I’ve had a productive and successful morning – including a wonderful, fulfilling lunch.
After studying Foodservice on the couch with tea, Pandora.com’s Piano Solo station, and candles, I headed out for the gym. I was still frozen (our indoor thermostat read 63 degrees when I left) but surprisingly it was warmer outside! Guess it was the sun. I bundled up in sweats and gloves (I looked pretty ridicilous on my bike!) but I made it to the gym and quickly warmed up on the ET. After 45 minutes or so I moved to the weigh area and did a round of lifting, then biked home. I am loving the new route we found to get to the gym. It’s through a neighborhood so we can ride safely in the street and the scenery is prettier. And there is one less street to cross, also making it safer. It’s changed my perception of going to the gym! If you drive to yours, try taking a prettier (if a little longer) route and see if it makes it easier to go. I think the hardest part about exercise is overcoming the mental obstacles to getting there. 1) Getting dressed 2) Transportation. If you can solve those, you’re golden.
Once home, showered + dressed, I reheated a bunch of leftovers and had a dinner-quality lunch. The husband brought home some roasted veggies they were demoing at EarthFare yesterday – I jumped with joy. I had them with one of the extra brown rice portions I made yesterday, which I reheated with a tbsp of water, Craisins and garam masala. All topped with some almonds.
I also was excited to dip into the cranberry sauce! Over half a cup of TJ’s Euro yogurt with more almonds –
Lastly, I had one of the tiny jalapeno mini muffins that also arrived home from an EarthFare demo –
Lunch inspiration:
With tea –
There is no doubt that my efforts to eat this lunch elegantly influenced my satisfaction when I was finished. No need for snacking seconds!
Return of the Key
It’s a MIRACLE! We have two house keys that we take on walks and stuff:
“The purple key“ and “The orange key”
Well the orange key has been missing for MONTHS. It happened sometime around spring break. We checked all of our pockets and it had completely disappeared.
Well this morning he returned!! He was in our winter gear basket – scarves, gloves, etc. Welcome home orange key!
I am now going to enjoy the last day of Fall Break with a little shopping. In an effort to spend as little actual money as possible, I am going to all the stores where I have gift cards and coupons and plan to only buy things we actually need. I found an old Linens and Things gift card in our coupon/card basket and was thrilled to find a $40 balance when I called in!! I also have free coupons for it being my birthday month at Aveda and Banana Republic. Maybe I can find something on super sale too 🙂 Here’s my loot:
See ya for dinner!
caitlin says
im jealous of your shopping!!! wish i could shop shop shop!
Meg says
Linens & Things just filed for bankruptcy and stores are closing fast – you should check your local store to make sure you don’t lose your money. My local LNT isn’t accepting gift cards anymore….
Good luck and happy shopping!
🙂
Justy2003 says
What a bargain shopper! Hope you find some cute stuff! 😀
Meghann says
I do the same thing! I let all of those discount cards collect in my wallet and then splurge on a big shopping trip where I can use all of them at once and feel like I am getting alot of stuff! Have fun shopping 🙂
Miss Tiffie says
That first photograph is so lovely!!! I’m totally inspired to make my own cranberry sauce tonite now…
Ally says
Hope you have fun shopping Kath!!
Aartee says
Garam Masala is awesome esp in traditional Indian soups…perfect to warm you up on a cold winter day!
Biz says
Nice loot! Hurry before Linens and Things closes by you!
Mine already closed before I had a chance to get any good deals.
Can’t wait to make your cranberry sauce! I just bought some Fage at Trader Joe’s (haven’t had it in a month!) so I am doing a happy dance!
Beadie says
Welcome home orange key!
Have fun shopping!
magpie says
Beautiful lunch! I just bought Real Simple yesterday and I’m psyched to read it 🙂
DaisyMay says
Does anyone have any good chicken enchilada recipes?
VeggieGirl says
Love the lunch set-up 🙂
Enjoy shopping!!!
Andrea says
You better use your Linens ‘N’ Things GC soon – they are going out of business up here in Oregon – don’t know about NC.
Your lunch looks fab as always.
Bridget says
I was going to warn about LNT too…I hope that yours is still open and has awesome going-out-of-business deals!!
Kate says
Those bowls are absolutely amazing. Where are they from? By the way, you have the most diverse set of dishware I have ever seen. Love it.
zestycook says
Nice bowls! Hope you have funs shopping! I love the cranberry sauce as well 🙂
zesty
amy says
Seriously Kath, you make everything in life seem classy – the gym, shopping, a simple lunch, even doing homework with piano music and a lit candle!
I need to learn a lesson or two from you; it would make the everyday moments become more fulfilling, and more memorable. How do you scarf down a bunch of junk when you’re actually sitting at the table with a wine glass full of water and beautiful candles?
Bravo!
amy says
I think I worded that funny; I wasn’t saying that you eat junk. I’m saying it would make it hard to eat junk when eating the way you do; your healthy meals fit in. Cheetos and fried chicken would seem gloriously out of place!
Andrea says
haha i love the way you lined up the three circles for your lunch! is that the way you proceeded to eat them!? 😉
brown rice + craisins is one of the best combos ever! yum your lunch rocks!
coco says
lovely lunch, lovely bowls and lovely keys!!!
Tina says
Hey, Mal and I have no plans at all this weekend. How about you and Matt hop on a plane and come visit us? We’ll celebrate your b-day with wine and cake? Hmmmm? I know you want to! 🙂
Cat says
Lunch looks so fantastic. I love cranberry season… it makes me start thinking of Thanksgiving!! I’m going to try you’re “different perception” approach to the gym today… hope I actually get my workout in!!
NJMOM says
I went to Linens & Things yesterday. No coupons and no gift cards allowed. They are only giving 10-20%. No great deals.
Kelly says
I love finding so many gift cards. That reminds me that somewhere I still have a $50 borders gift card as well as two $100 Williams-Sonoma gift cards (those I am saving up for either a wine fridge or juicer).
Christin S says
Have fun shopping Kath!! I used to work for Aveda, and the birthday gift is awesome! They take you through an aroma-sensory journey, you choose your own signature aroma, and they make it into a lotion, salt scrup, bath gel, or perfume! I would go with the salt scrub, from my own personal experience…#4 is my favorite aroma! I’ll be interested to see which one you pick 🙂
Erin says
Aak! I have a key, too!! I usually tie it into my shoelace haha!!
~Erin @ “Vegan & the City”
Kath says
Kate ,
I think they are Bobby Flay’s line. I got them at Kohl’s like 60% off recently. I have lots of bowls – but only 2 of each set so it’s not really as many as you think!
amy ,
Thanks 🙂
Tina ,
I can’t because we’re hosting a PAR-TAY this weekend. So if you and Mal want to hop on a plane…you’re invited!
Christin S,
I didn’t make it to Aveda today, but I can’t wait to create the product!
Kath
Ashley says
Hey! I just wanted to tell you that Linens N Things is closing down. I work at one in Rockwall, TX, and they’re closing the end of December. It’s a nationwide thing though. I don’t know how far it is yet. Just wanted to let you know.
Ruby Red Vegan says
The key pictures are so cute! I love when you write about silly cute things like that.
That lunch looks incredible! Garam masala is sooo good. I think you have inspired a lunch in my near future with the almond + dried fruit + garam masala + rice + orange autumn veggie picture! And the jalapeno muffin is so wee and adorable!