Archive by Author | Life With The Mcgavins

Welcoming The Weekend

I’ve been longing for my weekend to start since first thing this morning!!! Thank goodness the day passed relatively quickly.

As soon as I got home from work I poured a glass of wine, lit the candles, and got ready for some me time!!!!

I couldn’t have made a better choice. My bath was just what I needed. So warm and relaxing. The water was very hot and the wine was cool and crisp! Perfect combination!

I am trying my best to realize when I need to just stop and take some time for myself. Tonight was one of those nights. I didn’t feel so great by the time I got off work tonight. I was kind of nauseous and really hot. Not really sure why I felt so off but thankfully it has mostly past.

As for the rest of the night I have a date with my Pj’s and the couch! maybe some cuddles with Kev and Muff! I look forward to sharing the details of my weekend adventures with you all!

Erica

Valentines 2013

Feb19

I meant to post about Valentines day last week but I was so caught up in everything I never got a chance. So better late then never!

My flowers and Kevin and I’s chocolates from Purdys that we actually hot the weekend before Valentines day. So pretty!!! So yummy!

On Wednesday night after I got home from work I got busy in the kitchen baking Raspberry vanilla cupcakes and sugar cookies for family and friends!!

On actual Valentines day Kevin and I ventured out and about doing lots if fun stuff! We delivered the baked goods to friends and then started our date day! We went to the new grilled cheese restaurant in Fort Langley, the antique mall, The winery, and Lepp farms!!!

The Fort winery was amazing. We did a tasting,had a tour of the facility and learned all about how the wine is made. It was awesome and I’d love to go back. The wine was all amazing but the cranberry was by far my favorite.

The new grilled cheese place in Fort Langley called Say Cheese was delicious but expensive. They are strictly a take out restaurants and the menu consists of about 8 different gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. I choose the turkey,Brie and jalapeño jelly sandwich. For the price and the calories it is definitely a treat food.

We did some grocery shopping at Lepp farms. I love their selection of local products, hormone/antibiotic free meats and fresh veggies. We bought many tasty things that turned into some amazing weekend meals. I wish the market was closer to our home.

After our date day we visited Kev’s parents and then headed home so he could whip up a fantastic steak dinner.

Valentines day left me feeling spoiled and loved but like I mentioned on Facebook days like Thursdays are not a rare occurrence. Kevin makes sure I get to go to all the places I enjoy on a regular basis.

I am indeed spoiled! I hope everyone had a great Valentines day and a fun weekend! I know Katie did!!! Congratulations again on your engagement Hun !! I know you and Matt will be very happy together.

Food Porn – Breakfast Edition

Feb19

I woke up this morning with a serious sweet tooth! This almost never happens to me in the morning, afternoon all the time. I wasn’t about to dive face first into a sugar laden donut or cookie for breakfast, despite my urge to! Instead I changed up my oatmeal/ancient grain bowl toppings!

I started out with the usual oats,quinoa,kamut mixture and the usual peanut butter/chopped banana topping. This is where I got crazy friends!!! I traded my usual tablespoon of hemp hearts for a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips and a sprinkle of coconut. Freaking heavenly! It was sweet without being sickeningly sweet. The chocolate chips got warm and melty and it was pretty much the most amazing bowl of oats I’ve eaten in a while!

It is nice to change up your breakfast routine once in a while and after yesterdays fail this was indeed a welcome change! Yesterday along with my hemp hearts I tossed in a tablespoon of golden flax. Guess who isn’t a flax fan apparently!!!! You guessed it, this girl!

Live and learn friends!!

“What do you mean we aren’t sharing breakfast mom?!!!?”

A Man Of Many Skills..

Feb18

No one ever said life was easy or fair! And no one ever tells you that every now and then you will get slapped in the face by something simple you have taken for granted!

My something simple has manifested itself in the form of juicing limes and lemons! Woah is me right?!?!?! But seriously, I can’t do it anymore! Okay maybe I shouldn’t be so dramatic and say I can’t. I can do it, just not well or without excessive pain. My wrist and hips are so far my most affected joints by far since my autoimmune issues have flared their ugly head and turned my life upside down.
I am stubborn, some may even say a bitch at times. It takes a lot for me to ask for help and a few nights ago while making a batch of guacamole I caved and asked Kevin to juice my lime. *Someone please tell me I’m not the only one that giggled at that last sentence!!!*. I do my best everyday to get things done and not let my being sick get me down. So while it may not seem like a big deal asking him for help, to me it is. It makes me feel weak and broken.

Now for the flip side of this story … The upside if you will! My husband is a man of many talents and apparently pulverizing citrus fruit is on his hidden list of oddly sexy skills. Maybe it is his strong manly hands, or maybe he is some sort of fruit crushing superhero! Either way he manages to get more juice out of one lime or lemon then I ever could out if three even at my peak of wrist helpfulness!!!

Seriously folks I’m impressed! He leaves nothing but a citrus shell, a former juice filled vessel destined for the compost bin!!!!

Look at that! Feast your eyes on almost half a cup of pulp laden lemon juice from one lemon!!!! ONE!!!! I got him to pre-juice my fruit for tonight’s dinner at work when he came to visit this afternoon.
Be still my beating heart!!! Back off ladies he is all mine 😉

Guacamole Addiction

Feb16

I can’t get enough guacamole lately! Home made, store bought, which ever! Today was no different so I whipped up a batch to snack on!

Super easy to make!

1 ripe avocado
1 garlic clove
1 tsp spicy olive oil
Jalapeño to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Lime juice to taste
Cilantro

Toss it all into a food processor or magic bullet!!! Poof!!! Snack time!!

Forest Fairy Doors

Feb15

I was on Instagram the other day and came across a photo of a tiny door at the base of a tree. I asked the original poster where she found it and she told me Redwood park. Well I’ve been excited to go searching ever since! Today was the day!

Lets go guys!! Muffin loves a good park adventure. As soon as we turn onto certain roads she knows we are near a park and the squeaking starts!

It was a beautiful warm day and we enjoyed our time at the park. I was very excited to find the tiny fairy doors, sometimes I forget I’m almost 31!

I thought the little doors were adorable. Someone has even sprinkled glitter around the bases of the trees! Maybe it was Tinkerbell!!!

I don’t have kids and sometimes forget Muffins a dog!!! Her reaction to things makes my heart happy. She stared at the little doors the back at us with curious eyes. So sweet!

I was very sore today so I skipped the gym but was content with out easy park walk. Sometimes an easy walk is all I can take in a day but I’m glad to be able to at least do that.

Lunch And Puppy Cuddles

Feb12

So I’m halfway through my three day work week. Muffin is cuddled up under a blanket with me, I think she is having a sympathy headache! Or she’s just a fluffy little lazy beast! Either way I love the cuddles!

Kisses anyone?!?!?

So my goal for the week is simple in theory, get my portions back on track. For the most part I eat very healthy with a treat in moderation. I don’t deny myself the things I want or live but I do try to stick to the 80/20 rule. The last few months have been tough though. I find when I’m not feeling well my portion control suffers and I’m much more likely to give into extra treats. When my body is in so much pain it is like my brain says forget this lets eat another cookie. The lupus stuff has been a lot to take and now I’m slowly coming to terms with everything it’s time to get life back on track a little.

Yesterday I started out my day with a bowl of ancient grains oatmeal with a tablespoon of peanut butter and a tablespoon of hemp hearts. It was delicious and kept me full right through my mid morning workout. At the gym I did 30 minutes if cardio, 20 minutes of legs and 10 of abs, plus some stretching! It was packed yesterday at the gym, which my work mom and I figured was because it was a stat holiday here in BC yesterday for family day!

After the gym I snacked on two hard boiled eggs mixed with some fresh full and a tablespoon of light olive oil mayo.

While it may not look all that appealing I can assure you it was yummy! In fact this is becoming one of my favorite snacks.

A while later I made myself some homemade bruschetta and served it on green olive bread. Very filling and tasty.
For dinner the boss and I each had the three bean veggie burgers I made on Sunday afternoon alone with a spring mix salad and some olive oil pan fried potatoes with homemade guacamole and tzatziki. It was an excellent meal. I really like the three bean burgers better then the ones I made last time with just black beans. Better texture and more flavour! I will take photos next time I make them.

Later in the evening I had a small serving of pistachios. I love nuts but pistachios might be my favourite!! My treat yesterday was a cookie Kevin brought me when he came to visit. All in all I was content with my food choices and workout for the day.

I started out today with the same breakfast as yesterday. I’m really finding the hemp hearts bulk up the oats and give the breakfast a little more staying power. For lunch I had spring mix toped with left over BBQ garlic chicken and fajita peppers and onions with trader joes cilantro dressing. I also toasted an English muffin and spread liver sausage on it… I know I know! Don’t judge me I have gross cravings 😉 I only crave liver sausage when my iron is low so I always listen to that craving.

Kevin is on his way to visit Miss Muff and I here at work. We are going to take her for a nice long hilly walk! It won’t be nearly as nice as our sunny Sunday forest 4 km walk but it will have to do.

It was so beautiful on Sunday we couldn’t resist a trip to the park after Kevin made BBQ chicken fajitas for lunch and we walked to the local Sunday market for some fresh flowers and browsing!! It defiantly felt like spring on Sunday!! Today the drizzle is back! Welcome to BC folks!!

I hope everyone is having a good day!

I Should Be Cleaning….

Feb9

But I got side tracked by a crisp cool bottle of sweet red!!!

A little while ago after performing the worlds most futile cleaning task, cleaning the Tupperware cupboard! I got side tracked by a peanut butter cupcake. Holy yum!

Never fear my day hasn’t been all side tracks and indulgences! This morning I tidied the backyard, filled the bird feeders, took the empties back to the bottle depot, went to the mall with a friend, had a lunch date with the husband, and went to the farm to pick up organic free range eggs!

Lunch was especially yummy! We went to the Mongolie Grill for stir fry. I love going there as you get to choose your own mix of veggies,meats, and sauces. I usually load up on veggies, tofu, chick peas, banana peppers and spicy chicken! I always get more then I need because I love it as left overs.

At the mall I managed to find myself a pretty new bra and some hand soaps from bath and body works. Lately the candle from there have been triggering headaches for me so despite my love of them I didn’t buy any.

I was excited to see Mr. Rooster hanging out in the front yard to greet me! They really take free range to a new level at that farm.

My weekend has been busy but relaxing thus far. I started Thursday off with a few hours at the spa getting my nails filled, eyebrows waxed, and a pedicure!

It wasn’t all self indulgences! I actually did two workouts on Thursday. The first was a 2.5km walk with Kevin and Muffin around Campbell Valley Park and the second was an hour at the gym with Krista spilt between cardio,arm weights, and abs!

Friday wasn’t nearly as entertaining. I had to get poked, stuck, and pee in a cup!! I know, I know you are extremely jealous with the ever eventful Lupus lifestyle 😉

Is it odd that I felt victorious upon finding out they needed a urine sample because I slammed a bottle of water on the way to to appointment ?!?!? It is the simple things in life that amuse me friends :p

I am out of here for the night! Gonna wake up this little mutt….

For a walk!

Dear Internets!!!!!

Feb8

Come out come out wherever you are!!!!!

You handle sniffing weirdos!!!

Seriously someone please tell me who these people are who are sniffing their razor handles!!!!

I need to know!!!

Am I A Bitch !?!?!?

Feb6

No photos no fuss just a good old fashion rant!!!!

Now I know we all have our own list of gym pet peeves! The list is extensive, from people who don’t wipe down machines, Barbie on her cell phone, to that group of people who clearly have no olfactory system towards their own bodies. Today however I need to ~~rant~~ … Bitch about a different type of gym patron!! The loungers!!! You know the type!! The ones who are always on a piece if equipment but never actually using it! I fully understand we all have moments where we need a break or need to sit motionless for a second and dig down deep to find the urge to continue. I am fine with that! What I am not fine with is the group of ladies at my gym who seem to turn their workout into social hour!!!!

On Mondays and Wednesdays I hit the gym at the same time every week thanks to my work schedule. I have an hour of workout time and do my best to make the most if it. For the past two months I have consistently witnessed a group of ladies every Monday and Wednesday morning do nothing but take up valuable space and gab!!! This morning two of them had a 20 minute conversation while one of them sat on the hip abductor machine!! Seriously! I witnessed at least three other people who clearly wanted to use said machine but no one said a word!!! I am all for politeness but this is ridiculous!! There is no way these ladies don’t realize they are taking up valuable space.

Yes we all pay the same for memberships but when these people take up equipment and space while doing nothing they are costing me and others time and sacrificing our workout progression! This isn’t ok! The gym is not the place to go chat with friends!!
I get that every little bit helps and by doing anything you’re lapping everyone on the couch and blah blah blah but seriously bitches if you’re spending more time chatting at the gym or texting at the gym reevaluate your dedication but seriously do it at Starbucks because the next time I see someone taking up gym space to do nothing I’m making it my job to point it out!!!

Life With The McGavins

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