Food staples

I'm going to go ahead and say that this is an incredibly random post. This morning when I was making my lunch to take to work I began thinking about certain food items that we continually have in our refrigerator and pantry. These are the items that no matter how low on food we are, if we're out of these items then we need to go get them. Then I started wondering what food staples everyone else had. Is that strange? I just think that someone's pantry and refrigerator say so much about them (good or bad). So if you're an oddball like me, either comment below or write a post about your food staples.
1. Non-fat plain Greek yogurt (Chobani or Fage). I buy this yogurt in the biggest container possible. I love having it for breakfast w/ some berries, a little granola, and honey. I also substitute it in recipes calling for mayo or sour cream. You can easily replace it and it tastes so much better and healthier (plus added protein).



2. Apples. I eat them for a snack constantly with some natural peanut butter or almond butter.



3. Pita Chips. I for some reason cannot eat regular tortilla chips because they make me really sick. It's actually really horrible b/c whenever we eat at at Mexican restaurant I can't eat the dip or salse :(. If we are eating any sort of dip at home though, I always use Stacy's pita chips. Love.


4. Uncle Ben's ready Steamed Rice. You just tear a little hole in the package and microwave it for 90 seconds. Our favorites are wild rice and brown rice. It's really great when you're making a burrito and don't want to spend forever cooking rice.


5. Flavored creamers. I know they aren't good for you and I'm sure they're full of fat and processed junk, but I don't even care. I love flavored creamers. I've used them ever since I starting drinking coffee. In fact, I can
remember my mom and I have coffee around 3 every afternoon and we always loved trying differnet flavors.




6. Chocolate chips. I buy the big bag from Costco of Nestle's chocolate chips. I can't live without them.

7. Laughing Cow Cheese. The Creamy Swiss is my favorite, but I love to put them on crackers or my sandwiches.



8. Zucchini/Squash. We always have either one of theses in our refrigerator. We love to just saute them in some olive oil or grapeseed oil and add some garlic and seasonings.



9. Honey. I go through jars of honey like crazy. Like I mentioned earlier, I use it w/ my yogurt a lot. Whenever I make oatmeal (I just really hate instant/Quacker oatmeal...it's just too sweet for me so I use regular old fashioned oats) I sweeten it with honey).


10. Canned tomatoes. We make our own tomato sauce b/c it's easier, cheaper, and you can flavor it however you like (plus you can pretty much control your sodium and sugar). We buy canned tomatoes in bulk at Costco and make a big batch of sauce. We'll just put it all in jars and freeze it until we use it.

Tired

No matter what I do I cannot shake this exhaustion this week. It might have something to do with me painting the two bathrooms this weekend, but who knows really. At least it's a 4 day work week right?

Sorry to my husband since I just cannot even muster up the energy to pack a lunch for him (yes I normally do pack a lunch...we're cheapos).

I need a nap.

Tidbits from the week

I've almost eaten an entire cantaloupe this week. By myself. Mark isn't a fan of it hence the pressure to eat it all, but let's just be honest--there's no real pressure. I adore cantloupe so part of me is glad he doesn't like it. At least it's good for you right? Maybe it can counteract that chocolate cake I had on Valentines Day. :)

You want to hear a lesson I learned this week? When it's 12:30 and you're tired and little chilly, don't reheat your coffee from the morning. As good as it sounds, just don't do it. Stomach ache.

The decision of what color to paint our hallway bathroom is beginning to consume me in an unhealthy way. Ok not really...but I cannot decide (big shock right?). I better decide soon since I'm going to prime the walls on Friday. :/

Discovered cuticle oil. Amazing. Enough said.

Enjoyed a work phone call that was so ridiculous you have to laugh instead of get mad.

Looking forward to a long weekend thanks to Presidents Day.

I'm making myself start the process of buying a few Christmas a month this year so I don't get stressed out in December. I've made our presents in the past but this year I want to buy them if I plan it right. Let's see if I stick to this decision.

Last but not least: how is it already Thursday? For reals.

2/13/12

I'm on a strike against blog titles today. I just cannot think of one, probably because it's 3:30 and it's been a long and busy day at work. I did paint our hallway this weekend! I have pictures on my phone but for some reason they won't send to my work email. :( It looks great, but now our bathroom looks nasty compared to the freshly painted hallway. Insert project for this weekend.

I know it's early and all, but I do love Valentines day. I know I know, it's a made up holiday used to make money and we should treat every day like Valentines day. Here's my thing though--I'm not going to turn down a chance for some flowers and a nice dinner. Aboslutely not. Plus, call me crazy but I kind of enjoy being out with other couples on Valentine's Day. It's a little like going shopping on Black Friday. If I go it's more to enjoy being out really early w/ a bunch of other crazy shoppers. Either way...

To Husband

Here's a picture to say thank you for asking if I wanted to go into Anthropologie while we were leaving the Apple Store.

And for letting us buy that ridiculously priced candle that smells like fruit punch.

Oh ya--and for being cool enough to geek out in William Sonoma with me. It's pretty great.

1/31/12

It's officially the last day of January and I couldn't be more thankful. Apologies for the noticable absence in January--it was a hectic month for us. There was bronchittis, strep, 2 doctor visits, updates with work, and overall busyness. 2012 didn't exactly start off idyllic for us, but I have high hopes for the rest of the year. I told Mark we just had to get all our sickness done with in January so we could be healthy for the new year. :) How's that for the glass half full?

In my last post I mentioned a few goals for the New Year so I thought I'd address a few things that I particularly liked in January. We'll call it my January favorites/few New Year's goals met.

1. I'm happy to say that I, despite the craziness, did manage to get more reading time in. I'm especially enjoying a little devotional book (I cannot remember the name of it...) but it's been great. :)
2. I did make a new recipe via Pinterest. I made honey chicken in the crockpot and it was absolutely delicious! Pinterest really does have some amazing recipes.
3. Favorite quick dinner-Chikfila. The stupid place made me start eating meat again and I blame it for its delicious chicken.
4. I love getting to see my nephew and niece a little more often now that we live across the street. :) My favorite quote from Christian was when I asked him if he liked me or Mark more and he said "the cats."
5. I'm thankful not to be sick anymore--and to be able to swallow w/o the feeling of knives stabbing my throat.
6. I've been indulging in getting a manicure every few weeks in a soft pink color and for some reason it continually makes me happy everytime I look at my nails.
7. DVR. Enough said.

Here's to a wonderful February!

Life as of lately

Apologies for the absence. We were wiped out from the move and Christmas. We did have a wonderful Christmas, though I must admit this is the first year I'm glad it's over. We just didn't have time to enjoy it with the move. Next year will be different. :) I am glad to say that we're finally getting settled in the new house. I can't even begin to explain how convenient it is living in East Memphis now. We're right around the corner from all our favorite stores, restaurants, and most importantly--Super Target. :) We are still far from having the house completely decorated, but there are at least some pictures on the walls. In January I plan on painting our hallway and bathrooms, but just thinking about painting right now makes me exhausted. Speaking of exhausted--you want to know what's even more exhausting than painting? Raking leaves. Lots and lots of leaves.

Since the New Year is almost upon us, I thought it would be fitting to insert a few goals or ideas for January. I've never been one to believe in New Years resolutions (those it's totally fine for those who do). I do, however, like the idea of setting goals in general. Perhaps goals and resolutions are one in the same, but you get the point. :)

Ideas/Goals for January:
1. Painting a few rooms
2. Contemplate training for the Germantown half marathon in March (still can't figure out if I want to do this or not yet...still thinking). If not, sign up for shorter races.
3. Pray for snow!
4. Read more.
5. Make myself relax and not clean if I have spare time.
6. Use cookbooks to make new recipes.
7. Have more dates with Mark. :)
8. Organize some closets (which hopefully does not interfere with #5).
9. Go to a restaurant we've never been to before.
10. Take walks in our neighborhood.

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Years