Please send Brain Waves

Headed to my first final!  I am beyond confused with all the Rules of Evidence, I am just hoping something clicks!

Please send all your smart brain waves my way starting at 6pm!!

My First Final is Tomorrow!!!!

Needless to say I am very unprepared!  My studying this semester just has not been as productive as it should be. 

At 6pm tomorrow I will be taking my final on Evidence.  I have not memorized all the Federal Rules of Evidence, but have memorized most of the hearsay rules thankfully!  I will be up late tonight studying, then do practice questions tomorrow!

The rest of the week will be dedicated to Tax.  Tax final is Friday night.  Then next week I have 3 finals!  Ugh!

Anyway, sorry for my major complaining vent.  I will return to regular blogging after December 12th I promise!!!

Wish me luck!

Hope you all are enjoying top beginning of the holiday season!

Happy Turkey Day

For not celebrating the holiday, we have had a decent day here in Houston.  The weather is beyond beautiful!  The hubby and I had a nice 40 minute (4miles-ish) run this morning at Memorial.  I was glad to see there were a lot of runners out there.

There was not stuffing our bellies with endless calories, but we enjoyed some good food and watched a Christmas movie.

I made a pretty decadent turkey sandwich.

This is lightly toasted sourdough bread

1 Swiss Laughing Cough Cheese

Thinly sliced apple

turkey slices

thinly sliced onions

sprinkle of moz. cheese

drizzle of balsamic vingarette

I then broiled this for a few minutes until warm and gooey

 

Soooo good!  My husband was extremely jealous and actually ate a huge chunk of my sandwich when I walked into the kitchen to get a napkin!

On the side I had apple slices not pictured and handful of chex mix.

Double Layer Pumpkin Pie

I followed this recipe, EXCEPT I used a store bought reduced fat graham cracker crust, Splenda instead of sugar,  and used a pumpkin pie spice mix for the spices.  I also used about 3 times more spice because I really, really like pumpkin pie spice!

Store bought crust--so much easier

Mixing the cream cheese part (I used my Kitchen-Aid stand mixer because I love this thing!)

Separating 1 cup cream cheese mixture-adding in 1/2 cup pumpkin (that leaves leftover pumpkin for oats tomorrow~)

Cream cheese layer then pumpkin mix layer

I over-baked mine a bit as you can tell

But it still tasted just fine!!!!!!!!

Studying

I am quite a sight this week.  When I get up from my computer, there is a circle of books, papers, notes, flashcards that radiates out from the center. 

Not to gross you out, but I actually did not shower for two days!  Yes, that is how intense studying for finals is while in law school. 

Currently I am trying to master Evidence.  My final is Monday.  I will not be celebrating Thanksgiving although I was given a wonderful offer by my friends in Houston!

Please wish me luck in memorizing all the Federal Rules of Evidence in the next few days!!!!

Here are some highlights of food:

Central Market Bar stock up--Yum!

Turkey, hummus, lettuce, spicy mustard on Arnold Mult-Grain Sandwich Thin

Side of carrots and pretzels

Brain Lunch (or so I would like to think)

The hubby and I had baked sweet potatoes last night.  I don't like skin on potatoes (I know it has fiber and goodness for you, but I just can't stand it!)  I peeled my potato, chopped it into large chunks and microwaved until tender.  I then rolled a foil packet and added butter, brown sugar (Splenda mix), cinnamon, and drizzle of honey.  I let this heat in the oven while I microwaved the hubby's sweet potato

I added a little Kashi on top. I like my sweet potatoes SWEET!  We also had a slice of toasted sour dough bread.

I have had a rough week with stress, so the cheer me up Jordan put a costume on the doggie!  I laughed so hard!

He is such a good sport!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all enjoy the holiday, I plan on doing a 4-5 mile run tomorrow then studying all day!  The hubby will be busy with football.

Things I Thankful for:

My legs-they allow me to run all the miles that I do

My husband- who is supporting me while in school, and deals with a spouse in law school (it is not easy folks)

Trooper-he makes me smile on even the worst day

My brain-it amazes me the amount of information I have learned in my life

My friends-friends are my family and I am thankful for all of their support

What are you thankful for?

11.5 Miles + Some Inspiration

Good Morning All.  (Actually Afternoon!)

Yesterday was a very rainy and cold (TX cold of 50 degrees) and I only got in 3 miles + elliptical.  So this morning the hubby and I got up and decided to get in some serious miles!

We ran from our apartment to a park, did a 3 mile loop at the park (the hubby didn't this part of the run), then ran back to the apartment for a total of about 11.5 miles!  Woo-hoo!

It felt awesome, and I was really pushing it the last 2-3 miles!

After ice, shower, snack, we went to Academy and I searched for running tights for when we head back Midwest for Christmas.

Fact:  Running tights are not flattering on anyone!

On the plus side, I found Pumpkin Pie and Gingerbread Clif bars!  I bought two of each to try!

We then hit up Central Market--my favorite grocery store ever!

We got all kinds of goodies!

Then it was time for lunch!  Surprisingly I was not really hungry at all.  That could be either stress or that sometimes my appetite leaves when I exercise a lot.

I made this ginormous yogurt mess.  It had half a HUGE apple, greek yogurt mixed with canned pumpkin, cinnamon, Kashi, and honey!  This was huge and I ate the whole darn thing!

We couldn't resist this fresh loaf of sour-dough bread at CM, so I lightly toasted a slice with jam.  So good I nibbled before I could get the picture in!

Need Some Inspiration?

My best friend is a very creative and positive person and sent me these photos.  She has been dealing with a relationship that was very unhealthy and hurtful.  To remind herself that she is amazing (She is!) she created post-its with inspirational sayings and lyrics.

 

 

Please remember you are WORTH IT!  

Trick Yourself Thin

Check out this article that I found on Active.com's facebook feed.

P. S. Check out # 7 to see Purdue representing!  Makes me wish I would have majored in Food Sciences instead of Pre Law a bit.

I live in the 14th Fattest State

Ugh...Texas and I just don't mesh well.

Tax Time

This week is my Tax study week along with finishing up classes, so I may have to go off radar until the weekend.  I am very overwhelmed with work right now.

I will give you a few food pictures to tide over.

"Baked" Apple Dessert

Salad bigger than my head, and I ate every last bite!

Pasta with Parmesan asparagus

 

Roasted asparagus

 

"Baked" apple dessert in a fun martini glass.

How to make:

Dice up 1 small-medium apple

Heat in sauce pan med heat

Add a couple tablespoons water, cinnamon, sugar

Cover and heat.  Stir occasionally until apples reach desired tenderness.

I top mine with a bit of Kashi, spoon of Yoplait Thick and Creamy cinnamon roll yogurt, and drizzle with honey.

Dinner for Two Please

As you know I am really bogged down with studying right now, so the hubby and I have had two really nice relaxing dinners the past two nights.

Sunday night:

Start of a really good stir-fry:  chopped mushrooms, onion, and pineapple chunks (from a can)

Added in these

Also added in sliced carrots and black beans for some extra protein since this was a meat-free dish.  (I must mention is extremely hard to get the hubby to eat anything without meat)

Final Product...Yum Yum!

Monday Night:

Salad Bar

Toppings

Blank slate

My salad.

Time to get back to studying.

Food Coma Weekend

Although I managed to run 9 miles Saturday and 6 miles today.  I am still suffering food hangover.  I even skipped breakfast--which never ever happens!!!!

After my Saturday run, I toasted up a Whole Wheat Flax waffle, smeared on some pureed pumpkin, cinnamon, and honey.  I ate this on the walk to the bar for a dual Alumni Watch Party.  Because the game did not go well for us, I won't talk about it more.  But I ended up drinking at screw driver at 10am (hello college days) and 2 beers.

I also snagged a pretty good hot dog from the Alumni Club.  They were cooking out on the grill.  Even toasted to bun. I actually love hot dogs cooked on charcoal...tastes like summer fun.  (P.S. It is over 80 here still, so it feels like summer fun)

Dinner was at Chuys (Mexican cuisine) to celebrate a friend's birthday.  I ordered a pretty darn good soup and salad combo.  I could not resist the Tortilla soup!  This was really good tortilla soup. Chunks of white meat chicken, tomatoes, celery, corn, avocado, and spices.

My soup cam with this large-sized dinner salad.  I ended up eating about half.

Before we ordered I literally downed an entire basket of chips and jalapeno dip all by myself!

Needless to say I was uncomfortable stuffed!

We hit up a bar for a bit and headed home early to take the doggie out!

My husband also drove all the way back from the burbs at midnight to surprise Trooper and I.  Trooper might have been disappointed because he had quite quickly moved into Jordan's spot on the bed and even claimed the pillow!

Unpictured for the day are 4 snickerdoodle cookies and a brownie!  Yes, that is a ridiculous amount of sweets and goodness knows how many calories.  The realization that I have not started studying seriously hit me yesterday and when a package arrived with homemade bake goods I had a mini-melt down.  I admit I felt pretty darn guilty/bad about eating that many cookies (large cookies at that).  I am working really hard to get my pre-Texas body back and to drop a few pounds that have crept on from being inactive.  Being as short as I am (barely over the 5ft mark) even five pounds can have a pretty negative effect on how my body looks and how I preform athletically.

What do you do to get past a calorie overload?  Or how do you keep yourself on track?

For me, I ran 6 miles today when I had planned on 3 earlier this week.  I am also going to be way more careful throughout the week to negate all those sugar calories!

Now onto Sunday:

The hubby and I woke up and hit the park.  I did a very slow, food/sugar hangover 6 miles.  The hubby even managed to run 2 and walk 2.  We came home, took the dog on a nice little walk, then hit Sams to stock up until the new year.

At Sams I found a pretty good deal on Arnold's Sandwish Thins, so I decided to cave in and finally give them a try.  Upon opening the bad I noticed they had a pretty nice hearty smell to them.  I also liked that you could see grains on the texture.

I just lightly toasted my thin, then added red pepper hummus, turkey, mushrooms, and lettuce.

On the side was carrots and grapes.

I really wasn't hungry given all the food I ate yesterday, but I knew my body needed some nutrients after my run this morning.

The rest of the day is dedicated to getting my classwork done(only one more week) and trying to cram in 3 weeks worth of studying into one week!

Wish me luck!

Food Recap for Thursday and Friday

Food highlights from Thursday and Friday:

Tuna/black bean wrap with carrots for lunch Thursday.

Thursday night we had breakfast for dinner!  I love breakfast--it is definitely my favorite meal of the day!

I had a HUGE bowl of pumpkin oats with Kashi and honey on top.

Cup of iced Joe, cup of OJ

The hubby had a HUGE omelet with peppers, onions, and Salami.   Two pieces of wheat toast on the side.  My hubby likes the Sara Lee "kids" bread.

Friday night was this frozen pizza which I doctored up with nice sized baby ports!  Yum, yum!

I had a bite of this ice cream sandwich.

My hubby made brownies, so I ended up eating a brownie with pumpkin ice cream!  Oh goodness...food coma!

Good thing I have a nice long run planned for the morning.

Right now it is studying while watching the Friday night Criminal Minds Mini-Marathon on A & E.  I love Criminal Minds!

A Post Dedicated to Shoes

After the 9 miles last Saturday I decided it was time for new shoes!

These babies are awesome!  Like clouds of cushion under my feet! (And they were on sale)

There is nothing like a new pair of shoes to motivate me!

There is also extra padding around the top part of the heel.  I have super skinny heels and ankles so it is very hard to find shoes that my heels don't pull out of, but these fit like a glove!

Fun Fact Day

While many runners prefer warmer/cooler temps, 55 degrees is considered to be the ideal running temperature. For every 20 degrees above/below 55 degrees a runner will see a 7% degradation in their running ability. 

This Fact was found over at Spark People's Running Quiz

This may explain why I pretty much had to quit running this summer when the temps were 110 everyday!

Dinner last night was Subway.  We were tired and I did not feel like cooking.

I also had a small bowl of Pumpkin ice cream-I had an excuse, my throat is still sore and ice cream makes it feel better!

Breakfast this morning was baked apple oatmeal again-still delicious! 

Family Code here I come!

Another Popcorn Giveaway!

Awhile back I mentioned that Megan's Munchies was hosting a gourmet popcorn giveaway, well...she is hosting another one!

Head over to check it out!

My Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health Contest Entry

I need a weekend away to relax and say "Ohm" because I am a law student with two weeks until finals.  Exercise has been pushed to the back burner and all forms of relaxation disappeared weeks ago!  This semester I have a final the Monday after Thanksgiving, so I will be studying Federal Rules of Evidence instead of celebrating!

I would love a weekend of relaxation and wellness as a reward for surviving finals!

This great contest is brought to you buy Oikos- my favorite Greek Yogurt!  (P.S. my favorite flavor is the one with honey!)

Check out their facebook page here!

Brain Food

I am still trying to get over this illness, aka I sleep all the time.  Sleep is bad for studying, so my posting will be limited.

Today I had an awesome brain power snack after class.  Gala apple sliced with cinnamon. I made peanut butter dip by using about one and half teaspoons of PB with 2 tablespoons of Dannon Light n Fit Vanilla.  I used my mini-drink whisk to mix together until smooth!  So good!

Also a few cocoa roasted almonds-they seem like a brain food to me!

Finals Time

Started my morning with baked apple oatmeal.  So good.

I used the stove for oats because I forget to set them overnight.  I cooked the oats normally 1/2 oats, 1 cup water.  While they were cooking I microwaved diced apple with cinnamon and splash of water for 1 minute.  At the end I mixed the apples into the pot and let them cook just a minute or two more.

Yum!

Last night the apartment complex had their monthly meal and last night's theme was Thanksgiving dinner.  I of course filled my plate with a sample of everything.  We more than likely will not be celebrating this year because I have a final on Monday, so I needed to get some traditional food in now!

Sunday night we went over to a friend's to watch football.  I packed a salad and topped it with a piece of the grilled chicken they made.  I may or may not have stolen some cheese fries!

This is me hanging my award from the 10k!!!

I must return to the books.  I hope to post again soon!