7 Facts

Mikey's here!

One of my all-time favorite pictures. Mikey with me (left) and our other close friend Maggie. Favorites :)

He's visiting for the night on the way to visit his sister later this weekend. I'm excited to go out tonight!

Post-workout this morning, I snacked on this Bounce "energy ball" that Freya sent me a few months ago.

It was very chewy and dense- reminded me a bit of the Kashi roll bars, with a slight Tootsie Roll taste. Pretty good.

For lunch, I had a random assortment of things:

Steamed cauliflower, broccoli and carrots with nutritional yeast, atop a bed of romaine lettuce.

Sunbutter on a whole-wheat sandwich thin.

And a sliced Fuji.

I also snacked on a second sandwich thin smeared with peanut flour paste a few hours later.

* * *

The other day, Matt tagged me with the "7 Facts" blog award. 

1. I really hate pants. I think my dislike of winter is directly linked to the fact that wearing them is the most practical options. I like bare legs!

2. The only organized sport I know the rules to is hockey. My brother played during my entire childhood, so I've seen many a game. Football, basketball or baseball though? What are those?

3. The OC is probably my all-time favorite TV show. I was so bummed when they cancelled it after only four seasons!

4. Beer is my favorite alcoholic beverage. I've been told I look like more of a "wine girl," but I prefer a brew 95% of the time.

5. I only watch TV when I'm at home in Pennsylvania. I don't have cable in my apartment, and mainly use my laptop when I want to watch TV shows or movies.

6. Picking my cuticles is my nervous habit. My thumbnails are always ripped apart when I'm stressed out.

7. I just asked Mikey for one more random fact about me. He said "You have a food blog." Thanks Captain Obvious.

And I tag...the first seven commenters. I can never choose between friends!!

I'm out like sauerkraut. Have a great evening folks!

Whipped!

Whew! I just got back from my first class at my new gym. It definitely didn't disappoint!

The class was called Whipped! and consisted of a circuit of bootcamp-style intervals. Kettlebells, mountain climbers, pushups and V-ups- all the usual suspects. What set the class apart was the "rope" interval, during which we had to whip one of those old-school gym ropes for thirty seconds. You know, the ones you used to climb and get rope burn all over your hands?

source

It was tough! I'd consider myself to be in pretty good cardiovascular shape, but my lower body strength is far superior to my upper. That thing was heavy! It was a great workout.

* * *

Before class, I made myself a deeeee-licious smoothie for breakfast. This was one of the best I've ever had!

I combined:

 - 1/2 can pumpkin (about 3/4 cup)

 - 1 banana, broken into chunks

 - 1 cup almond milk

 - 1 scoop Sun Warrior vanilla protein powder

 - 1 scoop chia seeds (about 3T)

 - 2 packets Truvia

 - hefty sprinkle of cinnamon

 - dash of nutmeg

The pumpkin and chia seeds made this uber thick and creamy. It was the consistency of a milkshake, and so filling! Quite the breakfast for a dreary, rainy day.

Time to go give the apartment a scrub-down and find a snack. That class worked up quite the appetite!

What was your favorite gym-class activity as a kid? Your least favorite? Ironically, I used to hate running more than anything. Actually, I hated everything in gym class. I was always so stoked when it rained and we got to watch The Goonies instead.

PS- I know I mentioned this yesterday, but I would be honored if you would nominate me (and all your other favorite blogs!) for the Women's Health blogroll :)

Doctor Doctor

Canned soups can be great for convenience's sake, but on their own, they're generally a bit...boring. Fortunately it only takes a few extra minutes and ingredients to spice 'em up!

I started off with a can of Health Valley 14 Garden Vegetable soup, and added:
 - a diced tomato
 - the last of the gross frozen zucchini
 - a chopped vegan Boca burger
 - two heaping spoonfuls of nutritional yeast
 - a handful of romaine lettuce (yes, lettuce)
 - red pepper flakes

The result was definitely not your average canned soup! It was super hearty and filling.

On the side, I had two sliced of unpictured sprouted grain toast with hummus, as well as my classic dessert:

Fuji + chawklit. Never gets old.

And I'm currently snacking on a big bowl of popcorn topped with a mixture of cocoa powder and cane sugar. I love the combination- I should start eating popcorn more often :)

Hope you're having a great night!

Do you ever "doctor up" your soups? What are your favorite additions?