Let Them Eat Carbs

I love double posting days!! I lasted at the pool for two hours this afternoon. I was sweating bullets after I hopped in the pool a few times and even had a little sweat rag to help me out a little. I really need one of those fans that mist water on you and then I will be all set.

I got back to the dogs and made chicken tacos with red peppers, onion and avocado for lunch topped with T Marzetti’s Light Ancho Chipotle Ranch (I am sure you are sick of seeing this but I am going through all of my food and still have half a bottle left!)

Scrumptious. Avocado, you never fail me. I was soon on my way to hit up some different stores in search of clothes for NYC this wk. I went to Kohls and got a cute top for $30, umm, yeah that’s expensive in my book. I used to love their stuff but lately find it a little meh. I was in a different area of town and saw a Ross and quickly turned that way to see what goodies I can find. I got two dresses, two tops and a new workout DVD all for $40! I love you Ross.

But the big event of the day was next. The big event that has been four years in the making:

YES!!!!! I haven’t been to Ikea since I lived in Tempe and we had one right near my apartment. We got Ikea this past year but it’s on a completely different side of town for me and I heard it is a crazy house there. I recruited one of my co-workers to meet up with me there since she has a truck and with list in hand, we got to shopping!

I ended up getting a bed frame, tv stand, kitchen cart, two rugs and some other random goodies

All of this came to $100 under my budget for Ikea so I was loving that. I was expecting to be absolute madness on a Sunday afternoon . It was crowded but nothing over the top and we got out of there within an hour and a half, not bad at all.

Dinner came next and I was at a loss as to what to make. I am loving this whole “Let’s eat everything in the fridge and freezer” but I don’t have anything that’s calling out to me “Eat me!!”

I noshed on the last of my Tribe 40 Spice Hummus with Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil Triscuits

And I present, a most random meal: Pierogies, baked sweet potato and zucchini

This wasn’t anything too spectacular. The sweet potato was too crisp and the zucchini too mushy. I normally cook my zucchini on the stove top and will be sticking to that routine from here on out. The pierogies were good but I usually make sautéed onions and mushrooms and a side of plain greek yogurt with them so it was a tad bland.

Random thought of the day: How does David Caruso have a job? I am watching CSI Miami right now (purely because I don’t have a remote control and am being lazy) and this is just horrible. Is his acting supposed to be a joke? Please someone fill me in because this makes me believe I can obviously become an actor or a big Hollywood agent, who helped him get this role.

Hope everyone is gearing up for a great week! It’s quarter end for me which means the next three days will be dead at work but then things pick up on the first of the month (wake up wake up wake up) but who will be off on the the first of the month? Moi. I need a day before going on vacation to get things in order, get last minute shopping done, lounge by the pool, get my nails and my brows did and sadly, take Lincoln to the boarding place he is staying. Also, there is a Charlotte blogger meetup in the works for this Wednesday so that is super exciting to look forward to b/c that will be my first blogger meetup and then when I go to NYC I am meeting up with the lovely Mo and Mari–can’t wait!

Doggone It

 Hi all—hope your weekend is going great! I feel like it’s flown by and I still have a ton of stuff to do! Yesterday instead of coffee, I made a green purple pink brown monster. Seriously, I have no clue what color this really is but thought it looked cool. I made it with 8 oz Vita Coco Water, Chobani 0% Plain Greek Yogurt, Banana, Blueberries, Mango and Baby Spinach.

 I’ve been loving this in the AM if you can’t tell. I love my coffee but just haven’t been craving it as much first thing in the morning—not sure if it’s bcause of the weather or when I make my own iced coffee at home, it is not good. I try to add more grounds and less water to make it strong but no go. Plus, I have a bunch of frozen fruit in the freezer I need to go get rid of, which brings us to breakfast.

Three Nature’s Path Flax Waffles topped with peaches and blueberries. It looked so pretty, I almost didn’t eat it. Almost. Who am I kidding, I devoured it but the thought did cross my mind for a nano-second.

 I didnt have any plans until afternoon time so I went back to bed after breakfast. Um, I never do that…edit, I never do that when I’m not hungover. I don’t know if it’s the heat, humidity or what but I have just been taking every minute I can to rest or take a nap lately. My sleep is lacking! I woke up, showered and made a quick wrap lunch with ham, tomato and hummus. Speaking of hummus, click here for a new way to use your hummus. Well new to me, I never thought of the concept but will definitely be trying it soon!

 I met up with my friend Kristi for a free brewery tour at the Olde Mecklenberg Brewery, a fairly new brewery located here in Charlotte. It has been open for about 15 months but their business seems to be on the up and up and had good beer! We like that. I had a few pints of the Mecklenberger, a full bodied yet light beer.

Full bodied indeed but very refreshing. Originally, I was going to try their darker ale as well but stayed with this one because I am devoted like that.

Excuse my greasiness, me so shiny!!

The World Cup was on and it was a packed house! We really weren’t paying attention to the game but clapped when we hear everyone clapping, boo’ed when other people did, etc. Really dug the atmosphere though, it was just a big open room full of people appreciating good beer. I am down with that.

 The wrap didn’t hold me over for too long and for some reason I was craving Subway. I hate Subway. The smell of their bread just lingers and I find it just a downright, nasty smell. Plus back in Florida, we had a lot of gas stations that had Subways within them and I can still smell how disgusting they smelled. The Five Dollar Footlong and Jared commercials don’t help either, those two alone make me scream! Personally, I would rather go to Quizno’s to get a sub b/c they are awesome in my book and they have one my most favorite commercials….EVER!!

But I guess the beer was really good and potent because I was on a mission to find a Subway! I keep seeing commercials for the Orchard Chicken Salad and was ready to give it a go.

 It was ok. I was expecting more flavor with the fruit it had in it but it was a decent sub. Arby’s had a Chicken Salad Sandwich with apples and grapes a few years back and that was the best I had yet but this was ok. I can say it was fresh and the cucumbers were fantastic!

Then I was on my way to pick up Monet, my friends dog that I’m dogsitting for the week.

 These dogs have such a ruff life.

Dinner was a Greek Salad with Grilled Chicken from Reid’s that I purchased the other day 40% off. I topped with T Marzetti’s Light Ancho Chipotle Ranch. This had waaaaaaay more black olives than last time but I am actually starting to enjoy black olives so bring it.

Despite it being humid and nasty out, I woke up at 7A today and went for a two mile walk. I felt good to get out, do something and move today rather than complaining that it’s hot. Sunday mornings are so peaceful, I love how quiet it is, not too many people out and just a hopeful feeling for a new day!

I stopped at the Bucks and came home to make breakfast since I only had a banana before my walk. I made an egg white, ham, cheese and avocado sandwich on an Arnold Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin

So I know it doesn’t look like much but this was one of the best breakfast sandwiches I’ve made! I loved the ham and cheese in between the egg white omelet and I used Monterrey Jack, which added a nice kick of flavor. And avocado never wrongs me or lets me down. I was pleased with the sandwich thin as well, in the past I’ve only had bagel thins and always had that pesky hole in the middle but this right here was fabulous and filling!

Ok, off to start a bunch of things that need to get done today–starting with laying out by the pool 🙂 I’m not going to have a pool at my new place so I need to appreciate it while I can.

PS–Seriously? These dogs are knocked out like they did manual labor.