Queen Deal

I’m not cocky or anything, but I hereby grant myself the title “Queen of Deals.”  Seriously.  Almost so much that it bites me in the butt when I can’t turn down a good deal and end up spending more than I would have otherwise.

I guess that’s the point of sales.

I went into Vons today to buy:

1. 1 container of Chobani yogurt for their facebook contest

2. Coffee creamer if had no self restraint and it somehow ended up in my basket

I walked out with:

For $14!!!!!!!  I do not lie.

I happened to walk by a random side freezer that was housing Vitatops, Amy’s, and all gourmet vegetarian foods all for 50% off.  Guess they were doing some sort of spring New Year’s cleaning?

Then I spotted blueberry yogurts for 50% off as well – making them 20 cents each.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next few days?  I think yes.

I obviously had no self-control as the coffee creamer still ended up in my basket.  I blame the 50% off endorphins.s

Might I add that this was my first grocery shopping trip in a month?  Shows how much I eat at home.

I also scored some major deals at a local natural health foods store (similar to Whole Foods) when I went in for 1 specific thing.  The cashier gave me extra coupons off, and even let me keep my free “Food Should Taste Good” coupon after I used it!

Definitely my day

 

Food highlights as of late have included:

Some sort of Chicken Masala from TJ’s (bought at work).  Not super great, wouldn’t buy again.

Thai tofu leftovers at work:

And iced coffee in my new Starbucks tumbler!!  (X-mas gift from the sista!)

I used to have the Grande size, but dropped and broke it.  I really wanted to Venti this time.  It’s huge, but you know that’s how I like them

 

This is what happens when you arrive back home at 2:20 on Sunday and have work at 3:00.  Then continue to work 8:00-8:00 for the next 3 days.  You dump your luggage, bags of crap, and bags of gifts on your floor…and don’t have time to clean anything up.

And also get to the point of “I don’t care, my room is already messy, let’s just strip my clothes off/take my shoes off/store it on the floor because I’m going to clean up soon anyways” mood.

I really wish I was lying about that picture, but I’m not.

 

Speaking of deals, I tried out a new pair of running shoes I got on sale at Running Warehouse tonight.  I also wore my new pair of running capris that I got at Nordstrom Rack for $15.  They look like denim, are super comfy, and I’m in love.

Running Warehouse has a bunch of their “older” models on sale, and I bought 4 online to try on and try out.  Yes, I ordered them online even though I live less than 2 miles away from the actual warehouse. 

I’m testing them all out, and trying to decide on 2, then will return the others.  I’ll talk about them soon in a post.  Thank you Christmas money!

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Christmas Routine

As I’ve mentioned, Christmas is a time of traditions for my family.  First, we have a casual early dinner – usually pizza or takeout burritos.

Also our annual pre-church Christmas Eve photo in front of the tree!

Please note my adorable new shoes!!! (bad quality uber crop pictures ahead)  Also, dis-note my veiny feet.

 

Love love love.

Previous years’ Christmas Eve pics:

I think it’s really funny to see the difference between my sister Mackie in these 2 pics: (far left in top picture, standing next to me in the bottom picture)

 

So now that I’ve overwhelmed you with too many pictures….

Another tradition in our family is that we get a new pair of pajamas put on our bed every Christmas Eve.  So when we come home from church, we race to our rooms and all put on our new jammies.

Please please check out my awesome onesie I got this year:

(picture taken Christmas morning).  Man was I excited.

Then comes hot chocolate and putting out cookies for Santa! 

And we make sure our mini stockings are set by our bed – ready for Santa to fill them with candy!

 

Christmas Morning: we wake up bright and early at 6 am 8:30 (gone are the days of waking before dawn), and rush to the balcony we have at the top of the stairs.  From here, we can see the whole tree.  We were never allowed to head downstairs until our parents woke up (usually at 7:00 they would roll out of bed).  So we would hang out at the top of the stairs, eating our candy, and looking at our Santa presents, guessing which one for for whom.

View from the balcony.  Not this year, though.  Although we never have our stockings in the living room, they’re always in the family room.  Weird.

Hanging out at the top of the stairs a few years ago:

Once we settle around the tree and separate everyone’s gifts, we go around in a circle and take turns opening each present. 

  

Then we move into the family room for stockings!! (old picture)

 

Highlights from this Christmas:

1. Paige’s gift to me: My sister bought me a polar bear costume.  Designed for a 6-year old.

 

I couldn’t stop laughing.

Great.  So great.

2. Paige’s gift from Santa: You may have seen the mug my sister painted for me a while back. 

A copy of a painting we saw in Paris:

A painting that my sister fell in love with, and regrets that she didn’t buy.

Well I was randomly walking downtown one day, and saw a very similar replica in the window of a store.  After talking to my mom, we decided to purchase it for my sister, and have the (expensive) painting be from multiple people as a joint gift.

She was confused at first, but I think she liked it

3. Onesie photo shoot:

 

 

4. Family Time

 

 

My grandma said we were going to share this bottle of wine. 

My new baby cousin (well, cousin’s kid.  But still a cousin ):

  

 

5. Good food.  I might’ve had chocolate cake for dinner.  And dough balls, almond roca bars, and homemade caramel.  And then had a racing heart as I tried to sleep at 11:00.  Never felt that kind of sugar high ever.

 

I think this might be the most pictures ever in a post of mine.  Anyone still out there??  Hello????? 

Oh hey  

Anyways, I know it’s almost a week late, but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well!

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Ginger for Giants

4 days = not enough time

3 appointments: 1 orthotics.  1 dentist.  Then another dentist.

Why two dentist appointments you ask?  Well, I got my first cavity Waaahhhh.  I no longer can claim the best teeth in my family (and yes – we have a competition going). 

Funny story – I was almost done getting my cavity filled when the dentist pauses.

“I greatly apologize.  But I actually forgot one of the layers.  Oh, this is so embarrassing, but I’m going to have to re-drill a bit to put the layer in.”

So yes – my first cavity, and they had to drill into my tooth twice.  Awesome.

Oh well, funny story to tell the fam. 

Recap time?  I think yes.

 

Wednesday: the majority of the day was spent doing our annual gingerbread making extravaganza. 

All.  Day.  Event.

My 10-year old sister likes to give the muggin’ face.

I’m so glad I remembered I had my work apron in the car.  Saved my outfit!

Completely posed by the way.

I originally started out making a Haunted Halloween gingerbread house.  Which quickly turned into a Giants house Nothing better.

Yes, the walkway is a beard.  And yes, it says “Fear Me” on it (Fear the Beard for anyone who doesn’t know).

 

While I was at the dentist (yes, my dentist appointment happened to be at 1 pm directly in the middle of obscene candy eating gingerbread making), my sister molded a baseball player, coke bottle and giant mitt out of caramel!

 

The real coke bottle and mitt:

Next year’s plan?  Pink & orange house.  Or a polar bear’s castle.  Who knows.

Past years (to get an idea of the mess/table):

I loved last year’s village we made:

Complete with the evil clock-tower-climbing-gingerbread man

See last year’s gingerbread pictures here!!

And my Flashback Friday of gingerbread houses here.  Check them out!

 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to come!  (I didn’t want to overwhelm you in one post ).

Does your family or friends do gingerbread houses?  Or what traditions do you have each holiday?

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Merry [Belated] Christmas

Merry [belated] Christmas from my family to yours

Sorry I haven’t been around since Monday/Tuesday.  I have a precious small amount of time at home, and I spent it wisely (not that blog reading/posting isn’t time spent wisely.  But you know what I mean .  I hope.  If not – I’m sorry I offended you). 

Very wisely indeed.

I’m hitting the road back to school my-old-school-town-current-job-town in a couple hours, and will catch up with you all then!

Happy saddest day of the year December 26th and safe traveling to anyone it applies to!

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Work Lessons

Things I’ve learned at work (the Foodie edition):

1. Take advantage of going out to lunch.  If someone’s paying for your meal (and they really don’t care what you order), order what you want!

r

For example, an expensive salad that I got to add chicken to at California Pizza Kitchen.  Roasted Vegetable Salad + chicken. 

(Moroccan Chicken Salad is 1 million times better, by the way).

 

2. Get creative in the kitchen while the baby is sleeping.  Instead of a plain old sandwich (PB&J for instance)…

Make a pulled BBQ chicken sandwich with rotisserie chicken! 

 

3. Holiday seasons will do you in.  Hello candy and treats galore!

**Insert peppermint mocha brownie here**

(Source)

4. Sometimes it worth it to eat red meat.  Such as in this Monte Cristo sandwich: French toast bread sandwich with cheese & ham, deep fried, and then drizzled with homemade strawberry syrup.

I about gagged when I heard about it.  But look at this beast!  I was this close to trying a piece (ham and all!), but I ended up picking out the ham.  Wow.  The strawberry sauce actually went very very well!

(Made by one of the chefs at work)

 

5. I better get to work and make myself up in the world to have a view like this:

(Bad lighting – that’s the ocean in the background).

Or marry an anesthesiologist.  Either one.

 

6. Take food if your boss gives is going to throw it away.  For example: She mentions these odd “Vita-top muffins” her mom bought her that have been in the freezer forever. 

You say: “Oh!  I love Vita-top muffins!”  Hope and cross fingers she’ll offer you them

Yay.  Ignore fact that they expired in April and are slightly freezer burnt. 

 

7. Babies are adorable.

Toddlers are hilarious.

Adults  grown-ups  Early 20-year olds can’t pull it off.

(I guess babies seem to find me hilarious?  Hence the baby’s face in the background)

 

8. Babies are also good birth control.

 

Anything great that work has taught you?  How do you take advantage of your “work perks?”

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Polar Bears aren’t tacky

Merry Tacky Christmas from my bathroom to yours!

My giant x-large sweatshirt isn’t too tacky (I really love it Grandma!  And polar bears are never tacky), but taking along the matching plate with cookies on it might’ve pushed it over

Plus, check out my earrings!

The dough balls were a hit (extra oily and all).  I also enjoyed a glass of champagne + 2 red jell-o shots.  The green was lime and I’m not a fan.

 

I’ve been really bad about taking pictures of every single meal lately.  But that probably just means they’re uninteresting.

That’s a lie.  Even my photographed meals are uninteresting.  Such as my Fiber One Mocha bar grabbed for breakfast on Sunday morning.

And my mid-morning snack around 7:30 am between breakfast #1 and breakfast #2.  The fiber one bar wasn’t doing its job and I was hungry!!

Sunday I got off work at 2:33. 

It was pouring.  I mean pouring all day long.

I came home.  And want to know what I did between the hours of 3:00 and 10:30? 

Sat on my butt.  And watched TV.  No joke.  Exactly what I wanted to do.

Afternoon snack was some leftover frittata:

And dinner was the last of the frittata.  So much variety I know.

This morning for breakfast I heated up a Life cinnamon roll bar to put in my yogurt:

Topped with PB for oomph.  And jam for sweetness.

I haven’t mentioned it yet, but I’ve given up peanut flour for the time being.

I know what you’re thinking.  “3258703958038tyerkgdskgndkgdsigh?????*&**((((*****EDG”

A.K.A: “Why?!?!”

Well, in the past 3 months, I have been breaking out (acne wise – not dancing wise) like crazy.  I mean, 3, 4, 5 giant whiteheads at once.  TMI?  Gross?  Sorry. (Said in Gilly voice) I always had bad skin as a teenager, but it got better as I got older, obviously.  It’s still bad, but not horrible.  Anyways, I racked my brain on anything I was doing different.  I drank my water.  I changed my face wash.  Changed my face lotion.  What was going on?

Randomly, peanut flour popped in my head the other day.  I started eating it about 3-4 months ago.  And that was right around when my acne problem started up.  Curious, I googled it, and I actually came up with a lot of sources that say peanuts may cause an increase in acne problems!  Weird.  Most say it doesn’t cause the acne, it just might make it worse (hence why it made my already acne-prone skin flare up). 

Of course everyone has their own opinions on it, I just thought it was something to try and cut out and see if it helped.

Please keep in mine that I was eating a good amount of peanut flour – probably anywhere from 1/4 – 1/2 cup daily.  And plain peanut butter wasn’t causing me this problem in the past most likely because I wasn’t eating nearly as much as I was of the peanut flour.

Anyways, moving on…

Lunch came in the form of a 1/2 sweet potato topped with chili and hummus:

And the other 1/2 in form of dessert – drizzled with syrup and pumpkin cream cheese.

 

Tomorrow is Tuesday.

Duh.

But do you know what that means??  It’s my last day of work for 5 days and I’m going HOME!!!  Home for the Holidays.  I’m so excited to:

• Sleep
• Have no work stress
• See my family
• Hang out in front of a real Christmas tree
• Sleep
• Sleep in
• Listen to music
• Be home with the family
• Have I mentioned sleep yet?

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Ball-tastic

Yesterday I was supposed to cut back on sweets.

Oops.

How could I turn down such delicious layers and a chocolatey crust?

Today I was doing pretty well.  Until….

Wait – what is that?

Oh, just some dough chillin’ in the fridge.

I’m stopping by my friend’s tacky Christmas party tonight, and wanted to bring a little something.  Such as Dough Balls!

I followed this recipe, except I subbed in oil for the butter (I have no butter!  And I sure as hell wasn’t venturing out into the downpour for some.  No offense butter.)

Anyways, I use oil in many cookie recipes, and I actually like the result more.  However, these tasted….off.  Not much flavor.  Super oily.  They just tasted like….well….oil. 

It wasn’t until after they were baking that I realized I used double the amount of oil I was supposed to.  I thought I was using the 1/8 measuring cup, when really I was using the 1/4 cup (and even this I know is wrong, considering I was using dry measuring cups.  Sometimes I am quite the lazy baker). 

No wonder they tasted like oil.  Oh well – I’m not telling.

And I still ate too much dough.  Plus about 3 cookies.

Prior to ball forming, I couldn’t decide what to have for dinner.  I didn’t want to open up anything that I wouldn’t use in the next couple days (since I’m leaving).  And I didn’t have much to work with.

 

Ravioli?  Naww – I’m only home for 1-2 more meals before I leave and I won’t finish the package.

Soup?  Ehhh I’ve had soup a lot recently and feel bloated.  Soup doesn’t help that.

Cereal?  Had cereal for my afternoon snack.

Pancakes? Waffles? Oatmeal? Yogurt? All very acceptable dinners.  However I wanted something different than my go-to-lazy-girls-dinner.

Meatloaf or ground turkey? Frozen ground turkey.  Too bad.

Don’t know how it popped in my head, but I came up with a frittata!  I just mixed eggs, frozen veggies, chicken sausages, and garlic salt.  I didn’t have any cheese, so I opened some laughing cow wedges, chopped them up, and sprinkled them on the frittata.

I had 2 squares – one square with Laughing Cow Blue Cheese and one square with the Sundried Tomato flavor.

Yum!!  I felt super healthy.

And then proceeded to eat my weight in dough balls.

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Who stole the onions?

…from the onion jar?

Who me? Not me! I would’ve if I had an onion jar.

Aren’t these flowers so pretty?  I saw them on a walk – my favorite colors!!

I really wasn’t feeling too hot yesterday due to the fact that Tuesday night was pint night downtown.  Heh.  Whoops.

Anyways, I hadn’t eaten much all day (think toast & cookie dough), and knew I needed some sort of nutrition before my afternoon hospital shift.  I also happened to be downtown near a deli I’ve always wanted to try.  I never eat out anymore – this was such a splurge!!

Smoked turkey, brie, & cranberry pecan relish (which I later found out they charged me an extra $2 for!?!  Ridiculous).

Mmmmm brie.  Huge chunks of brie (would’ve been better melted).

Hold the phone!!  Where are my onions??  If you’re gonna overcharge me for my relish, at least remember the onions!

Add avocado and this could easily have been the best sandwich of my life.

Would you believe me when I say this morning was my first time trying full-fat yogurt?  WOW – look how thick & creamy (do I even need to say it?  Really?  Fine.  TWSS).

I actually didn’t even realize this was full-fat until I took my first bite and moaned.  Mmmm.

With cereal of course.

I rarely buy sugary flavored yogurts, and never buy expensive brands such as Brown Cow.  But when it was on sale at Vons for 10 cents more than my Safeway brand yogurt (55 cents!!) I knew I had to try it!

In non-food-random-thoughts/news-bullet-form-ramblings:

• I worked 11 hours today
• Watched Inception last night (which was awesome, but I was slightly confused on the point – such as why they were going into that man’s dream?? Maybe I missed the whole point of the movie.  Probably)
• Am excited to go to the gym tomorrow.
• Ate way too much crap today – babysitting does that to me.  Boredom eating? Most likely.
• Have a canker sore on my tongue.  The tip of it.  So I keep rubbing it on my teeth making it worse.  Figures.
• TV Guide says “Back to the Future Part 2” is on TV right now, but really it’s part 1. How dare they.  They should know better.

 

PS: Word to the wise – this is what happens when you make popcorn after a night out and leave the container next to your bed.  I definitely didn’t realize it was there when I got up in the morning.

Now if only our vacuum was working.  That would make my life so much easier.

 

Winner of the Fiber One giveaway is……

#18:
kbwood 

id love to try their pancake mix!!

 

Congrats girl!  Email me your info

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Fiberfull

Want a little cocktail?

I *heart* Kahlua.

Plans fell through Saturday night, and in a “feeling sorry for my lame self sort of funk” I had Kahlua & almond milk as an appetizer, waffles for dinner and drank peach wine for dessert.

Breakfast food is always my go-to comfort food.

Trader Joe’s peach champagne is deeeelicious.  And Christmas decorations make it better.

Luckily Indiana Jones was on TV to cheer me up

 

Yesterday before work in the morning, I was running a bit late and had no bread for toast so instead I grabbed a quick bar!

I used to love Fiber One bars back in the day.  When I realized they contained high fructose corn syrup (which they don’t contain anymore – plus!!) I stopped buying them.  But recently My Blog Spark offered to send me a couple coupons to try out Fiber One products!  I decided to give them another go.

This bar tasted like I was eating candy for breakfast.  A tad sweet for me that early in the morning.  And you all know how I love my sweet breakfasts!  (Hello syrup, pumpkin butter, pumpkin cream cheese, etc).

It did, however, keep my stomach from grumbling for a good 2 1/2 hours until my breakfast break!

I also got a box of the mocha chip flavor – a brand new flavor to me!  This one was okay – I think I like the chocolate chip or peanut butter (which I’ve had in the past) better.

PS: My sister likes to call these “fart bars” (I think she picked it up from her friends, seeing as how she’s never tried them).  Although I have to say, neither bar gave me any problems I think my body is just too dang used to fiber haha.

I also had the pleasure of sampling two of their cereals at work:

Have to say I’m glad neither one containers high fructose corn syrup (something I’ve seen in their cereals before):

The Caramel Delight was delicious.  Like a caramel flavored cinnamon toast crunch.  The Frosted Shredded Wheat was also tasty, but I think I’d prefer Mini Wheats or Shredded Wheat brand.  I’ve also tried the Honey Clusters in the past and really liked them.

Back in my low-cal diety days, I used to love the Fiber One plain cereal (the one that looks like rat-poop.  You know?).  But deceivingly, it contains aspartame.  Which many people wouldn’t realize.  That’s one thing that really bothered me about the product.

I’m still a 100% advocate for natural sources of fiber (such as fruits, veggies, beans, and whole grain products) that don’t contain added fiber!  However, I do think that Fiber One products can be a great source of fiber for those people who are picky about their foods and don’t get enough fiber in their diet.

You can check out all their other goodies which include:

• Yogurt
• Cottage cheese
• Cereal
• Granola bars
• Toaster pastries (or Pop-Tarts)
• Baking products (muffin & pancake mix)
• Bread products (which I have yet to see!)

 

Would you like to try out Fiber One products for yourself? Leave a comment here telling me which product you’d most like to try out (or your favorite product of theirs) by Wednesday December 15 at 10 pm pacific time and I’ll announce the winner on Thursday.  The winner will receive:

• 2 coupons of Fiber One products
• a $25 Safeway gift card to try out other Fiber One products

 

You know you want some!!

Please note that the information, prize pack, and giveaway have all been provided by Fiber One through MyBlogSpark.

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Cheesus

Want to know something gross?

Yesterday I did something to make me sweat.  A lot.

What I’m trying to say is, that I exercised for the first time in 5 weeks.  I went to the gym.  And it felt awesome slightly painful.  But good.

My side pain is still there.  And it hurts (like an dull aching muscle type of hurt) when I contract my abs, twist to the side, etc.  As much as it’s improved, it’s now stayed the same for the past 1 1/2 weeks or so.  I figured I would try out the stairmaster (you know – that revolving staircase of death?).  Because your torso tends to stay straight and still while your legs do all the work. 

Well….it went fine!  Except for the sweating buckets part.  I sweat buckets gallons (I’m basing this on the fact that buckets are smaller than a gallon) on that thing.  I also did some incline walking on the treadmill (which did in fact hurt my abs – since you contract your abs while walking uphill.  Duh Taylor).  Some lower body machine work was thrown in there as well.  I’m taking it easy and slow for now.  It just felt good to do something active. 

Breakfast was waffles:

Taking a bath in peanut flour syrup, no less.

Multiple cups of this:

RIP super duper good creamer that I can’t buy more of because you’re not included in my “allowable grocery list.”

Lunch was a burnt flavorful grilled cheesus:

And dinner was at work.  Which consisted of:

• 2 Morningstar veggie patties
• Rotisserie chicken & BBQ sauce
• 3 JoJo oreos (which I have to say are better than real Oreos)
• 2 Diet Cokes

Super healthy, huh?  And super photogenic which is exactly why you don’t see a picture of it here right now.

 

Now I’m about to set off for the gym and see how it goes!  I need to take advantage of this gym membership I’m treating myself to.  Even though I get the month of December free. 

So I need to take advantage of this FREE gym membership that they’re treating me to this month before I hand over my money for the next 6 months.

 

I’m also hoping and crossing my fingers that my roommate is well enough and that my friends are all going out tonight.  With the recent stress, tons of work, and exhaustion, I seriously feel like I have no life.  I miss the party scene social scene involving alcohol.  It’ll be fun to get out there.

 

What are your plans on this fine Saturday evening?

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