Community

Look who came to visit last weekend? LYNN!

We had a lovely time, and it seemed as though we didn't even skip a beat despite not having seen each other since Andrew and I went out to Halifax back in 2009 for a few days of debauchery.

Stuff gets crazy in Angiealltheway's living room I tell ya.

Anyways, it got me thinking about community and how much I thrive in a supportive environment.

My Goodlife location is not a good example of a supportive environment. In fact, it's the complete opposite. I mean, it's a building with exercise stuff in it and there are a few awesome instructors but for the most part I actually find it very cliquey and unwelcoming in general.

With my most recent obsession with Crossfit, I was reminded how awesome it feels to be part of a community again. People are friendly and encouraging. They route you on while you're suffering through Fran, and they come over to high five you when you're collapsed in a pile of your own sweat.

...and then there's my pal Christy.

This girl rocks my world on a daily basis. I'm pretty sure we are sisters from another mister, but I don't want to imply either of our parents were promiscuous. We echo the same bizarre thoughts, we push each other through tough workouts, and talk each other down when we get a case of the crazies.

In a tough healthy-living quest for skinny, I am so thankful for my little community of support: My friends, my sports teams, my online support, my bloggies, my hubby etc etc etc.

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Dinner is served

I've been making an effort of late to get rid of the crappy carbs in my diet and stick to paleo'ish foods.

I'm not quite disciplined enough to go all hardcore, but I'm pleased with the choices I have been making.

Dinner last night was kind of awesome.

Sweet potato wedges, avocado/tomato salad, a portabello mushroom cap, and a basil/turkey burger topped with a little goat cheese (not paleo dammit).

I've been eating pretty clean, but there are crappy carbs that continue to taunt me.

Specifically, GH Cretor's Chicago Mix.

Seriously, it's crack. Annnnnnnnnd, it comes in a HA-UGE bag at Costco.

I'm an addict. But at least I'm an addict with controlled portion sizes right?

Anyone else an addict?

Another hard day...

Today marks another annual difficult day in my life: the anniversary of my Mom's death.

This box contains sympathy cards, letters etc that were given to my Dad after she passed. Every couple of years, I dig through it and am overwhelmed  at the amount of support that poured in when she died. She was loved and respected by many, and continues to be missed by all.

They say time heals all wounds, but I call bullshit on that. 

In fact, I would say that this day gets harder for me every year as I get older. While I'm so thankful and fortunate to have an amazing extended family, sometimes I'd just love to pick up the phone and have a chat with my Mom. Ya know?

I found this video yesterday. Kind of appropriate for a day like today.

Enough tears for today - only smiles.

Yesterday

Yesterday was just 'one of those days' where you go-go-go!

I missed Bootcamp because I had to get a few vaccines. When I say "a few" I really mean 6.

(it's very hard to take pictures of your own arms).

Rushed home after work, so I could sneak in a workout.

35 min run, 10 mins on the stepmill.

Felt great to get moving again after being side lined by the flu for a few days.

Why was I in such a hurry to sneak in a workout?

Does the worried look on her face give it away?

Vet time for Jersey. My sweet, docile, loving retriever turns into the spawn of Satan at the vet. The muzzle comes out, and I actually have to pin her head in between my legs so the vet can examine her. She freaks out when anyone touches her. Last night, I even had to hold up her lips so the vet could check out her teeth - from a far of course. Anyone that has met Jersey in real life can attest what a loving, trustworthy dog she is. At the vet? Not so much.

Girlfriend also needs to get a job. Ouch.

After a swim at the dog park - to reward her for her terrible behaviour - we arrived home.

I decided to have a few kale chips to tide me over until dinner.

Apparently kale chips SOUND like kitty treats. You can imagine his displeasure when he realized there were no treats in store for him.

Another day, another dollar.

Rabies

Jersey is going to the vet tonight to get her shots.

...oddly enough I also got a rabies (in addition to many others) vaccination today.

How many people can say they got a rabies vaccination on the same day as their dog? My guess is not many.

New Routine

This is the look I've been getting every morning at approximately 5:00am.

For the life of her, Jersey cannot fathom why I'm downstairs and functioning at 5:00am. It makes me laugh that she dosn't actually come downstairs, but she's curious enough just to take a peak at what I'm up to. What a diva!

So why am I up and functioning at 5:00am? I'm a new candidate at Soldiers of Fitness. For once (and this never happens to me as I live in the 'burbs) it's super close to my house and runs every weekday from 5:30-6:30. MWF are cardio days, T-TH are strength days.

I've got one week under my belt, and so far so good. It's VERY heavy on running - which I wish they would have disclosed because I'm not sure I would have signed up. I know this is odd coming from a  girl that once lived/loved to run. It's just not something I enjoy doing anymore and would rather get my cardio in other ways.

That being said, the workouts are awesome, the participants are equally as awesome and I'm not a quitter so I'm going to finish the month.

......I do miss Crossfit. A lot.

Also - I picked up this little baby.

Measurements have been taken at my chest, belly button, hips, bicep and thigh.

Hopefully I'll see some changes in those numbers by the end of the month. Measurements can a good indicator of progress when the stupid scale doesn't move.

Chipoltle Stuffed Peppers

 Lately, I've been kind of obsessed with Mango & Lime salsa. I've been putting it on everything.

I picked up a 6 pack of mixed peppers at Costco last week. Why do I always think that 2 people will eat 6 peppers quickly? Oh right, it's because I always say "I'll prep them and eat them for snacks" and then it never happens.

I did find a solution to use them up before they went bad.

I present you with what I'm calling: Chipoltle Stuffed Peppers.

Please remember, you don't come here for my beautiful food photography or recipe writing skills.



Simple to make: First I chopped the tops of the peppers, put them on a baking try and tossed them in the oven at 400.

Then  I cooked up some ground turkey, added a can of black beans and about a cup of frozen corn. While the turkey was cooking, I zapped some Minute Rice and added it to the mix once it was it cooked. I tossed it in the pan with the turkey, beans and corn and then added some of the La Grille Chipoltle Mango spice.

Pulled the partially cooked peppers from the oven, stuffed em, topped with a little extra old cheddar and put them back in for another 20'ish mins.

Served up with a little Greek yogurt, avocado and some mango salsa.  Awesome meal indeed!