Yesterday was another great “obligation free” sort of day! 

Because I’m a grown up, and can eat WHATEVER I want for breakfast   – I woke up and had, not 1, but 4 of these suckers for breakfast!

And because I’m a grown up, if I want to go back to sleep right after I wake up – I can!     In all honesty, I really wasn’t feeling that hot – it could have been because I ate cookies for breakfast, but I was afraid it was because I was legitimately coming down with something – so Lando and I crashed on the couch for a few hours! 

By the time I got up “for real” – I needed to get dressed and ready, because I had a shopping date with my friends, Angelina & Jess! These two  lovely ladies agreed to take me shopping so I could pick out some cute new clothes for my upcoming San Francisco trip!  Even though the trip is still over a week away – I am in full blown STRESS MODE because I am definitely the most fashion challenged blogger that EVER lived! 

After an hour and a half (& 3 stores later) – we all were hungry and thirsty – so we hit up Auntie Anne’s

Can you think of a better combo than a nice hot pretzel and HUGE Diet Coke?!

After being appropriately (albeit not the most nutritionally) refueled it was off to a ton more stores!  I’d say, all in all – the trip was a success though – I came home with at least 2 new outfits! 

One super cool thing I found on my trip – Check out the hand dryers in the bathroom:

Dyson is everywhere!   Not sure how the “dry your hands completely in 12 seconds” – but I must admit – this was WAY cooler looking than a normal hand dryer! 

Shopping took WAY longer than expected, so I didn’t get home until after 5!!!   It was either go to the grocery store and make something (which would put dinner in the “Never O’Clock” hour) – or – go to Cici’s.  What do you think we picked? 

Mike and I saw this on the Cici’s door, and Mike said I should snap a picture to show ya’ll:

See!  Cici’s can be “healthy” 

I got the same thing I always do – big salad:

Bowl’o'pasta salad:

and some pizza:

They changed some stuff around (like taking a lot of choices off of the salad bar), and I’m not sure I really like Cici’s anymore.  If only we could get a Sweet Tomatoes in Ohio – AHHHH, wouldn’t life be perfect…

Okay kiddos – hope you are surviving your Monday!

This has been one of the best weekends in a LONG time!   No plans, no schedules, no nothing!  I love being able to just decide THAT moment what I’d like to do! 

Saturday I woke up and decided to go to the 9:15 Pilates class – so I grabbed a quick snack to tide me over until I got  back – Flattened Bananas with some Naturally More PB:

You know I don’t like ‘naners, but these are so darn good! 

When I got home, I was hungry but not starving, and it was too early for lunch (IMO), so I grabbed one of these delicious babies to tide me over!

Country Choice Organics sent me a full box of free products to sample, and these were the first ones I tried.  Let me just say two words, so you can have a comparison point for how these taste.  Soft. Batch!   Oh yeah!  These cookies tasted just like Soft Batch cookies, and were made with all natural ingredients!  So yummy!  Thank GOD they are individually wrapped or I could eat the whole box in one foul swoop!

I finally made lunch about an hour later - a wrap with fat free refried bean, peppers, & cheese, with a side of Food Should Taste Good Jalapeno Chips!

After messing around for hours with internet/blog stuff – I ran to the grocery store with my mom to grab a few quick staples, as well as the supplies for 2 recipes!  As soon as  I got home – I started cookin’!  Recipe 1 – Easy Buffalo Chicken Dip! 

Anything recipe that calls for 1/2 cup of Frank’s is perfect in my book!   I used this recipe as a guide, but of course made my own adaptations/swaps.

Final product (and what turned out to be my “dinner”):

This was delicious! I will say – I could taste my “low-fat” changes though.  That was FINE with me – I didn’t mind them, I still loved the recipe, but Mike noticed right away. My MIL makes a mean version of this (read – the best damn buffalo chicken dip I’ve EVER tasted) – so Mike and I had a pretty high standard going in!  

Recipe 2 – Pumpkin Cookie Tops! (or Pumpkin Muffckies) 

This is NOT my own recipe – I saw Sammie make these the other day, and she linked back to where she found them,  from  Julie at Peanut Butter Fingers. For those who know my baking skills – I need something SO EASY, SO SIMPLE that I can’t make adaptations.  This was perfect – 2 ingredients only!

Of course you notice -I did add a “third ingredient” – Nestle Peanut Butter & Milk Chocolate Chips!

Final result:

Heaven on earth!   These were soft like cake or muffins, but in the shape of cookies! I’m in love!    I actually made a second batch – so I over 50 cookies!!! 

Since we were headed over to my parents so that Mike could watch the UFC fight with my brothers – I kindly brought a bag to donate to their house:

and brought the buffalo chicken dip along for a snack as well!   Do you think everyone liked it? 

We didn’t get home until after 1 – so as soon as Lando got in our front door (she always comes with us over to my parents) – she ran to the couch and curled up and wouldn’t budge!

Mike finally had to pick her up and physically bring her upstairs so she would come to bed with us!  That was one tired dog!

Okay – I’m off to get some things done (I’m feeling like I MAY be coming down with something, I’m trying to tell myself I’m not, but more and more symptoms are poppping up ) – so wish me luck!  Happy Sunday!

Happy Saturday lovelies! 

I don’t exactly have the most convenient blogging set up:

(yeah – that’s her bone on the table…)

I just wanted to start off by saying (as I always do when I ask a question of ya’ll) – thank you so much for your kind words, support, and feedback.  I feel like I have my very own personal advisory board, composed of 500 people.  I appreciate all of your feedback – each and everyone one of you ROCK!

Friday breakfast – more PB Puffins – this time I was smart and at them at home!

I ran to the mall with Kristin at lunch, so snacked on these in the car:

I was craving DDP like CRAZY yesterday so I caved and got one out of the vending machine!   I also finally caved and ate my “Sea Salt & Vinegar” flavored Pirate’s Booty.  I’d been saving these for last since I was CERTAIN they would be my favorite flavor!   While I did LIKE them, they weren’t salty or vinegar-y enough for me!

Some peppers and hummus when I got back to my desk:

Oh yeah – and another Kim & Scott’s pretzel that I conveniently left at work! 

This was the second day in a row where I never really ate lunch – I just kinda snacked on things from about 11 until 2!

Mike and I didn’t have any plans for Friday night, other than lay low and hang out!   When I got home, we took Lando on a walk together and then I made dinner.

I made baked garlic fries:

I just cut up a potato – threw it in the oven for 30 minutes on 350, flipping half way.  Seasoned with garlic salt, onion powder, and chili powder.

For the “main meal” – I made homemade pizza (with TJ’s whole wheat dough):

My plate:

After eating and cleaning up - I was asleep on the couch by 9:15, despite “fighting” it so that I could stay up to catch the end of Dateline.  I’m not sure when it happened but I must have missed my 60th birthday. What 27 year old falls asleep at 9:15 on a Friday?  THIS ONE! 

Last but not least – the fabulous Dottie over at Foodcents gave me an award!!!

Thanks sister!    These are supposed to be 1 word answers (which – if you know me – I don’t like, I ALWAYS over explain, it’s a disease I get from my mother!)     Anyway – I’ll try!  Here we go:

1.Where is your cell phone? I never know! 
2.Your hair? Darker
3. Your mother? Rock
4. Your father? Intelligent
5. Your favorite food? Varies
6. Your dream last night? Scary
7. Your favorite drink? Sauvignon Blanc
8. Your dream/goal? Professional Foodie
9. What room are you in? Kitchen
10. Your hobby? Blogging
11. Your fear? Death
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Unsure
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. Something you aren’t? Graceful
15. Muffins? Lemon Poppyseed
16. Wish list item? Many:)
17. Where did you grow up? O-H…I-O!
18. Last thing you did? Chase Lando
19. What are you wearing? T-shirt
20. Your TV? Non-cable
21. Your pets? Puggle
22. Your friends? Awesome
23. Your life? Lucky
24. Your mood? Caffeinated
25. Missing someone? Yes
27. Something you’re not wearing? Makeup
28. Your favorite store? Target
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? last Friday
32. Best Friend? Meri
33. One place that I go over and over again? Casey Jones
34. One person who emails me regularly? Mike
35. Favorite place to eat? Melt

Hope you have a great weekend!