Salad Momma.

Breakfast was another success, thanks to Quaker   I think I can officially consider them one of my favorite companies.

1/3 C. old fashioned oats, 1 egg white, sugar free vanilla Torani, 1/2 smashed banana, and 1/4 C. frozen bloobs

After microwaving the oatty cake until it was cooked though, I put the bloobs in and microwaved again until they were thawed. 

Next, I added the icing which was made from 1/2 scoop vanilla Optimum Nutrition protein powder and thinned with water.

It was a breakfast fit for a queen!  Like a mix betweena a blueberry and banana muffin!

The warm oats warmed me to the bone, just before heading out to face the cold walk to work.  Luckily, my little sis is a sweetheart and starts my car for me everyday before she gets picked up for school.  My Dad says it’s best that the engine has some time to warm up when it’s this cold outside.

Coffee doesn’t hurt either

Work isn’t bad.  Not much else to say about it though.  It’s not very “exciting” work.  Lots of paperwork and processing since I’m in human resources.

Two slices of Arnold’s 10 grain bread; One with forty spices hummus, sliced turkey, tomato, and alfalfa sprouts; One with 1 tbsp. fat free cream cheese, a smear of fat free ricotta cheese, and no sugar added apple butter.  On the side, a can of cut green beans.

I mostly just look forward to lunchtime and 4PM when I get to leave and head to the gym.

This snack bag fueled me through a 2 and 1/2 hour workout!  It contained a 100 calorie pack of cocoa roasted almonds, 1/2 banana, and some dried, unsweetened apple rings from Oh Nuts!

Practice is back to the original time (5PM-7PM), so I’ve got a whole hour to waste in the fitness room before it starts.  I just did 20 minutes light cardio on the Cross Ramp and then some ab work on the floor mats.  The end result, practice included?  1012 calories burned, 180 max hr.

1/3 C. oats + 1 egg white + sugar free vanilla Torani + cinnamon microwaved for 2 min. until cooked and topped with 1 tsp. fat free cream cheese & sugar free boysenberry jam

That little beauty was consumed upon my arrival home until I had time to throw together a beastly dinner salad which was inspired by my love for Ruby Tuesday’s salad bar.

Get ready for this massive list of ingredients cause it’s comin’ atcha…annnnnd go:

Baby spinach, broccoli, raw zucchini fries, sliced beets, diced cukes, baby carrots (halved), canned sweet peas, fat free cottage cheese, chickpeas, and dressed up in some Fat Free Vidalia Onion dressing with beet juice.

Yes, I was quite a proud salad momma   With some NewTree chocolate for good measure.

Dessert came in liquid form and was slurped out of this adorable tall glass that we picked up on our many adventures across the country.  This one in particular came from the Old Spaghetti Factory out in Kansas where my sisters’ basketball team was playing in a National Tournament.

It may not look like much, but this PROTEIN PINA COLADA put me over the edge into an “uncomfortably full” feeling. 

3/4 scoop vanilla Optimum Nutrition protein, 1/2 C. canned crushed pineapple in juice, 1/3 C. fat free milk, 3 ice cubes, 2 tbsp. unsweetened coconut, and 1 butt of a banana.

It was amaaaaaazing.  Super creamy and frothy.

I facebooked and video chatted for the first time last night!  My friend, Kirk sent me an invitation to download the “Tango” app on my droid.  It’s SWEEET.  Try it out!

Have you ever used video chat or Skype?  What do you thinK?  Pro’s, con’s?

XO.

Random Acts of Kindness.

“I saw a man today, his whole world across his back
A living monument opposed to my success
I tried to look into his eyes as he shuffled past my car
Sweat beading on his skin, his clothes and hair a mess

As the light turned green and I pulled away
He slowly disappeared
Just a memory of another chance
I failed to show Your love here

I wanna love because You loved
I wanna give because You gave
I wanna reach my hand out to the lost
‘Cause I know Your hand will save”

-Only You Can Save by: Chris Sligh

As I listened to the Word FM this morning on my way to work (who’s having their “SHARE-A-THON” right now since they’re ), I thought about the lyrics in this song.  Am I taking every opportunity to show God’s love to others?  Am I grate ful for everything I have and give til it hurts, on fire for God?  Some days I actually feel guilty for taking for granted everything I’ve been blessed with.  I’ll bet lots of people would kill for a breakfast like this one.Underneath all the toppings, there was a sliced up piece of Wheat & Flax bread from the Baker, layered with 1 strawberry Chobani, and 1 sliced kiwi (skin on for xtra fiber! )  Toppings today were 1 tbsp. nanna flakes, a sprinkling of Udi’s Gluten-free Vanilla granola, and a tiny spoonful of NuttZo.

 <3

Another thing I’ve been thinking about lately is my testimony.  I feel SO convicted when I’m on the basketball court and accidentally take the Lord’s name in vain.  It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, I feel so remorseful.  I mean, I’m there for so much more than to just play basketball again.  I want to be a positive influence on the girls!  I want to show them God’s love.  I feel like a total failure when I let out an “OH God!” at practice…they don’t think twice, because a lot of them have never been told that it’s wrong, but I feel so shameful the rest of practice, like God is tugging on my heart.  If that’s how my teammates see a proclaimed Christian act,  then why would they want to become one?   It’s not any different than anyone else?   I know it’s like expecting perfection, which is impossible, but I am praying that God helps me keep a positive attitude no matter WHAT. 

Morningstar Farms Lasagnaaa; 270 calories, 20g protein, 5g fat.

It was the perfect day for a meal like this at lunchtime.  Rainy, cold and dreary.  Just the recipe for a comforting meal…even if I had to eat at my work desk.

With a spinach salad on the side for some extra greenage (baby spinach, diced red & yellow pepper, carrots, alfalfa sprouts, and apple cider vinegar+sf raspberry torani for dressing)

I was officially offered the promotion at work!   Which I was really excited about.  I’ll be in classification & placement beginning the 19th!  Which of course means another building change.  Change can be good, right?  We’ll see.  The nice thing is, since it’s within my bureau, I have 3 months to change my mind if I want.  I can bounce back into my old position at any time.

On a random note, I got some much needed new basketball shorts.

Pretty basic, but soooo comfortable.  I got them in lime green, too!

After work, I had a banana for gym fuel.

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He was camera shy, so I posted one of his cousin   Elliptical & ab work in the fitness center (about 45 minutes), and then basketball practice at 5PM.

991 calories, 2:40: 15, max hr 181

I must be getting into better shape because I can’t get my hr up like I had in the beginning!  Then again, it wasn’t quite as strenuous at practice either.

No class on Thursdays, so I headed home to make a delicious dinner.

SALAD beast with baby spinach, sliced tomato, halved green beans, alfalfa sprouts, 1/4 C. fat free cottage cheese, 1/4 avocado, sliced red & yellow pepper, and fat free Vidalia Onion dressing.

Just 20 calories in 2 tbsp!  Not shabby. 

And LOVE the taste.  It’s creamy, too!

For some carbage, I had two slices of The Baker’s bread + Pecan Pie Butter

Mmmmm.  I can tell already, that this Pecan Pie Butter is not going to last long…*tear*  All I can do is savor it while it lasts!

Later on, I also had some protein hot chocolate to soothe the soul <3  Warm, comforting and delicious.  Courtesy of Optimum Nutrition.  It’s amazing what a hot shower and a cup o’ comfort can do for an achy athletic girl on a Thursday night.

RANDO question to start the weekending early:

What’s the last random act of kindness you’ve shown someone? 

Mine was the other night on my way to class.  A little boy (probably waiting for his mom/dad to get done with class) was sitting in the lobby searching on the floors for something.  He couldn’t have been more than 7 or 8 and had the sweetest grin & deep brown eyes.  He was wearing a puffer jacket and I asked him what he was looking for.  Apparently he was pretty desperate for some candy because the M&M machine was calling out to him and he was looking for change   I offered up 50 cents and his face totally lit up.  It’s the little things!

XO.