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!

98 Degrees

And no, not talking about these guys.

Although, I do kinda miss the boy band craze of the late 90’s sometimes (Jeff was my favorite 98 Degree-er)

That’s how hot it was today. 85 degrees by 10A and just nastiness outside. I feel like I am living back in Phoenix but with humidity. Make. It. Stop.

I had such a wonderful day off and felt like I got so much done. I was in normal spirits, had more energy, etc. it’s a real shame that this work thing gets in the way of my life schedule. But, gotta pay the bills right?

I slept in until 745A (which was just fabulous), I felt so rested and relaxed, it wasn’t even funny. I made an egg and egg white omelet with red peppers and Trader Joe’s Feta with Mediterranean Herbs

I was waiting on the washer/dryer company to come pick up my set but of course they gave me a six-hour time frame in between 8A and 2P so I lounged around while Lincoln sat out looking at the window. He wasn’t doing anything, just sitting there. It really makes me wonder what he does when I’m at work or away. I’m really tempted to get a nanny cam but then if I see he is just sitting there bored, I will feel sad about going to work and having a life. Look at how he was glaring at me!

There was only one thing to do at that point-Fight Club Chihuahua Style. I got a puppet dog out of Lincoln’s Baby Bin (a bin with 20+ babies aka toys) and we had a training session.

Don’t worry, I have no intention of fighting Lincoln and am disgusted when I hear about dog fighting. I think people who fight their dogs should get thrown in a pit full of hungry, vicious dogs and let them go to town. I just want to know Lincoln can hold his own if he ever gets into a “situation” when someone is trying to mess with him. Good session indeed. I was on such a high from training Lincoln (and kinda was feeling like Mickey Goldmill) that I put him in my room and had a workout session of my own.

Kettlebell-20 lbs

Upright Deltoid Row (13 reps, 3 set)

Side Bends (20 reps, 2 sets)

Swings (20 reps, 2 sets)

Shrugs (12 reps, 2 sets)

Halos (13 reps, 2 sets)

Squats (20 reps, 2 sets)

Dumbbell-15 lbs

Shoulder press (12 reps, 2 sets)

Curls (13 reps, 3 sets)

Dumbbell 10 lbs

Tricep Dumbbell Kickbacks  (13 reps, 2 sets)

Tricep Extensions (12 reps, 2 sets)

Front Lateral Raise (13 reps, 2 sets)

Stability Ball Crunches (15 reps, 2 sets)

The delivery guy came right after that once I was in my normal clothes again and not looking like a complete wreck. Lincoln is a quiet dog for the most part but barks anytime a stranger comes and goes absolutely berserk when a man comes in, he just doesn’t like them (which is not good for my game). The delivery man came in and not one peep from Lincoln, which really perplexed me. I was telling the guy this and noticed he had an accent and asked him where he was from originally and he responded with “Mexico” then I said “Ahhhh it’s b/c you’re of the same ethnicity—he’s part Chihuahua!” LOL he thought that was funny (all I’m ever looking for is some laughs to validate my great sense of humor and wit) and he went over to Lincoln, pet him and said “Hola amigo!” It was cute. I went to the pool for two hours afterwards and had the entire thing to myself—it was great! I was sure to re-apply the sunscreen every 20 minutes because I didn’t want to burn and need to protect my money-maker as much as I can.

I was famished by the time I got in and made a tuna melt for lunch. It was so nice to make my lunch, listen to the Beatles and dance around the kitchen for once. I always listen to music when I am cooking or prepping and it makes it an even happier event than normal. I mixed tuna with Light Mayo, pepper, paprika, red pepper flakes with red pepper and onion and placed on two toasted pieces of whole wheat bread and topped with tomato and 2 slices of Monterrey Jack cheese then broiled for 10 minutes and served with a side of Trader Joe’s Organic Baked Nacho Tortilla Chips with Tabasco sauce.

I spent the rest of the afternoon shopping, I got some cute clothes for NYC and some accessories to go with and had an iced coconut coffee with skim milk from Dunkin Donuts. Ummm, why does it look like an Arnold Palmer?

Broke into my Newman’s Own Organic Champion Chip Cookies-Double Chocolate Chip

It’s 160 calories per serving, which is only four cookies. Edit, four small cookies. I enjoyed the taste, they were super chocolate and mint flavored but wouldn’t buy these on my own based on that serving size (I won these in a giveaway)

I am still on Operation Clean Out My Kitchen so for dinner I made Health Is Wealth Jalapeno and Cheese Munchees

From the website:

“Health is Wealth Jalapeno & Cheese Munchees are bite-sized, crispy puffs of wheat, crunchy on the outside, cheesy on the inside with just the right amount of Jalapeno peppers. Jalapeno Munchees cook up in minutes and pucker when done.  Our lip-smacking blend of all-natural, low fat ingredients with no added sugars will keep you coming back for more.”

I’ve never tried any of their products before so I was super excited because I love trying new stuff! I bought these on a whim awhile back but you never know with the frozen products how they will turn out. They reminded me of Totino Pizza Rolls.

They only took eight minutes to cook in the oven and I served with a baby spinach salad with onion, zucchini, tomato and cucumbers topped with Red Vinegar and T Marzetti’s Light Ancho Chipotle Ranch

I sipped on my new favorite—cucumber water, so refreshing!

Hope y’all had a Happy Humpday!!

Remember tomorrow at midnight is the deadline for my giveaway!

And if you like giveaways and you like peanut butter—check out Diana’s fabulous peanut butter goodness giveaway!

Is It Wrong?

That my breakfast consisted of Starbucks alone and only cost $2?

Skim Green Tea Latte-my throat was killing me this morning (thanks to the sick baby who was at work yesterday) and wanted something different from coffee but hate tea straight up. I haven’t had one of these in two years and forgot how much I loved it

Reduced Fat Very Berry Coffee Cake

That I got all this for under $10 and just learned what patty pan squash was today?

That I didn’t have time to make lunch which resulted in me grabbing something frozen from home and enjoying it immensely?

That the most enjoyable part of my lunch (full 30 minutes thank you!) wasn’t the pesto tortellini but catching up with this lady via You Tube?

That I’ve been calling Lincoln Mr. Bigglesworth since he is so silky smooth and practically hairless?

That even though it was 95 degrees out with ridiculous humidity I made a hot dinner?

Grilled turkey, ham and Monterrey jack sandwich with T Marzetti’s Light Ancho Chipotle Ranch spread on whole wheat with roasted okra, red peppers, zucchini and patty pan squash with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, paprika and pepper.

That when I saw Jake and Vienna have parted ways I smiled on the inside since I knew it would never last?

Keep it real girlfriend

That I went shopping tonight for my NYC trip next wknd, spent over $120 and only got a wallet, shoes and a halter top for the trip? Yes, it is. I hate when I go into a store just to look and walk out $200 later when I had no intention of buying anything. But then of course, when I have money put aside specifically for the trip, nothing. I did get some cute skirts for work, a workout tank and an awesome dress though! Thankfully I have off tomorrow since my washer/dryer people are coming here to pick it up and think I am going to drive down to SC (hello lower taxes and cost!) to do a little shopping. If I can bear it, I may even go to the pool but it has been so icky sticky nasty out lately, I may just read in the pool and get my tan on.

I’m soooooo enjoying everyone’s comments on what your favorite books and songs are! Keep em coming–you got until Thursday to enter to win a fun package 🙂