One of Those Days…
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That would be Izzy…he has been sleeping in the box the chips came in all afternoon!
Today was one of those days where nothing seemed to go right in terms of work. I try not to let work issues get to me too much, but considering it’s something that consumes most of my day, sometimes it’s hard. I feel like all the creativity has been sucked out of me! I think I need some sleep.
Lately oatmeal has been my go-to breakfast, and today was no different. It was freezing when I got up – I think it was somewhere around 45* – so a hot, steaming bowl of oats sounded perfect.
1/2 cup oats, a tablespoon of raisins and a little less than a tablespoon of peanut butter. I need some new oatmeal toppers…any ideas?
I ate breakfast around 8:00AM, and of course by 10:00 I was starving. When am I not starving these days? Pretty much never! Luckily, I was prepared with some snacks. I busted out my orange around 10:30.
I love oranges. This one was so, so good. Are oranges in season right now? I don’t even know…
A little later I had snack #2: cottage cheese salad! This is another family recipe (if you can even call it a recipe…). Basically, all you do is take cottage cheese, chop up a carrot, celery and green pepper and stir everything together. Add salt and pepper to taste, and top with a sprinkling of paprika! I used Hungarian paprika that was sweet and smoky.
Well, you can’t really see anything other than the cottage cheese and the paprika…I promise there are plenty of veggies in there!
I thought I would be home for lunch today, but the rain started pouring and the traffic started to pile up and all the sudden it was 1:30PM and I was starving! I couldn’t wait anymore. I dug deep into my purse and luckily found a very smashed cherry pie larabar. I forgot to take a picture until the last few bites…
I took a picture of the wrapper when I got home 
. Did anyone see Bob promote larabars on the biggest loser last night??? I got abnormally excited when he started talking about them. Also, did you know, once upon a time I almost met Lara? Well, that’s kind of an extreme exaggeration…but I did meet one of Lara’s friends, so that’s close enough, right? I love, love, love larabars. Peanut butter is still my favorite flavor…but cherry pie is a close second (and the coconut one, and the lemon one, and the apple pie one…). Mmm.
So by the time I made it home, I felt like I had eaten lunch…which I guess I kind of had. This afternoon I felt a little snacky and had the last three pieces of my chili tofu from whole foods. This is by far the BEST tofu in the world. I am obsessed with it. I bought a container of it on Sunday and my husband and I have already powered through it (well, mostly me actually).
That sauce is a combination of oil, sugar and spices. Not very good for you, but a little goes a long way. These three little bites were perfection, and enough to hold me ‘til dinner!
My husband and I have been traveling a lot and as a result, I feel like I’ve been lacking in the veggies department. That’s kind of the story of my life though (my mom, on the other hand, pretty much overloads on vegetables on a daily basis…I’m always jealous!). Anyway, I told my husband I’d be eating salads for dinner all week, so being the sweet guy that he is, he cooked up some grilled chicken before he left so I could have some to put in my salads.
I just started throwing random things in a bowl tonight…a ton of romaine lettuce, onions, carrots, cucumber, green pepper, avocado (lots of green!), feta cheese, a few dried cranberries and an ounce or two of chopped, grilled chicken breast. I loved that my entire meal fit in one bowl…yay for minimal cleanup!
I seriously feel like I just wrote a novel…that wore me out! Where oh where is all my energy?! I am seriously going upstairs now to take a shower and get into bed….did I mention it’s only 8:00PM?
See you tomorrow when I’m feeling extra rejuvenated
I’m pretty sure I could write a book about oatmeal toppers, but here are some of my recent favorites: cranberry sauce, pumpkin, hazelnuts, cocoa-roasted almonds, and chocolate-covered sunflower seeds.
izzy. oh izzy. so so cute. what is it with cats and boxes? so funny. that tofu IS MY FAVORITE tofu. yum. and your salad is awesome. i want to eat it. too bad it is not real.. sigh. so glad you are back to posting regularly!!
Cats are just so funny. I love when my cat climbs into the most random of all places. The salad anc cottage cheese both look tasty.
Haha Izzy is so sweet
Ha! I am so glad you mentioned it.. I ALSO got abnormally excited when he started pimping the Larabars. I ran over and screamed up the stairs to my boyfriend – “MY BARS ARE ON BIGGEST LOSER! MY BARS!”
He didn’t care….but you do! So now I don’t feel *quite* as nuts
I’ve learned most of my oatmeal toppers from other bloggers – any type of fruit/berries, almond butter, cinnamon, pumpkin spices, yogurt, slash of vanilla, walnuts…Now I get more excited for oatmeal than I ever have!
I got excited about the Larabars on Biggest Loser too. You’re not alone.
I think Florida citrus is in season in the winter, I know clementines are, so I assume oranges would be the same.
Your salad looks great.
That orange is seriously calling out to me! I haven’t been able to find any good ones lately, but I’m definitely going to keep on the look-out.
What a neat, simple recipe with the cottage cheese! My recipe? Plop into a small bowl, top with LOTS AND LOTS of black pepper, eat. Haha, yes, I like to keep it simple as well.
And your salad looks amazing! Can you believe I’ve never tried dried cranberries before?
xxoo
Heather
Aw…Love cats in boxes:D
I need to find some of that tofu. I haven’t found any I’ve tried that I like yet!
Hope you feel back to yourself soon. I know that’s such a bummer when work can be so draining.
That salad looks awesome!
I had one of those days at work yesterday too. Feels good to have a new fresh start today! Love the kitty in the box too cute. You know I’m always up for a monster salad
Glad you’re feeling well.
Your salad looks and sounds great, I might have to make it lunch next week!
Love Lara Bars! I still haven’t tried that flavor though. I think it’s great that Bob was promoting them! Simple ingredients + great flavor — what could be better?
that salad looks amazing! i love that the hubby made chicken breasts so all you had to do was chop and throw it in the bowl! yumm!
I’ll have to try my own version of that chilli tofu, sounds delicious. Ah Lara bars what would we do without them
I totally LOVE Lara bars too! I am obsessed with them right now
Oatmeal Topping Ideas:
- peanut butter
- almond butter
- pumpkin butter
- walnuts
- maple syrup
- coconut
- chocolate chips
- pineapple (it is really good)
- cinnamon
- strawberries
- banana
- dried cranberries
Your salad looks awesome!! I feel like I’ve been lacking in veggies lately too.
My kitties have all kinds of fancy toys and beds, but their favorite things are cardboard boxes and paper bags…and of course, sleeping on MY bed!
Get some rest…you’re allowed to be tired when you’re carrying a little person inside of you!
eeeek i’m no fan of the cherry pie larabar, but everything else today looks delicious!!! I totally know what you mean about the tofu – perfect little bites of energy (aka oily tastiness) hehehehe That’s like Japanese dashi tofu that is lightly fried tofu to absolute perfection!
I love the festive cranberries on the salad!!! I think I’d like to do that with my thanksgiving salad.
hehehe hope you have a lovely weekend Lainie!!
Now, I’m really craving an orange and a larabar!
awww my cat loves boxes too
I love PB & J Larabars (the new flavor). They are so good! And I like the very simple ingredient list.
Oatmeal is my go-to breakfast lately, too. I wake up every morning and want it!
i found your blog, giiiiiiirl!
lots of yummy eats! Your kitty is too cute
I’m a fan of the larabar too, I like the banana bread and pb & jelly ones best. And cranberries on salad is pure genius!!! Don’t feel too bad about being so tired, especially carrying around a little one 
Izzy is so cute
our cat loves laying in random places, too – I don’t know what it is!
oatmeal toppings:
pb & j
granola
trail mix!!!
dried fruit
Congratulations to veggie girl! Foods should taste good chips are awesome, but dannng your tofu looks awesome!!
Tho your larabar doesn’t look too bad. heheh
I always seem to have mushed up bars in my bag. Someone needs to invent a bar protector.