Belgium to Italy

I started off my day before work with an amazing breakfast that took me all the way to Belgium. Yesterday at the grocery store I had a craving for waffles so I knew exactly what my creation would be this morning.



I enjoy 3 Vans Waffles topped with scrambled egg whites and syrup. A banana with white chocolate peanut butter added the right amount of sweetness to complete my breakfast. Even if these waffles were not from Belgium, they were big and fluffy enough to do the trick.



The past week or so has been a blurr with all the changes in my life but through it all I have decided to always have a running to do list for my life. I guess you could say it is my "bucket list." One of the things on my list that was easy enough to accomplish was make a dish with polenta in it. During my trip to the grocery store yesterday I spotted some pre-made polenta from the good folks and Melissa's. There were many different flavors like sun-dried tomato but I decided on the plain for my first taste. Here is what I came up with for my lunch today.



I sliced half of the polenta in to 4 sections and topped with some chickpeas, garlic pasta sauce, baby bellas, and low fat cobly jack cheese. I added a Gala apple for a small dessert.



The polenta was firm yet still creamy in texture with a flavor that was not to over-powering. After my trip in Belgium this morning, I could not believe I had already made it to Italy.

Comfort Food

During times of change and stress many people including myself use food for comfort. The past few days I have really been trying to figure out what foods I am craving and then going for it. Yesterday I felt that oatmeal was something I needed, a big bowl of warm oatmeal to start my day. I love my oatmeal to be more savory with a hint of sweetness.




Since it is a work day for me I whipped up a batch of oats in the microwave while making some scrambled egg whites. I mixed those together with a little honey and added a banana with white chocolate peanut butter. As you have noticed I do measure my peanut butter in a tablespoon so I do not get carried away and eat half the jar. My breakfast was just what I needed to start my day and hopefully keep full for the morning rush at work.

Hot One

The day has been progressing in slow motion mainly because it is SO HOT! I have been working the past few days so I have been fortunate enough to miss the heat. I decided that the best thing today was to get out and get moving. I started out my day at the gym with an easy 6 miles then weights. It felt SO GOOD to just run. I just wanted to run, without it the day would have not been complete. After my run I headed home for a light lunch that consisted of steamed broccoli/cauliflower and a tuna sandwich. Next on my day was Barnes and Noble for coffee with a friend to "talk."



It was good to see a smiling familiar face. Since it was so hot I decided on a Starbucks Vivanno smoothie to help bring down the heat. After the bookstore I headed over to Wal-mart. Word to the wise, never go to Wal-Mart the Saturday before school starts. Nightmare! My only reason for going was to buy some big Rubbermade containers to put all my wedding planning stuff and anything to do with Jamie away. I have not started this process yet. I need some time to process everything before saying goodbye to it all.

Bittersweet Day

Well I told you that I would divulge later into details about my glooming day so here goes. After 2+ years of dating and 7 month engagement, my fiance and I have ended our relationship. There are so many emotions to feel right now yet really not knowing what to feel. The decision is something that has been slowing progressing for some time now but we were to afraid to face it nor did we want to give up hope for us. But in the past few weeks since deciding to postpone our relationship it became apparent to us that we no longer wanted to marry each other or even be in a relationship. Through our relationship we have dealt with some difficult life changes that caused stress and hurt feelings. It is from those hurt feelings and inability to overcome differences that we have decided to part ways.

The day is bittersweet because my heart breaks for the loss this relationship but my faith in God has taught me that through trials and tribulations we are made stronger through His strength as he carries us. I am being shown once again that "many are the plans in my heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." --Proverbs 19:21

Sweet Crunching

Sorry for the late post, yesterday was a rough day for me and I just needed a break from the world last night. I will go into details at a later time. For lunch at work I enjoyed another amazing salad with diced chicken, veggies, and black/kidney beans.




As I have blogged many times, I love to mix different textures together. A great combination is cottage cheese topped with some fruit and cereal. Today I put together some Kashi Golean Almond Flax with fresh blueberries and 2% cottage cheese. It was quite tasty and gave me a nice surge of energy to complete my day.

Slow Moving Morning

Yesterday was a busy day for me that ended late with my small group bible study. Normally I shower at night before work but I decided that since last night would be a late night it would be better to push my shower till the morning. Umm, bad decision. I awoke to a heavy dead feeling throughout my body that I am still feeling after 2 hours of wakefulness and a shower. It is going to be an interesting day. Onto good eats! I knew breakfast needed to include my Amazing Grass greens powder. I always seem to have more energy when I include them into my daily eats. So I whipped up the yummy breakfast that always seems to satisfy.

Brain Freeze

Man it is a hot one outside! After my staff meeting at the hospital I was desperate for a cool off. Once I came home I put together a go to smoothie that always hits the spot.



Ingredients
Light Silk vanilla soy
Amazing Grass chocolate greens powder, 2 scoops
Banana, frozen
Blueberries, frozen
Dark chocolate coco powder
7 ice cubes

When I freeze the fruit before + 7 ice cubes, the smoothie comes out to the consistancy of soft-serve yogurt. Love it! Now off to a Doctor's appointment then small group bible study. See ya later!