Orange You Glad

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas -- with all the snow we have been having lately! :)

This morning, I was with Joe and we ate a nice breakfast together at Panera before we had to depart. I had a whole wheat bagel with butter and yogurt with strawberries. He had a sesame seed bagel with plain cream cheese and tea. We said our goodbye's and I headed back to school.

Right when I got back, I bundled and set out for a run. I ran about 25 minutes. I wanted to go longer, but my shoulder was starting to hurt. I decided it would be best to stop. I think I have been carrying to much weight on my left shoulder (luggage and purses) and it is starting to irritate it. I am going to have to do some cardio that doesn't involve moving my shoulders (biking! yay!).

After my run, I headed to Whole Foods (I have never been and was had some time to explore). I picked up some sharp cheddar cheese and lentil soup.

By the time I got home, I was pretty hungry for lunch. My lunch turned out to be monochromatic! Check it out:



an orange, sharp cheddar with crackers, carrots, and blueberry yogurt with granola from Panera. I also had some homemade sweet potato chips. Orange, Indeed!

Between lunch and dinner I studied for my anthropology test and worked out. I would study, workout, study, workout. I did a little yoga and a ballet inspired workout. I love ballet workouts. I danced for a long time and I like to reminisce with these workouts.

By 7, I had a made a quick dinner. My lentil soup from Whole Foods with a couple of Saltines. It was just OK, don't think I will buy it again. It did the job. For dessert, I had a Choco-peppermint cookie! MMMMM - those things are so good!

Time to get in a little more studying. Then, it's bed time. I have a busy day tomorrow filled with tutoring, testing, and driving (four hours) home!

<3
Kimberly

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

Another relaxing day for me! I woke up at 9 am and had a simple bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats for breakfast.

Then I did ~50 minutes of Yoga - Dave Farmer style (yogadownload.com). I really enjoyed his class. It was relaxing, and yet I was still working hard.

After Yoga, I took a bubble bath. In a Jacuzzi bath tub. With Candles. It was so incredibly relaxing.

Before I knew it, my stomach was growling for lunch. I heated up some leftover Turkey Soup. It's delicious! It has tomatoes, celery, and carrots. Yummmm! Oh, and a piece of pumpernickle swirl bread on the side.



It was hard to make this soup look visually appealing!

Then, I had a craving for baking! I decided to make Chocolate Peppermint Cookies in the spirit of Christmas! I had my Christmas music in the background and started baking.

I adapted the recipe from Giada De Laurentiis. My favorite food network star.



What you'll need:
1 tube refrigerated cookie dough (makes things very easy!)
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate)
1/4 cup heavy cream
crushed peppermint candies

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Bake cookies according to package.
3. Combine 1 cup of chocolate chips and the cream in a small bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. Once the chocolate mixture is set. Spread it on top of each cookie. Then top with crushed peppermint candies.
5. Enjoy!



The cookies turned out lighter than I thought they would be, which I was very pleased about. The peppermint candies add just enough mint flavor, without it being overpowering. You gotta try them!

Joe came over in the afternoon. We were having trouble decided on what to do since it was rainy and cold outside. We decided to do a little shopping. We went to Frugal Backpacker, Diamond Brand, World Market, and Earthfare. I didn't buy anything but I found a lot of things I loved in World Market. I adore that store. I plan on going back within the next few days and picking up a few things.

For dinner, we met my mom and Joe's mom at Marco's Pizza. Joe and I split a caesar salad and pineapple and ham pizza. Deee-licious.

Time for more relaxing! ;)

<3
Kimberly

Time to relax

Wow, this past week I have been so busy with school work that I had to put my blog on the back burner for a few days. I had a presentation, took an exam, and turned in three papers. Whew! I am so glad to be back home now for a few days. I still have to go back to school for just a couple of days to take more exams. BOO!

I never got around to do a Thanksgiving post, either. (That's pretty bad for a food blogger...) I have pictures to share, though!

The Thanksgiving Table



There I am, running the Turkey Trot! I ran ~23:30.



Now to yesterday.

I woke up at 9 am and ate breakfast. It was yogurt, pumpkin, and the last of the organic cascadian farms granola. I am excited to try a new kind of organic granola, any suggestions?

I asked Joe if he wanted to go on a run around 11 am and he did! I changed into running clothes and did a quick martial arts workout before I left. I only had time to do the circuit once and my arms are really sore today! I am so weak! I usually don't do martial arts either, so it was fun to try something new. Afterward, Joe and I went on a forty minute run at the arboretum. I felt so tired during it, but I was glad to be running. I haven't had a chance to run in a week!

We took showers and then had leftover Makaronilaatiko for lunch. What's that you ask? It's a Finnish casserole with macaroni and beef. You eat it with ketchup and it is wonderful! It was the first thing I ever made for Joe, and that was when I fell in love with cooking! I will make it again soon and post the recipe!

We took showers and then just relaxed around the house for a bit. Eventually I had an afternoon snack of blueberry yogurt. Then Joe and I decided to walk to Barnes and Noble and read (it's not far from his house).



I read Blood Done Sign My Name. The last book I have to read for school (yay!). Joe read a Rock and Ice magazine. We shared a cup of hot chocolate. :)

The evening ended with lots of food, friends, and family. :)

<3

I'm still here!

The week before exams is getting the best of me! By Friday (at the latest) I will be able to start posting again!

love and best dishes.
(remind you of anyone?)

Day of Fun

Yesterday was my day to plan a "day of fun" for Joe and I. (Even though, everyday is a fun day for us.) I planned a day of rock climbing with a picnic. Then, a nice dinner at Bier Garden.

Before I picked up Joe I ate Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds for breakfast. I love me some cereal.

Once I arrived at Joe's house I asked him where he preferred to climb - Looking Glass Rock in Pisgah National Forest or Rumbling Bald at Lake Lure. He picked Lake Lure (the place we went two days ago!). And so we went!





After two climbs for Joe and one for me, we ate lunch. I packed a lunch of apples, raspberry yogurts, granola, blue tortilla chips, and a Turkey BLT wrap from Earthfare. It was very satisfying!





After lunch, Joe got in one more climb and we decided to head home and take a nap! There are two kinds of naps. One is the kind where you wake up feeling refreshed. The other kind is where you wake up feeling groggy and worse than before you fell asleep. Unfortunately, we both felt really groggy when we woke up. After a shower, I felt a lot better. Then we headed downtown to Bier Garden for dinner.

We shared nachos as an appetizer. For dinner, Joe had a salmon, brie, panini. I had a burger with pepper jack cheese and sweet potato fries on the side. Joe seemed to really like his. My burger was a little over cooked (and I like mine medium-well!) but the sweet potato fries were really good.





As we walked out of the restaurant we saw a hit and run! Joe happened to get the guys plate number before he drove away. We wrote it down and put it on the victim's car. I can't believe how inconsiderate some people are. It was our good deed for the day! :)

The rest of the night we just relaxed and watched Mad Men.

<3

Kimberly

Hard Times

Today I was VERY excited for breakfast because Joe and I were going to have it at Terrace Cafe. It did not disappoint!

I had a spinach, mushroom, and Gruyere cheese omelet with fresh fruit on the side. I loved the fresh fruit, because it wasn't just the standard honey dew, canteloupe, and grapes. BORING. It had raspberries, blackberries, kiwis, strawberries, pineapple and the boring stuff mixed in with it! So good!



Joe had a "Full Breakfast" with hash browns, sunny side up eggs, pancakes, and bacon. I tried some of his pancakes - they were delicious!



I definitely want to visit again for lunch and dinner!

After breakfast, we headed home. I am a huge homebody and love being home. I am very happy I get to be here a whole week before I have to go back to school.

The moment we got home we decided to go on a 6.5 mile run at the arboretum. It's a loop we do frequently together. The loop is called "Hard Times." There is a 1.5 mile hill within the loop and it is HARD. Hence, hard times. ;) After the hill though is a nice VERY long downhill, which we decided to race down to make it worthwhile. It was a very good run. Only four more days until the Turkey Trot 5k!

The rest of the evening I relaxed at home. My mom made me stuffed shells for dinner. One of my favorites! :) I caught up on school work and now I am off to bed.

<3

Kimberly

Bouldering and Ben Folds

Yesterday was a JAM PACKED day for Joe and I.

We woke up at 6 AM to get ready for our bouldering trip with a Venture group. If you are unfamiliar with Venture, it is a program associated with many different colleges to promote outdoor learning. Students go on different outdoor trips, such as kayaking, hiking, camping, rocking climbing etc. Our bouldering trip was at Lake Lure. Joe was one of the trip leaders yesterday!



Joe with a bouldering pad on his back!

The group left by 7 am and made a quick stop at Bruegger's Bagels for breakfast. I had a cinnamon raisin bagel with plain cream cheese and a fruit cup. It kept me full for a very long time!

I had SO MUCH FUN bouldering. I "topped out" (climbers lingo for making it to the top) of 5 different boulders and 3 others were a bit too challenging. I definitely want to go back and try the hard ones again!



Me bouldering!

Lunch consisted of whole wheat tortillas, Trader Joe's organic creamy peanut butter, jelly, nutella, marshmallow fluff (let's just say I went all out!) hummus, carrots, and granola (or GORP - at least, that is what everyone is calling it.) It wasn't the healthiest lunch but it was definitely tasty!



Joe bouldering!



It was a beautiful day!



Foggy.

We bouldered until 4 and then headed out for dinner and then the drive home. Dinner was not that great, either. It was a mediocre BBQ place and I didn't have much of an appetite to eat it.

We made it back to campus by 7:30 and rushed to get ready for the Ben Fold's concert (which started at 8)!! We made it there just in time. The opening singer announced, "Up next is Ben Fold's" right when we walked into the door. The concert was great. He played a lot of my favorite songs.



Made it just in time! I didn't even have time to blow dry my hair.



Can you find Ben Folds? :)



One of my favorite songs of his! :)

By the end of the concert we were exhausted and went straight to sleep!