One word. SORE. I guess that's what I get for upping the gym from lazy to committed. I walked/ran my way to 40ks this week and had two pump sessions. I'm proud of the effort.

I've been housing some smoothies (even though Melbourne hasn't realised it's summer yet)



Enjoying tomatoes from the garden (a teeny, tiny tomato)



And giving Lululemon all the funds in my bank account


And eating tempeh sandwiches prepared by the hubby


Time to find something exciting to do for Sunday.

-B

Back on the (fake)Rock

We spent our Friday night climbing indoors in the city, and I loved every minute (even when I had to sit through the safety lessons). Climbing is one of my favourite things to do, and I plan to do a lot more of in 2012. All the time off means my hand strength is non-existent, but you have to start somewhere. I only did three routes before I was done (13,12,13).

Saturday I spent the morning in pump (with the Aussie and the SIL). The Aussie has gone to it a few times, but this was his first time in Oz doing it. He pushed through like a champion. We *may* have napped after pump (an earned nap, right?). It was only 20mins but it was glorious. In the afternoon I watched the Aussie and his brother play some cricket. It was a 20/20, which means SHORT (woot, woot).

Teeny, tiny cricketers ;)

After a thrilling cricket game (seriously can cricket ever be thrilling?), we went for some food (Thai), including dessert (chocolate shop) (definitely the highlight of the day).

Today we slept until 11 (so wonderful), went for a walk around the lake, and then I went to the gym and the Aussie hit some golf balls. When I got home from the gym I went on a cooking spree--protein balls, bean burgers, broc and rice dish, and choc pudding (made from avocado).

The protein balls need to be re-created. I used 1 sm banana, 1/4 cup of applesauce, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, 1/4 cup crushed almonds, 1/4 cup peanut butter, 1/4 cup raisins, 1 scoop protein powder, 1 cup oat flour and some oats. I mashed everything together and then rolled them into balls.


The burgers are dry ... really, really dry, so that recipe will not be shared.

My meals lately have looked like this ...





Um, I like veg nuggets (in case you couldn't tell), but I do want to start limiting the fake meat.

Can I say I'm ready for Friday before it's even Monday?

Off to zzz,

B

P*U*M*P

A little time off of pump = inability to lift your arm (I exaggerate only a *tad*). Tonight I spent the evening with the SIL hating the shoulder track ... seriously Les (can I call you Les? sure I can, because you torture me) why do you tease us with a shoulder track that makes me swear it's going to end and then ... it's bar time?

The up part was using my lovely little Christmas gift (thanks Aussie!)


I also did a delicious repeat of the watermelon juice (watermelon, ice and blend, blend, blend)


Hey, who's that stealing my juice?!

Can I just say I love summer? I love summer :) A lovely little summer-inspired salad creation with veggie nuggets and loads of corn.



Off to zzz so I can gym it up in the am,

B

Hello 2012

The end of 2011 was incredibly relaxing. We spent it surrounded by family, laying by a pool, and eating perfectly roasted veggies. I could not ask for more. Now it's time to kick off 2012 on the right foot. This year is going to be filled with lots of qualifying stuff so I can practice over here. I swear I won't be a professional student, although I do feel like it's never ending. But instead of focusing on all the stuff I have to do that is less-than-fun, I want to focus on enjoying each day. It isn't easy to appreciate all the small things that make your life great.

Today my little things were ...

a watermelon smoothie that tasted sweet as can be


and tomato plants that are growing heavy with little tomatoes :)


I'm heading into 2012 knowing it will be hard work, knowing I am not in the exact place I wanted to be from a career & fitness perspective, but also believing that it can be the year that it all changes.

Hang your inspiration board and follow your dreams ... 2012 is going to be year to remember.


Off to pack for the gym tomorrow,
B

Focus on the Positive

After a day of the blues, I was excited to start changing my mindset. It's easy to fall into the trap of "poor me." I'm exhausted by school and the prospect of not practising in AU for so long. My skin and I are fighting, and it's getting ugly. The scale is heading in the wrong direction. Motivation left me like a baby daddy running from responsibility. Oh wait, I'm *supposed* to be over the blues ;)

I decided the only way to fight the blues was to do something (anything) that would make me feel good about myself. Today I did just that.

I re-created a childhood favorite--a twist (bacon/egg/cheese sandwich)

Enter--tempeh, nutritional yeast and spinach as the replacements


I'm a super-star wife, so I made the Aussie a healthy twist to go for his away cricket game. He inhaled it.

I also spent several hours knee-deep in constitutional law, which wasn't fun but I felt better getting things started.

And the sure fire way to beat the blues is to get your butt kicked by the new release of bodypump. I *may* not be able to lift my arms to the keyboard tomorrow, but my blues are gone :)

Here's to a good week!

-B

Life Update

School is taking over my life, which I kinda hate (a lot). I just want to be done with it already, but I have awhile to go until I'm certified over here. Our friends from the States came to visit and we took them on a little hike to a place about 90 minutes from the apartment called Hanging Rock.





While there I managed to catch an in-flight picture of the lovely Rosella


I know, I know you're impressed with my photography skills. Try not to be too jealous . . . haha.

In other bird news, the Aussie saved a bird that knocked himself out on the window at the in-laws. My MIL likes her house clean, really clean. It seems to be a hazard for birds.


On the decorating front, I hung my first painting. And I do mean *I* because I was the one that was able to get the wire to sit on the screw. Okay, perhaps the Aussie deserves a bit of credit because he did put in the screw.


The painting was done by the Aussie's great-uncle and bought as a wedding gift from the in-laws. LOVE IT!

In eats, we've been devouring tempeh sammies ever since we found this recipe

**Eyes shutting**

It's 9pm on this end but my eyes feel like it's 3am. I plan to be asleep within the hour for an early, killer session of bodypump. I am still painfully sore from Monday's session, so let's hope I can walk after tomorrow.

The work people loved Katie's chickpea blondies, which was good, and also the cookies. Yippy for healthy, sneaky food

My highlights for the day including feasting on sourdough bread w. pumpkin and sweet potato soup and staring at my lovely flowers from the Aussie :)

The flowers went from this . . .


To this . . .



Bed is calling,

B