Blogworld sickies.

I feel like in every blog I read someone is getting sick, I hope we aren't posting germs!  I did end up stopping on the way to class to get the vanilla tea from Starbucks.  I also broke down and got an oatmeal cookie.  (I haven't had one since before winter break!)  They were so delicious and I enjoyed them during class.  Definitely my fav tea anddd cookie!

You can also see I packed an apple with cinnamon and my water bottle of course.  I cannot go to my class or internship without my water bottle or I die of thirst.  I haven't bought water bottles from the store at all this year so I'm saving lots of money!

Although these were great snacks, I was starving by the time I got out of class.  I needed to use up some leftovers and I wanted some protein.  My protein-less meal last night had me starving while I was trying to fall asleep.  Silly mistake.  I made a delicious nacho with my leftover taco meat.  I also had multigrain chips, refried beans, tomatoes, colby jack cheese, green and white onions.  This meal was definitely not lacking in protein (in fat either I suppose.)

I'm off to bed to try and end this cold.  

Goodnight!

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 (:

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 (:

Weekend Munchies

It seems that when weekends roll around I become a serious slacker when it comes to blogging.  However, a couple of my best girlfriends were here this weekend so I needed some time to relax and hang with them. What a weekend!  I didn't take pics of everything but I tried to take them when we ate out.

I started my weekend with some maple syrup oatmeal.

Friday night we were celebrating Kate's bday so we were out and about in the city.  Saturday we all had a slow start to our day due to our late night on Friday.  We had tickets to a show at night so we found a cute little restaurant around the bar.  Wishbone was a southern cooking joint.  It was pretty good however I don't know if I would go back.  They did serve rolls and cornbread before which were so good!

I decided to get a burger on brown bread.

The show we went to after dinner was Bye Bye Liver.  It was an interactive, drinking, comedy show.  It was so funny and I had a lot of great laughs.  I would definitely go again.  I think that both men and women would enjoy it although just my girlfriends and I went.  After the show I saw they had one of my FAV beers.  I ordered a Founder's Red Rye and although it wasn't as good as draft, I still loved it!

We also got hungry again later on so we ordered the spinach artichoke appetizer.  (I like having my appetizer after dinner haha.)  It was AMAZING.  I love spinach artichoke dip I just wish it was a bit healthier for me.  haha

This morning I was in a little bit of a rush to get back into the city to meet up with the girls so I made some cream of wheat, banana and agave.  Yum!

We walked around the city until we were ready for lunch at The Cheesecake Factory.  I have never eaten at this famous restaurant but WOW.  My whole meal was delicious and then the cheesecake was amazing of course!  I got the four seasons pizza which had four different sections and a caesar salad.

For dessert, Kristi and I split the carrot cake cheesecake.  It was hard to decide from all the different choices but I think we made the right decision.  It was fabulous!

Like I said, what a weekend!  I had such a great time with my girlfriends but boy am I tired and I really think I'm sick.  They are preparing us for lots of snow here in Chi so I plan on staying in in my pjs, making spaghetti squash and cheering on Team USA in the hockey game!

Tara (:

Brussel Sprout Adventures

My fat wrap definitely held me over until after class.  Although when I got home I munched on more than I should have.  Although I have been staying up pretty late the last few nights so I guess I need something to hold me over until bed.  (That's what I tell myself at least.)  I decided to eat my leftover chicken cacciatore. It was good but definitely not as good as it was fresh....or perhaps the company just wsn't as good.  ;-)

I decided I wanted a veggie with this so I zapped some brussel sprouts in the microwave.  I topped them with some spray butter and Mrs. Dash and they were AWFUL.  My family didn't really like brussel sprouts growing up so we didn't eat them a lot so I decided I would look up a new recipe online.  I decided to top them with a bit of olive oil and S&P.  I cooked them at 400 degrees for about a half hour. Once again they did not turn out too well.  I did like the crispy outside but the inside was not great.  Perhaps I should have let them cook a bit longer.  I ate the crispy outsides and tossed the rest.  ):

Round 1:

Round 2:

I still needed something else so I grabbed some granola and I also had a mint skinny cow.

Finally for my last snack of the night I had an apple with cinnamon.  Whew.  I got this yummy idea from Hungry Hungry Hippie.  I haven't had this snack since I was little.

Off to watch more Olympics.  (I love Shaun White!  He is unbelievable.)

Tara (:

Fat Wrap

Again, I woke up feelin sick this morning but I do feel better than I did yesterday.  (I must feel better by tomorrow because two of my best girlfriends are coming to visit!)  I made maple syrup oatmeal and decided to try topping it with my homemade granola and some TJ's peanut butter.  It was good but I don't know if I like it that much better than plain oatmeal.  The great thing about it was that it kept me full until after my workout.  I also tried another Ellie Krieger recipe.  I made some iced coffee.

Here's what I did with the iced coffee:

• Mix 1 Tbsp of sugar with 2 Tbsp of instant coffee.
• Add 1/4 cup of boiling water until dissolved.
• Put in blender with 1c ice, 2 c skim milk, 1 banana.

I didn't follow the recipe exactly.  I was suppose to freeze the banana, which I think would have been better.  I also didn't add any cocoa powder which was an option.  If I made it again I would half the recipe and not include sugar.  I might also use soy milk instead.

When I hit the gym today I was going to follow my plan.  I started with a ten minute warm up walk, then I did weight training with Hannah and also did a 15 minute incline cool down.  It felt very strange not to run or do more cardio but I'm trying to get that out of my mindset of run, run, run.  My arms did feel like jello after.

Yesterday I accidentally bought two OJ's while grocery shopping.  What's wrong with me??  Anyway, must be a sign that I need to drink it to feel better.  Which I still don't know if that is true or not.  I also made a MONSTER wrap because I'm hoping it will last until I get out of class tonight.  I had a whole wheat wrap and added, turkey, spinach, swiss and blue cheese, tomato, onion, cucumber and italian dressing.  It was delicious but a little too big.

Off to shower before class, ugh.  Can't wait for this weekend!

Tara (:

Yoga--Where have you gone?

I woke up feeling sick this morning, UGH!  I had a headache and a sore throat.  I've had strep throat many times before and it doesn't feel like that thank goodness.  The good thing was I did't have to go to the hospital today and I don't have to go tomorrow.  I would hate to get anyone else sick.  

Because I didn't feel good I just kept laying in bed this morning so breakfast was more around lunch time.  I had a bowl of maple syrup oatmeal and a whole wheat bagel with cream cheese.  (I guess I was really craving some carbs because I didn't eat any last night.)  Once these bagels are gone, I will NOT be buying anymore.  They are such a guilty pleasure.  I also had some orange juice (to get in my vitamin c!) and coffee.

 I had to make a grocery trip today where I spent nearly $84.  I don't have a job so I try to spend as little as possible but one thing I will not compromise on buying fruits and vegetables (which often are what rack up my bill.)  This trip didn't even include any meat or wine!

When I got home from I had some of my leftover orzo recipe.  (I still have a ton left, gosh!)  I also had a blood orange.

My school offers free yoga and I really loved it however I haven't yet attended this week.  Last week we went and it was nowhere to be found and tonight was the same thing!  It's so frustrating!  After waiting for a while, nobody showed up so I left and went to Hannah's to do some homework.  Ugh.

The homework took longer than expected so I got a late start on dinner.  (I also forgot taco seasoning so I was running around to grocery stores looking for that, ugh.)  When I got home I had tacos and chips and salsa for dinner.

These chips from TJ's were okay but nothing to write home about.  (You can see all the homework I'm covering up with my food.)

I also received a Michigan magazine today and I can't wait to read it.  It makes me miss home and get so excited for Michigan summers up north!

Off to conquer some of this homework!

Tara (: