A Days Worth -O- Yum

Today has been the biggest whirlwind ever.  Running around like a crazy person from place to place.  Ah hectic life…gotta love it, right?!

Lets start with breakfast.

My new obsesssssssion!    Add some raisins, Almond Milk, and Chia Seeds…and you get…

There also may have been an undocumented Starbizzle run on the way to the YMCA.  Who’s to say?! 

I got to the Y around 8:00am, and worked like a mad man on some major Eight To The Eight’s stuff!  It is crunch time with that, as all the official contestants plus all the contestants who didn’t make it…all had to be notified today.  Sad times for those who didn’t make it.  I know it’s just a fact to face when you only have x amount of spots to fill, and way more than that apply…I just feel bad because these people really put themselves out there.  I wish we could take them all!

Around noon it was time for my Express Sculpt class, which I am totally loving!  The numbers are slowly building, and I love hitting all the muscle groups in half the time!  Nice change for the body.

Lunch was comprised of some yummy leftovers from last nights Earth Fare run…

Mock Chicken Salad sandwich, carrots, and Veggie Booty goodness.

This “faux” chicken is seriously the closest to the real thing as it gets.  Bravo, Earth Fare.

After this, I walked back to work and finished up working on Eight To The Eights stuff, and then headed to the High School for KidFit!  This was our second to last week before school is out for summer, and it went so well today!  We had the entire gym to ourselves, and I let the kids sort of do whatever they wanted, as long as it involved them running.    Some played basketball, others volleyball…some just plain ran around like lunatics…but hey…it produced sweat.

Headed backkkkk to the YMCA afterwards for what was one of the most intense Spin classes EVAH.  I don’t know what made it so crazae, but we were all dying….in a very good way.  Note to self…..use this CD when in need of a shower like sweat sesh.

Once Spin was over it was finally time to exhale…and head to an Indian Dinner yum-fest.

I was a bad blogger and forgot to photograph the menu…which in this case was key!  We got two amazingly delicious things…and of course I have forgotten their names.

(veggie medley in an amazingly spicey sauce)

(nut and spice stuffed potatoes in an equally yah-mazing sauce)

Can’t forget the gorgeous rice!

All together now……  (with some Tandori Roti…)

The stuffed potato was out of this world!!!  Seriously, my new favorite dish.

Did I mention how much the people at Sahib L-O-V-E Maggie and I????  Free FLAMING dessert, anyone?!

Some sort of cheese/honey/fried deliciousness that was quickly consumed as soon as the flames died down.  YUM!

What a perfect way to end a very hectic day.  Who doesn’t love desserts that are on fire?!?! 

Later bloggies.  Debut of my Total Body HIIT class tomorrow morning at 5:45am…should be interesting to see how it goes teaching it at the crack of dawn!

Back To Reality.

Well, I knew I was back home when I woke up to this:

Luckily, I also had these pups to remind me of the good aspects of Tennessee life.

I woke up with a bare kitchen, and threw together a yummy breakfast with the last of my supplies!  It was a Kashi waffle kind of morning.

“Sauce” was Almond Butter mixed with Natural Peach Jam

Also had an actual peach to go with the peach sauce.  Ok, so it was a peachy sort of morning as well.

It was then definitely time for Earth Fare!  It was good to be back in MY yummy food mart.  Loved the Floridian ones, but I do love me some Earth Feezy quite a bit.

Pretty soon I had a buggy full-o-fun:

Finished up at Earth Fare, and then headed home with the loot:

I’ve gotten several questions about my grocery bill.  Here is some advice:

Think about staples….it is so fun and tempting to go and buy all “fun” food and snacks, but buying alot of meal creations will make your money stretch that much more

Buy produce elsewhere!  Rarely do I ever get produce from Earth Fare…it is way too expensive.  In this case, I went right next door to Kroger for the veggies/fruit

Make. A. List.  Going into a store like this with no list is like setting a 10 yr old free in Toys-R-Us on a sugar rush.  Not a good idea.  Stick with what you need

Buy big!  Get items that will last several uses or make several meals/snacks

Have fun!  Grocery shopping should not be a chore, it should be FUN!  I swear I have the time of my life in these places.  Try something new!

Coupon Hunt!  Earth Fare always has a large selection of coupon books up front to loot through, and save money.  For example…I got $1.00 off of EACH of my Almond Milks, making them around .98 cents each!  Score!

My total for today (both stores combined): $76.49

This may seem steep, but it will make at least 20+ meals.

Speaking of meals, it was time for lunch!

Veggie Indian stew topped with crushed red pepper, and a new ingredient I was excited to try:

Yay for yeast!  haha  I had seen this used on several of my favorite bloggies, but when Fitnessista said it tasted like cheese…I was sold.  Also toasted up a Whole Wheat Pita Pocket for dippage:

Plus a jealous on-looker:

Dessert was simple and tasty.  Pear drenched in cinnamon:

And since I started with some doggie cuteness….gotta end with some.

Do you see the distractions I must live with?!?!?!  ;-)

Later bloggies.