Playlist, Book Club Pitas and Book Review

Let me begin by saying: Worst. Blogger. Ever! I haven't gotten to catch up on your lovely blog lives with book club last night, errands all day today and now i'm walking out the door to Athens with no laptop. Sunday is going to be mucho catch up!! One more thing: thanks for the great playlist ideas! I’m ready to listen/add! Here is the list I made – tres random of course:

Starts off slow…

Suddenly I see – KT Tunstall
Island in the Sun – Weezer
Suspicious Minds – Elvis

Gets FAST…

Right Round – Flo Rida
Untouched – Veronicas
Let’s Get Excited – Alesha
I’m Shipping To Boston – Dropkick Murphys
A-Punk – Vampire Weekend
Supermassive Black Hole – Muse
Rock Lobster – B 52’s
London Calling - Clash
You Keep Me Hangin’ on – The Supremes
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Stronger – Kanye
Don’t Trust Me – 3OH!3
Sugar – Flo Rida
Drain You – Nirvana
The Way I Are – Timberland
Shut Up And Drive - Rihanna
Gimme More – Brit
Toxic – Brit
Jerk it Out – Caesars
Boston – Vampire Weekend
Lovestoned – JT
My Favorite Game – Cardigans

Book club was awesome! So good to see Dev, Mon and Stacy!! It's nice to catch up with the ladies during the week; who knew we would all grow up and get so busy on the weekends?! for snacks/dinner, I made 8 pita pizzas:

The Spread....

Zoom on the meatsa pizza (back) and pesto chicken (front)

zoom on the veggie pizza

hehe love my pizza plates - they make me laugh; can also see the Meditteranean pizza well!

Ingredients:

8 Trader Joe's 6" pitas, brushed with olive oil and topped with garlic salt and red pepper flakes

2 Meatsa Pitas: 4 tbsp spaghetti sauce; 2 oz. chicken cooked in olive oil/salt/pepper; 2 slices turkey bacon; 6 turkey pepperonis; fat-free mozzarella cheese; reduced fat parmesan cheese.

2 Veggie Pitas: 4 tbsp spaghetti sauce; onions; red and green bell pepper; tomato; fat free mozzarella cheese; reduced fat parmesan cheese. Top with fresh basil.

2 Mediterranean Pitas: 4 tbsp spaghetti sauce; onions; olives; tomatoes; fat-free feta cheese.

2 Pesto Chicken Pitas: 2 tbsp pesto; 2 oz. chicken cooked in olive oil/salt/pepper; fat-free mozzarella; reduced fat parmesan cheese. Top with fresh basil.

Make all pitas on two pans. Put in oven on broil for 8 - 12 minutes. Cut and serve! I was so excited to use my little pizza plates!

Book club was a blasty – great conversation, yummy wine, fun catch-up time as well as book chat. It’s so good to have great friends, especially ones you have so much in common with! The book we discussed tonight was Sue Miller’s While I Was Gone. I gave it a 2.5 out of 5. It just wasn’t what I expected. It was very deep. It focused on a woman married to a minister who lived a happy life with her three children. Then you find that she has a past, and it comes back in a very unexpected way. It’s less of a story and more of a series of events. It DOES make you think and it definitely lent itself to conversation because most of us disagreed with the main character and the choices she made. I gave it a 2.5 instead of a 5 because I wished more had happened - more literal and less open to interpretation. I felt like the author wanted me to do all of the work; and while I was all about gleaning ideas/thoughts from the book, I needed more to hold my interest. It definitely got our club thinking about people from the past – is it good when they pop back up? Or a reminder of what could have been? Which led to an interesting conversation about Facebook and social media. So again, not the best book for me, but a definite conversation starter!

The next books are:

The Next Thing on My List: December book (Stacy’s pick/her house)
The Lovely Bones: January book (Mon’s pick/her house)

K – next week’s meal plan will have to be posted Sunday– this post is getting crazy long and the plan isn’t quite finalized. Also, i'll have some shopping pics to post. And I got my new iPhone - woo!! Thank you, Genius Bar + Liberty Mutual for making this happen!

Happy weekends, ladies! Talk to you all Sunday!! WAR EAGLE!

Spaghetti Picture is In, 8 miles Cardio, Book Club

Backing up (yet again). That’s what I should name every post! Haha Here’s me in a nutshell:

Tuesday’s Stats: 1,781 calories, 194 carbs, 71 fat grams and 101 protein grams. Here’s what I ate.

Wednesday: Worked, walked 4 miles, carpooled, bad weather remained, had spaghetti for dinner and got a better picture of it (woo!), made bajio tacos for mom and Austin (they loved them!), ate in the dining room, was inspired to do more things for the house, am taking another personal day Friday so I worked on a list of things to do/get for the house. Overall, I had a nice evening and felt much more positive! Stats: 1,792 calories, 231 carbs, 52 fat grams and 97 protein grams. Here’s what I ate.

Yay! Gotta love Slow Cooker Spaghetti!


Thursday (so far): Made "running" playlist, worked, walked 4 miles, finished my book club book Sue Miller’s While I Was Gone. Now I’m off work and have got to get ready – the girls will be here in a couple of hours!

Tomorrow I’ll post: Food from the book club (I hope it goes well!), a review of While I Was Gone, next week’s meal plan, the next two books book club will be reading, and (hopefully) some of the new items I get for my home tomorrow. Happy Shopping!

Weekend: We’re off to Athens on Friday! My mom will be watching baby Reuben in Decatur – thanks, Mom, he loves you! I called ahead to the condo – they have a gym so I could move a few miles over – woo!

What are you up to this weekend?

What's are your 3 favorite songs to run to?!

K- off to meet the girls. Can't wait to read your blogs tonight!!!

Another One Bites the Dust, 2 New Recipes MUCH Better Photogs!

Kel is sad - Eastwick has been cancelled! I know it’s pretty bad. I know that half the time I didn’t even get it because it was so bad. But I’m such a fan of Lindsey Price and want one of her series to work! (still sorely missing Lipstick Jungle). Tear.

K – back to life. Yesterday’s stats: 1,655 calories, 204 carbs, 41 fat grams and 110 protein grams. Here’s what I ate. Today, I had the Baked Swiss and Sausage Omelet from, you guessed it, Real Mom Kitchen! (have you noticed that I find food blogs and just glom on to them like no other?). Here’s the recipe for SIX servings:

Yay! a better picture taken courtesy of my new camera! (I’m such a proud owner!)

1 tsp olive oil
½ cup onion, diced
10 ounces Jimmy Dean reduced fat breakfast sausage
8 large eggs
1/3 cup fat-free milk
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ cup red bell pepper, diced
70 grams Kraft natural swiss/parmesan cheese blend
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for topping)
For side: 3 English muffins and 2 tbsp fat-free cream cheese or hummus

Preheat oven to 425. Spray an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add red pepper and onion. Cook until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Remove onion and pepper and set aside. In the same pan add sausage and cook until brown, about 5 minutes. Set the pan aside to cool. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Add bell pepper and onions, sausage, 1/3 of cheese and 1/4 cup of parsley to egg bowl. Pour batter into pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake covered for 10 minutes. Remove foil, then bake for another 15 – 20 minutes or until golden brown and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cut the baked omelet into six rectangles and sprinkle with remaining parsley before serving. Serve with ½ English muffin smeared in 2 tsp fat-free cream cheese or hummus per serving. Nutritional Information: 339 calories, 17 carbs, 20 fat grams and 22 protein grams. Um, LOVED IT! So excited to have another new breakfast recipe – thanks Real Mom Kitchen!

Onward and out! I had a lunch meeting which meant no working out. Sad. And it was catered. Grrrrr. We had Jason’s Deli. I got a ½ a veggie wrap and a ½ a Mediterranean wrap – I passed on the chips and cookie cake, but had a little bit of fruit and four brownie bites. Grrrr. I worked all day amidst the Ida storms. Dang hurricane season lasts WAY too long. After work I walked and ran 2.25 miles, chest and triceps (burning 229 calories in 54 minutes)– good stuff, then I headed home for the new dinner I was so excited about – Baked Pesto Chicken inspired by For the Love of Cooking and Cooking Light! Here’s the recipe for SIX servings:

4 6-oz. chicken breasts
80 grams pesto
64 grams Fresh mozzarella cheese
Salt & Pepper
6 oz. pasta (angel hair)

Heat oven to 375. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Lay chicken in an 8x12 glass pan coated in nonstick cooking spray. Lay chicken breasts in pan (or tenders with servings divided by foil). Spread each serving with 20 grams of pesto. Cover with foil and bake until chicken is cooked through; 25 minutes. Uncover and top each serving with 16 grams of cheese; bake until cheese is melted, 5 more minutes. Serve hot atop angel hair pasta (1.5 oz. dry per serving). Nutritional Information: 469 calories, 32 carbs, 15 fat grams and 50 protein grams. Loved it!! Way too easy to fix and it reheated great (just made the noodles tonight; the chicken was refrigerated overnight).

Now I’m in bed watching Gossip Girl, Brothers and Sisters, etc. Great night! Hope you’re all having great nights, too! I'm trying my HARDEST not to let this new time + bad weather affect me... it's so hard to stay positive sometimes!

New Recipe, 4 Miles, Reuben's New 'Do and More Cooking!

Thanks for the shoe feedback, ladies!! I’m still undecided, but will definitely try these shoes on to just satisfy my curiosity if nothing else. I’m also going to look into your suggestions so thanks for taking the time to post!!

So yesterday after Austin’s parents left we chilled, and had a new recipe for dinner: Real Mom Kitchen’s Slow Cooker Spaghetti! Here’s the recipe we followed – it makes SIX large servings!

not a good pic - taken in tupperware! I'll take another later this week!


1 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes
1 15oz can of tomato sauce (roasted garlic)
1 12.5 oz Italian flavored diced tomatoes
10 oz fresh mushrooms
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
1 lb 96/4 ground beef
½ tsp dried basil
2 tsp minced garlic
Other: 6 tbsp reduced fat parmesan; 12 oz. dried spaghetti; 6 slices light wheat bread; spray butter and garlic salt.

Add thawed meat to a slow cooker covered in nonstick spray. Add in all the cans of tomatoes, and break the ground meat up with a large spoon. Stir in the spices and mushrooms. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. When done cooking, break up the ground meat a bit more, add dried basil and minced garlic. Serve over pasta of your choice, adding 1 tbsp parmesan on top of each.(2 oz. dried pasta per serving).

We chose spaghetti and, including a slice of light wheat bread sprinkled with garlic salt and toasted, it came out to 457 calories, 65 carbs, 7 fat grams and 33 protein grams. So yummy and SO filling. This will be a staple around here for sure! Bonus: the house smelled amazing all. day. long. YUM!

After dinner I made a new recipe for later this week, Baked Swiss and Sausage Omelet (will post tomorrow once we try it!!).

Again - will take another later this week!


Then we watched some West Wings and passed out. I ended up high… at 2,116 calories, 260 carbs, 78 fat grams and 103 protein grams. The shower food + late night pizza added up. Duh. Eek! It happens – and I’m back on track so it’s all good. Here’s what I ate.

Today I woke up tired after a toss-and-turn night of sleep. Grrrr. I headed to work, had breakfast chilaquiles again, worked, walked 4 miles during lunch, had more spaghetti (love it!), then at 2:30 headed over to Atlanta’s Children’s Shelter with my team. We volunteered spending time playing with the children staying there. It seemed like a great organization, and the staff was nice to work with. I think everyone on my team had a good time! After the shelter I headed home and got straight in bed exhausted! Austin brought some pizza home from work so I caved, but only had one slice. It didn’t fill me up, so later I had a smaller version of the planned dinner – a taco. I’ll post my stats tomorrow! After dinner I made some of this week’s recipes – Red Curry Chicken and a new one Baked Pesto Chicken! Great night – now in bed with West Wing – woo!

Yum!


What’s your favorite show to watch with your significant other?
Any West Wing fans out there?

I leave you with Reuben's new 'do!

I didn't even recognize him at first! Little fella - he gets so cold now short - i'm ready for him to grow out and be a teddy bear again!!

Shoe Chat, 3 Miles, Back/Biceps, New Camera and Fun Night!

Have you guys seen this commercial?

I am interested as I am:

A. In need of new shoes.

B. A walker and the commercial specifically mentions walking.

C. An owner of a kinda lumpy bum.

D. A total sucker for sh*t like this.

So what do you guys think? Think it's a total sham? Have a better recommendation on the shoe front for a girl who walks an average of 80 miles a month on a treadmill on the outside of her feet and does strength training?

I read some reviews.... it seems mixed??

I saw a cute video review that basically boiled down to:

Pros: comfy; they might actually work; great if you don't care what other people think because...

Cons: $110; ugly... shiny silver bullets. hehe

So I don't know! Knowing me i'll go out and buy the EXACT same pair I have now (but with new tread on the outside thankyouverymuch).

How often do you replace your shoes?

What's your current shoe - do you love it?!

Right now I have the Nike Women's Pegasus. I bought them for $90... they're on sale for $50!!

Perhaps I'll just get two more pairs of these little friends and save cash instead of the Reebok?!

Moving on for a quick recap! Yesterday I:

• Woke up feeling wonderful at 8 a.m.
• Hung out with Austin/blogged/had cheerios
• Had a chips/salsa/FF sour cream snack
• Headed to the gym - walked 2 miles + ran 1 mile + back + biceps
• Showered and went out for a baby shower gift, birthday gift, get well gift and a new camera!!!
• Had some of the tea Em got me - thanks again, sweet girl!
• Headed to Buckhead for a birthday party - good to see Andrew/Laura Anne/Monica/Andy/etc.!!
• Headed to Stacy and Shane's house (with Reuben in tow) for a night out in Smyrna/Vinings. We had such a blast! And it was GREAT to see all of the awesome work they had done on their house. WOW. I'm so motivated to do more on ours now - she has awesome taste and ideas!!
• Ended up at 2,388 calories, 41 fat grams, 237 carbs and 93 protein grams. Here's what I ate. (drank too much.... :( Also had late night pizza - put it on Sunday's day).

And here's the new camera!!

I love it! It's a very simple, easy-to-use Kodak EasyShare with 10 megapixels! It came down to this one and a Sony Cybershot, but the Sony had bells and whistles I simply wouldn't use (i.e. comprehensive video capabilities) - so this one won! It seemed as though it was only available online, but they had it at Radio Shack but only in red. I ran with it - it matches my washer/dryer - I heart red gadgets!! I've only used it a few times but I love it!!

Today we woke up, left Stacy/Shane's (spent the night with them!), raced home, ate breakfast, showered and headed up to Cumming for Austin's cousin Katie's baby shower! It was nice to visit with her and all of the family (grandparents/aunts/uncles you name it!). Austin's parents also drove over from Alabama and came by the house to visit, see some of the new stuff and to bring us some shelving units for the garage- sweet! I've been slowcooking spaghetti all day too - exciting!! Hope it turns out. I haven't updated spark people but it's going to be very high with the pizza + shower food factored in... we shall see!

I hope you all had wonderful weekends! I really enjoyed mine!!