What’s Up Wednesday: January

Oh, Wednesday is here! I don’t know if i’m excited about it or not! Ha!

Link up with Mel, Shay, and Sheaffer for What’s Up Wednesday today. Every last Wednesday of the month, we all blog about what’s been going on with us. If you missed my posts last year, check them out!

What I’m eating:

Lately, it’s been a lot of my creamy chocolate fudge protein shake. I’m pretty sure I have one every day, if not, then every other day.

In the mornings, i’m swearing by my toast (I love the charred black on it so I like to burn my toast), avocado smeared on top, and then scrambled egg whites on top of that. Throw on some pace picante and you have a nutritious, filling breakfast.

I made my peanut butter cup protein pie when Morgan was home…and all I got was ONE SLICE and it was gone. She ate the whole thing in like 2 days. It’s good, friends, it’s good.

What I’m reminiscing about:

Well, since I just mentioned Morgan…i’m reminiscing about her being home this past month. She was excited to go back but we had some fun while she was here!

What I’m loving:

Lately, it’s been sleep. When I can get some sleep that is…I feel like i’m constantly tired. Monday night I crashed around 11:30, like didn’t even get my episode of One Tree Hill in because I was so tired. Well yeah, I woke up at 8:15 yesterday morning with no reason to. WHY BODY, WHY?

What we’ve been up to:

Mom has been gone this week visiting her dad so my pops and I have been watching The OC together like we used to. Other than that, we’re just trying to survive on leftovers, dirty laundry, and paper plates 😉 I kid about all that…we’re self-sufficient when she’s gone but it’s easier when she’s doing all those things. Haha

What I’m dreading:

Probably if anything, work this weekend. I’m working two jobs while i’m going to school full-time, so the last thing I want to do is wait tables on the weekends. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

What I’ve been working on:

Creating a healthy balance for myself…

Between work, school, sleep, exercise, food, seeing my family, a social life, and “me time” i’m just trying to find the right balance in a healthy way. Feel free to let me know if you’ve mastered it all. Share your tips!

My blog friend Angie did a great job talking about self care in her guest post, you should read it here.

What I’m excited about:

I officially activated my gym membership on Sunday. So now that i’m “up and running”, i’m ready to keep on it with my group exercise classes…but also (because this is just me) i’m a little nervous because now i’m like “I won’t like it”, “This is 2 years”, “What if I get bored with it?”, you know…just being my normal anxiety-filled self. Working on that too!

What I’ve been reading/watching:

I talk about what i’m reading on next Wednesday, February 3 for Bookworm Wednesday!! You should link up with Katie and I for that.

At night, you can find me re-watching an episode of One Tree Hill before bed. Am I the only one that loves the older seasons better?? I kind of feel like that’s how it is with all my shows though. My dad and I are thinking of not even going into season 3 of the OC because it gets all dark on us.

What I’m listening to:

Right now, i’m typing this post during my break in between classes so i’m hearing students walking around, typing, talking, etc while i’m playing NF radio on Pandora.

But when I get out of my night class, i’m heading home to finish watching this week’s Bachelor episode! Watching some of my favorite shows has become my “me time” lately when I need to relax!

What I’ve been wearing:

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, these leggings (well and other pairs) are on. When i’m sitting in classes all day I do not want to be uncomfortable. I always have some leggings and a t-shirt/tank/sweatshirt on.

And then MWF,

I’m wearing my work clothes with my coffee. Coffee is part of my uniform on those days. It’s just what M,W, F calls for 🙂

What I’m doing this weekend:

I’m working Friday night, which i’m bummed about because I could have gone to a family dinner.

Saturday is going to be my relaxation day. I usually always try to have one day each weekend where I don’t have anything to do. This gives me time for exercise, schoolwork, blogging, etc. I totally recommend this if you’re not doing it already!

Sunday i’ll probably do some yoga before I work the dinner shift at work.

What I’m looking forward to next month:

Next month, i’m looking forward to…uh…nothing right now. There’s honestly nothing about February that gets me excited. It’s cold, there isn’t a holiday off from school. Well I guess I can be excited because it is a short month???

Oh wait, I know…

Fuller House premiering at the end of the month!!

What else is new:

Nothing that I haven’t already shared!

What is my favorite Valentine’s Day treat:

As I looked at this question, I definitely thought of those little Debbie chocolate brownies with the icing and sprinkles. So random, but that’s what came to mind! However, #thankyougluten I can’t have them. Maybe i’ll try and make my own??

Last year, I made a heart shaped cake for my family because i’m #sosweet 🙂

Nothing too exciting, but that’s what’s up this month!

#FoodieToosdy Week 6

Woah, I’m totally behind a week of #FoodieToosdy. Ugh, this whole back to school thing has me all screwed up!! Today i’ve got a whole day’s worth of meals planned for you. Ps please forgive my terrible pictures, i’m hoping to get a better camera soon!

1. Egg-White scramble with strawberry slices

This was breakfast the other day. I KNOW! I ate breakfast. I’m telling you, i’m all screwed up. So this is possibly the easiest (and very healthy breakfast) you can make. I’m sure lots of you make this, but this is how I do it:

Get:

Carton of egg-whites (or an egg)
Slice of pre-made bacon
Strawberries (or whatever fruit you like)
Shredded cheese
Your favorite picante sauce or salsa

How to:
Cut your pre-made bacon into little bacon bits and put them in your Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Dishwasher Safe Omelette Frying Pan Combo, 10-Inch/12-Inch (the 10-inch one). Seriously, Calphalon is wonderful, we’ve never regret buying these pans, especially because they are dishwasher safe!

Once the bacon starts to eat pour your egg-white over the bacon. Sprinkle salt and pepper. When it starts to cook begin to scramble your egg. Add shredded cheese if desired. While it is cooking, slice up your strawberries and put them on your plate. Once the egg-whites have turned a golden color and have completely cooked put them on your plate. Pour your favorite picante sauce on the side and eat up!

2. Shrimp and Sausage Gumbo

Get:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
• 1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 3 pounds unpeeled, large raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 bunch green onions, sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• Garnish: sliced green onions

How to:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 400°. Sprinkle flour in a 9-inch cast-iron skillet. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, stirring once. Cool 10 minutes.
2. 2. Meanwhile, cook sausage in a Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until browned. Drain on paper towels. Place sausage in a 6-qt. slow cooker; add tomatoes and next 7 ingredients.
3. 3. Whisk together browned flour and broth until smooth. Pour into slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH 5 to 6 hours. Stir in shrimp, green onions, and parsley. Cover and cook on HIGH 30 minutes, stirring once. Discard bay leaves before serving.

A big thank you to myrecipes.com
This recipe is great because you can put it in the fridge for a couple days and take it to work/school/or just heat it up if you aren’t feeling like cooking lunch one day.

3.) Giada’s Sea Bass alla Fiorentina

Get:

c4 (6-ounce) pieces sea bass
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning fish
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning fish
2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 (14-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves

 

How to:

Season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper. Put the flour in a shallow bowl, dredge the fish, tapping off the excess flour to create a light coating.

In a medium nonstick fry pan, heat the 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Cook the fish until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer fish to a plate.

Wipe out the pan with a paper towel and heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, tomatoes, water, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook at a simmer for 10 minutes. Add the basil and the fish and heat for 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

We steamed asparagus and the other thing is a potato cake that was attempted, but it was not good, so I won’t share that recipe with you 🙂

Happy Eating!!!!