Ice Ice Baby

by Emily

It’s been a busy, but random. I had plans of getting up early but the husband felt like studying until 1am last night which totally threw me off. When we were in the city and my job was crazy he was always mad at me for staying up until 4am while he tried to sleep (especially difficult in our one room apartment!). Here, where he is in medical school and I do nothing am not, the situation is reversed. We have multiple rooms now but I’ve found I have a hard time falling asleep without him around – cheesy relationship moment alert!!!

When I did get up at 10 this morning I went straight to the phone for the next 3 hours! I don’t know if I actually accomplished that much, but at least I got the ball rolling! My hunger was totally off and I ended up eating the last serving of pretzels for breakfast!

Unhealthiness aside, here is a healthy tip: buy a food scale! I’m not saying you need to be obsessive and measure everything you put in your mouth, but things like pretzel nuggets add up faster than you think – a serving of those bad boys is ONE ounce. Once you are eating pretzels straight out of the bag for breakfast, there is no way you are going to pull out a measuring cup. But plopping the bag on the food scale? Easy. (P.S. My scale read 1 and 1/4 oz, so with the weight of the bag I had a perfect serving left)

At 1pm – once I had at very least left a message with every single number on my list – I set out for the gym sat on the couch and kissed Adam and stole some slices of his turkey pepperoni. I ended up pushing the gym back to the end of the evening in favor of going to the post-office and being dropped off at the Spot. I worked on Chemistry by myself for a while before Caroline met me for some group studying. By myself I got a late lunch.

A big diet coke and a turkey cajun wrap (turkey, lettuce, tomato, pepperjack cheese, cajun sauce, ww wrap).

The salad looked over-dressed so I didn’t even taste it, but I demolished the sandwich.

During my social studying I also had a medium pumpkin pie latte (pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon; 1pump syrup, skim milk).

Yums.

Caroline dropped me off at home at 9 and after so very brief glancing at the magazines I got in the mail we set out for the gym. It was about time too, I’d been rocking this look since 10am!

I always work out in baggy t-shirts but I went ahead and bought some running tank tops last weekend. Somehow I feel more “official,” not that I look too fine in that picture!! I’ll show you all of my new finds as I wear them; this one was $4 at Target.

On the treadmill I did 10minute warm up – 20minute run – 5 minute cool down. In the end the totals were 3.25miles and 361 calories. My legs are still crazy bothering me (my knees, hips, ankles often hurt but lately it is an intense pain in my calves!). I did a lot of stretching when I got home and now I am trying icing them.

We’ll see how it goes.

I can’t believe I’m doing such a late recap post but considering that dinner just kind of never happened I guess it’s not that surprising! I got a lot done today, but tomorrow is still going to be jam-packed. We just found out our in-laws are visiting this weekend which makes this week even busier. I’ve got to go deal with my ice bags and take a shower, see you in the am!

Do you ice? Any tips for me?

19Oct2009

Curried Chicken and Cider Soup

by Emily

I totally lied when I said I was going right to class. That was the plan, but I was so cold (inside my house, with the heat on) that I just couldn’t bring myself to go outside yet! I sat on the couch and read my book.

Heat seems like it is going to rock my socks, it’s a memoir about, among other things, training as a prep chef for Mario Batali. I am all about memoirs and food, so it seems like the perfect fit.

Once I did get off the couch and get dressed I realized I was wearing an outfit from my teaching days and the whole thing felt sort of surreal.

I don’t know if anyone read my job identity search post this morning, but the one thing I do know is that do not want to teach! I swear I sort of have PTSD from my experience!

Also, I was super hungry so I packed myself a snack for the road –

1 oz buffalo wing pretzels with some turkey pepperoni (don’t worry mom, I only ate at lights!).

That totally did not cut it though. After I finished printing at the library I set off in search of food. I ended up with an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese.

Class went well, we are studying electron orbitals which I love – it’s like a puzzle! When I got home at 9 I got right to work on dinner. We made Curried Chicken and Cider Soup from “Everyday with Rachael Ray” (click on the name for the recipe link).

I skipped the cumin, and substituted 1C of water with 1C extra cider, but otherwise I followed the recipe. I topped my bowl with buffalo wing pretzel nuggets for a crouton-like effect.

I don’t think I would have liked it without the added spice, it was pretty sweet, but with the addition it was perfect.

Afterwards I had this fun drink I bought a while back.

It’s not really Sangria, more like strawberry soda. It’s from Japan and was totally cool; you had to pop the top to release a marble.

I was supposed to paint my nails tonight but it is almost 11 so it looks like I’ll be heading straight to bed. Tomorrow I have a gym trip planned, plus tons and tons of schoolwork, and hopefully some job searching. Sweet dreams!

Do you like buffalo wings? I’m not a huge wings fan but I love buffalo sauce!

19Oct2009

$2.99

by Emily

Good afternoon! Volunteering went well, and now I’m making a quick stop in at home before I head to campus. I have materials to print, so I have to go early, and I figure if I go super early maybe I’ll get some work done. I have a quiz this Thursday so this will be a busy week.

For lunch I decided to try the salad bar.

I was worried about spending more than my voucher so I only took a little food. However, the total ended up being $2.99, guess I should have gotten a little more! I had a little bit of pasta salad,

tuna salad with artichoke hearts,

and spring mix lettuce with carrots, peas, black olives, hot sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and vinegarette.

After volunteering I hit up the hospital coffee stand for a great pumpkin latte.

Mmmn. I love seasonal things!

I’m off to campus!

What is your favorite October food? Mine is pumpkin lattes or my pumpkin pie smoothies.

19Oct2009

When I Grow Up

by Emily

Sorry I went missing yesterday; I had a hangover, and lots of homework, and dead camera, and a hangover…..

This morning I hopped up and got to work on a project I’ve been putting off – looking at prereqs, getting contact information, and recording submission dates for the programs I am hopefully applying to. I’ve been dreading it because I’m still not even quite sure what I want to do with my life!! It’s basically between Dietetics and Anthropology (with a slight chance that I’ll move to LA last minute and pursue a career in acting!). I’m so frustrated that I already quit a career – two practically because I started college as a communication major and basically completed half the program before I switched to education – and I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.

I also spent some time working on my (sad, sad) resume. I’m planning on trying to apply for some random jobs tomorrow but I don’t have high hopes; most people do not want a former teacher as a waitress! I’ve done retail, waitressing, teaching, and now I’m figuring out my next adventure.

I also ate breakfast.

Fat free blueberry yogurt and a Fruit and Nut Boomi Bar.

And now I’m headed to my volunteering shift at the hospital. There was a short time I thought I wanted to be a nurse, which I’ve since strongly decided against, but I still have a little interest in Physicians Assistant programs (another option!!!). I’ll be back this afternoon with lunch.

Reader Poll: What do you did you grow up to be?

17Oct2009

Jay and Silent Bob Go to Duwalli

by Emily

Let’s be honest – I’m a bit drunk and it’s been a long day. This will be quick 🙂

Oh man, what a Saturday! Sorry to not post all day but it was pretty busy. We got up at 9 and headed straight for the gym, the husband kind of never goes so I’m always up for a trip when he is. My run was terrible again, what is the deal?!? In the end, I did 3.5miles / 37minutes / 397calories.

I mentioned when we did our closet switch last week that neither Adam or I really has a winter wardrobe, well today was the day to rectify that. I know some girls love to shop, and I do love clothes and bags, but shopping itself is pretty tedious to me. My mom is the best shopper on earth and I think my lack of mall-enthusiasm is her only real complaint about me! 🙂

We packed a bag of grapes to share but they ended up being inedible.

So we hit up the food court for lunch a few stores in.

I got steamed veggies and grilled bourbon chicken.

When I was growing up we didn’t have a mall, and when we visited the states I was obsessed with getting bourbon chicken at the mall! Today I killed the veggies but split most of the chicken with the husband.

Shopping ended up going very well. We were at the mall for HOURS, but we are 99% done! The husband and I are officially both ready for winter. Plus we found many things on sale (like the children’s snow boots I bought). This is my “we are leaving the mall after 5 face” –

We rewarded ourselves for a day well shopped by driving to Anderson’s for ice-cream.

I got pumpkin soft-serve with peanut butter cups. Mmmmn.

We had to rush, rush, rush as soon as we got home to get dressed in semi-formal clothing. Our evening event was put on by a group at Adam’s medical school; Duwalli is India’s festival of lights. There was an open bar so I got boxed white vinfindel x2.

I ate two samosas while we mingled.

And it a bit it was time for dinner.

The food was fantastic, all authentic, spicy, and delicious. I have no idea what I ate, but it was mostly veggies with a little chicken.

And spiced rice pudding for dessert.

After dinner there was an Indian dance presentation. I loved watching, the music was catchy and everyone’s saris were beautiful. There was plain old dancing afterwards but we left with a friend to talk in a more quiet spot. We ended up at Wine Thief, which was quite fun.

I had a great glass of riesling (this pushed me a bit over the edge).

We got home by 11 and I might have drunkenly eaten two small rolls while I blogged,

and now I’m going to tumble into bed! See you in the morning!

Have you seen Mallrats? If not, do!

16Oct2009

Read Head

by Emily

It was an interesting if not entirely productive morning. My computer had an incredibly annoying virus which I dealt with, but which took forever. I was freezing – in spite of the heat being on and my turtleneck – so I curled up on the couch with a comforter and a book. So cozy! I fell asleep for a bit and was woken up by UPS –

Yay! And then I finished my book! I have always loved to read, I devour books, but it’s been forever since I’ve been able to just curl up with one for hours. I read Madness, Marya Hornbacher’s (second) memoir. It was good; very sad, but interesting. I read her first memoir, Wasted, when I was in middle school and it seriously changed the way I thought about literature. Hornbacher is such a beautiful writer, her style is all off the place and full of vivid descriptions, it’s perfect for me.

The rest of the afternoon, unfortunately, was completely killed by a migraine 😦 I’ve grown out of them for the most part, and now they are pretty responsive to Ecedrin Migraine, but they still eat up a few hours. When Adam got home around 5 I realized that part of the problem was having not eaten since breakfast so we split a Granny Smith apple.

I spread my portion witha 100calorie pack of Justin’s Organic Honey Peanut Butter. I love pb on tart apples.

Our main fun for the evening was a trip to the grocery store so we made a weekly meal plan and off we went. I love doing errands with my husband so much!!! The grocery store is one of my favorite places, especially because they gave me several free samples today 🙂

Dinner was eaten in a strange series of courses, all of which were quite good. I was at the stove, so I ate most of them there, which was actually sort of cathartic. Btw, I was at the stove because I was making Adam a Wholly Wholesome Pumpkin Pie.

The husband is a crazy-face; he is obsessed with pumpkin (“punkin” he says) pie but won’t let me make it from scratch because apparently that would be gross?!

First dinner course, 2 celery stalks with 1t light chunky blue cheese dressing.

My huge package this afternoon came from Dr. McDougall’s. I had never heard of their soups before, but when they sent me a description and asked me if I wanted some samples I happy obliged. I tried veggie today.

The company was quite sweet, and sent me this pretty place setting from Crate & Barrel. So fall-ish!

I liked the nutritional stats on the soup, and almost never eat one portion when it comes to soup, so I ate the whole box.

It was quite good.

Third course, and the other reason I was at the stove, was bbq cabbage.

I didn’t measure anything but I’ll give you the basic steps/ingredients. Heat Smart Balance Light in a pan over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 head chopped napa cabbage. Cook for 2-3minutes before adding 1/2 – 1 cup of water and covering. After sufficient steaming time, douse with worchestire sauce, hot sauce, honey, ketchup, and apple cider vinegar. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, for 7-10 more minutes. Delish, it ended up being like I imagine Kim Chi would taste.

Finally, I ate 1.5 servings of Synder’s Buffalo Wing pretzels while Adam and I watched the new episode of Bones.

The perfect date evening!

It’s too bad I spent most of my day asleep, because now I have more to do this weekend, but I do feel well-rested. We have a lot planned for tomorrow, all of which I’m pretty excited for. Happy weekending everyone!

Who is your favorite author? As I mentioned, I have a reading obsession, but Hornbacher is definitely one of my favorites. I am also a big fan of C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, Gregory Maguire, and Kurt Vonegut.

16Oct2009

Pineapple Paradise

by Emily

It’s Friday! I don’t really have a work week, but the weekend is still exciting. Today I’m trying to pretend I’m somewhere tropical and that the forecast isn’t calling for rain and snow!

I set my alarm for 5:30 this morning and went to the gym for a (terrible) run. My calves hurt so badly, I don’t know what the problem is?!?! I mostly did 2/1minute run/walk intervals but sometimes I doubled up the running and/or the walking. I kept having to stop to stretch. In the end I did 60minutes and 5.3miles. I did lots of stretching afterwards, for a total of 655 calories.

I came home to shower, sent the husband off to school, and got started on breakfast. This was when the tropical fantasy began……Breakfast was all about devoring Sponge Bob’s home eating pineapple. I made an amazing smoothie.

1 frozen banana, heaping cup fresh pineapple, splash oj. I think maybe I prefer smoothies with some fresh (i.e. not frozen) fruit, the texture of this was great.

Alongside I had pineapple in bar from – a Pineapple Ginger bar from Boomi.

I had been putting off eating this sample because ginger skeeves me out sometimes but it ended up being great.

The two pineapples went together quite well.

Today should be pretty uneventful. I have a lot of work I want to get done, but nothing is a rush. Adam and I have super low-key plans for tonight, the highlight of which should be grocery shopping. I hope everyone else has a good last day of the week day!

How do you like to make your smoothies? Frozen fruit or fresh? Ice? Do you use any powders or packets?

15Oct2009

Late Lab

by Emily

The longer I ate my lunch the more I loved it! I will definitely do without the squeeze cheese next time but everything else was perfection. I enjoyed my online tv watching as well. If you have not watched the new show “Modern Family” you need to; it’s comedy genius!

After lunch I had 1 serving of Halloween Dots for dessert.

Then I got started on cooking dinner. I made a chicken cacciatore recipe from this month’s Cooking Light.

But I actually didn’t eat until much later. As soon as the food was packed up I set off for campus. I didn’t do so hot on my test last week (83%) but lab went well! I always stay until the end of lab to work on calculations, which means I don’t leave until 9pm!

When I did finally get home it was time for dinner.

I ate a teeny plate because Adam and I split a chocolate mint milkshake.

Yes, it is 30* outside. Yes, I am 24 years old and eating ice-cream for dinner. The chicken was pretty good, Adam loved it.

I’ve got an early morning planned so I’ve got to get ready for bed. Sweet dreams!

Do you watch tv/movies while you eat or is that dangerous for you? I know studies always say not to eat in front of the tv but I love to. I think as long as you only portion out a reasonable amount of healthy food (rather than digging mindlessly from say a bag of potato chips) it’s fine to eat and veg. Plus, it’s tv, not open heart surgery – I’m able to notice when I’m full and push away my plate even if there’s food left.