Shhh. Sleeping lady. zzzzzzzz.......

Costume is as done as it's going to be. When I wear it I'll post some pics. Here's a bit of a sneak of some of the accessories...got the grommets into the corset...they're not great because I don't have the proper grommet tool, but it will do. There's also a lightsaber cane I made. Oh yes...when I get into this I can't stop half way :)

I am tired tho. Had insomnia last night after a long annoying evening. My husband's costume stuff didn't arrive in time so he has no costume for the Star Wards party we were going to go to tomorrow. He isn't sure if he wants to go, and if he isn't going I don't know if I want to drive 5 hours to where it is just to dress up and go to a party on my own...he feels bad cuz I made this costume for this party, but I don't mind if we don't go -I know me. I know I'll wear it some other time...I'm leaving it up to him. Altho I hope he decides to go, I'm honestly happy to wear it around to another party here around Halloween or some other time... or just around the house :P Making the costume is more fun for me than wearing it...I'm odd that way. I may just set up a photo shoot with it instead and take some cosplay photos instead...we'll see. It was fun.
So needless to say on 1.5 hours of sleep I certainly didn't work out this morning. Taking the day as it goes...

Classy

If I stand in one spot, my butt is not sore. Otherwise...I'm doomed. :)
I lost track of time and was up waaaaay too late last night. My costume is almost done. The main thing left is grommets in the corset. The lady sold me eyelets by mistake which aren't strong enough for a corset tie lace up, and I only have half of what I need leftover from a previous project. Soooo, tonight is a late night "I need grommets!!" hunt... and I really hope I can find some. The corset ties the costume together so it's kinda imperative I find some. The mask needs more work, but considering it is a $4 kids mask I took apart with a hacksaw it looks pretty good. Other than that, it's come together nicely. I haven't made the cape (am going for a neck scarf/shawl instead) and I'm using a skirt I already have, so it will be ready for the weekend. Yup...I'll be dead classy :)

I slept in this AM to get 6 hours of sleep, had some pumpkin oatmeal and I'm in for work. I plan on a bodyrock workout when I get home eventually...poor J has yet another late night of work, so once I succeed in my grommet quest I can work out and relax and finish up the costume. I'm hoping I can work some off the azzkinks out as the day goes on, cuz I am mega stiff from the workout yesterday. :)

Must get to the science. Lots to do today.
Later taters.

Day 3 - holy sculpt class batman

I was up late crafting. It was glorious. I now have a lightsaber cane (as long as the clay dries!!), and a antiquey older version of a vader chest panel (jewels wire and ribbon), along with a hat that is decorated with the same ribbon and cording as my corset. Bwaha. I love LOVE *L*O*V*E* doing this kind of  stuff. I only have 2 more evenings to finish this...he heh. We shall see. It's cool staying up late making things for fun for once :)
Despite being up late I convinced myself to get up and out of bed to come in and workout. I was tired, but I thought that any workout would be good...and once I get there I'm usually good and have a great time. And I was...did...yes. There was one space left in the sculpt class and it's the instructor I love, so I joined. She is hard core and it was a tough hour workout...the most evil of which was walking lunges with and without weights back and forth across the studio...I counted, and it was 144 lunges steps with weights and 72 without. She broke them into 4 parts throughout the class but man...I have a feeling my butt will be complaining tomorrow. But I came in and worked hard. I feel good. Tired but good. Certainly worked harder than I would have if I'd slept in!

Day 2 of the rest of my life

Not too bad. Yup. Not too bad.
Yesterday I really ate clean and avoided pizza for supper. Score for me. No late night snacks. No pop or booze. Day 1 complete. They say it takes 3 weeks to build a habit...I'm trying to get it back.
This morning was day 2 of Operation Uberfrau (Part Deu). I came in to do a good solid workout: the Bodyrock TV "12 min workout" (which isn't 12 minutes, but whatever) with bonus ab workout. I worked hard and didn't quit even tho I sure wanted to during those evil switch lunges. Then I hopped on an interval program on the StairMaster for 18 minutes and declared that I was done.
The workout is 30 sec on/10 sec rest (twice through) of:
-elevated pushups
-5 high knees + half burpee
-jumping jacks
-bicycle crunches
-high knee jog
-back lunge + forward kick and toe touch L side
-back lunge + forward kick and toe touch R side
-box jumps (supposed to be tuck jumps but they are bad for my knee)
-jumpjacks with squat/floor touch when legs together
-switch lunges (oh how I hate these)
-exploding pushups or tricep dips (I did tricep dips)

Ab Bonus: 25 V-sits, 25 bodyrock double situps with medicine ball, 25 side to side rows with medicine ball, 25 planked mountain climb crunches with 3 forward "James Bond" style side twist lunges each side in between each exercise.

Now for a good breakfast and lunch and hopefully a good rest of the day. :)

I raided Michael's craft store last night and think I have what I need to finish what I can on my costume before the weekend. That store is evil...I could have spent a fortune in there...as it is I escaped without too much damage and now have I have lightsaber cane components, some decor whatsits for my hat and ribbon to finish my corset, as well as some cool bits to make my chest panel. Still unsure as to how the cape is going to go (long or short), but at least I have a longer black skirt to wear (from another costume) so I am OK if I don't have time to make the skirt with bustle I'd like for this weekend...but there will be time before halloween :)

Gotta go...lab calls. Have a great day!!

Now for the rest of my life

I am back from a blissful week away.
Up at the lake I cooked turkey dinner and all the fixings for 18 people and then got to go for a long snowy walk with J before he had to head back home on monday. Someone made the pies...including green tomato mincemeat tarts...yum. The weather was nasty (snow & mean wind) so we didn't get to hike the 8 K hike around the gem lakes like we'd hoped, but it was nice to get away. Jay headed back and I stayed up to visit my dad until sunday and it was awesome. I finally got to relax. I read the Hunger games Trilogy, built some great furniture with my Dad, split some wood, got some sewing done and cooked for Dad, who is really appreciative. Most of my fitness plans were derailed by the craptastic weather, and there was a nice amount of wine to be had, so I certainly didn't fit myself up while away, but I feel so relaxed for the first time in ages. It was nice to sleep, read and eat when I pleased and be at my favourite place on earth (other than my bed!). I think the best thing was being ablet o just spend time with Dad. When you have that much time there is a chance to just spend time together with no pressure or obligation and really reconnect. I love my Dad to pieces and I've missed him. It was great.

The shirt for my costume is done and the corset is 3/4 done, so I feel like I may have something to wear to the party...it may not be finished to my liking by then, but I plan on building on it over the winter too...still lots of details. We'll see how far I get. I don't want to stress out over it...just have fun with it. I think that's what I liked the most about the week off...no stress. None. Just coffee and the crackling of the wood stove and endless old National Geographics :)

I am back tho and determined to get back to things. As a birthday present to myself I want to see if I can book time with a personal trainer for November and December. I need focus, and the time to work back to where I was in the spring. This morning I did ZWOW 14 at home and it was HARD, but I did all 5 rounds with 8Lb weights. I felt woefully out of shape, and I slept on my left shoulder and made it sore last week, but I pushed and did it all with no skimping and I'm proud. I just have to get to it. Same with food. I had a healthy breakfast and other than going out for dinner with my family for my graduation on the 27th I plan on really eating clean for the rest of the month. I didn't pig out at the lake, but I certainly didn't restrain myself and I am ready for a more focused plan for me. The celebrating phase is coming to an end. Now for the rest of my life.
I can't wait!

Turkey countdown

Last night I got caught up on lots of boring chores, made matar paneer for supper (one of my all time  favourite foods) and gathered things for the upcoming weekend. We picked up 2 sheets of MDF (which thankfully fit in the van...whew!) so I can make some end tables with my dad this week. Yes - we sill soon be grown adults with actual bedside tables instead of the odd shelf/thingy I picked up off a friend in university for my dorm room and J's charming side table made of cheap metal stacking cubes. A little paint when I get back and viola!

I am much less stiff today (thankfully) and came in for spin and sculpt class. With it being a long weekend the gym was blissfully quiet. Class was mostly core work and ab work for the sculpt and I feel fantastic today. It helped work some kinks out.

Tonight J and I have tickets to see The Importance of Being Ernest at the local theatre...and at midnight there is a one night showing of Iron Sky at the art theatre (hee hee...nazi robots and spaceships on the moon invading earth! Cheezy! Awesome!), so we'll swing by that too if we are still awake. Might even see if we can get out for supper first to a nice mexican restaurant we've wanted to try for a while now. They don't take reservations so we'll see how it goes... whatever happens it's gonna be a fun long night. Jay and I have had a busy week and really want to just spend an evening together.

Tomorrow morning we head up to see my Dad for some relaxing and turkeying. He's invited 10 people over for Thanksgiving dinner on sunday who don't have families around, so I'll be making turkey and stuffing for a herd of people. They're bringing salads or pie...should be relaxing and delish! I'm relaxing just thinking about it :) I'll be away from internet and work stress for a while. I can't wait!

     Mmm...thanksgiving!

Have a fantastic weekend guys :)

Busy

Quick post.
Spin class this morning..
MEGA stiff.

Gotta go!

Curtsy squats are evil

I am going to be rather stiff tomorrow. Heck I am now! The curtsy/dragon lunge squat things I did for the ZWOW yesterday made me a bit stiff...and this morning guess what we did in sculpt class? Yes - a zillion curtsy lunge squats and forward lunges. It was a really solid sculpt workout this morning...and my butt is already stiff. It felt good to work my muscles though...I feel strong.

Last night I had serious stomach cramps that worsened as the evening went on after supper. It made grocery shopping a real chore, and by the time I got things put away I felt really blech. The only thing I can think of is that I made curried chick peas and quinoa again. It seems like quinoa and I are not good friends. J watched concerned as I ended up going to bed curled in a ball whining and waiting for sleep, eating way too many tums and feeling like someone was putting my innards through a wringer washer. Oddly, as of this morning I feel absolutely fine. This is the 3rd time this has happened. I've heard that the high protein in it can bother some people. I've done a bit more reading and apparently there is a protein on it called saponin that must be rinsed off prior to cooking and that is the main issue for stomach issues and quinoa. This is not recommended anywhere on the packaging of the quinoa...I had been rinsing and soaking it previously (when I ate it with no issue) but I didn't rinse the quinoa the last few times I made it since it didn't say to on the package...so I'm going to risk one last stomach pain experience next time I make quinoa and see if soaking it removes this problem. I hope so. Otherwise it's bye-bye quinoa. I have no desire to feel like that again. It was not the relaxing end to an evening with J I had planned.

I stocked up on some healthy foods for the month, as well as some good ingredients to take up for my visit with my Dad for thanksgiving. All next week I'm hanging at my Dad's place after the holiday, and I can't wait. I haven't had much time at the cabin (where he lives now) since I started school and it really is my favourite place on earth (next to being in my bed with a big fluffy old duvet!).  J can't stay, but I have a whole 10 days up there. Dad and I are going to build us some bedside tables while we're up there, and I have a plan to read the Hunger Games and start on my costume while I'm up there too. I also love to cook for my Dad. He wants to take a stab at a bit more complicated cooking and asked me to buy him a slow cooker, so I'm going to make a few basic slow cooker meals for him and show him the possibilities. He's not an elaborate cook by any means, so this should be right up his alley, and give him a bit more variety in his meals. I found a slow cooker cookbook too, so hopefully it'll get him started on more elaborate meals. I'm also trying to plan some body weight workouts and running for when I'm up there. Hopefully I can gather some of my favourites so that I work out at least every other day up there.

I'm so excited. Just a few more days and I can relax. :)

ow my azz

Last night's belly dance class was fun but it made me stiff in ridiculous places...one of the hammy/glutey places I don't normally use. Between the leg strengthening squats and 2 kinds of 3 point shimmy's (one of which I've never done before and still can't quite get) my legs were actually spasming when I got home after. we made some pizza out of some leftover chili for supper and watched the finale of Doctor Who. Very sad, but if it had ended differently I would have been angry I think...

I came in for a solid workout this morning. I tried to do a bodyrock workout, but forgot my interval timer, and the one I downloaded from gymboss on my phone only works when you are viewing it so I couldn't look at the workout steps on my phone and have the timer count (to me this is a fail). Being my brilliant self I only learned this after doing the first interval (elevated push ups) for a ridiculous amount of time to until I realized that something wasn't working and it had been WAY over the interval length....so I started over and changed it up to do ZWOW 28 4 times through, using  a 12Lb weight to touch down by my lunging leg for the dragon kicks. Then I did 1 minutes intervals (I was determined to use that timer!) of: v-sits, side plank left, front plank, side plank right, side to side rows with a weight, Pilate's leg raises, hands and knees kick backs (no clue what they're called), doggy hydrants leg raises with a leg extension, bent rows (25Lb) and dead lifts (25Lb). I had sweat dripping off my nose by the end. I am pleased...:)

Now for some granola and a banana and it's off to the (squeee!!) new labs!

Later taters :)

Schemey schemes

This weekend was relaxing and hectic at the same time. My friend is moving back to BC today (flies home today) so Saturday we shipped off the last of is kit and he stayed with us for the weekend once his apartment had been inspected and signed off on. Saturday night some friends were playing at a new club in town and J did lights. It was 80s theme so I got dressed up and had a nice night out.
Sunday was errands and planning for a final farewell meal for my friend. He is a foodie too, so we spent the afternoon finding delicious ingredients from his fave places: cold smoked steak with blue cheese, some prawns and tortellini pasta. J isn't into steak or seafood (silly man) so he got shiskabab skewers and mushrooms instead of prawns. We marinated the meat in saki, and BBQd it to perfection. Even made fresh apple gjetost pastry pockets for dessert, along with some more of that fantastic saki from Granville Island. Delish. Fantastic foodie sendoff.

Also spent sunday on a costume frenzy.  If you don't already know, I love costuming and cosplay and halloween always presents an opportunity to get stuff for the rest of the year (cuz who says you only wear costumes on halloween?). Friends throw a huge annual Star Wars dance party around Halloween, and this year it's Oct 20 and I had a brilliant idea for a costume, which I flushed out getting all the fabric and other things for. It's so fantastic. My plan? Madame Steampunk Vader. Oh yes...modified vader mask, with vader armour corset and tophat. It was initially just a vader helmet coated in sparkles and cape...but this? This is what I need to make. I just love taking a character and modifying it to make it mine. I lurve Darth Vader, and this will be the ultimate. Hee hee I've got loads of grey and black satin to make a corset, bolero jacket and skirt, as well as a cheap vader mask I can dissect and create a gas/mask goggle creation to go with a decorated bowler hat, and I've yet to create a cane (that will look somewhat like a lightsaber). Oh yes. I'm pumped. I only have 3 weeks to make it, but dayum. It's been over 2 years since I've made anything like this, and I want to sew. I want to create. This is the part of me that's been shoved in a dusty closet for 2 years while I did my MSc. It's out and it's taken over :)

This AM, I was diligent. I know I indulged yesterday, so I made sure I came in for my workout. Altho it looked like I was going to have to make my own workout, I was able to sneak into the spin and sculpt class at the last minute, so I did that class and rocked it. Now, it's time to be in to work. We just got handed the keys to our new lab building (HELLZ YEAH!!!) so the next 2 months will be a frenzy of moving offices and labs and getting down to the nuts and bolts of my new job that's been in limbo waiting for the new building to be completed.
Woo yeah I am a scientist :)