Yesterday I felt like I was kicking ass and taking names.  I crossed a bunch of things off of my To Do list.  I ran errands.  I took a spin class and went out to dinner with friends.

Today was a completely different story…

After running yesterday’s errands that forced me to crisscross my Boston neighborhood and a strenuous spin class, I ordered a chicken sandwich from b.good.

I had leftover frozen yogurt for dessert.  Miles waited patiently so he could lick the bowl when I finished.

I went out to dinner at Pops Restaurant.

I enjoyed a glass of Gruener Veltiner while sitting at the bar, waiting for my dinner to arrive.

I ordered Butternut Squash ravioli with goat cheese beignets.  I had ordered this before and loved it so I knew it was a wise dinner decision.

My great day ended when I watched the latest episode of the Bachelor and then read blogs while relaxing in bed.

I woke up early this morning and knew something was a little off.

Despite the lack of food in my stomach, I was sick for hours.  Once I was able to leave the bathroom, I spent my day sleeping on the couch, sipping on lemonade, and trying to take a few bites of a bowl of oatmeal.  Miserable!

I was barely able to put a dent in this huge bowl of oatmeal.

The snow continued to fall so it was nice to stay warm inside.

Jared bought some tomato vegetable soup for me to eat for dinner.  I appreciate his care and concern during my crazy sickness, including putting blankets on my so I could sleep on the couch and placing a large bowl beside me just in case.

Oh what a difference a day makes!  I can’t wait until tomorrow when I’m feeling back to normal.  Fingers crossed.

Chia seeds aren’t a new phenomenon in the healthy living world.  I can’t believe it’s taken such a long time for me to give them a try.

Chia seeds can be added to smoothies, salad, or stir fries.  Many healthy living bloggers add them to yogurt or oatmeal.  I decided to sprinkle them on top of my lunchtime salad.

Some Facts about Chia Seeds:

• They’re a vegetarian source of omega fatty acids.
• They’re easily digestible form of protein.
• They contain minerals, vitamins, and soluble fiber.
• They also contain natural antioxidants.
• They’re a good source of dietary fiber.

I scarfed down my salad and didn’t even notice if the Chia Seeds added a unique flavor or texture to my meal.  Ohh well.  At least I can conclude that while Chia Seeds may not be an exciting food, they’re healthy and offer great benefits.  Definitely worth adding a tablespoon or two whenever I make a smoothie or salad.

Whenever I find a non-seafood item that contains omega fatty acids, I’m on board.  I know that eating fish or taking fish oil pills has positive effects on the body.  I don’t eat seafood and find that fish oil pill are also pretty nasty.  I’m often nervous that I’m not eating enough omega fatty acids.  Good thing I have an 8 oz. bag of raw Chia Seeds!

*Do you eat Chia Seeds?*

Since I finished my wooden crate of Clementines, I’ve been feeling sad about the lack of fruit in my life.  I eat fresh fruits and vegetables all summer, but tend to chow down on carbs and chocolate during the winter.

After a tasty but less than satisfying vegetable and goat cheese sandwich for lunch, I knew I had to make a Super Smoothie to fill my belly and get some extra nutrients.  My body was screaming its cravings for fruit, vitamins, minerals…the good stuff!

Thank you to Navitas Naturals for supplying the Superfood supplements.  I received a package over a month ago, but I’m just getting around to using everything.

My smoothie contained:

• 1 frozen banana
• 1 1/2 cups of frozen fruit (tropical blend)
• 2/3 cup of POM Wonderful juice
• 1 tablespoon of Lucuma Powder from Navitas Naturals
• 1/2 teaspoon of Wheat Grass from Navitas Naturals
• 3 ice cubes

What’s with all the powdery stuff?

Lucuma Powder

Lucuma, found in Peru, Chile, and Ecuador, is an alternative sweetener.  It contains lots of great minerals and vitamins including antioxidants, carotenes and vitamin B3.  The Navitas Lucuma Powder is certified organic, kosher, vegan, and raw.  Navitas recommends using this powder to sweeten milkshakes and smoothies, desserts, cakes, pies, yogurt, and granola.

Organic Freeze Dried Wheatgrass Powder

Wheatgrass is great for removing toxins from the body and creating healthy energy.  My Navitas brand wheatgrass is made from fresh wheatgrass juice that is cold temperature dried for optimal nutrition.  Wheatgrass is known to contain over 70 minerals and vitamins, live enzymes, amino acids, and proteins.  Wheatgrass is also alkaline forming and gluten-free.  While this powder can be mixed with a small serving of water to be consumed, I just can’t bring myself to drink that.  I prefer to mix it into smoothies to mask the taste but reap the nutritional benefits.

*Do you eat less fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter months?*

Yesterday it snowed.  A lot.

I ate pizza.  A lot.  I had pizza for lunch and then leftovers for dinner!

It was a good day!

When I woke up yesterday morning, I wasn’t surprised to see snow on the ground.  The news had been forecasting the storm for days.  I spent my morning holed up at home.  Cleaning, blogging, letting Miles in and out so he could play in the winter wonderland outside.  By lunchtime, I was going stir crazy.  I ventured out for pizza at Picco.

I got home from lunch and didn’t even bother to take my boots off.  I got the dog harnessed and leashed.  The two of us ventured on a walk through the Gardens and the Common to my brother’s apartment in Beacon Hill.

Boston’s streets were a mess and most of the sidewalks weren’t shoveled.

The 1.6 mile walk to my brother’s apartment was going to be a challenge.  I was beginning to second guess my decision to brave the storm.

Miles’ enthusiasm kept me going.  That dog was thrilled to be out and about.  He hopped, sniffed, frolicked, ate snow, and found places to roll around.

Copley Square was deserted, except for a news crew reporting from the middle of the storm.  I loved the calm and quiet.  Trinity Church looked beautiful.

Over in the Gardens, things were not as serene.  People were frolicking in the storm, making snow angels on the empty Swan Pond, taking photos, and building snowmen.

I was carrying my point and shoot camera in my pocket.  So as Miles and I stomped through the snow, I was capturing scenic shots.

With so many people off from work and school, the Common was crowded with sledders and snowball fights.

As Miles and I made our way up Beacon Hill, our time in the snow was becoming a little less fun.  We were cold and tired and just wanted to reach our destination.

“Are we there yet?  I don’t wanna walk anymore!” Miles’ poor corgi legs needed a break.

I was so happy to warm up and dry off in my brother’s apartment.  Miles and I stayed for an hour and then it was time to go back out in the snow.  I wanted to get home to my apartment before it was too cold and dark outside.

I took an easier route home: Charles Street, the Gardens, and then back into my South End neighborhood.

It was COLD, windy, and the snow was still falling.  Poor Miles was limping because the harsh salt on the sidewalk was hurting his paws.  I carried him for a few blocks until he got too heavy.

I was thrilled when I made it back to my apartment and shut the front door, leaving the storm outside and returning to my nest of blankets on the couch.

Walking through the snow will work up an appetite.  I had 3 small slices of leftover pizza that I reheated for dinner.

Plus a small spinach salad with fresh mozzarella.

See, when I told you that my day was filled with a lot of snow and a lot of pizza, I wasn’t lying.  And when I told you that it was a good day, I was also telling the truth!

*Did you have a good day yesterday?  What about today???*

I fell in love with NYC’s Le Pain Quotidien.  In fact, during my 3 day trip, I ate there twice.

One giant cup of Cafe au Lait please!

I was also obsessed with the Tartines, petite open faced sandwiches that made the most delicious and filling lunches both times I dined.

Natalie enjoyed the Ricotta tartine; she said it was really delicious.  I had the chicken salad tartine special and this turkey tartine topped with tomatoes, sprouts, and avocados.  Both were tasty!

Jesse ordered a cup of Belgian Hot Chocolate.

He received a cup of frothed milk and a small pitcher of melted chocolate to create his customized drink.

Look at the pretty design!  I didn’t try a sip, but he claimed it was really good.

Le Pain Quotidien was a great spot to grab a quick and affordable meal.  Plus the cozy French decor and communal table made it a great place to escape from the cold outside.

When I’m back in New York, I’ll probably go back to grab a giant cup of Cafe au Lait.

And I’ll probably order a yummy tartine too.

Once we had unpacked and settled in, our new resident New Yorker Jesse suggested lunch at Eataly.

I was in heaven!  Eataly combines dining and grocery shopping in one crazy, hectic, madhouse location.  We decided to eat at the pizza and pasta section.  During the 20 minute wait for a table, I wandered around and snapped photos.

Each of Eataly’s mini-restaurants serves a limited menu.  We chose the Pizza/Pasta restaurant.  I made sure the group knew that I was NOT interested in the seafood restaurant.  No fish for this girl!

Our server told us that there’s sometimes a line to get inside the Eataly buidling…followed by an additional 2-3 hour wait to dine at one of the restaurants.  Thank goodness it wasn’t that crowded while we were there!

Pasta in all shapes and sizes!

Mario Batali is one of Eataly’s partners.  I’d love to try his sauces.  Jesse was raving about them and plans to return to buy several jars.

I wish I could’ve bought some of Eataly’s fresh foods and created a dinner party for my friends.  They had so many fun Italian items for sale.

Shop til you drop!

It killed me to stand around and wait for lunch RIGHT in front of the racks of freshly baked bread.  My stomach was growling!

I totally caught myself drooling.

Cheese please!

Even though the menu was small, Natalie and I couldn’t decide what to order.  We decided to split our meals.  Good call cuz that way we’d get to try more.

The pizza was paper thin but surprisingly doughy, and amazingly delicious!  We ordered the simple Margarita style.  I love basil and fresh mozzarella.  Heaven!

Nat and I also shared some lasagna.  It was made with pork, veal, and beef.  The nooodles were buttery and the lasagna tasted very rich.  I was surprised that it didn’t contain very much red sauce.  Tasty, but the pizza was the clear favorite.

I wish Jesse would’ve given us girls more time to explore Eataly.

Can I go back to Eataly again soon?  Next time I’m in NYC, I’m going to bring an empty suitcase so I can bring jars of sauce and bags of pasta back to Boston!

When I finally rolled out of bed (I slept A LOT later than everyone else in the house), I had a cup of coffee and a raisin bagel.

I spent some time repacking and organizing my crap stuff that I spread all around Jared’s family’s formal living room.

Nothing beats curling up with a good book!

I spent some time reading Amy Tan’s The Bonesetter’s Daughter.  It wasn’t long before my eyes were heavy and a nap was necessary.

Jared’s parents grabbed burgers for lunch.

Ooo, crinkle cut fries!

Once my greasy cheeseburger digested, I tried to accomplish an at-home workout.

Going for time rather than reps, I made a list of several exercises and then performed each one for a minute.  I went through the circuit twice.  My workout included:

• Squats
• Front Lifts (holding a medium exercise ball)
• Push Ups
• Crunches
• Plank
• Jog in place
• (a few other random exercises that I can’t remember)

Jared and I met his HS buddy for dinner at the Owl House.  It’s a casual spot in Rochester that offers many vegetarian and gluten-free menu options.

I was obsessed with this cute owl graphic!

We waited 30 minutes for a table.  It was a comfortable and easy wait; there were plenty of seats at the bar.

I enjoyed a glass of “Irony” Pinot Noir while we waited.

Once we were seated, the 3 of us split an appetizer.  We ordered Cigarillos, buffalo spiced chicken & cheddar, wrapped in flour tortillas, fried crisp, and served with Bleu Cheese.  This was also available with vegan substitutes.

After a very heavy lunch, I wanted to keep my dinner on the simple side.  I ordered the Matty’s Moustache  sandwich: warm Brie, apple, pear, red onion, and baby arugula on grilled sourdough bread.  I had field greens on the side.

Jared and I made a pit stop at Wegman’s.  Even though I had only spent one day in Rochester, Jared was hoping I’d been converted and would cheer for the local teams.  Sorry Buffalo Bills and Sabres.  I still love the Patriots and the Bruins. 

We made plans to spend the evening relaxing in the hot tub with a few friends.

I was a little nervous to go outside in my bathing suit.  Especially with so much snow surrounding the hot tub!

Yikes!  Running across the snow covered deck was COLD.

Once I made it in the hot tub, I was content.  The water was warm and soothing. I had a glass of red wine and good company.  The ultimate relaxation – until I had to leave the hot tub to run back inside.

*So what do you think, was I healthy or unhealthy?*

I don’t think I made the best food decisions, but it could’ve been worse.  I enjoyed a few glasses of wine, but didn’t over imbibe.  I spent a lot of time focused on rest and relaxation.  But I also spent 20 minutes exercising and getting the best workout possible given my surroundings.  I can’t live every day this; that wouldn’t be healthy.  But since I’m still on Christmas Vacation, I’d say I did ok.

Merry Christmas!

Did I look fun and festive for today’s Jingle Bell Run?  I thought so, and gave my outfit 2 thumbs up.  A clip and 5 bobby pins meant that giant bow wasn’t going anywhere while I was running around.

A group of my friends and I ventured to Somerville this morning for the Jingle Bell Run, a 5K race with an overwhelming amount of holiday spirit.

Is that Santa and his reindeer?!?!

Yup!  The inflatable reindeer costumes were hysterical!  This group had handlers to help them run in sync and in a straight line through the course.  I couldn’t stop laughing when Rudolph led the team to the lines for the Porta-Potties.

Our group split up when we first arrived: Jared and I had to pick up our bibs and the rest went to our buddy’s office nearby to drop off our coats and bags.  (I was really grateful to have somewhere safe to keep our stuff…and a cozy jacket to wear when I finished running.)

Even though I was cranky because my Garmin had a meltdown, I was excited to start the race.  It was chilly and I needed to run to warm up.

There was lots of holiday spirit at the starting line!

I couldn’t get enough of those inflatable reindeer.

I saw lots of Santas, striped socks, a Christmas dog…even a Holiday Hotdog, but he’s not in this photo.

The Jingle Bell Run sold out a few weeks ago.

Look at the crowds of people lined up for the race!

Ready-set-GO!

I didn’t snap any photos during the race.  I was too busy chasing Jared.  He thought he could run this 5K in 24 minutes.  Um, nope.  Maybe next race Jared!  Two of my run club friends finished in 20 minutes.  They’re the fastest girls I know!  I was asking them for tips and motivation to increase my speed.

I was so busy smiling at a corgi dog near the finish line that I forgot to look up to see my finish time.  Jared finished after me, coming in around 27 minutes, so I know I was a little faster than that.  I’m still waiting for the official results.

All of the bars in Davis Square were packed.  There were lines at the doors and people were being let in one at a time.  We managed to get into Johnny D’s and I enjoyed a post-race Blue Moon beer.

Running in costume is fun, but drinking in costume is even better. 

I ordered a quick lunch from b.good.  I had a cup of Butternut Squash soup and a chicken sandwich topped with tomatoes, avocado, and salsa.

After a weekend that had been filled with parties and holiday prep work, I really needed an afternoon nap.  I crashed for a few hours and woke up starving.

What do you do for dinner when you’re half-asleep and insanely hungry?  Order pizza!

Gotta stick with my usual order from the Upper Crust: mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. 

I’d rather read blogs than put a lot of effort into tonight’s post.

Here are some fun food photos that I haven’t gotten around to uploading until now!

I like to make sure that all of my meals are made with LOVE.

This year Jared and I opted to spend Thanksgiving with our very good friends.  They’re just as important as the members of our families!

Matt and Natalie hosted a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at their house in South Boston.  I was very thankful that Jared and I didn’t have to travel far to get there, just an easy 5 minute cab ride.

Turkey butt!

Matt is an expert at deep frying.  He purchased 2 turkeys and several pounds of potatoes and sweet potatoes for some frying fun.  As part of his deep frying prep work, Matt injected the turkeys with BBQ sauce and seasoned the outside with several spices.

No one could contain Weber’s Thanksgiving excitement!

How many people does it take to deep fry a turkey?

Just one!  But it was so much fun to watch and smelled so delicious.

It took 45 minutes for the first turkey to fry.

Both the kitchen and the backyard were filled with the wonderful smells of Thanksgiving dinner.  I couldn’t find a place to escape the delicious aroma while I waited for the food.  My stomach was growling!

We had a bread bowl filled with Spinach and Artichoke Dip to help keep everyone quiet until dinner.

I loved Natalie’s table decorations!  She worked hard to creative a fun and festive atmosphere.

The picture perfect hostess!

I was SO excited to sit down for dinner.

Deep fried turkey, brisket, stuffing, carrots, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potato fries, corn bread…  I overloaded my plate.  By the time I finished, I knew I couldn’t go back for seconds if I wanted to save room for dessert.

I had baked Cake Cookies to contribute to the dessert spread.

As much as my heart belonged to my cookies, I couldn’t pass up a piece of Pecan Pumpkin Cake.  Yum!

There were lots of dessert choices and my cookies didn’t appear to be a big hit.  Luckily I was able to bring the leftovers to my parents’ house.  They’ve been chowing on my Cake Cookies all weekend, raising my baking self-esteem. 

Poor Matt and Natalie!  Their kitchen was filled with dirty dishes.  But that’s a sure sign of a successful Thanksgiving dinner, right?

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  I love the food!  And I love spending time with those I hold near and dear to my heart.  (Plus Thanksgiving kicks off my holiday season and fills me with so much excitement for the month ahead!)