Yoga and Tofu with Big Pig

Today I attended my first yoga class in I can't remember how long.  Once in a while I do some yoga at home with my Rodney Yee DVD. At this point, I've done it so many times it's not particularly challenging or invigorating.  This week I'm experimenting with new fitness activities. I gave up my trainer and want to see if I can get as motivated to attend yoga classes as I do to attend dance class.  Tonight I just went to the gym for a basic vinyasa class. It was fine, nothing inspiring but it felt good to really focus on stretching and breathing.  I'll try a few more at the gym, but I may venture into a yoga studio where better instructors and thus more motivating classes may be found.  For dinner I made a really good tofu dish. So good that I almost ate the entire package of tofu.  Overall a healthy day, except that on my way home from yoga I was craving something sugary, fruity and chewy so I picked up a package of gummy bears.  Tomorrow I will likely feel like crap. Neither they yoga nor the gummy bears helped reduce my stress so I turned to some Big Pig, another '80's band from Oz.

Spicy Steak Success and Sadness

I have wanted to try another beef dish since my merely adequate attempt a few weeks ago, which I served to my good friend from England. She did say that if she was in a restaurant that she "wouldn't send it back," but it wasn't one of my better meals. Tonight I did a chili-rubbed skirt steak, although the meat was actually flank steak because that's what was available. It was delicious. It felt like a real treat. Steak seems so extravagant, maybe because for the day to day I prefer lower fat and leaner chicken or fish and focus on vegetables for most meals. I made some green beans with caramelized shallots, then finished with some strawberries. I had to scoop some Nutella on the strawberries since I was out of whipped cream. As I sat alone enjoying my meal, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have someone to share a meal with every night. I've found the man who I would like to see everyday, we just can't figure out how or when we'll get there. 

Solo Saturday

After almost two years of being occupied every weekend, having unplanned days can be a challenge. Luckily I have some good friends and numerous social acquaintances.  It's not that there's a lack of things to do or people to see, but when you would rather be spending time with one particular person it can feel sad.  Today I ran some errands and went to see a friend read poetry at a coffee shop nearby, which was fun. I planned some meals for the week, grocery shopped and then cooked a nice stir fry for dinner.  I wasn't motivated to go out, thankfully one of my best friends picked up the phone when I called around 9:00pm.  Sometimes all I need is a familiar voice and someone who has known me for ten years to remind me how far you've come and provide comfort.

Got Me Good

Tonight I finally caught up on downloading dance tunes that make great running songs. I hear songs in my hip-hop class, then download them and create an energizing running mix. I hate running so the only way that I am motivated to run is to listen to high energy and often cheesy dance music. The most recent routine had some fun songs.  I wanted to get online and get caught up on music when I got home after dance class. Conveniently I had some leftovers from the meal I made on Tuesday, which I never posted. I was out to dinner last night with a former boss and tomorrow am meeting up with friends. So not much cooking being done, but it was nice to have something already made tonight. Looking back on the month, I've cooked almost every weeknight.  I'm definitely cooking more than eating out or getting take out.  I'm enjoying it too.  I'll definitely need more of these crazy dance mixes to keep me going on the late nights.

Some Days You Need to Enjoy the Fries

I have an aversion to Weight Watchers. My mom took me to a meeting when I was 12 or 13 years old which led to two decades of battles with my body and food. In the end, Weight Watchers never worked for me. Attending all those meetings and counting "points" never helped, not then and not years later as an adult. However, I must admit that they do have some tasty recipes. In an effort to focus some of my cooking energy on lower-calorie and lower-fat dishes, I picked out one or two for this week from an old Weight Watchers cookbook. Tonight I made a nice chicken dish with vegetables. Yesterday was emotional, attending the memorial service and spending time with the boyfriend. So I allowed myself some crappy food for dinner last night, which I have no issue with, but it was nice to eat something healthy and on the lighter side tonight.

When There's No One Else To Talk To

This past week turned out to be rougher than I anticipated.  I mostly took care of myself, went to the gym and cooked. Friday I had my mid-year review at work. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. At least it was delivered over a nice sushi lunch at Blue Fin. Friday evening, I was happy to have made plans for drinks with a friend. She's a writer and editor, super funky and the kind of person who reminds me that there's more to life than my job. Today was mellow. I cooked a nice dinner, scallops and the rest of the asparagus. I listened to a lot of music.

It Was Just There

I had planned to do some yoga tonight, but was distracted by new episodes of some of my favorite TV shows.  At least I cooked myself a meal and ate at the table before plonking myself down in front of the TV. This is a big step for me.  It's also only 10 pm as I sit down to draft this post about my cooking trials and tribulations.  It's possible that I will be in bed before midnight. Maybe that's why people eat dinner before 8pm?