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.

whatevah, I do what I want

Because yesterday’s post prompted such passionate and wonderful comments (I love you guys!!!), I’d like to post my response, just in case some people don’t check follow up answers in the comment section.  This is just such a great discussion matter…

First off, can I just say how PROUD I am of the responses I have gotten on this issue, not just as a (self proclaimed) foodie, but as a female in general!

You all are absolutely right, it can be a slippery slope from checking portion sizes to obsessively counting each and every calorie – especially for the OCD, type-A people out there (hello, takes one to know one)!  And since I am truly happy with my body, I have no interest in changing the way approach eating.  I LOVE food and enjoy everything from cooking and creating new meals to setting up camp in my frequent food ruts (downing tubs of hummus day after day after day).  I have found a nice (mostly) balanced way of living, with splurges that I don’t berate myself for, and wholesome food that gives me the energy I need to remain as active as I love being.

In the end I love food way too much to let something like the serving size deemed appropriate by the government dictate how I choose to get my grub on!

OK, now back to your regularly scheduled programming Friday’s food…

 

Java & greek yogurt/fruity mix (apple + plum + pear).

This brekkie is getting too predictable!  I’m gonna have to switch it up soon. 

I went to the gym and had a mild elliptical sesh, followed by some arms and stretching – then I adios-ed to enjoy the sunshine!

I read and crossword-ed (it’s a word!) on the rooftop (lathered in sunscreen, I assure you)…and eventually came back down for lunch.

I made another batch of seitan, this time with a few adjustments (more veggie broth).  So this cutlet was nice and juicy, easy to cut, and perrrrrrfect.  I had it with the rest of the edamummus on the side.

Here’s the pre-cooked seitan (as I kneaded the f%^& out of it)…

…and here it is pre (above) and post (below) oven lovin’.

I know it looks weird, but seriously guys, it’s SO easy to make, and tastes yum (x 6).

I also had some hummus-y bread.  Do I need a reason?

Later I had the weirdest shaped apple ever.

For dinner I had a philly cheese steak…welllllll, with a few adjustments.

Seitan cutlets, veggie slice “cheese”, and Alvarado street bread.  Very Elise.

YUM!

Desserttttt…cranbran VitaTop with some EB and fresh fruit.

Work weekend, enjoy the sun for me kiddos!

In the words of Stephanie Tanner…

“How Rude!”

The day started off like any other – up and at ‘em with the sun.  I even got up 10 minutes early to do a quickie “rise & shine” yoga (gracias a Exercise TV on demand).  I usually don’t do this for fear of waking up Kyle at 5 am – but since he’s away, I decided to take advantage. 

It felt grrrrrreat!  Even though it was little more than stretching, it definitely got me energized. 

Blood flowing.

Ready for work.

Then things got weird.  Not with me.  Fortunately, the drama on the unit today was NOT nursing related.  The aides on the other hand, were really at each others’ throats!!  I thought there was going to be a throw down – Chris Brown style…there were threats and behind-the-back evil stares, and it was cuhraaazy.  Of course I stayed well out of it, but seriously, what the eff, this is a HOSPITAL people! 

It was MORTIFYING. 

I felt so embarrassed to just be associated with these people.  How unprofessional and inappropriate to argue in front of patients, and in an ICU setting no less!  Horrible.

I was this close (fingers, like, next to each other) to saying something…and for a non-confrontational person, who believes in putting patients first at ALL costs (which includes keeping one’s composure in front of them regardless of how much you are provoked), that’s saying something.

Anyways, it was eventually resolved…after I apologized to my patients profusely for the ridiculous display by my co-workers.

In honor of raw Wednesday, my lunch was full of fresh produce…ok, not FULL of, but there was a lot.

Should “raw” day just be called “avocado” day instead?

I guess the apple is the only actual raw snack.  Dried fruit doesn’t count huh?  Too bad dehydrated fruit isn’t NEARLY as tasty…

I stopped at WF on the way home.  I know I shouldn’t have, but I only spent $10 so it’s ok.

I picked up some tofu balls :)

 

Which I dipped in my home-made edamummus (edamame + hummus) and regular hummus…along with a massive plate ‘o veggies.

Brocc, carrots, shroomies, and green beans.

I heart veggies, and so in honor of my lover pie K (who is in my heart now, even more than usual) I went with the mushroom/hummus combo that she is ever-so-fond-of.

Here’s a little food porn, in case you forgot how amazing these babies were…inside and out.

I also decided salted healthy fats were necessary.  I told you Wednesdays should be called avocado days.

Later, I had to go back for round 2 of hummus (if this is surprising to you, wake up, it’s meeeeee).

 

I’m kicking myself for not making it sooner, it’s that good!!  That’s GOLD Jerry, GOLD!  (Seinfeld anyone?)

As soon as dinner was done, I was already looking forward to dessert.  You would be too if you had gotten the most amazing vegan mousse ever!

Whole Foods could charge an arm and a leg demand my firstborn child for this and I’d still buy it. 

I dipped the fruit in it, and when that was gone, I went to town with a spoon.

:(

Guess what tomorrow is?!

a) no work

b) The Shins concert

c) a + b

Give up?  It’s c!!!!!!!  All good news in my book.

green MASH(ine)

Let’s get down to it.  Woke up at 4:45, hopped on the subway, fueled up at the ‘bucks, and started my day.

Do I really need to explain these?  My work day eats are so boring and repetitive.

 

I’ll admit, it’s a little heavy on the dried fruit…but my fiancé is in the Jerz for a conference, so…you know…(wink wink)

I had lots of coffee, too.  It was v. necessary since I was yawning at a rate of 7 times/minute.

The day was pretty chill…there were no cases today, and my other patients were all post-op day 4 or longer, so it was smooth sailing.

I got home a little after 8…and I was hungry hungry.

Left to right:  Ocean Spring Harvest to Heaven mixed veggie chips (NOM), steamed broccoli, shroomies, petite carrots, and the most delicious hummus EVAH!!!

To rewind a bit…as I alluded to yesterday, I did a bit of cooking spent the day in the kitchen creating some fun new treats for the week.

Into the blender went 2 c. chickpeas, 1/2 c. edamame, 1/4 c. olive oil, 1/2 c. unsweetened plain soymilk, and a dash of salt.

WoW! 

I know it looks like something Sarah might find in Livy’s diaper, but try to look past that…(note: this is the second time the LovIN kids’ poop has been referenced in my blog…I may need to re-vamp my eating habits, or, at the very least, my presentation). 

Whatever.  My mom taught me you should never judge a book by it’s cover, so until you try it, you can’t knock it.

And trust me, you won't knock it after you try it.  This is a HOLY YUM worthy recipe, furreal.

I dipped each and every vegetable in the lovely green mash, and I even managed to polish off the entire second half of the veggie chips with it, too.  Mmmm…green MASH :)

Dessert was in the fresh AND dried variety! 

Bedtime!  Back to the grind manana!