weekend post: snow, shopping, and silly hats

We had our first official snowfall last night!

A fluffy white dusting covered everything from head to toe.  Oh how I love this time of the year. 

In fact, I take back everything I said about not liking the cold; this morning I felt like a little kid in a playground.  And if it absolutely must be cold outside before we can enjoy a fresh new layer of snow—if there’s absolutely no way to skirt around the issue—then I’ll take the chilly 10 degrees.  😀

I love the way the thin, crisp layer of snow crackles and crunches under my feet while I’m running. 

Music to my ears.

I’m kind of loving winter right now.  I hope this feeling lasts a long, long time. 😉

Know what else I’m loving right now?

Shopping (and eating) with mom…

…and shopping with my bestie.

There’s something special about shopping with family.  They’re not afraid to say, “ugh, I don’t like that!”  And they’re also not afraid to say, “oh my word, you look awesome!” 

I love both of these gals to bits. 😀

You probably know this by now, but we tend to shop till we drop.   Today we shopped until we dropped after dropping.  This is dangerous territory.

This is the territory where you start laughing for no apparent reason at all.  Or crying.  Whichever comes first.

This is where you try on silly hats.  Or stare at people without realizing that you’re staring at people until they start staring back. 

Yes.  Dangerous territory.

(p.s. Silly or not, I kind of wanted this hat.  Just in a bigger size. 😉 )

It was quite the successful shopping day.  I didn’t leave with any new hats, but I did find a new winter coat that was more than half the original price.  And I purchased a couple of Christmas gifts for family. 

No Christmas Eve gift shopping for me this year!

And, most importantly, we had fun. 

Yes.  It was a very successful shopping trip.

Question: Do you have snow where you live?

a bowl of soup

I love cheesecake.

I love rich, creamy, lemon infused frostings.

I love butter.

I love all of these things and more.  Which surprises some people.  You have to admit, it is just a little ironic for a dietetics student to be totally into these sorts of things.  You know?

I guess you could say that I’ve found the common ground between my deep desire to be healthy, strong, and confident, while also indulging in all of the things I love.  Intuitive eating.  It’s a process.  A life long journey.  And, speaking from one friend to the next, let me tell you: it’s completely worth the effort. 

Speaking of indulging in all of the things I love, nothing is more suiting for a post-holiday lunch than a hot vegetable soup. 

I consider most of my vegetable soup recipes to be the beginning step.

A red bell pepper is added here.  A zucchini is added there.  Some extra seasoning, a sprinkle of salt, a dash of pepper.  Most of the time, no two soups are exactly alike.  This is true.  Most of the time.  And yet, whenever I make this particular soup, I pause for a second, carefully considering what I want to add. 

And then it hits me.  Nothing.  I don’t want to add a thing.  It’s perfect, just the way it is.  To think I found this simple recipe in a grocery store handout. 😉

On the side, I broke up the last of my quinoa burger, added some freshly chopped spinach and tomatoes, added some hot sauce, and dunked my tortilla chips.  I loved the soft, nutty nexture of the quinoa burgers against the salty crunch of the tortillas.  Yum!

Minestrone Soup

This soup gets better and better with age.  Flavors meld.  The cabbage sweetens.  It’s a beautiful thing. 

In other words—for best results—make this soup at least one day ahead and enjoy it to the fullest on the following day.  This is a lovely soup filled with nutrients and flavor.  Perfect for a cold autumn afternoon. 😀

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp basil
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 quart low- or reduced sodium broth, chicken or vegetable
• 2 cups white beans, cooked
• 2 cups canned tomatoes
• 1/2 head cabbage, chopped
• 1/4 cup parsley
• 1/4 tsp salt
• Pepper, to taste

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot.  Add onions, celery, and garlic.  Saute until tender but not browned. 
2. Add basil and oregano.  Stir for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add chopped zucchini and carrots; cook for another few minutes.  Pour in chicken or vegetable broth, cooked beans and tomatoes. 
4. Cover, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to simmer.  Alow soup to cook for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add water as needed.
5. Add chopped cabbage and parsley and cook for about 10 minutes more.  Add pepper to taste.
6. ENJOY!

 

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Have I ever mentioned how much I love Black Friday???

Nicole and I were up at 4 this morning.  Ready by 5.  Shopping by 6. 

Breakfast was taken to go.  Hair was thrown up in a ponytail.  Shopping adrenaline gave us energy.

I.  Love.  Black.  Friday.

I especially love it when we both walk home having found great deals and wonderful memories. 

Stores were filled, filled, filled with awesome 50% discounts, so of course we went a little crazy on clothes we needed (and loved!)  I even had a little bit of left-over money for some fun accessories! 😀 

And new clothes for presentations and other prefessional things.  😀

The day was long, but we never actually grew tired.  Shopping adrenaline carries far.  And—at the risk of sounding like crazy, hardcore Black Friday shoppers—we’re already planning our trip for next year. 😉

Question: Do your workouts change as the cold weather comes along, or do you stay pretty constant throughout the year?

feeling inspired

Nicole is a planner.  An organizer. 

She’s not that last minute Christmas shopper who frantically buys something just to buy something (*cough*cough*like me!*cough*cough).  No.  She puts thought into each selection.  She’s that person who wraps your gift so elegantly you don’t even want to open it.

So when she called me up and asked if I wanted to go into Boston this weekend, in order for her to finish up her Christmas shopping, I of course said YES!  Maybe some of her organization and Martha Stewart-ness would rub off on me in the process.  One can hope.

I realize that this is my third straight weekend in Boston.  I think I might be falling in love with the place.

I also fell in love with a giant Christmas bulb.

And these two fluffy lovebugs.

I think I need a dog in my life. 😉

And—is it just me?—or are guys getting more and more creative with proposals these days? 

The ice sculpture on the right read, “Will You Marry Me?” 

There’s always something to see in Boston.  Maybe that’s why I love it so much.  People watching is one of my favorite hobbies. 😉

However, today was not just about people watching.  Or eating.  (Although we did plenty of both—hello, cheesecake factory!)  Today, we each had a mission.  To either (a) finish our Christmas shopping or (b) to leave feeling inspired.

Nicole left Boston with all of her Christmas shopping completed.  Done!  And I left Boston feeling inspired not to be that Christmas Eve shopper this year.  It was a successful day!

Until next time Boston!  I will see you again shortly.  This time, with my very own Christmas list. 

Question: Are you a last minute gift buyer for birthdays and holidays, or do you plan ahead?

Breakfast Bonanza, day 2 (shopping energy!)

I wasn’t always a bargain shopper.

My sister was the one with the willpower.  “I’m going to wait until this goes on sale,” she’d say confidently, placing the prized shirt back on the rack until further notice.  I’d shake my head, tell her she should buy it now while she could, and move on to purchase my own expensive shirt because I couldn’t bear the thought of not having it.  Sure enough, a week would go by, and that same shirt would be half price.  Nicole would just laugh, as she purchased her favorite items.  On sale.  I would groan, realizing that I just dished out an extra $20, when I really didn’t need to.

But this story has a happy ending, because I finally (after many, many, many purchases of overpriced shirts) learned the art of patience.  The art of spending more on favorite items and spending less on others.  The art of balance.

Balance.  This one word seems to apply to everything in life, doesn’t it?

Today’s shopping trip was a full one.  From the time the mall opened to when it closed, my mom and I meandered our way through each and every store, searching for bargains.  I found lots of cute tops that I’ll put to good use with nutrition seminars and presentations.  My favorite find of the night was a $30 dress from JCPenney.  I can’t wait to pair it with a cute belt and some yellow flats.

And, of course, no shop-till-you-drop shopping trip has ever occurred without the assistance of an energy packed breakfast. 

That would be Breakfast Bonanza, Day 2.

This morning I opted for something simple but amazing.  Whole wheat toasts, smeared in almond butter and pleasantly topped with plump, sweet banana slices.

I’m sure that this is probably the standard breakfast for many healthy breakfast eaters out there, but I never seem to think of it.   Obviously, I’ve been  really missing out.  This is going to be a perfect meal for those busy morning weekdays.

It was also perfect for shopping-till-dropping.  It literally kept me going all morning (and afternoon, and night!) long!

 

I think tomorrow’s breakfast is going to start with a ‘p.’  And end in ‘-umpkin.’  But it won’t involve oatmeal.  Any guesses? 😉

Question: Are you a bargain shopper?  What are you willing to splurge on and where do you try to save? 

shop, drop, and roll

When in doubt, “un”overnight oats can always be counted on to deliver.  Tast.  Nutrition.  Energy. 

 

“un”overnight oats—simply mix everything together, directly before eating

• 1/2 c. raw oatmeal
• 6-oz. plain yogurt mixed with 2 T. crushed flax
• 1 banana, chilled and sliced
• almond butter

I think “nom, nom, nom” is way overused, but I’ve actually never ever used it here on the blog.  So…nom, nom, nom.  It suits this bowl of ooey gooey deliciousness to a T.

 

My mom and I have been planning a getaway to the mall for a while now, and today was the day to make it happen.  This was not just a routine shopping trip.  This was a serious, all-out, shop until you drop day.  It’s intense.  For real.

But we both love it, and that’s why we get so excited about it.  (My sister and I are already planning another one for September.)  The day doesn’t require that anybody spend anything, but it does require serious energy and trying on everything and anything. 

Of course, there’s always food involved (energy, energy, energy.)

Sorry for the notsopretty photos, but I was relying solely on my miniature camera for transportability purposes. 😉

Lunch had many courses…

(1) a tuna salad sandwich (1 can of tuna mixed with a lil’ mayo and cumin, lettuce, 2 slices whole wheat bread)

 

(2) a reduced fat mozzarella cheese stick

 

(3) a homemade granola bar (click for recipe)

 

(4) heeps and heeps of watermelon

 

There was also the routine stop at Starbucks.  No girly shopping trip is complete without a coffee stop, where both my mom and I ordered a Grande Soy Misto and snacked on some trail mix.

I came really close to adding some splenda to this cup of frothy goodness, but then resisted.  I have nothing wrong with using the occasional packet of splenda, but I try to stay away from artifical sweeteners as much as I possibly can.  Sometimes it requires getting used to a new flavor (this was a little less sweet than I would normally drink it), and sometimes it requires improvising.  I ended up adding cinnamon when I was halfway through drinking it and it recreated the drink!  Seriously.  It wound up tasting like a snickerdoodle and somehow intensified the sweetness. 😀

 

 

I also bought a water to take along with us for the rest of the shopping trip: Hint Blackberry. 

 All natural ingredients, with a very subtle hint of blackberry.  So refreshing. 😀

 

The shopping trip was such fun.  Great deals.  New outfit.  Lots of girly gab and conversation.  Fun.

H&M was full of great bargains today too.  I’m not even kidding when I say that practically my entire wardrobe is from this one store. 

I’m very into plaid and jean skirts this year.  

Dinner was quick and easy to throw together, as I was craving a refreshingly cold smoothie.

Smoothie In A Bowl

• 1 c. frozen blueberries
• large handful of beet leaves
• 1 c. soymilk
• toppings: Natures Path Pumpkin Flax Granola, coconut, 1 tsp. chia seeeds, scoop of PB&Company’s The Bee’s Knees

Sometimes a smoothie just hits all the right spots. 

 I am so overtired tonight, it’s not even funny.  I think a good night’s sleep is in order. 😉  Tomorrow I have a busy, busy, but fun day planned.  I also need to complete my internship homework (almost done!) and a powerpoint presentation as well.

G’night!

Question: Do you enjoy going clothes shopping?  Do you prefer shopping solo or going along with a shopping buddy?

a weekend to remember

Best.  Weekend.  Ever. 

Nicole has been planning a get-away for us since I graduated in May.  Leaving me totally in suspense, she simply told me that it was going to be a weekend to remember.  A weekend filled with laughing, food, fun, and simply enjoying life to the fullest.  I didn’t bother trying to guess what she was up to, because this girl can keep a surprise, and she knows how to plan, plan, plan.  Seriously.  I’m convinced that she should be a wedding planner.

After indulging in some ice cream from Kimball’s (where I surrendered to chocolate chip cookie dough icecream…amazing), Nicole drove directly into this adorable little Inn, known as the Wachusett Village Inn.

 I was shocked.  In fact, I started laughing a little, half expecting her to say, “Kidding!” while driving on.

But we stopped.

She handed me the key.

And we walked in to our own little cabin.

 

 The room was so quaint.  So charming.  So New England. 

 

 We quickly took over and made it our own.  This was a girly weekend to the MAX. 

 

And no girly weekend is complete without (a) twizzlers, (b) funky nail polish colors, (c) girly magazines, and (d) anklets!

Nicole used to make these all the time, and she showed me the how-to’s. 😀

I then became a little overexcited about the spread of breakfast items that she prepared (not to mention the gallon sized water bottle that she bought specifically because she knows how much water I drink…haha.  This girl knows me 😉 )

Complete with whole wheat bagels, The Bees Knees peanut butter (first time trying it…love, love, love!!), bananas, heart to heart, milk, and crunchy granola.  She also bought chobani yogurts, but we brought them home since we simply didn’t have any more stomach space for them. 😀 

 Best.  Weekend.  Ever. 

And this was just day one.

 

DAY 2

The next day was absolutely gorgeous.  Not a cloud in the sky.  Seventy degrees.  Cool.  Breezy.

And I still had no idea where we were off to.  Nicole simply stated that we should each wear a sundress and live it up for the day.  There are never enough excuses to wear a fun sundress. 😀 

Where were we going?

I was dying to know.

And as we were sipping on our Starbucks coffees-to-go (I felt so girly and carefree! :mrgreen:), Nicole filled me in with some of the details.  We were going to spend an entire day in…

…BOSTON!

This is one of those things that we’ve always talked about doing, but never actually have.  Dress up.  Feel pretty.  Go shopping in any and all stores (Gucci, anyone?) 

Live.  Life.

And this weekend, we did just that.  I honestly felt as if I were living in a dream.  One in which my best friend was also living that same dream, and everything was ten times better then even my imagination could have allowed. 

We walked, and walked, and walked.  Taking in all that the beautiful city of Boston has to offer.

Swan Boats!

Newbury St.!!!

(aka, shopping central!)

We walked into specialty soap shops.  Shops that carried only imported olive oils and balsamic vinegars.  Shops that had tiny little spoons with a price tag well over $100.  Shops that had fancy little cupcakes in every flavor imagineable.

Such fun.

And then there was dinner.  It was the highlight of the day.  The one thing that Nicole refused to tell me about until the very last minute.  I had no idea what to expect, but when she led me to the elevator and told me that we were going to the 52nd floor of the Prudential Center, I almost squealed, screamed, did a little happy dance.  But instead, I just smiled and laughed in shock.  Utter, complete shock.

We were going to the Top of the Hub.

 

The above picture was the view from our seat.  The view right from where we would be eating.  We were literally overlooking the entire city of Boston.

If it weren’t for the pictures, I still would think it all a dream. 😀

When we first walked in, the host commented, “Congratulations on your graduation, Sarah.”  Wait, what?  How did he know?  And when the waiter came over later on to issue the same congratulations, I practically fell over.  Nicole and I felt so special at this restaurant, as if we were the only people in a room full of people.  I’ve never had such perfect, intricate, or special service as I did here. 

Of course, it’s not all about the service, is it?  It all comes down to the food.  How quickly your water glass is filled upon the time you reach the the last sip.  How hot the entree is when it is placed in front of you. 

The bread. 

 

 The bread.

The warm, doughy raisin bread oozing out cinnamon from its deep swirls of perfection.  Needless to say, I loved it.

The real highlight of the meal, I’ve got to say, was the appetizer, the Joan and Lump Crabmeat Cake with Avocado Cream and Roasted Red Pepper Remoulade. 

Nicole and I took one bite, looked at each other, blinked, and went back for another.  This literally melted away in your mouth.  The outside was crisp and buttery, and the inside was soft, tender, mouth-watering.  We almost told the waiter to just bring us another round and skip the entree altogether.

 

 Nicole’s entree was the Vermont Misty Knolls Chicken, a free-range chicken served with fingerling potatoes, bacon lardons, and braised swiss chard.

The chicken melted—absolutely melted—off the bone.  And the sauce tasted like a gourmet, adult version of a bbq sauce reduction.  Amazing.

 

 For my entree, I ordered the Potato Gnocchi, made with smoked chicken, morel mushrooms, fresh english peas and a parmesan cream.

This reminded me of a traditional macaroni and cheese that was given an adult, gourmet twist.  The gnocchi were soft, oozing with the creamy sauce.  Comfort food at its finest.  My favorite part of the entire meal were the morel mushrooms.  They had these tiny little pockets that brought in–and held–the cream sauce.  It made me sigh.  Literally. 

I can’t imagine a meal ever topping this one.  A meal to remember.

 

 Although we were both pretty full by the end, we wanted to take complete advantage of the fact that were sitting at the top of the Prudential Center and eating at the Top of the Hub.

We ordered dessert. 

We ordered Valrhona Warm Chocolate Cake, served with blackberry icecream atop a delicate meringue, and drizzled with burgundy sauce.

One poke into the chocolate cake, and a flood of warm chocolate sauce oozed out onto the plate.  We practically licked the plate clean, it was so amazing.  Perfect.  So perfect.  Everything about the meal, the day, the service, the dessert. 

Perfect.

 

 We uttered our thanks to the Top of the Hub for the most delightful experience I have ever had, and walked our way back to our car.

And, might I add, walking through Boston at the end of the day is an experience in and of itself.  The sun was just beginning to set and a cool breeze swished and swayed its way through the city.  But the city was not resting.  A whole new side of the city came to life.  Amusement parks.  Live performances and plays on the common.  Sail boats.  Boston is always so alive.

 

 

 I can hardly wait for our next extravaganza. 😀

 

Thanks again, Nicole!!  The entire weekend was filled with non-stop surprises.  It was by far the best weekend of my life, and I mean that completely. 😀

Question: What is your favorite city/town to visit? 

Nicole’s Birthday Bash

Nicole’s 27th Birthday Bash was an absolute blast.  The entire day was full of shopping, family, friends, food, fun…

…and hot pink sunglasses.

…and skinny jeans.  Nicole was absolutely rocking these white skinnies!! 

I realize that three photos is an awfully brief way to sum up an entire day’s worth of shopping.  But just trust me that we did indeed shop till we almost dropped.  Nothing less would have sufficed.

We left the mall carrying bags full of great deals.  I practically bought a whole new wardrobe at H&M alone, and all the shirts were $20 and under.  Very happy indeed.

This photo, by the way, is an example of the “slightly dropping phase”…in case you were ever wondering. 😉

Following the shopping spree, everyone headed over to Nicole and Nate’s place for dinner.

I’m convinced that Nicole is the up and coming Martha Stewart.

Case in point:

While waiting for the food to cook (Nicole was serving grilled turkey burgers, her famous potato salad, green side salad, onion rings, and more), the men chatted…

…the pretzels sunbathed…

…and I ate my fill of these baked onion rings.  I am forever addicted. 

There were many gifts to be opened, and at the very end, Nate came out carrying a new bike.  Nicole was pretty shocked and excited.  And so was I.  This now means that I have a future biking partner. 

The night ended on a very sweet note.  Nicole has a yearly tradition of serving “make-your-own icecream sundaes”.  I look forward to this every year. 😀

In keeping with the birthday’s theme, there were many fun, tropical-inspired toppings.  Crushed sugar cones, coconut shavings, coconut M&M’s!!! (even better than it sounds!!!), whipped cream, crushed pineapple, crushed strawberries, and cherries.

I think one of the best parts about making a personal sundae (aside from the fact that it’s way more social this way,) is that you can add on as many cherries as you want.  I always plop on at least two, just because I can. 😉 

The entire day was a blast—Happy 27th Birthday, Nicole! 😀

Happy Weekend!

Question: What is your dessert of choice on your birthday?  Do you usually opt for cake or do you take a different route?

Weekend with the Sister…:)

Spending the weekend at my sister’s place is a lot like being on a mini vacation. 🙂 

Last night we went to Olive Garden, where I ordered the chicken parmigiana with whole wheat pasta, along with salad and breadsticks.  That was after spending almost 1/2 an hour in the frozen isle of the grocery store, trying to figure out what we wanted to eat for dinner.  😀  We have this problem where both of us our incredibly indecisive.  Both of us tell the other to decide and that “anything sounds good.”  Somehow we ended up spending all that time discussing dinner and left the store with only a movie and a bunch of bananas. 😀

Considering I had a heavy meal last night, I was expecting to wake up wanting yogurt and fruit or a smoothie…but, nope, oatmeal is what sounded the most appealing.  I was super hungry and us girls had a long day of shopping ahead.  I was happy to find a big container of oats in Nicole’s pantry, and she was nice enough to let me use some other ingredients to make a filling bowl of goodness:

• 3/4 c. oats
• 1 c. milk + 1/2 c. water
• 1/2 apple
• splash of vanilla
• lots of cinnamon
• glob of teddy pb on top! 😀

I made it on top of her adorable stove.  I think it’s the cutest little thing…love it. 😀

On the way to the mall, Nicole and I sipped on these smoothies.

• 1 banana
• 1 T. pb
• 1 c. milk
• lots of ice

It’s like a reeses peanut butter cup in smoothie form. 😉

Nicole and I were in shopping heaven at the mall.  Neither of us bought much (although there were some super good deals that were very tempting.)  And I think it was this chandelier in the bathroom that made me the most awe-struck. haha…this was what we both decided to call the “ritzy side of the mall.”  There was even a sweater in one store for $1,050!!  That was definite fun window shopping only!

I did find a cute pair of shorts for $11 though… I was pretty happy. 😀

And of course, FREE ICECREAM DAY AT FRIENDLYS did not go by unnoticed.  Nicole and I hit it up at around 12’oclock.  Watermelon Sherbet was exactly what I was in the mood for.  Mmmm…

Nicole and I arrived back at her place around 2’ish and decided to pick up subways on the way, and ate it at home.  Subways has some healthy options and is a nice choice when you’re out on the road (and it tastes way better then mcdonalds or burger king!…not to mention leaving you more full and content with more nutrition.)

I ordered a grilled chicken breast sandwich on honey oat bread with all the veggie toppings (minus the jalapenos) and mustard. 

Then I waved goodbye to Nicole, and headed home.  I’m already looking forward to the next time I can sleep over at her apartment.  I had so much fun and it was so nice to have some girly time with my best friend and sis.  Can’t wait to see you again soon, Nicole! 😀

I knew I immediately wanted to go for a short run when I came home.  It was georgeous outside, and dinner was planned to be later tonight.  So I had a small little snack of puffins and soymilk before going.  The perfect amount of energy and crunch!

The 2-mile run felt sore but in a good way.  I ran further yesterday then I have in a while, so I wanted today to be just enough to stretch out and loosen up.  And that’s exactly what it turned out to be.  Followed by some light stretching, I felt nice and energetic afterwards. 😀

Dinner was delish…

We bought a chicken from a local farm where they’re raised free range (literally ‘free range,’ as in you can see them roaming in a grassy field.)  I followed weber’s beer can chicken recipe to grill it (which was my dad’s job to keep an eye on…I’m not a grill cook, that’s for sure!)  We also grilled the corn. 

And I had a huge salad with just orange juice for a subtle flavoring, along with a few olives, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and red onions.  Everything hit the spot perfectly.  I was craving veggies so it was nice to have a big plate full of ’em. 🙂

The best parts of the corn are the charcoaled spots. 😀 

Later tonight I was having a craving for more veggies.  So I made a mini version of the Green Monster. 

• 2 c. kale
• 1/2 banana
• 1/2 c. soymilk

Tomorrow being Sunday, I usually plan on having a relaxing day off from everything.  But not this time!  I’m afraid my to-do list is getting slightly carried away and I really need to buckle down with it.  Once I’m done, I know I’ll feel sooo much better!

Hope you’re all enjoyin’ the weekend! 😀

Exercise: short little walk with Nicole this morning (+ lots of walking around the mall!), 2-mile run before supper (nice and easy!) and a 4-mile after-dinner walk with mom.

Now it’s time to relax a little before going to bed.  Hopefully I can get an early start tomorrow! 😀

Green Monsters and Kale

Another beautiful, sunny day!  I knew immediately after waking up that I just had to go for at least a short morning run.  Mom had asked me to go grocery shopping with her, and despite having already gone yesterday, I decided I would tag along.  I just never turn down shopping, whether its for groceries or for clothes. 😀  Plus it makes for nice chatting time with mom, too…

Anyways, the plan was to leave at 10 to go shopping, so I decided I’d make time to get up, make a nice hearty breakfast, head out for a 2-mile run, shower, and be ready to go by 10.  I also knew I’d need about an hour between breakfast and running to avoid any stomach cramps.

**Can you guys exercise right after eating, or do you require a little time in between too?? 

Breakfast was a spin-off from yesterday’s.  I wanted to finish off the sweet potatoes, so it just seemd like the right thing to do. 🙂

Berry Sweet Potato Oat Cakes

This was the same as yesterday only I added in some nutmeg and about a cup’s worth of blueberries.  I loved, loved, loved the addition of fruit, but a cup was a bit excessive.  It added more moisture to the mix and made the final product much more doughy then yesterday’s.  I kind of liked it that way. 😀  But if you want more of a pancake type of consistency, cut back on the milk or the blueberries, or add in a bit more flour.

And instead of walnuts, I subbed in a scoopful of pb. 

I savored this home brewed iced coffee to-go.  I felt very economical, making it myself. 😀  haha…We’re all out of soy, so I instead used 1/2 c. of regular low-fat milk with a tsp. of sugar for a bit of sweetness.

Breakfast held me over surprisingly well.  I didn’t get the slightest hunger pang until well past noon.  And even then I wasn’t overly hungry.  I mostly wanted to eat lunch with the family before everyone had to leave for work, or appointments, etc. 

So I made us all salads.

My mix consisted of:

• mesclun greens + a little spinach + a little green leef lettuce
• carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers
• red onions
• 3 green olives
• my regular dressing (1 tsp each of EVOO, balsamic vinegar, orange juice, and a little bit of garlic powder and mustard powder)
• 2 natures promise chicken slices
• 1/2 c. black beans
• a bit of fresh mozzarella
• a small handful of raisins
• and fresh blueberries!

…+ kashis too of course! 😀

The star of the meal was the blueberries.  So good!

Dessert…I do realize that I’m extremely repetitive in my dessert choices.  I can’t help myself.  This pair wins every time. 😀

Check out this humungous head of kale that I bought at whole foods the other day!!  It was only $1.99 so I of course had to pick up two!  I figured for that price, may as well try it in place of spinach for my green monsters.

Ta-Daaa!!  I think I may need a larger cup though? 😉

This mix was made up of:

• 4 c. kale
• 1/2 c. soymilk
• 1/2 c. water
• 1 mango
• lots of ice cubes

I really enjoyed the mix.  But Jenna on Eat, Live, Run was totally right when she said it was more green tasting.  I could smell it before even taking a sip and knew it was going to be leaning towards tasting more like vegetables.  Spinach doesn’t let you know it exists in the drink other then for its bold color…kale just wants to stand out and get some attention!  😀  My dad tried it and said it wasn’t as good as the others I had made with spinach…I liked it because I felt so healthy after drinking it and I loved the sweetness from the mango and soymilk. 

Supper was wonderful.

This is the herbed carrot soup from moosewood cookbook and is an absolute must-try!  It’s so herby and fresh, and the added lemon juice gives it the most subtle little tang.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe!!

The rosemary foccaccia scones are equally delicious and also from moosewood cookbook (can you tell I’m a huge fan? 😀 )  I modified it a little, and once I figure out if it’s okay to post a modified recipe, I will.  Does anyone know what rules there are to copyrighting and all that other fun stuff?

My night snack was a bowl of honey nut cheerios with soy.  Sweet ‘n’ crunchy. 😀 

I think my summer class is going to be a little time consuming, but I hope it will be informational and fun as well.  I need to find a hospital or other food service area to volunteer some time in as part of the ‘lab compartment’ of the class.  My goal is to find one by the middle of next week.  I’ll be gone all weekend, so all of the calling and searching will have to wait until Monday, after my volunteer orientation at the local hospital.  Phew…I think I’m going to be a busy girl this summer! 😀

I’m a day early, but…HAPPY FRIDAY!  Hope everyone has some fun plans (even if it’s just some good ol’ relaxation!) for this weekend! 😀

Exercise: My morning 2-mile run felt wonderful, and I could have gone much further if not for the fact I needed to rush back home to get ready for grocery shopping.  Just another reminder that getting up a lil’ earlier in the morning might be a good idea. 😉  I’m keeping tomorrow morning free for a longer run if the mood strikes.

Mom and I also went for a 4-mile walk after lunch today.  And then later tonight I went for a 2-mile walk after dinner.  Both walks were slow and enjoyable.

Oh…and can’t forget my stretching routine too.  I find that a good 10 minutes of stretching after exercising keeps me feeling nice and loose.  I always feel great afterwards. 😀