Happy Monday! I hope some of you have today, or this whole week off like I do. (Yes, I’m bragging. Just give it to me, ok?) I wasn’t around blog land too much these past few days, because I’ve been spending time with friends and family. Which is kind of what holidays are for, right?
I didn’t get any super-cool gifts to blog about, but I did score some gift cards, some fancy tea, a homemade scarf, a book about long-distance running for beginners, and a sweet flashlight for my keychain that I’ve already used to dig out a pan from the depths of my cupboard.
Besides that…I’ve been eating. Ok, I’m not sure if that’s the true meaning of holiday season but man, the eats (and drinks!) these past…oh let’s say two or three weeks…have been a little crazy. I’ve been keeping up with my working out so that helps immensely, but I’m definitely feeling the effects of carb overload.
Surprisingly, I’m not beating myself up over it, just taking it for what it is and thankful that I’m actually craving healthy foods. I was thinking about doing some sort of “detox” and totally cutting out the white carbs for a week or two, but I’m just not into the restrictive thing these days. I’m just planning on going back to the diet that makes me feel my best…85% “clean” eating, 15% junk (hey, calling it what it is).
I don’t have food photos from the holidays, but let me tell you there has been a fair amount of this:
Peanut-butter balls (Mitch’s family puts Rice Krispies in them…SO good), gingerbread cookies (my friend made this one just for me…complete with running shoes and a dinosaur bone which is an homage to the museum where I work), random candy (featured here is the Hershey’s peppermint kisses), and pretzels (have I mentioned I have a weakness for pretzels? Mitch’s mom got me a giant tub of them from Costco…and I’m bringing it into work next Monday to rid myself of the temptation).
I’ve also been OD’ing on Sugar Plum Spice tea. I might have a slight obsession.
No pictured yet delicious eats include:
- A VERY rare trip to In-N-Out on Christmas Eve when nothing else was open (hamburger and French fries)
- Sticky buns, egg scramble, fruit salad (Christmas brunch)
- Ham, green bean casserole, a few vodka/diet Sprites, Magic bars (Christmas dinner)
- Crab cake and fries (yes, more fries…these ones were NOT needed and made me a little sick) split with my mom at Cafe Chloe for lunch Saturday
- Chicken and vegetable pho followed by bowling (and a few drinks at the bar at the bowling alley) Saturday night
- Prime rib, mashed potatoes, green beans (steamed! so lovely) and a dessert-tasting trio (apple crisp, a peanut butter ball and a small sticky bun…Mitch didn’t think I’d blog all that!) last night at Mitch’s dad’s house for a late Christmas dinner. Stuck to water to drink though, thank goodness.
See, I wasn’t kidding! It’s been slightly out of control. Worth it though. There has been healthy food in there too (fruit, toast w/PB for breakfast, pea soup) but the crap-to-healthy ratio has been…off, let’s say.
Today I had oats with almond butter for breakfast, and a ham and roasted-red pepper sandwich on a multigrain sandwich thin with a side of cantaloupe and a gingerbread cookie for lunch. Feeling better already 
Oh! And on Christmas Eve, I got this package sent to me for free by the nice people over at Newman’s Own Organics to review on the blog:
Holy Snack Foods, Batman! They sent me this too-generous box of chocolate, cookies, mints, dried fruits, pretzels (!!), soy crisps, and I think some other stuff too. Reviews to come but so far I’ll say that Mitch liked the coy crisps and the “organic Oreos” which surprised me (he actually said they were better than his beloved Oreos…score!).
I really like the organic mints too, but I have to be careful with them because my dentist literally told me to “lay off the mints” because they are likely the cause of my THREE cavities I now have to deal with. Happy New Year to me.
There is more food here than I know what to do with, so stay tuned for a giveaway! There is a milestone to celebrate soon around these parts…
More blog posts in the works (oh, in the next month or so probably):
- Goals/Plans for 2010
- Pizza night with the girls (my BFF and my puppy)
- Food Inc. Review (haven’t watched it yet, but it’s in the Netflix instant queue)
- Said “celebration giveaway”
- Recipes? Cooking? Goodness gracious, let’s hope so!
What is the best thing you ate over the holiday season? Have you done a better job than I have with the whole “moderation” thing? For me, I’d have to say my favorite was Mitch’s mom sticky buns (TWSS? Eww haha)…they are soo addictingly (yes it’s a word) good. We killed nearly the whole pan, which probably would serve 8 people at least when eaten in normal portions, on Christmas day. Mitch did most of the damage but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t go back for thirds seconds.
Ok time to continue being lazy…I’ve been go-go-go so far this vacation, and I’m looking forward to some hanging out and doing nothing!
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oh girl, enjoy that week off! i am currently at work. dang. love that all the food has been worth it. that is the best, isn’t it?!
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Ohmygosh, my holiday eating has been the exact same as yours!!! My crap to healthy ratio is usually the same as yours – and it’s been completely reversed this past week! It’s all good homecooked food, but I think I’ve consumed more butter these past few days than I have all year
The only guilt I feel is related to the fact that my pants are honestly pretty snug right now. But I think I’ve also eaten some of the best food I have all year. Totally worth it!!
Sweet package from Newman’s!!! Can’t wait to hear more about this giveaway
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Don’t beat yourself up (I know you aren’t…) we all have our moments!! First off, don’t get on the scale because you may FREAK out. You gain water weight really fast when you go from eating really healthy, to eating more carbs, sweets, and salt. So if you got on the scale it may be 3-5 pounds more, but purely water, NOT fat! I did that the other day, lol, dumb! I was definitely more lax with my food choices the past few days. I ate much more sugar and salt and I enjoyed every bit of it. I did try to moderate my intake, but not to the point where I didn’t enjoy myself. I think a “detox” is a good idea, as long as it’s not one of those lame detox diet plans. Simply cutting out processed foods or white carbs for a week is a great idea. I’m sort of doing that too, to a certain extent (I mean, I’ll be drinking and eating on New Year’s eve for sure!). Like you, I’ve been craving healthy food after the last weekend, which is great.
Glad you had a merry Christmas, and I look forward to reading your Food Inc. review! Best thing I ate over Christmas had to be Nick’s mother’s meatballs….ohhhh yum! Also my cousins rocky road fudge
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wow what great desserts! i bet PB balls are SO good with rice krispies!
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I have actually done really well in terms of keeping up with exercise but not well at all in terms of keeping away from the cookies!
Hanging out and doing nothing sounds great.
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im not beating myself up either because the holidays only come around once
Plus when the food is gone its back to normal eating. no worries.
I’ve never been to an In-N-Out but heard their burgers are to die for!
happy holidays!
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It is definitely ok for you to do a list of your favorite foods of 2009! Not a problem at all, I look forward to seeing them
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I love the Newmans Own products. The soy crisps are my fav!
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