods knowing that new years resolutions are right around the corner
- it's cold out; the warm oven is a beautiful thing -- may not seem important to some of you, but baking in houston in the summer is MISERABLE.
- lovely seasonal recipes like gingerbread men (currently fresh out of my oven)
- baking is made infintely better when christmas music is playing in the background and the tree is twinkling in the living room
if you're anything like me, you are starting up a list of the must-have holiday baked goods. christmas is only a week away, and i've got to make sure to churn out all my favs :)
so far i've tackled:
- iced sugar cookies
- peanut-butter blossoms (personal fav)
- gingerbread men
- puppy chow
- white trash
possible upcoming adventures:
- snickerdoodles
- more white trash
- chocolate chip cookies (not seasonal but always welcome!)
- peppermint bark
- ... and currently searching for more inspiration
anyway, i thought i would share one of my favorite (and easiest) recipes: WHITE TRASH!
ingredients needed:
- chex
- m&m's
- pretzels
- peanuts
- white (vanilla?) almond bark
1) melt the almond bark in the microwave
2) stir in the other ingredients until coated
3) arrange in single layer on wax paper
4) allow to dry - if you can handle waiting
5) consume!
you can vary up the recipes and use different cereals and stuff - just make sure to get the sweet + salty in there!
anyway, happy baking! it's probably a good thing i have to work Mon-Thurs this week, or else I'd probably have dozens upon dozens of cookies in my kitchen!
Monday, December 6, 2010
H2O
so one thing i've consistently failed at is drinking the recommended amount of water each day. i've heard a hundred different recommendations: 8 glasses, one ounce per pound of body weight, etc. anyway, one of my coworkers challenged me (as well as herself) to drink a gallon of water a day. today was day one, and aside from the bazillion bathroom runs, it went well! not only did it generate conversation at work, it also kept me fuller. i generally start getting antzy for lunch around 11:30am (aka: way too early), but today I held out until 1pm, and even then, i wasn't starving as usual.
of course, calorie cutting is certainly NOT the only benefit of being well-hydrated. for those of you who care, here are the health benefits i dug up (article from organic facts.net) -- sorry, had to do it -- it's the future doc in me...
1) PH Balance
2) Metabolism
3) Prevention of: Constipation, Heartburn, Migraine, Gastritis and Ulcers, Rheumatoid Arthritis, CV disease, Backache
4) Avoiding Kidney Stones
5) Maintaining good Kidney Function
These are just to name a few... hooray for H2O -- gotta love our universal solvent!
p.s. - i totally may revoke this entry if i wake-up 184839358 times tonight...
of course, calorie cutting is certainly NOT the only benefit of being well-hydrated. for those of you who care, here are the health benefits i dug up (article from organic facts.net) -- sorry, had to do it -- it's the future doc in me...
1) PH Balance
2) Metabolism
3) Prevention of: Constipation, Heartburn, Migraine, Gastritis and Ulcers, Rheumatoid Arthritis, CV disease, Backache
4) Avoiding Kidney Stones
5) Maintaining good Kidney Function
These are just to name a few... hooray for H2O -- gotta love our universal solvent!
p.s. - i totally may revoke this entry if i wake-up 184839358 times tonight...
Saturday, December 4, 2010
so my impulsive move
of the week was to book a trip to dubai. nothing sounds sketchier than a 22 year old female going to the middle east alone, but in all reality, i'll be staying with family. though i may omit the family part to keep the shock factor :)... bring on the camel riding, arabic food, and outdoor markets!
anyway, you would think booking that ticket would momentarily quell my travel bug, but it has instead magnified it. i'm suddenly attempting to plan spring break in spain or summer in peru or camping in colorado. i don't know what is wrong with me, but then again, i love still being at that point in life where my idealism hasn't quite caught up with reality. at such a young age, it is easy to assume that i'll have time to eventually travel everywhere and conquer the world. and if i get my way, i certainly plan on doing both :)
anyway, you would think booking that ticket would momentarily quell my travel bug, but it has instead magnified it. i'm suddenly attempting to plan spring break in spain or summer in peru or camping in colorado. i don't know what is wrong with me, but then again, i love still being at that point in life where my idealism hasn't quite caught up with reality. at such a young age, it is easy to assume that i'll have time to eventually travel everywhere and conquer the world. and if i get my way, i certainly plan on doing both :)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
hello, december
so i realize i have failed at blogging lately, so here i am, attempting to redeem myself...
just got back from thanksgiving in pennsylvania - it was a glorious 10-day break from work... which made going back to work today especially hard! after days of lounging and doing as you please, it is rather difficult to once again sit still and take orders, but i guess that's part of the deal
anyway, instead of a boring recap of my trip, i'm going to go with random thoughts:
- i love online shopping. if i never have to set foot in a store again, that would be okay with me. current favorite website: endless.com -- may or may not have ordered another pair of boots... but they were the deal of the day! 50% off, no tax, and overnight delivery? yes please.
- online shopping aside, i did go out for black friday. we hit up walmart at 12:01 am. the best part: i only bought a pair of sheets. granted, they are silk sateen 500 threadcount for $19.88, but really, who goes to walmart at midnight for sheets? tv? yes. sheets? no.
- totally fell off the diet bandwagon over vacation. probably ate a whole stick of butter on thanksgiving. didn't run at all. fail fail fail. despite that minor (major) set-back, i'm back on track. for now at least... until the christmas cookies show their ugly faces...
- witnessed a hit&run today. the car in front of me rear-ended the car in front of it and drove off like a crazy person. they almost hit me while they were trying to change lanes and get-away. so thankful i wasn't the one hit! esp after my little incident 2 months ago...
- i like christmas music just as much as the next person, but i feel like starting to play it on the radio 24/7 ALREADY is a little out-of-control. i was forced to listen to it for 7 hours straight at work today. i think i'm one of those people that can't enjoy it until the week of christmas. 3 weeks away + it still feels like fall + no snow + not doing holidayish things = not ready for jingle bells.
anyway, off to job #2... 10 hours of work a day is really too much
just got back from thanksgiving in pennsylvania - it was a glorious 10-day break from work... which made going back to work today especially hard! after days of lounging and doing as you please, it is rather difficult to once again sit still and take orders, but i guess that's part of the deal
anyway, instead of a boring recap of my trip, i'm going to go with random thoughts:
- i love online shopping. if i never have to set foot in a store again, that would be okay with me. current favorite website: endless.com -- may or may not have ordered another pair of boots... but they were the deal of the day! 50% off, no tax, and overnight delivery? yes please.
- online shopping aside, i did go out for black friday. we hit up walmart at 12:01 am. the best part: i only bought a pair of sheets. granted, they are silk sateen 500 threadcount for $19.88, but really, who goes to walmart at midnight for sheets? tv? yes. sheets? no.
- totally fell off the diet bandwagon over vacation. probably ate a whole stick of butter on thanksgiving. didn't run at all. fail fail fail. despite that minor (major) set-back, i'm back on track. for now at least... until the christmas cookies show their ugly faces...
- witnessed a hit&run today. the car in front of me rear-ended the car in front of it and drove off like a crazy person. they almost hit me while they were trying to change lanes and get-away. so thankful i wasn't the one hit! esp after my little incident 2 months ago...
- i like christmas music just as much as the next person, but i feel like starting to play it on the radio 24/7 ALREADY is a little out-of-control. i was forced to listen to it for 7 hours straight at work today. i think i'm one of those people that can't enjoy it until the week of christmas. 3 weeks away + it still feels like fall + no snow + not doing holidayish things = not ready for jingle bells.
anyway, off to job #2... 10 hours of work a day is really too much
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)