A feast for the eyes

I am sure I am forgetting something here.  I’ve eaten in different cities, different states, in 80 degree temperatures and in places below freezing.

Some of it was great – some of it was so-so. 

Greetings from Club Red in beautiful Boca Raton.  Mom, Jen and Jen’s friend Marge went to visit my Uncle Red and cousin Erin.  We ate at Duffy’s Sports Bar.

(say that with a South Boston accent.  It’s funnier that way).   It’s the official spot of the Florida Panthers.

I had a very delish Black Bean Buirger and yeah… fries. Lunch at the Boca Town Center.  Say hi to my cousin who works at Macy’s if you stop by. Short Rib and Grilled Cheese with a side salad.Super cute shoes courtesy of Jessica Simpson. See this?  This is me trying to tell you I didn’t make a waiter sit down at our table and ask him to explain to me what “We don’t have any more Pinot Grigio in the place” actually means in a way I can understand by making you think all I had was Diet Coke. Mellow Mushroom where your waiter will keep telling you if you order too much you can have the rest at 4:20 in the morning. Me thinks he knows a lot about the numbers 4 and 20. The Office – not to be confused with where Jim and Pam work.I don't even own *a* gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack.  Uncle Red’s B-Day featuring an old school canned ham.Bruschetta is better.My plate.Some people like these.I am not one of those people.

Hotel, motel….Holiday Inn.A Vanilla Mudslide And chocolate ice cream.Jen got sick.  :(   I made dinner.  She ate rice at 11 PM.   Back in NJ – and the Muscle Maker Grill.  I ate half the wrap and all the potato. Dave wanted Lamb Chops, Brown Rice and Brussel Sprouts I wanted a Pork Chop, Asparagus, potatoes and creamed corn. So I made both.   And I also tried to make my dad’s meatloaf.  It’s not quite there yet – but closer. In the NYC - Salad with chicken, made at the cafeteria yesterday. A small potato with low fat sour cream, roasted asparagus….

And a Foreman Grill Burger – with grilled onions and mozzarella on an English Muffin. 

It’s good to be back.

Cheerio!

Things that have happened since I last spoke to you:

1) I did week 5 day 3 of the C25K AND I walked 3 miles.

2) I ate shrimp with pasta for lunch.

3) I waited for my boyfriend to pick me up from the bus stop.  By bus stop I mean I walked from the bus stop to Applebee’s and sat and read for 10 minutes before he got there and drank Diet Coke while I had 2 glasses of Pinot Grigio.  I started to tell him a story about something and went on a tangent.

4) I ate an entirely different kind of shrimp and pasta for dinner.

5) I fell fast asleep on the couch before the opening credits for Restaurant: Impossible ended, was guided up to bed and did not move an inch till 6 am.

6) I finally finished the story on the train into work this morning.

It’s a rough job dating me – or maybe just having a conversation with me.  Either or.

A while back I got a pack of goodies from MyBlogSpark.  It contained a box of Multigrain Cheerios.*

 

*That link brings you to the page that has a Biggest Loser tie in.   More on that in a bit.

                                                   

I used the containers yesterday.  The water in my bottle looks pink because it was flavored with some Crystal Light.  And yes.  That is a Jim Halpert bobblehead in the background.  He and Pam hang out with Dwight all day.   :) 

I tried these once before and went back to regular old O’s but I’m finding that I really like the bit of sweetness these have this time around. I like my cereal sweet - but not too sweet. Back in the day I was a Frosted Flake fiend but something with sugar hidden in the title can't be all that good for you. Even if it tastes grrrrrrrrrreat! 

Ahem. Anyway - inside the Cheerios box there’s a code to enter to access some tools to help you if you are in a weight loss situation (like I am currently).  You can get your BMI, some workout hints and a 7 day meal plan.

I’m working on eating these for breakfast for the next week – which is not exactly the plan – they give you many more choices – but Cheerios have long been my breakfast of choice on weigh in days.  They make me feel lighter somehow.

It’s mostly in my head – I know – but whatever works right???   I figure it can’t hurt!

Soooo - if you’d like your own box, bag and handy dandy containers just comment here before midnight (ET) on Saturday.  Winner will be announced on Monday!!

Woo hoo!!

Tonight I’m headed back to NJ.  It’s supposed to warm up considerably so I’m thinking of walking to the World Trade Center to meet Dave after work.  We may – or may not – head to trivia tonight.

I weigh in again tomorrow.  Wish me luck.  My Valentine’s meal and penchant for Pinot Grigio might get the better of me.

The last few days…

I’ve had work stuff to take care of…specifically reapplying for the job I basically already have.

Don’t ask.

I have dragged my feet but finally got myself to the gym.  I’m finding it really difficult to get back on track.

I ate the following things.

I mixed Mac & Cheese with chicken and spinach.  The leftovers are lunch tomorrow.

As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program I received two loaves of Nature’s Pride bread.

Please don’t mind the peeling paint on my windowsill btw.

I made myself a sandwich for lunch yesterday.  Ovengold turkey, Laughing Cow Light Garlic and Herb, spinach, shredded carrots and hummus.

The Honey Wheat is not too sweet.   I really liked it.  I’m a big fan of doughier type breads – I’m not so much a seeds and nutty bread type of girl.  I’m looking forward to the other loaf waiting for me – Oatmeal.  Yum.

I made two boneless pork chops on Monday.  I ate one in a more traditional way.  Breaded with panko with roasted asparagus, creamed corn and a baked potato with light sour cream.

The other I dipped in teriyaki and baked.  I then chopped it up and tossed it with a bunch of veggies in some brown rice.   I sauteed onion, zucchini, yellow squash and yellow bell pepper with the pork and some teriyaki glaze.

In the end I added some steamed broccoli and black beans (yeah I know but it was good!) some sweet chili sauce and a dash of spicy chili sauce. 

It was pretty freaking good.

I’m fighting a cold as well as the clutter monster which is threatening to take over my apartment again.  I’m bound and determined to tame them both tomorrow.

Wish me luck.

Things that are bothering me….

…besides the obvious, of course.

1) This weather.  I am ready for fall.  I’m ready for long sleeves and jeans.  I want to wear my slouchy cowboy boots again and my purple patterned tights.  I am not upset it’s gray out.  I’m upset that it’s misty and freaking humid as hell.

2) The state of my apartment.  I’ve been watching too much A&E, TLC nuttiness regarding hoarding and exterminating.  I hate that there is a family of dust bunnies living behind my bed.   I can’t figure out how to clean it all without moving all my furniture out but I’m going to try.

3) As soon as I find the motivation that is.  I can’t seem to find it in me to do more than one or two things a day.  I’ve found I’m ok at loading and unloading the dishwasher, doing laundry and folding it.   These things I can do.

4) The 15 lbs I’ve gained.   (Yeah I think that’s the right number now.)  It’s not tragic.  My clothes (for the most part) fit.  Even the Vera Wang jeans that I wanted in size 8 but bought in size 10 that have the jacked up stitching on the right leg but are too comfortable and too perfect a wash for me to really care.  I know I’m not so far gone it can’t be fixed.   I know I just need to exercise more and eat a little bit less.  Hopefully my appointment with M on 10/6 will help me get back on track. 

5) Getting the mail.  I love that I have so many friends who are concerned about me.  I hate getting their cards.  My birthday was this month.  I wish as many people sent me birthday cards as have sent me sympathy cards.  Something to think about. I should start sending more birthday cards.  

That’s enough for today I think. 

I realize I didn’t show you what I made for breakfast and lunch yesterday.

1 egg, 2 whites, bacon, goat cheese, spinach, caramelized onion jam baked together.  Half is waiting for breakfast tomorrow.  Breakfast today was the last piece of pizza from the small pie Patti and I shared at Patsy’s last night.

Those PopChips were really stale :( but one of my favorite things in the world is tuna on a warm English muffin.

As long as it’s Bumble Bee tuna in the gold can and Hellman’s mayonnaise.  If it’s not I won’t eat it.

I brought salad to work with me today.  I’m wearing a pretty necklace and cool shoes and a sweater that feels a little too tight.  I haven’t done the C25K since Thursday so I MUST do that tomorrow morning.  It’s only been 2 days since I last formally exercised and it feels like 15. 

Tonight I’m going to make Chicken with the Sauce for dinner.  I’m going to try and remember to take pictures and write down a recipe of sorts. 

I need to buy basil.

One more thing that bothers me….I have no plants in my apartment.  I wish I could grow basil.  I’d buy some flowers but my apartment is so messy I don’t want to waste them there now.  Plus I’m going to go home this weekend and they’d just wilt before I could really enjoy them.

One thing I am enjoying, iTunes Genius just made me a cool playlist featuring Liz Phair, Regina Spektor, Sara Bareilles, Snow Patrol and Matt Nathanson.

Time to do some work.  Webcast at 1 – studio taping at 2 - home and cooking by 5:30 if I am lucky.

Old Favorites

This post is a mess. Forgive me.

This weekend I stopped in a little store and picked up an old favorite of mine. Stonewall Kitchen Roasted Garlic and Onion Jam.

I also bought a new one that's similar. I think I should have a taste test soon and see which I like better.



Today the Stonewall version did not disappoint. I love it on turkey sandwiches, with slices of a baguette and baked brie, or on a sandwich thin with cheddar.



The vending machine didn't have any baked chips so I ended up with something else that I loved from way back when.



Yeah. It's the machine's fault.

Last night after my sort of interesting massage (I had the 60 min Relaxation Massage it was very stretchy as well as Swedish - like she sat on my back at one point and pulled at my limbs a little bit. It was good - but kind of non-traditional) at Acqua Beauty Bar it was pouring rain. Simply to get out of the rain I HAD to run to Filene's where I took a gander at their fragrance department.

I have not had much luck sticking to a scent. I used to wear Tea Rose and/or Jessica McClintock in High School. Then in college I wore a scent that I bought again yesterday (more on that in a minute), Then I wore Trueste by Tiffany (discontinued), then I wore Kate Spade (discontinued). I tried Lovely (but I think I was more interested in being Carrie Bradshaw than I was in the fragrance) then I wore Shalimar Light (also discontinued -Traditional Shalimar is what my mom wears and I love it but it's STRONG!!) and this spring/summer I wore Bobbi Brown Beach which I love but is super light and doesn't last long.

Did you follow all that?

So. The point is in a fit of 1989 nostalgia last night I bought a bottle of Design for $29.99. It's a tad too strong for me now so I wore it sparingly today but I think it's growing on me again.

I do feel like I should perm my hair and start listening to The Smiths and Depeche Mode on a continuous loop after work though. ;)

Last night for dinner I made some Parpardelle with Meat Sauce. I bought some fresh ricotta at Whole Foods as well.





It was good but I now think the meat sauce was in my freezer too long and I'll leave it at that.

Patti and I are going for a drink after work. I don't really want a drink quite frankly but nothing says I have to order wine right?

Oh who am I kidding.

See you later.