Me time

It's Friday, YAAAAY! My day started off in typical Friday fashion. Here is a step my step snippet of my morning.

1. I rolled out of bed, tired, and stumbled around upstairs in my usual morning fog.
2. Damn near tripped over the cat. He was spread out and whoring himself outside the door as usual.
3. I had a little pep talk with myself and walked into Mr. Scary Scale room. I swear the air feelt cooler in there. Evil lives within these walls!
4. Mr. Scale and I stared at each other, intensely, for a solid 30 seconds. There is much tension between us.
5. I took a deep breath and cautiously slithered closer.
6. I removed all unnecessary clothing (every little bit counts) and stepped on.
7. I exhaled every single breath left in me, just in case it adds weight. (I'm quite crazy you see...)
8. I closed my eyes, said a little ditty and looked down. SWEET succulent victory you are mine again!

After realizing I lost another 2.3 pounds I couldn't stop smiling. I finally broke the 40+ pounds lost mark and I couldn't be happier. It feels DAMN GOOD to set a goal and reach it, stick with it, and proactively better myself.

Here's how I look at it. You only get this one body, this one chance, this one opportunity to make it the best and healthiest it can be. WHY in the world would you waste it? Live healthy, live strong, live happy. ;)

Okay, moving on. I think that's a sufficient amount of self patting on the back for one day.

BREAKFAST (meal #1) at 9:00am.

I wanted to try the Capella Flavor Drops in my oatmeal this morning. I was very intrigued by the vanilla custard drops and thought it would pair well with warm oats. I was right. YUM!

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/4 wheat bran
• 1 tbs ground flax
• 1 1/2 cup water
• Lots of cinnamon
• Splenda to taste
• 5 drops of Capella vanilla custard flavor drops
• Splenda to taste
• 2 tbs PB2

Om my damn, DELICIOUS! The combination of the hot oats, the melted, rich PB2 and the flavor and aroma of the Capella drops mixed with cinnamon was brilliant. SO GOOD! Now I'm not sure which one I like better, the chocolate fudge brownie flavor drops or the vanilla custard one. The vanilla gets a 10 out of 10. I love officially love this product.

A bit later I enjoyed a chocolate treat and had a square of Newman's Own Organics espresso dark chocolate. I nibbled on this for ever. I would nobble, walk away, come back, nibble, walk away and so forth. I don't have chocolate often. Any moment spent together with it is precious and must be enjoyed slowly, lovingly, delicately.


Work was quiet today so I decided to clean and reorganize my office. Yes, I clean EVEN AT WORK. I just can't help it. I like all things clean. Not in a scary, I wash my hands 50+ a day clean. Just organized, dusted and clutter free. It makes me happy and puts me at ease.

LUNCH (meal #2) at 12:00pm.

I've been craving my beloved breakfast burrito. I had to feed this uncontrollable desire so I cooked the eggs up last night and packed them for lunch today. Addicted!

• 4 egg whites, seasoned with S + P
• 2 tbs Trader Joe's cilantro and jalapeno hummus
• Spinach leaves
• Drizzle of Sriracha sauce

Lovingly wrapped in a light FlatOut wrap and devoured in seconds.


I also had 2 small Kiwis on the side. Gotta get my fruits in.


On our break today I went to the grocery store and got all of the necessities for next week. Rumor has it that a huge snow storm is headed this way from the South so I thought I better get it done while I still can.

I left work at 4:00 instead of 5:00. It proved to be a good decision. The storm hit about an hour before I left and WHITE DEATH was smothering everything outside by the time I got home. Nauseating!

SNACK (meal #3) at 5:00pm.

I never had my snack at work because I left early and by the time I got home I was STARVING! Yogi mess to the rescue!

• 4oz plain 0% Oikos
• 1 banana, sliced
• a few red grapes
• cinnamon
• 1 packet of Splenda
• Kaia Foods cocoa sunflower seeds

Nick was home for no more than 2 hours and was already getting ready to leave again. He was invited to his Aunts house to celebrate his cousins B'day with some cake. No dinner, just cake. I couldn't believe he was heading back out in this CRAP! LOOK AT IT! UGH!


However, after he left, I took FULL advantage of some ME time.

Photographic Evidence #1.... (nail polish, magazine, wine, candlelight etc... And you can't see it but I was watching Say Yes To The Dress.)


Do I spy some peeps? Oh my! (This with the wine was SNACK #4). OH SNAP!


Photographic Evidence #2.... (Bubbles & more candles.)


Photographic Evidence #3.... (Cheers)


I waited for Nick to get back before making Dinner. He was DYING for Taco Salad (the usual Friday fare) but had to go on his Winter Wonderland Adventure for some cake B'day celebrating first. So I waited... And waited... (SO HUNGRY)... And waited... FINALLY he got home at almost 10:00. GOOD GRIEF I WAS STARVING! He got delayed because of the bad road conditions. DUH! I told him not to leave.

DINNER (meal #5) at 10:15pm!!!!

I worked at the speed of light. You couldn't touch me I was SO FAST. Dinner was done in less than 15 minutes. That's right my friends, I've got SERIOUS skillz. You can find the recipe for the usual Friday Taco Salad on my Recipes Blog ***HERE***. I did add jalapenos this time. My tummy is now happy and full.


Time to unwind with some mind numbing TV now. Have a great night. I wonder if the snow will stop in time for me to make it to the gym tomorrow morning? SIGH!

XOXO
Ildie

FAAA-BUUUE-LOW-OUS!

Today has been a blast of a crazy day! I've just had the best time. It is now 10:00 at night and I just got home. While dinner is simmering and perfecting in the oven, I'm blogging to all of you fantastic people about my brilliant day. Ann and I had the BEST time. I woke up and hung out with Nick before he went off to work. After he took off I made myself a nice cup of coffee and started prepping breakfast. I was craving breakfast sandwiches again. I toasted up an english muffin and topped each half with cooked egg whites, pan seared ham lunch meat and a half slice of fat free American cheese.


Of course the sandwiches were enjoyed with delicious cup #2 of knickerdoodle coffee. Breakfast rocked my socks off.


After I ate I cuddled with Mr. Oliver for a while and then got dressed and dolled up to meet Ann for out pre-planned SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA!! I have been looking forward to this day for WEEKS now. We do it every year. We go sopping after Christmas for ourselves and splurge a bit and then enjoy some fine sushi. I LOVE SUSHI SO MUCH! I don't have it very often. It's like a special treat every once in a while. I sort of prefer it that way!

The first place we went is Macy's. The gift card I got from my coworker was BURNING in my pocket. I couldn't wait a single second longer to spend it. Today was the day! And spend it I did. I picked up a few clearance (LOVE a good clearance) items and a FABULOUSLY glam coat. I LOVE THIS COAT! Check it out, the fake fur collar is rockin.


AND it's removable! I LOVE IT! I got it on sale and I was very excited about it.

After Macy's it was SUSHI time! I was so excited. We ordered a bottle of wine to start and some Edemame. YUM!


When our Sushi finally came out they had beautifully placed all of the decadent little rolls on a Sushi boat. The boat made us feel so SPECIAL! HA! Everything was so pretty! Almost too pretty to eat. ALMOST!


We ordered the Eel roll, California with cream cheese roll, Kiss roll (tuna steak, spicy tuna, avocado, crunch, salmon and cucumber, YUM) and Tiger roll (spicy crab, shrimp, avocado with wasabi sauce) and ALL of the rolls were out of this world! We hung out, chatted, feasted, drank and laughed for about an hour. IT WAS SO NICE TO RELAX!

After lunch we went to Penney's and did a bit more browsing/shopping. What a blast! While there I received an EMERGENCY CALL from my Papa. I had to make sure to post the following recipe for Cabbage Soup before the end of the day today. IT WAS AN URGENT MATTER OF TOP NATIONAL SECURITY I guess! HA! Hi Dee, here is the recipe you asked my Papa to have me post for you. :)

• 3 large cans chicken broth
• 1 bag shredded carrots
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 large head green leaf cabbage, roughly chopped
• 1 cup fresh chopped parsley leaves
• 3 large onions, chopped
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 1 tbs red pepper flakes
• 1 tbs black pepper
• 1 tbs garlic powder
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 1-2 tsp sea salt

Add all of these ingredients into your LARGEST stock pot and simmer on low heat for at least 1-2 hours. You want to soften the cabbage and the celery slowly and make sure that everything is nice and tender. I love this soup with hardy bread smeared with butter. DELICIOUS! OK, there you have the EMERGENCY RECIPE. Now moving on.... :)

After Penney's we went to Target. We couldn't get enough of shopping I guess! YAY! Somehow we always, ALWAYS end up at Target! It's a TRAP DAMN IT! A CONSUMER TRAP!

After Target we decided to head to Wolf Creek Winery. It's the local winery we always find ourselves at. We both LOVE the place. I had never been there in winter before. There was a nice layer of snow over the entire place. It was so pretty!


We enjoyed some fine wine and some cheese and crackers. The creamy garlic and herb cheese was so rich and delicious! I WAS BEING BAD but it just felt SO GOOD!


After the winery we drove back to Ann's Apartment. We hung out there for a while and I enjoyed a nice cup of coffee.


While sipping on my coffee, I felt the need for a SASSY little Cat Photo Session with Ann's sexy little cat Pepper. Just look at her. What a beauty!


After about an hour or so, I called it a night and headed home.

By the time I got home Nick was in his pajamas and both of us were super read to relax and to have dinner. I have been marinading a flat iron steak since yesterday afternoon and we were DYING to cook it and feast on it. I eat steak MAYBE twice a year so I get excited about it. Nick gets even more excited. The poor guy never eats it either. HA!

Marinade....

• 3 tbs orange juice
• 1 tbs lime juice
• 1 tsp garlic. chopped
• 1 tbs Thai chili paste
• 3 tbs Asian ginger salad dressing
• 3 tbs Teriyaki sauce
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper

I pan seared the steak in my dutch oven skillet for 2 minutes on each side and popped it in the oven for 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or so, uncovered.

Already IN the oven I had some broccoli florets, an onion chopped into large chunks, a small serving of sweet potato fries and some Idaho potatoes cut into thick wedges and mixed with salt, pepper, olive oil and fresh dill.

DINNER WAS AMAZING!


Nick and I didn't speak at all while we consumed this deliciousness! No words were needed. I had no time to talk! That would take away from my PRECIOUS chewing time! HA!

Seriously, dinner was super delicious!

As my lovely days draws to an end I find myself smiling and reminiscing. It was a fabulous day. Do you hear that Ann? FABULOUS! I know you hate it when I say the word FABULOUS but what can I say..? Except that it was FAAA-BUUUE-LOW-OUS! ;)