Not so well

So remember the stomach pains I mentioned yesterday? Well they ended up getting worse, not better. Much worse. I think it's the same funny feeling I got a while back... I definately need to figure out what this is. It is definately putting a damper on my last day in the states!

I did have a fun night last night though, I went to one of my local coffee shops with my friend Katrina, and we had tea... and I brought her a treat- a home made brownie! She loved it, and of course I couldn't just watch her eat it, I had to have one for myelf- so I packed a tiny one as well!

After chatting for a couple hours, we parted ways and I was a bit hungry back at home, so I had a bowl of grapes before reading and settling into bed.

This morning I could NOT decide what I wanted to eat. I was not in the mood for sweet (nothing vanilla!), not in the mood for peanut butter (WEIRD) and not even really in the mood for a banana (also weird!) but the only other fruit we have are apples... and apples are just not breakfast foods in my book. So I settled on a big bowl of cold cereal- Nature's Path Optimum power, my usual 1 1/2 cup serving with 1 cup nonfat soy milk, a big banana and a couple tiny strawberries (there to look pretty, but of course I ate them!!) It was nice and filling, but my stomach is still aching so I'm not really enjoying food all that much.

Today I'm going to go through all my travel documents, get some sort of exercise in (even though I am REALLY not feeling well...) and then take my sister and her friend out for the day. Hopefully I'll also be going to dinner with a couple friends, looks like I'll be a busy girl!

Promotion Celebration

My sister is finally a high schooler! She graduated 8th grade, looking as cute as can be- and with a report card of all A's and B's! I'm so proud of her, I can't believe how fast she's growing up!

After the ceremony there was a little reception following with lots of treats. I resisted the donut holes and cookies, but couldn't resist the big bowl of juicy watermelon slices! I had 2 as a delightful snack.
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Back home I gave my sister her treat early- my last tester recipe before I leave for Italy, Fudgey Brownies by the lovely Lindsay, The Happy Herbivore!

I could have eaten all of them!

But I just had one (for now!)

We headed out to dinner a while later, and unfortunately found out the restaurant we had planned on going to was closed! My sister was craving pasta, so we went for Italian instead.
I started off with a small piece of home made foccacia dipped in some garlic olive oil:

I was looking for a vegetable dish, so I settled on the Eggplant Vincenza- lightly breaded baked eggplant stuffed with 2 cheeses, spinach, and mushrooms in a tomato sauce. I asked the server if the sauce had meat in it, and he said it was a meat base so I requested it to be made without the meat base. The sauce they gave me was fantastIc! Big chunks of tomatoes, lots of spices, very tasty.

The dish was HUGE- I only ended up eating 2 of the big eggplant pieces, with lots of sauce, mushrooms and spinach, but took of most of the cheese, only leaving a small amount for flavor. It definately would have been just as good without the cheese- I have to get used to asking for things without cheese! However, I am going off to Italy in a few days, so I went with a bit of dairy just because I know my body needs to be used to it since I don't have it often. But away with dairy I will go as soon as I am back in the states! Still, the dish was tasty and filling, definately a nice meal out.

Since we had brownies before, we passed on dessert- but I do have to say the brownies are calling my name from the kitchen! We'll see how I feel when I get back from hanging out with my friend later on tonight =)

Home cooked lunch

This might actually be my last home-cooked meal, depending on what we decide to do for lunch tomorrow. Such a strange feeling! I can't believe I'll be without my beloved stove, santoku knife and sautee pan for the next 30 days... I'm sure I'll be eating like a queen, though!
For lunch today I used up the last box of tofu we had in the fridge, and made blackened tofu sandwiches for my mom and myself! I had 2 big pieces of blackened tofu (recipe from ED&BV)- almost 1/2 a block! On top of two slices of sprouted bread with some spinach and honey mustard. On the side I nibbled on some carrots and an apple. However by the time I finished the apple I was STUFFED and sort of regretted eating it as well. Hopefully it will last me through promotion though, so I don't get hungry when my sister gets her diploma!



I am going to be scaling down my portion sizes as soon as I arrive back from Italy- I've gained 10 pounds, and I figure the "happy pounds" I'm sure I'll gain in bread and pasta in Italy will account for the last 3- so I'll be completely healthy and back to normal by the time I start school in the fall!

I'm off to cut the brownies I made for my sis, and then get ready to see her graduate!

Slowly disappearing...

My stash of breakfast foods is slowly disappearing as I'm getting ready to jet off. This morning I finished the last of my granola planks- I had Blueberry Vanilla Crackle along with some vanilla soy yogurt and a nectarine. Filling and tasty, as usual!

Today my day is booked- the weather's not looking too nice, so I think I may be working out inside again... which stinks, I want all the outdoor runs I can get before I leave! That leaves 2 more possibilities... fiingers crossed!
I'm also baking some brownies in honor of my sister's promotion, and we're going out to dinner later on as well. It's a great restaurant, but there are no vegan options, unfortunately- so I'll deal with some dairy for the night (as I will have to for the next month!). Should still be a nice time though!

And, I might as well say it-
Congrats on being Promoted, Ali!!

Sweet goodbyes

Tonight I had a nice quiet night with my friend, we were both tired so we just got some ice cream and a couple movies and hung around, but it was nice to just relax a bit and chat before I leave for a month!

I got a small cookie dough with sprinkles, my childhood favorite =)

Later on in the evening, I got a bit hungry so I snacked on a mini clif bar I had laying around.


This hit the spot; my stomach is feeling a bit funny today but it's getting better now... I better go get some rest, I've got a long day tomorrow (later today, actually!) - my sister is graduating from middle school, so I have baking and celebrating to do!

Gimme Chimis!

But not quite yet. Because I am sooo stuffed from the one I just ate!
Wow, Dreena has done it again- another delicious recipe from ED&BV! I made her "Gimme Chimis" tonight, and they were absolutely fabulous. Stuffed with tempeh, onions, tomatoes, zucchini and beans (I used kidney)- it was a spicy treat for my taste buds! The only problem I had was stuffing the mixture into the tortilla... it didn't exactly go as planned, so instead of chimis we ended up with wraps- but they were delicious anyways! I topped mine with some fresh cilantro and squeezed some fresh lime on it. Mmm mmm! On the side I had a small spinach salad drizzled with some sesame dressing.


I am almost packed! About 1/2 way there! I've got my big bags packed except for a few small items, I just need to work on my carry on and I should be good to go!
I have lots of baggies of almonds and mixed nuts packed as snacks!

As I was packing, I got hungry, and for some reason I was really craving tofutti cream cheese! Weird, huh? So I made myself a snack of 4 akmak sesame crackers, topped with 2 tbsp vegan cream cheese, and a few grapes on the side. Totally satisfied my craving and filled me until dinner!

Tonight I'm doing some more Italy organizing and my friend Eric is coming in a bit to treat me to ice cream. I know I don't normally do ice cream, but this is the BEST home made ice cream, it's right up the street, and he wants to go... so I'm caving for now, but he knows once I'm back from Italy it will be all sorbet for me!

Have a relaxing Sunday eve, guys!

Relaxed and Renewed

\I'm back from my yoga class, and it was another truly great class. I got everything I wanted to get out of it, and more!
I snacked on a nectarine on the way to hold me over:

Afterwards, I took a nice walk down the street to the Alternative Food Co Op to grab something for lunch. I bought an organic "Thousand Points of Light" salad, which was made of bulgar wheat, broccoli, carrots, kale, cider vinegar, and olive oil. I ate the entire, delicious container! I also had a few bites of my sister's tofu salad on the side (I couldn't decide which one I wanted, so I had the best of both worlds!)

On the way home I also snacked on two delicious tiny organic plums. Aren't they cute?

I am in full-on pack mode right about now, deciding what to bring, how it's all going to fit... wish me luck!
I'm making a new ED&BV recipe later on tonight, and my friend is taking me out for a goodbye dessert later on this evening!