Garden Therapy

Yesterday afternoon went south. Bad. Fast. There were tears.

I did have a lovely dinner date with my friend Sarah over some mediocre sushi…but the photos are on my Blackberry and I’m sure you all know what a spicy tuna roll looks like.  :)

After a good night’s sleep and a couple of heated chats with my Mom, I woke up in a much better mood.  So I wrangled Arron to go have a nice greasy brunch (where I had bacon, scrambled eggs, pan fries and two pancakes I stole from him) and then took myself off to the Halifax Public Gardens to spend an hour in the sun with James Dean. (That’s my camera for those of you too lazy to click the link).

     

Trust me these are much better than recounting my cup of coffee, dinner of leftovers, or boring (but sweaty!) workout.  Really.  You should thank me!

Finding Time

I don’t think I can get on board with TGIF today.  More like HFIFA!! (Holy Fack It’s Friday Already?)!!!  People, I have so much to do!!

Every. single. thing. I have tried to organize for my tax preparation has caused me some annoying time-consuming issue.  Missing papers, missing tax docs, missing passwords.  I swear I had all of this stuff not all that long ago…but poof, gone.  I’m taking my paperwork in today whether it’s complete or not.  I need it off my to-do list!

It’s stuff like this that drive an organized person like myself around the bend.  How do I not have these things?  Blah.

Anywho…when I got up today I went straight for the coffee pot…

haha, what’s new?

And then decided that I needed a protein and energy packed breakfast to help get me through the grump-zone and on with my day.  Immediately I knew it would be a green smoothie of some sort!

Rummaging around in the fridge led me to some light coconut milk…which gave me the bright idea of a Chocolate Coconut Green Smoothie. 

In the KA today: 

• 4 ice cubes
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder
• 2 tsp flax meal
• 1 tbsp coconut
• 1/2 cup light coconut milk
• 1/2 cup UCAB
• 2 huge handfuls organic baby spinach

Totally deeeeelish.  The sugars in the protein powder made up for the unsweetened milks and the chocolate gave it a somewhat malty taste.  This recipe is a keeper in my books.

When lunch rolled around I wasn’t starving and needed something quick, so I broke into the Steady Eddie again for some quick lunchtime toast.  (6 grams of protein per slice…nice!)

Schmeared with light herby cream cheese and topped with cucumbers and tomatoes.  Easy peasy.

Now back to work on my actual job, and hopefully into finding the one main ellusive tax document I need so I can cross this shiz off my list. 

** Don’t forget to enter to win some of the Silver Hills Sprouted Grains breads I’m always raving about!

** And while you are entering contests, head on over to Ali’s blog and see if you can get yourself some free CheeCha swag.  Or don’t…cuz I want it!  :)

Leave it on the Mat

Last night’s yoga adventure was a trip out to the Bedford location of Breathing Space for an Intro/Flow class.  My friend Cosette wanted to attend with me and requested a bit easier class…which I was fine with after already completing three days of yoga!

Intro/Level 1
This beginner level class consists of a series of steady progressions with a focus on proper alignment. This class is appropriate for those with little yoga experience or those who have completed an introductory course. This is also a great entry point for those with injuries or special conditions.

I would hesitate to call this one a real beginner class (although there was at least one first-timer in the class) because it seems as though most of the folks in attendance were regulars so our instructor Michelle really went forth and most of the class already knew a lot of what she was going to do.  It was a moderately paced flow which I loved!  We generated a lot of heat and got a minor sweat on.

What was nice was that there were new postures and poses that I had never tried before (which after multiple varieties of yoga classes over the years I was surprised by).  What was actually kind of exciting for me was that there were positions with options for simple binding and I’m actually starting to get there!!  Nothing crazy, but definitely more than I can normally do.  yay!!

Michelle started the session by telling us our focus for the practice.  “What don’t we need?”  ie: what can you get rid of and just leave on the mat?  She suggested it could be anything we were struggling with as difficult or unnecessary in our lives.  Something as basic as dietary concerns (she mentioned she LOVES pb toast but her body hates the gluten so she wants to get rid of her desire to eat things that her body rejects) or something more intense such as a toxic relationship or job stress.

Obviously this is a pertinent topic for me right now as I am currently in a state of life-change and a kind of emotional limbo.  My mind actually went a little stir crazy trying to come up with one simple thing I could use during the practice.  So many things!!

I somewhat settled on the obvious main thing that has been bothering me lately…anxiety.  I certainly don’t think I left it completely behind, but yesterday was a good day and I didn’t have that sinking, pinching feeling in my chest all day…so to finish the day with a class to help really let go…well, the timing was perfect.

Cosette and I both really enjoyed the class…so we are planning to try to get there again.  I want to keep going to the Wednesday class I tried this week too though, so we might have to alternate or something because keeping up with all of these great classes would be too exhausting (and too expensive!). 

After class, Michelle’s talking about pb toast got me!  I came home and ate not one, but THREE pieces of toast with peanut butter and Crofter’s.  And I didn’t take pictures.  :)  I inhaled it, enjoyed every last bite and took some time off from the computer while I just laid about on the couch continuing to relax.

Today is Day Five of my Impromptu Yoga Challenge and I think it’s time for an at home practice.  I’m seeing some yogadownload.com in my future…

What do you currently need to let go of?

Just Breathe

Our beautiful weather has gone away! :(  Rain Rain Go Away!!

The cold morning called for coffee…

I’m loving this Sumatra a la Russia from Krista.  I may need to beg for more.  (or you know, look around and find it here.)

The only good part about crappy weather…oatmeal!!

Which was made using virgin coconut oil I received from Tropical Traditions.  It’s a motherin’ huge sample!  I’ll try it out a few different way before blathering on with a review.  I suspect it’s gonna be a gooder though.

In the pot: water, UVAB, oats, 1/2 banana, flax meal and about 3/4 tablespoon of coconut oil stirred in at the end.

On top:  banana chips, mini chocolate chips, 1/4 tablespoon coconut oil.

Lovely!

For lunch I went the light road.  Smoothie and snackies.

In the KA today: ice, 1/2 banana, 1/2 packet of Chocolate Amazing Meal, 2 huge handfuls baby spinach, UVAB.

Followed closely by hummus, baby carrots and multigrain Tostitos.  I swear if I didn’t have to report to you guys I would just eat these chips and hummus all day every day.

After lunch, my anxiety returned full tilt.  Let’s just say that what we had hoped would be a straight forward transaction keeps presenting us with extra fees, red tape, and taxes.  It’s incredibly frustrating!

Amazingly…I still completed Day Two of my Impromptu Yoga Challenge.  Really, is there anything better than yoga after a good cry?  Well, besides a giant bowl of chips and dip.  :)

Since I was on my own this time I decided just to trek back to Nubody’s and try out another session there.  Different instructor but similar class.  I’m guessing they have a list of poses they have to include, but they can mix them up whatever way they like. 

If I had to pick, I’d chose yesterday’s class…but I would go back to either one.  Both challenge my balance and flexibility just enough. :)

Thank goodness for leftover Pad Thai afterwards…

Just a note to any of you that make this.  The leftovers were only OK.  It was definitely better straight out of the skillet. 

I did get to watch Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution finally too.  I’m excited!  The show is off to a good start. I’m sure because it’s on TV it will have a good ending but I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets there.

And on that note…I am self medicating with cooooookies. 

Yoga + cookies = anxiety meds :)

Impromptu Yoga Challenge

Hmmm…Monday, eh?  I’m not too sure about this. 

Shocking…I started the day with coffee!  :)

And for something completely different, I purchased a bag of sesame seed bagels to enjoy this week.  This morning’s breakfast was a toasted half of one of these deeeelish treats schmeared with natural PB and half a banana…

I always forget how much I love bagels! 

For lunch, I kept it light.  Wasa Light Rye crackers with not-quite-crack-like hummus and sliced kumato tomatoes…

And little garlic dills wrapped with lean deli turkey…

nom nom nom!

Followed this up with an individual Liberte Muesli yogurt cup.  Vanilla yogurt with Orange & Flaxseed granola…

While continuing to stress about the time crunch we are in and the lack of speed on the part of a lawyer I realized I need some sort of meditation or something to help get me through this.  I can’t tell you the last time my anxiety was this high.  If ever.  Friday night’s workout definitely helped alleviate some stress so I figure a week of yoga might just be the thing I need.

I can’t afford to pay for seven individual classes at a studio right now but since my gym offers yoga as part of the included fitness classes I thought I’d check out their schedule.

Day One planned!  8pm class tonight.  Works for me!  (and yay for yoga buddies…Katie is joining me!)

Afternoon snack…cooooookies.  OK, not cookies.  I’ve had a lot of cookies this weekend.  Unless you count green grapes and probiotic cheese as cookies…

I’m off to make a super early dinner, so as to be all ready for that 8pm class.  Can’t have a boatload of Pad Thai sitting my tummy during sun salutations.  ew. :)

Anyone else feel like they need a week of yoga?