LIFE'S A BEACH

I RAN out the door this morning to go to the beach.  The weather report said that it was FINALLY going to get above 80 degrees for the first time this year, so I was determined to get the most of the good weather.  The rest of the week is supposed to be in the low 60s.

OCEAN BEACH, CA

The beach was BEAUTIFUL and soooo relaxing!  I stopped by the People's Co-Op in Ocean Beach to get a few eats for the beach.  I'm not really a fan of the Co-Op because they seem to have every thing that I can get at Henry's, Trader Joe's, or Whole Foods all of which are MUCH closer to where I live.

I did find this interesting wrap at the Co-Op.  I have to say that it was pretty good!!  I kind of wanted not to like it so that I wouldn't have cravings for it and have to drive all the way to OB to get it.

I also picked up a little Kale salad which was also very yummy!!!  I keep meaning to make a Kale Salad at home, but I'm not quite sure exactly how to get the kale tender.  Something about giving it a salt rub?!?

I sat on the beach for a few hours rotating between laying out sleeping, and reading the new Self magazine.  I brought my Kindle, but I forgot to charge it and the battery died in like 2 minutes.

Pictures of my meals were quite limited.  I was way more concerned with taking pictures of the extraordinary scenery!!  I DEFINITELY made the most of the beautiful weather and had an AMAZING day at the beach.

XOXO

FARMERS MARKET FUN

1/2 FROZEN BANANA + 1/4 CUP FROZEN PINEAPPLE + 1 TSP COCONUT EXTRACT + 1 TSP BANANA EXTRACT + 1 HANDFUL SPINACH + 1 TSP XANTHAN GUM + 3 ICE CUBES + 1 CUP ALMOND MILK

Rockin' the Pina Colada smoothie plus some greens for BREAKFAST today.  I love this!  I can just make it and then run out the door with my breakfast to get started on my errands.  I have to get my car registered this month and I have a bunch of little things to repair on it so that it can pass CA Smog tests :(

After a few of my errands were complete, I ran home to make a "kid" lunch.  I wrapped and froze some full sized "pigs-in-a-blanket" a few weeks ago, and decided to pop one in the oven for about 15 minutes at 450.

I also ran a sweet potatoes on a shredder for some "fries" which I also baked in the oven with S&P and LOADS of garlic powder.

PILLSBURY REDUCED FAT CRESCENT ROLL + 97% FF HEBREW NATIONAL HOT DOG + SWEET POTATOE + 1 TSBP KETCHUP + 1 TSBP SPICY DELI MUSTARD

After lunch, I remembered that there was a Farmer's Market down the street from me and I can always use some fresh produce!

I bought some cheery flowers for my kitchen counter.  Hopefully, the Mini Cat won't eat these!!  She LOVES chomping on my vegetation.  The leaves on my plants all have "Mini" bites on them.

LOVE this picture!  It's the new Wallpaper on my computer.

Also got Boyfriend some fresh bread to dip in olive oil.  It's his favorite late night snack.  I'm sure I will grab a piece or two of this.  Bread is my weakness!

I had some frozen Langostino tails from Trader Joe's in my fridge.  I had used the tails before for some "Lobster Tacos" and they were delish!!  I used them as a protein for my DINNER salad.  It didn't quite work :(  They were very "fishy" and I think I'll have to stick to using these for tacos and burritos ONLY!!!

SPINACH + TRADER JOE'S LANGOSTINO LOBSTER TAILS + BABY HEIRLOOM TOMATOES + 2 TBSP ANNE'S NATURALS LITE HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING

And for a little late night SNACKAGE...

RICE CAKE + 1 TBSP BETTER N' PEANUT BUTTER

XOXO

BRINGING BACK TACO TUESDAY

Breath Right Strips are my new favorites!!  I discovered these hiding in my cabinet last night while looking for some cold medicine to knock me out. 

These things kept my nasal passages completely open.  No waking up to a sore throat because I had to breathe out of my mouth all night!!!!  I HEART BREATH RIGHT STRIPS!

After getting a full night's rest, I woke up famished for BREAKFAST this morning.  My blueberries needed some love and my Vita needed a break.

 

15 GRAMS CINNAMON CRUNCH CEREAL + 30 GRAMS MILLET PUFFS (FILLER) + 70 GRAMS BLUEBERRIES + 2 TSP SPLENDA WITH FIBER + 1 CUP ALMOND MILK

After breakfast I somehow found myself back in bed.  I'm sick and tired so if my body wants to rest, then I'm not going to argue.

I did manage to pull myself out of bed around noon to give myself a Vitamin C boost for LUNCH.

ORANGE JULIUS

1 CUP ALMOND MILK + 200 G ORANGE + 1/2 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT + 2 TSP SPLENDA WITH FIBER + 1/2 MEDIUM BANANA + 4 ICE CUBES

I've been thinking about this recipe now for a few days.  I made these all the time for my mother and I when I was younger.  I used to use frozen orange juice concentrate, but I wanted to see if it would work with fresh oranges.  And by golly, I think it did!!  The only reason I say "think" is that I still have impaired taste buds, so I could be wrong! LOL

Around 5pm I woke from my slumber and forced myself to get out of bed.  I was hungry, and over sleeping for 15 hours.  I decided to drag Boyfriend out the celebrate yet another Taco Tuesday in San Diego!!!  (it's my FAVORITE holiday)

We decided to go to Ponce's Mexican Restaurant, which is literally 2 blocks from our townhouse. 

 BEST DATE A GIRL COULD HAVE

 SANGRIA + CHIPS + AMAZINGLY GOOD SALSA

COMBINATION PLATE: CHICKEN TOSTADA & CHILE RELLENO

DINNER was good but I have to say that I think the food at our old Taco Shop is WAY better.  We are very snobby when it comes to our Mexican food in San Diego.

And our course, no date night would be complete without a stop at Fiji Yogurt for some WoW Cow fro-yo!

2 OZ. PEANUT BUTTER FRO YO + WAFFLE CONE CRUMBLES + PINCH JIMMIES

Boyfriend and I are going to watch some old episodes of GLEE (He loves that show!!) and then we are going to call it a night.  I have TONS to do tomorrow to make up for being in bed all day.

NIGHT!

XOXO

MATT & MEAT

UGH!!!  The inevitable happened...I got SICK!!!  Despite my best efforts, I woke up today congested and weak.  I did have one reason to get out of bed though...

OATS IN A JAR!!!

1 TBSP PEANUT BUTTER & CO. CINNAMON RAISIN SWIRL + 1/2 CUP ALMOND MILK + 10 GRAMS RAISINS + 1/4 CUP PUMPKIN

Amazing!!!  Even though my taste buds are somewhat impaired due to illness, I could still appreciate a good OIAJ!!!

Despite my illness I still had a few errands to run, one being a trip to the grocery store to buy some "Jewish penicillin" for LUNCH.

MATZO BALL SOUP + WESTERN BAGEL ALTERNATIVE WHOLE WHEAT PITA + 2 TBSP HUMMUS

Cleared me up right away!  Soup is the best when you are sick, or it's raining. 

I totally forgot that I made a date with one of my bestest guy buds tonight.  I was going to cancel but I seem to always cancel on him and I haven't seen him in forever! 

We went to Quality Social downtown.  I love this place!  They are known for their meats, which they make in house.  We ordered a selection of cheeses and meats that were very yum.

MEATS: SOPPRESATTA, CHORIZO, COPPA, POTTED RILLETTE

CHEESES: MT. TAM, POINT REYES ORIGINAL BLUE, GOAT GOUDA, SAN JOAQUIN GOLD

Despite not being 100%, I'm happy I didn't cancel on dinner.  Good eats and great friends overcome a stuff nose.

XOXO

TGIS (THANK GOODNESS ITS SUNDAY)

Not post yesterday :(

The seminar was AWFUL!!!  I was exhausted and it was LONG and UNINTERESTING!!!  I was so stressed from it that I ate like an ANIMAL!!  Needless to say that there was no food tracking, or picture taking :(

I was going to detox from yesterday with a sweet juice mix for BREAKFAST this morning, but I remembered that I had a can of pumpkin in the fridge that I opened the other day.  I still wanted to use the Vita so I made a Pumpkin Latte.  I didn't read the recipe again and definitely added WAY too much pumpkin so it came out more like hot pumpkin pudding.  It was still very tasty.

1/2 CUP PUMPKIN + 1 CUP ALMOND MILK + 1/4 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT + 2 TSP SPLENDA WITH FIBER + 1/2 TSP CINNAMON

 

Handful of almonds for a mid-day SNACK.

14 GRAMS ALMONDS

Finished the last of my soup for DINNER tonight.

2 CUPS AVOCADO TORTILLA SOUP + 1 OROWEAT WHOLE WHEAT SANDWICH THINS

I found this walking plan on a great girl's blog.  I definitely will try it sometime this week.  My pathetic excuse for not going to the gym today is that I cleaned my gym sneaks and they are still wet! LOL

There was also some late night snacks of one of Boyfriend's peanut butter cookies that I made him and a seaweed snack.  Weird combo now that I think of it!

EASTER CENTERPIECE

XOXO

ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WEEKENDS

My weekend is going to be crazy once again!  I work all weekend and have a special Advanced Campaign seminar to attend ALL day Saturday.  Therefore, my postings are going to be a bit limited and my eats not too extraordinary :(

I found this super cute glass at the Dollar store the other day.  A Lemon Glass for my morning warm water with lemon.

 ROOM TEMPERATURE + LEMON SLICE

Still can't get enough of my green smoothies for BREAKFAST.  I think what surprised me most about drinking this how much they leave me satisfied.  I can usually last to lunch without being hungry.

TERA'S DARK CHOCOLATE WHEY + STRAWBERRIES + SPINACH + ALMOND MILK + ICE

LUNCH was a sammy with some veggies. 

THOMAS' BETTER START WHEAT ENGLISH MUFFIN + LAUGHING COW LIGHT SWISS + TURKEY PASTRAMI + 1/2 CUP CORN

Checking out these cute shoes on line.  I definately need to get some spring/summer duds.  I'm trying to save all my shopping for when my Mommy comes to visit CA next month.  We hit up the outlets hardcore everytime she visits.  She's the only person that I can shop with for 6 hours!!

Tonight I went to a Cigar bar with my friend Joe.  I am NOT a smoker but smoking a cigar is not something I would totally rule out.  I picked out a WHITE CHOCOLATE TUFFLE small cigar and Joe got this huge mammoth beast of a cigar.

The cigar did not taste like white chocolate tuffle...it tasted like a cigar.  Not a huge fan of the cigar, but did not absolutely hate it.  We ordered a bottle of red as well and of course I was lovin' that!!

XOXO

CILANTRO OVERLOAD

SHOCKER!!!

BREAKFAST GREEN MONSTER!!

TERA'S DARK CHOCOLATE WHEY POWDER + HANDFULL OF SPINACH + ALMOND MILK + FROZEN CHERRIES

At least I'm not repeating the ingredients. I have to find out which combination is best!

I had a picture of my LUNCH salad, but not only did I accidently erase the picture, but I also accidently dropped the salad on my stairs:( I was very sad because that salad contained the last of my cherry tomatoes. Around 1/3 of the salad didn't fall and I ate it in about .2 sec. with 1/2 of a Luna Protein bar that I had forgotten about in my fridge.

So my new Vitamix came with a huge binder full of recipes to make in my new toy.  I immediately fell in love with the Avocado Tortilla Soup and I knew I had to try it!

2 CUPS CHICKEN BROTH + 5 ROMA TOMATOES +1/3 BUNCH CILANTRO, STEMMED + 1 GARLIC CLOVE + 1 TSP BLACK PEPPER + 1 TSP SALT + 1/2 AVOCADO + 1/2 LIME + 1/2 CUP BLACK BEANS + 1/2 CUP CORN + TORTILLA STRIPS

Verdict: I think something was up with the recipe.  1/3 a bunch of cilantro...stems and all??  I knew that seemed like a lot of cilantro when I read the recipe.  But against my better judgement, I went with it.  And you know what?  WAY TOO MUCH CILANTRO!

It was edible but not YUMMY.  I will have to try this recipe again SANS the 1/3 bunch of cilantro.

Picked up more vitamins at Target today.  Boyfriend was saying how he feels a "tickle" in his throat,and I am determined not to get sick again.  I felt like I was going to die last time I was sick and it lasted for like a month!

I also went on a baking fest tonight.  I didn't want my Kitchenaid to feel abandoned now that I bought the Vitamix home.  I made Angel food cake cupcakes for me, and homemade peanut butter cookies for Boyfriend.

XOXO

SPRING CLEANING

Started the day with yet another delicious GREEN MONSTER for BREAKFAST!

Drinking my smoothie is my Starbucks cup makes me happy!

65 G BANANA + BLUEBERRIES + 1 CUP ALMOND MILK + 5 ICE CUBES + 1 PINCH XANTHAN GUM (FOR THICKENING)

Today was SPRING CLEANING day!!!  I LOVE cleaning and the feeling of accomplishment when it's done.  Now I just have to keep up with it so it doesn't take me 5 hours everytime I clean.

For LUNCH I did another fridge clean-out.

CALAMARI SALAD + TRADER JOE'S TOMATO BISQUE

I bought this cute jar at Marshall's and filled it with Miss Meringues Mini Chocolate Chip Meringues.  I'm not gonna lie...I think the jar is half empty...or is it half full!


I also got the chance to do another late night gym session with Mark.  I did some leg and abs work.  I really need to kick my butt next time and rock the treadmill for at least 45.


Bed time is coming soon...busy day tomorrow with more To-Do List fun!!

XOXO