FML? How about LOVE my Life?

Let’s see…. this morning-lost my access id to work. Which if I was a normal person, would not be an issue. However since I am Miss Unorganized 2010, I keep my bus pass and Starbucks gift card in the plastic access pass envelope as well. God forbid, I take five seconds each day to put it in my wallet….GRRR.

I went to the Charlotte Transportation Center to check the lost and found. To get a visual of this place disregard this picture and picture a bunch of people who look like they are going to riot at any second. Each of them are smoking or drinking something and yeah, that’s the fabulous Charlotte Transportation Center for you.

Or as I like to call it, the Boulevard of Broken Dreams. After waiting for the Lost and Found to open, I felt and smelled like I had been in a bar all night. And it was only 8AM. The girl at the Lost and Found was something pleasant but forgot to say something like “Hi”, “How may I help you?” or something of that nature. She just stared at me shocked that someone was actually in there (yay for my tax dollars being put to work) But no go on my id being there so I gave her my phone number but don’t expect to hear from her.

I walked over to my building to find the only comfort that I could at the moment-La Starbucks.

 I love the baristas at the Starbucks in my building and they always put me in a good mood. When it was my turn to order, they asked me how I was doing and of course I asked “Do you want to real or the fake answer?” and they said “Real” which always makes me happy and spewed off my issues.

Which gets into another rant of mine for the day…..this whole FML business

I know I can be negative and snarky however try to keep a positive mindset. But when my friends are updating their status on facebook saying stuff like “Woke up late today, fml” “just got cut off in traffic fml” it really bothers me. FMH (Hour) I can understand but your life really?? I think that’s a tad dramatic. I could totally say fml about losing my access id, bus pass and Starbucks card but I choose not too. What brought this to mind was a facebook status from a co-worker from Phoenix who I started the bank with. Today is the third anniversary of her daughter’s passing. Her daughter died suddenly from an asthma attack and was only nine years old. Her facebook status was in memory of her daughter’s passing and with my foul mood today plus the crappiness of losing those items this morning, it really put things into perspective. Those were material possessions that I could get back right away however for her to have to bury her own child and me sit here complaining about losing that stuff is just ridiculous. Not sure if this makes any sense written out but in my head it does.

I know I sound like
but needed to get that off my chest.

Breakfast was cold vs hot with my baked apples over Oikos Plain Greek Yogurt with some flax. I love this combo, it just tastes decadent compared to the usually cold berries and greek yogurt.

Lunch was spaghetti squash that I made last wknd that I thawed out with Morningstar Veggie crumbles, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, evoo, red pepper flakes, oregano and garlic. I wasn’t sure if it would be good after being frozen but I actually liked it more since it was mushier. I had ¾ of this because I was so full.

I went to the library and picked up Eat Drink and Be Vegan for some ideas since I am not going to be eating chicken, pork or red meat for the next 39 days!

Yay for new things!

Dinner was sad for me. My friend, my only friend in Charlotte who actually wants to do stuff and no boyfriend, fiancée, husband is moving. She is leaving this wknd so this was out last dinner together. We went to Pei Wei which is one of my favorite chain places! Every time I go I really attempt to try something new but just can’t do it. I am a risk tasker but what if the new dish isn’t as good as old faithful? But then, what if it is so much better? Ahhh decisions!

Started off with some edamame

And then onto the main event-Tofu Pad Thai!

Good -bye friend.

 

After that, I decided to head to Target. I was sad and full and Target always makes me feel good!

Is this heaven? No, it’s the Target Valentine’s Day Candy Clearance Aisle

 I could have gone buck wild but went with one bag of Hershey’s Hugs Raspberry Kisses–$1.44/bag–holla!

 And Friday is right around the corner-yay! Fortunately, I get to leave work early tomorrow. Unfortunately, it’s because I have a laser tattoo removal session. More to come on that tomorrow….

Xmas in February

Started the day with a spinach-coffee smoothie! I never had the two together but holy yum! I usually have a hot coffee in the morning but have been bored with mine lately (not sure if it is the brand or just redundancy of it?)

Since I woke up a little late and knew I wouldn’t be enjoying breakfast for a while so I downed a Thomas Whole Wheat Bagel Thin with Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Butter and Almond Butter

Hit

The

Spot

I need to eat this more!

Continuing on my cold drink kick, I decided to switch it up and get an iced coffee at Starbucks with two pumps sugar-free vanilla

My barista was starting to make my drink when I walked in so it was nice to throw him off track 🙂 lol I love the Starbucks baristas in my building though, they are wonderful, peppy and know what a girl wants.

I had a Bosc Pear between meals and absolutely love that I can eat it like a huge turkey leg!

Lunch was a piece of the Chicken Tamale Casserole I made the other night with a dollop of sour cream. It was great and could definitely see myself making it again. I was surprised that the cornbread taste didn’t take over, it was very mild. I was also surprised it wasn’t too spicy. I added jalapenos instead of green chiles but still mild, in my opinion.

And a disappointing snack in the afternoon: Chobani Champions Chocolate flavor

Big Thumbs DOWN! I am still sad I was so displeased with it, especially after trying the HoneyNaner this wknd. I found the Chocolate  very sour and chalky. Unfortunately, they are packaging the Chocolate and HoneyNaner together so I probably wouldn’t buy this flavor combo again. Sad, since once I day I want my own Chobani factory in my backyard…..

I feel like it is Christmas in February for me. I have been cleaning my place and found some goodies but also bought a couple new things.

New toys to play with:

New Digital!!!

I have had my old camera since 2002 so I decided it was time for an upgrade. Thanks Uncle Sam for a quick tax return turn around time!

Ozeri Food Scale

I have never owned one so I am geeked to try it

Last but not least

The Magic Bullet

I got this for my birthday back in December and haven’t even used it yet. And I don’t know why, which makes me sad. I went on a cruise in December then went to Florida for Christmas so I was moving around a lot but still, that was two months ago. I need to get on the magic bullet train!
I had a snack of Marzetti Lite Ranch Dip and Baby Carrots

Dinner was Spaghetti Squash with sauce consisting of stewed tomatoes, morningstar veggie, onion and mushrooms

I went for a short/run walk after dinner because Lost is on tonight and I feel like vegging out and watching. It was rainy and cold out (which I love) so it was only for 30 mins and about 1.5 miles. I would know if I had my heart rate monitor but sigh, still waiting on that bad boy.

I came home and refueled with what else—-a spinach smoothie(Can ya tell I like these?) with baby spinach, Chocolate Whey Protein, Soy Milk and TJ’s Plain Greek Yogurt

And the Yuengling Glass is just too cute for words

Alright. I have never put Greek Yogurt in a smoothie and I don’t know why I never tried it. This was like a malt and so delicious! I wonder what the Greek Yogurt with fruit in it would taste like? We will just have to see…..

While waiting for Lost, I leave you with some Lincoln love

Rant

 I don’t understand how some people are inconsiderate in the workplace, Texas Toast was at it again today.

Texas Toast is the lady in the cubicle behind me who is so loud, makes it  a point once a day to make it known that she is a  Texas gal and obnoxious. She rolls into work around 10A each day and leaves around 4P and probably makes double what I make. She is on conference calls nonstop and always on speaker phone. And most of the time, she is sooooo loud and cussing….at work! Now, I cuss like a truck driver (when not at work and around those I am close with) however at work-um, no. That’s just unprofessional. Then after each call, she sighs so loudly like she has just finished hours of manual labor (oddly enough the sigh kinda sounds like Chewbacca!) Another annoying thing she does is ask “Do you have a quick second?” A second is a second. What kind of go-go-go world do you live in that you need it be quicker?

 Just not a way to start my Monday. I did try a new flavor Greek yogurt for breakfast-Apricot.Mango Greek Yogurt from TJ’s.

Verdict-Amazing. I figured this could either be really good or really bad. I added some frozen blueberries and flax and it made a filling breakfast

 Snack was a Bosc Pear (with a lovely backdrop of Uptown Charlotte)

And our email wasn’t working today…..which is fabulous. A wonderful way to start the wk! And this issue happened last wk so I don’t know whats going on. At least the Internet is working so that kept me occupied but it would be nice to be able to do business as usual.

I was looking through some pictures from college since I finally got my scanner up and running and am a little sad for a number of reasons

 *In almost every single picture, I am holding a beer or drink. Why did I pollute my body so much and how in the world did I consume all that liquor? Now if I have three or four drinks, I am done. Thank God I am safe and nothing too bad ever happened to me. I was also thinking of my “diet” back then and I had so much unhealthy food, I cringe thinking of it. Because a value meal from McDonalds goes perfectly a night of $2 beers! I wish I would have taken better care of myself and worked out more. I really let myself go the last two yrs. Grrrrrr. I know there is nothing I can do about it now but it still bothers me.

 * I wish I had the friends I did back them closer to me location wise. My friends are so spread out all over the place and maybe get to see some of them once a year but primarily keep in touch via email, text, facebook, etc. It’s hard to make those connections after college when people you work with or live near have such varied backgrounds. I lived in my sorority house for two years with girls and the other years lived in the dorm, an apartment with one of my dorm buddies and then my own apartment. Now I have neighbors who I believe are in the Russian mafia, one who doesn’t work but is on his patio drinking every time I am coming in or going out and I think the guy below me is a serial killer (he had a really big freezer delivered to him and never makes eye contact).

Then I had co-workers at Applebee’s who were different from me but never had any issues with anyone. The biggest one maybe the guy and girl who used to argue back and forth about who was the better artist–Widespread Panic or Snoop Dogg. And now I have co-workers who smell like bleu cheese and butt and others who don’t know how to socialize. Weird.

 *I remember my last year in college, I was so ready to get out into the real world and work, pay bills, etc. Now? Not so much! I would kill to roll out of bed, have breakfast ready for me and walk to class then come back and go to bed.

* I really need to get a game plan for my move this summer. When I moved to Phoenix, I didn’t have a job lined up but found one right away. When I moved to Charlotte, I transfered with my company. And DC is one of the areas I am looking into and it is just so big I don’t know where to start! Either that or I have just stopped believing in myself which is just sad and not like me 😦

Sigh, sorry for all this just sad and I feel stuck of where I am in life right now and very unhappy.

Lunch was the spaghetti squash I made the other night with faux meat sauce and it was fabu!

 

Dinner was a big salad—yet again! Including

Turkey pepperoni, kidney beans, onions, sprouts, tomato, balsamic vinegar and lite peppercorn dressing

And go me for actually giving myself a manicure!

I also had a baked potato topped with fat-free sour cream and avocado–my new favorite thing!

 I will need to stop myself from eating this everyday. It was so delicious–and I didn’t even add any salt.

What the rest of the night holds in store, no clue. I was going to work out with my kettlebell but I am still sore from running this weekend so will push tomorrow.

I am sure this will be part of my evening plans:

 

I wonder what the drama will be tonight?? And more important, is he going to send skankalicious Vienna home?

New foods…..

Tonight was a night of new things in the kitchen. With all the food I cooked, you would think I was cooking for an entire family but nope, just me.

First I made spaghetti squash. I’ve never had it before and have wanted to try it as a substitute for real spaghetti.

I love that my squash had a name on it–Margot hehe (and let’s excuse the chipped nail polish)

 I baked it at 375 degrees for an hour. I was contemplating whether or not to slice it down the middle beforehand. I looked online at the pros and cons and decided to just keep it whole while baking and cut when it was finished.

I scooped out the seeds and then forked out the flesh.

Suffice to say, I will be eating this throughout the wk! I also made a sauce with Morningstar Sausage Style Crumbles, onions, garlic, mushrooms and stewed tomatoes.

Side dish was baby spinach with teardrop tomatoes (which until today, I had never heard of but they were on sale so bring it!)

I put some evoo on the pan and threw in the spinach and let cook for about three minutes. I then threw in the tomatoes and some balsamic vinegar

Dinner is served!

All mixed up…..

 

 Why didn’t I try this before? It was AMAZING! And obviously, way more healthy than spaghetti. I wasn’t the only fan…..

Didn’t stop there! I had a gnocchi recipe sitting in my cabinet for a while. I have only had gnocchi in restaurants and thought it would be fun to make my own. Unfortunately the recipe is on paper but if anyone is interested, please let me know.

Gnocchi in the making……

The final product (I had to try a few to make sure they would be an acceptable meal later this week)

 It was great! I will have to try it a few more times to perfect my technique but thought it turned out well. The biggest pain of it was the mess and waiting for the potatoes to boil.

I also tried the Chobani Champions Honeynaner that I bought earlier today (with some  flax)

Keeper! It was a smaller portion of Chobani so I was a little unfulfilled by it but I imagine it would be great with granola and fruit.

Game plan for the rest of the night?

Love this movie! Every time I watch it, it uplifts my spirits and I am going out tomorrow night to watch the SuperBowl so I need to rest up tonight.