Oh, How Pinteresting: A new Jason Statham & the best DIY

We should all have a morning ritual with coffee or tea.

Source: marthastewart.com via Julie on Pinterest

Caramel apple & grilled cheese - what an idea!

Source: howsweeteats.com via Julie on Pinterest

This would be too much makeup for me, but it's pretty.

Source: contributors.luckymag.com via Julie on Pinterest

Love the simplicity of a jersey dress.

Source: paris2london.tumblr.com via Julie on Pinterest

Tom Hardy is the new Jason Statham

Source: lolahardy.tumblr.com via Julie on Pinterest

I don't like many workout pins, but these are a couple of good ones. Others are wacky/crazed!

Source: fitnessista.com via Julie on Pinterest

I'm always looking for upper body workouts.

Source: pbfingers.com via Julie on Pinterest

Best DIY I've seen in forever! I'm making these with cheap-o sneakers this month.

Source: duitang.com via Julie on Pinterest

Losing the JELL-O and the best microwave protein cake

Athletic training yesterday + wall sit + yoga this morning = sore inner thighs

Let's celebrate! Getting my inner thighs to be sore is tough business. Sure I do sumo squats and lunges a lot but it somehow doesn't work enough.

So what worked? A mix of everything and lots of it. We did so many lunges, jump squats, mud runs, hops, skips, shuffles, etcetera yesterday and then held so many crescent lunges today. I also did a 2:26 wall sit. Another one tonight to beat my time.

Proud!

Good thing I have a day off. I came home and napped for half an hour. It felt so good.

I read a bit before dinner and have succumbed to hulu. There's so much to watch: "The Mindy Project," "The New Normal," "The New Girl," and "Bones!" Yikes, I'm in trouble. Plan: Study leisurely while watching. :) Does this work for anyone? It takes me longer but I prefer it.

And then more reading.

Survive on $35 (for food) update: I bought some snacks to share with my kids and much-need BOGO flax milk. I'm up to $40. ForgottenBeast goes with a $40 grocery budget too - it's a little more realistic. *Although a big chunk of my budget was used for protein powder this week.

I was able to make Kiss My Broccoli's Peanut Butter Pumpkin Cake for One. This is the best microwave protein cake ever! I want another one!

Another quick snack: dark chocolate pretzels from the bulk bin. I'm not usually a fan but a couple are perfect.

I love reading blogs/posts. Here are some quality ones I'm lovin'.

• A Morning Ritual Challenge - I wake up at 7 every morning and feel rushed to hit the gym. If I slept a little earlier (11 P.M.) and set everything out for the next day, my mornings would feel so much better. My morning ritual: 30 minutes to drink tea or coffee and read. Same thing 30 minutes before bed.
• 10 Tips to Finding Your Happy Place
• Top 8 Non-Food Items You Need To Live Lean
• Want To Change Your Body? - Eat real food and less protein powder.
• 10 Things I Know About the Number On The Scale - Everything is true.
• 100 Healthy Tips - So much good stuff.

P.S. This was in the ladies' bathroom at work. His name is Jesus Malverde, a folklore "angel of the poor" or "generous bandit." This bust of him is also featured on the show Breaking Bad.

Our bust has tissue paper over his eyes, which I'm guessing is a way for him to give us privacy. Weird.

What's the best microwave protein cake you've ever made?
Do you have a morning ritual?

WIAW: Healthier apple chimi cheesecake & epic wall sit

*This is my favorite button so far!

I'm on my $35 food budget starting this week. A big buy was this protein powder. It was on super sale and I couldn't pass it up!

That puts a hamper on the faux apple chimi cheesecake I wanted to re-make today. I'll give you the recipe anyways.

Healthier apple chimi cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1/2-2/3 apple 
• Cinnamon
• 1/3 c. Greek yogurt
• Sugar-free cheesecake pudding mix
• Small tortilla (I used a Sonoma low carb tortilla)
• 1/2 scoop protein powder
• Water

Instructions

1. Chop apple to bite-sized pieces. Place in bowl and sprinkle with cinnamon. Microwave for 2 minutes.

2. While waiting, mix Greek yogurt and pudding mix.

3. Place apple and Greek yogurt mix into tortilla. Fold in thirds (see above).

4. Spray a pan with non-stick spray. Wait for it to sizzle then place the tortilla with filling onto the pan. Then flip. 

Because of my late night at work yesterday, I couldn't wind down and sleep till late. I got 5 1/2 hours of sleep but was determined to go to "athletic training" class.

I got nice and sweaty.

Lots of cardio moves. Wish we incorporated more weights.

Then watched "Bones" at work. *I never/rarely wear makeup. Sorry if that's spooky.

After work tonight, I saw posts about wall sits. Lindsay is hosting a great photo a day challenge.

I'm terrible at photo a day challenges, but I love this one because it has me doing things. Like wall sits. Lindsay did a bit of 3 minutes with a 20 lb weight in her lap.

I went with my two 8 lb weights. Total: 16 pounds.

And ta-da! Not a bad time. My legs even look muscular instead of flabby. Though, truth be told, they are jello on the inside.

Tomorrow we're leaving Operation Beautiful notes.

Win of the week [so far]: yesterday, I said no to pizza and ate an less appetizing garbanzo bean salad, which I had again today.

The pizza, while good, makes me feel crappy. I feel lethargic. I'm not gluten-intolerant, but I am sensitive to foods that are hard to digest.

Try a wall sit. How long can you do yours? I think I can best this time!
Have you had Applebee's apple chimi cheesecake? In the past, I have. They are delicious, but I can remake them on my own without all the sugar and fat.