Shake (Dance and Punch) it Off

I was definitely expecting tonight's post to be a negative one. I was having such an icky day that everything was putting me in a bad mood. Luckily for you guys, my day was completely turned around by the end.

But here was the first little bummer of the day:
So a few days ago, my sister and I went to Borders to look around at all the items on sale and to spend my gift card before they officially close. After entertaining ourselves by reading JWoww's new self help book (my love of Jersey Shore is just a tad excessive...Scott and I paid a semi ridiculous amount to go see Pauly D dj in LA as "VIPs"), I stumbled upon an adorable planner. I of course immediately start making grand plans about how I'm going to write all my social plans, football games, birthdays, and everything I need to know in it to become the most organized person this school year. Today, I was going to start on my quest by penciling in my move in date.

After getting super excited over my new planner and thinking about how much it was going to change my life, I realized that despite it's Jul 2011-Aug 2012 description it doesn't start til this December. Therefore, rendering it utterly useless.

It's fine; I clearly wasn't meant to be organized. Or happy.

Waking up and moving presented it's own problem today: I might have done something wrong when I worked out the other day because the outside of thighs (right under my hip) were killingggg me. It only hurts when I get up from my chair, but since I worked today there was a lot of that going on.

Thirdly, I started out eating super healthy today. Apple Cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast; sourdough bread with hummus, scrambled eggs, and watermelon for lunch. (I also had half a pb&j for a snack after).

But the day took a turn when our office was suddenly filled with tons of desserts. So many in fact that we were urged to eat them.

Yes, that is a cookie baked into the brownie. It was delicious.

I have no problem eating desserts. I have a sweet tooth that rivals Willy Wonka (dorkiest thing I have ever said). But there was absolutely no need to eat several of those brownies and the other desserts there. I left work with that gross, I-overdosed-on-sugar-and-now-feel-groggy-and-grumpy attitude. 

To just complete the wonderful mood I was in, I got a major headache near the end of the day that worsened by the time I had gotten home. The headache was a big bummer because my friend Sarah had gotten a free pass for me and my friend Ana to join her at the gym today. We were going to take a turbo kickboxing and a zumba class. I was looking forward to seeming them (and going to those classes) all day. 

A few Tylenols later, I made an executive decision to go with them to the gym, and if I truly felt I couldn't do it then I would just stop. 

I am so glad I went. 

My headache went away a few minutes into the kickboxing class and soon I was jumping around and punching the air enthusiastically and pain free. I haven't been to turbo kickboxing since I had that gym membership last summer, and I forgot how much fun it was. The instructor was incredible (she was insanely energetic and intense), and it felt like such a good workout. 

Sarah, Ana, and I stayed for the Zumba class that followed kickboxing. It was my first time going to a Zumba class, and it was so much fun! Seriously, how have I lived without it for so long? The class was huge (like over 50 people huge) so I was able to get super in to it without feeling stupid. Because what's more fun than salsa dancing and having a room full of people Drop it Low...hands on the floor style hahaha. 

Now I just need a few more classes before I officially become pro Salsa dancer like these guys.... Source

This was a lot longer of a workout then I'm used to, but it completely turned my day around. It felt so good just to get sweaty, and forget about my melodramatic problems with planners and to shake off that sugar coma. 

And now I can't stop smiling:) I got to work today, see my friends, go to classes that I haven't been before, and skype with Scott. I had a really great day!

"Life Begins at the End of your Comfort Zone"

I found that motivational saying I was looking for yesterday.

I usually roll my eyes at little motivational posters, but I really like this one. I really want to try new things and need to realize that not everything I want is going to be easy and comfortable to do. To keep my little revelation short, it was just a nice reminder of how I need to push myself beyond what I usually do if I want to achieve more in the future.

Anyway, today I met up Ali to go for a run. She suggested we walk so we went for about a 50 minute walk around the neighborhood and talked the whole time. Walking is always funner when you're supposed to be running ;) When I got back to my house, I decided to finish with a few more exercises inspired from this.

100 Jumping Jacks

90 Crunches

80 Squats

70 Leg lifts (35 each leg)

60 Jumping jacks

50 Bicycle crunches

40 Squats

30 leg lifts (15 each leg)

20 Jumping jacks

10 Burpees

It was surprisingly hard. I'm so glad I did it though because it left me feeling accomplished with my workout.

My meals today were leftovers or pretty uninspiring (even more than usual...my dinner consisted of me snacking on a million things and a pb&j), so we'll just skip over that for tonight. 

I got really lucky and am subbing in for work three times this week! Whee! This is not sarcasm actually. I'm technically unemployed for the summer, so when I get called in to work I get really excited:)

Now I'm going to actually go to bed before midnight so I will be well rested. Night!

Sandwiches in the Sun

Guess who got their iced coffee they were whining pining for?

ME ME ME ME! I splurged on a Starbuck's Carmel Macchiato iced coffee, and I swear I had never tasted something more delicious in my life. I got the smallest size like usual because when I get coffee it's for the taste, not the caffeine. I'm proud to say I have always maintained at least one healthy habit of being completely unrelient on coffee/tea/soda. Which is shocking since I write 90% of these posts at a ridiculous hour at night.

Today was one of those absolutely beautiful days that inspires me to eat outside, enjoy the sunshine, and play with my puppy Roxy (ok so she's actually like 10 years old).  As you could have probably guessed, both breakfast and lunch were eaten outside.

Breakfast was my most recent favorite, an Egg McBagelThin and a nectarine.

Lunch was absolutely delicious. Like amazing. I had a Bagel thin sandwich (yes, my obsession is a problem) with Curry Chicken Salad and avocado slices.

But before I say anything else, can I just point out how many toppings the bagel I pulled out had (one on the right)? Seriously, what the heck?

I mean look how much there was! It's alright I know I'm the only one fascinated by this. 

Anyway, the sandwich was absolutely delicious.

The Curry Chicken Salad sauce was made by mixing a half cup of mayo (which I actually hate but for some reason overcome for my love of tuna and egg salad sandwiches), freshly squeezed lemon juice from half a lemon, and a spoonful of curry powder. 

We had several large chicken breasts leftover so this sauce was more than enough for an entire bowl of chopped chicken. 

I cannot get over how good this was. It wasn't spicy (I'm a wimp), and was just NOM.

The chicken also appeared in my dinner salad along with red peppers and light Caesar dressing.

A few unpictured Trader Joe's organic peanut butter cups were consumed before and after dinner. They were so good, that my Mom was successfully able to bribe Johnny into eating two bites of lettuce. He was not happy.

Johnny I promise it's normal to eat that stuff. I actually like it!

While I had a great day hanging around and playing with my puppy, I'm actually feeling really guilty because I didn't work out like I planned. 

I know puppy you think you're worth it, but I need exercise.

I'm pretty good about not getting weird if I don't work out for a reason (like on Saturday I had friends staying over and then babysat and Sunday was my impromptu visit to Melrose), but when I have a lazy day where I had planned to workout and didn't, I feel like a huge slacker. 

Luckily, Ali comes back to town tomorrow and we are meeting to go for a run. Yes, plans I can actually follow through! 

Until then, does anyone know of any good ways/phrases to motivate yourself? I'm in desperate need until I find a new goal to work for:)