As I’m sure many of you know, today is Love Your Body Day. My school actually had a 2-day event on Monday and Tuesday with speakers, booths, and activities that I couldn’t make it to 😦 My roommate ran one of the booths though. She said it was awesome 🙂 In honor of this day, I’m giving my body an extra pat on the back and some lovin’ tonight.
Dearest Body of mine,
You know what’s strange? We spend every minute, every second, every waking moment together, yet I don’t think we have a very close relationship. As much as I should appreciate you, I’ve given you such a hard time over the years, and never gave you the trust you deserve.
You’ve served me well for so many years (22 years, 6 months, and 6 days to be exact), allowing me to breathe fresh air and freshly baked cookies; see the ones I love and the bright colors of a rainbow; hear teachers lectures and the sounds of country music; taste my favorite foods and and ones I could live without; and touch the prickly grass or my little sister’s hand. You’ve given me something that we only get one of, something that so many people get taken away in an instant, something that we all take for granted – a life. You’ve allowed me to laugh, to cry, to love, to run – to do everything I’ve ever done.
I’ve given you a hard time about your thick legs. But those legs are strong and have carried me many miles. I’ve given you a hard time about your poochy belly. But that belly is mine and no one else’s. I’ve given you a hard time about overeating. But I need to learn to trust you and know that you want what’s best for me.
Dear body, I thank you. And here’s something I’ve actually never said to you, and something I should say to you more often – I love you.
Love, Tay (The “Brain” to your body)
What have you done to appreciate your body today?
I completely overslept my alarm by almost an hour this morning (I have been dead tired lately!) So I literally threw my breakfast in a to-go container, and ate it during class. But if you really want to see what I had, check out last Wednesday, or here, or over there. I really am starting a tradition.
Although my oats today were banana-less. And let me tell you, a mashed banana makes all. The. Difference. Definitely not as good.
I then gave up my scheduled gym time to study. Sometimes it’s hard to realize that school does come first. Le sigh.
Snack/lunch#1 (you can call it whatever you want – be my guest) in class.
SB&J (sunbutter & jam) on sandwich thin.
Wow – that looks fabulous.
+ a giant apple larger than my head.
I brought along a couple more snacks to work to make up for my “lunch”, but ended up eating a slice of this turkey eggplant lasagna.
How could I resist that? This calmed my hunger, but then…
Attack of the Munchies!! Unfortunately, I had no gum, but I dug into a bag of BBQ kettle chips.
And carrots
Eventually the munchies departed on their merry little way.
Once home, I made something that’s been missing from my life for quite a while.
No..not a man. 😦
Pumpkin French Toast!
Okay – so they look like pancakes, but I swear it was french toast thins. Sandwich thins to be exact (can you tell I recently brought back a bag of them from home?)
I’ve seen pumpkin french toast on April’s blog over and over again, and finally remembered to make some. I soaked 3 sandwich thin slices in a mixture of:
- 3 egg whites
- Pumpkin
- Splash of soymilk
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Maple syrup
Then fried those suckers up.
Each layer was topped off with a mix of pumpkin cream cheese, sunbutter, plain oikos, and Banana Nut Cheerios.
Mmmmm. While delicious, it was a bit too soggy for my taste. I think I used too much pumpkin and it couldn’t get “crispy.” Or maybe it was the sandwich thins. Or maybe they were just delicious either way.
Open up!
Nom.
Followed by agave-drizzled raspberries.
And a couple of these mini-dudettes (yes they’re girl cookies apparently) that I received in the mail.
I tried the orange mint.
I did not think I would like orange and mint together at all, but they were actually quite tasty! And at 25 calories per piece – not bad.
Oh! I can’t believe I forgot to tell you guys!
Love Your Body Day turns into Love Your Kitchen Appliance Night.
My grandma gave me a food processor! I’m sure it’s the not the sharpest tool blade in the shed catalogue, but it will do to make some banana whip. Thank you Sissie!
What a great letter. What a great thing to be promoting. It’s such a powerful message. OMG the pumpkin french toast looks amazing! I want to stab a fork at my computer. Good on your uni for sponsoring stuff…that is so important.
~M
I LOVE that…never really thought of spelling Beautiful Be-You-Tiful!! But makes perfect sense! And what a great letter you wrote to yourself…I need to do that, too! Thanks for the inspiration — I’m writing a letter to myself too right now! 😀
best post ever
love those gogi things! sound SO good!
and your french toast is pure sex! holy dang yummmzay!
and i LOVE your Love Your Body note.. so inspiring 🙂 xo
Ahh sandwich thins are PERFECTO for making towering french toast!! Sorry that they turned out soggy, but i’d definitely experiment with that recipe!! There’s sooo much you can do with it 🙂
And yum. You know how much I love that sunflower seed butter! That sando must have been divineee.
ENJOY SOME BANANA SOFT SERVE….NOWWW!! And top it with sunflower seed butter, chocolate chips and/or cinn! 😉
Amazing looking french = me being very jealous! Lol! Yay for your new food processor – I love banana soft serve!
Such a sweet post – and such a sweet GIFT! Way to go, let’s make some hummus!
That pumpkin french toast looks especially tasty now that I am reading it in the a.m. 🙂
I am headed to Fullerton and staying with my brother. But we are doing the whole Laguna/coast hoppin’, Hollywood, etc. We are even taking a cooking class. Eek! So excited 🙂
Oh, and I am hitting up the Whole Foods in Laguna for Barney Butter! Muahaha. Foodie at heart 🙂
Pumpkin french toast is genius!
great letter. i love how honest you are here 🙂
that french toast looks like it could hit the spot right about now haha
You know, I’ve been eating oats without banana a lot lately and think I may like it better! I just add extra oatmeal to make up for the banana I’m missing, and find it’s a more filling combo for me 🙂
I love how you layer french toast and pancakes – it looks amazing!!
Love your post, love your blog! Thanks for the reminder to be kind to myself.
What a great letter! 🙂
And YAY for food processor!!
Be you (tiful) – I love that!! I also love the letter you wrote! Grea post:)
Your french toast looks delish!
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oh em geeeeee
those pumpkin french toasties look RIDICULOUS
please fly to my home asap and make them for me before i wake up tomorrow morning to leave for work.
[…] I rarely think bad thoughts about it, but I also never think about how much it can do! I had read Taylor’s Letter to her body and I felt like I could have written it to […]
Great idea for the sandwich thins. Just bought a bag from Costco yesterday. Definately using them for french toast.
Those sound sooo good!! Sometimes we need to look past the texture and just judge our food by it’s taste 😉
I LOVE the O’s on that pumpkin french toast! It looks AMAZING – I may have to try it 🙂
LOVE your letter too!
loved this post! I work at the wellness/womens center on my campus and we have love your body week but its not till Feb!
I have written may a letters to myself, but have yet to be able to say those 3 simple words “i love you”.
Thanks for your inspiring post girl!
Wow the french toast looks delicious.
Oh man your french toast looks better than mine!! I’ll have to try it with arnold thins! Mmm!! And yay for the food processor! I can’t wait to see what you make with it!
tay! i have been a blog reading slacker and i am catching up with you now!
some things i am glad i caught up on:
*epic pumpkin pancakes
*asparagus quinoa.. yuum
*your LB flavor mixup, haha
*i have heard about fresh choice! i will have to try it when i go to cali
*glad you had fun at the concert! you and your sisters are adorable!
*your little sister’s post cracked me up.
*that mixed cereal bowl is fantastic, i dont know how you manage to have 8 boxes of cereal at home, i can’t even keep one without eating it all in a few days!
*added sugar in yogurt is WHACK. i like adding real flavors to my plain yogurt!
*the pumpkin smoothie looks to die for
*your letter to your body made me smile
*HOORAY for new kitchen gadgets!!
i think i covered it all! love!
I’m going to count the amazing dinner I put in my body last night as loving it
Hey I didn’t know it was love your body day! I guess it’s never too late to participate, right? Are you the Taylor that’s been posting such sweet comments on my blog? If so, thank you so much! And if not, that’s ok, too 🙂 I loved your story and admire all the progress you’ve made so far!
drooling over your french toast with the cherrios ontop! Best idea everrrr
love this post 🙂 so lighthearted
jealous of your food processor! you will be whipping up some banana soft serve in NO time!! 😉
What is it with alarms lately?! They don’t seem to want to work!! That french toast has got me drooling! Holy cow does it look fantastic!
WOOHOO for a food processor – hope you make heaps of hummus 🙂
I love the letter to your body!
Ooo! Turkey Eggplant Lasagna! I would have never though there was such a thing. I want it!
I loved this post. It’s the first time I’ve read your blog and the letter you wrote to your body inspired me!
You are too amazing girly!!! Love your letter you wrote.
And sandwich thins french toast?? Genious!
I love your letter! I wrote one not too long ago…great exercise 🙂 Kind of thinking every day should be “love your body” day!
Dang, that pumpkin french toast looks great! I am loving the food in NY, but REALLY missing my pumpkin breakfasts!
thats a brilliant idea to use sandwich things for french toast! so using that idea this weekend!
So creative to use Sandwich Thins for French toast!
You better get crackin with that food processor…I expect to see some HUMMUS, pronto!
Ode to the body! I actually didn’t know it was Love Your Body day. I wish I had. Maybe I would have given it a little more lovin to celebrate. Though I guess better late than never. Maybe today will be MY love your body day. 🙂
Oatmeal without banana is like… trees without leaves? Worst comparison ever… it’s early morning haha.
Want that french toast SO bad. We don’t have sandwich thins here. How lame! Whatevs, I’ll just have to use some other bread to make that delicious stack of morning glory asap. Soggy actually sounds right up my alley!
[…] 23, 2009 by Tay I’m glad you all enjoyed the letter to my body Honestly, it really helped. Yesterday when any type of negative thought entered my head I […]
so many awesome things in this post! That french toast idea with the the arnold thins is like seriously the best idea EVER! i would have never thought to do that! Also i’m totally envious of those Goji cookies! i’ve tried them before and miss those little guys! i’m anxious to hear how you like the rest! 🙂
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I LOVE the letter to your body!
What a great way to remember to be happy with your body and the things it can do!
And I LOVE pb&j thin sandwiches!
[…] beautiful, strong self – because we’re all […]