Get into the groove

"Boy you've gotta prove your love to meeeeeeeeee"


The prior sentence was sung to a choir made up of cats screaching and dogs wailing 


You know cause i'm singing

i sang like an angel in my dream - this totally looks like
me no?

I CAN'T sing


The above 3 words are the biggest understatement of the century


Once i had a dream that i sang a Sarah MaClaughlin song to a circle of people and in the dream i sang so well people eventually joined in and it was the sweetest sound


And then i woke up feeling so at peace and happy


It goes down in history as one of Donnas most favourite dreams ever


But since i'm listening to music right now, went to a concert Saturday night, and am going to Zumba to shake my booty to music tonight i have music on my mind


Or in my mind


Or... nevermind


*hanging head in blonde blogger confusion shame*


Subject change time


So how was everyones weekend?


It was pretty crazy in the L-S household


But as i often like to do on Monday Recap!  I'll let the photos tell you the story just make sure you humm along while you read


Perhaps Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO?


Just cause i'm a wee bit obsessed with that song right now, just ask my zumba girls, i'll start doing the routine to that song anywhere


FRIDAY

Went for a run - forgot compression sleeve - at exactly 5km stop and limp home yelling obscenities and cursing letting BF run ahead with the water  

This is BF's i'm sexy and i'm shopping in the Bulk Barn face

My movies snack - 310 calories of British chocolate, mmmmmmm

 LRT MOVIE REVIEW: The Hangover


Like i said Friday i wasn't too excited about this movie, i was excited to see it with our friends Amy and Ryan and it turned out to be funnier then i though but i saw way too many peepee's then one ever needs to see in a movie - i lost count at like 6, yes i was counting :oD  So if you thought the first movie was too crazy then skip this one for sure!


SATURDAY:

Started my day with a dark chocolate cherry breakfast cookie, holy yummmmm!  Have i mentioned i spent  $10 on cherries the other day? Shhh don't tell BF apparently he doesn't like cherries :oP

The girl on this ball totally mocks me as i shake my way through Physique 57

Hardwood debate ends with a compromise that makes me grumpy, guess i can't always get my way :o( Must trust BF's judgement though.... hmph!

HOCKEYFEST Concert!!!

Taking pics with Heather, not too sure where we are looking :o) 

Yup, this is my man, i'm so proud!

Mmmm fresh warm Kettle Corn!

Instead of getting annoyed that Dave insists on sticking out his tongue for 87% of photos i join in 

Matt & Nat!

Clint & Heather!

Forget silly candid photos - move on to mmmmini donuts!

Finger Eleven = great music!

Then we got free VIP bracelets - yay!

Not sure what happened with this photo - looks cool though

Three Days Grace was just okay, super loud and lots of talking - meh!

 SUNDAY

We must have crashed when we got home because we were still wearing bracelets when we woke up!

Discovered a doodle sleeping on my butt :o)

Figured after a REALLY hard Spartan class at the gym this morning i deserved a wholewheat pizza - didn't eat the whole thing, definitely shared with BF,  a bit ;o)

While rolling my calves i notice the sexy tan line i developed watching BF play baseball today,  this is hot

Start to decide what i will blog about today and get distracted that someone found my blog via popeye aint got abs??? teeheheheeeeee

Well thats the quickie summary version of my weekend!


I did make a kick ass dinner Friday night and i want to share a recipe with you 


I found Lindsays recipe the other day and KNEW i had to make them STAT, then after i ate them i realized i was going to make a new version for the BBQ Saturday

Crispy Parmesan Vegetables

Adapted from The Lean Green Bean

Ingredients
1 medium zucchini or 1 medium sweet potato or both!
1/4 cup of spelt breadcrumbs (or any breadcrumbs, i just didn't want to use white and spelt was the only other kind at Sobeys)
1/4 cup of parmesan cheese
Dash of sea salt
2 tsps of garlic powder
Fresh Ground pepper
1/2 cup of egg whites
1/2 cup of whole wheat flour


Directions
1. Chop vegetables into fry shaped pieces
2. Toss in whole wheat flour
3. Dip in egg whites
4. Roll in breadcrumb/parmesan/garlic/pepper/salt bowl
5. Place on cookie sheet for baking
6. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees
7. Eat, Love, Enjoy!

Mmmmmmm Breaded vegetables

Perfect summer dinner

Okay well its Monday - blech but its the start of my birthday week - YAY!


QUESTION: What awesome things did you get up to this weekend? and what is your favourite song right now?


Seeya tomorrow, i'm off to walk the doodle, put out the garbage and recycling, decide what to wear, shower, get ready and drive to work - 60 minutes is enough for all that right? aaahhhhhhhh

Running around in circles

Well at ten to ten Monday night i had no idea what i was going to post about today 


Well except for that recipe i made Sunday and already teased you about


Don't worry it's coming


And its fanfrickintastic!


Seriously though my mind is still all jumbled up


At lunch time i mentioned to dave that i had no idea for once what i was going to blog about and he said its only noon, there is lots of stupid $hit we can get into 


I love my man ;o)


So i just decided at exactly 10:00pm i'm going with Running Around in Circles because


a) i'm off for a run with hilary this morning and i'm SO hoping my shin holds out!  I went and bought a compression sleeve yesterday, keep your fingers crossed for me and i'll update you tomorrow!


b) we only got about 3 things crossed off our to do lists because everything we tried to accomplish led to issues, kinda felt like we were... wait for it.... running around in circles!


So what were the issues donna you ask?


Well let me tell you...


In order of course...


- i had issues returning dresses i bought a few weeks ago, like at Zara i was 3 days too late, totally my fault but since they don't do store credit (who doesn't have store credit???) i had to spend it right away, only for once in my life i couldn't find anything to buy and i ended up with a $19 tank top and BF got a $60 t-shirt, pfffttt!


- dave tried to feed me in an effort to cheer me up (when in doubt just feed the grumpy donna) but the 12 grain bagel with light cream cheese did not cut it, i was just uber pi$$ed that Tim Hortons didn't have cucumbers to put on the bagel, booooo


- according to the flooring specialist, dark hardwood is out??? so now our floor color is changing which stresses me out to no end and my mum and dave liked one kind while i liked the other and it took all my energy not to have a full out tantrum on the show room floor - still no decision was made


- a bunch more issues but i won't bore you!

____________________________

I do have a review for you to make up for listening to me whine

It'll make up for the fact you can't give me that look in real life


You know the look


Its the one that politely asks


"Would you like some cheese with that wine?"


Yes, yes i would! :o)

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TRX

Christina and i finally made it to the infamous TRX class today - woot woot!
We talked to a few people in the line up who have taken the class already all had the overall review of OMG its hard and it hurts soooo good!

TRX is

What is it? A system consisting of two ropes with handles anchored to the ceiling or a frame. It introduces instability to traditional exercises, thereby engaging the entire body.

How hard is it It’s challenging enough for U.S. Navy SEALs, but can be modified for a senior with little fitness experience. The determining factors are the position of the body and how much body weight goes into each exercise.

What does it work? The entire body, with particular focus on the arms, chest and back. It’s also killer for the core because the muscles help stabilize with every move. It will not meet your cardio quota unless you integrate jumping jacks and burpees between sets.

What are classes like? They’re typically small, almost like semi-personal training. Expect a range of styles across gyms. Some may be high-octane, others more methodical.

Who’s taking it? TRX takers are loyal to the core. Fit young men and women, they book classes weeks ahead, often shutting out newcomers. At some gyms, reserving one of the systems can be more difficult than scoring a table at a hot new restaurant.   SOURCE

Let me tell you, this was H-A-R-D! It only took about 5 minutes for me to be dripping with sweat, at one point i remember hearing almost every member of the class (there was 25 of us) grunting in unison!  Putting our legs in the ropes created crazy cool resistance and i'll be feeling it tomorrow for sure, my favourite exercise was the pike completed with your legs up in ropes - ccrraaazzzyyyy, I'll definitely be going back next week

____________________________

Okay recipe time!


Did you figure it out from my teaser? 


Nope, i didn't roast a giraffe


I hear they are too chewy


I made my famous BANANA BREAD.... and then I made BANANA BREAD OATMEAL!!!!!!!!!!!

Banana-ana-ana Bread

3 anas cause there are 3 bananas!

adapted from a recipe i found online 3 years ago, sorry don't know from where

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 cup of sugar

1 tsp of baking soda

1/2 tsp of salt

3 over ripe bananas 

2 eggs
1/4 cup of melted butter


Directions

1. Combine dry ingredients
2. Mash up bananas and add slightly beaten eggs (you beat those eggs!)
3. Mix dry ingredients and bananas and eggs
4. Stir in melted butter
5. Bake for 55 minutes at 350 degrees
6. Wake up in the morning thinking of banana bread and top your banana oatmeal with some for a little bit of monkey heaven to start your day 

Now i know there are 2 kinds of people, banana bread lovers and banana bread haters


Question of the day: Which one are you?


Catcha tomorrow ;o)

Sweaty McSweatALot

Its Thirsty Thursday blog friends, i have a special dessert smoothie for you today but first have a pipes update and talk gym etiquette!

_______________________________



So after some great advice on the Pipes Challenge FB page from Susan i have decided to switch to girly half pushups, i did not have proper form doing the mens full pushups as i just don't have strength necessary to get my nose to the floor and i DO NOT want to get an injury, as you DO NOT want to hear me whine about it!

BF took some pictures of me at the gym doing the half pushups and i was having so much fun he couldn't get a shot where i wasn't moving - i totally paid for it the next day though!  This is week 2 and i'm really excited to see the difference between week 1 and 6, only 4.5 more weeks to go!  I'll be showing you silly pictures of me along the way but i'm going to save the before and after till the end, i like to create suspense on my blog you know, and not the how many tea towels will Donna kill this week kind of suspense

_______________________________

Now on to gym etiquette, the other day at the gym, someones sweat flew across the room and landed on me, oh goodness me, it was gross, i might have even thrown up a little in my mouth, it got me thinking about proper gym etiquette, in zumba classes we are packed in there like Sardines as our instructors are VERY good and everyone wants to be part of the fun so i have to expect sweat flinging incidences but there are some rules you can follow at the gym to make your time less vomit inducing

1. Wipe off your machines/mat/cardio equipment please please don't leave your sweaty bum imprint on the ab machine or your back sweat on the bicep machine, its unhygienic and just plain icky!


2. While i find the scent of BF all Sweaty a little sexy, the guy lifting weights beside him might not!  B.O. is natural but using deodorant (natural or lady speed stick, your call!) is necessary if you want to make or even maintain friends!  Talking about stinky odours, if your stomach is making that telltale, its coming and its not going to smell good gargle, do not do it, leave the room or hold it, nobody wants to smell that, nobody!


3. Mirrors are there to check your form, they are not there to check your makeup, fix your hair, or flex those biceps if you aren't currently working them!  Use the mirrors but just don't "use" the mirrors


4. Grunting isn't cool, proper breathing techniques are, exhaling loudly while you contract muscles is okay, screaming is not, i might run to your aid thinking you are injured, you will dumb, i will feel dumb, lets just not make loud noises, kay?


5. CellPhones are a rule i suck at! I have my phone with me most of the time and have once been known to check it during downward dog in yoga (in my defense i was waiting for a very important text  from our real estate agent), i keep it on vibrate so not to disturb anyone and i'm sorry for the people beside me on the treadmill the other day when BF called and wanted to know what was for dinner, how was i to know it wasn't an emergency?  So anyway, you should leave the cell in the car/bag etc... but if you keep it on you, set it on vibrate and remember you are at the gym to workout, not text and update your FaceBook status!



_______________________________

So its smoothie time, i decided to skip the green smoothie today and try out a dessert smoothie, because we all know i love to make every kind of dessert into something healthy!

Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
adapted from Cook Bake Nibble

Ingredients
1/2 Frozen Banana
2 tbsp raw cashews
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (i skipped this, i'm all out)
pinch cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
pinch sea salt
1  pack of splenda or stevia 
1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 cup water, more as needed
2 tbsp rolled oats
2 tbsp raisins


Directions
1. Blend all ingredients but the oats and raisins
2. Add in the poor left out oats and raisins, pulse blender once two three (count em out loud very important step!)
3. Enjoy with a spoon or if you have strong mouth muscles (so many bad places i could go with that!), a straw ;o)

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Okay, so remember on Monday when i was reminiscing about Sweet Valley High?  Click the photo girls (and guys, i don't judge), i'm SO ready to catch up with the Wakefield twins, this ranks VERY high on my squeal meter!

_______________________________

Lastly, i found this super cool Gym Etiquette Flow Chart for that whole awkward moment when you recognize someone at the gym, this happens to me all the time as i went to highschool 10 minutes away and the gym is approximately 1 minute away from my workplace - check it out and have a great Thursday, i'm off to Zumba with the work girls :o)

*** And PS: sorry for the late post mum, didn't have time to take smoothie pics till this afternoon but thanks for worrying xox

Train like you mean it

Happy Thirsty Thursday Friends!

Here is a little history for you...

In 2002 i moved to my very own apartment in a very small town which had a local gym and for the first time in my life i discovered exercise, i was 21 at the time and amazed at how good i felt adding in a few weights and learning to love the treadmill

I haven't looked back and for 9 years i've been in love with that feeeling you get after a super intense workout, that sweaty-i'm gonna die if...i...do...one...more....squat feeling!  My favourite workouts include Physique 57 (ballet like moves with high repetition for long lean muscles), Zumba (high intense cardio dancing workout) and Yoga (both the traditional kind and anti gravity) but last year I discovered running, my sister had started running to help in her weight loss journey so being the supportive big sister i started running too so we would text each other our progress daily and we set the goal for us to run a local 5K at the end of the summer, we did it and the feeling of having our family waiting at the finish line for us was incredible!

Now i kind of alluded to starting my running schedule but i've been pretty slack on filling you all in on what exactly my working out schedule looks like and what i do day to day


Fun at Zumba!

Monday = Zumba
Tuesday = Run
Wednesday = Physique 57
Thursday = Run & Zumba
Friday = Day off
Saturday = Run
Sunday = Yoga & Physique 57



The newest addition to my workout schedule is Morgans Pipes Challenge - I'm on my way to doing 100 man pushups... in a row! (as much as i would like to spread it out over a week, lol!) Now i will admit my man pushups aren't quite up to par compared to BF's but i'm trying my hardest and he makes them look so damn easy!  Plus i totally claim that i can't get as close to the ground as he does because my boobs are in the way ;o)  Here is my before photo shoot of my guns! (i know i just said boobs and you are automatically drawn to them but please focus on the arms, kay? kay!)  Feel free to check out the Facebook page where we are all tracking our progress



Before Photo for Pipes Challenge, laughing hysterically at silly BF!

Now this year my sister and i have mapped out a list of runs we want to complete this year on top of my normal workout schedule, a 5K on Good Friday, a few 10Ks in the summer, a 25K in the fall and a half marathon in November - we are optomistic girls!



I'm in the middle of training for my 5K now, Hal Hidgon is where I get my training schedules from, check it out my 5K schedule here

I honestly (because i can actually be SO honest here) have a love/hate relationship with running, some days i love the feeling of the pavement under my shoes and the thrill of getting to my goal and other days i feel like the slowest runner EVER and my feet feel like they are made of lead but still i trudge on, i am plagued with cramps this year but i have overcome the shin splints i suffered last year, i know there will be good days and bad days so i must carry on and having that Training Schedule is keeping me VERY accountable, i love that!

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Now the best way to recover from a good workout is a protein smoothie, which leads to... you guessed it, Thirsty Thursday

Todays Green Monster Smoothie is a spin on last weeks recipe!

Things i changed (just so you don't think i'm copping out of writing a new recipe!)
1. No added mint extract, last weeks was a wee bit too minty for me
2. Added chocolate soy milk instead of almond milk
3. Greek Yoghurt for protein
4. Romaine lettuce today instead of Spinach - crazy huh?

Chocolate Mint Monster

Ingredients
1 cup of chocolate soy milk
1/2 cup of plain greek yoghurt
1 pack of splenda
1/4 cup of fresh mint
1 romaine lettuce
1/2 Tbsp of chia seeds

Directions
1. Blend while you admire those pipes in the kitchen mirror, yes we have a mirror in our kitchen, we have a tv and a dvd player too, don't judge please :oD

                                        

ENJOY!

Have a lovely Thursday, Friday is just around the corner xox