Celebratory Quiz

Today is a momentous day for Girl Emerging -- today marks 100 posts!!

Though I should probably impart some words of wisdom or some pithy health factoid, I'm going to share with you a bit more about me in quiz form, borrowed from Parita:

Coke or Pepsi? Neither! I don't do soda hardly ever anymore. Given the rare opportunity, regular Coke is a huge weakness of mine!

Lemonade or Fruit Punch? Mmm freshly-made or -squeezed lemonade any day.

Caramel Apple or Cotton Candy? Cotton candy, hands down. Reminds me of the State Fair of VA.

Butterfinger or Snicker's? Oooh, this is a toughie... I'll have to say Butterfinger. Especially in a Blizzard ;)

Pudding or Jell-O? I've never been much of a pudding person, but I could eat my weight in Jell-O!

Turkey or Chicken? From 2003 until the beginning of 2012, I was strictly a pescetarian with mostly vegetarian tendencies. Pre-2003, I preferred chicken over turkey; I always liked the dark turkey meat at Thanksgiving but light chicken meat. I suppose now my preference is chicken, though I don't know whether I've had turkey since the dietary switch.

American or Provolone Cheese? Neither -- Swiss for me! Gouda, if I'm in the mood for something a little more smokey and flavorful.

Cookies or Crackers? I could answer this question with a paragraph or two, but I think the short answer is cookies.

Pretzels or Chips? Chips, chips, chips!

Mexican food or Japanese food? Ohhh my, Mexican.

Chinese food or Italian food? I literally cannot choose between the two of these. Seriously. I mean, how many times have I mentioned how much I love P.F. Chang's and Olive Garden? Though both are very Americanized...

Pie or Cake? Generally, cake takes the cake.

Ice Cream or Cookies? I scream, you scream, I scream again for ice cream!

Pasta or Pizza? Hmmm... I think I have to go with pizza.

Soda or Juice? Another toughie... though I don't drink soda hardly ever anymore, I still love it. But, I do have a soft spot for fresh pineapple and orange juices.

Chocolate Bars or Chocolate Truffles? The fancier and more decadent, the better!

Apples or Bananas? Bananas are wayyy more versatile. Though they absolutely must still be 50% green.

Salad or Soup? Salad, all day, every day. I eat salad 4+ days a week, topped with lots and lots of veggies!

Cauliflower or Broccoli? Never in my life have I cared for cauliflower. I've always thought of it as "white broccoli," but I'm still not a fan.

Onion Rings or French Fries? Yet another toss-up. I suppose if I could only have one for the rest of my life, I'd choose... both. Okay, I guess fries.

Blizzard or McFlurry? DQ tends to have better toppings than Mickey D's, so I suppose that sways my vote. Honestly, though, the ice cream at McDonald's is better. I'd take Cake Batter froyo from Sweet Frog over either of these any old day ;)

Fried or Poached Eggs? I'm not sure if I've ever had poached eggs before... but I know I love a good fried egg. Don't forget the sauteed onions!

Crepes or Pancakes? I haven't had too many opportunities to try crepes, but they sure are tasty. In my experience, they also tend to be more moist (my apologies to those who despise this word) than pancakes. Crepes for me!

Hashbrowns or Roasted Potatoes? Hashbrowns on top of hashbrowns. How wrong is it if I admit McDonald's are my favorite? A heart attack would be so worth it.

Oatmeal or Cereal? Hands down, my vote is for cereal. I've been on a Kashi kick for months, and there's no end in sight!

Now that you know a bit more about me as a foodie, I hope you'll respond to some of these questions and let me know your preferences :) Enjoy your Thursday!

P.S. A bit of irony for you -- after yesterday's post, it somehow happened that I played all 7 of my WWF tiles in one maneuver three separate times yesterday alone! That's a feat to be reckoned with, if you ask me ;)

Vege-Pesce-Experi-Confusetarian

Having a serious case of the Monday Munchies really made me realize that I need to up my veggie intake! It also inspired me to analyze everything I eat and compare it to the food pyramid (at least, one of the varying food pyramids the FDA keeps claiming is best right now).

Breakfast: Kashi Honey Puffs topped with fresh blueberries and strawberries; coffee; mango Chobani

Mid-afternoon snack: fresh strawberries topped with a dollop of Nutella

Pre-class snack: Citrus-C Odwalla smoothie

Mid-class snack: apricot KIND bar

Dinner: Southwest gardenburger topped with fresh baby spinach, tomato, feta crumbles, cucumber slices, and garlic and chive hummus on a wheat pita pocket; garlic pita chips and fat-free cream cheese plus Wholly Salsa; passionfruit Chobani; baby spinach salad topped with cucumber slices, tomato slices, sunflower seeds, and Italian dressing

When was the last time I could officially call myself a vegetarian?

Starting at the top, I think I do well using fats, oils, and sweets sparingly. Yes, there is probably partially hydrogenated oil in my indulgent fat-free coffee creamer, and yes, I do have a weakness for less-than-holy salad dressings. But I think I manage pretty well.

I consume skim milk and low-fat yogurt on a daily basis as sources of protein and calcium. I absolutely love cheeses of all shapes, sizes, and flavors, but I try not to consume much of it. As yummy as it is, most of it is very fatty, and it doesn't contain enough calcium to justify gorging on it. I do eat eggs, but not nearly as often as I used to; I'm down to making omelettes once a week.

As far as legumes go, I've always been a slacker. Mom told me 9 years ago when I declared my vegetarianism that I'd have to develop an affinity for beans. I like green beans, and I can stomach refried beans every now and then, but that's about it. However, I do love nuts and seeds, which I make frequent salad additions. I also enjoy meat alternatives, such as Quorn naked "chicken" cutlets, Boca veggie burgers, and Morningstar Farms "bacon" and maple "sausage."

As evidenced by yesterday's meals, which were pretty indicative of daily life, I'm definitely missing the green I need to round out the color wheel. Sometimes I steam frozen veggies, such as Green Giant's Antioxidant Blend. On even simpler nights, I'll slice cucumber and sprinkle it with black pepper and vinegar, or I'll eat a small can of Sensibly Seasoned turnip greens. I need to work on more fresh veggies.

Looks like I'm doing okay on fruit, but I could definitely up my consumption. I bought some Buddy Fruits on Sunday, which are 100% fruit pouches great for in-class snacks. I almost always add fresh fruit to my cereal after my workouts, and I eat a banana several days a week in the afternoon for a little pick-me-up.

I don't eat too much pasta anymore, because I found that I was gaining weight like crazy when I relied heavily on it to feel full. I eat white or brown rice about twice a week, and I eat whole grain cereal about 5 days a week. I also eat whole grain or whole wheat bread once or twice a week. Sometimes, when I'm in the mood for a hot breakfast, I'll whip up some Quaker Oats--which are always especially delicious when topped with brown sugar, almond slices, flax seeds, and granola!

I'm definitely getting plenty of carbs, calcium, vitamins C and D, and iron. It also looks like I'm doing a better job than I thought of eating 4-5 small meals throughout the day rather than 3 huge ones. I'm also consuming a decent amount of protein through a low-key combo of whole grains, nuts, Greek yogurt, eggs, and nut butters.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with my Vegetarian Food Pyramid self-review. If someone else reviewed my daily diet (i.e. a nutritionist), I probably wouldn't get such a glowing review. I've found that the key to eating well is truly being honest with yourself. You know if you've eaten 14 Samoas instead of the 2 you said you were going to have before putting them away. If you can't remember the last time anything green entered your mouth, you may need to reevaluate your personal pyramid. Just sayin' ;)

Foods on my Must Try Soon list:

Chia seeds

Almond butter

Almond milk

Protein powder (to be mixed in yogurt, smoothies, etc.)

Larabars (I've only tried 2 flavors; I'm wary of the high calorie content)

Based on my "three sheets to the wind" meat-eating in Mexico, I'm not sure I can still consider myself a pescetarian. I prefer the term "experimenting" for right now, until I decide on a firmer diet. Of course, there's no obligation to label myself whatsoever, but I feel more comfortable grocery shopping and finding satisfying choices on restaurant menus if I know specifically what I need. However, I'm still only interested in meat when it comes to widening my options on menus. I have no interest in buying or cooking meat at home. Dirty little secret Fun fact: I have no clue how to prepare meat dishes because I've never needed to know!

Well, that's my exhaustive diet review. Happy Tuesday, blends!

P.S. What new foods are you hoping to try soon? I experimented with and loved the meats and exotic fruit available in Mexico!

Groceries, Recipes, Remedies, Oh My!

Basically, I had the yummiest lunch ever yesterday.

This baby consisted of a Black Bean Chipotle Gardenburger, baby spinach leaves, a juicy slice of tomato, a few slices of avocado, the creamiest garlic and chive hummus I've ever experienced, and feta crumbles atop a toasted whole wheat bagel. I adorned this beauty with blue corn tortilla chips and the new salsa I picked up (I'd rate it about a C+). I got the idea from one of my favorite healthy living bloggers, Brittany Dixon.

I was wayyy too excited about my Kroger grocery list, especially considering that I felt like someone ran over my throat with a lawn aerator, and then left a few of the spikes right above my eyebrows. Luckily, I'm not afraid to spend the big bucks on Hall's.

Hall-elujah! Get it? ;)

Let's start with a trip through ChobaniLand. I can't live without my Greek yogurt. Passion fruit and pomegranate have stolen my heart.

Quick stop in Fresh Veggieville -- I was ravenous by the time I got home, so I didn't bother to unwrap this tomato, avocado, or cuke. Plus my adorable Tomato Keeper was in the dishwasher:

Next stop, New Food Nook! I needed baby spinach leaves for yesterday's lunch, but I also knew I could make salads or wilt the leaves and add them to pasta dishes. I grabbed a Pom for shits and gigs. Delicious, but too expensive to buy regularly. I tried out the no-sugar blackberry flavor. It was a little bitter, but then again, my senses of smell and taste are out of whack.

On to Frozen Foods! Veggie bacon and burger crumbles are almost staples in my diet. I haven't typically been a fan of Gardenburgers, mostly because I'm perfectly fine with Boca soy protein patties that have a meatier flavor and texture, but I must say -- these are out of this world.

Up next, Granola Way. I was in desperate need of Clif and KIND bars. Fortunately, both were on sale!

Who could forget the ever-vital Accessory Avenue? I almost always add banana slices or some type of berry to my Kashi for some pizzazz. Feta is great for adding to omelettes or sandwiches. Pine nuts are one of my favorite salad additions; I discovered this love at Jason's deli.

A successful trip, if I do say so myself. And, almost everything was on sale :)

Moving on to dinner... I'm always hungry after exerting so much brain power in my Group Therapy class (Nerd Alert!), so I love to have something stewing in the Crock Pot. Homemade chili and a big salad never disappoint:

I polished these off with a mango Chobani for a sweet treat. Seriously... I can't get enough. The chili helped open my sinuses, but the dairy cravings aren't doing me any favors.

Last on my list of things to shout from the mountaintop is my newfound love for Workaholics. I'm always late on loving new shows, mostly because I don't have set times each week that I can dedicate to watching particular shows, except for trash like Jersey Shore that comes on at 10 p.m. Anyway, this show makes me LOL like no other show I know right now. If you get a laugh out of bad puns, underachievers, and ridiculousness, take a peek at episodes 1 and 2 and tell me what you think. Happy Friday!

P.S. What are your weekend plans? Do you have a show that you can't get enough of?

Tip-Top Tuesday

I'm really going out on a limb with this post. It wasn't easy to write, nor was it comfortable to make public. I debated about this post for many weeks before today.

It's no secret that college kids typically gain weight. Four years of late-night Papa John's, Keystone and jungle juice (full of who knows what), dining hall "food," fast food splurges, and local restaurant binges... combined with all-nighters, unspeakable weekend hours, and "priorities" above hitting the gym religiously will do that to ya. It's easy to gain weight if you passively allow it to happen. I certainly was guilty. Living proof:

Freshman year, December (that's my long-time friend, Will)

Sophomore year, March

Junior year, June

Senior year, September (with my sorority sisters)

Aaaaand thennnn....

First-year grad student, February!

Whether or not you can tell from the pictures, the difference is pronounced. I'm not quite back to the size I was when I entered UG school at Longwood, but the whole point is not to focus on my weight or my size. The point is that I'm eating, exercising, and feeling better than ever! I'm also proud of my body -- I know that I don't need to be a 00 to feel good about myself or to feel comfortable in my own skin. I don't feel it necessary to be tan year-round, and I'm perfectly fine combing the beach in a one-piece. Please don't misunderstand me -- more power to you if you're naturally quite thin or if your thing is fake-baking, it's just not mine.

When I moved into my own apartment in August of 2011, I decided that things would be different. No more microwaveable Lean Cuisines -- it would take two for me to feel full, and I was convincing myself that they contained all the nutrition I needed. Done with the Toaster Strudels and eggs sunny-side up four times a week. Ban the empty calories I was consuming regularly (Doritos and queso blanco, Pop-Tarts, Smarties, frosted animal crackers, Reese's Puffs, five-cheese or sun-dried tomato alfredo sauce, premade Starbuck's frappuccinos, real Coke, weekly thin crust pizzas, weekly Ben & Jerry's Mission to Marzipan... need I go on?)... Forget the constant "BTN" workouts and the occasional fresh fruits and veggies. As a lacto-ovo pescetarian, I knew I wasn't getting everything I needed to stay healthy; I just didn't want to admit it to myself because I didn't want to give anything up.

My fridge and pantry are now stocked with fat-free Chobani Greek yogurt; fresh tomato, blueberries, bananas, cucumber, onion, and mushrooms; brown rice; Kashi cereals; Vitamin Water; Smart Balance light margarine; fat-free dairy creamer; skim milk; light salad dressings; sodium-free canned and frozen veggies; meatless chicken and burger options; wholesome, natural granola bars; and sugar-free dessert items. I don't have to swear off of dessert, or cheese, or even pizza. I just balance what I choose to put in my body, and I consume "junk" in moderation.

There will always be room for improvement, and that's what excites me most.

Source

I promise I'm not trying to be a martyr; I'm merely speaking out about how easily I gained weight and simultaneously lost a great deal of self-esteem. I'd be lying to you if I didn't tell you that I engage myself daily in a struggle to lose weight healthily and keep it off. I waver between wanting to choose a doughnut in Ian's dining hall versus granola and skim milk. I definitely crave soda sometimes, especially when I'm looking for a little caffeine boost and that 10 a.m. cup of Joe isn't cutting it anymore. But my real, true point is that I have made these choices in my life. No one pressured me, coerced me, coaxed me, pushed me, or pulled me. I decided I wanted to look and feel different, so I did something healthy about it. I'm happy, and I'm proud.

And that's really all there is to say :)



Survey Thursday

I borrowed this little gem from my friend Colleen's blog from a few weeks ago. Admittedly, I've encountered a case of stress with side effects of writer's block and anxiety. So as not to lose another day, here's a wee bit of info about yours truly:

(1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?

I love, love, love to sleep in and feel guilt-free about it! I love to laze around for awhile, whip up a tasty homemade brunch, and start the day whenever I feel like it :)

(2) List your top three favorite TV shows.

In order, The Office, CSI: NY or Miami, Dance Moms, and Make It or Break It. I couldn't choose just three!

(3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?

I suppose a bit of both. I don't feel like I'm especially photogenic, particularly in candid shots when I haven't had a chance to fix my sometimes wild mane or ensure that my eyes aren't squeezed shut! I've recently discovered how much I enjoy taking pictures of everything for the blog.

(4) Why do you blog?

I decided in December that because I enjoyed reading others' blogs so much and I enjoy exercising and making healthy eating choices, I would combine the two into a newfound passion!

(5) Share five websites that you visit regularly.

My two email accounts, Twitter, my blog site, YouTube, and Netflix. Probably in that order, too.

(6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list, who would it be?

I'd have lunch with the person who created the account for the Dos Equis guy. Those tweets never cease to make me laugh, especially as they become less and less realistic, and more and more silly. After all, he is the most interesting man in the world...

"Stay thirsty, my friends."

(7) List a few of your favorite snacks.

- Pomegranate Chobani

- KIND bars and Nature Valley bars

- Kashi cereal

- Diced strawberries or whole blueberries

- Ants on a log (you know, celery sticks topped with peanut butter and raisins)

- Chips and mild salsa

(8) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?

My family pet, Nick, passed away in 2010, about a month before he would have turned 12. He was a pretty incredible guy, and definitely a member of our family. We'll very likely get another dog in the future for extra companionship, and I'd love it if we got another Golden Retriever -- you can't ask for a more beautiful, loyal dog with a sweeter disposition.

The Christmas Mouse

I also have a pet rock, Bernie. I picked him up at a little shop called The Wooden Heart in Farmville several years ago. He was too cute to resist:

(9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without?

My cell phone, my laptop, and my blanket that I've had for as long as I can remember. Hi, I'm A.K., I'm 23 and I still have a blankie. It would be just an old piece of cloth if it hadn't been a bedsheet at my Granny's house before she gave it to me. This thing used to be pink (and whole):

(10) What's your favorite drink?

I'm a big fan of a Tom Collins, a well-made gin and tonic, and a Sex With an Alligator.

Delicious if made right

I'll also take a shot of almost anything (once), and I adore Vitamin Water and SoBe Life Water. I also can't live without Starbuck's when I'm traveling. Bless you, caffeine.

(11) Do you enjoy cooking?

Do I enjoy cooking? Yes. Am I good at cooking? Not so much. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? I have a few recipes up my sleeve ;)

(12) Do you have children?

I sure don't. I'm not engaged or married. I don't plan on even thinking about having children until my future is much more set. Like, with a job, for example...

(13) What are your favorite hobbies?

Blogging is one of my new favorite hobbies. I've always enjoyed writing, and now I'm enjoying letting others read my stuff.

I'll always enjoy anything and everything with good friends and family. It doesn't matter what we're doing, as long as we're together.

(14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing?

Allow these photos to speak for themselves.

(15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?

I wouldn't. End o' story.

(16) Who is your favorite actor or actress?

I'm pretty partial to Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Channing Tatum (for his looks factor), Reese Witherspoon, and Meryl Streep.

(17) What's the coolest thing you've done this week?

I began Week Three of my 5K training program, which is pretty nifty, I guess. I've also done a fair amount of soul-searching, which we all need sometimes when we realize our lives might be passing us by if we don't slow down.

(18) Do you live near your family or far from them?

I live near my family, thank goodness. I'm a quick 2-hour drive away from my house when I'm at school. We don't get to see some members of my dad's side of the family very often because they live in different states. My mom's family is all in VA, pretty close together, so we don't mind being the ones traveling to see them. We have annual Christmas and July 4th celebrations, to which I always really look forward. My cousin, Taylor, is almost exactly 2 years younger than I am, and she and I have been close since she was born. Plus, she's in between Caroline's and my ages.

This photo was taken in 2007 at the reception after our Granny's funeral. It truly was a celebration, though -- my Granny lived to be almost 97 years old!

(19) List three of your talents.

I'd like to think I have a pretty great prankster side. I'd also like to think that I'm a good writer. Feel free to disagree, but it's a talent on which I've always prided myself. I also believe I have the ability to befriend almost anyone. Almost.

(20) What is your greatest attribute?

I'd rather not sound like a pompous ass, but I'm pretty proud of myself for generally being an honest soul. I think honesty can get you far in life, and it sure as hell will benefit me as a counselor.

P.S. Please feel free to use this survey! I'd love to see your responses to some or all of these questions :)



A Little Budget-Crazy

If you know me personally or if you're a regular reader, you're probably well aware that I highly value organization, structure, and calculating everything down to the last cent, second, or pinch. On that note, I realized that I've been a little budget-crazy lately. For example, I have $1000 per month to divide among my expenses. Rent is $665, my sewer bill is usually around $19, cable and internet are $83, my power bill varies depending upon how often the heat runs, and the rest (usually about $200) is grocery money. I find myself constantly tabulating my expenditures on my bank's website, the very tech-savvy index card I keep on my desk, and my computer's numbers-cruncher.

I've also found myself recently budgeting food and calories. I do not mean this to sound unhealthy or troubling. I simply mean that living on a fiscal budget means living on a caloric budget, too. Planning my meals for the week helps. Sometimes I wing it, but most of the time I'm more organized:

It's highly likely that I won't eat these meals in the order they're listed. I just like to know that each day is accounted for. I try not to put two "heavy" meals (i.e. chili and spaghetti) next to one another. I also plan my workouts accordingly, such that heavier meals are paired with 5K training days, and lighter meals are paired with weight training days. I find that my strength and stamina are tested when I don't pair well, but that they're enhanced when I do.

Tonight, I made Iris's Vegetarian Chicken Casserole; the recipe was posted last Thursday (Really gReat Recipe thuRsday). I paired the casserole with one cup of brown rice, and I have enough leftovers for at least one more meal.

I pair carb-heavy dishes, such as spaghetti, with ruffage, such as salad or frozen veggies, and Smart Sauce. Also, vegetable combos like salad fill me up, so I'm not as inclined to gorge on pasta.

This is what I mean by budgeting calories. I'm not restricting my eating or crazily counting calories. If I crave dessert, I almost always have Fig Newton Thins ready to go, a bowl of Jell-O prepared, or even a cup of Folgers decaf hazelnut and some fat-free creamer for just a little something sweet and filling.

I feel certain that not everyone will agree with my choices or my lifestyle.

I'm proud that I've learned how to treat my body right, which foods are good for me, which foods I can healthily and easily substitute for meat, and which foods I have proudly eliminated (e.g. Toaster Strudel, Pop-Tarts, Doritos, soda, queso dip, Smarties, donut holes... and other such delicacies I consumed on a regular basis in my past life). Now, when I grocery shop, I take great pleasure in reading labels. I understand that the word calories is not evil, and that fat content and calories are different entities. I learned to scan nutrition labels for fiber, sugar, and sodium, as well.

I look for foods that say "no salt added," "fat-free," "low-fat," "whole wheat," "natural" (though this one can be misleading), etc.

I select foods that are their own single ingredient, such as tomatoes, blueberries, bananas, cucumbers, almonds, and onions. I bargain shop and I utilize coupons, instead of falsely believing that the brand-name product will taste better. I look for foods that contain pronounceable and understandable ingredients. Who cares about Red Dye #6 and soduimchloridesulfatepotassiummonooxidase, anyway?

I try to stick to the outer walls of the grocery store, which for me is Kroger. This is where the store stocks fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, yogurt, seafood, frozen veggies, and nuts and grains. The more I venture into the sea of inner aisles, the more I'm tempted to buy Oreo Os instead of Kashi GoLean, or five cheese potato crisps as opposed to blue corn tortillas.

One downside to all of these choices is that they're much more expensive. I could buy 3 tasty, kid-attractive cereals for the price of one box of Kashi, but the benefits I reap are worth the cost. Another is that I stress myself out with so much planning and calculating. I try to remind myself every day how very fortunate I am to be in good health with the luxury of purchasing such wholesome, nourishing goods. But, I also try to remind myself to breathe every once in awhile! My body doesn't reap any benefits from constant stress and pressure. All in all, I'm happy and I'm proud :)

P.S. Do you plan your meals in advance? Do you grocery shop with a list, or do you wing it? Are you able to stock certain foods (such as decadent dessert items) without consuming them in mass quantities? I'm curious about how others do it!

Splendid Saturday

A more unexpectedly perfect Saturday there never was.

Ian and I slept in. Like, 11:30 slept in. It was fantastic.

We hit the gym. I had to vie for a treadmill with a TV, but it was well worth it. My 5K training called for a 25-minute run. I completed a PDR today: 2.04 miles in 25 minutes! I always walk a quick 2-minute warm-up, and a slowed 3-minute cool-down, totaling 30 minutes and 2.30 miles. I was sweaty, smelly, and grinning from ear to ear as we left the gym. The cherry on top was Ian saying, "You looked great running today!"

I enjoyed some Kashi GoLean with Truvia for a very late breakfast. Seriously, I cannot get enough.

Longwood Convocation 2010 -- the only picture I have of such an creepy elated smile...

There wasn't much on the agenda this afternoon except straightening up, getting cleaned up, and meeting Ian's parents for an early dinner at Cracker Barrel (my favorite "good old fashioned cookin'" restaurant). I ordered one of my favorites, the Veggie Plate. I chose Whole Kernel Corn, Baked Apples, Country Green Beans, and (my CB guilty pleasure) Hashbrown Casserole. I helped myself to a delicious biscuit with grape jam, and sweet tea with lemon.

The restaurant, along with many others in the area, was suffering from a water main break last night. The employees were having to boil the tea, purchase gargantuan bags of ice, serve water from bottles, and deny customers coffee and soda. Ian, of course, interrogated the waitress after a nosy man behind us asked how come we had water and he couldn't have any. No worries, bro.

We had been craving Sweet Frog all day, but we just couldn't bring ourselves to eat froyo at seemingly subzero temperatures. There was snow everywhere in the state except for here, I'm convinced. So we headed to Kroger for less expensive froyo to take home and enjoy at our leisure. Since we couldn't agree on a flavor--we almost never do--we each got our own personal size. I was proud of my fat-free tri-flavor sherbet, and my purchase of sugar-free Jell-O for future dessert cravings.

I love stocking Jell-O; most flavors are either 10 or even 0 calories, and most are available sugar-free. All are available tasty and cheap! These were on sale for 40 cents apiece. I'm officially a bargain shopper, ladies and gents.

On tonight's agenda is watching V for Vendetta, which Ian claims I'll love... hmmm. He claimed I'd love Contagion last night. Not a fan. I also plan to kick back, relax, enjoy some of my sherbet, and bask in the glory of my PDR.

I hope you and yours enjoy your Saturday! Ta ta!

P.S. What is your PDR? Toward what goal are you working now? I'm working toward completing an official 5K without walk breaks!

Love is in the Share

Okay, can I first just say, How the hell have I never tried Nutella before this week?!

Okay, I bought Kroger brand instead because I wasn't sure if I'd like it, and because it had fewer calories and lower fat content per serving, but that's irrelevant. It's. Ah-may-zing!

I've put it in my oats (of course, with almond slices and flax seeds), I've dipped pear slices in it, I've slathered bananas with it... Next, I'll be eating bowlfuls of it! Well... Hopefully it won't get to that extent.

I also may or may not have developed an obsession with any and all Kashi cereals. I've only experimented with a few kinds, but Honey Puffs, Indigo Morning, and GoLean Original are in it to win it. With fresh berries and a sprinkle of Truvia, they're an absolutely perfect breakfast. They keep me full for hours after my runs.

  

Source

Besides campaigning for Kashi as our next President, on today's agenda is V-Day. Yeah, I'm aware that today's February 10. Ian and I won't be able to spend Valentine's Day together because it's a weekday, and we're both very busy. We don't care that it's a stupid holiday marked by naked winged babies, literally tons of needless calories, and roses out the ass. We love this holiday, we love an excuse to be extravagant, and we love each other :)

This is a horrendous picture of me, but I had to post it. We look like the Polo Twins.

For our first V-Day together, we'd barely been dating 3 months. Ian had to travel to an ad agency in Richmond to conduct an interview, and while he was there, he picked up a raw version of my favorite pizza from my favorite joint: Bottom's Up white pizza with caramelized onions. He stored it in the fridge in his dorm common room, and then snuck it over on Valentine's Day, baked it in the oven at my apartment, and decorated the living room with roses and chocolates--all while he kept me locked in my room and my roommates shoved in theirs, I might add. He even got someone who was 21 to purchase my favorite cheap-o wine. I was blown away!

Last year, he bought me the "I Am Loved" diamond necklace and chocolate special Helzberg was advertising. Yes, at this point, I'm officially bragging. Sorry I'm not sorry.

This year, as I've already mentioned, he bought us tickets to see The Lion King on Broadway in Richmond, plus dinner of my choice. Which brings me to tonight. Since next weekend is chock-full of activities and neither weekend is any closer than the other to actual V-Day, we're celebrating tonight.

We had every intention of dining at Jade Palace, the delicious and adorable Chinese restaurant within walking distance of my apartment. However, our plans changed when Jimmy, Ian's dad, mailed him a $25 gift card to my Eden, O.G. With their 3-course dinner promotion for $12.95 plus that money-saver, we couldn't pass up heaven (even though I just had it a week ago...).

What I'm really excited about is that he thinks we've agreed not to exchange gifts this year "because money is tight." I'm like, what do you call a Broadway production plus dinner??

I've spent weeks meticulously cutting out various letters from magazines to create these puppies:

They're homemade coupons -- you know, "One dude flick of your choice" and "One dinner of your choice on me." Inexpensive and personal. I made six total. They, along with one of those ginormous Hershey Kisses, a kid's tray of Kung Fu Panda chocolates (because he was Kung Fu Panda for Halloween a week after I met him), and a sappy Mickey Mouse card are arranged subtly on my kitchen table.

Truthfully, he probably won't notice right away, especially because he's not expecting anything. I even confirmed with him via text last night that not giving gifts is 100% acceptable this year ;) I'm giving myself the cool vote for being so sly.

At the risk of his discovering this post before he arrives this afternoon, I'll be posting it after all of this has already happened. You can be just as surprised as he was! Ta ta!

P.S. Do you and your one-and-only have any special V-Day traditions? I'd love to hear about 'em! Plus, I'm always on the prowl for ideas for next year!