things i learned on friday.

Today in a thought-provoking session of my “Food and Culture” nutrition course, I learned that food is a matter of choice. We make these choices based on personal preference, culture, convenience, and taste. I’m getting a science credit for this. In the spirit of making choices, I decided to eat 2 granola bars (peanut butter cookie larabar what!) and 1.5 bananas for lunch.

wednesday.

gawd, blog. life is so busy.

yesterday was my birthday, which mostly consisted of buying a spanish textbook, eating 3 sandwiches, and assembling ikea furniture. i also got a chandelier for $14.99. and observed amelia and hal angrily put together a 500-piece jewlery box! life is good! happy birthday to me!

today is school, day 1. should be a doozy since i’m taking my “culture and food” nutrition class. JK! that class is a joke! (but i’m really taking it).

finally, i’m SO pumped about writing in the greatest newspaper in the woooorld again, the daily texan. actually i am legitimately pumped to write a rip-off of this.

yes.

new house.

moving, part 1

today was day 1 of moving. as a whole, i’d dub my relocating venture thus far as a success, though it has not been without its problems:

example: oh, ikea. only from you can i get a bed and come home without the baseboard. therefore, i am now temporarily sleeping with my mattress perched on approximately 40 paperback books. desperate times cause for desperate measures.

example: we accidentally have no microwave.

successes-i rode my bike around austin today and didn’t die. we have a really great wok. our house is awesome.

on a side note, i have eaten approximately 7 granola bars today for my meals since we have no food except 1 can of black beans and 3 tea bags. however,big news i just went to the grocer and got some organic bananas. Now all I need is a new moleskine day planner and some kashi cereal and my life will be complete.

epiphany.

i think my favorite food that is not really a food is cool whip eaten in spoonfuls topped with chocolate chips. i’m disgusting.

thursday.

While clicking random buttons on the wordpress editing page, I accidentally deleted my previous picture and now have a pretentious albeit irrelevant default photo of stacked books. I don’t know.

Just to better yourselves, I’ll let you in on a secret blog I’ve been reading for the past week or so that I found courtesy of NotCot.org: this girl is twelve. How’s that for feeling inferior?

wednesday.

Dear Diary,

As my bedroom turns into a mountain of cardboard boxes and my life becomes consumed by packing up my summer life at home, my blogging quips have been put on the back burner. I’m kind of stressed out due to organizing 15 discussion groups for pretentious college freshmen during the first 2 weeks of school. Who knew finding travel totes of coffee could be so time-consuming?

Subsequently, my posts will resume in a new location with a new wireless provider soon soon soon. Or maybe from the coffee shop because who knoooows when I’ll have internet.  

Sincerely,

Leigh

 

PS today i drank 48oz of double-shot espresso iced coffee. wowee.

it’s monday.

Where do I even start? Life has been so confusing lately. First of all, I’ve seen an abundance of angry religious bumper stickers this week. An example: “there’s no speed limit during the rapture.” 

Then, Michael Phelps won’t go away.

Finally,  at work on Saturday I was mentally scarred by a woman wearing a screenprinted t-shirt picturing a bucket full of kitten. I was expecting it to say, “Hangin’ Out.” Seriously, I was. I almost didn’t read it. Shirts like that always have :1. a pun or 2. “home sweet home.” 

This shirt said “Kittens. An American Classic.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but kittens are not an American classic. They’re pretty international. They weren’t even waving American flags! Where is the justice? I’m upset. Life is so hard.  

But I recovered to produce, in six acts, a homemade peanut butter larabar.

1. ingredients-5 dates, 1/8 cup peanuts, excuse me “SNAX” (oh HEB). Mini food processor.

2. Chop dates. Chop peanuts.

3. Dates in food processor. Process.

4. Peanuts in food processor. Process.

5. Squish. Mine turned more circular, but feel free to take liberties in your shape-making creativity.

6. Wrap in cling wrap. Refrigerate until ready to eat.

*note: i didn’t use all the peanuts.

This cost about $.30.

A Larabar cost $1.69. If frugality was an art, I would be Monet. Or maybe Degas. I need sleep.

desperate

perhaps this will be the answer to my persistent stomachaches.

particularly i like the remedy offered by alyssa mills:

“INGREDIENTS: any type of fruit or vegetable that you like
INSTRUCTIONS: Just eat some fruits or vegetables. “

insight.

sunday funday

today i went on a magical journey to the land of ikea. i made some purchases critical to my well-being, important things like a real bed and a dresser of the sweedish variety. my bed is called “malm” and my dresser is called “amoeba” or “ameboda” or something like that. just trust me, they’re great. hopefully i’ll still think this one week in the future when i’ve spent 14+ hours attempting to assemble said items. ikea doesn’t dumb you down, that’s for sure.

while at ikea, let it be known that obviously i ate at the ikea cafe, since thats pretty much the best part of the whole trip. i ate some chicken dish that was so-so, like all of their dishes are. the food isn’t ever that great, lets be honest. it’s a cafeteria. however, for some reason- maybe its the institutional lighting, maybe it’s the bright primary colorscheme, maybe it’s the screaming children in all directions-i always feel like i’m at an amusement park when i’m there. lord knows that draws me back every time. it’s either that or the lingonberry soda they have in the soda fountain that’s so sweedishly delicious. i’m such a sucker.

i did NOT order this, which was just disgusting. shrimp on toast:

 

why?

saturday, 8:22am

I’m sorry for my lack of blog consistency, but things have been busy around these parts.

I’ve been doing productive things like getting a bicycle basket, reading Lolita, and fantasizing about the Olympics. JK, I’m getting a little sick of the Olympics DON’T HATE ME GO AMERICA.

A real update to come this evening.

i knew it.

word on the street is that julia childs was a spy.

you never had me fooled, julia.

thursday says

fage greek yogurt is crack.

Do you think if I strained regular yogurt it would be similar? $2.09 for 6oz is cramping my style.

Please forgive me for just typing that.

Today was nothing to write home about.

I made some chocolate pudding out of tofu + this mix:

Looks like this:

Today I also went to the dentist. I normally have no qualms with dentistry. It’s no walk in the park but ordinarily, I don’t mind getting my teeth cleaned. However, today’s hygenist got a bit too overzealous with her little pointy scraper tool and subsequently my mouth is actually pretty sore. She was chiseling, I swear. It wasn’t normal and I was unhappy. Plus, she almost ripped out the retainer that is glued to my teeth. As a result, I’m indulging myself in gumming lots of soft things like pudding as opposed to eating real food.

PS: I kind of want a bento set.

the olympics.

and i quote: “nothing cutens up a country like panda bears”

They must be desperate. These montages are embarassing me.

and my procrastination via craigslist pays off

Please welcome the newest member of my family:

It’s a bit of a fixer-upper, but it was dirt cheap and it was yellow. I couldn’t help myself.

Sold to me by the cutest, kindest couple ever. They reduced the price from the original craigslist post just because they were so nice and because they liked my glasses. I swear, sometimes life is just so good. It just makes these great things happen and hands them to me on a platter.

Plus, Robert Krulwich read my blog. Though I originally questioned the validity of it, I deduced that there probably aren’t that many Robert Krulwich impersonators out there roaming the web. But you never know. If this is really you, Robert, prove it to me by featuring me on your show! Just kidding! Kind of. But really, I’m just sitting here waiting and my mind is a steel trap full of potential radio show bits. I’m just saying.

This morning I also went to Whole Foods, where I got the teensiest bit upset because the price of these rolls I love went up $.25 each in price and now they’re a good 50% smaller. I shake my fist at you, inflation. Yet I understand: it happens. But why must the size of the rolls also be sacrificed? Not only is it sneaky, it’s…dumb. I don’t approve. Way to put salt in my wounds, Whole Foods. I’ll still buy your rolls because they’re really chewy and delicious, but I won’t like it.

sunday.

This morning I set out for a walk. I had my ipod and my trusty “RadioLab” podcast. All was well. So I thought! Until, apparently, I got so into listening to Robert Krulwich tell me stories about human morality that I…got lost. Yes, in the same town where I spent 18 years of my life. It’s embarrassing. I really don’t know how it happened, but one minute I’m walking, walking, walking, then I’m going down a hill? Then I’m in a run-down neighborhood. Then I’m in the park? Needless to say, I ended up walking about 5 miles, or so my pedometer read. But I got the pedometer from a cereal box and is probably worth about $.25 so you never know. Regardless, by the end I was miserable and that Texas heat is brutal. Have I already said that this took about 2 hours? I’m digging my own grave here.

After my hiking excursion, I really wanted to take a 14-hour nap, but instead I made coconut macaroons! Also a great decision 

ingredients:

3 egg whites

2 cups shredded coconut (sweetened)

1/4 cup agave nectar

1/2 tbsp almond extract

pinch of salt

directions: preheat oven to 350. whisk whites + salt a long time with a wire whisk, until eggs are all foamy. Fold in coconut, agave, and almond extract until everything is evenly distributed. spoon tablespoons of coconut onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. bake about 12-15 minutes or until tops are brown.  

 

Now onto Olympic gymnastics, the highlight of my life.

so devoted

to make up for my lack of posting the past two days, today i’m posting twice to redeem myself.

this is a recipe for a delicious smoothie i invented today:

Peach Mango Raspberry Smoothie.

ingredients: 1/2 cup each frozen peaches & mangoes. 1 cup lowfat raspberry kefir. 3 ice cubes. 2 tbsp. agave nectar.

directions: put in blender and turn on.

Sometimes I’m bored and read articles like this on best of craigslist for hours upon hours. Enjoy.

a post about sandwiches.

Yesterday I had the good fortune of eating at my second favorite restaurant in Austin, Foodheads.

I had a turkey and swiss sandwich with sprouts:

 

Everyone looks really upset in the following pictures:

Kevin ate the biggest sandwich human hands have ever made. Big surprise. For the small minority of the world remaining who doesn’t know this, he once ate a whole baguette and lived to tell the story! He still keeps the baguette wrapper tacked to his wall-his trophy. What a champ.

Then we forced him to take a bite. Peer pressure! Peer pressure!

How I love sandwiches.

Yesterday I also went recreational grocery shopping. It’s a hobby of mine. And thank god I did, because I found some almond milk at Central Market that has been MIA from my usual grocery store for the past month! I’m so deprived!

Now I’m just pissed because I’m pumped about the Olympics but it’s men’s gymnastics. Lame. Paul and Morgan Hamm, I don’t care that you’re gymnasts. I don’t care that you’re twins, even though I will admit it’s a little bit precious. Though I do love those little “getting to know your Olympians” montages that play every so often, their floor routines aren’t even to music! Come on! Stop hogging the stage and lets watch Michael Phelps.

it’s a review.

yesterday i ate this granola bar: BALANCE “Pure” Bar. Chocolate Cashew flavor.

A word to the wise: don’t buy this. It sucked.

I wanted to like it. I like chocolate. I like cashews. I didn’t think it was possible to screw up both of these delicious ingredients, but congratulations, balance pure, you’ve done it. It reminded me slightly of the clif nectar “cacao” bars, if one was left out to dry in the Texas sun for 9 hours. Plus, it was tiny! Pathetic!

Like clif nectar, this bar was kind of reminicent of a very dense brownie. However, it had the strangest consistency. I think it’s because along with the chocolate, nuts, and dates it contains, there is also soy protein, which makes it really thick and chewy. Big mistake. Also, false advertising alert, it’s not that “pure.” The first ingredient is evaporated cane juice invert syrup. First, how do you invert cane juice? I don’t get it. Additionally, Larabars have no added sugar syrup and taste just fine. I won’t buy it again.  Two thumbs down.

I wish I was still keeping my granola bar tally. I would be up to at least 100 by now.

this much is true

i made really good crispy baked tofu today. witness:

secret: FREEZE before marinating. it’s so true.

other things that have happened lately:

sarah gentry lemon bars:

 

wordpress does this really great thing where they post things people have typed in a search engine that led them to this blog. it gives it to me like a present, all wrapped up in list form for my enjoyment. it’s so entertaining. here’s my favorites:

“gymnasts eat blueberries”

“things to do with a blanket” (really?)

“luna lemon zest sucks” (false)

“eating a pure protein bar leaves me unsafe”

“tomato flavored chapstick” (why)

 

final thoughts:

1. i’ve really been wanting that sesame garlic dressing from wheatsville lately. that one they sell in the deli? anyone? 

2. 17 days until i move, and the countdown begins!

a bedtime story.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when people don’t return their grocery carts. I mean, for the love of God it is maybe an additional twelve steps that you have to take. Is it so much to ask? Apparently, for some inconsiderate, spiteful people, yes it is. Yes, it seems that for many, those twelve steps would be the last twelve they could ever possibly be capable of taking. Either that, or they’re just lazy. Though it’s shocking, just between us I suspect the latter.

So today I was leaving the grocery store, just minding my own business. I load my $20 worth of granola bars groceries, put up my cart like a civilized person, and am just buckling my seat belt when I witness an act that filled me with disgust for the human race. Not only did this middle-aged man, his cart full of Bud Light and Cool Ranch Doritos (I’m taking a few liberties here), fail to lack the ability to put up his cart. No, no that wasn’t enough. He pushed (and I’m not even exaggerating here) PUSHED his cart into the middle of the parking lot. He then hopped right into his car, and zoomed off.

The best part? He’s driving a Prius, ladies and gentlemen.

Meanwhile, it’s not like I’m the only person who noticed this. Others took note. Namely the ones who are waving their fists in equal parts desperation and disgust because a jumbo-sized HEB cart is blocking their car from driving in the middle of the lane. Frankly, it was embarassing. And usually I’m no martyr, but I took one for the team this time. I got out of my car and moved the cart, cursing the whole way back to the cart rack UNTIL…

something caught my eye in the bottom of the very cart I was pushing. Paper. I picked it up, doubtful, expecting the eco-friendly doucebag’s receipt, wondering about how he possibly could stand to look at himself in the mirror, knowing he drove a Prius and didn’t even recycle his own receipts. His carbon footprint just doubled. However, what do I actually find? No receipt, but instead a coupon for 4 free yogurts. Only I would get excited about this, obviously. But still. It’s free. It’s yogurt. I’m happy. Karma, baby.