So I am one of those weirdo animal lovers who finds dogs (or any animal for that matter) in costumes – ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL AND ADORABLE!

Everyone around here is dressed up (I don’t go in for all of that) – but here is what I saw coming down the hall at me when I went to lunch:

Are you kidding me?  How freaking cute!  Although I do feel bad for them at the same time!  Here are their close-ups – a little blurry because they were NOT having it! 

Mad Hatter:

And Alice:

For breakfast – spicy oatmeal – this time – I’m trying to showcase for you – JUST HOW MUCH HOT SAUCE I USE.  If you look carefully – you can see where the oatmeal line is on my bowl.

Keep in mind – this is just breakfast – I use it at every meal!  

For lunch – HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS KIDS!  – NOT A SALAD!  Can you even believe your eyes?

Now granted – it’s not some new crazy surprising picture – it’s last night leftovers – but GIMME SOME CREDIT!  I switched it up for once!   I also added in some spinach for veggies!  And the same side of brussel sprouts I’ve had all week!

Here is a surprise Kristin left me last night…don’t take pics of yourself on my camera – if you don’t want them posted!

Andhere.iswhat.I’vebeeneating.allfrickingday. because halloween is the WORST!

These are delicious – if you see them – run the other way!

Last but not least – I need to share this website with you.  It cracks me up.   You have to be a dog lover.

I has a hotdog!

Here is an example of the pictures on there – I must have a 12 year old’s sense of humor, because this cracks me up!  And I’m a sucker for boxers!

see more puppies

Happy Halloween!

This is all my food from yesterday – I don’t know what’s been with me this week, I’ve just been so busy every day!  I’m going to post yesterday – and then try to stay on top of today.  (Office fans – “THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID”) 

Spicy oatmeal – yet again!  Although this time – I tried to garnish with some egg whites for ya’ll!  (Think about how funny that sounds – GARNISH – with EGG WHITES?!)

For a snack – I had my left over Key Lime Larabar that I didn’t eat at bowling the night before.  MMMMM in my belly!

For lunch, another spinach salad – I used up the rest of my weeks supply – so today – you might actually see a lunch that is NOT salad!

And some brussel sprouts – made these at my desk – co-workers not happy with smell!

Someone brought in candy corn (damn Halloween) – but it was tangerine, raspberry flavored – SO OF COURSE I had to try it!  The tangerine was really good, and tasted “citrus-y”, and the raspberrytasted like Cotton Candy Bubble Yum – anyone remember that?  Oh man it was soooo good.  But after my handful below – I’m pretty sure I got 5 cavities!

For a healthier snack – carrots and PB – except – that is a lot of PB for the amount of carrots I have…

For dinner, Kristin and I made one my very favorite recipes that I have been dying to share with you!

I actually saw this originally on Ellie Krieger’s show on Food Network, and have since tweaked it to where I like it.   She calls it Macaroni and Four Cheeses, I call it  Trick’em Mac & Cheese!

Here is the trick:

Can you tell what it is?  Looks like cheese right?   Well it’s actually two frozen packages of pureed winter squash!   That’s the main ingredient you use, and then you add in just a tiny bit of cheese – so it’s a great way to trick fussy kids, or husbands into eating squash.  Unless you are my husband – and you see me making it – and realize the trick – and then refuse to eat it.  Silly Mike!

We forgot to take a picture of the baking dish when it was done (Sorry!  I’m making it again soon and I’ll be better next time!)  But here is my nice REAL PLATE with a place mat beneath:

And up close:

Here’s the link to Ellie’s exact recipe - I leave out some ingredients and add my own.  Below is how I make it – you go with whatever you are comfortable with – JUST ENJOY!

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 16 ounce(s) pasta, elbow macaroni, (1 box)
• 20 ounce(s) squash, winter, frozen pureed (2 packages)
• 2 cup(s) milk, skim
• 1 1/3 cup(s) cheese, cheddar, grated, extra-sharp (4 oz.)
• 2/3 cup(s) cheese, Monterey Jack, grated (2 oz.)
• 1/2 cup(s) cheese, ricotta, low-fat
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon mustard, dry
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper, cayenne
• as much garlic powder as you are comfortable with
• as much onion powder as you are comfortable with

Preparation

Cook the macaroni according the package directions. Drain and transfer to the prepared baking dish.

Meanwhile, place the frozen squash and milk in a large saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally and breaking up the squash with a spoon until it is defrosted. Turn the heat up to medium and cook until the mixture is almost simmering, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheddar, jack cheese, ricotta, salt, mustard, and cayenne. Pour this mixture over the macaroni and stir to combine.

Bake until the cheeses are bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes – and you’re DONE! 

This stuff really is amazing – if you make it – let me know what you think!

Remember the movie Office Space – how Lumberg is always asking Peter for his TPS report?  Well I have to do a TPS report every Wednesday – except my job is sweet and my boss is awesome!  Every time I tell someone that – they think it’s so funny!   All that translated – Wednesdays are a crazy day for me, and then you add in bowling – and I’m going all day long.

For breakfast – spicy oatmeal again!  Try you guys!  I promise – if you like spicy/salty flavors – you CAN NOT go wrong with this breakfast!

For a snack – fruit snacks (any gummi related candy is my WEAKNESS!)

Lunch – spinach salad – this time with black beans, chick peas, tomato and cucumber:

And some carrots and PB (not pictured)

At bowling, I came prepared with multiple snacks: an apple and PB, more fruit snacks, and a Key Lime Pie Larabar.  I ate everything you see here, with the exception of the Larabar.

And of course to make things worse – it was “Trick or Treat”-ing at bowling.  Translation – we got a huge bag of candy.  Damn Halloween! Small, perfect, bite sized candy every where I LOOK!  I ate a thing of Skittles, a Kit Kat, and a thing of Dots! 

Then, I headed over to my parents house, because my mom had made a nice dinner and invited my grandparents over.  I started out with a salad – I added some cubed pepperjack cheees – YUM! 

And then moved on to the main course - Chicken Kelly! I don’t know the recipe, and I don’t know if any of you have had it – but this stuff is HEAVENLY!  If you are wondering what the orange stuff is – well – just stop and ask yourself what condiment I add to almost every dish!    I always thought “Chicken Kelly” was as common as Chicken PIccata or Chicken Marsala - PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU’VE HEARD OF/HAD CHICKEN KELLY!

And for dessert, which I’m usually not a big fan of, our left over wedding cake!  I never actually had a slice on our wedding day!  It was really good – it was white cake (maybe with a hint of lemon??) and raspberry cream.

That’s it – I could go on, and share more stories – but I’m exhausted!  This week has just flown by!  Hope you all had a Wednesday!   Goodnight!!