21 May 2009

flavor of the day :: Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor - Ne Me Quitte Pas

Mull over a cuppa!

19 May 2009

coming clean :: chomp, chomp, chomp



My last swim meet of the SCY season got cancelled, so I took the opportunity to give my body a well-deserved break. During this time, I swam a little, ran a little... and ate a lot! My body was craving popcorn and froyo, so I just went with it. What do these two things have in common? A gazillion possibilities!

I may or may not need to take another week to recover from my recovery week. In case I don't see you until then, hope y'all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!


flavor of the day :: Lester Lewis

Lester Lewis - Boy Hangover (featuring Bonnie McKee)

Mull over a cuppa!

18 May 2009

smarty pants award :: "just pick three!"

"What is that?"
"I don't know how to explain it in English."

"What is that?"
"Lychee."

"What is that?"
"I don't know how to explain it in English. Just pick three."




So, I know one of the three things I chose for this Vietnamese dessert was lychee-flavored agar agar. But what were the other two? My second selection was yellow and tasted of softer gelatin. The third selection -- the grey and white thingies -- tasted like they might be some sort of seed.

No good deed goes unrecognized. You will be mentioned in an upcoming post and win the 3rd Oriental Banana Smarty Pants Award ("SPA")! Imagine how prestigious that will look on your resume :: wink ::

16 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred sixty

Workout: morning @ pilates + afternoon @ trail run (2.88 miles)

My fav Pilates exercise of the day was the
advanced corkscrew!

I was supposed to have gone jogging BEFORE Pilates, but it was raining (and, okay, I couldn't get out of bed). I had run parts of the trail during a fun run, but didn't know it extended as far as it did. Turned around at 15:00, but will run the entire way next time. Short river crossing = wet shoes. Saw my first two wild chipmunks!


Coming Clean:

face: Carrot Facial by
Body Language Soaps

hair: Seanik Solid Shampoo by
Lush and Vegan Original Citrus Blast Intense Hair Conditioner by Gudonya Soap and Spa

body: Vegan Citrus Glaze Sugar Scrub by
Body Language Soaps

This was included with my latest order. I'll admit, I almost didn't give it a chance. Body scrubs leave my skin feeling wonderful, but it can also leave a film of oily residue in my tub. I've used some that have left my tub so slippery that I had to sit on the edge and swing my legs over to get out because I was so afraid of falling over and hitting my head! It turns out that this was the perfect day to try it out. My tub was due for a cleaning anyway, and if it did leave any residue, I could just scrub it away.

Well, all I have to say is... BL Soaps has done it again! The sugar scrub was exactly the way it was described in their listing: "I combined two of my favorite scents in this fabulous blend, Sweet Orange and Wild Honey! The result, a decadently rich blend that is sweet and tantalizing! ... After one use, you'll be addicted to how soft your skin feels, and sugar scrubs will become a regular necessity in your beauty routine. We've made our sugar scrubs with special emulsifiers to cut down on the oiliness not only on your skin, but also in your tub. Leaves a lotion like feel when rinsed with water."

It left my skin feeling wonderful and eau de chlorine-less. I didn't even have to moisturize afterwards! And, yes, I did clean my tub afterwards. But only because I had to. I'll definitely be back for more!


Naughty Points:

1 large sweet tea (because I was thirsty after after my trail run)
1 "
just pick three!" Vietnamese dessert
3
The Fetching Hound 'blue balls' bitty bites

Needless to say, I was completely satiated by day's end :: wink ::

15 May 2009

flavor of the day :: 311

311 - I'll Be Here Awhile

Mull over a cuppa!

12 May 2009

flavor of the day :: Brad Sucks

Brad Sucks - Making Me Nervous

Mull over a cuppa!

09 May 2009

flavor of the day :: Owl City

Owl City - On the Wing

Mull over a cuppa!

08 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred fifty two

Workout: lunch @ outdoor walk (1.62 miles)

REST DAY! Took advantage of the sunny weather -- FINALLY! -- and went for a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood. Our first stop was froyo, then cupcakes (for tomorrow's swim meet) and lastlybutnotleastly, lunch!

I'll have to say that my not-so-quite-an-hour in the sun was a million times better than being on the dreadmill. And... there are quite a few froyo joints in the vicinity! :: mwahahahaha ::


Coming Clean:

face: Tea Tree and Charcoal Natural Complexion by
Country Heart Gifts

hair: Seanik Solid Shampoo by
Lush

body: Pear by
Bella Bubbles


Naughty Points: 1
Mr. Yogato froyo

07 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred fifty one

Workouts: lunch @ gym (0.5 mile jog + stretch + 1.13 miles ellip) and evening @ pool (3,850 SCY)

Had a different, harder workout planned, but lost all motivation to do it when I got to the pool. Did 5 x 200s in preparation for the 1000 on Saturday, but it didn't work out the way it was intended. It was supposed to be descend 1-3 + hold 4-5 but turned into a descend 1-5. Oops. Winged the rest of the workout and ended up doing an extra 100 for the 10 x 100s because I was in lala-land.


Coming Clean:

face: Tea Tree Honey with Lemon Peel by
Inseine Creations

hair: Vegan Original Citrus Blast Salty Dawg Creme Shampoo & Intense Hair Conditioner by
Gudonya Soap and Spa

body:
Red Velvet Cake by Spotted Cow Soaps

These soaps and hair products were first reviewed on Coming Clean -
Day 110, Day 16 and Day 56, respectively.


Naughty Points: ZERO!!

After yesterday's free-for-all
, I had no choice but to avoid them! It also helps when get your fill of red velvet cake by doing something as simple as bathing! :: wink ::

06 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred fifty

Workout: lunch @ gym (0.5 mile jog + stretch + ellip, not walk)

Does eating a small box of almond butter cookies 30 mins. before your lunch hour make you lazy and not want to go down to the gym, too? :P


Coming Clean:

face: Luxurious Clean Cotton-Scented Charcoal Facial by
A Breath of French Air

hair: Ultimate Shine Solid Shampoo by
Lush

body: Citrus Melody by
Country Cottage by Linda

These soaps and hair products were first reviewed on Coming Clean -
Day 7, Day 145 and Day 86, respectively.


Naughty Points: 8
Seikotei almond butter cookies + an unmentionable variety of other 'naughty points'

Surfing squirrels! Check out their website (in Japanese) to see all of the different squirrel illustrations for their cookies. かわいい!

As for the other 'naughty points', I have no idea what got into me. I came home hungry, had a normal-sized dinner, but was still hungry. I couldn't stop nibbling until I finally brushed my teeth a few hours later. :: oops ::

flavor of the day :: Eric Hutchinson

Eric Hutchinson - Rock & Roll (live)

Mull over a cuppa!

05 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred forty nine

Workouts: lunch @ gym (0.5 mile jog + stretch + 5.4 mile bike) and evening @ pool (4,050 SCY)


Coming Clean:

face: Pink Kaolin Clay by Country Heart Gifts

hair: Seanik Solid Shampoo by Lush

body
: Java Jolt by Inseine Creations

These soaps and hair products were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 1, Day 146 and Day 9, respectively.


Naughty Points: 8 truffles :: oops ::

if i win the lottery :: sugar cookies

Lori's Place Gourmet Delights


In search to find the perfectly sweet Mother's Day pressie,
I came across some beautifully decorated cookies!





Amy Bakes



SweetestB



little laura's sweets



Sugar Cookie Couture



sugar & flour



Cakebox Cookies

04 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred forty eight

Workout: lunch @ gym (2 mile jog + stretch + 4 x (30 crunches + 50 skips))


Coming Clean:

face: Carrot Facial by
Body Language Soaps

hair: Seanik Solid Shampoo by
Lush

body:
Spiked Peaches by Sweet and Tranquil

I've
been enjoying Sweet and Tranquil's whipped soaps so much that it's taken me a while to pull myself away from them and try one of their bar soaps. I'm happy to report that this was another success. A lovely summery scent with lots of bubbles!

Sweet and Tranquil describes this soap as "[t]he scent of fresh peaches on a summer’s day, fresh and Sweet. The Fragrance is spiked with Ginger which adds a hint of Spice to this luscious Soap. I have added a touch of Gold Mica to add a bit of shimmer to this soap."


Naughty Points: 1 Boylan diet black cherry soda + 8 sugar cookie dough squares = 9

As for the cookie dough squares, I'm cleaning out my freezer, thankyouverymuch!

flavor of the day :: The Shins

The Shins - Australia

Mull over a cuppa!

coming clean :: week twenty one

My target weight loss is 20 ~ 25 lbs. (approx. 9 ~ 11 kgs.) by the end of the summer. Okay, let's say, September 2009. But à la 'The Biggest Loser', instead of going by overall weight lost, I'll be posting it as percentage of body weight lost. The results are... :: drum roll please ::

target % weight loss : 13.16% ~ 16.45%
weeks one ~ twelve: 5.32%
week thirteen % weight loss: 1.05%
week fourteen % weight loss: 0.35%
week fifteen % weight loss: 1.42%
week sixteen % weight loss: -0.72%
week seventeen % weight loss: 0%
week eighteen % weight loss: 1.07%
week nineteen % weight loss: -0.36%
week twenty % weight loss: 0%
week twenty one % weight loss: 1.08%
total % weight loss: 9.21%

Week 17 was my last 'public' weigh-in. My blog may've been on vacay, but that doesn't mean 'Coming Clean' had been, too! I tapered twice in April, which made it really hard to lose weight. I was exercising less and eating just as much. I also tried to go on a two-week 'naughty points' fast. I came pretty close to making it! I'll have to try to deprive myself again some time. :: wink ::

Now that it's May, I have a new weight-loss goal -- to lose the last ten pesky pounds by September. Wish me luck!

03 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred forty seven

Workout: evening @ pool (3,600 SCM)

They're combating swine flu by over-chlorinating the pool. It felt like my tongue and lips were melting off! :: blech ::


Coming Clean:

face: Carrot Facial by
Body Language Soaps

hair: Wild Strawberry Fields Salty Dawg Creme Shampoo & Intense Hair Conditioner by
Gudonya Soap and Spa

body: Crisp Ginger Pear by
My Birch

These soaps and hair products were first reviewed on Coming Clean -
Day 57, Day 15 and Day 50, respectively.


Naughty Points: 1
Larry's Ice Cream red velvet cupcake

I'm such a sucker for cupcakes. As I was walking back to my car (in the rain with my hands full), I still managed to see the "WE HAVE HOMEMADE CUPCAKES!" sign. Okay, it didn't actually say that, but that's what my brain heard. :: wink :: It was totally worth the challenge of carrying them back to my car!

Two pictured, but I only had one.
:: pinky promise :: I should probably also pinky promise to stop eating these as often as I have been. They're definitely at the top of my doctor's 'no-no list'!

02 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred forty six

Workouts: morning @ pilates + late-afternoon @ outdoor jog

Teaser series was killer! We had it-looks-like-it's-about-to-rain weather all day, so I ran every errand in the book to avoid having to run. As soon as I headed out the door, it started misting --> rain --> RAIN! Of course! Bad tummyache @ 3.5 miles. Not sure if it was the OJ I had right before, the
nuun I had during or my fuel belt being a little too tight. Where is that thing supposed to hang, anyway?


Coming Clean:

face: Luxurious Clean Cotton-Scented Charcoal Facial by
A Breath of French Air

hair: Seanik Solid Shampoo by
Lush

I'm diggin' the shampoo bar I
received as a gift, so when I was out-and-about, I bought myself another one!

body: Rhubarb Al Fresco by
Rachel Rene Bath & Body


Naughty Points: Where to begin?!! I treated myself to a cà phê sũa đá before running errands, had a strawberry cupcake in G-town whilst running errands, then rewarded myself with truffles after my run. Only two from this entire box!

How do y'all eat a box of chocos? If I don't have to share, I finish off my least favorite first.

01 May 2009

coming clean :: day one hundred forty five

I'm back! I haven't decided whether to stay with the current format, or to try something else. Thoughts?

Workouts: lunch @ gym (2 mile jog + stretch + 4 x (30 crunches + 50 skips)) + evening @ pool (3,500 SCY)

No A/C! So I took it easy and decided to cut the jog short. I have no problems sweating my butt off outdoors, but indoors, well... that just seems wrong!

Just another pace workout. :: yawn :: Whose idea was it to sign up for a distance meet?!!


Coming Clean:

face: Tea Tree and Charcoal Natural Complexion by
Country Heart Gifts

hair: Ultimate Shine Solid Shampoo by
Lush

If this wasn't a gift, I might've never tried a shampoo bar. I'm glad I did!

body: Gateau de Citron by
Savor


Naughty Points: 2 Big Island Candies brownies

Another gift! :: wink :: To your left, we have the golden mac nut blondie. Also included in the assortment were dark choco mac nut brownies and dark choco coconut brownies. I'd never had a coconut brownie before!

With the return of my 'Coming Clean' posts, I've decided not to buy any more 'naughty points' that can't be consumed at time of purchase. I hope this plan doesn't backfire on me!

flavor of the day :: Freeland

Freeland - Under Control (Alex Metric remix)

Mull over a cuppa!