F-F-FRIDAY!!!! :-)

New Day, New Bowl! 😀

Thank goodness for fresh mornings and big bowls of oats.  I’ve been craving a slow morning, and today I got my wish! 

• 1/4 c. each of oats and oatbran
• 1 c. milk + 1/2 c. water
• cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
• 1/2 apple (+ eating the other half while prepping b-fast! 😀 )
• 1T. raisins

And topped with 1 T. walnuts, 2 T. granola, 1 tsp. almond butter, and a little sweetened coconut.  Mmm…perfecto!

After two days of resting it up, I couldn’t wait to get out for a run.  I wasn’t sure if I was up for a long run today or tomorrow, so I stashed along some raisins in my glove just in case it turned into my weekly long run!  I also snacked on a toast with a pat of cashew butter before heading out.

When I first started out, the sun was hiding and it felt really chilly.  Once I kept going though, the sun made an appearance and a gentle flurry began to fall.  Everything was sparky…fresh…crisp.  It was beautiful, and I just kept running.  I ate the raisins about half way through as I felt it was definitely turning into a long run. 😉

When I came home and mapped it on favoriterun.com, I found out that the loop was 10.3 miles!  I definitely felt fatigue setting in towards the end, but aside from that the run was wonderful.  I’m going to need to figure out a smart way of carrying water with me though, as I definitely want to stay well hydrated and fueled during my runs.  Any tips?

I poured a cold glass of milk upon returning…the perfect refueling snack! 😀

After a quick shower, it was time to make lunch for my dad and I.  I was feeling pretty hungry, so I wanted something simple to put together with a balance of carbs, protein and healthy fats.  Nothing beets a quick quesadilla! 😀

I threw in 1/2 c. white beans, 1/4 c. mozzarella cheese, and some cajun on a whole wheat tortilla.  After heating it up on the skillet, I topped it with some salsa and avocado.  On the side I had raw carrots and tomatoes for their nutrients and crunch. 😀  It was really tasty.

I was about to head out the door to hit the grocery store for some stuff I needed to pick  up, when mom came home and treated me to a DD’s coffee!  Score!  It was such a nice treat.  😀  Thanks mom!

I wound up pouring it into a favorite mug with some milk.  It was nutty and warm.  Mmm…

Then I was off to the store to pick up some last-minute birthday stuff for the mom’s party tonight.  I was hungry for a snack by the time I came back, so I had a bowl of yogurt with blueberries, flax and granola before making the frosting for mom’s cake.

The rest of the afternoon was a whirlwind of cooking!  I finished the cake, and then got to work on the salads.  Mom requested chicken & cranberry salads, so I decided it was a good time to use the Greensbury Market chicken that was sent to me a couple weeks ago! 😀  I sauteed the chicken breasts in a tsp of olive oil with some salt and pepper.  The chicken was juicy, tender, and really flavorful.  Everyone agreed that there was a big taste difference from this chicken and that found in the grocery store.  Not to mention the fact that it’s 100% organic and vegetarian fed chicken breasts.  You can’t beat that! 😀  I’m going to look into ordering more once we’ve eaten these samples.

On top of the salads, there was also candied walnuts (walnuts, a little butter and brown sugar,) cranberries, cucumbers and feta cheese.  Plus a little homemade dressing.  It was delicious!!  Everything was so fresh tasting.

And served with a slice of walnut raisin bread and a pat of butter.

On to dessert!  😀  Mom asked for the Paula Deene simple strawberry cake, and I happily got to work.  I don’t make desserts very often, and this was my first cake, so I was a little intimidated but excited. 😉  I don’t think I’d win best decorating or baking skills of the year (there was a definite cave in the center of the layers…haha) but it was fun to make.

And even more fun to eat.  There is no question that this is a strawberry cake.  SO full of strawberry flavor. 😀  I served the slices with a scoop of vanilla icecream and a fresh strawberry on the side.

Later tonight I was still hungry, and a bowl of cheerios and milk hit the spot.

Whew…I’m pooped!  And so happy it’s Friday night. 😉  I can’t believe it’s already my last weekend before school starts!  I’m trying to enjoy every moment, but I’m definitely looking forward to the new semester too. 😀 

Have a good night everyone…HAPPY FRIDAY!

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