Well, first things first: today’s photo of the day!
The prompt: “chair”.
This is one of my favorite chairs in our house. Many people who come over for the first time assume that it’s been in the family for years, but really, my parents bought it just a few years ago (the secret’s out). I just love how old fashioned it looks, and despite that, it’s also really comfortable!
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So…if you haven’t noticed, my pictures have been looking a bit more…um…”artsy”. Or something. That’s because last Thursday I got an iPhone 4S! I have been playing around with it’s camera and Instagram ever since. I love it!! Here are a few of my favorite photos so far. They are, of course, of Ella. š
Having a stare-down with her tennis ball.
All cuddled up. Is there anything better than a sleepy puppy??
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Well. I had lots of goooooood eats this week, so on to WIAW!
WIAW
Hosted by Jenn of Peas and Crayons!
Breakfasts
Yum yum yum.
Greek yogurt, Special K, and raisins.
And of course this chocolate chip cherry splurge. š
Lunches
For Christmas Eve dinner this past year, I made Ina Garten’s pot roast recipe. The roast was a huge hit, but it was the sauce that I kept remembering. I had been craving it for weeks, but couldn’t make it because I wasn’t eating meat. However, this past Sunday, I made the roast again and have been enjoying that incredible-beyond-words sauce over quinoa for some of my lunches!
Gosh that stuff is good. I honestly think I could eat it with a spoon!
Yesterday, I had a few friends over for lunch. I decided to make enchiladas using my mom’s recipe, but instead of making them with chicken for the protein, I used pinto beans. After experimenting with vegetarian/Pescetarian food last month, I’ve come to realize that not only do I not need meat with every meal, but I kind of don’t even want it with every meal. I think a lot of it has to do with texture. I don’t want to get too detailed (because just thinking about cartilage, for example, makes me gag), but let’s just say I’d rather have to chew through a strange texture from beans or tofu rather than from chicken, if that makes sense.
Anyway, these were delicious and I will be posting the recipe next week for Meat Free Monday! Stay tuned!
Going along those same lines, a few days ago, I decided to make a salad with tofu as the protein. Normally, I would have topped it with a baked chicken breast, but I decided to use baked tofu (seasoned with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper) instead just to try it. I really enjoyed it and will be making that switch more often, I think!
Also on the salad were strawberries, cucumbers, and balsamic vinegar.
Snacks
Over the week, I’ve had a few iced green tea lemonades. I love these things.
I hope it means I’m beginning to like tea. It just doesn’t seem right for an Anglophile to not like tea, does it? š
Dinners
My parents and I went out to dinner the other night and I enjoyed this fantastic salmon salad. Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded cheese, bacon, an amazing grilled salmon filet, and balsamic vinegar (I took the red onions off, because I am not a fan). So good.
Um ok. Let’s talk about this for a second.
I know that many of you enjoy mac and cheese just as much as I do, so if you’re one of those people, go out to the stores right now and buy the latest Food Network magazine (it’s the cheese edition). This is the Italian Baked Mac and Cheese made with fontina and gruyere and ohhhhh my gosh is it good. I made a big ol’ batch of it on Friday and have only good things to say about it, but as it’s not my recipe, I unfortunately can’t share it with you. š¦ Just promise me you’ll get your hands on that magazine! š
This is already a very packed post, but I’ll share one more amazing dinner with you all.
The other night my mom made these pork chops, which were stuffed with Craisins and stuffing/dressing – you know, the Thanksgiving kind? – and wow, were they good.
Like I said, I had lots of good eats over the last week! š
Desserts
For dessert, I’ve enjoyed a few bowls of light chocolate ice cream with crushed pretzels (love that sweet/salty combo) the last couple of days.
And, well, you might already know about THESE.
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Workouts March 3-9
Sunday: off
Monday: 40 minutes elliptical trainer + Quick Lower Body Workout
Tuesday: 55 minute walk on treadmill with varying elevation
Wednesday: 6 Week 6 Pack + 20 minutes elliptical trainer
Thursday: rest
Friday: P90X Plyometrics
Saturday: 40 minutes elliptical trainer + strength training
In other news, I don’t really have much other news. š As I said yesterday, I’ve really been enjoying my break and enjoying the time away from my computer. I don’t know about you all, but as a student, I feel like I am constantly staring at a computer screen doing essays, reading online articles, researching, etc. I’ve also noticed that I tend to blog/read blogs/pin when I have lots to do, which means that during the school week, I am literally at my computer almost every hour of the day. So, long story short, this break has been much needed, and I am really enjoying my time off.
I also just realized that, if I don’t go on to grad school, this is my last spring break as a student. EVER.
I just freaked myself out. Oi.
Question for the day:
If you have an iPhone, what are some of your favorite apps? I’ve gotten a couple (Pandora, BBC, CNN, Shazam, and Shop Well) but would love to hear your suggestions!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!! š
Yay for the iphone!!! I’ll find you on isntagram š I’m @iheartveggies and most of my pictures are food hahaha
As soon as I figure out how to use it, I’ll look you up! And mine are turning out to be mostly food or Ella. š
Woah jam packed post! I LOVE MAC AND CHEESE! YUMMMMMMMM. That is all š
Mac and cheese for the win!! š
I am glad you are enjoying this break to the fullest, let me tell you that you will miss it next year
Thanks! Well, I’m aiming to be a teacher, so I suppose one of the perks is always having a spring break! š
seriously all your food looks delectable. Ella is such a cutie toooo!
Thanks!!
Oh man, I want all of that food! Looks delicious!!!
I am addicted to Instagram (healthyfoodandfamily)
I still have to figure out how to use it exactly, but when I do, I’ll find you!
Oh my.. totally drooling over your eats!
Haha thanks!
I have Pinterest, US weekly and Woodtv apps. Love you!
I didn’t realize Pinterest is an app?! Definitely checking that one out. Thanks for the tip! Love you too!
Woo hoo! Congrats on the iPhone! I’ve had one for like four years now and I swear I could never see myself going back to a “regular” phone! I love Pandora, and Shazaam, but I swear Instagram is what gets me into the most trouble! Sooo addicting!
And seriously, everything you posted looks absolutely DELICIOUS!! ESPECIALLY those enchiladas! And that dressing stuffed pork chop? *swoon* I LOVE pairing fruit with pork…YUM! And sweet and salty combos are the BEST! Pretzels and potato chips are two of my favorite ice cream toppers!
Haha thanks! I’ve only had mine for about a week now and I can’t imagine going back either!
Thank you! I totally agree, I think pork is best paired with fruit. I’ve never thought about putting potato chips on ice cream before, but I’m totally going to try it now!!
Wow that salmon salad looks amazing! Looks like you had some delicious eats.
I sure did! Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t have an iPhone, but I have an iPod touch. Some of my favorite apps are the kindle/nook book apps, Don’t Push the Red Button, Temple Run, Cut the Rope, and Yahtzee. All are kind of addicting š
I’m glad that you are enjoying your Spring Break! And I really like your photo-a-day project!
Oooh, I’ll have to check those out! Thanks for the suggestions!
Happy WIAW! Your right, there is nothing better than a sleeping puppy. Your mac n cheese looks great. And your mom’s stuffed pork chop looks good too. š
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Oh, I’m glad to read your comments! I’m not the only one who gets tortured while looking at your food! š
For the iPhone, gosh, it’s mainly work stuff – boring; but I can imagine surviving without my phone š
š I really can’t imagine how I did anything without it, either!
Clearly, I need to find that magazine…that mac and choose looks delicious. Although really, when does mac and cheese NOT look incredible?
Well, that is a very good point! š
Mac and cheese….swoon…although everything looks really delicious. Your pooch is adorable too and my favorite iPhone apps are Morsel, Mindful Meditation, Words With Friends, Pinterest, People, I guess all of them. I’m hooked.
I’ll check all of those out! I just grabbed the Pinterest app, and I’m definitely addicted already! š