Zucchini Boats

After my last post, I have been more proactive in seeking healthy recipes to enjoy. Enjoy. Hm. That's funny. Before, when I was eating healthy for weight loss reasons, it was more of a daunting task that didn't matter whether I liked or not. Now, I am going out of my way to make my meals taste delicious. I am tired of the typical chicken and veggies dinner. I have been posting some pictures of these meals on my instagram and have been asked over and over for detailed instructions. I figured I should probably blog about them so I have them in my online "rolodex" to refer back to since I often forget a recipe that worked (since I just wing it most of the time).

Anyhow, they say never go grocery shopping starving. It's so true. Today, I was beyond starving. I was hangry AND sick. It is truly beyond me how I still am feeling under the weather 2 weeks in. Between the flu and D's ear infection- this house has def seen better days. I digress.

I was starving and sick and annoyed that I was even out of my bed. I was annoyed my fridge was empty and even more annoyed  that my sister won't be my personal chef. To add to the annoyance, I was at Publix and not even armed with a single recipe to work off of. So, I got desperate. I rushed hastily around the perimeter of the store getting what I thought might make a good meal. I was right. Here's what I came up with.

Please note: I am not a chef and this is not a cooking blog. I apologize for the lack of "oooh ahhh" amazing pictures.. you will have to do with my phone pics! The only reason I even HAVE the pictures was because I had to prove I was cooking and had sent these to my sister!

ignore my awesome manicure. or lack thereof. and the emergen C shot. It was a text pic to prove to my sister I was taking care of myself haha she can't help but mother me. 

Let me know if you try them and how it works! Also, feel free to tweak the recipe, as I am no chef and these only turned out edible by the grace of God. 

Proactive.

(Warning, this is probably the most boring post I will ever write, but I still am writing it. For accountability and to stay true to my intentions of the blog- to 'journal' my life... I will be back with projects and office progress later this week!) Also, all pictures are taken from my iPhone- so don't judge :)

Today, I was the most productive than I ever have been- in my life.

I had an appointment for a 1st time visit at the chiropractor's office, at the constant urging of my "motherly" friend, Emily. I finally decided to quit saying and start DOING. I made an appointment via e-mail Friday and as MUCH as I DREADED the thought of a 10 a.m. Monday appointment, I fought my laziness and went through with it (I usually wake up around 11:30 on Mon/Wed because I don't have class until 4:30 p.m. I'm skeptical of chiropractic care, but I've heard a lot of the general wellness it promotes and I'm interested to try it... That and:

That was the list that made me suck it up and go visit the chiropractor. We go over x-rays Wed... so I'll keep you posted. And the only picture I took was to show my friends how humiliating the shorts were that I had to change into- so I won't be posting that... ha

After the chiropractor, I pulled into my driveway exhausted and hungry. I sat in my car and realized I don't have anything at home. I was dying to get back in my warm bed and take a nap. (I'm extremely lethargic... in case you haven't noticed- all I want to do is sleep...) I decided that I would try and fight the laziness and keep myself up. I told myself if I could fight through the sleepiness, maybe I could get to bed at a normal time and start a good sleeping schedule... I heard it helps a lot with weight loss. I'll try anything at this point.

I made my way to the grocery store and made the best decisions and purchases (even while starving!) I left with $75 worth of fruits, veggies, and protein. I was so happy. BUT, I have done this before... and everything has gotten moldy and fuzzy before I even consume it...

That brings us to my 3rd productive thing. I put my groceries away and wanted to nap. WAIT. I can't nap! I defeat #2! I decided to quit postponing my cabbage soup making and used the time while I was putting it together to also try this "meal planning" business. It hit me. No wonder all my stuff gets tossed and yucky- I put it in my fridge and forget about it! With a busy full-time student schedule, it's easy to run out the door with 3 minutes to spare and forget breakfast or grabbing a lunch. I get stuck spending $10 on a turkey sandwich at the school and forget my water bottle. It's awful. Not today.

I washed, cut, diced, prepared, and tupperware-ed. (It's a word, trust me). It took a while, but I have NO excuse!!! I don't have kids- I have the most chill dog that just watches me quietly haha... I don't have a husband... hardly a boyfriend with his travel schedule (just kidding, booboo), and no work (I'd love to change that... but while I'm unemployed- I have no excuse!)

It started with just preparing my lunch for tomorrow, then I found myself washing all the fruits I got and getting them ready for easy consumption. No more excuses for me to find. They're all washed and ready to eat in their own little container.

I was a machine. I was so proud of myself, sending Emily and my sister texts throughout the process, with pictures as proof. I couldn't believe it- I bet my nephew had to pick my sister's jaw up off the floor when she got my texts...

It's 3:30 p.m. now... I have class at 4:30. That's productive... right? Doing all this and not skipping... just give me this one :) (Especially since I didn't have my nap!)

At 6:30 p.m., I'll be meeting India at the gym to do the 5th productive thing today-
Workin' out... I've said it before... I'm trying to get healthy, but now I have some sort of accountability... A few friends and I are going to try to keep it going for at least 4 weeks. I know it's hard when you're the only one eating right... so hopefully with all of us doing it- we'll see results. I'm excited... I'm ready to quit hating my pictures... I hate cringing when I see a photo- I used to be so photogenic! I wanna be the Old Joon. Current Joon sucks... ok not really, but I am 60lbs heavier so I'm ready to change. Keep me accountable!!!!

Let Them Eat Cake

I'm sorry, these are too cute to keep to myself. I have to share what I've been doing on the side with www.spcakery.com and I think you're going to like it :)

I hate the way Blogger changes the quality of the pics :( it looks so much better on my computer {and real life...}! These are vanilla cake pops dipped in vanilla. mmm. A delicious two-bite treat for Valentine's Day!

If you're an Ordy and Joon follower, you can get a dozen of these cake pops for $25 (+ shipping for your area) 

Just in time for the sweetie in your life :) 

Just e-mail: 

Breakfast for Dinner

Snow Day #3...Wednesday Night...

Ordy Boy and I decided to have breakfast for dinner...only not the way my sister does it, but the way two people attempting to diet would... So... no french toast, no pancakes or waffles, and unfortunately no nutella **gasp** what kind of breakfast was it?!?! jk. It was hard to stay good. Ok, not so hard when my stomach would get in the way of performing minor duties such as opening drawers, or emptying the dishwasher... Ok, not really, but I'm persian- I {am expected to} exaggerate. 

Since I want nothing to do with touching sausage or bacon {or any red meat for that matter...} Ordy Boy had to make his own sausages. And I meant it when I said the two of us don't fit in my kitchen. We had to take turns doing stuff. I ended up making my strawberry shortcake and banana bread in the dining room {wait, what diet?}

And Bandit, alwaaaayyyys wanting to be a part of the action... was right in the middle. Yep, I tripped over him 30 times but that didn't bother him. He didn't dare take his sorry behind to the living room- crumbs don't fall there

It was fun to have Ordy Boy in the kitchen and sharing a part of the meal preparation. Not that he never does, but I just always note that it's nice :) Grateful. 

Anyway, back to my strawberry shortcake. I have had a hankering for some since before I vowed to lose weight. I went to many different restaurants before 12/31/10 to cheat- but would you believe strawberry shortcake is not in season when it's snowing outside??? i know, crazy. So it's been 2 weeks now and the craving has only gotten stronger since I've been locked inside with the bad weather...

So-I compromised. I made a fat-free, sugar-free, calorie-free, taste-free, in fact, it's doesn't even really exist... the following pictures are just a figment of your imagination. Let's use that imagination and pretend this tastes really really really good and incredible like one found on the cover of a Paula Deen 4th of July edition cookbook...

The red roses mirrors aren't always on my table...while being snowed in, I managed to get out all my VALENTINE'S DAY decorations! I'm SOOOO Excited. I can do that, right? Start decorating for 2/14/11 on 1/12/11... wait, I can't? Oh, that's too bad because everything is already out and it looks so dang cute. I'll post pic of the rest once I actually decide where everything is going to stay!

Honestly, I made the entire "strawberry shortcake" recipe up. I used the fat-free Angel Food cake and crumbled it up, with sliced frozen strawberries poured on top and fat-free cool whip... haha that's my version. I really was just in the mood to do something other than tv/internet/clean so I did that. Oh, and these:

The most incredible, moist nanner muffins ever. They are so good. I decided to make muffins just because I'm too lazy to bother using a knife, and when I bake a loaf- I spare the knife and eat the whole thing. In one sitting. It's true. Emily saw me do it in our Family Law class once. She brought a huge piece for both ORDY and I, and I ate the whole thing in class. Oops. {that explains why I am attempting to diet...}

Anyhow, here are some final pics to leave you with!

Wed Dozen...Beautiful YELLOW tulips to brighten the icy day

proof I have no room for the pretty soap dispensers...sick, i tell you!

a little valentine's day photo holder. we're allowed to be cheesy. until Feb 15. 

Oh, and before I forget- feel free to add us on Twitter: ordyandjoon - I added it to the blog on the left, but of course you're more than welcome to add us!



Vote away, it doesn't bother me, in fact- it makes me smile :)

Overnight Seamstress!...Notttt

After torturing myself browsing tons of ADORABLE ruffly camera strap covers on Etsy, I was 3 seconds away from buying one this weekend. Then it hit me. The value of a dollar. How I was about to fork over $40 for a STUPID camera strap when I had a perfectly functioning one... I could not justify it. My thought process: I could make one, but I could buy JUST THIS ONE because it's soooo cute "i need a model... one to mimic mine after..." but i knew after buying it i would only keep that one on it and not attempt to make one. I also knew that $40 is the equivalent of serving 4-5 tables. I literally envisioned myself greeting/serving 4 snobby "Buckhead Bettys" and that alone made me empty my cart. I would rather make one now then go to work to justify a $40 camera strap... <-- more info than you need, i know. but it was my thought process!

SO...

Problem: no cute ruffly camera strap
Solution: make one


Problem: no sewing machine to make one
Solution: buy one


Problem: no sewing skills
Solution: glue it

I kid you not. I made one. I bought a sewing machine- and didn't use it :)

I hand stitched the ruffle part and fabric glued everything else. And I LOVE it!!! The NO-Sew Ruffle Camera Strap!!!

i. love. it. 

so i can't focus- my photo in mirror skills suck...

I had a rough day (not bad, just rough hahaha) in a nutshell:

• i rode on the elevator with the professor i'm most terrified of. the conversation was awkward. it was from the 8th floor to the bottom and the elevator was taking its precious time. miserable. 
• i ran into her again after i realized i hadn't done my hw and was rushing to class early to sit down and look at it bc i was sure i was going to get called on... she said "see you soon..." in a "i'm going to get you" tone...
• i panic and rush to walk into our classroom to do the hw as i'm blabbing to Emily and she softly whispers, "no...sheila..." and I realize I just walked into a room full of 3Ls taking a midterm. Proctor and all. 
• i get to class finally and within the first 15 minutes find myself whispering something to emily (internet was down, no gchat) only to find myself choking on my own spit that went down the wrong pipe. i legit was choking and had to excuse myself from the classroom.
• an hour into the same class, i realize i don't have my phone. panic sets in. i freak out and run to the cafe. no phone turned in. panic. i check my car. ahhh, on the floor board. walk back in again. you can call me grace. all sorts of disruptions today.
• grabbed lunch at panera and was convinced i oughta get a drink with my salad (which i never do, always get water), and after i pay for a large drink- never got the cup and realize in the middle of class. bothered me all day.
• come home to get my blender out for some nutella milkshakes, and it shattered from a one inch fall. shattered. sad time. i loved that thing...

but it's ok. because all's well that ends in eating whoopie pies and toasted marshmallow nutella milkshakes, right? {that's how the old adage goes...right?} 

PUMPKIN Whoopie Pies, compliments of the lovely, talented, gorgeous, sweet, Kat from Lush Cakery. I mean seriously, could she be any cuter???

I wish i could show you a picture of the shakes- but because of this:

the marshmallows made them look ROUGH! hahaha but they tasted delish :) (who questioned it anyway? not I)

So... all is well with my new camera strap, $40 in my pocket, and a belly full of bad amazing food!

Completely unrelated- but I LOVE my new lamp I got last night. i love lamp!!! no really, i have a weird obsession with lamps :)