Workday Mornings

I made a decision that this year I would get up an hour earlier for work than I did last year (6:30 instead of 7:30).  This has allowed me to be more relaxed in the morning, and also to make delicious, complete breakfasts.  This morning I juiced a red pepper and 2 grapefruits, and enjoyed that with a coffee, a toasted egg/chicken/spinach sandwich and strawberries.

It was so nice to enjoy my fresh juice and hot coffee while checking email, watching the news, and slowly eating my breakfast.  

I have never had a workday morning like this until the last couple of days, and I am really enjoying having the extra time.  Getting out of bed an hour earlier has been worth it.  Hopping in the shower immediately helps me to wake up, and then I let my hair dry as I make and eat breakfast.  Last year my hair would still be a little wet when I got to work!

What time do you get up in the morning?  Do you feel relaxed in the morning?  Rushed?  What is your morning routine like?

Goodbye/ Hello

I went back to work today, which to me is a signal that Fall is here.   

Goodbye meticulous sandwich making for a lazy weekday lunch ...

Hello roasted root vegetables ...

Goodbye staying up late and sleeping in as long as I want ...

Hello alarm clock ...

Goodbye dresses everyday ...

Hello skinny jeans and boots (this I am not terribly sad about) ...

What signals the end of summer for you?

What are your hello/goodbyes?

Green Potatoes!?

My eats have been absolutely fantastic as of late.  I had dinner on Saturday evening with some of my favourite people and enjoyed homemade chicken wings, pizza and fruit pizza.  Summer food at it's finest.

 

 

I was also introduced to my new favourite potatoes - potatoes mashed with an avocado.  The potatoes turn green and creamy, and they are simply delicious.  We didn't even need to add butter or milk, they were perfect with just the avocado.  If you haven't tried this combo, it's a must-do!

 

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been really into sandwiches this summer.  I had a perfect one yesterday, complete with turkey, spinach, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, avocado and mustard.

 

Mmmmmmmm!

Tomorrow is my last day of summer holidays before going back to work ... I am sad that the summer is basically over, but excited for a new, fresh start and a "new year."  There are still some things I hope to do before summer is officially gone, including more walks/bike rides around the lake, a picnic, a trip to the beach, and a backyard fire/wiener/marshmallow roast.

Is there anything on your summer to-do list that you still hope to do before the leaves begin to fall?

Last Day Camping

On the last full day of camping at Clear Lake I really wanted to visit a fantastic Italian restaurant called TR McKoys.  We were at this place last year and were really impressed.  I couldn't wait to go back.

I ordered a make-your-own-pizza, and put spinach, black olives, onions, and mushrooms on mine.  Mmmmm.  I liked how they served the pizza on giant cans of tomatoes.

 

I ate about half and left the other half behind at the campground for those who were staying a day or two longer than me.

This morning I was up and out of the campground around 10 am.  I drove 4.5 hours home and was happy to come home to a clean house, albeit grocery-less.  Tonight I am off to see 3 great local bands! 

Happy Weekend Friends!

Wedding Last Friday

I had a great time at a friends' wedding last Friday.  The food was fabulous ...

Now you see it ...

Now you don't ...

Mmmmm, creme brulee!

I had fun posing for pics with some girlfriends ...

Cori, Me, Cass

What are you up to this weekend?

I Caught a Fish, and Then ...

Squealed like a little school girl when my friends tried to get me to hold on to the leader to take a picture with the squirming thing.  It kept flailing around - eeeeeeeek! 

Haha - I'm not afraid to try and fillet a fish, or touch it once it's dead, but there was no way I was getting up close to it when it could scare me, poop on me, or smack me in the face.  

More Caaaaaamping!

I'm having so much fun at Clear Lake Campground in Manitoba.  Looks like my friends are having fun too:

Heather and Jessie

Jessie and Chris

The food has been great ... 

 

Honey Garlic Chicken, Veggies and Potato Salad

Breakfast at The White House - Clear Lake, Manitoba

And the fishing pretty successful (although we threw the fish back because they were pikes and apparently pikes are difficult to clean) ... 

 

I caught a fish and was pretty excited, until my friends tried to get me to take a picture with the flopping, flailing thing - then I was terrified ... but that is for the next post ;-) 

We had a beautiful day on the lake, and the water in Clear Lake really is clear ...

After our fishing trip we didn't feel like cooking so we picked up junk from the icecream/everything shop:

 

 

Have you ever been fishing?  Have you caught a fish?

Caaaaaamping!

I am currently at my favourite campground (Clear Lake, Manitoba), camping with about 10 of my closest friends.  More specifically, I am currently sitting at a table here:

This is the Internet cafe, bookstore, clothing store, called The Gorge.

After this post I will be heading back to the campsite:

Probably to sit around the fire, but possibly to play bumper hammocks in what we like to call "Hammock-ville".

Or maybe I will cook something up in our handy cooking area:

 

Or sip a drink which I might keep in a make-shift, duct tape drink holder:

 

Whatever I choose to do at the campsite, it will be awesome.  Because camping is awesome.  And by awesome, I mean super awesome.

My breakfasts have been almost as good as those cooked at home.

Exhibit A:

Home Breakfast:

Camping Breakfast:

Of course, egg in a hole has made an appearance ...

And other regular types of camping food ...

 

And camping wouldn't be camping without card games and munchies in the afternoon:

How is your week going so far?  Have you been camping this summer?

Getting out of the House

Having the summer off is absolutely wonderful, but I do get sick of being at home, and I get bored very easily.  I am often home all day, and if no one feels like going out during the week, then I am usually home all evening too.  I try to get out of the house as much as possible, even if it is just to Mr. Sub for lunch:

Last night my dad took me out for dinner to Chili's.  This isn't my favourite restaurant in the world, but my brother is the manager, so we try to get there sometimes to visit him.  I had the cilantro pesto pasta because, well, it had the word "cilantro" in the name, and that was enough for me!

Last night I had drinks and a visit with some out-of-town friends.  I snacked on adegashi tofu, but shared a bunch of it because the portion was HUGE!

Today I met up with my friend Vanessa, who I hadn't seen since December!  

 

She recently moved to the city, so hopefully we can make our visits a more regular occurrence.

I didn't want to cook on such a nice evening like tonight so I picked up a sushi bowl from my favourite restaurant in town (13th Ave. Coffee Hosue & Food) and ate about half of it.  

 

Tomorrow I have a full, busy day and none of it will be spent stuck at home!! 

Do you go a little stir crazy when you spend too much time at home?  Do you ever get bored?