[watching] On TV, we've been glued to Making a Murderer. I've been trying not to read too many articles until we're finished the series in an attempt to draw my own conclusions. We saw The Revenant yesterday and I highly recommend seeing it on the big screen. The cinematography is fantastic and I really enjoyed the movie, even though it was two and a half hours long (I usually hate long movies!)

[cooking] We had a snow day on Saturday and I made this Black Bean Tortilla Soup, which is really easy. I used pomegranate salsa which gives it a little sweet/spicy kick. I topped it with some sliced avocado and tortilla chips and it was perfect for a cold, snowy night.

[reading] I just finished Eight Hundred Grapes and didn't like it at all. Now, I'm almost done The Vacationers and really enjoying this one.

[baking] I'll be baking Pete's birthday cake this week but the recipe is top secret for now! I did make these soft pretzels without yeast on the weekend. They didn't *look* great but they tasted really good. Perfect football snack.

[wearing] It's been cold so I've basically been wearing 600 layers every day. Usually a sweater and some skinny pants - nothing terribly exciting. I ordered these Sperry duck boots which were on mega sale at The Bay this weekend. I have Sorels, but they're huge, tall, clunky, and make me look like I'm six years old when I wear them to commute to work, so I wanted an option that's still really warm and sturdy but a wee bit sleeker. OH! I almost forgot my new favourite pants. Gap zip ponte leggings - these are game changers, ladies. Nice enough to wear to work but they feel like gym clothes. I'll take 100 pairs, please. 

[moving] Last week I made it to the gym every day! I have been moving more thanks to my new Fitbit, which is the most effective motivator for me when it comes to adding extra activity to my days.

[planning] We're thinking about taking a family vacation this winter but nothing is planned yet, so we need to get cracking and figure that out. I'm dreaming of somewhere warm but the Canadian dollar is so shitty right now it's hard to decide. Pete's birthday is this Thursday so we're going to have a nice dinner Thursday night and we're going on a little weekend getaway next weekend, so I'm looking forward to that! On a more practical note I'm making plans to weed through Eli's toys and books and donate some. I feel like this is going to need to be a covert operation because there's no way he's going to willingly part with any of his stuff.

[creating] Our ensuite bath reno is almost done! We just need a vanity, which has been the hardest part, but we've finally found something we both love so we should have it installed in about two weeks. And then we'll be done. This has been the longest renovation project in the entire world. I can't wait to take a celebratory bubble bath when everything's finished, but it's going to look nice and hopefully be worth it.

[wanting] to go snowshoeing or cross country skiing.

[loving] a perfectly poached egg on avocado toast, Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee (doesn't matter that Christmas is long gone), blanket scarves, meal planning.

[three things to do this week] get Eli's passport photos taken and his renewal form dropped off; order vanity; buy birthday gift and card

Yesterday morning I spent half an hour making Buddha bowls for this week's lunches. I cooked up a pot of brown rice, sauteed some broccoli, green onions, and sweet potatoes, and drizzled on some peanutty dressing, borrowed from this recipe. Today, as I hoofed it to the French bakery around the corner to buy a chocolate tart after lunch, I realized my portions are a little small, so I'll be beefing up the rest of this week's lunches with some sliced avocado and chopped peanuts. I can't be buying supplementary chocolate tarts at $5.52 a pop every day! Do I look like I'm MADE OF MONEY?

This photo is unrelated to anything that's happening this week. I made bread once. It's unlikely to happen anytime soon.

I just whipped up a little meal plan action for the rest of the week. It's Monday, I'm freezing, I have a headache that just won't quit, and I'm exhausted from a crappy sleep thanks to crazy wind and rain last night, so it's not the most elaborate or exciting meal plan in the world. That being said, here's what we'll be eating. Reading other bloggers' meal plans makes my heart go pitter-patter, so I thought I'd share too.

Monday: quinoa-crusted haddock with sweet potato wedges and roasted broccoli
Tuesday: grilled cheese sandwiches and salads
Wednesday: Peter is taking care of Wednesday's dinner and IT BETTER BE GOOD!
Thursday: veggie chilli with nacho chips. This is my favourite quick weeknight chilli recipe, and it makes a lot, but not so much that we have chilli to deal with for days afterwards.
Friday: pizza

During the work week, I spend most of my lunch breaks at the gym. Would I rather be cozy at my desk with a warm bowl of soup and a piping hot buttered biscuit? You bet. Also, that was oddly specific. Still, about four days out of five, I hoof it to the GoodLife down the street from my office to get sweaty. (Moderately sweaty - don't want to be all unsanitary in the afternoon). Here's why I've chosen to make noon workouts a habit.

[1] It makes me more productive after lunch. 
One of the easiest ways to talk yourself out of a lunchtime workout is to think about how busy you are and how many things remain on your to-do list, but I've found that by spending an hour going to the gym, I'm way more productive in the afternoon. If I don't take a break, I'll find my attention span starting to wane after lunch and I end up getting distracted by other things in the afternoon, feeling burnt out, and ultimately accomplishing less. Going to the gym at lunch gives me a burst of energy and helps me refocus as soon as I get back to work, so even though I'm spending less time at my desk, I'm getting more done.

[2] It gets me out of the office. 
If I don't go to the gym there's a good chance I eat lunch at my desk and pretty much stay stationary all day, which is not great. Even the five-minute walk to the gym provides fresh air and a much-needed change of pace. Getting away from your desk gives everything a break: your body from sitting, your eyes from staring at a computer monitor, you name it.

[3] I can sometimes solve a nagging problem during my workout. 
Yesterday I spent a lot of the morning feeling kind of bothered by a work issue. I went for a treadmill run at lunch and was able to come up with not just one, but several possible courses of action to help me work through the problem. When I got back to my desk I got started right away. I've also been mid-workout and suddenly remembered some task I'd totally forgotten to do. It's great for mental clarity!

[4] I won't go to the gym in the morning...or in the evening. 
Especially in the winter. It's hard to get out of bed on these dark, cold mornings, and I will never be a 5am gym person. As it is, I wake up at 6 and leave the house by 7:20 and that's hard enough. After work, it's once again dark and cold, and once I arrive home and get cozy I'm not going back outside. So, basically, if it doesn't happen at lunchtime, it's not happening.

[5] It keeps me from going overboard with lunchtime temptations. 
I work downtown, and the possibilities for indulgent lunches and drinks are endless. My very favourite Asian fusion tacos are right across the street. Having a plan at noon hour means I'm much less likely to buy lunch every day. Instead, I bring lunch from home and eat it at my desk once I'm back from the gym, saving money and calories.

If you're thinking of making lunchtime workouts part of your routine this year, here are a few tips that have helped me stick with it for a few years now.

[1] Leave exercise gear at work. 
I keep a pair of sneakers in my office so I don't need to drag them back and forth every day (or "forget" them at home). I usually bring my gym clothes every day, but in the past I've brought a few gym outfits on Monday and left them in a desk drawer so I have gear for the whole week.

[2] Put it in your calendar. 
I put my workouts in my shared calendar so they show up as meetings. I get a reminder when it's time to go, and coworkers can see that I'm unavailable during lunch. Having a commitment - even if it's just with yourself - makes it harder to flake on your plans.

[3] Go with a coworker. 
Sometimes you need a little more motivation, and this is where coworkers can come in handy! At my office there was a group of people who went to Spin class together on Wednesdays. We've since fallen out of the habit, but on days when I really need help, I can usually ask around and convince someone to come take a class with me, or even just walk to the gym.

[4] Bring products to help you transition back to work mode. 
I don't have time to do a full shower and blow dry before heading back to work, but I don't want to be a swamp donkey all afternoon either. I pack a few essential products to help me freshen up before going back to my desk. Deodorant is an obvious one. Dry shampoo can be a lifesaver - spritz your hair, blow dry it for a minute, then brush it out to freshen up quickly. Baby wipes are also a great no-shower shower option!