Do Yoga With Me?

just in case anyone is wondering I haven't fallen off the resolution-bandwagon just yet... and January is almost over!
a whole month of keeping with my resolutions?!
well..... some of them.

surprisingly what I am doing best with is keeping up with a healthy lifestyle.
we've been eating so well and working out almost as often as I'd like.

I have an amazing website I'd like to share!
You know how you when you discover something awesome you secretly want to keep it all for yourself?? but then you realize that's dumb and you should share with all your friends? haha. yea
that's doyogawithme.com

It's the best website I've discovered since Pinterest!
There are 100s of free, completely free yoga videos!
They are entire classes, some are even over an hour long and I have yet to find one that I didn't think was great.
This morning I did Bend and Stretch and The Mogul Mucher.
I am completely new to yoga, except for that one term in Grenada when my friend Adriana and I tired to do it.... we were terrible! but the view was great!! sunset overlooking the Caribbean ocean.......... sigh.
and today I was staring at the wall of my apartment. such is life.
But, the point is, they have an entire selection of beginners videos that are easy to follow and not too terrible for the in-flexible.  And you get to do it in the privacy of your own home so no one is seeing you in that terribly awkward pose you haven't quite mastered....

Afterwards today I was feeling so great I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and my ab workout.  Unfortunately I don't always have that kind of time.... but Saturdays are good for fitting in an extra workout.
What it did do was increase my appetite a lot and thankfully Lee and I have rid our house of almost all junk food!  I haven't bought a single unhealthy thing since Christmas and in a unusual wave of dedication one day I threw away an entire bag of potato chips and some candy.  I'm noticing though the hardest thing for me is carbs.  I crave bread.  I got rid of the english muffins and bagels we had in the fridge too because they were tempting me too much.


Funny thing once you start making a point to eat healthy foods you become so concerned about what is in everything.  Kroger has started carrying Simple Truth organic products that are reasonably priced.  I switched to organic cereal, pasta sauce, and salad dressing this week.   And we have Trader Joe's about 4 blocks away!  That store is amazing.... if I had money I think I'd spend it all there.


so is anyone going to do yoga with me??

What we ate - January 7th-13th

This is what Lee and I ate for dinner this past week.
Sneaking in those "super foods" as often as possible and skipping the carbs when we can too...
We eat cereal and a banana almost everyday for breakfast.
I usually eat leftovers or peanut butter sandwich and yogurt for lunch and Lee eats in the cafeteria at the hospital.
If I need to snack I have dried cranberries or other fruit.... and we're still working on that bag of chocolate covered peanuts from Christmas...

Monday
Garlic & herb chicken (I buy the boneless skinless tenderloins rather than breasts now b/c they are much smaller, thus easier to control portion size)
Sweet Potatoes (with NO brown sugar anymore! just butter, it's seriously still good)
Broccoli
- Apple slices for dessert

Tuesday
Salmon
Rice
Carrots
Watermelon

Wednesday
Stir-fry - chicken, left over rice from night before, broccoli, carrots, peppers, onions, and teriyaki sauce

Thursday
Hamburgers - Lee had dinner ready for me when I got home! so sweet. and anytime he makes dinner it's typically hamburgers... but this time he made sliders and had tons of little toppings.  My favorite was the guacamole and tomato. 
and I had got a snack tray on clearance at Kroger with apples, grapes, and cheese cubes ($1.50!)  So I felt like I ate my weight in apples... which is good right?

Friday
Turkey sandwiches - 12 grain bread, oven roasted deli turkey, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and avocado/guacamole - toasted! it's one of my favorite things to eat ever.
Salad with snap peas (another Kroger discount) and I like to put guacamole on my salad now too instead of dressing
Berries for dessert

Saturday
Burritos - chicken, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, corn, black beans
Rice
Whole wheat tortillas

Sunday 
Left over burritos and this was our "cheat day" so I actually had a burrito for lunch and ended up eating popcorn for dinner. haha! 

Super Foods, Super Coghills

Look at me blogging a second day in a row!

I thought if I'm going to keep up with these resolutions I better be accountable to something.
Two birds, one stone.

I had a realization last night... 2013 will potentially be my LAST year of existence of having my entire body entirely my own.... meaning, that Lee and I plan to have a baby at some point after he begins residency in July 2014, so it's not too far fetched to believe that next year I could be sharing some of the space :)

Thus, motivation to make 2013 a very healthy year!  A lot of people don't have the luxury of preparing their body for pregnancy and I am going to take full advantage of it.  Eating as healthy as possibly and getting in great shape!  What better motivation than the hope of a healthy baby, right??

Yesterday I printed off a list of 100 "super foods" 
Foods that are rich in vitamins, ward off disease, and give you energy.
I've decided that if Lee and I are going to "diet" rather than taking away a lot of the foods we enjoy we should add foods that are good for us!  If you're full of healthy foods you're not hungry for junk is the idea...

I've written a few of the foods on our chalkboard in the kitchen and everyday I'm going to check off which one's I've been able to sneak into my diet and keep track of how many I can get in a day!
A lot of the foods happen to be my favorites too!

Sweet Potatoes
Avocado (not a problem for me at all to squeeze in in some yummy guacamole!)
Strawberries
Blueberries
Blackberries (ok any berries!)
Bananas
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Carrots
Spinach
Cabbage (especially red cabbage)
Whole grain breads & pasta
Garlic
Olive Oil
Green Tea (an everyday staple already)
Nuts
Chocolate (it counts if I eat chocolate covered peanuts, right??)

and fish.  Fish is going to be on of the more difficult ones for me to implement.  We both like it a lot... it's just not something I'm used to buying or cooking.  I no longer have the luxury of the fresh fish market in St. George's and the counter at Kroger smells rancid and frozen just doesn't look that appetizing if you know what I mean... so wish me luck there and/or give me some tips!  What is your favorite??
I'm starting with some frozen wild salmon for dinner tonight.

And guess what I did before work today?!
Ab Ripper X!
oh yea.  My abs will regret this tomorrow.

.

Jamaican Patties

remember when I posted about Jamaican Patties?
k well now I have photo evidence of their deliciousness!

Jamaican Patties - available in beef, chicken, and veggie at your Grenadian neighborhood Texaco, IGA, bakery, and random truck driving through Carnival.

Sample Grocery List

A few people have asked how I save money at the grocery store and what types of things I buy, so I thought I'd show you an example of a weekly grocery list for Lee and I.

Typical IGA Grocery List:  
             *all prices in EC dollars

• bananas - $4 (I buy bananas every single time I walk through IGA's doors)
• 5lb bag of potatoes - $8
• 4 Apples - $10
• lettuce - $9
• onion - $2
• cucumber - $3
• carrots - $5
• Hunt's pasta sauce - $6
• pasta - $3-7
• IGA macaroni and cheese - $4
• can of black beans - $3
• can tomato soup - $5 (I am recently obsessed with grilled cheese and tomato soup. in the caribbean? weird)
• Carlita salsa -  $8
• chicken breast - $10-15 (if I am making soup or something I will buy thighs b/c they are cheaper)
• hamburger - $7-10
• 2lb bag of rice - $3
• 2lb bag of sugar - $3
• IGA brand cereal - $10-12 (favorites include : honey oats and flakes, magic stars, and the cinnamon toast crunch knockoff)
• IGA frozen peas - $6
• IGA frozen corn - $6
• Toufayan bagels - $7
• local bread - $4
• Shoppers Value tortilla chips - $8
• NewZealand Cheddar cheese - $4-6
• cream cheese - $6
• dozen eggs - $9
• butter - $3
• Toufayan wraps - $6 (garlic pesto is our favorite!)
• 4 yogurts - $10 (black berry pomegranate is my favorite!)
• half gallon milk - $9

Total : $162EC  or  $60US  and usually it is less than this... rarely do I spend over $150EC, averaging out to about $225US a month)

Those are things that I might buy every week.. with the exception of the sugar and a few other things like salsa, rice, & 5lbs of potatoes that last a while.  

About once a month I buy other things like peanut butter, cooking oil, salad dressing, laundry detergent, dish soap, paper towels... etc.
And occasionally we buy pop, chips, ice cream, or some other junk.
Its fairly easy to maintain a shopping list like this once you have the basics: spices, condiments, baking essentials etc, and I just never buy the stuff I feel is too expensive. 

Typical meals for us are:

• spaghetti (I could eat it every single day)
• quesadillas 
• tacos 
• stir fry
• hamburgers
• grilled chicken
• soup of all kinds & always with grilled cheese
• breakfast for dinner (yum! omelets, french toast, pancakes)
• chicken and dumplings
• alfredo
• homemade pizza 
• mexican casserole (tortillas, black beans, corn, and cheese)
• salad
• whatever crazy recipe I find online and want to try :)

Basically we have learned to eat less (which is not only good for our budget but great for our health and waistlines) and to be creative with our meals within the range of foods we can afford at the grocery.   I like to bake a lot so I never feel deprived of snacks or if I am craving something I will just learn how to make it!

So there it is, no big secrets or tricks....
and I'm usually taking the bus so you can't buy more than you can carry! :)

foods I've only just discovered

I have become so adventurous in my eating!  My Dad is so proud. and so is Lee.

Last week I actually went to the fresh fish market in St. George's and bought fish.
straight from the ocean!
my friend Stephanie was along with me and took some pictures to document the experience b/c I didn't have my camera (which I am having serious issues with... :( the underwater one is done. broken, again.  we'll have to send it back again b/c it's still under warranty.  and my cannon is just old, probably 3 or 4 years old and it's slowing down and not focusing and the button sticks and blah blah blah)
anyway.  I'm borrowing Stephanie's pictures.

I got Mahi Mahi or Dolphin as they like the call it in Grenada.  I'm not sure how much weight it was, but it was enough for 2 dinners for Lee and I and it was only $11EC and I gave the guy who cleaned it for me a $3ec tip. 
It was delicious!  Lee cooked it for us... I have yet to cook fish.  For some reason Lee thinks this is his domain.  whatever.  I don't like the smell.

Other things I have discovered recently :

• Jamaican beef patties - where have I been?  why have I not know about these until now??  and suddenly they are everywhere. and cheap! and delicious! they even sell them at Texaco. who knew.
• Cheese rolls at IGA Bakery - ok remember my obsession with the Indian lady on campus' cheese rolls.  Her's have nothing on IGAs.  only $3 and big enough to fill me up for lunch.  It's like a cinnamon roll, but with cheese instead of cinnamon. heavenly.
• Pizza at IGA - they sell pizza by the slice at IGA.  I didn't realize this either.  I think the first year I was here I just avoided the bakery b/c it would get me in trouble... but they have great stuff!
  
  
  Is there anything else that I am missing out on??

favorite foods found in grenada

instead of being sad about all the things I can't get here, I'm going to happy about the stuff I can get!

these are a few of my favorite food finds in Grenada

1. pesto garlic wraps - insert cheese and you have the best quesadilla of all time.  These are made in Florida... can anyone tell me if you can get these in the states at your grocery??  I love everything Toufayan brand! pitas, wraps, bagels...  I will be sad if I can't find them when I go home

2.  This cheese is great in said wraps.  This is our go to cheese in Grenada (and Mozzarella from the deli) It tastes absolutely nothing like cheddar. (funny story... my friend Kristen was telling me about a girl she worked with who spelled it 'chetter' hahahah I can never look at that word the same again)

3.  Go ahead bars - they're cracker/cookie like with fruit filling.  Apple is my favorite!! the perfect snack.... and a cheap one too at only $6ec

4. local bananas - so delicious. so much sweeter than at home.... I ate 3 yesterday & could have eaten about 7

5. star fruit - I may like the shape more so than the taste... but the taste isn't bad!! :)
6.  LLB - lemon, lime, and bitters. my favorite soda here!
7. cheese rolls from the Indian couple on campus.  I know they were rude to us last term (amber!) but I LOVE those cheese rolls so much I can't help but buy from them....

and that's all.
I miss Wendy's, Papa Johns, and Texas Roadhouse
I miss Kroger, Dollar Tree, and generic brands
I miss cheap food.

Family visit & restaurant review

I forgot to talk about Lee's family visiting.
They were here the week before Christmas, and left Christmas Day.

We did the typical stuff people do in Grenada, St. George's, snorkeling, beach, crab races, tour of the school, our house, University Club, visited the orphanage and Dorothy Hopkins Center...
and ate out. a lot

There were a couple new restaurants that we went to, well new to Lee and I.
including BBs Crabback.  Crabback? I don't know what that means, I had always heard it called Crabshack... at least that's what I thought I heard.
but BBs was a success.  everyone really enjoyed their food!  Its located at the end of the Carenage, right on the water, so it was a nice view too.
Lee's sister tried Lambie.  Lambie is the meat/animal inside of a conch shell!  I tasted it & it wasn't too bad... sounds much worse that it tastes.

 Lambie

chicken something

rice in bamboo! I want one of these so bad!! 

 my food, sweet potato and pumpkin fritters. lol

We also went to Umbrellas one night.  Umbrellas is as close as  you'll get to America in Grenada!  I loved it... right on the beach, good food, flat screen TV on the wall... haha
Everyone just got hamburgers I think, but it was still good.

We also went to:
Aquarium - which is always good!
The Owl - jerk chicken sandwiches yuuuuummmmmmm
La Boulangerie - delicious pasta
Ricks - pizza and ice cream, need I say more?
Southside Grill - or something like that, the only thing they had was Roti, which is what Lee's sister wanted.... b/c its more of a local food I guess... but I'll pass on the Roti, it's a pretty boring food if you ask me.
New York Bagel - for breakfast. the salt bagel toasted with butter  tastes just like a pretzel!
The University Club - it's pretty good... average I'd say.

We ate here for Christmas Eve, perhaps the best meal of the week! haha kidding...

It was a nice visit.  It's fun to have people to show off where we live to :)

Happy Halloween!!

For the past few years I have had a party to go to on Halloween, either at home at Ellen and Aaron's or the Beaux Arts Ball at MVNU... this year however. no party. unless you count the kids fall fest or the party at the local bar, neither of which excited me.
so I had my own!

mind you I live in a less than 400sq ft apartment. so I could only invite like 5 people.  just enough chairs for everyone. lol

I wanted a party to dress up and decorate and eat!!
so that is what we did :)

welcome to my party!
I'm a watermelon smoothie. duh 

 Lee is thinking Arby's 

Decorations!!

the pop bottles are my favorite! & I came up with it all on my own, no google or blog inspiration. haha
just a little electrical tape, nail polish, and twine. and wa-la!

The food!!

scary pizza.

bones and blood.... aaahhhh

witches brew. with a frozen hand.


I will update on my other blog soon about all the "how to"

Halloween is so fun! 
now onto CHRISTMAS!!!!

Barbados

This is me blogging from Barbados! haha we don't  leave for another hour so I thought why not.
Barbados marks Lee & I's 6th country we've been to since we've been married!
USA
Canada
Mexico
Trinidad
Grenada
Barbados
and this is my 9th country, those above +Germany, France, and the Bahamas.
I think it's Lee's 8th... he's also been to Cuba & the Dominican Republic.

We walked around outside a bit & took pictures.... then ate lunch (I'm on a pizza around the world mission apparently) and I bought a new purse!  I didn't bring one back with me & I'll be in Canada for 10 days before going home & they were selling them for $10!  I said I liked it & Lee just handed me $20... I should have bought 2.
The airport here is nice, and has free wifi :)
We both got lunch for $10... I had a huge slice of pizza & pop & Lee had a roti & pop. 
I guess since Barbados is so much bigger & more easily accessible than Grenada prices aren't marked up as much... we got a powerade & juice for $3 too... I can't wait for things to be cheap again! Canada will look cheap compared to Grenada!

So far this has been a very smooth travel experience.... hoping the next flight is also & that they have good movies!

Bus stop good-ness!

On campus, at the upper bus stop, there is an area where they sell stuff.

This is where we had our bake sale for the Limes program too...
Almost everyday there is a lady selling amazing chinese food - rice, low mein, sweet & sour chicken, beef, fish, vegetables... a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Patel (or Mother Teresa as students refer to her as) who sell vegetarian food, another lady who sells sandwiches, and a few times a week people selling fresh produce and eggs.
It's great to have all these options right on campus, and right off the bus!

Mrs. Patel

fresh fruits and vegetables (also where I got my coconut!)

My purchases from here this week....

a bag of eggs? sure! 

 The greatest cheese rolls ever.

a friend told me these were good, but he specifically said, don't eat one, it's like crack, you'll be addicted! 

and he was right!
they're only $3EC (about a dollar us)
and Lee is addicted too... so what if I had 3 this week...
I'm supporting Mother Teresa right?

We also LOVE the chinese food!!!
We've only had this twice since we've been here... it's kinda like a treat because we don't eat out, ever. 

but I came home from Limes this week exhausted and a little frazzled so Lee caved... :)

it's so good and affordable... and she gives you a TON of food!
we had enough left over for the next day and were completely full.
a plate of food is $15EC so we both eat for $30 ($11.25USD!!!)
and you get two meals out of it! so it's like $3 per meal....