Casual & Comfortable

Trivia was a blast as always! I went with Rebekah, Katie, and Cameron and met up with Jody, Mary Alice, and Katherine. We merged together to form a dominant team. We didn't win, but I think that's just because we don't cheat!

We went for comfort last night! T-shirts were a great call.

I woke up early this morning to study for my Italian quiz and mixed Kashi Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal, 1/2 C skim milk, 1/2 sliced banana, 1 T chia seeds, and Justin's Maple AB together for a warm and filling breakfast. I could eat this every day and never get sick of it!

Lunch was a stuffed pasta shell with marinara sauce and big salad. I topped my salad with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli salad and a drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette. I also had a bowl of cantaloupe, honeydew, and grapes for dessert.

I'm trying to keep all my options open, so I worked on my graduate school application all afternoon. I finally submitted it, and it's due tomorrow! Procrastination much? During the process, I stopped for a coffee break and had a snack of lemon Chobani Greek yogurt with slivered almonds and strawberries. The lemon flavor has a "pulpy" texture that I really like.

I went to the Rec Center and ran 4.5 miles around the indoor track. It was a little boring and repetitive, but I didn't feel like running outside today (still too cold for me). Exercise really is the best stress reliever! I felt so energized when I left. 

While I was out, I picked up a veggie wrap from the refrigerated section at Manna for dinner. It came on a spinach wrap and was stuffed full with veggies. I heated it up in the microwave before eating it. Sadly, I didn't love it! Maybe it was the massive artichoke hearts and parmesan cheese? I kinda picked it apart and ate what I wanted. I did like the guacamole, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers! It was decent, but I probably wouldn't get it again. In addition, I had a handful of Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips. The perfect way to satisfy my salty cravings!

And then to satisfy my sweet cravings, Rebekah and I walked to Yogurt Lab. They had these coupons at the sorority house, so how could we resist? Look, it even says highly nutritious.

I got a mix of angel food cake and red velvet cake yogurt with toasted coconut, pecans, mochi, and Ashley Mac's strawberry cake (got so excited when I saw this was a topping!!!). Frozen yogurt is just so good! I love that you can always be creative with flavors and toppings now that most yogurt stores are self-serve.

Now I'm sitting in my pj's and sipping Stash Peppermint Hot Tea. I'm thinking about relaxing with either a book or a movie.

I don't have class tomorrow, and I'm going to the Avett Brothers and Band of Horses concert with Mary Alice! My parents are coming for Alpha Chi Parent's Weekend on Saturday, and we're going to dinner at Evangeline's with Cameron and her parents. Fun times are ahead!

My 8 AM class ended for the semester today! I also found out I don't have class next Thursday or Friday and am planning a trip to Nashville with Laura and Ann. April is going to be a good month:)

Sweet Potatoes & Squash

It's Wednesday night, and I'm ready for trivia! Rain + two tests makes for a not very fun day.

I switched things up for breakfast by having a toasted Arnold's Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin spread with PB & Co White Chocolate Wonderful and a sliced banana. I sprinkled chia seeds over the top after I snapped the photo.

I grabbed a quick lunch in a to-go box and ate upstairs in the "study room", while I reviewed problems for my math test. Lunch was Garlic Beef and Broccoli and salad consisting of mixed greens, diced tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, sunflower seeds, and raisins. I dressed the salad with EVOO and balsamic vinegar. I also ate a Peanut Butter Pretzel Clif Mojo Bar. I met with one of my teachers this afternoon to discuss job opportunities, and she was really encouraging and helpful!

After my tests were over for the day, I ate a Pink Lady and went to the Rec Center for a workout of 45 minutes on the arc trainer and 20 on the bike. I came back to the sorority house just in time for dinner, which was bourbon glazed pork chops, squash, and sweet potatoes (I sprinkled a little brown sugar and cinnamon on top). The squash and sweet potatoes were the highlights of the dinner. Two of my favorite vegetables (and in the same meal)! The pork chops were actually really good too but hard to cut with plastic knives. We all reverted back to our primitive ways and decided to just use our hands when necessary (no judging involved)!

Katie, Laura, and I just returned from Yogurt Lab, which is also starting to become a Wednesday night tradition. I got a mix of cookies and cream and peanut butter yogurt topped with Iz granola, a mini butterscotch cookie, and a few mini PB cups.

Off to finish getting ready. Have a great night!

Salad Scare

Brrrr! Another cold(ish) and dreary day in Tuscaloosa (it felt like summer last week), but that's fickle Alabama weather for ya. I warmed up with Kashi Maple and Brown Sugar oatmeal, 1/2 C skim milk, 1 T chia seeds, 1/2 sliced banana, and 1/2 packet Justin's Honey PB.

After my morning classes, I went to Manna with my mom and grandmother for our weekly lunch. We beat the crowd by getting there at 11, but it was packed by the time we left at 12! I got the Black Bean Burger with a side of fresh fruit (cantaloupe, pineapple, grapes). It came on a whole grain bun and was topped with melted cheese, avocado slices, lettuce, tomato, and salsa. I smothered my burger in organic ketchup after the picture was taken. I would definitely order this again!

A little gem hidden in Tuscaloosa!

Mid-afternoon snack was a Pink Lady with the rest of my Justin's Honey PB packet + Quaker Oatmeal Squares. After photography class was over, Mary Alice and I went for a 3 mile run around downtown Tuscaloosa. I finished up by running 2 miles by myself around The Quad. After talking with a teacher today, we found out we placed 2nd and 3rd in our age group in the 10k on Saturday!

Afterwards I ate my late plate of chicken parm, linguini, garlic bread, and tossed salad. The salad consisted of mixed greens, strawberries, walnuts, feta, and...ham. EWWW! Ham?!?! Who eats ham on a salad? Especially one with fruit and nuts? I still wanted the salad (and it was good sans the ham), so I tried to eat around it but was seriously grossed out. I'm currently eating pomegranate Chobani Greek yogurt + strawberries as a dessert/study snack.

It looks normal, right? Don't be deceived!

I have a busy night of studying for my two tests tomorrow, but I'm home free after that!

Night!

White Chocolate Wonderful

Today's breakfast featured...

a new nut butter!!! While I was at Target yesterday, I was intrigued by this jar of PB & Co White Chocolate Wonderful and decided to give it a try. I made a pretty standard bowl of oats consisting of 1 packet of Kashi Maple and Brown Sugar, 1/2 C skim milk, 1/2 sliced banana, 1 T chia seeds, and a spoonful of my new nut butter. It was sweet-tasting (it has 7 g of sugar per serving compared to the usual 3 g) and would be delicious incorporated into a dessert (think PB cookies!) Yum!

I did the class thing this morning and came back to the sorority house for lunch. We had pita pizzas, which is right up my alley! I got a slice of spinach, artichoke, chicken, and feta and one with pesto, mozzarella, and sun dried tomatoes with a big salad on the side. Naturally, I went back for more pizza.

I squeezed in a 45 minute workout on the arc trainer in between lunch and my 3 PM class. I ate a Pink Lady with a spoonful of PB & Co White Chocolate Wonderful before class.

I'm glad that I have an easy last semester and that I've had time to train for a half-marathon and start a blog (things I never would've been able to do with my schedule last semester), but sometimes I get so bored and feel like I waste time. I've found that I'm much more productive and get more accomplished when I'm busy.

Dinner was teriyaki chicken, green beans, rice pilaf, and rolls. Another great meal! The sorority house menu has been kinda slacking lately, but we have an awesome lineup this week. (I also heard talk about an oatmeal bar at breakfast next week!!!) Dessert was Fearless Exploding Coconuts dark chocolate, strawberries, and Stash Peppermint Hot Tea.

I have two tests and a quiz this week, but I don't have class on Friday and am going to see The Avett Brothers and Band of Horses in concert!!!

To-Do List before I graduate:
1) Go to the Rec pool.
2) Climb the rock climbing wall at the Rec.
3) Go to Summer Snow...multiple times.
4) Eat midnight sushi at Surin.
5) Eat breakfast at City Cafe when it opens at 4 AM.
6) Eat dinner at Five, Opus, and Kozy's (this might have to be when my parents are in town).
7) Go to jazz night at The Alcove.
8) Go to Bear Trap in the middle of the afternoon.

There's probably more, but that's all I can think of right now. Good night!

The Rest of My Weekend

Once I got to Birmingham, I met my parents for lunch at Zoe's Kitchen. I ordered the Greek Salad and added grilled chicken. Love the pita bread, caramelized onions, and potato salad hidden on the bottom of the salad!

I ran a few errands, got fitted for my bridesmaid dress, and watched TV at home. I went to my favorite restaurant, Bottega Cafe, for dinner! Sometimes I like to order two appetizers instead of one entree while eating out. Dinner may seem a little random, but I liked being able to try a couple of different items. My dad and I split the Baked Feta to start, which came with spicy marinara and toasted focaccia bread. I ordered the Baked Farm Eggs as my main dish. The eggs were baked over leeks, polenta, and pancetta. Savory and satisfying! At dinner, we discussed our family trip to Paris and London after my graduation in May!!!

Bottega has the best bread!

We thought about ordering a dessert to split 3 ways but nothing really caught our eye, and we didn't really want a heavy dessert. Instead, we went to Mountain Brook Creamery for only 8 yogurt. I got a small cup of strawberry, except it wasn't really that small. I still ate every bite!

After dinner, I headed back to Tuscaloosa and met up with some friends at Innisfree (aka "The Free"). This seems to be my place of the week. 

I watched a podcast this morning, while eating a bowl of 3/4 C Quaker Oatmeal Squares, 1/4 C Barbara's PB Puffins, 1/2 C skim milk, and blueberries. I relaxed all morning and caught up on blogs. 

Lunch was an Arnold's Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin topped with Justin's Maple AB and sliced banana. I had strawberry Oikos Greek yogurt and Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Chips on the side.

I studied and worked on homework all afternoon at Panera Bread, went to Target, and made a 6 PM meeting. I drank coffee and ate a Bartlett Pear and handful of almonds + dried cranberries somewhere in the middle of that. After my meeting was over, I got dinner to-go at Chipotle. I was craving the Veggie Burrito Bowl! I filled my bowl with cilantro lime rice, black beans, fajita veggies, salsa, a little cheese, and guac. So good!

Hope you enjoy the last bit of your weekend!

My First 10k

I did it! And, you know what? It felt GOOD! I set my alarm clock for 6:30 this morning and headed straight to Starbucks to get a coffee before my run. Oh, the things I do for caffeine. I also ate a banana with a very generous spoonful of Justin's Maple AB and a handful of dried cranberries. I loved the laid back atmosphere of the race, the weather was great, and the terrain was flat. Mary Alice and I ran the whole thing together and chatted the whole time. It was quite enjoyable! I started to fade at the end, and I was so thankful to have MA there to keep me motivated. We finished strong and our time was 57:35, which I was ecstatic about! I just wanted to finish in under an hour. Lots of yummy food was provided after the race! I had a Whole Grain bagel from Panera Bread with hazelnut cream cheese, a mix of grapes and strawberries, and more coffee. I also grabbed two Clif Mojo Bars for later.

Cardinal Park

Best bagel I've had in awhile!

Feelin' good! And sporting my new jacket from Lululemon!

It's Panhellenic Weekend, which is a sorority rush preview for high school seniors. Because they will be touring all of the sorority houses, we are not allowed to enter or leave the sorority houses from 12-6:30. We either have to stay in the house all day or go somewhere else. I don't feel like being confined for 6 1/2 hours, so I'm off to Birmingham for the day. Have a great Saturday!

Pool Day

There ended up being an 1 1/2 wait at El Rincon, so we went to Don Rafa's instead. I ordered a Chicken Fajita Quesadilla with lettuce, tomato, and guacamole on the side.

Katie, Stephanie, Me, and Erica at Don Rafa's

After dinner, we went to Innisfree Irish Pub. Two nights in a row! I tried a beer called Magic Hat #9 per my friend Erica's recommendation. Loved it!

All the girls celebrating Hilary's birthday

I only have one class at 11 on Fridays, so I slept in and read this morning. Breakfast was a bowl of 1 C Kashi Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon, 1/2 C skim milk, a sliced banana, and blueberries.

It was my kind of lunch at the sorority house today! I had two mini turkey burgers on an Arnold's Whole Wheat Sandwich Thin with sweet potato fries and broccoli salad.

After lunch, I layed out at the pool for a few hours with Callie, Rebekah, and Sarah. It was a nice relaxing Friday afternoon! I planned on going for a light run later but that didn't happen. I ate dinner at Newk's with Callie, Sarah, and Catherine. I am getting kinda sick of the sandwiches and wanted to load up on carbs for tomorrow's 10k, so I ordered the Margherita Pizza and half of a Simply Salad with sherry vinaigrette on the side. I ate 4 slices and boxed up the rest. 

Right now Rebekah and I are watching The A-Team. For some reason, I was still hungry and wanted something sweet so I just threw together a bowl of strawberry Oikos Greek yogurt, blueberries, slivered almonds, and a few white chocolate and chocolate covered pretzels for a bedtime snack. It hit the spot!

 I'm staying in the rest of the night and going to bed early to prep for my run tomorrow. I've never ran a 10k before, so I'm a little nervous! Hope you have a great night!

Scarlet Letter

Due to the basketball game last night, trivia was cancelled. We were disappointed but still managed to have a good time!

Even though I didn't have my 8 AM class today, I couldn't sleep in. Hate it when that happens! I layed in my bed and watched the Today Show, so I guess I still got to be lazy this morning:) Breakfast was a mix of Oikos Greek yogurt, Quaker Oatmeal Squares, blueberries, slivered almonds, and Justin's Maple AB.

I picked up my cap and gown after class this morning. Isn't it awful? The red "A" reminds me of The Scarlet Letter!

Lunch was a baked potato topped with cheddar cheese, chives, and a dollop of sour cream. I had a spinach salad (mixed with strawberries, mandarin oranges, feta, and walnuts) and honeydew and cantaloupe on the side.

I was in the math lab for 2 1/2 hours today! This is seriously getting ridiculous. I was so ready to get out of there I headed straight to the Student Rec Center to burn off some energy. I ran for 25 minutes on the treadmill, 20 minutes on the elliptical, and 15 on the bike. You know, just keeping things interesting. I ate a Pink Lady with Justin's Maple AB as a post-workout snack.

Tonight I'm going to dinner at El Rincon, a popular Mexican restaurant, to celebrate a friend's birthday. Here's to an early weekend!