A Lucky Friday the 13th

I had a really great Friday the 13th. It all started off with an out of the ordinary breakfast for me which was scrambled egg whites with a little salt and pepper, topped with mild salsa. I found it impossible to take a good photo of this breakfast so don’t judge what you see below.

Work was work, but lunch break was great. I headed to Patrick’s Bakery and Cafe (I had eaten there once before) for lunch with my coworkers. I ordered the same thing as last time….french onion soup served with a piece of a baguette. I neglected to take a photo of my soup because it would have looked exactly the same as the last time , same tablecloth and all, therefore I just decided to use the old photo.

It was a very dreary day here in MN, and a bowl of soup was just what I needed, and I LOVE french onion soup. It warmed my soul.

After work, I had plans to go for a run, but since it was really nasty cold, misty, and windy outside, I decided to take it downstairs to our treadmill to run in the comfort and warmth of my own home. BTW our electrical was installed downstairs today and it looks great! We had temporary lights up down there before but now we have actually have light switches with dimmers to go along with the lights. Woo! It’s still coming a long!

Anyway, I hit the treadmill for 45 minutes doing a bit of a run/walk combo. I flipped channels between Ellen and Paula Deen and was thoroughly entertained.

Part of the reason my Friday the 13th turned out to be so great is because of this….

It’s kind of hard to read but it says:

“Happy News! You were selected as a winner in the LARABAR Very Large Sweepstakes. Your prize includes a tote bag filled with a water bottle, a 16-ct of Larabars, and 5 full-sized mixed flavors. From everyone at LARABAR, I’d like to extend a great big THANK YOU for your support and participation in our sweepstakes. Kindly, The LARABAR Team.”

I WON! I don’t win anything. Ever. I entered into the sweepstakes a while back thinking I had about a 0.05% chance of actually winning. Holy cow. I feel like the dad in a Christmas Story when he won the Leg Lamp. I was jumping up and down after I read the letter like I just found out I got into college or won a ton of money. I really truly love and enjoy LARABARs so this was a big one for me.

Maybe my luck is changing. One can only hope. I want to win more stuff, this is fun!

I can’t wait to try some of these flavors I have never tried before such as Blueberry Muffin and Chocolate Coconut Chew. Um, yum. Thank YOU LARABAR!

To make my day even brighter, this came in the mail today.

My beautifully bright swimsuit from Victoria’s Secret I ordered. Even better news is it fits. It is countdown time until our vacation now…TWO WEEKS from yesterday!

After all the excitement in the house, Dana and I ran a couple of errands including Home Depot and Target because I needed to get a couple of ingredients for our dinner.

Dinner

I sautéed 1 cup of diced onion on the stove top, then added in 1/4 cup of pre-cooked ground beef (I had cooked it a while back and froze it), 3/4 of a can of black beans, 1/2 cup corn, 1/4 cup water, and 1 Tablespoon of low sodium taco seasoning. I mixed all of the ingredients and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Meanwhile, I prepared lettuce cups using a head of boston lettuce. I rinsed the head of lettuce then carefully peeled off layers into cups. I also chopped a Roma tomato, and a half of an avocado (no cuts this time).

Once the filling was done simmering, I spooned 1/4 cup of it into the lettuce cups, topped them with tomato and avocado, and enjoyed a very healthy, easy and flavor-filled dinner.

Looking back on yesterday, I had a day of multiple “wins”:

  • An awesome breakfast that held me over until lunch
  • Electric work done in the basement
  • Great soup with friends for lunch
  • A run while watching fun shows
  • A giant WIN in the LARABAR sweepstakes
  • Swimsuit in the mail, AND it fits
  • Great dinner
  • And lastly, a night to relax with my boys (awwwwwww)

It was a very lucky Friday the 13th for me!

How was yours? Anything lucky or unlucky happen to you?

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I Went Greek

You will never guess what I had for breakfast yesterday morning. No, it wasn’t overnight chia seed yogurt. Can you believe it? It was pretty close though. I made a bowl of Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt, blueberries, blackberries, banana, chia seeds, and honey.

I gave it a good ol’ mix and was left with a creamy delicious bowl of sweet perfection. I loved the textures from all of the different fruits.

It was a good change of pace, however I missed not opening the fridge in the morning and having breakfast waiting for me to eat. Which is why this morning I decided to make myself an overnight oat, chia, and fruit bowl. I will spare you the photo because you have seen a kazillion of them lately. I do have to say this was the best overnight bowl I have ever made so far. It was very thick and I’m thinking I may have added some extra chia seeds this time.

Moose posed so nicely for a quick photo with me yesterday before I left for work. Such a good boy (sometimes). Such a cutie pie.

When I was looking at this photo I was taking notice of the background and remembering that I have yet to show you that finished wall behind me. I mentioned this wall project a while back but have been slow to decorate it which is why I have neglected to post a photo thus far. I still haven’t quite finished decorating it, but have placed temporary pieces on the shelves for now. Since I don’t know when I’ll be be completely finished with it, I decided I’d just show you it now.

It’s Moose’s cozy nook where he eats his breakfast and dinner.  Anyone have any ideas on decorating these shelves on a budget? I would love any input.

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Workout

After work today I had planned to get a work out in. The whole drive home I was really thinking that it wasn’t in the cards for me because I was pretty pooped. I pulled in the driveway and told Dana I didn’t think I was going. Then the head games began. Come on, Melanie. If you get your workout clothes on, you will most likely go, and you will be so happy you went. Just do it. Go. 

So, I listened to my head and got my workout clothes on, grabbed my music, and headed on the door.

I planned to run a couple of miles, but wound up running three. My head won. I am SO glad I went. The weather was perfect at about 65° with a light breeze. I even challenged myself to a big hill so I can build up my hill-running endurance and muscles. Sometimes it’s good to listen to that voice in your head (when it’s positive talk of course).

Dinner

After Tuesday night’s cauliflower fritters, which involved a lot more effort than I usually give to weeknight dinners, I decided that last night’s dinner was going to be simple. Simple, but there would be no skimping on flavor.

I went Greek(ish):

A whole wheat low carb Lawash Flatbread Brand tortilla, a layer of hummus, feta cheese, diced tomato, avocado slices, and baby kale.

Holy moly this thing was so stinkin’ amazing! The flavors all worked so well together. I want to make it again, like now. It was so easy, fresh, and a perfect weeknight meal.

The wraps were served alongside grilled asparagus and broccoli dipped in hummus (broccoli not pictured).

After dinner, we cleaned up the tiles in the bathroom downstairs so that they are ready to be sealed. Bathroom renovation is quite the process I tell ya. I have decided the bathroom colors are going to be gray/brushed nickel, dark brown, and white. I haven’t bought the accent towels or decorations yet but I am itching to do it! It is going to have a modern and classic look when I’m finished with it. I can’t wait for it to be done so I can show you. So excited!

Have a great Thursday!

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Looking Good

Yesterday afternoon we went to pick up this handsome lad from the groomer. He is freshly shampoo’ed, conditioned, and brushed thoroughly. We also bought him a new forest green collar. Looking good, looking fresh big man.

He was completely exhausted after his spa day and spent the rest of the evening laying pretty low.

All the while, Dana and I continue to stay busy painting the bathroom downstairs. We decided on the color, “perfect taupe.” I was wanting a gray toned color but also was hedging towards a tan, so this one was the perfect compromise.

We look really happy when we paint, huh? 😉

The bathroom is looking real good!

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Dinner came together in about 5 minutes last night thanks to leftover cowboy caviar (altered slightly from last time by adding a half a jar of jarred salsa) and fresh homemade canned beans. Yes, I cheated by using canned refried beans last night. I bought a can of fat-free refried beans in case of an emergency, and this my friends was an emergency. We were both completely drained from the weekend and totally hungry. I emptied the can into a bowl, heated them up and found that my intent for burritos was going to be slightly modified considering we only had one tortilla left. Being the good wife that I am, I sacrificed it for Dana.

Burrito with refried beans, cowboy caviar, lettuce, and pepper jack cheese all rolled into a whole wheat tortilla for Dana.

Refried beans, cowboy caviar, pepper jack cheese, alongside a big green salad for Melanie. Everything ended up getting mixed together on my plate and is was fantastic!

After dinner we finished laundry, made my lunch for today, and I even prepped dinner for tonight! I am super pumped about it too. I hope it turns out. Stay tuned!

Monday Positive Talk

It’s Monday again so that means it’s time for me to say something positive about my day. This Monday, I am so happy that dinner is all ready to go into the oven when I get home from work. Also, it is a dreary day which makes it easier to go to work because I wouldn’t want to be outside right now anyway.

This Monday talk is getting easier and easier for me! How about that. I am rebuilding my relationship. Happy Monday!

Continue Reading Looking Good
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