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.