Phew!

Say it with me now.  In through the nose……. out through the mouthhhhhhhh…….

In through the noseeeeeeeee…..

Out through the mouth.

Phew!

Another tax busy season is (nearly) behind me, and thank the frickin heavens!  Tonight is the first night I’ve come home with nothing URGENT URGENT URGENT to think about in FOR-EV-ER.  It has been a rough few weeks, but the good news is work should be a whole heck of a lot slower until January when the season-who-shall-not-be-named rolls into town once again… bleghhhhhhh….

So to update you on the last few weeks:

ERGONOMICS UPDATE:  My office chair has developed a permanent indentation of my butt due to the extensive quality time we’ve been sharing.

*  OBSESSION UPDATE:  I’ve developed a love for Clif Bars.  You may recall my longstanding obsession with Luna bars.  I dare say Clif bars are now taking the lead.  They leave me feeling fuller longer (quite possibly due to the extra 60 calories they pack) and the Clif bars don’t seem to give me a sugar rush.  Though, I will admit that the Luna Bar flavors are more craveable than Clif’s flavors.  Must be a girl thing.

RESTAURANT UPDATE:  I had a string of crappy meals, which I didn’t think was possible in CLT.  I was sadly wrong.  Two thumbs down to disturbingly grey eggs and unidentifiable breakfast potatoes at Bluprint, incredibly fatty steak at Firebirds, and insane over usage of butter at Cajun Queen.  BLEGH!

TRAVEL UPDATE:  BF and I went to Chimney Rock, NC for a day to hike courtesy of a Living Social deal I snagged a few months back.

We hiked, and climbed, and did our best not to contract poison ivy….

DSCF7686

There were beautiful vistas, fancy gaps, and excessive sweating.

DSCF7697

We also took impromptu senior year of high school photos:

DSCF7685

How ridiculous is that photo???  Makes me giggle every time I look at it!

And since the BF is *cough* afraid of heights *cough* I climbed to the top by my onesie:

DSCF7714

Even though it was overcast that day, the view was gorgeous!

DSCF7722

DSCF7712

WARNING:  Do not look directly at my white legs.  Doing so may cause temporary blindness.

DSCF7727

CHEAP ASS UPDATE:  Target has Clif Bars and Luna Bars on sale this week!  They have boxes of 6 and limited flavors in BOXES OF SEVEN for $5!!  HOLLER!

TECH SAVVY UPDATE:  The wireless on my computer died Green with envy

*  NOT-SO-TECH-SAVVY UPDATE:  I spent 45 minutes on the phone trying to fix the computer problem.  This included several rounds of me answering the same exact series of questions over and over.  I think the rep was hoping I’d change my responses.  Think again, Dell.  Think again….Devil

FRIENDS AND FAM UPDATE:  The BF’s mom and pop came to Charlotte.  We showed them the town (through food, naturally).  We also had a make-your-own pizza night at my humble abode:

DSCF7736

Mmmmmmm pizzzzzzzzzzaaaaaaaa  *drool*

DSCF7742

BEEF CAKE UPDATE:  I upped my squat and tricep weight at Body Pump!  I’m now up to the following (total weight including 2.5lb bar):

Sept 2011 versus June 2011

  • Warm Up = 22.5 lbs      vs      17.5 lbs
  • Squat =       37.5 lbs      vs      22.5 lbs
  • Chest =      27.5 lbs      vs      17.5 lbs
  • Back =        32.5 lbs      vs      22.5 lbs
  • Triceps =    27.5 lbs      vs      12.5 lbs
  • Biceps =     22.5 lbs      vs      17.5 lbs
  • Lunges =     22.5 lbs     vs      12.5 lbs
  • Shoulders = 22.5 lbs     vs      17.5 lbs

My goal over the next two weeks is to bump up my squat and back weight again.  Every time I increase my squat weight I get lower back pains, so I’m going to work really hard on my form.  I’m watching the how-to videos on the Body Pump website as we speak…

RUNNING UPDATE:  I didn’t run for two weeks, and felt like death was upon me when I ran 6 miles Sunday.  But I did it, and I hope to beat my eight-mile record in the next couple of weeks!

*  THE WHY-IT’S-GOOD-TO-DATE-GUYS-WITH-SKILLS-UPDATE:  My IT guy fixed my computer *wink* *wink*

NERD UPDATE:  Shit got serious on my 2012 budget spreadsheet.  Yes, that’s my 2012 annual budget I’m working on, which is something I’ve started every September for the past 7 years.  Every year it gets bigger and better, and with the addition of my new friend the “Indirect Formula” my summary spreadsheet just went to a whole new level of awesomeness.   Be jealous.

So fill me in!  What have you been up to?  What have you cooked?  Where have you been?  What have I missed???  My Google Reader is outta control right now!!

/

Continue Reading

Chocolate Coconut Love + Luna Bar Giveaway!

Guess what arrived?!?!?!

A giant package from DrugStore.com…………

IMG_0512

I currently have 15 strike that 14… ok 13 CHOCOLATE DIPPED COCONUT LUNA BARS in my possession 😀 😀 😀

 IMG_0515      

As soon as the package arrived, I tore into the box.

IMG_0516
Immediately, I tried to smell the chocolate coconut goodness through the wrapper.

IMG_0524

I don’t smell anything…

SMELL HARDER!

IMG_0523

This game didn’t go on long before I ripped open the package and took the first glorious bite of the new luna bar flavor.

IMG_0520IMG_0525

HOLY CANNOLI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

IMG_0528

Almond Joy lovers hold on to your seats.  This was so DELICIOUS and so worth the wait not to mention risking my life in a Cleveland ice storm.

IMG_0521

See all the flaky coconut goodness?

Lucky for you all, I’m ready to share my goodies!  So, I’m going to give one reader TWO Coconut Luna Bars plus a Blueberry Bliss Luna Bar (one of my all-time favorite flavors)!

IMG_0529

Here’s how you can enter:

1.)  Leave a comment including a link to the BEST healthy or healthified recipe you’ve ever tried.

2.)  Tweet about the giveaway (my twitter ID is @Fervent_Foodie) — make sure to leave a comment here letting me know you tweeted.   Here’s a shortlink for you:  http://wp.me/pW6Qg-1f0 

3.)  Like the Fervent Foodie page on Facebook and leave a comment here saying you did so.

I’ll let this run through Midnight eastern time on Tuesday Feb 15, and then I’ll use a random number generator to find out who I get to share some Luna Bar love with.  I hope you are as excited as I am… I know.. I’m obsessed.  It’s ok. 

Signature

Continue Reading

Weekend Fail.

Going into the weekend, I had one goal:  to find the new Luna Bar flavors and devour mass quantities of them.  For those who aren’t maniacally obsessed with luna bars ….   For those who have been living under a rock!!! …  ahem…  for those who aren’t aware, the new flavors are Chocolate Chunk and the highly coveted Chocolate Dipped Coconut.

Saturday afternoon I was out running errands when I got wind of a winter storm a brewing.  So I decided to high tail it to Whole Foods in Cleveland so that I could snag the new Lunas.  I even called the store ahead of time to make sure that they had the new flavors in stock.  As an added bonus, I planned to swing by Trader Joes which is right down the road from Whole Foods.  It’s not often I make this trip up to Cleveland, so I had already started mentally drafting a lengthy list of goodies to pick up.

About 20 minutes into my drive the freezing rain started.  No worries I thought.  I’ve got this.  Zoom zoom Mazda, zoom zoom. 

photo (8)

A few miles passed.

Ok Mazda, perhaps a little less zoom.

Let’s creep like a turtle instead, shall we?

The closer and closer I got the Cleveland the WORSE AND WORSE the weather got.  At one point traffic was stuck at a dead stop for a good 15 minutes, which I soon realized was due to an accident that had resulted in a car completely flipped over on the snow embankment.  I counted four accidents on my journey north.  And I’m not talking fender benders.  I’m talking the kind of accident you drive by and say “holy cow! how the heck did that happen!??!?”.

Perhaps this was a bad day to go to Cleveland…

 

When I finally arrived at Whole Foods, I was literally shaking.  I bolted inside and headed for the Luna Bars.  I quickly spied the Chocolate Chunk and grabbed two with gusto.  As I reached victoriously into the Chocolate Dipped Coconut box I realized, to my utter horror, that the box was empty.  They were sold out.  They were sans coconut goodness, if you will.

I had just risked my life, and they were sold out.

I stood in front of the Luna Bars motionless as defeat washed over me. 

As I turned to leave, I remembered that I was also super excited to try out the new blueberry muffin LaraBar.  Just as I headed to grab one, an old lady swerved her cart into the aisle and picked up the ENTIRE last box of blueberry muffin Laras and dumped them into her cart. 

 

I kid you not.  It was like a scene from Walmart’s toy aisle on Black Friday.

I turned away concealing my internal rage, bought my 2 chocolate chunk bars, and headed to the car. 

I immediately tore into the Chocolate Chunk Luna Bar.

photo (7)

photo (9)

This Luna Bar was definitely tasty, like a big chocolatey chewy graham.  It reminded me of the smore Luna a little too much though….

After all that nonsense, I decided to just go home.  No TJ’s shopping spree.  That’s right.  I drove all the way to Cleveland in an ice storm for 2 Chocolate Chunk Luna bars.

Fail.

Signature

Continue Reading

Friday eats

Sooooooo… it has been FOR-EV-ER since I last posted about workday breakfast-breakfast-lunch.  I guess I just got bored posting about the same things over and over again.  But today, I figured what the heck.  It’s Friday.  Let’s do this.

Breakfast #1

Mary’s oh-so-special eggs!

 photo (10)

I absolutely adore this B#1 every day!  Sausage, eggs, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, spinach, and garlic?  Come on!

photo (11)

Don’t forget the dollop of ketchup of course 🙂

 Stats on 1 Servings of my Special Eggs (sans ketchup):  189 Calories,  9g carbs,  9g fat, 23g protein, 1g fiber

 

 

Breakfast #2

Oatmeal! 

photo (12) photo (13)

I was in the grocery store the other day and ALMOST bought some strawberries so I could make overnight oats… But it’s so stinkin cold outside that I couldn’t bring myself to do it.  Man I miss them 🙁   So for today, it was standard microwaved quick oats with cinnamon and brown sugar… maybe my OO’s will make a return next week!

 Stats on 1 Servings of oats:  165 Calories,  31g carbs,  3g fat, 5g protein, 4g fiber

Lunch

And that brings us to LUNCH.  Mini cheesy meat loaf and a yumlicious side salad with Newman’s Light balsamic dressing:

photo (15)

Maybe it’s a midwest thing….. but I seriously adore meatloaf. 

It’s comforting. 

It’s meaty. 

It brings me unfettered joy. 

photo (14)

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.

Stats on 1 mini cheesy meatloaf:  350 calories, 19g carbs, 17g fat (red meat, folks), 29g protein, 1g fiber

So what’s on everyone’s agenda this weekend?  Here’s what I’ll be up to:

  • Eyebrow wax this evening (fun Friday night activity, no?)
  • Clean.my.house.  Seriously.  I’m living in filth.
  • Work.
  • Get some of my friends and family tax returns done… oh the joys of being a tax accountant
  • Buy the BF a bday present… I’m thinking outlet mall!
  • Possibly venturing out on a Luna Bar quest.  Must find the new flavors STAT!
  • Super Bowl of course!  Bring on the cheese!

 

Signature

Continue Reading

What day is it??

This week is FLYING by.  I keep having to remind myself it’s Thursday!  Better yet, it’s Thursday before a LOOOOONGG weekend!  I’m pumped to be heading to Columbus on Saturday for a wedding, shopping, and lots of tasty food!

2 more weeks til the big tax deadline!  Cannot wait for things to slow down at work!  Until then, my desk will be looking like this:

DSCF3118

Mmmmm…. coffeeeeeee…..

Coffee is my crutch. 

I swear my love of coffee turned me into a morning person.  Something about the smell of brewing coffee makes me ready to take on the day!  I guess you can say it’s my fuel for success :mrgreen:

 

Breakfast #?

After seeing the post on Iowa Girl Eats yesterday for coffee oats, I HAD to try them.  PRONTO.  As you can see by the photo of my desk above, it’s clear I’m not getting enough coffee in my diet.  So why not incorporate some into my oats?? 

I dumped 1/2 cup quick oats into a bowl along with 1/2 cup almond milk, and 1/2 a cup brewed coffee.  I cooked the oats in the microwave for about 1 minute 15 seconds:

DSCF3213

Aren’t they pretty?

DSCF3210

Then I added some fresh blueberries and strawberries on top along with 1/2 a packet of Truvia:

  DSCF3218 

All mixed up and no place to go… but in my belly of course.

DSCF3220 

I love me some coffee, and these oats were tasty… but you know what I wish I’d made instead?  Yeah.  you know.

I also tried out one of the new Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Larabar!

 

Thought this one was tasty, but it doesn’t make it into my list of top 3 larabars:  Cashew Cookie, Cherry Pie, and PB&J.  I wish Luna Bar would come out with a bunch of new flavors.. that would just rock my world!  BTW, I’m feeling super jittery from all the coffee and coffee oats… maybe that combo was a bad idea…

 

 

Lunch

A while back, I made a turkey burger concoction which I declared to be a turkey quesadilla burger.  And man it was delicious.  As you may recall, the BF makes zucchini turkey burgers each week as part of his road to ultimate fitness, and luckily this weekend I was able to steal one … er..  given a turkey burger for being such a lovely GF 🙂  BTW – don’t you love my road to ultimate fitness artwork??  I think I missed my calling…

When I decided to bring the turkey burger to lunch, I knew I wouldn’t have the capability of making a quesadilla burger at my desk… still haven’t succumbed to my burning desire to purchase a mini george foreman grill for my cube.  So I decided to just make up a simple Pico de Gallo to put on top of the burger:

Easy Pico de Gallo for one

  • 1/2 a roma tomato, chopped
  • 2 tbsp chopped red onion
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/4 tsp lime juice
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp chopped jalapeno (optional)

DSCF3155

At work, I heated up the turkey burger, topped with 1 tbsp Trader Joe’s Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus (my favorite!), and the pico de gallo.  I also had some sliced up yellow bell pepper on the side (leftover from my chicken and barley salad).

DSCF3166

YUM.  Not your typical burger toppings, but fantastically delicious!

 

  

Question of the day:  What are your plans for Labor Day weekend?  Any good cookout recipes to share?

 

Don’t forget to enter the Bruegger’s Bagels Giveaway!

Continue Reading