Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Day 102 (Dec 25th, Christmas)

Today was amazing!!! Shay, Ally and Cassi and I shared a room upstairs and we woke up nice and early because we get too excited to sleep in on Christmas Day. Dad made sure we stayed upstairs until "Santa" was gone.

For Breakfast: Coffee! and Eventually, English muffin with egg and canadian Bacon, homemade of course, no McMuffining here.

All of us had a wonderful time opening presents, and giving them. I got a couple of great things for the kitchen, like a mandoline slicer, and a new cast iron pan, and big serving bowl that I am very excited about! Mom got me a new yoga mat too, so I can do workouts at home!

After all the Christmas hoopla was over we got ready for Christmas dinner. Mom did a Beef Tenderloin Roast, and it was honestly the best red meat I have ever had, and I don't think it could ever be topped. She also had a Demi Glace that she cooked for 17 hours the day before. It was served with Potatoes and Haricot Vert. Delicious.

For our cocktail, we had a mixed drink with Lemon, Vodka, triple Sec, and pure Cranberry juice with Champagne.

For Dessert: Coffee, Homemade Cookies, and Grandmother's Red Velvet cake that she brought.

Day 101 (Dec 24th)

Merry Christmas Eve! Cassi and I went to work this morning, but we made sure to pack everything in the car so when we were done we could head straight up to Arlington. Work was slow so we headed out around 3.

For Breakfast: Two eggs. Coffee.

When we got up to Arlington everybody was already there, mom, dad, the boys and Ally and Shay. We put our presents around the tree help set up for dinner a bit. I chopped mostly nothing too exciting.

Mom made a wonderful Christmas Eve Seafood Feast: Roasted herb Salmon (wild Sockeye) with an appetizer of grilled oysters right in the shell, Dad's specialty, with the salmon we had scalloped potatoes and green salad. Also we had a an asparagus puff pastry tart that was wonderful!

I had a Vodka Soda. I would have had a vodka Tonic, but I realized while being the bar tender for everybody that Tonic has High Fructose Corn Syrup in it, which I am avoiding. Just FYI.

I'm sure I had something terribly fattening for dessert, like cookies, but frankly I can't remember Because I didn't right anything down and I have had a hard time staying on top of my blogging during the break.

Day 100 (Dec 23rd)

Being home had been good. I worked today and honestly can't remember everything I ate. Today is Josh's 20th birthday! Happy Birthday Josh. I have been trying to wrap up everything for Christmas and Cassi and I are so excited to get up to Arlington.

Tonight we had a glass of wine and I know for dinner, I ate at the restaurant and had chicken and vegetables. Can't believe it's been 100 days of this awesomeness!

My Trip

Just wanted to wrap it up and say that my trip to visit my Nana was unforgettable. I loved every minute of it and the time we got to spend together was so valuable. I get my passion for Food from her and it's something the two of us could talk about forever. She was such a wonderful host and I had so much fun, and learned so much from her! It was a special trip that I will cherish always.

I posted pictures in both slideshows, please check them out!

Day 99 (Dec 22nd)

Well I woke up nice and early and went to the airport. My flight route was rediculous, but it was the only I could get home, so first I flew to charlotte NC, then to Detroit, then finally, to Seattle. I got home after 13 hours of flying.

For Breakfast: I had some animal crackers and a Go Lean Crunch bar in the detroit airport. I wasso hungry.

For Lunch: My flight had the choice of either fettucini alfredo or Chicken Parm, both things that were completely unappetizing, and if I am going to cheat on my health regiment, it better be worth it, so I chose then chicken, and ate just the breast after I doctored it up and made it better to eat, it was served with a nice green salad and I let myself have a glass of red wine with dinner, so I could feel fancy!

When I finally landed in Seattle I took the Brand New link light rail, from the airport to downtown and it was awesome! It whipped me downtown in just 30 minutes and was so convenient.

For Dinner: I made myself some Haricot Vert green beans and sauteed chicken breast for dinner back at my apartment, and waited for Cassi to get home from work, I was glad to be home after that long day of traveling!

Day 98 (Dec 21st)

For Breakfast: A piece of the pound cake and Hot tea.

Today was our last day together, and Ally and Shay were getting there at around 1:30 in the afternoon. We chatted and relaxed, and Nana worked on some tomato bisque she had made earlier so she would have lunch ready when they arrived. I packed up my things, thinking how quickly everything went.

For Lunch: Tomato bisque with fresh bread, fresh salad, and left over Beef Bourguignon. Lovely.

By the time we finished lunch it was time to take me to the airport. So I got to the airport only to get to my gate a see that my flight was 4 hours late. Meaning that I would without a doubt miss my connection in Chicago, so I had to re-book completely and as it turns out I got another day in PA after all. The snow created a lot of problems for the airports. Ally and Shay were willing to come pick me up again and we went out for some food at a great Irish Pub in Downtown Lancaster.

For Dinner: A guiness. And a spiced pear salad with spiced walnuts, it was great.

We went back to Nana's place and went to bed, because I had to be up for another try at the airport nice and early.

Day 97 (Dec 20th)

You've probably noticed that I have not been too careful on my diet since I have been on my trip. I figure that I would be denying myself a huge opportunity to come all the way back to Lancaster and not cook and eat these insanely delicious things with my Nana. It's vacation! Not that I have given up on my weight loss, I'm just not going to let it hinder my holiday experience.

Today I got up and shoveled snow to the garage and a path way in front of the house and to the front gate. I am not used to shoveling snow, it's hard work! It took me a while to do, but I got it done and it felt good to get such a good workout in. Nana and I made a Cranberry Ginger pound cake with a cranberry glaze with sugared cranberries today. It was great. I am not much of a baker, but it was fun and those sugared cranberries were addictive.

We made Cornish Game hens for dinner, which I have never made before, they were delish, We stuffed them with a homemade garlic bread stuffing with pine nuts. and had sauteed zucchini strips along side. We also got these at the market at a local poultry stand. We decorated the tree, and did our own little Christmas this evening. The trip has been so wonderful.

Day 96 (Dec 19th)

Woke up and it was snowing, there were just couple inches already on the ground. It continued to snow non-stop all day and by the end of the night we had 14 inches!

For Breakfast: Granola and Yogurt, with coffee.

During breakfast Nana and I sat, looked at cookbooks and chatted for hours. It was so great! We talked about food and what she rememebers cooking, what she remembers her mom cooking and a whole lot more. We decided that we were going to make Julia Child's original Beef Bourguignon. We went to the market and got meat for it yesterday, so we were ready to go! We cooked all day and just hung out at the house. It was snowing so we only went somewhere when we had to. We went to the grocery store when there was about 7 inches on the ground to pick up a few ingredients. We had the stew over a baked potato. It was so dark and rich and flavorful. We followed all those crazy little steps and details, it was fun!

After that we watched a little TV, and had some hot tea and went to bed. Another wonderful day!

Day 95 (Dec 18th)

I just woke up and I think Nana is still asleep. I went downstairs and snooped around a little bit. I sat there and stared at her cookbooks. She has an incredible collection. Not just of cookbooks but of a lot other old books from early colonial America. Books that I researched and looked at in my women's history class. It's so interesting!

Fro Breakfast: yogurt and Granola.

Nana and I went to get a christmas tree. We went to a couple different places and when we got to the second place the very first tree we saw, right when we walked in the door was the perfect one. We put in in the car and went to the Lancaster farmer's market. This place is great it has all sorts of produce stands, butchers, poultry stands and baked goods. Many of the stands are run by the local amish community. Mid-morning Nana and I went out for a cappucino local coffee shop. It was very cute, and reminded me of something that you would find back here in Seattle. We shared a piece of French Toast cake, which was, as we soon realized, is a glorified piece of bread pudding. Then we went home and relaxed for just a bit, I put the tree up on it's stand and then we decided to go to a movie!

We saw "Invictus" the movie with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. It was very good, and Morgan Freeman was excellent. It was a very uplifting movie.

After the movie we went to dinner, we were going to go to a place called La Terra and "small plates" type of restaurant bit they were closing early because it was supposed to start snowing.

So we went to a more fancy place down the road, fancy italian type meals, called Mazzi. After a lot of thought and consideration Nana and I gave the restaurant a 7 out of 10. Good, but not superb.

For Dinner: We started with martinis, I had a Kettle Vodka Gimlet, bascially just vodka and muddled lime. and Nana had a special Blood Orange drink, she said it was great. The first course the gave of was a tiny plate of tomato tartar and thinly sliced yellow and green squash. It was lovely. Then I had a my first course with was a scallop dish. Beautifully seared scallops with a tomato asparagus creme with guanciale. For the main course I had Yellowfin tuna, seared. This was served with fried fennel, golden raisins, and endive. The fish was completely raw, and one of the most beautiful pieces of fish I have ever seen. It was perfect, everything else of the plate I really didn't like, so I didn't eat it, which was fine with me.
Nana had seared duck breast, which was perfect too! It was served with a white chocolate risotto which Nana was not a fan of. Along with other things, this is basically how they dropped to a 7 in our grading. After dinner we both were tempted by the lovely dessert cart presented to us by a young dapper man. We both orders a scoop of the fresh local creamy coconut ice cream, it was delicious, and totally worth the calories! We had coffee and with the check they brought us a small shot of their version of limoncello. It was lemon sorbet and vodka, yum. After that, home to relax and go to bed.

This was a wonderful day!

Day 94 (Dec 17th)

Well, I finished my final paper and went to the airport to head out for Pennsylvania. I am so excited to see my Nana! I have a connection in Chicago, but my first flight is the long one. It worked out with flyer miles that I am in first class for the first flight. It'll be my first time, and I am interested to see what they serve for food, hopefully something that I can eat!

For Breakfast: Coffee. Cup of oatmeal with raisins, pecans, and brown sugar. (at the airport while I was waiting for the plane)

For Lunch: Spinach salad with carrots, tomatoes, prawns, and pancetta (which I didn't eat much of) with a balsamic vinaigrette. It was served with fresh grapes, carrots, and celery.

This was my first class meal, and I was very impressed, It seemed to be so health conscious! I didn't drink on the plane. I didn't drink on the plane. I am still a little cautious of drinking.

I landed in Harrisburg, PA and Aunt Gwynne and Nana were there waiting for me! We were all a little hungry even though it was late so we went to this silly diner that they knew about. It was a very clean place with all walks of life sitting and munching down on diner food, which can be practically anything.

For Dinner: Greek Salad with Grilled chicken, olives, tomatoes, onions, and pepperoncini peppers. with a Greek vinaigrette. The salad was good, the dressing wasn't that great.

We went back to Nana's House in Lancaster and went to bed, it was late!

Nana's house is amazing. It an 1800's city house, three stories high with a beautiful back yard and a neat old carriage house. I don't really know how to explain it, it's just beautiful, and all of the antiques she has in her house would blow you all away. It's great.

I met this woman on the plane from Seattle to Chicago. Her name was Katie too, and she sat next to me on the flight. She was so great and we talked about food the entire 4 hours. her husband is a sous chef at a well known restaurant in downtown Seattle and, she too was passionate about food, I told her where I was headed and why, and from then on we couldn't stop talking. I hope I can keep in touch with her and even get in touch with her husband because he went to culinary school here in Seattle and I would loved to pick his brain!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Update

The holiday has been so busy, I promise I will update soon!!!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Day 93

I woke up early and took my final for my Women's History class. I think it went really well. I also got my paper back. The paper that I turned in a week or so ago. Guess who got a 4.0 on her 16 page research paper, I did!!! It might be the first time I have ever gotten a 4.0 on a big paper at UW.

For Breakfast: two eggs. No Coffee today, but I could really use some.

For Lunch: Caesar salad with chicken. Not a very healthy choice, but I went up to Pazzo's to eat with Josh and Cassi, they had pizza, I stuck with salad.

Day 92

I spent all day studying. I drank so much coffee trying to stay up, it was horrible!

For Breakfast: Two poached eggs, dry wheat toast and fresh fruit.

For Lunch: Bowl of the Vegetable and Chicken Chili.

Cassi and I went to Costa's for Dinner. It's a Greek restairant in the University District.

For Dinner: I had a salad with grilled chicken and a vinaigrette, with cucumber, lettuce, tomato, onion, olives, avocado.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Day 91

I went to the store and got a few more ingredients that I needed to make my Chicken Chili. This is not my chicken and black-bean chili, this is Chicken with veggies and beans with tomato . . .

Chunky Vegetable and Chicken Chili:
1 large sweet onion. Diced.
1 large bell pepper. Diced.
1 large, or 2 small zucchinis. Diced.
2 cloves garlic. Minced.
1 Large (28 oz, I think) can of stewed plum tomatoes. Pureed
1 can black beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can cannellini beans
1 can diced tomatoes
2 large chicken breasts. Diced.
Salt, Pepper, Cayenne, Oregano, Chili Powder, Chili Flakes, Cumin.
1/2 Cup Fresh Cilantro, Roughly Chopped.
olive oil.

First I saute the chicken in a large pan, with a little bit of olive oil. I make sure to get some color on it too. set aside. In the same pan, with a bit more olive oil, if needed, sweat the onions, after 8 minutes add the bell pepper, followed by the zucchini, and garlic. Let everything cook together for ten minutes and then add the cilantro and other spices, and add the chicken and beans. Taste and add more seasoning if needed. I like it a little spicy, of course. Add the pureed tomato and the diced tomato with the juice and put it all into the Crock-pot. Stew for a few hours, until everything is cooked down and delicious! Enjoy.

Day 91

Cassi and I got up nice and early and went to Louisa's Cafe bakery up the street. I had a study group meeting me there at 10.

For Breakfast: Two poached eggs, wheat toast, and a bowl of fresh fruit (apples, grapes, pineapple, honey dew and cantaloupe)

I just got home, it's about one o'clock, I did lots of studying! Now I am home and I think I am going to make some soup or healthy chili. Cassi and I both have a lot of homework to do and a Crock-pot dish might be just the perfect thing for us!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Day 90

Happy Day 90! I woke up this morning in Arlington to snow falling outside my window. It is so cozy in my parents house and being there got me so excited for the holidays. I still have finals week to get through, so I have to stay focused. It ended up snowing all day and it was absolutely beautiful. Yesterday Mom, Dad, and Josh got a Christmas tree and it's a good one this year! So we decorated it today and listened to Christmas songs for a while, until we got sick of them and turned it back on to Dad's rockin' playlist.

For Breakfast: Two eggs, over medium. Coffee.

I love homemade Christmas decorations! There is at least one picture of each of us kids on the tree this year pasted in the middle of some paper-plate/wreath craft. I can't wait until I get to do Holiday crafts with my own kids, or Ally and Shay's, they'll probably be here sooner!
Mom had the idea in her head to make chocolate chip cookies today. There were a few recipes that she was thinking about . . . so we decided to make all of them and have a true taste test. Cassi and Josh were the main judges, but Mom and I made sure we got to taste too. We made three different kinds of chocolate chip cookies, the 1st place winner was the recipe that Ally gave me to make cookies for my class last week. Mom and I named them, the "Sister-Sister Cookies" Because Ally gave me the recipe and I passed it on to mom. Pretty darn good!

For lunch: I had some leftover soup that Mom made a few days ago. It was really good. It had winter squash, with a tomato stock, white beans, clams, sweet potato, onions, carrot, and celery, with garlic and chili flakes. It was spicy and delicious.

After the cookie extravaganza was finished we set up Rock-Band and played as a family. It's becoming a family holiday tradition! Dad is the best singer in the house by far. And believe it or not, Mom rocks one heck of a bass guitar!

For Dinner: Homemade Chicken and Vegetable Soup.

I posted a lot of pictures into both slideshows, take a look! I also weighed myself when I got home, as I have made a habit of doing. I have only lost two pounds since I have been home last. :( I can definitely blame that on all the cookies I have been eating, and with how bust school is, I haven't been taking enough time to go to the gym, and to cook myself good, healthy meals. I am almost done, than I will do better! I have got a lot of weight left to lose, just have to keep on keepin' on. Goodnight!

Day 89

For Dinner: Bowl of lentil soup.

We drove up to Arlington after work.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Day 89

I just finished writing another paper. i am going to get ready to go to work in just a few minutes. I hope it's not too busy tonight, my back still hurts, but I need some cash, especially because I am going to be leaving for my trip in just a few days. I woke up this morning, I was so sore! I don't think I really hurt my back, just a pulled muscle. Maybe with all that swimming and running yesterday I overdid it a little.

For breakfast: Two poached eggs with sauteed spinach. I finally mastered the arts of poaching eggs, they looked quite nice today! Coffee.

I had a banana and a fruit leather. Trader Joe's has great Fiber Fruit leathers, 60 calories and 6 grams of Fiber! Cassi and I are going up to Arlington tonight after work and we are going to hang out and I think we might even decorate the Christmas tree while we're up there. Can't wait!

Friday, December 11, 2009

New Photos

I just posted a couple of pictures, more to come soon!

Day 88

I stayed home from work tonight, because I tweaked my back at the gym earlier today. I am relaxing on the couch, it's not going that well, I am restless. I don't know what happened, but I am really sore, I hope I can work tomorrow! I only have those last few things to do for school and then I get to go to Pennsylvania and visit my nana! I am so excited! I can't wait to go to her place in Lancaster, I haven't been there in years. Then I come back home for christmas, which is sneaking up on us, isn't it? Cassi and I decorated our tree a few nights ago, I will see if I have a picture that's decent, I am really bad at using the timer on the camera and running and getting in the picture, but we will see, I will post something soon! When I got home I made myself lunch.

For lunch: Sugar snap peas, with sauteed tofu and sesame seeds, it was good, not great. :)

Day 88

Woke up today and went to my last class of the quarter. Now it's just the final exam and a couple of papers to finish up. (and by that I mean, start and finish)

For Breakfast: Coffee. Almond Honey flax cereal from TJ's.

I went to the gym today and did great things!!!!! I ran 2 miles on the treadmill! First time I have run that long, for a really long time. It felt great and it wasn't even that hard. and then I got in the pool. Going with mom yesterday gave me a lot of confidence. I hadn't gone in, in so long because I was disappointed with how darn hard it was! BUT, because of the weight I have lost and my endurance has gotten so much better, it was really good yesterday!

So today, after those two miles on the treadmill, I did a 1/2 mile in the pool, swimming, nonstop! that's 18 laps. I am really excited!

Seattle Triathlon!

My mom and I have decided to do the Seattle Danskin Triathlon together!!!! It's this summer and will be a great thing to do, and a great motivation for me to keep up the good work! I have never done anything like this, but lately I feel like I can do anything. We were talking about it a little bit and after doing some more research about the Triathlon, we decided, why not?!

It's a .5 mile swim, and 12 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run!

Day 87

Dinner with Mom and Dad was great. The place we went to had great food and a wonderful atmosphere.

For Dinner: Roasted organic half chicken, with sauteed greens and I think they were parsnips or something. Coffee. and a starter salad with arugula and shaved fennel.

I had a wonderful day hanging out with my mom. I think she had a good birthday too.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Day 87

Today is my mom's birthday and I got to spend some great time with her! She met me after class and we went to the IMA, the gym I go to for UW students. We swam.

For Breakfast: Oatmeal, a couple of sips of coffee.

After we went swimming we got ready, we went to a car dealership and looked at a car she is thinking about. And then to lunch!

For Lunch: Salad with salmon, and shrimp on a bed of lettuce, with tomatoes and fresh avocado. With a tarragon vinaigrette.

I had my final day of class in a local pub. Everyone is my class (about 18 of us) is over 21. So reserved a room at a really great old pub and our professor bought every beer and nachos. Both were not something I was interested in, and of course, did not partake in!

Now Cassi and I are getting ready to meet mom and dad for a birthday dinner over in Ballard.

Day 86

For breakfast: One egg. One piece of toast.

I went to class and then Cassi picked me up and we went to a doctors appointment. Cassi has been feeling really dizzy lately and sometimes nauseous. So as it turns out, she's got peripheral vertigo. Which is a temporary condition that goes away in a few weeks, but basically she's going to feel dizzy and a little disoriented sporadically during the day. Weird huh? We shared a soy latte. I got called into work and ended up eating something there again.

For Dinner: a cup of lentil soup and a few bites of a vegetarian risotto that was left over. It is a saffron risotto with asparagus, butternut squash, tomatoes, mushroom, and zucchini. I felt gross afterwards because of all that rice.

When I got home I had a couple of cookies, they are gone now, no more!

Day 85

I had a huge presentation today, and it went so well! Those cookies that I made for the class were very well received. But, they have been a bit of a problem for me. I can't stop eating them! I was so busy with school stuff that I didn't eat breakfast and then went to my presentation and didn't get out until 4:30. I went to Il Fornaio to drop Cassi off and had something to eat.

For Dinner: A cup of vegan lentil soup and polipo can potate, aka: Grilled octopus and potatoes with celery and red onion. salt, pepper, parsley, olive oil and lemon. So good!

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Day 84

For breakfast: Two Eggs, and One piece of toast.

I turned in a 16 page paper today on Early American Cookbooks. It was a lot of work, but very interesting!

When I got home from school I did some more homework an then took a nap. Later Cassi and I went and got our christmas tree! It's perfect and makes our entire apartment smell pine fresh! For the last few years I have purchased my christmas tree at an Aids Charity on Capitol Hill here in Seattle. We haven't decorated yet, maybe in a couple of days.

For Dinner: a few Brussel sprouts that Cassi had made earlier. I know it's not much I didn't have much of an appetite because of how little sleep I got.

I made cookies for my class tomorrow, it's the first time I have ever made cookies by myself, Ally gave me a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, they are amazing, and I also made snickerdoodles, so good!!!

Day 83

Sunday was all about homework. Cassi and I woke up and went to a coffee shop, she and I both did stuff for school for a couple of hours.

For Breakfast: Soy Latte, and a piece of Cassi's Croissant. I brought a couple of walnuts and cranberries too.

I got home and continued to work on my paper and I made lunch for Cassi and I before we went to the soccer game. It was SO cold at the game!

For Lunch: Turkey Burger, with spinach and stone ground Dijon mustard on a whole wheat bun.

When we got home from the game I got started again on my paper and ended up staying up until 4:30 in the morning finishing and making sure everything was perfect. I drank more coffee so I could stay up late enough. And I felt horrible, I have been so busy with school that I haven't had much time to write much on here, or take the best care of myself. Only a couple more days and then I will be on Christmas break, can't wait!

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Day 82

I woke up this morning and got myself some breakfast and then went to Study.

For Breakfast: Bowl of cereal with rice milk. Americano at a coffee shop while I was studying.

I studied and researched for 5 1/2 hours today and then caught a bus home so i could get ready for work. I made myself a little lunch while I was getting ready.

For Lunch: 2 eggs, 1 piece of toast.

I brought some walnuts and dried cranberries with me to snack on before I clocked in at work. Again, it was crazy at work, so busy, so stressful. Now I am home and am going to do some more homework. Cassi made me dinner tonight.

For Dinner: Pounded Chicken Breast topped with Fresh Arugula and tomatoes with Lemon Juice.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Day 81

Woke up this morning and went to school. I had lots of Studying to do.

For Breakfast: I had a cup of coffee and 2 eggs and 1 piece of toast.

After class I went straight to the library and did some research for a paper I have to do over the weekend. But I had to go home early because Cassi got sick and asked me to come home, so I did!

For Lunch: One last bowl of my chicken soup with veggies and mushrooms.

Then off to work and it was CRAZY busy! It's good because I made money, but it's so stressful.
After work I got home and had a little something to eat.

For Dinner: A bowl of cereal. This really good kind we got at Trader Joes. It's Honey almond Flax, with lots of fiber. I also had a little cup of Applesauce. Then to bed . . . Goodnight.

Thursday, December 03, 2009

Day 80

Well, had another long day. Cassi and I woke up early and took the car into the service center for a maintenance thing. Then to my morning class, after that another good workout at the gym! I got on the tread mill today and it went really well. I am jogging with no pain. I bought myself lunch at school, did some reading. Went to my afternoon class and afterwards met with a girl from my class that I am doing a presentation with. Now I am home and heating up myself a bowl of soup for dinner. I think I am going to the library tonight to work on a research paper, fun!

For Lunch: Raw broccoli, and cucumbers, with a couple of spears of asparagus. An apple.

For Dinner: A bowl of Chicken and Veggie with Wild Mushroom Soup.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Day 79

Just finished eating Dinner, I made soup and am so content sitting here on my couch reading and doing homework.

For Dinner: Hearty Chicken and Vegetable soup with Wild Mushrooms.

Day 79

Woke up this morning craving some gym time. I ate breakfast, went to class and then got myself in there and worked out real hard.

For Breakfast: Oatmeal.

I am still mainly using the elliptical for my cardio exercises but I am starting to transition into the whole running thing. It's kinda scary. I want Cassi to come to the gym with me sometime soon and do a good workout with me. I like working out with a partner, I wish I had someone to come do my routine with me more often. Maybe this weekend I will ask Cassi if she has time to go with me. After my workout I walked up to the "Ave" and did a little bit of Christmas shopping in the UW bookstore. While browsing I came across all these food books that I really want to read. They had a whole section of Northwest Cooking that seemed like would be perfect for my thesis and my Focus Group.

Cassi and I grabbed a bit of lunch while we were out shopping around. We talked about out alcohol pact that is almost up. Incase you forgot, both of us our not drinking alcohol at all during the whole quarter. So, it's been going on for as long as this blog. NOT A DROP. But, the quarter is almost over and we were talking about what to do when we reach the finish line. I know that not drinking booze has been a big part of my weight loss thus far and I am not particularly excited to "be able" to drink again. So, I am not sure if I will be drinking, even after the quarter ends, I like not drinking. Sometimes a glass of wine proves to be tempting but, going out and getting sloshed seems unappealing to me right now. Maybe I will allow myself to drink during the Break and then start up the "no drinking pact" again for next quarter. I guess I will just have to wait and see how I feel. Right now, I don't think I am missing out on much.

For Lunch: Mixed greens, with a nice grilled chicken breast, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes and a balsamic vinaigrette on the side.

We just went grocery shopping, which is the most satisfying feeling ever, I have a fully stocked Kitchen and I think I am going to make some soup for the end of the week.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Day 78

For Dinner: Spaghetti Squash with Trader Joe's seafood medley (shrimp, calamari, and bay scallops) with marinara, garlic, and chili flakes.

Day 78

Man, I finally got home from class and checked my email. So far I have had 8 emails from people wanting to take my Focus Group, "FOOD FOR THOUGHT" Things seem like they are going to go well. I woke up early and got fitted for my new knee brace. They call it a "functional" brace, because it offers full support while not limiting my range of motion too much. I am excited to get it and start thinking about soccer again. I am so hungry! and I am at a point in the month where my cupboards are looking pretty bare. I need to go grocery shopping but there are a lot of bills I need to pay first before I think about buying food. Don't get me wrong, I have food, but I am out of cream for my coffee, which on some mornings can be a big problem!

For Breakfast: Coffee, and a fat-free blueberry yogurt.

For Lunch: Salad from the salad bar at school. Mixed Greens, garbanzo beans, peppers, hard-boiled egg, sunflower seeds, carrots, and . . . fat-free italian Dressing. (you know the kind, I hate that dressing, its syrupy, yuck)

Now I am going to put down the computer and decide what's for dinner!