Dumpster diving

Happy hump day!

So, I have a couple of things to update you on from yesterday that I didn't add to my post last night. First off, I had a phenomenal workout that consisted of  a 20 minute interval treadmill walking workout and the Super Sweaty Circuit I tried a few weeks back! For those of you who missed that post, the workout is detailed below. It's a quick, challenging , and effective sweat sesh.

Super Sweaty Circuit

1. 15 dumbell squat to overhead press

2. 12 Burpees 

3. 20 reverse lunge w/ front kick (each leg!)

4. 60 Sec. jumping jacks

5. 15 bicep curls

6. 12 burpees (ughhhh!)

7. 25 pushups (modified aka girly pushups for me!)

8. 60 sec plank

** I went through it 3x (only made it 2x the last time) and I used 5 lb weights.

I'm convinced  my new running shorts that I purchased for last weekend's 10k are the reason my workout was so great. Dress the part, right?

Dinner last night was pretty fantastic if I do say so myself. I cooked up a spaghetti squash and topped it with Easy Peasy Avocado Sauce.  I have made this delicious sauce to go with pasta in the past, but I loved it even more paired with spaghetti squash! If you love avocado, do yourself a favor and make this sauce.

Easy Peasy avocado Sauce

(adapted from Oh She Glows )

Ingredients

- 1 avocado halved and pitted

- 2 garlic cloves minced

-1/2 a juiced lemon

- 2 tbs olive oil

-dash of salt and pepper to taste

-fresh basil (1-2 tbsp chopped) - optional

Directions

Add garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil to a blender (or use and immersion blender in a bowl). Blend until smooth. Add avocado, salt, pepper. Blend. Serve mixed with pasta,spaghetti squash, or use as a sandwich spread!

I had a salad topped with edamame and chickpeas which added protein to the meal.

I woke up this morning bright eyed and bushy tailed. I enjoyed a delicious breakfast of Pumpkin Oatmeal.

I topped this hearty bowl of oats with almond butter, maple syrup and golden raisins.

After breakfast, I got my things together for work only to find that my car key was missing from my key chain! To make matters worse, I was working with a co-worker who flew in from Pittsburgh and I had to pick her up. I drove my car home yesterday evening, so I knew the key had to be somewhere in or around my apartment.  I searched my apartment high and low, including rummaging like a rabid animal through my trash. While digging  through coffee grinds and leftover spaghetti squash, I cut my hand on the metal from an empty tuna can. This result was what looked like be a murder scene in my kitchen. PJ told me I needed a tetanus shot and proceeded to google (word for word)  "do I need a tetanus shot if I cut my hand on a tuna can while rummaging like a hobo through the trash?". I couldn't help but laugh. I finally relaxed (laughing does that) and coincidently remembered that I had a jacket on yesterday with pockets! I checked the pocket, and there was that damn key! Crisis averted with the exception of a bandaged finger. I'll take it.

My co-worker and I enjoyed a FABULOUS lunch in Harlem. I'm willing to bet that when many of you think of Harlem, "fine dining" is not the first thought that comes to mind. Well, let me tell you that there are great restaurants popping up throughout Harlem, and I was lucky enough to experience one of them today!

We ate at Lido. I was having a working lunch, so I couldn't snap many pictures (probably not professional, right?!). I did manage to sneak a few. I chose to do the prix fix menu from which I chose the warm arugula salad with roasted pears, walnuts and shaved parmesan. It was one of the best fall salads I have had. For my second course I had mussels with a big hunk of grilled bread to sop up the spectacular sauce that the mussels were served in. The mussels were just as great as the salad. Dessert was a basil gelato. I ordered it primarily because it peeked my curiosity, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well the basil complimented the creaminess of the gelato. It was so refreshing!

Basil Gelato

Quick shot inside the restaurant.

After I arrived home today, I did a restorative yoga today practice which helped to stretch out my muscles that were pretty sore from yesterdays sweaty circuit workout. It felt pretty fabulous. Ok, I'm off to bed! I'll be back tomorrow to share the first recipe I made from Candice's book, "Cook Yourself Sexy"!

xo

Sarah