Fitness with Friends

It was a work day and both of us had braved the traffic.  Neither suggested we try another night, though the sky hinted of more rain.  The trail was fairly easy, though the odd muddy obstacles made it interesting and both of us were smacking ourselves, and sometimes each other, to ward off the mosquitoes (I forgot the bug repellent at home).  We stopped briefly to admire birds, chipmunks, flowers, and even a little garter snake.

In 65 minutes, we'd covered 5.1 km of trail and talked for the majority of it.  We talked a bit about our work, our families, and just rambled on as we rambled through the marsh.  When it was over, it was suggested we might try to find a night for it the following week.

It's not the first time I've gone hiking/walking/exercising with a friend.  Whether it be aquafit, hiking or swimming, time flies when I combine friendship with fitness.  It makes it easier to keep going and harder to make excuses.

Coming home after a long day, it's easy to plop onto the couch, turn on the tube or play video games.  Contemplating the idea of getting up and exercising is, at times, daunting and easy to ignore once you get into bad habits.  Consider calling up a friend this week to make plans to do something active together.  Not only is it great to see your friend and catch up, you'll feel pretty good about yourself afterwards.

Just a word to the wise: Don't forget the bug spray!

The T-Dult: Part Teen & Part Adult

Do you remember the summer you came back home from your first year of university?  You had independence, freedom, and control over your entire life while at school.  Then, almost as soon as you walked over the threshold of your parents' front step, it was gone.

When you're a teenager, someone else holds the controls.  Sure, you're on your way to independence, but teachers still tell you what to do in class and your parents are likely dictating most of your life at home.  It's a bit smothering, but you're used to it.  You push back and rebel a bit, hoping to stand on your own two feet, but it's not until university or college that you finally get that taste of freedom.

For some, that freedom is terrifying, but for many it's relished.  No one tells you when to go to bed, when to study, what to eat, who to be friends with, or what to do.  Aside from your professors giving you instructions you may or may not follow, parental interference can be brief.  You're on your way to being a real adult and making your own decisions.  You may start to see yourself on equal footing with your parents.

When you come home, however, life changes.  Your parents don't realize how much you've grown this year.  They treat you like a teenager and perhaps your parents even put restraints on your movements.  It's frustrating for both sides.  You're struggling to assert your independence and they're struggling to catch up with the monumental changes that have occurred.

credit: Doodleblob

I remember that first summer.  I also remember feeling frustrated and angry a lot of the time.  One parent went so far as to tell me that my attitude sucked and that I'd been very difficult to live with.  Inside, I wanted to yell back that I'd found it just as difficult (I might have done that...I can't quite recall).  My younger sisters were still in high school and while my lifestyle had changed, my family's had not.  It wasn't one of the easiest times in my life...and I'm sure my family found it the same.

I spend almost every day of my life with teenagers while teaching high school.  I also volunteer with a youth group and often see those kids as my own, though they might not realize it.  I watch them grow, celebrate their successes and feel for them when they go through difficult times.  I've also come to realize that the tables have switched.  I used to be the teen fighting for the right to be treated as an adult.  Now I'm the adult trying to adapt to my graduated teens becoming adults. 

They are the ones now fighting me for the right to be treated as an adult.  While I know from experience that they're still not quite there, I also have to recognize that they have changed.  It's challenging to make the switch when, just like my parents, I am still surrounded by teens who still need guidance and a hands-on approach.  I sometimes forget to adapt and evolve in my interactions with my T-Dults.  This can lead to hurt feelings on both sides and patience & forgiveness is needed to maintain a positive attitude.

I'm thankful that my parents stuck it out and the relationship we have now is stronger and healthier than when I was in that awkward T-Dult stage.  I can only hope that the relationships I have with my evolving teens stay just as strong as they grow into that amazing full-fledged adults I know they'll be.

Living the Strange Life: Serially Single

After having a good chuckle over the word "masterdating", I was curious to see if any term exists to describe someone who is perpetually and serially single.  Turning to the digital know-it-all, Mr. Google, I plugged in my inquiry and the internet spit back some interesting suggestions.  Amongst them were the following:

...loner, odd, strange, isolated, lone, spouseless...

I won't sugar coat it.  Yes, being single is lonesome.  There are days you wonder just where you went wrong and why Mr. (or Mrs.) Right hasn't shown up on your radar yet.  You start to question if there is something so fundamentally wrong with you that there isn't at least one potential mate lining up to spend time with you.  Personally, I've somewhat seriously considered the possibility that I have a naturally occurring invisibility cloak, but thought that might be a bit too "Big Bang Theory"ish.

Some of my closest friends have begun to pair off and start their own families and it's hard not to wish I was in same vote.  Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled my friends have had success in that area of their life, but it certainly cuts down on the number of people available for a night out.  Breastfeeding and pub crawls aren't exactly made for each other.

So what do you do when you are serially single?  I haven't had a serious relationship in more years than I like to count and I'm past the age of wanting to go out to the bar, indulge in a bit too much alcohol and try to pick up intoxicated men.  I'm also not up for the guys who seem to think they can grab anything and anywhere while shouting over impossibly loud music. 

Where does that leave me?  Well, there's the option of the internet and dating apps.  A few of those friends I referenced earlier are happily married to people they met on dating websites, so I know for a fact it is possible to find love online.

My experience, however, hasn't exactly been starry.  From guys who think an appropriate first date gift is a pack of bubble gum or a hockey puck, to men who suggest I'm naive because I won't show a lot of skin in my pictures, online dating has landed me a few duds.

When you've been disappointed time after time, it's easy to become frustrated and give up.  It's easy to go for a night with a good book, rather than the preferred "good man".  So how does one continue to believe?  What hope is there out there for all of us great girls who just don't seem to be on any decent guy's radar?

As long as I'm still a "player" (pardon the pun), winning is a possibility.   I also don't like to lose.  Giving up, to me, is choosing to lose.  If I continue to put myself out there, no matter how much or how little, I'm still in the game...and that means I may still win.  Out there somewhere, is a guy who has lived his own strange and spouseless life.  

Until we find each other, this "loner" is going to keep looking.

Eating Orange: Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup

It's a cold, rainy and gross Saturday afternoon in June.  Since it feels more like March or late October, I thought a soup would warm me up.  This blended soup is quick, easy, and pretty delicious!

Ingredients:
6 medium-sized carrots, peeled and chopped into thin slices
1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp of fresh ginger, grated
2 tbsp of olive oil
1 tin of coconut milk
2 cups of no-sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp lime juice
1.5 tbsp of curry powder
1 tsp of cumin
1 tsp of garam masala
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Heat olive oil over medium high heat in a stock pot.  When heated, add carrots and onion.  Cook until softened, then add spices, garlic, and ginger.  Continue to cook until fragrant.  Add in coconut milk, broth and sweet potato.  Bring to a boil and then cover and simmer until the sweet potato has softened.  Remove from heat and blend.  I prefer to use a hand blender, but a food processor would work too.  Once blended, add lime juice and season with salt and pepper as desired.

Fab Food 4 Forty $: Week 2's Memorable Moments

Hmmmm....I feel like ice cream drizzled with maple syrup.  Or chocolate....a piece of dark chocolate right now would be delicious!  I wish I could pop over to the store right now and satisfy that craving!

Wishing is as far as it got this week.  My tight budget was stretched to the breaking point and there wasn't much I could do about it.  If you read my post from Week 1, you may recall I had a date and lunch out this week to fit into my budget. 

Going through this challenge, I'm realizing more and more how much I took advantage of having unlimited access to things.  If there was something I wanted, I got it.  If it was after hours, there were 2 places within 5km that are open 24hrs.  If it cost $7.99 for a small ball of fresh mozzarella, who cares?  I know there were weeks I spent over $100 in groceries.  I didn't care if it was cheaper a couple km away, it was here and it was convenient.  I also remember the waste; eating what I wanted, not necessarily what I had in the fridge.

I'd say I'm more like a C+ student now.  I bought things I didn't end up using, and missed out on things I did.  I ran out of peppercorns to grind on Wednesday, and I had a couple people come to my rescue with a can of beer for a recipe (thanks, dad) and aluminum foil (thanks, Kristina).  By luck, I didn't run out of money.  I would have been $0.50 over, but thanks to a lucky $1 coin found on Monday by the water, I had enough.

Groceries totaled $30.05 this week.  I started off with $48.50 (adding in last week's surplus and the lucky loonie).  My date and lunch with a friend came to $18.05 in total, so I ended up with just $0.45 left at the end of the week.

• Chicken Broth (I'll have to find use for it this week)
• 2 bananas
• 1 bunch of broccoli
• Can of coconut milk
• package of 2 chicken breasts
• bag of carrots
• package of mushrooms
• 4 pack of peppers
• 2 nectarines
• 1 jumbo red onion
• 1 cluster of tomatoes
• a 6 pack of eggs
• a block of mozzarella
• a package of tortillas

Week 3's challenge?  Summer School!

Fab Food 4 Forty $: Chickpea Curry on Brown Rice Recipe

Steph's Chickpea Curry on Brown Rice

I had everything I needed in my pantry already, but if you're looking to price this meal out, it will cost you approximately $5-10 if you need to buy everything.  Consider hitting up the Bulk Barn for some of your ingredients if need be.

Serves: 4
Time to prep: 5 min
Time to cook: 30-40 min

Ingredients:
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 can of coconut milk
1/3 red onion, chopped.
1 cup of brown rice
1 tbsp. dried cumin *
1 tbsp. masala spice mix *
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. cardamon seeds *
1 tsp. cumin seeds *

*If you visit an Indian grocery store, you're likely to find the spices you need.  They are fairly inexpensive and a lot nicer than the ones in North American grocery stores.

Directions:

1. Cook the rice according to package instructions.  I find a rice cooker is an awesome thing to have!  Easier to cook and clean up.
2. In a large saucepan, heat oil over med-high heat.  Add the spices to the pan and stir frequently until fragrant.  Don't let them burn!
3. Add the onions and let soften.  You may want to turn the heat down to medium at this point.
4. Add tomatoes, chickpeas and coconut milk.  Let simmer down until desired thickness.  
5. Serve over the brown rice and enjoy!

Fab Food 4 Forty $: Lessons from Week 1

Week 1...
If this were Donald Trump's show "The Apprentice", I would have been told "YOU'RE FIRED!" before the end of the show.

There were successes, epic failures, surprise moments, and the realization that I still have a lot to learn.  This week wasn't easy.  Of the $40, I have $7.50 left over, which is awesome.  However, this week also included prom supervision (dinner provided), school bbq (lunch provided), and YG BBQ (dinner potlock).


This coming week, I'm completely on my own and that includes 2 meals out:  lunch with my best friend, who thankfully isn't looking to eat at a swanky gourmet restaurant, and a dinner date.  As the dinner date is a first date, it'll be interesting to see who pays.  I'm all up for going dutch, but sometimes the guy has other ideas.  Saying that, I'll be planning in the cost of dinner (approx. 1/2 my budget!).  In a sense, this week will be more like meals for $20 given my outings.

Thank you to all of you who sent me ideas & recipes.  Greatly appreciated!!!  I've got my Flipp app updated for the week and will be heading out later to brave the stores.  I'm looking forward to trying some of your ideas.


Stand-Out Moments:

Photo credit: craftyturtle 1 on flickr

• When you get distracted and forget a grocery bag with mushrooms, sweet potatoes, peaches, and zucchini and it takes you 2 days to notice, you find out what foods survive...and which ones ruin the bag.  The peaches weren't peach anymore.  I think they were trying to imitate the zucchini as they were green when I found them.  The win goes to the zucchini, which was the only survivor.  Honorable mention goes to me for pure stupidity.  Sigh....the value of food means that much more when you only have $40 to get through the week.
• Receiving a bag of dried chickpeas from my friend/colleague.  Best part is, she included instructions!  Thanks, Rachel, it's really appreciated!
• Spicy Black Bean Dip recipe found on The Lemon Bowl site.  My YG kids devoured it and I had all the ingredients at home (freebie!). 

Going through my cupboard, I was able to save on a few costs.  So, if you're interested, here's what $40 (or $32.50) bought this week:

•  2 bags of chocolate chips (baking cookies for my students)
•  3 packages of rice crackers (check out your Food Basics international aisle for cheap ones!)
•  Cremini mushrooms (died in the tragic shopping bag incident)
•  Baby Romaine lettuce
•  Avocado (2)
•  Zucchini (will be cooked today with Craig Silva's recipe suggestion)
•  Peaches (2)...RIP
•  Cucumber
•  Hot House Tomatoes (2)...I always look for Canadian produce, if not Ontario when I can.
•  Sweet Potato (2)...gone, but not forgotten
•  Tortillas
•  Tortilla chips for the BBQ party
•  Baba Ghanoush for the BBQ party.  Interesting side note, the 2nd ingredient was mayo!  I am hunting recipes for a homemade version.  Anyone have one?