I had so much going on before work yesterday! I had a blog reader ask how I could make granola before work and I have a secret. Well, it only takes less than 5 minutes to mix everything together and 30 minutes to bake. I make sure that I leave myself at least 20 minutes before leaving for the pan to cool slightly. Then I take it to work on the pan, put it on my back seat, roll down the window and it completely cools by the time I get to work. It’s best when its completely cooled before breaking it into pieces.
I actually wasn’t very hungry for breakfast yesterday, so I had a mango Chobani and 1/2 a cup of granola.
For lunch I had on our Friday grill out menu Coney Island hotdogs, orzo salad and chips. Around 11:30 I started to prep – and you have to give me props because I chopped up white onions for my co-workers. Apparently they all love onions!
I knew storms were coming, so I quickly got the grill going – about 15 minutes after I shut off the grill, it was a major downpour.
The recipe for the coney sauce came from here. The only thing I left out was the onions. Duh. I figured out the calories to be 61 calories per two tablespoons, which is plenty. It has a nice mustardy kick to it.
The orzo salad recipe I got from here – (well, tastespotting is down, so I will have to link to it later). I did adapt it though:
Summer Orzo Salad
- makes 8, 3/4 cup servings
- 201 calories, 2.6 fat, 38 carbs, 2.8 fiber and 6.5 protein
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked orzo (from 1.5 cups dry), cooled
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- juice from one orange
- zest from one orange
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 jarred roasted red peppers, chopped
- 1 cup corn – I cut off corn from 3 cobs I grilled the night before
- 1/2 teaspoon Greek seasoning
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
I would have loved to add chopped jalapeno to kick it up, but everyone loved this. They also loved these chips! #sodidI
On my drive home I am always flipping the XM channels – I stopped on Britney Sprears because it reminds me of my step daughter-in-law – she puffy hearts Britney. I sent her a text of this picture saying “jamming to Britney!” She replied “Yay!” And it was 1999 Britney to boot!
I think its fair to say that when you move to a new town, once you get the lay of the land, one of the first things you try to do is find a good Chinese food place. We found one in Barrington, can’t even remember the name of it, but the first several times it was stunning. Then the quality started to dip, but we kind of went with it. Until the last time we went, Tony ordered something with beef and it was completely raw. Not too long afterwards, the place went out of business and now it’s a realtors office.
There is place in Fox River Grove that has turned over at least 4 times since we’ve lived here the past 13 years. But really, all they did was change the name, the menu was practically the same and the food was mediocre.
So a couple weeks ago, I was driving home and yet another sign said “Now Open – Yummy Asian Bistro.” In the same damn location. I looked it up yesterday, and of three yelp reviews, all were very positive. Huh. I suggested to Tony that I bring some home, sent him the link to the menu, and he chose the chicken lo mein.
Me? I love, love, Tom Yum soup. And after the storms passed through the temps were about 68 degrees, so I ended up getting that, a small brown rice, an order of steamed potstickers and Tony’s lo mein – $20 bucks out the door, including tax!
While Tony loves sushi – the raw shit I mean – he was leary to try it at a place that just opened, so we will wait to see what other people think of it.
Oh.Em.Gee. That Tom Yum soup was probably the best I’ve ever had. You know I love spicy, but it has to be flavorful spicy. This was perfect – it took the heat level up to a place where it was almost too spicy, but it wasn’t. Two giant pieces of shrimp, some veggies and only $4! The pot stickers were good too – the ginger dipping sauce was excellent.
Tony loved his lo mein, just wished there were more veggies, like bean sprouts, carrots, etc. I hope this place stays open because we will definitely order from there again.
So, you made it all the way down to see how my Week 3 of the Diet Bet and Insanity is going. While I am only on Day 16 today out of 21 days, I don’t care – I’ve been pretty consistent – I never thought I’d last the 16 days to tell you the truth!
May 31 I was 175.8. Today I am . . .
168.6!! That’s down 7.2 pounds since May 31!!
But I know I earned it. I’ve been drinking a minimum of 2 liters of water a day. I abstain from alcohol Sunday through Thursday, I work out most lunches and I have pretty much kept up with Insanity. So maybe my 10 pound weight loss goal I should reward myself with a pedicure!
I haven’t told you yet, but I am going out of town again the week of July 4th. My Aunt has a lake house in Roanoke. Longtime readers will remember my Uncle passed away there last year – I love that he made it to the lake to pass away, it was his favorite place. But it’s a big property to maintain, so my Aunt is selling it, so we are headed there for one last hoorah. It will be great family time, good food, lots of swimming and I plan on bringing Insanity with me! (I know, I am insane!)
My mom’s cousin posted this picture in a group family email. This was 1969 so my Mom would have been 29 and my Dad 31. My sister and I are probably 15 months, so my brother was 3 1/2.
I can’t believe how dressed up they are! I can assure you I will be in my bathing suit, shorts and a t-shirt the whole time.
Alright, off to clean out the fridge and freezer, it way too full for just two people so I think I’ll try to menu plan based on things I have on hand – should be interesting!
Have a great weekend and I’ll see you Monday.
Woohoo you rock Insanity girl! And it doesn’t matter that you are on day 16 instead of 21. You say it yourself: you’re consistent in doing the workouts. I’m proud of you!
That family photo is absolutely amazing!
Btw keeping up with Insanity is sooooo hard, I really need to get myself back on it
Love that old photo of your family! I just realized you’re just a little younger than my hubs who was born in dec 67. Can you imagine becoming a first time parent at this age? My poor hubs had a lot of time to get used to being without kids but he’s actually seeming more eager/ready than I am-lol!
I know you guys are going to have a blast at the lake together! My family had an annual reunion at our Aunt and Uncle’s house since the early 70’s and I had to miss the final one there in 2011 b/c I couldn’t change my schedule that year–I was in my probationary period after becoming permanent. But we’ve continued our reunions by renting a shelter at a nearby lake and it’s working out great! We had the first one there last year and will have the second one this September. That would be cool if your family did something like that so you could still have your get-togethers.
And last and most important, congrats on the weight loss. You earned it, sister! GREAT JOB!!
Great job on the weight loss! You are doing a great job!
I love this summer orzo salad. I am always looking for new dishes like this. YUM!
Congrats Biz – you are rocking the insanity!
Awesome results!! And you did earn them for sure
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You rock! That is just fabulous! I’m not big into chinese, but lo mein can be really yummy sometimes. Glad you liked this place.
Thanks Erica! I could hear your teacher voice cheering me on!
How amazing is that family photo?!? Priceless. Tom Yum soup is one of my very favorites! There’s a restaurant in downtown Arlington Heights that serves the best ever–Gumrai Thai. So good. Have a great weekend!
What’s the name of that restaurant in Arlington Heights? My step-son used to live there but we haven’t been there in a while.
I thought of you when I was at Mariano’s – I bought a basil plant!
Congrats!! You are doing awesome!
Thanks Christine!
That’s so cool that you make lunch for your co-workers. I hope you made a profit this week!! Love the family picture. I have a really small family and we aren’t all close, so I love seeing other family pics. Julie and I are flying into Chicago on October 8th. We’re going to spend 2 nights there and then drive to Milwaukee for Julie’s nieces wedding. Do you have any tried and true hotel recommendations in Chicago? I’m debating about how to work this out. Should we stay in the city? Rent a car when we’re ready to drive to WI, or stay in a burb and rent a car from the airport? So many decisions.
When Tony and I stay downtown we always use priceline. We almost always get put up at The Palmer House, which is nice and in the loop and not far from Michigan avenue. There is a Budget Rental not even a mile from The Palmer House – they even do free pick up.
BUDGET CAR RENTAL
714 SOUTH WABASH
CHICAGO, IL 60605 US
Location code CI5
Free pick-up service available. learn more »
0.7 miles from search center
You could just arrange for them to pick you up, or really you could walk there from your hotel. Are you flying into Midway or O’Hare? It would be more fun to stay in the city vs. the suburbs if you ask me.
Hope that helps!
There’s one sushi place in Omaha that I love, love, love. Unfortunately, the last time we were there the service was abhorrent. We haven’t been back, but I CRAVE their sushi. I am definitely loyal to my favorite restaurants.
And I love that old family photo; I have a ton on my hard drive that I don’t want to print. They are scans of the original photo, of course, and I am scared that printing them on “fresh” photo paper would detract from my nostalgia.
Great job in getting that weight to come down; you are doing great!
Thanks Erin! Yep, Tony is particular about his sushi too, we’ll wait for more people to review before he eats it there.
Great job on dropping those pounds – you have definitely earned the loss!!
The lake place sounds awesome!
And, I pinned the Orzo salad recipe – looks delicious (as always over here!!).
Thanks Kim. In a half hour I’ll be doing Day 16 of Insanity – I’ll dig deep!
WOW! Congrats on the weight loss, that’s awesome!
The summer orzo salad looks so fresh and lovely – perfect to sit along side a grilled steak
Thanks Courtney – have an awesome vacation! I told Tyler that I wasn’t going to see him for two weeks, because he’s on vacation with you next week and then I am on vacation for a week. I asked him if he was going to miss all my food talk, and then I said “never mind, you’ve got Courtney to talk to about food!” Ha!
Great job! Do you think it is your exercise that has helped more with the weight loss or do you think it is a combination of better eating and exercise? Keep it up and hopefully I can get into the groove of walking and eating better – CARBS!!
It’s the whole package actually. If I work out, I don’t want to eat shit because it kind of defeats all the exercise – and the not drinking through the week helps me stay away from cheese and chips. And because I do Insanity at night, I don’t over eat at dinner and by the time I am done, an ounce of almonds is all I eat before bed.
That orzo salad looks delish!! And I also have to say, GREAT JOB on the weight loss. You have TOTALLY earned it. All that exercising…and abstaining from alcohol can make a difference. I’ve started abstaining, but it hasn’t helped yet. I need to also abstain from the chocolate I think.
Ha – chocolate is awesome! Hope you have a wonderful vacation!!
You are kicking that scale’s butt by how excellent you are doing this month. Your plan is working, keep with it. Lunch looks great, your co-workers must love you. Enjoy the weekend.
Thanks Roxy! The best part is that I don’t think I’ve had to give up anything – its true that its diet/exercise and moderation! Have a great weekend too!
Great weigh in! Before you know it, you’ll be down to your goal.
Thank Caron!
Woohoo, way to go! You sure did earn it, you’ve bee working hard. Motivating to see it all pay off. Have a great weekend.
Thanks Jacky! Hope the weather didn’t put a damper on your fun Friday!!