As soon as I rolled out of bed yesterday morning, it was time to get to work.  Sunday was 100% dedicated to cleaning the yard.  (and watching Lost, but that wasn’t until later that night)

Jared and I hauled 10 more bags of marble chips home to complete our pathway.  We began construction last weekend.  20 bags of marble chips total + 2 more bags still needed and then the work will be complete.  I also planted the final strip of grass and added seed to the missing spots.  In 3-4 weeks, the lawn should be complete and ready for foot traffic.

I planted a few more items in my flower garden and started thinking about the layout for my vegetable garden.

Lovely Leaves of Grass.  Yeah, I’m a dork and I laughed at my silly Walt Whitman reference! 

I tweeted that yard work = hard work.  Working out in the yard was enough exercise for me.  Sore arms, neck, and back.  I was looking forward to spending Sunday night flopped on the couch.

We ordered Italian food for dinner and set up camp to watch the much hyped Lost finale.  I had Chicken Piccata.

And a couple of slices of fresh garlic bread.

And part of a salad with tomatoes and mozzarella.

It restaurant delivery, so the food was only halfway decent.  A little too greasy for my taste.

Hello Monday morning.  Time to begin another day in my Mad Hectic life.

I was excited to try my bag of Mad Hectic Oatmeal I received at the Healthworks Blogger Bash.

Lots of raspberries and almonds already in the mix.  I love the protein powder.  That meant my breakfast bowl would keep me full for longer.

I had heard that Mad Hectic Oatmeal could be really sweet, more like dessert than breakfast, and was better mixed with plain oats.  But since I was completely out of oats and milk, I just added hot water to a 1/2 cup serving of Raspberry Almond oatmeal.

Mmmm!  Perfect!    I loved this.  I definitely want to try more Mad Hectic Oatmeal flavors as soon as I can!

I started my final week of job training.  The pressure is on the learn everything there is to know about Healthworks and membership sales.  Nooo, not really.  Everyone is super helpful and I know I can still ask questions when my training is over.  I snacked on a Luna protein bar around 11:30 am.

I worked out when my training ended.  I was lazy and strength trained/stretched for 25 minutes.  I had a jump rope, a mat, free weights, and a 1/2 bosu ball.  It was fun to go without a plan and just pick different exercises.  I don’t like doing random workouts every day, but it’s a nice mental break to go without a plan and try new pieces of equipment.

I’d never used the 1/2 bosu ball before today.  Wow, it really worked my muscles when I did lunges.  I did 2 sets of 25 reps on each legs while holding free weights.  I felt my glute muscles hurting by the 15th rep.  Now I really want to take a bosu class!  Though I anticipate being pretty sore the next day.

I was beyond hungry when I got home so I quickly microwaved some leftovers:  Chicken piccata and tomato soup w/ cheese and blue corn chips.

I made pesto tortellini for dinner.  I added grape tomatoes and Parmesan cheese, then topped the entire mix with olive oil.

After a busy Monday (including a surprise visit from my brother), it was a quick and easy meal.  Plus it was too warm to use the stove for very long.  Pasta with olive oil is going to be a summertime staple.

*When you feel like your life is Mad Hectic, what do you do to slow things down?*

I take extra time to clean!  When my apartment is neat and tidy, my life has a sense of order.  That calms me down enough so I can relax and let all of the other craziness just fall into place. 

Yesterday morning, I woke up craving a hearty breakfast.  Oatmeal!

• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of raisins
• 1 tablespoon of Superfruit Spread
• 1 tablespoon of Raspberry White Chocolate peanut butter

Once I accomplished enough items on my To Do list, I took Miles for a walk around the city.

We strolled through the Public Gardens.

Then we meandered down Charles Street.

We climbed Mount Vernon Street.

I was SO ready for lunch when we got home.  I made a salad with spinach, carrots, corn, cheddar cheese, sausage, and garlic vinaigrette.

My outfit!  Perfect for the warm weather.  T-shirt dresses are so comfortable.

*Don’t forget to enter my Thriv Giveaway*

But gotta rewind a little…

I snacked on a small bowl of Wheat Thins (to hold me over until dinner) while I drove back to Boston last night.

I made a very morning themed dinner:  a scrambled egg sandwich with cheese on an Arnold Thin and a kiwi.

I snacked on a cup of Dark Chocolate Pomegranate.  I’m really proud of my intuitive eating.  I ate 1/2 of the cup and felt too full so I put the rest away.  Glad I didn’t force myself to finish and then feel grossly full.

The Bruins game went WAY into overtime.  The Red Sox went into extra innings too!  Damn it Boston teams, I was waiting to watch Glee on DVR, but Jared was glued to both games.

Miles got a little tired of waiting too.  He built a fort out of pillows and snuggled inside for a snooze.

Glee was worth the wait.  It was a Madonna themed episode and I loved it.

As I was hitting snooze over and over this morning, I decided I NEEDED to bring oatmeal back into my life:

• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of oatmeal
• splash of POM juice
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon of blueberry flax seed
• 1 tablespoon White Chocolate Raspberry peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon Crofters Superfruit Spread

As I added the ingredients, I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish the entire bowl.

And I was right.  But I enjoyed each and every bite before I had to give up due to a very full and happy belly.  I live for adding peanut butter to oatmeal.  It’s delicious!

*Thank you guys for all of the comments on my trip to Raffa Yoga*

I’ve never really been into yoga before.  So if I liked it, you guys probably will too. I guess each class/instructor will be different…  So no guarantees your experience will be as low key as mine was at Raffa.

I didn’t use my 90 minutes to get really spiritual.  I worked hard on the poses, sweated a lot, and just relaxed my mind.  It was great to leave the real world waiting at the studio door.  Any escape, even a brief one, is always welcome!

I went shopping after work yesterday and the trip has taken its toll on my self-esteem.  I tried on a pair of jeans that were tight in the legs but too big in the waist.  Ahh, I hope my quads aren’t getting more muscular again so pants shopping will become as troubling as it was in college.  I bought a pair of jean shorts without trying them on first.  Risky move.  When I modeled them at home, I felt like the legs were pinching my quads. 

I do monitor my weight to make sure I’m maintaining.  Over the past few weeks, I’ve slowly crept up a few pounds.  This is probably due to increased muscles from Body Pumping and lots of running.  I can’t worry about the number.  But it’s hard not to after things in the dressing room went so wrong.

At least I bought a bracelet that looked perfect.  Jewelry is always a safe shopping area.  Well wait, I have gotten a few rings stuck on my fingers.  So never mind, there’s really no way to win.

I drank coffee on the drive to work and then got so distracted that it was 11 am before I remembered to eat breakfast.  I had a bowl of instant oatmeal with a spoonful of Barney Butter.

Ooops, left the flash on.  I’m wearing boat shoes, khakis, a blue gingham button down shirt, and a raspberry pink short sleeve cardigan.

I test drove the Handful sports bra I received in the mail yesterday.  Thanks again to the folks at Handful for sending this bra to me to review.

(My mom looked at this photo after she took it and informed me that my head looks unusually large.  Awkward angle?!?  Thanks Mom, haha!)

It does flatter, and doesn’t flatten.  I wore the sports bra for Body Pump, very low impact activity.

Looking more well endowed than usual!  Haha.  But seriously, I did feel more girlie and less like a 12 year old boy, broad shouldered and flat chested.

This sports bra was great for Body Pump!

My only complaint was that I thought it was a little bit scratchy on the outsides of my chest, but I think that’s because I forgot to push the padding back into the bras.  The cup pads shifted when I got dressed and were sticking out of the sides of the sports bra.  I’m going to test drive the sports bra again on Saturday when I go for a long run.  Hopefully I can adjust the pads after putting the bra on so there won’t be any chafing.  If the pink bra didn’t show through my button down, I probably would’ve worn it back to work.  Because it was really comfortable and quite flattering!

I took it easy during the squat and lunge tracks at BP.  I really wanted to rest my leg.  But I still loaded on the weights for the chest and upper body tracks.  My upper body is already a little sore.  I feel like I got a great workout!

My mom’s HealthWorks pass expired today.  So after her final Body Pump class, we enjoyed our last lunch together.  I ordered a turkey wrap w/ goat cheese, vegetables, and a bit too much raspberry vinaigrette.  I wasn’t too hungry so I ended up making a mess out of the wrap and picking at bits and pieces.

I’m still having a down and out sort of day.  Hopefully I’ll snap out of it by the time I get home from work.  I have the day off tomorrow so I’m looking forward to a nice evening.

At least I made a delicious double batch of oats for breakfast this morning.  Jared and I shared today’s batch made with:

• 2 cups of water
• 1 cup of oatmeal
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 2 cups of frozen berries
• 2 tablespoons of Justin’s Maple Almond Butter

Yum!  This is my favorite oatmeal combination!

No photo of my pizza and salad at lunch because I ate mid-meeting.  I also enjoyed a cup of tea and a little bag of fruit snacks.

I hope you’re having a better (and sunnier) Tuesday!

Wanna know why?!?  Well, just keep reading….

I had a packet of instant oats again this morning.  (Don’t worry, I’ve since gone grocery shopping so tomorrow’s breakfast will be different.)  I added raisins and a scoop of Cinnamon Raisin Swirl peanut butter to my oatmeal.  Yum!

I bought lunch from the HealthWorks Cafe and ended up choosing one of the most delicious wraps ever!  It contained chicken, hummus, lettuce, and tomatoes.  It was so fresh and tasty!  Since I didn’t pack any snacks, I couldn’t resist adding a bag of Sunchips to my meal.

Closeup of my lunchtime goodness!

Since it was such a gorgeous St. Patrick’s Day, I spent my lunch break walking outside and singing along to my i-pod.

And things got creepy cuz I brought my camera to the cemetery so I could capture some photos while I walked.  Even without the trees in bloom and the grass fresh and green, there were so many beautiful views.

Happy Halloween?!?!

When I was a senior in college, I took an elective called the Meaning of Death.  It actually wasn’t as morbid as it sounds.  We studied the meaning of death in ancient cultures all the way up to present day religions.  I loved looking at Egyptian hieroglyphics and Puritan images on gravestones from centuries past.  It was one of my favorite college courses!

The cemetery behind my office has a lot of graves from the 18oos.  While some have been repaired or replaced, there are lots of old stones that are leaning in every direction.

I had to shed my long sleeve layer.  It felt like spring time!  I was going to sit in the sun and listen to music, but I couldn’t stay still for too long.  I needed to stretch my legs so after 1 song, I was up and walking around again.

Amazing!

I also have a fascination with religious iconography.  No matter what religion, I love images depicting holy or sacred figures.  It’s awe inspiring.  I have a shelf in my apartment that’s dedicated to my religious inspired art.

I can’t tell you enough how happy the nice weather made me.

I normally spin on Wednesdays, but I wanted to stay outside… and force Jared to exercise.  We went for a 3.25 mile run around the Back Bay and the Charles River.  I didn’t have a good run.  My pace was really slow and my legs hurt.  But I’m glad that Jared got out and about.  He’s supposed to run 6 miles while I’m at FitBloggin this weekend.

We treated ourselves to frozen yogurt at JP Licks after our run and before our trip to the grocery store.  I had a cup of Oatmeal Cookie frozen yogurt.  MmmmMmm!

*Irish or not, how did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?*

But before I get to that, let me tell you about the first half of my Tuesday.

Instant oatmeal for breakfast, a little on the watery side, but I did add extra raisins for flavor and to up the filling-factor.

Homemade ice coffee!

Dried apples slices for a morning snack.

For lunch I used my leftover quinoa.  I mixed it with broccoli, chicken, and salsa and then melted some cheddar cheese on top.  I also snacked on 2 more squares of a Lindt dark chocolate bar that I opened while at home on Monday.

I hit the gym around 2:45 pm, after I had plenty of time to digest.  I ran 2 miles for speed, running at 7.5 mph, and then walked for 4 minutes to cool down.  I used the foam roller and the myo-release ball.  But the highlight of my workout was spending 10 minutes in the sauna reading a gossip magazine!

Showered and changed.  Back in my work attire!

I snacked on a Special K bar around 4 pm because I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat dinner right away.

I met Jared and his coworkers at Gaslight around 6:30 pm.  Apologies in advance for the lousy photos.  I didn’t want to use the flash and make a scene so everything looks slightly blurry.

I started with the Spring Dug Parsnip Bisque with Shaved, House Cured Jambon de Gaslight.  Smooth and creamy with a slight hint of flavor from the ham.  This bisque was decent, but I wish it had been served warmer.  After a few bites, the lukewarm temperature was a bit of a turnoff.

Each restaurant week meal came with a complimentary glass of red or white wine.  I chose the Chateua Abbaye de Saint-Ferme Merlot.

For my entree I chose Smoky Braised Beef Brisket with Ratatouille Stuffed Cabbage Leaves and Sauce Braisage.  I thought the brisket had a nice flavor and it paired well with the Braisage sauce, but was a bit dry.  I didn’t eat the cabbage, but I enjoyed the vegetables in the ratatouille filling.

The Lemon Fool with Brandy Macerated Fruits and Crème Chantilly was too bland and dry for me.  I didn’t even notice a hint of lemon.  I ate most of the fruits and bites of the cream, but I left the “fool” in the dish.

Jared ordered the Chocolate Ganache Tartlette with Peanut Butter Mousse and Caramel a la Crème.  This was the star of the meal!  It was rich, indulgent, and reminded me of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup.  I only had a few bites and was 100% satisfied.  Delicious!

I felt a little rushed to place and order and eat the first two courses, but waited a long time between the entree and dessert.  The waitress actually brought the check before dessert had even been served.  Overall, I probably would’ve enjoyed Gaslight more had I come for a regular meal and not for restaurant week.  I normally enjoy French food and would’ve been happier with an order of Steak Frites for dinner and Profiteroles for dessert.

Still refusing to go grocery shopping so I had to make instant oatmeal this morning.  I added some Crofter’s Organic Superfruit Spread and a spoonful of Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter to create PB&J oats.  Yummmmm!

Plus I enjoyed a fresh cup of coffee once I got to the office along with some cinnamon almonds.

The Votes are In….

Many of you recommended I wear white or nude pumps.  Great choice and I really wanted the nude pumps, but they’re out of stock right now.

But since there was a tie for the #1 shoe (and the bride chose this option and her vote counts x5), I’m going to go with…

The red patent leather sandals!

Obviously I won’t know for sure until I order these and try them on with the dress.  But if I stick to shoe websites that have free shipping and free returns, I should be ok.  Thanks for offering your opinions on this VERY important decision.

For a bedtime snack, I had some French bread and olive oil.

Here’s what my instant oatmeal actually looked like.  Less delicious looking than Quaker’s photo; mine were too watery.  I beefed it up by adding extra raisins.

I snacked on baby carrots dipped in Laughing Cow cheese.

For lunch I ate each Arnold Thin as an open faced black bean burger.  Yum!  I loved making the black bean burgers during my Vegetarian Challenge.  They’re something I’m going to continue to make at home.  Glad I found a new fav food!

I intended to do an interval run on the treadmill.  After 10 minutes and 1 full cycle of intervals, I felt a cramp coming on.  I took it easy and ran the remaining 20 minutes at a steady 6.5 mph.  I was at a 9:13 for most of the run, exactly the pace I need to be at to accomplish my race goal.  It’s really hard for me to stick to a training plan.  I’m really proud that I’m 1 month into training and I’m on track.

When I got back from the gym, I recorded my workout on my paper calendar.  Love keeping lists!  I also snacked on an Amazing Grass Green SuperFood bar.  I normally don’t love Amazing Grass bars, but I was really liking this one today.

I made leftover Pacific Naturals spicy black bean soup for dinner.  I added too much chopped onions and carrots in an attempt to make it more filling.  Plus some camera shy plain Chobani.  It’s melted into the soup.  I at half of the bowl before I got tired of it.

Since I gave up on my dinner, I made a filling desert.  I started with plain Chobani.  I added a few fresh strawberries, a hefty sprinkle of brown sugar, and a spoonful of peanut butter.

Now my stomach is happily full.  I can relax, watch the Biggest Loser, and gather my thoughts since I FINISHED Food Inc.

I made some “berry” yummy oats with the last of my bag of stove top oats:

• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of oatmeal
• 1 tablespoon of blueberry flax seed
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• 1 cup of frozen mixed berries
• sprinkle of dark chocolate chips

I also completed by taste test of my last bag of Boston Common Coffee, Nicaragua Segovia.  I drank it hot yesterday and it was AWESOME.  My iced version this morning was equally good.  Boston Common has the best roasts.  The Nicaragua Segovia roast has “wonderful body, acidity, and exquisite aroma.”  I can’t wait to get more.  And it doesn’t hurt that I love supporting a local company!

Now I’m taking a break from vegetarian info to tell you about one of my fashion obsessions:

House of Harlow 1960 (photos courtesy of ShopBop)

I’ve been loving the jewelry from Nicole Richie’s line for months, but now that it features shoes, I’m an even bigger fan of her line.

Such old school Hollywood glam.  I love it!  And surprisingly well priced.  I may not be buying any shoes in the near future, but a lot of the jewelry is affordable.  Most pieces are under $100.

Really lusting for this peacock necklace.  And some of the big-ass cocktail rings are so cute, but come in sizes that are too big for my fingers.  The collection also features quite a few pieces featuring keys or horseshoes, two items that I love to see in jewelry form.