Sundays in Dream Land

Hi lovelies!  How were your Sundays?

I was feeling pretty blah today for some reason… Really sleepy all day, despite some yum eats. Let’s get right to it, shall we? And by it, I do indeed mean the highlight of any day.

Pretty, pretty, pancakes.

Homemade and looking extra gorgey with some strawberry loving.

Mmmm.. these were extra fluffy today. Gotta love a time tested recipe, passed down by Nannie (my great grandma, aka one of the best cooks evaaa). Turn out delish even while here in NYC, without our beloved family pancake pan.

Oh, and I was super happy to see pancakes popping up around the blogosphere today, such as some amazing looking ones made by Heather at Heather Eats Almond Butter. Spread the pancake love, ya’ll!

Today was not very productive, unfortunately. Well, unless you count getting to stand on my foot for 25 minutes every hour, wooo! Tomorrow I’ll be up to 30 minutes an hour, which supposedly means I can then walk shortly after, or said my surgeon when I saw him last week. I hope he was serious, because I’m getting some serious ants in my pants!  I am so anxious to start walking and just moving around, that I sort of got a little down today from frustration. Luckily I had a nice convo with mi madre who reminded me that hey, all in all- this situation ain’t bad. It’s all temporary discomfort right now, and sooner rather than later I’ll be good as new. I hope it’s really soon though…

Speaking of new, I decided to welcome an addition to my wardrobe this weekend, courtesy of the Gap website, while I munched on an extra crisp apple.

Yep, I ordered a random ski vest. Why? Not sure, considering I don’t actually need it since I’m not foreseeing skiing in my near future, but it’s so cute and puffy! I mean, it even has a fun hood. Obviously that made it a mandatory buy… and it does get pretty chilly around these parts, especially for a west coast winter weenie like myself. So… a ski vest will be arriving shortly, yay! I’ve never been a big online shopping fan (I like to try things on because I’m a munchkin), but I even had a rewards coupon.. fab.

Anyways, after a lot of mindless actiivities and a semi-fail at doing any real work today, I rounded out the day with some deep thoughts about my future and a brownie. Or two.

Chewy and extra chocolatey, because sometimes you just need an old fashioned chooclate hug from Duncan Hines.

(For some reason brownies are the one thing I can never master making from scratch… all suggestions/recipes welcome!)

And clearly I should never be a life coach for anyone suffering from issues with emotional eating. Remember bloggies, I’m not trained in anything food/nutrition/exercise wise, just writing. Um, and eating. So don’t take what I say as testament.. These posts are just whatever I’m personally feeling really.

Anyways, I’ve been doing lots o’ thinking on my future… I need a career, and I’ve started to let my brain wander into scary territory, aka bouncing around ideas that maybe my current career path isn’t the one that this post-getting-hit-by-a-van Pancake Girl wants to do with her life. Other dreamy ideas so far have included delving back into teaching, culinary/baking school, nutrition studies, and even nursing, because I like to consider huge, crazy possibilities. I’ve also previously considered going to teacher training for my beloved Bikram yoga, just for kicks, although I don’t think I’d actually do the latter full-time ever. Never say never though, right? Nothing is concrete.. I just like to fantasize about all the possibilities that may exist.

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I’m off to slip into dream land, but I’ll catch you all tomorrow. Must get more work done! School’s almost over, yikes!! xo

If you all could switch careers, is there anything you’re dying to try?

So Fresh and So Clean, Clean

Yes, folks- the reign of the stinky blogger is officially over.

I…. have showered. (Please save your applause.)

As many of you probably recall (although I kind of hope you’d overlooked this detail), my surgeon had told me I couldn’t shower after my skin graft surgery… that was October 29. It’s now November. (i can already hear the crickets as my fab readers start wondering why they read this blog..) I don’t even think we need more description on this subject… I’ll leave it up to your imaginations, but the important point of this story is that homegirl is now CLEAN, and damn proud of that fact, too. Pretty sure that was the longest shower ever, too. I made up for being stanky for weeks by fitting in multiple mini showers in one. It was fabulous. And I now smell like coconut, so there.

Maybe I should just throw it out there (ya know, in case there’s any lingering concern) that I’m actually a clean freak usually. I’m mess in just about every other way, but I’m pretty obsessive compulsive when it comes to dirt. I mean, the only time in my life I can remember not showering regularly was when I had the chicken pox (I took oatmeal baths for a week, good times).

Hmm, perhaps that was a wee bit too much time spent focused on my hygiene habits. Moving on.

I have been a bottomless pit lately. Like for real, if I shared every single photo of every single item of food I popped into my mouth the past two days, you would all be horrified, I’m sure– esp considering this is (supposedly) a healthy living food blog. And it would probably take  up two posts.

There was a little of this…

Pillsbury cookies, slice and bake kind, my fav dessert as a kid.

And these (when I remembered the food pyramid)…

fruit totally cancels out cookies, right?

Plus a little bit of that, below… okay, a LOT bit. Think multiple bowls.

saucey homemade baked ziti, with mozz and ricotta

Insert food coma here. And in case you’re keeping track, my dairy-resistant tummy did NOT appreciate this experience as much as my mouth did…whooops. But it was DELISH- not one regret from this girl!

Alas, I seem to have completed my stint as the hungry, hungry (gimpy) hippo of NYC for the time being, so that’s a slight relief. Ironically it was also all carbs that I was craving for two days, not protein like was my intention. I did, however, learn that whole wheat English muffins contain 6 whole grams of protein, woo! That’s almost as much as an egg!

Side note: Eve, a registered dietician who blogs, totally verified what my nurse said about protein’s healing properties in her last post, which made me, anti-science girl, feel vindicated in my recent foodie efforts.

I’ve also noticed that I have sort of stange food habits.

Such as Trader Joe’s crack pumpkin butter

+

how am i not orange yet?

O.M.Geeeee, people- this is gooooood! Sort of tastes like sweet potato pie that you have on Thanksgiving (aka my fav part of the turkey day meal!). Unfortunately it melted in so you can’t really see, but I slathered on the pump butter right on top. I actually just tried the two together for the first time last night, but boy was it worth it. I also used a bit of salt, pepper, and Earth Balance vegan spread (I like to pretend I’m vegan sometimes, don’t worry about it), per usual. Yum. Try it, you won’t be sorry.

Then there’s a combo I’ve loved since I… well, since the first time I was able to eat eggs. My mommy always ate them this way, so I did too…. but seeing me eat eggs this way makes some people ready to ralph when I’m having breakfast in public. What an intro, eh?

this morning's bfast: 1 whole egg scrambled, toasted w.w. sandwich thin, and sberries.

See that pink blob [ totally just wrote "blog" first by accident, Freudian slip.. ] on the left, near the strawberries? That’s strawberry jam. Yeah, I like to dunk my eggs in jam. Anyone freaked out? Hope not, because it’s actually a really great blend of tastes. That whole sweet and salty thing, I guess. I used to do it all the time when I was served eggs when I was younger… now I usually use ketchup, but sometimes.. jam’s got it going on, babies. I dare you to try.

Do you lovelies have any weird food habits?

Since this post is getting longwinded and I’m ready for lunchtime, I’ll leave you with another quote from my latest T.V. obsession that had me rolling on the floor with laughter… and yet I can’t help but feel like Jack Donaghy almost always makes sense.

“The event’s not tonight? When is it?” -Liz Lemon

“February.” -Jack

“Then why are you wearing a tux?” -Lemon

“It’s after 6pm. What am I, a farmer?” -Jack

Peace out blogbabies- have a great Saturday! xo

ps. It makes me happy so many of you reached out and let me know you found my last post inspiring. I really was just being honest.

Stop And Smell The Pancakes

Hey everyone, happy Thursday!

I started off my day with a delish breakfast sandwich. I present you with my very own Egg McMuffin, minus the creepy Ronald McDonald-esque clown. (How that character doesn’t freak little kids out is beyond me!)

bird's view

SERIOUS yum factor here. Made me want to take a million photos, don’t ask.. I don’t know about you guys, but I am a huge fan of bfast sammies- always have been. For some reason I think it makes eating eggs more fun. This little wonder was composed of two scrambled egg whites hugged between a squishy whole wheat English muffin (love how hearty and grains-filled the muffin tastes!), with a teensy bit of melted American cheese… just because. Tastes better than that powdered egg business going on over at Mickey D’s , if you ask me. Hmm, can’t even remember last time I had McDonald’s actually. (They do, however, have pretty tasty hotcakes, but that’s another story.)

And yes, as anyone who’s been reading this blog for awhile knows, I am a bit lactose intolerant, but I’m eating cheese. I’ve sort of thrown caution to the wind these days and am semi-ignoring that whole dairy sitch. I’ve tried the complete non-dairy lifestyle, and somehow I always end up falling off the wagon. Primarily it’s ice cream and butter that really bother my tummy, so as of right now I’m okay as long as do  my dairy deeds in small doses.

Want to see my chocolate nirvana from last night? I know you do!

choco nirvana, choco VitaTop..tomato, tomahto

Okay, so you can barely SEE the chocolatey gooeyness beneath that mountain of strawberries, but trust me, it was magical. Sure it was more healthy chocolate VitaTop than the delish piece of molten cake that it actually tasted like, but mmmmmm, it was a good dessert either way… and full of vitamins and minerals.

I’ve been trying to incorporate more protein into my meals, hence the eggs instead of oats this morning. The nurse at my plastic surgeon’s office said that protein aids healing, so when someone’s got a lot of healing that needs to occur, like me and my tootsies, then I should be eating even more protein than normal. In reality, I generally don’t consume much protein in my regular diet, or at least not compared to the ratio of carbohydrates I usually eat. I just love grains and fruits/veggies more (okay, and yogurt). I’m really making an effort to boost my protein intake for the next couple of weeks though, so expect to see more meat (sorry vegetarians!) and other protein sources, like dairy.

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Since my operation and having that massive splint on, and then recently getting it gloriously removed, I have come to recognize a lot of the great little things that I often fail to appreciate in my everyday life. For some I never realized before this accident how lucky I was to be able to walk myself to the little girl’s room before, or even just to walk, period. I mean, everything is a big deal and shouldn’t be taken for granted. When I had the splint on, I couldn’t even change my jammies, forget take a shower. I am sincerely in awe of the courageous people out there facing various handicaps every single day of their lives, who are brave enough to push forward despite the obstacles. It’s a hard thing.

I am just overwhelmed by gratitude now. Thankful for amazing doctors and kind nurses, thankful for supportive friends and fam, and unbelievable parents. And yup, thankful to God that the van only hit my foot a few weeks ago, and that I am alive to see another day. It sure sounds corny, I know, but it makes you think- now you have the rest of your life in front of you, and it’s almost a gift because it’s very apparent how easily it almost slipped away. A lot of people say “almost doesn’t count,” but I think it does. I feel like it’s even more important to recognize this all now and reflect, to be the best me I can, because geez, how many shots does a girl get? I had talked about how I’d felt like I was on a conveyor belt in my life back in September, everything being go, go go all the time this year. I didn’t stop, literally, until I got hit by a van. If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what the heck is.

So now I’m just reflecting on it all and making sure I am doing things that I truly want to do, not that I feel like I should be doing. I mean, I am dying to go on a walk through the city or a park, just to be able to walk again. I totally took it for granted before. Even with my future and my career path.. I mean, I regularly overthink and analyze everything anyways, but now I’m taking a magnifying glass and examining if this path I’m set on is really still what I want.

So what’s my point? Just take it all one day at a time, and heck, stop and smell the pancakes roses occasionally. Oh yeah, and eat some pancakes. That always does it for me.

Okkkkay, musing officially done. Lunch time yo! Happy Thursday, and let me leave you with a quote from the high-larious Liz Lemon of 30 Rock that I can REALLY relate to! xo

“Completely unsolicited and I’m only accepting it because I love food.”

{Lemon, in response to Jack making her dining reservations at a fancy schmancy restaurant in season one.}

Excuse Me, I Believe You Have My Stapler

Hi blogfaces!

How’s everyone doing today? I hope you enjoyed my last post’s reflections on being an injured foodie..Anyways, I’m a very happy girl right now because I went to see my surgeon yesterday and he took off my obnoxious splint from my foot, and I can now walk around like a normal person…er, normal person with crutches, that is. I still have to stay pretty much butt-planted to a chair or couch at all times til next week sometime, but least I can move without a ball and chain leaded splint and tubes attached to my foot. I feel free!  Plus I can eat my meals in the dining room if I should so choose, and get back to my apartment and classes probably around next week too. AND (can you tell I’m excited?!) crutchless -ness is looming in my near future as well, said my doc.

WOOOOO!

Only thing is right now I’m an itchy mess. My skin is super dry around the wounded part of my foot, partially from being covered in that hefty splint for days, resulting in me wanting to rip my hair out from the crazy itches. I actually woke up in the middle of the night because it was itching so bad, and I can’t really scratch because of the thick gauze surrounding my foot, and -oh yeah- I don’t want to tinker with the graft. Freaks me out kinda. They took out the staples yesterday [which I'm pretty sure is the most horrendous pain I've experienced thus far and is what I picture it would be like if I ever stepped on a porcupine or catapulted into a cactus tree and had to pull out those spiny needles would feel like], and now I’m not entirely clear on what’s keeping the new skin…. adhered. Too much info? Paranoid much? Mmm, I need to chill. Wine, anyone?

Yeah well, this is what results after your plastic surgeon tells you a story about some woman he also just did a skin graft on and had it fall OFF (apparently that can happen!) after going on a walking tour of Turkey soon after surgery. What possessed her to do a WALKING tour so soon after surgery of her foot is beyond me, but still instills some extra panic. The staple thing also makes me think of the movie Office Space in a strange way, but that’s another story.

I’m now sitting around, resting my foot at all times except for cinco minutes an hour, when I’m supposed to put weight on it. Tomorrow it’ll be for 10 minutes, and every day for 5 minutes more until it’s at a half hour… and then I can WALK, for real!

CAN’T. HARDLY. WAIT.

After my doctor appointment, I rewarded myself  and my quickly dropping blood sugar with an unhealthy holiday treat from the hospital gift shop.

a distant cousin of the marshmallow pumpkin.

Fake tasting and marshmallowy good for a quick picker upper. I really need to stop eating so much candy.I actually never buy candy, and don’t usually crave it ever (except for the occassional peanut butter M&Ms, my fav). Thanks for nothing, Halloween.

Anyone else find that once you spark your sweet tooth Willy Wonka style, it’s often tough to tell it to shush?

I was also reading Health magazine (love it!!), and realized that I need to get back into the sunshine asap!

courtesy the smarties at Health.

It seems that you need 30 minutes of sunlight streaming to boost your natural energy stores… Maybe that’s why I’ve been so tired lately! I need some sun!

You know what I also [ always ] need? Yogurt messes!

my photos are majorly ugggg lately, so sorry!

My bowl this morning, made super fast and simply because I was hangry, contained some 0% Fage with slices of banana, blueberries, a half of a crumbled raspberry Nutrigrain bar, and a brimming spoonful of almond  butter.  The Nutrigrain bar was so-so… my mom had snagged it from the surgical waiting room while I was being operated on last week. Scouring for snackage runs in the family.

I have some musings I want to share with you that I’ve learned from this experience so far, but I think I’ll save it for a later post, mostly because I need to wrap this post up to do some homework watch 30 Rock. (I only just discovered this show because apparently I live under a rock, but oh my is Liz Lemon a funny lady!) Catch you all later!

The Trick Is Not Minding

Happy Monday babycakes!

Last night I watched a movie that immediately jumped to my favorites list, and is the origin of this post’s title.

Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford doing their thing.

All the President’s Men, about the Watergate scandal– if you love politically-based plots (think West Wing), then rent this badboy!

Anyways, I thought I would take this post to muse a little bit more about a pesky dilemma a lot of us find ourselves in at some time or another- enjoying meals when you’re unable to move around much, aka stuck on your butt for an extended length of time like myself right now. This sitch can happen when you’re injured, sick with the flu (oink!), or whatevs.

I’m one of those people who loves to be moving. Seriously, I am a constant whirlwind of enthusiasm and passion most of the time. Ask anyone who knows me. As a result, I have grown used to that feeling of being in motion, and it’s unsettling to me when I have to veg out and slow down for too long… such as now, with my foot injury. Post surgery (and even kinda pre-surg), I am moving literally zip, nada, not at all, beyond to and from the restroom. In other words, I’ve been walking like a total of 20 minutes a day, and that’s no exaggeration!

As you all have probably realized from reading even one blog post of mine, I flippin’ LOVE food. In fact, I often feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day for me to get in all of the yummy meals I could without exploding my tummy (uh, and my waistband, let’s be serious). Long story short, your pancake-admiring blogger is regularly munching on something, or thinking about munching on something. I have always felt that my hearty appetite is balanced out by my habit of living in motion. For the record, I’m very lucky in that I’ve never really had a problem with my weight and have always been a good eater, although yes, I surely experienced minor bumps in the foodie road in undergrad while I tried more diverse foods and learned to become a healthier eater (aka embrace more well rounded eating and VEGGIES ). That’s when I picked up my love of nutrition, btw.

As a result, I’ve often found it plain old unpleasant to eat and then just sit around…and then sit some more. I like to walk around after I eat, or at least stand up! Being confined to the sofa as i currently am has reminded me how uncomfortable I find it to be just sitting on my tush, meal after meal. But homegirl’s got to eat no matter what!! In my last post, I metnioned my internal hunger monster… I would be lying if I told you I didn’t start to get a teensy bit anxious, nervous that being stuck sitting still while throwing back the pancake stacks would end up surging my weight or cause me to become unhealthy. Yeah, it did cross my mind briefly, but you know what? I found out that why YES, our hunger monsters are totally flexible, and they can adapt to the lack of movement. I never believed that or really even thought twice about it before, but I’m here to tell you it is true! I’ve still been hungry and eating, but not quite AS hungry as usual, so it really does all equalize at the end of the day. The trick really is not minding, and actually listening to your body.

SO my completely unprofessional opinion on being laid up and avoiding getting to the point of becoming haaaangry?  Smaller, lighter portions. But eat, please– you’ve got to or you’ll be cranky pants AND you won’t heal your body! No bueno!

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NOW, on to the the fooooood!

i REALLY should have taken a pic pre-stirring.. I got too excited.

This morning, due to no more pancake batter and me taking pity on my mother, I opted for a lovely Greek yogurt mess today with an extraordinary new ingredient (new to moi).

1/4 cup granola, strawberries, blueberries, and PB spooonful.

Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Granola– so good! Very nice crunch factor and flavorful, although I think it could do with a bit more pumpkin-ness. (You can add -ness to anything and make it a real word, did you know that kids?) Only thing I wasn’t too keen on was the raisins portion of the granola.. I like my raisins only in cinnamon raisin bread/English muffins, really. This granola has crunchy oats, pumkin, honey, and corn/cereal-esque balls (which don’t photograph well, if you ask me). I’m a fan, fo sho.

Oh, and just because it was that yummy and a real part of my family history, I have to quickly share last night’s din (this post is getting way too long, sorry!).

looks like i was drunk taking this picture.

Traditionally in my Italian fam, Sunday = Pasta Day, come rain or shine. My mom made homemade meat sauce (sorry my vegetarians!!), with whole wheat penne and meatballs. I also added garlicky cauliflower to my portion because that’s how I roll.

[Please ignore the yellow bowl/puke-tastic lighting. When you eat all your meals sitting on the sofa with one leg extended in front of you, bowls become REAL handy, and this was the only clean one last night.]

Plus…

an onion!

Yep, I ate a whole onion, simmered down until soft and sweet in the tomato sauce. ( Sorry Kath! ) Good thing I’m up on my teeth brushing…

Okay, time for some lunchy, and I’ve got an interview for a big girl post-grad job today… Have a wonderful day!

Do you guys find it tough to wrangle your inner hunger monster??

Reverse Trick or Treating

please note her sneakers have eyes.

How freakin’ adorable is my niece?! Spooky little cupcake, isn’t she?

Sisterpants sent me that pic so I could see Cupcake after she took on the neighborhood, scouring for chocolate. She LOVES chocolate cookies, like her auntie. Guess it runs in the family.

Last night, I partied like a 10 year old for Halloween. Observe-

Don’t fool yourselves, this is a pretty scary movie. Especially if I really was 10.

As a result, I had to eat as much candy as 10 year old who’d been trick or treating, don’t you think? We can just ignore the fact that the candy came to me, instead of me doing any actual work to earn that chocolate. I figure the candy’s FUNsize, I’m funsize (read: short), it’s all equal in the end.

milky way...

2nd one this wkend, don't judge.

nature's candy? + salt and cinnamon

Okay, so I added my own more grown-up dessert at the end, just to even out all the chocolate. Should I be embarrassed to display the amount of candy I inhaled while sitting on my butt? Nah, I’m over it.

I also discovered I had turned into a pumpkin. Compare, if you will:

versus my skin, as wiped off onto a baby wipe…

Frighteningly similar, eh?

I’d LOVE to know what the surgeon and his nurse wiped onto my entire leg while I was passed out that is this orangey color. Maybe they were trying to give me a fake tan?

Overall a happy Halloween indeed, or at least for the circumstances, which would have only been made better if I could have baked up some cookies.

This morning, after being a bit confused by the whole “fall back, spring forward” concept, I welcomed November in with this pretty plate.

hats off to mommy for this colorful breakkie.

See that bottom pancake by the strawberries? It’s true love, can’t deny it!

And are you all sick of seeing pancakes yet, day after day? Lo siento bambinas (yes I know I just mixed Spanish and Italian), but that’s how it goes around here… maybe I’ll try and eat something different tomorrow, since I enjoyed the last of the leftover batter this morning.

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I *almost* wish you could all see me right now, as I sort of resemble Jay-Z or some other hip hop mogul… baggy shorts, an extra large white t-shirt, and a roomy black sweatshirt, all because it’s tough to get anything on over my ten pound splint/foot. Really though, you couldn’t pay me enough to post a picture of this gorgeousness right now. Did I mention my hair’s dirty, too? Oh wait, I’ve got to go- there’s an army of men knocking down my door to take me on a date after catching a glimpse here. Just kidddddddding.

Okay, I think it may be time for lunch, although it’s seriously difficult to tell if you’re hungry when you aren’t moving around. I never realized that before, maybe because I’m usually moving at the speed of light and therefore ALWAYS hungry. I’ve been trying to get more intune with my internal hunger monster, and shockingly he doesn’t want to be fed as often–or as much–as the pre-surgery days. Strange, and slightly disconcerting, because eating and enjoying good food (like I mentioned in my last post) has always been a huge part of who I am. That statement would surely sound strange to many people, but I’m pretty confident that my fellow foodies of the blogosphere would understand.

Time to get back to watching the end of the NYC Marathon- a huge congrats to everyone who ran it this morning! I just saw someone who said today marks the 5th anniversary of learning to walk again after a horrific car accident. Inspirational.

Hope you’re all having a fabulous Sunday!

PS. Let’s go Yankees!!

Being a Halloweenie

Happy HALLOWEEN loverbees!

I’ve been trying really hard to be a good patient… which includes practicing my patience.

I’ve been loading up on Vitamin C.

i don't even like oranges...

see my massive splint?

Sure it was mostly in the form of popsicles. No matter, right?

I tried to eat healthy… for the most part… but it wasn’t as fun as normal.

plain yogurt, minus mess :/

an apple a day keeps the doctor away...

Not even adding this guy to the menu did the trick.

halloween candy!

To be honest, even though I’ve still been getting hungry, I haven’t been enjoying my meals as much as usual. Sitting on your butt 24/7 is really not as awesome as it may sound, and it’s kinda sucking the fun out of the normal things I love. Like food. Even funny movies, mainly because laughing hurts my tush (where the graft came from). And I LOVE laughing. It’s my thing, ya’ll.

But of course, if anything can shoo the sick blahs out of me, it would be pancakes. I’m happy to report they made an appearance last night, finally!

WOOOO!

5 minutes later...

Obviously I hated them.

You’ll NEVER guess what I just ate for breakfast this morning, too….

I’ll save you the repetitive photos,  even though pancakes are absolutely worthy of a photo montage. Especially my mom’s homemade pancakes. If only I could give each and every one of you a taste test of them through your computer screens, you’d simply die. The words “incredible” and “out of this world” don’t even do them justice.

Anyways, I’m feeling a bit like a Halloweenie right now (did I mention I’m a comedian in my off hours)… Usually I am way more excited about Halloween! I’m kind of bummed I don’t even get to dress up like I’d planned. I was going to be Pebbles, from the Flintstones, but that costume is shelved til next year.

My mama bought me this card to cheer me up… isn’t is cute?!

you said it, it's my doohickey alright..

My dad also just walked in carrying a goodwill basket of my fav bagels (pumpernickel) and pumpkin muffins from Dunkin Donuts. I’m 23, but let me tell you, I am so freakin’ glad to have parents still willing to baby me when I do stupid things like, I don’t know, get my foot run over.

Today’s revised plan is to sit on my sore butt (surprise, surprise), and watch Hocus Pocus, aka the best Halloween movie ever, in my book. What’s better then watching Kathy Najimy try and fly on a vacuum cleaner, and Sarah Jessica Parker, pre having sex in the city? Not much I tell you.

I’m off to do some more homework (as in, actually do it this time)… Have a spooooooky Halloween everyone! Trick or Treat! :-)

What are you favorite Halloween movies? And what are you dressing up as today??

Surgery With a Side of Graham Crackers

I’m back lovelies!

I made it out of surgery yesterday successfully and am back home safe and sound… and hungry!

Before my operation, I was told that I couldn’t eat anything after midnight Wednesday, so I did what any other  pre-surgery-scared-pantsless girl would do.

I ate pie, pumpkin pie.

And it was good.

Next day, before the sun had even dared show it’s bright face on Thursday morning, I headed off to the hospital. And yes, I was still scared. I took advice from my best and my pen pal (thanks Meggie and James!), and brought my Ipod along to calm my nerves.

Once at pre-Op I got to sport a hospital gown, pants, and striped bathrobe clearly made for someone 4x my size. It was slightly comforting sitting in the surgical waiting room  (yeah, there’s a waiting room when you’re just outpatient- who knew), though, bc all of us patients were looking grim and universal in the same gorge outfits.

Well, this was comforting until I got called in for a quick meeting with the surgical nurse to confirm why in fact I had decided to spend my  Thursday at the hospital… obviously it was for skin graft surgery of my right foot… right?

WRONG.

The wound and obvious bandages are on my LEFT foot. The doctor’s paperwork had me scheduled for surgery on the incorrect foot. That conversation was an immediate confidence booster, so I decided to take things into my own hands. I grabbed a pen from my mom and proceeded to make things crystal clear for anyone handling my feet while I was knocked out.

"WRONG foot!!"

I felt much better after that.

Surgery started late because case # 1 (patients = cases?) took a little longer than anticipated for my doc apparently. There was a lot of waiting, stomach rumbling, and playlist-listening.

like my sexy outfit?

Eventually I was wheeled in via wheelchair, still freaking out after waiting forever, but instantly soothed  in the OR by how kind all of the nurses and doctors were. My plastic surgeon was wonderful, and the anesthesiologist was the sweetest thing… although I’m thinking anybody can seem sweet after they’ve loaded you up with happy drugs.

Apparently me + morphine = a good time. I was giggling up a storm on the operating table, and my plastic surgeon (great guy) was playing Queen. Anyone else surprised they play music while operating? The anesthesiologist said if I was lucky, my doc would start dancing. He may have but I was already out, dreaming great drug-induced dreams.

Next thing I knew someone was calling my name and it was all finished. First I asked when we were going to start (it was already over), and then if I still had a left foot (I did).

I was laid up in recovery for a few hours, feeling a little drunk and sleepy, saying silly things to my nurse Phil. But it was all worth it you guys, because I eventually got handed this package of wonderfulness. What a perk.

I also later got a bomb turkey sandwich on a kaiser roll, when the nurses realized I have an iron stomach and nothing keeps me from getting in my three meals a day.

Despite starting the day before sun rise, I didn’t get home til sunset… feeling a bit sore, and I have a splint on my foot that sort of feels like I’m lugging a toddler around on my ankle. I’ve got doctor’s order to stay on my butt (literally) with my foot up til Tuesday, when he’ll remove the splint and I’ll be good as new.

In case anyone else is wondering the same question I had initially- no, I cannot shower til Tuesday. Too much info? Maybe. STANKY PANCAKE GIRL. The nurse said I could have “bird baths”, which I’m pretty sure sound more fun than they actually are.

I had a warming bowl of oats for din, made by my mama bc it was too late for a whole platter of pancakes as had been originally intended, and my throat was sore from the anesthesia.

classic oats w. soy milk, strawberry, banana, & almond butter..

PLUS  the star of the bowl: TJ’s pumpkin butter! OMG amazing stuff- tastes like pumpkin pie filling, only more sugary (warning: eat in small doses).

+ an extra special treat.

from my dad

Ooey gooey… I love the combo of marshmallow and chocolate, which explains my affinity for s’mores.

***

I’m off to watch some mindless TV and catch up on some school work, now that I can focus better and am stuck in one position. Thanks again for all your warm wishes! I see pancakes in my future… xo

ps. This made my day before my surgery, courtesy of pen pal!

Pumpkin Love and Arrivals

Bonjour, bonjour bloggies! It’s Wednesday and pouring here in NYC… what else is new, huh?

On to better news- my mama is officially here! Woo!

La Jolla in San Dizzle, CA

This photo is obviously not us right now, though I sure wish we were lounging on the beaches of California. It’s from our family vacay in San Diego over the summer.

I am so glad my mom is here you guys! It makes tomorrow’s impending event seem more manageable. I actually left the house *gasp* and entered the real world to join my dad in picking her up yesterday evening… The leaves are changing and it’s pretty brisk outside, in case anyone was wondering. Apparently it is still autumn… I’ve been trapped indoors for so long I feel like, stuck elevating my tootsies.

And look at what my mommy unpacked from her suitcase, folded between her clothes and toiletries.

it's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Oh yes, that’s right loveys– my mom did a little Trader Joe’s shopping before she left Vegas, and picked up some extra special items she thought her pumpkin-addicted daughter might enjoy. We’ve got the classic pumpkin butter, pumpkin pancake and waffle mix, and not one but two bags of pumpkin spice granola. Party coming to a mouth near me REAL soon. Guess what I’ll be eating after my surgery tomorrow?

She also brought me what looks like a mini newstand– a number of my fav magazines and even some gossipy tabloids. What a great mom!

Breakfast this morning continued the tummy love, with yet another bowl of oatmeal, this time strawberry fields forever oats, aka strawberry + pb + cinnamon! 

don't you just want to dive in?

It was just as yummy as it looks, trust me. I don’t know what this oatmeal kick is– I was always more of a pancakes/waffles/cold cereal kinda gal when it came to grains in the morning. I’ve mentioned this before, but oatmeal always left me feeling icky and uncomfortable afterwards. It wasn’t until I started eating oatbran (thanks, HEAB) that I really embraced bowls of warm oats in the morning. Since injuring my foot, though, I’ve been loving regular oatmeal. Maybe because at that same time, I started using milk and water in my oats instead of just plain water? Maybe because it’s warm and comforting (and I couldn’t whip up pancakes)? I don’t know the answer, but I’ll take it!

***

I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone for their kind messages and keeping me and my silly foot in your prayers… I really appreciate it! I’ll have a full report after the surgery, although I may be high on painkillers. Should be a fun post.

Time for me to get ready for the day- I have a little doctor’s appointment today, before tomorrow, ugh. Have a great hump day everyone, and in case you’re interested, I hear the “The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”  is on tonight (my fav!!). xo

 

 

 

Sunshine Inside, Rain Outside

Okay, before I say ANYTHING, I have to share with you all this amazing video Tina posted on her blog this morning.. I am obsessed! Check it out!

Do you love it or what? Makes me feel better about life, especially my future, aka the good days coming as soon as I can move past Thursday. It may be rainy outside, but there’s no longer a rain cloud over my head.

I had an awesome sleep last night, finally! I probably could have slept in til late given the opportunity, but dear old dad has this habits of beginning conversations with me at the crack of dawn, while I’m still obviously asleep. This morn, for instance, he started asking me what time I was planning on getting up and showering.. while my eyes were still glued shut. It was 7:40am.

‘Twas okay, though, because opening my eyes brought me one step closer to another batch of my latest morning craving. Blame the autumn weather.

Pumpkin oats once again, thank you very much. This time with a heaping sprinkle downpour of cinnamon, and a spoonful of creamalious almond butter. Speaking of which, I’m almost *gasp* out of  ab. I don’t even want to think about when the next time I can get to Trader Joe’s is.

now all mixed together like a happy breakfast family.

I later added slices of banana on top– see those shiny yellowish blobs?

How do you all eat things like oats or yogurt bowls that might have a lot of components to them? Do you leave everything in their own corners of the bowl, or do you mix everything together? Personally, I prefer the mix method.. I like to blend all the flavors together so you can taste every aspect of the meal in one yummy bite. (This only applies to foods like oatmeal or yogurt, however… anything gets it own spot on the dish.) And is it peculiar that I just discussed food to plate proportions in such length? Maybe… but I’m okay with that.

I used a bit less pumpkin in this particular bowl, and as a result it happily lacked that icky baby food stench of my first bowl of pumpkin oatmeal. I’m also slightly concerned that I can use the word stench while simultaneously describing a food I really enjoyed… Meh.

And while I’m at it, here’s my lackluster (photography wise) but tasty lunch– leftover rotisserie chicken breast snuggled between Arnold’s Sandwich thins and a layer of spicy mustard. Must not forget every sammie’s best bud, the deli pickle… added a nice bit of crunch to the side. 

I will retrieve my real camera from my apartment soon, I promise!

I realized today that I actually have a lot to look forward to in the next few weeks and even hours. I’m going to do a top 5 for ya’ll, because I like making lists and I’m procrasitinating on a paper I have to write.

1. My mom is coming… she arrives in 4 hours!

2. With my mom comes lots and lots of pancakes. Prepare yourself for photo montage.

3. It’s almost November, which means I have only a little over a month of graduate school left, wooo!

4. My dear friend –and Air Force pen pal– who i haven’t seen in a million years is coming to visit mid November! (He was supposed to be visiting this weekend, but SOMEONE got her foot run over.)

5. November means Thanksgiving, my FAVORITE. Family and endless food, what could be better?

All I have to do is make it past Thursday… I feel like I’m about to gear up for battle or something that day. Just a little surgery, no biggie, right? Right now it is the only roadblock in my way.

****

I’m off to finish start my paper, and then pick up my mama! Have a happy Tuesday! xo