Setting The Right Tone

I’ve gotten several e-mails from readers who are unable to comment, load the site, or in worst cases, has had their computer crash while trying to read Lilveggiepatch. Ted Glass, the amazing web-designer responsible for everything from the layout to the wallpaper to the beautifully hand-drawn banner and icons, has been working to try and solve this problem.  We now have only one post per page which I realize is not ideal, but may be easier on your systems.  I’ve tried loading the site on three computers and have had success with this.  Please let me know how it works for you!

*I got halfway through this post last night when Safari “unexpectedly quit”, deleting almost everything.  Please excuse the tardiness!

This morning I woke up almost an hour before my alarm and couldn’t get back to sleep.  Rather than stare at the ceiling until it was time to get up, I took my yoga mat downstairs to do a 20 minute Hip Opening Flow in my pyjamas.  I haven’t done any exercise at all since my race; I’m hoping to have time to run again or go to the gym again this weekend.  In the meantime, I’ll do yoga when I can.  It was such a nice way to start the day: I felt calm, relaxed, and ready for it.  The same way breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, I really believe that the tone you set in the morning- how you’re feeling, what you do- affects the rest of your day up until you go to sleep. How do you start your day on the right foot?

After my practice, I made a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal with a banana, pumpkin, cinnamon, agave and flaxy peanut butter.

Ari came to the rescue and got the top to my thermos unscrewed so I sailed smoothly through my busy morning on a steady stream of caffeine.  I’m still learning the ropes at my job, and I’ll use whatever I ca as a safety net!  Before I knew it, it was almost 12.  I try to wait until at least 1:00 to take my lunch break, so I reached into my snack drawer for a mini Clif bar.

When I did finally break for lunch, I had leftover Thai at my desk.  Thinking it would be easier to eat out of the containers, I removed the wire handles and reheated them that way (I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but DO NOT put metal in the microwave).  The extra flaps ended up getting in the way every time I went in for a bite, and it was very awkward to eat!

I also had an apple and a honey-flavored Oikos Greek yogurt.

I worked through the rest of the afternoon, pausing only to nosh on clemmies…

… and a square of milk chocolate I was given by a staff member while waiting in line at J.Crew.

I left work at 5:30 to meet my friend Howard for a drink at The Modern, the swanky bar and restaurant that is run by MoMA.  While the restaurant itself is very expensive, the drink and appetizer menu in the cocktail lounge is very reasonable.  I had a glass of Victoria Pinot Gris, one of my favorite wine varietals.

Ari and I met up in the neighborhood and went home together.  We puttered around in the kitchen for a while listening to music, and before I knew it it was 9:30 and I hadn’t eaten dinner yet! I’d somehow been preparing it for most of this time, but I guess I wasn’t quite as efficient as usual.

I had a Hugh Jass salad with spinach, red cabbage, roasted Brussels (molasses, olive oil, balsamic), carrots, and grilled tempeh (boiled first, then marinated and grilled with rice vinegar, soy sauce, agave and cayenne). I’d been planning this salad all week, and oddly enough Mama Pea had something similar herself!

This really was enormous.  I’d been nibbling on Brussels sprouts all night and didn’t end up eating all of the ones in my dinner.  I’ll go ahead spoil the surprise… I’m going to eat the same thing for lunch tomorrow.

I sipped on a mug of hot chocolate while watching A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Every time I watch Charlie Brown, I love it more and more.  Did I really watch this as a little kid?!

For some reason I’ve been waking up earlier and earlier each day… my body must finally be settling into the working woman’s groove  I would like to get 8 hours of sleep every night, but that might be a little too optimistic.  Anyway, I’m off to start the day.  Have a great one!