Week in Review - 4/09

Happy Sunday! How was your first full week of April? Work was a little crazy for me, but everything else was pretty good! I'm excited for the rest of the month.

Since I'm not currently training for anything in particular, I'm switching up the format for my weekly review posts.

Ultimate Coffee Date - December 2016

Happy December! Since it's the first Saturday of the month, it's time for the Ultimate Coffee Date with Coco & Deborah. It's always fun to catch up with all of you on what's been going over a nice hot cup of joe (or tea, in my case this morning).

The last Ultimate Coffee Date seems both like it was a long time ago and that it was just last week. Anyone else feel this way about November? Just me?

How much to do you LOVE my new December mug?
Not much snow here in Vegas, but I still love it SNOW MUCH. hehehe

Workout Recap + Jan 25 Meal Plan

It's been another stressful week. This time not because of Sallie (thank goodness!), but because of work. I was working on developing a training program and up against a deadline, which resulted in staying late a few nights. Which zapped my energy. Making it difficult to find the motivation to workout and to make a proper dinner.

So, here's to a better week next week!

Workout Recap

Sunday: 3-mile run.

Monday: W/U: jumping jacks, high knees, arm circles, butt kickers, mountain climbers (30 sec each). Weight-Free Arms (pin). 10-min abs/core (pin).

Tuesday: 20-min Lengthening & Opening Yoga (YouTube).

Wednesday: REST

Thursday: The Excuse Proof Workout (pin).

Friday: REST

Saturday: REST

I got a complimentary month to ClassPass, so I'm hoping to take some classes around town next week. Hopefully that will motivate me to get back my workout mojo. While my workouts weren't terrible last week, they definitely weren't as good as I'd have liked.

What's for Dinner?

This was a Bountiful Baskets weekend, so my fridge is nice and stocked with some yummy produce. And I think I've got a pretty good plan to use it all. Except the coconut. I didn't actually snap a pic of the one I got, but it was one like this.

This is difficult to admit, but just in case anyone else out there is like me, I thought I'd share my story.

This didn't look like a regular coconut with the brown fuzzy shell, so I foolishly didn't realize that this still needed to be cracked open. I thought it was the actual coconut meat, so I attempted to shred the shell.

It didn't work very well. Obviously. Though it wasn't at the time.

I expressed my frustration to Jeff, and he mentioned that you still had to crack through the shell. What?! So, I hit up YouTube, and found this very helpful video. Easy-peasy. Now I have a container of coconut water and one of coconut meat in my fridge, and no real plan to use them this week. So, I need to still figure that out this afternoon. Leave me a comment or let me know on Twitter your favorite ways to use fresh coconut.

Here is what I do know that I'll be cooking up this week.

Sunday: SW Bean Wraps

Monday: Homemade Vegetable Soup

Tuesday: Leftovers

Wednesday: Pasta & Garlic Bread

Thursday: Baked Chicken Chimichangas

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Jalapeno Poppers Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Breakfast:
Carrot Almond Bread
Scrambled Egg Wraps with Bell Peppers

Lunches:
Leftovers
Salads
Roasted Jalapeno Soup

Snacks/Dessert:
Carrots and Bell Peppers with Hummus
Yogurt
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies

Sunday Prep:
Hummus
Yogurt
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies
Cut veggies for soup

What are you cooking up this week?
How were your workouts last week?
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Be sure to stop by Laura @ Mommy Run Fast and Jill Conyers to check out what everyone else is cooking up this week.

Ultimate Coffee Date

Good morning! So, yeah, I'm a week late to the party, but I still have a few things I wanted to share and didn't want to wait all the way until July!

Plus, who doesn't like a little coffee date with your closest blogging friends anytime of the month.

Three Things Thursday - 12/19

Here's what on my mind today.

1) This has got to be the SLOWEST week ever. Seriously, it seemed to take FOREVER for Tuesday to get here, and now it's ONLY Thursday. When will this week end? Of course, today has been one fire after another at work, but at least today is moving quickly. Yay!!

2) I get a lot of junk email. So much that I created a separate email address just for when I sign up for newsletters or mailing lists.

One of the mailing lists I'm on is for H&M. Usually I just ignore them, but when I checked my email this morning while lying in bed Tell me I'm not the only one who does this! I couldn't ignore the UP TO 70% OFF email I had staring back at me.

Plus there's a shopping app for my phone? Ok!

So, yeah. I downloaded the app and went to browsing the Sale items.

$100 later...

I did find some really great deals, though.

3) Do you get stressed out over the holidays? I do okay, actually. Mostly because it's just me and my husband, and we don't do much to celebrate. Even though we don't celebrate the holidays, I still enjoy a little pampering all year long!

I received this Water-Resistant Professional Skin Care Face and Body Brush System from ToiletTree Products to review awhile ago.

It's fabulous! So easy to use, and it's like getting a mini-facial every morning.

It comes with 4 interchangeable heads - 2 for your face, 1 for your body, + a pumice stone. They are extremely easy to change - even the hot steamy shower.

Definitely one of the best features of this is that it's water-resistant. I keep mine hanging in my shower for everyday use.

It's also nice that you just use your favorite facial cleanser. I love that you don't need to buy anything special.

NOTE: I wouldn't really recommend using the Apricot Facial Scrub with this. I find it a little hard to clean out of the bristles.

The pumice stone is a very nice touch. Makes giving myself a pedicure a bit easier.

When I use it, I feel like my face gets a little more love and my skin is a little bit happier.

It's on sale right now at Amazon for only $39.95, so give yourself (or someone you love) the gift of pampering and relaxation this holiday.

How's your Thursday? 
Has this been slow week for you or is it flying by?
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Three Things Thursday - 12/5

Super quick post this morning! Here are 3 things on my mind.

1) Did you notice my new blog design? I worked on it most of last weekend, and finally was able to get it all installed this morning. Which took me a bit longer than I'd anticipated. And the reason why this post has to be super quick. I still need to get ready for work!! Argh. BUT... what do you think? Jeff says it's a bit holiday-esque, but I like it. I'd love your feedback. :)

2) I'm having lunch with my boss this afternoon to discuss possibly changing my role at work. I'm so nervous about the possibility of change, BUT I don't want to hold myself back out of fear either.

3) Katie flies in today!! I'm incredibly excited to finally meet her in person. We're going to check out the Strip tonight and tomorrow we head to Mesquite for Saturday's marathon. You didn't really expect me not to mention the marathon, did you? Safe travels, Katie!! See you soon.

There's a 4th thing on my mind today, too. I posted about it last night, but in case you missed it, go check it out. Hint: It's fricken cold outside!!

What's going on with you today?
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My First Job

In case you missed them, check out what I did this weekend - A fabulous half marathon and The RnR Vegas expo.

Today, let's join back up with A Happy Girl's Blobember challenge. I've missed a few days along the way. **sigh**

November 19: First job

When I was a teenager, my step-dad owned a Bait & Tackle store. My first job was working there. I stocked shelves and issued a LOT of fishing and hunting licenses.

Occasionally, I had to scoop out minnows. Gross. I always tried to get someone else to do that part.

I did love manning the cash register, though. :)

And sometimes I'd get to sneak a candy bar. With permission, of course.

It was across the street from a Hardee's (which turned out to be my 2nd job) and a gas station. It was also a short walk from the elementary school and the high school. Even when I wasn't working, I would often head there after school instead of taking the bus home - especially, if I had to stay after school for this club or that.

Probably the largest bait store in our small-ish fishing community, let's just say it got SUPER busy during opener weekend and summers. It was pretty busy for hunting season as well.

Looking back now, it was actually pretty fun.

What was your first job?
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3 Things Thursday - 8/29

The winners of the Factors of 36 virtual race were announced late last night. You can check it out here.

Here are 3 Things on my mind today.

1. I've been immersed in a HUGE project at work for the past several months. Without going into a lot of details, we're basically converting to a new system that affects the entire way we do business from editorial (I work at a newspaper) to advertising to the business office and basically everything in between. It's been a major undertaking, to say the least. It's involved many a late night and even a couple weekends. All our effort is about to come to fruition. It's GO LIVE WEEKEND!! It sucks that it's also a holiday weekend, and I may end up having to come in on Saturday, but it feels real good that Go Live is finally here. Whoohoo!!

2. Here's a conversation from the other day.

Me: Do you think my face looks fat?
Jeff: Do you want an honest answer?
Me: Yeah. Um. Well, I think so.
Jeff: No, your face isn't looking fat, but the rest of your body is starting to look a little big for your face. Mostly your tummy.

Guys...

I know you all dread questions like this, but please PLEASE keep your answers only to the question asked. :)

So, the next morning, I hopped on the scale. I've gained 7 lbs since the beginning of the year. Wish I could say that was all muscle. LOL. I really, really need to start doing more ab work - and strength training in general.

3. Remember that stairs workout I did on Tuesday? Well, I woke up yesterday morning with some serious DOMS in my calves. Almost as bad as when I did 50 calf raises. In a row. Back in April.


How's your Thursday going?
Any big plans for the holiday weekend?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Designer Whey protein powder! Six canisters are up for grabs!!
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3 Things Thursday - 6/27/13

1. Today is my niece's 17th birthday. Can it really be that long ago that I held her for the very first time?

THEN

NOW

Isn't she beautiful?!

I live very far away now, so I had to steal some current pics from Facebook and Instagram. Hope she doesn't mind. LOL.

2. Remember how I mentioned that I had to go into work this past Sunday? Well, my supervisor offered me a comp day in exchange for working. Now, I'm going to have July 5th off!! I'm super excited. I'll probably miss out on a little bit of pay since I would have gotten overtime for working Sunday, but I think it's totally worth it to have a super long holiday weekend. Whoo hoo!!!

3. I'm down the the home stretch for the #RWRunStreak. I can hardly believe that I've been so diligent with this. Most days it's just been the 1-mile minimum, but I haven't missed a single day! Only 8 runs left to go... Wow!!!
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THE END + 5QF #3

Today was my last day of work.

I know I'm off to bigger and better things plus I was a bit of a slacker at work, so I was pretty much looking forward to finishing up this assignment.

Still, it was with mixed feelings that I ate my good-bye lunch and worked through this final day.

Of course, our company holiday party is tomorrow evening, so I'll see everyone one last time.

In addition to a free lunch today, I also got a card signed by everyone in the office (about 10 or so people) with a $100 GC to the Aveda Institute included. That was very unexpected!

I think I'll hang on to it until around Spring Break. I'm betting I'll be ready for a little pampering by then. :-)

My boss also made me this pretty pendant.

And then her boss gave me a $50 Visa gift card as a thank you for working over MLK weekend.

All in all definitely not a bad last day of work.

And now for Five Question Friday.



1. Do you swim in the winter?
Only if I have to. I'm not a big swimmer, but I'll go every now and again to encourage my husband to get some exercise. Last weekend I swam with the sharks at SeaLife. Does that count? Hopefully I'll get a post on that up in the next few days.

2. Do you love or hate winter?
Yeah. I'm pretty much a winter hater. I hate the cold. The dry, itchy skin. The bloody noses. The cold. The dark. Blah.

3. Do you put makeup/actual clothes on when you know you're going to be home all day with just family?
Ha. Sometimes I don't even put makeup/actual clothes on when I'm going out and about. Oops!

4. How old were you when you had your first alcoholic beverage?
I was 20.

5. How many ill calls in a 12 month period do you think are acceptable?
I'm not sure. Maybe 9-15.

Have you ever received gifts on the last day of a job? What are you up to this weekend?

I Did What?!

It's time for Monday Listicles with Stasha! I know it's only my 2nd time, so you're probably not used to seeing these posts each week.

Anyway, today's theme, brought to us by Squashed Mom, is Top Ten Strange (odd/unusual/funny/interesting) Jobs you have held in your life.

Here goes (in chronological order) ...

1. Dished up minnows and wrote out a LOT of fishing and hunting licenses at the family bait shop.

2. Stalked Assisted women at a clothing boutique. Everyone was a potential shoplifter.

3. Rule Enforcer Resident Assistant at college. Very fun, actually. I got to make the rounds and check on all the girls. You know, instead of studying.

4. Shot girl at a dance club. Would you like a bj? Worst. Job. Ever. Ok, maybe not so bad, but definitely not good for my personality type. This may have lasted two weekends?

5. Server at TGI Fridays - back when you had to have flair.

6. Read the phone book a.k.a. Appointment Setter a.k.a. Telemarketer. When can our sales guy come to your home to sell you the most fantastic vacuum? Very short lived.

7. Served beverages high in the sky. Being a glorified waitress in the sky is not all that glorious. It was boring and made me kinda, sorta develop a teeny phobia of flying. Not good.

8. Managed a bookstore in Manhattan. At a theological seminary. Supervising work study students.

9. Worked with students needing a little extra help/supervision. Once I was even mistaken for a new student ... by a high school student. I was more than 10 years older than her.

10. Went on drive-bys with my husband. Sounds much more dangerous than it was. Though we did find ourselves in some sketchy neighborhoods from time to time. Really, I just navigated while my husband pontificated, oh, and tried to get in touch with homeowners in foreclosure.

For a more comprehensive, less exciting look at the jobs I've had,  you could read this post.

What's on your top ten list?