The Dresses Are In!

February 10, 2010 by Ali

Hello!!! I hope you day is wrapping up quite nicely mine is! Around 3:00pm, I had 1/2 of a banana as a pre-run snack then headed to the gym in my building at work for a run on the dreadmill treadmill.

When I got to the gym the TV in the cardio room was not working, so I went and got my ipod, which I soon discovered was dead. So, I grabbed my iPhone and then realized that battery was too low to listen to music…how was I going to get through a 5 mile run on the treadmill, you ask? PURE DETERMINATION! I stopped whining, stopped making excuses, stopped being pissed off at all the electronics around me and did a good ol’ fashion 5 mile run in silence while staring at a wall. And you know what…it was so relaxing!! I did a lot of thinking and organizing of my thoughts. I very rarely get time to just think, it was actually one of my better runs in a long time :) Who knew?! The run took be 47:30. After the run, I took a quick shower, blew dried my bangs threw the rest of my hair up and the headed out the door for a little fuel for class.

Ok, so I am totally addicted to Starbucks skinny cinnamon dolce lattes, in case you have failed to notice ;) I had a GRANDE…I know, that is huge for me, but I drank and enjoyed every last sip! Class was good, it went by fast, but I was glad we got out when we did I was starting to loose focus.

During class my phone was going NUTS! I didn’t have it on vibrate, but turned it on vibrate once it went off once. Good thing I did, that thing was vibrating like nuts for the rest of the class. When I got out I was certain some emergency had went on while I was in class. I checked the multiple texts and voice mails and found out some exciting news!!!! MY BRIDESMAID’S DRESSES ARE IN!!!!! YAY! They are in at least a month early and pretty much every one of my BM’s texted or called. They were excited :)

That is the dress, it is that color yellow, but the sash is NAVY! I can’t wait to see it, I will have to go with someone to pick it up so I can see it in person :) EEEKKK!

After class, I hopped on the train and headed home. Dinner was made my Adam :) Love that! Homemade turkey burgers (ground white turkey, egg whites, whole wheat bread crumbs, and garlic power), on toasted whole wheat sandwich thins with sweet poato fries and organic ketchup for dipping. I steamed a little bit of zucchini for myself of the side too. I topped my burger with mustard, goat cheese and lettuce. It was a great meal, and even taster since I didn’t cook it.

The rest of the evening has been spent catching up on some TV with Adam, it was so nice to relax and just hang out:) I am now sipping chamomile tea, while writing this post.

In Other News:

1. Don’t forget to vote for my bestie May and her fiance Rick for the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding .  To do that, click here! Thanks in advance!

2. Don’t forget to enter my Van’s Giveaway! To do that, click here!

3. “Ask Me Anything” Question.

Q: Hi Ali! First I just wanted to say that I love your blog! It actually inspired me to maybe start my own – I’m just agonziing over names/etc. before I get it up and running! Anyway, sorry if this question is repetitive but what kind of pizza dough do you use?

A: Thanks! I am so glad you like my blog :) I usually use Trader Joe’s whole wheat dough, that is my first choice. If I can’t get there, I usually get the whole wheat dough from my local grocery store. If you go to the grocery store’s bakery section you are likely to find whole wheat dough there.

I am still excepting “Ask Me Anything” Questions so don’t forget to submit your anonymous question you want to ask me by clicking here!

5. We are supposed to get a HUGE storm here tomorrow during the day! I am not looking forward to snow at all!

I actually think snow is so pretty when it falls, but I hate walking in it the days after, shoveling it and I get grossed out by the dirty snow that is on the streets after a few days….gross!

Do you like snow? Hate it? Does it depend on when and how much?

Well, I am going to call it a night. See you in the morning!

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Posted in Turkey, Veggies | 1 Comment »

Frustrations Over

February 9, 2010 by Ali

Hey everyone! Hope your afternoon is turning out okay, mine is going well. I actually had the opportunity to go down and talk to my professor about that assignment from last night that I could not get to work and for super frustrated with. He helped me it, it was a little confusing at first, but I think I have it now :)

Lunch came at noon while I was working, I was on a roll so I decided to work and eat. I got a lot done today again :) Lunch was left over pizza from last night and a side salad.

Pizza:

Salad:

Just as yummy as it was yesterday!

Well, I am going to finish up here, I am using my “lunch hour” at the end of my day to get in a quick run and shower before heading to class.

Don’t forget:

To vote for my bestie May for the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding .  To do that, click here!

To enter my Van’s Giveaway! To do that, click here!

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Posted in Pizza, Salad | 2 Comments »

PB&J Oats!

February 9, 2010 by Ali

Morning!!! Well, I am convinced the the key to a good solid night’s sleep is a steaming cup of chamomile tea right before bed. Every time I have chamomile tea before bed, I sleep like a rock and wake up feel so refreshed and rested! :) There is actually research that has shown it works as a sleep aid, but I was a little skeptical. I used to drink it after dinner, but that would be at least 3 hours before hitting the hay, now I drink it right before bed and it works like a charm. Want to know what my other sleep aid is? My bed warmer :)

Back in the colonial times, people used to use bed warmers to keep them warm and cozy overnight since they did not have heat like the heat we know today.

I am not sure why they used these dangerous bed warmers when they had this option all along. I present, my bed warmer:

Adam and I refer to Oscar as “The Furnace”, he gets so warm when he is sleeping that he keeps me feeling warm and cozy even on the chilliest of nights. Add that to the list of a million reasons why I love Oscar so much!!!

When I got up this morning I was craving both peanut butter and jelly and oatmeal. I spend a few minutes trying to decide which one to have and then it dawned on me, I don’t HAVE to choose one or the other, I can have both :) I present my new favorite way to eat oatmeal, PB & J Oats!!!

It worked out well because since I received a package from Crofter’s Organics this weekend while I was in VT, I have been dying to try the Superfood Spreads they sent me. They were kind enough to send me all four flavors!!! But, you know I had to try the North America one first, little taste of home :) So, I added it to my oats this morning along with the PB!

It was DELICIOUS!!!!!! I really love a chunky fruit spread and this one did not disappoint! I could actually see the blueberries and cranberries in the spread. It was not overly sweet and went very, very well with PB. How could you not love an organic jam loaded with antioxidants? Seriously! I cannot wait to try the other flavors!

See the blueberry and cranberry bits?

Breakfast was accompanied by coffee, obvi ;)

Oatmeal:

  • 1/2 a cup of oats
  • 1/2 a cup of water
  • 1/2 a cup of almond milk
  • 1/2 of a banana

Toppings:

  • Spoonful of peanut butter
  • Spoonful of Crofter’s North American Superfood Spread

Today’s outfit:

What is up with my blurry outfit pictures lately…sorry about that?! It is really hard to tell that it is blurry on the camera, but then when I load into the website here and it is all big I can tell. BOOOO!

Brown striped pants (Gap), White Shirt (Express), Tan V-neck Sweater (H&M), Brown Pumps (SO OLD, I forget where I got them).

Shoe close up, because some of you have asked for it…I am not a fan of showing my feet as they are bony and a little bit of a mess from running. I COULD USE A PEDICURE!!!!! That is a hint to those in my life that love me and are aware that 1) Valentine’s Day is this weekend and 2) my birthday is coming up shortly! :)

In Other News:

1. Don’t forget to vote for my bestie May for the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding . May and Rick totally deserve it!!!! To do that, click here! Thanks so much! Yes, I will be nagging you to do this until you all have done it. So, if you are getting sick of looking at this, just go vote…I have no problem being a little pushy (it is in my job description at the Maid of Honor…sorry!)

2. So, I am super duper late on this! My Friday blogger interview is coming on a Tuesday… better late than never, no? I am sorry this is so late considering Anne worked her tail off to get me the interview stuff on time too. Well, I an certain you guys don’t mind waiting for an interview someone as FANNEtastic as an interview with the lovely, creative and hilarious Anne from FANNEtastic foods! I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Anne in person and she is a funny and down to earth as she appears on her blog :)

Blogging Related:

1. Why did you start your blog?
I’d been reading food blogs WAY too long to not have my own :) Plus, I had a travel blog when I was teaching English in Prague last year, and I missed writing for fun and having somewhere to post photos!


2. What is your favorite blog?

I love any blog that makes me laugh. The more ridiculous, the better.


3. How do you keep readers interested in your blog? Especially if your blog is new?

I pretty much just try to be as awesome as possible at all times.
Juuuuuust kidding. Let’s see… a big helping of healthy and unique recipes, a dash of fitness moves and awkward videos, a sprinkling of scenic photography, and a hearty dose of silliness :)


4. Have you found blogging difficult to keep up with?

Nah, I’ve found it really fun to write the posts and think of new ideas! I don’t think I’d be able to handle a full on food blog where I photographed all my eats, though… props to you Ali!!


5. Has anything happened that was unexpected or shocked you as a result of having a blog? For example, negative feedbacks, new found blogger friends that live next door? Really anything that didn’t expect?

I’ve just met lots of fun new friends! It’s especially awesome when we hang out and people ask how we met, and we have to explain that we met on the internet. Awwwwwkkkkwarddddddddd. (Any awkward turtle fans out there??)

6. Do you have the support of your family?
Definitely! My parents especially love my blog. My dad will email like 0.2 seconds after I post saying it was the best thing ever. I have no idea how he knows so quickly that I’ve posted, lol.


7. How long have you been blogging?

With my current blog, just since September, but I had my Prague blog from October 2008 til June 2009 when I came home.

8. How has your blog changed over the years?

I’ll let you know once I’ve been blogging for years ;)

9. What new directions do you see taking it in?

I’m pretty sure my blog will take over the world in approximately 2.3 months.


10. What is your favorite ‘freebie’ that you’ve ever received?

I’m obsessed with Greek yogurt, so probably that :)


You and Your Healthy Lifestyle:
11. What is your favorite workout?

Running! Or anything outdoors, like hiking. Sunshine = heaven. I’ve also been getting into yoga recently!


12. How often do you workout?

I try to do SOMETHING every single day, even if it’s just a short walk!


13. Have you always lived a healthy lifestyle? If not, what made you change you lifestyle?

For the most part, yes, although I didn’t always eat this healthy! I was always super active when I was younger (gymnastics, swimming, tennis, etc.), but didn’t really get interested in healthy eating until college. I remember in high school my friends and I would go to McDonalds and order a bunch of large fries, then dump them all in the middle of the table in a huge mountain and have a “fry feast.” So healthy ;)


14. What is you favorite healthy snack?

Plain Greek yogurt and fruit. Can’t go wrong :)


15. What is your all time favorite food?

Did I mention I like yogurt? No? I like yogurt.


16: What is your least favorite food?

Onions!!!!! Blechhhhhhh


17. What is one kitchen appliance you can’t live without, besides your fridge?

A microwave!!! I didn’t have one in Prague and it was maddening. I had to heat leftovers in a skillet.. it wasn’t pretty.


18. What is your favorite thing to try? New workouts, new restaurants, bars, beer/wine.

All of the above :)


Getting to Know you:
19. What are you wearing today? (Please Provide a Picture)

Damn, Ali, are you hitting on me? It’s cool… I like it.

Today’s outfit is brought to you thanks to casual Fridays at work! The jeans are from Express, the tank top is from Old Navy, the cardigan is from Target, and the shoes are Bandolino (from Macys).

But my favorite part of my outfit today is my earrings! I’m obsessed with fun dangly earrings. I have no idea where I got these, but I wear them all the time :)



20. What do you do for a living?

I’m a writer/editor for an engineering company. It’s less than thrilling but the people are cool :) I’m also a part time student… hopefully starting back full time in the fall to get my Masters in Dietetics to become an R.D.!


21. What is your favorite movie?

Oh man do I have to pick one!?? I have so many… but I’d have to say “A Christmas Story” is one of my all time faves. I watch practically the entire 24 hour marathon on Christmas Day. I’m also obsessed with “Forrest Gump.” :)


22. What are your hobbies?

Anything involving friends, good food, wine, and laughing so hard it hurts.


23. What trends are your fashion favorite this season?

I’m loving the flat boots! I bought some flat boots in Prague last year because it was impossible to walk in heels on cobblestones, and I love that they’re in fashion here now, too!

24. What are your plans for 2010?
Hopefully moving somewhere new in the fall and starting a masters program! R.D. or bust!!!

Thanks, Anne!! I am excited to see you in Baltimore at Fit Bloggin‘  in a little more than a month...YAY!!!

3. GIVEAWAY ALERT!!! Oh, yes and it is a good one too!!!! Do you find yourself drooling over this waffle sammies I make for breakfast from time to time?

Well, then you are in luck. The fabulous people at Van’s have offered to give 3 lucky FFF readers a coupon for one FREE product!!!! The coupons are so much better, considering the food is frozen, so it may thaw out by the time you get it if they ship directly to you.

So how do you enter, there are a few ways:

1. Go to the Van’s website look around and tell me which product you would love to try and how you would eat it.Straight up with syrup? Topped with yogurt and fruit? As a sandwich? Get creative here people!

Wait, you want extra entries….wow, you guys are seriously pushing it ;) Okay, Okay fine! Get an extra entry by:

  1. Tweeting the giveaway - and let me know you did that. If you are not currently following me on Twitter here is the link to do so.
  2. Post the giveaway on your blog and e-mail me the link to show that you have done so.
  3. Put the giveaway (with link) as a facebook status and send me an e-mail letting me know you did so. FoodFitnessFashion@gmail.com

Each one of these gives you an extra entry, so each person has the possibility for 4 entries…make sense? You have until tomorrow at 10 pm to enter and then I will be announcing winners. Good Luck!

4. I am still excepting “Ask Me Anything” Questions so don’t forget to submit your anonymous question you want to ask me by clicking here!

See you guys at lunch!

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Posted in Coffee, Oatmeal | 29 Comments »

Assignment Frustrations.

February 9, 2010 by Ali

Well, I had a very productive night. The reason:

After work I stopped at Starbucks for a tall skinny cinnamon dolce pick me up :) I am pretty sure it helped me power through the work I had to do at my part-time job. I met with a couple that is thinking about getting married at our function hall, then returned some phone calls and did some paperwork. After working, I stopped at the grocery store and picked up some whole wheat pizza dough and some Sprite for Adam. I don’t really the whole soda thing, but Adam cannot live without his Sprite! When I got home, I took a quick shower and then Adam and I made dinner. PIZZA…what a suprise!!!!!

My side was whole wheat dough, marinara sauce, spinach, reduced fat mozzarella, tomatoes, red peppers and some spreadable goat cheese. BTW: working with spreadable goat cheese when you are not spreading it is difficult. Don’t try this at home ;) This was the best pizza we have made in a while and that is saying a lot!!! I had two pieces with a side salad (spring mix, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and peppers topped with a light italian dressing). I am very happy to report that there are leftovers :)

YUMMY, YUMMY PIZZA!

I think the steam coming from it fogged the picture…I love my food super hot! After dinner, Adam did the dishes (love him!) and I started on homework and reading for school. I had the hardest time figuring out this one thing we had to to do on a website. It was super frustrating for me. I consider myself to be pretty computer savy, after all, I do write thins blog everyday, right? I eventually e-mailed my professor after 45 minutes of getting no where. I got the rest of my work done though, so that is good. But, I am still a little annoyed with that website! I very much dislike getting frustrated with an assignment that I can’t figure out.

I am currently drinking some chamomile tea and blogging from my bed. Can you tell the caffeine from earlier had worn off?? ;)

Make sure to check in on tomorrow breakfast post for a Vantastic giveaway and a FANNEtastic interview!!! ;)

Don’t forget to submit your n anonymous question you want to ask me by clicking here!

Night!!!

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Posted in Coffee, Pizza, Salad, Tea | 4 Comments »

Weight Increase

February 8, 2010 by Ali

Hey everyone! Good afternoon! I have gotten a lot of things done today and it feels so great! :) I had a few things I had to do at work today that seemed like they would be overwhelming, but once I got them done I felt so much better. Before heading out for a little noon time Body Pump, I snacked on half of a Clif bar I had in my draw for a little over a week.

It was a little hard, but truth be told, I actually liked it better like that :)

BP was great per usual! I actually went up in weight in the chest, back and squat tracks !!!! YAY! I love a little weight increase to make me feel like my hard work is paying off! Talk about results! Body Pump really is making me so much stronger, I love it! After BP, I just washed my face and headed back to work. I am feeling a little yucky now and am in serious need of a shower.

I ate lunch while working away like a little busy bee. Lunch was a yummy sammie. Whole Wheat bread, turkey, goat cheese, pine nut hummus, lettuce and cucumbers.

On the side I had some fruit salad that I whipped up this morning: watermelon, grapes, blueberries. NOM, NOM, NOM!

In Other News:

1. Don’t forget to vote for my bestie May for the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding . May and Rick totally deserve it!!!! To do that, click here! Thanks so much!

2. Ask Me Anything Questions:

Q: I was just wondering what your top quick “go-to” lunches are? I am a college student and often have to pack my lunch to eat in between class, work, running, etc. You always seem to have excellent lunch ideas!

A: Well, I know that feeling ;) My favorite lunches are:

  1. Sammies!!! Turkey or tuna with whatever I have in the fridge: hummus, cheese, tabouli, veggies anything that seems good! I usually eat it with fruit or veggies on the side. Don’t be afraid to it creative with different toppings or breads to keep it interesting.
  2. Salad. You have seen them, basically anything in the fridge is game as a salad ingredient.
  3. Soup! I love Pacific soups and Amy’s soups easy to grab a go.  I like to have them with some Kashi crackers and Laughing Cow cheese and a piece of fruit.
  4. Leftovers. Most things I cook at home make great lunch leftovers. Especially Pizza :)

Hope that helps!!! If you have an anonymous question you want to ask me, you can do it by clicking here!

Well I got to get going. Tonight’a plans:

  • Working at my part-time job
  • QUICK trip to the grocery store
  • Dinner with Adam
  • Homework

See you guys later!

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Liquid Breakfast

February 8, 2010 by Ali

Morning!!! It is another cold Monday morning in Boston! I can’t believe how fast the weekend went by! Did you guys watch the Superbowl? What did you think of the outcome? I was totally rooting for the Saints, so I was pleased! Sorry, Colts fans…I am just being honest!

I got up this morning feeling rested and ready for a packed week. I think calling it an early night was a very smart idea. Breakfast was all liquid :)

Coffee (clearly I drank some before taking the picture) with half and half and a Green Monster! Even though it is so cold outside, I woke up craving a smoothie!

Smoothie Ingredients:

  • 1 banana
  • 2 big handfuls of spinach
  • 1 cup of reduced fat milk
  • ice
  • 2 small scoops of Green Superfood
  • 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
  • 1 spoonful of peanut butter
  • Flax seeds

Today’s Outfit:

Aqua Sweater (GAP), Light Gray Pants (Express), Black Suede Pumps (Michael Kors). Sorry so blurry, I have really got to work on that!

In Other News:

1. My bestie May and her fiance Rick have entered the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest!!!!!! It would mean the world to me if you guys could head over to their site a vote. To vote for May and Rick click here. If  May and Rick win, that  would mean you guys would get to see tons of pictures and hear all about the Ultimate Wedding since I will be serving as Maid of Honor. Come on who doesn’t want a little inside scoop on that!!! So go ahead and vote….like right now!!! Thanks so much!!!

2. Ask Me Anything Questions:

Q: Hi Ali – what are you favorite places in Boston to eat, grab a drink, or hang out?

A: Well, for those of you who have read the blog for some time now, you will know the answer to that question. The Warren Tavern is my favorite local hang out. It is my neighborhood bar and I am there quite often. They have a vast array of beer on tap, great food and friendly service. Plus it has a whole bunch of historical charm. It is really our version on Cheers. Every time we walk in there we see someone we know. If you are even in the Charlestown are and looking for a great place to have a beer, grab lunch or dinner (or bunch on the weekends), watch a game or just hang out- check it out!

You can  submit an anonymous  Ask Me Anything question by clicking here.

Have a great Monday and I will see you at lunch!!!


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Posted in Coffee, Smoothies | 2 Comments »

Fun Weekend Recap!

February 8, 2010 by Ali

WOW!!! I have not blogged in a few days and I am certainly missing it! I missed you guys a lot! I hope you all had/are having a great weekend. Let me catch you up, yeah? After my last post I headed to the gym and did a Body Pump class followed by a quick 2 mile run. I hadn’t planned on running too, but for some reason I was really craving the run when I finished BP. Note to self: Don’t wear shorts when Body Pumping, watching my legs shake during the lunge track was not a fun time. After my great workout I showered and got ready for class. I spend about 30 minutes in the Starbucks by the train station before jumping on the train and heading in. I did some reading and had a tall skinny cinnamon dolce latte.

Class was good, it went by fast. I was not looking forward to waiting in the freezing cold for a bus, but was very pleasant;y surprised to see it waiting at the stop when I got there. Love that! Dinner was a delicious Panini. Whole Wheat Tuscan bread, turkey, spicy hummus, guacamole, sun-dried tomatoes, a thin slice of American Cheese and spinach. On the side I had some red grapes.

Dessert: Chamomile Tea and dark chocolate. I love that a small piece of dark chocolate takes care of my sweet tooth in a seconds. YUM!

Friday morning Adam and I got up at 7am and headed to the gym to run intervals. Adam was in charge of the workout and I was just following his lead. OMG, he kicked my booty!!! We ran a 3 mile interval run that included running 9 miles per hour for a minute and a half a few times. He was not joking around! It was a hard interval run, but I felt great (and sweaty) afterwards! Thanks for the kick ass workout, Ad :)

After the gym Adam and I ran a few errands and then got home to pack up the car for out trip to VT. We headed up to VT for the weekend to celebrate with my bestie May and her finance Rick who got engaged last weekend! I was so excited to congratulate them in person and see the ring. While running errands, showering and packing up the car, I enjoyed a large coffee from Zumes.

We had breakfast on the road. We stopped at Dunkin Donuts. I got the turkey sausage egg white flat bread sandwich. It was pretty good, it has spinach in it and that made it really tasty.

I also had some grapes too, that I brought for the ride.

While we were waiting in the drive-through line, Adam and I split a free sample of hot coco with coconut in it. It was really, really good!

Once breakfast was eaten, the car was packed up and gassed up, it was time for our roadtrip!

The ride was nice and most of it was really scenic. It took about 3 hours to get there. Look at all the beautiful mountains.

When we arrived, Adam and I could not believe how cute the cottage that they had rented was. So adorable!

Once we got there, we took May and Rick’s dog out (they were skiing). I snacked on a banana, followed by a Sam Adam’s Costal Wheat. We were celebrating, remember?

Once May and Rick arrived back to the house with May’s friend Abby and her boyfriend, we cracked the bubbly.

Bride and her Maid (Matron ) of Honor!!! YAY! I had a small glass to celebrate. Lunch was a quick turkey sandwich on whole wheat with spicy hummus, tomatoes and a side of popchips. Yes, I travel with Popchips!

After lunch, I looked around the cottage a little bit. It was so adorable. Outside the basement window was a little woodchuck that was hibernating. There was the cutest little sign posted by the owners so renters would not bother him.

I tried to take his picture but you could barely see him. Around 5pm, we all hoped in the hot tub. It felt so great after working out six days in a row to get in the hot tub. I had a new beer I had never tried and really loved it!

Around 6pm May’s sister arrived with her husband and three kids. We all got showered and dressed and headed out for dinner. We went to the Ye Olde English Inne.  Dinner of course started off with a beer. I had an English Red Beer.

I had a little piece of bread and some calamari to start.

For my meal, I got the salmon and risotto. It was fantastic! The salmon was really crispy and I loved that it was topped with sunflower seeds.

Dessert was enjoyed back at the house. Adam and I brought a cake with us. It was strawberry shortcake. May’s favorite (and mine too ;) ).

The rest of the night was spent celebrating. I had a few more beers. Pictures from Friday night.

May and Stacy (Rick’s sister).

Myself and May’s sister Ellen.

The happy couple and their furbaby Stolki. I ended the night with a coconut water. I needed to hydrate after all of the beer.

Breakfast on Saturday morning was made by my lovely finance. He made me an Ezekiel English muffin with egg whites and a slice of cheese.

Since Adam and I don’t ski, we spend the day in the lodge hanging out and watching people come down the mountain. When we got in the car to head to the mountain I was shocked to see the temperature. It was freezing!

First order of business when we arrived was coffee.

Once the bar opened we moved to that portion of the lodge. It was right in front of a pretty steep mountain, so it was pretty cool to watch. I ordered a Bloody Mary.

It was the best Bloody Mary I had ever had. Not too spicy, not too much tomato taste. Just right! Then I decided to move on to beer. There were many Magic Hat number 9’s. YUM YUM!

When going around a looking at the lunch options, I was really excited to see so many healthy options. I decided to get the veggie sandwich. It has marinated tempeh, olive paste, hummus, artichoke hearts and lettuce on wheat bread with a pickle.

It was really good. I ate a 2/3 of it and gave the rest to May. They were doing a bunch of giveaways in the lodge and I managed to score some hot sauce :)

Dinner was chicken parm and chicken, broccoli and ziti that May’s sister and her husband brought up with them from Spinelli’s. I had a little of each.

Adam and I got up early this morning and headed out at around 7:30 am. Breakfast was eaten on the road again. I got a wheat bagel from DD’s and topped it with my own Barney Butter and a banana.

and coffee of course.

When we got home, we unpacked the car, showed and made lunch. I has some Pacific french onion soup with a toasted sandwich thin topped with laughing cow and tomato.

Around 12:30 pm, Adam and I decided it was time for a nap. We barely ever get to take naps, and this one was welcomed. We slept for about an hour and a half. It was glorious!!! I had the grapefruit Siggi’s yogurt as an afternoon snack. It was so good. I love that it is a fruity yogurt, but doesn’t have fruit on the bottom :)

Later in the afternoon, May and I headed to the grocery store to restock our fridges. The store was MOBBED! Ugh, I am ready to jump out of my skin it was way to packed for me! But, dinner was delicious! I was craving a BLT so badly. So I made one. I used whole wheat bread, grilled turkey bacon, lettuce and tomato. I don’t eat mayo, but I do eat nayo, so I used that instead.

On the side I had some roasted potatoes I made a few months ago and froze. They are so easy to freeze and you just heat then up for a few minutes in the oven and they are just as good as the day you made them. I ate them like fries with organic ketchup for dipping. I also had a little steamed swiss chard topped with black pepper and red wine vinegar. I love vinegar on my swiss chard!

Dessert:

Well, that was a long post!!! I am off to get ready for bed. I want to call it am early night!!!

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »

Seconds.

February 4, 2010 by Ali

Good afternoon!!! Well I am going to make this quick as I am trying to get out the door to the gym. Lunch was eaten early (11:30) since I wanted to have time to eat it, blog it, and head out the door by 12:30 pm. I had leftovers from last night. I added some edamame to it for protein.

On the side I had some “garlic bread”, I toasted a small piece of whole wheat Tuscan bread with Earth Balance Vegan Butter and added some garlic powder.

Then, I went back for seconds…I was still hungry and I am hoping for this meal to get me through a workout and class (I am hoping it is hold me over for 8 hours or so), we shall see.

YUM! Pasta is my ALL TIME FAVORITE FOOD! Well, I am off, see you guys all later on tonight after I get home from class.

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Posted in Pasta, Veggies | 4 Comments »

A WHOLE CANTALOUPE?!

February 4, 2010 by Ali

Morning! Sorry if you missed me last night. At 9:30 pm I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open, so I just went to bed! Let me tell you about my night. Around 3:30 pm while getting through some work, I snacked on the last of the cantaloupe I bought this week. I just realized I managed to eat a whole cantaloupe in three days!!! What can I say, this girl loves fruit!

At 4pm I headed down to the gym at work for a run. I planned on doing 5 miles, but that didn’t end up happening. Around mile 2 my stomach started cramping and I knew I had to um…go use the restroom (TMI? I think these “Ask Me Anything” questions are making me feel a little too open!). I tried to ignore it, but by mile 2.5 I knew that 5 miles were not happening, I made a deal that I would run 3. Once I hit mile 3, I jumped off the treadmill and went to the bathroom. I felt better. While walking back into the gym I noticed how tight my legs left. I used the extra time I had already planned to run for a nice long stretch. It felt great to get the stretch in! The running and Body Pump this week has taken a toll on my hamstrings and they were begging for a good stretch.

After the run and stretch, I took a quick shower then jumped on the bus and headed home. Once I got home, I started working on some stuff for my part-time job. I was really hungry, fruit goes not hold me over when I am running. I snacked on a pretzel rod and a clementine.

After the work was done, I started dinner. Adam was home for dinner tonight! That makes twice this week that we ate dinner together :) I like that a lot! I made some whole wheat tortillini with marinara sauce and side salads. I beefed my pasta up with some extra veggies, steamed zucchini and artichoke hearts. I also had a small glass of red wine.

The spend the rest of then evening watching TV with my two favorite boys before heading to bed at 9:30 pm. Right before bed, I had some chamomile tea and….it totally helped me sleep well again last night. Although I did have an awful dream that all my teeth fell out!

I actually looked up what dreams about teeth falling out means and I got a few interpretations:

  1. Being self-conscious about your physical appearance
  2. Worrying about being embarrassed in a certain situation
  3. Feelings of powerlessness
  4. Fear of failure
  5. Financial worries

Not sure I really buy any of them. Do you ever look up what your dreams “mean”?  Do you believe in “Dream Meanings” or think it is all junk?

I actually took today off to get some things done. Breakfast was banana oats:

  • 1/2 of a banana
  • 1/2 a cup of oats
  • 1/2 a cup of water
  • 1/2 a cup of almond milk

Toppings:

  • Blueberries
  • Organic unsweetened coconut
  • Barney Butter

Ask Me Anything Questions:

Q: Transitioning from a private person to a public person can be a tough and crazy experience. Do you (or Adam) ever get worried with posting private photos and/or information online?

A: Good Question! I get this question a lot from friends and family. I keep a lot of my life private still even though it seems like it is all out there for the world to see. I am very careful with the personal information I post online and try to make sure that I keep certain things to myself. So, sometimes I get a little nervous about it, but I always make sure that I don’t post anything that I wouldn’t be okay with ANYONE seeing.

You can  submit an anonymous  Ask Me Anything question by clicking here.

Well, I am off to get some things done. Have a great Thursday!

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Posted in Almond Butter, Bananas, Coffee, Oatmeal, Pasta, Salad, Veggies, berries | 10 Comments »

Boring Apple Transformed!

February 3, 2010 by Ali

Good afternoon! It has been a little messy here today. They are switching over something with our e-mail here today (to be honest I am not sure exactly what they are doing) but it has caused my work e-mail to not work and I have lost some important e-mails, so yes it has been frustrating. Lunch came around 12:30pm when I heard my tummy start talking to me. I had a turkey sandwich on whole wheat Tuscan bread with spicy hummus, guacamole, tabouli and spinach. YUM YUM!

I brought an apple on the side and thought it looked a little boring. :/ Sorry, apple, but it’s true! So I cut it up, put it in my soup bowl, added cinnamon and microwaved it for a minute and a half. Warm cinnamon apple = not so boring!!!

FYI: cutting up an apple with a plastic knife is not easy can can be dangerous! Don’t try this at home, kids! ;)

Ask Me Anything Questions:

Q: Hi Ali. I just wanted to let you know how much I love your blog and how positive you always are!
OK, now to my question:

I’m a high school senior, and am going to college next year (either Suffolk or Northeastern). What’s your advice on eating in college? If it were my choice, I wouldn’t have a meal plan and just get all of my food from TJ’s, but it’s required. Any tips?

A: Wow! I had no idea I had readers in high school! That’s great! So glad you love my blog :) First of all congrats to you for being almost done with High School, so exciting. Second, congrats for even caring about healthy eating at your age, Lord knows I didn’t and wish I had.

I understand where you are coming from, eating healthy in a college dining hall is hard! I do have a few tips:

  1. Eat breakfast! Get up before class and go. It will keep you from being starving around noon when they bring out the fries and steakums. Plus, you will be able to concentrate in class better too! If you don’t have time for a sit down meal, grab fruit, dry cereal a whole wheat bagel and pb..something.
  2. If you have to eat fast food choose wisely: Choose pizza with half the cheese, a regular size roast beef sandwich, baked potato, or green salad with reduced calorie dressing.
  3. Keep healthy snacks on hand so you are not temped to go to the vending machine and fill up on junk. Try kashi bars, fruit, nuts or yogurt.
  4. The salad bar is your friend!!! Have a side salad if you are choosing to eat the mac and cheese it is all about balance.
  5. Use the suggestion box! Most dining halls have them, use them to make healthy suggestions to the staff. I am sure they will help you out and your fellow health conscious students will thank you!

Hope that helps and good luck with applying to college! This is such an exciting time for you :)

Q: What time do you usually eat your meals? I leave the house by 6:45am so I bring my breakfast to work and eat around 10. Causing me to eat all my meals late, like dinner at 8 because I don’t get home till 7:30. Any tips on timing your meals for a busy body?

A: Well, this one is hard because the time I eat a measl depends on the day, seriously. I eat breakfast at about 7am, lunch between 12pm-1pm. Dinner is a little wonky. On days I have class, dinner will not come until 7:30pm-8pm. On days I don’t have class and got right home from work dinner is between 5:30pm and 6:30pm. On days I don’t have class, but workout after work it can be between 6:30pm and 9:00pm. So I guess I am not the best with timing. My tip would be to have snacks on you in case you need them between meals. But for me, I am so busy, I eat when I am hungry and when I have the time. But, I always make sure I eat :)

Q: What kind of salad do you eat? Is it packaged? If so, what brand?

A: Well, the salads I eat are not packaged. I make them myself at home with whatever I have on hand. But you may be referring to the lettuce I use, and that is packages and it is by Olivia’s Organics. Adam and I love their Spring Mix. Hope that helps!!!

Q: What kind of peanut butter do you eat?

A: Well, I have been eating Naturally More peanut butter for the past few month and I love it! But I also eat, Barney Butter (Almond Butter) and The Store Brand (Stop n’ Shop) Cashew Butter as well. I guess I love nut butters!!!!

You can  submit an anonymous  Ask Me Anything question by clicking here.

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Posted in Sandwiches, Turkey, fruit | 5 Comments »

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