Category Archives: yoga

My Nana and Mama Burgers

Posted on May 27, 2011 | 6 Comments

Hurraaaaaay for the weekend, is all I have to say.  I have been pretty darn busy at work this week, so I am pumped to relax.

Right after work I hit up my Nana‘s for a quick little visit.

Me & My Nanners

(That photo is from Easter, I didn’t get one of us today.  Although I should have, because she was looking HOT.)

Though I love going to see my little Nanny-pop, sometimes (like today) her nursing home makes me feel a bit down, and generally just afraid of getting old.  My Nana is basically the best old person ever and probably a dream for the nurses (she is very self-sufficient, and was even doing her own laundry in there!), but most of the other residents are not…with it.

My Nana is one of the few I’ve seen not in a wheelchair, and one of the few I’ve seen who actually do something other than stare into space.  When we were walking out, she pointed into a room where a woman was just lying on her back in her bed and my Nana whispered to me “That’s all she does all day long.  If I ever get like that, I just want to go.”

Fortunately, I don’t think my Nana will ever get like that, and I told her that.

There is one man who sits in his wheelchair by the window at the end of my Nanny’s hall, and all he does is yell “MOMMY!” over and over again.  It is so sad, kind of disturbing, and pretty distracting when that’s all I can hear as I’m visiting with my Nana (he isn’t there all the time, but he was today).

But what is going on here?!  I am getting all Debbie Downer!  There is a glimmer of sunshine…

My Nana is a Ray of Sunshine!

(Pic from last summa)

My Nana is a glimmer of sunshine.  She is almost 97 (birthday is in just over one month!) and she looks fabulous!  She is happy and positive.  If being old means I get to be peppy like her, well then I’ll take it.

And on a much more positive note, she gave me quite the healthy care package…

Nana's Care Package

A bunch of random cookies she’s saved from her meals (surprise surprise), and Werther’s Orginals (score!).  And a little black change purse.  She is always giving me change purses.  I have no idea why, but it’s funny.

I love those maple cookies usually, but I’m not sure how I feel about them unwrapped…

If you are new to my blog and haven’t heard about the awesomeness that is my Nana, you can read all about her here.

For dinner tonight, this happened…

Mama Burger

I called Ando on my way home and asked him if he wanted me to pick anything up for dinner since I was so late, and he immediately said “A&W.”  It’s his fave.  Since A&W does not do salads, I reluctantly hopped on the burger bandwagon.

I have not had a fast food burger in…at least six months!  I can’t remember the last time, but it was definitely before Christmas.  It was alright, but it just reiterated that I’m really not missing anything.

You Aren't as Good as You Think You Are

I hope to go another six months without you, burger.

At least I had a big ol’ healthy salad for lunch.

Veggie-Packed

It included baby spinach, cucumbers, tomato, steamed broccoli (leftover from last night’s dinner), sunflower seeds, garlic flax seeds, and mozzarella cheese.  I still felt a little hungry after eating this, so I supplemented it with a Druxy’s turkey vegetable soup and it was a good little lunch.

Workout

Today’s workout was lunchtime yoga!  Today’s yoga class was a good one, I was actually sweaty at times.  And we started learning some new moves that are a little bit on the crazier side.  Like the crane pose!

Crane Pose

(source)

Which I haven’t mastered quite yet… Although our former intern and current part-time staff member Mary can do it!  I was impressed.  One day…

I’m off to put in some serious leisuring time.  Have a great Friday!

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Posted in Dinner, Lunch, yoga

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I Heart Yoga (and Bagelwiches)

Posted on May 14, 2011 | 2 Comments

Good morning!

Yesterday ended up being a busy day and evening, so I didn’t get a chance to update the ol’ blog.  But I did get a chance to squeeze in my fave office lunchtime activity…

Yoga Gals (Myself, Mary, Lexy)

Lunchtime office yoga!

Since we were away at our conference last week we had to skip Friday’s lunchtime yoga session.  I have missed it, as well as our awesome instructor, and it was a really relaxing way to end the work week.

My office bestie Lexy has the cutest little preggo belly of all time.  She is literally just belly, and looks amazing!  You wouldn’t even know she was pregnant from behind, except she has a slight waddle ;) .  I have loved checking out her bump every day at work, she always dresses it so cute.  I will actually be hitting up her baby shower later today, which means two of my favourite things…shower finger foods and party games!  Can’t wait for those…

After yoga I had a pretty darn good bagelwich to look forward to.

Bagelwich FTW

I topped a toasted whole wheat (Weight Watchers) bagel with goat cheese and jam, and it was sooo delicious.  I love the combo of goat cheese and fruit, and I could have gone on eating this forever.  So yummy.

J'adore Bagelwiches

I had intended on bringing some sliced up red pepper as a side, but I forgot it when I was packing my lunch :( .  No veggies for me.  I ended up eating the apple I was saving for my afternoon snack instead, and then my afternoon snack was this…

Chips & Salsa

I saw Mary digging into this in our lunch room, and since I was a snackless wonder I had to join in.  I love salsa!  Fave condiment, hands down.

After work, Ando and I had to run to his parents to switch cars, as we were borrowing theirs while we got our brakes done (so needed, I was getting embarrassed whenever I had to stop because they were making a terrible grinding sound).  Immediately afterwards we hit up the Royal Oak for dinna (which you may remember from my So Nice We Ate There Twice post) with our friends Shane and Candis!

Dinner Party

I haven’t seen these two cheeky cats in a while and it was really fun to catch up with them.  Good thing, because our food took forever and they kept me distracted so I didn’t start snacking on my own arm.  It was really busy in there (ran into my friend Fran also!), and our food seriously did not come until 8:30.  I was dying by the time it arrived, and my hungry monster was about to make an appearance…

Shepherd's Pie

I selected the shepherd’s pie for my entree, which is kind of a weird choice for me and not something I have ever ordered in a restaurant before.  Whenever I have gone out for dinner in a pub with a group of people, someone orders a shepherd’s pie and it always looks delicious.  I decided to embrace The Royal Oak’s British atmosphere and go for it.

It was pretty good, and so filling!  Even though my tummy was eating itself by that point I could only finish a little over half of it.  So beefy!  My salad was a nice addition, and I definitely finished that plate.

After our dinner extravaganza, we headed over to Candis and Shane’s for a fun little evening of Euchre and Taboo (which I am terrible at, I always say the word I’m not allowed to say).  Good times.

I am excited for this afternoon because I have a lunch date with one of my old and favourite friends, and then Lexy’s baby shower!

I hope you all enjoy your Saturday!

Have you ordered a dish in a restaurant that you wouldn’t usually order and been pleasantly surprised with the outcome?

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Posted in Dinner, Lunch, Pals, yoga

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Friday FTW

Posted on April 29, 2011 | 2 Comments

Good evening!

Did everyone get up bright and early to watch the royal wedding?!  I did not.  I did catch a bit before I left for work, and I DVR’d it in case I want to watch it tonight, so we’ll see.

I wasn’t too much into the whole royal wedding business beforehand, the media hype was crazy!  But after hearing all the recaps, and seeing the dress and some ceremony details, it has pumped me up a bit.  I do love love, and she did look beautiful!


And I thought that little girl on the far left was funny…

And I still think Kate Middleton For The Win is funny!

So who knows, I may dabble in some wedding action a little later with a bit o’ vino…

I was pretty excited for today, not only because it’s Friday, but after two weeks off we were back to lunchtime yoga!  I had to skip it two weeks ago because I was away for meetings, and last week yoga fell on Good Friday, so it was awesome to get back to a little lunchtime relaxation.

We had a substitute instructor today, who was actually petty good.  She had a really soothing Spanish accent, so sometimes when I closed my eyes I felt like I was on a tropical beach somewhere, and not in our boring boardroom.

Before I knew it, it was time to get back to work.  I did have a good lunch of last night’s leftover pasta to look forward to…

Veggie-Packed Pasta

I also had a slice of grilled chicken, feta, red pepper and sundried tomato pizza that was leftover from a meeting.  It was seriously delicious, and I inhaled it before I remembered to snap a pic.

After that work thang was all done (and I worked harrrrd today, phew!), Ando and I went straight out for dinner.  Because we’re senior citizens who like to go out at five o’clock.

Crown & Firkin

We chose the Crown & Firkin in our neighbourhood, which neither of us has ever actually gone to for dinner…only drinks!  This was a big college spot for us.  But I did hit up another Firkin at while I was at our AGM, and my dinner was good, and when I suggested it to Andreezy he was down immediately.

I ordered a roasted vegetable, portabello mushroom, and goat cheese salad, and I was really impressed!

Lots O' Veggies & Super Yummy

It had lots of veggies, and also no skimping on the cheese!

I also dabbled in some of Alejandrew’s onion rings ;) .

I love going out for dinner on Friday’s right after work.  It’s a good chance to have a drink and unwind from the workweek and get ready for the weekend!  We don’t have any crazy plans, but I’m kind of glad.  Last weekend was so busy with Easter shenanigans, so I’m excited for a nice relaxing time.  I am away for work next week from Wednesday to Friday so next week is going to be a busy one!

Breakfast this morning was of (surprise surprise) the oatmeal variety…

PB & J Oatmeal

Oatmeal topped with peanut butter and jam, and maple flax seeds.  Such a good combination.  I love my PB&J!  I seriously had a peanut butter and jam sandwich almost every single day in elementary school.  I don’t know what I would eat now with all the peanut allergies in schools.

All Stirred Up!

I’m off to enjoy my Friday.  Hope all of you do as well!

What was your favourite school lunch when you were growing up?

Mine was totally PB&J sammies, baby!

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Posted in Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, yoga

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Chocolate Strawberry Green Monster

Posted on April 1, 2011 | 2 Comments

I woke up this morning with a serious craving for chocolate.  Probably stemmed from my little indulgence with the muffin top last night.

Chocolate for breakfast though?  Welp, why not?!

Chocolately Smoothie Deliciousness

I decided to make a chocolate-strawberry green monster to satisfy my chocolatey cravings.  Into my blender went:

  • 1.5 cups frozen strawberries
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tbsp-ish honey (basically just to taste)
  • 1 handful baby spinach
  • 4 ice cubes

I mixed it for a while.  My blender is not the greatest, and really struggled with the ice and frozen strawberries, but after a few minutes I had a delicious chocolate-strawberry smoothie.

More O' The Goods

I served it in a bowl with a straw, but I ended up eating most of it with a spoon.  It was delicious, and tasted like ice cream!  You can have a healthy breakfast that includes chocolate, my friends.  My chocolate craving was satisfied, and most importantly my hunger monster was satisfied until my mid-morning snacktime, which consisted of this:

PC Greek Yogurt Cup + Blubes

(I scored that at the Superstore near my work because they are alllllways sold out at my Superstore.)

Let me just say, I LOVE Fridays.  Everyone is excited for the weekend, and talking about all the fun activities they’re going to get up to in the two whole days off work, and just generally in a great mood.  It’s a beautiful atmosphere.

We also started up our Friday lunchtime yoga again today!

Back To This!

We had taken a couple weeks off from our last yoga session, so it felt great to be back into it.  We had the same instructor, and let me tell you, she is the best yoga instructor I have ever had.  I’ve said this before, but I’m really amazed at how much she gets you to concentrate on how your body feels in certain positions and how to really focus on your breathing.

Also, she was wearing Joe Fresh yoga pants (a new kind that I haven’t seen yet, they were almost like tights), and she said she actually prefers them to Lululemon pants.  This was fab to hear since Joe Fresh yoga pants are $2o and Lulu’s are $100.  I kind of agree though.  I have been practically living in my Joe Fresh pants for over six months and they have not balled at all.  My new Lulu’s I have only had for a month or two and are already starting to ball a bit in…well…certain places ;) .

Anyway, I was telling our intern Mary today what I think really helps get me into our lunchtime yoga is not being able to watch myself in the mirror.  I love that we have no mirror in the boardroom we practice yoga in, because with no mirror I can imagine myself in these amazing positions and feel like my body is doing them awesomely and looking amazing while doing it.  But if I’m doing yoga and  happen to glance at myself in a mirror, I’ll see what I really look like, and how it is not exactly as good as what I think I look like, and I start to concentrate more on how I look rather than how my body feels, and my practice doesn’t feel as good.  This is just what I’ve noticed.  But yeah, I like no mirror.

Lunchtime yoga broke up my day well (lunch was leftover chicken and quinoa stir fry from yesterday), and before I knew it, it was home time!  I love the feeling I get when I skip out of work on a Friday afternoon and it is bright and sunny.  And warm-ish.

It was beautiful this afternoon!

Thumbs Up For Sunshine + Weekend!

I was a very happy camper on my drive home.  Hence the thumbs up.  I picked up my lovely Andy-roo after work and we immediately went out for dinner, to the Royal Oak!  (You may remember the Oak from my So Nice We Ate There Twice post with our friends Mike and Bri.)

The Oak

It’s not quite nice enough just yet for the patio, so we ate inside.  I really do love the atmosphere, though Andrew had some problems with the sun in his eyes…

Hehehe

The glasses were helpful.

After perusing the menu for a while, I ended up ordering the California Chicken Club sandwich (so chicken again, what can ya do?), which included chicken, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and guacamole on focaccia, and a side salad.

Dinna

The guacamole definitely made this sandwich.  It was a really good combination.

I’m off to enjoy some Friday leisuring!

I hope you all enjoy your Friday and first day of April!

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

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Posted in Breakfast, Dinner, Snack, Workout, yoga

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