Daily Digest

Finally! I’m back!

It’s been a long but very productive day.

 

It was actually kind of nice to not have access to the computer for the first part of the day. It cut into my "sitting around and drinking coffee while reading blogs time" and helped to get my butt out the door for a run.

 

AND I NEEDED THIS RUN.

 

Here’s WHY:

Last night I realized that I registered for the wrong Praxis test that I need to take in January for teaching certification. I was trying to change it online and because I’m impulsive and was not thinking clearly, I ended up cancelling the test by accident. I should have just waited until today when I could talk to a representative. BUT NO. I  was panicking and felt that I needed to do it IMMEDIATELY.

So now the website tells me that I will only get back $30 of the $120 I spent to register.

I called today but they can’t see it in their system yet, so I need to stew over my stupidity for another few days.

There was crying.

And pillow punching.

I just threw $90 into the toilet. Great.

I really have an issue with being 5 steps ahead of myself sometimes and not being able to see the bigger picture. I felt totally overwhelmed when I realized I registered for the wrong test, that I honed in on that and couldn’t think straight. Lesson learned. I just really hope they will be understanding enough to give me more than the $30 refund. (Since I will be rescheduling a test on the SAME day and SAME time).

 

Run was good- 5 miles/49 minutes.

 

After my run, I hit up Trader Joe’s for a few things. Including some corn on the cob which was rotten and I need to take it back. Gross!

 

Lunch was a loaded sweet potato with black beans, cheese, corn and bean salsa, and greek yogurt.

 

Pre salsa & yogurt

With all the fixins

Dinner was turkey burgers w/pepperjack cheese (grilled the outside in the cold and rain but it was worth it) along with zucchini fries, carrot sticks, and one of those little persian cucumbers. 

Side Note: This picture only shows a small portion of the zucchini fries that I actually consumed. SO ADDICTING AND DELICIOUS!

Now I’m going to unwind a little and catch up on some blog reading!

 

Are you impulsive when you are feeling anxious?
Have you ever lost money on something stupid and just felt sick over it?

Do you grill in the winter?

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Computer Takeover

Hi guys!

Our computer is currently being used for schoolwork!

 

Both Joe and I are under the wire on projects due this week, and he is off work today to get stuff done.

 

I felt it was unfair to force him to blow the dust off our ’94 desktop, so Larry the Laptop (yes, he has a name) is focused on school and not blogging today.

(okay, it’s not this bad)

source

I plan to be back later when things are less busy!

Hope you are having a good day!

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One Pot Wonder

Tonight’s dinner was a classic Italian one pot dish- Sausage and Peppers.

 

I make mine using turkey sausage and it is a great substitute.

 

Turkey Sausage and Peppers with Potatoes

Ingredients:

8 turkey sausages (hot or sweet, I usually use both)

6-8 medium bell peppers

7 small/medium onions

6-8 yukon gold or red skin potatoes

Olive Oil

Salt, pepper, red pepper flake, garlic powder, paprika

How To:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Cut up the peppers and onions. (I like to put a garbage bag next to the cutting board to put the pepper stems and onion skins in.)

Put some olive oil in the bottom of a roasting dish

Add the peppers and onions

Cut the potatoes into wedges and add them to the pan

Season liberally and then toss to coat

Add the sausages in, and nestle them into the veggies

 

Put a little more olive oil on top, and then cover the roasting pan with tin foil

Cook covered for 1 hour, and then uncovered for another 25 min. I also broil the dish for the last 5 minutes to get a little crisp goin on.

Serve on rolls or just as is. We like to add some hot sauce

It’s also one of those meals that can serve a huge crowd, and is also better the next day!

 

It’s a win/win!

 

Attention vegetarians! You could also use these methods and leave out the sausages (or use veggie sausage). If you just go for the veggies, maybe add a little more red pepper flake and paprika and perhaps a dash of fennel seed.

 

Do you have any one pot favorites?

What foods do you think taste better the next day?

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Little Pizzas & Little Goals

Today’s lunch really hit the spot!

 

I enjoyed some loaded up little pizzas.

 

The "crust" is a TJ’s low carb whole wheat tortilla. On top is my mom’s tomato sauce, some peppers and onions, TJ’s Meatless Meatballs, and some low fat mozzarella. Sprinkled on some parm, and baked at 350 for about 20 min.

These little pizzas pack lots of protein and fiber so they have great staying power. And they are SO cute too!

Little Goals:

As the next round of holidays approach, it becomes clear that another year will soon be over.

I don’t know about you, but I think that 2010 flew by. It seems like just yesterday I finally got used to saying "twenty-ten" instead of "two thousand and ten".

 

Instead of waiting for the new year to make a bunch of goals, I wanted to start making a few small changes. Little goals, just like little pizzas, are always a good idea

 

My current little goals

• Drink more water - just a few extra glasses that aren’t with meals or during workouts
• Listen better to my hunger- lately I find that my stomach is growling by the time I get into the kitchen, and by that point I am snacking while cooking and it can ruin the meal.
• Start doing some weight training - Now that I’m not training for the half anymore, I am going to be doing more cross training. I’d also really like to start lifting weights again, even if it’s only a little, and not every workout.

And that’s it for now!

 

What are your little goals? (or big goals?)

Do you make new year’s resolutions?

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Happy Monday Giveaway!

Hi everyone!

Did you have a good few days off? I had a great time visiting with family and friends. It is nice to get home though and back into a regular routine, isn’t it?

 

As a fun way to kick off this week, I’m having a giveaway!

 

A few weeks ago, I was contacted about checking out a new cookbook called The Real Food Diet by Dr. Axe. Dr Axe is a wellness doctor and a radio show host and his cookbook is all about simple recipes that will help you to feel your best.

Most of the recipes in the cookbook are only a few ingredients, so once you have the basics down pat, you should be able to make a lot of the things in it!

I’m planning on trying some of the soup recipes as well as the homemade snack bars.

While I don’t really stick to a “clean eating” diet, or follow very many diet rules, Dr. Axe does provide some easy to read information on why he follows certain food rules.

He believes in eating all real foods, focusing on nutrients and not calories, avoiding refined sugars, and looking at the glycemic load of the foods you eat.

 

Even if I’m not 100% on board with all of the suggestions, I think that understanding his point of view and looking at the kinds of recipes he DOES like, helps to improve my well rounded view of different diets and foods. I’m all about learning more and then deciding what I think is important.

 

Dr. Axe’s people have also offered to give away a cookbook a Food in Real Life reader!

 

Just leave a comment to enter the giveaway!

How do you feel about clean eating?
What food rules do you follow?

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Thanksgiving is over already?

Wow that went fast!

Yesterday we had a fabulous Thanksgiving filled with wonderful food, great friends, and of course, family.

The weather in Connecticut is cold, chilly, and rainy which is the perfect weather to stay in all day and eat. We had a fire roaring and a turkey in the oven. Doesn’t get much better then that!

 

The morning started out with coffee, breakfast, and some P90X.

 

My sister, Joe and I, went into the basement in completed a quick workout. (P90X Kenpo and Ab Ripper X) That ab workout was killer!

We all felt better going into the day having some exercise done.

 

Pre dinner appetizers were veggies and dip and a baked brie in puff pastry with apricot preserves.

 

Wine too of course.

We had the classics for dinner- turkey, stuffing, sweet and regular potatoes, cranberry mold, cornbread and brussels sprouts.

 

Pre dinner

Filled with food!

After filling our bellies and talking a lot, we had some coffee and beautiful desserts.

 

My mom’s apple cranberry torte

A Whole Foods pumpkin pie (so good!)

A beautiful fruit tart

Brownies

Gingerbread

Caramels and Toffee

I tried a bit of everything, and just tried to stick with one plate’s worth of whatever I wanted at dinner and dessert. I didn’t overstuff myself but I also didn’t feel deprived. It was a great balanced day of delicious eats.

 

Today I’m going to catch up with a few friends and spend some time with the fam. I also have a bit of schoolwork hanging over my head, so I might do that later.

 

Meals will be similar to the dishes shown above!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

source

 

I hope you have a safe and fun holiday!

 

 

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That felt GOOD!

I woke up early this morning and got a boatload of schoolwork done

That felt good.

I ran a few errands including returning the library books I had that are due today.

That felt good.

 

I completed my first run since the race.

That felt good.

 

I finished 5 miles in 49 minutes.

That felt good.

 

I wore my marathon shirt on my run.

That felt really good.

 

I ate a weird lunch that helped use up leftovers in the fridge. (Bulgur, spinach, fried egg)

I wasn’t so sure at first, but yes, that felt good too.

I’m going to see my family and enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

That will feel GREAT.

What are you feeling GOOD about today?

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Sharing Inspiration. Team Hoyt.

I’m not sure if you’ve heard about Team Hoyt. I watched a feature about them last night on Real Sports, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

 

Dick and Rick are a father and son team who have competed in over a thousand competitive races including marathons and ironman’s.

 

That fact alone is impressive. However, this team has a different reason for teaming up. They compete together since Rick is completely paralyzed and cannot speak.

 

Words can’t even describe how inspiring and amazing this story of devotion, love, and a strong spirit is. I hope this touches you like it touched me.

 

 

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Simple, Quick, and Healthy

Those are the three words I would use to describe my dinner tonight.

I bought the fresh ingredients this morning, and then when I came home from class, dinner was on the table in 20 minutes.

 

Tonight’s Menu:
Lemon Pepper Panko Crusted wild caught flounder

Sautéed Spinach with garlic and lemon

Bulgur cooked in chicken broth (leftover)

 

The fish came together super fast. I simply placed it on a baking sheet with pam, lightly salted and peppered it, and put some Progresso Lemon Pepper Panko on top.

I got these crumbs free from My Blog Spark a month or so ago, and really liked them.

While the fish was cooking on 350 for 15 minutes, I sauteed 2 cloves of garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil. Added a huge bag of baby spinach, salt and pepper and it wilted down just in time to take the fish out of the oven. At the very end, I stirred in some grated lemon zest and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

I heated up the bulgur in the microwave while the fish cooled down, and also made a bag of Trader Joe’s brown rice for Joe since he isn’t really into bulgur.

Dinner is served!

 

Off to watch Boardwalk Empire which we missed on Sunday. Night!

 
What three words describe your dinner tonight?

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