Open Screens

It is so wonderful to be back in Michigan and to hear the birds chirping, the ducks quacking and having the screen doors open to let the warm breeze flow in.  It really feels like summertime.  Today I even put on my bathing suit and sat out on the deck.  The trees don't have leaves yet and the plants aren't in bloom but the nice weather just makes it beautiful outside no matter what.

As always when I'm home, I forget to snap pics but I did take a couple.

Before I left Wednesday morning I made some awesome oatmeal with blueberries.  I am getting addicted.

Keith made a delicious spaghetti sauce for dinner on Wednesday.  It was suppose to be old but we decided it would be better heated up.

Keith also made me pancakes the next morning.  Such a treat!

Hope you're all having a great start to the Easter weekend!

Tara (:

Sunday Funday

Happy Monday!  The sun is shining here in Chi and although it's not super warm the outlook for the week is mid SEVENTIES and sunny!  YEA!  I'm headed back to Mich on Wed. and the weather looks great there too!

My weekend was spent with Kristi.  I was only planning on staying with her one night but we had so much fun that I stayed both nights.  Our plan was so head to an MSU bar Friday night for the game but it was so packed that we just went to another one to watch them WIN!  Before I headed out I made a grilled cheese.

Saturday morning Kristi and I decided to try a new place for brunch called Orange.  I've heard a lot about it but I actually didn't think it was that great.  I was craving a pancake so I tried the cinnamon roll pancake but it was way too sweet.  It was also HUGE so I took most of it home and ate some for dessert later on.

Kristi got an omelette that looked much better.  I think I should have gotten hers instead.

We walked around the city for most of the day and decided to grab dinner at a place called Millers Pub.  I hate chicken pot pie with salad and they also served yummy rolls.  It wasn't the best pot pie ever but I think I'd go again.  The prices weren't too bad either for being right downtown.

We decided to relax and stay in on Saturday night so Sunday I woke up and she made me a yummy breakfast.  What a nice hostess!

There was another MSU game on yesterday (which they won...FINAL FOUR WOOOO) so we headed to the local bar to watch the game and grab a drink for a Sunday Funday.  I even got a lime with my name carved in!  haha

I ate shrimp at the bar yesterday but forgot to snap a pic.  

I woke up this morning and made some eggs and toast then hit the gym for an awesome work out.  It definitely feels great to have a nice workout after a weekend full of eats and drinks.

I was super hungry by the time I got home so I ate some cottage cheese, a salad and broccoli with some mozzarella on top (yum!)  I had a glass of milk too.

I can't believe it's Easter week.  Time is flying by.  When I get back I'll only have about a month of school left in the semester.  Crazy!!  Where did the time go!  I guess I better get crackin on some of these projects.

Tara (:

Diversity

I'm back from northern Michigan and FINALLY have wireless set up at home so I'm blogging from the living room.  It's great not to be cooped up in my room.  I had a blast up north snowboarding with my brother, Kurt and a couple of his friends.  It was 55 degrees and sunny.

(Wayyyy too many layers....I had to take them off later in the day.)

I've still been horrible at taking pics but it's more difficult at home because I eat with people and forget haha.  (Also, I eat worse at home so that's nothing I want to share. ha)  

Before I came home last Friday we hosted the diversity conference for Chicago area dietetic interns.  For lunch we had different themed stations.  All the food was really great.  All the food isn't out yet in the pics obviously...

Our food lab at school...

Mmmm hummus...

Did I mention that we got to wear awesome oufits?

I got to bring home some of the leftovers too!  I went back to EL for the night to stay with Keefer and we decided to get up early and go out to breakfast, YUMM!

One state to go...

Yess....The Mitten!

For some reason I snapped breakfast pics only...

anddddd...this pic of my cat trying to eat my squash!

I promise I will get back in the swing of things when I get back...if I'm lucky and remember I'll get some pics this weekend.

It has either been in the fifties and sunny or raining since I've been home.  Spring is coming...which means SUMMER is coming.  My FAVVVVV season!

Off to bed, nighty night!

Tara (:

Happy Day After The Super Bowl!

Hope everyone had fun celebrating The Saints victory!  I have been craving pancakes for a while now so yesterday I whipped up some whole grain pancakes and topped with bananas and syrup.  MMM  I also finished the leftover batter this morning with a bowl of cereal!

After I went to the gym yesterday AND IT WAS CLOSED????  Marie and I went on a long walk around the neighborhood.  It was a beautiful sunny day out!  When we got back I was quite hungry but didn't want to eat too big of a lunch so that I would be hungry for our Super Bowl snacks!  I had a few slices of colby jack cheese and some brown rice with a salad.

Finally last night it was time to eat the food!  I had started chili the night before in the crock pot.  It was Keith's recipe and it turned out pretty good.  (Although I still think it tastes better when he makes it.)  The rest of the food was great too!

Here's what I did for the chili:

• Brown 1 medium onion, five stalks of celery and 1 lb of ground beef.
• 1 can chili beans
• 1 can northern beans, rinsed
• 1 can light kidney beans, rinsed
• 1 can dark kidney beans, rinsed
• cumin to taste
• basil to taste
• oregano to taste
• black pepper to taste

Once again, I LOVE cooking in the crock pot.  It is so easy!

Time to hit the gym and get ready for an interview, wish me luck!

Tara (: