Posts from — July 2010

Home decorating is hard work!    Besides the labor, it’s so tough to make choices!  I have the most difficult time with paint color. 

I sipped on some press to help me decide…

Still iffy.  Maybe breakfast will help…

Nothing like a good yogurt bowl to get the brain going.  In the mix was 1 cup nonfat Chobani greek yogurt, 3 drops NuNaturals Liquid Vanilla Stevia, 1 diced peach, 1/2 cup blueberries and 1 tbsp. sliced almonds.  I am in love with peaches right now!  They are so sweet and I think the golden color won me over…

It’s decided

The husband got to work and painted out the dining room.  It took him a few hours and he did such an amazing job!  We cleaned up and put our new area rug in…

Now all we need are window treatments (ugh, another tough decision), a new chandelier and a few doo-hickeys for the wall.  Good times!

During the makeover, easy eats were a necessity.  When we broke for lunch, I wanted something quick.  I rummaged through the leftovers in the fridge and came up with a Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla…

I layered a La Tortilla Factory tortilla with leftover grilled buffalo chicken, Laughing Cow Queso Fresco Chipotle and baby spinach, then pan-fried until golden.  Served with a side of carrots…

I ran around all afternoon searching for draperies.  I may have a winner!  We’ll see tomorrow when the husband puts them up!

I was so thankful to come home to my air-conditioned home.  It was hot as Hades today.  The temperatures reached into the high 90’s with the heat index making it feel like 101 degrees.  And it sure did!

It was way too hot for cooking, so I fixed up a big salad for dinner.  Trader Joe’s helped me out with this addition to the salad…

It was surprisingly delicious!  Couldn’t have made it better myself.  It’s pricey for 2 pieces of chicken, but sometimes the price is worth the convenience.  And it saved me some sweatin’.

• romaine lettuce
• garden cukes
• garden tomatoes
• artichoke hearts
• roasted red peppers
• red onion
• mozzarella cheese cubes
• Trader Joe’s  Grilled Balsamic Vinegar and Rosemary Chicken
• evoo + vinegar

YUM!

I ended the hot night with a cool treat – Gone Nutty Frozen Banana with a teensy drizzle of honey…

Sahweet!

Have a great day, everyone!

Do you still do outdoor activities when it is really hot?  It’s been so hot and humid we are like shut-ins around here!  Boo!

No more lazin’ around!  I woke up this morning and decided to go for a run.  As I started getting dressed, I was thinking it was the worst idea ever and really wanted to go back to bed! 

I got out there despite my second thoughts.  It was hot and I was slow, but got ‘er done…

I finished at 3.1 miles doing 3:1 intervals.  Felt good!

Came home to some icy press…

and a hot bowl of oats…

• 1/3 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/3 cup plain soymilk
• 1/3 cup water
• dash salt
• 1/2 banana
• splash vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. PB2
• 1 tbsp. peanuts

Totally into peanuts/peanut butter lately

After breakfast, I got to work scraping off wallpaper in my dining room.  Suckiest job on the planet!  I’m moving away from this traditional look…

and away from this stinkin’ rug…

I have disliked that rug for so long.  It has fringe on the ends and looks all straggly and ratty!

Lunch provided me with a little scraping break.  I heated up an Italian Turkey Burger from the freezer, topped it with fontina cheese, served with a side of sauteed spinach and Triscuits…

Scrape, scrape, scrape.  Cry.

Late afternoon, I took another break to make up a snack.  I was daydreaming about Ricotta Stuffed Peaches again…

So delicious!

Back to worrrrrrk.

After 6 hours, it’s finally off…

Now to pick a paint color!  I’m thinking gold…

I was in the mood for a big salad for dinner.  Using some leftovers, I put together a Buffalo Chicken Cobb Salad …

• romaine lettuce
• tomato
• 1/4 avocado
• slice of center cut bacon, crumbled
• 1 cup leftover Grilled Buffalo Chicken
• hard boiled egg

I topped the salad with Blue Cheese Dressing made using 2 Laughing Cow Blue Cheese Wedges and a few tbsp. nonfat milk whirred in the mini food processor.

Love colorful food!  Speaking of color…

Off to stare at paint samples

Have a great day, everyone!

What was the last room you redecorated?

This whole “letting the gym membership expire” isn’t working out so well.  Now that I don’t have a place to be, I only want to be laying on the sofa! 

I know my schedule just has to get back in gear.  I’ve been allowing myself to sleep a little later instead of getting up and going.  I have learned from experience that if I don’t work out in the morning, I find every excuse in the Universe to ditch it.  Today was another one of those days, but I knew that I was going to see some pool action later at least!

Funny thing though… I never ditch breakfast…

Back to the usual – mangled up egg whites on an Ezekiel english muffin.  This time with lite cream cheese.  Yum!

Never. ever. ditch…

I spent HOURS screaming gently nudging the daughters to get ready for the pool.  We were meeting Mom and Gram at my parents’ neighborhood clubhouse and pool for lunch and splashing.

I packed up our lunches which we ate poolside.  I brought a turkey, spinach and dijon mustard on Ezekiel bread…

and a fabulous side – fresh organic peach topped with nonfat ricotta cheese, drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of sliced almonds…

Epic…

We splishy splashed in the pool for a couple of hours, then headed home for a shower and snack…

Step away from the almonds!  I was really munchie and could have done some serious damage on those babies.

Decided to do some grilling tonight – grilled Buffalo Chicken with Blue Cheese Dipping Sauce again!  On the side, some carrots and farm fresh corn with Honey Lime Butter…

Yes, buttah!!!  Hey, corn just ain’t the same without it

For the Honey Lime Butter, I mixed together…

• 2 tbsp. butter, softened
• 1/2 tsp. lime juice
• 1/4 tsp. honey
• zest of half lime
• s +p to taste

It was a nice complement to the sweet corn and spicy chicken.

I ended the night with a nutty dessert – Gone Nutty Frozen Bananas!  I adapted this recipe from Get The Sugar Out which originally called for the use of almond butter, almond milk and ground almonds.  I substituted with the peanut theme instead!

• 1/4 cup nonfat milk
• 3 tbsp. natural peanut butter
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup salted peanuts, chopped fine

Blend milk, peanut butter and vanilla in a small food processor or blender until smooth and creamy…

Peel bananas and cut them in half crosswise…

Roll banana pieces in the creamy coating (kind of messy but fun!)…

Then roll in chopped peanuts…

Place in freezer until set.  Allow to thaw a few minutes before chowing down…

Would be amazing drizzled with honey or chocolate!  You’re welcome

Have a great day, everyone!

What is your favorite nut?  Mine are cashews!!!