raindrops on roses & whiskers on kittens

Now that’s it’s “summer” we have been sleeping with the bedroom windows open, but the thunder and lightning were so INSANE last night, I had to channel my inner Von Trapp and sing “My Favorite Things” to calm myself down…it was scary!

It woke me up it was so loud.  And just so you know, normally I sleep like a rock, so this was no joke.

Clearly I had a rough night’s sleep – enter coffee :)

These are a few of my favorite things…

Peach chobz (not as good as blueberry) and a bowl of melon.

I had a mid-morning snack of peanut butter + banana, just to tide me over until lunch.

Once I was full and fueled, I began my Hawaii preparations (planning meals for Kyle while I’m gone, downloading new music and yoga sessions on my iTunes, etc.) – sure it may be a bit premature (I leave on Sunday), but I know I have lots in the coming week, so the type A in me wanted to get things rolling.

That really worked up my appetite!  Lunch time!

I made a sammich with Za’atar tofu (baked with Sabrina’s spice mix last week) on one side, and roasted red pepper hummus on the other.  I already need another tub!

 

Fan-freakin-tastic.  Random question: Do you guys cut your sandwiches in half before eating them?  Or do you bite right in?  If you cut them in half, which half do you eat first?  I always cut mine diagonally, and eat the smaller half first.  That way I don’t get sad when I finish the first half because I still have the bigger part left :)  Haha, I’m a freak, I know.

Anyways, I feel like soy products have been getting a bad rap lately, so I just wanna say – errrthang in moderation kiddos!!  Tofu isn’t the devil, especially if you prepare it yourself.

On the side I had apple slices with a mini-tub of Tribe hummus…I may have dipped the sammie in the hummus, too (TWO kinds of hummus on ONE sandwich – now that’s my kind of meal)!

You know what this means…fresh lemonade!!

Lunch dessert = dried fruit platter with raw cow hide mango, pineapple, and papaya spears.

The skies parted, so I sprinted to the gym…my workout was good, not great.  It felt good to get my blood pumping, but the whole time I was wishing I was outside :(  On the plus side, I had the new Black Eyed Peas cd AND Jillian’s podcast (thanks Sarah!!) to distract me. 

I did some very necessary shopping on my way home…

I was hardly in the door when I ripped into these babies!  I had a obscenely embarrassing amount (TEN).  Cinnamon may even be better than the original!  The HUGE sugar crystals on top were the best part.  SoSoSoGood!

Even after half the box, I wasn’t full, so I crunched into this bright red loverrr.

And sipped on pounded a Cosmic Cranberry Kombucha (try saying THAT 5 times fast).

In case you were worried, I replenished my Sabra stash today. 

I have GOT to get a hold on myself..I bought 4 different flavors (3 of which were Sabra).  Can’t wait to see Kyle’s reaction when he opens the fridge…

For dinner I dove right into the classic Sabra (FIRST with a fork, and then with an english muffin).

Since yesterday’s “nachos” were such a success…I went with round two of the veggie slices “cheesy” chips – which I then decided could ALSO be dipped in hummus.  I mean c’mon, why not?! 

Who didn’t see this coming…haha.

Once my carb cravings were properly met (and surpassed), I decided to get some other food groups in (wait, hummus isn’t it’s own food group?) and made a plate filled with yum.

Mark your calendars kids, because this will go down in history as one of THE SINGLE best dinners of my life.

Lookie lookie: Chickpeas, edamame, brown rice, tofu chunks, shredded carrots, broccoli slaw, red bell pepps, and dried cranberries all a bed of spinach.

Oh.Em.Gee.

Beeeee-YOOT!

I was quite content after this bomb dindin.  I had some iced tea which required NO ice since this mug was stored in the freezer (the water freezes in the outside part) – so COOL! 

Like a built in cozie!

Eventually it was time for the big D.

Melted carob chips + PB + toasted Alvarado Street bread = mmmm!

This rocked me right into a food coma.  I was barely able to pack my lunch for work tomorrow before the zzzzzzs kicked in.

Rain on my parade

I love summer Fridays because Kyle has half days…that said, it’s useless when the weather is this crappy.

Nothing but gray skies and pitter patter all day long.  Boo hoo.

Coffee – check!

Kyle was a little noisy this morning, so I was up early (read: too early)…which is why coffee was froth-ified and breakfast was on the GRANDE side (as far as AM eating goes).

I was craving fruit in a may-jerrrrrr way, so in addition to the plate heaped with pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, and grapes, I had a blueberry Chobz with raisins.

Hit.the.spot.

The bright and cheery fruit even made me forget that it wasn’t sunny outside (for a few seconds at least…).

Breakfast – check!

I still wasn’t all that awake, so I continued to veg on the couch (rough life).  It’s hard to be motivated when you are perfectly comfortable watching the hotness that is Bradley and Anderson Cooper in your PJs. 

I didn’t fight it too hard…I read blogs and the time flew by.  Before I knew it, my tummy was ready for lunch.  It was only 11!  Uh. Ok.  Sure, why not!?

Vegan “cheese” (veggie slices) and avocado sammie. 

T’was perfecto!  But lacking in the hummus department…

Never fear, I remedied the sitch, and all was right in the world again :) 

You guys were right, my extra $ from my Kombucha-free Thursday went directly to my Sabra fund.

My grubbing continued into the early afternoon, with more hummus and veggies. 

As well as some raw animal hide dried mango and dried papaya.

Finally, I got my butt in gear and made my way to the gym. 

Lazy pants that I was, I grabbed a magazine on the way (I knew no amount of trashy TV was going to hold me for a decent workout, so as per Caroline’s suggestion, I grabbed the latest Newsweek.

The article on Oprah only reinforced my feelings about her.  I know a lot of peeps love her, so rather than go on a rant about her lack of research and mindless endorsements, I’ll let you read it for yourself.  Testimonials are great and all, but science is science, and fact is fact.

Even though it was still pouring when I left the gym, I knew I couldn’t POSSIBLY survive another night without re-stocking a few key supplies. 

My latest obsessions were dangerously low, and that’s not okay in the HHH household!  I decided to try a new flavor Kombucha (above) after my shower…and since I was at it, I sampled a few sesame oat bran sticks too (below).

Sesame Oat Bran Sticks = LOVE.

I also picked up a few more newbies (I’ve given up on trying to reform my grocery shopping addiction).

I know they aren’t Sabra, but they were just so cute.

Kyle and I snuggled up to watch It’s Always Sunny, while I did some more afternoon snacking tried not to fall asleep.  I have NO CLUE why I was so tired, but I literally couldn’t keep my eyes open for the life of me.  I hate napping because it only makes it harder for my at night (TWSS)…so I went with the next best thing (toasty hot english muffin with hummus).

That’s the badger!!

(Sorry for the wanker terms, but my fiancé works for a Brit company, so sometimes they slip out).

You would think all this nibbling would have ruined my appetite for dinner.  But you’d be wrong.  :D

This was WAY too big.  All I freakin’ wanted were the sesame crispers on top, and somehow I ended up with a 10 lb. salad!  Don’t get me wrong, it was out-of-this-world delish, and in the end, I was definitely satisfied – so it was probably better that I had a more balanced meal (as opposed to a tub of salty sticks).

Strawbeezies for deezer!  I sprinkled cinn/stevia on top after the pic, and it was DE-vine!

Plus a few dried pineapple rings :)  My sweet tooth CAN’T be stopped.

Bed time – this is my work weekend kiddos, so enjoy the time off for me.

Raw Blah

I didn’t realize (raw) Wednesday had arrived (already?!) until I was making my lunch last night.  I guess that’s what happens when your schedule is completely random. 

So this is what I packed to eat…but I wasn’t really feeling it.

…so THIS is what I actually ate!

 

I heart this place.  There’s one in Union Square (easy walking distance from where I work). 

My ravenous appetite was STILL in full force today, so I polished off the apple and odwalla bar by 9 am…meaning by the time I got off the unit for my lunch break, I was ready to get my grub on.

Even though the weather was looking gloomy and rain was only a drip drop away, I had falafel on the brain.  You know how it is when you become OBSESSED with the idea of having a certain thing for lunch and suddenly there is no obstacle too great to prevent you from getting it!? That’s how I felt about Maoz. 

I got hummus and falafel with pita.  Mmmmm…

Not one to waste food – I had my RAW salad, too. 

I got off work on time and bolted home, where I had a nice (mostly) pre-made dinner all ready and waiting for me :)

If I don’t pre-assemble things before I work, I’ll come home ravenous and end up pounding half a loaf of bread, rather than put together a real meal.

I had loaded the tuperware up with was veggies (mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, and spinach) and BBQ tempeh, drizzled in Country Bob’s All Purpose sauce…

So all I had to do when I got home was throw in HALF an avocado…and some hummus (you didn’t think I could go a meal without it, did you)!?

I finished off my home-made hummus, but never fear, I had a fresh new tub of Sabra ready and waiting for me :)

Sabra love with an English muffin (yes, K, they are Thomas’) and the weirdest shaped carrot.  Mmmm!

This meal was SoOoOo good!

I have given up on the no-snacking after dinner part of the Whole Life Challenge.  So here come the dessert pics!

Wouldn’t be dessert without carob chips and dried fruit!

Back to packing up for tomorrow.  Anything you guys do to prepare for the day (food-wise) that helps you save time – or reduces the likelihood that you’ll opt for “less healthy” options)?

Carb-o loading for fun

Froth-a-licious!

It was a VERY berry morning.  Strawberry chobz + even more strawberries.

These were the Arnold Schwarzenegger of strawberries.  They were SO huge, I think I only needed 4 to fill the bowl to the brim!

See!!  Massive! 

For lunch, I made a Philly NY cheese steak seitan wrap…yeahhhhh, my version has nada to do with the greasy, cheesy, meaty dish made famous by the city of brotherly love.  Oddly enough though, seitan with veggie slices kinda reminds me of the artery clogging sammie (as gross as that is to admit).  Fortunately, my wrap is a bit more healthy, and pretty simple to make.

1.  Warm tortilla

2.  Add way too much seitan (so there’s no way it will close)

3.  Melt cheddar flavored veggie slices (or any other vegan “cheese”)

4.  Be generous with the avocado

5.  Try to make it healthier by tossing in something green

6.  Stop, drop, and roll (like you're on fayah!)

7.  Gobble gobble

Lunch was delish, have I convinced any of you to make your own seitan yet?

I had an apple and kiwi before heading off to the gym.  This was the first time I ate a kiwi WITH the fuzz…surprisingly, it was not even noticeable.  So maybe Erin isn’t crazy after all…

I had a mayj BLAH of a gym sesh.  I could hardly force my way through effort level 0 on the elliptical.  Rather than force myself through an additional 30 minutes, I ditched.  Lounging on the couch reading blogs was way more relaxing. 

I had a WF tofu ball to hold me over until dinner.

And an apple…

All day I couldn’t seem to find anything that was satiating.  For dinner I was really really really craving carbs, so I made some hummus and threw everything I could find on a plate to dip into it.  What DOESN’T dip in hummus?  (answer: nothing)

English muffin, mushrooms, steamed broccoli, and carrots…with the best home-made hummus EVAH!

Of course, I needed another plate full of goodies and more hummus, so for the second helping I had more broccoli and another English muffin, and 2 falafel balls.

I was full after this, but still not satisfied.  Hard to explain.  Some days are just like that – what my body wants, my body wants, why try to figure it out…might as well just give in.

All day long I’ve been rockin’ a Kirstie Alley sized appetite, even moments after eating, my tummy was ready for more food.  As if nothing could hold my appetite – so frustrating!  I felt like I was eating to fill up a post-marathon calorie void (only I hadn’t run a marathon).  Grrr…

So I did what any good foodie would do…turned to chocolate…

…and cereal  :)

Nothing like snacking the day away while expending next to no calories.  I am back to work tomorrow, so I packed my lunch, laid out my scrubs, and got to bed watched Chelsea Lately.

OK, in the interest of full disclosure, I also had this bowl of (way way way too many) carob chips and raisins, despite the fact that I already polished off an entire chocolate bar less than an hour ago. 

Ummm, am I carbo loading or carob loading?