Today feels like the first day of FALL here and I LOVE it! It was dark out when my alarm went off at 5:15 am, but, I hopped out of bed to get in my Body for Life HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) run in. I debated with myself for about 8 minutes on what I felt like doing, then, finally, I told myself I needed to “Just Do It!”
minutes 1 & 2: 3.5 mph
minute 3: 5.0 mph
minute 4: 5.5 mph
minute 5: 6.0 mph
minute 6: 6.5 mph
minute 7: 5.0 mph
minute 8: 5.5 mph
minute 9: 6.0 mph
minute 10: 6.5 mph
minute 11: 4.0 mph
minute 12: 5.0 mph
minute 13: 5.5 mph
minute 14: 6.0 mph
minute 15: 5.0 mph
minute 16: 5.5 mph
minute 17: 6.0 mph
minute 18: 6.5 mph
minute 19: 8.0 mph (level 10 ~ all the way!!!)
minute 20-21: 3.0 mph (cool down) Plus a few more minutes just walking really, really slow
When I got to work I decided to celebrate fall by opening my first jar of the season of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter. I scooped 1/2 Tbsp over 3/4 c Low-Fat Cottage cheese ~ Pumpkin Cottage cheese is SO GOOD! I had a Honey Crisp apple and some Starbuck’s decaf on the side.
I did ponder declaring “email bankruptcy” when I walked in to over 200 emails. I learned about “Email Bankruptcy” from Elise at BlogHerFood09. Each month she clears out all her emails and puts them in a folder that may/may not be accessed later. This way her email box is CLEAN and the pressure to respond to them all is gone. Good idea, no?
I took a break mid morning and had a container of TJ’s 0% Blueberry Greek yogurt with a small handful of TJ’s lightly salted cashews. MMMM – LOVE this yogurt and the stats are fab too (120 cal, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 16g carbs, 13 g protein) – 2 Weight Watcher Points!
I seriously think going back for work on a MONDAY after 9 days off makes the day SOOO LONG! I had planned to work on some of the cool stuff I learned at BlogHerFood09, but, I decided I NEEDED to get outside instead. Off to Whole Foods & Trader Joe’s I went. I was really hoping to get the WF Teriyaki Chicken Bowl that I heard about from Emily , but, the WF by me doesn’t do them – Booo! So I settled for making up my own meal from the hot bar.
Herb Roasted Turkey Breast
1/2 c Brown Rice
A scoop of grilled veggies
Asian Slaw
All together it was a decent lunch. The turkey was SO DRY but it had great flavor.
This afternoon was so fun! First, my co-workers re-created the rainbow cake I made for The Husband’s birthday. Didn’t they do a great job?! LOVE IT!
I also brought in the two containers of the NEW Pillsbury Easy Frost that I got at BlogHerFood09 – Vanilla Dream and Decadent Chocolate Fudge to set up a Cupcake Decorating Station!
I LOVE the concept of these frostings in that they come with the tip already to decorate. My only complaint is that they contain trans-fats (aka the Hydrogenated Oils). I know you can’t have perfect ingredients when indulging in treats, but, you can easily avoid ingredients by making your own frosting or finding a brand that excludes them.
Here was our mini Cupcake station! I baked up a batch of Chocolate Cupcakes last night to bring in and share…..
Then, I let my co-workers go to town decorating. The only catch was that they had to take a picture :D HELLO CUPCAKE – Quite possibly the BEST dessert ever created (aside from ice cream of course!)
They all did such a fantastic job! My FAVORITE were the Clown Faces!
I have a confession to make ~ I couldn’t resist!!! I am helpless when it comes to frosting! I could visualize myself squirting this in my mouth like frosting so I HAD TO bring it into work…You know you all have done that!!! :)
When I got home, I had a cool box waiting for me from FoodBuzz! I received 2 NEW Nature’s Pride Loafs of bread as part of their Tastemaker Program – woohoo! I cannot wait to try them out. I’ll be sure to let you know what I think, but, so far the stats are awesome!
Dinner tonight was a new recipe ~ Creamy Grilled Chicken Marsala with Grilled Carrots. The recipe is up next!
1 day down, 4 to go! Let the weekend countdown begin. Tomorrow is a fun day because I am meeting a friend to go to the Farmer’s Market plus lunch. Then, of course, it’s Biggest Loser night – yahoo!
Have a great night all!
N.D says
wooo I love the rainbow cake!!! cupcakes look amazing too!
janetha says
mmm i love marsala, mushrooms are my FAVE! i love the rainbow cake and the cupcake decorating looked like fun. i love the idea of email bankruptcy! haha.. good idea. nice job on your HIIT, great to have you back!
RunToTheFinish says
oh that cake is incredible, how awesome they took time to make it.
seriously coming back after vacation should be really easy…but it’s so not!
Kristin (Kristin's Nibbles) says
I NEED to try TJ’s Pumpkin Butter! ahh!
Those cupcakes look awesome, I’m jeals you got free frosting!
And I’m trying those breads too! I can’t wait!!
Keep up the awesome work chica =)
xo
K