Rise and Shine!

I'm learning how to cope with being unemployed. (Haven't been able to cope with not getting a call-back for eight interviews quite yet. I think when that day comes I've given up completely...)

While I'm still not waking up at the crack of dawn, I've made attempts at keeping busy. First thing in the morning I attempt to either workout (ride the bike or some OnDemand videos) or make breakfast. After my breakfast I try to watch the journal télévisé (French national news from the channel TF1, plays at 13h00 and 20h00 each day - 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.) in hopes of continuing my French skills. My ear for French has gotten a bit rusty, so this helps me hear it at a fast pace and possibly improve my grammar? Anyways, if you click the link it'll take you right to today's most recent broadcast!

While I'm already at my computer, after I watch the news, I scour job sites and apply. And then cross my fingers that something will work out. Then I shower, get dressed, and if I care enough, do my hair.

Once that's finished, I'll read either a French book or something for our book club. The current selection is Brave New World -- can you believe I've never read it before?

Then in the afternoon I have some "free" time to do whatever. Most days, I'm not gonna lie, it's watching t.v. Other days, reading blogs. And then others, if the mood strikes me, I clean. Today I have egg whites sitting on the counter so I'm hoping to make macarons with minimal success. Mine never turn out, so hopefully today's the day.

Now that you know my play-by-play, here's what woke me up this morning:

Oats with coconut milk!!!

We discovered a Sprouts market last week (more intimate and convenient than Whole Foods) and I had to pick up some coconut milk!! I still have a bunch left and don't really know what to do with it! I was thinking maybe a coconut mango smoothie? I have to be careful with how I use it, because J.D.'s allergic to coconut and I can't make anything he'll be eating.

Anyways here's the contents of my coconut milk oats:

• 1/2 c quick cook oats
• 2/3 c water
• 1/3 c coconut milk
• 1 T chia seeds
• 1 medium banana
• handful of chopped walnuts
• 1/4 c Craisins

First I boiled the water, then dumped in the coconut milk and let that simmer a bit before adding the oats and the chia seeds. The rest of the toppings I put on at the end in the bowl. That and a little splash of skim milk to cool it down a bit.

I think I might have made a little bit too much. I'm still pretty full. I think it would be really good with some pineapple or maybe a little maple syrup!

And now let's talk about my workout yesterday.

I did the above workout twice! I struggle every morning because I want to go for a long bike ride, but if I don't wake up around 6-7 a.m., it gets way too hot to do so. Luckily, we have some weird weather rolling through the desert with some thunderstorms last night. That cooled us down a bit to the 80s with a nice breeze.

Yesterday afternoon -- after I already showered -- I decided I either wanted to go for a long walk or run some errands at Target. I finally thought, "what the heck?" and opted to ride my bike to Target. This would do two things for me: save money on gas and limit what I could buy to a small backpack.

It was hot. But towards the middle of my ride, it went back into the 90s, possibly 100s. I was sweaty and gnarly in Target, so for the sake of the other customers, I toweled off and threw some cold water on my face in the bathroom. After the 2.86 mile ride there, I snacked on a Clif raspberry organic fruit bar and downed an entire bottle of water.

Like the last time, I still felt like I was going to hurl, but luckily I had a wallet with me this time and enough water to get over it. I swear, it's too hot in the afternoon to do more than a 2-3 mile bike ride. Eventually, I bought some shampoo/conditioner, face wash and deodorant for J.D., grabbed a few more Clif bars for another ride and went on my way back home.

The 2.86 mile ride home felt much easier than on the way to Target. I think I'm starting to get a hang of this bike thing. I really want to invest in some bike gloves, a solid pump and other things to get me into biking. Maybe when I have extra money to spend...

Either way, here's my attempt at working out over the past week:

It's a start!

Have a good day, everyone!

What is your schedule like? Do you even have a daily schedule? Do you need one? I sure do.