An unexpected 3-day weekend

SNOW DAY!!!! They do indeed exist after college… My favorite part is that it created an unexpected 3-day weekend.  Anyway, I have grand plans for the day off which include:

• Big breakfast
• Catch up on The Bachelor
• Laundry
• Clean Room
• Manicure/Pedicure (much needed)
• Small grocery shop
• Kitchen project–TBD!
• Drink the best margarita in the world at happy hour (hoping the weather doesn’t ruin this plan!)

My big and delicious weekend-style breakfast was french toast.  Cinnamon raisin to be more specific and gosh it was delicious. I put flax seed meal on one side to crisp it up and add some more texture.

That pile of bananas was great too!  I threw some chia seeds and sliced almonds on top for crunch and of course had peanut butter on the side for dipping.  A very filling and nutritious meal to start out the day!

I also wanted to show you one of the peanut butters I’m currently working through.  (Note: I usually have numerous jars on hand. ha!)

I have always been a fan of PB and Co. nut butters (especially the White Chocolate Wonderful and Dark Chocolate Dreams varieties–of course) but I don’t usually buy them since they are pricier and have  added sugar.

Since this one was on sale last week and I needed extra for my granola, I went ahead and picked it up.  I’m happy to report it is really tasty and not too sweet!  A nice change from my typical store-brand natural varieties.

I’m hoping to get out of the house eventually today but the snow is still coming down pretty hard out there!  I may have to get creative with my aforementioned kitchen project…

Be back later!

Much-needed relaxation

I feel like it’s been forever since I had a chance to just sit around for a few hours! Our house guests are all gone so today was the first in about a week that I just relaxed without any plans for the day… and it was nice!  Not to say that I didn’t have a blast with our friends (I felt like I was on vacation all week!), but I’m happy to have things settle down a bit too.

I had brunch at the best spot in town–The Egg and I. They’ve got a really non-traditional menu and everything I’ve tried has been awesome.  Think less greasy fare, more unique veggies and whole grains.  Today I had the Raisin French Toast.

It was really good!  Perfect little Saturday morning… Other things on the menu I would recommend:

• Veggie Benedict
• Raspberry Granola Pancake
• Mediterranean Crepe Eggs

After breakfast we headed over to the Bux to sit outside in the AMAZING weather.  It was 60 and sunny so I went with an iced chai–I haven’t had one of these ages and it hit the spot!

I also got to SKYPE with my parents and nephew today!!!!!! It was so nice to see their faces.  And Tristan is getting so big!  Starbucks was  a weird location to be having a conversation with them, but it was unplanned so I rolled with it.  Seriously made my day!

Me attempting to study…

Let’s just say I wasn’t as productive as I had hoped.  There’s always tomorrow right?

After some spinning at the gym it was already close to 6 so I came home to make dinner.  Where did this day go?!  I was really craving a wrap for some reason so I made this grilled turkey and muenster and loaded on the vegetables.

Ah yes, perfect.  Had some chips and salsa on the side too.  Is it weird that we currently have 4 different jars of salsa in our fridge?  We’re salsa people I guess…

So I rented Saw VI tonight because as sad as it is, I really like these movies.  I know I know, they’re sick and twisted!  Red Box was fresh out of Time Traveler’s Wife so this was the next best thing!  Talk about a genre switch.

Feels like Sunday.  And I’m so happy it’s not!  See you in the AM.

Breakfast and an arm workout.

I don’t know if this is weird, but I was struggling to get out of bed until I thought about how good french toast sounded, and suddenly I was wide awake! It was so worth it…

• 1 egg
• splash of vanilla soy milk
• cinnamon

Dip Rudi’s HSWW in batter, then in flax meal.  Butter a pan. Cook on medium heat. Add iced caffeine on the side.  Yum.

It’s been awhile since I’ve purchased this bread, but man I forgot how great it was.  Highly recommended!

Arm workout to try-

Bench Press
Flies
Lat Pull-down
Seated Row
Shoulder Press
Hammer Curls
Triceps Push-down
BOSO Crunches
Swimmer

(3×12 for each exercise)

Enjoy!

Walnut and Flax encrusted French Toast: Edited

Easter breakfast!!! I had so much fun making this… A great way to start my Sunday morning.  It was really simple too.  Here’s what I did:

1.) Dip a slice of whole wheat bread into batter (vanilla soy milk, 1 egg, cinnamon).

2.) Press the bread into a mix of crushed walnuts and flax (some falls off, but do the best you can!).

3.) Butter a pan, and “fry” each side until crispy.

4.) Carmelize berries/bananas by adding them to a separate pan with some brown sugar and cinnamon.  Keep the heat on medium or lower to avoid scorching.  Slow and low on these!

5.) Plate the french toast and layer the fruit mixture on top.  Enjoy!

ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND…. Yesterday I had the sudden urge to stop at the food co-op after my workout and looky what I found:

You have no idea how excited I was… I’m such a geek, I know! LOL Although I said no more bars for awhile, I think this qualifies as an exception since I haven’t been able to find this guy anywhere.  Come on, you know you would do the same!  I’ll eat it this week sometime before a workout.  Hope it lives up to all the hype!

Sorry this posted funny this morning, I tried using a gallery for the first time and it messed everything up. Is there a way to post a gallery without using all of the pictures you downloaded for your post?  I can’t figure it out so there’s no recap of yesterday’s food… Help me out people!!

The best french toast ever.

Hey everyone! I’m in a great mood tonight because I got a ton of stuff accomplished today, had a great workout and some great food.  I think I finally have my class schedule figured out for Fall semester.  What are all of you students taking next year?

My day started nice and early with this fantastic breakfast of french toast with fruit on the side.

I know this looks like pancakes, but the homemade oatmeal bread is a round loaf… This bread definitely contributed to the BEST french toast I’ve ever made.  I think it’s because of the dense texture.  Not sure, but I used 1 egg, vanilla soymilk and cinnamon for the batter and it turned out perfect!

Mid-morning study fuel was an apple with PB.

And lunch was this mix of flavors that I have seen in blog land before many times… Black beans + sweet potato! I tried the combo in quesadilla form (Ezekial tortilla), and added my own twist with arugula and avocado. I just read that Miss Tyler from Raspberry Runner had a similar lunch today… we didn’t plan it, I swear!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Yum! This was super good! The sweet potato adds just a hint of sweetness. I had a banana on the side, but I’m sure you all know what that looks like:-)

Between lunch and dinner I attended a “Skill Builder” on sushi rolling because the woman I intern for was giving the presentation.  Very interesting! I learned some new things and got some free twig tea that I’ll be testing out tomorrow.  I’ll definitely do a review because it’s a pretty unique flavor!

Three pieces of sushi ended up being my pre-workout snack… I did a 3-miler as fast as I could and I finished in right around 26 minutes. After doing some back, shoulder, and abs which included:

• Bent over rows
• Boat shoulder presses
• Back hyperextension w/hand weights
• Stability ball push-ups
• Crunches, ceiling pulses, bicycles

I came home and made this quick dinner:

Tuna + pepperjack (toasted) on more oatmeal bread, steamed brocc w/oregano, strawberries! I think I’m fiber’d out for the day…

Chemistry time. Have a great night!

SNOW DAY!

Well, we ended up with a snow day and I couldn’t be happier!  My to-do list includes:

• Study Chemistry
• Work on Research paper: Hyperthyroidism
• Write a Newsletter article: Navigation of the College Cafeteria
• Write 5 Questions for a mock game show in Critical Issues
• Read NSCA text, chapter 4
• A chest and back workout

Whew… I don’t have to get all of this stuff done today, but I would like to seeing as I have an ENTIRE day free with no interruptions (except maybe the internet! ha ha).

Since I woke up and had time to make a “weekend” breakfast, I went ahead and made some french toast, something I don’t make often.

I microwaved frozen blueberries to put on top along with a sprinkle of flax, then I had some sliced banana and a scoop of fage on the side.  I also had a new kind of coffee that was SO yummy:

It’s Archer Farms brand, Butter Rum.

I saw an article today that showed good demonstrations of some exercises to improve agility.  You can read all about it here.  I like doing these types of movements in between sets of lifting so I can keep my heart rate up the entire time.  Like the article says, they also do wonders for your speed so runners would benefit as well…Give it a whirl!

I’m off to get started on that long list of to-dos. Stay warm!