Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Weekend Shenanigan’s and Back To School

I’ve been feeling a little scattered today.  Not sure why because everything has gone pretty smoothly.  I guess it’s just getting back into the groove of things!  Did you all have a fabulous long weekend???  The weather here was pretty crappy but I’ll never complain about extra time off work.  Sunday I rendered myself to couch potato status leaving the house only to get the groceries done.  And only because I absolutely had to in order for the kids to have some food for lunches this week.  LOL  My eats were ho-hum, but compared to yesterday they were saintly!IMG_3296
Dark Chocolate Cherry Mocha oats…IMG_3298
A great big kale salad with tomato, roasted butternut squash and zucchini dressing with fig balsamic and nooch.IMG_3300 IMG_3299
More than my fair share of kettle corn.  Loving this stuff…maybe a little too much!IMG_3301
This was a superb “BLT”….Tempeh bacon, yellow tomato (from the garden), cassata cheese, lettuce and mayo on Silver Hills bread.
Monday dawned gloomy yet again but the sun started to peek out and it warmed up some by 1-ish.   We had been invited to a pool party by one of the sets of parents on DS’s hockey team and decided it was nice enough to go.  The kids were thrilled because all morning we had been saying no way.  But back to breakfast and lunch first because my eats sorta went downhill after that!IMG_3303
-1 cup water
-1/2 cup Quaker oats
-cinnamon
-raisins
-Enjoy Life Foods mountain mambo mixIMG_3302
Lunch was the last little bit of my Fage mixed with zucchini jam and granola:IMG_3304
There was a crap load of food at the party; not much of it on the healthy side.  I (unknowingly, at the time) approached it like I was drinking on a weekend night (cuz I do so much of that…enter sarcasm).  The consumption went like this; 2 Timbits, slice of watermelon, a handful of chips, slice of watermelon, a chocolate chip cookie, slice of watermelon.  I had myself a good chuckle later in the evening when I realized I did this.  Food aside, the kids really did have a blast.  They went from pool:IMG_3307 IMG_3305 IMG_3306
To hot tub, to trampoline, to a hockey game:IMG_3310 IMG_3308 IMG_3309
Imagine that!  ;)
We were back home in front of the TV with no appetites whatsoever by 5pm.  We all just grabbed random food items for dinner as the evening progressed.  My hubby polished off the last 2 chicken drumsticks and beans from the night before, DD had some Nature’s Path PB granola, DS had a grilled cheese and I stuck with my “sweet” theme for the day by having a toasted Ezekiel muffin slathered with some Maranantha dark chocolate peanut spread:IMG_3311
Oh yeah, baby!!  I needed that like a hole in the head, but figured; “what the hell”!  I may or may not have topped that off with a handful or 2 of Boulder potato chips.  ;) 
I finally got to the point where I did not want another morsel to pass my lips and the only way to cure me was to get in the kitchen and start baking.  If I’m working with food I do not want to eat it.  Am I weird or what??  I went with a fool proof Mama Pea recipe that I’ve made before; Blackberry Oat Bars.  Last time I made these beauties I used apricot marmalade.  This time I rolled with my homemade zucchini jam because it really needs to get used up before it goes funky on me.  I made them late enough that they were too hot to handle before I hit the sack so no “taste testing” for “quality control” took place.  I did pack half up to spread the love at the office this morning.  Seeing as I work at a school board and today is the first day back for all the kids, I figured everyone could use a little something tasty.IMG_3321   
I cut the pieces smaller than the ones at home so the plate had 12 squares on it which all disappeared before the noon hour.  YES! 
I kept my eats MUCH cleaner today.  I started off with the last of my beloved Old Wessex:IMG_3318
-1/2 cup each coffee & water
-1/2 cup Old Wessex 5 grain cereal
-cinnamon
- chopped almonds
-yogurt chips (OK, maybe those aren’t the cleanest around!!)IMG_3317
I went into work late so I could take the kids to school.  Not that they care too much; they took off on me before I had a chance to get the keys out of the ignition!  It’s all good.  I really just wanted to find out who their teachers were gonna be for the year then I left.  They even grumbled about me taking first-day-of-school pics!IMG_3313  
Can ya tell??!!  Buggers!  I told them they’d appreciate my efforts one day.  I guess only time will tell on that one, eh??   I did get DD to take a picture of me in my newest top:IMG_3315
I found this at Le Chateau reduced from $69.95 to $19.99.  Score!  I also bought this cute bracelet for $3, regular $10…IMG_3316
Purple’s my favourite colour so there was NO way this was staying in the store at that steal!   I snacked on a Nature’s Path PB granola bar before heading off to torture Tuesday with Jillian:IMG_3319
It was just 2 of us shredding today.  One gal hurt her shoulder and 3 were off for the day.  It was still kick ass, though.  When we were done the DVD I hopped on the treadmill for 15 minutes to round my time to 45 minutes.  Seeing as that’s all the time I have I like to make the most of it, ya know?
Lunch was a beautiful kale salad, very similar to the one earlier in the post only this one had salmon on it:IMG_3320
I also packed some grapes and strawberries but only had time to pick the grapes out.  DS ate the berries for me.IMG_3322
I made a stir fry for dinner using this pouch of seasoning:IMG_3323
I used chicken breast, mushrooms and a red & yellow bell pepper.  We served it over brown rice for a quick, tasty meal.IMG_3325 After dinner DD and I went to buy me some more Almond Breeze, try on a pair of jazz shoes that I found on Kijiji (they fit DD perfect and saved me $50.00!!) and then over to the Pilates studio to pay for my next session.  Once we home grabbed KC and took him for a walk with my parents.  I took my very last chocolate Bliss bar walking and shared it with Mom who loved it!IMG_3326
I’m off now to browse through the awesome looking Smart School Time recipe book that I downloaded today.  You can get one, too…and for FREE by going here OR here.  It looks like it’s going to have some amazing recipes written by many lovely bloggers!  Can’t wait to check it out!
Bye for now!!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Lazy Days Are Coming to an End

Now that summer is “over” and the kids go back to school on Tuesday,  I’ve become very aware that my somewhat relaxing days of the past 2ish months are quickly coming to an end.  I’ve been doing a whole lot of nothing the past 2 days and plan on keeping it that way for the next 2.  The weather has taken a turn for the worst  thanks to hurricane Earl so sitting on my butt has been fairly easy to do!  LOL  So, I know my posts have been rather “dull” lately, but I fully expect to have more than just food to post about very, very soon. 
These are some eats that I’ve enjoyed over the past 2 days:IMG_3285 IMG_3277 IMG_3278 IMG_3279 IMG_3280 IMG_3289 IMG_3281 While out getting the last bit of back to school supplies with the kiddie’s last night I found a few new (to me) food products that just *had* to have: IMG_3282 IMG_3283
What you can’t see is that the popcorn bag is ripped open at the top.  I very rarely open packages before getting home, but I made an exception for the popcorn.  Oh, so good!  I’m sure I downed at least 5 cups before I reigned myself in and had the kids pop the whole bag of groceries in the back of the Jeep!  LOL  I taste tested a few of the chocolate covered pomegranate today and they’re delectable, but sweet enough that a few are enough. 
DD and I hit the mall today to pass some time.  We treated ourselves to some Starbucks where I had a NF pumpkin spice misto a la Erica:IMG_3287 Ah, one of the only great things about fall being in the air! 
I spent a little more time on making dinner than I have been lately so I think it’s worth posting about.  First up I roasted a butternut squash from the garden,IMG_3290
Then I made some meatballs.  Here’s the recipe…
Swiss Cheese Stuffed Chicken Meatballs
IMG_3293
  • 1lb all white ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • S&P to taste
  • 16 small cubes of Swiss cheese
IMG_3294
  1. combine all ingredients except for the cheese cubes
  2. flatten mixture into the bottom of a bowl and score into 16 “squares” using a knife
  3. Place one section in the palm of your hand until it resembles a burger, place cheese cube in the centre and fold the edges to cover
  4. Shape into a meatball being careful that all the cheese is sealed inside
  5. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large pan and add meatballs once hot
  6. cook 10 minutes before adding a jar of your favourite marinara sauce (I used 1 can tomato sauce, I small can of tomato paste and a 1/4 cup of Fage)
  7. continue to cook for another 5 minutes
  8. serve over noodles, rice, etc
IMG_3291
That’s all for today, guys!  I’m off to get some snuggle time in with this guy!
 IMG_3286
Bye for now!!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

September=BUSY

Hi everyone!  PHEW…..this week has been SO busy thus far.  I’m in no way complaining; I actually thrive on the busyness.  Now that September is here, I need to return to planning my weeks out.  That’s something I let slide during the “lazy” summer months.  DS is on the ice 9 times in the next 2 weeks, DD’s dance classes start back up on the 13th, my Pilates on the 21st and my hubby’s hockey this weekend.   I’m aiming to have my weekly meal plans back in action by next week so I’ll be posting those Sunday evenings.  I’d love to hear suggestions for quick, healthy weeknight meals!  Just leave’em in the comment section!
So yesterday flew on by.  HA!  Breakfast was hot, even though we set a new record with it being the first Sept 1 in history that there’s been an extreme heat advisory!IMG_3257
-1/2 cup each water and coconut milk
-1/2 Old Wessex 5 Grain cereal
-cinnamon
-trail mix
-chai honey stickIMG_3258
I noshed on a carrot cake Clif bar before heading to the gym.IMG_3260
At the gym I popped on the treadmill for a 45 minute incline walk (4.2mph, 7.5% incline).  45 minutes seems so long to me these days!  Funny what you get used to in no time.  Thankfully there were people on either side of me to chat with and we had some “retro” tunes on the tube.  I say “retro” because I’m old enough to remember when they came out so they don’t seem old to me!  LOL
Lunch was simply Fage, granola and honey.IMG_3262
I bought a big tub of Fage in August and the expiry date of Sept 9 is fast approaching!  Gotta finish’er up.
I ate a less than ripe mango for an afternoon snack:IMG_3263
Still pretty tasty and not near as messy…..
Dinner was quick…and not real dinner like because we had to leave the house by 5 and I knew it was going to be 9 before we got back home (hockey this time).  I toasted some Silver hills bread and topped it with tempeh bacon and an egg:IMG_3264
This bread is Filling with a capitol “F”!  YOW!
The hockey practice last night consisted of 1 hour on ice and 1 hour on the synthetic ice.  The boys don’t need full gear on the fake stuff so here is what my darling son dressed like:IMG_3265
What a fashion statement!!  LOL  Only a boy.
I rolled with oats for breakfast again this morning.  No matter what, I always seem to revert back to oatmeal in the mornings!IMG_3268
-1 cup coconut milk
-1/3 cup Quaker oats
-cinnamon
-cherries
-honey
IMG_3266
Look at what my co worker and I did at lunch: IMG_3270
Oh yes I did!  But before I submitted myself to Jillian I ate a Luna Bar:IMG_3269
I just realized this morning that I’m almost out of bars.  Time to restock. 
So did we like NMTZ?  Oh, yes we did!  Can I just say that I’m glad that I’ve been consistently doing the 30 Day Shred?  I think that’s the only thing that kept this workout from turning into a torture session!  I have a very strong feeling that it may hurt to move in the morning.  LOL
I seems to have forgotten to take a lunch picture.  It wasn’t anything earth shattering, that’s for sure.  The last bit of spag squash, kidney beans and salsa.  I did manage a shot of my ginger gold!IMG_3254
I had to stop by the pharmacy after work for some eye drops.  I started to pour and hail just before I got there.  I waited this out in the Jeep!IMG_3272 IMG_3271
It still looks like that and we keep losing our satellite signal.  Boo!
Dinner was a simple veggie burger on an English muffin with ketchup, mustard, relish, cassata cheese and a pickle:IMG_3273
Then I ate a coconut bliss bar!IMG_3274
So, along with the eye drops I found a few other neat products:IMG_3198 IMG_3196 IMG_3197
I’ll let you know what I think once I try them!  For now I think I’m gonna try to catch up on more of your fabulous blogs.  Hope you all have a great night!!
Bye for now!!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

We Have A Winner!!

Hi all!  I wanted to drop by quickly to announce the winner of the $60.00 CSN Stores gift certificate!  The lucky number is……IMG_3259

27!!!  Henria wrote;  IMG_3261 CONGRATS!  Please send me an email so that I can get the information to you. 

I’ll catch you all back here tomorrow…

Bye for now!!