Hello :)
Remember last Saturday, when I had high hopes for my day off and the day ended up being kind of a dud? Well, today surely made up for it!
The stars must have aligned perfectly in the sky, because my day was Perfect with a capitol P.
After my amazing breakfast, I hit the treadmill for my planned ‘long’ Saturday run.
- Mile 1 = 6 mph, incline 3%
- Mile 2 = 6.1 mph, incline 3%
- Mile 3 = 6.2 mph, incline 3%
I took a quick water break in between each mile. Immediately after the run I did the Booty Camp Fitness Booty Booster, which is 14 minutes of just GLUTE exercises. It is intense! I used to hate working out my butt, but I want to do it all the time now.
After the Booty was a burnin’, I did 13 poses for runners. Felt good to stretch the tight limbs out.
I updated my Spring Training Plan, including some notes of how I felt after my first week.
Then I had a wonderful Epsom salt soak, a purifying face mask, and I even painted my toes (bright pink with light pink polka-dots). It was a ‘spa on a budget’ as I call it. :mrgreen:
By this time, I was starving for lunch! Eric asked me to make the Ezekiel vegan pizzas for lunch.
I made Eric the same one I made for myself the other day and then I decided to change mine up a bit. I made my sauce using salsa and nutritional yeast. It wasn’t good like I hoped, so I spruced up my pizza with my favourite BBQ sauce:
It was perfecto!
I had a huge salad, as filler:
and a NEW (to me) apple:
Ever had a Pinata apple? It was a very crisp apple and looked a lot like a Gala. The taste was a bit off at first bite, but I enjoyed it the more I ate it.
After lunch I did an insane amount of laundry, baked some pumpkin biscuits (and ate an insane amount!), and then Eric and I left for my favourite place in the world…
I got some exciting things:
- Coconut oil
- Dr. Mist deodorant (I was told it’s the best-selling natural deodorant at Whole Foods)
- Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil Toothpaste
I have been wanting to try all natural toothpaste and deodorant for a long time now. I think the toothpaste will be fine, but I am worried about the deodorant not being as effective. I am going to try it during my next workout and see how it goes. The lady at Whole Foods also told me that you can put it on and it lasts for 3 days (!?!?!) what the heck? I am very skeptical…
Project Natural Glow Product reviews coming shortly!
- Organic Sucanat
- Doctor Kracker flatbreads (‘treat of the week’)
- Bananas
- Cabbage
- Kale (purple and green)
- Vitality sprouts
We couldn’t decide what to do next. Then on the spur of the moment, Eric offered to teach me how to drive standard (stick!)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have been wanting to learn forever now and was totally up for it, although very nervous!!!
He took us to an empty parking lot…
and we switched seats and the rest is history!
It was HILARIOUS. We could not stop laughing because I was stalling, the car was jolting forward, and I was screaming. Quite the sight. Once I accidently shifted into 5th gear instead of third and the car was not happy…I had a momentary freak out because I didn’t know what was going wrong, and then Eric noticed it was in 5th! Don’t worry his car is old and worn out, so we weren’t too worried about doing much harm to it…
Despite the initial kinks, I was driving pretty smooth and changing into 2nd and 3rd gear after just 15 minutes or so. After about an hour of driving, we headed home, both quite proud of the first lesson.
I can’t wait for the next lesson. I can totally see why people say driving standard is more fun! I am quite scared of learning hills though…and you know, being around other cars (eek). Baby steps…
Do you drive and if so, what do you drive: automatic or standard- or both? What do you prefer?
I’ve always wanted to learn to drive stick as well! My boyf is hopefully going to teach me this summer =D
xo
K
Haha, that sounds SO fun!!! Congrats on learning stick! I have had one automatic car, all my other cars (4 others) have been stick. The problem with driving stick is that people tell you “let out the clutch” (and then you let it out all the way) and then they say “give it some gas” (after the clutch is let out all the way and you’re already stalling.
I learned to drive stick in high school when I was studying Algebra. After giving every member of my family whiplash, I finally figured out that driving stick is like solving Algebraic equations — what you take away on one side you have to add the other side, and you have to do it at the same time.
So when you’re in gear and you have the clutch pressed all the way to the floor, you let the clutch out 3 inches, you must simultaneously press down on the gas pedal by those 3 inches. This method has taught 2 of my college roommates (no whiplash) to drive stick so I hope it helps.
ive been wanting to try coconut oil but dont really know what to use it for so last time i was at wf, i picked it up and thne put it back down.
i used to drive a stick but now drive a standard. i think a sticks fun to drive. well, after you learn how to do it and not on hills.
My car is automatic but i’d love to learn how to drive a stick shift.. would be interesting. Your experience sounds fun!!!
And pumpkin biscuits? Recipe??
My dad made us master the stick shift before we could get our license. His thinking was “there will never be a reason you can’t get home”. It was funny though because I was one of the only people (including boys) in my high school that could drive stick shift. Your story reminds me of teaching my sister in the Kmart parking lot years ago. Thanks for the laugh!
let us know how the natural deodorant works. I’ve wanted to try it as well, but I’m skeptical.
Too funny! I was planning to blog about driving stick this week. I moved to Switzerland in 2004, and quickly had to learn. It was tough at first, there are a lot of mountains, but soon I learned to love it. I even drove a 15 seater van that was standard. When I moved home, I bought a standard car and have since replaced it with a saturn ion coupe, standard. I love the control and the feel of the car. When I drive my hubby’s car, I don’t feel the same. In our relationship, I’m the one who has to teach him to drive standard!
Once you go standard, you never go back!!
I actually love driving standard and choose it over automatic.When ever we look into getting a new vehicle I always request a standard.It really becomes like second nature,you dont even notice your doing it.Good-luck!!It’s fun to be able to say you can drive standard.
p.s. If you don’t like that toothpaste, let me know. We’ve tried many brands and have finally found one we love. We order it over the net but it ships from canada and arrives in 3 days.
Yes! Way to go switching to natural deodorant! I’ve been using Kiss My Face Lavender for the past year or so, and I love it. I will warn you though, my body went through a bit of an adjustment period with it. For the first week or two, I felt like it wasn’t really working, and I felt like I was sweating WAY more than normal (which I’m sure I was…. I had been using an antiperspirant before, and this was just a deodorant) but after those initial weeks my body adjusted, and I was definitely sweating less! So don’t give up, give it some time :)
ahh, whole foods! the closest one to me is 45 minutes :(
My first car was white BMW convertible stick shift and after 2 weeks of trying to learn it I had to trade it in for a big ugly jeep (dad said that was safer anyways)
Needless to say i cant drive a shift
You must tell how that pit stick is!!
LOL,standard is amazing! All my cars have been standard, but I dive sporty cars so they need to be to get the full power :)
I heart wholefoods and am off to there this morning…..again :|
XXOO
I just recently discovered your blog and I love it! Look forward to reading what you have to say every day. :)
I drive a stick and have since I was 16. I had an automatic for about six months a few years ago — HATED it.
Angela,
I am 18 and JUST NOW learning how to drive. Why did I wait so long?? Because the only car my family has is a stick… and I was TERRIFIED to learn! I’ve been learning in little installments, and I’m getting better… but let me tell you, when my mom’s friend came to visit he let me drive his automatic, and it was SO SIMPLE! I was a little envious… but only a little ;)
Anyway… I love driving stick. I think once you learn you’ll be able to look back on it with pride. I mean, it’s a big accomplishment to learn!! It’s tough!
Kristina
Glad you had success at WF. And I totally agree that some BBQ makes everything taste better :)
I had to adjust to using natural deodorant…it doesn’t stop me from sweating. I get wet pits sometimes, and sometimes I smell. I kind of stopped caring, as long as the BO isn’t foul. I put some on in the morning, and I actually carry an extra tube with me in case I get really sweaty. I find it creepy to not sweat now- your body does it for a reason, and as long as I don’t stink I’m cool with it. Plus, you won’t get yellow stains on white shirts anymore!
I drive a standard and learned to drive it when I was 23. I LOVE it! Hills used to be scary, but I learned that the trick is to always leave yourself plenty or room in front of you. That way, if you roll back a little, you still have plenty of room to go forward without worrying about hitting the person in front of you. After you drive it a while, you’ll get used to it and shifting will be like second nature!
Let me know what you think about the natural toothpaste; I’ve been curious but worried that it won’t be as effective.
And I drive an automatic! I’m too klutzy to risk a stick.
fuuunny story, last april i bought my first sports car without even knowing how to drive stick. it was a six-speed, so my mom had to test-drive it with me jumping up and down in the passenger seat haha.
when i started driving my car in the city after a couple days, i put up a sign on my back windshield that said “sorry, i’m learning to drive standard.” and got lots of “wooo-hoooo!”s and thumbs up while driving haha.
don’t worry about hills, it seems so much scarier than it actually is. it’ll come naturally in a couple weeks. :)
I LOVE a good epsom salt soak. Even better if it’s followed by a budget pedicure. :)
I currently drive an automatic, but my first 2 cars were both standards. It’s like riding a bike. Once you know how to do it, you never forget.
My husband wants to teach me how to drive a stick too. I’m so nervous because I am NOT good at multi tasking. It should be interesting and it sounds like you had fun :)
From a lurker (but I love your blog!!), I drive an automatic and I haven’t really learned how to drive stick. I tried a couple times with my parents (when I still lived at home) but I never really got the hang of it. It is definitely on my life to-do list!
I drive a stick, and learning was the most painful experience of my life! I hated it! (and may have ended every training session in tears…) But now that I’ve got it down, I think it’s fun!
I drive both. MY car is standard and my work truck is auto. You should be glad to be learning on an old beat up car. I barely knew standard when a month into my new job they got a new truck that was standard. Less than a year later they needed a new clutch. Less than a year after that..yeah another new clutch. Boss wasn’t too happy as he ended up putting a 3rd one in a few years after that. When I get a new car it’ll be automatic because I have a lead foot and enjoy cruise control.
I;ve tried to learn sooo many times and I always buck the crap out of the car!! I think it’s such a sexy trait to be able to drive stick. (That sounds pervy.)
I learned how to drive on a stick and stalled all around town in a super obvious bright yellow mustang. Good times :)
Yum, that homemade pizza looks great!
I’ve been asking my boyfriend to teach me to drive stick as well- I think it’s a good skill to have!
i can drive both, but have automatics right now. standard cars are SO MUCH FUN TO DRIVE though :) that’s what i learned on, and it brings back such great memories :)
I currently own an automatic…but really love LOVE standard. I do tend to have a little problem with speed when I drive standard…its like I turn into a race car driver and just want to go go go!!! They both have their perks but my next car will most likely be a standard. Happy learning.. I remember learning my bf at the time was an INTENSE teacher, I learned best when he was not in the car and I just went out on my own.
Learning to drive stick shift is on my “bucket list,” haha! I doubt I’ll ever get around to it, though. The one time my ex-boyfriend tried to teach me, I totally freaked out. It is HARD! Automatic is just fine for me now =) Although I will say it is SO attractive to me when a guy drives stick ;)
My boyfriend tried to teach me to drive standard over the summer. His car is his baby… I was scared I’d break it!
Dr. Mist gets good reviews on makeupalley!
I drive both but prefer stick….
Angela, driving a stick is very easy once you learn how to balance the clutch and the accelorator. Once you’ve got the correct balance it’s just a matter of learning the sound of the engine and when you need to make a gear shift. I’ve never driven an automatic. I learnt how to drive a manual (stick) when I was on my learners I cannot see myself driving auto it just comes naturally. The biggest hurdle to get our is gear 1 and the correct balance.
Ha! I totally remember how bumpy it was when I learned to drive a stick! My dad insisted I learn how on the manual, but it was really hard! I was so jealous of my friends who learned on automatics. But once you learn, it’s really not too bad! I feel like I know more about the car, too, from learning how shifting works!
I still drive a manual, but it’s a pain, because none of my friends (or husband) can ever drive my car! I feel like the only one who knows how to! :)
Learning stick is a great thing! I learned on one, and I’ve actually only driven an automatic three times in my life, and once was driver’s ed! We only buy stick shifts…they get better gas mileage, actually:).
Hills are not so great, but a good “trick” while you’re learning is to set the parking brake and then start to take off. Once you feel the car pull, you can let off the emergency brake and you’ll feel safer.
Don’t do that for too long, though…you’ll jack up your emergency brake;)…
Oh, to be 16 again … the things I would have done differently.
I have a Ford F150 and a VW Beetle. I love driving a stick (the bug) on the highway but it can be a pain to drive in the city in heavy traffic. Once you get the hang of it you don’t really even think about shifting anymore. I think the trick is to get used to the clutch. Have fun!
I bought my first car a little over a year ago and it’s a stick! At first I was super worried but I love it now! I got my first stick shift lessons though like 4 years ago and it was horrible. Every time I took it out it would end in me screaming and crying. I remember one time I stalled out leaving a stop light and stalled out like three times in a row and ended up in the middle of the intersection with the light turning red before I was even able to get going again! Thankfully no one was honking at me or anything! haha
It actually feels weird now whenever I try to drive an automatic! I feel myself reaching for the non existent shifter all the time! lol.
Hills still kind of scare me but just learn how to use your emergency brake on big hills and you’ll be fine!
I can drive both.
I prefer a stick in yucky weather, and they are funner to drive.
But I prefer an automatic for commuting. Stop & go traffic in a manual wearing 4″ heels = not fun.
Ahahaha, I remember learning shift – I pretty much had the same exact experience!
i was lookin at those pinata apples today at Superstore, i wasn’t sure what they would taste like, but since you said they werent gross i might have to try them sometime
I drive a manual – just can’t manage the stick! The husband tried to teach me and I even took a professional course, but I have no clue now. Of course, now all of our vehicles are manuals … it would stress me out too much to have it any other way!
Never heard of the Pinata apple! I recently got into Honeycrisps and now I’m sad that they’re not available anymore.
Good luck with the deodorant and toothpaste! I’ve tried natural deodorant before and it’s just not the same …
K
I drive both! I have a few sports cars that are sports to the extreme, so they only come as manual. Learning to drive manual was a pain at first, though.
I’m definitely trying the vegan pizza, though!
Do you live far away from Whole Foods? I have a house so close to that Whole Foods (at least I’m pretty sure it’s the same one). It’s in the same place as Shoppers and Blockbuster and Starbucks, am I right?
I’ll try the Pinata apple!
L.
Haha!.. I feel you. I spent the day with my mother. She just recently moved to a farm and has massive gardens.. (Currants, blackberries, strawberries, peppers, cauliflower, onions, tomatos, etc… you name it she has it) It was soo much fun to pick spinach right from the garden and eat it.
Anyway, I drove stick for the first time that day too.. I did the exact same things! Stalled, wrong gear, yelped, killed the engine, and spun gravel. It was an experience!! After awhile, I got the hang of it and I’m sure you did too :)