Almost Friday!

Today I tried something new for Graham’s breakfast – one component was yogurt!

He also had juice, coffee and an english muffin with Nutella. Breakfast meant for a man, or a four year old!

Food at breakfast and lunch was pretty boring for me – coffee and a raisin tea biscuit for breakfast (nice treat!), english muffin with PB and my own yogurt parfait (yogurt, granola and half a banana – in a glass container, no less) for lunch, and then half a Pecan Pie Larabar for snack at 4:15. This wasn’t my favourite… in fact, maybe my least favourite? I don’t think I’ve ever had Pecan Pie before, so it’s not a flavour that I like or am used to.

Graham’s dad came over for dinner, so I only have random in-the-kitchen shots. 

Tomorrow can’t come soon enough – tomorrow night, that is! I’m going to catch up on all my blogs, then read in bed. Night all!

Hump Day

As I intimated earlier, work is sucking right now for both of us. I’m just crazy-busy every minute of every day, but Graham’s actually in a worse position. Not sure how much I should/want to say, but his industry is really struggling, which in turns means his company is too. We are lucky that we have lots of options open to us, I guess you’d say… young, no children, flexibility, etc. This is why his LSAT studying is so important. I am looking forward to having our evenings and weekends back – for eating with friends, apple picking, watching movies.

On a happier topic: I am watching Dancing with the Stars again! It’s the results show, so I can watch out of the corner of my eye.

Now, dinner!

We made a quick dinner – frozen spaghetti sauce that was reserved for a night just like this! With a quick salad, we had a tasty meal.

It really is fall – I’m amazed at how dark it is out the window. But as I said, I’m looking forward to doing things like apple picking, turkey and stuffing, wearing tights and cozy sweaters, fall walks. Ahh, now I’m excited! I like all four seasons equally, because they’re all so different. What about you, my loyal blog readers?? Are you excited for fall, then winter??!!

Macro

So, last night, I was googling around and trying to find tips on food photography. I read some great pointers – one piece of advice being to use the macro setting. I was always just sort of using “automatic”, or whatever it defaults too. I tried taking some photos just now, using macro. I like it!

Graham’s on his way home from work now, so we’ll have dinner right when he gets in. Lots of LSAT work to do tonight! I forgot clothes for spinning at home this morning, but I couldn’t have gone anyways – didn’t leave my desk til after 5:30. Then, I really wanted to run, but just wasn’t in to it mentally. It’s been three long days at work – and I expect this to continue, without rest, for the next two months. I shudder as I write that.

Snack attack, again

Good evening everyone! Quick post from me. Another hectic day under my belt. I had breakfast at 7:30 – 2 packages of instant oatmeal and a latte from the-place-who-won’t-be-named. The, I didn’t get lunch until 1:45! I was just go go go! For lunch, I had an english muffin with PB. At my 2pm meeting, I had yogurt, blueberries and some honey. I made the mistake of not having anything else over the afternoon, so I came home and had nuts, crackers and granola. Not all in the same mouthful! But I did eat too much. Why didn’t I put my snack out ahead of time?? Tomorrow I have spinning at 5, so I have to plan my eating better, and bring the appropriate snacks.

We had Running Room (6k run with the group), then I got new shoes! Maybe I’ll take a photo tomorrow. Can’t wait to start wearing them. For dinner, I cooked extra chicken on Sunday night, with the thought of having big salads.

My salad included spinach, tomatoes, chicken and feta. Easy, fast and tasty! I realize that I should have snapped Graham’s bowl, because he had a mound-full!

Tomorrow? Work. Spinning. I guess that’s all. Dancing with the Stars is on again tonight, at 9, so I’ll watch that with peach bread and tea.

More interesting posts coming soon, I promise!

PS – I shipped about half the loaf of peach bread with Graham to work today. It all disappeared and one of his colleagues wanted the recipe from me, so that’s a nice compliment!

Monday blues

Well, it actually wasn’t that bad after all. I had a long day today – got home around 6:30, and then Graham came in about a minute later. I had bought bok choy and bean sprouts for stir-fry, so we threw that together. Check this out!

We had brown rice, chicken, carrots, onions, garlic, bean sprouts and bok choy. Tasty and healthy! And, there are two servings left for Graham’s lunch too! That makes it much easier for me in the morning. Oh, and here is my little beer!

I had about a quarter of Graham’s bottle, in this little glass! Just the perfect amount for me.

So, I’m relaxing in front of the TV, watching… Dancing with the Stars! I love it! Graham is distressed (“What?? You’re watching that for two hours??”), but he’s at the table, studying. I’m enjoying the show, tea and peach bread.

I am going for piece #2 for sure – maybe in hour #2! I’ve packed some up for Graham to take to work tomorrow. If it stayed around here, I would eat every single crumb. No joke. 

PS – This bread also looks amazing! I haven’t yet baked anything from 101 Cookbooks, but this is now bookmarked. At this rate, I’ll need to run 17.3k every day!

Busy day!

Ok, I have many great photos to share with my loyal readers!

I drove down to the Yonge/Eglinton area to do some shopping. I stopped at Restoration Hardware, Toys R Us (for a birthday gift for Graham’s nephew), Kitchen Stuff Plus (picture of my new purchases coming!), Roots, Sporting Life… lots of looking, not too much buying. While out and about, I had a Granny Smith apple and a few bites of a Pistachio Larabar. It was good, but I just wasn’t in the mood…

Then I went to the grocery store. And here’s what I came back with – my first grocery trip photo!

I won’t bore you with the close-ups, but I will tell you that chicken breasts were on sale, so I got two packages. And milk was buy 1, get 1, so I got 2! lol (and, by the way, I picked up oatmeal, peaches, blueberries, apples, cheese and a few things that I’m forgetting yesterday…)

I goofed around on the internet a little and snacked on a little TJ trail mix, with the last few Life. Not too exciting – it’s like my standard snack these days!

Next up was baking. As I mentioned, I saw many good recipes over at Closet Cooking and I happened to buy peaches yesterday… so Peach Bread it was!

My banana obviously wasn’t ripe, but I figured since I was only using one, and it wasn’t the focus of the recipe (like, if it were Banana Bread, not Peach Bread), it would be ok. Finished product coming up!

Then, after the bread finished, I started on dinner. Graham called to say he was an hour away and wanted a chicken salad for dinner, so I put three breasts in the oven – we’ll eat the other two after Running Room on Tuesday. I made myself a quick dinner – but an excellent one! Quesadillas! With photos! Exclamation Mark!

And tada! My new purchases! A vanilla scented candle and new placemats! Now, I have a story for both. Graham has always said that candles are a waste of money and space… you just get too many and you don’t want them and they’re not good for anything. But Graham said the other day that we should have a candle! And, as I think I’ve told you before, Graham believes in only having cork-backed placemats. I was a rebel today, so we’ll see what he says when he gets home. But these ones are really pretty! Much more suitable for fall, over the sunflowers. What do you think?? Can’t we have a place on our table for fabric and cork-backed placemats?? I think so too.

Now, the final photo of the evening – the Peach Bread!

Rough, right out of the oven! Should have re-plated it, but ah well. It’s the somewhat ugly side to baking – a round cookie sheet and lots of crumbs! But, it’s tasty and that is the most important part!

Told ya – giant post! I’m watching the Emmy’s for now, but I’m actually waiting for Graham to get home because I have so much to tell him. Are you dreading Monday like I am? Enjoy the last few hours of weekend freedom!

24 hour recap

Hello loyal readers. Sorry I was MIA yesterday, but I will recap my day for you now!

I had great success at Yorkdale, getting a blazer, a sweater and a jacket from Banana Republic and RW & Co. I was super-tired and hungry towards the end, though, so I came home and made a lightening-fast lunch…

I also had a cookie and a gummy worm!

I putzed around all afternoon, going to Loblaws for some fruit, fixing up my iPod, etc… I was sort of lazy and unmotivated – but also had a slight headache. While fixing my iPod, I had some TJ trail mix with some Life sprinkled in.

Around 5, I left for the housewarming/engagement party in Mississauga. Of my 7 university housemates, 3 are engaged! 7 of us were there (one lives in Ottawa) and it was great seeing (almost) everyone together. We had a tour of the apt. but the party was in the party room, so there was lots of space to sit and very good food too! I had: about 20 yellow and blue tortilla chips, about 4 small pieces of baguette with hummus, corn on the cob, a hamburger, salad and piece of baklava. Sorry, no pictures at all! It was such a nice night – thinking of everyone is making me smile! I swung by my parents after – my sister wanted the next book in the Twilight series, so I dropped that off, picked up my mail and hung around a little. I was home around 10:30, I think and read for a little, but fell asleep very quickly.

Now, on to today!! 17.3km run!! I was so happy and proud of myself when I was finished. I felt great the entire time, except for at about the 14 mark. I just stopped and walked for about 30 seconds – had a water break because I find it strange to drink and run – then picked it up again all the way home! I was efficient and got the laundry in, over to Starbucks for coffee (tall Bold – felt like just coffee today) and then made my breakfast!

Yippee for french toast!

I am in a cleaning mood – kitchen’s done, sheets are changed… next I have to put stuff away/organize a little. Everything is a little to cluttered right now. Other than that? Groceries, baking, shopping? Reading, for sure, and actually a little computer work to do… Not too much – should only take half an hour, but it’s something I’ve been putting off at work, so should just get it done.

Have a relaxing Sunday!

PS – I love smitten kitchen’s blog – I’ve had 100% success with her recipes and the photos are just beautiful. Well, I just discovered that you can actually buy them here! What a cool idea!

Sarah alone = Sarah neurotic

Last night I most certainly had a snack!

And I most certainly had a second cookie!

While I was watching tv, the blinds on our big living room window were partially open. I’m just sitting there and suddenly a laser pointer is on the tv wall, moving around. I thought – hmm, very strange and weird. About 5 minutes later it happened again. I turned off the tv, turned off the lights, shut the blinds, then went back to the tv. I thought it was really weird, but I wasn’t all that freaked out. Until I went to bed, that is. Then, I started at the ceiling in fear! lol It was brutal! I fell asleep fairly quickly, thank goodness!

This morning, I woke up – fine, obviously! I went for a run, but because I was alone with no one to talk to, I thought about work the entire run. It was brutal! I couldn’t get my mind on anything else. This is where the blog title comes in – Sarah alone = Sarah neurotic!! Last night, with the laser pointer, then this morning and thinking of only work. So, I’ve tried to distract myself as much as possible. First, with breakfast.

Then, with the tv and computer.

I’m sitting at the table, with the tv turned towards me. And see the big picture window? That’s where the laser pointer was coming from, from the other building somewhere. Ok, I need to stop talking about that laser pointer!! I’m making myself sound crazy!!

One last note – I had tea with my breakfast this morning. That is because I don’t really know how to work our sophisticated coffee system. This is what it looks like:

See, I had the milk container and my cup and saucer all ready. But then I realized that I haven’t watched Graham use the new grinder (it’s the replacement one that we got on Wednesday). And after that, I was just too lazy to figure it out! So, it was tea instead. (By the way – the cappuccino maker is Graham’s most prized possession! He is coffee obsessed!)

Now I am off to Yorkdale to try and beat the crowds (though it’s a little later than I would have liked – will already be busy, I’m sure), then to the Beer Store for bottle returns, to the store for groceries and toiletries, etc… Then I’ll see! I’ve got to stop at my parents before the engagement party tonight, so I might do a little baking and cooking this afternoon, or watch a movie. See you for lunch!

Dinner for One

Yup, it’s just me this weekend. Graham has gone up north for until Sunday so I’m hanging out all by myself. After returning a few things to Ikea, I came home and puttered around a little. I had decided on beef stew for dinner, but wanted a crusty roll for the side, so I walked over to the mall. We live literally a stone’s throw from a very nice shopping centre. It’s not the place you’d go to for $49.99 jeans… but rather ball gowns and haute couture. I went to Loblaws and also picked up Larabars on sale – 2 for $3! I walked out the door by the two restaurants and envied everyone inside. I want to be having dinner with someone too! Instead, I came home by myself.

And instead of stew, I had a BLT. Just remembered that we had some frozen bacon and then that way I won’t be too full after dinner to have some ice cream and chocolate chip cookies! I think I deserve it after my state the past few days at work…

On tap for tomorrow? Run, breakfast, Yorkdale for fall clothes/house stuff [side note: we are finally getting a Crate & Barrel, but it doesn't open 'til Sept. 25...], tidy apt., groceries, make Sept. Daring Bakers project. Oh, and engagement party at night!

I found Kevin’s blog, Closet Cooking, today. I had come across it awhile earlier, but then it got lost in the blog shuffle. I’m happy to have found it again because I saw some very tasty meals! And, he’s from Toronto too! Maybe one of those recipes will be added to the list for tomorrow…

Good night! (hope I’m not too scared!!)

Dinner, sort of

I know what I have been doing to my camera… leaving it on after I put the photos on my computer. It then drains the battery and I realize when I want to use it, like to photograph dinner! So, you’ll have to settle with this…

Roasted chicken thighs with couscous and zucchini. Tasty! I also roasted tomatoes with oregano. I wish I had a photo!

Graham is going away for the weekend, so I made these cookies from Smitten Kitchen. I do have photos of the cookies though!

I was on the phone, so they over cooked a little. But they taste great!

Graham stole half the gummy worm.

Tomorrow’s Friday – can’t wait. Well, more specifically, can’t wait til the end of the day and the start of the weekend. I have an engagement/house warming party, shopping to do, long run to run and other misc. things. Wish me a good day tomorrow!!