The other day, I was thumbing…er, clicking? through some pics on my computer and I realized that there have been quite a few things that have slipped under the radar lately…I also realized that it’s been a while since I’ve done a “things” post…hmm, how convenient that it’s Thursday! 😉
1. Ethiopian Food
A few weeks ago, I met up with Allie in Nashville for my very first Ethiopian food experience. She suggested I try one of the sampler platters (which was a great idea since I was having such a hard time choosing) so I ordered the meat and veggie sampler…which came out on a platter HALF the size of our table!
Starting at the top, left-right:
Salad, cabbage, beets with goat cheese, ground beef, lamb, chicken, split peas, chicken and carrots, and some of THE BEST collard greens I’ve ever eaten!
And a big mess of bread to gather it all up with!
Pretty sure Ethiopian is now one of my TOP favorite cuisines…I’ve been dreaming of it since that afternoon and can’t WAIT to go back!
Hint, hint…wink, wink, Allie! 😉
2. Weird Food
If you’ve been reading my blog long, you already know about my weird food tendencies, but do you know of my LOVE for BBQPB&J?
The latest #weirdfoodclub submission:
Steamed spaghetti squash mixed with peanut flour and topped with BBQ seasoning, FROG jam, and fresh figggggggggggs!
3. Mystery Food
On a trip to the Nashville farmer’s market a couple of weeks ago, I picked up a little label-less melon/fruit/thing at the international food store and well, I figured my chances of understanding the man behind the counter should ask my dumb American questions were pretty slim, so I just took my chances…
It was DELICIOUS!
Soft and squishy and sweet with hard (but edible) seeds…any ideas?
4. Kryptonic Food
I had my first Pinkberry experience a few weeks ago…chocolate hazelnut and gingerbread swirl topped with dark chocolate drops, granola, and gingersnap cook ie crumbs.
Tasty AND pretty (thank you Mr. Fro-yo man) but I still prefer my Sweet Cece’s and their wall-to-wall, help-yourself-but-break-the-bank toppings! 😉
And as of yesterday, the battle is on…my co-workers have officially started in on the Christmas baking…and if there is ONE thing that breaks my willpower, it’s a FREE cookie!
Let’s hope there won’t be as much “swinkling” as there was last year! 😉
5. Pictures of Food
Just aren’t happening!
My work schedule has been CRAZY this week, so unfortunately, Nikki and I just haven’t had the time to properly bond. I have tried snapping a few pictures, but they’re just not coming out right. Eventually, I’ll have time to sit down and really get to know my new little girl, but until then, I have a 4 hour training seminar (on my day off), a hot date ;), and a fun-filled birthday weekend planned…
So you’ll forgive me if we post-pone Pancake Sunday for another week?
Promise I’ll share at least a few details from my date! 😉
And speaking of birthdays…be sure to enter KMB’s birthday giveawayif you haven’t already! A FULL case of Chobani to ONE lucky winner!
Giveaway ends at midnight tonight!
Have you had any new, weird, mysterious, or kryptonic food lately?
Join me in shouting out a huge THANK YOU over toJenn from Peas & Crayons for hosting our weekly foodie shindig!
Now onto this title…
I’ve been doing the night shift thing for a while now. While I can’t really say that I’ve “mastered” the art of zombie-conversion, I CAN say that I finally have a sense of what my body wants and needs to survive night-walking.
For months I tried to fit myself into a certain schedule…sleep from THIS time to THIS time…eat at THAT time…only to stress out when I wasn’t still asleep at THIS time and I hungry hours before THAT time.
So I just stopped trying.
I started going with the flow of things and before I knew it, I had developed a few habits…habits that ended up helping me get to a point where I now sleep better, have more energy, and actually feel like I’m in control of my body…you know, instead of walking around brain-dead half the time!
To show you what I mean, allow me to share a typical day in the life of a working zombie girl!
I usually wake up around 2-3pm and I immediately get up, throw on workout clothes and make my way to the gym (because if I don’t go as soon as I get up, it’s just not hap-nin’), but NOT before throwing back a morning cocktail…hey, it’s almost 5 o’clock! 😉
Emergen-C and a shot of Jack ACV*
I swear by this stuff! Emergen-C boosts my immune system, puts pep in my step, and has just the right amount of sweetness/fizz to counteract the yuck-factor of apple cider vinegar (which I’m STILL claiming as my acne cure-all from God!)
After a good sweat sesh, it’s back home for some grub…which most of the time is of the no-cook/throw-stuff-in-a-bowl-and-call-it-a-meal variety since I’m about to chew my own arm off…
Note: lifting heavy makes you HUNGRY!
1 cup Greek yogurt + 1/2 cup pumpkin puree + 1 teaspoon maple extract + pumpkin pie spice and stevia to taste topped with granola and FIGS!
After that, I jump in the shower and then start getting me, myself, and my lunchbox ready for work.
And then I grab some tea for the ride!
Not a huge fan of the pumpkin spice flavor on its own, but throw in a bit of almond milk and it’s a LATTE better! 😉
Dinner is usually anywhere between 10 and 11pm, and while I love having leftovers from a weekend of meal-prepping, most days, I’m more than happy to dive into a
“clean out the fridge” type salad!
Monday’s winner: Spinach, peas, red onion, roasted beets, roasted pumpkin, cranberry-cinnamon goat cheese, and toasted pecans…
Around 1am, which is half-way through my shift, I typically have a big mug of tea to thaw me out from the sub-arctic hospital temps AND help keep my energy levels up.
Which isn’t hard to do when you’ve got SUPER CAFFEINATED tea!*
*Without the side affects that come with coffee…Numi #ftw!
The rest of the morning, I play by ear…sometimes I have one big snack around 3am or I’ll have a few little snacks like I did the other day…
Fuji apple and 1/2 a Clif Builder’s Bar (for the record, the cookies ‘n cream flavor is neither cookie nor cream)
Mrs. May’s Almond Rice Stix (#funfind from TJ Maxx)
Roasted edamame and baby carrots
At 6:30am, my relief comes in and I pass out PEACE out, head home, and then whip up something delicious for breakfast dinner!
My name is Heather! I'm a southern gal with a passion for food, fitness, and photography...and alliteration if you didn't notice! Here you'll find a mix of random musings, delicious recipes, and hopefully a chuckle or two! Check out my "About' tab to learn more!
But it’s totally worth it for these #funfinds!
