Happy Memorial Day!

First and foremost I want to give thanks to our troops, those currently serving, retired, and those who have been killed or wounded in battle in the name of our freedeom ... we had a beautiful memorial service at our county courthouse this morning. I had a good friend who died serving a couple of years ago and it really hit home how his family and friends have suffered. Rest in Peace WCM! Now for me memorial day means one of these... Preferably at the beach but since I started a new job this year I didn't go on vacation. Mom and I cooked burgers on the George Foreman Grill and baked some Ore'Ida Sweet potato fries to go with it. Dessert was some of this:

Mom's blueberry cobbler. A warm scoop of heaven. I love when mom cooks because she doesn't really think about calories and fat - just tasty goodness.

We went back to Burkes Outlet...see previous post on my shoe buying splurge. Mom got 15% off today because it's Monday so I bought a new lunchbag. I decided I needed a second because I nearly forgot to get mine from the fridge at work twice last week. This is a Lilly Bloom Bag (originally $40 what!!!! and I bought it for $15 before mom's discount).

We saw the 4 pm showing of Robin Hood with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. I loved it, mom fell asleep - it's just not her kind of movie. I loved all the action but the movie didn't spend enough time developing the characters. The story is suppose to be the precursor to the Robin Hood story we all know but the set up at the end leaves me to believe there might be a sequel.

Finally we did some grocery shopping at Walmart and I picked up this shower curtain for my bathroom back at my mom's house. I'm not sure how long I'll stay here before finding my new place but I absolutely hated the sheer silver shower curtain she had up. I have beauty product overflow on the outer corners and you could see it through the curtain. Eh, I liked it at the store but I really like it in the room.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!! I know this post is all over the place but for memorial day I wanted to end with this:

"Greater love has no man that this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." John 15:13

In the Kitchen: Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies

Yield 4 dozen 3 large egg whites 1/4 t cream of tarter 1/4 t salt 1 cup sugar 3 T unsweetened cocoa 3 T semisweet chocolate minichips Preheat oven to 300* Beat egg whites, cream of tarter, and salt until soft peaks form. Add sugar 1 T at a time beating until stiff peaks form. Sift cocoa over egg white mixture and fold in. Fold in minichips. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and drop batter by tablespoonfuls on prepared baking sheet. Bake at 300* for 40 minutes or until crisp. Cool on rack and store in an airtight container. These are best when eaten within 1-2 days. ***Disclaimer: I got this recipe off a blog a few weeks ago and wrote it down with the ingredients. I thought I favorited the post to give the blogger credit but I couldn't find it. If I get a message from the blogger I will definitely give credit where it is due because these merigues are delicious***

The Preppy Mafia Blog Award

I'm so honored!!!!! I have my first blog award from Andrea at Life in Dawleywood - thank you Andrea!!!! The Rules: 1. Copy and Paste the above image onto your blog. 2. Answer the questions below. 3. Pass onto bloggers that you love and let them know they've been given this award. Welcome to the Preppy Mafia! Now for a few questions, you cannot refuse. 1. Who is your style icon (s)? The beautiful Jennifer Aniston is my modern day icon. I love her laid back, comfy chic style. Her minimal makeup and simple hair styles work for me as well

2. What is your favorite Socialite lit book?

I love all Emily Giffin, Sophia Kinsella, and Mary Kay Andrews books - easy reads and girl friendly.

3. Favorite party theme?

I've always wanted to try a masquerade party but no one is really into it. Really I just love cocktail or wine tasting parties. I guess in my area we don't really theme adult parties, thought my 5 year old niece had a bang up Miley Cyrus birthday party last year.

4. Go to Halloween costume?

I have a few. Athletic tank, yoga pants, ponytail and boxing gloves. Black dress, heels, and witch hat. Black shorts, football jersey and war paint under the eyes. I also have a set of wings I've matched with various outfits. We had a lot of costume parties throughout the year when I was in college so I used to keep a toga and pirate costume available for variety :-)

5. Extravagance you cannot live without?

I love getting my hair colored and styled professionally. I love going out to eat to local or reknown resturants (I'm such a foodie) . I also love the occasional shopping spree whether it's clothing or makeup.

6. Living person you admire?

Much love to the mama. My dad died when I was 13 so she basically raised me by herself, she is my best friend.

7. Greatest fear?

Losing a loved one. I buried my dad and grandpa in the same year. Last November my grandma passed. I can't imagine losing my mom (or husband and children if/when they are a reality).

8. Trait you deplore in yourself?

I'm highly critical, mostly of myself. My room needs to be clean when I go to sleep, I can't work if my office is messy, I can't stand when my nails are chipped, I hate when I see my roots when I want to long to color my hair, etc. I have to take a step back and tell myself to chill out.

9. Which talent would yo most like to have?

I'd love to be able to sing. I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

10. Greatest Achievement?

Um....I graduated college and got a job in the worst economy in half a decade. I'm not sure if I consider it an achievement or proof of God's grace. My goal in college was to get a job in renal nutrition and I started a new job this week in renal nutrition!! I'm hoping to acheive good labs and keep them within range = healthy patients!!!!

I guess it's my turn to pass the award. I was "off blogging" for a while during my move so I'm not sure if this is one of those big awards everyone has done but if you want to do it, I'd love to read it!

The award goes to

Veronika @ Veronika's Blushing

Jenny @ Not Just a Pretty Face Allison@ Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles

In the Kitchen: Sweet Salmon with Firey Asian Slaw

Yum! I tend to make a lot of fish for dinner with various vegetables but this is somewhat a new favorite...I never really liked the kind of slaw my mom made but I love this one.

I like to marinade my salmon occasionally in lemon juice for about half an hour and add about a teaspoon of honey rubbed on top before baking.

I make a small 2 serving portion so I use 1 tablespoon of honey, lemon juice, hot sauce, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and 2 Tablespoons of olive oil whisked in. Place to handfuls of bagged cabbage slaw and toss to combine. I usually taste and add more hot sauce in the end.

New Shoes - Burkes Outlet Spree

We have a new outlet shop near home that is similar to a TJ Maxx or Ross Store called Burkes Outlet. I'm not sure if they're a national chain or not but I found two pairs of cute shoes and some white no show athletic socks (not shown) for less than $50. On Mondays the store gives 15% discounts to ages 49 and up (Mom) and on Fridays discounts for 49 and under (Me). I'm thinking of going this Friday and purchasing some cute items to spruce up my two offices. NY & Co Patent Graphite heels. $24.99

Unsure of the brand but I'd never heard of it. These cute fabric giraffe print flats. $19.99

And for your viewing pleasure:

Lilly felt like posing this morning when we woke up. I took several photos and this is the only one where her eyes didn't make her look demon possessed.

Snack Time!

So I realized that only in blogland it's considered normal to photograph your food, I've gotten some strange looks in the past few days when I reach for a camera before my fork. Some people like to take photos of flowers, so tit for tat. In light of the new "everyday food" posts, I thought I'd also include some of my favorite snacks. I like to keep these items in stock and usually try to buy them up when they are on sale.

From Left to Right starting in the back.

Nuts - I bought these Cocoa Roasted Almond 100 calorie packs this week because I wanted to try them (and they're delish!) but normally I buy unsalted almonds or walnuts from the baking aisle and toast them with my own seasonings or eat them raw.

Dark Chocolate Squares - I keep some in my desk at work and some at home. Love them!

Fruit - these are Sunsweet Ones but I love all dried and fresh fruit. I never new I liked prunes until I tried these.

Apple crisps - These are hard to find but each bag of dehydrated apple crisps have 1.5 apples in them and my mom and I love them. Again all fruit is good for me, I have applesauce in the cabinet as well but it didn't make the picture.

Popcorn - Usually I buy Smart Balance Light Butter microwavable popcorn but I also like these Smartfood popcorn clusters.

Fiberplus bars - Sometimes I eat these with a cup of yogurt for breakfast but I also like them for a snack.

Low fat String cheese - yum!

Jello Mousse cups - my new obsession, I like the dark chocolate ones

Sugar Free, Fat free pudding mix - I make a bowl of it and it lasts all week.

My favorite after work or late night snack, a glass of almond milk and a bag of popcorn clusters. They remind me of old school cracker jacks but with a "fresher" taste - no prize though.

Meals for 1

I've had some request from friends to share what I eat on a daily basis. I don't follow a meal plan but I guess everyone thinks because I'm a dietitian that I should. Usually I blog about recipes for special meals that I make, not every day food - I don't make pretty meals, usually I just throw things together and eat it. Another problem for me is that I eat the same things in rotation and I love left overs.

No matter what my excuses are I thought I'd at least give it a try. Here are three meals I made this weekend that are pretty standard.

Saturday I attended an all day music festival and I was starving when I got home. I made this pizza from a whole wheat Flat Out flatbread with about 2-3 tablespoons of tomato sauce that I mixed with Italian spices, spinach, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms. I pop mine in an oven at 300* for about 15 minutes. I make several variations of this pizza with whatever toppings I have in the refrigerator and I've made it using pita bread and whole wheat tortillas.

This was Sunday's breakfast. Usually I like to cook a hot meal on Sunday mornings but I was too lazy to do it after staying out late on Saturday night. I eat this a lot during the week where I mix 1/2 cup of fiber one orginal cereal with 1 container of greek yogurt (whatever flavor I have). Sometimes I mix in dried or fresh fruit but I had already eaten my last banana earlier in the morning. I love this breakfast because it's quick to eat and has 14 grams of protein and 14 grams of fiber.

Yet another regular meal in my house. I made a double helping of this Sunday night so I'd have leftovers for Monday's lunch. I cooked 2 portions of shrimp and a handful of mushrooms in a spritz of PAM spray with crushed red pepper flakes. I make a sauce using a sprinkle of flour and about 3 tablespoons of milk and melt in 1 wedge of laughing cow cheese. Coat the shrimp well in the sauce and add a shake (or a few in my case) of hot sauce. I eat mine on a salad usually but today I put it on a bed of spinach.

My boxes are unloaded...

I'm in my new home...or old home rather. I still haven't found an apartment that I like around my new office so I'm staying with my mom in the meantime. I'm enjoying seeing old friends and family and I start my new job on Monday. This post is going to be super quick, I really wanted to share a funny quote I read recently which I totally related to throughout the stress of this move: "Don't complain. Half the people listening don't care and the other half think you got what you deserved." Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Moving = ick!

I'm so over this move. I'm so excited to be close to family and to start a new job but the actual process of moving is beyond craptastic. I've been working every afternoon after work to get it all packed and I'm still not done. Family members are coming this week to take a load of boxes and I'll be taking Lilly and some breakables items home on Sunday. Next weekend I'm moving all the furniture via Uhaul, cleaning the empty apartment, and turning in my keys....the end is in sight but it can't get here quick enough. On top of it all I'm working this weekend at the hospital so the next few days will be very stressful. Just wanted to drop a quick line so no one thinks I've gone MIA as I have in the past. I will be able to do posts next week while I'm off work but this week has been so busy it hasn't been an option.

Summer Reading List

And for work . . .

Fiesta!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

This holiday holds significance for me because I graduated 3 years ago today!!! Ugh now I feel old. I'll be having a celebratory margarita tonight along with some fresh salsa. Hoping your fiesta is just as sweet...and sour.

ox April (and Lilly won't be participating)