This has been the oddest day. Normally Thursday’s (BBQ day) are slammin at the deli, but not today. For some reason we were just kinda slow. Business was still decent, but nothing to write home (or in the blog) about. So I won’t.

I will tell you though – a good friend of ours (Jeff) came by the deli yesterday to take photos of the restaurant, sandwiches and us hard at work. He wrote the nicest blog post about it that you can read here. It was awesome to read!!

Regan hung out with my mom all day. I was a little nervous about leaving her while she wasn’t feeling well because this is how she looked when I was heading out the door.

 Pretty pitiful and sick looking – no? Well, now I’m home and she is napping away in her bed. My mom told me she was wild, rowdy, happy and energetic all day long. Fever?? Hopefully not anymore…

Breakfast today was super yummy! I ignored oats for something else entirely…my homemade banana bread!

I topped it with a tbsp of peanut butter which made it even more amazing and then had a kiwi and a plum. Talk about yummy and filling!!

I have to tell you that I bought a sh*t ton of larabars at Whole Foods last week. (You can get them in my OpenSky Shop at 20% off until Saturday by entering the code July20pct at checkout) I bought quite a few flavors I had been dying to try for quite some time, but the peanut butter and jelly one was the kind I have been DYING to try.

When I found it I was ecstatic!! I got so excited when snack time rolled around today that I ripped into that bad boy like a teenage boy ripping into his girlfriend’s prom dress in a hotel room! One bite and I was…..BUMMED! It was no where near as good as I had been expecting. I threw it away in frustration and ate a chocolate chip cookie instead.

This was in no way as healthy for me as my original snack, but it tasted a zillion times better and if I’m going to eat something it damn well better taste good!

We had a fun day visiting with our customers who have become our friends. We joked and laughed and talked about topics in the news. It was nice. I think one of our customers that we have gotten to know might even come hang out with us tomorrow night with his wife. Maybe we’re making new friends because of this new business venture.

Lunch was small but good. I made a really small caesar salad and a slice of pumpernickel rye toasted with mozzarella on top.

I need to get some dishes and laundry done before Regan wakes up from her nap. Jason is doing a table sit at Regan’s school for the Family Organization Board that we are both on. I was supposed to be the one doing it, but we both decided that with Regan being sick she was going to want me. So he volunteered to take my shift.

Awwwwwww…isn’t he sweet!!!

Don’t forget about my awesome Good OnYa Bar giveaway!! Linsey will pick the winner Saturday night.

The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth.  ~ Chinese Proverb

I’ve been busy chasing her, changing her and wiping her…ALL DAY! She did some breaks here and there to watch cartoons, color and pester the dogs which I’m sure they loved.

Lunch was fairly simple and surprisingly filling today. I reheated the last piece of veggie pizza in the oven and while it was heating I made a yogurt bowl. I used a container of Oikos plain nonfat, 2 scoops canned pumpkin, a handful of Nature’s Path granola with flax and about 2 tbsp maple syrup.

Then my pizza was ready and I ate that with my Sweet Baby Ray’s on the side like always…HEY – it’s too good to pass up!

Jason’s off to pick Linsey up from school and then they’re going to the store to get something to make for dinner. He kept asking me what I wanted and usually I know right away, but today I just don’t have any cravings..WEIRD!

I’ve been searching for freelance writing jobs for the last hour or so and have come across some pretty interesting sounding gigs and some very unappealing sounding ones as well. It’s all going to work out…right?? I just have to “Keep My Chin Up” and “Keep a Smile On My Face” and everything will work out. Those are my two favorite motto’s to live by.

PLUS!!! I have a PLAN…have I told you that?? Oh yes, but I didn’t tell you what the PLAN is. And I’m not going to. Not yet anyway, but let’s just say I get a little closer EVERYDAY!!!

Ask Me Anything…I’m kinda bored.

Later Taters…

I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.  ~ Jim Carrey

She had the worst diaper I have changed in a very long time. I’m talking complete shit up the back and up the front and – yeah- GROSS!! I had to take her out of her bed, strip her clothes, give her a quick bath and put new clothes on her before I could get her back to sleep. YUCK!! Don’t worry…I didn’t photograph it.

Once she was finally back to sleep I managed to clean the kitchen and make myself some lunch. By then I was starving so a HUGE salad was in order.

I made a mixed green salad with shredded carrots and snap peas. I tossed in some toasted soy nuts, chopped almonds and dried blue berries. Then I tossed all of that in a poppy seed dressing and topped it with Morningstar Farms Buffalo Wings – cause they are my fav!!!

Then I ended the salad with a mini LARABAR – YUM!!

I vegged a little after lunch cause I had a full time and some free time. I started to watch Sense and Sensibility, but quickly remembered that the DVD is messed up about 10 minutes into the movie and stops playing. So I watched some silly Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear movie called The Perfect Man. It’s actually a pretty cute movie and for all you SATC fans – Mr Big’s in it!

When it was over I figured I had better bust out the soup that I started last night. So I put it on the stove to warm up and then Linsey was knocking on the door. She was non too thrilled that the soup had reappeared for tonight’s dinner. I think she thought it was gone forever since we ended up not having it last night, but NO!!

Getting this soup ready required a little bubbly first…

There is nothing like drinking…

from a wine glass to make a girl feel all classy!!

Once the soup was finally ready I figured I better drag Regan out of her bed since it was already 6:00!!

We sat down to dinner and Regan informed me that she was NOT eating soup cause it was green. She just wanted “nana’s” instead. So she ate a banana. I guess that might help with the problem we had earlier…no??

Shockingly, Linsey ate an entire bowl of the soup because she said it tasted like mashed potatoes – which it kind of did, but isn’t that a good thing??

Here’s how I make my Irish Potato Leek Soup

• 1 bunch leeks, chopped and rinsed
• 1 small onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 medium potatoes, washed and chopped (skin on)
• 4 c vegetable stock
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 cups 1% milk
• 2 tbsp dill
• s & p to taste

In a large pot add leeks, onion and garlic to a small amount of extra virgin olive oil and saute over medium heat until veggies are soft.

Add in vegetable stock, potatoes, salt, pepper and thyme; bring to a boil. Then drop the heat way down and let cook for about 30 – 45 minutes stirring periodically until you can pierce the potatoes with a fork easily.

Add the milk and dill and let it cook for another 10 – 15 minutes.

To thicken pulse with a stick blender until almost smooth. I like to leave a few lumps in it to feel more rustic.

Serve with a slice of warm, crusty bread and top with a little sharp cheddar cheese.

After everything was cleaned up from dinner Linsey and I enjoyed another small bowl of Jason’s “Notella” ice cream while Regan munched on some chocolate gold fish.

Due to the turn of events today I ended up taking tomorrow off AGAIN because Jason couldn’t get his day worked out to be off. I’m praying she starts feeling better soon because there isn’t much worse than a sick, coughing, whiny, cranky, snotty nosed 2 year old!!

Jason’s finally home so I’m going to say good night and spend some time with him. Hope you are all doing well and looking forward to the weekend.

Life’s not always fair.  Sometimes you can get a splinter even sliding down a rainbow.  ~ Cherralea Morgen

I worked hard and quiet today because my mind is racing with book thoughts and Regan is sick thoughts and she should really be at home in her bed thoughts and am I going to get fired if I leave early to take my sick baby girl home thoughts… finally I couldn’t take it anymore when I saw her at lunch and her teachers told me that she is “hanging on” but mostly laying on the pillow and then is happy to be there for a little while and then is laying on the pillow again all the while her poor nose is just pouring and red and raw!!

I left work at 12:30 and took my girl home. Now that’s where we are and she is napping some what peacefully in her own bed.

This morning I managed to get up at 6:05 and began my shred workout at about 6:15. I made it until the last 5 minutes or so when I heard Regan crying from her room and that meant work out was over. I umped in the shower and by the time I was out she was crying and coughing and that should have been my first sign of the way the day would go down. Oh well…

I got Linsey moving and we all sat at the table together to have breakfast. The girls wanted cinnamon toast and bananas and I wanted oatmeal. Rarely do we ever eat the same breakfast during the week. Is that weird??

This morning’s baked goodness was:

• a Quaker banana bread instant oatmeal packet
• 4 tbsp canned pumpkin
• 1 tbsp organic ground flax seed meal
• 1 tbsp dried cranberries
• 1/4 c liquid egg whites
• 2 tsp organic blue agave syrup

Topping this lovely and filling concoction was:

• 1 banana sliced
• 1 big scoop of 365 organic almond butter

Of course I had my ChiTown mug full of hazelnut coffee because apparently that is one of my favorite flavors.

I managed to sneak in a snack this afternoon before bringing Regan home. It was not that great, but it did the trick as far as holding my hunger over till I got home and ate lunch (which I will do in a few minutes).

I’m going to clean the kitchen completely and then heat up some of my veggie pizza from dinner last night in the oven. Thin crust pizza is ALWAYS best reheated in the oven!!

Don’t forget that there is still the opportunity to Ask Me Anything!! Here are a few more of the questions I’ve answered so far…

You seem too young to have kids? How old are you?

THANKS!! I’m 30 years old and will be 31 on May 10th.

What do you believe is the hardest part about being married. Also, the hardest aspect of your life at this moment?

The hardest part about being married is having two very different personalities both wanting to run the show. It takes effort on both sides to keep things running smooth.
The hardest aspect of my life right now is figuring out how to “make it” doing what I love to do so I can make that my full time job.

If you had to give up one favorite food, what would the most difficult?

Bread – no question! I am kind of addicted to sandwiches!!!

Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn’t music.  ~ William Stafford

The Monkey is finally sleeping, but not so comfortably. I can hear her coughing and sniffling from my bedroom.

So we made it to the doctor at 11:00 this morning.

Walking in I was instantly hit with a case of the worries…

For the readers who know Regan and I personally – you know why this sign gave me the freak outs. For those who don’t – Regan is TERRIFIEDof fire alarms!!  Ever since the fire alarm went off one day at school a month or so ago she has been terrified. She was obsessed for quite some time with talking about the fire alarm going “errr” and she points them our at EVERY place we go to. Luckily, the fire alarm didn’t go off while we were there.

Regan kept herself occupied while we waited for the doctor.

Dr Smith came in and checked her out from top to bottom (which she hated) and his verdict was…she has a virus and a low temp – STILL! That means she’s contagious and that means no school again tomorrow. Luckily Jason can go into work late and stay home with her so I can go back to work. She will be pretty pissed because she was begging me to let her go to school today and see “My Comets” but I had to say no.

He did say that we could get her an over the counter medication to help ease her symptoms and help her sleep so we headed next door to Target. Awesomely enough our pediatrician’s office is right behind Target and that just happens to be where our pharmacy is. Makes things convenient – no?

Once we got a parking spot and made our way in I saw Heaven staring me in the face… Starbucks!! I got a triple grande skinny hazelnut latte right then.

We made our way through the store and got a few extra needed items and then got in line to pay. Some how I managed to get in line behind some woman who was buying $563.00 worth of stuff with out knowing until it was too late, but Regan and I passed the time taking funny pictures.

Finally the ‘Hoarder’ (I hope that’s not true) managed to get her loot in another cart and it was our turn. Regan suckered me into buying her a toy while we waited in line, but I rationalized that she was soooo good in line that she deserved a new toy.

After we got home and she had lunch and went down for a nap I realized how hungry I was! So I made my lunch. Jason bought me a new veggie food at Whole Foods last night and I decided to try it today.

Check out the ingredient list…

I can pronounce everything in that list!! But that does come at a fairly hefty price…

I made a grilled muenster cheese sandwich with two slices of the Field Roast. I also had a handful of two different kinds of Kettle chips (bbq & salt and vinegar).

My lunch was super yummy and the Field Roast was FANTASTIC. It had a subtle sun dried tomato flavor and had a great texture. I’m not into the veggie slices that are mushy  and soft because that’s just gross. This had the perfect chewyness that I like. HAPPY GIRL!

Doesn’t that lunch look tasty?? IT WAS!!!

I figured I would work out since Regan woke up at 6:20 this morning to make sure I couldn’t then. But once I started the shred DVD I quickly realized that my back was not yet ready for lifting weights. I’m going to do some stretching work outs in the form of pilates tonight. I think that might actually make my back feel better…hopefully!

Don’t forget that you can still Ask Me Anything!! I’ve had some good question so far so keep them coming…

1.  Have you always been a vegetarian? And are your husband and kids vegetarians?

I have not always been vegetarian. I became a vegetarian in 2002 after reading John Robbins book ‘Diet For A New America’ and it changed my life!! My husband is an omnivore, but eats a TON a vegetarian foods because of me and the fact that I do 90% of the cooking. He gets his meat fix when we go out. My girls are both vegetarian. Linsey when she was a little over a year old (same time I switched) and Regan was born a vegetarian. It works for us.

2. How does a guy who loves chocolate fight the urge?

DON’T!! Allow yourself a certain number of chocolate bites everyday. I like having 1 or 2 after lunch and 1 or 2 after dinner. Of course – they are small pieces like a Hershey kiss or the square of a chocolate bar.

3. What do you believe is the hardest part about being married. Also, the hardest aspect of your life at this moment?

The hardest part about being married is having two very different personalities both wanting to run the show. It takes effort on both sides to keep things running smooth.
The hardest aspect of my life right now is figuring out how to “make it” doing what I love to do so I can make that my full time job.

I leave you with a question…
What are your thoughts with regard to this topic – “Vegan vs Local”???

Later Taters…

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.  ~ Doug Larson