Relaxing Sunday!

This is the most relaxing weekend we have had in a very long time. I had an organizational to-do list but was unable to check off anything on it. I am not stressing over it. It’s nothing that won’t be there tomorrow or the next day!

Breakfast

Breakfast was fast and simple. A hardboiled egg with toast with almond butter and the Starbuck’s Vias are back!!! This morning I tried out the cinnamon flavored one. It’s pretty good. Would I buy it again? Probably not, I am really in love with the caramel one. It’s the closest to my caramel macchiato!!!!

 Lunch

Hello again! Leftover tilapia, still as good as yesterday. Sides of roasted tofu, fresh cherry tomatoes and tortellini.

I am looking for a new plain or vanilla flavored yogurt.  I picked up these three contenders yesterday. I compared them side by side and first prize goes to… Yoplait. Second prize goes to O organics Vanilla bean.  Yoplait French Vanilla tasted like a true dessert. Smooth, sweet and simply good. O Organics tasted a little more yogurty, not bad but not as sweet. (must check sugar content) And Lucerne plain was too strong for my taste.

A little yogurt topped with nut/cranberry/raisin mix. SUPER GOOD!! The smooth cool yogurt with the crunchiness of the mix was beyond delicious. It was more than perfect!!!

The kind of Saturdays I wish for!  

Today was such a relaxing yet productive Saturday.

Yesterday I prepared this tofu for today’s dinner. 

I used:

-Extra Firm Tofu

-Balsamic Vinegar

-Garlic Powder

-Black Pepper

I pressed out as much water as possible by stacking the cubed tofu, wrapped in paper towels, under a cutting board and cookbooks for about 10 minutes. Then sprinkle them with the above and put in the oven @ 400⁰ for 20 minutes.

 All lined up and ready to go!

 I left a few without the balsamic vinegar, they only had black pepper. 

We started off the day by picking up the baby from Grandma's house. It was so nice to sleep in until 8am. We then headed over to Memorial City Mall to do some serious work clothes shopping. For lunch we headed over to Panera bread. It was a tough decision. Although Panera bread is at the mall and super convenient. Once we were "in town" (from Sugar Land), there were so many other choices available to us that have not made their way here. The contenders were Brothers Pizzeria, authentic NY style Pizza that speaks to Mr. Brooklyn aka Hubby reminds him or his home town and El Rey Taqueria that serves a Cuban and Mexican food menu.  He loves the pizza and knows the owners for years, and I love El Rey that brings back my college days where it was our "treat" to go to those days. With an 18 month old, convenience won! And organic cheese in the grilled cheese sandwich just sealed the deal. I had haf of the Frontega Chicken Sandwich with half of a Greek salad and an apple. The salad was big! I could not finish it. They were both so good.

 Nice and warm!

It surprising to get any naps into the day around here. So I was very grateful for today’s mini power 2 hour nap.  I felt so relaxed and energized!

Dinner

Breaded Tilapia went into the oven while the tortellini cooked on the stove. A side salad and a glass of wine finished off dinner.

And now that the baby sleeps, I will go off to spend some time with my Kindle!

Breakfast

Today it was one hardboiled egg, Starbuck’s Via with soymilk and two small pieces of watermelon.  So good.  The sweet cold watermelon was a perfect way to finish off breakfast.

Leftovers for Lunch

We met up at Pappasito’s Mexican Restaurant last night. I love to order appetizers, that way I get to sample a lot of different things.  I ordered the appetizer that had 4 chicken quesadilla wedges, one hard shell filled with chile con queso, 2 gorditas topped with pork, and four beef fajita nachos.  Look at these leftovers, they are a more than a meal by themselves.

 I was not super impressed with the gorditas. I don’t really like pork and I don't like the texture of shredded meat. But overall the dish was really good. Lots of cheesy goodness.

I came home and saw that a package had arrived! Yay for internet shopping! I found this Built sleeve for my kindle. I love the Built brand.  Durable, easy to clean and so soft.  I could not believe they made kindle covers.  It fits it perfectly! Can’t wait for my other packages to get here.  

 

Breakfast

Today's breakfast was fast and simple. One egg, clementines and iced Starbuck Via with Soymilk.  I like these on-the-go type of breakfast. I drive and eat which means more time with the snooze button.

Lunch

Baking fish is currently one of my favorite recipes. So easy to prepare, you can freeze and then pop into the oven. Too easy. I love the texture of panko, so I end up using it for all my coating needs.

Into the bowl went the panko, parmesan cheese, salt and garlic powder.

 Each fish was coated are ready to be frozen.

 I went to my piano lesson this afternoon.  I had started off with half an hour once a week. But it was too rushed for this pre-pre-pre beginner.  I am now at an hour once a week.  The hour was nice. More time to discuss all the principles and just enough time to get really frustrated with the keys! I have lots and lots of practice to do before I go back next week. I worked late today, so I had just enough time to eat dinner and go to class.  We usually put the baby to sleep at 7 on the dot. But she stayed up five minutes extra so I could put her to sleep! yay!

I prepared a hot cup of Earl's Grey Tea as I caught up on an episode of House Hunters.

 And then I got to crackin!

Simple & Filling Breakfast!

Breakfast

I had one egg, pistachios and a Clementine with Starbuck’s Via. I love hardboiled eggs for breakfast. Although this is one of my first times I think they are a keeper. They are quick and easy and include very little cleanup. Definitely a win-win in my book.  We bought a whole bag of clementines so you will be seeing a lot of them. They are so sweet and juicy!  I received a gift basket for Christmas that had a mug with a pack of Starbuck Via packages. One of them is too strong for me for one cup. So I cut it in half each morning, makes it last longer! It does not substitute my favorite, iced caramel macchiato with soy. But there are times you just don’t want to get out the door just for a coffee run.    

Snacks

Snacks included cantaloupe, oh so ripe and juicy and of course watermelon. My fav! I will take it to the grave how many watermelons I ate in one week, by myself, during the last month of my pregnancy. It was July, in Texas, really I cannot be blamed!      

Lunch

For lunch I went for the vegetarian hot sandwich @ La Madeline. It had roma tomatoes, pesto and hummus. It was good, but I found it had too much bread for my liking and not enough hummus. Sorry no pic.

Dinner

For dinner we had ordered pizza. Possible the best pizza in my area tied evenly with the 1905 Pizza Bar in Sugar Land's Town Square. Also super delish! But they don't deliver my way yet. If you are going to the Town Square to get the Pizza you might as well stop at Olives Martini Bar. The selection is not as great as Swigg's in San Antonio, but they are pretty good. I still look for something close to the banana chocolate martini on their menu. crossing my fingers! The service has ALWAYS been great, super friendly and fast. I have not had their food there yet, but it looks great. By the way if the kitchen is closed by the time you get there, they can always bring you some pizza from 1905 Pizza bar, same owners!

Pepperoni's does not dissapoint. E.V.E.R. They have great service and their delivery is pretty fast! We always order ours with extra sauce and extra well done. The sauce is delicious and the crust is nice and crunchy.

You cannot beat the freshness of their pizza. All of their toppings taste great! Be warned, after tasting this pizza there is no going back. You will love it!

New Year!!!!

   Breakfast

It was nice to be able to sleep in this morning. With an 18 month old sleeping in takes a whole new meaning!  I had an egg with diced tomato on a whole wheat toast with a slice of tomato on the side. A small scoop of hummus and a cup of hot Earl Grey tea.  Delish!

 Lunch

LOVE leftovers!!  No defrosting, no prepping and very little clean up! Yay! I had leftover turkey meatloaf, balsamic roasted tofu and some diced up tomatoes.  A small oh so juicy Clementine for dessert!  I made a cup of Pellegrino with cranberry juice to go with lunch.

As Shrek plays in the background its time for mommy to catch up on her reading. Off I go to read for the next few hours with a hot cup of Earl Grey tea.  

 New Year’s Resolutions

I have never been a big new year’s resolution type of person.   A resolution to me come after a realization that can come at any time of the year.  But that being said, why not!? What’s the harm?

For this year:

·         Eat 95% local and organic. – Our current goal was to be 70% organic. We do most of our shopping at Whole Foods and stock up on all the staples.   But we found ourselves going to the grocery stores that are within a 10 minute walk, makes it convenient to go there to pick up anything we run out of. And you know what happens when you go to the grocery store for just one thing…….!

·         Organize!  - I started this year with the pantry but we still have a way to go in the pantry and in all the other parts of the house.  I have to start getting all our paperwork together and creating some cute ideas I have seen on other blogs. My craft area needs major organizing since I don’t have a designated space.

·         Increase Family  and friend time – I want to not lose focus of what is most important to me.  My family. 

·         Quality of Personal time  - Find activities/events that make the most out of “without baby” time.