Random Deep Thoughts...

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.

Sing it Johnny, sing it!! Even though your brilliant lyrics are full of lies and deception. Today was another dreary and wet day in Northeastern suburban paradise. Gone are the days of sunshine, warmth and bliss.

I better change the subject before my disgust of all things gloomy scares you away. Be gone evil Wednesday spirits! Be gone!

INSERT EMERGENCY ADORABLE KITTY PICTURE!! Strategically timed to keep you interested. Seriously! OMG! I want it! I want 10 of them!


BREAKFAST (meal #1) at 9:30am.

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 wheat bran
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Splenda
• (Microwaved, EXPLODED, cleaned up (sigh) and topped with 1 tbs Chocolate Better N' Peanut Butter and cinnamon)

So uhm, I do NOT care for the Chocolate version of Better N' Peanut Butter. IT'S BAD! NEVER TRY IT! You all know that I'm a fan of the original. However, the chocolate one tasted super artificial. A bit like sugar free chocolate syrup, but WORSE! YUCK! Seems as though my breakfast was just doomed from the start today. HA!

RANDOM DEEP THOUGHTS: I have yet to pack anything and we leave this Saturday. I realize it seems like I have plenty of time, but in FACT, I barely have ANY! Time, such a funny thing. It seems like everything in life has a specific time and a chosen place. Constant schedules based on suns and moons, hours and minutes, seconds and moments. I so long for a place without the ticking.

LUNCH (meal #2) at 12:30pm.

Another salad. I bet you're not even surprised anymore are you?

RANDOM DEEP THOUGHTS: Repetition, though mind numbing, provides comfort and embraces you gently with the familiar.

Spinach + Avocado + Leftover Eggplant + Cherry Tomatoes + Spray Butter + Sriracha sauce + a toasted Thomas's English Muffin on the side.


A bit later Ann and I found ourselves at Macy's again. What is it about this place??? The ALLURE is uncontrollable. As is my inability to stay away from the junior department. I am NOT a junior. What is wrong with me?

RANDOM DEEP THOUGHTS: Denial is the fountain of youth.

I bought 2 shirts..... from the denial department..... ??

SNACK (meal #3) at 5:20pm.

Nope, no delicious yogurt snack today. I lost track of time again today and worked clear through snack time. Instead, I inhaled this Granny Smith apple in the car on the way to the gym.


WORKOUT!

Free Weight Squat (with straight bar)
45lb x 15
55lb x 15
65lb x 15
Stiff Leg Deadlifts (with straight bar)
45lb x 15
45lb x 15
65lb x 15
Leg Extensions (plate loaded)
100lb x 15
100lb x 15
90lb x 15
Seated Leg Curls (plate loaded)
100lb x 15
90lb x 15
80lb x 15
Inclined Leg Press (plate loaded)
180lb x 15
180lb x 15
180lb x 15
Outer Thigh Machine (cable)
85lb x 15
85lb x 15
85lb x 15
Inner Thigh Machine (cable)
75lb x 15
75lb x 15
75lb x 15
Treadmill
Long story short, I was going to run for at least a mile but a certain SISTER was whining to leave already so we could go feed the cats. I guess she was in a hurry to get home? This translates into a pathetic 6.5 minutes, .57 miles and a lot of frustration.

Total time at gym = 1:02
Max HR = 180
Average HR = 142
Total Calories Burned = 517

RANDOM DEEP THOUGHTS: Coffee makes everything better. Sweet, delectable, aromatic beans of caffeine heaven. Take me away...

SNACK (meal #4) at 7:30pm.

LARGE espresso + dried apricots + butter pretzels + a Fuji apple. I actually did NOT eat the apple. It sounded good at first but in the end, I changed my mind.


After my MUCH NEEDED coffee break, I took a nice, long, EXTRA HOT and relaxing bath. I washed this stupid day right out of my hair and felt a million times better.

DINNER (meal #5) at 9:30pm.

We're working with slim pickins at the moment. I didn't want to buy more than we could consume for the week since we're leaving on Saturday morning. I think I grossly underestimated how much we would need though. This translated into Nick having boxed Mac & Cheese and me having Thai Kitchen Bangkok Curry soup + a Flat Out wrap with the last of the leftover chicken breast + swiss + spinach + honey mustard. It was actually quite tasty. Disaster averted.


RANDOM DEEP THOUGHTS: To sleep is to be free of woe, distress and the entrapment of the never ending tic-tocking. Sweet slumber wraps me in worry free ignorance and embraces my weary thoughts in a thick layer of darkness. Oh what dreams may come.

GOODNIGHT lovelies!

XOXO
Ildie

Shocking Revelation...

Hello lovelies. I hope you're all having a fantastically mundane, repetitive, predictable and boring Monday. Oh wait, that's what my day was like..... I wish the exact opposite for the rest of you.

I feel like this day has slipped right through my clammy little fingers. It's 11:00pm and I just sat down to type out this post. I think we all know what that means. INCREDIBLY FAST RECAP POST! Can-she-do-it? Only time will tell. And heeeere we go!

BREAKFAST (meal #1) at 9:30am.

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 wheat bran
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Splenda
• (Microwaved and topped with 1 tbs Better N' Peanut Butter and a mix of golden and regular raisins.)

SHOCKING REVELATION: I didn'tt really enjoy my bowl of oats this morning. SAY WHAAA? You all know I'm an oatmeal fanatic. I couldn't believe my taste buds. How dare they! Maybe I eat oats too often? Maybe I'll love them again tomorrow? Just not sure! More research is necessary!!!

LUNCH (meal #2) at 12:00pm.

I had a large salad with spinach + cherry tomatoes + Morning Star Farms black bean burger + leftover sauteed veggies from yesterday's lunch + cannellini beans + spray butter.


After my salad feast, I got caught up on some more work and then Ann and I headed out to World Market on our break. I shouldn't be allowed in that store. I am physically incapable of leaving without purchasing something. Sometimes I contemplate leaving my wallet at work. Perhaps this should be mandatory. Ann, I know you're reading this. I put you in charge of this highly important assignment. WATCH ME CLOSE. I'M STEALTHY AND SNEAKY!

Today's purchases included a bottle of Dutch chocolate wine (YES, CHOCOLATE) and some Banana Bread Beer (YES, BANANA BREAD). I've been dying to try both and no time seemed more perfect than vacation. :)


SNACK (meal #3) at 4:00pm.

Plain Dannon Greek yogurt with Udi's cranberry granola and fresh strawberries for dipping. I had about 5 more strawberries on the side which went unphotographed.


5:00 rolled around in the blink of an eye and we were off to the gym. I felt like I needed a good one. Something to sweat the weekend right out of me!

WORKOUT!

Tricep Pulldown (cable)
80lb x 15
70lb x 15
70lb x 15
Bicep Curls (barbell)
45lb x 15
40lb x 15
35lb x 15
Front Shoulder Raise (barbell)
30lb x 15
25lb x 15
20lb x 15
Hammer Curls (dumbbells)
15lb x 15
12.5lb x 15
12.5lb x 15
Skull Crushers (barbell)
30lb x 15
30lb x 15
30lb x 15
Arnold Press (dumbbells)
15lb x 15
12.5lb x 15
12.5lb x 15
21's (barbell)
30lb x 21
30lb x 21
30lb x 21
Elliptical Cross Trainer
30 minutes, 2.73 miles, levels 6-8

Total time at gym = 1:16
Max HR = 165
Average HR = 142
Total Calories Burned = 625

Afterwards we hustled to Mama and Papa Babushka's house and did the usual ditty. We fed the kitties, got the mail, cleaned up a bit, made sure everything was locked up at least 10x over (to be sure) and called it good.

SNACK (meal #4) at 7:30pm.

I had a Green Goddess Smoothie. Why do people call them monsters? I hardly find spinach to be horrifying. I doubt anyone does except maybe a 5 year old little boy staying with wicked veggie lovin grandma for the weekend. HA! Green Goddess sounds much more appealing to me. This had....

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze
• 1 very ripe banana
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 3 cups of spinach (not even kidding, I'm on spinach overload today...)
• a few pieces of frozen mango (maybe 1/2 cup)

Blended to pure perfection. YUM!

DINNER (meal #5) at 9:30pm.

After cleaning myself up Nick and I invaded the kitchen like famished, enraged maniacs. He decided on leftover spaghetti from Friday. I decided on leftover chicken breast from last night accompanied by a lovely pile of green beans and a teeny tiny spinach salad with cherry tomatoes and cannelloni beans. Yes, I just HAD to have more spinach.


Of course the chicken was smothered in Frank's hot sauce.


And there you have it my gorgeous friends. This concludes another magnificent tutorial of all my meals today. RIVETING wasn't it? HA! So how did I do? It's officially 11:38 and I am done typing. I kept getting distracted by the TV. I shouldn't write in the living room! However, I'm not done yet. Now I must retrieve the pictures from my camera, decide which ones I want to use and upload them to the post. Sometimes this step takes me for EVER! I try to be a picture perfectionist. Let's see how long it takes me. Be back in a flash!

Annnnnd I'm back. Official time is 11:59. Sleep beckons me. Goodnight!!

XOXO
Ildie

Word To Your Mother!

Hello lovelies. I'm hope you're all having a fantastically titillating and delicious day. My day was fabulous, with one slight hick-up. The title of today's post is a subtle hint. I'm not going to tell you about it just yet though. I'm going to drag it out and lure you along with promises of humor, shock, reflection, denial, anger and laughter.

Our story begins with a delicious bowl of grandma approved, oat infused goodness.

BREAKFAST (meal #1) at 9:00am.

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup wheat bran
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tbs unsweetened dark cocoa
• Splenda
• (Microwaved and topped with 1 tbs Better N' Peanut Butter and a mix of golden and regular raisins.)

I was feeling the work flow today. My nearing deadline of "get crap done before you leave for vacation" has me in super-maximum-mega-warp-speed-overdrive. Ahhh the subtle scent of burnt flesh. Caused by my speed typing which produced sparks and smoke from my fingertips. It's essence was oozing from my office all day today. A rich bodied aroma with hints of Hungarian paprika. Very odd. HAHAHA!

Lunchtime rolled around in what seemed like minutes today. I couldn't wait to dive into my magical polka dot lunch bag. Packed full of nutritious, delicious, scrumptiolicious (yes I just made that word up) goodies.

LUNCH (meal #2) at 12:30pm.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Miss. Awesomely Amazing Salad. Please give her a warm round of applause. She was loved while she lasted. Though her time in this bowl was limited, she will never be forgotten. Oh Miss. Salad, you had me at first bite.

• Spinach
• Cherry tomatoes
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Leftover Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Black Bean Burger
• Corn
• Alfalfa Sprouts
• Spray Butter

I don't know what it was about this combo but I was all sorts of OVER IT. I ate every single last little morsel. No bite gets left behind!!!!

Ann and I went to the grocery store on our break today. It's like my second home. SCARY how much time I spend gazing at fresh produce and perfectly organized isles of packaged goodies. LOVE IT! Sometimes I envision myself dancing, singing and twirling with a basket full of apples in slow motion while hugging boxed cereal. Envision The Sound Of Music if you will. Brilliant right?


It was during our shopping adventure that my one hick-up of the day occurred. We were getting in line to check out when the CLEARLY wise and CLEARLY brilliant (IDIOT) cashier asked us if we were mother and daughter. You know, because we look a like? MY JAW HIT THE FLOOR! You son of a _____! Really???? Sisters doesn't come to mind first? Fifteen months separate Ann and I. IS HE KIDDING? OMG! I'm not sure if you can kill with a look but mine was definitely throwing a full set of rusty knives at this man jugular. Ann kept silent. I think she was fearful of her life and made NO eye contact with me what so ever.

We checked out and got out of there as quickly as humanly possible. You know, before things got ugly and I ended up on Americas Most Wanted for violently attacking and ripping apart a complete stranger. Ann attempted to console me by saying that maybe he thought she was the mom. Then I reminded her that Mr. Charming carded her for her bottle of wine and did NOT card me for mine. HA! I'm pretty sure this points the Mama fingers in my apparently aged direction.

After a while we were laughing at it. Hard. However, I just have to say, HOW RUDE! Ann and I are both in our early 30's. If he saying I look 50? HAHA. I mean seriously. I immediately blamed my new orange glasses. I HAD TO BLAME SOMETHING! :)

SNACK (meal #3) at 4:15pm.

I had a plain 0% Fage with a very ripe pair, Udi's cranberry granola and cinnamon. A tasty, healthy good for you treat that even a MOTHER can appreciate. :-O


After work it was off to the gym.

WORKOUT!

Treadmill
5 minute warmup at 3.4 speed
Seated Leg Curl (cable)
100lb x 15
90lb x 15
80lb x 15
Leg Extensions (cable)
100lb x 15
100lb x 15
90lb x 15
Inner Thigh Machine (cable)
75lb x 20
75lb x 20
75lb x 20
Outer Thigh Machine (cable)
85lb x 20
85lb x 20
85lb x 20
Free Weight Squats (straight bar)
45lb x 15
55lb x 15
55lb x 15
Side Leg Raises
BW x 15
BW x 15
BW x 15
Treadmill
1 mile in 12:17 minutes, Speeds 3.4-6.5, (shaved another 24 seconds off.)
Treadmill
.5 miles, 10 minutes, 10 incline, 3.2 speed (there's gold at the top o' that thur hill.)
Elliptical Cross Trainer
.85 miles, 10 minutes, Level 6

Total Time At Gym = 1:16
Max HR = 180
Average HR = 141
Total Calories Burned = 631

Not bad for a 50 year old if I do say so myself. ;)

SNACK (meal #4) at 7:15pm.

I made a quick shake the second I got home. I just stirred a scoop of chocolate peanut butter whey protein into a glass of 1/2 vanilla Almond breeze and 1/2 water. I added some ice and cinnamon to make it perfect. Tasty tasty... I'm pretty sure that cinnamon is my favorite spice of all time!! Cayenne being the close second!


After cleaning my sweaty self up, I started prepping dinner. All I wanted for dinner was soup and salad. A thunderstorm hit shortly after I got home and soup just sounded SO good.

DINNER (meal #5) at 9:30pm.

For the sandwich I pan seared some peppered turkey and smoked ham in a pan with a bit of spray butter for just a few seconds. I added them to two slices of wheat bread with a slice of Munster cheese. I had already sprayed the outside of each slice with a bit more spray butter. I tossed the sandwich into the same pan and toasted the outsides until they were nice and golden. When it was done, I peeled it apart and added some crisp, cool lettuce for a bit of a crunch. This was delicious!


For the soup, I made one of my favorite little packets. Thai Kitchen, Bangkok Curry. Not the GREATEST ingredients, I know, but it's freakin delicious. Calorie wise it's only 170 so not TOO bad. I followed the microwave directions and added some red pepper flakes and fresh green onions on top. LOVED IT!


Yeah, it was sort of a lazy attempt at dinner but it was super tasty. I used to make sandwiches like this all the time. MAKE ONE, they are tasty! Trust me, this "Mom" knows what she is talking about, for I am wise. As wise as a 50 year old apparently. HAHAHAHA!

Okay, ENOUGH already. I must get over it and MOVE on.

Before I forget, I have not FORGOTTEN about you. If I haven't commented it's because I'm STILL behind on reading blogs. FORGIVE ME! My days have just been so busy! Like right now, it's past midnight and I'm just now about to hit publish. I'm also about to pass out so I need to take my sassy butt to bed. OH, I better remember to take my dentures out first so I don't choke on them while I sleep.

I had to sneak another OLD mama joke in there. Sorry! HAHAHA! I'm done now... I promise...

XOXOXO

Ildie (aka,Mad Mama.) :-O

Trapped

As predicted, the EVIL snow storm arrived late yesterday afternoon and continued to fall ALL night long. When we woke up it looked crazy outside. 5 inches my ass. More like 12+. The decision to skip the gym this morning was not a hard one. I'M TRAPPED! I don't think I could have made it out of the driveway or up our street even if I was crazy enough to try. BAH!

I enjoyed an espresso while staring at the insanity from inside. THIS is about as close as I want to be to the powdery stuff that frozen nightmares are made of.


My espresso was to die for, as usual. I made it with chocolate chip cookie flavored coffee and topped it with fat free whip and cinnamon. It warmed me right up!


BREAKFAST (meal #1) at 9:00am.

Eggs sounded good this morning. NO OATMEAL? GASP! Strange right? Maybe I'll have it later today as a snack. LIVIN ON THE CULINARY EDGE OVER HERE!

To start, I toasted an English muffin and smeared Trader Joe's cilantro jalapeno hummus on each half. I also cooked up 4 egg whites mixed with a handful of chopped up spinach leaves, seasoned with salt & pepper. I topped each English muffin with the eggs and drizzled Sriracha on top.


My breakfast loved me and I loved it right back.

I also had a small handful of grapes on the side and a cup of blood orange & pomegranate tea. Yum-Yum!


After my food settled I decided to workout at home. Nothing major but I didn't want to forgo it all together. I'll probably end up going to the gym tomorrow instead of taking Sunday off like usual. I'm hoping some of this snow melts by then. While I was changing into my gym clothes, Nick geared up to tackle the driveway. It looked insane! I swear we had at least 16 inches or more fall last night!

Nick's Workout....


MY WORKOUT!

Done 2x over
Push ups
x5
Sit ups
x40
Crunches
x40

Done 2x over
Double Leg Raise reverse sit ups
x20
Scissors
x20

Just one set
Plank
30 seconds
Side Plank (right)
15 seconds
Side Plank (left)
15 seconds

Done 2x over
Push ups
x5
Dumbbell Fly
8lb x 30
Dumbbell Press
x30

Done 2x over
Arnold Press (dumbbell)
8lb x 20
Front Raise (dumbbell)
8lb x 20
Side Raise (dumbbell)
8lb x 20

Done 2x over
Bicep Curls (dumbbells)
13lb x 15 (had to hold the 5lb & 8lb dumbbells together, SUCKED)
Hammer Curls (dumbbells)
13lb x 15

I had also planned to get on the bike but decided to continue the "workout" by cleaning the house up a bit. This adventure involved moving furniture, vacuuming, rotating a huge area rug, dusting, decluttering, dishes, laundry folding and bed making. WHEW! By the time Nick was done shoveling, the downstairs looked completely different. I just can't help myself. I LOVE moving things around. It's my inner interior designer wannabe self trying to BUST out.

We were both starving and worn out. Nick heated up some leftovers he scavenged out of the fridge and I made myself a quick salad.

LUNCH (meal #2) at 1:00pm

• Spinach
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cauliflower florets
• 1/4 cup Black beans
• 1/4 cup Cottage Cheese
• Spicy Black Bean Burger (Morning Star Farms)
• Spray Butter
• S+P

This salad was so simple and tasty. It filled me right up and packed roughly 26g of protein. NICE!

After lunch I decided to be a bit naughty and had another espresso. :-O REBEL! I couldn't help it. I was craving it like something crazy. I added 5 drops of chocolate fudge brownie Capella Flavor Drops to the mix this time. Holy yum! Delicious! I love the aroma of these drops. So rich!


Nick recently joined NetFlix and we decided to veg out for a bit and watched Chocolate. No, not the romantic movie with Johnny Depp (though I love that movie a lot and have seen it several times). It was a crazy martial arts movie about an autistic young woman with ridiculous fighting skills. Some of the fight scenes were insane. I love martial arts flicks!!!

By the time the movie was over we were both ready for a snack. He opted for a huge bag of Dandee corn twists and I decided to make oatmeal. You didn't think I would forget did you?

SNACK (meal #3) at 5:00pm.

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup wheat bran
• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze
• 1/2 cup water
• tons of cinnamon
• Splenda to taste
• 5 drops of vanilla custard Capella Flavor Drops
• 1 banana, sliced

I topped this creamy goodness with PB2 and a tablespoon of superfruit jam. SERIOUSLY! SO GOOD! It tasted just like a hot peanut butter, banana and jelly sandwich with a hint of sweet vanilla. DROOL!


After lunch we decided to watch another movie. Can you believe I've never seen American Psycho? NUTS! I LOVED every single insane second of it. :)

After movie I started on Dinner. Nick had spaghetti and I decided to make me some tofu and veggies. I'm hooked!

DINNER (meal #4) at 9:00. (only had 4 meals instead of 5 today....)

I marinated the tofu in a mixture of soy, sharp mustard, spicy Thai chili paste and sweet chili sauce. I popped them into a 400 degree oven for 30 minutes. I wanted them nice and golden crispy.

While the tofu was cooking I sauteed a huge serving of broccoli, cauliflower and pineapple chunks in more soy and sweet chili sauce.


Everything turned out fantastic!! I'm loving tofu lately. I also enjoyed a small whole wheat and flax pita on the side.


Alright my lovelies, it's getting late and I'm going to hang with the Mr. some more before I pass out. Enjoy your Saturday night. See you tomorrow.

XOXO
Ildie