Take Time to Save Time

I work at a job where there is no time to go out to lunch. If there were time, there really aren't any great options close by. I pack my lunch everyday for a couple of reasons. I genuinely enjoy eating healthy, but delicious, food. Also, I can't eat fast foods and junk regularly because I have reached the fun age where I gain weight very easily. I grocery shop weekly and always have a plan for meals I can prepare that will allow for left overs. I don't really love sandwiches unless I am going to eat them right away. People have definitely laughed at my sandwich packing when I have gone that route. I pretty much wrap or store each component, condiments included, separately. It's quite a hassle for a simple sammy. Why not just bring a Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones? Well, mama needs to feel full. Have you seen the portions of those meals? Certain ones I can bulk up with fresh spinach or a salad on the side, but I much prefer fresh food that I prepare myself. I am not a morning person so I don't have tons of time in the mornings. However, my goal right now is to spend some time one day a week (usually Sunday) to do some prep and packing. I have a fridge at work that I can store things in so I can have healthier meals and spend lots less time in the mornings throwing things into my bag. That said, I just spent about an hour putting together some things and packing them up for the rest of the week. Here's a rundown of what I did:

chopped romaine lettuce and put in a Ziploc
made tuna salad
boiled some eggs
cut up carrots
made hummus
washed grape tomatoes
made a balsamic vinaigrette

Now, I can eat salads, snack on hummus, have tuna salad on tomatoes, grab a boiled egg etc...I'm hoping this new plan keeps me eating healthy all week with no excuses.

A Toast To You...

...as the clock strikes midnight!

Say It Ain't So...

I hate the day after Christmas. It means my most favorite time of the year has come to an end. It's like going on a great vacation and then having to come home. I am going t really try to keep the magic of Christmas in my heart all year long, however I don't feel the same way about folks that leave their Christmas lights up all year long.

Christmas Season Faves

A few of my favorite Christmas season things, a list:
making peppermint bark
rum cake
candy cane tea
cranberry flirtinis
sparkly nail polish
the Smell of Christmas candle by Aromatique
getting Christmas cards (even though I didn't send any this year)
playing Santa
dad's fudge
my kitchen tree
the ceramic boot my Mam-ma made that I fill with candy canes
egg nog
Christmas Break
getting yummy coffee in my stocking that we make on Christmas mornining
fondue (cheese please)
peppermint twist body wash from Bath and Body Works
unexpected gifts on the porch
mom's Christmas decorations
reading my class' letters to Santa
...just to name a FEW!

Put ME in Song

Dear Keith,
Please put me in your next song. I'm no Nicole Kidman, but I think I love you almost as much.
Love,
Lil Ol' Me

Sixteen Candles

My baby turned 16 today. We got up bright and early to go get her driver's license, now that wasn't easy for me. I couldn't even watch her drive away this afternoon...I think it's called denial.

Butternut Squash

I love all things squash! Butternut squash is especially yummy this time of year and I picked one up last weekend. These babies are hard to cut, I mean, like HARD. I recently got a set of Cutco knives and those babies can cut. I read somewhere recently that you should cut the squash in half, through the middle, not lengthwise. That way, you have 2 pieces of squash with a flat edge that is easier to handle. Set the pieces up on that flat end to stabilize it then cut that piece in half again. Scoop out all that stringy stuff and seeds. You'll want to peel it too, the skin is very thick. It's different from summer squash, with it's thin skin that you can just leave on and eat. Use a veggie peeler and the skin comes off easily. Now your squash is ready to cube, I'd say like 1 inch cubes. I tried this recipe for Balsamic Roasted Butternut Squash. I've been hankering for a new way to prepare that lonely little squash sitting on my counter top...thanks GOOGLE :) I ran across this little gem and I love balsamic vinegar on other veggies, so I figured I'd try it. It was great! I roasted mine closer to an hour to get it to really caramelize. The sweetness of the squash really comes out the longer you let it roast and the balsamic gets really sweet too. The end result is a great balance of sweet and tangy squashy goodness. Let me know if you try it!