Are You Drooling Yet?

Hello Everyone! Thanks for all of your lovely comments on my last post!  I loved learning a few things about all of you, especially your heights. Now I don’t feel like such a shortie.

In other news, I have 3 tests that I’m supposed to be studying for tomorrow and have barely any time to write an in-depth post today.  You know what that means, right?

FOOD!

Just gonna upload some food pictures for y’all.  Try not to drool too much!

Turkey BLT on Rye with steamed green beans on the side

OOIAJ (1/2 cup oats mixed with 2/3 cup light vanilla yogurt topped with ground flax, bluberries, and shredded coconut)

Turkey & TJ’s Roasted Garlic Hummus in a whole wheat wrap with a Golden Delicious apple & Babybel on the side

Carrie’s Inside-Out Peanut Butter Cup Cake topped with Nutella

Angela’s Grilled Cashew Butter & Blueberry Sandwich

Grilled Liverwurst and Cheddar on Rye with baby carrots and ranch dip on the side

Tropical Mango Muffin with greek yogurt, Cheerios, and strawberries

High-Protein Egg Pizza topped with tomatoes and olives (Recipe Soon!)

Kelsey’s Very Vanilla Chia Pudding topped with Tropical Mango Bread, strawberries, and coconut butter

Grilled chicken topped with Franks with a baked potato and grilled asparagus on the side

Sandwich Thin topped with Mixed Nut & Chia Butter and strawberries on the side

Mixed greens, tomatoes, grilled chicken, edamame, shredded carrot, and Salsa Vinaigrette

Green Monster

Turkey Meatball Parmesan on Italian Bread with mixed veggies

* * * * * *

So, are you drooling yet?

Hope you enjoyed today’s photo-heavy post.  Now I’m going to do some geometric proofs.  I am really having a hard time with them.  Are there any math wizards out there that can help me/give me some pointers?  I would really appreciate it.  I tried asking my teacher, but sadly, she’s the type of teacher that doesn’t really like when students ask questions so she got annoyed with me. Hmph.

Questions of the Day:

1. What is the best thing you ate this week? Probably the cashew butter and blueberry sandwich!
2. Did you ever have a really bad teacher or a teacher you really didn’t like? Share your teacher stories!

Happy Almost-Friday!

Ode To OIAJ

Oh, how I love OIAJ (and OOIAJ!) ♥

*For those of you that don’t know what OIAJ or OOIAJ are that’s perfectly fine! I didn’t know what either of them were before Blog World either! 

• OIAJ – Oats in a Jar
• OOIAJ – Overnight Oats in a Jar

I seriously don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t discovered Blog World!  I wouldn’t be enjoying the delicacy that is OIAJ that’s for sure!

This past week I had a lot of empty nut butter jars so I had OIAJ almost everyday!  Let’s take a look at the creations…

* * * * *

Elvis-Inspired OIAJ*

* Yeah, I know it’s not a natural peanut butter jar.  The store was out and we needed peanut butter.

Oatmeal topped with a crushed Adora Calcium disk

Overnight Oats topped with the last slice of Cranberry Orange Bread

Chia Overnight Oats and fresh strawberries

* * * * *

I’d say that it a good week of breakfasts!

Unfortunately the winner of my Jay Robb Protein Powder Giveaway has not responded to my emails yet.  So the new winner is #37 edmomtomjb!  Congratulations! You will be receiving an email from me shortly.

* * * * *

Questions of the Day:

1. Have you ever had OIAJ or OOIAJ? 
2. What is your favorite nut butter?

Have a happy and safe weekend!

Stronger Every Second

Today was my first official strength training day of 2011. Yay!

I did 15 minutes (5.35 miles – Level 6/12) on the stationary bike for a warm-up and then 20 minutes on the rowing machine.

According to my Mom (and then confirmed by this article) working out on a rowing machine is the most effective calorie burner because it combines strength training and cardio in one.  Rowing works the arm, back, shoulder, and ab muscles!  Sounds like a winner to me!

I’m so sore right now from all that rowing, but at least I know it’s because I’m getting stronger every second!

I can’t wait until I muster up enough courage to start the weights and kettlebells!

* * * * *

In addition to frequent strength training, one must consume a lot of protein in order to build muscle.  Let’s have a look at the protein-packed meals and snacks I’ve eaten today…

Breakfast:

2 whole wheat waffles, 1/2 cup 1% no salt added cottage cheese, and sliced strawberries

Lunch:

Turkey and roasted red pepper hummus on a Sandwich Thin, Laughing Cow and cucumbers, and an orange

Snack 1: (eaten after school/before my workout)

White Chocolate Macadamia Luna bar

Dinner:

A bowl of Pork and Hominy Stew with a side of toasted ciabatta bread and steamed broccoli

Snack 2:  (eaten a few hours after dinner)

Yoplait Light Thick & Creamy Cinnamon Roll yogurt and 1/2 a grapefruit

* * * * *

It was a pretty good day of eats if I do say so myself!  The only not pictured item was the last slice of Coconut Banana Bread enjoyed for an impromptu dessert. I need to remember to make more soon!  So yummy! 

Question of the Day:

1. What is your favorite strength training tool/machine/move?   I can’t wait to hear what you have to say. That way I can steal them and add them to my routine. 

Mwahahaha! 

Random Stuff

Whoa! It seems like Jay Robb Protein Powder is very popular here in Blog World. Yay!

As this post title hints, this post is going to be about a bunch of random stuff. I feel like I have so many things to share with you and not enough time to say it all in separate posts.

Bear with me if this gets a little disorganized and random.

* * * * *

Lately everything on the food-front is all good and well.  I’m glad I was able to get right back on track after the holidays.  Instead of craving cookies and chocolate, I am now craving smoothies, oatmeal, and protein!

Greek yogurt, strawberries, blueberries, 1/2 banana, cinnamon, lemon juice, and flax seeds topped with Coco-Nutty granola and cranberries ↓

April’s Protein PanCake prepared using Jay Robb Chocolate Whey and topped with a dollop of Dark Chocolate Dreams ↓

Mixed greens, tofu, tomatoes, cucumber, brie, and blue cheese viniagrette↓

Speaking of salads…I’ve completed the Salad Challenge! You can see my progress right here.

* * * * *

The other day I finally went and got my Bone Density Test.  I haven’t gotten the results yet, but I’m hoping for the best.  Although, I wouldn’t mind having an excuse to buy those delicious-looking Adora Calcium Disks.

Anyways, I have a follow-up visit scheduled for another Orthopedic who works in sports medicine and hip injuries on Friday and a blood test on Wednesday.

* * * * *

As you know, I am a big fan of magazines.  Almost all magazines, but mostly health and food magazines.

So the other day, while in the waiting room of the doctor’s office an article in the Fitness magazine caught my attention.  “Wait, these people look familiar!” I thought.

It turns out that they were fellow bloggers, whose blogs I read pretty often!

Julie from Peanut Butter Fingers

and Tina from Faith, Fitness, Fun

In each of the articles, the women talked about what made them want to get healthy and fit.  It was a really good article. 

* * * * *

In other news…

I got my second ear-piercing the other day.  (Pictures to come)

Today is this guy’s birthday. ↓

Happy 7th Birthday Matthew! (He’s my cousin.)

* * * * *

That’s all for now folks.  I hope you enjoyed the totally random, yet heartfelt post. I am hoping to post my New Year’s Resolutions later tonight.

Edible Gifts For Everyone!

Two posts in one day?  I’m impressed with myself!

This Christmas I gave the gift of food.  But not just any food – homemade food!

I gave my Babi, Grannie, and Teti the same things. 

Little decorative jars of:

• Apricot Pineapple Jam
• Coco-Nutty Granola
• Mixed Berry Jam

I didn’t take a picture of the finished product, but I wish I did.  They actually looked kind-of cute!  I mean, I made little labels for them and everything!

Don’t worry though.  I’ll make up for it by posting the recipe for the Mixed Berry Jam I made. 

I would have probably posted it anyways but let’s pretend, shall we?

Mixed Berry Jam

Ingredients:

• 40 ounces frozen berries (I used strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries.)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 (1.75 ounce) box pectin (I used Sure-Jell brand.)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium pot. 
2. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.
3. Once the jam boils, simmer for 15 minutes or until it comes to a jam-like consistency.  Pour into glass jars and cool.  Keep refrigerated!

Yield:  Approximately 3 cups

*****

I never really got to try the jam, but all of the recipients said it was delish!  I believe them.

Question of the Day:

1. What is your favorite flavor jam?  Apricot and Strawberry are my favorites.

Enjoy!