I wasn’t going to blog today.
Labor Day is about NOT laboring, right?
Then I realized that work isn’t always a thing to be avoided. I have a lot to share, and blogging isn’t “work.” It’s the perfect day for a short and sweet over-share blog post. This weekend has been all about fun work!
Job #1
My mom asked me to watch her dog, Honey, for the weekend. I am not home enough to have a dog, but a part-time dog is awesome! Honey and I walked until I was practically dragging her. Those short legs get tired. 🙂 She is a Golden Retriever and Corgi mix.
Did you see her video debut on Instagram?
Job #2
Waking up at the ass-crack of down to play make-up artist for a friend’s first Bikini competition. Chelsea has an amazing transformation story – check out her before pic! She trains at my gym, and I’m so happy to have met her.
Chelsea’s dedication and unwillingness to settle of anything less than her dream is inspiring. Visit her blog to read about her journey.
Side note: having to let the dog out at 5:30am felt like actual work.
Job #3
I workout like it’s my job when I have the time. After Chelsea’s pre-judging I came back home to hit the gym. I slacked on my laundry job and didn’t have a clean tank top to wear… so I cut up an old Georgia Tech tee to represent at the gym (we won the season opener 70-0!).
After killing my back and tris, I ate that green smoothie like it was my job. Then I took a nap.
The next day’s workout was eventful. I went for a bike ride. I am not a cyclist, and I am especially not a smart cyclist. As soon as I got the bike outside I heard a rumble in the sky. A smart person would have waited or stayed close to home. Hahahaha!
I headed down the Beltline, pausing to enjoy the art. The sky darkened, but still I thought maybe I’d ride around it. Notsomuch. I was 5 miles from home when the bottom dropped out. After hanging out under a bridge for a while, I got impatient and biked home through the rain. I arrived at my building looking like a drowned rat (see pic).
Job #4
Being a chef for myself is my favorite job. Some people dread being in the kitchen, but I find it relaxing. It’s art, not labor! I cooked ALL weekend long and couldn’t have been happier.
Clockwise from the top left:
- Dessert porn. Cocoa-roasted kabocha topped with a mix of Greek yogurt, coconut flour, cinnamon, and stevia. Drizzled with cocoa powder sauce (cocoa, cinnamon, cayenne, and stevia), then sprinkled with cinnamon toasted quinoa and a crushed Adora calcium disk
- Cinnamon Roll Coconut Mugcake cut up over a sweet potato with peanut butter and a sprinkle of cocoa powder. The cake was based on Morganne’s mug cupcake recipe, but i amped up the protein. Here’s what I did: 1.5 T coconut flour, 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 3 T applesauce, 1/4 C egg whites, 1/2 tsp butter extract, 4 drops English toffee stevia. Microwaved for 1 min in a cereal bowl
- Meyer Lemon Roasted Brussels may be my new go-to. I roasted them to a crisp in coconut oil, Meyer lemon, cumin, and pepper
- Overnight TVP Oats were a must since I was up early for the bikini comp. This was a TVP creation – 1/4 C TVP, 1/4 C oats, Greek yogurt, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, stevia, and unsweetened almond milk. With extra blueberries
- What’s a weekend without #yolkporn? In addition to the egg, this tortilla pizza had salsa, spinach, tofu, jalapeno, purple peppers.
***
I’m spending the day pretending like tomorrow isn’t the return of “real” labor.
What jobs did you have this weekend?
What do you enjoy that most people view as work?
Honey’s a cutie pie! I failed at my one job this weekend, our cross country car wash. I woke up with a migraine and couldn’t make it. Of course I avoided being out in the heat and humidity for 5 hours but that’s another story!
Oh no! I hope you feel better now. A migraine definitely calls for a raincheck on a hot day in the sun.
Honey is SO SWEET!
I was just saying that I have no real idea what DAY it is these last several days, and Jason taking Friday off didn’t help to settle that confusion. I have worked a bit this weekend, but my work is that fun kind.
oh, and I made that kabocha. and I’ve already bought more.
I knew you’d love kabocha! My mom had it for the first time tonight too and is now in love. 🙂
hahaha I hope that “before” picture for job #2 is a joke…she’s clearly pregnant!! 😉
She is pregnant… I think that is such a cool transformation!
Aww Honey is adorable! I want one!
Oh no, cycling in the rain is no fun! I am amazed how perfect your hair still looks after that.
My job this weekend would have been ironing, but I ignored it. I mean, I don’t get paid for it, so I can as well just skip it 🙂
I workout, eat and read blogs as if it were my job. Still looking for sponsors 🙂
Ha! You’re sweet but my hair was a MESS!
I never iron. It goes to the cleaners if that needs to happen. 😉
That drowned look suits you! should par-tay in the rain more often!
How about you move to Australia? Another job could be my personal chef! I’d pay you in vegemite and dumbbells. I’m like you on the cooking front- People find it a chore, but I consider it an outlet of stress relief and enjoyment!
I wish I could!!! My Aussie friend and fellow competitor saw your vegemite recipe and made a similar one this weekend. 🙂
I’m praying they have very low blood pressure. :p
I think it’s an Australian thing. Check out her creation: http://instagram.com/p/dw3bbJQM5P/
I thought the quark was brilliant!
Such a good idea! I tried once with cottage cheese but THAT was sodium overload! Maybe greek yogurt… hmmm the wheels r turning 😉
I wish I could have you show me how to cook for a week that would be amazing, you are a true talent! I loved reading about your friends transformation what an amazing body!! Hope you have a great week ahead filled with all the the things you LOVE! Lots of Love C
Court… that is the nicest thing to say! Thank you. I wish we could just hand out for a week. 🙂
Honey is adorable! I wasn’t sure about her sudden appearance. Puppy sitting is an honorable profession! So excited that Chelsea did so well…on to bigger and better for her! I could spend hours and hours in the kitchen and be happy as can be. I’ve been doing less than usual for various reasons. When we get to NM-In 2 weeks!! I’ll have a huge wonderful kitchen and trust me…I’m going to make the most of it!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Laura!
I’m so excited to hear all about New Mexico! I’ve never been before, but I hear its beautiful.
blogging is definitely NOT work … i love everything about blogging 🙂 🙂 i, ummmm, napped this weekend like it was my job lol
OMG – I took 2 naps and I NEVER nap!
Honey is too adorable for words- reminds me of those Lisa Frank puppies that sipped on milkshakes ;)! I love to work out which sadly enough, a lot of people dread and approach it as a chore!
ha, i like your jobs, they are fun! and meaningful! I work round the clock but i like my jobs. Baller, Sherpa, ass kicker, etc.
😉
I like cooking and grocery shopping, both of which I guess some people view as annoying jobs.
Me too. I spent 2 hours at Buford Hwy today. It was glorious.
I kept seeing pictures of that adorable dog, so cute!! i like that job the best haha
Your jobs sound so fun!!! Love it!!! And the dog is soooo cute!!!!
If only they paid… 😉
Aww, Honey is a cutie! Glad you were able to have fun with her this weekend…that would definitely be my favourite out of your ‘jobs’ :-p My job this weekend was moving! Almost have the apartment completely set up, thankfully!
Good for you!!! Moving is such a hassle but SUCH a relief when it’s all organized.
Meyer lemon brussel sprouts sound INCREDIBLE! I LOVE lemon on veggies!
That bike ride sounds a bit like my OCD “I WILL get in this run before it rains” state of being last fall. Sometimes, you just need to consciously make the ‘dumb’ decision.
I don’t have Meyer lemons, but I DO have a lot of lemon lemons. Why have I not thought about using them on my veggies? (Sometimes I don’t live up to my ‘smart’ moniker…)
Lemons are pretty much an ingredient in everything I make. THey’re really good with garlic on anything roasted/charred/eaten cold from the fridge.
I always view my workouts as a job, too – not because I don’t enjoy them (I do!) but because I want to put 100% into every workout!!!
Same here! Why both spending the time in the gym if you’re not going to give it your all?
Working out and cooking! My two favorite things that I think most people would rather not do! Sounds like you had an incredible weekend! That should set you up for an amazing first week at the new job! So excited for you!
Thank, Sarena!!!! I hope you took some time to treat ‘yo self. xo
Your friend looks GREAT! You did a good job helping her, too! I think part-time dogs are kinda awesome. Ever since my family got a puppy last month, I have realized how much WORK it is to have a puppy. Oh boy haha.
I’ve been doing homework like it’s my job lately. I wish I got paid to go to school… :p
I hated to give her back but you are right about the work. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about getting up early or rushing home to let a dog out every day.
Your jobs are what make you…YOU! Like you, I don’t see what I do with my passions as work. I love what I do no matter if it looks labouring to others. Make sense? Labouring? lol
Perfect sense. Labour away with joy! 🙂
I am actually a hazard on the road when I bike! I have gotten caught in more than 1 thunderstorm…not good. I also find the kitchen relaxing! It’s the best way for me to de-stress…except when I have epic food fails in which case I’m a serious nut job!
I think it would have been fine… if I’d had goggles. I couldn’t see through the rain!
I love Honey. She is an adorable pup, and I got the biggest kick out of all her Instagram pics.
I did a bunch of yard work today, and while most people find it to be work, I usually find it to be relaxing. Playing with power tools and getting a pretty and organized yard when you’re done makes me happy.
Thanks Meghan! I find yardwork to be work… but I don’t judge. I have been known to grocery shop for fun on Saturday nights.
I would never knock you for grocery shopping on a Saturday night. My store closes at 7 p.m., otherwise I might be right there with you.
I worked through labour day ’cause freelance don’t get no paid time off! I’m loving your kabocha treats because it gives me something to look forward to in the cooler weather, and also all your puppy pictures everywhere. Dogs > cats. xoxo
Nooooo! Cats > Dogs. Kambocha > all the things. Except chocolate cake.
Where is your helmet on that bike?! I don’t want to have to hear about an accident and Laura brains all over the sidewalk. **Okay, mom moment over.
I go through phases with food and cooking. Recently, it does feel like more work than normal, but I know that excitement will return. 🙂
It messes up my hair! I was just on the Beltline…
Not an excuse lady – love the helmet hair. 🙂
i <3 honey
Thanks! I missed her today. 🙁
I think you need to kidnap Honey! What a gorgeous pup. 🙂
I like cooking for other people- but man, I loved cooking just for myself each night when I was single. It was so much easier to lose weight then too (because I honestly didn’t mind having the same “healthy” dinner 5 out of 7 nights each week)
Being a chef is probably the best job, then looking after Honey – or maybe, the other way around, that dog is irresistibly cute 😛
And no we in food? I LOVE IT 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Oh my gosh, Honey is so cute! I absolutely adore corgis, its the stocky little legs haha. What do I love that others view as work? Definitely cooking and yoga! I could spend all day in the kitchen, I think maybe I was June Cleaver in a previous life 😛 I fell in love with cooking when I started my weight loss ‘journey’ (I lost 125 pounds!) I wanted to make yummy food healthier because I’m a Missouri girl, we love to eat! If you’d be interested in some good ol’ American food made healthier check out my blog, I just started it to share the recipes that worked for me 🙂 http://iatemywillpower.com/
Thank you so much for checking out the blog! I love the June reference. My mom and I joke we’re Julia Child. 😉
I don’t know what I find more amusing…the fact that you ignored warning of your impending drowning TWICE or that you got your doorman to snap a picture of you as a wet rat! Nice faux-hawk by the way! 😉
I love being in the kitchen (duh) and I love the empowering feeling of doing things for myself like mowing the lawn and changing my own oil…even though a lot of people (especially women) would pay to have someone else do it!
I am a glutton for punishment… but I refuse to ever mow the lawn. 😉