You Own It.

This morning I had my breakfast with a side of Jillian Michaels.
Yeah, yeah, I know, how am I supposed to mindfully eat when I constantly watch TV while I’m dining? Call it a product of living single (unfortunately not like the TV show from the 90s featuring Queen Latifah)…at least I mindfully cook, right? That’s got to count for something.

Anyways, I love Losing It. I have been a sporadic viewer of The Biggest Loser in the past–every now and then I’ll get really into a season–but I have been really enjoying watching Jillian help out the families on her show. Maybe its because I feel like it is so much more important for viewers to be able to recognize that no one can make these drastic changes alone [without support, sustaining anything is difficult...that's like a physics principle or something ], and, as a teacher, I love that they show how important it is to make changes not only for, but within, the kids, too. [This week's episode featured a boy who found himself through karate, and I literally almost cried to see his self-confidence improve with his health.] I also feel like Jillian really does care about these people, perhaps because she’s been so honest in interviews about her own past struggles?

I don’t know. Just wanted to share my thoughts.* Anyone else watching?

*I also think the theme song should be changed to “Lose Yourself” by Eminem. In case any NBC execs are reading this blog. In which case, I also think Jillian could use an assistant. Preferably a redheaded one.

My breakfast was created last night in my favorite bowl in the kitchen.
It was here when I arrived, and the reason I love it is not only for its fun flowers, but because it has this chip on the edge, which I associate (of course?) with the character Chip from Beauty and the Beast (I know, I know…he was a teacup), and sometimes I imagine this little bowl squeaking back at me. [Another, more creepy, result of being single perhaps.]
Anyways, into Chip went a superripe (we’re talking banana bread stage here) 1/2 of a banana, which I started to slice and it just mushed apart on the cutting board, so I abandoned the effort. I also added 1/4 Archer Farms plain yogurt (seriously, you need to find a Super Target and buy some. Now.)
On went 1/3 cup rolled oats, 1/2 Tbsp. oat bran, and 1/2 Tbsp. wheat bran.
A whole lot of cinnamon and nutmeg, plus 1/4 cup of soy milk.
(No, my dreams have not come true. Trader Joe’s did not open up down the street, or anywhere in Austin for that matter…this came along with my spice collection from Virginia. It is DELICIOUS. I don’t think I’d had plain soy milk before, only vanilla, but I love this AND the nutritional info.)
Stir and mash!
This little guy was apparently scared of my intense mashing…but there is no escape from the overnight oat spoon! [Goodness, I need to get a dog so I can talk to it rather than my food.]
I topped it off in the morning with 1/2 a kiwi, some mango and blueberries, as well as a few halved grapes (these are a crazy good bunch of grapes, by the way). A sprinkling of my Trail Mix Granola added the perfect crunch!
I don’t really know where the day went. I did use some of this TJ Maxx gift card….
…to obtain some fun new mini-dishes (including ramekins, which I have never owned)!
I, however, do NOT ‘heart’ TJ Maxx as the gift card implies. Why? Well, the cashier was not having a good day and looked at me suspiciously, saying, “Are you sure there is enough on this card to cover it?” right before the register beeped and my receipt came out showing that not only did I have enough to cover the dishes, I still had $16 leftover. Take that, snobberstar!

For lunch, I needed something light, as I have a VERY exciting dinner tonight and I need to be ready to fully enjoy every bite (and drink) of that, so I stuck with a personal veggie plate.
Cukes, carrots, mushrooms, and peppers, sliced in order to maximize dipping ability into the last of the homemade salsa from the weekend. [I will be attempting a recreation soon.] Everything received a nice sprinkling of Penzey’s Northwoods seasoning.

There was one lone egg sitting sadly in the fridge, singing Celine-style, “All by myseeeelf, don’t wanna be, all by myself, anymore!” so I put him out of his misery and hard-boiled him. [To hard boil, simply pop the egg into a pot of boiling water and let it hang out for 12 minutes, no more, no less. Thank you Mark Bittman and How to Cook Everything for that knowledge. It has served me well.]
Despite needing to save a large amount of room for dinner, I did have to have a lil’ snack…veggies and an egg don’t last forever. Since it had been a whole day since my frozen yogurt testing and tasting extravaganza, I figured I could handle a little faux-yo.
OK, so I didn’t let it freeze quite long enough…but it was cold and delicious, and tasted just like a Creamsicle!

Off to get ready for tonight’s fun festivities… [I can't wait to tell you about them tomorrow. ]