Whole Foods

Check out my loot:

This was my third time going to our local Whole Foods and as you can see, I didn't buy much. I wish I could but most items are so gosh darn expensive! While there, I realized I missed the experience of shopping at a large grocery store. We've been using this online grocery delivery program for the better part of this year because it became a hassle to lug around groceries without a car. I'm thinking of transitioning back despite that minor annoyance because I actually love going down all the aisles and checking out the new product. Also, I can't forget about the free samples that are strewn about the store. Today, I sampled some fresh mozzerella balls and a zuchinni and cabbage soup. So good!


For lunch I had:

I'm not a vegetarian nor do I intend on becoming one but I have no idea what has come over me lately. I think I just grew tired of the same flavors I was tasting and my taste buds needed a change. The patty was good but the actual size of it was pretty dinky small.

I also had some of this bad boy. Lately, I've been drinking water with every meal and that can get boring. I never actually found a replacement for diet soda so I'm always on the look out for something similar. This "special" tea is yummy! Not overly sweet just like I like my tea and cold, which I prefer on summer days. Plus, its a healthy alternative. Here is their motto:

	No artificial preservatives
	No artificial colourings
	No artificial additives
	No artificial sweeteners
	No GMO's

Final product: Veggie burger with half of a wholemeal bun. Condiments: Organic ketchup and hot sauce. Sides: Broccoli and a bag of Wotsis, which is like cheese puffs in the states

Song of the day: American Honey by Lady Antebellum. Can't wait to see them in concert next Wed!

Toasty

Food plug!  I found this bag of deliciousness when I went to the Earl's Court food exhibition. I was hooked the moment I tried a sample! This flavor is strawberry and banana and it is excellent eaten plain, with milk, or mixed in with a smoothie for an added sweetness and crunchy texture. It comes in other flavors such as apple cinnamon and berry. Mmmm..


















My smoothie this morning unfortunately wasn't as good. I used too much spinach and overdid the coconut flakes on top. I also used Alpro soya milk light but I don't think that contributed to the funky taste. Not enough frozen fruit, too much green! I think its time for another grocery order from Ocado, our food delivery website.

My workout this morning consisted of this:
I did 3 sets of 15 of these exercises: squat, push ups,pull down, lunge,military press, upright row,tricep pushdown,leg extension, bicep curl, plank, and a few ab exercises in between. Currently, I'm listening to Eminem while strength training. I cooled down with a bit of Miley Cyrus and a salsa track that I'm really addicted to called Yo no se manana (Love!)

Cooldown:

This foam roller is wonderful. I lay on my stomach and let it roll slowly over my quad and calf muscles. It definitely loosens up the tension I have built up from my workouts and runs. I also think its helping my hurt hip.

                                                                                                 Is it Friday already? Things coming up: Beer festival Saturday, Chelsea v. Man U game on Sunday. Who knew I would ever get this excited about a soccer match! Must remember to take pictures.
 

Schmorgasboard

Dinner tonight:

So I'm trying to stay away from microwaveable dinners but I was feeling super hungry tonight so out from my freezer came a shrimp curry and lamb rogan meal. Also in the mix, some fried up tofu with a splash of soy sauce. I added some salt and pepper along with some spinach towards the end. More randomness on the plate: the last of my Uncle Ben's 2 minute rice packs. This one was mexican style rice.

Earlier tonight I met up with my brother's friend who just recently moved to London. I find that the longer I live here, the more people I meet who have transferred to the UK for work. Either way, I'm not complaining. I heart making new friends! We met up for a drink at Cadogen Arms, a gastropub that has the most amazing pint-o-prawns with a dipping sauce that compliments the shrimp perfectly. Sadly, I didn't order it and ended up just getting a pint of Tiger on draft. I'll have to go back there one last time before we leave Chelsea just so I can eat and take a picture of this dish.

 Book I'm trying to get through:

I've had this book for about a month and can't seem to get through the first few chapters. It's an international bestseller as it even says so in the front and I'm struggling! I googled the reviews and it appears the book does start out slow but it should get more interesting towards the middle. Here's to hoping..

Last days of summer?

Sonoma had some fun in the park today as you can tell:

It

Me.. I just read my magazine in the grass. It's getting colder outside. I hope we still have more warmer days to come. I opted not to go to Snog, which is a fro-yo place similar to Pinkberry (although I've never been but have heard comparisions) and have this instead:

No one said it was going to be pretty! That's my homemade banana walnut muffin with some shmear of chocolatey goodness. Yumm-O. I split the apple slices with my princess.

The fiancé is sick and I dunno if its a case of hypochondria but I feel like I might be coming down with something now. UGH! Better go fill up on some Vit C.

Hidden Valley is where its at!

Hello friend we meet again... So many unnatural obsession with Ranch is back. I love it. It's very versatile- good on chicken, pizza, salad, and even mac and cheese! My lunch consisted of a salad that included lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and pre-cooked chicken pieces. I find that eating healthier is so much easier when the protein in question comes pre cooked and sliced. Even the laziest person can choose to eat healthy! Wait.. did I just call myself lazy? Check out my awesome slicing skills below. These peppers were from our local Sainsbury store. I sorta wish they were organic but oh well, still very delicious and crunchy!

Here's the end product: Which peppers taste the best? I think the red ones do.

I was also craving something I gave up about two months ago: SODA!

I prefer Diet Coke over Pepsi products but beggars can't be choosers!

I only had a sample of the soda and threw the rest away. Talk about willpower! naw..it didn't even taste that good

Now I'm already planning my next meal (yes, I do have a lot of time on my hands-I'm unemployed for the time being!) What to do with this:

Time to take Arfie for a walk.. I feel a snog attack coming on for later this afternoon. Goody!!

Today's secret ingredient is....

SPINACH!! Popeye would be so proud of me :). You can barely taste it in there! I eat spinach on a regular basis, whether it be sauteing it or blending it in with my smoothie but the only problem I have with doing it the latter way is that it distorts the color of my drink and it also makes me wonder if I am eliminating the vitamin and nutrient content of the spinach. I was contemplating this thought as I enjoyed my breakfast:

Do I look happy or what!

I digress.. my run this morning was pretty tough. I'm not sure if it was the fact that I was up late salsa dancing (a post for another time since I forgot to take pictures last night!) or that I drank my coffee too fast this morning but I had side pains for almost my entire run. I managed to run past the pain though with a few breaks here and there.

Now I've only recently become a runner in the past month or so. If you would have asked my former 16 year old self whether or not I would ever enjoy running more than 5 minutes straight, I would have laughed in your face and called you ridiculous (liz lemon!). Well.. it's not so ridiculous anymore as I can happily say I run about 5 miles every other day. Surprise surprise.. The runners high actually does exist!

Off to get my day started.

Song of the day: Paramore "The only exception"
So many happy thoughts of the day to share: football season!! and I don't mean european "football." The prospect of fall and the start of NFL season makes me giddy!  Also, AMAZING below! Big changes I hope to come...
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/08/05/california.same.sex.ruling/index.html?hpt=T2#fbid=2DyH4_NXTKo&wom=false

snack attack

These cookies are Doves Farm Organic cookies. The one on the left is chocolate chip with dark chocolate chips (with Green & Black choco spread on top). The one on the right is a Ginger and Brazil Nut cookie. All washed down with some provamel soya milk.

Now please keep an open mind before I tell you that these are actually vegan cookies. They are made without gluten, wheat, milk, salt, buckwheat, soya, nuts, eggs or hydrogenated fat. Aside from not having the soft cookie texture, these cookies are EXCELLENT! I was so pleasantly surprised when I tried them for the first time yesterday. I picked them up on a whim at our local organic health store down the road. I am not a vegan but I do like trying new items so I would definitely get these again. The ginger one especially has a spicy kick to it.

I'm actually very happy with myself nowaways with my dessert palate. I had lost my love of desserts for about a year but I'm slowly developing my passion for everything sweet again, which could be a good or bad thing. Everything in moderation right!?

Random song of the day: Johnny Cash "Hurt"