Lissa's Better Eating Journal

[SBMike]

Halfway through the first dance lean in and tell him you don't believe in prenuptual agreements. THAT should set the right mood. LOL


Have a GREAT TIME!!!!

[DCLissa17]

Lol so much excitement for this dance, hope it lives up to it!

No really, actually we've texted back and forth for an hour or so on Tuesday and then earlier today he texted to say he is really looking forward to seeing me again at the dance. Very cute and awww. I'm looking forward to it myself. A BBQ at a friend's house in the afternoon (I'm bringing jello and corn on the cob) and then going dancing. Bethy, I will be wearing square dance clothes....poofy skirt and all. Probably something like this: http://www.mondiki.com/product.php?productid=16250&cat=271&page=1

Otherwise, lazy vacation is going pretty well. Still feels a bit like a long weekend, and only had one really sunny day to sit in the park for a couple hours, but at least I'm getting plenty of sleep. Seriously, it's been hard to even gather enough energy drive to leave the house! Today managed to run out finally to Rite Aid and Fred Meyer's. Didn't do ANY grocery shopping last week. Super weird. Did manage to drag myself to the natural co-op store for my free produce box - thank goodness! Look at the score:

7 ears corn (to the BBQ! along with whatever I pick up tomorrow- probably 6-12 more ears)
7 tomatoes (oven-dried for pasta/salads)
2.5lbs grapes
3lbs strawberries
6 heads green/romaine lettuce (3 to my neighbor with a tortoise)
1 artichoke (tried steamed but I think it was a bit past it's prime. Or I did it wrong. Or I just don't really like artichokes)
2 bunches Kale (I need some good recipes. And don't say kale chips. I HATE kale chips)
1 bunch dinosaur kale
14 russet potatoes (ugh...what to do with these? Probably make mashed potatoes or something for coworkers)
1/2 carrot
handful raspberries/blackberries
and……..almost 3 pounds of Rainier Cherries!!

Seriously. Street value on Rainier cherries is even higher than asparagus. I didn't even know you could buy them yet this year. I just saw them at Fred Meyer today for $5.98/lb. That's like......$18 in cherries. Plus another $5 in grapes. And $6 in strawberries. All before we even START talking the veggies. It's unbelieveable.

For posterity's sake....

B: banana/blueberry muffin, chipotle pinto beans w/ sprinkle cheddar cheese, grapes
...more beans
S: strawberries w/ PB/choc sauce
romaine hearts
L: chicken/bean enchilada casserole
cherries
Ritz bits cheese sandwiches
Little bag fruit snacks (My Little Pony if you must know)
D: pineapple & apple slices (leftovers from stocking the dehydrator) lettuce & kale salad w/ oven-dried tomatoes, black olives, and feta w/ strawberry balsamic vinagriette, eggplant lasagna
kettle korn popcorn - 1/2 bag
cinnamon apple spice tea

Plus? I did NOT buy another bottle of wine tonight. I wanted to terribly but I knew I would sit down and drink it and not get another thing accomplished tonight. And I had no reason at all to get one except for boredom. But I didn't. So yay me!

~Lissa

[Chris55]

Wow, you really scored with your free produce! That must take a huge chunk out of your food budget.

You probably didn't cook the artichoke long enough, they sometimes take 45 min or longer if they're big. You have to cook it until you can pull one of the leaves off easily. Old ones are dry and woody though so maybe it was a lousy one.

Can you freeze any of this stuff? I'm just thinking that maybe you won't get so much in the winter and will be happy with a freezer full of veggies.

[bethy]

I made this kale and it was yummy. But I cooked it Way longer than the recipe says, over an hour, adding a little water and stirring every 20 minutes or so until it was super "melted".
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2010/03/recipe-for-sauteed-kale-with-garlic-and.html
I LOVE that skirt!

[DCLissa17]

Thanks bethy that sounds like one to try. Think I'll make it with salmon patties and sauteed carrots.

Chris- I have been freezing some. Mostly corn and strawberries so far. Tomatoes I'm making into sauce to freeze or oven-dryng. Lots of bananas, apples, pineapple plus mushrooms and chili peppers into the dehydrator. This produce is stuff that's pulled from the store shelves when its starting to spoil, or gets bruised, etc. So should always been tons of lettuce. Berries/cherries are prepackaged and so if employees notice one berry going bad, they toss the whole bag/pack. Its crazy!

[DCLissa17]

Quick post -

The dance Saturday way great. Super fun and he paid for the admission (1st sign of a date vs. hangout). Then we danced every tip together (sign #2). Seriously So Much Fun. Laughing and goofiness and lots of chatting. Then at the end of the night he said he had something for me and gave me a rose! (AWW and sign #3) I made noises about going to another dance sometime and he asked me out for today! We were gonna go to the zoo.

But then today it looked like it might rain and it was gonna be fairly expensive to go to the zoo ($17 admission + $6 parking) so we just went to lunch instead and then it ended up gorgeous and sunny so we walked around the waterfront -- for 3 hours! Was great to be outside in the sun, not really doing anything just enjoying the water and conversation. He seems like a really upfront, honest, sweet, gentleman --- almost like another generation! Which is truly how I feel myself a lot of the time. I really hate the culture and vulgarity of my generation. I LIKE chivalry and romance and courting. I mean, square dance. Duh.

I had a great time, and have a bit of a sunburn to prove it. Thought I had more of a base tan, whoops! But the guy is good. I'm at the point of my life where casual dating is NOT attractive to me at all, and he seems to be a slow-moving, serious, responsible, mature type of guy. I can definitely see promise. So the summer is looking even better now!

Food yesterday sucked. BBQ, out of the house all day. We won't get into it. Today is better:

Brunch (out): chicken w/ cranberry/sage/cheeses stuffing in cream sauce w/ asparagus, glass white wine
S: some dried fruit, cherries/grapes, LC cheese wedge, peanuts
D: salmon patty, roasted potatoes, melting tuscan kale (Thanks bethy!), sauteed green beans/carrots, 2 glasses chardonnay
S: ??? probably some strawberries. Maybe some yogurt. Maybe a salad. We'll see.

I've eaten through most of my fresh veggies. (besides lettuce. I'm drowning in lettuce) Nearly finished with the carrots I have left. 1/2 a zucchini. One small pablano pepper. I have plenty of frozen and canned veggies of course. Mostly corn and broccoli frozen, peas and green beans canned. I did a round of fruit in the dehydrator and have 2 more pineapples, 2 apples, and 4 bananas to put in tomorrow. Plus I have 2lbs of strawberries, 1.5lbs of cherries, and 1lb of grapes left in the fridge. Feeling pretty good about the world! Tomorrow I have $25 in catalina coupons to use up (these are basically the equivalent of cash)....gonna buy some carrots and onions and meat! Woot! Woot!

[bethy]

Summer Romance! Dancing! Flowers! You hit the trifecta

[DCLissa17]

So talked to the boy on the phone for over an hour today - aww! Told him more about my crazy couponing....luckily he doesn't seem to think I'm a total freak, he seems very intrigued! I may have met my frugal match.

Went shopping today and spent just $12. Tomorrow I'll pick up another produce box. Bought: 4 boxes Triscuits, 5lbs carrots, 5lbs onions, 16oz snap peas, can artichoke hearts, can of salmon, small jar pickled herring, pork tenderloin, 2 sirloin steaks, 2 bottles raspberry vinagriette dressing, 1/2 gallon almond milk, 3 jars soy sauce. Plus a bag of Doritos, a box of Cheezits (my p3 treats) and a box of granola bars and 18 cup of noodles to take to work and giveaway. I'm pretty happy with my day!

B: fried egg on 1/2 WW english muffin, carrot sticks
S: strawberries, plain greek yogurt w/ SF jello powder
not really a real lunch...just some snacking after getting back from shopping......
one cup of noodles (so bad for you but sooo good), some Doritos (ok a lot of Doritos), ~1c. snap peas, some pickled herring (I know, all this sounds gross)
probably have some cherries & grapes later, might have a green salad (so. much. lettuce. in. fridge)
D: will be salmon patty, roasted potatoes, sauteed carrots/green beans, and melting tuscan kale.

So really, except for the cup of noodles/doritos, it's not too bad! Phew!

Happy hunting!

[bethy]

*carefully averts eyes from the bright yellow and red box*
The C word is my Cryptonite.
What's his name?
Lissa and .... George? Lissa and Liam! Lissa and Abu?? Lissa and Ferdinand Lissa and Harry Does he have red hair? Bet they'd give you a Corgi

[DCLissa17]

Well it's back to reality. Vacation is over and after such a promising start, so is any potential relationship with the boy. See he's a Christian with a capital "C" and I am.....not. And so apparently God came to him and told him that wouldn't work out. So bye bye to me! I'm remembering once more why I haven't made much of any effort or had much inclination to date the last 3 years.

Easy night at work which was a good starter day. 3 nights left this week, 3 next week, then onto 2 days/week part-time schedule!

Produce box this weekend was fairly quiet. One bunch Kale, about one bunch worth of celery, 1lb strawberries, 2 pears, 1 peach, 1lb grapes.

Finally managed to get my balcony garden planted! Looks so nice out there now! Hoping all the plants survive the transplanting and actually produce veggies.

Drank a bottle of wine after the boy dumped me and ate a bunch of carby junk. Not really hungover but feeling icky and bloated today. Back on the SB track for sure. I also really want to get into an exercise habit once my new schedule begins....I will have plenty of days off so no excuses about no time/physical exhaustion.

Of course in all my 10 days off, there was only sunshine on 1.5 days and I only really spent about 5 hours outside in it. And then yesterday when I woke up if was clear blue skies and mid-70's before noon. And it's sposed to be like that all the rest of the week (when I'm working!). Super annoying. Spent 2.5 hours in the sun at the park before getting ready for work yesterday.

B(ish) fruit/milk smoothie, cup of noodles
L(ish) green salad, another cup of noodles (yeah. shock that I feel bloated) cherries/grapes
S: a few dried pineapple/banana slices
then to work.
Chocolate brownie, coffee
L: salmon patties, melting tuscan kale, carrots, roasted potatoes
S: greek yogurt w/ strawberries/splenda
D: can of veggie soup, hot dog, sweet potato fries

Getting in the veggies but far too much bad bad carbs. Just...ugh! So annoyed in general right now!

[Chris55]

Wow, that's a disappointment, Lissa, but better you found out now. You would have probably dumped him if you had realized earlier, so don't hang it on yourself! Stick up for your beliefs (or lack thereof ). I have 2 atheist boys, a little too young for you and neither employed, or I'd send them out to you! Wine and carbs were definitely in order, but it's time to move on and enjoy your free veggies!

Still messing with the same couple of pounds here, exercising, eating well, but the scale seems stuck again. I'm just going to keep going because I feel so much better eating this way and I know that eventually the scale will move.

[bethy]

Goodgodawmighty! Ol' Holier Than Thou nipped it in the (rose) bud on a direct order from the Top...this is even worse than breaking up on a post-it. Give Thanks and Make a Joyful Noise because once he started Talking About It you would have had to do it yourself and you know how Persistent those Christians can be. I guess you really have to sashay with caution at square dances, I've heard they're secret recruitment centers for the FU (faithful underground). Those boys have been known to Pop the Question (not WYMM? but the dreaded HYBS?) on the second date. ugh. I just thank the Lord every day for making me a Heathen.

[DCLissa17]

LOL you guys are awesome. It was quite a disappointment at the time but the more I contemplate it, the more annoyed I get. I tend to have a WEEEEE bit of intolerance for hypocrisy and well......people in general.......so I'm sure it would have ended badly in any case. Best that The Lord stepped in now.

Work was super duper slow last night. Yay! I like this eeeeasing back into work after vacation. Also like the fact that my patients have been generally young with fixable issues. Nice change of pace from the last oh.....6 months of caseload. And only one dog tried to bite me today. But I have ninja reflexes. Unlike my coworker who after taking a little nap in a chair, stood up - said "BOTH my feet fell asleep!" and when she tried to walk, promptly crumpled to the ground on the freshly mopped floor. DYING IN LAUGHTER.

Food is good but I STILL feel bloated from my carb-fest on Tuesday. Stupid boys.

B: scrambled egg, snap peas, coffee, 1/2 pear
S: a couple caramel kisses
L: green salad, steak, baked sweet potato, corn, coffee
S: peach, coffee
D: soft chicken taco w/ cheese/lettuce in WW tortilla, side of beans
a feww Doritos and Cheezits. No really, just like 4 of each. And remembered why I should have had some carrot sticks instead.

I am WIPED. This getting back on a work schedule is kicking my butt. 2 more nights this week. I am SO happy to be going to part-time. I think my body needs a break for awhile. Getting old.....

[DCLissa17]

Yay the last 4-day week is over! 3 days next week and then part-time officially starts! Woot woot! I am celebrating with rum & root beer. But food, food is doing good.

B: HB egg, snap peas & carrot sticks, string cheese
S: coffeeeeee, apricot
L: soft chicken taco (WW tortilla, chicken, lettuce, cheese), corn, chipotle pinto beans, coffee
S: 1/2 pear, LC cheese wedge, coffee

*Pause* So I am NOT a caffeine person. I don't drink soda, I hate coffee. But over the last few years I started drinking coffee at nights to help with the LONG shifts. I'm up to 3 cups/night. Usually one with breakfast before work because I take a LONG time to wake up and would be sooooo cranky/general when just getting to work and it actually seemed to help with my violently unhappy mood. One with "lunch" around 11p-1a. And then in the dark part of the night - 3a (otherwise known as snack-time) to help with the final push to the end of the shift. I never ever ever drink coffee outside of work. I don't like the taste, I don't need the dependence of it, and I don't like the side effects it has on my body - it can easily make me queasy. I think working less and being less overall exhausted will help me be able to cut back on the coffee at work (goal is only one or two cups max) and therefore feel better in the end.

D: WW macaroni w/ tuna, zucchini, oven-dried tomatoes in cream cheese "sauce", green side salad. Some rum & diet root beers.
S: hmmmmm.....probably some strawberries and dried banana chips. We'll see what else trouble I cause before I zonk out today.

Watching Firefly, having some drinks, staring at the gray drizzle that heralds the arrival of July. I think that Seattle is taking its crappy weather rep too much to heart this year. Enough already!

And btw, the most annoying text ever is "Are you mad at me?" .....from someone you've hardly starting dating/talking to/etc.

~Lissa

[bethy]

I think that's how coffee sneaks up on all of us. It's definitely a drug.
I *hate* the "are you mad at me". The only true answer is "I am NOW".
Rum and Rootbeer?
Thought I'd heard everything, just goes to show...
I thought you *had* to put vanilla ice cream in rootbeer.