February 2012
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My current strength routine
Trust me, it isn’t as easy as it looks. When completed with challenging weights (the last few reps should be hard!) this simple strength routine will leave you hurting. I usually add in three sets of push-ups at the end, just for fun :).
Complete three sets of 10 reps, two or three times a week. Full details at Women’s Health.com.
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Would you pop the q to your man?
Fun tidbit that I read this morning - according to tradition women are “allowed” to propose to their men on Leap Days. I’m an uber traditionalist and couldn’t imagine being the proposer (do you buy your own ring?!) but I’m certainly envious of those who are brave enough to do it.
Did/would any of you propose to your man?
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Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have a baby boy! →
Jennifer Garner is one of my favourite celebs - I had the chance to work (yes, my job is amazing!) the TIFF party for her movie, Butter and she is so cute/sweet in real life. So happy for her and Ben. Maybe Ben will shave that beard now?!
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New Kicks
I just ordered my second pair of Mizuno Wave Nexus shoes - this pair will take me through the rest of my training and hopefully across the marathon finish line at the beginning of May.
I’ve been feeling some slight knee pain and I’m hopeful that new shoes, along with stretching and icing will make that disappear. It is funny, as runners our shoes are the only things that should...
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National Post - Women as the breadwinners: Turning... →
Interesting article from the National Post - it is certainly nice to see that so many women are supported by their husbands, even if it isn’t part of the “traditional” marriage that many envision. I am surprised (pleasantly!) that woman are the primary earners in almost 40% of marriages.
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Marathon training - week nine
This week calls for another PDR - 16 miles this time. The steady increase in mileage is having an affect on my body, I find myself feeling tired and drained and so ready to hit the pillow at 10 p.m. I’m continuing to track my meals to ensure I’m eating enough and I’m hoping my energy levels start to increase. Training for a full is definitely a lot more intense than the half.
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Toronto Life's Oscar 2012 Drinking Game →
I think I’ll stick to Perrier tonight but for those who are looking to get a little loose in celebration of the Oscars this drinking game from Toronto Life may be up your alley!
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14.5 miles done!
This morning I achieved a personal distance record by completing 14.5 miles/23 kms in just over two hours. It was hard but with the exception of some hip pain I felt good the whole time. I took a few honey stingers throughout the run and they seemed to keep my energy levels up.
My splits are below - I can’t wait to enjoy some good eats today!
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Fridays, they are a-changin
Not so many years ago I used to go out every Friday. My friends and I would kick-off the weekend at a bar or a house party. Once I started working and MT and I moved in together, Fridays became a bit more tame but we’d usually always go out for a drink or dinner. Since I’ve started marathon training and especially as my long run distances increase my Fridays have become very quiet....
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Tonight's hill workout
I need to hit the hills tonight and I’ve decided to challenge myself by completing outdoor hill repeats. There is a KILLER hill a few blocks away from my house - bonus, it is actually part of the Toronto marathon course.
I bookmarked Gia’s Lululemon hill workout a few weeks ago and I’m excited to try it post-work. I’ll have to modify slightly as I don’t want to...
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Thankful Things Thursday
This week I’m thankful for: Short weeks - nothing like four intense work days to get you ready/excited for the weekend. I can’t wait to relax and recharge - after my 14.5 mile run… MyFitnessPal.com - I’ve been using this site to help track my food consumption over the past few weeks. I am by no means an obsessive calorie counter but I do find that being mindful of my...
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A deck for the Newlywed Nest
MT and I need to invest in a deck this spring - our house doesn’t have one and we’re lusting for a place to lounge, dine and entertain. We live in an urban area so the size of our deck is limited and Canadian summers are short (but sweet!).
Naturally, I’ve turned to Pinterest for inspiration. These don’t directly reflect our house/potential deck space but they sure are...
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Marathon training - week eight
Things are starting to get serious! This week’s long run is 14.5 miles - the longest I’ve run to date is 13.1 miles. While I’m excited to achieve a new PDR I’m a bit nervous - adding two miles can feel like 10. Because of the holiday, my weekend away and a slightly hectic work week my rest days have taken place early in the week - I’m hoping I still feel okay for...
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Getting back on the wagon
Thanks to a stat holiday and a friend’s amazing hospitality this past weekend was fantastic. Food and drinks were plentiful, as were late night dance parties. I came home yesterday feeling sluggish after totally indulging all weekend. I felt guilty for a couple of hours and then put on my stretchy pants (comfort is key!), chugged some water and planned my workouts for the week. This morning...
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Thankful Things Thursday
Thursday, again?! The weeks leading up to the marathon are flying by. This Thursday I’m thankful that: Today is my Friday! A group of us are heading to a friend’s place at Mont Tremblant for the weekend - the theme is basically eat, drink wine and ski. Some pics from our last trip:
I’m getting faster: I’m honestly shocked at my recent split times. I completed last...
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Share time: Delicious and portable dessert recipes
Does anyone have any favourite sweet recipes that they can send my way? A couple of caveats:
- I need to be able to bake this recipe a day ahead of time AND transport it seven hours in the car
- I’d like it to be delicious and a crowd pleaser, I’m not really concerned with it being raw, vegan, low fat, etc.
- My baking skills are still evolving and I don’t have an eye for...
“Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.”
– Easier said than done but great words to live by.
(via georgiegirlnyc)
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Are you a Valentine's Day Lover or Hater?
I fall in the indifferent camp on this one - I think the whole day is overly commercialized and for smug married/attached types. That being said, there is something romantic and special about dedicating a day to your loved one.
This is our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple and our first as homeowners - we’re planning on celebrating with a nice dinner at home. As for...
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Skinny Taste - Recipes for a lighter Valentine's... →
A number of “skinnier” Valentine’s Day recipes from Skinny Taste. I’m salivating over the skinny chocolate cake - yum! Too bad I didn’t plan ahead and MT will have to settle for a sweet treat from Whole Foods.
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Marathon training - week seven
Another week done! Week seven calls for a slight decrease in mileage, the timing is perfect as we’re going to be spending next weekend skiing at Mont Tremblant - I can’t wait for four days of fun.
This week’s schedule includes my first hill training run - I’ve never officially included hills in my training, does anyone have any tips?
Monday - 5 miles steady + hot yoga
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Recognizing the small things
Being married is lovely but sometimes, it is easy to get caught up in our daily routine of working, going to the gym, taking care of the dog, etc… that we sometimes forget to appreciate what we do for each other.
MT has been away a lot lately and I’m starting to realize he does a lot more around the house than I give him credit for. In particular, dealing with the garbage,...
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10-10-10 - Crossfit WOD
Crossfit seems to be the newest workout trend to hit the fitness world/blogosphere. This morning was my first time trying this heart pumping strength and cardio combo workout - check out this video for more details. My first intro to Crossfit was gentle with an at home workout of the day (WOD) that I modified from Carrots N Cake. This 10-10-10 WOD includes 10 reps/sets of bicep curls,...
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Gluten free dark chocolate quinoa bars
These look amazing! I like how they’re gluten free and relatively low in sugar. Recipe is from fANNEtastic foods - she has a great selection of “healthier” granola/protein bars.
Gluten-Free Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bars
Makes 10 bars
These bars are easy to make, high in protein, and perfect when you need a quick, healthy, on-the-go snack. Delicious, too! Slice and store...
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Plus-ones at weddings - yay or nay?
This is one area of our wedding guest list that MT and I totally agreed on - we only invited guests with plus-ones if they were in a serious relationship. We had tons of young people at our wedding and almost everyone already knew each other so we didn’t feel like anyone would have trouble flying solo. It turned out to be pretty fun…
Also, budget and numbers were a key consideration...
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Women's Health - four natural remedies for muscle... →