I got something fun in the mail the other day!
As part of the Foodbuzz tastemaker program, I received a free foodzie tasting box to sample.
Upon first opening the box, there were definitely lots of goodies noticeable.
I liked the info sheet showing where all the foods came from. I’m going to work my way through them all, but here’s a sneak peek:
Herbed sea salts
Biscotti
Shortbread cookies with Dulce de Leche
dried pineapples
Iced tea
And SeaSnax.
I decided to check out the SeaSnax sample first. I really liked the attractive packaging and that the food was all natural.
Inside were several sheets of roasted seaweed, lightly salted.
I’ve seen seaweed snacks at Earthfare before and thought about trying them. I believe seaweed is a rather popular snack food in many Asian countries. I think they’re on to something, because from what I’ve read, seaweed is good for you. These chips were almost like kale chips to me – light, feathery, flimsy but crisp. They were salted nicely. They had a slightly fishy flavor, but if you’re used to eating seaweed in sushi or miso soup, it’s nothing you wouldn’t be used to.
I thought these snacks were fun to eat!
For lunch I enjoyed some frozen and re-heated been and veggie soup
(Tuscan style)
And since I haven’t had one in awhile – a donut from a local bakery! Hubby picked this up for me!
He also made a fabulous dinner AND photographed the meal for me as I was running late from Zumba. It’s a bison steak with grilled potato wedges and steamed broccoli.
For dessert, we tried this Trader Joe’s find.
Not healthy at all, but very tasty Apple Blossoms. Yum!
What do you think about seaweed snacks – would you try it?
I had another 12 hour away day today. I left the house around 9am and got back just after 9pm. Phew! Doesn’t being away from the house that long make for the longest day?! Not to mention I was at the office till almost 7pm.
But let’s start with breakfast…
I broke out an old favorite – Power Toast!
This toast was on Dakota with Maranatha Peanut Butter, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds.
I forgot how easy, fast, delicious, and nutritious this stuff is!
I celebrated Starbucks Monday sans makeup but with a Pumpkin Spice Latte…this time with only 2 pumps (they put 3 in a tall!).
And I think I may have found another culprit to the too-sweet drink before…the whipped cream! I didn’t realize the pumpkin spice lattes had whipped cream on them. Whoops!
Still, by reducing the pumps by one, it made a huge difference!
Lunch was fabulous!
First up, some fresh veg – cucumber, tomatoes from my garden, organic carrots with hummus leftover from my cookout the other night.
Also making an appearance leftover from my cookout was one of those fabulous vegan quinoa burgers….man these things are good! I know, I need to share the recipe, but give a girl a break? 
Remember how I was away from the house for 12 hours today? Makes it hard to type recipes up.
Lunch #2 was a salad with baby spinach, cucumber, carrots and tomatoes….plus sunflower seeds. I used a new dressing from Trader Joe’s – red wine vinaigrette. I must say…I don’t like to say negative stuff much, but that salad dressing was terrible. It just tasted like flavorless oil.
For a snack, I tried something new that I found at Whole Foods – Three Sisters Cinnamon & Apples Oatmeal.
I specifically bought this product to keep at my desk at work. It’s good for busy people like me to have healthy snacks readily available, so you don’t get stuck hitting up the vending machine.
Box info.
Nutrition…and check out that ingredient list! Nice and readable.
The oatmeal heated up quite nicely and I loved how you could even use the pouch to measure the water (they have a fill-to-this-line mark on the package). So easy and convenient! I only wish I had some milk at the office to stir in.
The oats were really tasty – I loved the chewy apple pieces. The flavor was sweet but not too sweet. I really enjoyed it.
***
So, as I was saying before, I stayed at the office till just before 7pm today…phew! Long day!
My long work day meant I missed zumba, so I decided to go shopping in hopes of finding great stuff to wear to the Lady Gaga concert this weekend! So excited!
Any guesses what’s in the bags?
While we’re on the topic of Lady Gaga…I’m going to declare this week Lady Gaga Week!
Here’s how I plan to celebrate Lady Gaga Week:
- Listen to my Lady Gaga Smart Playlist all week (at home, in the car, at work, etc.) – I may not listen to any other music this week…lol
- Wear non-pant outfits…as in skirts (don’t think the whole leotard thing would fly at the office) since Lady Gaga doesn’t like pants
- Don’t give a flying f what people think (this one will be hard for me, but I’ll try to channel my inner Gaga)
I may be adding to the list as I think of things.
Hubby was a doll and had dinner almost done by the time I fiiinally got home.
We had spaghetti with meat sauce over whole wheat pasta, plus steamed broccoli with a real butter drizzle. It was super good and so great to be able to eat so soon after getting home from a long day.
Just because you’re not going to the concert doesn’t meant you can’t be festive this week…How will you celebrate Lady Gaga Week?
Happy Monday all!
Breakfast was an amazing bowl of oats!
I swear when I haven’t had my oat fix in awhile I start craving it!
Today I made oatmeal for me and hubby: Banana Chocolate Oats.
Sounds decadent but the bananas were my only sweetener. I did sprinkle a lil sugar in hubby’s because he likes his sweeter.
In the bowl: oats, milk, water, cocoa powder, sliced banana, walnuts, cacao nibs, flaxseed meal.
Breakfast was enhanced by today’s brew: the Don Pablo coffee we picked up at Costco over the weekend. I really enjoyed the smooth coffee flavor – it’s just the way I like my breakfast coffee (kind of reminds me of Fresh Market Breakfast Blend). Glad we picked this up! (and remember to stay tuned for a free coffee contest! I’ll let you know once I hear back from Don Pablo himself!)
Bailey tried to tell hubby when he was ready for breakfast today by placing his food bowl on hubby’s foot. Subtle, Bailey…subtle. 
Did anyone celebrate Starbucks Monday with me?!
I had a grande vanilla soy latte!
I depended on the freezer for my eats today.
You guys know I don’t really like frozen meals, but if I’m going to have one, the Organic Bistro ones are pretty good. I enjoyed this savory turkey flavor – esp the mushroom sauce. The green beans weren’t too mushy either. Not to mention it came with quinoa (I’m a big fan of quinoa)! Neat, no?!
Snack = TJ’s frozen steel cut oats. Kind of weird to 1. have oatmeal twice in one day and 2. have oatmeal without toppings. It was pretty good as is.
Lunch #2 = romaine salad with green pepper, celery and cherry tomatoes. Plus sunflower seeds, hemp seeds and balsamic vinaigrette.
Pre-workout snack = Cherry Pie Larabar. Well…just half. I ate the other half post-workout today.
***
Post work I had a double header of ZUMBA!
I struggled a bit energy wise in class one.
Between classes I downed this Vita Coco coconut water.
I think the coconut water really gave me an energy boost! I felt more energized during the second class (yes! after I already worked out for an hour!).
Thank you coconut water!
Hubby actually signed up for our Costco account today (yay!) so I had him pick up more coconut water. It’s such a good deal there and I think I’m only going to be drinking more and more of this stuff!
He also got me some rice milk and some of those brown rice chips (addicting!), which I munched on pre-dinner.
And since I didn’t get home till close to 9pm (I’m such a chatty Cathy post workout!), I opted for some Lemony Lentil soup (heated stovetop from frozen).
What’s your favorite way to hydrate during your workouts?
Hiyas from the Chic house!
My basil plants are finally growing back after being attached by slugs. I managed to harvest both some green and purple basil leaves. Woohoo!
I used them in lunch today.
Leftover cooked pasta = pasta salad lunch.
I added chopped spinach, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, basil…
…plus a balsamic vinaigrette.
Plus toasted pine nuts on top. Yum!
Guess what I got today?
My zumba instructor gear! I got my sign in sheets, class cards, and all that fun junk.
My first class starts next Tuesday! Can’t wait! 
Lookie what I tried for a pre-workout snack today! A carrot cake Larabar (*)!
The bar looked just like the others and had a similar texture. I liked the chewy bites of what I presumed to be carrots.
I thought the flavor was not quite as spot-on as some others they have. It didn’t quite taste like carrot cake to me. It had a lot of spice and just didn’t remind me as much of the flavor as some others do. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the bar, I just didn’t think it tasted like “carrot cake.”
***
Post work I was so excited to go back to ZUMBA! It had been almost a week. I expected it to be a bit rough since I hadn’t done it in awhile and it was but I pushed through and felt amazing and strong afterwards!
I worked up a real appetite for dinner tonight!
***
We had plans to go out to Brixx with Kath + Matt tonight. We have a lot of events planned with them since it’s their last weekend in town! 
I started with a sampler – 420, Starhill Love, spaten, hoppyyum (that’s the best I can remember the names…lol).
Hubby and I split bruschetta over conversation with Kath and Michelle.
Also chatted with Kelly, but I forgot to get photos of everyone tonight!
Hubby and I also split a pizza – 1/2 BBQ Chicken and 1/2 Chicken Caprese on a whole wheat crust.
Both flavors were really good but I still love the BBQ chicken the best.
Post dinner we went in search of dessert.
I got a single scoop of half baked froyo. Woohoo, they actually let me have a kid’s size this time!
Post dinner, I hit up Ben + Jerry’s with Katie, Stew, Rachel, and hubby.
Such fun!
Lookie what else came in today! My business cards!!
The front.
The back. Look familiar? I just ate this cherry almond french toast recently!
You likey?
Remember to check out my OpenSky coupons (click) for discounts on organic body butter, Galaxy Granola and other goodies!
