Tuesday, March 20, 2012

First Day of Summer... I Mean Spring

I know the weather is not the most thrilling subject to talk about, but I have to get it out - it feels like summer here.  


You just don't see 83* on the first day of spring in Ohio.


And I feel like everything started blooming today.  Not yesterday - today.  Buds popped out on the tree outside of my kitchen window, daffodils are in full bloom, trees are flowering - it's gorgeous.  

After doing The Fitnessista's Winter Shape Up plan for 8 weeks, I needed a new strength-training routine this week.  I planned to put a routine together myself (I'm a dork and have a file folder of exercises that I save from magazines - I'm trying to put them to good use!) but I haven't had enough time to look through my folder.  Luckily, I found something else just in time - the Tone It Up trainers are doing a workout program with Self magazine right now.  

I signed up for the Drop 10 challenge, even though I don't want to lose 10 pounds.   I'm not following the meal plan portion, but I did want to get the workout routines.  I just printed out the toning moves and took them to the gym with me, which worked out great.  I also like that the trainers did a video demonstrating all of the moves, which was a quick way to see how they should all be done correctly.  At first I thought the routine was going to be kind of easy, but I was shaking by my second time through the 8 moves - the push-ups at the end are killer!

I also did a great treadmill workout from Julie at Peanut Butter Fingers - I did the 25 Minute Incline Treadmill Workout (2nd one down).  Whew, it was tough, but a great workout.  

After the gym, it was just too nice to go back inside, so I decided to walk to the public library to pick up some things I had on hold.  


I need help.  I don't know why I keep putting so many things on hold - I don't actually have time to read all of these books!

Girl crush alert - love Zooey!
Oh good, I can get a head start on listening to Christmas music!  Just kidding, I put this on hold wayyyy before this past Christmas.  

After I got home from the library, I was hankering for a smooooooothie.


Into the blender:  1 cup rice milk, 1 T almond butter, 1 scoop Sun Warrior Vanilla Protein Powder, 2 big handfuls spinach, 1 cup frozen mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries), and 1 frozen banana.  Plus a little extra water to thin it out, and 3 ice cubes once the ingredients were all blended up.  


I just noticed that the mixed berries are called "Fiesta de Bayas" in Spanish - I love that, Party of Berries!  Fun.


Soooo this is pretty much the ugliest color of smoothie I have ever seen.  But that's okay, because it tasted good and was full of great ingredients.  

My apartment is a bit of a disaster right now, so I'm off to tidy up, wash some dishes (blech), and do school work.  Crossing my fingers for a pretty sunset!

Reader question:  Are you as obsessed with public libraries as I am?  I seriously have a problem.  

Song of the day:

In honor of the nice weather, I've been listening to my "Old School Summer" playlist, and one of my favorite songs on it is "The Rock Show" by Blink 182.  Oh Blink.  Those were the days.


8 comments:

  1. so jealous of your warm weather!! my heat was on today!

    smoothie sounds deliciousssss!


    I also LOVE me some old school blink ! :D

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    1. I'm really enjoying this crazy warm weather, but am also convinced we're going to have a freak snow storm in April... Even though my taste in music has matured a lot since middle school, I'll always love Blink :)

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  2. I stumbled across your blog today and I have to say, I'll be a regular reader! I saw the Willoughby Hills Library sticker on your CD and got excited that you were from Ohio. I have to ask, what part of Cleveland Hts are you from? I just moved to the heights and I love it here.

    -Cara

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    1. Hi Cara! I'm so glad you found my blog. That's so cool that you live close by! For safety purposes, though, I try not to give very specific details about where I live. I'm really glad to hear that you're loving it here. I used to go to Coventry and the Grog Shop with my friends when I was in high school, and I always thought it would be a really fun place to live. I love how walkable it is, too!

      Thanks for reading :) Have a great day!

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  3. The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes is so good! I am reading it right now for PBF Book Club. I would recommend it for sure! :)

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    1. Hi Racheal! I'm reading it for the PBF Book Club, too! I just started reading it and am only about 100 pages in, but I'm definitely a fan so far. I've been reading it in bed the past two nights, and I read until I actually can't keep my eyes open anymore, haha. I'm glad to hear you're liking it, too!

      Thanks for stopping by :)

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  4. I have a confession. I absolutely abhor public libraries but I LOVE bookstores. I am a huge book nerd too, but there is something about the library that reminds me I should be quiet and am a student.

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    1. I do love bookstores, too :) I actually like spending time in (nice) libraries, but for the most part I put tons of books/ CDs/ DVDs on hold and then go pick them up, so I'm in and out really fast. It still amazes me that I don't have to search for the books myself - they just put them all on a shelf for me. It's the little things :)

      Thanks for reading!

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