LAME-o was her NAME-o

I woke up super early for work today, washed my face, brushed my teeth, threw my afro into a pony, and grabbed my pre-packed lunch from the fridge…when the day kinda took a rough turn…

Tumbler full of coffee meet hardwood floor. 

 

Blog world meet the culprit.

**Gena, I TOLD you I shouldn’t be trusted with a cleaver!!!

I headed off to work grumpy and non-caffeinated.  Not a great start to the day.

Today’s pre-packed eats:

Big ‘ol salad, strawberry/pomegranate odwalla bar, apple, dried papaya spears and mangoes. 

Spinach, broccoli slaw, shredded carrots, clover sprouts, heart of palm (!!), and BBQ tempeh.

The newbie to today’s salad was LightLife’s tempehtations.

It was the oh-so-clever-name that won me over :)

They have a few different flavors, but I figured I’d play it relatively safe, and go with BBQ.

The verdict?  Not too shabby.  The BBQ flavor wasn’t overpowering and they weren’t merely cubes of tempeh drenched in BBQ sauce (which I was afraid it would be).  They definitely added a nice nutty flavor and slightly crumbly texture to the salad.  But salads are about the only thing I could see myself using these for.  Would I buy them again?  Probably not, but only because they are so pricey.  The convenience factor still doesn’t outweigh the price tag in my opinion (and that says a lot coming from a lazy ass like me).

I did succumb and stop into Starbucks…but after this morning’s big spill, it was a necessity!

Things started to look up after that – one of my patients told me she loved me and I that I didn’t look “a day over 16” about 500 times. 

I didn’t even slip her extra percocets either!  She was relatively alert awake and oriented, so I’ll take it. 

Anyways, work was work.  Another day, another dollar 50 cents.

I was hungry hungry by the time I got home, so dinner was a random bunch of leftovers.

The above assorted plate consists of 3 HUGE home-made seitan cutlets, BN squash, sesame seed/seaweed salad, steamed broccoli slaw/shredded carrot mash up.

You KNOW I mixed that shiz all up…mmmmm!

Totes satisfied. 

As per usual, I ended the say on a sweet note…natural AND dried fruit.  Why choose just one?

 

Back to the grind manana.  Peace out bloggies!!

Oh and for anyone who asked me yesterday about making seitan…DO IT!!!!  It’s so ridiculously easy, you’ll kick yourself for not trying it sooner (I did).  I can seriously see myself making this every single week.  I think I love seitan better than any other vegan “meat” so if you aren’t a huge fan of tempeh (like me) or you’re trying to limit your tofu intake (estrogen check)…go for seitan.  I promise you won’t regret it.

Now I’m really out.

Meet Milo

My parents went to pick out our new puppy yesterday!  I say “our” but I don’t live at home anymore, so it’s really theirs.  But since it took over 3 months for all 5 family members to agree on the name, it’s safe to say it’s the family puppy. 

 

We had a German Shepherd when I was growing up, too.  So we really wanted another. 

My mom holding Milo.

Could he BE any cuter???

He’s only 4 weeks old now, so we have to wait ‘til he’s a bit older (and no longer breast feeding) to bring him home.  We are also getting a Golden Retriever, too (in about 2 months).

Anyways, last night after I turned off the computer and got ready for bed, I suddenly got a second wind.  Good thing I had the likes of Blair Waldorf, Ricki Lake, and my homegirl Chelsea Lately to keep me company since Kyle was at work well past midnight (poor guy).

Because I went to bed pretty late, I slept in a bit more than usual today (9 am).  Regardless, today started the same as the majority of my days…with coffee of course!

 

Java lurve plus multi-bran VitaTop muffin with massive amounts of EB added on top (I swear it melted a bit more post-photo).  I think VitaTops are best when toasted, although K’s parfait action does look pretty bossy. 

This apple was a crunchy motha!  Just the way I like it :)

Amy, you are the SHIZ.  Overpriced, yes.  But tasty, furreal.

Organic beans and rice are good…but add a heap of avocado, and that’s a PARTAY in my mouth.

 

Zoom.  Zoom.

After lunch, I decided to take advantage of the nice weather – so off to the park I went!  I was rocking out to Dookie, dreaming of Billie Joe, and totally hittin’ my stride…I was in the zone…ahh lovely exercise.  It was perfect running weather, too – blue skies and mild sunshine.  About 4 miles into the loop I started felt like I needed to find a bathroom, but I ignored it and forged ahead, then another mile in I decided to alter my route to get home sooner (ummm, yeah, fill in the blank).  My shortcut shaved a mile off the loop, so adding in the distance to and from the park, I think I ran about 6 miles.

I wasn’t ready to stop exercising, so after my mini bathroom break, I headed to the gym to continue my exercise sesh.  I did another 45 minutes on the elliptical followed by abs and arms.  It was fabulous.

When I got back home my tummy was begging me for food.

Dried papaya spears and pineapple rings to the rescue!

After I showered and got myself all gussied up presentable, I headed out.  I snacked on a Berries GoMega odwalla bar while I stocked up on groceries (don’t judge, staring at food works up an appetite).  I was going to do a few more errands, but then it started to rain.  WTF?  I raced back home for the second time today, dragging my groceries behind me and cursing the stupid weather under my breathe to nobody in particular the whole way home (I easily could have been mistaken for a crazy person). 

I should have known better, I mean, why wouldn’t it rain?  It’s not like it was 75 degrees and sunny the entire morning – oh wait, yes it was! 

What’s that saying? “Fool me once…” 

East coast weather – 1     Elise’s hair – 0

Anyways, I did some cooking (which I am very excited to reveal tomorrow) until dinner time rolled around.

Not exactly revolutionary, but good nonetheless.

Spinach salad, red bell pepper slivers, BN squash (oven baked the LovIN way) and a TOFU ball that I got at WF. 

Ahh – too many ball jokes are circling in my head right now for me to pick from!

It was unbelievable.  It broke apart fairly easily, but wasn’t greasy or dense inside, just tofu-y.  As you can see, the outside was covered in sesame seeds and bronzed to perfection.  I wish I had gotten more than one!!

The best part of the night, however, was not food related (gasp).  It was the amazingly spectacular train wreck of a reunion special that the Real Housewivesbitches of NYC provided.  (The ladies of the Jerz weren’t too bad either).

All this complex material to ponder…my brain needed more fuel. 

Life is a bowl of cherries mixed fruit.

 

Peanut butter-y toast was a nice way to end the day. 

Thursday

I thought it was Friday all day…so confused. 

Whatever, Thursday means The Office, so it’s all good.

5 AM.  Frothed me some coffee…and then I was off to work!

Since I was running crazy late, I had this little baby on the way to work.  For the record, I do NOT enjoy eating on the subway, especially when I’m drenched from my rainy mad dash to the station.

 

As usual, I made my lunch the night before to bring to work, which included a hugh jass salad of spinach, brocc slaw, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, snow peas, sprouts, dried cranz (Newman’s Own – holla!) and seaweed/sesame salad. 

Other yummies: Berries GoMega odwalla bar, apple, and Newman’s Own dried apples.

Notice a few newbies?  I thought I’d mix it up on you guys!

Newman’s Own organic dried apples are SO good.  Obviously I’m not shy about my love for dried fruit…and up until this point, dried apples weren’t exactly in my fave five.  But dates, pineapples, figs, and papaya spears should def watch their back(s). 

By the way, you may have noticed something missing from these last two posts…(Starbucks)

Yes, I successfully made it through my ENTIRE 12+ hour shift today without giving in to the seductive siren’s sweet sweet song. 

Just as I got off work, Kyle called. 

Since I told him yesterday to force me to go to the gym after work, no matter how much I begged and pleaded otherwise, or tried to weasel my way out of it...he wasn’t allowed to cave!  I needed to exercise.  It’s been over a WEEK people, clearly outside help is necessary!! 

Sure enough, in my exhausted state, I begged him to let me off the hook.  And like the wonderful fiancé he is, he didn’t give in!  I knew there was a reason…never mind.

Fortunately, the rain had stopped and the skies were semi clear, so we decided to take advantage and ran along Riverside Drive.  I think it was only 3.5 – 4 miles, but still, it felt GREAT.  I haven’t really exercised since the half marathon, and it’s weird (sad) to not have a reason to train.  Anyone else experienced this post-race let down phase?

By the time I got home I was hangry.  I cut up some butternut squash and coated them in cinnamon, salt, and a touch of stevia.  

While they were in the oven, I hopped in the shower, and by the time I got out, the most wonderful aroma had filled the apartment. 

Mmmm…

 

BN squash is the best comfort food.  In addition to the squash, I had a mah-jay ensalada mista.  The only reason it could be considered a salad is because there was raw spinach in it.  The main component was a dish I made on the side with shirataki noodles and steamed soy-tein with clover sprouts and spinach. 

I’m a big fan of clover sprouts.  I bought them instead of alfalfa sprouts a few weeks ago, and I haven’t looked back since.  The seed part crunches way more, and I love it.  The only downside is the shelf-life seems a bit shorter.  Still at the rate I go through ‘em, it’s not really an issue.  I add them to EVERYthing. 

 

I tossed the noodle/soy-tein mix in with more spinach, carrots, broccoli slaw, and voila!  Perfection.  I had a POM wonderful with my din-din, too.  I’m hooked on these. 

While watching The Office I polished off the last of my hermits   :(  Good thing I still have the cinnamon ones!

I guess that run really got my appetite going…

Bowl of fruity goodness.

Apples, kiwi, and berries galore (including strawbeezies, raspies, blackbizzles, and bluebz). 

Off to catch some zzzzzs. 

E-Claire out.

Happy 81st Walt

I don’t have AM pictures because we were out and about looking at wedding sites all over the Bay Area.  But let’s be real, you guys know exactly what I had (starbeezies)!

After conquering most of the places on our list, we headed to the store (it was already 2 pm).  I picked up this yummy soup at Trader Joe’s. 

When it’s raining outside, I crave soup – warm, thick, butternut squash deliciousness. 

Trader Joe’s is definitely a must when I’m visiting home.  The line (or lack thereof) at the Lafayette store is a breeze compared to Manhattan’s cluster f%&^ mob scene. 

I also had an Ezekiel english muffin, which was the perfect dipping device, and sopped up the soup like a sponge.  Mmmm.  Naturally I ended lunch with the apple slices – gotta have the crunch factor.

Since it was still raining, I nixed the possibility of exercising (as if it was ever a real option) and decided to go in the hot tub instead.

Can you imagine anything lazier better than lounging in a 100+ degree hot tub?  Spa time literally makes any weather tolerable…if ONLY we had this option in NYC.  I love being home :)

(It really was raining, even though you can’t tell in the pictures)

After our little R&R break, it was back to work.  Not wedding stuff, but cooking for my grandpa’s 81st birthday party. 

I love me a BBQ party.  Weather wasn’t a factor since we have a pavilion in the backyard providing shelter to the outside cooking area.

Here are some food and family pics from the rest of the night.  Minimal explanation needed.

3 types of hummus + 2 types of veggies – I all

There was also a brie/crackers platter – but there’s no photo because I’m a hater. 

My dad BBQ-ed some tofu and ‘shrooms for me (everyone else got chicken and rib eye).

 

Here’s my glorious plate, laded with salad, butternut squash risotto, fresh bread, and the BBQ goodies.

Here’s the real star of the event.  My mom made this baby from scratch. 

My sister and I didn’t plan to match. 

Do pictures get any cuter than this?  I don’t think so…

Chocolate-y heaven.  Eat your heart out.

The best part of the night was the wine.  I think I have mentioned my wino upbringing before.  My family has a vineyard in Sonoma run by my grandpa, and we had a very special bottle for tonight’s occasion.

1999 Quivira Zinfandel

The label was written shortly after my grandpa’s dog Zin Tin Tin died, so it has extra sentimental value…plus there were only 564 cases made. 

Peace out bloggies!