This morning [...]]]> Evening! How was your Monday? Mine was lovely, but very long.  I’m about ready to roll over and go to sleep… then wake up and do it all again!  This is working life, I guess. I actually really like having a routine, I just wish there were  more hours in the day.

This morning I was a little rushed to get things ready (and left a few dirty dishes in the sink for Ari… whoops).  We’re still really low on groceries; I’ve gotten some little things here and there, but haven’t done a big shop.  I think I’ll probably wait until after the holidays, though.  Anyway, I wanted to make a pumpkin cake, but I really didn’t have enough pumpkin.  And thus, the pumpkin-banana cake was born! I just mixed up a banana, pumpkin, pumpkin butter and egg whites together and microwaved them for 3 minutes.  I topped the mixture with plain yogurt, lemon curd and flaxy peanut butter, and mixed that all up, too. Mm-mm good!

At work I snacked on a Mocha-walla bar; I wasn’t exactly hungry, but it was a little slow in the office because of the holidays so I think I just ate out of boredom.  These bars always make me think of my friend K!  This was pretty good… not my favorite, but I’d probably buy it again.  I like the chunks of chocolate!

I stopped at Whole Foods yesterday to pick up some things (mostly protein) that I can mix into salads for fast and easy lunches to bring to work.  I’ll be honest: I’m not too proud that I haven’t been able to cook as much as I’d hoped, but I think I’ll get a better hang of it once I’ve settled in a little better.

My salad today had spinach, edamame salad, cabbage slaw, corn salad and sesame-baked tofu.

I ate with a friend from work, who stopped at Pret-à-Manger for her lunch.  While there, I picked up a container of antioxidant vinaigrette to dress my salad with because it was made with blueberries!  The sales clerk didn’t even charge me for it.  Tis the season for kindness and generosity

Back at work, I snacked on an apple and did some research.  Yep, I get paid to read! I love my job

One of my coworkers made my day when he not only brought me a copy of Sarma Melngailis’ Living Raw Food (which I have been lusting after for months), but a raw coco-nutty treat as well! It had raisins, seeds, coconut, and all sorts of good things. I think it’s high time my food processor was put to work to make some of these goodies.

When I left work, I high-tailed it to the West Village to meet my parents, George, Judy and Anita for Judy’s birthday dinner at Il Mulino.  Almost as soon as we sat down, we were given an amuse boûche of marinated tomatoes, mussels and fried zucchini.

We were each also given hunks of parmesan (which I may or may not have brought home with me)…

…and a bread basket for the table with the most delicious smoked chili oil-soaked strips of crusty bread.

The ladies ordered Manhattans…

… and we toasted Judy.

My dad and I split two appetizers: fresh calamari sautéed in a spicy herbed tomato sauce…

… and black squid-ink linguini with scallops, shrimp and calamari.  I only had a few bites of this (although it was quite delicious)… I wanted to save room!

For my entrée, I ordered the branzino special.  This was the most tender sea bass I’ve ever eaten: light, fluffy, and oh-so delicate.  It really only needed a bit of lemon!

After Jud blew out her candle…

we split three desserts six ways:  The best flourless chocolate cake I’ve had in my life, with the best whipped cream I’ve had in my life.  Seriously.

The sweetest fresh strawberries with cinnamon sabayon…

…and ricotta-mascarpone cheesecake.

We were also brought out glasses of grappa, and toasted again.  (I only had a sip, and gave the rest to George.)

Happy Birthday, Judy!

It was a wonderful night.

Just now, as I made my breakfast, I’d almost convinced myself I was in a Parisian flat getting ready for the day with the rest of the rest of the workforce. It’s a crisp [...]]]> For some reason, this post didn’t go up this morning when I pressed “Publish”! Sorry about that, folks

Just now, as I made my breakfast, I’d almost convinced myself I was in a Parisian flat getting ready for the day with the rest of the rest of the workforce. It’s a crisp day out, but the windows are open, letting the fresh air (and an upstairs neighbor’s cigarette smoke) waft in. It’s about 2 there right now… my parents are probably having a simple lunch somewhere, and Ari is getting ready for his show tonight in Manchester. I haven’t really heard from my parents (except a frantic back-and-forth with my dad about physical therapy), but it seems like the Upwelling‘s tour is off to a great start!

Yesterday morning I played a fierce game of “snooze” with the alarm clock. You might be wondering why I even bother setting alarm given that I don’t have a job, but I find that I really need to keep myself on a remotely “normal” schedule so that things get done and I don’t lose my mind.

Breakfast was a little different yesterday.

I cooked 1/3 cup of 5-Grain Cereal in 2/3 cup of water, then microwaved a diced apple with cinnamon and a little brown sugar. (Blew the fuse with this one… the dishwasher and dryer was already running in the kitchen, and the vacuum was in use in another room. Whoops! But a girl’s gotta have her breakfast ) I topped everything with 1/4 banana and a big scoop of peanut butter.

I haven’t had any hot cereal other than oats since I graduated, but I’m going to keep this up. It’s a nice change!

My knee was feeling a little better when I woke up, so I decided to go to the gym and see how using the bike felt. Well… not so great. It hurt to go faster than a snail, but the slow pace was really frustrating. I ended up getting off after 20 minutes, hobbling over to the machines to try arms, getting even more frustrated, and leaving. The combination of an over- crowded locker room and no hot water in the showers led to a minor meltdown… there were a few tears as I stood under the shower head, freezing and wondering if this was the end of my running career. Then I moved on with my life.

My friend Hannah and I met at Whole Foods for lunch, and I loaded my box with some of my favorite comfort foods.

Including but not restricted to:

• Mixed greens
• Steamed broccoli
• Artichokes
• Sweet Potatoes
• Baked Tofu
• 1 Plantain
• Vegan Chicken Salad
• “Detox Salad” made w/ ground cauliflower
• Whole Grain Taboule
• Kale & Cantaloupe salad

I also sneaked in some coconut water

After lunch I went home and made some calls to physical therapists, trying to get an appointment.  No luck!  So, I decided to relax a little and settled into bed with a book, a cup of chai, and an apple with cinnamon.  Very cozy!

This quote would be more appropriate if it ended with “honor your body“, but I can do both.

For some reason I was hungry for dinner a lot earlier than usual, so I ended up getting dinner ready around 6:30.  I diced up an heirloom tomato…

… and mixed it in with the leftover Lemony  Rigatoni w/ Chickpeas & Broccoli, which I topped with parmesan.

I had a few leaves of romaine on the side, as well as a big rebel carrot.

Ilana came over a little later, and after I made her a quick dinner, we had an ice cream party!  Good sleepovers are not complete without them.

I had a bowl with half Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Butter Cup and half Haagen-Dazs Vanilla Bean. with a hearty drizzle of hot fudge.

Speaking of ice cream, remember the almond-less Vanilla Swiss Almond? Well, I finally got around to calling Haagen-Dazs, and they were very nice about the mix-up and should have a coupon in the mail.  All’s well that ends well!

I’ll be back a little later with the physical therapist’s diagnosis.  Hope you’re having a great day!

We are really running low on fresh supplies (although I have oodles of chocolate!), but I’m going to be [...]]]> Good afternoon, Lovepies! I hope you are having a fantastic day, although by the time you read this it might very well be  nighttime for I am once again on the World’s Slowest Computer (WSC).

We are really running low on fresh supplies (although I have oodles of chocolate!), but I’m going to be out for a few meals in the next few days so I’d rather not buy produce only to have it spoil.  Yesterday I turned to the freezer for inspiration, and heated some of Trader Joe’s Mangolicious blend, which I mixed with a crumbled Apple Berry Vitamuffin and nonfat yogurt.

I’ve been wanting to make a pretty parfait again, but the only clear glass in the house has gone missing.

After I worked around the house for a little, I grabbed an apple and headed into the city for some speedwork at the gym.

I don’t know about other runners out there, but I have a really hard time staying on the treadmill for more than two miles, and even that is a challenge for me.  It’s just so boring!  There was nothing but reality and sports showing on the TVs, and running in place feels a little depressing to me.  I can’t stop myself from staring at the screen as minutes and distances slowly tick by, even if I cover it with a towel. I think I can also run faster when I’m outside; on the treadmill, running less than a 10-minute mile is really a challenge for me.  One more reason that I need a Garmin! Finally, Behind The Music: Pink came on, and I actually kind of really like her, so I watched that and the time passed  a little more quickly.  I ran 4 miles at speeds ranging from 6.0 – 7.5, taking recovery breaks at 4.0, and cooled down for 3 minutes.

Total distance: 4.15 miles

Total time: 42:28 minutes

Maximum heart rate: 192 (97%)

Average heart rate: 176 (89%)

Calories burned: 496

After a very fast shower, I hurried to the subway, eating my Whole Foods meal (which I had wisely bought before working out, to save time) on the way.  I actually wasn’t so excited to eat this… I think I’m beginning to suffer from Food Boredom.

In the mix:

• spinach
• broccoli
• roasted sweet potatoes
• bok choi
• baked tofu
• vegan chicken salad
• seaweed salad
• sweet & spicy dumpling (1)

I almost got a soup to accompany my salad, but I was low on time and wanted to save room for my afternoon treat.  I hopped on the subway, transferred, and made my way to Babycakes to meet Ellie and Leslie.

I’ve dreamed about Babycakes cupcakes and their icing shots for far too long. Even if their pickings were horrible (which is far from the truth, their store is one of the cutest places I’ve seen.  The bake staff have the most adorable little Waitress-style outfits (that I would definitely wear in a non-working environment) And, even better, these treats are actually good for you! Have my prayers been answered yet again?  Here’s what they say about the sweets on their website:

In a city dominated by cupcakes overflowing with sugar, flour and butter cream, it’s easy for those with persnickety diets to feel left out. BabyCakes offers all-natural, organic and delicious alternatives free from the common allergens: wheat, gluten, dairy, casein and eggs. Rest assured, all sweeteners have been chosen responsibly and used sparingly. White sugar will never be found in our bakery, nor will we ever use toxic chemical sweeteners. Instead, most products are sweetened with agave nectar—a natural syrup from a cactus which is low on the glycemia index and often a safe alternative to most non-insulin dependant diabetics. Occasionally, unprocessed and unrefined sugar is used in certain goods, although sparingly.

The menu of the day:

It was very hard for me to choose…

As soon as I saw the Vanilla Cupcake with Chocolate-Fig Ganache and Cinnamon-Nutmeg frosting, however, I knew what I needed.

Leslie got this as well.  We both thought that the cake itself tasted a bit like sweet cornbread, which wasn’t a bad thing! The filling was amazing, and the frosting was un-freaking-believable.  I need to go back and get a shot of that before they stop making their seasonal flavors.

It was really nice to chat with the girls; I met Leslie in Boston at the Summit, and we really have to get together again soon.  Lucky for me, I’ll be able to see Ellie again on Friday for dinner!  After we parted ways, I headed home.  Ari is leaving on Sunday for Europe, and I wanted us to be able to have a nice dinner together before.  I was mighty thirsty when I got back from the grocery store, and sipped on Goya coconut water while cooking.  This stuff is great… it’s cheap (6/$3.50) and has small chunks of young coconut meat on the bottom!

I also snacked on this silly-looking carrot.

I whipped out my Vegetarian Times Cooks Mediterranean cookbook, which I do not use  nearly enough.  Melissa Clark is one of my present-day culinary heroes.  I wanted to make something with either mushrooms or chickpeas (Ari’s favorites, after steak ), and decided on Garbanzo Cassoulet

The recipe calls for either homemade or store-bought tomato sauce; since the cassoulet was already going to take 2+ hours to make, I picked up a jar of Newman’s Own Sockarooni sauce.

It’s not organic, but the ingredient list is short and comprehensive.

I threw in a couple shakes of Emeril’s Original Essence for good measure…

Instead of using regular breadcrumbs, I used whole wheat panko.

Two hours later, the cassoulet was done.  There is a recipe for “Quick Cassoulet” on the opposite page of the same cookbook, which would be nice if you don’t have time to make this one.  However, if you do have the time, it really pays off.

I served it with some steamed green beans.  We got more than our fair share of veggies!

After a few bites, Ari remarked, “Hey! It’s vegetarian and I love it!” I’m glad it was a hit.  We both went back for seconds, which we enjoyed with some Gato Negro Sauvignon Blanc.

After dinner, we had to run some errands and somehow ended up walking out of Coldstone with huge cups of ice cream.  The photo didn’t turn out, but I got a “Like It” (or “small”, if you are Coldstone-illiterate) with Sinless Sweet Cream ice cream, cookie dough, and hot fudge.  Oof, my tum was not happy about that choice.

Well, I’m off to get some reading done.  Enjoy the rest of your day!

When my alarm went off at 8, my mind was filled with that excited dread that often comes with the first day of school and first dates.  Since my day is already jam-packed today, [...]]]> I’ve always thought that the day I ran 6 miles would be the day I finally became a “real” runner.

When my alarm went off at 8, my mind was filled with that excited dread that often comes with the first day of school and first dates.  Since my day is already jam-packed today, I’d written out a list of everything I would do, from waking up to going to work, with corresponding times.  This type of thing doesn’t usually work for me, but I really wasn’t even able to include a margin of error.

Still, I puttered around, wasting time… I checked on the laundry (three times), I did the dishes, I checked the weather (chance of rain)… I was nervous, and I wanted to prolong the run for as long as possible.  But, I was also excited, and had a good feeling.  I knew I could do it!

I quickly put together a no-fail playlist.  These are all songs I’ve run to over and over again, and I know they keep my legs running.

Before I left, I had half a cup of coffee, half a Luna Bar, and a lot of water.

I debated whether or not to run with a water bottle, but I didn’t want the extra awkward weight to sabotage my run. Instead I kept running back to the kitchen for more water, just to be safe.  I should probably invest in a CamelBak sometime soon…

This was my first time running with snacks.I stuffed my baggie of gummies (who needs Shot Bloks?) into the waistband of my running pants.  I’m sure there was a better option… I tried to put it in the side of my sports bra, as I’ve heard other runners do, but it was really uncomfortable.    Where do you stash your mid-exercise snacks?

Finally I set off, with a not-so-brave face.

I’d promised myself I was going to run at a slow, easy pace… it was more important for me to log miles than go for speed. I’m not racing against anyone! To achieve the 6 mile run, I’d planned on fusing together my go to 4.5 mile and 2.0 mile runs.  It started to rain as I passed the 2-mile point, but I powered through it.  At almost the same time as the first raindrop hit my face, I got a stitch in my right side… the same spot I’ve been getting them for the past week or so. I tried some breathing techniques, but mostly just told myself to ignore it… and it worked!

After I finished my 4.5 mile loop, I stopped and ate half of my gummies.  Then I picked the pace right back up again.  I felt as though my legs were carrying me through, and the only thing I had to do was stay awake for it.  I expected to be sore, but I didn’t think that I’d be so mentally tired! But I powered on.  I stopped and ate the last of the gummies during the final mile.

I got home, stretched and calculated my total distance: 6.4 miles!!!

Total distance: 6.4 miles

Total time: 1:10:27

Maximum heart rate: 177 (89%)

Average heart rate: 166 (83%)

Calories burned: 739

For a few minutes, I felt a little nauseous and not very hungry.  I couldn’t decide what I wanted for breakfast, and puttered around for a little.  Then all of a sudden… WHAMO! I made the quickest bowl of oatmeal you’ve ever seen, just so I wouldn’t eat my own arm.

This was made with:

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup water
• splash of skim milk
• cinnamon
• 1 banana
• brown sugar
• scoop of peanut butter

After showering, I slathered on a generous helping of Bengay and promptly burned the bejeezus out of my glutes.  I also got so cold that I had to pile on Ari’s sweats (shh!) and climb under the covers.  I guess “everything in moderation” doesn’t only apply to food…

I took a bottle of POMx Pomegrante Wildberry Light White Tea to keep me hydrated on my subway ride across the boroughs.

FYI: I will be posting a POMx review once I’ve tasted all of the flavors.

I needed to pick some things up chez maman et papa, so I stopped at Whole Foods to pick up lunch to eat at home.  It was, sadly, my quickest in-and-out trip to the store.

When I got home, there were two exciting packages waiting for me! First… my RoadID came! I wish I could show it to you, but my Photoshop program isn’t working and I can’t edit out my personal information.  It’s very cool, though!

I also received the Kay’s Naturals package I won from Jenny‘s giveaway.

With lunch, I snacked on some Crispy Parmesan Protein Chips.

They look like baby Sun Chips!

And, unlike other brands, this one was filled with chips! Don’t you hate when you buy something and realize you’ve paid for mostly air? They were pretty good… they had the consistency of Soy Crisps.

My Whole Foods lunch was filled with greens, Israeli salad, grape leaves, vegan chicken salad (LOVE THIS), lemon tempeh, glazed tofu, crunch sprout salad, and a farro/wheatberry pilaf.

While I was home, Charley and I played dress-up…

He’s joined the ranks and is now an Upwelling Dog.

I was still snacky, so I ate a raisin walnut roll on the subway on the way to work.

Business at the restaurant was non-existent, so I went home at 7. Wahoo!  I took a salad to go, but decided to save that for lunch the next day and stopped instead at the Japanese mart on my walk to the subway.  I’ve always been curious about these seasoned “wildweeds”:

Unfortunately, I really didn’t care for them at all.  Something about the taste, and the brown weeds (which reminded me of Distric 9… sorry for that gross tidbit!) really turned my stomach and I only ate half.  This looks deceptively small… but as the above photo shows, it weighed 18 ounces!

The brown rice tuna and avocado sushi, however, was just right.  I should have just gotten more sushi!

The weeds left a taste in my mouth that wouldn’t go away, so I had a glass of Pinot Grigio to usher it out.

I hadn’t had a dessert plate in a while, so I helped myself to dried fruit, Israeli pop-rocks chocolate, and almond butter.  MMM!

Yesterday I used up the last of my walnut almond milk and added frozen berries, grapes, and Puffins.  Filling and delicious!

Yesterday was R-A-I-N-Y! It was [...]]]> Good evening! I hope you are thoroughly enjoying your Saturdays.  The day completely got away from me today, so this is going to be a bigger post than usual.

Yesterday I used up the last of my walnut almond milk and added frozen berries, grapes, and Puffins.  Filling and delicious!

Yesterday was R-A-I-N-Y! It was also very windy, so whatever umbrella you may have brought with you (which I did not…) was basically functionless.  I dodged the drops and met Caitlin for lunch in Union Square.  We’d planned on venturing out to someplace a little farther out of our comfort zone than Whole Foods, but it was so miserable outside that we just decided to eat at the hot bar.

As soon as we walked in, we were greeted with samples of Sweet Leaf iced tea.  I’d never tried this before, but I loved both the taste and their cute Grandma-themed packaging!

I loaded my salad box…

It included:

• mixed greens
• steamed kale
• roasted sweet potato
• vegan “chicken” salad
• baked tofu
• wasabi salmon salad
• Shanghai dumpling
• corn

We also were given samples of mini cupcakes for filling out a mapping survey.  Great day for free treats!

We stayed inside for quite some time, taking shelter from the storm.  I sipped on a nonfat cafe au lait with a shot of espresso to warm up:

When the rain started to let up, we ventured over to Barnes & Noble to do a little research.  On our way out, we popped into the music department and spotted The Upwelling‘s An American Stranger on display!

Caitlin snatched up the last copy, and we promptly demanded they order more.

Then I made my way home to take care of my pup’dog.

I immediately raided the fridge, and found these baby green plums.

I had a little snack of yogurt, one pear, and one green plum.

When I went through the mail, I found a package from Sarah.

She’d sweetly sent me the cup that I demanded to use every time I went to her apartment in Minnesota… it made me so happy! I hope you’re drinking plenty of tea in Russia, Sarah.

I spent the rest of the evening going through my closet and getting rid of old clothes.  I had a glass of Black Box Wines‘s Sauvignon Blanc to help me out…

I really liked this. Sauvignon Blanc is one of my favorite wines, and this was pretty good.  If I hadn’t poured it myself, I wouldn’t have known this wine came out of a box! Much better than the Franzia & Carlo Rossi more economical beverages of my college days.

I’d planned on cooking, but the weather was just too nasty and I wanted to stay inside and be cozy.  Instead, I ordered a bento box with shrimp shumai, sashimi, and a spicy tuna roll.

It also came with a small salad with carrot-miso dressing…

… and a hot cup of miso soup.

I was very full! But of course, when Ari called and asked me to meet him for Tasti D, I couldn’t turn him down   I got a small cup of oreo cookie peanut butter with Reese’s pieces.

Ari had to leave very early this morning to get ready for their tour, and although I had every intention of getting up with him at 8, I slept in until 11. Whoops! When I did get myself out of bed, I had a quick yogurt bowl with an apple and green plum.

I met my little red-headed friend for lunch; we went to the Manhattan Diner for California Veggie Burgers (avocado, Swiss cheese, sprouts & salsa).

The first time this came out of the kitchen, it was literally frozen cold.  The second time, it was burned to a crisp… I ate it anyway, with half of the bun.

After Ilana and I met up to pick up our race numbers  and T-shirts for tomorrow, I went to Citarella to get groceries.  Somehow I happened upon a cupcake sample station…

These homemade cupcakes are made with sour cream and buttermilk.  This was one of the richest, juiciest bites of cake I’ve had.  So good! I may just have to pick some up soon.

When I got home, unloaded my groceries and soothed my aching & blistery feet (trying out new boots the day before a race might not have been the best idea), I snacked on an apple.

Ilana came over and I made a cozy and comforting dinner for us.  We started with a mixed green salad with leftover carrot-miso dressing.

The star of the meal was Bon Appétit‘s Multi-Grain Penne with Hazelnut Pesto, Green Beans, and Parmesan.

I added a little more lemon juice than the recipe called for for a little extra zing, and I think it worked.

We dined in bed like queens, and enjoyed a glass of Black Box Sauvignon Blanc.

Ilana’s review: It’s not sweet. Very refreshing, but that might just be ’cause it’s cold.  Not my favorite, but not bad.  Would I buy it? I think so.  It’s growing on me.

We’re still in bed, watching The Devil Wears Prada.  The race starts at 9:20 tomorrow, so we have to get to bed early!  I’ve been mulling over this dilemma all day: I don’t have an armband for my iPod (it’s such an old model that they don’t make them for it), but I also want to run with my camera.  The ultimate question: to double-fist or not to double-fist? Is it a terrible idea to run with both hands full? I need your help!

Many thanks to Erin, who awarded me this award.  Thanks, Erin!

I’m very, very behind on your blogs, but I will catch up as soon as possible.  Love you mucho and have a great rest of the weekend!

Yesterday when I woke up, the AC [...]]]> Good evening, friends! I hope your Thursday (er, now Friday morning) was glorious.  So sorry about disappearing this morning, but Ari left for a tour and I figured that spending the time with him was more important than blogging or exercising.  That’s the way the cookie crumbles!

Yesterday when I woke up, the AC was on full-blast so I made a big bowl of oatmeal for breakfast. Ari, who is still recovering from his wisdom tooth surgery, enjoyed a bowl himself. I even got him to try it with peanut butter! (I used Skippy for him, though… he’s not into “that healthy stuff”.)

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 banana
• 1 plum
• cinnamon
• agave
• 1 tsp PB

After lounging around for a bit, I took my booty to the gym for some strength and cardio work.  The HRM was being a sourpuss, so I don’t have any stats for ya.

I met up with a friend I haven’t been able to see for a while for lunch at Whole Foods.  It was great to catch up (and gorge on the hot and cold bars !

• spinach
• seaweed salad
• baked tofu
• barbeque tofu
• super greens salad
• vegan dumpling
• jicama mango salad
• farro mint salad (LOVE)
• broccoli
• sweet potato

Deeelish!

After I left my friend, I was starting to dread going to work so I stopped in at One Lucky Duck for a little pick-me-up.

It started raining so the photo didn’t turn out very well, but this is their sacher torte.  It was veeery rich and fudgey, as a sacher torte should be.  It was good, but I think I should have gone with my instincts and had one of the treats Liz suggested a while ago.

Work was okay… busy, busy, busy! It sure made up for the night before.  Ari was in the neighborhood, so he picked me up and brought me a pretty flower.  What a nice boy.

I took my dinner to go so I could leave earlier.  Ramon must have sensed my salad sadness, so he hid a little Italian tuna underneath the romaine.  I also added a little Parmesan and hummus.

I had a juicy white peach for dessert and made a big mess.  Summer fruit ain’t made for the neat folk!

That’s all for now, these eyes of mine are tired and I have to get ready for BOSTON! I can’t wait.

If you’re on the West Coast, keep your eyes out for The Upwelling! They may just be coming to an arena near you.

Night dollfaces

Happy Humpday, bloginas and bloginos! I hope your day is going fabulously so far.  We’re scheduled to have thunderstorms today, but so far it’s beautiful out.

Yesterday I started my morning with a big ole mug ‘o yogurt.

I used Fage 0% and Chocolate PB2 to make a chocolate peanut butter mousse, then layered bananas, [...]]]> [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWXcjYNZais]

Happy Humpday, bloginas and bloginos! I hope your day is going fabulously so far.  We’re scheduled to have thunderstorms today, but so far it’s beautiful out.

Yesterday I started my morning with a big ole mug ‘o yogurt.

I used Fage 0% and Chocolate PB2 to make a chocolate peanut butter mousse, then layered bananas, apricots, and cherries to make a bombdiggity parfait.

I spent the rest of the morning reading and writing furiously, and broke around 2 for lunch. I heated up a pouch of Trader Joe’s Indian Fare Carrot, Lentil & Onion Soup.

I’ve had this once before, and I really like it.  The ingredient list is simple, it’s not calorically dense for the amount of soup you get, and the flavor is awesome! The only thing that would have made it better is a little shredded coconut or chopped peanuts, like I used to do at school.

I also made a melty wrap with TJ’s meatless meatballs, light munster cheese, and roasted red pepper hummus.  Our hummus stash is running dangerously low… I think I need to hit up Elise‘s fridge.

This was my second cup of coffee for the day, and I was WIRED.

A couple hours later, I had an apple to fuel me through the last of my work.  I had a minor freakout when my computer froze and wouldn’t turn back on… but all is well.

I finally got my booty to the gym around 6. Note to self: never go to the gym at 6 on a weekday AGAIN.  It was unbelievably crowded; all the machines were taken, I couldn’t get a locker, and it was sheer pandemonium.  There was a DJ spinning by the weight machines, which was cool, but I’d rather be able to work out.  Instead, I did arms, abs, and five minutes on the treadmill… I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked. I did one-minute intervals at a range of 5.8 and 6.8 MPH, which keeps me from getting bored.

After a quick shower (which I don’t usually had to wait for… another reason not to go at this time), I ran over to Whole Foods for some dinner.

In my box, I got:

• spinach
• bok choi
• seaweed salad
• farro with apricots and almonds (!)
• broccoli
• sesame-glazed rainbow carrots
• BBQ tofu
• baked tofu

I wolfed down my meal on the subway and rushed over to the B. B. King Blues Club to meet Leslie, Stewart, and my mom for the Lovin’ Spoonful concert.

Leslie snuck her cup of Coldstone into the club…

It got a little messy! This was a tasty coffee ice cream with cheesecake combination.

We hid it by some equipment under the table…

Very stealthy.

The show was a lot of fun.  I think my mom, Stewart and Leslie were a little startled by the band’s appearance… a lot has changed since the above video was made.  They still had a great energy, however, and everyone had a great time.

When I got home I remembered it was “trash night”, so I took  all the recycling and household garbage outside.  One of the main garbage cans didn’t have a bag, so I tried to tip the can into a giant garbage bag.  Unfortunately the can was chained to the fence, so it snapped back, spilling foul-smelling liquid all over me.  And what was this liquid? Rained-on doggy poo.  I did my best to clean it up, and in doing so, covered the already-bagged garbage in the poo.  I went back inside to get some new bags, but forgot to bring my keys with me.  So I was locked out of the house, covered in poo, for about half an hour. Luckily the problem resolved itself and I got in about half an hour later, and took my third shower of the day.  P-U!

I figured that ordeal deserved a special treat, so I went for one of the fancy chocolate squares we got at Tony Caputo’s.  According to “the chocolate guy”, Amadei chocolate is the best on the planet right now.  Tony Caputo’s is the only store in Utah that is licensed to sell it.  Amadei has one all kinds of awards, and in 2006 Food & Wine magazine named it “The World’s Best Chocolate”.

The Chuao variety combines notes of plums, red fruits, and conserves.

“The chocolate guy” said the only way to really taste all of the flavors in a chocolate is to eat it first thing in the morning, before you’ve even had a glass of water.  I’ll have to do that next time.

I ate it along with a big plate of dried figs, prunes, apricots, and dates (which were smeared with almond butter).

I washed it all down with some Trader Joe’s Bedtime Tea.

The combination of tea + a long day wiped me out! I couldn’t even get through Strictly Ballroom, a 90s Australian spoof that’s a cross between Dirty Dancing and Best In Show.  It was really good, so I’m going to finish it before I go to work!

Have a splendid day

Yesterday we needed a little something to get us out of bed, and that thing just happened to be… [...]]]> Good afternoon! I don’t know what it’s like where you are, but the City is all doom and gloom today! Around noon it started pouring, and it’s been gray and rainy ever since.  No matter!

Yesterday we needed a little something to get us out of bed, and that thing just happened to be… Dunkin‘ Donuts.  Yes, you read that correctly.

I got the eggwhite garden vegetable flatbread sandwich (which comes with American cheese) and an iced coffee.  It was fine… a little strange because the eggs had clearly been pre-formed into a triangle a long time ago, because the top was completely smooth and dry.  However, it’s a good option when all you have to choose from is fast food (or your boy wants a breakfast sandwich).

I didn’t have enough time to go to the gym, so I went for a quick 2 mile run.

Total time: 23:46 minutes

Maximum heart rate: 197 (99%)

Average heart rate: 146 (73%)

Calories burned: 210

After hosing down (or taking a shower, like a civilized person) I headed into the city for a doctor’s appointment.  On the subway, I snacked on a Granny Smith apple:

After the doctor, on my walk to Union Square, I happened upon a sample station of water. I’d thought this was called “Immunity Water,” but I coudln’t find it online.  Does anyone know what this brand of water is called?

Then, hungrily, I browsed through all of the wonderful stalls at the Union Square Farmer’s Market.

Everything looked great, but I decided to go to Whole Foods for lunch instead.  There, they had another beverage station set up for samples of Mossé.  I had a taste of the cherry flavor, and liked it very much.

I was more in the mood for coconut water, and was so excited when I saw this new flavor: O.N.E.‘s Cashew Fruit! (The nutrition facts are available on their website.)

I liked it! It tasted tropical, sort of like a peachy mango.  They have a lot of other interesting flavors, and there are coupons for them in the “Whole Deals” booklets at Whole Foods.

The salad bar was better than usual.

• Farro w/ mint & peas (I want to make this!)
  
• Crunchy sprout salad
• Vegan chicken salad (And this!)
  
• Snow pea and napa cabbage slaw
• Vegan pesto tortellini (1)
• Mexican apple salad w/ mint (And this! Spicy but fantastic.)
  
• Green beans
• Spinach
• Seaweed salad (And this!)

After lunch, I walked over to Trader Joe’s for an overdue grocery shop.

Back in Queens, I bought a couple more things for dinner (mostly fruits & veggies, and the new Larabar flavors).

After unloading all the groceries, I was more than ready for a snack.  I had a bowl of 0% Fage with a peach and 2 tbsp low-fat granola:

Dinner was excellent.  The new Gourmet magazine has a lot of fantastic recipes, but this one came right from the “You Asked For It” column (it was, incidentally, my job to organize these letters when I worked for Gourmet): avocado-strawberry salad with orange vinaigrette.

Who says salads have to be boring?

I halved the recipe to make two servings; I used one avocado, one orange, 1/2 pint of strawberries, and goat cheese.  I added a little tofu to round out the meal, and ta da! Instant summer.

I celebrated Wednesday by having a glass of Italian frizzante that my friend Howard brought me.  It’s a fruity prosecco that’s light and not too sweet, and went perfectly with the salad.

Dessert was the old reliable: dried fruit, dark chocolate, and almond butter.

I spent the rest of the night watching two of my favorite gentlemen duke it out… pretty fabulous Wednesday, if I do say so myself.

I also chopped off my hair again.

Night

(I was actually looking for the Spice Girls version of this song, but maybe you’ll respect me a little more this way.)

I’m so sorry for disappearing for so long.  My schedule has been pretty strange recently, and these are the first minutes I’ve had to myself in days!  I’ve missed you

Wednesday [...]]]> [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIiUqfxFttM]

(I was actually looking for the Spice Girls version of this song, but maybe you’ll respect me a little more this way.)

I’m so sorry for disappearing for so long.  My schedule has been pretty strange recently, and these are the first minutes I’ve had to myself in days!  I’ve missed you

Wednesday night, after my dessert plate and toothbrush, I was up late finishing my book and got hungry again.  I had some dried fruit (cherries, apricots, prune) and almonds:

After another fitful night of sleep, I woke up and went with Ari to the deli for breakfast.  I wasn’t really in breakfast mode yet, so I just got a tower of fruit salad.

Ari went the bagel way.

A little later, I dragged myself out the door for a run.  I really wasn’t in the mood: my body was heavy, my feet felt clunky, and my brain just wasn’t there.  I ended up turning around and only running about 1 mile.

When I got back, I had a big bowl of Puffins with crushed walnuts and almond milk:

When I got into the city, I went to the Whole Foods salad bar for lunch, which I haven’t treated myself to in a long time.

• mixed greens
• jicama mango salad
• broccoli
• baked tofu
• minted tomatoes
• seaweed salad
• mandarin orange tofu salad

It was a winning combination.  There were five or six items in the bar that contained mint, which is an herb I rarely use.  I really should! It’s so summery, and adds a festive feel to food and drinks (read: mojitos!). I’ll work on this.

I finally had one of the Monster Cookies that Sarah has been raving about all this time.  It’s sort of like a Super-Charge Me Cookie: peanut butter, dark chocolate, coconut… mmm.  It was supposed to be a “Get excited for your work week!” cookie, and it worked pretty well.

During work, I snacked on an Iced Oatmeal Raisin Luna bar:

Ramon made me one of the night’s special salads for dinner: mixed greens with avocado, apple, tomatoes, walnuts, and goat cheese, mixed with a light lemon vinaigrette.  Seriously yummy.

Work was bad.  Luckily I work with a lot of really great people, but the customers were just… weird.  There were several “altercations” at the restaurant and near tears (not mine), but my friend Howard made up for it by bringing by some pastries from  Black Hound Bakery .  Mine was a fruit tart  filled with lemon custard and topped with blackberries, raspberries and blueberries.  I was planning on digging into it on the cab ride home (which I justified by staying an extra 20 minutes at work to make the fare), but the car ended up getting stuck in traffic for 30 minutes and then BREAKING DOWN, and by the time I’d taken cab #2 home, I was too stressed out about having spent $30 on transportation that I wasn’t really in the mood.  Next time I’ll just take the subway.  Life happens.

My camera went missing (and my heart skipped a beat or two) so I used my computer to take this beautiful morning PJs photo.  I had an Ezekiel English muffin with almond butter and 1/2 banana:

In another attempt to rally myself for the long day ahead, I cut myself about 1/6 of Howard’s fruit tart for breakfast dessert.

After breakfast, I got all packed up for work and ready for the gym.  However, I ended up running some errands with Ari and only made it to the gym to shower.  This seems to be happening more and more frequently, but… life happens.

Ari and raced against the ticking parking meter and scarfed down lunch at Benny’s Burritos. I ordered the fish tacos, which came two tacos, lettuce, guacamole, and a side of rice and beans.  I knew they wouldn’t be quite as good as the fish tacos at Bonita, but I was curious.

The photo was taken on Ari’s phone… sorry for the blurriness!

I ate some of one taco (and all of the fish) and scooped out the insides of the other, ate half the guac, and half the rice and beans.  All in under 10 minutes. Oof! They were good, but next time I think I’ll get a burrito from the place with “burrito” in their name.

The undocumented: iced coffee, mozzerrella &  tomato slices with balsamic, probably 20 orange wedges from the bar tray…

Ari picked me up from work and we hotfooted it to 16 Handles, which was closing in five minutes. I got a mixture of Pomegranate tart, Margarita tart, Peanut Butter and Cheesecake, topped with strawberries, chocolate chips, and one chocolate-covered pretzel.

It must have been just what the doctor ordered, because all it took was that fro-yo and one episode of In Treatment to send me off to Dreamland. Woohoo!  And it gets better: as I’ve been typing this, I found out that I do NOT have to work a double shift today… it’s pretty slow, so I’m only going in at 4 for the night shift.  Good things happen, too, sometimes.

Have a great day!