Wow, I am super lethargic today. It just feels soooo good to lay on the couch and read. I had to force myself to go on an outing to escape from the apartment so I chose to wander around Barnes and Noble for awhile and read trashy magazines. Am I the only one that was shocked to find out that little Ashlee Simpson is now pregnant and engaged?! I know I sort of live under a rock, but come on. I try not to buy those magazines because its a waste of money, so I opt to go and sit around in the comfy chairs at B&N and read all about it.
Anyways! I was not feeling the gym again today so I pulled out an ancient MTV Pilates dvd that I’ve had since I was 16 and did that instead. I think my abs will be sore tomorrow—it was actually a pretty good core workout! After I did that, I made a wrapped lunch. Since I’m just about out of food but not going to the store til Monday since I’m going away Saturday morning, all I really have left veggie-wise are sweet potatoes! So, I heated up a sweet potato, cut it into chunks and combined it with 1/2 cup of leftover black eyed peas that I mixed with some Carolina bbq sauce. I also added 1/4 of an avocado and some red onion. It was actually pretty tasty for being thrown together on a whim like that! I like the combo of black eyed peas and sweet potatoes. I might have a new thing going here! I also had a small pear with my wrap.
So, this morning after I made breakfast I decided to bake cookies. I made Dreena’s Oatmeal Raisin cookies (from ED&BV) but instead of raisins I put chocolate chips in. But…..when they were in the oven I realized I forgot to add the 1/4 cup of sugar! haha! See—I have basically paid my life away to go to culinary school and I still forget to add the sugar to my cookies. I tried a little bit of one this morning though and they still taste pretty good. I guess they are a healthier snack now! Haha!
For all those wondering, I’m reading Jennifer Weiner’s new book, “Certain Girls”. I liked “Good in Bed” and this is sort of like a sequel. Pretty good for just lounge reading!
Katie
May 22, 2008 at 5:44 pmIf you’re looking for some more fun, “light” reads, I HIGHLY recommend anything written by Jennifer Cruise. My personal favorites are Getting Rid of Bradley and Bet Me. Great summer reads!
Brynn
May 22, 2008 at 5:47 pmI hate that I know this, but Ashlee Simpson is married now, not engaged. 🙂
natalie
May 22, 2008 at 5:59 pmIt’s okay Jenna I didn’t know about Ashlee either and I actually like her!
P.S. I think you just inspired what i’ll bake today! 🙂
arimcg
May 22, 2008 at 6:13 pmI liked Certain Girls, except I read Good in Bed so long ago that I couldn’t really remember what happened. I wish I had re-read it before I read Certain Girls.
Janie
May 22, 2008 at 6:48 pmI loved Good in Bed!! I didn’t know there was a sequel, I’ll have to check it out:)
yali
May 22, 2008 at 7:23 pmCome on are you really as perfect as you come off here? no disrespect but it just seems too good to be true.
jenny
May 22, 2008 at 7:29 pmwhat is your pilates dvd called?
jenna
May 22, 2008 at 7:44 pmJenny,
My pilates dvd is seriously from 2001 and its just simply called “MTV Pilates” with a purple cover. Its actually pretty good and really works your abs.
Yali,
I’m not quite sure what you meant with your comment?
Kelly L.
May 22, 2008 at 7:44 pmLet me know how Certain Girls is. I read Good in Bed and liked it but it was a while ago. I just started Emily Giffin’s new book Love the One Your With. I read all her others and loved them.
Becca A
May 22, 2008 at 8:33 pmHaha its ok you didn’t know that Jenna. The only reason I knew she was engaged and then married is my mom turns on one of those entertainment shows after dinner all the time, and someone always brings those trashy mags into my work! I never read the newspaper or watch the news…I probably should…
yali
May 22, 2008 at 8:49 pmI have been reading your blog for a few months now and every day I feel guiltier about my food choices..I just cant have the discipline that you have and it almost feels imposible.
Amy S.
May 22, 2008 at 8:52 pmI liked Certain Girls but definitely not as much as Good in Bed. There is something about summer that makes me want to read fun books. I want to read the Emily Giffin one. am reading The Cure for Modern Life by Lisa Tucker.
The sweet potato mix is genius! I love sweet potatoes. I have to get more creative in making wraps though. Sweet potatoes are very healthy too. Vitamins and tons o’ fiber (I’m in nursing school).
jenna
May 22, 2008 at 8:58 pmYali,
I would never want you to feel guilty so maybe its best if you don’t read everyday anymore. I’m not on a diet or anything, I just take pictures of what I eat. What you eat and what others eat might be totally different but that doesn’t mean its “bad”. I don’t think I have “discipline”…I just really like certain foods and really don’t like other foods so much so I don’t bother eating them. I’m at a healthy weight and don’t gain or lose much..so what I eat works for me! I would never advise anyone to judge their own diet based on what one other person eats though. This blog just serves as an example.
VeggieGirl
May 22, 2008 at 9:01 pmHaha, I feel really ridiculous for knowing that Ashlee Simpson is married now (to the lead singer of Fall Out Boy, no less). This is what happens when you catch broadcasts of ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ I guess ;0)
The wrap and cookies look delicious!! Those cookies will definitely be healthy, sans sugar :0)
Enjoy your pleasure-reading!
Kristen T
May 22, 2008 at 9:28 pmJust wanted to let you guys know that Oprah decided to go vegan for 21 days! She’s calling it a “cleanse” and blogging about it. http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/food/cleanse/blog/blog_main.jhtml
She’s already raving about her meatless meals and conscious eating! Of course, she has a professional chef to prepare them all for her..haha. lucky girl!
Ryane
May 22, 2008 at 9:28 pmI really liked “Certain Girls” although it made me cry like a freakin baby!
And I meant to add this morning, that I had the Amy’s enchilada bowl last night (I think that was the one, it was def. a mexican bowl!) and it was delicious and filling and I never once thought of having dessert. Gotta love that.
Romina
May 22, 2008 at 9:46 pmWho needs sugar? You’ve got the chocolate chips to sweeten it up. =)
Serena
May 22, 2008 at 10:11 pmYali, my diet isn’t perfect either (as evidenced by the mini pack of skittles I ate yesterday after finding them in a candy bowl at work – high fructose corn syrup at its finest). But rather than letting Jenna’s food choices make you feel guilty, I say keep reading and make them inspire you! Who needs Oprah for conscious eating – I find that reading Jenna’s blog makes me consider my choices more (skittle aside), and encourages me to eat more healthfully. Before discovering the blog, I only read food magazines for recipes, and it’s hard making a lot of complicated recipes on a whim, without having lots of time to go to the grocery store for ingredients. Reading the blog has shown me some quick and easy healthy meals and snacks and I realized yesterday that I’ve tried so many things I’ve seen here and am really glad I did. I’ve been pressing and freezing my tofu, made Lindsay’s carrot cake cupcakes, swiss oatmeal, tofurky and avocado, and I just found those AMAZING veggie chips at my health food store. I probably would have thought they were interesting looking but not actually bought them if I hadn’t known that someone else loves them. So does this make me seem like a food stalker? Hope not. But I do think you should keep reading, Yali – there is a GREAT bunch of women on this site and I bet a lot of us would say Jenna’s habits are enviable. And Jenna, thanks again for creating such a great blog and environment for all of us!
yali
May 22, 2008 at 10:18 pmThanks Serena!
Kimberly
May 22, 2008 at 10:45 pmHi, Jenna. I was wondering if you could recommend some (any?) good veg-friendly restaurants in the Orlando area? Preferably more towards the Winter Park/Maitland side… my dad and sister have expressed interest in learning more about vegetarian cuisine (and have liked all of the meat-free dishes I’ve made for them at home), so I want them to see right off the bat how creative and satisfying veggie restaurants can be. Unfortunately, I have no idea where to take them — I’ve only been in the area for a few months, and dine out seldom to never, precisely because I’ve been so underwhelmed by the options here (I’m vegan.) Thanks for any suggestions you can throw my way!