Boston Bound!

Hi friends! I’m currently blogging away from 10,000 feet in the air as J and I make our way to Boston!

Guys, I can’t even express how happy I am right now – school’ s done for the semester, I have submitted my grades, and I’m on my way to a perfect Christmas vacation with my best friend. We’ll be in Boston tonight and tomorrow night, then we’ll hop on the train to New York on Sunday morning, and we’ll be in the big city until Tuesday! Yay!

Since the next few days are going to be full of food and fun, I tried to get my fruits and veggies in today so of course, I had a Green Monster for breakfast.

I was a busy girl at work today wrapping everything up for the semester but it wasn’t too bad and everyone was in a fantastic mood. I love the last day of the semester; when I enter final exam grades, I always have such a sense of accomplishment!

After my 1/2 day of grading and proctoring exams, I scurried home to make a quick lunch and finish packing. Food supplies were a bit low so I tried to use up whatever I had in the fridge, which happened to be Eggs! I scrambled up 2 Eggs + Cheddar Cheese into a nice, goo-ey mess.

I ate my eggs on Arnold Double Fiber Bread in sandwich form with Ritz Snack Mix and a Pear on the side.

It was a yummy, filling lunch!

For dessert, I had a piece of homemade Toffee from a student.

It was really sweet! One small piece was more than enough!

J and i were both running around like crazy people, finishing up our packing and trying to get out the door as quickly as possible due to some heavy traffic. Fortunately for us, the airport wasn’t too bad and we made it to our gate in plenty of time.

Since we’re flying during dinner time, J and I decided to split a substantial snack to make it through our flight. We picked up a Turkey, Bacon, + Swiss Sandwich and Sea Salt and Vinegar Chips at a random kiosk in the airport.

The sandwich was surprisingly good, probably because it was served on a nice, chewy onion roll! And I’m pretty sure that Mrs. Vickie’s chips are my favorite kind!

Now we’re about an hour away from Boston so I’m about to sit back with a new book borrowed from a friend and a nice snack of Gummi Bears to share with J.

Hope everyone’s having a great Friday night!

Grades, Chili, + Santa

Hey hey hey!

How’s everyone? I’m absolutely fabulous as I am only one day away from the end of the semester and my Boston + New York trip! I cannot wait! It’s going to be awesome! Due to the fact I still need to pack and I’m a bit hyper right now with excitement, this post might be all over the place. I apologize in advance!

This morning was a bit brutal as J and I stayed up super late at the Tacky Sweater Party; we were busy eating, drinking, and making merry. I didn’t get a chance to snap a picture of the food but I ate some Brisket, Asparagus, Green Beans, Brownie Bites, + Cupcake Bites. The food was really yummy and the company was even better! Totally worth the less than four hours of sleep!

I did manage to take a picture of my Tacky Sweater before leaving the house last night! I can’t believe I’m posting this picture but it needs to be shared!

Yep, that’s a Christmas tree and a bear on my sweater. Awesome.

This morning, I really needed a detoxing breakfast due to the festivities last night so I went with a cleansing Green Monster.

The refreshing mix of vegetables and fruits was exactly what my body wanted!

Work was a bit crazy today as my final was happening and my students were super stressed and needed to ask me a lot of questions. I was hauling back and forth between five different classrooms. But it went well and it’s over now. All I have to do tomorrow is proctor an exam and my semester is o-v-e-r!

Lunch was a buffet provided by our parents’ association and I had a nice big bowl of Chili with Cheese and Crackers + Pasta Salad.

After lunch, I locked myself in my room and graded, graded, graded the rest of the day away. It sucked but now I’m in the terrific position to leave tomorrow afternoon with all my finals graded. I only have a class left to take care of tomorrow morning and I’m d-o-n-e!

I was at work so late that it was pretty much dinner time when I was ready to leave. My parents were with my niece and nephew at North Point Mall waiting to see Santa so I decided to head over there, see the big, bearded guy with them, and then get a free dinner out of it all.

Seeing Santa was awesome! I got some super cute pictures but I’m not going to post them ’cause there’s weird people out there. But trust me when I say that it was cuteness overload.

After Santa, we all decided to hit up Red Lobster. I hadn’t been there in years and while it’s not my favorite restaurant, it’s kind of tasty in a totally unhealthy way.

I started with a delicious Cheddar + Garlic Biscuit.

Then I had a Caesar Salad.

And for dinner, I really went for the Red Lobster gold with an order of Popcorn Shrimp + Baked Potato.

It was hardly the healthiest meal of my life but I had a blast with my family and it was totally worth every fried bite!

Okay, guys, I need to go start packing for my Christmas vacation of my dreams! Have a good night!

Let the Holiday Festivities Begin

Hi friends!

I’m posting early today because I don’t think I’ll have a chance to later this evening since I have a work Christmas party to attend. And I don’t think I’ll have a chance to snap pictures either because my work doesn’t know about the blog…and I’d like to keep it that way!

This morning, I woke up really sore from yesterday’s run! Running outside up and down hills is definitely a different game. My knees were throbbing as well so I declared today a rest day and am hoping to run again tomorrow.

I started my day off on the right foot again with a Green Monster.

Then, after a morning of proctoring exams, I met the girls for lunch at a local Mexican restaurant so we could read our Verbal Verses and reveal our Secret Santa identities. While laughing at the poems, we snacked on Chips + Salsa.

And for lunch, I had a Chicken Quesadilla, Rice, + Beans.

We talked and gabbed for hours; it was a blast! Now I just need to hunt down a tacky sweater for the party tonight!

***

I definitely had my upcoming trip in mind when I wrote my new Examiner article on Healthy Travel Tips. Check it out, if you’re interested!

***

Random question – How do you guys view the holiday season? Do you indulge? Not indulge? Exercise as often?

I definitely view the holiday season as a time to loosen up a bit. I indulge on treats (like I definitely will this evening at the party) and due to my time out of town/traveling, I don’t get a chance to work out as often. I like to try to work out about 3 times a week during the busy holiday season and keep my indulgences to just one a day (although today will be more than one since my lunch was pretty indulgent in its Mexican goodness). However, I can’t always stick to that and I really try to not beat myself up about it too much. I know that these next two weeks are just a blip on the healthy life I live and I’ll be right back where I was very soon.

Last Day of Class, First Outside Run, Long Night in the Kitchen

Hello!

I’m posting a bit later than usual but that’s because I’ve had a very busy day! But then again, isn’t every day this time of year a busy one!?

I’ve still got a few things to to do this evening (like compose a Verbal Verse for my Secret Santa!) so I’m going to hop right to this post.

This morning, I started the day off right with a big serving of liquid vegetables a.k.a. a Green Monster!

Even though it’s a bit cold outside for a smoothie in the morning, during this busy and festive time of year, I like to drink my veggies because I’m surrounded by such plethora of tasty treats all the time. If I start my day off with something nutritious, I tend to maintain my healthy habits throughout the day. And it’s nice to start the day off with a serving of vegetables and fruit first thing!

Work today was easy! It was the last day of class for my students before final exams so they were working in small groups on their final exam study guides while I answered questions and floated around my classroom. It was a nice break to have them so intent on their work; I don’t think I had to say “shush” even once!

Since Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are half days due to finals, today was my last day of a packed lunch for the semester. I enjoyed my Hummus Wrap, Ambrosia Apple, Adora Disc, + Vitamin just as much today as I did in August!

After classes had ended for the day, I got a call from my brother-in-law who works in the same school as me to come visit him in his classroom. I wasn’t sure what he needed but when I stepped in the door, I spotted three Garmin ForeRunners on his desk! My BIL, in addition to being an amazing teacher, is also the Cross Country coach and they’re debating getting Garmins for training purposes next year. So, they got to buy a few and my BIL and the other CC coach are going to try them out for a month or so to see if they’re worth the financial investment. They still had a Garmin without anyone to test it so my sweet, thoughtful BIL thought of me! I get to use a free Garmin for the next month and I’m stoked!

Naturally, I wanted to go for a run as soon as I got it set up so after a quick change at home and a White Chocolate Macadamia Luna Bar as a snack, I was out the door and towards Piedmont Park for my first outside run in years!

At the park, I did park loop route twice for a total of 3.36 miles in a little under 35 minutes for an average pace of a 10:20 mile. I have to admit that running outside, in cold weather, in the drizzle and wind was a much harder experience than the treadmill, as can be seen by the difference in my pace. But the time also flew by! I’m going to give my knees a rest tomorrow and not run outside again until Thursday…and I can’t wait!

My Workout:

-3.36 mile run in 34:45

After my outside run, I came home and got busy in the kitchen. I have a Christmas party to attend tomorrow evening at a co-worker’s house and we’re all supposed to bring a little something. I made this dip to bring. I know it’s technically Artichoke and Goat Cheese Spread but I’m going to serve it as a dip with Kashis and Stacy’s Pita Chips.

I also made a batch of Peanut Butter Brownies.

Since I already had the oven up and going, I made a batch of Kale Chips for dinner, which I ate with a Pear and Chicken + Laughing Cow Sandwich on Arnold Double Fiber Bread.

It was delish!

The smell of my brownies had my sweet tooth raging so I had a Christmas Cookie for dessert. And another one I went back for after taking this picture!

Okay, guys, I’m off to fold laundry! Glamorous, I know!

Tomorrow should be a great day. All I have to do is proctor two exams in the morning, then I have my Secret Santa lunch with the girls where we all reveal our identities, and then a Christmas party in the evening! It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

Playing Catch-Up

H friends!

Can I just begin by apologizing for not keeping up with y’all’s blogs over the weekend? I have a million to read tonight and while I may not be able to comment as much as usual, please know that I am reading and that I hope to resume regular reading and commenting after this evening. I plan on reading as much as I can to catch up on y’all’s lives before I dive into bed tonight!

Unfortunately, I may be diving into bed in the very near future ’cause I didn’t get home until 11:30 last night, which may not sound like very late to you guys but to granny-pants over here, it’s really really late. There was a fog delay for my flight and we ended up being delayed about 90 minutes and we got stuck on the runway for take off and we had to wait forever for a gate to open up once we landed. I didn’t get into bed until 12:30 and my alarm going off at 5:30 was a terribly unpleasant experience.

Due to my indulgent weekend and terrible night’s sleep, I knew I needed an energizing and rejuvenating breakfast so I went for a no fail option – a Green Monster!

Even though it was tad bit chilly this morning for a smoothie breakfast, I definitely felt a lot better after drinking my veggies!

Today was an absolutely crazy day at work. It’s the last Monday of the semester so I think everyone had about a million and a half things they wanted to get done! Fortunately, I managed to get a fair amount of my end of the semester tasks accomplished and I was able to sit down to a nice, familiar lunch – Hummus Wrap, Ambrosia Apple, Adora Disc, + Vitamin

After work, I hustled out the door because I wanted to get in a good gym session and a Publix trip before heading home this evening. On my way to the gym, I snacked on a Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna Bar. Seriously, have I finished these bars yet? They’re yummy but I’m ready for a change of pace!

At the gym, I was in the mood for a nice, long elliptical session. It’s hard for me to run the first day back after a few days off so I always ease back into my fitness routine with my faithful elliptical workout. Today, I did 30 minutes of hills and 45 minutes of intervals. It was an awesome sweat sess!

My Workout:

-75 minutes on the elliptical (hills + intervals)

After a quick Publix run to pick up some essentials for the week, I headed home to make myself a comforting and nutritious dinner. After a quick shower and packing job for tomorrow, I was anxious to get in my kitchen; I miss cooking when I’m away from it for a few days! As much as I love Cuban food and all my other eats this past weekend, my stomach needed something more green!

For dinner, I had Amy’s No Chicken Noodle Soup, Oven-Roasted Broccoli, + Amy’s Bistro Burger on WW Sandwich Thin. I took a picture with and without the flash because I wasn’t terribly pleased with how either one turned out!

Dinner was awesome – filling and warming! I only left a few pieces of broccoli behind!

For dessert, I dug into my first gift from a student this year! I don’t know what these are called but it’s a Cookie made by spreading peanut butter between two Ritz crackers and dipping the whole thing in chocolate. They’re peanut butter-y, chocolate-y, sweet, and salty! I managed to stop after just one but believe me, I kind of wanted to gobble them all up!

Okay, guys, I’m tired and I have a lot of blog reading to do before I pass out so I’m going to head off now. Have a great night!

Whirlwind Miami Weekend

Hi there!

I’m blogging from the Miami airport, waiting for our plane to get here. Our flight’s already been delayed over an hour so I’m assuming the weather in Atlanta is pretty yucky…and that I’m not going to get very much rest tonight!

This weekend was really fun; J and I got to spend a lot of time with his family and friends. Unfortunately, that means I don’t have very many pictures to share. Most of the weekend was spent amongst J’s friends and many people I hadn’t met before so I felt awkward taking food pictures. I’ll do my best to help you picture my eats through words!

Both Saturday and Sunday started the same way, with a Guava Pastelito + Cafe Cubano!

This breakfast is not very nutritious, doesn’t have much staying power, and is probably full of empty calories…but it sure is tasty! And considering I don’t make it down to Miami all that often, I figured it was a worthy splurge.

I actually don’t have any more pictures from Saturday because we attended the baptism of J’s brother’s children. I do have a quick picture of the beautiful church where the ceremony took place.

Beautiful, right?

I would have had more pictures to share but since J was the padrino, I was put in charge of taking family pictures with his brother’s camera. I felt like a real photographer!

After the ceremony, there was a reception catered by Macaroni Grill where I feasted on Flatbread, Caesar Salad, + Meat Lasagna to my heart’s content. Later that evening, I literally had the best cake of my life courtesy of We Take the Cake. They were featured on Oprah a few years ago and trust me, they live up to the hype. I devoured a thick wedge of this strawberry cake. It was life-altering and literally the best cake I have ever had – moist, fresh, and just the right amount of sweet.

We spent that evening sitting around in the aftermath of the reception with J’s friends from high school, chatting, drinking, and generally enjoying each other’s company. I ate so much at the reception that I never ate dinner later that evening but ended up passing out as soon as we returned to his mom’s house.

Today started the same way as Sunday with Pastelito + Cafe Cubano combination to kick the day off right. After attending church with J’s mother, we headed off to his sister’s house for lunch before we left. It was a much smaller gathering so I was able to snap a couple of sneaky iPhone pics.

We started by snacking on Chips + Guacamole.

And then we ordered in Cuban sandwiches from a local shop. I had a Medianoche once again since the one I had on Friday night was so delish. On the side, I had a Ham and Cheese Croquetta.

Festive, right?

It was a very tasty ending to my whirlwind weekend in Miami!

Now I’m sitting here, hoping to get home by a reasonable time and start my last week of work for 2009! Oh, and it’s only five days until J and I go on our vacation to Boston and New York! Here’s hoping the week goes by quickly!!

***

I did manage to write an article while I was in Miami. Check it out – 12 Healthy Foods of Christmas!

A Day of Traveling, A Day of Grazing

Hey hey hey!

I made it safe and sound to Miami and it’s hot and humid down here, which is a nice switch from the cold weather we have been experiencing in Georgia lately. However, it’s 11:30 right now and I’ve been up since 5:30 so I am more than ready to hit the sack. I’m going to just dive right into this post and hopefully be diving into bed soon.

This morning, I tried a new (to me) product for breakfast – Van’s Belgium Waffles.

I had two with some Sugar-Free Syrup on top, which made for a very satisfying start to my day.

I have to admit that I was quite impressed with these waffles. After a quick pop into the toaster, they came out nice and crispy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside, which is just how I like my waffles to be.

Work today wasn’t as bad as the rest of the week has been, But then again, it was Friday so I think I may have just been in a better mood. It’s all mental, right?

I had the typical lunch today. Even though my Hummus Wrap, Apple, Adora, + Multi might be repetitive, with just one week left in the semester, I can’t help but think of all the money I have saved by packing my lunch pretty much every day. It’s a lovely thought!

After work, I ran to my car to make it home in order to finish packing before J and I headed to the airport. On the way, I was planning on snacking on a Chocolate Peanut Butter Greens SuperFood Bar that I picked up at Whole Foods last week but after one bite, I decided that it wasn’t for me. Frankly, life’s too short to eat something I don’t really like all that much.

Since my planned snack didn’t work out, I needed a little something for my belly while I finished packing. J was hungry as well so we split of bowl of 365 Organic Honey Bears + Chocolate Animal Crackers with Almond Butter for dipping purposes. It was the perfect snack to have while running around and getting organized!

The rest of the afternoon was all about packing, getting to the airport, and making it through security. By the time we made it to our gate, I needed a Tall Skim Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Can you guys spot J in the background?

Our flight was happening during dinner time and since we both wanted to save room for some authentic Cuban food, we decided to split a sandwich and chips before our flight to hold us over. We stopped by the Chili’s To Go kiosk and picked up a Cajun Chicken Sandwich and a bag of Miss Vickie’s Jalapeno Chips.

The chicken sandwich was tasty and those chips are the perfect amount of spicy! I’m so glad we split this mini dinner before the flight because we ended up getting delayed and not landing until close to 10. If I hadn’t had that sandwich, I would have been hangry for sure!

The flight was fairly uneventful except for the guy across the aisle who was Skype-ing during the flight. Okay, first off, we can all hear your conversation. And secondly, why did he think he could Skype when you can’t use your cell phones? I think the whole cabin was secretly cheering when the flight attendant made him stop.

After we landed in Miami (I’m in Miami, trick!), we said hello to J’s mom and then went to Sergio’s for some late night Cuban eats. We almost always hit up Sergio’s at least once when we’re in Miami because it’s close to his mom’s house, it’s open late, and it’s yummy Cuban cuisine!

We started with Jamon Croquetas (Pureed Ham in a Fried Coating) + Papa Rellana (Ground Beef Inside a Mashed Potato Coating Then Fried)

I had a few bites of each but let J dominate most of it since these are his childhood comfort foods. And because as much as I love fried food, it does not love me back.

For my second dinner, I ordered a Medianoche Sandwich (Pressed Hot Sandwich with Ham, Pork, Swiss Cheese, Pickles, Mustard on Sweet Bread like Challah).

It was awesome – sweet, savory, cheesy, tangy, and everything else you’d want out of a late night eat!

Now we’re back at his mom’s house and J is already asleep so I think it’s about time I did the same! G’night!

TGIAF!

Hi guys.

I, for one, am absolutely thrilled that tomorrow is Friday. It’s been a bit of a rough week and I am ready for a break this weekend. I hate to be a complainer or a Debbie Downer but let’s just say that I’ll be extremely happy to have this week over and done.

And this weekend is actually going to be kind of special. J and I are going to Miami for a quick visit (Friday night through Sunday evening) to attend his niece and nephew’s baptism (J’s the godfather!) so we’ll get to catch up with his family and I’ll get to clear my head a bit. I’m not sure how the blogging schedule will work but I’ll do my best!

Anyways, let’s move on to the food!

Last night, while watching Top Chef, I snacked on a delicious combination of Kettle Corn + Cascadian Farms Cinnamon Crunch Cereal. Even though I wasn’t terribly thrilled with the TC results, I was pretty darn happy with my snack choice!

This morning, I was moving a bit slow. I usually go to bed at 9:30ish (hello, granny!) but last night, I wasn’t snug in my bed until after 11. Whenever I get less than 7 hours of sleep, it takes me significantly longer to get up and at ‘em in the morning. Since I was running a bit late due to my slow motion morning, I went for an easy tried and true breakfast – Almond Butter + Jelly Toast.

Once I got to work, I was a busy girl and I was still dealing with some work-related drama (that I obviously can’t really discuss in any detail on the blog) so I used my lunch time to hide out in my classroom once again. I read some blogs while eating my Hummus Wrap, Apple, Adora, + Multi.

Lately, I’ve been eating Ambrosia apples, instead of the expensive Honeycrisps, and to be completely honest, Ambrosia apples are pretty gosh darn good – sweet, crunchy, and filling.

After work, I was definitely in a hurry to get to the gym. I find cardio to be therapeutic and I needed that stress release. On the way, I snacked on a White Chocolate Macadamia Luna.

It was sweet and delicious, as usual!

At the gym, I hit the elliptical and zoned out while pedaling away. It was just what I needed to get my head in the right place! I always think that I work out to maintain my weight loss and general health but I forget that I work out to release stress, to clear my mind, and to get those lovely endorphins.

My Workout:

-65 minutes on the elliptical

When I got home, I threw dinner for J and myself in the oven and used the cooking time to shower and start packing/organizing for Miami this weekend. As much as I’m looking forward to seeing J’s family…I might be looking forward to the 80* weather more! I even felt confident enough to pack short sleeves and a skirt!

Dinner tonight was comfort food and J’s favorite dinner – Turkey Meatloaf + Roasted Asparagus. I had a couple slices of the ‘loaf and about 1/2 a pound of the asparagus. Asparagus pee, here I come!

After dinner, I had /2 of a PB Twix from my candy stash with a scoop of Publix Peanut Butter Cup Frozen Yogurt. It was exactly what I was craving!

Okay, time to unplug! Next time you hear from me, I’ll be in Miami!

Hectic Hump Day

Hi friends! Happy Hump Day, a.k.a. Glee and Top Chef finale day!

I can’t wait for some serious chillin’ and watchin’ tv time tonight. I had kind of a rough day (Some major work drama hit the fan and then some today!) so I’m more than ready to vegetate on the couch for a few hours as soon as I finish this post!

Y’all ready?

Okay, here we go!

This morning, for breakfast, I had some extra time due to a late start at work so I made a nice Laughing Cow + Egg White Sandwich using one wedge of LC cheese, 2 egg whites, and a toasted WW sandwich thin. I had Texas Pete on the side for dipping purposes.

It was super yummy and filling! I’m still trying to find my go to breakfast now that the weather has cooled down and a smoothie no longer appeals to me. I may have found a winner with this one!

As I mentioned before, work was out. of. control. today. I’m not going to bore you with details but needless to say, lunch was a welcome break. I ate my Hummus Wrap, Pear, Adora, + Multi alone in my classroom with the door closed in the lights off. It was that kind of day.

My pear was extra juicy and sweet, which made it messy to eat at my desk. I even got a little pear juice on some papers I was grading at the time!

After work, I just wanted to leave as quickly as possible. I headed straight to the gym and snacked on a Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna Bar in my car.

Once I got to the gym, I was really, really not in the mood to workout. I did my usual trick of just forcing myself to do 15 minutes and then if I still want to quit, I can. Typically, I want to keep going…but today, not so much. I did an easy 2 miles and called it a day.

My Workout:

-1/2 mile walking warm-up

-2 miles in 17:40

-1/2 mile walking cool down

After the gym, I headed home and was very happy to see J back in town. Seeing him definitely brightened my day!

While he unpacked, I showered and got myself organized for tomorrow and then, together, we made a delicious and nutritious dinner, which also lifted my mood up a few notches. We had Feta + Chicken Stuffed Peppers with a side of Roasted Broccoli. The stuffed pepper filling is just ground chicken sauteed in garlic and onion and seasoned with red pepper, black pepper, and garlic salt and then tossed with feta cheese. The broccoli was roasted with soy sauce and Tabasco.

It was a very tasty, very nourishing meal! And it was really easy because the oven did most of the work.

After dinner, I turned my attention to yet another little something that brightened my day – my first Christmas gift from a student! I got a nice little bag of Candy!

I selected a Reese’s Tree for my sweet stash and ate it with a scoop of Publix Peanut Butter Cup Frozen Yogurt.

Since I absolutely love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, this bowl was out of control yummy! But I have to admit that the Reese’s Tree didn’t really look like a tree. It looked like…a turd. You see what I mean?

Okay, guys, it’s time to unplug for the night. Have a good one!

***

Planning on getting your drink on this holiday season? Check out my new Examiner article about all natural hangover cures!

Of Tuesdays, Secret Santas, and Wraps x 3

Hi friends! It’s a rainy, cold night here in Atlanta so I hope wherever you are, you are warm and happy, preferably with a belly full of food like me!

Yesterday was definitely a Monday Monday but the best part about Mondays is that they are over come Tuesday morning! This morning, I woke up, shook off the negativity, and started my day off with a hearty breakfast. I usually crave something sweet and carb-y when I wake up but this morning, I wanted something savory so I made a Laughing Cow + Chicken Wrap.

It was a very filling and tasty way to start my day off right!

After I finished my wrap and making myself appear presentable for work, I hurried to work so I could deliver my Peanut Butter Brownies to my Secret Santa. I managed to beat her there and hid ‘em in her desk drawer!

As for my Secret Santa, she left me a freakin’ Platter of Mini Desserts in the office fridge with my name on it!

You see that Mini Brownie? It’s totally going to be dessert tonight! I’m basically going to eat everything chocolate on that plate over the next few days and leave the rest for J. I love the mini dessert idea because it’s built in portion control!

I managed to survive another day of crazy teenagers (8 more days until Christmas break!) and a very long assembly this morning without breaking into my Secret Santa stash. Instead, I had a balanced lunch to fuel me through my day without a sugar high and crash. It was a typical packed lunch of Hummus Wrap, Apple, Adora, + Multi.

After work, I headed to the gym and snacked on a White Chocolate Macadamia Luna Bar on the way. As I already mentioned at some point, I am totally not buying these bars in bulk anymore! I need new flavors but I’m not letting myself buy anything new until I finish my stash!

I had a nice workout at the gym this afternoon with the combination of some elliptical intervals and Broadway showtunes. Oh, Pandora Broadway Stars channel, I love you!

My Workout:

-65 minutes on the elliptical

After the gym, I popped into CVS to get some last minute supplies for Thursday’s Secret Santa present. It has to be dirty so this should be very interesting…

Once I got home, I expected my water to be turned off since they were apparently finishing up my neighbor’s renovations until 8 this evening but to my pleasant surprise, everything was on and flowing as usual. I’m assuming they must have finished earlier than scheduled, which is fantastic! I got to warm up in a nice, hot shower after a rainy commute home.

Tonight’s dinner featured my third wrap of the day and total repeat of this morning’s breakfast. It was just so satisfying that I couldn’t resist! With my wrap, I had a big pile of Kale Chips with a bowl of Amy’s Butternut Squash Soup.

The wrap and the kale chips were awesome and just the type of filling nourishment my body needed! The soup was just so-so; it has nice flavor but it was really runny. I wish it was thicker but I think for that to happen, I have to suck it up and make my own soup!

Now I’m about to read some blogs, do some writing, and watch the finale of The Biggest Loser. It’s shaping up to be a wonderful night!