The Start of Something

The day has finally arrived.. my first day of college is actually here! I have a ton of different emotions running though me at the moment: anxiety and excitement being the two most prevalent. I feel that it’s way too early for me to even be up and eating breakfast at this time, but I guess slowly, in time, I’ll get used to this new routine.

I had a quick and easy breakfast of Peanut Butter and Raspberry Preserves on whole wheat. I also had a banana (not pictured.) Once I’m in the city, I’ll also be picking up a big iced coffee w/ soymilk at Le Pain Quotidien. God knows I’ll need it to survive today!!

For lunch, I packed myself an Almond Butter and Banana Sandwich on whole wheat, along with a fage (not pictured.) I’m also throwing an Odwalla Chewy Trail Mix Bar in my bag just in case I need an emergency snack. I know my lunch is pretty redundant, but keeping in mind that my last class ends at five and I’ll most likely eat dinner in the city before heading home, I’m bring it to save myself some money.

The nerves are in full force right now. Here I go guys.. Wish me luck!!!

Couldn’t Help Myself

I just couldn’t help myself! I had a whole dinner in mind for tonight, but I needed to try the bagel that Kath and Matt send me! I put my planned dinner behind, and decided to have a breakfast for dinner inspired meal! I toasted up the homemade bagel and spread one half with cottage cheese and raspberry preserves, and the other with peanut butter and a drizzle of maple syrup. I warmed the whole thing up in the microwave so everything would be warm and melty.. it was the best bagel ever! It was so dense and chewy, and reminded me of a cross between a bagel and an english muffin. I would buy these by the dozen if I could! I also had a banana on the side for that morning feel.

Considering I’m really deserving of some comfort tonight, I ran over to Tasti D-Lite to take care of my craving. I got my usual medium cup, today’s combo being Fluffernutter Fudge and Coffee Espresso with chocolate sprinkles. From now on, I’m all about the cups instead of cones. Using a spoon maximizes the time the ice cream lasts, which is a big plus in my book. This stuff is pure heaven in a cup. Seriously.

I’m off to take a shower, do my hair, pack my bag, get my outfit picked for tomorrow, and relax on the couch with some popcorn! Gotta make the night before the big day as pleasurable as possible. Night guys!

Special Surprises

I’ve been pretty antsy and anxious all day.. I’m guessing the “day before jitters” are certainly settling in. Luckily, I just found out that a close friend of mine basically has my exact same schedule, so we’ll have each other’s support tomorrow! I really lucked out on that one!

In effort to not waste food, I finally had the other half of my Indian Wrap that I ordered at Candle a week or so ago. I heated it up so it would be nice and warm, and believe it or not, it tasted just as fresh and delicious as I remember! I’m glad that I was able to salvage it until now, because I absolutely hate having to throw away food. I also had a Fage with a banana and a drizzle of maple syrup to add some extra protein to my meal. It was very satisfying and extremely tasty.

Onto my special surprise: I received a lovely surprise in the mail today.. A KATH/MATT BAGEL!!! This definitely cheered me up, and put a huge smile on my face! I feel so honored and lucky to have one of Matt’s famous bread creations in my own hands! A big, huge, tremendous thank you to both Kath and Matt. You guys are terrific, and brightened up my day for sure. I sense an unconventional dinner for tonight!

I think I’m going to put Kath’s note on my refrigerator!! ;)

Coming To A Close

Wow.. it’s officially my final day of summer. It’s really come and gone so fast this year.. I never actually thought this day would come. Crazy! I have a really quiet, relaxing day at home in mind for today. No gym, no rushing around.. just spending the day doing the things that I love: listening to music, comfort food, good company, great reads, and television. Ahh, the simple life.. I’ll surely miss it!

I started my day with yet another comforting bowl of Oats. I made 1/3 cup portion this morning with almond milk, a banana, maple syrup, and cinnamon. I was planning on having a Fage on the side, but at the last minute I decided to just mix it into the oats to change things up a bit. This combo was SO GOOD! Full of satisfying protein, and perfectly cool and creamy! I also decided to use a spoonful of raspberry preserves instead of peanut butter. It made the entire bowl so sweet and delicious. Trust me, this tasted way better than it looks!

Like I mentioned before, today is going to be completely devoted to relaxation and enjoyment before I start my first day of classes tomorrow. I must admit that I’m pretty anxious about it! I guess I’m slightly excited as well, but I’d say anxious is on the top of my emotions list at the moment. Generally, I’m not a fan of change considering I’m pretty rigid, so hopefully I’ll get adjusted to this new schedule quickly! Must think positive thoughts!

Wrapped Out!

My plans today were pretty much the exact opposite of what I was expecting. Turns out that my friends want to get together tonight (aka very soon) to celebrate the birthday. Since I had already went into the city thinking we were all meeting in the afternoon, I figured that I might as well stay and pick up some lunch.

I went to Candle, and got the special Moroccan Style Wrap which was stuffed with cinnamon-cumin grilled tofu, roasted cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes, green lentils, couscous and sautéed greens wrapped in a spinach tortilla, served with cucumber-tomato salad and a side of roasted tomato salsa. The wrap was super filling, and really delicious as always. I decided to use the salsa this time to dip the wrap in, and it made it even more scrumptious and flavorful. I was hungrier than usual today for whatever reason, so I finished about 3/4 of it.

Of course, no meal is complete without a sweet treat to follow! I headed over to Tasti to pick up a medium cup of half Mocha Almond Fudge and half Peanut Butter Marble with chocolate sprinkles. Of course, it totally hit the spot!.. I can’t get enough of this stuff. It’s definitely an addictive substance for me, just like my morning iced coffees! I crave them day in, and day out as you’ve probably noticed!

As for now, dinner is up in the air. I really wanted to finish the other half of my Indian Wrap that I still have in my fridge from a week ago, but a) I’m getting pretty “wrapped out” considering I’ve been having them so often lately, and b) I’m leaving the house shortly to join my friends for the birthday celebration! I’m still unsure as to where we’ll be going, but I’m assuming that I wont be home for the remainder of the evening/night, so the next time I’ll be able to update is tomorrow morning. Hopefully, the wrap will stay fresh for one more day! Anyway, have a great night guys!! See you all tomorrow morning for my last day of summer before the mayhem begins! I can’t believe it!

Bowl Of Decadence

It’s been quite a long night for me! I was on such a “high” from Weeds (pun intended!) as well as all of the other programs I watched last night that I couldn’t get myself to sleep until almost three in the morning!! I guess you can say that I’m pretty much exhausted at the moment! This girl really needs her sleep! I can never survive on five measly hours of sleep.. I’ll have to try to nap at some point!

This morning’s breakfast certainly was indulgent! I made a bowl of the most delicious Nut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal! I cooked up 1/2 cup of oats in vanilla hempmilk for maximum creaminess, and added a couple of dollops of cottage cheese for protein along with agave nectar and a banana. I topped the entire thing with a big handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips and a big spoonful of almond butter. I actually felt like I was eating a decadent dessert rather than breakfast! I used to have the oatmeal/chocolate chip combo all the time, but since it’s been a while, I forgot how fabulous it is!

Today is one of my close friends’ birthdays, so I’ll be going out with a group to celebrate at some point. We’re probably going to go into the city, but I’m not exactly sure what our exact plans are. I’m unsure as to when my next post will come, so bear with me. As for now, I’m going to rest in my room while reading some magazines and listening to music. Gotta take advantage of my last few days of summer!

A Day of Guilty Pleasures

My mom and I had a great “celebratory” dinner tonight at Candle, of course. Today was definitely a day filled with all of my guilty pleasures.. Candle, Weeds, Tasti D-Lite, and shopping! Can’t get any better!

I ordered the tofu special of the night which was a Curry Grilled Tofu served with sauteed spinach, string beans, and a french lentil-vegetable pilaf over a tomato-cumin sauce drizzled with date-raisin coulis. All of the flavors worked perfectly together, which easily made this dish one of my favorites! Every single component was outstanding, and I basically cleared my plate. The only thing I didn’t eat were the string beans.

My mom ordered one of her classic Candle favorites, the Indian Plate. Tonight’s plate consisted of mixed vegetable curry, french lentil dal, yellow basmati rice, date-raisin chutney, cabbage salad, and parata bread. This dish never lets my mom down.. she absolutely loves it, and I can’t blame her! Yum! Of course, I had to snatch a few forkfuls of that addictive, delicious date-raisin chutney.. it’s too good to resist!

After dinner, my mom and I took a 7 block walk over to Lucky Jeans to go buy my new hobo bag! Best of all is that we got a $25 discount because of my school ID! I’m absolutely in love with the bag.. it was about time that I got a new one! The picture doesn’t really give a clear representation of the bag’s actual color, but it’ll due.

Only an hour left until the new episode of Weeds!!! I’m so thrilled, I can hardly wait! Enjoy your night guys! See you all in the A.M.

ETA: I just realized that I still have the other half of my Indian Wrap that I ordered at Candle a few nights ago!! Yikes.. I gotta eat that asap before it goes bad on me!

One Happy Girl

Shortly after breakfast, I decided to stop being lazy, and head over to the gym for a leg/ab workout. The lovely Jenna has been kind enough to always posts her workout routines, so I decided to take advantage of them and used the plan she laid out in this post. Kudos to you Jenna.. this was such a great workout! I really felt it, and definitely worked up a sweat. I also did 30 minutes of speed walking/running intervals on the treadmill. Now this is what I’d call productive!

After my workout, I was definitely ready for lunch! I drove myself to Whole Foods to make a “whole paycheck” salad bar salad (it was $9.45!!). Today’s mix was a huge pile of romaine, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, broccoli, mandarin oranges, mango, pineapple, and a couple of grapes all drizzled with red wine vinegar. It was absolutely delicious, and very filling from all of the raw veggies. I’ve always loved red wine vinegar on my salads, so it was the perfect dressing. I also had a Sweet Leaf Peach Tea to quench my thirst, and a small Fuji apple. Both aren’t pictured, so you’ll have to use your imagination!

Of course, my sweet tooth kicked in right after I ate, so I headed over to Tasti D-Lite for my favorite summertime treat! Today, I got a medium cup with half Snickers, half Milky “Weigh” topped with chocolate sprinkles. I decided to get a medium today because whenever I order a small, I’m always left want another! Getting a medium was the perfect solution; I was happy and satisfied after eating it, and it was just enough! Medium cups are definitely going to be my new Tasti staple from now on!

As for the rest of my day, I have Weeds to look forward to along with my dinner out! Possibly the most exciting part of the night though is going to be a new handbag purchase! I haven’t gotten myself a new bag in almost two years since I bought a Chloe Paddington, so it’s about time that I treat myself with a new one! I have my eye on a certain hobo bag I saw in the city, and I’m going to get it tonight after dinner!! I’ll definitely post a picture for you all to see it. Until later!!

Last Week Of Summer

Morning guys!! Today is officially the last Monday of my summer vacation. I keep saying it, but it really is incredible how quickly the time goes by. I start school on Thursday already.. I never thought the day would actually come, but it looks like it’s crept up on me before it’s even sunken in! In a way, I’m kind of glad this summer is coming to a close, because it really wasn’t such a great summer like I had hoped. I’m really in need of a new start with new people.

Anyway, for breakfast this morning, I had one of my favorite combos: Cottage Cheese & Granola! I topped a cup of cottage cheese with a drizzle of maple syrup, 1/2 cup of nature’s path granola, and a banana. It was super sweet and delicious, and oh so filling from all the protein provided by the cottage cheese. The perfect pick-me-up if you ask me!

I just got back home from dropping my mom off to work, and picked up my favorite morning treat: a huge iced coffee w/ soymilk! I’m enjoying myself, sipping on it right now, while listening to some music. Coffee and music are most definitely two of my favorite things. As for later on today, I’ll probably pick up a cool, refreshing salad for lunch, and then, it’s out to dinner with mom for my newly formed tradition of the Monday Night Weeds Celebratory Dinner!!! Haha, It’s a big deal to me guys! Mondays are officially my favorite day of week just because of the new episode of Weeds. So exciting!! Anywho, see you all later on.. Enjoy the day!

Update on the Bloggers’ Dinner: Because of time constraints, Kristin is only able to make it to Candle for a late lunch on Saturday, the 6th. For those who are still interested, please confirm if you’ll be able to make it or not. A definite time will be determined soon. :)

Some Like It Raw

Mark and I had such a fabulous time tonight at Pure Food & Wine! Between the romantic, swanky atmosphere, gorgeous neighborhood, great company, and fabulous food, I couldn’t have asked for anything more! This place is truly so innovative and remarkable!

I started the night off with a cocktail called the Fizzy Berry which was a mixture of berries, sake, and a splash of prosecco. It was really potent, yet really good at the same time. It surely did give me a buzz though! Mark ordered a Mojito which I had a sip of, and thought it was probably the best mojito I’ve tasted.

We were pretty hungry when we arrived, so we decided to order an the Asparagus and Avocado Sushi Rolls which were stuffed with avocado and asparagus, red onion, mushrooms, and red pepper. I couldn’t believe how fabulous they were! You’d never even imagine that there wasn’t actual rice in them. These, without a doubt, were the best sushi rolls I’ve ever had! After such an outstanding appetizer, we had high expectations for our entrees, and could hardly wait for them to come!

Mark ordered Pure Food’s ever popular Zucchini and Roma Tomato Lasagna with basil-pistachio pesto, sundried tomato sauce, and pignoli ricotta. Aside from commenting on the beautiful presentation, he just wouldn’t stop raving about it the entire time he was eating it! He couldn’t believe that a raw lasagna would be so flavorful, and so extremely rich! I had a taste of the sundried tomato sauce, and was totally blown away. If I ever come back here (which can’t be often considering the prices), I’ll definitely have to try this!

As for my dish, I was really upset to see that they took the Chili Lime Tortilla Wraps off the menu. I had a hard time choosing, but I eventually settled with the Morel Mushroom and Hempseed Burger which was served with manna bread, ketchup, mustard, lettuce, heirloom tomato, red onion, avocado, and cauliflower in aioli. I ended up eating everything separately rather than you would a regular burger. I must say that I was slightly disappointed with the burger. The texture was right on, but flavorwise, it tasted a bit “off” to me. Probably because I’m not generally a fan of mushrooms. Aside from that, everything else on my plate was divine! The bread was terrific, and the star of the plate was, without a doubt, the cauliflower. It was absolutely incredible, and I’m usually not even a fan of aioli!

We were definitely planning on getting dessert, but once we saw that they took all of the chocolate cakes off the menu, nothing really struck our fancy. Between that, the fact that we were both quite full, and that it was so pricey, we decided to skip dessert. Overall, the food was truly terrific, and in my opinion, an art form. I really appreciate restaurants like these that you can tell really care about the preparation of each and every dish they serve. I’m so glad that we finally got to try Pure Food, and I would, without a doubt, love to come back some other time! Especially when they put that dark chocolate layer cake back on the menu!

It’s been a late, late night, and I’m really exhausted! I’m going to be a total nerd, and head to bed now! See you all tomorrow morning!

Quick Picks

Hey Guys, Happy Sunday!

This post is going to be slightly impersonal because I’m in a bit of a rush this morning to go my uncle’s house to pay him a visit. Therefore, I had the fastest breakfast I could think of: yet another Protein Smoothie. This time, I combined a frozen banana, 1 scoop of protein powder, 3/4 cup of almond milk, and 1 heaping tbsp of peanut butter. It was a very tasty combo, and filled me up right away! I’m also taking a Balance Pure Bar with me just in case if I want to chew on something.

I’m probably going to be packing a quick lunch before I leave as well, because I’m not sure how long I’ll be out this morning. Most likely, I’ll pack a pb&j sandwich on sprouted wheat with some raw veggies, and an apple. That should keep me going for a while! See you all later on today.. my next post might not be until dinner time, so bare with me. I can hardly wait until Pure Food tonight!!

In Need Of Some Distractions

Today just wasn’t my day at all. It was just one of those days when you’re feeling moody and grouchy for no apparent reason, and would rather just be alone. I knew that I didn’t want to be in the house today, so I went to the gym this afternoon to see if getting in a little exercise would boost my mood, but no luck. I had a rather uninspiring, blah workout that I didn’t get much out of. Oh well.

After my workout, I made a stop at Whole Foods to pick up some lunch. I made myself a big salad from the salad bar with mixed greens, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, onions, and a couple of pieces of spicy tofu all drizzled with low fat sundried tomato dressing. I also bought a fruit salad to have alongside my salad. Of course, stupid me left my camera at home, so I have no picture to show you. :( It was a really yummy, light, refreshing lunch though.. I enjoyed it.

I wasn’t in the mood to stay home after my trip to Whole Foods (I did go to pick up my camera), so I decided to go into the city, and just walk around for a while by myself. Eventually when my feet started to get tired, I headed over to Tasti D-Lite for some guilt free deliciousness. I got a cup this time, half PB Moosemellow, half Dulce de Leche. Oh my, was this good. My belly was veeeeeeery happy. :)

I was still in the city once dinnertime rolled around, so I stopped at Candle and had a great meal. I had tonight’s tempeh special which was a Pumpkin Seed Crusted Tempeh with steamed greens and french lentils served over a roasted plum-tomato sauce, topped with a roasted red pepper coulis. Being that this was my first time ordering a tempeh dish (hard to believe, right?), I was really excited for it. Gladly, this dinner did not disappoint! The tempeh was by far the best I’ve had with a super crispy, flavorful crust, and the greens and lentils were a tasty and light complement to the rather delicate tomato sauce.

After spending most of my day out, I’m actually glad to be home. All I’ve got planned for tonight is watching Weeds re-runs (possibly my favorite thing to do) with a nice, big bowl of kettle korn! Tomorrow, I’m finally going to be having dinner at none other than Pure Food & Wine! I was so disappointed last weekend when my plans to go didn’t pan out, but my friend Mark is all well now, and told me he’d go even if he was on his deathbed. ;) If any of you would like to suggest what I should order, I’d love your input! Also, thank you for all of the advice regarding the new “blogging schedule” once school begins. For now, nothing is set in stone, so I’m just going to play it by ear, see how things go, and take it from there. Like one of you said, the last thing I want is for the blog to become burdensome, and more like a chore than something I love and enjoy doing. I know I’ll be able to find a healthy balance between keeping up with the blog and school work.

Blogging Dilemma

Good morning guys!!

I’m feeling a lot better this morning after having a great 9 hours of sleep last night. I guess sleep really is the answer to feeling the best you possibly can! I’m still really bummed about my best friend leaving, but I realize that I will still be able to keep in contact, and we’ll both do our part in maintaining our tight-nit relationship.

This morning, all I could think about was peanut butter, so I made myself a breakfast classic; a Waffle Sandwich with a big glob of peanut butter and a small banana with a drizzle of maple syrup. I also had a side of some strawberries that are on their last legs. This breakfast was exactly what I was craving this morning, and I enjoyed every single peanut buttery bite! Mmm,mmm good.

Onto what I’ve wanted to discuss with you all: Once I start school next Thursday, obviously, not only will my priorities be shifted in that I’ll have to focus on my schoolwork, but I realize that I’m not going to have nearly as much time on my hands to devote to the blog like I have this summer. This saddens me greatly because blogging has become such a big part of who I am, and I know that I’m not going to be able to put my all into it. That being said, posting three times a day is going to be an impossibility considering on most days, I’ll be leaving super early for school, and wont be home until after 6, if that. Not only that, but my meals probably will not be as consistent and “scheduled” as they are now. Unfortunately, there will probably be days where I’ll be only having two meals a day, and/or will have to resort to skipping a couple of meals here and there. Of course, I’ll still be photographing all of my meals, but I still wanted to get your feedback on how I should deal with this issue. Do you think I should post a daily recap of my eats every night? Or possibly not post every day, but rather only when I eat things that are worth posting? All suggestions are welcome.. I really would like to hear your thoughts on this! Thanks guys!

Parting Ways

It was so difficult seeing my best friend for the last time tonight before she leaves tomorrow morning. I just can’t imagine being without her for 4 months until she comes home to visit for Thanksgiving.. it’s going to be so hard not having her to talk and vent to all the time. I know that true friends can last even when apart, but it still doesn’t make her absence any easier for me.

For dinner tonight, we decided to pick up our “signature” favorite, which was always chinese. I ordered the Vegetable Dumplings with a side of Steamed Mixed Vegetables, both of which happened to be great. Tina and I would often go to several upon several different chinese restaurants in search for great dumplings, and these tonight certainly were the best I’ve had in a while.

Afterwards, we picked up another friend of ours, and because we didn’t really have much of a plan, we all went to Tasti D-Lite for some dessert. I got a small cone of Coffee Crunch, which was out of this world. Seriously, this place never lets me down!! Tina ordered a cone of Cookies & Cream which I tasted, and thought was equally as delicious. I’ve yet to try a flavor that I haven’t been pleased with!

After dessert, I went back to Tina’s house for a little bit to spend some extra time with her. We watched the repeat of Weeds, and just laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. When she dropped me home, I couldn’t help but start bawling. It’s going to be so tough going through college without her. Although I know we’ll always remain best friends, it’s hard to know that I wont be seeing her every day anymore. Over the years, I’ve become so attached to her, so now that she’s temporarily “gone,” I’m left feeling so empty inside. I’m sorry for being all “doom and gloom” tonight guys! Hopefully, things will start sinking in tomorrow, and I’ll slowly start to except the situation a bit more. I’m off to bed.. night guys.

P.S. Regarding that major question I’m going to be posing to you, I’ll get to that tomorrow at some point because I’m not really in the mood at the moment. Hopefully, you can understand. :)

Lazy Leftovers

This morning has been pretty uneventful.. I’ve just been resting in bed, hoping that my back will feel better, and thankfully the pain is dwindling. I don’t think it has anything to do with my mattress, but more so with the way I’m sleeping. I have a tendency to sleep on my back, and if my pillows aren’t positioned correctly, I never fail to wake up with a bad back. Oy! Enough with my venting!

Sorry to bore you all with leftovers, but for today’s lunch I just had the other half of my Lentil Wrap from Candle that I had brought home with me yesterday. I warmed it up, and it was just as delicious. I also rounded out my meal with a granny smith apple (not pictured).

I’m not exactly sure as to what my plans will be like for the remainder of the day, because I’m basically going to be waiting around until I get a call from my friend to see when she wants to get together. Ugh.. I’m pretty bummed today if you haven’t noticed! I think the best remedy for a solemn day is *drum roll please* Tasti D-Lite! I’m probably going to get a cone right now, and then the rest of my day is up in the air. See you guys in a bit! Later on, I also have a big question to pose to you all. Stay tuned! :)

Sleep Deprived

After my killer head and stomach aches yesterday, what I really needed was a good night’s sleep. Of course, last night of all nights I just couldn’t get myself to rest. I was tossing and turning all night long, I kept waking up, and on top of it all, I had back pains when I got out of bed this morning. Am I a mess lately or what?! I was considering an early workout this morning, possibly including a run outside in this gorgeous weather, but that seems to be out of the question now.. I’m never in the greatest of moods when I don’t sleep properly!

Anyway, onto the reason you’re all hear in the first place.. the food! I was going to have a bowl of cereal this morning, but at the last minute, I decided to have some Cottage Cheese and Raspberry Preserves with a banana, blueberries, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It really hit the spot, and left me feeling nice and full. The added sweetness from the banana and the preserves make all the difference!

Today is going to be quite a sad day for me. My best friend is going away for college tomorrow morning, so today is going to be my last opportunity to spend time with her before she leaves. We’ve been extremely close for four years, and I honestly can’t imagine myself without her.. we’ve been through so much together, and we’re basically inseparable. I wanted to take her out into the city for a celebration with some mexican food and drinks, but considering she has a lot of packing to do, that seems pretty unlikely as of now. But I honestly don’t care what we do as long as we get to see each other before tomorrow morning. This is definitely the hardest part about college.. leaving all of your closest friends behind.

Burgers and Ice Cream

I had absolutely no idea what to have for dinner tonight. It was just one of those “stare in front of the fridge without a clue as to what to eat” moments. Nothing looked too appetizing, and I didn’t have much to choose from considering my cabinets and refrigerator are both looking pretty bare. All the way in the back of the freezer, I managed to find an unopened box of Amy’s Bistro Burgers, so I decided to have one of them on a whole wheat english muffin with a melted slice of provolone, ketchup, and honey mustard alongside some steamed broccoli. This was my first time trying these burgers, and I loved them! They taste very similar to the California burgers which are my favorite.

After dinner, I headed straight to Tasti D-Lite for some soft serve. The craving was really kicking in.. I’m heading down a dangerous, “icy” path here! Pun intended on that one, haha. ;) I had a hard time choosing a flavor, but I eventually decided to order a small cone of Babi Ruth with Chocolate Sprinkles! First off, I was happy that this cone was reasonably sized.. it actually looked like a small. Taste-wise, it was possibly the best flavor yet!!! But seriously, how can any other flavor compete with the deliciousness of chocolate and peanut butter? Together, they’re pure magic! I devoured my cone in about two minutes flat, and was completely happy and satisfied. I think this stuff has some addictive qualities. All day long, I can’t stop thinking about it! That’s my moms hand holding the cone, by the way.

Finally, my head is clearing up, and my stomach is settling down. Thank goodness! Even so, I’m going to take it easy now, and get some rest! I never ended up taking that nap, so I think that’s what I’m going to do now. See you in the morning!

Over and Done With

I’m thrilled to be able to say that I finally completed all of my pre-college stuff. The next time I’ll have to go to Hunter is when I officially start classes next Thursday. I really cannot believe how fast the summer came and went. It feels like it was only yesterday that I was celebrating the start of summer!

After I left Hunter, I went to pick up some food even though my head and stomach were telling me otherwise. I know that it’s not a good practice to skip meals and throw off your metabolism, even when you’re not feeling too great, so I went to have a super healthy lunch (@ Candle, duh) that hopefully wouldn’t be too harsh on my stomach. I ordered a Beluga Lentil and Watercress Wrap that was stuffed with balsamic-herb grilled tofu, roasted red peppers, and beluga lentils in a spinach tortilla with a side of spicy tomato salsa and a grape tomato salad. The wrap was really light and refreshing, which is exactly the type of grub I was going for. Unfortunately, due to my condition, I could only finish half of the wrap, but like always, I took the other half home to have for either lunch or dinner tomorrow. Sadly, my gift card is going to be finished soon! What am I going to do!!

All I can say is that I’m really glad to be home right now.. I’m in desperate need of some down time! I think I’m going to drink my body weight in water, and then take a short nap. Otherwise, I have a quiet evening in mind.. no more parties for this girl tonight! I’ll probably relax in bed and re-watch this season of Weeds (yeah, I’m addicted), read some magazines, and surf the web for a while. And if I’m up to it, I might even go pick up some Tasti D-Lite later on. There’s nothing more soothing and comforting than a cold, creamy cone of soft serve!

Sweet Beginnings

The only word to describe last night’s party would be draining. I had all of 2 hours of sleep, and I have absolutely no energy whatsoever! Plus, I have a headache kicking in which doesn’t make things any better. I certainly have to take good care of myself today!

I originally considered skipping breakfast this morning because I felt like such crap upon waking, but I decided that I should probably get something healthy into my system. I just had a simple Waffle Sandwich with raspberry preserves and a banana. It was sweet and delicious, but I couldn’t appreciate it much considering how I’m feeling. I just took some headache medication, so hopefully, it’ll kick in soon.

As of now, I’m currently sipping on an iced coffee w/ soymilk while doing some blog surfing. Early this afternoon, I have to be in the city to finish some last minute things at Hunter, so I’m hoping that my stomach and head are both in better shape by then so I can go eat lunch in the area. It’s actually my best friend’s birthday today, so I might stop by at his house a little bit later to see what he’s up to. I’m off to finish straightening my hair (ugh!), and do a few things around the house. Happy Thursday everyone!

Tasti D-Lited!

What a great afternoon I’ve had! This morning not too long after I ate my breakfast, I went on a lovely 45 minute power walk/run near a local park while listening to music, and taking in all of this beautiful scenery and glorious weather. It definitely got my day off to a great start. I felt so revitalized and refreshed upon returning home.

Not too long after, I decided to go into the city to pick up a quick bite at my favorite restaurant (I don’t even have to mention the name anymore!) I ordered the Smoked Tempeh & Grilled Vegetable Sandwich which is described on the menu as grilled tempeh, zucchini, roasted red pepper, arugula, and sundried tomato pesto on mixed grain bread with basil aioli and a potato salad. I had ordered this sandwich about a month ago, but at the time, I had subbed the tempeh for tofu. I tried the sandwich in it’s true form today, and absolutely loved it! And the potato salad is seriously out of this world.. so, so addictive.

I couldn’t resist but get another Tasti D-Lite after my lunch today. I had a very difficult time choosing just one flavor, so instead I decided to get a “half and half” cone.. 1/2 Banana and 1/2 Dutch Chocolate. For starters, I couldn’t believe how HUGE my cone was! If this is the small, I can’t even begin to imagine how the large must look like! Flavorwise, this combo was most definitely a hit! I couldn’t believe how intense the banana flavor was. It really packed a punch! It paired perfectly with the chocolate, which needless to say, was terrific as well. Tasti D-Lite has officially stolen my heart (and my wallet!)

Tonight I was invited to yet another party, and this time I can’t turn it down. Therefore, I wont be able to post for the remainder of the day, unfortunately! I’ll probably just pick up something fast for dinner like a slice of veggie pizza, an avocado roll, or a subway sandwich. Enjoy the rest of the day everybody.. see you all bright and early!

Update on the NE Bloggers’ Dinner: How does Saturday, September 6th sound? For all who are still interested in joining Kristin and I, leave me a shout to say if it’s a convenient date for you.. I’d like to finalize things asap. I’m really looking forward to meeting you all!

Strawberry Fields Forever

Hey guys, Happy Wednesday! We’re lucky enough to have another gorgeous day here in the city, which means that an outdoor power walk/run is definitely in the cards for today. I’ve been slacking a little bit on the exercise lately, so a calm, relaxing walk outside should do the trick to get me back into the swing of things. I just love to be outside, soaking up the sunshine on such a perfect day.

This morning, I just had simple bowl of Kashi Strawberry Fields in soy milk with the usual banana. I was in the mood for something sweet, cold, and crunchy, so this definitely fit the bill. For some added protein, I also had 1/2 cup of cottage cheese drizzled with maple syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon. Delicious! I also sipped on a hot cup of coffee this morning because I woke up with a chill in me for whatever reason!

Last night, as expected, I wasn’t in the mood to go to the party I was invited to, so I just decided to stay home and do my own thing. I noticed that I used to be into partying and going out way more than I am now.. I guess I have different priorities nowadays is all!

Regarding today’s plans, aside from my walk, I’ll probably pick up some lunch in the city, and just walk around the area for a while afterward. Also, I feel another Tasti D-Lite craving coming on strong.. you all know what that means!! Have a fabulous day everyone! :)

Wrap It Up!

After spending a great afternoon with my friends, we eventually all parted ways which is when I scooted over to Candle once again. Yes, I realize that I went already for lunch, but I just couldn’t resist their wrap of the day. Plus, I couldn’t even fathom going home to cook.

Obviously, I ordered tonight’s special Indian Wrap which was stuffed with curry-miso grilled tofu, eggplant and black eyed pea masala, yellow basmati rice, date-raisin chutney and sautéed greens wrapped in a spinach tortilla, served with cucumber salad and roasted tomato salsa. One bite, and I was sold. What made this wrap stand out was most definitely the chutney.. it was the staring feature! The sweetness of it complemented the savory flavors of the wraps’ other components to a tee. I’m so glad I decided to come back for this one, it really was worth it. I ended up taking half of the wrap home with me for an easy lunch to have within the next day or so. Two meals for the price of one!

To end my night on a high note, naturally, I had to make my way to Tasti D-Lite for another delicious frozen treat. I was thrilled to see that peanut butter was one of the flavors of the day, and I proceeded to order a small cone of Peanut Butter Soft Serve. Honestly, I could live off of this stuff. I’m in love with the consistency, and I was pleasantly surprised by the genuine peanut butter flavor that came through. I’m really, really impressed by this place! Tasti D-Lite is easily becoming one of my new favorite dessert spots! Irresistibly delicious!

Tonight I was invited to one of my friend’s open houses, but considering I’ve had a pretty busy day, I’m not committing to it as of now. If I feel up to it, I’ll go, but if not, I’ll just crash at home and watch my nightly fix of Weeds! Goodnight guys.. until tomorrow!

Go With The Flow

Hey guys! I’m currently blogging from my laptop while sitting in Starbucks with a couple of friends. Early this afternoon, I hopped on the train and headed to Hunter to get a few things out of the way (ID card, etc.), and then I was off to grab some lunch. Needless to say, I went to Candle. I know, I know, I’m not predictable in slightest, right?!

I’ve been dying to try this for a while, so I’m glad that I finally ordered it today.. the Quesadilla! It’s about time! The quesadilla is filled with a bean puree, grilled vegetables, and soy cheese in a whole wheat tortilla, served with a side of roasted tomato salsa and guacamole. It was absolutely incredible!!! By far the greatest quesadilla I’ve ever had. It was chock full of the most amazing veggies like onions, zucchini, eggplant, and peppers, and the tortilla itself had such an authentic “right off the grill” flavor. I could go for another one right about now!

As of now, I’m happily sipping on an Iced Soy Latte, and enjoying the company of my friends. I’ve decided that I might as well just stay in the city and eat dinner out tonight, so I might just have to go back to Candle.. they have this amazing sounding wrap that I don’t think I can pass up. Yeah, I’m just a little bit obsessed. ;)

Breakfast On The Run

Morning guys, Happy Tuesday!

I barely have any time to spare this morning, so I’m going to keep this quick! I had to resort to a somewhat instant breakfast, so I decided on a cup of Fage 0% topped with a dollop of strawberry preserves (I need more raspberry!) with a banana, sprinkled with cinnamon. It was extremely filling, sweet, and delicious.

On today’s agenda, I have to be at Hunter in a little while to get a few things taken care of, so I’m rushing off to take the train there now. After all is done there, I’m going to pick up some lunch, and then I’ll be hanging around the city for the rest of the day into the evening with a couple of friends. I’ll see you all later!

P.S. For all you “Weeds” fans out there, how crazy was last night’s episode?!

Stick With What You Love

I must say, as much as I enjoyed my salad today at Angelica Kitchen, to me, there’s no place like Candle Cafe. I attempted to branch out, and try a new place, but tonight’s dinner proved to me that sometimes it’s better to just stick with what you know and love! Candle is like home to me.. their food is far superior to any other restaurant I’ve been to, and I adore the atmosphere. After all, I’m definitely a creature of habit!

For tonight’s “celebratory” Weeds dinner (I’m SO addicted to this show if you haven’t noticed!), I ordered one of today’s specials which was the Spinach Pie. It is described on the menu as onions, mushrooms, spinach, tofu and italian spices baked in phyllo, served with steamed broccoli, sweet potato mash and a side of country gravy. All I can say is that it was absolutely fantastic! I’ve always been a fan of spanikopita, so naturally, I was a huge fan of this dish. And the sweet potato mash? To die for. Needless to say, the simple side of steamed broccoli was the perfect light addition to the meal.. I enjoyed this so, so much.

In efforts to save a little bit of money, I decided to skip dessert at Candle. But that didn’t stop me from craving something sweet to end my night. I headed over to Tasti D-Lite to finally try their much spoken about soft serve! I was hoping that they’d have some sort of peanut butter flavor today, but they unfortunately didn’t. I resorted to a small cone of Brownie Batter Soft Serve. MMMMM,mmm!! Although it didn’t really taste much at all like Brownie Batter, it still was very, very enjoyable and yummy. I just love the consistency of soft serve, and I’m always wanting it, so I’m glad I finally cured my craving tonight! Chocolate Soft Serve = clouds of creamy ice cream heaven. I’ll probably be getting another one tomorrow! I feel a new addiction coming on…

Tonight’s going to be quite exciting.. the new episode of Weeds, and The Hills season premiere (don’t laugh at me!) both in one night.. I can’t wait! Regarding tomorrow, I have a pretty busy day ahead of me. I have to go to Hunter yet AGAIN to submit a couple of things, and pick up my new ID card. I’m off.. I’ll see you all in the morning!

Goddess Salad

Lunch was really yummy today! I decided to branch out of my comfort zone (aka Candle!) and try a new restaurant. I went to Angelica Kitchen which is in the East Village, and is known for their homestyle vegan food. I was overwhelmed by all of the choices on the menu, but I decided that I was in the mood for something simple and light. I ordered the House Salad which is a combination of lettuce, sunflower sprouts, grated red & green cabbage, daikon, carrots, beets, and clover sprouts. I chose the tangy basil dressing, and loved it. Exactly the type of meal I was in the mood for. Edit: turns out I didn’t delete the picture after all! I just must’ve skipped over it when searching through my pictures. Here’s the actual photo of my salad.

Tonight, I’m going to be going out to dinner which is always something to look forward to, and then I’m headed straight home to watch Weeds, of course! It’s a must to “celebrate” the new episode with a delicious meal! See you all for dinner!

Liquid Breakfast

I had quite a day yesterday! After the whole accident fiasco that my grandpa was involved in, I decided to stay with him and keep him company for the remainder of the day, because he was pretty shaken up about the whole thing. I didn’t get home until pretty late last night, which unfortunately impinged on my ability to get a good night’s sleep.

The perfect solution for a sleepless night? A biggggg Iced Coffee to start my day. I bought yet another 32 ouncer which I added the usual soy milk to. It takes me approximately an entire hour to drink this baby.. yes, I can literally drink my bodyweight in coffee. ;)

For my actual breakfast, I decided to have another Protein Smoothie. I find that these keep me full for hours on end! Today’s mixture was a frozen banana, 3/4 cup almond milk, 2 tbsp of crunchy peanut butter, and 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder. I think the winning combination of healthy fats, protein, and carbs are what make these smoothies so satisfying and filling. They’re my new breakfast addiction, for sure!

This morning, I’m planning on getting myself to the gym to aid in my attempts to wake myself up, and then I’ll be going to grab some lunch in the city. I definitely am looking forward to having a day to myself! And to make things even better, the new episode of Weeds is on tonight! Monday is definitely the new Friday. ;)

Peanut Butter Cures All

So this morning has been pretty uneventful. I’m still pretty bummed about tonight, but I guess a homemade dinner will have to do. I just hate it when I get my hopes up about something, and then it has to go wrong! I was certainly in need of a lunch to cure “the dinner blues.”

I made the most comforting lunch I know of: a grilled Peanut Butter/Banana Sandwich on sprouted cinnamon raisin bread with a drizzle of maple syrup. When you’re in need of some comfort, a classic PB sandwich is always the way to go. Needless to say, it was delicious, and the sweet bread made it even better. I also had the last of my golden delicious apples. These apples were so perfectly crisp and tasty.

After my sandwich, I just couldn’t resist but try the new Peanut Butter Cookie Larabar that I purchased yesterday at Whole Foods. I split it with my mom, and we both thought it was incredible! It’s by far my favorite Larabar, which is saying a lot, because I basically love them all. I couldn’t believe what a rich, unadulterated peanut butter flavor it had.. it most definitely did taste exactly like a peanut butter cookie. It was chock full of peanut pieces that lent themselves perfectly to such an extremely nutty, chewy, and fabulous bar. Get your hands on these if you can.. they really do satisfy!

On a more grim note, I just received some more bad news a little while ago. Unfortunately, my grandfather got into a car accident this morning with a bus. He was going to pass the bus, which at the same time, decided to pull out, so now the entire passenger side of his car is totally ruined. Thankfully, he, nor any other of the people on the bus were hurt, but after all he’s been through lately, he really doesn’t need any extra stress or aggravation on his plate. But being the resilient person he is, he still managed to go out to brunch, which is where he was headed in the first place, after the whole ordeal was taken care of. I told him to drop by at my house if he was feeling up to it after he ate. Ugh.. just one of those days!

Edit To Add @ 9:17PM: Sorry that I wont be able to post tonight guys! I’ve been with my grandfather all day, and totally forgot to bring my camera with me to photograph my dinner. All I had was a veggie delight sub on wheat from subway. I’ll be back in the morning though. Have a great night everyone.

Disappointments

Yet another absolutely flawless, gorgeous day here in NY! I woke up this morning craving some caffeine, so I went out to my local bakery to pick up my favorite: a 32 oz black iced coffee! I added vanilla soy milk at home, and I am happily sipping away. I’m such a coffee lover!

For breakfast, I made a really delicious and nutrient packed Fruit and Cottage Cheese Parfait! I alternated between layers of cottage cheese, maple syrup, kashi golean, and fresh strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries. It was so light and refreshing!

Unfortunately, my friend Mark called me this morning sick, with a fever, so as of now, it looks as though our plans to go to Pure Food & Wine will have to be postponed. I must say that I’m extremely disappointed because I’ve been looking forward to going practically all week now. But I guess I’ll have to be patient, and go some other time. As for right now, I’m just going to be relaxing while sipping on my coffee and watching some television. I’m pretty bummed!

Sun, Friends, Food, Fun

Today has been a fairly relaxing Saturday. The weather was soooo beautiful, so I knew I couldn’t stay cooped up in my house all day. I called up a couple of friends and we all decided to pick up some iced coffee and just sit outside in the park under the warm sun. Iced coffee, friends, sunny weather, and gossip. Can’t get any better! ;)

Afterwards, I headed off to Whole Foods to pick up some groceries for the week. For once, I actually bought what I needed rather than spend my money on impulsive buys (like CEREAL!) My favorite thing in the bunch has to be the Peanut Butter Cookie Larabar! I’ve been searching for it everywhere, and was pleasantly surprised when I finally found it today! Can’t wait to try it.

baby romaine, extra sweet tomatoes, strawberries, bananas, red onions, frozen broccoli and spinach, lime and lemon juice, protein powder, coconut milk,silk soy milks, flax waffles, tofutti cream cheese, whipped cottage cheese, agave nectar, olive oil (hiding) and a peanut butter cookie larabar.

When I got home, I hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so I came up with the quickest thing possible to throw together: Meatless Sloppy Joes! I just love this stuff because it’s so tasty, and beyond simple to prepare. I had my sloppy joes on a bed of baby romaine with an english muffin on the side for a more well rounded meal. It was really delicious!

Believe it or not, I’m already excited for tomorrow! I’m finally going to have dinner at Pure Food & Wine which is an upscale, acclaimed raw/vegan restaurant in the city. I’m going with my close friend Mark who, much like me, loves food and is open to try anything! The perfect candidate! See you all tomorrow!

P.S. If anyone would like to give me suggestions as to what to order tomorrow, I’d be appreciative!