I'm Back and Three Thanksgivings

Ok, so it's still busy at work and the internet is not fully functional at the apartment.  I thought when Boyfriend came home he could do his usual magic and have the wireless up and running in a jiffy.  Turns out there's something wrong with the router.  I'm not sure what happened, besides trying to use the internet to blog with photos from my laptop.  Blogs with photos are more interesting and fun to look at!  I will get to that soon.  It can be my pre-New Year's resolution.

Three Thanksgivings?  Well, I've already had Thanksgiving One, Thanksgiving with Friends, last Saturday night, which is always fun.  We all brought sides and had turkey and ham.  Two of my friends got engaged, too, so we got to hear the sweet story of how it happened.

Thanksgivings Two and Three happen tomorrow.  Thanksgiving Two, Thanksgiving with Family, Boyfriend's family that is, at two o'clock.  I feel so lucky to be included in their family.  We've done lots of things together, like going to Disney, and I am so grateful for their love and support.  We'll be headed over early to do some cooking (me) and set up the Christmas tree (him.)  Then it's over to my friend Nathan's for Thanksgiving Three, Thanksgiving with Co-Workers.  I plan on eating a lot of pumpkin and green beans on Thursday!

November 23, 2010
Breakfast- cappuccino with skim milk and hazelnut syrup, yogurt
Lunch- crock pot chicken with rice, salsa, and cheese, Skittles!
Snack- cheese and Nut-Thins
Dinner- Tomato soup
Dessert- vanilla ice cream

November 22, 2010
Breakfast- cappuccino with skim milk and hazelnut syrup, banana
Lunch- tortilla chips and salsa, rice with cheese
Dinner- crock pot chicken bbq, roasted broccoli, glass of white wine

Busy at Work, No Internet at Home

Title says it all... I'll be back to blogging next week, when internet (and sanity) are restored!

Saturday at work!

I do enjoy where I work... except on Saturdays!  It's very busy today, and I'm trying to field calls and emails from earlier this week.  But it is quite pretty...

Rodin Sculpture Garden at the NCMA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, November 12, 2010
Breakfast: cappuccino with skim milk and sugar, yogurt
Lunch: grilled chicken, pear, walnut and gorgonzola salad
Snack: dried cranberries and walnuts
Dinner: gluten-free pizza, mixed vegs, white wine

Spent the evening at home relaxing and watching HP & the Chamber of Secrets.  Fell asleep nice and early and was able to get up on time for the COCKROACH DISASTER.

I was in the shower and spotted something dark on the ceiling.  What?  A cockroach!  A big one.  Like a wild beast.  I watched him throughout my brief shower (very difficult to wash your face while staring at a bug.)  He scampered along the wall, losing traction in the steamy bathroom.  I turned off the water with plans to attack him with a shampoo bottle, but HE TOOK OFF FLYING.  I screamed (waking my upstairs neighbors, sorry) and stayed huddled in the shower for a few good minutes.  When I dared to check the surroundings for him, no where to be found.  I shook out my towel and dared step out of the shower.  Morning ruined as I gingerly stepped around the apartment. 

I've broken out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.  I have been told that he was an outdoor cockroach based on his size (and my proximity to a wooded area) but still am GROSSED out.  I will be drowning my apartment in RAID and hoping for the best. 

Back on Track

I originally typed "Bake on Track."  That would be my subconscious crying out for a cookie already.  That would be from not eating enough during the day, which is from not packing an actual lunch.  The lesson here is not to be lazy but that's easier said than done in my case.

I have not been sleeping well lately but it has been much easier to wake up in the morning and stay awake all day.  Yes, that is a feat for me.  I think the gluten-free diet has revved up my energy and benefited my general health.  I would love to come off of or decrease some of my medications next.

Happy spot from this weekend: I was able to fit into some jeans that were previously too tight!  Yes, they still pinched at the waist but I could button them.  Victory!  I was stuck in a SINGLE PAIR OF JEANS for many months because I refused to buy more bigger pants.  Now to get my "kinda skinny" jeans so they're comfortable and I can dare to try on even more old jeans, like my actual "skinny jeans." 

November 11, 2010
Breakfast: cappuccino with skim milk and sugar, yogurt
Lunch: trail mix and a banana
Dinner: grilled chicken, rosemary potatoes and gorgonzola salad, french fries stolen from mom's plate.

STRESS eating

I'm sure no one can relate.  Things get crazy, and all I want to do is munch munch munch.  I have been indulging so badly I can't even post the actual daily demolition on here.  It was gluten-free nosh though, so I guess I didn't do too bad!

Among the things that have been devoured when placed in front of me:
gluten-free pizza
tons of roasted veggies
Almond Nut-Thins
Philadelphia Pumpkin Ready to Eat Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling
Gluten-free gingersnaps (they were my utensil for the cheesecake filling)
whipped cream (bought for strawberries, eaten with cheesecake)
spaghetti squash with lots of sauce and cheese
white wine like nobody's business (thank you, Meredith's birthday party)
Cheddar cheese studded with cranberries

 I think the moral of the story is that I should never invest in a tub of ready-to-eat cheesecake filling.  It seemed like such a yummy idea... but it was meant to be an entire pie for an entire GROUP of people.  And I ate it in under a week.  It's so very gross and must be admitted to the world wide web so I can get over it and move on with my life.

I know being busy at work is good for the museum.  I do understand that.  But, it's going to drive me to the crazy house.  Hopefully I can be a little more forceful in my calls so people stop lolly-gagging.  Which is a fun word.

I will post actual eats tomorrow now that the cheesecake is in recycling heaven.

A Dose of Cynicism

Ok, so I don't LOVE my job.  It usually goes pretty well and people are generally nice... until this week when the fires of hell took up residence in my office.  This is most likely because I feel weird about chasing people down to make them pay for things.  I would totally suck at telemarketing.  I'm hoping that things will go more smoothly next week and I won't be too on edge.  Man, could I use a cupcake!

Mom took me to Whole Foods with her after an art opening to get some gluten-free goodies.  Among said goodies were Blue Diamond Nut Thins.  I must have been dying to snack because I ate half of the box (only two servings) in one sitting!  Also bought gluten-free pizza crust and gingersnaps.

Day ? I give up! ? - Friday, November 5, 2010
Breakfast: coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup; yogurt
Lunch: BBQ (probably not gluten-free) chicken, green beans, sweet potatoes with marshmallows!
Dinner: tomato-zucchini soup from Whole Foods, Nut Thins and lots of them, spinach artichoke dip

Thursday, November 4, 2010
Breakfast: coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup, yogurt
Lunch: zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes with chicken sausage, mini Baby Ruth
Dinner:  brown rice with beans, salsa, and cheese
Dessert: two glasses of white wine at the Bargain Box

Wednesday, November 3
Breakfast: coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup, yogurt
Lunch: turkey taco meat with brown rice, cheese, and salsa
Dinner: zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes with chicken sausage, glass o' white wine

Suuuuper Busy at Work

So, I've been super busy at work and exhausted at home.  I broke into the white wine, as was necessary after a day like I had.  In fact, wine will probably show up in today's menu as well.  We went to see It's Kind of a Funny Story last night, which was pretty good.  Note to self: movies on weeknights are empty!

Day 7 - Monday, November 1, 2010

Breakfast- skim chai tea latte, banana
Lunch- 1/2 apple chicken pecan salad and baked potato from Wendy's
Dinner- sesame chicken with white rice (naught, naughty), hard cider, fortune cookie, Reeces cup

Day 8 - Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Breakfast- coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup, yogurt
Lunch- rest of the sesame chicken with white rice, 2 mini Butterfingers
Snack- almonds, glass of white wine
Dinner- turkey taco meat with green peppers and onions, brown rice, and cheese
Dessert- Sour Patch watermelons at the movies

Weekend Eats & Halloween Sweets

Day 5 - Saturday, October 30, 2010

Breakfast: coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup, banana
Lunch: Brown Rice California Rolls, Airhead and Airhead lollipop
Dinner: Whole Foods Buffet: chicken tikka masala, sweet potatoes, brown rice, snap peas and broccoli, ginger ale
Dessert: Cinnamon glazed pecans at the hockey game! (We lost.)

Day 6 - Sunday, October 31, 2010

Breakfast: skim chai tea latte
Lunch: half an apple, chicken & corn soup
Snack: mini bag of popcorn
Dinner: chicken, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes
Dessert: 2 hard ciders and 4 Reeces cups (whoops... it was Halloween.)

Fall Hair and Milkshakes!

I finally got my hair done!  It was looking a little washed out from all the summer sun, and I needed my fall colors highlighted in.  Cut as well.  Haircuts are so frustrating when you're trying to grow your hair out.  I want it to look healthy and well-shaped but even cutting off the split ends feels like negative progress.  So, yay to new hair color, boo (a little) to new hair cut.

I celebrated getting my hair did with a Cookout milkshakes with Reeces cups.  Also joining in the celebration, boyfriend and two friends, because I'm the best girlfriend/friend in the world and treated them to shakes as well.  Sooo good, but I'll admit to missing my standard Oreo or Banana Pudding shake.

Day four - Friday, October 29, 2010
Breakfast: coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup, banana
Lunch:  vegetarian chili, fun-size PayDay
Hair appointment snack:  two glasses of red wine
Dinner: chicken, brown rice and broccolini
Dessert:  Cookout Reeces cups milkshake

Not So Fruity

Day Three - Thursday, October 28, 2011

Breakfast:  coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup, yogurt
Lunch:  half of a spaghetti squash with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese, mini Butterfinger
Dinner:  marinated chicken with half a sweet potato as oven baked fries
Dessert:  kettle corn from the State Fair, 3 pieces of Finnish candy

Three days doing a food journal and the obvious conclusion is:  a) I have a massive sweet tooth, and Halloween is approaching and b) I don't eat much fruit.

Candy is EVERYWHERE right now, but being gluten-free has hardly held me back.  The only candy I'm missing is a KitKat.  I'm glad there is candy all over the office because it's keeping me from missing cookies and cupcakes.  And doughnuts.  And processed carby goodness.

I'm not eating anything when I get home from work now, where as before I might have grabbed some little snack like a tortilla or some graham crackers.  I'm starving by dinner but I guess that's better than being full THEN eating dinner.

Part of my "prescription" from Dr. Delaney was not to exercise yet.  With the amount of energy I've gained so far, I'm getting "exercise guilt."  You know that feeling when you know you should work out, but you don't for whatever reason?  I feel like since I have a little energy I should be using it to burn calories and get in shape.  I'm expecting some weight loss being gluten-free, even with the candy-palooza that is happening.  Keeping the carbs lower is supposed to keep my blood sugar from spiking and causing my body to store calories as fat.  We'll see!

As to my fruity dilemma, I'm making myself eat a banana tomorrow.  Ok, so I'm out of yogurt for breakfast and the banana is my only other option without going to the store.  I love vegetables and preparing them, but I never seem to want to prepare fruit.  I don't like a lot of different things, and isn't fruit more of a seasonal thing anyway?  I guess pears and apples are in season, though I don't like making the mess and taking the time to peel them.  I'd like to try to eat fruit every day, but every other day might be a more realistic goal for me.

Good, but not as good as advertised...

Last night's culinary adventure led me to spaghetti squash.  I've read on many a blog how delicious it is and how it tastes just like spaghetti.  Sorry, folks.  FALSE!  I may just be obsessed with pasta, making me hyper-sensitive to how it should taste.  Not saying that it was bad, though.  It was pretty good, but not my classic spaghetti.

I cut the massive squash in half, scooped the seeds, drizzled a bit of olive oil on it and set it face down on a baking sheet to cook for 40 minutes at 400 degrees.  The best part of my meal was forking out the spaghetti strands.

Day Two - Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Breakfast: coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup, yogurt
Lunch: leftover chicken with peppers, onions and broccoli on rice with salsa and cheese, little lollipop
Dinner: half of a spaghetti squash with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese, some butternut squash, a forkful of babagnouj (thanks, Will), the rest of the candy corn pumpkins (there were only 5 left!)
Dessert: Skinny Cow chocolate ice cream bar.

I miss my gluten!  I guess the first days are the hardest.  I think my energy level has already gone up a little and my concentration has improved.  Looking forward to more benefits!

You can't eat what?!?!

So, what can't I eat?  Meat, eggs, and pork: are suspected to give me headaches.  Soy and shrimp: make me sick.  And the latest, and possibly most deliciously craved, GLUTEN.

That's right, the cupcake queen has gone gluten-free.  And I don't think it'll be too pretty.

Why gluten-free?  As modern medicine continues to be baffled by my recurring symptoms (headaches, exhaustion, dizziness, tummy troubles, etc) I went back to the naturopathic doctor, Dr. Susan Delaney, I saw a few years ago who cleared up my issues before.  After going over my symptoms, diet and medications, she pointed out that many people who suffer from what is ailing me are gluten-intolerant.  But I was tested for celiac disease!  Apparently the sensitivity to gluten does not show up as the same as a gluten allergy.  This might even explain why I developed my allergies to beef, pork and eggs.

So after kissing pizza and beer goodbye (my last "gluten" meal included Lilly's pizza and Punkin Ale), I have begun my gluten-free life style.  Or at least my 3 week trial period.  The kitchen is loaded with vegetables and proteins, and I'm ready to eat!

Day One - Tuesday, October 26, 2011
Breakfast: Yogurt, coffee with skim milk and chocolate syrup
Lunch: chicken salad on a salad, mini Butterfinger
Dinner: chicken with onions, peppers, and broccoli on rice with salsa and cheese, candy corn pumpkins (I may have gone overboard with these!) 


*Inspired by my recent interest in healthy living blogs and growing dietary restrictions, I decided to start a blog.  Thanks for stopping by!*