Where's the Rain!?

If EVERY weather app and radio announcer is going to say there is 100% chance of rain, then I better see some RAIN! But noooo... no rain! LAME!

LIARS!

I WANT rain!!! So misleading.

Okay moving on... This mornings snack was some delicious Cho with my favorite Bigelow Pomegranate Green Tea!

I've been hard at work for Disney, and I figured out a way to quickly update my blog whilest at work! I have started bring my laptop so I can update on my 15 min breaks or during my 30 min lunch! WOO!!! So there's at least 2 updates while at work for sure!

Soon, I'll be hitting the road to do sales calls. It'll be interesting to figure out how to do lunches on the road... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I do NOT want to stop at places and purchase meals, 1. don't want to spend the money and 2. I really don't want the hidden calories. No, thank you.

Mahi Mahi

Last night I baked 4 Mahi Mahi fillets so that I could pack them for my lunches this week.

Usually, I'm a FREAK about re-heating fish. Like I HATE it. But I figure I should probably get over myself and suck it up.

The fish was pretty tasty actually!! I was really HAPPY. So lunch today was a 6oz Mahi Mahi fillet and (1) serving of Starch/Carb item, and I chose a whole grain English Muffin! Another great and filling meal!

Mahi Mahi - Baked

4 Mahi Mahi Fillets

Garlic Salt

Black Pepper

Butter

(I chose "I Can't It's NOT Butter")

Lime

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a baking dish

Rinse and pat dry fillets and lay flat on baking dish.

Squeeze lime juice over fillets. Sprinkle desired amount of garlic salt and pepper over fillets. Drop a bit of butter on top.

Bake for 25 min (My fillets were frozen and 25 min was just right!)

ENJOY!

Pumpkin Protein Bars

Today's Mid-Morning "meal" was QUITE DELICIOUS!

Vanilla Chai tea with (4) Pumpkin Protein Bars. There were 4, but as soon as I put them on the plate, I couldn't help myself and devoured the first one immediately!

Jamie Eason's Pumpkin Protein Bars

(source)

1/2 C brown sugar blend

1 4oz. jar baby food applesauce

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/2 tsp. ground clove

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla extract

4 large egg whites

1 15oz. can of raw pumpkin

2 C oat flour

2 scoops vanilla whey protein

1/2 C almond milk

1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)

preheat oven 350 degrees F. Spray 9x13 dish w/ non-stick spray.

Combine first 11 ingredients and mix well.

Add the final 3 ingredients (or 4 if you're adding walnuts) and mix until well blended.

Spread the batter into the 9x13 dish and bake for 30 min.

Makes 24 squares

This nutritional fact sheet isn't exactly correct, The Daily Plate didn't have the exact ingredients that I used, but it's close enough and gives you an idea of the protein and calories-ish. I calculated it on my own and I got the squares to equal about 65 calories/square, as opposed to the 76 calories estimated in this nutritional sheet. But 10 calories off isn't THAT BIG of a deal. So just take that into consideration.

LiveFit Week 1

I completed Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, which I lost 4lbs with and toned up somewhat. Especially in my arms. Which is the BEST!

One of my favorite "healthy living" blogs to follow is Meals & Moves. The author of the blog, Janetha, recently wrote about her experience with LiveFit here, and it caught my attention. If you've followed this blog since the beginning, you'll know that I had to train myself HOW to run, and that I've been training for a 1/2 marathon. Well, I've come to HATE running distances any longer than 5 miles. 5 miles is pushing it for my short attention span, and any longer than that and I want to SHOOT myself. I've worked myself up to being able to run 6 - 7 miles straight (depends on pace), but I get SO freaking bored and I can't stand the monotony of running and running... and running. I've discovered that I LOVE high intensity quick cardio circuits and weight training classes. Like Zumba, spinning, boot camps, and cross fit style workouts. SO LiveFit DEFINITELY caught my attention when Janetha did a review of it.

Today marks Week 1 for LiveFit and I'm diving in! If you're interested in LiveFit I check it out here.

Today's breakfast followed the meal plan for Week 1 of LiveFit:

5 egg whites

(1) starch - I chose cream of wheat with blueberries

unlimited veggies (I didn't have time to make a veggie omelet, which I will do when I'm NOT running out the door for work!).

5 egg whites scrambled with a little bit of salt and consumed with 1Tb of Ketchup! I can't eat eggs plain, they are generally NOT my favorite thing to eat plain. I usually have to make an Waffle EggWich, or Healthified Egg Muffin, but I was too spazzy this morning to dress it up. So the ketchup made it edible.

Cream of Wheat with 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze and frozen blueberries.

This was the HIGHLIGHT for breakfast today. I am now OBSESSED with this breakfast. Love the flavors and super filling! I also added 1/2 a scoop of vanilla whey protein powder to give it a little protein boost.

DELICIOUS!

Chip N Dip O Competition

I work in the DRC, on the 2nd floor. The 2nd floor does a bi-annual "Chip N Dip O!" The Chip N Dip O is a funny event the Marketing department started to have those who wish to participate bring in their favorite "dips" and then we all come together and partake in the wonderfulness!

I decided to join in on the fun for my first ever C-N-D-O. I made a dip that my sister, Jen, introduced to the family this last year. We are OBSESSED with it! AMAZING flavors! The fam calls it "corn relish," but for some reason that name really freaks me out, so I re-named it "Avocado Corn Salsa." I think that sounds more appetizing!

There were LOTS of great dips! Most were surprised that I opted to compete in my first CNDO, but I'm a maverick!

I took 2nd place with these LOVELY creation! 2ND PLACE!!! GO ME! Everyone loved it!

Avocado Corn Salsa

1 can black beans (rinsed)

1 can corn (rinsed)

1/2 red onion - finely chopped

1/2 bunch cilantro - chopped

2 avocados - diced

Fresh squeezed lime juice

salt

Add ingredients to bowl. Add lime juice and salt to taste!

New Job & The EVILS of TUESDAYS

Tomorrow I begin the 4th week of my new job! I LOVE my job!

I work as an intern for the Disneyland Resort Youth Programs Department. They are the peeps who put on Grad Nite, Disney Performing Arts, Youth Education Series, and host various youth groups in the parks. I will be working with local groups of the youth the most.

Basically, I search out and hunt down groups of "youth" between the ages of 3 and 22 years old. As long as there are at least 10 "youth" and 1 adult chaperone, I can get them a decent ticket deal into the park for their "youth group." Whether it's a church youth group, a 3rd grade class of students, a field trip of middle schoolers, a initiation group for a sorority, or a grandmother with 10 grandkids. Whatevs. Hear about any "youth groups" who want to go into the parks, hit me up and I can work out a deal for them!

On my first day of work, I walked into my new office space to find office supplies and mickey mouse shaped confetti EVERYWHERE.

I keep finding pieces of confetti now and then. I'll never be rid of it!

Now I finally have a place where I can proudly display those Disney items that I've been hiding in my closet... a giant Little Mermaid snowglobe, an Alice in Wonderland teapot, Disney picture frames, and my 1st pair of ears that I just "earned" through the Disney College Program. What what!?

I'm CONSTANTLY hydrating at work and of course, I have the cutest way to accomplish it... totally DISNEY style! I am always making trips to the "pantry" to refill my Ariel tumbler with water, and my princess mug with tea! BUT on Tuesdays after 1pm, I have to have my GAME FACE ON! Why? You may ask... Because of this....

Bastards. One of the printing companies my office floor uses faithfully "honors" our loyalty by bringing 4 boxes of donuts, bagels, and various delicious schmears. For those who know me know that I have an INSANE weakness for bread. It's my kryptonite. It takes EVERYTHING in me to avoid those boxes and the aroma of the baked donut dough is enough to bring the elephant within me to my knees.

I will be doing sales calls all over Southern California, and I have decided that I will "conveniently" be out of the office EVERY Tuesday. Self preservation at its finest!

Brunchness with Quiche Puffs !

For Miss LexiLu's Birthday she requested a Birthday Brunch, to which I HAPPILY obliged!

I made crepes with fillers, mini pumpkin bread loaves, potatoes O'Brien, and baby quiche puffs!

Today I shall share recipes for the mini pumpkin loaves and quiche puffs!

Pumpkin Bread

1 (15oz) can pumpkin puree

4 eggs

1 C vegetable oil

2/3 C water

3 C white sugar

3 1/2 C all purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cloves

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease & flour loaf pans.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water, and sugar until well blended.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger.

Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into prepared pans.

Bake for about 50 min. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean!

Mini Quiche Puffs

(Adapted from Lisa Leatham's "Chili Cheese Egg Puffs")

1 small can diced green chilies

10 eggs

1 pint cottage cheese - small curds

1 lb grated jack cheese

Let this mixture set overnight in the refrigerator

In the morning add:

1/2 C flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 C melted butter

Preheat oven 350 degrees F. Spray muffin pan well. Fill each 3/4 full.

Bake 30-35 minutes.

Makes about 30.

ENJOY!

I'm currently working on a healthier version of the quiche puffs using oat flour, egg whites, and seeing what other substitutions I can make!