K-Cup Heaven

My darling friend Angi introduced me to a store in my 'hood called Tweed and Hickory.

I had driven past it a kajillion times, but had never actually ventured in. It's a odd store, but the most important part? It's K-Cup heaven!

The thing with K Cup coffee, is that it's expensive... espescially if you buy an entire box and don't like it.

Tweed and Hickory sells them in bulk. You can pick and choose, 24 for $16.49.

I got lots of new flavours to try: butterscotch, donut shop, pumpkin, peppermint tea, white hot chocolate, Haiwaiian hazelut, pecan praline, chocolate donut, winter carnival, lemon tea and caramel vanilla nut.

...and as 2012 is the year of financial success, for those of you doing the math: that's 0.68 cents a cup!

TV Talk

It's no secret that I have an addictive personality.

This also applies to my TV watching skills.

I hate watching TV in "real time" and thrive on marathon-series on DVD-sessions.

This all started waaaaaaaaay back in about 2003, when I watched the first episode of 24...which resulted in me not leaving my house for an entire weekend because I was glued to the TV.

My latest obsession?

Sons of Anarchy. It's sooooo good. I'm not sure how I've missed out on it for all this time. There's already 4 seasons!

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Other shows that I have plowed through: Dexter, Breaking Bad (my favorite!), American Horror Story, True Blood, Californication, Gilmore Girls (still have a few seasons to go), The Good Wife (still have a few seasons to go), Entourage, and as much as I hate admitting this: One Tree Hill.

Are you a marathon TV watcher?

Dinner of Champions

Sometimes work gets in the way of my quest for healthy living.

I am absolutely loving the new challenges in my career, but admittedly my plate is pretty full. I start work early, but as my clients are mostly International I arrive to a full inbox every morning due to time change. I'm finding the best time to get work accomplished is between 5-7 when everyone has left for the day.

I left late last night, missing my 4:30pm workout window. The entire drive home, I was thinking "I'm just gonna skip tonight" but then my conscience got to me and I decided I'd feel worse if I didn't go.

I went to Body Combat and rocked it. I left feeling slightly queesy, and decided I didn't want/have the energy to prepare the bok choy and mushroom stir fry I had planned.

Instead, I had my version of a Dinner for Champions.
A green smoothie (water, strawberry yogurt, frozen banana, fresh strawberries and a scoop of vanilla protein) annnnnnnnnnd a piece of cake.

Odd yes, but equally delicious.

The moral of the story? Sometimes it's ok to eat cake for dinner. In fact, I encourage it.

(Still haven't decided on a back splash... but I gotta say, I'm liking the way that one looks against the counter!)

Morning Hydration

I love my Tupperware Tumbler.
Drinking enough water usually isn't really problematic for me, but during the winter months I am finding it a little more challenging to guzzle.

Every morning after my shower, I get back into bed and put on my make-up sitting cross-legged with a compact. (Is that weird? I was telling a colleague that, and she thought I was a weirdo!) And for those who are about to blast me for being a bad wifey, Andrew is a sound sleeper and this dosn't wake him up... despite having the light AND radio on! :)

I've gotten into the habit of filling up my tumbler and leaving it on my night table, thus, making it very accessible during the make-up application ritual. I've been drinking a full tumbler (24 oz./700 mL) before 5:45am.

Not that this is earth shattering news, but I just thought it was a good way to sneak in a little extra H2o... especially after not drinking all night, and before dehydrating with a cup (or 16) of coffee.

Do you find it challenging to drink enough water during the chilly Winter months?

My RPM Audition - The Results

It was Friday night at about 10pm, I was out at a "Holiday Gala" for Andrew's company when the red light on my Blackberry started flashing.

I had been quasi-stalking it all day, because I knew I'd be receiving an email with either good news or bad news.

The subject line was: RPM Audition - Thank You

I knew it was bad news immediately, but continued to read:

As Team Leaders for RPM, we would like to thank you for coming out to the RPM audition on Saturday January 7th, 2012. We appreciate your interest in becoming an LMI Instructor with GoodLife Fitness Clubs.

Unfortunately we are not able to offer you a spot in the upcoming training session at this point in time. As space in the training is limited, we have made every effort to select those individuals who we feel best meet the current schedule needs and the Les Mills International (LMI) criteria - awesome technique, performance and enthusiasm!

While we were not able to select you at this time, we would encourage you to keep attending RPM classes. Ask the instructors for feedback on technique, and pay special attention to the passion that is displayed by your instructor. These are all aspects that you can work on over the following months. We encourage you to come back to see us at our next audition.

Thank you for your interest and your passion for RPM.

So, that's the scoop. I am not going to be an instuctor.

This may sound egotisitical to the max, but I don't often fail. Usually when I put my mind to something I generally succeed. I think that's why I'm so upset. The fact that I failed at something I really put my heart into.

But at the end of the day I tried. I gave it 110% too.

I guess there's always next time, right?

Thank you for all your support and words of encouragement. xo

Pillow Talk

It's no secret that I like to be a little dramatic.

It shouldn't shock you that this also applies to my cycle.

It also shouldn't shock you that each and every month I bust out my best Maury Pauvich impression (air microphone and all) to tell Andrew "You are NOT the Father."

Usually he just rolls his eyes, and goes back to sleep. Yes, I wake him to tell him this at 5:15am. I'm nice like that.
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The coversation was slightly different yesterday morning though.

It went something like this:

Amy: ANDREW, You are NOT the father!!
Andrew: Already?
Amy: Hunh?
Andrew: I looked at your period calculator app last month and took a mental note. I thought it was coming on the 20th?

I had no words. And then I laughed my ass off.

I'm glad that I'm so pleasant that he takes mental notes of when to expect me at my finest. That right there my friends, is a good man!

Happy Friday!

Jumping on the NROLFW Bandwagon

It's no secret that I'm a cardio whore. I go to Body Pump once a week maybe, but that's where my zest for strength training ends.

I've been seeing this book pop up all over the internet, and I had a Chapters gift card burning a hole in my pocket so I procured it last night.
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I skimmed it quickly, and jotted the first workout down and hit the gymbo.

This time of year at the gym is no joke - it's packed at every hour of the day. I'm pretty lucky that there are 2 Goodlife locations within a 5km radius from my house. One of them being an all-women's location - which is perfect for me - the shy/embarrassed/rookie weight lifter.

I set up shop and rocked the first workout.

I didn't feel much of anything, as I didn't use super heavy weights because the whole purpose of the workout is to use heavier weights each workout. I didn't want to go balls-to-the-wall on the first one, ya know?

Following the workout, I had plans for sprints on the treadmill - but shocker - they were all full. The only piece of cardio equipment that was free was the eeeeeeevil elliptical. I did 30 mins of intervals and the end result was a hot and sweaty Amy.

The plan calls for 3 times a week, but I've decided to do it on Tuesday and Saturday and then continue to do Body Pump and CX Worx on Sunday.

Here's hoping for a ripped moi in 2012!

Anyone else following this program?