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 (:

Presents

Ahoy from Chicago!  I made it back to The Windy City early this morning.  I left East Lansing around 7:30am which was earlier than usual but I wanted to get back with plenty of time to spare before my interview.  Last night I could NOT fall asleep.  I really think that it is one of the worst feelings laying in bed at night tossing and turning ESPECIALLY when you know you have to get up early.  Needless to say I'm EXHAUSTED today.  I got to East Lansing late Saturday night so we could hang out all day Sunday.  This is the beautiful foggy weather I left at home...

You can't even see across the lake!

Keith was gone all week volunteering on an Indian Reservation this past week for spring break and brought me back a delicious bar.  It was like buffalo jerky with cranberries, YUM!

He also got me this necklace (which I'm wearing as a bracelet) from one of the local artists.  I love it!  The charm is made from a nickel.  The deer reminds me of up north.

This morning while Keefer was still tucked in bed I was eating a bowl of frosted mini wheats.  (It was way too early to remember to take a pic.)

By the time I got back to Chi and unpacked I was hungry again so I grabbed some soup.

  It was okay but nothing great.

I didn't know how long it would take to get downtown to my interview so I left way early and got there way early.  I just walked around Michigan Ave. and wandered until my interview.  I had almost forgotten they dyed the river green!

After the interview I was starving so I headed home for some of Mom's spaghetti that she sent back with me.  I also had some green beans and cottage cheese.  

I wanted another serving because it was so good but I'm really trying to cut back on my portion sizes.

For dessert I had yogurt mixed with granola.

My eyelids are so heavy.  G'night!

Tara (:

Nutrition From the Ground Up!

Happy second day of National Nutrition Month!  Tomorrow at my internship I have to make a display about it so I've got it on the brain.  This year is Nutrition From the Ground Up.  I think this is a really awesome theme.  It encourages growing your own fruits and vegetables which I personally haven't really done but hopefully I can this summer!  My house at home really doesn't have an area where animals can't get to them.  I never get to take pics at the hospital, obviously but maybe tomorrow I can snap a pic of our display.  

Today I forgot to snap a pic of the oatmeal I ate for breakfast but I can assure you that it was tasty.

I was so hungry this morning that I needed something else.  I had a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese.  It was good and definitely held me over longer.

I forgot to take a pic of my lunch again but it was the same ole same ole.  I did add veggies to my lunch this week though!  Mission accomplished.

Today at my internship I had to go into an isolation room.  I was a little freaked out at first but once I got used to the mask and the whole gown, glove thing it was just a pretty normal assessment.  I really feel like I am learning a lot at the hospital and am liking the experience.  It is so great getting to work with so many different people and helping them.

I got home a little later than usual today so started heating up Keefer's spag sauce that he sent home with me.  It was just as good as I remembered!

I headed out the door for my 95 question econ exam. UGH!  It was long and tough but I'm done with midterms until after spring break, YES!  

I snacked on broccoli topped with a bit of colby jack when I got home and it was so good! (No pic, I'm so forgetful!)

I also had to have a glass of wine to celebrate.  I love this wine!  Cheap and yummy from TJ's!

I'm off to bed.  Night!

Tara (:

U-S-A, U-S-A!!

Just watched Team USA beat Canada in hockey.  Great game!!  My brother played hockey so I remember spending a lot of time in ice rinks growing up.  It's always fun to watch a good hockey game.  (Too bad I can't play, or skate for that matter.)

After a fabulous food filling weekend I thought I should try and cram in some veggies for dinner.  I made spaghetti squash for the first time ever!  I didn't end up cooking it as long as I should have but I like to call it al dente squash.  I cut it in half, scraped out the weeds and baked it upside down in a bit of water.  (Just like I do acorn squash.)  I baked at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  Once I was done I scraped it out, added some spaghetti sauce and mushrooms and ate up!  I also made kale chips which I originally saw on CNC.  They were amazing!  I can't believe a dark green leafy vegetable can taste like a potato chip!  I will definitely be making these again.

Kale may be one of my new fav veggies.  (Not more than asparagus though...which I made the other night and forgot to post!)

Almost every time I make asparagus I brush it with olive oil, sprinkle with parmesan and grill on the George Foreman.  It is SO good and has to be my fav food.  MMMMMMMMMM.

For dessert I snacked on the rest of my dark chocolate pretzel thins.  (Good thing there weren't too many left.)

Now I'm trying to make sure I feel all better by the time I have to go to the hospital on Tuesday so I'm drinking green tea and taking Echinacea.  I don't always believe in supplements but Echinacea does seem to shorten the length of my illnesses when I take it as soon as I feel something coming on.  Whether it be the placebo effect or not, I'll take it.  haha.

Now I'm off to relax and get ready for the week.  Goodnight!

Tara (:

Guilty

So I have been majoring lacking not only in blogging but also in my food choices and work outs.  Life is returning to its busy busy state and my will to make it to the gym everyday is severely lacking.  I've had intern meetings all week to prepare for our clinical rotation.  Yesterday I started my day with some oatmeal, raisins and agave!

During lunch, some of the girls and I decided to head to the local pub and have a drink.  This Fat Tire was much needed and delish!

Last night we headed out in the city for some fun.  Before we left I had a hummus pita with TJ's parsley hummus.  It was yummus!  I added the hummus to a spinach pita and topped it with the salad I didn't eat for lunch due to a forgotten fork.  It had spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, blueberries and cheese.  I topped it with a tad of italian dressing.  MMM.

Now when I say my food choices lately have been lacking, here's what I mean....

Don't get me wrong, this spinach artichoke dip from The Vines was delish but I can't even imagine the amount of calories in it and I really didn't need it.  I need to be more conscious of my choices.  Half off appetizers does not mean, get one even if you're not hungry.  Especially when pairing with one or two or three beers....

Anywhooooo.  This morning I started with a breakfast sandwich and a smoothie.

I had an intern meeting and hit the gym after for a fairly unproductive work out.  (Staying up til 4:30am doesn't exactly give me the energy I need for working out.)

andddddd now here I sit eating some green beans and leftover spag from the other night.  With a glass of skim milk of course.

Now I need to get ready for class (along with a million other things.)  I'm heading back to The Mitten tomorrow for Keefer's bday weekend!

Tara (: