Rolling over in bed was not fun this morning – it is safe to say that Jillian Michaels kicked my tushy. 

I wasn’t going to let Jillian stop me from a run so I imagined her screaming in my ear.  That got me up.  I ran for 25 minutes and officially completed Week 1 of the Couch to 10k.  Hooray! 

A few weeks ago I did a reorganization of my pantry laundry closet and found a box a cereal I must have bought months ago (hence one of the reasons we are doing the grocery store challenge) Nature’s Path Heritage Cereal – I also used them in my Zucchini Bran muffins

This is a great cereal – today I paired it with my normal partners in crime Quaker Oatmeal Squares and Kashi Island Vanilla crumbs.  What a great combination.  I love the grains in this cereal and it is ever so slightly sweet – goes nicely with the sweeter partners in crime. 

I also added a banana to the mix – I can’t have cereal without it.

Green Tip of the Day: No matter your religion, the Jewish New Year provides another reminder that renewal and changes are within your reach.  Start small – pick one household or personal-care product that could be greener and make the switch today.

My class got out around 8:15 pm last night – better then 8:40 pm right?

I have to be at work at 8 am to be at our division breakfast at 8:30 am.  Knowing that, I had to get up early enough for a run AND a quick breakfast.  I wanted to have breakfast before going to the division breakfast not knowing what will be available – I have a strong suspicion it will be pastries and coffee.  That doesn’t really excite me. 

This morning I conquered week 1, day 3 of the Couch to 10k – if you have been reading, you would know this is a big accomplishment for me.  It was tough – 20 minutes at a 10k pace.  My legs felt like lead balloons after my Jillian Michaels shred workout yesterday – it is hard even to walk!

For breakfast, I made my favorite smoothie – Chocolate Soy Nut Smoothie.  In the magic bullet, I blended approximately 1/3 cup oatmeal.  Then I added 1 chocolate Carnation Instant breakfast, frozen banana, 1 cup skim milk and 1 tablespoon soy nut butter.  In my Amazing Grass cup because I’m drinking this on the way to work. 

Green Tip of the Day: Tempted by exotic birds you see in the pet shop window?  Resist the urge to buy one.  The wild bird trade is harmful to fowl and their environments.  Adopt a bird rescue instead.  Learn more at Bird Adoption.

A day off from running but not a day off from exercise!  I woke up this morning and after searching the On Demand workouts, finally found Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred.  I haven’t done this workout in a few months – and it showed.  By the end, I was dripping sweat in my living room thankful I had started the day with a workout.

Tonight is my first class and I had a dream I fell asleep in the library before class and woke up at 11:30 pm – way after my class.  Ahhh anxiety dreams – how I haven’t missed you.

I figured a sweaty morning was a great time for a steamy egg sandwich.  In a small bowl went one egg and one egg white.  I poured the egg/egg white into a sizzling skillet and after quickly breaking the yolk, I added a cover.  After a few minutes, I flipped the egg/egg white on top of itself and added a slice of cheddar cheese.  The cover went back on to melt the cheese and shortly thereafter, breakfast was ready.

Green Tip Fact of the Day: According to the World Commission on Water, “Twenty percent more water than is now available will be needed to feed the additional three billion people who will be alive by 2025.”

Matt and I decided to break out the bread maker last night to have fresh bread this morning.  We decided on a recipe for honey oatmeal bread and it smelled A.MAZ.ING in our apartment when we got out of bed. 

But first, I had to tackle another run in my Couch to 10k program.  I was in such a hurry to get back before the bread was cold, that I forgot to drink a glass of water before I left.  I always drink a glass of water and my mistake was definitely felt during my run.  Alas, I finished my speed workout and was rewarded with Honey Oatmeal bread…

The finished product

I enjoyed a slice of bread with 1/2 butter and 1/2 Crofter’s Superfruit Spread

Now this is some amazing bread.  Slightly sweet, light and a great texture. MMMMmmm…I liked the superfruit spread side the best.

With a side of chocolate milk

Plus 2 pears (Matt and I split them) for dessert!

Time to dust and vacuum! 

Matt and I opened the windows last night and woke up shivering with the cold weather.  Burying myself under a warm comforter in a cold room = heaven in my book. 

It was hard to drag myself out of bed this morning but I did – and I ran 2.06 miles in 20 minutes.  I turned around a little after my halfway point so I had a longer walk back to my apartment.  The weather is gorgeous – almost feels like a fall day.

For breakfast, I made a banana – soy nut butter French Toast Sandwich.  Between two slices of whole wheat bread, I layered soy nut butter and sliced banana.  I then dipped my sandwich in a “french toast” mix of egg white and skim milk.  On a hot skillet my sandwich cooked…

Love this combo – I realized I also had banana and soy nut butter yesterday for breakfast. 

With my sandwich, I had a sliced apple from the CSA

We are off to run some errands and enjoy the afternoon at a BBQ…! 

Twelve hours.  That is how long I slept last night.  I haven’t slept that long in a VERY long time.  My body obviously needed some serious rest and I’m hoping that did the trick.

Matt and I had some waffles for breakfast made with our favorite Hodgson Mill Instabake – we follow the recipe except for swapping out applesauce for the oil.  You will never taste the difference.

I made a wafflewich with my first two waffles – soy nut butter, sliced banana and some chocolate chips

This was excellent – the chocolate chips in the middle melted to a gooey mess.  Mmmmm…

I also had one more waffle the “traditional” way – with butter and syrup.

Matt and I just made our to-do list for the weekend – lots to do! 

Yesterday was the first day of classes at the college I work for.  Although my day was full of meetings, at least I was not running around campus making sure events were going ok. 

I had a fantastic dinner with some old coworkers of mine – it was great catching up with them.  I also did something I have never done before – ate only half of my dinner.  Inspired by Heather’s post the other day, I wanted to try a new approach to dinner.  I ordered what I wanted (a triple decker turkey club – one of my favorite meals on earth), and decided that I would eat 1/2 and then sit for a few minutes to decide if I needed more. 

Usually when I eat said turkey club from this particular restaurant, I gobble it up because I love it so.  Then I feel uncomfortable on my drive home and need sweat pants immediately.  Last night, I enjoyed every bite and stopped after 1/2.  I was full – pleasantly full.  I had the rest wrapped up and now I can enjoy it again.  I was not uncomfortable and I got to enjoy what I wanted.  I was really proud of myself – I had no plans to deprive myself of what I wanted and I left the restaurant satisfied.  Victory.

To continue starting the semester off, I made it out for a 2 mile run this morning.  It was definitely challenging and once again I realized how hard it is to pick up where I left off but slowly it will come back.  This much I know. 

For breakfast I made yet another smoothie – this time with frozen blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, a vanilla Carnation Instant Breakfast packet and 1 cup of skim milk.

Knowing this will not keep me full for long, I will probably have some instant oatmeal midmorning. 

Green Tip of the Day: Bioplastics are plastics derived from renewable biomass sources – vegetable oil, cornstarch, or pea starch – instead of petroleum.  Bioplastics are typically marked with a 7 and labeled “biodegradable” or “compostable.” They must be sent to a special composting facility, but compostable bioplastics will break down as fast as paper in your home compost pile.

I made another smoothie this morning because my throat hurts it is really hot outside…

In the shower I dreamed up a breakfast frappuccino which is odd considering that I don’t really like coffee.  I saw something similar on Melissa’s blog a while ago and made my own version…

First I ground up some oatmeal in my Magic Bullet.  Next, I made Iced Coffee in our Keurig machine – I used a Caramel Vanilla Creme pod.

Next I added 1 chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast Packet, 1 cup of skim milk, some iced coffee and ice cubes to the bullet and blend

  

Enjoy the finished product

This actually was pretty delicious.  I appreciated the creaminess and depth of flavor from the coffee – coffee and chocolate is a delicious combination. 

I plan on bringing a banana to work to finish my meal – I’m too stuffed right now to enjoy it!

Green Quote of the Day: “They are much to be pitied who have not been given a taste for nature early in life.” Jane Austen

I feel like my breakfasts are in a rut so this morning I made something I haven’t had in months – an apple and banana + soynut butter panini

I sliced 1/2 an apple and 1/2 a banana thin and rolled it up in a FlatOut Flatbread smeared with soynut butter.  In the panini maker it went until warmed through and nicely toasted.

This is a great breakfast combination – and can be eaten on the run…as I head out the door!

Green Tip of the Day: The next time you need to buy a gift for a child, try something that gets him/her outside and excited about nature: a guidebook to rocks, birds, plants or flowers in your area; a membership to a local science or nature center; a plant of their own.  Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax is another great way to learn about the importance of conservation. 

Today I am pretending that I didn’t wake up with a very sore throat and feeling kinda nauseous.

I am also pretending that chocolate makes everything better – although sometimes I do believe that is true.

I made myself a Chocolate Soynut butter smoothie with 1 packet of Chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast, 1 tablespoon soy nut butter, frozen banana, skim milk and oatmeal.  I have no idea when lunch will be today so I made my smoothie a little larger then normal.

Green Tip of the Day: Do you clean your reusable water bottle?  Drop in an effervescent denture-cleaner tablet, let sit overnight, and then scrub with a baby bottle brush.  Try to at least wash it out with soap and water once a week and leave the cap off while it dries.