Productive Snow Day

What an awesome “snow day” I had today!!

After getting a lot of little things done this morning, Craig was able to come home and join me for lunch! 🙂

(Love being able to take pictures during the daylight!)

This is one of Craig’s creations:

He heated up the pita bread in a pan, sprayed the bread with olive oil, and topped it with spices (basil, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper).

The pita bread was then topped with: hummus + cucumber + tomato + kalamata olives

I only had half of this. I forget how much my appetite dwindles when I don’t go running in the morning.

I made this barley pilaf and had a little to eat as well. This is a great side dish with some added veggies mixed in.

Barley Pilaf with Peppers and Spinach

(The original recipe can be found here.)

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
3/4 cup onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup pearled barley
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
3 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock
6 small red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, diced
2 cups fresh spinach
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, heat oil and saute onion until tender.

2. Add garlic, barley, and thyme; saute for another minute.

3. Add chicken stock, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 45 minutes.

4. Saute peppers in separate pan. Add spinach and cook until wilted. Add to barley once cooked through.

5. Season with vinegar and pepper.

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Over the weekend, Craig and I hit up the mall to do a little shopping and scored some awesome deals at Gap, so I thought I would share them with you! 🙂

Everything in the store was an additional 40% off–how can you beat that!

This was my “deal of the century.”

$128 –> $79.99 –> $47.99 (additional 40% off) –> $38.39 (additional 20% off because the jacket was slightly soiled, but it cleaned up easily at home)

That means I saved almost $90 off the original price!!

I also got this black tank top from the sale rack.

$34.50 –> $24.99 –> $14.99

This top wasn’t on sale, but I still got 40% off!

$19.50 –> $11.70

Craig also got a new jacket and scarf, which he is wearing in this picture.

Jacket: $98.00 –> $58.80

Scarf: $24.50 –> $14.70

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I attempted to go running this afternoon, but that did not work out so well. I managed to run 5 miles yesterday on the ice, but on top of the ice today was a layer of water, which made the ice smooth as glass and impossible to run on. After 0.5 mile, I had to turn around. 🙁

Instead, I walked skated my way to the post office to pick up a package.

My new Garmin 405!!!

I finally broke down and got a GPS for running; I hope I like it! Too bad I couldn’t try it out today!!

I was feeling the need for a more substantial workout, so I went to the gym and ran 3 miles on the treadmill. It felt like it took me forever to get to 3 miles, but it was worth it.

When I got back, I tried to recreate the smoothie we had at Middle Way Cafe on Saturday.

orange juice + plain yogurt + frozen strawberries + 1/2 of a frozen banana + fresh ginger, grated

It was good, and I loved the addition of the ginger in it, but it wasn’t quite as good as it was at the cafe.

I’m relaxing for the rest of the night because. . . . .

I just found out we don’t have school again tomorrow!! WooHoo!!