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Appetites and Adventures

Voluminous Apps

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I am in App-heaven.

So far I’m loving:

  • Hipstamatic – I think everyone knows this one, but it makes your photos have that “old school” feel (added bonus: will load to Flickr and FB seamlessly).
  • ColorSplash – This app gets the “cool” award.  It makes your photos black and white, then allows you to zoom in and selectively “paint” color back in.
  • FlickStackr – Allows you to easily upload pics, edit comments, and browse others’ photos.
  • TweetDeck – Definitely take the cake for the app I didn’t know I needed – this integrates FB and Twitter and allows you to easily upload photos,
  • Sleep Cycle – Ok, so I haven’t used it yet… but – if it works – this could save me many “OMG, did I really oversleep AGAIN?!” panic attacks.  From their site: a bio-alarm clock that analyzes your sleep patterns and wakes you when you are in the lightest sleep phase.
  • ScoutMob – You know how much I love a deal.  Moreover, I love a deal that finds me.  ScoutMob’s app uses your location to tell you where the nearby discounts are, which ones are expiring soon, and has a neat-o hipster mustache you can apply to a pic. (Today’s 50% off deal is for Tierra, which I love.  Don’t be scared by the exterior.  Get the Tres Leches.  And the wine.)

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Remember when I mentioned trying Katie’s voluminous oatmeal trick?

I made them to runny in Round 1.  This morning I did it again, sans liquid overkill.  FTW.

Blueberry-Banana-Style Voluminous Oats

In my mix:

  • 1/3 C oatmeal
  • 1 C water
  • 1/4 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • shake of salt

Microwave 4 mins, let stand for 5 mins, place in fridge over night (according to Katie’s instructions).

Added in the morning:

  • 1/2 chopped banana
  • handful blueberries
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract

Mix using an immersion blender (a.k.a my new BFF), and heat in microwave until warm.

Toppings that would be delicious: banana pieces, chocolate chunks, walnuts, more berries.

***

This weekend I posted about my distaste for McDonald’s oatmeal.

Apparently, I am not the only one who thinks they are scary.  Check out this New York Times article.  (Why couldn’t they have at least made all that artificial taste good?!)

What to do you grab for breakfast in a pinch?  Is fast food a consideration?


Lemme Upgrade ‘Ya

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Happy President’s Day!

It seems that most people had to work, but we had the day off since we didn’t get MLK Day.

Productivity was high!  Checked off my to-do list:

  • Run
  • Banana Republic
  • West Elm (I still have the curtains that came with my condo… embarrassing)
  • Verizon
  • Talked to the tattoo guy (more to come on that…)
  • Farmer’s Market (where I managed to spend $50 despite not being able to chew food… foodie fail win)

The run this morning was slow going, but I was fine with that because I was sore from having a GOOD run yesterday!

I attempted a run last weekend and had to quit because my jaw bones were shaking (I have no idea how else to describe it… but it’s like I can feel my bones moving) and my head was pounding.

Anyway, yesterday I did a 5K in 26:40.  Then ran/walked another 1.25 miles.

So a less-than amazing run today was fine by me.  And I treated myself to a post-run latte at Caribou Coffee while reading the paper.

Now I need to figure out endurance before the Tough Mudder on March 12th… follow up with the Doc tomorrow… hopefully he won’t make me stop!

Any way, also in honor of my President’s Day off, I tried a new oatmeal method. Chocolate-Covered Katie’s Voluminous Oatmeal.

I added a little much liquid, but I’m re-doing it tonight to perfect tomorrow morning.  This morning, I added a scoop of vanilla protein powder (post-run refuel!), cinnamon, and peanut butter.  Tasty, if I may say so.

The BEST part of any holiday is the present!

I got an iPhone!

Thank you, Verizon

My first picture with the Hipstamatic app…. it was stressful trying to get everything set up!

***

So, now that I’ve joined modern society…

What are you favorite, must-have apps?


Cherry-O’s

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CNN posted an article yesterday on the healthiest fast-food breakfasts.  Naturally, I was curious after the nasty bowl of oatmeal I had at McDonald’s a few weeks ago.

This over-sweetened soupy bowl of oats was #6 on the list.  The apple/raisins/brown sugar all come on the side, but the girl at the counter added them without asking when she added the hot water.  Fail. It has 290 calories and 5g of protein, which is not terrible (some nuts would be a welcome addition to bulk it up) but it would have been better if it tasted good.

Some of these options sound good – like the Dunkin’ Donuts Wake-Up Wrap – but why do the eggs always have to look so fake???

What surprises me is that the article doesn’t mention sugar content.  I don’t like beginning my day on a sugar high, and McD’s oatmeal had 32g of sugar!

*Steps off platform*

Kudos to fast food restaurants for offering some healthier options.  There’s definitely room for improvement, but it’s good to know there are choices if you are pressed for time and in need of breakfast.

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Lately, I’m craving cherries.  It could have something to do with this deliciousness.  (I just made this lemon-cherry vegan “cheese”… it is no joke, y’all.)

Technically these are cherry oats… but Cherry O’s sound sound much more fun!  Let’s be honest, I need fun in my liquid-y diet.


I LOVED these.  This is possibly my favorite fruit-oat combo to date.

Cherry-O’s

  • 1/2 C oatmeal
  • 1/2 C unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/2 C water
  • 1/2 C frozen cherries
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • Shake of salt

Combine all ingredients in a pot and heat over medium-high heat, stirring combine and mashing mash bananas and cherries as the mixture heats.  Cook until done, stirring occasionally.  The slower you cook them, the fluffier they are!

Don’t forget the cherry on top. 🙂

***

It is February.  It is also 70 degrees and sunny.  Mother Nature, you are redeeming yourself today.

What is your favorite spring-like weather activity?

I don’t plan to be inside at all today. This calls for a hike!


Pink Berry Oatmeal

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Happy Valentine’s Day!!!

I, like everyone else in the world, felt it necessary to make my breakfast red in honor of Valentine’s Day.

With a scoop of handmade chocolate-hazelnut spread, left over from last year’s trip to Ireland.

Because the meaning of V-Day is chocolate.

Doesn’t the chocolate kind of look heart-shaped?!  Total accident, I swear.

Contributing to the pinky goodness:

  • 1/2 C Kansas grain organic oat bran
  • 1 1/4 C water
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 C frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
  • 1/2 banana
  • shake of salt

Toss everything in a pot, stir to combine, and cook over medium-high heat until desired consistency  is reached (mine took ~8 mins).

♥ ♥ ♥

What are you treating yourself to today?

Warning: pink berry oats may inspire the ingestion of Pinkberry.

Raw Raspberry Applesauce

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Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil was full of you-know-what.

I woke up this morning to this:

Pretty.  But COLD.

The other downside (for school kids) is that the snow didn’t stick enough to cancel school.  Boo hiss!

News flash: For the first time, I was glad snow didn’t leave the city crippled.  I’m getting old. 😉

Most people love apple pies, baked apples, applesauce, etc.  I do not. I do love apples, but once they are cooked the flavor changes and they just don’t seem “right” anymore.

Not being able to chew, apples are definitely off-limits.

Or so I thought.

I owe Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit a HUGE thank you.  She shared her recipe for Raw Raspberry Applesauce with me yesterday!

Of course, I had to make it immediately… if not sooner. 😉

It’s perfect.  You could eat it for breakfast or snack or dessert.  In a box, with a fox…

In fact, I’m going to eat it with some greek yogurt later today.

Want a bite?

It is amazing how much this has the consistency of applesauce, yet retains the crisp, fresh apple taste.

It’s saucy, and it’s just my type. (Please read the previous sentence to the beat of the Beastie Boys’ “Crafty.”)

Raw Raspberry Applesauce

  • 1 medium apple (use a sweet variety, like Gala)
  • 1/4 C raspberries
  • 1/4 C water
  • 1/4 packet Stevia (add more as needed)
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp ginger
  • Juice from 1/4 of fresh lime
  • Pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Notes:

You may have to scrape down/stir a few times in between blends.  Don’t add too much liquid or you will have apple soup instead.  Which is fine, but would be disappointing if you wanted the sauce.

Depending on the sweetness of your apple or berry, you will need to adjust Stevia amounts.  You can use honey or agave instead.

You could use any berry here, or none at all!  I’d love to try it with blueberries.

Blue Oats

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First thing today, a friend shared this link with me.  A certain Georgia lawmaker is asserting that allowing gays to serve in the military is akin to allowing thieves and drug dealers to join up.

Thanks for helping further the stereotype that Georgia is a state full of uneducated rednecks, Rep. Franklin.

Without going on a tangent, I’m going to say that there should be a mandatory intelligence test for people who: run for office, vote, and reproduce.  If there was an minimum IQ one had to possess before partaking in any of these 3 things, the world would be a better place.

On to happier thoughts!  Breakfast.

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This may be weird, but I go to bed thinking about what I’m going to eat for breakfast.

Today, having remembered an immersion blender can be used for more than soup,  I was excited to try some oatmeal.  This is the most solid food I’ve had so far!

Blended oats are GOOD!

I’m sure the toppings were awesome…

…but that yummy, well-dressed bowl of oatmeal was for Mom.

My slurp-able reality looked more like this:

No matter.  It was still good.

Like warm blueberry pie.

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Blueberry Pie Oatmeal

  • 3/4 C oatmeal (I used McCann’s Irish Oats)
  • 1/2 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 C water (adjust as needed)
  • 1 banana
  • 1/2 C blueberries
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp coconut extract
  • shake of salt

Place first 4 ingredients in medium pot.  Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 6-7 mins.

When almost done, add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.  Cook 2-3 additional mins, or until done.  Add additional liquid as needed.

Remove from heat.  Using an immersion blender, blending oats until bananas and blueberries are pureed into oatmeal (it WILL turn blue!).

Spoon into bowls and add topping of your choice (I used bananas and dark chocolate chunks).

Makes 2 servings.


Apple Pie @ Breakfast

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This morning I received a call from my boss.  He needs me to proof several (mucho importante) documents before they go to a client.  We had the following conversation:

Boss: It is important that these are perfect.

Me: Sure – no problem.

Boss: Do whatever you need to do in order to maintain focus – read one, go for a rune, read one, go for a run.

Me: (LMAO)

🙂

Cool or scary that he knows this about me?!

Did I mention how much I love my job?

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Obviously, I need to be well-fed to complete this task.  I’ve been looking forward to testing out the Apple Pie Oatmeal creation by Angela @ Oh She Glows.

I adjusted it a bit for my taste.  I added the apples later in the process to ensure they held onto their crunch, and included ginger.  Of course, I had to top it with PB because apples + PB go together like peas + carrots.  Jenny.

Eating this was a Friday morning religious experience amazing.

 

Warning: Blurry cell phone pics coming to an end SOON!


Apple Pie Oatmeal

  • 1/3 C oats (I combined multi-grain and Scottish)
  • 1 tsp chia seeds
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 1/2 C unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/4 C water
  • 1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/2 Braeburn apple, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 T peanut butter
  • 1 T pumpkin seeds

In a small pot over med-high heat, mix the 1/3 cup oats, chia seeds, spices, milk, water, and applesauce.  Cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring often.  When the mixture is just beginning to thicken, add fresh apple pieces. Pie Oatmeal is done when the mixture thickens and the liquid is absorbed.

Pour into a bowl and add toppings of choice.  I used peanut butter and pumpkin seeds.

***

How well does your boss know you?

Well enough to know midday running produces maximum concentration?

 

My Top 5

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I have an announcement: My skinny pants are too big.

 

OMGOMGOMGOMG.

When I started this blog, I had a gained a pretty significant amount of weight.  I had been out of grad school for a year, and had gotten accustomed to sitting at a desk all day and still eating anything I wanted.  My body revolted.

Basically, my fat pants became my skinny pants.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC0Nsba1fWQ&feature=related

***Disclaimer: I love my job – I just love this video. And I don’t like sitting all day.***

 

Last week my trainer made me get on a scale for the first time in a couple of months. Post-grad school sitting-on-my-butt weight is officially GONE!!!

Fat pants, be damned!!!

I still sit at a desk all day, but I adjusted my eating habits and made exercise a part of my daily routine.  Just like brushing my teeth.

How did I do it?

There were many, many habits I changed, new behaviors I learned, and – last but not least – an amazing amount of self-control.  I could write pages, but here are my Top 5 Factors (after the jump).

… 

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