Graduating to solid foods.

Tags

My Book Shelf, Sick, The Help

Has anyone ever had food poisoning? Not pleasant. I’ve had it one other time, and though this time has not been as… violent, in terms of sickness, it sure has stuck around…

Our fridge is kind of broken. Kind of, meaning that the de-thawing part in the freeze gets clogged full of ice, and occasionally decides not to keep the fridge part very cold. It’s done this a couple other times, and the boyfriend would bust out my hair dryer and get rid of the ice in the de-thawing part, and viola – FIXED! Well I had a couple things out of the fridge on Saturday before I relized that stuff wasn’t as cold as it should be. Ugh.

Sunday was by far the worst day. I was pretty useless with a super upset tummy. Yesterday wasn’t too bad, but still was only tolerating ginger ale, soup, rice cakes and apple sauce. Today, I’ve finally graduated to solid foods! I managed to eat a bagel with peanut butter and banana… and my tummy doesn’t seem to know what to think about it. Any time I eat I feel bloated (TMI?) and like it ‘just sits’ in my stomach, right below my rib cage. Still sipping’ on ginger ale.

I will say that I managed to finally finish reading The Help, yay! I’ve been working on that book for just a little too long. Haha It really was a great book. I think it took me so long because I was so distracted my so many other things going on with work, and family, etc. I really need to make that effort to set aside time in my evenings to just power down and read.

Now to watch the movie! I’ve heard from many people that the movie is just as good, if not better than the book. And that NEVER seems to happen. I’m looking forward to it!

Anyways, that’s all I’ve got for right now. I’m hoping to be back to my regular self soon. I have my “me” day tomorrow, maybe that’ll kick some life into me.

Have you ever had food poisoning? How long did it last? What food did you rely on to get you through it?

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

The week that wasn’t.

Tags

Happiness, Kitty, Me Time, Nursing, Relaxing, Weekend, Wine!

Friday evening… I love Friday evenings (when I don’t have to go to work that is). Actually, I love Saturday evening even more, but for now we’ll concentrate on Friday. I love the feeling, knowing that tomorrow is a sleep in day. That tomorrow is (overall) relaxing. That for right now, I can literally do whatever I want! And the theme for this evening, is relaxing with favourites!

Sitting on the couch, flipping back and forth between my two favourite things – a little bit of NHL hockey, and a little bit of Say Yes to the Dress. Ahh, I’m pretty much in relaxation heaven right now. So why not add a little bit of blogging too? And how about a little bit of wine? Best evening ever.  

My favourite wine! Yum!

So this has been the week that wasn’t. I haven’t been to the gym since Sunday. I haven’t run. I haven’t done any strength training. I haven’t been to hot yoga. And? I honestly don’t really feel bad about it. I thought I would, but when quickly analyzed… I know it’s ok to have that time off sometimes. We’ll call it a mental recovery break.

After my 13km run Sunday, I took Monday as a rest day. Tuesday was plagued with a terrible, blinding migraine. Wednesday I ended up working a 16 hour day at work… That was fun. I worked a day shift, than stayed to help the evening staff, as we had one patient who was unstable, having seizures, and was mostly unresponsive for about 9+ hours. So working out was pretty much out of the question, when I was getting home at 1130pm… Thursday I almost made it to the gym. But by the time the boyfriend wanted to go, I literally had NO drive or motivation to go. Instead of dragging myself there and having a sub-par workout, I stayed home and got some things done that had been on my to-do list for awhile.

Today, I could have gone, but again, just wasn’t feeling it. I went to my parent’s house and celebrated my Dad’s birthday, and saw my brother again before he heads back to Nova Scotia for university! I contemplated going, but after the boyfriend left (he’s playing in an outdoor 4 on 4 hockey tournament this weekend… on a lake…) I decided to indulge in a relaxing evening with my kitty I thought about being a supportive hockey girlfriend, but it’s windy and cold out there this evening! No thanks My wine is so much more comforting that snow and wind!

My eating has been about 70-30. 70% healthy, following the LiveFit plan, and about 30% not the best. I’ve been feeling alright with the LiveFit plan, I think it’s going to be something that I can follow, and hopefully see results with. Again, I know I need to give more commitment towards it, but it’s all a work in progress! I’m doing much better overall than I was before!

On a more awesome note: I’ve dedicated Wednesday, February 29th to be a “ME!” day. I am beyond excited! On the agenda is a glorious relaxation massage, followed by a steam bath. Then, a bit later in the day, I’m off to get my hair done! I seriously can NOT wait for Wednesday to get here now!

Well I’m off to enjoy my wine, and watch a movie with my cat! Hope everyone has a great weekend! I’m off to fulfil bridesmaids duties tomorrow, and help my friend make her wedding invitations! Looking forward to it!

Do you think a mental recovery break is needed sometimes? What do you like most about the weekend? Have you ever had a ‘me’ day? Tell me about it!

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

Monday Morning Motivation

Tags

2012, Canadian Winter, Monday Motivation, Motivation, Nursing, Running, Snow, Training

Ugh. Monday. After my glorious week off (the perks of shift work ), it’s back to the grind this morning. As I drag my feet to work, and pout with every step up to the third floor (can you tell I’m not a morning person yet?!), I hope the majority of the rest of my fellow Canadian’s enjoy their Family Day stat holiday!

And if you’re like me and headed off to work, hopefully you have a smooth day too

This lovely gem that I found on Pinterest really spoke to me yesterday. It was snowy out, and still falling – I needed to get my long run in! I did not want to pound out 13 km (8 miles) on the treadmill.

Just before my boyfriend left for the gym, I looked outside. Sad face/heartbreak. It was almost a small blizzard! Bummer. So off to the gym it was!

Good news, I ran 13 km! It was long, slightly painful… But thank goodness for NHL hockey, helped keep my mind somewhat occupied!

Fact: 13 km is the farthest distance I ran (ever) before my first half marathon. I’m totally looking forward to what this year will bring! Yay for good, smart training!

Have a great Monday everyone!

My first run outside of the year! And my first Guest Post ever!

Tags

Awesome, Guest Post, Happiness, Inspiration, lululemon, Motivation, Running, Training

I just destroyed my first run outside of the year!
And yes, it felt AMAZING!

I ran an awesome 8.1km out and about around the neighbourhood. I managed to keep a pretty steady, decent pace the entire time (which is a feat in itself considering all the icy patches everywhere!) I’m pretty sure my run was so awesome because of my new run crops… No? Ok… but they did make the run feel that much better!

Please excuse my post-run sweat, and my messy office...

I love my new lululemon Run: Inspire Crops!! This picture doesn’t do them justice… They are a beautiful indigo blue! Here’s a picture from the website!

Love

Head on over to scribbles & sass and check out my very first guest post! Laura was kind enough to let fill her blog with a verbal splash on my favourite addiction… lululemon! I discussed my love for the clothing and how it manages to keep me motivated in my fitness adventures!

I love Laura’s blog, scribbles & sass! Check it out! Thanks again Laura!

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

Now that I’m feeling almost normal…

Tags

2012, Diet Plan, Goals, LiveFit Trainer, Motivation, Running, Training, Weekly Goals, Weekly Update

I love days off. I love not working. Can I retire yet?!

No? Bummer…

I managed to turn around (go from night shift mode, back to normal life) quite well this time. I forced myself out of bed at a decent time, but still had a lazy day. We all need some of those right? I’m looking forward to a great week!

Last week kicked ass in the fitness department. I met my goals of running 4 times, and did 3 strength training days! And… My body and the scale showed it. That is totally enough motivation to keep going!

Monday: 5km run & shoulder/back workout
Tuesday: REST
Wednesday: 6km Tempo run & leg workout
Thursday: East 3km run & arms/abs workout
Fridays: Long run 11km!
Saturday: REST
Sunday: REST

This week I’m hoping to also get in 4 runs and 3 strength training days. I got in an easy 3km yesterday, and did a shoulders/back workout. Rest day today. I keep hoping it’ll warm up enough round here for me to get in my first outside run this year… I’m such a wimp…

Has anyone done Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Trainer? What do you think of it? I’ve had quite a few friends who have been doing the program and are liking it so far. I like the idea of it, and I love that it’s online and can follow from home. I’m thinking about trying to start it next week. My main focus will be the actual workouts that the plan gives, which I think we’ll really help me keep a consistent schedule. Also, I like that a diet plan is included… I think I have some research to do!

I know I need to focus more effort and energy towards the nutritional side of things… This is definitely my weakness. I’ve been tracking well in my fitbook, but again, still have areas of improvement!

Time to power down, and relax with my man! We cooked a delicious dinner of steak & shrimp together. That was the extent of our ‘Valentine’s Day’! So yummy!

Yum! Yum!

Hope everyone had a good Valentine’s Day, whatever your plans were

♥

What do you have planned for the week? Do you try to make weekly goals for yourself? Have you heard of, or tried Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Trainer?

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

Happy Love Heart Day!

Tags

Boyfriend, Candy, Flowers, Happiness, Love, Valentine's Day

Oh Valentine’s Day… Filled with your chocolate hearts, little red candies, and overpriced flowers galore! What would the card/flower companies do without you?

Yaa... No thanks.

Ok, ok, I’m not really anti-Valentine’s Day. I would say I’m more indifferent to the whole ‘holiday’. I think my thing with Valentine’s Day is, why do we need one specific day in the year, where we’re suppose to go all crazy saying ‘I Love You’…? Shouldn’t we be doing that any day, every day, just because we want to?

My boyfriend and I share this attitude towards the day. I think I might be a ‘few in far between’ girl, that has actually been perfectly happy without getting anything for the past few years on Valentine’s Day! Last year I got my boyfriend a card, but… it wasn’t from me. It was from the cat! We had a little laugh, and that was about it

I do love candy Love Hearts though… I haven’t had them in years, but I always thinks of them on this day. They are so much better, and more fun than the little red cinnamon hearts!

Yum!

I think Valentine’s Day was always more awesome back in elementary school, when you got a sweet little card from everyone! Everyone was your Valentine for the day! Samantha, over at Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans wrote a nice post about this, and included some good rules for Valentine’s Day! Check it out!

This year, I think we’re going to go to the grocery store, get a couple steaks or some yummy fish, and cook a nice little meal at home together. Resturants are totally out of the question on this day of the year. Good luck to those who do decided to venture out!

What do you think about Valentine’s Day? Do you go all out, or with your lover would go all out? What are your plans?

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

P.S. To those who read my last post, I’m feeling quite a bit better. I think I was tired, lonely and frustrated from working nights – things are not best solved when under these conditions… I took a step back and looked at the big picture, and reminded myself that this is far from bad, and that other people need the freedom to feel their own feelings too. We’re all full of happy love again

Sometimes.

Tags

Boyfriend, Happiness, Heart Broken, Lonely, Lost, Love

Sometimes...

Things have been up and down lately. I’m struggling. My running has been great. My eating has been better. My weight is going down. Yet, I’m struggling.

Struggling with my heart. With my love. 

We don’t usually fight, my guy and I. Sure we have the occasional spat, but that’s part of being in a relationship. Lately there’s just a been a distance. It’s the little things.

Me, frustrated, lonely, bugging him about engagements. Him, frustrated and quiet.

With all the things we say and don’t say, I feel like my heart is breaking.

Everywhere I turn people are getting engaged. Yes, I’m happy for them. But with every mention, every Facebook update… It’s a knife in my stomach.

It’s been almost 7 years. 

People say, ‘you’re young’. People say, ‘it’ll happen when it’s meant to happen’. People say a lot of things. That doesn’t mean it makes it feel any better.

*sigh*

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

Wait…

Tags

Life, Love, Love Letter

“Wait for the person who pursues you, the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical, the kind of person who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be a better person; wait for the person who will be your best friend, the only person who will drop everything to be with you at any time no matter what the circumstances, for the person who makes you smile like no one else and when they smile you know they need you. Wait for the person who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats and a tee shirt, but appreciates it when you get dressed up for them. And most of all, wait for the person who will put you up at the center of their universe, because that’s where you belong.”

Monday Morning Motivation

Tags

Goals, Monday Motivation, Motivation, Night Shift, Nursing, Running, Training

Everything.

Happy Monday everyone! I can’t believe it’s already a new week… I swear time goes by twice as fast when I’m working nights! Good news… 4 nights down, 1 to go! I’m very much looking forward to a few days off!

My goals for this week are to be more conscious of what I’m putting in my mouth (I don’t think I made the best food choices this week…), run 4 times, including a 13km long run, and go to hot yoga at least once!

Be that girl.

I’m off to bed for now, but I’m planning on getting a good workout in this evening with the boyfriend at the gym! I hope I’m feeling this motivated after I wake up… It’s so easy to just want to stay in bed ALL DAY before going back to work! Haha

What are you doing to stay motivated today? What are your goals for this week? This month?

Did you watch the Super Bowl yesterday? Were you happy with the Giants winning? I honestly only caught bits and pieces… I really wasn’t that into it… Hockey is my sport!!

♥Krista - Stethoscopes & Running Shoes

My weekend adventures and the dreaded stairs at work…

Tags

Boyfriend, Canada, Cold, Happiness, Instagram, Kitty, Love, Motivation, Night Shift, Nursing, Running, Skiing, Stairs, Training, Workout

I had the most wonderful weekend!

I had Friday-Sunday off, (and the boyfriend had the whole week off!!), so we went skiing at Sunshine on the Friday! It was my first time out this year, and it was so fun! It was pretty chilly, and a little too windy… But once you got off the chair lift and down just a little bit into the trees, it was beautiful!

Ski Date!

I use to snowboard, but I gave that up about 2 years ago. I was getting sick of falling and hurting… And I definitely wasn’t fast. My dad was convinced that since I grew up playing ringette/hockey, and could skate, that I would pick up skiing easily. Thankfully I did! (though the first time skiing was not pretty…). I’m much a much faster skier than I ever was snowboarding. I’m not out there to do tricks and stuff, I just want to keep up to the people I go with! I love skiing now! I even managed to tackle a couple easier black runs!

My boyfriend snowboards still. He took a couple face plants which I always enjoy laughing at throughout the day, the poor guy… My worst fall was when I had come to almost a complete stop, and was turning my upper body around to look for my boyfriend… Yup, I fell over while at a complete stand still… Oops.

Saturday we went out for a delicious Red Lobster dinner! Yum Then went to the City and Colour concert!! Ahh, if you haven’t ever listened to City and Colour, you have to! Dallas Green is so amazing. The concert was UNREAL! This is the second time the boyfriend and I have seen him in concert. He’s one of those performers who’s live concerts are even better than the album. I was in music heaven! 

City and Colour!

I seriously don’t have enough words to describe the awesomeness. He is a phenomenal singer. Check it out!

Last week’s workouts! I meant to post this Monday evening, but after work and then the gym, I was bagged.
Monday: Ran 5km, chest/triceps workout
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: Ran 10km!!
Friday: Went skiing!
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: Ran 6km, arm workout

Last week at work, I took the stairs 5 times one day. 5 TIMES! I have never taken them that many times in one day! From the lowest level where I park, to the third floor where I work, is 133 steps. I did this twice. From the lower level where the cafeteria is, it’s 98 steps. I did this 3 times. That’s a total of 66 flights, or 560 steps! It’s so much more difficult than how it sounds I swear!

It’s become almost a game for me now. What can I do while at work, that will allow me to go tackle those stairs just one more time…

This week I worked days on Monday and Tuesday, both days I took the stairs twice. I’m making a commitment to myself to take them every time I go down for my meal break on my day shifts. When I took them Tuesday, I just walked straight to the stairs, and didn’t even think about the elevator until I started heading up! Nights is a little trickier… I can take them up from the parkade, but I don’t usually ever leave the unit when working nights. Maybe I’ll try to make myself take a little break on my upcoming nights and see if I can get a couple ‘stair sessions’ in…

Today was my one day off before I start my stretch of 5 nights tomorrow. All of my day shifts were crazy busy, even more so than usual. I’m praying for a good stretch of nights… Here’s hoping!

It’s bed time! I’ll leave you with a picture of my baby cat!

Isn't she a cutie?!

What a goof ball…

♥Krista – Stethoscopes & Running Shoes