AA

So I really think I need to attend an AA class - Avocadoholics Anonymous.  I cannot get enough of the green goop lately!  Yesterday and today I made a sandwich with avocado-of course, mustard, onion, tomato, spinach, and turkey on a bagel thin.  SO GOOD.  I know these bagel thins aren't as good as whole wheat bread but they really are a treat for me and at least they are a few less cals than normal bagels.  I give them a big thumbs up.

Today I stuck a cherry tomato in the middle just because I thought it was cute.  (:  (Is that some avocado on the side that slipped off my sandwich??  Hope I got it!)

Yesterday I paired my awesome sandwich with a smoothie that included Frozen peaches and blueberries, one whole fresh kiwi(including the peel), shredded coconut, yogurt and whole grain drink.  It was really tasty but I was a little too full after.  Today I just stuck with some fresh strawberries so I didn't overdo it.  Maybe I'll make a smoothie later for a snack...

Rewind to this morning...I was craving eggs (as always but I decided to have some oatmeal instead.)  I added flax, milk, shredded coconut and a banana and it held me over for a while!  I did have a grapefruit on the side though too.

I'm off to finish studying so I can take my LAST final tonight!  BYE BYE ACCOUNTING!!  I WILL NOT MISS YOU!!!!

Wish me luck!

Tara (:

Cinco De Mayo!

It's Cinco De Mayo and instead of drinking margs and eating chalupas I'm studying...well not yet but I will be after this post.  I have an overstock of pics so I suppose I'll just post them all so I can get to my studying.  I am jobless for the summer as of now so I'll have more time to post after tomorrow night when my finals are DONE!  (Anyone have any job ideas?)

My fav, grilled with olive oil and parmesan

Homemade pizza with Keefer.  Pesto, tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, mushroom, onion, YUM

First experience with overnight oats.  Verdict?  Not so good.  There was pb in here and as always, I just can't get into pb in my oatmeal.  The strawberries and bananas were the best!

Best part of the salads was the avocado.  I cannot get enough of it lately!

Keefer and I made veggie lasagna but it didn't cut it for me.  I didn't like the cream sauce and I missed the tomatoness, if that's a word.

One of my new fav desserts...banana with choco syrup.  Simple and delishh.

My first LUNA bar experience and I loved it!  So good!  Can't wait to try the other flavors.

More asparagus!

Spinach, cheese, mushroom and onion omelette.  This grapefruit was SO delicious too.  Best part of breakfast!

Sushi craving at the grocery store = mistake.  I really should know better

Before I came back to Chi my parents took me on a big grocery shopping trip and I got a ton of yummy food.  I love having a stocked fridge!

Grilled cheese with tomato and MORE asparagus.  I really think I could eat asparagus at every meal.  Kinda looks like a face doesn't it??

I've been waiting to try this ice cream and luckily it was on sale.  This is 150 calories of delicious goodness.  I'm an ice cream LOVVVVER and now a Skinny Cow Ice Cream lover.  I cannot get enough!  It took all my power not to eat it all and save some.

Kinda looks like yesterday's bfast but with avocado, avocado and more avocado.  I promise there is an omelette under there somewhere!

Off to study for my LAST accounting exam.  YAHOO!

OLE!

Tara (:

Bittersweet Weekends

The weekends before finals are always so bittersweet.  Obviously they are wonderful because they are the weekends but there is a huge cloud hanging over my head knowing that I have to study, study and study some more.  I hadn't seen Keefer in almost a month so I decided to make my weekend a little better by studying in The Mitten with him!  It was also nice because we were done with classes and interning yesterday so I arrived last night.

On Tuesday morning I made some eggs and toast per usual however I needed a fruit too so I cut up a grapefruit.  It was SO delicious and juicy!  

After my work out I was in the mood for some fruits and veggies because my grapefruit was so good!  I munched on some carrots with roasted garlic hummus and another smoothie.  I can't get enough of those tropical fruit smoothies!

I was still a little hungry so I decided to make some roasted sweet potato wedges but unfortunately they didn't turn out as planned.  ):  I think I needed to bake them a tad longer.  I had them at 350 degrees for 20 minutes but I think 30 would have done the trick.  I hate wasting food but I hate wasting calories too so I didn't end up eating more than one :/

I was craving pasta and luckily I had some of my mom's spaghetti sauce stored in the freezer so it was a quick heat up.  Spaghetti is definitely one of those things that tastes different depending on who makes it, and I think everyone likes their moms the most.  At least I do!

After class I had a major sweet tooth so I grabbed the last skinny cow in my freezer.  Unfortunately it was a little stale so once again, I had to throw it away.  I opted for a yogurt with some cereal.

Yesterday before our final presentations I made some oatmeal.  I added flax seed, coconut, pumpkin, blueberries and whole grain drink.  It was still pretty tasty but not as filling as I'd like.  I may need to add the egg white again.  I really wish I liked pb in my oatmeal!

Last night I left right after my presentations to come here so I was pretty hungry when I arrived.  We were meeting up with some friends so we decided to make a quick meal of a tuna melt and asparagus.

I'm off to hit the books!

Tara (:

Poor Packer

All done with classes until after spring break, YES!  Only one nutrition conference stands in my way of going home.  Tomorrow my school is hosting Chicago area dietetic interns to learn about diversity in dietetics.  Hopefully I can head home before it gets too late tomorrow.

Woke up a little early this mornin so that I could make myself this awesome omelet.  

I stuffed this omelet with tomatoes, mushroom, onion, and mozzarella.  Had some whole wheat toast on the side too.  I was also craving some OJ.

I hit the gym before class to do my weekly lifting with Hannah.  I really do think I'm getting stronger!  I also did a run/walk for 40 min which felt great.  I hate going to class sweaty but it's worth saving the gas and only driving to campus once.

When I got home I split up my chicken breast and the rest of the leftovers from last night.  On the side I had some cottage cheese.

For a snack later on I grabbed some yogurt with my homemade granola mixed in.  So tasty!

My fridge is just about empty!

After class I snacked on grapefruit.  So juicy and yummy!

I need the award for the world's worst packer.  I have NEVER been good at packing.  I imagine every possible situation in my head and end up packing a ton of outfits as a result.  I love shoes too so it's always hard to decide which ones to bring.  (Yes that is my tiny kitchenette in the background....only a couple more months in this kitchen!)

Thankfully it fit!

I'm off to bed for an early rise and long day tomorrow.  Night bloggies!

Tara (:

Adios orzo

I woke up this morning feeling the worst yet!  I had a sore throat, runny nose and water eyes, yuck.  I'm feeling a little better now but I'm really trying to shake this thing before heading to MI this weekend.  I decided I needed a big nutritious breakfast to get me going today so I chose tea instead of coffee.  I also had two eggs over easy with two pieces of whole wheat toast and three, yes three, kiwis.  They were going to go bad soon and they were too delicious so I thought a couple extra servings of fruit wouldn't hurt.  I also had a big glass of OJ.

After my food settled I decided I needed to make a trip to the gym despite being a little sick.  I didn't make it there all weekend and sometimes the gym makes me feel better...which it did!  I did my "Monday Workout" from my workout plan.  It was tough but I think it's going to be great.  My arms were sore ALL weekend from my workout on Thursday.  

I was ready for some lunch when I got home so I cut up a grapefruit and finished off the rest of my orzo dish.  I didn't think it should sit in the fridge any longer.  I'm kind of glad it's gone though because I made such a big batch and was getting a little tired of it.  I have a ton of leftovers in the fridge so I think that's what I'll be eating this week.  I hate letting any food go bad.  I also cut up a melon for my lunches for interning this week but only snagged a couple pieces because I was pretty full.

I don't think I'll be hungry for dinner before class but I may have to stop at Starbucks and get some vanilla tea to keep me going.

Adios!

Tara (:

Time to Get Serious

After a wonderful but gluttonous weekend with Keefer, I woke up feeling not so great about myself and my recent eating and exercising habits.  I have been slacking not only at the gym but I've also been eating pretty much whatever my heart desires, however much it desires and whenever it desires.  I've never been one to take the number on the scale too seriously but lately it seems to be staying a little higher than normal.  I'm not saying that I'd like to lose a ton of weight but I would love to tone up, get back in shape and FEEL better about myself.  (Wouldn't everybody?)  I'm currently 145 lbs. and 5'8.5.  (Yes, I need that extra half inch.)  I'd really like to lose 4-5 lbs.  I need to think of a plan that I can stick to.  Every time I go to the gym it needs to be an A+ effort workout.  I also need to force myself to think if I'm actually hungry or if I just am going to eat because it looks/sounds good or I'm bored.  Finally I need to make my splurges few and far between.  I do NOT believe in diets so eliminating anything I love from my diet would be out of the question however cutting back on certain items wouldn't be the worst idea.  I'm going to think of a plan for me for the next few days that is attainable and sustainable.  (I'm open to suggestions!)  I will keep you updated.

Anywhoooo, this morning, at 4:30am I made Keefer some eggs over easy with toast and sent him on his way, back to The Mitten.  I went back to bed but when I woke up I was craving some of those eggs.

I hit the gym and had a pretty good work out.  I did a run/walk for 40 minutes and made it 3.47 miles.  Hopefully I can run longer and faster if I get more serious about my workouts.  I also did some strength training so I was ready for lunch when I got home.  I didn't want to eat a huge meal because I wanted to eat dinner before class so I went with a big smoothie and a PBJ on an english muffin.  I also used the last of my Krema so now I'm going to try the TJ's brand of pb.

Last week I found a recipe I wanted to try on a food blog and for the life of me I cannot remember which one.  I made it for dinner and it was pretty good but if I had to do again I would add chicken instead of beans (clearly I'm a big meat fan.) and mushrooms.  Probably more tomatoes too.  Marie suggested olives which I think would be yummy as well!

I actually had to bring this to class because I ran out of time.  Marie and I decided to leave early for class to go to Starbucks and try their new TAZO vanilla rooibos tea.  No pic but it was DELISH.  Can't wait to get another.  (I used all my self control not to order an oatmeal cookie, my favvvv.)

Anyways, here's the recipe.  I would definitely recommend it with those changes.  I'm sorry that I can't remember where I got this wonderful recipe!

• 2 cups orzo, uncooked
• 2 cups frozen spinach
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, havled
• 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
• 1 can chickpeas, drained
• 1 Tbsp. dry dill
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• pepper to taste

Cook orzo and spinach in a pot, bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Add chickpeas, dill, grape tomatoes and goat cheese. In a seperate small bowl, whisk together olive oil, salt, lemon juice and garlic. Add oil mixture to orzo, stirring until pasta is completely coated. Serve in a bowl and enjoy!

When I got home I was actually hungry but not starving so I stayed with light snacking.  I had a kiwi and a grapefruit.  Both delicious.

I'm off to start some homework.  I'm off to the hospital again tomorrow!

Tara (: