5 Things I Love

February 10, 2014 By Laura

Last week was a long one.

Understatement of the year.

This past weekend I made sure to savour every blissful moment. I took an extra moment to appreciate new product finds, watch my sister’s music video on repeat, and enjoy dinner at a special restaurant for no particular occasion.

In this month of love, I wanted to share a few apples of my eye with you guys! ♥

1. Jojoba Oil

It is saving my skin from winter. My skin is dry in this crazy weather, yet it is also oily in spots and prone to breakouts. Slathering it with oil was a terrifying thought… but I trusted my sister’s advice and gave it a shot. Lo and behold, it works!

I now use Jojoba oil as a nightly moisturizer, along with a bit of tea tree oil on any acne spots. Both can be found at Whole Foods or most natural food stores.

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Coca Cola’s Super Bowl + WIAW

February 5, 2014 By Laura

Sometimes I am oblivious.

Ok, a lot of the time…

I’m not one to get too riled up over political issues. At least not in the “the world is going to hell in a handbasket!” way. I DO get fired up over discrimination and stupid political moves. When Coca-Cola’s Super Bowl ad aired, it didn’t cross my mind that it was controversial. I actually tweeted that it was too long and boring. My attention span only wants short, funny ads, dammit!

So why were people fired up? They thought it was offensive that “America the Beautiful” was sung in different languages, featured many cultures, and *gasp* included a gay couple.

Really?! Last I checked the English language didn’t originate in America. Next year they should air the song being sung in a Native American language with all dark-skinned people.

I’m proud of my hometown’s company for embracing our melting pot country. ~~Even if it was a boring commercial.~~

This WIAW was decidedly uncontroversial. Someone at work even told me my fish smelled good. And she was sincere!

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!

Breakfast:

The usual apple cider morning cocktail was followed by a new-to-me oatmeal. I got Purely Elizabeth Ancient Grain Oatmeal as part of a deal when I ordered more Nuttzo a couple of weeks ago. I will definitely be buying more! I use it to make cinnamon-vanilla egg white oats and topped it with blueberries and Nuttzo.

Mid-Morning Snack:

This week I prepped a big batch of Chili Nutty Tofu. I followed my original recipe, except I used sriracha and made a peanut flour sauce rather than the Valencia PB. It was awesome with an Asian-inspired Napa cabbage, mushroom, and red bell pepper stir-fry (also a part of Sunday’s food prep).

Lunch:

Rotisserie chicken, carrots, and celery dressed with homemade BBQ sauce. My “dessert” was a Korean sweet potato topped with cinnamon. Pretty food tastes better, no?

Mid-Afternoon Snack:

Cod with a side of asparagus, zucchini, and parsley mixed with my wasabi-blue cheese dressing.

Dinner:

Trout has become a new staple thanks to SizzleFish. I broiled it for 7 mins with pepper and lemon juice. Meanwhile, I sautéed Napa cabbage and mushrooms in the juice from a jar of kimchi. Quick and easy!

Of course, I needed something sweet, so I made a pre-dessert dessert of my favorite cocoa-roasted kabocha topped with peanut flour sauce (I get my peanut flour on iHerb – use discount code USO924 for $5-10 off your order) and cacao nibs.

It was so good that I didn’t remember a pic until I was almost done. #sorryimnotsorry

Dessert:

I stopped on my way home from work for a little treat. The Cookies & Cream Quest bar. I can’t believe I had the restraint to wait until almost midnight to eat this.

Mine was broiled for about a minute with the intent of using it to scoop up a Zucchini Batter Protein bowl. The bowl was forgotten based on the favor of the bar. Best. Flavor. Yet.

(Don’t worry – I still finished the zucchini bowl.)

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I am going back for a case of those bars.

Did you have any reaction to Coke’s Super Bowl ad?

Are you a Quest bar fan? What’s your favorite flavor?

3 Surprisingly Quick Meals

February 3, 2014 By Laura

A little prep can go a long way.

This is why Sundays are sacred.

If I do my weekly shopping and prep right, I don’t need a detailed meal plan. My preference is to make a bunch of stuff and then figure out what flavors I want to add and how to mix and match it throughout the week. Variety is the best way I know to stay on track. If I’m not interested in what I’m eating, I’m not content.

Here are three meals that I threw together quickly when what I had on hand. They look fancy-ish, but in reality they were incredibly easy (and fun) to make. Who doesn’t think quickies are marvelous? 😉

The incredible, edible egg is one of my favorite breakfasts. This wrap was inspired by a french toast craving on an icy morning, and the fact that I was out of bread.

I kept the stuffing simple with cottage cheese, but you could use Greek yogurt, fresh fruit, and any number of spices. Adapt it to your preference, and what you have on hand.

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Spaghetti Squash & Cauliflower Gratin

January 30, 2014 By Laura

Today’s recipe takes a minute.

About 50 minutes, actually.

Getting home from work on Tuesday during Atlanta’s “big” snow storm took a minute too. Here’s how I meandered my way home:

Leave work when snow starts. Sit in traffic for an hour. Enjoy a snack.
Abandon car in a parking deck and take public transport (MARTA).
Arrive at station by house, thankful for my boots with the fur.
Detour through the gym for a shoulder workout.
5 hours later, get home.

Even after a long commute, I promise that this gratin is worth the minute it takes to put together. It makes 9 servings, so it’s like the gift that keeps on giving….

Eating All My Food + WIAW

January 22, 2014 By Laura

My fridge is (almost) empty.

I’m in panic mode.

This was my fridge after dinner last night:

The yogurt and kombucha are gone now too.

Why so void of food? Well, it’s now filled with juices. I’m doing a cleanse. The awesome people at Skinny Limits reached out to me to try their 3 day cleanse… normally I’d balk at the idea, but after an indulgent holiday season and a year (or more) of packing in protein, I decided to give my body a rest.

For the next 3 days, 6 times a day, these are my meals:

There will be a full review coming, but if you’d like to follow along in real-time check out my Instagram.

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This WIAW I made sure to thoroughly enjoy my last day of solids til Saturday. I relished every last morsel.

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!…

Marshmallow Chocolate Chip Cake + WIAW

January 15, 2014 By Laura

It’s rare that I repeat a meal.

Except dessert.

Variety is one of the keys to staying on track. I know this is different for everyone, but if I don’t stay entertained by what I’m eating it’s not pretty. Which is why I’m shocked by this story about a woman eating nothing but Starbucks for a YEAR.

The 40-year-old woman, Beautiful Existence, is a mother of two. Yes, that’s her legal name. She still cooked for her kids, but – even on holidays – only ate Starbucks food.

She said she spent $500-$600 a month on meals, and ended up saving money and losing weight. Her first non-Starbucks meal? Fish and chips from Seattle restaurant chain.

I would’ve done a lot better than that after year of bagels!

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This WIAW I did not eat at Starbucks. I did repeat a meal, and for that I am ashamed. Kidding, kidding.

Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!…

Coconut Curried Chicken + WIAW

January 8, 2014 By Laura

No one likes a complainer.

Especially me.

I’m making an exception. It’s COLD. This arctic tundra has got to go. I live in the South. I should never see this:

Ice in my shower is something else I should never have to see. I left my faucet dripping just like the newsman said because we hit a record low of 6 degrees in Atlanta. When I woke up, I was rewarded with an ice-lined tub.

Try motivating to shower for work when faced with this:

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This WIAW I am FINALLY back on track. I had the biggest meal prep in weeks on Sunday and felt ready to get back to the “real” world of having a routine.Read on for my eats, and then check out Jenn’s blog for everyone else’s delicious creations!…

Brussels and Prosciutto Skewers [Recipe]

January 6, 2014 By Laura

Apparently there’s a Brussels gene.

I got the version that is addicted to them.

For the New Years Eve pairing dinner I co-hosted, I made Brussels and Prosciutto Skewers. People loved them… except I was told by one person that there is a gene (like the cilantro gene) where some people think they taste bitter.

Apparently about 50% of the world has this gene. If you’re not one of those unfortunate people, you’ll love this recipe. (Recipe at the bottom of post.)

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