Happy “Longest day of the year” to everyone!

It’s sad that the official first day of summer is full of thunderstorms and high winds in the Chicago area but at least it’s finally here! Hopefully the weather will get a little more moderate in the weeks ahead–it’s been nothing but extremes the past few weeks.  I just want to make plans to go to the beach knowing for sure whether or not it’s going to pour! Isn’t that what summer’s all about?

Speaking of summer, in preparation for tank tops and summer dresses I’ve been focusing a lot on upper body workouts.  I came up with a new workout recently that’s the perfect combination of tough but empowering.  It left me sweaty and feeling great.

Upper Body + Core Workout

12 reps each, 3x through

• Basic curl with 10 lb weights
• Hammer curl with 10 lb weights
• C-curl with 10 lb weights
• Overhead tricep extension with a 15 lb weight

Core — repeat 3x

• Sit on yoga mat with a 15 lb weight–alternate side to side 50 times total (25 times each side)
• Forearm plank (1 min)
• Alternating side planks (10 each side)
• Static side plank (hold 30 sec each side)

 

I finished up with a 3 mile run, alternating between sprints (7:30 min mile pace) and power walking. It was a doozy but I felt so great once this was all done!

I came home in need of a serious breakfast.

 

Protein-filled breakfast: Veggie omelette with a chopped up Morningstar sausage patty and cheddar cheese.  Delicious!

Now I’m waiting to hear if I have to go to work or not…if this rain keeps up, I’ll have the night off!  Enjoy your first day of summer!    

 

We picked up some incredible strawberries (summer is the best time to buy them), fresh scallions, a bunch of peonies and a tomato plant.  It was a beautiful market!

Why? Because tomorrow is my first opportunity to go to my local farmer’s market!

Seeing all the farmers line up with their produce and fresh flowers, the popcorn stand, and the family that sells crepes is something I look forward to every year.  My mom and I always go together and even though it’s a small market and we’re usually only there for half an hour, it’s one of my favorite parts of the summer.

Today I woke up revving to go apply for more jobs, so I was up by 9 ready to take on the world.

Breakfast this morning was scrambled eggs with parmesean cheese, Ezekiel toast with raspberry jam, and some fruit that I had leftover from an Edible Arrangement that I received the other day (thanks, boyfriend, for the thoughtfulness!)

Confession: I’ve always wanted a melon baller.  I don’t know what it is but fruit is so more much fun when it’s little spheres you can just pop into your mouth. Like nature’s skittles 🙂

I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon applying to jobs in Chicago. I found some great positions in the city that I’m completely qualified for, so I’m feeling content with how the day went.  I revamped my LinkedIn account (if you’re looking for a job and don’t have a LinkedIn, go get one right now!) and I’m feeling all kinds of professional.

I took a quick break for lunch which was an easy black bean burger with onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and carrots.  Oh, also, my condiment bowl.  Anyone who knows me KNOWS I go through ketchup like water and almost always have a small bowl of it on the side of any meal.  It’s definitely going to keep popping up on the blog so here’s your warning.

I spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking my college stuff (yes it’s been over a month since I moved home).  Before I knew it I had just two hours before I had to be at work! I sprinted out the door for a quick 4 mile run.  It was a nice run along a shady path, so no problems there.

 

Thanks to the man upstairs for another beautiful run!

Before work I cooked up some zucchini bites that I could snack on for the rest of the week.  It’s a pretty easy recipe:

Zucchini Bites

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Ingredients:

• 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup parmesean cheese
• olive oil

I tossed the zucchini slices in olive oil (enough to coat each one) and then dipped them into a bowl that contained the cheese and breadcrumbs.  They don’t get totally coated but that’s okay, they don’t need to be!  They come out delicious because they aren’t overwhelmed by cheese, breadcrumbs, and oil–it’s a great balance and a delicious snack.  Stick them in the oven for 20 minutes or until the zucchini gets crispy, and snack away!  I’m enjoying a few as I type this after work 🙂

Enjoy!

Phew today was a busy one!

I woke up after having one of those nights where you toss and turn all night (I’ll never learn–don’t eat chocolate chips right before bed). Needless to say, I bee-lined for the coffee.

Yes that’s a Michigan mug, and no I didn’t go there. Things happen for a reason and I’m the proudest of Illini, but I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the Wolverines.

I wasn’t too hungry for breakfast this morning so I left some of that cereal in the bowl.  Today’s pick was Kashi Go Lean smothered in blueberries (previously frozen) with almond milk.  There was a time a few years ago when I ate this breakfast every morning for the entire summer, but ever since I started putting an emphasis on whole foods in my diet I try to eat eggs or oatmeal as much as possible.  Sometimes I need to change it up and this is always a delicious meal.

I drove to the gym later in the morning where I sweat my booty off.  Wearing a light gray t-shirt is always a good choice because then the world can see your sweat and you can feel like a total show-off.  I was loving it.  First I completed 30 minutes on the stairmaster.

My legs were really feeling the burn today.

I headed over to the weights where I completed the following upper body workout:

12 reps each, 3x through

• Basic curl with 10 lb weights
• Hammer curl with 10 lb weights
• C-curl with 10 lb weights
• Overhead tricep extension with a 15 lb weight
• Front shoulder raises with 5 lb weights (so much tougher than they look)

I finished the workout with “8 minute abs”, the amazing YouTube video from the 1980s. I always pick this ab workout because a) it’s short, b) the outfits, and c) you get encouragement from the instructor like “okay, gang!” “get it, gang!” “hang in there, gang” repeatedly. It’s a hoot.

After the gym I headed to the grocery store.  Anyone who knows me understands that grocery shopping is my favorite hobby.  I love holding the list in my hand, browsing through the produce, checking different fruits and vegetables for ripeness, discovering new foods that I’ve never heard of…the whole process is so much fun for me. I realize that most people feel the complete opposite about grocery shopping, and to those people I say, “hire me to do your shopping for you.”

Half an hour into shopping I realized that I needed some protein to rebuild the muscles that I had broken down while at the gym.  I grabbed the closest thing I could find, Muscle Milk Light.  I won’t be getting it again (no milk in the product? ingredient list a mile long? funky taste? count me out) but it got the job done.  Plus it had some funny stuff written on the back.

I ran home and unpacked the groceries before testing out a new recipe (not-so- successfully but it’s getting there).  See? Look how beautiful groceries are!

It’s like art.

I put together another quick fajita lunch before I had to go to work.

It was a busy day waitressing but how could I complain? I got to talk to people, be around food, and watch sports on TV at the bar. It was a great night!   GO HEAT!! Now I’m settled in bed after eating some Morningstar Chikn nuggets, chips and salsa, and plain greek yogurt with grapes. That shift wiped me out! Hopefully I can fall asleep with this full stomach.

Get excited for Hump Day tomorrow!