More meal ideas from this week...

Banana's Foster - the breakfast version. This mornings breakfast was one of my FAVORITE desserts gone "healthy". Not something I suggest for everyday but for a weekend, it's delicious! I take about 2 tbsp of Land O Lakes Light Butter with Canola Oil and heat it over a pan adding one sliced banana, approx 3 Tbsp of splenda and approx 1 tsp of cinnamon until warm and gooey. Then I top a Dannon Vanilla Greek yogurt with the mixture and enjoy dessert for breakfast.

A very non original breakfast - this is what I had almost every morning this week. I usually do one of these cottage cheese doubles or a greek yogurt with a piece of fruit and a fiber bar.

I worked late every day this week so I really wasn't in the mood to come home and cook so for lunch this week I packed a container of hummus and veggies and / or baked pita chips with a baggie of cherries. I don't recommend this brand of hummus, I'd never tried this kind before and honestly it's more bland that some others I've had.

Another hummus variation. I used a whole wheat sandwich thin and spread hummus on one side and topped it with thinly sliced cucumber, spinach, and a slice of cheese.

There ya go...four meal ideas with minimal if any cooking or prep.

Blah to job training...

This week I had some pretty stressful job training so I bought one of these as an afternoon treat... Yum!!!! This bar is huge and the chocolate is so rich that it took me all week to eat it. I will definitely repurchase. Plus each bar has a chance to win a real "golden ticket", a slim chance but for someone the Willy Wonka fairytale will come true. Mom and I finally went for her birthday dinner (two weeks late). We both got so busy it kept getting pushed back. We went to her favorite local resturant which per her report has the best steak in town, I discovered they also have a mean tasting salmon but the winner was definitely the stuffed baked potato in all it's chivey cheesy goodness. The resturant also serves watermelon preserves and cinnamon spiced apple rings which were the perfect cool summer dessert. We also went and saw Killers tonight with Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl...honestly it was a great idea and a good story line until the end - I really didn't like the end. I thought it was similar to the movie Date Night with Steve Carell and Tina Fey but that one had a much better ending. I'm so excited about all the great summer movies coming out. Are there any that ya'll are itching to see???

In the Kitchen: Nut Butter and Chocolate Chip "burrito"

Yummy snack or dessert idea, nothing orginal but it's one of my favorites! I used a whole wheat Flat Out Flatbread and cut it in half spread some organic almond butter on top and sprinkled some mini bittersweet chocolate chips. Sometimes I use bananas instead of the chocolate chips (or with them if I want something really tasty). I have also made it with raisins, toasted oats, and using peanut butter before - there are so many variations. I like to roll it like a burrito and toast it at 300* for 15 - 20 minutes (I have a small convection type oven that heats up quickly). Or you can leave it flat and toast it like a pizza. I have microwaved it for about 30 seconds before and it gets deliciously gooey but the flatbread is limp, which isn't a bad thing but I like it better toasted. Yes by the way, that is a styrofoam plate. Not all my dishes are unpacked so I've been using plasticware and paper plates in the meantime.

Summer Music Festivals!

I moved a few weeks ago and my friends have kept me busy... We went a few towns over and attended an all day music festival (mostly country and beach music) with the main artist country singer Sammy Kershaw!!! I have photos of our group at the show but I'm so PALE!!!!!! Compared to the other girls I was a ghost. So I purchased Ulta Self Tanner in the spray can but I majorly botched the application and ended up with muddy looking feet. My legs and arms looked awesome but my feet, especially the right one looked awful. I couldn't wear flip flops for days. So I laid off the self tanner until I could get my skin even again. Then came along this little show: Country Throwdown A fantastic nine hour music show in Raleigh on Saturday. We tailgated before the event. This is Lindsay and I after we "set up camp". It was hot as hades but lucky for us we had a cooler full of beer and water (because it that heat I would pass out after drinking too much). My friend's boyfriend brought his charcoal grill and we had brats and burgers. Lindsay made her "famous" ranch dip with chips and since it was her boyfriend's birthday we brought chocolate cupcakes. The burger below was her boyfriend's and that is cheddar bacon cheese on top of it. Sounds nasty to me - why would I want bacon flavored cheese????

We had to take a photo with Captain Morgan... this was actually one of the many in our Captain Morgan photo session.

So many great bands were there...Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town, Eric Church, The Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram, Heidi Newfield, and Montgomery Gentry.... I loved their skull back drop.

On Sunday mom and I got carried away watching Sex and the City 2. I liked it but not as much as the first, I guess the star on the Christmas tree for me was seeing Carrie and Big get married. This one was funny (mom can't stop talking about it) and definitely one to own when it comes out on DVD.

Happy Memorial Day!

First and foremost I want to give thanks to our troops, those currently serving, retired, and those who have been killed or wounded in battle in the name of our freedeom ... we had a beautiful memorial service at our county courthouse this morning. I had a good friend who died serving a couple of years ago and it really hit home how his family and friends have suffered. Rest in Peace WCM! Now for me memorial day means one of these... Preferably at the beach but since I started a new job this year I didn't go on vacation. Mom and I cooked burgers on the George Foreman Grill and baked some Ore'Ida Sweet potato fries to go with it. Dessert was some of this:

Mom's blueberry cobbler. A warm scoop of heaven. I love when mom cooks because she doesn't really think about calories and fat - just tasty goodness.

We went back to Burkes Outlet...see previous post on my shoe buying splurge. Mom got 15% off today because it's Monday so I bought a new lunchbag. I decided I needed a second because I nearly forgot to get mine from the fridge at work twice last week. This is a Lilly Bloom Bag (originally $40 what!!!! and I bought it for $15 before mom's discount).

We saw the 4 pm showing of Robin Hood with Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. I loved it, mom fell asleep - it's just not her kind of movie. I loved all the action but the movie didn't spend enough time developing the characters. The story is suppose to be the precursor to the Robin Hood story we all know but the set up at the end leaves me to believe there might be a sequel.

Finally we did some grocery shopping at Walmart and I picked up this shower curtain for my bathroom back at my mom's house. I'm not sure how long I'll stay here before finding my new place but I absolutely hated the sheer silver shower curtain she had up. I have beauty product overflow on the outer corners and you could see it through the curtain. Eh, I liked it at the store but I really like it in the room.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!!! I know this post is all over the place but for memorial day I wanted to end with this:

"Greater love has no man that this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." John 15:13

In the Kitchen: Chocolate Chip Meringue Cookies

Yield 4 dozen 3 large egg whites 1/4 t cream of tarter 1/4 t salt 1 cup sugar 3 T unsweetened cocoa 3 T semisweet chocolate minichips Preheat oven to 300* Beat egg whites, cream of tarter, and salt until soft peaks form. Add sugar 1 T at a time beating until stiff peaks form. Sift cocoa over egg white mixture and fold in. Fold in minichips. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and drop batter by tablespoonfuls on prepared baking sheet. Bake at 300* for 40 minutes or until crisp. Cool on rack and store in an airtight container. These are best when eaten within 1-2 days. ***Disclaimer: I got this recipe off a blog a few weeks ago and wrote it down with the ingredients. I thought I favorited the post to give the blogger credit but I couldn't find it. If I get a message from the blogger I will definitely give credit where it is due because these merigues are delicious***

The Preppy Mafia Blog Award

I'm so honored!!!!! I have my first blog award from Andrea at Life in Dawleywood - thank you Andrea!!!! The Rules: 1. Copy and Paste the above image onto your blog. 2. Answer the questions below. 3. Pass onto bloggers that you love and let them know they've been given this award. Welcome to the Preppy Mafia! Now for a few questions, you cannot refuse. 1. Who is your style icon (s)? The beautiful Jennifer Aniston is my modern day icon. I love her laid back, comfy chic style. Her minimal makeup and simple hair styles work for me as well

2. What is your favorite Socialite lit book?

I love all Emily Giffin, Sophia Kinsella, and Mary Kay Andrews books - easy reads and girl friendly.

3. Favorite party theme?

I've always wanted to try a masquerade party but no one is really into it. Really I just love cocktail or wine tasting parties. I guess in my area we don't really theme adult parties, thought my 5 year old niece had a bang up Miley Cyrus birthday party last year.

4. Go to Halloween costume?

I have a few. Athletic tank, yoga pants, ponytail and boxing gloves. Black dress, heels, and witch hat. Black shorts, football jersey and war paint under the eyes. I also have a set of wings I've matched with various outfits. We had a lot of costume parties throughout the year when I was in college so I used to keep a toga and pirate costume available for variety :-)

5. Extravagance you cannot live without?

I love getting my hair colored and styled professionally. I love going out to eat to local or reknown resturants (I'm such a foodie) . I also love the occasional shopping spree whether it's clothing or makeup.

6. Living person you admire?

Much love to the mama. My dad died when I was 13 so she basically raised me by herself, she is my best friend.

7. Greatest fear?

Losing a loved one. I buried my dad and grandpa in the same year. Last November my grandma passed. I can't imagine losing my mom (or husband and children if/when they are a reality).

8. Trait you deplore in yourself?

I'm highly critical, mostly of myself. My room needs to be clean when I go to sleep, I can't work if my office is messy, I can't stand when my nails are chipped, I hate when I see my roots when I want to long to color my hair, etc. I have to take a step back and tell myself to chill out.

9. Which talent would yo most like to have?

I'd love to be able to sing. I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

10. Greatest Achievement?

Um....I graduated college and got a job in the worst economy in half a decade. I'm not sure if I consider it an achievement or proof of God's grace. My goal in college was to get a job in renal nutrition and I started a new job this week in renal nutrition!! I'm hoping to acheive good labs and keep them within range = healthy patients!!!!

I guess it's my turn to pass the award. I was "off blogging" for a while during my move so I'm not sure if this is one of those big awards everyone has done but if you want to do it, I'd love to read it!

The award goes to

Veronika @ Veronika's Blushing

Jenny @ Not Just a Pretty Face Allison@ Smart and Sassy with Sprinkles