Yes, I was a bad blogger yesterday.  But it was just one of those days I felt very BLEH – so I decided to spare you the boring post! 

That being said- I made sure to start today off on the right foot, and went out for a 3 mile run this morning, and it felt GREAT!  I’m getting faster, and that is always a fantastic feeling! 

Now to get you up to speed with the food!

Ruby Slippers!

Pretty salad with carrots and hummus for lunch on Monday:

Product Review:

Mrs. May’s Trio Bars – Blueberry Flavor

Verdict: I really liked the bar, everything tasted very fresh and wholesome – but it was definitely on the small side for bars, and it came in at 230 calories.  I’d definitely eat one again, but may just half?

My afternoon snack plate the last two days has looked like this:

Strawberries, orange, and PB filled cockroach!  So YUMMY and so PRETTY!

Here’s where some should be prepared to be “appalled”.  Apparently – the other night – Mike thought I’d lost my mind when I came up with this:

I don’t think it’s that bad! It’s green beans, corn, black beans, and then eggs (mixed with canned potatoes) that I cooked on the stove!  I have no idea why, but he thought it was super weird!  It did make a TON of food, so I had plenty for leftovers at lunch yesterday! 

Last night I had a bunch of running around to do when I got home – so I munched on some veggie straws, and TJ almonds (OMG THESE THINGS ARE SO ADDICTING!) to hold me over until dinner:

After my errands (it was like 9pm before dinner time!) 

I tried out another new product for me – Shirataki Noodles!!!!

I’ve DEFINITELY seen mixed reviews on these noodles – but coming in at 20 calories for the whole bag – I figured they were definitely worth a shot! 

I have to say – I LOVED THESE. I could eat these every day.  Here’s what I did to make them less slimy/stinky:

• Poured package into colander and ran it under hot water for about 1 minute
• Dried off noodles and threw them in a bowl, and nuked them for 1 minute, 30 seconds
• Dumped them back in the colander, ran hot water over them again
• Put them back in the bowl, and back in the microwave, and cooked for another minute and 30 seconds
• Put them back in the colander, strained out all excess liquid – and patted dry with a paper towel
• VOILA!  

I tried a new sauce (through the Clean Life challenge – I realized the sauce I had been using had HFCS!):

All together now:

Heavenly!  It really was a super easy, super filling, super delicious dinner!

Okay – a busy few days coming up – today we have a cool department picnic (plenty of pics to come, I’m sure!) – and tomorrow is TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY! Landy’s gonna have a full day at the office with me!  You’d think it was Christmas with how excited I am over it!  INSANE amount of pictures to follow! 

Now – off to deal with this!

So I’m just about half way through the Clean Life challenge, and I have to admit – it’s getting easier!

I haven’t had a Diet Coke since June 7th!   WOOOHOOO!

Rather than “pro/con” it for you, this time around – I’ll just got with easy bullet points!

• I miss Diet Coke less and less each day!  The first week was TERRIBLE, this week – no sweat!  
• I wish there hadn’t been so many bending of the rules this week (that package of Flat Outs KILLED ME!)
• Eating clean is a LOT easier when you don’t have much going on – and go to the  market on the weekends
• This week wasn’t as “Clean” as it should have been – because I was the exact OPPOSITE of the two things I mention in the bullet above
• HFCS (okay – maybe I’m late on this) are in just as much stuff as soy! 

A few of you asked me last week – if I was going to go back to DC after the challenge, or if I am giving it up completely.

Honestly – the verdict is still out.  I think I might like an occasional can now and then – but who knows – after not drinking it for a month – I might not like the taste anymore.  We shall see!  

After our night partying with our friends – I knew a smoothie for breakfast just wasn’t going to cut it.  Instead I went for the “cleanest” breakfast burrito I could make, given the supplies in our house!

The LAST of the Flat Out wraps (FINALLY!), with eggs, MS sausage patty, and low cheese:

This was the best breakfast – EVER – after a night of drinking! 

Around 1pm, once I was finally up and moving – I started craving a smoothie – so I gave in…

and enjoyed this beautiful Ruby Slipper! 

Lunch/Dinner – “Linner”? – was a Subway sandwich:

Turkey with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and black olives.  With being so busy yesterday (sarcasm), Lando and I decided it was time for a nap:

Look at that smooshy face! 

Around 6:30 – I headed over to my parents so that I could spend some time with my Dad – but unfortunately, my camera didn’t make the trip with me!  Since the camera was MIA – that’s all I’ve got!

The end! 

What a fantastic Saturday!  Every time we get together with our friends Brian and Stephanie – we always have a blast!  I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a beautiful, sunny Saturday! 

I woke up early, and started the day with another Ruby Slipper, and then hit the road (with Mike!), for a 6 mile run.

It was another one of “those” runs. Every step was pretty terrible, but I was glad to have Mike with me.  He reminded me – I did take a few weeks off – so I can’t expect my runs to go the way they did right before the half marathon.  One thing I learned – I do NOT run well in the heat.  And I’m talking lame, 75 degree Cleveland heat.  I don’t know how you Florida girls do it. 

All I know is – if it’s some crazy Indian Summer day for the marathon (October 18th) – I may be in trouble!

When I got home, I showered and made an OBSCENELY large salad:

We’ve got a little of everything going on here!

• spinach, broccoli slaw, romaine
• red, orange, yellow bell pepper
• black beans
• tofu
• balsamic vinegar and hummus

So colorful, so filling, so good!  The perfect lunch before a long afternoon/evening of cocktails! 

Once Bri and Steph got here – we started with the adult beverages.  I’m in LOVE with my Magic Bullet – so I of course suggested frozen drinks!

I tired the combo of kiwi, strawberry, a splash of raspberry wine, and a shot of strawberry vodka.  Not bad, but not great – I should have added ice and some sort of juice!

Lando enjoyed the company as well…

She loves loungin’ on the sunny back porch!

And when she wasn’t loungin’ – she found herself a comfortable spot that wasn’t AT ALL in the way… 

We decided to order Melt (to go!) for dinner – but instead of eating something that looked like this (Mike’ Wake & Bacon sammich):

I passed, and made my own dinner to try and stick to the “Clean Life” as closely as possible!

Flat Out with hummus, and black beans, with a side of almonds:

Not as fun or as delicious as Melt – but all said and done – I was proud of myself! 

The boys were drinking Bud Light Lime -which apparently comes in a can now – and I had to take a picture – because I was loving how VERY GREEN it was!

After lots more chatting, dancing (and drinks!), I’m not sure what is happening in the next few pictures, but thought they were funny and should be shared…

Here: Lando’s either judging me for breaking the Clean Life rules, or thinking “MMMMM that looks good!” 

Here: I’m doing the Heisman pose with Lando as the football (with a punching fist?), Mike’s flexing and Stephanie’s dancing, or cheering me on as I’m running for my touchdown?? 

Here: I either did something wrong (being that I’m the one taking the picture) and everyone is yelling at me, or they were posing for a new Superhero movie poster 

You decide!

Hope you all had a great weekend!!!!