Hey all ... I'm still here.  Just more life transitioning and such.  Let me get myself/my thoughts together a bit more before some further unveiling of me and what I'm all about. 

Stay tuned.  =)
 
So Ryan and I have a fried chicken cutlet habit.  This has been addressed several times in the blog ... but I just wanted to reiterate that point.

Moving back ...

However satisfying my breakfast was this morning, I found myself to be hungry again pretty soon after.  Maybe it was brought on by my morning run?  I snacked on the tried and trusted; popcorn.
Picture
Sprinkled with cayenne pepper and cinnamon.  Mm-mm.  Honestly though, I haven't been eating popcorn that much these days.  Maybe because I was having it one to two times a day for about a month and I'm a little over it at the moment ... healthy snacking nonetheless.

For lunch I enjoyed a bowl of lentil soup and a big plate of greens.
Picture
Simple and delicious.

Sometime in between lunch and dinner I went on a bunch of errands.  FYI, waiting on line to return boots is far less enthralling as waiting on line to purchase boots.  And by the way, what was going on at DSW today that caused major panic all over the overcrowded parking lot?  The silver lining is that I ordered the same boots I returned from their online website and now own the pair that fits me like a glove =)

And as per the norm in this household, I fried up some chicken cutlets for dinner.  It happens at a minimum once a week, and sometimes even twice.  That's just what happens here.  Deal with it.
Picture
And also to continue with recent trends, I roasted up veggies to enjoy alongside our chicken and mash. 
Picture
Green beans and yellow baby carrots. 

Picture
So amazingly delicious.


And there ya have it ... The end of another weekend, and the beginning of another work week ... Bleh. 

By  the way, I may or may not have feasted on ten more pumpkin cookies some time after lunch ... just sayin'.
 
I woke up to a brisk morning.  Actually, around 4Am I woke up freezing with a stiff neck, and forced myself to get up and close most of the windows in the house.  Ryan and I just put a new comforter on the bed yesterday and I felt like I spent the night sleeping wrapped in a  fluffy cloud.  Amazing.

So after leaving my warm cloud this morning, I contemplated for about thirty minutes if I should run outside or hit the gym.  I even started mapping out a route, but decided against it.  It was still pretty cold around the house and running in more cold just didn't seem appealing.  So off to the gym I went.

Upon return I of course heated up a delicious bowl of hot cereal with cocoa, nuts, and strawberry yogurt.
Picture

I really just wanted to eat ten more cookies for breakfast, but I've been able to restrain myself thus far anyway.

Now on to the rest of the day ... Enjoy!
 
Pardon me for being away for so long!  The first week back to work after being off for an awesomely long, relaxing week is always shocking to the system.  Plus, I feel like I'm juggling more and more things lately ... a 40hr work week, a running regimen, spin classes, acupuncture .. and ya know, everything else there is in life.  Somehow, I'm finding a way to make it all "comfortably" fit ... though I sense it'd  fit much more comfortably without out the 40hr work week thrown into the equation ... just sayin' ;-)

So what have I been up to besides all that?  Basically, I've been bitten by the fall bug.  Aside from Ryan and I completely transforming our home into a fall haven today, I've been addicted to roasting food in the oven and baking pumpkin-infused treats. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Chickpeas, broccoli, eggplant, squash ... you name it, I've been roasting it. 
Picture
FYI my ultimate flavor combination to put on roasted chickpeas is cayenne pepper and cinnamon.  Delish.


And because the pumpkin scones I baked last week were such I hit, I was inspired this week to produce a chocolate pumpkin loaf
Picture
and way too many pumpkin cookies for only two people.
Picture
I actually ended up bringing the chocolate pumpkin loaf to work on Friday, after sampling a slice of course.  It was just so good, and though Ryan tried it upon my request, he simply doesn't favor the chocolate/pumpkin combination; and I really didn't want to end up eating a whole chocolate pumpkin loaf by myself!  It worked out well though because everyone at work seemed to enjoy it. 

The pumpkin cookies on the other hand ... well, I ate probably about ten tonight ... oops!  They are absolutely fantastic (and Ryan concurs).

One thing I wish I did get to photograph for you all is any one of my breakfasts this past week.  I've completely been on a cocoa-ed up oatmeal kick.  Like this morning I started off with a creamy bowl of oatmeal filled with half a raspberry yogurt, a scoop of cocoa powder, a teaspoon each of walnuts, almonds, and pumpkin seeds, with a scoop of peanut butter on top.  How have I not been starting all my days like this??

Later on for lunch I continued my roasting frenzy and enjoyed a bed of greens coated with flax oil topped with roasted chickpeas, with yellow carrots on the side, rice cakes, and almond butter for dipping.
Picture
Picture
I picked up those yellow carrots today at Wild By Nature.  I'd heard of them before, bu never actually saw them in stores.  And like a child, I couldn't resist trying out a new color; the verdict: tastes just like regular carrots but maybe a little bit sweeter?  Fun and good.  I'd buy them again.

And finally, I wrapped up my eats tonight (aside from the plethora of cookies) with meatballs and pasta.

Picture
The meatball recipe needs to be tweaked a bit, but I get points for trying!

Enjoy the remainders of your weekends, and good night!