If It’s Free, It’s For Me!

Hi all! The last two days have been pretty uneventful–just working, dog sitting and counting down until Wed 5P when I officially begin my vacation.

Yesterday was nothing was too special, it was a Monday and still unbearably hot! for breakfast, I gad a green monster with baby spinach, almond milk, mango and banana and  I made an awesome breakfast sandwich on an Arnold Whole Wheat Bagel Thin with egg whites, ham and cheese with a dab of ketchup.

I wish I would have known that I could nuke egg whites a long time ago, it would have saved me so much money and less money would have went to Jimmy Dean D-Lights

I haven’t had greek yogurt in a few days where is a rarity for me and will need to buy one or two before I move because I cannot exist without it. To win some coupons for FREE (yes, free) Chobani Greek Yogurt, click here!

Lunch was leftovers of brown rice, chicken and black beans

I snacked on a Hearth Strings Cookies N Cream bar–which was amazing! I never tried this flavor but the frosting alone was worth it. I will definitely be getting this one again! If you like granola bars, you should definitely check out their website. They are a local company and have a variety of flavors plus great deals on gift sets of granola bars–plus a granola of the month club!

Then later, had some strawberries

I saw a really random book at the library

Is anyone really interested in the story of Julio Iglesias Junior? I kinda want to check it out just to learn random facts about him and throw it out in every day conversation! “You went to the park this wknd? Did you know Julio Iglesias Junior volunteered at local parks in Southern California when he was a teen?” You know, just to throw people off a little.

Dinner was yet again-sandwich thins! I made personal pizzas with them and topped with turkey pepperoni, salami and cut up Monterrey Jack Cheese

 

One of them got a little damaged….but still edible!

Along with a  side of Green Giant Immunity Blend. As said before, I am not a fan of frozen veggies but I really enjoyed these. The veggies were surprisingly tasty (one may say it tasted fresh) and it was a nice mixture.

The rest of the night was blah. I was just pooped from work, the heat, getting ready for my trip etc. I can’t wait until moving day next wk when I am near work and only have a 10 minute commute each way compared to the 45 minute commute each way I have now.

 But today was more exciting and this morning was the morning of free stuff!!

Free breakfast-Chick Fil A Chicken Minis, Mini Bagels, McDonalds Parfait and free coffee from Just Fresh with my free coupon

Free ice cream courtesy of Time Warner outside our building for some promotion they were doing. This somewhat makes up for the fact that they keep raising their rates. I was paying $145 for cable with DVR and Internet and just couldn’t do it anymore so I switched to basic cable (sadly, without DVR) to save $80 a month.

Free tomatoes from my co-workers garden. She brought in bags of these and I wanted to take them all home but just took one.

These were super yummy and I may have had 1/3 of the bag at my desk this morning-let’s hear it for lycopene! And look at the size of those cube walls, I love having my privacy as opposed to an open floor plan.

And we got free coffee and lunch tomorrow coming due to it being Quarter End. That is the one perk of my job and department I enjoy the most. And that means they will probably have some leftovers, which is perfect so less random meals from my kitchen! Stuff is starting to run low, which is great but I can only get so creative with random foods and a few spices and sauces.

Since my friend helped me with Ikea stuff on Sunday, I told her I would take her to lunch today so her, my co-worker and I headed for an all you can eat sushi buffet for lunch. All you can eat for $9.95? Sign me up. They also had a hot bar with lo mein (which was creamy, I did not like this), fried rice, sesame chicken and chicken teriyaki. I love that this place is right around the corner and the sushi is endless. I was full but not uncomfortable full so it was nice not having to feel like I needed to unbutton my pants when I got to work lol I used to love buffets but really don’t go that often anymore, I really can’t think of the last time I went to a buffet in general or my beloved Chinese buffet

 Yet another attempt to get stuff out of my fridge, I made chicken drumsticks glazes with a honey teriyaki sauce served with Green Giant Cheesy Broccoli and Rice

I was running some errands after dinner and am sad to admit, looked like crap (I know, I’m a letdown but it does happen to even the greatest like me-ha!) I was wearing yoga pants and a tank top and no makeup. But I had my ghetto baby girl earrings on because they don’t leave my ears until I shower, workout or go to bed. I like to rock them everywhere and always get compliments on my earrings. Anyways, why is it that times like this is when you run into an ex? I was just trying to get some fro-yo to cool me off, wasn’t bothering anyone and BAM! There he was at the fro-yo place…..with a lady friend. This is the dude who brought the mary jane over to my place on the second date. The same one who said he didn’t do drugs. The same one who had a bowl in every room of his house. Yeah. I played it cool but put on my sunglasses like they would somehow make me disappear ala Big Daddy.  I was awestruck because this is my turf and he doesn’t even live in this county! WTF? I was about to take off my earrings, put some Vasoline on my arms and scrap. He can go back to his county with his lady friend with the fake Coach purse (horrible stitch work and cheap straps) to their own place to get some cool treats. It’s annoying, that’s all.

Regardless-the good stuff

Of course, I can’t refuse the little guy the last spoonful

Looking to give to a good cause? Head to Kelly Confidential and make a banana split for free and Electrolux will donate $1 for every split made to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Calorie free and helping a charity, not too shabby.

Lincoln wishes you a good night!

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.