WIAW: not the norm

It's been a hot minute (do people still say that?) since I participated in What I Ate Wednesday - I can't even remember the last time I linked up! However, I am feeling a bit off my blogging game (a few family tragedies and unexpected travel will do that to ya), so I figured that a "routine" post would be a good way to keep easing back in.

If you've never heard of WIAW, check out Jenn's blog and read all about it. It's a lot of fun, and I've found a lot of great bloggers through this link-up. Join us!

On to the good stuff. Here are my Tuesday meals!

Breakfast was semi-standard. I had my usual coffee and yogurt, but no banana. C did the grocery shopping for me on Sunday after my race, and I forgot to put bananas on the list. I'm missing them a bit this week!

Lunch was not the norm. We ate leftovers on Monday night, and I realized that it left us with nothing for lunch on Tuesday. Our fridge is looking a little bare between my being gone last week and not wanting to do a big shop before a holiday weekend, soooo the pickin's are slim for lunches. I ended up at a local deli with my boss, and grabbed this awesome sandwich. Seriously - this thing hit the spot. This deli carves your meat fresh to order, so I watched them slice my turkey right off the bones the moment I ordered. It is delicious! I added spicy mustard, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and alfalfa sprouts, and it hit the spot. There is nothing like a good sammy!

When we got home, I was feeling like my sugar was a little low, so I grabbed a couple few several handfuls of trail mix before yoga. This particular bag of TM seems really raisin heavy. Why are they never heavy on the M&Ms?! Sigh.

Creepy finger veins and all...

Dinner was a change from the norm, too. Our freezers (we have an indoor and outdoor fridge/freezer) are packed to overflowing. Since we generally cook fresh foods, I rarely use the "in case of emergency" things I've collected. Therefore, we've got frozen TJ's entrees, frozen pizzas, and containers of soup, stew, and chili just taking up space. It's time to use some up! So dinner last night was chicken taquitos from TJ's, which C paired with some Spanish rice and doctored-up retried beans (some cheese and hot sauce goes a long way for those!). It was a delicious quick, semi-homemade meal, and there was enough leftover for lunches today. Winning!

We ate dinner while watching the finale of The Voice - we actually kept up with the whole season this time around! The there finalists were some of my faves, and I was happy to see any of them win. However, the results were not what I was expecting! I thought for sure that Christina would come in first. Color me surprised, America. I enjoyed the show, though - there were some really great musical performances and guests. I will miss it...  but my ALL TIME FAVE show is coming back soon: So You Think You Can Dance! HOORAY!

So tell me...

• Are you a sandwich lover like I am? What's your favorite combination?
• How do you keep inventory of what's hidden in your freezer??
• Did you watch the finale of The Voice? Were you surprised / happy / mad about the results?

WIAW: just use your imagination

I fully intended to participate  in WIAW this week... and then yesterday kind of got away from me. Whoops! I managed to get myself together about half the time, so you're just going to have to trust me on the rest. Considering this was the day after a snow day, we're lucky I had myself together at all. These random days away from work (while appreciated) totally throw my schedule off. But it's already Wednesday! So yay.

Thanks for the link-up, Jenn!

Breakfast was standard - banana and coffee. C was in charge of a Target run last weekend, and he came home with a treat: Archer Farms Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee K-cups! This is one of our very favorite coffees, but I generally try to get K-cups for a bit cheaper than Target sells them. Well, when you send your husband off shopping alone, who knows what gets thrown in the cart?! So I've been enjoying my coffee a little more than usual - it's so good!

My mid-morning snack was pretty standard, as well: yogurt wolfed down between meetings.

Totally failed to get a picture of my lunch, but that is probably for the best - it definitely wasn't pretty. I had some leftover spaghetti squash from dinner on Monday, which I mixed with basic marinara, and some tuna salad that I threw together with red onion, pickle, Greek yogurt, and a little light mayo. It was good, but I felt obligated to eat alone in my cubical because it was so stinky! Ahh... work lunches.

I don't usually do this, but I had to give in to a treat going around the office:

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My curiosity totally got the best of me - and it was worth it, because that cookie was delicious! It really did taste like birthday cake.

I forgot to get a picture of my pre-gym snack, but I ate a Weight Watchers string cheese in the car on the way to yoga. My tummy was rumbling when we got home from work, and I needed something to hold me over! The cheese did the trick while I vinyasa'd for an hour.

I got home to a delicious dinner - salsa chicken burritos! Our crockpot totally kicked the bucket a few weeks ago (RIP, old friend) and I'd been feeling a bit like I'd lost a limb without it (over dramatic much?...). We rely on it so much during the week! Luckily, my sweet aunt promptly sent us a new one as a housewarming gift, and it arrived on Monday, so we had to test it out! Salsa chicken never fails. We wrapped the filling in flour tortillas with a little cheddar melted on top, and paired it with (un-pictured) side salads while watching The Voice (battle rounds - hooray!).

I was one happy camper! And looking forward to leftovers for lunch today already. I'm so happy to have a working crock-pot again!

So tell me...

• What's one kitchen appliance you can't live without? Obvi mine is my crock-pot...
• What are you watching on TV right now? C & I both love the Voice and kind of hate American Idol.

If it's on, I'm watching

When it comes to guilty pleasures, one of mine is old episodes of my most beloved TV shows. I feel like there are hardly any shows anymore that truly last - every time I find a new show that I like, apparently no one else does, because they cancel it on me! (RIP The Finder and Alcatraz - gone but not forgotten.) That said, there are several shows that I can watch over and over, and can turn on mid-episode and never miss a beat (easy when they are on my screen eighteen times a week). Below are some of my all-time favorites!

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Bones

I started watching Bones when it first aired, and it is still one of my favorite shows. I love the characters, and I love the plot lines. It's a bit far-fetched at times, sure, but I feel like they've done a decent job maintaining the story and building the characters, even though the show has been on for.ev.er. Not every show lasts this long!

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Big Bang Theory

As of this moment, there are 83 episodes of BBT on my DVR. I've seen everyone of 'em, and it doesn't bother me a bit. C & I love this show, and my parents love it, too! I've never seen my dad laugh so hard as he does during some of the episodes of this show. This is one of my go-tos when I have a few minutes of downtime and want to give my brain a break. 20 minutes of BBT does the trick!

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CSI

AKA one of the greatest shows, ever! I do love a good crime scene investigation, and the dramatics in this show just make it so. great. There is a special place in my heart for CSI: Miami and the opening scene where Horatio Cane puts on his sunglasses... you all know what I'm talking about. 

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The original CSI is my favorite, but I like NY and Miami just as well, and will happily turn them on when I see a repeat episode. C & I have been known to have CSI marathons of back-to-back-to-back episodes. Just can't get enough!

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House

I was never a huge House fan on my own; I watched it here and there when it first aired, and enjoyed it, but I never truly got into the show until I met C. C, however, is somewhat of a House fanatic, and knows most of the episodes inside out and backward. We spent a summer together in college watching multiple seasons back-to-back, and ever since then, I've loved it. Each episode is all-encompassing with a single story, and it's so fun to see the wacky medical things that occur. I'm sad that it's over, but C & I both felt like it was time for that story to come to an end. The old episodes are still great to watch!

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Food Network 

I realize this isn't a show, but it definitely goes on this list - I am a Food Network addict. I used to watch hours of it in college, and the old-school FN shows are some of my faves. I love the original chefs: Giada, Rachael Ray, Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, Tyler Florence.... some of the older shows still playing during the day, and I love having them on during the days I work from home. If there is nothing on TV, I can almost always count on FN to not let me down. Some people watch HGTV, or TLC - I always, always watch Food Network. I love my cooking shows!!

So tell me...

• What's your guilty pleasure when it comes to TV?
• What show has been cancelled or ended that you miss watching?
• What's your favorite channel / network when nothing else is on?

Winners & losers

Happy Monday! Did y'all watch the Golden Globes last night?? C & I watched the first few hours, but missed the end... and most of the big awards. Whoops! We did devote a good amount of time to the red carpet pre-show, though (while flipping back to the football game every few minutes - there were some good games yesterday!) Like probably everyone else, I have some strong opinions regarding the dress choices from last night. There were some FANTASTIC ones... and also some horrible ones. Here are my choices - agree or disagree?

All photos from Huff Post

Reese Witherspoon went for simplicity, and she looked fabulous. Does she age?? The color of her dress is unusual for winter, and just beautiful on her. I love her new shorter haircut, too.

Mila Kunis, what can we even say? Hottest woman alive! Great color choice for winter, and I liked the embellishments at the top and simplicity at the bottom. Her dress even looks like it might be comfortable!

Olivia Wilde did pregnancy perfectly. And that color! I die. 

Sofia Vergara caught my eye because she just looks like she owns the red carpet. Basic black can be SO gorgeous, and I love her sassy pop of color with the necklace. 

All photos from Huff Post

I ADORE Jennifer Lawrence.... But I am not loving her style right now at all. I don't like the dress, I don't love her hair like everyone else (but give her mad props for the brave chop!), and I didn't love her makeup last night, either. A little too dark for me. I like her better when she looks young and fresh. 

Emma Stone is another actress I love, but who I could just not stand behind last night. Does that actually even count as a "dress"? Looks like a sack. And is it just me, or does she look a little ill? So frail.

Lena Dunham... Just no. She should probably consider firing her stylist. Terrible color for her, cut that is not flattering at all, and, to top it off, her hair has that "just rolled out of bed" look, but NOT in a good way. 

Julia Roberts must have just come from some sort of business meeting... Right? I actually like this dress - I just don't think it was nearly fancy enough for an occasion like the Golden Globes. 

All photos from Huff Post

I normally don't particularly care about Miss Golden Globe, but I did want to call her out this year - Sosie Bacon looked fantastic. I LOVE the dress, her hair is gorgeous, and she looks so elegant and classic. Definitely a stylistic win!

And finally..... sending a big congratulations to the winners of my birthday giveaway: Ianni & Elizabeth! That's right, I said winnerS...... I got so excited about it that I picked two! I will be emailing both of you and coordinating getting your surprise packages to you - be on the lookout for that!

Five for Friday

It has been a week for the books, folks. So glad it's finally Friday!

Haven't done one of these in a while, so...

Five for Friday

1. I am craving pizza in a serious way. It's all I can think about. May have to rectify that this weekend. What have you been craving?

Get in my belly.

2. Yesterday, a co-worker said something that really made me stop and think: "Where there is darkness, there is light." Things have not necessarily been peachy around the office lately, and it has been taking it's toll. That simple statement really got to me, and reminded me that things get better. So. Glass half-full, people!

3. Given my recent shin splints encounter, and the additional feelings of tightness in my legs and sore muscles and general differences I've been noticing in my body, I went and did a little research on my MapMyRun page, where I log all my runs. I found this:

MAYBE that's why I'm noticing a difference in how I feel?! Almost 50 miles more in May than April. Probably has something to do with it... #genius

4. Last night there was nothing on TV. Nothing, except for this new show on FOX:

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Hosted by this guy:

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No. Just no. I refuse. Apparently this show is a hit in the UK, but I am SO TIRED of stupid "reality" dating shows on television. I am one of those people who never got into the Bachelor or the Bachelorette, and I really never watch crap like this. It's taking overrrrrr. Make it stop.

5. Yesterday, another co-worker sent me this link, and that was pretty much the end of all productivity. I almost cannot handle the cute.

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What are your plans for this weekend? Anything fun? Tomorrow, C & I are going to his cousin's baby shower, and then Sunday will be a long run with Suzann early in the morning, and something for Father's Day later on. Have a great Friday!