Back in the Swing of Things

Today felt like the first day of getting back into the swing of things for me.

Food Stuff

I enjoyed my first home-cooked breakfast – something I’ve been craving with this colder weather – OATMEAL!

Thanks to the sale over at Earthfare on organic canned pumpkin (3 for $5!), I had plenty in my pantry to cook up a nice bowl of Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal.

Pre-cooking ingredients:

• 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1 heaping tbsp canned organic pumpkin (probably more like 1/4 cups worth)
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (yea, it came out kind of fast…I didn’t mean to put so much in)

Microwaved 1 minute, stirred, 1 minute again

On top:

• flaxseed (because I forgot this was easily accessible in my freezer)
• pepitas (pumpkin seeds – also in the freezer)

The oatmeal was very enjoyable and welcomed after eating out so much day after day. It’s amazing how much you missed home-cooked food when you can’t have it!

I had a lovely lunch packed for work today, but realized when I checked my work calendar that I had a one-on-one lunch with my co-worker. Doh! I decided to enjoy my “lunch” for “dinner” so I wouldn’t waste the food.

We had a lovely Thai lunch, but I didn’t want to take a photo of my food in front of him, so no food photos…sorry! I got the Pud See-Ew with chicken and it was awesome! I also couldn’t resist a Thai tea…LOVE that stuff!

I carbed up for my workout with some Kashi Toasted Asiago TLC crackers and also had some hot green tea with sugar (I need to get some honey to keep at work!)

An hour later, I had an Organic Food Bar (won on Twitter) in Chocolate Coconut...they are SO-SO GOOD! I will be sad when my box is gone, but at least I know where to get more!

I changed into my workout clothes for Zumba when I was done with work. I changed in the restrooms at the office just before taking off for class. I totally forgot I had my neon green pants packed in my zumba tote. As I changed, I realized I probably should have planned to change into them somewhere else. The black ones are not nearly as noticeable and one doesn’t really want to be seen in GREEN NEON PANTS at the office! I was there sort of late so I figured chances were good I wouldn’t see too many people.

As I left the restroom, I hoped if I walked fast enough that no one at all would see me. Guess who happened to walk by just as I walked down the hall? Yeaaaaa…the main big boss who manages the program I work under. I was mortified! I didn’t want to see anyone and of course it would be our client-boss that I ran into! He said he liked my pants and asked if I was a skier. Said they looked like ski pants. I looked down at the embroidery and meekly explained that they were “zumba” pants before scurrying away. I’m not sure he knows what zumba. Either way, I hope my flashy green pants were too much for the office…even after “work hours” and off the clock.

I did two back to back workout classes tonight. I even got some flourescent bracelets to wear during class from one of the class participants daughters (the daughter is also a participant and oh-so-cute). They matched my outfit – neon pink and green…oh yea!

Once I got home from zumba, I downed an Aria mini-protein shake (a half serving – just one scoop mixed with water) and did some stretching.

After a quick shower, it was time for “dinner” (the “lunch” I packed but couldn’t eat because of a previously scheduled lunch meeting).

I had some Earthfare rotisserie chicken salad on extra fiber Arnold’s bread…

…and some Live Green Salad also from Earthfare.

The sammie was pretty good, though I did miss my Great Harvest bread this week. I thought this Arnold’s bread was a pretty good substitute though. The chicken salad was definitely tasty and the chicken was nice and tender.

I was really impressed with the Live Green salad. I didn’t know what to expect, but the flavors were nice and simple yet tasty and the ingredients seemed nice and healthy.

Dinner overall seemed pretty healthy, which is good because I feel like I need a cleansing after the last couple days straight of eating out.

I did manage to make some room for dessert – the last third of my Earthfare Ginger Molasses cookie and some skim milk.

The cookie was good…I still like my Earthfare whole wheat chocolate chip cookies the best, though!

House Stuff

Oh and check out my Glade candle in the background. Yep, that’s Glah-day! Hubby and I picked up a couple of their seasonal candles to try to get rid of the new paint and refinished hardwoods smell floating around the house.

We’re trying a couple things to try to get rid of the new paint/polyurethane smell in the house:

• opening the windows, weather permitting (and the windows that aren’t shut, that is)
• turning the fan on the AC/heat system
• burning candles
• and lastly, I read about this online – putting mugs of vinegar out in some of the rooms.

I’m trying the vinegar trick in 3 rooms to start, so we’ll see how this works. I’m thinking the windows and fan will be the most effective solutions, but we’ll see.

We still have TONS of work to do in the house, but we’re just taking things one day and one project at a time. As the saying goes: “Life’s a journey, not a destination.” Right? 🙂

Quote Time!

I do have an inspirational quote (make that a couple) for you guys today. I found this shared on a blog post in my Google Reader. Do you ever have days when you feel like for all the hard work you’re putting into something, you’re not seeing the results you want? Then, you watch as others seem to have success fall into their laps or at least come to fruition? You’re happy for them but sometimes their success can make you feel like somewhat of a…failure. I’m here to say that you’re not a failure.

You’re just on a different path and you will have your own successes on your own journey…

“Never compare your journey with someone else’s. It’s a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never “arrive”. No one ever does.” ~PhotoDino

Afterall…

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” ~Thomas Alva Edison

Remember… (this is one of my faves)

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” ~Henry David Thoreau