I really can’t believe that it’s already Thursday and I’m not quite sure where the week has gone. It started out “slow” with delayed openings and I think it got me in the mindset that I would have a very productive week. But over the past few days things have just gotten away from me as I’ve been busier than I expected. While my mind has been running non-stop, I really don’t even know exactly what I have been thinking about. So when I sat down to write this post, I had no idea what to say. Luckily, looking back on my phone sparked my memory a bit for some things that have been happening lately.
Like making another trip to Whole Foods and once again remembering how amazing it is there. I got more paleo-approved bacon, freshly ground almond butter, and a few different LARA bars to try. We order them on amazon but don’t like to order a whole pack of something if we aren’t sure that we like it. Whole Foods had a bin of loose bars for $1 each so I picked a few up to try.
How much better do roasted potatoes come out on parchment paper than foil? I spent way too long ripping holes in the foil as I tried to peel the potatoes off the tray and thus losing the nice crispy part of the potatoes. They don’t stick to the parchment paper at all! Same goes for butternut squash.
Is this not one of the grossest looking meals you have ever seen? This is what I call “put all random leftovers from the fridge into a container and bring it for lunch”. I had made chicken thighs with carrots, onion, cauliflower, and purple potatoes in the crock pot for dinner the night before. So the purple potatoes basically turn everything purple- and when I brought it for lunch I added some roasted sweet potatoes, zucchini and broccoli that I had made over the weekend. This is why I hide at my desk while I eat lunch.
I took the new Body Pump release on Wednesday morning, and it was a tough one. I really felt the back track and all the squats. I have a feeling I will be even more sore in a couple days since that’s usually what happens. The class was actually really full although the room is empty in the picture because I got there early to run before class…and to set up my stuff in a good spot of course.
I got a new torture device toy!! I haven’t had much time to try it out because the past few days have been a little crazy, but I can tell it is gonna be intense (in the best way possible).
Thanks Amanda for encouraging me to take a few minutes to clear my mind a bit! Be sure to head over to her blog and see what everyone else is thinking about.
What’s been going on with you this week?
Have you eaten any good-tasting but gross-looking foods lately?
Any other Body Pumpers out there? Have you tried release 92?
I always roast veggies on parchment paper – it makes cleaning up so fast, it’s the best invention ever. I also use it for all cookie baking!
I wish I had realized this sooner!
Great pro tip on the parchment paper, I will need to pick some up this weekend!
At first glance I actually thought the bowl you had for lunch was some kind of yogurt with weird toppings, haha. Hey, it’s 6am and I normally don’t even wake up until 7, I’ve got a foggy brain! 😉
Well in your defense if doesn’t look like chicken at all! Not sure what it actually looks like:)
OH MY GOODNESS I legitimately wondered if you were eating ash mixed with water or something! Beans never look good, but luckily I don’t eat those 😀
Parchment paper is my jam–I always always use it!
Lemme know how you like your new “device”–I’ve heard good things!
I have never really been a fan of beans either.
So far I really like the roller but I really need to give it some more time!
Ahh I’ve seen that torture device on the web – haven’t seen it in stores yet. Def would like to give it a try.
It’s pretty intense! I don’t think they have it in stores but at one point it was being sold on amazon, but last time I checked it was no longer available.
You are going to LOVE the roll recovery!! I can’t live without mine!!
I’m so excited to try it out some more!
Roll recovery is awesome! My old co-worker would always bring his in and I loved using it. It will really help your quads/hamstrings!
Its really intense in such a good way!
Parchment paper is where it’s at for roasting starchy veggies! I can’t be without my parchment paper for 5 minutes. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, whatever, they all come out better!
So true! I am so glad I started buying it. Not sure why I wasted time with foil for so long.
Wow, that roller looks really intense. Let us know how you like it.
I feel the same way about my lunches. They’re never pretty, even if the food is leftovers from a meal that was pretty the night before. I always feel a little weird when people look at what I’m eating.
As long as it tastes good, right?:)
I need to try that parchment trick for roasting vegetables!
That roller recovery system looks amazing, I’ve been tempted to get a new one as my foam roller is three years old.
Definitely try it out!
I had been eyeing the roller for a while now so finally decided to give it a try!
You know, I’m glad you posted that about parchment paper. Aluminum foil has been annoying me lately. I always knew parchment paper was awesome, but I get annoyed with it when you are nearing the end of the roll and it won’t lay flat.
Monday was my second week with Body Pump release 92 and holy moly! It does get better the second week. Maybe because you know what to expect? But OMG the power presses.
Wow they are already at release 92? I remember when I got trained on it they were at 69. I am so sick of the coconut creme pie lara bars. I bought a big box bc they were on sale but need a different flavor now. I never thought of putting anything underneath potatoes. But this sounds a ton easier than scraping the pan out aftetwards. Thanks for the tip.
I always get a big box of LARA bars and then get tired of whatever flavor they are!
I’m the same.exact.way with not being able to remember what the heck happened until I look at my phone and scroll through all the random pictures I took. I’ve made a habit to carry a notebook with me and jot ideas down when they come, but still… pictures are the best 🙂 And ooomigosh I can’t even tell you how obsessed I am with roasted potatoes right now. I probably have them for dinner at least 3 nights a week, and yup! Parchment paper is the best 🙂
I eat roasted potatoes all the time as well! That’s a good idea to jot down ideas in a notebook throughout the week- I should probably start doing that!
My blueberries are always turning my oatmeal purple. It never looks good, certainly doesn’t photograph well but it’s delicious!
Some foods will just never look good mixed together, but who cares as long as they taste good right?!
Wait why have I never tried parchment paper?! Thanks for the idea!
Sure thing! It’s really so much better than foil!
I haven’t been at work since Monday..schools are still out! Today I honestly could have done with the return to school. Needing to stay inside gets a little bit stir crazy!
I love the idea that whole foods has the loose bars to try so you don’t have to commit to a whole box of ones you don’t end up liking!
Your lunch Des look a little gross but also I know that things that look kind of gross end up being pretty yummy!!
That’s a long time to be out of school and stuck in the house! Hopefully you can go back tomorrow! Otherwise its a super long weekend:)(Not the worst thing in my opinion)
This week has gotten away from me too. Must be the weather!
That must be it!
Dude, anything with wheels on it is gonna do some serious something-something on those muscles. Love it. Ha ha… I once used wax paper in place of parchment and started smoking out the kitchen with burnt plastic smell. Oopsie-doodles!
Oh no wax paper? That can’t be good!
Let me know how the Coconut Cream Pie Lara Bars are!! I have been on a huge coconut kick lately and can’t seem to find an energy/protein bar that sits well with my stomach or that I like.
I think they are pretty good! Not my favorite flavor but a nice change of pace.
I won’t sugarcoat the look of your lunch…. it does look kind of gross… but thankfully some of most delicious foods are just that. All the ingredients sound pretty darn good to me !
Definitely! I’ve stopped caring about how my food looks as long as it tastes good:)
The rolling device thing- I want one! I saw one like that (maybe it as the same one?) at the Zooma Run Expo! I love the throw all the leftovers together kind of days. It’s like decluttering- something else I enjoy 😉
The roller is really great-I hope you give it a try!
And yes to throwing together all the leftover!
This has been the longest week ever for me since the Caveman’s been away almost an entire freaking month but will be back in 2 more sleeps! I just used up my parchment paper making a Valentine’s Day treat in the test kitchen yesterday. WHo knew it was so great for veggies? I will definitely try it!
Sounds like parchment paper has lots of uses! I hope the next 2 days go quickly for you!
I am going to have to try the parchment paper…
SNOW is what is happening here this week. Yay!
I had leftovers for lunch too–they are my favorite! (I guess today’s was a thrice baked stuffed sweet potato!)
That sounds like a delicious lunch! And definitely give the parchment paper a try- it makes such a difference!
I agree the week started out slow but its flying by now! I had a coconut chia bar today that was delicious but I haven’t tried that new Larabar Coconut cream pie, how was it?!
I thought it was good- not my favorite flavor but a nice change from the cashew cookie I’ve been eating for the past few months!
Hi Lisa! A few things — I love to make hodge-podge leftover meals like that, but I rarely photograph them, because like you said – quite ugly. Also, so glad you like the new BODYPUMP release, I’m going back to teaching older stuff now, but will revisit it soon. And I’ve never tried that flavor of Larabar … sounds yummy! Hope you have a happy Thursday! 🙂
I wouldn’t say the new release is my favorite but some of the tracks are pretty good, and I usually like to take the class more than once before judging a release:)
The LARARbar was pretty good- not my favorite but I would definitely get it again!
Have a great night!
Woo hoo for the newest BP release- I am loving teaching it! And Lara bars are the best. Love them for a quick snack! Do you find that they are the cheapest on Amazon?
We seem to get the best deal on amazon using subscribe n save. Whole foods wasn’t bad at $1 a bar, considering you could pick out whatever flavors you want without buying a whole box of the same kind!
Great tip about the parchment paper! I have sweet potatoes and butternut squash on the list for tomorrow’s grocery trip. I am determined to make some hash for breakfast next week! You are my breakfast inspiration!
Glad to hear it! The parchment paper makes such a difference!
I hope you like the R8! I love mine! Sometimes when I put black beans in random things, it kinda looks like that:) as long as it tastes good, right!?
So far I really like it but I’m wondering if there are any tricks to using about it that I should know? I watched the video and did it like that but I feel like as you use it more you probably figure it out better, just like what happens with the foam roller.
I want one of those Roll things SO BADLY! Please write about it once you use it! Your lunch looks horrible and delicious all at the same time and it definitely sounds good. I mostly eat at my desk too because I don’t think my coworkers fully understand the frankensalads that I bring to work.
This week FLEW by for me too. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday.
I need to use it a little more and then I will share how I like it!
For some reason, I never thought to use parchment paper instead of foil when roasting veggies…sometimes I am so blonde! Thanks for that aha moment! hehe! The week flew by for me also! Weird how that happens! I hope everything is ok with you! Have a good weekend and give your mind a rest! 🙂
Thanks Stacy! It took me a while to figure out the parchment paper trick too..but I’m so glad I did!
You have just changed my life when it comes to roasting veggies! I always use foil!
It’s really so much better! I hope it works as well for you!
I see you share my love for torture devices! Lol. I like to buy my bars that way too so I can sample different flavors.
Yep! The more I can dig into my muscles the better:)