The Best Laid Plans

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I guess Friday the 13th ended up getting the best of me after all!  The best laid plans don’t always work out.  That’s especially true if you and your husband are terrible at time management and plan to leave at a time that’s too late and then don’t even get out the door on time!

We did get our fun lunch though.

Lloyd’s Taco Truck is Buffalo’s first and only food truck, you know we had to check it out!

I ordered a chicken taco, which was pretty good.

I wish I had gone with beans instead of chicken for my protein, but whatever the white cheese was it was delicious, and the shredded cabbage was nice and crunchy.

We also ordered a churro with cinnamon sugar.

Yuck city.  It was waaaaay too fried and we ended up throwing it away after a few bites.  Lloyd’s wait-time wouldn’t have been worth it in another city, but if you are in Buffalo I’d still say give it a shot; just don’t order the churros!

The day didn’t really improve from there.  The plan was supposed to be taco truck – post office – mall/seeing Bridesmaids- crossing training at the gym – party with some school people.  We ended up running so behind that we had to see a different movie and moved the post office to the end of the day.  Of course, we got to the post office just as the doors were closing in our faces!  In the end we had to scrap the gym and the party too.  And the movie we ended up seeing (that we should have skipped all together because it’s timing is what threw off everything else) was terrible.  <– skip “Thor”

But I guess it wasn’t all bad.  We did get a free small popcorn at the movies.

Do you belong to your theatre’s loyalty program?  Adam and I have gotten so many free tickets and snack items over the years, we love it.

And since my evening was suddenly free, when Adam went to meet friends for a game of tennis I ended up going with him to take a long walk around Delaware Park.  Walking isn’t the best use of cross-training time, but it’s better than nothing.  I walked 3.5 miles around the park.  It was fun to do the loops at a slower pace; the park has done lots of landscaping for Spring and it runs along one side of the zoo so there is a lot to see.

Blooms and buffalos definitely helped to put me in a better mood.

I ate an everything-style Bagel Thin with two slices of 2% colby cheese before we left,

and I drank half of this Arizona Virgin Pina Colada while we were out.

But I couldn’t get it together for dinner.  We stayed up way too late on Thursday and I was pretty zonked out.  <– It’s possible that when Adam and his friends switched courts at the last minute and he asked me to drive myself the last 2 blocks to the park I started to sob uncontrollably  

When we got home from the park I curled up in a filthy little ball for a much-needed nap!  Thank goodness Adam backed me into the shower with a chair before we went to bed.

The plan this morning was supposed to be breakfast then a trip to the Farmer’s Market.  But the skies looked like rain so we hurried out without food.  Too bad we still didn’t beat the clouds.

There wasn’t a lot at the market yet anyways 😦 

I did grab a three-cheese and caramelized onion focaccia to split with the husband for breakfast.

We shared a grande iced America with skim milk from Starbucks so we could eat at one of their dry (and dark!) tables.

A few notes – I love going on mini-dates with my husband.  Thank goodness it’s stopped raining now; I still need to get to the darn post office!  I need more food!

So I’m off.  Assume that I successfully made it to the post office and the grocery store, otherwise tonight’s post is going to be another cranky-pants one!

Friday the Thirteenth

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I hope I don’t have any bad luck today, it is Friday the 13th!  But a black cat’s yet to cross my path and we don’t have any ladders, so I think I’m safe.

Plus a breakfast this tasty must be a good omen.

I sautéed some spicy corn salsa in a little butter, and then scrambled in 2 eggs with a handful of 2% extra sharp cheddar.

Soooo good.

Plus a serving of Honey Bunches of Oats with Pecan Bunches with Silk Vanilla Almond Milk to get in some carbs.

I could have used a fruit but you can’t win ’em all.  (Obviously, since my pictures are so god-awful this morning)

Lots of fun on the agenda for today, we have some boring errands – the post office and getting Adam’s contact prescription – that will take us to exciting side activities – the movies and a fun lunch spot.  Hasta!

A Victory Lap

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I’m free, I’m free; now I’m really free!  I’m finally done with school for the year and it feels go-oood!  I’m sure I scared some of my more studious readers this morning, but I did save myself enough time to get my presentation perfectly prepped.

I had a final exam at 10am so I didn’t leave myself time for breakfast, but I did grab a coffee with skim milk when I got to school.

There were lots of happy-go-lucky feelings when we finished our final; I was the only one in my group of friends who still had to present so they were officially finished with school at noon.  Our friend Rachel brought in goodies and we had a little mini celebration.

Peanut butter chocolate no-bakes,

and sangria!

I had a packed lunch from home too, a final serving of Buffalo Wing Baked Pasta,

and an applesauce GoGo Squeeze.

Then, lisp-inducing retainers far far away from my mouth, I headed off to my final presentation of the semester.  I won’t actually get my grade until the next school year, but I think it went really well.  I was composed, I got in all the important points, I know my PowerPoint was perfect (I met with my teacher a few weeks ago to perfect it)… My voice was definitely shaking, but you can’t win ’em all!

When the clock hit 3:30 and we realized the year was officially done there was some serious excitement.  After a quick trip back home I went with a group of friends to immediately sell back our textbooks.  Why wait, ya know?  While we were out and about we took advantage of the Starbucks half-off frappuccino happy hour.

I ordered a tall coffee coconut frappuccino.

Pretty darn good.  Celebratory even.

We had some trouble getting motivated when I got home, but some pretzels and hummus helped to fuel us up.

I ate about a serving of each.

Around 7:30 Adam and I finally headed out for a victory lap.  We went down to the path at Delaware Park for two 1.75 mile laps.  I ran my clock the entire time (even during a few walking breaks) and in total I did 3.5 miles in 34:50.  We drove home and then took a long stroll around Elmwood.

My knee feels funny again but I’m crossing my fingers and icing.

I was stuck on the kitchen floor for 30minutes so I directed Adam through dinner from there.  I had him bring me the Sharpies too so I could make the birthday card for our niece.

By the time my masterpiece was complete, so was dinner.

We roasted up some white asparagus.

It was meh, a little watery and bitter, nothing like its green cousin.

Plus some Trader Joe’s orange-style chicken,

which was fabulous.  I wish we lived in a real city where I had the option of picking up more of this!

Now I’d like to stay up late on a night when it’s not a terrible idea 😀

Confessions Post III

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Click here to read Confessions part I and II.

Confession #1 – When I blogged last night about eating popcorn I actually hadn’t eaten the popcorn yet.  I definitely went ahead and ate three mini bags.  Also, whenever I make popcorn I sprinkle it with sugar.

Confession #2 – Even though I knew I had to get up early to write my presentation, I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning watching “Scrubs” reruns with Adam.

Confession #3 – Even though I knew I had to write my presentation, I started my morning by reorganizing all of my materials from the last semester.

Confession #4 – I get inappropriately flustered when I’m in the office supplies aisle.  I don’t like to shop for clothing as much as normal women, so office supplies are my shoes.

Confession #5 – I was a teacher for 2 years but having to do a presentation as a student still makes me nervous.

Is there anything you’d like to confession today?

Quick and Dirty

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I’m back!  Well, sort of; I’ve got a final exam and an important presentation tomorrow but then I will officially be done with this year of school.  Done with the relentless bad mood.  Done with the only time for once-a-day recaps.  Done with the boring, detail-free posts.  But I’ve got to do one last quick and dirty post tonight.  <– not that I’m working on my presentation yet, it’s just that this is cutting into my “Chicago Code”

As predicted this morning started off with a workout.  I hit up the gym with my notecards for some cramming and cross-training.  I walked (at varying inclines) on the treadmill for 1 hour and 3.5 miles.  Followed by strength/stretching.

Also as predicted, coffee.

A big splash of Silk Vanilla Almond Milk and 16oz of the good stuff.  Buffalo natives – if you are near a Wilson Farms do yourself a favor and buy a cup of the ‘Jamaican Me Crazy’ coffee.  With hints of coconut it is so good, almost sweet!

I did not predict that I would manage to pull together such a cute outfit on this busy day.

The spring wardrobe is sooo much easier than winterwear!

I munched on a yogurt honey peanut Balance Bar on my walk to school.

And then it was down to business.  We had a final exam and a comprehensive exam (covering two courses) today so I met a group of friends for a serious 5-hour cram session.  I’m honesty not sure how I did on the exams – it’s like my mind was Men In Black-style blanked the minute I put down my pencil – but lunch was a winner.

Dinner was another leftover serving of Buffalo Wing Pasta, which gets better and better as it sits.

Plus two mini bags of popcorn with Smart Balance Light. [insert picture here]  <– or just pretend that you know what a bowl of popcorn looks like

I’m definitely going to eat popcorn every day until the box is gone, and it’s running out quickly.  Just like I’m running out quickly on this post… ba-dum-ching!

Way Back Wednesday, Wk 4

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With any luck, my morning will have started with coffee and a trip to the gym (I’ll blog about that in tonight’s recap).  With a little bit more luck, I won’t be currently curled up in the fetal position and bawling.  Hopefully, while you are reading this I’ll be eating the following lunch.

A nice juicy pear.

1.5 servings of Tribe’s roasted garlic hummus with 1.5 servings of pretzels.

I took a few tastes of this while I was packing my lunch last night and I’m pretty darn excited about this combo.

Bumps on a log.

Who doesn’t love bumps on a log?  The only thing better is apple smiles.

I’m meeting up with a group of friends to study from 10am until our 3:30 – 5:40 double exam (a final exam and a comprehensive final of two courses) so hopefully this lunch while carry me through.  “See” you guys on the other side tonight!

Way Back Wednesday is a new blog series.  Since I have to pre-blog lunch on my long days, I’m throwing in pictures from life BB (life before blogging) for fun.  (week 1, week 2, week 3)

This week’s WBW, The Long and the Short of It.  You guys have mostly seen me with long brown hair (in a ponytail, natch), but my head has lived through a lot of changes.  I was blonde most of high school, even dying my hair with Kool Aide once, a red hed with bangs at the start of college, and I’ve gone up and down with long hair and short cuts over the past 7 years.  Just for funsies, here are a few shots of some of the short times –

Fall, 2003.

Summer, 2008.

Fall, 2009.

Summer, 2009.

How do you wear your hair?  Do you change your look often, or still match your senior yearbook photo?

Time Crunch Tuesday

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I’m not going to tell you about my day.  I’m definitely not going to tell you about how hideously unprepared I am for my two important tests tomorrow.  I am going to stick to my blog-everything-for-30-days goal.  Photo details only to follow…

An everything style Bagel Thin with a slice of 2% Colby cheese.

A small white hot chocolate made with skim milk.

Apple dippers.

A GoGo Squeez applesauce pouch.

A Chocolate Dipped Coconut Luna Bar.  (Oh God, this was good.  It tasted like a Samoa!)

A dulce de leche Skinny Cow mini ice cream.

2 mini bags of popcorn with Smart Balance Light.

Leftover Buffalo Wing Baked Pasta,

with baby carrots,

and a pickle.

A frozen coffee.

Workout = 3 mile run down Elmwood, 28:40.  No stops, yay!

Done and done.

Buffalo, Take Me To San Fransisco

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This post is my entry into a contest that will hopefully take me to San Fransisco for the 2011 Foodbuzz Blogger Festival.  The Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken was provided as a free sample via the Foodbuzz Tastemakers’ Program.

I moved to Buffalo after spending two years in the best place on earth.  That’s Brooklyn, NYC, if you’re not sure.  Before that I was born and raised in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, and attended college in Miami, Florida.  The places you call “destinations” I call home.  What could Buffalo have to offer me?

For one thing, my new home is the birthplace of Buffalo chicken wings.

Which have spawned Buffalo sandwiches, Buffalo shrimp, Buffalo tacos, and most importantly, Buffalo chicken dip.

When I took my first bite of Buffalo chicken dip – supremely spicy and dotted with pockets of creamy cheese – I knew I’d found my new home.

No matter how nice your home may be, it’s ok to have a little wanderlust!  When I attended the very first Foodbuzz Blogger Festival in 2009, it was one of the best weekends of my life.

I fell in love, with the bloggers, the city, and the food!  I was heartbroken when we had to tighten our purse strings this fall and financial constraints kept me from attending the festival a 2nd year.  So that’s why I’m hoping to win a trip to this year’s event.

It’s not just about winning though, not that winning’s ever bad; the winner of the contest will have an opportunity to cook their dish for the crowd at the festival.  People don’t think of Buffalo as a foodie hotspot (I know I sure didn’t!), but I’m proud of my town.  I want the opportunity to share my city’s namesake flavor.

Buffalo Wing Baked Pasta, serves 8

  • 22 oz bag Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken Breast Strips
  • 14.5 oz whole wheat rotini pasta
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 cup medium heat Buffalo wing sauce (I recommend Anchor Bar’s!)
  • 16 oz Neufchatel cheese (1/3 less fat cream cheese), softened
  • 1/2 cup reduced fat blue cheese dressing
  • 10 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 cup reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
  1. Cook pasta al dente according to box directions.  Drain finished pasta and return it to the pot (remove from heat when pasta is finished).  Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Farenheit.
  2. Heat frozen chicken strips in a nonstick skillet on medium heat for 3 – 5 minutes or until warm.  Add 1/2 cup Buffalo wing sauce to chicken and continue to cook for one minute.
  3. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.  Reduce heat to medium-low.
  4. Combine cream cheese, blue cheese dressing, and remaining 1 cup Buffalo wing sauce in the pan.  Heat until melted, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes.
  5. Pour sauce over pasta.  Add chicken and spinach to the pot and stir well to combine.
  6. Spread pasta mixture into a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish.  Top evenly with cheese.
  7. Bake 8 – 11 minutes, until cheese is melted and beginning to brown.

I ate my serving with carrots and celery, because that’s how we serve Buffalo chicken dip.

What dish is your town famous for?