Routines. I Has Them.

Routines. We all have them. We're creatures of habit (at least hubs and I are.) We like to know what's coming next. 


I've been known to be a person who doesn't like to go out on "school nights." I like to save my socializing for the weekends and Friday nights, when I can stay out late and not worry about being up and at 'em for work the next day. 


A typical day in the life for me goes something like this:


5:00 AM - Alarm goes off...I hit snooze.
5:30 AM - Still hitting snooze
5:55 AM - Now I'm getting my butt out of bed to get changed to head downstairs and hit the treadmill (please note that the AM workouts don't make it into my daily routine, but usually about 3 times a week.)
6:00 AM - Let the dogs outside, prepare my lunch/breakfast for the day, let dogs in.
6:05 AM - Start up the treadmill while watching Army Wives
6:35 AM - Head back upstairs for teeth brushing, showering, changing, primping.
7:10 AM - Out the door for work.
7:30 - 7:40 AM - Arrive at work. Eat breakfast, drink coffee, check email.
4:00 PM - Out the door and headed home.
4:30 PM - Take out the dogs, change into workout clothes.
4:45 PM - Back on the treadmill for another 30 - 40 minutes. Then about 15-20 minutes of strength training.
5:30ish PM - Shower, start dinner
6:30ish PM - Dinner time.
7:00 PM - Chores, relaxing with hubs, TV
9:30 PM - Head to bed to brush teeth and read until I pass out.


Wow, I'm pretty boring, right? But hey, that's what works for me. Besides that, I plan our meals out a week in advance and usually hit the store on a Saturday or weeknight. I get seven kinds of stressed if I don't have our meals planned. We only eat out once a week (usually on Saturdays) because if we ate out more than that, we'd weigh more and have a lighter wallet. Nobody wants either of those things. 


Tell me I'm not the only one that hates doing stuff on a "school night?" 

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Typically when it comes to baking, I'm a boxed mix kind of girl. I don't do well with precise measurements (perhaps it's the whole "I suck at math" thing.) We all know that in baking, you need to be pretty precise. Which is why my creations usually turn out lacking a little bit of something. Especially when I'm trying to make it healthier. 


Last night, however, I threw caution to the wind (rebel!) and baked some muffins. From scratch. And guess what? They were pretty darn tasty! I adapted this recipe for Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins from Annie's Eats. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Muffins

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup old fashioned oats

1 tsp. baking power

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 tbsp. applesauce (unsweetened)

3/4 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup mashed banana (this was 2 medium bananas for me)

6 tbsp. creamy reduced fat peanut butter

1 cup low-fat buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tin with liners or spray with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, combine flours, oats, baking soda, baking power and salt. Stir to combine. In another bowl, combine vanilla, applesauce, brown sugar, eggs, banana, peanut butter and buttermilk. Blend with a whisk. Combine the two ingredients until incorporated well. Spoon into muffin tin. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes. You can top these with some additional peanut butter, but I left mine alone.

And you know the best way to mash a banana? With your hands. Clean hands, of course. 

Random Tuesday

I've been seriously lacking for things to write about on here recently. Perhaps it's my lack of anything really exciting going on in my life. We're boring people. And for the most part? That's ok with me. 


What do I have for you today? Some random thoughts. 

• I just tried Chocolate Peppermint Luna bars for the first time ever. I can't believe it's taken me so long! If you haven't tried them, I suggest hitting up your nearest retailer (they were on sale at Target last week) and scooping them up. Delish. 180 calories. 12 grams of sugar. Not too shabby. I ate one for breakfast with some fruit.
  
• Speaking of food, I made Skinny Taste's Chocolate Chip Scones last night. Also delicious and 199 calories. Although, if you're not used to the taste of wheat flour, it could be hard to get past. You could probably play with the ratio of wheat to white flour. But clearly hubs enjoyed them because he had 2.5. Speaking of Skinny Taste, I made her Stuffed Cabbage Casserole the other night as well. It was awesome! I highly recommend making this on a Sunday and having the leftovers all week.
  
• Hubs' job is slowly driving me to drink. One day he says he's traveling. The next he's not. They need to make up their minds already so I can prepare myself mentally.
  
• Speaking of drinking, I think I've found my new favorite cheap wine. I got myself a bottle of Gewurztraminer from Sutter Home (vintage 2007.) Very smooth white. If you know anything about me, you know I base my cheap (because I don't always drink on a budget) wine consumption on alcohol content. No 7.5% fruit juice for me. The biggest bang for your buck is 11% minimum. And this bottle? 13%. $5.99. Can't beat it. (I kind of sound like a drunk now, right? I swear I'm not.)
  
• I'm in love with my Kindle Fire. I pretty much have it with me at all times when I'm home. I stalk Facebook, check my email, play Words with Friends (heatherjp12...play with me and you're guaranteed to win because I'm AWFUL,) Plants vs. Zombies. And, oh yeah, I read. Speaking of, I'm on the third book of the Hunger Games series. If you haven't picked it up yet, this series is a MUST read. Even hubs is on board. I'll be looking forward to the movie release in March!
  
• I only have a four day week this week because we have a friend visiting from Chicago. Today is Tuesday, but it's really my Wednesday. Booyah!
  
• I haven't been on Twitter in over a month. I should really get back to it, especially since I have my Kindle with me at all times...or my iPhone. I'm surrounded my technology.
  
• By the way, did you know my husband has a blog? You should read it. I triple dog dare you not to laugh out loud. His sense of humor was a definite reason I married him. Only he knows how to make me laugh so hard I piss my pants. True.

Fitness Friday

Oh, hi! Yep, it's me. You know, the girl who hasn't blogged in a week. Life got the best of me. You know how it goes. But I'm looking forward to a productive weekend and perhaps some of that organizing I was talking about. I'd really like to take a big trip to Ikea...I just have to convince hubs to come with me. 


This week's fitness regimen has been cardio-filled. I really wanted to get back on board with some strength training and I didn't end up doing that a whole lot. And as for hot yoga? We had to cancel. Julie's grandmother passed away suddenly :( And I wasn't going for the first time by myself. Weiny, much? Yep. We are signed up for regular yoga this week though. 


Sunday: Nothing
Monday: 30 minute incline brisk walk
Tuesday: 60 minute run/walk (14 minutes running...working on building to 30)
Wednesday: 30 minutes incline brisk walk
Thursday: 30 minutes run/walk
Friday: 30 minutes incline brisk walk; 100 workout


Goal for next week? Incorporate the 100 workout at least 3 times and add a treadmill interval workout. My 30 minutes aren't going to cut it. I need to up the time too.


I'm also still using the Lose It app! I've made some adjustments. I was recording my exercise, but now I'm not. Because I was eating those extra calories that it gave me. I'd like to stay away from using them if possible so that I net 1250 calories a day (I'm on the 1427 per day plan, to lost 1.5 pounds a week....even though I haven't seen the scale budge much.) Plus, I found this photo on Pinterest the other day and I think it speaks volumes about weight vs. muscle.

Source: keepsweatingandgetfitandhealthy.tumblr.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Happy Friday!

Fitness Friday

It's finally Friday again. And though it's been a short week, it's sure felt like a long one!


You might have noticed that I missed a Fitness Friday post last week. That's because I was doing way more important things like napping, catching up on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hill and reading The Hunger Games on my new Kindle. I did manage to get in two workouts, but for the most part, I was useless. 


But with the Monday being a new year and a new week, it was time to get back on track. My two-a-day workouts suffered a little bit this week, but I'm hoping to get back to my normal routine next week. 


Also, this Sunday I'll be trying Hot Yoga for the first time. Which should be interesting considering how I don't like to be hot. But my friend Jenny swears that it's awesome, so Julie and I signed ourselves up. We'll see how it goes.


I also started in with the 100 Workout that many of you have probably seen floating around Pinterest. My friend Jen suggested that I start doing that as well, and sub the leg lifts for push ups. And let me tell you, walking was a challenge after this baby. Here's what it looks like:

100 Workout

100 Jumping Jacks
90 Crunches

80 Squats

70 Push Ups

60 Jumping Jacks

50 Crunches

40 Squats

30 Push Ups

20 Jumping Jacks

10 Minute Run (which I usually do in the morning)

Looks innocent enough, right? Ha!

Sunday: Nothing
Monday: 40 minute run/walk
Tuesday: 30 minute run/walk, 100 workout
Wednesday: 40 minute run/walk
Thursday: 30 minute run/walk, 100 workout
Friday: 30 minute run/walk
Saturday: Nothing


Happy Weekend!

Pantry Organization

Like I said yesterday, one of my resolutions is to get my crap organized. There are a few areas in my house that are in a sorry state of chaos. Like...

My pantry.

THE HORROR! Seriously, that's embarrassing. 

I decided this was going to be my first project. I needed to maximize my space, get rid of some expired items, and for the love of all things spicy, get hubs' hot sauce in order. He only has 12 bottles. Seriously. 12. 

After a big 'ole trip to Walmart for some containers, I finally have somewhat of an organized pantry. 

Better, right? I still have some more containers to get, and some labeling to do, but I'd say it's on its way. Happy day!

New Year, New Resolutions

Ah, yes. The New Year's Resolution. Many set them, few achieve them. 


I have a track record of setting them. Not achieving all of them, but certainly striving for them. Goals are an important thing to have. It gives you something to work for; a way to make yourself a better person. So what if you don't always meet them? At least you're having some ambition, right?


What are some of my goals for this year? Let's see...

• Lose weight. Duh. That's always on my list. It will always be on my list. And although I haven't lost as much as I've wanted to this past year, I certainly feel healthier. I'd like to keep that momentum going.
• Have a baby. Phew! That's a big one, folks. This year, I turn 29. These eggs aren't getting any younger, am I right? 
• Run a 5K. I mean, run. Not run/walk. Run. I can do this one. I just have to set my mind to it. 
• By the same token, be able to run 30 minutes straight. The above and this one go hand-in-hand.
• Organize my crap. Yes, we have this big house now. Meaning we have more places to shove crap. Leaving it an unorganized mess. Well, my friends, it's time for a change. I hate clutter. Clutter clouds my mind. So I'm working on the house room by room. Stay tuned. I have my first project in the works.
• Take more time to create. Sure, I craft occasionally. Pinterest has certainly offered a source of inspiration. Now it's time to actually start completing more of the projects that I pin.
• Get back in touch with my spiritual side. I really need to reinvent my relationship with God. I feel that I've lost it over the years and I really need to commit to rebuilding the spirituality I once had. That doesn't mean going to church every week (at least not for me,) but putting my trust in Him and turning to Him for support and guidance.
• Stop swearing like a sailor. I've GOT to stop with my potty mouth ways. It's unbecoming. And I can't have my kids cursing as soon as they can talk. Now, let me be clear here. I'm not going to stop swearing all together. I'm just going to stop swearing like a sailor. Got it? Let's not have unrealistic expectations.

That's a pretty good list, don't you think? What are your resolutions?