Vanilla Yogurt + PB = LOVE.

 

y week was full of homework and studying, as was my weekend - blah.  

Fortunately last week I was contacted by the promotional team at CSN Stores.  I have worked with CSN Stores many times in the past, alternating between giveaways and reviews of their many products from their huge collection of on-line stores.  CSN stores sell everything under the sun, including kitchen bar stools and other furniture, to baby products, cookware and other kitchen gadgets.  Last time I worked with CSN stores I did a giveaway, so this time I will do a review. 

Any requests for what you would like me to review?  

Some ideas I have include: crepe pan, steak knife set, or a mini loaf pan.

On Friday morning I made German Chocolate Oats with 1 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze, 1/2 cup quick oats, 1 tsp Dark Chocolate Dreams PB and 1 tsp coconut:

Lunch was Sukiyaki beef with rice and veggies from Edo Japan.  I had a quick chicken Caesar salad for dinner before getting to my homework:

I took a break on Friday evening around 11:30 to watch some TV and share some popcorn with the hubby.

On Saturday morning I had a few pancakes, then headed out of town to visit my mom for the day.  Lunch was a green chicken curry at a Thai restaurant.  I drank a lot of coffee and tea, and snacked on some beef jerky on the way.

My Saturday evening was spent studying.  I am cool like that.  Dinner was a Booster Juice, and some yogurt with PB in it (I had this snack 3 times this weekend):

If you haven't tried vanilla yogurt with PB stirred in it, please understand these 2 facts:

1) There is a first time for everything

2) There is no time like the present

Melt the PB for about 20 seconds first.  You're welcome.

My dad took the family out for brunch this morning.  I had the small southwestern breakfast.

(I didn't eat the toast):

I snacked on yogurt with PB and hemp seeds this afternoon, then went to my in-laws for supper.  We had Caesar salad, stuffed pasta shells & garlic bread.  Dessert was apple crisp.

I ate about 1/2 of this.  My husband has no idea when it comes to dishing out portions for me!

As most of you know by now, in 2 weeks I will be going to the Food Buzz Festival in San Fransisco!  This weekend I bought my welcome reception gift exchange gift.  Each attendee has been asked to bring a foodie gift that represents their blog or region.  We are going to do a gift exchange at the welcome reception.  I am excited to show you all what I bought, but it will have to wait until I get home - don't want to spoil the surprise for the potential recipient :-)  

What type of foodie gift would you give to represent your blog or region (around $20 value)?

Starbucks Card WINNER!!!!!!! And 2 Day Re-Cap

id you miss my 24, 24, 24 Dinner Re-Cap?
Check Here!

$25 Dollar Starbucks Card Giveaway WINNER:

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 50 Result: 6

The winner is: AMBER (Girl with the Red Hair)!! Please contact me with your mailing address and I will get the gift card to you right away!!

Sunday Re-Cap:

Breakfast/ Lunch - 2 scrambled eggs with Sriracha hot sauce, and a glo-bar:





Dinner at In-Laws - Perogies, sausage, potatoes, pickle, cheese:





With a glass of Icetea:



Snack Sunday night - Grapefruit:



Monday Re-Cap:

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day!! Spring has definitely sprung in Regina. It was about 14C.
I started my day with a bowl of banana maple walnut oats:


(1/2 cup maple coffee, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 t maple flakes, 1/2 banana, 1 tsp walnuts).



Lunch was leftover bison and Saskatoon berry ragout on rice, with an orange and a yogurt:



Dinner was a veggie burger and a salad with mixed greens, tomato, cucumbers, Gruyere, bacon bits, and Saskatoon berry vinaigrette:





I went for a run this evening. I am pretty crappy. I can only run about a quarter mile at a time, and then I am huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. BUT, I have improved (yes, I used to be worse!) When I started I could barely run a minute. You should have seen me. I was pathetic. Still am, but at least I am improving!

My next run on the C25K plan is about a quarter mile MORE than what I am doing now. I don't know how I will run a half mile straight ... then walk a couple minutes, then do it again. I am scurrrrrrrrrrred!

On Friday morning the hubby and I will be leaving for NYC! We will be there for a week.

Are any NY bloggers interested in a blogger meet-up?
Let me know!!

What do you have planned for the Easter weekend?

This will be the first time my hubby and I won't be with family over Easter. We will have to check out the Easter Parade in NY, and see what else is happening! We will also be there for the hubby's 29th B-Day which is on April 6th!

Confession

may or may not LOVE Lil Wayne. Don't judge :-)




I also love Green Monsters. I made one for breakfast today.
(1 cup spinach, 1 cup almond breeze, 2 packs of Amazing Grass, and 1 T of Twister Power):







I also had a glo-bar with my coffee on the way to work:



Lunch was leftover tofu curry from last night, as well as a grapefruit.

For dinner this evening we had veggie burgers (from Costco), raw veggies, and potato slices baked with spices and cheese on top.



These veggie burgers we bought from Costco are AMAZING. They taste JUST like a real burger, but they are made with portobello mushrooms. Even my hubby loved them!

When I was younger and lived at home, I always used to trick my mom and sister into eating veggie burgers. They would never have wanted them if they had known!! Hehe. My sister used to say how good they were, and I only told her years later that they were not the real deal.

Would your family eat a veggie burger? Tofu?





Dessert was my favourite Easter treat, a Cream Egg.



This egg will satisfy my Easter chocolate craving until next year. I can't eat them more often that that because they are just toooooooo sweet. I am sweet enough.

Okay, now you confess a SECRET/ bizarre crush?

And, what is your favourite Easter treat?

Motivation

on't forget to enter my Starbucks Giveaway!

Also, for 20% off at SkinMD Natural, use the discount code: EDF

I am really struggling with MOTIVATION when it comes to running. Today I had to do my second run for my C25K program (I started with week 3). The hubby and I made a plan to go after dinner, and once I was done eating I totally did NOT want to go for a run. I kept telling myself that I will do it tomorrow, because today I would rather watch TV. I had to force myself to get out there today and just DO IT, because I knew that tomorrow I wouldn't want to do it any more than today. I ended up doing the run, and it actually wasn't that bad. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt good ... it was just getting up and getting my running gear on that was a big struggle. I hope it is not like that every time.

My eats today were really yummmy!!



My morning started with a messy bowl of oatmeal (topped with 1 t PB & CO. Dark Chocolate Dreams, 1 t maple flakes, and 1 scoop chia seeds).

Lunch was an Amy's Burrito, an orange and a cheese stick:



And, look what I got on my way home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I love the new organic store in my city! They ordered this in, just for me!!!

Of course, when I got home it just had to be done ...



Open up!!

Dinner was a tofu coconut curry. See this post for the recipe.





For a snack this evening I made berry "soft serve" (1/2 cup frozen berries, 1/2 banana, drizzle of Almond Breeze - mixed with Bamix).



I also juiced 3 pears and 1 apple:


(It didn't make a whole lot).

How do you get motivated to run/ workout?

Colour

have read that the best way to ensure proper nutrition, is to eat as much colour as possible, and mostly plants.

My snack last night fits with this advice.



This morning I was up bright and early for a conference. I chugged a Green Monster before I left (3 cups spinach, 1 cup Almond Breeze, 1 T almond butter, 1 pack Amazing Grass, 1 scoop Power Twister).

I had about 3/4 of this breakfast at the conference:



Along with 150 cups of coffee.

Mid-morning I had a cookie that didn't want its picture taken.

The lunch they served at the hotel was pretty good. I had some lentil soup, a wrap, some veggies, and a mini peanut butter marshmallow dessert:





In the late afternoon I snacked on half of this bar (thanks to Jessica for sending me this!):



The hubby and I went for dinner to one of our favourite places, 13th Avenue Coffee House. It has a full menu, and all the options are fresh, healthy and delicious. I had the Jivin Jerk Bowl which had tempeh, brown rice, veggies, and a tangy jerk sauce. It also had a couple plantain chips sticking out of it :-)









No big plans for me this Friday night ... just a quiet evening in.

My snack tonight was a grapefruit, and some crackers with goat cheese:





What do you have planned for the weekend?

Don't forget to enter my STARBUCKS giveaway!!