BBQ season is here!

My BBQ King was hard at work last night on the deck while I was in the kitchen.  As much as I’d like to think I can BBQ a chicken breast… after he BBQ’s for dinner, I know he is the master.  So, while Mr. B. was outside cooking my chicken breast and his T-bone steak… I was in the kitchen cooking the mushrooms and potatoes he requested.

We enjoyed it so much that we’re having it for dinner again tonight.

I have to admit, I skipped my daily cardio today in favour of getting outside and working on our flower bed.  When we moved in to this house the backyard looked like this:

Not a total disaster, I realize.  I know it could be worse.  It’s hard to tell from this photo what a mess the grass truly is.  It’s all crabgrass and clover.  We’ve tried to put down topsoil and reseed several times already this spring and it’s not helping (we didn’t attack the crabgrass correctly).  We are surrendering and calling in the big guns.  Hopefully a professional can help.  We’re also creating one big flower bed along the fence line.  I’ll post ‘after’ pictures when it’s presentable.  We may end up cutting down the grapevine at some point too.

We’ve also had some recent visitors in the backyard as of late.

Can you see the mom, dad and baby?  Cute little pests.

Now it’s time to sit with my treat of the day while we wait for the backyard to cool down before tackling the flowerbed again.

Cheers

I hope you're all enjoying your long weekend! After a very stressful week (with no end in sight) we decided to remedy my stress STAT.

I'm trying to keep it mostly healthy & clean eats this weekend. I've also managed to still get in my exercise. I'm averaging 6-7 days a week of exercise! Woohoo! I may have indulged in a treat today...

And polished off a bag of my new favourite (& very expensive) kale chips! I wish I could master making the flavour as good as this company.

Tomorrow's plan is more elliptical time, a walk with the pup, loads of gardening, and BBQ for dinne (again)! Can't wait!

Well hello there

It appears I’ve taken a lengthy blogging break yet again.

I’m beyond happy that spring is well under way.  In fact, this weekend it’s looking like it could feel like summer… it’s going to feel like +29C!  Check it out…

It wasn’t so long ago (last month!) that we had another dumping of snow!

So… what’s been going on?  Well, After my last physical my doctor had a lot of good things to tell me.  My thyroid is excellent, as is my cholesterol, B12, blood sugar, blood pressure… and almost everything else.  The only concern was my hormone levels.  After many more doctor’s visits and some ultrasounds, I’ve been diagnosed with PCOS.  It’s now crucial that I lose the weight I’ve gained.  I don’t want to live with these cysts inside me… and losing weight is going to be the best thing I can do.

I’ve been tracking food in my food diary (on My Fitness Pal) again.  I’m exercising 6 to 7 days a week.  I’m eating (mostly), clean.  Maybe it’s time to try blogging again too. I’ve found myself taking some photos of my food lately…

I’ve been doing a different job since November.  It’s a job which has more stress and more work… but it’s also a job I’ve learned a lot in and been fortunate enough to receive a lot of training in.  The job, which started as a contract, has become a permanent position.  I, however, have decided not to apply for it.  I’m ready to go back to my 9-5 job.  It remains to be seen exactly when I will go back to my old job (it depends on when this one gets filled)… but it could be as early as mid-summer.  I’m hoping having that schedule back will help blogging easier again!

Beautiful Day

It’s Friday.

Grey skies from this morning cleared up.

It’s sunny.

It’s +18C here.

What more could I ask for in a Friday afternoon?

Some scenes from my backyard a mere moment ago…

 

My lunch was also a beautiful thing.

Quinoa, tomato, avocado, cheese, salt and pepper.

My dessert is taken care of tonight:

Happy weekend!

Words to Live By

Happy Sunday

Don’t Look At Me

I’m so embarrassed.  This is what I made today:

And I ate one.

Overall, I’ve been doing much better with my food the last couple of days. I’ve even been back to tracking what I eat in my food diary. We’re going out to dinner tonight and I’ve looked at the menu ahead of time and know what I’m going to order (at Joey – going to order the viva salad)

I thought spring was here last week, but yesterday I awoke to this

Here’s hoping that’s the last of it and we can really welcome spring

And summer…

Ah, I can feel the heat on my face now.  Definitely going for more walks this summer.  Maybe I’ll even learn to jog?

The lunch

Lunch was a beautiful thing today.

I have been craving avocado.  I wasn’t sure how I wanted to incorporate it in to my lunch, so I cut up 2 really small avocados and threw them in the food processor with a little EVOO, a little fresh squeezed lemon juice, garlic and sea salt.

It was so freaking good. 

I threw it on some whole grain toast with some sliced tomato and cucumber.  Orgasmic.

I followed it up with some mango, flax seed and peach greek yogurt.  Multiple orgasmic.

This was the perfect lunch.

Cheers

 

I spent 4 hours today doing work.  I’m working on becoming accredited to be able to provide 2 specific parenting programs.  I spent 4 hours and only got through 17 multiple choice questions.  I have 43 questions left.  Plus 6 role plays to come up with.  My accreditation is March 22nd.  I also have to work full time and provide service to all of my clients before then. 

Excuse me while I go pour another.

Happy Saturday.  Happy weekend!  Cheers!

This Day

A new month begins today.

Today, March 1st, signals the beginning of the end of winter.

Today, I woke up to this:

Today, it seemed like the perfect day to have this for breakfast:

Today, despite the chaotic schedule I had, I remembered to stop and smell these:

Today, I once again enjoyed salad for lunch:

Today, I feel good.

Tomorrow, I will feel even better… it’s Friday!

Sunday Morning

Sunday morning rain is falling

Steal some covers, share some skin

I love waking up on Sunday mornings to see the sun is shining and the snow is melting.  We really haven’t had much of a winter this year so I certainly can’t complain about weather, but feeling warmth from the sun coming through our skylights is a great feeling.

I also love Sunday mornings because we sleep in (a perk to being childless?) and then breakfast is made for me.  I guess it’s brunch more than anything because we eat so much that we don’t eat again until dinner.

My favourite eggs are sunny side up.  Very appropriate for today’s weather.

My chef has learned to cook them perfectly.  The yolk stays runny and I can dip my toast in them and soak it all up.  And of course, I add ketchup.

It was enjoyed with some coffee.  Mine was french vanilla (in my mug that Tara gave me years ago! My favourite of all time!)

His was Kahlua (his Toronto Maple Leafs mug is at the office, so I shared my Winnie the Pooh mug)

Do you know the difference between sunny side up and over easy eggs? 

I only learned it recently.  Sunny side up eggs aren’t flipped over and cooked on both sides.  Over easy eggs are.  We like our eggs sunny side up here.  It keeps the yolks more runny and there’s no chance of the yolk breaking when they’re flipped.  Plus, it’s exactly how my grandma used to make my eggs for me… and she was the best at them.

I did something yesterday I’ve never done in my life.  I treated myself to tulips.  For years, when I lived alone, I went to Superstore on Saturday mornings and walked past the florist.  I always wanted to treat myself to flowers but never bothered.  Yesterday a grocery store near here had 3 bunch of tulips for $10.  I was already there anyway (looking to see if they have the new Betty Crocker red velvet cake mix), so I bought some!  Bring on spring!

We’re making our own subs for dinner tonight.  I can’t wait!