fashion

the snow has arrived in toronto. it really feels like winter now. i am a very cold person. not cold hearted, just cold in general. every time i go outside, it takes about five minutes before my feet turn into giant ice blocks. i'm finding it really hard to drink cold drinks (water) now that it's cold outside. i am pounding it back right now, but had to get a sweater.

my lazy streak is sort of continuing. last night after sewing i decided enough was enough and went downstairs to the condo gym. i walked on the treadmill for about 35 minutes but my bum pain suddenly returned with a vengeance and i had to stop. after that i did some sit-ups, and some weight machines for about 25 minutes more. this morning i set my alarm to swim but once again it wasn't happening! it must have something to do with the change in weather. i just need a bit of hibernation before i can resume my usual workout schedule.

in other news, this morning i made oatmeal with sugar cookie sleigh ride tea. there is something about this tea that's weird and i can't put my finger on it. maybe it's that it doesn't really taste like a sugar cookie OR a sleigh ride. it's good, but not as good as i expected. for lunch i am having another flat out wrap, this time with PB2 and a banana rolled up inside. i love bananas and peanut butter - what a combo!

last night i spent some money online. i always do this. the internet is responsible for me spending money like a drunken sailor. often i wonder how i can make roughly the same amount of money as my friends and be able to buy more stuff, and it just came to me. i rarely spend my money on "entertainment" like going out to dinner, or buying drinks in a club. i just don't want to. tonight, for example, is my book club. i'm sure some of the girls will be buying dinner, but personally, i don't want to spend $12 on a hamburger and fries. #1 i don't want to eat that stuff and #2 to me it's just a waste of money. i'd rather have things like boots and purses.

speaking of which, here is what i bought last night on aldo online. aldo is great because there is free shipping, and if you don't like what you bought, you can return it to any store.




cute stuff. i have always wanted brown boots, ever since i saw a photo of giselle wearing them online.

in other "beauty" news, i had the opportunity to try this new mascara from lancome, called oscillation. it's special because it has a button that you push that makes the wand vibrate. it sounds crazy but it's really subtle and apparently moves back and forth 7,000 times a minute. it mimics the back and forth motion you would normally use to apply mascara. it really is the best mascara i have ever tried. anyhoo, i think today is the first day you can buy it online. and they are having special sales at the bay in toronto (on yonge street) and montreal (on ste. catherine street) today. ooh la la.

it's only wednesday

it's only wednesday. but that's ok. last night there was ANOTHER major snowstorm. it took me a really long time to get home on the streetcar. it's brutal out there. even though today is cold it is thankfully sunny. i need sunshine in a major way. hurry up summer. i am fantasizing about dragging my new papasan chair out on the balcony and reading in the hot sun, while drinking a calorie-free iced beverage. doesn't that sound nice?

so tonight is my big swiss chalet date. apparently there was a "misunderstanding" and my boyfriend thought we were ordering in, while i thought we were going to the restaurant. don't worry, i cleared it up ;) but seriously, if it's too cold or whatever i'd be happy to order in. although ordering in... i don't know. sometimes it just doesn't do it for me. if i'm going to eat at home in front of the tv (because that's what happens at home) i'd rather have something healthier and cheaper. so we'll see. i like to order in thai food. i used to live near this great thai place but not anymore. boo hoo hoo. they had the best spring rolls and panang chicken. the thai food i like the best uses peanuts and coconut milk which is not the best in terms of health.

i am really looking forward to the weekend. yes, the brock plaza hotel is amazing. marilyn monroe stayed there while filming a movie. and...

"As Niagara’s first luxury hotel it has long been a favourite of Hollywood elite and royalty. Since it’s opening the Brock Plaza has played host to notable guests throughout history including Walt Disney, Shirley Temple, Jimmy Stewart, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth, and perhaps most famously Marilyn Monroe while filming the movie “Niagara”. In recent years the Brock has been graced with appearances from Sylvester Stallone, Matt Dillon, Bruce Willis, Jackie Chan, and has even appeared on film. The ending to “A whole nine yards” starring Matthew Perry was filmed on the balcony terrace on the 11th floor."

we actually went to niagara falls and stayed at the very same hotel last year around v-day, for free because my boyfriend's parents had some sort of points we redeemed. i got a great deal this year though... niagara falls is awesome - there is a lot to do. i will post some pics from last year's trip tomorrow... they are really funny trust me (and not just to me because i'm in them).

in terms of eating, i am not doing that well. did i mention that a printer in hong kong sent my office a huge basket of chocolate and goodies for the chinese new year? hershey's kisses, chocolate pizza, chocolate almonds, chocolate spoons, jujubes, popcorn, lemon butter cookies, shortbread, chocolate mints, peanut brittle. the list goes on and on. thankfully there are no more chocolate almonds as these are my weakness. did i mention there aren't any more because i took them home and ate them all? yeaaahhhhhhh.

today i am focusing on mindful eating. healthy snacks between meals to avoid the crap.

menu:
breakfast:
tea
organic maple nut oatmeal with a few blueberries and 1/3 banana
coffee

snack (only if i'm hungry):
apple
cottage cheese

lunch:
mc frozen dinner
frozen peas, microwaved

dinner:
swiss chalet

grazing

it's quite a snowy snowfest here today. last night i got home and went right down to the gym. good thing because ten minutes later it was packed and there would have been no hope for me getting a treadmill. there are these two girls who work out together all the time and it annoys me a little. why? because i like to work out alone, and it is not a big gym, so two people doing the same thing for an extended period of time means that no one else can do it as well. like two girls chatting while walking on the treadmills for an hour means that no one else can use the machines. there are two floor mats for stretching, so same thing. maybe if i had a workout "buddy" i'd be singing a different tune.

i got up early this morning to walk on the treadmill because tonight is my sewing class. yahoo! it's three hours long, and teaches you the basics of using a sewing machine. we are making pillows. i am very excited to start my new hobby of being a skilled sewer who can make her own clothes. in time in time.

last night after working out i planned to take a shower and then make dinner, but i was so hungry when i came upstairs that i just started grazing. too bad. i didn't eat more than i should have but i like having an actual meal... grazing just is not as satisfying. now time for some serious tcb (taking care of business) at work.

i had to bring all my food to work today, so here goes:

pre workout:
1 slice sprouted grains toast (1)
1/19

post workout:
tea (0)
1 slice sprouted grains toast (1)
2/19

breakfast:
clementine (0.5)
coffee (0)
maple brown sugar oatmeal (2)
4.5/19

lunch:
salad (0)
can of tuna (3)
dressing (1)
almonds (1.5)
raisins (1)
11/19

early dinner:
weight watchers bagel (2) - yes, i found them in the Longos in the PATH basement BCE place.
rustic veg. and potato soup (3)
clementine (0.5)
yogurt (1)
17.5/19

probably popcorn later. :)

oh, and i brought my shoes to the shoe maker - it's going to cost more than i paid for them to fix them! they have to replace both heels, and they are adding better soles so i don't slip again. $50 for heel replacement alone! gad zooks! the shoe repair man said that the heels were brittle - but the leather is good, so once i get them fixed they will last a long time. it's worth it because they are very unique.

back on monday

it's a winter wonderland out there today. the snow on the weekend was insane. i only left the house yesterday to walk to the grocery store (it's very close.) my anniversary went very well. i made my bf a photo scrapbook with this awesome backgrounds. he really liked it! we went skating and to the ballet and to a comedy show - recreating our first date. oh, young love. so nice.

another rad thing is that my couch was delivered on saturday - yahoo! having somewhere to sit is really something you don't think to appreciate until you don't have it haha. i will take a photo because it's a very attractive piece of furniture.

one more week of work - and one more week until christmas! ahhhhh! i got my bf tickets to the nutcracker, and since that was his surprise for our date on the weekend i'll have to think of something else.

weight wise everything is going well even though i've been eating holiday treats. i've been pretty active and usually only eat two bigger meals on the weekend. tonight i will hit the gym for treadmill cardio.

today's menu:

fat free cottage cheese with mixed berries
dark chocolate cookie mound (i made these and brought them to work)
oatmeal with raspberries
carrots and dip (homemade fat free sour cream and french onion dip powder)
2 slices whole wheat bread
chef boyardee microwave NHL pasta cup. mmmmm.