Hello, Long Weekend

Happy Thursday!

I am feeling a tad overwhelmed with everything I have to do before going to Chicago tomorrow! I packed my gym bag so I could go straight there after work today so save some time but I’m still feeling anxious. I LOVE traveling but there’s always that little bit of stress that comes along with it. Ya know?!

This morning I started my day with a bowl of 1 cup oikos, 1/2 cup cinnamon puffins, 1/4 cup pumpkin granola, 1 banana, 1 spoonful peanut butter and a big sprinkle of pom. seeds:

Mid-morning, I sliced up a huge honey crisp apple and ate it with an ounce of extra sharp cheddar. I was slicing and grating the cheddar to make cheddar wafers at work and I was like, “woah, this would be GREAT with my apple…and it’s snack time!”:

For lunch I had packed a slice of leftover quiche, along with a little baggie full of ripe melon chunks. It was soooooo delicious!!! I made a side salad at work and it was the perfect little meal.

I feel like I have snacked all day. And, it’s probably true because I got on the scale at the gym for the first time in a loooong time (I rarely weigh myself, I usually just go by how my jeans fit) and noticed I have gained about 5 lbs. Don’t take this the wrong way—-I am NOT freaked out. Repeat, I am NOT freaked out that I have gained a few pounds. I just think its funny because I didn’t gain any weight in culinary school and then when I get out and get a job, I do! Maybe I should not eat chocolate chips all day…..and lick the spoon…..and nibble on the bread…………hehe 😉

Regardless, I ate a luna bar while I cleaned out the walk in freezer:

And then I went to the gym after work.

I tried to run on the treadmill for a few minutes to just warm up but as soon as I increased the speed, shooting pain ran down each leg and I almost collapsed…….HI JENNA, THIS IS GOD. PLEASE DON’T RUN. THANKS.

I did some supersets today to change up my workout a little bit. I did:

2 sets of lunges with 10 lb weights (2 sets on each leg—-15 reps) alternated with 2 sets of dumbbell curls with 10 lb weight—2 sets, 15 reps

2 sets of squats with 10 lb weights alternated with lying overhead triceps extensions with EZbar—15 reps each set

2 sets of shoulder press—12 lbs, 15 reps

2 sets of lat raises—5 lbs, 15 reps

2 sets of lat pulldown—50 lbs, 15 reps

2 sets of overhead triceps raises with dumbbell—15 lbs, 15 reps

For dinner I made more roasted brussels sprouts (little evoo and sea salt–roasted for 20 minutes at 400), which I had with a Gardenburger Riblet and a dry baked sweet potato. All my favs 🙂

And just now, for dessert, I had an organic mini waffle set with a smear of pb&j:

Today at work was sort of monotonous for blog purposes. I stood and punched out tiny cheddar wafers for 4 hours. I kid you not. But, it had to be done! I probably punched out over 500 of these darn things. Meh.

Adam was taking a day off and Chef asked me to do a special project for a function at the golf club tomorrow: new olive bread! Basically, I took our recipe for pizza dough, doubled the yeast and added 3 cups of olives finely finely minced in the Robocoup (food processor) until they were a paste-like consistency. It worked out very nicely despite being the stickiest dough I have ever worked with and being in the proof box for 2 hours. Chef was happy so I was happy 🙂

Today was also Rotary. Once a week we house the Rotary luncheon, which is about 50 people. I plated 50 slices of apple oat tart (which I made yesterday) and garnished it with caramel sauce.

I ate too much streusel. Dang it.

I also did the normal stuff like baking more rolls, making another pumpkin pie and today I had to deep clean by myself. I stayed at work late to do it because I don’t want Adam to think I’m a slacker!

I’m off to finish up packing and take care of some last odds and ends. I hope you all have a wonderful evening and I will check back tomorrow morning before I leave for the airport!

PS—–In addition to the Bin 36 meet-up tomorrow night in Chi-town (!!!), Kath and I are also hosting a Sunday brunch at Panera Bread at 10 am. I think everyone that was interested in Bin 36 tomorrow night has been emailed the official e-vite already, but if there is someone out there that for some reason missed it, please email me and I will get you hooked up! 🙂 If anyone is interested in the Sunday brunch at Panera and has NOT been emailed the e-vite, please email me TONIGHT and I will forward you the e-vite and info for that as well. I can’t wait to see some of you tomorrow!!!!!!!