What's For Blinner?

Hey gang! After a fabulously relaxed week of vaycay, I'm back in action! My week off consisted of lots of merriment and self indulgence -- trips to the salon, the spa, the bar, and various eateries all over this fair city. Alas, now its back to reality -- but I think this little spell of downtime will keep me sane until the holidays!

So today was back to my regularly scheduled program - work, etc. Now, when I first made my big plans to say, "Adios Nutrisystem, hello kitchen!" -- I had some grand illusions of me cooking elaborate meals on Sundays to freeze for quick and easy weeknite dinners or pack as lunches throughout the week. Um . . . yeh. So I was lucky that I made it to the grocery store at all last nite, nevermind putting together a Sally Homemaker Weekly Menu. At first, I was feelin' a little lame about my lack of follow-thru . . . but Rome was not built in a day, people. Baby steps. Sooo -- last I did bake myself a couple of pieces of chicken with garlic to add to my lunch salads, and I made sure to stock up on yummy and satisfying grains, like oatmeal and quinoa and light rye bread. A hearty breakfast of Kashi Honey Grain puffs and a nice big apple kept me full all morning long, and the soy crisps I brought to go with my salad were crunchy and filling. I think I am definitely getting better and spreading out my snacks and meals throughout the day, which is a very good thing!

So when I got home tonight, I was hungry, but not starving. I started rooting around in the kitchen, browsing my grocery store stash to see what might catch my eye. The past couple of days I've been craving a big ol' sandwich . . or a hearty breakfast omlet. Must be the cold weather -- suddenly my body is like, "Quick -- pile on the hot and filling carbs!" So I decided to combine my love of breakfast with my love of sandwiches and created a "Faux Salmon Lox Omlet Sandwich . . . For Blinner." (like a breakfast-lunch-dinner three-way . . mmmmm!)

I scrambled some egg beaters with some salmon, spinach and tomato. I toasted 2 slices of light rye bread, and spread 'em with a wedge of light Laughing Cow cheese. I added a slice or two of fresh tomato, piled on my salmon-egg scramble -- and voila! Blinner is served!



Nothin' fancy . . . or difficult . . . or particularly creative . . . but I was impressed with my own ability to satisfy 2 cravings for heavy meals in one healthy swoop! Now by spring, if I can make this sammie with bread I made myself, farm fresh eggs and cheese, and some real salmon (not from a Chicken of the Sea packet) . . . I will have truly succeeded. But for now -- I'm just pleased that my microwave was not involved at all in the preparation of this meal.

Kitchen Witch?

So I went to the Garment District in search of a Halloween costume. For those of you not from the Boston area, the Garment District is a giant mecca of vintage clothes / costume-age / make-your-own-tshirt-y goodness. Everyone and their mom was there, costume hunting. Actually -- it was more like, every fraternity and their house-bunnies were there, looking for "giant chicken" and "slutty pirate" costumes. Tres original.

I wasn't feelin' the costume vibe, but I did find this little beauty in amongst the "50's & 60's Retro" racks:



Nothin' says, "Get back in the kitchen, woman!" quite like a vintage apron! After some pondering, I've decided I can actually incorporate this into a kick-ass Halloween costume . . . but I will say no more about that now. Bwahahaha!

Brownies & BlogHer and Such - Oh My!

The faint sound of tap-dancing you might be hearing right now is just me, giddy with excitement over my week of vacation!!! Squeeee!! I may not be jetting off to anywhere exciting, but 9 days away from my cubicle is luxurious enough for me. I am planning on enjoying the fall sunshine, catching up with my writing and reading, hanging out with friends and familia, taking a hiking excursion to Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire with Papa G . . . and doing some cooking. Some non-microwave cooking. That's right folks -- the era of Nutrisystem is over!!

Now, I must give credit where credit is due. I think the two months of wacky diet meals did help me reset my culinary clock and help me see the light in terms of eating well-balanced and portion controlled meals. Over all, I've shed about 5 pounds, which is probably only noticeable to moi . . . but my goal wasn't to become an effing supermodel, so whatevs. Mama G, I'm very proud to say, has lost over 20 pounds -- and is still going strong!! Can we get a round of applause? I am so proud and so happy for her -- and I can tell that she is feeling happier and more positive about her goals! I am obviously still gonna be her #1 cheerleader, but right now my goal is slightly different. I'm dedicating myself to developing a long-term healthy lifestyle through awareness, rather than restriction. That means trusting my food judgment, being aware of where my food comes from, listening to my body to determine when I am hungry and when I am full, and taking the time to enjoy good food and good meals as a genuine experience. Deep, I know.

So my first day of Freedom Eating started when Chelsee brought me this amazing homemade Chocolate Pumpkin Swirl Brownie!



If a pumpkin pie and a chocolate cake made a baby, this would be their delicious offspring!! For the recipe, check out We Are Not Martha -- Chelsee and Susie's super-cool lifestyle blog. They are translating Martha Stewart's over-the-top perfection into something any 20-something with a stove can achieve -- high five, ladies! :)

Watching the blogging success of the Martha girls was part of what inspired me to start this blog -- so when Chelsee told me that they were going to be attending the BlogHer Conference in Boston , I decided to tag along and get some serious blog schoolin'. I wasn't really sure what to expect, having never attended a "conference" of any kind. The day turned out to be super inspirational, and I am psyched about rededicating myself to growing this blog and chronicling my new journey. I also met a ton of cool people and learned a crapload about networking, blogging basics, and food photography 101. Yes, I have officially drank the Kool-Aid of the BlogCult, people -- so be on the lookout for new developments around here in the future!