Love from Austin

What a lovely way to start my weekend.  On Friday I popped over to the post office to pick up a package I had missed delivery of.  I just knew it was a much anticipated package from Janna!

Lookie here…another Starbucks City Mug for my ever expanding collection!  (My cupboard is totally overflowing!!)

She also tracked down the Carrot Cake Larabars for me because apparently new flavours take a bazillion years to come to Canada.  (If anyone has the elusive Blueberry Pie Larabars, pleeeeeeaze hook a girl up!)

Literary Love!  I had been tweeting my little heart out about how I cannot get The Help for my Kindle (yet another weird Canadian phenom) and the library waiting list is like six years long.  So instead of trotting out to buy the paperback Janna sent me her copy (which I will then pass along when I’m done) and also Little Bee because she’s certain I will love it.  :)

I’m already on chapter 6 of The Help…loving it…and will probably plow through the entire book this week.

As if that wasn’t enough already she also threw in this totally adorable ceramic travel mug from World Market.  I already sipped my Saturday morning coffee from it while walking the dogs with Michael.  In fact, it’s so cheery maybe I’ll make it my permanent dog walking mug.  :)

Thanks Janna girl!!  Love everything.  You are a sweetheart.  xox

The One Where I’m the Runner

I had one of “those” moments today.  While I was out for my run the trail was quite busy…lots of folks out for a stroll or walking their dogs.  That was usually me.  But today…I was the runner passing everyone! 

I’s the runner!!  toooooot tooooot!  :)

Another 4km of fun in the sun. 

Before which I munched on half a Larabar.  PB & J to be exact.  (heads up Haligonians…I found this at Superstore yesterday!!)

After the run I was about to fall down so immediately made a green smoothie…

In the blender today: 1/2 banana, bigass handful of baby spinach, 6 oz skim milk, packet of Amazing Grass Berry Superfood…

 

I think I figured out which AG flavor I don’t like.  Just a personal thing…so far the other flavors had more of a malty taste to them (which I lurve!), but this one was just meh.  Twas still a good boost of energy after my run though.

Following my shower…actual lunch…

Leftover homemade veggie pizza, raw veggies and hummus…

As for the Project Energize plan for today…I need to add time management to the list!  I spend too much time fiddling around with the internet and working out at random times…and today that bit me in the ass.  I worked too late to get to the post office and the pharmacy.  Gah.  Must fix this!

The dinner plan went off without a hitch though.

Butternut fries.  Tossed with Hy’s seasoning salt, Montreal steak spice, and cayenne pepper.

With parmesan haddock.  Filet dredged in egg white wash, seasoned flour and parmesan cheese.  Pan fried with a smidge of real butter.

Served with steamed broccoli and homemade tartar sauce.

Yummmmmm.

Ending the evening with all the comforts of home…tea, Apple Pomegranate Crisp, my heat pack, and HIMYM.  Night!

Me + outdoor running = NOT BFFs

I finally updated and charged my iPod, the sun is shining, I was feeling more motivated, I had hydrated, I got up on time, and work wasn’t pummelling me with time sensitive projects…all things pointed to OUTDOOR RUN.

Except that I’m not experienced at outdoor running. AT ALL. 

Before I set out I had breakfast…

The Bee’s Knees and banana on toast.

Gasp!  Out of coffee this morning…oh no!  Rescued by Starbucks Via sample pack.  Phew.  Strong but tasty!

I updated my iPod.  It has literally been sitting here unused for about 6 months.  I finally wiped out my old music (bye bye songs I have had for 8 years!) and started from scratch.

And hooked up my new headphones.  My original iPod ones died last Winter, and the replacement pair I got wouldn’t stay in my ears.  These ones don’t seem to be much better…grrrr.

I was running a bit behind and breakfast had started to wear off so I munched on 1/2 a lemon Larabar on my way out the door.

The run = the sucks.

- Mistake #1:  putting my camera in my pocket.  it bounced around too much and distracted me.

- Mistake #2:  carried a water bottle.  again, distracting and I didn’t need it.

- Annoying thing #1:  new headphones didn’t stay in my ears.  so another thing distracting me.

- Annoying thing #2:  using iPod as timer.  I so need a digital watch (or a Polar!!).

- Rookie mistake el grande:  pacing!  I start out too fast.  I’m used to setting my pace on a treadmill and have no idea how to pace myself on my own.  I’m all over the place!

Needless to say it wasn’t the nice interval run I was hoping for.  More of just a mish-mosh of running when I could and a lot more walking than I should.  Any suggestions?  Obviously I need help! 

It was 3km in about 25 mins.  Lame.

Came home and went straight for lunch. 

The controversial “soup-snob” soup leftovers.  I hate waste so I just amped it up with some parmesan cheese and lots of fresh ground pepper.

Served up with a quick salad of spinach, grated zucchini, carrots and balsamic.

And hummus with FSTG chips.

Hit.the.spot.

As much as the run wasn’t what I thought it would be, I’m still glad I did it.  I kicked my own ass to get out there and do something, and now I know that I really need to focus to be ready for the Santa Shuffle 5km in just 5 weeks…eeeek.

Lovely Larabars

How excited was I when the awesome PR people over at Larabar noticed me Tweeting about my favorite snack and asked if I would like to sample the two new flavours?

<<<<<<<<<<< THIS FREAKING EXCITED!!! >>>>>>>>>>>>

Why would I not want free advanced samples?  Yeeehaw.

First up, the all new Peanut Butter & Jelly Larabar.

Just as you would expect, it’s a light and creamy peanut butter base…and the “jelly” is actually dried cherries.  A perfect combo of savoury and sweet…this could very well become my new go-to Larabar because I totally love the addition of the cherries to the simple yet delicious peanut butter.

Today I broke into the Tropical Fruit Tart Larabar.

 

This may be the busiest Larabar yet!  Where most of them generally have only 2-4 ingredients…this one boasts an amazing 8!  I am a big fan of the orange and coconut flavours in this bar, but the pineapple doesn’t totally do it for me.  I love pineapple but for some reason I didn’t love it in my Larabar.  I would still chose this new flavour over a lot of the older varieties though.

To date, nothing beats the Coconut Cream Pie variety for me though.  Keep those coming!  Let’s find a way to get more flavours into regular grocery stores!

Thanks again Larabar for hooking me up with the taste-test.  Overall, both of the new bars get two big thumbs up from me!

PS:  Canada is supposed to get hooked up with the new flavours in September.  Keep your eyes open and let us all know when/where you find them!

A Salad a Day

I don’t know if you all have noticed, but I’m kind of a salad whore.  Especially lately, since it’s so warm and FH is doing his own thing at meal times.  I’m not heating up the oven or preparing something time consuming when I can just have a big yummy salad!

Tonight’s dinner was a big bowl of fresh local romaine lettuce, fresh local radishes, tomatoes, yellow peppers, fresh local carrots, and herby goat cheese.

Drizzled simply with EVOO, a squirt of lemon and sprinkled with cracked sea salt and pepper.

Topped with pan seared shrimp, cooked with a little real butter, fresh minced garlic, a squirt of lemon, and a few red pepper flakes.

Simple and deeeelish.

Earlier in the day I had a small breakfast of fresh blueberries (no more local…but these BC ones are awesome!) mixed into the last of the Liberte Svelt strawberry yogurt. An oatmeal raisin bar on the side.

The day started out cool but humid so I wasn’t too hungry.  Stuck with some iced coffee to sip throughout the morning.

For lunch I kept with the fresh veggie theme and made two small veggie wraps.  Light herby cream cheese, matchstick carrots, yellow peppers, tomatoes, and romaine.

For my afternoon snack I busted out an Apple Pie Larabar.  I had planned to hit the gym and thought this would be perfect to hold me over, but when I went to get my gear I found FH washing and waxing my car so couldn’t go anywhere.  Small price to pay for having my car so nice and shiny!!  Fanks FH!

Went for an evening walk around the neighborhood after dinner instead.  Was hoping for an awesome sunset (we’ve had a couple of really bright pink ones lately) but no luck tonight!

And to finish up the evening, we settled in for some more Mad Men Season Two on DVD…FH had himself another Wendy’s Froster, but I was quite proud of myself for declining the offer and choosing a bowl of cherries instead!!

I <3 Planet Organic!

After my appointment yesterday, I had about 20 minutes to kill before picking FH up from work so decided I would take a chance and stop by Planet Organic to see if they had any of my favorite Larabars in stock.

(Those of you that read regularly know that it’s freaking impossible to get your hands on the Peanut Butter Cookie and Coconut Creme Pie varieties!)

Looking at the Larabar rack I was disappointed yet again.  Boooo.  So I grabbed a couple of other flavors (as well as a delicious looking lactose-free ice cream and some Kettle Chips on sale…) and headed up to the register.

This time I decided to be brazen and ask the girl at the counter about the two full boxes of bars I always see sitting behind the counter…obviously put aside for someone.

Me:  This is probably a totally rude question, but is there any chance that you can sell or open those boxes?  They seem to have been there for like a month.

Girl:  Actually, we just put those there today.  We have a customer that orders them in every week or two.

Me:  Gah.  I should do that.

Girl:  (reaching under counter) Was it the Peanut Butter Cookie?

Me:  (contemplating kissing the girl) YES!!

Girl:  (brings out box FULL of PB and Coconut)  Apparently we just haven’t restocked.

Me:  (beaming with huge grin)  OMG.  You rock.

Girl:  (looks at me like I’m nuts)  No problem.

   

I bought four of each. 

Plus the other three I had already picked out.

I am now prepared for my trip to Winnipeg.  I shall not go hungry with 11 Larabars in my purse.  Woooooo.

Blog a little, Talk a little

So…I’m on a conference call for work right now…however I am just a “listening participant” so we’ll see if I can blog at the same time!

The hunger continues…so I will admit to snack-snack-snacking my way through the day.  I know this is dumb because it won’t make me feel better, but it was sure fun!

After lunch FH called for an early ride home, so I munched a Kashi bar in the car (no photo…too busy eating and driving!).

On the way home, we stopped at Planet Organic so I could pick up some coconut Liberte yogurt (they seem to be the only place that sells that flavor) and I was going to stock up on yummy Larabars…but yet AGAIN they are sold out of Coconut Cream Pie…and after only one week they are sold out of Peanut Butter Cookie already too! 

Dear Lara,

Please make Coconut and PB more readily available.

Much Love,

Larabar Lovers of Eastern Canada

Instead I picked up a couple of Kind bars.  I’ve been seeing them around the blogosphere lately and was excited to see them available here.

Of course I had to dive into one as soon as I got home!  Almond & Coconut.  It was very tasty, however…does anyone know if these are supposed to be hard?  I expected it to be chewy or at least soft…but it was really hard and overly crunchy.  Hard on my teeth!

Oh…and more Starbucks today!  They got my Iced Coffee with Non-Fat Milk correct this time!  Yummmm.

And now an actual meal!  A variation on chicken taco salad.  I mixed up a batch of the filling we use in our Baked Chicken Rollups (chicken breast, navy beans, light cheddar, salsa, & seasoning) and served it atop a tossed salad.  I used organic tortilla chips to scoop mine up…FH crushed his chips right in.  Deeeeeeeeeelish.

And now while I blog I’m drinking some decaf tea while I listen to my call…so far so good!