Author Archives: Emily

Time To Get Merry

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So Wednesday and Thursday I had a slew of exams, and now I’m free until next semester!  They weren’t the best couple of days, but why focus on the bad when there is so much to be excited for this month?

  • December 17 – we’re hosting a holiday party
  • December 18th – I fly home (St. Thomas) to visit my family for 10 days
  • December 23rd – my family is hosting a Hanukkah party
  • December 25th – Christmas
  • December 28th – Adam and I celebrate our 4th wedding anniversary
  • December 31st – we finish 2011!

I have a bunch of to-do’s to tackle before the party this morning and my camera is currently plugged in.  But I’ll be back to blogging this evening with some merry eats I’ve got planned.

Window Shopping Wednesdays

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I am not much of a shopper, much to my mother’s chagrin. The woman can spend days at the mall, while I start to feel itchy after just a few hours. It’s not that I’m not materialistic, I totally am, it’s just that the thought of adding more stuff to my life makes it hard to breathe. But I like the idea of things. So I’m an avid window shopper. I browse catalogs I’ll never buy from and hold my breathe when I pass the window at J.Crew. So while I’m stuck at school all day Wednesdays, I thought we could have some fun via blog. Let’s window shop!

Let’s go literary this week –

1. The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McLure.

This memoir is about the author’s experiences trying to live like Laura.  Since the Little House on the Prairie series was my favorite as a kid I’d love to see what she found.

2.  Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs.

I just read the first Temperance Brennan novel (Deja Dead) and I can’t wait to tear through the rest of the series!  Think murder mystery novel but with actual, factual forensics.

3.  Sellevision: A Novel by Augusten Burroughs.

I know nothing about this book except for the fact that it is written by one of my favorite authors.  Burroughs wrote his first novel while overcoming his drinking problem; and the story describing that time (found in Magical Thinking) makes me cry every time I’ve ever read it.

4.  Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling.

I will admit that I hadn’t even heard of Mindy Kaling before I picked up this month’s issue of Self.  I don’t watch “The Office,” so sue me.  But her short interview was so funny and sweet that I immediately decided that I have to have her book.

5.  Uncompromised by Nada Prouty.

The memoir of a CIA agent wrongfully accused of betraying her country.  Apparently I’m all about memoirs.

What great books have you read recently?

I Wish I Was In Hawaii

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It’s been a good day!  You would barely know that I have three exams tomorrow …  😉

Our trip to the Buffalo Centre went well.  We couldn’t see much due to privacy concerns, but it was really interesting to see the menu selection system and learn a bit more about how appropriate intake for eating disorder patients is determined.  Among other things, the RD mentioned that most patients won’t gain weight unless they are taking in at least 2,000 calories a day.

I ate a late lunch (thanks mom!) while I looked at some notes.

A few pieces of sweet and sour chicken,

and veggies picked from a chicken dish.

I got a lot of work done this afternoon and I definitely have to give credit to my student partner –

Dinner was a shrimp roll.

Plus fruit as an apple with Justin’s Maple Walnut Butter.

And veggies in the tasty form of Hawaiian Inspired Greens.

Click here for a link to the recipe, it’s a good’un.

I ate my dinner way to early in the evening and ended up doing some (unneccessary) snacking as the night wore on.  Popcorn,

and a few pieces of Almond Rocca.

Think smart thoughts for me tomorrow?

Hello, Old Friend

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It’s finally time for my favorite treat of the season –

Silk Soy Nog seriously makes me so happy!  It tastes just like (actually, better than!) regular egg nog but only has 90 calories for half a cup and no saturated fat.

The Silk Nog actually showed up at the grocery store back in early November, and it’s possible I had went into crisis-mode because I thought that meant it would be gone before it was seasonally appropriate.  Thankfully Silk products have a long shelf-life, so Adam bought me two cartons just to get me to stop whimpering!

I like Silk Nog straight from the carton, in coffee, and in overnight oats, but today’s smoothie might have been it’s best use yet.

For 1, blend –

  • 1 medium frozen banana
  • 1/2 cup 0% plain Greek yogurt
  • 3 Tbsp malted milk powder
  • 1/2 cup Silk Soy Nog

Topped with seasonal sprinkles for funsies.

It was thick, and sweet, and Christmas-y, and perfect.

I had a late breakfast because I spent my morning at the dentist.  My teeth are perfect and now they feel nice and squeaky clean.  On of our friends is a hygienist at the practice so it was more like catching up with a friend (literally!) than a scary appointment.  I’m not sure what will happen with lunch because I’m actually leaving the house this minute to pick up a school friend.  We are heading over the Buffalo Centre for the Treatment of Eating Disorders to get in some observation hours.  I’ll see you this evening!

Forever And A Day

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Adam says he had a great 26th birthday.

And I’m just glad that I’m no longer the older woman.

No blogging yesterday because I spent the day sleeping, eating, working or playing.  <– there was too much of the first two and not enough of the second

My first final of the semester (at 7:40 am!) did not go well.  But I shook it off, literally, with a trip to the gym.  30 minutes on the elliptical, random level 6.  I took my notes on the elliptical with me and my afternoon test went much better.

The food situation was pretty weak today.  In fact, it was nonexistent.  I was too busy fighting with the husband to pack lunch this morning (someone was cranky and it wasn’t him) and I didn’t want to spend the money to buy food on campus.  Adam and I desperately needed to go to the grocery store so I had him pick me up from school, but that meant waiting on campus until after 5pm.

Since we both hadn’t eaten all day we ended up deciding to split a small plate at Wegmans.

I ate 2 dumplings and most of the veggies and Adam had the rest.

And I was extra glad that I got something into my stomach because it took forever and a day for us to figure out dinner after that.  Finally, hours later, I sat down to a big plate of black bean nachos.

It’s been months since my full-on nacho addiction and I think they’ve officially broken their hold over me.  Not to say I didn’t enjoy downing that entire plate, but I think I’m good going another 6 months before I have more.

Not My Birthday

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It’s Adam’s birthday so I’m going to keep this post quick and cursory.  Well, it’s sort of his birthday.  But not really.  I’ll explain in a minute.

This morning was about as lazy as it gets.  I stayed in bed until past noon and it was glorious.  Then Adam and I headed out for a late lunch at Mangoz, a new Jamaican place in our neighborhood.

We split a plate of stewed chicken with plantains and beans and rice.

It was amazing.  The best Caribbean food either of us has had since leaving home.

And they had pink Ting.

We’ll be back.

My one accomplishment today was a quick trip to the gym.  30 minutes on the elliptical, random level 6.  And I did some studying while I worked out.  Followed by a super quick stretch/strength session.

But that was sort of where the productivity ended.  We decided to spend the day doing fun stuff (in celebration of Adam turning 26 tomorrow).  Adam opened all of his presents a day early.

And I even made an effort to fix my hair.

We went to the mall so Adam could use a gift certificate at Dicks, and cashed in a coupon for Aunt Annie’s as well.

We split this pretzel, slathered in mustard.

The husband’s choice for birthday dinner was Indian food.  I got a fig lassi.

And we split a paneer pakora (fried cheese) for an appetizer.

I got the vegetable Korma, with extra okra, for dinner.

I demolished it.  I made three plates, and ate every last drop (literally!).

I made myself a little bit ill, but that didn’t stop me from drinking 90% of this coffee milkshake I “shared” with Adam.

Whoops.  And now we’re gleefully watching tv.

It’s been a good day, even if it’s not my birthday (or the husband’s!).

Peas, Planets, and Parties

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Did everyone have a good Friday night?  Mine was fun but late-ish (hence the morning post).

I spent yesterday afternoon hanging out; pretending to work but mostly laughing my head off over the latest “South Park” and “New Girl” episodes.  Have you seen “The New Girl” yet?  Have you seen it more than once?  I saw the pilot and vowed never to return but when a recent episode touted Justin Long I made an exception.  And then I went back and watched all of the episodes I missed.  Awkward first episode, hysterical first season.

Afternoon snacks included popcorn,

a Biscoff spread spoon,

and a piece of this Theo Gingerbread Spice Bar.

I didn’t care for the raw ginger taste of this that much, but the husband (whose taste is a bit stunted due to his missing sense of smell) was a fan.

My late lunch and Adam’s early dinner was easy, peasy, cheesy, and a bit disappointing.

We gussied up boxed mac ‘n cheese with roasted zucchini, tons of peas, a little bit of butter, and a dollop of reduced-fat cream cheese.

But the peas – which we usually love – totally consumed all of the other flavors.  Every bite tasted like pea!  And the cheese factor was completely lacking.

My evening adventures included a stop at the planetarium.

Adam and I went early this year to a Broadway light show that wasn’t really our speed, though we could tell that most of the other patrons were loving it.  The director happened to come across my unenthusiastic post online and asked if I’d like a few free tickets so I could see another show that I might enjoy more.

So last night Anna, Janessa, and I slapped on our 3-D glasses and went to see the Laser Holiday Show.

This time I knew most of the songs and could sing along (in my head!) and I had a great time.  We all agreed that it was a great way to kick off the holiday season. 

Note – I was given the tickets as an unsatisfied customer working with a passionate program director, NOT as a blogger expected to give a review.

Our next stop was the holiday party one of our professors hosted to celebrate the end of the semester.

I was designated driving so I stuck with two glasses of the amazing punch.

Our teacher is a great cook and she made us dinner.  I started with two cheesy-artichoke phyllo dough things.

And here’s my dinner plate –

Some green beans, an eggplant dish, and a chicken dish my professor told me is similar to Chicken Makhani.

Plus cheesecake for dessert.

Mmmmmmmmn!

Then I drove my friends home, made a snowy trek down Elmwood to the bar I thought Adam and his friends were at, came home to find him sound asleep with his phone turned off, and dove into my warm bed around 12:30.

And now I’m off to find breakfast.

Banana CheeseQuake

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I was really hoping we’d have a bit longer before this happened –

But the snow did hold off until December 9th, so I guess we’re pretty lucky.

I parked my (snow-covered) car on the wrong side of the street last night in the hopes that having to get up to move it would get me to the gym.  And it did!  I hopped on the treadmill and did 10 minutes walking – 10 running – 5 walking – 5 running – 5 walking.  2.7 miles and 35 minutes total.  Followed by a short strength and stretch session on the mats.

After the gym I had to make an emergency trip to the store (we are out of soda and I’ve got 5 exams to study for!) and I came home to one of the biggest messes the dog’s ever created.  It’s possible I sat on the floor and cried.  But then I picked myself up (cleaned up) and ate two oatmeal cookies while I waited for my oatmeal to cook.

I should have just waited though, because this was one of the best bowls of oatmeal I’ve ever made.

Cooked:  1 cup water, 1 medium banana, 1 pinch salt, 1/3 cup oats
Stirred in:  1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
Topped:  1 oz reduced-fat cream cheese, 1 tsp light brown sugar

There was more dairy than oats in this oatmeal!  And it was perfect.  Like a slice of banana cheesecake, except not sickingly sweet and rich (just sweet and rich enough!).