Monthly Archives: March 2011

A Love Bribe

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I know this looks a lot like dinner, but it’s not.

It’s actually a love bribe.

See Adam loves me, a lot in fact.  But like any good love, there are a few things he hates about me.  His pet peeves include my loud, seal-barking cough; the face I make when I cough (apparently I look like a gecko); and the fact that I woke him up last night because I was snoring so loud the nose made it into his dreams!  Sidenote – I never, ever snore, my nose is stuffy from my cold, I swear! 

Anyways, since I’ve been dying sick (he might also hate it when I exaggerate) the past two weeks, a love bribe might have been in order.  Generally I try to buy his love with food, which works because he’s a fatty.  <– See why I need that love bribe.

It worked.

Jenna’s 30 minute lemon brown sugar chicken is a new favorite.

Roasted asparagus is an old favorite.

And since Adam loves molten chocolate cake, I even tore a page out of Women’s Day and tried to whip that up too.

It wasn’t very good, but still, I’m feeling the love!

<3

Also

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I forgot to mention this morning that my fancy new breakfast bowl came courtesy of CSN Stores.

Adam and I both love the square shape of it.

Adam and I both also love these –

Like a lot.  I ate one shortly after what I deemed an acceptable amount of time after breakfast.

Also lunch.

Tasty, tasty lunch.  All this grilled cheese does is win.

On two slices of rye I skillet cooked thousand island dressing, 1.5 ounces of extra sharp cheddar, the last of the sauerkraut, and 2 slices of 2% swiss cheese.  It was epic.

Also baby carrots dipped in blue cheese.

Also from CSN Stores.

Also, would someone cross their fingers that my sinus headache goes away so I can study?

Going Nutz

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I’m not gonna lie, I’m losing my mind a bit over here!  I feel a bit better than I did yesterday, but I’m still not well, and I’m ready to be well!  I’m annoyed that I can’t focus on my schoolwork, my legs are ready to run again, and I’m bitter as all get out over the fact that my two week sickness means I can’t run the upcoming Buffalo Half Marathon.  <– That was supposed to be my big announcement, more than a week ago now.  I flirted with the idea of trying to fit the training plan, but I’m still not able to run and the focus of the nye resolution was the training.  Since Buffalo only has one race a year, I might have to kiss that goal goodbye.

I wasn’t sure how hungry I’d be for it, but I knew a big breakfast would help cheer me up.

My stove-top base was 1/4 cup oats, cooked with a small banana and 1/2 cup each skim milk and water, with 1Tbsp chia seeds stirred in at the end. 

Topped with Smuckers Natural Peanut Butter with Honey and some butter toffee almonds.

Delicious!  I ended up finishing off the entire bowl.

A while back I bought a Groupon for Nutty Guys, which is where the nuts came from.

The website needs some serious streamlining, but it’s worth checking out for these nuts alone!

My morning’s off to a slow start while I wait for my Dayquil to kick in, but I’ve got a music test tomorrow to study for!

What’s driving you nuts today?

Stuffy – Shake – Salmon

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Did you miss me?  I hope not; no one should be sorry I took a blog break this weekend!  I did not have funny stories to tell.  I did not have great workouts to recap.  I did not create new inventive recipes.  I did not eat anything resembling healthy.  I did however, throw up, and cough, and continue to be sick.  Ugh!

I’m still sick today, but I’m definitely (finally!) on the upswing.  My cold’s moved to my head which means I’m driving everyone crazy honking like a goose, but I can sort of talk again.  And I made it to all three of my classes today.

When I got to campus this morning I stopped by the yogurt place for a chocolate milkshake, made with skim milk.

It was a strange breakfast, but the flavor/texture was exactly what I was craving and felt great on my throat!

Lunch was leftover roasted green beans, which are still delicious even when served cold,

and a nice crisp Fuji apple.

I ate so slowly that I ended up finishing my apple to class and it was pretty darn thrilling not to have to deal with retainers for the time being.

I know I’m getting better because while walking home at 4:30 I realized I was starving.  I haven’t been hungry in two weeks!  I swung by the pizza place near our apartment for a buffalo chicken slice with blue cheese.

I had them cut it in half (the picture shows both halves) and my mini slice was perfect to tide me over until dinner.

Dinner was an old favorite, Shallotta Salmon Burgers.

Eaten on a bed of salad.

Greens lightly dressed with Newman’s Own Light Raspberry Walnut Dressing, buttermilk blue cheese crumbles, and some roasted golden beets.

I didn’t actually manage to eat very much of that, but it was fun to sit down to a nice plate of food!  Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go blow my nose!

What’s your go to milkshake order?  There’s a place back home that mixes booze into their milkshakes and they can’t be beat!  I always always request skim milk in my shake though, wherever I am.

I Can’t Operate Machinery

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It’s Friday-Friday-Friday!  It’s been a long and fruitful day around these parts.  I did too much yesterday though, and I was definitely paying for it this morning – I got out of bed at 7 but only made it as far as the couch!

Thankfully by the time my one class came around I was able to make it to campus.  Walking to campus sucked, but it meant I got an opportunity to copy/photocopy all of my missed notes from various friends.  Well not all, music is kind of a lost cause!  And I got the good news that our Biochem test is pushed back, so I only have one exam next week 🙂

Walking back from campus in the hail (ouch!) wasn’t fun either, but I made it to Elmwood and got a nice set of work done.  I nibbled while I worked, first a black bean burrito from Elmwood Taco and Sub.

My hand’s there to show size.  It was sort of a strange burrito – just a tortilla with plain black beans and a slice of cheese – but it ended up being perfect for my sick stomach.

Next I walked over to Starbucks for a plain iced black tea with honey.

The honey worked about as well as you’d imagine it would it an iced drink, but it was a nice idea in theory.

I ordered after 2 so I got to choose a mini treat for free.

Note – I thought the box was so cute I actually brought it home!

I went with the salted caramel bar.

Divine!  I told Adam later that this was in my top 10 tasted cookie bars.

I cranked out some good notecards (I’m only halfway done though, missing nutrition classes is hard) and then the husband picked me up around 5:30.  Then we headed to Walgreens where I caved and finally bought some Niquil.  I’m not anti-medicine, we’re just too poor to buy any; but my coughing was driving Adam made so we bit the bullet.  I took some just before starting this post, we’ll have to see if I pass out mid-way!

I waited until after preparing dinner to dose myself in any case.

Roasted asparagus.

Sidenote – this is Adam’s favorite veggie, probably actually his favorite food, period.  If you know a veggie hater have them try roasted asparagus!

Reubens  <–swoon–>

On two thin slices of rye went Applegate Farms Organic Chicken, two slices of 2% swiss, a handful of sauerkraut, and a serving of 1000 island dressing.  Then we sandwiched and pressed in the George Foreman Grill.

So good!  Reubens, whether turkey or chicken or tempeh, or sauerkraut or cole slaw, always rock my socks.

And Zzzzzzzzzz…..

Do you take medication when you’re sick?  Why or why night?

Sick of Being Sick

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I’m sick of being sick!  (I’m also tired of being tired, but that’s another – barking dog heavy – story.)  Yesterday was a particularly bad day so I didn’t post, but I will recap.

I didn’t go to school again yesterday, which means I’ve basically missed a full week of classes!  <– not happy  I did make myself 1.5 servings of Special K Red Berries with almond milk for breakfast.

And when Adam got home he made me his favorite snack  – matzoh with melted cheddar (50% reduced fat, extra sharp).

I had a rough evening and when it came time for a late dinner I begged the husband to get me a milkshake.

The chicken nuggets with hot mustard he randomly came home with sounded good too, thankfully.

Adam has been joking that I must be dying because of how little I’ve been talking (I have a lot to say normally, can you tell?) but he knew I was sick when I scarfed down dinner; I hate McDonalds!

Even though I’m too sick for class, I did have to go to campus today.  I had labwork to turn in and I had to make up the Nutrition test I missed yesterday.  I probably could have done really well on the test (and I was really excited about the material) but since the only time I was able to study was the 2hours beforehand I guess I’m just glad that I think I passed!

The walk home was difficult, but I did stop halfway to purchase a huge soda.

Half diet, half not; the combination seemed to work.

I even managed some people food for a late lunch –

leftover roasted green beans,

and a Cara Cara orange.

Dinner was a Three Cheese Stuffed Rigatoni Lean Cuisine.

This wasn’t the tastiest thing ever, but it felt good to eat some veggies.

I bulked it up with 1.5servings of Popcorners.

I had two online assignments due today, and that with my trip out of the house kind of did me in.

When I went to the clinic they said the virus I probably had lasts 1-2weeks.  I’m a week into being sick, and I’m keeping my fingers (and all my toes) crossed that I’m back to normal by Monday.

What’s the longest you’ve ever been sick?

Meat Lovers for the Veggie Lover

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So, I’m still sick.  Still puking, still hacking up lungs, still feeling yucky.  I’d love to tell you I stayed in bed all day, not infecting people, but the fact was I had appointments to keep and places to go.

First was a trip to my orthodontist.  To make a long story short – my retainers are chipping my teeth and I can’t use them anymore.  Now I’m switching to an (expensive) plastic Invisalign-type solution.  The silver lining here is that now I’ve got a month or so retainer-free 🙂  Also, thank goodness Adam was there, I needed to save my whispery voice.

I had a break between appointments, so we headed to Starbucks for a grande awake tea with honey.

I also ordered a breakfast wrap.

Then we drove to school for my 2nd big, important interview.  I can’t really say much about it, but things seemed to go well.

Adam needed to go to the mall afterwards and the opportunity to be upright in a climate-controlled enviroment was too sweet to pass up.  I picked up a Gatorade while we were in Dicks.

And when I got home I had a serving of popcorn.

Popcorners rather,

these chips were a lot of fun.

I managed to complete my labwork this afternoon, but not study for my test, boo!  We did manage some real food for dinner though.

Green bean fries,

and mini pizzas.

We knew I’d be worthless in the kitchen this week so when Adam made my turkey sausage the other day he cooked up the whole pan at once.  Tonight all I had to do was chop up a few servings and throw them on a crust with marinara sauce and 2% mozzarella.  The sausages were great on the pizza, perfect amount of spice and chew, and it was fun to try something “meat-lovers”-ish.

Plus I dipped in ranch, which is always fun.

Adam’s pizza had the addition of Applegate Farms Natural Pepperoni.

He described it as “glorious,” which apparently means it had good zest, good consistency (easy to bite and no chunks), and great flavor.  I didn’t taste any, but he said it cooked well on the pizza.

That’s all folks!

What’s your typical pizza love, veggie-lovers or meat-lovers?

Still Not Really Eating, Like a Sick Person

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I’m having a hard time being cheery, but I’ll try not to complain too much.  Plus, I haven’t really eaten all day so there’s not much to talk about!  I was hoping to feel better by now and I don’t, and I’m sort of devastated about it.

I skipped BioChem this morning, but did attempt to go to my afternoon Nutrition courses.  I made it 30minutes through the first one before the professor realized I was about to die and told me to go home.  She did say I can take the test on Thursday instead of Wednesday at least.  That’s extra good because they refused to move my interview tomorrow.

From there I went to the student health center.  I learned that I don’t have strep or the flu, just flu-like symptoms, so there’s nothing they can give me.  I also learned that if you test me for strep by sticking a q-tip down my throat I’ll puke all over you, myself, and the floor.  <– yuck!

I told the nurse I wouldn’t walk home in the cold after I threw up, but really, what else could I do?  I have to tell you though, that walk home might have been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done!  I tried to finally get something food-like into my stomach, sipping on a Coke as soon as I made it home.

And the husband brought me Moe’s for dinner.

We did buy real food finally but none that I could handle eating.  Instead I had a burrito with chicken, rice, black beans, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, and onions.

Sadly the onion taste permeated the entire thing and I could only stomach a few bites.  I ate my chips though.  Something is better than nothing.

When was the last time you were sick?