I'm back!

Movies watched on the plane:

and a few episodes of Entourage. All this entertainment kept me busy during the long 8 hour flight. I think I might have dozed off a bit here and there.

I was welcomed home by 80 degree sunny weather in Chicago and man O man am I digging this weather fo sho!!

I'm not sure if my mom was more excited to see me or Sonoma. I'm thinkin the latter.

As soon as I was picked up, I hopped straight into the drivers seat. I heart driving. I heart driving on the right side of the road! God I missed it.

Look at the mess!!

Time to get organized..

Snack was:

I love the fact that my mom has soy milk in her fridge. No need to run to the store! Mini chocolate chip cookies brought over from the UK :)

Lunch/Dinner w. my Momma at a local cafe in Rockford

I created a half sandwich combo with wholegrain bread, turkey, lettuce, onion, tomato, banana peppers, cranberry mustard, and havarti dill cheese. SO GOOD! I had 1/4 of the cookie. Too much indulgence for me today since I'm not getting a workout in.

This is their half salad and it definitely didn't feel like half. O how I missed you American sized portions as big as my head! Mmm...there were heaping scoops of pine nuts, tomato and feta cheese all drizzled in balsamic vinegar. They included some awesome fresh bread. I ate the healthy kind slathered in butta!!

My mom had the Ahi tuna salad. She thought it was good but they could have put more dressing on the salad.

Just browsing...

I'll just stick with the water :)

Song of the day: Usher feat. Jay-Z "Hot Tottie"

Last supper

T took me to Patterson's last night for our final dinner together :( before I leave for Chicago tomorrow. I am getting very nervous!! All that aside, lets take it back to last night.

Amuse bouche of mushroom soup with white truffle oil. There are no words to describe how lovely this was..

Mine: Crique with seabass
Confit of baby fennel, pistachio vinaigrette

His: Cod in curried mussel juice with saffron scented linguine

Mine: Champagne glazed turbot with asparagus and langoustine tempura with a warm jersey royal potato salad

His: Scottish beef three-ways

White chocolate tart with orange saffron sauce w. a salted cocoa sorbet

PRALINE CINQ CENT FEUILLE
TROPICAL FRUIT SALAD, MAPLE SYRUP AND ALMOND ICE CREAM

All I've got to say about that meal was WOW. It was amazing. Not bad for a last meal in London. Thanks boo!!

Breakfast this morning:

Starbucks coffee and a lemon poppyseed muffin. I packed away all our food! This was a tasty substitute. My workout this morning was hardcore- Powerplate, Roxy beach workout class, and a 5k run.

I also stopped by Argos to pick this up for Arfie tomorrow:

Cross your fingers I'll be able to fly with her tomorrow!!

Moving day approaches

I just warmed up a sweet potato in the microwave and scarfed it down plain with my hands- no more plates left! I was hannangry!!

Who needs cups these days?!

Moving day is in 4 and most of our stuff is in boxes. GO ME!

I had a very productive French lesson today. Love it. 

Time for a real dinner..

Hello sunshine..

Trying to eat what we have in the house. I'm Chicago bound in two days and T is moving all our stuff this weekend.

Veggie burger w. avocado slices, loads of ketchup and hot sauce. Yum-O!!

Afternoon plan: More packing and second French lesson, weee wooo!

Notting Hill Festival

Before the mayhem...

Getting ready to start the afternoon!

the smell coming from this grill was amazing...

Wait.. I'm hungry..

Apparently the chicken is marinated overnight that makes it so juicy

Persian food!!

I wanted to see Samba dancers but unfortunately, I couldn't see!

She was just waving her sword around..

Aww.. I thought this guy looked so endearing.. but very out of place!

There were a ton of people dancing on the street to this dude. His voice sort of reminded me of the guy from the Prodigy.

This festival reminded me of Mardi Gras

The crowd was insane!

 FOOD!!!

Gotta have the jerk chicken

Curried goat w. rice and beans

Curried chicken and noddles w. veggies

Electrolytes!!

Coconut water. YUM!

A little machete action..

Breakfast:

Sliced mushrooms, one egg and 3 egg whites

Oh yea.....Bon appetit!

Mexicali

Mexican food no bueno!!!  Restaurant: slight resemblance to Chipotle but definitely not as good.

I'm not sure if this classifies as authentic Mexican food ya'll.

I could probably make this....

I said probably. :P

I got the taco salad without the nacho chips and I substituted it with some rice. I also asked for a little bit of sour cream (I saw their heavy hand with the sour cream ladle!)
Check out their rice. It looks like Uncle Ben's spanish rice. I miss the herb fantastic rice they use at Chipotle and even at another burrito joint here in London called Chilango. O well!

Breakfast this morning:

I ran out of my usual granola topping so I used a new product, Alpen The Swiss Recipe. Pretty good stuff. It contained raisins, hazelnuts, almonds, rolled oats and wheat flakes. I also added in some fresh raspberries, blueberries, wheat germ, cacoa nibs, and a sprinkle of my own plain almonds. I tried a new yogurt as well. Yeo Valley organic plain yogurt. It was creamy and delicious.

Yogurt tip: When buying yogurt make sure you check the label. I was surprised at how many brands have added sugars and other funky ingredients. You also want to make sure it containts live probiotic cultures (Yogurt-Superfood alert!!). When I'm in doubt, I'll stick with Fage Greek fat free yogurt.

Gym time yo!