SANTA MONICA

DAY ONE

Mini Cat was helping me pack.  She kept packing her toys:)  I didn't have the heart to tell her that she wasn't coming:)

The ride was only around 2 hours but without some snacks, I can get really cranky so I packed a few items to keep my mouth and eyes occupied.

COFFEE + SANDWICH + APPLE CINNAMON CRISPS + BERRY DROPS + KOMBUCHA

Tried the new Luna Chocolate Dipped Coconut Bar.  HATED it!!!  I knew I wouldn't like it thought because it sounded like a macaroon and I HATE macaroons.  I took one bit and  couldn't even finish it.  I know a lot of people love it, but I'm not one of them! 

50 GRAMS HONEY ROASTED TURKEY + DIJONNAISE + ENGLISH MUFFIN + PICKLES


We got to Santa Monica with no problem and little traffic!  The first thing I wanted to do was go to Santa Monica pier.  On our way walking over there I found this and HAD to stop in for some fun!

I just picked up some hair accessories because I didn't want to torture Boyfriend with hours of shopping.

After shopping we headed right over to the pier.

I really wanted to go on the rides but they weren't open :(

Boyfriend was really hungry because he didn't bring snacks, so he got a hot dog on the pier.

The hot dog looked amazing but I definitely wanted to save my calories for food with a little more substance.

After the sun went down, we walked along the pier and found a great seafood restaurant on the edge of the pier called The Lobster.   The restaurant was all windows and it overlooked the pier.  The view was perfect. 

I didn't take any pictures of my food because it was a very nice place but it was AMAZING. 

Boyfriend picked out a great bottle of Wine: Viogner: Arger-Martucci

                                                                    Russian River Valley, Sonoma 2007

Appetizer : Japanese Hamachi Sashimi

                   Jalapeno, Lime & Cilantro Salsa with Coleman Farms Cilantro Flowers

Entree: Grilled Australian Barramundi
             Roasted Butternut Squash, Spinach, Crispy Pumpkin Seeds & Aged Balsamic

After dinner we had to get some Gelato of course!

Amaretto + Pistachio

After Gelato, we wandered around a found some live music at a wine bar, had a few drinks, and then called it a night!

DAY TWO

We got up pretty early because we wanted to check out the Getty Museum and still get back to San Diego at a reasonable hour. 

The hotel had a free continental breakfast and I managed to put together some coffee and oatmeal with 1/2 banana.

The Getty was amazing!!!  It consists of 5 different buildings and has a beautiful garden maze.  The Getty overlooks L.A. and you have to ride a tram to the top of a hill where the museum sits.

The Getty is free to enter, and parking is only $15 and SOOO worth it.  There are pieces of art from Degas, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and many many others.

FAVORITES:

Irises Vincent van Gogh

Anthony Valabregue Paul Cezanne

We wandered around the beautifully manicured gardens for a bit.  It was such a beautiful, perfect day!



GARDENS OF THE GETTY MUSEUM



VIEW OF L.A.



Before we left Santa Monica I was told by a friend that I MUST got to BAY CITIES ITALIAN DELI & BAKERY and get a sandwich called the "GODMOTHER."

Genoa Salami, Mortadella Coppacola, Ham, Prosciutto, Provolone



IT was REALLY good and SOOO BAD for me but what's life without a little treat!

Loved my mini vacation and Boyfriend and I had such a good time, we are already planning our next one...San Francisco perhaps?

ALL MY BAGS ARE PACKED...

Did a little light housekeeping today.  Just straightening up a few things because I am going to LA tomorrow for the night. 

This is my favorite piece of furniture.  I always wanted a vanity table to do my makeup at. 

Perfectly organized closet!



Made Boyfriend the prettiest VDay waffles for breakfast.

1/2 PLAIN, 1/2 FRESH BLUEBERRY!

 PERSONAL PIZZA!!!

LA TORTILLA FACTORY WHOLE WHEAT TORTILLA + 1/4 CUP TRADER JOE'S RICOTTA CHEESE + 1/4 CUP TRADER JOE'S FF PIZZA SAUCE 

CABBAGE + 3 CRAB SELECT LEGS + ROMA TOMATO + SWEET PEPPERS + ANNIE'S NATURALS LITE HONEY MUSTARD

Also did a little store run to pick up a few snacks for the drive from San Diego to LA.

  Boyfriend has to pick up a part for his new truck in LA so we thought we'd make a little trip of it.  I really want to go to the Santa Monica pier!  I've never been, and I heard it's beautiful!

WHO SAYS BLACK CATS ARE BAD LUCK!?!

 Mini Cat!

(don't be fooled by her looks of innocence)

Breakfast:

Same thing, different day!  Can't help it.  My cereal mix is so good, healthy, and filling I can't help but crave it everyday!

KASHI HEART TO HEART + PUFFED MILLET + BLUEBERRIES + ALMOND MILK + SPLENDA WITH FIBER + CINNAMON

LUNCH:

I tried something a bit different today.  I love hard boiled eggs in my salad for a little protein and flavor boost but hate taking the time to boil them.  Today I decided to just microwave the whites and throw them into the salad to save time.  Now I've often microwaved egg whites, but usually just for a quick sandwich addition.  

I LOVED the nuked egg whites!  The puffy texture was a great addition and really helped bulk up my salad!!  This was a wonderfully filling and delicious mid-day energy boost!  

 SPINACH + BABY BELLA MUSHROOMS + 3 CRAB SELECT LEG STYLE + 2 EGG WHITES + 2 TBSP ANNIE'S NATURALS LITE HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING

SNACK:

Totally jumped on board the Peanut Flour train.  Got mine at Trader Joe's (and yes I've heard they are discontinuing it) and I plan on stocking up so I will have a supply for the next 4 years.

Mixed up some peanut flour paste and nuked a beautiful Pink Lady Apple for a minute and got hot apple-peanut buttery goodness!

100 GRAMS PINK LADY APPLE + 2 TBSP PEANUT FLOUR + 2 TBSP WATER + 1 TSP SPLENDA WITH FIBER + 1/2 TSP CINNAMON

Have a Great Weekend!!

BAKING GODDESS

I haven't done a lot of work in the kitchen lately due to being sick as a dog:)  As soon as I started feeling slightly better I grabbed my mixer and created these yummy beauties.

This...

BECAME THIS...

COOKIE BROWNIES!!

So simple and so gluttonous!  I made brownie batter and poured it into a pan.  I then made cookies and placed tablespoons of dough into the brownie batter.  Cooked it at 350 for 35 min and YUM!

This is obviously for Boyfriend so I had to make something for me.

THIS...

BECAME THIS...

CARROT CAKE WITH FAT FREE CREAM CHEESE ICING

This was really easy to make.  I just used the old pumpkin instead of oil trick.  It also helps to throw in two egg whites so the cake is cakey and not fudge like.  If you've tried this before you know what I mean. 

The icing was an interesting experiment.  I mixed some 0% Fage with Fat free cream cheese and tried adding Splenda to taste.  The problem is, is that I still have warped taste buds right now from being sick.  I tried using Boyfriend as a gauge but he doesn't eat artificial sugars so he was of no help.  I think it turned out okay but I guess I'll have to wait until I get better to see if it really tastes as good as it looks.

BREAKFAST:

Nice big bulky cereal!  So glad that my blueberries are back in season.  I love California for all of it's amazing bounties of berries!

16 GRAMS KASHI HEART TO HEART + 1 CUP PUFFED MILLET + 60 GRAMS BLUEBERRIES + 1 TSP SPLENDA WITH FIBER + 1/2 TSP CINNAMON

LUNCH:
Big lunch today with a little of everything!

MISO SOUP + BLUEBERRIES + BETTER START ENGLISH MUFFIN + 2 TBSP TRADER JOE'S WHITE BEAN HUMMUS + 50 GRAMS HONEY ROASTED TURKEY + 2 PICKLE SLICES

Tried this miso soup which is new to me!  It was really good.  The paste and the dried veggies come in two different packets and it makes the soup feel much more bulky.  I really liked it!

SHINSYU-ICHI MIKO MISO SOUP

Have you ever tried this??  It's from Starbucks and it's a GREAT on-the-go snack if you don't have the time to prep something at home.  It has hummus, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, grilled chicken, and a wheat pita.  LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!

CHICKEN ON FLATBREAD WITH HUMMUS ARTISAN SNACK PLATE

COMPUTER IS FIXED!!! (or as fixed as it is going to get)

YEAH!!!!

So I tried using Boyfriend's computer to keep up my posts but it became to difficult wrestling him for control of the keyboard.  Then, I got sick AGAIN and that kept me away from the computer and eating anything of interest.

So this post will be a bit long to catch up on some missed munchies and some baking I did while I was "out of order."

The moment I felt better I did a much needed Target run!!  I've been mixing water with the remaining drops of my shampoo and conditioner :(  I hate spending the mega $ on Paul Mitchell products but I have to say that it makes a HUGE difference on my hair.

LOVE LOVE this cereal!!!  It's a good-for-you version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.  Mixed with some Almond milk and blueberries and I'm in heaven!

BLUEBERRIES + CASCADIAN FARMS CINNAMON CRUNCH + TRIDENT VITALITY + PAUL MITCHELL SMOOTHING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

Bento Box from Trader Joe's!  Was extremely excited to try this.  I think it was around $5 but I figured if I liked it, it would be a nice little treat for me on occasion.  Verdict:  Okay.  Not wonderful, not awful.  There was pumpkin, spicy beans, eggplant, tofu, and various rices.  Probably won't buy it again.

Did a Marshall's run and got some more fun stuff.  I was so excited to get the dough press. 

I wanted to try something new with my dough press so I decided to create a Low-Fat Calzone.

TRADER JOE'S FAT FREE RICOTTA CHEESE + 1 TURKEY SAUSAGE + PILLSBURY REDUCED FAT CRESCENT ROLL + SPINACH + MINCED GARLIC + OREGANO + PARSLEY + HUNT'S TOMATO SAUCE + ONION POWDER + BABY BELLO MUSHROOMS

Laid out the dough on the press and filled it with...

Mixed in ricotta cheese, spinach, spices, mushrooms, and turkey sausage.

Baked in the oven at 350 for 25 minutes! 

CALZONE + 1/4 CUP HUNT'S TOMATO SAUCE

Boyfriend and I had a date night at... 

Boyfriend loves the shooting games.

500 tickets later we got some sour gummy things and a red light candy thing to tease the cats.