MY FIRST ROON

 

Rockin' the B-FAST Green Smoothie!! 

1/2 MEDIUM BANANA + 1 TSP COCONUT EXTRACT + 2 TSP CHIA SEEDS + 1 CUP ALMOND MILK + HANDFUL OF SPINACH + 3 ICE CUBES

My first experience at making homemade MACAROONS!!!!!  This is basically just a throw-away, experimental batch.  Chocolate overload!

 They turned out pretty good!  A little mushy in the center, but I thought they were delish!!

How did I "bake" them??  24 hours on my new FOOD DEHYDRATOR!!!  I did it!!!  I bought the cheap model, so I wasn't that bad of a girl.  However, from here on out NO BIG PURCHASES!!!!!

$1 PINEAPPLE AT HENRY'S SLICED BY BOYFRIEND

Despite the fact that my house is packed with eats, I was NOT in the mood to cook tonight.  Boyfriend and I grabbed a pizza at a yummy pizza place on 30th Street.

GOLD COAST: GRILLED CHICKEN, ARTICHOKE, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, BASIL, ELEPHANT GARLIC

While we waited the 35 minutes for the deep crust to cook, we went to Bluefoot, a bar half a block down from the pizza place.

PEAR CIDER + CORONADO IPA

The pizza was AMAZING and the beer gave me quite a buzz! 

We went to the Red Box machine and rented Love & Other Drugs.  I'm not really an Anne Hathaway fan.  In fact, I really dislike her.  I think she's annoying :(  Jake Gyllenhaal, however, I think is hot as ballz!!  The movie was pretty good.  A LOT better then the other movies I watched lately!

XOXO

OPENING DAY

SAN DIEGO PADRES OPENING DAY!!!

For BREAKFAST this morning, I thought I'd give some props to San Diego/Mexican cuisine.

HUEVOS RANCHEROS

• 1 CORN TORTILLA
• EGG
• 1/4 CUP TJ'S LITE MEXICAN BLEND CHEESE
• 1/4 CUP BLACK BEANS
• 1/4 CUP CHUNKY SALSA

Wrap the tortilla a paper towel, and heat for 30 seconds in the microwave.  Mix together beans and salsa and heat for 1 minute in the microwave.  Poach one egg.  Assemble: Tortilla on the bottom, spoon beans and salsa mixture on top of the tortilla, place egg on top of beans, and sprinkle with cheese. 

Boyfriend and I went down to the East Village near the stadium where there was a block party to celebrate opening day.  The stadium is right in downtown San Diego.

ROCKIN THE PADRES GEAR

There were food trucks set up outside the stadium.  I got into the spirit and ordered a "Slaw Dog".  It was all bun and not really tasty:(  I also thought the Diet Pepsi tasted a bit weird.  I looked at the bottom of the can and it had expired in August!  Not a good 1st Food Truck experience!

We didn't have tickets to the game so we thought we'd stroll around downtown a bit.  We ended up walking down to the harbor and stopped by a restaurant on the water for some drinks.

ICE TEA FOR BOYFRIEND + CHAMPAGNE FOR ME

It was a beautiful day and I'm glad I got to sneak a little Boyfriend time in.

XOXO

IN MY DREAMS

I HATE LAUNDRY!!! 

I don't mind doing it.  That's the easy part.  It's the putting-it-away part that I have a problem with.  I had to put away laundry from about a month ago, combined with the laundry I did the other morning.  UGH!  However, when I do it, I do it right!  I even fold my underwear.

I made some ORANGE BLUEBERRY MUFFINS yesterday that I had for BREAKFAST today.  I used a store bought mix, but added some orange zest and replaced the oil with pumpkin for a little healthy kick.  I also used a mini muffin pan because I feel like I'm eating more when I have two little ones verses one big muffin.

I also threw in a smoothie for good measure.  It's obviously NOT from Seattle's Best.  I usually save my cups when I get drinks out and reuse them a few times. 

MANGO + 1/2 BANANA + ALMOND MILK + 1 TSP SPLENDA WITH FIBER + COCONUT EXTRACT + ICE CUBES

I made LUNCH at work.  I was CRAVING brussel sprouts!!!  Who craves brussel sprouts?

BRUSSEL SPROUTS + TOMATO SAUCE

So I know I SAID that I was done with kitchen appliances but....I'm really LUSTING after these two babies:

 BREVILLE 800JEXL JUICE FOUNTAIN ELITE JUICER I now have a Vitamix for my smoothies, but I can't make fresh juice!  I'm not really into drinking too much fruit juice because it is so high in calories and sugar.  However, I figure I can sneak a bunch of veggies into my juice to cut down on the high calorie content.  This would set me back around $250, so it's a bit of an investment.  A girl can dream...

NESCO DEHYDRATOR Drying my own fruit and homemade macaroons!!!  Who wouldn't want to do that?!?  This item is about $50 so it's not as much of an investment as the juicer.  The only problem is that my kitchen is getting WAY too cramped with all of my "gadgets"!!!

 

XOXO

WHISKEY & FARMERS MARKETS

UGH!!! I got talked into drinking Jameson last night, and I feel TOXIC this morning.  My friends have an unnatural obsession with whiskey that I just don't share in.

To cure my ailing body this morning, I recreated one of my favorite Vita creations: ORANGE JUILIUS!  I remembered to add the spinach this time.  Check out that lovely green MONSTER!! 

LARGE ORANGE + 1/2 FROZEN BANANA + 1 CUP ALMOND MILK + 1/2 TSP VANILLA EXTRACT + 2 TSP SPLENDA WITH FIBER

I used this boost to power me through yet another Farmer's Market.  This time it was the Hillcrest Farmer's Market...my fav!  The weather was kind of dreary, but not too cold.  I was shocked at how packed it was!!

FRESH FLOWERS

LUSTING AFTER THESE "FLOATING" VASES

GOING TO TRY TO REPLICATE THIS "SALSA" AT HOME!

YUMMY SQUASH BLOSSOMS

CAN'T BUY CARROTS LIKE THIS AT THE GROCERY STORE

MOST FAVORITE TOMATOES

I was so overwhelmed by everything!  I did a lot of window shopping, but ultimately only bought a few necessities!

DATES!!

I've heard about this sauce around the city.  It's made locally and I knew they had a booth at the Farmer's Market.  I tried some with a carrot and LOVED it!!!  LOVE the name too:)  They make a Pesto flavored sauce as well.  I will definately have to try that next time.

After the Farmer's Market, I went on a hunt for a pair of shoes that I have been lusting after.  No luck :(  I did however stop at Borders for some Iced Coffee and the newest selection of health magazines.  They all start to say the same thing after awhile.  I enjoy them most, when I haven't read them for awhile.  And reading them at Borders allows me to save some $.

For DINNER, I cheated and just reheated some of my Vitamix Avocado Tortilla Soup.

And for a little SNACKAGE later...

2 TBSP WILD GARDEN HUMMUS DIP + FLAT OUT WRAP

I'm not much of a fan of THIS type of hummus, and I LOVE hummus.  I'm sure I'll still finish it though :)

Well, that's it for today.  I think I have a long day of cleaning ahead of me tomorrow.  I LOVE cleaning but I feel like I'm ALWAYS doing it.  With two black cats, two sugar gliders, and one Boyfriend there's always something to clean!!

XOXO

101 ST POST!!!

I am SOOOO glad that I decided to put a hold on all of my chores the past two days and focus on the BEACH!!!  Today is definitely NOT beach weather.  It's a little chilly and overcast :(  I'm not too sad about it though because I took advantage of the beautiful weather to the fullest extent!

On the off chance that today was going to be nice, I went to the laundromat at 6:00am to get my laundry on.  They provide Internet access, so time really goes by fast when browsing the web.

My basil plant is flourishing!  So much so, that I decided to buy her a friend!  My little leafy plant isn't doing so well, but it's completely NOT my fault.  Miss Mini Cat LOVES chewing on the leaves.

SPEARMINT PLANT

For BREAKFAST, I was craving something on the sweet side so I got a brilliant idea to combine a few of my favorites. 

THIS:

BECAME THIS:

THOMAS' BETTER START ENGLISH MUFFIN + EGG WHITE + 1 TBSP TJ'S RASPBERRY PRESERVES + TRADER JOE'S MINI BRIE

To die for amazing!!!  Definite repeater.  I'm completely obsessed with Trader Joe's single portions of cheese.  It's all about the portion control with me and cheese.

Despite the gray skies, I still had a few errands to run so LUNCH was out and about.  I had a new snack which I have been dying to try: Dole Real Fruit Bites: Mango Chunks.  This is a perfect example of when something LOOKS healthy, but in fact is sugar in disguise. 

Not very satisfying.  Not really tasty.  Too much sugar.  Won't EVER buy again!

DINNER was fab!!!  Grilled a big portabella on my panini maker, and threw it into a spinach salad.  Also used another TJ's portion controlled cheese...goat!!!  Two cheeses in one day...I'm getting crazy now:)

SPINACH + TJ'S GOAT CHEESE + BABY HEIRLOOM TOMATOES + TJ'S FF BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE + GRILLED PORTABELLA MUSHROOM

  Rocked a walking HITT early morning with my gym buddy, Mark.  It was very enjoyable, and 45 minutes flew by due to lots of a variation.  This is gonna be a repeater!

Didn't realize yesterday that it was my 100th post!!!  Time flies when you are having fun!  So I will be celebrating my 101st post today!

XOXO

I LIVE HERE!!!!

The weatherman LIED to me!!!  And thank goodness for that!  I was planning on doing some laundry today, but when I woke up this morning Weather Bug said that it was 83 degrees!!!  I knew my laundry could wait 1 more day.  I'm determined to make the most of this good weather!

PACIFIC BEACH, CA

I decided to go to Pacific Beach this time to change it up a bit.  OB is the "hippie" beach, and PB is the "college" town.  I think both beaches are equally beautiful.  It's just the crowd that is a little different.

I was so mad at myself because I left my wallet at home!!!  I was intending on checking out the cheap clothing stores that are on the main street in PB.  Luckily for me, I had my Starbucks gift card in my bag so I could at least grab an iced coffee and something to nibble on.

ICED COFFEE WITH 2 PUMPS SUGAR-FREE CARAMEL & A SPLASH OF SOY + EGG WHITE, SPINACH & FETA WRAP

I spent about 2 hours on the beach and walking around.  Needless to say, after 2 days on the beach I am quite pink.  Luckily for me, my red always fades into a nice tan.

I was out when my belly started growling so I found this at a Ralph's.  It's Tofu with Brown rice.  I thought it was okay, but the sauce was a bit heavy for my tastes.  It DID NOT agree with my stomach later on.  I find it so difficult to eat well when I am out and not preparing the food for myself.  You really don't know what they put in your food despite all labels.

I'm secretly hoping that tomorrow is 80 degrees again!!!  I really want to go to the beach in Coronado.  This will complete my "San Diego Beach Tour" extravaganza!

XOXO