End To the Slacker Eating

To wind up my slacker eating habits.. Sunday I kept the food intake to a minimum, knowing what I was going to embark on Monday.

After I missed massed this Sunday morning.. the three of us went into D.C. for some history and to enjoy the day. I walked down Pennsylvania Ave along the white house lawn and was taken aback by the traditional beauty there. Then walked across the street to check out Jackson’s statue in the park.

We headed over to Virginia to Tysons Mall to check out the new movie “Date Night”. It was a blast…. love those two actors, Tina Fey and Steve Carrell.

Then afterwards, we headed over to Olive Garden Restaurant for my usual Minestrone Soup and Salad. I had one serving of each and was fully satisfied with it.

Then for a little dessert Sunday night I made a

Strawberry & Banana Smoothie

Strawberry, Banana, Apple Smoothie:

Ingredients:

1 Banana

6 Strawberries

1 Apple

Directions: Peel Banana and place into Vita-Mix. Wash and cut Strawberries and Apple… I peeled the  apple because that’s hot  I like to eat it. Mix all fruits and blend on Variable II, gradually moving power to 10 until desired consistancy.

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Dinner Out again!

It keeps getting difficult to say no to sweets at the end of every meal. Especially when I start thinking oh, I worked out or did some physical activity to say it’s O.K. to the sweets.

Last night we went out to the Olive Garden Restaurant down in Port Orange. After visiting with my girlfriend at the Daytona Mall… she reminded me that the Port Orange Pavillion was open. Her husband was the engineering firm behind the project, so she got a tour of the place when it opened. So Mike and I decided to check it out.. and as luck would have it there was an Olive Garden.

I had my usual… Minestrone Soup and Salad with no Cheese. I did have ONE glass of wine for dinner too. But afterwards I was having a craving for something sweet… and ultimately denied my craving.

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Weekend Excursion

I begged Mike for a warm weather weekend excursion… and I got a trip to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, only to find out it wasn’t as warm as I thought it would be.

Ft. Lauderdale-Hotel View

We had enough of the cold and snow from up north and when we drove back down to Florida, it was still cold. So I thought, a trip south would warm us up. But temps in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale were only 10 degrees warmer putting them in the 60’s 😦

Ft. Lauderdale-Hotel View

Regardless, we hit the road Saturday morning and I packed the left over Hibachi Vegetables for lunch which I ate as soon as I got in the car. I did manage to juice two Carrot, Celery, Spinach, Apple drinks with the new VitaMix Juicer, and I made a Fruit Smoothie too!

Dinner was the usual Pier 66 culinary excursion. The food, atmosphere, and service are so amazing, it’s always a treat to go there. Each time I go there, I get the same Green Salad with out any Feta Cheese and this weekend Oil and Vinegar instead of their creamy dressing.  To spice things up I added a Baked Potato too in addition to a couple of Glasses of White Wine.

Sunday we got up to head down to Miami and found out the Food Networks Wine & Food Festival was taking place on the beach in South Beach. We decided to have lunch on Lincoln Street at a Rustic Pizza Restaurant we visited in November with my cousins when they came in town for the cruise. Mike and I split a 16″ medium pizza.

Rustic Pizza Vegetable Pizza

My half was the Vegetable side with no Cheese on a Wheat crust and Mike’s side was the Mushroom Pizza with Cheese.  

Then we continued walking toward the Ocean, where we scoped out the Wine & Food Festival. It turns out, in order to get on the beach to walk around and sample wines, foods, etc. we had to pay $230 per person. A price a little to steep for a couple of hours of testing.! So we went across the street and sat at The Carlyle and had Daquiries and an appetizer dish of Chips and Calamari.

Sunday Morning was a tough ride home….. tooo many Daquiries last night and a bad diet all around. We stopped at Einstein Bros. Bagels for a Whole Grain Bagel with Butter and the middle scooped out and to drink I got a Frozen Mocha Latte.  As we were driving north, I begged Mike to stop in Palm Beach, to see how the other half lives.

Palm Beach Ocean View

We drove up along Ocean Ave (A1A) and saw the mansions facing the ocean and then we stopped at the Breakers Hotel. It’s where some of the “Heartbreakers” movie was filmed. And the hotel is also supposed to be a famous, historic resort as well. 

The Breakers Hotel-Palm Beach

Further north we stopped outside of Titusville for lunch, which turned out to be Long John Silver’s Fish and Fries Combo with a couple of Hush Puppies. I’m still having feedback from all that grease I ate earlier.

Long John Silver - Fish Meal

But hopefully all my bad choices were canceled out with this evenings Vegetable Salad I made

with a Oil and Lemon Dressing.

Vegetable Salad

Vegetable Salad:

Ingredients:

1Red Bell Pepper

1Cup of Green Beans

1/2Bunch of Broccoli

1Carrot

3Celery Sticks

1/2Can White Beans

1Avocado

1Bunch Cauliflower

2Tbls. Olive Oil

1/2 Lemon

1Tsp. Basil

1Tsp. Paprika

1/2Tsp. Crushed Peppers

1/2Tsp.Cumin

1Tsp. Celtic Salt

Directions:

Wash and cut up vegetables. For the Beans, I took the left overs I put in the Refrigerator or you can crack open a new can. Add Oil, Lemon and other seasonings to the salad and mix.

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Pilates, Drinking and Juicing!!!

I think there has been a turning point for me this week….in the way I am approaching food.  In the last couple of months, I’ve been struggling with my eating, how much I’m eating, what I’m eating and how it’s affecting my body and weight. So I think I’ve been able to muster some self-control.

One thing that’s really been a great help… is the Pilates. Regularly, I’m attending classes in the morning and it’s definitely making a difference. I’ve noticed more definition in my arms, legs, and even in my stomach. Which is great, because I have a wedding to go to this weekend and that’s going to make a difference.

Today (Friday), as I’ve been doing since we’ve been here in Potomac, M.D., I juiced some carrot, celery, apple and this time through in some Spinach. I read yesterday, that you get a lot of protein from Spinach and thought I was neglecting the green leafy food, so I threw it in the mix.

I was dropped off at the mall, while Mike had some meetings. While I was there, I got really hungry and Mike didn’t pick me up until after 3pm.

So, my defenses were compromised and I ordered a Starbucks Grande Cinnamon Dolce Frapuccino.   The only saving grace for that miscalculation was Mike drank half of it!!!

 Then since neither one of us had lunch; we stopped into P.F. Changes for a late lunch/early dinner. I had two Spring Rolls, Buddha Rice Bowl with Brown Rice and a Glass of Riesling.

NO ICE CREAM FOR DESSERT ALL WEEK!!!

Infact, I’ve been having some pretty healthy and substantial meals while eating out this week. Last night we went to Olive Garden and I had the Minestrone Soup and Salad.

 I did devour one Bread Stick and drank a Glass of White Wine. Then we went to a place called Moby Dick where I had a great tasting Veggie Wrap with Mushrooms, Alfalfa Sprouts, Onions, and Tomatoes on White Flat Bread.

Then we went to a Restaurant called Wildfire in the Tyson’s Mall for drinks, which turned into dinner. I did order 2 Glasses of White Wine and a Greek Salad after which I had some of Mike’s Cod Fish, Baked Potato and Asparagus.

I HAVE NOTICED I’VE BEEN INDULGING IN WHITE WINE MORE THESE DAYS!!!!

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Really Lovin’ Walking

I’m really lovin’ this walking every morning. It’s very invigorating. I’m noticing muscles forming and my body getting tighter. It’s not even hard anymore to wake up at 6:30 am or 7:30am to get dressed and hit the road, even with temps in the lower 40’s and 30’s.

The walking is great cardiovascular and it also helps clear my mind to remind me of what I need to do that day.  And Wednesday, I had a Dental Appointment to get my teeth cleaned. Afterwards, I decided to do a little grocery shopping to pick up some odds and ends to last me until Friday before we hit the road for D.C.

I stopped into a couple of little boutiques and bought some things for the house… and headed home for a Green Salad and Minestrone Soup Lunch. I finally finished off the Salad I made earlier in the week (because Mike doesn’t eat the salads I make!) and ate a bowl of My Minestrone Soup with Whole Wheat Bread Slices.

While I was eating, I had the chance to sit down and watch another Old movie on TMC Wednesday Afternoon. This one was a movie with Lucille Ball and Dezi Arnez. Right now, I can’t remember the name of it, but it also had James Mason in it. Cute movie.!!!

For dinner, I had the chance to make this White Bean Soup I had my eye on since the beginning of the week. I’ve wanted to make a soup with some beans in it, and the White Bean Soup sounded really good. I ended up using the White Beans in the Minestrone Soup and again for the White Bean Soup. Another bonus for this recipe was, that I realized I had frozen some Vegetable Soup Stock and needed to use it.

I warmed up the remaining slices of the Whole Wheat Bread and waited until Mike made his Cucumber, Tomato Salad with Lemon Dressing.

Cucumber Tomato Salad w/Lemon Dressing

Mike’s Cucumber, Tomato Salad w/Lemon Dressing:

Ingredients:

4Small Cucumbers

4Tomatoes

1/2Lemon

4Garlic Cloves

Celtic Sea Salt

Directions:

Wash, Peel and chop the Cucumbers and Tomatoes into a bowl. Cut half of a Lemon and squeeze onto the Salad. Mince Garlic Cloves and add Celtic Sea Salt to taste. Mix and Serve. 

White Bean Soup

White Bean Soup:

Ingredients:

2Cups White Beans

2Cups Onions

1Cup Broccoli

1Cup Red Bell Pepper

1Cup Yellow Squash

2Cups Vegetable Soup Stock

Celtic Sea Salt

Basil, Oregano, Rosemary

Directions:

Soak beans overnight and drain. Or drain beans from can, place in pot with soup stock and cook for 1 1/2hours if they are uncooked adding more soup stock or distilled water if needed. While beans are cooking, chop Onions, Broccoli, Squash, and Pepper. Add these vegetables, seasonings and Celtic Sea Salt to the beans and cook an additional hour.

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On Track With Pilates

Apples & Bananas

I couldn’t wait to wake up and go to Pilates this Monday morning… since I didn’t go all weekend and I ate Chocolate Dove Bars the night before!

 

 

It was a great work out at this morning’s Jump Board Pilates and my legs are definitely feeling the burn, even now.

After the workout, Mike and I got an early start on getting some errands done. We hit up the bank first and then it was off to the post office, where I check the P.O. Box. We drove all the way out to Virginia to drop off the dry cleaning and back tracked it to Tyson’s Mall area so we can get lunch. Mike likes to go to the Olive Garden Restaurant off Leesburg Pike in Tyson’s area.

I got my regular Minestrone Soup and Salad combination. I just love their Minestrone Soup, and today it was even better than the last time. Again, I indulged on two bread sticks during my fairly healthy meal. If only Olive Garden could switch to Whole Wheat Bread Sticks, that would be ideal for me!!!!

Berry Burst Smoothie

Later, I had a sweet tooth so we stopped off at Robeks for a smoothie. I got a Berry Burst Smoothie with an appetite suppressant boost. Yum Yum Yum!

We made it home just in time for Mike’s son to get home from school, and he had a little buddy with him. So I decided to cut up some Apples and Bananas and I made a side dish of Pita Chips and Hummus for the boys to snack on… and we’re still snacking on them. I’m not sure what’s for dinner.

Hummus & Pita Chips

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New Year’s Eve!!!

Vegetable Salad

Finally here… I decided in the afternoon to go get a mani/pedi and my hair washed and styled, while Mike went to a business meeting. I ended up having Mike pick me up from Macy’s because I wanted to pick up a little half jacket to wear with my dress.  Hair styled and final touches made to my outfit, I was ready to leave. Well, it was still raining outside and I asked Mike to pick me up from Macy’s instead of where I was dropped off. And the only place he could find to pick me up required me to walk in the rain to get to the car. Men they don’t get it. 

Not eating anything all day, at around 4:30pm I made this great Vegetable Salad with an amazingly fresh Oil & Vinegarette  Dressing. I had to chop up the remaining veggies in the bowl, because they started going bad.

Vegetable Salad:

1 Red Bell Pepper

1Orange Bell Pepper

1 Small Head of Broccoli

1 Tomato

1 Avocado

1/4 Can of Chick Peas

Oil & Vinegarette Dressing:

Olive Oil

Balsamic Vinegarette

Paprika

Dried Onions

Sea Salt

Both Mike and I were eating the salad (he was by the way was on his 3rd glass of wine)and I asked what are we doing tonight.?  Well that led to continued arguing about the festivities of the night. And I was getting pissed because all of our options were selling out fast and I really had my heart set on The Kennedy Center. There was a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra and then the Ball Drop Party to follow.

But his indecision didn’t stop me from getting ready, afterall, I bought not one but two dresses, got my mani/pedi, had my hair styled and I didn’t want it to be all for nothing! Given he was drinking already, I had to wake him up off the sofa and make him get ready.

Dressed for New Year's Eve 09

We both put our indifferences aside and got ready… Here’s picture of me in my dress for the evening. After we took pictures, we headed out the door! Mike was on the way to the Ritz-Carlton (where dinner and ball drop were sold out) I said, I want to go to the Kennedy Center!

It was quarter til 8pm and the N.S.O. started performing at 8:30pm… we were cutting it close. It didn’t help that Mike got lost and took a couple of wrong turns(blowing my top at this point)! We made it to the Kennedy Center, I got out and ran to the box office to buy two tickets to the sold out performance. After 5 minutes of waiting, they rangled up two $90 dollar tickets  and I called Mike to park the car. We were 15 minutes late by the time we finally sat down in our seats to a performance we both ended up enjoying.!!!

Both so hungary, we went upstairs to the Terrace Restaurant and realized it’s 11pm and the New Year’s Eve Menu was a 4 course meal. After we sat down at the table with my Frangellico on the rocks in hand I ordered at the bar, we decided we were never gonna make it back downstairs in time for the clock to strike midnight.  So, we opted for the cocktail lounge for something quick. Mike ordered the Seafood Martini, I ordered a Salad and the Vegetable Ratatoullie (which was great!) and had 10 minutes to spare before the clock hit 12. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!  

Enjoying Kennedy Center

Blowin' My Horn

Ball Drop 2010

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Night Before New Year’s Eve

In an effort to be totally upright and in some to virtually no pain New Year’s Eve, I stayed in bed as much as possible Wednesday and then on Thursday…. I needed to pick up some things for our big night out to The Kennedy Center.

So, Mike had some business to do and I took his son shopping. He got some stuff and I got the stuff I wanted, we did some window-shopping. Amazingly enough, we had some fun together. We followed our big day up with a late lunch and early dinner at the Olive Garden. I got my usual Minestrone Soup and Salad. I did manage to eat three Bread Sticks. 😦

Later that night, while I retired to the bed and heating pad, Mike enticed me with some Sherbet…. which was great!!!! 

In an effort to be totally upright and in some to virtually no pain New Year’s Eve, I stayed in bed as much as possible Wednesday and then on Thursday…. I needed to pick up some things for our big night out to The Kennedy Center.

So, Mike had some business to do and I took his son shopping. He got some stuff and I got the stuff I wanted, we did some window-shopping. Amazingly enough, it turned out to be a very delightful day with his son, we had some fun together. We followed our big day up with a late lunch and early dinner at the Olive Garden. I got my usual Minestrone Soup and Salad. I did manage to eat three Bread Sticks. 😦

Later that night, while I retired to the bed and heating pad, Mike enticed me with some Sherbet…. which was great!!!!

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Vegetable Salad

Today's Vegetable Salad

Out running around this morning…Mike and I happened upon a great Mediterranean Restaurant in Downtown D.C. off L street and 20th. We walked in and the place wasn’t much to look at, but when you neared the back of the restaurant you saw all the food laid out. It looked great, the food was presented in buffet style with so many colors, salads, rices, and dips, it was great.

I actually put together a green salad with some Red Bell Peppers, Olives, Red Onions, and an Oil based dressing. Then I picked up a Rice dish, Eggplant dish, and a Mushroom, Green Bean Salad. Yah know, Mike told me before we went in, I think you’re going to like this place. It has all the foods you eat.! Well he was right. 🙂

Then tonight, it was great… Mike and I unloaded the car of drying cleaning and some shopping items. And immediately took to the kitchen to make our respective meals for dinner. He made his Gormazabzi (Meat, Bean, Onion Dish) with Rice and I made this great looking Vegetable Salad. I chopped up Asparagus, Broccoli, Red and Orange Bell Peppers, Sweet Peas, Carrots. I put together an Olive Oil and Vinegar dressing with seasonings like Cayenne Pepper, Paprika, Celery Salt, Thyme.

Vegetable Salad:
Asparagus
Carrot
Sweet Peas
Red & Orange Bell Peppers
Broccoli

Dressing:
Olive Oil
White Wine Vinegar
Pinch of:
Cayenne Pepper
Paprika
Celery Salt
Thyme

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Performance of Nutcracker

One End of Table

Me w/Snow Ferry-Mike's Niece

Cast Taking Bows

We didn’t eat much Saturaday, I did however drink a bit more than usual! So we were, needless to say, hungry.

At 10:30 Sunday Morning, we had some of Mike’s moms Vegetable Stew(Asha Reshde) in Persian. That stuff, no matter how many days later, is still unbelievably fantastic.!!! So that carried us through our performance of the Nutcracker. I’ve never seen a production of the Nutcracker, so it was great to see one of Mike’s nieces in a production of the famous holiday production.

For dinner, we all met up at the California Pizza Kitchen. I ordered, for the first time a Vegetable Pizza without the Cheese!!! And they had no problem making it for me. Plus, I had a Chinese Chicken Salad without the Chicken.

I have been slacking on the Juice though!!!! Can’t seem to remember drinking the Carrot Juice I bought at Costco… Will have to work on that!!!

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