Weekend Excitement: No Rest Again!

Wow it was yet another crazy weekend!  I don't know how to be mellow I guess.  LoL!

Friday, I was just itching to get out of the house.  I had had a long week and really just wanted a night out with Rob.  We decided to head down to the outlets to look for new cleats for him and running pants for me.  Rob wasn't successful but I got some new running gear.  I really want to go back and get this shirt.  I did get myself some really nice running tights from Under Armor.  They had the best options and I am really going to need them this winter!

After that, we decided to head to Tun Tavern for dinner since its right next to the outlets.  The food was ok but the beer was excellent.  I got apple stout and loved it!  It is seasonal so we got a growler of it to take home.  Yum!






Saturday was again a bit crazy.  I had to get (more) gifts for my friend Callista's baby shower.  Usually I am on top of these things but it snuck up on me!  I headed out and got back home to wrap them.  I had enough time to head over to the Irish festival with Rob for a bit (he was there with his rugby buddies selling shirts and recruiting). 

Then it was off to the baby shower and wish Callista well.  She is just the cutest pregnant woman ever.  She is only 5 months along but she is still tiny.  She looks lovely!  It was a nice party!

 I went back to the Irish fest for a bit to walk around with Rob.  We went to my two favorite shops (Historic Smithville is like a little old fashioned shopping area).  I got some good things!

Dutch Chocolate Coffee
Pumpkin Spice Coffee
Granulated Honey
Hawaiian Sea Salt
Horseradish Cheddar

We finally got home exhausted but went out to eat with Jess.  See, we go nonstop!  Finally, we got home, relaxed for a bit and crashed.

Today has been spent cleaning, cooking, and doing midterms.  I have two take home midterms due tomorrow.  I worked on them and whenever I needed a break, I did something around the house so it worked out well!  I started my day off with a nice hot cup of "pumpkin latte" coffee.  Pretty good!  But a lot of the pumpkin settled on the bottom.  I also tried my first version of savory oatmeal.

It was really good!  I loved the flavor.  I made my usual oatmeal but without the milk.  I used a little less water but I think next time I need to use the whole amount.  Anyway, I made an egg over-easy.  I added some tomatoes to the oatmeal, pepper, and olive oil.  I then topped it with the eggs, some of the horseradish cheddar and a sprinkle of the Hawaiian salt.  It was DELICIOUS!!!  The oatmeal still had a "this should be sweet" flavor but I will definitely do this again, especially since I'm trying to cut down on my fruit addiction.  LoL.  I can't wait to have it again tomorrow!

Anyway, we had quite a few things going on today.  Rob decided to bake up a storm because we had like 6 dozen eggs in the refrigerator.  Time to get cookin!  The first task was homemade pasta.  I convinced Rob to make Butternut Squash Ravioli.  We found recipes in my two cooking-from-scratch type cookbooks and got started.  We both worked on them together.

They were pretty good!  The pasta was a little too thick though but we don't have a pasta machine so I had to roll it out by hand.  I did the best I could!  They were still pretty darn good!

Next up was Angel Food Cake.  First, we had to make "medium peaks" with the egg whites... without a hand mixer.  You heard me right, we whipped up egg whites for about 45 minutes, taking turns between Rob and I, to get a nice meringue going!  I'm counting it as an upper body workout for today.  LoL

We didn't have cake flour so we used whole wheat.  We also didn't bake it quite long enough so it came out kind of strange.  It tastes really good though.  Its more moist than angel food usually is.  Still tasty! 

Now, I'm just relaxing with a glass of the apple stout (even better out of the growler!!!).  In other news, I'm feeling a lot better but I still have a lingering part of the cold.  I stopped taking the medicine I was using and I think that actually helped.  Tomorrow, I really need to work on getting in all my water.  I have been bad about that and I can feel it.

My eating was much better this weekend.  We ate out but I really felt like I controlled myself.  I didn't go crazy at any point and didn't have any ice cream (which was an issue last week because its in my freezer!  How did that get there?)  I think feeling better from the cold helps a lot.  When I am sick, I get pouty and cranky which leads to a lot of splurging!

Hopefully I can go for a little run tomorrow and see how it goes.  I think there will be a lot of sniffling and maybe some minor coughing but nothing terrible.  Half marathon is next weekend!

To end, some pictures of the cute kitties.  They were just being adorable today and the lighting was great in the apartment for photos!

Quick Chicken Cacciatore & Iced Coffee

I don't know if this actually qualifies as chicken "cacciatore" but that is what I'm going to call it!  Here is my creation for dinner today:

 

I  just threw 2 diced chicken breasts in a pan on medium heat and put the lid on.  While that cooked, I chopped a red pepper, a zucchini, and some mushrooms.  Once the chicken was pretty much cooked, I drained the liquid and added some olive oil and the veggies.  I also increased the heat slightly.  I put the lid on for a bit to cook the veggies and took the lid off once I wanted them to saute more.  I added the sauce last to heat it and served over pasta.  This made 2 servings.  Delicious and took about 15 minutes.  YUM!

On a side note, I saw 2 cool cups at Target

HA!  I so need that second one!  I rather enjoyed my iced coffee on the way to work.  Oh!  I didn't even tell you guys that Rob is the best hubby ever.  He bought me an iced coffee french press!  SO AWESOME!  I loved iced coffee and I love French Press coffee!  It also makes enough for pretty much the week.  Yay for coffee every morning!

Bodum Iced Coffee Maker (got mine on sale WAY less that on this website)

Oatmeal Pancakes

Seeing as I actually have a kitchen now, I have no excuse to not cook.  Last night, we made a delicious dinner with zucchini, ground turkey, pasta, and sauce.  Yum!  Nothing fancy, just cooked and mixed together.  Forgot a picture though.

This morning, we got a little more creative with oatmeal pancakes.  I got the recipe from Spark Recipes.  Jess had chocolate chips in hers while I added peanut butter and maple flavored agave nectar to mine.  These were really delicious but not like regular pancakes.  They sat in my stomach like a rock.  I have extras and I'm thinking they will be a great breakfast to take in the car with me for trips to school (2 hour drive).  Definitely will make these again!

Recipe taken from Spark Recipes:

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup Old Fashioned Quaker Oats 1 1/4 cup skim milk (can use substitute buttermilk for half the milk) 1 large egg 1 Tbsp light olive oil 1 cup whole wheat flour 1 tsp baking powder

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix oats with milk, let stand 5 minutes. Add egg and oil, then mix. Add dry ingredients and mix until just blended. Drop by 1/4 cup measure, flatten and shape a bit, and cook on hot, nonstick skillet until brown. Flip and cook on the other side until golden.
Optional: For an antioxidant boost, add 1/2 cup blueberries to the batter before cooking (not included in nutrition count).
Top with topping of choice: maple syrup, preserves, yogurt, applesauce, etc (not included in nutrition count.)

Number of Servings: 4

 

Nutritional Info

• Servings Per Recipe: 4
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 271.3

• Total Fat: 7.0 g
• Cholesterol: 54.7 mg
• Sodium: 177.5 mg
• Total Carbs: 43.1 g
• Dietary Fiber: 6.2 g
• Protein: 11.3 g

Study Time

Yesterday was not an ideal eating day, but it wasn't terrible either.  I started my day off with a delicious lazy breakfast!  I love having 2 eggs in the morning usually in omelet form but I just wasn't feeling the cooking-on-the-stove thing.  I decided I would try popping them in the microwave.  I also threw in some broccoli and mozzarella.  It came out amazing!  This was 2 small to medium eggs in the microwave for 2 minutes.  Perfect.  (Today, I used a wider bowl which wouldn't let the center cook.  I had to break it in half and flip it so the center was now near the edge of the bowl.  Added another minute and it was good).

At work, I enjoyed my oatmeal and another free iced coffee from DD.  This time I asked for mocha hazelnut.  Way. Too. Sweet.  But good!  Didn't drink all of it.  Next time, only one flavor.  PB&J for lunch.  Same today!  So boring right?  LoL. 

For dinner, Rob and I ended up at the mall.  I decided on pizza.  I had to use my debit card so I needed to pass the $5 minimum so I ended up with 2 slices.  I also didn't want water but I didn't want calories so I had.... Diet Soda!  I know!!!  Who is this person??  I had about half and then threw out the rest.  It satisfied my craving for something refreshing.  There just aren't really any other choices when eat out though!  Soda or water?  Or how about some crazy sweet Minutemade?  Yuck.

In other news, I got a new pedometer!  I was very excited to wear it yesterday.  Reach about 7500 steps.  Not bad for not working out!  (Picture was from lunch time - as you can see, I have a desk job).

Anyway, we had headed to the mall because I wanted to look at bookbags for school (still excited!).  I had checked some out online and intended to order it online to save a few bucks but the instant gratification in me won out and I got this super cute bag from the Hallmark Store (Vera Bradley).  My laptop just fits in it and there is plenty of room for books and things.  I will still have to carry a separate lunch box but that is fine!

We also headed over to Borders again to see if they are selling fixtures.  We got on the list and then browsed the store.  I check out the DVDs again.  Rob said I couldn't get this one and I pouted:

I remember doing it with my mom when I was little!  Mom, do you want me to go back and get it for you???  I think it could be fun to do together again!

I also got a whole stockpile of books for going back to school.  Just some reference/refresher books that I thought could be useful.

They all sound like lots of fun right?  I am going to work through that bottom book as a refresher course.  I need something that is more of a physics refresher though.  These are all math books!  I guess I could just read my textbooks over again but that seems like it would take way too long.  Haha.

Finally, we headed home to relax and let me sort all my school supplies (yes, my bookbag is already packed!).  I have the best coworker who golfs.  When she heard that my foot hurt and I needed a hard ball to massage it, she left these on my desk for me!

I iced it until the bag started leaking.  Then I rolled it on the golf ball for a while.  Then it was time to wrap it.

I left it wrapped all night.  It sitll was a little irritated this morning but not much.  I think it got irritated by the side to side movement in the DVD I did on Monday.  I may or may not go for a very short (1 mile) jog today.  I may even wear my Vibrams to work out in the office.  I'm wondering if it just needs to be strengthened.  I won't push it hard and I'll rest again if it hurts more tomorrow!

So overall, another busy day!  I even went on my lunch break to the Staples near my job to look for an organizer.  I did find a good one!  People who are out and about during the day are nuts though.  I got cut off driving like 3 times (and its literally only a 2-3 mile drive).  People in Staples were also nutso, acting like it was Black Friday or something.  The girl in line in front of my was practically tapping her foot and sighing over how long the cashier was taking (which he wasn't).  Crazy people!  I am glad I don't shop during the day... (Had the same experience in a different town during a lunch break shopping trip too).

Anyway!  I am chatty today.  Time to get my day started!!