A Fun Monday for Once!

This is awesome. It's Monday and in Canada it's a holiday. Is there anything better? This weekend has been exactly what I needed. Relaxation and NOT getting up at 4am. Fantastic. I didn't really have a plan for this weekend, it was the first real weekend I'd had in awhile. I just did a lot of random stuff, such as watch this with my mom:

Rapunzel is one of my favourite childhood stories!

 and this...

Bridesmaids was not your typical chick flick...it shocked me, I will tell you that. And I had seen several previews. But it was soo hilarious!! I saw it with my sister, which was nice because she's getting married this year and I'm her Matron of Honour. Yeah, I'm not a fan of that word either. Sounds old. But it's an honour and it will be a LOT of fun. I have lots of plans already!

I have been eating a lot of this breakfast lately:

It's so delicious! It's just sliced turkey, a thin slice of reduced fat cheese and an egg!! Mmmm. I have been taking it easy on the carbs lately because I found I was eating too much bread and things and this is fantastic without, although you could add a whole wheat English muffin or something.

I've been doing some reading, of course...

I know I'm not the only one fascinated by this lovely creature! There are tons of fan sites and several books about her including a style book. I'm not surprised, because she always looks amazing. Real life princesses are so fun. :-)

Speaking of books, I'm excited about this:

I loved the Sisterhood books, and I associate them with summer since that's when they always took place so I will definitely be loading this up on my Kobo when it comes out June 14.

This book takes place ten years later, here's the synopsis from Amazon:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Brashares comes the welcome return of the characters whose friendship became a touchstone for a generation. Now Tibby, Lena, Carmen, and Bridget have grown up, starting their lives on their own. And though the jeans they shared are long gone, the sisterhood is everlasting. Despite having jobs and men that they love, each knows that something is missing: the closeness that once sustained them. Carmen is a successful actress in New York, engaged to be married, but misses her friends. Lena finds solace in her art, teaching in Rhode Island, but still thinks of Kostos and the road she didn’t take. Bridget lives with her longtime boyfriend, Eric, in San Francisco, and though a part of her wants to settle down, a bigger part can’t seem to shed her old restlessness. Then Tibby reaches out to bridge the distance, sending the others plane tickets for a reunion that they all breathlessly await. And indeed, it will change their lives forever—but in ways that none of them could ever have expected. As moving and life-changing as an encounter with long-lost best friends, Sisterhood Everlasting is a powerful story about growing up, losing your way, and finding the courage to create a new one. 

I am looking forward to this week because it's the first one that's going to be a little more work-life balance in a few weeks! I am gearing up for my Personal Trainer course that starts June 4 so I'm starting to prepare and study for that so I can take the exam right after. Very exciting! I have some new recipes that I want to share but I want to try them out first so I will post them soon, probably on my Revive Your Life blog since they are healthier.

Oh and guess what's on tonight? The New Bachelorette! YAY!

Have a fantastic Monday!

xoxo,
T

Amazing Recipe for Game Day!

Finally, it feels like the craziness that has become my life is starting to die down! Or maybe I'm just getting used to it or learning to manage it better. I know one thing for sure, I'm not cut out for getting up at 4am. 6am seems luxurious to me now. It's not even that I have trouble getting up because I actually find it easy, the problem is that I KNOW I'm not getting enough sleep. For instance, it's 10pm and I'm blogging. Which means if I fell asleep at the computer this instant I would still only be getting six hours asleep. Although I can function pretty well on this, it's not healthy and I don't think it's helping my fitness goals! 

Now, speaking of fitness goals...in Vancouver everyone is OBSESSED with the Canucks because they're in the Playoffs. I'm normally not into hockey but it's quite fun how excited everyone is and it's a nice atmosphere. Every few days there has been a game, so everyone is socializing at pubs/restaurants/and people's houses.

Whether you are trying to get in shape or simply stay in shape, this whole Playoff thing can easily derail your plans if you let it. So I'm here to provide you with a guilt free game snack! Don't worry, this recipe are totally guy friendly, they won't even know that the food is diet friendly! My husband is always asking for one of my favourite new things to make, Skinny Taco Dip! This recipe is by Skinnytaste. What would I do without that girl? You HAVE to try it! Sidenote: This picture shows the recipe with olives. Do people actually like olives? I left them off :-P

Picture from Skinnytaste.

Skinny Taco Dip

• 8 oz 1/3 less fat Philadelphia cream cheese
• 8 oz reduced fat sour cream
• 16 oz jar mild salsa
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
• 2.25 oz black olives,

In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, salsa and taco seasoning and mix well with an electric mixer. Spread on the bottom of a large shallow glass dish. Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese and black olives. Serve with baked tortilla chips.  I recommend Guiltless Gourmet. You can find them in the organic section of Superstore, and some IGAs.

Enjoy your game day treats and never thought I'd say this but....Go Canucks!! :-P

xoxo,

T

Random Update

I know, I know, I haven't posted for over a week!! I have a good reason, I promise.

You know when nothing happens for a long time and you seem to have endless free time and then suddenly it stops and you have a huge to do list and a billion places to be all at once? That's where I've been.

Currently, I work two jobs, one in a gym and one as an office assistant. Both are part time and I actually enjoy them both and it works well with working on my certification.

Last week, someone at the gym went on vacation and someone left to go to another job and suddenly I was working ALL THE TIME!! I have been doing opening shifts at the gym. Which means I get up at 4am. Seriously. At first I was boggled by the fact that my body could actually do this and it's actually not that hard at all. It helps that my gym's little cafe where I work has an espresso machine. Heaven!! I actually enjoy my morning shifts which is so bizarre. I like the quiet time and knowing all my loved ones are all snuggled up in their beds. Except my dad, who gets up super early. He used to call me at 8am and be like "It's halfway through the day!" Which I totally get now. When you get up at 4am, 8am IS halfway through the day.

So on top of this work stuff I am trying to accomplish everything on my list so that I can take my final Personal Training course at the end of June, so I'm in a bit of a time crunch.

Honestly though, I am so busy right now and I love it! I'm accomplishing tons of things I've wanted to do for a long time, and eating healthy and working out! YAY me! The only thing I haven't been doing is being tidy at home. My poor husband!

I'm not saying it hasn't been stressful but when you make a decision that your going to do something and you don't give up no matter what happens...it feels awesome to persevere and not give up when things get hard, which is what I normally do. I have to thank my husband for that because he doesn't let me give up. He will tell me that I'm being a baby and I need to suck it up and move forward. I definitely need and appreciate that in my life!

After all this stuff going on and I finally a WHOLE free day tomorrow. All I wanna do is relax, read my Kobo, enjoy the hopefully sunny day and spend time with my hubby! I'm dying to go see movies, there are so many out there I haven't seen yet: Arthur, Something Borrowed, Bridesmaids, and Fast Five.

That's pretty much my random update!

I leave you with a song I'm loving because I have no free time right now and it's like a mini vacation:

Have a great weekend!!

xoxo,

T

Something Borrowed

When you read as much as I do, you won't always remember all the books you read and what they were about. Usually I'll just remember if I liked it or not. However, some books stand out forever. The type of books I read the most, usually called "chick-lit" is a large genre, there are tons of books and new ones coming out all the time. Every once in awhile I will find an amazing gem that's so rare and wonderful I will read it over and over again. It is comforting to me, like my favourite pair of PJS or my mac and cheese recipe.

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin is one of those books that blew me out of the water. It was her debut novel, and I'd borrowed it from my friend Jen. It has a cover that was clearly designed to appeal to lovers of the chick-lit genre:

Here is the blurb from Emily Giffin's website:

Something Borrowed tells the story of Rachel, a young attorney living and working in Manhattan. Rachel has always been the consummate good girl---until her thirtieth birthday, when her best friend, Darcy, throws her a party. That night, after too many drinks, Rachel ends up in bed with Darcy's fiancé. Although she wakes up determined to put the one-night fling behind her, Rachel is horrified to discover that she has genuine feelings for the one guy she should run from. As the September wedding date nears, Rachel knows she has to make a choice. In doing so, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to risk all to win true happiness. Something Borrowed is a phenomenal debut novel that will have you laughing, crying, and calling your best friend.

Now...the book has been adapted into a movie! Note I use the word adapted. I am not one of those people who thinks the book should be exactly like the movie. I'm not going to be mad that Darcy has blonde hair, instead of being a brunette in the book. Books have to be changed in order to make good movies. But I always thought that it would make an amazing movie and I can't wait to see it! It opens Friday, May 6th!

See the preview below!

Who has read the book and what did you guys think of it?

xoxo,

T

Thoughts on the Royal Wedding

First of all, I want to wish my friend Jen and her hubby a happy 1 year anniversary! It seems like last year everyone is getting married and it's already anniversary time!  Hope you lovebirds have many many more happy anniversaries! :-)

Now onto the Royal Wedding:

I was going to post about the Royal Wedding right after I watched it but I was at a course all weekend so I didn't have time. I find it very interesting talking to people about it. I am a positive person so I can always find the positive in bad things and be positive about good things. Some people always can find the negative. When people talk about the royal wedding, some people say things about the monarchy and how they have no power and shouldn't have it. I don't know anything about that kind of stuff, because I don't live in England, first of all. Second of all, I don't bother having an opinion on things where my opinion doesn't matter. Unless the queen wants to call me and ask if I think she should be queen I'm really not going to bother. Maybe that's stupid, but I have better things to do. By the way, I do realise the wedding cost a lot of taxpayers money or so I've heard, but it will also boost the economy with the amount of souvenirs and things that will be sold from it and also the large number of tourists that visited for the day and will visit because of the wedding.

There were a lot of things I loved about this wedding but I'll tell you what I loved the most first. For a long time, every time we turn the TV on there is something negative on the news. Disasters, tragedies and things like that. I loved watching the Royal Wedding because it was something fun and exciting on the news. Also, in 1997 we turned on the news to see that a beloved princess and all around pretty amazing human being had tragically died in a car accident. This past weekend we turned on the TV to see her sons, all grown up, happy, close with each other, with great rewarding careers, and one of them marrying the love of his life. Wouldn't it be great if every time we had a tragedy, we could fast forward to the future and see all the great things it would bring? Seeing those boys smiling and happy after everything they've been through just puts a smile on my face.

The happy couple the day after the wedding

 Anyways, other thoughts on the wedding: Loved her dress. I realise some people think it was stuffy, but they have to remember that it was in a traditional church which means sleeve and covered up. She still managed to look sexy somehow, I think it must have been the lace. I also adored her reception dress:

I also saw a lot of people comment on her flowers. I must admit I was surprised by how small her bouquet was.  However, the flowers in it were all meaningful to her and the royal family. There was even flowers called "sweet William" in it, which I thought was really sweet. 

                                                    

I always liked Kate Middleton and I was so impressed with how she handled the wedding. She was so amazingly calm and poised, but you could also tell how happy she was to finally be marrying William. I think that's what also made the wedding so exciting is because it was a real love story. You're talking about a couple that have been together for a long time, have supported each other, have gone through tough times and made it through and are now having their happy ending, which is really a happy beginning.

So all in all I loved watching the Royal Wedding and I really loved everything about it. For someone like me, who grew up watching Cinderella over and over again it's something that just made me happy to watch. I love a good fairytale.

xoxo,
T

The Royal Wedding: Are We Sick of It Yet?

I like weddings. I like going to them, I like wearing pretty dresses, and I love a good love story. However, talking about weddings leading up to weddings can get a little boring. Don't get me wrong, I know how much work goes into them, all the little details, but I would rather not know any details of a wedding then everything is a surprise.  The media is going a little crazy about the wedding, when they're speculating about what Harry's ex girlfriend is going to wear it's getting a little ridiculous! Lets just WATCH, people!

Like most people, women anyways, I am excited to see the Royal Wedding. Some people don't get why it's a big deal but I still hear people talking about watching Princess Diana's wedding at 3am in the 80s. It's just exciting. Plus, REAL princes and princesses? Count me in!

I never really followed William and Kate in the news, I knew they were together and all that and that they broke up briefly but that was it. So in interest of learning the rest of their story, I watched the made for TV movie last night. I know, I know, it's not all factual. But I'm sure it was well researched at least. I enjoyed watching it...up to a certain point. About halfway through the movie, William decided he needed "space" meaning he wanted to be single and party it up with his friends and probably use they "Hey, did you know I'm a prince" pickup line. Which is totally fine, because people need to learn and grow at that age and sometimes you can't do that with a boyfriend or girlfriend, that's just the way it is.

HOWEVER, I was annoyed at this part in the movie: William's friends start telling him how happy Kate looks and how well she's doing, then he sees her pictures in a tabloid of her having fun and dancing with other guys. THEN he decides he misses her. Really, Wills? I don't know, I was just let down to find out that William was such a stereotypical male. I thought it would be some grand love story, not the royal equivalent of seeing your ex's pictures on facebook and realising you still like them!  I mean, I don't know if that's exactly how it went down but still...so disappointing. 

Anyways, I will put that aside to watch the Royal Wedding because I'm obsessed with all things British, and I even have a true Brit to watch it with, my mother in law! But I'm not getting up at 3am. That's why PVR was invented. I will be watching it with some Tetley tea and breakfast.

And now, I leave you with these cute little cartoon that my fave photographer Carol-Ann created. Check out her website at Carol-Ann Photography if you're looking for a kick ass photographer in the Vancouver area!

xoxo,

T

How to Eat Healthy the Easy Way

Have you ever gotten busy and let yourself get too hungry? And then when you ate you either felt way too full or not satisfied or just didn't feel good for the rest of the day? I do too sometimes. Yesterday, for instance, I was out of the house for a few hours between 11 and 3 and since I was away this weekend, I didn't have any snacks in the house to take with me.

This brings me to the single most important (in my opinion) aspect of healthy eating:

                                

                                           BEING PREPARED!!

It reminds me of one of my favourite quotes: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I think that was Winston Churchill but correct me if I'm wrong! Anyways, being prepared meaning having food ready to eat is such a HUGE part of eating healthy. It makes it so much easier to stay on track. Getting hungry is a recipe for disaster. Last time I let myself get too hungry, I went and got a burger. It was gross and I threw it out after a few bites and I was mad because it was expensive and I make better ones at home. It made me resolve to try harder to not let that happen.

Here are a few tips that have helped me and also my husband, who greatly benefits from my planning and preparing meals ahead of time.

1. Make big batches of your healthy staples. Mine are chicken, brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta for my husband, and tuna (a tiny bit of light mayo with diced pickles)

2. Make a big pot of clean something! It's still raining in most parts so get your soup/stew/chili eating time in now. If you use a slow cooker, it takes minutes to prepare lunches for the entire week. See my recipes tab for my fave recipes. Also what I love about this is soups and stews are so filling!

3. Make some homemade protein bars! They are filling, nutritious and help you get in extra protein without yet another chicken breast! Plus they hit the sweet spot!

4. Hard boil eggs. If you pop out the yolk or just eat one, they are high in protein and low in calories and fill you up fast. It's a perfect thing to pair a piece of fruit with.

5. Speaking of fruit: buy some. Wash it. Put it in your fridge in a pretty bowl so you see it when you open the door.

 6. Also, veggies. I find having pre-cut veggies helps me a lot because I never feel like cutting them when I'm hungry.

7. Store everything in glass containers. They are a great investment for your health since they are easy to clean and won't contaminate your food.

These are President's Choice Containers

8. Have a nice big pitcher of water in your fridge at all times. I have a Brita, and for some reason I just drink more water if I can pour myself a nice cold pure glass. I also like adding slices of lemon.

9. Have a nice reusable water bottle (or a few, just in case) so you can leave the house with a full bottle of water at all times.

10. I also got my husband a shaker cup and stocked up on 1L containers of almond milk so he can have low calorie protein shakes at work whenever he gets hungry. We scoop out servings and put them in baggies so they're ready to go.

 I hope you liked my tips, they have certainly made eating clean easier for me! I'd love to hear your tips too, so leave them in the comment section!

Taren