Last night at work I couldn’t keep my eyes open.  I’m useless after 9pm.  When I got off at 10 I headed straight home, took my makeup off, took out my contacts, and passed out within 10 minutes.  Yesterday, I added a new mattress and a new pillow to my “things I’m going to get around to buying” list.  My neck was pretty darn sore.  To turn that into a positive…. it now gives me an excuse to beg Josh and complain to him that I really need a neck massage this weekend.

After being soooo tired, I ended up waking up at 3:38am.  Wide awake with no chance of falling back asleep in my allotted time before my alarm went off.  You know, I was actually happy about it.  I felt like I could relax.  No worries, no mommy duties, no girl friend duties, no house cleaning, no getting up.  I was super cozy in my nice warm bed and just laid there and thought about things.  I thought about a lot of things.  I thought about what I wanted to write today, what I wanted my future to be like, my options for the future, how I want to decorate my next house, the kids rooms, the bowl of mixed cereal I was going to have in a couple hours, how I want my future cooking show to be.  I even thought about the little jingle I want to make for the beginning of the “show.”

When I don’t have to work nights anymore, I’m going to start getting up early to meditate on life, alone.

Finally, at 5am the, “I need to get things done,” thought came into my head and I got up to make breakfasts, lunches, and coffee.  It’s now 5:30am and I am drinking my coffee, watching the Big Band Theory, and talking to you guys. The kids will be up soon and Josh will be leaving for work so I’m going to get off here and enjoy my time.  My rare, rare, time I get alone.  See you guys in a little bit!

________________________________ Let’s Do The Time Warp Again___________________________

It’s just a jump to the left. And then a step to the right. With your hands on your hips. You bring your knees in tight.  (I’m ready for Halloween already.)

It’s 9am.  Yes 9am and I feel like it’s been a whole day already.  I dropped Braiden off at preschool and then went to the gym.  I did 20 minutes of cardio and quit.  My neck was so uncomfortable and I really wanted to eat.  Amanda gave me the idea to start mixing my cereals together.  I did it today for the first time and it was simply amazing.  I will never eat one kind of cereal at a time again.

I must tell you guys how to make the most amazing salad. (Well one of them.)  I bought veggie chips from Aldi. (All natural, $2 a bag) I don’t have big enough bowls at my house to hold the monstrous salads I eat so I decided just to eat out of the container.  I used 50/50 lettuce and spinach mix, then I layered on jalapenos, blue cheese, and crushed veggie chips.  Add Yogurt Caesar dressing and you have yourself a bowl of salad happiness, not to be confused with the bowl of cereal happiness I just inhaled this morning.

Demolished.   I will be have another one again today.

I have to work in the evening so I always make dinner really early so Josh doesn’t have to do any cooking.  The kids thank me for this.  Yesterday I breaded some chicken with egg and crushed up cereal.  I pan fried it in coconut oil and then finished it in the oven.

For a side, I made fried brown rice.

I used coconut oil, frozen peas, brown rice, eggs, rice vinegar, and fish sauce.  This is what I ate for dinner by itself.

Well guys, I feel the lack of sleep catching up to my and I have another long night ahead of me at work so I think I’m turning on Dora and laying down until I have to pick up Braiden from summer school at noon.

Adios!

 Question: Are you an Early Bird or A Night Owl?  I’m definitely not a night owl.

Last night I went to the gym for the first time since last Thursday.  I did 6 miles on the cricket looking thing and it felt amazing.  I turned up the resistance and kept my pace under 10 minute miles.   Alrighty… Moving on to What I ate Wednesday.

I’ve talked a little bit on the blog about “trigger foods.”  Foods I couldn’t/can’t keep in the house or can’t eat because they trigger me to binge and there for… used to trigger me to purge.  These included granola bars, chips, cereal, snack cakes, basically anything sweet and carb filled.  Lately I’ve re-introduced some of these foods with very much success.  I have come back to my long lost love and couldn’t be happier.

Cereal. I. Love. Cereal.  I already went through a box of Kashi Cinnamon Harvest (actually I had two bowls and someone, Josh and Braiden, horded the rest) so yesterday was a Honey Spins (off brand) day.  I always use vanilla almond or coconut milk because I love the vanilla taste it adds.

After my wonderful bowl of happiness I was cleaning up the kids breakfast and someone had left this golden cinnamon gram cracker just lying around.  It was delicious.

 I’m glad I don’t care about sporadically taking food from my children anymore.  I’m having trouble convincing them though.

Before lunch time rolled around Scarlet wanted some chips and salsa.  I had a handful or two of these off brand blue corn tortilla chips.  Note to everyone: These are at Aldi and taste AMAZING! $1.68 a bag.

For lunch I got out some left over pasta I made Monday night.  Bowtie pasta with bacon, garlic, a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, and some coconut oil.  I ate half of it cold.  I’m all about cold left overs.  Then I decided to add a little ranch dressing and some cheese and warm it up a little.  Both ways it tasted great and it was like a two in one lunch.

I zoned in on the bacon for you.  Bacon and Pasta were made for each other.

After lunch I had a half spoon full of sunflower seed butter while I was making the kids their lunch.  (not pictured)

For dinner I decided to go with a wrap.  Since I knew I was running I ate dinner early. I sautéed some peppers and onions with chili powder, cumin, and Cajun seasoning.  I smeared one of those cheese triangles on half of it, loaded it up with jalapenos, the veggies, and hot sauce.

I always end with something sweet.

Key Lime Yogurt with a hand full of Cheerios Honey Spins for crunch.  I like this Greek because it’s the only Greek yogurt I found that’s not chunky.  I like my yogurt thick but smooth.

Well, that’s what I ate!  Speaking of, I hear a bowl of cheerios calling my name now.  Hear it? (Ashley)  See ya!

Question: Do you eat off brand foods are do you always sick with name brand?  I’m an Aldi off brand lover.