Author Archives: Emily

Stuff

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Good Stuff

  • I woke up at 10 this morning and did some nice whole-body stretching
  • Then I finally finished unpacking, my house feels fresh again!
  • I think I did ok on my quiz and my test was handed back with a 94%

Work Stuff

  • I decided to add *flossing at least once a day* to my goals list, dental hygiene is very important to overall health and mine has been slacking
  • This weekend I need to read and take notes on chapters 7, 8, and 9

Food Stuff

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1/2 cup oatmeal topped with a splash of skim milk , 1t Crofter’s Superfruit Asia Spread, and a 1/4 cup of dried Goji berries.

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I haven’t had oatmeal in forever, and I really prefer it cooked with a banana, but it was a nice throwback.  The berries gave it a nice chew and I’m kind of in love with Crofter’s on anything.

Goal Setting

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Thanks so much for the advice and support many of you gave me last night!

I layed in bed this morning and thought up some goals.  Starting with unpacking my damn suitcase, but thinking more macroscopically as well.  There are some issues that inform these goals (isn’t it amazing that I have complaints I don’t tell you about, I feel like I complain a lot) that I’ll share first –

  • My legs hurt like crazy.  My calf/shin issue makes me scream when Adam brushes my leg and makes stairs horrific.
  • I’m exhausted.  All the time.
  • I have literally not had a bite of fruit this week.
  • I feel stiff, and awful, and old.
  • I haven’t been studying Chemistry enough and I feel my A slipping away.
  • I weigh about 10lbs more than I would like, and have been planning on dealing with this since NYC.

Ok.  Issues aired, here are my goals for the rest of November –

  1. Go to bed by 10:30 at least 4 days a week.
  2. Do NOT do any cardio for the next 7 days.
  3. Stretch at least 5 days a week.
  4. Eat more fruits and vegetables.
  5. Use Caitlin’s idea to waste less time on the internet.

That said, I’m actually not going to be posting today.  I have another foot appointment this afternoon and a Chemistry quiz I’m not ready for before lab (which runs until 9pm).  Plus, you know, the damn suitcase!

No Motivation

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My goal tonight is bed before 9, so this will be quick.  I don’t have much to say anyways.  I am so disgusted with myself that I haven’t been taking care of business.  I used to be someone who thrived on pressure, but now I feel like I completely shut down if I have more than one thing to do.  Plus, why the frick am I so tired?!?  Is it jet-lag?  An oncoming cold?  What??

I have some goal-setting to do in the morning, so I’ll do a quick food recap for now.  I tried a sample from Annie Chun’s for lunch.

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I bulked it up with some shredded carrots.

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And had a Zevia (x2),

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and finished with chocolate chips.

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And later in the afternoon Adam and I took a note from last night’s dinner and ate a humungous bowl of popcorn.

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Blegh.

I need advice What do you do to get motivated?

How Long Can I Call It Jet-Lag?

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Either I’m still a bit jet-lagged or I just generally suck at life, because not a whole lot of school work happened at the library today!  In fact, more like none at all!  I did have a very lovely g-chat session with my friend Katie, and managed to go to the gym with Adam and Danielle.

Before gyming it I ate a Pear Ginsing Prana Bar.

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I was worried I wouldn’t like these as much as Boomi Bars but apparently that’s not a problem.

My legs have been hurting, and frankly I’m out of shape, so I was kind to myself on the treadmill and took lots of walking breaks.  43minutes / 3.5miles.  Afterwards I did stretching and legs/arms strength-work.  All total – 1hour8minutes / 550 calories.

Chocolate post-gym seemed like a totally reasonable way to refuel.

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These fleur de sel caramels beyond rocked my socks. Adam and I both did a combination oooh/gasp.  This is the perfect savory sweet combo.

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I need a shower, and I still have a bit of unpacking to do, and Adam and I are planning on picking some things up at Target.  It looks like I’m planning a big bowl of popcorn for dinner so unless a storm of motivation hits I’ll see you for dinner 🙂

Midnight Snack Recap

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Apparently last night was all about the sugar.

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The chocolates were from Kikoman – one was plain and one had soy sauce in it – Adam and I split them.

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We both agreed that the soy sauce enhanced the flavor, but I think I would stick to something like sea salt (a la Lindt) rather than an enhancer with quite so much flavor.

The Frostys don’t count towards the challenge because they are free.  Adam donated to a charity awhile back and was given a sheet of coupons for free jr frostys.  The kiss wasn’t quite free, a lifetime commitment is a pretty high price from where I’m sitting 🙂

We were up until 1:30 (whoops) and I ended up also eating  a bowl of tuna salad.

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We go light on the miracle whip and heavy on the pickle relish.

This morning I drove to school with the husband so I can work at the campus library.  I’m going for a gym trip with him and some friends when they are done with class this afternoon.  Hopefully I’ll be back with a breakfast post at some point, because that will mean I’ve checked an assignment off my list and eaten breakfast.  Got to get cracking!

What’s the strangest thing you’ve had in chocolate?  I think soy sauce is the weirdest for me.  If I ate pork I would totally try the bacon infused chocolate bars.

Back in Action Jackson

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My fabulous weekend (fueled by lots of booze) left me not so fabulously dazed.  Jet-lag doesn’t even describe it, more like rocket-lagged!  Unfortunately my Chemistry test preparation this afternoon paid the highest price.

I was exhausted when I went to bed last night (after 1:30!) so I told myself I could sleep in as long as I wanted.  I got out of bed at 11, and it’s possible I should have stayed in until noon.  Even sitting on the couch in a daze wore me out 🙂 

I need manage to cobble together some lunch out of the husband’s leftovers from this weekend.

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I steamed 3oz of broccoli in the microwave, then added 1/2C cooked quinoa, 1/2T worchestire, a few dashes chipotle tabasco, and 3T low fat mozzarella.

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I rounded things out with a candy sample from my Foodbuzz swag.

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The packaging was lovely and the carrot cake goodies inside were even better.  They were nice and chewy.  The serving was the whole box (3) but I ate two and left one for the husband.

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I realized I was going to eat more candy if I stayed at home, and was getting nothing done anyways, so it was time to head to school.  I got dressed in my ‘I worked in New York City” duds,

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and even pulled out the big guns.

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Sadly, none of this helped me to do any studying this afternoon.  I went to the library to print of the class notes and ended up doing more dazed sitting until it was time for the test.  Shockingly, I think the test went really well!  I felt very confident and I’m excited to get my grade back.

During class I snacked on my last 18 Rabbits bar, Haute Diggity Date.

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This is my last taste of SF until my swag box gets here from Fed-Ex.

I got home at 8:30 and got started on dinner.  Someone commented last week that it is hard to eat well on a budget, so I give you the main component of tonight’s dinner –

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and in fact, this would have been a twofer meal with leftovers had I not dropped half of it on the floor 😦

But drop I did, so I will give the recipe for a two-serving portion – Cauliflower Patties

  • 1/2 lb cauliflower, chopped
  • 1/2 C flour
  • 1/8 t curry powder
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 egg
  • 2T lemon juice
  • 1T evoo
  1. Steam cauliflower.
  2. Pour cooked cauliflower into a blender/food processor and pulse, stopping occasionally to stir, until cauliflower is uniformly crumbly.
  3. Pour into a medium mixing bowl and add everything but evoo. 
  4. Meanwhile, heat oil in a pan over medium high heat.
  5. Mash cauliflower mixture together and form into 8 small patties.
  6. Cook patties on stovetop in two batches, about 2minutes per side.

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I served mine on top of a lettuce base, drizzled with 1T light blue cheese dressing.

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Delish!  I also shared a Zevia with the pilgrims.

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On the agenda for the rest of the evening?  A trip to Wendy’s to redeem some frosty coupons, couch cuddling and an episode of Bones, and a bit of unpacking.  Tomorrow I’m going to school with the husband in the morning so I’m not sure what the posting situation will be.  Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite!

What have you made into patties?  I’m a fan of pretty much any veggie/meat in patty form, in fact, we are having something similar for dinner tomorrow!

Home Again Home Again

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I’m sorry to do another quickie (that’s what HE said, ba-zing!) but I have a test tomorrow and my flight didn’t get in until midnight.

This morning Camile and I walked down to Pier 39 to see the sea lions one more time.

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I think I’m in love!

After a quick shower and pack-up we made our way over to Café Lulu for a goodbye brunch. They had a make your own bloody mary bar!

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I also had some pear and frisee salad,

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and a bit of soufflé.

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It was a good breakfast.

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On my first flight I ate a KIND Plus bar,

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and a serving of veggie chips from Oh! Nuts,

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and a Cliff Mojo Bar.

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It was a five hour flight!

I had a quick layover, during which I spotted a Freshens. Not getting some wasn’t an option.

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Small cup of fat free pecan praline, so worth the $3.59 and lack of real dinner.

Now I’ve got to get some Zzzzzs so I can hope not to fail my Chem test tomorrow. I had a fabulous time this weekend, San Francisco was great and it really was a joy to connect with the other bloggers. I met so many people who I deeply respect and had many good conversations. Thanks Foodbuzz!

Challenge Balance – $35.30

Dinner with Outstanding in the Field

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Tonight was amazing!  I am so sorry for another lame post, I truely truely am.  I get so excited about food but I have so much to say that it is too much and I’m exhausted.

Dinner was put on by Outstanding in the Field (a very locavore, farm to table, excited about sustainability organization) and was held at Greenleaf Warehouses.  The setting was legit a warehouse, I love industrial/fashionable settings.

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You can just go ahead and multiply this glass of vino by 3.

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And I had 1 shrimp crisp,

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and a whipped tuna cracker.

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Dinner was family style, so we got to serve ourselves.  First was a pickled veggie plate Ahi tonnato on pain de mie with gochukaura and parsley.

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I loved how spicy everything was.

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Next was soup Mushroom dashi, maitake, shimeji, enoki mushrooms.

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It was very similar to a miso but the mushrooms had an insanely lemon taste.  This was the only thing I didn’t love.

Then they brought out udon noodles with fresh calamari Udon, grilled Monterey calamari in a browned butter ponzu reduction, cucumber, kaiware, frisee & yellow pear tomato with chojang & sesame vinaigrette.

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I was very nervous about it but Jenna convinced me to try a taste.

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So glad I did!  I actually really liked the calamari but the soba noodles were the best, very doughy and raw.  Plus the dish had a good spice kick.

Then came salmon and mushroom risotto Salmon baked with dashikombu, fried garlic and Japanesse curry powder / Mushroom risotto with koshihikari rice, crispy maitake mushrooms.

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I don’t know why I took such a tiny serving, but it was delicious.  I love love loved the curry powder.

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There was oxtail, but I obviously ignored it, and then came out a platter of brussels sprouts Roasted brussels sprouts, ponzu fried garlic, guanciale, bonito flakes.  Jenna told me there was short rib in them, so I resisted.  But brussels sprouts are in my top five all time food favorites, so I finally said f’ it and ate one.  Delish.  Then the waitress came by, and said “vegetarian.”  So I loaded up a plate.

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So.Fricking.Fantastic.  They tasted like McDonald’s fries, which sounds awful but was just amazing.  However, apparently, so not vegetarian.  They definitly had pork in them.  Which makes me quite sad 😦 

Finally, dessert.  Ah dessert Koshihikari rice pudding, cookie crumble, and warren pear.

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I love rice pudding, but  the pear, oh the pear!  I had a bite of pear at the farmer’s market this morning and I’ve been telling people all day that it was seriously the best thing I’ve eaten out here.  The dessert was from the same farm!!!  I was in heaven.

Before we headed out they did Foodbuzz awards which was a lot of fun.  I definitly congratualate some very deserving winners!

A bus ride later, Camile and I walked the mile back to our hotel for the last time.  On the way home I just might have seen a 7-11 and shrieked at the top of my lungs.  Bosenberry and cola, oh yeah.

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Even more exciting?  Getting in bed now!  Tomorrow morning there is a goodbye breakfast and then I fly all day long and get back home at midnight!  I have a big test on Monday so I’m not sure what the posting situation will be.  I hope everyone else’s weekend ends well!!

Challenge Balance – $31.71