The Week That Was

Packing, moving, working, stressing, living-oi! It has been a pretty hectic week with all of that going on. Tomorrow is the big day for my move, I got my keys earlier this week but all the furniture and endless number of boxes are being hauled over there tomorrow. I feel like all I have been doing is packing, bubble wrapping, taping, cleaning, making sure I have everything and tossing stuff I don’t need.

The fridge is officially empty except for a cooler with essentials I refuse to throw away—-spray butter, sweet tea vodka, Wholly Guacamole, frozen pineapple and pizza dough. My power is being turned off tomorrow which is worrying me a bit–will it be turned off at midnight or just some random time tomorrow? My bed has been broken down so I am sleeping on the couch but little did I know that is where Lincoln runs off to in the middle of the night. Also, I did not know that an eight and a half pound dog could stretch to ridiculous lengths and crush me in the middle of the night. I woke up this morning smelling Frito’s but none were there, it was just his paw in my face. Anyone else notice their dogs paws smell like Frito’s? Seriously, smell them-they do. A dude mentioned that to me once and I thought he was nuts but he was right……and I hate admitting I am wrong about something.

So, tonight is the last night in my apartment. I’ve lived here three years, which is a record in my book. I haven’t lived anywhere this long except for the house I grew up in in Florida so this was major for me. I move around a lot whether it be to different apartments, cities, etc. so I guess I’m like a gypsy. This apartment holds a lot of memories for me—-rough times for me with personal and family issues, a few boys here and there…..from ex-convicts to ghanja toting boy with a normal one or two thrown in there, friends who are still in my life and some that are not and oh yeah, the whole being a dog momma thing.

 I just can’t believe I stayed in one place this long–I love this apartment so much but the quality of people has just gone downhill. I heard that our complex isn’t even doing credit or background checks like they were doing when I moved in and it is more of a college, white trash and Russian mafia mix now which I am really not digging seeing that I am, sigh, 30 yrs old. I am so excited to move to my new neighborhood since it is closer to the city and within walking distance to bars, restaurants and eeeeeeek—four coffee places!

Wow, I guess I had a lot to get out—-if you’re still ready this, thanks for not clicking away 🙂

Let’s talk food! I’ve been eating out waaaaaaaay more than usual this week due to moving, not having food, throwing stuff out and such. My waistline and my wallet are not happy about this so I am excited to get into my new place and buy some groceries and get to cooking again! I now present the random goodness (and not so much) that I had this week.

Trader Joe’s Whole Wheat Pizza Dough topped with TJ’s Spinach and Artichoke Dip with sautéed spinach and roasted tomato

6 inch Chicken Tender Sub with White America, tomato, banana peppers and Chipotle Mayo from Harris Teeter

Cucumbers with Trader Joe’s Kalamata Olive Hummus

Sausage, egg and cheese wrap from Just Fresh

Baked chicken pieces with ranch and tabasco dipping sauce and an Arnold Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin topped with honey. This was the worst meal of the week, in my opinion, however Lincoln was on it like white on rice.

Amy’s Breakfast Burrito

Cookies N Cream and Plain Fro Yo topped with Fruity Pebbles, Strawberries, Mango and gummy bears. Random yet fabulous

Huevos Wrap from Just Fresh

Chicken Finger Salad from Chick-Fil-A with Fat Free Honey Mustard—-anyone dress up like a cow today for a free meal? I tried to sweet talk my way into a meal since I was wearing a black top with white polka dots but they weren’t having that.

It’s weird how so much has gone on in this apartment yet I remember the first meal I had—chicken pesto pizza from Fresh Market, the memory is a funny thing I tell you. I can’t remember where one of my six pairs of scissors is but I remember a meal three years ago.

Turtle Brownie Bar from Hearth Strings Foods. I emailed them last week to see if they have nutrional values for their bars and granola and sadly they don’t, boo.

So, that’s it. I won’t even begin to talk about what a hellacious week at work this has been but when I blog next (hopefully tomorrow if Time Warner is on time?) I will be in my new pad!

Stay cool everyone—it’s stifling out!

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!