Winners All Around

by Emily

First off, congrats to the winners of my Everyday Health, My Calorie Counter giveaway –

Laura and Sharon, e-mail me (emilyhwaxATgmail.com) so we can get your books sent out.

Secondly, congrats to me! Hot yoga was awesome and got me in a much better frame of mind. Technically I only did “warm yoga” – a 60 minute session in a 90* room – but I was pouring so much sweat we can go ahead and call it hot (or, not). I’m out of shape in general, and I haven’t practiced yoga in a few years, so this class was haaard. I had to stop twice and sit in child’s pose but I still got in a great workout.

I rehydrated when I got home with a O.N.E. Coconut Water with pink guava.

I am pretty hungry, but our plans for the day are packed with foodie fun so I’m holding out on my appetite for now. Buffalo people – if you see me at Tops Taste of Buffalo please say hi!

8Jul2011

Confessions Post VI

by Emily

Click here to see confessions I, II, III, IV, V.

Confession #1 – I’ve been neglecting the blog this week because I’ve got an unshakable malaise and I didn’t want to subject others to whiny posts about eating ice cream. I also haven’t worked out since I got back from vacation and I’m feeling a little awkward about it. The real confession is that I think part of the problem is that I’m thrown by turning 26 this month!

Confession #2 – I woke up at 6am this morning and made myself a grilled cheese sandwich.

Confession #3 – When I was 15 my parents let me pierce my belly button in exchange for attendance at a Saturday math skills camp. The camp was cancelled the week after I got pierced.

Confession #4 – I have a Groupon for a month of hot yoga that kicked in on Monday but hasn’t been used yet. I’m afraid I will be a huffy, sweaty walrus in a room of hot-hot yoga girls. I’m making myself go tomorrow morning and I’m nervous.

Confession #5 – I couldn’t think of a final confession so instead I’m asking you guys to confess…

How do you feel about getting older?
What was the first thing you ate this morning?
Is your belly button pierced?
Yoga is supposed to be about yourself, not competition; how good are you at keeping your eyes on your own mat?
Buffalo readers/bloggers – what nights are you available next week for a meet up???

7Jul2011

Everyday Health My Calorie Counter; Book Review and Giveaway

by Emily

Do you count calories to maintain your weight?

I don’t count calories per se, but I am aware of them. On super busy days I loosely keep track to make sure I eat at least 1,200. I aim for my meals to have no less than 200 but no more than 600 as a general rule. And as a future dietitian I think it’s important that I’m aware of how many calories common foods are packing.

So when Everyday Health e-mailed me about reviewing their new book, My Calorie Counter, I jumped on the opportunity.

My Calorie Counter is essentially a database of nutritional information. I would not recommend this book for someone with no interest in tracking calories, but there is a nice section of information about nutrition and weight loss in the beginning of the book. I liked that all of the advice in this section is correct and up-to-date (at least as far as what I’ve learned) and doesn’t rely on any fad diet mentality. The book can be helpful all on its own, but is meant to be paired with Everyday Health’s online tools.

What I Liked –

The book is divided into three sections – common foods, store brands, and restaurants.
The restaurant section included a vast range of eateries, including nutritional information for Cheesecake Factory, which is notoriously difficult to locate online.
The book is small (about the slice of a slice of bread) and light enough to be easily slipped into a purse or briefcase.
The font is easy to read and information is shared in a graph that is easy to follow.
In addition to calories and total fat; saturated fat, sodium, carbs, fiber, and protein are also included. (ie, this book can also be useful to diabetics or people watching their sodium intake)
As I stated above, the advice in the front of the book is up-to-date and easy to understand and would be helpful for any lay-person.
The book does not necessarily apply only to weight loss and dieting, but would be useful for someone looking to maintain a healthy diet.

What I Didn’t Like –

“Common Foods” is divided into veggies, fruits, grains, etc, but it would be easier to find what you are looking for if those divisions were marked on the top of the pages.
I wish that trans fat values were also included, as this is one of key things I always check for on nutrition labels.

Everyday Health is also giving me the opportunity to share with my readers. I am giving away two copies of My Calorie Counter. To enter to win – leave a comment on this post. You have until midnight, Friday July 8th to enter.

6Jul2011

The Newest Thing

by Emily

Remember cake balls?

Of course you do, everyone and their mother made them.

Forget about those. Cake balls are tired. These are the newest thing –

Cookie balls.

When I made funfetti sugar cookies for Adam to bring people as a thank you gift last week, I was under the impression that Adam ate sugar cookies. Apparently not. I don’t either, so it appeared that the other half of that 48-cookie batch was going to waste. Apparently not.

Cookie balls

15 sugar cookies (preferably ones with sprinkles)
1/3 cup vanilla frosting

Use a food processor to pulse cookies into large crumbs. The mixture doesn’t have to be perfectly homogenous, but should resemble rough sand.
Pour cookie crumbs into a bowl and use your hands to combine with frosting. Roll into balls and freeze.

I was going to dip these in chocolate originally, but they were just so darn good I couldn’t stand to mess with them! They taste like creamier sugar cookies and take on the crumbly texture of pecan sandies.

You’re welcome.

5Jul2011

Confessions V, Road Trip Edition

by Emily

Click here to read Confessions part I, II, III, and IV.

Confession # 1 – In St. Thomas we drive on the left side of the street (but in American-style cars, the steering wheel is still on the left). My first six years living in the states, driving on the right felt uncomfortable and I would get slightly confused pulling out of parking lots. Now driving on the right feels natural to me, and that makes me a little sad.

Confession # 2 – When I was a little kid my parents weren’t allowed to talk to me in the car. That’s because I was in the back seat ‘telling stories.’ St. Thomas has no highways and most of the roads cut through mountains thick with underbrush, the perfect scenery for story telling. Usually I was Caddie Woodlawn, running through the bush with my brothers.

Confession # 3 – I’m afraid of cars. I’m a good, calm driver, but that doesn’t mean that cars aren’t giant killing machines. I think driving should be a privilege, not a right.

Confession # 4 – When Adam and I moved from Brooklyn to Buffalo two years ago, I had to drive the Pontiac on my own and I was a little nervous. I was following my brother-in-law in the moving van but it was pouring rain and there was lots of construction. Plus it was the first time I’d driven in the states (on the right) in two years. I spent the first 100 miles sobbing and eating an entire sleeve of Pringles.

Confession # 5 – When I’m driving by myself I have to skip through the following songs on my playlists because they make me cry –

“How to Save a Life,” The Fray
“Cat’s in the Cradle,” Harry Chapin
“In the Sun,” Joseph Arthur
“Good Life,” Francis Dunnery
“What a Wonderful World,” Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole <– our wedding song!

4Jul2011

Happy 4th of July

by Emily

America the beautiful.

Adam and I had a great July 4th, I hope you guys and your families did as well.

Apparently my husband is a bad influence; I was dressed in running clothes when he pulled me back into bed this morning! It got too hot outside to run so instead we ate leftovers on the couch.

Cheesecake Factory’s spicy cashew chicken might actually be better the 2nd day.

We had to grocery shopping this afternoon and I snacked on an (American as apple pie) apple along the way.

Like my red, white, and blue? Being able to dress in theme colors is my favorite part of any holiday.

We celebrated Adam’s day off for the holiday with our favorite activity – a nice long walk. Midway we split a Sprecher Orange Cream Soda.

Soon enough it was time for red, white, and dinner.

Blue corn tortillas, filled with crumbled tofu cooked in red enchilada sauce, topped with (white) sour cream.

We used this Frontera red chile enchilada sauce and it ended up being pretty flavorless, boo.

Plus some roasted brussels sprouts.

Sadly it was a kind of meh dinner overall.

Normally this wouldn’t have been near enough food for me but thankfully we did a lot of baking today, and I did lots and lots of nibbling!

Kath’s honey crunch peanut butter –

My newest invention that’s bound to be the new big thing (I’ll tell you more tomorrow) –

4th of July cupcakes –

The cupcakes were simple white cupcakes with vanilla frosting, turned festive when dyed red, white, and blue and swirled together.

So fun!

Also fun? We’re watching “Newsies” this evening!

3Jul2011

Home Again, Home Again

by Emily

Another 7 hours alone in the car later and I feel I’m a bona fide road tripper. When Adam and I had to go from Pennsylvania to Miami back in college I drove about an hour total because I kept falling asleep at the wheel, but this trip flew by without incident. And yes, I really did go home today!

As proud of my driving prowess as I am, my food-on-the-go skills were seriously lacking. I’m the girl who brought bagged salad on an airplane, but today my traveling eats fell short.

I had a zero calorie Monster this morning but that was the only food I brought with me (minus the coffee cake my grandma packed for Adam in the trunk).

I stopped only once to gas up (holy gas mileage, ~~Batman~~ Pontiac Vibe!) and the rest stop was pretty much devoid of sustenance. I made a “mocha” with half super caffeine coffee and half hot chocolate.

And I ate 90% of this bag of Chex Mix Muddy Buddies on the 2nd half of my drive.

Ugh, this did not make me feel so good. Sugar rush and hunger pains make a bad combo.

I was practically light-headed while I unpacked this afternoon so I made myself a slice of sourdough with Smart Balance Light.

Much better.

Adam ate through our stores this last week so we headed to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. We knew the meal we planned on splitting was light of veggies so we actually swung by Wegman’s hot bar first for a healthy “appetizer.”